The Latest Issue of Fantastic

i t OF VENUS by Randall Garrett , HEPCATS Amazing

JOKE’S on EARTH...

There iieier teas a slran<^er Imtllc than the one between the Blaek Fleet from the stars and the Bine Globes from sixiee. Raljdi

Kennedy, exlraterrestri(d jisyeholoi^ist . stood with the rest of the world and watehed this eerie war and he eouldn't help wondering,: Was this some eosinie joke':’ Conid it be the produetion of a Galaetic UoUywood'.-’ Mark Clifton reveals the weird answer in his nne novel. PAWS OF THE BL.\CK FLEET

W’liat was tlic sfcic’t of tlio — AND . . . TOWERS OF 'ITTAN that laid stood loi' oons. hoaminu; power drawn from some unknown source.''

PLUS: I' act fic tion: I Ills M \HS SNOOPER—how a new kind (if space craft can stiuK Mars.

All in the January issue of AMAZING NOW ON SALE-Only 35<

LANTASTIC, Stories of Imagination, Vol. 11 No. 1 January, 1962, Is published monthly by

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ond at additionol mailing offices. THERE are some things that cannot organization) an age-old brotherhood be generally told — things you ought to of learning, have preserved this secret know. Great truths are dangerous to wisdom in their archives for centu- some — but factors for personal power ries. They now invite you to share the and accomplishment in the hands of practical helpfulness of their teaching. those who understand them. Behind Write today for a free copy of the the tales of the miracles and mysteries book, "The Mastery of Life.** Within of the ancients, lie centuries of their its pages may lie a new life of oppor- secret probing into nature's laws — tunity for you. Address: Scribe N.YX their amazing discoveries of the hid- send fHIS - den processes of man’s mind, and the COUPON N.Y.Z. I mastery of life’s problems. Once shroud- 1 Scribe The ROSICRUCIANS , (AMORO ed in mystery to avoid their destruc- | I San Jose, California tion by mass fear and ignorance, these , Please send me the fret book. The Mastery { facts remain a useful heritage for the e/Is/r, which eaplains how I may learn to I | I faculties thousands of men and women who pri- nse my and powers of mind. i vately use them in their homes today. Name i [

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3 JANUARY 196^ VANTASTIC Volume 11 Numb«r I STORIES OF lAAAGINATION

REG. PAT. OFF U. S. mVELETS

ZIFF-DAVIS PUBLISHING COMPANT HEPCATS OF VENUS

William B. Zllf, Chairman of the Board By Randall Garrett 10 (1946-1953)

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Dear Miss Goldsmith: most part, heaved a sigh of re- I seem to have started some- lief when Moderan and its tin thing when I criticized David can war faded into oblivion, as we Bunch and his less than appeal- hope. However, the change of ing literary attempts. That was- pace exhibited by “A Small Mira- n’t really my intention—I only cle of Fishhooks and Straight wanted to try to influence you to Pins’’ was very little improve- put those pages to more interest- ment. ing use for us, the readers. In I missed Mr. Greco’s leap into fact, I really didn’t expect to see the “Battle of Bunch’’ in the my letter in print, and your edi- September issue, but dug it out torial comment after it left me to see what it contained when I with the thought that although flipped through the last few pages a “Bunch of rain’’ may have fall- of the November issue and un- en in my life in the past, it did expectedly came upon my name in not need to do so in the future. Mr. Turner’s defense, for which Realizing, though, that I have I wish to thank him. I don’t al- been enjoying the rest of the ways read the letter column, con- magazine so much that I would sidering it also a waste of pre- be “cutting off my nose to spite cious story space, but I will ad- my face’’, as my grandmother mit that it can become interest- would have said, if I failed to re- ing at times. new my subscription on Mr. I cannot conceive any compari- Bunch’s account, I decided that son between Eugene O’Neill, he wasn’t worth the sacriflce. Thornton Wilder and David I know we readers, for the (continued on page 123)

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ON’T brood about it, but it is just possible D that the centaurs described in Greek myth- ology may have been visitors to Earth from outer space. This intelligence does not result from our having been visited recently by little men from flying saucers. It results from having read the sober report of anthropologist William Howells. His book, “Mankind in the Making,” takes up the question of how intelligent life may have evolved on other planets. Howells assumes certain basic postulates: that any alien intelligence comes equipped with a reasoning mind; with two sexes—“It is one of nature’s most popular ideas,” he says, able to move about on land and to fashion tools, iDITORIAL But at this point Howells diverges from the - main stream. He envisions an optimum crea- ture as resembling a centaur. “Do we,” he asks, “do anything well that a centaur could not do better?” According to Howells, man walks on two legs because he had only four limbs to begin with, and, if he wanted hands, had no other choice but to become bi-pedal. With four feet, Howells avers, man could be bigger and stronger, while retaining his intelligence and maneuverability. (Also there would be no problem with slipped discs and aching backs.) “So,” sums up the good professor, “I will lay a small bet that the first men from Outer Space will be neither bipeds nor quadru- peds, but bimanous quadrupedal hexapods” (six-limbed beings with two hands and four legs) Returning to our point of departure, the widespread legends of such creatures in earth’s early times lends some credence to the suggestion that Earth was visited, during its pre-history, by aliens. Thus it may behoove us to inquire whether perhaps some of the other legendary creatures are not also the vestiges of actual beings. But if an intelligent centaur ever appears again, it is unlikely that bards will create odes about him, however. More likely some jealous bimanous bipedal quadruped will sneer and say: “Would you want your sister to marry a horse ?” N.L.

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By RANDALL GARRETT

Illustrator FINLAY

A Galactic Observer is supposed to he all-know-

ing, But even the sharpest G.O. can hardly be

faulted for being puzzled by the phenomenon

of a jive trio in a beatnik hangout— especially

when the instruments they play on are built-in!

HAT’S very odd,” said Lady that Lord Curvert, without low- TCurvert. ering his copy of the Times,

The sound that accompanied merely inquired : “Something her voice was that of her egg wrong with the egg, my dear?” spoon taking the top off her egg “What? Egg? No, silly; it’s in its cup, so it is not remarkable this night club in New York.”

—

Lord Curvert, well aware that the Union wants its cut.’ ” Lady his wife never remarked on any- Curvert looked up at her hus- thing of that sort without good band through glorious deep blue reason, reluctantly lowered his eyes. “Isn’t that odd ?” newspaper and looked at her. She His lordship blinked thought- was absently spooning up egg fully. “Odd, yes,” he said after a with her right hand while her moment, “but hardly world-shat- left held the tabloid upon which tering. I scarcely see how it con- her gaze was fastened. cerns us.”

“What is it, Evelyn?” his Lady Curvert tapped the paper. lordship asked. “Something?” “Venusians.” “I’m not certain,” she said. “Listen to this: ‘The Village’s OKD CURVERT elevated an newest and farthest-out espresso- L eyebrow a fraction of a mil- teria, the Vemis Club, is the lat- limeter. “My dear old girl,” he est subject of a quiet investiga- said in a voice tinged with sar- tion by the Musician’s Union, ac- casm, “the last time I was on cording to the B’way scuttlebutt. Venus, back in 1948, nothing on Seems that the weirdly-dressed that vast overheated Turkish musicos who are pulling in the bath had evolved any higher jazz-lovers by the horde are too than the sponges. I hardly think good to be believed. The manage- that the succeeding fifteen years ment claims they’re unpaid ama- could have produced the inteUi- teurs and don’t need a union gence required to beat out a hot card, but the big-name pros rhythm on a set of bongo drums who’ve heard them don’t believe in a beatnik coffee house any amateur group could be that though that is admittedly not good. The “Venusian” get-ups such a tremendous leap in intel- they wear, which make them ligence.” look as though the instruments “I’m quite aware of that, they play are part of their bodies, Charles,” his wife said coolly. make the players unrecognizable, “It’s merely that this article has and Union officials can’t find out apparently started an intuitive who they are. Since a combo as chain-web in my mind. Some- good as the “Venusians” could thing will come of it. I’m sure.” get hi-pay spots easily, accord- “Ah, I see.” Lord Curvert was ing to Union officials, it doesn’t well aware of his wife’s mental make sense for them to keep on abilities. “Very well, my dear; at the Venus Club unless they when you’ve formed a full intui- actually are getting Something tion, let me know. Meantime,

under the counter. If they are. I’ll have some more kippers.”

12 FANTASTIC Lord Curvert finished the kip- was damped at 1144 and has re- pers, the Times, and the coffee, mained so.” excused himself, and headed to- “Down for repairs, eh?” his ward the library, leaving his wife lordship commented. to continue her reading. She had “Precisely so, my lord. Solar already finished the American emission,” Fesswick continued, papers and had begun on Pravda. “remains normal. The . Within an hour, she would have Fesswick took nearly seven all the salient points of the day’s minutes more to deliver his re- news filed away in her capacious port of the happenings of the and accurate memory, where her past twenty-four hours as they subconscious could get at them in had been recorded on the - spe- its ceaseless work of forming the cial instruments concealed with- “hunches” that made Evelyn in the depths of Castle Curvert. Curvert so useful in her position They had been reporting their as Assistant to the Galactic Ob- data precisely since they had server. been built into the castle, six Fesswick, the butler,—tall, hundred years before, and they broadshouldered, a pluperfectly would go on doing so until they correct expression on his very w’ere shut off—or destroyed. human-looking face—was wait- All in all, everything was quite ing for his lordship in the li- normal. brary. “Good morning, Fesswick. ord curvert sat down be- Anything interesting this morn- L hind his desk and sighed ing?” gently. “Rather dull, isn’t it, “Very little, ,my lord,” said Fesswick? I mean, we haven’t Fesswick in his precise voice. had any real excitement since “The instrument readings are that squadron of Mizarian ships normal. The Russians attempted got off course and tried to land, to launch another of their new back in ’47.” He gazed reminis- rockets at 0517 this morning. It cently at the ceiling. “Had the exploded at 0521.” devil’s own time with them for a “They won’t publish this fail- while, there.” ure, either,” said Lord Curvert. “A masterful piece of work on “Very likely not, my lord,” your part, if I may say so.” said Fesswick. “According to the “Thank you,” his lordship said neutrino emission detectors, the absently. “Fesswick has it oc- new reactor at Tel-Aviv suffered curred to you that ouir work may a slight misfunction at 1143 last soon be completed on this plan- night. Nothing serious, but it et?”

HEPCATS OF VENUS 13 — —

"The thought has crossed my turned to face his master again. mind, my lord.” “In another sense, my lord,” he “They’ve come up fast, Fess- went on, “I have been with the wick. In another half century, family much longer. Since all the they may be ready to go to the pertinent memories were trans- stars, and a hidden Observer Tvill ferred from the brain of my pred- no longer be necessary. Still, it’s ecessor to my own, I have a been interesting, hasn’t it?” sense of continuity that goes “Very interesting, my lord.” back to the establishment of the There was a note in Fesswick’s Observership, more than eight voice that made Lord Curvert thousand years ago.” look curiously at his butler. He Lord Curvert, who had scarce- had always regarded Fesswick as ly entered his twelfth decade, felt —well, as part of the machin- suddenly humble before the maj- ery. He was simply there. He had esty of eighty centuries of time. always been there. To imagine Castle Curvert without Fesswick here was a rap at the door. was to imagine Egypt without T“Charles!” The door opened the pyramids. And yet before either Fesswick or Lord “You’ve been with the family Curvert could answer, and Lady for a long time, haven’t you, Curvert swept in. “Ah, there you Fesswick?” are. Good morning, Fesswick. Instead of answering immedi- Charles, I have arrived at a fall ately, Fesswick turned to look at intuition. The Thregonnese. We the shield on the wall, upon should investigate at once.” which was emblazoned the Cur- “The metamorphs of Thre- vert arms Vert, on a pale or, a gonn? Good heavens, you don’t heart of the field. say so!” Lord Curvert stood up There was pride in Fesswick’s from his chair. “But how could voice when he spoke. “In a sense, they have come here?” my lord, I have only been with Lady Curvert shook her head. the family four generations. I “I can’t tell you that.” was sent in as a new model to His lordship looked at Fess- replace my predecessor in the wick. “How about that, Fesswick, year 1155, shortly after your old man ? Could a spaceship have great-grandfather was created landed recently without register- the first Baron du Coeur Vert by ing on the detectors?” Henry II for his services follow- “Highly unlikely, my lord.” ing the overthrow of the unhap- Lord Curvert looked back at his py usurper, Stephen. Those were wife. “Fesswick says it’s highly exciting times, my lord.” He unlikely, my dear.”

14 FANTASTIC “My intuition is never wrong, entered the Solar System by com- Charles,” Lady Curvert replied ing in from the opposite side of with dignity. the Sun from Earth?” Lady Cur- “That’s true, eh, Fesswick?” vert said. “Quite true, my lord. Her lady- “Precisely so, my lady.” ship has never been known to “But look here, Fesswick,” said err in matters of intuition.” his lordship, “that’s all very well

“Very well, then ; given the da- for getting them into the Solar tum that there are Thregonnese System, but it doesn’t answer at on the planet, the question is: all for getting them to Earth it- how did they get here? That self. So far, you’ve gotten them a seems to me to be logically de- hundred million miles from ducible, which puts it in your Earth, with the Sun between us. department.” The question is: How did they “I shall endeavor to give satis- get here?” faction, my lord.” His high speed “The Viper, my lord,” said robotic brain was capable of Fesswick imperturbably. working such problems in mi- “The Viper?” nute fractions of a second, so he continued without a pause: “It is xactly, my lord. The Venus obvious, my. lord, that, in order E Interplanetary Probe Elec- to get here from Thregonn, the tro-Eocket. It was, if you will metamorphs must have come by recall, an unmanned, automatic interstellar vessel. The only way probe rocket designed to make an such a vessel could have entered orbit close to Venus, take photo- the Solar System without regis- graphs, and return to Earth—an tering on the detectors would be orbit which necessitated its be- to utilize a screen that would ing, for a time, on the opposite prevent the telltale wake from side of the Sun from Earth.” the drive energies from reaching “Oh, yes. I remember seeing us.” the photographs in the Times. “But there is no such screen, Quite good ones they were, too,” Fesswick,” Lady Curvert object- Lord Curvert said musingly. ed. “Then, while the Viper was on “With all due apologies, my the other side of the Sun, the lady,” said Fesswick, “there is Thregonnese simply attached a such a screen. The Sun itself. In- capsule to the side of it and rode terstellar drive energies cannot it back to Earth.” penetrate through the core of a “Exactly, my lord. It could star without absorption.” have been done in no other way.” “Then their ship must have “The timing is exactly right.

HEPCATS OF VENUS 15 —

too,” said Lord Curvert thought- most too blatant to be a trap. fully. “Naturally, we had no rea- They not only advertise their son to suspect anything at the presence, but practically tell me time; it was simply another how they got here. It’s almost as American rocket returning home. if they wanted me to recognize It landed in the Pacific, as I re- it as a trap. Still, that seems a call, and the American Navy did- little too much, doesn’t it? We n't find it for nearly an hour don’t have all the data as yet, plenty of time for the Thregon- and, as a chap I used to know nese to detatch their capsule and once remarked, Tt is a capital be on their way. Probably used a mistake to theorize before you distorter to foul up the Navy’s have all the evidence. It biases the ” radar a bit, so that it would take judgement.’ more time to find the Viper.” “Shall I begin preparations, “Without doubt, my lord,” my lord?” asked Fesswick. Fesswick agreed. “Immediately. That’s where “Very ingenious of them,” said they’ve baited their hook very

his lordship. “Very. But you see nicely, you see ; we have no choice what this implies, don’t you? but to investigate. However, we They have been on Earth for shall take every precaution.” He nearly a year—for what purpose frowned suddenly. “By the by, we have, as yet, no notion. And Fesswick, I am scheduled to ad- now, suddenly, they advertise dress the House of Lords tomor- their presence almost blatantly. row. We’ll have to send a proxy. “Their very method of entry Fortunately, I’ve already written shows that they are aware of the the speech.” presence of a Galactic Observer “Shall I attend to it person- on this planet, so one would think ally, my lord?” that they would do their best to “By no means! I want you remain in concealment.” here—at the controls.” “Do you fear a trap, Charles?” “Certainly, my lord. I’ll send Lady Curvert asked calmly. Elsie, the upstairs maid; she “Let us say that, at the very should be able to carry out the least, they are attempting to deception competently.” draw the attention of the Galac- “Quite. Now, let’s get with it, tic Observer, and that they have Fesswick. The game, as my succeeded. Why? They want to friend used to remark, is afoot.” find out who the Galactic Observ- er is be able to uring the reign of Queen ; they want to put their finger on me, as it were. D Victoria, when the British “On the other hand, this is al- Empire was at its peak. Lord

16 FANTASTIC Curvert had had the opportunity for a bit,” Cordelia 'asked, “or of chuckling inwardly—though do we cut out for New York deploring outwardly—when he soonest?” was told of the horrible fate that “We cut out for N. Y., chick,” might face an Englishman sta- Ben said. “Those squares might tioned in some far-off place. Ac- have pegged us if we’d used a companied by a sad shake of the teleporter into the Village, but head, the story usually went they won’t dig the G.O. making

something like this : “Terrible it on a jet plane. Let’s get this thing about Lord Greystoke. Had- wild gig going, chicky.” n’t you heard? Greystoke’s gone They walked out into the fog- native. Africa, you know. Deplor- filled light that spilled from the able. Doesn’t even dress for din- street lamps. ner any more, so I hear.’’ Ben chuckled. “Let’s grab a What caused Lord Curvert’s cab. I mean, like we got bread inward mirth was, of course, that to blow, so let’s blow it.” the first thing a Galactic Observ- She grinned up at him. “Crazy, !” er did when stationed on a planet man ! I mean, real crazy was to “go native”. One not only had to blend in, one had to FEW hours later, they were change with the times. One had A in Manhattan. to age one’s appearance slowly The roundabout method of ar- a:^ bring up “children”—parts rival had been absolutely neces- played by one or more of the ro- sary. If Fesswick, at the controls bots—and then, at the right of the teleportation projector, time, one became one’s own son had put them directly in New while a robot pilayed the older York, there was a slight chance man and finally “died”. Such that the Thregonnese detectors things required a chameleonlike might have registered the activ- ability to adapt, to change one’s ity of the materialization field. personality as one might change On the other hand, it was neces- one’s hat. sary to get into the United States Thus it is not to be considered without going through the for- remarkable that Ben and Corde- mality of passing through Immi- lia Holler, who stepped out of a gration and Customs. dark alley near Fisherman’s “First thing, baby,” Ben said Wharf in San Francisco, bore no as they came out of the subway resemblance whatever to Lord exit at Waverly Place, “is to tag and Lady Curvert, either in ap- us a pad. Dig 7 Then we make the pearance or manner. scene at the Kettle and a couple "Do we make the scene here of the other cool spots for kicks.”

HEPCATS OF VENUS 17 —

en and Cordelia made the oif as dressed-up humans ; the B scene in the Village for sev- “costumes” looked too outre, too en days before they went any- artificial to be real. But the dead where near the Venus Club. They giveaway was the drummer. didn’t want to seem anxious, so He had four arms. they played it cool. They strolled Try that with a costume some- into the Venus Club late one Fri- time! day evening, and the joint was “Frantically cool,” said Corde- really swinging. The kookiest- lia. looking quartet this side of an Ben scratched thoughtfully at H-kick nightmare were blowing his beard. “I’m hip,” he agreed. out a beat crazy enough to make They were Thregonnese, all any cat flip his gasket. right. There was no other race in Ben and Cordelia sat down, or- the known Galaxy that could dered a couple espressos, and change the shape of their bodies kept playing it cool, just digging that way. the whole bit. The bass player stepped out The four musicians were hot; from the others and began chant- there was no question of that. ing in time to the music. At first, And cool at the same time. But it seemed to be nothing but non- both Ben and Cordelia could tell sense syllables of the rooty-ooty- at a glance that they were not yeeh-yeek-boo-da-da type, then definitely not—human beings both Ben and Cordelia recog- dressed up in fancy suits. They nized that he was chanting in varied in color from pale pink a jazzed-up version of Basic Ga- to deep purple—a drummer, a lactic, the lingtui franca of space. trumpeter, a clarinetist, and a "Hey, Observer, give us a buzz! bass viol player. The lips of the We’re in trouble like never trumpeter and the clarinetist wasl formed the instruments they Every night we sing this bit, played. The bass player’s belly Hoping you’ll be digging it. formed the sounding box of his Listen, G.O., to our moan; instrument, with the strings run- Kindly call us on the phone! ning from his nose to a point be- Listen to our wailing yelp; low where his navel should have What we mean is : Man, like— been. The drummer’s belly bal- help!’’ looned out like a kettledrum, with There was a long wailing note a flat drumhead just below his on the trumpet and a little flurry sternum. of sobs from the coronet, and the It was easy to see why they piece ended with a teeth-rattling had been able to pass themselves roll from the drum.

78 FANTASTIC ” ”

OOL,” said Cordelia, crushing into a drug store on the next C out her cigarette. corner. He got the number of “Frantically cool,” agreed the Venus Club and dialed it. Ben. He looked at his wristwatch. “Venus Club,” said a voice. “Time to cut out now, but we will “You’re under arrest,” said the definitely have to make this Observer in clipped Galactic. scene tomorrow.” “Are you the Observer?” asked They finished their coffee and the voice in the same language. strolled out. By then, the musi- “That’s right. And you know cians had left the bandstand and you’re not supposed to be on this were nowhere to be seen. planet. It’s still under quaran- Cordelia waited until they were tine.” a full block away before she “Believe me,” said the other, “I spoke. “Do we give them a buzz? wouldn’t be here at all if I could What kind of crazy hassle do you get away. None of us would. For figure they’re hung up in?” a while, there, we were afraid “You got no hunch?” maybe you’d never notice us.” “Man, like I dig them the least. “So far,” said the Observer, Can it hurt to phone ?” “you have'n’t attracted the atten- “Don’t—know, chick. Maybe we tion of the local authorities, but ought to if you do. I’ll slap a charge He thought it over for a min- against you that will— ute. Which would be best—to “Hey, now!” the Thregonnese sneak up on them quietly, with- interrupted. “We know the law! out letting them know he was This was only a misdemeanor. anywhere around, and hit all Landing for refueling without four of them tast—or to take authorization, is all.” them at their word and call them “I’ll tell you what the law is,” on the phone? the Observer said. “Now, what’s The trouble was that it was im- all this fuss about, anyhow?” possible to trust a Thregonnese “Well, first of all, it started out any farther than you could throw as a joke. You know?” a bonfire by the smoke. The meta- “Sure. I know all about it,” the morphs of Thregonn weren’t vi- Observer said sarcastically. cious, but they were charcterized “That’s why I’m spending my by a low sense of humor and a time asking you questions. What way of thinking that was defi- the hell happened?” nitely weird by human stand- “Well, there was this bet, see. ards. Lubix, Forbin, Alisnokine, and He decided he’d chance it. He I had bet some friends of ours said, “Come on, chick,” and went that we could come in here, land.

HEPCATS OF VENUS 19 pick up a—uh—a souvenir, and “At least,” he said grudgingly, come back without your catching “they managed to metamorphose us. Without even knowing we’d into reasonably human shape be- been here. See?” fore they were arrested. I hate to “So far, yes,” said the Observ- think what might have happened er in a very cold voice. if the police had arrested them “Well, the guys we were bet- while they were still in the out- ting against must’ve got cute,” landish shapes they were wear- the Thregonnese went on. “They ing when we saw them last.” bollixed up our space capsule, Lady Curvert sipped at her tea and we couldn’t take off again. and looked at the headlines. And now that the U.S. Navy has VENUS CLUB OWNERS NABBED IN the capsule, we can’t do anything NARCOTICS RAID about it at all.” $10,000 Heroin Cache Found in “The U.S. Navy? Now wait a Coffee House minute; you can’t .” “It’s ridiculous,” said her Then he heard sudden loud ladyship rather peevishly. “It

noises from the phone, a voice in makes no sense at all ! Why

English said, “Chiggers ! The should four Thregonnese want to cops !” and the line went dead. do anything so silly as use or sell Cordelia, who had been stand- heroin? They couldn’t have be-

ing near the doorway of the drug- come addicted to it, could they, store, where she could watch the Charles?” door of the Venus Club, walked “I think not. Incompatible me- over to the phone booth and said, tabolism, eh, Fesswick?” in a low voice, “Like, some cops Fesswick placed more buttered just went in. Wonder what toast on the sm'>”. tray next to they’re bugged about?” the marmalade pot. “Quite in- “I hope,” Ben said fervently, compatible, my lord. Heroin “that those cats don’t goof now. would kill a Thregonnese within Otherwise, we’ll all be in the three minutes if injected into the soup!” bloodstream. Sniffing it, as I believe is often done by addicts, ord CURVERT glared at his would cause unconsciousness L copy of the New York Daily very rapidly.” News in a medium dudgeon. “Then why should they do any- There, looking out from the front thing so silly?” her ladyship re- page with idiotic grins, were four peated. of the most disreputable-looking “I confess, my lady, that I am men his lordship had ever had thus far unable to deduce the the misfortune to gaze upon. machinations lying behind these

20 FANTASTIC highly peculiar circumstances,” own civilization. I’m not going to Fesswick admitted. have that record spoilt by four Lord Curvert poured himself Thregonnese clowns!” another cup of tea. “All the data “Couldn’t we just help them to we have thus far aren’t worth a escape with the teleporter?” ha’penny for the lot. The story Lady Curvert asked helpfully. they gave me over the telephone "Then you could put the collars was that they had come to Earth on them and ship them off.” on a bet, to pick up a souvenir of “Don’t be an idiot,”' his lord- some kind, that one of the Thre- ship growled, staring, into his gonnese betting against them teacup. had done something to their Lady Curvert looked hurt. space capsule, and that somehow “It can’t be done, my lady,” —Heaven only knows how ! —the Fesswick said quietly. “We used United States Navy has gained to be able to do such things eas- possession of the capsule. All of ily, but, in these days, when the which could be a tissue of lies cells of a modern gaol are made from one end to the other, damn of steel, we find ourselves ham- it.” He looked searchingly at his pered by the fact that a telepor- butler. “What’s your opinion, ter field is badly distorted if one Fesswick?” attempts to project it into a met- “The story as it stands, my al-enclosed space.” lord, is not consistent with the “Dear me,” said Lady Curvert. facts as we know them, but that She looked at her husband, saw is merely to say that we have no that he was far too deep in conclusive evidence of any kind.” thought to be disturbed, and Lord Curvort’ snorted at that turned back to Fesswick. “Is and looked at his wife. “And how there anything at all you and I is your intuition this morning, can do?” my dear?” “Not, I’m afraid, at the mo- “Well, Charles,” she said, smil- ment, my lady,” said the robot ing rather timidly, “I have a with dignity. “When both Logic feeling you ought to do some- and Intuition have failed, we thing—but I’m not at all sure must resort to Action and Inge- what.” nuity, and those are in his lord- “Well, damn it all, we have to ship’s department.” He poured do something! The family has Lady Curvert another cup of tea. held the Observership perfectly “I am quite sanguine, my lady, for eight thousand years—guard- over the prospect of his lord- ed Earthmen from interference, ship’s solving the problem very so that they could develop their shortly. He always has.”

