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/4U STORIES &mfakte t THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA (Novelet—25,000) By Richard S. Shaver 16 Illustrated by Virgil Finlay

We heard raizes out of nowhere! Tken a phantom girl led him lo a weird world tar underground . . . WEEP NO MORE, MY ROBOT (Short—6,200) By Chester S. Geier 54 Illustrated by Malcolm Smith What should a lonely man do when the woman he loves leaves him? Could a robot make up the loss? INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD (Novelet— 16,000) By Edmond Hamilton 68 Illustrated by Bob Richmond There- was only one thing worse than having monsters in your hair: that was having no soma to drinkl THE RADIANT ROCK (Novelet— 10,000) By Frances M. Deegan 100 Illustrated by James Dev«r«ux

// looked just like a piece ol inert rock—hut it could make all sorts of machinery hum like madl THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN (Novelet—20,000) By Don Wilcox 120 Illustrated by Arnold Kohn

The scarlet swordsmen did their best to kilt, but there always teemed to be a new body to live in . . . PERIL FROM THE OUTLANDS (Short—5,600) By William Lawrence Hamling 154

All he had to do was fo turn a valve and a city would bn poisoned—and he'd be a traitor and outcast.

I'LL BE FLEECED (Novelet— 12,000). ... By Berkeley Livingston 164 Illustrated by Rod Ruth Jason went seeking the golden fleece and whan he had it, made a coat of it—to be worn in 194SI

Copyright IMS, ZIFF-DAVIS PUIUSHst** COMPANY M*mbcr of the Audit Bureau of Circulations t. S. Davis, Editor; Raymond A. Palmer, Managing Editor; Howard Browne, Assistant Art Director; Malcolm Smith. Assistant Art Director; H. G. Strong, Circulation Director; H. J. Morganroth. Production Director artwork. To facilitate han- postege attached, and ar- to whatever revision i* nee- meet requirements. Payment covers all authors', contributors' end contestants' rights title, and in and to the material accepted and will be made at our current rates upon acceptance. All ind drawings will be considered as part of material purchased. The names of all character* that fictitious. of I in short Stories, serials and semi-fiction articles that deal with types are Use a name that is the same as that of any living person is coincidental.

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS JUNE 1945

VOLUME 19 NUMBER 2

/id FEATURES &*tfi£ete

THE OBSERVATORY By The Editor 6

OPEN LETTER TO THE WORLD By Richard S. Shaver. . . 12 NOT YET, BUT SOON By John McCabe Moore 53

VIGNETTES OF FAMOUS SCIENTISTS By Alexander Blade . . 66

THE MAROUIS OF ANGLESEY'S LEG . . . By Sandy Miller 98 AMAZING FACTS By A. Morris 99

PEACEFUL WEAPON OF WAR By Billy Decker 118 'ANTS MAKE WAR By Wayne Harris 119

. BETWIXT CUP AND LIP LIES THE GERM . By Carter T. Wainwright 153

SCIENTIFIC MYSTERIES By L. Taylor Hansen ... 185

CAN FIGURES BE FASCINATING? By J. P. Kayne 187 REPORT FROM THE FORGOTTEN PAST? By The Readers 188 DISCUSSIONS By The Readers 196 MICA SAILBOAT OF MERCURY By Henry Cade 208

Front eorar painting by Robert Gibson Jonai fflintraring a scans from "Thought Racord* of Lamuria"

Back coym painting by Jamas 8. SattJai illustrating "Mica Sailboat of Moreury"

Published QWtorlr ay ZIPF-I>AVT8 FTTMJSHIHa COMPANY at 540 North aTiehlma Avmne. CMeaso. 11, III. Haw Tort Offloe, Bmptra Mala BuJMJns. Now Turk. !. N. T. Wunliutoa OOm. aWAJsrvo International Huildlas, 1319 F, Street. N.W. London Ofltoa. Grand Build In a*. IWslnr Sauaw, 8TORIB8 I«doB, SDalamt rotorad a* aacoed slaea roaUar Ana H. IB**, at Uta Pott OSca. Chlc.ro.~ nii- AJNB oola. mate taa ad af March Srt. im. ftahacrtpttoa tt.SO for II lattm: Canada 11.00: INS J3.H. SutaMban abould allow at laaat two waeki for ohanaa of addroaa. AH •otmramHoauoaa

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YOUR editor, it seems, has made a mistake. In order to understand what that is, you'll have When Mr. Richard S. Shaver sent in his first to read the story that begins on page ]6. story, we didn't believe Mr. Shaver's ex- planation of where he got it, and because we didn't "'"THOUGHT Records Of Lemuria" is the want to look silly we figured oat a "very good" * story of Mr. Shaver's amazing experience 7 source. We called his story "racial memory.' We with the underground race of people called had good reason to call it that, and many of our (variously) dero, tero and zero (or just "ray"). readers did exactly what we wanted them to—they Ray, because that is how he contacted them by believed in the story as such. And thereby hangs "rays" of various types, rays manipulated by our head! Now we do feel silly. We're right them, not by him. Actually they are just as back to Mr. Shaver's original statement, and this human as we, and are, as we, descendants of the time we're forced to use it—because a tremendous "abandondero" or those humans who were aban- flood of letters from our readers has served to doned to their fate here on Earth 12,000 years ago convince us Mr. Shaver wasn't kidding us about by the Atlans and Titans. We have a great his source. deal to tell you about Lemuria and the amazing developments that have come because of publica- A LL of which means that we here and now tion of Mr. Shaver's first story, but before we get admit that we took a liberty upon our- all mixed up in a maze of the most incredible selves that we had no right to when we called statements we've ever made or had made to us let's Mr. Shaver's "I Remember Lemuria!" a "racial take a peek at the other features in this issue, very memory." Even the title was ours—Mr. Shaver briefly called his story "Warning to Future Man." And with his newest story, "Thought Records Of Le- OHESTER S. GEIER has given us a new robot muria," in this issue, we present the truth as Mr. ^ story, this one with a real wallop in it, per- Shaver has told it to us. "I Remember Lemuria 1" haps the biggest since "I, Robot" by Eando Binder, was not a racial memory, but a thought record! the first of the Adam Link stories. "Weep No More, My Robot" is one of those stories you won't forget in a hurry!

USANCES M. DEEGAN is a woman, and very * few women have written good science-fiction— but she's one of the very few. We'd even go so far as to say she's one of the very finest, and that includes the males, too! We've got to base that statement not only on the story published in this issue, "The Radiant Rock," but on others she's sold us since. Already she has made a terrific hit in our companion magazine, Mammoth Mystery, and we think she'll repeat in all of our magazines— and she'll be in all of *em, take it from us! But fo get back to the story in this issue, you're due for some laughs, plus a few other emotions. We won't tip you off any further, but prepare for a treat

"I'LL Be Fleeced," says Berkeley Livingston, and for 12,000 words that's exactly what happens to the character in his latest story—but in a way in which that gentle art has not been practiced up to "Stopl You're tickling m«l (Continued on page 8) '

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He wrot» a few paragraphs for us (which are re- produced here) "It is my personal belief that science fiction's discovery of the super-tank, the robot bomb, the remote control airplane exterminator, and certain esoteric advancements in chemical warfare can scarcely be undervalued. "As readers will recall, my activities during (Continued from page 6) World War I, particularly in the fields of counter- now! Remember Jason's golden fleece? Well, if espionage and cryptanalysis, prepared the way for you'll also recall he had a coat made of it . . . That the services I am now rendering the War Depart- coat would be a nice thing to own, you say? Okay, ment. put down your money and read—but don't expect "In pursuit of ray wartime endeavors I have to win your bet. traveled the length and breadth of South America and have witnessed the amaring growth of our T^LASH, flash, bang! Nope, this isn't Walter well-equipped air bases. * Winchell announcing another scoop—it's just "Shortly I expect assignment in either China or Edmond Hamilton "ole world-wrecker!—" back the European theater. Meanwhile, all the best to in the groove again! Say, hasn't it been a long my patient readers of my lousy stories!" (Ed.— time since good old Ed graced our contents Art, your modesty is touching, but you're all wet page, though ! It is a terrific pleasure to us to about those stories being lousy 1) be able to announce his return with a yarn AREN'T sure about this, but James Nor- that'll curl your toes with delight. "Invaders WE author that popular little Martian From the Monster World." Ha! Didn't we tell man, of detective, Oscar, dropped into our office and when you? The title ought to be enough—here's your to overseas, an- old favorite with a grand new yarn, just the type we asked him when he was due go swered vaguely that he didn't know— and the fol- story that made his reputation what it is today. lowing Sunday we heard his voice on a radio pro- and according to the announcer his initials VTEXT comes Don Wilcox with a return to gram were James Norman, and also according to both his old mastery- such as "The Earth Stealers" of them, he was quite a hero, having wiped out established with a brand hew one called "The numerous Japs and had medals from here to there, Scarlet Swordsmen." It would be a sin and a and wounds! Such modesty or are there two shame to give you one single hint as to what the — people in the world with that absolutely unique story's about that isn't told in the title—so our voice! we doubt. Can any of our readers confirm mouth's shut; and you'll thank us for not spoil- this? We'd like to give due credit to our writers ing your fun. for braving something beside your editor's some- times inane criticism. T ASTLY, William Lawrence Hamling gives

out with "Peril From the Outlands" which is NJOW let's get back to Lemuria! First, never in a new twist interplanetary that ought to please ^ its whole history of nineteen years of contin- no end. The lad's a capable boy, and he knows uous publication has Amazing Stories received how to sling the words (and lead) around. such a flood of fan mail from its readers. Nor has

any editor ever seen fan mail such as this ! Literally has come to us that David Wright VIEWS true, readers, some of those letters were 5,000 ^ O'Brien, bombardier on a B-17, has been words long ! Longer than some of our stories ! In in action over Germany since December missing fact, one letter totaled thirty-jour typewritten 11, 1944. We're sitting here now, holding thumbs pages! That means one thing, of course—the for the best damn writer we've got, and we'll let story was a hit. But it means another in this par- you know when word comes out of Germany ticular case; an amaring thing, because most of the to soon, if the their which ought be Russians have letters were not praising the story as a story, but way. supporting it as a fact (or, to be sure, condemning

it violently as a fiction). On all sides there were A DDED bad news is the information that Dave's letter "shouts" of IT'S TRUE or IT'S A LIE. No lifelong buddy, and our own writer pal, Wil- half-way opinions, except those letters which sim- liam P. McGivern has been wounded in the fight- ply expressed curiosity, a natural reaction to a ing in Italy. We're waiting to hear from Bill, who presumably fiction story which the editor and it is reported, is perfectly able to write his own author claim is not a fiction story. letters. D IGHT now, however, we've got to admit to \ BIT of better news is the recent visit of still another mistake. When we edited this ** Arthur T. Harris, while on furlough following story, we forgot an important thing; that not all his discharge from the hospital. Arthur got his on our readers have been reading science fiction all Ascension Island, and was operated on in Brazil their lives, and that not all of them are scientists before being sent to an American hospital. But thus we went far over many readers' heads. For thanks to the medics, he is as good as new again. (Continued on page 10) AMAZING STORIES 9

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12. That "sycophants" of these dero peoples roam the surface of the earth and perform their dirty work for them—and that your editor's life has been threatened for publishing thh story, and that he has been enjoined from publishing more! The reason given being that we will unwittingly reveal secrets that may well prove to be disastrous (Continued from page 8) if seized upon by the wrong men. instance, we forgot that there might be people who 13. That no matter how much fiction either wouldn't automatically know that Lemuria and Shaver or ourselves introduced into the magazine story, part of it is basically true has tre- Mo art *ynonymous, that Mu is a contraction of and a Lerourfi. We forgot that many of you just would mendous significance which is far-reaching. be confused by 50 many new terms such as "exd," "technleona" "ttwch," "abandondero," etc., etc. In jy EADERS, we realize that those thirteen points A short, the etory was hard to read. Well, we've ^ are staggering statements, and that the scien- tried to correct that in the new story, and you'll tific world will challenge us to offer proof or re- find It much more exciting, simply told, and more tract them ; that you, the readers, will do the same. completely explained. You'll find that where we Well, take it from us, we are as anxious to prove had "ttchnicon" or "medicro" or some such term them as anyone. In fact, if we can prove just one in the first story, we now translate to "technician" of the points, it will rate us headlines that would and "medical man" or "doctor," or even "scientific crowd the war right into the comic section of every physician." Also, we've added a great deal more daily in the world! All we can say about that is to the story that is admittedly fiction. After all, "we are from Missouri" and by heaven, we're go- we are publishing a magazine of entertainment, and ing to demand proof. a magazine of fiction. Thus, the basis only of this and future stories, is technical, the story is con- I^IRST, however, let's analyze our present sources A structed mainly to entertain. However, we have of information. Legally, any court in the land detracted not one single whit from the "facts'' would say "hearsay" and dismiss the evidence as that Mr. Shaver's original manuscript might have immaterial. Scientifically, any scientist would contained, nor have we distorted or changed mean- snort and say "show me just one little actual gad- get I" And certainly both would be right. Because our source of information is simply a flood of let- T ET'S try to summarize a few things before we ters from our readers who proceed to out-Shaver discuss them. According to letters from read- Mr. Shaver and make statements even more in- ers: credible with their bare faces hanging out. I. Mr. Shaver is not the only man who remem- bers Lemuria. AND yet, some of them make statements that

%. When we hit upon the "clever" idea of call- are so definite that they will have to produce ing this story "racial memory," we hit upon an- facts or immediately back down. They did not other weird thing that our readers testify to, in hedge, they came right out and said such things as rather unscientifically proven ways, to be sure, but (one instance) a telegram that read: IMPERISH- as to that you can scan their letters yourself in the ABLE TELONIUM PLATE NOT UNDISCOV- Discussions column. ERED. LETTER FOLLOWS. And another 3. The Titans and Atlans did fight a great battle letter which says "Plates are in possession of (we 12,000 years ago against an "evil one" after which delete a few words) at (name of place)." Sure, an exodus took place. we're checking! We're on the hunt with our

4. The Earth was populated by the Atlans and tongues hanging out ! But like any normal doubt- Titans for at least 150,000 years prior to the ing Thomas, we're anticipating failure—because it's exodus to a safer planet. so damned incredible 1 5. The "language of Lemuria" presented by Mr. Shaver b no myth, that it does provide a common V^OUR editor intends to answer every letter we basis for all languages, and that several present- got, personally, and dig, dig, dig, until he runs day people not only "remember" it, but speak it every one of these incredible statements to earth. 6. That the telonium plates buried by Mutan But we can't do it alone—so we're enlisting the Mion have been discovered! help of detective agencies; of reputable scientists

7. That the underground cities of Lemuria are (You don't know how hard it is to get an audience not unknown with a reputable scientist with a subject like this,

S. That literally thousands of people exist today- and how exceedingly harder it is to get him to who have a varied amount of knowledge of the spend any time on actual research. Would you, amazing things revealed in Mr. Shaver's story. for instance, go digging for the hones of the giant 9. That the sun is the cause of old age. of "Jack and the Beanstalk"?); and of able lin- W. That gravity is a push, and not a pull. guists in the case of the language key. As part of II. That mankind does know about the "dero" that effort, we are making personal trips to see people living now in the caves, and is tormented Mr. Shaver (first) and then to several scientists bytW to whom we happen to have access. T UCKILY, though, several of our more scien- such comments from readers are perhaps more tine readers have beea impressed, artd h*v» Battering than just ordinary praise. offered any help in research we might discover they can handle (within limits). We intend to accept A LONG that line of reasoning, we intend to try their kind offers. ** to keep the illusion of reality at a high pitch in every story we publish. Movies an good wi say because they are "real." A/f OST of all, many of our readers do not need You can actual!? see the characters and the action. It is harder to an invitation to help. A great many are com- con- vince a reader of reality With nothing piling dictionaries of words in several languages atari than printed words and static illustrations. that seem to make sense in Lemurian, and we ex- pect that a lot of mice already are on centrifuged yet, insist, water and food diets and are being kept in cages AND we maybe all this k trtw—and into which only purified air is introduced. we intend to try to find out. To tMs end, m make a rather unique appeal: The editors of this magazine are intensely interested in bearing Iron OUT, so far, all our information is from you people who "hear voices" or "just know** things in readers, and no matter how sincere your letters line with these Lemuria stories, even if those who have been, none of you have offered that "proof" hear voices are inmates of an insane asylum. We we need. The only things proved so far are that want to know what the voices say, and none of there is something true about "I Remember those who tell us that need even sign their name. Lemuria!"; that if it is a delusion, people many Their identity is not the thing; but we have re- have it; that there is an extreme readiness to ac- ceived information that we are not revealing—yet, cept calmly true as such "un"scientific statements and a correlation of hundreds of such statements as "gravity is a push"; the "sun causes age"; the may be of vital importance. At least, it is a scien- "caves exist"; "Titans were on Earth for thou- tific experiment, and may prove or disprove some- sands of centuries"; that they "still exist." thing many of our readers have said. So, when we ask you "do you hear voices," don't think we're XXfHEX we quoted from the Bible that "In those batty. If you don't, just forget it. If you do, T * please teil us what the voices say. We admit we'd days there were giants in the earth ; and after like that," we started a flood of quotations both for to know your name and address, so we could and against us—which led us to re-read the Bible correspond privately, but this is emphatically not needed. more closely, with Shavers story as a parallel, and Which ends this editorial: but much more concerning we found things we never saw before. The Bible, readers' reports is in a special section in this book—pages 18S it seems, tells things remarkably similar, and goes to 193 inclusive—and will even further, even more unbelievably fantastic. remain a feature in future issues. Keep posted

(here ! Rap. Naturally, this is an arguable subject, and one that diplomatic persons steer clear of making the sub- ject for any discussion; but just the same your editor is amazed at the description, for Instances, of a "jet-propulsion, four-passenger, plane with four wings, retractible landing gear, transparent cowling, loud-speaker public address system, il- luminated cockpits, and transparent metal motors affixed to propellers for travel in atmosphere" in the first chapter of Ezekiel; and of another nar- ration of the destruction of Babylon by two mil- lion fighter rocket planes equipped with rapid-fire incendiary guns in the wings ! Also the literally hundreds of references to a "new Jerusalem in the heavens" where the water of "life" is the most enticing bait put out to cause people to come to it to live.

IXfE CONFESS, however, that we got letters " * from readers who would possibly beat us up if they could get their hands on us. Just why, we can't imagine—but they were hot. Somehow we treaded on their toes. We outraged their sense of right and wrong, of truth and falsehood; for which we sincerely apologize. The amazing thing is that they reacted so violently, because after all, this is a fiction magazine—we must have been convincing at least. It is a necessary part of story-telling to create as realistic an illusion as possible. Thus, "It's mcompatibilify—your honor"" January 18, 1945 T M must get ° lhaver. want your attention.. I f R?cnard pledge llgg. grnjd xn to yo/sSat of the *

±x yuu ^.f +ho o-onpral living mind 01 man. read between the lines of my ?n?eUigence ylu wiU b of what may seem at "™* writing! immediately^» £_ Sse£luseiui wildest fiction, and find certain

^^Ks^ rg between the lines great have indeed fathomed many a / realizf that I sorcerers who, of power such as the medieval lost secret wrote of in of beiSg burned at the stake forYea? as fiction codes. Even you who read this ^le obscure the sti rring of assuredly sense within yourselves will you to seek something that will whisper and call to fUr r in which I write will be touched upon Tne ihings of Dy and more frequently in the future literature more be wakened, who realize that mankind should students underlying sunace pvpn if rudelv. to the realities wield more influence upon file; since those realities known, even to the earth people than is generally

other of his tales, nas The Abyss" "The Moon Pool" and the antique meohanisms and their hidden places of con- cealment. Yet I think he did not know that these caverns lie in a great network under all of earth's surface and are actually still inhabited by wretched descendants of the Ancient Ones. His books betray to me certain lacks in his information which I will attempt to make up for the sake of those who seek the truth about these ancient, unspoken-of remnants of the vast super-science so ably described as the property of the Snake Mother. For instance, in "The Snake Mother," Lantlu and his followers are evil, but retain their beauty and a cer- tain cleverness as well as the method of eternal life. But in the actual life in the caverns today, the evil ones are neither beautiful nor clever nor do they live much longer than normal men. The more intelligent, well- meaning members of these cavern people are sometimes as beautiful and all-wise as Merritt's immortals, but al- though they have some knowledge of the methods of the Ancients to obtain near-immortal existence, they are not able to use the methods effectively because of their constant struggles with the degenerate, evil members of the race. Among those remnants of the Ancients there has been degeneration to a degree that would seem incredible did not the creatures still exist, living proofs of the efficacy of the ancient generators of beneficial life force. For in no other way than by constant flows of beneficial force from those indestructible mechanisms could such manifestly unfit creatures as the evil mem- bers of the life in the caverns continue to exist. You who read may unwittingly meet one of the less hideous evil beings at any time on the surface. Those who come up from the caves for commercial or less honest reasons are, naturally, of the higher grades among them; for the degenerates are idiotic devils who only to be seen would be recognized as malevolence in- carnate . I will try to tell you something of them, for they everlastingly obstruct and bedevil mankind. It is their chief satisfaction to wreak pain and damage and death upon human beings. It is well to be able to recognize such enemies, for they are possessed of mighty weapons such as surface people have not yet conceived despite the many instruments of destruction fabricated for earth wars. It is ghastly, but perhaps better for surface people in the final analysis, that these horrible beings have no actual brain power that can be used for in- tellectual pursuits or abstract theorizing; brain in them has been usurped by a continual questing for some- thing to torment, to ray the life out of. They are like leeches in human form, wholly parasitic and destructive. Herritt knew much of such things and gave it to you. I can add a great deal to what he has told you and I shall do so, nor shall any craven fear of the hidden powers stop me. For in those still existent mechanisms lie many infinitely valuable methods of making life bloom and become a vastly more beautiful and longer- lasting thing than the present treadmill routine of war and work that it is. I also address myself to those higher beings of the underworld, those who have kept the ancient virtues alive by breeding with stolen women from the surface, and for other reasons are well-intentioned and closer to mankind than the inbred degenerates peopling many of the caves. Such higher beings are as maliciously plagued as we by the idiot beings who hate everything that is noble and beautiful. The need of those kindlier beings for awareness of certain things which I have woven into my work is as great as is the need of surface people for knowledge of their ancient enemies. Merritt did not make quite clear the fact that the ancient weapons and mechanisms were, many of them, still intact in a great many places on earth. In confining his ancient, still living race to a hidden section of the Andes mountains, he inadvertently concealed the general dispersion of these underground cities. Con- cealed in monstrous caverns of unbelievable breadth and space, these wondrous works of the ancient God—race are being used by the evil ones whom Merritt concepts as Nimir and Lantlu and his followers, but whom I picture more nearly to the facts of the case as degenerate men with a mind more in tune with such forms of life as a fluke or leech than to man. There are may such, pro- tected from man on the surface by those hidden, in- accessible caverns whose walls are of such impenetrably hardened rook that the finest tools of miners are broken against them. On guard also at the few existant en- trances are the ancient weapons whose great range render it impossible for any living thing to approach within a radius of thirty miles unless permitted by the watchers in the caves. The power of Nimir's evil is not shackled as Merritt would have it in "The Face In The Abyss." On the con- trary, it works havoc through its wretched dupes and hereditary morons, obstructing the good that the scattered Wise of the caverns would do for mankind; as well as blocking in subtle, long-practiced and unde- tected ways the progress of surface science. On both counts the reason for this mischief is not alone the hateful intent of these dero, but their fear lest sur- face science wakens to their existence and discovers some way of reaching them in the caverns and freeing the planet from their age-old deviltry.

i4 It is a grievous thing to learn how much of beauty and ecstaoy life can offer and yet be obliged to live on day after day in the wretched misery which life in modern ways is to one who knows how the Ancients lived. In reading these tales, compare your life with the ancient ways one may learn in the caverns. You surface folk know nothing better than your present circum- scribed existence, but I tell you that your lives are imprisoned hells from which modern science could free you overnight if your learned men would so overcome prejudices as to accept the fact of the existence of the ancient science and acquire but one piece of the marvelous mechanisms for study. And here let me add, for open, general study; not that secret abortive study that such ancient science has had in the past. My strength is dedicated to informing you of the key and the way to the kind of life that produced the beauty and wisdom of those immortal beings of the past, beings whose actual existence has been proved a thousand times to those who, like myself, have had actual experience in the caverns. For we have seen and touched and used those antique mechanisms and we know whereof we speak. But until today, those who knew have feared to broad- oast their knowledge, for in olden times it would have meant being burnt at the stake, and today most certainly the insane asylum. Merritt well knew, as do I, that the Ancients had conquered death. I have set myself to tell you what I know of how they did so; and how plans carried out in- telligently and with care can bring victory over death to modern surface men as it did to those Elders of long ago. It is not easy to achieve immortality, but a real start toward eventual suooess can be made. I am forced to tell you that the work of such writers as Merritt contains much that is not fiction, but must be presented a3 fiction because no one would print it in any other form. Thus you readers who have not met the dark and unfathomable life of the hidden pits may take this bit of explanation as an effort to make an in- credible story credible; in which case I hope the effort is successful. It is to those of you who either know, or who believe me, that I more significantly address myself. Very sincerely yours.

This letter is an introduction to the you, and can be accepted as pure fiction, story which begins on the following if you wish. But the fact remains, the page. As you read it, please bear in author believes it is true—and your edi- mind that it is presented to entertain tor is as impressed as you will bel—Ed. THOUGHT RECORDS

16 of LEMURIA By RICHARD S. SHAVER

rHE editors oj this magazine are pleased to present the second "Lemurian" story written by a man who has seen with his own eyes the remnants of the ancient race oj Lemuria, and witnessed their still-populated cities hidden deep beneath the surface of the Earth. This second story is intended to answer the challenge of those who wish Mr. Shaver to offer some proof of his source for the first story, "I Remember Lemurial" published in our March issue. Although it is now revealed that Mr. Shaver's source is not racial memory, as mistakenly claimed by your editors, it seems certain that the actual source will be even more unbelievable. In the following pages you will find a story of amazing adventure, and thrills galore, in the true tradition of all science fiction—and yet, we ourselves cannot say that it is entirely fiction. It may even be that when the proofs now being produced are marshaled together, it will be discovered that a great deal of this and the first story (and stories to follow) are true in the most exact sense of the word. Meanwhile, we present this story for your enjoyment, and we welcome your comment. It is something NEW in science fiction!

1? —

WHEN the blind girl of the caves turned on the

thought record machine, I lived once more the life that was on Earth when the God races settled the planet, and learned their great scientific secrets.

fEY, Joe Raddatz, bring that Clocky twisted around on his high dolly over here!" stool, faced an index on the wall, and H> I glanced up casually from ran one finger down the row of cards my spot welding, then blinked in puz- that were inserted in little slots. "Rad- zlement as my eyes took in the area datz— ? Unh—yeah, here it is. Sure, immediately around me. The voice in Joe Raddatz is on this shift. Works section twenty. That'd be down my ear had come out of nowhere ! No over in fellow worker in this Detroit auto plant at the far end of the building—he's a was near enough for his voice to be riveter." heard by me! "Thanks, Clocky," I said, and walked "What in the devil ..." I muttered, back toward my section. I was frown- then shrugged in mystification and ing and the information I'd just heard turned back to my work. was revolving in my brain like a silly The moment I snapped the switch on pinwheel, getting nowhere.— my spot welder the voice came again. "Section twenty " I mumbled, ". stumbling barrel of bronze weld- . . know damn well this rivet over a won't fit! Don't tell me I don't know ing rods. "How could I hear a guy a nine thirty-second hole when I see talking over there?" one . . ." The voice died away, and I thought of acoustics, and pursed my although I listened intently for a long lips. "Yeah, maybe I could, at that." moment, it didn't come again. They say there's a spot in the old senate The noon whistle blew and I knocked chambers in the Capitol Building where off. But I didn't get much kick out of even the faintest whisper can be heard eating my lunch. I kept thinking about from a spot ninety feet away, and most hearing that voice when no one was peculiarly, can be heard at no other around me. Funny thing! point. Acoustics is a funny thing "Wonder who Joe Raddatz is?" I just the way a building is built can mumbled. I downed the last of my cof- carry sounds and direct them to points fee and put the thermos bottle back in where they couldn't ordinarily be the lid of my lunch kit. Then I got to heard. Some caves are like that; you my feet, hitched up my trousers, and can hear a voice a mile away, when it went down to the time-keeper's cubby- would be inaudible otherwise at a hole. hundred feet. "Do me a favor, Clocky?" I asked. Thinking about it that way took all "Sure thing," he grunted. "If it's the mystery out of it, and I grinned. anything I can do without getting off "Takes a mighty little thing to make my fanny." a guy think he's dopey!" I said aloud.

"It is. I just want to know if there's I reached my bench and sat down to a Joe Raddatz working on this shift, wait for the whistle to begin work and where he's located." again. By the time it blew I forgot all ! I

THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 19 about Joe Raddatz and acoustics. posed to concentrate on your work. A new spot welder didn't do any AT TWO o'clock the voice came good. The next day I heard the voices again. This time it wasn't the again. voice of Joe Raddatz. It was a new There was only one thing to do— voice, hoarse and gruff; and there were stuffed my ears with cotton. only two words he seemed to be able And I still heard them to fit together coherently. They aren't the kind I'd ordinarily repeat. A mo- ^JOW I began to get a little scared. ment later I heard other voices—voices I wasn't hearing these voices; I of men all up and down the plant, and was thinking them! They were in my after an hour I had learned two things: mind, soundless, inaudible. Mental all of the voices came from the side of telepathy! the plant on which I worked, from one Men about me, near or far, saying end to the other. I couldn't hear them things, thinking things, and I could hear when I laid my welding gun down. every spoken word or every most secret Somehow the two facts were connected. though. By nightfall I had figured it out; the I knew I was receiving the thoughts voices of the men were those who were of some of these men, because, for in- near, or in contact with, some machine stance, I heard: "Sure, Mike, you're

attached to the wiring system on my right about that . . . Right I If this

side of the building. I couldn't hear guy's right, I'll eat his shirt! . . . any voices at all as long as I didn't have you're the boss, we'll do it your way

any physical contact with my spot . . . and nuts to you. After you're welder. down the line I'll do as I damned I think I breathed easier. After all, please! For a foreman, you're the there was an explanation that I was per- stupidest—" No workman would talk fectly willing and able to accept. The to his foreman like that. wire system, and the machines con- I heard other things that were more

nected to it, were somehow acting in a convincing proof that I was hearing telephonic manner, picking up voices, thoughts, things that made me blush transmitting them through the electrical when I heard them; and I don't blush circuit, and reproducing them in my easy! gun. When I turned the thing in that Right now, for instance, a guy is

evening I spoke to the stockroom super- thinking about his girl . . . Say, if she visor. thinks he loves her, somebody ought to "Pete, how about sending this in for put her straight! He's a wrong guy, a repair job—it's out of order." but really I ought to tip her off— "What's wrong with it?" Hey, wait a minute, how would I "Gives me a shock," I lied. I figured prove the truth of my tip?

it was better to say that than go through Dynamite, that's what this isl IU the rigamarole that would be necessary have to keep my trap shut, or I'll be to explain how I heard voices through putting my foot into it. I never realized it; and the possibility existed that he'd how bad it might be to know what the snort and say I was nuts, and I wouldn't other guy is thinking, without him be- get a new gun—and I wanted one. It's ing aware, you know. nervewracking to have to act like a "Put him on the rack," said a voice. telephone receiver when you're sup- I snapped off my welder and sat still, — —

20 AMAZING STORIES

frowning. Something was wrong with waiting for his future evolution into a

that voice, or thought, or whatever it higher type of creature? Just what is was. Put him on the rack? You don't insanity, after all? put people on a rack in an auto plant. They put people who hear voices Tools, yes, or a lot of other things. into nut houses. But maybe they do Rack? What sort of a rack? hear the voices. Maybe they aren't "It'll pull him apart in an hour!" the insane at all. Maybe they are just like voice went on with a note of horrible me! satisfaction in it. "Nice and slow, so I looked at the gun again. A thought he suffers plenty! Put the ben ray on struck me. If I'm nuts, then I'd be ." him, so he won't . die too quick . nuts without the gun in my hands. I'd My welding gun clattered to the ce- hear these voices any time; maybe all ment floor. I stood as though frozen. the time. Pick up the gun and see—

The hair on my head crawled. What I picked up the gun and watched it was I hearing? shake from the trembling of my The voice was gone. All around me hands was only the muted roar of an auto The horrible scream of agony that factory—the clanging, clattering, min- echoed in my brain jolted me right up gling maelstrom of busy machines and to my feet with a gasp, and with a cry of busier men. Just noise, no voices. terror I hurled the gun from me and ran. Through my mind echoed that T LOOKED down at the gun on the scream of utter pain, the scream of a floor and I was trembling. What human being in such torture as might was going on? That voice had been no be imagined only in Dante's Inferno. voice, or thought, of a worker in this Somewhere, somehow, a human being

plant . . . unless it was the thought of was dying in slow agony and I was a madman! hearing him diet A madman? I couldn't stand any more. I man- I sat down, white and shaken as the aged to slow to a rapid walk, but I kept thought struck me. Maybe / was mad! on going until I got to Clocky's cage. Maybe there were no voices at all. "Punch in my time, Clocky," I Maybe I'd never actually heard the gasped. "I'm quitting. I've had enough voices of anyone else. Maybe my own of—of welding," I finished weakly. mind was cracking up, and inflicting Clocky stared at me peculiarly, then these weird illusions upon me. grunted, punched my card and handed But no. After all, there was Joe it to me. Raddatz. I had the name okay, and "You can get your check at the he actually worked here. And there office," he said gruffly. "Sorry to see were other men in the plant whom I'd you go, Dick." He looked at me queer- identified since. Somehow I had heard ly. "Say, you ain't sick, are you?" voices, and real thoughts. "No—no!" I said hastily. "I'm Or was that insanity? Did insane okay. Just decided I don't like welding. people go insane simply because their Besides, I want to take a vacation for brain functioned too wellt Is an in- awhile. I've been working too hard, insane person only a person whose brain maybe. Guess that's why you think I ." is more active than it should be? Is look sick . . he using that nine tenths of his brain I mumbled the last words as I walked that science says is just dormant and away. I didn't look back. Why should —

THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 21

I? One thing was sure. I had seen the ache." I climbed to my feet and stag- last I was going to see of that damned gered to the rear of the car and got off. welding gun! If I wasn't nuts, that gun I walked the rest of the way to my would make me so sooner or later. room, fighting the blinding pain in my head. I barely made it to my bed be- A HALF hour later I was out of the fore I blacked out. And as I blacked plant on a street car heading for out I knew a faint glimmering of the truth. Somehow, by some weird super- "His hotel's clear through," said a scientific means, unseen beings had voice. "He dug up a lot of stuff and caused this headache—possibly the he's getting too smart." same ones I'd heard talking that weird I, Richard Shaver, was going insane, gibberish about the hotel—and that I'd I was sure of it now! I sat there in that brought it upon myself by asking ques- street car with the awfulest feeling of tions. I'd revealed the fact that I had fear I have ever experienced, listening been listening in, and it hadn't been a to the absolutely crazy babblings of my welcome discovery. The pain-filled

own mind. How could it be anything blackness into which I sank now was 1 else? Even if this were mental tel- proof of that. * * * epathy, how could I tie up such a phe- nomenon with the things I heard? They 'y^/'HEN I headache didn't make sense. Even insane people awoke my was make sense, but this last voice in my gone, but not my fear. I fled from Detroit though mind his hotel's clear through—what as the devil himself were does that mean? after me. avail; "He's dug the cellar of his house clear To no I could not escape the down to the caves," the voice explained. voices. I heard them day after day,

1 The voice in my mind had answered As dramatically as it is possible for me to do my question! I sat as though I'd been so, I have pictured those first weird happenings that led me almost to the brink of madness, and struck by lightning. But I still had then to the most incredible adventure that ever some sense left in my head—I gasped befell a man. In order to give my knowledge to out another question, this time audibly the world without being suspected of madness, I must present it in the guise of fiction. Remember and the man next to me turned to stare that all this wordiness is supposed to be, but is at me blankly. "How deep is that?" not, just a way of convincing you momentarily was what I said. of the truth of an obvious impossibility, for the sake of the escape from dull reality which it offers "About three hundred feet—" said you. So allow yourself really to believe, not just the voice, and suddenly there was a temporarily for the sake of the effect. This story will startled note in it, and it faded away. not seem like fiction to some who will read it. For it is substantially true; the caves, the At the same time I felt a numbing shock good and wise users of the antique machines, the in my neck, in my spinal column, and I fantastic evil mis-users of the antique weapons, almost screamed with agony from the all these things are true things and exist in secret in many parts of the world. blinding headache that sprang into Keeping that secret has been a custom, an he- being. reditary habit of the Elder underworld. Surface "Say, mister," said the man next to incredulity and fear of the supernatural has made it an open secret that keeps itself; for you will me, "you'd better get home and to bed find that the case records of insane asylums are —you look sick!" chock full of patients whose only complaint was I stared at him through pain-filled that they heard mysterious voices in their minds. In this story, I intend to reveal the secret to eyes. "Yeah," I gasped. "I had better. the world, to those who have the intelligence to I am sick . . . Got a terrible head- seek to understand what I say.—Author. 22 AMAZING STORIES night after night. It went on for This belief of theirs is based pri- months until finally I had become more marily upon their fear of discovery and or less accustomed to them—until I be- its implications, plus a more realistic gan to understand the whole horrible danger: though often stupid and usu- picture. And also came to understand ally duped, there exist among these the fate that was in store for me. dertf people many who are not as The voices came from beings I came malicious and evil as the worst degen- to realize were not human; not normal erates, and these tero are impelled to modern men at all. They lived in great avenge murder committed for no really caves far beneath the surface. These good reason, even when it is the murder alien minds I listened to seemed to of one of the helpless, because unknow- know that they had great power, seemed ing, surface people. conscious of the fact that they were "He knows too much; we must kill evil. However they also seemed to him," became a frequent thought I think themselves infinitely clever, but heard in their minds, and it terrified the truth of the matter was that they me. I tried desperately to contact the were obviously stupid. only ones I knew could help me, the I discovered this from listening care- tero, but I did not succeed. I was neatly fully. Their thoughts were incredibly framed, and here is how they did it: contradictory: to make things worse They framed me subtly and com- was to get along better, to make enemies pletely, so subtly that I myself, although was to be more powerful, to torment aware from hearing their thoughts what anyone was a personal satisfaction, to they were up to, did not realize how to love any living thing was weak and avoid the trap until it was too late. I stupid. fell for every one of their tricks, be- Who were these voices? Where were cause their devious deviltry and their they? It took me several years to figure incomprehensibly stupid motivations it out, but finally I was successful. And were not yet clarified in my mind. It when I finally had learned the truth, was under their control that I did a they knew that I had discovered it, was thing that proved to their enemies, the becoming informed as to them, their tero, (whose vengeance they feared and place of residence, their mode of living, whose conscience they had to find a their evil thoughts. And since fear is means of dulling by building up a case one of their mainsprings, they feared sufficiently plausible to deceive them me. into accepting my fate as necessary) It was not too long before I could overhear them in my mind, plotting my 2 This is a shortening of the term "detrimental robot." It means, briefly, destruction, though why they should that they are "people who are slaves to a degenerate mind." Their have had any trouble about that I could brains have become radioactively poisoned by not at that time understand. When I rays from the weird machines they constantly use and whose use they do not fully understand gained more knowledge of their stupid, and whose rays become detrimental because of crazy mind's workings, and learned that non-replacement of vital parts, which thus becomes they believed they cannot actually kill impregnated with radioactive accumulations whose emanations are harmful (just as radium a surface man without first building up must be shielded by lead to prevent serious burns). a frame for the killing that will make Thus all tbeir thinking is along destructive chan- it appear either suicide or accident or nels. Obviously, then, a "tero" (in contrast to a "dero") is one whose thinking is integrative, or death from natural causes, I began to constructive, in quality because his mind has not realize what was ahead of me. been poisoned by radioactives.—Ed. THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 23 that I was no friend. been taken from the prison to be shut After that came the harpy hue and up in a madhouse. I knew there would cry which has for ages followed and then be no hope of release. Waiting and caused the death of the best minds patience might at length gain my release among surface men from persecution here at the end of my sentence; but in by their own kind. Daily it rang in my a madhouse, once certified mad by ears while I fled from city to city to medical men, I realized that I would escape it. Yet, when my brother be- not even have the solace of attempted came involved and they killed him, I flight from the dero rays, to the end of argued with myself that I must be my days. For from the talk of other having delusions, that his death was prisoners I knew a madhouse to be a natural, that all this could not be with- much harder place to get out of than out some mention of it in the papers a prison. or in books. I know those dero only let me live because my life was a burden to me, T SHALL not take more of your time and because my torture was a delight to to give the details of how the axe them and they feared no retribution. fell on me ; it is all too sordid. I assure I had become but a thin, haggard you it did not do me credit, and I would ghost of a man when release came from much rather forget it. Suffice it to say a quarter I had lost all hope of ever con- that my enforced escapade, which I was tacting. In some manner the tero, the blindly urged into by the subtle energy sane, well meaning members of that of the telepathy machines and other in- strange cavern life, seized control of the comprehensible mechanisms using rays area of land in which the prison lay. and forces that surface man never heard of, ended with my arrest and sentence TV/TY TORMENTS ceased abruptly. A to a state prison. new and intensely wonderful life To this end I, a well-intentioned hu- began for me. For the first time man being, had been driven by those in years I was able to relax, although potent rays in the hands of evil idiots for some time I lived in dread of the in earth's hidden caverns! return of the suffering to which I had But that I was thus imprisoned was grown almost accustomed, as one grows not enough. They poured continuously accustomed to a painful limp. upon me pain rays that, added to men- I began to dream and my dreams tal control which continually got me were infinitely pleasant though bizarre into disgusting, dangerous situations, in the extreme. I could not recall them kept me on the verge of madness from wholly upon awaking until one night despair for years. I learned at length she came to me in my dream, and that and in infinite detail just what Hell dream was as fresh in my memory when really can be, and at the same time I I wakened as though it had been an realized that such a Hell has been the actual reality. She came to my cell, ap- daily lot of many men of earth since parently, and sat herself upon the edge earliest times. of my iron cot. With her came that There was no relief or way of seek- laughing spirit of youth and mischiev- ing aid from the continuous and almost ousness which I had almost forgotten as unbearable torment. Had I complained the face of freedom. The oppressive to a prison guard that I was being tor- feeling that is a part of prison life van- mented by invisible rays, I would have ished; she had brought her free face —

24 AMAZIN© STORIES

before my eyes. I would get no more chances to escape. She seemed clothed in a soft lumin- "If you are willing," her halting, ap- osity that threw rays of strangely invig- parently little used English voice said, orating light upon me as well as show- "I can take you to a place where no ing her strange, rich other-world beauty police have ever shown their face, and to me. She had hair of faintest golden where none ever will. You have only tint, just off white, and it lay smoothly to agree to do as I tell you, without drawn back from her brow and was argument, for one year. I can free you caught at the nape of her neck with a quickly, and in truth I need your serv- ribbon that was a pale green, a green ices." that had lain so long in darkness that I embraced with enthusiasm any

it had lost its original color. Her eyes prospect of escape, and could not under arching brows were wide and had imagine that "doing her bidding" would no expression, yet her assurance in be anything but pleasant. I agreed to every movement as she came into the her proposition, adding some fervent cell did not betray what I learned later, prayers of confused and stumbling that she was blind. The eyes were very words that I hoped expressed my in- large, and faintly blue. Her features finite despair and the bright face of the were not out of the ordinary, but hope she brought me. strangely and beautifully exaggerated: Thus came to me Nydia, as I called the too-large eyes; the delicate, utterly the blind girl after the blind maiden in sensitive nose; the drooping, too-large Bulwer Lytton's "Fall of Pompeii." In lips that were made for caresses they the morning after that first dream of her had not received. Her beauty was far I found upon the cot that pale ribbon from the standard variety one finds she had worn about her paler hair. I under the surface sun. She had that knew then that it was more than a strange, wise quality men have sung dream and I looked forward with of as the witch maid's alone since time mounting anticipation to further meet- began. When she spoke, such vitality ings with a person who could come to a sprang into being on her strange face as man as a dream and leave behind an woke every instinct in me from the long actual memento. How had that ribbon hopeless sleep in which they had been gotten through those walls and bars? plunged. Yes, her face was freedom It was some time before the magic to me. was explained to me. She had promised She wore a loose garment that hung me that she would very soon find means from her shoulders to her calves and to release me from the prison, and that was belted by a metal circlet of netted mysteriously actual ribbon was a con- links into which was thrust a metallic stant reminder in my pocket that she object which I reognized as a weapon had powers beyond present day wis- of some strange kind. dom. I still do not understand how those antique teleport mech's 3 work, TN MY dream I sat upright. My youthful visitor took both my hands 3 Teleport mech—a means of transmission over a distance of an actual object by means of tele in hers, saying rays. This machine could transmit a solid thing "Do you wish freedom so badly, in a way that might be comparable to the way a then?" photo or map is transmitted by radio. However, there is a difference in principle which Mr. Shaver I replied: "I want it more than life, has never been able to fathom from his study of but capture would be inevitable. Then the machine.—Ed. THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 25 but work they do, and she had sent the waited until I had emerged, almost ribbon over it after she had shut off the cringing in my dread lest this was just dream-maker machine. But I will ex- another dream from which I might plain that later. awaken, then he locked the cell door be- After that, she came to me fre- hind me, the cell now empty of its vic- quently, sometimes she was just a kind tim. We walked to the outer door that of projection, and sometimes her sweet, led from the corridor. This he opened actual body lay in my arms, I swear. I and stood waiting to lock it again after grew accustomed to her visits and the I had passed out. I looked at him curi- hopes I began to entertain built me up ously, for his face was peaceful as in more and more in morale, particularly sleep and his eyes were unseeingly fixed as I was no longer tormented. In time ahead on space. I realized that she loved me truly, a Silently as a shadow I slid out and no man who had not seen a woman in many sound ever was so sweet as that door's years of imprisonment. She loved me lock clicking shut behind me. I sped in dreams more vivid than any reality across the open grounds and into the could be, made so by the stronger- nearby forest and there beside me again than-human thought impulses sent over was that transparent slim ghost of a her strange dream-making instrument's Nydia leading me by the hand. To my rays. undying amazement, the projection of She loved me with the first maiden that miraculous ancient mechanism felt love of a girl for a man, for she herself as solid to my hand as real human flesh, had long been a prisoner in one of the though very different and thrilling be- caves and was but now set free. She cause of the augmentative nature of the read in my heart all that I was, and our mechanism. Love with augmentation mutual and long desire for freedom is immensely more desirable than that becomes a constant part of one's normal love. thoughts after long imprisonment For miles that phantasm led me brought about between us a kinship that deeper and deeper into the hills. In blossomed swiftly into glowing love for the dark I could visualize every stone each other. So it was not long before and bit of dead branch as though my she told me all was ready, that she feet had eyes of their own. They did would come that very night during the •—a blind girl's electric perception, de- darkness before dawn, to release me, veloped since she was a child in the and to take me with her into her hidden use of those miraculously potent and home. indestructible mechanisms, was able to sense those trifling obstacles and lead ^JpHAT same night the key grated in me clearly among them. the lock of my cell door and I was As last we came to the base of the not surprised to see the guard standing mountain, to where it reared rocky there as if dazed, his eyes unseeing. By slopes to the night sky. In the cleft of then I understood something of her two rocky shoulders yawned a door. powers, and understood that he was a It was a strange door, for it was covered man under mental control. Behind him with earth and grass and small bushes, I could see reproduced the form of the all alive and growing. As soon as our blind girl, her transparent form bend- feet crossed the threshold, the great ing over a huge old mechanism, her face mass of the door lowered silently and a mask of concentration. The guard I knew that no man could detect where 26 AMAZINS STORIES that door might be.* screen of the ancient mechanism, the phantom beside me disappeared 'T'HE dim light inside the cave I found abruptly. emanated from long tubes running "Dick, my poor lovel You are safe along the walls, which contained some with me at last. It has seemed so long," self-actuating material which glows. cried her voice that was music to me

Once, it was probably productive of a who had starved for the tender tones of strong light, but now it gave off but a a woman's voice for so many years. dim glow. The blind girl sensed my My arms went about her slender thoughts and spoke: "In other of the child's form. I leaned my face to those caverns there is brilliant light which questing lips and learned more about can be switched on and off. There the love in two seconds than all the past tubes are wired to one of the ancient of my life had taught me. The little dynamos, which must now and then be witch had left the augmentor beam on replenished by water, which is the fuel me and only those who have loved under of many of the ancient power gener- those ancient impulse augmentors can ators. 5 In those caves, the dwellers understand the depths of love. I knew have normal eyesight." that I had never really lived until that Into this twilight the ghostly little fierce moment when our love sprang figure continued to draw me on. We into flaming life. emerged at length into a vast room, At last we stood, just looking at each around which could be dimly seen huge other. I felt sure that Nydia could see mechanisms of incomprehensible uses. me, her intent wide eyes were fixed so Beside one of these stood a soft, utterly surely on me. enticing figure that was the duplicate of "I cannot believe that you do not the phantasm that had led me here. actually see me!" I exclaimed. The screen still glowed brightly from "Almost I do," she responded. "You use. seem much bigger, now that you are As my footsteps rang on the ancient here. My mind can see you, in a way polished stone of the floor, this little that you will learn to see, too." figure raced toward me unerringly and I looked about for the first time. I threw herself into my arms. Her no- realized that my little sweetheart was longer-dropping, flower-red mouth but poorly clad, not at all like the pro- sought mine like a starved animal jection she had made of herself into my scenting meat. As she left the receptor prison cell. I learned later that that projection was largely mental, so that 4 Such doors into the caves are few but they do her likeness went clad as she would have exist and no other door is so worthy of a man's liked to be clothed. In reality her gar- search. Always provided the door is not one that opens upon the hiding places of the evil life that ments were but a few well worn rags. is in many parts of the caves, there is no door that I myself could have wished I wore less can open life before you as that door to the under- than my prison demin, for the tempera- world. Read on and you shall learn something of the pleasure and wisdom that opened door of- ture was high, as it is in deep mines. fered me, a criminal escaped from a state prison. Her fair hair, her large unseeing eyes, You shall iearn, too, that there are other things her paper white skin, were as I had seen yet more wonderful than the seemingly impossible feat of a blind girl snatching a convict out of a them in my prison. prison.—Author. The vast round space where we stood

5 was surrounded by hulking, mysterious The water is disintegrated by some unknown machines they stood dimly gigantic in process.—Ed. ; THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 27 the faint light of the cavern lamps. cient God's retreat. Most of them had never read a book, although Nydia had T ASKED Nydia where her people a few poor samples of modern books. were. She said with a little laugh But they had read men's minds over the that they were leaving us to ourselves at ancient beams that penetrated through this moment of our meeting but that I miles of the rock of the hills and was should meet them soon enough. so conductive and augmentive one could "Oh, Dick, in some ways they are dif- read a man's mind many miles away. ferent from surface folk, and you must In some ways they knew more of life not let these differences disturb you. than does the ordinary man by far. They are prepared to welcome you Many of them had contacted surface heartily because I love you and they folk and striven to persuade such per- love me. But it is not our custom to ad- sons to join them but had been rebuffed mit surface people to our hidden ways, probably from a fear that their soft in- for they are so apt to fear us and thus vitation was a mental delusion or hate and be a danger to us. Greet them masked some snare. For those men who naturally and show no fear or repul- know of the ancient secret know also sion no matter how they look to you. of the evil it has always done, hence fear 7 We are different from the kind of hu- all ray people through many are wise man you are used to. We need men like and good and try to nullify the evil and you to aid us in our constant struggle reduce the torments inflicted by the de- with the living devils that inhabit much generate evil members of that strange of these underground warrens. But life. when we try to approach men for this purpose they fear the whole thing as (~)F THE twenty in this group at least madness or ghosts or whatever they a half-dozen were blind because of have been taught. You see, we are forced their heredity, like Nydia. For many to fight the devils because we wish evil of the cavern people come of stock that to no one and cannot be glad when lived so long in almost total darkness as others suffer, and that is a way of to become blind as the fish in cavern thought that all the evil cavern wights" hate and seek to destroy." 7 Ray people are taken to mean all of the mod- She led me from the huge machinery ern underground race, both the dero and the tero. cavern into a smaller room that was a They are called "ray" by Mr. Shaver because that is the means they use to spy upon surface people, strange mixture of architectural magnif- and to talk to them, and to perform the many icence, the work of the Gods, and old weird things their machines are capable of doing. hand-made wooden furniture that must It is by rays that they operate. For instance, have you ever had a fearful nightmare in which have been brought into that place two you have been faced by horribly realistic mon- hundred years ago, or more. We sat on a strosities such as your waking mind has never wooden bench that was a half of an oak conceived, to your utter terror? This dream might have been produced in your mind by tele-projec- tree, split length-wise, with wooden pegs tion from the dero creatures of the caves who de- for legs. She told me more of her peo- light in causing surface people horror and terror. ple. They had come from England's There is another and more significant reason be- hind this practice, and. that is to build up super- northern underground seventy years be- stitution and fear in surface people that has been fore. They were but few, only twenty proved their greatest protection against discovery living in the ruined splendor of that an- by upper-worlders. They fear discovery because it would mean their extermination by a vindictive 8 Wight—an elf. In this case, the dero people. human race, seeking to revenge itself upon its -Ed. age-old torturers—Ed. AMAZING STORIES

rivers become blind. Ages of life in the face man and brought him with her into dark had developed other senses than her cavern home. sight in their particular family, com- pensatory senses. The others strangely within , '"J"'HE space the mountain was enough, had very large eyes, much too an Aladdin's cave, beautiful beyond large for normal vision, with great black a modern man's imagination. The hall openings iris. in the Evolution had de- where Nydia next led me, saying it was veloped the faculty of seeing in the dark a hall where the group met for any in these. Their skins were often light social purposes, was pillared by mighty brown; or a paper-like, bleached white; metal simulations of trees, hung with or a mottled, strangely lumpy appear- crystalline, glittering fruits. In every ance which came of a disease peculiar one of these great rooms stood several to the caves. They are not like surface of the enigmatic ancient mechanisms, men, these dwellers in the caves. themselves beautiful of form and shim- But these ten were a kindly lot and a mering with prismatic color. friend of Nydia's was a friend of theirs. Some of the machines had a startling I soon saw that they had little compre- way of talking; when one neared them hension of the terrific significance of the they would speak in a strange tongue, ancient secret of the caverns' mechan- beautiful sounding words of a meaning isms or the value of a knowledge of their incomprehensible. That is a strange uses. It was difficult to realize their lack sensation, hearing a machine speak to of imagination and their casual accept- you. I suspect they were equipped to ance of the facts of their age-old cus- announce their need of oil or other toms in regard to surface men. It is not, minor adjustments, as we equip me- after all, so many years ago when all chanisms with red lights to indicate such people were burned as witches and need for adjustment. sorcerers. They had never attended a The solid, gleamingly polished and school, yet their knowledge in general super-hard floor of rock was inlaid with was surprising for people raised in prac- weirdly beautiful designs and symbols tically total darkness. It is because they which I deduced were writings in the absorb genera] information from read- Ancient's lost language. Imperishable ing many men's minds. The fact that metal lounges, once probably covered rickets is not common among them I at- with the "shining fabrics which the tribute to the beneficial rays which the Gods alone could weave8 " stood beside ancients made a part of the pleasure-ray the gleaming, ancient "mech," as the machines which they are proficient in cavern people call the old machines. It using from long practice. was in this great room that later that

Perhaps our education and its con- same night, or day, I should perhaps sequent results in thought are not as say, Nydia's family and other members important or remarkable as we of the of that group formally welcomed me, surface believe. Certainly our thoughts the surface man who had joined them offer these tero small temptation to join for the balance of his life. us; they prefer, I think wisely, their seclusion. Nydia, not alone among her A MONG the cavern people, marriage kind, but rare, had vast plans and dif- is purely a personal matter, people ferent ideas than theirs; she had al- either live together or they do not, and with surface people ways urged contact 8 "Shining fabrics which the Gods alone can and had at last fallen in love with a sur- weave" is verbatim from "Ulysses."—Ed. —

THOUSHT RECORDS OF LEMUR1A 29

it is no one else's business. I often think musingly. "There is so much to tell their attitude in this respect is the cor- you, to teach you, that I hardly know rect one. In the caves, when two peo- where to begin. But first of all you must ple promise themselves to each other, know whom it is that we must battle they keep their promise; which is more against. Come!" than I can say for surface life. Nydia She led me to the great hall where I spent exactly one week showing me that had first met her and paused before one what happened to Tannhauser in the of the mechanisms. Her hand on the Hollow Hill with the goddess Venus can control, she swung a huge distance-ray still happen to mortal man. She had beam and almost immediately upon the studied the uses of the antique pleasure visi-screen a scene of utter horror be- mechanisms under masters—some of came visible. I could hardly believe my whom I met later. For one week I ex- own eyes' evidence. That was a Hell, perienced all the pleasures of a God's a real Hell, I looked upon. Men hung nuptials; tremendous stimulation gen- swinging from hooks, boiled in fluids, erators poured super-powered pleasure writhed on racks, thirsted in the stocks, impulses through every nerve of my sat on spikes tugging to get off, lay un- body at their full capacity. If a man der hammers that crushed them inch by could die of pleasure I am sure that I slow inch, or slid inexorably into ma- would have died then. But my tender chines that sliced them gradually with hearted Nydia was no slave of pleasure. the thinness of a microtome.' She was a sweet normal girl in love and I learned more of what infinite pleasure ^YDIA explained the horror, and I life could hold in that week than ever got at last the full significance of mortal man did before. the ancient legend of Hell. At the week's end, my little blind "You see, they will not allow their witch began to talk of other things than victims to die, but keep them alive love and of honeymooning. I will admit through every torment by the use of the that I protested at length, but she gave beneficial rays. When a man is nearly me her reasons quietly but firmly. dead, they place him in one of the vital-

"There is much you must learn, my izer machines for a day or two and he is innocent, if you would live very long healed up completely. Then they start down here. We may at any time be at- him through the thing again. Do you see tacked by savage, mad ray-men from those shriveled bundles at the side? the evil places. You do not yet know That is how the victims look when they how to fight or work with these tremen- finally do die." dous weapons. We cannot wait. Besides We watched the horror for a space you have promised to do as I say for one and Nydia concluded year, and my purpose in making you "Some of those men have lived in that promise this to me was just that, that I torment for twenty years. This is our might teach you to be of value to us in enemy's pleasure palace; a Hell for such a fight. helpless victims of their lust for blood "I am yours and you may do with me and pain. From immemorial times, they as you please," I told her gravely, and I have had such Hells in the underworld, meant it. and it has never ceased. You see, you "I shall show you, dear lover, the true surface Christians are not so far wrong nature of those whom we must fight 9 One of various instruments used to cut sections against if we are to survive," she said, for microscopic examination —Ed. 30 AMAZING STORIES

in your pictures of Hell, except that you weapons to fight an ancient ray weapon, do not die in order to go there, but wish nothing they could do would stop the for death to release you once/ you ar- thing. Since most of the victims come rive. And they are very careful about from among us cavern people, surface letting a victim die, for that would end people never miss anyone without hav- the fun. There has always been a Hell ing a simple explanation for the dis-

on earth, and this is one of them. Every appearance." man who falls into their hands, from the caverns or from the surface, faces one gHE twirled a dial on the great ap- of those torments-to-the-death you wit- paratus and swiftly the picture on ness. It never mentions such things, the screen swept through the beautiful your newspaper, does it? That bunch caves and came to rest on a group of

1 " of misbegotten spawn of an afreet things that should not live. fears all living men." "Do you see them?" she demanded. "Do any surface men know of this "Those things that could not live but thing?" I asked her. for the beneficial rays they bathe in "It's impossible to tell them of such perpetually? The worst thing about things," she answered. "Since there is them is their fear of technical men. no logical reason for anyone behaving They are so stupid they think that mod- as they do, none of the motives that ani- ern science might produce weapons af- mate surface people being evident in fective against their mighty antique such activity, they can't believe any tale mechanisms, so they particularly perse- of modern Hell. Even if you show them cute and obstruct modern scientists on projections of the tilings that go on in the surface, although the truth is, it is the evil caverns, they are sure that it is improbable that men can produce any- a concoction made up to frighten them, thing equal to the ancient work in even from motives wholly mischievous. The centuries of effort." truth is, almost none of the surface peo- "Have you had many other surface ple believe in the existence of evil ray- people here?" I asked her in wonder. groups from antiquity down to the pres- Nydia shook a sad little blonde head. ent day. They don't even understand "It is very difficult," she admitted. 11 the detrimental robotism which is the "I have planned for years on recruiting underlying cause of such a horror. And and training a group of men who would there is no way to tell them, short of be far superior in ability to those evil taking them there. Even if they knew, ones we fear. But surface men fear us, what could they do? They have no chiefly because they have heard the

» A monstrous evil jinni, a demon, a horrible ceive of the thought as a good thought, such as giant.—Ed. doing a good deed. But by the time the thought has gone through the brain and transmitted into 11 Detrimental robotism— actually the two action, the thought is no longer a good deed, but words from which dero is derived, using the first a bad deed. For instance you arc impelled by two letters of each word. Thus it can be seen your thought to help a blind man across the street, that a dero is a being who is a robot (or slave) to but by the time you get to him to do it, your a detrimental process of thinking, a process that thought has changed so that you trip him and always ends in something bad. Dero people's laugh as he falls into a mud puddle. That is the minds are affected, so that their thought processes way a dero thinks, and why he always does evii are warped into evil channels. Picture the brain things—his brain is so poisoned by detrimental as poisoned, and picture a thought as something energy that all his good thoughts end up bad. that must make its way through the convolutions. Pure thought, say the philosophers, is always good. This is not actually what happens, but it is an It is only rendered bad by the effect of a sick analogy that will help you to understand. Con- human mind.—Ed. THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 81 whispered lies and horrible thoughts of "WHERE did this particular group the evil ray-men." come from?" I asked Nydia. I looked with loathing and sick dis- "The ancestors of this group came gust at the Things that were now pic- from underneath Arabia. They came tured on the vast visi-screen. In truth, long before we did, more than one-hun- they could not have lived save for the dred and fifty years ago. Some of them protection and beneficial force rays of are one-hundred and fifty years old, too, that Elder Race that had once lived I have learned. The Arabs knew them there. Small wizened imps, goggle-eyed, as afreets, the devils that whisper in their goblin appearance was that of sand blowing at night, or scream like walking dead men. And dead they would lost souls in the sand storms, and mis- have been except for the synthetic body lead the poor Arabs, causing their death electric which the ancient generators of with lies or tormenting them with pain life force pour through thier bodies for- rays." ever. Because of this supply of super But those afreets, or goblins, upon energy, these evil people live on long which I stared on the visi-screen were after they would normally be dead. It not whispering in the wind or the sand. is this fact, also, that makes them evil, They were, instead, lisping into the for they are in truth not able to create straining ears of some of the most in- thought, and only the slow decay of fluential tycoons of the surrounding their brains is energized by the syn- surface industrial area. The lies they thetic electric, which is the real cause told! I learned later by myself, read- of the evil, destructive nature of their ing the minds of some of the rich, that thought. It is not genuine thought at many of them believed in the power and all, but a reflection of the decay in their efficiency of the Secret Ray of America, minds, which is a disintegrant pattern, which they thought was a service like not a creative one. the F.B.I, for the purpose of searching Nydia explained all this to me very out escaped convicts, bank-robbers, ex- clearly, and I know she was right, for tortioners, kidnapers, etc. To these ty- they looked extremely unburied, long coons the ray-dero from the hidden ca- dead, but horribly alive. I believe that verns posed as a secret service, hard at if they were cut off from this ancient work solving several murders and rob- supply of life-generating electric mech- beries they had committed themselves. anisms, they would not live a week. They were amazing mimics, considering Some of them hung over balconies that they had little real intelligence, but around the scene of that hell upon which only a pseudo-thought arising from their I had looked sickly a moment before. long experience in reading men's minds. They were obviously gloating evilly. "My dearest Dick, you must learn Others were talking over the telepathic very quickly all that I can teach you," ray mechanism with people on the sur- murmured Nydia tensely. "Then you face. will be better able to help our sane "To torment their victims is their group—who are really very good and greatest pleasure. They have little wise—protect ourselves from those mad ability to enjoy other things. And they ones. At present we are able to hold are always amusing themselves tortur- them off, but at any time they may get ing helpless beings who have fallen into the better of us. They are really mad their hands. It is a terrible thing to un- idiots, in spite of their clever mimicry derstand, but it is true." of sane people's actions. They slay us — —

AMAZINS STORIES whenever they have an opportunity to once called Gods by people of earth. do so without loss or danger to them- This is the place that has made me in- selves. telligent and worthy of life. You will "Gome, now! " Nydia continued, become a great man if you use this wis-

'*' —into the ancient thought record li- dom, my lover." brary. You shall read the history of Into yet another chamber Nydia led the great race who builded these im- me and guided me to a huge chair, like perishable caves and the indestructible a giant's dentist chair, though the up- machinery which is capable of who holstery was missing. She pushed me knows what miracles. These records into it, and I was lost in its tremendous tell of a time when the Great Ones lived size, which made her laugh deliriously. on earth long before history was re- There were several flexible metal straps corded by writing. Thus, you shall which she fastened about my wrists, know more about the earth and the life waist and neck. Then she took a of Man in the past than any other living strange helmet, fastened to a heavy ca- 12 man from the surface—more, too, than ble, and placed it on my head. most of the cavern people, for few of us "Lie back and relax. You will soon study long enough to learn to appreciate be another person entirely in another and absorb the wisdom that lies in such period of time. Do not let the double places as this library of the recorded sensation of being two people at once thought of the mighty men who were worry you; it does not last long. This

is the greatest experience the ancient wisdom of the caverns can offer you, to 12 When I gave the world the story of Mutan Mion (In "I Remember Lemuria !" in the March, read the mighty thought—to actually 1945, Amazing Stories) as my own memories, I become as a God of the ancient times." could not reveal exactly how I remembered the I saw her throw a Titan-size switch iar past, without bringing the story down to the present day. Thus it was that editor Ray Palmer on the wall and in a flash mis-named it "racial memory." So now I shall * * *

actual truth of how it came about explain the T WAS not Dick Shaver, but another that the ancient, forgotten past can live today,

exactly as it was, in the mind of a modern man man entirely. I stood in a forest of myself. tremendous fern trees. Beside me was Through scientific, indestructible mechanisms a long, enormous cylinder of smoking the Ancient Ones' thoughts were recorded on a kind of micro-film, sealed in non-corrosive con- metal, still hot from its recent passage tainers. Placed in one of their thought-record through the upper air. From it emerged projectors, these records yield more precise and a woman, larger than I, and in her arms accurate information about that ancient life than any of our history books about more recent she carried my child. events. By the nature of synthetic thought- The fern trees seemed topless, electric flows given off in strength by these par- stretching up until distance made the ticular mechanisms, the person "reading" the rec- ord feels he is himself the person experiencing the tremendous fronds seem fragile and occurrences described in the thought-record. The delicate to the eye, at last disappearing flow of image-bearing energy from the record is in the mists. In the sky I could see so much stronger than one's own energy of con- sciousness that the experiences produced from the many similar cylinders and knew they record remain in the mind more vividly than any were decelerating and would come to actual experiences. Thus these records control rest at last near us. I knew that we the mental processes in such a way that the past is lived again in a more vivid fashion than one's were members of an Atlan" colonizing own life. These records left by the Elder Folk are a more faithful transcription of actual history 13 Atlan—one of the three major races of space, than any other records kept since.—Richard the other two being the Titans and the Nortons. Shaver. —Ed. THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 38 expedition, sent to this blazing new sun The days passed eventfully, for each one and its planets where life was furiously brought immense new vistas of the pos- fecund, capable of developing a cres- sibilities that lay in the immensely more cendo of growth into complex forms that fecund and different growth from any- would from our landing onward be thing we had known. guided by our skill and wisdom. My Within the chambers of that house I ship was the first to land of the colon- knew those beneficial vibrants from that izers of planet three under this new star new sun would build up a charge of in- named Sol. creasing potency, for the waves could "Put the child back in the ship, Lia," enter, but, due to the direction of the I called to the woman. "Then help me flux of the field in the walls, could not get out the materials for our house. The get out again. Thus, the house Lia and sooner we are safe within its walls the I had constructed became a great trap better, for we can't tell what forms of for beneficial energy and within it we inimical life may have been developed Atlan children would grow swiftly to since the tests were made so long ago great size and immense strength and by the explorers." unbounded intelligence. 14 "Yes, Lord of my Heart," answered the obedient Lia. T LIVED through what seemed years The two of us began to haul out from of time. I saw the cities grow. Over the cargo compartment of our space- our homes, after a time, we erected ship the sections that enabled us easily 11 This thought record story, given to Mr. Shaver by Nydia, was a logical one to begin bis to put up the walls of our new home. education into the past history. of the Earth, for

The walls contained giant spider-web it depicts the arrival of the first Atlan colonists coils which would set up an impeding on the Earth, named by them Lemuria. The reason for colonization was that our sun was magnetic field that would allow only then a new sun, still sending out radiations from beneficial energy to enter my home. The a carbon fire only, and not from the poisonous house walls, once the power was turned metals, radium, uranium, polonium, etc. (the heavy metals), and was thus a healthful place to into them, set up a huge force field live. Even so, the colonists built their homes in which allowed only waves of a certain a manner to keep out the poisons that cause old frequency to enter the interior. This age, which might be present in some small quan- particular frequency had been deter- tity. Our sun, today, from which the Atlans fled mined upon by exhaustive tests of the 12,000 years ago (see "I Remember Lemuria!" in beneficial and detrimental content of the March, 1945, Amazing Stories) because it was causing the disease of old age by projecting the electric and magnetic waves sent out minute disintegrances down on the Earth in a star, by the Sol, overhead. steady rain, is the answer to the riddle of death our scientists seek to solve. In water, the poisons From time to time as I, Duli, and my are present in heavy suspension, especially in ther- wife labored over the rapidly rising mal springs; in the air the poison floats forever structure, other spaceships drifted down with the tiny thistledowns of dust it has infected into the great clearing where we had and to which it dings; it settles in the leaves of plants—so that we take the poison in with every landed first of all upon this planet which drink of water, with every breath, with every bite we called Lemuria, or Earth. These of food; and as a consequence grow "old" by tis- were fellow colonizers, who immediately sue and cell inability to restore itself fully because of the hindering and ever-present fire of disinte- set about erecting their homes as Lila grance from the accumulations of radioactives. and I were doing. It seemed that no Age is nothing but a radium "burn"; a damage time at all had passed before the pio- to the living cell so that its functions are gradually stopped and retrograded until restoration by nor- neers had settled down into more or less mal process is impossible. When the cells can no regular living in their new environment. longer renew themselves, we die.—Ed. 34 AMAZING STORIES

domes of crystalline plastic. The air car swiftly gathered momentum, van- within each dome was not dusty or ishing into space in a moment, for

poisonous, but was a prepared mixture where weight is not present inertia is of gases, germless, fortified with health- not present either. So on the reverse giving nutrients, odorless, super-pene- flow gravity beam the graduates of trating, an ever-present agent for physi- Earth rose into space and voyaged cal well being. through the empty void like a flash of The light, always on where needed, light, presently to slow and circle never oppressive, was a soft luminosity slowly about another planet, double that possessed a beneficial force all its the size and weight of Earth until the own, even contributing an additional great beams of reverse flow reached up push to the forces that make life grow and eased the car down into the heart in beauty and strength. The natural of another great city, deeper and big-

electric magnetism of earth's force field, ger than the one those beings had left, which is in itself an agent of integration and much finer and more beautiful, or growth, was strengthened and fo- for the builders' minds had broadened cused on the sidewalks and in the liv- as their bodies grew through the cen- ing chambers of those wondrous cities, turies. so that the natural rate of integration growth of matter was increased by hid- J^ULI the pioneer lived a long and den mechanisms focusing overhead active life on the planet Earth

magnetic field lenses. and I, Richard, lived it over in my These field focii were formed where own brain through Duli's recorded the light and happy feet of our people thoughts. Duli became an Elder of were led most often in pursuit of that the ruling council in the city of Barto pleasure that we called work. on the planet Mil", for he was kindly For work was pleasure to us, in the and wise. Many fine sons did Lia give increasing flood of strength and aware- him and life was one swift stream of ness that in ever greater tide flowed pleasure and beauty and hard work through our limbs. For in these cities that of itself seemed only sport to the of new life age was conquered and ever-increasing strength and intelli- youth growth never ceased. When a gence of a being who lived under the physical body grew too large to con- amazingly beneficial conditions of

tinue living in comfort on earth, these Barto on Mu. In Barto the life that larger beings graduated by stepping was being built up for the people being into a car, kept at the bottom of a long 16 rock tube pointing at the stars far The Lemurians say gravity is the result of .the condensing (or fall) of infinitely tiny above. With similar companions they particles of disintegrated matter that fill all space (our sci- took their places in that space car. entists call it the ether) into existing matter, such Then through them and through the as the Earth is. The friction of these falling par- ticles, falling through matter, causes that "push" metal body of the car rushed a flow of we call gravity. These particles Mr. Shaver calls force, which, countering the friction of "ex-disintegiance" (or "exd" for short). Here we the penetrative particles that cause see the utilization of some sort of force which 15 neutralizes the friction of gravity, and thus pro- gravity , rendered the car weightless. duces weightlessness, with the result that a space A small explosion mechanism like a ship can be driven against gravity at great speed large cap pistol of the repeating type with only very tiny rocket blasts, like litUe pop- guns.—Ed. began a gentle hammering on the rear

of the car, and weightless as it was the 18 Mu—an abbreviation for Lemuria.—Ed. THOUGHT RECO :0S OF LEMURIA 35 bred in the ben-rays was surpassed by "Have you read them all?" I won- no other city on Mu. dered. But with the passing of years and "Yes, Richard all. For I am not con- the increasing growth and size that tented with a bare existence as it is came with them, arrived also the day lived here in the caverns. I long for a when Duli realized that the time had fuller, wider life such as those ancients come for him to graduate into a broader lived. So I have read and studied all life than Mu could offer. He knew that these records and they are now part of he must leave his sons and the work he my own knowledge." had been doing on Mu for a greater "I was enthusiastic as I glimpsed the planet and its fuller opportunities for possibilities her words opened before life. He stepped into the great space- me. In that little blonde head was liner with Lia at his side, . . . packed knowledge of earth-life that sci- Blackness suddenly hurled itself entists would give their lives to acquire down upon those vivid thoughts that and place before the surface world. had usurped the mind of Richard And I, also, could gain that knowledge Shaver. He ceased to exist as an Elder for myself and perhaps manage some- of the Council of Barto on Mu, and re- how, someway to pass it on. Oh, it turned to the existence of the convict was a brave thought. who had escaped from state prison be- "It is not harmful, then, this reading cause a blind girl from the caverns of old records? No risk is entailed by had loved him. this vicarious living in strange and * * * perilous scenes?" T, RICHARD SHAVER opened my "How could there be?" she re- eyes and felt quite cheerful again sponded simply. "You sit here, quite under the spell of the little blind witch- relaxed and comfortable, and in your maid who was laughing merrily at my brain alone you live many other lives, bemused awakening. acquiring thus those experiences and

"It puzzles you, Richard, does it that knowledge which would otherwise not? You have lived over a century take many, many years of life in many of olden days yet here you were, all forms to gain. Are you willing to learn the time under my eyes. You were but more, my Richard? Do you wonder reading in the manner in which we read that I care not to spend my life in dal- down here, the record stored in the liance with love, heavenly as it is thus caves long ago of the life of an ancient to pass the days with you?" Atlantean." "You are right, my Nydia," I cried, "But it was real. I actually did live enthused. "How wise you are, dear it," I protested, almost incredulously. love!" "I must have been that man, Nydia. The blind girl's strangely thrilling How else could I have known the most voice continued as I stared at her, my intimate thoughts of his mind. 1" own face all wonder at the seeming She shook her head from side to side, magic at her finger's end, that could smiling. touch a switch and relieve an existence. "It was real, but not for you, save "r as you experienced that ancient Atlan's J"'HIS is stupendous," I stammered, own thoughts. These shelves that line dazed at the vistas of wonder her our library here are packed full of such words opened before me. records." "Ponder, my Richard, upon the 36 AMAZING STORIES science you have absorbed from the It was with repressed impatience that reading of that one ancient wise man's I awaited the touch of her finger on the thoughts as they coursed through your control that was to open for me the brain. After you have read and thus door to a more vivid and exciting world. lived many lives through the records in * * * these caves you will find that there is T BECAME another man, a greater not a machine down here that you can- being physically. My body was not understand and operate. You will huge yet I was aware that I was very even learn something of how they were young in actual count of years. My constructed. Then indeed you will be sturdy legs were cased in knee boots of a most useful member of our little glistening gold-colored synthetic leath- group, for you may then be able to help er, my body in a skintight covering of us devise more efficient ways of out- overlapping golden scales that formed a witting and out-fighting those devilish flexible protection like armour. Upon dero I have shown you." my head I wore a scarlet helmet that "If you can teach me through these contained thought detection apparatus, records how to fight those Things you for I heard voices and movements near- tell me are your bitter enemies, get on by although the chamber where I stood with it!" My voice, the voice of was apparently empty. One voice Richard Shaver sounded strange in sounded, although distant, particularly my ears, as though an older, wiser peremptory. It was a feminine voice voice had come from my lips. and one that I, Bar Mehat, recognized I felt that to my surface years I had with a little grimace of half annoyance. added those other untold years of an I tossed my head petulantly so that ancient Being's wisdom. the red-gold hair that fell to my shoul- "Very well, my Richard. You shall ders in shining waves swung loosely voyage forth again." with the action. One of my broad, Nydia selected a bulky roll of record red-haired hands touched the lever of from the racks and held it so that I the console before which I stood. A could see the words graven on the case. clicking mechanism stopped and was She read them: Life and Wars of Bar followed by a musical hum like the Mehat of Thor, Hero of Three Worlds. spinning of a giant top. Dim lumi- "You shall live a great hero's life nosity pulsed about me. In a four-foot and you shall see and speak with Jor- circular mirror above the console a 17 mungandur, the Worm that encir- silvery aura flickered madly, to cled the world. This is a record of coalesce slowly into the likeness of a which I am most fond and I have read young and attractive woman. it often," the blind girl told me. Her lips moved and it was then as She slipped the roll into the mech- though she were present in the room anism at the top of the chair, adjusted with me, for her voice sounded with my head-band carefully. Her lips clarity in my ears. touched mine almost with reverence, "Bar, the thing is growing faster than so grave was that caress. I sensed that our control of it. It actually threatens the life of Bar Mehat, the hero, meant all life on our planet. Jormungandur is very much to my little blind maiden. not a joke."

