A hooded war-lord lec the hordes of M e ft I against the Ancient Doom..

A Novel of Warrior Worlds - A, LEIGH BRACKET VOL 4, NO. II • A FICTION HOUSE MAGAZINE • MARCH, 1951

^ PouA&ifful Novel o£ the Red tyJasdcL BLACK AMAZON OF MARS Leigh Brackett 72 Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city—with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his bloodstained belt. Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel—ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures—at his side strode the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!

^ *7uta Sfiace-/lcLue*tUttoe Nooeleti. THE STAR-SAINT A. E. Van Vogt 16 Mark Rogan could travel the airless Void without spaceships. He would answer on appeal for help from anywhere in the Golaxy—If it interested him. And he had a strange talent for dealing with alien life-forms—such as the terrible, invisible

Destroyer that stalked eight-hundred colonists on far-off Ariel . . .

ASTEROID OF FEAR Raymond Z. Gallun 40

All space was electrified as that harsh challenge rang out . . . but John Endlich hesitated. For he saw beyond his own murder—saw the horror and destruction his death would unleash—and knew he dared not fight back!

^ *Jlt>vee *Jh/iUL+uf, SU&U Sto>UeA

DUEL ON SYRTIS . Poul Anderson 4 Bold ond ruthless, he was famed throughout the System as a big-game hunter. But his trophy-room lacked one item; ond now Riordan swore he’d bag the forbidden game that roamed the red deserts ... a Martian!

THE ENVOY, HER H. B. Fyfe 31 The Emperor must be getting old, they thought, to deal so mercifully with the up-

true. . . start Jursan Rebels—which was quite He was not too young to dream . THE DIVERSIFAL Ross Rocklynne 62 Entore, a creature not yet born, and Bryan Barret, rebel, radical, diversifal—to- gether they worked to prevent a world of probability that would destroy the human race! © 1945 by Lore nominees Pub. Co.. Inc.

r ^ Pla*tet A Perfulasi tf-eatusie THE VIZIGRAPH—Letters from Readers 2

T. T. SCOTT, President JEROME BIXBY, Editor MALCOLM REISS, Genera! Manager

PLANET STORIES: Published bi-monthly by Love Romances Pub. Co., Inc., 180 W. 42 St., New York 18, N. Y. The entire eontenti of thl» magazine are copyrighted, 1951, by Love Romances Publishing Co., Inc. Reentered as second class matter August 16, 1950, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the art of March 3, 1879. All rights reserved. While due care is always exercised, the publishers will not be responsible for the return or unsolicited ma nuscripta. Price 25* per copy. For advertising rates address: Adver tiling Director, Fiction House, Inc., 130 W. 42 St., New York 18. N. Y. Printed in D. S. A. . —- . : . . . —

THE VIZIGRAPH

is just not again? His, Whitey’s, too. Hmmmmm? A letter column for letters ; so we’ll say and “Hi,” name the pic-award winners—1) De La Vizi brought up some good epistles this time, Weese; 2) Chabot; 3) Ganley—and git along. but I picked out three that seemed most worthy Happy New Year! hand out the pix to 1) Hapke 2) Gibson 3) (for no other reason than the vagaries of my mind) BEMS OF DISTINCTION Asimov. With an ‘s’. . By the Way — I think CARRY ME HOME was Box 493, as good as MITKEY, putting the two of ’em on Lyn Haven, Fla. top. Brother Bixby: All the shorts were good, genuine spacepics, It was with trepidation that I knocked on the pleasing me no end.

. . . me, but didn’t you drop door. There being no reply, I knocked again—this Hmmmm Pardon while? so, to time, with my knuckles. I steeled myself as I PS's Feature Flash for a If glad see it back. And now, why not radiate a recall for heard sounds within . . This had been a harrowing day, but at last I Guy Gifford’s Ringers? please with stardust on it, was nearly thru. This would be the final call. The And please, pretty thing opened the door and we exchanged a few please stop those Adam and Eve endings ! I can whispered words. With a relieved sigh and a hur- stand the post-atom Adam and Eve idea much explanation ried “Thank you,” I jotted some figures in my better than just one after another of how the original pair got here. notebook and scurried away. That proved it ! Yes, briefly, illos that proved it. In a dimension-wide interview, 9 Now, the out of 10 prominent Bems said they read Planet McWilliams, McWilliams, McWILLIAMS! Stories more than any other mag! Yes, more (A slight hint that I want an artist named M, c, i, double i, a, m, s It isn’t that I don’t like Bems read Planet than ever before! (Musical W, 1, ! ) Mayan, but I prefer and want more, more of— background and a chorus singing: P—L, A—N, Oh. Yes, it is kinda repetitious ... Anyhoo, you E—T !) All join in for: Planet Stories hits the spot— now know who I mean . . Six a year now, that’s a lot Vestal ! Artist Vestal, please step to the rear of Two thin dimes is all you need— the class. Who, may I ask, ever heard of a rocket with pistons? Ain’t yo’ done tole you that Planet Stories is the mag to read 1 momma (Editor’s revision: pistons are used in internal combustion engines?

Two thin dimes, and a nickel too— There’s—well—a slight difference . . Planet Stories is the mag for you!) Now to go back to my canvassing. I’ve got to see some flying cupcakes about how PS suits their Yes, it is ; and I did ! The Nov. ish, to be precise. And good it was, too. MITKEY RIDES AGAIN T zone — T for thrills, T for thud (as in thud was nearly as good as STAR MOUSE, which was and blunder) and T for Terra . . a pleasant surprise. Too often, with sequels, that Cerely, just ain’t so. But just one thing — if Mitkey’s in- Shelby Vick telligence returned once without the machine, why ( Continued on p. 15) 2 -

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duel on SYRTIS by POUL ANDERSON HE NIGHT WHISPERED THE Bold ruthless, he was and famed message. Over the many miles of throughout the System as a big-game Tloneliness it was borne, carried on hunter. From the firedrakes of Mer- the wind, rustled by the half-sentient lich- cury to the ice-crawlers of Pluto, he'd ens and the dwarfed trees, murmured from slain them all. But his trophy-room one to another of the little creatures that lacked one item; and now Riordan huddled under crags, in caves, by shadowy swore he'd bag the forbidden game dunes. In no words, but in a dim pulsing of dread which echoed through Kreega’s that roamed the red deserts . . . brain, the warning ran a Martian! They are hunting again. 5 6 PLANET STORIES

Kreega shuddered in a sudden blast of dwarfed the unkempt room with his size wind. The night was enormous around and the hard-held dynamo strength in him, him, above him, from the iron bitterness of and his cold green gaze dominated the the hills to the wheeling, glittering constel- trader. lations light-years over his head. He “It’s illegal, you know,” said Wisby. reached out with 'his trembling perceptions, “It’s a twenty-year sentence if you’re tuning himself to the brush and the wind caught at it.” and the small burrowing things underfoot, “Bah 1 The Martian Commissioner is at letting the night speak to him. Ares, halfway round the planet If we go Alone, alone. There was not another at it right, who’s ever to know?” Riordan Martian for a hundred miles of emptiness. gulped at his drink. “I’m well aware that There were only the tiny animals and the in another year or so they’ll have tight- shivering brush and the thin, sad blowing ened up enough to make it impossible. This of the wind. is the last chance for any man to get an The voiceless scream of dying traveled owlie. That’s why I’m here.” through the brush, from plant to plant, Wisby hesitated, looking out the window. echoed by the fear-pulses of the animals Port Armstrong was no more than a and the ringingly reflecting cliffs. They dusty huddle of domes, interconnected by were curling, shriveling and blackening as tunnels, in a red waste of sand stretch- the rocket poured the glowing death down ing to the near horizon. An Earthman in on them, and the withering veins and airsuit and transparent helmet was walk- nerves cried to the stars. ing down the street and a couple of Mar- Kreega huddled against a tall gaunt tians were lounging against a wall. Other- crag. His eyes were like yellow moons in wise nothing—a silent, deadly monotony the darkness, cold with terror and hate brooding under the shrunken sun. Life and' a slowly gathering resolution. Grimly, on Mars was not especially pleasant for a he estimated that the death was being human. . sprayed in a circle some ten miles across. “You’re not falling into this owlie-loving And he was trapped in it, and soon the that’s corrupted all Earth?” demanded Ri- hunter would come after him. ordan contemptuously. He looked up to the indifferent glitter “Oh, no,” said Wisby. “I keep them in of stars, and a shudder went along his their place around my post. But times are body. Then he sat down and began to changing. It can’t be helped.” think. “There was a time when they were slaves,” said Riordan. “Now those old T HAD STARTED a few days before, women on Earth want to give ’em the I in the private office of the trader Wisby. vote.” He snorted. “I came to Mars,” said Riordan, “to get “Well, times are changing,” repeated me an owlie.” Wisby mildly. “When the first humans Wisby had learned the value of a poker landed on Mars a hundred years ago, Earth' face. He peered across the rim of his had just gone through the Hemispheric glass at the other man, estimating him. Wars. The worst wars man had ever Even in God-forsaken holes like Port known. They damned near wrecked the old Armstrong one had heard of Riordan. Heir ideas of liberty and equality. People were to a million-dollar shipping firm which he suspicious and tough—they’d had to be, himself had pyramided into a System-wide to survive. They weren’t able to—to em- monster, he was equally well known as pathize the Martians, or whatever you a big game hunter. From the firedrakes of call it. Not able to think of them as any- Mercury to the ice crawlers of Pluto, he’d thing but intelligent animals. And Marti- bagged them all. Except, of course, a Mar- ans made such useful slaves—they need tian. That particular game was forbidden so little food or heat or oxygen, they can now. even live fifteen minutes or so without He sprawled in his chair, big and strong breathing at all. And the wild Martians and ruthless, still a young man. He made fine sport—intelligent game, that DUEL ON SYRTIS 7 could get away as often as not, or even not these. They’re just stupid laborers, as manage to kill the hunter.” dependent on our civilization as we are. “I know,” said Riordan. "That’s why You want a real old timer, and I know I want to hunt one. It’s no fun if the where one’s to be found.” game doesn’t have a chance.” He spread a map on the desk. “See, “It’s different now,” went on Wisby. here in the Hraefnian Hills, about a hun- “Earth has been at peace for a long time. dred miles from here. These Martians live The liberals have gotten the upper hand. a long time, maybe two centuries, and this Naturally, one of their first reforms was fellow Kreega has been around since the to end Martian slavery.” first Earthmen came. He led a lot of Mar- Riordan swore. The forced repatriation tian raids in the early days, but since the of Martians working on his spaceships had general amnesty and peace he’s lived all cost him plenty. “I haven’t time for your alone up there, in one of the old ruined philosophizing,” he said. “If you can ar- towers. A real old-time warrior who hates range for me to get a Martian, I’ll make Earthmen’s guts. He comes here once in it worth your while.” a while with furs and minerals to trade, “How much worth it?” asked Wisby. so I know a little about him.” Wisby’s eyes gleamed savagely. “You’ll be doing us all HEY HAGGLED for a while before a favor by shooting the arrogant bastard. T settling on a figure. Riordan had He struts around here as if the place be- brought guns and a small rocketboat, but longed to him. And he’ll give you a run Wisby would have to supply radioactive for your money.” material, a “hawk,” and a rockhound. Riordan’s massive dark head nodded in Then he had to be paid for the risk of satisfaction. legal action, though that was small. The final price came high. HE MAN had a bird and a rock- “Now, where do I get my Martian?” T hound. That was bad. Without them, inquired Riordan. He gestured at the two Kreega could lose himself in the labyrinth in the street. “Catch one of them and re- of caves and canyons and scrubby thick- lease him in the desert?” ets—but the hound could follow his scent It was Wisby’s turn to be contemptuous. and the bird could spot him from above. "One of them? Hah! Town loungers! A To make matters worse, the man had city dweller from Eiarth would give you landed near Kreega’s tower. The weapons a better fight.” were all there—now he was cut off, un- The Martians didn’t look impressive. armed and alone save for what feeble help They stood only some four feet high on the desert life could give. Unless he could skinny, claw-footed legs, and the arms, double back to the place somehow—but ending in bony four-fingered hands, were meanwhile he had to survive. stringy. The chests were broad and deep, He sat in a cave, looking down past a but the waists were ridiculously narrow. tortured wilderness of sand and bush and They were viviparous, warm-blooded, and wind-carved rock, miles in the thin clear suckled their young, but gray feathers cov- air to the glitter of metal where the rocket ered their hides. The round, hook-beaked lay. The man was a tiny speck in the huge heads, with huge amber eyes and tufted barren landscape, a lonely insect crawling feather ears, showed the origin of the name under the deep-blue sky. Even by day, “owlie.” They wore only pouched belts and the stars glistened in the tenuous atmos- carried sheath knives; even the liberals of phere. Weak pallid sunlight spilled over Earth weren’t ready to allow the natives rocks tawny and ocherous and rust-red, modem tools and weapons. There were over the low dusty thorn-bushes and the too many old grudges. gnarled little trees and the sand that blew “The Martians always were good fight- faintly between them. Equatorial Mars! ers,” said Riordan. “They wiped out quite Lonely or not, the man had a gun that a few Earth settlements in the old days.” could spang death clear to the horizon, "The wild ones,” agreed Wisby. “But and he had his beasts, and there would he > !

8 PLANET STORIES a radio in the rocketboat for calling his radioactivity meant, back when they fought fellows. And the glowing death ringed the humans. And their vision, extending them in, a charmed circle which Kreega well into the ultra-violet, made it directly could not cross without bringing a worse visible to them through its fluorescence- death on himself than the rifle would to say nothing of the wholly unhuman ex- give— tra senses they had. No, Kreega would try Or was there a worse death than that to hide, and perhaps to fight, and eventu- —to be shot by a monster and have his ally he’d be cornered. stuffed hide carried back as a trophy for Still, there was no use taking chances. fools to gape at? The old iron pride of Riordan set a timer on the boat’s radio. If his race rose in Kreega, hard and bitter he didn’t come back within two weeks to and unrelenting. He didn’t ask much of turn it off, it would emit a signal which life these days—solitude in his tower to Wisby would hear, and he’d be rescued. think the long thoughts of a Martian and He checked his other equipment. He had create the small exquisite artworks which an airsuit designed for Martian conditions, he loved; the company of his kind at the with a small pump operated by a power- Gathering Season, grave ancient ceremony beam from the boat to compress the at- and acrid merriment and the chance to mosphere sufficiently for him to breathe beget and rear sons; an occasional trip to it. The same unit recovered enough water the Earthling settling for the metal goods from his breath so that the weight of sup- and the wine which were the only valuable plies for several days was, in Martian gravity, things they had brought to Mars ; a vague not too great for him to bear. He dream of raising his folk to a place where had a .45 rifle built to shoot in Martian they could stand as equals before all the air, that was heavy enough for his pur- universe. No more. And now they would poses. And, of course, compass and binocu- take even this from him lars and sleeping bag. Pretty light equip- He rasped a curse on the human and ment, but he preferred a minimum any- resumed his patient work, chipping a spear- way. head for what puny help it could give him. For ultimate emergencies there was the The brush rustled dryly in alarm, tiny little tank of suspensine. By turning a hidden animals squeaked their terror, the valve, he could release it into his air sys- desert shouted to him of the monster that tem. The gas didn’t exactly induce sus- strode toward his cave. But he didn’t have pended animation, but it paralyzed efferent to flee right away. nerves and slowed the overall metabolism to a point where a man could live for weeks on one lungful of air. It was useful * * * in surgery, and had saved the life of more than one interplanetary explorer whose oxygen system went awry. But

Riordan sprayed the heavy-metal isotope Riordan didn’t expect to have to use it. in a ten-mile circle around the old tower. He certainly hoped he wouldn’t. It would He did that by night, just in case patrol be tedious to lie fully conscious for days craft might be snooping around. But once waiting for the automatic signal to call he had landed, he was safe—he could al- Wisby. ways claim to be peacefully exploring, He stepped out of the boat and locked hunting leapers or some such thing. it. No danger that the owlie would break half-life in if The radioactive had a of about he should double back ; it would take four days, which meant that it would be tordenite to crack that hull. unsafe to approach for some three weeks He whistled to his animals. They were —two at the minimum. That was time native beasts, long ago domesticated by the enough, when the Martian was boxed in Martians and later by man. The rockhound so small an area. was like a gaunt wolf, but huge-breasted There was no danger that he would try and feathered, a tracker as good as any to cross it. The owlies had learned what Terrestrial bloodhound. The “hawk” had — —

DUEL ON SYRTIS 9 less resemblance to its counterpart of ling would ever understand were on his

Earth: it was a bird of prey, but in the side. Their thorny branches twisted away tenuous atmosphere it needed a six-foot as he darted through and then came back wingspread to lift its small body. Riordan to rake the flanks of the hound, slow him was pleased with their training. but they could not stop his brutal rush. He The hound bayed, a low quavering note ripped past their strengthless clutching fin- which would have been muffled almost to gers and yammered on the trail of the Mar- inaudibility by the thin air and the man’s tian. plastic helmet had the suit not included The human was toiling a good mile be- microphones and amplifiers. It circled, hind, but showed no sign of tiring. Still sniffing, while the hawk rose into the alien Kreega ran. He had to reach the cliff edge sky. before the hunter saw him through his Riordan did not look closely at the rifle sights—had to, had to, and the hound tower. It was a crumbling stump atop a was snarling a yard behind now. rusty hill, unhuman and grotesque. Once, Up the long slope he went. The hawk perhaps ten thousand years ago, the Mar- fluttered, striking at him, seeking to lay tians had had a civilization of sorts, cities beak and talons in his head. He batted at and agriculture and a neolithic technology. the creature with his spear and dodged But according to their own traditions they around a tree. The tree snaked out a had achieved a union or symbiosis with branch from which the hound rebounded, the wild life of the planet and had aban- yelling till the rocks rang. doned such mechanical aids as unnecessary. The Martian burst onto the edge of the Riordan snorted. cliff. It fell sheer to the canyon floor, The hound bayed again. The noise five hundred feet of iron-streaked rock seemed to hang eerily in the still, cold air; tumbling into windy depths. Beyond, the to shiver from cliff and crag and die re- lowering sun glared in his eyes. He paused luctantly under the enormous silence. But only an instant, etched black against the it was a bugle call, a haughty challenge to sky, a perfect shot if the human should a world grown old—stand aside, make way, come into view, and then he sprang over here comes the conqueror! the edge. The animal suddenly loped forward. He He had hoped the rockhound would go had a scent. Riordan swung into a long, shooting past, but the animal braked itself easy low-gravity stride. His eyes gleamed barely in time. Kreega went down the like green ice. The hunt was begun! cliff face, clawing into every tiny crevice, shuddering as the age-worn rock crumbled REATH SOBBED in Kreega’s lungs, under his fingers. The hawk swept close, B hard and quick and raw. His legs hacking at him and screaming for its felt weak and heavy, and the thudding of master. He couldn’t fight it, not with every his heart seemed to shake his whole body. finger and toe needed to hang against shat- Still he ran, while the frightful clamor tering death, but rose behind him and the padding of feet He slid along the face of the precipice into grew ever nearer. Leaping, twisting, a gray-green clump of vines, and h i s bounding from crag to crag, sliding down nerves thrilled forth the appeal of the an- shaly ravines and slipping through clumps cient symbiosis. The hawk swooped again of trees, Kreega fled. and he lay unmoving, rigid as if dead, until The hound was behind him and the it cried in shrill triumph and settled on his hawk soaring overhead. In a day and a shoulder to pluck out his eyes. night they had driven him to this, run- Then the vines stirred. They weren’t ning like a crazed leaper with death bay- strong, but their thorns sank into the ing at his heels—he had not imagined a flesh and it couldn’t pull loose. Kreega human could move so fast or with such en- toiled on down into the canyon while the durance. vines pulled the hawk apart. The desert fought for him; the plants Riordan loomed hugely against the dark- with their queer blind life that no Earth- ening sky. He fired, once, twice, the bul- Inside Front

Cover is Missing —

10 PLANET STORIES lets humming wickedly close, but as shad- elephant and buffalo and sheep on the high ows swept up from the depths the Mar- sun-blazing peaks of the Rockies. Rain tian was covered. forests of Venus and the coughing roar of The man turned up his speech amplifier a many-legged swamp monster crashing and his voice rolled and boomed mon- through the trees to the place where he strously through the gathering night, thun- stood waiting. Primitive throb of drums der such as dry Mars had not heard for in a hot wet night, chant of beaters danc- millennia: “Score one for you! But it ing around a fire—scramble along the hell- !” isn't enough ! I’ll find you plains of Mercury with a swollen sun lick- The sun slipped below the horizon and ing against his puny insulating suit—the night came down like a falling curtain. grandeur and desolation of Neptune's liq- Through the darkness Kreega heard the uid-gas swamps and the huge blind thing man laughing. The old rocks trembled with that screamed and blundered after him his laughter. But this was the loneliest and strangest and perhaps most dangerous hunt of all, IORDAN was tired with the long and on that account the best. He had no R chase and the niggling insufficiency malice toward the Martian; he respected of his oxygen supply. He wanted a smoke the little being’s courage as he respected and hot food, and neither was to be had. the bravery of the other animals he had Oh, well, he’d appreciate the luxuries of fought. Whatever trophy he brought home life all the more when he got home—with from this chase would be well earned. the Martian’s skin. The fact that his success would have He grinned as he made camp. The little to be treated discreetly didn't matter. He fellow was a worthwhile quarry, that was hunted less for the glory of it—though for damn sure. He’d held out for two days he had to admit he didn’t mind the publi- now, in a little ten-mile circle of ground, city—than for love. His ancestors had and he’d even killed the hawk. But Rior- fought under one name or another—vik- dan was close enough to him now so that ing, Crusader, mercenary, rebel, patriot, the hound could follow his spoor, for whatever was fashionable at the moment. Mars had no watercourses to break a trail. Struggle was in his blood, and in these So it didn’t matter. degenerate days there was little to strug- He lay watching the splendid night of gle against save what he hunted. stars. It would get cold before long, un- Well—tomorrow—he drifted off to mercifully cold, but his sleeping bag was sleep. a good-enough insulator to keep him warm with the help of solar energy stored dur- E WOKE in the short gray dawn, ing the day by its Gergen cells. Mars H made a quick breakfast, and whistled was dark at night, its moons of little help his hound to heel. His nostrils dilated with —Phobos a hurtling speck, Deimos merely excitement, a high keen drunkenness that a bright star. Dark and cold and empty. sang wonderfully within him. Today—may- The rockhound had burrowed into the be today! loose sand nearby, but it would raise the They had to take a roundabout way alarm if the Martian should come sneak- down into the canyon and the hound cast ing near the camp. Not that that was likely about for an hour before he picked up the —he’d have to find shelter somewhere too, scent. Then the deep-voiced cry rose again if he didn’t want to freeze. and they were off—more slowly now, for The bushes and the trees and the little it was a cruel stony trail. furtive animals whispered a word he could The sun climbed high as they worked not hear, chattered and gossiped on the along the ancient river-bed. Its pale chill wind about the Martian who kept himself light washed needle-sharp crags and fan- warm with work. But he didn’t understand tastically painted cliffs, shale and sand and that language which 'was no language. the wreck of geological ages. The low Drowsily, Riordan thought of past hunts. harsh brush crunched under the man’s feet, The big game of Earth, lion and tiger and writhing and crackling its impotent pro- —

DUEL ON SYRTiS 11 test. Otherwise it was still, a deep and around the wilderness of trees and needles taut and somehow waiting stillness. which blocked view in any direction. Ob- The hound shattered the quiet with an viously the owlie had backtracked and eager yelp and plunged forward. Hot climbed up one of those rocks, from which scent! Riordan dashed after him, tramp- he could take a flying leap to some other ling through dense bush, panting and point. But which one? swearing and grinning with excitement. Sweat which he couldn’t wipe off ran Suddenly the brush opened underfoot. down the man’s face and body. He itched [With a howl of dismay, the hound slid intolerably, and his lungs were raw from down the sloping wall of the pit it had gasping at his dole of air. But still he covered. Riordan flung himself forward laughed in gusty delight. What a chase! with tigerish swiftness, flat down on his What a chase! belly with one hand barely catching the animal’s tail. The shock almost pulled him REEGA lay in the shadow of a tall into the hole too. He wrapped one arm K rock and shuddered with weariness. around a bush that clawed at his helmet Beyond the shade, the sunlight danced in and pulled the hound back. what to him was a blinding, intolerable Shaking, he peered into the trap. It had dazzle, hot and cruel and life-hungry, hard been well made—about twenty feet deep, and bright as the metal of the conquerors. with walls as straight and narrow as the It had been a mistake to spend priceless sand would allow, and skillfully covered hours when he might have been resting with brush. Planted in the bottom were working on that trap. It hadn’t worked, three wicked-looking flint spears. Had he and he might have known that it wouldn’t. been a shade less quick in his reactions, he And now he was hungry, and thirst was would have lost the hound and perhaps like a wild beast in his mouth and throat, himself. and still they followed him. He skinned his teeth in a wolf-grin and They weren’t far behind now. All this looked around. The owlie must have day they had been dogging him; he had

worked all night on it. Then he couldn’t never been more than half an hour ahead. be far away—and he’d be very tired No rest, no rest, a devil’s hunt through a As if to answer his thoughts, a boulder tormented wilderness of stone and sand, crashed down from the nearer cliff wall. and now he could only wait for the battle It was a monster, but a falling object on with an iron burden of exhaustion laid on Mars has less than half the acceleration him. it does on Earth. Riordan scrambled aside The wound in his side burned. It wasn’t as it boomed onto the place where he had deep, but it had cost him blood and pain been lying. and the few minutes of catnapping he “Come on I” he yelled, and plunged to- might have snatched. ward the cliff. For a moment, the warrior Kreega was For an instant a gray form loomed over gone and a lonely, frightened infant sobbed the edge, hurled a spear at him. Riordan in the desert silence. Why can’t they let snapped a shot at it, and it vanished. The me alone? spear glanced off the tough fabric of his A low, dusty-green bush rustled. A sand- suit and he scrambled up a narrow ledge runner piped in one of the ravines. They to the top of the precipice. were getting close. The Martian was nowhere in sight, but a Wearily, Kreega scrambled up on top faint red trail led into the rugged hill of the rock and crouched low. He had

country. Winged him, by God ! The hound backtracked to it; they should by rights Was slower in negotiating the shale-covered go past him toward his tower. trail his own feet were bleeding when he He could see it from here, a low yellow ; came up. Riordan cursed him and they ruin worn by the winds of millennia. There set out again. had only been time to dart in, snatch a They followed the trail for a mile or bow and a few arrows and an axe. Pitiful two and then it ended. Riordan looked weapons—the arrows could not penetrate —

12 PLANET STORIES the Earthman’s suit when there was only crushed it underfoot. Somewhat later, he a Martian’s thin grasp to draw the bow, heard a dull boom echoing between the and even with a steel head the ax was a hills. The man had gotten explosives from small and feeble thing. But it was all he his boat and blown up the tower. had, he and his few little allies of a des- He had lost ax and bow. Now he was ert which fought only to keep its solitude. utterly weaponless, without even a place Repatriated slaves had told him of the to retire for a last stand. And the hunter Earthlings’ power. Their roaring machines would not give up. Even without his ani- filled the silence of their own deserts, mals, he would follow, more slowly but as gouged the quiet face of their own moon, relentlessly as before. shook the planets with a senseless fury Kreega collapsed on a shelf of rock. of meaningless energy. They were the con- Dry sobbing racked his thin body, and the querors, and it never occurred to them sunset wind cried with him. that an ancient peace and stillness could Presently he looked up, across a red be worth preserving. and yellow immensity to the low sun. Long Well—he fitted an arrow to the string shadows were creeping over the land, peace and crouched in the silent, flimmering sun- and stillness for a brief moment before light, waiting. the iron cold of night closed down. Some- The hound came first, yelping and howl- where the soft trill of a sandrunner echoed ing. Kreega drew the bow as far as he between low wind-worn cliffs, and the could. But the human had to come near brush began to speak, whispering back and first forth in its ancient wordless tongue. There he came, running and bounding The desert, the planet and its wind and over the rocks, rifle in hand and restless sand under the high cold stars, the clean eyes shining with taut green light, closing open land of silence and loneliness and a in for the death. Kreega swung softly destiny which was not man’s, spoke to him. around. The beast was beyond the rock The enormous oneness of life on Mars, now, the Earthman almost below it. drawn together against the cruel environ- The bow twanged. With a savage thrill, ment, stirred in his blood. As the sun went Kreega saw the arrow go through the down and the stars blossomed forth in hound, saw the creature leap in the air and awesome frosty glory, Kreega began to then roll over and over, howling and bit- think again. ing at the thing in its breast. He did not hate his persecutor, but the Like a gray thunderbolt, the Martian grimness of Mars was in him. He fought launched himself off the rock, down at the the war of all which was old and primitive human. If his ax could shatter that hel- and lost in its own dreams against the met alien and the desecrator. It was as an- He struck the man and they went down cient and pitiless as life, that war, and together. Wildly, the Martian hewed. The each battle won or lost meant something ax glanced off the plastic—he hadn’t had even if no one ever heard of it. room for a swing. Riordan roared and You do not fight alone, whispered the lashed out with a fist. Retching, Kreega desert. You fight for all Mars, and we are rolled backward. with you. Riordan snapped a shot at him. Kreega Something moved in the darkness, a tiny turned and fled. The man got to one knee, warm form running across his hand, a sighting carefully on the gray form that little feathered mouse-like thing that bur- streaked up the nearest slope. rowed under the sand and lived its small A little sandsnake darted up the man’s fugitive life and was glad in its own way leg and wrapped about his wrist. Its small of living. But it was a part of a world, strength was just enough to pull the gun and Mars has no pity in its voice. aside. The bullet screamed past Kreega’s Still, a tenderness was within Kreega’s ear as he vanished into a cleft. heart, and he whispered gently in the lan- He felt the thin death-agony of the guage that was not a language, You will do snake as the man pulled it loose and this for us? You will do it, little brother? —

DUEL ON SYRTIS 13 IORDAN was too tired to sleep well. the devil’s skin soon! R He had lain awake for a long time, Breakfast and a little moving made him thinking, and that is not good for a man feel better. He looked with a practiced eye alone in the Martian hills. for the Martian’s trail. There was sand So now the rockhound was dead too. It and brush over everything, even the rocks didn’t matter, the owlie wouldn’t escape. had a thin coating of their own erosion. But somehow the incident brought home The owlie couldn’t cover his tracks per- to him the immensity and the age and the fectly—if he tried, it would slow him too loneliness of the desert. much. Riordan fell into a steady jog. It whispered to him. The brush rustled Noon found him on higher ground, and something wailed in darkness and the rough hills with gaunt needles of rock wind blew with a wild mournful sound reaching yards into the sky. He kept go- over faintly starlit cliffs, and it was as if ing, confident of his own ability to wear they all somehow had voice, as if the down the quarry. He’d run deer to earth whole world muttered and threatened him back home, day after day until the ani- in the night. Dimly, he wondered if man mal’s heart broke and it waited quivering would ever subdue Mars, if the human race for him to come. had not finally run across something big- The trail looked clear and fresh now. He ger than itself. tensed with the knowledge that the Mar- But that was nonsense. Mars was old tian couldn’t be far away.

and worn-out and barren, dreaming itself Too clear ! Could this be bait for another into slow death. The tramp of human feet, trap? He hefted the rifle and proceeded shouts of men and roar of sky-storming more warily. But no, there wouldn’t have rockets, were waking it, but to a new been time destiny, to man’s. When Ares lifted its He mounted a high ridge and looked hard spires above the hills of Syrtis, where over the grim, fantastic landscape. Near then were the ancient gods of Mars? the horizon he saw a blackened strip, the It was cold, and the cold deepened as border of his radioactive barrier. The Mar- the night wore on. The stars were fire and tian couldn’t go further, and if he doubled ice, glittering diamonds in the deep crystal back Riordan would have an excellent dark. Now and then he could hear a faint chance of spotting him. snapping borne through the earth as rock He tuned up his speaker and let his or tree split open. The wind laid itself to voice roar into the stillness: “Come out, rest, sound froze to death, there was only owlie! I’m going to get you, you might the hard clear starlight falling through as well come out now and be done with space to shatter on the ground. it!” Once something stirred. He woke from The echoes took it up, flying back and a restless sleep and saw a small thing forth between the naked crags, trembling Mattering toward him. He groped for the and shivering under the brassy arch of rifle beside his sleeping bag, then laughed sky. Come out, come out, come out— harshly. It was only a sandmouse. But it The Martian seemed to appear from proved that the Martian had no chance thin air, a gray ghost rising out of the of sneaking up on him while he rested. jumbled stones and standing poised not He didn’t laugh again. The sound had twenty feet away. For an instant, the echoed too hollowly in his helmet. shock of it was too much; Riordan gaped With the clear bitter dawn he was up. in disbelief. Kreega waited, quivering ever He wanted to get the hunt over with. He so faintly as if he were a mirage. was dirty and unshaven inside the unit, Then the man shouted and lifted his sick of iron rations pushed through the rifle. Still the Martian stood there as if airlock, stiff and sore with exertion. Lack- carved in gray stone, and with a shock of ing the hound, which he’d had to shoot, disappointment Riordan thought that he tracking would be slow, but he didn’t want had, after all, decided to give himself to to go back to Port Armstrong for an- an inevitable death. other. No, hell take that Martian, he’d have Well, it had been a good hunt. “So — — —

14 PLANET STORIES long,” whispered Riordan, and squeezed air he had, so it was necessary to let the the trigger. suspensine into his suit. But he’d have to Since the sandmouse had crawled into get inside the bag, lest the nights freeze the barrel, the gun exploded. his blood solid. He crawled in, fastening the flaps care- IORDAN heard the roar and saw the fully, and opened the valve on the sus- R barrel peel open like a rotten banana. pensine tank. Lucky he had it—but then, He wasn’t hurt, but as he staggered back a good hunter thinks of everything. He’d from the shock' Kreega lunged at him. get awfully bored, lying here till Wisby The Martian was four feet tall, and caught the signal in ten days or so and skinny and weaponless, but he hit the came to find him, but he’d last. It would Earthling like a small tornado. His legs be an experience to remember. In this wrapped around the man’s waist and his dry air, the Martian’s skin would keep hands got to work on the airhose. perfectly well. Riordan went down under the impact. He felt the paralysis creep up on him, He snarled, tigerishly, and fastened his the waning of heartbeat and lung action. hands on the Martian’s narrow throat. His senses and mind were still alive, and Kreega snapped futilely at him with his he grew aware that complete relaxation beak. They rolled over in a cloud of dust. has its unpleasant aspects. Oh, well— he’d The brush began to chatter excitedly. won. He’d killed the wiliest game with his Riordan tried to break Kreega’s neck own hands. the Martian twisted away, bored in again. Presently Kreega sat up. He felt him- With a shock of horror, the man heard self gingerly. There seemed to be a rib the hiss of escaping air as Kreega’s beak broken—well, that could be fixed. He and fingers finally worried the airhose loose. was still alive. He’d been choked for a An automatic valve clamped shut, but there good ten minutes, but a Martian can last was no connection with the pump now fifteen without air. Riordan cursed, and got his hands about He opened the sleeping bag and got the Martian’s throat again. Then he sim- Riordan’s keys. Then he limped slowly ply lay there, squeezing, and not all Kree- back to the rocket. A day or two of ex- ga’s writhing and twistings could break perimentation taught him how to fly it. that grip. He’d go to his kinsmen near Syrtis. Now Riordan smiled sleepily and held his that they had an Earthly machine, and hands in place. After five minutes or so Earthly weapons to copy Kreega was still. Riordan kept right on But there was other business first. He throttling him for another five minutes, didn’t hate Riordan, but Mars is a hard just to make sure. Then he let go and world. He went back and dragged the fumbled at his back, trying to reach the Earthling into a cave and hid him beyond pump. all possibility of human search parties find- The air in his suit was hot and foul. He ing him. couldn’t quite reach around to connect the For a while he looked into the man’s hose to the pump eyes. Horror stared dumbly back at him. Poor design, he thought vaguely. But He spoke slowly, in halting English: "For then, these airsuits weren’t meant for bat- those you killed, and for being a stranger tle armor. on a world that does not want you, and He looked at the slight, silent form of against the day when Mars is free, I leave the Martian. A faint breeze ruffled the you.” gray feathers. What a fighter the little Before departing, he got several oxygen guy had been! He’d be the pride of the tanks from the boat and hooked them into trophy room, back on Earth. the man’s air supply. That was quite a bit Let’s see now—He unrolled his sleep- of air for one in suspended animation. ing bag and spread it carefully out. He’d Enough to 'keep him alive for a thousand never make it to the rocket with what years. . . !

THE VIZIGRAPH 15

( Continued from p. 2) This should get some sort of "least original story BACK TO THE FOLD . . of the year” prize. The indirect method of narra- tion saved it. 402 West Clay, 5. CARGO TO CALLISTO by Jay B. Drexel. Houston 6, Texas This was standard stuff, Dear Mr. Bixby: but the author was pleasantly attentive to the details which make up Planet was the first s-f magazine I read, and verisimilitude. this fact for time pre- the recollection of some 6. THE LAST TWO ALIVE by Alfred Cop- vented me from not buying it. Nevertheless, some pel. This offering is so bad (aside from the writ- year-and-half ago I bought what I thought would ing, style, or whatchamacallit) that I am tempted be last issue of the magazine. And I meant it my to shout “la ! Shubhiggurath ! Yog-Sohoth too. Cthulhu f’taghn R’yleh! The goat with a thou- talking But, a two-month or so ago, I was sand Young” and to rate it in terms of Zeno-jugs. (about sfantasy, naturally) with Chad Oliver and But I will be merciful, and only list my objections Garvin Berry, and Chad mentioned, in connection (why didn’t you or the previous editor think of with the phenomenon which may be known to them before you or he bought the story or what- future literary historians of the as “The S-F ever?) in four main categories. I. It was an Adam Renaissance of 1950- ?’’, that even Planet Stories and Eve story. No doubt most of your readers, had improved. I was incredulous, until I con- being science-fiction fans, are Darwinists. And as sidered the astonishing (no competitor now, sob) for the orthodox, this type of story offends them improvement in the former Palmer magazine, and too, by rationalizing their delusions. II. If you’re the improvement in Palmer in his own magazines. going to rationalize the Bible, you might at least So, I bought the V. 4, no. 8 issue of PS, which read it first. There is no reason to connect the somehow appeared on the magazine rack of the serpent of Genesis with the Satan of Job, or either local drugstore (which does not ordinarily carry with Lucifer son of the Morning. And you can it), though somewhat late. The stories were good hardly write a story of this type and omit Yahveh, (most of them), and, better yet, Mitkey’s return as Coppel did, without making yourself ridiculous. was prophesied. I decided to become a regular Coppel seems to have derived his plot rather from reader of PS once more. And the stories in the Milton’s ridiculously scrambled account than from November issue consolidated my resolve, as you the Bible itself, and, in any case, the account in shall read in the story-rating and comment which Genesis is probably derived from a much older follows. Babylonian myth (extant), which differs still 1. CARRY ME HOME by C. H. Liddell. I’d more from Milton's high-sesthetic nonsense. III. I have liked a bit more elaboration on the subject refuse to believe that any outside agency (or any of the Thing in the Pool, but this was too un- inside agency) short of surgery can change a usually good to quibble about. And I mean un- man’s bony structure into an ape’s within zero usually ! Usually, aliens in sf are, whatever their generations. And, if- the apes were dumped on one appearance, somewhat revised humans in be- continental mass and Aram and Deve on the havior. Not that respect for absolute justice is an other, how account for the almost even distribu- inhuman characteristic. Nevertheless, I think that tion of men and monkeys through both land even the most lawabiding humans would have as masses? (I started to write apes instead of mon- much trouble as Rohan did in adjusting to the rule keys above, but remembered in time that there of the D’vahnyan. are no native American apes.) And, since no 2. MITKEY RIDES AGAIN by Fredric change in size in the infected subjects was men- Brown. This was something of a disappointment. tioned, how does Mr. Coppel account for the fact It was a fine tale, but, as one might expect after the apes which man most resembles (or vice these years, most of the mood which made THE versa) are the small (usually, that is) lemurs? STAR-MOUSE what it was has dissipated. This IV. I refuse to believe that a society not founded is an almost pure adventure story, but so good a on the same history as our “Western” society one that I can’t be too angry with Brown for his could have the same culture. simplification of the characters and themes of 7. SIDEWINDERS FROM SIRIUS by Fox the original story. Whitey could have been better B. Holden. Just filler. Competent, but not very. drawn, I thought, but that might have stretched What’s the idea of having an unpunnable name, the somewhat thin story to the breaking point in huh? the necessary expansion. Incidentally, your blurb Michael Wigodsky was an example and a goal. But the description on Sorry to cut that impressive list of artists out the contents page was uncomfortably close to the of your overlong letter, Mike — hut you’ll find “Sool Darm opened his many-lidded reptilian two you wanted in this issue: Edd Cartier and eyes” school. Paul Orban. 3. MACHINE OF KLAMUGRA by Allen K. Hm, another Timmins fan . . . rare animals, Lang. A gadget story, which Planet Stories though Ghu knows why I Shake, pardner . . (pardon the personification) would probably have recoiled from in horror, a few years ago. The UNPUNNABLE, EH ? gimmick was not an especially clever one, but 115E. Mosholu Pkwy. the characters and setting were better than usual Bronx, 67, N. Y. in gadget stories, which usually ignore such re- Dear Jovian Brontosaurus: quirements in the joy of puzzlement. Besides, the first six paragraphs were so good that I couldn’t This is indeed a gala day (and as Groucho rate it any lower even had the remainder been on Marx once said, a gal a day is enough for any- the G. O. Smith (whom never allow to contam- body). I am writing a letter to Planet! (Knew inate your pages) level. you'd be overjoyed). No doubt, once you have 4. FINAL MISSION by John D. MacDonald. (Continued on p. 39) 9BU STAR-SAINT

By A. K. VAN VOGT *

S HE PASSED THE TWO and came here when he heard about our women in the corridor of the space- trouble. He doesn’t need spaceships to ship Colonist Leonard Hanley travel, A 12, you know . . heard one of them say: Hanley walked on, cynical and annoyed. “He was on the far side of the galaxy, As leader of the colonists, he’d been ad- 16 Metal screeched , . men mrntfsammm shrieked in dismayed agony >.•

Mark Rogan could travel the airless Void without spaceships. He would answer an appeal for help from anywhere in the Galaxy — if it interested him. And he had a strange talent for dealing with alien life-forms — such as the terrible, in- visible Destroyer that stalked eight-hundred colonists on far-

Ariel , , , 2—Planet—March — !