HEPCATS OF VENUS 21 he police chemist who took became necessary. It only needs Tthe small package of heroin to be activated.” from the safe to analyze it was “Things are beginning to fall very careful with the stuff. His into place, Fesswick.” job was to run it through an “Yes, my lord.” analysis so that he could testify “Lost their equipment, didn’t in court that it really was heroin. they, Fesswick?” he said, grin- He didn’t let the package out of ning. his sight for more than thirty “It would appear so, my lord,” seconds. said Fesswick, returning the Which was plenty long enough. grin. He was setting up his testing “The next step, Fesswick, is to apparatus, so he didn’t see a appear to fall in with their ne- long-fingered, aristocratic hand farious plan.” appear out of nowhere, take the “Yes, my lord. I shall begin package, and replace it with an preparation immediately.” exactly similar one. When the contents of the pack- MBOSER, Lubix, Forbin, and age turned out to be sugar, the O Alsnokine stepped out of the chemist was surprised. The Dis- court building and walked down trict Attorney was more than the imposing-looking steps to- surprised; he was furious. ward the sidewalk. But there was nothing that ei- “It’s about time they let »s ther of them could do. out,” Omboser snarled in Thre- There was even more surprise gonnese. "I knew that as soon as in Castle Curvert when Fesswick they analyzed the Varesh powder reported his own analysis of the they would realirzc that it was not powder to his master. one of their local drugs—but I “The substance, my lord,’’ he didn’t know it would take the said in his precise voice, “is not primitive fools that long to ana- heroin.’’ lyze it.” “Not heroin?’’ said his lord- Lubix patted the pocket of the ship. suit he was wearing. “Well, we “No, my lord. It is Varesh got it back, and that’s what’s powder.” important.” “Ah-hah!” his lordship expos- “You idiots!” Forbin hissed, tulated. “And they brought plen- “cease your chatter! The Galac- ty of it, didn’t they?” tic Observer could be anywhere “Yes, my lord. Enough, shall around.” we say, to hypnotize every gov- They all glanced around appre- ernment official on Earth, if that hensively. Alsnokine whispered. 22 FANTASTIC “Do you think he can speak or gentleman who was seated at a understand Thregonnese ?” table in the middle of the room, “Probably not,” said Forbin, sipping at a small cup of espres- “but there’s no need of talking so. loud enough for everyone to “Good afternoon, gentlemen,” hear.” he said with utter aplomb. “That “What I want to know,” Lubix machine of yours makes quite ex- said as they headed toward the cellent coffee.” He was speaking subway entrance, “is, who’s the very cultivated Galactic. creep who called the cops on us ?” “The Observer,” the four Thre- “That character from the Mu- gonnese said in a ragged chorus. sician’s Union, obviously,” said “Exactly,” said Lord Curvert. Omboser. “If Alsnokine hadn’t “You may refer to me as Mr. acted so guilty when he came in- Smith. Not as original an alias, to the office, nothing would have perhaps, as, say, ‘Sebastian happened.” Tombs’, but it will suffice. Now, “What was I supposed to do? to which of you was I speaking Leave it out there for him to look when the local constabulary so at?” Alsnokine asked defensive- precipitately interrupted ?” ly. “How could I know he wasn’t “That was me,” said Omboser. the Observer himself?” “Then pray sit down, make “Quit arguing, you two!” For- yourselves comfortable, and tell bid snapped. “We haven’t lost me all about your troubles. Con- anything but a little time. Let’s sider me your Father Confessor, get back to the club and hope and tell all.” that the Observer will contact They sat down slowly, all four us again.” « pairs of eyes focused steadily on “If Omboser hadn’t been such the intruder. a blockhead,” Alsnokine began, Finally, Omboser smiled. “we wouldn’t .” “Well, sir, as I was saying,” he “Ahh, shut wp!" said Forbin. began, “we had this little bet, you see. We knew it was illegal, HEN they reached the Venus but it was just a harmless prank. WClub, a little more than a We were to come here, and then mile north of the station at Cen- go back, that’s all. Nobody would tre Street, Omboser produced his be hurt, nobody would be the key, unlocked the front door, and wiser, and we would win our bet. went in, followed by his three co- See?” conspirators. They stopped sud- “I understand so far,” Lord denly at the sight of a tall, rather Curvert said agreeably. “Then handsome, impeccably dressed what happened?”

HEPCATS OF VENUS 23 “Well . Omboser began afraid there might be a thermo- very hesitantly. nuclear bomb inside it. But "This idiot,” said Forbin, they’ve sure got it surrounded pointing a thumb at Omboser, while they try to figure out what “was supposed to stay behind to do.” with our capsule. Instead, he “So,” Forbin finished, “we fig- went swimming.” ured we’d better get in touch “It gets pretty boring, doing with you and tell you what hap- nothing,” said Omboser pettish- pened. We rented this place and ly. put on a show that we thought “He went swimming,” Forbin would attract your attention repeated. “We had the capsule without revealing ourselves to underwater, in a little bay at Lu- the natives. It took us a long kiuni Atoll, out in the Pacific.” time to get the hang of how “There was nobody on the atoll things are done on this planet, at all,” Omboser said. “It looked though. Otherwise, we’d’ve done perfectly all right to go swim- this sooner.” ming.” Then all four of them sat there “Nevertheless,” Forbin contin- in silence, watching the Observ- ued, “while Omboser was out ca- er, waiting for his decision. vorting—he’d changed himself Lord Curvet thought the mat- into a porpoise for the purpose ter over carefully, then came to —a United States Navy patrol a decision. “Very well, my fam- plane, spotted the capsule from ble-fingered friends, we’ll see the air.” what can be done.” He looked up “I told you we should have into the air a foot or so above sunk it in deeper water,” Om- his head. “Sally round, Mr. boser said, Jones,” he said, “there’s work to Forbin ignored him. “By the be done.” time Omboser got back from his The calm voice of Fesswick spree, the U. S. Navy was in came out of the air. “Anytime charge—with a light cruiser. you’re ready, Mr. Smith.” Since we’d left most of our eqip- ment in the capsule, we didn’t ERGEANT Thaddeus McClus- even have the instruments we S ky, USMC, shrugged his needed to sneak in and get the shoulder a little to adjust the capsule back.” weight of the heavy machine rifle “The Navy thinks the capsule that was slung there. So did Cor- is a Russian job,” Lubix sup- poral Quinn. Both of them looked plied helpfully. “They haven’t with respectful eyes at Lieuten- opened it yet, because they’re ant (jg) Fordham, USN, and 24 FANTASTIC —

listened silently as he spoke. you right up on the telephone,

“Remember, men ; that may be sir. Won’t we. Corporal Quinn?” an atomic bomb, down there, so “Just as fast as ever we can,” keep on your toes. Absolutely no agreed Corporal Quinn. “We will one is allowed to pass inside this be moving very rapidly. Sergeant perimeter after dark. Under- McClusky.” stand?” They turned to look at the lit- “Yes, sir,” said Segeant Me- tle, shallow lagoon which held Clusky. the unknown thing. There were “Yes, sir,” said Corporal no lights illuminating it; the Quinn. Navy didn’t want to attract the “Very well. Carry on.” attention of any high-flying Rus- Salutes were exchanged, and sian planes that might be look- the two Marines waited silently ing the area over. But the light while the Naval officer went on of a tropical full moon cast its down the line to the next post. silvery radiance over the glitter- As soon as he was out of ear- ing waters of the lagoon. shot, McClusky muttered a dirty The thing itself had been sur- word. “. deckape shavetail,’ rounded with a steel net to keep he added. large fish from approaching it "That’s the way the goddam and—possibly—setting it off. Un- Navy operates,” said Quinn phil- derwater sonar constantly probed osophically. “We been here six the depths to make sure that months watching that gizmo Russian frogmen didn’t try to while the Navy sits on its duff sneak in. The Navy didn’t think

and wonders what to do about it. the Russians knew where their And what do they do ? Why, they toy was, but they were taking no send us a fresh jaygee from chances. Stateside who tells us to do exactly what we been doin’ all along. OU know,” said McClusky, That takes real brains, that Y “when I was a kid, I used to does.” love those movies of the South Sergeant McClusky nodded his Seas. Remember ? They had “ agreement. ‘Remember, that scenes in ’em just like this.” may be an atomic bomb, down “Yeah,” Quinn agreed softly. here, so keep on your toes,’ ” he “Tropical moon—sea breezes mimicked. “Well, you can just bet palm trees gently waving—waves your stripey little shoulder rolling softly against the warm boards we will, sir. Yes, sir. sands.” We’ll watch very closely, sir, and “That’s very poetic,” McClusky if that thing goes off, we’ll call said in mild astonishment.

HEPCATS OF VENUS 25 !

“I remember it from an old answer, two more posts called movie ad,” Quinn said. out that they had the same trou- “All -we need is some guitar ble. music,” McClusky said. “Why all the fuss?” asked the “Yeah. And Dorothy Lamour girl, wide-eyed. “We just want to in a sarong.” go swimming in your pretty la- “Will I do?” asked a soft, goon.” throaty contralto voice from be- “No, you don’t,” said McClus- hind them. ky, recovering his wits at last. Both men spun around, un- “You’re under arrest, lady.” He slinging their rifles with the easy reached out to grab her with one grace of long practice. brawny fist, but his hand closed Then they froze, as if someone on empty air. The girl was de- had doused them with a few gal- ceptively fast. She backed away, lons of liquid air. Their eyes still smiling, and McClusky made glazed, and their mouths hung another limge for her. agape. He missed and lost his balance It was not Dorothy Lamour, as she danced back out of the they decided, because she was way. As he fell forward, he heard not wearing a sarong. She was Quinn yell: “Halt! Halt or I !” not even wearing a grass skirt. fire Sergeant McClusky recovered He broke his fall with the butt jis voice. “You ain’t supposed to of his rifle, and twisted to an“ up- be here, dressed like that, right sitting position. The girl, ma’am,” he said to the vision of he noticed, was running away loveliness. from the lagoon, toward the sea, “Undressed like that,” Cor- with Quinn after her in hot pur- poral Quinn corrected automati- suit, still calling for her to halt. cally. All around, there were similar “Even if you was dressed,” cries. Sergeant McClusky won- said McClusky, “you hadn’t ought dered how many unclad females to be here. Women aren’t allowed there were running around on on this island.” He was still try- Lukiuni Atoll—where there ing to figure out what to do couldn’t possibly be any women. when a voice bellowed out from the next post down the shore. ot a man there noticed what “Corporal of the guard! Post N was going on out in the la- Number Five! I got a woman on goon itself. The figure of a man my post—a nekkid woman suddenly materialized from no- Whadda I do now?” where a few inches above the sur- Before Corporal Quinn could face of the water. Then he

26 FANTASTIC ; dropped in with scarcely a The final surprise came when, splash. with a great geyser of erupting Since Fesswick did not breathe, water, the Tregonnese space cap- there was no necessity for him to sule shot up out of the lagoon wear any of the usual diving and vanished rapidly into the equipment. All he had to do was moonlit sky. swim to the steel net, cut through There would be a lot of exit, and head for the little Thre- plaining to do that night and for gonnese space capsule. He was- many nights to come, in Navy n’t the least bit worried about circles. the Navy’s probing sonar beams But there would never be any the nullifiers operated by Lord explanation. Curvert would take care of them. As far as the sonar operators nd now,” said Lord Curvert could tell, there was nothing at A gently, “the question arises all unusual in the lagoon. as to what to do with you gentle- Fesswick got busy opening the men.” airlock of the little capsule. They were sitting in the Venus Up on shore. Sergeant McClus- Club again. The space capsule, ky yelled at Corporal Quinn, who indetectable to any Earth sci- was several yards away, at the ence, was sitting on the roof of sea’s edge, staring into the the building. waves. Lights were coming on all “Why, just make your report over the tiny atoll. Pounding and let us go,” Forbin said po- footsteps could be heard from litely. “It was only a misdemean- every quarter as confused men or. We haven’t done anything ran every whic^,way. felonious. We didn’t expose any- “She just dived into the sea thing to the natives or interfere and never came up,” Corporal in any way. Just let us go, and Quinn was saying wonderingly. we’ll pay the fine according to “Why didn’t you shoot?” bel- the law.” lowed McClusky. Lord Curvert was nodding “Who the hell do you think I slowly, and there was an oddly am?” Quinn bellowed back. sleepy look in his eyes. “Yes,” he “Mike Hammer?” said, “Certainly. Just let you go.” So far, nobody else had fired The Thregonnese looked at a shot, either, and by that time, each other with delight, and then all four of the Tregonnese had looked back at the Observer. dived into the sea, changed into “Or, better yet,” said Forbin porpoises, and were swimming insidiously, “just let us stay for rapidly away from the atoll. a while. How about that?”

HEPCATS OF VENUS 27 “Yes. Yes,” his lordship said flip, and landed on his feet. “A rather glassily. “I could just let confession of intent,” he said you stay for a while.” mildly, “is bad enough. When “As a matter of fact,” Forbin combined with an actual attempt, went on in the same tone, “we it becomes very bad indeed.” have a few favors we’d like you None of them said anything. to do for us.” “Oh, no,” his lordship went on, “Favors,” said Lord Curvert. “I’m not hypnotized. In the first “Certainly. What favors?” place, the substance you have “Well, for instance, why don’t been thinking is Varesh powder you stand on your head?” is nothing but powdered sugar. “Certainly.” I saw you put it in the activator “And click your heels togeth- in your capsule, and I saw you er,” added Omboser, ignoring the put a pinch of it into the air. But scowls that Forbin and the oth- I’m afraid sugar just doesn’t ers shot him. have the proper effect. “Certainly,” agreed his lord- “In the second place, even if it ship. Placing hands and head on had been Varesh powder, noth- the floor. Lord Curvert solemnly ing would have happened, be- upended himself, balanced care- cause I am wearing filter plugs in fully, and clapped his heels to- my nostrils, just as you are. The gether. one difference is that my plugs “We’ve done it!” Forbin said function, while yours don’t. gleefully. “We’re in!” “I’m afraid that while my as- “You sure that assistant of his sistant, Mr. Jones, was in your —^that Mr. Jones can’t reach us capsule, he put a few rather here?” Alsnokine asked, a trifle clever little gimohicks into your apprehensively. “Or see us?” controls. In addition, he sprayed “Not a chance,” Forbin said. a little genuine Varesh powder “I turned on the nulliflers in our through the teleporter just a few ship myself.” seconds ago. And it’s having its “We’ve done it,” Lubix gloat- effect, isn’t it?” ed. “In spite of all the setbacks, we have our ship, and we have T was. Robbed of their con- the Observer. Now we can start I scious volition, the human having a little fun.” body shapes which the Thregon- “Are you gentlemen just going nese had assumed were begin- to leave me like this ?” Lord Cur- ning to look oddly lumpy as they vert asked politely. tended to return to their normal They all turned to look at him. shapes. He did a neat handspring-and- “I am sending you back to

28 FANTASTIC

Thregonn for punishment,” he “Yes, sir,” they chorused. said. “I’ll tell you what the con- “Fine. Let’s go.” spiracy was, and you correct me They went up to the roof, and if I’m wrong, so that everything the four fat kewpies climbed into will be nice and legal. the vessel. The airlock closed, “You intended to use this Ve- and a few seconds later the little nus Club set-up to trap me first. spaceship fired skywards. Then, after I had been hypno- “Take me home, Fesswick,” tized, you intended to take over said Lord Curvert. the various governments of Earth. Now, there. I’m a little HAT’S very odd,” said Lady hazy—just what was your reason TCurvert. for wanting to take over? Were Lord Curvert looked up ap- you going to set yourselves up as prehensively from his Times. supreme dictators, so that you “Not another one, I hope.” could push everybody around?” “Oh, no, Charles. Not another He looked at Forbin as he spoke. case. I was just thinking that it “For a while,” admitted the was very odd that the paper thoroughly hypnotized Forbin. should come out with an editorial “Then, if we got bored, we on the Teddy boys today. The thought it might be fun to start editor says that juvenile delin- an atomic war among these prim- quency is getting worse and itive people.” something must be done to stop “Worse than I thought,” said it.” Lord Curvert distastefully. “I “I’ll write a letter to the Times, hope they straighten you out my dear,” said Lord Curvert. thoroughly on Thregonn.” Fesswick -Simmered in By this time, the four Thregon- through the doorway. “I beg to nese had returned to their “nor- report, my lord, that Thregonn mal” shape. They looked like four acknowledges the landing of the fat, pink kewpie dolls. capsule. The four have been “All right,” said Lord Curvert, placed in arrest by the authori- “let’s go. You’ll get in your ship ties. Their parents have been no- and go straight to Thregonn, un- tified.” derstand?” “Good,” said Lord Curvert. “Yes, sir,” they chorused. “People here on Earth complain “Straight to Thregonn.” about juvenile delinquency, Fess- “And just to make sure you wick. Just wait until they find do, you’ll give yourselves anoth- out what it’s like on a Galactic er dose of Varesh powder every scale.” twenty-four hours. Understand?” THE END 30 FANTASTIC OVID WAS HER MASTER He Guided Her From the First Flirtation to the Ultimate Conquest

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31 The HUMAN ZERO

By ERLE STANLEY GARDNER

Illustrator FINLAY

Introduction by Sam Moskowitz

nquestionably the moat ingenuity displayed by Perry U popular mystery story yrrit- Mason in solving a crime as he er in America today is Erie Stan- wins a tight courtroom contest ley Gardner. The fabulous popu- has captivated television’s view- larify sparked by the deductive ing millions as completely as his

Jit'pnrted by rmiaaiou of WiUia Kingsley Wing. Copyright 19S1 by Eric Stanley Gardner; rmeired Et printed from Argosy, December, 1931. 32 hardbacks and paperbound books and possibly others under pseu- command supremacy of the arm- donyms. The themes ranged from chair detectives. interplanetary (The Sky’s the The public has come to associ- Limit) to time travel (A Year in ate Erie Stanley Gardner so com- a Day) to the second deluge pletely with the courtroom mys- (New Worlds). In selecting a tery, that few are aware that he story for reprint we have chosen once was a prolific and skilled The Human Zero from ARGOSY, producer in a variety of fields in- Dec. 19, 1931, because it is a sci- cluding westerns, adventure, air ence fiction theme in a detective tales, sports, cloak and dagger story setting. No one will be and, believe it or not, science fic- cheated. Those who pick this tion! story up because they follow At least half-dozen simon-pure Erie Stanley Gardner as a mys- science fiction yams were con- tery story ivriter will not be distributed by Erie Stanley Gardner appointed, nor will those readers to ARGOSY under his oicn name who are itching to sample the

33 brand of science fiction manufac- This type of story is frequent tured by the renowned author enough to rate mention in A. E. who created Perry Mason. March’s recent book The Devel- It is interesting to note that in opment of the Detective Novel roughly the same period as the where he cites it as a peculiarly appearance of this story there American development. Funda- was a vogue for science fiction mentally he is right, though the themes in a mystery or detective famed British mystery story framework. A number of authors, writer Edgar Wallace approxi- in addition to Erie Stanley Gard- mated such an effort in his little ner, finding favor with this com- known Planetoid 127. published bination included Murray in 1929. A few years later Edgar Leinster with his Darkness on Wallace was to cover himself Fifth Avenue series; Garrett with glory by writing the screen- Smith with You’ve Killed Pri- play of the remarkably success- vacy and A. K. Echols with The ful science fiction thriller King Unseen Death, Kong.

Captain Harder noted the CHAPTER 1 sleep-reddened eyes of the secre- A MYSTERIOUS KIDNAPING tary. ob sands took Uie letter “Then it’s his writing?” B from the hands of the cap- “Undoubtedly.” tain of police, read it, and pursed Euby Orman, “sob-sister” his lips in a whistle. writer of the Clarion, added to Foujr pairs of eyes studied the her penciled notes. “Tears secretary of the kidnaped man as streamed down the cheeks of the he read. Two pencils scribbled loyal secretary as he identified notes on pads of scratch paper, the writing as being that of the of the type used by newspaper man by whom he was employed.” reporters. Charles Ealy, reporter for the Bob Sands showed that he had more conservative Star, scrib- been aroused from sleep, and had bled sketchy notes. “Sands sum- rushed to headquarters. His col- moned—Identifies writing as lar was soiled. His tie was awry. being that of P. H. Danger- The eyes were still red from rub- field—Dramatic scene enacted in bing, and his chin was covered office of Captain Harder at an with a bristling stubble. early hour this morning—Letter, “Good Heavens,” he said, “the written by kidnaped millionaire, Old Man was sure given a scare urges police to drop case and !” when he wrote that bank to pay the half million de-

34 FANTASTIC manded in cash as ransom—Let- Rodney was employed by the ter hints at a scientist as being bank as a special investigator. In the captor and mentions fate ‘so addition, the bank had called in horrible I shudder to contem- the police. The investigation had ” plate it.’ gone through all routine steps and arrived nowhere. Danger- ID RODNEY, the other occu- field had been at his house. He S pant of the room, wrote noth- had vanished. Therewas no trace ing. He didn't believe in making of him other than the demands notes. And, since he was the star of the kidnapers, and the pen- detective of a nationally known ciled notations upon the bottom agency, he was free to do pretty of those letters, purporting to be much as he pleased. in the writing of the missing Rodney didn’t make detailed millionaire. reports. He got results. He had Then had come this last letter, seen them come and seen them completely written in pen and go. Ordinary circumstances ink by Dangerfield, himself. It found him cool and unexcited. It was a letter addressed directly to took something in the nature of Captain Harder, who was assum- a calamity to arouse him. ing charge of the case, and im- Now he teetered back on the plored him to let the bank pay. two legs of his chair and his eyes Captain Harder turned to Rod- scanned the faces of the others. ney. It was three o’clock in the “How will the bank take morning. It was the second day this?’’ he asked. following the mysterious abduc- Rodney took a deep drag at his tion of P. H. Dangerfield, a mil- cigarette. He spoke in a matter- lionaire member of the stock ex- of-fact tone, and, as he spoke, the change. Demands had been made smoke seeped out of the corners for a cool half million as ransom. of his mouth, clothing the words The demands had been okayed by in a smoky halo. the millionaire, himself, but the “Far as the newspapers are bank refused to honor the re- concerned,’’ he said, “I have quest. Dangerfield had not over nothing to say. As a private tip, two hundred thousand in his ac- I have an idea the bank will re- count. The bank was willing to gard this as sufficient authoriza- loan the balance, but only when tion, and pay the money.” it should be absolutely satisfied Captain Harder opened a that it was the wish of the mil- drawer, took out photostatic cop- lionaire, and that the police were ies of the other demands which powerless. had been received.

THE HUMAN ZERO 35 “They want five hundred thou- “I obeyed your summons, cap- sand dollars in gold certificates, tain,” he said in a dry, husky put in a suitcase, sent by the sec- voice that was as devoid of mois- retary of the kidnaped man, to ture as a dead leaf scuttling the alley back of Quong Mow’s across a cement sidewalk on the place in Chinatown. It’s to be de- wings of a March wind. posited in an ash can that sits Captain Harder grunted. just in front of the back door of “/ came without waiting to Quong Mow’s place. Then Sands shave or change,” said Sands, his is to drive away. voice showing a trace of con- “The condition is that the po- tempt. “They said it was life or lice must not try to shadow death.” Sands or watch the barrel, that The banker’s fish-like eyes Sands must go alone, and that rested upon the flushed face of there must be no effort to trace Bob Sands. the numbers of the bills. When “I shaved,” said Solomon. “I that has been done, Dangerfield never go out in the morning will go free. Otherwise he’ll be without shaving. What is the murdered. The notes point out trouble, captain?” that, even if the money is depos- Harder handed over the letter. ited in the ash can, but the other The banker took ‘ a vacant conditions are violated. Danger- chair, took spectacles from his field will die.” pocket, rubbed the lenses with a handkerchief, held them to the here was silence in the light, breathed upon the lenses

Troom when the captain fin- and polished them again, then fi- ished speaking. All of those pres- nally adjusted the spectacles and ent knew the purport of those read the letter. messages. The newspaper report- His face remained absolutely ers had even gone so far as to void of expression. photograph the ash can. “Indeed,” he said, when he had There was a knock at the door. finished. Captain Harder jerked it open. “What we want to know,” said The man who stood on the Captain Harder, “is whether the threshold of the room, surveying bank feels it should honor that the occupants through clear, request, make a loan upon the gray, emotionless eyes, was Ar- strength of it and pay that ran- thur L. Solomon, the president som.” of the bank. The banker put the tips of his He was freshly shaved, well fingers together and spoke cold- dressed, cool, collected. ly.

36 FANTASTIC “One-half a million dollars is a odney continued to sit back very great deal of money. It is R in his chair, his thumbs altogether too much to ask by hooked into the arm holes of his way of ransom. It would, in- vest, his cigarette hanging at a deed, be a dangerous precedent drooping angle. for the more prominent business “Nothin’ that I know of,” he men of this community, were said, smoke seeping from his lips any such ransom to be paid.” with the words. “We’ve been all over that be- “Well?” asked Charles Ealy. fore, Mr. Soloman. What I want Captain Harder looked at the to know is what do you want the banker meaningly. police to do? If we’re to try and “Well?” he said. find this man, we’d better keep Ruby Orman held her pencil busy. If we’re going to sit back poised over her paper. and let you ransom him, and then “The Clarion readers will be try and catch the kidnapers so much interested in your an- afterward, we don’t want to get swer, Mr. Soloman.” our wires crossed.” The banker’s mouth tightened. The banker’s tone dripped sar- “The answer,” he said, still casm. speaking in the same husky “Your efforts so far have voice, “is no!" seemed to be futile enough. The The reporters scribbled. police system seems inadequate Bob Sands, secretary of the to cope with these criminals.” missing man, got to his feet. His Captain Harder flushed. “We manner was belligerent. He do the best we can with what seemed to be controlling himself we've got. Our salary allowances with an effort. don’t enable us to employ guys “You admit Mr. Dangerfield that have got the brains of bank could sell enough securities with- presidents to pound our pave- in half an hour of the time he got ments.” back on the job to liquidate the Ruby Orman snickered. entire amount!” he said accus- The banker’s face remained ingly. gray and impassive. “I believe he could.” “Precisely,” he said coldly. “And this letter is in his hand- “Nothin’ personal,” said writing?” Harder. “Yes. I would say it was.” The banker turned to Sid Rod- “And he authorizes you to do ney. anything that needs to be done, “Has your firm anything to gives you his power of attorney report, Mr. Rodney?” and all that, doesn’t he?” THE HUMAN ZERO 37 :

“Yes.” Soloman nodded. on the door, and firmly said “Then why not trust his judg- “The safety of the business ment in the matter and do what world is also at stake, gentlemen. he says?” Good morning!” The banker smiled, and the CHAPTER 2 smile was cold- tight-lipped. “Because the bank is under no WHO IS ALBERT CROME? obligations to do so. Mr. Danger- HE door slammed shut. field has a checking account of Captain Harder sighed. about two hundred thousand dol- Sid Rodney tossed away the lars. The bank would honor his stub of his cigarette, groped for check in that amount, provided a fresh one. our attorney could advise us that “Such is life,’’ mused Charles the information we have received Ealy. through the press and the police “The dirty pirate!” snapped would not be tantamount to Sands. “He’s made thousands oif knowledge that such check was of the Dangerfield account. He obtained by duress and menace. doesn’t care a fig what happens “But as far as loaning any such to Dangerfield. He’s just afraid additional sum to be paid as ran- of establishing a precedent that som, the bank does not care to will inspire other criminals.” encourage kidnapings by estab- Sid Rodney lit his fresh ciga- lishing any such precedent. The rette. demand, gentlemen, is unreason- Ruby Orman’s pencil scribbled able.” across the paper. “What,” yelled Sands, “has “Scene one of greatest con- the bank got to say about how sternation,” she wrote. “Men much kidnapers demand?” glanced at each other in an ec- “Nothing. Nothing at all, Mr. stasy of futility. Sands gave the Sands. Mr. Rodney, I trust your impression of fighting back firm will uncover some clue tears. Even strong men may which will be of value. The bank weep when the life of a friend is values Mr. Dangerfield’s account at stake. Police promise renewed .” very much. We are leaving no activity . stone unturned to assist the po- Bob Sands reached for his hat. lice. But we cannot subscribe to “I’ll go crazy if I hang around the payment of such an unheard- here. Is there anything I can of ransom.” do?” “A human life is at stake!” Captain Harder shook his yelled Sands. head. The banker paused, his hand “We’ll have this letter gone