"Certainly he is no joke ; but why fret yourself, who are on land, about Jor- 17 Jormungandur—In Norte legend, a son of Loki. Also known as the Midgard Serpent—Ed. mungandur who lives in the sea?" "

THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 37

My laugh was loud and free. Women! himself, or you dp nothing, and I look How they worry over nothing! "As elsewhere for assistance against this long as he kept to the sea why should peril. All my Afrik possessions are I worry about him?" cried the young now completely under The Worm's ten- woman resentfully. "It is because he is tacles, you—you boudoir decoration!" creeping up out of the sea that I am cried my cousin with scatching impli- disturbed. His body now completely cation.

circles the earth. His tentacles have I laughed again. I couldn't help it. spread over half the unsettled portion of Gracia's wrath was so easily aroused, Afrik. They are a hundred leagues and Gracia at white heat was not hard long and they grope continually for to look upon. food." "I shall arrive to banish The Worm "That is not so good, fair cousin. His before another sunrise," I promised. tentacles are entirely too many," I "I trust you are not too sanguine," growled. she snapped. "It will take some doing "He has them along his whole body," to banish him, Bar. Farewell until the cried she. "If he takes a notion to crawl morrow."

out of the water for a breath of air it means the ruin of all the Atlans' work TV/TY HAND reversed the lever. The on Mu." image of the pretty young woman "Has no one done anything to check faded from the surface of the mirror the Worm?" asked I, in some won- and once again it reflected only my derment for although the Covenant broad face. forbade direct attacks that might re- I mused to my reflection: "The sult in death, yet there was some al- Worm, a threat! Gods, one should

lowance for self-defense in cases of un- really have known that it would hap- bridled encroachment even against an pen some day. Now I, the simple war- honored and intelligent ancient like rior am called upon by my dear cousin Jormungandur, who was friendly to the to do my duty by my family. And in early Atlans. what a cause ! "We have a dozen great dis-rays rav- My face in the mirror grinned at me ing at the tentacles but as fast as we wryly. disintegrate them he throws out others. I thought, that as chief heir of all the It seems futile even to continue for we possessions of the Province of Thor, I get nowhere with all our efforts." could muster enough military strength "Jormungandur," I mused aloud. to take a planet or even to blast Jor- "The Worm that encircles the world. mungandur. I addressed myself to the Why, Gracia, he was here before the task by pressing a stud marked "Gen- Atlans colonized Mu. Mu is practi- eral Alarm to Thor Guard" and spoke cally his property. Are you sure that rapidly and authoritatively. it is quite legal under the Covenent "Officers of the Thor Guard are to to attack him, even if the attack seems muster all strength at once for an ex- futile?" pedition against the Worm Jormun- "This is no time for joking, Bar gandur who has become a threat by Mehat of Thor," somewhat acidly ex- tossing his tentacles over much land in postulated the young woman. "Either search of food. Anything that can fly you agree to bring sufficient military or float on water, throw a ray or carry forces to take a planet from Mephisto a bomb is to be made ready for ex- 38 AMAZING STORIES

tended travel immediately. All avail- to existence on Mu, despite the fact able weapons are to be loaded and that under the fecund rays of the new- ready before midnight tonight. Desti- born sun his growth would have been nation Afrik. Bar Mehat speaking." predicated as in itself a threat. Through my mind in an undertone to the business now in hand ran the his- , HE jungles in which lived those 'J" tory of the Atlan struggle with growth giant variants of life were, if con- on this planet of Mu. Under the sidered for themselves alone, terrifically beneficent rays of the new-born sun beautiful dreams of life growth. The nothing aged or ceased growth, and ex- trees seemed to grow upward forever, istence had depended therefore, those and to be topless. There was no aver- first centuries of our colonization, upon age size from the tiniest stalk to the keeping encyclopaedic notes on every trunks of some ancient trees that were form of life on the globe, in order the acres in extent. They were the result better to forecast the future develop- of centuries of unimpeded, unchecked ment of each species. For as the growth under completely favorable con- humble caterpillar changes to the ditions. For as yet nothing aged and miraculously different moth, so did died on Mu. 18 .these new creatures of Mu develop As most of the spores of life on Mu startling metamorphoses and varia- had originated on distant planets under tions. Since none of them died, and aging suns rather than by spontaneous since but little of the planet was as generation under the new sun's benefi- yet explored or settled, strange and cent warmth, there were of fruit and numerous were the threats to our con- flowering a-plenty." tinued existence which came out of the Those flowers were often of such dense jungles or out of the fathomless monstrous size that could stretch my- depths of the seas, ravening down self out in one as in a swaying ham- upon our attempts at an ordered and mock.

cultured life. So also all trees tried their best to Most of these tremendous monsters 18 life is to go on living of growth had been slain like the Giant The natural nature of forever. Death is not a part of the scheme of Man, a freakish growth of the earliest life. It is only the result of radioactive poisoning days, who had attempted to eat every- from an "old" or metallically disintegrating sun. Bar Mehat, the thing living on earth, but had at last Thus, here on Mu at the time of sun was sending down only beneficial radiations been slain by our hero Byrr, and whose of carbon, which is not a poisonous element, but body in rotting had fouled the air of the on the contrary, the basic element of living forms. whole planet. Or like Fenris the Wolf, Thus, nothing grew old, or died, except by actual destruction through accident or through killing. before he died had sired a race of who All things, including vegetation, continued to grow giant wolves which still infested north- so long as there was a source of "raw material" through two ern forests. The number of giant life and energy. A living thing grew processes: the replenishing of its body cells by that Atlans trouble were forms made us transmuting foodstuffs into living cell matter; and legion, but somehow Jormungandur the by assimilating the disintegrated matter which Sea Worm had escaped our general fills all space and which science today calls the "ether." The reader will remember that it is war against them. The Worm had al- this, condensing and falling toward all matter ways seemed safely confined to the seas (which also includes living beings, naturally) that and he had moreover agreed to the serves to build up the universe, and as a by- product of its function, causes the phenomenon terms of the Covenant, hence the Worm we know of as gravity, by the friction of its prog- had never been considered as a threat ress through matter.—Ed. THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 39

30 emulate Ygdrasil. There were many I had recollections of my home city, serpents in the dense forests and in ad- Atlansgaard, colloquially called Asgard, venturing therein one was quite likely not far south of Ginnunga Gap, a can- to run into the giant body of a rainbow- yon of abyssmal depth to the north and hued reptile whose girth was too great east, separating the civilized area of the to climb over and whose head and tail Northlands from the Dark Lands, as the were both out of sight in the distance. wild and practically unexplored land of The hunger of these things was be- the Giants was called. Those giants yond description, but the supply of were a race from a der 72 planet. They every form of life was of an abundance had been shipwrecked on Mu and as that cannot be even imagined. The yet there had been no particular reason monster Scylla by the whirlpool Chary- to banish them, driving them back to bdis; the Worm; the frost giants whom their home planet. They were compar- I, Bar Mehat, and my intimates often atively ignorant and as far as we Atlans ai visited, as had my ancestor, Thor . knew, harmless. They were called

19 How big the tremendous flowers of the dark reached everywhere, and from this our religious under-forest were it is difficult for Richard faiths have derived their teaching that "God is Shaver to judge, since surface folk of today meas- everywhere." Those rulers were probably widely ure everything by comparison to the average size aware of all near and far surroundings on Mu, of a man, and the Atlans of the new planet Mu for their beneficial rays and potions made tbem had no such criterion. Bar Mehat's size was gov- so. They moulded life forms to their will. They erned, as was that of other Atlans, by the age of precipitated energy ash (ether) and from it syn- bis parents and his own age, two variant factors thesized the elements they needed most. Space that resulted in a wide variation in size, which travel was so commonplace with them that they did not run uniform to the years of age, as in thought of it in the same terms in which we of modern man. today think of motor cars. As nearly as Mr. Shaver can judge, Bar Mehat What we can find of their thought is Interest- was about twelve feet high and a very young ing especially in its multiform concept known for man at that, as his parents were huge giants of short as MAG-ic, the word being derived from the far planet of Atlan. Hi3 years on Mu were IC, later Greek for science, and M-AG, or Man- under twenty.—Ed. augmented. This magic reached its height before two things, both long expected, happened. The ao Ygdrasil—Norse myth : the world tree whose carbon layer around the sun burned down to the roots and branches bind together heaven, the heavy metal underneath. Sunlight became in- earth, and beil. Today the California redwoods creasingly poisonous, since it contained minute still live, to prove that such monstrous growths quantities of disintegxant metals; disintegrant once existed.—Ed. flaming lead, radium, titanium, uranium emana- tions filled the bright sunlight. Old age, long 21 Cerberus who guarded Hades in the latter prophesied, appeared. days, after the flood had receded and death by Then began the periodic migration to a new, old age came upon the world, is well known. But carbon-coated sun. Most of those Elder Folk these were the later days, that "twilight of the left Mu for planets of kindlier augury. But some gods" and of their greatest battle, "Ragnarok," of those brilliant beings, loving "Mu" as they when the poison of our aging sun's induction had called our mother earth, remained, fighting the maddened those who tried to remain on Mu. poisonous effects of sun metal with their extended It can only be conjectured for surface men, knowledge. Before its accumulations could bring what life was like when the sun was new. Since on old age, they would extract it from their nothing aged, the forms of life were of mighty, bodies magnetically. Thus, keeping their immor- ever-increasing size. The legend of the Worm tal youth, sheltered in their deep caverns from that encircles the world and to eat must consume the heavy metallic induction of our sun, those his own tail, was probably as near as one could remnants of the race of immortals stayed on, to come to any description of sea-monsters whose be the source of our legends of the gods.—Author. farther ends would be out of sight when one glimpsed their gaping maws. Men, too, were aa mighty of size, yet there were some very tiny, Der planet—detrimental energy planet. One the products of a science beyond present-day man- on which an aging sun pours its rays, and causes, kind. in addition to age, a mental detriment, insanity. The "seeing rays" of those ancient scientists Our Earth, today, is a Der planet.—Ed. 40 AMAZING STORIES

Frosts; why, I myself, could not have might be forerunner of grave trouble. explained. They were of huge stock, Within minutes, my arms embraced running from thirty to fifty feet in the very attractive knees of my charm- height. I knew that under Mu's non- ing cousin Gracia and her tirade of fem- aging sun their growth would in due inine near-invective poured itself upon course be something terrific and I real- my defenseless masculine head. ized that their existence was a problem "Wise Bar, of the blood of the great that would have to be settled in the not- Thor, could not any fool have foreseen too-far future. There were many such this? Jormungandur, nonetheless, came problems and the Atlans were not yet on the Rolls of the Covenant. Explain well enough entrenched on Mu to have that, you feckless dreamer!" solved them all satisfactorily. There "Sweet cousin," I protested meekly, was much tendency in the life forms of striving to stem the flood of that aroused Mu that was alien; it had to be weeded ire. "I did not create the Covenant." out eventually, since only conflict can "A most fortunate fact that you be expected from life forms not of the didn't. Do you know what lies under same source pattern as our own. those reaping arms, blind and stupid one? Do you know what that beast of T EMBARKED on the flagship of the the abyss of ocean has eaten?" fleet that in a matter of hours was "Gracia—" flashing over the tremendous sea of "Ten thousand acres of parasites I earthy waves that was North Afrik. developed, to destroy alien plant forms. Our space ships settled behind a con- Now, in one week, that infinitude of venient range of mountains over which belly has destroyed ten years of our best we could see the tentacles of the Worm labor." writhing like titanic serpents against the I tried to block that tirade with a morning sky. Here and there blazed recital of the magnitude of the forces I the fiercely brilliant orange of powerful had headed for the retribution that must disintegrating rays and even at that necessarily be laid upon the Worm for distance the smell of roasting flesh was his rebellious action against the Cove- noticeable; unpleasantly so. We broke nant, behavior code of inter-racial law. out our smaller scout planes for recon- "Look, cousin, I have complied with naisance. I went aboard the foremost, your wishes. Last night my fleet as- for I wished also to visit my incensed sembled on the waters of Jotun Bay out- cousin and reassure her that all was well side my windows in Asgard. It is a since I and my forces had come into the heterogeneous collection, I will admit, picture. but look how little time you've given me As our scout planes shot upward, a to get it together. Glossy jet-planes, long vee of strange planes boomed up Gracia, some submersible fliers, and from the south and shot past our 'for- some heavy-bodied passenger planes to mation in a northerly direction. I had carry men. Not to mention three thou- thought I was familiar with every type sand top fighting men." of plane on Mu, from jet to nose-ray, She shrugged her shapely shoulders but the design of those planes was en- and wrinkled her nose distastefully. tirely strange to me. They disappeared "I notice that you have not brought from my sight, but not from my quest- your armored space-ships, hero." ing mind. Strange planes above Mu I was quick to pick up that in rebut- were not to be ignored; their presence tal. —

THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA

"Because, fair cousin, they are too My ship was equipped with the mecha- unwieldy for surface work. Yet, I did nisms that would put all space at my dispatch several with large cargoes of command, to be seen and heard and to foodstuffs and ammunition and other throw my voice into the ears of those supplies for our base on the Gold whom I willed to hear it. I had the ship Coast." hover over that part of the ocean be- She heaved a deep sigh of unwilling tween the continents of Atlantis and resignation. South Afrik, that particular spot where

"Oh, I presume you have done the it had been said that men had talked best you knew how," she stabbed. with the Worm many a long day ago. I switched on the vis-ray, and it sank COULD not refrain from grinning. miles into murky depths. J deep the At Gracia was not a good loser and she last, after I had turned it hither and had lost out with me thus far, for I had yon, there glowed on the visi-screen like not failed to think of everything at my twin moons the awful eyes of the most command that might be needed in that ancient life on Mu. mighty fray that was scheduled to take The telaug revealed his thoughts to place between us Atlans and the Worm. me and I pitied him as that river of des- I knew that killing a thing with the perate and weary meaning flowed from growth rate and titanic strength of Jor- the thought cloud like the drifting soul mungandur was not going to be a simple of a lost sea. The Worm was hungry. matter. His body encircled the whole He was weary of the emptiness of a life earth and was of incalculable mass. 23 that contained nothing but slumber and Its nature was much that of the star- feeding. His groping tentacles were no fish; break it in twain, and both halves longer able to find sufficient food and he grow. That his great age had developed was bitterly resentful at a fate which mental reactions of a kind similar to had given him life which he found it human thought was known to us from difficult to sustain, and later had given the fact that this had been true of other him thoughts so that he understood monsters of growth on Mu. I was he long pondered that . what was. For I shortly to learn just how far this men- wretched but intriguing life that was the tal development of the oldest and most brain center of the Worm that encir- monstrous creature on Mu had been car- cled the earth. At last I spoke, send- ried by the beneficial rays of the new- ing my voice to the distant Worm's lair. born sun. "Garm," said I—in Afrik and near I returned to my scout plane and parts Jormungandur was called Garm thence to the flagship of our air fleet. "Garm, speak to me. Give me an an- swer, for I am your friend if you will

"Obviously here the description is not an ac- have me so. From the darkness that curate one. By Bar Mehat's own admission, ear- shrouds you, from the gloom in which lier in this thought record, all of Mu (Earth) has you must wallow in the abyss of not been explored. Apparently the known por- tion of it (except for casual observation from ocean's depths, speak to me, who wishes space ships) consisted only of Europe and Africa, you well. It is Bar Mehat of Thor who and a portion of Asia, probably just east of the calls you." Norse countries. Thus, the Worm, Jormungandur, occupied the Atlantic ocean between what is now r 1 the above-mentioned continents and the continent HAT deep river of gloomy medita- of Atlantis (also included in the known portions). J tion ceased its slow flow and concen- Its sire must have been tremendous, perhaps as much as five hundred miles long.—Ed. trating itself reluctantly, looked out of 42 AMAZING STORIES the pale lucent orbs that were Garm's one of real sympathy for a creature so eyes. Great abstract thoughts welled up outgrown that we could not by any the ray and flung themselves on the means within our power send it to a thought-cloud like corpses pushing up- larger planet. Or so I thought at that ward for release from the sucking ooze impulsive moment. that clung to them. That husky, thick The voice of Garm droned on : "Once voice enunciated words with heavy diffi- a man of your line went a-fishing. Yes, culty. I recognize you for one of Thor's line. "It is long since Man has sought me For a joke I took the bait between my out. What would you of Garm?" jaws and raised up my head near his "In the old days, Garm, you were one skiff. He was, like all of your blood, a of the few of the serpent race who up- stubborn fellow and he pulled the bot- held the Covenant's code. Why have you tom out of his boat, trying vainly to foresaken the ways of peace? Why land me. At least, that was his pre- are you now unfriendly to Man? Your tense. body is now partly on land, and it is "After I had carried him ashore on land upon which my family has ex- my back we talked for a long, lovely pended much labor. Now all that con- time, he sitting on the sand and I with structive work is spoiled and many good my head lying on the sandy beach be- men whom in the old days you would side him. He told me a tale of another have called friends, rejoicing that they such serpent as myself, grown too long lived on Mu, those men have died under for comfortable living on his birth- your long arms' fatal suctions. Must we place, and he predicted that the same then slay you, Garm, that we may live?" fate lay in store for me, unless I found Garm's thoughts moiled over this death by some other means. That great problem. They flickered back and forth serpent encircled earth as do I, and without much consistent form on the when the time came that abundant food thought cloud. was no longer available, he took his own "Once I loved men," he slowly an- tail between his jaws and swallowed it, swered at last, his thick voice dull with and after many years he died thus. a kind of indifference that troubled me, "It may be that I shall do that thing, the listener. "I loved them for the bright though of late I do not love men or their pictures they sent me and for the beau- doings." tiful children they bore. I loved them for the tales they told me of their lively T PONDERED the great Being's bit- doings in the sun. But now they have ter words and at last I spoke long forgotten me, and I raven for food. thoughtfully. "I am grown too big to feed myself "You must know something of our well, even though I draw from the vast thought magic, Garm? If you will do seas in which I lie. It may be that you that thing the other great serpent did, must kill me, for I know not and care we will arrange that before you do it not longer what I do. Life holds no you shall have many weeks of continual significance for me. I have outgrown pleasure dreams. You shall sense in life, perhaps." dreams glorious matings and victorious

"Garm, I think that if you will but struggles. We will give you the equiv- be reasonable, we may find some way alent of many lives of pleasure. to feed you, so that you may continue "This will take much energy that we to live on," I offered, my emotion being could well spend elsewhere, but it will THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 43 be worth that to us to rid us of your "But they had a ray which they can overgrowing, enormous appetite that is put upon any part of my body and becoming so destructive. We will pay through that ray control me. So when you in full and you know that we are I gave no consent to their supplications, honorable. You can weigh this thing they forced a part of me to lay waste well. Will you take our word and after such portions of Afrik as lies between your dreams die honorably, a true son the two great rivers. So, if you seek of the Covenant?" them out, where they have hidden them- "Bar Mehat of Thor," answered the selves within the Dark Lands, you will great serpent, "if your dream-makers know whence any coming trouble deal honorably with me, so will I deal sources." with you. And this you cannot have "I have seen their space ships, Garni. known, that besides yielding up my life I knew them for outlanders," I ex- there is a thing or two which I have claimed. "We shall take steps at once." learned that I will grant you freely without concealment. I know your '""pHEY mean to take over the earth magic, but your dream makers may and to develop fecundly. They weigh the value of their own lives in the come from a quarantined planet and balance of their calculation as to what have somehow eluded the Atlan der dreams they give me, for I have means patrols. They believe they can win of saving them or letting them drift on over the Mu folk before help can be to death that will seize upon them un- called in from greater space against awares. Tell them that, O Son of the them. How they expect to hold Mu Past Great, and bid them measure me against the entire Atlan space navy, out abundance of glorious dreams in once they have won Mu, I fail to un- gratitude." derstand. But they are stupid, despite

Thus it was that I talked with the their mechanisms of power, and perhaps

Worm that encircled the world. And they think not of it, or expect by crafty thus it came to pass that Garm told me trickery to cheat the Atlans into letting of things that I knew were true, for I them alone on Mu." had seen that flight of strange planes An idea flashed into my mind as I that headed for the dense forests that we stood staring at Garm's vast head, look- Atlans had thus far left practically un- ing into his fierce elder-wise eyes, twin explored. greenish silver moons flickering through "Strange outlanders came over my sea water. seas in great ships and hovered long, "Garm, in the caverns where we sending me their promises of many breed life forms, our technicians have a dreams, as you have done. But they way of removing the brain from an ani- did not ask my death, Bar Mehat they mal, a living brain, and putting It into ; asked my living aid. a metal bottle where it lives on, fed by "I learned somewhat of their dreams, fluid foods and synthetic blood. Since and their dreams are not my kind of you are grown too big for this earth, dreams, Bar of the old line of Thor. will you consent that we may put your There is no light laughter, and there brain into a bottle and keep it for a are no gallant young ones with them. record of the past? Their lives have been miseries of ever- "You have certain wisdoms which lasting warring. I want no part of such you can teach youth, and you like the wretched dreams. young, laughter-filled folk of our Mu — "

44 AMAZING STORIES people. Later, after you have grown forces and those invaders from a der accustomed to our ways on land, you planet. will have many friends, and later yet "I shall call you, then, Garm, when some colonizing expedition can take you we make our advance," I told him. "You with them and plant your living brain shall follow my forces— into a young reptile on some other Something lively sparkled in the great planet. green moons that were the eyes of the "You may live your life over again Worm. and again. Do the Der men offer you "I am to wipe up the debris of your anything of like value? And in return victory?" husked Garm, with a note of

for this prolongation of your life, will derision that piqued me a little. you then aid us against them?" "No, no," I protested half-hearted- The limpid moon eyes nickered into iy. near opacity as The Worm concentrated But Garm's thick throat uttered a upon this new and far more interesting kind of snorting laugh. proposition I had proffered. I waited "Rely upon it, I shall be with you patiently for his response and felt cer- when and wherever you lead," said he

tain it would be affirmative. After all enigmatically, and with that our confer- The thick voice came slowly after a ence ended. long wait. The moon eyes had cleared and shone greenly through the sea wa- '^pHUS it was that when my forces ter. made ready to advance into the "I accept your offer," said the Worm. Dark Lands where the invaders had en- "I would fain live on and see your brave trenched themselves in expectation of new worlds that else I might never visit. our coming, Garm's tremendous body I am ready to accompany you when you flowed after the army of Thor's men. give me the word that you are ready to The sight of him was comforting as we attack those interlopers from a quaran- pressed on into the night of the jungle. tined planet. I dislike their warring Like a mighty river of greenish black and resent bitterly that the people of flesh encrusted with barnacles and sea Mu must be forced into battles because plants, the titanic Jormungandur was a of them. Yes, Bar Mehat of Thor, I am reservoir of strength incalculable, in your ally against them. truth of a value of many armies because

"And when the battling is done with, of those splaying tentacles that ab- and you have driven them from Mu, sorbed all life they seized upon. then you shall send me first the dreams Like the mighty leaders of prior times for which I yearn in my now empty exis- I strapped to my back my anti-grav

tence. After I have had my fill of packs and flitted ahead with my dreams, I shall let your technicians take scouts. These anti-grav packs en-

my brain and preserve it as you have abled us to rise to a considerable said. Some day I shall again live in height above the ground, which was liberty in the body of another serpent a great advantage in entering that jun- on some greater planet. Yes, Bar Me- gle where otherwise we must have hat, I agree." been obliged to spend much precious I was overjoyed at Garm's decision time slashing down the heavy under- for something told me that he would be growth. A number of the scouts were an ally not to be scorned in the battle to go on ahead, it was arranged, and I that must ensue shortly between my flitted not far behind, with another THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA squad of scouts directly in my rear. alternate bound I blasted another path After these came the main body of our through the spine, leaving behind as I troops. It was while I went on in this went a paralyzed column of motionless way that I saw the girl in the trees, and flesh. As I reached the taper of the learned what kind of enemy we had to mighty neck the great head turned, jaws face. gaping to slay this stinging insect that She was wearing an anti-grav pack had wrought such swift destruction, but and she had depended upon it to escape with swiftly triggered blasts I cut the the swaying head of a monster reptile last nerves at the base of the head. Red whose coils lay over the rude path that threatening maw and evilly gleaming ran for some short distance into the for- eyes dropped supinely to the earth. est. She had apparently no weapons of The girl scrambled lightly down from defense or had lost what she had pos- the tree and threw herself at my feet sessed, in her flight from the great and flung her arms about my knees, em- snake. Now she was entangled in the bracing them with heart-felt thanksgiv- thorny, shielding branches of the tree ing. There seemed to me no time for to which she had flown, and the serpent amenities and I lifted her face and seemingly did not care to thrash about looked piercingly into her wide blue against those prickly thorns with which eyes. It seemed to me that I saw mir- it was equipped. I alighted on the rored therein a clean and innocent soul branch where the girl clung. and I felt well rewarded for my stren- "What has happened ? Have you no uous and perilous combat with that weapons?" monster reptile. I surmised that this "It came upon me so suddenly," she girl was an outlaw Atlan, else she would faltered, "that I dropped my ray-gun. scarcely have been at large in the for- And what use is a knife against that ests. I asked her directly. scaly skin?" "Yes, I am an outlaw." I looked at the reptile. It would have I did not care to take time to ask her to be eliminated, or its presence would why, but I did feel that she could be block the advance of my men. More- trusted. over, the creature had set its stupid "We seek those who drive the great mind upon capturing what probably beasts to attack the Atlan cities. Do seemed to it legitimate prey, and it kept you know where they have hidden them- its evil eyes hypnotically upon the girl, selves, maiden?" who trembled with apprehension. The girl remained on her knees, but "The thing must be slain," I said her limpid eyes were raised to mine. boldly, and let myself down lightly upon "Are you the leader who seeks those the sloping back of the monster snake. evil people of the dark forest?" she asked. SCRAMBLED up the scaly back to J I nodded in affirmation. the bumpy ridge of its spine. Then "Had I known that the leader of the I pulled my disintegrating ray from the forces was so princely, I would never holster and blasted a shot through the have fled the Atlan cities," said she center of the spine, severing the spinal cryptically. cord. I raced lightly, depending upon "This is no time to exchange pleas- the anti-grav pack to lift me as I leaped, antries, maiden. Do you know the hid- until I had reached the head of the ti- den entrenchments of my enemy?" tanic and maddened reptile. At every "You must be Bar Mehat," she said, 46 AMAZING STORIES ignoring my query. "They promised us forest folk richei "I am indeed Bar Mehat of Thor," I and power and security. Many fair assented with impatience. promises they made if we would help "Then I am for you. I owe you my them drive out you Atlans. They come life. I belong to the forest people, of from the forbidden spaces where death whom you must know. We are outlaws reigns," she shuddered. "They do not and hide always from such as you. worship the dark gods of space as you Among us came, not too many years Atlans and we forest folk do, for they ago great ships with many guns." believe in no good thing. They have "I know. But recently I saw some of learned that death has not yet come to their space ships and knew invaders had Mu and they think that now, before the landed on Mu. Go on, maiden." Atlans are too well settled, they can "They are not like us," said she. drive you out and learn to live as the "They have skins colored and blotched gods live, by studying your cities and like lizards. Like the chameleon liz- the minds of their captives. ards. Somewhat on the order of man "They are very evil and some things are they, with four limbs. Their webbed they do made me so fearful that I fled feet have prehensile toes and their into the deeper forest that I might see hands are long-fingered. They have a them no more. Ah, I cannot sleep yet long, fleshy tail that tapers to a whip- for thinking of their horrible life, their like point, hanging from their rumps. disgusting mottled bodies, the stink of They have large, flat heads and their them. And on those who will not go eyes are lidless and reptilian, and are their way they inflict torments, for they covered with a translucent membrane hate the way of the Covenant. They for protection. Oh, how evilly red those are fools and stupid, though, to believe eyes can glitter I" that they could ever win over the wise "Their features, maiden. Do they Atlans who make friends so easily." resemble men?" We flitted on for a few moments in "Oh, no, Bar Mehat. Their noses are silence and I pondered much over what small and flat and their mouths are the girl had told me. wide. They have no chins and their "You see, Bar Mehat, whenever an teeth are heavy fangs. Oh, they are Atlan sees how they work, he becomes most horrible to look upon." their enemy automatically, for it is im- possible to know when one pleasures or T LIFTED her to her feet. displeases them, so that it is inevitable that one will in the end be tortured to "I take it, maiden, that you must be aware from your familiarity with the death. Oh, I am glad to see the men force banish forest of where these lizard men have of Atlan coming here in to entrenched themselves. Is your anti- those foul invaders I" grav pack in good order? It is? Then in the come with me," I ordered, and rose in A CRY arose from the scouts join the air to flit ahead of the second squad van and we hastened to them. of scouts that, seeing me in conversa- The cause of the outcry was simple, tion with the girl, had halted in my rear. after all. They had spotted a dero hid- So we went on together and as we den like a chameleon against a dark went the girl continued to tell me of tree trunk, the faint patterning of his those pirates of space who had escaped lizard-like skin betraying him, for in from their quarantined planet. his perturbation at our approach it THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 47

turned from rose to purple, to inky rays being full of beneficial vibrants, black, then again to faint rose. Our yet its disintegrant induction had been men had overpowered him although he a tremendous factor in their develop- was armed with a projectile weapon. ment. Their will to live had been great, The girl touched my arm. but their will to destroy was as full, thus "Did I speak truth, Bar Mehat?" she coloring all their thoughts with vicious demanded. "Is he not as I described intent, for the will to destroy and the him?" disintegrant electric forces are one and He was indeed as she had told me. I the same. While the seed of greatness

examined his weapon with interest. It was perhaps within them, it had been was a glass-like gun activated by air buried irretrievably beneath a rigid dis- pressure and Bred a tiny, brittle, ven- cipline of the revolting kind which al- om-filled needle that broke on contact, lowed the individual little freedom save releasing the poison into the veins of the the right to reproduce.25 victim. One of the great cats that in- frequently lurk nearer the confines of *yyE HAD barely finished the broad- the forest gave me a chance to test the cast of the lizard man's thoughts poison. I fired the gun and the cat when a tremendous crystal sphere sailed whirled and then fell as if paralyzed. overhead and paused above the midst of Inspection showed that it still lived, but our array, for by now my forces had it was incapable of any action, save that caught up with our scouting vanguard.

its furious eyes glared upon us whom it Then, with a loud report, it flew asunder had been unable to escape. We later and there rained down upon us tiny sliv- found that the venom was similar in ers of light that seemed faery spears, effect to wasp venom in that it perma- playing in all directions. At least a 24 nently paralyzed the victim, but left dozen of my best men fell sprawling to him alive for future reference, as it the ground as if paralyzed and at that were. we all knew what had been in that Later, too, we learned that the lizard crystal sphere. It was a bomb, full of men had wasp habits in yet other ways, compressed air and packed with tiny for they, too, kept their victims living glass capsule needles of the paralyzing for long periods before eating them. venom of the lizard men. It was a most I called for an augment helmet and effective weapon and we could not, un- ordered it clapped on the prisoner's flat fortunately, determine its exact source head. It was a matter of a few minutes at that moment. only when his thought, with tremendous augmentation, was flowing back over 3E In Allan language there are three kinds of men: tero, normal man; dero, evil man, and zero, my entire following forces. In this way useless man. These lizard people were for the I knew would be aware of just my men most part zero. Equal parts of good and evil in what they were about to engage in dead- the character made their total effect in life merely ly conflict. a repetition of the status quo. But they were foolish enough to allow domination by the dero, These lizard creatures had evolved which rendered the total effect detrimental to all on a small planet under a very large new other beings and their own true interests as well. Hitler, dero, caused the weight of sun. While it was not a deadly sun, its Just so has a an entire nation of men to be thrown on the detri- s *The venom of the wasp is shown on stung mental side of the scales. Other men are not spiders, when it destroys the nervous system but smart enough, or well enough intentioned, to re- leaves the spider living, perhaps conscious, to be move one Hitler. Notice the world conflagration eaten later alive by the wasp grub, a system of resulting from the devotion of one nation to a food storage.—Ed. ditrimental energy robot.—Author. 48 AMAZIN© STORIES

2" After that first one, sphere after swept the fire ahead, it died. sphere hissed down upon us through the air and Atlan's bravest fell in windrows. THE fire broke a way through, my

Some of our men thought it a good idea forces marched, leaped or soared to pick off the spheres with disintegrat- over the smoking jungle. To the dan- ing ray rifles, but this resulted in the ger from the enemy army that must be bombs bursting high in the sky, only to ahead was added that of falling limbs rain the venomous needles more widely from the great trees that stretched a upon our heads. I had ordered huge mile overhead. Some of those giants, disintegrators, mounted high on trucks remnants of the first early growths, were at our rear, to drop sweeping fans of six or seven miles tall. These gargan- destruction into the forest ahead of us. tuan trees now stood blacked at the Their range was almost incredible, so base, and at infrequent intervals limbs that fires of many miles in width sprang as long as several city blocks and weigh- up ahead. At long last the spheres de- ing from twenty to a hundred tons creased in numbers and I felt that our would crash near us. Once in a while rays must have destroyed some station the smouldering embers would burst from which they had been dispatched. into flame that would leap skyward I had been well aware that to use a through the now dried-out framework of large distintegrator in the jungle was an lower limbs, but a few well-directed infraction of the Covenant's code, but sweeps of the atomic carbon rays ex- if any intelligent life existed simultane- tinguished these as fast as they sprang ously with those lizard men in the jun- up. gle ahead, it was self-doomed by failure It was a relief to all my thirsty, soot- to warn us Atlans of the impending at- covered men, when we sighted the en- tack. All rules are tossed overboard in emy's camps. Uttering shrill cries cal-

war, sooner or later. That forest fire, culated to fill us with apprehension, the which under ordinary circumstances lizard men at once set up a barrage of would never have been allowed to rage, venom glass needles to halt our advance. among those trees so big that a man Here I had made some preparations could hardly grasp their immensity even which I believed might be the answer to with his imagination, was a sight never that type of attack. Forewarned by our to be forgotten. prior experience I had ordered that We Atlans have a curious way of put- some of our huge disintegrators en ting out such fires. We have an atom- route, approximately a hundred, be ized carbon ray which we spray into the adapted to prepare from their rays what down-drafts around the flames. This is is called a wind-ray. This is a dual activated carbon, more inflammable ionizing ray, one ray positively ionizing than ordinary carbon, and divided with the air and another negatively ionizing extreme fineness so that its particles are the air. When the rays are held far driven along by certain waves of light. apart a gentle breeze springs up between Thus an atomic carbon ray is formed them as the molecules of air, drawn by which is sprayed over the fire. The the attracting charges they bear, rush carbon did not, as might be thought, down to neutralize their charge and are increase the intensity of the fire, for the pushed aside or spread by the outer in- finely divided carbon combines with the

oxygen of the air, blanketing the whole 6 Apparently the heat of the combination was area with carbon dioxide, so as the rays lost by its dispersion.—Ed. THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 49 rushing air. When they are held closely bellowed with huge guffaws over the together and highly energized, a terri- outlanders' methods. In improvised ble vortex of inrushing and uprushing underground pens they had collected wind is formed. These hastily adapted overgrown monsters of every descrip- devices were posted like horns of a tion. Held in those narrow tunnels, and crescent on either side of our advancing fed but little for a long period, these lines. creatures had become ravenous with As the first crystal gloves hissed over- bestial hunger. Various types of dis- head, these wind-rays swung into ac- integrating rays and venom-ball throw- tion. Thus the globes, instead of fall- ers, as well as other weapons the na- ing, shot into the air like rubber balls ture of which was strange to us then, on a tossing fountain and, juggling them had been attached to the animals' backs. like circus performers, our expert ray The purpose of this arrangement was men flung them back into the air over obscure until the lizard men threw open the enemy's camp and then released the barred doors to the tunnels. them, to harry our tormentors by their Out rushed the maddened beasts. own venomous weapons. This return Mammoths, titanotheres, titanosaurs, barrage was greeted by howls of dismay dinosaurs and huge serpents rushed from the lizard men as their own pig- down upon us. The ray apparatus" on eons came home to roost. their backs was automatic, sending a Our penetras27 came into action also, beam in a wide arc ahead of the beasts. sweeping over the whole area in our This beam, a dual ionizer like our wind- van, so that whatever was opaque be- way, completed the circuit when it came transparent. What had seemed struck metal. It was then that we real- merely earth and forest growth for half ized the new peril we were encounter- a mile ahead of my forces was revealed, ing. The resulting flow of current so that we saw and knew what the lizard through the beam activated the firing men were keeping behind walls. In fact, mechanism for the disintegrating ray. the penetra rays were so powerful that Since all our weapons were fabricated of for miles ahead the whole enemy work metal, while those of the lizard men lay revealed as if we saw it through were made out of glass or plastic, these glass. This was done by bathing the enraged living ray-tanks loosed upon us whole area in penetrative rays of a non- were more than a subject for laughter, destructive nature and sweeping over as we had thought when we first saw this with other rays that carried finely them through the walls of their tun- divided selenium and other chemicals in nels.

the same way that our fire-extinguisher At first we held off the terrific on- rays carry carbon. These luminosity slaught. Our superb gunners picked off rays act in the same manner that stains the beasts as rapidly as they approached act on a transparent organism under the within range, yet the heavy discharges microscope, bringing out the details in released into the air began to blanket different colors. the whole fighting area with a stifling, thought-blocking disintegrating charge. \XfHAT we beheld was most in- One could hardly move one's limbs be- triguing to my forces. The men cause of the effect of this detrimental 27 Penetra—visi-rays which penetrate and make electric, which leaped like Hell-fires transparent any object on which they are trained. from every bush, every piece of metal, Thus, in projecting visi-rays through earth, the every blade of grass, making the vision penetra is used as a carrier ray.—Ed. —

50 AMAZING STORIES

hollow with the disillusion of despair. following upon the appearance of Garm It was not long before our fire was the invaders were, for the most part, slowed by this subtle nerve-paralyzing speeding away, leaving behind them influence and the beasts pounded their dead and wounded and the blaz- nearer in overpowering numbers, their ing ruins of their camp. The mad- combined weights shaking the earth be- dened beasts which they had starved neath us, their great maws roaring, and and then released upon us were careen- over their fierce heads flashed ever the ing off in all directions for the control automatic fire rays, every flash mark- rays that had kept them advancing ing a hit on some metal weapon of ours. upon us in attack now stood abandoned, Whether this was defeat, or whether their tall masts no longer flashing with the disillusion from the strong .detri- energy sparks. The battle was over, mental that so subtly held our minds save that a few of our fastest planes under its potent spell was powerful trailed the fugitive enemy, their pur- enough to check our aggressive action, pose not to do battle, but to determine things began to look very dark for Mu. the destination of the lizard men that

And then we might report it to the Space Police. We bivouacked amid jubilant cries of £^VER our cowering heads reared triumph. the vast bulk of The Worm. No metal to complete a circuit in that TT WAS some days later that our bat- engine of destruction! His curling, tered columns wound slowly back mile-long tentacles lashed out, and into the green cultivated areas sur- every beast they touched was caught rounding my cousin Gracia's white up, crushed, and tossed aside, a menace marble mansion. As we marched we no longer. He was the most awe-in- could see in the far distance Garm's spiring being I had ever seen, with the acres of scaly body flowing swiftly into great moons of his eyes reflecting his the sea. I sped on in advance of my fierce battle joy. One could almost forces, by the aid of my anti-grav pack, hear the thought in his vast dragon and came to a stop at the marble steps, head: where my cousin stood awaiting me and "After all these dull, uneventful cen- on my ears again fell the unending turies, what bliss to fight again for the recriminations of her anger.

sons of the friends of my youth ! Yea! "How could you have let those It is good!" From the throat of Garm ignorant, undeveloped idiots from a der a great rumbling roar issued and planet so nearly defeat you, Bar seemed to shape into words. "On, Mehat? Jormungandur himself hardly Atlans! On, Allans 1" And the saved you from destruction. How could mighty serpent hiss terminated the you have marched into the face of that roaring words. ominous situation without prepara- The great Worm's bulk blotted the tion, without any special weapons, sun from overhead so that we fought in without prior scouting and informa- ?" the shade as though twilight had de- tion— scended upon us. From our van we Her voice went on and on, and I be- could see the planes of the lizard men gan to think that she was probably right taking to the air as they retreated in and I an impractical dreamer, unfit to mad rout from this unconquerable ser- head the troops of Atlan. My too- pent of the ancient days long past. For costly victory told this as well as did THOUGHT RECORDS OF LEMURIA 51

the faces of those of my most valued "The record film broke," she told me men who still lived. regretfully. "They are so very old, "I know not, cousin. Youth and it is surprising they have lasted so long. ignorance of such traps may be my only Perhaps it is of little consequence, after excuses," I told her stupidly, for my all, for that record of Bar Mehat ends heart was sick, now that all was well when he returns to Atlan." over, at thought of those dead we had The faint sound of a gong rang left behind in the Dark Lands. "I can- through the cave and we took each not think of anything else," I apolo- other's hands and went together to the gized. dining-hall where the entire group cus- "It might be well if you did a little tomarily met for meals. I was for thinking, nevertheless, Bar. The Space hours in a kind of daze, for it seemed to Patrol is on its way. When it arrives me that I was still Bar Mehat and not one of its officers will take charge here Richard Shaver. in command of our Atlan forces and Later I realized the lessons from that you—you are going back on one of life I had vicariously lived. It was that their ships, for you have signally failed anger and warfare, struggle and death, to distinguish yourself on Mu. When are the fatal fruits of der, and der was you are back on Atlan, my cousin, you the distortion of the magnetic fields of had best go to the College for War- the thought cells of a mind by disin- riors and learn a little something of tegrant electric. And Mu in those how to take care of yourself and safe- earlier days had not turned inductively guard your men when you lead them." under the new sun long enough to in- I stood with head hanging, for I had duct the great charge of detrimental no words to give her. She was prob- electric which makes our life today the ably in the right, I thought. I would hell it really is. It is not good to be a enter the College for Warriors upon my man on a quarantined planet of der. return to Atlan and I would study dili- If one reads the ancient books that gently and prepare myself in the latest exist always in these old, abandoned military science so that Mu would be planets, one learns that life away from better for my leadership when I re- an aging sun is immortal life, while on turned to that planet. a der planet it is a brief moment of * * * existence and thought under a blasting I stood, suddenly blackness rushed sun of death. down upon me and I knew no As this knowledge sank into my mind more of my cousin, or of Garm slowly from the great brain back of Bar's withdrawing into the sea, or of any- thought-record, a terrible despondency thing until a light flashed through the seized upon me. I realized that Earth darkness and I became aware of an odd was now such an outworn living place, popping sound as of a suddenly re- quarantined from the great immortal leased run-down record. life of space because der means warring I wakened to the soft laughter of the and men of earth think der thoughts. blind maiden as she switched off the If only we could build again such houses thought record reading machine. as the Atlans built, which barred the Her hands fell light on my shoulders entry of all detrimental energy flows, and she leaned to kiss my forehead be- or even live in caves as did the later fore she removed the apparatus from Atlans to shield themselves from a my head. deadly sun, we might become again 52 AMAZING STORIES

something more than the mere insects radium would do if we swallowed it. we now are. Only ignorant men, who could not flee into space, remained here on earth to MATTERS now stand, I have be- father modern man, for the Immortals come one of the underworld, of abandoned their out-grown dwelling those who have been called trolls, places here when they took to their gnomes and goblins in the old days. We space-ships and flew away to settle un- are the same today and still my friends der more favorable conditions on other here fear surface men. For man can- planets. not understand or believe any other It is my constant hope that some day form of human life but his own, and earth men will waken to the existence they fear us greatly when they learn of of these ancient cavern dwellings, full our existence. Yet those of us who are of marvelous machines and secrets of kindly intentioned need man's under- science infinitely greater than theirs. standing and assistance, for our lives It is full time that mankind awoke. are struggles for existence against the I live on only in that hope. Until then, malefic schemes and powers of the evil I bid the surface earth farewell. I re- and idiot denizens of the caverns. Be- main here in the caverns, absorbing cause I realize the tremendous impor- wisdom against that day, and loving (as tance of our continued existence as an only those can love who live under the intelligent group, I have thrown in my rays of the ancient mech) my little lot with Nydia's little band. Nightly I blind maiden. 29 stand my watch against the devils who —Richard S. Shaver have made their in the farther 28 homes It is this record that was presented by Mr. caves. Our life here is purchased at the Shaver in his first story, "I Remember Lemuria!" published in the March, 1945 issue price of never-failing vigilance. We of Amazing Stories. When Mr. Shaver presented it to us, he peer over the old visi-rays, focusing the did not explain how he knew it, except in the ancient lenses to the farthest range and manner described in the opening of this second story, as a mental impulse from underground sweeping the caves with them for the minds received at first via his welding gun in a slightest indication of attack, that we Detroit auto plant. Ignorant as your editor was may turn it back before it reaches us. of the real facts surrounding Mr. Shaver's story,

we decided to call it "racial memory" to make it Daily I spend much time reading the more credible to our readers. We are forced now ancient thought records, bringing thus to retract that, and to admit also, that your editor to my knowledge the lives of the mighty, was the most doubting of all Thomases at the beginning. However, when you read ancient God-race that existed immort- the amaz- ing reactions to this first story, published in Dis- ally before our sun aged and they ad- cussions, in the new special section devoted to ventured elsewhere. The tale of that reporting readers' discoveries and reports on Mr. Shaver's Lemurian story, and in the Editor's Ob- aging sun and of the flight of the Elder servatory, you will be faced with the same amaz- Folk its from effects is written in those ing facts which have made your editor look a 28 ancient thought records. For as the little silly for having perhaps harmed the credi- bility of an incredible story by trying to make sun ages it grows more dense and as it it less incredible.—Ed. becomes denser it throws deadly fiery 29 particles out with its light beams. These Actually, Mr. Shaver is no longer in the caverns, but back on the surface, as we shall have gather in the body and like radium occasion to demonstrate later on ; but Mr. Shaver they never cease to burn; they are intends to present in each issue from now on, one atomic fire and deadly in their final of the "thought record" stories that he listened to while in the caves and for conUnuity, result. In time their accumulation — thus, we have ended this story where it should properly burns and withers life away, just as end, in the caves, with more to come.—Ed. NOT YET, BUT SOON By JOHN McCABE MOORE

Here is a scientific description of some of

the marvels of science that will become part

of our daily life when victory has been won.

LITTLE woman, how would you like to be able you, brother, it is later than you think! The to roast enough beef for twelve people in energies emitted by molecules of carbon dioxide * fifteen minutes? The proper understand- acid (fizz water to the soda jerker) are even now ing and control of diathermy (induction of heat dictating the beat of your heart and the number in matter by selected radio waves) will just do of its contractions per minute. Please remember that for you some day. it is always easier to burn down a house than

Leather will be tanned by the use of rays in it was to build it. All that is necessary is the a matter of minutes when selected "invisible interference of two or three selected quanta. light" is put on the job. Vats of starch in com In 1938 or 1939 an issue of The Pocket Medi- products factories will be converted to sugar (as cal Quarterly printed by a St. Louis pharmaceu- found in corn syrup) when the Geissler tube tical firm carried an account (without mention- (long used for making measurements of myriads ing names) concerning a medical man who had of atomic finger-prints) is used to furnish the discovered a combination of three wavelengths proper scalpels to make the conversion, not in from the spectum of iron (the element's own hours or days, but in minutes! Expensive dye- behavior pattern, so to speak) which he demon- stuffs will be synthesized in jig-time, when the strated to selected witnesses with small animals patterns of energy which encourage the synthe- as subjects, proving that the hemoglobin (the red sizing processes are put to work without the in- Stuff that makes you a red-blooded American terference of many other types of energy (such as and permits the cells their necessary "forced are obtained by the use of heat from a flame). draft" of oxygen) can be instantaneously and The secrets of penicillin and the sulfa-drugs will completely altered. He sealed (?) his witnesses yield themselves to the spectroscope's magic eye, lips and destroyed his machine and the records and their rapid manufacture will save millions of his experiments. The nest man will not do of humanity from the deadliest streptococci and thusly, and he might be born in Japan. staphylococci. Cost of producing and proces- If the destruction of fleas and mammals (and sing most of the impedimenta of civilization will men) becomes thus simplified, what woeful de- drop tremendously. Even the life blood of vastation of forest and field may not be visited modern chemical industry, sulfuric acid, will be- upon "the enemy" in future wars? The only come so easy to make it will flow like water, sensible difference between the hemoglobin mole- quickening the pulse of every chemical manu- cule and the chlorophyll molecule is that iron is factory. Not now, but soon. replaced by magnesium. Yesterday (1937) man devised infra-red lamps But let's get back to the post-war planning. which killed fleas (and other insects) right That virtually untapped source of gold, silver, o n the backs of animals, without injuring magnesium, radium, barium, calcium, aluminum, the owners. Tomorrow infra-rays, especially beryllium, platinum, tungsten, chromium, sodium, selected for especial purposes will reach into the potassium, nickel, tin, molybdenum—seawater, body and the brain of man to kili bacteria, the greatest mine of all ! Today we laboriously, to destroy tumors, maybe even to cure miliary slowly, expensively wrest a little of its wealth tuberculosis. This, however, will probably not from it by electrolysis. Not yet, but soon, as far come very soon. But be it known that the use as the vast history-span of the race counts of unselected infra-red energies has already soon, that treasure-house too will be opened wide made its dent on syphilis. What may we not do, by painfully devised chemical and physical when we learn to use heat selectively? methods, so that tomorrow the dreams of yes-

A few short years ago a boy in Kansas terday shall be dime-store baubles 1 grounded airplanes (just for fun, mind you) by The diamond, the hardest of all in reality and radio interference with ignition. But is a synthesis both, will yield its secret also, and the mechanism's ignition as sensitive as the ignition chemko-physicist will manufacture jewels of all system of the heart? What more terrible or kinds for watches, for hair, and for the ample more real possibility is there than that of stop- bosoms of not-too-proud matrons. ping human hearts by remote control? I tell THE END "Curt!" triad Nadlna. "Who'i that girl?" Sha want whit, at ii ght of Lilith. 64 Lilith was only a robot, so it couldn't be murder to get rid of her, could it?

BRYCE looked up from the micro- scope as the click of high heels on the laboratory floor reached his ears. Nadine stood just within the door, pulling on gloves with sharp, brisk movements of her hands "You're all dressed up," Bryce com- mented, stretching cramped arms. "Going for a spin in the gyro?" Nadine Bryce shook her lovely head, her green eyes solemn and steady on his. "No, Curt, I'm leaving." Bryce rose abruptly from his stool. 56 AMAZING STORIES

"Why, Nadine, what do you mean?" complete without the other. "Just what I said, Curt. I'm leaving. The exquisite oval of Nadine's face Bag and baggage. This is good-bye." softened momentarily—then hardened Bryce swayed, as though from the again. "Oh, Curt, it's futile! I want force of a blow. "I—I don't under- to enjoy life now. Now, Curt! Not at ." stand. . . some vague time in the future. You "That has always been the trouble won't get anywhere with your work for with you, Curt," Nadine told him, with years yet—and I'm tired of waiting." sudden resentment. "You never did "It wouldn't be much longer, Nadine. understand anything that wasn't I've solved the most serious problems. connected with your work. Well, you're The Bryce electronic brain is almost a entitled to an understanding—and reality." Bryce went to her, placed his

you're going to get it. I'm sick of all hands on her arms. "Nadine, you love this." The angry sweep of her arm in- me, don't you?" cluded the gleaming glass and chrome She looked away, biting her lip. interior of the laboratory, and the His hands tightened. "Nadine?" lonely vista of cliffs and ocean which "Yes. Oh, yes, Curt! But it's no showed through the broad windows. use." "I'm sick of living like a hermit. I'm "You won't wait?" still young. I want friends, parties, "No, Curt. I'm sorry. I've stood

good times. I'll never get them by this kind of life as long as I could, and staying with you. You're too absorbed I just won't have any more." in your work." "I see," Bryce said, with quiet TJRYCE'S hands dropped to his sides bitterness. He looked at his hands, as though suddenly devoid of life. and for a moment he was silent. Then His voice was leaden. "Well, I don't his face lifted, urgent with pleading. see anything I can do. I could leave all "Nadine, you're the one who doesn't this and take you to the city and try understand. Can't you see that my to make you happy—but ... the fact work would have meant friends and is I sunk every cent I had into this good times in the end? I know the laboratory. I'm in too deep to back kind of friends and good times you out." Bryce straightened, forcing a mean. You can't have them without smile. "Maybe what you need is a va- money, Nadine. Everything I've been cation, Nadine. I've a little money doing has been toward the goal of gain- coming in from some patents, and I'll ing wealth, fame, and influence." Bryce supply you with what you'll need. Per- knew this last was a lie, even as he haps after a while you'll see things

uttered it. He loved his work for itself, differently." not for what it would bring. But "Perhaps, Curt." Nadine's voice was wealth, fame, and influence were things a murmur. Her green eyes avoided his. which Nadine would comprehend. Bryce placed his hand beneath her Nadine hesitated. "Do you really chin, raised her face, kissed her lips. mean that, Curt?" "Good-bye, Nadine. Have a good "Of course," Bryce answered, feeling time." a sudden justification for his falsehood.. "Good-bye, Curt." Anything to keep Nadine, he told him- He watched her go, heard the tap- self. She and his work were vitally tap of her high heels grow faint, and necessary to him. Each would not be finally die. There was the roar of the WEEP NO MORE, MY ROBOT 57 gyro's motor from the tiny landing of all else. He had left Vanneman Ro- field outside. Then that died, too. bots for this laboratory near the ocean, Bryce sighed, feeling suddenly old. to work on a robot brain which he He sat down on the stool and touched hoped would lead to a robot type al- the microscope, but all desire for work most human. had left him. Removing his smock, he Bryce had overcome the most seri- left the laboratory, taking the sea-shell ous difficulties in his work on the Bryce path down to the cliffs. The sun was electronic brain. The elusive hand of bright and the sky cloudless. A stiff success had almost been within his breeze from the ocean whipped against grasp—and Nadine had rebelled against his shirt and trousers. He drew its cool the loneliness and seclusion of the life salty fragrance in deep, walking fast. which she had been forced to lead. He could not outwalk the bitter Bryce wondered if the wealth which knowledge that he and Nadine had his electronic brain was sure to bring made a mistake—Nadine, gay and fun- would make a difference. A chill of loving, and he, the staid, serious- foreboding spread through him as he minded robotics engineer. Nadine was recalled the lack of response that had a Landrey, a name which had long been been in her farewell kiss. synonymous with wealth, but genera- tions of Landreys as gay and fun-loving 'T'HE sun was edging its way down as she had depleted the family fortune toward the horizon when Bryce re- until only the prestige of a memory re- turned to the house. Jones stood be- mained. He, Bryce, had not possessed fore the entrance to the living room, the advantage of a family tradition, watching with the expressionless sight- having gained recognition through sheer cells that were his eyes. Jones was a ability in his chosen line of work. Vanneman robot of the latest type, Starting as a raw technician with Van- slim-bodied and soft-footed. He served neman Robots—a pioneer firm in ro- as housekeeper and cook, and was as bot manufacture — he had quickly efficient as he was tireless. worked his way up to head of the re- "I was looking for you, Mr. Bryce," search department, attaining a measure Jones said. "Dinner is served." of fame by his invention of a new and Bryce nodded. "I went for a little improved robot type. walk." He had met Nadine at a banquet "I also looked for Mrs. Bryce," Jones given in his honor by Cyrus Vanne- said. "I could not find her." man, famous inventor of the first prac- "She went to the city," Bryce ex- tical robot and founder of Vanneman plained. "She won't be back for some Robots. Love was the great leveling time." agent which had made all differences in The implications of Bryce's last heredity and environment seem insig- words were lost on Jones. He repeated, nificant. And at that time, intrigued "Dinner is served," and entered the by the novelty of parties and dances, house, his internal mechanism clicking

Bryce had not found it difficult to fit and humming softly. into the pattern of Nadine's life. They Bryce ate a solitary meal, then went had been married while still held in to the laboratory and resumed his work. that giddy whirl of entertainment. He felt an urgent necessity to do some- Then, later, Bryce had again become thing. He hoped that busy fingers and absorbed in his work to the exclusion an occupied mind would bring relief —

58 AMAZING STORIES from thoughts of Nadine. But no Bryce threw himself into his work amount of concentration could ease the with redoubled energy. Fall came, and dull ache which throbbed deep within clouds began to fill the blue of the sky. him. There were occasional squalls, presag- The days passed in bright succession. ing the coming of winter storms, which It was late summer, and the sky was sent the surf booming against the rocks prevailingly blue and clear. Each day at the base of the cliffs. was so much like the one preceding that Finally the electronic brain was fin- Bryce took no notice of the passing of ished. Tests still had to be made to time. He left the laboratory only for determine its degree of efficiency. meals, sleeping on a cot in one corner Bryce had a completely-assembled, of the room. The electronic brain rap- spare robot body, which he now began idly neared completion. to equip with his invention. He was Bryce came to accept Nadine's ab- busy with this one gray day, when the sence with a dull resignation, though he sound of an approaching gyro inter- did not cease to miss her. There were rupted him. times when some phase of his work, was of an automatic nature such as not to RYCE'S visitor was Nadine—a Na- J> require his presence. Then he would dine who looked more lovely, if wander restlessly about the house, or possible, than when he had last seen go for walks along the ocean. Once he her. Bryce took her into the living turned on the television set in the liv- room, and began to mix drinks with ing room, his only contact with the out- hands that shook. He found it strange- side world. ly difficult to breathe. His thoughts There was the usual variety of news- were anxious. What did Nadine's visit casts. Two major European powers mean? Could it be that she was—com- Hearing a political crisis. A fourth ex- ing back to him? pedition leaving for Mars. Results of It was a futile hope, he soon real- the annual Luna rocket race. And ized, for Nadine's manner toward him "Your reporter has it on good au- bore a markedly noticeable constraint. thority that Nadine Bryce, nee Lan- She began with the usual pleasantries. drey, and Sidney Arthington, wealthy "How have you been getting along, sportsman, are making it a steady two- Curt?" some. There are rumors current that "Well enough. Jones takes care of Nadine Bryce has separated from her everything." husband, Curt Bryce, noted robotics "And the Bryce electronic brain, is ." engineer. . . it finished?" Bryce turned off the set with a vicious "Finished, Nadine. I haven't experi- twist of his hand. He was breathing mented with it yet, so I don't know hard. Steady twosome. . . . The phrase how good it's going to be." tore at him. He knew a little about "I bet it'll be all right, Curt." Sidney Arthington, who was a celebrity "I hope so, Nadine." for no other reason than the possession She studied the contents of her glass, of enormous wealth. Arthington was a running slim fingers along its edge. Her playboy—Nadine's kind. He'd fit in momentary silence had something of a nicely with the kind of life Nadine pause for preparation, a drawing of wished to live. A constant round of breath before the plunge. Abruptly she parties, night-clubs, good times. looked up. WEEP NO MORE, MY ROBOT 59

"Curt, I came to see you about some- dry. After a long, awkward silence, thing." Nadine rose. "I'll have to be going, "Yes, Nadine?" Curt." "Curt ... I want a divorce." "Good-bye, Nadine." It was not entirely unexpected, but They shook hands, and Nadine Bryce's stomach climbed a mountain walked quickly from the room. Bryce and jumped off. A vast stillness seemed gazed bleakly into nothingness, the to thicken and press in around him. sound of the gyro fading in his ears. He stared stupidly at Nadine, and then Then it was gone, and the only sound the stillness was gone. He grew acutely was the dull thunder of surf on rock. aware of Nadine's eyes upon him, Bryce reached for the liquor bottle, watching his reaction. He raised his filled a glass, drank it straight. He glass, emptied it in three great swal- filled the glass again. And again. lows. "Who's the lucky man, Nadine?" npwO days passed before Bryce re- Bryce asked. "There has to be an- turned to work. His movements at other man, of course." first were fumbling and abstracted, but "Sid Arthington, Curt." Nadine's with the threads once more in his hands, voice was barely audible. the old deftness and precision returned. "Sid, eh? Sid Arthington, the He completed the nerve hook-ups to his wealthy playboy. Nadine, the playgirl. electronic brain, impressed certain sim-

It'll be a great match." ple reflex-patterns onto the memory-

"Curt . . . Curt, do you have to be cells with the aid of a special micro- this way?" film conditioner. "No. Lord, no." Bryce pressed the The robot performed smoothly in re- palms of his hands hard against his sponse to his commands. The electronic temples, breathing deeply. He straight- brain was undeniably a success. ened. "Nadine, it hasn't changed with When the first flush of elation had me. I still love you. Won't . . . gone, Bryce gazed thoughtfully at the wouldn't you give me a chance to make robot. It was a life-sized figure in the up?" shape of a man, with body and head of "I'm sorry, Curt." spun plastics. Artificial hair, rumpled "Nothing I can say will make a dif- by Bryce's manipulations, covered its ference?" braincase. The robot was almost an "No, Curt." exact counterpart of Jones. Jones was

"If that's the way it is, then that's a male robot, Bryce remembered.

the way it'll have to be." Bryce Then, abruptly, an idea made him stif- shrugged forlornly. "You can have fen tensely. Why not house the elec- your divorce, Nadine." tronic brain in a female robot body? "Thanks, Curt," she murmured. She The thought made his heart pound glanced at him, hesitated. "What will strangely. Not just an ordinary fe- you do, Curt? I mean, what are your male robot body—but a female robot plans?" body that would be the exact counter- Bryce spread his hands. "I'll remain part of ... of Nadine! It would be here, of course, and keep on with my the perfect solution to his loneliness! work. That's about all that's left for Excitedly, Bryce recalled his posses- me to do." sion of a full-length, three-dimensional Conversation was a sponge wrung photograph of Nadine. This could be 60 AMAZING STORIES enlarged to life-size to serve as a model. secretions. Bryce intended to obtain And as for the construction of the body the same effect in the robot through the itself, who could do it better than the aid of mechanical glands, electrical and genius that was Cyrus Vanneman? radio impulses. And so, while awaiting Hardly had this last passed through manufacture and shipment of the robot, Bryce's mind, when he was running Bryce got once more to work. eagerly for the vision-phone. He con- tacted Cyrus Vanneman, explained 'P'HE gray days shortened, and the what he wanted done. wind from the ocean blew stronger. "It'll cost you a fortune," Vanne- The occasional squalls became storms, man said doubtfully. and in between, a dreary veil of fog "I don't care what it costs," Bryce hung over the cliffs. The thunder of responded. "Listen, I have several pat- surf breaking on the rocks at the base ents on the market that are each worth of the cliffs was almost continuous now. small fortunes in themselves. You It was winter, and snow was falling know the ones I mean. I'll turn all thick and soft when an air van arrived rights over to you in exchange for this at the landing field outside the house. job." Bryce's breath caught in his throat as Vanneman seemed to hesitate, then two men carried a large, coffin-like box quickly nodded. "I'll do it, Curt." into the laboratory. His hands shook "Fine. I'll send along plans and as he signed the delivery receipt. The specifications in a day or so. This is knowledge almost frightened him that going to have to be a very special job. this was it. This was the culmination The usual system of nerve and brain of all his work. connections will have to be changed en- The air van left, and Bryce eagerly tirely." opened the box, pulled away the layers "You working on a new idea, Curt?" of padding and wrappings. He gasped. Vanneman asked curiously. His eyes widened with astonishment, "In a way," Bryce evaded. "I don't and awe and admiration laxed the mus- know yet if it'll succeed." cles of his face. Bryce broke connection and imme- Working from the plans and the pho- diately got to work on the plans. After tograph, Vanneman had wrought a mir- a week of working almost constantly acle. It was Nadine lying there in the night and day, he was finished. The box, the thick lashes curling on her plans, along with the three-dimensional cheek as though in sleep. She was a photograph of Nadine, were then sent vision of frozen loveliness, a dream to Vanneman. made real in spun plastic. Looking at

While working on the plans, Bryce her, Bryce found it hard to believe that had come to realize that the new robot wires and cogs and tubes lay beneath would not be complete unless it pos- the pink-white plastic that was her sessed emotions. It would be able to skin; that a motor, tiny and powerful, think—actually to reason—but it would could bring her to life instead of the not be almost human if its thought proc- pulsing beat of a heart. esses were not accompanied by such Bryce roused into activity. The elec- characteristically human emotions as tronic brain and the mechanical glands love, hate, jealousy, and fear. In the were ready. He completed the robot's human body emotions were brought assembly with the swift dexterity of a about by various glands, hormones, and surgeon. Then he turned on her mo- WEEP NO MORE, MY ROBOT 61 tor, a very special motor which made degree. She regarded the house as hers scarcely a sound. Her eyes opened, and fussed over it continually, dusting eyes as green as Nadine's, except that and polishing with a pride and con- they possessed a warmth and softness scientiousness that no human bride in where Nadine's were cool and faintly a new home could have equalled. She appraising. Her red lips parted. She even insisted on rearranging the furni- gazed up at him with a kind of child- ture to her persona] satisfaction, and like wonder on her lovely face. when Bryce protested vigorously, she "You need a name," Bryce told her. took refuge in tears. Bryce gave in.

