N1FRlID E R
JANUARY
The MAD ROBOT BY WILLIAM P. MCGIVERN !
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E WRITE this column with a severe case to hurry this into type because the war might pass of nostalgia. Every time we glance at the it by. However, we hand it to you as he wrote Wcontents page and let our eye run down it, and we think you’ll get a great kick out of the row of authors in this issue, we seem to be comparing something written a year ago, with to- back in the good old days before Pearl Harbor. day’s actual events—and when you finish, don’t Every one of those names, with one exception, say our authors can’t foretell the future along graced our contents pages before the war with pretty accurate lines simply because they study amazing regularity. Now, for various reasons, they the situation and apply logic to its future pos- are absent. One reason : McGivcrn, Costello, sibilities. We believe no writers use as much logic Vance, Williams are in the army. Rej^ is busy in as the science fiction writer. war work. Second reason, paper cuts have forced us to buy much less fiction. /^ERALD VANCE does a short story called “The Needle Points to Death,” also inter- '^HEN, you say, how come all these boys are planetary in nature. You might call this a special
back in this issue? Well, we hauled some of interplanetary issue too, if you want to. This is our precious manuscripts out of our files and made our last Vance story in the house. We have quite up a very special issue Just as a sort of celebration a few McGivems, though, and we wish Vance had over our recent victory in Italy, which brings the done as much before he left. day when these authors will really be back much closer, and in celebration of another victory of /^LD Master Ed Earl Repp gives us “Master even greater scope which we predict may come of the Living Dead”—and need we say more? even before this issue hits the stands. Even Hitler This guy always gives us a good yam! knows his day is coming, and is he worried Tj'INALLY, our newest author (in the army and IRST, in our special “service” issue is Wil- out again on an honorable discharge) Berkeley liam P. McGivern’s “The Mad Robot.” It is Livingston, does “Island of Eternal Storm” which featured on the cover by a very fine painting by will thrill you with a new and weird concept about Robert Fuqua, and we think you’ll get a great a “stone” from infinity, and about an island where kick out of one of the finest McGivem yarns of life is something different entirely from what we this type. know. r\EPARTING from our usual policy, and at Y^E BELIEVE you’ll sit up and draw a deep ^ * the same time maintaining it—which sounds ' breath of admiration when you read Robert like a contradiction, but really isn’t—our back Moore Williams’ “Battle Before Dawn.” Here is cover this time illustrates a story, Just as does a really fine story, by a really fine writer. Incident- our front cover. However, the back cover is also ally, Bob just sent us a manuscript—written while one of the series “Stories of the Stars”—so there’s in the army! The only writer who has been able two shots in one gun. P. F. Costello did the story, to do it so far for us ! Needless to say we bought “Phantom City of Luna.” If you want a really it ten seconds after we got a look at the first fine interplanetary, with every'thing this top-notch page! You’ll see both in a coming issue. author can put into such a story, this is it! A MAZING Stories is still being published every D OSS ROCKLYNNE took one of Magadan’s two months (to answer the questions of many illustrations and wrote 34,000 words about it. readers), and we alternate It with Fantastic Ad- He wrote “Intruders from the Stars,” an inter- ventures. Thus, you still get a Ziff-Davis book planetary yarn that’ll make you kick your heels each month, and we advise you to reserve your up for sheer delight. Ross wrote us and asked us (Continued on page 8) AMAZING STORfES 7 FEMALE BEAUTY ROUND the WORLP.^%f fji
Mforld’s Greatest Collection of^ Strange and Secret Photographs OW you can travel round the world with the N most daring adventurers. You can see with your own eyes, the weirdest peoples on earth. You witness the strangest customs of the red, white, brown, black and yellow races. You attend their ^11 t female slavery in China, Japan, India, rites, mysterious practices. They are startling their >11 i Throush the intimacy of the camera you ail assembled for you in these five great volumes of' 11 / witness the exotic habits of every continent THE SECRET MUSEUM OF MANKIND. tf / and the strangest customs of life and love in B / America. Europe, etc. You are bewildered by PAGES f I these large pages of ONE THOUSAND 600 LARGE PHOTOGRAPHS including 130 full-page photos, B Here is the World’s Greatest CoHectlon of Strange i and thrilled by the hundreds of short stories and Secret Photographs. Here are Exotic Photos fromI > that describe mem. Ehjrope, Primitive Photos from Africa, Torture Photos # I GREAT VOLUMES from Asia, Female Photos from Oceania and Amer- 7 X 5 SECRET MANKIND con- ica, and hundreds of others. There are almost 600 3 fy The MUSEUM OF LARGE PAGES of Strange 6 Secret Photographs, sists of five picture-packed volumes 8 AMAZING STORIES in the Balkans and in certain countries of Central America. It is entirely possible that at the close of the present conflict, the Allies may see fit to permit my employment in Spain, Poland, or even Indo-China. Even then, I would consider myself one with science fiction.” '^HIS interesting letter from one of our war- (Continued from page 6) bound authors is dated “Somewhere in the World, Sept. 15, 1943.” Well, Arthur—we hope copy at your newsstand, because believe us, they you are stationed in good old America when this is are becoming very rare ! Your editor had to go war over, and that you do more fiction for us then perhaps using the strange truth you are out and buy one the other day I — now seeing in a fictional sense for our pages. Until r>Y THE way, there’s some fine entertainment then, good luck ^ to fill the gap in our quarterly issued Mam- moth Detective. You will be pleasantly surprised A S IS the custom of humans, we wonder if ^ if you read it, to find a lot of your favorite science ^ animals communicate with one another in fiction authors performing in its pages. A new any way? We note that the great apes bark at issue (containing a sensational 72,000 word novel one another, that the love birds chirp so gaily one by John Evans) will be on the stands on Novem- to the other. ber 16. Why not get it? Probably it is not so much just what is said, but rather just how and under what conditions it is 'T'HE next issue of Amazing Stories will con- said. The bark of a dog may mean many things at tain Robert Bloch’s finest story “It’s A Small various times at one time it may mean a desire to ; World,’’ illustrated on the cover and interior by eat or be fed, at another it may be a sign of anger J. Allen St. John with some of his finest work. or reproach. The rooster is another one who By aU means don't miss it! speaks at the right time; at four in the morning the rooster’s cry is interpreted as being a sign to T^E PRESENT here a letter from an old friend humans to awake. At another time, when the ’ ' of yours, Arthur T. Harris, who apparently rooster, having fought an enemy and won, crows, saw a reference to himself in our companion maga- the crowing is interpreted as a victory cry or a zine Fantastic Adventures. However, the letter is sign of triumph. so interesting, that we give it to you in this maga- A dog’s wail has been interpreted as meaning zine, since all of you know him well. He says: the close approach of death to someone. Usually “Through clandestine channels, word reaches me it means that music, irritating to the dog’s sensi- that mention of my name appeared in the May, tive eardrums is being played. 1943 issue of Fantastic Adventures. Although I am The beaver, who at times beats the ground with presently engaged in matters of vital importance, his tail, has also been accused of having a language I was at once struck with the thought that, after all his own. Perhaps ! It is known that the all, my friends in the world of science fiction have beavers beat their flat tails against the water dur- not forgotten me. ing mating time. This may be to call the mate. “Here, thousands of miles from home, while Beavers also beat their tails against the water when every hour I am engaged in those peculiarly com- an enemy approaches. The sound may be compared plex activities which. I believe, will serve as a to a loud clap of one’s hands. definite contribution to final victory, at the same There are very few who have not heard calves time my thoughts often turn back to that brief and lambs “baa.” This action may be taken at interval between wars when 1 was permitted to various times. When they are strayed, it may be exercise my talents in the realm of scientifiction. extremely helpful in aiding the mother to relocate “It is good to know that warm hearts still beat her lost children. This cry may also be made when for me in the publishing business, for when the food is desired. war is over, I expect to retire to my Connecticut Birds sing during the mating season. Usually it farm to devote all my time to the writing of my is only the male which sings. This has been said World War II memoirs. I expect also to do some to be a form of courtship rather than music to science fiction, as my current endeavors have led please human ears. Birds also have warning cries, me into channels which are sometimes so esoteric as a fact to which anyone who has hunted geese can to demand the relief of fiction, since no other well attest. literary medium could convincingly portray the It would seem then, that animal language U harsh, if hiddai, peril of my present existence. quite simple, restricted to warning and mating “As my readers will recall, my travels during calls, to cries of hunger, pain and conquest. Al- and after the last war brought me in contact with though interesting enough, it can hardly be com- Russian communists and the Chinese nationalists, pared to human language and speech. not to mention incipient undercover movements (Continued on page 100) AMAZINS STORIES 9 tJt Here’s how you— yes, YOU— can carry out a smashing "pincer movement” against the Axis. Swing in on one flank with increased production of war goods! Drive in on the other with redoubled purehasos of Var Bonds through your Pay-Roll Savings Pla»i! You’re an ofTioer in both of these drives. Your per- Bonal leadership is equally vital to both. But have you followed the progress of your Pay-Roll Savings Plan as closely as you have your production? Do you know about the new Treasury Department quotas for the current Pay-Roll Allotineut Drive? Quotas running about 50% above thefonnerfigurcs? You see, these new quotas are based on the fact that the armed forces need more money than ever to win the war, while the average worker has more money than ever before to spend. Particularly so, on a family in- come basis— since in so many families several members are working, now. Remember, the bond clnarts of today are the sales curves of tomorrow! Not only will these Vi ar Bonds implement our victory— they’ll guard against inflation, and they’ll furnish billions of dollars of purchasing power to help American business re-establish itself in the markets of peace. So get tliis new family income plan working at once. Your local ’S'ar Finance Committee will give you all the details of the new plan. Act today! LET’S KEEP ON Backing the Attack! This Space is s Contiibuiloa to America's AU.Quc V7ar Effort bf AMAZING STORIES By WILLIAM P. McGIVERN ick WESTON arrived at the on his face as he stepped into the small Earth space-port outside Greater control cabin and began a careful, thor- R New York at six o’clock in the ough check of the various panels and morning. He was driven directly to the equipment. He was careful and de- mooring tower where his slim, fast pur- liberate in his inspection and when he suit single-seater was being readied for finished he knew the ship was right. his trip to Jupiter. He sat down then and lit a cigarette. The chief mechanic, a grizzled His big frame was relaxed and his eyes Scotchman, who loved machinery more were almost sleepy as they watched the than he did his wife, wiped his hands on an oil-stained rag and nodded to Rick. “She’s purrin’ like a cat,” he said en- thusiastically. “Shouldn’t give you no trouble at all.” “Well, it hadn’t better,” Rick smiled. “If something goes wrong out there in space I can’t very well drop into a con- venient mooring tower and have it fixed.” He glanced at his watch and then looked down the long ramp that led to the central offices of the vast sprawl- ing field. “H4s Captain Wilson been around?” he asked MacPurdy, the chief mechanic. MacPurdy shook his head. “Not yet, but he sent work over that he’d be here before you left.” “Good,” Rick asid. “I’ll go aboard and wait for him.” He had to stoop going through the door of the ship and turn his wide shoulders slightly. He was a big man with solid, capable features, but his weight was evenly distributed over his frame. There was a solemn expression By WILLIAM P. McGIVERN ick WESTON arrived at the on his face as he stepped into the small Earth space-port outside Greater control cabin and began a careful, thor- R New York at six o’clock in the ough check of the various panels and morning. He was driven directly to the equipment. He was careful and de- mooring tower where his slim, fast pur- liberate in his inspection and when he suit single-seater was being readied for finished he knew the ship was right. his trip to Jupiter. He sat down then and lit a cigarette. The chief mechanic, a grizzled His big frame was relaxed and his eyes Scotchman, who loved machinery more were almost sleepy as they watched the than he did his wife, wiped his hands on an oil-stained rag and nodded to Rick. “She’s purrin’ like a cat,” he said en- Dropping l!ie girl to the thusiastically, “Shouldn’t give you no ground, the mammoth fig- ure ot steel came down trouble at all.” the slope toward RIclc Weston “Well, it hadn’t better,” Rick smiled. “If something goes wrong out there in space I can’t very well drop into a con- venient mooring tower and have it fixed.” He glanced at his watch and then looked down the long ramp that led to the central offices of the vast sprawl- ing field. “Hcis Captain Wilson been around?” he asked MacPurdy, the chief mechanic. MacPurdy shook his head. “Not yet, but he sent work over that he’d be here before you left.” “Good,” Rick asid. “I’ll go aboard and wait for him.” He had to stoop going through the door of the ship and turn his wide shoulders slightly. He was a big man with solid, capable features, but his weight was evenly distributed over his > frame. There wa.s a solemn expression 12 AMAZING STORIES smoke curl toward the ceiling in lazy lay-out there, under the joint command blue spirals; but there was a sugges- of our Doctor Simon Farrel and a bril- tion of dormant power in his loose liant scientist from Mars, Ho Agar. position and he looked as if he could We aren’t completely satisfied with move with speed if the need arose. progress to date. And our Intelligence The cigarette had burned half its is vitally interested in a complete re- length when there was a step on tlie port of what’s going on there. You landing plank of the ship and a second are going to compile that report, Rick. later a tall, keen-eyed man in uniform You will have no official status, other appeared in the doorway of the control than that of pilot in the Earth Space cabin. Command. Ostensibly you are making “Early bird, as usual,” he greeted this trip to Jupiter to deliver supplies Rick, smiling warmly. “Been here which are needed there. The supplies long?” are in the storage compartment of the “Just a few minutes,” Rick said, get- ship now. You’ll have to depend on ting to his feet. He shook hands with your own ingenuity to get the informa- Captain Wilson and said, “How soon tion we want.”' do you want me to leave?” “And just what is the information “Right away,” Captain Wilson you want,” Rick asked. said. He glanced about the small cabin Captain Wilson shrugged his shoul- with alert eyes. “Is the ship ready?” ders helplessly. Rick nodded. “I can’t tell you because we don’t “Fine,” Captain Wilson said. He know. We don’t suspect anyone, we pursed his lips and frowned at the floor. aren’t actually dissatisfied with the “I want to talk to you a minute, Rick. production figures and experimental re- You don’t know why you’re being sent ports that are sent us by Doctor Farrel, to Jupiter, do you?” but we do want to know ij anything Rick shook his head. is wrong. You’ve got to find that out.” “My orders were to take this ship to Rick lit another cigarette slowly. Jupiter. As far as I’m concerned that’s “What kind of a guy is Farrel?” he all there is to the assignment.” asked. “There’s more to it than that,” Cap- “Brilliant but eccentric,” answered tain Wilson said. “I was asked by the Captain W'ilson. “He stands for no in- divisional command to select a man for terference, no questioning, but goes his an important mission to Jupiter. I own way in his own time. That’s why picked you, not because you’re a per- you are being sent in an unofficial sonal friend, but because you are trust- capacity. If he suspected that you were worthy, observant, and most important spying on him I don’t know what he’d of all, close-mouthed.” do, but it wouldn’t be anything calm or “Thanks for the bouquets,” Rick temperate. He’d likely destroy his said, smiling faintly. formulae and tell us all to go to blue blazes.” ^ATTAIN WILSON glanced at Rick “And how about the Martian—Ho and his eyes were serious. Agar?” “You probably know,” he said, “that “I don’t know him personally,” Cap- the Earth-Mars council has for some tain Wilson said, “but his reputation as time been conducting robot.experiments a scientist is one of the finest in the on Jupiter. We have quite an extensive Universe. His work on metallurgy has THE MAD ROBOT 13 been absolutely amazing. And from all When a brilliant flare shot up from reports he is agreeable, easy to work the main tower in answer to his signal with and thoroughly cooperative.” he was ready to go. He set the rocket “Sounds all right,” Rick said. “One rheostats at full power and slowly re- other thing: what excuse will I have for leased the suction clamps that locked hanging around there after I deliver my the ship in its mooring slot. supplies? Won’t it look suspicious if I The atmosphere of Earth screamed don’t return immediately?” past the sides of the ship as it blasted “That’s been arranged,” said Captain void-ward. Wilson. “Orders will be sent to you there to wait for the next ship from CHAPTER II Earth, which will be equipped with ex- perimental apparatus. Your orders will J^ICK WESTON arrived at the be to transfer that equipment to your mighty planet of Jupiter seven ship for the purpose of testing it at high days later. The great glowing orb of speed on your return trip to Earth. That the greatest unit of the Solar system should ease any suspicion your delay had grown steadily in his fore visi- in leaving might create.” screen with every passing hour; and “Good enough,” Rick said. “You now that he was wdthin range of its haven’t given me much to go on, but atmosphere it obscured the entire sur- I’ll keep my eyes open.” face of the screen. “That’s all I want you to do,” Cap- He set the automatic controls and tain Wilson said. “Trust your common fired the fore repulsion rockets. His sense and observation. And if you find ship was slicing through Jupiter’s heavy anything that you think should be re- atmosphere and the sound of its passage ported immediately, don’t use the com- was a thin high wail. munication sets at our Jupiter base. The mooring tower and group build- Take your ship out beyond the range of ings of the Earth-Mars base were sud- their interceptor frequency and send denly visible on his visi-screen and he your message on the ship’s set.” felt his ship suddenly slide onto their “I understand,” Rick said. He beam and plummet directly toward the glanced at his watch. “It’s six-twenty landing slot. He breathed a faint sigh now. Shall I be getting under way?” of relief. Although he was a veteran “Right,” Captain Wilson said. He of many such landings he never failed shook hands with Rick and stepped to to feel grateful when his ship slanted the door, “Luck. This is a big job, onto a mechanical beam that would Rick, and you may need it.” lead him directly and gently to the “Thanks,” Rick said. “I’ll be care- safety of a tower. ful.” His speed was reduced to almost zero as the slim nose of the ship nuzzled Y^HEN the captain had gone Rick softly into the tower socket. A com- seated himself at the control panel pressed air lock snapped shut with a and closed the switch that hermetically hiss and the ship stopped with a faint sealed the doors and the hatches of jar. the ship. Then he signaled the field’s When he descended to the ground central tower for clearance and turned there was a short, swarthy man in uni- on the juice that set the rear rockets form waiting for him. The man smiled throbbing. and stuck out a hand. -! .1 AMAZING STORIES ‘‘I’m Hawkins,” he said, “charge of Rick didn’t push the questioning any maintenance here. Have you got all the further. He knew a blank wall when stuff we ordered?” he saw one. But Hawkins’ reaction “I guess so,” Rick said. “But I really was interesting and he filed it away in wouldn’t know. Fm just a pilot. Your his mind. supplies are in the rear storage locker of “Where can I find Dr. Farrel?” he the ship.” asked. “Fine,” Hawkins said, “I’ll have “I suppose he’s in his office now,” some of the boys get busy unloading Hawkins said. right away. I suppose you’re in a hurry “Where would that be?” to g.et started back.” Hawkins gestured toward the four- Rick shrugged and said, “Not par- storied building. ticularly. I feel like a little rest first.” “Thanks. I’ll be seeing you,” Rick He glanced around curiously at the said, as he started for the doctor’s vast factories and buildings that were office. shining under the pale cold light of the Hawkins smiled but his hard bright distant sun. The main building was a eyes were not amused. one-storied, duralloy structure that was “Sure,” he said. “I’ll be seeing you.” at least a half-mile long. In the middle of the enclosure formed by flanking ICK crossed the cleared ground and factories w^as a comfortable looking, entered the building that housed four-storied buliding with curtained Doctor Parrel’s office. A hall extended windows. the length of the building and an open Hawkins follow'ed his glance. door led from this hall to a spare office, “That’s the living-quarters of the furnished with a desk, a laboratory scientists and technicians,” he ex- bench and several chairs. plained. “The long shed houses the Rick took off his hat and stepped into robot assembly line.” this office. It was empty. He looked Rick saw only a few workers about around curiously and then walked and he commented on that fact to toward the desk. Hawkins. A door on the other side of the room “There’s only a dozen or so of us opened suddenly and a stooped, gray- here altogether,” Hawkins said. “Most haired man in ill-fitting clothes ap- of the work is done by completed ro- peared and his eyes narrowed angrily bots.” as he saw Rick. “I see,” Rick said. He glanced about “Who are you?” he snapped, limping a moment and then he lit a cigarette into the room. “What do you mean and blew a cloud of smoke into the by snooping around my office?” cold thin air. “These robots seem to Rick felt the blood mounting to his be the coming thing,” he said absently. face. He fought down his swiftly grow- “They’ll be ready for import to Earth ing anger. and Mars pretty soon, won’t they?” “I’m Captain Weston of the Earth Hawkins looked away and Rick saw Space Command,” he said evenly. “I that the man’s face had become ex- presume you’re Doctor Farrel.” pressionless. It was as if a curtain had “Yes, I’m Doctor P'arrel,” the gray- been pulled down suddenly over a haired man said, limping around behind lighted window. his desk and sitting down. “What do “I wouldn’t know about that,” he said. you want?” THE MAD ROBOT 15 “I just arrived from Earth with a O ICK opened his mouth to reply, but cargo of supplies,” Rick answered. “I before he could speak, the door have some papers for you to sign.” opened and a tall, dark-haired girl Doctor Parrel grunted and picked up walked into the room. a glazed communication sheet from his “Hello, Dad,” she said to the man ” desk. behind the desk. “I “You’re going to be here a while, She noticed Rick then and her words Weston,” he said. “I just got a message trailed off in confusion. A flush of from Earth ordering you to remain here color appeared on her slim throat and until another ship arrives.” He tossed crept upward to her cheeks. “I’m the message back to the desk and sorry,” she said, turning to the door, scowled at Rick. “What’s it all about?” “I didn’t know you were busy.” he snapped. “Stay where you are,” Doctor Parrel “I haven’t the faintest idea in the said irritably. “Our guest,” he added, world,” Rick said quietly. “It’s my sarcastically, “is just leaving.” business to take orders. I leave their Rick glanced at the girl and was sur- interpretation to my superiors.” prised at her shy, hesitant beauty. Her Doctor Parrel chewed viciously on hair, dark and lustrous, fell in simple his lower lip and glared at Rick. Rick waves to her shoulders and her features noticed that the man’s small eyes fo- were regular and delicate. She wore a cused on his for only a second or so. jacket and trousers of light soft leather They slid off his face and shifted to the and a wide belt was buckled about her top of the desk. slim waist. The costume was severely “You’ll stay here at this building, practical and yet the simple clothes ac- until your ship arrives,” he said. He centuated the slim, gracious lines of her looked up at Rick and his watery eyes body. It seemed unbelievable that this held Rick’s for a second, then shifted lovely girl should be the daughter of away again, “Keep away from the robot the twisted, bitter man behind the desk. factories and don’t question my men. Rick saw that the doctor did not in- ril have no snooping interference in my tend to introduce him, so he nodded to work. Do you understand?” the girl without speaking and left the “I understand,” Rick said dryly. He room. forced back the angry words that quiv- Outside, in the hall, he almost ered on his lips. He turned on his heel bumped into a tall, slender Martian. and started for the door. The Martian drew back and smiled “Just a minute,” Doctor Parrel pleasantly. He was as tall as Rick but snapped. “I’m not through talking to he was thin, with the delicate bone- you.” structure that was typical of his race. Rick turned in the doorway and his His lidless eyes were amber-colored, face was hard as chiseled granite. His and the only difference in his appear- steady gaze forced the doctor’s eyes ance from that of an average Earth- down to the desk. man was the boneless, spatulate nose “What do you want?” he said in a and the pale greenish cast of his skin. clipped, flat voice. “You are Rick Weston, I suppose,” “I want to remind you that I am in he said, in a high, soft voice, that was complete charge here,” Doctor Parrel not unpleasant. He extended a hand. said. “If you remember that we’ll get “Hawkins told me of your arrival. I along much better,” am Ho Agar. Permit me to welcome IQ AMAZING STORIES you to our base.” had a shower and bath attached. Rick shook hands with him and said, “You’ll find everything simple and “Thanks.” He glanced at the door plain,” Ho Agar said, “but I think you’ll that led to Doctor FarrePs office and be comfortable.” He sat down on the added dryly, “Doctor Farrel doesn’t edge of the wide bed while Rick took off ” seem to share your sense of hospitality his leather jacket and shirt. “I’m on Ho Agar chuckled and patted Rick on the same floor, a few doors down, so if the arm. you need anything at any time jrist give “Don’t mind the doctor,” he said. me a call.” “He’s a good sort underneath all that “Thanks,” Rick said. He sat down crust. You’ve got to know him a while in a chair facing the Martian and lit a before he warms up. When I first ar- cigarette. “After meeting you I don’t rived I expected to be thrown out bodily feel quite so much like an intruder.” before the week was over, but we get He shook his head ruefully and stared along excellently, now. Of course,” he at the glowing tip of his cigarette. added with a grin, “there are still occa- “Doctor Parrel practically ordered me sions when I think he’d like to have to stay in my room until I was ready to me boiled in oil, but they’re becoming leave for Earth again, and he told me less frequent.” to keep away from the robot factories Rick felt his feeling of bitter anger in no uncertain terms. You’d think I cooling somewhat as a result of Ho was a well-known saboteur, to judge Agar’s friendliness. from his reception.” “Well, I’m going to be here a little “You mustn’t let that bother you,” while,” he said, “but I think I’ll just Ho Agar said. “He treats everyone that keep out of his way. I don’t think we’d way. His life is completely absorbed ever develop a sweet, lasting friend- with his work here and he is often suspi- ship.” cious and belligerent for no reason “Maybe not,” Ho Agar smiled, “but whatever. If you’d like to look over our the doctor will have forgotten he met plants I would be happy to act as your you by tonight. You’ll have to be in- guide. The work we are doing here is troduced to him again at dinner.” not secretive and much of it is very in- “That’s certainly something to look teresting. Whenever you feel like tak- forward to,” Rick said ironically. ing a tour just let me know.” He Ho Agar laughed and then a look of smiled. “You wouldn’t know it to talk friendly concern appeared on his face. to Doctor Farrel but I am equally in “I stand here gabbing,” he said rue- command on this base. We don’t have fully, “when you probably want to get any arguments about the division of to your room and get some rest. I’ll authority, because I let him do pretty take you up and see that you have much as he likes. I know that he is everything you need. Come along.” interested solely in the production of “I’m not tired,” Rick said, “but I safe, dependable robot life and that is would like to wash and get into some all that matters to me.” clean clothes.” “I certainly appreciate your offer,” Rick said. “I think I’d better take TJTE FOLLOWED the Martian down advantage of it as soon as possible, be- the hall to an elevator that took cause I haven’t any idea when my ship them to the third floor. Ho Agar led will arrive.” him to a large comfortable room that “Fine,” Ho Agar said. “We’ll go THE MAD ROBOT 17 immediately if you like. I don’t have at work,” he said, over the noise of the anything pressing to do right now, and, factory. “Someday such scenes may even if I did, I feel in the mood for a be familiar to the entire world.” holiday.” He got to his feet and walked Rick stared in fascination at the to the door. “Will half an hour be too hundreds of steel robots that were soon?” working with mechanical speed and “Not at all,” Rick said. “I can wash rhythm beside the two long assembly and change in half that time.” lines. There was only an occasional human being visible throughout the CHAPTER III great plant and these men were present in a supervising capacity. ^ HALF hour later Rick and Ho Ho Agar smiled at Rick. Agar walked across the cleared “It’s rather impressive, isn’t it?” compound to a graveled walk that led “It’s wonderful,” Rick said. to the long steel shed that housed the The robot workers were fashioning robot assembly line. others of their kind. Each robot per- “We’ve made great strides here,” Ho formed a specialized operation, for he Agar said, as he noted Rick’s obvious had been expressly built. Some had interest in the sprawling factories. intricate tools bolted to their wrists, “Four years ago when Doctor Farrel others were equipped with long, sensi- and I arrived, this was as desolate a tive steel fingers that moved with place as you could imagine.” uncanny sureness and bewildering “How about the doctor’s daughter?” rapidity, checking delicate equipment, Rick asked. “I saw her but I didn’t making minute adjustments on compli- meet her. Did she come along with the cated rheostats and gauges. The robots doctor on the original trip?” were not uniform in shape. There “You mean Rita,” Ho Agar said. were some constructed in a crouched “She arrived about a year later. Her position, others were built with extra- mother died on Earth and she had com- long arms or extra-long fingers to suit pleted her schooling, so she joined her more perfectly the particular work they father here.” were doing. “Not a very normal life for a young The heads of the robots were simply girl,” Rick said. steel balls, about eight inches in diam- Ho Agar shrugged. “She seems con- eter, with a tiny slit in the front in tented. She acts as her father’s secre- which was set a high-powered lens. On tary and is very efficient. She is not the chest of each robot was a coil of fine an easy girl to know, but I have found filament wire, protected by a metal her very intelligent and charming.” screen. They had reached the steel shed, and “The coils,” Ho Agar explained, “are an armed guard unbolted and opened a simply sensitive microphones that massive steel door as they approached. transmit orders to the brain of the robot. Ho Agar nodded to the man and stepped The lenses you see in their foreheads through the doorway. He waited inside act as motion-picture cameras that im- until Rick joined him, then he turned press the image of what they ‘see’ on and swept his arm in a gesture that took the robot’s brain. Those operations in the entire mighty plant that stretched are simply mechanical,” Ho Agar con- ahead of them for an unbroken mile. tinued, as he led Rick down the long “This is your first view of robot life assembly line, “but the real problem has 18 AMAZING STORIES beea to find some way to give robots Rick followed him into a steel-walled, a mechanism that would act as a human windowless room about forty feet brain to interpret orders.” square, equipped completely with deli- ‘‘You seem to have solved that prob- cate laboratory apparatus. One wall of lem brilliantly,” Rick said. the room was covered by a chest of small drawers that extended from floor WATCHED a robot assembling to ceiling. Each drawer, of which there tiny screws on the surface of a slim were thousands, bore a small white card metal bar. The long, deft fingers moved on which a serial number and a chemical swiftly, unerringly through the screw equation were inscribed. container, selecting the proper size and In the center of the room was a steel groove, then fitting them into the metal table about four feet high, with power- bar and moving them under a machine ful spring clamps at both ends and that automatically tightened them into heavy leather straps dangling from its place. “This robot here,” he said, “is sides. There was a raised head-rest at certainly more than a machine.” one end of the table that was set be- Ho Agar nodded. “All the workers tween the cushioned jaws of a vise. here are completed and have passed all “It looks like a medieval rack,” Rick their tests.” He glanced at a metal said. tag on the assembly line directly in front “Its purpose is more humane,” Ho of the robot, on which were stamped the Agar smiled. “In this laboratory the numerals 18435. robots are supplied with brains. Since “Watch,” he said to Rick. He the operation is highly delicate, we lock turned slightly and spoke directly to the robot into an immobile position, so the robot. “18435 cease work.” that it won’t inadvertently upset our The robot stopped working imme- work with an untimely movement. The diately and waited motionlessly. head is secured in a vise and the arms Ho Agar said to Rick, “You see they and legs are held by these clamps.” obey perfectly. They are not automa- “I see,” Rick said. He was silent for tons, by any means. They actually use a moment, then said, “I’d like to ask intelligence and reason of a sort in obey- you a question, Ho Agar. You may con- ing our commands.” He nodded to sider it impertinent, but I’m going to the robot. “You may resume work, take a chance. These robots I’ve seen 18435.” work splendidly. Why aren’t you able The robot commenced work again to export some of them to Earth and without an instant’s hesitation. Mars, now, to take over some of the Ho Agar walked along, pointing out work they’re able to do?” various interesting phases of the robot activity, until they reached the end of HO AGAR shook his head slowly. the line. Ahead of them was a massive “We aren’t ready yet,” he said. door, bolted and protected by a combi- “That’s what I’m asking,” Rick said. nation lock. “Why aren’t they ready? They look Ho Agar twirled the dial for several ready.” He shrugged and smiled. “Of seconds, then swung the door open. course you can tell me to go to hell; it’s “Ordinarily only Doctor Farrel and I none of my business, but I can’t help are permitted in this laboratory, but I being curious.” think we can make an exception in “Yes,” Ho Agar said, “your curiosity your case,” he said. is understandable.” He sighed and sat THE MAD ROBOT 19 down slowly, as if he were suddenly of the methods we use to create intelli- very tired. There was a serious expres- gent robot life,” Ho Agar said. “Do sion on his face that Rick hadn’t seen you remember, when Doctor Farrel’s before and his eyes were solemn. plan was adopted by the Earth-Mars “We are near success,” he said. “Our Federation, that we began a universal robots are eminently satisfactory in appeal for persons of sound mental most respects. I have no doubt that we health to bequeath their brains to the could put a number of them into service Foundation after their death?” in factories on Earth and Mars with “Yes, I remember that,” Rick said, excellent results. “But,” he .shrugged nodding. “There was considerable and smiled bitterly, “we can’t be sure. squeamishness on the public’s part for a Things have happened here that we while, but they got over that. The idea have kept secret, because if they were of bequeathing brain tissue to be used known it might prejudice the public in robots became as common as giving against ever accepting robot life. I blood had been a few centuries before.” am trying to explain to you that all the “Precisely,” Ho Agar said. “Doctor robots produced here have not been Farrel collected brain tissue for five successful. Some we were forced to de- years before we actually began work mobilize because they were too danger- on our first robot. I was selected by ous to have about. You see,” he said, the doctor because of my experiments in glancing up at Rick with an almost grafting metal and flesh together. Doc- pleading expression on his face, “we tor Farrel’s theory is comparatively can’t take the chance of sending a robot simple. He experimented for years at from here that might, even years later, attempting to devise a brain of some go berserk and destroy human life. We synthetic substance that would act, in must continue our experiments until we lay terminology, as a sounding board are absolutely certain that our robots to carry commands to the robot’s motor will operate favorably under all cir- system. After trying thousands of sub- cumstances, until they wear out. There stances he used human brain tissue, can be no compromise. We either suc- which had been kept alive electrically. ceed or we fail. We cannot be satisfied The results, of course, were highly sat- with anything less than perfection, be- isfactory, and he announced his plan for cause the results of imperfection would the collection of sufficient brain tissue be too horrible to contemplate.” to build a few hundred experimental “But good lord,” said Rick, “haven’t robots. Actually in six years he re- you been able to figure out what causes ceived enough tissue to build millions these imperfections?” of robots, for each robot only requires “Not yet,” Ho Agar said, with a bit- a section of brain tissue a half inch ter shake of his head. He was silent a square.” moment, then added, “Do you remem- ber when Doctor Parrel first announced “T REMEMBER the response was his theory for the creation of practical tremendous,” Rick said. “I signed robot life?” up and I don’t think there was a cadet Rick nodded. “That was about ten at the base who didn’t. My best friend, years ago, wasn’t it? I was just twenty- Jimmy Haines, died shortly after, and two then, in training at the Earth space his brain was sent to the Foundation. school.” That’s why I always had a sort of per- “Then you probably know something sonal interest in the work here.” 2() AMAZING STORIES “Haines?” Ho Agar repeated, frown- are not ready yet to admit defeat, but ing. “He died on Mars, didn’t he?” unless our percentage of satisfactory Rick nodded. “He crashed. For- robots takes a sharp upswing, we’ll got to set his automatic controls for have to face the fact that we have failed landing and missed the beam.” utterly.” “I remember the case,” Ho Agar said. “I see,” Rick said slowly. “I can un- “His tissue was sent here with the first derstand, now,” he said, after a mo- consignment. Of course, we keep no ment’s silence, “why Doctor Parrel record of the various brain tissue, other hasn’t got the time and energy to play than a serial number and chemical the gracious host.” formula.” He pointed to the thousands “Yes, it weighs on him terribly,” Ho of drawers in the wall cabinet. “That’s Agar said. “We all feel a sense of de- our present repository, and we have feat, but the doctor holds himself re- thousands more on Mars, waiting to be sponsible personally for the entire shipped here. But it’s a safe guess failure. His room is on our floor and that your friend’s brain is at work right many nights I hear him working hours now somewhere on the assembly line. after the rest of us have gone to bed for Of course, you understand, the will and the night.” memory and personality of James He stood up and smiled. Haines ceased to exist when his brain “So you see there is a real excuse for was removed from his body.” his bitterness. And now I think we had “Yes, I know that,” Rick said. But better be getting back. Dinner will be it was a peculiar feeling to realize that served soon and Miss Parrel likes to one of those metal creatures he had have everyone there on time.” passed was being motivated through the When they left the laboratory Rick medium of a man who had been dead saw the swift darkness had fallen, and for nine years and whom he had known a wind had sprung up, beating against intimately and loved like a brother. the metal sides of the buildings with “But the one thing Doctor Parrel cold, stinging blasts. There was the hadn’t foreseen,” Ho Agar continued, feel of rain in the air as they hurried “was that using human tissue in these across the cleared compound and into metal robots would endow them with the four-storied building that housed certain human qualities. And that’s the their sleeping quarters. way it has worked. Some of our robot products have been operating for four CHAPTER IV years, admirably. Others have been un- successful from the start. While still J^INNER was served by candle-light others have gone along month after in a long, wood-paneled room that month giving not the slightest trouble was warmed by a roaring, open fire. and then have gone wild, smashing There were eight at the table: Doctor machinery, attacking other robots Parrel sat at the head, flanked by Ho within their reach and generally be- Agar and Hawkins, the chief of the having like monsters.” Ho Agar spread maintenance division. Rita Parrel was his hands in a helpless gesture. “Last at the foot of the table. Rick sat at month we had our first casualty. A her left beside an engineer named robot went crazy on the line and de- Webber, a gaunt, taciturn man who stroyed one of our guards while the man looked hungry. Across from him, on was attempting to demobilize it. We Ho Agar’s side of the table, were two THE MAD ROBOT 21 research chemists, Morgan and Blair, eyes focus in their direction. • The old both men in their middle fifties. Mor- man looked irritable. gan was small, red-cheeked and bald- “Pardon me for interrupting your ing; but Blair was a huge man with gay chatter,” he said with heavy sar- fiery red hair and bushy eyebrows that casm, “but could I have your atten- shadowed his small, peculiarly expres- tion for a moment, Mr. Weston?” sionless eyes. “Certainly,” Rick said. Rick ate hungrily, for the food was “I have learned,” Doctor Farrel said, exceDent and it had been hours since settling back and placing his hands on he’d had a decent meal; but despite the arms of his chair, “that you chose to the attention he paid his food, he disregard my instructions about visit- couldn’t help noticing the strained, un- ing the robot assembly line. Was there natural silence that dominated the any good reason for your violation of room. Doctor Farrel ate little and his my orders or did you just spend the eyes circled the faces at the table rest- afternoon there because you found time lessly. heavy on your hands?” The silence of the room was broken “I was just curious,” Ride said. only by the growing fury of the storm Hawkins looked at him and there was that was blowing over the base. Great no smile on his face as he said, “That sheets of water smashed into the side seems to be a predominant char- of the building with a continual boom- acteristic of yours, doesn’t it?” sound and above this the thin, high wail of the wind could be heard, scream- jV/fORGAN, the red-cheeked, affable ing like a tortured animal. little chemist, smiled nervously. Rick noticed that Rita Farrel shiv- “After all, gentlemen,” he said with ered involuntarily as a wind-driven spurious heartiness, “where would sci- sheet of water struck the side of the ence be today if men weren’t curious?” building like surging surf, rattling “Shut up, Morgan!” Doctor Farrel the glasses on the table. snapped. “I’m talking to Weston. I “Good night to be inside, isn’t it?” he want to know, Weston, why you disre- smiled. garded my orders and went snooping She turned to him gratefully. about the robot assembly plant?” “It isn’t that there’s any danger,” she “Please, just one moment. Doctor,” said, “but the noise frightens me.” Ho Agar interposed suavely. “Mr. “I think it does everyone,” Rick said. Weston is a guest of ours. It was at “The only advantage to storms in the my invitation that he visited the robot void is that you never hear a thing. I plant. You are being unfair if you sup- remember once seeing two meteor pose he used his own initiative.” swarms collide just beyond Earth’s Doctor Farrel banged his fist sud- Heaviside layer, and it was like some- denly on the table. thing from Dante’s Inferno. But the “It doesn’t matter how he went there, only thing I heard was the sound of my or with whom he went,” he shouted. cigarette striking the floor of the con- “He was ordered not to, yet he delib- trol cabin.” erately chose to ignore that order.” He went on talking to the girl and “Please, Father,” Rita Farrel said her nervousness faded gradually. quietly. She glanced around the table. Finally she laughed outright at some- “Shall we have our coffee in the thing he said, and Rick saw her father’s lounge?” 22 AMAZING STORIES “An excellent idea, my dear/’ Mor- the almost continual bursts of light- gan said, rising to his feet with alacrity. ning revealed the glistening, mile-long Hawkins said, “I think I’ll wait here shed that housed the robot workers. until I have Weston’s answer to the “Our robots are working harmon- doctor’s question.” iously now, but none of us can guess Rick glanced at Hawkins. The man’s when one or more of them might swarthy face was flushed with anger. transform into a raging creature of He wondered why his visit to the plant destruction.” should have upset the doctor and “Please!” Rita said, turning away Hawkins to such an extent. from the window. “You don’t like me, do you, “I am sorry,” Ho Agar said Hawkins?” he asked quietly. simply. “I don’t like snooping spies,” Hawkins snapped. He stood up ab- ID ICK looked over the wind-swept, ruptly, knocking his chair to the floor. rain-drenched compound at the “I don’t give a damn about the other mighty robot plant and felt a sensa- men here but I’m serving warning on tion that was close to terror as he you right now : Keep out of my depart- thought of thousands of mighty metal ment, if you know what’s good for you.” creatures, working with unbroken, un- Rick smiled thinly and his face was changing rhythm week after week, bitterly hard. month after month, feeling nothing, car- “If I want to go into your depart- ing for nothing but their appointed ment, Hawkins,” he said, “don’t try to work. The realization that that limitless stop me.” energy might at any instant be trans- “I’ve said my piece,” Hawkins said. formed into a blind destructive force He glared about the room for an instant was unnerving. Rick moved away from and then strode through the doorway. the window, feeling an irritation with There was an uncomfortable silence himself for letting the tension of this in the room after Hawkins left. Rita place get on his nerves. Farrel stood up and the rest of the men Ho Agar excused himself a while later rose to follow her into the lounge, a and went to his room. Rick and the girl comfortable living-room with windows talked for awhile over their coffee, and that overlooked the compound. he found her company charming. It Farrel went directly to his office and and went to his room. Rick and the girl the other men drifted away, leaving glanced at her watch and gave a low Ho Agar, Parrel’s daughter and Rick exclamation of surprise. alone in the room. “Why, it’s almost midnight,” she “You mustn’t mind Father,” Rita said. “This is way past my bedtime.” Farrel said to Rick, and there was an She stood up and extended her hand to almost pleading note in her voice. “He’s Rick in a frank, impulsive gesture. so nervous and overworked that he’s “Thanks for tonight,” she said. “It’s snapping at everyone.” Her eyes begged been fun.” him to understand. Rick smoked another cigarette after “I think,” Ho Agar said in his soft the girl had gone, then went up to his voice, “that Rick understands what own room. He undressed slowly. The your father and all of us are undergo- storm had increased in. intensity and ing.” He moved to the window and the blasts of lightning threw weird flick- drew the curtain aside as he spoke, and ering shadows into his room. He THE MAD ROBOT 23 got into bed and stretched luxuriously. he stared dazedly at the smashed room. He switched off the light at the side Rita’s slippers and robe were lying on of the bed and closed his eyes. In a a chair, mule evidence that she had few minutes he was asleep. not left the room of her own will. Ho How long he slept he didn’t know. Agar touched his arm and pointed to the Some subtle sixth sense warned him of floor, to great gouged imprints that had danger and he found himself sitting up- been ripped and splintered in the wood. right in bed, staring into the darkness of “Those marks were made by the the room, listening with straining ears metal stumps of a robot,” he said for the sound that had awakened him. ten.sely. His fingers tightened on Rick’s The house was silent; but an instant arm. “There’s not a second to lose. later Rick’s flesh crawled as the quiet One of the robots has gone berserk and darkness was shattered by a high- taken Rita. We’ve got to find her be- pitched scream of mortal horror. fore—” Doctor Farrel appeared at the door, CHAPTER V his eyes glazed with terror. “WTere is my daughter?” he cried sprang out of bed and snapped wildly. He shoved past Rick into the on the lamp; he shoved his feet room and stared in horror at the into shoes, jerked his trousers on over smashed room, the torn bedclothes. his pajamas and into stepped the cor- “We don’t know yet,” Ho Agar said, ridor. “but we’ll find her. I’m sure.” Doctor Farrel was just emerging He drew Rick into the corridor. from his room, fully clothed. There “There are weapons downstairs,” he was a dazed, helpless look on his face said. “We must start the search im- as he stared at Rick. mediately. We won’t wait for the “Rita!” he gasped feebly. others.” Ho Agar, the Martian, appeared Downstairs, in the lounge, Ho Agar in the doorway of his room. He looked took two powerful ray-rifles from a as if he’d been sleeping, but his eyes cabinet and handed one to Rick. were alert. “They’re loaded with maximum “The scream came from below,” he charges and will melt anything within said crisply. “Let’s go down.” fifty yards,” he said. Rick followed him down the steps at They strode into the main corridor. a reckless run. When they the reached The front door of the structure, a solid second floor, Ho Agar strode along the oaken timber three inches thick had corridor to Rita’s room. One glance been torn completely from its frame and told them an instant and terrible story. was lying in a crushed, splintered heap The door was smashed open and was on tile floor. hanging crazily on one hinge. There Ho Agar grabbed two coats from a was a hole in the center panel that could closet off the main corridor and handed have been made only by a heavy one to Rick. bludgeon. Inside, the room was in wild “W’e’ll need these,” he shouted over disorder. Bedclothes were strewn the roar of the storm, which was whip- about the floor, a chest of drawers had ping in through the open doorway. been hurled on its side, and the room Outside, the ground was ankle-deep was empty of life. with rushing rivulets and the wind Rick felt a tightening in his chest as lashed at their faces like stinging AMAZING STORIES whips. Ho Agar bent low against the white and pitifully small against the force of the storm and ran across the metal bulk of her captor, her dark compound to a small steel hut built at hair streaming in the wind. the base of the mooring tower. Rick grabbed Ho Agar’s arm and pointed; but before the Martian could UNLOCKED the door and the turn, the glare had faded and the wind snapped it open with a shat- darkness seemed intensified. tering bang. Rick had followed him “Follow me!” Rick shouted. across the compound and when he He plunged down the slope, into a reached the steel hut, Ho Agar was shallow valley that was half full of emerging, carrying in his hands two water, fought his way against the cur- phosphorous lamps, whose brilliant rays rent and started across the uneven cut through the murk of the storm for ground on the other side with all the hundreds of yards. speed, he could force from his aching He handed one to Rick, then, shout- legs and laboring lungs. ing to make himself heard, he said, He tripped and sprawled headlong “Follow me. There are not many half a dozen times; and he couldn’t be places a robot could hide in this area.” sure he was heading in the right direc- Rick nodded and set out after Ho tion, or that the robot hadn’t changed Agar. He carried his rifle in the crook his route; but he kept going, forcing one of his left arm and the lamp in his right. leg in front of the other, straining his The glaring white rays of the latter eyes into the swirling blackness of the danced ahead of him for dozens of storm for some glimpse of the robot yards, but there was nothing in its or the girl. range but the lashing storm and puddled He had lost his lamp, and had left ground. Ho Agar behind, but he drove on into Ho Agar circled the great steel struc- the darkness, sobbing for breath and ture housing the robot assembly line cursing the rutted, uneven ground that and set out for the rocky wastes that seemed to be working against him with surrounded the Earth-Mars base. diabolical purpose. They struggled through ravines, Another burst of lightning showed waist-deep in surging water, clambered him nothing but the ragged terrain, to the tops of slopes, where their pow- stretching endlessly before him like erful lamps illuminated the surround- some nightmare view of Hell. ing territory for hundreds of yards, then plunged on again, making a great, ever- T_TE STOPPED for an instant, his widening circle about the base. breath coming raggedly, and tried It was the lightning that eventually to think. He might be hundreds of showed them their quarry. They were yards off his course. Any of the falls he standing on the top of a slope, feet had taken might have set him off in the braced against the buffeting power of wrong direction; or the robot might the storm, when a brilliant fork of light- have circled, or changed its direction ning flashed over their heads; and by its after he had first sighted it. searing light Rick saw a grotesque metal But he couldn’t stop now. There figure a few hundred yards from them, was a chance, growing slimmer each staggering crazily over the rutted, second, that the robot was still ahead craggy ground. And in the creature’s of him, so he had to keep on moving extended arms was Rita Farrel, still. forward. THE MAD ROBOT 25 He was at the base of a small slope blasts as fast as he could trigger the when he started moving again, driving weapon. himself up with legs that ached and The smoking blue beams of energy trembled. A few feet from the top of struck out from the muzzle of the gun the slope he heard a noise directly like flaming lances and Rick saw the ahead, and that same instant a brilliant body of the robot suddenly transformed fork of lightning ripped apart the dark- into a shapeless mass of molten metal. ness. There was the acrid smell of disin- By Its hirid light, Rick saw a great tegrating steel in the air for an instant robot facing him from the top of the and then the body of the robot crashed .slope like .some wild barbaric beast, its to the rocky ground, arms and legs flail- metal body gleaming in the light, its ing in a last desperate convulsion. tremendous metal hands reaching Rick carefully circled the destroyed toward him, hngers opening and closing creature and struggled to the top of the convulsively. slope. He found the girl lying beside The robot moved toward him. Rick a great boulder. Her eyes were closed tried to swing his gun into position but he saw that .she was still breathing. but before he could do so the robot’s The flimsy nightdress she was wear- great arm lashed out with the force of ing was wet and tattered and her face a battering ram, striking him on the was blue with cold. shoulder and hurling him backward as Rick removed his own coat and if he’d been a toy doll. wrapped it about the unconscious girl, He rolled down the rocky slope and then he lifted her in his arms and started the gun slipped from his hand and down the slope. clattered to the base of the hill. His At the base of the slope he saw a .shoulder ached terribly and his whole phosphorous light in the distance com- side was gradually numbing from the ef- ing in his direction, and a few seconds fect of the robot’s savage blow. later Ho Agar appeared, drenched and He crawled to his feet at the bottom muddy, his face anxious. of the slope and he heard the great He glanced quickly at the girl in metal feet of the robot plunging down Rick’s arms, then felt her pulse. the hill, powdering the rocky surface “She’s ail right,” he said. “Nothing with their weight. but shock and exposure. Where is the Blinded by pain and stunned by the robot?” blow he had received, Rick staggered Rick nodded toward the shapele.ss back from the charging robot, but his mass of twisted metal and Ho Agar foot caught on a rock and he sprawled swung his light on the molten remains helplessly to the ground. He started of the robot. He moved to the side of to crawd to his feet, but he felt a slim, the creature and removed a metal iden- metal surface under his hand and he tification plaque from one of the arms. realized with a sudden wild hope that He read the numerals and then he had found the ray-rifle he had glanced at Rick, an ironic smile on his dropped. face. The robot was only a dozen feet “This was 18435,” he said quietly. away, groping toward him, his gleam- “The model of industry we saw working ing metal body shining faintly in the so perfectly earlier today.” He blackness, when Rick snapped the rifle shrugged and tossed the metal plaque to his shoulder and fired four murderous to the ground. “After this,” he said, 26 AMAZING STORIES his eyes bitter, “we can never be scientific viewpoint than if it had been sure.’^ an absolute stranger.” Ho Agar cleared his throat as a prel» CHAPTER VI ude to diplomacy. “We all admire your zeal, Doctor CAN’T understand it,” Doctor “J Farrel,” he said. “But our results are Farrel said, for the dozenth time. becoming more negative with each pass- “I can’t understand it.” He was sitting ing month. Within a very short time in his office and his eyes were glazed my superiors are going to ask me for a and unseeing. “Robot 18435 has been complete report on my work here, and if operating perfectly for three and a half I tell them the truth they will, I am sure, years. I can’t understand this thing withdraw their support from this tonight.” activity. No one will regret this more Rick sipped his hot drink and pulled than I, but my regret does not alter the blanket about his shoulders closer the facts.” to his body. Ho Agar and Hawkins “I don’t give a damn if everybody were seated on the opposite side of the walks out on me,” Doctor Farrel room. The girl had been sleeping for snarled. “This thing tonight doesn’t an hour, now, under the effects of a prove a thing; it’s just one case in a mil- powerful sedative her father had given lion.” her. “I’d say one case in a million is too “You might understand,” he said many,” Rick said. dryly, “if you’d been with me when Hawkins looked up at him and Rick that wild monster started charging.” saw that his swarthy face was flushed He shook his head and took another sip with anger. from his drink. “You know your “You’re a hero now,” he said bit- work, Doctor, but if 18435 is as close terly, “So you feel you’ve got a right as you can come to perfection in the to shoot you’re mouth off about things creation of robots, you’d better stop here you don’t know a damn thing trying.” about.” He stood up and his lips were “I’ll never stop trying,” the doctor twisted in a sneer. “Well, I, for one, said fiercely. His hand closed over a don’t have to sit around and listen. paper on his desk and crushed it to I’ve got two legs and I can leave when a shapeless ball. He glared at Rick. I want to.” “There was something wrong with that Rick grinned thinly at the swarthy robot, but we’ll find the trouble and maintenance chief. He was fed-up with remedy it if it takes us the rest of our Hawkins' attitude and he was deter- lives.” mined to be pushed no further. “It may take everyone’s life,” Rick “You’ve got a lot of teeth, also,” said pointedly. “Doesn’t the fact that he said gently, “but if you continue to your own daughter was almost killed annoy me, you may find a few of them by one of your imperfect creations con- missing.” vince you that you’re tinkering with Hawkins glared at him and, for an dynamite?” instant, Rick thought the man was “I recognize no personal element in going to lunge at him. His fists were this incident,” Doctor Farrel said clenched at his sides and his face was coldly. “The fact tliat Rita was en- black with hate. But Hawkins held Ids dangered is no more significant from a anger with an obvious effort, turned THE MAD ROBOT 27 and strode from the office. parently works in some cases, and in Rick relaxed and sipped his drink. some it doesn’t. No\v, if these imper- He couldn’t fij^ure Hawkins out. The fections were simply mechanical, if the man was no coward, he’d bet on that, robots would, for instance, get out of and he didn’t seem to be a fool. \Vith gear and fail to .perform their work as a slight shrug he dismissed the mat- they should, it wouldn’t be so serious. ter. A show-down was coming be- -Any machine can break down, and gen- tween Hawkins and himself, but worry- erally it can be fixed.” He paused and ing about it wouldn’t help. blew a cloud of smoke toward the ceil- “I think,” Ho .Agar said, “that you ing and then shook his head. “These had better try and get some sleep, imperfections, as I see it, aren’t Rick.” He smiled faintly. “You’ve mechanical. They’re mental. And had a busy night.” they take violent, homicidal turns. “That’s a good idea,” Rick said . . I don’t think civilization would ever want to take the chance of ILTE SLEPT late the next morning, using robots that might break down then, after breakfast, he went up and go on a rampage like that one did to see Rita Farrel. She was lying in last night. So unless your father has bed, and except for the pallor of her some absolute cure figured out, I think skin and the purple shadows under he is endangering the lives of everyone her eyes she looked fairly well. at this base, by continuing to operate She greeted Rick wdth a smile, but as the robots. I think they should all be he sat on the edge of the bed and took disassembled until he has a perfect her small hand in his, she stopped smil- theory devised.” ing and her face became serious. The girl had turned her face on the “Ho .Agar told me about last night,” pillow as he spoke and now she said. “E .she said, “and there’s nothing I can .say was afraid you were going to say that, to tell you how grateful I, am.” Rick. I realize how right you are, but,” Rick patted her hand gently and she turned to him again beseech- smiled. ingly, “won’t you let him work along “Let’s forget all about it,” he said. for a while longer? Your influence “How are you feeling?” because of last night has grown enor- “Pretty good,” .she said, “I— Rick, mously with the men. I know Moran there’s something I want to ask you.” is thinking of leaving and two of the Her eyes met his directly and her face engineers have threatened to quit. was grave. “I feel that you’re my This means so much to Father that friend and 1 think you’ll be honest it w'ould kill him if he were forced to with me. Ho you think my father has stop now. I don’t want you to do any right to go on with his experiments anything actively, but if you can help after last night?” him, in any small way, I’d appreciate Rick had been afraid she might ask it more than you could ever know.” him that, and he’d hoped she wouldn’t. Rick grinned down at the girl and “Do you mind if I smoke?” he said. there was admiration in his eyes. “No, but don’t change the subject.” “You’re certainly game,” he said. Rick lit a cigarette slowly. “I think, however, you overestimate “I’m no scientist,” he said finally. my influence around here. But if I “I don’t pretend to understand your can help 1 will. Frankly, I don’t like father’s theory, but 1 know it ap- the idea, but your say-.so is good 28 AMAZING STORIES enough for me.” placed phosphorous lamps, which cast He stood up and smoothed the soft a flickering illumination over the mile- hair back from her forehead. “I’m a long rows of tireless metal workers. sucker for a beautiful smile,” he said. There was no sound in the plant but the “Now you’d better try and rest.” rasping jar of metal and the hum of machinery; no human voices, no laugh- |_JE LEFT the room and went down- ter. Seen in the weird glow of the stairs. Ho Agar was alone. phosphorous lamps, the vast assembly “There’s something I want you to do lines looked like a futuristic concept of for me, if you will,” Rick said. Hell “If I can,” Ho Agar said. There was onl^^ one huntan being in “I’d like to spend tonight in the robot the entire factory. Rick had been let assembly laboratory,” Rick said. into the plant shortly after dark by Ho “That’s where the trouble started last Agar. He had walked up and down the night, and I’d like to be on hand tonight, line of robot workers for an hour or so, in case there’s a repetition. Chances but their conduct had been exemplary. are there won’t be, but I want to be Now he was standing in the shadow^ of there just in case. Can \mu fix it?” great turbine and from that position he “Why, yes,” Ho Agar said slowly. could command a view of the entire He looked at Rick and there was a factory. He was beginning to feel that puzxled uncertainty in his eyes. “I he had been foolish in taking the tliou- hope you know what you’re doing, sand-to-one chance that some trouble Rick. It might be very dangerous.” might develop here tonight. From wLat 'T know,” Rick said, “but I’m play- he had learned, the occasions when a ing a hunch.” robot had gone on the destructive war- “Do you want the others to know?” path were few' and far between. And he Rick shook his head. “I’ll turn in was wondering w'hat good it wmiild do if early and slip out later.” he did happen to be on hand wdien one “AH right,” Ho Agar said, “I’ll ar- of the robots w'ent mad. If Doctor Par- range everything.” He shook his head rel and Ho Agar couldn’t correct the somberly. “But I don’t like it. If any- trouble, what could he hope to do? thing went wrong I’d feel personally re- He was idly watching the nearest sponsible. Supposing one of those ro- group of robots, about fifty yards bots went mad and attacked you? You from him, while these thoughts were wouldn’t have a chance of getting out running through his head. Tdiere was of that plant alive!” one that was easily two feet taller “Maybe not,” Rick said, “but on the than the others, for he had been con- other hand, I may find out something structed to w'ork on an upper carriage about what causes these break-downs. of the line where height was essential The chance is worth taking.” This robot w'as a giant, almost eight feet Ho Agar argued no further. He in- tall and probably weighing eight or nine clined his head slightly. “I will arrange hundred pounds. e\’erything, Rick.” Rick was watching this mighty crea- ture perform his methodical task again CHAPTER VII and again with untiring strength and skill, and the sight w'as magnificent. '^HE robot assembly factory was The fluid, effortless flow of energy that dark except for infrequently motivated the great robot, the tireless THE MAD ROBOT 29 off his attempt. precision of its work and its almost credible speed, blocking unimaginable pov/er were testimonials There was no doubt now of the ro- to the genius of Doctor Farrel. Watch- bot’s motive. ing the mighty machine creature, Rick Rick could feel the hard desperate was forced to realize the tremendous hammering of his heart as he backed importance of the doctor’s work. If another few feet from the robot’s ad- the creatures like this, perfect in every de- vance; but his shoulders touched trapped. He tail, could ever be produced satis- wall and he knew he was head, factorily, civilization would advance in risked a desperate glance over his extended one giant stride to the millennium. but he saw that the turbine But suddenly his muscles tensed; the a full thirty feet in the air, and its not the cigarette in his hand dropped to the sides were smooth steel, offering floor. slightest handhold. For the giant robot had stopped work, He wheeled back to the robot. The was turning slowly, purposefully, away creature was only a few dozen feet closer with each from its position in the line. away, and moving Rick was deep in the shadows cast by passing second. helplessness. the turbine and he knew he was beyond Rick felt a desperate do to the range of the robot’s vision; but he There wasn’t one thing he could watched tensely as the giant creature save himself. His fists would be ridic- the steel moved slowly toward him, its great ulously impotent against hands extended gropingly. power of the giant robot. But then, from the corner of his eye, had left his O ICK backed into the deeper shad- he saw that another robot ows formed by the corner of the place at the line and was losing rapidly advancing giant monster. wall and the turbine, but as the robot in on the watched the second robot continued to advance, he realized with Rick it coming to the aid sudden sharp horror that he was cut breathlessly. Was of giant creature? Or was it going off from any escape, for he had trapped the to attack it from the rear? himself in the angle of the corner. was answered an in- He cursed the thoughtlessness that His question hurled had prevented him from bringing a ray- stant later as the second robot its bulk at the unprotected back of the rifle; he was completely unarmed, with monster, toppling it to the floor nothing but his bare fists to oppose the giant giant robot, should the mighty creature with a mighty crash. creatures rolled wildly on attack. The two the concrete floor, their steel-thewed The robot was still advancing, its legs threshing convulsively. heavy feet striking the concrete floor arms and madly gro- with shattering force. And Rick knew The Herculean combat was sound from the then that the creature had seen him, and tesque. No came monsters, except the harsh rasp was closing in on him with deliberate locked purpose. of steel on steel. He had waited too long. Had he Rick backed away from the titanic moved the instant the creature left the encounter, as gradually the superior line he could have gotten out of the weight of the first giant robot forced Astride corner, but it was too late for that now. the other into helplessness. He moved tentatively to the left, but the second robot, its greater weight the robot moved sideways with in- pinning it to the floor, the giant mon- 30 AMAZING STORIES ster’s huge, battering fists began to standing robot and read the numerals pound into its sides with sledge-hammer 161. He felt his bruised throat and force. swallowed painfully, then turned to Rick watched with fascinated terror Robot 161. The robot’s sides were as the steel sides of the smaller robot pounded out of shape in several places began to bend under the terrific maul- but it looked as if it were still in a ing. Fora moment he was paralyzed by functioning condition. the horrible savagery of the giant fea- “You can go back to work, 161,” he ture’s attack; then he leaped into said. action. He knew he might be sacrificed The robot turned slowly, moved back himself, but he couldn’t stand help- to its place on the assembly line and lessly by while the robot that had tried resumed its work. Rick watched it to save him was being pounded into a for an instant and then he walked twisted, shapeless mass of metal. toward the exit door of the plant. There was a grim set to his jaw and J’'HE giant robot’s back was to him, his eyes were hard. He knew, now, that and Rick lunged for the control Doctor Parrel’s robots did not go ber- panel that was riveted just below the serk without reason. Someone was de- creature’s right shoulder. His des- liberately seeing to it that they went perate fingers had clawed the steel mad. And that person had tried to screen away before the giant robot have him destroyed. For he realized realized that another antagonist had en- that the giant robot that had attacked tered the struggle. him had not done so accidentally. Rick jerked the screen aside and just It had been ordered to kill him! as his hand plunged into the delicate wire apparatus that controlled the CHAPTER VIII robot’s actions, a great steel hand closed over his throat. J^ICK went directly to Ho Agar’s His breath stopped with a gasp, and room and entered without knock- he felt a cloud of blackness sweeping ing. The Martian looked up from the over him. With his last atom of book he was reading and his yellow strength his hand closed over the mesh- eyes regarded Rick with surprise. work o-f filament in the robot’s control “What’s the matter?” he asked anx- section and, as he fell to the floor, his iously, putting the book down and ris- tensed fingers jerked the finely spun ing to his feet. “I thought you were wires loose from their connecting rods. going to spend the night at the plant.” He remembered striking the floor, Rick told him quickly what had and the feel of steel fingers about his happened. Ho Agar listened intently, neck, and then he passed out. How his face serious. long he remained unconscious, he never ‘T was afraid something like that knew, but when he finally raised his might happen,” he said. He frowned head and pulled himself to a sitting posi- thoughtfully. “Did you get the iden- tion, he saw that the giant robot was tification number of the robot who came lying motionlessly on its side, and that to your assistance?” the smaller robot who had saved him Rick nodded. “It was 161. And I’m was standing erect. convinced that the attack of the giant Rick stood up with an effort. He robot was not accidental. I’m sure that glanced at the identification tag of the he was ordered to kill me by someone THE MAD ROBOT 31 here at the base.” stepped inside. Rick snapped the Ho Agar pursed his lips and drew lights on and glanced about. The room a slow breath through his teeth. was in perfect order. The doctor’s “What makes you believe that, small desk was neat and bare. There Rick?” he asked. were only a few letters and some pic- “That creature was looking for me,” tures of himself and Rita on its clean Rick said flatly. “Maybe not me, per- surface. Rick winced inwardly as he sonally, but it was after a human being. saw the picture of Rita. It had been I was hidden in the shadows; it couldn’t taken outdoors, and a wind was blow- possibly have seen me when it left its ing the hair about her face. She was place on the line, yet it headed directly laughing, her teeth incredibly white for me. Furthermore I’m convinced, against the tan of her face. He thought now, that Doctor Farrel’s robots are all what would happen to that smile if his right, but that someone is deliberately suspicions of her father were correct, making them appear to be imperfect, and the thought brought him an instant untrustworthy monsters. Now, here’s of bleak misery. what I want you to tell me; could But he couldn’t let anything personal someone operate the robots by a system interfere with his work here. There of remote control?” had been times when he came near to “Why, of course,” Ho Agar said. His forgetting that he was at this base under eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Doctor orders to investigate anything irregular Farrel developed a wireless system of or suspicious. He couldn’t let himself communication that would direct the forget that he had a job to do, and that robot from distances of several miles. Captain Wilson was depending on him. He worked on it quite extensively be- Ho Agar had rummaged through fore you arrived but I haven’t heard bureau drawers and now he turned to him mention it lately. I don’t even the closet. His low, excited voice called know where the apparatus is now.” Rick a moment later. “I think,” Rick said grimly, “that we “Come here. I think I’ve found what may be getting warm. Do you think we’re looking for,” he said. we could manage to search the doctor’s Rick stepped into the closet and saw quarters without his knowing it?” that Ho Agar had moved aside a picture “We could right now,” Ho Agar that exposed a small, steel cabinet. said quickly. “He told me he intended When he opened the steel door Rick to spend the night working in his office. saw a control panel, covered with rheo- His rooms are just a few doors from stats and gauges. here, you know.” Ho Agar studied the apparatus in- “Let’s take a look,” Rick said. “I tently. Rick watched him in silence. hope we don’t find anything, but we “This is it,” the Martian said finally. can’t overlook the chance.” “It’s the same panel the doctor built Ho Agar picked up a small flashlight before you arrived. With it he can con- and stuck a ray-revolver in his belt. trol the activity of every robot in his “If you’re thinking what I am,” he plant.” said tightly, “we may need a weapon Rick stared at the equipment with before this night is over.” hard, angry eyes. “The man hasn’t got a streak of '^HEY went quickly to Doctor Far- human decency in his body,” he said rel’s room, opened the door and harshly. “He deliberately sacrificed his 32 AMAZING STORIES daughter’s safety to one of his robots, robots all along. I haven’t mentioned that was acting under his orders.” this to anyone before, but I was sent “We mustn’t jump to conclusions,” here by the Earth authorities to investi- Ho Agar said quietly. “The existence gate the situation.” of this apparatus is not conclusive proof Ho Agar regarded him with surprise. that the doctor is responsible for the “You have kept your mission well crimes of the robots. In itself, it proves cloaked,” he said. nothing. After all, Doctor Farrel has “It was necessary,” Rick said. “But a perfect right to install this control now I intend to inform Earth imme- panel in his room, and possibly he hasn’t diately of Doctor Farrel’s treachery. been the one using it. Or there may And I shall also tell them that they can be another such panel on the base, al- plan to begin mass production of robots though the possibility of that is slight.” at their earliest convenience. That new's He closed the steel door and put the should please your government too, Ho picture back in place. Agar.” “I think,” he said, “that we had bet- “They will be gratified,” Ho Agar ter wait until we discover more definite said. proof of his guilt before we say any- Rick was placing the letter on the thing about this.” desk when they heard heavy, jarring He stepped from the closet a.s he was footsteps in the corridor and a second speaking and walked to the doctor’s later the door was flung open and a desk. He glanced through the letters robot moved into the room. there, tossed them down and then lifted Ho Agar dropped back a pace and desk blotter. A single sheet of paper drew the ray weapon from his belt, was lying beneath the blotter. He but Rick caught his arm before he could picked it up and read it carefully. fire. Finally he handed it to Rick. “Wait!” he snapped. “This,” he said, “explains much of The robot that stood motionless in what has been going on here at the the doorway was numbered 161, the base.” same robot who had saved him in the plant from the attack of the giant mon- O ICK read the letter. It was ad- ster. He recognized it easily from its dressed to the doctor, but was hot battered, dented sides. signed. However, the writer, the repre- Hp Agar jerked his hand loose from sentative of a group of financiers on Rick’s grip. Earth, was not subtle in stating the “We can’t take a chance,” he said. purpose of his letter. For an unspeci- “This robot may have been sent here by fied, but evidently a large sum of money, the doctor to destroy us.” the doctor was asked to stall the pro- “I don’t think so,” Rick said. “This duction of robots on Jupiter until the is 161, the robot who saved my life. Earth authorities lost interest and And it doesn’t seem to have any violent abandoned the project. intentions.” Rick glanced from the letter to Ho The robot lumbered forward slowly, Agar and his eyes were bitterly hard. its arms at its sides. When it reached “I think this is all we need,” he said. the desk it pointed clumsily at a pic- “There is no longer any doubt in my ture of the doctor and shook its head mind that the doctor has been respon- slowly. sible for the imperfect operation of the “What does it mean?” Rick said to THE MAD ROBOT 33 Ho Agar. He stared in bewilderment at set to his lips. the robot, as it pointed again to the “I had to do it,” he muttered. “It doctor’s picture and shook its head was the only thing I could do.” again, more emphatically this time. Rick nodded soberly and then he “I don’t know,” Ho Agar said. He glanced back at the cryptic numeral 4 turned to the robot and said, “Return which Robot 161 had scratched into the to your work, 161.” flooring with its last energy. But the robot made no move to obey. His eyes were puzzled and thought- Ho Agar raised his gun. ful. “We can’t take any chances,” he said grimly. “When these creatures refuse CHAPTER IX to obey, there’s only one thing to do.” '^^WO days later he talked to Rita ^HERE was suddenly another step Farrel for the first time since her in the corridor and Doctor Farrel father’s death. She was sitting at the appeared in the doorway, a gun in his window of the lounge when he entered. hand. His eyes shifted about the room. He said, “I want to talk to you for “What’s going on here?” he cried. a moment, Rita.” He raised his gun and covered the en- She stood up and started for the door, tire group. “Don’t anyone make a move but he moved his position and put his until we get this thing settled.” arm across the opening. “Please,” he Ho Agar moved suddenly to one side said. and his hand flicked out to the light She stared at him and her eyes were switch, plunging the room into dark- dark and heavy in the fragile white- ness. Blue bolts of energy stabbed ness of her face. There was no feeling across the blackness and Rick heard or emotion for him in her expression, the doctor scream in agony. not even anger or hate. Her eyes were Rick dropped to the floor. He saw tired and indifferent. the steel body of Robert 161 suddenly “You can keep me here by force, I glow a cherry red, as blue blasts of suppose,” she said evenly, “but I don’t point to that. is nothing energy raked across it, transforming it see any There to a crumbling mass of molten metal. for us to talk about.” I Ho Agar said, “Are you all right. “You hate me because was involved Rick?” in your father’s death,” Rick said. “I “Yes,” Rick said. don’t blame you. I regret that it hap- The lights went on again and Rick pened as it did. But there wasn’t any- saw that the doctor was lying in the thing else Ho Agar could do.” doorway with two black holes in his “I see,” Rita said. Her face and forehead. The gun had fallen from his voice were empty of feeling. “Is that hand, a few inches from his distended all you wanted to tell me? If you’re fingers. Robot 161 was sprawled in a through, I’d like to go to my room.” motionless heap on the floor, but as Rick felt a baffled feeling of exaspera- girl’s Rick watched its metal fingers began tion at the stony calmness. to move with agonizing slowness as “You can go to your room when I’m they scratched the numeral 4 into the through talking,” he said harshly. wooden surface of the floor. “You can’t go on like this, Rita. You Ho Agar was staring at the doctor’s haven’t eaten or slept in two days. still form and there was a tight bitter The trouble here i.