18 PLANET STORIES \ vised two hours before by Captain Crans- you get all radio messages here ?” ton that Mark Rogan had arrived. The “Well—yes, in a sense.” The operator commanding officer’s memo had stated, hesitated. “Fact is, Mr. Rogan doesn’t an- among other things: swer regular calls. You broadcast your “Since we will reach the planet Ariel, problem. He comes only if he’s interested.” our destination, within half an Earth day, “He just arrives, is that it?” we are fortunate that the Space Patrol’s “That’s correct.” great alien communications expert was “Thanks,” said Hanley in a subdued available to help us. Mr. Rogan’s presence voice. means that you and your people can make He was quietly furious as he walked on. your landing at once, regardless of what The set-up shrieked of the phoniness of a may have happened to the first settlement man who allowed people to believe that he

. . . and the ship can leave.” was supernormal. So he didn’t use space-

The reference to the ship departing im- ships to travel through space ! And he help- mediately made Hanley grim. “Oh, no, you ed only if something interested him don’t, Captain,” he thought. “You’re not Hanley’s anger subsided abruptly. It leaving till we find out what’s happened struck him with a shock that Rogan’s down there.” coming had sinister significance. Because He continued along the corridor to the he had come. in radio room, looked through the window, Hanley reached his own apartment ; and and saw that the operator on duty was a Eleanora, his wife, was serving lunch to young man named Farde. “Anything himself and the two children when a wall new?” Hanley asked. communicator switched on, and a voice an-

The operator turned lazily. His manner nounced : had just enough insolence in it to be irri- “Attention, all passengers and crew. We tating, and just enough deference to make are entering the atmosphere of Ariel. Cap- it difficult to take offense. tain Cranston has called a meeting in the “Same old repetition of our messages,” auditorium for one hour from now to he said. discuss the landing.”

ANLEY hesitated. Time had been ANLEY sat awkwardly in a chair on H when he had tried to break down H on the auditorium platform, and un- this barrier between crew and passengers. easily watched the angry colonists. It seem- He’d felt that, in a long, two-year voyage, ed hard to believe right now that they had there shouldn’t be constraint or hostility. elected him their leader. For he realized Yet, in the end, he’d given up. To the crew they must land regardless of the danger on members, the eight hundred colonists the planet below; and that was a reality men, women and children—were "emi- that most of the colonists did not seem to grants.” They had no lower term ap- be facing. plicable to human beings. They were shouting furiously, shaking Hanley, who was an engineer, and who their fists at Captain Cranston, who stood had been a university professor, had often at the front of the platform. The roar of thought the crew members were not a their voices filled the small room, and prepossessing lot. echoed from the halls beyond, where other Once more, he hesitated, remembering people crowded, listening to the loud- the two women who had gossiped in the speaker. corridor about the mysterious Mark Rogan. Despite his own tension, Hanley kept He said casually: “We were lucky to get being distracted by the stranger who sat hold of Mark Rogan.” ; n the chair beside him. Rogan, he guessed. "Yep.” It could be no other on this ship, where “When,” asked Hanley, “did he first get everyone knew everyone else. in touch with you?” Even without his foreknowledge, there “Oh, that wouldn’t be through here, sir.” would have been reasons for noticing the “How do you mean?” Sharply. “Don’t man. Rogan was slim of build, about five : :

THE STAR-SAIKT 19

had heard had listened in feet ten inches tall ; and Hanley amazement to the sugary him say something to Captain Cranston in reassurance, stared at the audience, baffled. a voice so soft, so gentle, that he had felt a Anxious, too. He had heard Mark Rogan thickening of dislike in his throat. The had an unsavory reputation where women stranger had eyes as green as emeralds, an were concerned. unusual color for a human being. Captain Cranston was speaking again,

With a faint distaste, Hanley turned conversationally : “Len, I want you to meet away from the man and studied the view- Mark Rogan.” To Rogan, he said: "Mr. ing plate at the rear of the platform. It was Hanley is leader of the colonists.” quite a large plate, and a sizable area of The vividly green eyes seemed to study the ground below was visible on it. Hanley’s face. Rogan smiled finally, and The picture was not clear at this height, held out a slender hand. Hanley grasped yet it was sharp enough to show green it grudgingly, and instinctively squeezed vegetation. To the left was the silvery hard on the long, tapering fingers. gleam of a winding river. To the right Rogan’s smile sharpened slightly, and he were the ruins of the first human settle- returned the pressure. Hanley felt as ment on the planet Ariel. though his hand had been caught in a vise.

Hanley studied the scene unhappily. As He turned pale with the pain of it. In a scientist and administrator, he felt no agony, he let go. Instantly, the other’s grip personal fear at anything that might de- relaxed also. Momentarily, thoughtfully velop below. But when he thought of now, the green eyes examined him again. Eleanora and the children, his feelings Hanley had the unhappy conviction that about the landing became mixed up. his enmity had been evaluated, and that he The audience quieted at last. At the had lost the first round. front of the stage, Captain Cranston said: Captain Cranston was facing the audi- “I admit an unfortunate situation has ence. “Ladies and gentlemen, the explora- arisen. I cannot explain how, on an ap- tory landings will be made by armed craft parently uninhabited planet, a human under the joint command of Mr. Rogan colony has been destroyed. But I must land and Mr. Hanley. There’s still time for a you. We haven't enough food to take back descent today, so let’s make our orepa ra- such a large group. I regret it, but here tions.” you are and here you must remain. But now—” he half turned— “I want to in- * * * troduce you to a man who came aboard ship today. Mark Rogan, one of the great Into the crewboat Hanley loaded a men of the Space Patrol, is here to help walkie-talkie, a Geiger-counter, a ground you. Mr. Rogan, will you come over here radar instrument, and a gadget that could to be introduced. And you, also, Mr. make vibrations all the way from sound Hanley.” waves through the ultra-sonic range on up As Rogan came up, the officer said, "Mr. to short wave radio. Rogan, please say a few words to these un- From the corner of one eye, he saw happy people.” Rogan coming along the corridor. He turn- Rogan looked at them for a moment, ed away hastily, then—as quickly—looked then smiled, and said in the same gentle again. And his first impression was right. voice Hanley had already heard The man wore slacks and a shirt that was "Folks, everything will be all right. Have open at the neck. His pockets did not bulge no fear. I’ve listened to these radio re- with gadgets. His hands were empty. He petitions, and I feel confident that in a day carried no visible equipment. or so I’ll be able to give you the signal Rogan nodded a greeting which Hanley that means safe landings.” curtly acknowledged. As Rogan stepped in- to the crewboat, Hanley thought satirically E STEPPED BACK. There was "At least he’s condescending to travel H dead silence; and then all over the by ordinary transportation.” auditorium women sighed. Hanley, who It was about ten minutes later that the : ; .

20 PLANET STORIES small craft came to rest in the middle of and he were walking away from the shat- the desolation that had been a settlement tered remnants of the settlement. Hanley of one thousand people. was surprised that the other had yielded As Hanley climbed shakily to the ground, so readily to his suggestion. He noticed one of the crew members said: “The place that Rogan kept looking into the sky, and looks as if it’d been worked over by a bull- only once or twice paused to study the dozer.” ground. Hanley had to swallow as he stared at The hard, gravelly soil gave way to the shambles. Somebody, or something, had smooth, lawn-like grass. The stones and gone to a lot of trouble. The. buildings, boulders that had been everywhere around which had been made of field stone, the destroyed village, disappeared. They were so thoroughly demolished that even came to the first considerable grove of the individual stones had been scattered. trees. Some bore fruit. Others were blos- Here and there, grass was beginning to som-filled. A sweet fragrance permeated grow again. Except for that, and except the clear, warm air. for a few large trees, as far as he could They reached the river, a wide stream see, the land had been ploughed raw as if that flowed with an oily slickness suggest- by a gigantic scraper. ing depth and speed. They followed a natural pathway along the foot of an ANLEY strode forward, stumbled ever steeper shore till finally the bank was H over something, looked down, and a hundred foot high overhanging diff. drew back hastily. He had stepped on From ahead, now, came the roaring sound what was left of a human being. The flesh of water tumbling over falls. and bone had been ground into the soil. Rogan, who was slightly ahead, paused He saw now that there were bodies all and Hanley chose the opportunity to lower over among the wreckage. It was not al- his heavy pack and set up his instruments. ways easy to make them out. Many of The Geiger-counter had not clicked once, them seemed a part of the ground, so so he laid it on the ground out of the way. completely had they been smashed, and He spoke briefly into the walkie-talkie, and pushed in, and covered with dirt. it roared back at him a babble of signals. Frank Stratton, a young colonist, came It was not a pleasant feeling, listening to over and stood beside him. Hanley turned that confusion of calls. Aboard ship, the and called to Rogan effect had been eerie. Here several miles “I think we should take a quick look from the village, it gave Hanley a queasy over this territory, Mr. Rogan. How about sensation. you and me walking down by the river, He was suddenly dissatisfied with their while Mr. Stratton and—” he named a position. “Mr. Rogan,” he called, “don't colonist technician— "go into those hills. you think we’re in a rather vulnerable The others can pair up to suit themselves. spot ?” No directives to anyone. Just report what Rogan did not turn, nor did he show in you see, and turn back in two hours or any way that he had heard the question. less.” Hanley flushed and, abruptly furious, Hanley didn’t wait for agreement, but walked over to him. “We’ll have this out hurried over to the crewboat. It would be right now!” he thought. unusual for the two leaders of a group to go off together, but he was determined S HE CAME UP, he saw that the to see an alien communications expert at A other was staring down at a small area work. In the back of his mind he had of sand. It reminded Hanley that Rogan already decided to try to solve the problem had paused twice previously, and both himself, without help from the “expert.” times had looked at similar patches of sand. He lifted his pack of instruments out of The discovery briefly drained Hanley’s the boat, and slung it over his shoulder. anger. He had been looking for a pattern The weight of the load made him stagger, in Rogan’s activity; and here it was. He

but he leaned into it ; and presently Rogan stopped, and studied the area. It looked THE STAR-SAMT 21 like ordinary sand, a grayish yellow-brown detecting its existence. You will not im- in color, quite unassuming, and about as mediately realize to what extent that fact unlikely a source of life as anything he had rules my actions. And so, I suggest that ever seen. you do not start feeling friendly toward Hanley hesitated. He wanted to ask me because I have made this rather involv- questions, but the man was so discourteous ed explanation. You’ll probably regret it.” that he hesitated to expose himself to fur- Hanley, who was already disposed to be ther insults. He half-turned away—and more friendly, felt uneasy. It seemed clear then saw that Rogan was looking at him. that Rogan meant exactly what he had Rogan said in his soft voice: said. “Mr. Hanley, I sense in your attitude He saw that the man was looking at the that you spoke to me a short time ago, sand. Hanley turned, and strode back to

and that you are incensed because I did his instruments. He thought : “After all, I not answer. Is that correct ?” ought to be able to locate the larger life Hanley nodded, not trusting himself to forms without knowing anything about speak. The wording seemed to imply—he the building blocks—and in that depart- couldn’t decide, but it re-stimulated his an- ment mechanical equipment may be very ger. “Sense in your attitude,” indeed. Was useful.” Rogan trying to suggest that he had not He set up his ground radar device, and heard the words? Hanley waited, fuming. began to send signals straight down. He Rogan went on, “I find myself in this aimed the signals in various directions situation so often that, for the most part, and, once, obtained a reaction which indi- I do not bother to explain it any more.” Hi9 cated the existence of a tiny cave—it was green eyes glowed as with a light of their a mere pocket, and unimportant. own. “However, since it may be necessary He repacked the radar instrument, and for us to cooperate in the coming crisis, I began to tune the vibration machine. The ask you to believe me when I say that I do response needle leaped suddenly. There not hear when I am concentrating. I shut was a shout from Rogan: “Hanley—jump off all extraneous phenomena.” He finished —this way!” gently, “If that statement violates your Hanley heard a crashing sound above sense of reality, I'm sorry.” him, and involuntarily looked up. He yelled Hanley said grudgingly, “I’ve heard of hoarsely as he saw the rock, only feet such things. Hypnosis.” away. He tried to duck—and there was a “If you need a label,” said Rogan, and stunning blow, an instant of unbearable his tone was almost indifferent, “that’s as pain, and blackness. good as any. But, actually, it is not the answer.” AIN. His head ached and ached. With Belatedly, it struck Hanley that the other P a groan, Hanley opened his eyes. He had made an effort to be friendly. He said was lying beneath the overhanging edge of quickly, “Thank you, Mr. Rogan, I ap- the rocky cliff, a few feet from where he preciate the explanation. But would you had been when the rock struck him. mind telling me, what are you looking for The sound of the nearby waterfall was in that sand?” loud in his ears. Instinctively, before he “Life.” Rogan was turning away. “Life remembered that it was still out of sight, in so simple a state that it is generally not he strained to locate it. He succeeded only even thought of as such. You see, Mr. in getting a better view of the visible part Hanley, every planet has its own initial of the ledge, where Rogan had been be- life-process, the state where inorganic mat- for the rock struck him. ter and organic are almost indistinguish- Rogan was not in sight. able. This process goes on continuously; Hanley climbed to his feet. His equip- and it is the building block of all subse- ment was lying to his left, the radar device

quent life on that particular world. I can- on its side, smashed. Ignoring it, he not prove this to you. There is no instru- walked along the ledge past it to where ment I know of except my own brain for there was a sharp turn. That gave him a ”

22 PLANET STORIES

view of nearly a mile of the river’s curv- the others. He had told them that Rogan ing bank. There was not a movement any- had gone on only after assuring himself where that he could see. that Hanley was not seriously hurt. Rogan Puzzled, and beginning to be angry, had done nothing of the kind. But it was Hanley walked in the other direction nearly essential that the colonists continue to trust two hundred yards. He saw the falls sud- him. denly around a bend. The water dropped Some time during the night Hanley’s more than a hundred feet to the beginning strength and energy came back. About of a great valley. A forest came down to dawn, he opened his eyes in tense excite- the river’s edge, and stretched away into ment. That rock! Its fall had been no the distance, a green and brown vista. accident. Somebody or something had Nowhere was there a sign of Rogan. shoved it down upon him. Hanley returned to get his things, un- “I’ll go out there in the morning,” he decided as to what his next move should decided. be. He felt impelled to go on. And yet, un- questionably, the rock had missed killing E WAS DRESSING when his wife him by millimeters. There was caked blood H came in, about nine o’clock. She on the side of his head, and his cheek walked over to a chair, and sank into it. burned where the skin had been scraped Her fine gray eyes looked tired. Her long off. blonde hair had not been properly ar- He was momentarily relieved to dis- ranged. There were lines in her face. cover a note stuck in the handle of the “I’ve been worried,” she said drably. Geiger-counter. "The guy’s human after “I’m all right.” Hanley spoke reassur- all,” he thought. ingly. “I was only bruised a little, and Then he read the note. It said: “Go shaken.” back to the ship ! I’ll be gone for a day or She seemed not to hear. “When I think two.” of him down there with the fate of the Hanley compressed his lips, and the whole colony depending on his remaining flush that mounted to his cheeks was not alive— all fever from his wound. Yet, once more, Briefly, it shocked Hanley to realize fhat his anger died away. Rogan was not re- her anxiety was for Rogan, not himself. sponsible for him; and his job on this She looked up unhappily. planet did not require that he look after “Len, do you think it was wise of you injured people. to let him go on alone?” Hanley switched on the walkie-talkie. Hanley stared at her in amazement, but The earphones were alive with sounds. made no reply. It seemed to him that there His own voice, in jumbled messages that was no adequate comment to make to that. he’d sent from the ship more than a week Nevertheless, as he ate breakfast, he felt before, was part of the crescendo of noise. more determined than ever to solve this Half a dozen times, he tried to send an S. O. problem before Rogan. S., giving his position. The appeal was A few minutes later, with Frank Stratton taken up, and lost among the rest. at the controls of the crewboat, he set out There was nothing to do but start along once more for the river. His plan of action

trail . . . the village the back He reached was simplicity itself : If there was life nere, just before dark, and was immediately it would show itself in some way. An ob- taken up to the ship. Both doctors in- servant man should be able to find it with- sisted that he spend the night in the hospi- out having a special type of brain. tal ward, though they reported reassuringly that he would probably be all right in the * * * morning. Hanley slept fitfully. Once, he waked They came down in a meadow half a up and thought: “At least he’s a courage- mile from the river and about a mile from ous man. He’s down there alone, at night.” the waterfall. It seemed a sufficiently cen- It justified to some extent his own lie to tral position from which to examine the ” ”

TEE STAR-SAINT 23 rock-throwing episode. same suspicions as Stratton was experienc- Young Stratton, who had been silent ing. during the flight said suddenly, “Pretty “What’s he trying to do?” asked the country—if it weren’t for the stones.” young man grimly. “Produce a bunch of Hanley nodded absently. He climbed freaks like himself?” down to the ground, and then paused for That was so exactly the way he had another survey of the countryside. Trees, originally heard it that Hanley swallowed. miles of green grass, gaily colored flowers, In spite of himself, he said sarcastically, the silvery gleam of the waterfall, and the “Maybe he believes his wild talent for great forested valley beyond it—here was dealing with non-human races should be natural beauty in abundance. spread as widely as possible. Particularly, True, as Stratton had pointed out, there I imagine, he feels that when his services were small rocks in plenty, but they could have been called for, the women of the new be removed. Hanley walked to the nearest colony should be only too willing to pro- one, and picked it up. It was about the vide perceptive children and so secure the size of a large melon, and unexpectedly future of the human race on that planet. light in weight. He stood holding it, watch- It—” ing the sunlight flash over its surface. He came to an abrupt stop, startled. He At first glance, it seemed to be granite, had intended to be ironic, but abruptly the bright reflecting surfaces suggesting the notion sounded plausible. And neces- mica specks. On closer examination, Han- sary. ley wasn’t so sure. He saw that his fingers "My God!” he thought,— “if he ever were already stained yellow. Sulphur, he comes near Eleanora, I’ll guessed. And in rather free form. In abrupt tension, he raised the rock Behind him, Stratton said sullenly, “This in his hands above his head, and flung it fellow, Rogan—who is he? I mean, is down upon another one nearby. There was there some special reason why the women loud, cracking sound. Both stones shattered, have to go silly over him? Dorothy kept and a chance wind blew a cloud of yellow- me awake half the night worrying about ish dust into his face. The smell of sul- his being down here alone.” phur was momentarily unbearably strong. Intent though he had been on the stone, Hanley coughed, almost choked, and then Hanley recalled the similar reaction of he had backed out into fresher air. Eleanora, and half turned. “He’s the only He was about to bend down over the one of his kind,” he began, “except for— broken pieces of the two stones, when He stopped. For the rest was rumor only. Stratton let out a yell. “Mr. Hanley—the He went on slowly, “According to reports, rocks—they’re moving!” his parents were wrecked on some unin- habited planet, and he was born there while N THAT FIRST MOMENT of mental they were repairing the ship. He was still I confusion, Hanley had several fantas- a child when they took him away, and by tic impressions. Unquestionably, stones all the time they began to suspect he was over the meadow were beginning to roll different, it was too late.” towards them, slowly, as if they were not “Too late for what?” exactly sure of their direction—but they “They had no idea where the planet was •were rolling. Simultaneously, the wind that on which they’d been wrecked.” had been merely a series of gusts until "Oh !” The blonde youth was silent. then, began to blow at gale proportions. Hanley was about to return his attention Dead leaves whirled into his face. Small to the stone when Stratton said, “What’s pieces of grit stung his cheeks this story about his having children all Hanley’s eyes began to water. Through over the galaxy?” a blur, he made his way to the crewboat, “Another rumor.” and fumbled for the steps that led to the Hanley spoke curtly. It gave him no deck. The wind was so strong now that pleasure to defend Mark Rogan, especially he had to bend into it to remain on his when his own mind was uneasy with the feet. From above him, young Stratton yell- ” —

24 PLANET STORIES ed: “This way—quick!” a stick at something that seemed to be A hand caught Hanley’s shoulder, guid- threatening him from the other side of the ing him. A moment later he was scrambling small craft. up the steps, and had flung himself pros- Stratton turned, “The stones!” he yelled trate beside his companion. He lay there hoarsely. “They’ve piled up. They’ll be for a minute, gasping. Then he saw Strat- spilling on top of us in a minute.” ton wriggling towards the controls. Hanley hesitated. It seemed to him that Hanley shouted at him, “Frank—wait!” by remaining they had learned how the The blonde youth turned, and said ear- enemy attacked. Perhaps, if they stayed

nestly : “Mr. Hanley, we’d better get out of just a bit longer here. We might be blown over on our His thought was interrupted by another side.” shout from young Stratton: “Mr. Hanley His words were tossed by the wind, dis- —look!” torted, and delivered finally half-faded, but still comprehensible. Hanley shook his head ANLEY followed the young man’s stubbornly. H pointing hand. A giant rock was lift- “Can’t you see?” he shouted. “These ing itself out of the ground a hundred feet

stones are the life-form ! We’ve got to stay away. It was at least ten feet in diameter, and find out things about them. If we can and it was poising now, turning, as if try- get enough information we won’t need Ro- ing by means of some alien senses to de- gan.” cide its direction. In a moment it would It stopped the young man. He turned a be bearing down on them. contorted face towards Hanley.—“By heav- Hanley gulped, and then in a loud yet en,” he said, “We’ll show that calm voice said, “All right—lift her up l” His whole body twisted with eagerness. As Stratton manipulated the drive con- Hanley called to him, “Turn on the radio! trol lever, there was a surge of power that Let’s see what’s coming over.” sent a vibratory impulse through the rigid The radio was alive with voices. Where- metals of the ship. The deck throbbed un- ever Stratton turned the dial, he produced der Hanley, and he could almost feel the uproar that was loud and continuous. Han- engines straining to lift the craft. ley listened grimly for a minute, and then “Mr. Hanley, something is holding us !’’ glanced over the side of the boat. down He winced as he saw that the stones Hanley thought blankly: “We’ll have to were piling up against the side of the get out and run. But where to?” small vessel, one on top of the other. The He was about to say, “Try again !” when pile, at its highest point, was about three he saw that the huge rock was starting to feet from the ground. It sloped back to a move. Straight at the ship it came, gather- thin line of pebbles some twelve to fifteen ing speed each time it turned over. feet from the bigger stones at the front. Hanley shouted, “Frank—the big rock Hanley estimated that there were several —come this way 1” hundred stones already in the pile. He didn’t wait to see if the young man More were coming. He flinched, but kept obeyed. With a convulsive effort, he flung on looking. As far as he could see over himself far out over the side of the craft. that wind-swept meadow, stones were rol- He landed on the rock he had aimed at, ling towards the crewboat. Their speed and, using it as a spring board, leaped seemed to vary according to their size. He again. judged that the medium-sized ones were Behind him, there was a crash, a squeal- traveling two or three miles per hour, ing of metal and the shriek of a human whereas several that were almost two feet being in mortal agony. in diameter were moving at nearer five And silence. miles per hour. The pile grew even as he watched. Han- * * * ley turned uneasily toward Stratton. And saw that the young man was pushing with He was running, with a dying wind THE STAH-SAMT 25 lending wings to his feet. Hanley finally His eyes searched tor stones in that di- slowed from exhaustion, and looked back. rection. A few moving objects were visible He had gone about two hundred and fifty among the shrubbery, but there was so yards; and there were several trees and much brush and scrubwood that it seemed much shrubbery between him and the evident that small rocks would have diffi- crewboat. But he could see that the rock culty in making progress. That became his was still lying on top of the smashed craft. hope, instantly. He noticed no movement anywhere. Even He hurried past several large trees, the stones were still. sizing them up for girth as he went by. The great wind blew in gusts only now. The largest tree in the vicinity he found It was spent. Already, the incident had a less than two hundred feet from the dream-like quality. It seemed incredible cliff’s edge. that Frank Stratton was lying dead or One section of its huge trunk sloped up desperately injured in the wreck of the from the ground at so gradual a slant that boat. Hanley thought distractedly: “I’ve he’d be able to run up it swiftly, scramble got to go back.” up to another thick branch, and from there A hundred feet from him, a small stone go almost to the top of the main trunk stirred, lifted itself out of its hole, and which towered majestically above any other started hesitantly toward him. Simultane- tree in the neighborhood. ously, there was other movement. Scores Hanley hurried to the edge of the cliff of stones began to move in his direction. overlooking the river. The water was Hanley retreated. He had an empty feel- nearly fifty feet below, and the wall of the ing about what had happened to his com- cliff ran sheerly down. It even slanted panion. But far more important was the inward slightly; and there was no possi- fact that he had found the hostile life- bility of climbing down with a ladder. One form on this planet. He had to get back look convinced Hanley that the river did to the ship with that vital information. not offer a way of escape. He headed on a course parallel to the As he headed back toward the tree, he river toward the village, which he judged saw uneasily that more than a score of was three or four miles away. In a few stones had rolled between him and the minutes he had outdistanced the moving safety of the trunk. He walked straight stones. “They’re slow,” he thought exult- toward one of them. It kept rolling in the antly. “It takes a little while for them to same direction after he had stepped over decide that somebody is around.” it, and did not stop until he had gone past He began to picture the life of the two more of the blind things. Then it colonists on this frontier planet. They’d halted, and began hesitantly to move to- have to clear rocks from whole areas. Ato- wards him again. guns with their thousand-unit explosive His fear faded even more. He took a charges to a loading would be standard quick look around to make sure that he equipment for men and women alike. It was not being hemmed in. Then he waited was even possible to visualize a time when for the stone to come up to him. As it the curious rock-life would be of museum approached, he studied it anxiously for a interest only. They must have a very slow sign of intelligence. There was nothing growth, and so could probably be eliminated but the smoothly porous, rock-like sub- from all except the most remote territories stance. within a measurable time. It rolled right up against his foot, touch- He was still considering the possibilities ed his boot—and attached itself. when he saw a solid glitter of stones ahead. He kicked at it, but it clung as if it were glued to the boot. It weighed at least five ANLEY STOPPED, chilled. Hastily, pounds, and when he moved his foot he H he turned from the river. And stop- felt the drag of it, the need to strain his ped again. The stony glitter was in that muscles in order to lift it, the sharp fear direction, also. that he wouldn’t be able to get rid of it. Swallowing, he headed for the river. Other stones were approaching him. ” ””

26 PLANET STORIES Alarmed, Hanley retreated to the tree He was about to resume eating when the trunk, and, bending down, removed the odd tone in which his wife had spoken boot to which the rock had attached itself. made him look up. “He talked mostly to He shook the boot, vainly. With abrupt de- the men?” he echoed. termination, he raised it above his head, There was a flush on her face. She said, and flung it, boot and stone together, “I had him to dinner.” She added quickly, straight down on another stone. “I expected—you back. It didn’t occur to The two rocks dissolved; there was a me that you gust of wind that blew the sulphurous dust She sounded so defensive that he felt into his face. Hanley coughed furiously. compelled to interrupt: “It’s all right, my When he could see again through his tear- dear. I understand. I understand.” filled eyes, he was first attracted to a He wasn’t sure that he did. As he con- gleaming crystal that lay in the pile of tinued to eat, he studied her unobtrusively, debris. He studied it, then hastily he re- shaken by his thoughts. Once he almost covered his boot, and started up the trunk. said: “Are you sure that he didn’t also It was time. As far as the eye could see, spend the night?” The insult of the the land glittered with the movement of thought was so outrageous that he cringed, stones converging towards him. and felt angry at himself His day in the tree passed uneventfully. But it decided him. He had been intend- Just before dark, Hanley climbed to a ing to wait, and learn what Rogan had dis- higher branch and found himself a reason- covered; the problem of dealing with the ably comfortable crotch for the night. He rock-life was by no means solved. But he spent the early hours of darkness wide found himself suddenly less amenable to awake, alert to sounds below. About mid- that kind of reasoning. night, he dozed. He discovered that the other leaders, He awakened with a start. The sun was once they heard the detailed account of 'just coming up over the horizon—and a his experience, were equally reluctant to crewboat was speeding toward him, follow- wait. ing the course of the river. He jumped “Our women have gone crazy about that hastily to his feet, almost fell out of the man,” one individual said angrily. “Do tree as a thick branch broke like so much you know what my wife suggested when dead wood. And then, safely balanced she heard that Frank Stratton was dead? again, he tore off his coat and shirt. She thought his widow ought to marry Ro- H" began to wave the shirt franti- gan right away, before he went away. Of cally . . . course, from all accounts, he’s not the mar- rying kind. But just imagine having such S ELEANORA served him breakfast an idea instantly.” A Hanley learned that Mark Rogan had “It’s a survival instinct,” said another returned to the ship the evening before, man. “History is full of stories of women spent the night aboard, and departed at who have wanted their children to be dawn. He stopped eating, and considered 'fathered by famous men. In this case, with the news. Finally: Rogan’s special ability— “Did he have anything to say? Had he “Not so special,” somebody interrupted. solved the problem?” “Our own leader, Leonard Hanley, dis- He waited, jealous of his own discovery, covered the enemy without any help from anxious not to have been out-done. Elea- the famous man.” nora sighed; then: Hanley ended the somewhat heated dis- “I don’t think so. Of course, he talked cussion finally by saying, “It will take us mostly to the men. Perhaps he gave them most of today to get our main equipment private information.” down. If Mr. Rogan condescends to turn Hanley doubted it. And so, by the up before we’re ready to disembark the simple process of going out and looking, an women and children, he can offer his views ordinary man had bested the famous com- at that time. Otherwise— munications expert. Mark Rogan, as it happened, did not ”

THE STAR-SAINT 27 condescend to turn up. Twice, Rogan seemed about to speak, but finally he stepped back. There was an HE LANDINGS were made in open enigmatic smile on his face as he looked T areas along the river bank in the around at the busy colonists. Several trees forested valley below the falls. By noon, had been chopped down, and they were everybody was on the ground. Hanley had now in the process of being converted to a final consultation with Captain Cranston, plastic. and was informed that the Colonist 12 Silently, Rogan walked over to the com- would leave immediately. plex machinery, and watched the bubbling “We’ve already been far too long on this up of the sap in the wood as it was sawed, trip,” the officer said in justification. “The and then the swift chemical action that owners will be furious.” neutralized the resinous substance. Hanley could feel no sympathy for the He came back to Hanley, and his vividly gentlemen, but he recognized that he and green eyes seemed to glow with irony, as the others would experience the grimmer he said, “What did you discover?” effects of that commercialism. He tried to He listened with his head slightly tilted thing of something that would delay the to one side, as if he were hearing more than ship’s departure, but all that occurred to the words. And -his eyes had a faraway

him finally was: look in them ; he seemed to be gazing at a “What about Mr. Rogan? Aren’t you scene that was in his mind. He said finally, going to wait for him ?” “You think then that the crystal you saw Captain Cranston shrugged. “A patrol in the rock after you had smashed it was ship will probably pick him up. Well, good- possibly the ‘brain’ ?”

bye.” Hanley hesitated ; then defensively, “The As they shook hands, Hanley thought piezoelectric crystal is the heart of radio cynically that there was no suggestion now and television engineering, and in a certain that Rogan could travel through space sense crystals grow, and— without spaceships. It seemed amazing He got no further. Eleanora had run for- that anyone could have believed such non- ward and grasped Rogan by the arm. sense. “Please,” she begged, “what’s wrong? What’s the matter?” Midafternoon. Out of the corner of one Rogan released himself gently from her eye, Hanley saw Eleanora—who had been fingers. “Mrs. Hanley,” he said quietly, working beside the tent—snatch a compact “your husband has made a deadly danger- from a pocket of her slacks, and hastily ous error. The stone activity is merely a start to powder her face. Hanley glanced product of the scientific control which the in the direction she had been gazing, and ruling intelligence of this planet exercises winced. Mark Rogan was coming toward over its environment.” him along the river bank. He turned to the stricken Hanley. “Was The Patrol man said nothing until he there a strong wind at any time while you was less than half a dozen feet from Han- were being attacked?”

ley. Then : “Where’s the ship ? Mr. Hanley, Hanley nodded mutely. did you order this landing?” Rogan said, “Another manifestation.” His voice was as soft as it had always He looked at his watch, and said, “It’s a been, but there was an edge of suppressed little more than two hours till dark. If we anger in it that chilled Hanley despite his take only essentials, we can be out of this confidence. The thought came: “Have I valley before the sun sets.” possibly made a mistake?” Pie paused. His green eyes fixed on Aloud, he said, “Yes, I ordered the Hanley’s wavering gaze with a bleak in- landing. It just happens, Mr. Rogan—” he tensity. He said curtly, “Give the com- was beginning to feel sure of himself mand !” again— “that I discovered the nature of “B-but—” Hanley stammered his reac- the hostile life on this planet, and we have tion, then pulled himself together. “It’s taken all necessary precautions.” impossible. Besides, we’ve got to make our ” ”

PLANET STORIES 28 — stand somewhere. We It doesn’t think in human terms.” He stopped hopelessly, already convinc- Hanley was intent. “Let me get this ed, but too miserable to go on. clear. You’re taking us to a flat plain north Rogan said, "Give the order, and I’ll of here. You want us to build concrete explain— huts there while we wait for you to per- suade the Intelligence that we mean no HORTLY after night fell, a gale wind harm. Is that right?” S sprang up. It blew for an hour, sand Rogan said, “It’d be better if you kept filled, stinging their faces as they walked moving. But of course that would be

. . chil- behind the long rows of caterpillar trac- very difficult . . with women . . tors. All the younger children were taken dren.” He seemed to be arguing with up in the six crewboats. When the storm himself. was past, several of the healthier children Hanley persisted, “But we’ll be reason- were brought down, and their places in the ably safe on such a barren plain?” boats taken by women who could no longer “Safe!” Rogan stared at him. "Man, remain awake. you don’t seem to understand. Despite the About midnight, the attack of the stones similarity to Earth appearance, this planet life You’re going began. Rocks twenty and thirty feet in has a different process. diameter thundered out of the darkness in- to learn what that means.” to the range of the groping searchlight felt too to ask any beams, which were mounted on the tractors. ANLEY humble Before extent of the assault could be H more questions. An hour later, he the as commandeered of gauged, two of the tractors were crushed. watched Rogan one the crewboats, and flew off into the morn- Metal screeched, men shrieked in dismayed ing mists. About noon, Hanley dispatched agony—and mounted ato-guns pulverized the other crewboats to rescue some of the the rocks before any more damage could equipment they had abandoned the night be done. before. Several people had to be rescued from The boats came back about dark with small stones that attached themselves to a weird report. A barrel of salt meat had shoes and boots, and prevented all except rolled away from them, and had evaded the most awkward movement. When that all their efforts to capture it. An atomic was over, Hanley had to walk among the jet proved a hazard. It would start up, weary men and women, and insist that Ro- and lift itself into the air, and then shut gan’s directive to “keep moving” be obeyed. off and fall back to the ground, only to Just before dawn, the ground under them repeat the process. It almost wrecked a began to heave and shake. Great fissures crewboat before a magnetic crane mounted opened, and individuals had terrifying ex- on another boat lifted it permanently clear periences before they were pulled to safety of the ground. Thereafter it remained life- out of suddenly created abysses. less. As the faint light of broke day through Hanley guessed unhappily: “Tentative the blackness of the horizon, Hanley mum- experiments.” bled to Rogan, “You mean they can cause — The colony spent the night on a level sustained earthquakes of that proportion?”1 grassy plain. Guards patroled the peri- Rogan said, “I don’t think that will hap- meter of the encampment. Tractor motors pen very often. I think it requires great hummed and pulsed. Searchlights peered courage for them to penetrate hot rock into the darkness, and all the grown-ups areas where such phenomena can be stirred took turns at performing some necessary up.” duty.

He broke off, thoughtfully : “I see this as Hanley was awakened shortly after an ally arrangement, with the onus being midnight by Eleanora. “Len—my shoes.” on man to prove that he can be helpful. He examined them sleepily. The surface Of course, it will take a while—after this was all bumpy, with tiny knobs protruding unfortunate beginning—to persuade the In- through the polish. Hanley felt a grisly telligence to consider such an arrangement. thrill as he realized that they were grow- ” —

THE STAR-SAINT 29

ing. He asked, “Where did you keep Crystals form easily, and can be stimulated them?” to imitate any vibrations that affect them. “Beside me.” Far more important, there is a constant

“On the ground?” flow of life-energy through the ground it- “Yes.” self. The result is that everything can be “You should have kept them on,” said affected and controlled to some extent. Di- Hanley, “the way I did mine.” vert the energy to the ground surface “Leonard Hanley, I wouldn’t wear— shoes through grass roots and sand; and great while I’m sleeping if it’s the last ” She winds rush in to cool off the ‘hot’ surfaces. stopped, said in a subdued tone, “I’ll put Divert it through one of our tractors them on, see if they still fit.” and—” Later, at breakfast, he saw her limping “But,” said Hanley, who had been around, tears in her eyes, but without com- frowning, “why didn’t that tree I was on plaint. for a whole day and night—why didn’t it try to kill me?” HAT AFTERNOON one of the trac- “And call attention to itself !” said Ro- T tors exploded without warning, kill- gan with that tight smile of his. “It might ing its driver. A flying segment tore off have tried something against you that the arm of a five year old boy nearby. would appear accidental—like the breaking The women cried. The doctors eased the of a branch that could make you fall youngster’s pain with drugs, and kept him but nothing overt.” alive. There were angry mutterings among He broke off, firmly, “Mr. Hanley, there the men. One man came over to Hanley. is no method but cooperation. Here is what “We’re not going to stand for this much you’ll probably have to be prepared to do.” longer,” he said. “We’ve got a right to He outlined the steps, coolly, succinctly. fight back.” No encroachment for several years on an Rogan turned up just before dark, and area where there were trees. Definitely no listened in silence to the account of what use of lumber for any purpose, except such had happened. He said finally, “There’ll dying wood as Rogan might, by arrange- be more.” ment with the forest, assign to be cut. Es- Hanley said grimly, “I can’t understand tablishment of fire-fighting equipment to why we don’t set fire to every forest in help all forests in the vicinity of the colony this part of the planet, and clear the against spontaneous fires, the pattern later damned things from this whole area.” to be extended over the entire planet. Rogan, who had been turning away, When Rogan had finished, Hanley con- faced slowly about. His eyes were almost sidered the plan, and found one flaw in

yellow in the fading light. He said, “Damn it. He protested, “What I’d like to know you, Hanley, you talk like so many scamps is, how are we going to maintain contact I’ve run into in my business. I tell you, with this Intelligence after you’re gone?” you can’t defeat this tree intelligence with As he finished speaking, he saw that fire, even though fire is the one thing it’s Eleanora had come up beside him. In the afraid of. Its fear and its partial vulner- fading light, it seemed to Hanley that ability is man’s opportunity, not to destroy, she was bending forward, as if straining but to help.” for Rogan’s answer. Hanley said helplessly, “But how does Rogan shrugged. “Time alone,” he said, it operate? How does it control stones, “can resolve that problem.” and make winds and— ‘Those phenomena,” said Rogan, HEY BUILT the village of New “derive from the fact that its life-energy T Earth beside a brook. There were no flows many times faster than ours. A trees anywhere in sight. According to Ro- nerve impulse in you and me moves ap- gan, the small shrubs that lined the banks proximately 300 feet a second. On this of the stream were but distantly related planet, it’s just under 400,000. And so, to the greater tree-life, and could be used even rocks have a primitive life-possibility. for any purpose. . ”

30 PLANET STORIES

There were no less than eighteen rock “He’s leaving!” she said. attacks during the next eleven days. In Hanley didn’t ask who. He hurried out- one of them, a stone one hundred and side, and saw that Rogan was already at ninety feet in diameter roared across the the outskirts of the village, a vague figure plain toward them. It smashed two houses, in the gathering darkness. A week later, plunged on for a mile across the plain, and there was still no sign of him. Among the then turned back. Crewboats with ato- rank and file of the colonists, the whisper guns successfully exploded it before it was was that he had gone in his fashion to able to return to the village. some other part of the galaxy. Hanley And then one night nothing at all hap- ridiculed the story, but when he heard it pened. At dawn, Mark Rogan turned up, soberly stated in a gathering of techni- pale and weary looking, but smiling. “It’s cians, he realized gloomily that the legend all right,” he said. “You get your chance.” of Mark Rogan would survive all his Men cheered hoarsely. Women wept denials. and tried to touch his hand. Hanley stood Two months passed. Hanley awoke one back, and thought: “It’s too soon to tell.” morning to find that Eleanora had slipped But the days passed, and there were no into the bed beside him. “I wish to report more manifestations. The guards began to to my lord and master,” she said airily, sleep at their posts, and finally were no “that there’s going to be an addition to longer posted. At dusk on the eighth the Hanley clan.” straight day of peace, there was a knock After he had kissed her, Hanley lay on the door of Hanley’s house. Eleanora silent, thinking: “If it has— green eyes and answered, and Hanley heard her talking jet black hair, I’ll—I’ll to someone in a low tone. The softness of He couldn’t imagine what he’d do. He the other voice made him abruptly sus- groaned inwardly in his terrible jealousy. picious, and he was about to get up from But already at the back of his mind was his chair, when the door shut, and Elea- the realization that the race of man would nora came back in. She was breathless. survive on one more alien planet.

STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP, MANAGE- dress, as well as that of each individual member, must MENT, CIRCULATION, etc., required by the Act of be given.) Love Romances Publishing Co., Inc., 130 West Congress of August 24, 1912, as amended by the Acts of 42nd Street, New York 18, N. Y.j J. G. Scott, 130 West March 3, 1933 and July 2, 1946 of Planet Stories, 42nd Street, New York 18, N. * published bi-monthly at New York, N. Y., for October 1, 3. The known bondholders, mortgagees, and other se- curity holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of State of New York, County of New York, ss total amount of bonds, mortages, or other securities are: (If there are none, so state.) None. Before me, a Notary Public in and for the State and county aforesaid, personally appeared Jerome Bixby, who. 4. Paragraphs 2 and 3 include, in cases where the having been duly sworn according to law, deposes and stockholder or security holder appears upon the books of says that he is the Editor of Planet Stories, and the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation, that the following is, to the best of his knowledge and the name of the person or corporation for whom 6uch belief, a true statement of the ownership, management trustee is acting; also the statements in the two _ para- (and if a daily, weekly, semiweekly or triweekly news- graphs show the affiant’s full knowledge and belief as to paper, the circulation), etc., of the aforesaid publication the circumstances and conditions under which stockhold- for the date shown in the above caption, required by the ers and security holders who do not appear upon tile books act of August 24, 1912, as amended by the acts of March of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in 3, 1933, and July 2, 1946 (section 537, Postal Laws and a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner. Regulations), printed on the reverse of this form, to wit: 5. The average number of copies of each issue of this 1. The names and addresses of the publisher, editor, publication sold or distributed, through the mails or other- managing editor, and business managers are: Publisher, wise, to paid subscribers during the 12 months preceding Love Romances Publishing Co., Inc., 130 West 42nd the date shown above was: (This information is required JHreet, New York 18, N. Y.; Editor, Jerome Bixby, 130 from daily, weekly, semiweekly, and triweekly newspapers

West 42nd Street, New York 18. N. Y. ; Managing editor, only.) none; Business manager, T. T. Scott, 130 West 42nd (Signed) Jerome Bixby, Street, New York 18, N. Y. Editor.

2. The owner is: (If owned by a corporation, its name and address must be stated and also immediately there- Sfcvorn to and subscribed before me this 27th day of under the names and addresses of stockholders owning or September, 1950. holding 1 percent or more of total amount of stock. If George G. Sciiwenkr, not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of Notary Public. the individual owners must be given. If owned by a part- nership or other unincorporated firm, its name and ad- (My commission expires March 30, 1952.) The Emperor must be getting old, they thought, to deal so mercifully with the upstart Jursan Rebels—which was quite true. He was not too young to dream . . .

Vyrtl weighed a pebble in hi* hand. “You expect to be executed he stated flatly. the envoy. Her

espite the concen- trated patrol defenses, the Em- D peror’s space yacht slipped down to the surface of Klo, second moon of Jursa, without incident. Only recently, such a show of force would have drawn a flight of torpedo rockets from the re- 31 ”

32 PLANET STORIES bellious planet; but the Jursan agitators with until the jackals on Jursa came to for a scientific renaissance had at last been their senses. beaten to their knees. The official had tried to provide for A landing tube was connected between every known imperial fancy. He smirked the ship and the transparent dome that delightfully when Vyrtl caught sight of had been constructed on this airless satel- the lozards tethered at one side. lite for the convenience of the lord of the "By Pollux!” exclaimed the Emperor, system. Notables in military posts or pres- his eye brightening. “We hadn’t expected ent on some other excuse gathered to greet the pleasure of riding till this was over.” their master. “He tells me they have built a forest. “By Pollux!” gasped one onlooker. Sire,” reported the aide. “About half a !” “Those guards must all be seven feet tall mile square. At least, you will have some The file of magnificent soldiers, who relaxation.” gave the impression of being almost en- “Good! It is all very well playing the tirely armor-plated, deployed on either soldier and roughing it informally, but side of the landing tube exit. They were a man must have something !” followed by a figure glittering enough to He surveyed the reptilian mounts that be an emperor; but since he was attend- were led forward and chose one whose ed by only four officials in bejeweled scar- eight legs were a trifle longer than av- let the crowd recognized him for a cham- rage. With reasonable agility, consider- berlain. ing his bulk, he hoisted himself into the “His Illustrious Sublimity the Lord saddle and set off toward the miniature Vyrtl, Viceroy for Terra, Emperor of palace awaiting him. Plis guardsmen trot- Pollux, and of all its fourteen planets, ted alongside while the rest of his retinue and of all their thirty-seven satellites, and mounted and followed as best they could. of all the nations thereon, Co-ordinator of He drew rein once, to gaze up through the planet Hebryxid— the dome at the yellow-green disk of Jursa. It went on at some length, but the man Wilkins overtook him. who led the next little parade out of the “Note the dark line in the southern landing tube paid no heed. The part hemisphere, Sire,” he said. “The result about Terra was a vestige of centuries of Marshal Tzyfol’s sweep—the one that before communications had lapsed, and broke through their fleets and led to their served no purpose but to remind him that plea for terms.” new contact with the original planet was “Excellent !” said the Emperor. He low- one of the Jursans’ aims. The rest of his ered his gaze and stretched his neck un- titles he could, by now, recite backwards. comfortably. Vyrtl was unaccustomed to The crowd of officialdom gaped at him as looking up at anything or anybody. “They he stood there. He was a tall man, which will bear our mark.” conveniently helped conceal a tendency “It will teach them the lesson they de- toward obesity. Under the excess tissue, serve,” agreed Wilkins dutifully. “Auton- his face had a massive strength, with omy, indeed!” broad bones and jutting chin and nose; “Quite,” said Vyrtl, urging his lozard but the gray eyes were weary and cynical. forward. “Who are those fools to think "Wilkins !” he ordered in a bored mono- they can demand exemption from estab- tone. “Find which yokel is in charge, and lished imperial laws . . . they should be burn a jet under him!” satisfied with the standard textbooks and forget their puttering! Ha—what’s this?” RESPLENDENT AIDE hustled He pulled up before a small replica of A forward to where the official in the palace. charge of the dome was wetting his lips “The dome engineer built it for your over his rehearsed greeting. It was quick- wives, Sire.”

' ly made plain that His Illustrious Sub- “Our wives?” limity desired transportation and a look “Twenty of them volunteered to share at the quarters he would have to put up the rigors of the campaign. Their special THE I3AVOY, HER 33 transport arrived just before us.” wives, a chamberlain announced, “The “Humph!” grunted Vyrtl, riding past. Jursan envoy, Daphne Foster.” “A woman?” murmured Vyrtl. ARLY the next morning, after the “So it seems. She looks quite . . . dis- E engineers had arranged a dawn for tinguished.” his benefit, Vyrtl called a council of his “Ha! The witty Wilkins! A pretty commanders. Chief-of-Staff Robert Tzy- choice of words.” fol reported on the situation. The woman approached the throne amid The rebellious Jursans were sending a a low buzz from Vyrtl’s attendants, and representative to ask for terms. In the bowed gracefully. Gracefully but not too Marshal’s strongly expressed opinion, no abjectly, considering the situation and his leniency was necessary. The imperial fleets own position, Vyrtl thought. She raised were slowly but surely stamping out all her head and endured his deliberate scru- resistance, making Jursa unlivable. tiny. “Abject submission is their only course,” She would have to be a rebel, Vyrtl he declared. told himself. He supposed they had scour- It was the sort of declaration with ed all Jursa for a real beauty to dazzle Vyrtl might agreed, which have had he him ; but they would discover that it been able to voice it first. would not work. As it was, he announced that he would At first glance, she had seemed slim, but keep it in mind when judging the fate he saw now that, though tall, she was of the rebels. He had no inclination to very well proportioned. A net of tiny, destroy a perfectly good, tax-paying planet glittering jewels was woven into the black if he could whip its inhabitants into line hair that hung to her shoulders. Her fea- by other means. tures were regular, but expressively alive He ended the conference by stating his compared to the artificial placidity of the intention to ride in the artificial forest. He court beauties. enjoyed the glances of relief among the But what disturbed the Emperor of generals—especially the older and more Pollux most was the way she looked at brittle ones—when he gave them leave him! He felt that it was stretching dip- to resume their military duties instead lomacy a bit far. of attending him. A smile in deep blue eyes was pleasant, A few hours later, Wilkins found Vyrtl when someone was sufficiently accom- and a small retinue resting beside a pool plished to muster it in his presence; but at the edge of the forest. this was a shade too familiar. She seemed “The rebel envoy has arrived, Sire,” he to put herself on a level with him—as reported. if to share an amusement beyond the Vyrtl kicked a pebble into the pool and others present. spat after it. “We shall see him immedi- The next moment, he was trying to de- ately,” he announced. “No use wasting cere- cide just what quality made hers the most mony on the villain.” beautiful female voice he had ever heard. Returning to the palace, he strode into Consequently, he missed most of the for- the audience chamber and signaled for the mula about “the gratitude of all Jursa” envoy to be admitted. Still warm from at his receiving “his humble slave.” his ride and insultingly disheveled, he sat in the imitation of the great throne on HAT SMILE lit the blue eyes again. tell if a ghost of it •his capital planet, Hebryxid. T It was hard to “If he isn’t brisk,” he muttered to Wil- lingered at the corners of the full lips, kins, “we may teach him promptness by but the total effect was of anything but hunting him through the forest tomor- humility. He pulled himself together, row.” aware that Wilkins had noticed his hesi- Above the whispers of hastily assembled tation. officers, courtiers, and a few of Vyrtl’s “So the Jursans seek to soften our just 3—Planet—March anger?” he said. “They send their sur- 34 PLANET STORIES render by one who is obviously the love- fancied himself in love with her; now he liest jewel of their misguided world.” merely amused himself guessing from day A few of the courtiers snickered duti- to day to whom she sold her supposed in- fully. Vyrtl was annoyed; he had not fluence. He sometimes wondered if any meant to be funny. He glanced swiftly wife he owned were innocent of spying. at the half-dozen wives present, but their He rose, summoned Wilkins, and led a expressions showed no jealousy. He decid- small procession to the council chamber. ed that the empty-headed creatures had at They found the necessary quota of high least learned not to embarrass him pub- officers waiting. Daphne Foster was sum- licly. moned. “Your Illustrious Sublimity is too gra- Vyrtl took his place on a dais at the cious,” replied the envoy. “I regret that head of the table, and his aide arranged my message is not unqualified surrender.” the gold-stiffened ceremonial robe. The Vyrtl frowned. “You dare ask terms?” generals made little professional jokes, “I must carry out the commands laid each striving to act as if the victory had upon me by the Council.” been mostly his own doing. Even the lean She smiled into his eyes and made a Chief of Staff, Tzyfol, looked satiated. rueful little gesture with both hands, The Jursan envoy was announced. which she allowed to fall gracefully to her sides. Vyrtl’s gaze was led up and NCE AGAIN, Vyrtl was so fasci- down her figure again. O nated by the girl that he paid scant He forced himself to meet her glance. heed to the ceremonious greetings. He de- Rather than expressing any resentment cided she was younger than he had thought of his appraisal, it suggested that her re- earlier. sistance to his demands would be merely Finally, the conference got down to busi- formal. ness. They’ve sent me a clever one, he thought, “My people,” said Daphne Foster, “ask but they will find I cannot be bought off but a few minor concessions, which we so cheaply. Still, it can do no harm to believe will benefit the remainder of the show that Vyrtl can be the diplomat as Empire as much as Jursa.” well as a soldier. “We are disposed to believe your good “We are unprepared for any discussion,” intentions,” said Vyrtl encouragingly. he said aloud. “Since we are not disposed, He caught himself smiling, and imme- however, to be hasty in our judgement, diately resumed the mask of dignity. you may wait upon us in the council cham- The Jursans, it developed, would give ber in two hours.” up demands for autonomy and resume The envoy stepped lithely aside when he allegiance to the Empire. They pleaded, rose. With some difficulty, Vyrtl kept his however, for freedom of scientific re- eyes front as he strode from the hall with search, promising that their discoveries Wilkins and his personal guards at his would be placed promptly at Vyrtl’s dis- heels. He hastened to his own chambers posal. for a bath and change of clothes. In the matter of indemnities, they were He allowed himself to be bathed, scent- willing, Daphne Foster said with an in- ed, and dressed in the most imperial cos- timate glance for Vyrtl alone, to rely upon tume he had brought from Hebryxid. his generosity. They asked only that they Blonde Xota, his official favorite who had be allowed a reasonable time to restore taken no chance of losing her place by the damage suffered in the fighting and absence from his side, admired his dazzl- that they be permitted to make part of ing jewels and scarlet silks extravagantly. the payments in the technical equipment Vyrtl permitted her to serve him a light they were so skilled at manufacturing. lunch, paying little attention to her chat- Some of the officers raised objections ter. that Vyrtl thought well-put, but he over- Once, when he had taken her from the ruled them. The main point, he pro- Co-ordinator of his sixth planet, he had nounced, was to restore a valuable pos- ”

THE ENVOY, HER 35 session to productivity. There would be do you suppose he tried to be obstinate?” no looting and destruction. “I expect, Sire, he disliked having an He felt less sure of himself when old old woman seem to get the better of him Tzyfol protested that free research was after he had won the military victory.” one of the roots of the trouble. Conse- Vyrtl laughed indulgently and sipped his quently, perhaps, the imperial glare that wine. silenced the Marshal was the more with- “Even Tzyfol,” added Wilkin9, “might ering. have been generous had she been young After that, Vyrtl sat back and allowed and pretty. Unfortunately, I suppose, it his cohorts to promulgate a number of takes an old head to be an envoy.” minor, harrassing conditions. These would The Emperor set his glass down very satisfy their egos to some degree, keep carefully. the Jursans aware of the folly of ques- “What did you say?” he demanded tioning his authority again, and show their evenly. envoy how things might have gone had Wilkins stared, with the expression of Vyrtl not been merciful. a man who fears he may suddenly recall In the end, he added one condition of having used an obscene word in polite his own. company, or having bragged falsely and “It will be necessary,” he said, “to hold unwittingly of tax-evasion to an imperial frequent conferences on these affairs. If collector. the Jursan Council should appoint their Vyrtl repeated his question in a tone envoy as permanent ambassador to our a note higher. court, we should be inclined to approve.” “I-I-I—said that if she were young and It was tantamount to a command, but p-pretty the girl showed no resentment. Not that “How old do you think she was ?” Vyrtl expected anything so rash as out- rasped Vyrtl. ward reluctance—but a lifetime of piercing “About s-s-seventy. Maybe seventy- the flattery of courtiers had made him a five.” shrewd reader of facial expressions. “What?” He granted permission for an imme- He surged to his feet, overturning the diate broadcasting of the treaty, overrid- table. Immediately the glass doors opening ing Tzyfol’s desire for deeper considera- on the balcony were flung back with a tion in favor of Daphne Foster’s plea that splintering crash. delay would cost lives. Four gleaming guardsmen charged out After having copies of the rather simple with drawn weapons, each obviously ach- document drawn up for the facsimile ing to become a hero. Wilkins prudent- broadcasters, Vyrtl gave her leave to de- ly stood rooted, peering at them from the part. Without seeming to watch, he ad- corner of his eye. mired her gait as she walked from the Vyrtl recovered his poise with an ef- conference chamber. fort. “As you were !” he ordered. “Help Gen- FTERWARDS, he left the generals eral Wilkins pick up the table I knocked A to their post-mortem and retired with over. Clumsy thing!” Wilkins to a private balcony for a bottle It was done, and the guard captain of wine. apologized for the doors. “How did it go?” he asked, leaning “Relax, Wilkins,” said Vyrtl when they back more comfortably when his aide had were again alone. “It just occurred to me removed the heavy robe. that I ought to have another word with “You were most generous, Sire, or so that woman. Have someone get hold of I thought.” her at once!” “It is a virtue that requires a public He left the disordered balcony and wait- display now and then, to strengthen the ed in a nearby library. The books lining roots of the myth that grows from it. Too the walls were real, he noticed idly—an- bad old Tzyfol failed to see that. Why other painstaking point by the designer of ?

36 PLANET STORIES the palace. afraid to risk his dignity by being plainer. There Wilkins found him presently, to “Of course,” she said, “I hardly expect report that the Jursan envoy was already it to make any difference in the imperial on her way back to that planet. announcement of peace, but if any clari- “I called the landing field guard,” he fication is desired of me, I shall be happy explained, “but she had already taken to oblige.” off. His spotters swept space for them Vyrtle thought furiously. Had he actual- and got a curve on tire ship.” ly said anything to Wilkins or anyone “Of course,” mused Vyrtl. “The treaty else? He tried to remember every word has been broadcast.” spoken at the conference. It seemed to “Shall I have the patrols close in on him there had been one or two slips, but her rocket?” they had been taken for imperial wittic- “No.” The Emperor pondered a mo- isms. ment. “Have a telescreen set up in here No, he was safe enough. The Jursan so we can speak directly.” Council and their technicians naturally A frenzied bustle ensued as Wilkins di- must know the “clarification” offered him, rected a platoon of awed techs through but they would know better than to pub- the process of bringing the mountain to licize it. He could afford to show no mercy Mohammed. In the end, the Jursan ship if they did. As things stood, it might be was in communication. The aide called for best to stand by his published word. Daphne Foster, then stood aside. “We desire,” he said slowly, “that you, Vyrtle was glad, when she appeared, as ambassador, return immediately. You that Wilkins had placed a deep armchair will have every facility to communicate before the screen for him. with your government, to repay the in- Was this the woman with whom he convenience.” had— The old woman stared him in the eye, then bowed silently. HE was still tall, but her white hair Vyrtl saw that she realized what it might S gave her the look of the seventy mean. He hoped she would not arrange an years with which Wilkins had credited “accident” before her ship returned. her. Deep laugh-wrinkles bracketed the He had Wilkins take over and check mouth, with more at the corners of the with the captain of the rocket. It was de- still bright eyes. The delicate bones of termined that the best effort would bring her face were more prominent. the ship back to the dome on Klo about There was nevertheless a clear resem- “mid-morning.” Vyrtl left orders that blance to the Daphne Foster he had re- the woman was to be brought before him ceived earlier. the moment she arrived, and retired for

She looks . . . she looked, thought the night. Vyrtl, as this woman might have looked He found Xota sprawled confidently

when she was young . . . or might have upon his bed, and kicked her off in a tem- wanted to look. per. His groping had found no loose object No, that was not quite it. to fling after her as she slunk out the door, As she knew a man would have liked and that made his temper worse. He was

her to look! a long time getting to sleep. . . . The woman on the screen spoke, her eyes smiling into his in a manner that HE NEXT MORNING, he pecked was painfully familiar. at his breakfast and sneered at the “Your Illustrious Sublimity has become artificial dawn that had been delayed for the first to share my little secret.” his benefit. Vyrtl, with a concentration of will, pre- “Get me a lozard and a squad of vented his eyes from peeping sidelong at guards!” he snarled to Wilkins. “I’ll have Wilkins’ expression. a run through the woods while I wait.” “We are somewhat suprised,” he said, He left the guards at the fringes of his knowing it for an asinine remark but engineers’ forest and rode the eight-legged ”

THE ENVOY, HER 37 reptile recklessly among the huge trunks. “Turn it on !” ordered Vyrtl. Since the builder had artfully omitted all low branches, there was little chance of E WAITED a moment, then twisted his knocking his head off. H around on the stone to face her. Towards noon, he paused to rest at the There was no sign of the woman he had little pool on the edge of the woods. He seen crossing the field. Before him seemed waved to a group of guards he saw peer- to stand the black-haired, lithe girl. ing at him across an open field of what The only change was in her eyes, which looked very much like grass. One of the no longer smiled into his so provocatively. men ran over. Funny, thought Vyrtl. When we actually “The Jursan envoy is back. Your Illus-» were strangers, she seemed, so inthnate. trious Sublimity.” Only now does she look at me so coldly. Vyrtl sighed. “You see?” she said, and started to “Tell General Wilkins to bring her here* reach for some switch or button concealed immediately.” by the jewel at her breast. He turned away and sat upon a flat Vyrtl stopped her with a gesture. stone beside the pool. “You must also be skilled in the sci- After a while, he noticed that the ground ences of the mind,” he remarked. “What was liberally supplied with pebbles for I mean is ... I suppose you never really casting into the water. He was watching looked like that?” the spreading ripples about fifteen min- She shook her head a trifle ruefully. utes later when he heard approaching “Not quite. Most of it is in your own voices behind him. imagination.— We know a good deal about A glance over his shoulder showed him you, Your Wilkins and two guards escorting the old "You deduced somehow what I would woman. He turned away, tossing another look for,” interrupted Vyrtl, nodding. “I pebble into the pool with a half-hearted can see how a study of the things I chose motion of his arm. to have about me—paintings, statues, fur- When Wilkins coughed discreetly be- nishings, even people—might yield keys hind him, he told the aide and the guards to my preferences. You did remarkably to withdraw. He listened to the footsteps well.” until he knew they were beyond range of He tossed another pebble and stared at ordinary conversation. the ripples. “You are the same Daphne Foster?” “I suppose every man has his ideal of a he asked, still facing the pool. woman,” he said. “I doubt that any man “The same, Your Illustrious Sublimity.” has seen his absolute ideal—except me. I “Let us dispense with formality. Tell wonder if you know what it does to one?” me how you did it.” He chose a flat pebble and sent it skipping “It is simple ... in a way. But it re- across the surface with a vicious snap of quires the use of a not-so-simple instru- his wrist. It bounced three . . . four . . . ment.” five times, and sank. “Such as I?” he asked, apparently in- “I presume,” said Daphne Foster, break- tent upon the water. ing a tight little silence, “that you will “I did not mean Your Illustrious—I did grant me time to set my affairs in order?” not mean it that way. It is a little triumph Vyrtl weighed a pebble in his hand. of our Jursan technicians, which will short- “You expect to be executed,” he stated ly be at your disposal. I used it to force flatly. an illusion upon you.” "Naturally, we knew all along that some- “And very cleverly, I admit Do you one would have to pay for tricking you. have it with you?” The Emperor of Pollux must, after all, “Yes. It is compact. It merely operates maintain his dignity.” upon the idea that other forces can be Vyrtl wondered if he had detected a used to produce hypnosis besides lights, note of irony in the musical voice. He mar- drugs, and soothing sounds.” veled anew at the pleasure of listening to ,

38 PLANET STORIES her. But of course, he reminded himself, conquest or loot. The engineer who built he heard his own imagined ideal of what this dome pictures himself famous and a lovely woman’s voice should be. admired. Wilkins is proud of his influence, “No,” he said abruptly, swinging about. and other courtiers have visions of doing “I am merely going to insist that you ful- away with Wilkins and replacing him.” stood up restlessly. fill the terms of the agreement by remain- He ing at my court. I want you near me from “You will laugh at me, I know—but now on.” there is little enjoyment in life when every whim is catered to at a snap of one’s fing- She blinked at that. ?” ers. What have I to desire “But, surely . . . you must realize . . . “I see.” She nodded slowly. “The old it is only an illusion!” she protested. saying about the pleasure of anticipation “As am I,” said Vyrtl. “A figurehead outweighing that of attainment.” imprisoned in a maze of formalities and “You should know. You Jursans and so-called pleasures.” your scientific renaissance, your goal of contacting Terra again.” that she could not understand E SAW He beckoned to Wilkins and the two what could be wrong with his posi- H guards. They ran eagerly across grass. the tion. “You see?” he snorted. “Sometimes I “Once, when I was very young,” he almost wish they would ignore me!” four- said, “I thought I would rule. But He looked at her and saw the blue eyes whole council of co- teen planets require a achieve their knowing, amused smile once ordinators! I gave up that idea and tried more. myself.” to enjoy “That’s right,” he said, smiling back. stared at uncertainly. He waved She him “Now I shall have something to keep my a hand at the artificial forest. thoughts from becoming dull and bored. A “It has been like that ever since. They man needs some impossible dream for mo- fall all over themselves to devise new ways ments when he wants to relax.” of getting my attention and to present plea- Wilkins panted up, trying to look alert sures and entertainment I am incapable of and willing. enjoying. I have more wealth than I can “The unattainable Lady Daphne will ac- estimate, I sometimes forget which palace company us to our capital,” said Vyrtl. 1 am in, even my wives look alike by now.” “Make the necessary arrangements.” “I must sympathize with Your Illustri- He enjoyed the way his aide covered up ous Sublimity.” a momentary bewilderment. He flung her a hard stare. No one else will ever, ever understand “Perhaps you ought! Even my generals this, he thought with an unaccustomed thrill and their soldiers have their dreams—of of pleasure and amusement.

t&e Kextiteue . , JAMES H. SCHMITZ E. HOFFMAN PRICE RICHARD WILSON FREDRIC BROWN CHAN DAVIS . . . and many others On Tour Newsstand March 1st! — . .

THE VIZICHAPfl 39

(Continued from p. 15) Blish on Dianetics. No comment here. Ackerman. Not again! This guy has been appearing in just read this, you will wonder how you were ever able about every stf mag there is, with an article (us- to do without my sage comments and witty re- pictures) on either “Rocketship X-M,” marks. Ah, but Tempest Fidgets, or something, ually with or “Destination Moon.” Does he know where the and on to my comments on the stories in the NOV. is buried or something? issue: body Ah, Le Viz. I refuse to believe that "Rodric 1. CARRY ME HOME. In all seriousness, Bix, Cadwalleder Drinkwater” exists. He is obviously this is a wonderful stop'. Better than Liddell’s a penname for someone who is afraid to write in first. If he keeps on writing this way, I can see under his own name. Nobody, bom with a name where we’ll have another Bradbury with us soon. like that, would keep it. The theme may’ve been old, but the writing was I note that all of your letter-writers didn’t among the best I have read in your mag, and the this time. Perhaps this is because you haven’t plotting was very clever, leading up to a very vote emphasized this sufficiently. There is scant men- well-planned denouement. Congratulations on one tion of the Vizigraph contest in your comments. of the outstanding sf discoveries of the year (if For the benefit of new readers, I suggest you ex- not of all time). plain this. I wouldn’t want to miss out on a pic. 2. Almost as good was Fredric Brown’s very Surprised that all of your readers didn’t like cute sequel to "The Star Mouse.” I didn’t think THE SKY IS FALLING as much as I did. it was possible to write a follow-up to this one the reaction will be on Liddell’s in the spirit of the original, but I was wrong Wonder what latest. Brown has done it. If this one lacked anything at My votes, and then I depart. 1) Joe Gibson. 2) all, it was some of the first story’s humor, but it was otherwise very good entertainment. The Ray H. Ramsay. 3) Bob Silverberg. (Hi Bob! You vote for I’ll vote for you.) is that Vestal cartoons fitted perfectly—I like them bet- me and — legal? ter than the Lynch pix for the original yam. Now Mitchell Badler doesn’t like that you’ve landed Brown for one yarn, don’t stop See where the old style letter. to annoy him . . there. Give us more by this boy. You have un- Just Mounting (Grulzaks doubtedly received 999 letters praising this story, my worple are out of fashion), and slinging my Zap-gun across in German Dialect. Veil, I vill different be. my muscular, sunbronzed shoulders, I gallop off into 3. CARGO TO CALLISTO. A fine story. I the purple dusk. as I disappear the refuse to comment on the true identity of this guy And over horizon, faint — Drexel, except to say that the B does not stand a cry comes echoing back “I’ll be back time !” for Bacteria. If he could get a few more new next themes, this author could easily be among your Fantasticomily yours, very best. Ken Beale 4. SIDEWINDERS FROM SIRIUS — An- Okay, Slopalong, we’ll be waiting—and the gim- other new author ! And good, too. Holden shows mick on pic-awards is as definite promise. He turns out a very clever and follows: If yoU write a letter Vizigraph, amusing piece. That ending was particularly good. to the arid if we print it (haven’t One comment—do you think the Sirians could space for ’em all, you know), and if it is later selected reader-vote as really have been such meatballs? Seemed kinda by one of the three best letters dimwitted of them not to see through Kram’s in the issue in which it appeared, you fust drop us a card naming an original illustration little hoax. Give us more of the guy, though. He that issue we’ll send sounds as if he could easily develop into a series from and it to you for keeps. character. (No pun intended.) Winners — Good Lord, Beale just fell off his Worple! winners are announced, in order, 5. THE LAST TWO ALIVE. The novels of — in every late have been falling far behind the shorts. Al- Vizigraph: 1st place winner chooses one pic, though cleverly done, this one started off slowly, and gets it; 2nd place winner chooses two, in case winner number one makes with his first and just as it was looking good, boom ! the end- off choice; ing, and that "unique” twist. I had been hoping 3rd place winner chooses three for the same reason—so he’ll that maybe the Galaxy would be saved after all, have something left if his but no go. And that Adam-and-Eve business has first two choices mysteriously disappear. Letters been definitely overworked. At least two of your should be typewritten (double-spaced, please) on one competitors, on the stands now, have stories side of the paper, no more than three pages long preferably — using it. — around two and, cockeyed or cerebral, snarls 6. MACHINE OF KLAMUGRA. Clever, or sweet nothings, all letters are clever. More or less an Astounding type piece. In- equally welcome. Excuse us now, while go genious enough, anyway. Is Lang a new author, we pick up Beale . . or (perish the thought!) a (pen) name? I don’t ROCKETSHIP recall having seen him here before. X-MINCEMEAT 7. It just goes to show the high standards of 5 West 4th Street, Planet at present, when a MacDonald yam rates Mt. Vernon, N. Y.

last. John is one of my favorite authors, too. But Dear Sir : this piece, while good, cleverly told, and interest- I have been reading P.S, for years, but never ing enough, just wasn’t any better. Get him to do took the trouble to write a letter, because you you a long novel, or at least a novelette. There’s usually print good stuff, or at least readable, BUT, no one better for depicting action in a manner why on Earth, (or anywhere, for that matter), calculated to keep you on the edge of your chair. did you give a feature spot to that blurb about And he has intellect-appeal, too. ROCKETSHIP X-M? On to the features and articles. Hooray ! You’ve If an article extolling the virtues of any S-F brought back the feature flash. Goody. Hmmmm. ( Continued on p. log) Kffj 1 i All space was electrified as that harsh challenge rang out . . . but John Endlich hesitated. For he saw beyond his own murder — sow' the horror and destruction his death would unleash — and knew he dared not fight back!

ASTEROID of

ffAR

by RAYMOND

Z. GALLON

he space ship landed briefly, and John Endlich lifted the T huge Asteroids Homesteaders Office box, which contained everything from a prefabricated house to toothbrushes for his family, down from the hold-port without help or visible effort. In the tiny gravity of the asteroid, Vesta, doing this was no trouble at all. But be- yond this point the situation was—bitter. His two kids, Bubs, seven, and Evelyn, nine—clad in space-suits that were slightly oversize to allow for the growth of young bodies—were both bawling. He could hear them through his oxygen-helmet radio- phones. Around him, under the airless sky of space, stretched desolation that he’d of course known about beforehand—but which now had assumed that special and terrible starkness of reality. At his elbow, his wife. Rose, her heart- shaped face and grey eyes framed by the wide face-window of her armor, was try- ing desperately to choke back tears, and be brave.

Endlich's voice teas steely ... “Sorry to do things like this—but it’s your way l" 41 —

42 PLANET STORIES “Remember—we’ve got to make good ing out again from Earth, across the orbit here, Johnny,” she was saying. “Remember of Mars to the asteroid belt, they had had what the Homesteaders Office people told the Endlichs as fellow passengers. us—that with modem equipment and the John Endlich had battled valiantly with right frame of mind, life can be nice out his feebler side, and with his social incli- here. It’s worked on other asteroids. What nations, all through that long, dreary voy- if we are the first farmers to come to age, to keep clear of the inevitable griefs

Vesta? . . . Don’t listen to those crazy that were sure to come to a chap like him- miners! They’re just kidding us! Don’t self from involvement with such characters. listen to them ! And don’t, for gosh- sakes, In the main, it had been a rather tattered .” get sore . . victory. But now, at the final moment of Rose’s words were now like dim echoes bleak anticlimax, they took their revenge of his conscience, and of his recent grim in guffaws and ridicule, hurling the noise determination to master his hot temper, his at him through the radiophones of the sensitiveness, his wanderlust, and his pen- space-suit helmets that they held in their chant for poker and the social glass laps—space-suits being always kept handy qualities of an otherwise agreeable and in- beneath the traveler-seats of every inter- dustrious nature, that, on Earth, had al- planetary vessel. “. ways been his undoing. Recently, back in . . Haw-haw-haw! Drop over to our Illinois, he had even spent six months in camp sometime for a little drink, and a jail for all but inflicting murder with his little game, eh, pantywaist? Tain’t far. bare fists on a bullying neighbor whom he Sure—just drop in on us when the pressure had caught whipping a horse. Sure—but of domesticity in this beootiful country

during those six months his farm, the fifth gets you down . . . When the turnips get

he’d tried to run in scattered parts of you down ! Haw-haw-haw ! Bring the wife

North America, had gone to weeds in spite along . . . She’s kinda pretty. Ought to

of Rose’s valiant efforts to take care of it have a man-size fella . . . Just ask for me alone . . . —Alf Neely! Haw-haw-haw!” Oh, yes—the lessons of all that past Yeah, Alf Neely was the loudest and the personal history should be strong in his ugliest of John Endlich’s baiters. He load mind. But now will power and Rose’s gigantic arms and shoulders, small squinty frightened tones of wisdom both seemed to eyes, and a pendulous nose. “Haw-haw- .” fade away in his brain, as jeering words haw! . . from another source continued to drive And the others, yelling and hooting, jagged splinters into the weakest portion made it a pack: “Man—don’t he wish he

of his soul: was back in Podunk! . . . What!—no

“Hi, you hydroponic pun’kin-head ! . . . tomatas, Dutch? . . . What did they tell

How yuh like your new claim? . . . Nice, yuh back at the Homestead office in Chi- ain’t it? How about some fresh turnips? cago?—that we were in de-e-esperate need

. . . Good luck, yuh greenhorn . . . Hiyuh, of fresh vegetables out here? Well, where .” papa! Tied to baby’s diaper suspenders! are they, papa ? . . . Haw-haw-haw ! . .

. . . Let the poor dope alone, guys . . .

Snooty . . . Won’t take our likker, hunh? NDER THE BARRAGE John End-

Won’t take our money . . . Wi fey’s boy! U lich’s last shreds of common-sense

Let’s make him sociable . . . Haw-Haw- were all but blotted out by the red murk of

. . fury. small haw . . Hydroponic pun’kin-head! . He was and broad—a stolid- It was a medley of coarse voices and looking thirty-two years old. But now his laughter, matching the row of a dozen round and usually placid face was as red coarse faces and grins that lined the view- as a fiery moon, and his underlip curled ports of the ship. These men were asteroid in a snarl. He might have taken the savage miners, space-hardened and space-twisted. ribbing more calmly. But there was too They’d been back to Earth for a while, to much grim fact behind what these asteroid raise hell and freshen up, and spend the miners said. Besides, out here he had money in their then-bulging pockets. Com- thought that he would have a better — —

ASTEROID OF FEAR 43 chance to lick the weaknesses in himself tainly wasn’t cowardice that accomplished because he’d have to work to keep his this. No. family alive; because he’d been told that Suddenly there was no laughter among there’d be no one around to distract him' the miners. But in a body they arose from from duty. Yah! The irony of that, now, their traveler-seats aboard the ship. Sud- was maddening. denly there was no more humor in their For the moment John Endlich was faces beyond the viewports. They were speechless and strangled— but like an ig- itching to be assaulted. The glitter in Alf nited firecracker. Uhunh—ready to ex- Neely’s small eyes was about as reassuring plode. His hard body hunched, as if ready as the glitter in the eyes of a slightly to spring. And the baiting waxed louder. prankish gorilla. It was like the yammering of crows, or the “We’re waitin’ for yuh, Mr. Civiliza- roar of a wild surf in his ears. Then came tion,” he rumbled softly. the last straw. The kids had kept on bawling—more and more violently. But FTER THAT, all space was still now they got down to verbal explanations A electrified. The icy stars gleamed in of what they thought was the matter: the black sky. The shrunken sun looked

“ Wa-aa-aa-a-ahh-h 1 Papa—we wanna- on. And John Endlich saw beyond his murder. the thought go-o-o—hom-m-mm-e! . . own To of his kids The timing could not have been better —and his wife—left alone out here, hun- —or worse. The shrieks and howls of dreds of millions of miles from Earth, and mirth from the miners, a moment ago, real law and order—with these lugs. These were as nothing to what they were now. guys who had been starved emotionally,

“Ho-ho-ho! Tell it to Daddy, kids! . . . and warped inside by raw space. Coldness

Ho-ho-ho ! That was a mouthful . . . Ho- crawled into John Endlich’s guts, and .” ho-ho-ho ! Wow ! . . seemed to twist steel hooks there, making There is a point at which an extremity him sick. The silence of a vacuum, and of of masculine embarrassment can lead to unthinkable distances, and of ghostly re- but one thing—mayhem. Whether the lat- mains which must be left on this frag- ter is to be inflicted on the attacked or the ment of a world that had blown up, maybe attacker remains the only question mark. fifty million or more years ago, added its “I’ll get you, Alf Neely!” Endlich snarl- weight to John Endlich’s feelings.

ed. “Right now ! And I’ll get all the And for his family, he was scared. What damned, hell-bitten rest of you guys!” hell could not have accomplished, became Endlich was hardly lacking in vigor, fact. His almost suicidal impulse to in- himself. Like a squat but streamlined fight- flict violence on his tormenters was ing rooster, rendered a hundred times more strangled, bottled-up—brutally repressed, agile by the puny gravity, he would have and left to impose the pangs of neurosis reached the hold-port threshold in a single on his tormented soul. Narrowing domes- lithe skip—had not Rose, despairing, grab- ticity had won a battle. bed him around the middle to restrain him. Except, of course, that what he had Together they slid several yards across already said to Alf Neely and Friends the dried-out surface of the asteroid. was sufficient to start the Juggernaut that “Don’t, Johnny—please don’t!” she they represented, rolling. As he picked wailed. himself and Rose up from the ground, he Her begging could not have stopped saw that the miners were grimly donning

him. Nor could her physical interference their space-suits, in preparation • to their —for more than an instant. Nor could his coming out of the ship to lay him low. conscience, nor his recent determination to “Oh—tired, hunh, Pun’kin-head ?” Alf keep out of trouble. Not the certainty of Neely growled. “It don’t matter, Dutch. being tom limb from limb, and not hell, We’ll finish you off without you liftin’ a !” itself, could have held him back, any- finger more, then. In John Endlich the rage of intolerable Yet he was brought to a halt. It cer- insults still seethed, But there was no T !:

44 PLANE STORIES question, now, of outcome between it and Damn the obvious questions of women the brassy taste of danger on his tongue. Damn the miners. Damn the A.H.O.—the He knew that even knuckling down, and Asteroids Homesteaders Office—and their changing from man to worm to take back corny slogans and posters, meant to hook his fighting words, couldn’t do any good. suckers like himself ! Damn his own dumb

He felt like a martyr, left with his family hide ! Damn the mighty urge to get drunk in a Roman arena, while the lions ap- Damn all the bitter circumstances that made proached. His butchery was as good as doing so impossible. Damn ! Damn ! Damn

over . . . Finished with this orgy, he said meekly Reprieve came presumably by way of the “I guess so, Hon.” good-sense of the pilot of the space ship. The hold-port was closed abruptly by a LL MEMBERS of the Endlich mechanism that could be operated only family had been looking around them from the main control-board. The rocket at the weird Vestal landscape. Through jets of the craft emitted a single weak John Endlich’s mind again there flashed a burst of flame. Like a boulder grown picture of what this asteroid was like. At agile and flighty, the ship leaped from the the Asteroids Homesteaders’ School in Chi- landscape, and arced outward toward the cago, where his dependents and he had stars, to curve around the asteroid and been given several weeks of orientation disappear behind the scene’s jagged brim. instruction, suitable to their separate needs, The craft had gone to make its next and he had been shown diagrams and photo- final stop—among the air-domes of the graphs of Vesta. Later, he had of course huge mining camp on the other side of seen it from space. Vesta—the side of torn rocks and rich It was not round, like a major planet radioactive ores. or most moons. Rather, it was like a

But before the ship had vanished from bomb-fragment ; or even more like a sight, John Endlich heard Alf Neely’s shard of a gigantic broken vase. It was grim promise in his helmet radiophones: several hundred miles long, and half as “We’ll be back tonight, Greenhorn. Lots thick. One side of it—this side—was of times we work night-shift—when it’s curved; for it had been a segment of the daytime on this side of Vesta. We’ll be surface of the shattered planet from which

free. Stick around. I’ll rub what’s left of all of the asteroids had come. The other !” you in the dust of your claim side was jagged and broken, for it had Endlich was alone, then, with the fright been torn from the mesoderm of that tor- in his wife’s eyes, the squalling of his tured mother world. children, and his own abysmal disgust From the desolation of his own thoughts, and worry. in which the ogre-form of Alf Neely For once he ceased to be a gentle parent. lurked with its pendent promise of catas- !” “Bubs ! Evelyn he snapped. “Shud-d-d trophe soon to come, and from his own all —up-p-p! . . view of other desolation around him, The startled silence which ensued was John Endlich was suddenly distracted by his first personal victory on Vesta. But the the comments of his kids. All at once, silence, itself, was an insidious enemy. It conforming to the changeable weather of made his ears ring. It made even his children’s natures regardless of circum- audible pulsebeats seemed to ache. It bored stance, their mood had once more turned into his nerves like a drill. When, after bright and adventurous. a moment, Rose spoke quaveringly, he “Look, Pop,” Bubs chirped, his round was almost grateful: red face beaming now from his helmet “What do we do, Johnny? We’ve still face-window, in spite of his undried tears. got to do what we’re supposed to do, don’t “This land all around here was fields we?” once! You can even see the rows of some Whereupon John Endlich allowed him- kind of stubble! Like corn-stubble! And a self the luxury and the slight relief of a over there’s a— —almost like a fence ! An’ torrent of silent cussing inside his head. up there is hills with trees on ’em—some —!