38 FANTASTIC over by the handwriting depart- The police captain nodded ment,” he said. wearily. Sands walked from the room. “Shoot,” he said. “Good morning,” he said wear- Rodney grinned at the two re-

ily- porters. Charles Ealy nodded sympa- “This stuff is off the record,” captain. he admonished. “You two can “Nothing new, Harry?” scoop it if anything comes of it. “Not a thing, other than that Right now it’s on the q.t.” letter,” said Captain Harder. The reporters nodded. “This is one case where we can’t They were there, in the first get a toe-hold to work on.” place, because the two papers Charles Ealy nodded sympa- were “in right” with the admin- thetically. istration. And they kept in right “Anything for publication ?” with the police department by he asked. printing what the police were “Yes,” snapped Captain Hard- willing they should print, and by er. “You can state that I am keeping that confidential which working on a brand new lead, was given to them in confidence. and that within the next twenty- four hours we feel certain we ID RODNEY went to the will have the criminals in cus- S trouble of removing his ciga- tody, You may state that we al- rette from the corner of his ready have a cordon of police mouth, sure sign of earnestness. guarding against an escape from “I’ve got a funny angle on this the city, and that, momentarily, thing. I didn’t say anything be-

the dragnet is tightening . . , fore, because I think it’s a whole Oh, you folks know, say the us- lot more grave than many peo- ual thing that may put the fear ple think. I have a hunch we’re of God into the kidnapers and doing business with a man who make the public think we aren’t has a Jot more sense than the sitting here vrith arms folded.” average kidnaper. I have a hunch Charles Ealy scraped back his he's dangerous. And if there was chair. any chance of the bank coming “Wait a minute,” said Rodney, to the front, then letting us try the cigarette in his mouth wab- to recover the money afterward, bling in a smoky zigzag as he I wanted to play it that way. talked. “I may have a hunch “But the bank’s out, so it’s ev- that’s worth while. Will you give erything to gain and nothing to me a break on it, captain, if it’s lose. Now here’s the situation, I a lead?” ran down every one I could find

THE HUMAN ZERO 39 who might have a motive. One of reached back a huge arm, twist- the things the agency did, which ed the knob, and opened^the door the police also did, was to run a crack. down every one who might profit “I left orders He paused by the disappearance or death of in mid-sentence as he saw the P. H. Dangerfield. face of Bob Sands. “But one thing our agency did “Oh, come in. Sands. I left or- that the police didn’t do, was to ders only five people could come try and find out whether or not in here, and then I didn’t want to

any person had been trying to be disturbed , . . Lord, man, interest Dangerfield in a business what’s the matter? You look as deal and been turned down. though you’d seen a ghost!” “We found a dozen leads and Sands nodded. ran ’em down. It happened I was “Look what happened. I start- to run down a list of three or ed for home. My roadster was four, and the fourth person on parked out in front of headquar- the list was a chap named Albert ters. I got in and drove it out Crome. Ever hear of him?’’ Claremont Street, and was just He paused. turning into Washington when Captain Harder shook his another car came forging along- head. side of me. Ruby Orman looked blank. “I thought it would go on Charles Ealy puckered his brows. past, but it kept crowding me “You mean the scientist that over. Then I thought of all the claimed he had some sort of a ra- talk I’d heard of gangsters, and dium method of disrupting ether I wondered if there was any waves and forming an etheric chance I was going to be ab- screen?” ducted, too. Rodney nodded. “That’s the “I slammed on the brakes. The chap.” other car pushed right in beside “Sort of cuckoo, isn’t he? He me. 'There was a man sitting tried to peddle his invention to next to the driver, sort of a for- the goveimment, but they never eign looking fellow, and he tossed took any particular notice of something. him. Sent a man, I believe, and “I thought it was a bomb, and Crome claimed the man they I yelled and put my hand over sent didn’t even know elemental my eyes. The thing thudded physics.” right into the seat beside me. Sid Rodney nodded again. When I grabbed it to throw it There was a rap at the door. out, I saw it was a leather sack, Captain Harder frowned. weighted, and that there was 40 FAMTASTIC — crumpled paper on the inside. I Captain Harder’s eyes were opened the sack and found wide. this I” “Good Lord, has that man got Dramatically he handed over a dictograph running into this the piece of typewritten paper. office?” “Read it aloud,” begged Ealy. Sands made a helpless gesture “Take a look,” invited Captain with the palms of his hands. He Harder, spreading the sheet of was white, his teeth were chat- paper on the desk. tering, and his knees seemed utterly devoid of strength. know. He’s a devil. hey clustered about in a “I don’t Tcompact group, read the con- He’s always seemed to know just on. he sure- tents of that single spaced sheet what was going And Danger- of typewriting. ly must have known field’s habits from A to Z. I’m frightened.” Sands: Captain Harder walked to the You are a damned fool. The banker would have given in if door. you hadn’t been so hostile. And “Send in a couple of men to the police bungled the affair, as they nearly always do. I’ve got search this place for a dicto- a method of hearing and seeing graph,” he said. Then he turned what goes on in Captain Hard- on his heel, gave a swing of his er’s office. I’m going to tell you folks right now that you didn’t arm. “Come on in another room, do Dangerfield any good. When you folks. We’ll go into this I showed him on the screen thing.” what was taking place, and he heard your words, he was be- The little group trooped into side himself with rage. one of the other offices. You’ve got one more chance to reach that banker. If he “All right, Rodney. You were doesn’t pay the sum within mentioning a scientist. What of twelve hours there won’t be him?” any more Dangerfield. And the next time I kidnap “I went to his office,” said and hold for a man him ran- Rodney, “and tried to engage som I don’t want so much pow- wow about it. Just to show my him in conversation. He wouldn’t power, I am going to abduct talk. I asked him what he knew you. Sands, after I kill Danger- about Dangerfield, and he all but field, and then I’m going to get Arthur Soloman, the banker. frothed at the mouth. He said Both of you will be held for a Dangerfield was a crook, a pi- fair ransom. Soloman’s ransom rate, a robber. he will be seven hundred and fifty Then slammed thousand dollars. So he’d bet- the door. ter get to ready pay. “But, here’s the point. I got a This is the final and last warning. X. peep at the inside of his office.

THE HUMAN ZERO 41 There was a Royal portable in “You’ll have to let me think there, and these letters that were . Yes, yes, of course I did. I received demanding ransom were met him several times. Some of written on a Royal portable. the negotiations were carried on “It’s not much of a lead, and through me.” it’s one that the police will have “Impress you as being a little to run down—now. If it’s a mat- off?” asked Sid Rodney, drawl- ter of life and death, and working the question, his inevitable ing against time, then it’s too cigarette dangling loosely from big for our agency to handle. But the corner of his mouth as he my opinion is that Albert Crome talked. was violently insane, at least “No. He impressed me as be- upon the subject of Danger- ing a pretty wide awake sort of a field.” chap, very much of a gentleman, The police captain whirled to with a high sense of honor.” Sands. “What sort of a car were these APTAIN HARDER pressed a men using?” C button. “You mean the men who tossed “Take these letters. Have ’em the letter?” photographed,” he told the man “Yes.” who answered the buzzer. “Check “I can’t tell you. I know it’s the typewriting with the others. stupid of me, but I just got too Then get me everything you can rattled to notice. It was a big car, get on Albert Crome. I want to and it looked as though it might know what he’s been doing with have been a Cadillac, or a Buick, his time the last few days, who or a Packard. It might even have he associates with, who’s seen been some other make.” him lately, where he lives, what The captain snorted. he’s doing with his work, every- “What do you know about thing about him. Crome?” “And if you can get a man into Sands blinked. his offices and laboratory, I want “I know Mr. Dangerfield was a specimen of the typewriting negotiating for the purchase of that comes from the portable

some patent rights, or the fi- machine he’s got—a Royal.” nancing of some formula or The man nodded, withdrew.

something, but that’s about all. Captain Harder grinned at the The deal fell through.” little group. “Ever meet Crome?” “Well, we might go down to The secretary hesitated, T-Bone Frank’s and have a cup knitted his brows. of coffee and some eats. Maybe

42 FANTASTIC we’ll have something new when “I giiess so. It ain’t eight we get back.” o’clock yet.” Sands fidgeted. Ealy perked up his ears. “I don’t want anything to “You speak as though you had eat.” something up your sleeve,” he “Well, you’d better wait a little said. while, Sands. You know that The officer nodded grimly. threat may mean nothing. Then “I have,” he said. again, it may mean a lot.” The telephone rang. Captain Sands nodded. Harder cupped his ear to the re- “Are you going to tell Solo- ceiver. man?” “Funny,” he said, “Soloman’s “Yes. I’ll give him a ring, I residence says he’s not home guess. Maybe I’d better do it be- yet.” Then: “Keep calling. Tell fore he gets home and to bed. him I want to speak to him. It’s Let’s see, I’ve got his number important.” here. I’ll give him a buzz and They went to the all-night res- break the glad tidings and then taurant, lingered over coffee and put a couple of the boys on guard sandwiches. They were all nerv- in front of the place. It’ll make ous, with the exception of Sid him think a little. Didn’t like Rodney. That individual seemed his attitude, myself Oh, to be utterly relaxed, but it was well!” the inactivity of a cat who is He gave the exchange operator sprawled in the sun, keeping a the number, replaced the receiv- lazy eye upon a fluttering bird, er, fished a cigar from his pocket trying to locate the nest. and scraped a noisy match along Charles Ealy watched Sid Rod- the sole of his shoe. ney nan’owly. Once he nodded, Ruby Orman scribbled on her slowly. pad of paper: “In tense silence, They finished their meal, re- these men waited grimly for the turned to headquarters. dawn.” Charles Ealy put a matter-of- eard from Soloman ?” fact question. H asked Captain Harder. “Can we get these letters for Sergeant Green, at the desk, the noon editions, Harry?” shook his head. “What’s deadline?” asked the “They keep saying he hasn’t captain. returned. But we’ve unearthed “We’d have to have them by some stuff about Crome from our eight o’clock in order to get the department files. He wanted a plates ready.” permit to establish an experi-

THE HUAAAN ZERO 43 menting station in a loft buildup as an experimental labora- ing down town. Had the lease on tory?” the place and was all ready to go Captain Harder grinned. ahead when he found out he had “You win,” he said. “Get me to have a permit to operate the half a dozen of the boys out, ser- sort of a place he wanted. geant. I’m going down there my- “He was turned down on the self and give it a once over. Bet- permit after it appeared that his ter take along a bunch of keys.” experiments were likely to in- crease the lire hazard, and he O we go along?” asked Ealy, was bitter about it.” D his eyes twinkling. Captain Harder grunted. Captain Harder grinned. “That doesn’t help much.” “Certainly not,” he said. “Did he send in any typewrit- Sands took him seriously. ten letters?” asked Sid Rodney. “I’m glad of that. I’m simply

“Maybe. I’ll look in the files. all in. I want to go and get some Most of those things would be in sleep, a bath and a shave.” another file.” Captain Harder looked sym- “Got the address of the loft pathetic. building?” “I know. Sands. Ealy and I "Yes—632 Grant Street. were kidding. But if you feel all That’s down near the wholesale in, go on home and get some district, a little side street.” sleep. We’ve got your number. Sid nodded. We’ll call you if there’s ansrthing “Yeah. I know. What -say we there.” take a run down there, captain ?” “How about an escort?” asked “Why? He was turned down Rodney. “Those threats, you

on his permit. There’s nothing know . there for us.” Sands vehemently shook his Rodney lit a fresh cigarette head. and resumed. “No. I don’t want to advertise “The man’s a scientist. He to the neighborhood that I’m hates Dangerfield. He impresses afraid. I’ll go on home and sleep. me as being very much unba- I’m safe for twelve hours yet, anced. He’s got a loft that isn't anyway. If you think there’s any being used. Now if he should danger at the end of that time, happen to be mixed up in the I’ll move into a hotel and you can kidnaping, where would be a bet- give me a guard.” ter place to keep a prisoner than Captain Harder nodded in in an unused loft building, that agreement. had been taken over and fitted “Okay.”

44 FANTASTIC CHAPTER 3 and upon the tray was some INTO THIN AIR food, remnants of sandwiches, a he two police cars slid cup of coffee, the sides stained Tsmoothly to the curb before where trickles of the liquid had the loft building. slopped over the side of the cup. The first streaks of dawn were Captain Harder smelled the tingeing the buildings in the cup, jabbed a finger into the concrete canon of loft buildings, crust of the sandwiches. wholesale houses and nondescript “Looks like it’s less than twen- apartments. ty-four hours old,” he said. Captain Harder jerked his The men examined the tray. thumb. Captain Harder snapped into “This is the place. No use swift activity. It was plainly ap- standin’ on formality. Let’s go parent that the curiosity which up. He had the whole building had sent him down to the loft leased. Looks vacant now.’’ building for a “look around” The men moved across the merely because there were no echoing sidewalk in a compact other clues to run down, had group. There was the jingle of given place to well-defined suspi- keys against the brass lock plate, cion. and then the click of a bolt. The “Here, Bill. You take one of door opened. A flight of stairs, the boys with you and watch the an. automatic elevator, a small steps. Frank, get out your gun lobby, showed in the reddish and watch the fire escape. Go light of early morning. There around the back way, through was a musty smell about the the alley. We’ll keep quiet and place. give you three minutes to get “Take the elevator,” said Cap- stationed. Then we’re going up. tain Harder. “Then we won’t “If you see any one, order him have so much trouble . . . fun- to stop. If he doesn’t obey, shoot ny he leased the whole building to kill. George, you go with in advance of a permit. This Frank. The rest of us are going lease cost him money.” up in the elevator.” No one said anything. They He took out his watch. opened the door of the elevator. “Three minutes,” he said. Then they drew back with an The men snapped into action. exclamation. Captain Harder held a thumb “Look there!” said one of the nail upon the dial of his big men. watch, marking the time. There was a stool in the eleva- “Okay,” he said, at length. tor. Upon that stool was a tray. “Let’s go. You two birds on the

THE HUMAN ZERO 45 stairs, make sure you don’t get The place was fitted up with above the first floor without cov- benches, with a few glass jars, ering every inch of ground you test tubes, some rather compli- pass. We don't want any one to cated apparatus enclosed in a duck out on us. If you hear any glass case. There were a few jars commotion, don’t come unless I of chemical, and there were some blow my whistle. Watch those more trays with food remnants stairs!” upon them. “Somebody,” said Captain e closed the door of the ele- Harder grimly, making sure his H vator, jabbed the button service revolver was loose in its marked by the figure “1.” holster, “is living here. Wonder The elevator creaked and what’s in that room on the cor- swayed upward at a snail’s pace, ner. Door looks solid enough.” came to the first floor and He pushed his way forward stopped. Captain Harder propped through the litter on the floor, the door open, emerged into a twisted the knob of the door. hallway, found himself facing “Locked,” he said, “and feels two doors. solid as stone.” Both were unlocked. He opened And, at that moment, sounding first one, and then the other. weak and faint, as though com- There were disclosed two emp- ing from a great distance, came ty lofts, littered with papers and a cry, seeping through the door rubbish. They were bare of fur- from the room beyond, giving niture, untenanted. Even the some inkling of the thickness of closet doors were open, and they the door.

could see into the interiors of “Help, help, help ! This is Paul them. Dangerfield. Help me! Help me!” “Nothing doing,” said the of- Captain Harder threw his ficer. “Guess it’s a false alarm, weight against the door. As well but we’ll go on up.” have thrown his weight against They returned to the elevator, the solid masonry of a wall. pressed the next button. “Hello,” he called. “Are you There were three floors, nar- safe, Dangerfield? This is the row, but deep. police!” The second floor was like the The men could hear the sound first as far as the doors were of frantic blows on the opposite concerned. But as soon as Cap- side of the door. tain Harder opened the first “Thank God! Quick, get me door, it was at once apparent out of here. Smash in the door. they were on a warm trail. It’s a foot thick!”

46 FANTASTIC he words were faint, muf- “Get this door down!” snapped Tfled. The blows which sounded the police captain, “and let’s upon the other side of the door make it snappy.” gave evidence of the thickness They held a block of wood so and strength of the mortal. that it formed a fulcrum for the Captain Harder turned to one bar, inserted the curved end, of the men. started to pry. The door was as “How about keys?” solid as though it had been an in- “I’ve got ’em, captain, but tegral part of the wall. Slowly, where do we put ’em?” however the men managed to get The officer stepped back to the bar inserted to a point where look at the door. the leverage started to spring There was not a sign of a lock the bolts. or keyhole in it. There was a Yet it was a matter of min- massive knob, but nothing else to utes, during which time there show that the door differed from was no sound whatever from that the side of the wall, save the mysterious inner room. hairline of its borders. At length the door swayed, “Smash it in! All together!” creaked, pried unevenly, sprung They flung themselves against closed as the men shifted their the door. grips on the bar to get a fresh Their efforts were utterly un- purchase. availing. “Now, then, boys!” said Cap-

“Hurry, hurry!” yelled the tain Harder, perspiration ^ voice on the other side of the streaming down from his fore-

door. “He’s going to . . No, head and into his eyes. “Let’s no! Don’t. Oh! Go away! Don’t go!” touch that door. Oh ... Oh They flung themselves into the

. . Not that!” work. The door tottered, creaked, The voice rose to a piercing slowly pried loose and then wail of terror, and then was si- banged open. lent. The squad pounded on the The squad stared at a room door, received no answer. built without windows. There Captain Harder whirled to ex- was ventilation which came amine the loft. through a grating in the roof. “There’s a bar over there. Let’s This grating was barred with get this door down.” inch-thick iron bars. The air He raised the whistle to his sucked out through one section, lips, blew a shrill blast. The two came blowing through another. men who had been guarding the The air seemed fresh enough, yet stairs came up on the run. there was an odor in that room

THE HUMAN ZERO 47 which was a stale stench of tectives, hardened by years of death. It was the peculiar, sick- experience, to behold the grue- eningly sweet odor which hangs some, stared speechlessly at that about a house which has been vacant bundle of clothing. touched by death. Charles Ealy was the one who There was a table, a reclining broke the silence. chair, a carpet, a tray of food, a “Good Heavens! There’s been bed. The room gave evidence of a man in these clothes and he’s having been lived in. been sucked out, like a bit of dirt But it was vacant, so far as being sucked up into a vacuum any living thing was concerned. cleaner!’’ On the floor, near the door Captain Harder regained con- which had been forced, was a pile trol of himself with an effort. of clothing. The clothing was His skin was still damp with sprawled out as though it had perspiration, but that perspira- covered the form of a man who tion had cooled until it presented had toppled backward to the an oily slime which accentuated door, stretched his full length the glistening pallor of his skin. upon the floor, and then been “It’s a trap, boys. It’s a withdrawn from his garments. damned clever trap, but it’s just a trap. There couldn’t have been APTAIN HARDER bent to C an examination of the gar* He didn’t finish, for Ruby Or- ments. There was a watch in the man, speaking in a hushed voice, pocket which had stopped. The pointed to one of the shoes.

stopping of the watch was exact- “Try,’’ she said, “just try fit- ly five minutes before, at about ting a sock into the toe of that the time the ofiBcers had begun shoes the way this one is fitted, pounding at the door. and try doing it while the shoe’s

There was a suit of silk under- laced, or do it, and then lace the wear inside of the outer gar- shoe afterward, and see where ments. The tie was neatly knotted you get.’’ about the empty collar. The “Humph,” said Ealy, “as far sleeves of the shirt were down in- as that’s concerned, try getting a side the sleeves of the coat. There necktie around the collar of a were socks which nested down shirt and then fitting a coat and inside the shoes, as though vest around the shirt.” thrust there by some invisible Captain Harder cleared his foot. throat and addressed them all. There was no word spoken. “Now listen, you guys, you’re Those officers, reporters, de- actin’ like a bunch of kids. Even

48 FANTASTIC !

supposing there was some one in One of the officers nodded. His this room, where could he have face gave an exhibition of sud- gone? There ain’t any opening. den relief which was almost ludi- He couldn’t have slid through crous. He grinned shamefacedly. those bars in the ventilator.” “By George, captain, that’s so Some of the detectives nodded Do you know, for a minute, this sagely, but it remained for Rod- thing had me goofy. But you can ney to ask the question which see how cool the clothes are, and left them baffled. this watch is like a chunk of ice. “How,” he asked, “was it pos- It’d be warm if anybody had sible to get the foot out of that been inside those clothes.” laced shoe?” “Who,” asked Sid Rodney, Captain Harder turned away. “was it that was calling to us “Let’s not get stampeded,” he through the door?” said. Captain Harder stepped to the He started to look around him. door, dragged in the bar. “Cooked food’s been brought “I don’t know. It may have

in here at regular intervals . . been a trick of ventriloquism, or the man that was here was Dan- it may have been a sound that gerfield, all right. Those are his was projected through the ven- clothes. There’s the mark of the tilating system. But, anyhow, tailor, and there’s his gold- I’m going to find out. If there’s a scrolled fountain pen. His watch secret entrance to this room. I’m has his initials on, even his going to find it if I have to rip check book is in the pocket. off every board of the walls one “I tell you, boys, we’re on the at a time.” right track. This is the place Dangerfield’s been kept, and it’s e started with the bar, biting that inventor who’s at the bot- H it into the tongue and groove tom of the whole thing. We’ll go which walled the sides of the knock his place over, and we’ll room. Almost instantly the rip- probably find where Dangerfield ping bar disclosed the unique is right now. He was spirited construction of that room. away from here, somehow. It consisted of tongue and “Those clothes were left here groove, back of which was a layer for a blind. Don’t get stampeded. of thick insulation that looked Here, feel the inside of the cloth. like asbestos. Back of that was a It’s plumb cold, awfully cold. If layer of thick steel, and the steel anybody’d been inside those seemed to be backed with con- clothes within five minutes, the crete, so solid was it. clothes’d be warm.” By examining the outside of THE HUMAN ZERO 49 the room, they were able to judge Sid Rodney stooped to the vest the depth of the walls. They pocket, looked once more at the seemed to be at least three feet gold embossed fountain pen. thick. The room was a veritable “Has any one tried this to see sound-proof chamber. if it writes?” he asked. Evidently the door was oper- “What difference would that ated by some electro-magnetic make?” asked the police captain. control. There were thick bars “He might have left us a mes- which went from the interior of sage,” said Sid. the door down into sockets built He abstracted the pen, re- in the floor, steel faced, bedded moved the cap, tried the end of in concrete. the pen upon his thumb nail. Captain Harder whistled. Then he took a sheet of paper “Looks like there was no se- from his notebook, tried the pen cret exit there. It must have been again. some sort of ventriloquism.” “Listen, you guys, all this Sid Rodney grunted. stuff isn’t getting us anywhere. “Well, it wasn’t ventriloquism The facts are that Dangerfield that made the jars on that door. was here. He ain’t here now. Al- It was some one pounding and bert Crome has this place rented. kicking on the other side. And, He has a grudge against Dan- if you’ll notice the toes of those gerfield. It’s an odds-on bet that shoes, you’ll see where there are we’re going to get the whole fragments of wood splinters, lit- fiendish scheme out of him—if tle flakes of paint, adhering to we get there soon enough.” the soles right where they point There was a mutter of affirma- out into the uppers. tion from the officers, ever men “Now, then, if you’ll take the who were more accustomed to trouble to look at the door, you’ll rely upon direct action and swift find little marks in the wood accusation than upon the slower which correspond to the marks method of deduction. on the toes of the shoes. In other words, whether those shoes were AIT a minute,” said Sid occupied or not, they were ham- WRodney. His eyes were flam- mering against that door a few ing with the fire of an inner ex- minutes ago.” citement. He unscrewed the por- Captain Harder shook his head tion of the pen which contained impatiently. the tip, from the barrel, drew “The trouble with all that rea- out the long rubber tube which soning is that it leads into im- held the ink. possibilities.” Captain Harder regarded him

50 FANTASTIC with interest, but with impa- in a room of this sort? The room tience. isn’t cold.” “Just like any ordinary self- Sid Rodney shrugged his filling pen the world over,” said shoulders. the police captain. “I’m not advancing any the- Sid Rodney made no comment. ories—^yet. I’m simply remark- He took a knife from his pocket, ing that it’s frozen ink. You’ll slit open the rubber sac. A few notice that the rubber covering sluggish drops of black liquid and the air which was in the bar- trickled slowly down his thumb, rel of the pen acted as something then he pulled out a jet black rod of a thermal insulation. There- of solid material. fore, it was slower to thaw out He was breathing rapidly now, than some things.” and the men, attracted by the Captain Harder stared at Rod- fierce earnestness of his manner, ney with a puckered forehead crowded about him. and puzzled eyes. “What is it?” asked one. “What things do you mean?” Rodney did not answer the “The watch, for instance. You question directly. He broke the notice that it’s started to run thing in half, peered at the ends. again.” These ends glistened like some “By George, it has!” said polished, black jewel which had Charles Ealy, “It’s started tick- been broken open. The light re- ing right along just as though fiected from little tiny points, nothing had happened, but it’s giving an odd appearance of about six and a half or seven sheen and luster. minutes slow.” Slowly a black stain spread Sid nodded silent affirmation. along the palm of the detective’s Captain Harder snorted. hand. “You birds can run all the Sid Rodney set the long rod of clues that you want to. I’m go- black, broken into two pieces, ing to get a confession out of the down upon the tray of food. bird that’s responsible for this. “Is that ink?” demanded “Two of you stay here and see Harder. that no one comes in or goes out. “Yes.” Guard this place. Shoot to kill any “What makes it look so fun- one who disobeys your orders. ny?” This thing is serious, and there’s

“It’s frozen.” murder at the bottom of it, or I “Frozen!” miss my guess.” “Yes.” He whirled and stamped from “But how could ink be frozen the room, walking with that ag-

THE HUMAN ZERO 51 gressive swing of the shoulders, Captain Harder jerked back. that forward thrust of his sturdy The face was only partially legs, which betokened no good visible through the narrow peep- for the crack-brained scientist. hole. But there was a section of wrinkled forehead, shaggy, un- CHAPTER 4 kempt eyebrows, the bridge of a A MADMAN'S LABORATORY bony nose, and two eyes. hey hammered on the door. The eyes compelled interest. T After a matter of minutes They were red rimmed. They there was an answer, a thin, seemed to be perpetually irri- cracked voice which echoed tated, until the irritation had through the thick partitions of a seeped into the brain itself. And door which seemed every bit as they glittered with a feverish substantial as the door which light of unwholesorhe cunning. Captain Harder had forced in “Psh! The police!” said the order to enter that curious room voice, sounding startlingly clear where an empty suit of clothes through the opening of the door. had mocked him. “Open in the name of the “Who is it?’’. law!” snapped Captain Harder. Captain Harder tried a subter- “Psh!” said the man again. fuge. There was the faintest flicker “Captain Harder, come to see of motion from behind the little about the purchase of an inven- peephole in the door, and a sud- tion. I’m representing the War den coughing explosion. A little Department.” cloud of white smoke mush- The man on the other side of roomed slowly out from the cor- that door crackled into a cackling ner of the opening. chuckle. “It’s about time. Let’s The panel slid into place with have a look at you.” the smooth efficiency of a well Captain Harder nodded to the oiled piece of machinery. squad of grim-visaged men who Captain Harder jerked out his were grouped just back of him. service revolver. “All ready, boys,” he said. “All together, boys. Take that They lowered their shoulders, door down!” ready to rush the door as soon as He gathered himself, then it should be opened. coughed, flung up his hand to his But, to their surprise, there eyes. was a slight scraping noise, and “Gas!” he yelled. “Look out!” a man’s face peered malevolently The warning came too late for at them from a rectangular slit most of the squad of officers who in the door. were grouped about that door.