"Lei it be Lilith. Yes . . . Lilith." Lilith spent many happy hours hauling "Lilith," she murmured. 'Xilith." and shoving at the futniture in each Bryce supervised Lilith's education and every room. carefully. He chose from his stock of The next thing Lilith insisted on do- special micro-films, from television ing was to cook Bryce's meals. He broadcasts, from books. He took great pointed out patiently that this was pains to see that everything which went Jones' task. Lilith promptly demanded into her memory-cells was of such na- Jones' removal. Bryce refused indig- ture as to result in a personality that nantly. Lilith pleaded tearfully. Bryce would be typically feminine. gave in. He turned off Jones' motor, Lilith, by virtue of the electronic and left him in a storeroom adjoining brain, learned rapidly. In a matter of the laboratory. Nor was he sorry later, a few weeks, she knew everything that for Lilith put emotion into her cooking, Nadine had ever known—and some whereas Jones had merely cooked. things that Nadine didn't. But where Household affairs under Lilith's man- Bryce's expectations were concerned, agement progressed smoothly. She Lilith as a finished product was as dif- kept each room spic and span, and her ferent from Nadine as are black from meals were always something to look white and hot from cold. Where Na- forward to. For Bryce the house took dine was cool and calculating, Lilith on an air of cheerful homeyness it had was warm and impulsive. Where Na- lacked before. He found himself be- dine would have smiled, Lilith laughed, coming more and more at peace. and where Nadine would have com- Lilith proved to be a gay and charm- pressed her lips against an inward sor- ing companion. Bryce taught her to row, Lilith wept unrestrainedly. Lilith, play chess, and she quickly learned to of course, possessed tear ducts, having share his love for the game. They been built to resemble a woman in spent long hours over the pieces in the every detail. She never hesitated to use living room, and Byrce found Lilith in- these, however slight the provocation. creasingly hard to beat. She also de- She wept over the tribulations of lovers veloped an interest in Bryce's work at in television plays and death scenes in the laboratory, spending such spare books. It irritated Bryce at times, yet time there as she could find away from he could not bear the thought of mak- her work. Bryce explained the prin- ing the necessary adjustments in her ciples of robotics and the functions of mechanical glands which would change various mechanisms used in robot man- her. ufacture. Lilith, with her quick mental grasp of any and all subjects, was soon T ILITH'S feminine sense of posses- able to discuss intelligently any phase siveness was developed to a high of robotics with Bryce. Far from tol- —

62 AMAZING STORIES erating her presence in the laboratory, a robot, but I'm built to resemble a he came to look forward to her daily woman in every way. I have a woman's visits with eagerness. feelings. I love you, Curt. I want to It was inevitable that something make you happy in the way that only should arise to disturb the even tenor a woman can make a man happy. But of the relationship. They were listen- . . . well, you don't seem to care." "I didn't know ... I hadn't ing to a television play one evening, — which ended in a quarrel between two thought " Bryce was confused. lovers. Tears filled Lilith's eyes. Lilith watched him, hope dying in

"Curt, I wonder if something like her face. She turned away, her green that will ever happen to us." eyes welling. Her slim shoulders shook Bryce was puzzled. "What do you with muffled sobs. mean, Lilith?"

"I wonder if we'll ever quarrel like ^HOUGHTS whirling chaotically, that." Bryce left the kitchen. Awareness "But, good Lord, Lilith, why should lay heavy upon him that far from mak- we?" ing Lilith almost human, he had made Lilith looked away, twisting at her her a bit too much so. Compassion for small hands. "That's the trouble with her filled him, yet sifting his feelings us, Curt. We're really not close enough objectively, he could find no recipro- to each other to have reason to quar- cating emotions of love. Though Lilith rel." looked like a glorious young woman "Maybe we're better off that way," and in fact resembled a glorious young Bryce said. woman in every respect—he could not "Are we, Curt? Are we?" Lilith evade the knowledge that she was, after stood up abruptly. Her face worked all, only a robot. against a sudden flood of tears. Turn- And quite suddenly, Bryce found ing, she ran from the room. himself yearning for Nadine. Nadine Bryce stared after her in bewilder- was human—his kind. The old loneli- ment. Then he shrugged philosoph- ness returned with abrupt force. ically. Lilith was essentially a woman, The winter drew to a close. Bryce he reminded himself, and women are and Lilith exchanged only a few words often inexplicable. together, and then only when occasion In the days that followed, Lilith no demanded. Lilith continued to remain longer came to the laboratory. She away from the laboratory. She and spent most of the time in her room, and Bryce no longer played chess together, her meals lost something of their ex- nor did they listen to television plays. cellence. At last Bryce could stand it Bryce absorbed himself in his work, no longer. He caught her in the kitchen and Lilith developed a passion for read- one morning, demanded to know what ing, spending most of the time in her was wrong. room. Bryce saw her but seldom, yet Lilith forced a smile. "Why, noth- always he thought he could detect the ing's wrong, Curt." traces of tears on her cheeks. His eyes "Yes, there is," Bryce insisted. "I grew haunted. He began to wonder want you to tell me." how much longer it would keep up. Lilith bit her lip, hesitating. "All Spring came, and grass mantled the right, Curt, but remember you asked cliffs. The sun shone warmer each day, for this. Curt ... I know I'm only the skies cleared, and the bitter wind "

WEEP NO MORE, MY ROBOT 63 from the ocean became a mild breeze. friends and fun without worrying about Bryce, turning on the television set money. ItH be wonderful, won't it?" by chance one afternoon, learned that Bryce shook his head slowly. "No, Sidney Arthington had died in a crash Nadine." of his sporting gyro. The newscaster "But why not?" added that Arthin'gton's immense for- "I wouldn't touch your money, Na- tune had been left to Nadine. A short dine." time later, Nadine appeared at the "What difference does it make whose house. money it is, Curt? It's money, isn't Bryce was overjoyed to see her. It it?" was the answer to his wildest hopes. "I don't care," Bryce insisted. "I "Why, Nadine, I can hardly believe won't touch it."

! it's you Nadine's face flamed with sudden Nadine smiled. "It's me, all right, fury. "Curt, why do you have to be so Curt. How are you?" stiff-necked? I take the risk of killing "Just fine," Bryce lied. He could Sid—" She broke off abruptly, her not bring himself to admit that the last cheeks paling. Her hand crept to her few months had been pure hell. mouth. Nadine glanced around the living Bryce stared at her as though she room, frowning slightly. "Curt, the had abruptly become something deadly place looks . . . different. What on and alien. "What did you say? Na- earth have you been doing?" dine—what did you say?" "Oh, that's Lilith's work." She returned his gaze mutely, her "Lilith?" The name burst out of hand trembling against her lips. Bryce Nadine. Her eyes widened on Bryce. grasped her shoulders hard, shook her "Lilith's a robot," Bryce explained urgently. quickly. "Just wait until you see her. "Nadine ... you killed Arthington? The Bryce electronic brain is a success, But it was an accident! The newcast- Nadine, and Lilith is the result." ers said so!" Nadine looked strangely relieved. "Curt! You're hurting me!" She became demure. "Curt, do you Bryce released her, and Nadine sank know why I'm back?" she asked softly. into a chair. Her face set in lines of "No, Nadine," Bryce answered. But defiance. he thought he knew, and his heart "It would have slipped out sooner or skipped a beat. later. Now you know—and I don't "Curt, I've decided to come back. care!" Her features softened with sud-

That is, if ... if you still want me." den pleading. She became all tearful, "Still want you? Why, Nadine—" desirable woman. "But, Curt, I did it Bryce reached for her gropingly, and for you! I never really care for Sid. suddenly she was in his arms. I married him because he had money. I loved you all along. I kept remem- T ATER, Nadine patted her hair back bering what you said about working for into place and smoothed her dress. wealth, influence. I thought, since I She said, "We'll have to wait a while, was to inherit Sid's fortune, and if he Curt. Appearances, you know. Then were out of the way, that you could we'll be married again. I'm a wealthy stop working. I decided to get rid of woman now, and you can leave your him. I know how gyro's work. I fixed old work, and we can travel and have Sid's sportster so that it would go out —

Gt AMAZINS STORIES of control soon after taking off. The "Kill Lilith? Good Lord, no!" Bryce crash destroyed every trace of what I gasped. had done. They don't know, Curt. "You love me, don't you, Curt?" Na- They think it's an accident." dine demanded softly. "You can't pos- Bryce was stunned at the confession. sibly care for her. She's only a robot. "Good Lord!" he muttered. She couldn't give you my kind of love." Nadine searched his face anxiously. "But I couldn't kill her! " Bryce said. "Curt ... you don't hate me?" A thought suddenly struck him. "Na-

"Hate you? No . . . no. Somehow, dine—I know what to do. I'll shut off I can't." her motor." Then Nadine gasped. "Curt, who "It's no good, Curt," Nadine an-

. . . who's that?" she cried, pointing. swered flatly. "Somebody might turn Bryce looked around. Lilith, her her on again, later. She'd always be a hands at her throat, stood in the en- sword hanging over my head. No, Curt, trance to the living room, staring in- she has to be destroyed." credulously at Nadine. Bryce could see the logic in Nadine's words. He realized that Lilith, woman- 'pHE two gazed at each other as like, would be jealous of Nadine, would though in a trance of hypnosis, do everything in her power to remove identical green eyes wide, identical red her rival. He was chilled by the ter- lips parted. Except for the dresses rible problem facing him. they wore, it was hard to tell them Nadine's arms slid around his neck. apart. Her exquisite body pressed close.

"This is Lilith," Bryce told Nadine. "Curt, you'll do it, won't you?" she "Lilith, I want you to meet Nadine." pleaded. "How do you do?" Lilith murmured Bryce hesitated achingly. Nadine's coolly. "Pardon me for having in- lips were turned up to his, soft and red, truded." Without another word, she parted with promise. The perfume of turned and left. her was a heady fragrance in his nos- "Why, Curt, she looked just like trils. A refusal struggled to his lips me!" Nadine exclaimed. died unuttered. He pulled Nadine to Bryce grinned. "I had her made him, kissed her hungrily. "Yes," Bryce that way." whispered against her cheek. "Yes, I'll ." Nadine's face abruptly grew hard. do it. . . "Curt, she must have overheard what After a while, Nadine stood up. "I'll

I was saying about . . . about Sid. have to be going, Curt. I still have Curt, she knows!" many affairs to settle. Take care of Bryce felt a sudden apprehension, the robot as quickly as you can. She whether for Nadine or for Lilith, he mustn't have a chance to inform the po- could not be sure. He knew that each lice. I'll be back again—soon." resented their similarity to the other. Bryce saw Nadine off at the landing He'd seen their mutual surprise turn field. Then he returned to the house, into an instinctive dislike. numbed by thought of the grim task Nadine leaned toward Bryce, her which lay before him. Somehow, he green eyes narrowed with insistence. had to destroy Lilith. His mind quested "Curt, she knows what I did! We'll for some means which would be as have to get rid of her. I'd never feel painless to her as it would be to him- safe while she was alive." self. Several methods occurred to him WEEP NO MORE, MY ROBOT 65

—but he revolted at each and every on his. With a sob, Bryce pushed. Her one. scream of horror as she went over the Bryce mentally lashed himself for cliff sent cold chills up his spine. A dull being a sentimental fool. Lilith was thud reached him as her body struck only a robot, powered by a motor, made the rocks. intelligent by an electronic brain. He It was over. Finished. Reaction set could make other electronic brains. He in, leaving Bryce sick and weak. Re- could make other robots like Lilith. morse at what he had done filled him. Determination came to him. He Lilith was gone—sweet, gentle Lilith formed a plan. He'd take Lilith by who would never have dreamed of hurt- surprise, turn off her motor. Then he'd ing anyone, who could not bear the remove her brain, hammer it into frag- thought of anyone being hurt. Lilith, ments. As simple as that. who had spent long hours with him, Yet—each time an opportunity ar- playing chess. Lilith, who had been rived, he found himself unable to go genuinely interested in his work, dis- through with it. A spring wound to cussing robotics with him like a vet- screaming tightness within Bryce as the eran technician. days passed one by one and the deed Lilith was gone. Bryce knew he remained still unaccomplished. Nadine could make other electronic brains, but would be returning soon, he remem- he knew there would never be another bered. What would she say when she Lilith. The multitude of factors which found Lilith still in existence? had gone to make up her personality could never be duplicated. TN AN effort to escape the increasing And suddenly Bryce found himself strain, Bryce went for a long walk hating Nadine. He saw her for what over the cliffs one afternoon. It was she was—selfish, ruthless, addicted to a warm spring day, and the ocean frivolity, a woman who did not hesitate stretched blue and placid to the hori- to kill in order to gain her ends. The zon. bitter realization came to Bryce that he Returning to the house, Bryce saw had been an utter fool to have killed Lilith standing at the edge of the cliffs, Lilith for Nadine. gazing with a hand shading her eyes, Bryce walked leadenly to the house. in a direction opposite to his approach. He stopped short as he saw a gyro Her back was toward him. Suddenly parked on the landing field. He recog- Bryce knew what he must do. He nized it as Nadine's. would sneak up behind her, and then Nadine herself came out of the house —a swift push, and Lilith would go as Bryce stood there. She regarded hurtling over the cliff to her doom on him solemnly, and there were traces of the rocks far below. tears on her cheeks. She spoke. Bryce crept from rock to rock, closer "That woman you called Nadine was and closer. A lump filled his throat. here to see you. You were not in, and His eyes were blurred. Talons of she went to look for you." agony tore at him. And then—he was Bryce's mind reeled crazily. Lilith! behind her, and his hands were swing- This was Lilith! Then the other—the ing up for the fatal shove. one he had pushed over the cliff—had

. 1 Something made her abruptly aware been . . Nadine of him. She whirled. For an awful And suddenly Bryce was glad with moment, her startled eyes were wide a gladness that caught at his throat and 66 AMAZING STORIES filled him with music. Lilith was safe, going to try hard to make it up to you. Nadine's death was justice, in a fashion. From now on let's think only of us." It could easily be explained. Nadine He held out his arms, and for a mo- had simply wandered too close to the ment she stared as though she could edge of the cliff, slipped, fallen off. not believe their invitation, and then "What is Nadine to you, Curt?" she ran into them blindly. He held her

Lilith asked falteringly. "Why . . . close, and she was as warm and soft as why does she look like me?" any human girl, sobbing out her hap- Bryce merely smiled. "Forget about piness against his chest. her, Lilith. I've been a fool, and I'm THE END

O F SCIENTISTS

By ALEXANDER BLADE

He did more things with magnets than anyone else in history; we owe much of electromagnetic science to his inquiring mind

JOSEPH HENRY, American physicist and numerous coils of no great length revolutionized scientific administrator, was born in Al- the feeble electromagnet of Sturgeon. The other bany, New York, on December 17, 1797, surrounded by a continuous coil of very great of Scottish ancestry- Henry attended a coun- length made possible for the first time the trans- try district school until he was thirteen; show- mission of a current over a great distance with ing little interest in study, he was apprenticed little loss. Every electrical dynamo or motor to a watchmaker. A popular book on natural uses the electromagnet in practically the form in history picked up in his sixteenth year awoke his which it was left by Henry in 1829. ambition so that he resumed his education, at- The principles involved in the "intensity" mag- tending Albany academy, teaching in country net constitute the indispensable basis of every schools and tutoring to pay his way; com- form of the electromagnetic telegraph since in- pleting the prescribed course, he continued his vented, and Henry himself invented and demon- studies in chemistry, anatomy and physiology strated what appears to have been the first prac- with a view to practicing medicine. An un- tical electromagnetic telegraph in 1830-31 at expected appointment in 1825 to survey a route Albany. It consisted of a mile of copper bell- for a State road from the Hudson river to Lake wire interposed in a circuit between a small Erie changed his goal to engineering, and it was Cruickshanks battery and an "intensity" magnet with some reluctance that in 1826 he accepted of continuous fine coil. A permanent magnet an appointment to teach mathematics and nat- pivoted to swing horizontally like the compass ural philosophy in the Albany academy. needle, was arranged so that one end remained However, his decision proved a most happy in contact with a leg of the soft iron core, while one. Beginning experiments in electromagnet- the other end was near an office bell. At each ism, Henry was the first to insulate wire for excitation of the electromagnet the suspended the magnetic coil; he invented the "spool" or magnet was repelled from one leg and attracted "bobbin" winding; he discovered fhe necessary by the other, so that its free end tapped the bell. law of proportion between the electromotive This was the first instance of magnetizing iron force in the battery and the resistance of the at a great distance, or of a suitable combination magnet. He thus worked out for the first time of magnet and battery being so arranged as to be the differing functions of two entirely different capable of such action. Reporting his achieve- kinds of electromagnets; the one surrounded by ments in SiUtman's Journal in 183! Henry pointed VIGNETTES OF FAMOUS SCIENTISTS 67 out that the way was now clear for the invention tion. The plan of organization which he drew of the commercial electromagnetic telegraph. In up for it was so far beyond the average intelli- 1835, after his transfer to Princeton, he added gence of his day as to meet with bitter opposition. a step in the invention of the "relay" by which a But scientific men turned to the institution as a relatively feeble current operated an electromag- rallying and guiding center. Under his leadership net which in turn controlled the local circuit of branches of science hereto unworked in the United a more powerful magnet. This invention is ex- States were taken up; activity in all fields was tensively used in the field of electrical control, tremendously stirred; scientific exploration was known as distant control. made a beneficiary of the military exploration It was also in 1835 that Henry first used the and commercial exploitation of the West; the earth as a return conductor. But in 1829 he had Government's support of scientific activity was devised and constructed the first electromagnetic enlisted and given direction. motor, an oscillating machine with automatic While at Albany, Henry had devoted much pole-changer, publishing a description of it in attention to meteorology, realizing the need for 1831. This machine was the forerunner of all much more data, and one of his first acts at the electric motors. In the same period he made Smithsonian was to organize a corps of volunteer two other fundamental discoveries. The honor observers spread over the continent. He intro- for the discovery of self-induction which he an- duced standard instruments from abroad, prepared nounced in 1832 has been universally conceded tables of instructions, and for 30 years maintained

to him, and it' was chiefly in recognition of this the investigations, collecting, reducing and pub- achievement that the International Congress of lishing results which now form a considerable Electricians in Chicago in 1893 gave his name to portion of the foundation of meteorological the standard unit of inductive resistance. The science. In this connection he was the first to other discovery, that of electromagnetic induc- use the telegraph to transmit weather reports; tion, was made independently and at the same the first to indicate daily atmospheric conditions period by both Henry and Faraday, and since the on a map; the first to embrace a continent under latter published first, the credit is rightfully given a single system; the first to make weather fore- to him. casts from the data obtained. The success of the

In 1832 Henry was appointed to fill the chair Smithsonian meteorological work resulted in the of natural philosophy at Princeton. In addition creation of the U. S. weather bureau. to courses in physics and mathematics he lectured A second main achievement while at the Smith- in chemistry, mineralogy, geology; later adding sonian was to supply American science with the astronomy and architecture. Continuing his first great agency for free publication of results. physical researches, he discovered that a current Of almost equal importance was the system Henry of low potential could induce a current of high inaugurated of distribution of these publications potential by a suitable arrangement of the coils. to libraries and scientific bodies throughout the He elucidated the laws upon which the electrical world. This soon developed into the system of transformer of today is constructed. He found, international exchanges by which scientific and also, that a second induced current could induce later government publications were exchanged be- a third; the third a fourth; and so on, in- tween the rest of the world and America through definitely; and that these currents could be the Smithsonian. induced at a distance. Some of bis experiments In 1S52 Henry became a member of the light- in induction involved the transmission of electric house board, serving as chairman from 1871 till force without wires through the floors and walls his death. This gave him the incentive to make of buildings, and in one case he magnetized a his classical researches on sound in relation to fog needle by the transmission from a lightning flash signalling which provided his country with the 8 miles away. This appears to be the earliest most serviceable system of fog signals known to record of the action of ether waves of the type maritime powers. His researches also enabled the employed in radio telegraphy and telephony to- Government to exchange sperm oil for lard oil day. The discovery of the oscillatory character and later lard oil for mineral oil as an illuminant, of the electrical discharge came in 1842. Outside greatly increasing the efficiency of light beacons. the field of electricity, Henry showed that liquids He directed the mobilization of scientific effort and solids generally have the same amount of during the Civil War and was a prime mover cohesion. He showed, by means of a thermo- in the organization of the National Academy of galvanometer, that sun spots radiate less heat Sciences of which he was the second president. than the general solar surface. He invented a He lead in the organization of the American Asso- new method for determining (he velocity of pro- ciation for the Advancement of Science and of the jectiles. And in 1844 he presented a theoretical Philosophical Society of Washington. paper foreshadowing the principle of the con- Henry was by general consent the foremost of servation of energy. American physicists; his influence, not only upon In December 1840 the second great period of the development of scientific work in the United Henry's life began with his election as first sec- State?, but upon its character, cannot be over- retary of the newly formed Smithsonian Institu- estimated. By EDMOND HAMILTON

POLLOCK felt a sudden dizzi- fire with inward flame, JIMness that made the sunlit vista of He clutched weakly at a railing for New York Spaceport swirl sick- support. In a moment the giddiness eningly around him. His mouth was passed. But the fiery inward pain per- dry, and his whole body seemed on sisted. It would rapidly get worse, he There wai only one thing (hat could

« make Jim Pollock face the awful giants of

the monster world—that one thing was . . soma!

knew. Unless he could get some soma "You've got to do it," he told him- soon, he'd be in a delirium of torment. self in a dry whisper. "It's the only Pollock stumbled on across the sun- way, now." baked tarmac, along the rows of docked He reached the small ship at the end space-ships. of the line. It was a battered craft at —

70 AMAZING STORIES with unusually large auxiliary fuel- stepped forward. tanks, Pollock noted. On its bows was "Just a moment," she said. "Cap- the name Ceres. tain Marston, I told you that you must

A man and a girl were outside it, cleariy inform each man signed on just checking supply cases being carried where we're going." aboard. The man was a burly, black- The burly officer protested loudly. browed space officer. The girl was "If we do that, Miss Graham, we'll slender, dark, lovely even in a jacket never get a full crew together!" and space-slacks. The girl insisted. "It's not fair to "You're the master of this craft?" take men without telling them our des- Pollock asked as the man turned bee- tination. Go ahead." tling brows upon him. "Oh, all right," growled the burly of- "I'm Captain Marston," rumbled the ficer. He told Pollock harshly, "The officer. destination of this tub is Neptune. I "I heard you need men for an outer- suppose you want to back out now." planet voyage, and I'd like to sign on," Pollock, itching to get away from said Pollock. "I'm an experienced them, hastily shook his head. "No, spaceman, first class." that's all right. Neptune is all right Marston frowned as he stared at with me." Pollock's gaunt young face and haggard Marston seemed astounded. The eyes. girl too looked surprised. "You don't look first class to me, "Are you sure you understood?" she mister," growled the officer. "You're asked Pollock. "We're heading for thin and pale as a soma-drinker." Neptune itself. It's dangerous—since Pollock went cold with apprehension. you're a spaceman, you must know that The keen eyes of the captain had come no ship has ever yet come back from close to his secret. a landing on Neptune." "I'm all right," he said hastily. "Just She went on. "I'm Eve Graham. finished a hard voyage, that's all." My brother Alan led an expedition to "Well, we're finding men hard to get, Neptune some months ago. He didn't so I guess we'll have to take even you," come back, any more than other ships rumbled Marston, disgustedly. He ever did. What happened to him on shoved a slip of paper. "Put your name that foggy world, I don't know. But on this. Outfitting-fee is forty dollars, I'm going there and find out. We may and we take off at midnight tonight." never come back, either. And I don't Pollock hastily scrawled his name on want to take crew-men who don't real- the slip. His trembling fingers closed ize the danger of it." upon the money that the captain handed Pollock felt the dizziness coming over him—the fee given each spaceman be- him again. He only half heard her fore a voyage so that he could get his earnest explanation. He must get out outfit together. of here quickly, to Slih Drin's He had the money! And Slih Drin's What did he care what the destina- soma-joint was only a few blocks away. tion of the ship might be? He wasn't In a few minutes, he'd be able to ease going on it. He'd only signed on for the fiery torment that had been racking the outfitting-fee, and what it meant to his body for the whole last week. him. But he had to keep playing his

But the girl interfered. With a tit- part. tle frown in her clear brown eyes, she "Thanks for warning me, Miss Gra- —

INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD 71

ham," he husked. "But I'm not afraid." his nostrils. "Then that's that," said Marston Soma, the most beneficent and also hastily. "You be here an hour before the most maleficient drink in the Sys- midnight, Pollock." tem! This product of subtle Martian chemistry was the «nost perfect pain-

pOLLOCK touched his cap, and anaesthetic known. But also, if drunk

turned away. He knew they were too often, it could become a more tyran- having a hard time getting a crew for nical master than Earth alcohol. It such a voyage, and that Marston could turn men into confirmed soma- wanted to take no chance of his chang- drinkers. Pollock knew—he was one. ing his mind. The pungent stuff poured down his His legs felt wobbly as he hurried throat. He sat down shakily upon a back across the spaceport. The fiery cot. And within a few minutes, a pain in his body was getting worse by blessed warmth and peace began to steal the minute. Everything was blurring through his pain-racked body. around him. Pain washed out of his fibers. Sleep He noticed passersby who looked at stole upon him. And with the sleep, him curiously. He knew what a fig- came the gorgeous "soma-dreams." ure he must present, with his haggard He was a free mind, travelling in eyes and shaking hands. Bitterly he space at tremendous velocity. He thought of himself, only two years be- rushed past violet and copper suns, past fore, a clear-eyed, stalwart young sec- spinning worlds of beauty and horror ond officer with a bright future. And incredible, past racing comets and now through the fiery glow of great nebulae. No time to think of all that nowl He seemed to soar at will across the He was already making his way stupendous arc of the Milky Way, through the ruck of shabby streets to treading upon a sky spattered and the disreputable establishment in which spangled with thousands of suns. He Slih Drin conducted his illicit soma- vaulted up from the galactic universe, traffic. and plunged down again through the He had to knock twice before Slih great drift of swarming stars. Drin let him in. The bald, red-skinned From dream to gorgeous dream, Pol- Martian looked at him suspiciously. lock passed without sensation of time. "You get not one drink of soma un- He was deep in the soma-dreams when less you can pay for it I" he warned there came vaguely a jarring, remote Pollock immediately. sound of scuffling, of a rude entrance, "I can pay," husked Pollock, shov- of a harsh, angry voice. ing the money at him. "Give me the "Damned weakling! I knew you stuff, Slih." were a soma-drinker when I looked at The Martian delayed maddeningly to you. And I knew I'd find you in one count the bills. Then, mollified, he of these joints." went into the back of his shabby apart- Where did that discordant voice come ment. from, Pollock wondered vaguely? It He returned with a plastic flask. didn't matter. He was drifting on Pollock broke the seal and poured the through a magnificent vision of sky- scarlet, foaming liquid into a tumbler. rocketing suns and seething worlds. As he raised it to his lips, the char- But the angry voice again impinged acteristic pungent odor of the soma met on his dimmed consciousness, though — " a

72 AMAZING STORIES still very faintly. And he had a remote "Good God!" he muttered, looking sensation of someone violently shaking appalledly around. his numb body. He was in the crew-room of a space- "Wake up, damn you! You signed ship. A half dozen other men, hard- on for a voyage, and by Heaven, you're bitten Venusians, Earthmen, Martians, going on it I" were clambering sullenly out of their Pollock's dream-drowned mind paid bunks. little attention. It didn't matter how This ship was in space. It didn't his body was shaken or slapped. He need the porthole of blazing stars to couldn't feel it. tell Pollock that. The steady drone of He could hardly even feel the sen- rocket-tubes building up velocity, the sation of being dragged somewhere, creak and quiver of the vessel, was through streets to a busy, noisy place, enough. and up a short incline. Frantically, he tried to orient him- He knew that he had been slammed self. What was this ship? He vaguely down on a metal floor, because the cool- remembered signing on with some craft, ness of it dimly reached him. But that to get the outfitting fee. But he had was all he knew. gone straight with it to Slih Drin's, for Vaguely, he heard the harsh, deep soma voice storming. "—wouldn't have He buttonholed a squat, brawny brought the cursed fellow, only we're Venusian spaceman. "What ship is so shorthanded already that we'll need this?" he stammered. even this soma-drinker." The Venusian guffawed. "Listen to Pollock remotely heard the voice of a that, boys! This punch-drunk soma- girl answer, with dismay and disgust drinker doesn't even know what ship in her tones. He was drifting off again he's on." into dreams. "We're all punch-drunk or we A little later, there penetrated his wouldn't be on her," whined a tall, multi-colored visions a sound that his cadaverous red Martian. He told Pol- subconscious recognized as the slam of lock, "You're on the Ceres, Earthman. a space-ship's airlock door. Then, very And the destination is Neptune. How quickly, came a bursting roar. He felt do you like that?" a remote sensation of being powerfully "Neptune?" Pollock was stunned. pressed downward. Then the dreams "But nobody goes to Neptune— completely claimed him. Then he dimly remembered. There had been a girl, when he signed on— CHAPTER II girl who had made the captain tell him that their destination was the foggy pOLLOCK awoke with a thick brown planet of mystery. taste in his mouth, and a throbbing He remembered her, now. Eve Gra- headache. He lay stupefiedly looking ham, her name had been. And she had up at the metal bunk a few inches above been forming an expedition to go in his face. search of her brother—to Neptune. Wkk-r-r-r! Pollock's raw nerves rippled with It was the buzzer that signalled the panic. He felt caught in a dreadful change of watch on a space-ship. It trap. This ship would be in space for had awakened him, even from his soma weeks. That meant that he'd be weeks hangover. without soma. " " "

INVADERS FROM T> MONSTER WORLD 73

Weeks without soma! He knew only out of that soma-joint, and you're going too well what that would mean. It with us all the way, and you're going to would make him a tortured thing, a earn every cent of your pay." walking agony. Eve Graham was looking at Pol- "I've got to get off!" he cried hoarse- lock's shaking figure and white face ly. "They've got to put this ship back ! with a certain repulsion. He paid no A swarthy Mercurian cyc-man attention to her. laughed harshly. "Hear that, Lor "You can't take me with you!" he Ow?" he said to the squat Venusian. cried desperately. "I can't go that long "Tell the old man we've got to put without soma. You've got to put right back to Earth." me off or— Pollock paid no attention to their Whack! Marston's balled fist hit gibing. He was too shaken with dread, his jaw and he staggered back against too panicky. He hastened unsteadily the deck wall. His head rang from the after them as they started up the stairs blow. to the top deck. "Get up and get to your station!" roared the burly captain. "You'll do J> RIGHT, hot sunlight slashed your work on this ship, soma-drinker or through the glassite wall sections to not!" light the top deck. A red-faced first Eve Graham intervened distressedly. officer snarled at them as they emerged. "Please, captain— "What do you space rats think this Marston turned toward her. "Sorry, is—a pleasure cruise? Next time you Miss Graham—but you hired me to run hear that buzzer, get up here in ten this ship and you'll have to let me do it seconds." my way. I know how to handle scum Pollock paid no heed. He saw two like that, and it's the only way." figures farther along the deck. One The captain's black eyes bored into was a girl, slim in space-slacks. He the sullen group of spacemen who had recognized Eve Graham. watched the scene. The other was Marston, the captain. "You can all chew on that," he Pollock plunged past the first officer to- rapped. "You're the crummiest crew I ward the burly, black-browed captain. ever took off with, and you may think "Captain Marston, there's been a you're tough, but by God, you'll find out mistake!" he babbled hoarsely. "I that I'm a lot tougher if you don't step. can't go on this voyage. You've got to That's all. Mr. Harker, get them to put me off at Mars." work." Marston bent a harsh glance on Pol- lock's white, twisted face. "You signed J-JARKER, the red-faced first officer, on yesterday, didn't you?" snapped his orders. "YouH form "Yes, but—," Pollock began despe- the Number Two watch. Lor Ow and rately. Thubar, pilot and helmsman. Kinnel, "But you were only after the outfit- Brabo, Thorpe and Xaxar, cyc-room. ting-fee, to buy soma with, eh?" thun- Stacy and Pollock, deckhands. Get dered the captain. moving!"

"I thought I could repay it to you Pollock's head was threatening to later," Pollock admitted miserably. burst. The combined effects of soma "Well, you have another think com- hangover and that whack on the chin ing," snapped Marston. "I pulled you threatened to overcome him. 74 AMAZ1N4 STOMS

But tin rldoui lash of die tint of- Mechanically, he swabbed along the ficer's voice drove Hm to work. He and starboard deck-walls. The vacuum Stacy, an old, wrinkled Earthman, swab trembled in his unsteady hands. started swabbing down the glassite He looked up, to find Eve Graham deck-walls of tile moisture that had watching him with a shadow of mixed condensed upon them. pity and repulsion in her eyes. Pollock wielded Ms swab clumsily, Pollock felt a dull resentment, in his hands feeling like lead, his legs which was shame. He knew what he twisting under him. He knew that must look like to the girl—a—shaking, gradually the hangover would pass. white-faced wreck. He was glad when But In a few days would come the first Lewis, the cleancut, youthful second of- craving for soma, stealing through his ficer, came off duty and eagerly en- body, bringing the twitching ache and gaged her attention. then the fiery pain that only the Mar- Pollock reeled from exhaustion when tian anaesthetic drink could ease. the watch finally ended. He staggered Old Stacy was looking at him quiz- down to the crew-room and tumbled zically. "Feelin' pretty peaked, ain't into his bunk, lying like one dead. you? I've seen soma-drinkers before. The hellish clamor of the watch I done a lot of fool things in my thirty buzzer seemed to awake him almost im- years in space, but I wasn't never fool mediately, though he had slept hours. enough to monkey with that devil's Yet he felt a little steadier and stronger drink." now. The soma hangover was passing "I know, I'm a fool and a weakling," off. Pollock muttered bitterly. "Enough He glanced through the deck wall people have told me so. You needn't when he reached topside. Earth was rub it in." already several million miles astern, a "I wasn't meanin' to ride you about greenish blob receding across the fringe it, boy," said the old spaceman apolo- of the Sun's glaring halo. getically. "There ain't no angels in The red speck of Mars lay far to the this crew. No decent spaceman would right. The star-woven tapestry of the sign on for a trip to Neptune. They firmament stretched solemn and mag- had to take men that no other ship nificent across the void into which the would have." old Ceres throbbed and creaked and He continued garrulously. "That groaned. Martian, Thumar, was black-listed two He noted the tiny green spark of far- years ago for a barratry plot. Xaxar, away Neptune. It scarcely interested that waspish little Mercurian, killed him. That remote planet of foggy mys- somebody on his home -world and can't tery and menace to which they were ever go back there. I've got an idea bound was of little importance to Pol- that Lor Ow and the other Venusian are lock, compared to his own dire per- on the dodge too, but they don't say sonal situation. much. And as for me—well, what other Eve Graham stood at the deck-wall 3hip would sign on a spaceman as old with Captain Marston, looking toward as I am?" Neptune and talking earnestly. And the old man cackled. Pollock '*:—can locate the radium deposits, hardly heard him. His mind was still we'll surely find Alan's ship somewhere swimming with the appalling realization near them," he heard the girl saying of his predicament. anxiously. _ "

INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD

Old Stacy heard more, and relayed pedition to prospect for metals on Ura- his information to the rest of the crew nus, but nothing more. Some day, below decks on the next off-watch. pioneering Earthmen would make this "Seems like this here Alan Graham, region'as well known as the inner plan- the girl's brother, went to Neptune ets. But that was still in the future, after radium, an' he never come back," And as the Ceres forged on and on said the old spaceman, into the vast emptiness, past even the "A fool's errand," spat Thubar, the orbit of Uranus on its steady course tall Martian. "The fellow must have toward the green mystery world of the been space struck." System, the motley crew became daily Old Stacy dissented. "There's ra- more uneasy. Their fears were con- dium on Neptune—the astronomers tinually fanned by Lor Ow. have known that for years. The planet "It's crazy to go on when not one shows it in the telespectroscope." ship has ever come back from Nep- "Sure, there's radium there—every- tune! It'd be better to seize the ship body's heard that," Lor Ow grunted. and turn back to Saturn." "And how many men have lost their "Still thinkin' about mutiny?" lives trying to get it? Twenty-odd drawled old Stacy. "You ought to know ships have rocketed for Neptune, and better. Maybe you'd like System law not one has ever come back." after you." Xaxar, the little Mercurian, mut- "System law doesn't run beyond tered superstitiously, "The Jovians say Jupiter," the squat Venusian retorted. there's something ghastly out on Nep- "We'd be safe enough in the frontier tune." towns of Saturn."

"Bah, they tell those stories about "You'd never get there," snorted the every world," scoffed Stacy. "How old spaceman. "Mutiny on a space- would anyone know what's on Neptune, ship these days is impossible. Only the when nobody's ever come back from officers carry atom-guns." there?" Pollock had paid little attention to Pollock listened no longer, fof he the argument. Lying in his bunk, try- was already sinking into a slumber of ing to conquer his quivering nerves, he sheer exhaustion. Again it seemed that felt that he could stand it no longer. he only slept a few moments before the He had to have soma, and at once. buzzer awakened them for the next He went up to the top deck, looking watch. for the captain. Marston was there, talking with Eve Graham as they OOLLOCK dragged through day after looked toward the growing green disk

day of it. He was soft and flabby of Neptune. Pollock hated to speak from months of idleness. And the soma before the girl, but he did. had taken its toll of his strength. Al- "I'm in bad shape, sir," he husked ready, by the time a week went by, the to the captain. "If I could have just craving was coming back to him. His one drink of soma from the medicine nerves were beginning to twitch from chest— the longing. Marston stared at him implacably. They were well out beyond the orbit "I was expecting this. And the answer of Jupiter, now. Few ships ventured is no. You dont' get a drop of the farther—an occasional trader to the stuff." new colonies on Saturn, a mapping ex- Pollock's face was white. "But I've 76 AMAZING STORIES

got to have some soon. If I don't, it and he fell dazed upon the stairs. As means death." his brain swam in darkness he vaguely "You soma-drinkers all say that, but heard the whirr of the watch-buzzer I don't believe it," the captain answered and then the feet of the men hurrying brutally. "You'll stage no soma-drunks up the steps past him. on this ship." The crashing blasts of atom-guns Pollock, sick from the shuddering of topside roused him from his daze. He his nerves, felt frustrated and doomed staggered up to the deck, to witness an as he went back down to the crew-room. appalling sight. He was startled to find old Stacy lying Young Lewis, the second officer, lay senseless on the floor. And Lor Ow prostrate and Lor Ow had his atom- had a heavy cyc-wrench in his hand. pistol and was firing it at Harker, just He stared bewilderedly around the emerging from the bridge-room for- brutal faces of the crew. "What's this?" ward. "It's mutiny," snapped Lor Ow. The red-faced mate pitched forward. "We're not going any farther toward Xaxar darted to snatch up his gun. But Neptune—we're seizing the ship right as the Mercurian did so, he tumbled now! We'll grab the officers in a few dead. Marston, his massive face ter- minutes when the watch changes, and rible, had appeared and shot him from then head back toward Saturn." the bridge-room door. "That's where you come in, Pollock," Pollock glimpsed Eve Graham be- he went on swiftly. "We've got to have yond the captain, and the white face of a navigator to lay our course back to the Venusian pilot as he turned his Saturn. We know you were an officer head. Lor Ow had his atom-pistol lev- once. For navigating for us, you'll get elled at Marston's breast. the soma in the medicine-chest." Pollock leaped. He got his arms around Lor Ow, the moment before the T^OR a moment, for just a moment, squat Venusian mutineer pulled trigger. Pollock's tortured nerves thrilled "Get this soma-crazy fool off mel" with the wild hope of relief. The soma snarled the Venusian to Thubar and in the chest would last him all the way the other mutineers who were running back to Saturn. It would be a blessed forward. release from agony. His gun-blasts crashed out as he Six years before, an Earth youngster shouted. But, with Pollock on his back, had spent long months in the space- his aim went wild. The blast grazed officers' academy, learning the disci- Marston's shoulder, hit the pilot in the pline and traditions of the void. It was back, and flung him across his panel of the ghost of that youngster that clam- firing-studs. ored from inside Pollock now. Next instant came the shock of a "I'll have no part in mutiny, even thunderous explosion from below decks. for soma!" he exclaimed hoarsely. Pollock was torn from his hold by the He leaped back toward the compan- wild lurching of the Ceres. He caromed ionway. The officers had to be warned against the deck-wall. immediately. "Get that gun!" yelled Lor Ow. "Don't kill him!" rasped Lor Ow's Marston, his right shoulder scorched, voice from behind him. "We'll need had dropped his weapon. Thubar him." darted with snake-like swiftness and A wrench crashed on Pollock's head got hold of it first. INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD 77

"That does it I" exclaimed Lor Ow and agree to stand trial when we re- jubilantly. "The ship's ours, men! turn, and I'll try." Marston, you and Miss Graham get Lor Ow snarled viciously. "Not a back against that wall. You too, Pol- chance, Marston! We'll make you re- lock I" pair those eyes!" "Better kill them all now," said Thu- "How?" demanded the captain cool- I" bar. "Then ho for Saturn ly. "By threatening us with death? Marston, holding his wounded shoul- You mean to kill us anyway. That der as he stood with Eve and Pollock, threat won't work." said grimly, "You fools are now as good Thubar looked anxiously at the ring- as dead, yourselves." leader. The Martian muttered, "What He jerked his head toward the bridge- are we going to do? We're heading on room where the dead pilot lay across toward Neptune, and we'll sure crash the controls. there if we don't get the power going." "That wild shot of yours that got the pilot, fixed the ship. You'll never see CHAPTER III Saturn," said the captain. "What do you mean?" snapped the TOR OW'S flat face showed a sud- Venusian. den gleam of triumph as he looked As though to answer him, a wild- at Pollock. eyed, dishevelled cyc-man stumbled up "We don't need Marston and the onto the deck. It was Kinnel, one Of others," he declared. "Pollock was an Lor Ow's cronies. officer once and he knows cyc-construc- "The cyclotrons let go 1" he babbled. tion. He'U fix them for us." "The whole cyc-room crew is dead ex- Pollock said heavily, "No. I'll not cept—•" help you. I know very well you intend He fell. They saw then that his lips to kill me too in the end, for taking and nostrils were blackened by the sides against you." wave of superheated air that he had "Oh, yes, you will help us," the Venu- breathed. sian said confidently. "I know a way "Your doing, Lor Ow," said Marston to make you." harshly. "The pilot's body pressing all He turned to Thubar. "Get what- the firing-studs at once put too much ever soma there is in the medicine strain on the eyes and they blew. This chest." is a dead ship." Then he looked back at Pollock and There was an appalled silence. In- laughed. "I know you soma-drinkers. stinctively, the mutineers turned and When you get the jitters bad enough, looked through the glassite wall. you'll do anything for the stuff. If we Neptune's green disk lay dead ahead, keep a glass of soma sitting in front of still far away but seeming ominously you a few hours, you'U be glad to repair big and bright as the crippled, silent the eyes to get it."

Ceres rushed toward it. Pollock's heart sank. For he well "You've got just one chance for life," knew that the cunning plan of the snapped Marston. "None of you men Venusian to play upon his weakness have the technical knowledge to rebuild would be successful. a wrecked eye. We officers have, and He couldn't long resist the soma for could maybe do it before we all crash which his whole body cried out. He on Neptune. Hand over those guns might stand it at first, but sooner or 78 AMAZING STORIES later his will would weaken and he "I won't kill you, yet," said Lor Ow would surrender. finally. "I'll give you a little time to Thubar came back, looking puzzled. think it over." "There isn't any soma in the medicine His eyes glanced at Eve Graham's chest." pale face. "I especially want you to "There must be," snapped Lor Ow. think of Miss Graham's precarious "Every ship carries some, to use as position in this ship." anaesthetic in case of accidental in- Pollock felt a surge of disgust and juries." fury at the ugly implied threat. "You Marston interrupted. "There's no damned space-scum!" soma on the Ceres. I threw all we had But Eve remained unshaken. She out into space, just a little while before said calmly, "don't let them threaten your mutiny started." you through me. If they touch me, I The burly captain glanced at Pol- shall kill myself." lock. "He had been pestering me for "Take them down and lock 'em up the stuff. I knew he was desperate in Number One store-room," Lor Ow enough to steal it from the chest and go gave order. "Post two men outside the into a soma-drunk for days. So I door. We'll see what we can do with tossed it out." the eyes ourselves. Maybe we won't Rage showed in Lor Ow's eyes. even need their help." "Laughing at me, are you? Will you laugh when I start blasting you all TV/TARSTON and Pollock and Eve down?" were herded roughly down below "You can't do that, Lor!" exclaimed decks, to the empty store-room. Pres- one of the mutineers anxiously. "We ently the wounded Harker, and young can never get those eyes going without Lewis and Stacy, were carried in. The them." door was locked and they heard muti-

"My terms still stand," Marston said neers post themselves on guard out- calmly. "Surrender the atom-guns and side it. obey orders, and I'll see that you all get Stacy and Lewis, who were only a fair trial when we get back. Since stunned, soon came around. But you were lucky enough not to kill any- Harker had taken a gun-blast through body, you'll probably get off with a life his ribs and was in serious condition. sentence in Lunar Prison." With the medical supplies Lor Ow had "I'll see you damned first!" flashed allowed them, Eve treated the mate's the Venusian. scorched wound and made him com- He stood for a few moments, his flat fortable as possible. face deadly, his finger tightening on the Then she turned to the others. Mars- trigger of the atom-pistol. ton was looking grimly from the tiny Pollock watched with dull disinterest. porthole window. But Pollock had sat A blast of that gun would at least save heavily down. him from a death more terrible—the He was feeling the torture of soma- death of a soma-drinker deprived of the craving nerves more strongly than be- Martian liquor. fore, now that the excitement had And that death was inevitable, now. passed. He felt sick, shivering. The soma that had been tossed out into "What are our chances, captain?" space by Marston had taken his last Eve asked quietly. hope with it. Marston shrugged, wincing as the INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD 79 movement pained his shoulder. "We've I can understand you, Pollock. You got just the one chance. The mutineers fought up there like a real man. Yet can't repair those wrecked eyes, but we you don't make any real attempt to maybe could." fight this cursed soma-drinking habit."

He explained. "A cyclotron is an in- Eve looked at Pollock with distress in tricate scientific apparatus. An ordinary her clear brown eyes. "I've heard of crew-man can keep one running as long soma-drinkers who managed to quit. as nothing goes seriously wrong with it. Couldn't you?" But he hasn't the technical knowledge He looked at her haggardly, but to tear it down or rebuild it. A space- made no answer. What good would it officer is trained to do just that." do to reply that the few drinkers who He nodded toward the vista of starry had quit soma had not been drinking space that lay outside the little window. the stuff as long as he had? "We're moving by inertia now, at "He isn't worth bothering with, Miss very high speed. The Ceres will hit Graham," said Marston disgustedly. Neptune in four days. Unless its eyes "Only a weakling would start drinking are rebuilt to give it power to decel- soma in the first place." erate, it'll crash and end us all. The That stung Pollock to retort. "If mutineers know that." you want to know, it was just such a "Yes, but Lor Ow ain't goin' to give loud, swaggering space-captain as you in 'less he has to," warned old Stacy. who started me drinking soma!" "That Venusian is bad medicine. I He told them bitterly, "Two years think he only signed on with this ship ago I was second officer on a freighter 'cause he an' his pals figured all along bound from Saturn to Earth. I was in-

to seize it an' use it for a pirate craft on jured in a tube-explosion aboard ship. the frontier." My captain should have put in at Mars The old spaceman shook his gray to leave me for hospitalization. head sorrowfully. "I tried to warn "But putting in at Mars would add you when I realized it was really nearly a week to his Saturn-Earth mutiny, but they got me first." time, and ruin his precious efficiency "Thanks anyway for trying," Mars- record with the company. So he kept ton rumbled. He looked at Pollock and right on to Earth, and kept giving me added, "I'm grateful to you too, soma to keep me from going out of my Pollock. You saved me from a gun- head with pain." blast through the heart when you He shrugged heavily. "By the time jumped on the Venusian." I finally reached an Earth hospital, I'd Pollock looked up at him haggardly. been for twenty days on soma. And I "Captain, did you really toss the medi- found when I left the hospital that I cine-chest soma out into space? Or couldn't get off it." were you just telling them that?" "Why, then it isn't your own fault at

! Marston's massive face tightened. all " Eve Graham exclaimed warmly.

"I did it, all right. And you'll be better "Bah, these soma-drinkers can al- off without it." ways prove that it's not their own Pollock made no answer. What was fault," said Captain Marston intoler- the use? he thought dully. They antly. couldn't realize the hellish agony to Pollock smiled bitterly. "That's which he was condemned. right, captain. That's just what the Marston burst out. "I'm damned if Board said when they cancelled my 80 AMAZING STORIES officer-rating." death to us—it means the last hope of finding and saving my brother is gone." YOUNG LEWIS had been listening Pollock, sitting and fighting the at the door. The second officer now screaming of his nerves, told her dully: turned toward them excitedly. "It wouldn't help any to give in. Lor "Listen, there's something going on Ow would kill us all the minute the ship in the ship!" he reported. was in working shape." They were all silent, listening. There "Pollock's right," snapped the burly came through the ventilator-tubes a captain. "We'll hold out, and if we dim, confused din of hammering on have to die, those scum will die with metal and loudly disputing voices. us." "They're working on the eyes," said A silence had fallen while they Marston. "Trying to repair them talked, all sounds of work having themselves." halted. The Ceres rushed soundlessly Old Stacy's wrinkled face length- on toward death. ened. If they get 'em repaired, they Then the door of their prison was won't bother keepin' us alive very opened. Lor Ow and Thubar and most long." of the other mutineers stood outside it. For hour after hour, the hammering The weary faces of the mutineers din continued. It was the only sound showed that they had been engaged in as the Ceres rushed silently on through intensive toil. the void. The squat Venusian ringleader said There was no break in the monotony quietly, "Marston, you win. We've for the prisoners except that twice found that we can't rebuild the eyes during the next forty-eight hours, the ourselves. You'll have to do it." door was unlocked and an armed mu- "My conditions still stand," the cap- tineer shoved in food and water. tain answered. "Hand over your Pollock was too sick and shaken by weapons, and agree to return and face the increasing soma-craving to touch your trial. Only then will we start either. His whole body thirsted for work on the eyes." the Martian liquor. "All right, it seems we have no Marston strode back and forth in choice," Lor Ow said. "Here's my gun. their prison like a caged lion. "They'll Thubar, give him yours. The others never get those eyes fixed," he rasped. are still in the locker." "But unless we get a chance at them To Pollock, there was something soon, we won't have time to fix them be- suspicious in the readiness with which fore the ship crashes on Neptune." Lor Ow had suddenly surrendered. More hours dragged by. They could Marston also seemed to suspect a hear the distant sounds of repair-work trick, for he took the two atom-pistols frequently interrupted by loud and and fired a test-blast from each down angry disputes. the corridor outside. Lewis looked at his watch, then out "Thought you might just be clever into space. "We'll hit Neptune in less enough to give us useless guns," he than forty eight hours, at this speed." said harshly to Lor Ow. "But these are Eve Graham looked inquiringly at all right." Marston. "Do you think you ought to He handed one of the weapons to give in and help them?" she asked anx- Lewis, and they led the way to the top iously. "If we crash, it not only means deck. Marston's first act was to in- INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD 81

«pect and then lock up the other atom- on the power pipes, and they had back- pistols, after giving Stacy and Pollock blasted into the eyes, which had each one of them. promptly exploded. The Captain's bleak gaze swept the Pollock, his trained eye running over mutineers, then. "We may, or may not, the ruined mechanisms, silently agreed pull out of this. If we do, you'll all face with the pessimism of the young second a space-court. But obedience to orders officer. But the dark outlook hardly from now on will count in your favor. added to the hopelessness of his own Any man who disobeys will get short agonizing personal predicament. shrift now." "We can't rebuild all six eyes in that The mutineers took this silently. But time, I agree," rapped Marston. "But Pollock thought he detected a lurking two of them would give enough power gleam of mockery in Lor Ow's flat face. for the bow-tubes, and enable us to de- His suspicions increased. But how celerate speed enough to check our could there be any trick? They them- fall." selves now possessed the only atom- He continued crisply. "We'll try to guns on the ship. rebuild Number One and Two by "We'll obey orders, but for space's salvaging parts from the other four. sake get the eyes going!" pleaded Thu- Lewis, straightened out the tools.

bar worriedly. "Look how near we are Pollock, I'll need you to help us." to Neptune!" Lor Ow and his followers had made blundering attempts to repair the HTHROUGH the bridge window, Nep- mechanisms, but had succeeded in tune was indeed an appalling sight. little more than reducing the cyc-room Its cloudy green globe seemed to fill to confusion. half the firmament. And the Ceres Pollock set to work with the cap- was rushing silently and ever more tain to dissemble the four rear cyclo- swiftly down toward the mystery trons. The task was a difficult one, the planet. bolts strained and joints started by the Marston checked their position rap- explosion. And the tools slipped in his idly by means of the space-sextant, and nerveless hands, his movements were then noted their speed. He computed, clumsy and uncertain. frowning. It had been two years since he had "About forty hours before we hit worked on a eye. And in his present Neptune," he muttered. "It's not much. condition, the soma-thirst tearing at his Let's see what the eyes look like. You nerves and brain, he felt totally unable come too, Pollock." to assist in this exacting work. When they went down to the cyc- "Don't twist that injector-tube!" room, an exclamation of despair came snarled Marston, sweating. "Can't you from young Lewis at the first glance. see your wrench slipped off the coup- "They're all hopelessly wrecked! ling?" We'll never repair these in forty "My fingers are all thumbs," Pollock hours!" said thickly. The six massive, spool-shaped cyclo- He felt like dropping the tools, trons that were the Ceres' source of giving up the hopeless attempt. But atomic power were a complete wreck. ingrained tradition would not permit The sudden simultaneous firing of all him to do that. rocket-tube3 had put too great a load And his mind still held one faint hope 82 AMAZING STORIES

for soma, if they could reach Neptune over his shoulder. "The deceleration safely. Alan Graham's ship, which had I'll have to use will smash you to butter never returned, must still be there. if you don't." And every ship carried soma in its Neptune was a terryfying spectacle, medicine-chest 1 from here in the bridge. A colossal, cloudy green globe that bulked across JT TOOK them twelve hours to tear almost all space ahead of them, and down the wrecked eyes. And then cast a weird viridescent light through they found there were not enough un- the window upon them. damaged parts for two cyclotrons. Lewis hurried back to strap the "We'll have to use the atomic welders wounded Harker into his bunk, and to reshape these strained injectors and the crew sought their own bunks. But make new couplings," sweated Mars- Eve Graham stayed in the bridge. " ton. "I don't know "If—if we crash, I want to be here," Their work had become a terrible she said steadily. race against time, as the Ceres rushed Pollock helped her strap into one of closer to the giant green sphere of the the recoil-chairs in the bridge, and got foggy planet. into another himself. He was ex- Pollock's dazed mind hardly appre- hausted, his brain spinning. hended the passage of time. His fingers Crash/ Crashl Marston was firing dropped tools and could not pick them the bow rockets with reckless disregard up. He staggered drunkenly. for the safety factor. The thrust- "Give up!" shrieked his brain. struts of the Ceres screeched beneath "You're going to die anyway from lack the braking action. Each shock tore of soma. There's no real hope of find- Pollock's soma-tortured nerves. ing any on Neptune 1" The ship slowed down, hour by hour. And yet he could not surrender, not Yet it was still rushing at far too great while Marston and Lewis were toiling a speed down toward the giant green madly on, not while Eve Graham's wide planet. eyes watched them. Scree-e-el The thin shriek of Nep- "Only ten hours till we crash—it's tune's upper atmosphere outside the hopeless!" muttered Stacy. hull finally penetrated through the daze Pollock hardly heard, for he was that had gripped Pollock. Marston, his helping Marston bolt in the injector on massive face sweating and terrible, the second of the two eyes they had fired the bow tubes again. rebuilt. Down into a green, weird universe of "Both eyes ought to run now," Mars- curling mists the space-ship was slant- ton said hoarsely. "We'll take time ing. Parting atmosphere roared louder only to connect them to the bow and outside the hull. keel rockets." "We may make it if we can find a That required an hour more of work. place to land down in that fog!" cried Only nine hours were left in which to the captain. "Turn on the radio- decelerate the ship, as Marston led the sonde!" way to the bridge. Pollock switched on the radio-sonde, Marston took the pilot-chair, started whose impulses were projected donward the eyes. They droned irregularly, and reflected back up again to indi- then strengthened to steady power. cate their exact altitude above the solid "Strap in, all of you!" Marsh called surface of the planet. He called the " " —"

INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD

readings hoarsely. They could only vaguely discern the "Forty —thousand feet—thirty-six outlines of the weird planetary forest thirty-four in which they had landed. They were losing altitude with Unearthly it look, veiled by the mist I sickening speed. Desperately, Marston Tall, leafless green growths like enor- fired both the keel and bow rockets. mous lichens towered up all around Then as they rushed still lower, they them. There were big club-mosses of glimpsed the vague outline of great a pallid hue, and a thick, pale turf. forests beneath them in the shrouding Glittering little flame-birds darted mist. across their field of view. It was a Eve Graham screamed— suddenly, species found on most of the outer pointed ahead. "Captain planets. But they all exclaimed in Marston and Pollock both saw, be- amazement as two flame-birds of a fore she finished the cry. And the sight hundred times the usual size flapped made Pollock's skin crawl with horror. by through the upper mists. Two birds A high dark rock cliff loomed full huge as the rocs of fable I ahead of the downrushing Ceres. Mars- "What the devil 1" swore Marston, ton frantically fired the bow rockets his massive face stupefied. "It must again, his foot jamming the cyc-pedal to be a trick of refraction. Nobody ever the floor. The spaceship seemed to saw flame-birds that big I" stand wildly on its tail for a moment. "Nobody's ever seen Neptune before, Then it crashed down into the forest. and gone back to tell about it," Pollock reminded somberly. CHAPTER IV The captain unstrapped and stood up. "I'll see to the others. You run J£VEN as the spaceship crashed an air-test, Pollock." down through the mist-shrouded It did not take long for Pollock to forest, Marston had fired a last thun- operate the ingenious air-tester which derous burst of the keel rockets. within a few minutes had sucked in a The Ceres seemed to hesitate in mid- sample of the atmosphere outside, air. Then it hit the ground with a analyzed it, and flashed its findings on jarring thump that made their recoil- the dials. chairs scream in protest. He jotted down the readings and then Silence followed as the burly captain with Eve Graham left the bridge-room. cut the eyes. He mopped sweat from They found Marston and Lewis had his brow. "By Heaven, I wouldn't want gathered together the rest of the crew to make another landing like that I" in the top-deck. Pollock, momentarily dazed by the Lor Ow and Thubar and the other shock, turned toward the girl in the quodam mutineers were staring in chair beside him. "You're all right, mingled doubt and apprehension Miss Graham?" through the deckwall at the weird land- "Yes, I'm not hurt," she said shakily. scape outside. Then, pointing through the broad win- "By the grace of God, we've got here

! dow, she cried, "But look out there without being splashed all over the Greenish mist curled against the landscape," said Marston bluntly. "But window like phantom fingers. Through it's going to be an even harder job to that drifting fog, the light of the distant get away from here and return safely sun pentrated only as a sad twilight. to Earth. 84 AMAZING STORIES

"It will take the power of all six found it, it would be the only possible eyes to pull away from Neptune's source of the soma that his quivering gravity. That means we have to re- nerves demanded. build the other four. And that means "What about the air test?" Marston that we're all going to work, for many was asking him. of the damaged parts will have to be "It shows okay in oxygen and nitro- re-made by us with what tools we gen content," Pollock answered. have." "There's a certain amount of inert

Lor Ow spoke up quickly. "We'll gases, but it's quite breathable." obey whatever orders you give, cap- The captain nodded. "Then we tain. We'd a lot rather face a space- won't need space-suits. That'll help. court trial than be marooned on this Come on and we'll take a look outside." crazy-looking planet." The space-door was opened and the Pollock looked narrowly at the fiat- gangway lowered. Marston strode faced Venusian. He still suspected a down it, with Pollock, Lewis and the hidden purpose behind Lor Ow's quiet girl following him. surrender. They felt no increase of gravitation. He told himself his soma-jittery Every interplanetary traveller these nerves were making him jumpy. There days wore at his belt the flat, compact was nothing to fear, when only he and gravitation-equalizer which made his the officers had atom-guns. weight the same in space or on any "Captain Marston, what about my planet. search for Alan?" Eve Graham asked The air was chill, not as cold as they eagerly. "Can we start looking for him had expected. It was foggy and damp. at once? We can't be so terribly far And it conducted sounds very clearly, from the plotted location of the ra- for they heard a variety of strange rust- dium-beds." ling and bird and animal cries out of Marston shook his head. "We can't the mist. look for your brother yet, Miss "I want a look at that cliff we nearly Graham. Not until we get the Ceres ran into it," said Marston, frowning. "I in shape. We know this is a dangerous thought I glimpsed something queer world, and our first necessity is a possi- about it." ble »eans of escape." They started forward through the "fittt Alan may be dying somewhere, solemn, mist-shrouded lichen forest. hoping for helpl " she pleaded. The Ceres was soon swallowed by the The captain was adamant. "I'm greenish fog behind them. •orry, but it's just commonsense to re- Gigantic dragon-flies of a size in- pair our ship first, and then start credible hummed loudly above the miltilm for your brother." lichens. Yet there were ordinary small insects, too. And they glimpsed an or- J7VE GRAHAM'S pale face showed dinary two-foot swamp-lizard. the depth of her disappointment "The fauna here seems much like and distress. And Pollock felt an equal that of Jupiter and Saturn, yet some though different disappointment. species seem to have attained enormous He had been desperately hoping that size," commented Marston. they would at once start searching for Pollock was too numbed by fatigue the missing explorer's ship. In the and the persistent dull ache of his medicine-chest of that ship, if they nerves to feel great interest. But he "

INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD 85

was abruptly aroused. "Don't move and don't shoot!" said Marston had stopped suddenly. Marston quickly as they all recoiled. "Listen! Do you hear that?" "They may not be hostile." The ground beneath their feet was "Human natives on Neptune!" ex- vibrating to the tread of something that claimed Lewis hoarsely. "And they've was approaching them from the mists tamed those giant lizards for mounts. ahead. It's incredible 1" "Only a beast of enormous size could shake the ground like that!" ex- '"TWO of the Neptunians were dis- claimed the captain. "We'd better fall mounting from their giant steeds, back." and cautiously approaching the Earth- "Too late—look at that!" yelled men while the others watqhed closely. young Lewis wildly. "They look like Jovians, in a way," Out of the mists in front of them had muttered Pollock. "The same green towered an enormous shape, a thing skins and dark hair. And yet— out of nightmare. So strong seemed the resemblance It was an ordinary swamp-lizard in that as the two Neptunians came near- shape, a scaled, quadrupedal, dragon- er, Pollock spoke to them in the native like reptile with a small head on a tongue of Jupiter. long, snaky neck. "We are friends, just landed upon But this swamp-lizard was scores of your world!" he said. times bigger than the normal species. The Neptunians understood. For It was huge as the brontosauri of an- the older of the two, an erect, aging cient Earth! man with authority in his bearing, an- "Don't shoot!" Pollock yelled as swered instantly. Lewis wildly raised his atom-pistol. He spoke a tongue that was dissimi-

"You can't kill it and you'll only in- lar in many respects from the Jovian furiate it!" language, yet which was mostly under- The gigantic lizard showed no sign of attacking them. It simply stared "We saw your star-ship fall!" the down at them from the curling mists, Neptunian leader said. "And now you and then calmly went on cropping ten- speak our language. Tell me, do you der young shoots from the towering come from the world of the ten moons?" lichens. "The world of the ten moons?" re-

"I'm blasted if the thing isn't tame!" peated Marston, puzzled. exclaimed Marston, stupified. "He means Jupiter!" said Pollock. "There's more of them coming!" ex- "He told the Neptunian, "We come claimed Eve Graham. from an even more distant planet. But Through the mist appeared a half- what do you know of the ten-mooned dozen more of the giant lizards. But world?" these were an even more astounding The old Neptunian explained. "Our sight. ancestors came from there long ago, in For they wore bridle and saddle and star-ships like yours. But in time we bore riders. Human riders, men who lost the secret of such star-ships, as we had greenish skins and wore leather lost many other powers our forefathers harness instead of clothing, and who possessed." carried long black tubes that looked like Pollock felt wonder, even through his queer blow-guns. daze of exhaustion and nervous strain. 86 AMAZIN6 STORIES