ASTEROID OF FEAR 45 of ’em not even knocked over. But every- so buildings and trees had not continued thing is all dried-out and black and grey to burn, if there had been time at all to and dead! Gosh!” ignite them. And, with the same swift- “We can see all that, Dopey!” Evelyn, ness, all remaining artifacts and surface who was older, snapped at Bubs. “We features of this chip of a world’s crust know that something like people lived on that was Vesta, had been plunged into the a regular planet here, awful long ago. dual preservatives of the interplanetary Why don’t you look over the other way? regions—deep- freeze and all but absolute There’s the house—and maybe the barn dryness. Yes—the motion of the few scat- and the sheds and the old garden!” tered molecules in space was very fast Bubs turned around. His eyes got very indicating a high temperature. But without !” big. “Oh ! O-ooh-h-h he gasped in substance to be hot, there can be no heat. wonder. “Pop! Mom! Look! Don’t you And so few molecules were there in the ” see? . . void, that while the concept of a “hot” “Yeah, we see, Bubs,” John Endlich space remained true, it became tangled at answered. once with the fact that a practically com- For a long moment he’d been staring at plete vacuum can have practically no tem- those blocklike structures. One—maybe the perature. Which meant—again in practice house—was of grey stone. It had odd, —all but absolute zero. triangular windows, which may once have John Endlich knew. He’d heard the lec- been glazed. Some of the others were of a tures at the Homesteaders’ School. Here blackened material—perhaps cellulose. was a ghost-land, hundreds of square Wood, that is. All of the buildings were miles in extent—a region that had pushed askew, and partly crumpled from been shifted in a few seconds, from the top to bottom, like great cardboard car- full prime of life and motion, to moveless tons that had been half crushed. and timeless silence. It was like the mum- Endlich’s imagination seemed forced to my of a man. In its presence there was a follow a groove, trying to picture that last chill, a revulsion, and yet a fascination. terrible moment, fifty-million years ago. Had the blast been caused by natural HE KIDS continued to jabber—more atomic forces at the heart of the planet, T excitedly now than before. “Pop as one theory claimed? Or had a great Mom !” Bubs urged. “Let’s go look inside

bomb, as large as an oversized meteor, them buildings ! Maybe the things are still come self-propelled from space, to bury there! The people, I mean. All black and itself deep in that ancient world? A world dried up, like the one in the showcase at as big as Mars, its possible enemy—whose school; four tentacles they had instead of weird inhabitants had been wiped out, in arms and legs, the teacher said!” a less spectacular way, perhaps in the same “Sure! Let’s go!” Evelyn joined in. !” conflict ? “I’m not scared to Endlich’s mind grabbed at that brief Yeah, kids’ tastes could be pretty grue- instant of explosion. The awful jolt, which some. When you thought most that you must have ended all consciousness, and all had to shelter them from horror, they capacity for eyes to see what followed. were less bothered by it than you were. Perhaps there was a short and terrible John Endlich’s lips made a sour line. passing of flame. But in swift seconds, “Stay here, the pair of you !” Rose great chunks of the planet’s crust must ordered. — have been hurled outward. In a moment “Aw—Mom ” Evelyn began to pro- the flame must have died, dissipated with test. the suddenly vanishing atmosphere, into “You heard me the first time,” their the cold vacuum of the void. Almost in- mother answered. stantly, the sky, which had been deep blue John Endlich moved to the great box, before, must have turned to its present which had come with them from Earth. black, with the voidal stars blazing. There The nervous tension that tore at him—un- had been no air left to sustain combustion, pleasant and chilling, driving him toward ” ”—;

46 PLACET STORIES straining effort—was more than the re- and now every force in himself was con- sult of the shameful and embarrassing centrated on substantial objectives—to the memory of his very recent trouble with exclusion of his defects. The drive in him Alf Neely and Companions, and the cer- was to end the maddening silence, and to tainty of more trouble to come from that rub out the mood of harsh barrenness, and source. For there was another and even his own aching homesickness, by struggling worse enemy. Endlich knew what it was to bring back a little beauty of scenery, The awful silence. and a little of living motion. It was a He still looked shamefaced and furious civilized urge, a home-building urge, may- but now he felt a gentler sharing of cir- be a narrow urge. But how could anybody cumstances. “We’ll let the snooping go stand being here very long, unless such till later, kids,” he growled. —“Right now things were done? If they ever could be. we gotta do what we gotta do Maybe, willfully, he had led himself into The youngsters seemed to join up with a grimmer trap than it had even seemed to his mood. As he tore the pinchbar, which be—or than he had ever wanted . . . had been conveniently attached to the side of the box, free of its staples, and pro- NSIDE his space suit, he had begun to ceeded to break out supplies, their whimsi- I sweat furiously. And it was more be- cal musings fell close to what he was think- cause of the tension of his nerves than ing. because of the vigor with which he plied his “Vesta,” Evelyn said. “They told us at pinchbar, doing the first task which had to be school—remember? Vesta was the old done. Steel ribbons were snapped, nails Roman goddess of hearth and home. Funny were yanked silently from the great box, —hunh—Dad ?” boards were jerked loose. Bubs’ fancy was vivid, too. “Look, In another minute John Endlich and his Pop!” he said again, pointing to a ribbon wife were setting up an airtight tent, of what might be concrete, cracked and which, when the time came, could be in- crumpled as by a terrific quake, curving flated from compressed-air bottles. They away toward the hills, and the broken worked somewhat awkwardly, for their in- mountains beyond. “That was a road ! Can’t struction period had been brief, and they you almost hear some kinda cars and were green ; but the job was speedily finish- trucks goin’ by ?” ed. The first requirement—shelter— was John Endlich’s wife, helping him open assured. the great box, also had things to say, in Digging again into the vast and varied spite of the worry showing in her face. She contents of the box, John Endlich found touched the dessicated soil with a gaunt- some things he had not expected—a fine leted hand. “Johnny,” she remarked won- rifle, a pistol and ammunition. At which deringly. “You can see the splash-marks— moment an ironic imp seemed to sit on his of the last rain that ever fell here shoulder, and laugh derisively. Umhm-m “Yeah,” Endlich growled without any —the Asteroids Homesteaders Office had further comment. Inside himself, he was filled these boxes according to a precise fighting the battle of lost things. The blue survey of the needs of a peaceful settler sky. The shifting beauty of clouds in sun- on Vesta. shine. The warm whisper of wind in trees. It was like Bubs, with the inquisitive- The rattle of traffic. The babble of water. ness of a seven-year-old, to ask: “What The buzz of insects. The smell of flowers. did they think we needed guns for, when The sight of grass waving ... In short, they knew’ there was no rabbits to shoot all the evidences of life. at?” “A lot of things that was here once, “I guess they kind of suspected there’d we’ll bring back, won’t we, Pop?” Bubs be guys like Alf Neely, son,” John End- questioned with astonishing maturity. lich answered dryly. “Even if they didn’t “Hope so,” John Endlich answered, tell us about it.” keeping his doubts hidden behind gruff- The next task prescribed by the Home- ness. Maybe it was a grim joke that here steaders’ School was to secure a supply of 7;

ASTEROID OF FEAR 4 air and water in quantity. Again, following would be a dangerous beacon for prowlers the instructions they had received, the End- and when you were inside their area of lichs uncrated and set up an atom-driven illumination, it was difficult to see into the drill. In an hour it had bored to a depth gloom beyond. of five-hundred feet. Hauling up the drill, Still, one did not know if the mask of Endlich lowered an electric heating unit darkness did not afford a greater invitation on a cable from an atomic power-cell, and to those with evil intent. For a long mo- then capped the casing pipe. ment, Endlich was in an agony of inde- Yes, strangely enough there was still cision. Then he said: sufficient water beneath the surface of “We’ll knock off from work now—get .” Vesta. Its parent planet, like the Earth, in the tent, eat supper, maybe sleep . . had had water in its crust, that could be But he was remembering Neely’s prom- tapped by means of wells. And so sud- ise to return tonight. denly had Vesta been chilled in the cold of In another minute the small but dazzling space at the time of the parent body’s ex- sun had disappeared behind the broken plosion, that this water had not had a chance mountains, as Vesta, unspherical and mal- to dissipate itself as vapor into the void, but formed, tumbled rather than rotated on its had been frozen solid. The drying soil center of gravity. And several hours later, above it had formed a tough shell, which amid heavy cooking odors inside the now had protected the ice beneath from dis- inflated plastic bubble that was the tent,

appearance through sublimation . . . Endlich was sprawled on his stomach, Drill down to it, melt it with heat, and unable, through well-founded worry, even it was water again, ready to be pumped to remove his space suit or to allow his and put to use. family to do so, though there was breath- And water, by electrolysis, was also an able air around them. They lay with their

easy source of oxygen to breathe . . . The helmet face-windows open. Rose and Eve- soil, once thawed over a few acres, would lyn breathed evenly in peaceful sleep. also yield considerable nitrogen and carbon Bubs, trying to be very much a man, dioxide—the makings of many cubic battled slumber and yawns, and kept his meters of atmosphere. The A. H. O. sur- dad company with scraps of conversation. vey expeditions, here on Vesta and on “Let ’em come, Pop,” he said cheerfully. other similar asteroids which were crustal “Hope they do. We’ll shoot ’em all. Won’t chips of the original planet, had done we, pop? You got the rifle and the pistol their work well, pathfinding a means of ready. Pop ...” survival here. Yes, John Endlich had his guns ready When John Endlich pumped the first beside him, all right—for what it was turbid liquid, which immediately froze worth. He wished wryly that things could again in the surface cold, he might, under be as simple as his hero-worshipping son other, better circumstances, have felt like seemed to think. Thank the Lord that cheering. His well was a success. But his Bubs was so trusting, for his own peace tense mind was racing far ahead to all of mind—the prankish and savage nature the endless tasks that were yet to be done, of certain kinds of men, with liquor in to make any sense at all out of his claim. their bellies, being what it was. For John Besides, the short day—eighteen hours Endlich, having been, on occasion, mildly long instead of twenty-four, and already kindred to such men, was well able to far advanced at the time of his tumultu- understand that nature. And understand- ous landing—was drawing to a close. ing, now, chilled his blood. “It’ll be dark here mighty quick, John- Peering from the small plastic windows ny,” Rose said. She was looking scared, of the tent, he kept watching for hulking again. black shapes to silhouette themselves against the stars. And he listened on his OHN ENDLICH considered setting helmet phones, for scraps of telltale con- J up floodlights, and working on through versation, exchanged by short-range radio the hours of darkness. But such lights by men in space armor. Once, he thought —

48 PLANET STORIES he heard a grunt, or a malicious chuckle. himself, as if he foresaw the future, a But it may have been just vagrant static. moment away. For suddenly, huge as it Otherwise, from all around, the still- was, the box rocked, and began to move ness of the vacuum was absolute. It was off, as if it had sprouted legs and come unnerving. On this airless piece of a plan- alive. et, an enemy could sneak up on you, almost without stealth. OHN ENDLICH scrambled to action. Against that maddening silence, how- J He slammed and sealed the face-win- ever, Bubs presently had a helpful and dows of the helmets of the members of his unprompted suggestion: “Hey, Pop!” he family, to protect them from suffocation. whispered hoarsely. “Put the side of your He did the same for himself, and then helmet against the tent-floor, and listen!” unzipped the tent-flap. He darted out with John Endlich obeyed his kid. In a sec- the outrushing air. ond cold sweat began to break out on his This was a moment with murder poised body, as intermittent thudding noises in every tattered fragment of it. John reached his ear. In the absence of an at- Endlich knew. Murder was engrained in mosphere, sounds could still be transmitted his own taut-drawn nerves, that raged to through the solid substance of the asteroid. destroy the trespassers whose pranks had It took Endlich a moment to realize that passed the level of practical humor, and the noises came, not from nearby, but from become, by the tampering with vital neces- far away, on the other side of Vesta. The sities, an attack on life itself. But there thudding was vibrated straight through was a more immediate menace in these many miles of solid rock. space-twisted roughnecks . . . Strike back “It’s nothing, Bubs,” he growled. “Noth- at them, even in self-defense, and have ing but the blasting in the mines.” it proven! Bubs said “Oh,” as if disappointed. Not He had not the faintest doubt who they long thereafter he was asleep, leaving his were—even though he could not see their harrassed sire to endure the vigil alone. faces in the blackness. Maybe he should off, rest little, Endlich dared not doze to a lay low—let them have their way . . . But even for a moment. He could only wait. how could he—even apart from his rag- If an evil visitation came—as he had been ing temper, and his honor as a man—when all but sure it must—that would be bad, they were making off with his family’s indeed. If it didn’t come—well—that still and his own means of survival? meant a sleepness night, and the postpone- He had to throw Rose and the kids into ment of the inevitable. He couldn’t win. the balance—risking them to the danger Thus the hours slipped away, until the that he knew lay beyond his own possible luminous dial of the clock in the tent ignoble demise. He did just that when he it had been synchronized to Vestal time raised his pistol, struggling against the told him that dawn was near. That was awful impulse of the rage in him—lifted when, through the ground, he heard the it high enough so that the explosive bul- faint scraping. A rustle. It might have lets that spewed from it would be sure to been made by heavy space-boots. It came, pass over the heads of the dark silhou- and then it stopped. It came again, and ettes that were moving about. stopped once more. As if skulking forms “Damn you, Neely !” Endlich yelled into paused to find their way. his helmet mike, his finger tightening on Out where the ancient and ghostly build- the trigger. “Drop that stuff!” ings were, he saw a star wink out briefly, At that moment the sun’s rim appeared as if a shape blocked the path of its light. at the landscape’s jagged edge, and on this Then it burned peacefully again. John side of airless Vesta complete night was Endlich’s hackles rose. His fists tightened transformed to complete day, as abruptly on both his rifle and pistol. as if a switch had been turned. He fixed his gaze on the great box, Alf Neely and John Endlich blinked at looming blackly, the box that contained each other. Maybe Neely was embarrassed the means of survival for his family and a little by his sudden exposure; but if he — —

ASTEROID OF FEAR 49 was, it didn’t show. Probably the bully in you to try to shoot straight, pal,” he said. him was scared; but this he covered in a “Even you got more sense than that.” common manner—with a studiedly easy And John Endlich was spang against swagger, and a bravado that was not good his terrible, blank wall again. Seven to one. sense, but bordered on childish reckless- Suppose he got three. There’d be four ness. Yet he had a trump card—by the left— and more in the camp. But the four aggressive glint in his eyes, and his un- would survive him. Space crazy lugs. Any- pleasant grin, Endlich knew that Neely way half drunk. Ready to hoot at the stars, knew that he was afraid for his wife, and even, if they found no better diversion. wouldn’t start anything unless driven and Ready to push even any of their own goaded sheerly wild. Even now, they were bunch around who seemed weaker than seven to his one. they. For spite, maybe. Or just for the “Why, good morning, Neighbor Pun’- lid-blowing hell of it—as a reaction against kin-head !” Neely crooned, his voice a bur- the awful confinement of being out here. lesque of sweetness. “Glad to oblige!” “I was gonna smear you all over the He hurled the great box down. As he place. Greenhorn,” Neely rumbled. “But did so, something glinted in his gloved maybe this way is more fun, hunh? May- 'paw. He flicked it expertly into the open be we’ll be back tonight. But don’t wait up side of the wooden case which contained for us. Our best regards to your sweet so many things that were vital to the family.” Endlichs John Endlich’s blazing and just rage It was only a tiny nuclear priming-cap, was strangled by that same crawling dread and the blast was feeble. Even so, the as before, as he saw them arc upward and box burst apart. Splintered crates, sealed away, propelled by the miniature drive- cans, great torn bundles and what not, jets attached to the belts of their space- went skittering far across the plain in suits. Their return to camp, hundreds of every direction, or were hurled high to- miles distant, could be accomplished in a ward the stars, to begin falling at last with couple of minutes. the laziness of a descending feather. Rose and the kids were crouched in the deflated lent. But returning there, John EELY and his companions hadn’t at- Endlich hardly saw them. He hardly heard N tempted to move out of the way their frightened questions. of the explosion. They only rolled with its To the trouble with Neely, he could see force, protected by their space suits. End- no end—just one destructive visitation fol- lich rolled, too, helplessly, clutching his lowing another. Maybe, already, mortal pistol and rifle; still, by some superhuman damage had been done. But Endlich effort, he managed to regain his feet be- couldn’t lie down and quit, any more than fore the far more practiced Neely, who a snake, tossed into a fire, could stop try- was hampered, no doubt, by a few too ing to crawl out of it, as long as life lasted. many drinks, had even stopped rolling. But Whether doing so made sense or not, when Neely got up, he had drawn his didn’t matter. In Endlich was the savage blaster, a useful tool of his trade, but a energy of despair. He was fighting not just hellish weapon, too, at short range. Neely and his crowd, but that other enemy Still, Endlich retained the drop on him. —which was perhaps Neely’s main trouble, Alf Neely chuckled. “Fourth of July! too. Yeah—the stillness, the nostalgia, the Hallowe’en, Dutch,” he said sweetly. harshness. “What’s the matter? Don’t you think it’s “No—don’t want any breakfast,” he re- fun? Honest to gosh—you just ain’t neigh- plied sharply to Rose’ last question. “Gotta !” .” borly work . . Then he switched his tone. It became a soft snarl that didn’t alter his insolent and E WAS LIKE an ant-swarm, re- confident smirk—and a challenge. He H building a trampled nest—oblivious laughed derisively, almost softly. “I dare to the certainty of its being trampled again. 4—Planet—March First he scrambled and leaped around, col- 50 PLANET STORMES lecting his scattered and damaged gear. He while, that he might succeed—in time. But found that his main atomic battery—60 then Rose opened the airlock, and the kids necessary to all that he had to do—was came in to bother him. With all the triumph damaged and unworkable. And he had no of a favorite puppy dragging an over-ripe hope that he could repair it. But this didn’t bone into the house, Bubs bore a crooked stop his feverish activity. piece of a black substance, hard as wood Now he started unrolling great bolts of and more gruesome than a dried and a transparent, wire-strengthened plastic. moldy monkey-pelt. Patching with an adhesive where explo- “A tentacle 1” Evelyn shrilled. “We

sion-rents had to be repaired, he cut hun- were up to those old buildings ! We found

dred-yard strips, and, with Rose’s help, the people ! What’s left of them ! And lots

laid them edge to edge and fastened them of stuff. We saw one of their cars ! And together to make a continuous sheet. Next, there was lots more. Dad—you gotta come all around its perimeter, he dug a shallow and see! . . trench. The edges of the plastic were Harassed as he was, John Endlich then attached to massive metal rails, which yielded—because he had a hunch, an idea he buried in the trench. of a possibility. So he went with his chil- “Sealed to the ground along all the dren. He passed through a garden, where sides, Honey,” he growled to Rose. “Next a pool had been, and where the blackened

we fit in the airlock cabinet, at one corner. remains of plants still projected from beds Then we’ve got to see if we can get up of dried soil set in odd stone-work. He enough air to inflate the whole business. passed into chambers far too low for com- That’s the tough part—the way things fortable human habitation. And what did

are . . . he know of the uses of most of what he By then the sun was already high. And saw there? The niches in the stone walls? Endlich was panting raggedly—mostly The slanting, ramplike object of blackened from worry. After the massive airlock was wood, beside which three weird corpses in place, they attached their electrolysis lay? The glazed plaque on the wall, which apparatus to the small atomic battery, could have been a religious emblem, a which had been used to run the well-driller. calendar of some kind, a decoration, or The well was in the area covered by the something beyond human imagining? Yeah sheet of plastic, which was now propped up —leave such stuff for Cousin Ernest, the here and there with long pieces of board school teacher—if he ever got here. from the great box. Over their heads, the In the cylindrical stone shed nearby, tough, clear material sagged like a tent- John Endlich had a look at the car—low roof which has not yet been run up all slung, three-wheeled, a tiller, no seats. the way on its poles. Just a flat platform. All he could figure out Sluggishly the electrolysis apparatus about the motor was that steam seemed the broke down the water, discharging the link between atomic energy and mechanical hydrogen as waste through a pipe, out motion. over the airless surface of Vesta—but Beyond the car was what might be a freeing the oxygen under the plastic roof. small tractor. And a lot of odd tools. But Yet from the start it was obvious that, the thing which interested him most was with insufficient electric power, the process the pattern of copper ribbons, insulated was too slow. with a heavy glaze, similar to that which “And we need to use heat-cpils to thaw he had seen traversing walls and ceiling the ground, Johnny,” Rose said. “And to in the first building he had entered. Here, keep the place warm. And to bring nitro- as before, they connected with queer ap- gen gas up out of the soil. The few cylin- paratus which might be stoves and non- ders of the compressed stuff that we’ve got rotary motors, for all he knew. And also won’t be enough to make a start. And the with the globes overhead. .” carbon dioxide . . The suggestiveness of all this was plain. So John Endich had to try to repair And now, at the far end of that cylindrical that main battery. He thought, after a shed, John Endlich found the square, black- —

ASTEROID OF FEAR 51 enamelled case, where all of those copper That was where the trouble started. I ribbons came together. might have got broke, but I would’ve made friends. They think I’m snooty.” T WAS SEALED, and apparently self- Rose’s jaw hardened, as if she took his I contained. Nothing could have damaged regrets as an accusation that she had led it very much, in the frigid stillness of him along the straight and narrow path, millions of years. It secrets were hidden which—by an exasperating shift in phil- within it. But they could not be too un- osophical principle—now seemed the short- familiar. And its presence was logical. A est route to destruction. But he felt very small, compact power unit. Nervously, he sorry for her, too; and he didn’t believe turned a little wheel. A faint vibration was that what he had just said was entirely the transmitted to his gloved hand. And the truth. globe in the ceiling began to glow. So he added: “I don’t mean it, Honey. He shut the thing off again. But how I’m just griping.” long did it take him to run back to his She softened. “You’ve got to eat, John- sagging creation of clear plastic, while the ny,” she said. “You haven’t eaten all day. kids howled gleefully around him, and re- And tonight you’ve got to sleep. I’ll keep .” turn with the end of a long cable, and watch. Maybe it’ll be all right . . pliers? How long did it take him to dis- Well, anyway it was nice to know that connect all of the glazed copper ribbons, his wife was like that. Yeah—gentle, and and substitute the wires of the cable fairminded. After they had all eaten sup- attaching them to queer terminal-posts ? No per, he tried hard to keep awake. Fear —not long. helped him to do so more than ever. Their The power was not as great as that tent was now covered by the rising plastic which his own large atomic battery would roof—but beyond the clear substance, he have supplied. But it proved sufficient. And could still watch for starlight to be stopped the current was direct—as it was supposed by prowling forms, out there at the jagged to be. The electrolysis apparatus bubbled rim of Vesta. It was hell to feel your skin vigorously. Slowly the tentlike roof began puckering, and yet to have exhaustion push-

to rise, under the beginnings of a tiny ing your eyelids down inexorably . . . gas-pressure. Somewhere he lost the hold on himself. “That does it, Pops!” Bubs shrilled. And he dreamed that Alf Neely and he “Yeah—maybe so,” John Endlich agreed were fighting with their fists. And he was almost optimistically. He felt really tender being beaten to a pulp. But he was wishing toward his kids, just then. They’d really desperately that he could win. Then they helped him, for once. could have a drink, and maybe be friends. Yes—almost he was hopeful. Until he But he knew hopelessly that things weren’t glanced at the rapidly declining sun. An quite that simple, either. all-night vigil. No. Probably worse. Oh Lord—how long could he last like this? E AWOKE to blink at blazing sun- Even if he managed to keep Neely and H shine. Then his whole body became Company at bay? Night after night . . . clammy with perspiration, as he thought of All that he had accomplished seemed use- his lapse from responsibility; glancing less. He just had so much more that over, he saw that Rose was sleeping as could be wrecked—pushed over with a soundly as the kids. His wide eyes searched

harsh laugh, as if it really was something for the disaster that he knew he’d find . . . funny. But the wide roof was all the way up, John Endlich’s flesh crawled. And in his now—intact. It made a great, squarish thinking, now, he went a little against his bubble, the skin of which was specially own determinations. Probably because, in treated to stop the hard and dangerous the present state of his disgust, he needed part of the ultra-violeKrays of the sun, a drink—bad. and also the lethal portion of the cosmic “Nuts!” he growled lugubriously. "If rays. It even had an inter-skin layer of

I'd only been a little more sociable . , . gum that could seal the punctures that T —

52 PLANE STORIES grain-of-sand-sized meteors might make. —so that Rose and the kids and he could But meteors, though plentiful in the aste- sleep inside its sealed doors. Sealed, that is, roid belt, were curiously innocuous. They if Neely or somebody didn’t use a blaster all moved in much the same direction as or an explosive cap or bullet—in an orgy the large asteroids, and at much the same of perverted humor ... He still had no velocity—so their relative speed had to be answer for that. low. Rose and the children toiled almost as The walls of the small tent around End- hard as he did. Rose even managed to find lich sagged, where they had bulged tautly a couple of dozen eggs, that—by being before—showing that there was now a carefully packed to withstand a spaceship’s firm and equal pressure beyond them. The takeoff—had withstood the effects of electrolysis apparatus had been left active Neely’s idea of fun. She set up an incu- all night, and the heating units. This was bator, and put them inside, to be hatched. the result. But, of course, sunset came again John Endlich was at first almost un- with the same pendent threat as before. believing when he saw that nothing had Nerve-twisting. Terrible. And a vigil was been wrecked during the night. For a mo- all but impossible. John Endlich was out ment he was elated. He woke up his on his feet—far more than just dog-

family by shouting: “Look! The bums tired . . . stayed away! They didn’t come! Look! “That damned Neely,” he groaned, al- We’ve got five acres of ground, covered most too weary even to swallow his food, by air that we can breathe!” in spite of the luxury of a real, pullman- His sense of triumph, however, was style supper table. “He doesn’t lose sleep. soon dampened. Ye»—he’d been left un- He can pick his time to come here and molested—for one night. But had that been raise hob!” done only to keep him at a fruitless and Rose’s glance was strange—almost guilty. sleepless watch ? Probably. Another delicate “Tonight I think he might have to stay form of hazing. And it meant nothing for home—too,” she said. the night to come—or for those to follow*. John Endlich blinked at her. So he was in the same harrowing position “All right,” she answered, rather de- as before, pursued only by a wild and de- fensively. “So to speak, Johnny, I called fenseless drive to get things done. To find the cops. Yesterday—with the small radio some slight illusion of security by working transmitter. When you and Bubs and Eve- to build a sham of normal, Earthly life. To lyn were up in those old buildings. I re- shut out the cold vacuum, and a little of ported Neely and his companions.” the bluntness of the voidal stars. To make “Reported them?” certain reassuring sounds possible around “Sure. To Mr. Mahoney, the boss at the him. mining camp. I was glad to find out that “Got to patch up the pieces of the house, there is a little law and order around here. first, and bolt ’em together, Rose,” he said Mr. Mahoney was nice. He said that he feverishly. “Kids—maybe you could help wouldn’t be surprised if they were cooled by setting out some of the hydroponic in the can for a few days, and then con- troughs for planting. We gotta break plain fined to the camp area. Matter of fact, I ground, too, as soon as it’s thawed enough. radioed him again last night. It’s been .” We gotta . . His words raced on with done.” his flying thoughts. John Endlich’s vast sigh of relief was slightly tainted by the idea that to call on T WAS a mad day of toil. The hours a policing power for protection was a little I were pitifully short. They couldn’t be bit on the timid side. stretched to cover more than a fraction of “Oh,” he grunted. “Thanks. I never all the work that Endlich wanted to get thought of doing that.” done. But the lowr gravity reduced the “Johnnv.” problem of heavy lifting to almost zero, at “Yeah?” least. And he did get the house assembled “I kind of got the notion, though ASTEROID OF FEAR 53 from between the lines of what Mr. Ma- things. Rose had planted flowers— to be honey said— that there was heavy trouble admired, and to help out the hive of bees, brewing at the camp. About conditions, and which were essential to some of the other home-leaves, and increased profit-sharing. plants, as well. Nor was the flora limited Maybe there’s danger of riots and what- to the Earthly. Some seeds or spores had not, Johnny. Anyhow, Mr. Mahoney said survived, here, from the mother world of that we should 'keep on exercising all rea- the asteroids. They came out of their eons ” sonable caution.’ of suspended animation, to become root “Hmm-m—Mr. Mahoney is very nice, and tough, spiky stalk, and to mix them- ain’t he?” Endlich growled. selves sparsely with vegetation that had “You stop that, Johnny,” Rose ordered. immigrated from Earth, now that livable But her husband had already passed be- conditions had been restored over this yond thoughts of jealousy. He was think- little piece of ground. But whether they ing of the time when Neely would have were fruit or weed, it was difficult to say. worked out his sentence, and would be free Sometimes John Endlich was misled. to roam around again—no doubt with in- Sometimes, listening to familiar sounds, creased annoyance at the Endlich clan for and smelling familiar odors, toward the causing his restraint. If a riot or some- latter part of his reprieve, he almost thing didn’t spring him, beforehand. John imagined that he’d accomplished his basic Endlich itched to try to tear his head off. desires here on Vesta—when he had always But, of course, the same consequences as failed on Earth. before still applied , , . There was the smell of warm soil, flow- ers, greenery. He heard irrigation water S IT turned out, the Endlichs had a trickling. The sweetcom rustled in the A reprieve of two months and fourteen wind of fans he’d set up to circulate the days, almost to the hour and figured on a air. Bees buzzed. Chickens, approaching strictly Earth-time scale. adolescence, peeped contentedly as they' For what it was worth, they accomplish- dusted themselves and stretched luxuri- ed a great deal. In their great plastic green- ously in the shadows of the cornfield. house, supported like a colossal bubble by For John Endlich it was all like the the humid, artificially-warmed air inside echo of a somnolent summer of his boy- it, long troughs were filled with pebbles and hood. There was peace in it: it was like hydroponic solution. And therein tomatoes a yearning fulfilled. An end of wanderlust were planted, and lettuce, radishes, com, for him, here on Vesta. In contrast to the onions, melons—just about everything in airless desolation outside, the interior of the vegetable line. this five-acre greenhouse was the one most There remained plenty of ground left desirable place to be. So, except for the over from the five acres, so John Endlich vaguest of stirrings sometimes in his mind, tinkered with that fifty-million-year-old there was not much incentive to seek fun tractor, figured out its atomic-power-to- elsewhere. If he ever had time. steam principle, and used it to help harrow And there was a lot of the legendary, up the ancient soil of a smashed planet. He too, in what his family and he had ac- added commercial fertilizers and nitrates complished. It was like returning a little to it—the nitrates were, of course, dis- of the blue sky and the sounds of life to tinct from the gaseous nitrogen that had this land of ruins and roadways and the been held, spongelike, by the subsoil, and ghosts of dead beauty. Maybe there’d be a had helped supply the greenhouse with lot more of all that, soon, when the rumored atmosphere. Then he harrowed the ground major influx of homesteaders reached again. The tractor worked fine, except Vesta. “ that the feeble gravity made the lugs of “Yes, Johnny,” Rose said once. ‘Legen- its wheels slip a lot. He repeated his dary’ is a lot nicer word than ‘ghostly’. planting, in the old-fashioned manner. And the ghosts are changing their name Under ideal conditions, the inside of the to legends.” great bubble was soon a mass of growing Rose had to teach the kids their regular —

54 PLANET STOKIES lessons. That children would be taught was ance of much fresh produce. part of the agreement you had to sign at So, one morning, in a jet-equipped space- the A. H. O. before you could be shipped suit, Endlich arced out for the mining out with them. But the kids had time for camp. Inside the suit he carried samples whimsy, too. In make-believe, they took from his garden. Six tomatoes. Beauties. their excursions far back to former ages. “Have luck with them, Johnny! But They played that they were “Old People." watch out!” Rose flung after him by hel- Endlich, having repaired his atomic bat- met phone. With a warm laugh. Just for a tery, didn’t draw power anymore from the moment he felt maybe a little silly. To-

unit that had supplied the ancient build- matoes ! But they were what he was bank- ings. But the relics remained. From a de- ing on, and had forced toward maturity, vice like a phonograph, there was even a most. The way he figured, they were the bell-like voice that chanted when a lever kind of fruit that the guys in the camp was pressed. gagged by a diet of canned and dehydrated And it was the kids who found the first stuff, because they were too busy chasing “tay-tay bug,” a day after its trills were mineral wealth to keep a decent hydroponic heard from among the new —foilage. “Ta-a- garden going—would be hungriest for. a-ay-y-y—ta-a-a-a-ay-y-yy-y ” The sound Well—he was rather too right, in some was like that of a little wheel, humming ways, to be fortunate. Yeah—they still call with the speed of rotation, and then slow- what happened the Tomato War. ing to a scratchy stop. Poor Johnny Endlich. He was headed A one-legged hopper, with a thin but for the commissary dome to display his rigid gliding wing of horn. Opalescent in wares. But vague urges sidetracked him, its colors. It had evidently hatched from and he went into the recreation dome ofi a tiny egg, preserved by the cold for ages. the camp, instead. Wise enough not to clutch it with his And into the bar. bare hands, Bubs came running with it The petty sin of two drinks hardly merits held in a leaf. the punishing trouble which came his way It proved harmless. It was ugly and as, at least partially, a result. With his beautiful. Its great charm was that it was face-window open, he stood at the bar with a vocal echo from the far past. men whom he had never seen before. And he began to have minor delusions of gran- URE. Life got to be fairly okay, in deur. He became a little too proud of his S spite of hard work. The Endlichs had accomplishments. His wariness slipped into conquered the awful stillness with life- abeyance. He had a queer idea that, as a sounds. Growing plants kept the air in farmer with concrete evidence of his skills their greenhouse fresh and breathable by to show, he would win respect that had photosynthesis. John Endlich did a lot been denied him. Dread of consequences of of grinning and whistling. His temper some things that he might do, became blur- never flared once. Deep down in him there red. His hot temper began to smolder, was only a brooding certainty that the under the spark of memory and the fury calm couldn’t last. For, from all reports, of insult and malicious tricks, that, con- trouble seethed at the mining camp. At any sidering the safety of his loved ones, he time there might be a blowup, a reign of had had no way to fight back against. terror that would roll over all of Vesta. Frustration is a dangerous force. Released A thing to release pent-up forces in men a little, it excited him more. And the who had seen too many hard stars, and had tense mood of the camp—a thing in the heard too much stillness. They were like very air of the domes—stirred him up the stuff inside a complaining volcano. more. The camp—ready to explode into The Endlichs had sought to time their sudden, open barbarism for days—was now various crops, so that they would all be at a point where nothing so dramatic as ready for market on as nearly as possible fresh tomatoes and farmers in a bar was the same day. It was intended as a trick of needed to set the fireworks off. advertising—a dramatically sudden appear- John Endlich had his two drinks. Then, ! —

ASTEROID OF FEAR 55

With calm and foolhardy detachment, he his woman to holler “Cop!”—Neely let set the six tomatoes out in a row before out a yell of sheer glee. His huge shoul- him on the synthetic mahogany. ders hunched, his pendulous nose wobbled, his squinty eyes gleamed and he charged E DIDN’T have to wait at all for into the bar. H results. Bloodshot eyes, some of them John Endlich’s first reaction was curi- belonging to men who had been as gentle ously similar to Neely’s. He felt a flash as lambs in their ordinary lives on Earth, of savage triumph under the stimulus of turned swiftly alert. Bristly faces showed the thought of immediate battle with the swift changes of expression: surprise, in- cause of most of his troubles. Temper terest, greed for possession—but most of blazed in him. all, aggressive and Satanic humor. Belatedly, however, the awareness came “ Jeez—tamadas!” somebody growled, into his mind that he had started an emo- amazed. tional avalanche that went far beyond the Under the circumstances, to be aware of weight and fury of one man like Neely. opportunity was to act. Big paws, some Lord, wouldn’t he ever learn ? It was bare and calloused, some in the gloves of tough as hell to crawl, but how could a space suits, reached out, grabbed. Teeth man put his wife and kids in awful jeo- bit. Juice squirted, landing on hard metal pardy at the hands of a flock of guys whom shaped for the interplanetary regions. space had turned into gorillas? So far, fine. John Endlich felt prouder Endlich tried for peace. It was to his of himself—he’d expected a certain fierce- credit that he did so quite coolly. He turn- ness and lack of manners. But knowing all ed toward his charging adversary and he did know, he should have taken time grinned. to visualize the inevitable chain-reaction. “Hi, Neely,” he said. “Have a drink .” “Thanks, pal . . . You’re a prince . . on me.” Sure—but the thanks were more of a The big man stopped short, almost in mockery than a formality. unbelief that anyone could stoop so low as .’’ “Hey! None for me? Whatsa idea? . . to offer appeasement. Then he laughed up-

“Shuddup, Mic . . . Who’s dis guy? . . . roariously. Say, Friend—you wouldn’t be that pun- “Why, I’d be delighted, Mr. Pun’kins,” 'kin-head we been bearin’ about, would he said in a poisonous-sweet tone. “Let

you? . . . Well— my gracious—bet you are bygones be bygones. Hey, Charlie! Hear .” Dis’ll be nice to watch! . . what Pun’kins says? The drinks are all

“Where’s Alf Neely, Cranston? What on him ! And how is the Little Lady, Mrs. we need is excitement.” Pun’kins? Lonesome, I bet. Glad to hear

“Seen him out by the slot-machines. The it. I’m gonna fix that!” bar is still out of bounds for him. He can’t With a sudden lunge Neely gripped End- come in here.” lich’s hand, and gave it a savage if mo- “Says who? Boss Man Mahoney? For mentary twist that sent needles of pain dis much sport Neely can go straight to shooting up the homesteader’s arm. It hell! And take Boss Man with him on a was a goading invitation to battle, which

pitchfork . . . Hey-y-y ! . . . Ne-e-e-e-l-y-y- grim knowledge of the sequel now com- .” y! . . pelled Endlich to pass up. The big man whose name was called “Don’t call him Pun’kins, Neely !” some- lumbered to the window at the entrance to body yelled. “It ain’t polite to mispro- the bar, and peered inside. During the nounce a name. It’s Mr. Tomatoes. I just last couple of months he’d been in a per- saw. Bet he’s got a million of ’em, out petual grouch over his deprivation of there on the farm 1” liberty, which had rankled him more as an affront to his dignity. HE WHOLE CROWD in the bar When he saw the husband of the au- T broke into coarse shouts and laughs “. thoress of his woes—the little bum, who, and comments. . . We ain’t good neigh- being unable to guard his own, had allowed bors—neglecting our social duties. Let’s ! —

56 PLANET STORIES

pay ’em a visit . . . Pun’kins! What else ing peacefully, blood all over his crushed you got besides tamadas? Let’s go on a face. But that he was out of action signi- picnic ! . . .Hell with the Boss Man ! . . . fied no peace, when so many of his buddies

Yah-h-h—We need some diversion . . . were nearby, and beginning to seethe, like

I’m not goin’ on shift . . . Come on, every- a swarm of hornets. body ! There’s gonna be a fight—a moider So there was an element of despair in .” , . . Hell with the Boss Man . . Endlich’s quick actions as he slammed Like the flicker of flame flashing through Neely’s face-window and his own shut, dry gunpowder, you could feel the excite- picked up his enemy, and used his jets to ment spread. Out of the bar. Out of the propel him in the long leap to the airlock rec-dome. It would soon ignite the whole of the dome. He had no real plan. He just tense camp. had the ragged and all but hopeless thought John Endlich’s heart was in his mouth, of using Neely as a hostage—as a weapon as his mind pictured the part of all this in the bitter and desperate attempt to de- that would affect him and his. A bunch of fend his wife and children from the mob’ men gone wild, kicking over the traces, that would be following close behind arcing around Vesta, sacking and destroy- him . . . ing in sheer exuberance, like brats on Tumbling end over end with his light Hallowe’en. They would stop at nothing. but bulky burden, he sprawled at the

And Rose and the kids . . . threshold of the airlock, where the guard, This was it. What he’d been so scared posted there, had stepped hastily out of of all along. It was at least partly his his way. Again, capricious luck, surprise, own fault. And there was no way to stop and swift action were on his side. He it now. pressed the control-button of the lock, and “I love tomatoes, Mr. Pun’kins,” Neely squirmed through its double valves be- rumbled at Endlich’s side, reaching for the fore the startled guard could stop him. drink that had been set before him. “But Then he slammed his jets wide, and first I’m gonna smear you all over the aimed for the horizon.

camp . . . Take my time—do a good

job . . . Because y’didn’t give me any to- T WAS a wild journey—for, to fly matoes . . I straight in a frictionless vacuum, any Whereat, Endlich took the only missile John must be very well balanced ; and the slender advantage at hand for him—sur- inertia and the slight but unwieldy weight prise. With all the strength of his muscular of Neely’s bulk disturbed such balance in body, backed up by dread and pent-up his own jet-equipped space suit. The jour- fury, he sent a gloved fist crashing straight ney was made, then, not in a smooth arc, into Neely’s open face-window. Even the but in a series of erratic waverings. But pang in his well-protected knuckles was a what Endlich lacked in precise direction, satisfaction—for he knew that the damage he made up in sheer reckless, dread-driven to Neely’s ugly features must be many speed.

times greater. From the very start of that wild flight, The blow, occuring under the conditions he heard voices in his helmet phones: Vesta’s tiny gravity, entirely of had an un- “Damn pun’kin-head greenhorn ! Did Earthly effect. Neely, eyes glazing, floated you see how he hit Neely, Schmidt? Yeah gently and away. Endlich, since up And —by surprise . . . Yeah—Kuzak. I saw. last he had at the instant clutched Neely’s He hit without warning . . . Damn yella

arm, was drawn along with the miner in yokel . . . Who’s cornin’ along to get .” a graceful, arcing flight through the smoky him? . .

air of the bar. Both armored bodies, lacking Sure—there was another side to it nothing in inertia, tore through the tough other voices: plastic window, and they bounced lightly “Shucks—Neely had it coming to him. I on the pavement of the main section of hope the farmer really murders that big rec-dome. the lunkhead . . . You ain’t kiddin’, Muir. I Neely was as limp as a wet rag, sleep- was glad to see his face splatter like a : — —:

ASTEROID OF FEAR 57 rotten tamata . . planets throughout the universe—others Okay—fine. It was good to know you had faced it before him. had some sensible guys on your side. But To his straining and tortured mind the what good was it, when the camp as a trite and somewhat mocking answers came whole was boiling over from its internal Psychology. Salesmanship. The selling of troubles? There were more than enough respect for one’s self. roughnecks to do a mighty messy job Ah, yes. These were fine words. Glib fast words. But the question, “How?” was Panting with tension, Endlich swooped more bitter and derisive than ever. down before his greenhouse, and dragged Still, he had to try something—to make Neely inside through the airlock. For a at least a forlorn effort. And now, from fleeting instant the sights and sounds and certain beliefs that he had, coupled with smells that impinged on his senses, as he some vague observations that he had made opened his face-window once more, brought during the last hour, a tattered suggestion him a regret. The rustle of corn, the odor of what form that effort might take, came of greenery, the chicken voices—there was to him. home in all of this. Something pastoral As for his personal defects that had and beautiful and orderly—gained with given him trouble in the past—well—he hard work. And something brought back was lugubriously sure that he had learned restored—from the remote past. The buz- a final lesson about liquor. For him it al- zing of the tay-tay bug was even a real ways meant trouble. As for wanderlust, echo from that smashed yet undoubtedly and the gambling and hell-raising urge once beautiful world of antiquity. he had been willing to stay put on Vesta, But these were fragile concerns, beside named for the goddess of home, for weeks, the desperate question of the immediate now. And he was now about to make his

safty of Rose and the kids . . . Already last great gamble. If he lost, he wouldn’t cries and shouts and comments were com- be alive to gamble again. If, by great good- ing faintly through his helmet phones fortune, he won—well he was certain that again all the charm of unnecessary chance-taking

“Get the yokel ! Get the bum ! . . . We’ll would, by the memory of these awful mo-

fix his wagon good . . ments, be forever poisoned in him. The pack was on the way—getting closer Now Rose and the youngsters came with every heartbeat. Never in his life had hurrying toward him. Endlich experienced sa harrowing a time “Back so soon, Johnny?” Rose called.

as this ; never, if by some miracle he lived, “What’s this? What happened?” could he expect another equal to it. “Who’s the guy, Pop?” Evelyn asked.