52 FANTASTIC The tear gas, a new and deadly “Did it get your eyes?” kind which seemed so volatile as “No. I’m going back.” to make it mix instantly with the Sid held her. atmosphere, spread through the “Don’t be foolish. There's go- corridor. Men were blinded, stag- ing to be something doing gering about, groping their way, around here, and you and I have crashing into one another. got to have our eyes where they The panel in the door slid back can see something.” again. The leering, malevolent She fought against him. features twisted into a hoarse “Oh, I hate you! You’re so laugh. domineering, so cocksure of Captain Harder flung up his re- yourself.” volver and fired at the sound of Abruptly, he let her go. that demoniac laughter. “If you feel that way,” he said, The bullet thudded into the “go ahead.” door. She jerked back and away. She The panel slid shut. looked at him with eyes that were Sid Rodney had flung his arm flaming with emotion. Sid Rod- about the waist of Ruby Orman ney turned back toward the win- at the first faint suggestion of dow. Her eyes softened in expres- mushrooming fumes. sion, but there was a flaming “Back! It may be deadly!” spot in each cheek. She fought against him. “Why will you persist in treat- “Let me go! I’ve got to cover ing me like a child?” this!” He made no effort to answer But he swept her from her the question. feet, flung her to his shoulder, She turned back toward the sprinted down the hallways of end of the hallway, where the the house. A servant gazed at scientist had maintaind his se- them from a lower floor, scowl- cret laboratory with the door ing. Men were running, shouting that held the sliding panel. questions at each other, stamp- Men were struggling blindly ing up and down stairs. The en- about that door. Others were tire atmosphere of the house took wrapping their eyes in wet tow- on a peculiarly acrid odor. els. Here and there a figure groped its way about the corri- ID RODNEY got the girl to dor, clutching at the sides of the S an upper window on the banister at the head of the stairs, windward side of the house. feeling of the edges of the walls. Fresh air was blowing in in a Suddenly, the entire vision cooling stream. swam before her eyes, grew

THE HUMAN ZERO 53 blurred. She felt something the others who had stood before warm trickling down her cheek. that door. Abruptly her vision left her. Her Sid Rodney touched the girl’s eyes streamed moisture. shoulder. “Sid!” she called. “Oh, Sid!” “They’re getting ready to He was at her side in an in- smash in the door. Can you see stant. She felt the strong tendons now?” of his arm, the supporting bulk She nodded. of his shoulder, and then she was “I think they’ve got the hall- swung toward the window where way pretty well cleared of gas. the fresh air streamed into the Let’s go and see what happens.” house. She patted his arm. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Now “Sid, you’re just like a big it’s got me.” brother—some one to take care “It probably won’t bother you of me, some one to scold; but I very long. You didn’t get much like you a lot.”

of a dose of it. Hold your eyes “Just as you would a broth- open if you can, and face the er?” he asked. breeze. They’ll have the house “Just exactly.” cleared of the fumes in a few “Thanks,” he said, and the dis- minutes.^' appointment of his voice was lost There was the sound of a siren in the sound of splintering wood from the outer street, the clang as the door swung back on its of a gong. hinges. "Firemen to clear the house,” said Sid. hey stared into a great lab- They stood there, shoulder to Toratory and experimenting shoulder, cheek to cheek, letting room. It was a scene of havoc. the fresh morning breeze fan Wreckage of bottles, equipment their faces. Out in the yard were and apparatus was strewn about hurrying shadows. Men came the room. It looked as though running to stations of vantage, some one had taken an ax and carrying sawed-off shotguns. ruthlessly smashed everything. More cars sirened their way to Here, too, was another room the curb. Spectators gathered. without windows. Such light as Electrie fans were used to there was in the room was artifi- clear the corridor of the gas. Men cial. The ventilation came were brought up carrying bars through grilles which were and jimmies. They attacked the barred with heavy iron. It was a door. Captain Harder’s eyes were room upon which it was impossi- still disabled, as were the eyes of ble to spy.

54 FANTASTIC There was no trace of Albert A servant, surly-faced, resent- Crome, the man whose malevo- ful, impassively placed a tele- lent face had been thrust phone extension in the hand of through the aperture in the door- Captain Harder, plugged in the way. wires. The police crowded into the The blinded officer raised the room. receiver to his ear. “Yeah?” he said. ottles of various acids had There came a rasping series of B been smashed, and the pools raucous notes, then the shrill upon the floor seethed and bub- cackle of metallic laughter and bled, gave forth acrid, throat- the click which announced the stinging fumes. In a cage by the party at the other end of the line door there were three white rats. had hung up. These rats were scampering Captain Harder started fid- about, shrilling squeaky protests. dling with the hook of the receiv- There was no other sign of life er in a frantic effort to get cen- left in that room, save the hulk- tral. ing shoulders of the policemen “Hello, hello. This is Captain who moved about in a dazed Harder. There was a call just manner. came through to me on this line.

Captain Harder’s voice bel- Trace it. Try and locate it . . lowed instructions. He was blind- What’s that? No call? He said he ed, but he was receiving reports was calling from a down town from a detective who stood at his drug store . All right.” side and giving a rapid summary The captain hung up the re- of conditions in the room. ceiver. “He’s escaped some way. “Well, boys, I guess he’s given There’s a secret passage out of us the slip. That was his voice, this room. Get the guards about all right. He was calling from a the place to establish a dead-line. down town drug store, he said. Let no man through unless he Told me to look in the northeast has a pass signed by me. Those corner of the room and I’d find instructions are not to be varied a secret passage leading down in- or changed under any circum- to his garage. Said he ran right stances . out in his car without any trou- A man approached the officer. ble at all. He’s laughing at us.” “You’re wanted on the tele- One of the men picked his way phone, captain. I can plug in an through the wreckage of the extension here in the labora- room to the northeast corner. tory.’’ The others shuffled forward.

THE HUMAN ZERO 55 Broken glass crunched under the “Nothing. Only it took some soles of their feet as they moved. little time. I don’t believe a man could have looked out of the door, CHAPTER 5 recognized the police, turned A FANTASTIC SECRET loose the tear gas, and then he man who was bending smashed up this laboratory and Tover the wainscoting emitted still have time enough to make a triumphant shout. his escape by automobile from “Here it is!” the garage. He gave a pull, and a section of “I happened to be looking out the wall slid back, disclosing an of a window after that tear gas oblong opening. was released, and I saw your Captain Harder was cursing as additional guards start to arrive a detective led him toward this oblong. Captain Harder interrupted.

‘Tm blinded . . . the outer He was bellowing like a bull. guard let him slip through I What “What a bunch of boobs we sort of boobs are we, anyhow? I ai’e!” he yelled at the men who thought I had this place guard- had clustered around him in a ed. Who was watching the out- circle. “He didn’t get away at all. side? Herman, wasn’t it? Get me He stayed behind to smash up that guy. I’ve got things to say the laboratory ! Then he sneaked to him!” out and telephoned me from some Men went down the steep flight place in the house. No wonder of stairs which led from that central couldn’t trace the call. secret exit, and came to the ga- “Look around, you guys, for rage. Here were several cars, another exit from this labora- neatly lined up, ready for instant tory. And keep those electric fans use, also several vacant spaces going. I don’t trust this bird. where additional cars could be He’s likely to flood a lot of poison kept. gas through that ventilating sys- “Big enough!” grunted one of tem of his I’m commencing the men. to get so I can see a little bit. Be Sid Rodney had an idea. all right in a few minutes, I “Look here, captain, it took hope.” time to smash up that labora- The men scattered, examining tory.” the wainscoting. Captain Harder was in no mood “Here we are, captain !” called for theories. one of the men. “Take a look at

“Not so much ! What if it this. Something here, right did?” enough, but I can’t just flgure

56 FANTASTIC how it works. Wait a min- “Reckon I’m going to be an ute. That’s itl” ambulance case, boys. Don’t risk Something clicked as the of- anything in there. Try gas.” hcer stepped back. A section of The captain turned, groped for the wainscoting swung open, the door, staggered, fell. Blood revealing a passage the height of spurted from the upper wound, a man crawling on all fours. which had evidently severed an “Volunteers,” said Captain artery. Harder. “Damn these eyes! I’m Men grabbed him, carried him going myself.” to the head of the stairs where And he approached the pas- ambulance men met them with a sageway. stretcher. Officers continued to There was a stabbing burst of keep up a fire upon the passage- flame, the rattle of a machine way. A man brought in a basket gun, and a withering hail of containing hand grenades and bullets vomited from out of the tear gas bombs. The pin was passageway. pulled from a tear gas bomb. The Captain Harder staggered hissing of the escaping gas backward, his right arm dang- sounded plainly while the men ling at his side. The man who on the floor held their fire. had been next to him dropped to The man who carried the gas the floor, and it needed no second bomb ran along the side of the glance to tell that the man was wainscoting, flung the bomb into dead, even before he hit the floor. the opening. It hit with a thud, The walls of the laboratory rolled over and over. echoed to the crash of gunfire. There was no sound emanating Policemen, flinging themselves from the passageway, save the upon the floor, fired into the faint hiss of the gas. yawning darkness of that oblong “Give him a dose of it and see hole in the wall. Here and there, how he likes it,” said one of the riot guns belched their buckshot men. into the passageway. As though to answer his ques- There was the sound of the tion, from the very vicinity of the mocking laughter, another spurt tear gas bomb, came a glittering of machine gun fire, then silence. succession of ruddy flashes, the rattle of a machine gun. APTAIN HAEDER had his One of the men who was on the C coat off, was groping with floor gave a convulsive leap, then his left hand for the location of quivered and was still. A hail of the two bullet holes in his right bullets splintered through the arm and shoulder. glass equipment which had been THE HUMAN ZERO 57 broken and scattered about. An “Believe that got him,” said officer tried to roll out of the way. one of the men, rolling out from The stream of bullets overtook the shelter, holding a riot gun at him. He jumped, twitched, shiv- ready as he rushed toward the ered, and the deadly stream tumbled mass of wreckage, passed on. A human foot was protruding Sid Rodney grasped a hand from between a couple of splin- grenade from the basket, pulled tered two-by-fours. About it ed- the pin, jumped to his feet. died wisps of smoke. The machine gun whirled in The officer was pined by oth- his direction. ers. Hands pulled the rafters and “He’s got a gas mask!” yelled studs to one side. The body of a one of the men who was crouched mangled man came sliding out. behind the shelter of an over- From the blackness of that turned bench. hole came the orange flicker of Sid Rodney threw the grenade ruddy flame, the first faint crack- with all of the hurtling force of lings of fire. a professional baseball pitcher. The mangled body had on what The missile hit squarely in the was left of a gas mask. The torso center of the opening, thudded was torn by the force of the ex- against something that emitted plosion. Parts of a machine gun a yell of pain. were buried in the quivering The machine gun became si- flesh. But the features could be lent, then stuttered into another recognized. burst of firing. Albert Crome, the crack- A livid sheet of orange flame brained scientist, had gone to his seared its way out into the room. doom. The whole side of the place seemed to lift, then settle. A en rushed up with fire-fight- deafening report ripped out the M ing apparatus. The flames glass of windows in one side of were swiftly extinguished. The the house. Plaster dust sprayed wreckage was cleared away. Men the air. crawled into that little cubicle The oblong hole from which where the scientist had prepared the machine gun had been cough- a place of refuge. ing its message of death van- It was a little room, steel-lined, ished into a tumbled mass of fitted with a desk, a table and a wreckage. cot. Also there was a telephone Men coughed from the acrid extension in the room, and an powder fumes, the irritating electrical transformer, wires plaster dust. from which ran to a box-like af-

58 FANTASTIC

fair, from the interior of which Those rats were scampering came a peculiar humming sound. about the cage in the hysteria of “Leave it alone until the bomb- panic. ing squad gets here. They’ll know Abruptly they ceased all mo- if it’s some sort of an infernal tion, stood for a split fraction of machine. In the meantime let’s a second as though they had been get out of here.” cast in porcelain. Then they The sergeant who gave the or- shrank upon themselves. ders started pushing the men Sid Rodney screamed a warn- back. ing. Even as he spoke, there was a Men looked at him, followed glow of ruddy red light from the the direction of his pointing interior of the box-like affair into forefinger, and saw an empty which the electric wires ran. cage. “Better disconnect those “What is it?” asked a detec- wires,” called one of the men. tive. The sergeant nodded, stepped Sid Rodney’s face was white, forward, located the point of con- the eyes bulging. tact, reached to jerk one of the “The rats!” wires loose. “They got away. Somebody “Look out, don’t short circuit turned ’em loose, or the explosion ’em!” knocked the cage around or blew Sid Rodney had crawled back a door open,” said the officer. out of the passage. The sergeant “Don’t worry about them.” was tugging at the wires. They “No, no. I saw them melt and came loose, touched. There was a disappear. They just dissolved flash from the interior of the box- into the atmosphere.” like machine, a humming, and The officer snickered. then a burst of flame that died “Don’t bother yourself about away and left a dense white rats,” he said. “We’ve got work smoke trailing out in sizzling to do. Gotta find out what’s going clouds. on here, and we’ve gotta locate “You’ve short circuited the Dangerfield.” thing. That other wire must have He turned away, been a ground and a button Sid Rodney went over to the cage. He grasped the metal But Sid Rodney was not listen- wires. They were so cold to his ing. touch that the slight moisture on His eyes happened to have the tips of his fingers stuck to been upon the cage of white rats them. as the voice called its warning. He jerked one hand, and a bit 60 FANTASTIC of skin from the tips of his Un- at which there is absolujtply no gers pulled away. temperature. Negative tW hun- He noticed a little pan of water dred and seventy-three degrees which had been in the cage. It centigrade, isn’t it? Seems to me was filmed with ice. He touched I had to remember a lot of stuff the wires of the cage again. They about it at one time. But what were not so cold this time. has it got to do with what’s been The film of ice was dissolving going on here?” from the pan of water in the “A lot,” said Sid Rodney. “Lis- cage. ten to this: But there were no more white “Dangerfield disappears. He’s rats. They had disappeared, located in a room. There’s no gone, utterly vanished. such thing as escape from that room. Yet, before our eyes—or, ID RODNEY examined the rather, before our ears—he van- S cage. The door was tightly ishes. His watch is stopped. The closed, held in place with a catch. ink in his fountain pen is frozen. There was no possible loophole of His clothes remain behind. escape for those white rats. They “All right, that’s an item for had been caged, and the cage us to remember, held them until, suddenly, they “Then next come these white had gone into thin air. rats. I’m actually looking at There was a touch on his them when they cease to move, shoulder. dwindle in size and are gone,, as

“What is it, Sid?” though they’d been simply Sid Rodney had to lick his dry snuffed out of existence. lips before he dared to trust his “Now you can see the ice film voice. still on the water there. You can “Look here. Ruby, did you ever see what the wires of the cage hear of absolute zero?” did to my fingers. Of course, it She looked at him with a puz- happened so quickly that these zled frown, eyes that were dark things didn’t get so awfully cold

with concern, . . , but I’ve an idea we’ve seen “Sid, are you sure you’re all a demonstration of absolute zero. right?” And if we have, thank heavens, “Yes, yes! I’m talking about that dastardly criminal is dead!” things scientific. Did you ever The girl looked at him, blinked hear of absolute zero?” her eyes, looked away, then back She nodded. at him. “Yes, of course. I remember “Sid,” she said, “you’re talk- we had it in school. It’s the point ing nonsense. There’s something

THE HUMAN ZERO 61 wrong with you. You’re upset.” gives what we see as substance. “Nothing of the sort! Just be- “Now, we have only to stop cause it’s never been done, you that motion and matter would think it can’t be done. Suppose, utterly disappear, as we are ac- twenty years ago, some one had customed to see it.” led you into a room and showed you a modern radio. You’d have he girl was interested, but sworn it was a fake because the Tfailed to grasp the full import thing was simply impossible. As of what Rodney was telling her. it was, your mind was prepared “But when the body started to for the radio and what it would shrink it would generate a heat do. You accepted it gradually, of its own,” she objected. “Push until it became a part of your a gas into a smaller space and it everyday life. gets hotter than it was. That “Now, look at this thing scien- temperature runs up fast. I re- tifically. member having a man explain “We know that heat is merely artificial refrigeration. He said the result of internal molecular »l motion. The more heat, the more “Of course,” interrupted Sid motion. Therefore, the more impatiently. “That’s elemental. heat, the more volume. For in- And no one has ever reached an stance, a piece of red-hot metal absolute zero as yet. But sup- takes up more space than a piece pose one did? And remember of ice-cold metal. Heat expands. this, all living matter is com- Cold contracts. posed of cells. “Now, ever since these things “Now, this man hasn’t made began to be known, scientists inanimate matter disappear. But have tried to determine what is he seems to have worked out known as absolute zero. It’s the some method, perhaps by a radio place at which all molecular mo- wave or some etheric disturb- tion would cease. Then we begin ance, by which certain specially to wonder what would happen prepared bodies vanish into thin to matter at that temperature. air, leaving behind very low tem- “It’s certain that the molecules peratures. themselves are composed of at- “Probably there is something oms, the atoms of electrons, that in the very life force itself which the amount of actual solid in any combines with this ray to elimi- given bit of matter is negligible nate life, termperature, sub- if we could lump it all together. stance. Think of what that !” It’s the motion of the atoms, means electrons and molecules that She sighed and shook her head.

62 FANTASTIC “I’m sorry, Sid, but I just Sid Rodney sat on the foot of can’t follow you. They’ll find the bed, smoking a cigarette. Dangerfield somewhere or other. Captain Harder had a tele- Probably there was some secret phone receiver strapped to his passage in that room. The fact left ear. The line was connected that there were two here indi- directly with headquarters. Over cates that there must be others it, he detailed such orders as he in that room. had to his men. “You’ve been working on this Betweentimes he talked with thing until it’s got you groggy. the detective. Go home and roll in for a few The receiver rattled with me- hours’ sleep—please.’’ tallic noises. Captain Harder He grimly shook his head. ceased talking to listen to the “I know I’m working on a live message, grunted. lead.’’ He turned to Sid Rodney. She moved away from him. “They’ve literally torn the in- “Be good, Sid. I’ve got to tele- terior out of that room where we phone in a story to the rewrite, found the empty clothes,’’ he and I’ve got to write some sob- said. “There isn’t the faintest sister articles. They will be put- sign of a passageway. There isn’t ting out extras. I think this is all any exit, not a one. It’s solid that’s going to develop here.’’ steel, lined with asbestos, backed Sid Rodney watched her move with concrete. Evidently a room away. for experiments. Oh, Lord, He shrugged his shoulders, that shoulder feels cold! turned his attention to the empty “Hello, here’s something else.’’ cage in which the white rats had The telephone receiver again been playing about. rattled forth a message. His jaw was thrust forward, Captain Harder’s eyes seemed his lips clamped in a firm, to bulge from their sockets. straight line. “What?” he yelled. The receiver continued to rat- CHAPTER 6 tle forth words. STILL THEY VANISH “Well, don’t touch a thing. APTAIN HARDER lay on the Take photographs. Get the finger- C hospital bed, his grizzled print men to work on the case. face drawn and gray. The skin Look at the watch and see if it seemed strangely milky and the stopped, and, if it did, find out eyes were tired. But the indomi- what time it stopped.” table spirit of the man kept him He sighed, turned from the driving forward. mouthpiece of the telephone to

THE HUMAN ZERO 63 stare at Sid Rodney with eyes it out of the pocket and gave it that held something akin to pan* just a little jar in so doing. The ic in thenL hands pointed to exactly thirteen “They’ve found the clothes of minutes past ten o’clock.” Arthur Soloman, the banker!” “That,” observed Rodney, Sid Rodney frowned. “was more than two hours after “The clothes?” Albert Crome had died, more The officer sighed, nodded, than two hours after the disap- weakly. pearance of the white rats.” “Yes, the clothes.” Captain Harder rolled his head “Where?” from side to side on the propped- “They were sitting at the up pile of pillows. steering wheel of Soloman’s “Forget those white rats, Rod- roadster. The car had skidded in- ney. You’re just making a spec- to the curb. The clothes are all tacular something that will filled out just as though there’d frighten the public to death. God been a human occupant that had knows they’re going to be pan- slipped out of them by melting icky enough as it is. I’d feel dif- into the thin air. The shoes are ferent about the thing if I laced. One of the feet, or, rather, thought there was anything to one of the empty shoes is on the it.” brake pedal of the machine. The sleeves of the coat are hung over odney nodded, got up from the wooden rim of the steering R the bed. wheel. The collar’s got a tie in “Well, captain, when they told

it. . . Just the same as the way me you were keeping your finger we found Dangerfield’s clothes. on the job, I decided to run in “One of the men found the and tell you, so you’d know as roadster and reported. The squad much about it as I do. But I tell that handled the Dangerfield case you I saw lihose white rats van- .” went out there on the jump. . ish.” He broke off as the receiver The captain grinned. started to rattle again. “Seen ’em myself, Rodney, in a He listened, frowned, grunted. magician’s show. I’ve seen a “Okay, go over everything woman vanish, seen another one with a fine-toothed comb,” he sawed in two. I’ve even seen pink said, and turned once more to Sid elephants walking along the foot Rodney. of the bed—^but that was in the “The watch,” he said, “had old days.” stopped, and didn’t start run- Sid Rodney matched his grin, ning again until the officer took patted the captain’s foot beneath

64 FANTASTIC the spotless white of the hospital “We kept trying to locate Solo- bedspread. man at his home. He came in, all “Take care of yourself, old right, and his wife told him we timer, and don’t let this thing were trying to get him. He went keep you from getting some to the telephone, presumably to sleep. You’ve lost some blood and call police headquarters, and the you’ll need it. Where were the telephone rang just as he was banker’s clothes found?’’ reaching for the receiver. “Out on Seventy-first and “He said ‘hello,’ and then said Boyle Streets.’’ a doubtful ‘yes.’ His wife heard “They leaving them there?” that much of the conversation. “For the time being. I’m going Then she went into another to have the car finger-printed room. After that she heard Solo- from hood to gas tank. And I’m man hang up the receiver, and having the boys form a line and walk into the hall where he close off the street. We’re going reached for his hat and coat. to go all over the thing with a “He didn’t tell her a word fine-toothed comb, looking for about where he was going. Just clues. walked out, got in his car and “If you want to run out there drove away. She supposed he was you’ll find Selby in charge. Tell coming to police headquarters.” him I said you were to have any Sid lit a cigarette. of the news, and if you find out “Find out who he called?” anything more, you’ll tell me, “Can’t seem to get a lead on won’t you?” it.” “Sure, Cap. Sure.” “Was he excited?” “Okay. So long.” “His wife thought he was mad And Captain Harder heaved a at something. He slammed the tremulous sigh. door as he went out.” Sid Rodney walked rapidly “These the clothes he was down the corridor of the hospi- wearing?” tal, entered his car, drove at “Yes.” once to Seventy-first near where Sid Rodney nodded. it intersected Boyle. “Looks just like another of There was a curious crowd, those things. Thanks, Selby, I’ll being kept back by uniformed be seeing you.” officers. “Keep sober,” said the police Sid showed his credentials, detective. went through the lines, found Detective Sergeant Selby, and re- ID RODNEY drove to Arthur ceived all of the latest news. S Soloman’s residence.

THE HUAAAN ZERO 65 Newspaper reporters, photog- placed the receiver to his ear. raphers and detectives were There was something he wanted there before him. Mrs. Soloman to think about, something he was staring in dazed confusion, wanted to do, and do at once. Yet answering questions mechani- it was evading his mind. The tel- cally, posing for photographs. ephone call was just another in- She was a dried-out wisp of a terruption which would prevent woman, tired-eyed, docile with sufficient concentration to get that docility which comes to one the answer he sought. whose spirit has been completely “Hello!” he rasped, and his crushed by the constant inhibi- voice did not conceal his irrita- tions imposed by a domineering tion. mate. It was Ruby Orman on the Sid Rodney asked routine line, and at the first sound of her questions and received routine voice Sid snapped to attention. answers. He went through the He knew, suddenly, what was formula of investigation, but bothering him. there was a gnawing uneasiness Ruby should have been present in his mind. Some message at the Soloman house, getting seemed to be hammering at the sob-sister stuff on the fatherless borderline of his consciousness, children, the dazed widow who as elusive as a dream, as impor- was trying to carry on, hoping tant as a forgotten appointment. against hope. Sid Rodney walked slightly to “What is it. Ruby?” one side, tried to get away from Her words rattled swiftly over the rattle of voices, the sputter of the wire, sounded as a barrage of flash lights as various photo- machine gunfire.

graphs were made. “Listen, Sid ; get this straight, So far there were only a few because I think it’s important. who appreciated the full signifi- I’m not over there at Soloman’s cance of those vacant clothes, because I’m running down some- propped up behind the steering thing that I think is a hot lead. I wheel of the empty automobile. want you to tell me something, The telephone rang, rang with and it may be frightfully impor- the insistent repetition of me- tant. What would a powder, chanical disinterest. Some one rubbed in the hair, have to do Anally answered. There was a with the disappearance, if it was swirl of motion, a beckoning fin- the sort of disappearance you ger. meant?” “Rodney, it’s for you.’’ Sid Rodney grunted and regis- Vaguely wondering, Rodney tered irritation.

66 FANTASTIC —

“What are you doing, Ruby dangling from the cord, thump- kidding me?” ing against the wall. “No, no. Tell me. It’s a matter of life and death.” odney didn’t stop for his “I dont know. Ruby. Why?” R hat. He left the room on the “Because I happen to know run. A newspaper reporter saw that Soloman had a little powder him, called to him, ran to follow. dusted on his hair. It was just a Sid didn’t stop. He vaulted into flick of the wrist that put it his car, and his foot was pressing there. I didn’t think much of it the starter before he had grabbed at the time. It looked like a ciga- the wheel. rette ash, but I noticed that it He floor-boarded the throttle, seemed to irritate him, and he and skidded at the corner with kept scratching at his head. Did the car lurching far over against you notice?” the springs, the tires shrieking a “No,” snapped Sid, interested. protest. “What makes you think it had He drove like a crazy man, get- anything to do with what hap- ting to the apartment where pened afterward?” Ruby Orman spent the time “Because I got to investigat- when she was not sob-sistering ing about that powder, and won- for her newspaper. He knew he dering, and I casually mentioned could beat the elevator up the the theory you had, and I felt a three flights of stairs, and took prickling in my scalp, and then them two at a time. I knew that some of that same The door of the apartment powder had been put in my hair. was closed. Sid banged his fist I wonder if .” upon it in a peremptory knock Sid Rodney was at instant at- and then rattled the knob. tention. “Oh, Ruby !” he called softly. “Where are you now?” A canary was singing in the “Over in my apartment. I’ve apartment. Aside from that, got an appointment. It’s impor- there was no faintest suggestion tant. You can’t come over. If it’s of sound. what I think it is, the mystery is Sid turned the knob, pushed going to be solved. You’re right. his shoulder against the door. It It’s absolute zero, and—My God, was unlocked. He walked into the .” Sid, it’s getting cold . . apartment. The canary perked And there was nothing fur- its head upon one side, chirped a ther, nothing save the faint welcome, then fluttered nervous- sounds of something thump- ly to the other side of the cage. thump-thumping—the receiver. Sid strode through the little THE HUMAN ZERO 67 sitting room to the dining room phoned . . . She had an appoint- and kitchenette. The telephone ment . And it had become was fastened to the wall here. cold . . Then the clothes at the

But the receiver was not dan- foot of the telephone . . gling. It had been neatly re- And the chair in which Sid placed on its hook. But there was Rodney had been sitting was a pile of garments just below the flung back upon its shivering telephone which made Sid stag- legs as he leaped from the table ger against the wall for a brief —flung back by the violence of second before he dared to ex- the motion with which he had amine them. gone into action. He knew that skirt, that busi- He gained the door in three nesslike jacket, knew the sash, strides, took the stairs on the the shoes He stepped for- run, climbed into his automobile ward. and drove like some mythical They were Ruby’s clothes, all dust jinni scurrying forward on right, lying there in a crumpled the crest of a March wind. heap on the floor. He whizzed through street in- And at the sight Sid Rodney tersections, disregarded alike went berserk. traffic laws and arterial stops, He flung himself from room swung down a wide street given to room, ripping open closet over to exclusive residences, and doors. For a wild moment he came to a stop before a large fought back his desire to smash house constructed along the con- things, tear clothes, rip doors ventional lines of English archi- from hinges. tecture. Then he got a grip on himself, He jumped from the machine, sank into a chair at the table, lit ran rapidly up the steps, held a cigarette with trembling hand. his finger against the doorbell. He must think. Soloman had had something MAN in livery came to the put in his hair, a powder which A door, regarded him with irritated . . Ruby had seen grave yet passive disapproval. that powder, flicked there—a cas- “This is the residence of P. H. ual gesture, probably, like a ciga- Dangerfield?’’ rette ash. The powder had irri- “Yes.” tated Ruby had told some “His secretary, Mr. Sands, is one person something of Rod- here?” ney’s theory. Powder had been “Yes.”

applied to her hair. . . She had “I want to see him,” said Sid, known of it . She had tele- and started to walk into the door.