They had uncovered a lost chapter of "This is the town of my tribe." planetary history. "Town?" echoed Pollock. "But "These people are descendants of there's nothing here—" colonists from ancient Jupiter! We Marston spoke quickly. "I get it. know the Jovians of the remote past See those cave-openings in the cliff? had a great civilization, and explored That's where these people live, in the and colonized Saturn and Uranus. cliff. I thought I saw such caves just Well, they came here also." before the Ceres crashed." "That accounts for the similarity in The whole face of the cliff, at the the fauna here I" Marston exclaimed. bottom, was ridled with the mouths of "Except for the giant size of some of tunnels. The Neptunian led toward the species. I still can't understand one of them. that." He uttered a shrill cry. Green- The captain came to the matter skinned men and women poured out of uppermost in his mind. He told the the tunnels. The men were armed with old Neptunian, "We need certain metals blow-guns and with rudely forged with which to repair our ship. Have swords and spears of drab-colored you any such?" metal. "We have certain metals that we use "Pure tungsten, it looks like I" ex- for weapons and implements," admitted claimed Marston eagerly. "If we can the Neptunian. "If you will come with get enough of that, we can mix it with to make us—the town of my tribe is not far salvage metal from the ship away." enough high-test alloy for all the cyc- They started through the mists, parts we need." walking beside the gigantic lizards "There is much of the metal near whose tread shook the ground. Very here," the Neptunian chieftain replied soon, they emerged from the lichen to his question. "We can show you forest into a belt of clear plain beyond where." which towered the dark, high cliff into Eve Graham was staring wondering- which the Ceres had almost crashed. ly. "How could these people ever have A number of the giant lizards were come from Jupiter? They look bar- browsing along the edge of the forest baric, only half civilized." here. Racks of bridles and saddles "They're the result of ages of retro- stood nearby. The mounts of their gression," Pollock said. "Must have escort were unsaddled and turned loose been cut off, isolated here when the to join the others. ancient Jovian civilization perished." "Don't you keep them in a corral or "Ask them if they saw my brother's anything?" Pollock asked the old ship!" she begged anxiously. chieftain wonderingly. "There is no need, for the lizards 1V/TARSTON put the question to the would not run away," was the answer. leader of the Neptunians, who

"And if they were penned up, they had gathered about them and were star- could not escape when those of the ing in child-like, friendly wonder. Monster World came." "No, no other star-ship has ever The reference puzzled Pollock, but landed here," was the reply. before he could ask a question, the old "Alan wouldn't have landed here, as Neptunian waved a hand toward the we did by accident," Eve said quickly.

steep cliff. "He'd land at the plotted location of the INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD 87 radium beds, as we intended." in expression. "It could be true," be Marston drew from his pocket a map muttered. "The "glowing air"—that's on which was marked the exact location radioactive fog from the radium beds. of the radioactive deposits which as- And breathing that radioactive air tronomers had noted on Neptune. could have terrific effects on glandular "The radium beds are northeast of and cellular growth." here," he decided. He pointed in that "But Alan?" cried Eve Graham, direction, asking the Neptunians, "Are white to the lips. "He was going to you sure no star-ship landed, a day's land there, right where the spectro- march from here in that direction?" scopic maps showed the radium!" The result of his question was as- The old Neptunian, when he under- tonishing. A babel of exclamations stood here, shook his head. "If any burst from the Neptunians. Something star-ship landed there, its occupants like fear appeared on their faces. would not live long. The giants of the "No, we know nothing of anything Monster World would slay them there!" exclaimed the old chieftain. quickly." "For there lies the Monster World!" "Then—then my brother may have Pollock remembered the previous been dead for months?" whispered Eve, reference. Puzzled, he asked, "What agonized.

is the Monster World?" Pollock felt almost as appalled as the The old tribesman answered volubly. girl, for another reason. All that had

"It is a great, deep valley which is an kept his tortured. body going was the accursed and fearful place. The air hope of getting soma from Alan

in it glows. And any living thing which Graham's ship. And that ship lay some- breathes that glowing air is horribly where in the dreaded Monster World!

changed by it, becomes swiftly scores of times larger than normal." CHAPTER V He pointed to the giant lizards graz- ing nearby. "They are lizards which XTIGHT lay over the Ceres, whose ventured into the Monster World and occupants slept exhaustedly after came out gigantic In size. In the a fourth day of urgent work at rebuild- same way, any animal or bird or insect ing the cyclotrons. The labor of secur-

that enters it and breathes its accursed ing metal and casting new parts had air will quickly grow to colossal size. required the toil of all. "Men grow gigantic there, too! Some Pollock alone remained wakeful, of our own race long ago entered it and jerkily striding back and forth in the became giants in stature. They are top deck. He had offered to stand our most-feared enemies now, those watch because he had known that even giants of the Monster World. It is be- in his present fatigue, he could not cause of them that we live in the cliff, sleep. for they are too huge to enter our "I've got to do something—now, to- tunnels when they invade our region night!" he said thickly to himself. here." Pollock's torment had reached its Pollock was stunned. He looked in- climax. His face was gaunt and wild, creduously at Marston. "Can it be his eyes tortured. Every nerve in him true? We've seen the giant lizards and shuddered uncontrollably. birds and insects—but giant men?" "There's just one chance for soma. Barston's massive face was startled And I've got to take it before I go "

88 AMAZING STORIES

mad!" since any girl had spoken in straight, He peered out through the deck-wall. comradely friendship to the haggard A ghostly, feeble light was stealing soma-drinker which he had become. through the misty lichen forest. It "I'm going to be honest with you," came, he knew, from the rise of Nep- he said thickly. "I'm nearly crazy for

tune's big moon. And it finally decided soma, and I've got to have some. The Pollock. only possible chance is to get to that His body cried out for soma. And radium valley and find your brother's the only possible place where it might ship. But Marston wouldn't let me go be found was in Alan Graham's ship, yet, and I don't have the location of somewhere in the dreaded valley of the the valley. Monster World. Marston would not "I want you to give me your copy of

let him go, if he knew. He must start that map. Frankly, I'm going tonight now, slip away before the captain because I have to have soma or go mad. awoke. But if I do find your brother's ship, I But he didn't know the exact bear- can bring back some clue to his fate. ings and distance of the radium valley. Will you help?" The captain knew, of course. But one Eve Graham looked startled and other person also knew—Eve Graham. doubtful. "How could you enter the She had a copy of the astronomical valley if the radium fog in it is so deadly chart on which the location of the in effect?" source of radium emanations had been "I'll wear a space-suit helmet, so as plotted. not to breathe that air," he answered Pollock had to have those bearings if quickly. "And I can take one of the there was to be a chance of success for Neptunians' tame lizards to get to the his desperate plan. He must get them valley. There's a chance I can make from the girl—now! it. What about it?" He went back into the stern of the The girl's brown eyes met his. "I'll Ceres and softly tapped at her door. do more than just give you the map. "Miss Graham," he whispered. I'm going with you." He heard a light turned on inside and Pollock was appaled. "No, you then the door opened. Eve Graham, can't! It's too dangerous." slim in silk sleeping-slacks, looked out "I've got to know without further at him startedly. waiting whether Alan is alive or dead! He knew that his haggard, unshaven she exclaimed. "Now that the ship is features and trembling figure were not almost repaired, I'm afraid more likely to inspire confidence in any girl. trouble with the crew may force us to Yet when he put a warning finger to his leave Neptune without being able to lips, she admitted him unquestioningly search for Alan." to her cabin. Pollock expostulated, but the girl "I know how anxious you are to find was firm. "If you try to go without me, out your brother's fate, Miss Graham," I'll awake the whole ship I" he began hoarsely. He had to give in. Even at the She made an impatient gesture at his risk of taking Eve Graham into deadly form of address. "My friends call me danger, he couldn't give up his one wild Eve." hope for soma. For a moment, flooding emotion held "Get two space-helmets, and wait Pollack silent. It had been so long for me outside the ship," she whispered. INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD 89

"111 bring the map." saddled another of the lizards. Perched on the back of the great pOLLOCK stole forward through the creature, many yards above the ground, sleeping craft, and from the bridge- he called softly to the girl. room took a small gyroscopic compass. "Simply slack your reins, and it will He secured two of the transparent start. But first, what's the direction?" space-helmets, each with its small She had, apparently studied the map. attached tank of compressed oxygen, For she gave him the bearing without and then slipped out into the chill, hesitation. foggy night and waited. He studied the luminous dial of his He had his atom-pistol at his belt, gyro-compass, then turned his huge but he knew how little the weapon mount northeastward and let his reins might avail against the dangers of slacken. Monster World. He was mad to let The lizard started forward through Eve go with him! But he must find the lichens in rapid, ambling strides. soma now, at once. Pollock, his knees gripping the saddle, Eve appeared beside him in a few felt as though he rode the crest of a big minutes. She had dressed in jacket and wave, so smooth was the motion. slacks. Eve was riding close beside him, her "Are you sure we can get two of the face pale in the misty moonlight. But lizards to ride?" she whispered anx- soon she had plucked up more confi- iously. dence in her steed. Pollock nodded. "The Neptunians "At this speed we ought to reach the always leave them uncoralled. And the place before morning!" she called, her big beasts are prefectly tame." voice excited and hopeful. During these past four days of grind- Pollock almost forgot the torturing ing toil, they had had opportunity to thirst for soma that was driving him, in learn much more about the Neptunians the thrill of their strange night ride. and their huge beasts of burden. The The two giant lizards seemed perfect- green-skinned natives had thronged ly at home in the moonlit mists of the round the Ceres by day. lichen forests, seemed able to perceive But no Neptunians were ever abroad and avoid all obstacles. Their pace at night. So that Pollock and the girl increased, their great webbed feet met no one as they went through the shook the ground as they rushed faster wan, misty moonlight of the linchen through the chill fog of Neptune's night. forest toward the cliff-home of the tribe. Towering lichens and grotesque fungi The gigantic lizards were grazing flashed by in the mist. Mossy turf vi- quietly along the forest, as usual. De- brated soundlessly beneath their pas- spite his confidence in their tameness, sage. Birds and animals, some of them Pollock felt trepidation as he took two of freakishly huge dimensions, crashed bridles and saddles from the rack near- away in startled flight before them. by and approached the huge reptiles. His confidence was justified. The TT WAS like one of the soma dreams, lizard he went up to stood quietly as he Pollock thought a little wildly. Yet scrambled up its rough, scaly back and not even the weird unreality of it could affixed the bridle and saddle as he had dim the sense of danger that rose in seen the Neptunians do. He helped him when he remembered the denizens Eve into the saddle, and soon had of this world who were most to be —

so AMAZIN® STORIES feared, the giant men who had grown we don't want to breathe any of that from Neptunians who dared enter Mon- air." ster World. He donned his own helmet. They He had hung his space-helmet on his could still converse easily, for a short- back, giving Eve hers to carry in the range audiophone was built into each same way, and it bumped his shoulder- helmet. blades with each colossal, running Twenty minutes later their two giant stride of his great mount. At regular mounts emerged from the lichen forest intervals, he called to the girl, and and suddenly stopped short. And from checked their course by the gyro-com- Pollock and Eve came exclamations of pass. amazement and horror as they saw "It can't be far away," her anxious what lay ahead. voice trailed back to him on the wind "Good God, the valley—the Mon- of their passage. "We've been riding ster World!" he husked. for hours." Their steeds stood upon the brink of For hours? Pollock's dazed mind an enormous, oval valley whose side was so little able to apprehend the pas- sloped down from where they stood. sage of time that it seemed hardly It was of great depth, and was filled more than minutes. with an amonous, glowing haze that He shook himself, trying to steady partly dispelled the shrouding mists. his twitching nerves. The greatest The luminosity that impregnated the danger lay ahead. And if he failed, if air down there seemed to emanate from he couldn't find soma shining cliffs at the farther end of the He wouldn't let himself think of valley, miles away. Pollock knew what that dire possibility. His tortured mind that luminosity was. It was radioactive rejected it in an agony of apprehen- fog, whose source wa3 the tremendous sion. radium deposits in those shining cliffs. "Look at that glow aheadl " cried Eve What they could see of the valley's to him, pointing. floor looked mostly marshy and mud- Pollock saw. Far ahead in the lich- dy, with beds of giant reeds extending en forest there was a pulsing white glow toward swampy pools. The heavy ra- of light that stood out bright by con- dioactive fog, trapped in the valley, did trast with the wan moonlight of the not reach up to where they sat. mists. A white, muffled radiance that "Look, isn't that a ship just beyond was brightest close to the ground. the reeds?" cried Eve Graham excited-

"It must be the valley," he husked. kr. "You remember the Neptunians spoke She was pointing, and in a moment of the "glowing air" in the Monster Pollock too saw. It was a big, long World." object, half-buried in reeds and mud. The lizards, for the first time, were "It might be a ship," he said hoarse- slowing down. The giant steeds seemed ly. His nerves flamed. If it was, if reluctant to go further. there was soma in it— "Eve, you wait Pollock hammered the scaled back of here while I see." his mount with the butt of his atom- "No, I'm going with you," she pistol. Unwillingly, the two lizards flashed. "You agreed!" went on. "Better put on your helmet," he pOLLOCK slackened rein, urged the called to Eve. "If it's really the valley, lizard he bestrode forward. But the — "

INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD »1 giant reptiles did not want to go down their features were those of Neptun- into the valley. ians. It was not, he knew, that they were The two coloui wore harnesses of afraid of the glowing fog. They had leather that looked like tanned lizard- themselves grown to their giant di- skin, and wore flashing wristlets set mensions by breathing that fog. It with big chunks of shining radium ore. was some thing or things down in that They were coming straight toward glowing haze that they feared. Pollock and Eve, with giant arms men- He finally got them started down the acingly reaching out for them. slope. Pollock's skin crawled as the clammy, radiant fog touched his skin. CHAPTER VI Only the helmet kept him from breath- ing that deadly radioactive atmosphere AX/TTH hissing screeches of wild pan- and suffering its terrible effects. ic, the two great lizards they rode The reeds towered up in front of reared wildly up at sight of the oncom- them when they reached the valley ing giant men. Pollock and Eve were floor. They urged the lizards through flung violently from the saddles. the stalks in the direction of the ob- Pollock hit the reeds, and rolled over ject they had sighted. and over among them. As he did so, Sharp spears of the reeds ripped up he heard a cry of agony from the girl. at them as the lizards shambled rapid- He glimpsed her lying amid the reeds ly through, tearing their slacks to tat- nearby. ters. He urged their mounts faster. Stunned, he managed to scramble His brain was afire with trembling, toward her. As he did so, the soft thirsty hope. ground vibrated beneath him and he The reeds thinned out a little. They glimpsed the two incredible giants pur- glimpsed closer ahead the object they suing the fleeing lizards, with up- sought, a long, torpedo-like bulk half- raised spears. buried in mud. It was a space-ship, a One colossal stride carried the hun- small eight-man cruiser. And dred-foot men past the reeds in which "It's Alan's ship!" Eve's voice rang Pollock and Eve had been flung. They frantic with sudden hope. "It's the leaped easily over the half-buried space- Meteor!" ship! She urged her lizard wildly forward. Pollock found the girl lying, her face Then, as they galloped toward the half- white with agony inside her helmet. buried craft, Pollock's eyes lifted to "Eve, we've got to get out of here!" he

beyond it. said frantically. "They'll come back His hair bristled on Ms neck with in a moment and hunt for us." horror at the incredibl* apparition that She tried to rise. But as she put he beheld. her hand to the gound, she sank back Two gigantic figures were looming up with a little moan of pain. "My arm! through the shining haze beyond the Pollock was horrified to find that her reedi and the ship. Two gigantic men! shoulder had been dislocated by her They were wading waist-deep violent fall. She was faint with the through the pools beyond the reeds, yet agony of it. even so, their colossal figures towered He looked wildly around. He had up sixty feet in the haze. Their skin to find a better hiding place than this. had a curious luminous quality, but Then his eye fell upon the nearby ship. —

92 AMAZING STORIES

The two colossi could not get into that! ery, Pollock crouched with Eve back He bent and picked up the fainting in the farthest corner. The groping girl, and stumbled through the reeds hand could not quite reach him. The toward the ship. Half-sunken in the giant could not get his upper arm soft ground as it was, its door was still through the door. above ground and was open. He stag- Presently the hand was withdrawn. gered in with Eve and put her down He heard the booming of great voices, on the floor of the mid-deck corridor. high overhead, like rolling thunder. He looked around. Green mold cov- Then the space-ship began to rock vi-

ered everything in the vessel. There olently as the colossi tried to tear it out was no sign that it had been occupied of the ground. for a long time. Pollock sweated with nightmare fear. Though her face was pallid with If they got the ship unearthed, they

pain, Eve also was trying to look could between them crack it open around. "Alan?" she whispered. But apparently even the strength of "No sign of him here," said Pollock the two colossi was not quite sufficient thickly. "Eve, they're coming back!" to tear the ship loose from its deep bed The ship was quivering slightly to in the ground. They desisted the at- the returning vibration of huge foot- tempt. The thunderous voices rolled steps. Through a porthole, Pollock briefly. Then one of the giants strode glimpsed the titan figures of the two rapidly away across the marsh. giant Neptunians approaching outside. The other remained, squatting pur- The two colossi were searching the posefully outside the ship. The mean- reeds. He hoped they would not think ing of it was plain enough to Pollock. of the ship. But it soon became evi- "One of them has gone to get others,"

dent that he had left tracks in the soft he said hoarsely. "Eve, this is a trap ground. For the two came toward the I've got you into." ship. "It's not your fault," she husked. "I "They can't get in here," he told insisted on coming along." Eve, desperately. "They're far too huge to enter." J_JER fine face was drawn with pain. The giants bestrode the space-ship He knew the hellish agony she as though it were a toy craft! They must be suffering from the dislocated stooped over it. shoulder. And he could not, he found A hand, gigantic beyond all belief, after examination, do anything with reached in through the space-door. It her shoulder without help. groped back and forth along the mid- Pollock felt all the sensations of a deck. rat in a trap, awaiting death. If he With a strangled cry, Pollock

only had something to fight with ! Why snatched up the girl and retreated to had his the end of the deck. His movement had atom-pistol proved useless? apparently been heard. For now the Its tiny gauge showed that it con- hand snatched viciously toward him. tained a full charge of the "unstable"

He drew his atom-pistol, levelled it copper that was its fuel. Again he trig- and pulled trigger. There was no an- gered, but it remained dead. He opened swering blast from the weapon. It was the butt. The fuel-chamber was empty. dead, useless. "Good God, Lor Ow tricked us!" he Stunned by that disastrous discov- exclaimed. "When he gave us back " — " "

INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD 93 the atom-guns, he gave them to us that they could at least make an at- empty except for just enough charge tempt to escape their terrible predic- to fire one blast. He knew Marston ament. would test the guns—once." Pollock's hands shook wildly when The diabolical cunning of the Ven- he found the medicine chest. He tore usian mutineer stunned hirm He knew open the door. His gaze flew instantly now why Lor Ow had agreed so readily to one small, sealed plastic flask of red to surrender. liquor.

"He and Thubar and the other mu- He snatched and gripped it as a tineers, as soon as the eyes are com- drowning man might grip a straw, and pletely repaired, will overpower the looked for more. There was no more. officers and seize the ship again! And He tore the contents of the chest wildly the eyes are nearly finished now! We've— out, but without avail. This one little got to get back and warn Marston flask held all the soma in the ship.

The hopelessness of their prospects "But it's not enough!" he told him- of ever doing so struck him to silence. self wildly. "It's barely enough— for The giant Neptunian still crouched one person. If I give it to Eve outside, ominously waiting. There was If he gave it to Eve, it would relieve no possible escape from the ship. the agony she was suffering. But it Eve's face was pure white with agony, would leave not a drop of soma for him- fine perspiration beading her forehead. self. Yet she tried to smile at him. And he had sweated, toiled and

"Don't worry about me," she whis- fought for days to get this precious lit- pered. "If you can get away to warn tle flask of the red liquor! He had

the captain, do so." dreamed of it, his body and nerves had

"Do you think I'd leave you, after cried out for it night and day. Give it being crazy enough to let —you come?" up, now? he flamed. "It's my fault "I won't do it," he thought desper- inter- Her low exclamation of pain ately. "I can't do it ! I've got to have rupted him. Her effort to turn and this for myself." speak to him had wrung new torture They were both almost certain to from her twisted shoulder. be killed soon, anyway, he told himself. "Eve, listen!" he encouraged. "I Why should he give the soma to Eve, haven't yet looked through this ship merely to save her a short period of for soma. If I can find any, it will agony before the almost inevitable end? deaden your pain enough that you can With death staring them in the face, move. We can try cutting out a port he might as well die happy! Pollock on the side of the ship away from that unsealed the tiny flask and prepared to monster." lift his helmet briefly so that he might Pollock stumbled through the shad- raise the flask to his lips. owy ship, toward the cabins in the stern. The medicine chest should be in one of CHAPTER VII them. And if there was soma in it Soma! Even in their present mo- UTS arm froze, without completing ment of dire peril, his brain and body the movement. For he had again cried out for it. It would steady his seen in front of him the pale, brave face long-thirsty nerves, would bring him of Eve Graham. new strength and ease Eve's agony so He couldn't drink the soma. He " " —

94 AMAZING STORIES

knew that, now. Not even the terrible to do without it! I sweated it out, as mastery of the soma-drinking habit a few people have done before. But could force him to do so, when the liq- I didn't know I had. I still thirsted uid meant surcease of agony for the for the stuff as a mental habit—and my girl. effort of will just now broke that!" He stumbled back through the ship "I'm glad!" she cried, her eyes to his side. He was shaking from men- brimming. "No matter what happens, tal strain as he gently raised her in I'm glad!" his arms. Pollock felt a soaring exultation, "Eve, I found a little soma. It will even in the midst of deathly danger. anaesthetize your pain. But drink it The grip that had strangled his life only a few drops at a time, or it will for two years was gone. He felt like put you to sleep." a prisoner released. He might die, but

He showed her how to lift her helmet he'd die clean 1 and hold her breath momentarily while But new, buoyant courage and hope she drank. And as she did so, he held tingled through him now. He wouldn't the flask to her lips, feeling a strange die if he could help it! They still had new calm. a slim chance Color came back into her face. She "Eve, we've got to get out of this ship looked up at him gratefully, as she before the other giants come and rip lowered her helmet back into position. this craft apart." "That's killed the pain. I can move He looked from the porthole. The now— colossus still crouched outside, omi- She stopped, looking at Pollock's nously waiting. haggard, strangely calm face. Her eyes Pollock raced down to the moldering became stricken. cyc-room of the vessel and came back "You gave me all the soma you with rusting tools. He sprang to a found! You've nearly died for it, yet porthole on the side of the ship opposite you gave it to me— the guarding giant. "It doesn't matter, Eve," he said "If we can cut a way out on this dully. "I don't need it that badly." side, we'll have a chance to get away And as he said that, Pollock suddenly through the reeds. You take a few realized that what he said was true. drops of the soma whenever the pain He didn't feel now as though he needed comes back." the soma. The wild craving of his nerves and tTE TOILED at the thick double brain for the Martian liquor had mi- glassite of the porthole, the rusted raculously quieted from the moment he points and edges of his tools only slowly had made his decision. eating into the tough material. Eve "Eve," he said hoarsely. "I didn't kept watch upon the crouching colossus believe what I said just now. But it's on the other side. Pollock finally got so! I don't feel now that I'll ever need the porthole cut through. He lifted out soma again." the sections of glassite and placed them The explanation burst upon his softly on the floor. thunderstruck brain. The only possi- "I'll go first, Eve, and lift you out," ble key to the miracle. he whispered. "I broke my physical body of the He slipped through the porthole. soma-habit, in all these weeks I've had Half buried as the ship was, it was only a

INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD 95

a few feet to the soft ground. Pollock reached her side, supported A thunderous rolling of sound her as her knees buckled. The leader broke in the distance. Pollock turned, of the giants, towering titantic over appaled. A group of five collossi were them, was kneeling. rapidly approaching through the marsh, "It's my brother!" she sobbed. It's and had glimpsed him dropping out of Alan!" the ship. Alan Graham, the man who had "Eve, quickly! They're coming!" flown this doomed ship to Neptune he yelled. and whom she had come to seek— The girl lowered herself clumsily by giant?" one arm through the porthole. He Pollock knew horror transcending snatched her to her feet. anything he had yet experienced. Yet The thunderous voices were shouting he should have been prepared for this, back and forth. The five oncoming he thought. The radioactive fog of this colossi and the one on the other side of hellish valley worked its terrible effect the ship were coming toward them. upon any living thing that breathed it "Into the reeds!" he cried franti- —whether animal, Neptunian or Earth-

cally. "Eve, it's our only chance!" man. The girl had inexplicably stopped. "Eve! My God, how did you get As though frozen by horror, she was here!" The words rolled down like staring wildly up at the oncoming six shattering thunder from the giant giants. kneeling over them. She was in full view of them. They Alarm flashed into his face. "You've had seen and were coming. Pollock got to get out of the valley, quickly! knew he could not desert her, even If your helmet leaks and you breathe though her frozen fascination of horror this air, you're lost." had cost them their last chance. He extended his giant open hand to- Mad with rage and the bitterness of ward them, palm upward. "Get into my defeat, he stepped in front of her and hand, both of you." shook his fist at the oncoming mon- Pollock, supporting the girl, stumbled strous shapes, like a Gulliver defying up onto the colossal palm. He felt more Brobdingnagians. strongly than ever that this must be "Come on, then, damn you!" he sheer nightmare. shouted. Alan Graham's hand cupped pro- Eve ran past him, toward the striding tectingly around them, then rushed colossi, her hands uplifted wildly to dizzily up through the air as the giant them. Earthman rose to his feet. "Alan!" she screamed. He strode purposefully up the slope And then, Pollock froze as he saw. of the valley, the other giants following Saw that the leader of these colossi unquestioningly. Only when they had was no giant Neptunian like the others. climbed up out of the poisonous radium He was a giant yes,—towering huge fog of the valley into the clean mists of as the others, dressed like them in the lichen forest, did he put them down. leather harness. But his features were those of a young Earthman, features VE and Pollock could take off their strangely like those of Eve herself. helmets here. And as they did so, "Alan, it's you!" Eve was sobbing Alan Graham again kneeled and his wildly. colossal face came down toward them. " "

86 AMAZINC STORIES

He was crying, great tears running find some way of bringing you back to down those giant cheeks. There was normal size— something terrible to Pollock in the Alan Graham shook his huge head spectacle of those tears. sadly. "Nothing will ever do that, Eve. "Eve I" his thunderous voice husked. I know enough science to realize that "My kid sister Eve, come all the way to this hyper-growth is a one-way process. Neptune to look for me. And you find And that means that I must stay on me, like this." Neptune for life, for no ship is big "Oh, Alan, how did it happen?" she enough to take me away." sobbed. He went on rapidly. "But you must He told them. "Our ship landed in get away from this hell's planet, at once. the valley, the plotted location of the Where is your ship?" radium deposits we were seeking. But Pollock answered. "It's near the cliff we crashed in landing in that glowing of the little tribes. But I'm afraid it fog. The ship was damaged, some of us may go without us!" killed. He explained swiftly about the muti- "We guessed from what we saw that neers and the trick of Lor Ow with the to breathe that radioactive air would atom-pistols. have terrible results. So we worked to "The eyes are repaired now, the ship repair the ship and wore helmets when able to take off," Pollock finished we went out. But the radioactive poi- hoarsely. "I fear that Lor Ow and his son got us. We hadn't suspected that band will seize control and leave when the hull of the Meteor had been cracked they find us two missing, for they'll underneath and was allowing the poi- know that I would discover their trick sonous air to enter the ship. with the guns if I ran into danger."

INVADERS FROM THE MONSTER WORLD 3V the speed with which the foggy forest ship, and pulled ft down to the ground fell behind them. Until he died, Pol- by brute strength 1 And as the prow was lock would not forget that hastening torn out of his throat, Alan Graham of the giants through the strengthening swayed, staggered and then fell like a dawn. crashing oak. He thought, finally, that they must be Eve shook free of Pollock's grip and near the Ceres. And then between the ran toward the giant's prostrate form. giant strides, he heard a distant sound Pollock, starting to follow, saw the door in the fog. of the Ceres open and glimpsed Lor Ow "That's rockets blasting I" he yelled leap forth. wildly to the colossal Earthman who The Venusian ringleader, bis face carried them. "The Ceres must bp tak- wild and dazed, saw Pollock and raised ing off now!" his atom-pistol. Before he could fire, the giant foot of one of the colossal ^LAN GRAHAM rushed forward, Neptunians came down upon him. heedless of all obstacles, his legs Thubar and the others, who had crashing through the great lichen trees started to follow Lor Ow out, ran back as a man might through reeds. into the ship screaming. But Pollock The roar of rockets blasted louder to hastened after Eve. their ears. They came into sight of the He found her beside the head of her space-ship. And Pollock yelled again, giant, fallen brother. Alan Graham's for the Ceres was taking off with keel great eyes rolled toward them, in a dy- and stern rockets flaming, rushing up ing flicker of strength. toward them in a long slanting climb. "Better this way, Evie," he husked. "The mutineers have the ship and "Don't be too sorry for me—" they've got away!" he groaned. And he was dead with the words, and "I can stilt stop them!" shouted Alan Eve was sobbing wildly against Pol- Graham. lock's chest. He tried to soothe her. His hand swooped dizzyingly to put "He was right, Eve. He'd always Pollock and Eve down behind a big have been a prisoner here on Neptune." lichen on the ground. And then, straightening, Graham charged for- J_JE WENT back with her toward the ward. ship. Marston and Lewis were He charged straight toward the emerging from it now, their faces wild climbing space-ship ! It was rushing up with incredulity also as they looked up toward him like a thunderbolt of metal. at the Neptunian colossi.

The colossal Earthman leaped up di- "Pollock!" cried the captain. "I still rectly in front of it. can't understand! Lor Ow and his The prow of the Ceres tore deep into bunch overpowered us this morning, his throat. Eve screamed as her colos- and were taking off. They kept us sal brother staggered beneath that alive because they still figured to tor- mortal wound. ture one of us into navigating for them. But he was gripping and holding the But then these giants appeared— bow of the ship with terrible, dying Pollock interrupted the dazed cap- strength! And the other giants, roar- tain. "You've got the mutineers under ing with deafening, raging voices, were complete control now?" springing forward to help him. Marston nodded grimly. "Thubar Their enormous arms circled the and the other two ringleaders are locked "

98 AMAZING STORIES safely up this time. They lost their mist on roaring rockets. It swung out nerve completely and released us just through the foggy atmosphere until at now, and that's the first thing I did. last the clear vault of space with the And this time I made sure our atom- hosts of brilliant stars burst on their guns were not empty." vision. The Neptunian colossi had left the Pollock went tiredly down to help old Ceres and were approaching their Stacy check the eyes. They would be fallen leader. They bent over the pros- shorthanded all the way back to Earth, trate giant. he knew. But they would make it. Pollock saw the sorrow in the faces He found Marston talking with Eve of those incredible figures. He saw when he went back to the bridge. The them debate briefly among themselves. burly captain spoke casually to him.

"Pollock, what if they—," Marston "Mr. Lewis will take the next watch began fearfully. while you get some sleep. Then you "They won't harm us," Pollock an- will take over after him, Mr. Pollock." swered quietly. "That's Alan Graham, "Mr. Pollock?" he repeated wonder- and he was their beloved leader and ingly. It had been long since that for- they know we were his friends." mal address of officer to officer had met The five colossi straightened. Two his ears. of them had picked up Alan Graham's Marston nodded calmly. "I'm ap- stupendous body between them. pointing you temporary officer, since

Bearing it, never looking back, the Harker is disabled. And I'm betting five giants strode away through the that when I tell the Board all I've just mists. They disappeared in the fog heard, you get your certificate back. northeastward. When you do, I'd like to have you with Eve looked after them with tear- me permanently." filled eyes. "They're going to bury Pollock swallowed. It was too much him," he told her, his throat tight. to take, almost. His self-respect, his job, She nodded. And her voice was his future—all coming back to him to- choked as she called into the mist. gether.

"Alan I Alan, goodbye I "I—I'd be happy to serve with you, Marston's urgent voice recalled them sir," he managed. to the immediate present. "For God's "Good, that's a promise," rumbled sake let's get off this devil's world I" the captain. A little later, with Marston at the And Pollock, looking into Eve's controls, the Ceres again lifted from the tremulous, happy eyes, saw there an- lichen forest and climbed through the other promise. THE MARQUIS OF ANGLESEY'S LEG WATERLOO is the site of one o( the and for generations it has been handed down in most famous battles of history. Na- will after will as valuable property. The noble- poleon and the Duke of Wellington man's famous Kmb resides in a garden within a fought it out there, and now the spot has be- coffin under a weeping willow tree. A glorious come a "must" for tourists. Among the curiosi- epitaph has been inscribed upon the stone which ties of Waterloo are the grave of the Marquis marks the place. of Anglesey's leg, and the house in which it was Some wag, aware of the ridiculousness of the cut off. There can be seen the boot that leg setting scribbled two lines beneath the inscrip- once proudly wore. tion. The owner of that house finds that its queer "Here lies the Marquis of Anglesey's limb, relics offer a very lucrative source of revenue, The devil will have the rest of him." A. MORRIS

SCIENCE has prophesied a new peace-time Thus repaving costs are kept at a minimum. use for a war-time instrument. It is The cutting machine is placed on a special thought, and logically so, that the echo- track; two or more sections of such a track sounding devices now used to detect the can be used so that the cutting operation can presence of submarines may be valuable in the be carried on continuously. The cutting blow- post-war world in helping fishermen determine pipe of the machine is equipped with a bevel- the whereabouts of schools of fish. cutting nozzle, and a single cut is made at an The question of why people like to fish has angle along the groove of the rail so that the been tackled by many philosophers. Sir Isaac top of the rail is severed from the web in two Walton has retained his fame through the years longitudinal sections. The cut rail can then for his essay on fishing. Most men have con- be easily removed with a pinch bar. cluded that 65 per cent of the appeal of this sport lies in the utter uncertainty of the wet TF TESTS continue to be as successful as those 1 weary pastime. If the position of droves of tried on 90 patients in several Philadelphia fishes could be noted instruments all by the fun hospitals the United States will possess a new of the sport would disappear. The fisherman's chemical remedy against germs. According to Dr. gambling instinct would be thwarted; the charm Ellice McDonald and Dr. V. W. Murray Wright that lured him into unknown waters would no this new remedy will be especially useful to the longer exist. army for treating war wounds, since it has been science in Will stop this race to take all the very effective in the treatment of infections uncertainty out of the sportsman's games? Will caused by germs in the gram-positive group, the golf irons of the future be equipped with which are the ones found in from 80 to 90% range finders and the hunter's gun with a tele- of wounds. vision set? The new remedy is known as H-l and is ex- tracted from germs found in the ground. It is a to the war, steel mills cannot produce r\UE fine gray powder and retains its potency even full-capacity tonnage because they must use though highly diluted. Before using the ex-

low-grade melting steel ; and they are being tract it is dissolved in a small quantity of alcohol forced to dip deeply into their inventories of and then diluted with water. Another advantage scrap, reducing them to an abnormally low point of the remedy is the fact that in solutions when in normal times they would be building up it is colorless which permits the surgeon to their stocks for the winter months. examine the wound without any interference. This condition has forced steel mills, muni- Moreover, Dr. Wright reports that the remedy cipalities, and various types of traction com- stimulates healing in addition to being an ef- panies to begin to obtain the thousands of tons fective germicide. of scrap rail by removing abandoned street car H-l is the latest addition to the group of tracks which are now embedded, unused in the remedies used to fight germs that is being made streets of hundreds of cities throughout the from micro-organisms instead of being prepared country. Furthermore the removal of these rails by chemists as are the many sulfa drugs. The is economical and efficient through a method, group of remedies that uses germs to kill germs recently developed in which a portable oxy-acety- already contains gramicidin, tyrocidine, and lene cutting machine is used. penicillin.

Aside from the simplicity and high speed The reason the army is so vitally interested in of cutting which makes this method so effi- this new germicide, in addition to its above cient, there also are economies which can be mentioned advantages is the fact that only the realized. The method permits removal of the powder need be shipped and thus huge quan- rail without breaking adjacent pavement, even tities of the powerful germicide could be easily when asphalt, macadam, stone blocks, or brick moved to any front by simply sending a small have been laid flush with the top of the rail. package in a plane.

99 The Radiant Rock By Frances M. Deegan Somehow this hill-billy could make a wash machine run without a power connection. He did it with rocka ...

WAS black as the Inside of a this time. Not if I could get far enough ITfiddle. No moon, no stars. Nothing away from that town. I was cleaned, but this blind trail. And the pain Sure. And I had to hoof it and I didn't of my head, and an empty belly, and a know where I was headed for. But savage disgust with everything—in- there's such a thing as determination, eluding myself. Even when you're licked. And, brother, They'd hang me some day. But not I was licked—but good.

—

102 AMAZING STORIES

Dan Barron, the human football. I'd day. been bounced around so much it's a They shove me in the can. It takes wonder they didn't scrap me and call it three of the plant guards to get me a day. That's what they should have downtown. The guy behind the desk done. Because the last time I didn't starts in on me. He's a cop sergeant, bounce. I exploded. but anyway a sergeant, so he can't just First it was the Army. book me and go on about his business. "Lead me to it," I said, "that's just Oh, no. He's got to tell me what a no what I've been saving myself for." And good son-of-a-so-forth I am. I went down and enlisted. Sure. The So I dive across the desk and slam Army. It's tough and it's hard and it's him on the floor and bang his head a hup, two, three, four and keep your couple times before they connect with nose clean. Great stuff. Just what I was the black jack. I get ninety days and cut out for. a fifty dollar fine. There's only one thing wrong with When I get out they hand me my the Army. They got sergeants. They $76.00 change and a warning. It looks got sergeants all over the place and like a good time to get drunk. So I you can't get along with any of them. get drunk. I wind tip in a crap game So I get transferred. Twice I get with four other mugs. I get cleaned in transferred. But all the time I have to a hurry and I know the dice are keep hitting sergeants. Sure, I got a crooked. nasty temper, and I got a build like "Goodbye now," the mugs tell me. Jack Dempsey used to have, and the The old bounceroo. That's when I ex- same kind of fists, and I don't mind plode. using 'em. I don't mind at all. But Four guys. I take an awful shellack- the sergeants do. Shows you what kind ing. It's dirty, but it's stand up and of guys sergeants are; they squawk take it or lay down and get your head but loud. kicked off. I don't quit until I get three So finally I get bounced. Yeah, unfit of the bedbugs laid out on the floor. for duty. Me. Six foot three and 212 The fourth guiny comes at me with a pounds of muscle, rarin' to go. I get a shiv. I go in low and butt him with my dishonorable discharge. On account of head and grab him by the legs and toss sergeants. him through the window. All right, so I'm an insolent, unman- Maybe I broke his neck. I don't ageable mule-head. I admit it. But don't know. I didn't wait to find out . . . let me hear anybody else say it especially sergeants. T'D BEEN on the road for two days I get a job in a defense plant. I last now, ducking and dodging the min- about three weeks. I don't like the ute anybody came in sight. I bet I could guy working next to me. He talks too have scared a whole battalion just by much, he thinks he knows it all, so I standing up and waving my arms. The have to poke him. So I get bounced. way I was banged up. A two day beard, Three times I get a job in a defense my work clothes hanging in bloody plant and three times I get bounced for rags, and all of me crusty with dirt. poking guys. Disrupting the morale, My left shoulder was numb where

they call it. The last time it turns the shiv went in. At least a couple of into a free-for-all. They have to shut ribs were busted. My face felt like down the department for the rest of the somebody had used a hammer on it. "

THE RADIANT ROCK 103

And my legs were about ready to give could see that it was alive. I don't

out. I knew it when I stumbled over a know how else to say it. It was thick, rock and went to my knees. I sat down wavy, tawny hair that reached below

on the rock. And then I began to ache her shoulders, and it was just right for all over and shiver. I knew I wasn't the rest of her. going to get up again. I just sat there. She came and put her hands on me I never felt worse in my life. and pulled me to my feet. Her body "Son-of-a-dog," I said. "If it will was lithe and warm against me. The only start to rain now, everything will rain melted us together. be perfect." "You better come on in the house," Pretty soon it started to rain. she said. And I went. I guess I went to sleep. I don't know. It wasn't far. She opened the door Anyway I kind of forgot things for a and it was dark inside and I stumbled. while. Then it started to thunder. It Our wet bodies collided and we stood sounded like ninety-five 16-inch guns there clinging to each other. I kissed all going off with split second timing. her. And it was sweet hell. Because I thought it was never going to end. every hurt on my body caught fire and

I thought it was going to jar the earth blazed. And I was glad of it. Glad loose and split it down the middle. I my battered carcass could feel anything

thought I was going to be deaf the rest like this . . . of my life. Then I quit' worrying about An old woman came from somewhere anything because it looked like I was with a kerosene lamp. "That you, going to be drowned. Sulina? Who's that with you?" The rain came faster and faster until "I found him. He was settin' out it was like somebody had dumped a there in the rain so I brung him in." whole ocean out. Tons of water came Thunder shook the house and rain pouring down. I put my head in my crashed like breakers. arms and let it beat me breathless. The old woman held the lamp higher Lightning split the dark with ugly and took a good look. zig-zags and I held my hands around "Great Jehosaphat! What you been my face and tried to see where I was. doin', fallin' outa trees?" All I saw was a lot of hills jumping up "Yeah, yeah," I said. "I been falling and down. Then the thunder cut loose out of trees all week. I been practicing again. for parachute jumping—without the I was gasping like a fish. I waited parachute." for the next lightning flash and when it "My lands ! It sure is hard on your came I saw her standing there. I didn't clothes." notice the hair at first. All I saw was "He can have Bud's bed. Can't he, that gorgeous body. She had a dress Maw?" Her hands made little pressing on, but it didn't mean a thing. The rain strokes down my back. had pasted it tight around those full Not so good. Not so good. Not with young curves. And it was beautiful, Maw standing there holding the lamp. brother. It was beautiful. I let go of her and tried to back up, but The lightning kept flaring and flick- she came with me. I got a handful of ering with wicked jabs and the thunder soft, round shoulder and pushed. growled and I could see her walking "Sulie ! Git on up to bed now. Shame toward me. After a while I noticed her on you ! hair. Even then, even in the wet, I "But he's hurt, Maw. Can't he have 104 AMAZING STORIES

Bud's bed? Please, Maw. Please 'Cept he's blond and got a bad foot. take good care of him." My other boy's Bud. He's a little runt."

"Scat now, 'fore I take the broom- "These boys . . . They're the stick to you. Go on, git!" brothers of—er—your daughter?" "Well, natchelly! You leave Sulie CHE LET go of me and left a chilled alone, you hear?" place where she had been. She "Well, natchelly," I said, half asleep. walked across the room and she was barefooted and made straight little T SLEPT late. It was marvelous- tracks all the way until she came to the waking up in a bed. I wondered door. She half turned to look back at whose bed it was. Not hers, anyway. me with big gray-blue eyes. Then she It smelled like a man. My rags were smiled and it was like the sun coming gone. There was a clean shirt and wash out, and now I had seen her from all pants on a chair. They fit, so they must angles. Front, rear and side. And she have been Torg's. He was big, all right. was beautiful, no matter where you I came down to the kitchen and the stood, she was beautiful. place was full of steam and the soapy Maw put the lamp down and all the smell of boiling clothes. Maw peered shadows shifted. And I was tired as an at me out of a white cloud. old dog just before he was shot. I sat "Wash day," she informed me. Un- down and let the pain have me. It necessarily, I thought. moved from one place to another, gnaw- She shoved the wash boiler off to a ing like a rat and taking its time dangerous angle and made room for the about it. coffee pot. I sat down and breathed hot I will say the old woman knew her alkali fumes. The coffee tasted like stuff. She made coffee and a couple of soap. hefty bacon and egg sandwiches. Then Maw stood there with her hands on she got out a big first aid kit and taped her hips and looked me over in the my ribs and cauterized my shoulder, daylight. and plastered bandages here and there, "I sure want to thank you," I said, and it was wonderful. "for taking me in last night. I was I told her. I said, "You sure know all in." your stuff, Mrs.—" "Uh-huh. Reckon you better light "Call me Maw." here for a few days. Rest up a spell." "Maw what?" That was fine. That was just what "Stokes. What's your'n?" I wanted. "That's pretty nice of you," "Barron. Dan Barron. Bull Barron. I said. "Anybody you want killed—just Black Barron. Take your choice." let me know." And I went out to look "You married?" around. I thought I ought to help Sulie "Nope. Never been." with whatever she was doing. "You'd oughta. How come you to be The washing machine was chuckling on this road?" and swishing away on the side porch. "I got lost. How come you to be so It was one of those old, wooden, hand- handy with the Red Cross outfit?" operated masterpieces that came out "That Torg. He's always gettin' him- about 1900. self banged up." I thought Maw had done pretty good

"Who's that?" to keep it going all these years, and I "My boy, Torg. Big fellow, like you. started to step off the porch. I had one —

THE RADIANT ROCK 108 foot in the air when the thing socked "It is like hell I" I said. "Either me—what I had just seen. somebody around here has discovered I went off the porch in a combination perpetual motion, or else you've got back-flip belly-whopper. The side of something pretty fancy in the way of my head hit the bottom step, and I just remote control. Who rigged this up for laid there and wondered what I'd bust- you?" ed this time. "Bud, he fixed it. He makes lec- I could hear that damn washer gur- Iricity." gling and chuckling up there on the I shoved Sulie off my shoulder. porch. Yeah. No electric current in "Where is he?" miles. No gas engines, no batteries in "Out back. In the shed.*' sight. Nothing. Just that damfool old "I'll show you where 'tis." Sulie was hand washer—washing clothes all by on again. I let her stay there and I itself. looked at Maw and she looked at me. I started to get up and Sulie came I didn't like what I saw, so I shoved out and she was dry now, but she sure Sulie off again. filled out a calico dress so I didn't get "You stay here," I said, "and help up. Maw. I'll get there quicker by myself." She stepped down and lifted my head She scowled at me like a vicious kitten, and put her arms around me and she and I went around the house and found felt as beautiful as she looked. the shed. "You're always gettin' hurt," she My busted ribs were aching again. said, and her voice was sweet like a My shoulder throbbed. And I took a child, but it had grownup seduction in hell of a bang on the ear when I hit that it. That glorious hair came down step. But I forgot all this when I got around my face and I thought the hell inside the shed. Because this guy Bud with the washing machine. really was making electricity. Sure.

There was nothing to it. '"jpHEN Maw came out and I remem- Bud was a little, thin guy with sus- bered where I was, and that Maw's picious eyes. He sure didn't look like child had no business holding me the he came from the same place Sulie did. way she was. Close and—well, in just He had a lot of junk piled around. that way. So I decided to get up and Pieces of old motors and transformers, look at the washing machine. and all kinds of odds and ends. Even "How do you stop this thing?" I said. an old bicycle. He squinted up at me "Brake," Maw said, and pushed and didn't say anything. down on a wooden lever. "Hiya. I'm Dan Barron." The machine jerked, growled, stut- "Yeah, I know." tered and finally quit. The water and "Looks like you got quite a shop stuff inside was still sloshing. But the here." wooden handle that moved the paddles "Uh-huh." —when it was pushed back and forth "You— er, you making any electrcity was standing straight up. I wanted to this morning?" turn the thing inside out, but I was "Uh-huh." afraid to monkey with it. I wanted to squeeze his ugly head,

"And all you got to do to start it, is but I was polite as hell. "You mind if I lift the brake?" stick around? I'm kind of interested "Uh-huh. It's a 'lectric washer." in electricity myself." 106 AMAZING STORIES

"You done any 'lectrical work?" Bud took a hunk of rock in one hand "Yeah, yeah," I said. "I worked and picked up a socket with a light around. Here and there. How'd you bulb screwed in and a short length of come to get into it?" wire attached. He touched the bare "Correspondence course. What I ends of the wire to the rock and nothing

can't figure out is why they got to have happened. I took another look at the so much wirin' in the city. The 'lec- bulb. tricity's just the same, ain't it?" "Hell. No wonder," I told him. "The "Well, yes and no," I said. "Yes and bulb's no good. It's burned out."

no. In the city it takes a hell of a lot "Oh. Maybe that's it. I'll tell Torg of machinery to corral the juice. Out to get me some more globe*."

here it looks a lot simpler. It kind of "Where's he gonna get 'em?" beats me where you get it." "Same place he got all this stuff. He "I found it," he said. "Up in the hills found it." yonder." "Oh, yeah. Found it." This family "Oh, you found it." seemed to have terrific luck finding

"Uh-huh. I bust it off in pieces and things. Any time they wanted some-

bring it back here and saw it up to fit thing, they just went out and found it.

the connections. Only thing is—I ain't Yeah. Like Sulie found me . . . been able to make it work on light The way Bud found this rock, he was globes." moping around up in the hill* one day "You—er, you got a hunk of it laying when he was just a kid. He sees this around?" big rock sticking out and starts chipping He put down the coil he was tinkering at it with his knife. All at once he gets with, got out a pair of heavy gloves a shock that knocks him end over back- and a hack saw, and started sawing on a wards. It took him several years to big piece of rough looking rock. And figure out what it was. And then he I began to get crazy ideas. Yeah. You sent for this correspondence course and remember those old crystal radio sets? started making with the electricity. Where you screwed a little piece of cop- That crazy old washer of Maw's was per wire around to different places on a fitted up with a little motor tucked up hunk of crystal and g6t different sta- out of sight under the wooden frame. tions? This guy Bud had no idea what he was doing, but he was doing all right any- TT WAS as simple as that. This how. He'd motorized most of the sta- .monkey had dug up a kind of dirty tionary farm machinery around the looking crystal rock that must have place. But he hadn't been able to apply been packed with concentrated elec- the rock to moving equipment. He

trons. Whatever it was that trapped didn't know enough about combustion them there, they couldn't escape ex- engines to make the necessary conver- cept through a metal conductor. All he sion. had to do was drill a hole, stick in the I began to see tremendous possibili- bare wires and turn on the connection. ties in the thing. But I tried not to The electrons must have kept renewing show any excitement. I didn't want themselves, because the rock never Bud to get suspicious. I went around seemed to fade. It gave out with the shed sorting out the junk and direct current, but there was no way of checking it over. I was itching to try

measuring it without a meter. a few stunts with that rock myself. — "

THE RADIANT ROCK 107

pRETTY soon Torg came in, and he through the cables and charge people looked more like Sulie. He was a big for using it." blond guy with a lazy grin and a bad "Uh-huh. But couldn't folks just use limp. the raw stuff? Like Bud here?" "Well," he said to Bud, "I see you "No, because they haven't got it." decided to make up with him." "That's how I figured. Them big "He's all right," Bud muttered. "He companies, they— get a hold on a thing knows about 'lectririty." —and kind of "Bud, he ain't very sociable," Torg "Monopoly?" told me. "If you can get along with "Yeah, like that. An' they won't let him, you're pretty good." He was look- nobody else have any 'less they pay ing me over. Sizing me up like a big, the company. It's the same way with good-natured cat getting ready to oil an' gas an' even water. Shucks, the pounce on a friend, just for exercise. stuff's there. Anybody ought to be "I get along," I said. I was all set able to help theirselves. But no. These for some embarrassing questions. But big companies fence it off and put it they never came. One thing about this through a lot of machinery to make it family, they were not curious. Not a bit. cost more, an' folks got to pay for every- "I guess you ain't started laughing thing they get. I read where they're at him yet," Torg said. even startin' to manufacture air. It "I don't see anything to laugh at." ain't right." "Don't you think it's kinda funny The guy was an anarchist. Any the way he gets 'lectricity?" other time I'd try to poke some sense

"I don't think it's funny." into him. But not this time. No sir. "Other folks do. They think it's a I had my eye on that rock. As long as hell of a joke. What'd they say in town he thought it was just common, ordinary that time we tried to tell 'em about it, stuff, like oil and gas and water, he Bud?" could believe in anarchy or any other "Said we was stealin' it!" damn thing for all I cared. "Uh-huh. Ain't that the limit? Folks think if you find somethin' you musta ^/"ELL, there it was. That laid it stole it." He said it dead pan, like he right in my lap. As neat a little meant it. Like he really believed if package of luck as you could want. you picked something up it was okay And these dopes didn't know from noth- to take it home. Something like a half- ing. They thought the electric com- horse motor, for instance. Yeah. Nice panies manufactured power out of guy. Pleasant as hell. And I'd trust rocks. They thought they could get him about as quick as I'd pet a rattle power the same way and not upset snake. every utility company in the world. "They meant you were tapping a There was one thing, though. I power line," I said. "But there aren't couldn't afford any complications. I'd any lines up this way, are there?" have to watch my step with Sulie . . . "Not that I ever heard tell of," Torg And I did. Believe me, I worked said. "I can't figure out what they need overtime giving her the brush-off. And all those lines for anyway. Why is it was a crime, brother. It was a shame. that?" That great big beautiful doll. She elecric companies manufacture wasn't liking it one bit. She kept tag- , "The the current. Then they pipe it out ging after us—Bud and me, and getting —

108 AMAZING STORIES herself in the way. machine in the back of the car. The We took turns yelling: "Maw! Call guy was wonderful. Sulie ! " And Maw did. But five min- Of course you can't just walk in a utes later Sulie was back again. She place and walk out with a sewing didn't know anything about the bio- machine under your arm. What Torg logical urge. She was just following her did, he'd locate what he wanted and instincts and she didn't care where they make a deal for a swap. Something he took her. could pick up. Then he'd go out and There was a reason for this. And pick up whatever the other guy wanted the same reason explained a lot of and drive off with his sewing machine, things about this family. I got the or what have you. picture a little bit at a time. I kept thinking we'd blow something, Paw was dead. He died of a bullet but we never did. The motive force wound. I never did find out how he that came out of the rock seemed to got it. But if he was anything like his adapt itself to the capacity of the outlet. son Torg, he was probably a bank rob- Anyway we'd used up most of the ber. This place they had back in the rock with one thing and another. So hills was practically a hideout. They we had to have some more. Sulie never had any visitors. Torg drove an wanted to go along. We said no. We old rattletrap in to town once in a said no in several different ways. Fin- while for supplies—and anything else ally we had to yell for Maw. It was he could pick up. But outside of that quite a tussle. Sulie flung herself at me they never had any contacts. That and dug in with teeth and claws and explained why Sulie was wild. But I hung on. kept wondering why they took me in. "Take me with you! Take me with Pretty soon I found out. you!" It was all she could say. Bud and I decided to make a trip up I ripped her loose. I tore my shirt in the hills for a fresh supply of the Torg's shirt. I had claw marks all over rock. Between the two of us we'd me by the time Maw got there. I was rigged up quite a lot of experiments out holding this beautiful, wild-eyed of his junk. Maw had an electric iron heathen by both arms and thinking of that was a darb. No cord to get tangled a strait-jacket. But all Maw did was up in. Torg showed up one day with box her ears, and she marched right in a bunch of live bulbs and we put a few the house. lights in the house. Maw was tickled Maw turned around and gave me a pink. The light was steady and clear. look. It made me a little uneasy, that

Just like boughten 'lectricity. look. Not that it was mad. It just I was anxious to experiment with a said too much. Like maybe I had a

radio, but it wasn't safe to mention it. certain responsibility and she was going

Because Torg would get in his jalopy to see that I took care of it. What the and go find one. I was afraid he'd bring hell, I thought. Maybe I was playing

the cops home on his heels any day. it all wrong. The way he kept finding stuff. At the supper table one night, I was JT WAS quite a hike to where the rock telling Maw how even a sewing machine was. We came out of the woods and could be run by electricity. A couple started to cross a creek. On the other days later here comes Torg, driving up side, the hill went almost straight up, to the back door with an old Singer with a lot of boulders and scrub brush. "

THE RADIANT ROCK 109

Sulie slid from behind a bush and breath out and flung me against the stood there looking like a sweet little wall like it was mad at me. I dropped girl who'd just done something cute. in a heap and wondered where I'd heard Bud said: "You bratl Go on back that loud ringing sound in my ears be- home. Git!" fore. "I can come here if I want, Bud Then I remembered. Artillery. No, Stokes. Maw said I shouldn't walk couldn't be. Not here. Bombs. It with you, an' I didn't. So there!" must be bombs! Sulie! "Oh, my Then she looked at me and her eyes got God!" I kept thinking. "Where's big and her lip started quivering. "I Sulie?" I was paralyzed. Numb. I want to talk to you, Dan. Please." couldn't move. Then things started "Yeah, yeah," I said. "It's a good coming down. They slid and rumbled trick, if you can do it. Only you always and bumped and pretty soon they all pick the wrong time. Right now I'm got together in one big growl that kept busy." getting louder and louder. "You're always busy! You won't It was the ledge that saved us. Solid never talk to me. You'll be sorry. You rock, and it stayed there. After a while

! just wait an' see the growl started slowing down. I tried I was sorry already. The sun came to unscramble my arms and legs and slanting through the trees and that found that part of them belonged to tawny hair rippled and sparkled, and Bud. The dust was choking me, but almost seemed to breathe with her. She he didn't make a sound. had her hands behind her like she was I tried to wipe the dust out of my holding herself in, and her arms pulled eyes, but I couldn't see a thing. The her dress tight in front. Her eyes had air was solid with it. I thought we'd little licking flames in them. smother in there. I didn't know how I started toward her and Bud pulled we were going to get out. I was afraid my arm. "Come on," he said. "Don't to move him. I thought maybe he was pay any 'tention to her. If she tries to dead. I touched him and he groaned follow us up the slope, I'll throw rocks and spit. at her." "Dynamite," he said. "That damn So I turned around and went with brat threw dynamite at us." him. Barron, you're a chump, I said to "Where'd she get it?" myself. You keep this up and it'll get "We keep it. For stumps and boul- to be a habit. You'll be losing your ders." manhood. "It's a wonder you wouldn't put it Sulie just stood there and watched away in a safe place," I coughed. "It's us cross the creek and start climbing. a wonder you wouldn't have sense

We came up under a ledge and I looked enough not to leave it laying around." back at her. She was standing on the "It ain't laying around. It's in the other side of the creek and she swung tool shed." her arm back in that stiff overhand way "That's no place for it. Someone's girls do, and threw something at us. liable to stub their toe on it." I had to laugh because it landed a "Where else you gonna put it?" good twelve yards off to the left and "Bury it." ahead of us. The next minute the hill "Where you gonna bury it?" heaved and belched. There was a ter- "Hell. You got damn near two hun- rific ." roar. Something sucked all my dred acres . . AMAZING STORIES

AX/E SAT there like that. Choking falling down behind me. and arguing back and forth about "Great Jehosaphat!" he was yelling. where a person ought to keep a box of "Maw'U skin us alive!" dynamite. We were groggy. Sure. We started digging like crazy. But But it was our nerves more than any- that didn't last very long. Pretty soon thing else. We were trying not to have we settled down to more systematic hysterics. tunneling and scraping. Just as quick Bud said: "We got to get out of as we got in two or three feet, the top here." slid down. So it was dig and scrape. "Yeah, yeah," I said, and I started Shovel and heave. And any minute one pawing around for the shovel and pick of those loose boulders might come we'd brought with us. The way I felt, waddling down and spoil the whole

I didn't care if I never got out of there. business, if it didn't mash us.

I didn't think it was worth the trouble. We were muddy with sweat. You I didn't think my legs would hold me never saw two more determined guys in up. your life. A little while ago we were I noticed Bud didn't try to stand up ready for the hospital. Now we were either. He crawled out on his hands moving tons of dirt and thinking noth- and knees. I crawled out after him. ing of it. I know I wasn't thinking. My The side of his head was bleeding mind had quit. I was just a machine. through the thick coat of dust. I Digging. thought he ought to soak his head. I don't know how long we kept at it. "You ought to soak your head," I Working against time. We made a hell said. of a hole in that pile, going toward "You go soak your own head! It's the middle. That's about where Sulie your fault she's actin' up this way." was standing. I straightened up and "Hey. Don't get tough with me, started to hand the shovel to Bud. I fella. I'll paste you one." thought we ought to change tools for a "You do an' I'll kick your teeth in." while. Then I dropped the shovel. "Why, you ornery little runt. I'll She was sitting there, demure as you take you apart with one hand!" please. Watching us dig. Sitting on a "Oh, yeah?" He reached for the pick log, all sweet and clean and wide-eyed. and I got my hands on the shovel. Get And quiet as a mouse. Being good and this. Neither one of us can stand up, not bothering us. Like we'd asked her and we're talking like we're going to to do a thousand times. This one time tear each other apart. That's what —this one goddamned time she did it! dynamite does to you. Then all at once I did stand up. The T STARTED toward her and rage had dust haze was thinning out and I was me by the throat. Choking. I looking down at the creek. Or where could feel my head getting hot. The the creek used to be. Now there was a blood was pounding. Beating my skull tall, uneven pile of dirt with rocks to white heat. I went toward her and and uprooted shrubbery sticking out so help me, I meant to mangle her. I

of it. meant to get her by the hair and beat "Look!" I croaked. "Sulie! She's her head against a tree. I meant to buried there." And I was trying to run break every bone in her body and shake down the slope. My legs wobbled like her until they rattled. I went toward they were rubber. I could hear Bud her and fell flat on my face. — "

THE RADIANT ROCK 111

I thought I was strangling. Every as the devil. She carried the pick and breath was a hot blast. My dusty lungs shovel for us. She was meek as a lamb were shriveled. I felt like the Gestapo and gentle as a dove. But she walked had been working on me for nine days like Aphrodite. It was a pleasure to and nights. I felt like I was dying watch her. But right then I wanted to the hard way. Then she put something boot that beautiful frame all the way cool and wet on the back of my neck. home. Pretty soon she was washing my face. When Maw saw us, she let out a I almost forgot how mad I was. Almost shriek. "What in the name of the great —but not quite. Jehovah you been doin' now?" "Where's your brother, you murder- "Never mind what we been doing," I ing cat?" said. "This daughter of yours has been "He's just settin' there." going around tossing dynamite here and 1 looked and he was. He'd sat down there. I think you better do something right in his tracks. In the dirt, with his about it before she wipes out the whole head between his knees. country." "Go take care of him. He's hurt." "I ain't surprised," Maw said calmly. "Danny, I didn't mean for you to be "Sulie, set the table. Supper's 'most hurt. I was aimin' for that dirty old ready. And you two go on out to the rock. That's what I was aimin' for." pump." Just like that. The Stokes Women are the damndest things. family. None of the rest of them even suspected Right after supper I wanted to go to that the reason I was breaking my neck bed. But Maw got me cornered in the to stay away from her was on account of front room. She didn't waste any words the rock. But she knew. And she was either. out to get the rock if she had to blow "I think it's time you made up your us up with it. mind about Sulie," she said. Bud and I finally managed to drag "About—?" ourselves around the mountain of dirt "I want Sulie should wed. I think to where the creek was spreading all you're the man can handle her. And over the place. The water was muddy I'm willing you should have her." but we drank it. Then we both soaked "Well—uh, thanks. Thanks a lot— our heads. I sat up and Sulie was mut- tering: "Damn old rock." Looking up gURE, I got it. Now I knew why at the hill with a scowl like Black Fri- they took me in and made like I was day. one of the family. Yeah. Sulie. Beau- I looked and I had to gasp. The tiful Sulie. A combination kitten- whole side of the hill was laid open and cobra. Just the thing! No man should there it was. The sun hit it and made be without one. rainbow lights all over the surface. And On top of all my other troubles, I what surface. It was tremendous. It should have that on my hands. One must have been two hundred feet long more day like today and I'd be an old and half as high. And God knows how man. If I had to look forward to a deep it went. I was trying to think of lifetime of . it , , a word. Radiant. That was it. The I said: "Much as I admire your Radiant Rock. And nobody in the daughter, Maw Stokes, marriage never world knew it what was—except me. entered my head. The fact is I can't Sulie was sweet as hell and helpful take care of a wife right now. I'm 112 AMAZING STORIES

broke. And not only broke—I'm a sergeants . . . bum. And not only a bum—I think Anyway I told the Chairman of the the cops are looking for me. I think Board that I'd discovered an element I killed a guy in a fight just before that trapped electrons and released you met me." them through a common conductor in "Uh-huh," Maw said. Her rocker controlled current. I told him it would was going back and forth with a steady, revolutionize the science of electronics. determined sound. "I thought maybe I told him it was so stupendous it it was somethin' worse. I got a little would cause a panic if even a hint of money Paw left me. You got a home it leaked out. And I asked him to let here. The cops ain't likely to come me know when I could meet his confi- lookin' for you up this way. And Sulie dential representative in the nearest —she needs to wed. You both do. town. I figured Torg could drive me in It'd be the makin' of you." to town and I could lay the ground It'd be the makin' of a bloody riot, work for a deal I had in mind. Yeah. I thought. Like tying two wild cats That's the way I figured, but it didn't together by their tails. With my tem- work out that way.

per and her temperament . . . After Maw had spoke her mind, she

"Give me a couple days to think it wasn't much help with Sulie any more. over," I said. "I want to look at it She acted like Sulie was my responsi- from all angles. Sulie deserves the bility now. She acted like she wanted best, but I'm not sure I'm it." to show me what a fine mother-in-law "Well, all right, then," Maw said. she'd make. No interference. "But I wouldn't take too long if I was Bud and I were trying to get a pack you." together next day. We were pretty stiff I didn't know if it was a warning or and sore, but we figured we'd take it a threat. But I thought maybe in two easy and spend a little time with the or three days I'd have an answer to a rock, exploring. Sulie wanted to go letter I wrote. along. We said no. We said no in Sure. I wrote direct to the Chairman all the usual ways. Finally we yelled of the Board of Allied Power and Light. for Maw. Old W. Percival Stickney himself. I No Maw. marked it "Personal and Confidential." "Maw!" I yelled. "Call Sulie!" And I gave him a damn good reference. "What's she done?" Maw yelled I gave him the name of Colonel Mat- back. thew Bragg, who used to be a vice- "She's pestering us again." president of the corporation before he "Well, take the broomstick to her. went in the Army. You know where 'tis." And the old man—the colonel, he'd I wanted to, all right. But I knew remember me all right. I had my first better. Once I started that it would Army experience in his regiment. And be just like taking up an option. It I got along fine with him. Any time would be like proving up on a claim. he was in a hurry, he'd send for me to I'd be practically married. drive his car. He said I was the only I looked at Bud and he looked at guy in the Army with guts enough to me, and we both shook our heads. If drive straight through stalled traffic we took her along, she'd be a damn without slowing down. Yeah. I got nuisance. Sure. But it was suicidal along fine with the colonel. It was the to try to leave her behind. So we com- THE RADIANT ROCK 113

promised and took her along. We weighed about ten pounds to the cubic loaded her down with the lunch and one foot. I'd say it was about the weight thing and another, so she was pretty of sugar. So we figured to be able to well occupied on the hike. carry a good sized piece back home be- tween the two of us. 'JpHE rock was shimmering in the I wanted to see how far I could step sun. Throwing off rainbow lights. up the current. Although the size of The Radiant Rock. The creek had the piece didn't seem to make any dif- backed up and started off in another ference—we got the same volume from direction. And the slope wasn't straight all sizes and shapes of the rock—still up and down any more. It was an easy I figured a large solid ought to con- climb up to the rock. Sulie had done tain more electrons. And there ought a pretty good job with her blasting at to be a way to make them act all at that. once in a heavy charge. Except for one thing. The end of Then Sulie did something neither the rock where Bud had been chipping one of us had thought of doing. Luckily, off pieces was buried. Big as the ex- she'd been watching us handle the rock posed surface was, there was no place and had sense enough to put on the where we could get a foothold and gloves I'd left behind. enough leverage to break off more than We'd almost finished our circuit of a small handful at a time. We tried it the rock without finding any outcrop- and it was slow and awkward. And ping big enough to satisfy us. I saw damn discouraging. Sulie down on her knees near one cor- We knocked off and went down in ner of the rock. And I saw she had the woods and cooked lunch. I'd rigged my gloves on. I thought she was up a little hot plate, so we had coffee planting another load of dynamite and I" and fried ham sandwiches. I was think- I yelled: "Hey ing about the Army. Yeah. Field The next minute there was a crack- kitchens. Electric light wherever you ling and a spurt. I saw a puff of dust landed, without waiting for batteries, and Sulie was rolling over and over Diesels, cables to be brought up and down the hill. I didn't hear anything assembled. Radio. If the rock would because I was running after Sulie. But only work on radio . . . Bud said afterwards he heard a split- I almost forgot about Sulie. I will ting noise. say she was behaving pretty good. She Sulie was stunned. She had a bruise cooked the lunch and waited on us hand over her right eye. I picked her up and foot. Yeah. She couldn't do and carried her down to the water. Bud enough for us. For me. I didn't like came running after us. He was ex- the hopeful look in her eyes. Because cited. there wasn't anything I could do about "What the hell did she do?" he it. I had to be more careful than ever yelled. now. One false step and I was a gone "I don't know, but she sure knocked gosling. herself out." I was getting worried. We left her cleaning up the lunch If she just got a bump on the head she things and went up to make a slow cir- ought to come out of it. But she didn't. cuit of the rock. Hoping to find one I pulled the gloves off and her left spot where we could break off a size- wrist was red and puffed. It looked able hunk. The rock wasn't heavy. It like it was sprained. " "

AMAZING STORIES

"She split the rock," Bud was puff- But I still didn't get it. I still didnt ing. "She split the whole comer off. know what the hell she'd done. hook, you can see it." It was Bud that figured it out. He And I could. There was an irregu- just left everything where it was and lar fissure running diagonally across followed us home. We both stood the lower left hand corner of the rock. around Sulie's room looking silly un- But I didn't have time to worry about til Maw chased us out. that because Sulie was starting to get We went down and sat on the side blue. She was hardly breathing. I was porch and Bud told me. He said: all good and scared. I bound her wrist "That brat I She mighta blew us up with my handkerchief and picked to kingdom come." her up and started for home fast. "It wasn't dynamite this time." "Hey, where you goin'?"—Bud yelled. "Huh-uh. It was the rock. She "Maw won't like it if you pulled it off the stove with the wire I said: "Sulie's dying, you crazy attached an' went up and touched the fool!" And I kept on going. wire to the main rock. God knows what I never walked so fast in my life. I she done it for. Just to be cute, I was afraid to run for fear I'd jog her s'pose. And the piece she— had in her too much. But I went over rocks and hand exploded like—like logs like they weren't there. And if "Atoms." Sulie had any weight, I didn't know it. "Who's Adams?" I was too scared to know anything. "Atoms. A-t-o-m-s. You smash 'em and they explode." lV/TAW put her to bed and wrapped "Oh. We never had that in corre- her up in blankets and put the spondence school. What do you wanta electric iron on her feet. Maw was smash 'em for?" calm enough. But she was sore. "Never mind," I said. "It's a long She said: "I knew one of yez'd get story. But it's what saved Sulie. If a good shock off that rock sooner or it hadn't been powerful enough to later. Foolin' around the way you do." knock her away, she might have been "Shock?" —destroyed. It's a wonder we never "Natchelly. She's sufferin' from thought of testing the rock on itself." shock. Can't you see how blue she is?" And I went out to the shed and tried "Yeah, yeah," I said. "But she's not it with a couple of small pieces. burned. Not like an electric shock I was careful, too. I fastened each would do." piece on the end of a long, heavy stick. "I don't know nothin' about that. I sunk a short length of wire in one

But it musta give her an awful wallop, piece and then brought them together like if she was in a bad accident. I slow. The minute the contact was made mind the time when I was a girl an' there was a crackle and a puff of dust. there was a train wreck not five mile I felt the jar at the end of the sticks. from our place. There was some of The rock had disappeared. One of them we couldn't tell if they was dead the sticks was split half way down. or not. They just laid there and turned And I had to hunt for the wire. It blue with shock." was melted. That made sense, all right. Sulie I looked around the shed and I rea- had got a terrific wallop. It sprained lized we had been playing with light- her wrist and knocked her for a loop. ning. It was just dumb luck we hadn't THE RADIANT ROCK 115

managed to explode ourselves into handspring. atomic dust. Dumb luck and Sulie. He wasn't out. I wasn't ready for Otherwise I might have hitched up the that yet. He crawled around trying transformer by this time and fooled to get up and I stood over him. He around until everything went ph-h-t! got up on one knee and I knew he was going to play it dirty. I was ready for

CULIE was up and around in a couple it. Before he could throw that foul,

days. But I still hadn't got an I had him by the throat. I had him on answer to my letter. I was getting his feet, grunting and pawing, while I plenty anxious. I had plenty on my punched his head with short jabs. Then mind that afternoon when I came I let go of him and slapped him square around the house and heard Sulie's in the puss with my open hand. He voice. sat down and I leaned over to yank him She said: "No. I never did. Hon- up again. est." And she sounded breathless. Somebody barked: "Bar-ro»/" Some guy said: "Baby, you got an My head snapped back and I went awful lot to learn. Let's you and me around in about face like I was greased

take a little walk. I'll tell you all about for speed. The old man was standing it." on the porch. Bristling. Yeah. Col- I came around the corner and onel Bragg. In person. And I hadn't

damned if it wasn't a sergeant. Yeah. planned it that way at all. A big wolf sergeant. And he had Sulie He said: "Still up to your old tricks, in his arms. And he had his face in I see. Who let you out of the Army?" her hair. "I been discharged, sir." Maybe he was teaching her to dance, "Dishonorably?" like he said afterwards. But I didn't "Yessir." think so at the time. So I hit him. I "Come in here. Sergeant, go sit in yanked Sulie behind me and hit him the car. And stay there." flush on the jaw. While he was getting I followed the old man into the front up, I grabbed Sulie and threw her up room. He sat down and I sat down. on the porch. I heard Maw's milk Then there was quite a long spell of pans go clattering. And then he was silence. I just sat there. I didn't know up and I went after him. what to say. I knew it was no use I wanted to whip him. I wanted to trying to finagle the old man. I knew make him whine. I wanted to wear the whole fancy deal was off as far as him down. And make him keep get- I was concerned. ting up and going down until he I looked over at him, and he said: screamed. Until I broke his nerve. "Well?" I was mad, sure. But this time it So I came right out with it. I said: wasn't hot. It was cold. I let him "I want to get back in service." come in slugging and I batted his head "Is that why you went through all back and forth. Not hard. Just enough this confounded rigamarole? Is that to tease him. My ribs and shoulder why you've been writing fairy tales to were still sore and he was hurting me. a man like Stickney, and using my So I stepped in and doubled him with name, as a reference? Is it?" a left to the belly and clipped him on I said: "Yessir," and he started to the side of the head. He went over get up. "Only it wasn't a fairy tale. I spread eagle. Like he was doing a really have got something here. It's 116 AMAZING STORIES

terrific. And the Army can have it, give you. All right, so the Army don't

if they'll take me with it." want me. So I'm not fit for any kind of service. So I don't have to keep on U"E SAT down again. He blew out being a chump. Inter-Allied will pay his breath. Then he just looked for this now. And they'll pay through at me. He's got cold, steady blue eyes. the nose or I'll wreck 'em. I'll sell this He's a little guy with stiff gray hair and stuff for a hundred dollars an ounce. a clipped mustache. His mouth is wide Two hundred, three hundred—any and hard. He's a tough nut. And he's price I want to name! And I'll put too damned smart for anybody in the Inter-Allied and all its subsidiaries out world. He can read your mind. of business!" Finally he said: "You have the most I went up and down the room yelling colossal nerve of anybody I ever heard and waving this bulb, and it was still of—except Hitler. You should have lit. And all the old man did was take been a Kraut. You'd be right up there out a cigar and peel off the wrapper among 'em. You'd probably be Hit- and look around for an ash tray. I ler's right hand man. You just hap- just let him look, and I went on plan- pened to get born on the wrong side of ning the massacre of Inter-Allied Power the ocean. Why don't you get to work and Light. After a while I began to and organize a fifth column? Now that run down. Besides the damn 100-watt

the Army's decided it can get along bulb was getting hot. without you." The old man said: "You'll never He was getting me sore and he knew make a successful blackmailer. You

it. He did it on purpose. He knew get too excited. You lack the patience I'd blow my top, and I did. The next to tease your victim along. You thought thing I knew I was walking up and you could use this thing as a club. You down the room waving my arms and thought you could force a deal with yelling. the Army and Inter-Allied. And part "A chump! That's what I am. Just of the deal was to get that dishonorable a chump. Here I've discovered an ele- discharge revoked and put you back in ment with enough energy in a fistful to service. Well, you've failed. You lost power a whole camp anywhere in the your head and shot your wad. You've world. And like a fool I was going to used up all your ammunition. And give it to you. Yeah. Make the Army what did it get you? Exactly nothing."

a present of it. Like a fool I was go- At first I didn't get it. I just stood ing to let Inter-Allied Power and Light there and watched him take a drag on in on the secret so they could protect his cigar. their interests. Yeah. And all I He said: "I know you didn't create wanted in return was a little help to this element, because there's no sign get back in service. Any branch. I of a laboratory around here. I looked. don't care. Just so there's a uniform Therefore, it must be a natural ele- goes with it." ment. All I have to do is bring in the I went over to the wall where we'd Army and take over. In time of war stuck a light bulb. I turned it on. it's comparatively simple to take pos- "There. You see that? Now look at session of property for military pur-

it." And I pulled it off the wall and poses . . . And leave you on the out- held it in my hand. "That's only a side looking in." small sample of what I was going to "No, you won't," I said. "I'll de- THE RADIANT ROCK 117

stroy it. And don't think I can't do they're taken care of with adequate re- it in a hurry. I'd just like to give you muneration and so on. There's just a little demonstration." one thing that bothers me. It's abso- "Before you do, suppose we review lutely vital that we keep this whole the situation to date. Just to make thing secret. How are we going to keep sure I've got it all straight. I have to them quiet?" make a report to Stickney, you know. I looked at the knuckles on my right He sent me your letter. Sit down! hand. The skin was off where I'd

You bull-headed ape ! And stop acting grazed the sergeant's teeth. And I was like I've come all the way out here in mad all over again. the sticks just to annoy you." "I can do it if I have to," I said. I turned around like I was looking "If 1 thought there was any chance of for a chair so he couldn't see me grin. getting back in service and getting I knew when he stopped being polite shipped across—maybe it wouldn't be and started barking at me things were so bad." looking up. "What have you in mind?" "Marriage." gO WE reviewed the situation. And "H'm, yes. I see. I've noticed the when we got all through, he knew young lady. Surely you haven't any more about the damn rock than I did. objections to her?"