To stand and fight, as he would have “Oh—Baloney Nose . . . What are you done if he were alone, would mean simply doing with him?” that he would be cut down. To try the But by then they all had guessed some peacemaking of appeasement, would have of the tense mood, and its probable mean- probably the same result—plus, for him- ing. self, the dishonor of contempt. “Neely’s pals are coming, Honey,” End- So, where was there to turn, with grim, lich said quietly. “It’s the showdown. Hide unanswering blankness on every side? the kids. And yourself. Quick. Under the house, maybe.” OHN ENDLICH felt mightily an old Rose’s pale eyes met his. They were com- Jyearning—that of a fundamentally prehending, they were worried, but they peaceful man for a way to oppose and were cool. He could see that she didn’t win against brutal, overpowering odds want to leave him. without using either serious violence or the Evelyn looked as though she might be- even more futile course of supine sub- gin to whimper; but her small jaw hard- mission. Here on Vesta, this had been the ened. issue he had faced all along. In many ages Bubs’ lower lip trembled. But he said and many nations—and probably on many valiantly: “I’ll get the guns, P09, I’m :

58 PLANET STORIES stayin’ with yuh.” their present state of mind as a pack of “No you’re not, son,” John Endlich idiot baboons, bearing down on him. But answered. “Get going. Orders. Get the he forced his tone to be conversational guns to keep with you—to watch out for when he spoke. Mom and Sis.” “Hello, Neely,” he said. “You mention- Rose took the kids away with her, with- ed you liked tomatoes. Maybe you were out a word. Endlich wondered how to de- kidding. Anyhow I brought you along scribe what was maybe her last look at home with me, so you could have some. him. There were no fancy words in his Here on the ground, right in front of you, mind. Just Love. And deep concern. is a whole bushel. The regular asteroids Alf Neely was showing signs of re- price—considering the trouble it takes to turning consciousness. Which was good. grow ’em, and the amount of dough a guy Still dragging him, Endlich went and got like you can make for himself out here, a bushel basket. It was filled to the brim is five bucks apiece. But for you, right with ripe, red tomatos, but he could carry now, they’re all free. Here, have a nice its tiny weight on the palm of one hand, fresh, ripe one, Neely.” scarcely noticing that it was there. The big man glared at his captor for a For an instant Endlich scanned the sky, second, after he had looked dazedly around. through the clear plastic roof of the great He would have leaped to his feet—except bubble. He saw at least a score of shapes that the muzzle of his own blaster was in space armor, arcing nearer—specks in leveled at the center of his chest, at a human form, glowing with reflected sun- range of not over twenty inches. For a light, like little hurtling moons among the fleeting instant, Neely looked scared and stars. Neely’s pals. In a moment they prudent. Then he saw his pals, landing would arrive. like a flock of birds, just beyond the transparent side of the greenhouse. And NDLICH took Neely and the loaded he heard their shouts, coming loudly from E basket close to the transparent side Endlich’s helmet-phones of the greenhouse, nearest the approaching “We come after you, Neely! We’ll get roughnecks. There he removed Neely’s the damn yokel off your neck . . . Come oxygen helmet, hoping that, maybe, this on, guys—let’s turn the damn place up- might deter his friends a little from rup- side down! . . turing the plastic of the huge bubble and Neely grew courageous—yes, maybe it letting the air out. It was a feeble safe- did take a certain animal nerve to do what guard, for, in all probability, in case of he did. His battered and bloodied lip curl- such rupture, Neely would be rescued from ed. death by smothering and cold and the “Whatdayuh think you’re up to, Pun- boiling of his blood, simply by having his ’kin-head !” he snarled slowly, his tone helmet slammed back on again. dripping contempt for the insanely Next, Endlich dumped the contents of foolish. He laughed sourly, “Haw-haw- the basket on the ground, inverted it, and haw.” Then his face twisted into a confi- sat Neely upon it. The big man had re- dent and mocking leer. To carry the mock- covered consciousness enough to be merely ery farther, a big paw reached out and groggy by now. Endlich slapped his bat- grabbed the proffered tomato from End- tered face vigorously, to help clear his lich’s hand. “Sure—thanks. Anything to head—after having, of course, relieved oblige!” He took a great bite from the him of the blaster at his belt. the fruit, clowning the action with a Endlich left his own face-window open, forced expression of relish. “Ummm!” he so that the sounds of Neely’s voice could grunted. In danger, he was being the show- penetrate to the mike of his own helmet man, playing for the approval of his pals. phone, thus to be transmitted to the helmet He was proving his comic coolness—that phones of Neely’s buddies. even now he was master of the situation, Endlich was anything but calm inside, and was in no hurry to be rescued. “Come with the wild horde, as irresponsible in on, punk!” he ordered Endlich. “Where ”

ASTEROID OF FEAR 59 is the next one, seeing you’re so generous? !” Be polite to your guest Endlich tended him a second tomato. HAVE A But as he did so, it seemed all the things he dreaded would happen were breathing MURDER... down his back. For the faces that he glimpsed beyond the plastic showed the twisted expressions that betray the point where savage humor imperceptibly be- comes murderous. A dozen blasters were leveled at him. But the eyes of the men outside showed, too, the kind of interest that any odd procedure can command. They stood still for a moment, watching, commenting: “Hey—Neely! See if you can down the

next one with one bite ! . . . Don’t eat ’em .” all, Neely ! Save some for us 1 . . Endlich was following no complete plan. He had only the feeling that somewhere here there might be a dramatic touch that, by a long chance, would yield him a toe- hold on the situation. Without a word, he HAVE gave Neely a third tomato. Then a fourth

and a fifth . . . Neely kept gobbling and clowning. Yeah—but can this sort of horseplay go on until one man has consumed an en- TWO! tire bushel of tomatoes? The question buy began to shine speculatively in the faces of the onlookers. It began to appeal to TWO COMPLETE their wolfish sense of comedy. And it started to betray itself— in another manner DETECTIVE BOOKS —in Neely’s face. —the magazine Shat gives yon

FTER the fifteenth tomato, he burped NOT JUST ONE A and balked. “That’s enough kiddin’ of the recent best-sellers in the mystery field around, Pun’km-head,” he growled. “Get away with your damned garden truck! I should be beatin’ you to a grease-spot RUT TWOS right this minute! Why—I— Then Neely tried to lunge for the blas- for 25P ter. As Endlich squeezed the trigger, he Endless delightful, spine-chilling excitement the best turned the weapon aside a trifle, so that by mystery writers of today — whose books, the beam of energy flicked past Neely’s ear separately, would cost yon 92.00 and splashed garden soil that turned in- each ... candescent, instantly. A FOUR-DOLLAR VALUE John Endlich might have died in that moment, cut down from behind. That TWO COMPLETE he wasn’t probably meant that, from the position of complete underdog among the DETECTIVE BOOKS spectators, his popularity had risen some. FOB TWENTY-FIVE CENTS “Neely,” he said with a grin, “how can AT T017R NEWSSTAND you start beatin’, when you ain’t done ” ” ” ” — —a

60 PLANET STORIES

eatin’? Neely—here I am, trying to be “Come on, Neely ! You heard what Pun- friendly and hospitable, and you aren’t co- ’kins said,” somebody yelled. “Jeez— operating. A whole bushel of juicy to- whole bushel. Let’s see how many you

matoes—symbols of civilization way the can eat, Neely. . . . Damned if this ain’t hell out here in the asteroids— and you gonna be rich! Don’t let us down, Neely! haven’t even made a dent in ’em yet! Nobody’s hurtin’ yuh. All you have to do

What’s the matter, Neely? Lose your ap- is eat—all them nice tamadas . . . Hey,

petite? Here! Eat! . . Neely—if that bushel ain’t enough for you. Endlich’s tone was falsely persuasive. I’ll personally buy you another, at the

For there was a steely note of command in reg’lar price. Haw-haw-haw . . . Lucky

it. And the blaster in Endlich's hand was Neely ! Look at him ! Having a swell ban-

pointed straight at Neely’s chest. quet. Better than if he was home . . .

Neely’s eyes began to look frightened Haw-haw-haw . . . Come on, Pun’kins

and sullen. He shifted uncomfortably, and make him eat! . . the bushel basket creaked under his Yeah, under certain conditions human weight. “You’re yella as any damn pun- nature can be pretty fickle. Wonderingly, ’kin !” he said loudly. “You don’t fight John Endlich felt himself to be respected

fair! . . . Guys— what’s the matter with the Top Man. The guy who had shown you? Get this nut with the blaster offa courage and ingenuity, and was winning, .” me! . . by the harsh code of men who had been “Hmm—yella,” Endlich seemed to muse. roughened and soured by space—by life “Maybe not as yella as you were once among the asteroids. coming around here at night with a whole gang, not so long ago— OR a little while then, he had to be “Call me yella?” Nelly hollered. “Why, F hard. He thrust another tomato to- you lousy damn yokel, if you didn’t have ward Neely, at the same time directing a that blaster— a thin stream from the blaster just past Endlich said grimly, “But I got it, the big nose. Neely ate six more tomatoes friend!” He sent a stream of energy from with a will, his eyes popping, sweat stream- the blaster right past Neely’s head, so close ing down his forehead. that a shock of the other’s hair smoked and Endlich’s next blaster-stream barely curled into black wisps. “And watch your missed Neely’s booted toe. The persuasive language—my wife and kids can hear shot was worth fifty-five more dollars in you— garden fruit consumed. The crowd gave Neely’s thick shoulders hunched. He with mock cheers and bravos, and demand- ducked nervously, rubbing his head—and ed more action.

for the first time there was a hint of “That makes thirty-two . . . Come on, genuine alarm in his voice. “All right,"— he Neely—that’s just a good start. You got a growled, “all right! Take it easy long, long ways to go . . . Come on, Something deep within John Endlich re- Pun’kins—bet you can stuff fifty into .” laxed—a cold tight knot seemed to un- him . . wind— for, at that moment, he knew that To goad Neely on in this ludicrous and Neely was beginning to lose. The big man’s savage game, Endlich next just scorched evident discomfort and fear were the marks the metal at Neely’s shoulder. It isn’t to said that didn’t his of weakness—to his followers at least ; and be Endlich enjoy with them, he could never be a leader, revenge—for all the anguish and real dan- again. Moreover, he had allowed himself ger that Neely had caused him. But as to be maneuvered into the position of this fierce yet childish sport went on, and being the butt of a practical joke, that, the going turned really rough for the big by his own code, must be followed up, to asteroid miner, Endlich’s anger began to its nasty, if interesting, outcome. The be mixed with self-disgust. He’d always spectators began to resemble Romans at be a hot-tempered guy; he couldn’t help the circus, with Neely the victim. And the that. But now, satisfaction, and a hope- victim’s downfall was tragically swift. ful glimpse of peace ahead, burned the —: ;

ASTEROID OF FEAR 61 fury out of him and touched him with facewindow so that he could scarcely see shame. Still, for a little more, he had to go out of it? That, amid the raucous laughter on. Again and again, as before, he used of his companions, which still sounded that blaster. But, as he did so, he talked, slightly self-conscious and pitying. Thus ramblingly, knowing that the audience, Alf Neely sank at last to the level of help- too, would hear what he said. Maybe, in less oblivion and nonentity. a way, it was a lecture; but he couldn’t help that: WEEK of Vestal days later, in the “Have another tomato, Neely. Sorry to A afternoon, Rose and the kids came to do things like this—but it’s your own way. John Endlich, who was toiling over his So why should you complain? Funny, ain’t cucumbers. it ? A man can get even too many tomatoes. “Their name is Harper, Pop!” Bubs Civilized tomatoes. Part of something most shouted. guys around here have been homesick for, “And they’ve got three children!” Eve- for a long time . . . Maybe that’s what has lyn added. been most of the trouble out here in the John Endlich, straightened, shaking a asteroids. Not enough civilization. On kink out of his tired back. “Who?" he Earth we were used to certain standards questioned. in spite of being rough enough there, too. “The people who are going to be our Here, the traces got kicked over. But on new neighbors, Johnny,” Rose said happily. this side of Vesta, an idea begins to soak “We just picked up the news on the in: This used to be nice country—blue radio—from their ship, which is approach- sky, trees growing. Some of that is coming ing from space right now ! I hope they’re back, Neely. And order with it. Because, nice folks. And, Johnny—there used to be deep in our guts, that’s what we all want. country schools with no more than five .” And fresh vegetables’ll help . . . Have an- pupils . . other tomato, Neely. Or should we call it “Sure,” John Endlich said. enough, guys?” Something felt warm around his heart. “Neely, you ain’t gonna quit now?” Leave it to a woman to think of a school somebody guffawed. “You’re doin’ almost —the symbol of civilization, marching now good. Haw-haw!” across the void. John Endlich thought of Neely’s face was purple. His eyes were the trouble at the mining camp, which his bloodshot. His mouth hung partly open. first load of fresh vegetables, picked up by “Gawd—no—please !” he croaked. a small space boat, had perhaps helped to An embarrassed hush fell over the end. He thought of the relics in this crowd. Back home on Earth, they had all strange land. Things that were like legends been more-or-less average men. Finally of a lost pastoral beauty. Things that could someone said, expressing the intrusion come back. The second family of home- among them of the better dignity of man steaders was almost here. Endlich was .” “Aw—let the poor dope go . . reconciled to domesticity. He felt at home Then and there, John Endlich sold what he felt proud. was left of his first bushel of tomatoes. Bees buzzed near him. A tay-tay bug One of his customers—the once loud- from a perished era, hummed and scraped mouthed Schmidt—even said, rather stif- out a mournful sound. fly, “Pun’kins—you’re all right.” “I wonder if the Harper kids’ll call you And these guys were the real rough- Mr. Pun’kins, Pop,” Bubs remarked. “Like necks of the mining camp. the miners still do.” Is it necessary to mention that, as they John Endlich laughed. But somehow he were leaving, Neely lost his pride com- was prouder than ever. Maybe the name pletely, soiling the inside of his helmet’s would be a legend, too. ? •

1U DIVERSIFAL

Entore, a creature not yet born, and Bryan Bar ret, rebel, radical, diversifal — together they worked to prevent a world of probability that would destroy the human race!

({V TO,” said the shadowy man who gingcrbreaded metal bed with its sagging 1^1 sat high above the floor on the mattress. ' chair of the time-machine, “you “The Alpha Group?” can’t do that.” “The Alpha Group,” the shadowy man ‘‘Can’t, eh?” spoke coldly, in agreement, “Punrtus four. ‘‘No !” You would have met her.” “Sorry.” “I thought so. I felt it.” For a second, Bryan was shaken with “You felt nothing of the sort. You have indecision. This is intolerable, he thought. an exaggerated notion of the perceptive I’ll turn the doorknob. After all, he has no qualities of your psyche.” real jurisdiction over my actions. Nor “I named the Alpha Group,” said Bryan has he, in spite of the stakes involved, any wearily. right to meddle in my life the way he has. “Because for the first three or four years His rebel thoughts endured for only that of our association, the Alpha Group will second. His grip loosened on the door- predominate. And because you have knob, his gloved hand fell away. He actu- come to associate certain of my facial ally took a few steps backward, as if he expressions and tonal qualities with the would negate that action which led toward group. There was no telepathic pick-up disaster. Then he turned quickly, urged from the girl. She is not aware that you his undernourished body back up the exist. Nor will she ever be aware, as threadbare hall, into his equally thread- long as you choose to work in close col- bare room. Off came his shapeless hat, laboration with me—and as a humani- and overcoat which was ripped at seams tarian yourself, you will not refuse to and pockets, and he sat down, brain numb, collaborate.” the sensations of his stomach forgotten in Bryan leaned back in the worn arm- the greater hunger. chair, grinning twistedly, though his heart Where is she? Who is she was lead in his breast. He held the long- He did not have the courage to meet lashed eyes of the god-like creature with the cold eyes of the man who sat in shad- a flickering sidewise glance. “Perhaps you owy outline amongst nebulous, self-sus- will choose to stop collaborating with me.” pended machinery, although that being The nostrils of the being flared. “No. watched him with merciless inflexibility of Never. We will continue—we must con- purpose. He had only the courage to tinue to work together until the Alpha, speak, while his eyes fixed dully on the Delta, and Gamma groups are exhausted-— 62 "Entori . . . yo Wanted me to diet 1

mm

A Short Story by ROSS ROCKLYNNE

REPRINTED BY POPULAR REQUEST

63 ” ,

64 PLANET STORIES

or until— which I am concerned. A thousand years “Or until I commit suicide as you sug- in my future they warred—and humanity gested.” destroyed itself. This I know. This I “Yes." must prevent. From your unborn mutant Bryan lost his tensity, and his fear that child my race stems.” he could not bear it, might disobey a com- “Your race?” Bryan had exclaimed. mand from this creature. Suddenly, he “Yes.” was amused. Bryan was chained to this “You are seeking to prevent your own creature, but no less than this creature was world of probability?” to chained to him for ten long “Yes.” The long-lashed eyes flickered. chained him ; years, or until he might take his own life. The being leaned forward a little, star- Creature? Yes. For certainly any ani- ing down at Bryan. “Why not, Bryan mal that is not homo sapiens is a crea- Barret? Does it matter? It is my world ture. Even if he be homo superior, of the of probability which discovered the man- year Eight-hundred thousand A.D., and ner of traveling to the other world. It has invented a time-machine, and has but is my world which waged the war. It is one powerful, compelling thought in mind my world, your world, which is—will be fault. I selfless. —to save the human race. _ Or that race —at am You know what of creatures which had stemmed from the it is to be selfless. You can understand. human race. That was it. After fighting And, after all, you are the diversifal—the and imagining, aspiring and succeeding, splitting factor.” for a good many millions of years, man Bryan was inwardly shaken. The self- was about to be snuffed out. So the shad- less superman. Or, and this was more owy being—homo superior—had told likely, the selfless scientist. The picture, Bryan on that day a week ago when he in its entirety, had come quite clearly to had appeared in this room. The human Bryan Barrett. He was a diversifal, be- race, far in the future, would destroy it- cause in him impinged events any of self unless—unless Bryan Barret did not which might lead to the creation of a cer-

do something that he had done; did not tain time-branch ; a time-branch which become something that he had become. must not be created if humanity in a far- distant era were to survive. The concept HE thoughts of the creature had im- of worlds of if was not new to Bryan, nor T pinged on his brain clearly after the was the idea of the future of man outside first moments of fright. Bryan had listened, his thoughts. He dealt with the future, and believed. with the liberation of man from his bond- “So I’m a diversifal,” he had muttered. age to tyranny. He was fighting for a “Bryan Barret, liberal, radical, diversifal.” future wherein man would know no pov- “You are a diversifal. I can coin no erty, no social backwardness; for a time other word to fit.” when man could come into his o w n “And she is a diversifal.” blossom forth and make true use of the “Yes.” boundless resources that were possible. “And our child would be a mutant.” Small wonder, then, that he could accept “Yes.” the idea of a man from the far future “I thought,” Bryan had said, his without trouble, and could decide to give thoughts sinking heavily into a morass ten years of his life to the cause for which of intangibles, “I thought, if one wants this man from the future was fighting. to follow the theory to its logical con- But already the first week of that ten clusion, that there are an infinite number years had become a nightmare. of probable worlds.” “You’ve kept me here,” he now told the “Are there?” The depthless eyes of l^eing, “three days, without any food the being, looking down at Bryan from his except some stale cakes. Why?” shadowy height above the floor, had been “Because the events of the Alpha Group contemptuous with disinterest. “I know are worked around your every probable of only two. They are the only two with action like a net. If you left this house THE DIVERSIFY 65 before morning, you would meet her.” ever. This, Bryan Barrett, is your first His sharp-pointed face turned hard. “The step to wealth and power. A financial psychological data I have on her is gulf must be created as an additional pre- sketchy. I can control your actions. I caution between you and her. A gulf that cannot control hers, nor guess what they a poverty-stricken person can never cross. .” would be. And also, had you left here She is poor. She will always be poor. . . at any time during the last three days, you would have made an acquaintance T was strange the way that nightmarish whom you would not see again for eight, I week turned into a month, that month perhaps nine years.” into a year. Hannicut, editor of The Daily “The Gamma Group!” News-Star, performed a blunder from the “The Gamma Group. That acquaintance viewpoint of the man who owned that news- would show up as a probable event in paper and a hundred others throughout the the Gamma Group which would lead to world : he printed a story which told the tickets to a musical comedy in a New truth about a recent labor-big business dis- York—” He stopped speaking, but Bryan pute. Hannicut’s boss fired him, and in ele-

Barret, without knowing it, was watching vating Bryan Barret to the post warned him with cunning expression. The man him never to give labor a break, else he’d Trom the future sneered. “Your obvious, go the way of Hannicut. unconscious desire to trick me would sick- “Take the job,” came the cold thoughts en even you, Bryan. Every word I speak of the man from the future, and his name is to your unconscious merely a clue to her Bryan Barret now knew—Entore. identity. You must fight that.” Bryan got the first damp issue back from the press room the next day, and looked at it with sickened eyes. He left the office WEAT started on Bryan's square, thin- with his hat pulled low over his eyes. S ning face. He bowed forward, feeling Newsboys were hawking the edition—big as if he were about to burst. “I can leave scareheads which told of another strike in here tomorrow morning?” His voice was the coal mines, and never mentioned one muffled. word about the strike a certain big-busi- “Yes. And your way of life must ness corporation was pulling against the change. You will go to Hannicut, editor government. Which never said a thing of The Daily News-Star, and tell him about the filibuster a certain senator had you’d like to take that job he offered you pulled in Congress to defeat a pro-minority last year.” bill. Bryan came to his feet in a blaze of In the second week of Bryan’s editor- anger. “No! You know why I didn’t ship, he started to leave the office. Back take that job!” in Bryan’s hotel suite, Entore, man from “I know why. But it is still necessary the future, sent another wordless com- for you to lose your integrity if we are mand. to succeed. Go to Hannicut and tell him “Do not leave the office now.” you’re willing to falsify the news either by “No?” Bryan muttered the word from commission or omission. Also you will the graying mustache he now wore. cancel your membership in the so-called “No. Two men are waiting downstairs radical organization, Freedom For All. —two rowdies front the Freedom For All And in any other liberal organization you League. They are intending to throw may belong to.” bricks.” He looked calmly down into Bryan’s Bryan’s fists clenched. “There are no stricken, agonized, face. “I know what rowdies in the Freedom For All League. those associations mean to you — and No matter what the newspapers claim.” to freedom-loving men everywhere. I am “These men once knew you, when you truly sorry. I conceive the future to be fought tyranny together. They are law- more important than this present, how- abiding men. But something has snapped 5—Planet—March in them. In their eyes, you are a traitor. ”

<66 PLANET STORIES They could never punish you by law. wrote so seldom, and telling you she hadn't They are willing to sacrifice their own been in New York, but that, come to think lives if they can kill you.” of it, she would make the trip to see you. “Thanks.” You would have met her in Penn Station, Bryan sank into a chair in the corner and in the excitement would have lost of his office. His head bowed, and he your billfold. A traveller would have knew there was gray in liis hair, gray found the billfold, taken the money, and

that the last year had put there. Later \ dropped the billfold in a drawer at his Entore spoke again. Bryan left. home. Seven years later, his wife, clean- He had no sooner reached the street ing house, would have found the bill-fold and signaled a taxi than Entore spoke and returned it to you. You would have again. “Do not take that taxi. Walk rewarded the woman. A few days later, block left. Alpha Group. That you would meet her on the street with her, one The — ; taxi will have a minor street accident. a friend Among those who gather in the crowd will “She!” Bryan interposed huskily. be she.” Bryan stood with his hand upraised.

side of the street, punctus nineteen of the the Groups goes. No, thanks. I’ll hang Gamma group would have occurred. You on.” would have seen a woman who resembled He looked back at Entore, as imper- your mother so strongly that later on this sonally as Entore was looking at him. week you would write a letter to her in Bryan thought, as he looked at the as- your hometown, wondering if she had semblage of machinery. He's shadowy, been in New York. She would have vague. He has no real substance in this answered quickly, wondering why you world. I can see through him and his 4

THE DIVERSIFAL 67 machinery, a little. But he’s partly solid. things to the courtroom you never would I’ve touched the machine. I’ve had to allow to get into your paper. How you push hard to get my hand through. Maybe and your boss put the pressure to bear, a bullet . . . and disbanded the Freedom For All He thrust the thought away, seeing in League.” a flash what horrors it could bring. Kill Bryan paled, dropped the gun into his Entore? Kill him? He who had, with pocket. “Drake,” he said, “get moving. his own science of a far future, assembled Nothing happened. I was acting under groups of event-data which alone could my boss’ orders when I printed that anti- guide Bryan Barret, diversifal, along the League propaganda. I wouldn’t have done path he must take, rather than the path it myself. But you wouldn’t understand. he would normally take? And yet, what Go on.”

if some day, in a burst of rage . . . ? Bryan quickly turned away, walked in Bryan Barret planned nothing of that the other direction. By the time the crowd sort. Another year passed, and another. formed, both participants in the scene were The circulation of The Daily News-Star gone. But something had snapped in rose. Bryan could have pointed to Entore, Bryan’s mind. He walked faster, faster, when rich friends pointed to Bryan as one as fast as his thoughts. An hour later, of the great editors of the times. Entore he burst into his suite, his hand in his could look around corners, see what was pocket around the gun. coming from the future. Entore could scoop them all. If a war was going to tit'NTORE!” he snapped, taking two break out, Bryan could have correspondents -*— stiff-legged steps toward the sus- on the spot days before the event. If pended creature. “All day, you’ve been there was to be a mine explosion, Bryan in communication with me. Yet, as I could, if he wished, write the story ahead was coming home from the office, some- of time, himself. His salary rose to a body tried to kill me. Why didn’t you fabulous figure. And he remembered, warn me about that?” hollowly, Entore’s purpose. A financial Entore’s face remained cold. “Were you gulf must be created between him and killed?”

her. She would always be poor. . . . “What does that matter? It was a Bryan Barret did not consciously plan lucky accident I wasn’t. A matter of a to kill Entore. It was merely that events reflection in a window, something even pointed in that direction—events as sure you couldn’t have foreseen with your high and far-reaching as those events of the and mighty science. Entore, you wanted Delta and Gamma Groups which now and me to die!’’ again Entore forced him to by-pass. There Entore said nothing for awhile, his face was the instance of the gun. Bryan was a study. Finally, as if admitting some- passing an alley-way in the fourth year thing that had only hovered on the fringes of his association with Entore. Had it not of his mind: “Bryan,- I suppose we have been for the reflection from the store win- both at last come to hate each other. But dow, Bryan would not have seen the as- I have never once tried to lead you into sassin. He ducked as the gun roared. any situation that would mean your death.” With a continuation of the motion, he “Except this evening!” hurled himself into the alley, for a long But already the force of Bryan’s rage second wrestled mightily with death. He had died. Entore’s logic was indisputable. jerked the gun from the man’s hands, He hadn’t been killed. He felt the cold, threw him against the wall. His eyes hard mass of the gun in his pocket. He widened. wondered if Entore knew about that. He “Drake !” wondered how deeply Entore could probe “Okay, Bryan,” the shabbily dressed into his thoughts. man spat at him. “I’ll admit I was out Entor£ repeated, with an abstraction to get you. I’ll stay here until the police that was entirely strange in him, “No, come. And when they try me, I’ll tell Bryan. No. I have never thought o| !

68 PLANET STORIES that, never thought of consciously plot- with a slow, firm tread which was not ting your death, although it would free so much an indication of his bodily strength 9f me. as of his will, which he whipped to action His eyes flickered; and Bryan, turning, as he would a stubborn animal. went with the steps of an old man toward Entore had in no way changed. the bedroom. He took off the coat, hung “I would like,” Bryan muttered, in the it up. The gun was still in the pocket. voice of a man asleep, “I would like to meet Bryan tried to force the thought of the her.” gun from his mind, to get the memory of “I know,” said Entore. it deep into his unconscious. “Tomorrow night,” said Bryan, “I am The gun stayed there in that coat for going incognito to a public meeting of the three years. so-called United Liberty Lovers’ League. The Alpha Group was now destroyed. It is a sham organization, masquerading The Alpha Group, running thick with under a name which indicates its opposite events which would have led him to her. nature. I intend to expose the League in And the Delta Group, too, was now so my paper.” blocked off, and the probabilities of a meet- “No,” said Entore. ing occurred in such long, involved chains, Bryan looked up, his face savage. “Yes that Entore could destroy puncti merely Eight years ago, I deserted every ideal by dictating to Bryan Barret in such small that made me worthy of life. I was in matters as the color of a necktie, or a some measure responsible for the disband- choice of dessert, or—well, how could the ing of a league that was fighting corrup- color of a necktie start a chain of events tion—the kind of corruption my newspaper which would lead to her? This way: A has dealt in. I intend to make one strong tie bought hastily, worn once, disliked; bid for my self-respect.” given to the new hotel maid. The maid “You will no longer have your position is making a quilt from old neckties, and if you print such a story. The man who several others are given to her. When she owns the paper sponsors the organization completes the quilt, she sells it to a small you intend to expose.” department store. The department store “That’s all right,” said Bryan still sav- displays the quilt in the window. The agely. He rose, pounding one fist with maid informs Bryan, pridefully. On his restrained emphasis into the palm of his way from lunch, Bryan feels obliged to left hand. “I’ve never gone against you, stop by and look at the quilt. But he is Entore. Never. Not in the slightest de- in somewhat of a hurry, turns, looking tail. This time I must. If this is a step at his watch, bumps head-on into her. that will create a chain of events which is

. . . But Entore prevented Bryan from undesirable, there’s still a way for you to buying the chartreuse necktie. lead me back to a safe path.” In the eighth year, the Delta Group of Entore’s depthless eyes flickered. His events ceased to exist. They were now small mouth turned slowly hard. “If you in the shadowy realms of the Gamma wish,” he said coldly. “But you must obey Group. Those events which were far-flung me in small particulars.” echoes of the past. Bryan nodded curtly. “There’s not much chance, now, eh?” Bryan queried. RYAN BARRET never reached the “Not much chance.” B meeting hall of the sham organization Bryan sat down. He was forty years of United Liberty Lovers’ League the next age, and the years had treated him harshly. night. He was tired, in mind and body. Fine “Do not go by way of Columbus Circle,” lines had been etched deep in his face; Entore’s thoughts came. strands of gray ran thickly through his Bryan leaned forward, spoke to the taxi hair. He was tall, and gaunt, and in- driver, giving him another route, a route clined to stoop at the shoulders, as from that led toward death. Bryan saw the a physical burden. He moved through life moving van coming with ponderous sure- —

THE DIVER8IFAL 69 ness from a side-street, bearing down appeared to me eight years ago.” broadside on the taxi. The driver cramped He gulped in air, tired to control his the wheel hard, screamed. The monster trembling. He spoke again. loomed, and Bryan moved, his nerves pull- “Most of what you said was true. I ing at his muscles like reins holding the believe most of it. But you just caught head of a spirited horse. He halfway yourself up on one big lie. You knew how rolled from the middle of the seat, with selfless I could be, because I believed in one foot kicked the door lever and shoved an ideal. You appealed to my selflessness the door open. He threw himself from by putting yourself in the same category. the taxi, hit shoulder first in the street, You told me it was your world of proba- scraped his face on hard pavement. He bility you were trying to destroy. Put that lay like one dead. When he came to, he way, I could do nothing less than promise arose from the crowd that circled him, to collaborate with you completely. How- pushed his way through like a swimmer ever, if by the destruction of one more

breaking water. Somebody tried to stop punctus, the last chance of my meeting him, but he went, staggering at first, and her is destroyed, then, in that same in- then quickly. stant, your world will be destroyed, and He got back in another taxi. Entore did you will be destroyed, too. You will cease not speak to him once during that trip. to exist. Yet you speak of disbanding our

He did not speak when Bryan came into association. If you spoke the truth, it the hotel suite. Bryan emptied his mind would be disbanded automatically—and of coherence. He went into the bedroom, you would not have a chance to be pleased took off his torn coat. He put on another or displeased. Entore,” said Bryan, reach- coat, and he tried not to realize that the ing into the pocket and taking out the gun was in that pocket. gun, “you have tried to kill me once too Then he came out into the living-room often. You won’t get another chance.” and took a stance looking up at Entore. He fired. He fired point-blank. And in “You tried to kill me,” he said. his innermost heart he did not think he Entore said coldly, looking at the blood would succeed, did not want to succeed. on his face, “I am ignorant of all events The bullet struck Entore in the chest. after the taxi changed course. You de- liberately closed your mind to me. How- NTORE’S passionless eyes widened. ever, I am glad you didn’t go to the E The delicate shadowy fingers clasped League meeting. It would have set in mo- suddenly at the open hole in his chest that tion a number of puncti which would have suddenly gushed with pink, barely dis- been hard to destroy. There now remains cernible blood. He choked. Then he fell a chance—one bare chance that you will forward across the console of his machine. ever meet her. Once that punctus is de- “I am dying!” The hideous, incredulous stroyed, the Gamma Group will have been thought-words ripped at Bryan’s brain. destroyed. You will be pleased to know He saw Entore’s fingers scrambling at but- as I will be pleased—that our association tons on the control of his suspended ma- can then be disbanded.” chinery. The machinery and Entore sud- Bryan started to shake inwardly. Then denly disappeared, like smoke dissipated the trembling was transmitted to his out- before a breeze. There was emptiness. ward person. The gun dropped from Bryan’s fingers, “Entore,” he had to whisper, “I know as if it were a serpent which had struck something now I didn’t know before, him. He stood frozen for a long moment, .You’re a superman, and you’re a con- icy cold horror pouring along the winding genital liar. You can lie with a straight arteries of his body, pervading his brain. face when you know big events hang on “Entore!” he cried. “Entore! Come !” your lies. More, you can convince your- back self that your lies are true—and maybe But Entore would not come back. In that’s a valuable survival characteristic. his last moments, Entore had sent himself Because you lied to me when you first spinning back to his own time. Bryan 70 THE DIVERSIFAL sank, stupefied, into a chair. of the rival newspaper on his desk much Bryan left the hotel suite the next morn- as a human hand could flick them over. ing. He moved slowly, like a blind man Bryan put a paperweight on each comer, who feels he is liable to stumble over the sank gloatingly into his chair. Events were brink of a precipice at any moment. He flowing as they should flow, even in the walked along the street listening for En- small matter of wind blowing a newspaper. tore’s thought-voice. Small ? Suddenly he stopped in mid-pace, Something exploded in his brain like a turned, walked back, and then a block in bell struck violently. the other direction. He started to board He came to his feet, bent over the news- a bus, then changed his mind. paper, staring at the advertisement which At breakfast, he ordered mechanically leaped with smashing impact toward his —then, in fright, changed the order com- eyes. An advertisement smugly explaining pletely. the virtues of a musical comedy that was When the day was done, he lay in bed, in its sixth month. rigid with nervous exhaustion, knowing he Years ago, Entore had said something had set himself an impossible task. Two about a musical comedy. Of an acquaint- years of this. And his battle against me- ance who would later show up in the chanical or impulsive actions was no sub- Gamma Group with tickets for a musical stitute for Entore’s knowledge of puncti. comedy. Only, Entore had destroyed that He thought of Entore, as he lay rigid in possibility by making certain Bryan did darkness. Entore had been a liar. And not make the acquaintance in the first yet his lie did not matter. The same re- place. sult, the preservation of humanity in the far distant future, would be achieved E reached for the ’phone automati- whether Entore’s world or the other world H cally. The wells of resistance had ceased to have being. The murder of En- been pumped dry. That evening he sat in tore had solved nothing, but had left Bryan a rear theatre seat, far from the stage. in a tangle of complexities from which And yet he saw her. Third act, second there was only one straightforward path: row, in the middle. Long before the show suicide. ended, he was standing at the stage-door, A month passed. And Bryan suddenly waiting for her to come out. She came saw that insanity was another way out. soon. She halted in the door. Then she He was surely growing insane. He was saw him. Without hesitance, she walked trying to control the minutiae of his ex- toward him and without saying anything, istence, and doing so was like an entity fell into step beside him and they walked in his own head, ripping his mind to down the street. shreds. He looked at his hand—large, Their conversation until they sat in the bony—and it shook visibly. He looked restaurant with the dinner plates cleared straight down at the glass-top of his desk, away was nothing that either of them and saw a hollow-cheeked, sunken-eyed would remember. Then it was Bryan who specter. He sank back into his chair, closed spoke. his eyes wearily. And as he sat thus, “You’d never married?” he made his decision. “No. And you?” With the decision came a vast, flooding “Never. We’ve been kept apart.” peace, a cauterizing of the disease that was “I know,” she said quietly. “Entore.” growing in his mind. He opened his eyes He looked across the table at her, un- as if he were looking on a new world. A able to feel the shock of that suddenly im- world where he, Bryan Barret, did as he parted information. Her name was Ann. pleased without censorship from Entore or She was small and dainty of body, but from himself. He rose quickly. the beauty that had been hers was fading On his desk, he heard the rustle of into the serene depth of her eyes. papers. He turned, filled with a drunken He said at last, “Entore came to yotl elation. The wind was flicking over pages first, did he?” . . !