68 FANTASTIC —a

The servant’s impassive face The arm flashed around and changed expression by not so down. The liveried servant spun, much as^a flicker, but he moved clutched at the cloth, missed, his broad bulk in such a manner and went backward down the few as to stand between the detec- steps to the landing. tive and the stairs. Rodney was halfways up the “If you’ll pardon me, sir, the stairs by the time the servant library to the left is the recep- had scrambled over to hands and tion room. If you will give me knees. your name and wait there I’ll “Oh, Sands!” called Rodney. tell Mr. Sands that you are here. There was no answer. Then, if he wishes to see you, Rodney grunted, tried a door you will be notified.” a bedroom; another door— There was a very perceptible bath; another door—the office. emphasis upon the word “if.” It seemed vacant. A desk, a Sid Rodney glanced over the swivel chair, a leather-covered man’s shoulder at the stairs. couch, several sectional book- “He’s upstairs, I take it?” cases, some luxuriously comfort- “Yes, sir, in the office, sir.” able chairs, a filing case or two

Sid Rodney started up. . . and Sid Rodney jumped The servant moved with swift- back with a startled exclamation. ness, once more blocking the A suit of clothes was spread way. out on the couch.

“I beg your pardon, sir!” He ran toward it. His eyes were hard, his voice It was the checkered suit firm. Sands had been wearing at the Sid Rodney shook his head im- time of the interview at police patiently, as a fighter shakes the headquarters. It was quite empty, perspiration out of his eyes, as a was arranged after the manner charging bull shakes aside some of a suit spread out upon the minor obstruction. couch in the same position a man

“To hell with that stuff I I would have assumed had he been haven’t got time!” resting.

And Sid Rodney pushed the Rodney bent over it. servant to one side. There was no necktie around The man made a futile grab at the collar of the shirt. The Sid’s coat. sleeves of the shirt were in the

“Not so fast . coat. ’The vest was buttoned over Sid didn’t even look back. the shirt. The shoes were on the “Faster, then!” he said, with a floor by the side of the couch, cold grin. arranged as though they had

THE HUMAN ZERO 69 been taken off by some man and signature. It was backed about to lie down. with carbon compound so as to enable a duplicate impression to CHAPTER 7 be made, and written upon with A FIEND IS UNMASKED , pencil. ID RODNEY went through Sid studied it. S the pockets with swift fin- It was an express receipt for gers. He found a typewitten the shipment of a crate of ma- note upon a bit of folded paper. chinery from George Huntley to It bore his name and he opened Samuel Grove at 6372 Milpas and read it with staring eyes. Street. The address of the send- er was given as 753 Washington Sid Rodney, Ruby Orman and Boulevard. Bob Sands, each one to be visited by the mysterious agency Sid puckered his forehead. which has removed the others. No. 753 Washington Boule- This is no demand for money. vard was the address of Albert This is a sentence of death. Crome. Sid Rodney put the paper in Sid opened the cigarette case. his own pocket, took the watch Rather a peculiar odor struck his from the suit, checked the time nostrils. There was a tobacco with the time of his own watch. odor, also another odor, a pecu- They were identical as far as the liar, nostril-puckering odor. position of the hands was con- He broke open one of the ciga- cerned. rettes. Sid Rodney replaced the watch, So far as he could determine, started through the rest of the the tobacco was of the ordinary pockets, found a cigarette case, variety, although there was a

an automatic lighter, a knife, peculiar smell to it. fountain pen and pencil, a ring of The lighter functioned perfect- keys, a wallet. ly. The fountain pen gave no hint Reopened the wallet. of having been out of condition. It was crammed with bills, Yet the clothes were as empty as bills of large denomination. an empty meal sack. There were some papers as well, Sid Rodney walked to the door. a letter in feminine handwriting, He found himself staring into evidently written by an old the black muzzle of a huge re- friend, a railroad folder, a pros- volver. pectus of an Oriental tour. “Stand back, sir. I’m sorry, There was another object, an sir, but there have been strange oblong of yellow paper, printed goings on here, sir, and you’ll upon, with blanks left for data get your hands up, or, by the

70 FANTASTIC Lord, sir, I shall let you have it, of the gun, blocking the third right where you’re thickest, sir.” shot. Before there could have It was the grim-faced servant, been a fourth, Sid had gone for- his eyes like steel, his mouth ward, tackling low. The servant stretched across his face in a crashed to the floor. taut line of razor-thin determi- It was no time for etiquette, nation. the hunting of neutral corners, Sid laughed. or any niceties of sportsmanship.

“Forget it. I’m in a hurry, The stomach of the servant .” and . . showed for a moment, below the “When I count three, sir, I rim of the leather cushion, and shall shoot Sid’s fist was planted with nice There was a leather cushion precision and a degree of force upon one of the chairs. Sid sat which was sufficiently adequate, down upon that leather cushion, right in the middle of that stom- abruptly. ach. “Oh, come, let’s be reason- The man doubled. able.” Sid Rodney took the gun from “Get your hands up.” the nerveless fingers, scaled it “Shucks, what harm can I do. down the hall where it could do I haven’t got a gun, and I only no harm, and made for the front came here to see if I couldn’t door. He went out on the run. ff Once in his car, he started for

“One . . . two . the address which had been given on the receipt of the express odney raised his weight, company as the destination of the R flung himself to one side, parcel of machinery, Samuel reached around, grasped the Grove at 6372 Milpas Street. It leather cushion and flung it. He was a slender clue, yet it was the did it all in one sweeping, scram- only one that Sid possessed. bling motion. He made the journey at the The gun roared for the first same breakneck speed that had time as he flung himself to one characterized his other trips. side. It roared the second time as The car skidded to the curb in the spinning cushion hurtled front of a rather sedate looking through the air. house which was in a section of Sid was conscious of the mush- the city where exclusive resi- rooming of the cushion, the scat- dences had slowly given way to tering of hair, the blowing of cleaning establishments, tailor bits of leather. The cushion shops, small industries, cheap smacked squarely upon the end boarding houses.

THE HUMAN ZERO 71 :

Sid ran up the steps, tried the hen there was a man’s bell. Tvoice, and he could hear the There was no response. He words turned the knob of the door. It “Just a little of the powder was locked. He started to turn on your hair, my sweet, and it

away when his ears caught the will be almost painless . . You light flutter of running steps know too much, you and your

upon an upper floor. friend. But it’ll all be over now. The steps were as swiftly agile I knew he would be suspecting as those of a fleeing rabbit. me, so I left my clothes where There followed, after a brief in- they’d fool him. And I came and terval, the sound of pounding got you. feet, a smothered scream, then “You washed that first powder silence. out of your hair, didn’t you, Sid rang the bell again. sweet? But this time you won’t

Again there was no answer. do it. Yes, my sweet, I knew There was a window to one Crome was mad. But I played on side of the door. Sid tried to raise his madness to make him do the

it, and found that it was un- things I wanted done. And then, locked. The sash slid up, and Sid when he had become quite mad, clambered over the sill, dropped I stole one of his machines. to the floor of a cheaply fur- “He killed Dangerfield for me, nished living room. and that death covered up my He could hear the drone of own short accounts. I killed the voices from the upper floor, and banker because he was such he walked to the door, jerked it a cold-blooded fish Cold- open, started up the stairs. Some blooded, that’s good.” instinct made him proceed cau- There was a chuckle, rasping, tiously, yet the stairs creaked mirthless, the sound of scraping under the weight of his feet. objects upon the floor, as though He was halfway up the stairs some one tried to struggle inef- when the talking ceased. fectively, Then the voice again. Once more he heard the sounds “I left a note in my clothes, of a brief struggle, a struggle warning of the deaths of you, of that was terminated almost as myself, and of that paragon of soon as it had begun. Such a virtue, Sid Rodney, who gave you struggle might come from a cat the idea in the first place. Later

that has caught a mouse, lets it on. I’ll start shaking down the almost get away, then swoops millionaires, but no one will sus- down upon it with arched back pect me. They’ll think I’m dead. and needle-pointed claws. "It’s painless. Just the first

72 FANTASTIC ! chill, then death. Then the cells balls of his feet and snapped dissolve, shrink into a smaller home a swift right. and smaller space, and then dis- The blow jarred Sands back. appear. I didn’t get too much of The revolver which he had been it from Crome, just enough to whipping from his pocket shot know generally how it works. It’s from his hand in a glittering arc sort of an etheric wave, like ra- and whirled to the floor. dio and X-ray, and the living Rodney sprang forward. cells are the only ones that re- The staggering man flung up spond so far. When you’ve his hands, lashed out a vicious rubbed this powder into the kick. Then, as he got his senses .” hair . . cleared from the effects of the Sid Rodney had been slowly blow, he whirled and ran down advancing. A slight shadow of the hall, dashed into a room and his progress moved along the closed the door. baseboard of the hall. Rodney heard the click of the “What’s that?’’ snapped the bolt as the lock was turned. voice, losing its gloating mono- “Ruby!’’ he called. “Ruby!” tone, crisply aggressive. She ran toward him, attired in Sid Rodney stepped boldly up flowing garments of colored silk, the last of the stairs, into the her hair streaming, eyes glisten- upper corridor. ing, A man was coming toward “Quick!” she shouted. “Is him. It was Sands. there any of that powder in your “Hello, Sands,’’ he said. hair? Do you feel an itching of “What’s the trouble here?’’ the scalp?” Sands was quick to take ad- He shook his head. vantage of the lead offered. His “Tell me what’s happened.” right hand dropped to the con- “Get him first,” she said. cealment of his hip, but he smiled affably, ID RODNEY picked up the “Well, well, if it isn’t my S revolver which he had friend Sid Rodney, the detective knocked from the hand of the Tell me, Rodney, have you got man he hunted, advanced toward anything new? If you haven’t, I the door. have. Look here. I want you to “Keep clear!” yelled Sands ’’ see something. . from behind that door. And he jumped forward. Rodney stepped forward. But Rodney was prepared. In “Surrender, or I’ll start shoot- place of being caught off guard ing through the door !” he threat- and balance, he pivoted on the ened.

THE HUMAN ZERO 73 There was a mocking laugh, Sands had flipped some ashes and something in that laugh from the end of his cigarette so warned Rodney; for he leaped that they had lit on the hair on back, just as the panels of the the back of Soloman’s head, and door splintered under a hail of that Soloman had started to rub lead which came crashing from at his head shortly afterward as the muzzle of a sawed-off shot- though he had been irritated by gun. an itching of the scalp. “I’m calling the police!” shout- “Then Sands made the same ed Ruby Orman. gesture while he was talking Sid saw that she was at a tele- with me. He left. I felt an itch- phone, placing a call. ing, and wondered. So I washed Tdien he heard a humming my head thoroughly. Then I noise from behind the door where thought I would leave my clothes Sands had barricaded himself. It where Sands could find them, was a high, buzzing note, such make him think he’d eliminated as is made by a high-frequency me. I was not certain my suspi- current meeting with resistance. cions were correct, but I was "Quick, Ruby! Are you all willing to take a chance. I called right?” you to tell you, and then I felt a “Yes,” she said, and came to most awful chill. It started at the him. “I’ve called the police.” roots of my hair and seemed to “What is it?” he asked. drain the very warmth right out “Just what you thought—ab- of my nerves. solute zero. Crome perfected the “I guess the washing hadn’t process by which any form of cell removed all of that powder, just life could be made receptive to a enough to keep me from being certain peculiar etheric current. killed. I became unconscious. But there had to be a certain When I came to, I was in Sands’s chemical affinity first. car. I supposed he had dropped “He achieved this by putting a in to make certain his machine powder in the hair of his victims. had done the work.

The powder irritated the scalp, “You know the rest . But but it did something to the nerve how did you know where to look ends which made them receptive for me?” to the current. “I mentioned your theory to odney shook his head du- Sands. At the time I didn’t know R biously. about the powder. But I had no- “I guess my brains must have ticed that when the banker was been dead, or I’d have known talking with Captain Harder, long before. You see, the man

74 FANTASTIC who wrote the letters seemed to must have been done when you know everything that had taken were present. That narrowed the place in Captain Harder’s office list of suspects to those who when we were called in to iden- were also present. tify that last letter from Dan- “There were literally dozens of gerfield. clues pointing to Sands. He was “Yet there was no dictograph naturally sore at the banker for found there. It might have been not coming through with the something connected with televi- money. If they’d received it, sion, or, more likely, it might they’d have killed Dangerfield have been because some one who anyhow. And Sands was to de- was there was the one who was liver that money. Simple enough writing those letters. for him to have pretended to “If the story Sands had told drop the package into the recep-

.’’ had been true, the man who was tacle, and simply gone on , . writing the letters had listened A siren wailed. in on what was going on in the There was a pound of surging captain’s office, had written the feet on the stairs, blue-coated warning note, had known just figures swarming over the place. where Sands was going to be in “He’s behind that door, boys,’’ his automobile, and had tossed Rodney, “and he’s armed.’’

it in. “No use getting killed, men,’’ “That was pretty improbable. said the officer in charge. “Shoot It was much more likely that the door down.” Sands had slipped out long Guns boomed into action. The enough to have written the letter lock twisted. The wood splintered and then brought it in with that and shattered. The door quiv- wild story about men crowding ered, then slowly swung open as him to the curb. the wood was literally torn away “Then, again. Sands carefully from the lock. managed to sneak away when Guns at ready, the men moved Harder raided that loft building. into the room. He really did it to notify the They found a machine, very crazy scientist that the hiding similar to the machine which place had been discovered. had been found in the laboratory “Even before you telephoned, of the scientist. It had been rid- I should have known Sands was dled with gunfire. in with the scientist. Afterward, They found an empty suit of it was, of course, apparent. You clothes. had seen some powder placed in Rodney identified them as be- Soloman’s hair. That meant it ing the clothes Sands had worn

THE HUMAN ZERO 75 when he last saw the man. The “Gee, Sid, let’s tie a can to clothes were empty, and were that brother-and-sister stuff. I cold to the touch. Around the thought I had to fight love to collar, where there had been a make a career, but when I heard little moisture, there was a rim your steps on the stairs, just of frost. when I’d given up hope .” There was no outlet from the “Can you make a report on room, no chance for escape. what happened?” asked the ser- Ruby looked at Sid Rodney, geant, still looking at the cold nodded. clothes on the floor. “He’s gone,” she said. Sid Rodney answered in muf- Rodney took her hand. fled tones. “Anyhow, sister, I got here in “Not right now,” he said. “I’m time.” busy.” the end

COMING NEXT MONTH From the vast void of the Universe comes a shred of chilling blackness— FANTASTIC In the February issue of FAN-

Chliing fto;eiet by itite Mm. TASTIC, author Fritz Leiber - ft8IT«THI»WjnirORl0 tells what it is, and what it does. In “A Bit of the Dark World," Leiber is at his weird by H,P Loveoraft atnj August Oe<1eth best.

The bonus reprint will be another tale of eerie horror— 'The Shadow Out of Space," by H. P. Lovecraft and August Derleth.

Topping a list of ghoulish short stories will be "Whot If," by William W. Stuart.

All this, plus the regular departments, will be on sale at your newsstand January 18. Don't miss February FANTASTIC.

76 FANTASTIC By PAUL DELLINGER

Illustrator SUMMERS

The thing from the stars was in the cellar.

It had to he killed tonight, for tomorrow

it —and its kind—would rule the woild.

EVERAL years have passed the incident should be written S since that wet summer night down for future reference, while when two policemen responded to there is time. Not that I anti- my frantic telephone call for cipate departing from this life in help, and any tales dating from the near future, despite my sev- that terrible experience have enty-plus years and crippled con-

doubtless been long forgotten. dition . . but the automobile Vague murmurings which did accident which restricted me to arise seem to have been quickly this wheelchair when I was a rel- squelched by officers Murphy and atively young M.D. shows the ut- Peterson who, in their misplaced ter unpredictability of the world but genuine kindness, went to today. Had it not happened, I save an old man from small town flatter myself that I might have ridicule. gone on to enjoy a highly suc- Yet I feel that some account of cessful medical career, instead of

77 running Dr. Dugan’s Animal emotions of anger. Now it was Hospital here in my home. positively blazing. “No, gentle- No, it is not the thought of im- men, it’s much more tlian that.

.’’ minent death which makes me re- This particular rodent. . I cord this, but rather certain dis- searched for something close turbing events that appear with enough to the truth to mollify distressing frequency in the him and still be believable. “Well, newspapers. What rational exit may be the carrier of a danger- planation can be given for a ous virus. In any case, it must be seemingly content husband and destroyed quickly.’’ father who suddenly turns like a Peterson, the smaller of the mad dog on his family? And can two officials, had deposited his all the juvenile delinquency of wet raincoat on my sofa and now this decade really be traced to began his little ritual of shifting bad television shows? uneasily from one foot to the Our fledgling flights into outer other, creating a constant creak- space, which had already yielded ing of floorboards. Murphy was possible evidence of life on fallen somewhat calmed, judging by his meteorites, also prompted this ac- nose at least, but no happier count. Could there have been, as when he asked, “How do you rumors state, an earlier Russian know the rat’s diseased. Doc? astronaut who returned a You been able to examine it?’’ changed, presumably insane Had the situation not been cri- man? No one knows, but I have tical, I could hardly have kept my own ideas. from laughing. I had examined

the thing all right . not the FFICER Murphy also had way Murphy meant, but I’d ex- O some ideas of his own, which amined it. Only the doctor was he did not hesitate to voice, as he on the couch that time. and Peterson stood in dripping “I can’t give a detailed expla- confusion just inside my spa- nation now. Officer Murphy. cious living room. “Damn it to Please just take my word.’’ hell. Doc,’’ he said among other “Maybe I could shoot it. Doc,” less mild things, “are you saying Peterson suggested eagerly. you dragged us out in the middle “Should I try and shoot it, of a night like this because of a Murph?” rat in your basement?’’ “This time of night?” Murphy Murphy’s rather large pug thundered incredulously. “Peo- nose had a well-known habit of ple around here would think the taking on a reddish tinge when- world was coming to an end or ever its owner experienced any something. Like those two nuts

78 FANTASTIC down by the dump last night re- was when 1 had first laid eyes ou member?” a tiny gray rat which had some- “Yeah, I guess,” agreed the how gotten inside and, intriguing other reluctantly. “Besides, if it’s me by his lack of fright, sta- all that dangerous, we might get tioned himself by my basement bit or something,” he added au- door and stared at me expectant- thoritatively. ly until I opened it. “Pete’s right for once. Doc. I realized that Murphy was Anyway, this is a job for the hopefully awaiting an answer I Health Commissioner,” Murphy could not give. “You needn’t use said with sudden inspiration. “If firearms at all,” I told him. “That we started taking pot shots in basement is solid concrete all your cellar, one of those animals around. There’s no hiding place. in your nursery might get hurt.” I can’t get down there, but you He gestured toward the interior can. You could crush it with of my house, most of which was something, or just step on it!” occupied by cages for various “You sure don’t sound like the sizes and types of pets. “You town’s one-man SPCA, Doc,” wouldn’t want to take a chance Murphy grumbled sourly, “even like that, would you Doc ?” if it is just a rat.” Luckily he had not thought to T KECOGNIZED Murphy’s question me about how the rat crude psychology as an appeal originally got into the basement. to my soft spot for animals, It would have been awkward to

known to everyone. When I first say the rat had asked . . . even opened the hospital following my though the real communication accident, I could tell that most of began afterward. my customers were just trying to “I’m sure you did what you help out a man who refused chari- thought best. Doc,” Murphy ty. But now I believed it existed rumbled on in a manner indicat- on its own merits. Right now, for ing finality, “and we’ll put in a instance, I was caring for two call to the Public Health Office dogs, several cats and one rabbit first thing tomorrow. You can ex- for vacationing families, as well plain everything to them.”

as the usual sick pets. I was also “Tomorrow will be too late ! By busy trying to find homes for morning it can try again. Only at three litters of kittens, which night. ...” I stopped, realizing had been found abandoned and I was making no sense to them. brought to me. “Please, Officer Murphy, I beg But more urgent matters had you. Just do this without ques- occupied me since morning. That tions.”

RAT RACE 79 ETE, still rocking from side about it,” Pete began gleefully Pto side, spoke up again. “Why to Murphy’s evident disgust don’t we just take a real quick “Some kind of flying saucer, look down there, Murph? A real something from a Russian spoot-

quick look wouldn’t hurt.” nik . . but how’d you know “You’ve gotta get mixed up in about it so exact. Doc? You

everything, don’t you?” Murphy couldn’t have been out . . well, roared, his nose flaring warning I mean you’re tied up here and .” signals again. “Last night you all. . He broke off, embar- dragged me out to hear that rassed, and stood shifting from damned fool story about a me- one foot to the other looking .” teor, and now. . . guilty and awkward. “But I was right about that,” Murphy, his face almost as red wailed Pete. “You said yourself as his nose, cut the silence gruf- something must’ve happened fly. “’Course it makes lots of there.” sense for sputniks and UFO’s to “Well it sure wasn’t a meteor land at a town dump. Hell, I or we’d have found it!” went over the whole area and .” “All right, then what. . couldn’t find anything but junk.

“Gentlemen ! Please ! Officer And after all, that’s what the Miu'phy, listen to me a minute,” place is for.” He laughed, a tri- I found myself shouting, “This fle too loudly, and Pete joined in was last night? In the vicinity uncertainly. My expression must of the garbage repository ? Some- have remained grim, preoccupied thing resembling a meteorite?” as I was, because Murphy finally Pete seemed about to plunge cleared his throat and mentioned enthusiastically into the subject, departing, but Murphy stopped him. “Just “No, Officer Murphy, wait,” I a couple drunks. Doc. Said some- cried desperately, wheeling my thing flashed down out of the sky chair forward. I hesitated, then and exploded near ’em before made my great error. “All right, they beat it. Probably some prac- I’ll tell you the real nature of this tical joker with a firecracker.” thing. Physically it’s a rat, yes, Normally, this explanation but controlled by a malevolent in- would have completely satisfied telligence, an unearthly parasite me, but things were now far that regards our forms of life as from normal. The time factor, mere physical containers for its the fragments of information I’d use. And unless it’s destroyed be- gleaned from my “visitor,” ev- fore morning, it will bring oth- erything fitted. ers. There’s no time to waste. "They spread all kinds of tales You must kill it now.”

80 FANTASTIC URPHY’S nose now resem- ness of space. I knew it some- M bled a neon light, but he how utilized solar energy in try- restrained himself admirably. ing to communicate with its spe- “You’re not making any sense at cies, because I had stopped re- all, Doc,” he' said, buttoning his ceiving the by-products of its raincoat at the collar. “Look . . . messages when the sun had set. it’s a lousy night and we can all And I knew it felt an exultant use some sleep. Things will look sense of expectancy about resum- different to you tomorrow.” ing its mental probes for com- “Things will he different to- panions, and must be destroyed morrow!” I exploded angrily. before that time arrived. “Once the sun comes up in the “Looks like the rain’s letting morning, this thing will be able up,” Pete shattered my thoughts, to contact others of its kind, di- resuming his rock and roll act by recting them to a new host my large picture window. source. Don’t you understand? “Murph, you reckon we should

They aren’t limited to living out . . you know . . before it their lives in the bodies of ro- starts pouring again?” .” dents. Any living organism . “Yeah,” Murphy nodded, turn- “Now wait a minute. Doc!” ing up his collar, "yeah. Now Murphy’s bellow drowned mine. Doc, you go on to bed and leave Even Pete stopped his nervous everything to us. We’ll take care energy dance. “Just what are you of it.” trying to prove with this crazy “Sure, Doc,” Pete chimed in, story? Next you’ll be saying the “you forget all about it and get rat told you all this.” some shut-eye. We’ll take charge “Not exactly, but .” I hesi- from here on.” tated. How could I explain those dream-like thoughts and images, JUST sat with my wheelchair not even related to words, that I I in the center of the big room, had experienced all day and from starring stupidly at them. I which I had pieced together what fought back an urge to lunge I knew? Call it telepathy? I sup- after them, to drag them back, posed that was closest, but could knowing I would only sprawl imagine Murphy’s reaction to the helplessly on the floor. I wanted word. to scream at them, tearing So much was unclear even to through that curtain of sure su- me. I did know that the entity periority behind which they hu- which was now the rat was not mored me, but could make no physical in our sense, else it sound. I just sat uselessly, as it could not have lived in the empti- now seemed I had done most of

RAT RACE 81 my life, watching them walk out room behind me except the cold, the door, assuring me in turn gray floor below. that everything would be all right. HAD almost begun to feel re- Then they were gone, and with I lief when I caught a sudden them went all my hope. Alone I tiny movement at the border be- could do nothing. Even if I man- tween light and shadow. The aged to get into the basement darkness retreated as I opened down those stairs, the “rat” could the door farther, and what had easily elude me until dawn. I even once been a rat stared up at me thought of setting fire to the across the impregnable abyss of place, but some busybody would thirteen wooden stairs. be sure to call the fire depart- Only the eyes showed it to be ment before the basement, actual- a rat no longer . . . eyes which ly the safest part of the house, reflected not merely cunning or could be exorcised of its alien in- malice, but an intelligent plan of habitant. purpose. I rolled my chair over to the Keeping those gleaming eyes picture window where so often I fastened upon me, the thing that had watched the world go by, and had been spawned in the depths might now conceivably watch it of space, yet wore the body of end. The dark clouds were begin- one of earth’s lowliest animals, ning to break up; one star was backed slowly into the blackness faintly perceptible, and I found until it was again invisible. I myself wondering if it had plan- slammed the door, but could not ets whose inhabitants no longer shut out my realization that I lived their own lives, but served had imagined nothing. as physical shells for the myster- For the first time since I had ious life-forms from space. become fully aware of the crea- Reason began to assert itself, ture’s purpose, a lifetime ago, the raising vague doubts about my sense of urgency left me. Defeat day’s half-dream. Could Murphy frustrated me at every turn. Per- and Peterson be right in their haps a younger man would have unspoken accusation? Perhaps it felt differently in my position ; I was all the product of a trapped felt only that I had been trying imagination . trapped by two to change a course of events that shattered and paralyzed legs. was unalterable. Whatever twist- Hastily, I headed my chair for ed evolution had produced these the basement door and opened it. beings, they would doubtless Nothing was visible in the rec- emerge one day as the masters of tangle of light thrown from the all creation.

82 FANTASTIC :

Once my tension eased, I re- I could free the dogs, but they membered all those animals caged made no attempt to leave the in my house. I would probably be room. I could hardly navigate just a matter of time before they my wheelchair among the menag- two became the physical hosts erie. Finally I realized the reason. for an alien intellect, but there They were hungry. While I was no reason to keep them had been lying on the sofa re- trapped with me at the source of ceiving alien thoughts, none of the infection. these animals had been fed. They were happy to see me, Revitalized, I pushed my chair happier than usual. The dogs clear and wheeled toward the danced delightedly in their com- cellar door, almost crashing into

partments amid a din of excited it. The knob slipped from my barking. Even some of the cats, grasp twice before the door stood despite their feline independence, open, admitting light into a base- joined in the noise as I unlatched ment still as dark as the sky out- their cages. side. Gently and quietly, I called .” I waited for them to get out so “Here kitty, kitty, kitty. .