Sure. He got it all out of me. The "I got objections," I said. "She works. Even how Torg kept us sup- throws things." plied with equipment. He examined "Oh, well. What woman doesn't? everything we'd done. What's a few broken dishes?" Then he said: "Of course, you realize "Dishes don't satisfy this one. When I can't make any promises about get- she gets mad she throws dynamite." ting your case reviewed. Your record He coughed and sputtered. I thought is one continuous repetition of violence there for a minute he'd swallowed his and insubordination." He gave me that cigar. "She—er, h'rumph! Of course poker face. But I knew what he'd you can always neglect to purchase the done. He'd already checked up on me. dynamite when she sends you to the "I had a little trouble after I got store. Maybe an Australian boomer- out of the Army, too," I said, and I ang . . . But then that's your prob- told him. lem . . . You—er, you think that by "H'm, yes," he said. "I think you marrying the young lady you can con- can quit worrying about that last little trol the rest of the family?" fracas. All four of those crap shooters "They'll do what I tell 'em." are in jail. The police department is still trying to figure out how you man- ^ND they did, too. I went up to aged to walk away from the wreckage. see them the other day. I had to Otherwise they're not particularly curi- have a special pass. They stayed right ous. They've been trying to collar where they were. But you can't get those hoodlums for some time." anywhere near the house now without Well, that was one load off my mind a pass. Because there's a five hun- anyway. At least I hadn't killed the dred acre experimental station all guy. The cops weren't looking for me. around the place. And a charged wire "These people—this Stokes family," fence with armed guards all around he said. "Of course, we'll see that that. 118 AMAZING STORIES

Maw cooks for the laboratory crew, what I mean. Marriage does some- and bosses the whole gang between thing to you. meals. Bud, he's got a job in the lab I'm teaching her a lot of things. But and he's pretty good at it, too. He there are some things I didn't have to catches on fast and he don't have a teach her. I didn't have to teach her lot of unnecessary knowledge to bother how to walk and hold her head and him. Torg is a special guard—if you look like five million dollars. can believe this—in charge of the When we go into a restaurant, every- storehouse. It's his job to see that no- body stops eating. The waiters just body steals so much as a screw out of stand there. She looks like something the place. So far the inventory checks. that just came in on wings. She looks Nothing missing. Just another example like something you dream about when of the old man's psychology. you're a long way from home. She Sure, they're sitting pretty. They looks like all the things you've ever got everything they want. Even a ra- wanted, all wrapped up in one gorgeous dio. Because the Radiant Rock works bundle. And it's mine, brother. It's on radio. It works on anything. But all mine. Sure I'm crazy about her. you won't hear anybody talking about Who wouldn't be? it. You won't hear anybody calling it And when I shove off, I don't have Radiant. Or even rock. Because it's to worry. She's got plenty to keep her reduced to something else before it's busy and happy, Danny, Junior is put in use. quite a guy. A little on the tough side. When I said goodbye to Maw, she But he'll outgrow that. If he don't gave me some things to take back with I'll put him in the Army. Yeah. The me. Some little crocheted doo-dads Army. It's tough and it's hard and for the house. Sulie's domestic as hell. it's one, two, three, four and keep your She quieted down the day we were mar- nose clean. Just what I was cut out ried. Well—not the same day. But for. And I'm doing all right there, too. pretty soon afterwards. You know I'm a sergeant. PEACEFUL WEAPON OF WAR ONE of the current war's most potent machines, the matter of recruiting and training weapons is the camera, for every modern air-photographers is an important problem. In- military operation depends largely on cluded in the ranks of these "sky Shuttermen" are photographs which are brought back from flights hundreds of skilled newspaper photographers who and interpreted by experts. are now giving their unequalled ability to Uncle

Pioneered during World War 1 , air photography Sam. has been developed into a highly specialized field. Little publicized is the fact that aerial photos Early "Aerial photographers" obtained their shots prepared the smashing victory the U. S. scored of enemy ground dispositions by leaning over the in the battle of the Coral Sea. Many photo mis- side of open cockpit planes and training ordinary sions are carried out by unarmed planes flying at cameras on their "targets." high altitudes over enemy territory. At the outbreak of the present war, the RAF had produced the F-24 which permitted automatic These operations are sometimes conducted control and operation so that a series of photos months before a bombing attack is launched. could be taken at predetermined intervals and While a single photo may show a temporary sur- large areas covered with accuracy. Unprecedented face concentration by the enemy, several weeks operations of modern warfare soon demanded the may be required to picture the progress of a ship F-24 be improved to contain self-contained sec- building plant or important fortifi cation. tions easily interchangeable. Accordingly, the F-24 Day and night "winged cameras" continue to has become merely the foundation upon which present clearly and speedily the information anxi- later developments were based. ously desired by our tactical strategists—Billy Since cameras are the untiring eyes of miiitary Decker. ANTS MAKE WAR By WAYNE HARRIS

THE South Atlantic island of Madeira, and its increase in numbers demand new food ONunknown and unnoticed by all but a few sources, and a third colony is attacked. The same men, there occurred in this century a full- war recurs until they become masters of the en- fledged international war. Without benefit of tire branch. newspaper or radio publicity the combatants Meanwhile the other branches of the Cecropiae fiercely engaged in a "do or die" battle aimed at have produced their own wars and, in each, one obliterating the enemy—or perishing in the effort. colony has become master. The next phase takes It was a meeting of two great world-conquering a good deal longer for the individual victors have races, and one of the bloodiest campaigns in his- more room in which to expand. Eventually, how- tory ended in a costly but complete victory. ever, they come into conflict with each other Who were the opponents? They were the and in the end one colony reigns supreme. Myrmocine genus Pheidole megacephala and the Such local wars, however, are only skirmishes Dolichoderine genus Iridomyrmes humilis, two of when compared to the gigantic superwars between the great warrior ant species of the world. the two species Pheidole and Humilis. These two Ants, of course, are subjected to the same ant nations have achieved a unity within their trials and struggles with which the human race is species which has given them the strength to plagued. Within ant communities the functions expand on an immense scale. A Pheidole com- and responsibilities are divided, each individual munity is divided into soldiers and workers, and doing his share. Increases in population force this specialization is an initial source of strength. them to seek new sources of food. This brings The structure of the mandibles, or jaws of the sol- them into conflict with neighboring communities. dier has been another important weapon in their The ensuing battle ends in victory for the most conquering career. But it was the new habits of powerful, well -organized community and their op- cultivating aphids and also becoming adapted to ponent is destroyed or flees. nesting in ships that brought world-wide domi- Such local wars are constantly occurring nance to the Pheidole. throughout the ant world. For example, in the Each island to which they were brought by tropics the hollow twigs of trees of the genus man's adventures has had the same experience. Cecropia are inhabited by ants of the genus Azteca. Pheidole established itself in the bleakest area of

While the trees are comparatively young, the the land where it alone was fit to survive. There queens of the Azteca enter the twigs seeking con- it began mass raids on the other ants, murdering venient localities to begin their communities. They and dispersing each specie in turn. It became

generally choose the soft, pithy interior of the completely dominant—until it met Humilis. branches which is almost divided into isolated The workers of Humilis are even smaller and cubicles by the solid woody septa appearing at in- less protected than Pheidole. Normally we would tervals. suppose them to be a pushover for the more ag- Each queen then lays her eggs and the individual gressive species. In one social characteristic they communities are begun. The young ants mature were supreme. The Pheidoles recognized only the and become workers. Their job is to penetrate to queen which founded them. This made them the outside of the twig and find food for the highly vulnerable for if an invader destroyed this rest of their comrades and their reigning queen. single queen the colony was destroyed. Humilis, This immediately brings them into sharp conflict on the other hand developed many queens, and with the workers of the neighboring community. they were easily and inexpensively reared. Each They live in the same twig, peacefully enough, but group, therefore, could divide and divide again,

the search for food brings war. and each division taking a few queens with it The fighting that occurs is as violent and as was virtually impregnable against extermination. vigorous as any man-made war. The colonies put Armed with this weapon, Humilis went on a

their backs to the wheel, for defeat means that rampage a few years ago. From Argentina it their homeland will be invaded. Sure enough, that spread through the South America and then North colony which by its more fortunate position is America. It crossed the Atlantic and appeared able to defeat the enemy's workers perforates the in such widely separated places as Portugal, the septum that separates the two and forces the other Cape Colony, Italy, France and Germany. Within to flee, usually entirely off the tree. The defeated a period of years it covered almost half the globe.

colony carries with it such of its young that it can Finally, on the island of Madeira it met transport and abandons the rest. The invaders the old conqueror, Pheidole. There, where generally adopt any captured young, and they Pheidole had completely destroyed every other later become loyal members of their foster com- species of ant, Humilis came and made its bid for munity. domination. The two world-conquering races met The victors now settle in the new territory and in mortal combat. After more than thirty years rebuild it to suit their own desires. Sooner or of constant battle Humilis emerged victorious. later, however, the expansion of the community * * *

119 THE SCARLET

Only in India could a man be murdered, and yet not be dead! Nor could he be more than one person!

BEFORE I tell you how I was murdered and what strange experiences befell me after- ward, I must first let you know what sort of person I am—or was—and I must tell you many things about my acquaintance with Faye Landreth, a most remarkable girl. Perhaps the

best way for me to begin is to ask a simple ques- tion that will help us get acquainted. Are you the sort of person who would help

rescue a cow from i If you were traveling along the old Silk Routes of India, as I was, with a donkey and two trained monkeys, and you were anxious to reach the next town in time to put on a show for the SWORDSMEN BY DON WILCOX a

122 AMAZING STORIES afternoon crowds at the marketplace, mumbled his strange prayers. would you stop to help a wheezy little "May his life transcend the fates!" old Hindu who was in a dither about Those were his words, repeated over saving the life of a sacred cow? and over, as I interpreted them from If so, you and I are going to under- the Hindu. He was praying for me. stand each other from the start. My "When his enemies cut him down, earth to con- name is—or was—Val Roman. As a may he spring up from the traveling showman I was a first rate fuse them!" vagabond. To float as aimlessly as a The absurdity of it! How could an cloud had become my gay, carefree way easy-going drifter like me ever have of living ever since the war had left me any enemies? stranded in the lands beyond the Suez. Wonder, my donkey, pricked up his And so, on this hot August morning, ears as these weird Hindu incantations when I came upon this little old Hindu grew louder and more fervent. in need of help, his troubles became "Get along, Wonder!" I slapped the the most important thing in the world beast on his dusty rump, the trained to me, for the moment, and I lent a monkeys climbed aboard, and we am- hand. bled on. And I muttered aloud, "Ene- Not as if this were some good and mies, huh! No enemies are going to noble deed that would bring me a rich cut Val Roman down. I go my own reward some day—such a thought way and tend to my own business. . . . never entered my head. I simply said Get along, Wonder!" to myself, "There's a wizened little Hindu who needs a good Samaritan. T)UT I had forgotten that tragic run- of Afghan bandits Maybe an American , Samaritan would in with the band do—an Irish-Italian-American-Samari- coming down from Kabul several tan—that's me." months before. The mountains toward To me, the unfortunate bossy, mired the Kyber Pass and beyond are known belly-deep in the mud, was just a tough to be thick with murderous native war- old bundle of unground hamburger. To riors. To get past them safely is a the Hindu it was not simply a cow, but matter of knowing when and how to a sacred cow, for that was the way his travel. Not to take refuge in a cara- people believed. I improvised a collar vanserai at night is to invite robbery around the neck of my sturdy little and murder. And yet, knowing these donkey, hitched a rope to it, and threw things, one may nevertheless be taken a loop around the cow's horns. by surprise by some bold and highly "Heave, ho!" I yelled, and together organized band. we went to work. My trained monkeys And if such bandits are far famed clapped their hands as the sluggish bo- for their treacherous crimes, as were vine came kicking and splashing out the "Scarlet Swordsmen" of the Kyber of the mire. Pass region, they may be forced, for That's about all there was to it— their own survival, to cut a clean swath very trifling incident. I gathered up of death every time they strike. / had my rope, washed my hands at the pool, miraculously escaped that swath of and prepared to go on. But something death. in the little old Hindu's character—his Yes, I had been the one lucky per- deep, mystical religious ardor—fasci- son among a party of twenty-five way- nated me. With face to the ground, he farers a few months before. The blood THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 123

of my two dozen companions had been so darned afraid we'll leave a couple sprayed over the rocks along the side of fleas on the dormat of the English of the road, where the Scarlet Swords- Agency. But what do I care, as long men had succeeded in trapping them. as Faye likes me? Me and my mon- And I, pursued by a trio of those fierce, keys. She says a few friendly fleas black-whiskered Afghans on their swift might cheer the agency up. ... I won-

horses, had barely dodged out of reach der if I'll see her on this trip. ... If of their slicing swords. When they she'd dare make the hundred mile drive ." leaped down to follow me on foot, I across to this route. . . was gone. I had ducked into a narrow

crevice among the rocks, and there I CHAPTER II waited, pistol in hand. But they never found me. They The Face of Alashee, the Afghan passed so close that I could hear their a sultry afternoon in the vil- hard breathing. And once I recognized TT WAS lage, but trained monkeys didn't a face—a face that I would never for- my mind. They loved the smells of the get-—the face of a stern, black-bearded Afghan whom I already knew as Ala- market-place when the temperature was shee. I knew him because, not many around 120 degrees and the streets were hours before, he had pretended to make jammed with human beings and live- stock. friends with me while I was purchas- ing my supplies in Kabul. I had been "Here's a bite of banana, Squinty. suspicious of him at the time, though You, too, Sober," I said, after I had ar- I had not guessed that he was the con- ranged the miniature stage on my don- tact man for the Scarlet Swordsmen. key's back and chained a monkey to He had spoken perfect English. each end of it. "Now take your places The bandits never found me, and I for the tambourine dance. Already? alone among the ill-fated twenty-five Here we go." was spared. A smart pair of monkeys like Squinty In these succeeding months, as I had and Sober know they've got to put on traveled from one village to another, an extra lively show on such hot, noisy putting on my shows with my trained days when the crowds are easily dis- monkeys, I had contented myself that tracted. If some pink-turbaned mogul the Scarlet Swordsman affair was over rides through in an ornamented pala- quin, borne on the shoulders of two —that I would never see Alashee or any of his blood-thirsty tribe again. brawny servants, the crowds of the But I should have known that the lower castes tend to turn and stare. will little old Hindu, bending to the ground Men of higher castes bow and pala- in prayer, foresaw trouble for me. ver. And a two-monkey circus like Trouble, indeed, was destined to come mine may go begging. my way that very afternoon at the next At first I tried to ignore this palan- village. quin with its important gentleman pas-

But I, in my carefree innocence, am- senger—a keen-eyed man of India, bled down the road chuckling to my- light brown of skin, trim of mustache self, "Enemies, huh? I don't have an and beard, commanding in appearance. enemy in all India. Not unless I count His two bearers stopped in the shade Faye Landreth's parents. They shun within twenty yards of the central me on account of my monkeys. They're stream of human traffic where I was "

124 AMAZING STORIES giving my show. eyes widened a trifle, his lips tightened. "That is the new merchant prince," At once he turned his face away. I heard someone say. "His name is It was the fierce vigorous face of an Ben Addis. He deals in jewels." Afghan bandit, bushy black brows, a Ben Addis remained in his easy chair. thick bristling beard, desert-bronzed The two muscular blacks who held him skin. Now as he turned his back to apparently did not feel the weight of me I had the rash impulse to run for the poles on their shoulders. His other an officer. two servants were of a light brown hue. "Not so fast, Val Roman," I said to One of them began fanning him; the myself. "This little set-up isn't so sim- other, his personal lieutenant, wearing ple. Think twice before you leap." a bright green turban and green panta- True, one well placed word from me loons, served him a drink. might send this dangerous man to his That was all I noticed, at first. The doom. The government would be only monkeys and I were working hard to too happy to jail him, try him, and hang keep the show going against all the com- him, along with some thirty-nine other petition. Scarlet Swordsmen. But what was he I thumped my favorite rhythms on doing here, three hundred miles from the musical drums, the monkeys danced his bandit haunts? That question alternately and took turns passing their would be worth answering. At the mo- tambourines for coins. ment I had him. Yet one false move "Dance, Squinty!" I whispered. on my part might cost me my advan- "It's a jewel merchant named Ben Ad- tage. dis. Maybe he'll take a fancy to In this quick whirl of thoughts I had you. . . . Dance, Sober-sides. Rattle already foreseen the glory that Faye your slats. He's looking this way, boys, Landreth's parents would heap on me and so are his servants. Right over —if! If they could forget, for once, the heads of all the—" that I was a monkey trainer. // 1 could My hands suddenly stopped with turn hero overnight. one double clunk on the musical drums. But I was overlooking the most seri-

That lieutenant—the big rough look- ous if. If I could get into action before ing fellow in green—I had seen him that damned Afghan named Alashee before! stuck a knife in my back. "Who—where—t" Now he was talking to Ben Addis. I stood as if paralyzed, staring. The Did this merchant prince realize his show almost went dead on my hands. hireling was a desperate criminal? Sober jumped to the nearest drum and I went on with my show, beating out began beating wildly, and Squinty went drum notes so energetically that Won- on dancing. But my blood froze from der (who possessed an excellent sense some deep-rooted hatred. Where had of rhythm for a donkey) turned to give I seen that face before? me the curious eye. Coins were drib- "Alashee!" I gasped. "The Scarlet bling in, and Sober was playing his

Swordsman I usual trick of hiding a few in his red overall pockets, then shaking his head

A LTHOUGH he was twenty yards at me to deny it. away and a sea of turbaned heads Soon I saw that Alashee was thread- separated us, he turned at that instant ing his way through the crowd. Would and caught my searching look. His he dare face me, knowing that I knew THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN there was a price on his head? for one of his servants—my choice, of My right hand slid to my pocket that course." held an automatic pistol. My left hand The Afgan paled and I thought he beat the drums erratically. would unleash his anger, but he bowed As Squinty did a handspring, and slightly and said he would convey my took a deep bow, Alashee crowded for- message to Ben Addis. He returned to ward and flipped a coin into the tam- the palanquin, then, for an earnest con- bourine. sultation. But I doubted whether it "Haven't I seen this monkey show concerned my monkeys. So far as I before?" he said. He gave me no sign could tell, Ben Addis took no notice of of recognition—only a cool deadpan me. gaze. The party soon moved along with

"I've only been on the road a few the crowd, and within a few minutes It months," I said. was out of my sight. Then the danger "I was speaking of the monkeys," of my situation began to oppress me. said Alashee. "I don't remember you." Did you ever have the midnight "I didn't have the monkeys at Ka- creeps in the middle of a hot after- bul," I said. noon? Have haunted-house terrors "Kabul? I've never been to Kabul," ever descended on you when you were he lied icily. in the midst of a thousand people in "I bought these pets after I lost my broad daylight? My monkeys must meager savings in the Kyber Pass." have thought I was a poor trouper dur- I drove these words home. But he ing the uncertain half hour that fol- dodged them. lowed. Every flash of metal I saw, I "Your misfortunes do not interest took for a knife or a gun. me. My master, Ben Addis, has in- I wanted an officer. That was all I structed me to make you an offer for needed—one competent officer of the your pets." law, to put the kibosh on Alashee be- "They are not for sale," I said caus- fore he could sneak around and deal me tically. "They would never be at home a surprise kayo. But among the flow- among green turbans." ing crowds no officer appeared. "I have other turbans, if they are Finally, in desperation, I called an temperamental." honest looking stranger out of the crowd "Much less do they like scarlet," I and gave him some money to watch my added. animals while I went off on an errand. Then I chased through the pedestrian l^OR a split second Alashee's eyes traffic jams looking for someone with flashed fire. Scarlet turbans were a uniform. Someone directed me to the a badge of the Scarlet Swordsmen. My headquarters of the village marshal. words were an accusation flung in his The place was a shaded one-story stone teeth. But Alashee was a brazen fel- hovel at the last turn of the street. And low. what should I see in front of it but the "I do not know what you are talking familiar palanquin. Ben Addis and about. Ben Addis would give the mon- Alashee were idling in the shade and keys good care. He is able to pay you the uniformed marshal was drinking well." with them. I beat a quick retreat to "Tell him," I said, "that I might con- the marketplace and put on another sider an exchange—one of my monkeys show with my monkeys. — —

A26 AMAZING STORIES

I was puzzled. Was it possible that bombshell. On this particular evening, Alashee didn't remember me after all? dressed in a crisp white palm beach

Or if he remembered me at Kabul, was sport suit, wearing a rose that matched it possible that he didn't know I was the her fingernails and her smiling lips, she one escapee from that orgy of murder? was lovely in a way that made your head Apparently I would be safe in taking my swim. sweet time in setting the authorities on She talked at a pace that made my him. jabbering monkeys fall silent with awe. By sunset, for reasons of good busi- And right away she had me talking ness, my monkeys and I were on our double time too, telling her all about way toward the next village, seven my adventure of recent weeks. I guess miles beyond Ruklah. Two miles along one of the secrets of her lively conver- the dusty highway I saw something that sation was that she was always inter- made my heart leap. An automobile ested enough in you to ask you some was approaching a red sport coupe. lively questions. — i Sure enough, it was Faye Landreth We climbed in the car and cruised driving out to meet me. along at snail pace, so that Wonder, cooperative beast that he was, could

CHAPTER III amble alongside with his two passen- gers. Faye Witnesses a Tragedy Before I knew it I was telling all about the exciting events of this day t^AYE parked her car at the side of —the sacred cow, the Hindu's prayers, the road and came running out to the forecast of enemies, and then the give us all a vivacious greeting. That ominous meeting with Alashee. is, she hugged each of the monkeys and Her pretty face clouded with worry. she hugged Wonder. As for me, well, "Then you haven't succeeded in re- she was somewhat more reserved. She porting him to any officer?" she asked. shook my hands, which left me a trifle "No. Maybe I can find someone in jealous of my dumb beasts. But I'll the next village who isn't so friendly swear the glow in her eyes ran a close with Alashee's master." second to the sunset. "We'll wire father as soon as we get "What a cozy little caravan, Val. A to the village," said Faye. "He'll be one-mule circus all loaded up on Won- able to set the right men on Alashee's der's back. But shouldn't you have a trail, and your headache will be over. calliope?" That Afghan must be a bold one, com- "I'll buy one the day you join us," ing out into the open this way. You're I said. sure it's the same man?" Faye laughed. "I'd love itl" She "Dead certain. You don't mistake sang a few calliope notes. "But what a face like that." I proceeded to de- would my parents say after all these scribe him in every possible detail years they've given me piano lessons dress, manners, crisp English speech, and I turn to the calliope?" bristling whiskers, cold cruel eyes. Then In all India there was no one quite I sketched a rough picture of his face like Faye Landreth. Any of the poetic on the edge of a road map. allusions you've read about flowers "But sooner or later hell lead the blooming in the desert would be too way to the whole bandit gang," I said tame to apply to her. She was a blonde confidently. "And when that hap- THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 127

pens—" I had taken little notice of the traffic, "You'll be a hero," said Faye, pat- an occasional lone traveler on a camel, ting me playfully on the shoulder, "and or a few horsemen coming in from the all the little schoolboys that read about branch roads. The village was half a you will want to buy pet monkeys and mile ahead, its low buildings black travel around India with a donkey—and against the twilight sky. We were capture bandits." passing a few old deserted sheds that Then we faced each other, and our flanked the highway, open structures optimistic words were forgotten. She that had probably served as storehouses was shaking her head slowly. during the war. Wonder. with his two "You're in trouble," she said. "Deep passengers was having trouble keeping trouble. I'm like that old Hindu. I up, and we stopped to wait. could feel it coming. That's why I Then Faye, looking back, exclaimed, coaxed father to let me drive over to "Where's the other monkey?"

this route to meet you. He really didn't Squinty was gone—no, he was go- approve, but he finally consented." ing! Somehow he had come loose from his chain and he was skipping gingerly \X/"E STOPPED to give Wonder a away from the road toward one of the chance to get ahead. Our silence buildings. was a bit oppressive. The peril gath- "Squinty, come back!" This was ering over me was begining to weigh. highly irregular. Squinty gave one glance, hesitated for a mo- I tried to ignore it. backward disobeyed. "The sun is down," I said. "Your ment, then deliberately He father would hardly approve of your kept on going. driving along the route at this time of I bounded out of the car like an agi- evening." tated mother in pursuit of a runaway "At least I have a car. How safe child. do you think you'd be, Val, walking this "Come back, Squinty." half that Faye was road—especially tonight? Still, it I was only aware wouldn't have been wise to stay in echoing the same call to me. "Come Ruklah." back, Val!" But I had to recover "I wasn't afraid," I said. "I pushed Squinty, who, for some strange reason, on for business reasons," I explained. was unhesitatingly bound for the open "Someone advised me that they're hold- door of the nearest low-roofed vacant ing a fair in this next village, and the building. in the spending is good." I almost overtook my runaway "I didn't see any fair when I came shadows of the doorway. But there through." The worry was deep in Faye's someone tripped me and I fell forward. of ter- eyes. "Who told you there was a fair?" As I fell I heard Faye's scream "Some stranger—a quiet little brown- ror. skinned man, with a twisted face. He Also as I fell I caught the dim glint wanted to be friendly." of a jewelled scabbard against a pair Faye gave me one of those looks as of dark green pantaloons. Then I struck blade if to say, "You've been taken in, my the floor, face down, and a friend." plunged into my back. It plunged deep. I wondered. Could that tip have been My arm twitched. I gave a choking cry. I tried to turn over, but a worM a ruse? | We were cruising slowly. Until now of final blackness swept in on me. 128 AMAZING STORIES

CHAPTER IV matic pistol. But I had no pistol. Such a false impulse only added to my dread- Wandering Murderer ful confusion. I thought I always car- ried my automatic. strange feeling that no TT WAS a The car again leaped into action. words can describe. The sort of Two horsemen pursued, and a moment night- paralysis you've experienced in later the third trailed after. Soon the mares, trying to walk or run on legs sounds faded out of hearing as the that's that simply will not obey you— chase lost itself in the outskirts of the the merest suggestion of the stunned, village. I helpless feeling that held over me as From inside the doorway came the emerged into consciousness. rustling noises of an animal pawing. I Who was I? Where was I? What looked back. Brushing the clothes of was this awful heaviness of my right the man who lay there, face down, was arm? I passed the fingers of my left a bright-eyed monkey dressed in over- hand slowly along the length of my alls! This was certainly familiar. And right arm. The right hand was quite out there beside the highway, silhoutted empty. But it was tense, like a spring against the sky, was a similar creature of steel, like something that has just sitting on the back of a donkey. struck a terrific blow. I sat down in the doorway to think Dimly I heard the echoes of a girl's matters over. I was greatly disturbed distance. scream from somewhere in the by the clothes I was wearing. This Did I know that voice? Where were jeweled scabbard was not mine. And those hoof beats coming from? I was this jeweled dagger—I must return it standing in the doorway of a deserted to the owner. building. Why? I rubbed my face thoughtfully, and I was looking down at the figure of such whiskers! Had I forgotten to a man lying in the doorway. He looked shave recently? These bushy eyebrows like me. Something sticking was up —this turban! These were not mine! from his back—a dagger! A dagger For a long time, perhaps half an doesn't belong in a man's body. I drew hour, or more, I sat there in a stupor. I it out. wiped the blood on the man's It was quite dark when the girl drove shirt until the blade gleamed. back in the car and shone the lights in I weighed the knife in my hand. It at the doorway. knife. It the was a jeweled matched I cannot say why I crept away when jeweled scabbard I was wearing at the I saw her coming. My feet seemed to waist of my green pantaloons. This take me away. was all so strange—and yet in some I heard her call, "Val! Val!" over degree familiar. and over. That seemed to be my name. Now the hoofbeats were accompanied But I didn't answer. My head was by the sounds of an automobile roaring aching so from all these strange in action. I looked out to the high- thoughts. My body felt so unnatural. way. Three men on Arabian horses My arm, so steel-like, was somehow re- were trying to overtake the car. They lated to that cold, wicked feeling in my raced along beside it and one of them heart. leaped to the runningboard. The car It hurt me to hear her low sobbing as swerved and screeched to a stop. she looked down upon the body lying My impulse was to reach for an auto- there—the body that had been mine. .

THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN

Before leaving, she took the automatic "May his life transcend the fates . . pistol from his pocket. When Ms enemies cut him down, may She spoke softly to the two monkeys. he spring up from the earth to confuse They must come with her. I heard her them!" tell the donkey that from now on it What had they done with that lovely must look after itself. blonde girl? That was Fay*! I was beginning to remember. But why did CHE was about to return to her car they want her ? Where would they take when her pursuers came galloping her? How could I help? back and they rushed in and seized her. Sometimes after midnight three They bound her wrists, they tossed her horsemen came out and gathered round on one of their Arabian mounts and to- me. gether the four of them rode away. "Come on in. Ben Addis is waiting Then it was that I tried to make up for your report," one of them yelled. my mind between two or three courses "What's the idea of stalling?" of action. They rode beside me. I didn't know Should I stay here beside that fallen, these men. But they seemed to know stabbed image of myself which seemed me. to be lying dead? We rode to the foothills that sep- Should I drive away in the car that arated us from the village of Ruklah. had been left with lights burning, just By starlight we found the entrance of outside the door? a long black tunnel. One of the men Or should I follow these indefinable lighted a torch and we rode through. impulses and move from this place At the farther end a native servant wherever my feet wanted to go? took our horses. He looked up at me The desires of my feet carried me off with a curious light of hero worship, to the east. Near another shed I heard and, speaking in his native tongue, the friendly whinny of a horse. As I said, "Another achievement. I wish I

rounded the building I could see it by might win favors from Ben Addis as the starlight, a beautiful Arabian you do. The new scabbard he gave you mount. is a beauty." I cannot say why I rode away, except I nodded, thinking to myself, "So this that my body carried me into these scabbard is a gift of the merchant actions from some mysterious will of prince. Now who am I to be receiving its own. gifts from him?" I rode toward Ruklah. That was the way the horse seemed inclined to go. (~)UT of the cave, into an old rambling But within a mile of the town it wanted stone house at the hillside edge of to stop and graze. I stayed on its back. Ruklah, I soon realized that I was now I was thinking of that dead man that in the dwelling place of Ben Addis. had seemed to be me. It was all very One of the black servants, coming confusing. down the hallway, said, "The master is "If that dead man was Val Roman, in your room waiting to talk with you." then who am I?" He made a gesture toward a doorway I kept mumbling these questions to — "my room." I went in. Ben Addis myself and out of the confusion the was lying on the couch. I saw at a words of the old Hindu with the sacred glance that he was crippled. His legs cow came back to me: and ankles, exposed beneath the folds " —

130 AMAZING STORIES

of his lavender robe, were withered. CHAPTER V This brought back my memory of his having remained in the seat of his Lost—One Blonde Captive palanquin at the market when I had WAS a most uncomfortable situa- seen him before . . . The market . . . JT my monkeys ... the face of Alashee tion. Val Roman had been mur- with his tiger-fierce eyes and bristling dered. My daggered body lay in a whiskers. Rapidly my thoughts were deserted doorway near the next village. reassembling. But here I was, very much alive, wear- Ben Addis gave an expression of re- ing the body oj my murderer, Alashee. lief to see me and motioned me to the The servants came to serve an early chair in the corner. Like the other breakfast to Ben Addis and four of his men, he was mistaking me for someone henchmen—myself included. I was not. All right, I would let him Ben Addis kept questioning me for details. make his own mistakes. Far be it When I hesitated for words, from me to tell him I was really Val one of the other members of the murder Roman. brigade filled in with the necessary "What kept you so long?" he said. information. "Is it so late?" I said. Mobovarah, the little brown Hindu "It's nearly two A.M. Where did with the brown twisted face—the same you go after you did the deed?" servant who had advised me to go on "The deed?" to the next city with my monkeys— "The murder." now related the high points of the "Oh—the murder, of course.— Why night's escapade. —er—I mounted my horse Mobovarah said, "Our plan was per- "Naturally." fect, only we didn't know that this "And rode." girl would drive up in her flivver." "Rode where?" "Which girl?" Ben Addis growled. "She's the daughter of Morrison "Nowhere. That is —just wherever the horse wanted to take me. I needed Landreth, an English agent." to rest awhile." "Ye gods I" Ben Addis' helpless feet "Alashee, you're behaving very gave a slight quiver. strangely. But you did succeed in kill- "Our marked man rode in the car ing him?" with her," Mobovarah went on. "But they drove slow of his Alashee I Was he calling me Ala- on account men- shee? Was he accusing me of murder- agerie following along. The four of ing myself? us on horseback took the mountain I groped for words. "It was a bloody shortcut like you told us. So we got there in plenty of time." mess . . . I'm afraid I ... I splash- ed myself." "Naturally," said Ben Addis. "Go I glanced at my garments, then I on." reached for the hand mirror on the box- "Well, Alashee had a bright idea for dresser in the corner—for my real pur- getting Val Roman away from the girl's pose was to get a look at my face. car so he could plunge the knife. I Ben Addis raised up from the cot. rode into the highway from a side trail "What are you staring at yourself for?" and unleashed one of the monkeys when Sure enough, I was Alashee. I would the car was a stone's throw ahead know that face anywhere. then when they approached the vacant " "

THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 131

building where Alashee was hiding, he "We thought we did. The blonde tempted the monkey with some banana. little she-devil, we were bringing her Didn't you, Alashee?" back to camp on horseback when she "Yes," I said. scrambled down and made a chase for "Then the next thing you know, Ro- the hills. But that was her mistake. man came bounding—out of the car to She trapped herself." recover his runaway "Well, where is she? Where is she?" "Ingenious, Alashee!" Ben Addis Ben Addis' big dark fists were shaking. exclaimed, looking at me with admiring "She ran into the Red Rock maze. eyes. "Then what?" She's there, and we've left two guards "I—well, it was simple from there at the entrance, with flashlights. So on," I said. she's our prisoner." Ben Addis snarled. He mopped his ^HE narrator again took the story forehead. "That's a pretty kettle of out of my hands. "Don't be so fish," he said. "We've got to get her modest, Alashee. You know you had out of there at once. She must meet to be very clever to conceal yourself an 'accidental' death before daybreak. inside that door and attract the monkey Where's her car?" without ever being seen by the couple "Near the Red Rock maze. We in the car." brought it up for safe keeping. The "Are you sure the girl didn't see guards have an eye on it." me?" I asked. "I heard her scream." "All right," said Ben Addis. "Get Ben Addis looked sharply at Mobo- her out of the Red Rock maze. Take varah. "What about that?" her for a final joyride. There's an "What if she did see?" said the embankment on the east Ruklah road. spokesman. "We were all set to charge Let her go over with the car." out as soon as the dagger plunged. We "I'm telling you, she's a wildcat," overtook her car— one of the men repeated. "You've got to kill her," said Ben "Well, don't get your own necks Addis, "regardless of who she is. How broken. Make the whole thing look many times must I tell you, we never like she went to sleep driving. The let a witness live. Never! Never!" English agency can't suspect a thing." "All we're waiting for is your or- I spoke up cynically. "You think ders," said Mobovarah with a hint of not—happening on the same night her eagerness in his twisted face. friend is murdered?" "Where is she?" "She'll be found four miles above "Somewhere back in the hills." Ruklah. He's six miles below. They'll "Don't be so indefinite," Ben Addis miss her tomorrow. But he may not growled. be discovered for several days. Who'll "Well, damn it, she's a whirlwind, miss him, anyhow?" that girl," Mobovarah said, looking to "The monkeys," I said. his two companions to back him up. "Ye gods. You'll have to get them "She got away from us on the chase out of the way somehow."

around the cottage. But we kept in "Bring them here and I'll hide them," sight of her. She swung back to her I said. dead boyfriend, and that's where we "That's no good," said Ben Addis, caught her." "not after you trying to buy them in "And bound her, I trust?" the market yesterday. I don't trust 132 AMAZING STORIES live monkeys any more than men. But garding my character—my new self we'll see about them later." Ben Addis that I seemed doomed to be. My life, looked at his watch. "Only an hour till miraculously spared, might yet be use- daylight. You'll have to hurry." ful, but no one dare know my secret. Mobovarah hesitated. "There's a I must seem to be Alashee in every thousand hiding places in the Red way possible. Rock." As the little old Hindu with the "Take ten men with you," said Ben sacred cow had predicted, "May his

Addis. lije transcend the fates . . . when his "I'll go," I volunteered. I tightened enemies cut him down, may he spring the belt that held my jeweled scabbard up from the earth to confuse them!" and dagger and followed the others. How long would the Gods allow me to live in this dangerous and damned TN THE tunnels eleven of us lighted body? I could only wonder. But as our torches and mounted our long as this was my lot, I would fight Arabian horses. Soon we emerged on my fight. My first responsibility was the other side, and rode along the black to Faye. foothills under the stars. The terror "Here we are," said Mobovarah. of Faye's situation was bearing down By torchlight and flashlight I took in on me. To all appearances, / was the steep canyon walls—an opening of Alashee. Everyone around me took me not more than fifteen feet at the narrow to be the cool and competent lieutenant entrance. We found the two Afghan to Ben Addis. I was second in rank in guards on the job. We left our horses this murderous Scarlet Swordsman with one of them. The other, who gang—for such it evidently was. The was coGksure he knew which part of scarlet tin-bans had been left with that the maze Faye was hiding in, accom- part of the gang that had remained in panied the party of us along the narrow the mountains around Kyber. But the path at the edge of the stream. real leader of the outfit had always The men looked to me for leadership. been, and still was, no other than Ben They were surprised when I insisted Addis, the sly merchant of jewels. that they take their orders from Mo- A wild and reckless game they were bovarah. I prefered to enter the maze playing, coming down to these highways alone. and byways of commerce. They were "Alashee wants to find her by him- like serpents, made bold by their suc- self," I heard one of the men comment. cessful treacheries in the wilderness, "Maybe he does not hate women so now slithering into the crossroad cities much as he has led us to believe." to feed fat on less suspecting prey. "Did I ever say I hated women?" I "You are strangely silent, Alashee," challenged. said little Mobovarah, at once sarcastic and inquisitive. TN THE light of torches I saw their "This is a cruel errand," I said. expressions of surprise and derision,

"You'd better leave it to me." and one of them said, "Ho! Who is it "I'm surprised," Mobovarah said. that has called women Allah's curse "You usually leave the dirty work to upon the human race? Can the un- me." changeable Alashee have forgotten the I was interested to know this. In times he refused to help with the fact, I was picking up many hints re- slaughter of a caravan because of its THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 133 beautiful women?" one might hide for days without being "So I refused. And what was my discovered. excuse?" I had not been here before; but Faye "That women were not deserving of had. She had told me of coming here death from an expert Scarlet Swords- with a party from the English agency. man like you. You would not waste a So I knew that she had chosen this stroke of the blade upon them. You place for escape with full knowledge would not even admit that there could of what she was getting into. be such a thing as beautiful women. Where would she go? Far into the And so you stayed in camp and helped interior? Or would she chance a Ben Addis count the stolen gems as we hiding place near the entrance? She brought them in." had not had any sort of light. But she So that was the sort of fellow they had had a gun—mine. expected me to be—too proud to waste the stroke of a sword unless my adver- A/fOBOVARAH came back to me.

sary was a fighting man. This dis- "Do you think it would do any covery brought the perspiration to my good to call?" forehead. Yours Truly, Val Roman, "And warn her we're on the trail? alias Alashee, was going to have a Very good, Mobo. Very good. Ben tough time pretending any such disdain Addis would praise you for your bril- for a certain blonde captive. There liance. Since when have you been in- was nothing in the world that I wanted terested in helping her escape?" so much, just now, as to see her alive, Mobovarah squirmed. His twisted unharmed, and free. face reminded me of a sullen weasel. "I'll enter the maze alone," I re- "You shall have the full pleasure of

peated stubbornly. I exchanged my seeing her plunge over the cliff, Ala- torch for a flashlight and shot the beam shee," he said. "The honor will be all along the walls. yours, and you'll have no comebacks at Where would Faye have gone, once me." she had footraced into this natural "All right. All right." I hadn't in- prison? tended stirring up any old quarrels. But The bed of the mountain stream evidently I had struck a sensitive nerve. widened for a few yards within the Mobo started off, then turned back to natural chamber of walls. Our voices glare at me. echoed through the babble and hiss of "Wise men," he said, "know when the several little tributary streams that they're in danger of overplaying their chased down through separate tunnels hands. I don't need to give you and into this central chamber. The walls Ben Addis any more hints that you'd flared with brilliant red when our better lay off me. I can stand just so torches brushed close. much sarcasm." At Mobovarah's command, the men "Am I addicted to sarcasm?" I entered their assigned tunnels for a asked blankly. swift preliminary search of the laby- "You were the one that started all rinth nearest the entrance. Some of that monkey talk, telling Ben Addis to these tunnels were marked with signs buy a pair of brothers for me." and arrows. But I knew that there "Forget it," I said. "Let's find that were endless crevices and steep-walled girl or we'll all be in trouble. Why channels among this tunnel world where don't you have the men station them- 134 AMAZING STORIES selves in the darkness and wait? With their master and who isn't. This horse, daylight she'll creep toward the en- accustomed to Alashee, seemed to know trance to try to find a way out." what the men didn't know—namely, "Damn it, we can't wait till daylight," that I was not Alashee—at least not said Mobovarah. the Alashee it was used to. "You're in command, Mobo," I re- I found the foothill road. On the peated. "But if necessary we can wait gallop, I headed down the line toward

till we starve her out—as long as the that dark patch of vegetation. Yes, car tracks aren't traced to these parts. here was a thicket. Careful, now. If Go on, Mobo. Leave me to my own the car was still there, then I'd bet my strategy." spurs and jeweled dagger that Faye "What strategy?" Landreth was there too, trying to figure "Never mind. It would probably how to make the thing go without the sound like sarcasm to you." benefit of a car key. He went back into the tunnels, and And yet I should have known that I walked out to the narrow canyon en- Faye was the sort of girl who would trance. I called to the guard to bring always carry an extra key. my horse. Car lights flashed on within fifteen "Are you certain she's had no chance yards of me. The motor roared, and the to get past you?" I asked. dark red coupe leaped out of the "Not a chance." thicket. It shot into the narrow road. "Good. Now where is her car?" It gave me and my horse a wide berth. "A few yards west of the foothill It crackled over a line of low bushes, trail, hidden among the thickets. I careened, straightened up, swung back have the key." into the road beyond me. "Good," I said. "I'll take it." It was occupied by one blonde bomb- You see, I had the advantage of these shell. She saw me, and she rolled up other Scarlet Swordsmen. I knew Faye the window as I shouted at her. Landreth. One flashlight view of those "Faye! Faye! FAYE! Come back!" red rock walls had assured me. Mobo- varah and the others wouldn't have CHAPTER VI believed that any girl would attempt to climb over those rugged, almost per- South Bound Bus pendicular walls in the dark. But they didn't know Faye Landreth. T5 Y GEORGE, she heard me, and she If there had been just a little more gave me a look. daylight I might have made it in time. A few minutes before, it was the

Or if my beautiful brown and white darkness that did me wrong. Now it Arabian horse had been more congenial was the light. If there hadn't been to my purpose. quite so much dawn in my face she "Step along, pony, step along. It's might have stopped to see who it could ten to one she's already dashed away be calling her by name. —but if she hasn't, you'll be a hero, But she got one square look at my pony. Step along. I don't know this whiskered face and tiger-fierce eyes, trail, but you ought to." and that was enough. I saw the flash It was no good, talking my brand of of terror and hatred in her expression. English to this smart Arabian horse. She bore down on the footfeed and Animals have a keen sense of who is turned the foothill trail into a serpent- THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 135 line of dust. A NY errors in my calculations were For one brief moment that look she food for thought afterwards. Er- gave left me stunned. I should have ror number one, the movie boys re- felt complimented. The terror was the hearse their acts beforehand. Error very feeling she should have toward a number two, the movie cars have open person like Alashee. The hatred was windows or other conveniences for out- for Alashee, of course, for what he had stretched hands to hang onto. Error done to me. And yet I, wearing Ala- number three, movie cars may be de- shee's body, was bound to be cut to pended upon not to jam the brakes too the quick, catching the slap of that ex- soon. Number four, a movie horse pression full in the face. knows better than to leap ten yards I reined my horse and cut back to the ahead of the car at the crucial moment. upper trail. Here was one of the short- But as I had noted before, my Arabian cuts that Alashee and his men had mount was not responsive to my don- taken on the previous night. My horse key talk. knew the way, and daylight was coming I leaped. That's about all I can say on swiftly. for myself. "Move along! Move along!" I leaped because, after I was all set My words, practiced on my donkey, to leap, my horse suddenly sidestepped had no charm whatever on this fiery and galloped out from under me. I Arabian mount. But a light slap of the flew forward, I was too surprised to reins on the neck got results. I leaned go into a roll, I landed on my chest forward from the stirrups, and the and the points of my toes. ground sped beneath me. The screech of brakes was the most The serpent-line of dust was coming welcome sound I ever heard. The car toward me, some twenty minutes later. came to a stop within inches of me. I Again I would have a fighting chance rolled in the dust and scrambled to the to make contact with one red coupe edge of the road. occupied by one blonde. I winced at "Get up! On your feet!" the thought of having to take horrified Faye Landreth was giving me orders 1 expressions from her pretty face. I The car window was down, now, and groped for words—the most believable an automatic pistol was leveled at me words I could muster—to prove, in one over the door. breath, that I was a friend, not a ter- On my feet I marched. rorist. I don't know what sort of sarcasm Here my trail led down to the road. Alashee might have employed if I had She swung through the nearest curve. been in possession of his mind as well She must have seen me, for she sud- as his body; but I will say that Faye denly throttled down. The brakes tore would have put his talents to a test. up the earth. For the next few miles she practically But I would be at her window before burned me to a cinder—the more so be- she could turn around, and she knew cause I couldn't make her listen to me. it. So she came on. And then and There were simply no words to pene- there I knew I was going to do the trate the wall of hatred that she built daredevil stunt you've seen done a against me. hundred times in the movie. I would "Listen to me, Faye. You're in ter- gallop right into her path and leap rible danger. You've got to believe from my horse to the car. me!" ' " " ""

136 AMAZING STORIES

"I'll be in danger when I relax my "What is the sketch?" grip on this gun," she said. "March "It's the face of Alashee," I said. along. We'll make the village in an I drew it—last night—before he got hour, at this pace, and they'll find a me—there! Don't you see? That nice comfortable cell for you until they proves— can string up a rope." "It proves nothing," said Faye Lan- She drove as slowly as she had driven dreth, gesturing with the pistol. "Keep the night before when Wonder and the moving. ... It proves that whoever two monkeys had accompanied us. I moved my car last night discovered walked. this sketch and recognized it as you." "Faye, you've got to listen." I fell silent. My blunt attack was "Where did you get my name? doing me more harm than good. Never mind, it's been in the papers. "So you're one of Ben Addis' men," You're probably able to read. Many Faye said presently. murderers learn to read. It's a con- "Aren't you tired of driving with one venience when their names are in the hand?" I said. "I'll march for you headlines." without the encouragement of a pistol. "You think I'm Alashee, but I'm I'm used to walking—with Wonder and not," I said. "Alashee is dead. He Squinty and Sober." died when he murdered me—and I "So you know their names?" Faye lived. I'm Val Roman." didn't like this. "Val would have been happy to know that. He'd have given /^RACK! The pistol spat a bullet you a jolly punch that would have

at my heels. I had been warned curled your whiskers. . . . What will to keep a distance of five yards be- your master Ben Addis think when he tween myself and the front bumper. reads the court reports and discovers Perhaps I had lagged a matter of four that he has been associating with a or five feet. But no, it was something Scarlet Swordsman?" else that had earned that little har- "He knows all about that— I'll swear binger of death—my mention of the to that in court." I tried to put this name Val Roman! idea over with a vengeance, for now I "Don't speak that name again," thought I was getting somewhere. Faye Landreth said, and she meant it. "Give me a chance in court and I'll "From your ugly lips I won't stand for burn Ben Addis' hide off. Believe me, any such sacrilege. ... So you are Faye, something very strange hap- Alashee. That's what I suspected when pened—when Alashee stabbed me last you followed me on horseback." night "I had to see you— "You're no ordinary desperado. "Yes, I can understand that. For You're insane. You've got everything the same reason you had to kill Val the newspapers will want for a big story Roman, you think you'll have to kill with bold, black headlines. 'Afghan me—to save the ugly necks of all your Bandit Claims To Be Victim of His Scarlet Swordsmen. Let me look at Own Murder.' Yes, you've got every- this map. Ah, here it is, a little thing—including big talk." skctcli ' "I've got a way with monkeys," I "I made that sketch!" I shouted. said. "I can tell you what it is. And that "No doubt. Do you prefer to choke will prove— them or stab them in the back?." "

THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 137

"Where are you going to go," I here on. Had it not been for her, I asked, "after you've turned me over to would have welcomed a cozy cell. But the village marshal?" for all I knew, the band of Swordsmen "Why do you ask?" might already be riding to overtake us. "I want to know whether you'll be They would come the instant they safe from the men who intend to run realized that Faye, not I, had driven your car off into the canyon." I waited away in the car. for her response. I looked back at her, I kept my ears tuned to horses' hoofs. sensing that I had at last made an im- But as luck would have it, a very dif- pression. She waited for me to say ferent turn of events came about. The more. "If there was a chance for you red coupe ran out of gas and came to to live I'd ask you to take care of a choking stop at the side of the road. Sober and Squinty." When the coupe stopped, I didn't. "You're very clever at trying to I made the break for the scrubby un- weave your way into my confidence," derbrush toward the foothills, taking she said presently. Her tone was a my chance against the shots from the trifle less bold. "What do Sober and pistol. Two bullets came close enough Squinty mean to you?" to my heels to give me the jack-rabbit "Why should I tell you, when you jumps. A third bullet nipped my green won't believe me?" turban. I fell on my face and lay "I'm in no mood to believe any Scar- on the ground long enough to catch my let Swordsman," she said bitterly. breath. "After what you did last night— I squirmed about to see whether "Believe me, your friend is not dead that little blonde desperado was fol- —not entirely!" lowing me. "You're mad," said Faye. "But as To my surprise she was not. A bus soon as I've delivered you to the po- was coming up the road. She hailed ." lice, I'll accompany the coroner . . it. It stopped, and she got in and rode away. TTHERE were tears in her eyes, but "So she doesn't want me, after all!" a fighting strength was in her voice. I muttered. The situation left me fiat I knew she was thinking, with pity, on my back in more ways than one. of the body that had lain in the door- "Now why did she do that?" way since last night, unattended ex- The answer was that she had be- cept for the presence of two bewildered lieved me, in part, at least. She was little monkeys in red overalls and in danger of being murdered by the jaunty feathered hats. other Swordsmen before she could de- I had made some sort of impression liver me to the authorities, and she on her with my knowledge of Val knew it. Capturing me was not- quite Roman and my interest in the mon- so important, on this bright and shin- keys. How deep an impression it was ing morning, as retaining her own life. hard to say. In fact, nothing could be wiser than Meanwhile I had been watching for for her to report back to her father at my chance to break and run for free- the English Agency, a scant one hun- dom. dred miles to the south. Now we were coming to the main I suspected the bus was southbound. highway. My chances for a getaway I knew that the buses on this line were would be considerably lessened from running in pairs, and that was my cue 138 AMAZING STORIES

—my chance to look out for the wel- men on Arabian horses raced us toward fare of the blonde dynamite that had Ruklah and charged across the road. just taken three potshots at me. There was nothing for me to do but Five minutes later I hailed the sec- stop. A little fellow with a twisted ond bus, paid my fare, and asked the face, a Hindu, was the one that coaxed

driver to step on it. But he wasn't her to get off." too optimistic about overtaking bus "Coaxed her!" I mocked. "Threat- number one. ened her with a gun or a knife, most "I have to make all the local stops," likely."

he said. "We won't catch up till we "I wouldn't know," said the driver. hit the other highway, a hundred miles "She went without a word." to the south." "Hell, man, have you come all the "And the other bus goes straight way into Ricklasha without stopping to through?" report this business?" "That's right." "I'll make my own reports as I'm "And there's an English Agency required to make 'em and no other when we reach the town?" way," said the driver.

"Indeed there is, right in the heart So I was stranded a hundred miles of Ricklasha, and you'll find a sturdy from Ben Addis' camp, and Faye had gentleman in Sir Morrison Landreth." fallen into the bandit's hands. At the

"Drive on, friend," I said. "And I'll rear of the bus terminal depot a radio

have a pocketful of shillings for you if was blaring the news, and I listened

you make it ahead of the other bus." with trepidation. . . . The European

situation. . . . Salt imports. . . . The

CHAPTER VII American congress . . . the local fairs

of India villages. . . . But no reports Morrison Landreth Turns a Deaf Ear of any banditry or murders in the vi- cinity of Ruklah, and no automobile 'pHE nightmares that haunted me on accidents. Well, these were pretty sure that one-hundred mile journey were to come in time. something terrible, for I sank into a In fact, at any hour or minute, the half-dead stupor soon after boarding story of Val Roman's murder might hit the bus. It was Val Roman who did the front pages, and the newspapers the dreaming, but it was the evil deeds would soon piece together a descrip- of Alashee that terrorized my dreams. tion of me as a suspect. When that The final nightmare came upon happened, my life wouldn't be worth waking at the bus terminal at Rick- more than the price of a bullet. Any lasha. The first bus had arrived just further traveling I needed to do had a few minutes ahead of us (in spite of best be done quickly. my driver's breakneck efforts—for One place I would be safe: in the which I tipped him generously) but to camp of Ben Addis—until the lid blew my dismay the other bus did not con- off the whole band of Scarlet Swords- tain a passenger by the name of Faye men! Landreth. I glanced at the bus schedules. An "Yes, I remember her," the bus hour and a half to kill. To kill! The driver said to me. "Sure, she got on very words conjured up the horrified between towns, and I would have association of an automobile plunging

brought her all the way. But some over a cliff. " " " "

THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 139

I approached the grounds of the in my voice. His slightly giddy manner English agency, I was stopped by suffered a chill. the shout of a young man in distress. "What do you mean, she may not— "Lend a hand, there, stout fellow!" "She was kidnapped off a bus near He pointed to the tennis ball that he Ruklah about two hours ago. I found had just struck out of bounds. If I out from the bus driver, putting two hadn't been the sort of person who and two together. So far as I know, it would help a cow out of the ditch, I hasn't been reported to anybody. That's might have passed William Oleander why I— without noticing him. But as quick as "Did you say kidnapped?" we had exchanged a couple of words "The bus driver was a dumb-bell. and he told me that he had just come The kidnapper was clever enough to from England to see Faye Landreth, I get away with his goods without the took very particular notice of him. passengers realizing— He was about my age—that is, Val "Kidnapped!— But why? I don't Roman's age—an exceptionally well- understand built fellow with a harmless face, large "You go back and play tennis, clear eyes, rather prominent nose and laddie," I said. "I'm on the way to jaw, and a mop of dark brown hair. tell her father." His muscles worked well on a tennis "Two of us ! " He tossed his racket racket. to the verandah hammock and was off "So you're practicing to win a game with a bound. I followed. or two from Faye Landreth," I said. A lucky break at last, I thought. "Oh, I'll beat her, all right. I'm a Bill Oleander could crash the sanctum sort of all round champion when it of Sir Morrison Landreth's domicile comes to 'love one.' The old tech- much easier than I. For he was, in nique, if you know what I mean. This every detail of appearance, manners, is my big chance. Two weeks of tennis and speech, an English agent's idea of to put her in the right frame of mind what a vivacious blonde daughter de- for a proposal." served. Moreover, he wasn't encum-

He nudged me as if to imply that it bered with any pet monkeys. was all over but the congratulations. "You're pretty sure of yourself," I V\7TTHIN ten minutes, the three of said. "Maybe she has a boy friend us were flying to Ruklah in a over here." small monoplane—Sir Morrison Land- "Maybe that's the reason her folks reth, Bill Oleander, and I. The pilot sent for me. I'm an old friend of the made a bee line for Ruklah. family. Confidentially, her old man On the way, what little prestige I cabled me the money to fly down for a had gained with Bill Oleander slipped visit. She'll swoon when she sees me away from me. Bill, not used to the again, I'll bet." castes of India, had been ready to "Why are you confiding this to me?" accept me as a friend. But Faye's "Aren't you the gardner or some- stern, thin-faced father eyed me skepti- thing? How soon do you think Faye cally through his monocle. His pointed will be back? Her father didn't seem mustaches twitched with disdain. He to know." saw me as a stranger, an Afghan with "She may not be back at all," I said. tiger-fierce eyes—not a person to be William Oleander caught the tension trusted. My hint of an invasion of "

140 AMAZING STORIES

Scarlet Swordsmen left him cold. He member of your race and religion, who was disturbed about his daughter, all knows? I might be the very man she'd right, but her turned a deaf ear to my want to marry." allusions to a wider danger. "Why, you!" Bill Oleander's bad "How do you happen to be concerned temper made away with him. He about my daughter?" turned in his seat and swung at me with When Morrison Landreth froze me his open hand. The slap grazed my with this question I should have known whiskered face. I smiled, daring him it was a mistake to try to confide any- silently. Then my smile faded and we thing. glared at each other hatefully. Sir "I feel a concern for any innocent Morrison Landreth's eye shifted to the person who is in peril," I said. dagger at my side. He gave Bill a "Faye is always getting herself into restraining pat on the shoulder. scrapes. You're probably leading us "Careful, Oleander. Careful. We on a wild goose chase." He turned to don't know this man." Bill. "You'd just as well know these things before you marry her, my boy. '"J^HE pilot of the plane snapped an She's adventurous. I'll declare I could order. We were about to land at spend half my time keeping her out of Ruklah. We'd better cut the rough jams. But ten times out of ten she stuff and belt ourselves in our seats. doesn't need my help." I was smiling to myself. This fierce Bill didn't have any comment. face I wore was a most deceiving mask. I said, a bit sarcastically, "Bill will I had not the slightest intention of com- teach her to play tennis. That will ing to blows with Bill Oleander. But solve everything." I had to add one jealous thrust to our "I resent that remark." Bill flared verbal clash. into a temper. "Take a tip or two, Bill. When you Mr. Landreth went on with his acid marry Faye you'll do well to buy her a worrying. "I'm a good father. But she pair of pet monkeys. You can train tries my patience. You never know but them to play tennis. And she'll enjoy what she may drive that car of hers them for company." away out in the desert to pay a visit to "Tend to your own business." some fool monkey trainer—not that she "And another thing: that temper of would —ever fall for any such low-bred yours may cost you, if you don't learn person to control it." This was rash talk, but "What's wrong with a monkey I was in a caustic humor. All the good trainer?" I cut in savagely. will of my Val Roman nature had been Both Landreth and Oleander gave me fouled. the cold stare. It was the young hot- The plane landed at the eastern edge blood who spoke: of the village. A few officials and curi- "Who are you? What's Faye Land- ous townsmen and a gang of wide-eyed reth to you?" children came trailing out to met us. "Maybe I'm her best friend," I said. They were full of questions. For what "She doesn't associate with you reason would a special plane be land- Afghanistans," said Sir Morrison Land- ing at Ruklah in the middle of an other- reth. wise peaceful day? "Very well," I said. "But you can't A two-wheeled carriage was provided stop me from thinking. If I were a for Landreth and Bill. There would "

THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 141

have been room for me, too, but they erupted with a surprise greeting. had had about enough of my company. "Well, well! Here is the man we However, I followed along with the need. Here, your honor, this man can crowd, making myself as inconspicuous tell you all about Ben Addis. This is as possible, but getting in on all the Alashee, the personal attendant of the talk. merchant prince." Sir Morrison Landreth preferred to "Impossible!" said Landreth.— "He ask his own questions. Had his daugh- is the one who warned me ter been seen? Where was her car? "Don't argue with the marshal" I Didn't anyone here know her? What cut in. "/ am the lieutenant of Ben was this rumor about a band of Scarlet Addis, Swordsmen lurking in this neighbor- "Ugh? Hey," The proud Landreth hood? had probably never been so confused in You never saw such a lot of blank his life. faces. From the village marshal down "Forget about me," I added hastily. to the open-mouthed urchins of the "You came here in search of your lower castes, no one knew of any daughter." skulduggery. "He's crazy . . . crazy!" Landreth Landreth threw a scornful look back muttered half under his breath. at me and turned to Bill Oleander. "I The market place was just ahead of told you this would be a wild goose the avenue of trees through which we chase." Then to the city marshal, "I were walking. From the clamor it was suppose you'll say there isn't even such evident that some exciting news had a man as Ben Addis living here." just struck the town. A party of trades- "Ben Addis! He is one of our most men, just arrived by camel, were prominent citizens," said the marshal. gathering a crowd. AH the onlookers added their enthusi- At once a native came running down astic comments: Yes, Ben Addis was toward us, calling at the top of his the new merchant prince who was voice. He wanted the marshal. Some- bringing all the trade into the village. thing dreadful had happened. He was a man to be respected. He was "They've found a murdered man!" a cripple who rode in a fine palanquin. he cried. "It was the man with the He was planning a fair for the display monkey circus. Someone had stabbed of India's finest gems. Dealers would him in the back." come from far and wide. Bill Oleander, Sir Morrison, the mar- "Then he isn't a kidnapper or a shal, and the whole crowd around them, Scarlet Swordsman?" Landreth asked. caught breathless by this news, hurried This brought a storm of laughter. A forward to get in on all the particulars. Scarlet Swordsman! A kidnapper! I wasn't so interested, owing to the fact Ridiculous. Where did the English that I had been present at the murder, agent ever get such a mistaken idea? on both the giving and receiving ends.