PLANET STORIES 71

"He did. And I refused him.” it was as if his Nemesis, Entore had forced "Why?” the damning words from his lips. “Because I was living in the present, A second after she had turned, walking and eight hundred thousand years from so quickly that it seemed she was running now is eight hundred thousand years.” away, turned and disappeared up the short He struggled with that logic, but there flight of stairs toward the traffic-roaring were implications in it which escaped him. street, he could still see the startled, de- “But,” he persisted, "the race of man stroying pain that wrenched her face. The would die. It would end because of us.” incredulity that even the hope of the empty She leaned forward a little tensely, a years of her life had been taken from her little pleadingly, and the dark eyes flooded and left a harrowing memory of near- their inner beauty over her face so that happiness only. he caught his breath. She wanted to ex- Only a second he stood there, remem- plain something to him, but she had no bering that tortured expression. Then a

words to say it. She sank back, mutely. thunderbolt exploded inside him. This is He sat silently, holding himself in an iron the present, and eight hundred thousand control, and then it was that the barrier years is eight hundred thousand years— leaped up between them. For hours they as long as eternity, as meaningless sat there, talking of other things that "Ann!” he shouted—screamed the name neither would remember. as he stood on the street. She was not in Finally she rose, quickly, holding her sight. And he knew he would never see purse with both hands. “I must leave her again. The black, nauseating wind of now,” she told him. He rose, too. Panic self-hatred poured madly through his flickered on her face, and her hands—thin brain, and carried the mocking memory of fragile hands—wound around the purse. Entore. The last punctus of the Gamma “I have a feeling—as strong as the feeling Group of events had been dissipated. He that your eyes were on me from the audi- was truly his own master again. He had ence—that if I leave now, we’ll never the choice of facing straight ahead into meet each other again. Do you want it the unwelcome future or—of fastening his that way. Do you really want it that mind on some more pleasant memory of ?” way the past, fastening it there permanently, “It’s the way it must be,” he said, and and assuming the expression of an idiot.

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Black Amazon ^Mars A Novel by LEIGH BRACKETT

Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city— with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt. Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hun- gering for that magic jewel—ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures—at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!

hrough all the long Now, just before dawn, Camar the Mar- cold hours of the Norland night tian spoke. T the Martian had not moved nor “Stark.” spoken. At dusk of the day before Eric “Yes?” John Stark had brought him into the “I am dying.” ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped “Yes.” in blankets, on the snow. He had built “I will not reach Kushat.” a fire of dead brush, and since then the “No.” two men had waited, alone in the vast Camar nodded. He was silent again. wasteland that girdles the polar cap of The wind howled down from the north- Mars. ern ice, and the broken walls rose up 73 74 PLANET STORIES against it, brooding, gigantic, roofless now in the days when men still had the lustre but so huge and sprawling that they seemed on them, before they forgot that they were less like walls than cliffs of ebon stone. gods. “ Stark would not have gone near them but ‘Guard well the Gates of Death,’ he for Camar. They were wrong, somehow, said, ‘that is the city’s trust. And keep the with a taint of forgotten evil still about talisman always, for the day may come them. when you will need its strength. Who holds The big Earthman glanced at Camar, Kushat holds Mars—and the talisman will and his face was sad. “A man likes to die keep the city safe.’ in his own place,” he said abruptly. “I am “I was a thief, and proud. And I sorry.” stole the talisman.” “The Lord of Silence is a great per- His hands went to his girdle, a belt of sonage,” Camar answered. “He does not worn leather with a boss of battered steel. mind the meeting place. No. It was not But his fingers were already numb. for that I came back into the Norlands.” “Take it, Stark. Open the boss—there, He was shaken by an agony that was on the side, where the beast’s head is .” not of the body. “And I shall not reach carved . . Kushat!” Stark spoke quietly, using the courtly TARK took the belt from Camar and High Martian almost as fluently as Cam- S found the hidden spring. The rounded ar. top of the boss came free. Inside it was “I have known that there was a burden something wrapped in a scrap of silk. heavier than death upon my brother’s soul.” “I had to leave Kushat,” Camar whisper- He leaned over, placing one large hand ed. “I could never go back. But it was on the Martian’s shoulder. “My brother enough—to have taken that.” has given his life for mine. Therefore, I He watched, shaken between awe and will take his burden upon myself, if I can.” pride and remorse, as Stark unwrapped He did not want Camar’s burden, what- the bit of silk. ever it might be. But the Martian had Stark had discounted most of Camar’s fought beside him through a long guerilla talk as superstition, but even so he had campaign among the harried tribes of the expected something more spectacular than nearer moon. He was a good man of his the object he held in his palm. hands, and in the end had taken the bullet It was a lens, some four inches across that was meant for Stark, knowing quite —man-made, and made with great skill, well what he was doing. They were friends. but still only a bit of crystal. Turning it That was why Stark had brought Camar about, Stark saw that it was not a simple into the bleak north country, trying to lens, but an intricate interlocking of many reach the city of his birth. The Martian facets. Incredibly complicated, hypnotic if was driven by some secret demon. He was one looked at it too long. afraid to die before he reached Kushat. “What is its use?” he asked of Camar. And now he had no choice. “We are as children. We have forgotten. “I have sinned, Stark. I have stolen a But there is a legend, a belief—that Ban holy thing. You’re an outlander, you would Cruach himself made the talisman as a not know of Ban Cruach, and the talisman sign that he would not forget us, and would that he left when he went away forever come back when Kushat is threatened. beyond the Gates of Death.” Back through the Gates of Death, to teach Camar flung aside the blankets and sat us again the power that was his!” up, his voice gaining a febrile strength. “I do not understand,” said Stark. “I was born and bred in the Thieves’ “What are the Gates of Death?” Quarter under the Wall. I was proud of Camar answered, “It is a pass that my skill. And the talisman was a challenge. opens into the black mountains beyond It was a treasured thing—so treasured that Kushat. The city stands guard before it hardly a man has touched it since the days —why, no man remembers, except that it of Ban Cruach who made it. And that was is a great trust.” BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 75

His gaze feasted on the talisman. it seemed to him that he could see and

Stark said, “You wish me to take this hear . . . to Kushat?” .” “Yes. Yes! And yet . . Camar looked E STARTED UP, shaken now with at Stark, his eyes filling suddenly with H an eerie terror, and raised his hand tears. “No. The North is not used to to hurl the talisman away. But the part strangers. With me, you might have been of him that had learned with much pain safe. But alone . . . No, Stark. You have and effort to be civilized made him stop, risked too much already. Go back, out of and think. the Norlands, while you can.” He sat down again. An instrument of He lay back on the blankets. Stark saw hypnosis? Possibly. And yet that fleeting that a bluish pallor had come into the touch of sight and sound had not been hollows of his cheeks. his own, out of his own memories. !” “Camar,” he said. And again, “Camar He was tempted now, fascinated, like a “Yes?” child that plays with fire. The talisman had “Go in peace, Camar. I will take the been worn somehow. Where? On the talisman to Kushat.” breast? On the brow? The Martian sighed, and smiled, and He tried the first, with no result. Then Stark was glad that he had made the he touched the flat surface of the lens to promise. his forehead. “The riders of Mekh are wolves,” said The great tower of stone rose up mon- Camar suddenly. “They hunt these gorges. strous to the sky. It was pjhole, and there Look out for them.” were pallid lights within that stirred and “I will.” flickered, and it was crowned with a shim- Stark’s knowledge of the geography of mering darkness. this part of Mars was vague indeed, but He lay outside the tower, on his belly, he knew that the mountain valleys of and he was filled with fear and a great Mekh lay ahead and to the north, be- anger, and a loathing such as turns the tween him and Kushat. Camar had told bones to water. There was no snow. There him of these upland warriors. He was wil- was ice everywhere, rising to half the ling to heed the warning. tower’s height, sheathing the ground. Camar had done with talking. Stark Ice. Cold and clear and beautiful—and knew that he had not long to wait. The deadly. wind spoke with the voice of a great organ. He moved. He glided snakelike, with The moons had set and it was very dark infinite caution, over the smooth surface. outside the tower, except for the white The tower was gone, and far below him glimmering of the snow. Stark looked up was a city. He saw the temples and the at the brooding walls, and shivered. There palaces, the glittering lovely city beneath was a smell of death already in the air. him in the ice, blurred and fairylike and To keep from thinking, he bent closer to strange, a dream half glimpsed through the fire, studying the lens. There were crystal. scratches on the bezel, as though it had He saw the Ones that lived there, mov- been held sometime in a clamp, or setting, ing slowly through the streets. He could like a jewel. An ornament, probably, not see them clearly, only the vague shin- worn as a badge of rank. Strange orna- ing of their bodies, and he was glad. ment for a barbarian king, in the dawn of He hated them, with a hatred that con- Mars. The firelight made tiny dancing quered even his fear, which was great in- sparks in the endless inner facets. Quite deed. suddenly, he had a curious feeling that He was not Eric John Stark. He was the thing was alive. Ban Cruach. A pang of primitive and unreasoning The tower and the city vanished, swept fear shot through him, and he fought it away on a reeling tide. down. His vision was beginning to blur, He stood beneath a scarp of black rock, and he shut his eyes, and in the darkness notched with a single pass. The cliffs hung . !

76 PLANET STORIES over him, leaning out their vast bulk as Why? Perhaps as a warning, as a re- though to crush him, and the narrow minder of ageless, alien danger beyond the mouth of the pass was full of evil laughter Gates of Death? where the wind went by. Suddenly one of the beasts tethered out- He began to walk forward, into the side the ruined tower started up from its pass. He was quite alone. sleep with a hissing snarl. The light was dim and strange at the Instantly Stark became motionless. bottom of that deft. Little veils of mist They came silently on their padded feet, crept and clung between the ice and the the rangy mountain brutes moving dain- rock, thickened, became more dense as he tily through the sprawling ruin. Their went farther and farther into the pass. He riders too were silent—tall men with could not see, and the wind spoke with fierce eyes and russet hair, wearing leather many tongues, piping in the crevices of the coats and carrying each a long, straight cliffs. spear. All at once there was a shadow in the There were a score of them around the mist before him, a dim gigantic shape that tower in the windy gloom. Stark did not moved toward him, and he knew that he bother to draw his gun. He had learned

looked at death. He cried out . . very young the difference between courage It was Stark who yelled in blind ata- and idiocy. vistic fear, and the echo of his own cry He walked out toward them, slowly lest brought him up standing, shaking in every one of them be startled into spearing him, limb. He had dropped the talisman. It lay yet not slowly enough to denote fear. And gleaming in the snow at his feet, and the he held up his right hand and gave them alien memories were gone—and Caniar was greeting. dead. They did not answer him. They sat After a time he crouched down, breath- their restive mounts and stared at him, ing harshly. He did not want to touch the and Stark knew that Camar had spoken lens again. The part of him that had the truth. These were the riders of Mekh, learned to fear strange gods and evil and they were wolves. spirits with every step he took, the primi- tive aboriginal that lay so close under the II surface of his mind, warned him to leave it, to run away, to desert this place TARK WAITED, UNTIL THEY of death and ruined stone. S should tire of their own silence. He forced himself to take it up. He did Finally one demanded, “Of what coun- not look at it. He wrapped it in the bit of try are you?” silk and replaced it inside the iron boss, He answered, “I am called N’Chaka, and clasped the belt around his waist. Then the Man-Without-a-Tribe.” he found the small flask that lay with his It was the name they had given him, gear beside the fire and took a long pull, the half-human aboriginals who had raised and tried to think rationally of the thing him in the blaze and thunder and bitter that had happened. frosts of Mercury. Memories. Not his own, but the mem- “A stranger,” said the leader, and smiled. ories of Ban Cruach, a million years ago He pointed at the dead Camar and asked, in the morning of a world. Memories of “Did you slay him?” hate, a secret war against unhuman beings “He was my friend,” said Stark, “I was that dwelt in crystal cities cut in the living bringing him home to die.” ice, and used these ruined towers for Two riders dismounted to inspect the some dark purpose of their own. body. One called up to the leader, “He was Was that the meaning of the talisman, from Kushat, if I know the breed, Thord the power that lay within it? Had Ban And he has not been robbed.” He proceed- Cruach, by some elder and forgotten ed to take care of that detail himself. science, imprisoned the echoes of his own “A stranger,” repeated the leader, mind in the crystal ? Thord. “Bound for Kushat, with a man BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 77

of Kushat. Well. I think you will come deafening after the silence of the plains. with us, stranger.” A war party, gathered now, before the Stark shrugged. And with the long thaw. Stark smiled. He became curious to spears pricking him, he did not resist meet the leader of this army. when the tall Thord plundered him of all They found their way single file along he owned except his clothes—and Camar’s a winding track that dropped down the belt, which was not worth the stealing. His cliff face. The wind stopped abruptly, cut gun Thord flung contemptuously away. off by the valley walls. They came in One of the men brought Stark’s beast among the shelters of the camp. and Camar’s from where they were tether- Here the snow was churned and soiled ed, and the Earthman mounted—as usual, and melted to slush by the fires. There over the violent protest of the creature, were no women in the camp, no sign of the which did not like the smell of him. They usual cheerful rabble that follows a bar- moved out from under the shelter of the barian army. There were only men—hillmen walls, into the full fury of the wind. and warriors all, tough-handed killers with For the rest of that night, and through no thought but battle. the next day and the night that followed it They came out of their holes to shout they rode eastward, stopping only to rest at Thord and his men, and stare at the the beasts and chew on their rations of stranger. Thord was flushed and jovial jerked meat. with importance. To Stark, riding a prisoner, it came with “I have no time for you,” he shouted full force that this was the North coun- back. “I go to speak with the Lord try, half a world away from the Mars Ciaran.” of spaceships and commerce and visitors Stark rode impassively, a dark gaint from other planets. The future had never with a face of stone. From time to time touched these wild mountains and barren he made his beast curvet, and laughed at plains. The past held pride enough. himself inwardly for doing it. To the north, the horizon showed a They came at length to a shelter larger strange and ghostly glimmer where the than the others, but built exactly the same barrier wall of the polar pack reared up, and no more comfortable. A spear ,was gigantic against the sky. The wind blew, thrust into the snow beside the entrance, down from the ice, through the mountain and from it hung a black pennant with a gorges, across the plains, never ceasing. single bar of silver across it, like lightning And here and there the cryptic towers rose, in a night sky. Beside it was a shield with broken monoliths of stone. Stark remem- the same device. There were no guards. bered the vision of the talisman, the huge Thord dismounted, bidding Stark to do structure crowned with eerie darkness. the same. He hammered on the shield with He looked upon the ruins with loathing and the hilt of his sword, announcing himself. curiosity. The men of Mekh could tell “Lord Ciaran ! It is Thord—with a cap- him nothing. tive.” Thord did not tell Stark where they A voice, toneless and strangely muffled, were taking him, and Stark did not ask. spoke from within. It would have been an admission of fear. “Enter, Thord.” In mid-afternoon of the second day they Thord pushed aside the hide curtain and came to a lip of rock where the snow was went in, with Stark at his heels. swept clean, and below it was a sheer drop into a narrow valley. Looking down, Stark HE DIM DAYLIGHT did not pene- saw that on the floor of the valley, up and T trate the interior. Cressets burned, down as far as he could see, were men and giving off a flickering brilliance and a beasts and shelters of hide and brush, and smell of strong oil. The floor of packed fires burning. By the hundreds, by the snow was carpeted with furs, much worn. several thousand, they camped under the Otherwise there was no adornment, and no cliffs, and their voices rose up on the furniture but a chair and a table, both thin air in a vast deep murmur that was dark with age and use, and a pallet of 78 PLANET STORIES skins in one shadowy corner with what restraint, “my comrade wanted to go home seemed to be a heap of rags upon it. to die.” In the chair sat a man. “It seems a long, hard journey, just for He seemed very tall, in the shaking light dying.” The black helm bent forward, in of the cressets. From neck to thigh his an attitude of thought. “Only the con- lean body was cased in black link mail, and demned or banished leave their cities, or under that a tunic of leather, dyed black. their clans. Why did your comrade flee Across his knees he held a sable axe, a Kushat?” great thing made for the shearing of skulls, A voice spoke suddenly from out of the and his hands lay upon it gently, as though heap of rags that lay on the pallet in the it were a toy he loved. shadows of the corner. A man’s voice, His head and face were covered by a deep and husky, with the harsh quaver thing that Stark had seen before only in of age or madness in it. very old paintings—the ancient war-mask “Three men beside myself have fled of the inland Kings of Mars. Wrought of Kushat, over the years that matter. One black and gleaming steel, it presented an died in the spring floods. One was caught unhuman visage of slitted eyeholes and a in the moving ice of winter. One lived. A barred slot for breathing. Behind, it sprang thief named Camar, who stole a certain out in a thin, soaring sweep, like a dark talisman.” wing edge-on in flight. Stark said, “My comrade was called The intent, expressionless scrutiny of Greshi.” The leather belt weighed heavy that mask was bent, not upon Thord, but about him, and the iron boss seemed hot upon Eric John Stark. against his belly. He was beginning, now, The hollow voice spoke again, from be- to be afraid. hind the mask. “Well?” “We were hunting in the gorges to the HE LORD CIARAN spoke, ignoring south,” said Thord. “We saw a fire . . Stark. “It was the sacred talisman He told the story, of how they had found of Kushat. Without it, the city is like a the stranger and the body of the man man without a soul.” from Kushat. As the Veil of Tanit was to Carthage, “Kushat!” said the Lord Ciaran softly. Stark thought, and reflected on the fate “Ah! And why, stranger, were you going of that city after the Veil was stolen. to Kushat?” “The nobles were afraid of their own “My name is Stark. Eric John Stark, people,” the man in armor said. “They did Earthman, out of Mercury.” He was tired not dare to tell that it was gone. But we of being called stranger. Quite suddenly, know.” he was tired of the whole business. “And,” said Stark, “you will attack “Why should I not go to Kushat? Is it Kushat before the thaw, when they least against some law, that a man may not go expect you.” there in peace without being hounded all "You have a sharp mind, stranger. Yes. over the Norlands? And why do the men But the great wall will be hard to carry, of Mekh make it their business? They even so. If I came, bearing in my hands city.” .” have nothing to do with the the talisman of Ban Cruach . . Thord held his breath, watching with He did not finish, but turned instead to delighted anticipation. Thord. “When you plundered the dead The hands of the man in armor caressed man’s body, what did you find?” the axe. They were slender hands, smooth “Nothing, Lord. A few coins, a knife, and sinewy—small hands, it seemed, for hardly worth the taking.” such a weapon. “And you, Eric John Stark. What did “We make what we will our business, you take from the body?” Eric John Stark.” He spoke with a pe- With perfect truth he answered, “Noth- culiar gentleness. “I have asked you. Why ing.” were you going to Kushat?” “Thord,” said the Lord Ciaran, “search “Because,” Stark answered with equal him.” !

BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 79 Thord came smiling up to Stark and holds Mars—and the power and the riches !” ripped his jacket open. that lie beyond the Gates of Death With uncanny swiftness, the Earthman “I have seen them,” said the old man, moved. The edge of one broad hand took and his eyes blazed. “I have seen Ban Thord under the ear, and before the man’s Cruach the mighty. I have seen the tem- knees had time to sag Stark had caught ples and the palaces glitter in the ice. I his arm. He turned, crouching forward, have seen Them, the shining ones. Oh, I and pitched Thord headlong through the have seen them, the beautiful, hideous !” door flap. ones He straightened and turned again. His He glanced sidelong at Stark, very cun- eyes held a feral glint. “The man has ning. “That is why Otar is mad, stranger. robbed me once,” he said. “It is enough.” He has seen.” He heard Thord’s men coming. Three A chill swept Stark. He too had seen, of them tried to jam through the entrance not with his own eyes but with the mind at once, and he sprang at them. He made and memories of Ban Cruach, of a million no sound. His fists did the talking for years ago. him, and then his feet, as he kicked the Then it had been no illusion, the fan- stunned barbarians back upon their leader. tastic vision opened to him by the talis- “Now,” he said to the Lord Ciaran, man now hidden in his belt! If this old

“will we talk as men?” madman had seen. . . . The man in armor laughed, a sound of “What beings lurk beyond the Gates of pure enjoyment. It seemed that the gaze Death I do not know,” said Ciaran. “But behind the mask studied Stark’s savage my dark mistress will test their strength face, and then lifted to greet the sullen —and I think my red wolves will hunt Thord who came back into the shelter, them down, once they get a smell of plun- his cheeks flushed crimson with rage. der.” “Go,” said the Lord Ciaran. “The stran- “The beautiful, terrible ones,” whispered ger and I will talk.” Otar. “And oh, the temples and the palaces, “But Lord,” he protested, glaring at and the great towers of stone!”

Stark, “it is not safe . . “Ride with me, Stark,” said the Lord “My dark mistress looks after my safe- Ciaran abruptly. “Yield up the talisman, ty,” said Ciaran, stroking the axe across and be the shield at my lack. I have of- his knees. “Go.” fered no other man that honor.” ' Thord went. Stark asked slowly, “Why do you choose The man in armor was silentr then, the me?” blind mask turned to Stark, who met that “We are of one blood, Stark, though we eyeless gaze and was silent also. And the be strangers.” bundle of rags in the shadows straightened The Earthman’s cold eyes narrowed. slowly and became a tall old man with “What would your red wolves say to that ? rusty hair and beard, through which peered And what would Otar say? Look at him, craggy juts of bone and two bright, small already stiff with jealousy, and fear lest points of fire, as though some wicked flame I answer, ‘Yes’.” burned within him. “I do not think you would be afraid He shuffled over and crouched at the of either of them.” feet of the Lord Ciaran, watching the “On the contrary,” said Stark, “I am Earthman. And the man in armor leaned a prudent man.” He paused. “There is one forward. other thing. I will bargain with no man “I will tell you something, Eric John until I have looked into his eyes. Take Stark. I am a bastard, but I come of the off your helm, Ciaran—and then perhaps blood of kings. My name and rank I must we will talk!” make with my own hands. But I will set Otar’s breath made a snakelike hissing them high, and my name will ring in the between his toothless gums, and the hands Norlands of the Lord Ciaran tightened on the haft “I will take Kushat, Who holds Kushat, of the axe, 80 PLANET STORIES “No !” he whispered. “That I can never Thord was wielding the lash. He had do.” stripped off his own coat, and his body Otar rose to his feet, and for the first glistened with sweat in spite of the cold. time Stark felt the full strength that lay He cut his victim with great care, making in this strange old man. the long lash sing and crack. He was "Would you look upon the face of de- proud of his skill. struction?” he thundered. “Do you ask Stark did not cry out. for death? Do you think a thing is hidden Presently Thord stepped back, panting, behind a mask of steel without a reason, and looked at the Lord Ciaran. And the that you demand to see it?” black helm nodded. He turned. “My Lord,” he said. “By Thord dropped the whip. He went up tomorrow the last of the clans will have to the Uig dark man and lifted his head joined us. After that, we must march. by the hair. Give this Earthman to Thord, for the time "Stark,” he said, and shook the head that remains—and you will have the talis- roughly. “Stranger!” man.” Eyes opened and stared at him, and The blank, blind mask was unmoving, Thord could not repress' a slight shiver. turned toward Stark, and the Earthman It seemed that the pain and indignity had thought that from behind it came a faint wrought some evil magic on this man he sound that might have been a sigh. had ridden with, and thought he knew. He

Then . . . had seen exactly the same gaze in a big “Thord!” cried the Lord Ciaran, and snow-cat caught in a trap, and he felt lifted up the axe. suddenly that it was not a man he spoke to, but a predatory beast. Ill “Stark,” he said. “Where is the talis- man of Ban Cruach?” he flames leaped high The Earthman did not answer. T from the fire in the windless gorge. Thord laughed. He glanced up at the Men sat around it in a great circle, the sky, where the moons rode low and swift. wild riders out of the mountain valleys “The night is only half gone. Do you of Mekh. They sat with the curbed and think you can last it out?” shivering eagerness of wolves around a The cold, cruel, patient eyes watched dying quarry. Now and again their white Thord. There was no reply. teeth showed in a kind of silent laughter, Some quality of pride in that gaze an- and their eyes watched. gered the barbarian. It seemed to mock “He is strong,” they whispered, one to him, who was so sure of his ability to the other. “He will live the night out, loosen a reluctant tongue. !” surely “You think I cannot make you talk, On an outcrop of rock sat the Lord Cia- don’t you? You don’t know me, stranger! ran, wrapped in a black cloak, holding the You don’t know Thord, who can make the great axe in the crook of his arm. Beside rocks speak out if he will!” him, Otar huddled in the snow. He reached out with his free hand and Close by, the long spears had been struck Stark across the face. driven deep and lashed together to make It seemed impossible that anything so a scaffolding, and upon this frame was still could move so quickly. There was an hung a man. A big man, iron-muscled and ugly flash of teeth, and Thord’s wrist very lean, the bulk of his shoulders filling was caught above the thumb-joint. He the space between the bending shafts. Eric bellowed, and the iron jaws closed down, John Stark of Earth, out of Mercury. worrying the bone. He had already been scourged without Quite suddenly, Thord screamed. Not mercy. He sagged of his own weight be- for pain, but for panic. And the rows of tween the spears, breathing in harsh sobs, watching men swayed forward, and even and the trampled snow around him was the Lord Ciaran rose up, startled. “ spotted red. Hark !” ran the whispering around the BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 81 fire. “Hark how he growls!” The sharp point bit a little deeper. A Thord had let go of Stark’s hair and few drops of blood welled out and joined was beating him about the head with his the small red streams that ran from the

clenched fist. His face was white. weals of the lash. Stark did not stir. “Werewolf!” he screamed. “Let me go, The spearman grunted. “He is safe beast-thing! Let me go!” enough now.” But the dark man clung to Thord’s wrist, Stark felt the knife blades working at snarling, and did not hear. After a bit the thongs. He waited. The rawhide there came the dull crack of bone. snapped, and he was free. Stark opened his jaws. Thord ceased to He did not fall. He would not have strike him. He backed off slowly, staring fallen then if he had taken a death wound. at the torn flesh. Stark had sunk down He gathered his legs under him and sprang. to the length of his arms. He picked up the spearman in that first With his left hand, Thord drew his rush and flung him into the fire. Then he knife. The Lord Ciaran stepped forward. began to run toward the place where the “Wait, Thord!” scaly mounts were herded, leaving a trail “It is a thing of evil,” whispered the of blood behind him on the snow. barbarian. “Warlock. Werewolf. Beast.” A man loomed up in front of him. He He sprang at Stark. saw the shadow of a spear and swerved, and caught the haft in his two hands. He HE MAN in armor moved, very wrenched it free and struck down with T swiftly, and the great axe went the butt of it, and went on. Behind him he whirling through the air. It caught Thord heard voices shouting and the beginning squarely where the cords of his neck ran of turmoil. into the shoulder—caught, and shore on The Lord Ciaran turned and came back, through. striding fast. There was a silence in the valley. There were men before Stark now, many The Lord Ciaran walked slowly across men, the circle of watchers breaking up the trampled snow and took up his axe because there had been nothing more to again. watch. He gripped the long spear. It was “I will be obeyed,” he said. “And I will a good weapon, better than the flint-tipped not stand for fear, not of god, man, nor stick with which the boy N’Chaka had devil.” He gestured toward Stark. “Cut hunted the giant lizard of the rocks. him down. And see that he does not die.” His body curved into a half crouch. He strode away, and Otar began to He voiced one cry, the challenging scream laugh. of a predatory killer, and went in among From a vast distance, Stark heard that the men. shrill, wild laughter. His mouth was full He did slaughter with that spear. They of blood, and he was mad with a cold were not expecting attack. They were not fury. expecting anything. Stark had sprung to A cunning that was purely animal life too quickly. And they were afraid of guided his movements then. His head fell him. He could smell the fear on them. forward, and his body hung inert against Fear not of a man like themselves, but the thongs. He might almost have been of a creature less and more than man. dead. He killed, and was happy. A knot of men came toward him. He They fell away from him, the wild listened to them. They were hesitant and riders of Mekh. They were sure now that afraid. Then, as he did not move, they he was a demon. He raged among them plucked up courage and came closer, and with the bright spear, and they heard one prodded him gently with the point again that sound that should not have come of his spear. from a human throat, and their supersti- “Prick him well,” said another. “Let tious terror rose and sent them scrambling us be sure!” out of his path, trampling on each other 6—Planet—March in childish panic. 82 PLANET STOWES

He broke through, and now there was comb, beating with his fist at the creature’s nothing between him and escape but two head, he got his mount turned in the way mounted men who guarded the herd. he wanted it to go, down the valley. Being mounted, they had more courage. He caught one last glimpse of the Lord They felt that even a warlock could not Ciaran, fighting to hold one of the crea- stand against their charge. They came at tures long enough to mount, and then a him as he ran, the padded feet of their dozen striving bodies surged around him, beasts making a muffled drumming in the and Stark was gone. snow. The beast did not slacken pace. It was Without breaking stride, Stark hurled as though it thought it could outrun the his spear. alien, bloody thing that clung to its back. The last fringes of the camp shot by and T DROVE through one man’s body and vanished in the gloom, and the clean snow

I tumbled him off, so that he fell under of the lower valley lay open before it. The his comrade’s mount and fouled its legs. creature laid its belly to the ground and It staggered and reared up, hissing, and went, the white spray spurting from its Stark fled on. heels. Once he glanced over his shoulder. Stark hung on. His strength was gone Through the milling, shouting crowd of now, run out suddenly with the battle- men he glimpsed a dark, mailed figure madness. He became conscious now that with a winged mask, going through the he was sick and bleeding, that his body ruck with a loping stride and bearing a was one cruel pain. In that moment, more sable axe raised high for the throwing. than in the hours that had gone before, Stark was close to the herd now. And he hated the black leader of the clans of they caught his scent. Mekh. The Norland brutes had never liked the That flight down the valley became a smell of him, and now the reek of blood sort of ugly dream. Stark was aware of upon him was enough in itself to set rock walls reeling past, and then they them wild. They began to hiss and snarl seemed to widen away and the wind came uneasily, rubbing their reptilian flanks to- out of nowhere like the stroke of a great gether as they wheeled around, staring at hammer, and he was on the open moors him with lambent eyes. again. He rushed them, before they should The beast began to falter and slow quite decide to break. He was quick down. Presently it stopped. enough to catch one by the fleshy comb Stark scooped up snow to rub on his that served it for a forelock, held it with wounds. He came near to fainting, but the savage indifference to its squealing, and bleeding stopped and after that the pain leaped to its back. Then he let it bolt, was numbed to a dull ache. He wrapped and as he rode it he yelled, a shrill brute the cloak around him and urged the beast cry that urged the creatures on to panic. to go on, gently this time, patiently, and

The herd broke, stampeding outward after it had breathed it obeyed him, set- from its center like a bursting shell. tling into the shuffling pace it could keep Stark was in the forefront. Clinging low up for hours. to the scaly neck, he saw the men of He was three days on the moors. Part Mekh scattered and churned and tramped of the time he rode in a sort of stupor, into the snow by the flying pads. In and and part of the time he was feverishly out of the shelters, kicking the brush alert, watching the skyline. Frequently he walls down, lifting up their harsh reptilian took the shapes of thrusting rocks for ri- voices, they went racketing through the ders, and found what cover he could until camp, leaving behind them wreckage as of he was sure they did not move. He was a storm. And Stark went with them. afraid to dismount, for the beast had no He snatched a cloak from off the shoul- bridle. When it halted to rest he remained ders of some petty chieftain as he went upon its back, shaking, his brow beaded by, and then, twisting cruelly on the fleshy with sweat. BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 83

The wind scoured hie tracks clean as He had reached Kushat, with the talis- soon as he made them. Twice, in the dis- man of Ban Cruach still strapped in the tance, he did see riders, and one of those bloodstained belt around his waist. times he burrowed into a tall drift and stayed there for several hours. IV The ruined towers marched with him across the bitter land, lonely giants fifty e stood in a large square, miles apart. He did not go near them. H lined about with huckster’s stalls and He knew that he wandered a good bit, the booths of wine-sellers. Beyond were but he could not help it, and it was prob- buildings, streets, a city. Stark got a ably his salvation. In those tortured bad- blurred impression of a grand and brood- lands, riven by ages of frost and flood, ing darkness, bulking huge against the one might follow a man on a straight track mountains, as bleak and proud as they, between two points. But to find a single and quite as ancient, with many ruins and rider lost in that wilderness was a matter deserted quarters. of sheer luck, and the odds were with He was not sure how he had come Stark. there, but he was standing on his own One evening at sunset he came out upon feet, and someone was pouring sour wine a plain that sloped upward to a black and into his mouth. He drank it greedily. There towering scarp, notched with a single pass. were people around him, jostling, chatter- The light was level and blood-red, glit- ing, demanding answers to their questions. tering on the frosty rock so that it seemed A girl’s voice said sharply, “Let him be! the throat of the pass was aflame with Can’t you see he’s hurt?’’ evil fires. To Stark’s mind, essentially Stark looked down. She was slim and primitive and stripped now of all its ac- ragged, with black hair and large eyes quired reason, that narrow cleft appeared yellow as a cat’s. She held a leather bot- as the doorway to the dwelling place of tle in her hands. She smiled at him and demons as horrible as the fabled creatures said, “I’m Thanis. Will you drink more that roam the Darkside of his native world. wine ?” He looked long at the Gates of Death, “I will,” said Stark, and did, and then and a dark memory crept into his brain. said, “Thank you, Thanis.” He put his Memory of that nightmare experience hand on her shoulder, to steady himself. when the talisman had made him seem It was a supple shoulder, surprisingly

to walk into that frightful pass, not as strong. He liked the feel of it. Stark, but as Ban Cruach. The crowd was still churning around He remembered Otar’s words—7 have him, growing larger, and now he heard seen Ban Cruach the mighty. Was he still the tramp of military feet. A small detach- there beyond those darkling gates, fight- ment of men in light armor pushed their ing his unimagined war, alone? way through. Again, in memory, Stark heard the evil A very young officer whose breastplate piping of the wind. Again, the shadow hurt the eye with brightness demanded to of a dim and terrible shape loomed up be- be told at once who Stark was and why

fore him . . . he had come there. He forced remembrance of that vision “No one crosses the moors in winter,” from his mind, by a great effort. He could he said, as though that in itself were a not turn back now. There was no place to sign of evil intent. go- “The clana of Mekh are crossing them,” His weary beast plodded on, and now Stark answered. “An army, to take Ku- Stark saw as in a dream that a great walled shat—one, two days behind me.” city stood guard before that awful Gate. The crowd picked that up. Excited He watched the city glide toward him voices tossed it back and forth, and clam- through a crimson haze, and fancied he ored for more news. Stark spoke to the could see the ages clustered like birds officer. around the towers. “I will see your captain, and at once.” 84 PLANET STORIES

“You’ll see the inside of a prison, more “You had something to tell,” said likely!” snapped the young man. “What's Lugh. “Tell it.” this nonsense about the clans of Mekh?”

Stark regarded him. He looked so long TARK TOLD THEM, leaving out all and so curiously that the crowd began to S mention of Camar and the talisman. snicker and the officer’s beardless face This was neither the time nor the man flushed pink to the ears. to hear that story. ^The captain listened “I have fought in many wars,” said to all he had to say about the gathering Stark gently. “And long ago I learned to of the clans of Mekh, and then sat study- listen, when someone came to warn me of ing him with a bleary shrewdness. attack.” “You have proof of all this?” “Better take him to the captain, Lugh,” “These stripes. Their leader Ciaran or-

1 cried Thanis. “It’s our skins too, you know , dered them laid on himself.” if there is war.” The captain sighed, and leaned back. The crowd began to shout. They were “Any wandering band of hunters could all poor folk, wrapped in threadbare cloaks have scourged you,” he said. “A nameless or tattered leather. They had no love for vagabond from the gods know where, and the guards. And whether there was war a lawless one at that, if I’m any judge of or not, their winter had been long and men—you probably deserved it.” dull, and they were going to make the most He reached for wine, and smiled. “Look of this excitement. you, stranger. In the Norlands, no one “Take him, Lugh! Let him warn the makes war in the winter. And no one nobles. Let them think how they’ll defend ever heard of Ciaran. If you hoped for a Kushat and the Gates of Death, now that reward from the city, you overshot badly.” the talisman is gone!” “The Lord Ciaran,” said Stark, grimly “That is a lie!” Lugh shouted. “And controlling his anger, “will be battering you know the penalty for telling it. Hold at your gates within two days. And you your tongues, or I’ll have you all whipped.” will hear of him then.” He gestured angrily at Stark. “See if he “Perhaps. You can wait for him—in a is armed.” cell. And you can leave Kushat with the One of the soldiers stepped forward, first caravan after the thaw. We have but Stark was quicker. He slipped the enough rabble here without taking in thong and let the cloak fall, baring his up- more.” per body. Thanis caught Stark by the cloak and “The clansmen have already taken every- held him back. thing I owned,” he said. “But they gave “Sir,” she said, as though it were an me something, in return.” unclean word. “I will vouch for the stran- The crowd stared at the half healed ger.” stripes that scarred him, and there was a The captain glanced at her. “You?” drawing in of breath. “Sir, I am a free citizen of Kushat. Ac- The soldier picked up the cloak and laid cording to law, I may vouch for him.” it over the Earthman’s shoulders. And “If you scum of the Thieves’ Quarter Lugh said sullenly, “Come, then.” would practice the law as well as you prate Stark’s fingers tightened on Thanis’ it, we would have less trouble,” growled shoulder. “Come with me, little one,” he the captain. “Very well, take the creature, whispered. “Otherwise, I must crawl.” if you want him. I don’t suppose you’ve She smiled at him and came. The crowd anything to lose.” followed. Lugh laughed. The captain of the guards was a fleshy “Name and dwelling place,” said the man with a smell of wine about him and captain, and wrote them down. “Remem- a face already crumbling apart though his ber, he is not to leave the Quarter.” hair was not yet grey. He sat in a squat Thanis nodded. “Come,” she said to. tower above the square, and he observed Stark. He did not move, and she looked Stark with no particular interest. up at him. He was staring at the cap- —

BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 85 tain. His beard had grown in these last and caught his fingers away. days, and his face was still scarred by “What is this you have brought home, Thord’s blows and made wolfish with Thanis? By the gods, it snapped at me!” pain and fever. And now, out of this evil Thanis ignored him. “Stark,” she said. mask, his eyes were peering with a chill “Stark ! Listen. Men are coming. Soldiers. and terrible intensity at the soft-bellied They will question you. Do you hear me ?” man who sat and mocked him. Stark said heavily, “I hear.” Tlianis laid her hand on his rough cheek. "Do not speak of Camar!” “Come,” she said. “Come and rest.” Stark got to his feet, and Balin said

Gently she turned his head. He blinked hastily, “Peace ! The thing is safe. I would and swayed, and she took him around the not steal a death warrant!” waist and led him unprotesting to the His voice had a ring of truth. Stark door. sat down again. It was an effort to keep There she paused, looking back. awake. There was clamor in the street “Sir,” she said, very meekly, “news of below. It was still night. this attack is being shouted through the Balin said carefully, “Tell them what Quarter now. If it should come, and it were you told the captain, nothing more. They known that you had the warning and did will kill you if they know.” not pass it on . . She made an ex- A rough hand thundered at the door, pressive gesture, and went out. and a voice cried, “Open up!” Lugh glanced uneasily at the captain. Balin sauntered over to lift the bar. “She’s right, sir. If by chance the man Thanis sat beside Stark, her hand touch- did tell the truth ...” ing his. Stark rubbed his face. He had The captain swore. “Rot. A rogue’s tale. been shaved and washed, his wounds And yet ...” He scowled indecisively, rubbed with salve. The belt was gone, and and then reached for parchment. "After liis bloodstained clothing. He realized only all, it’s a simple thing. Write it up, pass then that he was naked, and drew a cloth it on, and let the nobles do the worrying.” around him. Thanis whispered, “The belt His pen began to scratch. is there on that peg, under your cloak.” Thanis took Stark by steep and narrow Balin opened the door, and the room ways, darkling now in the afterglow, where was full of men. the city climbed and fell again over the Stark recognized the captain. There uneven rock. Stark was aware of the were others, four of them, young, old, in- heavy smells of spices and unfamiliar termediate, annoyed at being hauled away foods, and the musky undertones of a from their beds and their gaming tables million generations swarmed together to at this hour. The sixth man wore the spawn and die in these crowded catacombs jewelled cuirass of a noble. He had a of slate and stone. nice, a kind face. Grey hair, mild eyes, There was a house, blending into other soft cheeks. A fine man, but ludicrous in houses, close under the loom of the great the trappings of a soldier. Wall. There was a flight of steps, hollowed “Is this the man?” he asked, and the deep with use, twisting crazily around outer captain nodded. corners. “Yes.” It was his turn to say Sir. There was a low room, and a slender Balin brought a chair. He had a fine man named Balin, vaguely glimpsed, who flourish about him. He wore a crimson said he was Thanis’ brother. There was a jewel in his left ear, and every line of bed of skins and woven cloths. him was quick and sensitive, instinct with Stark slept. mockery. His eyes were brightly cynical, in a face worn lean with years of merry ANDS and voices called him back. sinning. Stark liked him. H Strong hands shaking him, urgent He was a civilized man. They all were voices. He started up growling, like an the noble, the captain, the lot of them. So animal suddenly awaked, still lost in the civilized that the origins of their culture dark mists of exhaustion. Balin swore, were forgotten half an age before the first 86 PLANET STORIES clay brick was laid in Babylon. He strode out, taking his retinue with Too civilized, Stark thought. Peace had him. Balin smiled. “He will do it, too,” he drawn their fangs and cut their claws. He said, and dropped the bar. thought of the wild clansmen coming fast Stark did not answer. He stared at Bal- across the snow, and felt a certain pity for in, and then at Thanis, and then at the the men of Kushat. belt hanging on the peg, in a curiously The noble sat down. blank and yet penetrating fashion, like an “This is a strange tale you bring, wan- animal that thinks its own thoughts. He derer. I would hear it from your own lips.” took a deep breath. Then, as though he

Stark told it. He spoke slowly, watching found the air clean of danger, he rolled over every word, cursing the weariness that and went instantly to sleep. fogged his brain. Balin lifted his shoulders expressively. The noble, who was called Rogain, asked He grinned at Tanis. “Are you positive him questions. Where was the camp ? How it’s human?” many men? What were the exact words “He'9 beautiful,” said Thanis, and tucked of the Lord Ciaran, and who was he? the cloths around him. “Hold your tongue.” Stark answered, with meticulous care. She continued to sit there, watching Rogain sat for some time lost in thought. Stark’s face as the slow dreams moved He seemed worried and upset, one hand across it. Balin laughed. playing aimlessly with the hilt of his It was evening again when Stark awoke. sword. A scholar’s hand, without a callous He sat up, stretching lazily. Thanis on it. crouched by the hearthstone, stirring some- “There is one thing more,” said Rogain. thing savory in a blackened pot. She wore “What business had you on the moors in a red kirtle and a necklet of beaten gold, winter ?” and her hair was combed out smooth and Stark smiled. “I am a wanderer by pro- shining. fession.” She smiled at him and rose, bringing “Outlaw?” asked the captain, and Stark him his own boots and trousers, carefully shrugged. cleaned, and a tunic of leather tanned fine “Mercenary is a kinder word.” and soft as silk. Stark asked her where

she got it. OGAIN studied the pattern of stripes “Balin stole it—from the baths where R on the Earthman’s dark skin. “Why the nobles go. He said you might as welt did the Lord Ciaran, so-called, order you have the best.” She laughed. “He had a scourged ?” devil of a time finding one big enough to

“I had thrashed one of his chieftains.” fit you.” Rogain sighed and rose. He stood re- She watched with unashamed interest garding Stark from under brooding brows, while he dressed. Stark said, “Don’t burn and at length he said, “It is a wild tale. I the soup.” can’t believe it—and yet, why should you She put her tongue out at him. “Better lie?” be proud of that fine hide while you have He paused, as though hoping that Stark it,” she said. “There’s no sign of attack.” would answer that and relieve him of wor- Stark was aware of sounds that had ry- not been there before—the pacing of men Stark yawned. “The tale is easily proved. on the Wall above the house, the calling of Wait a day or two.” the watch. Kushat was armed and ready— “I will arm the city,” said Rogain. “I and his time was running out. He hoped dare not do otherwise. But I will tell you that Ciaran had not been delayed on the this.” An astonishing unpleasant look came moors. into his eyes. “If the attack does not come Thanis said, “I should explain about the —if you have set a whole city by the ears belt. When Balin undressed you, he saw for nothing—I will have you flayed alive Camar*s name scratched on the inside of and your body tumbled over the Wall for the boss. And, he can open a lizard’s egg the carrion birds to feed on.” without harming the shell.” BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 87

“What about you ?” asked Stark. osity. She flexed her supple fingers. “I do well He could not tell them. He was, somehow, enough.” reluctant to tell anyone of that dark vision of what lay beyond the Qates of Death, ALIN came in. He had been seeking which the talisman of Ban Cruach had lent B news, but there was little to be him. had. Balin stood up. “Well, for good or evil, “The soldiers are grumbling about a at least the sacred relic of Ban Cruach has false alarm,” he said. “The people are ex- come home.” He yawned. “I am going to cited, but more as though they were play- bed. Will you come, Thanis, or will you ing a game. Kushat has not fought a war stay and quarrel with our guest?” for centuries.” He sighed. “The pity of “I will stay,” she said, “and quarrel.” it is, Stark, I believe your story. And I’m “Ah, well.” Balin sighed puckishly. afraid.” “Good night.” He vanished into an inner Thanis handed him a steaming bowl. room. Stark looked at Thanis. She had a “Here—employ your tongue with this. warm mouth, and her eyes were beautiful,

Afraid, indeed ! Have you forgotten the and full of light.