THE END

STATEMENT REQUIRED BY THE ACT OF AUGUST 24, 1912, AS AMENDED BY THE ACTS OF MARCH 3, 1933, JULY 2, 1946 AND JUNE 11, 1960 (74 STAT. 208) SHOWING THE OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION OF FAN- TASTIG, STORIES OF IMAGINATION pubKshed monthly at Chicago, Illinois, for Oc> tober 1, 1961. 1. The names and addresses of the poblisber, editor, managing editor, and business managers are: Publisher, Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, 484 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago 6, Illinois. Elditor, Cele Goldsmith, 1 Park Ave., New York 16, New York. Business Manager, Matthew T. Birmingham, Jr., 1 Park Ave., New York 16, New York. 2. The owner is Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, 434 S. Wabash Aye., Chicago 6, Illinois. Estate of William B. Ziff, 1 Park Avenue, New York 16, New York. A. M. Ziff, 1 Park Avenue, New York 16, New York. 3. The known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities are: None. 4. Paragraphs 2 and 3 include, in cases where the stockholder or security holder appears upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting: also the statements in the two paragraphs show the affiant's full knowledge and belief as to the circumstances and conditions under which stockholders end security holders who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, bold stock and securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner. 5. The average number of copies of each issue of this publication sold or distributed, through the mails or otherwise, to paid subscribers during the 12 months preceding the date shown above was: (This information is required by the act of June 11, 1960 to be included in all statements regardless of frequency of issue.) 40,292. MATTHEW T. BIRMINGHAM, jR, (Business Manager) Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19th day of September, 1961. [SEAL] WILLLIAM PROEHMER, Notary Public State of New York, No. 41-8446350— Queens County, Cert, filed in New York County. (Term Expires March 30, 1962.) 83 Don’t breathe a word to the trade . . . they’d steal it before

you could say ‘Art Linkletter . . , but here’s the hottest new

idea in video . . . just think of that curtain rising, the camera

eye going to red, and the man saying, ever so dignified:

THIS IS YOUR DEATH By ALBEI^T TEICHNER

84 ACKSON and Cooper glared at as if ready to say something of J each other across the confer- urgent value as soon as the oth- ence table, then united in staring ers had finished. contemptuously down the table’s Cooper, bulge-eyed, panned the length at each man present. group in a blurring sweep. “The There was the expected ripple of goose that laid the golden egg is apprehension and much finger- dying. All 3-D gives us now is a ing of pencils, notepads and ties. fool’s gold pebble.” *Tm still waiting,” Jackson Wright, a vice-president who said, his sunken cheeks collaps- knew when Cooper was pleased ing more closely toward each with a phrase, said : “Fool’s gold other. *T've been waiting an hour pebbles on an asteroid—great for to get one idea out of you people. a space epic.” His smile fell into Well?” a St. Bernard’s droop. “When The two dozen men turned epic’s come back.” perky smiles toward their bosses "When is right.”

Illustrator KILPATRICK —

“Stinks,” Jackson grunted. stare at pictures of beautiful Dead silence fell over the meet- women but their tastes kept im- ing once more as each man con- proving. When there were no templated the truth of Cooper’s women beautiful enough the warning. For decades the view- photographers used human-looking audience had been dropping ing dolls. So what happened and now it was slipping further. when the crazy public wanted The sending networks had dis- something even better ? They discovered that hard-core eye ad- covered the final secret, just

dicts would watch an3rthing in 2- photo the significant parts and 3-D, even the oldest re-runs that’s what hypo means!” which paid no royalties. “I’ll give these boobs another

“All right,” Jackson said fi- example,” said Jackson. “Take nally. “I’m going to throw some- that musical fad twelve years thing at you.” He pointed at the ago. It only came on because Mr. poised pencils and shouted, Cooper and me, we figured the “Don’t take more notes! That’s public didn’t need a slow-moving just hiding your—your,” he story, just show production num- floundered for a phrase, “your bers. We cut up every old musical spiritual bankruptcy. Think, film from Busby Berkeley on and Here goes. The key word in en- it was our most economical run tertainment history is hypo, hypo of good luck. Digest it for ’em, all the way. Look at cartoon mov- H-Y-P-0 it!” He paused omi- ies. Guys like Disney horsed nously. “Well?” around half a reel before they got to brass tacks, which was ILENCE, pindropping silence. the cat chasing the mouse and S Then, suddenly, everyone getting banged flat, twisted, turned a startled stare on a stretched, chopped up and every young assistant of about forty other thing the average guy who had risen. He cleared his would like to do if he had the throat and talked rapidly as if nerve. Then along comes an un- afraid slowing down would bring known genius and he says, cut him to his senses and a dead halt. out the pretty junk, let’s have “What does the public want one beating after another right most? Drama that won’t bore its from the first second.” Jackson jaded palate. Well, what’s dra-

pounded the table. “He hypoed ma’s core? The death scene ! Why the thing into a capsule, that’s not show only death scenes from what I said, a capsule!” old films, one right after the “Good thinking,” said Cooper. other? Highlights of Life, we “My turn now. Guys used to could call it. Yiygo Death!”

86 FANTASTIC —

“Stinks,” Cooper said wryly. "A year’s severance—not bad!” “What's your name?” Jackson “We’re avoiding litigation asked. “I never saw you here be- it’s cheap at the price. Anyway fore.” the sky’s going to be our limit There was a mass intake of again.” He pointed at the lone breath, waiting for the minimum figure at the other end of the ta- severance pay axe to drop. ble. “Dawes, you’re now a vice- “Donald Dawes,” he said nerv- president, the only vice-president ously. “I've been attending con- left, with double your present ferences for the past six salary. Provided that Mr. Cooper months.” also has no objection to our tak- There was another mass intake ing on Death as our silent part- at his lack of diplomacy. ner.” “I'll tell you why it's lousy, Cooper’s pupils were shrunk to son,” said Cooper. “The public's beads frantically darting about seen too many death scenes. Peo- to spot the idea behind all Jack- ple figure just outside the frame son’s sudden scene shifting. All some technician was reading a he could mumble was, “Hypo. comic book—no realism.” Hypo it! Yes, hypo it.” Suddenly “Oh.” Dawes sat down. the pupils popped to full dila- “You’re fired!” Jackson said. tion. “Hypo Death! What an

Dawes got up again. “No, not idea I’ve got ! Dawes, you accept you, the rest of them. Fired with the promotion?” one year’s severance.” The youthful face fiushed with Cooper glared at him but, pleasure. “It’s such a great hon- sticking to the international ex- or, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Jackson. ecutive code of no public recrimi- Only—I don’t know what I’ve nations, remained silent. done.” “But, Mr. Jackson,” they all “You got us thinking—that’s began wailing, finding their Avhat,” said Jackson. "We get voices at last. exclusive rights to real death bed “Once more—I say you’re fired scenes. All kinds of people will .” with a year’s severance. Now it’s want to do it for— legally binding.” “—money, publicity, moral up- They streamed out of the room lift, exhibitionism,” Cooper went and there were some whoops as on. Just like the good old days soon as the last man shut the again when each knew instinc- door behind him. “Morons,” tively what the other was think- Jackson muttered. “You see how ing. “Triumph Over Death— some of them smiled?” there’s the title!” “Why not ?” Cooper said drily. Jackson flicked on the sound

THIS IS YOUR DEATH 87 writer. “Market test title Tri- standing around getting noth- umph Over Death. Sampling: 10,- ing done but mumbling sympa- 000 in semi-depth.” He rubbed thetically how horrible it is but his hands together. “We buy se- you don’t see them going away lected Critical Condition Lists unless they’re afraid of being from the medical associations.” called as witnesses. Knock hard- “Metropolitan St. Petersburg’s er!” still tops. We used it on the re- “Well, what’s special about juvenation products promotion.” death? Everybody sees it sooner “Eight—Cleveland too. Have of later around them.” the best prospects depth-investi- "The life span’s too long now- gated, don’t tell our detectives adays,” said Jackson. “And then what’s really up, not yet, evaluate it’s so professionalized you don’t yourself what line of attack to see much anyway. Why, there take in each case.” are millions of people over sev- “After the right sell we move enty who have never seen ,a stiff -•in, make a capsule history of the in their lives!” guy, soft soap family members “What’s more,” Cooper went into the documentary picture. on. “It’s the one bit on every- Now, whenever the signed-up body’s schedule. You can esti- subject is in really critical shape mate a hundred percent audience we have eye-taper cameras set up except for tiny tots, plus doctors, —very discreetly placed, we want nurses and undertakers who see people to act as natural as possi- it every week.” ble—and eventually we catch the “How could anybody get tired death scene.” of real death scenes?” Jackson “Sure, there’ll be lemons— demanded. He blew three rings some nut dropping dead in the around his cigar. “It’s a bottom- street or somewhere else unex- less subject. People will fight to pected but the law of averages get on. They’ll have a kind of im- will give us a good library.” mortality because the rushes will Jackson stopped. “Look, Dawes, be revived again and again. Coo- earn your keep. Knock it, knock per, just think of those residu- it hard.” als!” “Well— Dawes hesitated, “I most certainly have.” “people will say it’s morbid, vul- Dawes threw up his hands. gar. They’ll say the real thing’s “How can I knock something too horrible to stomach.” that’s foolproof? Mr. Cooper, “Who cares what they’ll say?” Mr. Jackson—it’s the final for- !” Cooper grinned. “They’ll watch ! mula, the ultimate Hypo Dawes .” Ever see an accident, everybody rubbed his brow. “But—

88 FANTASTIC "Yes?” They said in unison. tomorrow.” He watched Brautz "Well, isn’t it going to take a for reactions as he spelled out the longtime to get it going?” details but Brautz’s face stayed

The slight tension vanished as properly blank ; an expert worthy quickly as it had appeared. of respect didn’t give his reac- "Son,” Jackson laughed, “we’ll tions away in non-billable form. have a minimum of eight pro- The compact report was on grams on the feeder backlog in- Jackson’s desk, though, when he side of six weeks!” arrived the next morning. The "And we’ll have a complete pi- first sheet was headed: lot film, death scene and all, un- Psychoanalytic Conclusions On der three weeks or you can say I Proposed Death Series don’t know a damned thing about human nature.” I. The One-At-A-Time Law “Mr. Cooper,” Dawes said, (a) Mass death scenes from genuinely moved, “I would never actuality have never done say a thing like that.” well with home viewers. Nazi concentration camp OOPER took over what he newsreels, documentaries C called the smelliest job, weed- on atomic wars have al- ing down the medical lists for ways been flicked off. Rea- likely prospects. "Never saw so sons: too vast to grasp; many clinkers in my life,” he need to forget horror on said, "I don’t think half of them such a scale; refusal to !” are ready to drop dead But the recognise one’s own sadis- other half did make an interest- tic tendencies by declaring ing list. atrocities ‘clever fakes.’ Meanwhile Jackson consulted (b) Human beings can only Brautz, the noted psychosocio- understand One Thing At analyst. “Strictly confidential,” A Time. Example : during he said. “Only a handful are in last great wave of germ the picture so far.” warfare trials, limelight “Haven’t I always maintained stolen by one woman killed Top Commercial Secrecy?” trying to save her canary Brautz asked, professionally ruf- from electrocution in fled. home permanent waving “Just standard routine, Doc- device. tor, Here goes—^we’re going to have a series on Death, the real (c) Proposed series overcomes thing, no dummies or actors play- (b). Shows One Death At ing the parts. Give us a report A Time.

THIS IS YOUR DEATH 89 II. Ultimate Hjrpo Eeversing tivate the taper cameras for clos- Hypo Trend er shots. And once it signals Critical Now the 3-D lenses will (a) Sex, beat-’em-up and ro- stay on permanently. The med- mance programs have to ical instrument makers will spon- be hypoed more and more. sor and human doctor associa- This leads to dead end tions will have to protect them- where addict no longer re- selves with equal time.’’ acts. “What’s your first prospect?’’ (b) No need for dead end hypo “A guy in St. Petersburg, with Death—ever. Not as where else? Only eighty-five too. long as audience has faith He’s got an incurable form of they’re going to see real nerve cancer and—.’’ thing at end of hour. “You’re sure it’s incurable?’’ “I III. Can Series Sell Products Jackson said anxiously. mean and Services? most of this stuff’s child's play now, a few treatments and the (a) Useless for joy items. guy could be cured.’’ Guilt by association. “No, he can’t last more than (b) Perfect for organisation ten days.’’ merchandising anxiety “Any chance for a cure devel- items—save your health, oping within ten days? The ther- .’’ cure your shortcomings, apeutic computers— help the next guy, and so “Not a chance,’’ Cooper

forth. Note : Very big for grinned. “This is so peculiar selling prestige of auto- they have people looking for a mated doctors as well as cure.’’ competing human ones. Jackson breathed easier. “I don’t look for blood but you do IV. Handling Temporary Op- have to protect your investment.” position of Professional He felt mellow and suddenly con- Groups tent with life. "Call the kid in. At that point Jackson called We’ll take him along to learn the for Cooper. "See anything here?’’ ropes. How do you size him up?” he asked. Cooper grinned back. “We used Cooper retracted the bulge for to be that green.” near sight and swept down the “But not for long fortunately.” center of the two sheets. “Yeah, He rang for Dawes and had hard- the automated doctors,’’ he said. ly taken his finger off the tab be- “When our subjects take their fore the honorary vice-president home health readings it can ac- entered.

90 FANTASTIC “Something wrong?” Dawes “Of course, they’re private,” asked anxiously. Cooper said, “but we have special They both cackled. “Getting ways of getting to that sort of anxious?” Cooper said. “Good thing. After all, we do have a executive sign.” higher duty to the public.” “Thank you, Mr. Cooper.” His “If it helped the company,” light blue eyes said it too. Jackson said, “I’d let Cooper see “You’re coming on our first my tapes any time.” field trip.” Jackson pressed his “The same goes for me,” said index fingers against the two Cooper. vast dimples that were his cheeks “Sure,” Dawes said hastily. “I and a hint of plastic molars see your point. It’s just that I seemed to show through the thin didn’t know so I was Surprised.” skin. “Subject has an incurable “Oh, there’ll be lots of sur- form of nerve cancer, only eighty- prises,” Jackson chuckled. five.” “A shame,” Dawes said ab- hey were in St. Petersburg sently. “Say, suppose a cure Tat 12:30 that afternoon. Wil- comes along?” liam Haley’s residence was a “It won’t,” said Cooper. “All pleasant stucco cottage set in a been thoroughly researched. This small garden and was far out Haley case should be an easy be- from the great metropolitan cen- ginning for you, Dawes, because ter. we’re not using any tricks.” “Another reason why he’s such “Why not ?” asked Dawes. a good prospect,” Cooper said as “Yeah, I’d like to know that they passed on the other side of too.” the road. “Fewer residences out “Well,” Cooper said, "you here. More chance for privacy.

should have figured it, Jackson. Until we have this copyrighting This man’s well-balanced, ready pilot film in the can secrecy will to face death, and has almost be worth its weight in gold.” found peace—fortunately there’s Suddenly a tall man rose from that almost. The Investigation a row of chrysanthemum bushes Agency went through his psy- close to the road wall. He was choanalytic tapes, just two years busy inspecting a flower and did old, and gave me a complete run- not notice the trio studying him. down.” “Our first prospect,” Jackson “You heard the psychoanalytic said. “It’s almost like pasting tapes?” Dawes said, incredulous. the first customer’s dollar on the “I thought they’re completely wall of a new business. Fine private.” looking fellow.’’

(THIS IS YOUR DEATH 91 He was, Haley was perfectly gentle admonition. “Oh, don’t be erect and not an ounce of excess surprised, Mr. Haley, we know a flesh showed anywhere on his great deal about you—the most frame. His face was serene as he important thing in fact. Ten considered the petals. days,” “Those flowers will still be “Are you a therapy team? I blooming when he’s dead,” said told the hospital no more treat- Dawes. “Sad.” ments, human or mechanical. “The flowers still blooming,” They can’t give me what I still Cooper repeated. “Good, we’ll use need.” that as a motif.” “I can, Mr. Haley—we can, I The three men crossed over should say. This is Fred Jackson. and stood on the grass border of I’m Everett Cooper.” the road, waiting. Finally, Coo- “Glad to meet you gentlemen.” per coughed and, as a few tiny Haley merely nodded but gave in petals floated to the ground, the as three hands waved frantically older man looked up. “Beautiful over the low wall. “Heard your roses,” Cooper said. “Are they names somewhere before—no, real?” my memory’s bad these days. “They’re not real roses.” Well, Everett Cooper, what’s “Oh?” your proposition?” “They’re real chrysanthe- “Brass tacks, I like that. mums.” Jackson chuckled but You’re not worried about passing Haley considered the error mat- on—.” ter-of-factly. “Don’t go in for “You mean dying.” “ planting artificials. Pretty to —^but you feel there’s still un- look at but I like things to be finished business, right?” real. Who wants something al- “Right, but—.” ways to stay the same? Would “The business consists of two you like to stay as you are in- items, A—^You have two children definitely, young man?” by your third marriage and “No,” Cooper lied. “But I’m you’d like to leave a decent in- not as young as you think. Seven- heritance. You haven’t told them ty-eight.” what’s ahead for you. B—You “There are differences more feel your earlier life—five wives, important than calendar years.” highjinks all the way—^was His eyes narrowed to a horizon wasteful. You’ve come to a deeper that seemed beyond that of the view of things and want to set a nearby golf course. better example. Well then, you “You’re eighty-five,” Cooper can satisfy both these needs.” said. He held his palm out in He waved a check in the air.

92 FANTASTIC —

“Here’s -fifty thousand full- shortcomings that made it impos- strength dollars, not the inflated sible for me to be curable now variety, to go in trust for those to learn from it and from the kids the moment you sign with way I’ve attained peace in the us.” past few years.” “Say, I know you two.” He Dawes, unable to restrain him- looked mildly displeased. “You’re self, broke in. “Mr. Haley, our .” Cooper-Jackson— most sacred rule is that the sub- “Jackson-Cooper,” Jackson ject must give his approval to the laughed. “Mustn’t upset all our background material before the stationery. We did it on the toss big scene!” of a coin.” Haley extended his hand to “ “Used to be big, weren’t you? them again and said, ‘Tell me Don’t watch 2-D and 3-D any not a man’s life has been a happy more. Nothing of value— His one until I know the nature of ” eyes widened and he suddenly his death.’ stared straight into Cooper’s “What show’s that from?” frozen grin. “Fifty thousand dol- Jackson asked. lars! Why?” “No show. Herodotus.” “There’s no catch—we still are “Bill, would that be in the the biggest producers, Mr. Ha- public domain?” Haley nodded. ley. Now then, this is your role.” “Good. We’ll use it—on your program if you don’t object.” ll philosophical detachment “Not at all. Gentlemen, I sup- A disappeared from the man’s pose we don’t have completely the face as Jackson explained the de- same motives but, still, I thank tails and by the time it was over you. Now I must take my nap.” he was misty-eyed. “Mr. Jack- son.” That same afternoon two cam- “Call me Fred—please.” era technicians came down from “Well, Fred, it’s a beautiful New York and set the eye-tapers idea. Could have been cheap and at various strategic locations in vulgar but it’s above that. Sure, the cottage’s walls. They also I want those things. I’ve plenty went over Haley’s file of home of home movie albums you can films, the usual assortment, and .” use— everybody was very pleased with “The biggest well-known pain the material. By evening they about amateurs,” Cooper mut- had spliced three-quarters of an tered to Dawes. "Advice!” hour of life background and the “ —but no whitew’ash job. I legal details were settled in a se- Want people to see some of the ries of iron-clad agreements.

THIS IS YOUR DEATH 93 —

They got back to New York more respect. “Now, Dawes, about three the next morning and you’ll come along with us tomor- sat around the office, too exultant row again, I mean this after- to go directly to sleep. Jackson noon. After that you must man- stared at Cooper through an age your own field trips. We’re empty shot glass and seemed to going to be loaded with front of- find him more human that way. fice work here.” “Got to give you credit, Cooper, you really did pick the set-up. I hey awoke late that morning think this one’s going to be a no- Tin a room heavy with the ble death.” smell of dead tobacco smoke and “Thanks. We’re going to get whiskey. Dawes was pinkly brisk all kinds—snivelling, yelling, inside of five minutes but the happy, twisted, crazy—and no- two older men could not keep ble. You name it, somebody’ll awake as they smacked bilious supply it.” tongues and lips together and, “Any other really good leads?” after considering Dawes with Jackson demanded. disgust, swallowed SpeedUp pills. “A Gus Crakely in suburban “You have to be careful,” Cleveland. Circulatory collapse Dawes said. “They’re supposed the medics have already overrun to shorten your life. Most people the workable limit for prosthetic can’t get them.” plastic substitutes and now he “We certainly aren’t most peo- has two weeks at most to go.” ple,” Jackson said grumpily. “Have to work fast. What But soon his eyes were bright about Cleveland tomorrow after- again and he and Cooper were noon?” Worry caved his face in ready to grab the ball and start further than usual. “Got to get running. They reached Cleve- a feminine slant going too.” land at four in the afternoon “Right.” and, once more, had to head for “That’s a small problem,” said the outskirts of town. The cab- Dawes. “I’ve been going over a driver left them at the Crakely lot of studies and Brautz has gate and said, “Sorry, you’ll have confirmed my findings. Turns out to go up the drive yourselves.” women are more sympathetically “What the hell’s the matter?” interested in the deaths of men Jackson demanded. “You’d think too. For every female death bed the house was haunted.” scene dramatized there are three “Brother, it is—until old man and four-fifths male scenes.” Crakely dies. He’s one hundred

“Good work.” Jackson looked and ' thirty-eight but he’H live blearily at him but with a little forever.”

94 FANTASTIC Jackson looked distressed as “What’s going on down the cab pulled away. Cooper there?” someone shouted. “Some laughed. “Don’t worry, he’s dy- more of your damned women, ing this time.’’ Geoffrey. I’ll sic the dogs on Dawes’ eyes swept over the them.” broad lawn to the great imita- “No, dad, just some new rack- tion of a Tudor pile beyond. “I’d et. They claim to be from some sure like to have a place like this Damned Cooper Company and some day.’’ say they want to give us money.” “The futility of ambition,” “What? What? Open that Jackson sighed. “Mine is bigger, door.” There was a muffled so is Cooper’s, but we hardly ever thumping as someone fell down get to see them.” a few stairs, then a tangle of A very suspicious aging man sibilant hissing. “You idiot, you with a razor-sharp nose came to stupid idiot, that’s Jackson-Coo- the door. He stayed behind it per Productions and there’s gold with only the nose and one green leaf in that card!” eye showing around its edge. Cooper gently pushed the door “We’re not buying anything,” he and it swung open to reveal the said. “We have everything.” sharp-nosed son, standing at the “Even enough money?” asked foot of a broad staircase with a Cooper, handing in his gold leaf bent old man in a dressing gown calling card. waving a bent yellow finger in Another eye and a mouth be- his face. “Good day, Mr. Crake- came visible. “You owe my fa- ly,” he said. ther any money?” A lacework of fine lines spread “We want to give him some.” across Crakely’s face as he pre- The door slammed shut with pared a smile. “Won’t you come oaken finality. “Jackass!” mut- in?” tered Jackson and began press- “We’re here to offer you mon- ing the buzzer while Cooper ey in connection with an inter- banged the knocker. Dawes after esting proposition.” a moment’s hesitation joined in. The lines broke horrifyingly Finally the door opened a sliver’s into still finer wrinkles and width to let out the howling of Crakely limped toward them, blood-eager dogs in a distant rubbing his left thigh. “Slipped room. —wanted to greet you people “Hear that?” warned the man personally. A great honor.” He inside. “You’d better get away gave Dawes a vague shake of the before I sic the lot of ’em on head. “Mr. Cooper, Mr. Jackson, you.” have a seat, please.”

THIS IS YOUR DEATH 95 “Let’s get upstairs first, fa- dark, heavy Renaissance furni- ther.’’ ture and Crakely slipped jerkily "What amount were you think- into bed, the upright pillows ing of?’’ forming a dead-white nimbus “Fifty-thousand full-strength about him. “Good color shot,” dollars.’’ Jackson whispered to Dawes. “I don’t like that. When I get “What? What?” he wheezed. money I want it right away. Full- “Now then what’s the deal?” strength dollar guarantees are “You’re a great figure in the only an inflation hedge on later world of affairs,” Cooper began. payments.’’ “You didn’t come here to tell "I think we’d better discuss me that! I know my, assessed this matter in your bedroom valuation.” where you’ll be comfortable,’’ “I’m sure you do,” Cooper said Cooper said. admiringly. “We want to feature “I like it here.’’ your life on a sixty-minute pro- “Come along, Mr. Crakely,’’ a gram.” He went into the details brisk young nurse called down. while the old man contemplated She glided swiftly on her soft- the puckered joint of his left in- soled shoes down the stairs and dex finger through narrowing took him by the arm. “Better in eye-slits. Crakely junior was your own room where everything smiling, a more juice-laden rep- is so comfy for you.’’ lica of his father. “Hmmmmm! Hmmmmm!’’ the Finally the old man asked cau- old man mumbled, sucking damp- tiously. “Where are the papers ?” ly at his gums, as the nurse took Dawes handed over an attache him into the lift. As it started case and Cooper deftly flipped up, he shouted down at them. the documents from a compart- “Don’t discuss anything with ment. “They’re all there,” he that one! I handle all negotia- said, handing them to Crakely. tions.” The eyes, still slitted, raced They hurried up the stairs, down the sheets. “Can’t fool me keeping level with him, and Jack- with any fine print. Cooper, I’m son said, “Only proper, only fit- up to all your tricks. You’ll have ting.” to give me more than fifty thousand, I can tell you that.” hey reached the second floor “That’s the standard rate,” Tand crept behind Crakely, Dawes protested. now tired from his sudden exer- Jackson nudged him to keep tions, to the bedroom. It was an quiet. Crakely caught both the enormous chamber filled with remark and the nudge. He con-

96 FANTASTIC — sidered Dawes contemptuously. stairs,” Jackson explained to his “Don’t like to see innocent-faced son, “until the technicians ar- shills used to front a shake- rive.” down.’’ His fingers clawed with “Don’t worry about that live- a separate vitality of their own forever ranting,” Geoffrey at the bedsheets. “Make another shrugged. “All the doctors agree. bid. I’m not a ‘standard’ subject He has an automated doctor, too, for your show.’’ of course—it’s good enough even “Fifty-five thousand,’’ Jackson if he picked it up second hand nodded while Dawes gasped his and we take readings twice a protest. day. Everything, blood pressure, “Are you kidding? You’re talk- cell collapse rate and the rest of ing about my death. Sixty thou- that stuff, they extrapolate the sand. Not a penny less.’’ same date, odds of a million to “Fifty-six thousand,’’ Jackson one.” replied. “Have to call New York now,” The haggling continued until Jackson said, leaving them. The the figure was settled at fifty- younger Crakely followed to keep eight thousand. After Cooper an eye on him. wrote in the new cash proviso “Got to hand,it to you,” Coo- the old man insisted that every- per said to Dawes. “You’d have one present sign it. As soon as saved us some money, not that a he had the completed documents few thousand’s going to be any- in his trembling hand he began thing from now on.” cackling uncontrollably. “You “So unfair,” said Dawes. “That fools!” he said. “I’d have settled Mr. Haley, a fine man, getting for fifty if you’d stuck to it. You less than this rich one!” double fools! I haven’t guaran- "Justice is beside the point. teed to die—I’ll see all of you in The public’s entitled to results,” your graves.” Cooper said soberly. Jackson His voice kept rising and, just came running back into the room. as the nurse hurried in, he fell “They getting right out here?” out of bed. Cooper’s calm expres- “In an hour but that’s noth- sion began to fade as Crakely ing. Haley’s dead! Died a few got back without assistance. hours ago, ahead of schedule.” “See, I can manage.” “Everything all right?” Coo- They were all shooed out of per asked anxiously. the room while Crakely was lock- “Seems to be.” ing the papers in his strongbox “Then,” Cooper grinned, eyes and warning the nurse not to like unclouded full moons, “we pry. “We’ll have to wait down- are in business.”

THIS IS YOUR DEATH 97 HEN they reached New gerly. “I’ll come down in the WYork they learned that Ha- morning for final word.” ley’s relatives wanted to respect “Yes, you do that.” the dying man’s wishes and were After he was gone Cooper de- pleased with both the idea of a manded, “What’s this about? He living memorial and that of the could have sat in tonight a while money to be disbursed. But the and learned something.” reels of Haley’s last hours were “He may know too much al- the greatest news of all. They ready.” He handed over an en- showed him proceeding calmly velope and sheet covered with about the minor chores of a well- block lettering. “I found this on automated bachelor household, the desk just now.” studying family albums and the The message said: Bible, and generally behaving Everything’s under wraps with a dignity that drew tears to at Jackson-Cooper, isn’t it? Dawes’ eyes. You think we’re such fools “My parents died on a moon we can’t see a raw deal com- run,’’ Dawes said. “Dad was going on? You kept Dawes for ing for a heart-rest and mom in- a reason he’s too green to sisted on going along. The ship see. If you don’t give him a cracked up a thousand miles out percentage of your stock as from the resorts and all I have is is standard for vice-presi- the usual handful of home mov- dents at other outfits, I’ll ies. If I only had this kind of spill the beans about your keepsake.’’ last full staff meeting, the “Did you see all those right way you stole some big idea profiles he gave us without being from him. I’ve a recording directed! A great guy.’’ Cooper of that session and will re- caught himself up short. “Like lease it plus other informa- your folks were. I’m sure, tion tomorrow morning if Dawes.’’ there is no immediate stock But Jackson was looking coldly gift. There’ll be a hundred at the younger man. “We’re go- imitators’ claims the same ing to have to let twenty more day yours is released. Then technicians in on some of this what will happen to your ex- tonight,” he said sharply. “We’ll clusive rights? have the copyrighting showing An ex-employee. tomorrow. Dawes, go get some sleep. You’re going out tomor- “Nobody could get in with re- row—on your own.” cording equipment, Jackson. It’s “I’ll do my best,” he said ea- a bluff.”