It was my chance to fall back ; for now, T ANDRETH turned his accusing if ever, the trap was closing around me. glare on me. There was anger in "Get out of this," I said to myself. the twitch of his pointed mustaches. "There's nothing more to be done for He tapped his monocle against his Faye's father. You gave him all the hand. information he would take. It's time The marshal saw me, then, and he to save your own hide." 142 AMAZING STORIES

So I dropped back of the crowd and "Complications and delays," said looked for an easy escape. It was there, Mobo, sauntering down the hall with and a more convenient set-up I couldn't me. "In the first place, none of us have asked for. Three Scarlet Swords- wanted to cheat you out of the pleasure men on horseback were riding along you asked for. So, after we saw you just beyond the bank of trees, keeping boarding the bus and we succeeded in an eye on me. You see, they hacf been rescuing her, I insisted to Ben Addis on the lookout for me ever since my that we wait for your return—so there'd horse strayed back to camp. They be no taunts or complaints from you." weren't going to let an old-time lieu- I took it that he meant the blame tenant like me fall into the wrong should fall on me for our failure to hands. carry out the original plan. Certainly

A moment later I was riding back I had earned it. with them, around the hills and into the "Go on," I said coldly. tunnel that led to the rear of Ben Addis' "In the second place," Mobovarah headquarters. gave me the suspicious eye, "you were gone for three hours or more, no one CHAPTER VIII knows where. You know Ben Addis. If he feels the slightest suspicion toward The Beheading Knife any one of his men, he immediately puts that man to a test. I suspect he'll be "T3EN ADDIS is waiting for you in more than pleased to see you perform his room," Mobovarah said to me. this little execution before his eyes." "Here is the beheading knife. I've "Thank you, Mobo," I said. "Re- taken care of removing the rust. You'll mind me not to be sarcastic with you find it as sharp as a razor." this week." "Very kind of you. Where is the Alone I entered the room of Ben >>ictim?" Addis—the jungle lounge, as he called "In the cell on the left. I'll send her it, with the matted floors and the bam- in when you're ready." boo walls. Mobovarah watched me closely as I Ben Addis lay on the cot, his weighed the long tool in my hands. shriveled legs covered by the blue robe. "Anything wrong?" he asked. "It Strangely, I wondered for the first time weighs not one ounce more nor less than whether he was able to walk, and when you constructed it." whether he did not make the most of his "It's all right," I said. crippled condition. He was a master The handle-end was of some tough, at giving orders and demanding all the light-weight wood. Toward the blade- personal attentions that any completely end it was weighed with metal to give helpless person might crave. added impact to the stroke. The four- He looked up at me slowly. He was, foot handle offered tremendous lever- to all appearances, the master of him- age. It was as gruesome a death-dealer self and of me. I stood at attention. as I ever hope to see. The blade was My hands trembled on the handle of curved like a sickle, a three-inch width the beheading knife. of fine steel, tapering to a point. "Are you quite ready?" he said "It's all right," I repeated. "What quietly. happened to our plan to send her over "No. I think you're making a the embankment?" mistake." "

THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 143

He lurched forward, struck speech- ture between Ben Addis' cot and the less by my unprecedented defiance. He bamboo walls. breathed cold fury for a moment, study- The master scowled at me. "You ing me out of his keen dark eyes. He usually begin by swinging the knife for settled back on one elbow. a warm-up." "A soft streak in you, Alashee? I I stood as motionless as Wonder, my had begun to suspect it." donkey, might have done in his most "She'll be worth more alive than stubborn mood.

dead, Ben Addis. Let's talk it over." "Alashee!" Ben Addis snarled. "You couldn't talk fast enough to "I'm hot going to do it," I said. break the policy that has put us where "You double-dyed traitor, you've we are today, my dear Alashee. The gone soft." most succesfsul rule in our business is "I'm no traitor to my own principles, to let no witnesses live. Hear that Ben Addis." I could snarl, too. "I'll clamor out in the streets? They've have you know I haven't changed one found the body of the monkey trainer. bit since the days when I trained mon- Soon they'll knock at our door to ask keys!" what we know." "Alashee! Have you lost your "What do we know?" mind?" "Nothing—as long as there's no "I'm not Alashee. I'm Val Roman. danger of that screeching blonde doing I can't kill this girl. I'm in love with us in. But— if they caught one wail of her." her voice Ben Addis drew a pistol from under He broke off abruptly, for Faye the blue robe. The black hollow of the Landreth herself was entering. Mobo- barrel faced me.

varah had been impatient to get his "No man is of any use to me,

part of the performance over with. He Alashee, if he can't obey orders. I'll closed the door on the three of us. give you three dounts. Slash her head clean from her body before I count

pAYE was as white as chalk. Her three, or you're out . . . One . , . ." lips betrayed the awful tension of Two . . . Three . .

trying to control her fright. Her glance I lifted the knife on three. I took in the beheading knife with its crouched to swing. But not at Faye. four-foot handle. She looked from Ben My shoulders flexed for a swift stroke Addis to me. It struck me with horror at the crippled man on the bed. that she was not in the least surprised Crack! The pistol shot stopped me that I should be the person holding the cold. The bullet leaped squarely

knife. through my heart, as if it had been Overcoming a choked throat, she aimed by an electric eye. A sickening spoke to me, "I should have known sensation charged through me. The be- you'd catch up with me. But I am heading knife slipped from my fingers.

surprised to realize that the great Ben I had the sensation of falling with it

Addis stoops to this sort of sport." . . . falling . . . falling. I crashed "I have thrived on this sport," said forward to the floor and to black, black Ben Addis. "Step this way, please." realm of sudden death.

She obeyed. She stood in the center Death to the body of Alashee. . . . of a thick brown mat. It was a wide But in that very moment / became Ben floor. There were no objects of furni- Addis/ "

144 AMAZING STORIES

CHAPTER IX voice of Ben Addis. Personally, I didn't like the voice. It belonged with words Contortions of a Charmed Life of cunning. I tried again, striving for a ring of sincerity:

pOR a second time my charmed life "Because he loved you." had defied the fates. She raised her head to stare at me. I was lying on the cot, trembling a "You killed him—because he re- little. My withered legs beneath the fused to kill me." Her words were as robe were alive with the strange sensa- cold as steel. "It is so easy for you tion of wanting to dance. To dance to kill, isn't it? He had been your

a weird personal . dance of the cruelty and the — servant for years. . . And power that Ben Addis wielded over his you fellowmen. "Don't misjudge me as you at first The smoking pistol was in my hand. misjudged him," I said. How could I I was looking down through burning tell her? How could I escape the full eyes, scowling with .hard sullen lips, impact of her bitterest hatreds. There toward the dead man on the floor. That was no question in her mind that I man was Alashee, Alashee the body, meant to have her murdered at once, that had held the mind and the soul of now that I had disposed of her one Val Roman. defender.

But now, thanks to the little old Mobovarah had opened the door, and Hindu who had once prayed so devoutly he and other servants stood in a hud- for me, I had escaped the death that dle, gaping at the scene. Faye was caught the heart of Alashee. My again kneeling beside the fallen form, enemy, Ben Addis, had tried to cut me and she touched his brown cheek with down. her hand. Everything about this per- And what had happened to him? I son had been beyond her understand- had taken possession of his temple of ing. I knew that she would think flesh. It was as if his very act of back to all his claims to a kinship with murder had hurled him out of his own Val Roman, but she would find no an- body. He had destroyed himself—and swers to the contradictions and mys- in his place I lived. teries that surrounded him. Poor Faye! Poor terrified child! Mobovarah crowded ahead of the She was looking down at the dead form other servants. His face twisted with on the floor, on the very mat where she nervous anxiety to break the silence. had been commanded to stand for her "You—you found it necessary to kill execution. And there was compassion him?" he asked me. An expression of in her face for Alashee! extreme pleasure lighted his face. "If Once she had despised the very it had to be done, master, I would ground upon which he walked. But in gladly have accommodated." these last few moments she had been "He was a champion swordsman," compelled to see him (that is, me) in a I heard one of the servants murmur new light. reverently.

"He would have saved my life." She "He was a great lieutenant," I said, spoke slowly, she did not look up. "But mustering the dignity and bearing that why? Why?" I thought Ben Addis might have dis- ''Because he loved you." played. "He had certain remarkable Those were my first words in the qualities of character that I will long " ;

THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN

tell you'll meet remember . . . BUT—there are mo- nounced. "Shall I them ments that call for strict obedience. them on the verandah soon?" At suck times, the servant who hesi- "What are we to do with the body of tates has outlived his usefulness. Do Alashee?" another asked. "Is he to be I make myself clear?" buried with or without honors?" There was a long moment of stub- And from another, "We have suc- born silence. ceeded in capturing Val Roman's me- "Do I make myself clear?" nagerie. Shall we dispatch the mon- Mobovarah bowed. "Yes, master." keys at once?" And the others, heads bowed, echoed There were other questions about his words. "Yes, master." the jewel business, about the coming commercial fair, there were problems CHAPTER X of strategy from the other half of the bandit gang at work in the Kyber Pass. The English Agents Calls Apparently there was to be some high- powered cooperation between those TT WAS the most complex headache bandits, working the highways, and our you could imagine. A headache in commercial plans for entertaining In- more ways than one. You'll recall dia's dealers in precious stones. that on my previous experience of this But most immediate of all, there was kind a painful stupor held over me, the problem that Mobovarah wanted during which I could hardly realize to solve with one stroke of the be- that I had entered the body of Alashee. heading knife. Wasn't he entitled to Well, the torture was on me again. the honor of executing Faye Landreth? But with this difference. Now I knew And shouldn't the deed be done with- what was happening. It was again the out another minute of delay? painful readjustment of fitting myself "The townsmen are already waiting into the new body—a body that was on the verandah to question you," he contorted with the highly organized urged. "If they learn she is here, we're nerves of deceit, not readily adapted lost." to the simple soul of Val Roman. "You underestimate my powers of Consider my predicament. I was subterfuge," I said. "Put that— behead- at once the most popular and respected ing knife on ice—I mean citizen of Ruklah and the most hated "On ice?" criminal of the Kyber murder esca- I covered the break over as best I pades. And yet, within these masks, could. American slang would not be- I was Val Roman, the soft-hearted come the precise Ben Addis. But to Irish-Italian-American good Samari- Mobovarah I was taunting, as Alashee tan, who wanted nothing more than to had done; and the way for him to blow the' lid off the whole Scarlet escape sarcasms was for him to excel Swordsman crime wave. in performance of duties—as in volun- My afternoon was as chaotic as a teering to wield the beheading knife. tornado. Like it or not, I was com- "Put the knife away," I repeated. pelled to pick up Ben Addis' life where And then, to Faye, "Come with me." he had left off. My withered legs carried me readily "The village marshal and a party in fact, there was a surprising sensa- of visitors are ascending the front steps, tion of eagerness to walk that filled my Ben Addis," one of my servants an- whole body. Mobovarah stared at me. "

146 AMAZING STORIES

"Master, do you mean to do that? now I was Ben Addis. It was amazing

I thought it was our secret. . . . The that he could accord such a show of servants in the hall will see you. . . . respect to me. Master, are yon going to walk in their The marshal was quick to allude to presence?" our sociable drinks of recent weeks, to "Hush! I want to walk, so I'm go- establish himself in the eyes of the ing to walk." other townsmen as one of my special friends. TyrOBOVARAH nodded his agree- Bill Oleander was on nerve's edge, ment, but he was thoroughly dis- but he was wise enough to leave the concerted. I had guessed, by this time, talking to the others. that it had been Ben Addis' game delib- My servants brought refreshments erately not to walk, except in private, at once. The marshal and Landreth because his legs were twisted and un- looked to each other to start the fire- sightly. He gained in prestige by rid- works, but I saved them the trouble. ing wherever he went and being waited "I know why you have come, gentle- upon at all times. men," I said. "You are seeking in- "Moho, why are you following me?" formation pertaining to the murder of "Can you handle the execution by a monkey trainer named Val Roman. yourself, master?" He was killed at sunset last evening."

"The execution is off. I am taking "Yes, yes, how did you know?" Miss Landreth to the verandah to join "He was stabbed in the back," I said. the conference with the townsmen. As "His friend, Faye Landreth—your for you, Mobo, I want you to make a daughter, Sir—was the one witness to few preparations for me, just in case of the murder." emergency. . . . The monkeys. . . . Morrison Landreth nodded. "She is The Arabian horse that Alashee a genius for getting herself into messes.

rode. . . . I only hope she is alive and safe." I paused to whisper a few detailed "The man who murdered Val Roman orders to Mobovarah, which I knew was my personal lieutenant, Alashee." he would obey to the letter. Then I I sipped a drink while I studied the conducted a very bewildered blonde confusion in the face of the marshal. toward the front door. He was distressed to find his trouble But not to the verandah proper. I striking so close home. spotted a narrow storage room under "Only yesterday we drank together," the front stairs. There, behind a closed he mused sadly. door, she could watch through a little I nodded. "It is very strange that square purple-glass window and hear Alashee's life could shift so quickly everything that was said. from one path to another. He had "Listen carefully," I said. "And been my personal servant for many don't take any notions to run away." years. He was an Afghan, with fierce Servants helped me to the verandah, eyes like a tiger, yet I never suspected then, and the two palanquin bearers that the day would come— placed me where I could face my guests, the most distinguished of whom was J^ANDRETH and Oleander ex- Sir Morrison Landreth. Not so many changed knowing looks, and as I minutes ago this gentleman had re- went on to describe Alashee's appear- jected my intrusions in his affairs. But ance and characteristics, Landreth set " " " " "

THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 147 his glass down with a solid dick. Val Roman out of jealousy. Then, "This guilty man has passed right realizing she had the goods on him, he through our hands," he said. "He came started after her. There was no telling to us this morning as if to warn us. what might have happened— We knew, soon after we boarded the Bill was on his feet. "If he dared plane, that what he was telling us was touch her—

a shield for his own guilt. He was even "He didn't, my good man. But it maligning— your own character, Ben was a close race. Her car ran out of Addis gas. We saw from a distance. He "Too bad," I said. "Evidently his was riding toward her. Luckily she mind was quite suddenly flooded with hailed a bus. She intended to ride delusions about kidnappers and Scar- back to the agency." let Swordsmen." "She didn't arrive." My story was going over so well with "No. You see, Alashee boarded the these listeners that I forgot what effect second bus, thinking to overtake her it might be having upon Faye. It had before she reached home. So I had my been my intention to make her see that men rescue her. Not knowing this, I would not champion the crimes of the Alashee rode on to the south. When he Scarlet Swordsmen—that I was, in fact, found she had given him the slip, he as eager as anyone to have them ex- bolted into the agency and gave you posed. For this hope of heroism had men the kidnapping story." been born in me while I was still Val "I don't know how you know all Roman. this," said Landreth, tapping his mono- But every twist of this investigation cle nervously. "I'll be only too glad was tending to put Ben Addis on the to have her verify this story. At once. spot. I began to writhe. I was as If you'll be so kind as to bring her eager as anyone to expose this leader's out— evils; but it was far from comfortable "Yes, I want to see her," said Bill. to be dwelling in his body. The heat "I flew all the way from England." was turning on me. r , "This Afghan fellow said that you HE marshal rose J and paced toward were a Scarlet Swordsman yourself," me. "I'm sorry, Ben Addis, to Bill Oleander blurted. have to trouble you this way. But my The marshal laughed nervously and job is to find Alashee immediately. If I tried to laugh with him. you will deliver Faye Landreth to her Morrison Landreth was breathing father at once, then I will proceed to hard. "I want to know what hap- make a search of your premises for pened to my daughter. Where is she?" Alashee. Since he was your servant, "She's perfectly safe," I said. "I he has undoubtedly left some clues as had my servants bring her here for to the direction of his escape— safekeeping. You see, when I realized— I smiled and motioned to the door. that Alashee was on the rampage " I "I have saved you a lot of trouble, lowered my voice, hoping that Faye officer," I said. "He came back here, would not hear; for I was groping for I tried to make him give himself up, explanations that would soften Lan- we had a brief skirmish of arms, and dreth's stern eye, "I was actually afraid —well, I had to shoot him." for her life. The fact is, he had fallen "Indeed?" The marshal heaved a in love with her, and had murdered big sigh. He turned to the others tri- " " " "

148 AMAZING STORIES umphantly. ''There. Alashee has been "You're the mad one!" she cried. brought to justice already. I told you "You tried to make Alashee behead me, Ben Addis would help us. Er—what and when he wouldn't do it, you killed is his condition?" him. And then you have the brass to "Dead," I said. "You'll find him in tell these lies. You're not even a crip-

! the third room on the left. Mobovarah ple ! You can walk as well as anyone will assist you with all the details." Yes, I could walk. I could run, too. "Delightful. Delightful." The mar- And shoot. Those were talents that shal and two assistants went on in with Ben Addis had held in reserve for emer- a wonderful air of triumph. gencies like this. "I don't see anything delightful about I bounded from my cot, I seized Faye it," said Bill Oleander. "It still looks by the hand, and with a hard, brutal to me like Faye was just plain kid- jerk I forced her into the doorway. My napped. And if I don't see her alive pistol flashed into my right hand. The in about a minute. I'm going to punch verandah crowd fell back, defying me someone. to shoot. Faye Landreth stepped forth just I didn't shoot. I flung the wide then, a blonde bombshell all set to ex- door, closed and bolted it. Faye struck plode. There was no joyous reunion at me, clawed at me, screaming for between her and her father, no romantic help. I caught her up in both arms. clinch between her and her newly ar- My left hand cupped over her mouth rived boy friend. The fire in her lively and muffled her wail. eyes told plainly enough that she was I ran the length of the hall with her, fuming with indignation. and the servants who dodged into my

"Father. . . . Bill. . . . Sure I'm glad path either jumped or fell like ten-pins. to see you. We can talk about that I heard the stiff command of the mar- later. You've really walked into some- shal, ordering someone to halt. But thing. Watch this man Ben Addis, he couldn't have meant me. I was al- and take what he says with a lot of ready gone. salt. There's something dreadfully Alashee's Arabian mount was ready. wrong here." The blaze of her attack I swung one kicking blonde astride. turned on me. "Yes, I'm talking about She caught her foot in the stirrup. She you. What you told was half lies. flung the reins out of my reach. She You're a fake. You're not the merchant almost charged away without me. But you pretend to be— I caught onto the strappings and swung "Miss Landreth!" I protested. "This on as the horse galloped into the tunnel. deal has gone to your head ! "I was hiding in the closet, father, CHAPTER XI and I heard everything. But that isn't all. / found a whole batch of scarlet Sojourn in the Red Rock Maze turbans." "What do you mean by that?" Lan- "yOU won't take me far," Faye Lan- dreth asked. dreth vowed. "They'll catch you ''This is the headquarters oj the along the foothill trail. You were un- Scarlet Swordsmen. And Ben Addis is wise to— the leader. I can prove it!" Her sentences were broken by the "You're mad!" I said. "Utterly strenuous exercises of dodging low ceil- mad." ings and narrow walls. In a moment we THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 149

emerged into the afternoon sunlight, crossing pools of water or shouting sig- and I gave the Arabian mount the reins. nals to each other.

Faye found it useless to struggle for freedom from my strong arms. ATY BREAK came when, after two "You were unwise to burden this hours or more of winding, the

horse with so much baggage. . . . Why dry river tunnel we were following don't you dispose of that flopping sack? opened to the out-of-doors. A patch We're not going camping, you know." of evening sunlight showed against a "I have a couple of surprises in that high rock wall some fifty yards beyond flopping sack." and above this outlet. "Lethal weapons, no doubt. It would It was impossible to ride the horse be a pleasure to duel it out with you." through this narrow opening. But I "The sack contains two monkeys took my prisoner through, neverthe- named Sober and Squinty." less, and with her the other two pas- Faye made no response. The ten- sengers, Squinty and Sober. sion of her body relaxed slightly. "We're going camping," I said. "Here I added, "The donkey, Wonder, has is the ideal spot. Just make yourself been traded to a stockman in Ruklah. comfortable. I can't tell you how long

You will be able to purchase it if you this summer outing may last." ever want it." I dragged the other bits of equipment "You're being very funny," said through the aperture, then sent the Faye, "trying to make me think you're Arabian pony on its way. going to let me live. I wonder what Faye looked around at the rocky ingenious device you have planned for walls towering all around us toward the

this special murder. . . . Where are sunset sky.

we going? . . . Why, this is the Red "I can get out of here," she said. "If Rock maze. They'll have no trouble you think you've found a natural prison tracing you here." —what are you doing?" She looked back, and must have "I'm going to seal this opening," I caught a glimpse of our pursuers gal- said. "There's just a chance that our loping into our trail of dust. She was faithful horse might lead the rest of right, the burdens were telling on this the party back in this direction." horse. In a longer race I would have It was easy to gather rocks with had no chance. which to build a barrier across the tun- Into the red-walled tunnels we rode, nel opening. Faye cooperated. That bag and baggage, two human passen- is, she undertook to strike me down gers, and two monkeys. I dropped the with flying rocks. She had to be reins, allowing the horse to choose his watched every minute. But whatever own trail through the dark maze. I she hurled at me, I caught. could not light a torch. My arms were And so, as darkness came on, we quite occupied with holding my pris- were isolated from the world, impris- oner. I trusted to luck that the horse oned within a spacious well of natural would find some familiar path. walls, under an oblong patch of deep Darkness closed in on us. For a long blue India sky. time we rode, slowly, cautiously, thread- I lighted two torches and told Faye ing our way around black curves and to take one of them. under low ceilings. Sometimes I could "Here is a supply of torches," I hear the far-off echoes of our pursuers, said. "We will burn torches all night "

150 AMAZING STORIES

if you wish. No harm will come to the Hindu. "I will tie a rope around you as long as you do not try to the sacred cow's horns, and you may ." escape. . . . There is a blanket for lend your strength . . you." Then, as she began to comply, cling- ing to the rope with her lithe hands, the CHAPTER XII whole aparition faded away. It was gone with the mist. There was no Apparition al Dawn Hindu, no cow, nor any sign of the muddy pool. J^OTH of us saw it by the light of And yet I saw, as Faye looked at her dawn—an apparition that came hands, that the marks of the rope were slowly out of the shadowed east wall there.

and moved into the center of our little Frequently that day I saw her brush- rock-walled court. ing her hands thoughtfully, and some- It was a pond of mud and water with times she strolled along the rocky wall a thin cloud of mist hanging over it. from which the misty apparition had Mired belly deep in the pool was a seemed to emerge. cow—a sacred cow. This apparition "Val Roman told me about him," she grew brighter and more tangible, crys- said. tallizing into reality before our eyes. Her manner had become a few shades I walked slowly toward the center less suspicious and belligerent by the of the scene until my withered feet second evening. We talked briefly of seemed to be impressing the cool mud what had happened. Mists of morning with footracks. could take any strange form, she de- From the other end of our rocky cided, and what we had heard must prison Faye came, a few steps at a have been a dream. time. Her eyes were wide with aston- But nothing could be said of such ex- ishment. She pointed. A little old periences that in any way satisfied. In Hindu walked out of the shadows to- our secret minds we knew that here was ward the pool.— something we might never understand "Do you " Faye's whisper was —something very special, out of this barely audible. "Do you, Ben Addis, world, that wr as meant for us. see what I see?" I did not encourage Faye to talk "That," I said, "is the same little with me. I kept a barrier of space be- Hindu who was helped by Val Roman. tween us. Less often did she go to the It was his prayer— sealed tunnel entrance to listen for the I hesitated. The little old Hindu was calls of the rescue party she was sure trying to help the cow out of the mud. would come. I walked down toward him. "Could I help?" y^HAT impressed her more than He shook his head. "You have had anything else, during our passing your chance to help, and have won an hours of imprisonment, was the strik- everlasting reward, I need not trouble ing friendship for me that the two you again." monkeys demonstrated.

Faye looked at me wonderingly. It was not as if I were a stranger to Then she spoke the same words I had them, trying to make friends. But spoken. "Could I help?" rather as if they knew me, and had "You are young and strong," said always known me, and expected me to " " "

THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 151

call them by name. much," I said. "But if you have wist- "You give them orders just like Val ful memories of Val, I'm not surprised. used to do," she said. "But Val had He loved you very much." his own unique rhythms that he would "How do you know so much?" tap out on the musical drums." "He wanted very much —to marry "Something like this, I believe," and you, and he would have—if I picked up some small rocks and be- "Life is so terribly complicated by gan beating them on a plate of stone. ifs." Faye mused. It was unusual, I With a squeak of delight Squinty recog- thought, for a vivasious girl like Faye nized the rhythm and began dancing. to bring herself face to face with these Very seriously, Sober turned a series contemplations. Always to dodge the of handsprings. He passed his hat to serious side of life in favor of blighte, Faye. gay moods, had been her pattern of "I must give him something," she existence. And now, again, she was said. "I know—" dodging the weight of her own thoughts. She had picked a few berries earlier. "How soon are you going to let me go?" So now she called Sober to come with "As soon as I know a little better her to the little patch of shrubbery. what is in your heart," I said. "Here you are, Sober. You must "You are talking like Val again. take these to Ben Addis," she said. Every since you brought me here you The little fellow ate his share, and have reminded me—in one way and pocketed the rest. another— "No," she said. "Take them to Ben "You did love Val, didn't you?" Addis." For a moment she did not answer. "Bring them to Val Roman," I said. "Or have you never been in love?" At this, Sober turned and came I added. running to deliver the goods. "Somehow I've never thought very

But poor Faye recoiled with sorrow seriously about it. I have always been and anger. Bitterly she spoke. "Don't so gay, going my own way, enjoying lots say that. Don't you realize they are of friends. And yet— burying Val Roman this afternoon?" "Yes?" "It's true that I loved Val—deeply CHAPTER XIII —as I never loved anyone else." Sober nestled up to her, and she Farewell to Ben Addis brushed her eyes against his furry shoulder. T)UT the new day brought new hopes I walked around slowly, breathing

and contemplations; it banished the sweet air of the afternoon, looking old hatreds and hurts and suspicions. up at the patch of sky. If that blue As we ate our meager lunch of roots and could have reflected my face, I would berries and the last of the dried meats have seen the tragic proof that I was I had brought along, I was gratified to no longer Val Roman. It would never

see that Faye wanted to talk with me do to try to tell her. . . . again. "What you have said contents me," I "Val was very fond of these pet said, returning to Faye's side. To-

monkeys," she said. "I wonder that morrow you may go. . . . No, this they don't miss him more." afternoon. After you have returned to "No one should ever be missed too your father and your friends all this 152 AMAZING STORIES

echo of sadness will fade away." away. He leveled a rifle barrel in my "Yes, I suppose it will." direction. I leaped toward the nearest "In time you will marry Bill Olean- roeks for cover. He came on toward der. A nice fellow, Bill." me. Impulsively, I reached for my She nodded slowly. "Time heals all pistol. heartaches. I will learn to love him." But I couldn't do it—not to save my I unsealed the door. Yes, there were own life. It was Bill who must live. the sounds of searchers again. It would He followed me. He shot me down. be safe for her to go alone. She would My twisted, withered legs were struck find her way to their voices. from under me, bullets crumpling them. "You are to take the monkeys with Then the death bullet plunged through you," I said. "They are my gift to you

my brain. . . . and Bill Oleander." gHE started into the tunnel. The '"yHAT will finish the Scarlet monkeys hesitated, waiting for me Swordsmen," someone of the res- to come, but I ordered them to stay cue party was saying, as the swift flow with her. Then she came back to me of consciousness came back to me. slowly as I stood there watching her. My trembling arm was being soothed "You haven't been so unkind to me, by Faye. She was weeping softly. "I'm not blaming you, Bill," she said Ben Addis," she said. "I can't under- to me. "I know you had to do it." stand. I was so sure you meant those She was calling me BUI. awful commands you gave to Alashee I glanced at my strong athletic arms, on that fateful day. But now I know I passed my fingers over the rather you didn't. ... I want to tell you prominent jaw of my smooth-shaven, goodbye." harmless face. She offered her hand. slipped I my They were laying a blanket over the arm around her shoulder and drew her body of Ben Addis. The party moved into a swift, sweet embrace. back along the channels of the Red I had not meant to kiss her. And yet, Rock maze to the place where pack as I did so, she was not frightened. animals were waiting. Rather, she was strangely drawn to me. "We'll follow soon," Faye said.

At once I realized that the quick "I'm all right. . . . But I hated to see footsteps of the searching party were him killed. ... He was kind to me." beating a path to our rocky court. "I understand perfectly. . . perfect- ly." I'm afraid I to suppress Faye suddenly thrust me away from had a curious chuckle from her efforts to her. make me understand. "Run, Ben Addis!" she cried. "What's the matter, Bill? What are "They'll kill you. Run!" you smiling about?" She whirled to face them. Her arms "Just wondering about various extended in a tense command to make things. I never shot a man before." them stop. "You're changed somehow, Bill. You "Don't, Bill. Don't shoot him!" were such a boy when I last saw you." Bill Oleander pushed past her. He "Changed, am I? You said it. Do had seen me, no doubt, holding her in you think my friends will know the my arms, and had seen her thrust me difference when I take you back to " "

THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN 103

England—or are we going to stay right Roman in me, yes a lot of Val Roman. here and tour India with a little monkey I suppose there's some of Alashee's circus? That would be kinda pleasant, fierceness and courage, too. And some wouldn't it?" of Ben Addis' keenness and cunning. "Bill—no! I couldn't. It would re- And maybe a dash of their cruelty, too. mind me too much of someone— Not to mention my own natural hot-

"Val Roman? .. . Sweetheart, headedness." don't you ever worry about my being "Of course, dear." jealous of Val." "But look out for that gay, carefree, "Are you sure?" She looked at me adventurous spirit of Val Roman. It's wistfully. "Bill, if you and I are going likely to crop out on me at any hour of to get along, you'd just as well know the day, I warn you." from the start. I loved Val Roman. "Bill, you have changed. I never Don't ask me ever to deny that love." really knew you before. I—I think I'm "You loved him very much?" going to like you a lot. Are you the She nodded. "I'll try to forget, in sort of person who— time, perhaps." "Who would help an old Hindu res- "You needn't, dear," I said. "You'll cue a cow from the mud? Sweetheart, find that there's something of Val that's practically the story of my life."

BETWIXT CUP AND LIP LIES THE GERM

k O YOU know how germs get onto the rims But what is the use of safeguarding our water of water glasses? If you were to kiss a and our milk if we are careless about what we sterile plate the germs implanted by the drink them from? kiss, fed upon agar, would multiply at the rate of These facts should not worry us too much be- a generation every IS or 20 minutes, becoming cause we must remember that there are germs visible as colonies. everywhere—in the air, in the soil, and in our Some germs can cause serious infections. The own bodies. Most germs are harmless, or use- simplest demonstration of tbe fact known to ail. ful—without germs dead plants and animals whereby germs can be communicated 13 through would litter the earth. Our bodies have power- saliva exchange in every unsanitary drugstore, ful and mysterious mechanisms to combat the restaurant or bar room. invasion of disease germs. Microbes may be There are thousands of small eating and drink- tough but man is tougher. Normally the ing places throughout the country and in many presence of germs in his system may mean only of them there is a lack of cleanliness due to man- that he builds up greater resistance to them. power which appalls many laymen. We do not But that is no reason for daily ushering have to be a bacteriologist to suspect the presence into the system a large assortment of other of germs when our water glass wears a garland people's germs via tbe unclean soda fountain of secondhand lipstick. glass or restaurant tableware. You may say "Alcohol kills germs." Yes, but Here is a simple remedy for a condition that in a drink only if it is strongly alcoholic, if the threatens the health of American men, women germ stays in it long enough, and if the liquor and cliildren. Scalding hot water, and plenty of is poured up to the danger point—which is the it. By this means, 50 simple that it can be used brim. everywhere and by everyone in public places as Since drugstores sell a hundred germ killers, well as in your home, the risk from bacteria can they should be the safest places of all, which does be greatly reduced. And by the addition of cer- sound quite logical. But ironically enough, op- tain simple chemical disinfectants, bacteria can posite the drug counter there usually stands a be entirely eliminated. soda fountain where an attendant sozzles a glass In every city you can see soda clerk3 cleaning laid down by someone else, refills it, and gives it glasses by dipping them into dirty brown water. to you. If the water is only warm, you may Don't let tbem get away with it. If you must pick off the glass some of the germs parked patronize such places, demand a paper cup. A there by the previous customer. stitch in time saves nine but this proverb can also The modern city's water and milk supply is be applied to cleanliness.—by Carter T. Wam- carefully checked for bacteria by health officers. wrigkt. Alien invaders parachuted down on the city . 154 "

PERIL FROM THE OUTLANDS By WILUAM LAWRENCE BAMLING

come on, Maribelle, just one He scowled wearily. If it hadn't AW,more drink, huh?" been for Maribelle he would be just Felix Murphy gazed through another spacebum stranded on Tellus slightly blood-shot eyes at the trim- City. She had watched him drink his aproned girl behind the bar. She meager resources up in the past months, stood with her hands on her hips, a and somehow she couldn't stand by and pout puckering her red lips, and her watch him go down. Too many had blond hair swept back by a small blue done that before, and besides, she liked ribbon. She shook her head. Felix. There was something about him "No Felix, aren't you ever going to —helpless like a little kitten. Maybe make something of yourself? What it was the mother instinct in her. May- kind of a man are you anyway? When be it was because he really was a good you were back on Earth you always Sanitary Engineer. Maybe all he really said nobody would give you a chance needed was a chance. Anyway she got —now that you're on Mars with a good it for him. job at the Polar Water Works all you "I had my uncle put you on at the

! want to do is come here and get drunk Polar Water Works because I thought Felix lowered his eyes guiltily. She you really wanted to get ahead!" she was mad again. He sighed. "Nobody blazed at him angrily. "With trouble gives a damn about me," he mattered. brewing between TeHus City and the And he proceeded to feel very sorry for Outlanders you could never want a himself. better opportunity, but all you want to "I've been here on Mars over a year now," Felix complained, "and so far Felix looked hungrily at his empty it's been the same old story—you show glass and sighed. The Outlaadera. What promise but there just isn't anything the hell did he care about them. They open right now! I'm getting disgusted!" were on the other side of Mars, far

He thrust his jaw out stubbornly and from Tellus City. And besides, it was looked across the bar at Maribelle. He all rumor about trouble brewing. Tellus had come to Mars because it was the City was strong, the ruling force of new frontier, the golden goose of the Mars. What was Outland Port? Just future. Get rich quick. a derelict city of outcasts and rebellious

There was no time for any counter measures—Felix bad to turn the valve = that would poison a whole city! =

165 156 AMAZING STORIES

Martians—a pitiful handful of rene- It was then that he saw the light. gades. What kind of an uprising could It streamed out from a half curtained they make! Opportunity hell. window in one of the silent warehouses. "I may as well get going," Felix said And Felix frowned. This was strange, sulkily. He tossed a coin on the bar a light in a blackout. What the hell and strode away from Maribelle. She was wrong with those people? Didn't looked after him wistfully, sadly shak- they know the Council had ordered a ing her head. blackout? Felix came abreast of the building and paused, looking at a r^ELIX paused outside, his eyes shadowed doorway. standing in it. straining against the dark Martian He didn't see the man apparently saw Felix. night. "Another damn blackout," he But the man muttered. Around him a cold brisk He stepped out into the darkened street suddenly aware that wind was blowing. It whistled eerily in and Felix was something was being shoved into the the darkness and he felt a shiver run up and down his spine. The sooner he small of his back. blurted out. got to the Water Works the sooner he "What the hell—" he quiet!" a voice rasped over could settle down in a nice quiet office. "Keep wind. "Get inside Maybe even find a bottle laying around. the shriek of the hurry 1" He trudged his way along through — the darkness. Around him loomed the Felix was nonplussed. This was gaunt skeletons of countless ware- something new. Something strange. houses, stocked with metal bearing ores Something entirely uncalled for. Why awaiting shipment to Earth. Ahead, would anyone want to shove a gun in his on the edge of Tellus City, would be the back? Felix didn't know. But he did sprawling buildings of the Polar Water know that there was no arguing with Syndicate, the throbbing hub of the this man, He hastened to comply. Martian water supply. It piped the The door slammed shut behind him water from the polar cap to Tellus City and he was in complete darkness again. and Outland Port. The only water on The gun shoved into his back. Mars. And the only place Felix had "All right, walk straight ahead," the been able to get a job. voice hissed in Felix's ear. Felix was "Hell of a job, I've got ! " he muttered too nervous to object. He walked. into the wind. "Me, a graduate en- Somewhere ahead a door opened and gineer, a damned flunky Night Super- light streamed out. Felix walked visor!" Felix clunked his feet heavily toward the light. He walked into it. along the street. What the hell chance It was an office, a large dirty office, did he have to show the Syndicate that papers littered the floor and the top of he was worth anything? They had a battered desk. A man was sitting given him a good talk about the respon- behind the desk. A strange man. He sibility he held, keeping watch at night was smiling up at Felix. so nothing went wrong with the atomic "Please sit down, Mr. Murphy," he water pumps. Oh sure, it was respon- said. sibility all right. About as much re- Felix moved mechanically to a chair. sponsibility as a caretaker in a ceme- He stared at the man behind the desk. tery. And with as many people around Was it a trick of the light—his face to keep him company. He plodded on was green, and he didn't have any eye- in the darkness. lids. It dawned on Felix. PERIL FROM THE OUTLANDS 157

"You're a Martian!" he blurted out. Felix demanded. "If you represent the "Exactly. It that so surprising?" the Outland government what are you do- man asked caustically. ing here?" Vargh continued to smile. But as he TT WAS to Felix. There were no smiled his hand pulled open a desk Martians in Tellus City. There drawer. He pulled out a bottle and a were no Martians anywhere except at glass from the desk. Felix watched as Outland Port. They were kept there he poured an amber liquid. under close surveillance by the Council "I can explain exactly what I mean so they couldn't try to start an upris- after we have a little drink. You'll ing. The Martians had resented Earth- join me?" men invading their planet. They had Felix, for one of the few times in his tried to fight, many times, but they were life was not all sure that he wanted a too few in numbers to succeed. The drink. He didn't trust this Martian. Earth Government had finally exiled He didn't trust any Martian for that them all to Outland Port and put a re- matter. And there was something es- striction on the City. No ship was al- pecially ominous about the way Taro lowed to land there or take off without Vargh was smiling. Felix felt a tremor permission of the Council at Tellus of fear course through him as Vargh City. How had this Martian got here? shoved the glass across the desk. What was he doing? And most of all "Drink it," he said. Felix wondered how he knew his name. Felix didn't like the way he said it. He inquired as much. It was more like an executioner giving "I don't understand," he said halt- a condemned man an order to drink a ingly. "How did you know my name draught of poison. Poison. Felix —and what do you want?" stared at the glass and shuddered. The green-faced man stared coldly "I—I'm not thirsty," he stammered. at Felix. "I know many things, Mr. Vargh's eyes gTew hard. "You'll Murphy. I know for instance that you drink this, Murphy. Now." were just now on your way to the Polar Water Works. You are the Night Su- T^ELIX wanted to jump and run. The pervisor there. I have been watching trouble was there was no place to you for some time." jump to. Much less run. The other Felix frowned. "Watching me? Who Martian stood in the doorway and his the hell are you!" finger was tightened meaningly around Fish-like eyes glared coldly at Felix. the trigger of the gun he held. Felix They seemed to look straight through gulped. him. Slowly the green face twisted He picked up the glass. He stared into the semblance of a* smile. into it. There seemed to be a sizzling "I am called Taro Vargh. I repre- in the liquid, as if it were strangely sent the Martian government in Out- alive. Felix wondered fearfully if he land Port. I am here on business." would still be alive after he drank it. Felix stared puzzledly at the Mar- Across from him Taro Vargh raised tian. His glance strayed over to the the bottle to his lips and took a long door where the other Martian stood, a gulp. He lowered the bottle to the ta- wicked looking gun leveled straight at ble and wiped his mouth appreciatively. Felix. Felix stifled his qualms and followed "What the devil is this all about?" suit. —

158 AMAZING STORIES

His head nearly hit the ceiling. steadily upon him. The glass clattered from Felix Mur- "What's the matter, Murphy, you're phy's hand and shattered on the floor. trembling."

But Felix wasn't aware of it. He was The words hit Felix and brought him burning up. Or so it seemed. He back to reality. He glared into the coughed. His face turned red. He smiling face of Taro Vargh. The Mar- choked. His face turned blue. There tian was standing beside the desk now, was an inferno raging in his throat. It and he proferred the bottle. felt as if somebody had stuck a blow- "Will you have another drink?" torch into his mouth and was trying to Felix shuddered. "These—these oth- cauterize his stomach. Tears rolled in ers! " he stammered. " Where did they twin streams down Felix's face. come from? I didn't see them be- ." Then the agony passed. Through fore. . . blurred eyes Felix saw the grinning face "Exactly." Vargh's voice was crisp. of Taro Vargh. Felix gasped hoarsely. "You didn't see them, and yet they "What the hell was that stuff!" have been here all the time." There was a roaring buzz in Felix's ears but he heard the Martian reply. pELIX stared at the faces around "A very special brand of Martian him. They were evil. They were rwil Mr. Murphy. It is reserved for vicious. There was something death- the Martian warriors." like in the way they continued to grin The buzzing faded. But another at him. He heard Vargh speaking. sound took its place. The sound of "These warriors were killed in past high pitched laughter. Waves of laugh- battles with your Earthmen. But their ter. Felix rubbed the tears from his spirits cannot rest until they have taken eyes and looked vengeance upon the invader who has Into dozens of green fish-eyed faces. stolen their planet. We Martians are They were standing in various parts an old race. Our science is based on of the room, singly and in bunches. different principles from that of yours. Their glassy eyes were fastened unwav- We' have secrets of life and death you eringly on Felix. They all wore mili- will never know. The zwil you drank tary uniforms and seemed ready to go is one of these. By drinking it you are into action at the slightest provocation. now visible to them and to their ven- Felix stared terrified. His mouth geance—as all this city will be before dropped open and his eyes bulged. He morning!" began to back away, his knees shaking A shout went up from the milling as he shoved the chair behind him. Martians. Something sharp in the center of his "God!" whispered Felix, and covered back stopped him. He turned to stare his face in his hands. He breathed a into a grinning evil face. Not to men- prayer before he took his hands away tion the glittering barrel of a gun that from his face. But they were still there, was leveled at his stomach. Felix staring at him. They had even moved twisted away feeling very sick. He closer. Felix quailed before them and shook his head numbly and stared back Vargh's final words echoed in his mind: at the desk. But they were still there. —as all this city will be before morn-

Dozens of Martians. Big husky Mar- ing. . . . tians. Grinning Martians. Laughing "What do you mean?" Felix man- Martians. Their fish-like eyes fixed aged to gasp out. "

PERIL FROM THE OUTLANDS

The smile faded from Vargh's green "You feel pretty secure as long as fish-like features. you have an Earthman outnumbered, "I mean that I have waited patiently don't you Vargh!" he sneered. for you, Mr. Murphy. It has taken me The Martian's face twisted angrily. many weeks for this moment. Tellus "The Martians fear nothing!" he City is wrapped in a blackout. You shrilled. "We ruled Mars for ages be- work at the Polar Water Works. You fore you earth dogs came—and we will are the night supervisor. You are going rule it again! We will wipe your race to take us there." from our planet—just as we will do in Felix stared bewilderedly. "I don't Tellus City tonight!" He puffed his understand," he faltered. "What do face arrogantly. "But I have wasted you want at the water works?" enough time. We will leave here now. Vargh laughed harshly. "In the rear I have the rocket van waiting in the of this warehouse there is a rocket van. rear. You will take us to the Water In that van is loaded a supply of Mar- Works. You will get us inside. One tian zml. That zwil will be mixed with false move and you will die I" the drinking water of Tellus City. The There was no mistaking the murder-

water that is piped from the polar cap. ous intent behind those words. Felix By tomorrow the populace will drink felt his spine tingle. Vargh turned to of that water. When they do, the Mar- the milling Martians and spoke in the tian warriors will be visible to all of harsh ancient Martian dialect. Tellus City. Your earth science can- They flung Felix aside in a rushing not cope with this weapon. They will surge for the door of the room. Felix die by the thousands before they know toppled against the desk and glared what has happened. And the city will after them. Vargh stood quietly by, be at the mercy of the Outlands ! waiting. There was a gun in his hand The shouts filled the room as the as he motioned Felix toward the door. Martians glared triumphantly. Felix went. And as he went he felt his Felix was deafened by the noise and courage slipping. There was no way he glanced around fearfully as they be- he could possibly stop them alone—and

gan to close in on him. Some of them the irony of it all ! He had asked for had long steel knives slung at their responsibility; now the entire Water belts. Most of them became suddenly System, the whole might of Tellus City unslung in a whirling flash that seemed rested on his shoulders. And he didn't to come within a hair's breath of slicing like the weight. He shuddered as he his throat. Horror filled Felix's eyes. envisioned a peaceful city raising count- One of the Martians pointed scornfully less glasses of water to drink—of death. at Felix and sneered: He saw Martians pouring over Tellus "You are like all Earthmen when you City. He saw panic, destruction, blood face death—a coward!" and death. He saw thousands of grin- That did it. Felix Murphy, his face ning fish-eyed faces brought to life by and lips trembling with rage felt a surge a science older than Earth itself. What of uncontrollable anger sweep through could he do? him. A coward! So they thought he was a coward—sure they had all the ""J^HE rocket van shot away into the odds on their side—fifty to one. But night. Silence hung over Tellus Felix knew at that moment he wasn't City like a pall of doom. A fate worse afraid. Even if he had to die. than doom rode with the loaded van as —

160 AMAZING STORIES it shot along the deserted thoroughfares it began to open. Felix could hear on the edge of the city. Taro Vargh Vargh muttering beside him. Then the was at the controls. The hiss of the van shot through the opening and past power tubes was the only break in the Charlie in his watch tower. Felix felt silence. Felix Murphy sat tense and his last hope sink. watchful beside Vargh. He saw the last They moved along a curving metal fringes of the city vanish behind them driveway, passing around a corner of and they were rushing out across a the sprawling building. Vargh's voice barren plain. cut through the darkness. Felix prayed for a detachment of the "We will use the rear entrance. Earthguard. He prayed for even a Where is it?" lowly patrol car. He pleaded for a sin- Felix sighed wearily and pointed off gle Earthman. But there was nobody. to the left. Vargh cut the van sharply Nothing but a barren plain and Tellus and the faint light of Phobos revealed City behind. Overhead, Phobos shed a long platform and a vertical steel an eerie light down on Mars. Felix door in the side of the building. Vargh wondered if there were Martian gods whipped the rocket van around and up there laughing at him. backed it slowly against the platform. Ahead, in the dim glow of Phobos He cut the power. loomed a huge sprawling shadow. It "We will go inside, Mr. Murphy. was the Polar Water Works. Felix You shall lead us directly to the main could dimly make out long snaky pipe- water outlet. Do riot try to signal any- lines that stretched off into the dark- body. I will gladly kill you!" ness of the plain. The rocket van ap- Felix nodded sullenly in the dark and proached swiftly. A towering wall shot they piled out of the van. Around him, at them, enclosing the huge plant. Felix heard the rest of the Martians Vargh maneuvered the van around the muttering. Something hard jabbed into wall. He stopped before a towering his back and he scurried forward. steel gate. Vargh was close at his heels. A voice called out in the darkness. The steel door slid up soundlessly. "Hey, don't you know the plant's But then Felix knew it wouldn't have closed for the night? Get that freight mattered. There was nobody else on car out of here!" duty in the building at night. It was Beside Felix, Vargh whispered sav- Felix's job to see that nothing went agely, "Remember, one false move and wrong. you die!" Felix gulped. "It's me, Charlie TNSIDE, a soft light threw shadows Felix Murphy." along the walls. The light came The voice called out again. "Oh, I from small radiant globes set high in

didn't know it was you, Murphy. What the ceiling. Massive dynamos whirred the hell are you doing in that crate?" eerily around them. The sound was Felix had to think fast. Especially like a distant buzzing. Felix glanced when he felt cold steel caressing his quickly behind him. His heart sank. Adam's apple. "My strato car broke The Martians were filing in and cutting down in town, Charlie. I borrowed off his only possible means of escape. this thing to get to work." Vargh was tense. There was a moment of silence on "Quick! Where is the main outlet!" the other side of the gate. Then slowly Felix led the way around a maze of " "

PERIL FROM THE OUTtANDS 161

pumps and huge cylindrical piping. revealing a large aperture in the pipe. They passed towering dynamos and Vargh was nodding eagerly. atomics and entered a large chamber. Felix's face was a grave mask of de- The center of the room was barren, but feat as he watched the amber liquid the sides were a tangled maze of valves being emptied into the rushing stream

and pipes. Spidery steel catwalks rose of water. He saw it pour in, drum after

against the walls. Felix stared for a drum, and knew it was beyond his long moment at the valves and felt an- power to stop them now. other sharp jab in his back. "Soon all of Tellus City will be at "It's over there," he said angrily. our mercy!" Vargh was glowing with Vargh followed his gaze. triumph. "I have waited years for this "Which one?" the Martian's voice moment! All Martians have waited. was eager. You are doomed!" Felix walked slowly across the room Felix was nearly crying with rage. to a huge wheel-like valve in the center Vargh laughed at him. of the pipe system. He pointed to it. "You Earthmen are all alike—weak "That's it." and stupid. You can only boast. We Vargh looked for a long moment at Martians use our age-old science to Felix. When he spoke, his voice was a rule!

sibilant hiss. The zutstt was gone. All that re- "You had better not be lying to me! mained was a pile of emptied metal he said. drums. Felix looked at Vargh and felt For the first time Felix noticed the a shudder go through him. His useful- object Vargh held in his left hand. It ness was gone now. They would kill small was a black globe of . . steel with him—and in the morning . a long lever running down its side with "Show me the control center," Vargh a silver band holding it taut against the rasped suddenly. He hefted the atomic

outside casing. Felix stared at it. bomb in his hand. "What's that?" he asked fearfully. Felix shrugged resignedly and pointed The Martian grinned, his fishy eyes across the sprawling chamber. He led

wide and scornful. "That is a small Vargh across it. atomic bomb. After I have finished r my work I am going to destroy the con- J"'HEY were walking toward a large trol center. I will leave nothing to panel with dials and switches. Felix chance!" He whirled to the Martians glanced cautiously over his shoulder.

milling around behind him. The rest of the Martians were still A harsh jargon sped from his lips. standing around the open valve. Vargh The Martians nodded and began run- was looking straight ahead at the panel. ning across the chamber. Felix twisted sharply and smashed Felix watched helplessly while they his fist into that green fish-eyed face. carted in small metal ^drums and lined Dark blood spurted. Vargh staggered them up beside the valve. Vargh hack screaming. stepped over beside the wheel control On the other side of the room the and strained against it. It turned Martians heard the cry and jumped slowly at first, and then spun free. A forward. Felix saw the gleam of steel new sound grew. The sound of rush- in their hands. ing water, water rushing in a swift Felix ran toward the panel. He

forceful stream. The valve was open, ducked around behind it with Vargh, —

162 AMAZING STORIES his face streaming blood, hot on his tian's face and his teeth clamped over heels. Vargh's hand. The Martian let out a Vargh rounded the panel to meet cry of pain and released the blade. Felix's fist again. This time the Mar- Felix closed his fingers over the hilt. tian staggered and fell. The bomb His eyes were wild and victorious as he dropped from his fingers. saw the flash of fear in the Martian's There were sharp cries from the cen- eyes. ter of the room. The Martians were He rammed the blade deep into the running toward him. Felix grabbed green-skinned throat. the bomb and tore at the restraining A red surge welled up over Felix's silver band. It snapped and the lever hand. Vargh went limp beneath him. popped into the air. Felix swung his Felix crawled slowly from the Mar- arm back and tossed it around the steel tian's body. A great sickness seized panel. The bomb hurtled in a high arc him. He tried to get to his feet. His through the air. head was swimming. His arm was Felix hit the floor. numb. There was a buzzing in his head. It wasn't a moment too soon. A roaring buzz. Everything was roar- There was a blast. There was a ing. The whole world was roaring. blinding flame. Felix was lifted bodily Blackness closed over him like a off the floor and dropped again. The shroud. huge building shook. Then there was r silence. jpHERE were a lot of voices. There Felix crawled painfully to his knees were, in fact, a lot of people. Felix and peered around the edge of the con- became dimly aware of them. He trol panel. His mouth dropped open. opened his eyes. The center of the room was a big He was in a white room. More than hole. Wisps of smoke curled from the that, he was in bed. He was propped chasm. But there weren't any Mar- up against a pillow, his left arm ban- tians. A faint smile crossed Felix's daged securely to his side. A woman in lips. He had got them! white was smoothing the sheets around All but one. him. Taro Vargh hurled himself scream- What the hell! Felix thought. Is ing upon Felix's back. There was a this a hospital? What am I doing in a short gleaming knife in his upraised hospital? hand. His face was a smeared mask Other people came into his focus. of blood and teeth. Felix was knocked Faces were smiling down on him. Faces flat on his stomach. with long black cigars stuck in them. The movement saved him. Vargh Memory and recognition flooded back. was caught off balance and plunged There was the Water Syndicate Com- forward over Felix's head. Felix clawed missioner — the Council Chairman — upward, savagely, desperately. He men with televisor cameras—and caught the Martian's belt and twisted Something warm and soft was mov- sharply. Vargh slid sideways off his ing on the bed beside him. back and then Felix was on top of him "Maribelle!" Felix gasped. grabbing desperately for the knife. "Oh, Felix!" she cried and threw her- The blade caught Felix in the shoul- self upon him. Felix felt his head der. There was a numb feeling in his swimming again. Only this time it was arm. He smashed savagely at the Mar- from the closeness of the girl as she "

PERIL FROM THE OUTLANDS 163 twined her arms around his neck. Be- how one of our able citizens saved the hind them someone coughed loudly. A crucial water supply of Mars from de- nurse walked up and gently pulled struction at the hands of a fanatic Mar- Maribelle away. tian." He paused for a moment as The commissioner removed his cigar. someone handed him another sheet of "If my niece can only wait a few paper. Then he was talking again. minutes, I'll be through," he said "Flash! As a result of the attempt on gruffly. "Felix, that was a splendid the Polar Water Works last night the

thing you did last night. I want you Council, fearing it was the beginning to know that the Polar Syndicate and of an uprising in the Outlands, sent the all of Tellus City is proud of you. If it Earthguard fleet storming down on hadn't been for you that Martian might Outland Port. When they got there have caused untold sabotage to our they found the city in a panic of havoc vital water works." and destruction. Thousands of Mar- Felix frowned. "There were at least tians were running amuck through the fifty of them!" he protested. "They— streets killing each other in a wild were going to poison the city water frenzy. And the fleet found a well They all laughed. The Council equipped Martian task force ready for Chairman scoffed chidingly. "Come, an assault on Tellus City. come, Murphy. There was only one "The authorities are baffled at the Martian, though a dangerous one at turn of events in Outland Port. There that; we've been after him for a long is no logical reason obtainable for the time. And I can assure you the water mass self-destruction of the Martians isn't poisoned in any manner of form. at a time when it seemed they were But, as the Commissioner has said, ready to take the offensive against Tel- we're all proud of you. You've shown lus City. We'll try to have more in- ." that you can handle responsibility formation this for . — — on you later on. . and " he coughed "we have a nice The voice droned on. Voices in the position waiting for you on the en- room grew in a mounting babble. gineering staff. You are a credit to But Felix didn't hear them. He set- Tellus City!" tled back against his pillow and a rest- Felix had been looking at them be- ful sigh escaped him. He had shown wilderedly. There had been over fifty them that he was capable of handling of them—he had gotten them with the a responsible job. Even more so than bomb. . . . they knew. He was thinking of the Maribelle pushed her way back to Water Works. He was thinking of the the bed. She had a small telecaster in Martians pouring the strange zwil into her hand. She plugged it into the wall. the open valve. "Oh, Felix, I'm really proud of you," Felix was thinking about that valve. she said, smiling. "The televisors are For the valve he opened was the main full of reports about you. Listen!" water outlet from the polar cap to Out- She twisted a dial. There was a land Port! sharp hum and a flickering on the The authorities were baffled. But screen. Then a man's head appeared Felix wasn't. He knew! on the plate. He was talking in crisp, "How about a drink, Maribelle, staccato sentences. huh?" he said wistfully. "And that, people of Tellus City is She beamed at him. THE END 'Fits you poifect in the frontl" 164 I'll Be Fleeced By BERKELEY LIVINGSTON

When Jason got the Golden Fleece

he didn't dream what trouble it would

mean to Stumpy Reed many centuries later!

BUT look," Big Louie said, "how "Sure, sure," said Big Louie, "we got nice it fits." more. But tell me, what's wrong with "Sure," echoed Little Louie, this coat?"

"and think how warm it'll be." "Wel-1," replied the farmer, "it's the They stood to either side of the color. Ain't never seen one this color farmer in front of the mirror and looked before. Wouldn't mind if it were on the admiringly at him. The only expression inside. But shucks, gents, I'd scare my on the farmer's face was disgust. The milk cows dry, wearin' this thing." reason for his disgust was all too ap- Big Louie sighed. Little Louie played parent. He was wearing it! echo. That cursed coat! They'd had Big and Little Louie were brothers, it for five years, and it seemed they were partners in the second-hand clothing never going to sell it. business their father had left them on It was just an ordinary sheepskin his death. Little Louie's name was coat. It had a front and lining of fleece. really Sam. But he had been called It looked as though it would keep a man Little Louie for so many years, his given warm, on the coldest day. If only the name was almost forgotten by him. In color were different. The farmer was looks they were alike, except that Big speaking again: Louie was what his name implied: a big "Nope! The color! Never seen such man, fat by nature and by appetite. an ugly yellow. My wife'd throw me Little Louie was just that. Little, thin out, she sees the color. Sorry, but I'm by nature and by appetite. Yet people gonna look elsewhere." instantly noticed their kinship. Big Louie, the coat draped over his This farmer they were both waiting arm watched the overalled figure go out on, had come in ten minutes before, ask- the door. ing for a sheepskin coat. And for ten "Blast it anyway!" he said savagely. minutes they had been trying to sell "I'm gettin' rid of this thing. I'm gonna him the coat he was so critically apprais- give it away. See if I don't." ing in the mirror. "Now take it easy," cautioned Little "Now look, gents," he said stubborn- Louie. "Who knows? Maybe some- ly, "I don't like it! Blast it! Ain't day some guy'll walk in here who's color you got nothin' else in this place but blind." this thing?" "Well, if he ain't color blind, he will 165 166 AMAZING STORIES

be when he sees this coat," Big Louie made his way to the office. A small groaned, as he hung it up. electric bulb illuminated the interior and Everybody around the corner of showed him the old-fashioned cast iron Clark and Van Buren knew about that safe in a corner of the room. coat. More than once Big Louie had Stumpy knelt by the safe and began

actually tried to give it away. But no to twist the dial. one, not even the most ragged bum who "Six-right, eighteen-left, four-right, hung around Moe's Mansion, could be three-right and back to zero," he said dial. the induced to wear it. But somehow, as aloud as he twisted the At much as they wanted to get rid of it, word "zero," the door swung open. He they always had hope someone would smiled to himself, nodded in satisfac- be insane enough to buy it. tion and closed the door again. "Six-right, eighteen-left, four-right, 'CTUMPY' REED looked cold. three-right and back to zero," he re- peated the formula. Again it proved Stumpy was cold ! So were the few people who passed him as he stood shiv- the "open sesame." operation a half- ering on the corner of Clark and Van He repeated the Buren. dozen more times and took a rest. Al- "Ain't this hell?" he grumbled to the ready he was feeling warmer. a hell of a way to keep warm," empty, frigid air. "No place to flop. "What "Opening and And my luck, the weather drops to zero. he ruminated sadly. all night long. Oh, well, But that's me: no luck in anything." closing a safe might run into He drew the jacket which served as who knows? Someday I little dough in it." an overcoat, tighter to his gaunt frame. a safe what's got a fingers were no longer cold. Nim- But the wind, sharp as a razor and much His their sensitive tips twisted the dial colder, made the gesture a futile one. bly again. was the sound of the safe It was that time of morning when There another sound. some of the cheap taverns and beaner- door opening—and coming into the laundry ies on the street were closing for the Someone was through the back door. Quickly he stood night, yet still too early for the others and flicked the light switch off. A to open. Reed sighed in helpless weari- up of light came drifting ness. His gaunt, furrowed features re- narrow beam floor. It was the night flected the misery he felt. across the didn't think the Across Clark Street, the illuminated watchman. Stumpy would believe him if he said clock in the window of Harry's Hand watchman

to . keep Laundry read three-thirty. Stumpy he was only opening the safe was reminded of something. He knew warm. lifted the trap door which led to how to get warm. He Harry shared a common He shuffled across Clark and down the basement. basement with Big Louie, whose place Van Buren till he reached the alley in the laundry. Usually the middle of the block. Turning down was next door to made his way into Big Louie's the alley, he counted off four doorways. Stumpy the back into the alley. But The fifth was the back door to the and out changed the routine. laundry. tonight he Stumpy had been there before. He "It's too damned cold!" he muttered. about the dimly lit con- knew how to open it. Even with fingers He looked freezing from cold, it took him but a fines of the second-hand shop. He had minute and he was inside. Quickly he seen it before, both by day and by I'LL BE FLEECED 16T

night. Strangely enough, in spite of his brought tie disk up dose to his face. practice of opening safes, Stumpy was "Seems like a ship," he murmured. inherently honest. He just didn't like "Yep. That's what it is—a ship."

to work, that was all. The light seemed to have grown sud- He started to walk to the rear and denly dimmer. His eyes were tired of paused at the rack where the yellow looking at the disk. It seemed as sheepskin coat was hanging. His fin- though the ship was moving. He closed gers moved across the soft yellow fleece his eyes in a sudden spell of dizziness. caressingly. And then the coat was on The world seemed to be revolving his back. He stood before the triple around his park bench. He had that mirror and admired its effect—and gone feeling in his stomach as if he were warmth. It was a secret luxury Stumpy on a swiftly falling elevator. The bench had indulged in for several years. He swayed and rocked — swayed and knew that his cronies would have made rocked—and Stumpy opened his eyes. life miserable for him had they known "Ow," he groaned. "My head. I'm of his love for that coat. dizzy. Stop the elevator!" Suddenly he made a decision. With "What did Jason say?" a voice asked. determined strides he made for the rear door. It closed behind him—and he gTUMPY looked up into the yellow-

was still wearing the fleece coat. bearded face above him and fell "Big Louie's always wanted to get rid backward with a crash. of this coat," he thought grimly. "So "Hey!" he yelled, as he stood up, I'm making his wish come true." "where am I?" Yellow-beard laughed heartily, J_IE WALKED over to Grant Park. pounding his mail-clad chest as he did It had started to snow and Stumpy so. turned the collar up around his neck. "So the wine was too much for Jason! The coat sent a fine feeling of warmth He has fogotten his ship, the Argo, and through his whole body. his boon companion, Hercules." He found a dry bench under a lamp Stumpy looked about him wonder- and sat down, thrusting his hands into ingly. He was on a ship! Not far off the pockets of his new coat for warmth. he could see the rocky headland toward The fingers of his right hand closed which the ship was moving. A number about the smooth surface of a metal of sailors dressed only in breech clouts disk. It was caught between the lining were busy trimming the sails and pre- of the pocket and the inner cloth. paring for the ending of the voyage. Stumpy looked at the disk curiously. Three young men sat about a wine

Round in shape, it was the size of a half- barrel, arguing among themselves. dollar. There was a perforation at the "See," said Hercules, lifting Stumpy top and bottom of the disk. Stumpy from the bench as easily as if he were a held it so the metal would get all the fly, "Orpheus still argues with Castor light of the lamp above. Then he no- and Pollux. They will come to blows ticed the characters engraved on the soon if you do not set them a'-right." disk. He fairly dragged Stumpy before the He couldn't quite make tiem out. He three around the wine barrel. bent his head closer and twisted the disk "Here," said Hercules, "is the hero about, attempting to make out the himself. Ask him." barely decipherable characters. He "Yes, Jason," said one in an almost 168 AMAZING STORIES

feminine voice, "tell us how many sol- J^S THE four friends started to leave diers you slew. Were there not two they noticed Jason wasn't with hundred and seventy there?" them. They turned and saw he was at "Hold, Orpheus! " cried the other two the prow of the ship. He was removing

in unison. "You are putting a number the fleece from the wood on which it in his mind. It is not fair." was nailed. They waited until he re- Stumpy grinned weakly at the four joined them. faces and said the first number that He answered their unspoken ques- came to his mind. tion:

"Six hundred and eight." "Well, it's mine, isn't it?" he said with "Six hundred and eight," said Her- some asperity. cules, awe in his voice. "By my beard They hastened to assure him. but I would be proud to slay so many "Of course, Jason. No one can deny myself." your right to it." Incredulity and disbelief were in their At sight of Jason bearing the Golden eyes. Fleece, a tremendous cheer went up. "Oh come now, Jason. There weren't The people surged forward to touch or

that many!" said Orpheus. to see it at close hand. "Yep," reiterated Stumpy. "Six hun- Hercules put him down on the cObble- dred and eight." stoned street.

"Even if he saw double, there weren't "Where to now, Jason?" that many," said Castor to himself. Stumpy, the fleece held tightly in the Aloud he said: crook of his arm, looked inanely up into "And I suppose the bulls were twenty the laughing eyes. in number?" "To sip more wine, I suppose? At "Wel-1," Stumpy hedged, wondering the Golden Boar, eh?" Hercules' head what this was all about. How had he got- gestured toward the entrance to a near- ten here, and how was he going to get by inn. back? Stumpy looked in the direction indi- A shout from one of the sailors saved cated and saw a man stagger up a low Stumpy from further answers. flight of stone steps leading into the "Land ho!" the sailor shouted. He saloon. A sign showing a golden boar was at the prow of the ship. The five hung over the steps. men looked in his direction—and "Yeah," said Stumpy, as he started Stumpy felt his jaw drop. His beautiful, for the inn, "I could use a drink." yellow-fleece coat was nailed to the Hercules laughed and strode after

prow of the ship. That is, just the fleece the others, who were on their way to the itself was nailed there. What had hap- center of the city where the inns were pened to the rest of the garment was more elaborate and the wine of a better another question he'd like very much vintage. to have answered. The interior of the inn Stumpy en- The Argo and its crew of heroes had tered was full of gloom, smell and noise. come back home. There were several A villainous looking waiter who was hundred people on the long pier, waiting badly in need of a shave, came up to to welcome Jason and his friends. A Stumpy, after he sat down at a small cheer went up as the ship dropped an- rough-hewn table, and stood glowering chor and the landing plank touched the down at him. pier. Stumpy, just getting out of the daze I'LL BE FLEECED he had been in, was examining his under his arm? He killed a thousand clothes with interest. Around his chest men for it. And a fire-breathing drag- was a heavy suit of mail, made of steel on, tool" disks overlapping each other to make a The other murmured an admiring closely woven metal garment. Beneath comment. that he wore a sort of nightgown which Stumpy wondered who this Jason was came to his knees. Sandals were on his they were talking about. Then he real- feet. A short sword in a scabbard hung ized they were looking at him. It was from a belt around his waist. A pouch about him, Stumpy, they were talking! swung heavily from the belt. Well ! So he had killed a thousand men Stumpy pulled the pouch from the —and a fire-eating dragon! belt and emptied it on the table. He "Hey, waiter!" he shouted suddenly. gasped in delight at the golden shower "Well ! " growled the waiter, when he which lay sparkling up at him. His gasp arrived. was echoed by the waiter: "Is this rat poison the only stuff ya' "Gold! Enough to buy a thousand got here?" Stumpy asked gruffly. slave girls!" "What's the matter, pretty boy? Stumpy looked up in sudden alarm. Don't ya' like it?" He didn't like the looks of what he saw. Stumpy fumbled at the sword for a

Neither the avarice in the waiter's eyes second, then it came free from the nor the way he was fingering the knife scabbard. He banged on the table

stuck in his belt. He became aware, too, with it. of his surroundings and the people. "No!" shouted Stumpy. "I don't!" Sailors, a few warriors and the usual The waiter, seeing Stumpy pulling at scum of a waterfront. Stumpy licked his sword, stepped back a few steps suddenly dry lips. and whipped out his knife. He went "Ha ha," he laughed hollowly, as he into a cat-like crouch and began to raked the coins back into the pouch. circle the table. "Yes, I guess I can get a drink, can't Stumpy gulped in consternation. He I?" had expected the waiter to beg for

The waiter regarded the pouch with mercy, not make a fight of it. His hungry eyes. chair clattered to the floor, as he hastily "Sure," he said. "Enough to get you got to his feet. If he could only get to drunk—and soon, I hope." the door before the waiter got to him. But before he could move, the two r , HE waiter returned bearing an sailors who had been talking about him, J~ earthenware cup. Stumpy tasted had grabbed hold of the waiter. its contents and almost spat the sour "Hold, man!" one of them said warn- wine out. He managed to get it down, ingly. "Do you seek death?" however, and ordered another. Two "Out of my way!" yelled the waiter sailors at a table only a few feet from twisting savagely about in his efforts his, kept looking at him. He became to get free. "I'll slit his throat from ear aware of their interest and of what they to ear!" were saying. "After Jason's sword makes a bloody "So that is Jason?" one asked. stump of your neck, you fool?" the "Yes," replied the other. "Doesn't other sailor asked derisively. look like much, does he? But I saw him The waiter stopped his struggling. do wondrous things. See that fleece He looked wonderingly from one face "

170 AMAZING STORIES to another. "Sshtrong?" mumbled Stumpy, as he

"That—is Jason?" he gasped. swayed in the waiter's arms. "Not too "Can't you see the fleece he carries? shtrong for Sshtumpy Jashon who

It is the Golden Fleece!" knocked off two thousand guysh an' a "Yes, I see." He shrugged his shoul- couple of fire-eatin' dragonsh." ders and the sailors released him. "I He staggered away from the waiter thought heroes looked otherwise," he and headed for the stairs and almost commented sadly and came back to fell as the scabbarded sword swung be- Stumpy. tween his legs. "My mistake, Master," he said in "Master, master," the waiter was at apology. "I did not recognize you as his side, "you have forgotten. Pay- Jason." ment for the drinks." " 'S all right, pal," said Stumpy. He "H'm. Sho I did. Sho I did. Fig- picked up the chair and sat down again. gered I wash back at Sharleysh. 'Scuse "Now bring me the best in the house. me. Here—" he dipped into the pouch And some for my friends here." He and pulled out several of the gold motioned for the two sailors to join him. pieces, thrust them into the man's hand " "And waiter —"keep the shange." "Yes sir?" The waiter bowed so low his forehead "Have a drink on me." almost scraped the floor. "Thank you, sir." Stumpy's exaggerated gesture of dis- missal almost dumped him on his ear. ^HE wine was better this time. The Again the waiter came to his rescue. the stairs. Night sailors, under the influence of the He helped him up , wine and Stumpy's sly promptings, told had fallen. Here and there lights or him all about this Jason. glowed through the chinks in doors "H'm," said Stumpy to himself, "this gleamed golden through windows. makes me out to be pretty big stuff Stumpy stared drunkenly about him. around here. Looks like local yokel The waiter, one arm around Stumpy made good. Maybe I can cash in on holding him erect, was solicitous. the gravy train." "Where to, Master? Shall I call a At the tenth round of drinks Stumpy litter?"

wondered why it took two waiters to "Huh?" serve five people. At the fifteenth "Do you wish to go home, Master?" round, he looked Wearily across the "Wha' for? I got dough 'n— table. The two sailors had called a Stumpy's knees suddenly gave—"better halt to drinking and were both asleep. ge' me to a hotel." "The winner and shtill shampeen," The waiter looked around and spot- Stumpy said woozily as he got to his ting two litter bearers close by, called to feet. He swayed drunkenly and felt a them. pair of arms take hold of him. He "Take this drunk to some inn where started to turn and almost fell down. he can sleep off his wine," he said to

He finally made it by using the table them. When they turned the corner as a support. His wavering glance came of the street, the waiter opened his to rest on the person in front of him. clenched fist. The three gold pieces It was the waiter. Stumpy had given him were suddenly "Steady, Master," he said, holding fifteen in number. He grinned slyly to Stumpy erect. "The wine is strong, eh?" himself. It had been a profitable busi- "

I'LL BE FLEECED 171 ness, helping the drunken man. in which to move.