= over, you’ve got tn I 34 AMAZING STORIES realize that and stop nursing a grudge robots couldn’t have done these terrible against everybody. I know how things on Father’s orders because they deeply you loved your father and I are designed only to work. They would realize he was probably kind and won- never attack a human being under any- derful to you. But that doesn’t alter one’s orders. Father realized in later the fact that the evidence indicates he years they might be used as soldiers, so was a traitor to Earth.” he designed them to do only creative Rita turned from him blindly, her work.” face twisted with pain. She put a hand “But one of them attacked you,” weakly to her forehead and said, “NOI Rick said. He couldn’t have been a traitor! I— “I know, I ]:now,” Rita said help- won’t believe that.” lessly. “But there must be some other Rick took her hands and suddenly explanation for that. Father’s robots she was in his arras and he could feel wouldn’t attack anyone, even under his the sobs that shook her slim shoulders. orders. He tested them for that, hun- ‘Oh, Rick, you didn’t know him! No dreds of times.” one really knew him,” she cried. Rick stared at the girl intently. Rick was silent until she stopped “Are you sure of what you’re say- crying, then he patted her shoulders ing? You mean your father actually gently. “It’s all right, honey; you’ll tested these robots, ordered them to feel better now.” attack human beings, and they re- She moved away from him and he fused?” gave her his handkerchief. “Yes,” Rita said emphatically. “Will you talk to me for a few min- “And he wasn’t satisfied with one test. utes now?” he asked. He tested each robot a number of times.” CHE nodded and he led her to the “I see,” Rick said. He looked divan before the fire. He lit two thoughtfully at the glowing tip of his cigarettes, handed one to her and then cigarette. He was still of the opinion shifted about to face her squarely. that Rita’s father had been mixed up in “Please listen carefully,” he said. “I the dirty business here, but a new idea said the evidence indicated that your had occurred to him. father might have been a traitor. But “The thing that has me puzzled,” he said, frowning, “is the action of Robot that evidence is all circumstantial . You were closer to your father than anyone 161. That robot saved my life in the else, and I think maybe you know assembly plant, and when it came to something that would explain his your father’s room it seemed to be try- actions. Can you remember his speak- ing to tell me something. It pointed ing of an offer from a group of financiers to your father’s picture and then shook on Earth who wanted him to sabotage its head. And after Ho Agar had the production of robot life?” burned it down, it scratched a num- Rita shook her head distractedly. ber 4 on the floor. I’ve stewed over “Of course not, Rick,” she said. that until my head aches and I’ve gotten “That’s the most ridiculous thing in the nowhere. What possible significance whole set-up. Father would have sacri- could the numeral 4 have in this busi- ficed his own life before allowing any- ness? Can you think of anything?” thing to interfere with the robot plant. “No,” Rita said slowly, “I can’t.” And here’s another thing, Rick: those Rick heard a step in the corridor THE MAD ROBOT 35 and, turning his head, he saw Ho Agar pose that it is the best procedure. appear in the doorway. The Martian There have been no disturbances in the looked from the girl to Rick and said, robot plant since the doctor’s death, “I beg your pardon. I’ll come back which seems fairly conclusive evidence later.” that he was responsible for their imper- “Come on in,” Rick said, getting to fect behavior.” his feet. “Rita and I are through with “When the communication set is re- our discussion.” paired I want to get that message off im- mediately,” Rick said. “Will you let girl stood up and left the room me know when it’s ready?” without looking at Ho Agar. When “Of course,” Ho Agar said. they were alone, the Martian shrugged Rick left him, then, and went up to his shoulders helplessly. change for dinner. When he came “She hates me,” he said, and there down again, an hour or so later, Rita was a look of pain on his thin features. was waiting for him in the lounge. She “She thinks of me as her father’s mur- had changed to a light, knee-length derer. Her reaction is understandable dress and her hair was brushed back but that makes it no easier to bear.” from her forehead in clean, shining “I think she’ll get over it,” Rick said. waves. He lit another cigarette and flicked the “You look simply terrific,” Rick said, match into the fire. “By the way,” he smiling at her in admiration. said abruptly, “have you had the com- “Thanks, Rick,” she said. “I feel munication equipment repaired yet? I better, too, since our talk. I realize should have been in contact with Earth now that Father’s development of robot forty-eight hours ago. Strange that it life has been successfully accomplished, had to go on the blink just when I and that’s all that really matters. He needed it most.” wouldn’t have cared about what p>eopIe “It will be ready shortly, Rick,” Ho thought, as long as his dream had been Agar said. He looked thoughtfully at realized. And I think that now, wher- the young Earthman. “Are you going ever he is, he knew his work has been to report that Doctor Parrel’s robot ex- successful and is happy.” periments were successful?” Rick looked at her, his face serious. “Why, of course,” Rick said, sur- “You’re a very wonderful girl, Rita,” prised. “I told you that a couple of he said quietly. “There aren’t many days ago. We agreed it was pretty who’d take that attitude and I’m proud obvious that the doctor had ordered the of you.” robots to go on a destructive rampage.” Rita smiled and said, “You make me “Yes, I know,” Ho Agar said, “but I sound a little awe-inspiring. I’m not wonder if the robots are ready yet for the type for a halo, you know. Let’s export to Earth and Mars. It would be change the subject. Ho Agar was here a calamity if we were wrong in our a while ago, and he asked me to tell suppositions and innocently sent out a you that the communication set isn’t group of imperfect robots.” ready yet, but he expects to have it in “But there are no imperfect robots,” working order in another hour or so.” Rick said. “I’m convinced of that, now. Rick shook his head in irritation. And I’m going to send that informa- “Where did he go, do you know?” tion to Earth just as soon as possible.” “No, I don’t,” Rita said. She glanced “Weil,” Ho Agar shrugged, “I sup- up as Moran, the chemist, and two other 36 AMAZING STORIES workers entered the room. “Come in, “We can’t just stand here,” Hawkins gentlemen,” she said. “Rick, here, is said tersely. “I’m rounding up the men on edge because he can’t send a mes- and starting for the plant. You men sage through to Earth, so maybe you arm yourselves with ray rifles and fol- can cheer him up.” low as soon as possible.” “I’m just the one for that,” Moran He turned and left the room with said, smiling genially. He went over to long, decisive strides. the sideboard and took up a bottle. Rick tossed his cigarette into the fire “I’ll fix you a drink that’ll take your and started for the doorway, but Rita mind off everything.” He mixed several Farrel caught his arm before he had drinks and passed them around. “And taken three steps. what is this message that can’t wait “Please, let me come with you, Rick.” until after dinner?” he asked. she said. “It’s important,” Rick said. “I want “No,” Rick said. “This is no job for to inform Earth that Doctor Farrel’s a girl. Don’t worry, we’ll be able to robots are in perfect working order and handle it all right.” that they can be exported to Earth im- Ho Agar appeared in the doorway mediately.” while Rick was talking to the girl, and “No wonder you’re on edge,” Moran his eyebrows lifted questioningly as he said. “Good news like that can’t be regarded the Earthman. sent too quickly.” “Trouble?” he asked calmly. Rick was raising his drink to his Rick nodded. “More robots running mouth, when the door was flung open wild. Hawkins is taking the men down and Hawkins charged into the room. to the plant now, to stop them.” His dark features were flushed and his “I see,” Ho Agar said. He shook his eyes were snapping blackly. head slowly. “I’m afraid this destroys “What’s up?” Rick asked. my last hope of producing harmless Everyone in the room had turned to robot-life. Incidentally,” he added stare at Hawkins. A tension came ironically, “the communication set is re- over them as he stood in the doorway, paired, but of course you can’t very legs spread wide, and stared about with well send the message you intended.” hard, angry eyes. “No, I can’t,” Rick said grimly, “but “Hell to pay!” he snapped. “Two I’m going to send another equally as more robots have just gone crazy. important.” ?” They’re on a rampage!” “And that is . . . The shocked silence following “I’m going to ask the Earth authori- Hawkins’ announcement was broken by ties,” Rick said, “to send an official in- a brittle, shattering sound as Rita Far- vestigation committee here to get to the rel’s glass slipped from her hand to the bottom of this trouble. I’m convinced floor. now that there is something going on that none of us understands.” CHAPTER X “I think you’re right,” Ho Agar said, “but let’s attend to the imperfect robots O ICK stood stock-still for an instant, before we do anything else.” frozen in rigid paralysis by “Rick,” Rita cried, “please let me Hawkins’ words. come along.” Moran said, “Well, I’ll be damned,” “We may need every weapon at the in a slow, incredulous voice. base before this is over,” Ho Agar said. THE MAD ROBOT 37 him dancing at Rick. “Miss Farrel is an hands, extended gropingly before touched excellent shot. I think we had better in the blackness, suddenly take her with us.” someone. Rick said, “Okay, get yourself a rifle. “Ho Agar,” he said. “Is that you?” heard a I don’t like the idea but Ho Agar is There was no answer. Rick he could right. We may need you before we footstep on the hard floor and in get things under control.” dimly make out the outline of a man the darkness. p'lVE minutes later the three of them A flashing premonition shot through but had reached the entrance to the him, and he stepped back quickly, come too robot plant. Hawkins was waiting out- the sixth sense warning had swinging side with a group of armed men. late. He saw vaguely an arm the next in- “We’re going in the front entrance,” down in the darkness and object crashed with he said, when Rick, Ho Agar and Rita stant a hard blunt his forehead. arrived. stunning force into “Let me make a suggestion,” Ho His knees buckled and he started to the curtain of Agar said quickly. “Rick and Miss fall. He fought against drawing over his Farrel and I will go in through the rear blackness that was use. The entrance, the one that leads to the consciousness, but it w'as no Parrel’s brain laboratory. You men go in the last sound he heard was Rita but that faded front and between us we’ll have the high, piercing scream, the robots caught in a cross-fire.” away too as his limp body struck “Okay,” Hawkins said, “but be care- floor. . . . ful of your aim. We don’t want to he burn each other into cinders.” '\\7'HEN consciousness returned Rick held Rita’s arm as they hurried was aware of a light against the along the side of the robot plant be- lids of his eyes, and when he attempted hind Ho Agar. The night was black to move he realized he was strapped to and occasionally they stumbled on the a chair in a sitting position. There rutted, hard ground. was an aching pain where he had been “Watch your step,” Ho Agar called struck on the forehead, and his stomach from in front of them. “And keep felt restless. your weapons ready for use.” He opened his eyes, raised his head They reached the end of the building with a painful effort. Ho Agar was in about ten minutes. Rita’s breath standing before him, a faint mocking was coming hard, but she had kept up smile brushing his lips. with the stiff pace Ho Agar had set. “Ah!” he murmured, “I’m relieved The Martian turned the corner of the to see that you are yourself again.” building and stopped before a solid steel Rick stared at him stupidly. He door, protected with a combination lock. glanced dazedly about the steel-walled He worked silently in the darkness for laboratory and down at the leather several moments, then swung the door straps that bound him securely to the open and stepped through its black chair; then he looked up at Ho Agar opening. agan, his brain reeling in helpless be- “Follow me,” he said. “I’ll have a wilderment. light on in a moment.” “What’s this all about?” he said Rick moved cautiously into the thickly. He stared at the Martian’s laboratory with Rita at his side. His thin, mocking smile and he felt a sud- — 38 AMAZING STORIES den tight knot of terror in his breast. Rick stared at Ho Agar incredu- “Where’s Rita?” he demanded, strug- lously. He couldn’t make his mind gling against the tight leather straps. absorb what the Martian was saying “Don’t waste your energy,” Ho Agar so calmly. said calmly. “I strapped you in that “You were responsible for the robot chair myself and there’s no chance of destruction here?” he finally said. your getting loose. As for Rita,” he “Completely,” Ho Agar said quietly. smiled and stepped aside, “she also is “My planet needs robot-life, Rick, and ah—H:onfined.” it needs the processes and formulae of He pointed to the table on which Doctor Farrell; but we do not intend to robots were secured while their brains share robot production with Earth. were being inserted. When we have the sole command of Rita Farrel was lying on its steel sur- robot production we will become the face, helplessly bound. Iron clamps leading planet of the Solar System.” held her ankles and wrists and her head He smiled tightly. “Our relative posi- was secured in the padded jaws of the tion in the Solar System is fourth, but giant vise. Her eyes were closed but we will transform that, in a figurative Rick could see -that she was breathing. sense, to first and foremost, through the Hot, wild anger shot through him power that Doctor Parrel’s robots will and he twisted futilely against the bring us.” straps that held him and glared at Ho Agar. t) ICK stared at Ho Agar with blazing “If you hurt her I’ll tear you apart ^ eyes. with my bare hands! ” he raged. “You “Mars, the fourth planet of the Sys- tem!” he said bitterly. “That’s what “Please,” Ho Agar smiled. He sat Robot 161 was trying to tell me. That down comfortably and crossed his long was what the numeral 4 meant. And legs. “I have no intention of hurting that’s why it came to the doctor’s room Miss Farrel. But I may be forced to, if that night and tried to prevent you from you do not cooperate.” murdering Doctor Farrel.” “What do you mean?” Rick said. Ho Agar nodded and smiled. “I won’t keep you in suspense any “Everything you say is quite true,” longer,” Ho Agar said. “As you have he said. “I have only your stupidity probably guessed by now I have been to thank for my continued success. At responsible for the imperfect operation first I was afraid you were going to of the robot-life here on Jupiter. Poor guess the truth, but like a typical sen- Doctor Farrel was an innocent, indus- timental Earthman, you were unable to trious scientist and I found it a simple think of me as an enemy because I bad matter to throw the blame on him. Now posed as your friend. I knew from the I want you, my dear Rick, to send a start that you were here as an investi- message to Earth. I have a communi- gator. Martian Intelligence informed cation set in this laboratory and I wish me of that. I staged the kidnaping of you to inform your superiors that Miss Farrel, hoping that would con- Doctor Parrel’s robots are completely vince you of the unreliability of the out of hand, and that his theories and doctor's robots; but you allowed your robot designs are unfeasible. In short, judgment to be blinded by Miss Par- that the entire experiment here has been rel’s undeniably attractive charms. I a complete and dangerous failure.” then had you attacked in the assembly THE MAD ROBOT 39 plant, hoping to get you out of the way, and his men subdued the rampaging but the unfortunate intervention of robots and got to the laboratory. Robot 161 spoiled my plans. There He forced a smile to his lips. again your stupidity became my chief “You were pretty clever,” he said. asset. Had you been thinking clearly “And since you hold all the cards, you might have seen that I was the only maybe you’ll tell me how you managed one who knew of your presence that to control the robots. I understand night at the robot plant, and therefore they wouldn’t react to any but the work was the only person who could have ar- commands for which they were con- ranged the attack. But that point structed.” escaped you. I didn’t want to take any “Absolutely right,” Ho Agar said, more chances so I showed you the ap- smiling. “But fifty of the robots are paratus in the doctor’s room and then special products of mine. Each of these shot him when he came in to investi- special robots was equipped with two gate the noises he had heard from be- brains. One brain was normal and di- low. Robot 161 almost upset my plans, rected their activities at work. But but luck was with me and I put it out the second brain, which was separated of the way at the same time. Inciden- from the normal brain by a thin plastic tally,” Ho Agar said, smiling mockingly, sheet, I took from a special stock of “it might interest you to know that the demented, paranoic brains which were brain which motivated Robot 161 was secured for me from certain institutions taken from your friend whom we dis- on Mars. When I needed a robot for cussed here in this laboratory the day a—ah—demonstration, I simply sent an you arrived. I am referring to your electrical current from this laboratory comrade and fellow space-pilot, James to two poles which I had already built Haines.” into the head of each special robot, and Jimmy Haines! the plastic protection sheet was burned Rick felt a bitterness that was away, the normal brain destroyed, and deeper than any emotion he had ever the creature began to move under the experienced in his life. He had no con- direction of a paranoic brain which I scious thoughts; his brain was too numb could control. It was really very for that. There was only one idea in simple.” his mind and it seemed to flow through “You’re out of your mind,” Rick said his entire body. And that was the evenly. “YouTl never get away with thought of getting his hands about Ho this. Hawkins and the men are on their Agar’s slender neck and choking the way through the plant now. They’ll be rotten life from the man. here any minute. You can kill me and “I still don’t understand just how the girl but youTl never escape, your- Robot 161 was able to disregard my self, and Mars will never get the orders,” Ho Agar said musingly. “You formulae and theories of Doctor Far- see 161 was supposed to aid the giant rel.” robot in killing you; instead 161 saved “I beg to differ with you,” Ho Agar you and destroyed the giant.” said smoothly. He held up a slim band and cocked his head in a listening atti- O ICK was beginning to think again tude. A contented smile appeared on with some calmness, and he re- his features as the faint sounds of alized that his only chance was in keep- mechanical clamor became audible. ing Ho Agar talking until Hawkins “Hawkins and his brave men,” he 40 AMAZING STORIES murmured, “entered the plant to burn “You wouldn’t dare!” Rick said down two imperfect robots. That, at hoarsely. least, was what they thought.” “No?” Ho Agar smiled. “I think you underestimate me. I am going to TTE CHUCKLED and rubbed his give you just ten seconds to make up ^ ^ slim hands together in a pleased your mind.” gesture. “Actually there are about “Supposing I do what you ask,” Rick forty-five paranoic robots in the plant, said. “What will you do to Rita then?” “I will probably and I timed their eruption so it would Ho Agar shrugged. occur when Hawkins and his men were take her to Mars with me to assist in robot in the center of the plant and unable the production of her father’s to escape to the front entrance.” He units. But that doesn’t matter. Any- preferable listened again to the clamor that was thing, even death, would be drifting faintly to their ears. “They to the operation and brain substitution won’t have much chance against forty- I propose to perform. I think you five robots, will they, Rick?” can see that.” “You cold-blooded murderer I” Rick Rita twisted slightly on the table and raged. “You’ve worked with those men Rick saw that her eyelids were open. she for four years and now you send them “I’ve heard everything, Rick,” message to a horrible death without batting an said clearly. “Don’t send that eyebrow.” to Earth. It doesn’t matter what hap- don’t send it.” “Sentiment is a barbaric sort of ex- pens to me. Please pression,” Ho Agar said idly. He Ho Agar smiled and bowed mock- shifted slightly in his chair and said, ingly to the helpless girl. “and now, Rick, since I have been so “A splendid sentiment. Miss Farrel,” obligingly verbose, I hope you will re- he said; “but the decision is Rick’s.” what pay the favor and send the message He turned back to Rick. “And be, dear Rick?” I wish to Earth.” shall your decision my said “Supposing I tell you to go to hell?” “I’ll send the message,” Rick Rick said. evenly. “That will gain you nothing,” Ho “Excellent,” Ho Agar said. to wall, pulled out a Agar said. “And it might make Miss He walked the Farrel’s next few minutes very uncom- portable space-communication set and Rick’s chair, fortable.” He raised a slim hand as rolled it to the side of Rick strained powerfully against his within easy reach. he bonds. “Oh, I am not thinking of tor- “I shall release your right arm,” turing her,” he said. “I think you said, “but I’d advise you not to do any- should credit me with more delicacy thing foolish.” his belt, than that. I shall, however, be forced He drew a ray-revolver from the strap to anesthetize her and equip her with then stopped and unbuckled a paranoic brain which came, I be- that secured Rick’s right wrist. Step- pointed the gun at lieve, from a degenerate IMarlian. I ping back a pace he ahead. wouldn’t like to do that, Rick, but I Rick’s head and said, “Now go so don’t don’t think I shall have to. I don’t 1 am familiar with your code fool with a fake think you will sit there and watch me think you can me impatiently perform an operation of that sort, when message.” He gestured There is not two minutes at this communication set with the gun. “Get busy. will obviate that necessity.” too much time.” THE MAD ROBOT 41 13 ICK reached for the key but at that ing his head. He glanced at Rick. instant there was a sudden shat- “How’d he manage it?” tering impact against the lab door and Rick told him the complete story. its steel sides trembled under the ef- When he finished Hawkins said, “It’s fects of tremendous blows. just pure luck that we got here in time. Ho Agar swung toward the door and When we found forty of those damn his eyes lost their calm triumph, as the devilish robots on the warpath instead mighty steel door began to sag inward. of just two, we thought we were goners; His features working with savage but I thought of something that terror, he wheeled back to Rick. should’ve occurred to us long ago. The “Send that message, damn you!” he doctor’s robots are conditioned not to blazed. His trigger finger whitened attack human beings, but they will at- with pressure as he stepped closer and tack other robots under orders. Just shoved the gun against Rick’s head. as we were about ready to toss in the “Send it!” he repeated, his voice a des- sponge I yelled for help to the hundreds perate whisper. of peaceful robots and they didn’t hesi- Suddenly the massive steel door tate a minute. It was a madhouse out crashed inward and two mighty robots there on the line for a while but pretty staggered into the room. Behind them soon they cornered and wrecked the was the swarthy figure of Hawkins, a defective robots, then w^ent back to ray-revolver in his hand. work.” He wiped his forehead with the Ho Agar spun around, but before he back of his hand and then grinned at could pull the trigger of his gun Rick Rick. “I had you figured all wrong, swung down across his wrist with his Weston. You’re okay.” free hand, deflecting his aim. Hawkins Rick held out his hand and smiled. took in the situation with one hard “Forget it,” he said. “We were both glance and then raised his gun and sent way off in our estimates, I think.” three streaking bolts of energy into Ho Hawkins said, “Well, I’ll let the men Agar’s body. get busy cleaning up the mess out The Martian screamed horribly and there.” He nodded to Rick and then his face was a twisted mask of anguish walked away from the laboratory, a and rage as he toppled to the floor. faint smile on his dark features. He fell on his side and for an instant his eyes met Rick’s, and there was an 13 ICK lit two cigarettes carefully and insane gleam in their depths that was handed one to the girl. like a glimpse into the pits of Hell. And “It’s all over,” he said. “Ho Agar was then the light faded in his eyes forever right when he said I was a sentimental and he rolled limply to his back. fool. I should’ve realized he was our Hawkins crossed to Rick’s side and man, but it just never occurred to me. released him, then the two men freed If it hadn’t been for Robot 161, neither the girl. She clung to Rick, sobbing, of us would be alive right now.” when he lifted her from the steel table, Rita said, “I still don’t understand but after a moment she smiled weakly. how that particular robot was able to “Sorry,” she said. “It—it’s just re- act of its own free will. Didn’t Ho lief, I guess.” Agar say that it w^as one of the robots Hawkins was looking down at Ho that he had equipped with two brains? Agar’s lifeless body with bitter eyes. And when he burned away the plastic “I never figured him,” he said, shak- sheet between the two, the normal brain 42 AMAZING STORIES “ should have been destroyed, but it school on sheer guts, —you never knew wasn’t. It continued to operate and it Jimmy Haines, but he was a pretty directed the robot to you to warn you stubborn guy-” of Ho Agar.” He smiled into Rita’s eyes and put his Rick nodded somberly. arm around her shoulders and drew her ‘Yes, the numeral 4 referred to Ho close to him. Agar, the Martian, the inhabitant of the “Maybe there’s some other explana- fourth planet of our Solar System. I tion but I prefer to believe that one.” was a fool not to have thought of that. “Ho Agar was right,” Rita said But I think I can understand why the gently. “You are a sentimental fool.” paranoic brain didn’t gain control of the Rick grinned wryly, “I suppose so,” robot’s normal brain.” he said. “Does that make any differ- “Why?” Rita asked. “That’s just ence to you?” the point I can’t understand.” “I wouldn’t have you any other way,” “Well—” Rick smiled faintly, and Rita smiled. his thoughts were ten years back in She raised herself on tip-toes and time, to a red-haired youngster who had kissed him softly on the lips. fought his way through the Earth space- THE END LET'S MAKE IT A CONTINUOUS WAR BOND DRIVE KEEP ON BUYING WAR BONDS! SAYS MAN CAN NOW USE POWER OF 1000 MINDS A strange man. in Los Angeles, known as more as well as the energy power of the “The Voice of Two Worlds,” reveals the story universe which can be used in his daily af- of a remarlcable system that often leads to fairs. He states that this sleeping giant of almost unbelievable improvement in power of mind power, when awakened, can make him mind, achievement of brilliant business and capable of surprising accomplishments, from professional success and new happiness. Ma.ny the prolonging of youth, to success in many report improvement in health. Others tell of fields. increased bodily strength, magnetic person- The author states ality, courage and poise. the time has come for ITie man, a well-known explorer and geog- this long hidden system rapher, tells how he found these strange to be disclosed to the methods in far-off and mysterious Tibet, often Western world, and of- called the land of miracles by the few travelers fers to send his amaz- permitted to visit it. He discloses how he ing 9000-word treatise learned rare wisdom and long hidden practice.s, —which reveals many closely guarded for three thousand years by the startling results — to sages, which enabled many to perform amazing sincere readers of this feats. He maintains that these immense powers publication, free of cost are latent in all of us, and that methods for or obligation. For your using them are now simplified so they can be free copy, address the used by almost any person with ordinary in- Institute of Mentalphysics, 213 South Hobart telligence. Blvd., Dept. 522-F, IjOs Angeles 4, Calif. He maintains that man, instead of being Readers are urged to write promptly, as only limited by a one-man-power mind, has within a limited number of the free treatises have him the mind power of a thousand men or been printed. Aduertisr.meiit VIGNEHES OF FAMOUS SOENTISTS — ^By ALEXANDER BLADE R,a6e^t JtooJze No mailer whal science Ihis man peered into, he was ils masler. He was Ihe Irue scienlisl-invenlor! obert HOOKE was bom July IS, 1633, at mathematically. More than a century and a half Freshwater, Isle of Wight, in England, and before Rumford demonstrated the identity of heat R was educated at Westminster School in and motion, Hooke derided the opinion of his day even London and at Oxford. He became an instructor that it was a fluid, or any kind of matter, and effect of motion.’’ in geometry at Graham College, London, in 1664. suggested that it might be “an “Micrographia,’’ which was In 1665, in collaboration with the Hon. Robert In his book entitled Boyle, they perfected an air pump which was a published by the Royal Society in 1665, in de- micro- vast improvement on the one designed and success- scribing his work with the newly invented characteristic fully operated the year before by Von Guericke in scope, and which with ingenuity he lenses, clear- his classical experiments on the vacuum in Ger- had improved by compounding its he many. ly described what he called the “little boxes or in the leaves of plants On November 12, 1662 he was appointed curator cells” that were revealed of experiments to the Royal Society, of which he under observation, and which have since become of was elected a fellow in 1663, and filled the office to the biologists of the present day the units lens, during the remainder of his life. In 1666 the great organized life. If the achromatic which was available to fire occurred in London, which followed the great devised a century later, had been him, plague of the previous year, in which nearly 100,- no doubt he would have discovered the minute 000 people died, about one-quarter of its popula- particles of protoplasm that these “little boxes” tion at the time. In the fire 1,300 houses and 19 contained, and detected their motion. churches were burned. When at last the fire was Hooke must be credited also with some views controlled, Hooke brought to the authorities a on the subject of fossils that were at least of a very well thought-out plan and model for rebuild- prophetic nature. In his day all such objects, ing. But though he was appointed city engineer when found, were gravely discussed as evidences of in 1667 his design was not adopted. He was secre- the Noachian Deluge. But when whole formations tary to the Royal Society between 1677 and 1683, of chalk were shown by the microscope to consist publishing in 1681-82 the papers read before that entirely of the shells of minute organisms, he was body under the title of Philosophical Collections. among the first to declare boldly that some other The last twenty years of his life were devoted to and more reasonable explanation of their origin research, and to his many inventions. He died on must be found, and even went so far as to express March 3, 1703, in London. the opinion that it should be possible, through a Hooke was a man of unusual ability, in fact, a study of the many diflerent kinds of fossils then genius. But unfortunately with this was coupled an known, to arrive approximately at the relative in con- irritable temperament. At times he was so peevish ages of the rocks which they occurred; a clusion which has since been entirely confirmed. that he was constantly in trouble with associates In 1658, Hooke invented the balance wheel, and close friends. Neverthless, his acuteness of per- which ditferentiates the watch from the clock, and ception was so marked a characteristic, that he made the former a possibility. reached many important conclusions in science for Hooke’s scientific achievements would probably which he should be accorded the credit. have been more striking if they had been less Hooke was really the first physicist to point out varied. He originated much, but perfected liltle. that the problems of planetary motion were purely His optical investigations led him to adopt in an matters of mechanics, and should be studied from imperfect form the undulatory theory of light. thatpointofvieWjthus plainly intimating that forces He approached in a remarkable manner the dis- of one or more kinds—as then unknown—were the covery’ of universal gravitation. He invented the agencies which compelled the heavenly bodies to wheel barometer, discussed the application of baro- travel through the paths that observation showed metrical indications to meteorological forecasting, they followed thus anticipating the work of New- and originated the idea of using the pendulum as a ; ton. But he failed to develop the conception measure of gravity. ! INTRVBERS tram the STARS Ry Ross Rocklynne N A planet that is far from Earth the lowly, spat-upon slave-girl, sat on —how far away we dare not guess the throne of the planet, held its peo- I —the wooden slopes of the Val- pies in thrall ley of Kopeljin were alive with the Oh, the long, glorious reign that was dreadful sounds and radiances ended when the prime minister, who sat of battle. Dreadful to her who, at the at her right hand, turned against her, rear of her armies, sought only, in her betrayed her, harried her, hurled her great, consuming rage, to save face, to own armies against her, drove her back avenge the ignominy done by those who inch by inch, until she stood here with had brought about her downfall. her dying loyalists around her, with But: their blood staining her arms and face. “Retreat!” she screamed. “Men! The end of empire! Why do you tarry when your mistress The tears of a scalding rage furrow^ed needs you? Retreat to the Knob, for the grime of her face. The remnants this is the end of our empire! ” of her legions were beating their way up The end of empire indeed! Oh, the through the wooded slopes of the Valley long, glorious months when Bess-Istra, of Kopeljin—beating their way up and this lovely, evil woman from beyond the stars. Was there no way to defeat her? 45 4n AMAZING STORIES dying without grandeur as the limitless followed a precipitous path. Before forces of the enemy hurled balls of her, two soldiers hacked away the ob- green, acid fire into their hopelessly de- truding branches of the waxy trees, so pleted ranks; dying, as explosive lead that her way might be without hin- pellets monotonously, chatteringly is- drance or discomfort. And so they fi- sued from the high chalk cliff to the nally came to the base of the Knob, the right; dying, as enemy pilots, stretched great, immeasurably thick dome of nat- out on their tiny, down-swooping glid- ural iron ore which capped this hill, ers, vengefully dropped pill-size pellets and whose interior formed—the Cita- from the night-darkened sky; dying as del! the pale, colorless, fan-shaped radiance of a monstrous beam fluffed across the gESS-ISTRA stopped, her breasts width of the valley, fatally touching heaving. She made a motion to her only those who did not carry the pro- chief officer, tecting bik—touching them and shrivel- “The valve, Bandro! Quick!” ing them slowly to nothingness; dying Bandro stepped forward on the —but with the name of Bess-Istra on moist, leafy groimd, his long slim fin- their Kps I gers sweeping camouflaging weeds from Bess-Istra! She had flared for one the broad, man-size valve which would moment, like a swift-dying nova! But give entrance to the Citadel. While he the people of this planet would not soon worked at the complex lock with sure, forget her, w’ould long remember her delicate touch, his impassive, gray- after she was gone, and their remem- seeming face turned toward Bess-Istra. brances would be the remembrances of “We could yet make a truce, Mistress —fearf Bess; by that path at least we would She choked back her rage, her grief, retain life. By the other, we invite to fondle that thought. She had left death.” her imprint—aye! And now she would She struck him across the face—sav- go! agely. “Retreat!” she screamed down into “You dare suggest it!” she cried. the bowl-shaped depression where the “You, Bandro, whom I trust! You last of her men held a feeble line. “To would have me humble myself to him the Knob! All is over! Bess-Istra who deceived me! Let me not hear of commands you to follow after her, to this again.” guard her, to escort her to the Citadel Bandro stood rock still, gray eyes where she shall make her escape!” lidded and concealing his emotions and Most came, scrambling up the hill to- his thoughts; his love for this girl at ward her; a few remained behind with a that moment turning into hate. cannon-ray projector, to guard the re- He turned woodcnly back to the treat. Bess-Istra would never see them valve, worked on it for precious mo- again, nor they her. But they were ments. Bess-Istra faced affrightedly content, for to a man they worshipped into the backward distance, hearing the her, looked upon her very footprints dreadful sounds of an annihilating bat- as hallowed ground, though she had tle, knowing that her thousands of re- plunged a planet into rivers of blood, maining men were shriveling away out of her own selfish passions. under the awful weapons being turned Her chief officer moved behind her against them. with long, gaunt stride as she swiftly “Quick! Oh, quick!” ” INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 47 "The valve opens, my lady,” said short-lived reign, on his swelling, pow- Bandro. erful chest. But impassive though ha And indeed it did, just as the pale was she sensed his deep hostility. ray across the valley began to walk Her glorious, scarlet lips curled now. across the ground toward Bess-Istra “I know your thoughts,” she whispered. and the hundred loyalists who sur- “You think that I have but dragged you rounded her. They had no protection with me into a death-trap. You curse against that ray, they had no biks. But the day your lot was ever cast with once they were in the Citadel, there mine.” were few man-made forces that could rout them out or harm them within the ^P MOTION at last touched his gray space of several days. And by that skin, quivered the nostrils of his time, Bess-Istra and those of her em- straight nose. His voice quivered also, pire who loved her would be gone. but so deeply that one could almost Bandro now led the way down count the separate vibrations. through the palely lighted corridor. “I gave up life and love and family One of Bess-Istra’s lieutenants stood at that I might at last taste power—that the mouth of the tunnel, gathering in I might feel in me the strength of mil- the remnants of the army, screaming at lions of men as they did my will.” them above the furious cacophonies of He sucked a lip-shivering breath battle. The valve would remain open through his teeth; his chest rose and as long as there was the mere chance of fell quickly. He ground out, speaking rescuing one of Bess-Istra’s men. Then under only the greatest restraint, “And it would be closed—and though the now what have I? What? A rat-hole might of the enemy was hurled ag^nst to dwell in for awhile, while the enemy it, they would not destroy that impreg- pounds from outside—and a space-ship nable door. The only way they could to be dumped into, to be gassed, to sleep get through would be to utterly wreck for uncounted years—and not even to and annihilate the Knob itself; then it know on what barren celestial flotsam would be too late. I shall crash to my end, along with her They came into the great central who is responsible for my fate.” room of the Citadel without fanfare. “You presume!” she cried, white One of Bess-Istra’s mechanics came with fury. Her hand dropped to the quietly to her. deadly spastic-gun at her curving hip. “You have need of the ship, then, “Mark you,—Bandro, I would as lief kill Mistress Bess?” you as not “Our very lives depend on it now. “As you have killed others for as And the ship is prepared for its long little reason,” Bandro shot out. The journey into the deeps of space?” wild expression of utter panic now “Another day will see us prepared.” crossed his face like wildfire. “A “Good. It shall be a day of rest. I truce!” he suddenly cried, so that doz- am weary to death, and my men are ens of those near heard him. “A truce! weary also.” She turned to Bandro, Demand of Bess-Istra that she makes who stood to her right, regarding her a truce with the enemy. Aye, and for impassively from his darkly mottled what reason does she not? Because eyes; stood with his billowing cape she knows that, though we who have tossed loosely over his arm, the blood- supported her would be given leniency, red scimitar, symbol of Bess-Istra’s she would diel ” — ” 48 AMAZING STORIES “But she is sending us into certain ing him with me when we awake from death. This dream of hers—this fan- our sleep.” tastic belief of hers that the escape ship So saying, Bess-Istra walked with will hurl through space for countless supple, yet fatigued, stride to her quar- years, and land on a planet of her ters; but her brows were drawn down choosing — land safely! Will hurl frowningly, sadly, over her barbarian through space, to land while we are eyes. An episode was drawing to a lying in frozen sleep, unconscious of close, a golden day had turned to lead; elapsed time.— It is a mad dream, this she wanted but one thing, now, wanted plan of hers it passionately—the neck of the man Bandro never knew what hit him. He who had betrayed her between her stiffened, stood stick-like for one fingers! shocked second. Then he knotted up, head between his legs, teeter-tottered qne day passed; one day being that a moment, then rolled to his side, where length of time required for that he lay quiet and unconscious, the far-distant planet to turn once on its muscles of his body straining to con- axis. tract in unrelenting spasm. The enemy harried the Citadel with Bess-Istra straightened from her sav- the full outpouring of their frightful agely tigerish half-crouch. She sheathed weapons. And finally, 'a bare few mo- the spastic-gun, in which tiny lights ments from the time that the great, were dying. She laughed a harsh, un- armed escape ship was to be plummeted pleasant laugh. into the deeps of space, Bcss-Tstra was “Fool!” she spat. She stepped for- called to the television cubby, where ward, kicked the helpless man. Then the hard, yet war-weary, eyes of her she whirled, stood fork-legged, glaring arch-enemy bit into hers. at the dozen men who looked at her “I call you,” he said wearily, “only with sullen faces. She said no word, because I have the good of my people but held their eyes until the flush of in mind, Bess-Istra. I— shame stained their brows. She interrupted him. “Traitor! Bess-Istra laughed again. “And you Beast whom I trusted! Would that I are fools, too, for listening to Bandro’s could but drive a dirk into your heart!” indictment and considering it! Know She made a savage, utterly unrestrained you not that I w^ould not betray you?” motion, came close to the television Under the bewitching angry languor screen until it seemed that her blazing of her glorious eyes they could not long eyes would sear him. “Do not talk to maintain their sullenness. Their faces me of the good of your people. Such dropped. And Bess-Istra cried, “About words are but hypocritical mouthings. your business then, soldiers! There is You seek the good of the people no much loading of armament into the more that did I—you seek only to flaunt hulls of the escape ship to be done; your own power over them, for you armaments and munitions that will give yourself have felt the acid of lowly, ig- ” us fair start in the conquest of another nominious beginnins ! planet not far from here. Begone “Not true, Bess-Istra,” he made sad and take this upstart Bandro with you answer, and on his weary face there was and roll him into an empty corner of pity for her. “I have never been driven the ship. He is still a valuable man, by selfish motives.” and he will be grateful to me for tak- “What do you want of me, traitor?” INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 49 “Of you, Bess-Istra, I want only am compelled to slay you and all those yourself. For all your tyranny, the in your garrison, Bess-Istra.” tyranny which at last compelled me to Her hands were on her hips, her eyes betray you, the people could be swayed widened in mock amazement. “Indeed! by you as by no other in all our history. Know then, that when you destroy the They loved you, though you whipped Knob, and break into the Citadel, no them.” soldier, and no Bess-Istra shall be A muscle in his hard, drawn face found. The Citadel shall be an empty twitched. There was pleading in his shell for no life shall be here.” eyes. Unconsciously, he extended his He studied her with pain-shadowed hands in a pleading gesture. eyes. His voice was fiat. “Forget this mad desire for power, “How?” Mistress Bess! Remember only of the And she laughed again. “How! Now great good you can do the people. This let that mystery torture you to the end ” cruelty that you have so often shown is of your days ! Farewell ! but an outward garment in which you His face faded as she flipped the clothe yourself. The cruel avenging, toggle switch—faded forever. And on tyrannical Bess-Istra is not the true Bess-Istra’s face was only a look of Bess-Istra. The true Bess-Istra is gloating triumph. She could leave this gentle, soft, merciful, feminine — a planet now, knowing that in great mea- woman both lovable and admirable. sure she had avenged herself on the man Bess-Istra—return to my side and rule who had caused her downfall. with me!” She thought over what he had said Her lashes lowered over her glorious, concerning her softness, her inner gen- gold-flecked eyes, her full lips writhed tleness. A dark sneer grew on her lips. into a taunting yet voluptuous smile. The utter fool for thinking such ob- “You love me, fool,” she said huskily. vious nonsense! His shoulders fell. “Yes. But it is She sought out her chief mechanic. not for that reason alone that I wish “Tell me, now. Is the ship ready for its you to return. It is because I know long journey? Have the soldiers been there is in you more good than evil. loaded into their acceleration cham- Bess-Istra—together we could rebuild bers? Does the ship bristle with those a war-shattered world! Will you re- very weapons which harried us into turn?” our hole?” “All ready and waiting your com- tpOR a long moment she said nothing, mand, Mistress Bess.” savoring the hope that grew in his She laughed joyously. “Then let us eyes with every moment of her hesita- leave this planet forever. Relieve tion. Then she burst into a wild, taunt- Bandro of his spastic slumbers, bind ing laugh. She cried: him in the acceleration chamber which “No! That is my answer, my final his rank affords him; for if he were to answer. And I am glad that you asked undergo the Sleep with common sol- me—glad that you love me—-for now diers, they 'would have no respect for your torture at my refusal will be all him and so would be useless to me. In- the greater! Now, take your face from form him that I forgive his loss of con- my sight forever!” trol—inform him that I graciously re- The muscles of his face slowly whit- tain his as my second in command. ened. He said in a horrible voice, “I “Come now; there is no reason to ” 50 AMAZING STORIES tarry longer. To the ship! through the tele-tyt travels on a com- Nor was there reason to tarry longer. plex orbit, the escape ship shall land The giant cylindrical ship was loaded there gently, safely, thirteen years from with its thousand remaining soldiers of now! And we shall conquer that planet, the army; with deadly weapons; with vanquish its peoples!” — “ armaments and munitions. And its “Then ” said Bess-Istra —then nose was shoved into the tube-runway we are ready for—^the Sleep! Oh, Sab- that would give it exit from the Citadel Hallo, you have done well indeed, and —and from the planet. shall have a position of power under Empire’s end! But so certain was me. But tell me, Sab-Hallo. By what Bess-Istra that there was no fatal flaw means shall the ship land with no hand in her fantastic plan, that she knew an- to guide it?” other empire, perhaps greater, lay be- “You need not worry, Mistress Bess. yond the vast sweeps of space the Long before the ship lands, radio-echoes escape ship would take her. Another will let robot controls know how far empire! A new empire for Bess-Istra, away the planet is. The ship will brake once the spat-upon slave-girl! its speed accordingly. And when the And so an era ended, the era of Bess- distance from the planet is zero, the Istra upon that planet. Nevermore ship’s speed relative to the planet will would she be seen there—^nevermore I be zero. She was gone, gone so swiftly that no “Other instruments which measure eye knew of her going—for the escape the heat given off by those people we ship snapped away into open space intend to conquer will make certain that much as a watermelon seed is flicked the ship lands on an isolated spot. away when pressed between thumb and “And as soon as the ship lands, a index finger. strategically placed lever will activate Flicked away—immediately soared a mechanism which will dissipate the into tremendous, appalling speed—left Sleep-gas, will provide normal air. that solar system under the guiding Then we shall awaken, in full possession hand of the navigator—plunged head- of our senses, ready to do battle.” long into the unimaginable emptiness of Bess-Istra, in spite of herself, felt an interstellar space—settled down to a inward shrinking sensation. Here in the steady, void-consuming pace—a pace it control room, nothing but a transparent would continue, according to Bess- partition staved off vacuous space. Istra’s plan, for thirteen full years. Stars-—stars in endless number, lone- ly, lonely! How deep was space; how navigator, the brilliant scientist bottomless and frightening. who had invented the first space- “And,” she whispered, “what if we ship under the guidance of Bess-Istra, should perchance miss our destined swung around on his chair, his too- landing place, Sab-Hallo? Would we bright eyes fixed on hers. . . . die?” “It is done, Mistress Bess,” he “Die?” The thought was terrifying breathed. “My genius has succeeded to the conceited Sab-Hallo. “No—no I in the most monumental calculation I have made provisions. The Sleep- ever undertaken by mind of man. gas will last— forever! And some day Though the next solar system lies a full the ship would land on another habit- light-year distant, though the planet able planet, perhaps even in another which you and I have studied in detail solar system.” — . INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 51 '‘Tt IS good” She sighed. “But of Did not! The scientists of that planet course, we will land on the planet of our were wiser than Sab-Hallo had known. choosing, and to think otherwise is Wiser by infinitely more than most of foolish. Come, Sab-Hallo, leave tlie the many races of the universe that bear controls—and let us pump the ship full the human form. And more peace lov- their of the Sleep-gas. . . ing. Those scientists bad own tele-eye, and with it they searched Bess- . . . And it was done! Soldiers drew th;- straps around themselves in re- Istra’s ship; searched it, knew its his- s' .=>nse to the command that was issued. tory, its terrible purpose—understood They breathed deep of the odorless all this when the .ship was a mere hun- vapor that soon filtered in from the ven- dred million miles away. tilation ducts; breathed deep and slept. And so from that planet which Bess- Bandro, thoughts alive with his Istra thought to have conquered came hatred of Bess-Istra, slept. a powerful beam of force which gently, And Sab-Hallo, unafraid, pleased unjarringly, grasped the escape ship; with himself, certain of the perfect changed its course, ever so subtly; operation of the many strange instru- shunted it into a new path but slightly ments which composed this ship, slept. different from the old; guided it out of And Bess-Istra lay languidly on her that solar system; sent it boring with- couch in the observation room, her out change of speed out into interstellar glorious, gold-flecked eyes surveying space again. That planet would never empty space. Soft, gentle, transparent be bothered by Bess-Istra. straps held her to the couch, for there And that path the ship took and kept was no gravity. —and would keep until, perchance, it There she lay, breathing deeply, no should enter another solar system far longer afraid of the star-dusted void, removed from this one. but rather admiring its chilling beauty. Then would it land automatically on It was necessary that she should lie another planet? here in full view of that abyss. Neces- W^o knew? Certainly not Bess-Is- sary to abate the sense of loneliness, of tra, who slept with her lifeless face to wretched depres.sion that now gripped the changing stars. . . her. There was something soothing, And how long ago was this? When comforting in that velvet darkness. . . . did all this happen? As soothing as the vapors which now Longer ago than any of us dares to were drawn into her lungs, and which think. . . . now stole from every tiniest cell of her body any semblance of life; caused her CHAPTER I lungs to cease breathing, her heart to Another stop, her blood to halt in its veins and “They Worship God!" arteries; her brain to stop thinking. This was—the Sleep. pRACK! And Bess-Istra slept! Crack! Crack! CLEFT for how long? WTio knows? ^‘Heyr ^ Not for thirteen years, as she and The ejaculation was a roar of rage Sab-Hallo had supposed. For the escape that shivered the dripping lianas snak- .ship did not land on the planet at which ing through the wet foliage of a mid- jungle. it was aimed! summer African ” 62 AMAZING STORIES “Put down tliat rifle! Quit shooting “Wow! Who’d have ever guessed at me! rm no damned Jap!” those Japs would come along and riddle “Sorry, brother,” an austere voice at those poor British lads? Didn’t have last spoke from behind the banana a chance, not one of them. I was in plant. The gun was lowered. “The the rear of the British column and we very lions of the jungles these days were just an hour out from Lorenzo might be Japanese—who, I agree with Marques when they ambushed us. Bet you, are damned; damned, almost to you an5^hmg I was the only one got off the point where they are beyond re- with a whole skin. . . Damn! This is ” demption. However, had I hit you, fierce ! you need not have been alarmed. The He had a pounding headache, nausea. Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh He couldn’t see straight. But suddenly away.” the man who had shot at him was hold- “Praise the Lord,” gasped the thor- ing out a canteen and a quinine pill. oughly unnerved voice of Bill van Bill washed the pill down gratefully. Astor-Smythe, ace legman of the New After a few more dizzy moments he York Corey Features Syndicate, “and jumped up and weaved a circle aroimd spare the ammunition!” his typewriter. He broke from his shelter in the “Boy! Hell! That’s better. Fever’s ravine, his feet sinking ankle deep in gone, but my head is ringing. Thanks!” the decaying humus of the Portuguese The kneeling man rose. He was East African jungle. His black hair dressed in shorts, too, but a ministerial was in disarray, his khaki shorts and closed collar was around his neck. shirt torn and befouled with swamp “Thank the Lord, brother; I am but mud and studded with tenacious burrs. His servant!” he intoned. Bloody thorn scratches made tit-tat-toe “Thank God, then! Fm a .servant, patterns on arms and thighs. To his too. I serve the press, a sort of god in bosom, as if it were purest gold, he its own right. Let me introduce my- clasped a portable typewriter, which, self, Reverend—you are a reverend, of upon examination, would have proved course?” to be vintage 1929. No matter! It “As the Lord maketh me, so am I.” worked and any typewriter that was “Okay, okay! But what’s the han- available and that worked was a pre- dle?” cious thing indeed in this year of 1944. As he weaved across the clearing, he '^HE other’s brows drew down over was grinning a cockeyed grin in spite studious, serious eyes that couldn’t of the evidence that an unfriendly jun- have seen more years than Bill’s twen- gle had mauled him around. ty-six. ” “Hip, hip, Reverend ! he yelped. “As “Handle?” His lips broke into a I live and breathe, Fm glad to see a puzzled, almo.st shy smile. He said human being again! The incident is softly. “Oh! I am the Reverend John forgiven and forgotten. Which way to Stevens—and this— the mission and a juicy alligator steak? He pointed to a nondescript, pinched- Boy! What wouldn’t I give for a hot looking companion who now emerged bath Astor-Smythe style. I’m lousy.” from the jungle and stood near him. “ He tottered suddenly. He sat down —and this is my assistant, Thomas on his portable, propping his dizzy head Reynolds.” In his palms. Bill grabbed Reynolds’ hand. ” ” INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 53 “Pleased to meet you, Reynolds—and the altar. I questioned my house-boy you, Johnny—er, Reverend.’’ He also patiently and . . . and he broke down. grabbed at Stevens’ band, dropped it He gave me no details, but I under- hastily when he saw Stevens wince. stand that my parishioners are—” he “ “And run Bill van Astor-Smythe, of dropped his eyes hopelessly —well, the snooty, snobby, nasty, nose-raising, that they are worshipping another god blue-blooded van Astor-Smythes. Ain’t of their own choosing.” — I mean isn’t that something to live “You don’t say! The dirty heath- down? Boy, you should have seen the ens!” old man when I shipped myself off to “Oh, please don’t condemn them, for England three years ago as a special they know not what they do. But . . . war correspondent-on-trial for my syn- well, I am not on my way to the mission, dicate.” as you suppose, but to the village where The memory made him shout with I understand the new idol has becrn joy, so that a half-dozen polychromatic erected.” parrots ceased their painful jargon and He patted the Garand rifle which had fluffed their wings with frightened given Bill van Astor-Smythe an un- squawks. comfortable few minutes. Plis lips, The Reverend John Stevens had which had seemed pleasant only, and a cause for alarm, too. He closed his little .shy, now turned hard. hand around Bill’s arm, looked around “And then I shall strike down the affrightedly. clay image which my straying sheep “Please—I beg you!” have raised in mockery of the true “Eh?” God.” He raised his hand on high, and “Japanese! I have no way of know- his blue eyes acquired an expression of ing what inroads they have made into terrible wrath, “The Lord our God,” he Mozambique, nor where the British cried, “is exceeding fearful when front is laid down. But such an unto- wickedness tarries in the breast, my ward sound as you have just made children; he shall flay from thee the might draw them in this direction if a sins which I, and my father before me. party of them were near.” have sought— out and tried to destroy, “Yeah, yeah. Sorry. I see what verily you mean. Maybe we better get back ^‘Cutl” Bill van Astor-Smythe yelled to the mission, huh? You have got a He was standing with his hands on his mission, haven’t you?” hips and grinning. As Stevens lowered “By the grace of God, yes. It is a his hand and blinked at him, Bill little place, but I am able to say that grinned. “That kind of junk is for the the several hundred Bantus who live movies, pall It’s sob-sister stuff, see?” in this region have been converted to “Sob-sister?” Stevens blinked. Then the true religion. That is — he got a woe-begone expression on his He paused. His eyes shifted wor- face, and all the religious rapture faded. riedly, as if he were conscious of a sin His shoulders slumped. “I understand,” he had committed. A sudden despair he said unhappily. “The mission has tugged at his lips. “That is, I believed been my home all my life, you see, and until yesterday that they had been con- during the —last five years—since my verted. Now it seems . . . doubtful. Ye.s- father died ” He stopped, gulping. terday morning, a great many candle Bill looked at him with pity. “Sure, holders and candles were missing from sure, I get it. You’ve been cooped up — 54 AMAZING STORIES here from away the world all your life, standpoint of racket. And by plane to playing spiritual nurse-maid to a bunch Australia he kept up the infernal noise. of frizzy-headed Zulus. Well, pal, it Only, the New York Corey Features looks like the end is in sight. Day after Syndicate did not consider his cabled tomorrow, the Nips will be pad-padding news infernal. That syndicate smeared through your jungle and making a GHQ Bill’s reportorial adventures all over out of your mosquito-proof parlor, the bottom of the front page of ninety Johnny.” daily newspapers throughout the land. And from Australia to the Solomons, gTEVENS’ dismay showed in his eyes. to the Aleutians; a stretch on Midway; “Oh, not really!” he pleaded. “You some madness on the Libyan Desert, mean that Mozambique will fall to the bouncing along in a tough American enemy? You mean to say the gallant jeep hot on the heels of Rommel’s Afri- Tommies won’t hold their own?” can army; and from thence across the “I double-mean it.” As carelessly as Mediterranean where the Allies were Bill spoke, his fists knotted, and sparks striking at Italy, the “soft belly of the of anger showed in his narrowed eyes. Axis dragon.” “And not only that, Madagascar across Then new developments. The Suez- Mozambique Channel is filthy all the Red Sea route to the South Pacific was way to the interior with Japanese batal- not yet safe for Allied shipping, and lions. It’s the pay-off, the big blow-up supply ships were making the long jour- —and the Allies are in a he—that is, a ney down around the tip of Africa melluva hess.” the Cape of Good Hope. Thence these Bill picked up his portable. “Come supply ships were constrained to beat on! ni help you play truant officer up along the East Coast, passing direct- on the hooky players having truck with ly through Mozambique Channel, which the old-time religion. Better give me was flanked on one side by Mozambique another of those quinine pills, though. (Portuguese East Africa) and on the Da—darn ! Wish I had a kepi to shunt other by the island of Madagascar. this water down my back instead of my In Mozambique Channel, Axis sub- neck.” marines had sunk tons upon tons of Bill was feeling a thousand times bet- Allied shipping, using Madagascar as a ter as they forced their way through secret base. To prevent the Germans that dripping tropical forest. He was from taking over Madagascar from the light of heart, cocky of tongue, and neutral French, and thus controlling the breezy of manner under normal condi- sea route entirely, Britain had taken tions, and normal conditions for him over the Island in 1942. were very close to a state of affairs But Madagascar was only half the which would madden most other people. problem. Across the channel was Mo- Bill had sat on the chalk cliffs of Dover zambique, which might at any time be with a telescope and this very type- seized from neutral Portugal by Ger- writer, as the hundreds of fishing many, and which already harbored a smacks came beating across the Chan- Nazi consul who used his diplomatic nel from Dunkirk loaded with their immunity to cable Germany fatal in- grimy soldiers. On the way from Ba- formation concerning Allied ship move- taan to Corregidor his typewriter keys ments through the Channel. had given the Jap shore batteries some Britain had completed the job by tough competition—at least from the gaining Portugal’s tacit assent to oc- a INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 55 cupy Mozambique, also. They held the humanity’s) smug beliefs in the unique- Portuguese possession for hardly more ness of the planet Earth into a cocked than a month when the Japs launched hat. a simultaneous attack on both island A space ship! and mainland. And now, in midsummer of 1944, the CHAPTER II Allied sea route around Africa was im- The Awakening periled. ^^HE three men suddenly stopped in T> ILL VAN ASTOR-SMYTHE cheer- the concealing growth of wild maize fully explained all this to the Rev- on the edge of the oval-shaped glade. erend John Stevens and his companion. Stevens’ breath drew through his teeth. Neither having been isolated, was ap- His arm shot out, forced his tw-o com- parently well-informed. panions to their knees. Stevens was leading the way, seek- Bill gaped. Slow dizzy thoughts be- ing out paths and short-cuts around gan to parade across his consciousness. and across swamps thick with man- The scene at which he looked was be- groves. yond the pale of common sense. “A boy scout, too!” Bill gasped ad- Hardly twenty feet away from him, miringly. “You find your way around seated cross-legged on the ground, were like a bush native, Johnny. Someday a half-dozen white-haired, fuzzy-headed I’ll do the same for you, maybe, along Kaffirs. They were sitting in front of the complicated wilderness trails of li’l drums which were made by stretching ol’ New York. If the Nips don’t get antelope skins across hollovved-out tree us—which they probably will.” trunks. The Kaffirs were moaning Stevens said nothing; he kept on softly, weirdly, almost inaudibly. They pushing ahead, his jaw righteously swayed back and forth, while their fin- grim. Bill felt a flash of respect for gers brushed at their drums and made the young missionary. Even though a wild barbaric rhythm which Bill had the Japs were bound to make things to strain his ears to hear. uncomfortable in a few short days, Their heads w^ere raised, toward the Stevens was going to disabuse his “pa- “god” they were keeping vigil over— rishoners” of the notion that there sleeping girl! would be more than one true God. The girl was not all. There was the Bill for the first time seriously con- cylindrical-shaped ship. M least. Bill sidered this alleged new god. He was had the crazy feeling that it had to be curious. What or who were the natives a ship. It had only two portholes, worshipping? Probably nothing very and outside of that, no protruding exciting, of course. Probably nothing features. But if it was a ship, it at all. Stevens had merely heard a was no ordinary ship, for its in- rumor which was just that, and nothing credibly hard-looking metal surface more. But still, perhaps Bill could get had a slight tinge of greenness, like the a story out of it. A half-dozen sticks patina that covers ancient things. And of type, maybe. . . . though this patina was not extremely And so he was shocked when, with noticeable, Bill had the feeing that this the gloom of falling night, they came to ship was older than any man-made the edge of a glade and saw that which thing. Perhaps older than man him- threw all of Bill’s (and, indeed, all of self! ” ” 56 AMAZING STORIES All this Bill took in with a mere “Not . . . not a native of . . . the glance. But the greater part of his at- planet Earth?” Stevens repeated the tention was captured by the girl. His words in a tone of horror. Then his breath caught in his throat; there was face grew very stern indeed. He leaped in him an emotion that was like pain. to his feet with a cry of anger. “Blas- He was lost in her compelling, other phemy!” he cried. “Impossible! My world beauty. She lay motionless, head father taught me that God created resting on the glossy black pillow of Heaven and Earth and populated Earth her hair, a coverlet barely concealing with creatures made in his own image. the perfection of her body. Her eyes Other planets are therefore lifeless, and were closed. Her cheeks were tinged the Lord did not intend man to travel with the flush of life, her lips were scar- between them.” let as blood, set into a piquant, child- unhappy expression. But her breasts '^HEN he apparently regretted his did not rise and fall. She might have temper. The flame in his eyes died been but a painting. She might have down. But he said sternly, “Do not been merely a corpse—if Bill had not interfere with my duty as a minister of known instinctively that she was alive. the Gospel!” “No wonder,” Bill heard himself say- And he whirled, and with long, plung- ing in a low, crazily-wavering voice, “no ing stride broke into the glade and con- wonder they think she’s a goddess. Oh, fronted the drummers! Lord! I could worship her myself 1” Bill van Astor-Smythe stood up, his “You do vrell to pray to your Lord,” hands on his hips in disgust. Talk about the Reverend John Stevens whispered, your fire-breathing sky -pilots! Here in acid sotto voce, “if such are your was one in the flesh. The drummers had thoughts! What wickedness swells leaped to their feet, gesticulating, jab- here? Who is this shameless creature? bering wildly in the Kaffir tongue. But What is her purpose in stealing my con- the Reverend John Stevens talked back verts?” at them, even more bombastically, and Bill felt a flash of irritation. “Boy! suddenly they began to cower, and then You sure take yourself seriously, don’t fell to their knees, their heads lowered. you, Reverend? Shut upl” Bill heard them mumble meaningly, Stevens’ mouth opened and closed. “OurfatherwhoartinHeaven— He blinked and gulped. Reynolds, his They went through the whole Lord’s assistant,— said uncertainly, “See here, Prayer, and then, with wails of terror, now ran into the jungle, apparently back to- “See here—nothing!” Bill shunted ward their village. These oldsters were, himself a step closer to them, whisper- Bill guessed, chosen solely to keep ing fiercely. All his flippancy, his cocky watch over the villagers’ new object of acceptance of a dangerous situation, worship when the tribal ceremonies did was gone. In its place was the deadly not include her. seriousness of a tough, quick-thinking “They realize their sin,” Stevens said reporter who sees a story beside which triumphantly. “Please come out, Mr. all other news stories pale to nothing. Astor-Smythe; Mr. Reynolds.” “This is something that is bigger than It was with a strange sense of eeri- you or me, Reverend Reynolds. And ness that Bill stood in front of the why? Because that girl is not a native space-ship, for such he knew it to be. of the planet Earth!” The glorious creature who lay on a ” ” INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 57 couch in what must have been the ob- a whole half-dozen of them!” servation booth of the ship was utterly oblivious of events—had been oblivious JT WAS true. The spiders, if spiders for how long? Bill shivered. The they could be called, had woven thick, glass-like material which sealed their strands across the glass-like ma- the girl in was scarred with long, white, terial, anchoring them in the sharp gouged streaks, straight as a ruler—as corners where the glass-like material if. perhaps, meteors moving at incredi- melted in the hard metal of the ship. ble speed had struck glancing blows, But they were ten-legged spiders! had left their marks. Inside, on the “See what I mean?” Bill demanded glass plate, were star-shaped hasps or tensely. “You won’t find any ten- locks which might have accommodated legged spiders on Earth. Spiders are keys. arachnida; they have eight legs by defi- The girl was fairly visible, partly be- nition. That proves this ship came from cause of brightening moonlight, partly another planet. Somehow, the eggs got because of the rows of lighted candles caught in the corners of this window, in their candlesticks which had been endured the cold of space and then placed on the ledge beneath the trans- hatched when the sun struck them.” parent partition beyond which she The beam Stevens held on the girl slept. Nonetheless, Stevens drew his shook, as if the entire philosophy of his flashlight, spot-lighted her upper body life were being rearranged. He des- and head. perately tried to grab at a straw. “That— Stevens’ voice was gloomy when he —that spider up there has eight le spoke. “A creature of evil and wicked- He stopped, biting at his lips when the ness, verily; a temptress who, if she “spider,” as if in answer to the chal- should wake, would be more dangerous lenge, moved in its web, and stretched than a serpent of the jungle.” out two additional legs which had been Bill grinned. “Ixiiay, fellows! Don’t hidden beneath its body. He faltered, stare so hard at the young lady while unable longer to question the argument. she’s in bed. It’s unethical. Besides Bill took the facetiousness from his that, it ain’t right!” voice. “Play the beam around the other Thomas Reynolds flushed scarlet. parts of the ship, Reverend— Hold it! His mouth fell in his confu.sion. “I was There!” only trying—” he began in protest. A vast excitement rippled through “We were trying to determine Bill’s breast. Suddenly he had dropped whether the—the creature really came to one knee, dropping his portable. from another planet,” Stevens hastened “Look at this!” he yelped. “A lever to his aid. Stevens’ own boyish cheeks of some kind! Hey, man!” He whis- were red. tled. “And if it isn’t the lever that will Bill chuckled. “Save it, pals. I wake up this girl and—or open up the know what you were trying to deter- ship— mine—whether you’d have what it “How do you know?” the missionary takes when she does wake. But never asked sharply. He and Reynolds had mind about cogitating too hard about similarly dropped to their knees. In whether she really came from another spite of themselves, they had been in- planet. Take one look at the ten-legged fected by Bill’s excitement over a spider do/.ing in that web spun on the chance discovery. outside of the glass there. Hey! There’s “I don’t knowl” — 58 AMAZING STORIES Bill wrapped both hands around the He leaped to his feet and back. He foot-long bar of metal which protruded caught chaotic glimpses of Stevens and from the base of the ship—the only such of his assistant, Reynolds. They had protuberance to be seen anywhere. seen the gas too. Not only seen it, but ‘‘But I’m almost certain of it!” Bill •breathed it! They were tottering, continued vibrantly. “Look here! Thi< staggering away from the ship, or try- isn’t a lever so much as a plunger. It ing to stagger away. But .suddenly they was designed to be pushed upward. fell on the ground. \\Tien the ship landed, it would force Bill himself fell, futile, scalding this plunger upward. But the ship, by curses leaping through his remaining pure chance, rested its aft section on thoughts. Stevens had been right. the limb of that fallen baobab tree There was something hellish about this there. The plunger was prevented from whole thing, about this ship, about this touching solid ground. It obviously girl. Why had he ever had the bad didn’t fulfill its function when the ship sense to push that plunger up? it had landed!” obviously released a gas designed to The Reverend John Stevens flicked slay any life near the ship! For Bill the beam over the plunger. He said knew he was dying as he fell. slowly, “And perhaps it was a good But as he fell, he saw the glorious thing it didn’t, Mr. Astor-Smythe. I sleeping creature stir—saw her limbs have a conviction about that girl in move in life—saw her lips part-~saw there, and it is not a pleasant conviction her eyes open with awareness of an — Don't do that!" external world. He had been right. “It’s already done,” Bill said in The plunger had been designed to wake satisfaction. It had required no more her—and perhaps others of her kind than a steady upward pressure to slide within the ship! He groaned in abject the plunger out of sight into the belly horror of what he had done, and felt life of the ship. slip away. . . . Bill glanced sidewise at Stevens, grinning. He enjoyed the look of striken CHAPTER 111 uneasiness on the young missionary’s fhe Planet Earth! face. Stevens, strangely, had an almost Peace for religious fear of the sleeping girl. How silly that was! Showed what happened V^HEN Bill van Astor-Smythe re- to you when you were isolated from the ’ gained consciousness he knew rest of the world and had nothing but with certainty that he was the captive a Bible and a flock of Zulus to keep of the people from the stars. He al- you company ready was quite certain that the sleep- of And it was at that moment that Bill ing girl was not the only inhabitant heard the hissing sound! At that mo- the ship. She would not have come ment that he sensed terrible danger! alone. Even as he lay there, bis mind strug- T TTS eyes popped. Coming from in- gling out of its torpor, his bones like visible apertures in the hull of the lead, he was reasoning his way out of ship he saw sudden streams of a yellow- confusion. Where had this ship come ish vapor. He caught a whiff of it. It from? Why? Bill shuddered; for some spread mortal terror through his soul reason he felt that if he had only as his brain went suddenly dizzy. listened to the Reverend John Stevens, INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 59 he could have averted a terrible catas- hand came down as the guards bowed trophe, which still lay in the future. themselves out. He did not regain full consciousness Mistress Bess smiled—smiled a immediately. But for a lucid second, as voluptuous smil^ that was as kindly as through a blur, he saw three figures it was subtly taunting. And suddenly, standing over him. Two were men, for no good reason, that smile enraged dressed in alien clothes. The third was Bill. the ravishingly beautiful sleeper who no His square jaw came out. “Friends? longer slept. They were wearing strange Like fun!” He snapped the words in- helmets which looked like those used sultingly, his fists knotting. “If you call in football. Bill knew that such a hel- gassing us a friendly act, think again! met was on his own head, and on those Or maybe that’s your idea of how to say of Stevens and Reynolds who lay on the ‘hello, how are you’ on your planet?” floor of this room with him. He sneered. Between the helmets ran wires. Her eyes, gold-flecked, turned cold. That Bill saw before he lost con- She half rose on her chair. Then she sciousness again. But he felt strange sank back, apparently restraining her- forces plucking at his brain ... he felt self. his thoughts running with incredible “You speak rashly, handsome one,” swiftness over every memory of his life, she spoke softly. But there was the and every forgotten memory, as if some- sharpness of a razor beneath her voice, body were turning the phonograph of “But no matter. I am glad you have al- his mind at incredible speed. ready ascertained that we have come Then he was awake—and being from another planet. That is true. You hauled to his feet! must also realize that the gas which “Men of the planet Earth!” an alien stole your consciousness was released human holding a strange weapon entirely automatically, was designed snapped. “You will fall in between us! only to protect us from hostile creatures Mistress Bess will speak to you!” when the ship landed, to awaken me and Along with the dazed Reynolds and my officers and my thousand soldiers Stevens, Bill fell into line between two from their long long sleep.” guards dressed in resplendent metal- “Soldiers?” Stevens was breathing braid uniforms. They were marched hard. “And why do you bring soldiers down an echoing corridor. They turned to the planet of the Lord? Nay, do not left into a lavishly draped room. And answer! Already, the Lord my God here sat Mistress Bess—the Sleeper! has spaken the truth unto me,” His Bill felt the same painful lump in his arms flung up, and his voice was terrible throat. She was so beautiful! Beauti- as he fearlessly stepped toward the Mis- ful beyond the laws of nature. tress Bess. They were brought to a standstill. He cried, “You are a scientific race, Studying them closely, the girl leaned versed in the arts of the destruction of forward, her brief silken costume span- lives and property—and you have come gled with diadem jewels that clustered here to conquer the planet Earth!’