98 FANTASTIC “Yes, but can we be sure? now—as soon as they see this This is too big to take the small- stuff they’re going to realize est chance until the copyright’s we’ve got the inside track on clinched. And how do we know something that can pay them our baby-faced Dawes isn’t the more than any stool-pigeon gam- instigator?’’ ble.” Cooper began pacing the floor. Suddenly he froze and looked di- S Jackson predicted, the tech- rectly at Jackson. “How do I A nical staff was wildly enthu- know you’re not behind this? If siastic when it received the news we both give Dawes a slice, the later in the evening. The crews two of you could outvote me.’’ got down to work so efficiently “Very interesting you should that the two partners had a have such ideas. Cooper, because chance to take turns at catnap- I’ve been wondering the same ping while the final touches were thing about you.” being put on the product. “You just wait a minute—.” Dawes arrived bright and Jackson picked the anonymous early for instructions and seemed message up and studied it again. completely overwhelmed by his “Of course, there’s another an- new good fortune. “It’s such an gle. He could be on his own. honor just to be working closely

Figures to make an entering with you two and then this ! It’s wedge, then play us against each just too much. I hope I can live other.” up to it.” Cooper shrugged. “We could “The man you’re to contact,” always squelch that if we gave said Cooper, blank-faced, “is a him just two and a half percent scientist in Mexico City. We’ll be each. But there’s still another sending a crew this afternoon. angle. VTioever wrote this doesn’t Meanwhile, study all the docu- show any knowledge of specific ments carefully.” details. Doesn’t sound like After Dawes was gone they ex- Dawes.” changed nervous glances. “Can’t “Maybe. But Dawes could be make him out,” Cooper said. “Is showing a finer hand than we give he really as naive as he looks?” him credit for.” He strummed “What’s the difference? Once the desk. “Okay, Cooper. We’ll this thing is taped down we’ll be announce the stock award to- able to take care of him.” night. It’ll keep the others quiet The minutes dragged as they too, until copyright’s over—su- kept the news machines open for gar them up with hope. Not that any announcement of a counter- there’s much chance of a leak claim by some other company.

THIS IS YOUR DEATH 99 Then at noon word came through that the Library of Congress, after a computer search for par- allel claims, had conceded theirs. The principal agony was over; now their only problem was the audition. A large crowd of institution leaders was gathered in the viewing hall when they came in and most of them were grumbling. “Haven't seen a decent item from this outfit in ten years,” muttered Shouse of International man,” said a chocolaty-rich AntiVirus Control. “Just what voice, “died one minute ago. His have they done for us lately?” name is William Haley and the “They can wwsell a product!” time is 6:07 P.M. April the 3rd, nodded Curby of Ultimate Vita- 2018. The automated doctor has mins. “Can you imagine anybody not yet summoned the mortuary Mnselling in this day and age?” crew but you are already here! “I can. Happens all the time For the next hour you will ex- now,” said another tycoon with perience the reality of this man’s an especially portentous face. life—and death.” The room abruptly darkened “My father was a good man and the standard announcement who learned all his life from his flashed on screen: human frailties and rose above them.” As the new voice went on Exclusive rights to the fol- the camera moved in until the lowing ideas presentation peaceful face, its angular fea- was established at the Li- tures set in firm yet relaxed lines, brary of Congress this filled the 3-D projection. morning, The audience burst into wild “Get on with the bad news!” applause. “The greatest ever!” someone shouted. “What an approach!” “The art In the center of the screen a beyond art!” From then on the tiny line of elite type exploded uproar was almost continuous into Triumph Over Death! The and when the final shots came on film cut suddenly to a full length of Haley settling into his death shot of a figure of almost Roman bed pandemonium broke loose in dignity stretched out in neat the hall. He slowly wrapped the houseclothes on a bed. “This extension from the automated

100 FANTASTIC doctor around his wrist and the here it would have to be you.” readings, lightly superimposed They fell to shouting at one over his image, showed steady another until a contract, sent decline until the unbearable sec- skidding by a flailing arm, ond when machine and body were sloshed into a puddle of scotch on one in the stillness of clinical the desk. Cooper pulled the docu- death. ment away just in time and care- “I have first rights to time!” fully, lovingly, dried it off. Shouse was hollering as the “Eight million,” he said, blow- lights came on. ing a kiss at the contract. “Let’s “I was here ahead of you!" be calm, Jackson.” Curby broke in. Jackson stood up and solemnly “Gentlemen, gentlemen,” Jack- shook his hand. “You’re right. son said. “There’s going to be Let the Dawes matter ride. We’ve enough for everybody and this is got it made and nothing’s upset- one item where the reruns can ting this applecart,” even outstrip first runs.” His statement reassured them awes reported in the next and they settled down to the D afternoon. “Dr. Huber’s all business of dividing available set,” he said. “Had some trouble situations. By five that afternoon with him, though. Talk about Jackson and Cooper knew they objectivity! He’s the greatest were the biggest thing in the man I've seen for it—outside of history of entertainment. When you two,” he added hastily. “He they finally found themselves says the general public’s deca- alone they counted the time pur- dent, wants others to do all the chases over and over again, thinking, and needs stronger pinching the contracts to see if medicine to get them back to sci- they were real. Jackson looked ence. He not only wants his death dreamily into his private horizon bed scene but a filmed clinical .” and said, “We didn’t have to give study of his dissection— that kid five percent. What a “You can’t do that!” Jackson waste for a few hours of protec- shouted. “It’s too complicated tion!” for the public.” “True,” Cooper agreed. “But “And vulgar!” Cooper chimed he can be useful for a while.” in. “You had no right to commit Now suspicion was back. us. We two still run this company “What are you trying to say, and don’t you forget it.” Cooper?” Dawes fell back before the “Don’t start that again—if blast. “Of course you do, Mr. there’s any dirty work around Cooper, and you, Mr. Jackson.

THIS IS YOUR DEATH 101 He eventually fell in line. We’ll “We’re giving you guys a have a straight formula run on great break,” Cooper objected. Dr. Huber.” “This isn’t some girly show, this “That’s better!” they mum- is a program to make the world’s bled. viewers aware of the one mystery Dawes merely looked puzzled that’s at the heart of all your re- and waited for further instruc- ligions so I don’t know why all tions while he dreamed about the the squawks.” vast house he had seen on a little Jackson was about to speak side excursion coming back from but Dawes, not seeming to notice, Mexico City. It was set in an ex- broke in ahead of him. “It’s all clusively zoned dune area of being done in the best taste. And Lake Erie. The salesman had whenever a religious representa- explained how important it was tive is present at the deathbed for a rising young executive to he reviews all the material in have such a house even if he which he features and can cut never got to live much in it. He shots of himself which he deems could actually afford it now. Aft- improper.” er only five years in entertain- “Very fair,” said one of the ment production Dawes knew he men of the cloth. “But we’ll have had reached a point most men to see some of the programs be- never attained even at the end of fore we can be sure.” their lives. What could a Haley, “Look,” said Jackson. “Most fine as he had been in his way, people don’t even bother with know of that much triumph? deathbed religion any more. “Don’t stand there daydream- We’re offering you more than we

ing!” snapped Jackson. “Get have to ; we want you on our side some sleep, Dawes. We expect where you belong. Just watch you to have plenty of ideas.” that revival after the first programs !” he next week was one endless There was considerable hem- Tseries of crises. Word of mouth ming and hawing at first but in the trade was now too great eventually the committee left in and they decided to give Tri- a happier frame of mind than umph Over Death an immediate had been evident on its arrival. buildup that would be under “We have them where we want their tight control rather than them,” Jackson said, gleefully that of the rumor mongers. This plunging his hands in his. pock- brought a committee of protest- ets. “Only, Cooper, don’t try to ing religious leaders and the sic your boy on me. I didn’t like pitch had to be carefully handled. the Tvay he interrupted me.”

102 FANTASTIC “What about his interrupting man’s cranky commands and me? I suppose that just hap- there were some beautiful shots pened to happen!” that could be brought into close- Dawes looked at them with the up of the barely fleshed fingers puzzled expression what was al- grasping at sheet and air to most permanent now. “I didn’t bring the world into their private know I was interrupting any- circle of death. body,” he said. They gave him a look that was t the end of the week, after very frightening and, he was sur- A another fruitful field trip, prised to discover, just a little Dawes took a rest by visiting the bit annoying. All Sell Club which was located on the top floor of the tallest hen there was the crisis building in the city. He was feel- Tabout the Crakelys. First the ing wonderfully exhausted. The son, then the father, threatened purchase of the Lake Erie proper- to sabotage the death scene un- ty had been completed that after- less more money was forthcom- noon and everyone looked at him ing. The matter was finally with respect close to awe as he straightened out after the law- entered. “Third man on the Jack- yers warned the fifty-eight thou- son Cooper totem,” a producer sand would be attached if any- whispered to an account execu- thing illegal were attempted. tive. “They’ve got the ultimate But the worst of it was that formula. We’ll all be working for April 17th came and went with- them soon—and glad to get out Crakely fulfilling the com- crumbs from those two rats! pany’s great expectations. That kid doesn’t look their style.” “Damn him,” Cooper spluttered. Great men were always the vic- “Just what he threatened—the tims of envy, Dawes realized, but million to one shot. Those bone- it was odd how many times that thin ones can last forever.” word rat kept coming up among Jackson looked down at his top executives in connection with own skeletal frame and smiled. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Cooper. He “Very true,” he said, “much to was going to walk out when he your undoubted regret. But don’t saw a familiar figure approach- worry—he can’t last.” ing. It was Mr. Wright who used The next day Crakely did die to manage the division where he and the shots were worth the had been a mere copy assistant. scare of the extra wait. They Wright saw him and headed showed a roomful of people spas- his way, grinning broadly. He tically scurrying about to the old staggered once and said, “Great

THIS IS YOUR DEATH 103 going, kid. Let’s find a corner.” and the grey hairs of his eye- "Fine, Mr. Wright. You sure brows bristled. “They’d can you you want any more drinks?” immediately, think it was some “Sure, I’m sure.” plot of yours and wouldn’t be- Alphonse, the head waiter, lieve a word. Very suspicious shooed some account men away gentlemen.” He leaned forward. from the best window and cere- “You’d lose that new place on moniously led them to it. As they Erie I read about— everything. sat down, the entire city beneath What for?” their feet, Wright muttered, “I Dawes slowly sank back into fixed those rats!” his seat. He could see the magni- "What do you mean?” Dawes ficent house with that glittering asked uneasily. “Do you have an- thirty yard sweep of glass as if other job, Mr. Wright? Maybe I he were standing on the shore could get you back in.” right now. “They do get nasty at “Uh, uh, not while they’re in times,” he admitted. the saddle. Anyway, I did fix “I knew you’d see it the right them good and you did get those way,” the other man laughed. shares. Figured they were pick- “Some day,” said Dawes, nar- ing your brains.” rowing his eyes and disregarding “Fom arranged my promo- the laughter, “some day you’ll tion?” have your old job back. You de- “Sort of.” He described the serve the best, Mr. Wright.” note he had sent. Dawes was shocked. “But they WO weeks later a backlog of developed most of Triumph Over Teight deaths had been accu- Death themselves.” mulated and the show was ready “Wake up, kid. This is the to roll. The Haley Story went twenty-first century. You got over even more sensationally them started on it and I’ve seen than anticipated and within a them steal plenty from under- few days the firm was flooded lings and ditch them like that!” with offers of death scenes at no He wet his fingertips in the mar- charge. In some cases, there were tini and snapped them together. even bids to pay for the privilege “Now then, I’ve got a job at half but Jackson sternly warned the the pay and I’m twice as happy.” staff, after setting an example Dawes started to get up. “I with ten random firings, that think I ought to go, Mr. Wright, nothing like that would be per- and explain this to Mr. Jackson mitted. “We have a high trust,” and Mr. Cooper.” he told the great mass of new em- Wright roared with laughter ployees gathered in the company

104 FANTASTIC —

auditorium, “and we’ll meet our of us and you still have five per- social obligations. The only cri- cent.” terion for Triumph Over Death “Oh? I thought that would selections is public interest, or somehow be voted out of my rather, the public interest.” hands too.” Afterwards the partners took “Watch your step,” Cooper Dawes into a private conference persisted, “any idea you have room and announced there were you owe to the company,” going to be further changes. Jackson beamed at Dawes. “Great news for you,” Jackson “Now, now, Mr. Cooper, we must- said. “We’re reorganizing all n’t be hasty with this young fel- down the line, taking you out of low, must we? Of course, we’d Triumph and giving you a new like you to keep your holdings, opportunity—a detective story Don—.” series." “Well, one idea is this,” said “But there hasn't been a suc- Dawes. “You could start with the cessful detective series in twenty Dr. Huber stuff. He left a mass years !” of audios detailing his medical Grinning, each man took one history and you rejected all of it shoulder for a fatherly pat. as too technical. But look at the “That’s why it’s a great break,” understandable lines you could said Jackson. spread through the life record, Dawes took a deep breath and padding out the program excit- started his counterattack. “You ingly—‘In 1978 I had a severe always valued my ideas before.” diabetic attack but the newly- “Right,” Jackson laughed, “but discovered Bewley-Barton meth-

the Triumph formula is perma- od cured me of it. Unfortunately, nently fixed, can’t be improved this technique, not perfected on, so your services there then, brought on an equally se- “What a shame,” Dawes broke vere, mysterious attack of hepa- in, “because I had some ideas titis in 1979. This was completely for making the shows longer eliminated by Cranston’s new without losing hypo.” Electrochemical Fix which led Both men froze in mid-laugh. to a dangerous lung condition. “What do you mean ?” demanded When the lung condition re- Cooper. “It’s perfect already.” sponded to treatment a side ef- Dawes’ grin went ag far back fect reactivated the diabetes as as his molars. “Oh, I shouldn’t well as an old case of rheumatic bother you.” fever, etcetera, etcetera’ until the “Look here,” Cooper said, final statement, ‘at this point “you’re an employee like the rest lungs, endocrine system and

THIS IS YOUR DEATH 105 blood circulation all began to col- T HAD been a close call and lapse simultaneously despite the I from then on, he knew, he " excellent medical care received.’ would have to be very careful if Jackson rubbed his chin. Coop- he wanted to hold on to every- er followed suit. Neither spoke. thing he had gained—the bless- “Get the point? Huber’s ex- ings of wide private spaces in a perience is what happens to ev- greatly crowded world and of a erybody one way or another. respect that he felt wherever men Well, since the days of medicine of affairs recognized him. A few men there’s been nothing the times he indicated passing ap- public likes better than a hefty proval for an idea of Jackson’s string of disease names. Sciati- against one of Cooper’s or vice ca, lumbago, tuberculosis, arthri- versa, just enough to keep them tis, rheumatism, nephritis—mil- from effectively joining forces. lions of elderly ladies openly With each passing week the tremble in delighted terror and stakes became higher. Produc- the men do, too, on the sly. It’s ing houses that in some cases the supreme popular poetry!’’ went back to the medium’s be- “It’s a hypo worth consider- ginning collapsed one by one ing,’’ Jackson said. “Uh—what and were absorbed at bargain about your other ideas?’’ rates into Jackson-Cooper. The “Absolutely not,” Dawes ratings did not go up any more shook his head. “I’d only discuss only because they were already them as the problems arose. close to mass saturation but time Your time’s too valuable to segments did keep increasing. waste.” People, it seemed, could watch “We might as well keep you on other people dying all day long. Triumph since you’re so interest- There were, as always, a few ed in it,” said Cooper. disgruntled intellectuals, point- “Right,” agreed his partner, ing with alarm at the fact that a “we didn’t realize you wanted to small, if growing, minority of stay there so badly. And now, watchers were developing ac- what are those other ideas? We cidie; which, it turned out, sim- have plenty of time to listen.” ply meant despair of living. But A touch of shrewdness came the mainstream of experts quick- into Dawes’ open face that they ly replied to these Cassandras by had never seen there before. “As showing the viewing majority I said, gentlemen, they should had found renewed interest in wait for the proper context. The life’s pleasures and labors. And good of our company must come even if this accidie did spread, it first.” couldn’t threaten the ratings

106 FANTASTIC since these were the very people To which Dawes managed to who watched every rerun series. return a smile even smaller than But one night about the twen- Jackson’s. tieth week of Triumph something happened to shake Dawes ut the same afternoon he con- more seriously. He had been feel- B tacted Wright and arranged ing odd for a few days and when a meeting for that night. He ap- he applied the automated doctor proached Wright’s building by

it indicated very slight traces of an extremely circuitous route ; it Moleculide poisoning in his sys- gave him at least a chance to slip tem. It also reported that he away from the investigators who would have been dead by now if must be trailing him. his resistance were not some- “What’s the great mystery?” what above average. He had been Wright wanted to know. He wondering the past several peered at him for a moment. nights why his three bedtime “You look kind of different.” shots of scotch (a habit only re- “I don’t see why,” Dawes said cently acquired) tasted so much stiffly. Then he told him what better than before and now a had happened. quick analysis revealed the “Now you know what they’re scotch as the source of the poi- like anyway,” Wright nodded. son. To top things off he found “I’ve known that for a while. a 3-D taper hidden in his bed- But I’m not interested in a lot room wall. of idle moralizing and specula- The next day he came to the tion at this point. I don’t think office with the taper. He greeted they’ll try anything right away the two men as if nothing had but eventually they will. And happened and they looked at him next time they’ll be a lot smarter. with poker-tight faces but he Wright, I need someone I can made certain they saw him pull trust. I’d like to make you my the tape and destroy it. “An ex- aide.” periment that failed," he said Wright frowned thoughtfully. offhandedly. “You know, for a minute there Jackson gave him a tiny, re- you almost looked like them.” He fined smile as if he were holding rubbed his eyes. “Wouldn’t they seed pearls between his lips. “I’m fight my coming in?” glad I had nothing to do Tvith it,” Dawes’ jaw tightened. “May- he said. “I hate to be connected be, but I know how to hit back with failure.” now. I’d get my way.” “Well, I certainly can say the “I’ll bet you would. Well, it’s a same," Cooper glared back. big promotion all right.”

THIS IS YOUR DEATH “We’re the biggest thing out- him frantically on the video- side the presidency itself. You phone. “Come right over,” he know there’s nothing bigger said. “Look, Dawes, don’t hesi- than entertainment and we’re tate like that. If you’re afraid spreading all over the place. bring all the people you want. It Okay then, there are only two would be better for the three of people bigger than me right us to thrash this out alone but now.” His voice softened. “You’d just make sure you get here be a good influence up there, right away.” raise the moral tone.” “I’ll bring my chauffer up Wright considered him a with me,” he lied. It wouldn’t while. “Still so young, too.” hurt to confuse any underhand- “I don’t see what that—.” ed planning but, judging by “No, I won’t take it, Don,” he what he had seen. Cooper for said firmly. once really meant what he was “But why not? Look, you can’t saying. expect me to plead with you.” On the w’ay up in the elevator

“No, I wouldn’t expect it. This he met Jackson whose shaky has nothing to do with your be- hands belied the calm expression ing younger than me but I’m on his face. “Know what’s afraid taking the position would- wrong?” Dawes asked. n’t make any difference for you “No. Except that he did say now.” he’s sick. Something about the “That’s the rottenest thing automated doctor.” I’ve ever heard!” Dawes When they saw Cooper in the snapped. “Don’t bother to show bedroom, though, he looked any- me the door. I made certain I thing but immobilized. He was knew where it was when I came pacing wildly back and forth, in.” and near his bureau was a dog stretched stiffly on the floor. or a few days Wright’s mys- “Nelson is dead!” he shouted. Ftifying words rankled him but “You wouldn’t even stop at a there was too much important dog, Jackson, would you?” Tears work to be done to mull over the were streaming down his face. ideas of someone who was obvi- “That’s the best dog that ever ously failure-prone and neuroti- lived.” cally proud of it. “I don’t know what I have to And there was the crucial need do with it,” Jackson said, very to keep an eye on Jackson and nervous. Cooper whenever possible. Cooper whirled, eyes out like T*’‘^n one night Cooper called knobs, toward Dawes. "You’re FANTASTIC no good either but you’re an an- reading. Most of the tape was gel compared to that one. I want still unused. you to be my witness. Nelson “Exactly! It’s Jackson’s work saved my life tonight, Dawes. all right.” That’s right, sacrificed his life Jackson ran up to Cooper and for me. See, Jackson’s so pale grabbed him by the arm. “All you’d think he was the dead one.” right,” he said, “why don’t you “But how could a dog—,” pro- tell our young friend how you tested Dawes. had my apartment taped the oth- Cooper stroked the brown- er day and tried to have me spotted terrier as if he were Moleculided ?” awakening him from sleep. “Nel- “You were the one who always son wasn’t feeling very well this stole the ideas,” Cooper shouted evening, whimpering. So I at- back. “There was the kid with tached the automated doctor to the musical productions thirteen his chest to get a reading. When years ago. You bled his brain I went over to the console and white, had him fired, blackballed

turned it on it electrocuted him 1 him when I wanted to keep him Now, you know as well as I do on the payroll.” that it’s impossible for the in- Dawes hastily opened the ta- strument to harm anyone unless per and withdrew the used run, it’s been tampered ynth.” He held then substituted one of the emp- up a miniature transmode bar. ty pickup reels. He flicked the “It was tampered with. This hair switch on, slipped the de- jumped all the dozens of power vice back in it’s hidng place and safeguards and it was intended stepped out of camera range. for me. And that’s not all!” He “You’re the one,” Jackson was pulled a disconnected taper from shrieking, still gripping the arm, its hiding place in the wall. “This “you’re the one who needled Mr. was busy recording my pro- Ralphson into a heart attack thir- grammed death. He was going to ty years ago after he made us get a show out of it, cook up junior partners.” some story about my wanting “But who planned it all?” this last honor, respecting the Their charges flew back and wishes of the honorable suicide!” forth and they began shoving Dawes stared at the taper. It each other around the room. fit easily into the center of Coop- Dawes watched them nervously, er’s palm, the Jewel model which hoping they wouldn’t get out of was the smallest ever developed. taper range. He relaxed as they “Only a few people have Jewels,” circled back, raining blows on he said, glancing at the gauge each other’s head. Cooper picked

THIS IS YOUR DEATH up an ashtray. “You’re finished, Dawes stood up and leaned Jackson,” he said. “Dawes will against the wall to await the testify you went beserk and crew’s arrival. He was, he de- this,” he slammed him stunning- cided, incredibly lucky, so lucky ly on the head, “was the only way that it was bound to last him all to stop you. Why shouldn’t he? his long life. If Cooper and Jack- He’s getting your share.” son had been in reversed roles he “The shoe’s on the other foot,” could not be assured of a taper Jackson said groggily, gathering death scene record since it was enough strength to lunge a lamp not Jackson’s apartment. Mean- stand into his jaw. while, Jackson’s living on would assure a smooth transfer of pow- hey both fell to the floor, un- er, a ‘voluntary’ one. Tconscious. Dawes quickly took Then, too, he was lucky not to the taper from the wall again, have had Wright in his confi- withdrew the incriminating reel dence. It would have been so un- and then put the needle-holed de- necessary and he could hire all vice, reloaded, back. After he the young idea people he would pocketed the tape he calmly at- ever need, people he would al- tached the repaired automated ways know how' to control. He doctor to Jackson’s neck and took wanted to cry out in the loudest a synthesized reading, at the hard sell voice available: I’m on same time setting the doctor for top of the heap, all by myself! central hospital alarm. There but it wouldn’t do while the ta- was no indication of incipient per was on. A man really had to death but that wasn’t too unfor- know at every step of the way tunate; with the record of the how to keep an eye on himself. quarrel in his pocket he could al- As he turned back toward the ways control Jackson and cer- two men on the floor he was mo- tainly would get the needed mentarily startled to find Coop- shares. He unwound the doctor er’s eyes staring unbelievingly attachment and put it on Coop- up at him as if they belonged to er’s neck. There he had a purer another recording taper ; but form of luck. It indicated Cooper then he remembered the auto- was almost totally paralyzed and matic doctor’s categorical indi- would die within twelve hours. cation of almost total paralysis He was so far beyond saving from now until death and turned that there would be no reason for again to the taper to make cer- the medical crew to shift him to tain it was set to miss nothing, the hospital. including those glittering eyes. THE END FANTASTIC .

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inheritors of an ancient sin make their . . .

By JESSE ROARKE

Illustrator SUMMERS

hey sat together in their sor- They sat in silence, clinging Trow. He held her close, and to one another. He was sixteen, she whispered to him, like the and she was a year and a day breath of the dying year. younger than he. Early marriages “Oh, Thirlu!” she said. “You were encouraged, in this posta- must have made a mistake. It is dustian world; indeed, no one, by only your imagination, my darl- law, could pass unmarrie'd the ing!” age of eighteen. And still the He shuddered, like a dry leaf melancholy was over the land, in the winds of autumn. and the rate of birth was declin- “It is no mistake, my dear ing. Still the trees and the one”, he replied. “There is noth- streams were gone, and the ing like that terrible chill, and ground was parched and seared, when it comes, one knows. It is save in a few oases. Only small, farewell, Grenda, my life!” isolated pockets of humanity. like this of Helmevu, survived. are upon us, as long as we live.”

The leaves were stirring slight* “But it will end ! Surely there ly; a bird sang. Into the patch will be expiation, some day!” of sunlight their child crawled, “We can only hope, and do as their little son, Threndalco. He we must. I cannot escape the seemed normal to the glance, but law, the necessity. And I do not gave slight pause to the more wish to, since it would only add attentive regard. There was to the grim weight that is upon something different, some shade, us. My duty, my destiny is clear, some tendency : the hair was not and I must perform it, must

quite right, the carriage was a meet it. These must be our last little awry, the eyes now and moments. There will be no more then took on, slightly, a febrile embraces for us, my darling, ever glittering. Even to the fond par- again.” ents, the truth would soon be- “I cannot bear to part from come plain. you!” she sobbed. “Poor baby!” said Thirlu. “You can, you know you can”, “Poor world! What is to become he replied, gently stroking her of us, Grenda ? What can become hair. “And you must. At most of us? It is so many years now, you will suffer for a night, and so long past remembrance, and a little more; then I, our love, nothing has changed! Nothing, our marriage, our baby, will nev- except that we grow fewer, hope er have been, and you will be dwindles, the curse takes longer free for more happiness than I and longer to complete its ter- can give you. You will be dis-

rible change ! Our sorrow in- turbed by no memories, either of creases, and this is the only pleasure or of pain, for one can- change.” not remember something which Dumbly she buried her head has never existed.” in his bosom, and clung to him And so they sat together tighter still. The baby crawled through the long but all too short ever so little crookedly, and its afternoon. As the shadows small cry struck terror into these lengthened, he tenderly disen- listening hearts. gaged himself, and stood facing “Oh, it is so unfair!” she the sunset. cried. “Why are we tormented?” “Farewell”, he said. “Go quick- “We are descended from the ly, and do not look back.” tormentors”, he replied, “from She took up the feeble and un- those who twisted and tortured protesting baby and left him, themselves and the world. This weeping brokenly. He walked seems reason enough. Their sins alone into the forest.