. . . Stumpy opened his eyes and Stumpy saw Oelus move backward looked about him. He was lying in a and realized the reason. bed in a large square room. Sunlight "Never mind that," he said. "Where's streamed through an open window. there a tailor in this burg?" Stumpy sat up and the room became "A—a tailor?" a whirling box of which he was the "Yes, yes,. A tailor." center. He put his hands up to his "Not far. Only two houses removed." face and moaned: "Thanks." Stumpy started for the

"Oww! What a dream I What a door. drunk dream that was] "Wait! Payment please! For your

And then he was sober. Instantly I lodgings." He looked wildly about him. It wasn't Stumpy stopped and dug into his a dream. The corselet of armor on the pouch. A startled look came into his floor. The belt with its scabbarded eyes, as he pulled out a gold piece and sword. This room. He wasn't back in gave it to Oelus. There had been many Moe's Mansion. more gold coins in the pouch than he His fingers, resting on the bed, felt a had now. silky, curly cloth. He looked down and "I'll be damned," he whispered. saw the Golden Fleece and remembered "Strong-armed 1 And in a fly joint like all that had happened to him. Slow, that." painfully, with a great many moans, Oelus stared at the old piece, as he dressed himself. . . . though he couldn't believe his eyes. "Gold!" There was awe in his voice. QELUS, "the One-Eyed," looked up. "But where can I change this?" His one eye blinked in startled Stumpy, hot in anger, didn't hear disbelief at what he saw. A warrior con- him. He walked out into tie street and fronted him, but such a warrior as he straight into trouble. His sword had never seen before—and hoped swinging between his legs made him never to see again. The man had stumble. He crashed with a jolt into buckled on his chest armor backward. a passing soldier, sending the other The short sword, which should have reeling. hung straight and clean at his side, hung The soldier recovered his balance and suspended between his legs. Under his came charging up to Stumpy. arm he carried a golden-colored fleece. "You clumsy fool!" he raged. "What There was a look of abject misery on the did you mean by that?" warrior's face. "Aah, shut up!" yelled Stumpy still "Look, mister," Stumpy whined, angry with himself over being clipped. "Can you tell me where I am?" "You say that to me? To Porto, who Oelus scratched his hair reflectively. has slain lions with his bare hands?" Of course, this man had been drunk the demanded the soldier. He looked night before. But this was a new day. strangely bewildered; as if Stumpy had Still, it was a fair question. confounded him with his daring. "You are at the inn of Oelus, the one- "So what! I've knocked off three eye," Oelus answered. thousand guys, ten bulls and Sve fire-

"Yeah. But what town is this?" eating dragons," Stumpy retorted. Oelus took several steps backward. "Then there will be a great honor in If this man were mad, he wanted room taking your life," Porto said cheerfully, AMAZING STORIES as he drew his sword. Porto's corpse with lively curiosity. "Whose the mug?" he asked. 'P'HERE was no escape for Stumpy "Said his name was Porto," Stumpy this time. A crowd had gathered, whispered. attracted by the shouted boasts. They The sailor whistled in surprise. hemmed the two in closely. Stumpy "Not the guy who kills lions with his saw there was no retreat, so he went for bare hands?" his sword also. But he had buckled "That's what he said," Stumpy as- his belt badly. No sooner did his fingers sured him. touch the sword hilt, than belt and all "H'm! You're sure handy with that fell to the street. sticker, Jason," said the sailor. A gasp rose from the crowd. Stumpy basked in the glow of the "Ooh!" groaned Stumpy as he bent other's admiration. to retrieve the sword. There was the "Oh, that wasn't so tough," he passed whisper of steel pasing over his head. his deed off lightly. "Shoulda' seen " Porto had swung his sword in a vicious what I did one night back in circle, which, had it connected would "Look, Jason," the sailor inter- have decapitated Stumpy. But Stumpy rupted. "I wonder if you'll do me a had stooped just as Porto swung and favor?" the sword found only air for its mark. "Sure, kid. What?" Stumpy hastily pulled the sword free, "Well, I've got some friends, see? stood erect—and slipped on a wet Heard about you, but never seen you. cobble-stone. He stuck out his arm to Well—I was sort of bragging you were recover balance. And Porto, losing his a friend of mine and they—ah—well, balance at the end of his swing, fell they said I was lying, more or less. So forward against Stumpy's arm. It was if you would come down to this place " the arm which had picked up the sword. with me and they saw us together The crowd didn't know Stumpy had "Why, sure thing, fellow. Where's slipped. They saw Stumpy apparently the joint at?" step forward, the sword held straight "The Golden Boar. You remember out in front of him, and thrust it into last night?" Porto's throat. A cheer went up, as "Yehl So I do. I'd like to see that Porto gurgled once and fell face for- waiter again, anyway," said Stumpy re- ward on the cobble-stones. Then they flectively. dispersed and went about their busi- r A HERE was a larger crowd at the ness, as though such fights were an J every-day occurrence. Golden Boar than on the night be- Stumpy looked at the dead body at fore. The lone waiter was kept busy his feet and shuddered. When he saw running from table to table. Stumpy the blood still dripping from the sword and his friend managed to find one point, he almost fainted. The sight of near the door. As though their arrival blood had always affected him thus. was a signal, half a dozen sailors at a

"Well, weU! If it isn't Jason. At it nearby table left their seats and came again, eh, man?" over to join Stumpy. Stumpy turned a sickly look in the Stumpy, still in the golden glow of his voice's direction. It was one of the two new-found prosperity, invited them all sailors with whom he'd been drinking to have a drink. the night before. The sailor stared at "Look, bud," said Stumpy to the —

I'LL BE FLEECED 173

waiter, when he brought the drinks, had subsided enough for him to speak. "who give me the strong-arm last "It is our hero of the Golden Fleece. night?" And he wishes a coat made of it. Old The waiter looked blank. Irios will oblige—aye, and make a "You know: the muscle—the roll prophecy too. Whosoever shall com- Listen stupid! Who robbed me?" plete the wearing of this coat for forty "Master!" The waiter was injured days and nights, shall have naught but innocence. "You were robbed? Oh! It good luck befall him from then on." prophecies; must have been the litter bearers I I "Never mind your Jason knew I should have come along." but wants a coat. So best get busy, old Stumpy looked his disbelief but knew loon, else your days become shortened he could prove nothing. Besides, his to seconds." companions were begging to hear of his The old man cackled his appreciation exploits. Before the day was done, of the other's wit and began to sew. Stumpy had killed thousands of sol- His sewing was a wonderful thing to diers, hundreds of fire-eating dragons watch. The coat was ready in an hour and had even confessed it was he who and it fit perfectly. That, in spite of had committed the Saint Valentine's the fact he hadn't even tried on the gar- day murders. The last drew only blank ment for a fit. He handed the coat to stares. He was launched, for the tenth Stumpy with a flourish, saying: time, on another exploit having to do "Here, mighty Jason, is a coat fit for with dragons, bulls and soldiers, when a king. Wear it for forty days and one of the sailors noticed the fleece for nights. Else you will need a coat of

the first time. another material. And the leather from "Is that the Golden Fleece?" he the skin of an ass makes for poor com- asked in accents of awe. fort." Stumpy was beginning to feel the wine. The mention of the fleece brought CTUMPY tossed him a gold piece, something to his mind. Tears began to not noticing how few there were course down his cheeks. left in the pouch. Then the group re- "Yesh," he said dolefully, "thish ish turned to the Golden Boar to cele-

it. An' it wash such a beautiful coat! brate Stumpy's new coat. Now look at it! Jush a rag—thash all Stumpy celebrated many times in the jush a rag." next month, and always at the Golden They did their best to bring him Boar. He learned the value of the back to good humor, but all he could gold pieces and husbanded them care- say was: fully. But despite his caution, a few "Jush a rag—thash all!" goblets of wine would make him drunk Then one of his guests hit on an idea. enough to buy some one a drink. Espe-

"How simple is the solution! Jason cially if the other showed a desire to desires a coat made of the fleece. listen to his boasting. There's a tailor nearby. Let us take In the beginning, Stumpy told his him there." tale with some regard for the truth. The tailor proved to be a wizened old But with each passing day he added man who smelled as musty as the old some new detail: more daring, heroic clothes he was sewing. He cackled in doing, until in the end the garment of laughter when he saw the fleece. truth was lost beneath the embroidery "So!" he said, when his mad laughter of lies. Soon, too, he began to find —

174 AMAZING STORIES fewer and fewer who would listen to around, I'll fix you up," his imaginary heroics. The waiter's hand pushed Stumpy He was sitting alone one day, deep back into his chair. in his wine and talking aloud to him- "So, the windbag has spent his gold, self. No one was paying any attention eh?" to him. Stumpy nodded his head. "So this guy comes at me, see," "But he forgot to leave enough to pay Stumpy recited his own praise with for his drinks," the waiter reminded gestures. He had his sword out and, him. as he told his tale, he acted it out at the "Well," said Stumpy vaguely, "you same time. "He comes at me and know how that is." wham! We're swinging with our swords. The waiter had only one idea and Well, this guy ain't no chicken. He's purpose. Stumpy was going to pay for a giant, see, with three heads and six his drinks. He pulled out his knife and arms. But does that scare me? Hell held the point against Stumpy's throat. no! I ducks the swords and gives 'em "Listen, hero," he said. "There is the my left hook, the same one Barney Ross shop of Big Cornus close by. He is a taught me. Only I got my trusty sticker money lender. That fine blade you in my meat hook. So he gets it—right carry should bring enough to pay for in the neck. And that ended that 1 " He these drinks, and your chest armor finished his tale while lying across the should bring even more. Go! And do table where his last imaginary blow had not forget to return. Else I'll come to sent him sprawling. look for you." "Aah, shut upl" a voice bawled. Stumpy understood.

Stumpy looked up and saw it was his sailor friend. TT WAS a dingy, dusty place, the "Hey," he called, "c'mon over and pawnshop of Big Cornus. Stumpy have a drink." looked at the silks and furs strewn The sailor gave an early Greek ver- about. In one corner was a small hill sion of the Bronx cheer. of chest armor. In another, leg armor Stumpy sadly ruminated that "nobody lay neatly stacked. A little man with a loves me no more." He pulled the flustered, bird-like manner approached pouch from his belt and a look of horror him. came to his eyes. The pouch was empty. "Yes, yes, what can I do for you?" As though he had divined what had the little man said. happened, the waiter suddenly appeared "Why—uh—I'm looking for Big at Stumpy's side. Cornus," Stumpy began to explain. Stumpy looked up and grinned fool- "Well, I'm Little Cornus," the man ishly. broke in. "I'll do just as well."

"Hi, pal. Looks like I'll have to put He walked close to Stumpy and began the joint on the cuff," he said. to examine his armor and sword. The waiter grinned also. But there "Very nice," he said as he tapped and was no humor in his grin. He stuck out pulled at the armor. "Very nice. his hand, palm up. Stumpy knew what Damascus work on the sword. Good that meant: pay up! overlap on the disks. Give you two gold "Look, pal," he said wheedingly, "I pieces for the armor." just found out I got the shorts. No "Huh?" asked Stumpy dazedly. money, see? But the next time I'm "Well," the other replied grumpily, "

I'LL BE FLEECED 175

"if you think you can get more else- CTUMPY walked back to the Golden where, go ahead. But that's our limit, Boar, richer by two gold pieces. two gold pieces." "Man," he reflected sorrowfully, "the As though the sale was settled, he way those two guys acted made me wish began to unbuckle the armor. I was home on Clark and Van Buren "Wait a minute," yelled Stumpy. "I Streets. want to see Big Cornus, The waiter was waiting for him. "My brother. Give you same thing," Stumpy looked at the handful of coins the little man said. Then lifting his which the waiter gave him for his gold voice, he called, "Brother! Someone to piece. see you I "Is this all?" he asked. A mountain of a man stepped through "Yes!" the curtains that divided the rear of the "But " He stopped when he saw shop from the front. There was some- the waiter's hand reach for the ever- thing familiar about him. His slow, de- present knife. liberate walk. His slightly portruding "Okay, okay. Don't get excited," eyes. The way his lips worked, as if he he said hastily, as he made for the door. were chewing on a cud. Stumpy's eyes "A guy c'n ask, can't he?" lit up. Of course! Big Cornus looked Oelus stopped him, as he started up like Big Louie, just as Little Cornus re- the stairs to his room. sembled Louie's smaller brother. "Er—Jason," the innkeeper began. "Yes, Brother?" said the man-moun- "I think it is time your account was tain. settled. "He wants to talk to you. Thinks "What account?" Stumpy snarled. you'll give him a better price," said But Oelus was no longer frightened Little Cornus. by Stumpy's— manner. "And how much did you offer?" "We-ell " looking over the papyrus— "Two gold pieces." sheet on which he kept his record "ac- "It is enough! " said the big man and, cording to my figures, you owe for turning, went back through the cur- thirty-seven days' lodging." tained doorway. "Thirty-seven days!" yelled Stumpy, Stumpy stared, his face registering returning to confront Oelus. "How do his bewilderment. you figger that? What about that gold "You see. Two gold pieces. No piece I gave you the first day?" more," chortled Little Cornus as he be- "Didn't I offer you change? And gan again to unbuckle the armor. didn't you refuse?" Oelus reminded "Wait a minute," Stumpy begged, him. " trying to twist away from the little "Yes, but man. "I wanted to talk to your "There are no buts. I want my brother." money—now—else you must find other "You heard what he said, didn't lodgings."

you?" "Okay, you robber 1 How much?" "Ye-es." "One gold piece and eighteen drach-

"So what is there to talk about?" mas, Master," said Oelus. His one eye "Guess you're right," Stumpy sadly gleamed in anticipation when he saw admitted. "All right, take this steel Stumpy reach for the pouch. "After corset offa me and give me those gold all," he continued, "to one as wealthy " pieces." as Jason 176 AMAZING STORIES

"Save it," Stumpy said sarcastically down at the Golden Boar, see? I'm as he dumped the contents of the pouch kinda short; broke, in fact. Well, I'd on the counter. He had ten drachmas like to sort of put this in hock." He left, after paying the innkeeper. pointed to the fleece coat.

"What the hell," he grumbled to him- Suspicion still lurked in Big Cornus' self. "Might as well hock the sword. voice:

It ought to bring something." "The Golden Fleece? Worthless I It did—another gold piece, which Wouldn't give more than a drachma for proved sufficient for a night's drinking it!" at the Golden Boar. "A drachma ! " Stumpy's voice rose in The patrons of the place noticed that a horrified shriek. "Hell! Look what his sword and armor was missing. And I went through to get it! Think of all " the waiter found joy in explaining why the soldiers he no longer wore them. The tale created Big Cornus anticipated the recital. a great deal of laughter and good-na- "Yes, yes, I know. Everybody knows tured jibing at Stumpy's fallen estate. —and laughs. It had value once. But "Now the mighty hero must face his now the fleece is only an object of deri- dragons with his bare hands," said one. sion. No, Jason, I can give you only a

"Pooh," said another. "What does single drachma for it. And hope some that mean to Jason? The power of his farmer comes in who has not heard of

breath will be enough to suffocate any it. That will be the only chance to sell dragon he finds." it." But Stumpy remained silent to all It was the longest speech Big Cor- this. He opened his mouth only to order nus ever made. The only purpose it more wine. The money he had left, served was to make Stumpy angry. lasted until dawn. Then, still silent, he "To hell with you!" he snarled. "I paid for his drinks and left. never did business with you anyway. His mind held only one thought as he Where's your brother?" made his way to the shop of the Cor- The little man suddenly appeared as

nus' brothers. if he'd been waiting for Stumpy's call. "That coat! That damned yellow "Well, what do you want?" he de- coat! Nothing but trouble since I got manded in his usual brusque way.

it. Well, I'm goin' to get rid of it, right Stumpy told him. now." Big Cornus smiled broadly. "I offered him a drachma," he said. "DIG CORNUS greeted him. He was "A drachma! Too much. Should alone but the sounds coming from have been a mite. Never sell it if we behind the curtained doorway told buy," the little man said, and went back Stumpy the little man was there. to his curtained cubicle. Stumpy hemmed and hawed for a Stumpy groaned in despair. But he couple of seconds as he stalled for time took off the coat. A drachma wasn't to figure out the best angle which would much, but if he bought drinks only for get him the most money for the coat. himself it would last through the night. Big Cornus looked at him suspiciously. "All right, gimmie," he said. "Well, Jason?" What is it this time?" Big Cornus pressed a coin into his he asked gruffly. hand. Stumpy placed it in his pouch "Look, Mister Cornus," Stumpy be- without looking at it, and went back to gan hesitatingly, "S—uh—got tapped the Golden Boar. He didn't see Little " ;

I'LL BE FLEECED 177

Cornus come out again and look at his Stumpy looked around him. He was big brother. Nor did he see the big man back in Chicago—in Grant Park! The wink and say: new day showed a dark gray sky. He

"He took it! And he didn't look." turned his head and started in fright. A park policeman stood beside him. ^pHE WAITER noticed the coat was "Come on, you bum. Beat it before gone. I have you thrown in!" "Haven't much left have you, hero? Stumpy lost no time in getting on his " Except your mouth. That should way. He had been "thrown in" before. "Aah, shut up!" Stumpy snarled. His room at Moe's Mansion on Van "Just bring me some wine." Buren Street was as damp as a jail cell, The waiter laughed but brought the but it smelled better. For the few mo- wine. ments it took to get back on Van Buren Stumpy drank far into the night. The Street, his mind was busy congratulat- gray of dawn was lightening the shad- ing himself on his narrow escape. Then ows when the waiter came over on his he became conscious of the smooth disk last mission. of metal still in his fist. He stopped Stumpy lifted his head from the table short in puzzled bewilderment. top. He saw the upturned palm and "Hey," he thought, "what went on

knew it was held that way for money. back there on the bench? What'd I "Jush a minute," he mumbled as he have —a dream?" reached into the pouch for the coin. He It had stopped snowing and the

brought it up and looked at it. Looked streets held a white blanket which would

at it long and hard. But no amount of soon be dirtied by the early morning

looking would change it. It wasn't a traffic. But he did not see the snow- drachma! It was a disk from a suit of covered street. The dream, or whatever armor! Dimly Stumpy heard the waiter it was that had happened to him, was cry, "So! You think to cheat me!" All still fresh in his mind. his senses, blurred as they were, cen- "It's this damn coat," he said aloud. tered on the perforated disk in his palm. "As if my luck ain't bad enough, I had It looked familiar. This figure of a ship to cop this. Now I get nightmares

he had seen it before. If only he could from it." clear his brain of this dizziness. He fell to examining it. The color! It The voice of the waiter became a was such an offensive color. He hadn't

muffled sound which irritated him. He realized it before.

wearily lifted his head to tell him to "Jees ! What if somebody I know sees "shut up," but the room became a gray me? Holy mackeral, I'll never live it blur in a sudden spell of dizziness. And down." the waiter's face, contorted in rage, Quickly he looked around to see if seemed to tower for endless miles above any of his friends were up and about. him. He closed his eyes. But he could The street was deserted. Breathing a

still hear the voices: sigh of relief, he made for the nearest "Wake up! Wake up, you bum! alley. He was almost at Clark Street when a CTUMPY opened his eyes and moaned blinding light was suddenly thrown in in terror. A hand was roughly his face and a voice bellowed: shaking his shoulders. A voice was say- "That's him! Grab him before he ing, "Wake up, you!" gets away!" 178 AMAZING STORIES

Stumpy stood stock still, frozen by ment. fright into immobility. A half-dozen "All right! We know you weren't blue-clad figures converged on him. alone! That's what I brought you up They were policemen. here for. Where's the rest of the mob?" "But, Lieutenant," Stumpy said, hon- " pOLICE Lieutenant Mark Johnson est to glared down into the frightened face "Aw, don't give me that innocent of Stumpy Reed. stuff, Reed. We got ya down," John- "Now look here, Reed. Why don't son said, "Hey, you two; c'mere." He you stop playing dumb?" called to Big and Little Louie. "Is this Stumpy looked at him in frightened your coat?" he asked. perplexity. He couldn't quite make out They looked at it. what it was all about. He had been "Yes," they answered in chorus. hustled into one of the two squad cars Johnson nodded in satisfaction. which had been parked in the alley. "You," he called to the night watch-

From what he heard, it seemed they had man. "Is this the guy you saw in the been waiting there for an hour. Waiting alley?" for him! "Yes sir," was the reply. They had brought him down to Cen- "And you," he said to Harry. "Sup- tral Station where he was thrown into a pose you tell us about this guy." cell after they searched him. The turn- Harry looked sorrowfully at the key had turned a deaf ear to all his ques- shrinking figure of Stumpy, cleared his tions. He had remained there all day. throat and said: Then, early in the evening, two plain- "I forgot something one night and clothesmen brought him up to Lieuten- came back to the laundry. I found ant Johnson's office. There were half a Stumpy opening the safe in the office. dozen men there besides Johnson and Said he did it to keep warm. Felt sorry the two detectives who had brought for the guy." Harry shrugged his Stumpy up. Stumpy saw that Big and shoulders. "So that's what comes of Little Louie, Harry from the hand laun- being good to people. They turn around dry, and the night watchman were there. and rob banks. I asked him how the The other two men he did not know. night watchman never caught him. He Johnson had been calm, at first. said when he heard him coming, he "Sit down, Reed," he said, motion- ducked down into the basement and up ing Stumpy to a chair. "Now—uh—tell through Louie's, into the alley." us what you did with the sixty grand." "Y'see, Reed," Johnson said amiably, His tone was fatherly and confidential. "what a sucker you were? Figuring Stumpy looked up at him, wide-eyed that you could get away with it." and silent. Johnson waited for a few seconds. Then he barked: CTUMPY no longer was puzzled. He "Well! What about it?" was being accused of helping in the "Wh-what's wrong?" Stumpy whim- robbery of the bank which was located pered. "I ain't done nothin'." next door to Louie's. And from the way "H'm. So breaking into the Sixth things were going, Stumpy's future was National Bank and knocking it off for to be spent behind bars. His head fell sixty grand is nothing to you," Johnson forward on his chest. said ironically. "Just one moment, Lieutenant." "Me?" Stumpy breathed in astonish- Stumpy looked up. It was one of the I'LL BE FLEECED strangers. the door. Silence answered his knock. "We are well aware of the excellent Again he banged on the door with his police work in this case. But the fact knuckles. The answer was immediate remains that sixty thousand dollars in this time. The door was flung open and cash is still missing. It is obvious that a voice commanded:

Reed doesn't have it. That he may "C'mon in!" know the whereabouts is problematical. The voice sounded familiar. But that We are offering a large cash reward for wasn't what made Stumpy obey. It was its recovery, Lieutenant, and it is our the sight of the snub-nosed automatic suggestion that speed would be the es- in the man's hand. He shied away from sence of the problem." He sent a mean- the gunman as he came through the ingful glance at Stumpy. door. A beautiful smile lighted the lieuten- The three men seated about the table ant's face. looked at Stumpy with interest. He re- "Take him down, boys," he jovially turned their glances, but only for a sec- instructed the detectives. "I think ond. Then he saw the huge pile of Reed'll talk a little later." greenbacks on the table and his eyes Stumpy knew what he meant. The bugged at the sight. He had never seen third degree. The cell door closed with so much money before. He had a feel- a clatter behind the thoroughly fright- ing—that dough—it came from the ened man. He sat on the hard, wooden Sixth National Bank! bench in his cell and rocked back and "Well, stupid," a voice behind him forth in terror, waiting for the sum- said, "what d'you want?" mons. He felt a chill take hold of him Stumpy had momentarily forgotten and he put his hands into the coat poc- the man who had let him in. He twisted kets. And found salvation. The disk! his head around. What he said, he didn't

Maybe it wasn't a dream! like. There was a sardonic, evil look

Feverishly he pulled it out and fell to in the man's eyes. And the automatic

examining its inscribed surface. The was held steady, aimed at Stumpy's already familiar feelings of lassitude back. took hold of him. He began to feel "Guess I made a mistake," Stumpy sleepy, tired—and he closed his eyes. said. His eyes went from face to face. Blank stares met his look. "Ha ha! CTUMPY felt his feet stumble over Looks like I'm in the wrong joint." something. He opened his eyes and "Yep," said the man with the gun. gaped in amazement. He was on a rough "It sure does! Better sit down." country road. Snow, cold and damp, Stumpy started to decline but the gun pressed against his thin socks. A full nudged him toward a chair. Stumpy moon sent pale light down to make a sat down. black-and-white setting of the country- The man with the gun walked to the side. About a hundred yards ahead of table and sat down also. The four sat him, set back a few feet from the road, and stared at him, steadily and silently. were several buildings. Stumpy set out Somewhere a clock ticked loudly against for the largest. He could see light the silence. Torturing thoughts ran riot gleaming from several windows. in Stumpy's mind:

The snow cushioned the sound of his "Oh Lord, what a spot ! These are the footsteps on the porch. He could hear guys what took the bank. Now how did mufBed voices within as he knocked at I get here? I should a gone back to the —

180 AMAZING STORIES

Golden Boar. . . . That's funny. The Stumpy stalled. guy with the rod looks like the waiter. "Okay, you got me. I knew who

Jees. I must be goin' nuts. Thinking pulled the job the minute I lamped it. about that waiter. Why don't I think Wasn't any of my business so I scram- how I'm goin' to blow this joint?" med. And somebody saw me. I got "What are we goin' ta do with the gee, picked up, all right; but I managed to Nick?" one of the men asked. His lips get away. I'm hot, and I'll get the barely moved over the words. works if they get me. So I figured might Nick, the one with the gun, shrugged as well pack in with you guys." his shoulders. Stumpy stopped short and waited "Hey, boss!" yelled another, excit- tensely. Nick said: edly. "I know who this guy is! He's "So? Keep talkin'." the bum what they picked up." "Huh?" "What d'ya mean?" "How'd ya know we were here?" "Sure! Get a gander at his benny. Stumpy suddenly grinned. He re- That color! Just like the papers said." alized that as long as they weren't cer-

Nick looked . . . and let out his tain whether he had been followed, he breath in a long sigh. was comparatively safe. "You're right," he said and walked "Don't worry," he said soothingly. over to Stumpy. Stumpy looked up. "Nobody followed me. I made sure of He tried to duck, but Nick was too fast. that." His fist hit Stumpy on the jaw, knock- "Uh huh. Well, that's good! Be- ing him from the chair. cause I'm goin' to take care of you," Stumpy sat up and shook his head said Nick. The automatic was in his trying to clear it of the daze which hand again. clouded his senses. Blood flowed in a Stumpy smiled. It wasn't a brave slow trickle from the side of his mouth. smile. The blood trickling from the "Wha's idea?" he mumbled thickly. corner of his mouth, his appearance "Shut up!" Nick said quietly. all bore out of the misery of the man. "How'd you find us? Who sent you?" Yet Nick paused in whatever he had in- tended doing. gOMEHOW, the blow had driven all "What's so funny?" he asked. panic from Stumpy's mind. Anger "Go ahead," Stumpy taunted, "knock filled his heart. Nick's words told him me off! By morning, the cops'll know several things. Cunningly Stumpy who did the job and where to look for played up those things. you guys." "If you think beatin' me up's goin' Nick stiffened at the words. The three to tell you how I got here " He men at the table, interested spectators, deliberately left the rest of the sentence suddenly went tense. Stumpy's life hanging in the air. hung by a thread. He held his breath Nick reached down, pulled him erect as if he were swimming under water. and dumped him back in the chair. He The thread held. Nick relaxed. saw the stubborn glint in Stumpy's "I get it," Nick said slowly. "You deep-set eyes and the slant of his jaw. got a note stashed someplace. So what's "Listen, jerk," Nick said tonelessly. on your mind?" "You got any ideas about playing cop- "Look." Stumpy took quick advant- per—forget 'em! I asked you some- age of his opportunity. "I ain't got a thing." chance. The cops got me tagged. So I !

I'LL BE FLEECED 181 might as well throw in with you guys." fire would attract attention. In a little "Nix! " shouted one of the men at the while people would begin to gather, and table. "With that benny, he'd be a ad- then the bank robbers would be dis- vertisement for every cop in the coun- covered. For once, Stumpy was smil-

try. Knock him off, Nick, and let's ing as he took out the disk and looked at

blow." it. Nick shook his head. "Nope. Can't take a chance. Throw gTUMPY looked up and saw he was some rope around this bum and put him back in the cell again. Suddenly, in the barn. I'll figure out the angles. he was tired. Stretching out on the We gotta get that note he left." wooden bunk, he was soon asleep. He was shaken out of his sleep by a 'yHEY went about tying Stumpy with turnkey, who looked at him as though

an enthusiasm that boded ill for his seeing a ghost, and not finding the ex- comfort. Then they carried him out to perience pleasant. the barn behind the house and dumped "B-better—g-g-get out," he chat- him into a pile of sour-smelling hay. tered, stepping to one side. "The looey They didn't see the grin on his face. wants to see you." Content filled Stumpy's soul as he be- The same two detectives were waiting gan to twist about in an effort to find a for him when he stepped out. Carefully, loose spot in the rope. as if he was something fragile, they took It took a lot of sweat and skin before him by the arms. he was free. For a second he was Lieutenant Johnson glared balefully tempted to use the disk and go back to at Stumpy.

his cell. Instead he searched his poc- "If it isn't too much trouble, Reed," kets for a pad of matches he knew to be he asked sarcastically, "would you mind in one of them. He was right. Then he telling me how you did it?" peered through the half-open barn door. "Did what?" Stumpy asked inno- He noticed that the mob had drawn cently. the window shades. He smiled hap- Johnson controled himself with a visi- pily. They wouldn't discover what was ble effort.

happening until it was too late. "Managed to sneak in and out of a He felt the hay. It was slightly damp locked cell?" he thundered. on top. Pulling out the dry center, he "Me? Now, Lieutenant! Somebody's

spread it along the wall of the barn. givin' you a rib."

Then he set fire to it "Nobody's giving me nothing. I saw Gleefully he watched the flames with my own eyes—you weren't in that spread. They licked hungrily at the dry cell!" wood of the barn walls. In a few mo- Stumpy shrugged his shoulders. ments the interior was burning merrily. Johnson looked at him suspiciously. Already the walls were beginning to The whole business was beyond his un- smoke, preparatory to bursting into derstanding. flame. "Not that it make any difference any- Stumpy ran outside. He laughed more," he announced heavily. "You're aloud when he saw how rapidly the fire free. The mob that pulled the bank was gaining headway. A tongue of flame job was caught. Near Woodstock. Some- licked suddenly skyward, sending a body set fire to a barn next to the house glow into the night. Stumpy knew the they were hiding in. Cops came out AMAZING STORIES with the fire company and nabbed them. Stumpy turned on the bar stool. It They had the dough, right there." was Big Louie. His brother was sit- "That's swell!" Stumpy said enthusi- ting alone at a table. astically. "Now can I go?" "C'mon, sit with us," Big Louie said. "In just a minute." Johnson looked "I'd like to talk to you." closely at him. "Would you mind an- Stumpy gulped. The coat! He was swering one question, Reed?" still wearing it. "Shoot." "Sure, Louie," he answered and sat "The gang claimed some guy in a yel- down. low-colored sheep-skin coat bust in on "Y'know," Big Louie said apologet- them. But nobody besides the mob ically, "I'm sorry about the whole busi- seemed to have seen him. They claimed ness." they locked him in the barn. Now tell Stumpy was dumbfounded. They me, Reed: where did you get that cut lip were apologizing to him! and the hay sticking to your pants?" "That's all right," he answered "Oh, that," Stumpy replied airily, "I quickly. "No harm done. And say! got the lip when I fell off the bench. Here's your coat. I only borrowed it." The hay—guess I was on a hay ride." "Forget it Stumpy. It's yours." "Um hm. Looks like you ain't gonna "Nope. It's yours! That color's a say nothing else." little too strong for me."

"What else is there to say?" Stumpy took it off and handed it to "All right, Reed," Johnson said Big Louie, who, even as he protested, wearily. "You can go now." handed it to his brother. Finally the big man said: gTUMPY paused as he left the sta- "Well, look. How's about lettin' us tion, and sniffed deeply and appreci- show you our hearts are in the right atively of the cold air. It felt good to be place." He reached in his pocket for on the outside looking in. He turned money and Little Louie said, "Sure. his footsteps toward the Chicago Coffee Here's something for you, Stumpy." Shop. Stumpy didn't look at the coin. They Questions buzzed around his head left and he ordered several more gins. like bees, on his arrival. He had ears He had put the coin on the table. Its only for one: the bartender's query: surface gleamed dully in the electric

"Well, if it ain't my old friend, light. Idly he glanced at it. It looked

Stumpy! What'll it be?" familiar. He picked it up and began to

Stumpy settled for a gin. The next examine it. one was on the barkeep and the third That ship! Those perforations, top was on the boss, Charley Borsh. He par- and bottom! It wasn't a coin. It was ried their questions as he had done the the disk he had found in the coat. He police lieutenant's. tried to tear his eyes from it. Already "Look, Stumpy," a voice said. "Have the room was beginning to swim—to a drink with the brother and me." GIVE YOUR MONEY "A FUTURE" USE IT TO BUY WAR BONDS INSURE YOUR POSTWAR LIVING SPACE .

WAR BOND By what you pur aside in War Bonds today you can help make sure he gets the same chance as other boys, tomorrow. MAN Chances are you're already on the Payroll Savings Plan. Saving as you've never been able to save before. This is fine provided you keep -ciassof'63 on sawing.

1 But take your dollars out of the fight—and Someday you !! want to see that boy, or you will be hurting yourself, your boy's future, girl, of yours off to college . . . and right now and your country. is not too early to start making plans. Try to buy more bonds than you ever have Maybe your youngster, like so many other before. And hold on to them . . American boys, will work his way through school . , . but even in that case you'll want For every three dollars you invest today, to be in a position to give him a little help you get four dollars back when your Bonds com* if he needs it. due.

ZIFF-DAVIS PUBLISHING COMPANY

Thi* M an official U. & Treasury odvertiumeni— prepared under autpien gf Treasury Department and War Adtertiting Council

183

THE MYSTERY OF THE NATCHEZ By L TAYLOR HANSEN

The story of this Indian Tribe offers another question mark in the chain of mystery leading to Man's beginning

past the first French arrived at the tum, however, was the records of the WHEN reading skilled in mouth of the Mississippi they found it which were to be read by those was being occupied by a tribe of the "hieroglyphic script" carved and painted on Maddening It is today, Indians known as The Natchez, who spoke a large slabs of wood. and read the Muskhogean tongue, and disclosed a system of or- for us to sit in our public library, at the ganization more fitted for cities than for a life descriptions of tins script, while we fume author neglected to copy in the forest. In fact, although the Muskho- indifference of the who have known, geans in general showed that they had not as yet it. Of course, the explorer couldn't the last terrible battle entirely adapted themselves from city-life, The as we do, that during Natchez were pre-eminent in this lack of adapta- with the French, and their feliow-Muskhogean the Flame-god which The tion. tribe, The Chocktaw, traitor and Together with their fellow-Muskhogeans, Natchez had worshipped, would turn which were stored in their be- they rived in villages of log-cabin homes which burn the records could the explorer have had built-in beds with mattresses and other fur- sieged stronghold. Nor themselves, that hor- niture. Their utensils were of a polished black known that the Natchez on the sunset- pottery of every shape and size from ten gal- rible night, would be doomed to walk Land-Of-Sbadows. lon jugs. Their lawns were of strawberries, and trail into the of mystery there is one their shade trees were various kinds of fruits In all this darkness past, but showing long cultivation. As one reads a de- brilliant beam of light thrown upon the it floods not only scription of all the fruits and nuts one wonders it is so illuminating that but their quarrelsome how many of these were lost. the Natchez themselves, Frenchman by the name of One of the most interesting Natchez village de- neighbors. A young the favor of the Natchez chief scriptions is that of the Temple of the Sun as Du Pratz had won that worthy. given by Adair. It was built on an earthen and was being entertained by Pratz pyramid about eight feet high, and was divided The talk turned upon the past. Du was former greatness into two parts. The main vestibule consisted intrigued by the evidence of every the of the massive entrance, with its satyr-like which he saw about him on hand— the clothes grown figures carved of wood and painted in brilliant commodious houses, woven "wild found in colors. This building, like their houses was from their own plants, a hemp" the fact that there were two fashioned of whole logs with plaster chinking, i their neighborhood, "vulgar" and these huge figures may have been the four languages in use among them, a and a of domestic Bacabs of Indian legend who are supposed to "court" language, the large number subject upon hold up the sky. plants, etc. Perhaps he turned the the result In the inner portion of the temple, protected the past. If he did, we are grateful for from the view of the vulgar by a halt-screen, was most illuminating. this night upon which was the Sacred "Boat of the Sun" which the Many centuries before entertaining their pale- priests carried before a war-party. It may the Natchez people were told they their be significant that a "Boat of the Sun" was an faced guest, Du Pratz was and important part of the ritual of Sun-worship in brother-tribes lived in a land far to the south. original inhabitants. both the temples of the Incas and those of Egypt. They had not been the invaders, con- Here in the inner portion, was also kept the They had come into the land as natives "Eternal-Fire," continually attended by its own quering the cities of the Chichimecs, or fled before priests. Was this a forest-adaptation of the more of the country. These Chichimecs elaborate "Virgins-of-the-Sun" attendants used their armies and went into the land of the north- by the Incas which is so reminiscent of the ern forests. er systems of Southern Europe used up to the time The Chichimecs apparently w e many Though of the "Vestal-Virgins" of Rome? peoples, but this was only on the surface. The most intriguing feature of this inuer sanc- they had many different names, (totems?) they ISO 186 AMAZING STORIES were in reality all brothers. Thus when they was not crowded, and game was plentiful. The were driven into the northern forests, they rested messenger urged more of the "Great Suns" to and multiplied until the day came when a great come to the new land. leader arose. This leader went from tribe to The advice was taken and another wave of tribe imploring the people to follow him back migration went forth. Again the others helped into the southland where they would again win the migrating people to build their long canoes. their cities. The adventurous ones set out across the South- In the meantime the Natchez had spread their ern Sea, into which emptied the Great River Sacred Fire from city to city, and over each city which their brother-tribe had described. ruled one of their "Great Suns." (Was not this Again centuries passed. The Natchez had for but a sun-title for their ruler, similar to "Inca" a time been very happy in the mountains since and "Pharaoh" which had the same meaning?) the previous two waves of migration had thinned Finally the day of revenge came, even though out the mountain population and hunting again generations had gone by and the Natchez and became easy. But the press of their own in- their brother-tribes had ruled for centuries in the creasing population was once more making game new land. The army of the Chichimecs came scarce. This time the Natchez decided to go. back as they had gone—through the mountains, They tried to persuade their fellow-tribes re- and fell upon the wealthy city-states of The maining in the mountains of The Southern Land Great Suns. City after city fell to the People to join them. They were not very successful. (mec) of the Chee-Chee. One after another of Again, however, the remaining tribes helped them the "Great Suns" was forced to flee with his to build the long canoes and to pack them with people, and some of their most faithful slaves provisions and the Sacred-Fire. fnto the mountains. Here they readjusted them- The Natchez set out. As the former mes- selves to a sort of wilderness existence, al- sengers had said they found the Southern Sea ways hoping to be able to rally enough strength not very hard to cross, and without difficulty to take back their cities. located the wide river which had been so care- fully described. They too, found the land well- T IFE in the mountains was not easy. Game provisioned with game. They too, dispatched began to be scarce as the tribes of the messengers, not once but many times, urging "Great Suns" turned to the life of the hunting the remaining "Great Suns" to bring their tribes and hunted. Finally a great council was called. into this new land. The last time the messenger At this gathering some of the tribes spoke of brought back a final answer. "We are now migration. The Chee-chee-mecs had recovered happy here.' Game is plentiful. We have de- their strength in the forests of the north. Why cided after a long council to remain in this land should they not do the same? Someone sug- forever." gested that it was an unknown country. In going there who knows what dangers they might risk? \XTHEN the Natchez had arrived, their brother- Perhaps it was better to stay where they were. tribes had spread long before, far into the One of the boldest of "The Great Suns" spoke. forest. Now the remaining tribes had decided His people were not happy here. Game was to remain, and that is how the "Great Suns" who too scarce. If some of the tribes went, there carried the Sacred-Fire bad spread over thou- would be more food for those remaining behind. sands of miles, scattering and mingling with the His tribe had determined to go. If the others natives. remaining did not ever again hear from them, One wonders as one reads this story, if the the silence was to be interpreted as bad—the Chee-chee-mecs were the Tiger tribes of the worst news. It would mean that they had all Quicbi? They came down from the north under been killed and it would be a warning to the rest their great leader, Nima-Qui-Chi, working their of the tribes to remain. If, however, they were way by the mountains, where for some time successful, or if they managed to barely stay they waylaid travelers before actually attacking alive, word would be returned of their journey, the lowlands cities* Yet here in the words of and a full report sent back on the new country. their ancient enemies is the first hint that they All of the tribes prepared to help the migrat- originally owned the land. ing tribe construct their long ocean-going canoes. The next question naturally concerns the un- Great logs were felled, and boats constructed stated origin of the Natchez and their brother- which would carry from fifty to one hundred tribes of "Great Suns." One can almost be cer- rowers. The Sacred-Fire carried along with the tain from this account that they did not come tribe was packed in with the seeds of their do- down from the north because if they had they mestic plants, and with fruits and nuts, would not have been unacquainted with the After some moons a returning canoe was northern country. Furthermore, they were ap- sighted. The messenger told of the journey across parently aware of the art of building ocean-going the Southern Sea, undoubtedly the Gulf of migrating canoes. Perhaps it had never been Mexico, and the entrance up the mouth of a large lost from the time of their first invasion. But river. This river had been the Mississippi. The from whence had they come? tribes found natives in the country, but the land *Qukki Annals—Author SCIENTIFIC MYSTERIES 187

In this detective game covering milleniums these precious old books "On Reserve" at many of forgotten history the clues are the plants and of the larger public libraries we can at least be

the languages. And the pity of it al! is that we grateful that the old explorers noted as much as know too little of either for a fair discussion of they did before the records of that migration, the subject. Volumes of research remains to be written in the "hieroglyphic script", were burned done before we can even suggest the original when the Chocktaw and French stormed the last direction of the Natchez invasion. stronghold of the now extinct Natchez, and killed It is true that philologists are now begin- the last of their "Great Suns." ning to suspect a connection between the lan- guages of the Iroquois, Siouan, Caddoan and REFERENCES Muskhogean but the language separation shows many centuries have passed since the tribes From Aboriginal A merican Literature by Brin- first drifted apart. In fact, a thousand years is ton Gatschet discussion of Muskhogean lan- considered to be far too conservative as they are guage. Also Du Pratz Migration Legend of more distantly separated than the Aryan tongues the Natchez. of Europe. Vet we know so little about Barlram, Travels. Also his Observations on Central American and Mexican tongues as yet, Creek and Cherokee Indians. and almost nothing about the possible compari- Adair, History oj the American Indian. sons. Swanton, The Early Creeks.. As for the plants, won't 3ome enterprising Myer, Prehistoric Villages in Middle Tennessee. student taking botany try to run down the an- Thomas, Cherokees m Precotumbian Times. cestry of the paw-paw and particularly the Bossv, Travels. "Chikkasaw Plum," which Muskhogeans have French Historical Collection of Louisiana for claimed, according to Adair, were brought by Du Pratz "their ancestors, with them from South America?" Migration Legend of the Natchez. Sometime we may know more of the direction Father Charleyvoix—-Voyage to America. which this migration of the Fire-worshippers Chateaubriand two pamphlets, printed in French took when they wrested the Chee-Chce-Mec now available from Univ. of Col. Press. cities away from their former owners so many Les Natchez and Sur Le Voyage en Amerigut centuries ago. But today, as we go through 1761.

CAN FIGURES BE FASCINATING? By J. P. KAYNE

THERE was a time when, a science fan ing glass I found they varied considerably in siie, since early boyhood, I thought of mathe- but by weighing and counting several very small matics as a very dull subject indeed, pre- lots I was able to satisfy myself that a guess ferring Jules Verne and popular science articles of about 10,000 grains of sugar per gram might and books which, I felt, imposed little strain not be out of line for my purpose. on my thinking powers. It took some twenty Now there are a million grams in a metric ton years of general science reading to awaken me which is equivalent to 2200 lbs. On the above to the fact that thinking for its own sake can basis, a metric ton would contain 10,000 million be as exciting as reading science fiction. This grains of sugar. The latter would make a figure was when I tumbled to the fact that mathe- with 10 zeros. Subtracting this from 24 we get 14 matics, of the more simple kind, of course, can which means that the quantity we are after is 10 really be fascinating when applied to various to the 14th power, just as 100 is 10 to the 2nd problems of science. power. What all this means, then, is that if we

Here is a prime example. There is a simple could imagine each of the molecules in one ounce method by which the volume and diameter of a of water expanded to the size of a tiny grain of water molecule may be figured out. It turns out white sugar, the quantity would be 100 million that in an ounce of water there must be a quan- million metric tons. tity of molecules which would be expressed by Again, all this might seem incomprehensible,

the figure 1 followed by 24 zeros. but wait a minute. Sugar is a pretty precious Such a fact seems meaningless by itself, until commodity these days with a ration of lb. per we begin to do a little figuring of our own. Thus, week, per capita, or 26 lbs. per year. Let us as- a couple of years ago, just from curiosity, I sume an overall consumption for all purposes of weighed off a small fraction of a gram of white a little less than twice this amount, or 50 lbs.

sugar. One gram is about l/29to of an ounce, so per capita. Multiplying by 130 million persons a small gram fraction would be a small amount in the U.S.A., we get 6,500 million pounds per indeed, but the point was that I wanted to count year. Dividing this by 2,200 lbs, we get roughly the. grains. Looking at them through a magnify- (Concluded on page Z09) :

REPORT FROM THE

OUR ALPHABET TELLS A STORY! Q—Seeks—Symbol of head with tongue hang- Sirs ing out. To run and look for indefinitely. To get Our alphabet is a construction of logic symbols tired so that tongue hangs out. Symbol of one designed to defeat a vast dark age of submergence who has sought. of the intelligence of man until some day man R—Bad, dangerous—Symbol of powerful chested might so recover by adaptation to this planet that individual advancing. he could recognize his source. So profound is S—Slow, snake—Symbol of snake used to indi- this message across over fifty thousand years that cate slow. it was made so gaps that might occur in the mes- T—Gives—Symbol of man giving with both sage could be recon- hands. structed by logic and se- U__You—Symbol of quence. What the solu- man pointing with both to the tion will lead to in con- Due unusual and sig- hands to you. cealed messages and sto- nificant developments that V—Sex mate—Symbol ries of things that were of invitation, accessibil- is yet to be discovered. have come out of the stones ity. I am enclosing my dis- W—Woman — Symbol covery that the alphabet of Lemuria begun in our of female mating. (May- is in fact the history of an) man. Thus, it can be March issue, this new de- X— Conflict— Symbol checked and corrected. of crossed weapons or partment will give a A—Animal—Symbol of you wrestlers opposed. two-footed animal. Y Why Symbol of full report each issue until — — B—Born or is—Sym- upraised hands appealing bol of pregnant woman. further notice. Can you for an answer. Outline of breasts and Z—Banished, reduced belly. add to this report? to nothing—Symbol of C—Sees — Symbol of kneeling slave with arms snake rising to look, or straight forward and outline of head with eye opening complete with palms and fingers down as with bound wrists. eyebrows. Captive. No status. Zero future. D—Degenerative, danger or death—Symbol of Read from A to Z to get story of man's ori- bent back and cane—senility —disintegration. gin remarkably similar to biblical history of Adam E—Changes, moves—Symbol of energy, man made from a lump of clay (radioactive ores are putting forth with head, feet, hands. generally in clay form. F—Potency—Symbol of sex. Animal born sees approaching death, changes G—Generate, create—Symbol of sacrifice on potency (causes mutation with a lump of clay, altar, including knife. Release spirit. radioactive ore), creates human creature (capable H—Body, human—Symbol of two-legged ani- of lifting his arms above his head) from himself. mal with arms upraised. This young (spirited) life is male and short-lived, I—Self—Symbol of man standing upright, one and knows (realizes) its source, then seeks bad individual. (immoral, enemy) snake which gives him a mate J—Young, or junior—Symbol of child with (i.e. implies that mutation was created for a spe- arms raised, legs not functioning. cific purpose—to overcome death?—but was not K—Spirit, motivating—Symbol of dancing in- intended to reproduce). Woman made from bad dividual. snake (by means of man's knowledge of the proc- L—Life, live—Symbol of man sitting with legs ess). Conflict in the garden of life due to chal- straight before him. lenge by the new form of life, which though short- M—Male—Symbol of male mating. lived is spirited and fights. To keep peace between N—Knows, traceable—Symbol of knowledge, opposed factions in paradise, it was necessary to i.e. picture of man with train or long cape fol- exile man since his creators made him for a defi- lowed by servant. Noble of known lineage, to nite purpose and would not allow his extinction, know source of. thus his banishment from the garden. O—Source—Symbol of orifice, also may be Animal-born-sees-danger-changes- potency-gen- disc of planet from which man came, dual mean- erates-human-(from) self-young-spirit- (motivates ing. this) life-(which is) male- (and) knows-source- P—Power—Symbol of man with big chest. (has) power-seeks-bad-snake-(who) gives-you- Powerful, capable of. sex mate-woman- (who causes) conflict- (which 188 FORGOTTEN PAST?

is) why- (you are) banished. Ms first story. The Titans left the Earth before This language code is one of the biggest things Adam and Eve, and thus it could not have been that has as yet happened, as it was intended for 12,000 years ago (the date of the Mu catastrophe) those whose intelligence was equal to the chal- but at hast 62,000 years ago I We will present lenge. With this knowledge examine ancient ether letters in an attempt to justify this state- legends and get more details of past history. Evi- ment further on in this department.~Er>. dently merely letting man know whence he came VOICE OF THE TURTLE! is not all that intended. Rather it is some- was Sirs: thing extremely important, as after a great lapse Briefly, we are two bays, 12 and 16. We had of time there will be great danger or a great op- a pet turtle which died, and of which we had portunity to go back to the "garden of life." been very fond. After it died, we heard, in our Nathan Carver minds, a voice which we believe to be that of the Reaction Research of Laboratories America, turtle, and it has told us many things, among 23 Melrose Terrace, them the alphabet of the language of Lemuria of Long Branch, N. J. Mr. Shaver. We are enclosing our dictionary of This is indeed an important discovery concern- Lemurian words. But we have something else ing the real meaning behind our alphabet (which to tell. it is now revealed is many thousands of years more The following is recorded in the Scientific ancient than gives the Creek alphabet). It us American Sup., 7-2712, Oct. 18.24 : "At five o'clock, the story of the creation of Adam and Eve and on the morning of Oct. 20, 1S24, a light was seen the reason for their banishment—and also predi- upon the dark of the moon by Gruithuisen. It cates a reason for our salvation and thus a future disappeared. Six minutes later it appeared again; important development to come. and then flashed intermittently until 5:30 AM Churchward definitely proved that Adam and when sunrise ended the observation." Eve were created more than fifty thousand years From the Annals of Philosophy, 28-338, Jan. before the destruction of the continent Mu (which 1&2S: "And upon Jan. 22, 1825, again shown out is not to be confused with Mr. Shaver's Lemuria the star-like light of Aristarchus, reported by the which is the Earth itself), when he showed that Rev. J. B. Emmett." the Greek alphabet (re-arranged 9Q00 years ago Nature, May 25, 1893: "A letter from Captain as a monument to revered the dead of the Mu Charles J. Norcock, of H. M. S. Caroline: That, catastrophe) tells the story of the destruction of upon the 24 Feb., 1893, at 10 PM, between Shang- Mu in one night with the loss oj its 64/100,000 hai and Japan, the officer of the watch reported inhabitants. Now, this revelation that our alpha- some 'unusual lights.' They were between the bet tells in an identical way, the story of Adam ship and a mountain. The mountain was about and Eve, places the origin of our alphabet as 6,000 ft. high. The lights seemed to be globular. previous to the Greek. One more proof is thus They moved, sometimes massed, but sometimes added that Mr. Shaver's alphabet is the key to strung out in an irregular line. They bore north- the mother tongue of all Earth languages. ward until lost from sight. Duration two hours. Our readers have tested the Shaver alphabet The next night the lights were seen again. They in no less than thirty different languages, with an were, for a short time eclipsed by a small island. amazing result. (Some of those reports are pub- They bore north at about the same speed and lished herewith; others were published in our direction of the Caroline. But they were lights pages in recent issues.) that cast a reflection and there was a glare upon As Mr. Carver (who incidentally was the first the horizon under them. A telescope brought out man in America to pilot a racket ship) points out, but a few details: that they were reddish; and using Mr. Shaver's alphabet as a key, the hidden seemed to emit a faint smoke. This time the meanings of many ancient writings can be dis- duration was seven and a half hours." covered. It seems a hint that perhaps other, or Report of Captain Castle, H. M. S. Leander, alt alphabets tell stories which their creators didn't in the same locality and about the same time: want forgotten. Do any of our readers have "Saw lights. Altered course and made for them. knowledge of such meanings? If so, communi- Lights fled before ship, or at least, moved higher cate them to this column. in the sky." As an important fact, Churchward also proved We asked the turtle what all this meant. This that the Biblical flood occurred many thousands is what he told us: of years previous to the destruction of Mu, and "The white race of the moon, especially a demo- is not to be confused with that disaster. This cratic nation, Tania, found wars had nearly ren- gives us an amazing, and obviously more true, dered the moon uninhabitable (origin of the date for the happenings told by Mr. Shaver in craters?). They decided to invade earth, and !

190 AMAZING STORIES chose China, so named by them, a* their first point they could manufacture super-weapons secretly. today, of occupation. They planned there to build the Underground in Cambodia and in Korea preparing for great weapons that could not be transported from these tremendous factories exist, the moon. But the expedition was entirely dis- the conquest of the world. couraged to find nothing to use in building these "America, beware!" weapons. Having destroyed their spaceships to Wesley & Bruce Herschensohn, Avenue, avert suspicion, they locked their plans up, for 10616 Kinnard good. West Los Angeles 24, Cal. "Centuries later a second expedition came, took We have reproduced here but a jew of Ike Japan from the Ainu Tribes. They became the more than 40 pages of information of dozens of present day Japs. They signaled to the moon types sent us by tke.se amazing youngsters (who that they had prepared an operating space, then hear voices just as Shaver did, and as many of walled Japan from the rest of the world for two our readers tell us they do!). Frankly, we have centuries, not letting any foreigner enter, or any reproduced the most lurid, the most fantastic, the native leave, under penalty of death. best suited for this magazine, but the two boys "Meanwhile, the first expedition's peoples had have submitted serious theories on suck subjects become the Chinese, and become peaceful. They as the nature of the universe, mental telepathy, learned of the Japs and their plans and tried to racial memory, the creation, sex, chemistry, elec- circumvent them. tronics, etc. that have astounded us. It would "The Japs were building their secret weapons be impossible to reproduce them all, but we do in Korea, and the Chinese tried to destroy them. ask our readers to consider the portion we have Japan finally was forced to promise the Chinese published, with all its amazing "revelations", and that they would abandon their plans, destroy we wonder very much if anything at all can be their weapons before the Chinese would tell the corroborated to an even greater extent than these world of their plans to conquer it. However, brilliant boys have done? Meanwhile, we thank the Chinese would not have told, because they them for all the things titty have told us in sup- had sworn to the Sacred Dragon never to reveal port of Mr. Shaver's story and the science it the secret of their origin. contains, especially concerning racial memory, the "Japan did not keep her promise. In 1825 and alphabet, and the mechanisms of the Tttans and later, the moon sent light signals to Japan to Allans.—Ed. inform them they had found a way to send weap- ons from the moon. They sent these ships, which I REMEMBER LEMURIA! were observed by Earthmen. It was around this Sirs: time that Japan was closed to the outside world. I am one of the few who read Ammnc Stories "In 1941 this plan was given to the holy in Costa Rica. I've only the two magazines fea- !" Emperor of Japan by the warlords: 'Oh holy turing "Star Base X" and "I Remember Lemuria emperor, the Americans are industrial geniuses. I'll speak about the latter, for If we reveal our super weapons to them at Pearl I also remember Lemuria! Harbor, they will capture some and build them The whole thing started some four years ago, on a much greater scale than we can withstand. when I got a book called in Spanish "El hombre, Therefore we must make them think we are weak. rle dondo y como vino, a donde va" by the late We will not invade the Hawaiian Islands or Charles Leadbeater. (I don't know the English California as planned. We will merely attack name of the book, but it is a translation from Pearl Harbor. We will not use our main indus- this language.) In this book Mr. Leadbeater tries for building modern war weapons, but rather speaks about the History of Man, and, slowly, our super-weapons which we will not use until I began to remember something! we have enough positively to conquer the world. Could Lemuria be Atlantida? This is a very Of course the modem weapons we do use will important question to me, and may be stated in not be a product of our best materials, but we this other way : Was the continent that Mr. Shaver will have to get along with these until we are remembers situated in the Pacific, near Australia, ready. or in the Atlantic? Could it be situated in the "Remember the Huns, those terrible yellow men Atlantic? who ravaged the Earth, long ago, and no one I believe that Lemuria went to Kingdom Come knew who they were, or where they came from? not thousands of years, but hundreds of thou- Remember Ghenghis Khan? Remember Pearl sands of years ago. And 12,000 years ago there Harbor was a fight between "evil" and "live" in Atlantida. "We will defeat the Japanese this time, but Gravity being a push rather than a pull im- will suffer another, infinitely greater sneak attack pressed me deeply and I'll enjoy studying it mathe- after the war. The Japanese invaded Cambodia matically. But I can't make up my mind to the by the thousands. The Cambodians outnumbered idea of a space ship going with speed greater than them greatly, but could not withstand the few light, because I believe in Relativity. but deadly weapons. Overnight half of the Cam- About Mantong, I believe that is very far from bodians were sent back to the moon, the other perfection. For instance, take the letter L, that half was forced to dig underground caverns where is thought to mean LIFE. But LIFE in Spanish REPORT FROM THE FORGOTTEN PAST? 191

is VIDA, pretty different from LIFE. V (VI) for "Sacred Symbols of Mu"? I am sure you will vital may mean "that is necessary to life" and find your mysterious memories fully told therein. you'll have VIda. In English, liFE, sounded I am equally sure that you will be amazed that laiV. You also have LIVE, which sounds liV! your mind has somehow retained the memory But the investigations of the influence of Man- of Atlantida and that your insistence on the dif- tong in the Spanish must be made in the mother ference in time is correct t tongue of the Romances, the Latin. If you find As for discussing things with Mr. Shaver, you that Latin accords, you can, with little changes, must realise that we have received many hun- make accord Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian dreds of communications and that such discus- and even Rumanian. I'll give an example: sion with all would be impossible. However, by M—Means Man in Lemurian. Was probably following this magazine faithfully, you will be pronounced abe to gather gradually all of the information M'O because of the inclination of Man to that is turned up about these matters.—Ed. "open" consonants. By the Law of Phonetic Equi- librium, it becomes IN SUPPORT OF SHAVER OMO plus some non-important orthographic Sirs: changes, gives Subject: Proofs in fact of some claims in science HOMUS which is Man in Classic Latin, or made in the story "I remember Lemuria!" (in- Sermo Eruditus. Homus was spelled vented earlier by Nathan Carver).