* in her hair like bright galaxies strewn on ebon space. '^HE cry rang through the gorgeous- “Leave me, guards!” she spoke sud- ly tapestried room, and for a mo- denly. “I do not require protection ment it seemed to turn everybody into from those who are my friends!” Her statues. Then Bill yelped in hopeless — ” ” ” ” ” — 60 AMAZING STORIES disgust, “Oh, nuts! Come back here, The other’s voice w'as somber. you dam—you blankety fool!” “Longer than we dare to think, my lady. He stepped forward, grabbed the But what matter? To us it was but the African sky-pilot’s arm, and pulled him fraction of a moment. We closed our back. He turned to Mistress Bess. eyes and opened them as the plunger “Sorry, Mistress Bess. He—ah—he dissipated the gases in the ship. And knows not what he does—oh, criminy, the ship fulfilled its purpose. It has he’s got me doing it, too! I mean, he’s landed us, safely, on a planet populated got a fantastic streak a mile wide—and by beings of our own calibre—beings not a magazine stand within three hun- whom we can— dred miles! I don’t think you’re any “Stop!” She cut him off. She was angel and I don’t feel as if you’re my breathing heavily, her face ghastly. “No bosom friend, see?—but I’ve got sense matter. It is as you say. We must enough to know that nobody’s going to thank our gods for guiding us to safety try to conquer any planet with an army on a livable planet— of a thousand men and only one measly “There is only one true God! You ship! Sorry he blew up.” foul creatures of the devil— Her eyes were narrowed, and Bill “Shut up!** Bill swung Stevens thought he saw the trace of an ironic around again, his eyes— blazing. “Get smile. He frowned—but at that mo- hold of yourself, you ment the door opened. Into the room “I cannot stand by and see my reli- stepped the two men whom Bill vaguely gion blasphemed,” Stevens cried ex- remembered having seen just before he citedly. “This— regained complete consciousness. She who called herself Bcss-Istra The taller of the two broke into a leaped to her feet. “Stop!” she cried rapid, harsh flow of language. Mistress sharply. “Will you have us throw you Bess spoke sharply. in chains, fool? I am not of a mind to “Speak in English, Bandro! These tarry when there is work to be done are . . . our friends.” when there is a great need to be met!” The crescent eyebrows of him called Bandro shot up. There was a demoral- CUDDENLY a soft slyness tugged at ized expression about his mouth. It ^ her lips. She left the dais on which was evident that some discovery had she sat, her bare, golden legs moving shocked him. with silken stride. She stopped when The smaller, stockier man at his side a few feet removed from the three men. broke into less excited speech. “It is Reynolds, who had been standing a lit- of no great importance Mistress Bess,” tle behind his superior, had been star- he snapped. “Bandro is unduly alarmed, ing with hypnotic fascination at Bess- even though we entirely missed the Istra from the moment they had come planet for w^hich we started!” into the room. Bill felt much the same, ‘‘WhatV^ The girl cried the word out only worse. There was something about in shocked unbelief. “But . . . but your- this girl which rang warning gongs in self told me that there were no other his brain, but at the same time she made experience an emotion that was solar systems with many light-years him — hundreds, perhaps. That . . . that means overwhelming -and frightening. that we have slept for—” dread drew She said huskily to the Reverend the rosiness away from her cheeks John Stevens, “You wrong us when you ^‘lor how long?’* infer that we could intend the conquest — INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 61 of your planet—a planet where a God judice. She knew! And she named the Lord rules. Nol Our pur- He drew his breath in suddenly. A pose is different—our purpose is kind- startled thought swept across his mind. ?” ly 1” “You mean— he cried. “What—” The man named Bandro “Yes!” The glorious face of Bess- spoke sharply, but cut himself off, his Istra seemed transfigured with an inner mottled dark eyes suddenly lidding. glow. “Yesl” spoke Bess-Istra. Her breath “Men of Earth,” she cried, her voice came more quickly. “You know, men a clarion peal, “we who have come from of the planet Earth, that we are now space are going to stop the war and speaking your language. Does this spread peace and contentment through- seem like magic to you? It is not. By out the world!” means of an instrument which we, in our language, call the vothet, but which CHAPTER IV is a great deal like the hypnobioscope invented years ago by one of your coun- “—Beleaguered Isle of Madagascar!" trymen, we were able to transfer from your subconscious minds much detailed ^0 STOP the war! information.” The thought seized at the inner- Bill remembered the helmets. “Yes,” most cells of Bill’s brain. He grew he nodded. “You learned the language dizzy with it. that way, then?” He was not a sentimental sort of per- “Learned,” she said, “not only the son. He had deliberately hardened language, but also much about the himself to witnessing misery and death planet Earth. For instance the nations in their worst forms. The possibility of your planet are at war, are they that these mysterious people from the not?” stars, with their super-science, could Bill’s mind was brought back sudden- bring to an end the conflict scouring ly to a remembrance of the conscience- the world free of every decent human less hordes of Nazis and Nipponese thought, awoke in him a choking hope. who were bringing misery and ghastly Did she mean it? Could she mean it? destruction to the world. Or were her words a mockery? Was she She added softly, “And the Allied truly the devilish creature that the nations of your world have their backs young missionary thought her; that Bill to the wall, are fighting a hopeless bat- thought her? No! To have the hope bear. tle, are they not? In the Pacific the withdrawn would be too much to Japanese are throttling you. In Italy, Bill swiftly looked at the other occu- the Nazis are about to trap Allied pants of the room. He whom Bess- armies. Your cause is well-nigh lost! Istra called Bandro stood fork-legged, In another few months, the democratic face impassive, but with his eyes lidding nations of the world will be at the mercy his secret thoughts. Near him stood of beasts! It is true?” the shorter, stockier being with the glit- And Bill knew it was true! Few tering eyes; he was looking at Bess- men dared to believe that it was true. Istra, lips curled in a vain, meaningless They fought on, refusing to believe they smirk. The Reverend John Stevens’ were already doomed. But this girl, jaw was hanging; but it was Stevens from out of the deeps of space, could who broke the pulsing silence. look at the whole picture v/ithout pre- The zeal of his religion was in his ” ” ” 62 AMAZING STORIES eyes. Somehow he was standing if his wmrds lingered in her mind. Then straighter, somehow his eyes were flash- she returned her attention to Bill. She ing with a godly fire. But this time, studied him. She began to smile. She Bill w^as thankful to see, no austerely threw an amused look at Bandro and dogmatic cry erupted from his throat. the other. Instead, there an humble dignity to his “Speak to him, Sab-Hallo. Tell him words. of what we could do.” “Mistress Bess,” he said humbly, “if The stocky, broadshouldered man I have offended you with my suspicions, known as Sab-Hallo smirked. He ad- I pray your indulgence. But I was dressed Bill, hi.': glittering, self-pleased wrong—wTong! I had thought you to eyes holding Bill’s as if in contempt. be the devil’s own, but this offer of “The vothet, the machine which yours, to free the world from a despe- taught us your language and something rate, horrible tyranny — well, the of your world, gave us a general pic- thought can have originated in none but ture of the war which is being waged a good and true mind. I— on this planet. It is a devastating war, Her gold-flecked eyes were gazing at of course, but nothing to what we on him oddly. “Good and true?” Her our planet— eyes brooded, narrowed, as if she were “Sab-Hallo!” Bess-Istra spoke. struggling with a thought that stunned He bit at his tongue and cringed a her. little. He said humbly, “I v^^as merely “Yes, yes! For after all, and I quote: about to remark that on our planet, al- ‘He who loveth not his brother whom he though we excelled in the arts of peace, hath seen, how can he love his God our science was such that w^e had great whom he hath not seen?’ Mistress Bess, and marvelous -weapons stored away in we are all children of God, though we secret places. These weapons we have worship him under other names; and so brought with us in our epochal flight now, if your intentions are indeed what across the void. They are weapons be- you say, I throw open my heart to you, sides which your artillery and bullet- I give you my love—” throwing guns are as nothing; your air- “Ixnay on the ovelay!” Bill van planes, your battleships, your tank, Astor-Smythe sang out. He was grin- your deadliest gases and bombs—these ning. “Cut it out, parson! What he are children’s toys. On this impervious, means, hlistress Bess, is that your offer practically indestructible ship which I, to save the world for Roosevelt and Sab-Hallo, have constructed, we have Cliurchill rings the bell with all of us! wea{X)ns which can level whole armies.” And how!” “Yes.” Bess-Istra took up the tale His excitement overrode any re- smoothly. “As we shall level and des- straint he might have had in the pres- troy the armies of those who menace ence of a beautiful girl. the freedom of your world— “You mean you actually could do it? “No!” Stevens cried the single denial, Slap down the ears of those dirty yellow pleading in his voice. His arms ex- streaks? Drive Hitler and his bunch tended. “Mistress Bess, we must not! back to the last front?” If we are going to bring salvation to the world, can we not do it peacefully, T>ESS-ISTRA still looked at Stevens, bloodlessly? For if we bring the peace at his boyish, radiant face, his we cannot do it through hate. Justice eager blue eyes; still looked at him, as is the Lord’s!” ” ” INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 63 “Hold everything,” Bill interposed Bandro stood still, faint contempt in swiftly. “Back down, Johnny! You his eyes. don’t look gift horses in the mouth— She sheathed her weapon with a slid- And Bess-Istra interrupted him, her ing clatter. “See to it then!” eyes wide on Stevens and his out- Abruptly, all passion was gone from stretched hands. “Stay!” she com- her face. Bill made a mental note that manded. She spoke musingly, “Yes, it here was a girl who might appreciate a can be done. Why—why, a bloodless good punch to the jaw at the opportune victory!” The thought seemed to stun moment. Damned if he’d ever let her her. pull a gun on him! But in the mean- He who was known as Bandro strode time it might be more to the point to forward, his heavy metal-braid sleeves play along with her. slapping against his smoothly muscled He kept his thoughts to himself, as arms. Bess-Istra turned to him, her full scar- “But—but, Mistress Bessl” he burst let lips pursed with what Bill knew was out in what seemed like anger. “This deliberate coquetry. Knowing it didn’t has never been your manney— seem to be any antidote. His heart beat She faced him. Her lip curled. “Quiet, painfully. And she must have guessed Bandro,” she exclaimed. She smiled, the emotions in his breast, for a half tawnily, voluptuously, and her eyes taunting light grew in her glorious, lidded. “After all,” she said in a softer, lidded eyes. more yielding tone, “are not these our He said huskily, with just the shade friends? Do we not desire to please of counteracting insolence that was them?” necessary to set her back a trifle on For a long moment he returned her her heels, “Okay, Bess! Where do we gaze. Then his anger dissipated and he go from here? We’ve got a world to strode woodenly back to his place. save! And every minute we stand here “Very well,” he spoke at last, into making with the gab somebody dies the silence that settled. His lips curled that shouldn’t have to.” into a peculiarly crooked smile which Her mouth tightened imperceptibly, made Bill shiver. “Do as you wish, my but she immediately regained her lady,” he murmured, and there was a balance. slight sarcastic tone to the words. “You “We begin where you, Bill van Astor- have ever chosen to amuse yourself by Smythe, say,” she said coolly. “The strange means.” vothet, as you may guess, is not power- ful enough to cause all the information CHE whirled toward him, and the dou- we drew from your brains to be im- ble-lensed pistol at her side was in pressed on our brains. The complete her hand and directed toward him. picture of world events is not before us. “Mark you, Bandro!” she cried in a But you, being a—a reporter?—^you tone of rage. “Once before you stood would know of such things. Command against me—but I reinstated you, made me then, 0 Bill. To which battle-front you my second in command; forgave shall we proceed—and shall we destroy, you. But your insolence cannot longer or merely render our enemy helpless?” be brooked. Will you stand in the way The Reverend John Stevens’ eyes of this great—ah—mission which I seek were shining with a godly joy. He to undertake for the . . . the good of grasped Bill’s arm. our fellow men?” “Brother,” he cried, “good tidings at 64 AMAZING STORIES last sweep across the world. Peace and touch of malaria was making him ner- good will toward men is at last to be a vous. reality. Praise the Loord! And may Bess-Istra now turned with a silky I make a suggestion?” motion toward Sab-Hallo. Bill was faced with a staggering de- “The ship is ready to lift, all my cision. Where to start on this impos- soldiers are awake, and have eaten, and sibly monumental task? “Go ahead,” are ready to stand at their posts to re- he invited dazedly. ceive orders to operate their weapons “As a trial action,” Stevens said should we have need of them.” glowingly, “why not save Madagascar “All can be made ready within a few and Mozambique from the damned of those Earth units of lime called the Japanese?” minute. But the only weapons we will The idea caught in Bill's brain like need to accomplish our task are those tinder. He snapped his fingers. “Swell!” I shall operate from the control room, he cried. He whirled on the voicelessly Mistress Bess.” watching girl, paying no attention to “Good!” Be.ss-Istra drew a sharp the ironic mirth in her barbaric, gold- breath. Her eyes sparkled with an ex- flecked eyes; nor to the enigmatic half- citement that had suddenly drenched smiles of Sal-Hallo and Bandro. He the very air. “Are 'we ready? Then to began to talk in rapid staccato fashion, the control room, Sab-Hallo! Lift the outlining the plan that had come to him. ship out over the great sea which Bill Across Bess-Istra’s face flashed re- says is to the east—and find the Japa- spect. “You would make a good strat- nese supply fleet which is at this mo- egist on my own planet,” she murmured ment sailing with munitions and rein- speculatively. forcements toward the beleaguered isle ” “You had wars on your own planet of Madagascar! then?” Bill demanded, eyelids flicking upward, in the beginnings of startle- CHAPTER V ment. She momentarily seemed to bite at Soft Belly of the Axis Dragon her lip. She said easily, “No . . . no, of course not. Many thousands of years “^HERE it is!” ago, O Bill, there were terrible wars. Bill was sitting in an accelera- But in the era in which I lived all was tion chair, part of a semicircle of people peace and prosperity, and men loved who leaned backward and looked up at each other.” a broad white view -screen, which showed a perfect picture of the cobalt, CHE flirted a casual look at Stevens. white-capped ocean spread out below. Stevens was so excited, Bill thought, The ship, a mere thirty minutes ago, that he would very likely blow a cylin- had leaped up into the sky with a tre- der if some steam wasn’t let off. This mendous burst of speed. And there was his dish. An angel had come from was no acceleration! One hardly knew Heaven who sorrowed for the woes of one was moving, for the acceleration men and was magically empowered to chairs created an etheric field which put a stop to it. robbed each atom of an accelerating Bill felt a faint thrust of alarm, mo- body of its inertia. mentarily. Something—what was it?— Seated in the semi-circle were Bess- didn’t seem quite right. Oh, nutsl His Istra, Bandro, the Reverend John Stev- ! ” — INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 65 ens, and Bill van Astor-Smythe. Bill winced, knowing that no ship Thomas Reynolds had pleaded of his could stand up under that withering superior to be allowed to go back to fire. But Sab-Hallo suddenly burst into the mission. He was a simple soul, and a titter of delight. confessed that these strangely alien “Pitifull” he cried, “They think to people frightened him. Stevens was harm my wonderful ship—seek to harm glad to let him go, for the mission the ship which even fierce-driven mete- needed someone to tend it. Reynolds ors could not damage. The fools—the left the ship before it left the ground. useless fools! Mistress Bess, say the Bill was pointing to a fan-shaped word, and I shall show them the might area of white-caps now. It was miles of our planet—shall utterly destroy and below, but it was certainly the wake sink their fleet with one blow!” churned up by the Japanese fleet. She bent on him a cold, withering The space-ship plunged down out of glance. “Do so and it will be your lot the stratosphere toward its goal. Ex- to join them. Render them helpless and citement plucked at Bill’s nerves, sent drifting—it is all I require.” the blood singing through his veins. Bandro now turned in his chair with Could these people actually do what the motion of a panther. He spoke in they claimed to do? It seemed im- a low fierce tone, the dark furrows of a po.ssible! vast impatience over his brow. “Why He glanced sidewise at Bess-Istra. should we spare them, Mistress Bess? Her scarlet lips were parted with the They are trouble makers! They and same excitement Bill felt. She was their nation must be completely negated watching the growing fleet with interest. before our— before the plan can suc- Bill saw clumsy cargo ships with deep ceed! Before the peace can be con- wells and thick funnels. There must summated. Was it ever your man- have been a dozen of them, loaded with ner— packing cases which were filled with “It is my manner now! ” She spoke enough munitions to keep the Japs on slowly, as if puzzling over something. Madagascar and Mozambique going; Then she shrugged. She smiled a hard, would keep them supplied until the peculiar smile and snapped at Sab- Allies surrendered. Hallo: “Drop closer! Spew their ships The ships were closely bunched. Ex- from stem to sterns with the golden cept for two destroyers they were trav- disks. At once, for there are things to eling without convoy. do and this is a larger world even than But as the space-ship dropped to- that one from which we came.” ward the fleet, there were signs of “It is good, my lady,” muttered Sab- action. Sailors on deck went mad. And Hallo, sullenly. suddenly from each of the ships came His deft long fingers touched at a flashes of fire and an appalling racket control sequence on the console board like continuous summer thunder. They and Bill saw a beautiful sight! were firing two-inch shells At the same time, the convoying de- ^ OLDEN disks, thousands of them, stroyers stepped up their paces a notch, ^ spinning rapidly, fell from the and from their funnels poured thick belly of the space-ship, swiftly ap- streams of smoke! At the same time proached the cargo ship directly be- the destroyers erupted with anti-air- neath them. Bill heard the missionary craft fire. give a cry of unbelief as those golden ” — 66 AMAZING STORIES disks spun through the decks and dis- will follow them up and hack them to appeared; touched at the chattering pieces. Wow!” guns and seemed to be sucked into the He suddenly let out a yell that made metal of the guns. Bandro leap to his feet with a curse And those chattering machine guns, that turned Stevens’ face red, even which threw two-inch shells with in- though the curse was made in another credible rapidity, ceased their fire tongue. jammed! And at the same time ac- “Wfliere’s my typewriter? Vve got a quired a brilliant golden glow. deadline to meet!” And then the cargo ship, aswarm with Deadline! panic-stricken Japs, began to lose head- And Bill van Astor-Smythe, legman way. Smoke ceased to pour from its extraordinary for the New York Corey funnels. It lost speed. Features Syndicate, made that deadline But by that time, the space-ship had —and a hundred more infinitely more darted toward another Japanese craft, important. straight into its futile anti-aircraft fire. Scoop after scoop I Scoops for which .\gain the golden disks spun rapidly any journalist would give thirty of the downward—and again! Within five ripest years of his life! minutes after the space-ship had at- Bess-Istra, the glorious mystery girl tacked, the Japanese weapons were en- from the stars, had smiled with in- tirely silenced, and the whole fleet was dulgent patience at Bill that day after an aimless flotilla of flotsam! he yelled for his typewriter. A fleet unable to move under its own “Of course,” she said smoothly. “You power! will want to let your people know what “And Madagascar is two hundred is happening. So be it! Bandro, lead miles away!’’ cried Stevens, pound- our great friend Bill to a room where ing his fist exultantly, yet softly, re- he can be uninterrupted.” strainedly, on the arm of his accelera- tion chair. “Oh, this is indeed a great BILL went away with Bandro, ” day for man ! Stevens was talking with Bess- “But—but how did it work?” Bill Istra, quoting eager reams of Biblical cried, amazed. “Bess—Mistress Bess quotations, his face on fire. And Bess- or whatever— Istra was listening with complete at- She shrugged carelessly- “It was tention, an odd, thoughtful expression nothing. The golden disks were but in her eyes. magnetic force-fields which had an Bandro turned with his hand on the affinity for metal. They act as staples knob of the door of the room to which bind the moving parts of a ma- w'hich he had brought Bill. A curious chine together so tightly that no force malevolence was naked on his face. can sunder them. The Japanese fleet “I wish to give you a warning, friend will float helplessly until after we have Bill,” he said when he had Bill’s atten- made the peace!” tion. “Do not look with too bold an “And when the Japs discover that eye on her who is known as Bess- those men and supplies they needed Istra!” aren’t coming through they’ll know they Bill put his hands on his hips. can’t keep on fighting,” Bill breathed “Hands off, eh!” he snapped. “Sez joyously. “They’ll retrench, try to who? You haven’t got a lease on the consolidate their gains. The Tommies pretty maiden, have you?” INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 67 Bandro took three quick steps to- ingly stuffing the manuscript into one ward him, nostrils flaring. “Fool!” he of the legal-size envelopes he kept with sneered. “You will be caught in her his typewriter. “Hot stuff!” toils like numberless others. Know you He looked up at Bess-Istra, wander- not that she is not what she seems?” ing through the gleaming, instrument- “Know you not that it isn’t any of studded interior of the great ship. She your business whether I do or don’t led him to an alcove where Stevens, know?—and quit talking behind a Bandro, and Sab-Hallo were standing. lady’s back!” Nearby, next to a slanting board with They glared at each other. red buttons, a metal-braid clad soldier Bill said, levelly, harshly, “Let’s you stood. Bess-Istra motioned to him. and me get off on the right foot, Bandro. He pressed a stud—and the entire 1 don’t like you. I never will like you. side of the alcove fell away, letting in Get it?” the daylight of the outside world; and Bandro was voiceless. His gray skin as the gang-plank touched and was grew dark. He at last said in a stran- still, Bill cried out in unbelief. gled voice, The ship had landed on the roof of “We will remember that, friend the New York Corey Features Syndi- Bill!” cate Building! He turned, was gone, and Bill wrin- kled his nose and said, “Nuts!” T>ILL knew that was so because, two Within less than a minute, he was at- blocks away was the Empire State tacking his typewriter in a very frenzy Building. Bill had often seen that gi- of creation. gantic structure from this roof. He was halfway through his story But mostly he knew it because a half- when Bess-Istra entered the room. Bill hundred of the employees of the New ripped a sheet from his typewriter in a York Corey Features Syndicate had daze. He rose awkwardly, face flushed. surrounded the ship, yelling and run- “Forgive me, my friend Bill,” she ning, and waving their hands excitedly. said smoothly; “but I have gone to the Stevens’ eyes were bulging. “New trouble to make your story credible to York City!” he gasped. He almost the outside world. Are you yet finished looked frightened. He had never seen with it?” any city bigger than Mozambique or “A half-hour yet,” Bill said dazedly. Lorenzo Marques. Then his eyes sharpened. He said “By — the unholy — hinges of — slowly, “Yes . . . yes, of course, I will Hell!” Bill said, spacing the syllables have trouble making my editor believe. out. “What the—” But he got the ?” But how have you— idea. Nobody could fail to believe this “Finish your story,” she cried. There story now—particularly with his editor was a warm, almo.st childish delight in standing in the forefront of the crowd ” her voice. “And then I will show you ! over there, jaw hanging slack. Bill finished his story, but curiosity Bill burst into an excited roar. was rife in him. He read over the type- “Mac!” he yelled. ^'MacV* written pages, and a huge grin of satis- He raced from the gangplank onto faction spread over his face, which was the roof; he grabbed the dazed man’s beginning to acquire a reddish growth hand, shouting senseless things. Then of beard. he thrust the manuscript into his hand. ” “Boy ! He whispered to himself, lov- “Print this! Spread it over the front —! 68 AMAZING STORIES page of every newspaper that wants to of your inadequately armed American pay a fancy price for a first-hand ac- forces?” count of the saving of the world! I’ll “They may have been inadequately get you a story a day from now on, armed from the standpoint of what you until it’s over over there. And my per- think IS adequate,” Bill retorted, dislik- centage jumps from 60% to 80% ing the insolence which Bandro at times Okay?” deliberately put into his tones, “but “Okay!” gasped the startled—editor. from our standpoint we had the goods! “But—but what—that is—Bill ” He Had it! But now the Americans and floundered. the English, three hundred thousand of “Save it!” he laughed joyously. them, are about to enter another Dun- “You’ll get the whole story from that kirk!” manuscript. Goo’bye!” His face was pale with agony as he He turned, sped into the interior of said it. He hadn’t realized until he the ship, and the gangplank soughed had listened to a newscast which Bess- into place behind him. And a few sec- Istra had picked up for him that the onds later, the ship from the stars Allies were facing such a black future hurled into the air toward “the soft in Europe. Now they were dying like belly of the Axis dragon” — toward flies. Italy! “As for their strategy, they ham- For, Bill had decided, there lay the mered Italy from Africa with hundreds next logical striking point against the of big bombers, destroying port after monstrous forces that were throttling port. But the Italian navy, com- the world! manded and manned by Germans, es- caped and is loose in the Mediter- played hell when CHAPTER VI ranean. That navy we ferried men across the sea from Victory on the Second Front Tunis to Italy. But the British navy chased them, and halfway up the coast "DESS-ISTRA stood close to Bill. He of Italy, where the mountain range could feel her bare arm on his as breaks, we landed our armies. For they looked into the view-plate. He awhile it seemed like things were going wondered if she were doing it intention- good, but Hitler meanwhile was bring- ally. It was doing things to his insides. ing in reinforcements from the Russian “There’s Italy!” he exclaimed.' “The front and the Vichy French forces were real European Second Front. It was drafted, too. preceded by the battle for Tunisia. “The Allies, in the first week of When the Allies won that, they had the fighting, completely drove across the whole coast of North Africa for a jump- middle of Italy to the Ionian Sea, cut- ing-off place to attack Hitler; for North ting off all communications in the boot Africa was, in effect, an airplane carrier part of Italy. But in the next three ... a big one!” months the Nazis proved too much for Bandro stroked at his sharp-pointed them. As things stand now the hard- chin. The ship was dropping slowly fought for position in Italy will be en- downward and forward, following the tirely lost.” low mountain range that girds the west “The inhumanity of man to man,” coast of the Roman boot. said Stevens hopelessly. “And after “And the war strategy of the Allies the war, what plan of action will keep ” INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 69 down the beast in man—keep it down The ship hurled into a sudden forever?” speed and the sky without, arching Sab-Hallo laughed a high-pitched over the post - card - pretty Mediter- laugh and rubbed his hands together. ranean, blurred. And when the ship His eyes were gloating. “We shall solve stopped, they were looking down at the that problem, too,” he said throatily. battle—a battle that made Bill’s blood “There are few problems that my run cold! He knew that never before genius cannot solve. “For instance, I had man seen such horror. Never had have a— so many and such murderous weapons “Quiet!” Bess-Istra snapped. “Your of artillery been gathered in one place; genius will earn you an early death if nor so many tanks; nor, if it were you do not remember that I command known, had men fought with such you in all things.” ferocity. “Very well, my lady,” the squat, Although in this part of the world it broad-shouldered scientist said sullenly. was early afternoon, the only light was But Bill, watching him, saw a grim look that furnished by frantic search-beams pass between him and the perpetually stabbing the sky for dive-planes; by sneering Bandro. cannon — mostly 155-mm. howitzers, Bill guessed, supported by 75s and JDESS-ISTRA gripped Bill’s arm. Bill 100s—which belched fire that was pur- found himself looking deep into her plish-red like the blood of reptiles; by barbaric eyes. And he knew they were tracer-bullets leaping across devastated barbaric. He knew that she was wilful, open spaces from hidden pill-boxes strong of mind, ready to temper, thor- where machine-guns chattered. oughly spoiled — dangerous, maybe. No light, except from these weapons! And yet his attraction for her, deadly For a black pall of smoke lingered from though it was, was growing, no matter horizon to horizon. how hard he fought it. And he knew But in that light, Bill saw great tanks that she knew it — for now there as a spitting out their death at retreating taunting mockery in the impertinent Allied soldiers. Saw heaps of bodies curl of her full red lips. bloodying that never-to-be-forgotten “And now,” she breathed, “if we ren- battle-field. der the enemy army helpless, if we en- And then, as the ship from the stars tirely destroy resistance, the Allies will hovered, he saw field artillery turned be able to gain control of all Italy, will upward! be able to depose this large-jawed man Bill was aghast. “Those damned called Mussolini.” Nazis are firing at us! ” he cried wildly. “And not only that,” Bill said vi- “They’ll bring us down before we can brantly, “but our armies will be ready accomplish our purpose!” to pour into Germany! For Hitler will And indeed, little puffs of light were simply be unprepared for this blow. He exploding about and near the ship. won’t be able to muster his forces.” “No!” Stevens was pale. He stam- “So be it,” she spoke coolly, and mered, without conviction, “No! The turned to Sab-Hallo. “When the moun- Lord is just. Though we walk in the tains break, turn eastward until we valley of the shadow of death, he will come to the front where these gallant, not permit us to die when our mission Allies are dying. We shall destroy all is so great!” resistance with the gas-ray 1” “That God Whom you call the Lord,” — 70 AMAZING STORIES said Bess-Istra, and Bill for the life of ternal atomic-explosions. Little motes him could not tell whether she was be- danced prismatically, beautifully, and ing serious or faintly sarcastic, “must seemed to be sucked toward the humans indeed be powerful. For this ship is —toward the Nazis who operated the impervious to ordinary missiles such as gun. Swept toward them, was help- those. Indeed, only the green ray of lessly breathed in by them. death and disintegration could harm And they jell! Fell on the ground it. Still,” she added, apparently in by the tens. And then by the hundreds, deepest thought, “it does not seem as the beam flicked toward other firing probable that your God the Lord would units, and still others. have had the foresight to have created And an hour passed. Bill didn’t know this ship solely for the purpose of de- how the Americans and British felt, but feating your enemies.” he could guess. For all along that fifty- The Reverend John Stevens said seri- mile battle-line, a strange cylindrical ously, solemnly, “But it may well be ship was moving, and a mighty army, the case, Mistress Bess. He works in certain of victory, was being plunged strange ways his wonders to perform.” into the maddest kind of panic. There was an ironic, retrospective The very air surrounding every smile to her lips, and her eyes were enemy unit, every tank and fox-hole lidded, as if they were gazing backward and pill-box, was turned to a deadly along the trail of memory. “Strange,” gas which dropped men like flies! she muttered, and her voice was curi- And the Allies, grim men in olive ously metallic. “A strange god indeed drab, were rushing in to consolidate that does not bid its worshippers to those miraculously harmless positions. strive arrogantly and impetuously, It was probable that they had by this cruelly, for power. In my province, time seen the ship from space, and knew where I was born, there was a god it was responsible. It was also prob- who— But stay! This is foolishness. able, that by this time, the news con- Sab-Hallo, on this Axis army which cerning the ship from space had already seems likely to defeat our friends the been printed in innumerable newspa- Allies, you will use the gas-ray! And pers, and by this time was being broad- use it until all their legions have fallen cast over the radio. But Bill was too in stupid slumber, easy prey for the fascinated to pick up such a broadcast embattled Tommies and Yanks!” from Bess-Istra’s tele-radio. At the end of the second hour. Bill ^HE gas-ray! In the next two hours, was weak and limp from excitement. the two natives of the embattled “Thank God for small favors, Johnny,” planet Earth saw that alien weapon he whispered. “It’s done! Can you used with awful effect. Sab-Hallo imagine it? The biggest German army touched a stud on the edge of the in- ever assembled in one spot—and it's out strument panel. And Bill saw a soft, of commission!" yellow-spangled cone of light flick “I have already thanked God,” the downward toward that anti-aircraft young missionary stated. “Nor do I battery which was pouring a solid think. Bill, that it was a small favor. stream of projectiles toward the hover- What we have seen is the real begin- ing space-ship. ning of the end. We can win no greater Almost immediately, the very air victory— for this is victory! Peace will within a hundred feet glittered with in- soon come to the planet Earth!” — INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 71 CHAPTER VII As the planet Earth might be playing with dynamite by accepting her favor? The Capture of Adolph Hitler He broke off the momentary thought with a deep shudder that shook his very A ND never in the history of the ^ soul. world was a war ended so quickly In answer to her question, he spoke and so bloodlessly! again, gutturally: “To the Russian front!” MUSSOLINI FLEES ROME! And to the Russian front went the Aboard The Ship From The Stars, ship from the stars. Went there—and Jidy IQ— (CF) —Today an era ends. left again within an hour and a half. A Fascist tyrant who became the mili- And behind it was a German army of tary tool of the most hated man in the soldiers whose eyes were suddenly world is in disorganized retreat from the blank with lost memories. seat oj his hoped-for empire. Guns dropped from their hands. This morning I saw the complete con- They wandered aimlessly on the of the quest of the German army stemming blood-drenched ground south the advance of Allied troops into Italy. River Don. That news has already been flashed to Half-track tractors hauling l5S-mm. the world: how the gas-ray, the utterly howitzers, captured from the Russians to move strange weapon of another world, ren- earlier in the war, continued dered the Nazi forces helpless; how the but their bearded, unutterably bedrag- Allies, sneering from almost certain de- gled drivers gazed stupidly at the con- feat, swept toward Rome on the tide of trols until the engines of war crashed certain victory; and by late tomorrow, into a tree or rolled down into a culvert 1 assure you, will have spread their rule and turned over. witlessly, until over all of Italy. Tanks kept on going, But at noon today, through the mys- they turned over, pawning at the air with treads. terious TELE-ray of Bess-Istra, / their madly clanking caterpillar searched out Mussolini himself, saw Artillery ceased to fire when gunner him sitting in session extraordinary crews sat down on the ground and with his ministers. The session ended picked preoccupiedly at their nails. with a nerve-wracked man’s complete Transports crossing the Baltic loaded nervous collapse. His ministers were with men stopped after awhile and gang no longer little better off. I followed them as they drifted, for the black ran from the chamber, took a private remembered such things as coal and car for the airfield, where they board a engines and boilers; and the captains transport plane. on the bridge merely stood and looked They are in that plane now—bound dumbly at the bluish fog that rolls on for Germany, like dogs running home the Baltic swells. . . . to their master! And later, along the German-fortified west coast of Europe, men also turned “And where shall we attack next, O dumb as from the ship of Bess-Istra Bill?” inquired Bess-Istra. The faint came a high-frequency vibration that insolence on her lips lingered as a taunt- short-circuited mental synapses; or ing reminder to Bill that he was playing were stricken into unknowing slumber with dynamite merely by standing so as the gas-ray got in its work. close to her. From the north the Russians came. ” 72 AMAZING STORIES From the south, the American and ing the Reverend John Stevens and Bill British Allied forces. And from the van Astor-Smythe with a scathing look. west, Great Britain launched an inva- “They are not your— sion of France and Norway; and met “Cease, Sab-Hallo!” no resistance. The command did not come from Three armies swept toward Berlin as Bess-Istra, but from Bandro. The tall internal revolution broke. . . . man’s eyes were flashing with anger. The day of Adolph Hitler was over. He thundered at Sab-Hallo, “It is not And the day of Hirohito! your place to question our mistress! She is right, of course. We shall bring peace to this planet—peacefully!” “ A SIA offers no greater problem,” The fire died from Sab-Hallo’s broad spoke Bill van Astor-Smythe face. There was a moment of silence grimly. “Japan has bitten off more while his eyes searched Bandro’s. And than she can chew in China. China is Bill could have sworn that something not conquered—hardly occupied. Oh, flickered between them, some under- the cities and villages and hamlets have standing. What? been taken along the coast, and far in- Sab-Hallo’s shoulders fell in resig- land. Chungking has fallen. But— nation. “Very well, Mistress Bess,” he holding a city doesn’t mean that you said smoothly. “I have a weapon which hold the land surrounding that cityl will vanquish these Japs so that the There are the guerrilla fighters who rule guerrillas can come in without chance the open spaces between the cities, who of harm. The fire-ring!” harass Japanese troop movements and By the end of that day, Bill had an- communication lines and have given the other story to write. Japs quaking nerves. All we have to From the belly of the ship, as it do is to render the Japanese of those hovered over a village, a swiftly ex- cities powerless so that the native citi- panding fire-ring was hurled; much as zens and the guerrillas can overthrow a smoke-ring is puffed from the throat. them. But—^well, but how?” This fire-ring grew, both in size and in Bess-Istra drew her dark brows brilliance—and it dropped over the Jap- frowningly down toward her gold- controlled village as a cowboy would flecked eyes. “Well?” she demanded. drop a noose over a running horse’s “Sam-Hallo—^how?” head! The squat scientist’s wide-set eyes And like the noose of a riata, the fire- held hers with a studied impatience. ring began to contract. He said acidly, “There is no problem, It contracted slowly. Bill saw shop- if we but sweep such cities with psy- keepers come bursting from their doors chotic waves that will set Japs and Chi- in mad excitement as the ring rolled nese against each other, and provide along the ground toward them; saw ample advantage for the guerrillas to Japs, darting through the streets, Japs enter and take command.” who knew that this was another strange She took a step toward him, her hand weapon released from that ship which falling to the gun at her hip. She said had paralyzed their allies in Europe. tunelessly, “This war will be ended so There was panic in that village. The that we do not kill either friend or en- ring swept through solid structures emy, Sab-Hallo!” without harm, rolled on its way unim- “Friends!” the scientist cried, sweep- paired. Neither Chinese nor Japs • INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 73 dared to get near that ring, nor to In Java, the natives rose in one sav- their hurdle it. Consequently, they were all age wave of revolt and swept over huddled in the center of the city in a hated conquerors. The French East tight knot, unable to flee anywhere. Indies again raised the French flag. The ring came on; some Chinese Bill directed Bess-Istra in this su- the leaped in it—without harm! But be- preme undertaking that enveloped fore others could follow their example, whole world, and literally knocked from the fiery ring contracted to its center, under them the legs of the would-be rolling through the huddled people— totalitarian conquerers of the w o r 1 d. and winked out. And now, as a crashing finale, he made Apparently nothing had happened. his last suggestion, which Bess-Istra indulgently acted upon. T>UT something had. For suddenly In Tokyo, an utterly black beam ^ the vastly more numerous towns- speared down from the belly of the ship, people attacked the Japs, probably feel- plunged through the roof of a build- ing that since this was a weapon, it had ing decorated with hideous gargoyles, been used for their benefit. And they sought its way down through level were right. For as the Jap soldiers at- after level, and touched a man cower- tempted to fight back, their guns did ing against the wall; swallowed him up, not fire! so that there was no trace of him. The ring of fire’s only function—but The beam snapped to another corner a powerful one—was to eat up and to of the city, sought out another tootli- entirely dissipate a chemical without some, wrinkled yellow man; similarly which gunpowder is not gun-powder; swallowed him. the ring had simply destroyed all the The ship snapped halfway around sulphur in that village! the world in the small part of a minute. By the end of that day, fire-rings had Down the black beam dipped; again, been looped over Shanghai, Hong- again, and again! Plunged into the chamber . heart of the council Kong—and Singapore. . . very Outnumbered Japs were swarmed where sat a fat, cruel man, and a slim over, made prisoner, and a liberated man, and a man with a large jaw, and Asia started to go mad with joy. And in a man with a lock of hair hanging down Tokyo, when a shining, cylindrical ship over his ghastly pale forehead. And floated with the nonchalance of com- others, of lesser import. These the plete confidence over that city, high beam swallowed. officials realized that the game had run And in a chamber in the ship, after after its course. The members of that dia- they had been materialized there, bolical society known as the ‘^‘black they had been drawn like formless gases dragon” committed hara-kiri down to upward through wnlls by the black the last man. beam, were more than a dozen men. In Australia, Japanese morale was All important leaders of the Axis com- broken, and the army which had gained bine were prisoners of Bess-Istra! a foothold on the north coast retreated with dreadful losses, and that same day CHAPTER vni was utterly destroyed when the trans- Mistress of Earth ports on which they sought to make fact that Bill had their escape were sunk by American TN SPITE of the B-24’s. been in on the ground floor of a real — — 74 AMAZING STORIES miracle from heaven, he was stunned. each other in a highly nervous exalta- So much had happened in the last few tion. Bill gulped, shook his head, days that it was beyond the imagination blinked. to comprehend. “Hold it! What gives?” The war was over! “I can do it,” Stevens whispered. “The war is over,” Bill repeated “Do what?” blankly. “Johnny! Did you hear me, “I can convert Bess-Istra!” boy?” “Convert—” Bill yelled the word “Eh? Eh? Oh, yes!” out, and then sank back, feeling as if Bill’s typewriter played a slow, stut- the world were coming to an end. He tering tune, and then went like mad. leaned forward and bared his teeth: “The folks at home don’t have to “Why? Why in the name of God do feel like fifth-columnists if they drink you want to convert her? She’s got more than one and two-tenths cups of her own religion. She’s got her own coffee! Boy! They don’t have to steal system of theogony. She wouldn’t want extra lumps of sugar from restaurants. to be converted!” Huzzah! There ain’t any more of Tir- “Oh, yes, she would!” Stevens pitz’ subs snaking along through the whirled. “And why would I wish to seas. They gave up the fight yesterday convert anybody except in the name when they heard about Hitler. Poor, of God? We have been commanded poor Hitler! Come here, Hitler—giffs to go to all comers of the Earth and candy und ice cream. Come here—and preach the gospel—-” I’ll smash your face in. But you ought “This isn’t a corner of the Earth! to be glad we’ve got you. You ought to It’s a God-forgotten piece of a planet be glad you ain’t in Berlin, what with which existed so many years ago you the Tommies swarming all over the can’t think it.” place. Hmm. Same goes for Tojo and “Nothing is God - forgotten. Par- his thugs. Too bad about Laval and ticularly Bess-Istra. She proves it Quisling. They couldn’t take it by listening to me. By asking me Johnny, I heard that over the ^e^e-radio. about the— Lord. She never tires. Laval and Quisling picked out some real Bill—Bill ” Stevens’ voice suddenly high buildings and jumped; squer- stopped; a stricken look appeared in rooch!” Bill laughed a little bit in- his eyes. His lips shook and he bit at sanely. He picked at his nails with his them. He sank down on the three- teeth, staring at the typewriter as he legged chair, hands between his knees. tried to finish a story that would be “Bill,” he whispered. “Bill she is so radioed to his syndicate by Bess-Istra’s unutterably lovely!” equipment. He didn’t hear any answering laugh JgILL started to say something, and from Stevens, though. the words jammed in his throat. He turned around. His jaw fell. He jumped to his feet, holding his head “Johnny!” in his hands, taking three long strides “I think I can do it,” Stevens whis- to the other end of the featureless pered. His chest rose and fell. He room, then whirling and confronting panted, “I know I can!” Stevens with pity in his eyes. He jumped up and wildly paced the “You poor hopeless idiot. You’re in length of the room. His eyes were wide love with her!” and staring, his lips were working over Stevens looked up and there was — INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 75 nothing but a blurred pain in his in- Who are you? What comes after this? genuous blue eyes. Don’t hand me that line about us being “I am,” he choked miserably. “I your friends. You’ve been playing a am!” little game and having a lot of fun “You fool! She’s been leading you like giving candy to children. Only on. She’s no more interested in your maybe the candy will give us a tummy- creed than that sneaking Bandro and achel” Sab-Hallo. She likes the idea of twist- Stevens’ hand bit into Bill’s arm. But ing you around her little finger. She all he could do w’as to shake his head likes to pull guns on people. She likes miserably. to kick them around. There’s nothing The color had entirely left Bess- good and true in a carload of her. Con- Istra’s face. Every muscle in her body vert her? Don’t make me laugh. was visibly tensed. Her shoulders lit- Johnny—” He paused in pained, hope- erally shook when she spoke; and her less exasperation; and then whirled as voice jangled horribly. he heard a voice behind him. “You will regret that. Bill. You will “It is interesting to know in what understand how you have misjudged light you regard me, O Bill!” Bess-Istra—some day! Know then, that Bill started to speak; then clamped in a few minutes from the control room his lips. “You heard me,” he said of this ship I shall broadcast a message brutally, his glance hard on Bess-Istra. to the peoples of Earth, a message There was cold fire in her eyes. Her which will clear everything else from skin was white as marble, and her voice the air, a message which will sound bit like shattered glass shards. from every open receiver in the world! “I will remember that, Bill!” she “The peoples of Earth shall soon grated. “I will remember that though know my intentions with regard to them I have freed your planet from a terrible —and so shall you!” bondage, you feel no gratitude. You feel that I have an ulterior motive in- ^^WO of Bess-Istra’s mechanics fid- stead.” dled in the interior of the ^efe-radio A hard, accusing little smile wrinkled which filled one side of the control the corners of Bill’s mouth. “Fve been room. Monstrous blurrup-mgs came playing my cards as I got them, Bess- from the machine. Bill knew that the Istra. Playing them for all they were ether waves of Earth were being worth. And letting the finesse take cleared, every station in the world liter- care of itself. Unfortunately, I can’t ally scoured off the air by a controUed- finesse. I’ve been having fun up to this static. point—but after this— Well, Bess- Then the transmitter was ready! Istra—” his voice ground out the words Bill stood silently, his heart a stone “ —just what is your motive?” in his breast. What would Bess-Istra “You’ve freed the world, you’ve say? Would she prove herself to be stopped a big war, you’ve got the trou- what Bill thought her—or what he ble-makers locked up tight. Fine. wanted her to be? Swell. That’s what you promised to Bess-Istra stepped in front of the do. But how come you came to this grating that would receive her voice. planet in a ship loaded to the gunwales Her glance passed over Randro, in with the instruments of war? How whose mottled dark eyes Bill saw a come you left your own planet at all? hard, eagerness; and then to — — ! 76 AMAZING STORIES Sab-Hallo, who stood with arms crossed the senses of any but one who is able on his barrel-chest, face expressionless, to look upon the situation without prej- yet sardonic. udice—myself, Bess-Istra! I see a Lastly, Bess-Istra looked at Bill. At new monster rising amongst you—and the icy rage in her glance, Bill flinched; that monster is —indecision but his jaw came out, and he managed “What shall you do with your world, to show some of his bitter cynicism in now? What shall you do with the con- his own eyes. Slowly her lips tensed, quered peoples? How will you rebuild? and with a pantherine motion she Who shall acquire what territories? twisted savagely to face the “mike.” What shall you do with Hitler?” She made a motion to a nondescript man, her announcer: ^"DESS-ISTRA’S voice dropped a “Peoples of Earth, listen! Peoples tensed note. Bill stiffened, a sud- of Earth, Bess-Istra, your benefactor, den hollow fear growing in his mind. shall speak to you now!” The man’s What was she saying? What was she deep voice rolled out over the world; planning to do? then he stepped aside, and Bess-Istra As if she knew he was asking the spoke: question, Bess-Istra’s gold-flecked eyes “I am Bess-Istra! Know my voice, locked with his, filled with a taunting, now, peoples of Earth, for you shall controlled rage—that was directed at hear it often. I came from the stars, Bill. Then she spoke again, almost and found a planet in thrall, wr^npped hissing the words out, they were so in the toils of a monstrous war, cruelly clearly articulated: beset by creatures whom you call Nazis “These are the questions that will and Japs; creatures whom I believe to rise amongst you, and cause an ill-feel- be scarcely human. Seeing this, I at ing that may never be—erased. There- once set about freeing you! fore, peoples of Earth ” the girl from “And now you are free! the stars drew a deep breath that “Already, by listening to the many shivered the clustered diadem of jewels “ broadcasts which fill the air-waves, I on her breast, —I am going to solve can sense the mad, hysterical joy which these problems for you!” has taken possession of you. The war Bess-Istra’s arm raised high, and she is over! The enemy is humbled, and cried, “Peoples of Earth, know that I, everywhere Allied soldiers—the gallant Bess-Istra, now take control of the Tommies and Yanks and Aussies and planet Earth! Know that I am your Canadians and Filipinos and Senegalese new ruler; know that I, with my irresist- and Fighting French and innumerable ible ship, having freed you, now take others—have flowed into the conquered my reward: People of Earth, your areas. The morale of a bewildered planet is mine!” enemy has been hopelessly shattered. Bill never knew what happened. Not There will be no more resistance! much of it, anyway. His brain snapped. “These things you know. These Broke. A purple flame shot sky-high things your great Churchill and Stalin across his vision. Perhaps he screamed. and Roosevelt and Chiang Kai-shek Perhaps not. But suddenly he found have already told you. himself face to face with Bess-Istra, his *‘But—but, Peoples of Earth, al- hands outstretched like claws. He ready I sense a new conflict growing vaguely saw Bandro leaping toward amongst you. It is not yet evident to him. Saw Sab-Hallo’s jaw fall. — ” — INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 77 And then saw Bess-Istra step back “Yes! I couldn’t stand by—and after one step, pulling at the gun on her curv- all, I was so bitterly—so bitterly dis- ing hip. Bill knew it was the spastic appointed.” He could speak no more gun, which could kill so completely. He and bowed his head. didn’t care. He tried to get the gun, Bill grasped his arm in a single and the gun raised, and behind him he strong, comforting squeeze. He shook beard the Reverend John Stevens cry- his head slowly back and forth, in pro- ing, “Bill! Bill!” in an agonized voice, found amazement. “We should have and then little lights winked in the gun known, Johnny. Boy, were we the . . . and Bill felll uckersays! Why didn’t you stick to Fell, knotted up, brain scalded with your guns? You thought she was a burning thoughts, and traveled inter- devil in the first place, until— minably through a warped tunnel of “Until she told us she was going to pain. bring peace to the world,” Stevens whis- And was sharply unconscious. pered hopelessly. “I didn’t think I didn’t have any reason to think there CHAPTER IX might be another purpose behind it, BiU. She—” In Captivity “Skip it. I was almost taken in my- self. I was taken in, I guess. But I TJE CAME out of it, fighting, yelling, was so enthusiastic about ending the squirming with an unbearable war, that I sort of figured we’d get that nightmare. Hands were on his arms, out of the way, get the world to perking strong arras held him down. He re- happily again, and then somehow we laxed. His eyes snapped opened. The could deal with Bess-Istra, if she was drawn face of the Reverend John as dangerous— as I thought she might be. Stevens looked down at him. And ” suddenly he was biting at his “ “BilU” Stevens choked. “Oh, God! lip —and I guess I was hoping that You were right right! She never had maybe she wasn’t that kind of a gal. I the good of the world in mind at all. was hoping that—well, I guess I was She just brought peace to the world so hoping that she could be—converted 3J that she could take over more easily!” His face was twisted with the un- Stevens looked up swiftly. His touch matchable pain of young love betrayed. on Bill’s arm was impulsive. “Bill,” “Courage,” said Bill. “Stiff upper he breathed. “Bill, you’re in love with lip. And all that sort of thing.” her, too!” His thoughts were colder than dry “What? Huh? Say!” Bill’s lips ice. And as brittle. He could speak curled in a black snarl. He jerked his normally, and flippantly, and he could arm away as if Stevens were contami- sit up now, locking his arms around his nating it. “Don’t give me any of that, knees, sighing bleakly, and looking you hopeless idiot! Why I couldn’t around at their prison. A dark prison any more fall in love with that—that with a grated door stingily admitting checkered light from the corridor lights He stopped, paled. Stevens was re- outside. garding him with the sad smile of a man His lips settled into a savage humor. who is very, very wise. He locked eyes with Stevens. His shoulders fell. Slowly, as if the “You lost your head, too, Johnny?” burden of his thoughts were weighting — 78 AMAZING STORIES down his head, his eyes sought the floor very slight and not to be feared by such and stared blurrily at nothing. an admirable guy. Douse him in gaso- line, touch him off with a safety match J^AYS, slow days, passed. Their or a chromium plated cigarette lighter, prison was little less than an over- and chase him up and down the street. size cage deep in the bowels of the Jap soldiers did that to the Chinese, ship. There were toilet facilities, two and if the poor Chinese could take it, low couches with silk coverlets, and two that .Admiral Tojo certainly could acceleration chairs. “I’m going nuts!” The latter were of course useful. Fre- “You are taking it too hard. Bill,” quently, a little red light winked on Stevens said in distressed tones. “If ” above the door, accompanied by a you would— sharp, warning bell. Then Stevens and “If I would sit down and pray! I’ll Bill would get into the chairs, and when leave it to you, Johnny! But I want the ship moved, the acceleration would some information. If only that guard not hurt them. who brings us our food would talk.” The ship was going places and doing “Perhaps he does not know the Eng- things. Where and what? lish tongue.” Questions thudded dully in Bilks “Nuts! I’m telling you he does. So brain. Bess-Istra was making herself does every other soldier that Bess-Istra the world’s ruler, undoubtedly, con- brought along from that damnable solidating her power. But what was planet of hers. Bess-Istra had Bandro she going to do with the world? How? or Sab-Hallo put one of those helmet And what was she going to do with things on and transfer his knowledge Hitler? Make friends with him? of the tongue to a soldier who in turn What was she going to do with those taught others in tlie same way, and so murderous Japs and Nazis? Treat on. Sure, they know the English lan- them like brothers, because maybe she guage. ’Cause why? Because Bessy was like them? is going to use them in ruling the Bill jumped up, paced back and forth world!” along the length of the room, chewing The red light above the door sudden- at his nails. By God! He knew what ly winked. The warning bell rang. he’d do with Hitler, the damned, sneak- Bill hopped into his acceleration chair ing, foul-minded bit of human filth who with a curse. Stevens followed. had brought misery and starvation and They sat there for a few minutes. death and humiliation unbearable to Then a blue light glowed, and a piping millions of innocent people. Or did he whistle sounded. The ship was mo- know? What could you do to him? tionless again. And where were they? What punishment would fit the crime? WTio knew? They might even be out The question was as maddening as in space. those questions concerning the ends of time and space. q^HEY weren’t, though. Two weeks Maybe you should just kill him clean- passed, two weeks of maddening ly, get him out of the way, and to heck inactivity to Bill. He was essentially an with punishment and red tape; Hitler active type, active of body and mind. v/ould be dead. Neither found profitable exercise in that Now Admiral Tojo! There was a cage. But at the end of those two weeks, guy! His punishment was simple. And there were double footsteps in tlie corri- —; INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 79 dor without. The guard swung the ise made by the President of the United door open, admitted the person with States long before I came to the planed him, and then dosed the door with a of your God the Lord.” bang, and rested a slim shining weapon “I told her about it,” Stevens broke in the grating, pointing it accurately at in dully, Bill while he faced—Bess-Istra! “Well! ” said Bill. “Well, well, well! His heart went out to her, impulsively Let me get this straight, Bess-Istra. Are —until he remembered. Her beauty, you the ruler of the world?” her lips which he felt could have been She studied him with eyes that sud- tender, the quality of strength, feminine denly grew alive again with insolence. strength that was wholesome, deep in “This planet, O Bill, is mine!” she her eyes, evident in her firmly set jaw, cried. “And I am its ruler. I am the the glorious perfection of her body that supreme head of all governments. And was meant for the arms of a husband— the heads of those governments are these things he must ignore. He must merely figure heads who must take remember only what she really was. orders from me, must abide by my de- “Well?” said Bill. “How’s your lit- cisions, on pain of punishment.” tle planet getting along? Did every- “Have any of them,” Bill asked with body scrub his teeth this morning?” a twisted smile, “failed to cooperate “It is late at night, Bill.” with you so far?” “I should be sleeping then. Guess “No! They dare not. They know weTi go to bed so our company can go my power. They have transmitted my ” their inferiors. battle home. Good-night ! orders to The Her eyelids flickered. She said, in a fleets of the world, 0 Bill, are now in small, tight voice, “Bill, I have come to dry-dock under my orders. They are you because I need your help.” being scrapped—scrapped down to the He said dryly, “Uh-huh! What’s destroyer. And that scrap is being used the matter? Did Hitler escape? Or to supply industry. And all the aircraft have you toadied up to him? Maybe of the world are being scrapped also.” you two would make a good pair.” He could have cut his tongue out as ^T>ILL eased himself into the accelera- soon as he said it. He noticed now that tion chair because he felt he had there were dark circles under her eyes to sit down. He tapped on the arm of noticed lines of strain about her mouth. the chair for a long moment before he But she said nothing to the accusation. spoke again. His face was a study. “Hitler,” she said, “is being tried He said, “Doesn’t a prosperous world along with all his friends and Axis part- need ocean liners—passenger planes? ners at a newly-formed World Court Couldn’t those battlewagons and bomb- tried in what is known as the demo- ers be converted into commercial cratic manner. And every German and vehicles?” every Jap and every Italian who ever Her hands were on her hips in scorn. performed an atrocity on any innocent “No! There will be no antiquated person, and against whom any evidence means of transportation on my world, can be found, will similarly be tried.” Bill. Hereafter, trade shall be carried “You don’t say!” Bill suddenly be- on with huge transports which work on gan to feel slightly crazy. “And where the principle of light-thrust—the same did you get that idea?” principle that impelled this space-ship She frowned at him. “It was a prom- across a void unutterable. Nor will I ^0 AMAZING STORIES tolerate the outworn mode of currency. For a moment there was a flicker in Already, an international currency her eyes. Then she nodded solemnly. which I have devised with the help of “Yes! I believe—I believe in your God certain well-known economists is in the the Lord! The principles he lays down first stages of development. seem very efficient.” “Already, false trade barriers such Stevens tried to speak, and choked as tariffs have been outlawed. And the up. Bill got embarrassed. geography of the world is being rear- “Okay, okay, okay! So she be- ranged, Bill, according to racial groups, lieves!” He was inwardly fuming, alive to languages, to traditional back- with cynicism. He blazed, “Skip it! grounds. That continent which you call Let’s get down to bedrock, Bess-Istra. Europe will be divided into nine distinct You came here—why?” nationalities—only nine. Each country “For your help.” will be of sufficient strength, possess “What kind of help?” sufficient natural resources, that it need never fear an aggressor nation.” T-TER eyes dropped. Her fingers “Boy!” said Bill, looking askance at twisted together. “The readers of her. “You sure do walk where angels your column in many newspapers have fear to tread! Or maybe they haven’t been clamoring for your return, O Bill. walked there because they couldn’t. And I wish you to return. And this Too much red tape. But the dictator time, I wish you to dwell on—well, to tramples over many conventions, eh?” dwell more on me as subject matter, in- And she said serenely, “I have ac- stead of the great things that I do.” complished many things, Bill. I am Bill’s hands went to his hips. He remaking the outworn social pattern of laughed a short, barking laugh. “A the planet of your God the Lord—re- press agent!” he cried scornfully. making it according to what I conceive “Yes. I want you to write me down would be His wishes.” as one who loves his fellow men.” Bill was staggered. He could have Bill sneered at Stevens. “Hi, there, been no more winded if somebody had Abou ben Adam!” He turned back to jolted him in the stomach. He didn’t Bess-Istra. “But why do you need believe it. It was beyond the realm of somebody to extol your virtues when common sense. She was a lying, cheat- you’ve already squelched a man-sized ing hell-cat, and anybody with a grain war? The people probably worship of brain should know it. So why didn’t you, don’t they?” he jump up and tell her off?—in spite “No!” A bleak dread grew in her of the almost childishly pleased expres- eyes, a humid mistiness of sudden be- sion she wore? wilderment. “Bill, somehow there is a He couldn’t! He was going to be a traitor in my own camp. A traitor who fool and fall for it! is giving information concerning me to Nor could Stevens. Nor did Stevens the newspapers. Who is trying to turn want do. Stevens was like a man who the people of the world against me. And suddenly sees the sun where there had who is succeeding!” been only palling cumulus heaps. “Because,” Bill snapped, piercing her “Mistress Bess!” he cried, his face gold-flecked eyes clear to the roots of radiantly transfigured. “You mean you her brain, “it’s true?” believe—you believe in that which I “True? True?” Her eyes took fire. have told you?” “Of course it is true—but the people ” INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 81 — misinterpret. They do not realize that he had taken his job—for Bess- Bill wearily ran his hand through his Istra literally changed the worldl crisp dark hair. He shook his head in Changed it, utterly remade it! long helpless arcs. “And I’ll wager that Sab-Hallo, the squat scientist, was Hitler is screaming his head off right put in charge of industry. Soon, all now in that World Court, saying that airplane plants and shipyards were people don’t understand! Nuts! Listen, turning out great transports which Bess-Istra!” moved by the unique principle of light- He took a stance, his face hard. thrust. Were engaged in manufactur- “I’m going to take that press agent- ing small, one-man “gliders,” which ing job—and ITl turn out plenty of guff really weren’t gliders at all, but motor- for the world to slop up. But lay off ized craft on which the driver lay at the Pollyanna act when you’re around full length. me. Don’t go out of your way to show New methods of mining were intro- Johnny and me how religion changed duced, A new kind of power-machine your life—because you know and I was developed which harnessed free know that it didn’t! Get it? Okay. energy formed by the rotation of Let me at my typewriter!” Earth’s magnetic field through space. He started toward the door. A weather machine was tested by Sab- And Bess-Istra struck him. Lashed Hallo, and was turned out in large quan- at him with the full force of her palm. tities. There would never again be Brought him to an utter, confounded famine on the planet Earth! Climate standstill. could be controlled! “Beast!” she cried. “Pig!” All over the world the illustrious She kicked him in the shins, at the change took place. China was reborn, same time raised her hand. The door as modem industrial machinery flowed opened. She stepped into the corri- in to take the place of laboring coolies. dor. She turned and spoke ragingly And the Chinese did not suffer because to Stevens: “Come, Johnny! There are the machines took only a few minutes more truths that I would learn from you to do what formerly took hours; their concerning the ethics of your religion.” standard of living was simply raised, She moved down the corridor, tiny their leisure time increased. And so it bells on the hem of her short garment was, over the whole world. jangling to the rhythm of her step. Bess-Istra ruthlessly discarded out- Stevens stared after her like a man moded systems of government. Expen- shocked. Then he went out the door sive and useless bureaus were dispensed —like a moth that is soon to be de- with. voured by the flame? The world was rebuilt. A new Lon- Bill stood there, fists knotted. don, glowing lustrous, raised on the “Do that again, Bess-Istra,” he ruins of the old. Scorched earth was vowed very softly through his teeth, treated with chemicals that made it 1” “and it gives—murder productive again. Bess-Istra, seeking for some means CHAPTER X to keep order in the world, created an International Police, with Bandro as the Treachery Chief Officer. The thousand soldiers AS THE weeks, the months passed, she brought with her were recruited for Bill van Astor-Smythe was glad their duties in this organization. On — 82 AMAZING STORIES the breast of each was the symbol of an idea about that gal. Think it’s reli- Bess-Istra—the blood-red scimitar. And gion that’s making her remake the as the Scimitars was this International world? Nuts. One of these days we’ll Police known. all wake up and discover that we’d be Bill didn't get along with Bandro; better off if we were still peacefully nor with Sab-Hallo for that matter. He making war with Hitler. Oh, I’ll keep didn’t trust either of them. He didn’t on playing the game, and being fairly like the idea of those two having so happy, and I’ll let myself be lulled into much power. Bandro and his Scimi- security just— like everybody else. But tars could be a terrifically dangerous after that ” He slid his finger pic- power in the world! torially across bis throat. Bill mentioned this to Bess-Istra. Stevens helplessly shook his head. But he didn’t get very far with it; an “Bill—Bill there can be nothing deceit- hostility existed between him and Bess- ful about her. I know!” Istra which, while it never broke out, “Hmm.” Bill was morose. “Wait yet existed, like a slumbering volcano. until things begin to crack—you’ll Sometimes Bill was convinced that change your mind.” Bess-Istra hated him with violent pas- But in spite of these occasional black sions, still remembered his denounce- thoughts, it seemed to Bill that Utopia ment of her. At other times, he was was on the way! almost inclined to believe that she He marveled at it openly, convincing sought to get under the hard shell of in- himself all over again that Bess-Istra difference in which he clothed himself was on the up and up. But Bill knew when she was around; was tender, al- that he was somewhat responsible for most yielding. At such times it was these brightening prospects. His ar- hard to restrain himself. He was con- ticles swept the world from pole to pole. vinced she was a devil girl from the He turned out reams of material in stars—but sometimes his desire for her which Bess-Istra was the utterly desir- was almost overwhelming. And he able heroine. hated himself for it. Bess-Istra visits the poor and prom- mises the world that the era of poverty T>ILL watched the actions of the Rev- has come to an end! erend John Stevens with a smolder- Bess-Istra takes to her sick-bed after ing eye. Stevens now was pastor of the an exhausting conference with the great largest church in Washington in his men of the world a. conference which denomination! His fame had appar- will cure more of humanity’s woes than ently been such these past weeks that all similar conferences of the hundred he was offered the post. But in between years just past! times, Stevens was apparently trying Bess-Istra is offered a screen role by the offer to convert Bess-Istra to his faith. Metro-G o 1 d w y n-Mayer, wants “Grow up,” Bill said wrathfully. turned down because Bess-Istra “You were practically a kid as far as to serve her people! items l)rains went when I picked you up in To Bill’s credit, most of the he the jungle. Now that you’ve gotten were basically true. But sometimes angle. loose in the world, you’re running wild. distorted them to a sob-sister And !” becom- Falling in love with that— he knew that her popularity was “But—but she—” ing enormous. “She nothing! I’m beginning to get Even a dictator such as Bess-Istra — INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 83 needed the support of the people. taken Bill’s outright insults without But—and it was like the ominous more than a hardening of her perfect clang of a muted cymbal—someone was lips. trying to undermine the good will the “Do they love me, Bill?” she grated. people felt toward Bess-Istral Articles “Naturally. But would they if I concerning her past were being pub- didn’t play you up as a goddess in your lished openly. Bill suspected that Ban- own right?” dro was behind it; but he said nothing. “Yesl” She blazed out the word, tak- And one day, with an appalling rush, ing a step toward him. “They would the dam of events broke! see beneath everything, and would know Bess-Istra faced him that day and that I think of them. Johnny knows, said grayly, “I will not suppress the O Bill! It was he who showed me the news, 0 Bill, because this is a world of light. It was he who— Oh, Bill!” free speech! It is a democratic world.” He was amazed to see the hot emo- “You’re a funny one, Bess-Istra,” he tion drain from her glorious features; snapped. “You’re a dictator, with un- amazed to see the flood of tears that limited power. You rule a planet that washed suddenly from her eyes. And is alien to you. Yet you act sometimes somehow, he would never know in what as if you actually give a damn about the manner, he was very close to her, people of this planet, when anybody enough to feel the warmth of her body, with any sense at all knows that the to see the throbbing pulse in her creamy only love which impels you is the love throat. Her eyes were half-closed, and of power! Just as the articles which her lips were up-raised. some papers print accuse you of a base Bill was held rooted, with a hopeless love of power, and reveal events on passion. Oh, damn, and damn! Why that other planet which must make you did things have to happen this way? cringe. A\^y don’t you stop those ar- She was an alien woman, and God only ticles? I would if I had the power. knew what alien thoughts might go on I’m interested in making people love in her mind. What was her purpose in you!” acting like this? Or was there a pur- pose? ''jf''HEY stood facing each other in the “Oh, Bill,” she whispered, and a sob lavishly colored suite of a white caught in her throat, “only you do not plastic building from which Bess-Istra know—^you and Bandro and Sab-Hallo, administered the affairs of a world. Bill who think me wicked!” was dressed in a cellu-suit which looked Who thought her wicked? And why and felt like nub tweed, but as a matter not? Hadn’t Bill read about her strug- of fact it was a certain grade of paper. gle for power on another planet? How Bill had paid one unit of currency for she had enslaved millions, geared them it, which amounted to about sixty cents to a world order meant to satisfy her of the old money. Tonight Bill would every whim? throw it in a boiler and run the suit And yet—Bill ground his teeth on the down the drain and tomorrow would put paradoxical thought—on this planet she on another suit. had so far exhibited none of that cruel- There was nothing humble about tyl Bess-Istra. She carried herself with an He looked down at her parted lips, imperious dignity, carried herself like at her face that was wrenched by a a ruler. But more than once she had kind of childish misery. He knew, with ” — —” 84 AMAZING STORIES horrible knowledge, that it must be as cynical beyond your years. You have Stevens said—that he was beginning to never known real pain, the pain that love her! Beginning to love her in spite I have known—when I was a slave-girl of the fact that she had toyed with the in the Temple of Stuz, and the priests of affections of her arch-enemy, the prime cruelty reviled me as you have reviled minister of another planet, who had me. But now you will know pain overthrown her; in spite of the accusa- pain that will endure in you forever— tions made against her in anonymous Bill strode forward. “The pain that newspaper articles that she had—mur- endures in Johnny Stevens, witch,” he dered! In spite of her conquest and blazed, outraged beyond reason. enslavement of the people of another He would have killed her. Would planet, so that she might satiate her have killed her though she had drawn base lust for power! her ever-present spastic gun; for, as he He groaned abjectly. It was useless. advanced, with his hideous purpose She was like a child, bewilderment of written clear on his face, she fell back some kind eating acidly at her soul. one step, two. He heard the controls Some alchemy had taken place in her, of the spastic-gun, deadly weapon, clack and she was altogether lovable around; knew that Bess-Istra had set “Bess-Istra!” he choked humbly. the gun so that destroying vibrations “Oh, Bess—Bess— would lash out. His hands closed about her soft And yet she did not pull the trigger! shoulders. He drew her fiercely toward Bill would have killed her, for on her him, crushed her lips to his—or tried face was written her inability to spray to! him with those deadly vibrations—her inability to murder in cold blood. He THE last second, he sensed with advanced on her like Colossus—but awful foreknowledge her treachery stopped dead still as a tittering burst of —her deceit! Her eyes opened widely. laughter lanced through the lustrous, A laugh tinkled from deep within her glowing room. being as she thrust herself away from The tittering of scientist, Sab-Hallo! him, took a stance a few feet away, her Bill had a flash of intuition, for his whole mien changed to one of living consuming rage must have made him scorn. super-sensitive. His nerves twanged “Fool!” she said. “Utter fool for with an abrupt dread. believing you could capture the love of He whirled; even as Bess-Istra Bess-Istra! Now you suffer. From whirled in the same direction. And both the first, you had no kind word for me faced not only Sab-Hallo but—a full —treated me at once like one who is to dozen of Bandro’s International Police, be spat upon.” each of whom held to the ready a squat She burst into a wild laugh while his black weapon trained squarely on Bill face was drenched in a ghastly white- and Bess-Istra! ness that was like the color of a corpse. She thrust up a quivering arm, and CHAPTER XI her gold-flecked eyes flashed with sav- age passions that he had never before Johnny Stevens, Sky-Pilot seen there. Her voice grated: REMAIN still, or you die immedi- “You are a strong man, 0 Bill, and ately!” — — INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 85 The squat little scientist’s voice tittered out again. “But from this mo- lashed out, filled with smirking under- ment on, the planet Earth is ours to do tones. with as we please! Technician-Scimi- Silence held. Bill was rooted. At tar, adjust the television controls to the last came Bess-Istra’s voice, robbed of interior of the World Court where Hit- moisture. ler is being endlessly tried for his “What means this, Sab-Hallo? Dis- deeds!” band these Scimitars at once! Know you not that I will flay you alive if your '^HE Technician-Scimitar broke purpose be what I think it?” from the massed group of Interna- But Sab-Hallo laughed a deadly little tional Police, approached the #ei!e-radio. laugh. In another moment, there was revealed “The days when Bess-Istra may on the screen a picture of the interior of wreak her will on others,” he said the World Court, where the villainous venomously, “are done! The days men who had started the war were being when Bess-Islra may misuse the glori- tried. ous science that I, Sab-Hallo, have pre- There was no audition, merely sight. pared for her, are—finished!” And Bill saw Hitler. The little man His broad face writhed suddenly with was seated at a table beneath the judge’s an unnameable passion—perhaps of platform. It was only one of many hate. Then it was quiet again. times that Bill had thus seen Hitler, and “You know why we overthrow you, he looked woodenly at that despicable Mistress Bess,” he said into the silence face. that seethed inside Bill’s temples. “For It was a mass trial, and seated near we are overthrowing you. Often we Hitler were others of the same foul have asked you—demanded of you that breed. you treat the people of Earth as a con- “Watch!” Sab-Hallo broke out soft- quered race must be treated. You ly. “Watch! The moment draws near!” spurned us! At various entrances to that square, “The troublesome ones who lead the extravagantly guarded court-room were Axis armies still live! Fah for such in- heavily armed International Police, efficiency! The very nations which with the blood-red scimitar, symbol of harbor the seed of future rebellions Bess-Istra’s reign, on their shirts. against us continue to exist. Germany Bill knew that no faction, with the and Japan must, and shall be—des- possible intent of rescuing the Axis troyed I leaders, could break into that court- “And now, Mistress Bess—in a few room. moments, you shall see how I and my And yet he had the conviction that confidante, Bandro, conduct a trial something unscheduled was going to not by the democratic method!’