ATONEMENT 113 , ll night, fasting, prayer- it twisted his heart, his whole A fully he wandered among the being, into one stifled cry. He silent trees. He asked fervently arose, and went, resolutely, on for forgiveness, he begged that his not to be avoided way. Prais- he be allowed to take the whole ing God, the priests, and all that sin upon him, to atone for it all, was, had been, and might be, he however great might be his pain. followed his fate, the beckoning, But if an answer was given him, the probing finger that would

he did not hear it. He walked on never desert him, or let him go. in silence, and prayed, and Fey he went through the forest thought. The old world must have and through the fields, approach- been so beautiful, if this little ing the appointed grove. portion of it shone with such The priests had also been natural favor. Why had things awake through the night, pray- been as they had been? Had ing, and making whatever other there always been a curse upon preparations might be required. it all, that blighted the fairest He thought of them with a swell- smiling? He shuddered, thinking ing of his breast. It was a great of the seemingly ineradicable thing, that they could do what scars. What terrible explosion, they could do, that they had what force of fire, the unhuman such power. It was said that in must have wielded, to have made the old prideful days men had such desolation! It was a pity, looked to external things alone, that they had not all been killed. and had stifled their inner pow- Why must a few survive, dead- ers beyond discovery. Then the ened, giving birth to monstrosi- teeming multitudes, forging their ties? It had been almost uni- doom in their self-opinionated versal, in the early succeeding ignorance, scoffed bitterly at any days; and it hung on still, a idea of human greatness, at all black pall to their brightest mo- real pi’ofundity or worthy aspira- ments. He prayed again that it tion: they built up little things, might be ended, that he might be and tore down all that was worth an instrument to this consumma- while. The finger probed, he tion, this rebeginning of life. shuddered. Before he went, And the silence answered him; would he learn why he was the and so he passed the whole of the heir of such men? Would he ever dark night, alone in the forest. understand things? Or were the priests only groping also, but a ITH the first morning rays little ahead? They said that this Wof white gold, again the was the fact, and reluctantly, as chill. It brought him to his knees, duty-bound, he believed them:

114 FANTASTIC :

but might there not be more? hey received him in silence, Might there not be a sudden Tgave him a ritual bath, censed breaking through? Even though and perfumed him. They burned it might be small, in the face of his tunic, prayerfully, and Trust, the priests' ability above dressed him anew; the greaves, the old measure, would seem to the corselet and the helmet puz- augur something, some hope, zled him, and he understood as some possibility of joy. little the shield and the spear, But he could not feel it. He the sword and the bow and ar- continued to plod, mechanically rows. But he would know, in time. and yet purposefully, ahead. He He stood firmly, and waited. thought of stories he had heard Within the ring of trees he of great divisions in the old stood, surrounded by a ring of world, of the East and the West. priests. And then the High Priest It was said that the East had came forward, laid firm hands been wiser, that it had accom- upon his shoulders, and stared plished more in the spirit, that into his eyes. He was drowsy, its best achievements had resist- and the chant of the High Priest ed the encroachments of the tech- he scarcely heard. nological barbarians : it was said Low and vibrant it rang on that the West had gradually been the still air leavening its grossness a little, 0 unfathomable mystery of through contact with its greater Time ! Let it be, if it may be, that neighbor. But it had not been your full truth, your treasure, enough, or there had not been shall enlighten men. Let there enough time, and the terrible vanish, in your fullness, all the fires had fallen. He wondered if erratic courses of this world. Let the East had survived, if the it be acceptable, this sacrifice, non-materialists still flourished this atonement! Let the blood- in the world, and taught the ut- lust, the suffering remain be- ter peace, the full assurance, the hind, 0 Time ! Let it be drowned. immortality. But the speculation 0 may you wash over the mad- was idle. He was here, and there ness of this world and give birth was no travel for him, on this to the straight, the clean. May it plane. His was a longer and a be so, that you double on your- more melancholy journey. The self, and swallow the unworthy: chill became a vastness, the finger may they come not again, for a hand, that squeezed hard ; tran- plague and pain. Let it be, that quilly, fervently he trod across we pierce and encompass you, 0 the green grass, approached the Time! O God that is, free us, priests with reverence. give us thine eternity ! May this

ATONEMENT 115 ! ! youth come to you. Accept his ing the advantage fiercely. Gor- sacrifice, let his immortal por- gythion poised his spear, and tion dwell high, in light forever. sought an opening. Almost Let the world be free: let hu- dreamily he stood, defending his manity be one great co-operation, city, athirst for glory. unwarped, undarkened. Let there Among the Greeks, the wiry be no further stupid rivalries little bowman Teukros was hid- and clashes. Let the best be ing behind the great shield of made manifest, and the worst ex- the giant Aias, his half brother. punged,forever. Whenever he saw a good target, 0 Peace and Truth! 0 Atone- he ran out from behind the ment ! 0 Time shield, shot, and ran back again,

O Great God ! 0 Atonement ! 0 like a child to its mother. His ar-

Peace ! Truth ! 0 Time rows never missed, and he had Time! OTime! just been praised by Agamem- Thus long it continued, though non for his good work, and prom- soon he no longer heard it. It ised especial honor upon the continued until his body van- sacking of the city. Swelling ished, and his misshapen child with pride, he leered down the was no more. shaft at Hektor himself, and loosed the string. But Hektor’s e awoke in camp, on the doom had not ripened. The bitter H windy plain of Dardanus. arrow clove the air, and passed There was no such person as over the shoulder of the main- Thirlu, and Helmevu was not stay of Troy. even a memory. His name was Gorgythion lowered his spear Gorgythion, and he was one of and surveyed the scene. He would the fifty sons of Priam: his not waste a cast. Dreamily he mother was Kastianeira. She was stood, and he hardly changed ex- from Aisyme, and she was as pression when the unwasteful lovely and fair as a goddess, al- Greek shaft buried itself in his most as beautiful as Helen her- breast. He almost smiled, as his self. He had inherited much of head sank to his shoulder, slowly, her beauty, and all of his father’s like a garden poppy in full bloom, manliness. heavy with spring showers. Un- He was a splendid figure, der his glistening helmet his standing almost indolently on the head sank like a flower : and like plain, in the midst of the battle. he slowly sank to the ground, and The Greeks were hard pressed lay still, the bloom hovering yet about their ships, and the Tro- upon him. jans, led by Hektor, were pursu- THE END 116 FANTASTIC ”

The EMPATHIC MAN

By GORDON BROWNE

Illustrator SUMMERS

He always identified with the underdog.

And when he identified, he identified.

here was the wretched at all sure that you are what I Tcouch he had always heard need—that is, that mine is a psy- about. Fortunately, there was an- chiatric problem. As a matter of other chair, too, opposite the doc- fact— tor’s. He lowered himself careful- “Why don’t you just tell me ly into that. about it, and then we can see “I want you to understand. Dr. what’s involved?’’ Fenderstone,’’ he said, “I’m not “Well, of course, if you wish.”

117 —

That seemed rather abrupt, listening. His own chair was be- not permitting him even to finish side the window. It was a com- his sentence. If he were not in fort as long as he had to tell all such hideous danger, he would this to be able to look out the just call off the whole business half-opened window while he and leave. But his mother was talked and watch the sky above right. Where else could he turn ? and the traffic far below and the “Well, I’m a bachelor. I live window washer opposite him on with my mother. She’s the one the office building across the who insisted I come to you. I’m street. It was better than facing not at all sure—I guess I’ve said the doctor. A very quiet, rather that.’’ odd-looking fellow, he was. He was not balmy—or neurot- Younger than he had expected. ic or psychotic or whatever they “Yes?’’ the doctor prompted. called itl He must tell this care- “H’mm?’’ fully. The wrong sort of person “You started to speak of some- could so easily twist his story to thing that happened when you make him sound like a real luna- were a child.’’ tic. He could not think what. He “I understand in this psychiat- shrugged. “Oh, nothing really. ric business you like to look back Just that I had this strong feel- into a person’s life. I should tell ing always about injustice and you, then, that I’ve always had and cruelty to the weak. I always this—^well, this special feeling sort of identified myself with the for the underdog. I mean—it al- victim, you see, and I’d think most seems sometimes as if our how he must be feeling, and it whole world is made up of at- would make me miserable unless tackers and victims—that every- I could help him.’’ thing preys on something, that each person preys on someone or e waited, but the doctor something else. I don’t know if H made no comment. He hur- you see what I mean, but—well, ried on. “This all came to a head like being cruel to someone just last week, Wednesday night, as a because he isn’t strong enough to matter of fact. I was coming protect himself—that sort of home from work on the subway, — ’’ thing—it upsets me terribly, al- and I was sitting ways has. I can remember when “Excuse me, Mr. Munson, I was a child— ’’ what do you do for a living?” He paused. The doctor was not “I’m in the insurance busi- taking notes or anything, just ness.” He was probably trying to sitting there watching him and figure his fee. He would get little

118 FANTASTIC help here, from this distant, pas- what I had overheard and deeply sionless doctor. Imagine an of- troubled by the plight of the poor fice without a single painting on soul. Her employer had refused the walls! even to give her a reference, I “Go on.” searched my mind for a way to “Oh, yes. Well, as I was say- assist her. When, at length, she ing, I was sitting between two began to weep, I impulsively laid Negro women, domestics appar- a comforting hand on her arm.” ently from their conversation, He looked quickly away from and they were talking back and the doctor and out the window, forth across me. The woman on hesitating. There was no way but my left, a huge, fat, very black to plunge ahead. woman, was telling her friend “She was surprised, of course, that she had lost her job that at this gesture from a stranger, very day. She was much dis- but I hastened to express my tressed, for her husband was out sympathy. As I did so, I chanced of work, and her youngest to look down at my hand, resting daughter was hospitalized for on her arm just above her wrist some reason. It seemed that her and hand. Mine appeared as employer had a worthless son, a black as hers.” boy of sixteen who was in con- For just a moment the hot stant trouble. His mother, how- flash of his earlier fear swept ever, could find no fault in him. him. He did not look at the doctor On this occasion, he had taken a but hurried on. large sum of money from his "In a foolish panic I leaped off mother’s purse and, when the the train at the next station. loss was discovered, had prompt- Then, standing on the platform, ly accused the maid, my subway I held my hands up under the companion, of stealing it. That bright station lights. Of course, foolish mother dismissed her on they were as white as ever. It the spot without listening to so had been just an illusion, caused much as a word of protest or ex- probably by the poor lighting in planation.” the swaying train, but it had The doctor registered no reac- been startlingly real.” tion at all. His face was like an On the window ledge outside a elaborate, uninteresting mask. It small black and brown spider must be part of their training to was constructing a web, moving take this unastonished attitude busily along its self-made paths. toward anything that was said to The window washer across the them. way had moved almost out of “I was incensed, of course, at sight to his right.

THE EMPATHIC MAN 119 ITH a noisy scratching and "Yes?” the doctor pressed on. Wdare, the doctor lit his pipe There was a growing tightness with a kitchen match. "Was this in his chest. He was extremely the only illusion of this sort you hot. “I helped her to a water experienced ?” fountain where I dipped my “No." Now he must speak handkerchief in the water and quickly and not think of what he washed off her knee. Her disap- said, for when he thought about pointment and frustration wrung it—He mopped at his forehead, my heart. At last I told her that then stroked slowly along his jaw I would give her fifty cents to and chin. "I found I was near the make up for the money she had

park. I thought a walk would be lost. She was delighted ! Imagine soothing. Almost immediately, my chagrin, then, when I reached however, I came upon a crying for my money and it wasn’t child, a small girl. She was stand- there! Neither change nor bills! ing in one of the gravel paths, My pockets had been picked! I blood dripping from a scrape on was furious! At last the poor her knee, crying her heart out. child went sadly off, while I sat Naturally, I tried to comfort her. on the bench, wondering how I She told me she had helped her could get home without money mother all afternoon in order to but especially vexed that I had earn a fifty cent piece so that she been unable to help her. Sudden- could go to the movies. Her hood- ly I observed a brown stain on lum brother, a big eighteen-year- my trousers. I pulled up my pants old, had offered to walk her to the leg and found a nasty scrape, theater, then had knocked her caused apparently when I knelt down, stolen her money, and run to assist the child. But even as I off with some of his worthless thought that, another, more !” cronies frightening idea began to grow The pathetic helplessness and in my mind.” desolation of the child defied The doctor was watching him description. He could still see closely, the lenses of his horn- her, knee dripping, knuckling her rimmed glasses magnifying his wet eyes, while the breeze blew attentive dark eyes. He looked her dark, rumpled hair about her away again to the window sill pale cheeks. Shaking his head, he where the finished spider web looked to the window sill again. glistened, though the spider it- The spider had completed a hand- self had disappeared. some web. The window washer He went on talking, trying to had disappeared. Traffic noise think only about the web or the below was muffied. window washer of the tall build-

120 FANTASTIC ! ing across the street or almost inatively planned in the first anything else. “I am not a Cath- place and now permitted to grow olic, but, of course, I know of the filthy and run down. Flies phenomenon of the Stigmata. swarmed everywhere, and the I've read, too, of some of the an- stench of untended stalls was cient Eastern beliefs about trans- overpowering. In a pen near the migration and similar phenome- walk, a bony, fly-covered Guern- na. I began to feel a little pan- sey cow submitted with desper- icky. I hurried along a walk lead- ate patience to being milked by ing out of the park when I sud- an unshaven, brutish-looking denly came upon a refreshment youth in dirty coveralls. In the stand. I was famished. Without next pen, bellowing piteously, thinking, I ordered a hamburger. was the cows calf. Periodically it Only when it was served did I re- would push against the gate be- member I had no money. I tween their pens, then bellow and reached into my pocket, just to be roll its eyes, pleading for anyone sure. My money was there. All who could to let it get to its of it! Every penny! Then, fum- mother for nursing. The lout who bling, I bent to look at my knee. was doing the milking ignored There was no trace of a scrape it, but occasionally the poor cow on it an5Twhere!” would turn its head toward the Involuntarily, he touched his calf, lowing softly. As if that knee, then shuddered. The doctor weren’t enough, a group of half seemed not to notice. a dozen small boys stood just outside the calf’s pen, torment-

e took a deep breath. “I ing it, pelting it with gravel from H plunged down a walk, al- the path, with twigs, with any- most running, I knew not where thing they could throw.” At last I stopped to get my bear- He paused as nausea swept ings, then walked on more slow- him, then receded. On the win- ly, eating my hamburger, for, dow sill, a sun-lazy fly walked though terrified, I was still hun- slowly back and forth. The spi- gry. I had just recognized the der web glistened. Across from place where I was by the tops of him the doctor smoked on, un- the buildings I could see above perturbed. the trees when I came upon a He twisted in the chair but special exhibit. It was a chil- could find no comfortable posi- dren’s zoo where all the familiar tion. “For just a moment I farm animals were displayed for watched, horror-struck by the the benefit of the city children. scene. The cow rolled its eyes to- It was a dismal affair, unimag- ward me as if pleading for my THE EMPATHIC MAN 121 ; ! ”!

help. I thrust the last bite of my jeered and scoffed, but, then, as 5 hamburger into my mouth and I drew nearer, they stood staring rushfed forward, but I was sud- stupidly. Suddenly they turned denly seized with terrible gag- and ran, shrieking in fear. I ging and choking. I . could not leaned over the fence, tears run- possibly have swallowed that ning down my face, and cradled hamburger ! I had seen into that the head of that poor calf in my cow’s eyes, into the eyes of that arms. My hands stroked across poor, tormented calf! I ran to a its forehead. Then my hands— rubbish barrel and spat out that He choked, dizzy with the fear cursed sandwich. To think—all that washed over him in huge, the times I have eaten beef continuous waves. “My hands Then I rushed, scolding, at the were covered with—^with short, boys who were flinging the rub- coarse hair—just like the hair bish at the calf!” on the calf’s nose!” He was shaking and could not He was near collapse. How keep his voice steady. The doctor could he tell the rest? He mopped was poking at the bowl of his hastily at his face with a hand- pipe with a match stick but kerchief. The doctor simply sat watching him. He lowered his there, like a great lump, watch- eyes, then had to look away from ing him suffer. He looked out the his trembling hands to the win- window. The spider had reap- dow. The fly had tangled one peared and was moving slowly to- wing and several feet in the web. ward the fly, still struggling to He closed his eyes. free itself. “Yes?” the doctor said. “I staggered back in horror “ ‘Yes?’ ” he bellowed. “Is that and raised my hands to my face all you have to say? What in My cheeks were hairy, too ! I ran God’s name are you made of? frantically from the park and Can’t you say anything but leaped into a cab. Giving my ad- •Yes’?” dress, I shrank down in the back The doctor shifted his position, seat, shaking. When I arrived stretching his legs slightly, then home, I raced straight into the crossing his knees. “I’d rather bathroom and took off all my not comment until I’ve heard clothes. My entire body was cov- your whole story.” ered with coarse, wiry hair!” He was sobbing. The doctor e lowered his head, gave him a box of tissues. After H watching his hands twisting a time his crying eased. He strug- in his lap. “All right. When I gled for control. first charged at those boys, they {Continued on page 130)

122 FANTASTIC !

{continued from page 6) and/or read them. There is too Bunch, in spite of Mr. Greco's much good fiction—at any rate, press-agenting. Perhaps Mr. Gre- better—^written for us to have co believes that David Bunch's to put up with such inferior ef- fugitive from a can opener com- forts. Perhaps there is a field of pares with the masks worn in fiction in which Mr. Bunch’s ma- “The Great God Brown”? All my terial might be acceptable, or life I have heard and read the even outstanding, but I do not wonderful plaudits of critics of believe fantastic should be both playwrights and studied classed in the same category. And their works in school, but I hardly I still believe that it would take a think any of our six grandchil- psychopath, or near-psychopath, dren will ever even hear of David both to write and to enjoy that

Bunch. t3T>e of story. I have no quarrel As for Mr. Greco’s "sincere de- with Mr. Greco if he wants to sire” that I reevaluate the worth place himself in the group. Let of constructive criticism, please him grab up his lance and fly to inform him that there is no need the rescue of his imperiled hero for a reevaluation, since I have if he wishes, but please, please always had a high respect for it. don’t inflict any more of said My opinion is, however, that the “hero’s” writings upon us. only constructive criticism of the Mrs. Alvin A. Stewart work of Mr. Bunch is that it Rt. 2, Box 64-A would be better not written. That San Saba, Texas would be a definite improvement I believe I am not alone in that • Don’t feel too badly, Mr. opinion, since after I broke the Bunch. A lot of folks didn’t like ice, so to speak, you have had a “The Great God Brown” when few more adverse criticisms of that ivas written, either. Seems his work. In fact, I don’t recall to us both prosecution and de- ever having seen any mention fense have had their say in the whatever of his writing until I matter of Fans vs. Bunch. The started the ball rolling. And Mr. Court (that’s us) reserves de- Greco is right in intimating that cision. it was “extreme condemnation”.

Definitely ! Regardless of any Dear Miss Goldsmith: hidden meanings or purposes, the I w’ould like to say in front, as stories, in my opinion, are just it were, that in my opinion your wastebasket material and not magazine has been improving worthy of the time, effort and steadily over the last year or so. material it took to publish them It is now one of the ones that I

ACCORDING TO YOU . . . 123 look for on the newstands, which sort of thing and have their san- was not true even six months ity survive? Even for the dura- ago. One of the reasons for this tion of the voyage? This setup is the high number of good and sounds to me like it was planned passably good serials you have to drive people crazy. Drugs and been publishing. I did not used all. to like serials in magazines de- Reading over the letter column voted to my favorite reading I find that I seem to take excep- stuff. Waste of space and time, tion to a number of Mr. Dixon’s I used to say. That was in the statements. In the first place I do good old days when you could not understand this 'larger than get a couple of good sf novels by life’ bit ; how many Grey Mousers walking down to the corner drug does Mr. Dixon know? The Grey store. Alas, those days are gone, Mouser seems to me qualitatively let us hope not forever. Now I if not quantitatively somewhat welcome novels anyway I can get larger than life size. Maybe my them. At this point I will say friends are just very dull. And that your latest, “Magnanthro- I would be willing to bet on Fa- pus,” was, if not excellent, at fhrd against Tarzan of John Car- least fully adequate. Keep them ter—in fact I’d consider the prob- at that level and you will have able odds a good risk. Secondly I my 35^ every month. am truly astonished to find either Now to the rest of the issue. Leiber or de Camp mentioned The cover was fine tho I'll admit for top honors in the fantasy that I did wonder who all those field. Has Mr. Dixon ever read people herding the animals were. either Titus Groan or the Ring Was finally forced to conclude Trilogy? Surely he has read that they were the 30 androids Alice in Wonderland? Any of mentioned at the end. these are in a class light-years Interior illustration were ade- above the forementioned epics, quate to good, none really grip- good though they are. ping. Finlay by far the best, but Mr. Dixon, can you explain that is no surprise. yourself? Possibly the most chilling Pat Scott thing in the issue was the edi- Box 401 torial. Brrr, what an idea. What Anacortes, Wash. are the automated space goers going to do when their space go- • Interesting you should mero- ing days are over? Do the scien- tian Titus Groan. I have it on tists in question really think that my bookshelf, have re-read it they can put people through this often, and wonder why no one

124 FANTASTIC else seems ever to have heard of those two in the running? That it. But isn’t it more Gothic hor- will take some doing, and from ror fantasy than SF? What say, w'hat I’ve seen of his work in the

Mr. Dixon? past. Young isn’t up to it. I am, however, very encour- Dear Editor: aged to see Banister’s fine novel. When I picked up the Septem- As I said before, this is the best ber FANTiSTic, the Finlay illos story you have ever had in fan- attracted my attention to “Mag- tastic, and the beat in either of nanthropus” so I started that your mags since Kelleam’s splen- first. Then, after I finished that did “Hunters Out of Space” in the first installment, I sat back, as- May ’60 amazing. It is extremely tonished at the magnificence of encouraging to see that there are this story, and at once cut out writers who can produce stories the subscription blank and sent of Golden Age Quality. it in. What a story! This is be- Greco’s letter makes me laugh. yond doubt the finest story that Bunch isn’t really a bad writer, FANTASTIC has ever presented. I it’s just that we aren’t intelligent am now eagerly awaiting the enough to understand him, is next installment. This is a story that what you’re trying to say, of a quality equal to that of the Greco? Rot. It’s an artist’s job, old classics, a story that could not only to create beauty, but al- very easily have stepped right so to communicate it to others. out of the page of an old weird This business about “my works or Munsey Mag of the Golden are too good for the masses” al- Age. Really a great story! ways struck me as being a case of Well, I’m not going to go off “the Emporers New Clothes” any- the deep end this time and pre- way. I have enjoyed a Bunch dict a new Golden Age, like I did tale or two—“The Last Zero” when you published Kelleam’s and “We Regret”—but out of the “Hunters Out of Space’’ in large number he has written this AMAZING. Not yet, anyway. But I seems like a rather small total. have subscribed, which shows Paul Zimmer that I do have a good deal of R. D. 1 faith in you, after all the fine is- East Greenbush, N. Y. sues you’ve put out recently, and next month’s line-up is very en- • “Magnanthropus" and “Sec- couraging, with both Banister ond Ending" are now running and Joseph E. Kelleam in one is- neck and neck in the mailbag for sue, “Deluge II” to be the most the fans’ favorite fantasy novel talked-about story of 1961—with of the year.

ACCORDING TO YOU . . . 125 :

Dear Editor Having just started my subscription to FANTASTIC, I received the July, August, September, and October issues within a one week period, and that is a lot of “Fantasy”. I started my subscription because I wanted to make sure I got the second in- If you’ve recently changed your ad- stallment of “Second Ending.” dress, or plan to in the near future, This is the first serial I have be sure to notify us at once. We’ll read that finished better than it make the necessary changes on your started. Normally a serial if mailing plate, and see to it that your good, whets the appetite for the subscription continues without inter- next installment which is usually ruption. Right now—print the in- it not formation requested in the spaces disappointing because can below and mail it to: FANTASTIC, live-up to the expectancy built- 434 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago 5, up over the preceding month. Illinois. But “Second Ending” really came through. I read the first installment in May, and the second Name Please PRINT I in September, and the second was better that the first. Let’s *Account No. have more stories by James Old Address White. Then came the September is- City State sue with Magnanthropus. I thought it was great, “too bad,” New Address I figured, “that the conclusion won’t live-up to the first part.” Zone State City Then the conclusion turned out even better than the first installment. That makes quite a score, Mail copies to new address starting two in a row. with issue. I hope the rest of my subscription is as good as the first four. Jim Pomykacz *(Your Account Number appears 7103 Agatite directly above your name on the Chicago 31, Illinois mailing label.) • Amen.

126 FANTASTIC — —

Dear Editor: POWER wim Magnanthropus was a disap- coMum m pointment. I like good science fantasy, but this was fantastic to the point of being a fairy tale. KERISTA—gives you greater power For one thing, I just can’t be- than the atom—right within your around you, mas- lieve that anything resembling mind. Master those ter your environment—release the man could evoke into beings so hidden genius in your genes through dissimilar and unhumanoid as this amazing new science KERISTA! the butterflylike Eeina and the Bigger than Zen, bigger than Yoga spiderlike Sea People, even under you can develop a whole new force by tapping your own dormant cosmic the influence of radiation. For power. Six lesson books in original another thing. Banister does not manuscript style give you everything convincingly explain why Toby you need for sensational seif-im- should mature from boyhood to provement in undiluted full force. Have friends, better job, manhood in such a short time. If more a an entirely new approach to living. growth rates on Eloraspon were Money back if not delighted. Only $1. speeded up, why wasn’t anyone Living School, Dept. ZD, 69-14 138 else affected ? All in all, Magnan- St, Flushing 67, N.Y. thropus was a complete letdown after White’s brilliant Second The Living Clocks Ending. I actually liked Second Ending so much that I intend BIORHYTHM

nominating it for the Hugo for Now you con chart in advance the physical, Best SF Novel of 1961. It most emotional and mental Ups and Downs of yourself and your friends through bio- definitely deserves a place up rhythm mathematics. there on the official nomination Write for literotvre on this amazing science ballot. or send $2.75 for our “Do-it-Yourself" Frederick Patten CYClGftAF manual with computation tables, 5166 Chesley Ave. a year's supply of chart blanks and the three cycle rulers. Los Angeles 43, Calif. BIORHYTHM COMPUTERS, INC. • Fantasy never needs a de- 28 East 22nd St., New York 10 fense, in our opinion. But just for the Magnanthropus record: 1 it’s possible the cataclysms ) af- Free to WRITERS fected Toby’s hormonal develop- seeking a book publisher did ment, 2) you ever think two Two fact-filteds illustrated brochures mammals as unlike as and tell how to publish your book* get man 40%. royalties^ national advertising, cow could evolve from that prim- publicity promotion. Free editorial appraisal. Write Dept. Fan. eval shrew-like mammal? ExpositiB* Press, 3B6 Park Ave. S., N.Y. 16 ACCORDING TO YOU 127 SHOPPING GUIDE

L.M. ^

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(Continued from page 122) rose and moved toward the outer The doctor waited until he was office. “I’ll have my nurse set up quiet, then asked, “What did you a schedule of treatments for you.” do then?” “I shaved my whole body.” he doctor went out, leav- “And did the hair come back?” Ting the door slightly ajar. “No. I have lain in my room Slowly the doctor’s words seeped ever since, until today, afraid to through his consciousness, and

go anywhere.” relief grew in him. Delusions ! All “Did your mother see it?” delusions “No, I didn’t want to tell her He moved to the window. The about it. I told her nothing till poor fly still struggled in the she began to ask why I didn’t go web, each rash flutter of its to work. Then she begged me to wings tying it more inextricably come to you. She thinks I’ve had to the sticky strands. Above it, some kind of breakdown. I don’t the spider maneuvered ruthlessly know where to turn. My God, for position to strike, to paralyze what’s going to happen to me?” its captive with poison. Shudder- The doctor leaned forward ing, he reached out toward the now, smiling easily. “Actually web, then drew back his hand in this business isn’t so extraordi- sudden fear. The spider swung nary as it doubtless seems to you. out and dropped below the fly, These delusions of yours, for that trailing a strand which crossed is what they unquestionably are, the fly’s body, binding it yet are fairly typical of a certain more tightly to the web. He kind of emotional upset with moved towarS^the narrow open- which we’re quite familiar. I ing at the bottom"^df the window, shan’t go into the details right watching the despairing fly twist, now. It will require a period of kick, flutter, and struggle.. There treatment, of course, perhaps was no escape for it, no possible even some hospitalization, but we escape at all! can help you, I feel sure.” He THE END

PRINTED IN U. S. A. tl30 Another scan by capel736