HOMO (1) in the idiom of the soldiers that Introduction: Invented and flew first success- spread the Roman Empire, the Sermo Rusticus, ful rocket airplanes at Greenwood Lakes, New that gave origin to the neo-latin languages, and York and New Jersey in 1936, but that this we have flight is sometimes mistakenly attributed to a Mr. OME or OMNE in ancient Spanish. In the evo- WiHey Ley due to the fact that stamps were sold lution of the Spanish it becomes in his name for this flight. Letters to editors of OMRE by the Spanish Phonetic Law of "disi- Popular Aviation (now Flying), a Ziff-Davis pub- milacion", and lication covered this point, including pictures and OMBRE because the "explosion" of the oclu- proof. Many other basic scientific activities in- sive letter R produced an "epentesis", and at last clude an experiment to verify a Gravitic theory HOMBRE the modern Spanish word for Man. which ended successfully in May, 1939 in a lec- In Spanish the letter H has no sound. ture and demonstration before the American From (1) wp have aiso: Rocket Society at the Engineering Societies Build- HOMI—Man in Italian, ing, New York City, where was shown one facet HOMME—Man in French, and of proof of a unified field theory there expounded OMO—Man in Portuguese, and in the demonstration an apparatus showed a I dare to ask you to report to Mr. Shaver be- movement due to gravity apparatus in a hori- cause I can see that you are deeply interested in zontal plane. this subject: you are the first editor I remember Proof: Proof of either the veracity of the sub- adding 37 notes! I am an amateur of Mathe- ject story of inherited memory, or of cleverness, matics and would like to discuss the scientific is held in my publication of an extremely con- side of his theories with Mr. Shaver. densed field theory explaining gravity in "Astro- Fernan Rodriguez, nautics", a publication of the American Rocket Apt. 357, San Jose, Society of New York City. This was published Costa Rica. in April, 1940. The fifteenth page, first column, Mr. Rodriguez, why not take all your examples first lines of which article I will copy here for and apply the Shaver Alphabet to them? We your interest. You should at once see the exact would get: M-man; M'O-man source; OMO- similarity of the two theories, mine and that of source man source; ~HOMVS-human source man Richard Shaver, as related to gravity. Except you sun; BOMO-human source man source; where in the story he calls "exd" the gravity pro- OME-source man energy; OMNE-sonrce man ducing substance I call "electrostatic." seed energy; OMRE-source man horror energy; Copy of part of Nathan Carver's theory of OMBRE-source man be. horror energy; HOM- gravity. All rights reserved: "Gravity is a push, BRE-hmnan source man be horror energy; not a pull, of static repulsion from space charges HOMl-human source man 1; HOMME-kuman outside the planet. source man man energy ; OMO-source man "The absorption of static space charges by cold source. or relatively cold matter produces that unbalance /When you read those again, are you not struck of static repulsion charges that results in a pres- with the legend of man's creation from a (radio- sure movement back toward matter. This phe- active) clay? Man, it would seem, was created nomenon we know as gravity. The larger the by using the horrible radioactive energy found in sphere of matter, the greater the absorption rate the earth and in the sun. and pressure unbalance gradient, as there is more Regarding Mu and Atlanlida, or Atlantis, why space charge absorbing matter back of each unit don't you get Mr. Church-ward's marvelous books, of surface, "Lost Continent of Mm", "Children of Mu", and "Mutual attraction between two bodies in space s : —

192 AMAZING STORIES may be likened to two sponges submerged in a CULTURE man, not a mutant, nor synthetic. water; as they absorb water they are pushed to- He had a mother and father, but his development ward each other. This is due to their absorbing was "cultured" by applications of rays, surgery, some of the water pressure between them and the and nutrients in the food supply. Therefore, he action of the unbalanced pressure surrounding did return to his Mom and Dad.—Ed. them." My analysis of the story reveals a story within DISAGREEMENT, BUT a story, alt of which seems to check at least with Sirs my own surmises such as "The Missing Link" Actually, all science is "science fiction" to the will always be missing because man originated on research type of mind. Demonstrable facts are another planet. That wars are now started by just that. The rest is THEORY . . . science fic- H or higher intelligences to keep the human race tion upon which we string the demonstrable facts submerged in his own ocean of air. That any like beads that the mind may more readily grasp Rocket Ship finally reaching space will be blasted groups of such facts and their apparent relation- or caused to fail by clever hypnotic means. That ships. It is this factor of mental convenience that verification of other intelligences has come to me justifies the insistense of the academic world that in telepathy experiments where the experimenter the young squirts grasp the idea as well as the was myself. My theory of telepathy will bowl facts as part of their education. It is unfortunate you over, by the way. that such an approach all too often inculcates the

You might check the language of Lemuria viewpoint that the theories are facts ! In your case, against the Mayan vocables published by Ripley this applies to your idea that "The stars are suns some time ago which purported to be the story disintegrating to beat the very devil." MAYBE! of the inundation of Atlantis from A to Z. Liter- After all, that is THEORY . . . NOT demon- ally, our alphabet is supposed to be the story of strable fact. submersion of Atlantis. Don't misunderstand me. I am an old man. I

There is a slip in the story "I Remember Le- am not sure . . . any more . . . that I know muria" where our returning hero comes home to anything. I merely wish to point out that theory Dad and Mom where he is supposed to be a syn- is an observation tower man constructs to view thetic mutant. the phenomena of reality. Nathan Carver, Modern mathematical research has tended to 23 Melrose Terrace, break down the concept that stars burn or disin-

Long Branch, N. J. tegrate. We have quite a few letters from readers who Personally, I am inclined to the theory that insist thai Shaver is right and that Gravity is a stars and in fact all the tangible phenomena of push, and not a pull. We are very hopeful of reality are produced by two forces that intersect being able to demonstrate this mathematically be- at right angles. It leads to some odd conclusions. fore long, but we are very muck interested in For instance it leads to a disagreement with New- your mechanical proof. Could you supply de- ton and his idea of gravity. In such a view, the tails? Or the issue of the publication in which CAUSE of space would PUSH things down to the demonstration is explained? Your comments earth—or to express it another way—the CAUSE on higher intelligences who wait to blast us back of space would TEND to expel matter. This to Earth if we attempt to leave it sounds fan- would account for the propulsion of the electron tastic, or it would if that statement hadn't come ... its EXPULSION is the phenomenon of the to us from so many other sources, and is borne electric current. out by the records from as far back as ancient Mu All this, indirectly due to your gentleman who (in the Pacific) and the days of Adam and Eve, "remembers" Lemuria. It so happens that I have as much as five hundred centuries before that! always had the fixed idea I not only "remembered" said this, More will be about if space allows, and Atlantis, but that I AM Atlchee. I THINK . . . certainly in future issues. We would be interested / was a technician of ancient Atlantis. I do not in knowing why you say it! Also that telepathy hold with Jung's idea of "collective unconscious" revelation of yours. From new information we've or a sort of "well of collective racial memory." I received, it may be possible to build a "telaug" hold the theory of personal, individual reincarna- suck as Mr. Shaver's stories describe. At least, tion. your editor could use one in a poker game very The trouble with reincarnation is that it isn't de- handily! You may be a bit confused in your monstrable. I mean ... I can't do it over again memory of the Mayan vocables. They tell the and let you watch. story of the destruction of Mu, and they are not So ... I "remember" so many things . . . that our alphabet, but the Greek. See Churchward' PERSONALLY the acceptance of the idea of rein- "Lost Continent of Mu". Our own alphabet's carnation is the more comfortable and practical story is the one you yourself sent us (our apolo- standpoint. gies, a glance at the dates of your two letters Mostly these memories are of a technical nature. skows that letter was written after this one, which When you forecast publication of technical data constitutes a correction on your own part.) No, by a gentleman who "remembers" Lemuria, my at- that wasn't a slip in the story. Muton Mian was tention is caught with a definite snap. : :

REPORT FROM THE FORGOTTEN PAST 193

We disagree on the concept of time-interval. leading from it. Before them was a monster-like Your Lemurian says 12,000 years. Personally, I man they thought sure was the Devil himself. The wouldn't know. Nor have I ANY basis upon monster stared, and the two men stared back. One which to argue a time-interval since Lemuria was. of them fainted from fear, and the man who told My own personal impression concerning Atlantis my mother the story dragged the other away in and time-interval is wide open on one end. I mean panic, and as he did so, found himself just as mys- that I can only say "OVER 30,000 years." teriously in the forest again. The old man's friend My name, Jhettong ko Tal, I still remember. died a week later as a result of the shock he had

Fact ... or whacky fancy ? I wouldn't know 1 suffered. The old man tried later to find the cave You are a remarkable editor, in that academic again, but failed. I know this story is true be- training has failed to case-harden your mental cause my mother does not tell fairy tales and be- concepts. I would not be surprised if the vital cause she believes it. scientific contributions of "tomorrow" were made Jerry LaPriore by boys and girls who read science fiction today 2024 Pleasant St. Fall River, —simply because of its functioning as a means to Mass. preserve uninhibited speculative thought. Could This is certainly an amazing story—and it seems to be a counterpart many such stones testified be . . . your work is as vital as any college presi- of dent who heads a dignified academic institution. to by many people through the ages. We confess that it have a significance in relation to Mr. All thinking begins with IF . . . and you keep may the IF alive. Shaver's story, but we refer you to the story in George A. Foster this issue for a possible clarification of thai connec- P. O. Box 300, tion.—-Ed. Stoughton, Mass. You wiU pardon us, George, for using a per- THE "AR" SYMBOL sonal letter m this department, but we jeel that it Sirs: is instiled in the light of your "memory" of the Here are a few words that I have tried to de- past, which has suddenly become such a vitally cipher from Mr. Shaver's alphabet. I am espe- important factor to us and our readers. Perhaps cially interested in the "AR" symbol of danger. I some of those IFS you speak of can be turned have noticed that many things concerning war and into DEMONSTRABLE FACTS ij we can dig fighting have the two letters down to the bottom of this amazing new (or War, warrior, army, military, arms, armor, ar- tillery, arrows, barb, dart, spear, barrage, barracks, amazingly old!) well of . . . theory? t ?—Ed. chariot, board, guard, march, harbor, embark, mar, STRANGE ANSWER TO STRANGE char, warp, sear, jar, warn, bark, roar, hark, ward, QUESTION retard, charm, arson, arsenic, sharp, carnivorous, Sirs: arena, marsh, park. You might be interested to know I have re- All of these words have a danger connotation. ceived amazing answers to my oft-repeated ques- Other words with R in them that seem to belong tion: "What do you know of the caves?" to this classification are One old man who once lived in Baja, California, Sword, dagger, fort, port, powder, escort, burn, seemed quite perturbed when I asked bim, and bury, injure, horror, terror, murder, torture, cap- rushed down a side street and out of sight, casting ture, danger, forest. uneasy glances at me over his shoulder. The names of some animals seem to work out Robert L. Tanner into meaningful phrases, using the alphabet. The owl, because of its stern appearance, is often re- 235 8th St. N.E. garded an old wise bird. source, will Washington, D. C. as 0— W— {or wisdom), L life- Therefore: owl is "source This is interesting to know, Mr, Tanner, and it — wisdom of life." might interest you to know that some very weird of the seems to "willed source of experiences have been listed by other readers who Woman mean man." Spanish for is mu-h-er. have done the same thing.—Ed. Mujur, the word woman In his stories, Shaver seems to suggest that mu is MONSTER IN A CAVE! Ihe Lemurian word for mother, therefore mujur Sirs: means "mother-human-to-be." You asked for stories that might relate to Le- See apparently means "sun-energy." This sug- muria or the caves. My mother was told this gests light, instead of sight. Veo (J see, in Span- story by an old man who said it was as true as ish) means "vital—energy-—source." This also truth itself: suggests light. This man and a friend went hunting, agreeing The word "God" at first puzzled me since it this time to go to a portion of the woods to which means "Generated source of de (or evil)." I noted they did not normally go. They saw a deer and that the alphabet worked 75% of the time in Ger- gave chase. It jumped through a clump of bushes man, so I tried it in that language. "Gott" means and they followed—to find themselves unaccount- "generated source of integral energy" but since

ably in the strangest surroundings. They were in German is more guttural than English, we changed a huge cavern that had numerous passageways the "tt" to a softer "d" and therefore the word is : ! —

194 AMAZING STORIES

mis-deciphered in our language. inviolate until he came along 12,000 years later! Hardly so. Even so recently as Old English times Arthur J. Cox 435^ Hartford Ave. we find the word in a very different form hlaef- dige. the result of Los Angeles, Calif. This word was undoubtedly the union of two others. One was hlaf, "loaf, /( was just such significant features as this that and the other was probably a root allied to the originally sold us on Mr. Shaver's alpiiabel and led Gothic digan, "knead." A lady was a loaf-kneader. to kis sensational stories.—Ed. This certainly allayed the depression of her men- EXCERPT FROM 9-PAGE LETTER! folks, but that fact does not appear in the term. W. L. Janney, Sirs: Rt. 3, Box F-30, I read Mr. Shaver's story. I enjoyed it. Fur- Orlando, Florida. ther on I read with what I can only describe as We hope you'll pardon our "murder" of your stupefaction his exposition of "the Language of tremendous letter, but actually, you helped clarify Lemuria," and your whole-hearted acceptance of the situation immensely. You may remember we it. This is contribution, along with those of my urged that the alphabet be tried on "root" words. all the rest, and in writing it we have to assume Your letter substantiates that opinion. Take the that all this theory is very serious otherwise I — word you analyzed "lady," and let's see what the would not get any fun out of considering it root word comes to, using Shaver's alphabet. First, as to qualifications: I have had some my HLAFDIGAN. H-human; L-life; A-animal; F- fifteen years or so of study in the field of com- jecund; D'-detrimental; I-l; G-generate; A-ani- parative linguistics—at the University of Virginia, mal; N-seed. "Human life animal(s) fecundfity principally, but also at the University of Michigan would be) detrimental (destroyed, lost? if) I (did and on own. my not) generate animal (his) seed." In other words, It is surprising that Mr. Shaver finds 26 letters a lady is one without whom the human animal's in the Lemurian, at least, whereas when it first fecundity or ability to reproduce would be lost appeared on the far, dim horizon the original al- if she were not present to generate, or incubate, phabet we use today possessed only 22 letters. his seed. We hold no brief for Mr. Shaver's Some of these have dropped out, but others, such translation because we saw from the beginning as I and U and V, Theta and X have split up J, that although his memory (or whatever it was) from original units, to bring the count to our pres- was good, but his applications were weak. If we ent English 26, although the number differs. could publish one percent of the letters we've re- Also, I might mention that the high percentage ceived from people who did this thing right, you'd of his letters which he finds to "fit into" other be right with us on the ball! It was another error languages might result from the simple fact that of ours in assuming, since Shaver's definitions there are only so many language sounds possible, seemed not to fit very well, that the alpkabet was and 26 is a high proportion of them. However, phonetic and not literal. We were wrong, and his alphabet does not even fit English with any just as every portion of an ancient keiroglyph has degree of accuracy, since English has more vowels a definite meaning (a rule which even Church- than Mr. Shaver allows for, and several more con- ward chooses to ignore on occasion) every letter sonants. (You must not confuse the written letter in a root word has a meaning; and what are let- with the spoken sound.) ters, actually, but streamlined glyphs?—Ed. (The editors have briefed this letter very much, since much of it is predicated on our personal ed- A MYSTERY EXPLAINED? itorial error in assuming that the language was phonetic rather than written, which did much to Sirs: confuse Mr. Janney.) Let me say that the Shaver "memories" are Mr. Shaver's contempt for the basic history of stupefying in their implications. I am not saying

his vocabulary is startling. He neglects completely that "I Remember Lemurial" is true in every the fact that every word in the English language word; yet I would be a fool to deny something has changed tremendously both in spelling and in that explains quite a few things that have puzzled pronunciation and often in meaning. Merely going mankind in general and scientists in particular. back to Old English, several hundred years (1000 So, let us say that with regard to Lemurian sci- A.D.) let us take his own "Lemurian" words and ences Shaver has a very good memory. analyze them I have deduced that, before our present civiliza- (The editors reproduce only one here.) LADY— tion not one, but two great civilizations lived and Lay de. (Allay depression; complimentary term.) died. I refer to James Churchward's books, "Lost All Mr. Shaver has to do is to go through the Continent of Mu," "Children of Mu," and "Sacred English language punning furiously and he will Symbols of Mu," referring to a civilization which have hundreds of "useable" Lemurian roots. Yet existed after Shaver's Lemurian culture and yet if he were to look in even so abridged a work as before ours. I will refer to this civilization later Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, he would find on. that this word did not spring full fledged as 1-a- To continue, I think Shaver has explained some- d-y from the Lemurian consciousness and remain thing that all the scientists of the world have been REPORT FROM THE FORGOTTEN PAST 195

unable to. This is the mystery of how a compara- two-sided square, and dispensing wisdom (truth) tively "young" star like Sirius can have an "old" and justice. He found in this Egyptian vignette white dwarf for a companion. Shaver's solar ori- from the "Book of the Dead" Ike symbols of Mu, gin theory explains such cases as this. Before con- and listed them all—then proceeded to ignore the tinuing this, it might be interesting to note that objects shown in the hands of the goddess! These some scientists have come out with a daring theory objects are the telaug (used to gain proof of a which states that the white dwarf suns are older criminal's guilt) and the so-called "scepter" of than the galaxies of our universe. authority of the Egyptian leaders, with its "clevis" on the bottom end, which Shaver claims is simply Things would probably be clearer if I put the a "key" or lever used to operate the ray machines facts and theories into a little storyettc titled "The the caves. Since crimes were a result detri- Story of Sirius." of of mental forces in the brain, thus warping thought, Ages ago, in the Universe-That-Existed-Before- crime was not punished—but the, brain was cleaned Ours, there was a blazing, monstrous sun, a sun of Us detrimental deposits of the heavy metals, and with a planetary system, in which one of the plan- this was done by means of the rays from the ma- ets must have been about five times the size of chines. At one point in Mr. Shaver's first- book, Jupiter. On this planet, Sirius, grew luxuriant ke mentions that the "creator" of man had many forests and jungles, which through the ages formed names, and he lists them. One of the names in coal seams which eventually became so thick that his list is "Titon," and a great many people wor- the planet became a solid mass of carbon, down shipped the "TitonsI" Churchward chooses to say to the original core, which was of metal. the "Tilons" were not separate entities, but just As the ages went by, the primary sun radiated another name for the "Four Forces," which created away its mass, until its mass began to approach the universe at the behest of "The Nameless One" that of its planet. Consequently the planet began (the deity) who gave the Seven Commands that to exercise greater sway over the star until, when resulted in everything. Prior to Churchward' s Mu, the masses became equal, the planet was swinging which extends back to 50,000 plus years (possibly the sun in an orbit as much as the sun was swing- 200,000, ke says), was the era of the Titans and ing the planet in an orbit. Still the sun disinte- Allans; and their battle with Zeit and flight to grated its mass away until the planet was the pri- another world occurred before Mul Churchward mary and the sun the satellite. A typical Ptole- had the proof in his grasp, and he rejected it—but maic system it was. not without good reason, and we can forgive htm outer space About this time a meteor from for that. Modern scientists reject his geology, and setting off fire atomic struck the planet, a of thus reject all his discoveries. That is sheer bias energy. The intense heat thus generated vapor- and idiocy. It may be, though, that had Church- ized the planet, which became Sirius as we know ward accepted the "Titans" for what they are, it today. This theory may be applied to any star geology as he read it would have been "accurate" that has a white dwarf companion. in the eyes of today's geologists! —Ed. Emile E. Greenleaf, Jr., 1303 Mystery Street, TELONIUM PLATES EXIST! New Orleans, 19, La. Sirs: Mr. Greenleaf evidently forget he was going to Shaver remember these: Ashantius, corns back to Churchward and his two civiiha- Does Mr. Aluncia, Olenthia, Melenthus, Alldnia, Askatanthe, tians and mailed this letter out without further Illanthia—and many others? Illanthia was a mas- reference, but we have not deleted the mention, of second age of Lemuria. because we have some observations to make con- ter the cerning it. As for this theory of the white dwarf If you will go to (place deleted) they are hold- suns, we can only say COULD BE, just as we have ing some of the imperishable records of which to all of Shaver's amazing revelations. Regarding you speak. Churchward, his books use the material he gath-

ered to forward the theory that life began on Bee J. E. Leeds, Earth, that man was created "full-blown" on the (address deleted) continent Mu, which he has quite substantially proved sank into the sea in the world's greatest We have launched an investigation of this amaz- catastrophe. But many times in his search he ran ing letter, almost all of which we have deleted for into glyphs which seemed to refer to something several reasons, one of which concerns our per- other than Mu, and earlier, and from other worlds. sonal safety, and perhaps that of the writer. Al- This being a subject much too herd to prove, and together, we received three letters claiming they besides, so vast that he could only lose himself knew of the existence of Shaver's telonium plates in it (and further, cause the scientific world to —one mentioned Italy, which we can't check, at laugh even more than it has at his work), He least now; another said Moses got most of Genesis chose to ignore such discoveries when they cropped from them, and this one, which named a definite up. But, we can give one example—his reference place in this country! We are (gullibly, perhaps) to the vignette of the goddess Moat sitting on the taking steps to confirm, or prove it untrue.—Ed. DISCUSSIONS

A mazing Stories will publish in each issue a selection of letters from readers. Everybody Is welcome to contribute. Bouquets and brickbats will have an equal chance. Inter-reader correspondence and controversy will be encour- aged through this department. Get in with the gang and have your say.

WE'VE LOST A FRIEND pades. It was a favorite stunt of the trio to get themselves well plastered, and then two would

^ S WE began to prepare this final portion of collaborate to place the third (and most ine- Amazing Stories, wc received the sad news briated) on a train bound (or a distant point. that David Wright O'Brien was killed in Generally the ticket was purchased with his own action December 11 over Germany while in the money. Your editor remembers being shipped to performance of his duty as bombardier of a B-17. Cleveland one Christmas night—and also remem- According to reports Dave was one of two of the bers shipping O'Brien to the same city in retalia- crew unable to bail out, because of their position tion months later. in the nose of the craft. It was an ironical bit of Standing on our mantlepiece is a bottle of wine fate that O'Brien, ordinarily a waist gunner was purchased for us the last time he saw us before shifted to bombardier when the original bom- going overseas. Standing beside it is a bottle of bardier was lost. Scotch we bought and promised to open when he Your editor has always considered O'Brien the returned. Neither bottle will ever be opened. most talented discovery he has made since he They will serve as a constant memento of one of began his editing career eight years ago. O'Brien the best writer* and best friends wc ever had. was a nephew of the famous and beloved Farns- Someday, in another life we'll meet again; and worth Wright, who so ably edited that unique then we'll drink their counterparts. Until then, magazine, Weird Tales until his own tragic death. cheerio, Dave old boy! We'll be seeing you. In addition, O'Brien, together with William P. McGivern was one of the best friends we GRAVITY IS A PUSH ever had. To be a friend of O'Brien was to be a friend of McGivem since the two were insep- Sirs: arable pals. In the March issue of Amazing Stories you The readers of this and other magazines do made mention of my pamphlet on the nature of not realize the real extent of O'Brien's genius for space, gravitation, etc. It seems that some fiction writing, because they have been unaware readers have confused my theory, which is based of the fact that he not only made his own name a on the theory of relativity and modern physics top ranking favorite with the readers, but gained with Mr. Shaver's gravitation theory as outlined an equal recognition with several other names. in his story "I Remember Lemuria!". The only When wc lost O'Brien we lost also Duncan Farns- points of resemblance between the two theories worth, John York Cabot, Clee Garson, Bruce is that in both cases gravitation is assumed to be Dennis, Richard Varden and others. He averaged in the nature of an inward push toward the center more than 50,000 words a month for years, and of the earth instead of a pull, as is popularly sup- thus many names were necessary. posed. Otherwise my theory is not at all like the After joining the air force he wrote more than theory of Mr. Shaver. 150,000 words, the only writer to accomplish such J. P. Kayne, a feat. He was an indefatigable worker, and Room 517, snatched time even during flights to pencil down 4518 Clarendon Ave., a line or two. He loved to write, and wrote with Chicago, 40, 111. his heart. None of his readers will ever forget Your theory, Mr. Kayne, has been read by us, such stories as "Mr. Hibbard's Hat", "The Man and is intensely interesting, so you can hardly blame The World Forgot", "The Place is Familiar", and us for mentioning it—but only because of the dozens of others, not to forget his classic "Truth is one fact that you maintain gravity is a push, wkick a Plague" which was included in the anthology by tied in with Mr. Shaver. It was our fault, of Phil Stong, "Other Worlds." course, that readers assumed you supported Mr. Personally your editor has suffered a feeling of Shaver, which is not the case. We realize that loss that cannot be equalled. O'Brien, McGivern yours is an exact mathematical theory, and is not and Palmer had become almost a legendary trio to be taken in the same light with Shaver's more wherever authors gathered, because of their esca- fantastic theories. Therefore, we correct this im- AMAZING STORIES 197

fresiton herewith, and repeat only that your main hatch ! Also, it seemed in the story that it pamphlet is -worthy of a reading by any of our took a long time for the sub to "fill with water readers, most of whom are vitally interested in Then at the end of the story, the second scientific advancement and in the theories of those German sub fired five torpedoes at the destroyer. who have put much work and time into propos- This might have been necessary to end the story ing them. Many thanks for your article on by ending Alita's half life, but it isn't at all logical mathematics, which appears on pages 137 and that a sub would fire even one torpedo at a de- 209.—Ed. stroyer, with capital ships and merchant ships ic sight. Yet they did. This rather spoils the whole SCIENCE FICTION FILMS thing. In the story, ''War Prisoners of Renault Island,'' Janito claims that the Martians will be policed in I am a reader of your mag and, up until order that they may never be able to start another a short time ago, a satisfied one. But} (Here war. Then, in another few moments, we find out coroes the brain storm.) that there is only one space-ship left on Uranus, Why not start a campaign to flood the movie and that that is going to be destroyed. How then studios with letters demanding more science are the Uranians going to police the Martians. fiction films? Tt beats me how anyone can claim that all of By doing this you could Wilcox's stories are no good. Admittedly, they are 1. Increase the number of science fiction fans. generally off the track, and occasionally there 2. Have a chance to use some of the S. F. is one that doesn't come out good, but most of masterpieces, giving the writers a chance, them are. I think that "Invasion Dust" was the 3. Use any story that has been published by best story of the December issue. "Battling your mag to get more publicity. Bert" and "Truk Island" came in close seconds- Decide on one studio and then ask the readers The play of the actual story of Amelia Earhart, to swamp them with letters. and a suggestion of what really happened is an I'm sure any studio that gets enough letters interesting one, especially in view of the fact that will agree to produce such a picture or series of many people have long thought that something pictures. That's about all. like this had happened, at least in regard to Hugh A. McDonald being taken by the Japs. There is one point of 101 Dayton Terr. the story that left me confused, however. Where Newark, N. J. did the sun and ocean come from. If the ocean Well, readers, it's up to you. Why not write sank with them where did ours come from, and

letters to aU the studios? Those of you who like at all odds, where did the sun come from? science fiction films. We'd like to see 'em too, Something that strikes me as strange; most fans and -we'll be the first to write. Maybe it will seem to prefer Weinbaum to Lovecraft or Mer-

help, who can tell?—Ed. ritt. For that matter, Lovecraft shouldn't be mentioned with regard to STF, because he is strictly Fantasy, at least his best stuff. TECHNICAL ERRORS Guy Trucano, Jr. Sirs: Box 1094 I noticed in your "Discussions" a letter by Pvt. Dicksinson, N. Dak. struck the number of J. R. Gregory and was by We bow our heads in shame—you are perfectly points which be brought up in regard to wrong right about those technical errors. However, it parts of the author's stories. In my opinion, al- may be that these drowned people, being alwe though your stories have, as a whole, gotten bet- by some weird, unknown power, also had some ter in these last issues, at the same time, there unknown power that would enable them to open seems to be more of these technical points which anything. As for Submarine Torpedo tactics, are either ignored or mistreated. there you have us. We don't know from noth- people attack the In this story, these undersea ing! Personally, we'd shoot on sight, if we were submarine, when a member of the sub's crew the Captainl—Eo. opens the outer hatch. Now the point is that if the submarine were at any depth at all, this would be an impossible feat of strength, because of the tremendous pressure. Even so, admit- CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING ting that the sub was not down far enough to make this impossible when the hatch was opened, the water would not come in over the edge MsrtrV Telepathy of the batch-well, as shown in the picture on page 12-13, but would come down in a solid stream. . Johnson, ir., W! In an account of the sinking of the U. S. sub, Squalvs, the author said that a stream of water came down the air intake valve, eighteen inches wide, in a solid beam, knocking him off his feet. How much more water would com« down the sub's 198 AMAZING STORIES NO PAPER!

I have just finished the December, 1944, Amazing. I found "War Criminals of Renault Island" to be most enjoyable. I would not say

it was a great story, but it kept one interested

from start to finish, and it was full of action. The rest of the stories I did not care for. I do not know why Don Wilcox is considered such a good writer. He has written some fairly good stories, but I do not think anyone will care to read his stories 20 or 30 years from now. Everyone He does not have what E, R. Burroughs puts into w!U wel- his stories, and E.R.B.'s tales are as much in de- free offer. CROWN DENTAL mand today as when he wrote them, if you don't CIiEANER ts an espe- ly prepared antiseptic believe me, try and buy some of his Mars, preparation to keep your plates Venus, or Pellucidar books. If you do get them -"clean snd help eliminate bad and foreign substances that they are rather expensive. Sometime ago there was a suggestion made that you publish some of the most popular tales from past Amazings in pocket-size books. I like the idea, but you better get started, because I noticed other publishers are doing it now. Some of A. TIGHTENS FALSE TEETH Merritt's stories have been published and also col- lections of fantasy and science-fiction have been or NO COST! issued. w arnaring mouth comfort without risking a single cent... Walter John Sargent enjoy fhat feeling of baring yuur own teeth attain. Satisfy row desire for food . . . eit what you want. CROWN li ELI NEB TIGHTENS 3331 De Forest Drive FALSE TEETH OR NO COST. PERFECT FOR PABTIAL8. LOW- ERS AND UPPERS. Don't suffer embarrassment and discomfort caused Cincinnati 9, Ohio -by loose dental plates. Apply CROWN is jine, but uie CTCDC KELINER. In aliffy your plate fits like Your suggestion on pocket books up to months. Jl Kr J new and stay" that way 4 paper! After the war, anything No old- fashioned heating to burn your just don't have mouth. Just squeete CROWN from tube can happen. Right now, we'll just have to wait.— and put your teeth back In. They'll Ht as ii i snugly as ever. Inventor a recognized Ed. 1 authority in dental field. A patent ha* been to protect • > w l' applied for CROWN RELINER ClfAH Vac? VS—ii/ you from Imitators. After you reline your wch ^twsr plate with CROWN, take your false teeth HE'S IN THE ARMY >w- S 01] t for cleaning without affecting the r r HFTJXER is

suaranteed . . . tt'i harmless. It's taste- less Has that natural pink color. NOT A POW- I am writing you to find out whatever beccame MV.V, O R of an author named Clark South. He wrote two SEND NO MONEY good stories a couple of months apart from each other. They were excellent reading. I can't remember whether they appeared in FA or AS so I'm writing to you. I would appreciate it if you could let me know what happened to him. J. J. Roth 1020 So. 23d St. tars STE4KI Omaha, 51, Nebr. J. Clements of Algonac writes: Clark South is in the army, and last heard plates were so bad they rati! When t talked. Now I can eat from in Richmond, Virginia. He'll certainly write steaks, corn on the cob." E. — W. W., of Virginia, writes: for us when the war's over, though and you can found Crown Reliner t "I our word and his that. En. be allyouciaim," Many take for — more attest to same excellent results, line your plates witu TRIPPED TOO! CROWN RELIN !.£: WE'D HAVE today. SEND NO MONEY Sirs: Tou must be 100% lighted or no cost. Try f0'

i i . ' .' . > . . " i' ii — l dox" in your December issue. If he had been I alert and of a logical rrfind, he would have noted - that the old man who said he was Zeno could not he free CrowrTCJeartBrT" T will pay'postman one dollar plus ap- i proximatelv 21c postage on arrival. If I am not satisfied after I even state the paradox correctly, and also had

1 tour months. mixed it up rather thoroughly with another para- dox. The paradoxes are as follows: Achilles must first reach the spot where the tortoise was originally. But by that time the tor- «

AMAZING STORIES 199 toise has moved ahead some distance. Then Achilles must cover that distance, but again the tortoise has moved, etc. The paradox that this pseudo-Zeno tried to Horeesho* state was the Dichotomy, but there was not even This Ring, Handmade, a turtle in that. So the most logical soldier should Hand - engraved, have simply walked out of the cave! inlaid with simu-

But he probably would have tripped anyway \ lated pearl, is a W. F. Goodell KNOCKOUT 1 439 Marlborough Shoeand shank of everlasting Monel Boston IS, Mass. Metal is We'll have to ask our author to frame a rebut- 20 YEARS tal— if he can.—Ed. GUARANTEED Supply is limited . . . rush your order! SEND NO MONEY. Pay Postman only $3.85, plus excise tax BOY, CAN WE PLEASE YOU! a for refund in five days if not Sirs: The December Amazing has reached my AMERICAN JEWELRY CO., whtt/W waiting arms and, after giving it the once-over, I find myself tempted to dash off a few lines of comment. LOOSE DENTAL PLATES In the first place I'm overjoyed to find you RED NED & TIGHTENED AT HOME SI. 00 NEWtiT IMPROVED DEKDEX RE- featuring stories. is more Ray Bradbury Ray liINEfl. a plastic, builds up (refits) really a very skilled and original writer, who loose upper and lower dentures. Really mates them fit as tier should irftn- never fails to put an air of plausibility into his out using powder. Easily applied. No beating required. Brush it on and stories. Any more Bradbury yams you throw wear your pistes while it sets. It adheres to the plates and raaies our way will be more than welcome! Get the only a comfortable, Einooth and durable hint? surface that can be washed and scrubbed. Each application lasts for Allow this humble one to put in a plea for months. Not a powder or wax. Con- num. Neutral pink color. Sold another Paul. Usually I tains no rubber or good back cover by on MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. Not sold in stores. prefer his interiors to his paintings, but recently MaU il for generous supply, brush and dlreeUoo-i and we pay costage. Charges extra on C.OJ). orders. he's turned out some exceptionally fine cover

work . . . especially that minor masterpiece that decorated the September issue. 'Twas almost nice enough to frame. ANY PHOTO Covers this time a bit below standard in my ENLARGED Size 8 x 10 Inches opinion. Tsk! Pep it up, gents. 11 BAUBLE -WEIGHT PAPER Am very curious about this "I Remember Le- Suns price for toll lanstti oi boat furm , EToaM, ludiom, muria" stuff. Won't form any opinion until I ptt aaimaV ete., or ta'ttm*- 1 mania ml (jut of ktoqj>

read it, tho . . . Why hasn't anybody complimented you on the SEND NO large, readable type used to print AS? So okay, gf^ejsf-s** I

I'm doing it now. This is one of tbe mag's best duubin-weiirlTt portrait quiihy onMr. ; pottman fi7c p|Q, poatwe-sriud Wfctritn or... features. Gives it attractive appearance and is •ad w» pa? imuts. Taka aSnmowa ot tbU n mining oSaifnow. SaM Hour pholot today. easy on the eyes. Bravo I STANDARD ART STUDIOS 200 East Ohio Street OWL 806 -D Chloaoe (IB, III, At this point, I'll dive thru the letter depart- ment. Discussions, I'm happy to say, is unques- tionably one of the top scienti&ctional reader's columns. Most of the letters are highly interest- SONG POEMS ing. Liked G. Waible's missive the best. Worth several hearty laughs. But then, I've always been Song poems set to music by famous Hollywood Motion Picture composer- M partial to humor. Mr. Serene has been plowed arrauger. Your song recorded by noted T deep enough into the mud of criticism, I notice. E Allow me to put my 2c in. Let the characters MELODIES smoke, drink, swear, and what-have-you, but just f.O. 8« 2J68-N D keep the eagle eye trained for over-use of these quaint pastimes. Too much of such stuff be- comes a wee bit stale after the 999,999th repeti- tion. Agree? High School Course

This seems to be all for now, so I'll close with at Home Misty Finish in 2 Years 1 best wishes and an on -bended-knees request for Go as rapidly as your time and aWHOea permit. Coureej equivalent to resident school work— prepares forcollege America's top fantasy artist, Virgil Finlay. entrance exams. Standard H.8. texts supplied. Diploma, Joe Kennedy I 84 Baker Ave.

Dover, New Jersey i AmsrlW>Sdl0<>l,D«tH^39,Drl»IU»ltl.i;niKgD» AMAZING STORIES

1. Mr. Bradbury wiU appear often! 2. Paul PAYS YOU has on this desk a half-dozen SWELL paintings! 3. How about the cover this month? 4. More HQQaMonth Lemuria this month! 5. We can do no more than continue our readable type! 6. We intend to keep Discussions interesting, and this time should E3000 be an example. 7. We're being very about careful IN SICKNESS AND ACCIDENT smokes and drinks and things! 8. Virgil Finlay You can collect (100 a month for sickness is in this issue with a SWELL one!—Ed. or uctdent. $3000 for low of llmbe or slant. $3000 for «ccldeatolde*tb. S< a dey innm any man or womin. 16 to 76. NO MEDICAL TRUE CONFESSION! EXAMINATION. G«t this policy for 10 daja j^tho^riajt^^jM^jj.^wvdjougon below Sirs: IHIIICtM «t«TINXL .•U.»Rcr JBINCT I am disgusted! Of all the mean, rotten tricks, X7« W. A4*tn« St.. Chtew *. lll-Oop*. 7 this one is tops. I have just finished the Decem- ber '44 issue of Amazing Stories. In the story by C. A. Baldwin, "War Criminals of Renault Island," there is an illustration depicting a phase of the story. THAT picture awakened a faint glimmer of recognition. Hastily tearing through my not complete back files of AS Bingo! There it was staring me in the face. Under a different

story, under a different sub-title there it was! LEMURIA: OLD AND NEW Way back in November, 1940, the same picture by Krupa. Now, I ask you, is that fair to your honest, loving readers? Is it? Not a line changed. common culture. arcbtUc- ! which chsracterii Nothing ! By the way the story in the Nov., 1940, - If .(.. vou issue was "Revolt on the Tenth World," by Ed- mond Hamilton. I doubt whether or not this e dm-.,* letter will be printed, but I hope it is. On the "New Bsc*" ore not only po»illBllitl«-. — IwvitabllUMs! B> nure to read LSMbSIA THE INCOIifpAB- whole with a few mistakes(?!) Amazing Stohuls igw Uiu*tr»tsd wiUj fftcbt led figures of umiiual *od on* diio» today, Ufa c*Hg»tlae. Wrtte Dept. O. is a swell magazine, except that there are too- LEMUR1AN FELLOWSHIP o-o-o many stories concerning the war. We get Blvd. Ui AnaslM 4. CalHonU enough of that in the newspapers, over the radio and on the screen. Please, let's have a few stories that are truly AMAZING, that have nothing to do with today's war. Arthur Brown 4125 Rogers St. BUY BONDS Los Angeles 33, Calif. At the last minute our artist fell down on us, and we faced a deadline with no illustration. Yes,

we tried to pull a fast one ! You certainly are an PSORIASIS—ECZEMA observing cuss! War? We're soft-pedaling it now, or have you noticed?—Ed. YOU CAN HAVE A CLEAN SKIN! IT IS POSSIBLE! GIANTS?

Sirs: After reading "I Remember Lemuria 1" by ftl Art rseulwr ttze bottle. Send currency or Richard Shaver, I have decided that we can an- **'ww M. O. or »ent C. O. T>. Write TODAII swer the question "could it be true or not?" our- selves.

If you can tell me whether or not human beings ever attained the height and size described by

Shaver (on this Earth) and if they did, were their mental powers in accordance? If you can find SONG POEMS WANTED scientific proof that humans once grew to this TO BE SET TO MUSIC great size and that their mental power.? were in accordance, then I for one can hardly doubt that Fr«* Examination. Sand Your Pootns To our forefathers left the Earth. J. CHAS. McNEIL Why can't Shaver remember where he placed A. B. MASTER OF MUSIC 5J0-N So. Alexandria Lo* AngelM 9. Ckllf. those plates and how to build some of those ma- chines he describes? He is supposed to have a AMAZING STORIES 201

super-wonderful memory. Bascom G. Long BE PREPARED FOR Atkins, Va. Col. James Churchward, in his three books, pro- SICKNESS or ACCIDENT duces ancient writings (some of them 35,000 years

• THIS HOSPIfAUZATION PLAN old) from Indian and Tibetan monasteries, which ventures the 0 tells of "giant" men. However, he "*^ PROTECTS YOU AND opinion that the translations are in error. We j? have several instances of giants in the Bible. Can ^ YOUR FAMILY we accept them as fiction? The temple at Baal- beck, Greece, is built of colossal stones, some of which weigh as much as 1J0O tonsl How were these moved? There are only two answers—by levitation, such as was described in Shaver's story, or by Titans. Churchward proved that Athens, built before it was destroyed by a cataclysm, was in an era 35,000 years ago. But he says the Baal- beck ruin was less ancient, being built after the mountains were formed, or about 10,000 years ago. We personally believe they were built as much as 50,000 years ago, before the mountains Hnpfal Expenses paid, up to . . . $540.00 came into being. Giants? Recently jawbones (hgfnlsg witii to first t*fl were discovered which came from men 30 feet FOR ACCIDENT talll And a tooth was discvered which might Yes, Doctor Expanse paid, tip to . . . $135.00 have come from a man 60 feet tall I Giants? there is much evidence, but the trouble is, scien- Less of Wajis retmbursid, up to . . $300.00 tists, and even such pseudoscientists as Church- loss of Ufa by AceUtnl .... $1000.00 not WANT to believe it. Churchward ward do WAR COVERAGE AND EXTRA BENEFITS tells us that the "gods" had many names, (he ChlUtlrtfc Expums paid, iv to . . . $60.00 called them "forces") and among those names he

lists "Titans" Ancient Naacal writings tell of • It's easy to run into debt when Ra-ma, ruler of Mu, Son of the Sun (symbolic of sickness or accident hit. Under the the Deity) who lived 10,000 years—and of Horus, Plan, you'll able the Egyptian, who was a man, and not a god, as Family Mutual be Egyptologists would have us believe, who lived to pay your hospital bill. And in this be a 17fi00 years. Churchward says must case of accident, your doctor ex- mis-translation. Must it? (one man, or dynasty?) penses, and you'll be reimbursed for revealed now, Mr. Shaver's memory As we've loss of time from work. You can not memory at all, but actual contact with the is enter any hospital in the United caves, and reading of what are called "though rec- States or Canada. In the hospital ords." These thought records do not tell where the plates are—but our readers dot Three have you may have the care of your mentioned them, and we are investigating. As for family doctor. Simply present your machines—we have in our possession numerous Family Mutual card at the time of and we descriptions and details for such machines, admittance. Benefits applying to them! You'll hear more are NOT neglecting children are 50% of those paid adults. about this /—Ed. HAIL COUPON TODAY . Ha Ajut Will Bottar Y« ABOUT "EXD"

Sirs: with the theory which I have tried to find fault Family Mutual Life Insurance Co. Mr. Shaver explained in "I Remember Lemuria!'' Wilmington 99, Del. 2-NFU There it states that gravity is caused by the fric- tion of "exd" on matter as it falls to Earth, It Phase lend me, without obligation, complete was stated also that light was slowed down to information on your Economical Hospital!, 186,271 m.p. sec. (approximately) by friction of nation Plan. the light with exd. What is exd? Why hasn't it discovered lately with all the scientific dis- been NAME , — coveries? The answer is that they have discov- Have you ever read ered it, and it's not too new. ADD«ESS_____ , about "cosmic rays" ? Yes, cosmic rays, the thing science knows so little about. CITY. _ STATE It is known that a ray of light is bent when I

202 AMAZING STORIES

passing, close to a star. Science says gravity causes it. We know gravity is failing exd, or so RATIONED MOTORISTS Shaver says. From that we draw the conclusion that light is not only slowed down to a constant Now Get EXTRA speed, but can be bent from its path by moving exd. GASOLINE MILEAGE What causes exd to fall if it is gravity? The attraction exd has for exd. Scientists know that

the core of the Earth is very dense probably re-

sulting from the accumulation of exd after it falls automatic Su&arnhnrge Principle to Earth. A person then wonders why some of Vacu-matic is mttrety dijftrtntt Operates cm the Supercharge principle. Saves gao. Automat- the exd would not fall up, as there is plenty of it ically provides a better gas mlzture. Guaran- teed to give up to ao% extra gas mileage, mora left in space. Exd once stopped in matter must power and better performance. drag the matter with it to a certain extent due AGENTS TRIAL OFFER to the great friction exd and matter bave. sjrw% -. — tor a prosped. srafl Some dwarf stars are so dense that one cubic name, address on postoard" tor big money rnak Inaoffarnadbuw na cat roura tar tntesdnchiK. inch weighs one ton. The companion of Sirius is such a star. Another is known to weigh 7 tons per cubic inch. This is more than likely caused by the accumulation of exd after millions of years till of existence.

If exd is cosmic rays, why are there more cosmic rays the farther away from Earth you go when SIMPLE, at the same time matter gets lighter? True, but EASY TO USE , Magic liquid takes only 2 minutes to far above the Earth the rays (exd) have not en- reproduce any snapshot you have on to countered much matter and thus are falling at a stationery, handkerchiefs, ties, scarfs, ate. Won't wash off. Won't hurt nega- faster rate, and inertia then prevents exd from tive or fabric it's used on. Personalize dragging it down. That explains why things fall year belongings ! An Ideal gift. Com- faster faster. While this is going on, some of plete outfit with fall colors Included, t and enough for 100 photos— only fl.00 pott- the rays are stopped, thus there are less rays the paid. Sent C.O.D. for $1.21. CHRISTY PHOTO SUPPLY nearer Earth you go. The amount of exd falling Dspt, 7|2 2835 N. Oantral. Chitigo on the Earth is small in comparison with its weight, and matter increases in weight very lit-

tle. ^5&Vw a y * t 6 w A R d L' Cosmic rays are highly penetrating radiations WPOm&rJ GLORY striking the Earth from everywhere in outer space. Doesn't that fit exd? Conrad Peterson, Willson Beacb, Tillamook, Ore. You have tried to find fault, but apparently you found only corroboration! Your tetter astounds us, for several reasons which we won't go into GENUINE here, but we can say that you've presented quite- a logical case. IF exd exists, it COULD be cosmic DIAMONDS rays. Personally, we can't say. But we are going to do a lot of thinking about tit—Ed. "flies* Rin« contain flsnulna Dia- mond i, mounted In solid 1BK yellow Gold. We offer a le-day trial—satli- SAW IT IN THE PAPER faction or your Money Baekl For a liruitad time only—(0. 35 each or the "Bridal Pair" Only (I0-9S plus 20% Sirs: tax. Said No Money—when your Biaf* arrlre, pay po*Unan, A« Now I Genu- A friend of mine gave me a Chicago paper and ine Diamond* solid Csld rtao. Gift box free. I stumbled on the item and got a good laugh— sent it to a friend who said she believe itl I ordered VICTORY DIAMOND CO. Dept. NP-S. Saint Olairwillt, Ohio a copy of your magazine from California and it arrived—the cover nearly knocked me over— can't read Shavers fiction, but I can't read Bur- SONGWRITERS roughs—all pulps put me to sleep. However, I Place your songs with us. Melodies supplied WITH- am interested In the psychology back of Shaver, OUT CHARGE by well known Hollywood composer*. whatever it is. We record your song and make It presentable to the publishers. Lead sheets and records furnished. Send I do not think it is racial memory. I believe your sons material for free examination. Write for this to be a clear case of obsession. Wherever he details. CINEMA SONO CO. was during those years of absence he was given a P. O. Box 810 Dept. 8-1 Beverly HWs, Colli, post-hypnotic suggestion that he was in a cave, AMAZING STORIES

etc., etc: Sometimes Mutan Mion speaJcs, some- times he speaks—two entities—the one from an other plane. Mion may have some information that is correct, again he may be an ex-pulp writer having his fun. About the Lemurian language. In that strange volume Oakspe, Pan is given as the continent

that sank in the Pacific—it was the mother con- tinent. People spread from there to Egypt and South America, hence the pyramids in both places, the similarity of words now and then. In Oakspe-, which was written through psychic means, the Panic language is given. You might compare it with Mion's.

There is only one way that you can ever get at what is behind all this and that is through a Life Reading from Mr. Cayce of Virginia Beach, Va., on Mr. Shaver, with Mi. Shaver's consent, of

course. The trouble is that Mr. Cayce tried to help too many people and is ill—he was dated through 1945 when he had to quit. When he can begin again is problematical, In many of the Life Readings, we learn that those in prominent TIGHTENS positions today are mostly men who were promi- FALSE TEETH or NO COST I nent in Atlantis—he has considerable information UXKB'B mw tracing mouth comfort without risking a. simile e< eajoy that feeling of baring jour own leelh sKSln. Satisfy your dealt* on Atlantis. Most of his readings are physical for food ... oat what you want. CROWN TIGHTENS fAi-sz TErra oaNo cost, perfect for paktials. low- diagnoses and 100% correct as I can attest. bob AMD LTPEB3. Doo'l fluffs* tmibstriisraent and rtiwomfort earned by icloose dental pl»ie«. Apply CROWN I believe him to be the most remarkable W man RBLIKEK. In a jtffy your plate flta like alive today—I suppose you have read about him new and »tm that way up to 4 tttontha. vust3$th>$£No old -las Hi on ed beating to burn your in "There Is a River" by Sugrue. I sure would mouth. Just SQuceie CROWN from tuba and put your teeth back In. They'll fit as like to know what he says about Shaver. snugly aa aver. Inventor li a recognized authority !n dental Belli A patent hat been I wish luck in checking the you up on scientific applied for CROWN RFU.N'ER to protect items given and compliment you on being open- tou from imitators. Arier you rBllne yowr place with CROWN, tafce your fsUo teeth minded enough to go into it as you have. out lor cleaning without affecting the CROWN KiOJNER. CBOWN la Mrs. H. M. Graham need . . . it's harmlejt. Ifa taste- lu ttul tutural bIdlH color. NOT Box 14 Ruidoso, New Mexico. We have tried to get a volume of Oakspe, but SEND NO MONEY have failed. Can any of our readers supply a copy for for our growing library on Lemuria and kindred subjectst Your information on Mr. Cayce is in- hV3 CROWN teresting—and we appreciate it. No matter -what MMUf CMWM the source, we don't intend to overlook any pos- MM sibilities in tracking this great mystery dovml— TUM. . wrn*Tt Ed. WM0UTM REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM SATS STEAK! 3. Clements of Algonac writes: _ Sirs: aeetoa ware 10 bad they rattled— arheo I talked. Now 1 oan Please put me down with those who regard steaks, corn on Ibe cob." 1 W. W„ of Virginia, writa*; Richard S. Shavers various theories as completely 1 found Crown fiellner to be all you claim, "Many unscientific and unfounded on any known facts. mora atteat to laroe excellent retolti. Be- Since only his "mantong" language has been dis- line your plates with closed to any extent, I wish to say it is the best caOWM REUNEK today. generalisation without meaning I have seen in a SINO NO MONET long time. Compare the following Lemurian Ydo mutt be 100* de- lighted or no ocst. Try four analysis of modem and coined words with his Months and return for refund AT YOUR DRUGGIST OR ORDER DIHCT. so-called Lemurian words. I can furnish as many impossibly "Lemurian" words which do obey his [crown plastic company, dept. boo* 43SB W. Philadelphia Ave.. 4, 1 j Dttrall Mich. rules as he can possible "Lemurian" words: ( Bend your wonderful Crown Dental Plate BeUm Include the I JIVE—generate sex appeal. * free Crown Cleaner. I will pay postman one do "t anprcal- I metely I4c. postage ou arrival. If 1 am not n after four 1 FORD—a fecund source of dangerous disintegrat- I months. I miy return partly used tube for full refund. l < I aa aprkulni one dollar In payment. ing energy force. J i («• - HEPCAT—A human who integrates the motive i animal power. AMAZING STORIES

JUKEBOX—a box which is a generating source of motion.

PITTSBURGH—it generates horror from the If Ruptured sun's power.

JEEP—it generates a source of motion. LOS ANGELES—-a sunny source of life. It gen- erates animal life. (Another plug for Cali- Try This Out fornia.) Modern Protection Provides Great Comfort GERMANY—generates the horrible energy in and Holding Security man, animal, and child. WITHOUT TORTUROUS TRUSS WEARING But you can try this for yourself. I see no "eye-opening" An revelation in sensible and comfortable point in continuing such a reductio ad absurdum. reducible rupture protection may be yours for the asking, without coat or obligation. Simply send name and address I would appreciate a copy of the forthcoming to William S. Rice, Inc.. Dept. 86-L, Adams. N. Y„ and scientific monograph on Mr. Shaver's scientific full details of the new and different Rice Method will be sent you Free. Without hard flesh-gouging pads or tor- theories having some pretensions to scientific menting pressure, here's a Support that has brought joy learning myself. I am a graduate chemist, an and comfort to thousands — by releasing them from Trusses of with springs and straps that bind and cut. Designed to industrial chemist by profession, and a member securely hold a rupture up and in where it belongs and yet the American Chemical Society, Society of Amer- give freedom of body and genuine comfort. For full ican Military Engineers, and Psi Chi (national information — write today I honorary psychological society). Have also studied electrical engineering, radio, and mete- RHEUMATISM orology, by army work being in these last three • ARTHRITIS - NKIRITIS • fields. I warn you that I am already prejudiced Gee Msndenhall'i Number 40 boss your against Mr. Shaver by the unscientific nature of druggist or by mail postpaid for $1.25. what has been so far disclosed of his theories. Money back if first bottle fails to satisfy. Tec 4, William Copulsky

J. C. MENDENHAU. MCDtCINf CO. Military Secret fvartsviiU, * » Inditih* U. S. A. Okay, we'll take two more words, the German KINDER: It "motivates the ego of the child with WRITE SONGS horrible detrimental energy"; the German KRIEG; "kinetic horror I energetically generate." The writer of "BOOTS AND SADDLES" and other song hits will compose the melody for your song poem. Never It is only coincidence that the Germans have al- has such an opportunity been offered new writers. Send ways taught their children war; that they always your song poems and lyrics for FREE examination. Write for details and FKEE INSTRUCTIVE BOOKLET. revered war as a means to their end (and we hope HOLLYWOOD HARMONY HOUSE this is literal!), and Germany has always caused child indiscrimi- l» South La Brat STUDIO R.| Let Angeles 36, Calif. war among man, animal and nately. It may be quite true that Shaver has de- Complete - HOME STUDY vised a perfect "generality." THAT'S WHAT f Courses and self-instruc- tion books, slightly used. WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT! Beginning Rented. Gold, exchanged. t,esV with a "prejudiced" mind can give us only one C° Coutses AW subjects. Satisfaction guaranteed. Cash paid for possible answer, a "prejudiced" answer. That's used courses. Full details and 93- page illustrated what's wrong with scientists today—they have bargain catalog Free, Write now. some prejudices (many oj which are WRGNG) NELSON COMPANY and they are stuck with them. But since science 321 So. Wabash Avenue. Dept. 2-23, Chicago 4, III. is science, and we want to make it correct, we are delving into this thing for ACCEPTED scientific LAME BACK? LUMBAGO? facts, and trying to dig out facts which science Pain and soreness across the hips, so lame you can hardly will ACCEPT. So let's not "approach" the sub- get up or sit down? No need to suffer any longer. Try AMERICAN FIRST AID LUMBAGO TABLETS. They have ject with our minds made up that it's "all wet" to proved "a friend in need" to thousands. Contain no nar- begin with. Taking that word, krieg, even the cotics nor habit forming drugs. SEND $1.00 for 100 tablets TODAY. Take according to the directions. If you are not GRAMMAR is typically German in our tranlsa- satisfied with the results we will refund your $1.00 imme- tion. diately. SEND TODAY. However, we completely agree with you on AMERICAN FIRST AID CO., Dept. 61, St. Charles. Illinois the necessity of PROVING things, and we hope to be able to track Mr. Shaver's language key back to its beginning. Recognized experts will have

it . _ the craving for tobacco as to do it for us, naturally, but we've got to hurdle

! thousands have. Make yourself free their "prejudice" first, and that's a job!—Ed. 1 Sad happy with Tobacco Redeemer.

: Write for free booklet telling of In> inrioaa elfact of tobacco and of a treatment which bi MARCH ISSUE, IN TOTO FREE Sirs: B00K 1 Covers: Front, as always, good. The fore- 1 — THE NEWELL COMPANY I j punch, but the back- I 600 Claytoo St*. St Louis, Mo, ground always packs the 0 I r : ! —

AMAZING STORIES 205

ground la equally important. Maybe a bit more background sometime? Back, excellent! I shall keep warm this winter just by looking at it. And a SUCCESS! what a pleasure to see Paul again 2—Inside pics: Short and to the point, good I iK3 Here, gathered together for the Brit tune, Ki) are 6000 gems of world!? wisdom on bow to 3—Stories: Rated as follows: " 11™ joyously, ancceasf Y olfr . . . how to handle ' people, male Double Trouble—that story was in money be happy. Written oat Moon Of of acta a I experience by the best trains ol man- kind . . , during the put four thousand pears] technicolor, 'twas so vivid 1 Yes, It seemed to o-the-point, workable lost taction a en getting have a faint similarity to other yarns in the past, WHOM oo ft a qaotattona but this was a gem. / Remember Lemurial— reluctantly I put this yarn in second place. Seems

to me there is an awful lot of pushing to im- COMBINED WITH press the fans. Some fans don't like being pushed. Praef/'caf Not this one. However, the story is good, no Mee/tan/'cs S/me/if/et/ denying, and you can easily coast along on suc- ceeding Lemuriyarn3. Valley Of Delirium—an-

good. ' other gem. Comet From Yesterday—very , • Speed* aimnttSrf iyiun* aacdby suae ' wSardV. "ex- X 55 The Lying Lie Detector—tossup for interchange with Comet From Yesterday. The Martian's Masterpiece. Dr. MacDonough's Etc. Twirl My Turbine, Man Alive'.—why the exclamation mark. SUPER JUJITSU 4—Articles: Excellent! Now^get tough DOUBU-quick! Fearnorruro. 5—Summation: A well-balanced magazine. Thebleaertheywmatha bardertbeyfall. SuperJa Jiteo is easy Hugh W. Gunn, toleftrn-BIg fUnstratedseli-instruction coorso aliow* 2 Sparling Apts., yon bow to disarm, dis- Ste. able and capture an armed attacker— 217 Sherbrooke St., wKBombyourbmhandal Getamaa- Winnipeg, Manitoba. tjVdetaflastoiicx—atal] coupon below. Thanks for your rating. It is our fast comment from Canada since our magazine is again circu- MAGIC AND CARD TRICKS lated m your country.—-En. MOW to mrORM for PUN and MONEY Ratifying stunts made easy. Secret* of magic revealed Id t new illustrated THREE SUGGESTIONS coarse. Teaches tricks with coin*, hand- Sirs: kerchiefs, balls, ropes, etc. Show* yon how to protect yourself from card sharks In reference to Richard S. Shaver's manuscript, ...thelrcarrf manipulations -xpaaodl Get the inside" infonnatlou on baffling stage per- "I Remember Lemuria!", may I offer the follow- formances. Learobowtobeatiiaa'ciaoaoifen- ing suggestions tertain friends. Mali coupon for rrtu uetaik. 1 —// Mr. Shaver's memories are complete, he should be able to find or to direct the finding of CARTOONING MADE EASY those metal "record plates" which he as Mutan Now S«I1 -tnutrucUa* Course Learn bow to fanny Mion hid. Would it be practical for Amazing draw picture* for money , —caricature, comic atrip, gag-cartoon, polh> /S^* Stories to consider outfitting an expedition for leal and editorial cartoon, etc. Practical aim* /jT Dltfiett this purpose or for the purpose of finding the lost method takes out all the mystery. Step-by-etep lessons for home-stndy. Excel* cities of Mu; putting Mr. Shaver in charge as a lent SPARE-TIME training for pleas ore and guide? JroflL FREE interesting details on request, uat send naoe and address on coupon below. 2—You state in one of the footnotes that per- haps these plates because of geologic changes how to write might never be found. Have you considered the possibility that those famous "gold" plates dug better letters up at Comnorah, New York by Joseph Smith, MakeyourletteraCUCXl Learn to pnt warmth and sparkle into business and founder of the Mormon sect about 100 years ' p- - ' Boeial »ir..pen3nricnee.. Practical brata-tacke ago might have been a copy of Mutan Mion's message to future man? 3—In reference to prolonged life: A recent magazine article (l°4.i, I believe) by a beauty NELSON DO., D»t. ID23, U. expert-chef gave directions for attaining youthful Write today tor complete details on any of theae SELF-IN- zest and appearance something as follows : STRUCTION COURSES. Send coupon below for the world- famous "Take the glands (thyroid, etc.) of freshly slaugh- copyrighted Success-Catalog—it's FREE, on request. tered animals, chop finely and cook in a pressure FREE details . . . cooker to a broth; result of taking, restoration mail coupon!

NELSON CO.. Dset. ID23. 321 3. Wabash Ave., Chicago 4, III. I of youthiul appearance, zest, etc.'' Also I had Weas* I sand me tfttEB and without obUi at I on—Illustrated Sue- the honor in 1938 of talking to Dr. Dubin (one Icwj-LStalos canisiuine In/onaailon about Che course (at ojnrsuai 1 have checned below. Mo aalfsioan vrfu call. 1 of the discoverers of vitamins) who told me that i a psffli, HMM..t. M b fe§ sss y& t laboratory experiments with vitamin B complex | Super Ju JltSU Q H"W to Write Better Letters a on rabbits, elc. by giving optimal (large over- | NAME J I AD1KKESS dose) doses had increased the life span twice; J and there was no reason why it shouldn't work 206 AMAZING STORIES

on man (dose not yet established, also see work on the anti-grey hair vitamin, vitamin K, etc., more recent). INDEMNITY 4—1 am informed that there has been for some T/lifltCs time a treatment available to prolong human life by a combination of vitamins and hormones and LIFE INSURANCE glandular extracts and that this treatment has POLICY PAYS MAXIMUM BENEFITS been restricted by its discoverer, a New York doctor, "to those worthy of having their lives ex- $3000.00 tended perhaps 60 years." Will you check on this? people living the "more Polity Cosff Only $1.00 a Month As one interested in ----- sincere congratula- Provide lor those you *™ abundant life" may I offer my love this wise, easy way. COMPLETE LIFE tions for this fine article. Only a few pennies a day Will pay for TRIFLE! IN- PROTECTION Milton G. Erland, DEMNITY LITE INSUR- POLICY Spuyten Duyvel Parkway, ANCE, backed by Legal PAYS 3900 Reserves. Old reliable New York 63, N. Y. Pioneer Life Insurance expedition, and Company offers this as- LOSS of LIFE 1 — Yes we are considering an without sured protection DVS TO Mr. Shaver is receptive to the idea of leading it. restrictions as to your Occupation* Travel or ANY CAUSE! Your editor is making a trip to New York this awnaenceResidence andana memoesinclude* m hwiii month in relation to just such plans, valuable Inoonteat ability Clavie—all as plainly stated in the policy. Men, women and children 2—Smith never produced those plates, nor from 1 day to 70 years of age eligible. No Red showed them to anyone, and their existence is Tape—Ho Medical Examination! Full details sent by mall. No Asent will call. Write at once strongly doubted. Since his death, searches have- for FREE inspection offer. DON'T DELAY I PIONEER LIFE INf — been conducted without success in unearthing 6444 Pioneer Bunding them. 3—The influence of vitamins, glandular sub- DRINKING stances, hormones, etc. is recognised, but prolong improve health. IT CAN BE DON El life only in the sense that they They do nothing to eliminate the. cause of death, Thousands have learned the radioactives in the body cells. from me how to break the 4—We are unaware of the existence of such a ' whiskey spell. If alcohol is rotting your treatment, or of any doctor who has made suck Home, Health and Happiness, let me a statement. Can any of our readers substantiate tell you the way to end the Curse of this, his name?—Ed. Drink. Get the answer to your prob- giving us lem today Write NEWTON, NF-4, MR. SHAVER'S NAME . . . P. O. Box 861, Hollywood, California. Sirs: I have been reading Mr. Shaver's Lemurian ar- ticle. I am a firm believer in reincarnation, and any reader of occult literature can fit Mr. Shaver's Lemurian life right into the pattern of human development, even to the fact that he himself was (is) a mutant and ro. ^_^IF you suffer pain and misery of Varlcow Ulcer*, fir Sorea. send at once tor FREE Also, try this: take his present name, Richard Open La away 1 Booklet "THE LlEPK METHODS FOR HOME USE? down, and Tells all about tfela 40-year-old method, praised and en- Sharpe Shaver, put the letters up and dorsed by thousands. Ltopa Methods, Dtp*. 0-53. alphabet meaning beside each its* n. omn Bay Am.. MRwairtw*. wseonatn. put the Mantong letter, and you see what you get. You can almost DON'T LOSE AT DICE! say "horror piled on horror" which could mean HOW EXPERTS TAKE YOUR MONEY one Of two things. Either the fight with Zeit so impressed itself on his mind (?) that he Write for free literature and details on sensa- tional new book which reveals the methods, tech- brought it with him into his present reincarnation, niques betting professionals use to and systems or he, in his remembered knowledge of those dead- take your money. It costs nothing to get free literature. Write for it. Mailed promptly In plain ly things carries a potentiality for that kind of envelope. Write H. Wayne Book Co., Dept. A6, horror or destruction. I am not sufficiently ad- 111 W. Grove, Pontlac, IU. vanced in the occult to analyze another's path, but I have seen part of my own, and fully believe STUDY AT HOME for Personal that the man speaks the truth. Success and Larger Earnings. 36 years expert instruction — over In California there is a Mt. Lassen, and I have 108,000 students enrolled. LL.B. been told that at times voices are heard from the awarded. All text material Degree interior of the mountain, and that at such times furnished. Easy payment plan. approaching too near are covered with Send for FREE BOOK—"Law and persons Executive Guidance," NOW! a shower of stones in size from peas to your fist. AMERICAN EXTENSION SCHOOL OF LAW I have not been there, but have talked to at least Oft 52-N, 646 N. Miohlgan Aw.. Chicago II. HI. a dozen people who have; and people of that AMAZING STORIES 207

section refer to it freely as the entrance to an- other "world" and a different and strange people. Irene M. Steen, General Delivery, Clewiston, Fla. Freely translated, by means of his alphabet, Mr. Shaver's name reads "I see horrible human ani- mal with detrimental Power". If you bear this in mind when reading the story in this issue you will be amazed by the coincidence—but we can't take it for more than that. Mr. Shaver has seen horrible human animals who have great detri- mental powers, and he tells us of them in this '6000.00 issue. How his name could have foretold that, AMAZING NEW we can't fathom. We can regard it only as an GOLP SEAL policy interesting thing such as Bob Ripley likes to pre- Piovidai all-around promotion, «ah tof almort ovary snwrgency! sent to his readers. (siiod by dWltaM LEGAL RESERVE r«r ACCIDENT DIStSIt: IT i Your information about Mt. Lassen is interest- ing. Can our readers add anything to this? Can ttaa SI * BOolb. PjotacHon you U»ed at a price you cob effort// we dig up some FACTS about Mt. Lassen? This Pay. for ANY and ALL Ao magazine will collect all such information sent us cidnnii, ALL Common Sick- w ncnims ttjmiurr by readers and present it in these columns. Who newel, u ptovidad, was minor >»• •> N !19t Mltly til knows what weird things can be dug upl—Eo. Injuria!- DiubUlty b* n iftU paid bom bit day. No wilting partod. NO, Ihia REVOLUTIONIZES b NOT iLo umal "tun!!*!" policy. ^650.00 NO jokan. HO trick clauan. It'* Sirs: •xfro libtrall I have just finished reading your latest issue, NO MEDICAL EXAMINATION and what an issue it is. Whether "I Remember Poller lm«l BY MAIL at big lavlngt. Ami IS to !" 1 Lemuria is true or not, it certainly revolution- 69. Actual policy aam for 10 DAYS FKEE EXAMINA- TION. WritufwH today, Nooottl No obtigarloa (No only science-fiction, science as well. izes not but aalaaroan will oaU. Uaa coupon Mm. Do H today— The alphabet you composed, has to my amaze- Pfortd* lot tomorrow I ment worked in French. After this I tried various 10-Day Inspection Coupon experiments in different languages, and it works FRFF in Russian as well as in Greek. Th SHVICI 1IFE INSURANCE COMPANY I have made science-fiction my hobby for many «MK I«rvfrt lift Bldg. Omoho 3, Htbr. Vnowut m obu «™. »n dijm gold seal si-a-month i years and I must say that of all magazines you Pobey iat 10 DAYS %JUG INSPECTION. are on top. The March 1945 issue is the best one I have ever laid my eyes on. Robin Fast, D.S.F.', D.D.F., F.R.S. Larchmont Acres, Larchmont, N. Y. We hope we've duplicated the feat in this issue, Mr. Fasti—-Ed. HAS INFORMATION Sirs: I have been waiting for such a story as 'T Relieve Remember Lemuria!" by Richard S. Shaver. If possible, I would like his address. I believe that Misery of Relieve itching caused by ..... I have some information which would be helpful athlete's foot. Pimples—other itch- but would like to write to him directly. ing troubles. Use cooling, medicated D.O.D. Prescription. Greaeeleas, stain- Lt. R. F. Needham, less. Quiets itching fast. 35c trial bot- Sec "H", Class 44-4-1, Hendricks Field, Sebring, Fla. So many people have asked for direct contact with Mr. Shaver that it would be impossible for him to correspond with them all. However, if you have any vital information, he can be reached by writing directly care of this magazine. Why not write us, too? With this we must end this department, with- FREE publishing out hundreds of other letters. How- with your ordar. our catalog of low- ever, we urge every reader to write who "knows" priced professional magic*) apparatus. anything!— D. BOBBINS & CO.. OEPT. N-4 Ed. 182 W. 42nd St, N>w Y»rtt 18. H. Y. MICA SAILBOAT OF MERCURY By HENRY GADE

Millions of years ago Mercury might have supported

a form of life capable of building the sailing vessel

shown in the painting on the back cover of this issue

due TODAY, scientist; tell us. Mercury is a Because of the existence of prevailing winds, planet which probably does not revolve on to the great temperature changes of this world its axis more than once for each circuit of so close to the sun, the Mercurians would decide the sun, and therefore always presents the same to take advantage of this motive power, and their face to the sun. ship would be a sailboat. Because of this, one side of Mercury is con- They would build the ship of acid-resistant crys- stantly at a temperature of more than 540° F. tals, cut into sheets and joined tightly, with seams (the side facing the sun) and near absolute zero calked with tars. These tars would not be resin- on the other side. ous in nature, but produced by gummy wells Therefore, we can be sure that today there are drilled down to the short-lived vegetable era of no oceans of any kind existing on which a ship its comparative '"carboniferous" period. Pressures could sail. On one hand they would be vaporized, to produce coal would never be brought into be- and on the other, frozen solid. ing on Mercury, due to its rapid cooling and Too, today the planet has no atmosphere, or at shortness of its eras. The coal would be in the the very most, an extremely thin layer of gases in- form of a gooey peat much like some of our capable of supporting life even in the restricted poorer grades of soft coal. But from this coal a twilight area where the temperature would be a tar substance could be taken to form an acid- livable 100' F. This area would be devoid of proof seal for the crystal-sheet ships. seas also, since any moisture that reached the Our sailboat would be equipped with a stone dark side as vapor, would never return because it mast, and its sail would be large sheets of a mica- would remain there in a frozen condition—and like substance, cut perhaps a half-inch thick. eventually all of the moisture would accumulate These sheets' would be fitted together by slotting, there. and could be adjusted to allow for changes in But let us look many millions of years into the speed. They would fold up somewhat like an past, when Mercury was a young world. We can oriental fan. give it an atmosphere, much as our Moon must The craft itself would ride high in the water, have had at one time. We can give it a greater and be equipped with outriggers to prevent cap- period of rotation (even three or four times what sizing. There might be no oceans, so travel would it is today would be sufficient) and we would have be along narrow channels, like fiords, and through a planet very capable of supporting seas and torturous areas where danger from rocks and ob- oceans—in fact one where such oceans would be structions would be great. Travel over shallow a certainty because of the presence of a dense water would necessitate a shallow draft. cloud blanket. The extreme lightness of the craft, however, for great Here again, however, we would have terrible would allow maneuverability, and we Mercurians heat, perhaps so much so that ordinary human could expect the to be rather acro- batic sailors. The ship would carry a crew of life would not exist. We might eventually find thirty or so, accommodations for Insect life developing. The final result of that sort and perhaps a hundred passengers, or approximately twenty-five of evolution is pictured on the back cover. tons of freight. The atmosphere would be chemically poison to The slow rotation of Mercury would bring them a human, and the chemicals in its composition to a portion of the sea that would be frozen, and might make the "sky"' appear to be some fantastic here the ship would become a giant sled which color, for instance, the weird orange-red shown in would travel by sail just as it did while a boat. Mr. Settles' painting. Thus it would be possible for this craft to travel sea itself might be a "chemical" The sea, formed over almost the entire planet, in its two mediums, of fifty percent water, and fifty percent acids of and we could expect the Mercurians to depend various types. upon it as their sole medium of >*ave!. Across the Such a planet would be conducive of the for- ice and water of Mercury, an average speed of mation of types of rock such as quartz, crystals perhaps twenty- five miles per hour might be of various kinds, mica, asbestos, etc. It would be maintained. And during such a voyage, the trav- from materials like these that our "Mercurians" elers might experience a very hot summer and a would build their ship. very cold winter I AMAZING STORIES 209

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CAN FIGURES do you WORRY. BE FASCINATING? Why worry and suffer any (Concluded from page 1S7) longer If we can help you? Try a Brooks Patented Air Cushion. This marvelous appliance most forms of j 3 million metric tons; and dividing the last figure for reducible rupture is GUARAN- I into our first figure with 14 zeros we get a value TEED to bring YOU heavenly of 33.3 million years which is the length oi time comfort and security—day and 1 it night at work and play—or | such a quantity of sugar would last the present — costs you NOTHING. Thousands number of inhabitants of the U. S. at the present happy. Light, neat-fitting. No hard t.jads or children. Durable, rate of consumption. Does this give you a For men. women, and I Sent on trial to prove it. Not sold in stores, (the better idea of what 10 to the 24th power of imitations. Write for Free Book on Rupture, no* number of molecules in an ounce of water) can risk trial order plan, and proof of results. All Cor- mean? respondence Confidential. Or, let's take another tack. The number of Brooks Company, State St,, Mirehall, Mich. grams in a metric ton is one million. A gram of pure water equals one cubic centimeter. I POEMS WANTED have found that loose, granulated sugar has a Collaborate with the nationally famous hit composer density of about V/% times water, but for close of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles," "When the Bloom twice packing in a huge mass I would take water Is On the Sage," and over 500 others. Send your poems density. Then the above original quantity of today for free examination and liberal offer. sugar, if in the form of a huge cube, would con- SCREENLAND RECORDERS tain 5 times 10 to the 19th power cubic centi- DEPT. M HOLLrWAQO. CALIF. meters. Taking the cube root of this quantity, I get 3.69 million centimeters. There are about 162,000 centimeters to a mile and dividing the former by the latter I get a value of 22.8 miles PURE SCIENCE as the length of each side of the imaginary cube Enlarge your pure science horizon- Increase capacity for menial enjoyment, with "A New Field Theory" which also contains about 11,800 cubic miles, which explains real nature of Curved Space. Gravita- which I think is fairly correct, unless I have made tion, Electricity, Radiation, Matter. Elementary. Send $1.00 bill for 26 page 8% x II" typewritten a slip-up. book, to J. P. KAYNE, Sheldrake, 4518 Clarendon. Now what do you think? Can figures be Chicago 40, HI. fascinating? " —J. P. Kayne )

210 AMAZING STORIES

Does Your Mind '4^Go on Night Missions?

Are YOU plagued by vague remembrances when you awaken? Do strange places and faces, recollections from your sleeping state, struggle for recognition in your mind? They are not necessarily the fantasies of dreams—they may be elements of experiences as actual as your daily existence. Your consciousness— that which is you — is forever poised between two worlds. When awake, it is harnessed—limited to what you see with your eyes, hear with your ears, etc. When asleep, your consciousness may be liberated to commune with the Infinite Intelligence. It can be given a mission, to per- form. It can return with inspiration, with stupendous power for accomplishment that will regenerate your life. Accept this FREE Book Demand xahmw the psychological and mysticalprinciplesbehind these statements. Do not confuse mtrtdrtam with the faculty to extend your consciousness beyond the reaches ofspat* and the borders of time. Your life is only as limited as you let feat and superstition make it Rise to the mastery ofyour naturalfaculties. Let the Roaicruciani, a wotld-wide fraternity of thinking men and women (not a religion), tell you about these rational laws " of self. Write today for a fret copy of the Mastery of Life." It will explain how you may receive this unique knowledge. Address: Scribe M.L.S. ffie ROSICRUCIANS

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Buy War Savings Bends and Stamps Regoforfy. I MICA SAILBOAT OF MERCURY

Here is the weird sailboat of the insect men of Mercury, with its sail of sheet mica, and sailing a sea of chemicai-poluted water (see p. 208)