* happen. “Bandro!” The word broke from the Something did! lips of Bess-Istra. Shocked bewilder- Bill heard Bess-Istra gasp, saw Sab- ment was on her face. “Bandro, who Hallo’s broadening grin as every Scimi- told me of his love! And you, Sab- tar in the courthouse sprang to atten- Hallo, whom I rescued from a wretched tion, threw open the doors, and ad- hovel and brought to greatness. Trai- mitted other hordes of Scimitars! They tors! Traitors both!” came running down the aisles and onto “Traitors,” he agreed, and his laugh the rostrum where sat the dozen men — 86 AMAZING STORIES who had betrayed the world. tress Bess and of—you!” And at their head was—Bandro! The courtroom was in pandemonium. ^ESS-ISTRA looked at her former But Bandro raised his hands, and pawn without visible reaction. Bill shouted out a few sentences. The In- knew what her thoughts were. It was ternational Police drew their weapons evident that by giving Bandro charge and menaced the crowd, which had be- of the International Police, she had come evidently hostile. literally given him control of the world. And Bandro stepped toward Hitler The International Police in the World and the others, and without warning Court had acted according to a pre-ar- drew two weapons, which he trained on ranged plan. them. Bandro and Sab-Hallo had held out Bill found himself panting with to them rich prizes in wealth and in dread. “Don’t,” he cried in agony. power; had promised them a world to “Don’t do it!” loot; while Bess-Istra had insisted on “But he shall,” ground out Sab-Hallo. keeping her soldiers to the rigid law and “It is the only way to dispose of trou- order demanded by democratic rule. ble-makers—the democratic way is out- Bill knew whose side he was on! moded! The people of Earth will soon But how was he to overcome this learn that!” cruel, conceited toad of a man? This And suddenly it was over. Musso- Sab-Hallo, who had probably been re- lini, Goering, Tojo and the Japs, Hit- sponsible for those articles intended to ler must have realized the terrible fate undermine the faith of the people in in store for them. Their reactions were Bess-Istra? different. Some continued to sit, frosty- Bandro, in spite of Sab-Hallo’s decla- eyed. Some clattered to their feet, ration that Bandro was merely his screaming, cowering. And as livid red pawn, was very likely the real leader of bursts of flame poured toward the arch- the movement, and was merely using traitors from Bandro’s viciously held Sab-Hallo. But Sab-Hallo had to be guns. Bill caught one glimpse of Adolph taken care of first. Hitler before he vanished in a puff of Bill knew in his heart that it was thick, oily smoke, saw his screaming, hopeless. Even now, Sab-Hallo was hideously distorted face—distorted as about to depress the trigger, and all the if in the last moment of his terrible, ter- glorious beauty that was Bess-Istra rible life he suddenly understood, with would be gone forever. a bright awful clarity, what he had Bill van Astor-Smythe knew it was done. . . . suicide to charge the squat scientist, Smoke rolled away and where they but in him was the hot necessity of at had been was only formless vacancy. least fighting and dying. Merely to die The scene flicked off. Bill turned was not his idea of dignity. His mus- dumbly toward Sab-Hallo. cles tensed, and “What good will it do?” he asked He never jumped! For his eyes sud- through parched lips. denly raised to the great window at the And Sab-Hallo drew his own weapon, far side of the room, a single invisible a smaller variety of the flame-gun which pane of glass which melted into the Bandro had used. walls, and through which he could see “The same good,” he said viciously, the Washington Monument. And driv- “as it will to rid the world of my Mis- ing straight toward that pane of glass ” ! — INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 87 with terrific speed came one of the them, grabbed the U-bar, plunged it strange, other-world gliders that Bess- home, and twisted it. Istra had introduced to this world. The glider rose like a shot, whipped On it came, and there was a man around, and flung itself through the spread-eagled on it o n his stomach, shattered window, and in another mo- shielded from the slip stream by a con- ment was boring its frantic way through ical, fanning guard of cimarite. the atmosphere five miles above solid On it came, at such an angle that ground neither Sab-Hallo nor his men could see The escape had been made; but death it! would soon be on the trail. Crashed through the window, sent shards spinning in a thousand direc- JT WAS not cold. It seemed as if tions! there were warm air-currents, of And from its nose as it halted above normal atmosphere pressure, surround- the heads of the whirling Sab-Hallo ing the strange ship. Both the warmth and his men, came—the gas-ray! and the pressure were generated by the In a moment, the men who had very speed of the craft’s flight through menaced Bill and Bess-Istra’s life had the thinner air. fallen unconscious. Sab-Hallo alone “A ship!” Bill suddenly cried, twist- was not caught. He swore lividly, van- ing his head around to look into the ished out the door. backward distance. “We’re being pur- The glider landed at the far corner sued! Johnny, where are you taking of the suite, where the two rescued peo- this crate?” ple had run to escape any possible gas. And Stevens replied, shouting above And the Reverend Johnny Stevens, the wind, “We’re being chased, and quite literally a sky-pilot, jumped from he who chases us thinks to destroy us. the glider! And there is only one place in all this world which I truly call home.” Bill grinned widely. CHAPTER XII “Mozambique! Portuguese East Africa! Your mission Jungle Retreaf house!” “Exactly. The house of the Lord. OHNNY!” Bill’s relief vented it- The Lord is my shepherd and he has self in a scream. “You old son-of- led me into strange pastures, but now a-gun, why didn’t you come two minutes I am returning.” His face, that had sooner! I almost fried of dight. I’m seemed so young, so freshly naive, now as white as a wheat. I mean wheat as seemed inexpressibly — and sadly — a sheet— older. He said austerely, “Brother “Never mind!” Stevens cried. “Sab- sister—the Lord our God will protect Hallo has escaped. He will bring oth- us, will fill us full of divine faith. We ers. We’ll be pursued. Oh, quickly!” cannot lose.” Bess-Istra lost no time in taking full- “Hmm,” Bill said, in a vaguely skep- est advantage of a critical situation. tical tone, as he saw that the furiously She was onto the glider, strapping her- driven craft which pursued them was self to one side of the broad metal cen- scarcely three miles distant. ter piece. Bill strapped himself beside Stevens explained to Bill how he had her, and Stevens, with complete lack of come to know that Sab-Hallo and Ban- ministerial dignity, threw himself atop dro were plotting the downfall of Bess- ” ” ” a — 8S AMAZING STORIES Istra, were going to depose her without whelming tenderness for her—until he so much as a struggle. remembered her deceit. Then he “As you know,” he said sorrowfully, wanted to throttle her. He ground his “my proximity to the adventures which teeth. have so changed the world have given Bess-Istra spoke after a long silence. me considerable notoriety. I was of- “I do not think we will be able to escape fered the largest church of my faith in from this with our lives,” she said Washington— calmly. He stopped as Bess-Istra raised her And Stevens ground out, “We shall! dark head and smiled tawnily. “Be- We must! The peace and happiness of cause I, Bess-Istra,” she stated, “asked the whole world is at stake, Mistress that you be offered such a post!” Bess! Under your rule, mankind was “You!” truly progressing to a promised land. “Yes! Already I know what you are Under that of Bandro and Sab-Hallo about to tell me, O Johnny. Many I shudder to think of what horror will Scimitars attended your church. Sci- be perpetrated!” mitars who knew of the plot that was And as if his faith truly preserved brewing against me ! It was I who sug- them, they made the Portuguese East gested that they attend the religious African jungle, swooped down to a land- services with which you worship the ing just as the three craft following Lord your God. A suggestion is— them had gained to less than a thousand command! And I knew— feet behind! “And you knew,” Bill exclaimed, They were forced to land in that sea “that probably at least one of the Sci- of foliage because from the nose of the mitars would get religion and blab to foremost craft a cone of light was Johnny about the plot! Snappy think- emitted. ing! But—well, it almost didn’t work “The green ray of destruction!” out.” Bess-Istra panted in a dreadful voice. And Stevens nodded soberly. “One She unstrapped herself from the glider. of the Scimitars who discovered the “Oh, quickly! Do as I say. The green wonderful light of the Lord told me ray will be swept over this entire strip that you and Mistress Bess were to be of jungle, killing all insects, all animals, slain shortly. I came quickly as I — as all organisms of any kind. And it will could kill us unless you come very close to me —for I have a bik!’* A^N HOUR of driving speed followed. “A bik!" cried Bill. “But I thought Below them, the shadowy outline there were no biks on this planet, that of Florida was lost in distance, gave there was no protection against the way to ocean as they fled out over the green ray!” Atlantic. And behind them came not “I brought but one bik with me from only one, not only two, but three of the my planet. One that I had hidden in slim, wickedly constructed light-thrust the Citadel where I was driven by my ships used by the International Police. enemies.” Death was on the trail! It was the first time she had ever Bill looked sidewise at Bess-Istra. made truthful reference to her past life. She lay flat on her stomach. Her glori- And Bill was amazed to see starlet tears ously tinted features were calm, fully on her lashes. But he knew now was controlled. Again Bill felt an over- no time to waste trying to solve this ” INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 89 enigmatic girl. He saw clutched in her Istra tense. And then the ray was on hand a tiny round metal object from them! which small studs protruded. She They were bathed in intolerable bril- plucked at the studs—and part by part, liance. The bik leaped with fire. And the round ball expanded until it was a then the beam was gone—and they full foot in diameter, flat, however; in were alive! appearance in seemed much like a loop After that. Bill no longer feared the antenna. ray. Seven times it swept over them “Come close,” she cried, and the two before the last of the three ships which men immediately moved toward her had pursued them disappeared. Then until their bodies were touching warm- Bess-Istra dropped the bik to the ly. She held the bik between them. “It ground; a bik that was crawling with will draw the energies of the green ray energies titanic. much as a lightning rod draws lightning. “We must leave—and quickly!” There is only the difference that the Bess-Istra whispered. “We have no in- bik will store those energies—and if it strument which can discharge the stored receives too much tear may explode and energies in the bik. If it—explodes before up a full mile of jungle 1 There! The we are far enough away green rayT’ The glider rose with its human load after a long, agonizing minute of igHE pointed with her free hand—and preparation. It flitted slowly between BilTs blood froze as he saw a light- the branches of squat baobab trees. thrust ship sweep over the massed jun- They could not rise above the jungle, gle foliage, from its belly coming a thick because they had no assurance that green beam. their enemy did not still linger. But There was a roaring awful sound as the explosion, when it came, literally the beam swept through the jungle caught the glider up and threw it high scarcely thirty feet distant. And Bill into the air. immediately smelled roasted flesh—the Stevens brought it out with frantic roasted flesh of hapless creatures of effort—just as it was about to crash. the jungle. Ghastly sweat streamed from Bill’s face “Missed usl” as the glider again floated along, But the ship overhead, though it smoothly. Three human beings, the could not have seen the three fugitives hope of the world, were safe and alive! in this equatorial gloom, was thorough. And hope ran higher still, when It criss-crossed overhead at tremendous Stevens brought the glider to a smooth speed until it seemed that the only spot landing in the lonely courtyard of his in that locality that had not been jungle mission. touched was that where they stood hud- Shock awaited them, however. dled. Thomas Reynolds, Stevens’ assistant, Bill hoped fiercely that the green was dead in the little kitchen. Around beam would miss them. He didn’t trust the mission grounds were a number of the b'lkf Bantus, also dead. Bandro’s ships, not But suddenly he knew the ray was content to take chances, had swept their going to touch them. It swept toward green rays of death over this whole sec- them, walking on one livid leg through tion of jungle for miles and miles the jungle. Ghastly sweat grew on his around. All bird, reptile, insect, and forehead; he felt Stevens and Bess- animal life had been snuffed out; prob- — .-0 AMAZING STORIES ably there was no human life within a “I’ll say what I damn’ well please,” day’s journey. Bill told her, striding toward her. “Damn Bandro!” Bill whispered “You’ve pulled a gun on me once too with bitter, tearless rage. often, lady. I was prevented from do- ing anything about it last time. Now it’s different. CHAPTER XIII Give me that gun!’* He wrenched it from her, threw it The Translation across the room. She burst into a strident scream of rage, flung herself 'Y'HE days passed swiftly. Bill knew at him with raking claws. He bent her they dare not leave their retreat wrists back, finally grasped her bare not yet. For Bandro was thorough and shoulders, held her rigid with steel- might be on the lookout. hinged hands. But by means of the tele-X2.6xo built He bit out, “You lying little beast! into the instrument panel of the glider, Actions speak louder than words. By they kept track of world events. desiring to kill Bandro you put yourself And current history was truly in tur- in the same class as Bandro. You’ve moil—hideous turmoil! Bandro had deceived me and you’ve deceived taken over the world with a vengeance. Johnny. All that guff about your be- His International Police constricted lieving in his religion!” over the world like a net. Thousands Her eyes grew big and round. The upon thousands of Japs and Nazis sus- rosy color drained from her perfect pected of having performed war atroci- cheeks. She whispered chokingly, ties were executed summarily. “I believe in your God the Lord!” “Goodby democracy,” Bill gritted. “Our God the Lord, you should say “When we abolish the trial system, no if you meant it—which you don’t!” matter how heinous the crime, we abol- “Our God the Lord, then!” she ish our whole way of life. Bandro may blazed. “I believe in Him. I have be doing a good thing by killing those modeled this planet according to His people off. But he’s not doing it for wishes. The people of Earth were that reason. He's doing it because they knowing perfect peace under my rule.” might be trouble-makers.” “You’re still dangerous for all of Bill and Bess-Istra were alone before that, Bess-Istra! ” His gaze on her was the tele-xa.6\o. Bill turned, surprised hard and penetrating, searing into her Bess-Istra with a tear sliding down her soul with pitiless knowledge. cheek. But it was not a tear of sympa- She completely lost control. She thy. It was a tear of humiliation and screamed rackingly, kicked with her outrage. legs. He held her off, swearing bitterly “Someday,” she whispered, “some- under his breath. At last he spun her day when I regain control of my world around, slammed her against the wall. again, I shall throttle Bandro with my “You have remodeled Earth by own hands!” theory,” he panted, “not because you “I doubt,” Bill said cuttingly, “if you feel that what you have done is right. will ever rule Earth again, Bess-Istra.” Superficially, you admire the God of She whirled on him. She stood in a this planet. He is something new to feline crouch, and from long force of you. He offers a new method for you habit, her hand fell to her weapon. to gain power—to gain power through “Do not say that!” she cried. a selfish type of kindness. But in- ” — INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 91 wardly—in your heart of hearts you balance, and while she teetered, struck still worship the diabolical, merciless her with savage fury with the flat of his Goddess Stuz!” hand. She staggered back. Bill knew noth- ^ MORTAL pallor swept her face. ing save unutterable impatience, that He sneered bitterly, “Yes! I was like madness. He had never know your history, Bess-Istra. I picked struck a woman before. He would it up from bits you or Bandro or Sab- never strike another woman again, ever. Hallo or some of your men let drop. But he struck Bess-Istra—punishingly, And got plenty of it from some of the once, twice, thrice. articles written against you. You were captured from your birthplace when CHE slammed back against the wall. still a child, were raised as a slave-girl She looked at him through animal- in the Temple of Stuz. You were spat- dumb eyes, a painful confusion sweep- upon, reviled by the very priests of that ing her face. Her legs gave way. She cruel religion. Instead of hating the slid down along the wall. She crumpled Goddess Stuz and what she had brought up on the floor of the room, head buried upon you, you commenced to worship in her arms. her yourself—believed that in cruelty Bill stood over her, panting. lay power—in selfish barbaric willful- Her body shook, soundlessly. And ness lay true contentment. And so the then with sobs. Long, racking sobs of spat-upon slave girl began to plot how a woman who knows an agony of mind she could conquer her planet. She met that will never end. Sab-Hallo, whose resourceful brain in- Bill’s voice shook violently when he \#nted weapons that ravaged the planet, spoke. He heard it through an ava- put her on the throne. Unfortunately, lanche of pounding blood in his own her prime minister did not worship the head. Goddess Stuz—and so, Bess-Istra, your “I shouldn’t have done it, maybe. own armies and weapons were turned But I’m glad I did. I would have against you, and you had no protection! wanted someone to do it to me if it You fled. But you still worship Stuz!” would help. Do unto others as you Bess-Istra looked at him with hor- would have them do unto you—see? rible fascination. That’s the Golden Rule. It embodies She said, “The Goddess Stuz must be all tolerable religions in one form or an- dead—it has been so long ago—and other. The Goddess Stuz didn’t know there was new a God here—a strange about it. And so you can’t be blamed God—and,” she added in husky voice, for your past on that other planet. “a wonderful God! Those people are dead anyway—dead Her breasts woke to life. She panted. and forgotten ages ago, along with Stuz. She cried, “I no longer worship Stuz But you know that Rule now, Bess- the cruel—I love the true God—but I Istra!” must kill you, O Bill, for your arro- After awhile her sobs quieted, but gance!” she still lay there, head buried, wilted She came like thunder and lightning, like a plucked petal. Bill left, biting at nothing more than a beast alive with his lip. Already he regretted his action. terrible emotions. Bill was borne back- It would do no good. Bess-Istra v ward, shielding his face. Then his mind Bess-Istra. Unchangeable, evil! grew crystal clear. He threw her off An hour later in the mission yard. ; ’-e :}2 AMAZINS STORIES Reverend John Stevens quickly ap- CHAPTER XIV proached. Bill had been pacing up and down, scowling. A Desperate Gamble Rapture was on Stevens’ face, a look of glorious fulfillment. "O ELIGION, she had I An illustrious “Come!” he whispered. “Quickly! alchemy had taken place in her You must see this!” mind, and base metal was changed to They stood in the door of the chapel gold. Her tears were real and pitying where black, fuzzy-haired African na- when the next shocking news came over tives had worshipped a God that was tlie ^e/e-radio. new to them. Bandro sent scores of his ships filled Bill shook. Kneeling at the altar, with International Police over the cities head bowed to floor level, silent and of Tokyo and Berlin. And tliose ships, white and unmoving, was Bess-Istra. using every awful weapon known to They watched her for many minutes. that strange science, utterly killed every Finally she rose and moved down the man, woman, and child in those cities! aisle toward them. She faced them. Utterly destroyed those cities until they The hard, selfish lines about mouth and were less than smoking cinder heaps! eyes were gone as if they had never And then proceeded indiscriminately existed. to kill and destroy every living thing Her expression w^as so e.xalted, so and every man-made object within a filled with tenderness, that Bill was hundred miles. embarrassed. He knew without ask- Directly after this news was pur- ing that Bess-Istra was — changed! veyed, Bandro spoke to the world; Changed inwardly. She looked at him Bandro, dictator of Earth! with a serene confidence and under- Bill was filled with revolted horror standing that made him squirm. of the arch-murderer as he ai)pcared She touched first Bill’s, then Stevens’ on the television screen. hand. Of the silently sneering Bandro who “My dearest friends—Johnny—Bill had apparently been so subservient to —I see things with such a different Bess-Istra there was nothing left. Here light, now. So different. We must was a man who was strong with the soon make plans to loose the world ferocity of a killer whale, and as bold. from the terrible bondage that has been “These people shall be punished,” he put on it by Bandro. We three alone. cried to the world, flinging his hand up Even though we sacrifice our lives, it in terrible promise. “You shall learn will be well worth it if man is made that I, Bandro, will not tolerate these free again.” who brought you such horror. They Stevens looked after her with the and their works shall vanish. There pride of a pastor in his flock; in his will he unequaled prosperity on the glowing eyes the light of a man in love. planet Earth. And those amongst you Bill said softly, “Damn! Can you who would menace the happiness of the tie that?” others, shall be dealt with properly. Bess-Istra’s head was held high as And know you that my Scimitars, brave she walked across the dusty compound, and true men, shall guard you from toward her room in the tiny south wing. such plotters!” “Damn!” said Bill. ** She's got re- In this vein he continued, for a half the people to ligion , . hour, subtly threatening — — INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 92 submit to his tyranny. As such Bill “No!” she cried softly. “Bandro’s Billl Oh, recognized it. His heart sank. How way will never be right, 0 could they overcome this man? Johnny—Bill—we must take the power The destruction of the capital cities away from Sab-Hallo and Bandro be- of Germany and Japan struck them all fore they plunge the world into even as needless butchery. And yet Bill, greater misery than the terrible Axis thinking it over, told Stevens and Bess- powers! We must!” Istra what he believed in his heart to And if either of the two men had be true. ever had any doubts about the change “Don’t pity the people of those coun- of heart that had occurred in Bess- tries too much, even if Bandro does Istra, it was dispelled now by the shin- destroy them,” he grated. “The people ing tears pendant on the edge of her of Japan and Germany are hopelessly lashes. warped. The Japanese believe them- selves to be the divine flower of the A NOTHER month passed. world, and worship their emperor as a The three human beings lived off god in his own right. They believe it canned goods in the mission; and also is a privilege for ‘inferior’ races to be off the cooked bodies of animals the ruled by them. The same goes for the green ray had killed. Germans. They literally believe them- But at the end of that month, into selves to be the chosen people. That Bill’s mind leaped the only way in belief has been drilled into them for which the gigantic project of freeing the long, long years. world might be accomplished. “Nothing, only death, can com- For the world was truly in the grip pletely erase the utter cruelty that has of a tyrant. Millions of soldiers and been bred into the very minds of those civilians in the conquered countries had people! The utter conceit and treach- been destroyed. Men walked in fear ery. The utter inhumanness. and trembling. Another Hitler walked “You should have seen Polish dead the Earth. The Scimitars were but an- on the streets of Warsaw as I have other Gestapo. kicked into the gutter by Nazis. You Religions had been discarded. Ban- should have seen starving Greeks, all dro was forcing humanity to worship the flesh gone from their bodies. You Stuz! should have seen the piles of Greek Already temples to the cruel goddess bodies heaped like brushwood in the were being erected. city streets. You should have seen “I am so sorry, Johnny.” Bess- Chinese coolies used for bayonet prac- Istra’s voice was like the sigh of the tice by Jap soldiers, while other Japs southern Trades which blew in from the stood by and learned how it was done. Pacific; her touch of his hand was ten- der. Stevens looked up gratefully from “Misery of the most refined sort his despair. means nothing to Japs and Germans Bill bit his lip, and forced a grin. He as long as it is not they who experi- knew, of course, that he was in love ence that misery. It may take more with Bess-Istra. And he know, of than kindness and love to change them course, that she was in love with —and maybe Bandro has the right an- Stevens. How could she help but be? .” swer . . He wasn’t so much of a boy as he had Bess-Istra’s eyes flashed. been. There was a new strength about ” — ” ” .9-i AMAZING STORIES him. If Bess-Istra had been changed “If we but could,” she whispered. “Oh, by these astounding events, so had Bill, if we but could! But— Stevens. He was a man, now. A man The Reverend John Stevens shook whom Bess-Istra loved. Well, to heck his head gravely. “No, Bill.” His with it! glance was pitying. “We are only three The three humans listened in on the against a world. Three against the In- news constantly. Bandro now made a ternational Police! We couldn’t— new edict that all power-gliders—and “Shut up!** Bill shouted it out. “Lis- there were millions of them—would be ten! There are weapons on our power- equipped with a device which would glider which can cut through the make them controllable by the Interna- hardest metaL if they are applied close tional Police. That is, any power- enough, aren’t there? We can cut glider could be sent crashing to Earth through the hull of the space-ship, get by remote control at the will of any inside, and play hell!” Scimitar! “But— Bill was grim. “The only way for “But nothing, Johnny! Don’t you anybody to travel for any great distance see? We own the only power-glider is by power-glider. All other vehicles in the world that cannot be controlled have been scrapped. This means that from a remote distance by the Interna- if an army should get together, if there tional Police!** were ever any rebellion against Ban- dro’s inhuman rule, his Scimitars could A ND the next day, the power-glider stop it—like that! The power-gliders nosed out of the shrouding jungle carrying that army would be de- with its human load. It hovered. But stroyed!” there was no sign that the Scimitars But inside, in the back of his mind, might still be looking for them. It was an idea was perking. He frowned. But certain that Bandro thought them dead, he couldn’t draw the thought out. their power-glider rusting away, sunk At the end of the month, every deep in jungle humus. power-glider was equipped with the The glider shot high into the strato- control device. And now Bandro made sphere. Bill turned its nose south- an announcement that filled Bill with west. For a half-hour it bored at ter- the wild fire of hope. Bandro and Sab- rific speed. It was on the trail of the Hallo were going to make a “good-will” huge space-ship! tour of the world. They were going to “There it is!” stop off at various important cities and There it was indeed. Miles below speak to the people. And they were them, it plunged along at moderate pace going to make their tour in the space- through rolling heaps of storm clouds. ship that had originally brought them It was far above land. It was on its to this planet! way to San Francisco. Bill snapped his fingers, whirled on The power glider started to drop. Bess-Istra and Stevens. Bill was tense at the controls. In a way “I’ve got it!” he yelled. “Bess-Istra this was utterly foolhardy. If the In- —Johnny—I’ve got it! We’re going ternational Police to capture the space-ship!” “Halt! Give your registration num- “Capture the—” Bess-Istra began ber! Immediately!** blankly. Then her glorious, gold- Bill’s blood turned cold as the voice flecked eyes glowed with savage lights. came from his ^e/e-radio. — ” INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 95 Spinning up toward them came a Bess-Istra whispered joyously, “We blunt-nosed Scimitar ship. It was a have destroyed the space-ship’s only small ship. The three people could see protection. There is nothing to stop us, two Scimitars inside. now. Downward, O Bill. Downward!” Stevens whispered dully, “WeTl have And the power-glider dropped down- to give ourselves up.” ward toward the broad black back of ‘‘No!” The word came from Bess- the great space-ship which held Bandro Istra. “Bill, this ship is the only —one and Sab-Hallo; plunged through a roll- protecting the big ship! If we can ing storm-cloud, and in almost complete “Gotcha!” Bill said huskily. “WeTl blackness, landed! try, anyway! Hang on!” He touched the controls. The power- CHAPTER XV glider plunged headlong at the larger ship. Wind screamed. Death ol a Great Brain “Stop immediately—or you will be stopped!” "DILL edged the glider along on the to Bill’s heart was a stone in his breast. smooth surface until they came The ship had to get close enough. a great round hatch. Could they make it? “Play the heat beam there and fuse They did! the clasp, and the hatch can be lifted,” The Scimitar ship, of course, de- Bess-Istra whispered. “Hurry, Bill. pended on its remote control of the Oh, hurry!” down-plunging power-glider. But this The heat-ray speared out. The was the only power-glider in the world hasp parted. And in another moment, that couldn’t be controlled in such a working amid thunder and lightning, manner. And before the International drenched to the skin with plummeting Police realized that confusing truth, be- rain, the hatch swung up under Stevens’ fore they got over their surprise that and Bill’s labor. the power-glider had not halted, those Bess-Istra raised the glider, sent it International Police were dead! silently through the dully lighted aper- Bill savagely sprayed the heat-ray ture. Bill and Stevens dropped through over the transparent fore-part of their the hatch to the lonely corridor below, ship. They burned. pulling the hatch entrance down again. At the last minute, Bill swerved the “Tell me what I must do, 0 Bill!” glider to escape collision. But it had Bess-Istra’s voice sounded vibrantly. been necessary to get as close as they “And I will do anything if I can per- did, else the heat-ray would have made sonally see to it that Sab-Hallo and the Scimitars only pleasantly warm. As Bandro get their just deserts!” it was, behind them the ship was a Bill grinned to himself. Bess-Istra hurtling torch. might have changed, but she wasn’t a “Praise God!” Stevens whispered molly-coddle by any means. shakenly, from his prone position atop He gave his instructions. Bess-Istra Bill. “In his infinite wisdom, the Lord was to float along on the power-glider, knows that if we die, all hope dies! But close to the ceiling. Bill and Stevens now we shall live—shall see the world would walk slightly in front, and try to truly progress toward Utopia! detract attention from the glider. And ” propitious Bess-Istra ‘^But now we shall live . . at the moment, Bill was to remember those words. would blast whoever stood in their way ! a ” ” 96 AMAZING STORIES toward the control room in the nose of “Stick ’em up, fellows. This is the big the ship. push—-the blow-off! Quick!’* They started along. Bill’s skin crawled. They were in the upper por- '^HERE were only three men in the tions of a ship which swarmed with control room. One was busily lean- enemies, any one of whom would kill ing over a map, another was at the con- them without mercy. To make it trols, the third was at the cabinet of a worse, neither Bill nor Stevens had a tcle-eyt. This latter man was—Sab- hand weapon. Hallo! Bess-Istra slanted the wings of the The other two men turned before glider in tow^ard the body of the ship Sab-Hallo did, Sab-Hallo faced them as they padded down a well-lighted slowly, like one who, even in defeat, companionway. And just before they tries to make a good entrance. reached the bottom two officers of the Sab-Hallo whispered, after a bitter great ship started up. moment, “.And we thought you dead!” The officers looked upward at the He locked glances with Bess-Istra, two men, blinking. And the angle of his deadly hatred of her showing there. their glance was such that they couldn’t “You have ever stood in my way,” he help but see the glider bit out. “I did your will only until I Bill’s breath stopped. He halted in could step into your place. I did step mid-step. into your place— “ The leading officer cried something —but now shall step out!” Bess- in his native language. His spastic-gun Istra flared. ‘‘Yon, whom I trusted, came out and up. In another moment, and even now would wish to reinstate Bill and Stevens would have been dou- if— bled up in muscle-knotted slumber, had ‘*Look out!” not Bess-Istra acted. The heat-ray The cry came from the Reverend flashed out, and human flesh fried, and John Stevens, a cry of horror. the two Scimitar officers fell. Bill kept his muscles rigid, tried in a With one accord, the two men lightning-quick motion of his eyes to swooped down and took the spastic- take in the whole scene. He saw the guns. Stevens’ face was white, per- pilot of the ship, ignored up to now, spiring, but his lips were compressed. draw a weapon. His evident intention “Atta boy, Johnny!” Bill breathed. was to kill Bess-Istra. “Chin up. You’ll see more dead bodies Bill moved his spastic-gun through a than this before it’s over. Come on!” tiny arc, woodenly depressed the trig- And there were more dead bodies— ger. The spastic beams leaped out, full score, before they finally reached seizing the fellow’s heart-muscle with the door of the control room! invisible fingers, throttling it, causing But it was the only thing they could it to stop its beat. The man fell. do, and they had to act quickly. Bill Sab-Hallo screamed at that moment. ROW drew a deep breath as the guard His face contorted. He was like a to the control room, whirled and died broad-shouldered, squat gorilla as he and fell. Let out his breath, jerked leaped toward Bess-Istra, long arms open the door, and stepped inside. outstretched. Bill did not have time to Bess-Istra and Stevens followed after regain his balance. Bess-Istra was him. And their presence was unknown knocked backward to the floor, and the until Bill cried ringingly, triumphantly, squat scientist, utterly maddened, rav- —” INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 97 ened for her throat. p>ILL’S high hopes fell, like a boulder It was Stevens whose gun danced shoved over the brink of a sheer with tiny lights this time. The vibra- precipice; fell and splintered into a mil- tions bathed the scientist’s head, para- lion p^in-bringing shards. lyzed his great brain. He rolled over, He was held rooted, part of a tableau eyes staring upward sightlessly. For which existed for the better part of a the brain, unconsciously, controls the minute. life-mechanism of all parts of the body. Then Bess-Istra’s voice, lifeless, Sab-Hallo was dead. . . . weary, sounded: “We thought you to Bill scooped Bess-Istra to her feet. be in the other part of d^e ship—sleep- She immediately regained possession of ing, helpless.” her senses. The world-tyrant laughed with mock- “The rest of the men in the ship!” ing intonations. she cried. “We must make sure— “And so I would have been,” he She darted for the control board of sneered, “had I not entered the control the great ship, lifted a panel, depressed room while you were so busy with Sab- a stud. Hallo. I waited until an opportune mo- “The sleep-gas!” she uttered tri- ment—waited until you had convinced umphantly. “It will spread everywhere yourselves that you had succeeded in through the ship except to the control your purpose. And had you not been room. Oh, Bill—Johnny—we have so busy with congratulating yourselves won! The ship is ours. We can con- on a bold enterprise, it may have been trol it from this room, can go every- that I would not have you at the point where, invincible, impregnable, and of a gun now.” shall seize all my disloyal men. Peace “The moral being,” Bill murmured —real peace, this time—shall come to numbly, “that you shouldn’t cross your the planet Earth and shall endure!” bridges before they’re hatched. What’s Her eyes were glorified with her the pay-off?” happiness; was reflected in those of “Pay-off? Ah, yes. The pay-off is Stevens. And Bill himself understood that you die!” the great thing that had happened. He Bill said, “As I suspected. So as the felt a lump in his throat. The adven- white hope of the world, we’re complete tures they had gone through had been flops, eh?” mad, mad. But it had all been for a He laughed harshly, with a self- purpose. They were here, the three of loathing that he did not bother to con- them who had seen so much of the great ceal. “Well, pal, if you insist on having change—^here, safe and alive! fun, let’s get it over with. I can’t There was no more danger, no more stand living with myself much longer!” cause for alarm. It was hard to believe. He meant it. He had been in tough But it was true ! Sab-Hallo was dead. situations before. But always there And their worst enemy, Bandro, was had been some way out. Some slight at this moment chained in slumber chance of surcease. Here there was somewhere in the rest of the ship none. Bandro was too alert, too con- “Fools!” a voice grated. “So you scious of the fact that on the deaths of thought to return, to take from me the these three people rested all his hopes reins of power!” of future power. Bandro would not be The three people turned with varying caught napping. Nor was he going to degrees of speed to face—Bandro! waste any time in the vainglorious ” ! — 98 AMAZING STORIES braggadocio which is usually the resort rene, confident. Bandro stumbled back of the callow victor. He was going to a step. A tremendous battle was evi- sear them with destroying flame—now! dent on his face. Bandro was holding two guns. Bill He cried in a tone of terrible wrath, used to have trouble identifying the in- “Move back—stop! I’ll blast you!” numerable weapons these people from And: the stars had brought with them, but “You dare not blast me,” the young he recognized these as a particularly missionary replied. “The Lord will not virulent type of heat-ray. Nope, not a permit us to die, when our mission is chance! so great. You will hand me your Bandro’s trigger fingers started to weapons** tense. Bill braced himself for mo- Bill felt as if he were witnessing a mentary cutting agony, and in his last miracle. Stevens might have been a moments thought of Bess-Istra. . . . saint, haloed, holding a radiant cross *^StayI In the name of the Lord our out before him, exorcising an evil spirit. God, I command it!” For it was evident that Bandro was Bill’s head whipped around toward helplessly demoralized! Stevens was Stevens so fast he almost jerked it walking toward him, one hand out- loose. stretched to take the weapons. And “Johnny!” he gasped. “For cryin’ Bandro was going to give them to him! out loud, you can’t— Or was he? But the Reverend John Stevens, his Almost it worked. eyes flashing with a godly fire, fear- But it didn’t. At the last moment, lessly stepped from the line and walked the hypnotic spell in which Stevens held toward those guns which were Just Bandro was dispersed. Perhaps the about to expel their deadly fires! motion Stevens made toward the wea- pons was too sudden. But Bandro CHAPTER XVI fired Bill hardly knew what happened. He He Saved Hie World! yelled. He plunged forward, saw Stev- ens fall, doubling up; but Bandro’s r) ANDRO’S eyes bulged. He made a attention could not be turned back to choking sound. He stiffened. Bill fast enough to keep Bill from “And in the name of the Goddess tangling with him. And Bill did tangle Stuz, fool,” he bit out, ‘*stay where you with him! ttrel” Bandro’s weapons went flying as Bill The Reverend John Stevens stopped, struck them from his hands. Bandro but his head was held high. His voice went bowling backward as Bill’s fist was clear, his meaning plain. connected with his chin. Went bowling “My God does not recognize the God- backward, and smashed against the in- dess Stuz, unless she be Lucifer in dis- strument panel of the great ship. guise. And Stuz is helpless before Him, Bill caught a vague glimpse of Bess- or before His servant.” Istra. She was looking with shocked Bill felt a shock of unbelief. For glance at the heap of human flesh that Bandro stood with slack jaw, sweat sud- was the Reverend Johnny Stevens. denly leaping to his face. His gunhand Then Bandro had rolled toward him trembled visibly. Stevens took one again, face twisted in a scream of rage. more step forward, his expression se- Bill smashed against a wall, was held ! ! —. — INTRUDERS FROM THE STARS 99 spread-eagled there a moment. And in ger-sized switches, her hands moving that moment, his blood froze. hurriedly. And just as the ship seemed certain to dip beneath the waves, Bess- TN THE vision screen above the in- Istra brought its nose up and sent it stniment panel was the swiftly ap- boring at a steep angle into the clouds. trembling proaching Atlantic Ocean. Bandro’s In another minute, Bill was relief. The ship was sail- collision with the instrument board had with violent locked. changed the course of the great ship, ing smoothly, controls Bess-Istra quickly turned from the and now it was plummeting at terrific panel, with a numb expres- speed toward the bosom of the broad instrument Reverend John sea below sion. She stood over the she crumpled up It was going to strike that heaving Stevens. Suddenly sounded rack- surface, was going to be immersed over him, and her sobs and rushing tons of water would flow ingly through the ship. knees, too, look- through the hatch that Bill had opened. Bill dropped to his charred spot where a death- Unless—Bill drew a deep breath, ing at the burned a hole .through growled. He met Bandro’s charge with dealing ray had head. Bill looked and the merciless purpose of a beast—to the missionary’s couldn’t believe it. kill, and kill quickly. His fingers wrapped around Bandro’s throat. He “Johnny,” he said in a low, strained son-of-a-gun! bore the man to the floor. Bandro’s voice. “Johnny, you old true. It’s all over. breath w'as hot on bis face. Bandro’s Wake up. It ain’t dead. Bandro eyes bulged. Almost he succeeded in We’ve won. Sab-Kallo’s is We’ve got a ship that nobody throwing Bill off. But Bill hung on, dead. against. Every- insensately, and finally dragged Bandro on Earth can stand up that wanted on Earth peace to his feet. thing you — so forth “Traitor!” Bill gritted. and good will toward men, and they’re just beginning, He flung Bandro halfway across the —why, Johnny, There’s no rea- control room. Bandro spun, twisted, see? The war’s over! smashed against the bulkhead, and son for you to die at a time like this. w^hen if it hadn’t been for sagged in a lifeless heap. Particularly dead, and all hope would Bill stood over him, panting. But you we’d all be — choking, eyes Bandro would never get up. Bandro’s be dead ” He stopped, neck was broken. Bandro, tyrant of blurred. She was Earth, was dead. Bess-Istra’s head raised. Bill’s sight. Bill’s head turned dazedly toward the blurred to choked. “For vision screen. His brain awoke to life “Say no more,” she is Oh, Bill, is no at last. The ship was so close to the Johnny — Johnny brave, and so ocean that Bill could see whitecaps. more! And he was so In another second he w'as over the true, and I loved him so!” instrument board, panting, praying fer- his bit at his vwitly. But he could make nothing of T>1LL bowed head. He that hodge-podge of controls. It was lip. He said nothing. The Rev- hopeless. They were going to strike erend John Stevens—like Another ” sacrificed himself for humanity. He whirled. “Bess-Istra ! he yelled had “The—” But finally he raised Bess-Istra’s But she was there, bending over the shaking body erect, drew her close panel. She touched at buttons and fin- against him while she sobbed out her 100 AMAZING STORIES grief — sobbed, not like a terrible if he could draw away the fright that vroraan from the stars, but like a girl of showed there. Earth whose heart is broken with pain “Johnny Stevens would know the an- unbearable. swer to that, Bess-Istra,” he whispered. Bill kept his eyes wide, his vision “Answer the question for yourself. straight on the vision screen and the Think back on what you’ve done on this clouds through which the ship was world. You’ve stepped on a bunch of sweeping. Well, it was all over now. reptiles who didn’t give a hoot for hu- All over. There were some loose ends man life. Hitler, Tojo, Mussolini. to gather up; Bess-Istra would be made Whatever you may have done in a past dictator of the world again because, that is probably billions of years dis- after all, where could you get a better tant, it’s nothing to the good that you’ve ruler? And Bill would report back to done here. Remember that, Mistress his boss at the New York Corey Fea- Bess; remember it!” tures Syndicate and forever forget Her hands tightened on his shoulders. Bess-Istra. The fright was gone from her gold- Forget Bess-Istra! Oh, God, I don’t flecked eyes. She breathed, “Yes, Bill want to forget her. I want her for my- —-oh, yes! I will remember. And I self— will remember that there is so much to “You loved him very much,” Bill said do before people are completely happy gently. —so much. Bill!” “Because he was so good,” she “Yes,” he whispered huskily. ?obbed. “I loved him—as I would my She did not answer. The tips of her Dwn child, Bill — as I would a fingers touched with infinite tenderness brother—” at the side of his face. A smile trembled Bilks arms tightened around her glo- on her perfect lips. In her moist eyes rious body. He smiled. A great song of there was a light that Bill had vainly joy mingled with sadness beat in his been hoping to see. He grew dizzy with pulses. the sight of it. He drew her lips to his And she raised her swimming eyes to and thrilled to her response; held her his, her lip trembling. close and knew that she was his. “Bill,” she said huskily. “Bill. What As the ship of peace thundered over a —what do you think of me? Am I world that soon would go mad with joy good?—or am I bad? Am I never to be at the release from all terrors, those two forgiven for the terrible things I did on stood locked in close embrace, savoring that other world?” the first ecstasy of a life that was to be Bill touched tenderly at her eyes, as rich indeed. itself but can sustain rather heavy loads as well. THE OBSERVATORY The new glass is called foamglas and is being rigid government and army tests to (Continued from page 8) subjected to see whether it can serve as a replacement for kapok, balsa wood and cork, now being used. It l^VERYONE knows that glass sinks in water and may also help to conserve our present rubber ^ glass will shortage if it can replace the rubber now used in so it may shock you to hear that soon be used as the buoyant substance for life- life-rafts and life-suits. preservers, life-rafts, life-suits, in supports for Another use for the new-type glass is to insulate pontoon bridges, and many other similar devices. refrigerators, cold-boxes, and similar devices that This strange glass is all due to the efforts of the have been affected by the cork shortage. The Pittsburgh Corning Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., foamglas has been found to be vermin proof, fire- who have developed and perfected a new type of proof, and odorless. It is made by a process opaque glass that is not only able to float in water whereby air is “blown" into glass and trapped thus THE OBSERVATORY pving the srhss a ma?s of only one-Afteenth of be larger than any other first-bom. Moreover, ordinarj- pla^s. It is poC'Sible to saw or drill through the growth as an embryo is x^ry rapid, only tak- the giass wilh the regular tools now used and ing about ten or eleven months. After the young great things are expected of it. whale (caUed a calfj is bom, it grows very rapidly, doubling its size in about the first .seven months. CAFETY glass has been made a familiar mcm- However, after Ibis period, growth is somewhat ^ ber of the American automobile family. The slow, and wdien the whale reaches maturity at modern counterpart of the glass first accepted two and ore-half years it is appreweimately eighty ten years ago has become an integral part in the feet in length. The largest whale discovered was armor plating of fighting bombers and pursuit 100 feet long atrd the oldest whale was twelve planes being manufactured for the United Na- years of age. Determining the age of a blue whale tions. is rather peculiar: the ovaries of the cow whale 'ihe use of gia.ss as a transparent armor in war contain an automatic record of each mating sea- planes was undreamed of a few yetirs ago. There son, for every time an egg cell bursts through was one great obstacle. While safety plate in the the ovary it leax cs behind a scar. These scars arc last ten years had been widely used in automo- easily counted and consequently the age of the biles, it was believed a technical impossibility to cow whale is determined. bend it to shapes suitable for installation in air- planes where curved surfaces of glass were de- 'T ''HE last time you were sick at home or in a manded. A type of himinated glass was needed, hospital, you remember how your attending experts were told. helper quickly rentoved from the room all plants In searching for methods of bending plate glass and flowers before you retired at night. .According for laminating, Libbey-O%vens-Ford constructed to popular belief, dating back many centuries, a series of special furnaces where sheets of plate plants and flowers give off a mystevious night- glass are placed in molds and be.nt through a time emanation that is injurious to the human new process of intense heat and gravity. Lami- body, and, accordingly, they should never be left nating (or “sandwiching” ivvo or more identical in sleeping room.s over night. In m;iny hospitals, sheets of glass together with a plastic binding the nurses regularly remove all plants and flowers between them) requires the plate gla^ to be from the sick room at sundown with the guiding bent, according (o research authorities. purpose in mind of preventing injury' to the Today, a majority of warplane manufacturers patients while sleeping. in the United States use this laminated safety in of fighting planes and bombers glass sections Science, as ah.vays, deflates superstition. The where- both protection visibility are a neces- and United State,s Public H>=aiLh Seiwicc rciTuris that sity. The visibility feature, of course, is obvious. there is no sdcntinc basis for the belief that plants But the protective factor merits explanation. an are especially injuriou-s to the human Ivcdy dur- Exhaustive tests of buHet-rcsLslant glass have ing the night. As a matter of fact, says the direc- proved it capable of withstanding the impact of tor of scientific rc.^oarch in the XL S. Department bullets. curved surface.'; in- armor-piercing The of .Agriculture, pla.nts {non-poisonons, of course) crease its ability to resist great shock by “shed- are beneficial rather tiian harmful in sleeping ding” bullets. room.s. This new bent glass devehipment, together with some of its sisters in plastics, will revolu- During the day, plants absorb carbon dioxide tionize airplane design and construction. from the atmo,sphcre and after assimilating it, much oxygen and some carbon dioxide is re- I) ECENT scientific investigations have dis- turned to the air. This process slows up during closed some rather odd facts about the larg- the night. Plants seem to breathe much as ani- est animal on the earlh, the blue whale. In fact, mals do—^at all times, day and night, tliey give many scientists believe that this whale is the larg- off oxj'gen, and they also give off carbon dioxide. est animal ever to exist on the earth. Because of its Thus there are two proccs.sos at work, then. While immense aze, mo.st men thought th.al the growing plants give off more oxygen than carbon dioxide period of the whale would necv^'avily be quite during Uip day, at night they may give off more prolonged. A thorouch invesfigrilion, however, carbon dioxule, but a whole gTcenhouse of plants brought to light the fact that unborn whales some- uvuld hardly gi\’c off enough of this gas to af- times become over 20 feet in length. 'l hu.-5 the fect unfavorably the healthful atmosphere of the blue whale at the time of its birth wms shown to air in a nonuHlIy ventilated room. Rap. "MURDER WEARS A HALO" Sensallonal 72,000 Word Mystery Novel—Complefe In the FEBRUARY ISSUE ON SALE NOV. 16 MAMMOTH DETECTIVE at your news stand Phantom City Evans halted abruptly as the gun muula swung toward him 102 Phantom City! of Luna ^ COSTELLO At iiist Evans swore it was only a mirage —a phantom city Then horror strneh in the night! CHAPTER I “W -T X E WILL blast-off for Mars within five minutes,” Cap- \/V/~ ^ tain Malcolm, commander of the Earth observation ship, Astra, said to his assistant, Phillip Evans. “I just received' the clearance order from the central tower.” He glanced at the tall, wide-shouldered young man who stood beside him close to the gleaming hull of the Astra. “Are we all set?” Phillip Evans rubbed his lean jaw and took one more careful look at the sheaf of papers he held in his hands. “Yes,” be said deliberately, “every- thing is ready. The supplies were aboard last night. I checked them myself.” “Good,” Captain Malcolm nodded. He was a solidly built, middle-aged man with graying hair and alert blue eyes. He was one of the most prominent sci- entists of Earth, having been appointed to the suprrane command of the Central Earth Laboratories five years previous, in 2248 A.D. “We’ll be excavating on Mars for several months, completely dependent on our own resources, so we can’t take any chances on leaving any- thing behind.” “We haven’t,” Phillip said emphati- cally. “The provisions and equipmwit iJoffa& we have will take care of us comfortably Evans halted abruptly as the gun muzzle swung toward him of Luna ^ COSTELLO At fust Evans sw<»e it was only a mirage —a phantom city Then horror strnek in the night! CHAPTER I “c X 7 E blast-off for Mars five minutes,” Cap- V'* \/ tain Malcolm, commander of the Earth observation ship, Astra, said to his assistant, Phillip Evans. “I just received' the clearance order from the central tower.” He glanced at the tall, wide-shouldered young man who stood beside him close to the gleaming hull of the Astra. “Are we all set?” Phillip Evans rubbed his lean jaw and took one more careful look at the sheaf of papers he held in his hands. “Yes,” be said deliberately, “every- thing is ready. The supplies were aboard last night. I checked them myself.” “Good,” Captain Malcolm nodded. He was a solidly built, middle-aged man with graying hair and alert blue eyes. He was one of the most prominent sci- entists of Earth, having been appointed to the suprCTne command of the Central Earth Laboratories five years previous, in 2248 A.D. “We’ll be excavating on Mars for several months, completely dependent on our own resources, so we can’t take any chances on leaving any- thing behind.” “We haven’t,” Phillip said emphati- cally. “The provisions and equipmwtt we have will take care of us comfortably 104 AMAZING STORIES for six months. The scientific appara- she’ll probably get here at the la.st min- tus, charges for the blasting rays, chem- ute.” He ran a hand through his close- ical supplies, everything is aboard.” cropped black hair and said bitterly, “All the men present and accounted “she’s probably a long-nosed spinster for?” Captain Malcolm asked. who wouldn’t miss a trip to Mars witli a Phillip nodded. “They arrived in a couple of hundred men anymore than group from the Central laboratory over she’d stop breathing.” an hour ago. We have sixty-two field “li^ou’ve never seen her?” Captain men, a dozen chemists, four ray special- Malcolm asked, smiling. ists, a hundred laborers and thirty-two “No,” Phillip said, “but I know the miscellaneous cooks, waiters and ser- type. Any woman who’d force herself vants. I checked everyone aboard per- on a scientific expedition because her sonally. Their papers and planetary uncle happens to be the State Secretary passports are all in order. I know most of Research, can’t be a very admirable of the scientists personally, I've worked sort of person.” in the field with many of them. But I “Don’t misunderstand me,” Captain was particularly careful with the labor- Malcolm said. “My objections to her ers and others. I’m sure we've got an presence are purely a matter of prin- excellent crew.” ciple. From the standpoint of compe- “Fine,” Captain Malcolm said. “I tence, Miss Connors will carry her own have great hopes, Phillip, for this ex- weight, I assure you.” pedition. I’m working on a completely “I’ll have to be shown,” Phillip said new theory for the Martian excavation ironically. and I think that this time we’ll definitely “Perhaps you won’t have the chance,” find traces of their civilization and cul- Captain Malcolm said. He glanced at ture.” his watch again and then walked up the “There’s just one thing missing,” steps to the open door that was a dark Phillip said a trifle grimly. “The men oblong against the gleaming hull of the are all aboard, but Nada Connors hasn’t Astra. He turned in the doorw^ay and arrived yet.” glanced up and down the em.pty ramp. “It looks as if Miss Connors has been pAPTAIN MALCOLM grimaced. detained. If she isn’t here in sixty “I knew we were going to have seconds we will be forced to leave with- trouble with a woman along on field out her. I’m going up to the control trip,” he said, shaking his head dis- bridge now and signal Central Tower gustedly. “I have been opposed from that we’re leaving on schedule. You’d the start to taking her with us, but she better wait here on the ramp until the used her influence with the Secretary of Tower’s all-clear rockets go up; then Research and I was forced to consider come aboard and check the seal valves.” her application. The woman is a com- “Right,” Phillip said. petent scientist, I won’t take that from He glanced at his watch as Captain her, but she has no business on a Mar- Malcolm disappeared, then folded his tinu field trip. Maybe,” he said hope- arms over his chest, prepared to wait iiilly glancing at his watch, “she won’t exactly fifty seconds before following sealed make it. We’ve got only two minutes him. And once the hermetically I'jii and I’m not holding the Astra for doors of the Astra closed they vrould anyone.” not open until the ship reached INIars. “We can hope,” PI..iIlip seid, “but He glanced down the deseilcd epace ” ” PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA 105 ramp toward the sliding steel door that The girl was only a dozen yards from separated this section from the rest of the steps and Phillip savr the entreaty the vast terminal. Miss Nada Connors, in her eyes as she cried out desperately: if she came at all, would come through “Please, just another second— that door. One ankle twisted under her sud- The Astra was resting in a propul- denly, and she fell forward to one sion slot that was used only for special knee, an involuntaiy cry of pain break- departures. Overhead, Phillip could see ing from her lips. pin-point streaks of light a-gainst the Phillip cursed savagely. Women! sky: the rocket blasts of great trans- Me plunged down the steps and ports that were flashing from the ter- reached her side in three giant .strides. minal’s regular propulsion slots at a “Thank you,” the girl said fervently, rate of a dozen a minute. “if youT! laid me your arm— He glanced at his watch. “Shut up, you little fool!” Phillip Thirty seconds . . . snapped. He whipped, an arm about her small LOOKED the J_JE down ramp again waist. lifted her to his .shoulder and ran toward the steel door. No one v/as toward the open door of the space in sight. He watched the second hand ship. He took the steps in one stride on his watch revolve slowly for fifteen and dove through the door to the in- seconds, before turning and, with a final terior of the ship. He dumped the girl last glance along the ramp, starting up unceremoniously to the floor and sprang the steps to the Astra’s open door. to trie switch that hermetically sealed He had one foot inside the ship when all valve doors thrcughoiit the ship. a faint cry arrested him. Turning he He clo.sed it and instantly the door saw a small figure running down the slid shut with a hiss of escaping air as ramp toward the Astra. the compressed air chambers forced it Phillip’s lips tightened stubbornly. It into position under tremendous pres- was Nada Connors without a doubt. sure. But she was just five seconds too late! And that sound liad hardly faded She was fifty yards from the door and when the aft rockets of the Astra roared Phillip could see her small white face. into a sudden full song of releasing A loud flaring explosion sounded above power and the great ship trembled like him, and he knew that Central Towner a live thing. was signalling the Astra with all-clear Phillip dropped to the floor beside rockets. He glanced up and saw the the girl. great blue bulbs directly above the “We haven’t time to get to a blast- Astra’s propulsion slot, gleaming with a off chamber,” he said quickly. He put pale blue luminescence against the his feet against one wall of the narrow black velvet background of the night. passage and pressed his back against He knew that Captain Malcolm the other. He put his arm around the would be signalling the power section girl’s shoulders and pulled her close to of the ship this very second for full him. speed ahead; and that in a matter of “Hang on,” he said. seconds the Astra’s great, gleaming hull The girl struggled against the pres- would be hurled into the heavens by sure of his arm. the propulsive force of its mighty aft “Is this necessary? she gasped. rockets. “Not unless you want your neck ” 106 AMAZING STORIES broken when we blast-off,” Phillip said Phillip nodded. bitterly, “Now shut up and hang on “But of course,” he said sarcastically. tight. I— “Who but the renowmed Nada Connors The words were forced back into his would arrive five seconds before the throat as the Astra blasted from its pro- ship was ready to blast-off?” pulsion slot at a speed of several hun- “I’m sorry you don’t like me,” Nada dred miles a minute. Connors said quietly. “Your objection Phillip felt as if his back were going seems based on the fact that I am a to be shoved straight through the steel woman and that my uncle is Secretary wall of the ship. He braced himself of Research, two facts which I can’t using very ounce of muscle in his body, very well change. I’m grateful for w'hat and he held the girl in the vise-like angle you did for me but you needn’t worry of his arm until the pressure slowly less- that I’ll bother you in the future.” ened and the Astra reached a compara- “Fine,” Phillip said. tively level position on the arc of its “Perhaps you could do me one more trajectory. favor and tell me where I can find Cap- tain Malcolm. I’d like to let him know CHAPTER II that I finally got here.” “He’ll be overjoyed,” Phillip said. DHILLIP got slowly to his feet and “He’s on the central control bridge now. shook his head until the buzzing in probably checking our course.” his ears stopped. He glanced down at “Thank you,” the girl said. She the girl. She was still huddled on the looked uncertainly down the narrow floor, hands clasped over her ears. corridor that ended abruptly against a He bent down, put his hands under closed steel door. “How would I get her elbows and lifted her to her feet. there?” “Take your hands away from your “There’s an elatube just beyond that ears,” he ordered. “That won’t help door that takes you directly to the now. A few deep breaths and you’ll be bridge,” Phillip said. “ITl show you.” all right.” The girl obeyed his orders, but there J_TE WAS feeling slightly ashamed of were spots of color in her cheeks. himself for his attitude toward the “I’m sorry I’ve caused you this girl. After all, she was in a tough spot trouble,” she said coolly. and maybe it hadn’t been her fault that “If you’d gotten here on time you she was late. The least he could do wouldn’t be apologizing now,” Phillip was give her an even break. said curtly. “But I suppose punctuality The girl moved away from the wall is too much to expect from such a dis- and Phillip saw that she was limping, tinguished personage as the niece of the favoring the injured ankle. Secretary of Research.” “Here,” he said, “take my arm. It’ll The girl regarded him with steady be a little easier.” eyes and Phillip noted that she was The girl looked at him and he saw’ rather pretty, with dark hair that curled then the stubborn line of her jaw and to her shoulders and fine pale skin. She the determination in her eyes. And be wore a leatherette shirt and breeches realized that this girl was the type who that accentuated the slim, feminine out- might bend, but would never break. line of her form. “I w'ouldn’t think of bothering you,” “You know who I am, then?” she said quietly. PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA 307 She limped to the end of the corridor archaelogist in the business.” and he opened the door for her, feeling The girl nodded politely to Phillip. that he was getting only what he de- “Of course I’ve heard of Mr. Evans,” served. she said. “His books are standard texts He opened the elatube compartment at most universities.” and followed her into the small car. Captain Malcolm turned to the man “Fll go up v^ith you,” he said, “Tve who was standing at his right, a very got to see the captain myself.” tall, heavily built man of middle age. They flashed up past the eight layers “I’d like you both to meet Jarah of the great ship in silence and stepped Simar, one of the members of our ex- out onto the bridge of the Astra. Cap- pedition. Mr. Simar is an outstanding tain Malcolm was standing between two authority on rock and lava formations.” men studying the electro-magnetic chart recorder that covered one entire wall of T3HILLIP had met the man that morn- ^ the large room. ing when he had checked his papers, This room was the heart of the great but he hadn’t had an opportunity to space ship. Communication tubes talk to him. He shook hands with him reached every section of the ship from now and was surprised at the strength the bridge and one microphone used in Simar’s large, soft hand. Simar only in emergency cases, carried the smiled at him, bowed slightly to Nada captain’s voice to every lounge and Connors. His face was flat and ex- compartment of the Astra. pressionless and the skin stretched Opposite the chart recorder was a tightly over the cheekbones when he large visi-screen which mirrored the smiled. His eyes were set deeply in his reaches of the void into which the Aslra head and they seemed strangely luster- was now hurtling. Every asteroid, less. Black, glossy hair lay on his scalp planet or ship for thousands of miles like a closely fitting cap. dead ahead was brought into scale focus “How do you do?” he said. His voice by th'e visi-screen. was soft, modulated, but strangely flat Captain Malcolm turned and greeted and lifelesss. Nada Connors with a smile. Phillip had never heard of the man “Glad to have you aboard,” he said. before checking his papers that morn- “We thought for a while you weren’t ing. And he was surprised because he going to make it.” certainly should have met or heard of “I almost didn’t,” the girl said. “If the man at some time, considering his it hadn’t been for this young man,” she reputation. nodded to Phillip, “I probably wouldn’t There was something about Simar have gotten aboard.” that puzzled him. He couldn’t place the “Then you two have met?” Captain feeling definitely and he decided, with Malcolm asked. a slight irritation at himself, that he “No, we haven’t,” Nada Connors was being ridiculous. said. “Everything happened so quick- “I feel as if I know you both, by ly that we didn’t have time for introduc- reputation at least,” Simar was saying tions.” in his quiet, listless voice. “I consider “No time like the present to remedy it an honor to be associated with you that,” Captain Malcolm chuckled. on this expedition. I have the feeling “Miss Connors, my assistant, Phillip that we are going to accomplish some- Evans, probably the best planetary thing magnificent under Captain Mai- 108 AMAZING STORIES colm’s scholarly guklance.” “That would be interesting,” Nada “We all hope so,” Nada said. “I said, smiling. “I can remember sevcrrd hope, Mr. Siiruir, that you don’t .share nights on Earth when I was interested Mr. Evans’ aversion to my presence in the moon for other than scientific aboard the Astra on this trip.” reasons.” Simar raised his eyebrows in surprise. “It seems incredible,” he murmured, ^APTAIN MALCOLM smiled and “that anyone should object to your turned to a uniformed young man presence, Miss Connors — anywhere, who stood at a gleaming control table. anytime.” “Turn on the port screen, please.” Phillip found himself disliking the The young man nodded and flicked man. but he realized that his feeling one of the switches. Instantly the was completely illogical and ridiculous. screen on the port wall began to gleam "My opinion of Miss Connors’ pres- with pale, pulsing light and, dimly at ence is of no importance,” Phillip said. first, and then with rapidly developing “She is here and will, presumably, do clarity the great orb of Luna came into* her share of the work, competently and view, glowing with warm lambent thoroughly. That is all that matters. luminescence, ethereally beautiful I’ll admit I didn’t like the idea of a against the blackness of the void. The woman along on an expedition of this outline of its thin atmosphere sur- sort, but that’s neither here nor there.” rounded it like a filmy halo. “I’m sure we’re all going to get along But no one noticed its beauty. Every splendidly,” Captain Malcolm said pair of eyes was centered on the in- smiling tactfully at all of them. “At credible sight of a great city, sprawling least we’re off to a fine start. We for miles in one of the cavernous depres- should be beyond heaviside by this time sions of Luna, its majestic white spires and in a few more minutes we will pass reaching high into the air. Luna and then we can open up the “Good Lord!” Captain Malcolm Astra to full speed. Is this your first cried. “Am I dreaming?” He stared trip into the void, T^Iiss Connors?” like a man in a trance at the sight of the “Yes, it is,” the girl said eagerly. Her mighty city on Luna. face was lit with excitement. “I can Phillip felt as if all the breath had hardly wait until we actually reach been squeezed from his body. outer space.” A city on Luna! “It will be an interesting e.xperience It was too fantastic to contemplate. at this time of the year,” Captain Mal- Luna had been under observation by colm said. “You should see more spec- powerful telescopes from Earth for tacular meteor storms and we may see centuries and no trace of a civilization some comets at rather close range.” had ever been discovered. And dozens “When will we pass Luna?’ Simar of expeditions had explored the small asked softly. satellite and had found evidence that it “Very shortly,’’ Captain Malcolm had been inhabited. said. “She is off to our side right now, But there w^as no doubting the evi- beyond the range of the fore visi-screen. dence of their eyes. Everyone was star- Would you like to see Earth’s moon at ing at the great city as if it were some close range, Miss Connors? I can flash strange specter. Nada Connors’ lips on a side screen and give you a pretty were slightly parted and her eyes were good view.” dazedly incredulous. PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA 109 There was a strange expression on “What is our work on Mars com- Simar’s fiat, taut features. Even in pared to this discovery?” he said excit- the tenseness of the moment, Phillip edly. found himself puzzled by the sudden Simar cleared his throat gently. light in the man’s eyes and the proud, “Permit me to say, Captain, that I glowing expression on his face that agree with you completely. Luna has was as if he were staring at something always been considered uninhabited. that moved him to the core of his being. The man who proves otherwise will live But he forgot that in his absorption forever in the respect of scientists in with the great city revealed on the visi- every quarter of the earth. screen. “Yes, yes,” Captain Malcolm said The tenseness of the moment was tensely. “We’ve got to land. We suddenly shattered by Captain Mal- must.” colm’s crisp command to the operator Phillip glanced at the captain with at the control panel. troubled eyes. “Change course immediately and Malcolm was not the type to become prepare ship for landing on Luna!” so completely exhilarated and excited about anything. He was a casual, CHAPTER III deliberate scientist and the plaudits of the mob had never been a factor in his COMPLETE silence followed the scientific explorations. Now he seemed captain’s order, broken only by to be changing type completely, as if the operator’s quiet voice as he repeated his brief glance of the city of Luna had the instructions into a battery of com- upset his orderly, methodical attitude. munication tubes that faced him from “Another thing,” Phillip said, “we the control panel. can’t be sure of the reception we’ll re- The velocity of the Astra had by this ceive if that city is inhabited. The time carried them past the great city people might not be friendly to an in- that had been revealed for an instant vasion of their privacy.” on the visi-screen. But already Phillip Simar turned slightly toward Phillip could feel the swinging list of the ship and his fiat, expressionless features as it began a great arc to circle Luna were blankly polite. and come in for a landing. “An excellent point, Mr. Evans,” he “Captain Malcolm,” he said worried- said. “You are quite right to be ap- ly, “shouldn’t we flash Earth that we’re prehensive of the danger. But don’t changing our course.” you think the potential importance of “Time enough for that when we Captain RIalcolm’s discovery counter- land,” Captain Malcolm said crisply. balances any risk we may be taking.” Phillip’s eyes were troubled. “I certainly do,” Nada Connors said “Are you sure it’s wise to land?” he warmly. “I don’t think we should let asked. “After all, we have an im- anjdhing prevent us from visiting that portant job to do on Mars and this in- city. No risk will be too great. I, for terruption may cost us several valuable one, am not afraid.” days.” Simar smiled at her. Captain Malcolm’s eyes were burn- “Very gallantly spoken, Miss Con- ing brightly as he watched the course nors,” he said. “I don’t think Mr. of the Astra changing on the chart re- Evans is afraid, either. He is, I should corder. say, only cautious.” no AMAZING STORIES ^‘We’I! all be taking the same spoken, had been like a slap in the face chance,” Nada said, turning to Phillip. to the girl. He shrugged as the car “That should certainly ease any fears started downward. Her crack about you might have.” his being afraid to make a landing hadn’t been easy to take. pHILLiP stared at the girl with nar- When he reached the main level of rowing eyes and a slow flush burned the ship he found several of the crew his cheeks, waiting at the main hatch for the Astra “There’s no point in discussing the to land. matter,” he said shortly. “We are go- He noted that they were all armed ing to land, that’s that. With your ex- with ray tubes. They all looked at hkn tensive experience in void exploration, inquiringly. MIk Connors,” he said with deliberate, “What’s up?” one of them asked. ky sarcasm, “you undoubtedly will be “We’il know in a minute,” Phillip familiar with any sort of trouble that answered noncommittally. might arise. And if we encounter un- A few seconds later he felt the Astra friendly inhabitants, I shall look for- bump lightly on the surface of the moon. ward eagerly to the spectacle of your “I don’t think we’ll need oxygen hel- routing them with a sharpened hair mets,” Phillip said. “We’re in one of pin.” He turned from the girl and the depressions of the Lunar surface snapped an onkr to the operator of and there should be sufficient atmos- the main control panel. “Order the phere,” crew to stand by for landing party. And He stepped to the door and snapped tell them to be armed.” He glanced the switch that controlled it. It slid then at the fore visi-screen, which was open with the hissing sputter of re- mirroring the dead surface of Luna as leasing air. they came in at high speed for a land- ing. “Reduce speed,” he ordered curt- pHILLIP stepped through the door- ly, “Set off fore repulsion rockets and way and dropped to the liard, flaky lower landing gear.” surface of the small satellite. His eyes Captain Malcolm turned from the swept about for several seconds and a visi-screen and nodded approvingly. tight worried line formed about his “Good boy, Phil,” he said. mouth. PhilMp turned and strode toward the There was nothing in sight except the elatube. Nada followed him and caught dead craters of the moon and the vast, his arm. unbroken expanse of shale and rubble “I was just being fresh a minute ago stretching to the horizon. and I’m sorry.” She smiled ruefully. There was no trace of the mighty city “I seem to be making a career out of they had seen for a flashing instant on apologizing to you. I know you don’t the visi-screen. like me, but it might be more pleasant Several of the crew had dropped down for both of us if we’d stop hitting in beside him and they were glancing the clinches.” about carefully, their hands close to Phillip studied her small intense face their weapons. for a moment. Captain MatcoLn and Simar stepped “Sure,” he said. “Let’s forget it.” out of the ship togethei-. Captain ^lal- He stepped into the elatube and cohn swept the horizon with puzzled closed the door. His words, curtly eyes. PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA 111 “Where is it?” he asked. can communicate with Earth, advising “Possibly we overshot it,” Phillip them of our discovery and they can send said. dozens of ships here to investigate. It The captain shook his head. isn’t essential that we waste time here “Impossible! I checked our posi- looking for a phantom city, when we tion when we sighted it on the visi- should be on our way to Mars. And this screen and we returned to that exact search may take so long that circum- position. We can’t be more than a few stances on Mars will have changed and hundred yards off, one way or the we won’t be able to make the explora- other.” tions we planned.” From where they were standing a Captain Malcolm turned suddenly on great, desolate valley spread before Phillip and his eyes were blazing. them, surrounded on three sides by “Why are you opposed to finding this bleak, towering mountains. city?” he asked. His voice was quiver- Simar, Phillip noticed, was staring ing with a rage, that was as bewildering hungrily at the great depression and his to Phillip as it was sudden. “What are face was lighted with the same proud your real reasons? I am commander of expression that he had noticed when this expedition and my authority is com- they first sighted the city of the tower- plete. I say we will remain on Luna ing spires. until we have found the city we saw in “What’s your guess, Phillip?” Cap- our visi-screen, and that is final.” tain Malcolm asked. Phillip shrugged. “Possibly our in- pHILLiP checked the angry retort struments are off and we’ve landed that was trembling on his lips. The miles from the city. Or maybe we were captain seemed to be a different person all suffering from an optical disturb- as he stood glaring at him, and Phillip’s ance and didn’t see a city at all, but concern for the man outweighed his some weird distortion that resembled a anger. city.” “As you say,” he said quietly. “I can’t believe that,” Captain Mal- Captain Malcolm coughed and laid colm, shaking his head emphatically. a hand on Phillip’s shoulder. “I agree with you,” Simar said grave- “Sorry I had to speak brusquely, ly. “We actually saw a city, there’s son,” he said, “but this thing is im- no doubt of that. I think Mr. Evans portant.” may be close to the truth when he sug- “I think I have a suggestion which gested that our instruments might be off might help,” Simar said. “Our chief a fraction. That would be enough to problem is finding this city as quickly place us miles from the spot where we as possible so we will not take too much originally saw the city. The only solu- time from the important work we must tion is to search the area until w^e find do on Mars. I have done considerable it.” experimentation with a machine that “But that may take weeks,” Phillip locates metals and minerals that are protested. above the ground. We used the ma- “What does time matter,” Captain chine in Asia to determine the exact Malcolm said irritably. “We must find location of cities and found it very suc- that city. Don’t you realize how im- cessful. The machine has never been portant this thing is?” used practically, for its uses would be “Frankly, I don’t,” Phillip said. “We limited to warfare and we have for- 112 AMAZING STORIES tunately had no wars on Earth for many have been a little off our course. There’s centuries.” He smiled at Captain Mal- no city in sight.” colm, “If you think it worthwhile I “What are we going to do now?” could build a small replica of my ma- “Send out searching party in the im- chine in a matter of hours and we could mediate vicinity,” Phillip answered. “If locate the city with it very quickly.” they don’t find anything, Simar is build- “I think it definitely worthwhile,” ing some sort of a machine that may do Captain Malcolm said enthusiastically. the trick.” “Thank you,” Simar said. “When are the searching parties “I wish you’d get to work on it im- starting?” Nada asked. mediately. I’ll send a few scouting ex- “As soon as the captain gets them peditions oitt to search the immediate organized and gives each of them a neighborhood, just in case the city is definite territory to cover. But I’m within a few miles of us. And if they leaving right away, by myself.” don’t find it, we’ll use your machine to- “Could I go with you?” Nada asked. morrow. Do you think you can have “I promise I won’t be any bother.” She it ready by that time?” went on hurriedly as Phillip didn’t an- “Certainly,” Simar said. “I will need swer, an embarrassed flush staining her to lisa the ship’s laboratory for several cheeks. “I know you don’t think I’ll hours.” be any help, but I’m an excellent shot “I’ll arrange that,” Captain Mal- and I never get lost. Please take me colm said; “and if you need any sup- with you.” plies I’ll give you the necessary requi- Phillip looked down into her eager, sitions.” anxious face and the edge of ice around “That will be excellent,” Simar said, his heart began to melt. inclining his head slightly. ‘T will get “Okay,” he said. “Get yourself a to work immediately.” ray gun and oxygen helmet. We’re leav- He walked up the portable steps ing right away.” which had been lowered from the hatch “I won’t be a minute,” Nada cried. and disappeared into the interior of the She turned and stared quickly down the ship. corridor, but she stopped at the door Captain Malcolm followed him with and looked back at him, smiling. his eyes. “Thanks a million times,” she said and “He’s a stimulating fellow,” he ob- disappeared through the door. served. “I can’t remember when I’ve been so impressed by a man.” '^HEY left the ship ten minutes later “He is very interesting,” Phillip said and Phillip headed directly down thoughtfully. “I’m going to enjoy find- into the great depression that stretched ing out more about him.” for miles from the site where the Astra He left Captain Malcolm and walked had landed. The ground was rocky and slowly up the stairs to the ship. uneven, covered with a thin filmy shale dust that slipped treacherously beneath CHAPTER IV their leather boots. “Watch yourself,” Phillip said over TTE MET Nada Connors in the cor- his shoulder to Nada. “You won't do ^ ridor that led to the hatchway. us much good with a broken leg.” “What happened?” she asked. They walked for a half hour and by “Nothing,” Phillip said. “We must that time they were out of sight of the — PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA 113 Astra, descending deeper and deeper could hardly see what he held in his into the great hollow formed by the hand. But he waited until a faint breeze three towering mountain peaks. moved the heavy cloying air, then he Phillip called a halt when they glanced down and his heart began to reached a great flat 'boulder and they beat with sudden excitement. both sat down gratefully. The atmo- For the object in his hand was shale- sphere was heavy and dense and breath- encrusted piece of metal, broken and ing was a laborious job. But they hadn’t corroded, but still recognizable as a used their oxygen belts. small, delicately shaped urn. Nada leaned back on the palms of He called Nada to his side and her hands and swept her eyes slowly showed her the piece of metal. She took over the vast, spreading valley that now it in her hands and studied it closely. appeared covered with a white mist “It looks like processed steel,” she which was actually the thick, settling said. Her voice was incredulous. atmosphere of the tiny satellite collect- “That’s just what is it,” Phillip said, ing in the basin of the depression. “and it was shaped by an intelligent Phillip glanced at her profile. hand.” “Do you find it interesting?” “Yes,” she answered slowly. Her DOZEN thoughts were racing slender, arched eyebrows drew together ^ through his mind. This piece of in a frown and she looked at him steel, produced by a forge and shaped anxiously. “You’ll think I’m silly,” she by a mold, was evidence of an advanced said, “but there’s something here, an civilization governed by rational life of intangible presence, that is.” She smiled a high order of intelligence. But how apologetically and said, “I was going to had it gotten here? Was it a relic of say frightening, but that’s ridiculous.” some civilization that had existed thou- “Maybe,” Phillip said. He glanced sands of years ago on this small satel- out over the valley and he noticed that lite of Earth? the misty atmosphere seemed to be That thought was not quite as pre- thickening, drifting toward them in posterous as it would have seemed to slow, deliberate waves. And he had the him twenty-four hours before; for he sudden, peculiar sensation that some- had seen the image of a great city on thing was plucking at his mind with this moon through the Astra’s visi- long, soft fingers. He shook his head screen. irritably. He dropped the piece of metal into “I don’t like the place any more than his pocket. you do,” he said decisively. “Possibly “Let’s not say anything about this we’re both just superstitious but I think for a while,” he said to Nada. we’d better get back to the ship.” “Whatever you say,” she said. Her He stood up and helped the girl to her voice seemed strangely weak to him and feet and they started back up the long he noticed that her face was white and slope that led to the ship. Phillip drawn. He looked at her anxiously. stumbled over a hard, rocky object a “How do you feel?” he asked. few feet from the boulders on which She put a hand to her forehead. they had rested, and he bent down auto- “All right,” she said. She shook her matically and picked it up. head slowly. “Physically there’s noth- The dense swirling atmosphere was ing wrong with me, but my head feels pressing so closely on them now that he as if it were going to split open. It ” 114 AMAZING STORIES it’s like a hand were squeezing my brain this would happen. You’re just a liabil- down to the size of a marble.” ity on this trip. You can’t carry you’re Phillip put an arm about her waist. own weight. I hope you’re convinced “Lean against me,” he said. “We’ll now that I wasn’t just talking to hear be out of here in a few minutes.” myself talk.” He started up the slope, his lungs laboring with the effort of practically ^"ADA twisted against his arm and carrying the girl. There w^as a tight faced him, angry color in her line of worry about his mouth. He was cheeks. Her eyes were glinting like feeling again the sensation of tiny fin- bright blue diamonds. gers plucking at his brain, drawing from Phillip felt a happy surge of relief. it all strength and powder of thought and The rage the girl felt had cleared her decision. He wondered it the girl’s sen- mind and driven away fog-like vapors sation were similar. that had been plucking at her conscious- He realized then that the sensation ness. had disappeared when he had been con- “Take your arm away from me,” she centrating on the problem of the urn- said, “I can manage myself. I don’t shaped piece of metal he had found. need you for anything, Phillip Evans.” Whatever influence was sapping his She struggled aw'ay from him and mind, it was powerless apparently when strode on ahead, her small shoulders his brain was focused completely on squared defiantly. something else. In another ten minutes they were out He glanced down at the girl. Her of the basin of the valley and the air eyes seemed to be glazing and her lips was clearer. Phillip found that he no w’ere parted slightly, as she breathed longer had to fight against the queer the heavy, murky atmosphere into her sensation that seemed to be induced by laboring lungs. the thick, heavy atmosphere. “Nada!” he said sharply. Nada was still stumbling on ahead The girl shook her head weakly and of him and he could tell from the put a hand to her forehead. straight, angry lines of her back that “I can barely hear you,” she said, she was still seething. and her voice was only a feeble whis- He caught up with her.— per in his ears. “Nada,” he said, “I “Nada!” he cried. He knew he had “There’s nothing to say,” she said to snap the girl out of the fogged, coma- coolly, keeping her eyes fixed straight tose condition she was drifting into. He ahead and her small chin tilted stub- had to shock her, force her mind to con- bornly. “I suppose I should thank you,” centrate its focus on something that she said, after a moment of silence. “I would break the effect of the trance-like almost passed out, and, as you reminded spell that was gripping her brain. me so clearly, I was definitely a liability. “Nada!” he cried. “Listen to me!” But,” she added icily, “I can’t work up He saw a momentary flicker of con- much respect for a person who uses a sciousness in her eyes. time like that to start crowing, T told ” “You’ve got to think!” he snapped. you so.’ “We’re in danger. Unless you snap out “You silly little fool,” Phillip said of it neither of us will have a chance.” disgustedly. “You don’t know the He forced a bitterly, jeering sarcastic score and it looks as if you’ll never find note into his voice and said, “I told you out. I talked that way to snap you PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA 115 back to consciousness. If you can’t looked from his work when he saw them realize that, you’re hopeless.” and smiled his flat, expressionless smile. He strode on, glowering. Damn this “Come in, gentlemen,” he said affa- girl! Why did they have to be at each bly. “I am almost done with my work. other’s throats all the time? He real- Would you care to inspect it at close ized that if he were actful and diplo- range?” matic he could probably explain the Captain Malcolm moved forward necessity for what he had done but he eagerly and Phillip followed. had no intention of being tactful or The machine had four handholds, one diplomatic. If she couldn’t understand on each side, and from above a cone without having a drawing shoved in pointed down toward the top of the ma- front of her eyes, she could just go right chine, bathing it with a powerful orange on thinking him a cad and a boor. ray. They were within sight of the Astra “Would you explain how it oper- now and Nada went on ahead. When ates?” Captain Malcolm asked. they reached the ship she turned in the “With pleasure,” Simar replied. hatch way and said, “Thank you for a He pointed to a band of rheostats on very lovely trip,” and then disappeared the front panel of the machine and be- into the interior of the great space craft, gan to explain the purpose of each, talk- Phillip was still glaring at the door ing swiftly, surely. His explanations when Captain Malcolm appeared. were thick with scientific phrases and “Hello, Phillip,” he said. “Did you many bewildering inconsistencies were find anything?” apparent to Phillip as Simar talked on, Phillip shook his head. pointing to various pgrts of the machine “Not a trace.” and discussing their operations at great “IVe sent four parties out,” the cap- length. tain said, “but only two have reported The conviction gradually grew in so far. They’ve found nothing. Simar, Phillip that the man was lying. That however, has almost completed his ma- his explanations were simply meaning- chine. Would you like to take a look at less phrases intended to bewilder rather it?” than clarify. What purpose Simar could “Very much,” said Phillip. be serving, Phillip couldn’t fathom, but He followed the captain into the ship, he was increasingly sure that Simar’s wondering whether he should tell him machine was not built to locate the of the powerful influences tliat .seemed missing city. contained in the atmosphere in the basin “What is the purpose of the ray?” of the valley. he asked, when Simar paused for breath. For some reason he decided to wait. Simar glanced at him and smiled. “I’m not sure you will be able to un- CHAPTER V derstand,” he said smoothly. “Not that I mean to belittle your scientific gIMAR was alone in the Astra’s large, comprehension,” he added, with a slight well equipped laboratory when Cap- deferential bow, “but the principle of tain Malcolm and Phillip entered. He this ray is based on theories which I, was working over a small delicate ma- alone, have undertaken to examine.” chine, hardly six inches square, con- “Simar,” Phillip said, choosing his structed of gleaming metal and bristling words deliberately, “I think you’re a with tiny filaments and rheostats. He fraud. I don’t think this machine will 116 AMAZING STORIES locate the city we’re looking for. Your avoided his gaze. He noticed that she explanations of its operations didn’t had changed into a short tunic and soft make a particle of sense. They were slippers that buckled about her slim, simply meaningless phrases thrown to- bare ankles. gether in a sort of scientific mumbo- “Will you please step to the ma- jumbo either to cloak the fact that chine?” Simar said. “It will be neces- you’re machine is useless, or to hide its sary that each of you hold one of the real purpose.” handholds on the sides.” Captain Malcolm swung angrily on Phillip took a place between Simar PhilUp. and Captain Malcolm, facing Nada “I won’t have you insulting Simar over the gleaming machine. The metal this way,” he cried. “He’s doing his handhold was cold to the touch and best to help us locate the city which is Phillip sensed that it was throbbing more than can be said for you.” faintly, as if an unfelt electric current Phillip shrugged. were coursing through it. “If the machine works I am ready to “We are ready,” Sknar announced. apologise. But,” he said with a grim He adjusted one of the rheostats and smile, “Simar knows it won’t work as flicked a switch on the side of the ma- well as I do.” chine. “I regret that you are so skeptical,” “It will not take long,” he murmured. Simar said. “If a demonstration will He was smiling softly as he watched the convince you, I am only too happy to orange cone of light glow with greater oblige. The machine is ready to operate strength on the gleaming surface of now.” the machine, Phillip felt nothing at first, but gradu- J_JE MADE an adjustment on the ally he noticed that the room was grow- band of rheostats and a slow curv- ing darker. He glanced at Nada and he ing smile flattened his lips against his had trouble focusing his eyes on her teeth. white face. She was looking at Simar “I am wailing to be shown,” Phillip with worried eyes. said curtly. “Do not be alarmed,” Simar said Simar straightened from the machine. gently. His flat expressionless face “May I crave your indulgence for a seemed to be glowing with an inner few moments,” he asked quietly. “I radiance against the growing darkness promised Miss Connors’ that I would of the room. tell her when I was ready to demon- Phillip tried to speak but he couldn’t. strate the machine. She seemed quite A sudden suspicion flashed into his interested in its operation. If you will mind. He tried to cry out but the wait here for just a second I will go and words made no sound. get her.” The darkness was almost complete. “Go right ahead,” Captain Malcolm With a savage wrench he tried to jerk said. “A few minutes won’t make any his hand from the machine, but be difference.” couldn’t force his tightly clamped fin- “Is that agreeable to you, Mr. gers to open. Evans?” Simar asked. Simar was grinning satanically and “Of course,” Phillip said. his face was the only thing visible in Simar returned in a few minutes with the darkness; and it shone strangely Nada. Phillip glanced at her but she like something ghastly and unreal. PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA 117 Phillip saw him stretch a hand to the and the sky above his head was a bright, machine and turned one of the rheostats glaring blue. Turning slightly he saw with a slow, deliberate motion and, as that Nada was lying beside him, her he did so, he flung his blazing face back eyes closed, breathing evenly. in a savage gesture of ecstatic triumph. He struggled to a sitting position and “I have not failed, 0 mighty then he saw the things that surrounded Aganda!” he cried. him, and his heart began to thud des- perately against his ribs. gWIRLING light suddenly flashed The creatures that circled him were about them, but it was not light thin, greyish and their hideous bodies from any of the beams of the Astra. It seemed composed of some pulpy ma- was blinding white light that might have terial that visibly pulsated as they come from the depths of space, where moved. They wore metallic garments the black of the void faded and unborn that ended at their waists and left their worlds blazed defiantly against the long, tendril-like arms and legs free. illimitable darkness. Their faces were blank, smooth. One Phillip heard a roaring in his ears colorless eye gleamed in each forehead. and felt the force of a mighty suction And each of those terrible eyes was fixed that grew steadily more powerful, more in a dead stare on Phillip and the girl. irresistible. “You seem alarmed,” Simar mur- And then he was swept upward like mured. “You needn’t be. My com- a twig before a violent storm and he rades will obey my slightest command felt all of his senses leaving him as and it is not my intention to have you blackness, deep, vast and unending, killed.” closed like an inexorable pali over his Phillip tore his fascinated gaze from consciousness. the weird monstrosities and turned to Simar. CHAPTER VI “What kind of a game are you play- ing?” he demanded. J^ETURNING to consciousness was Simar smiled and stepped to one side like swimming upward through and gestured toward a deep valley sur- murky, impenetrable water toward a rounded on three sides by towering flicker of light miles above his head. peaks. In the basin of the valley was a His eyes opened slowly and the flicker great city, sprawling for miles. Great of light suddenly grew from a pin-point buildings loomed high in the air, their to dazzling brilliance that struck his white sides glistening under the harsh eyes painfully. light of the sun. He blinked and opened his eyes again “Perhaps this will aid in your orienta- and this time he made out two dim tion,” Simar smiled. “Do you recognize figures standing over him, looking at the place?” him with speculative eyes. Phillip climbed to his feet and he felt When he opened his eyes the third that his brain was reeling on its founda- time he identified the figures as Simar tions. For this valley was the Lunar and Captain Malcolm. Simar’s flat face depression which he and Nada had ex- was expressionless as usual, but the plored, And tills city was .the one they captain’s features looked dazed and his had seen mirrored on the Astrals visi- eyes were dull and vacant. screen. Phillip was lying on smooth ground The thought of the Astra caused him ” 118 AMAZING STORIES to turn sharply toward the place where suddenly moved with bewildering speed the great ship had landed. But his toward Phillip. Before he could move eyes met nothing but the smooth, un- a half dozen of their rope-like tentacles broken terrain, stretching for miles. had whipped about his arms, pinioning The Astra was gone! him helplessly. Others snapped about “Your ship is not here,” Simar said his legs and he was lifted into the air, quietly. unable to move a muscle. “Where is it?” Phillip demanded. “You see how useless is resistance?” He felt dazed, breathless with shock. Simar asked. “Have they gone without us?” Several of the creatures picked up “No,” Simar smiled, “the Astra is the girl and started down the long precisely where we left it, one hundred slope toward the city, Phillip was borne thousand years in the juture.’* along after them. Simar chuckled. pHILLIP felt the words of Simar “Your education will begin very crash into his brain with an almost shortly, my impetuous young friend,” physical impact. he murmured. “One hundred thousand years in the Captain Malcolm followed behind future!” he cried. “You’re mad!” them, his face expressionless, his feet “You will find I am quite sane,” dragging loosely on the smooth ground. Simar murmured. “I will tell you every- thing when we reach our city and you CHAPTER VI! will find much of your bewilderment erased.” He smiled pleasantly. “You they reached the city, the must accept the situation whether you weird creatures carried Phillip like it or not, so I’d advise you to be and the unconscious girl along a broad practical. Haven’t you noticed how avenue flanked on either side by the adaptable our Captain Malcolm is?” great white buildings that were char- Phillip stared at the captain’s vacant acteristic of this metropolis. vacant face and dull eyes and a chill They came to a stop at last before of horror swept through him. an immense domed building which was “What have you clone to him?” he guarded by several ranks of the weird, said grimly. “If you’ve harmed him— tentacles-armed creatures. “You are in no position to be threat- Philip was lowered to the ground ening,” Simar said quietly. “You will and the great metal door of the domed come with us now, agreeably or other- building swung ponderously open. wise,” Simar came up to Phillip’s side. “I’ll be damned if I will,” Phillip “This is the palace of our ruler, said hotly. Aganda,” he said. “When he has seen Simar shook his head sadly. you I will take you to your quarters “It is unfortunate that you are adopt- where you will be fed.” ing such an uncooperative attitude,” Phillip glanced at Nada who was still he murmured. He turned slightly and held aloft in the tendril arms of the faced the silent creatures who were weird creatures. He prayed that she watching Phillip with fixed, dead would stay unconscious. eyes. “What about the girl?” he asked He spoke no word, he made no move- Simar. ment, yet with one accord the creatures “She will not be harmed.” PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA no He strode ahead of Phillip through pHiLLIP dropped to his knees be- the great door and the strange captors side her and held her close in Ms secured Phillip’s arms with their ropy arms. tentacles and led him through the door “What are they?” she cried, her face into a huge shadowy room that was pressed against hb chest. “Take me completely bare except for the raised away from here, please.” dais in the center of the floor and com- “Get hold of yourself, honey,” he pletely unoccupied except for the crea- whispered. “We’re in for a bad time ture who sat silently there watching but we can’t crack.” their approach with an unwinking, life- Simar coughed meaningly. less eye, “Are you ready? Or shall I have Simar prostrated himself before the my comrades use a bit of forceful per- ,dais and the enthroned creature, who suasion?” was identical to the others Phillip had Pliillip turned to him, his face a mask seen, except that, if possible, he was of cold, v/hite fury. even more repulsive in appearance, “If one of these slimy monstrosities stared at Simar’s prone figure .with a tries to touch Nada I’ll kill her my.self glassy, expressionless eye. rather than let tliat happen,” Phillip sensed that the two were com- Simar shrugged. municating and it was not hard to guess “Then supposing you come along that the subject of their conversation under your own power? I am trying was he and the girl, who had been to be gentle with both of you but your brought in and stretched before the attitude may force me to change my throne. tactics.” His guess was confirmed when the Phillip helped Nada to her feet. creature on the dais turned his eye She buried her head against his shoul- slowly from Simar and fixed its dead der. “I can’t look at them,” she whis- stare on him. The creature’s inspec- pered. Her voice was choked with tion lasted for a full minute and then horror. “I just can’t.” it swung slowly to the slim figure of the Phillip put his arm about her waist girl before the throne. and held her close. Again the inspection lasted a full “You don’t have to,” he said. “Keep minute, before the eye swung back to your eyes closed and ITl lead Simar who rose immediately to his feet Supporting Nada with his arm, and turned to Phillip. Phillip followed Simar and several of “Con>e with me,” he said quietly. the weird creatures across the great hall Nada stirred slightly and a low moan through a door tliat led them into a passed her lips. She moved her head labyrinthine system of connecting cor- weakly from side to side and then her ridors and finally brought tiiem to a eyelids fluttered and opened. She row of dungeon-like cells hundreds of stared for a blank, uncomprehending feet below the surface of the ground. moment at the hideous creatures wdm Each cell was constructed of thick stood over her and then a convulsive wire mesh and a door was its only shudder passed through her .slim body. opening. One of the ertuatures opened She pressed tlie back of her hand the door and Phillip and Nada were against her mouth to choke back the shoved into the cell. scream that tore at her throat. Her Simar followed them in and closed eyes were wide with a loathing fear. the door behind him. The four crea- 120 AMAZING STORIES tures that had escorted them to the which I am one myself, were a flourish- place moved a few dozen feet away ing, highly developed species of intelli- and crouched in the corridor, watching gent life. Civilizations, however, do the cell with sluggish eyes. not all progress along the same lines, Phillip glanced about the small cell. and our advancement was chiefly There were cots facing each other from marked by the development of elemen- opposite walls and a tube of running tary devices to span time and the culti- water in one corner. That was all. vation of a system of thought transfer- Simar noticed his inspection and ence, which did away with the necessity smiled. of speech, with the result that the vocal “True,” he murmured, “the quarters chords of our people evenually atro- are not palatial, but if your attitude phied. becomes more cooperative you will find “In all lines of science we were striv- that we are not completely without ing ceaselessly to attain perfection and physical comforts here at Lunas.” if we had developed normally there is Phillip led Nada to one of the cots no limit to the ends we might have and sat down beside her, still holding his achieved.” arm about her shoulders. She was sob- Simar paused and Phillip noticed that bing, now, but the sound was muffled his eyes had left their faces and he against his chest. He could feel her seemed to have forgotten their pres- slim shoulders quivering under his hand. ence. He looked up at Simar and his eyes “We might have grown great and were bleak and hard as frozen steel. glorious,” he went on in a changed voice “All right, Simar,” he said, “you ap- that was charged with bitterness, “but parently hold all the cards. 'V^at do life on Lunas was obliterated in the you want with us?” twentieth of a second and the greatest “Now you are being more sensible,” civilization the Universe has ever Simar said. known was reduced to a pile of rubble in the twinkling of an eye. A meteor ILTE SAT down carefully on the cot storm of unprecedented size and speed facing them and smiled his flat, smashed Lunas into the dust, destroy- humorless smile. ing it forever.” “First,” he said, “let me caution you Nada had raised her head as Simar against attempting to escape from Lu- spoke and only the redness of her eyes nas. You will be under constant sur- indicated that she had been crying. veilance and the penalities for any such She was listening closely to Simar’s action will be very severe. I hope you story, and now she said, will be sensible in this matter.” “Hadn’t your scientists been able to He leaned forward slightly on the cot predict the course of the storm?” and cleared his throat softly, “They had,” Simar answered, “and “I will begin my story by telling you we had built a force shield to deflect the something of this place. You must try meteors but we hadn’t sufficient experi- and think in terms of the past, the past ence to make the shield work effective- of a hundred thousand years ago, when ly. We were working frantically on it this moon of Earth still possessed suf- when the storm struck. And before a ficient heat to nurture vegetation and man could draw a breath the life of make its surface habitable. In that Limas was sealed under millions of tons time the creatures you have seen, of of molten metal. PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA 121 “And the very suddenness of the on- But he fought back the red rage that slaught was the thing that saved us from coursed through his body in hot waves. complete obliteration. It may be hard He knew that Nada and he were in ter- for you to understand but the very speed rible danger and their only hope was to with which the life of Lunas was play for time, to find, somehow, a crushed out prevented the life forces means to return to their own time. from escaping completely from the “It wasn’t hard,” Simar continued, area. Millions of us were destroyed in a cool smile on his lips. “As a matter a physical sense, but our life forces of fact, when you and Miss Connors were held in suspension under the tons explored the basin of tlie Lunasian val- of metal that had destroyed our city. ley, her mind was almost taken over “After the molten meteors had by one of the Kfe forces. If you no- cooled, thousands of years later,” Simar ticed, the ectoplasmic emanations from continued, “we were able by sheer, dis- the buried city of Lunas drifted toward embodied will power to project a life you the instant your presence in the .substance to Larth where it assumed valley became manifest. If you hadn’t the form of a human being.” distracted her mind, forced her to con- centrate on something else she would CIMAR smiled then and then bowed have been lost to you forever.” slightly in a sclf-depreciatory ges- Nada squeezed Phillip’s arm witli her ture. hand, “And I, as you may have guessed, “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “You am that humble person,” he said. “I ap- tried to tell me that but I wouldn’t propriated this body and then the rest listen. I’ve been nothing but a drag on you can probably surn^ise. I constructed you since we left Earth. It’s no w^on- a time machine on the principles we had der you despise me.” discovered thousands of years before “Skip it,” Phillip said. “You’ve got and arranged to be included among the more guts than most of the men on the members of your expedition. But I Astra'* He grinned down at her and had no intention of going to Mars. I rocked her chin gently with his fist. wanted to return to Luna and that was “We’ll lick this thing.” easily managed. The city that ap- “I beg your pardon,” Simar said, peared in the visi-screen was but a “but I am afraid I must disappoint you. phantom, a figment of your collective im- You are here to do a specific job and aginations induced by the concerted will when that job is done you will be—ah of the millions of life forces still held —liquidated is the word, I believe.” in su.spen3ion on the buried city of Lunas.” j^E crossed his legs and leaned back “What did you do to Captain Mal- comfortably on the narrow cot. colm?” Phillip asked. “I will tell you now why I brought “Captain Malcolm as you know him you here. At this moment the meteor is dead forever,” Simar said. “His storm I spoke of has not yet occurred. body was absorbed by a liberated life It will occur tomorrow evening. Be- force before he reached Lunas.” fore that time you are going to examine Phillip had difilculty in controlling our force shield and put it in working an impulse to spring at Simar^s throat order. Do I make myself clear?” and crush the dead, unclean life from “Supposing I can’t fi.x it?” Phillip his body. asked. — 122 AMAZING STORIES “You will repair the machine,” Simar “You filthy beast 1” Phillip spat the said, emphasizing each word carefully. words out harshly. “You couldn’t pos- “Unfortunately you are not going to sibly be that rotten and corrupt.” have much time. I miscalculated slight- “I might surprise you,” Simar said. ly in my entropy estimate and con- “At any rate, I am going to give you a sequently we arrived back at Lunas few minutes to think this over. That only a day before the impending de- is why I placed you in the same cell.” struction of the city by the meteor He stood up and walked to the door. storm. But your skill will avert that “TU be back shortly for your de- catastrophe and Lunas will be saved.” cision. And remember, Miss Connors ‘'Has it occurred to you,” Phillip would be a dainty diversion for some said, “that you aren't in a very good po- lucky citizen of Lunas.” sition to be making demands? You He bowed mockingly to them and need my knowledge to save your own stepped into the corridor, closing and life and the life of every person and locking the door behind him. thing on Luna. Supposing I refuse to help you?” pHILLIP put his arm about Nada’s “That has occurred to me,” Simar shoulder and held her tightly. said blandly. He smiled as if he were “Don’t worry, honey,” he whispered. enjoying the taste of something on his “Nothing like that is going to happen tongue. His eyes moved slowly to to you. I promise you that much.” Nada. “I noticed that you are quite “Why don’t you agree to help them?” fond of our charming guest,” he mur- Nada asked. “They intend to kill us mured. “That is the reason I brought both, but that way you’d gain a little her with us. She is the lever I may time. If you refuse to help them they have to use on you—a very beautiful may kill us immediately.” lever and a most effective one. If you “I think maybe that’s the best idea,” don’t cooperate, it will not be very Phillip said. He took a small knife pleasant for her. Has that occurred from his pocket—his only weapon to you, Phillip Evans?” and handed it to the girl. “Don’t listen to him, Phillip!” Nada “If anything happens to me,” he cried. “He intends to kill us anyway said, “you know what to do with this.” after you have saved their city. I don’t Nada slipped tlie knife into the front care what happens to me.” of her tunic and nodded slowly. “Don’t you, my child?” Simar said “Yes, Phillip,” she whispered, “I’ll gently. “That is only because you have know what to do with it. And I won’t no idea of the refined tortures we have be afraid.” prepared for you.” He glanced at “I know you won’t,” Phillip said. He Phillip and smiled. “You have seen patted her gently on the cheek and my people? Probably they seem quite smiled into her eyes. “You’ve got repugnant to you, but they are actuated everything it takes.” by the same fundamental desires that “Thanks,” she said simply. motivate any thinking organism. They Phillip stepped to the cell door and have impulses that are quite normal called Simar. and moderate from' their viewpoint. “Have you reached a decision?” But—” He paused and chuckled softly. Simar asked mockingly. “I wonder if Miss Connors would think “Yes, I have,” Phillip said. “I’ll so?” help you.” PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA 123 CHAPTER VIII ered with grime and sweat and his face was pale and drawn with fatigue. He '^HE force shield had been con- had inspected every square inch of the structed at the edge of the city. monster machine, had dug into every When Simar and Phillip, escorted by a compartment, every housing and had half dozen of the ropey-armed inhabi- re-checked the original designs and tants of Lunas, reached the spot where figures from which it had been built. it had been erected, a huge battery of And he found nothing wrong. brilliant lights was directed on the ma- Simar paced restlessly up and down chine bringing it into sharp focus the platform, occasionally glancing against the soft, velvet blackness of the worriedly up in the direction the barrels Lunas night. of the machine were pointed. Phillip studied the machine with an “Have you found anything?” he engineer’s practiced eye. It towered asked for the dozenth time. His usually two dozen feet in the air and was easily expressionless face was twisted now twice that wide. From its flat, gleam- into a worried scowl as he peered over ing surface a dozen barrels pointed sky- Phillip’s shoulder. ward like the menacing feelers of some “Get out of the light,” Phillip said giant bug. shortly. “When I find something, I’ll A control panel and observation plat- let you know.” form was reached by a narrow flight of Simar stared at his back in baffled iron steps. rage, then resumed his worried pacing. “Come with me,” Simar said. “There “If you’re trying to trick me,” he is no time to lose.” snarled, “that wench of yours will curse He led Phillip up the steps to the you a thousand times before she dies.” observation platform. Phillip had felt a return of his con- “The principle of the machine is fidence as he saw Simar’s anxiety. The simply a variation of ray projection,” creatures of Lunas were like robots, he explained. “These barrels throw a without emotion, without feeling, but powerful ray screen miles into the air Simar was as edgy as a cornered rat. which, when magnetized, become as With the human body he had stolen dense as the hardest metal. It should he had also acquired a complete set of be sufficient to deflect the meteor storm. human emotions. Your job is to make this machine work. “If I don’t get this machine operat- Our scientists are completely unable to ing,” he said grimly, “none of us will discover the flaw in its operation. That, have any worries after tonight.” as you know, is why you and Captain Malcolm were brought iiere.” CIMAR glanced up at the sky. He “Bring me the necessary tools to tear was chewing his lower lip and his this machine to the ground and I’ll get hands were shaky as he glanced at his to work,” Phillip said, studying the con- watch. trol panel with narrowed, thoughtful “You haven’t got much time,” he eyes. said and his voice was tense. He worked steadily that night and “Where is Captain Malcolm?” Phillip the following morning, familiarizing asked. himself with the construction and oper- “WTiat difference does it make?” ation of the force shield machine. When Simar said harshly. “Keep working on the sun reached its zenith he was cov- that machine.” 124 AMAZING STORIES “Captain Malcolm might be able to was thick with mounting terror. He help me,” Phillip said. wheeled on Phillip, his face savage. Simar paced the platform in silence, “Damn you!” he shouted. “You’ve clenching and unclenching his hands. tricked me.” “I’ll have him brought here,” he said Phillip didn’t bother to look up. His finally. fingers worked rapidly and desperately One of the Lunasian creatures moved repairing a broken cable he had dis- off immediately and returned a few covered but a moment before. moments later leading the dazed, glassy- “Don’t worry,” he said bitterly, eyed figure of the captain. “your hide is saved, Simar.” “He’ll be no help!” Simar snapped. “Have you found the trouble?” Simar Phillip shrugged. ‘‘Maybe not. But a.sked tensely. I wish you’d leave him here on the Phillip nodded. “I’ll have it fixed in platform. The association with the ten minutes.” machine might help re.store his own An audible sigh of relief passed con.sciousness. He was one of the most Simar’s lips. brilliant scientists on Earth. He could He straightened his shoulders and solve thi.s problem in ten minutes.” slowly the old expre.ssion of calm arro- “All right, all right,” Simar said gance spread over his features. His harshly, “let him stay here.” eyes were again cold and hard. When the Lunasian released the captain he moved slowly, aw'kwardly to pHILLIP worked as swiftly as pos- the control panel of the force field ma- .sible but it was twenty minutes be- chine and ran his hands gently over fore he finally straightened and faced the gleaming row of directional dials. Simar. The eastern sky was a blazing A pleased, vague smile touched his red now and the heat from the onrush- face. ing billions of meteors was begining to Phillip turned away, choking back grow' uncomfortable. the rage and bitterne.ss in his heart. “The machine’s ready,” he said. The fine, keen mind that had brought Simar stepped to the control panel illumination to a thousand subjects was and snapped the three main connections a dim, tragic thing now, its brilliance into place, then threw the switch that clouded forever. sent sparks to the ray chamber. “Hurry!” Simar’s voice cracked like Instantly a dozen solid rays of orange an angry whip about his ears. He was light flashed upward from the mouth staring at the sky, his face pale with of the barrels. When they passed terror. “I think I can see the light of through Luna’s atmosphere they the meteor storm.” merged into a solid band of opaque light Two hours passed slowly and dark- that widened as it moved void-ward to ness was settling slowly on Luna, .^nd repel the mcteor.s. as the darkness came the eastern sky Simar watched ihe force shield for a w’as illumined by a cherry-red glow moment and there was a cold expression that seemed to emanate from the of triumph on his face. He turned then boundless wastes of space. and drew the ray tube from his belt and Sweat was .standing out in tiny drops pointed it squarely at Phillip’s chest. on Simar’s forehead. “Your usefulness is over,” he said. “The meteor swarm will be here in He smiled mockingly. "I didn’t tell half an hour,” he .said, and his voice you all the details of my plan for I was PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA 125 afraid you would refuse to cooperate, He leaped in as Simar swung back to regardless of what I might do to you him and his right fist chopped down or the girl. You see/’ he continued, with a vicious, axe-like stroke that grinning sardonically, “the entire pop- smashed into Simar’s jaw with sicken- ulation of Lunas is to be transported ing force. into the future by time machines. Once The ray tube slipped from his fingers there, we will have little difficulty in as he fell backward, his jaw hanging subjugating the entire Universe, and queerly. your precious Earth will be the first to Phillip kicked the weapon across the feel the weight of our attacks. Lunas platform and it dropped to the ground has waited long and patiently for its twenty feet below. He dodged the rush moment of supreme glory and it shall of one of the Lunasian creatures and not be denied. I am going to kill you sprang to the force-shield’s control now, Phillip Evans. The girl I intend panel. to keep alive, at least as long as she His arm rose and fell three times and amuses me. When I tire of her charms the delicately wired, glass-encased panel I shall pass her on to one of the delight- smashed into a mass of tangled wreck- ful creatures you have seen here on age under the bludgeoning blows of his Lunas.” fists. He laughed openly as Phillip took an involuntary step toward him, his CIMAR scrambled to his feet and his face blazing with rage. face was wild with terror. Phillip “You don’t like that thought, do turned from the wreckage of the con- you?” he said jeeringly. “And you trol panel and laughed at him, bitterly, don’t like the thought of an attack mockingly. launched against an unsuspecting Earth “Where are your mad dreams now?” that will cripple her beyond the threat he said harshly. of any possible retaliation. But don’t He glanced up at the angry red sky worry too much about that. You won’t that seemed to be seething with wild be present to witness the destruction of violence as the meteor storm drew closer your beloved Earth.” and closer to the doomed city of Lunas. Phillip was tensed for the searing “There’s your end, Simar,” he bolt from the ray tube, but from the snapped. “The force field is shattered corner of his eye he saw Captain Mal- beyond repair and in a few minutes colm moving slowly, steadily tow-ard there’ll be nothing left of this area but Simar. And in the captain’s eyes was a a mass of molten ruins.” nickering gleam of awakened aware- Simar stared at the crimson sky and ness. his features worked fearfully. The “For Earth I” he said softly. heat from the approaching meteor A.nd as Simar wheeled toward the storm was intense now and the very air sound of the unmqoected voice, Captain seemed charged with the ominous feel Malcolm threw himself in front of the of impending destruction. ray tube—and died instantly as a sear- The creatures of Lunas had scram- ing livid bolt burned a clean hole bled from the base of the machine and through his forehead. were scurrying down the slope to their But Siinar’s snifi of attention gave great city, driven by some desperate Phillip a million-lo-Gne chance. And necessity to find safety in familiar sur- he tnok it. roundings. — AMAZING STORIES The two men—Phillip and Simar something crashed into the side of his were left alone on the observation plat- head with stunning force. He fell to form of the ruined machine. his knees, blinded by the blow. Phillip .'^miling ” was grimly as he “You fool ! Siraar’s harsh voice grat- walked toward the fear-crazed Simar. ed in his ears. “We’ll be dead in a few minutes,” he said, “but I want the pleasure of wring- jpHILLIP tried to rise, but Simar’s ing your neck before I go out.” foot crashed into his face, sprawl- Simar backed away from him, his lips ing him to the floor. He heard dim- foam-flecked with terror. Suddenly he ly the sound of Simar’s retreating foot wheeled and daslied for the steps that steps, but before he could crawl to his led to the ground. Phillip leaped after feet the sound had died away and he him, but he was too late. Simar reached w^as alone in a wide corridor that the steps first, plunged down them three stretched endlessly ahead. at a time and started the slope toward He started down the corridor at a the city at a wild, terror-driven run. half-trot, disregarding the hammering He was a hundred yards away before pain ih his skull. His heart was pound- Phillip realized the reason behind his ing frantically. He had to find Nada mad flight. and he had to stop Simar from leaving The time machine! with the time machine—and in a matter Sinmr -would know where the ma- of seconds a million tons of molten chine was and he was heading for it, death would strike the city of Lunas, .striving desperately to save himself burying it forever. from the death that was hurtling at the He staggered on desperately, half- city from the skies. sobbing and half-blinded with pain, un- Phillip dropped to the ground and til he could go no further; his knees started after him. Simar had a long buckled and he fell forward on his face. lead but Phillip forced himself until his He lay there for a moment and the lungs were at the bursting point, and rest was like paradise. A delicious gradually he cut the distance between weariness flooded him and the darkness them, until, when they reached the city, in front of his eyes grew deeper and he was but fifty yards behind him. blacker. The frantic creatures of Lunas paid He made no move to rise. His mus- not the slightest attention to the run- cles were like tangled, twisted rope. He ning men. They had collected in the had tried. He had done everything pos- streets of the city and -were staring at sible. There was no longer any use the sullen red sky with a hopeless fighting. He couldn’t even move. apathy. They awaited their death with A high-pitched scream of terror a queer blend of terror and fatalism. sounded faintly in his ears, and it cut When Simar reached the great pal- through the fog of wearine.ss like a ace building he rushed through the gate clean, sharp knife. and by the time Phillip reached the With a strength he didn’t know be mammoth throne room he had disap- possessed he climbed to his feet and peared. staggered in the direction of that sound. But there was only one other exit It had been close and as he stumbled from the room and Phillip headed for it forward he listened for a repetition of without breaking his stride. the sound. But no other sound broke the He charged through the door, and stillness. PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA 127 He charged on like a drunken man “The comets have struck the moon’s and if he hadn’t lost his balance and atmosphere,” he said. “We have about reeled against the wall, he would have five seconds.” passed by a door that fitted perfectly Darkness, unreal and ghostly sud- into the wall and that swung open as his denly dropped over the room. A vast weight pressed against it. suction plucked at them and a new noise He twisted to keep from falling and smashed against their eardrums. plunged into a small room, outfitted as “Hurry, hurry,” Nada cried, and her a laboratory. voice held a prayer. '‘Phillipl” A roaring, crashing crescendo of noise The voice was to his side. He swung broke about them and they felt the about and saw Nada struggling in floor beneath their feet tremble sud- Simar’s arms. One of Simar’s hands denly as if a giant’s fist had smashed grasped the handhold of the gleaming against it. A great fissure broke in the time machine and with the other he was wall and a section of the heavy ceiling attempting to force Nada’s fingers fell dangerously close to them, crum- about one of the three remaining hand- bling the floor beneath its weight. holds. And at that instant, as the heavy ” “Damn you I Simar shouted harshly, walls began to crumble, they felt the as he saw Phillip’s staggering figure. He suddent powerful suction lifting them grabbed a heavy metal bar from the upward, and then the darkness closed table and sprang toward him, but Nada about them, as the mighty palace of the twdsted and stuck her foot in his path. Lunasians dissolved in a fiery hail of He stumbled and fell, his face disfig- thousand ton meteors, ured with insane rage. And before his wildly twisting body CHAPTER IX could strike the floor Phillip stepped in and slugged him with every ounce of pHILLIP regained consciousness his weight and strength behind the slowly. He glanced to one side and blow. saw Nada lying beside him and when Simar fell, and when he struck the he climbed to one knee he recognized floor he didn’t move. the surroundings as the laboratory of Phillip stepped over his body and the Astra. grabbed the handhold of the time ma- A deep feeling of relief swept over chine. him. Simar was dead, the Lunasian city “Hang on, honey,” he said. had been destroyed and he and Nada were safe. J^E threw the switch and instantly But there still remained a big job the orange cone of light appeared, to be done. bathing the gleaming machine with its He revived Nada and when she brilliance. looked around her eyes were suddenly There was a loud, roaring noise above wet. “I can’t believe we’re safe,” she them that grew steadily in volume. The whispered. heat was intolerable in the small room. He helped her to her feet and held “How much time do we have?” Nada her close to him. asked. “We’re safe, but there’s still work Phillip started to speak but a scream- to be done,” he said. “Before we leave ing, whistling roar drowned his words. Luna I intend to bla.^t the valley of 12S AMAZING STORIES the Liinasian city to dust. That should jpHILLIP changed into clean clothes release the disembodied life forces that and it was fifteen minutes later are clinging to the area like some hate- when he stepped out of the ship. A ful miasma. I won’t feel really safe un- dozen of the crew were setting up the til that’s done. As long as there re- explosive sprayers which were capable mains the possibility of the life forces of drenching a twenty-five mile area in taking possession of human bodies I a matter of minutes. would never rest easy. I’m going to The liquid explosive was pumped un- give the orders immediately.” der compression and the huge nozzles He pressed a button on the lab bench of the sprayer pointed upw'ard at about that sent a signal through the ship for the angle of an artillery mortar. Eric Marmon, the third in charge, to Marmon was in charge. Phillip report to the laboratory. glanced at the gauges on the three huge Marmon arrived a few minutes later tanks of explosives and then checked and he looked surprised to see them. the angle of the nozzles and the auto- He was a small wiry man, with piercing matic regulator devices. Everything blue eyes and dark hair. was in perfect order, but the rest of the “Where have you been?” he asked, crew was not in evidence. “We thought you and the captain were He glanced at Marmon. out on a private scouting party.” “Where are the rest of the men? I “Nothing like that,” Phillip said. He told you to put the entire crew to work didn’t intend to tell anyone his story on this.” until the valley had been blasted and Marmon had been staring at the they were safely away from Luna. “I ground with a faint smile on his lips want you to order every available man and when he looked up Phillip felt a to assist you in preparing the valley for chill of horror as he saw the man’s immediate blasting. Spray liquid ex- glazed, sullen eyes. plosive over the entire area and we’ll He shot a quick glance at the man detonate it when we take off. Under- standing behind Marmon and he saw stand, I don’t want an}'- man to go into the same glazed expression, the same the valley for any reason. Is that vacant stare that Captain Malcolm had clear?” worn, “Why, yes,” Marmon said, “but it These men -were possessed by the life sounds rather odd. Where is Captain jorees that emanated from the valley Malcolm?” oj the Lunasian city! Phillip thought of the captain’s last, Marmon was still smiling at him with action and he said slowly, “I don’t cold, glazed eyes. really know, but I am sure he’d be sat- “Don’t you know me?” he said softly. islied with what we’re doing. Will you “You left me lying for dead on the get on it right away, ^larmon?” floor of the Aganda’s palace in Lunas Marmon nodded agreement and left just a short while ago.” the room. Simar! “I’m going to change,” Phillip said Phillip drew a sharj) breath. to Nada, “then I’ll be outside keeping Yes, there was no doubt of it. Some- an eye on the job. Would you like to how Simar had bridged the gap in time! watch the w^ork?” His life force had lived in the buried “I’d love to,” Nada said. “I’ll join ruins of Lunas and was now in pos- you outside in a few minutes.” session of Marmon. " PHANTOM CITY OF LUNA 129 “You asked about the crew,” the man get them out.” he had known as Marmon said softly. Phillip patted her on the shoulder. “They are aboard the Astra, chained “It was the only thing to do,” he in the brig. You are going back to the said. Astra and seal the hatchways, Mr. He glanced out the steel-enforced Evans. Are you curious about what is window and he saw that the second blast going to happen to you? I won’t keep had swung the explosive sprayers about you in suspense. We are going to turn and that great streams of liquid were the explosive spray on the Astra and spraying over the valley. A pool of the blow it and everyone aboard clear to tremendously explosive liquid had al- hell. Now, start back for the Astral’* ready collected in the basin of the val- A ray gun appeared in Marmon’s ley and Phillip knew that soon the en- hand and he gestured viciously toward tire depression would be completely the ship. Phillip backed slowly away innundated. from the group of men and he saw that He stepped to the control panel and they were swinging the nozzles of the discharged the rear rockets. As the explosive spray to bear on the Astra. Astra began to tremble under the swift- His mind was racing furiously, but he ly building power, he moved to the could think of nothing that might save breech of the atomic cannon and fired the situation. He stepped aboard the a blast directly into the collecting pool Astra and he saw Marmon raise his of high explosives in the basin of the hand and shout an order to the men at valley. the explosive spray. The Astra blasted off with a whistling But before they could move one of roar of power, streaking void-ward with the mighty atomic cannons in the nose its rockets leaving trailing pin-points of the Astra swung swiftly about in its of light gleaming in the thin atmosphere turret; an orange blast billowed from its of Luna. muzzle and the man that had been And below the valley of the Lunasian Marmon was blown into nothingness city exploded with a tremendous, cata- by the tremendous charge. The can- clysmic roar that heaved the relics of non swung again, another blast ripped the eon-old city miles into the air; and from its muzzle and the group at the the undead life forces of the ancient, explosive sprayer disappeared into frag- evil city died then—a hundred thousand ments. years after their appointed time. Phillip and Nada watched the ex- pHILLIP slammed the hatch door and plosion in the rear visi-screen. ran down the corridor to the firing When the terrific velocity of the tower of the ship. He found Nada be- Astra carried them beyond the range hind one of the huge atomic cannons. of Luna, Phillip glanced down at the Her head was buried in her arms and girl in his arms and smiled. Nada she was sobbing. started to speak but suddenly she found “I had to do it,” she moaned. “I her lips occupied with other matters. found the crew in the brig but I couldn’t The End GIVE YOUR MONEY ^^LEBENSRAUM USE IT TO BUY WAR BONDS PRESERVE YOUR OWN LIVING SPACE MASTER OF THE LIVING DEAD By ED EARL REPP Steve thought the advertisement was a joke. But he changed his mind when MexI Blair lost face—literally! lAKE a look at the story Tve that a young reporter could afford such I got marked out on page one, luxuries for the girl who wcis going to I beautiful!” Steve Mallory be his wife. Yet both knew that as spread a newspaper out on the lunch private secretary to H. A. McCafferty, room table in front of Merl Blair. she earned almost twice as much as “That daJksified ad I told you about he did as a twenty-five-dollar-a-week sometime ago has broken into the news newshawk. columns.” Merl Blair, brunette, blue-eyed and Like many New Yorkers who sought trim in her neat tweed business suit, escape from the mad, banging clatter picked up the newspaper to glance in- of Times Square, the young couple had tently over the two-column box in the come to Danny’s Restaurant for lunch lower right hand corner. A little frown and a quiet hour together. Here the furrowed her forehead as she read the shrilling of police whistles, the clamor words within the square. of traffic, the snarling whine of sirens “The ad is still running, is it?” she and a thousand-odd other instruments said without looking up. “I thought it grinding out a symphony of noise were was a joke or a patent medicine adver- muted by the efficient sound-proofing of tisement with a new angle.” the popular eating place. It was said “That’s what we figured at first,” in praise that in a rear booth you didn’t Steve said, breaking open a French have to yell through a megaphone to roll, “but police headquarters is get- be heard across the table. ting interested. It smacks of skull- Steve and Merl frequently went duggery.” there when he could get away from Merl’s eyes, accustomed to reading the paper long enough and she could insurance policies rapidly, swept with leave Acme Insurance for a time in growing interest over the article. At the hands of the company president. the top of the box was a reprint of the Of course you had to pay dearly for mysterious advertisement that had been such privacy and quiet. But being running in all the metropolitan dailies young and in love they liked to pretend for almost a year. It read: — 132 AMAZING STORIES NEW BODIES FOB OLD! “Dauntless even in the face of these Are you young in spirit and desires, instructions, police investigators have but old in body ? Does a seventy-year- followed them to the letter. Each time, old face deny you the companionship of young people ? If so, you are being within fifteen seconds of their giving the cheated of the things science and skill phone number to ‘Mr. Jones’ in this can give you. A new process has en- abled a select number of men and roundabout way, they have had a call women to become fifty years younger. from him. If you would like to exchange the ugli- ness of old age for the beauty and “The prospect is asked his name, his vitality of youth without plastic sur- — address, his telephone number. He is gery:;—write Box 34, this newspaper, for particulars. then warned to leave the house imme- diately, before police, who will also Merl looked up with a musical laugh. have picked up his telephone number “It makes the Fountain of Youth sound on the short wave can have time to like a fish pond, doesn’t it?” she com- trace the number and pick him up. mented. “However, the mysterious Mr. Jones “You haven’t read anything yet, has never called any of the police in- Sugar,” Steve grinned. “Read it all vestigators. Apparently he does some carefully. I wrote it.” investigating of his own. Whatever the Again her eyes dropped^ to the paper answer, police admit that they are no and she read the artide beneaA the ad nearer the solution than they were slowly and half aloud to grasp its full before they tackled the problem. For import. the time being it remains one of Man- “For the past two years the larger hattan’s strangest puzzles.” New York papers have carried this advertisement. And now, on the heels jVyTERL’S lips broke suddenly into an of several unexplained disappearances, amused smile. “What some the police are endeavoring to find out people won’t do for a joke!” she if there is any connection between the laughed. missing persons and the advertisement. Steve took a bite of the roll. “I “All replies to ‘Box 34’ are answered don’t know a^ut that joke business,” by a pamphlet left in care of the news- he mused. “There’s hundreds of people papers. The pamphlet is still more with money who would give plenty to incredible. It warns prospective have a beautiful face. And there are customers to be prepared to spend large plenty of others who need a change amounts of money, and to furnish of face just as bad, only they don’t references. If the beauty seekers are seem to know it.” still not frightened away, they are in- “Meaning me, I suppose?” Merl said structed to do the following strange crisply. She laid her fork down and things: Insert a classified ad stating reached for her hat, her lips set in a the exact hour that they will be ready tight line. for a call from ‘Mr. Jones’. Rent a “Hey, not so fast!” Steve stopped house for a month and have installed her. “I make a harmless remark and therein a shdrt wave transmitter. Have you turn it into an insult. Still, I ought a telephone iristaUed. At the hour they to know by now that everything I say is liave stated they will be ready for the eventually used against me. What I advertiser’s call, sent out on a certain meant was people like old Hatchet Face wave-length the number of their tele- that runs your apartment house.” phone. The girl laid her hat down again. — MASTER OF THE LIVING DEAD 133 “Well, that’s better,” she said severely. suit, moved from window to window, “Besides, I may look terrible right now, apparently aimlessly; then, suddenly, but you’ll have to admit by tonight that she would disappear into a door and I’ve been gloriously transformed. I got reappear with a new bundle. the whole afternoon off just to get my- It was just after she decided to cut self made over for our Saturday night her shopping tour short that she no- splurge.” ticed the man watching her. As she Steve looked interested. “Going to shot a swift glance at him, she realized wear that blue dress I like?’” she had seen him behind her for some Merl shook her head. She placed time. She was puzzled when he smiled her elbows on the table, cupped her and tipped his hat. chin in her hands and said radiantly, She frowned as her mind groped for “I*m going to be rejuvenated from head remembrance of him. He was a^ut six to foot. New dress, new shoes, new feet tall, with wide, bony shoulders and everything. Then I’m going to the thin hips. His skin had a piT\k-, well- beauty parlor for the rest of the day. massaged look. He wore a well-fitting ril be wearing a white flower in my dark suit and a derby. At fir^t glance buttonhole so you’ll know me.” he looked like any prosperous stock-, And so, in the dozens of little things broker, but something in his face gave that required telling about her new the lie to his prosaic appearance. His outfit, the subject of the strange ad- eyes were a frigid luminous green, his vertisement was lost. But back in brows black and heavy. A broad, flat Steve’s mind there still lurked a suspi- nose overhung a mouth which, in spite cion that w Then she stopped. She raised her hand pressed the button a third time. He and passed it across her brow. She felt waited, then knocked loudly and called, a strange lassitude seeping through her “Merl! Are you in there?” body. Suddenly she wanted to relax There was no answer. Cold fear and just wander along lazily not think- gripped at Steve’s vitals. An unnamed ing, not struggling. She felt as though dread lay hold of his senses and para- she would rather someone else did her lyzed him for a moment. Then he shook thinking for her. This man, for in- off the feeling and pounded louder. stance. This time he got a reply. The man seemed agreeable to the Down the hall a klaxon-like voice idea too, for his disdainful lips parted rang out, “ITl trouble yez to keep yer momentarily to breathe, “My car is at shoutin’ an’ hallooin’ fer the streets, Mr. the curb. Won’t you let me take you Mallory! If the young lady ain’t in. home?” w’hy don’t yez stay at home fer a Merl nodded. Unresisting, she al- change?” Mrs. Sewell, buxom and red- lowed herself to be helped into the haired, stood with her arms crossed be- coupe and driven off. The sedan headed fore her door and nodded viciously to swiftly down Broadway, until it was emphasize her managerial authority. swallowed up in the hundreds of other Steve swung around and strode hur- automobiles which surged back and riedly towards the woman. “Did she forth down the thoroughfare. One of leave any word for me?” he asked, ig- her bundles still lay on the sidewalk, noring her tirade. where she had dropped it. “Nary a word,” the manager told him. “Now, why don’t yez run along .” CHAPTER il an’ . . “But I had a date at eight o’clock The Living Dead with her.” Steve frowned. “It’s not like her to leave me waiting this way. Do ' I ^HERE was something empty, some- you have an extra key?” thing far-off about the sound of the Mrs. Sewell sighed resignedly. “Very doorbell as Steve pressed it that night. well,” she gave in. “Here’s the key, an’ It didn’t sound the way a doorbell bring it back when you’re convinced she should, somehow. But maybe it was ain’t there.” the fact that there was no noisy little Steve hurried back and let himself in. tattoo of high heels as soon as its sum- He stood in the doorway for a moment mons ceased. looking, tight-lipped, about the apart- Mallory leaned against the wall by ment. There was no sign of Merl’s hav- the door and grinned vacantly at the ing been home since he talked to her. cellophane florist’s-box he held between No bundles, no strings on the floor from his flattened palms. Inside it, resplend- packages hastily opened. He went ent beneath its gleaming cover, lay a through the three rooms hurriedly and single white orchid. finally stood in the middle of the room After a moment he shoved his thumb and bit his lip thoughtfully. against the button once more. Again Cold fear was creeping up his spine. the far-off ring of the bell. And still no Why hadn’t she been home? Saturday answering heels or cry of, “Hold your night was their big night, when they horses, mister! I’ll be right there.” took in dinner and then a show, or per- Frowning a little. Steve Mallory haps a dance. She lived alone, so there ” MASTER OF THE LIVING DEAD 135 was no one to give him any clues as to “Gone!” Noble asked incredulously. where she might have stayed. But eight Then a grin softened the sudden harsh o’d^ckl She should have been home lines of his face. “I get it. Two-timing by six. you for some other guy, eh?” He thought of everything that might “Oh, God, I only wish she were!” the have happened to her. Accidents. Sud- boy groaned. Hurriedly he went on to den sitlcness. Amnesia. With a mut- blurt out the whole story. He concluded tered curse he shook off the fears and frantically, “Where can she be, Tom? strode to the telephone. He knew a She wouldn’t stand me up like this on few of the girl’.s friends, and he sat purpose.” down to call them. Noble tapped thoughtfully on the It was half an hour before he gave desk top with a pencil point. “I don’t up. At the end of that time he knew know,” he replied quietly. “You’ve not a thing more than he had. With a called the police?” sudden wave of realization he knew that “Everybody. All her friends, her Merl was gone—that his fears had not boss—everybody I know who^d have been groundless, or he would have lo- any ideas.” On a sudden thought he cated her somewhere. Frantically he stiffened. “Tom! You don’t suppose dialed police headquarters and told —that ad—the one about new bodies, them the facts, gave a detailed descrip- pretty faces for old ones— tion of the girl. Steve Mallory was Noble laughed softly. “Oh, now, well-known at headquarters, and well- don’t get so excited, my boy,” he ad- liked. He received the desk sergeant’s vised kindly. “That ad is nothing but promise to do all that could possibly a joke, in my opinion. Or else it’s a be done for Mm. trick of some crooks for communicating White-faced and a little shaken, he important information. That would be locked the apartment again and took a an absolutely fool-proof system.” taxi to the Herald office. Tom Noble, “But maybe it’s not a joke! Maybe city editor cm the paper, was the best —maybe white slaves, or—God knows friend Steve had, despite the discrep- what.” ancy ih their ages and the fact that No- Noble shoved back from the desk and ble was his boss. He sought him in- pulled out a bottom drawer. “Steve,” stinctively now, knowing Noble’s he said sternly, “I’ve got what you need shrewd mind would ferret out the es- right here. I save it for occasions like sential facts needed to find the girl. this. You’re going to put about four fingers down and then you’re going to ^JOBLE w^as still at his desk in the relax and sit right here until we get a city room, his stout body tipped call from headquarters saying they back in the chair, coat open, vest un- found her asleep M some theater, where done. A puzzled smile came over his she went after shopping. White slaves face when he saw the boy back again. ! Why with an imagination like He scratched his head through thin- that, you’ll be doing a syndicated col- ” ning white hair. “What brings you umn in no time 1 here, Steve? Thought this was your night with Merl?” pOR an hour after the man had ac- “’^om! She’s gone!” Steve blurted, costed her on the street, Merl was staijdrng over his desk and staring down in a fog of strange lassitude and mental intensely. sleepiness. When at last she came out 136 AMAZING STORIES of it, she thought, for one shocked in- A small battery of black machinery stant, that she was still in a nightmare. ringed about the tanks accounted for Huddled in a chair, she sent an incredu- this motion, apparently. But it was the lous glance about her, trying to piece contents of the glass globes on shelves the crazy-quilt facts she remembered that lined the semi-circular wall of the into a complete story. alcove that made Merl shudder. She was in a corner of a big, white- Straight across from her she thought walled room. At the corner to her right she made out human heads within the the room jutted out into a large, cir- fishbowl-like containers! They were cular alcove which seemed to be a sup- old and wrinkled, with scraggly hair ply room. At her left, diametrically drifting before the faces like undersea across from the supply room, was an- growths surging to and fro. The eyes other alcove full of strange apparatus were wide open, and Merl decided they and webbed with glass tubes. Straight must be lidless. Then to her horror ahead of her, in fact taking the whole she saw one of the heads blink its eyes room in one glance, she saw that it was exactly like a live head would! The completely bare. But in the very cen- eyes glanced about, stopped on the girl’s ter of the place there was a large, rec- shuddering form, then moved on rest- tangular, glassed-over section beneath les.sly. which she could see machinery and two “Good Heavens!” she gasped, her operating tables. There were steps hand flying to her throat. leading down to this, though they were In other bowls she saw human hands cut off now by the glass shield over the drifting slightly in the liquid that filled sub-floor room. them. She saw one bowl entirely filled The girl saw no one, nor heard any- with little white globes that could be one, so after a moment she stood up only one thing—^human eyes! There and moved down towards the alcove to was a foot in another container, a fore- the left. As she drew closer to it, she arm in still another. Suddenly the girl felt a cold wave of revulsion sweep her. went cold. Her stomach seemed to drop At first, not seeing anything to base her and her legs felt weak. But before her sensation of disgust upon, she thought shocked senses could recoil completely it was simply fear. Then, as she stood before the gruesome sight, and leave her in the very entrance to the place—she lying senseless on the floor, a voice understood. brought her whirling about. In the center of the room was a large “A very interesting display, don’t you glass apparatus consisting of two great think?” the man said tauntingly. “T cylinders side by side, with a maze of can assure you that you will not find hundreds of thread-like glass tubes anything like it anywhere else in the leading from them. One of the tanks world.” was filled with a clear liquid; the other Marl’s widened, terror-filled eyes was a dark red. Some of the tubes flashed over the form of the man who leading from them appeared to be empty had abducted her. But now he was because of the transparency of the liq- dressed in a surgeon’s smock, and was uid they carried. Others were dark, wearing rubber gloves. Behind him like the tank on the right. The level stood a huge, black-thatched man in a of the liquids changed constantly, surg- similar outfit. ing up and down, up and down, regu- “What do you mean by bringing me larly. here?” she flared suddenly, anger wash- MASTER OF THE LIVING DEAD 137 ing the fear from her heart. “If you’ve for what was termed ‘dangerous and kidnaped me, I can promise you you distasteful experimentation on human won’t get a cent. I have no relatives, bodies.’ To prove how utterly wrong and no one with any money to pay you.” they were, I have gone on with my work “My dear young woman, you wrong and perfected a method for making old me. I am no kidnaper. I am what you men and women as beautiful as the might call a—substitutional plastic sur- young.” geon.” The man wrung his hands “Then you are the man who runs that briskly. adl” Merl accused. Something in his tones brought the “Exactly. And to show you how cold terror back into Merl’s heart again. much I mean it, let me show you some- She licked her lips and tried to speak, thing.” He took the girl’s arm and led but this time the words would not come. her to the center of the room, to the “Now, you needn’t 'be frightened, very edge of the glassed-in cubicle be- young woman,” the man said severely. low. Merl flinched at his touch, but she “If you have any ideas that I might be knew how useless resistance would be. wanting to add you to my collection, Her whole being shuddered at the here, don’t worry yourself about that. thought of looking down there, but she Nor am I trying to get money from you. finally brought her gaze down through Quite the contrary—I intend to make the glass into the operating room below. you one of the wealthiest women in A little cry escaped her. Her shocked New Yorkl” gaze took in the form of an old woman lying on one of two operating tables, lYyERL BLAIR clenched her small covered from foot to neck with a sheet. fists and faced him, white-lipped, Her face was wrinkled and seamed, yel- determined to find out what she was lowed with age and drawn. The lips faced with. “Will you please tell me drew in about the mouth over toothless what you want with me?” she de- gums. Her eyes were closed in sleep. manded. “Who are you? And what “The lady is Mrs. Van Gogh,” Stur- do you mean by that—making me one vison said. “One of the wealthiest pa- of the richest women in New York?” tients I have attended yet. She grew She looked very small, very fright- so homely and old that she finally de- ened, and yet very pretty as she stood cided to submit to my treatment. The before the two men and waited for a face she selected was to be oval shaped, reply. The abductor noticed it, for he blue eyed, brown haired, smooth of com- turned to his helper and smiled, “I think plexion. Type number 13, to be spe- ” Mrs. Van Gogh will be very pleased cific. In other words—your own type I with her, don’t you, Krishner? Exactly The girl fell back in terror as the the type she ordered.” whole, ghastly idea penetrated her Krishner, the lumpy man who stood frozen consciousness. She felt the big, behind him, nodded and muttered some- hard hands of Krishner close on her thing unintelligible. shoulders, pinning her helplessly Now the other man turned to the girl against him. rather briskly, “But it is cruel to keep Sturvison come closer to her, his cold you in the dark like this. First—let me green eyes glaring at her with fanatical introduce myself. I am Dr. Eric Stur- intensity. “I think you understand vison. You may remember I was re- now,” he said tightly. “Your own head lieved of my license some five years ago is to be removed from your lovely shoul- • 138 AMAZING STORIES ders and placed on the shrivelled, their entrance. Sturvison went down stooped—but wealthy—body of the the steps. hag down in the operating chamber! Again there was a slight stab in the No, I am not mad,” he said, as her eyes girl’s arm. She cried out, tried to slide told him the thoughts in her mind. “Un- from Krishner’s grip. And then the less you call it mad to prefer making deadly lassitude came down over her a hundred thousand dollars for an oper- and held her powerless. The giant ation such as this to giving my discov- helper picked her up in his arms, car- ery to the scientific world—the scien- ried her down the steps, and laid her on tific world that turned me out in the the operating table. cold. In the two years I have been working here, I have amassed a little CHAPTER III fortune of one and one-half million dol- from the lars.” Voice Grave Terror held Merl rigid as he went on Merl the next five minutes were quickly. He was talking now with a pOR a ghastly nightmare. It was like one boastful tone in his voice, taking this of those dreams in which one knows he opportunity to flaunt his discoveries be- is sleeping, and yet cannot awake. But fore a helpless victim. not for a second did she lose conscious- “You will notice the odd arrangement ness. Sturvison hovered over her of the two operating tables,” he said. threateningly, his harsh voice crackling “They are placed head to head for con- in her ears like an electric arc. venience. Between them you see a flat, “I have one of my less successful fel- enameled wheel, placed so that it cuts off low-scientists to thank for the success I the right corner of one table and the myself have had,” he told her, almost corresponding corner of the other. boastfully. “Were it not for the discov- Your head will lie on one part of the ery of Dr. Schwartz of the Carnegie In- wheel, and Mrs. Van Gogh’s on the stitution that the brains of earthworms other, diametrically opposite. At the lose their memories in the process of proper time, I press a switch, and the transplantation, I might never have con- wheel makes one-half revolution— ceived the idea of transplanting human faster than the eye can see. When the heads from one body to the other.* But wheel stops, Mrs. Van Gogh will have that interesting fact reassured me about the head of a beautiful girl—while you, something. No human being upon my dear, will be possessed of the tooth- whom I operated could ever remember less head of a hag! But you will not anything about the operation! Thus be forced to meet the world with such a I am always perfectly protected. When face. You will be placed in my ‘body your head is on Mrs. Van Gogh’s shoul- bank,’ where I retain such bodies as ders, your brain will have no recollec- yours for future use. Suspended ani- tion of anything prior to the operation. mation preserves beautiful bodies for I will inform her of all the facts she me until the time when I am able to needs to know regarding her past life. perform other operations than this one.” Within two weeks she will be ready He spoke sharply to Krishner. “The to re-enter society. your body needle,” he clipped. Without waiting And own will be for a response, he turned and pressed saved by suspended animation a switch on the floor. The glass shield * Free, E. E., “New Bodies for Old,” American slid back and left the cubicle free to Weekly. April 10, 1038. MASTER OF THE LIVING DEAD J39 for future use—in my ‘body bank’.” place, your blood is pumping through Sturvision smiled bleakly and started her head, and hers through yours.” to lay out a few simple surgical instru- Now he turned swiftly and took two ments on the table beside him. But he odd-looking masks from the operating- did not remain silent for long. His sci- room closet a short distance away. entific being, starved for the com- Merl’s eyes watched him helplessly. panionship of men of his caliber, whose Terror had left her numb. She seemed society had been denied him because of to see and hear these things with an air his own experiments, was now preening of detachment, as though she were sep- itself in half-boastful, half-didatic ex- arated from her body. With the awful planations. implication of that thought, her mind “My w^ork here is not new,” he went rushed to the thing that was being done on slowly. “For years men have been to her. It w’as incredulous, impossible working towards the end I have to believe—that her own head was to achieved. Heynians managed to keep be put on the old woman’s body, and a dog’s head alive as much as twenty- the wealthy woman’s head on hers. She five years ago. Giersberg, of the Uni- shuddered as she thought of going versity of Breslau, transplanted the through life with a body already old, brains of tadpoles successfully. Pro- a body horrible to look at. Her mind fessor Hans Przibram, at the Univer- recoiled from thinking of the effect it sity of Vienna, has even managed to would have on Steve to see her like this. transplant the heads of certain grass- Then the lumbering assistant’s face hopper-like insects and restore the in- loomed over her, and brought her back sects to complete normalcy. to the things at hand. “But this was nothing compared to Krishner was wearing one of the the task that faced me if I were ever masks Sturvison had just procured. His to see my dreams realized. I had to blocky face looked unearthly behind the manage to transplant human heads in gleaming goggles and the gray rubber the space of time it takes a heart to mask. The mask puffed and relaxed, beat. Less than a second, in other puffed and relaxed, with his breathing. words. It must be done so fast that no A small tank was strapped to his chest blood can be lost. That is the purpose now. Before she could move, a set of the wheel upon which your head is of straps were thrown across her resting—beside that of this wealthy breasts, holding her tightly on the table. hag. But even the lightning action of Her arms and legs were then secured this machine will not suffice to maintain in the same manner. life if the arteries are severed. Hence—” Sturvison exhibited several ^TURVISON strode quickly across feet of transparent, flexible tubing to the small room to a switchboard near “ the girl. —artificial veins, you might the steps. He threw a knife switch in. call them. Before I separate your head Instantly the glass shield over the from your body, I transfer the flow of room slid closed. Then he returned blood from your veins and arteries to to the table and fixed a mask onto the corresponding ones of this woman, Merl’s face. The touch of the scien- by means of these tubes. After the tist’s cold, moist hands repelled her, operation, they shrink and dissolve, but she was utterly powerless to fight leaving the veins perfectly healed. So now. you see, even before the operation takes His voice came to her with a soft, 140 AMAZING STORIES muffled tone, deadened by layers of bulged as he prepared to swing his mask material. “A necessary precau- knife through the Van Gogh’s woman’s tion, though somewhat awkward for neck. Krishner and myself. Ordinary germi- The girl’s slim body tensed against cides are useless in such an operation as the straps that held her powerless. this. The entire room must be filled With one last effort she managed a with an antiseptic gas.” As he spoke, scream through her bloodless lips. But he reached beneath the operating tables the sound was weak, scarcely carrying and turned on a tank of compressed to the scientist. Then, as consciousness gas. In a matter of seconds the room fled from her, she saw Sturvison’s face was filled with swirling green layers of distort. He sn-'pped, ‘'Now!” poisonous gas. The last thing Merl was conscious Like undersea monsters, barely seen of was a shining arc swinging through in the gloom, Krishner and Sturvison the green fog. . . . moved about, adjusting the bodies of Merl and the old woman to exact spots q^wo endless days of anxiety had on the tables. The adjustments were made Steve Mallory a haggard, dis- checked and rechecked, for this was traught figure. The day after MerTs the most important part of the opera- disappearance he had spent in dashing tion, When the wheel spun, the heads here and there investigating every pos- must be in exactly the right position sible angle that might lead him to her, to fit onto their new bodies. but by now he realized the futility of Now the two surgeons—Sturvison running around without any plan in quick and sure, Krishner plodding and mind. acting as though he worked by mental Tom Noble was doing everything he order from the scientist—swung from could to pacify the boy. He published the head of each table a shining, heavy pictures of the missing girl by the knife that pivoted on an axis close to dozen, and filled half of the first page each woman’s head. With a single, with news and descriptions relative to swift motion, the knives would do their the case. But by nine o’clock the sec- work, and as they flashed through the ond night after she had vanished, he slots beneath the subjects’ necks, a was becoming desperate himself. switch would be tripped which would With a feeble attempt at reassurance, revolve the wheel. A few pin-pricks he told him, now, “It must be amnesia, told Merl that the artificial veins were Steve. That’s all it can be. People being installed. don’t just vanish like that without any Meri’s lips parted as though she trace. If it was—murder, say, the body would cry out, but she made no sound. would have turned up by now. It’s my The gas in her own ma.sk was not pure bet that she’s wandering around some- air. Slowly and steadily insensibility where wondering where the devil she was seeping through her body. Her it.” eyelids felt heavy and her breath Steve shook his head wearily. “No, seemed to come more slowly with every it can’t be that, Tom. Merl was in drawn gasp. Over her body hung the perfect health. Amnesia doesn’t often ghastly, masked face of Dr. Sturvison, attack as healthy a girl as she was. faintly seen through the drifting swirls I—I don’t know what to think. I’m of green vapor. He clipped an order past thinking, I guess.” to Krishner, and the giant’s shoulders The white-haired editor leaned back MASTER OF THE LIVING DEAD 141 streets in his swivel chair and shoved his hands there people were crowding the in his pockets. The room they were in a search for amusement. And up anx- in was small and littered with scraps here in the Herald office misery and of paper, for they had left the city iety blotted out all thoughts of pleasure room and sought one of the smaller, and happiness. private rooms where they could have Tom Noble’s voice came gently to the idea quiet. On the battered desk lay a copy him as he stood there. “Give of the evening paper, just off the press up, Steve, I’ve seen so many of these an hour before. Noble glanced at it. cases, though never so close to home, “At least we know one thing,” he vol- that I can almost call my shots before unteered. “That crazy ad doesn’t have the stories are broken. And I’d take anything to do with the case. Who- an oath on it that that half-baked classi- it than ever is running it mailed his money in fied has no more to do with for another month just this morning. an ad for Dr. Whoosit's Idttle Liver —^there’s nothing If it was he that had abducted Merl, Pills. And besides he’d probably let it slide for a while.” more you can do to break it than what Steve’s dark eyes fastened on the the police have tried. There’s simply paper with sudden interest, as though no place to start.” he he were seeing it for the first time. His Steve sighed. “Yeah, I know,” forehead, already cobwebbed with fine agreed. “We can’t do anything but sit lines from long hours of sleeplessness and wait. And keep on printing news and distraction, creased more deeply as that doesn’t mean anything. And all an idea took hold of him. His fingers the time we’re doing it Merl is some- ” shoved through his thick hair. Sudden- where suffering or boy ly he blurted, “My God, Tom! I’d Noble got up heavily as the forgotten about that thing. Why—why broke off. “Take it easy, Steve,” he line will couldn’t it be the answ^er? Probably advised. “Thinking along that he’d keep on using the ad just to throw just make things worse. All we can the off suspicion.” do is wait and be ready to act “What does he care about suspi- minute any news comes in. But in the cion?” Noble countered. “He’s got a meantime, I’ve got to get some sleep. fool-proof system that even the best You stay here, if you like. If anything investigators at headquarters haven’t happens, you’ll be right here to know been able to dent. We’ve even had a about it.” He went to the door and beside it. In couple of our own boys on it. If I’m took his hat off the hook behind him. any judge, Steve, it’s nothing more than a moment the door closed the a means of communicating some secret Hardly had Steve got settled in message from one par^y to another. A chair after Noble left, when the shrill code, more’n likely.” warning note of the telephone shattered “But two years!” Steve exclaimed. the stillne.ss. He jumped as his trigger- “It w'ouldn’t take two years to get the like nerves were jarred. So startled w^as message across. No, I’m convinced he that the phone rang a second time the receiver. there’s really something back of it. before he could pick up Something I don’t even like to think Frowning at the unexpected call, for about.” He got up and walked thought- calls were never taken in the ante-rooms there, fully to the window. His eyes took in unless the operator relayed them glumly the glittering night picture be- he picked up the desk set and said, low him that was New York. Down “Yeah?” 142 AMAZING STORIES I” “Steve a voice said excitedly. “Is the way to her. He held his breath, that you, Steve?” anxious to catch her words. Then, la a fl^-sh Steve Mallory was on the after a moment, a puzzled look came edge of the chair, gripping the receiver into his eyes. ^‘Merl! ” he said quickly. with a hand that trembled. The voice “Can’t you find it?” was that of Merl Blair! “Whom did you want, young man?” a different voice cut in. “There is no CHAPTER IV one by that name at this address. This is the Van Gogh residence.” The Beautiful Hag Mallory was stunned. The voice sounded like Meri’s, and yet it was dif- poR a long moment Steve couldn’t ferent. It sounded rather hu.sky, and speak. He seemed frozen rigid with more than a little imperious. “Merl— the unexpectedness of it. Tlien he what’s happened?” he cried. cried, “Merl! For Lord^s sake what’s “I have told you that no one by the happened? Where are you, and —why name of ‘Merl’ resides here,” the re- haven’t you let me know?” ceiver crackled. “Apparently you have The voice at the other end sounded the wrong number.” There was a sharp weak and uncertain. “I don’t know, click—^and the line was dead. Steve. I can’t remember anything, Disbelief held Steve in a cold grip most of the time, and then all of a for a moment. Then he rattled the re- sudden I remember being on an oper- ceiver up and dawn and shouted, “Oper- ating table, or being picked up on the ator! Trace that call. This is Steve street.” Mallory of the Evening Herald. I was “But where are you?” Mallory speaking to Merl Blair and was cut pleaded anxiously. off.” “I don’t know that, even. It looks The operator responded quickly. Al- like some sort of sanitarium, or some- though strict rules prohibited the trac- thing. But Steve, there’s something — ing of calls for anyone but a police with me! wroog Some horrible thing officer, the names of Steve Mallory and has happened to me!” Merl Blair were as good as a badge The strength seemed to flow out of number at this moment, for every man Steve-s body, then. All the fears he and woman in New York knew of the had entertained for the last two days girl’s disappearance. justified. seemed Before he could Soon her voice came back to him: sp^k, the girl went on dazedly, “The call was from Parkway 23S4, at “My face looks just the same in the Dr. Eric Sturvison’s Rest Home on mirror, but—but my body is like an old Long Island, near Bridgehampton.” woman’s! It’s wrinkled, and stooped, and pouchy Oh, Steve, you’ve got TT TOOK Steve Mallory just five min- ” to and get come me! utes to leave the office, find his car, Steve’s knuckles whitened on the get a patrolman from a street copner, receiver. “What number is written on and head for Long Island. The car your telephone?” he asked tensely. flashed through traffic dangerously, cut- There was a pause while the girl ting through holes scarcely large enough looked it up. The boy’s whole body for motorcycles, skidding around cor- trembling as he waited, for that ners, skipping stop signals. Patrolman number would Qiean that he ha(^ found Murphy sat on the edge of his seat, MASTER OF THE LIVING DEAD U;} his big hands gripping the upholstery, the moonless sky. Something in the his eyes bugging out at the narrow es- very homeliness of the lighted windows capes. of the gaunt, gray stone structure whis- When they had reached the compara- pered danger. Steve tooled the car tively open stretches of Long Island, swiftly up the long, winding drive he relaxed a little. But not for an through lines of rustling trees, the head- instant did Steve let up. His body was lights casting long fingers of light over tense and keyed-up, his face chiseled the rough ground. Against the black into sharp lines of determination. sky the gray building loomed blockily, Murphy got his breath long enough spires of an earlier architecture thrust- to ask a few questions. All he had ing up sharply. known when Steve picked him up was The gravel crunched loudly beneath that he was Steve Mallory of the Her- the tires as Mallory ground to a stop. ald, and that he was very much in the In a flash he had sprung out and was news right now, as the fiance of the rounding the car. For just a frac- missing girl. Now he queried him tion of a second he paused to glance up about his theory regarding the girl’s at the sanitarium before he had passed disappearance. out of the beam of the headlights. His Steve told him curtly what he feared. body stiffened at the shadow that came He saw a strange look come into Mur- and went on the curtain of an upstairs phy’s face as he asked, “You mean this window. The figure was the stooped, bird’s been—sort of swapping heads disheveled one of an aged woman. around?” In the next moment he had dashed Mallory nodded, said, “I’m not crazy, up the steps behind Murphy and was if that’s what you’re thinking. Sturvi- ringing the doorbell furiously. Present- son’s just the man to try something like ly there came the sound of shuffling this. Probably you’ve forgotten, but footfalls, and then a little window in the just five years ago the mescal board door was opened. A craggy, stupid face took away his license, for trying to do showed in the aperature. Murphy’s things that left rather a bad taste in flashlight stabbed through the square their ethical mouths. Besides that, he entrance, spilling a dazzling beam in the was mixed up with the disappearance man’s face. of a young man who never showed up “What you want?” the man asked again. Krishner, I think his name was. slowly. They suspected him of experimenting “We want in, brother—and quick!” on the boy, but nothing ever came of it.” Murphy growled. “GoshI” Murphy commented, star- The pale eyes showed fear as they ing at him. His first fear that the re- shifted from one man to the other, try- porter was crazy had been swallowed ing to make out their faces through up in another fear—the dread of the the dazzling light. Suddenly he raised unknown. The things Steve had hinted his hand to slam the window shut. at were sufficient to give him an icy But Murphy was ready for the move. chill in his stomach. The blue barrel of a Police Positive shoved through the window squarely in gTURVISON’S Rest Home was in the man’s face. “Now open up,” he an isolated district of low, rocky snapped, “before this thing goes off.” knolls and scattered clumps of trees, After a second there was the grating dipped in black shadows now beneath of a lock, and the door inched inward. ! 144 AMAZING STORIES Steve shoved thcough brusquely. His is she, you butcher?” he choked. “What eyes swept the interior of the p]^ce, not- have ypu done tp her?” ing IliQ andent oak paueKng, the high Be. Sturvison% green eyes shuttled ceiling, the antiquated furmture. But bac^ and forth from officer to reporter, above the ^oom somewhere there was trying to discern just how much they the blaming of powerful electric mo- knew. His face became pale, except tors, binfJng at things that were mod- where Steve’s knuckles had brought ern—and dangerous. a red bruise out on his cheek-bone. “Where is she?” Mallory asked Suchlenly he whirled at the sound of a tensely, seizing the man by the shirt step at his left.. From the little supply front. alcove across the laboratory stepped an “I show you,” the gigantic assistant old woman^but on her shoulders was replied after a pause, looking down at the head of a lovely young girl the reporter, whom he could have felled with a single blow. He turned and a flash, Steve Mallory had sprung shuffled off to a flight of stairs that led to her side, and was gripping her off to the right. hands. He recoiled as the cold, wrin- Side by side, Mallory and the officer kled flesh came in contact with his followed him. Not for a second did the palms. Merl stiffened and took a step revolver waver from its line on the backwards. “I don’t believe I know man’s back- At the top of the stairs you, Mr, ?” Her dark blue eyes they were led down a short haU to the searched his face. left. The giant stopped before a door “‘Merl!” Steve gasped. “What’s and knocked. happened to you? Don’t you remem- A man’s voice- came through the door ber me?” almost immediately. “Who was it, There was no trace of recognition in Krishner?” her faoe. Mallory growled, before the man Suddenly the boy turned and walked coifld ent^r, “Tell him it was somebody back to the trio standing by the door. that v^s lost.” ‘Kjive me the gun, Murphy,” he KrMjser echoed stupidly, “Some- breathed. “I’m going to blast this body was lost. Gone now.” butcher where he belongs. I’m going “Gqod.I” the man’s voice came back. to send him straight to hell, where he “I was—a little afraid, for a minute.” can begin paying for the things he’s The door swung open to reveal a large, done.” He was trembling and white, brna^-shcmldered man in a white sur- and his voice .shook. geon’s spiock. He was holding a small “If you weren’t so blind,” Sturvison metal disk m Ws hand, toying nervously said quietly, “you realize what with it. Abruptly, an oath slipped you will do by killing me.” Only the throu^ his lips as he saw the urnformed twitching of hi.s right eye (fenoted the figure of Murphy. “You damned fool, struggle for mastery that was taking ” Krishner)'^^ he gasped. “You said place within him. His words were cut off in his throat Mallory stopped with his hand ex- as Steve Mallory’s fist smashed into his tended for the revolver. A taut silence face. The big reporter came through built up between them. Krishner still the dopr close behind him as he fell to stood quietly watching the proceedings. the floor. He reached down and Murphy’s face was rock-hard and emo- scooped him up by the collar. “Where tionless. Sturvison eyed the young re- — MASTER OF THE LIVING DEAD 145 porter steadily. which was the sheet-draped body of a Again he spoke. “You would like to woman. Mallory’s heart struck one see your financ^e returned to normal, wild beat at the sight. The scientist wouldn’t you? Very well, it can be hurried into the operating chartiber and ” done. By me—and by no one else ! laid the body on one of the tables. He Steve blinked. His face, dark with pulled the sheet down to expose the fury, showed only bewilderment for a head of a hag! Steve was horrified moment. Then, like ice breaking up until he recalled that the old woman’s in a spring stream, the meaning of Stur- head was fixed to the torso of a young vison’s words came to him. New hope girl- sprang up in him with a surge that made Krishner, at Sturvison’s command, him tremble. By Sturvison’s own ad- moved away to bring the Van Gogh mission, the girl could have her own woman into the room. While he was lovely body restored to her! Scarcely occupied with this duty, the scientist able to control his emotion, he snapped, laid out masks, instruments, and other “Then do it, for Lord’s sake! And if paraphernalia. Steve was surprised to you're trying some kind of trick on us, see no antiseptics or any sign of cura- we’ll butcher you worse than any of tive agents. “Isn’t there an awful your patients ever were!” chance of infection?” he asked hur- Sturvison smiled bleakly as he riedly. “An operation like that must turned. “There is no need for threats,” take days to heal.” he told him, “However, not even Sturvison shook his head. “The threats will make me perform the oper- antisepsis I use is a gas,” he explained. ation without your promise on one “And as far as healing is concerned— thing. I must be released as soon as it takes place in a matter of minutes. the operation is finished!” The stupid plan of dressing a wound Steve hesitated for just a second. and letting nature take its course is Then he nodded, “All right. But what has made surgery such a dan- whether you get caught later or not gerous necessity, but I have found a doesn’t enter into it.” way around it. Using as a basis the “I’m not worrying about that,” the fact that radium has remarkable cura- scientist smiled. He turned and strode tive powers, I developed my own cura- across the floor towards the big, metal tive. Placed about the wound in the door across from them. He shot an form of tape, it hastens coagulation and order at Krishner, and the giant sham- the formation of serum. These two bled into the sub-floor operating room factors, of course, are the primary to prepare the instruments. considerations in healing. Thus, with While they waited, the two men the usual three days exudation of serum looked the place over incredulously. taking place in ten seconds, the rest The gruesome scene in the alcove filled of the process is finished very quickly.” with bowls and bell-jars made both of them a little shaky. Steve avoided A DISTURBING thought filtered looking at the girl who was wandering into Steve’s mind. Why wouldn’t aimlessly about. It was more than he Merl’s mind still be almost blank after could stand to see the ghastly thing that the operation? Could the mere trans- had been done. ferring of a head from one body to the Sturvison emerged from the small other cause the mind to be altered? Al- room in a moment, carrying a tray on most afraid of the answer he might 146 AMAZING STORIES receive, he asked tensely, “But how mence the work. will her mind ever become normal At last the thick glass shield was again? Isn’t she under some halluci- slipped into place. Immediately, the nation?” hissing of escaping gas came to the ears The scientist looked up from his of the watchers. Green billows of semi- lashing the bodies to the tables. He transparent vapor swept through the shot a glance at the lumbering form of small room, making the figures below Krishner. “You will have Krishner to indistinct, moving shapes. thank for her being entirely normal Murphy’s breathing became audible when operation is finished,” he re- to Steve, as it rasped through set teeth. sponded. “He is hardly the finished His own mouth was dry as cotton, his workman my work requires of as- eyes wide in fearful anticipation. Alone sistants. Kxishner, tg be quite frank, is in the big room, they crouched at the one of Qiy earlier failures. He is an edge of the pit and stared down at a excellent imitator, ordinarily, but on scene only the two men below them had this occasion he slipped. Unless the ever witnessed before. subject's brain is completely deadened Then, over the hissing of the gas, a at the time of the transfer, the mind sharp order reached their ears: "Now!^* remains unaltered. However, if the anaesthetic—radio-chloride, in this in- CHAPTER V stance — is imperfectly administered, the mind retains all its former mem- Back from Death ories. This is where Krishner failed. He administered a dilute solution of the CTEVE flinched, looked away in sud- anaesthetic. The girl was almost nor- den horror. He found he could not mal when she came out of it. The little watch what might result in a ghastly metal disk I was holding when you came surgical nightmare. The very thought in was part of my plan to remedy that of a knife slicing cruelly through Merl’s situation. Only hypnotism is effective neck caused him to shudder. after the operation. My attempts so Through the thick glass came the far have been only partially successful.” sound of a sharp click, as of a spring He broke off now and handed the being released. There was the brief assistant a mask. In silence they hum of a motor—and then silence. The donned them. Anaesthetics were ad- reporter and the cop stood in tense sil- mini^ered, the dosage given to the girl ence, waiting—for what? Life, and being a very slight one. Steve found sanity, for a young girl, who meant himself becoming more tense every more to Steve than life itself? Or a second, frightened by a hundred fears. horrible death, or still worse—the living Was Sturvison r«illy telling them the death of insanity? A few seconds’ wait truth? Or was this a plan of his to would tell them. trick them? Another consideration Soon the green fog began to thin. The galled him. The price of Merl’s safety cloud of vapor became a thinning veil was turning this unscruplous surgeon between watchers and operating tables. loose on the world again, to subject Then, as powerful fans drew the last other young girls to the same brutal of the antiseptic gas from the chamber, treatment. The boy’s heart and mind the scene was revealed 1 waged a bitter fight while he waited for A glad cry escaped Steve’s lips. Merl the men in the room below to com- Blair lay on the table exactly as though MASTER OF THE LIVING DEAD 147 she were sleeping, her face relaxed in him off his feet and jumped him on the sleep that was not the endless sleep she floor. The gun skittered off across the had so nearly escaped. Her face was cement. flushed with blood pumping through In a flash Sturvison had swept it up her cheeks, her lips parted to expose and swung it on the two men. “You white teeth. Beneath the coverings are very trusting,” he taunted. ^‘If you over her body, her breasts rose and fell thought I trusted you a? much as you regularly. The effects of artificially in- did me, you were mistaken. I knew duced suspended animation had worn I would have no chance of leaving here off completely. alone. Nor will you leave, to expose Only a thin red line on the girl’s me and end my work!” throat denoted the operation that had A wave of anger shook Mallory. He taken place. And even as they watched, took one step towards the scientist and Sturyison bound a wide strip of yellow clenched his fists in impotent rage. tape about it. “You won’t get far!” he raged. “They’ll On the other table lay the wrinkled trap you somehow. They can trace body of an old woman. Her face was that phone call and find you.” pouchy and toothless, the eyes closed. “But when they get here,” Sturvison The wealthy old crone had had the snarled, “there will be no bodies, nor beauty she sought for two days, and any other traces to convict me. After now, by a justice that had caught up the investigation, I will simply move with her, she was again the hag that somewhere ebe and continue my work.” long years had made her. His greenish eyes mocked the boy’s The scientist and his helper took off anger. the gas masks. Krishner slid the glass Murphy was muttering in self-con- shield back and went up the stairs. demnation and bitter regrets. “1 mighta Sturvison paused, before ascending, to known a half-baked scientist like you take some papers from a shelf in the would try somethin’ funny,” he ground wall. Then he came up from the oper- out savagely. “If I could get hold o’ ” ating room to the two men who waited. that gun for one second Murphy still stood looking in amaze- ment down at the girl. Steve looked '^HE big cop broke off angrily. But it white and shaky, too, as though he had was not entirely anger that caused come through a terrific ordeal. Stur- the torrent of words to dry up. For vison stood for a moment smiling at at that moment both he and Steve Mal- them, contemptuously. His right eye lory noticed something crawling up twitched nervously. from the operating room. Their eyes In the next moment, without any widened at the sight of the bloody, hulk- warning, he sprang forward. His left ing figure of Krishner. A mad light hand smashed into the side of Krish- gleamed in his eyes, and his hands ner’s head as he dived at Murphy. The clenched and unclenched. giant uttered a single, piercing shriek as Sturvison stopped short, looked at he toppled over the edge of the pit. the two men. His shrewd brain read Steve’s startled eyes caught a glimpse danger in their faces. Some warning of him as he struck the floor with a sound whirled him about. In a flash thud. he saw his position. “Krishner!” he An oath crowded the cop’s lips. He shouted. “Go back in the pit! Go fell back as the surprise rush carried back, or I’ll shoot you I” — 148 AMAZING STORIES The giant’s face twisted in sullen fury gers dug into the soft throat until they as he wiped a big paw across his bloody had all but disappeared in folds of mouth. He mumbled something unin- flesh. telligible, and came on. His Tong arms Suddenly the big hands relaxed. hung limply, but the blocky shoulders Krishner twisted about to look at the testified to their gorilla-like power. two men who stood stock-still watching “Go back!” the scientist warned the drama. After a moment he slid again. “One step more and I’ll kill to the floor. Sturvison’s body fell you!” across him, his neck broken. His own Krishner’s lips formed a harsh, mock- monster, that he had created to enslave ing laugh. Without a pause, he sham- other helpless men and women, had bled on. caused his downfall. The gun in Sturvison’s hand crashed Steve and Murphy stared for a long once. Krishner jerked as the bullet five seconds at the huddled shapes on smashed into his shoulder. A ragged the floor before they moved. Then the hole appeared in the white smock, and cop muttered, “What a cop that guy red began to widen slowly about it. woulda made! A slug didn’t faze him But his shambling pace was not any more’n a pea-shooter would.” stopped. He continued on, his arms But Steve was staring at the papers raised now to seize the scientist. clutched in his right hand, which he Sturvison’s face blanched as he had taken from the shelf in the pit. squeezed the trigger twice. The gun “The secret of his process,” he mur- leaped in his hand as lead sped into mured. “He was probably going to Krishner’s stomach. A cry of agony destroy them and deprive humanity of came from the assistant but he showed a blessing that might never have been no other effect of the bullets’ power. discovered again. His own greed made Suddenly he broke into an awkward a horror out of the secret that could run and charged at him. Sturvison have saved countless lives if he had seemed to shrink down as he gripped given it to science. Krishner will never the gun and emptied it, in three final know, poor, stupid monster that he was, blasts of gun-fire, into the body of the what he did for others as pitiful as he.” giant. For a moment longer he stared at He shrieked as Krishner grabbed him them, and then he shook off the spell in a vicious hug. The gun beat futilely and went hurriedly down the steps into against the helper’s head, bringing a the operating room. Merl was looking torrent of blood down the man’s face about dazedly when he bent over her. but only serving to enrage him still Her eyes fastened on him in terror further. and then they softened and a film of Krishner’s big hands sought his tears came over them. throat. With an animal growl, he held “Steve!” she whispered, in the voice the creator of his ill-formed being out he had grown to love. “What—what at arm’s length and shook him as a happened, Steve? I remember a man cat shakes a mouse. The scientist dan- talking to me on the street, and gled loosely. His face went blue from then—then it all seems a blank.” the vise-like grip that was choking the Relief made Steve Mallory’s knees life from him, and his eyes bugged out shaky as he heard the girl’s voice. His horribly. And still the giant continued eyes were on the strip of tape about her to squeeze harder and harder. His fin- throat. Beneath it, he knew, the miracle — MASTER OF THE LIVING DEAD 149 was taking place that had given her that you’re all right—an4 that tomor- back to him. After a moment he said, row night at eight we’re ^oing to take up “Let’s just say that nothing has bap- right where we left off the other day!” pengd, dear. All that matters now is The End PROTECTION FOR WAR SUPPLIES NTIL very recently, it was the accepted provide a remedy. method when shf^ng tools and equip* Thanks to the ingenuity of the paper industry U ment of any kind abroad to coat them the solution to the problem is at hand. They haye with grease or oil in order to protect them from developed a paper wrapping ft>r the yarious parts rust; Then when the machinery and tools reached that is completely moisturerproof. The ^ts are their destination, it was necessary to remove this wrapped in the paper without any protedtiye coat- protective coating before they were assembled. ing and are shippied in this way. One additional 1'his was all right in time of peace when minutes precaution is taken, however. Inside each package were not so precious and man power could be used a vial of calcium chloride is placed to absorb any to clean the parts, but in war time the picture is moisture that may be formed at the time of pack- different. -Neither the time nor the manpower is aging or during shipment due to the condensation available for this job and so science set about to of the air inside the package. 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ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM By BERKELEY UVINGSTON A weird red cloud hung on the horizon—beyond it was an island as alien as infinity! rr- The submarine headed straight for the red wall of destruction ROFESSOR HUGH LATIMER board, in Rio de Janeiro. His curiosnV sat in the small lounge of the Sao had been aroused at sight of the tall, PPaulQ. He was covertly watching ash-blonde beauty of the girl, in the the very interesting couple who were company of such a man as Carl B.rem- engaged in a low-voiced, nearvous con- ner, who was a sinister looking charac- versation. The sofa on which the two ter. Grayish brown hair, close chopped. sat was too far removed from Latimer Thick neck with flesh always hanging for him to hear what was being said. in a fold over his shirt collar. Clones his But the girl’s beautiful mobile features a little too tight-fitting. And served as a perfect mirror for her voice: curt, emotionless, yet domineer- thoughts. At the moment she was lis- ing. tening with absorbed attention to what- The captain of the Sao Paulo had in- ever her partner was saying. troduced them during their first dinner, Hugh Latimer had been aboard the as Mr. Carl Bremner of New York City Sao Paulo when the two had come on and Miss Virginia Darnell of the same The submarine headed straight tor the red wall of destruction ROFESSOR HUGH LATIMER board, in Rio de Janeiro. His curiosity sat in the small lounge of the Sao had been aroused at sight of the tall, PPaulo. He was covertly watching ash-blonde beauty of the girl, ki the the very interesting couple who were company of such a man as Carl Brem- engaged in a low-voiced, nesrvous con- ner, who was a sinister looking charac- versation. The sofa on which the two ter. Grayish brown hair, close capped. sat was too far removed from Latimer Thick neck with flesh always hanging for him to hear what was being said. in a fold over his shirt collar. CLoAies his But the girl’s beautiful mobile features a little too tight-fitting. And served as a perfect mirror for her voice: curt, emotionless, yet domineer- thoughts. At the moment she was lis- ing. tening with absorbed attention to what- The captain of the Sao Paulo had in- ever her partner was saying. troduced them during their first dinner, Hugh Latimer had been aboard the as Mr. Carl Bremner of New York City Sao Paulo when the two had come on and Miss Virginia Darnell of the same 152 AMAZING STORIES address. Bremner’s pale blue eyes had told you what to do when we arrive ” flicked their gaze over Latimer in a and I expect you to do iti lightning appraisal,, before he had ac- Latimer didn’t remember getting out knowledged the introduction with a of his chair. He was conscious only of cold, curt, “a pleasure, Professor Lati- the intense blue of the girl's startled mer.” eyes as he stood before the couple on Virginia Darnell’s low voice, but the sofa. pleasant, '‘I am happy to meet you, '‘Yes?” asked Bremner. The single Professor Latimer,” sent a strange feel- word was cold and impersonal. ing through him. “Look, Miss Darnell,” Latimer be- And that was all. For three days gan, paying no attention to Bremner, and nights the Sao Paulo plowed “you don’t have to do anything! I through the South Pacific. At night don’t know what kind of a bill of goods the freighter’s ports were closed so that he’s trying to sell you, or what he~” no light would show its presence to an Bremner cut in coldly. “Perhaps it enemy submarine. would be best if you minded your own Not once during those days and business, Professor Latimer.” nights had Latimer been able to break “This has become my business.” through the wall of mystery which sur- A sneer twisted the deeply lined face rounded the strange pair. of Carl Bremner. Walking around the freighter’s deck “So our Miss Darnell has acquired a was the only exercise to be had. Often Sir Galahad!” Latimer had come across the girl lean- Latimer found himself suddenly ing over a rail, an expression of sad- quivering with anger. He wanted more ness etched on her face and in her eyes. than anything else to send his fist But at his approach she would walk crashing against that sneering face. away or deliberately turn her back to Bremner said, “Come my dear, per- him. haps we will find more privacy on the Of one thing, however, Latimer was deck.” The girl bowed her head in a sure. That she was very much afraid humble gesture and arose to leave. of Bremner. It was evident in her Latimer looked in helpless frustra- eyes, her voice and in the very way she tion at the door as it closed behind stood when she talked to him. As them. Turning on his heel he made though she were at bay. his way toward the after-deck, where On this, the fourth, night Latimer the superstructure of the bridge would had come into the lounge for a cool cut the headwind. He remained there drink before taking bis last stroll for a half hour, letting the night air around the deck. A few minutes later cool his anger. Virginia Darnell and Bremner had come in deep in discussion. Virginia SINGLE sailor stood watch on the iiad been objecting to something Brem- fantail. Latimer could see his ner wanted. youthful figure silhouetted in the bril- Latimer watched. Suddenly Brem- liant rays of a full tropic moon. Of the ner lost his temper over something the two he had come to find, he could see girl said. nothing. But as he reached the short His voice, loud and harsh, carried ladder which led up to the after-deck, clearly to Latimer’s ears, as he said, “I he heard Bremner’s domineering voice want to hear no more of this! I have say, “You fool, have you forgotten ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM 153 about your brother? Remember: if vered wake as the torpedo streaked you do not do as I say, he shall pay for toward the slow-moving ship. They your disobedience; pay with his life!” only heard it strike! “No Carl, no! Til do anything you A gigantic roar, followed by a searing ask! Anythingl” she pleaded. “Only sheet of orange flame marked the end please see that no harm comes to him.” of the torpedo’s trail. The Sao Paulo Latimer’s feet barely touched the shuddered through its entire frame. Its rungs as he flew up the ladder. Vir- superstructure careened drunkenly for ginia and Bremner were facing each a minute, then, with a terrifying swift- other in the shelter of one of the two ness the whole foredeck, bridge and all, lifeboats on the deck. broke away from the rest of the vessel Bremner was twisting one of her and sank beneath the boiling waters. wrists. “Then we understand each The terrific concussion of the explo- other, my dear. And we shall have no sion sent the four who were on the after- more of this talk about not wanting to deck flying off their feet. Sotnehow, do things.” Latimer got hold of the girl, cushioned She cried out in agony, “Don’t Carl, her fall with his body. you’re hurting me! Please.” Latimer reached Bremner in three uickly Latimer pulled her erect. quick strides. His left hand twisted Q The sailor had scrambled to one him about while his right came up in of the lifeboats. He was now pulling a short powerful punch which ended on himself upright. Bremner too, was on Bremner’s mouth. The blow did not his feet, swaying from side to side. knock him down, but it did send him Latimer leaped forward to the sailor reeling back against the rail. Latimer who was calling. “Quick, help me get did not wait for him to recover. He this lifeboat down!” leaped in and sent two more blows Latimer and Bremner helped the crashing against the dazed man’s face. sailor make loose the ropes which bound Bremner slid off the rail and fell on the the boat to the davits and then three deck. But Latimer was not quite men and the girl scrambled aboard. through. He reached down and lifted They hit the water. No other survi- him erect, back against the rail. Words vors were visible. They rowed a short thick with rage, came through Lati- distance away from the distintegrating mer’s lips. “I’m going to beat you to freighter. Then that part which had a pulp, right now, with my bare hands.” remained afloat lurched once and sank Through the blinding fog of his rage also. They barely escaped from the he could feel Virginia’s hands tugging suction its sinking created. at him. Her voice, brit*^le with panic, Latimer took instant command of the made him release the half*conscious lifeboat. Bremner. “Please, stop it! You’ll kill “You there,” he said to the youtiiful him and that’s no good for either of us. and white-faced sailor in the oil-stained Please stop.” work clothes. “What’s your name?” Latimer turned to the girl tugging at “Benjy Shore, sir,” the young fellow his arms, opened his mouth to speak. answered, “engine room helper, first “Tor-pe-do!” class. I was transferred to a hitch at The hoarse voice of the sailor on lookout.” watch came like an alarm siren. Latimer found time to smile at the They could not see the feathery sil- sailor’s unsolicited remark on his qual- AMAZING STORIES ifications. He also realized that here against the tiny lifeboat being seen. was someone he could depend on. At last he broke his silence by speak- “All right, son,” Latimer continued, ing to Bremner, “Any ideas or sugges- “you want to get out of this, don’t tions, Bremner?” you?” But the silent man at the oars held “Yes, sir,” said Benjy. his thoughts to himself. “Then follow my orders to the let- “Very well then. Here’s what we’ll ter. And keep remembering, I’m tak- do. Row at night. Rest during the ing the place of the captain.” day. I’ll allot all food and drink. It The boy nodded his head in agree- looks pretty bad right now,” he said in ment with Latirner. conclusion, “bat the chances are that “Your first orders are to see how we we’ll be picked up. So let’s make the stand on food and water. Investigate best of it.” the boat’s locker for sails and compass. Now that the terror of the torpedoing Perhaps you may find some maps. Now was over for Benjy, he proved to be a hop to it.” cheerful sort. Obedience had left its mark on Benjy “You’re right, sir. I heard the engi- and Latimer had used the right tone in neer say only this morning that the giving his orders. The boy instantly route we travel was so busy they need went about fulfilling them. a traffic cop sometimes.” Virginia shared Latimer’s seat. Ex- Virginia smiled at his cheerful sally. cept for a last look at the spot where the ship had gone down, she sat lean- 'Y'HE rest of the night passed in sil- ing against his shoulder, her eyes tight- ence broken only by the creak of ly closed. the oars in the oarlocks, as the three It was Bremner who gave Latimer a men rowed steadily. surprise. Silently and efficiently he It was on the fourth day after the pulled on the oars. Nor did he question sinking that Bremner Benjy called La- Latimer’s taking charge of their tiny timer’s attention to the strange looking vessel. cloud. Benjy Shore crawled out from under Latimer looked out to where Benjy the last seat in the stern. He rolled a was excitedly pointing. He could see it small cask before him while in one hand hanging low on the horizon; the strang- he carried a small square box. Latimer est looking cloud he had ever seen. Of a lifted the small cask and shook it. peculiar reddish cast, it looked like a “We’ll have enough water,” he an- curtain of mist shot through with pur- nounced. “Now" to see what’s in this plish lights. box.” The contents proved to be ship’s “I’ve never seen anything like it be- biscuits. fore,” he said worriedly. “I only hope “Food and drink. What else did you it’s not a storm. We’ve been lucky so find, Benjy?” he asked. far.” “That’s all, sir. I felt all around but But he noticed an even stranger I couldn’t find anything else.” thing. A current was developing in the Latimer was silent for a while, lost water. And the boats prow had slowly in thought. He knew the nearest land pivoted in the direction of the cloud. was at least five hundred miles distant. Soon they all noticed the definite accel- Although the Sao Paulo had been on a eration of speed. well traveled route, the possibility was Latimer’s eyes grew wide in concern. ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM 155 crashing down “That current is pulling us toward ed the boat and sent it that cloud area,” he said. against the reef. The boat was now leaping forward, Latimer saw Bremner flung high in fell. as though eager to get to its goal. Soon the air, screaming and turning as he they were so close they could make out A giant hand seemed to reach down and his grasp. Unen- that it was not a cloud at all. It was a pluck Virginia from sharp curtain of red dust which hung suspend- durable agony came as needle ed to the very water’s edge. And stran- rocks tore at his flesh. He heard and legs snap. ger still, the dust gave off a not un- felt the bones of his arms and pleasant odor as they moved within the His last conscious remembrance was curtain. of the heavy prow of the lifeboat crush- Now the boat lost some of its speed, ing down on the golden head of Vir- rock. but the prow was still pointed in a ginia, who was pinned against a definite direction. They all noticed that the water, reddish colored as the dust TJUGH LATIMER opened heavy- ^ above it, was calm, without even the lidded eyes. Dull pain beat at his smallest of a wave to disturb its sur- brain and slowly subsided. He became face. The boat went on for several aware of the sound of water swishing miles and as suddenly as it had entered against a shore. A breeze, sweetly cloy- the curtain, it emerged into an area of ing with some strange odor, ruffled his turbulence such as they had never seen. dark hair. It was a maelstrom of sound and fury. His eyes, beginning to focus at last, Mountainous waves flung themselves in took in the unsullied azure blue of the thunderous assault against a barrier of sky. The pale green color of fern fronds saw-toothed rocks. A demoniac wind set against the darker, lusher greens had arisen and howled and tore about of jungle growth caught his attention. their ears. He turned his head to see better. Then Benjy took one look at the scene of memory, like a stab of pain, returned horror, then with a howl of terror threw to Hugh Latimer. himself face downward in the boat. He Memory: of that horror scene; of pressed his hands over his ears trying lashing waters; of hungry rocks, like to shut out the frightening noises of the shark’s teeth, waiting for their prey; elements. Bremner cowered down in and of Virginia being dashed to her his seat, his eyes frantically searching death. for an escape. Horrified, he sat erect and felt no Strangest enough, the girl, who pain in doing so. Something clicked in should have been the most frightened his mind. His own body being gashed of the four, showed the least fear. Lati- and torn by the rocks; yet he felt no mer saw the paleness of her face, but pain. He fell to examining his hands. felt a thrill of admiration as he noticed What he saw was unbelievable. The the tight set of her jaw. muscles, tendons and bones beneath Now the boat entered the maelstrom. their sheath of outer skin were writhing The water lashed and tore at it. The and twisting back into their normal mad wind howled down on its occu- places. Yet he felt no pain. It was as pants, as though to tear them from their though some cosmic anaesthesia held seats. Nearer and neiarer to the niur- him in its grip; pejmBting him to see derous rocks it came. A gigantic wave, the' miracle being perforrhed; with^ld- spitting white froth in its madness, lift- ing the pain. The flesh, which had been 156 AMAZING STORIES torn and Jacerated, was healing and He could still hear her voice saying: growing together before his very eyes. “I was acting in a show in New York. He looked down at his right leg. It had One night I came home and found been twisted around in an impossible Bremner waiting for me. He told me manner. It, too, like his hands, was as- who he was—a Gestapo agent—and suming its natural position. what he wanted of me. He wanted me Before him lay a placid stretch of to come to Dakar with him, where I water, several hundred feet wide. Be- would be introduced to several French yond, acting as a sort of breakwater, officials. I refused! He laughed and was the reef. He could see the spray told me that I would do it or else my from the churning waves breaking over brother would die. And he showed me it. Past the reef was the immense cur- a clipping from a newspaper. My broth- tain of red dust. er, a flier with the R. A. F. had been “Mr. Latimer, Mr. Latimer!’^ shot down in Germany. They found Latimer jerked his head around in a my picture on him when they picked startled gesture. Benjy Shore was com- him up. And Bremner had traced me ing toward him on a slow wavering run. to New York. He told me that my Latimer scrambled erect and ran for- brother would die, if I didn’t do their ward to meet him. bidding. But before they killed him, “Gee, Mr. Latimer, am I glad to see Brenner told me of the torture he would you!” Benjy gasped. go through. It was too much for me. I “And I can say the same for you,” gave in to his demands.” ?” LaUmer replied, “but where are— Latimer would never forget the half- He didn’t complete the question. defined terror in her voice as she told The look of misery which had spread her tale. over the boy’s face was answer enough. “I don’t know, sir,”' Benjy said halt- Benjy,” he said at last, “it ingly. “I guess I was knocked out or looks like the two of us will have sometiung. When I came to, I was lay- to see what% what around here.” ing back there on the beach and the “Yah! But say, Mr, Latimer,” funniest tbihg was going on. It was like Benjy questioned, “tell me something? I was being put together. But I couldn’t How come we don’t hear the sound of feel anything.” the surf breaking on that reef? We’re “Yes, I know,” Latimer interrupted. only a couple of hundred feet off?” “The same thing happened to me. But That was one of the things bothering are you sure you didn’t see Miss Dar- Latimer also. The almost uncanny si- nell or Bremner?” lence of his strange place. “No, sir,” Benjy answered. “Neither “I don’t know, Benjy,” he replied hide nor hair of either one,” hesitantly, “But I’m sure there’s an It was with the greatest effort that explanation. Right now though, we’d Latimer was able to control himself. He better get to looking for some shelter.” had grown to like the girl the first time Latimer noticed that his shirt and he had seen her. Those nights in the trousers were dry. So he had been lying lifeboat had been a revdation to him. on the beach for at least an botfr before She had brought water to each of the consciousness had returned. He was men at the oars. It was then that she thankful for that. Tropic nights Could haid toM him of the association of Brem- be chilly. And already twiight w^s fall- ner and herself. ing. A strange, red-colored twiliglit, the ” ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM 157 product of the red curtain of dust. which sent Latimer’s pulses racing with “Come on Benjy,” he said leading the uneasiness. Or perhaps it was their way down the beach, “there’s no sense eyes, entirely blank of any emotion, in just standing around like this. We’re which seemed so unearthly. probably on some island, which should Not satisfied with tying their cap- mean friendly natives. At least I’ve tives’ hands, they also tide their legs at never heard of unfriendly ones in this the ankles. Two men picked up each part of the world.” of their captives and at a slow dog trot “Okay Mr. Latimer,” the boy said re- made off tow^ard the jungle. signedly, “but I sure would like to know how I healed up so fast; and how "Y^^HEN they arrived at the first line come— of jungle giants, Latimer and The moon had come up and gave Benjy were unceremoniously dumped them light enough to see by as they to the ground. Now two of the men made their way along the shore. climbed what appeared to be a ladder They walked on in silence for the set into the bole of the tree. Within a better part of several hours. Latimer few seconds a rope came coiling down had fallen into a brown study as they to the rest waiting below. The rope was walked along and so had not noticed secured under Latimer’s arms and he that Benjy was several hundred feet was jerked upward finally to be pulled ahead of him. onto a platform set in the crotch of a He w^as startled and dismayed to hear large branch. The rope was removed Benjy’s sudden scream of “Help! Mr. from under his arms and let down again. Latimer, quick! ” Ahead of him he could Within a few seconds, Benjy was lying see the furiously flailing arms of the beside him. boy. He w^as struggling desperately The rest of the natives came scram- with two almost naked natives. bling up the ladder and when the last Latimer leaped to his rescue—and appeared, Latimer and Benjy w^ere was neatly tripped, and sent tumbling again lifted to the sweaty backs of their to the ground. He had not seen the captors. And then to the complete mys- fibre rope which had been carefully tification of the two white men, the en- stretched across the sand. He only felt tire party broke into that slow dog trot the weight of several bodies press him again. down and hold him as hands bound his “What the hell are they running on?” wrists together. was Latimer’s amazed thought. He Arms pulled him savagely erect again. twisted his head over as far as it could He saw Benjy still twisting angrily go and his startled eyes saw that the about, in the grasp of tht two natives. natives were running on a marvelously His hands, like Latimer’s, were tied be- woven carpet of vines or small hind his back. branches. Not only that, but he could For the first time Latimer had a good tell by the evenness of their strides that look at his captors. What he saw, he this carpet was as level as a concrete didn’t like. Not the least bit! There sidewalk. And all this was taking place were a half dozen of them. Big strap- without the aid of any light; for the ping bucks, wearing only a lava-lava. moon’s rays did not penetrate through Bone handled knives were stuck in the the upper reaches of the trees. waistband of their lava-lavas. But it From up ahead, Benjy’s voice floated was the dull animal look in their faces back to him. “Hey, Professor, what the 158 AMAZING STORIES heck are they running on? Air!” stopped their circulation. But their He also heard the sound of a slap captors did not see the humor of the and then Benjy’s fluent cursing of the situation. They were yanked upright slapper. Latimer had to grin in spite once again and pushed stumblingly of the spreading discomfort and pain forward. his jouhcing body was beginning to Ahead of them, Latimer saw where feel. the light came from. Three large camp He grunted out a ‘'Hey, take it easy fires shed a bright glow over a clearing Bud,” as one of his carriers decided to toward which they were being driven. shift his weight in mid-stride—and felt A half dozen grtiss-thaiched huts were his jaws go slack as an answer came set in a small semi-circle behind the back*—-in English. “Keep your mouth fires. closed, white man!” Latimer saw three figures step out His thoughts ran riot. “What sort in front of the largest of the fires. The of place is this> where the natives speak two larger figures seemed to be holding English? And go flitting around like the smaller between them. He could birds in the trees? I got one answer. only see their dark silhouettes against Maybe I’ll get another.” the flames. Aloud he asked gaspingly, “Where As the three came closer, Latimer are you taking us to?” and Benjy’s captors held them up- He waited for several seconds for a right, so that the approaching figures reply and recdving none, asked again, could see who they were. “Damn it, where are you taking us For a second Latimer thought that to?” he was going mad. That figure in the One of the several who were running middle, stumbling forward with hair beside them, hearing Latimer call out streaming down over her face couldn’t again, reached over and cuffed him be V’irginia. No! Virginia was dead; against the side of his jaw, and said, back there on the reef. But now they “You were told to shut up.” were so close that Latimer was able Now it was Benjy’s turn to laugh at to see that it was her. And to make the cursing of Latimer. The rest of the certain that Latimer recognized her; journey was made in a silence broken Bremner—for Latimer saw now he was only by the heavy breathing of the the shorter of the two men—took hold running men. of her long blonde hair and jerked her head back. J^ATIMER became aware of the So sudden was Latimer’s dive in lights at the same time the natives Bremner’s direction he almost tore did. They began to quicken their pace. loose from the two men holding him. Soon they arrived at a break in the But not quite. At sight of this^ the red- trees. Here Latimer and Benjy were put bearded giant who was on the girl’s down and again the rope was placed other side let out a huge bellow of under th^’^r arms. They were lowered laughter. Not at Latimer’s %tion, but to the hard packed ground and the at the frightened retreat of Bremner. bonds around their ankles removed. The enraged Gestapo man leaped Latimer and Be^jy were pulljed upon thp defenseless Latimer and ham- efed;^and promptly Cpn^^d. The mered him with his club-like fists, Lat- combination of thongs and uncomfort- imer’s mouth and nose gushed £i;irtt5,on able positions had almost completely under the pounding of Bremner’s fists. ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM 159 He tried to evade the punches, but the bearded lug and jumped the Nazi. He guards held him tightly. A red mist just gave you the boot once and she was swam before his eyes. His ears caught on him like a wildcat. Old Red-beard the sound of Virginia’s screams and the came running up and broke them. But gargantuan laughter of Red-beard. And not before the rat clipped her once.” a merciful blackness closed down over “Clipped her!” Latimer’s voice held his senses. such a depth of anger, Benjy backed away from him in startled surprise. LTE BECAME conscious to the sound “Sure he did. Look at her jaw.” of a voice cursing. Benjy had lost The girl had turned her back to none of his fluency in that respect. He them. Latimer gently pulled her around opened his eyes and took, in his sur- and saw the swollen area against the roundings. He was lying on the hard- warm brown of her skin. It was already packed earth which served as a floor turning yellow. for the grass hut. A fire burned redly Benjy cleared his throat and voiced in an iron brazier in one corner of the the question which was bothering Lat- hut. He felt a wet cloth gently brushing imer also. his bruised and cut skin. He turned his “What happens next? How do we body, and the pain in his side made him blow outa this joint?” go sick to his stomach. “I don’t know, Benjy,” Latimer said, Virginia was kneeling beside him. A “looks like we’ll have to hold a sort of pan of water was on the ground near council of war, right here. her. “First: Virginia, suppose you tell us He winced as she applied another how you got here. And who Mr. Red- wet cloth. beard is?” ‘‘Here, Benjy,” he said to the young sailor who was angrily pacing back and “ JT WAS the strangest thing,” the girl forth past his head, “give me a hand began, her eyes frowning, “but up, will you?” when I first opened my eyes, I thought Latimer stood erect, swaying a little. I was dead. Everything was so peace- His face felt as though it had gone ful and quiet. The only sound I could through a clothes wringer and his side hear was that of the water moving softly ached. and the calls of birds. I looked up and “What did Bremner do after knock- saw that red mist, but when I sat up, ing me out? Give me the boot?” he I felt a terrible pain at the back of my asked. head. I must have fainted then, because “Yeah!” Benjy said wrathfully. “He the next thing I knew I was being car- give you the boot! But he made sure ried by two natives through the trees. those guys were holding you good be- When we got here, I saw that Bremner fore he did. And if it hadn’t been for was with us also. But neither you nor Miss Virginia here, he’d’a probably Benjy was there. I won’t tell you how kicked your head in.” I felt or what I thought.” She stopped “If it hadn’t been for Virginia? What for a moment to gather the threads of do you mean?” Latimer asked. her story together again. Benjy’s voice held admiration as he “We were brought to the central hut explained, “Why, when she saw what and that terrible red-bearded man came that dirty—what that rat was gonna out. I heard Bremner call out in a sur- do, she jerked away from that red- prised voice. ‘Von Schultz’. Von Schultz 160 AMAZING STORIES walked over to him and after looking formally.” He burlesqued a cavalier- at him for a minute recognized him. It like bow and said, “Hugh Latimer, Pro- seems that this Von Schultz command- fessor of Botany, on leave from Cran- ed a U-boat in the last war, and was dall University, at your service, Mad- reported sunk. Bremner was some sort ame Darnell and Messieur Shore.’ ’ of army officer then and they knew A ripple of laughter from the three each other. broke the tension under which they had “Bremner called him aside and they been, since their capture. But at the whispered together for a while. What- sound of Von Schultz’s bull-like bellow, ever Von Schultz was telling him was they all turned quiclcly, to face his giant not to his liking because I could see his figure standing hugely within the ugly red face go palel. Von Schultz doorway. thought it was very funny though, be- “So,” he shouted, “you are all happy cause he kept laughing all through their to be together. That is good! I like talk. Finally Von Schultz called over laughter and gaiety. These natives, several of the natives and gave them pah! They are good only for work. But instructions. Later I was tpld that they forgive me! It is so seldom that I can were to fiind you two and bring you play host to white men and women. here. You are hungry?” “I was brought to this hut and kept He looked questioningly at them under guard while Bremner went off and when he saw Benjy licking dry lips, with Von Schultz. Then later the two his huge laughter rang out on their of them came here and brought me out startled ears. Lathner’s keen eyes had and I saw you and Benjy and oh, I’m been making a careful appraisal of Von so afraid! There is something horrible Schultz, all the while he had been talk- going on with this Von Schultz. He ing. He saw a huge mountain of a man, frightens me more than Bremner ever at least four inches over six feet, weigh- did. And these natives. They act like ing well over two-hundred and fifty they’re not quite alive.” pounds. Naked to the waist, his great “Easy now, honey,” Latimer cau- chest, wet with sweat, rippled with tioned, as he heard hysteria rise in her muscles. And every time he let loose voice. “That isn’t going to help. Keep with that great shout of lailghter, his your chin up. We’ll make out.” belly shook and tumbled in time to it. “Sure, Miss Virginia,” Benjy added Latimer also saw that his beard had his bit to the conversation, “the pro- been dyed with some kind of vegetable fessor here’ll figure out the angles. dye. We’re a cinch to dudt this joint.” But it was on Von Schultz’s eyes that The girl laughed aloud at Benjy’s Latimer’s searching look rested longest. figure of speech. And when she asked, Narrow set, they hung under dark “Do you Ifnow, Mr. Latimer, that it’s crags of thick bfeck hair. And despite still a mystery to me what you’re a pro- his jovigJ laugh, there was something fessor of,” there was a bright note of disquieting, even sinister, in their un- unaccustomed gaiety in her voice. waveriog black intensity. Latimer looked startled at her ques- “I dori’t trust you-,” Latimer thought, tion. “nor your act of b6ilig a good §aipari- “pogE r^rd,” ^6 his tan. Y^Ye got apipe p'Urppse b^ind forehhy^'^tfi.,hi9 'free Ha’'nE, “pf course. your welcoming gestures and I’m going Well allow me then to present myself. slow till I find if out.” — ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM 161 VTON SCHULTZ thrust his head out bloomed,” he said again, and his voice his blaz- of the doorway and they heard him rumbled deep within him, eyes bellowing some sort of orders. Then he ing beneath their thick eyebrows. “My turned back to his guests. lovely red lotus flowers.” “Sit down,” he commanded, “sit “Red lotus?” asked Latimer. “There down, my friends. Soon there will be are no such blooms; at least to my food and drink. And I can see Professor knowledge.” Latimer is bursting with questions he “Perhaps not to your knowledge,” wants to ask me.” And suiting the ac- returned the other, “but on Tanoa, all tion to the words, he lowered himself lotus are red. And tomorrow I shall to the ground, folded his trunk-like legs take you to my castle, beyond the hill. under him. There you will see them And smell The three seated themselves again. them too, if the wind is right.” And Latimer asked with some surprise, Latimer felt a hidden meaning in “How did you know my name?” He Von Schultz’s words. But before he did not wait for the other’s reply. He could ask what he meant, a half-dozen knew the answer. “Of course. Bremner! native women came in, each bearing a I suppose you know all there is to know large wooden platter. Silently they came about us.” in and placed their platters before the “No, not all,” Von Schultz said seated group and, as silently, left the enigmatically, “but enough: yes diners to serve themselves. enough.” Nor did the three need an invitation “Well,” said Latimer, “since you are to begin. The water and biscuit fare of so willing to answer my questions, let’s the lifeboat had left aching hollows start with an easy one. Where are we?” where their stomachs had once been. “The natives call this island Tanoa. They attended very thoroughly to the Where it is I do not know, because the chicken, roast young pig and fruits red mist surrounds it on all sides. Nor which filled the platters. have I ever seen it on any chart or map.” WON SCHULTZ laughed as he ate. Latimer puzzled over Von Schultz’s He devoured his food with a huge answer. It had, as a matter of fact, an- chomping, grunting and sweating over swered nothing. his work. Benjy’s eyes grew round with “That red mist. How did it ever form wonder as he watched him tear a quar- and just what is it?” he asked, and ter from a chicken, stuff it into his hoped the answer to this would be more mouth, and chew it down; pausing only enlightening than the other. long enough to spit the bones to one “That red mist?” Von Schultz re- side. peated Latimer’s question. “I can only Latimer and the others waited for tell you the legend the stupid natives Von Schultz to finish. When he did, he told me about it. That once, long ago, wiped his mouth on his hairy forearms, a flaming star fell upon the island. It groaned, then said, “Well, that was brought the mist with it; a sort of man- good. Is there something else you want tle, they said. The mantle stayed, out to know?” beyond the reef. They also tell that “Yes,” Latimer said coldly. “I want when the star struck, it sent out a red to know the truth. Not this—this pop- dust, and wherever the dust landed the pycock you’ve been telling us about red lotus bloomed. The red lotus falling stars, red lotus and castles.” 162 AMAZING STORIES Von Schultz looked into his angry He noticed the tired lines in Vir- face and rocked back and forth with ginia’s face. And saw, too, that Benjy laughter was beginning to droop “Oh,” he said, wiping his eyes, “it “Time to turn in, folks,” he an- will do me good to have you around, nounced. “Might as well get as much Professor! You find it incredible, don’t rest as we can.” you? But there it is, you know. The red He dragged out a quantity of ferns mist, the red flower, and tomorrow, I lying in a corner of the hut and ar- promise you, my castle.” ranged a bed for the girl. He threw his With that he arose to his feet. Lati- jacket over her to keep her warm. Then mer, also rose and walked over to him he and Benjy lay down and fell into a until they stood only inches apart. deep and sound sleep. “Before you go, Von Schultz, one more question. What do you intend to A WOMAN’S soft voice awakened do with us?” him. “The Master is waiting,” she Von Schultz looked down at him for had said. Latimer stretched and was a silent few seconds, then said, “Tomor- glad to note that his side was all right. row, you’ll know,” and turned to leave. But his mouth and jaws still ached. A Latimer swung him around before he puzzled frown appeared on his face. had taken a single step. And the certainty of a thought which “Not tomorrow, right now” he de- had been troubling him grew more real manded ’ now. Von Schultz no longer looked jovial. Virginia was sitting up in her bed of He looked, instead, like a monstrous en- ferns, a pout disturbing her lips with- gine of destruction as he glowered down out distracting from their loveliness. at Latimer. “I wish I had a comb with me,” she “Perhaps put you to work—with the said. rest of my slaves,” he said, and placing Latimer smiled and vmlked over to his huge hand against Latimer, shoved. awaken Benjy. The native woman, Latimer was sent sprawling back- whose voice had awakened him started ward, to come to rest against a wall of out of the hut saying, “The Master the hut. Before he could recover, Von awaits your coming.” Schultz was gone. Von Schultz and Bremner were A long whistle of awe came from standing in front of a group of at least Benjy. “It’s a good thing he didn’t slug fifty natives. Von Schultz stepped for- you, Professor. He’d’a put you right ward to meet the three as they came through the wall.” out. Latimer saw that he was in good Latimer got up. “It looks like we’ll humor again. Bremner, however, ap- have to use brains not brawn, against peared nervous, even frightened. He Mr. Red-beard.” He began to feel his could see a muscle twitch in the Nazi’s jaw and mouth, wincing slightly as he face. touched tender parts. The pain in his “Good morning, my friends,” Von side had subsided, but it still ached a Schultz’s booming voice greeted them, little. “I hope you slept well.” “I’ll say this, though,” he added, “I The red beard parted in a grin to haven’t taken so much punishment since disclose yellow uneven teeth. college football. And I’m not going to “We will not have breakfast, because take much more.” in a few hours we will be at the castle. ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM 163 I am anxious to show you the wonders “T WAS in command of a German of Tanoa. You, Professor, and Miss submarine in 1917. On a certain Darnell will ride with me.” night we spotted a freighter and after Linking arms with the girl and Lat- following for a while, got close enough imer, he marched off. The ranks of na- to send a torpedo into it. It wasn’t tives opened for his passing, and fol- enough, though, and I had to drive lowed as he set out for the trees. In- another nail in that coffin. But before stead of the ladders which Latimer ex- it sank, their wireless operator was able pected, Von Schultz took them to an to send out an S.O.S. Several destroyers incline which led up to the middle ter- arrived on the scene and somehow race. Here a dozen men were waiting picked up my trail. with litters. Latimer felt a twinge of “The first I knew of them was the pity for the two carriers who hoisted concussions of depth charges around Von Schultz’s massive frame within his me. I was cruising in eight fathoms of litter to their shoulders. Virginia and water at the time and immediately or- he stepped into their litters and, at a dered a crash dive, down to fifteen signal, the bearers started off on a run. fathoms. Those depth charges killed Latimer looked back to see Benjy and four men in the torpedo compartment Bremner being carried in Utters not far and five in the engine room. Remember behind them. that. Professor. That those men were So wide was this unusual tree-high- killed then, not later.” way that the bearers were able to carry He paused for a moment to let the them abreast. Latimer was only waiting last statement sink in, then went on, for an opening to begin his questioning “I set the controls at cruising speed again. Only this time he resolved to be and stayed at that depth for several more diplomatic, so as not to arouse hours. I went into the compartments to Von Schultz’s anger again. He had not see what had happened and saw the long to wait. dead men there. Just as I came back to Von Schultz had been staring at Vir- my post, I felt the nose of the subma- ginia in open mouthed admiration. He rine go downward and the speed of the heaved a windy sigh, and said intro- boat sharply increase, spectively, “It will be good to see and “From that second on we went hear a white woman again. Twenty- through hell. It seemed as though the seven years is a long time to be away ship was in the grip of some terrible from civilization. Only now do I real- magnet. It was twisted and spun about ize what I have missed.” as though it was a match. And under- “You’ve been here twenty-seven stand this, that although a hurricane years?” asked Latimer. can be raging directly above you, at fif- “Yes,” replied the other. teen fathoms there is only the smallest “How did you find this place?” of disturbances. Latimer felt the desire to talk in “Inside the submarine the dead and Von Schultz’s voice. the living were thrown around like dice “I didn’t find it,” Von Schultz said in a box. I was thrown against a pipe cryptically. “It found me! Let me tell which had been broken in two, with you my story, Professor, and you also, my throat striking against the razor- Miss Darnell. It will help to pass the sharp edge of the broken piece. My time and perhaps answer certain ques- last remembrance was of the blood tions in the professor’s mind. gushing from my torn throat, filling my — 164 AMAZING STORIES mouth, and pouring out like a fountain. 'y'ON SCHULTZ resumed where he “When I came to, we were resting in left off in his story. the calm waters inside the reef. And “I could see a line of natives on the when I stepped up on the deck, my en- beach. They were on their knees with tire crew, do you understand; my en- their faces pressed against the sand. tire crew, followed me” To them, we were gods, arisen from the Latimer felt his throat open and sea. It was evident they had never seen close convulsively as Von Schultz fin- a white man before. And if they had, ished his tale. His mouth felt as though never ones who arrived in a submarine. all the saliva had dried up; and his We stepped ashore and they brought voice was hoarse with a strain as he us gifts of fruit. Their chief, Mawtaw, said, “But you said that nine men bade us welcome; in fluent German.” were—” he could not finish. There was Latimer broke in with a startled ex- no need to. He knew Von Schultz was clamation, “German! Then they speak telling the truth. The same thing had German and English too!” happened to himself. To Virginia, Von Schultz laughed, but silently this Benjy, Bremner time. Only his shaking body showed it. They had died, yet they were alive. “Yes. I was surprised to hear my Didn’t they breathe, talk, feel and mother tongue spilled from their heath- think as they had before? Except for en mouths. But when I asked old Maw- the amazing episode of the healing flesh, taw where they had learned the lan- there had been no material changes in guage, he said, ‘German, you call it? their bodies. Von Schultz had aged There is only one tongue spoken on normally in the years of his stay on the Tanoa. It is the language of the dead!’ island. Therefore, it was plain that al- “One of my men could speak Spanish. though one could die, he could live to I commanded him to address the chief die again. in that language. And when he spoke He was becoming dizzy from these I understood what Mawtaw meant. Be- mad speculations. Another thought cause I, who knew no Spanish, under- crossed his mind, to add to his wor- stood every word that same from his ries. Did Virginia understand the full mouth. You see, on Tanoa, all languages impact of Von Schultz’s story? He are one. The language of the dead.” leaned over to look beyond the huge “I see,” muttered Latimer. But he bulk of the red-bearded one’s torso. didn’t see. Virginia was staring at Von Schultz A vagrant breeze came through the with a doubting look. trees, bringing with it a remembered Latimer could see that she didn’t be- odor. And with every step the bearers lieve Von Schultz. She shook her head took, the odor became heavier and more slowly from side to side like a mar- cloying. ionette on a string, as though to clear Latimer was reminded of his return- it of some terrible thought. Then she ing to life on the beach. That breeze leaned back and lay staring broodingly which he had felt was thick with this ahead. fragrance. The very air seemed alive There was something brutally callous with it now, and he had the strangest in the look Von Schultz bent on her notion that it was entering into every relaxed body before he turned to face pore of his body. His mind felt a weari- Latimer again. But neither Latimer nor ness, which was curiously peaceful, de- the girl saw that look. scend on it. ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM 165 Von Schultz looked closely at Lati- To his right, ascending in a long, mer. He, too, noticed the odor but, pe- gradual slope, was a large hill. The culiarly, was unaffected by it. upper quarter of this hill seemed to “Ahl” he said, “the wind is bringing blaze with red color. to us the fragrance of the red lotus. A “The red lotus,” Von Schultz com- most delightful odor, is it not, Pro- mented, seeing Latimer’s stare. fessor?” To his left, Latimer saw a shorter, “Huh?” asked Latimer, stupidly. but steeper hill. Shaped like an up- “I said, do you smell the fragrance turned bread loaf, its top had been of the red lotus?” replied Von Schultz. sheared level. It looked very much like “Yes — I — can — smell — it — an Arizona mesa, with its eroded, bar- now,” Latimer said, slowly pausing be- ren appearance. Perched on its top, he tween words. It was a most peculiar saw, was a strange looking stone edifice. feeling that possessed him. That he was It looked very much like a stone prison. being hypnotized by the scent of the Long, narrow openings in the stone sur- tlowers. Being hypnotized by the lotus. face of its three stories seemed to be The phrase rang a warning bell in his windows. But the sun threw back no mind. He exerted dominance over his reflections from any glass in the embra- mind by a fierce effoh of his will. He sures. would not be hypnotized by either man “And that, I presume, is your cas- or flower. And his eyes cleared of the tle,” Latimer said. mists which had arisen to cloud them. “Yes, that is my castle,” replied Von Von Schultz saw the light of reason Schultz. return to Latimer. He shrugged impa- “Unlovely sort of place, isn’t it?” tiently, but the wolfish grin still re- “That depends on your ideas of beau - mained on his face. The grin which had ty, Professor,” the other returned. appeared when he saw how the odor “I’m sorry if I can’t think of a of the flow’er had first affected Latimer. dungeon being beautiful,” Latimer “It is a peculiar virtue of my red ironically replied. lotus,” Von Schultz stated, “that it can, They remained silent while their through its overpowering odor alone, bearers, who had evidently been in- produce a state bordering on hypnosis. structed to do so, ran up the long steep For instance, no birds sing where it incline which led to the castle’s en- blooms. Yet they fly to and sit upon trance. its branches. You will find the shrub As soon as the litters were placed to be of great interest, Professor.” on the ground, Latimer hastened to Vir- “I am sure I will,” replied Latimer ginia and helped her up. He was dis- aloud. But to himself, be said, “Yes, and turbed to see her in an obvious state I will also find what makes it so inter- of shock. Her eyes were listless and esting to you, that you call them your her movements mechanical. She seemed red lotus.” to find trouble in standing erect. Lati- mer put his arm around her and when jl^ATIMER noticed that the trees Von Schultz came over, said, “We’d were thinning out. At last there better get Miss Darnell to bed. I’m were no more trees and they came out afraid your story was a little too much into a sort of shallow valley. His eyes for her, coupled with what she’s gone grew bright with astonishment at what through.” he saw. Von Schultz said, “Bring her in. It is 1G6 AMAZING STORIES the lotus fragrance. ITl have a couple years I have been here,” answered Von of native women take care of her. SheTl Schultz. “Nor does it ever rain. Yet be all right in a few hours.” things grow and flowers and trees look Latimer lifted her limp figure in his eternally fresh and green. Something arms and followed Von Schultz through in the atmosphere, set up by the red the stone entrance of his castle. Vir- mist, protects us from the elements, no ginia’s mouth and chin rested warmly doubt.” against his throat. He almost dropped Von Schultz turned away from the her—when her lips whispered against window with a sudden abrupt gesture. his ear, “Careful, Fm just acting a part. “Come,” he said. “Bremner and your Watch Von Schultz. He’s got some- young sailor friend are below now. I’ll thing up his sleeve.” have the women bring food up here for He was able to control himself as he Miss Darnell.” continued to follow Von Schultz through Latimer followed him down the stair- a large square-shaped room and up a case again and into the large square curving stone staircase. They arrived room. Benjy and Bremner were seated at what apparently was a bedroom, for at a table which had been brought in. in it was an excellent specimen of na- He also saw that a number of natives tive handicraft, an imitation of a four had come in and were ranged around poster bed. It was made from thin the walls in silent watchfulness. saplings, a thick pile of ferns lay on a “My faithful retainers,” Von Schultz closely woven vine spring. Latimer said ironically. laid the lax figure of the girl on it. Benjy looked sick and frightened. Von Schultz stepped to one of the Bremner had evidently told him the two narrow windows. He called Lati- story of Von Schultz. And probably mer over and pointed to something elaborated on it. For that matter, Brem- below, saying, “There it is, Professor. ner didn’t look like he was enjoying My submarine, lying at its eternal an- the situation too well either. chorage.” Now that he was away from the girl, Von Schultz broke into his usual loud T ATIMER looked down the sheer talk. His laugh boomed around the face of the house and cliff. Just room as they sat down. below him he could see a shallow har- “Cheer up, my friend,” he said to bor, several hundred feet long. A small Bremner, slapping him forcefully on his submarine rested on the water’s sur- back. “The world has not come to an hold all face. He could also see a small break in end for you. Life here may not it has the reef, just wide enough for the sub- that you’re accustomed to, but marine to get through. But the water its good points.” came through this break with the ex- “And speaking of life here,” Latimer press train speed of a mill stream. The said, “what are your intentions as far bright sun, reflecting in a golden glow as we’re concerned.” time. Lati- on the still waters of the harbor, lent “All in good Professor a false impression of peace and security mer,” Von Schultz replied. “Right now, to the scene. food is what I want.” Latimer commented on this. Benjy shook his head in admiration “Strange,” he said, “but I haven’t seen of the big man’s appetite. any clouds over this island.” Von Schultz clapped his hands and of “Nor have I, in all the twenty-seven women began arriving with platters ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM 167 chicken, pig and fruit. As far as Lati- day you will go into the village, and mer was concerned, they were the same work with the men gathering fruit. To- women who had waited on them the morrow, I will put you to work—at night before. At least they appeared so labor. Carrying stones up to my cas- in the silence and mechanical motions tle.” they went through. He called over one of the natives Among the fruits, Latimer noticed a standing against the wall. “Take them peculiar looking, red colored one which away,” he said, and sat down again resembled a banana. Curiosity impelled to finish his meal. him to ask what it was. Three natives stepped forward and “Oh that,” replied Von Schultz, “is each taking a white man under an arm, the fruit of the lotus. Try it. YouTl led him out of the castle. They took find it’s delicious.” a well-traveled trail which wound Latimer bit into it and as Von Schultz around for a distance about a mile and had said, it was delicious. Benjy and came to an end in a large village. The Bremner also tried the lotus fruit. So drug which the fruit contained had done good was it that Latimer found himself its work well. The three white men in reaching for a second and then a third. their walk and feelings were indistin- It was immediately after he swal- guishable from the natives. But a small lowed the third one that he began to part of Latimer’s brain still functioned. feel strangely. He pivoted his head to- It wasn’t large enough to command his ward where Benjy and Bremner were body to break the spell, but it did per- sitting; and noticed what a great effort mit Latimer to observe what went on. it took to do so. Both Benjy and Brem- It was a village, with about thirty ner had stopped eating and were look- large huts set in a great circle around ing empty-eyed before them. an open space about a hundred yards in “They look exactly like the natives diameter. Latimer noticed that it do with that far-away lost look in their seemed to be occupied only by women eyes,” was his thought. “I wondeT if and dogs. And even the dogs moved in I look the same.” that same jerky abnormal way the hu- mans did. One of the guards called to 'y/'ON SCHULTZ stood up now and a woman. looked down at the three men sit- “Where is Lato?” ting so silently at the table. His laugh- Her face was dull and animalish look- ter rang out loud and wild in the room. ing. “In his hut,” she said. “Now you know the secret of the “Call him out. I have three more here red lotus, Professor. You have tasted to help pick the fruit.” of it and you, too, hav^e become my Without a word, she turned and slave. I promised you that I would put stepped into one of the huts. She reap- you to work with them and I will. Get peared in a moment followed by a little up! All of you!” old man. She went back to whatever she Latimer tried with all of his will not had been doing when she was called. to obey. But he found himself erect, The old man came over and the guard just as Benjy and Bremner were. His told him, “Take them into the forest to arms hung loose a his sides and he pick fruit. Tomorrow they will help seemed to bend a little at the knees. carry stones.” Von Schultz looked gloatingly at The old man cackled in a wheezy them for a few seconds, then said, “To- voice, “Oh, good. They look like they 168 AMAZING STORIES were strong enough. Yes, they do look pricking penetrated through the hyp- that. Well, come along then,” he said nosis he was under. Yet, so powerful and started off into the forest. was the spell of the drag that he con- The three men followed him in sin- tinued to pull at the red fruit until it gle file as he picked his unerring way came loose from the thorns. through the tangled underbrush. He didn’t know how many baskets Thorns and sharp vines tore at them he filled. He only knew that he had but they felt no pain. Nor did they been commanded to pick until the old make any attempt to wipe the blood man came back. from the cuts which were inflicted on The sun disappeared behind the red them. mist before the old man returned. He The path which the old man was fol- called Latimer and the other two over lowing led upward toward that part of to him. the hill where the lotus bloomed. Soon “Now fill those large baskets over they came to the first cluster of shrubs, there with the fruit you picked and fol- which grew to a height of about eight low me,” feet. The odor from the flowers was The other pickers were already do- overwhelming, but the three men were ing what the old man told them to. strangely unaffected by it. In a few Soon a long line of men came shuffling minutes they arrived in a region where back to the village, each carrying his the shrubs grew more profusely. They large basket of fruit. The baskets were seemed, in fact, to be the only vegeta- placed in the center of the clearing and tion that did grow here. the men disappeared into the huts. Latimer saw the sweat-shiny backs Latimer, Benjy and Bremner were of a number of men. They were all given a smaller hut to sleep in. They picking fruit and placing the fruit in a came in and sat on the hard-packed small basket on the ground before them. ground, facing each other. But their The old man now took the three to eyes were empty of recognition. They a number of small woven baskets lying simply sat and looked woodenly about in a pile to one side. them. Soon a woman came in bringing “Each of you take one of these,” he food. * They ate mechanically of what commanded, “and go to a tree. Pick un- lay on the platter. Strangely enough, til the basket is full, then bring it back they seemed to relish most the banana- and take another basket. I will tell you looking fruit of the lotus. Finishing when to stop. Go now to your pick- their meal, they lay down on the ground ing.” and fell into a deep and untroubled The three followed his directions, sleep. like well-drilled robots. And each, bas- It was sometime in the night that ket under his arm, disappeared in search Latimer was awakened by the little dog. of a shrub to pick from. He pushed its furry body away from him. But the dog had evidently taken T ATIMER found himself before one a liking to him. For it came bounding ^ leaps, of the shrubs and reached up to back, frisking about him in short take hold of the fruit hanging just over growling playfully as though it were a his head. A thousand needles seemed game. to have exploded into his fingers. The That part of Latimer’s brain which fruit was encased within a shell of had remained unimpaired, was franti- thorns so sharp that the pain from their cally sending a message. ‘‘Watch the ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM 169 dog! Watch the dog! Watch the dog!'* is a heaven for dogs, I hope you’ll get And at last he understood. He was there.” sweating with the strain of the effort He set to work looking for other it took to concentrate on thinking even flowers like that which he had swal- a little. But at last he understood. lowed. In a short while he had collected The dog was leaping about as all enough to fill all his pockets. Then he normal dogs do. Yet Latimer had seen returned to their hut. the natives feed the dogs the fruit also. He awoke Benjy first. “Here,” he Then how was it that the fruit did not commanded, “chew on this flower and apect this particular dog? swallow it.” The boy did as he was told and in a few seconds Latimer saw the J^ATIMER had to find out. He blank, wooden look disappear from his reached out his hand and picked eyes. It was the old Benjy who looked up the pup. He stood up and walked wonderingly about him and asked, out in that stiff legged sway which they “What happened, Professor? How did all used, to where the fruit lay in the I get here?” basket. Reaching down he picked up Latimer told him what had happened one of the fruit and with a free hand at Von Schultz’s castle. And in con- forced it down the dog^s throat. Then clusion said, “Boy. We’ve got him he placed the dog on the ground to see licked! These white flowers are an an- what happened next. tidote for the drug in the lotus fruit. The drug in the fruit had already All we have to do is feed the natives taken effect. For the dog had turned this flower to bring them out of their and was walking toward the forest. And trance. And the hold that Von Schultz now his gait was the same as all the has over them will be broken. After I others had been. Latimer followed him. give this to Bremner, we’ll start off with The way led deep into the underbrush the little old man.” for several hundred feet. Latimer’s face “You’re not going to give it to Brem- was bleeding again from the new ner, are you? Not after what he did scratches which the thorns gave. to you and Miss Virginia,” Benjy asked But just ahead of him the dog had in surprise. stopped and was tearing at a short white “Yes I am. We’ll need every man. plant with his teeth. Whatever was in Remember, Von Schultz still has at least the plant took effect almost immediate- fifty men up there with him, all armed,” ly. The dog shook himself for a second, Latimer answered. then returned to Latimer. And he saw He awakened Bremner and gave him that the dog was in a playful mood the antidote. It worked on him as it again. had on Latimer and Benjy. Latimer got down on his knees and “Keep quiet and follow us. I’ll tell tore off some of the white blooms. He you what to do,” Latimer commanded didn’t hesitate in putting them in his him. mouth. The flower gave off an acrid The three men stole softly into Lato’s smell, but he managed to swallow it. In hut. The old man was sound asleep. a few seconds life and reason returned While Benjy and Bremner held him, to his body and mind. He could think Latimer forced the old man to swallow clearly. His limbs obeyed the com- the white flower. And again the miracle mands of his brain again. of the antidote took place. “Pup,” he said, thankfully, “if there “VTao are you?” the old man asked. 170 AMAZING STORIES Latimer told him as much as was pos- Latimer swore. “I shouldn’t have sible in a few sentences. brought that double-crossing Nazi out “You want to end the rule of this of it. Now we’ve lost the element of cruel man, don’t you?” asked Latimer. surprise.” “Yes,” answered Lato. “He has “You mean we’re not going to get held us in his power for long years. Von Schultz, then?” Benjy asked in Tell me what to do and it will be done.” disappointment. “Here are these flowers,” Latimer “Oh yes. We’ll get him. And Brem- said. “Feed them to those whom you ner too. But I’ll have to figure out a want awakened first. Then bring them different means from what I’d planned.” here and I will show you where I found His mind raced over what he re- these.” membered about the so-called castle. He snapped his fingers in glee as he 'Y'HE old man took the flowers and rememl^red what it was that he had left quickly. In a few moments he seen. He knew how they were to gain returned with a dozen men. They all entrance. It was going to be risky, but looked as though they had been awak- it could be done. ened from some deep and terrible Already the first of the men were dream. But their eyes were bright with beginning to arrive. Soon the village life. And their movements were free compound was a boiling mass of angry and alive. natives. Lato had given the antidote “Command us, white man,” Lato not only to the men but also to the said. “We’re yours, to do with as you women and even to the dogs. wish.” The women were the bloodthirstiest. Latimer took them all to where he It was their voices which were raised had found the flowers and set them to loudest in cries of vengeance. But the collecting as many as they could. They men, though silent for the most part, used the little baskets to collect them were hot in anger. Latimer could see in and in a short while there were by the light of a number of fires, which enough to awaken every man in the had been set by the first women to ar- village. rive, that their faces were set in de- ‘iNow go and feed these to all the termination. rest and come to the compound in the They were in a great circle about center of the village. There I will tell him when Latimer raised his hand for you how we can overcome Von silence. Schultz,” Latimer told them. “People of Tanoa,” he cried in a The natives scattered to the various loud voice. They all fell silent as he be- huts, each carrying his little basket of gan to speak. “I have set' you free from white flowers. It wasn’t until they had your bondage. The power which the all gone that Latimer noticed Bremner red lotus has held over you is broken had disappeared also. for good. But Von Schultz, the man who “Where is Bremner?” he asked. made use of that power for his own evil “Gee, I don’t know,” Benjy replied. purpose, still walks free.” “He was here just a few minutes ago.” A confused shout of anger came from But Latimer knew where Bremner the throats of the milling natives. Lato had gone. To tell Von Schultz of what stepped forward to face Latimer. was taking place. “Tell us, white man, what we must “Damn it, Benjy, you were right,” do,” he said. ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM 171 “^^ERY well/' said Latimer. “Bring across the roadway leading to the three men whom you can trust castle. completely, to my hut. Have the rest “Well, Lato,” he said. “There you scatter and pick up whatever weapons are. Do you think you can get they can find. We’ll meet here in a few through?” minutes.” Lato smiled. “I,” he said, “am an old “Now here is my plan,” Latimer be- man. Life holds little for me. But what gan. “Von Schultz has about fifty men sweeter way of dying is there than in with him. How many are there of us, fighting my enemy?” Lato?” With that he spread his men out and The old man turned to the three with began a cautious advance to get as close him and whispered to them for a sec- as they could, before charging. Lato’s ond. Then he said, “We are one hun- lieutenants had already started up the dred and fifty, white man.” sides of the ravine. “Good! That should be enough. The Latimer waited for a minute, then road leading to the castle entrance is started off through the dense under- about twenty feet across. To either side brush, Benjy and the eleven others fol- there is a steep ravine. You, Lato, will lowing close behind. In a short while the take the largest body of men with you brush thinned out and soon they found in a frontal attack on the road. Two of themselves on the beach, below the rear you,” and Latimer pointed to two of of the castle. the men sitting beside Lato, “will take Now Benjy and the rest saw what twenty men each, and climb through Latimer had in mind. Although the the underbrush of the ravine. Keep plateau fell sheer, erosion had formed well hidden until Lato begins his front- depressions like narrow trenches. These al attack. Then fall upon Von Schultz led to the very top of the plateau. And men from the sides. Now you,” he said Latimer had planned to use these to last of the three, “will pick ten of the trenches as rungs in an earthen ladder youngest and strongest men you have. to mount to the castle. It was there, he I have a special task for them. That, knew, that the real job commenced. my friends, is my plan.” Benjy had been staring at the sub- Lato and the three with him nodded marine in the small harbor. their heads in satisfaction and agree- “Well I’ll be hanged,” he exclaimed, ment and the parley broke up. Quickly “a German pig boat. And an old one they set about on their appointed tasks too. About a 1914 model I’d say.” and soon they, with Latimer, Benjy and “How do you know so much about Lato leading them, were on the march. submarines, Benjy?” Latimer asked. Only the women and dogs remained. “My father worked in a shipyard The dawn had sent its first grey light that was making them. I went to work into the darkness when they arrived in there when I was seventeen. And the the narrow village before the small first thing they did was show us one of plateau. Latimer saw that Bremner had these babies. An old Dutchman took us done as he had suspected. Von Schultz on board and explained the workings of had been warned of their coming. Huge the valves and engines. I can even read bonfires had been lighted and all the the dial markings. Do you know'. Pro- ground before them was bright in their fessor,” he said, “you can run one of glow. Latimer saw a thin line of guards, those things with a crew of three.” spears held in their hands, stretched “You can,” exclaimed Latimer, a wild ! 172 AMAZING STORIES idea taking root in his mind. that my story about your brother was “It’d be a cinch, boss,” Benjy a lie. You see, your brother died in the boasted. wTeckage of his plane.” Latimer smiled to himself. Then Virginia hadn’t noticed him edging dimly to his ears came the first sounds ever closer to her while he held her at- of battle. It was the signal to begin the tention by his talk. It was too late when ascent, of the plateau. They made short she did, for his fingers were almost on work of it and soon they were looking the gun before she could pull its trig- up at the more difficult business of the ger. But neither had seen Latimer and castle wall. silent group of natives in the doorway. It was Latimer who leaped on Brem- T ATIMER noticed that the first em- ner before he quite got his hands on the brasure in the wall was about thirty gun. But this was not the Bremner of feet up the face. But the castle had the boat. This was a Bremner who bit been constructed of rough cut stones, and clawed. Who had only one thing in about two feet across. And the native mind—to kill. masons had permitted a little amount Latimer managed to get a grip on of hangover to some of them. Just Bremner’s sweaty throat, but his fin- enough for finger grips. It was a risky gers, weak from their labor on the cas- business, but it could be done. It had tle wall, could not hold the grip. Brem- to be done ner twisted about savagely and now Latimer led the way and saw that Latimer was on the bottom with Brem- Benjy was the very next one to follow. ner’s fingers in a strangle hold on his It was a trying ordeal. Latimer’s fingers throat. Blackness was swimming before were tender and sore from the cuts of his eyes. He could feel his tongue the needle-like thorns, but he forgot his swelling in his mouth from the terrible pain and weariness in the climb. He pressure of Bremner’s fingers when a knew if he fell it would be a sheer drop loud report rang out. Bremner coughed of a hundred and fifty feet to the beach softly once and rolled away from Lat- below. Once, in the climb, one of his imer. hands slipped from a finger-hold and A little curl of smoke was coming he hung by the other until his feet found from the gun in Virginia’s hand. Lati- security in a niche. mer leaped to his feet and ran to her. At last he came to the goal he sought, And then with a huge shout, Von the long, narrow open window, and Schultz leaped into the room—and was climbed through. One by one the rest met by the screaming body of natives. followed him. The room was empty His demoniac blows sent several reel- and Latimer led them down the stone ing. But no human could have with- stairway to the main hall. And there stood the savagery of their fury. In a they came on a scene that held them few minutes it was all over. spellbound. “Where did you get the gun?” Lati- Virginia, a Luger automatic held in mer asked her. one hand, was facing Bremner. Brem- “I found is after the women had left. ner’s face was contorted into lines of Von Schultz had evidently forgotten he deep anger. had it. I hid it in my dress. When the “It is too late now, my dear,” he was fight began outside, I came down here; saying. “That gun will do you no good. Bremner saw me and then you came Just as it will do you no good to know in.” ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM 173 T ATIMER led Virginia out of the bered eagerly down the hatchway, and room. She walked past what had in a few moments his high-pitched voice once been the living body of Von came floating up to them. Schultz with averted eyes. The natives, “Everything looks to be in working in their fury, had committed unspeak- order. Come on down, and maybe we able things to him before he died. Now, can get the motors started.” their fury spent, they followed Latimer The two descended the hatchway, and the girl through the door. sealed the entrance behind them. The The victorious natives, with Lato at dull dang of the metal hatch rang hol- their head, were waiting for them. lowly and ominously through the death- “It is all over then?” asked Latimer. like silence of the submarine’s hull. “Yes,” the old man answered. “And Latimer and Virginia joined Benjy, what are your wishes now, white man? took up the posts he indicated. Then at Speak, and whatever you want shall be his signal they turned levers, wheels, given youl” watched dials. And in a moment a Latimer did not answer, but instead muffled beat of motors came from the led the girl down the incline and around bowels of the little ship. through the underbrush, until once “She’s going!” exulted Benjy. again they were on the beach of the Latimer sighed with relief. “Okay, shallow lagoon. Lato and the natives lad, let’s get into the control room, and stood around in a silent throng waiting take her out.” for Latimer to speak. Latimer took up his post at the peri- “There it is, Virginia,” he began. scope, and at his direction, Benjy “That will take us from this island.” maneuvered the sluggish pigboat, “Are you mad, Hugh?” she asked in creaking in every joint, out of the slip a horrified whisper. “Don’t you remem- where it had rested for twenty-seven ber what Von Schultz said? And what years. Latimer saw Lato and his na- we went through?” tives watching fearfully and sadly from “Yes, my dear,” he answered. “But the beach, then turned his attention to no matter what you think, we’re going the wall of red dust out over the open through the red dust.” sea. Latimer turned to Benjy. “Lad,” he Nothing could be seen beyond it, but said. “In .spite of what happened when as they approached it, his hair rose on we came through that red area before, the back of his neck. The water just are you game to go back? Even if what beneath the dust—Latimer knew all at happened to us when we landed on the once it wasn’t dust at all, but a form beach of this island—doesn’t happen of terrific energy of some sort, forming again?” a shell of hellish torment on this, its in- Benjy looked white, but he nodded. side ring. Outside, it had been thin as “Yeah,” he whispered. “I’m game. they entered it. Here it would be like Let’s get cutting. I don’t want to spend running squarely into a whirling buzz- the rest of my—” he stumbled over the saw. “ words —the rest of my life, or what- “Keep her going,” directed Latimer, ever it is, here.” giving no sign of what he saw. But his “Then come on.” Latimer turned to face was white. Benjy looked at him, Lato and his people and bid them and his face became tense. He spoke goodbye. Then they went aboard the not a word. He licked his lips, but they ancient German U-boat. Benjy clam- seemed to remain dry. — 174 AMAZING STORIES ]S[OW a roaring noise began to come wave of blackness he sank down into through the hull—a noise that was nothingness . . . not a noise at all, because it was so low in the auditory scale. It was more like ^LL WAS quiet in the ship. The the aura of a devasting force which muffled sound of the motors came was approaching nearer and nearer. with the certainty that tortured pistons Latimer knew the truth as he watched fought against warped piston walls, and through the periscope. Nothing could were failing. Almost they seemed to pass through that weird area of awful stop, but always they managed to beat energy and come out on the other side on just one more stroke. alive! Almost he quailed, turned the Latimer was aware of that first. And ship back. Then he gritted his teeth, he lay there, eyes closed, not trying to kept his eyes glued on the red wall ad- associate the sound with anything else. vancing closer and closer Not until it stopped. With a last groan Shrieking, tearing hell was upon the motors stopped. Latimer struggled them now. Giant circular saws seemed to sit up. He looked around him, saw grinding away at the metal hull, seek- Benjy lying quietly, head pillowed on ing to tear it apart. But somehow it one arm, as though asleep. He was didn’t seem to be a physical force. The asleep! His breathing was deep and metal itself buckled and went through regular. weird transformations, but it seemed “Virginia!” Latimer moaned. He to remain its general shape, although struggled to a standing position, saw much tortured. Virginia lying on her side, her eyes A scream came from Benjy’s lips, and wide as she stared at him. “You’re Latimer’s eyes jerked from the eye- alive!” he gasped. “Oh, Virginia, we’re piece of the periscope. Benjy was. writh- alive!” ing in awful agony, and even as Lati- . She sat up as he came to her. “Yes,” mer watched, his body contorted in- she said wonderingly. “We are. But credibly, and there came the sound of how?” snapping bones. As though he was pass- He held her close. “I think I can ex- ing through a field of force that altered plain it,” he. said. “But let’s wake Benjy every atom of his make-up, sought to first, and find out where we are.” tear him to shreds. And in Benjy’s But it was unnecessary to wake bloody face Latimer saw death! Benjy Benjy. He rolled over, stared at them was dead! a moment, then got up. “If I’m dead,” Then Latimer’s courage gave way. he declared, “I’m glad of it. That pain He whirled toward the steering gear, was something I never want to stand to turn the ship back. But he was too again.” late. With an awful, tortured scream, They went up on deck. All about Virginia reeled toward him, but fell to them was the open sea, and nowhere in the floor before she reached him, her sight was any land, nor any red cloud body caught in the invisible force. Once of dust. Off on the horizon was a black more Latimer heard the sound of snap- smudge. ping bones, and he heard the sound of “Ship, ahoy!” yelled Benjy. For his own voice screaming in utter terror many moments they watched, saw that as he leaped toward the stricken girl. the smudge was getting larger. “Com- Then, with unutterable agony, the ing this way!” said Benjy at last, voic- force reached him, and in a whirling ing the answer to the question they had — ISLAND OF ETERNAL STORM 175 all been asking themselves. as our own natural laws were concerned. “Yes,” said Latimer. “It looks as So, when we passed through the barrier, though it can’t miss us.” and were killed—deprived of our life force natural to that other universe 'y/’IRGINIA turned to him. “But we really were taking on what is nor- what about us?” she asked. “How mal life, to this world. In other words, is it that we are alive? I can under- if we hadn’t died, coming through the stand the island. Somehow, on that is- barrier, we would have been dead when land, there was a power that restored we reached the other side. But we did life. But certainly there is no such pow- die, and therefore, we are alive.” er out here in our own world. How, then, Benjy swallowed hard. “Mr. Lati- did we come to life again?” mer, would you do me a favor?” he said “I don’t exactly know,” said Latimer, hoarsely. “but here’s my idea on it. Remember “What is it?” what Von Schultz said about a legend “Let’s not talk about it any more. of a meteor? Well, meteors come from It gives me the creeps. I’m only a plain, space. They are vagrant pieces of stone ordinary seaman, and right now I feel or metal that may have traveled alive and okay. Let’s just forget the through space for so many years that whole thing, and talk about that ship the distance could not even be imag- that’s coming. For instance, I could use ined. How can we know but what life a nice big stack of wheatcakes and ” wherever that meteor comes from is not maple syrup right now ! something different than life here? “Looks like you’ll get them,” ob- VTiat if it were exactly the opposite? served Latimer with a smile. “That What if life were death, and death were ship coming up is one of our own bat' life?” tlewagons, or I never saw the stars and “What’s that again?” asked Benjy. stripes!” “It’s just this,” said Latimer. “Let’s Benjy jumped, uttered a cry of alarm. say that meteor, obeying natural laws of All at once he stripped off his shirt and life directly in opposition to our own, waved it wildly in the air. landed on that island. Now, the influ- “What’s the matter?” asked Lati- ence of it might be great enough to re- mer. verse the natural life-law of the island. “Matter!” yelled Benjy. “If I know In its descent, it killed all the popula- those lads on that ship, they’ll start tion, but because death is really life shooting first and ask questions after- where it came from, the transition ended ward. This is a Jerry sub we’re on I” in life for the inhabitants, not death. Latimer jerked off his shirt and began They died, but that made them live. waving too. Virginia looked about a Don’t you see? If they hadn’t died, moment, then began waving her hand. they would have been dead.” Latimer looked at her, then stopped Benjy frowned, then his eyes lit in a waving his shirt. “Quit waving your smile. “Sounds reasonable,” he said hand,” he said. “They’ve seen us, and cheerfully, “even If I don’t get it!” I won’t have you flirting with any of “But what about us?” objected Vir- those boys!” ginia. Virginia stopped waving. “Oh, “Simple,” said Latimer. “We were Hugh!” she said. alive while on the island, but alive with “Oh, you, yourself!” said Latimer, a life that was really death, insofar Then he kissed her. The Needle Points to DEATH By GERALD VANCE Jeff was about to lose both his life and his wife. Then a wavering needle pointed to an odd solution! EFF MORAN made several last- “I guess so,” Jeff said, feeling his minute adjustments on the square nerves slowly relaxing again. He knew J apparatus which was in position he was keyed up to an impossible ten- on his lab bench. The equipment was sion—had been for the last few months. constructed of gleaming metal and its It hadn’t been easy for Ann, he knew, four smooth sides were studded with but if things went well today, they could rheostats and gauges. On top of the both forget the harrowing, nervous box-like device was a calibrated bar strain of those months. that recorded a measurement of tem- “You’re about ready for the final perature down to within a fractional test, aren’t you?” Ann asked. decimal point of absolute zero. There Jeff nodded. “Dexter’s waiting for was a barometric gauge above this, and my signal right now. We’ll know in a sensitive pressure indicator. a few minutes—one w^ay or the other.” Jeff’s lean face was anxious as he Ann put her hand on his arm. “Jeff, studied the equipment and made the if things don’t turn out the way we last final checks. Everything was hope, it won’t really matter to us. We’ll right. He’d know in a few more mo- just go on trying until it does.” ments whether his months of research Jeff patted her shoulder and smiled and work had achieved a practical into her eyes. At moments like this he result. realized how lucky he was to have Twenty, thousand miles above the Ann at his side. She was a small girl, tiny V'enusian weather-base his partner, with a quick smile and short brown Bill Dexter, was circling slowly in a hair, and in her leather trousers and space ship, waiting for word from Jeff. shirt she looked like a young boy. A door opened behind him and Jeff “I think I’ve got it this time,” he turned quickly. Ann, his wife, smiled said, “but there’s always a chance I at him as she came toward him. overlooked something.” “Kind of jumpy, aren’t you, mister?” “I wish I understood more about 176 178 AMAZING STORIES your work,” Ann said. “Sometimes I a notation of the figures on a chart. feel that you’d like to talk to me about Then he turned to the box-like device things, but can’t because I’m such a on the bench and slowly closed a switch. ninny.” The lab seemed unnaturally still as the “That’s nonsense,” Jeff grinned, delicate registering needle began to “You’re the perfect listener and that’s flicker back and forth across the cali- all any scientist wants. Anyway, this brated bar. device isn’t particularly complex. It’s He could feel his heart beating loudly simply a means to determine the tem- and rapidly and his hands were clenched perature in space at any given time. tightly. Finally the swinging needle You know, of course, that the tempera- came to a stop and Jeff bent quickly ture in the void is always pretty close down and read the number. He felt to absolute zero but it would be a great a sudden singing sensation in his ; ears. help in rocket construction and naviga- “Ann!” he yelled. “Look!” tion if we could know that tempera- Ann’s head was close to his as she ture exactly, especially in areas like this bent down and he could see the happy, where there is considerable variation. excited flush on her cheeks as she If my reasoning and work has been checked the number. correct the Allied Research Council will “Oh, Jeff,” she said breathlessly, have me on its staff inside of two weeks “how wonderful!” to superintend mass productiofi of the The needle was pointing squarely at altoscope. And that will be living again the numerals, .005. It was all over. for you, honey. This drab hole is no He signaled Dexter excitedly. place for a woman.” “Dex,” he shouted, “it worked! Can “I’ve never minded,” Ann said. you hear me?” “You’d say that anyway,” Jeff said. There was a short pause. Then: “But you’ll appreciate Earth a lot more “Sure I can hear you. Congratulations. after your two years here.” You’ll be the big shot of Allied Re- search now for sure.” p-TE TURNED to the radio switch Jeff didn’t miss the bitterness in his and contacted Dexter. In a min- partner’s voice. Bill Dexter was a good ute his partner’s brash, confident voice enough scientist, but he had a peculiar was in the room. streak in him. He resented other “All set, Jeff?” people’s good luck, and he had the idea “Yes. Let me check your position that he had been shelved away in an again.” unimportant spot because he lacked “Twenty thousand miles on the head, the right connections. northeast of the base by 21 degrees. “I suppose,” he went on, “you’ll clear Got it?” out of here fast enough now that your “Okay. Now what’s the temperature luck has turned.” reading?” “That won’t be up to me,” Jeff said. There was a short silence and Jeff “Anyway the alloscope hasn’t really felt a film of perspiration beading his been proven yet. I want to make quite brow as he waited. Finally Dexter’s a few more tests before I consider it voice came. right. Maybe this was just a fluke.” “.005,” he said. “Check?” He felt annoyed at himself for prac- “Got it,” Jeff said. tically apologizing to Dexter for his own He wiped his hands after he made success. THE NEEDLE POINTS TO DEATH 179 “I’m sure it’s no fluke,” Dexter said, said. “No more of this life for you.” after a moment. “You aren’t the kind “I feel good,” Jeff said evenly, “but who makes mistakes. Great scientists not because I may get a little more com- never do. They leave them for suckers fortable job through this work of mine. like me who haven’t an uncle or brother I’m thinking about the additional safety on the Council.” this device will bring to space naviga- tion. If it saves one life it’ll be well worth the time and labor I’ve spent on TjriS voice went off with a click. Jeff it.” signaled him again, but the set was “Hear, hear,” Dexter said jeeringly. dead. He turned to find Ann regarding “Save that for the banquets when you him with a worried little smile. get to Earth.” “Dexter sounded rather bitter,” she He sauntered over to the lab bench said. and studied the gleaming instrument “I know. It’s too bad he has to take with an odd look in his eye. His atten- it this way, but that isn’t my fault.” tion was centered on the red needle that Ann turned away and said quietly, indicated the temperature. “rn be glad to get away from here for “I’ve got to hand it to you at that,” one reason.” he said finally. “It’s of “What’s that?” a neat piece work.” “Dexter.” “Thanks,” Jeff said dryly. “I thought you two got along all Dexter an inquisitive finger at right,” Jeff said with a puzzled frown. poked the needle, but caught his wrist be- His face hardened swiftly and he put his Jeff hands on her shoulders and turned her fore he could touch it. to face him. “Did he ever give you any “What’s the matter?” Dexter de- trouble?” manded. “Do you think I’m a sabo- “Oh, nothing like that,” Ann said. teur?” She shrugged and tried to smile. “May “No,” Jeff said, “but that needle is be I’m Just being a silly woman, but charged with almost five thousand volts he looks at me tometimes with that of electricity.” Dexter arrogant smile of his and I feel—oh, I dropped his hand back to his don’t know how to say what I mean.” side with an almost frightened gesture. “I know,” Jeff said. “We’ll be gone “Hell of a thing to leave exposed,” soon, but if he ever bothers you ITl he said. break him over my knee.” “I had to,” Jeff said patiently. “When “I shouldn’t have said anything to it goes onto a space ship, naturally it you about it,” Ann said. “You’ve got will be insulated or covered with glass. enough on your mind without worrying But I’ve had so many checks and altera- about your temperamental wife. Now tions to make that I didn’t bother about go on with your work. I’ll fix you some it now.” lunch.” “How do you work on it if it’s Jeff was busy recording the results of charged?” Dexter asked. the experiment when Dexter walked in. “I use an insulated screwdriver to re- He was a big man with, wide shoulders move it,” Jeff said. and wavy blond hair. His blue eyes He was silently wondering what was were slightly mocking as he nodded to behind Dexter’s questioning. Dexter Jeff. had never displayed any interest in his “Feel pretty good I imagine,” he work; in fact, he had been almost con- T80 AMAZING STORIES temptuous of the labor Jeff had put Jeff frowned and looked at his into it. Now his sudden interest seemed watch. He made a quick mental calcu- suspicious. lation. The Martian ships would be “I see,” Dexter said. passing overhead in a few minutes. He yawned and glanced at his watch. “Are you sure of the time?” he “I think I’ll grab a nap,” he said. asked Dexter. ‘‘Where's Ann?” Dexter reddened slightly. “She’s fixing lunch,” Jeff said. He “You can call back and check my glanced up at Dexter and added, figures, if you like,” he said stiffly. “Why?” “I was just asking,” Jeff said. “Did “Just wondering,” Dexter said. He the chief ask for me particularly?” grinned at Jeff and sauntered out. “If you think I’m lying,” Dexter said with sudden anger, “why don’t you EFF sat before the bench for several say so? I’m giving you the dope as I J moments after he’d gone, a worried got it. The chief evidently doesn’t frown on his face. He knew Dexter’s trust me anymore for a routine assign- type pretty well, and it was a type he ment. Well, he can go to hell if he didn’t care for. In his years here he doesn’t like my work. And that goes had carefully avoided trouble with the for you too.” man, but he felt now that Dexter had “No one has said anything about something on his mind. His questions your work,” Jeff said quietly. “You're about the altoscope might indicate just doing all the talking, Dexter.” He a normal curiosity, but . . . stood up and tossed his napkin onto Jeff shrugged and tried to concen- the table. “Is the ship ready?” trate on his work. The designs and “Yes,” Dexter said. “She’s all set.” specifications for the altoscope were “I’ll have to hurry, then,” Dexter locked securely in the vault and he was said. He bent quickly and kissed Ann. suddenly glad that he had taken that “I’ll be back in a hour or so.” precaution. When he straightened he saw that He worked, then, until Ann came in Dexter was staring at him with hard to tell him lunch was ready. cold eyes; but he turned and walked Dexter didn’t show up for lunch but from the room before Jeff could say when they were finishing he appeared anything to him. in the doorway with a paper in his hand. Ann said, “Do you have to go, Jeff? He was grinning sardonically. I’ve got a funny feeling—call it a “Sorry to interrupt your little chat,” woman’s intuition — that something he said, “but this flash just came might happen to you. Why don’t you through from Earth.” tell Dexter to go?” “What is it?” Ann asked. “Because it’s my job,” Dexter said. “Seems a squadron of Martian ships He smiled down at his wife. “And I are passing this way today. The Chief wouldn’t worry about your premoni- wants you to go up on reconnaissance, tions. As the wife of a scientist, you get their number and description.” should be ashamed of such ideas.” “Where were they sighted from?” “I don’t care,” Ann said. “My Jeff asked. hunches have a way of turning out “The belt asteroid group saw them right.” go by at 2369 on a Northwest course,” Jeff kissed her again and mussed Dexter said. her hair with his hand. THE NEEDLE POINTS TO DEATH 181 “I’ll be back before you know it,” he They were overdue by now and still said. the void was completely empty. Finally, after another ten minutes, he ^UTSIDE, the mechanic had signaled the asteroid belt. It took him readied the single-seater for an another five minutes to get in touch immediate blast-off. with their operator. “She’s ready to go, Mr. Moran,” he “Hello,” he said, when he got a go- said, smiling. ahead, “this is Jeff Moran from Venus, “Thanks,” Jeff said. station 9. Am I coming through?” He ascended the mooring tower and “Getting you fine, but a little inter- climbed into the small sleek ship. He ference,” the operator said. “Where checked the controls carefully but the hell are you?” quickly and then signaled to the ground “About twenty thousand miles out,” for power. Jeff answered. ” The noise of the compressing motors “Well, no wonder I The operator’s surprised. hummed in his ears for an instant and voice in his ears sounded the ship was hurled from the tower “What can I do for you?” with a hissing roar. “I want a check on the time you Jeff braced himself as the ship sighted the Martian flight,” Jeff said. cleaved through the thin atmosphere There was a pause and then and blasted out out into the void. He the operator said, “You’re on a wild climbed quickly, gaining altitude and goose chase, Moran. We haven’t then he started a slow wide circle, sighted any Martian squadrons for the watching the fore and rear visi-screens last three weeks.” frown for the first sight of Martian ships. “What!” Jeff exclaimed. His They should be coming into sight deepened. “Are you sure of that? We any second. He wondered fleetingly if got a report from the chief that a Mar- there was any significance behind their tian flight passed your base heading 2369.” flight. Relations between Earth and this way at Mars were ostensibly cordial, but any “Something’s screwy, then,” the unusual operations in the void were operator said. “I’ve been on here all carefully checked by both Powers. day and I haven’t heard a word about May^ things were heading for a it. Why don’t you check with the flare-up. Jeff had a certain satisfac- chief?” tion in the thought that if trouble did “Okay, I will,” Jeff said. break his altoscope would be an im- portant addition to the fighting forces jLTE CUT the circuit and signaled of Earth. Headquarters. Colonel Walker, He sat up in his seat as a single ship chief of the meteorology staff on Venus, appeared in fore screen but it turned out answered. to be a lumbering Venusian freighter. It Jeff wasted no time. passed him on his port side, a couple “Colonel,” he snapped, “did you of thousand miles away. He acknowl- send a message to base 9 about a half edged its signal automatically and then hour ago concerning a group of Martian settled back to wait. But his face was ships?” creased with a worried frown. Was it “Who’s talking?” Colonel Walker possible that he had missed the Mar- asked irritably. 9.” tian ships? “This is Moran, Jeff Moran, of 182 AMAZING STORIES “Oh. No, I sent no message to you With his last atom of strength he today. What was that about Martian groped for the repulsion rocket switch. ships?” The ground raced toward him on the Jeff didn’t bother to answer. He fore visi-screen at a speed his eyes broke the connection and sat motion- couldn’t register. less for an instant, his brain spinning He snapped the switch shut and his frantically. Dexter had lied to him. head snapped forward as the repulsion But why? rockets suddenly roared into life, check- There was only one answer and it ing the hurtling speed of the ship. sent a wave of fear through him. His safety belt almost cut through his Not for himself. For Ann. body as he was flung forward with the If Dexter was planning to get him tremendous velocity of the ship. out of the way it could only be for Twenty feet from the ground the ship one reason. He intended to make his came to a dead stop—then it dropped own escape in the emergency ship at the to the hard rocky earth with a jarring base. And Jeff knew that Dexter wasn’t crash. planning to leave alone. Jeff unbuckled his safety strap and With all the strength in his arms he staggered to the door. For a moment swung the ship back toward the base he feared the buckling of the frame in a steep dive. But suddenly he felt had hopelessly jammed the hatch, a heavy constriction about his lungs, trapping him in the ship. But it was and then he was fighting desperately for only his own weakness. His fingers breath. clawed desperately at the handle and He glanced at the oxygen meter and finally it swung open. saw that its needle was pointing A reviving draft of air blew into his squarely at zero. face as he stumbled out of the ship. He He was still minutes from the base sucked air gratefully into his laboring and his air supply was gone. Already lungs and his head began to clear. he could feel his legs growing numb He was about a hundred yards from and before his eyes there was a flicker- the base laboratory. With a prayer on ing maze of blackness. his lips he began to run. . . . Recklessly he plunged the ship toward the base. He was off the di- '^HE front door of the small building rectional beam that would lead him to was open and the living room was the tower, but he didn’t have the time to empty. He crossed the floor with rapid reset his course. strides and flung open the laboratory He knew that he had, at best, about a door. minute left. And he had to get to the Ann was struggling in Dexter’s arms, ground within that time. His legs ached her face a mask of loathing and terror. with a dull steady pain and his hands She saw Jeff as he stumbled into the on the controls were sluggish. His room. mouth opened and closed frantically “Jeff!” she cried. as he fought for air. Dexter’s back was to Jeff, but he Dimly he heard the whine of friction wheeled at Ann’s cry and whipped a ray the ship made as it sliced into the gun from his belt. He was wearing a atmosphere of the planet. He was rubber space suit and there was a heavy flashing down at full speed for a head-on valise on the floor beside him. crash. “Don’t move!” he panted, glaring at THE NEEDLE POINTS TO DEATH 183 Jeff. “You got back here but it won’t you’d get it over with.” do you any good. I’m leaving here, you “Turn around!” Dexter snarled. “I understand? And I’m taking your wife want to see your face when I blow a hole and the plans for the altoscope with me. in your belly.” But you’re not coming! You’re going “Jeff!” Ann screamed. “He’s going to stay right here with a dozen holes to shoot!” in your body to keep you company.” “Then let him,” Jeff said. Jeff watched him as he spoke and He turned slowly, holding the screw- he saw the insanity in the man’s eyes. driver in his hand. Dexter was stand- Dexter was not bluffing. He meant just ing about four feet from Ann, his finger what he said. tightening on the trigger of the gun. “You thought you were so smart,” “All right,” Dexter suddenly ” Dexter .said with a gloating leer, “but screamed, “you’re begging for it! I’m holding the high cards now. You should have died out there in space and TTE RAISED the gun slightly and at saved me the trouble of shooting you.” that instant Jeff flung himself to “You’ve gone to a lot of trouble to kill one side and hurled the screwdriver at me,” Jeff said quietly. “If I hadn’t Dexter’s face. called and checked on your phony story The blast from the gun caught Jeff about the Martian ships, I wouldn’t in the shoulder and he fell to the floor, have had time to get back here to the teeth clenched in pain; but the screw- base.” He glanced casually about the driver struck Dexter in the face. laboratory and then walked deliberately A blinding flash lighted the room and to the bench that held the altoscope. Dexter’s scream was that of a soul in Every foot of the way he expected a hell. His eyes were glazed in death as searing bolt from the gun in Dexter’s he sprawled to the floor. hand, but it didn’t come. Jeff crawled to one knee and stared “Don’t make another move,” Dexter at his limp body with grim eyes. The cried, his face working. “I’m not just screwdriver he had thrown had been talking.” connected to the electrically charged “Yes you are,” Jeff said coolly. “If altoscope needle with the coils of wire. you’re going to shoot me, go ahead.” It had been charged with over five thou- A wild, thousand-to-one possibility sand volts of electricity and Dexter’s had occurred to him, but he had to stall space suit had grounded him perfectly. long enough to put it into action. Ann was at Jeff’s side, sobbing. “I intend to go on working ” he said He put his good arm about her. with his back to Dexter. “If you want “It’s all over,” he whispered. “He to shoot me that’s your business.” got just what he deserved, don’t worry.” He pulled a p>air of rubber gloves “I’m not thinking of him,” Ann said onto his hands and picked up a long coil tearfully. “But you’re hurt.” of wire from the bench. Quickly he “ITl be all right,” Jeff said. fastened the wire to the altoscope needle He forced a weak grin to his Ups. and then picked up a screwdriver. “And I’ve got a hunch we’ll be on our “I don’t know whether you intend to way back to Earth before many more shoot me or not,” he said quietly. His hours.” back hid the screwdriver from Dexter’s Ann smiled at him tlirough her tears. eyes as he quickly tied the wire to its “But you don’t believe in hunches.” Steel tip. “But if you’re going to I wish “From now on I will,” Jeff said. « « SCIENTIFIC ODDITIES » » By LYNN STANOISH Science uncovers more of Ihese ^'(rue^^ oddities every day! RADIO WAVES HARMFUL TO patients and in 1819 he reported that a dosage of SEEDLINGS l.S to .1 grains of iodine daily would cause goiters to disappear in from six to ten weeks even when or many years it was believed that radio they were of large size and long standing. He waves had a stimulating and beneficial effect added that a noticeable improvement was noted Fon plant growth. However, Drs. J. van within eight to ten days after the treatment was Overbeek, Brantley, and Potapenko have proved in started. their experiments conducted at the California In- With Coindet's discovery made public, the io- stitute of Technology that radio waves are harm- dine treatment became “the thing” for everyone. ful to plants. To protect themselves from goiter, the people be- Seedlings of corn that had been germinated in gan to wear small bottles of iodine about their wet sand were subjected to strong doses of iVi- necks. Although Coindet and other able physicians meter radio waves for periods of from twenty to warned both the medical profession and the public thirty seconds before being re-planted. This treat- that iodine was poisonous and that an excessive ment produced a very noticeable stunting of stem dosage could result in death, this warning had no growth. If the seedlings were exposed for periods effect on either the public or many of the doc- of over a minute before re-planting the tops of tors. Many persons died as a result and this gave the plants were killed. Dr. van Overbeek had the iodine treatment for goiter a “black-eye” shown in previous experiments that heating the which it did not deserve. It was until 1895, seedlings would also produce a stunting effect and when it was shown that the thyroid gland was he determined that this was a result of the de- rich in iodine, that the treatment for goiter was struction of the auxin, the growth-promoting again used to correct the iodine deficiency in the substance in the seedlings. glands. From these two groups of experiments, the * scientists concluded that It was the internal heat- ing produced by the short radio waves that caused SIMPLE TEST PICKS RIGHT MAN the damage to the plant tissues. That this con- FOR JOB outside clusion is correct was proved when an /^NE of the major problems of the army today application of a growth-promoting substance had is the task of placing hundreds of thousands the same restoring effect on plants that had been of recruits into that particular branch of the serv- either heated or rayed. ice for which they are best suited. This problem * * has also been a very important industry IODINE CURE FOR GOITER one in even prior to the war. It is therefore with great '^HE discovery of iodine and its subsequent use interest that a report was received from Dr. Z. as a cure for goiter was all brought about by Protrowski and Miss B. Candee of the National war and the story bears out the statement that Youth Administration that men who could succeed truth is often stranger than fiction. in the tank and other highly mechanized units During the Napoleonic Wars, the armies of of the army and who would be able to carry the France were continually clamoring for a larger and burdens of a modern war, can be chosen by means then still larger output of gunpowder. One French of art inkblot test now used to determine a per- manufacturer of saltpeter, in order to increase his son’s creative imagination. output, made a radical change in his manufacturing The test requires that the person study a process. Instead of using wood ashes, he used a selected group of black and colored inkblots and water extract of burnt seaweed. Although his new then tell just what kind of a picture or object the process was entirely satisfactory, he noticed that shapes bring to his mind. This simple process erosion was taking place on his copper vats and can give a psychologist clues to a person’s past he found that the eroding agent was the water experience, interests, and personality which cannot extract used in his new process. Because of the be brought out in a simple interview. color of its vapor, he called the substance iodine. Dr. Protrowski and Miss Candee used a test It was in 1819, six years after its christening, that group of 70 men and they claim in 64 of the cases iodine was found to exist in great quantities in they successfully picked the men who would make the ash of the common sponge. good among mechanics and those who would Coindet, a physician of Geneva, was the man “crack” in their new life with the army. to see in this newly discovered element the effective Further claims for the success of the test were agent of the ancient cure for goiter. To test his indicated by the fact that it revealed the young theory, he began to administer iodine to his goiter men who could make good in regular camp life, 1S4 — SCIENTIFIC ODDITIES 185 but who cracked when faced with situation a of automatically by experience in the mind. For if unusual military strain in six tested cases of which a sound is received more loudly in one ear than five were predicted correctly by this test alone. the other, the individual “senses” that the sound is coming from that direction. AMERICAN INGENUITY COMES An interesting experiment has been made in THROUGH which sound entering the two ears were inter- changed. This was effected by an instrument called A MERICAN ingenuity, consistently on the look- a pseudopkone, consbting of tubes fitted into the ^ out for new methods of improving and safe- two ears which led over the head to a trumpet guarding our national security, has brought forth (or receiving horn) just above the opposite ear. another weapon which is all-important to the As a r^ult, each ear received the sound which successful prosecution of the war. This weapon would have ordinarily affected the other ear. does not fire shells or bullets, but, nonetheless, is For the first few days the wearer of the pseudo- just as important if not more so. This new phone lived in utter confusion! An automobile weapon, the culmination of years of scientific re- would be seen coming down the street and the search, is the use of a particular type of rayon sound of its horn and of its motor would come coixl in the manufacture of tires for American from the opposite direction. A person coming bombers and army trucks. The significant thing through a door would he heard entering from the to note, however, is that this material not only opposite side of the room. supplements our dwindling supply of rubber; it After a few days, with the help of cues from can be produced from resources right in this coun- the visual field, the subject learned to localize try. Thus this rubber substitutes helps to over- sounds fairly well again, This was a new learn- come the military handicap imposed by the rubber ing process. Just as the restored cripple has to shortage. This material b used very extensively learn how to walk again, so did our subject have in the production of tires for many of the modern to “learn how to hear again." When the pseudo- military vehicles. phone was removed, normal hearing was imme- This rayon product, in the manufacturing pro- diately returned. cess, is placed under the valuable outer covering * * •$ of. rubber. Thus this product must and does ab- POST-MORTEM MILKING sorb a terrific amount of punishment which it l^HEN does a cow manufacture her milk? undergoes when, for instance, a heavy bomber ’ " Does she manufacture continuously while lands at a high rate of speed. When one realizes be- ing milked? Or it manufactured long how much force action is involved in the landing b before and stored? Or it manufactured of tons of metal at high speeds he commences to b just before milking time ? people have realize the significance of thb new material. Fur- Many wondered about these questions. thermore, the modern army car is driven over Most farmers, teachers, and professional rough country which imposes terrific hardships on men engaged in the field of dairy cattle the tires. But tires consisting mainly of thb rayon work are said to believe that the udder of a will hold material have proven themselves worthy and re- cow only liable. about half a pint of milk to the quarter and that the liquid is manufactured just as the cow Another advantage of the rayon cord is that heat gives it down at milking time. does not cause it to lose its durability or strength. The question was approached by the United Thus the tire is more resistent to blow-outs when States Department of Agriculture. it is healed by its being used for a long period And it was proved that most of the milk is not manufactured of time without let-up. This latter advantage is during the few minutes required for the milking of the utmost imjx>rtance because in the modem process. war, army cars are driven at amazing speeds The proof of tbb conclusion was throughout hot deserts and over rough land. Abo, obtained by a novel experiment in post-mortem since tires made of this rayon cord are lighter milking. Two cows were killed, their udders than the ordinary tire, the saving in weight can immediately re- moved mid mounted on a be utilized to increase the amount of bombs car- framework, and then milked. One of these cows had been giving ried by the plane equipped with these tires. Or an average of twelve thb decrease in weight can be used to increase the about pounds at each milking. It was found that a total of ten bombing range of the planes. This benefit, of and twenty-seven one-hundredths pounds of milk was drawn course, is of prime significance in the winning of fTora the war. thb cow’s udder after it was severed from the body. Thus eighty-five per cent of her milk had A “PHONY PHONE" been stored in her udder before she was slaugh- tered. A TOST people not realize do that when a horse The only answer to any scientific question b ^ is seen trotting down the street and the found by the application of scientific method sound of his hoofs is heard at the same time, the carefully planned experimental work. Even in such association between the sound of the hoofs and a down-to-earth activity as milking “Bossy", the direction of the sound is identified, almost science b the master. THE AMERICAN DRAGON By L. TAyLOB HANSEN There is much mystery behind the drasen legends of the American Indian. What is the mysterious connection with the other continental aborigines? TANDING on the edge of the Taos Pueblo, only turns upon it his ridicule? This is the In- the world-traveler who knows his Sahara, dian’s point of view. S receives the surprise of his life. Tall, slim, The third rule to remember, is that the tribal masculine figures slip by entirely wrapped in an lore is the property of the entire tribe. According all-enveloping white blanket which only allows to ancient law, should one member give it away dark, slits of eyes to show. Is this the United without the consent of the others, his eyes, tongue States? Or is that ghostly figure now passing one or life should be forfeited. Thus the veils of of those cruel and mysteriously “veiled ones” of secrecy which keep the curious white man from the Sahara—the Tuaraks? What strange freak has the inner meanings of the symbols are not easily caused such vastly removed peoples to adopt the pierced, same costume? Or is it a freak chance? The (In order to protect the life of my informant, average citizen will shrug his shoulders and go in the following, the character is Actionized, but on. The archaeologist starts asking questions. the names given are facts, as are the legends. The The Sahara and the American Desert have one conclusion reached is that toward which science very obvious trait in common. Qu^tions are not must inevitably come, with further study and co- desirable. Yet some of us have so much of that ordination of what information is now to be found insatiable curiosity of the “elephant’s child” in our within ethnological studies made by the Smithson- makeup that we do not know when to stop. And ian upon the Pueblos, and Pueblo religion within sometimes we find out some very fascinating eth- the last two decades.) nological answers. This is true when we can offer The present writer had just seen the Apache interesting information in return for that which Devil Dance for the first time. (The Devil Dance we seek. In such a case, the best informant is the is the one in which tridents of lighted torches, the conservative of all the conservatives—the "medi- central prong being four together, are borne upon doe man” himself. The trick is to get him inter- the head while a sword and snake-lance are car- ested. It can be done. ried in the hands. In this dance the participants There are means of accomplishing this, as well are not only masked but a mouth-veil is also worn. as ways in which it cannot be done. One cannot The number four, so sacred to the Snake Totem accomplish anything in a hurry with an Indian. is more than eindent.) The trident and the mouth- He lives in a more quiet world. He do« not know veil ! The combination w'as also to be found in the meaning of the word which is so liberally “The Dance of the Veiled One” sometimes given used by us. His very conversation is interspersed by San Domingo Pueblo, only in the latter, the with long pauses which would be actually em- veil is worn so that nothing of the face shows but barrassing to a skilled conversationalist of the the eyes. Another difference was that the trident white race. carried was the rainbow. This fact had marked In talking to an Indian of his lore, as do not the “Veiled One” as Itzamna who is so closely con- try to hurry is rule number one, so seriousness is nected with the rainbow in Maya religion. Or rule number two. To many a fool has tried to did it? One cap never be certain. win the story of the past in a week or a month, and having received an honest answer, such as AT ONCE, 1 sought out a certain Indian. 1 the legend of the Snake-Eagle War, has turned his shall call him “The Sage” because of his ex- scornful laughter upon the surprised and offended tensive knowledge—of which I am sure I have but narrator. The Indian youth must go through scratched only a trifle below the veneer. He was trials and ordeals to obtain this ancient wisdom an old man with iron-grey hair, but the tiger- in order to prove his worthiness to receive. Why gleam was in his eyes, and his tread was cat-like, .should they hand it out to the white man who with much hidden strength. — 188 AMAZING STORIES “This figure, is he a devil to the Apaches?” I like tumble-weed before the wind, Tell me of the asked bluntly with unwise enthusiasm. cities to the south.” ‘‘I do not know. I am not an Apache.” Of course, I knew then that the question was “t'lRST, there are the Zapotecs. They have a unwisely worded as well. My friend was a Kere- calendar midway between the Maya and the sian, a tongue which is considered to be almost Aztec, all three of which are sun-calendar. Pos- without affinities. sibly this means that the Zapotec is the stem from “But,” I persisted, “the figure is so similar to which the others branched. They had cities usu- that of the ‘Veiled One,’ who is a Keresian God.” ally built near water or lakes, or upon islands. “You are right.” Their main god was a ‘Veiled Majesty.’ Their it tell “Could you find possible to me the name totem the Great Lizard. . . . of the ‘Veiled One’?” I persisted. “They built their cities upon islands in lakes “Indians do not believe in speaking sacred because that is where Si-pa-pu gave birth to the names. They think that if you speak the name, tribes of men. That is why water is sacred, be- then the power of the name fades, and when you cause water is the communication to this island- need the power, it is not there.” homeland which was again swallowed up by wa- “Then let me tell you about this god and the ter, long, long ago.” various names he has carried. To the Egyptians “What direction was this water-homeland?” of many milleniums ago, he was Ammon Ra. To “Why to the south, and then toward the di- the Greeks, be was Pan, but he had already be- rection of the rising sun. And Si-pa-pu was the come by this time a minor god for he belonged great Earth-goddess, who is sometimes painted to a far more ancient world than Periclean Greece. with the symbol of the Great-Reptile. But you To the Norse, he was the ‘Two-horned’ and to did not finish your story about the peoples of the the Mediterranean world be had many of the south.” characteristics later given to Baal and Ishtar “Yes, of course. We still have the very inter- such as his continual connections with child-sac- esting Mayas. Their liberaries were burned by rifice, and that he was considered ‘fire-breathing,’ some Spanish fanatics, but this caused such a but lived in water. In his best aspects, he was storm of protest from the scholars of the day, that pictured as a mother holding her infant son in the Spanish monarch sent out inquiries as to their her arms, but by the nations who were trying to history. Maya sages replied, and thus we have a represent him as their ‘spirit of evil’—he was sketchy history of this much-conquered people. portrayed as a dragon—usually two—mother and “It seems that the Chanules or People-of-the- son.” Snake were the first to build at Yucatan. They “A dragon?” declared that the Serpent crawled out of the Sun- “One of those.” I explained, tossing a pebble rise-sea, which probably means that they were sea- after a lizard who was scuttling away through the peoples. Then early in the story, came the Itzaes sage and sand, “Only much larger.” from the South. They were by Itzamna, or He nodded thoughtfully. We had now reached as some of the Maya tribes in the jungles of Cen- the open desert where there were no eavesdroppers. tral America call him—Zamna, Itiwana, or Tiama. “The Pueblos of your people are known as the (The name has a curious way of reminding one Keres Nation. What does the name mean?” of the Mediterranean Dragon—Tiamat, the Tiamat “It has no meaning.” of Ancient Su-Mer.) There seems to be some con- “That reminds me of a certain ancient people fusion about this figure. He is sometimes spoken known as the Karians who were a sea-peoples, of of as a god and again as a man. Possibly, by the mysterious origin, and once over-ran much of the time the Itzaes had reached Yucatan, he had al- Mediterranean world, Their name had no mean- ready been long deified. Like the similar figure ing either. But the letter ‘K’ stood for ‘people’ of Votan, among the Guatemala Indians and cer- and ‘A-R.’ stood for ‘Ammon-R’.” tain Mexican tribes, Itzamna is spoken of as a “Tell me something of the Indian tribes who white man who brought a fleet of ships from hold sacred this great reptile, or worship a ‘Veiled across the Sun-rise Sea from his lost homeland. One’.” he asked. He is the Lord-of-Leaming, the inventor of writ- “To some extent all of them do respect the ing and of the calendar. Indeed he has many of reptiles, especially the snakes, and even to frogs. the characteristics of Osiris in Egypt. Upon one But there are some who. . . . You ask me to tell fact he differs. As both Votan and Osiris are of you of the tribes who belong to the Totem. Very the Snake Totem, Itzamna is of the Great Drag- .” well. Point to the direction where they live.” on. . . Without a moment’s hesitation he pointed to the “Tell me of these people—the Ishtzas.” south. He stopped and sat upon a rock where he could “Why do you point south?” face me. I squatted ujwn a smaller stone at his “Because we have a tradition that we were once feet. a very great nation. We had a land of shining- “The Itzaes came from the south, and were flee- roofs. We had cities with beautiful temples where ing before conquerors. They settled among the the ‘Veiled One’ ruled. Then came a devastating peoples of the Serpent Totem, the Chanules or Ah- conqueror from the south who drove us before him Canule. They built Chi-chen-Itza, which is the THE AMERICAN DRASON 1S9 Athens of the Americas for beauty. Then after a as the most impenetrable jungle on earth (Brazil). golden age of a number of centuries, a devastating “But this land from which Zamanya came—this army came from the south. They were the Tu- land out in the Sun-rise Sea?” tul-Xius, which is pronounced, we are told by the “There is no such island today—east of South Indians as Too-tool-Shioux (or Shu). These peo- America. Perhaps, as you suggested, it was swal- ple too, declared that they were once very great lowed again by the water.” and had vast cities but were driven out by a con- quering army and had spent many generations in WfE SAT through one of the long silences which ’ the woods and the mountains and jungles, living ' characterize Indian conversations. Then slow- upon the strength of their good bows. They drove ly he rose. He threw back his head and looked out some of the Ttzaes and conquered the rest, and around at the colorful desert. again the empire began to rise, but before long it “My people have been in this land for many was conquered by the Toltec or Quiche army com- generations. Perhaps it is not well that they take ing down from the north. These people, known so much knowledge with them into the shadows. to us as the Mayas, tried to raise another civiliza- Therefore, I have decided to answer your questions tion but the Aztecs, or their fore-runners, the Ni- about the dance of the ‘Veiled One,' and about the caraoes (from whence we derive Nicaragua) were real name of my people. The name of the ‘Veiled beginning to over-run the country in their drive One’ you yourself told me was Zamna. In one down from the north. At this point the Spanish dialect we call him ‘Tamanya’ and in another, stej^ed in.” ‘Zamda’ I” “Was the ‘Veiled Majesty’ worshipped by the As the significance of this fell across my face, Ishtzas?” he smiled. “Yes, what you are thinking is true. The real “I do not know. Still it seems probable. Even name for nation is not Keres. is today, the Mayas always veil their nose and my That a name for the white man to call us by- mouth at night when they must step out into the There is another name a secret name. That is night air, Undoubtedly that has some forgotten — the one for which you have been ... let us say ritualistic significance.” . . . fishing? Perhaps it is not so wise, after all, “All you have told me points to the homeland to keep such things secret. Therefore, I have of these peoples as to the south—still south. If made up my mind to tell you. As every Keresian they built cities there, where are the ruins?” knows, we are the ‘K'at Ishtza’ which translated “That is the rub. the Both Itzaes and the Tu- into English simply means: ‘The People of the tul-Xiu5 say they were driven out from a southern Ishtza'.” empire. Yet today, we know only of that ‘south,’ IH£ END I have received a requests number of for more Public Library in the nearest city. If the book is information concerning the books which I give as not to be had there, the librarian is the person who references. Many of them are almost unobtainable, can give the most detailed information as to they have been so long out of print. I would sug- how gest that if anyone is interested, they first try to and where, in any particular city, to go about ob- read the volume from the “Reserve” shelf of the taining the volume.—Author. A SCIENTIFIC BROTHER-SISTER ACT HAT would happen if an infant ape were tion and obedience. reared with the same opportunity as the But in one important phase of development, W human infant? Two scientists, Mr. and Gua lagged behind. The ape learned to under- Mrs. W. N. Kellogg, sought the answer to this stand a large number of words and phrases, it interesting question in the most direct way. They seemed, but she never learned to speak. Donald, reared a female chimpanzee along with their own of course, learned language in the normal course son for nine months! of development. At the age of one year, he was When “Gua”, the chimpanzee, was adopted, able to say da-da, ma-ma, Gya (for Gua), and she was seven and a half months old; their son, din-din for dinner. Later he uttered ba (for boo), Donald was ten months old. Both were treated da (for down), and bow-wow (for dog). He also with the same gentle care. The two “children” ate, became very skillful in his imitation of sounds slept, and played together. Gua, stronger and made by the chimpanzee. These were classified as physically more mature than Donald, was more the bark, the food bark, the screech or scream, and adept at activities such as climbing and acro- the “oo-oo” cry. batics. She was more rapid in movements and Thus, by virtue of the powerful tool—language seemed to learn a great many things easily. Of —Donald is destined for far greater things than most interest is Gua’s learning of the so-called is Gua. Donald and bis fellow humans alone can humanizing behavior. She quickly learned to eat speak, r«id, write, worship supernatural beings, with a spoon, to drink liquids out of a glass, to build skyscrapers, and predict the position of the open doors, and to do these things better than stars a thousand years from now. did Donald, and showed in general, more coopera- Such is the power of language! 190 AMAZING STORIES The Science of Food ew indeed are the humans who realize the plants. Since only carnivorous animals eat other great debt ow'ed by them to the simple lit- animals, the herbivorous animals have the re- F tle plants which are seen almost every- sponsibility of getting the simple proteins from where. The first to reach the land were the the plants and breaking them down to amino plants and their presence permitted animals to acids and then building them up to substances come on land and establish themselves there, like themselves. This is essentially what man The foods of the living consist of three major does, but he gets his proteins from plants and types with additional substances to be added in animals as well. He breaks them down to tlieir small quantities. The three major types of foods constituent substances and then rebuilds them are proteins, carbohydrates and fats. for his own use. Fats are synthesized from carbohydrates, so Only plants have the ability to build proteins they need not be considered at length here. The or amino acids. While there are only twenty- fats are found in quantity on and in any well seven different types of amino acids, there are fed animal. And since they are in balance with almost infinite tyi>es of proteins. To be mathe- carbohydrates, an animal which has plenty of matical for a moment, the number of proteins can carbohydrates is almost certain to have a large be approximately found by multiplying twenty- amount of fat. seven by twenty-six, and this product by twenty- It is quite a different matter with the carbo- five and so on. This will show why it is a much hydrates, for they must be synthesized out of simpler matter to build up our proteins from carbon dioxide and oxygen. By a system, whose another animal’s amino adds than to attempt to chemistry ha.s been entirely worked out by bio- get proteins just like our own, which is impos- chemists, the plants which are green and have sible anyway, green leaves, trees for instance, can take these These figures also lend credence to the claims two gases and unite them into a simple carbo- of the vegetarians who claim to be able to get hydrate or sugar as wc commonly call them, in all out of plants that we can get out of animals. the presence of a wonderful substance, the green This b true, but it b not quite so ea-sy to eat coloring matter. Water enters into this picture almost twenty different typ>es of plants where in the form of vapor, playing an important role. two types of meat will suffce. It can be done These sugars are used by the plants, but at nevertheless. certain times of the year, especially when the sun Our debt to plants does not end with the two is strong, the plants store up quite a bit of this major classifications of food however, since our sugar and they convert it into starch. The plant bodies need several lypte of salts which they can most famous for this type of action is the potato. and do provide, Through plants and plant food These start out just like other plants but during we get calcium, magnesium even iron, which the summer they make so much carbohydrate spinach is especially noted fox. Iodine too is that they must store large quantities in the form another important substance which is removed of tubers. from plant food in the process of digestion. The proteins are the class of food which de- Moreover, plants are the only creatures which serves most attention. Essentially we are what can build up the very necessary vitamins. We our proteins make us. The proteins are the have heard much about vitamins recently, and determining factors in the type of animal, the many drug com|>anies have shown in large ad- type of blood, and many other fine details of vertisements just how important the vitamins are. structure and function, Proteins are built up Scientists have known just how terrible lack of from groups of amino acids. These acids are them could be for quite some time now. ammonia compounds, or essentially organic com- We have and shall always have a debt of grati- pounds with nitrogen in them. It is beyond the tude toward the plants not only for the begin- ability of animals to build up their own proteins. ning of animal life on land, but also for the They must get them from other animab, or from continued sustenance of it. COMING IN THE MARCH ISSUE A Seiisational New Interplanetary Story by e. H. IRWIN "THE PLANET OF DEAD CITIES" ON SALE AT YOUR NEWSSTAND JANUARY 10th — DISCI ^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. AN OLD CLASSIC REMEMBERED Rice Burroughs is now in Africa on war duty. Be is doing no fiction. But when he returns, his inter- Sirs: rupted series will continue. 3. The same wHk I wish to thank you for the wonderful magazine Hawk Corse. Anthony Gilmore is too busy in- you give to the public. You print many fine venting war weapons (or some suck thing) to write stories, but none that has come up to “The Green more at the present time. 4. Irwin is at work on Splotches,” by T. S. Stribling. It was truly a the sequel to Martin Brand, which he says will be clasac. long and good. 5. Because of the paper shortage. J. O. Hedcpeth, we reverted to publishing only original material, in Route 9, Box 88, order to be entirely fair to our writers. No more Charlotte, N. C. reprints for the duration. 6. Yes, we wrote “Black You might be interested to know that "The World,” possibly the only thing we ever did that Green Splotches" was published recently in a the fans applauded heartily. It makes us itch to pocket-book selection of classics, as was Wallace write another stetry. Maybe we will, if the fans West’s "The Last Man,’’ both reprinted from would like it? As for "Moon of Double Trouble" Amazing Stories.—Ed. —written, but still unscheduled. Howard Browne is working on a new Tham . Ed. STREET OF BROKEN PROMISES MORE QUESTIONS Sirs: How long will it be before Amazing starts ful- Sirs: filling all the promises it’s made in the last year? Just the other day I was reading a letter by one I believe it was about a year ago, when you printed of your readers about a rocket trip to the moon, that contest short, “The Perfect Trap,” that you He brought up the question of whether the ship promised to print the winning solution. Have you would need constant drive or just enough to get it already printed the solution, or am I just the first beyond the earth’s gravitational attraction. I don’t one to ask about it? know a lot about it, so could you explain this to Last February, when you printed “Skeleton Men me—how far from the surface of a heavenly body of Jupiter,” you said this was the first of a new does the gravity have enough force to afiect a Burroughs series. Well? And how about those passing ship (if there were such things)? Does it other Hawk Carse stories you promised us last extend until the attraction of another body nulli- year? And that sequel to “Vengeance of Martin fies it, or does it just go out for a specified dis- Brand”? It’s been six months since you printed tance? “The New Adam,” but then you promised more If it only reached out for a certain distance, only reprints immediately. an initial thrust would be necessary, wouldn’t it? Speaking of reprints, I suggest Merritt's “Moou For with no air in space to create friction, a ship Pool” and “People of the Pit.” Also “Sons of the could travel on inertia, theoretically. Deluge,” “Battering Rams of Space,” any E. E. What is the correct definition of the Heaviside Smith stories available, and even that stinking Layer? I have read of it in numerous stories, but “Black World.” (That’s right—you wrote it, didn't have never found out what it is. Also, if you you?) don’t mind my questions, what is a tesseract? Going back again to the subject of broken prom- From what I can make out, it is a fourth-dimen- ises, where-oh-where is “Moon of Double Trou- sional cube, roughly, that is. Instead of being ble”? Or was that just a hoax? And that sequel faced by squares, its faces are cubes. Is that any- to “Warrior of the Dawn’’ had better be forthcom- where near correct, or am I all wet? If the latter ing if you don’t want your name to be mud. is true, can you enlighten me? Darrel Burkhardt, A. Brown, Long Lake, Minn. 201 Second St., We’ll try to answer all of your questions. l.The Red Oak, Iowa. editors didn’t publish the winning solution because Theoretically, gravity attraction goes on forever none worthy of publication was received. 2. Edgar from any and all bodies, decreasing as the square 191 : 192 AMAZING STORIES of the distance. Thus, to practical thinking, it CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING ceases to exist at a point comparatively near the body insofar ay pUinetary distances are concerned. OZARKS However, even little Mercury has an effect on giant Jupiter many millions of miles away. An imtial III ACBEB. Neat White nher, ualtnprovedt poultry land thrust would be fatal on a body such as Earth. It S190, down, 15 mootUy, Free list and literature, liub- Liard, 2^9 Grossman Bids.. Kansas City. Kansas. is reckoned to be necessary to have an initial veloc- ity of 7 tnt'/ey per second. If you've ridden the CIGARS street car often, you know what a jolt a sudden start gives you. Magnify that to the speed com- Do SOU want e handmade full Queen size clear for only THe puted and you gel—well, bloodyl In space, of each? 80% Havana suarantee. No scrap filler. Send for course, inertia free cataloe and trial offer. Sidney Kam. 59 West Monioo coasting is absolutely possible. The- N-41. ChJoago, 111. oretically, a space ship, once in free space, would go on forever with its initial velocity. PERSONAL The Heaviside Layer, discovered by wireless ex- periments, is thought to consist of either ionized LONESOME? Join Reliable aul>—entablished 1909. Book of in photoe and descrljitions of members. Free, sealed, Eictiange gas or frozen hydrogen minute particles. Its Company, 3827-ilD Main, Jiaiisa-i City. Jla height is approximately 60 miles above the surface of the Earth. Still another suck layer exists at 200 MARBT RICH: niKF. PABTICUL-MiS. PHOTOS. Descrip- miles out, called the ‘‘Appleton” layer. tion Sealed. Lois Itowder. Box 619. Palestine, Texas. A tesseract is a hypothetical four-dimensional cube. Your definition is correct. It is obtained by WANT ROMANCE? Introductions to lorablo ladles, attrac- tlvo iienllenien, through our confldontial Service, unfolds for beginning with a point. Move the point, you have you new page in life. Write Box l/ehsnoa. Pa. a line. Move the line, at right angles, you have a plane square. Move the plane at right angles, you LONELINESS IS AVOIDABLE, Magazine. Photos. Descrip- have a cube. Then by carrying this theory to the tions—10c. Universal Service. G.P.O. 151F, New Tork. next step you get a tesseract. But actually, we don’t know in which direction to move a cube to If' jou want an affectionate sweetheart, worthwhile and gen- move it at right angles to ALL its other dimen- erous. write; Mary Ijee, 44S-P, Holla, Mo. sions .—Ed. -WHAT EVERT M.,VN SHOULD KNOW.” The Onlv Book- let Of Its Kind Ever Writtoi. Only 80n per copy, postpaid. Ivan 3. Streitec. 3639 Harper Avenue, Detroit 11. SUchiean. "TRUE" FACTS Sirs; fg)S Angch'S business? Personal? Representing vou we’ll make icgliimate. area phone call and write you outs'omij for I wa.s looking through a magazine yesterday and *1, Instructions. Staff Atdes. Box lanl. Hrjllywood. (Suiuped letters mailed for Uullywond postiiiark. 25c each). found an article in the May, 1942, issue of "Popu- Statement of tha ownership, niansgcm . drculstlon, etc., icsitilred by the Acts of Congress of August 24, 1912, and March 3. 1033. of Amazing Sti s, published hl-montlily at Chicago, Illinois, for Oct. 1, UNIt, State of Illinois, County of Cook, ss, Before B, a notary public in and for the State and county aforesiild, per-oiially appeared A. 1, PuUcn, who, having en duly sworn according to law. deposes and says that im la tlie business manager of Aiiiszlng Stories and ti; the following Is,, to llie best of his knowledge and belief. meat of the ownership, nianagvnicni (ami If a daily pa’pw. tiie circulation, etc., of (he alorraaid'nubllci...... the date shown in the above caption, i-wjuired Uy the Act of Augiuit 24. 1912. as amended by the Act of March 3, 1933, embodied lu sceiJon 537, PoRtoj Laws and Itegulations, primed on the revcrait of tbi.< form, to wli 1. That the names and addrwscs- of the publisher, editor, managing editor and business managera are: Publisher, JVllllsm B. Zia, 640 N. Michigan .Vve.. Chicago 11, HI,; Editor. B. O, Davis. 540 N. Michigan Ave.. Chicago 11. 111.; Manasdtig Editor. Ha.umuid Palmer, 540 N. Mlclilcau Ave.. Chicago 11. 111.; Bn«im;H,s MaiiagBr, A. T. Piitlen, 640 N. Michigan .Ave,, Chicago 11, 111. 8. That the. owner is; (If owned b> a corporation, its name and address must be stated and also Iramcdlatcly thereunder ihe uanies and addre.^isM of stockholilera owning or holding one of total amotmt of stock. If not owned hy a corixjiailon. tlio name* and addressc.'i of tlio indi- iRl be given, if owned by a Arm. •‘oiupaiiy or other uiilncoqtorated concern, its oamo and ad- -. those of each intlivldual mcmb«;r, must be given.) ZItf-l>8vls IhihUahlng Co.. 540 N. MltOilKan Ave.. Chicago 11, in.; W. R. v.in cVi.. 540 N. .Michigan Ave.. Chicago 11, Hi.; William B. Ziff, 540 N. Michigvn Ave,. Chicago 11. lU. ; B. G. Dati*. 540 N. Michigan Ave,., Chicago 11, (Jl.; A. Ziff, 540 N. Michigan Aw., Chi- cago 11, 111.: S. Davis, 540 .V, Michigan Ave., Chicago 11, 111. 3. Thst the known bondholders, mortaagees, and other security holders owning or holding one per cent or more of total amount of Nuids. morlgagt*. or other ses'uritles; (If there are none, so stale.) None. 4. That the two p.ivagraph.s next above, giving ’he names of th* ownors, stockbotders. and seenritv headers, if any, conialo not cailr (he list of stockholdeis and semrltv holder* a.« they appear uitmi the books of the cumitany, Init also, ip cases where the slockholrtet or Becurlty holder appeacs upon the books of the company bm tiusteo or in any other flduolaty relation, the namo of the iiernoti or corpora- tion for whom such trustee is acting, js given; also thst the -saicf two paroKraphs contain slatemetitg embracing affiiini’B full knowledge and belief as to the drcurnstances and conditions under wbich afockholdc hiildrrs who do not appear upon tlie book* of the company as truijiec*, imid stock and securlites 1 a capaciiy other than that of a bona tide owner; and this afflaul has no reason to believe that anv other persi or corporation has any Interest direct or indirect lu the said stock, bomis. or other aecuiltlos ifmn as so stated I).s him. 5. That the average number of t-opice of each issue of this iiubilcatlon sold or dlslrihiitcA. through th« mails or otheiwlse. to paid subscilbert: during the twelve months preceding the dale shown above is (This infnriofttion la teuuired from dally publicstioos only.) A. T. Pullen, RiLsincss Manager. (Signaiuru of bu-d- »•) (Beal.) ! AMAZING STORIES 193 Sent FREE for /^Day Trial MACHINE SHOP TRAINING COURSE FOR BEGINNERS & EXPERTS Easiest, Quickest Way to ®et MACH I N I s T NATIONAL SCHOOL! Book Thoy're totklng About" Z >1 Los Angeles, Calif. ANATOMY of the 3 BIG VOLUMES-SENO NO MONEY I HUMANFIGURE By Charles Carlson NATIONAL SCHOOLS. Peat. Z-1 S St., AngeleB 3T. 4000 S. Figueroa L0« B For the amateur and professional artist. Contains Ship your 3-VOLUME MODE»N MACHINE SHOP TRAINING Mm orer 360 llluKtrations, ohart.s and notes, giving de- | Mm tailed study of every part of the body. MALE and / I FEMALE POSED and IN ACTION, r » Price Only $1.00 Canada send, $1.25 ENRIOHT CO., Pept. A-75, IW E. Itl St., New York M H Buy Wholesale and Sell Drug Sundries. Hfl HI Razor Blades. Tooth Paste. Shaving |H Cream, Personal Needs. Zto. Send for Catalog. IWI Free Complete OCCUPATION. . KEYSTONE CO.. 72 Fifth Ave.. Dept. 3411. New York. N. V. machines certainly a lar Astronomy.” I believe that it explains itself. Flying in heavier than air was into a story! Ed. It shows how the science fiction authors have “glaring error” to put — twisted the facts to fit their stories. How can you call a story a science fiction story if it contradicts PLEASE! MR. KENNEDY! scientific facts? Sirs: I believe you are doing more harm than good After reading the September issue I was inclined when you lead your readers to believe that your to believe that Amazing Stories was actually stories are based on science. Most of your stories climbing out of its well-wom rut (though yams are shot through with glaring errors. It isn’t im- such as “The New Adam” and “Bill Caldron” did possible to write a good story and stick to the true provide an occasional bright spot in a world of facts. Why not have one of your authors try it. gloom). Alas! I am forced to reverse my deci- It’s an insult to science to call your stories “science” sion. Your December issue was the sort of thing fiction. I will gladly accept all criticism from the that drives innocent science-fiction fans to scan- readers and you alike. It might promote an in- ning the telephone directory in search of literature. teresting but bloody discussion. Yours for true “Jenny—The Flying Ford” is beyond any doubt facts. the most moth-eaten hunk of hack I have yet laid Karl Bouvif.r, Jr., eyes on. Corny in every way, it raised a stench 433 W. 55th St., comf>arable only to the odor of Adolf the Paper- Los Angeles 37, Calif. hanger. Take warning, 0 almighty editor! Any When writing of other worlds, we actuaUy have more like this and I shall sic the evil eye up>on you. only one fact to deal with—the existence of that Beware other world. We don’t actually know anything Out of respect for the authors’ reputations, I’ll about it except what we can see and measure with skip the remainder of the stories (?) in the mag. our Earthbound instruments. And even the camera Sufficient to say that Repp took an enormous slip, can lie. Even an immutable physical law on Earth McKenzie likewise, and Yerxa not at all since he’s may not hold true on another world. Thus, our plenty horrible anyway. authors have some license. Wouldn’t a story of Cheer up ! “Empire of Jegga” was a bell-ringer. today’s aviation be ridiculous in your definition, Ninety-thousand-worders are a rarity in any if it tvere wriflen before the Wright brothers? STFantasy magazine. Mr. Reed’s tale (while noth- — 194 AMAZING STORIES ing to declare a holiday over) struck me as being pleasantly written and cleverly developed. More Be compliments: Hadden's excellent illustrating pro- vided exactly the right atmosphere for the novel. More of his work! He looks like a nominee for POPULAR! elite the top-shelf bunch of artists, namely Finlay, in any Company—Anywhere! Bok and Paul. While weTe on the subject, orchids to Settles for his consistently fine back cover paintings. One loud raspberry to the creature responsible for the brutal mangling of page 157. Better to leave it blank than to print anything so ghastly. On-bended-knee department : Please, I beg of you, make the Discussions page bigger. Two or three hundred pages of letters would be nice, but I'll settle for half a doicn. Joe Kennedy, 84 Baker Ave., Dover, N. J. Tb tK rsalfy popufar, ywj *hpuli} know how to do many dtlfor. Av) come on, Joel You’d throw out a whole ent thing*—and do them wHI. An expert dancer I* afwan in demand socially. A man who can box or wreotle I* always tlked basket of fruit because ten percent was no good? and respected. People like you if you know how to entertain. And the man or girl who knew* the art of le»e io REAL4.Y You admit 90% (90J)00 words) of this issue is a desirable. Tnese books teli you how. “bell-ringer.” As a matter of fact, you like a good „ “TRUE LOVE GUIDE” How to woo, win and hold. Lore and raarriweproblemssolved SOe deal more of our contents than the average reader, “MODERN LOVE LETTERS” , who runs about (because individual Tore letters made psgy with this instructire book. Complete 50% prefer- Instructions for wltlne letters rm love, courtship and raar- ence runs that way). As for our discussions de- rlago—also 47 model letters. ArOld embarrasement. . . . Win at lore—Order your copy TODAY SOe partment, several thousand letters have convinced "POLICE JIU-JITSU” ^ us. Since we expanded it bit, As taught to polfce, marines and Q-Men. Beat the Japs at a we’ve been liter- their own game. Dcfemi yourself anywhere SOt ally buried beneath “POLICE WRESTLING” enthusiastic letters. Many All the scientific mat holds, grips and fails explained and readers tell us the Ford story was a delightful Illustrated 50e ‘•SCIENTIFIC BOXING” piece.—Ed. Correct punc4ilng. Fight training. Practice and diet SOe “HOW TO DANCE” Complete guide to modem ballroon dancing; walti. tax trot. CONCERNING “PLEASURE” tango, rumba, etc SOe “SWING STEPS” Sirs: l*am the latest swing dance steps in a few hourj SOe The letter of “TAP DANCING” Raymond Washington in the last Leam Quickly and easily. Entertain and delight jaai friends SO* issue of Amazing Stories was one of the best you “TWO HUNDRED POPULAR RECITATIONS, STORIES AND POEMS” have yet published and your answer the usual one An amariing c<)IK«Ioo by old and new masteh. .lust what you when asked by somebody need to make you the life of the party. Formrrlj tl.OO. Now 50c why your magazine isn't “TWO HUNDRED POPULAR COWBOY SONGS” better. I haven’t it near me now {I shouldn’t And mountain ballads with words and music. Forr lerly 50o wonder; I will , Now 35o have to admit that I don’t buy “ALLEGED LUCKY NUMBERS GYPSY DREAM BOOK” your magazine, and CflCtalns lOOO answers, readings, alleged lucky days, etc, only read it on the newsstand Porraerly $1.00 New SOo as much as possible) but “ASTROLOGY — HOROSCOPES” I understand that he said What the stars tell about your future SOt that fans are generally intelligent and you said that ”25 LESSONS IN HYPNOTISM” lAarn to use this welni power 35e you only wanted to publish stories that give pleas- “KERMAN’S CARD TRICKS” ure. Baffle your friends with professional slelghw SOo “HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE” "V^ou were both slightly off in your reasoning. Crime detection. Case methods, The criminal code SSo “JOE MILLER’S JOKE BOOK” Washington tried to use fans as a class when he The greatest collection of Jokes, gugs. quip* and pun* erer should have pointed lasembled $S« out the differences between ANY 3 BOOKS FOR $1.00 i the types. There are, for example, the fan who ANY 9 BOOKS FOR ONLY $2.50 ALL 16 FOR ONLY KSO knows “great” literature, but reads fantasy for the Stnd cash er money order only, If not tatiefled, fun of it; the fan whose soul is tied up in the retun within 5 days for Immediate rwfund. stuff and who puts out wonderful mimeographed FILL OUT THE COUPON NOW! sheets of paper called Fanzines; the technically minded fan, who reads it because be is a scientist Dept. • PJokwIek C«.. 3012. and for some perverse reason delights in it, even 73 West 44tli Street. New York I 18, N. Y, I though he sees the science in it way up in the I Gentlemen: enelose ^ I $ (In caih er money order) cloud-cuckoo-land where the authors get their I far which send me the books checked below. I ideas; the casual fan, who reads the stuff, likes it, I O "True Lore Guide” O 'Twe Hundred Popular a • n '‘Medern Lore Letters” Cowboy 1 Songs” knows the best in the field, occasionally writes I “Police Jiu-Jitsu” “Alleged Lucky • a I D "Peliee Wrestling” Nuaihers” ! letter to the editor, but doesn’t go beyond that; “Selentiflc Boxing” O “Astrelogy— Heroscopee” I Q last, I “How te Dance” O “25 Lessons in Hypnotism" | and and these are in the huge majority, those “Swing Steps” "Herman's Card Tricks” * Q who read the stuff just I “Tap Dancing” , ‘'How to Be a Detective” I the same way as they "Two Hundred Popular “Joe Miller’s I Joke Book” ! would the other pulp fields, Recitations” | and ask for the same kind of stuff. Name ® j You are, obviously, aiming for the last named Address ! I group. City I State t TTiat rather leaves 20% MlditenAl for Canada * the others holding the bag I or your magazine, with a disappointed expression AMAZING STORIES 195 on their faces. But you are making a lot of money. MASTER That brings us to your argument, namely, that you are only there to give pleasure. I pray thee, DRAFTING MACHINE good sir, but how did you ever get the idea that the kind of stuff you put out gives the maximum -amount of “pleasure”—whatever that is. Most fans, even in the last group, are not unintelligent, but they (the last group) do not know what they want. They read the stories you give them, and suppose they are the best they can get so they ask [or more. But if they did get better type stories, they would understand and like these just as well; witness New Adam, You seemed to get enough letters—even from the last group—liking it so it would be profitable to get others like it; but no; you say: . . reprints as a rule don’t measure up • Biggest time-saver for dimen- to new stories . . sioned sketches, lettering and lay- Your appeal is juvenile, or to those with juvenile outs ever sold at this low price. minds which seem to make up ninety per cent of — Size, 20”x24’'. Limited the American population—but you can help those supply. While they last only to grow up. Orefer Todayt It should be classed as a crime that you are not doing so. RANDOLPH RADIO Why have a magazine that costs a quarter a 609 W. RANDOLPH ST., CHICAGO 6, ILLINOIS month just to give pleasure. There are plenty of other magazines in America that more people read, that do the same task—and do it better. Science-fiction and fantasy is one class of fiction that should give pleasure—but give it in a belter way than it is doing now. ONTOLOGY Ray Karden, Thrown hioht On Your t^rohlrmt 409 Twelfth Street, Cloquet, Minnesota. IN TIME OF PEACE OR WAR Boy, do we disagree with you, and how! Just recently Donald Wolheim, a Jan, and also an editor of another science fiction magazine, selected two stories Jrom Amazing Stories inclusion in for a For pocket book of science fiction classics. Thus, we Send FREE 24-l*age Booklet Jly free booklet explains how publish to tilseovcr your tnie self do a jew stories that appeal to one of the How to aoauire Min-l Power, attract success and companlon- Rhip. Where to look groups you metUion. We read our Jan mail, and for health, hapiuiiess, independence .se- curity. confidence. .ONTOLOGY solves problems, overcomes we give the readers what they want. And we give obstacles, prontotes haritinny, e.xplains tire Bible, shows hovr U) ftot results when you pray, Astoundlns revelations. Write for it in the percentage their requests show. The type Kreo booklet today. Might chanse your whole life pattern. oj fiction predominating now, is there because the ALEXANDER KEENE, DEPT. 540, 3EDALIA. MO. predominating number oJ readers SPECIFICALLY asked for it. And they DIDN’T ask until they had gotten a Jew samples of it! Then they were loud A THOUSAND LAUGHS in their demands for more. You say it is a crime lt’» new—loads of fun, and Inexpensive—thi- unlque Jackass Cigarette Dispenser. Will we don’t educate— to help readers grow up. Per- astonish and amuse your friends, bringlny cfaucklee galore. Simply press donkey’s head sonally, we remember the early days of science down, taU rises—presto—out slips cigarette. Ideal for dena. etc. Holds 10 cigarettea. fiction. We were one of the fans. Our associates Satisfaction gtiaxanteed. Send no money—all orders shipped C.O.D. were fans. Today we look around and find out for 98c plus sunait tnouey order fee. or $ 1.00 with order. what happened to them. We were entertained SANIMO INDUSTRIES DepK ZD-4 then. Now we are running the science fiction show! Every editor in the business, every top- notch writer, got his start as a fan! All began as readers, were given muck pleasure through the Beat Any Dice Game reading of science fiction, and made it their life Hove Gold In Your Pocket, work. And we have as treasured possessions many When There’s Silver in Your Hair letters from the best writers in the field, expressing Send me a Stamped Self-Addressed Envelope, and the opinion that Ziff-Davis magazines carry their 1 will tell things about DICE you never knew. banner highest. As far education, a story that Print Name and Address Plainly gives pleasure does more to educate tfuin a text J. F. STEWART book. You are not holding the bag. If it were Box 526 Houston, Texas not for the last group you mention, there would . : — 196 AMAZIN© STORIES be A’^0 stories of the type you want! We try to LEARN please EVERYBODY. And golly, we know of a good many stories those minority groups have de- lighted in. We’ve got their letters saying so ! Ed. WE THINK YOU WILL Sirs I wish to start this letter by saying I never beard of Amazing Stories until about a month ago. You see I come from Missouri but recently moved PREPARE FOR to Calif. One day I had nothing to do. I was sitting in A GOOD WAR-TIME JOB the lobby of our hotel. I saw a mag laying on a ... WITHA PeMC-TIME FUTURtl table, picked it up and started reading it. When I finished it I had enjoyed it very much. Then Mall coupon today for details of my famous Coyne “I^m by Doing” I looked at the covers and I liked them also. method of practical shop training The Amazing mag I was reading happened to that prepares you for a good war- be an April, 1941 (really old isn't it). Even if fj time job with a real future after the war— InElectrlcIty.thebig-payfield. the book was terribly old I got lots of enjoyment Serve your country now by getting out of it. atrmnlng and at the same time you I intend to get some up-to-date Amazing mags. will be helping yourself by prepar- ing for a peacetime future. Age or If I like them (and I hope I do) I will keep on lack of money need not bold getting them. you back. I will write again soon and tell you if I intend I’LL FINANCE YOUR TRAINING to be a fan of yours. Get training first; then take 12 months to complete small Josephine Whitting, monthly tuition payments starting 60 days after your train- ing period is over. 1814 Pacific Ave., “LEARN-BY-DOING” Venice, Calif. AT COYNE We’ll be waiting for your letterl—Ed. Coyne Training is practical training, easy to grasp . . . you learn quickly by doing actual Jobs on real electrical machinery in my LIKES AND DISLIKES shops. Not by correspondence—you are trained right here in my big Chicago Sirs: training shops. You don’t need . vious experience or advanced edu- This is the first time I’ve written to your mag- cation. Expert instructors guide you azine and I hope that you will publish this letter, every step of the way. for I am curious to see what the editor note will NOW! RADIO and ELECTRONICS be. I have been reading Amazing ever since I can INCLUDED AT NO EXTRA COST remember and have always liked it. Here is a list Now I am Including with my regular of things I like and don’t like. 10 means perfect, electrical training a special course In Radio and Electronics, at no added tui- 9 almost, and so on— tion remain Coyne cost. You can at 1) After an Age— 10. after finishing your Electrical training, and teke this extra Instruction that 2) Daughter of Destiny—10. prepares you for great opportunities 3) Skeleton Men of Jupiter— 10. Don’t like St. now and after Victory. John. Get an artist. Earn While Learning—Job Help When Trained 4) The Light that Killed—9. If yon need perUtime work to help with UvId? expenses while at Coyne, my employment department will help you eet it. 5) Persian Carpet— 1 minus. After sr^uation you will ^ given FREE UNLIMITED EM- PLOYMENT SERVICE for your Uletime. 6) Bring Back My Body— 10. 7) Visitor to Earth—10. We should have a MEN I WHETHER YOU ARE 16 OR UP TO 50-GET MY STORY sequel. I 8) That Worlds May Live—10. My FREE BOOK will Interest any fellow who wants to get ahead even though he may have but 9) Bill Cauldron Goes to the Future— 10. But very little money . . . Fill In the coupon today ana ni^l it to me and you'll get my oig FREE in the picture it shows Bill Cauldron stripped to Catalog and all riie facts. the waist and it didn’t say anything about him get- H. e. UWIS, PrasMsnt ting dressed. Don’t you think that the people in COYNE ELECTRICAL SCHOOL^. . ^ , 800S.PAUUNAST. CWCAOO, ILUi^.C. the future would be a little shocked? Brady is superb on drawing bare torsos, biceps, etc. H. C. LEWIS. Preeldeac, GossM BlKtrlcal School 500 S. Paulina Street, Dept. 93-M. Chicago, IIL 10) Never Trust a Demon—8. I Send me, without obligation, your Big Free Book. 1 How about a sequel to “After an Age’’? about the extra RADIO-EL^TRONICS COURSE it , I l‘Pay-Tui- I With Coyne Electrical Training and give details of a I have noticed that swear words are used widely tlon-Aftet-Graduatioa” Oflet. I in stories, but you frown upon them in letters. That’s too bad, for I can’t say some things that ADDRESS. I’d like to. I Nelson Lanefield III, CITY I (No address.) 1 AMAZIN© STORIES 197 CrUid to see you like us so well. As jor tke future, we don’t think anybody would be skocked at seeing a man stripped to the waistl As for a sequel to “After an Age,” Mr. Binder is a tough man to prevail upon these days. We’re trying to get an Adam Link first. But we’ll corner him some Styles! day and discover his plans for the future. A little I Newest I /TESTJODROWM “damning” in .stories seems to be okay. But we — - /IlGOTATEOMB edit all letters, and on those things we have a SEND NO MONEY! (I«i£ “formula” we’ll admit. Ever notice how all our 3|?>\TS MONEY-BACKGUARANTEEofSATISFACTIOIf letters begin “Sirs:”? Well, actually, they dor^t, IfTon're notlOO%BBtislied wt^hslatses weznake we'll 'fpFii.Jini "• R*l»lFSt.48 but your editor hates to be called a gentleman all FPFF R•TODAY forF llttcstaloc^scieDti&etestchBrt. Hj** Sergei the timel—Ex). U.S. EYE-GLASSES C0.4557 MUwaukeeAve..Dept.C-l3.CliicaKO. lit. Complete home-study eours.es ABOUT DISCUSSIONS end 6«lf-inBtruetton liooks. sHehtIr used. Sold. fBnted, exclii«n;:cfJ. AU BubjertS. SalUfaCtlon suaranteed. Sirs: Caah paid for used cmirscii. Full de- tails end 8i-paee ilhiatratcd bar. I haven’t just finished your August issue. It Rain catalog FBEE, Write today! NELSON CO. XtX 8. Waliasli Dept. 22S Chicago wasn’t sweil. What I’m writing about is something very different, your readers page. It’s the worst of any magazine I’ve ever seen (Even Amazing Try Page’s Palliative S roRiKs). ru give you a few of the reasons. PILE PREPARATIONS 1. Your readers page is much too short. Be- trith Bleed- sides you ought to set an amount of pages for it lf you are troubled itebing, ing or protruding piles, write for a and publish that amount every single issue instead I FREE sample of Page's Palliative Pile of printing one page one issue and 8 or 9 the next. Preparations and you may bless the day Make up your mind. you read this. Don’t wait, WRITE TODAY! 2. It isn’t terrible interesting. If you’d only let E. R. PAGE CO., Deeti ‘•88 K2 M&rshall. Mlch. a cou^jle of guys get into a fight. A lot of guys IN CANADA. DEPT. 488-K2, TORONTO, ONT. writer humorous letters too. Why don’t you give them a crack at the readers page? 3. You’ve got the readers page all mixed up with ToAnySiBtr advertisements or the other way around. There’s Dooblethe life of jour coat vest with eorrectlT plenty of other places to put the advertisements. and _ matched pants. 100, OOOpatterna.^ For instance, I'm reading along about how this guy liked the last issue of F.A, and then all of a sudden pants are made. Fit guaranteed. Send plea* ** I am reading about how to buy false teeth at a re- °*^PtRKm*MATc1f&tNTS COMPANY 209 S. State St. Dept. 409 Chicage duced rate. So why not put the readers pages all together without interruptions? 4. Also keep the cartoons out of the readers pages. I don’t like to look at a spaceship having POEMS WANTED a race around the sun to sec who can put it out for Musical Setting I first while I’m reading a letter. Keep your car- Mother. Borne, Love. Sacred, Patriotic. Comic I toons in the pages with the Editor’s notebook. or any eubject. Don't Delay— Send ub your I Orisinai Poem at once— for immediate ex- After all we have to have something to laugh about amication and FREE Rhjmtlng Dictionary. | W'hiio we read what the ed. has to say. ” Richard Brothers SSISW'S.Tl'I?. 5. Please don’t print two letters by the same per- son in one issuci If you must, save it over, but give someone else a chance. 6. Why don't you have some kind of prizes for the three letters that are voted best for the month by the readers? That way readers will have some- thing to work for and besides that I’ll bet you’ll Booklet “THE L . get a lot more sjjarkle in letters. your And more Tells ail about this 40.year-old method, praised and e humor too. domed by thousaoda. Lisp* Methods, Dept. N>4'' 9304 N. Green Bay Ave^ MUwauhee. Wlseanaiiu Ronald Maddox, 87 Utica Street, Hamilton, N. Y. High School Course Well, what do you think this reader’s at Home Many Finish la 2 Y«ars of page? I Go as rapidly as ymir and abOities Cooraft The only time we cut it is when stories run ob- Umo permit. cqulvaleot to resIdcDt school work—prepares (wcollego stinately long, or the ad department goes on a entranfe exama Standard H.S. texts supplied. Diploma. selling .-^pree. Our small she type would be very ImsiDoas and industry and socinlly. Don't be handicuaped all roar ^e.*^ a Hiab yuor bamina now. Pieu hard reading if it were set in solid pages, and not very attractive, we think. Also, why not give the I American Schooi, Dept. H -939, Drexelat58th,Chi«ago37 advertisers a break? AU you have to do is stick — 198 AMAZING STORIES to inside columns. Only very rarely does this formula break down by an odd ad or two. As for prizes, we tried that. The net result was we got letters written in an attempt to be clever and grab the prize, instead of sincere letters of criticism RIIDIOniCi and discussion . Ed. AN AUTHORITY SPEAKS Sirs: I just came across Mr. Wilhite's letter in “Dis- cussions” and felt that it should not go unan- swered, especially since the editorial opinion seems to put a stamp of approval on Mr. Wilhite's idea. That idea is, essentially, that Mr. Wilhite wishes to substitute a steady acceleration against the earth’s gravitational field for what he calls a “ter- rific burst of speed” resulting in escape velocity, in the beginning. This reasoning shows a fundamental misunder- Xea^ standing of the conception of “escape velocity.” Escape velocity is, in the first place, the velocity a body would attain if it fell toward earth from INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS an infinite height. Its impact velocity would then be escape velocity, 11,200 meters or about seven TELEVISION & RADIO miles per second. This implies, of course, that leetroclcs for hameeslns the forces of Indoetir. Telerislon there is no atmosphere to slow it down—actually to brlog tbe trorld'e sights Into the home. Radio with revolu- the impact velocity is left tlonai7 Impcoremecte—these are developments that constitute of what of a 200-pound a tiemeeidous field. You can project yourself Into this mighty meteorite is just short of 1000 feet per second, the field. You can becccne part of it. You can earn good pay aa a Radionics Expert, with independence Insured during and after same as airplane bombs—and that it fell in a the war. When the war ends. Radionics will boom even faster than now, But ywi can't successfully enter this field unless straight line which would rarely happen in nature. you have TRAINING. Let's speah plainly. You have tbe desire the rule is and you realize the tremendous future of Radionics. But you Now that you need as much velocity lat& training. So here's the way to get Into Radionics. Have of departure for a given altitude as the impact National Schools train you right in your home. National is always in the leail As Industry advances. Natlcaal offers train- velocity from that altitude. Since any altitude ing to fit This was never more true than today. National's tialnlns covers all phases of Radionics. above, say, 250,000 miles may be considered “in- finite” it has become customary to say that you TESTED HOME TRAINING need escape velocity for a space ship. But that BY PROVED SHOP-FIEID METHOD term is not used primarily to denote 7 miles per second, but to denote the power of the earth’s For more than S8 years National Schools baa trained thou- sands of mui. Many graduatee hold top positions In hundreds gravitational field. You can make it 11,200 meters of leading Industries. Unlike wdlnary correspondence course#, NatlonaJ's Radionics Course is based on shop-practloe. ehcgi- at the surface (actually you can’t, of course, be- tested, sht^i-roDtlne training, adapted to Heme Study. Re- air placing dry test books, fascinating Igisson and Bxperliaental ' cause of resistance) or you can make it 10,300 Assignments are provided. Instructors oounsel with you. Aftw meters at a height of about 100 miles, or less at the first few lessons, you are auallfied to repair Home Radio a Beta. Soon you master Communications and Sound Systems. greater altitude. You can go “up” to about 50,000 Before you realise It you have practical knowledge of the "workings" of countless Efiectronlcs Controls and how Electron- miles any way you want and make it some 2000 ice Is applied to Industir. '^an you graduate you are qualified to accept a Job that ^ould pay substantially more than you are meters per second. You can do all that if you can now earning. This is a real opportunity for you. carry your fuel for doing it. New Oppwtunlty Book, all about Radltmlcs, and FREE IcuoD nulled without obligation. I repeat, the figure for the escape velocity rep- resents the gravitational field. . . . But you are best off if you use up your fuel as fast as possible (to save weight) and if you do attain this velocity. Because in that case you carry only “energy,” but not too much fuel. Here are some figures to chew on: A one-ton ship which is to go to the moon, land there and return will need (roughly) 135 tons of hydrogen and oxygen for fuels. That is, if the escape velocity is attained quickly. Otherwise you have to multiply the fuel needs by a minimum of 450. Note that it is not 450, but a minimum of PKEE MDIOKICl BOOK i. lESSOM I 450. « WeMaael tchoels. Peps. NS-12 tStoHhiemelepear 1 else opposed ' Anybody to escape velocity ? 4aMSe.ntueree,UsA»9elet,eell<. putaMpMurypmteQ I Atoll ne ne£, wkbetit obfigaKen, oat IsBen end Oppertvaily r Willy Ley, * te«l|, wM IvU detoih ebevt hew I CAN become I a KADIO Technidaii. 415 West 24th St., '» WAAlt _ New York, N. Y. I The editors think that can pretty i AMHttSS - * we well abide by what you say. And we thank you immensely I^OTf STATl j for setting us straight on the matter of escape : AMAZING STORIES 199 velocity. Coming from a rocket man who has ex- WORLD’S HBBEST MUKERS Now perimented in rocketry, your opinion is of great by weight with us.—Ed. wrmm wiiirH Mail GREAT S On 60 Days' Trial! “JEGGA” AN ALL TIME fromOMrLaboratoryOlmettoYoul $f% 95 1 Dental Plateomadetornwnpre— In6l. Sirs I congratulate you. I congratulate David V. Reed. In my opinion “The Empire of Jegga” will rank as one of the all time greats. It was wonder- ful. Please keep up that standard. The only discords in an otherwise perfect mag- azine were the inclusions of a Juggernaut Jones tnatlon.Cstalog.tiowPnees. I UNITKD STATES DKNTAL CO.I a Hale story. Please cannot you elim- and John ItSS MILWAUKEB AVE.. DEPT. C- 13, CHICAGO. ILL.I inate these two unhealthy characters along with Lefty Feep. The liquidation of these three would improve your magazine 500%. Asthma Mucus How about an Adam Link story soon? Has “The New Adam” by Stanley G. Wienbaum Loosened First Day ever been completely published unexpurgated by For Thousands of Sufferers any SF magazine? I know you published it some Choking, gasping, wheezing spasms of Bronchial issues ago, but was it complete? Asthma ruin sleep and energy. Ingredients in the pre- Sherman Brown, 3rd, scription Mendaco quickly circulate through the blood and commonly help loosen the thick strangling mucus 401 So. Lafayette, the first day, thus aiding nature in palliating the ter- rible Denver 9, Colorado. recurring choking spasms, and in promoting freer breathing and restful sleep. Mendaco is not a Binder assures will Eando us he do another smoke, dope, or injection. Just pleasant, tasteless pal- Adam Link story for us. Juggernaut Jones is now liating tablets that have helped thousands of sufferers. Iron clad guarantee—money back unless completely in the arm%, so he’U be missing awhile. John for satisfactory. Ask your druggist for Memdaco today. Hale, also, will be missing, due to pressure of other work on the author. Lefty Feep is very popular with our FANTASTIC ADVENTURES readers, and he will appear a number of times more we’re FEET HURT sure. “The New Adam” was published in book Don’t frosa about tired, burning feet. Don't moan about callougea. Get busy and gl»e tliem a LUMCO FOOT EASE Ueat. Feel the own- is out print. form, but now of It mas cut a trifle fortlng, soothing coolness of LUMCO driving out fiery burning for the magazine publication, but only certain aching Uretiness. Bub LUMCO FOOT EASE over those ugly hard old coma and callouses, as directed. See how this foot cream helps soften rather erotic parts were omitted.—Ed. tliem up. LUMCO Is not greasy or messy, vaniihes Immediately. Send 11.00 today for large size trial jar, and go about your work happy again. Satisfaction guaranteed. Backed by SO years amazing success. MORE ON ESCAPE VELOCITY LUMCO PRODUCTS Dwpt. 422-K KIMBALL, NEBR. Sirs: IS EPILEPSY INHERITED? Why all this “escape velocity”? Assuredly it would be very nice (and infinitely WHAT CAUSES IT? more comfortable than attaining escajje velocity) A booklet containing the opinions of famous to allow your ship to climb leisurely out from a doctors on this interesting subject will be sent planet. Unfortunately for us hedonists, and de- FREE, while they last, to any reader writing spite Mr. Wilhite’s “hog-wash and wasted effort” to the Educational Division, 535 Fifth Ave., statement, the space-flight mathematicians knew Dept. NF-12, New York, N. Y. perfectly well what they were doing and why. In the first place, a ship floating slowly out could never hope to remain out for long—the fuel giving out, our daring (and foolish, to try this particular Baolsb the eraTiiiK for totiMeo u UakeyooreeUfiM ' stunt) astronauts would return to mother earth, _App)r frith Tobacco Redeemer. Write lor free booklet telling of but fast. Ib« However, they couldn’t get far enough joriooB effect of tobacco and of n treatment which out this way to leave our atmosphere, has re* so they lieved manr tnen. PDFE wouldn’t be turned into flaming meteorites—this SO Yeare to Bualitaam is to set at rest those desiring spectacular deaths. THE NEWELL COMPANY 600 (ftortmi Sta., SL Louis, Mo. Instead, their deaths would be very un^ctacular indeed, for it isn’t uplifting to the ego to be scraped up with a shovel. Use more fuel? It sounds good, and would even INVENTORS IF fuel Industry work— enou^ could be carried. The de- needs your ideas now I Manufacturers are get- ting ready pressing fact that we can only carry a limited NOW for post-war sales and production. Factories must have products to take up the slack after amount of the stuff, even in step-rockets, remains. war orders stop. Get our NEW FREE inventor’s book Even though a ship may carry enough fuel to at- today and valuable “Invention Record” form. Act now. tain escape velocity, if it does not attain that McMORROW & BERMAN, Eeffistered Patent Attomeya I29.Y ALBEE BUILDING velocity it is in effect nothing more than a glorified WASHINGTON 5. D. C. ! 200 AMAZING STORIES sounding rocket which must eventually come down again when the fuel is exhausted. FREE Here a certain confusion enters the problem. To OFFER attain highest its efficiency, the rocket must move forwffrd as fast as its exhaust gases move back- ward, and the velocity of the gases is only about for FALSE TEETH half that of escape velocity. Therefore it can be seen that fuel is actually used inefficiently in reach- ing the crucial speed, but is—or can be—efficiently used in slower flight which can’t lake us into space Assuming equal fuel-weight ratios, a ship burn- ing its fuel efficiently would reach a higher altitude under power than the other one not so efficient. Here's where the second one becomes a TIGHTENS I space ship and the first remains just a skyrocket FALSE : doomed to fizzle out and fall back. The second, TEETH OR NO COST ' although its power has been exhausted sooner, has enough speed to travel on out—and out—and out. Here’s nev amas’ng meuth comfort witNout rtsking a single But the first, while it reaches a very high altitude, •ent . . . enjoy that feeling of having your own teoth again. Satisfy your duire for food . . . has not at any time escaped gravity. eat what ytv want. CROWN RELINER TIGHTENS FAUE To clarify escape velocity somewhat, by the way, TEETH OR NO COST. Perfoet for it has been calculated by astronomers that a body Partials, Lowen or Uppers. falling from an infinite distance to Earth would Don't suffer emitarrasstnent and discomfort caused by loose dental (neglecting air resistance, etc.) attain a high speed plates. Apply CROWN RELINER. of about 7.1 miles per second. Consequently it In a jiffy your plate ftts like new and follows that when we can send out a at that stays that way up to 4 months. No body old-fashioned hewing to burn your speed (again neglecting air resistance) it will never mouth. Just sgueeza CROWN from return to earth. Someday if we get atomic-pow- tube and put your teeth back in. , They'll fit as snugly as ever. Inventor ered rockets we can forget all about escape veloc- Is a recognized authority in dental ity, but it’s going to take some doing before we field. A patent has been applied for get those super-fuels. CROWN RELINER to protect you from Imitators. After you reilne your Lastly, there is not, and never has been (con- plate with CROWN, take your false teeth out for cleaning without affect- trary to the wild.-cyed Sunday supplement type of ing the CROWN RELINER. CROWN article) any “frantic ] search for a fuel to achieve ' RELINER Is guaranteed . . . it's escape velocity.” Ordinary liquid harmless. NOT A POWDER OR oxygen and any PASTEl Does Not Burn or Irritate. one of several hydro-carbons will do very well, If not satisfled, wen after 4 months, thank you. return partly used tubs fsr full Krxth Buchanan, Box 148, SEND NO MONEY READ THIS: Amsterdam, Ohio. You must be one hundred per J. Clements of Alg»- Well, liac writes: “My we seem to have started something, and cent delighted or no cost. Try plates were so bad we’re glcd to see all these letters on the subject. it for four months and return they rattled when I talked. 1 can . for full refund if not satisfied. Now Each one brings put valuable points —Ed. eat steaks, corn on Order at once and we'll include the cob.” Beiine free with your order a tube of your plates with AN ANSWER TO TERRILL Crown’s Dental Plate Cleaner. CBOWN. It’s taate- 1*9?. Has that nat- Rush coupon. Pay postman one ural pink color. Or- Sirs; dollar for combination plus postage, or send cash and we The main reason for this letter is an item in the pay postage. Act now. September Discussions; a maddening thing by Walter Terrill who for some reason failed to fur- nish his address. Usually, a letter of this type fails to stir me one way or the other, but when the editor more or less agrees with the thing, then it's time to say something. CROWN PLASTIC CO. Dept. 5012 The statement that irked me most was this one: 4368 W. Phlladslphla Avs. “So, to sum up space travel, why?” All I have Detroit. Mioh. Send your wondM’ful Crown Dental to say is that Mr. Terrill has about as much com- Plate Beliner end Include the free Crown Dental Cleaner, 1 win pay mon sense and imagination as a dead earthworm. poatmaii dollar postage on one plus did Columbus arrival. If 1 am not aatialied after Why bother to discover America? four rmmths. I ibsy retain partly used Why did anyone ever bother to explore the wild tube for fulf refund. jungles of Africa? Why not sit home and read cloeine one dollar In full payment, same detective stories? YeGods'.ll To take up more concrete things that have noth- ing to do with personal ideas, let’s get down to some of Mr. Terriil’s statements. I shall now AMAZING STORIES 201 squelch his “facts.” There is roore than one school of thought about the atmosphere of Venus, and If You Get Up Nights by far the majority do not agree with the methane theory. There, according to many authorities, is a You Can't Feel Right Twilight Belt on Mercury that would support life. If you have to get up 3 or more times a night your rest And in even ony temperature, Life could evolve is broken and it's no wonder if you feel old and run down before Functional rather organic or according to the conditions on that planet not your time. than sys- — temic Kidney and Bladder trouble often may be the cause life as we know it, true, but life nevertheless. of many pains and symptoms simply because the Kidneys be tired and not working fast enough in filtering and Spaceships naturally follow the basic cigar de- may removing irritating excess acids, poisons and wastes from sign, for reasons that are quite clear to any think- your blood. So if you get up nights or suffer from burning, ing person— guy doesn’t have to be an aviation scanty or frequent passages, leg pains, backache, or swollen a ankles, due to non-organlc or non-systemic Kidney and expert to know something about air resistance. Bladder troubles, why not try the prescription called In the future, new metals, new minerals, new Cystex? Because it has given such joyous, happy relief in so high a percentage of such cases, Cntex is sold under a machines, new types of Life, new civiliaations will guarantee of money hack on return of empty package un- completely only 35c at be found—there is no doubt about it. So why not less satisfactory. Cystez costs druggists. write about them? There is no more intelligent and fascinating thing written than science fiction. So now I’ll sum up: Nuts to Mr. Terrill, and nuts to his adolescent don’t WORRY ideas ! Yes, and a dirty look to the editor, too, for Why put up with years of phrasing his rejrfy to Mr. Terrill so that the reader needless discomfort and gets the impression that he, and thus the policy of woii^? a Brooks Auto- Amazing Stories, thinks science fiction is no good, matic Air Cushion. This For “Carbon-Copy Killer” uias not a science fic- marvelous appliance per- imts tion story! the opening to close, yet holds^ucible rupture And, obviously, you do not agree with Mr. Ter- securely, «)mfortably—day rill for the type of story printed in Amazing — and night. Thousands report amazing results. Stories certainly is contrary to his ideas. Light, peat-fitting. No hard pads or stm springs So much for a letter that made me good and to chafe or gouge. Made for men, women and mad. childrea. Duzable, cheap, Sant on trial to srova it. Never Bold in stores. Beware of imitatioos. Write for Although you do not seem to care for listings, Free Book on Rapture, no-risk trial order plan, and here is a brief report on the September Amazing : proof of results. AU correspondence confidentiaL A: BROOKS COMPANY, 152 F State Si, MarsbaU, Mich. 1. “When the Darkness Came.” 2. “Lunar Vengeance,” by Thornton Ayre. (More!) 7th YEAR 3. “Madcap of Mars,” by Festus Pragnell. Wa moke FALSE TEETH for B: FALSE you from your own Im- prostlons In (frief oceord- 4. “Luvium, the Invincible City,” by A. R. enee wifii new U. S. Low. McKenzie. LOW 5. “The Powerful Pipsqueak,” by Ross Rock- TEETH lynne. 60 DAY TRIAL AS C: 995 6. “The Devil’s Planet,” by David Wright O’Brien. J. B. CLEVELAND DENTAL PLATE CO. 17,” 7. “War Worker by Frank Patton. DEPT. 50-T3 EAST ST. LOUIS. ILLINOIS Idle comments: It is a shame to waste the talent of Frank Patton on corn ... the only thing that saved the O’Brien yarn was the fact that the “sur- “Facts about EPILEPSY” prise” ending, in which the reverend turned out to be a space dick and his daughter his sweetie, was This most interesting and helpful Booklet will be happily absent ... if the Ayre tale is a sample of mailed to anyone while the supply lasts. I will send what you have grown away from I suggest you a free copy to anyone who writes for it. grow back in a hurry . . . the Luvium yam was C. good, but the confusing mass of slam-bang bloody M. SIMPSON Address Dept. F-19, 1840 W. 44th Street. Cleveland, Ohio battles got on my nerves. Chad Oliver, 3956 Ledgewood, ANY BOOK IN PRINT! Cincinnati, Ohio. Dellrered at your door. We oay postase. Standard authori, new books, popular editions, Action, refer- YOU get the wrong impression about our answer euce, caedical, caechanleal. children's books, etc. —all at guaranteed saving*. Send card now for to Mr. Terrill. You prove it saying by “Carbon- CUikso&'a 1944 Catalog. Copy Killer” was not a science fiction story! Here ETD Bp Write for our great Illustrated book catalog. short course In literature, “rhe buying have an killer, '““A we amazing created out of pure guide of 300,000 book lovers, The answer to your Christ- mas gift problem. FREE If write TODAYl carbon, given life in a laboratory. And you say it you NOW— CLARKSON PUBLISHING COMPANY isn’t either science or fictionl agree many ^ We with ; Dept. NW-3. 1253 S. Wabash Ave.. Chicago. Ml. — : — 202 AMAZING STORIES things in your letter, but not that. As for scien- tific detective yarns, David V. Reed is finishing one I TRAINED THE that will knock your eye out —using some of the MEN WHO THEN comments you readers gave us an the carbon-copy story! Thanks for your listing. We still want GOT THESE them, but we don’t publish them the way we did. —Ed. BIG /08S LIKES SCIENTIFIC MYSTERIES Sir-s I have been reading your magazine first Students or graduates of mine hove complete charge for the time and find it to be one of the most interesting of the Bureaus of Identification in the following of its kind- states and cities—and, they ore only a few of aaay! I have found in your stories everything that State Bureau of Delaware Albany, N. Y. would hold your suspense, but if you could pos- State Bureau of Maine Trenton, N. J. State Bureau of New Canton, Ohio sibly pul more Scientific Mysteries in it 1 think I Mexico Tulsa, Okla. would enjoy it more. I was very much interested State Bureau of Rhode Mobile, Ala. Island Phoenix, Aric. in the article L. Taylor Hansen wrote, “Does the State Bureau of Texas Los Angeles, Calif. Atlantic Hide a Sunken Land,” and the stories State Bureau of Utah Seattle, Wash. Lincoln, Nebraska Madison, Wis. “Pop Gun” by F. W. Powell and “Prison in Space" Tallahassee, Florida Miami, Florida by Henry Norton. These were my favorites in Concord, N. H. Leavenworth, Kas. your August issue. BE A Harold Nkwman, 700 West ISOth Street, FINGER PRINT EXPERT New York, N. Y. Our Scientific Mysteries series will continue for Ad Cxfxendute ta ^eoA^ many more months, or rather, we should say, years! Mr. Hansen is an authority and he luw "I tvtll teach you Finger Print Identification—Firearms I Identification — Police Photography — and Secret supplied us with a vast amount of material. —En. Service!” That’s what I told the men who now handle those jobs. HE CORRECTS—AND SO DO WE And now I repeat, but THIS time it’s to YOU . . . Just give me a chance and I’lltrainyou to hll an important Sirs: position in the fascinating held of scientific crime For the past several (8-10) years I’ve been get- detection. ting the biggest kick imaginable from reading yours GET IN NOW! But don’t be misled. Scientific crime and associated fictional science magazines. As a detection not it appear. It’s not is as simple as might matter of fact it’s almost exclusively my literary an occupation at which anyone without training might source of entertainment. But: succeed. It’s a science — a real science, which when mastered THROUGH TRAINING gives you some- Ever so often my blood (what’s left of it since thing no one can EVER take from you. As long as you the doctors have been so engrossed in my physical live you should be a trained expert-able to make — make-up) starts to boil like nobody's business good in scientific crime detection. when some of your research department (or who- over of ALL LOOK AT THE RECORD! Now 53% ever it is that stretches its imagination in intra Identification Bureaus in the United States employ and extra diverse channels and, with our students and graduates. They have regular jobs their x(?) regular salaries—often collect reward money besides 69x! imaginations concoct a ship like the one de- —and many ofthese men knew absolutely nothinp; about picted on the back cover of your September, 1943 this work before they began their training with me. (V’ol, 17 No. 9), issue of Am.uing Stories. Using your own system of reasoning I’m sending along a rough sketch of what my obviously less over- FREE" ™ " This book takes you right worked (if smaller) mind says ship behind the scenes where crime and science a would look come to grips. It’s full of exciting informa- like using your own statistics (P. 208 “Ship of tion on scientific crime detection, including Jupiter") must more reasonably appear like. fascinating real case histories/ It will show Since being an artist is not listed among my YOU how YOU, at a cost so low you various achievements I won’t shouldn’t even think of it, can get started in try to show it pic- this big important work without delay. Don’t torially but I guess you’ll get the idea. wait. Clip . . . send it I the coupon NOW Since the Seas of Jupiter are so viscous, sticky, and heavy it seems obvious that almost anything INSTITUTE OP APPLIED SCIENCE ! I 1920 Sunnyside Av»., Dept. 1 569# Chicago 40, III. will float on it—like a bar of aluminum. It would I probably like I Gentlemen: Without obligation, send me the "Blue I react a log on earth ocean. Identihcation I Book of Clime,” and complete list of | To maintain as little surface friction as possible I bureausemployingycurstudentsaodgraduates, together | that ship of yours I with your low prices and Easy Terms Offer. (Literature | would be built more like a three will be seat to persons stating their age.) I ONLY | pontoon affair (see diagram) and its means of Name,. traction definitely j would not be screws such as Address wildly imagined by you but more aptly tractors such as used on amphibian tanks, etc. These works to be enclosed in a casing so en- — AMAZING STORIES 203 tire works is buoyant—only treads contacting sur- face of ocean. (Also hull, of course). Then ju^t the treads contact the liciuid just as the screws do in your picture. With the tractor an exceedingly greater pull could be exerted per unit measure of power namely because it presents more inside surface to harness the power. (Remember your foot-pounds formula?) This way with added leverage made y possible—even a ship built here on earth using Get In at the Start—and Grow Earth’s sources of mechanical power the oceanic I Plastics is a new industry which the nation’s war trip could still be accomplished in days rather than needs is forcing to quick maturity. Already Plas* months. tics are indispensable in practically every branch of the Seiw'ice—Aircraft, Ordnance, Cheffiic^, (I *' 1 don't know if the diagrams are very clear. irine, Signal Corps, etc. Opportunities? Nearly doubt it) but use your own picture with treads and everything, from hoifaes to clothing. fVom gadgets tools, will fce affected by Plastics. shield the treads so only the working portion is |f|P - exposed plus cleaning gears—and presto—you get . Spare Time Training Now Ready the idea. Tha time to get started is now. You can prepare ®.t home, in your spare time, to take your plhce Likewise if the sea is as dense as you say the In an infant industry that even now is leaping ship would (in spite of the tremendous weight) into pronainence. A new, practical training plan sx'M is now ready help you realize still ride rather than plow thru’ a wave. to your ambitions and build your future security. Act now. Oon’t ’ ’ -- “ • Now I'm getting confused. So except for a word delay. Mail this coupon today. AMERICAN SCHOOL, Dept. P939 Ml , pvT. Ralph Blumenthal, Drexel Ave. at S8th St., Chicago 37, III. ^ Walter Reed Hospital, Send me FBEE information cororing special training in subjects cheeked belutr. No obligation on ny pact. Ward 31 (Ortho) No. 29. Plastics D Aviation O Electrical Engineeriog AutuniotivcEnglneering Okay, Ralph. But ite still like our screw device. Drafting and Design Architecture & Building for Men Shipbuilding You see, we think it’s a waste energy to lift all and Women of O Diesel Engineering Business Management that sticky stuff up on top of the ship and all Mechanical Engluecring Radio Accounting & Auditing High School Course around the top side of the treads, wherever you Name...... have them. It wouldn’t flow off fast enough, would it? So why 7iot have the driving force re- main right down in the sticky stuff, and not have to add to its work by fighting gravity? We didn’t reproduce your drawing because your letter is very MOUNT BIRDS clear of itself. —Ed. Animals, Heads, Fishes, Pets; to TAN. Be a Taxidermist. Profit and FUN, PRICELESS-EPIC-UNFORGETABLE! Hunters, save your valuableTROPHIES, t Sirs; 9 a HOME MUSEUM. Approximately two years ago I was reading sci- INVESTICATE , NOW. ence fiction like a fiend —literally eating it up, and FREE BOOK S jXfS" Am.\2INC. Stories was one of the most important - - 3aHB NOW absolutely FREE. Writ* TOOAV. | Sefld Postal for FREE BOOK. S&te AGE. factors. Then suddenly, my ‘‘hobby” began to TODAY j N.W. SCHOOL OF TAXIKRMY, Dept 3037. Omaha, M fade—hack plots began to seep in among the pre- vious gems of science fiction, and Ama.zing started putting out those giant-size issues, with nothing but a lot of trash for material. So I quit. Just re- cently, I was seeking some form of amusement and ANY PHOTO ENLARGED entertainment for my spare time, and immediately size % % 10 Inehet or smaller if de- m a sired. Same price for fuU length or M Q thought of my “first love.” I purchased the No- bust form, groups, landscapes. M ^ animals, etc., or enlargeineiits of anyBl^i M issue of vember .^.S. and, with a critical point of part of group picture. Safe return of _ * * view in mind, started reading. Now, before I go original photo euaranteed. 3 lOf Sl.OO any further, let me classify the stories in the No- SEND NO MONEY J, vember issue, and then take them apart individu- ally. 16x29-inch enlargement !. Empire of Jegga—Reed. 3gc or semi t*0c amt 'u- ps of thi 2. Juggernaut Jones, Pirate—McKenzie. STANDARD ART STUDIOS, 100 E. Ohis St, Dept. 603-W, .3. Black Pool—Repp. 4. Aura of Death—Lewis. 5. Jenny, the Flying Ford—Arno, the Hawaiian way. SurprUe and entertain your friends. Our simple methofl makes 6. Johnny Rainmaker—Yerxa, learning to play music a.s fascinating as a Slio«:s yuu fn pictures how to do it- Noting that “Empire of require ganio. Jegga” would Proylouii musical training unnecessary. Eiarn close observation, I tore into the shorts first. To while learning by hew plan. You pay for lessons they are received. Write today for free infor- my consternation, only one satisfied me—“Jugger- malipn. A postcard will do. (Fine 25c guitars supplied S7.50 and up.) naut Jones, Pirate.” The rest were nothing but PER HA.WAIIAfl GUITAR INSTRUCTtOH loose plots with a fantastic background, and I LESSON P. 0. Box 163. Dept. K942, Maywood, III. : 204 AMAZING STORIES wouldn’t even want to see them in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES (or has F.A. been discontinued?). And only Fuqua’s illustration for McKenzie’s yarn MEN^ was above average. Come to Then, with a sigh, I started “Empire of Jegga” —and was knocked senseless! My dear editor, in Mr. Reed’s novel, you have found one of the most priceless epics of science fiction COYNE ever printed ! What a change of form ! I could say plenty about for a great! ! “Empire of Jegga’’—about the never-ceasing ele- ment future in of mystery surrounding it, about the creation of an unforgettable character in Nick Brewster, and other things—but I’ll leave it go, and just say that it was a wonderful story ! Not only that, but those pics by Hadden were a perfect fit for the story itself. That’s all I have to say, Mr. Editor, and to RADIO prove how much I liked that great novel, you can DPERAIINGi’o'ElECIIlONICIi expect my subscription very soon. Just get rid of the type of story like the last “Learn-by-Doing" on four on my list, and I won’t ever worry about the future of science fiction again. Real Radio Apparatus! One thing I forgot—let's have a lot more letters in Discussions from now on—what say? TRA'lNED^RADlb SPECIal” Wm. Stolze, A.S., ISTS. Leam the quick practical way, actual equipment in the great V-12 USNR, Cojme^ Shops. Not by correspond- ; Notre Dame, Indiana. ence, but personal training baM on 44 years o( “know-bow"! Never get o§ a horse while he's still runnmgl I i Let that be a lesson to I’LL FINANCE you I “Fantastic Adven- tures” still appears bi-monthly, alternating with j YOUR TRAININGI Amazing Stories.—Ed. Don't let lack of money hold you I back. My plan lets you start now. tuition In easy monthly pay- 1 ments when you're trained and on 1 A READER AGED 13 the job. I help you get part-time Sirs work to help pay living expenses I while training, give Lifetime you I I have been reading your mags for over a year, ^m^loyment Service as a Coyne Most people think I have a terrible imagination. j Prepares farGovt.License I can think up millions of themes for stories. But Many of the better Radio jobs re- I hate to write. You are luckier than most people quire government license. Coyne has enablM hundreds to pass this test to get this letter. One story I like to think about successfully. You learn to send Code rapidly — do trouble-shooting — . is a Swiss family Robinson of space. Have them handle real transmitting equipment, go to Venus, or etc., etc. Mars some place like that. Any- body with just a tiny bit of imagination, Dozens of Branches to j Now to get to your August issues FA-AS. First Choose From j : in AS is “Dr. Varsag’s Second Experiment” by Why be satisfied with a narrow, no- Ellis, : although it could have ended better and why doesn’t Hadley learn to draw? Second in FA is “Chariot of Death” by Wilcox. Third in AS is I “A Patriot Never Dies,” It makes a nice it tr^a^ Radio cover too. Speaking of covers, what’s that about on FA? SEND FOR FREE BOOK It couldn’t be the star shepherd because he’s a he. By the way who models for McCauley in “The Stone Goddess of Yunan?” The rest all rate fourth will c^. Act today! or fooey in other words. A reader aged 13. H.G. LEWIS, Pres., RADIO DIV. Jack Collins, (no address.) COYNE ELECTRICAL SCHOOL No, the girl on the cover was not the star shep- SOO S. Paulina $t. Dept. 9S-SE herd, but rather the girl oracle. And we don’t CMcago, llfinois know who modeled the stone goddess. But aren’t Pres.: 5 H. C. LEWIS, jumping little? — I RADIO DIV. COYNE ELECTRICAL SCHOOL you the gun a Ed. I 500 S. Paulina St., Dept. 93-8E Chicago. llUoois I Send FREE BOOK, ‘^Vour Ituture in Radio", and d of easy “Pay-After-Graduatioa" plan. I CRITICISM Sirs: My letter to you is filled with criticism and sug- gestions. From what I gather that is the object of your discussions. AMAZING STORIES 205 My first big criticism concerns those who write in to your discussion column suggesting that all or most of your printed stories should meet with only their ideas and their line of thought. Do they ever FREE OFFER stop to think that all jxiople don't appreciate their views? I think not. That is one of the many human failings. In order to clarify my statement, I wish to take r FALSE TEETH as an example Mr. Terrill of the September issue of the Amazing. He suggested that you should print more stories on the order of the “Carbon- Copy Killer.” You will find that two out of three of yours readers disliked “Carbon-Copy Killer.” To my surprise 1 find you agreeing with the minority. You also shoved the blame for the lack of such stories on your writers. Surely, Mr. Ed- itor, you must know that it does your business no Tightens False Teeth or No CostI good to openly bow before one-third of your cus- ^ CTCBCM Hero'sHere's now amazingftmazlnt; mouthluoiitb com- r# fort without riskingrl'iking a single cent tomers, Then again, if you do not approve of the # . , , enjoy that feeling of having your stories your writers turn over to you why print own teeth aitiin, Satisfy jT)ur desire for food . . . eat tviiat you want. them? Why don’t you discard these stories, write CROWN RELINER TIGHTENS FALSE TEETH OR NO COST. PER- stories to suit yourself and your one-third and then FECT FOR PARTIALS. LOWERS AND UPPERS. sit back and listen to the noise your makes mag Don't .siilfer embarrassment anti dis- comfort when it hits the rocks? Mr. TerriU staled that caused by loose dental plates. Apply GROWN BELINEH. fn a Jiffy your interplanetary travel stories were not practi- your plate fits liko new and stays that way up to 4 months. No old- cal. He all but said that space travel for a num- fashioned bleating to burn your mouth. Just snueezu cnowx from tube and ber of light years was not possible. Maybe not put your teeth bat'k in. They'll fit from the average mind’s point of view for the mind as snugly as ever. Inventor is a lecognlzed aiiliioiity in dental field. is lied close to home. But I say to Mr. Terrill, let n applied for I hope I haven’t offended Mr. Terrill too much CROWN PLASTIC CO., Dept. 1712 in using him for an example. It is not my prac- 4358 W. Philadelphia Ave,. Detroit, Mich. tice to criticize my superiors but this is one time tsend your wonderful Crown Denial Plate I could not resist expressing my opinion. Uciinor and include the fre I tific, which we commented upon before. Thus, we actually don’t cater to any minority. Published letters are not numerous enough to draw such per- SUPER centages as you mention.—Ed. STRENGTH AN ANCIENT LANGUAGE? THESE Sirs: THROUGH Am sending you this in hopes you will insert in an issue to keep it from dying with me. It EASY STEPS would arouse a lot of discussion. Am sending you the language so that some time you can have it looked at by some one in the col- lege or a friend who is a student of antique time. This language seems to me to be definite proof of the Atlantean legend. A—animal (used ‘an’ for short) B—be—to exist (often command as Ban meant “stay away to exist.’’ Same as quarantine.) C—con—to see D—de—detrimental or rather disintegrant energy (the second most important symbol in lan- guage.) E—energy—an “all” concept including idea of motion F—fecund (used “fe” as in female) —fecund man G—generate (used “gen”) H—human (some doubt on this one) I—self—ego (same as out I) J—same as generate K—akinetic (force of motion) L~Life M—man N—cJiild or spore or seed (as ninny) 0—orifice (a source concept) P—power —quest (as question) R—ar as horror (a symbol of a dangerous quan- tity of dis (disintegrating) force in the ob- ject.) S—an important symbol meaning sun (sis) T—te (the most important symbol used; the real origin of cross symbol—it meant integra- tion force of growth (all matter is grow- ing) —the intake is gravity cause—the force is T (“tic” meant science of growth) —re- mains as credit word.) U—you V—vital (used as “vi”) —the stuff Mesmer calls animal magnetism W—will X—conflict symbol—crossed force lines Y—why Z—zero symbol—a quantity of energy of T neu- MUSCLE POWER CO. tralized by an equal quantity of D Dept. 8612, P. O. Bex No. 1 Station X, New York 54. N. Y. A great number of our English words—have Send me the Super Strensrtb Crusher Grip as described. 1 will pay come down intact as romantic—ro man tic “sci- the postman only plus Also enclose $1.98 postage. the Super Power ence of man life patterning by control.” Troca- Hand Grips free with my order. dero—troc see a dero—good one see a bad one— applied now to theatre. This is perhaps the only copy of this language in existence and it represents my work over a long period of years. It is an Address immensely important find, suggesting the god leg- (SPECIAL) If you are aboard ship or outside the C. S. A, please send money order for $2.15. ends have a base in some wiser race than modem : — :: AMAZING STORIES 207 it man ; but to understand it takes a good head as one. I have a request to make. Rather than go contains multi-thoughts like many puns on the bi-monthly or begin skipping issues, return to the same subject. It is too deep for ordinary man old pre-1942 size, print the good stories such as who thinks it is a mistake. A little study reveals were featured between. 1939 and 1941, and you’ll ancient words in English occurring many times. again have one of the best magazines printed. It should be saved and placed in wise hands. I Oh yes—continue to charge 25c and trim the can't, will you? It really has an immense signifi- edges. Even if you can't trim them smoothly, cance and will perhaps put me right in your at least cut them open ! Had to split about half thoughts again if you will really understand this. the September number open with a paper knife! I need a little encouragement. Gene Hunter, S. Shaver, 2232 N. W. Irving, Barlo, Penna. Portland, 10, Ore. We present thi^ interesting letter concerning an We’ve already gone bi-monthly, and trimmed ancient language with no comment, except to say size down by 32 pages. Unless it becomes neces- that we applied the. letter-meanings to the indi- sary we hesitate to cut down still further. We be- vidual letters of many old root words and proper lieve we can give you more on a bi-monthly scale names and got an amazing “sense” out of them. at large size than we could on our old 1942 scale. Perhaps if readers interested were to apply the We still run 208 pages, plus covers. Ai for the formula to more of these root words, and let us stories, the only old time author left out of the know the percentage that make sense, we will be service is Don Wilcox. The new authors naturally able to discover if the formula applies in a greater have a new touch to their fiction. But the boys will percentage than is possible by pure chance. Our be back some day . . . Trimmed edges would own hasty check-up revealed an amazing result of waste paper already sorely needed. To trim, we’d P0% logical and sensible! Is this really a case of have to count all that paper in our total tonnage, racial memory, and is this formula the basis of and it would mean less pages. You don’t want one of the most ancient languages on Earth? The that, do you? As for the pages not being cut, mystery intrigues us very much.—Ed. this must have been an isolated instance. It hap- pens very rarely, when the cutters skip a section LETTER FROM A DRUMMER or two.—Ed. Sirs Congratulations. Your November issue was swell (not that they haven't been before), but I NOVELS IN MAMMOTH DETECTIVE, felt that I must add my humble opinion to the TOO loud chorus of happy (I hope) readers. Your Sirs salient super novel, “Empire of Jegga,” was one Does your companion magazine. Mammoth Detective of the best (and longest) that I have seen grace feature long novels such as “Empire of in your pages for some time. It was a little confus- Jegga” your current issue? I like the long story ing at times, but the facts that David V. Reed best, and I like Ziff-Davis pulps. added, made the story seem startlingly real. Walter Kettering, Your other stories left me cold as the proverbial 1987 Wells Street, cucumber, what there was of them. “The Black Milwaukee, Wise. Pool,” by Ed Earl Repp was fair, but wasn’t as Absolutely! On the stands now!—Ed. good as “The Light That Killed” in the March ’43 issue. OLD MAIDS’ SOCIETY I am a musician by trade (drummer) and even Sirs though I am pretty busy, I always find time for Your mag has always been my favorite but it Amazing Stories and its sister Fantastic Adven- seems your mag as well as almost every other mag tures. In fact, my thirteen-year-old sister, who is has in the readers’ dept, readers who love to show a Campfire Girl, also reads them. off and don’t do a bit of good by spieling of tech- Do keep up the good work and do your best to nical terms of science they looked up in a book please the GUMB Club of which I am unofficially and don’t know a thing about themselves. president. (It stands for GIVE US MORE BUR- A little time ago you asked for the readers to ROUGHS). settle down and write for the benefit of the mag Don Manning, not just as a public “Old Maids’ Society” and I 3208 E. Pine St., agree 100%. A reader when writing to the mag Seattle, Wash. should tell his version of what’s right and wrong. there is A lot of things will return to us after the war, But no sense in writing to tell merely that including Burroughs, now a war correspondent. they hate the mag, editor, editor’s family and all the staff and How about a letter from your sister? —Ed. a foolish few fans. Kent Timberlake, WHY? Salem, Nebr. Sirs: What do you think of this month’s gang? Your The fact that Amazing Stories is to skip an editor hopes you readers liked this column as muck issue and possibly go bi-monthly is an appalling as we did! Write again, you guys!—Ed. STORIES of the STARS By MORRIS J. STEELE ^eaik the Moo*t Here Is the possible true story of the end of the Moon civilization and origination of the craters (5e« back cover) NE of the most interesting things in the Perhaps it was the Ragnarok (the comet) which night sky has always been Luna, Earth’s destroyed the moon civilization, left its face O lone satcUitc. But perhaps the most inter- marked with hundreds of giant craters and thou- esting feature (beyond the “face” that can be seen sands of smaller ones, and materially changed the with the naked eye) is one we can now see through face of the earth itself. telescopes, the pocked mass of craters that mars Let us picture (as has one of our authors in this the whole face of the little world. issue in a story on exactly this subject) what How did these great craters come? Are (hey might have happened on the moon on that long- volcanic? Science says no. They are much too gone day when doom came. large, and much too regular in shape. In experi- Lunar astronomers must have seen the comet or menting to discover how they were made, inter- meteor swarm coming (Earth ancient of Asgard esting results were made by throwing stones into knew it was coming) and plotted its course so that soft mud. The resultant “craters” looked exactly they k»ew it would strike the moon squarely. like the craters of the moon, with the little cen- Their science must have been great, because theirs tral prominence that most lunar craters have. was a much older world (in the sense that it cooled So, say scientists, the moon’s surface has been more quickly and thus permitted life much ear- bombarded by meteors, which have caused it to lier). Knowing, then, that disaster lay ahead, they look as though it had at one time contracted must have made some attempt to avert it. smallpox. Perhaps they built huge machines, employing Here another question comes up. Are these power so great that we don’t even dream of it to- craters caused by meteorites such as those which day, in an attempt to divert the comet, or to fall daily on the Earth? Again science says no. swerve their own body from its path. The later For then we would continually note new craters task, is, theoretically, an impossible one (the boot- on the moon. Are they, then, caused by meteors strap rule) and thus they must have concentrated such as the one which now rests at the bottom of on force rays lo throw aside the onrushing menace. a crater in Arizona? Again, no. If huge meteor- In order to divert a stellar body, it is much more ites were as frequent as the surface of the moon feasible to apply an outside force, rather than a would indicate, then Earth, loo, would be pock- force located on the body itself, especially if it is marked, for not even our blanket of atmosphere of any size. To make of the moon a giant rocket could bum up such giants. would have been as fatal as the comet storm, since There is only one answer. Some time in the dim it might crash into the earth or fall into the sun, past, a swarm of meteors, or perhaps the neucleus once its orbit was disturbed. of a giant comet, collided with the moon, striking The day of destruction must have come with a it squarely, and destroying it and its civilization. great battery of force rays trained on the onrush- Science tends to the comet theory, since Earth it- ing comet. These rays must have attempted to self escaped the direct storm of missiles, and re- scatter the huge boulders of the head of the comet. ceived only such stray ones a.s the Arizona meteor, The sight must have been spectacular. In those the Siberian meteor (although these two are cer- days the moon had an atmosphere. But when tiie tainly not a portion of that ancient swarm, but comet struck, an inferno of pyrotechnics began. more recent—the Arizona meteor approximately Flame must have roared down from the heavens, 4,600 years ago; the Siberian at the dawn of the and added to this heat must have been that gen- twentieth century) and the Carolina meteor crat- erated by the impact of the giant meteorites. All ers. The Carolina craters are incredibly ancient, of Luna’s cities were smashed to dust and molten having been discovered by photographers from a lava. Earthquakes, eruptions, added to the de- high altitude. Also, there is direct evidence of a struction. The very air burned. And the ma- belt of meteor storm, or a comet, which grazed chines diverted only minor portions of the comet, the earth and passed on in ancient times (asso- enough to singe and strike the earth on a minor ciated by many with the destruction of the Bifrost scale. And when the comet passed on, Luna was Bridge of Ancient Asgard [Norse] by the Ragna- dead. What air was left seeped away into space rok). forever. 20S AMAZING STORIES 209 Oririnslly MARRIED LOVE 4 Solution of Intimate Sex DIffleultles by Dr. Marie Stapes This famous marriage guide has helped couittless men and women achieve an unoreamed of happiness, brought them real “wedded bliss.” Here, in simple lan^age and with remarkable frankness, Dr. Slopes explains the intimate and vital details of wedded life. Particularly today, wheiv couples frequently have so little time together, a biaok which will help them understand each other physically and emotionally is absolutely essential Adjustments must be made quickly. Why risk the bitter disillusionment and disappointment resulting from ignorance? Dr. Slopes tells exactly what should be done to insure the contentment and happiness not only of the wife but of the husband. She writes plainly, clearly, concretely explaining step by step every procedure in proper marital conduct. KNOWLEDGE FOR HAPPINESS "Married Love" is also invaluable for those who have been married for many years, for it contains revealing, important facts of which many people are unaware. Do you think that the joys of marriage have passed you by? ^ have you begun to feel that your marriage has become stale and dull? The reason for botn is generally lack of the knowledge.contained in this book, which as one reviewer says, is "remediable through suitable, enlightenment.’’ Thousands of marriages end in tragedy and divorce because so many married people ate ignorant of the art of love. Is your marriage on ,the brink of ruin? Do you search for the joy of a perfect union? Now YOU can change despair into unbelievable happiness ... if you have the wisdom contained in "Married Loot." 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