Wall ? No one has carried it since the city He smiled, holding out his hand. !” was built. Let them attack The night wore on, and Stark lay drows- Stark was amused. “For a child, you ing. Thanis had opened the curtains. Wind know much concerning war.” and moonlight swept together into the “I knew enough to save your skin !” she room, and she stood leaning upon the flared, and Balin smiled. sill, above the slumbering city. The smile “She has you there. Stark. And speak- that lingered in the comers of her mouth .” ing of skins . . He glanced up at the was sad and far-away, and very tender. belt. “Or better, speaking of talismans, Stark stirred uneasily, making small which we were not. How did you come by sounds in his throat. His motions grew it?” violent. Thanis crossed the room and touch- Stark told him. “He had a sin on his ed him. soul, did Camar. And—he was my friend.” Instantly he was awake. Balin looked at him with deep respect. “Animal,” she said softly. “You dream.” “You were a fool,” he said “Look you. Stark shook his head. His eyes were The thing is returned to Kushat. Your still clouded, though not with sleep. promise is kept. There is nothing for you “Blood,” he said, “heavy in the wind.” here but danger, and were I you I would “I smell nothing but the dawn,” she not wait to be flayed, or slain, or taken in said, and laughed. a quarrel that is not yours.” Stark rose. “Get Balin. I’m going up “Ah,” said Stark softly, “but it is mine. on the Wall.”

The Lord Ciaran made it so.” He, too, She did not know him now. “What is it, glanced at the belt. “What of the talis- Stark? What’s wrong?” man ?” “Get Balin.” Suddenly it seemed that the “Return it where it came from,” Thanis room stifled him. He caught up his cloak said. “My brother is a better thief than and Camar’s belt and flung open the door, Camar. He can certainly do that.” standing on the narrow steps outside. The “No !” said Balin, with surprising force. moonlight caught in his eyes, pale as frost- “We will keep it, Stark and I. Whether fire. it has power, I do not know. But if it has Thanis shivered. Balin joined her with- —I think Kushat will need it, and in out being called. He, too, had slept but strong hands.” lightly. Together they followed Stark up Stark said somebrely, “It has power, the the rough-cut stair that led to the top of Talisman. Whether for good or evil, I the Wall. don’t know.” He looked southward, where the plain They looked at him, startled. But a ran down from the mountains and spread touch of awe seemed to repress their curi- away below Kushat. Nothing moved out 88 PLANET STORIES there. Nothing marred the empty white- world, to crouch before the Gates of Death. ness. But Stark said, Some evil magic had let him see forbidden “They will attack at dawn.” things, had linked his mind in an un- holy bond with the long-dead mind of one V who had been half a god. These evil miracles had not been for nothing. He HEY WAITED. SOME Dis- would not be allowed to go unscathed. T tance away a guard leaned against the He drew himself up sharply then, and parapet, huddled in his cloak. He glanced swore. He had left N’Chaka behind, a at them incuriously. It was bitterly cold. naked boy running in a place of rocks and The wind came whistling down through sun on Mercury. He had become Eric the Gates of Death, and below in the John Stark, a man, and civilized. He thrust streets the watchfires shuddered and flared. the senseless premonition from him, and They waited, and still there was nothing. turned his back upon the mountains. Balin said impatiently, “How can you Deimos touched the horizon. A last know they’re coming?” gleam of reddish light tinged the snow, and Stark shivered, a shallow rippling of the then was gone. flesh that had nothing to do with cold, and Thanis, who was half asleep, said with every muscle of his body came alive. sudden irritation, “I do not believe in Phobos plunged downward. The moon- your barbarians. I’m going home.” She light dimmed and changed, and the plain thrust Balin aside and went away, down was very empty, very still. the steps. “They will wait for darkness. They will The plain was now in utter darkness, have an hour or so, between moonset and under the faint, far Northern stars. dawn.” Stark settled himself against the para-

Thanis muttered, “Dreams ! Besides, I’m pet. There was a sort of timeless patience cold.” She hesitated, and then crept in about him. Balin envied it. He would have under Balin’s cloak. Stark had gone away liked to go with Thanis. He was cold and from her. She watched him sulkily where doubtful, but he stayed. he leaned upon the stone. He might have Time passed, endless minutes of it, been part of it, as dark and unstirring. lengthening into what seemed hours. Deimos sank low toward the west. Stark said, “Can you hear them?” Stark turned his head, drawn inevitably “No.” to look toward the cliffs above Kushat, “They come.” His hearing, far keener soaring upward to blot out half the sky. than Balin’s, picked up the little sounds, Here, close under them, they seemed to the vast inchoate rustling of an army on tower outward in a curving mass, like the the move in stealth and darkness. Light- last wave of eternity rolling down, crested armed men, hunters, used to stalking wild white with the ash of shattered worlds. beasts in the show. They could move I have stood beneath those cliffs before. softly, very softly. I have felt them leaning down to crush me, “I hear nothing,” Balin said, and again and 1 have been afraid. they waited. He was still afraid. The mind that had The westering stars moved toward the poured its memories into that crystal lens horizon, and at length in the east a dim had been dead a million years, but neither pallor crept across the sky. time nor death had dulled the terror that The plain was still shrouded in night, beset Ban Cruach in his journey through but now Stark could make out the high that nightmare pass. towers of the King City of Kushat, He looked into the black and narrow ghostly and indistinct—the ancient, proud mouth of the Gates of Death, cleaving the high towers of the rulers and their nobles, scarp like a wound, and the primitive ape- set above the crowded Quarters of mer- thing within him cringed and moaned, op- chants and artisans and thieves. He won- pressed with a sudden sense of fate. dered who would be king in Kushat by the He had come painfully across half a time this unrisen sun had set, —

BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 89 “You were wrong,” said Balin, peering. roof, where they were joined by Thanis. “There is nothing on the plain.” She was in a high state of excitement, but Stark said, “Wait.” unafraid. “Let them attack !” she said. “Let them WIFTLY NOW, in the thin air of break their spears against the Wall. They S Mars, the dawn came with a rush and will crawl away again.” a leap, flooding the world with harsh light. Stark began to grow restless. Up in It flashed in cruel brilliance from sword- their high emplacements, the big ballistas blades, from spearheads, from helmets and creaked and thrummed. The muted song burnished mail, from the war-harness of of the bows became a wailing hum. Men beasts, glistened on bare russet heads and fell, and were kicked off the ledges by their coats of leather, set the banners of the fellows. The blood-howl of the clans rang clans to burning, crimson and gold and unceasing on the frosty air, and Stark green, bright against the snow. heard the rap of scaling ladders against There was no sound, not a whisper, in stone. all the land. Thanis said abruptly, “What is that Somewhere a hunting horn sent forth that sound like thunder?” one deep cry to split the morning. Then “Rams,” he answered. “They are bat- burst out the wild skirling of the mountain tering the gate.” pipes and the broken thunder of drums, She listened, and Stark saw in her face and a wordless scream of exultation that the beginning of fear.

rang back from the Wall of Kushat like It was a long fight. Stark watched it the very voice of battle. The men of Mekh hungrily from the roof all that morning. began to move. The soldiers of Kushat did bravely and Raggedly, slowly at first, then more well, but they were as folded sheep against swiftly as the press of warriors broke and the tall killers of the mountains. By noon flowed, the barbarians swept toward the the officers were beating the Quarters for dty as water sweeps over a broken dam. men to replace the slain. Knots and clumps of men, tall men run- Stark and Balin went up again, onto ning like deer, leaping, shouting, swing- the Wall. ing their great brands. Riders, spurring The clans had suffered. Their dead lay their mounts until they fled belly down. in windrows under the Wall, amid the Spears, axes, swordblades tossing, a sea broken ladders. But Stark knew his bar- of men and beasts, rushing, trampling, harians. They had sat restless and chafing shaking the ground with the thunder of in the valley for many days, and now the their going. battle-madness was on them and they were And ahead of them all came a solitary not going to be stopped. figure in black mail, riding a raking beast Wave after wave of them rolled up, and trapped all in black, and bearing a sable was cast back, and came on again relent- axe. lessly. The intermittent thunder boomed Kushat came to life. There was a swarm- still from the gates, where sweating giants ing and a yelling in the streets, and soldiers swung the rams under cover of their own began to pour up onto the Wall. A thin bowmen. And everywhere, up and down company, Stark thought, and shook his through the forefront of the fighting, rode head. Mobs of citizens choked the alleys, the man in black armor, and wild cheering and every rooftop was full. A troop of followed him. nobles went by, brave in their bright mail, Balin said heavily, “It is the end of to take up their post in the square by the Kushat.” great gate. Balin said nothing, and Stark did not LADDER banged against the stones disturb his thoughts. From the look of A a few feet away. Men swarmed up him, they were dark indeed. the rungs, fierce-eyed clansmen with laugh- Soldiers came and ordered them off the ter in their mouths. Stark was first at the the Wall. They went back to their own head. 90 PLANET STORIES They had given him a spear. He spitted they had fallen from above. two men through with it and lost it, and They were all soldiers here, clinging a third man came leaping over the parapet. grimly to their last foothold. The deep Stark received him into his arms. song of the rams shook the very stones. Balin watched. He saw the warrior go The iron-sheathed timbers of the gate gave crashing back, sweeping his fellows off the back an answering scream, and toward the ladder. He saw Stark’s face. He heard the end all other sounds grew hushed. The sounds and smelled the blood and sweat nobles came down slowly from the Wall of war, and he was sick to the marrow of and mounted, and sat waiting. his bones, and his hatred of the barbarians There were fewer of them now. Their was a terrible thing. bright armor was dented and stained, and Stark caught up a dead man’s blade, and their faces had a pallor on them. within ten minutes his arm was as red One last hammer-stroke of the rams. as a butcher’s. And ever he watched the With a bitter shriek the weakened bolts winged helm that went back and forth tore out, and the great gate was broken below, a standard to the clans. through. By mid-afternoon the barbarians had The nobles of Kushat made their first, gained the Wall in three places. They and final charge. spread inward along the ledges, pouring As soldiers they went up against the up in a resistless tide, and the defenders riders of Mekh, and as soldiers they held broke. The rout became a panic. them until they died. Those that were left “It’s all over now,” Stark said. “Find were borne back into the square, caught Thanis, and hide her.” as in the crest of an avalanche. And first Balin let fall his sword. “Give me the through the gates came the winged battle- talisman,” he whispered, and Stark saw* mask of the Lord Ciaran, and the sable axe that he was weeping. “Give it me, and I that drank men’s lives where it hewed. will go beyond the Gates of Death and There was a beast with no rider to claim rouse Ban Cruach from his sleep. And if tugging at its headrope. Stark swung he has forgotten Kushat, I will take his onto the saddle pad and cut it free. Where power into my own hands. I will fling* the press was thickest, a welter of strug- wide the Gates of Death and loose de- gling brutes and men fighting knee to knee, struction on the men of Mekh—or if the there was the man in black armor, riding legends are all lies, then I will die.” like a god, magnificent, born to war. Stark’s He was like a man crazed. “Give me the eyes shone with a strange, cold light. He !” talisman struck his heels hard into the scaly flanks. Stark slapped him, carefully and with- The beast plunged forward. out heat, across the face. “Get your sister, In and over and through, making the Balin. Hide her, unless you would be long sword sing. The beast was strong, uncle to a red-haired brat.” and frightened beyond fear. It bit and He went then, like a man who has been trampled, and Stark cut a path for them, stunned. Screaming women with their chil- and presently he shouted above the din, dren clogged the ways that led inward from “Ho, there! Ciaran!” the Wall, and there was bloody work The black mask turned toward him, and afoot on the rooftops and in the narrow the remembered voice spoke from behind alleys. the barred slot, joyously. The gate was holding, still. “The wanderer. The wild man!” Their two mounts shocked together. The TARK FORCED his way toward the axe came down in a whistling curve, and S square. The booths of the hucksters a red swordblade flashed to meet it. Swift, were overthrown, the wine-jars broken and swift, a ringing clash of steel, and the blade the red wine spilled. Beasts squealed and was shattered and the axe fallen to the stamped, tired of their chafing harness, ground. driven wild by the shouting and the smell Stark pressed in. of blood. The dead were heaped high where Ciaran reached for his sword, but his —

BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 91 hand was numbed by the force of that mail, with her bright hair blowing and blow and he was slow, a split second. The her glance like blue lightning. hilt of Stark’s weapon, still clutched in The nobles of Kushat chose that mo- his own numbed grip, fetched him a stun- ment to charge. This strange unmasking of ning blow on the helm, so that the metal the Mekhish lord had given them time to rang like a flawed bell. rally, and now they thought that the Gods The Lord Ciaran reeled back, only for had wrought a miracle to help them. They a moment, but long enough. Stark grasped found hope, where they had lost every- the war-mask and ripped it off, and got thing but courage. his hands around the naked throat. “A wench!” they cried. “A strumpet of He did not break that neck, as he had the camps. A woman!” planned. And the Clansmen who had start- They howled it like an epithet, and tore , ed in to save their leader stopped and into the barbarians. did not move. She who had been the Lord Ciaran Stark knew now why the Lord Ciaran drove the spurs in deep, so that the beast had never shown his face. leaped forward screaming. She went, and The throat he held was white and strong, did not look to see if any had followed, and his hands around it were hurried in a in among the men of Kushat. And the mane of red-gold hair the fell down over great axe rose and fell, and rose again. the shirt of mail. A red mouth passionate She killed three, and left two others with fury, wonderful curving bone under bleeding on the stones, and not once did sculptured flesh, eyes fierce and proud and she look back. tameless as the eyes of a young eagle, fire- The clansmen found their tongues.

blue, defying him, hating him . . . “Ciaran! Ciaran!” “By the gods,” said Stark, very softly. The crashing shout drowned out the “By the eternal gods!” sound of battle. As one man, they turned and followed her.

VI Stark, scrambling for his life under- foot, could not forbear smiling. Their child- WOMAN! AND IN THAT MO- like minds could see only two alternatives A ment of amazement, she was quicker —to slay her out of hand, or to worship than he. her. They had chosen to worship. He There was nothing to warn him, no least thought the bards would be singing of the flicker of expression. Her two fists came Lord Ciaran of Mekh as long as there up together between his outstretched arms were men to listen. and caught him undar the jaw with a force He managed to take cover behind a that nearly snapped his neck. He went wrecked booth, and presently make his over backward, dean out of the saddle, way out of the square. They had forgotten and lay sprawled on the bloody stones, him, for the moment. He did not wish to half stunned, the wind knocked out of wart, just then, until they—or she—re- him. membered. The woman wheeled her mount. Bending She. low, she took up the axe from where it had He still did not believe it, quite. He fallen, and faced her warriors, who were as touched the bruise under his jaw where dazed as Stark. she had struck him, and thought of the “I have led you well,” she said. “I have lithe, swift strength of her, and the way taken you Kushat. Will any man dispute she had ridden alone into battle. He re- me ?” membered the death of Thord, and how They knew the axe, if they did not know she had kept her red wolves tamed, and her. They looked from side to side un- he was filled with wonder, and a deep excit- easily, completely at a loss, and Stark, ment. still gasping on the ground, thought that He remembered what she had said to he had never seen anything as proud and him once We are of one blood, though we beautiful as she was then in her black be strangers. 92 PLANET STORIES

He laughed, silently, and his eyes were He emerged into a narrow hall, obvi- very bright. ously for the use of servants. A tapestry The tide of war had rolled on toward closed the end, stirring in the chill draught the King City, where from the sound of that blew along the floor. He peered around

it there was hot fighting around the castle. it, and saw a massive, vaulted corridor, Eddies of the main struggle swept shriek- the stone walls panelled in wood much ing through the streets, but the rat-runs split and blackened by time, but still show- under the Wall were clear. Everyone had ing forth the wonderful carvings of beasts stampeded inward, the victims with the and men, larger than life and overlaid with victors close on their heels. The short gold and bright enamel. northern day was almost gone. From the corridor a single doorway He found a hiding place that offered opened—and Otar slept before it, curled reasonable safety, and settled himself to on a pallet like a dog. wait. Stark went back down the narrow hall. Night came, but he did not move. From He was sure that there must be a back the sounds that reached him, the sacking entrance to the king’s chambers, and he of Kushat was in full swing. They were found the little door he was looking for. looting the richer streets first. Their up- From there on was darkness. He felt his raised voices were thick with wine, and way, stepping with infinite caution, and mingled with the cries of women. The presently there was a faint gleam of light reflection of many fires tinged the sky. filtering around the edges of another cur- By midnight the sounds began to slacken, tain of heavy tapestry.

and by the second hour after the city He crept toward it, and heard a man’s slept, drugged with wine and blood and slow breathing on the other side. the weariness of battle. Stark went silently He drew the curtain back, a careful inch. out into the streets, toward the King City. The man was sprawled on a bench athwart According to the immemorial pattern of the door. He slept the honest sleep of ex- Martian city-states, the castles of the king haustion, his sword in his hand, the stains and the noble families were clustered to- of his day’s work still upon him. He was gether in solitary grandeur. Many of the alone in the small room. A door in the towers were fallen now, the great halls farther wall was closed. open to the sky. Time had crushed the Stark hit him, and caught the sword be- grandeur that had been Kushat, more fore it fell. The man grunted once and be- fatally than the boots of any conqueror. came utterly relaxed. Stark bound him In the house of the king, the flamboys with his own harness and shoved a gag in guttered low and the chieftains of Mekh his mouth, and went on, through the door slept with their weary pipers among the in the opposite wall. benches of the banquet hall. In the niches The room beyond was large and high of the tall, carved portal, the guards nod- and full of shadows. A fire burned low on ded over their spears. They, too, had the hearth, and the uncertain light showed fought that day. Even so, Stark did not dimly the hangings and the rich stuffs go near them. that carpeted the floor, and the dark, sparse Shivering slightly in the bitter wind, he shapes of furniture. followed the bulk of the massive walls Stark made out the lattice-work of a until he found a postern door, half open covered bed, let into the wall after the as some kitchen knave had left it in his northern fashion. flight. Stark entered, moving like a shadow. She was there, sleeping, her red-gold hair the colour of the flames. HE PASSAGEWAY was empty, He stood a moment, watching her, and T dimly lighted by a single torch. A then, as though she sensed his presence, stairway branched off from it, and he she stirred and opened her eyes. climbed that, picking his way by guess and She did not cry out. He had known that his memories of similar castles he had seen she would not. There was no fear in her. in the past. She said, with a kind of wry humor, “I BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 93 will have a word with, my guards about you ever been content?” this.” He smiled. “For strangers, we do know each other well. No. But the spurs are not HE FLUNG ASIDE the covering and so deep in me.” S rose. She was almost as tall as he, “The wind and the fire. One spends its white-skinned and very straight. He noted strength in wandering, the other devours. the long thighs, the narrow loins and mag- But one can help the other. I made you nificent shoulders, the small virginal an offer once, and you said you would not breasts. She moved as a man moves, with- bargain unless you could look into my eyes. out coquetry. A long furred gown, that Look now!” Stark guessed had lately graced the shoul- He did, and his hands upon her shoul- ders of the king, lay over a chair. She put ders trembled.

it on. “No,” he said harshly. “You’re a fool, “Well, wild man?” Ciara. Would you be as Otar, mad with “1 have come to warn you.” He hesi- what you have seen?” tated over her name, and she said, “Otar is an old man, and likely crazed “My mother named me Ciara, if that before he crossed the mountains. Besides seems better to you.” She gave him her —I am not Otar.” falcon’s glance. “I could have slain you in Stark said somberly, “Even the bravest

the square, but now I think you did me a may break. Ban Cruach himself . . service. The truth would have come out She must have seen the shadow of that sometime—better then, when they had no horror in his eyes, for he felt her body time to think about it.” She laughed. “They tense. will follow me now, over the edge of the “What of Ban Cruach? What do you

world, if I ask them.” know, Stark? Tell me!” Stark said slowly, “Even beyond the He was silent, and she went from him Gates of Death?” angrily. “Certainly, there. Above all, there!” “You have the talisman,” she said. “That She turned to one of the tall windows I am sure of. And if need be, I will flay and looked out at the cliffs and the high you alive to get it !” She faced him across notch of the pass, touched with greenish the room. “But whether I get it or not, I silver by the little moons. will go through the Gates of Death. I “Ban Cruach was a great king. He came must wait, now, until after the thaw. The out of nowhere to rule the Norlands with warm wind will blow soon, and the gorges a rod of iron, and men speak of him still will be running full. But afterward, I will as half a god. Where did he get his pow- go, and no talk of fears and demons will

er, if not from beyond the Gates of Death ? stop me.” Wily did he go back there at the end of She began to pace the room with long his days, if not to hide away his secret? strides, and the full skirts of the gown Why did he build Kushat to guard the made a subtle whispering about her. pass forever, if not to hoard that power “You do not know,” she said, in a low out of reach of all the other nations of and bitter voice. “I was a girl-child, with- Mars ? out a name. By' the time I could walk, I “Yes, Stark. My men will follow me. was a servant in the house of my grand- And if they do not, I will go alone.” father. The two things that kept me living “You are not Ban Cruach. Nor am I.” were pride and hate. I left my scrubbing of He took her by the shoulders. “Listen, floors to practice arms with the young boys. Ciara. You’re already king in the Nor- I was beaten for it every day, but every lands, and half a legend as you stand. Be day I went. I knew even then that only content.” force would free me. And my father was a “Content!” Her face was close to his, king’s son, a good man of his hands. His and he saw the blaze of it, the white in- blood was strong in me. I learned.” tensity of ambition and an iron pride. She held her head very high. She had “Are you content?” she asked him. “Have earned the right to hold it so. She finished — ”

94 PLANET STORIES

quietly, She sat, in a great chair of carven wood. “I have come a long way. I will not Stark noticed that her hand was unsteady, turn back now.” her face the colour of white ash. He was “Ciara.” Stark came and stood before glad she did not have the axe where she her. "I am talking to you as a fighting could reach it. She did not play at anger. man, an equal. There may be power be- For a long moment she studied the in- hind the Gates of Death, I do not know. tricate lens, the incredible depository of a But this I have seen—madness, horror, an man’s mind. Then she raised it slowly to evil that is beyond our understanding. her forehead. “I think you will not accuse me of He saw her grow rigid in the chair. Htow cowardice. And yet I would not go into long he watched beside her hg never knew. that pass for all the power of all the kings Seconds, an eternity. He saw her eyes turn of Mars!” blank and strange, and a shadow came Once started, he could not stop. The into her face, changing it subtly, altering full force of that dark vision of the talis- the lines, so that it seemed almost a man swept over him again in memory. He stranger was peering through her flesh. came closer to her, driven by the need All at once, in a voice that was not her to make her understand. own, she cried out terribly, “Oh gods of “Yes, I have the talisman! And I have Mars ! had a taste of its purpose. I think Ban The talisman dropped rolling to the Cruach left it as a warning, so that none floor, and Ciara fell forward into Stark’s would follow him. I have seen the temples arms. and the palaces glitter in the ice. I have He thought at first that she was dead seen the Gates of Death not with my own He carried her to the bed, in an agony of eyes, Ciara, but with his. With the eyes and fear that surprised him with its violence, the memories of Ban Cruach!” and laid her down, and put his hand over He had caught her again, his hands her heart. strong on her strong arms. It was beating strongly. Belief that was “Will you believe me, or must you see almost a sickness swept over him. He for yourself—the dreadful things that turned, searching vaguely for wine, and walk those buried streets, the shapes that saw the talisman. He picked it up and put rise from nowhere in the mists of the it back inside the boss. A jewelled flagon pass ?” stood on a table across the room. He took Her gaze burned into his. Her breath it and started back, and then, abruptly, there was hot and sweet upon his lips, and she was a wild clamor in the hall outside and was like a sword between his hands, shin- Otar was shouting Ciara’s name, pounding ing and unafraid. on the door. !” “Give me the talisman. Let me see It was not barred. In another moment He answered furiously, “You are mad. they would burst through, and he knew As mad as Otar.” And he kissed her, in a that they would not stop to enquire what rage, in a panic lest all that beauty be de- he was doing there. stroyed—a kiss as brutal as a blow, that He dropped the flagon and went out left him shaken. swiftly, the way he had come. The guard was still unconscious. In the narrow hall HE BACKED AWAY slowly, one beyond. Stark hesitated. A woman’s voice S step, and he thought she would have Was rising high above the tumult in the killed him. He said heavily: main corridor, and he thought he recog-

“If you will see, you will. The thing is nized it. here.” He went to the tapestry curtain and He opened the boss and laid the cry- looked for the second time around its edge. stal in her outstretched hand. He did not The lofty space was full of men, newly meet her eyes. wakened from their heavy sleep and as “Sit down. Hold the flat side against nervous as so many bears. Thanis strug- your brow.” gled in the grip of two of them. Her scar- —

BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 95 let kirtle was torn, her hair flying in wild The pass itself was channeled, but only elf-locks, and her face was the face of a by its own snows and melting ice. It was mad thing. The whole story of the doom too high for a watercourse. Nevertheless, of Kushat was written large upon it. Stark thought, a man might find it hard She screamed again and again, and to stay alive if he were caught there by would not be silenced. the thaw.

“Tell her, the witch that leads you ! Tell He had seen nothing of Balin. The gods her that she is already doomed to death; knew how many hours’ start he had. Stark !” with all her army imagined him, scrambling wild-eyed over Otar opened up the door of Ciara’s room. the rocks, driven by the same madness that Thanis surged forward. She must have had sent Thanis up into the castle to call fled through all that castle before she was down destruction on Ciara's head. caught, and Stark’s heart ached for her. The sun was brilliant but without “You!” she shrieked through the door- warmth. Stark shivered, and the icy wind way, and poured out all the filth of the blew strong. The cliffs hung over him, vast quarter upon Ciara’s name. "Balin has and sheer and crushing, and the narrow gone to bring doom upon you! He will mouth of the pass was before him. He open wide the Gates of Death, and then would go no farther. He would turn back, you will die!—die! die!” now. Stark felt the shock of a terrible dread, But he did not. He began to walk for- as he let the curtain fall. Mad with hatred ward, into the Gates of Death. against conquerors, Balin had fulfilled his The light was dim and strange at the raging promise and had gone to fling open bottom of that cleft. Little veils of mist the Gates of Death. crept and clung between the ice and the Remembering his nightmare vision of rock, thickened, became more dense as he the shining, evil ones whom Ban Cruach •went farther and farther into the pass. had long ago prisoned beyond those gates. He could not see, and the wind spoke with Stark felt a sickness grow within him as many tongues, piping in the crevices of he went down the stair and out the postern the cliffs. door. The steps of the Earthman slowed and It was almost dawn. He looked up at faltered. He had known fear in his life the brooding cliffs, and it seemed to him before. But now he was carrying the bur- that the wind in the pass had a sound of den of two men’s terrors—Ban Cruach’s, laughter that mocked his growing dread. and his own. He knew what he must do, if an ancient, He stopped, enveloped in the clinging mysterious horror was not to be released mist. He tried to reason with himself—that upon Kushat. Ban Cruach’s fears had died a million I may still catch Balin before he has gone years ago, that Otar had come this way too far! If I don’t— and lived, and Balin had come also. He dared not think of that. He began But the thin veneer of civilization slough- to walk very swiftly through, the night ed away and left him with the naked bones streets, toward the distant, towering Gates of truth. His nostrils twitched to the smell of Death. of evil, the subtle unclean taint that only a beast, or one as close to it as he, can VII sense and know. Every nerve was a point of pain, raw with apprehension. An over- T WAS PAST NOON. HE HAD powering recognition of danger, hidden I climbed high toward the saddle of the somewhere, mocking at him, made his pass. Kushat lay small below him, and he very body change, draw in upon itself and could see now the pattern of the gorges, flatten forward, so that when at last he cut ages deep in the living rock, that went on again he was more like a four- carried the spring torrents of the water- footed thing than a man walking upright. shed around the mighty ledge on which Infinitely wary, silent, moving surely the city was built. over the ice and the tumbled rock, he fol- 96 PL/WET STORIES lowed Balin. He had ceased to think. He T WAS A FACE made for battles and was going now on sheer instinct. I for ruling, the bony ridges harsh and The pass led on and on. It grew darker, strong, the hollows under them worn deep and in the dim uncanny twilight there with years. Those eyes, dark shadows were looming shapes that menaced him, and under the rusty helm, had dreamed high ghostly wings that brushed him, and a ter- dreams, and neither age nor death had rible stillness that was not broken by the conquered them. eerie voices of the wind. And even in death, Ban Cruach was not Rock and mist and ice. Nothing that unarmed. moved or lived. And yet the sense of dan- Clad as for battle in his ancient mail, ger deepened, and when he paused the he held upright between his hands a mighty beating of his heart was like thunder in sword. The pommel was a ball of crystal his ears. large as a man’s fist, that held within it a Once, far away, he thought he heard the spark of intense brilliance. The little, blind- echoes of a man’s voice crying, but he had ing flame throbbed with its own force, and no sight of Balin. the sword-blade blazed with a white, cruel The pass began to drop, and the twilight radiance. deepened into a kind of sickly night. Ban Cruach, dead but frozen to eternal On and down, more slowly now, crouch- changelessness by the bitter cold, sitting ing, slinking, heavily oppressed, tempted to here upon his cairn for a million years and snarl at boulders and tear at wraiths of warding forever the inner end of the fog. He had no idea of the miles he had Gates of Death, as his ancient city of travelled. But the ice was thicker now, Kushat warded the outer. the cold intense. Stark took two cautious steps closer to The rock walls broke off sharply. The Ban Cruach, and felt again the shock and mist thinned. The pallid darkness lifted to the flaring heat in his blood. He recoiled, a clear twilight. He came to the end of the satisfied. Gates of Death. The strange force in the blazing sword Stark stopped. Ahead of him, almost made an invisible barrier across the mouth blocking the end of the pass, something of the pass, protected Ban Cruach himself. dark and high and massive loomed in the A barrier of short waves, he thought, of thinning mists. the type used in deep therapy, having no It was a great cairn, and upon it sat a heat in themselves but increasing the heat figure, facing outward from the Gates of in body cells by increasing their vibration. Death as though it kept watch over what- But these waves were stronger than any ever country lay beyond. he had known before. The figure of a man in antique Martian A barrier, a wall of force, closing the armor. inner end of the Gates of Death. A barrier After a moment, Stark crept toward the that was not designed against man. cairn. He was still almost all savage, Stark shivered. He turned from the torn between fear and fascination. sombre, brooding form of Ban Cruach and He was forced to scramble over the his eyes followed the gaze of the dead lower rocks of the cairn itself. Quite sud- king, out beyond the cairn. denly he felt a hard shock, and a flashing He looked across this forbidden land sensation of warmth that was somehow in- within the Gates of Death. side his own flesh, and not in any temper- At his back was the mountain barrier. ing of the frozen air. He gave a startled Before him, a handful of miles to the leap forward, and whirled, looking up in- north, the terminus of the polar cap rose to the face of the mailed figure with the like a cliff of bluish crystal soaring up to confused idea that it had reached down touch the early stars. Locked in between and struck him. those two titanic walls was a great valley It had not moved, of course. And Stark of ice. knew, with no need of anyone to tell him, White and glimmering that valley was, that he looked into the face of Ban Cruach. and very still, and very beautiful, the !

BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 97 ice shaped gracefully into curving domes Level upon level, going down. Wells of and hollows. And in the center of it stood soft light spanned with soaring bridges, a dark tower of stone, a cyclopean bulk slender spires rising, an endless variation that Stark knew must go down an un- of streets and crystal walls exquisitely pat- guessable distance to its base on the bed- terned, above and below and overlapping, rock. It was like the tower in which Camar so that it was like looking down through had died. But this one was not a broken a thousand giant snowflakes. A metropolis ruin. It loomed with alien arrogance, and of gossamer and frost, fragile and lovely within its bulk pallid lights flickered eerily, as a dream, locked in the clear, pure vault and it was crowned by a- cloud of shim- of the ice. mering darkness. Stark saw the people of the city passing It was like the tower of his dread vision, along the bright streets, their outlines the topaer that he had seen, not as Eric blurred by the icy vault as things are John Stark, but as Ban Cruach! half obscured by water. The creatures of Stark’s gaze dropped slowly from the vision, vaguely shining, infinitely evil. evil tower to the curving ice of the valley. He shut his eyes and waited until the And the fear within him grew beyond all shock and the dizziness left him. Then he bounds. set his gaze resolutely on the tower, and He had seen that, too, in his vision. crept on, over the glassy sky that covered The glimmering ice, the domes and hollows those buried streets. of it. He had looked down through it at Silence. Even the wind was hushed. the city that lay beneath, and he had seen He had gone perhaps half the distance those who came and went in the buried when the cry rang out. streets. It burst upon the valley with a shocking Stark hunkered down. For a long while violence. "Stark! Stark!” The ice rang he did not stir. with it, curving ridges picked up his name He did not want to go out there. He did and flung it back and forth with eerie not want to go out from the grim, warn- crystal voices, and the echoes fled out ing figure of Ban Cruach with his blazing whispering Stark! Stark! until it seemed sword, into that silent valley. He was that the very mountains spoke. afraid, afraid of what he might see if he Stark whirled about. In the pallid gloom went there and looked down through the between the ice and the stars there was ice, afraid of the final dread fulfillment light enough to see the cairn behind him,

of his vision. and the dim figure atop it with the shining But he had come after Balin, and Balin sword. must be out there somewhere, He did not Light enough to see Ciara, and the want to go, but he was himself, and he dark knot of riders who had followed her must. through the Gates of Death. She cried his name again. “Come back !” E WENT, going very softly, out to- Come back H ward the tower of stone. And there The ice of the valley answered mockingly, was no sound in all that land. "Conte back! Come back!” and Stark was The last of the twilight had faded. The gripped with a terror that held him mo- ice gleamed, faintly luminous under the tionless.

stars, and there was light beneath it, a soft She should not have called him. She radiance that filled all the valley with the should not have made a sound in that glow of a buried moon. deathly place. Stark tried to keep his eyes upon the A man’s hoarse scream rose above the tower. He did not wish to look down at flying echoes. The riders turned and fled what lay under his stealthy feet. suddenly, the squealing, hissing beasts Inevitably, he looked. crowding each other, floundering wildly on The temples and the palaces glittering the rocks of the cairn, stampeding back

in the ice . . . into the pass. 7— Planet—March Ciara was left alone. Stark saw her 98 PLANET STORIES

fight the rearing beast she rode and then fight us, Stark. Do you think we could fling herself out of the saddle and let it make it back to the cairn?” go. She came toward him, running, clad “No. But we can try.” all in her black armor, the great axe Guarding each others’ backs, they be- swinging high. gan to walk toward Ban Cruach and the !’* “Behind you, Stark ! Oh, gods of Mars pass. If they could once reach the barrier, He turned then and saw them, coming they would be safe. .out from the tower of stone, the pale, Stark knew now what Ban Cruach’s wall shining creatures that move so swiftly of force was built against. And he began across the ice, so fleet and swift that no to guess the riddle of the Gates of Death. man living could outrun them. The shining ones glided with them, out of reach. They did not try to bar the way. E SHOUTED to Ciara to turn back. They formed a circle around the man and H He drew his sword and over his woman, moving with them and around shoulder he cursed her in a black fury be- them at the same time, an endless weaving cause he could hear her mailed feet coming chain of many bodies shining with soft on behind him. jewel tones of color. The gliding creatures, sleek and slender, They drew closer and closer to the cairn, reedlike, bending, delicate as wraiths, their to the brooding figure of Ban Cruach and bodies shaped from northern rainbows of his sword. It crossed Stark’s mind that touch the amethyst and rose—if they should creatures were playing with him and Ciara, if their loathsome hands should Ciara. Yet they had no weapons. Almost,

touch her . . . he began to hope . . . Stark let out one raging catlike scream, From the tower where the shimmering and rushed them. cloud of darkness clung came a black The opalescent bodies slipped away be- crescent of force that swept across the ice- yond his reach. The creatures watched field like a sickle and gathered the two him. humans in. They had no faces, but they watched. Stark felt a shock of numbing cold that They were eyeless but not blind, earless, turned his nerves to ice. His sword dropped but not without hearing. The inquisitive from his hand, and he heard Ciara’s axe tendrils that formed their sensory organs go down. His body was without strength, stirred and shifted like the petals of un- without feeling, dead. godly flowers, and the color of them was He fell, and the shining ones glided in the white frost-fire that dances on the toward him. snow. “Go back, Ciara!” VIII But she would not go, and he knew that* they would not have let her. She reached wice before in his life him, and they set their backs together. The T Stark had come near to freezing. It shining ones ringed them round, many feet had been like this, the numbness and the away across the ice, and watched the long cold. And yet it seemed that the dark force sword and the great hungry axe, and there had struck rather at his nerve centers than was something in the lissome swaying of at his flesh. their bodies that suggested laughter. He could not see Ciara, who was behind “You fool,” said Stark. “You bloody him, but he heard the metallic clashing of fool.” her mail and one small, whispered cry, and “And you?” answered Ciara. “Oh, yes, he knew that she had fallen, too. I know about Balin. That mad girl, scream- The glowing creatures surrounded him. ing in the palace—she told me, and you He saw their bodies bending over him, the were seen from the wall, climbing to the frosty tendrils of their faces writhing as Gates of Death. I tried to catch you.” though in excitement or delight. “Why?” Their hands touched him. Little hands She did not answer that. “They won’t with seven fingers, deft and frail. Even BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 99 his numbed flesh felt the terrible cold of flung, icy bridges. He managed to turn his their touch, freezing as outer space. He head to look down, and saw what was be- yelled, or tried to, but they were not neath him. abashed. The well of the tower plunged down a They lifted him and bore him toward good five hundred feet to bedrock, widen- the tower, a company of them, bearing his ing as it went. The web of ice-bridges and heavy weight upon their gleaming shoul- the spiral ways went down as well as up, ders. and the creatures that carried him were He saw the tower loom high and higher moving smoothly along a transparent rib- still above him. The cloud of dark force bon of ice no more than a yard in width, that crowned it blotted out the stars. It suspended over that terrible drop. became too huge and high to see at all, Stark was glad that he could not move and then there was a low flat arch of just then. One instinctive start of horror stone close above his face, and he was in- would have thrown him and his bearers to side. the rock below, and would have carried Straight overhead—a hundred feet, two Ciara with them. hundred, he could not tell—was a globe of Down and down, gliding in utter silence crystal, fitted into the top of the tower as along the descending spiral ribbon. The a jewel is held in a setting. great glooming crystal grew remote above The air around it was shadowed with him. Ice was solid now in the slots of the the same eerie gloom that hovered outside, walls. He wondered if they had brought but less dense, so that Stark could see the Balin this way. smouldering purple spark that burned with- There were other openings, wide arches in the globe, sending out its dark vibra- like the one they had brought their captives tions. through, and these gave Stark brief glimp- A globe of crystal, with a heart of sul- ses of broad avenues and unguessable len flame. Stark remembered the sword of buildings, shaped from the pellucid ice and Ban Cruach, and the white fire that burned flooded with the soft radiance that was like in its hilt. eerie moonlight. Two globes, the bright-cored and the At length, on what Stark took to be the dark. The sword of Ban Cruach touched third level of the city, the creatures bore the blood with heat. The globe of the him through one of these archways, into tower deadened the flesh with cold. It was the streets beyond. the same force, but at opposite ends of the spectrum. ELOW HIM NOW was the translu- Stark saw the cryptic controls of that B cent thickness of ice that formed the glooming globe—a bank of them, on a wide floor of this level and the roof of the stone ledge just inside the tower, close be- level beneath. He could see the blurred side him. There were shining ones on that tops of delicate minarets, the clustering ledge tending those controls, and there were roofs that shone like chips of diamond. other strange and massive mechanisms Above him was an ice roof. Elfin spires there too. rose toward it, delicate as needles. Lacy Flying spirals of ice climbed up inside battlements and little domes, buildings star- the tower, spanning the great stone well shaped, wheel-shaped, the fantastic, lovely with spidery bridges, joining icy galleries. shapes of snow-crystals, frosted over with In some of those galleries, Stark vaguely a sparkling foam of light. glimpsed rigid, gleaming figures like statues The people of the city gathered along of ice, but he could not see them clearly the way to watch, a living, shifting rain- as he was carried on. bow of amethyst and rose and green, He was being carried downward. He against the pure blue-white. And there passed slits in the wall, and knew that was no least whisper of sound anywhere. the pallid lights he had seen through them For some distance they went through a were the moving bodies of the creatures geometric maze of streets. And then there as they went up and down these high- was a cathedral-like building all arched and 100 PLANET STORIES

spired, standing in the center of a twelve- discomfort. pointed plaza. Here they turned, and bore Stark marshalled his imperfect abilities their captives in. and projected a mental question to the Stark saw a vaulted roof, very slim and seven. high, etched with a glittering tracery that “What do you want of us ?” might have been carving of an alien sort, The answer came back, faint and im- delicate as the weavings of spiders. The perfect, as though the gap between their feet of his bearers were silent on the icy alien minds was almost too great to bridge. paving. And the answer was one word. !” At the far end of the long vault sat “Freedom seven of the shining ones in high seats Balin spoke suddenly. He voiced only a marvellously shaped from the ice. And be- whisper, and yet the sound was shockingly fore them, grey-faced, shuddering with cold loud in that crystal vault.

and not noticing it, drugged with a sick “They have asked me already. Tell them horror, stood Balin. He looked around no, Stark! Tell them no!” once, and did not speak. He looked at Ciara then, a look of mur- Stark was set on his feet, with Ciara derous hatred. “If you turn them loose up- beside him. He saw her face, and it was on Kushat, I will kill you with my own terrible to see the fear in her eyes, that hands before I die.” had never shown fear before. Stark spoke again, silently, to the seven. He himself was learning why men went “I do not understand.” mad beyond the Gates of Death. Chill, dreadful fingers touched him ex- GAIN the struggling, difficult thought. pertly. A flash of pain drove down his A “We are the old race, the kines o£ spine, and he could stand again. the glacial ice. Once we held all the land The seven who sat in the high seats beyond the mountains, outside the pass you were motionless, their bright tendrils stir- call the Gates of Death.” ring with infinite delicacy as though they Stark had seen the ruins of the towers studied the three humans who stood be- out on the moors. He knew how far their fore them. kingdom had extended. Stark thought he could feel a cold, soft “We controlled the ice, far outside the fingering of his brain. It came to him that polar cap. Our towers blanketed the land these creatures were probably telepaths. with the dark force drawn from Mars it- They lacked organs of speech, and yet self, from the magnetic field of the planet. they must have some efficient means of That radiation bars out heat, from the communications. Telepathy was not uncom- Sun, and even from the awful winds that mon among the many races of the Solar blow warm from the south. So there was System, and Stark had had experience never any thaw. Our cities were many, with it before. and our race was great. He forced his mind to relax. The alien “Then came Ban Cruach, from the

impulse was instantly stronger. He sent south . . . out his own questing thought and felt it “He waged a war against us. He learned brush the edges of a consciousness so ut- the secret of the crystal globes, and learn- tely foreign to his own that he knew he ed how to reverse their force and use it could never probe it, even had he had the against us. He, leading his army, de- skill. stroyed our towers one by one, and drove

He learned one thing—that the shining us back . . . faceless ones looked upon him with equal “Mars needed water. The outer ice was horror and loathing. They recoiled from melted, our lovely cities crumbled to noth- the unnatural human features, and most of ing, so that creatures like Ban Cruach all, most strongly, they abhorred the warm- might have water! And our people died. th of human flesh. Even the infinitesimal “We retreated at the last, to this our amount of heat radiated by their half- ancient polar citadel behind the Gates of frozen human bodies caused the ice-folk Death. Even here, Ban Cruach followed. !

BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 101 He destroyed even this tower once, at the died. Neither you nor anyone now knows time of the thaw. But this city is founded in how to use it as he did. But the sword’s polar ice—and only the upper levels were radiations of warmth still lock us here. harmed. Even Ban Cruach could not touch “We cannot approach that sword, for the heart of the eternal polar cap of Mars its vibrations of heat slay us if we do. But

“When he saw that he could not de- you warm-bodied ones can approach it. stroy us utterly, he set himself in death And you will do so, and take it from its to guard the Gates of Death with his blaz- place. One of you mil take it!” ing sword, that we might never again re- They were very sure of that. claim our ancient dominion. “We can see, a little way, into your evil “That is what we mean when we ask minds. Much we do not understand. But for freedom. We ask that you take away —the mind of the large man is full of the the sword of Ban Cruach, so that we may woman’s image, and the mind of the wo- once again go out through the Gates of man turns to him. Also, there is a link !” Death between the large man and the small man, Stark cried aloud, hoarsely, "No!” less strong, but strong enough.” He knew the barren deserts of the south, The thought-voice of the seven finished, the wastes of red dust, the dead sea bot- “The large man will take away the sword toms—the terrible thirst of Mars, growing for us because he must—to save the other greater with every year of the million that two.” had passed since Ban Cruach locked the Ciara turned to Stark. “They cannot Gates of Death. force you. Stark. Don’t let them. No mat- He knew the canals, the pitiful water- ter what they do to me, don’t let them!” ways that were all that stood between the Balin stared at her with a certain won- people of Mars and extinction. He remem- der. "You would die, to protect Kushat?” bered the yearly release from death when “Not Kushat alone, though its people the spring thaw brought the water rushing too are human,” she said, almost angrily. down from the north. “There are my red wolves—a wild pack, He thought of these cold creatures going but my own. And others.” She looked at forth, building again their great towers of Balin. “What do you say ? Your life against stone, sheathing half a world in ice that the Norlands?”

would never melt. He thought of the peo- Balin made an effort to lift his head as ple of Jekkara and Valkis and Barrakesh, high as hers, and the red jewel flashed in of the countless cities of the south, watch- his ear. He was a man crushed by the ing for the flood that did not come, and falling of his world, and terrified by what falling at last to mingle their bodies with his mad passion had led him into, here be- the blowing dust. yond the Gates of Death. But he was not He said again, “No. Never.” afraid to die. The distant thought-voice of the seven He said so, and even Ciara knew that 6poke, and this time the question was ad- he spoke the truth. dressed to Ciara. But the seven were not dismayed. Stark Stark saw her face. She did not know knew that when their thought-voice whis- the Mars he knew, but she had memories pered in his mind, of her own—the mountain-valleys of “It is not death alone you humans have Mekh, the moors, the snowy gorges. She to fear, but the manner of your dying. looked at the shining ones in their high You shall see that, before you choose.” seats, and said, “If I take that sword, it will be to use WIFTLY, SILENTLY, those of the it against you as Ban Cruach did!” S ice-folk who had borne the captives Stark knew that the seven had under- into the city came up from behind, where stood the thought behind her words. He they had stood withdrawn and waiting. And felt that they were amused. one of them bore a crystal rod like a “The secret of that sword was lost a sceptre, with a spark of ugly purple burn- million years ago, the day Ban Cruach ing in the globed end. 102 PLANET STORiES Stark leaped to put himself between Stark’s mind could hear the silent edges them and Ciara. He struck out, raging, of their laughter. Secret, knowing laugh- and because he was almost as quick as ter, full of evil, full of triumph, and they, he caught one of the slim luminous Stark was filled with a corroding terror. bodies between his hands. He tried to move, to crawl toward Ciara The utter coldness of that alien flesh standing like a carven image in her black burned his hands as frost will burn. Even mail. He could not. so, he clung on, snarling, and saw the Again her fierce, proud glance met his. tendrils writhe and stiffen as though in pain. And the silent laughter of the ice-folk Then, from the crystal rod, a thread of echoed in his mind, and he thought it very darkness spun itself to touch his brain strange that in this moment, now, he should with silence, and the cold that lies between realize that there had never been another the worlds. woman like her on all of the worlds of the He had no memory of being carried Sun. once more through the shimmering streets The fear she felt was not for herself. of that elfin, evil city, back to the stupend- It was for him. ous well of the tower, and up along the Apart from the multitudes of the ice- spiral path of ice that soared those dizzy folk, the group of seven stood upon the hundreds of feet from bedrock to the ledge. And now their thought-voice spoke glooming crystal globe. But when he again to Stark, saying, opened his eyes, he was lying on the wide “Look about you. Behold the men who stone ledge at ice-level. have come before you through the Gates Beside him was the arch that led out- of Death!” side. Close above his head was the con- Stark raised his eyes to where their trol bank that he had seen before. slender fingers pointed, and saw the icy Ciara and Balin were there also, on the galleries around the tower, saw more ledge. They leaned stiffly against the stone clearly the icy statues in them that he had wall beside the control bank, and facing only glimpsed before. them was a squat, round mechanism from which projected a sort of wheel of crystal EN, set like images in the galleries. rods. M Men whose bodies were sheathed in Their bodies were strangely rigid, but a glittering mail of ice, sealing them for- their eyes and minds were awake. Terribly ever. Warriors, nobles, fanatics and thieves awake. Stark saw their eyes, and his —the wanderers of a million years who had heart turned within him. dared to enter this forbidden valley, and Ciara looked at him. She could not had remained forever. speak, but she had no need to. No matter He saw their faces, their tortured eyes what they do to me . . . wide open, their features frozen in the She had not feared the swordsmen of agony of a slow and awful death. Kushat. She had not feared her red wolves, “They refused us,” the seven whispered. when he unmasked her in the square. She “They would not take away the sword. was afraid now. But she warned him, And so they died, as this woman and this ordered him not to save her. man will die, unless you choose to save

They cannot farce you. Stark! Don’t let . them. them. “We will show you, human, how they And Balin, too, pleaded with him for died!” Kushat. One of the ice-folk bent and touched They were not alone on the ledge. The the squat, round mechanism that faced ice-folk clustered there, and out upon the Balin and Ciara. Another shifted the pat- flying spiral pathway, on the narrow tern of control on the master-bank. bridges and the spans of fragile ice, they The wheel of crystal rods on that squat stood in hundreds watching, eyeless, face- mechanism began to turn. The rods blurred, less, their bodies drawn in rainbow lines became a disc that spun faster and faster. across the dimness of the shaft. High above in the top of the tower the ! !

BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 103 great globe brooded, shrouded in its cloud Stark turned. He cried out, in a voice of shimmering darkness. The disc be- that made the icy bridges tremble: came a whirling blur. The glooming shadow “I will take the sword!” of the globe deepened, coalesced. It be- He staggered out, then. Out through the gan to lengthen and descend, stretching archway, across the ice, toward the dis- itself down toward the spinning disc. tant cairn that blocked the Gates of Death. The crystal rods of the mechanism drank the shadow in. And out of that spinning IX blur there came a subtle weaving of threads of darkness, a gossamer curtain winding CROSS THE GLOWING ICE OF around Ciara and Balin so that their out- A the valley Stark went at a stumbling lines grew ghostly and the pallor of their run that grew swifter and more sure as flesh was as the pallor of snow at night. his cold-numbed body began to regain its And still Stark could not move. functions. And behind him, pouring out of The veil of darkness began to sparkle the tower to watch, came the shining ones. faintly. Stark watched it, watched the chill They followed after him, gliding lightly. motes brighten, watched the tracery of He could sense their excitement, the cold, frost whiten over Ciara’s mail, touch Ba- strange ecstasy of triumph. He knew that ton's dark hair with silver. already they were thinking of the great Frost. Bright, sparkling, beautiful, a halo towers of stone rising again above the Nor- of frost around their bodies. A dust of lands, the crystal cities still and beauti- splintered diamond across their faces, an ful under the ice, all vestige of the ugly aureole of brittle light to crown their citadels of man gone and forgotten. heads. The seven spoke once more, a warning. Frost. Flesh slowly hardening in marbly “If you turn toward us with the sword, whiteness, as the cold slowly increased the woman and the man will die. And you And yet their eyes still lived, and saw, and will die as well. For neither you nor any understood. other can now use the sword as a weapon The thought-voice of the seven spoke of offense.” again. Stark ran on. He was thinking then have only minutes “You now to decide only of Ciara, with the frost-crystals Their bodies cannot endure too much, and gleaming on her marble flesh and her eyes live again. Behold their eyes, and how they full of mute torment. suffer The cairn loomed up ahead, dark and minutes, the “Only human! Take away high. It seemed to Stark that the brood- sword of Ban Cruach! Open for us the ing figure of Ban Cruach watched him Gates of Death, and we will release these coming with those shadowed eyes beneath two, alive.” the rusty helm. The great sword blazed Stark felt again the flashing stab of pain between those dead, frozen hands. along his nerves, as one of the shining The ice-folk had slowed their forward creatures moved behind him. Life and feel- rush. They stopped and waked, well back ing came back into his limbs. from the cairn. He struggled to his feet. The hundreds Stark reached the edge of tumbled rock. of the ice-folk on the bridges and galleries He felt the first warm flare of the force- watched him in an eager silence. waves in his blood, and slowly the chill He did not look at them. His eyes were began to creep out from his bones. He on Ciara’s. And now, her eyes pleaded. climbed, scrambling upward over the rough “Don’t, Stark! Don’t barter the life of stones of the cairn. the Norlands for me!” Abruptly, then, at Ban Cruach’s feet, The thought-voice beat at Stark, cut- he slipped and fell. For a second it seemed ting into his mind with cruel urgency. that he could not move. “Hurry, human! They are already be- His back was turned toward the ice- ginning to die. Take away the sword, and folk. His body was bent forward, and !” let them live shielded so, his hands worked with fever- —

104 PLANET STORIES

ish speed. His bitter laughter rang harsh across From his cloak he tore a strip of cloth. the valley as he turned to face them, and From the iron boss he took the glittering he heard in his brain the shuddering, silent lens, the talisman of Ban Cruach. Stark shriek that went up from all that gathered

laid the lens against his brow, and bound company . . . it on. "Ban Cruach! Ban Cruach has re- The remembered shock, the flood and turned!” sweep of memories that were not his own. They had touched his mind. They knew. The mind of Ban Cruach thundering its warning, its hard-won knowledge of an E LAUGHED AGAIN, and swept

ancient, epic \war . . . H the sword in a flashing arc, and He opened his own mind wide to re- watched the long bright blade of force ceive those memories. Before he had fought strike out more terrible than steel, against against them. Now he knew that they were the rainbow bodies of the shining ones. his one small chance in this swift gamble They fell. Like flowers under a scythe with death. Two things only of his own they fell, and all across the ice the ones he kept firm in that staggering tide of who were yet untouched turned about in another man’s memories. Two names their hundreds and fled back toward the Ciara and Balin. tower. He rose up again. And now his face Stark came leaping down the cairn, the had a strange look, a curious duality. The talisman of Ban Cruach bound upon his features had not changed, but somehow the brow, the sword of Ban Cruach blazing lines of the flesh had altered subtly, so in his hand. that it was almost as though the old un- He swung that awful blade as he ran. conquerable king himself had risen again The force-beam that sprang from it cut in battle. press creatures fleeing lie- / through the of He mounted the last step or two and fore him, hampered by their own numbers stood before Ban Cruach. A shudder ran as they crowded back through the archway. through him, a sort of gathering and set- He had only a few short seconds to do tling of the flesh, as though Stark’s being what he had to do. had accepted the stranger within it. His Rushing with great strides across the eyes, cold and pale as the very ice that ice, spurning the withered bodies of the sheathed the valley, burned with a cruel dead . . . And then, from the glooming light. darkness that hovered around the tower of He reached and took the sword, out of stone, the black cold beam struck down. the frozen hands of Ban Cruach. Like a coiling whip it lashed him. The As though it were his own, he knew deadly numbness invaded the cells of his the secret of the metal rings that bound flesh, ached in the marrow of his bones. its hilt, below the ball of crystal. The The bright force of the sword battled the savage throb of the invisible radiation chill invaders, and a corrosive agony tore beat in his quickening flesh. He was at Stark’s inner body where the antipathet- warm again, his blood running swiftly, his ic radiations waged war. muscles sure and strong. He touched the His steps faltered. He gave one hoarse rings and turned them. cry of pain, and then his limbs failed and The fan-shaped aura of force that had he went heavily to his knees. closed the Gates of Death narrowed in, Instinct only made him cling to the and as it narrowed it leaped up from the sword. Waves of blinding anguish racked blade of the sword in a tongue of pale him. The coiling lash of darkness encircled fire, faintly shimmering, made visible now him, and its touch was the abysmal cold by the full focus of its strength. of outer space, striking deep into his heart. Stark felt the wave of horror bursting Hold the sword close, hold it closer, like from the minds of the ice-folk as they per- a shield. The pain is great, but I will not ceived what he had done, And he laughed. die unless I drop the sword, , —

BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 105 Ban Cruach the mighty had fought this Immediate Comfort fight before. And Relief for You with Stark raised the sword again, dose against his body. The fierce pulse of its drove back cold. far, RUPTURE-EASER brightness the Not (a need brace product) for the freezing touch was very strong. tor MEN, WOMEN and CHILDREN But far enough so that he could rise again and stagger on. The dark force of the tower writhed and Pot. licked about him. He could not escape it. Pend. He slashed it in a blind fury with the blaz- Right or Left ing sword, and where the forces met a flicker of lightning leaped in the air, but Side $395 it would not be beaten back.

He screamed at it, a raging cat-cry that Double *4** was all Stark, all primitive fury at the A strong, form fitting washable support de* necessity of pain. And he forced himself signed to give you relief and comfort. Ad* to run, to drag his tortured body faster stable back-lacing and adjustable leg straps, C* across the ice. Because Ciara is dying, be- 5rnaps up in front. Soft flat groin pad—NO Unexcelled for cause the dark cold wants me to stop . . . STEEL OR LEATHER BANDS. The ice-folk jammed and surged against comfort, INVISIBLE UNDER LIGHT CLOTH* ING. Washable. Also used as after opera* the archway, in a panic hurry to take ref- tion support. uge far below in their many-levelled city. • THE MOST EFFECTIVE HERNIA SUPPORT. He raged at them, too. They were part of Thousands of peopla who have tried old-fashioned, the cold, part of the pain. Because of them expensive devices turn to Rupture-Easer for new comfort. Ciara and Balin were dying. He sent the • RUPTURE-EASER IS SANITARY. blade of force lancing among them, his Can be washed without harm to fabric *<»yOu hatred rising full tide to join the hatred never offend when you wear Rupture-Easer. NO FITTING REQUIRED. of Ban Cruach that • lodged in his mind. Just measure around the lowest part of the Stab and cut and slash with the long abdomen and specify right or left side or double. Satisfied Users terrible beam of brightness. They fell and What Say — R. C. of Corvallis, Oregon, Air Mailsi "Send me another fell, the hideous shining folk, and Stark Ruture-Easer so 1 will have one to change off with. It is enabling me to work at top speed at my press machine sent the light of Ban Cruach’s weapon 8 hours a day." M. S. of Anderson, Ind., thanks us and says: "It is one sweeping through the itself, tower through of the finest things I have ever worn and has made my the openings that were like windows life worth living. It has given me untold ease and in comfort." the stone. O. B. R. of Boston: "Send me another ... I wish to say to everyone who suffers as I did ’Oh what relief I have " Again and again, stabbing through those found from its help/’ Blessed Relief Day and Night open slits as he ran. And suddenly the You cen sleep in it—you can work in it-~yog can dark beam of force ceased to move. He bathe in it. tore out of it, and it did not follow him, 10-DAY TRIAL OFFER remaining stationary as though fastened to Money Beck guarantee if you don't get blessed reliefl the ice. Piper Brace Company, Dept. FHS-51 308 E. St., The battle of forces left his flesh. The 12th Kansas City 6. Mo. Please send my RUPTURE-EASER By return mall. pain was gone. He sped on to the tower. Right Side 0 $3.95 Measure around lowest part of He was close now. The withered bodies left Side $3.95 my abdomen Double $4.95 Is INCHES. lay in heaps before the arch. The last of We Prepay Postage Except on C.O.D/s. the ice-folk had forced their way inside. Enclosed is: Q Money Order 0 Check for $ — - - - Send C.O.D. Holding the sword level like a lance. Stark leaped in through the arch, into the tower. Address — — City and State - ,, HE SHINING ONES were dead RUSH THIS COUPON NOW! T where the destroying warmth had 106 PLANET STORIES touched them. The flying spiral ribbons He slashed them with the sword. He of ice were swept clean of them, the arch- saw the flickering beam go down and down ing bridges and the galleries of that upper the shaft, saw the bodies fall like drops part of the tower. of rain, rebounding here and there from They were dead along the ledge, under the flying spans and carrying the living the control bank. They were dead across with them. the mechanism that spun the frosty doom He thought of the many levels of the around Ciara and Balin. The whirling disc city. He thought of all the countless thou- sands that inhabit them. could still hummed. must He Below, in that stupendous well, the hold them off in the shaft as long as he crowding ice-folk made a seething pattern wished if he had no other need for the of color on the narrow ways. But Stark sword. But he knew that as soon as he turned his back on them and ran along the turned his back they would be upon him ledge, and in him was the heavy know- again, and if he should once fall . . . ledge that he had come too late. He could not spare a moment, or a The frost had thickened around Ciara chance. and Balin. It encrusted them like stif- He looked at Ciara, not knowing what to it fened lace, and now their flesh was over- do, and seemed to him that the sheath- frost laid with a diamond shell of ice. ing had melted, just a little, around Surely they could not live! her face. He raised the sword to smite down at Desperately, he struck down again at the creatures the the whirring disc, to smash it, but there in shaft, and then the an- was no need. When the full force of that swer came to him. concentrated beam struck it, meeting the He dropped the sword. The squat, round mechanism focus of shadow that it held, there was was beside him, with its broken crystal wheel. it a violent flare of light and a shattering He picked up. It of crystal. The mechanism was silent. was heavy. It would have been heavy The glooming veil was gone from for two men to lift, but Stark was a driv- around the ice-shelled man and woman. en man. Grunting, swaying with the ef- Stark forgot the creatures in the shaft fort, he lifted it and let it fall, out and below him. He turned the blazing sword down. full upon Ciara and Balin. Like a thunderbolt it struck among those slender bridges, the spiderweb icy It would not affect the thin covering of of strands that spanned the shaft. ice. If the woman and the man were dead, Stark watched it go, and listened to the brittle snapping it would not affect their flesh, any more of the ice, the final crashing than it had Ban Cruach's. But if they of a million shards at lived, if there was still a spark, a flicker the bottom far below. beneath that frozen mail, the radiation He smiled, and turned again to Ciara, would touch their blood with warmth, picking up the sword. start again the pulse of life in their bodies. He waited, watching Ciara’s face. It T WAS HOURS LATER. Stark was still as marble, and as white. I walked across the glowing ice of the Something — instinct, or the warning valley, toward the cairn. The sword of mind of Ban Cruach that had learned a Ban Cruach hung at his side. He had million years ago to beware the creatures taken the talisman and replaced it in the of the ice—made him glance behind him. boss, and he was himself again. Stealthy, swift and silent, up the wind- Ciara and Balin walked beside him. The ing ways they came. They had guessed that color had come back into their faces, but he had forgotten them in his anxiety. The faintly, and they were still weak enough sword was turned away from them now, to be glad of Stark’s hands to steady them. and if they could take him from behind, At the foot of the cairn they stopped, stun him with the chill force of the sceptre- and Stark mounted it alone.

like rods they carried . . . He looked for a long moment into the V I

BLACK AMAZON OF MARS 107 face of Ban Cruach. Then he took the ts— OICE • CARDS Perfect Dice, sword, and carefully turned the rings upon FRiil Magic Dice. Mag- ic Cards—READ it so that the radiation spread out as it FAMOUS THE BACKS — Inks, Daubs, Po- had before, to close the Gates of Death. ker Chips, Gam- BLUE BOOK ing Layouts. Pico Almost reverently, he replaced the sword Boxes, Counter Games, Punch,- CATALOG boarda. WRITS in Ban Cruach’s hands. Then he turned FOB CATALOG TODAY. j Avo. Chicago, III. and went down over the tumbled stones. rawm* 815 S. Wabash r The shimmering darkness brooded still do y 0U Q-l over the distant tower. Underneath the WANT TO ^ 1 OP TOBACCO? ice, the elfin city still spread downward. Banish the craving lor tobacco as thousands have with Tobacco Redeemer. Wnte for tree boob The 'shining ones would rebuild their let telling of injurious effect of tobacco and of a treatment which has relieved many men. bridges in the shaft, and go on as they (,// In Business Since 1909 FREE before, dreaming their cold dreams had amiO Satisfied Customers BOOK of ancient power. THE NEWELL COMPANY

1 293 Clayton Sta., SL Louis 5, Mo, But they would not go out through the Gates of Death. Ban Cruach in his rusty mail was still lord of the pass, the warder Illustrated Comic Booklets of the Norlands. Sell our ILLUSTRATED COMIC BOOKLETS and other NOVELTIES. Each booklet size 4j4x2j£. We will send Stark said to the others, “Tell the story 25 assorted booklets prepaid upon receipt of $1.00 or 75 assorted booklets sent prepaid upon receipt of $2.00. in Kushat. Tell it through the Norlands, Wholesale novelty price list sent with order only. No orders sent C. O. D. Send Cash or Money -order. story of Ban Cruach and why he the REPSAC SALES CO. guards the Gates of Death. Men have for- 1 Orchard St. Dept. K-73 New York 2, N. Y. gotten. And they should not forget.” They went out of the valley then, the did BOOKLETS two men and the woman. They not The kind grown ups like. Each one of these booklet* 1* POCKET SIZE, also contains 8 ILLUSTRATIONS, and la speak again, and the way out through the full of fun and entertainment. 12 of these joke booklets, ALL DIFFERENT, shipped prepaid upon receipt of $1.00. or 24 pass seemed endless. BOOKLETS ALL DIFFERENT shipped prepaid for $2. cash or money order. No orders sent C. O. D. Print name and Some of Ciara’s chieftains met them at address and mail to: TREASURE NOVELTY CO., Dept. mouth of the pass above Kushat. They 72 K the 2 ALLEN ST., NEW YORK 2, N. Y. had waited there, ashamed to return to the city without her, but not daring to go back into the pass again. They had seen the creatures of the valley, and they A fresh, new line of comic booklets still afraid. • were for adults. Rich in lusty humor, with They gave mounts to the three. They good, dear illustrations. 12 of these little booklets, all different, sent to themselves walked behind Ciara, and their you prepaid for $1. No COD please. NOVa ARTS, heads were low with shame. BOX 410. DANVILLE. ILL. They came into Kushat through the riv- en gate, and Stark went with Ciara to ILLUSTRATED COMIC King City, where she made Balin the BOOKLETS follow too. THE KIND MEN LIKES (VEST “Your sister is there,” she said. “I have POCKET SIZE) They are loaded with rare car* had her cared for.” toons. Full of Fun and Humor. 20 DIFFERENT booklet* The city was quiet, with the sullen sent prepaid for $1 in plain aealed wrapper. No C. O. D.’e. apathy that follows after battle. The men GRAYKO. Dept. 1966 Box 520.G.P.O..N.Y.C. of Mekh cheered Ciara in the streets. She rode proudly, but Stark saw that her face was gaunt and strained. soys-/rs free, He, too, was marked deep by what he "THE WONDERS OF CHEMISTRY" This exciting new book shows bow to amaxe your friends had seen and done, beyond the Gates of with chemical magic, describes many fascinating horn* experiments, tells of fun. thrills and big future oppor- Death. tunities for boys who know chemistry. Special atomic energy feature. Send today I They went up into the castle, THE PORTER CHEMICAL COMPANY mi Prospect Avenue Hagerstown. Maryland Thanis took Balin into her arms, and .

108 PLANET STORIES wept. She had lost her first wild fury, and “The little one is shrewd, and she is she could look at Ciara now with a re- right. I don’t know that I can be as wise strained hatred that had a tinge almost as she . . . Will you stay with me, Stark, of admiration. or will you go?” “You fought for Kushat,” she said, un- He did not answer at once, and she willingly, when she had heard the story. asked him, “What hunger drives you, "For that, at least, I can thank you.” Stark? It is not conquest, as it was with She went to Stark then, and looked up me. What are you looking for that you at him. “Kushat, and my brother’s life . cannot find?” She kissed him, and there were tears on He thought back across the years, back her lips. But she turned to Ciara with to the beginning—to the boy N’Chaka who a bitter smile. had once been happy with Old One and “No one can hold him, any more than little Tika, in the blaze and thunder and the wind can be held. You will learn that.” bitter frosts of a valley in the Twilight She went out then with Balin, and left Belt of Mercury. He remembered how Stark and Ciara alone, in the chambers of all that had ended, under the guns of the the king. miners — the men who were his own kind. IARA SAID, “The little one is very He shook his head. “I don’t know. It C shrewd.” She unbuckled the hauberk doesn’t matter.” He took her between his and let it fall, standing slim in her tunic two hands, feeling the strength and the of black leather, and walked to the tall splendor of her, and it was oddly difficult windows that looked out upon the moun- to find words. tains. She leaned her head wearily against “I want to stay, Ciara. Now, this min- the stone. ute, I could promise that I would stay for- “An evil day, an evil deed. And now I ever. But I know myself. You belong here, have Kushat to govern, with no reward you will make Kushat your own. I don’t. of power from beyond the Gates of Death. Someday I will go.” How man can be misled!” Ciara nodded. “My neck, also, was not Stark poured wine from the flagon and made for chains, and one country was too brought it to her. She looked at him over little to hold me. Very well, Stark. Let it the rim of the cup, with a certain wry be so.” amusement. She smiled, and let the wine-cup fall.

FEBRUARY 18th TO Z5th THE VtZIGRAPB 109

'( Continued from p. 39) movie had to be printed, why didn’t you pick a good one, DESTINATION MOON, for in- Realistic reproductions of riiomplonship rod*# stance? In regard to ROCKETSHIP X-M, I am saddles! Handsomely formed from solid Sterling Massive I Impressive! Stylet ter both me# quite positive that Science-Fiction Actifan Silver. ANY and women. Also children. written, not only a better plot, but a could have SEND MO MONET I Jest dip od and mail with aam#, one. address, ring size. Pay postman only $2.98 pies postage. much more accurate 1 Send cask, and we moil postpaid. Wear S days. If net The main fault of the picture is its extreme in- delighted, rotor* foe reload. accuracy. I am including several examples of these ^ARIZONA INDUSTRIES, Dept. 2 OS, teaftsdof#. Art*. technical errors. 1) The rocketship is hurtling through space, when they enter a meteor swarm. O.K. Now how the H— can meteors, rushing through space (a vacuum, by the way), make a whoosh- LOOSE DENTAL PLATES ing noise as they pass the ship? (No sound in RELINED AND TIGHTENED AT HOME $1.00 a vacuum). NEWLY IMPROVED DENT)EX RELINER, a ilastic, builds up (refits) loose upper and 2) Landing on Mars, the explorers are greet- Jovrer dentures. Really makes them fit AS 'they should without using powder. Easily ed by a terrific rainstorm. Sorry, but there isn’t -applied. No heating required. Brush it on ad- , and wear your plates while it sets. It sufficient water vapor in Mars’ atmosphere for a i heres to the plates only and makes a I comfortable, smooth and durable surface drizzle, let alone a downpour as in the picture. ' that can be washed and scrubbed. Each Granting an atomic war on Mars thou- application lasts for months. Not a powder 3) _ or wax. Contains no rubber or gum. Neu- sands of years ago, the byproducts of an atomic tral pink color. Sold on MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. Not sold in stores. Mail $1 for generous supply, brush and blast are of an extremely short half-life. Defi- directions and we pay postage. Charges extra on C.O.P* orders. Proved by 10 years of Consumer Use nitely not fifty thousand years. DENDEX COMPANY, Dept. 42 4) Why are the men horrible monsters, while 2024 West 6th Street • Los Angeles 5, Calif. the women look like something from a pulpzine cover (not the bem, either) ? Since when do Martians wear such noticeable lipstick? 5) While still in space (outside of a gravita- tional field), a harmonica floats in the air.

Good ! Why then do papers and pencils on the desk (in addition to other assorted stuff), stay put? Hmmmmmm? REAL SURE-FIRE SELLER! The ship was originally 6) supposed to go to THUGS AND THIEVES BEWARE! the moon (a distance of roughly 240,000 miles). Her© is a tear gas pencil gun which discharges smothering cloud* How then did it have enough fuel to return to of tear gas to Instantly stop, stun and incapacitate the most vi- cious man or beast. A safe and effective substitute for dangerous the earth from Mars, assuming that it could get firearms. No permanent injury. Needed in Stores. Banks, Auto* anywhere near Mars? (Mars is roughly 238,- and Homes, everywhere to protect Life and Property. No skill re- quired. Handle our tear gas as a side line and you'll soon give it 000,000 miles from Earth at its greatest distance, full time. For & quit* start send $3.60 for complete demonstrator and 35,000,000 miles at its closest approach to outfit consisting of an Automatic Pencil Gun with 10 demonstrators and 3 powerful Tear Gas cartridges fully guaranteed. Many thou- Earth. Assuming Mars to be about 100,000,000 sands now in use. Order your outfit today. Not sold to minor*. miles from Earth at the time of the trip, and Hog#* Supply Corp. Dept. P St. Paul 4, Minn. even this distance is less than average, Mars would still be 400,000,000 times further from Earth than the moon is, when both are at an average distance from our planet). (It—would —not!—Ed.) These are a few of the many major, and innu- merable minor errors in the picture. A picture like this is what makes people think of Science-Fiction and fairy tales at the same time. As an editor of ETAOIN SHRDLU (The ASSURE YOUR FUTURE. Steady, high-pay jobs await men qualified in Diesel, Tractor, and Heavy Equipment. Are you Fan’s Fanzine) 3/25

GIBSON RIDES AGAIN YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF to Investigate Inter- state Trajning Service Diesel Training. Thou- sands agree it has helped them to better jobs, 24 Kensington Ave., better pay. It can do the same for you! Jersey City 4, N. J. WRITE FOR FREE INFORMATION TODAY Dear Jerry : " INTER STAtTtTa.nTnTsTFvTcE”o>tI “dT37o77. What a sneaky way to get me to write you an- Pleete tee that I receive FREE 24-page book. "Getting Afceod In Diesel.'* 6n"| other letter ! A winner, indeed ! Okay, so you’ve got one more illo you can allocate to some fan group other -ZONE -STATE __ j or for a convention. wm mm mm mm wm mm wmrnmTmmmmm W — — — ! ! ? ! —;;

110 PLANET STORIES But just for that, I refuse to mention what an PS’s enjoyable time I had last night with Craig’s

WITCH ! She could’ve been a little more unprint- FEATURE FLASH able, of course—that lousy cover had her wearing too much clothes—but the sweet, little postal- regulated minds among us must be served. With Before we met Poul Anderson, we had pictured a garlic, preferably, and well-done formidable gent, tome nine feet tall, hawk-eyed, Nor, by gad, shall I mention how deliciously sober and prematurely grey. Then he showed up chilling was Walton’s NIGHTMARE — may. he In New York one day, and proved to be amicable, sleep horribly henceforth not quite nine feet tall, eagle-eyed, grinning and Nor will I breathe a whisper about the way a blond. Moreover, on a spirited jaunt about Vestal out-did himself on those illos ! Dunno what town, he revealed a repertoire of brightly col- physical affects it had on the guy, but his work ored tales that matched, if not exceeded, your this ish was superbly nauseating. Such sweet editor's. We respect a man like that. drool We now strut cockily into that rooster’s walk SYRTIS: Meet the author of DUEL ON called, for some odd reason, The Vizigraph. An autobiography implies something worth auto- Messrs. Wickham and Blish jousted admirably biographing, which is lamentably lacking in this on the field of dianetics. I perceive that I, too, case. 1 really can’t imagine readers working up have a few small cuts. But as my shield and I are much enthusiasm over my favorite brand of beer borne from the melee, I raise myself to bloody or the time our cow mistook a tractor for a bull. elbow and observe that Blish rightfully termed (Yes, it really happened.) However my points hypothetical and, further, he gives ; I was born in Pennsylvania late in 1926 of Scan- support to my unspoken contention that any dab- dinavian parents. Hence that first name, which, bling we ignorant laymen do had best be hypo- incidentally, has a pronunciation midway between thetical! A most enjoyable battle Arthur, “pole” and "powl.” We soon moved to Port Then, Master Stewart had done a bit of re- growing Texas, where I did some of my among search and set me to rights on Bushy’s fool turtle. the oil refineries and Gulf coast shipping and ac- My thanks, Sire ; forgive me that fault of relying a younger brother. After father’s death quired my on poor memory. It all happened so long ago, we lived in Washington, D. C., for about a year y’know—believe I was in Tortuga at the time where mother had a job with the Danish for- my Mr. Calkins’ profound epistle, which ironically eign office and I pottered happily around the befits a sage of old Athens, touches upon a fester- Smithsonian. But it really isn’t a town fit to live in, ing sore of mine. He is repelled by the covers on so we took another jump and spent some years the lurid pulps and ashamed to be seen on the farming in Minnesota. It took that long for us to street with same. Many readers have expressed discover that you can’t make a living off fifty acres, like comments. and quit. But at least it disabused me of any notions In most cases, these objectors say it’s the covers about the happy, simple outdoor life. they dislike. In some cases, they admit that it’s While studying physics at the University of Min- the sneering regard of the populace they cringe nesota, I wrote a story and—it sold. To anyone from. with my pathological hatred of regular hours that was a bugle call. But it took some time and several However, you and I know that pornography sells well. I think there’s a reason it. odd jobs—very odd, some of ’em—before I got to for Perhaps the point of making a living off writing alone. And the fellows are tired of getting tongue-tied every no sooner had I reached that, than the good old time a shapely lass stops to straighten her hems academic life started calling me back. At present perhaps the girls are tired of feeling embarrassed I’m working toward a master’s degree and financ- every time there’s a brisk wind. The urge is ing the project by writing. Combine long vacation pleasant and enjoyable—and damnably frustrating trips, beer and books, Wcin, Weib, und Gesang, if you’ve been taught from childhood that it’s and occasional pilgrimages back to the home town indecent. And, of course, along come the movies, for some of my mother’s roast goose and red cab- the theater, and popular fiction preaching that bage, and it begins to look like an ideal existence. romance is when the guy wants what the gal has But by the time you read this, I’ll probably be and the gal knows it. doing something else. Sexy pornography breeds familiarity. The Old Special likes include bull sessions till all hours, School will argue that it breeds indulgence, like camping in Western scenery, travel of all kinds the meek, little man who reads murder mysteries (here and abroad), blondes, Greek literature and and then tears somebody’s throat out in a dark Shakespeare, brunettes, Mozart, redheads, and so alley. (Shall we go for a stroll, Jerry?) (Oh, line. on down the Favorite contemporary writer is let’s 1 Just — you, and meek, little me! Ed.) But Johannes V. Jensen, but I’m not going intellectual maybe the guys prefer to enjoy the sight of on you—I like the Saint and Li’l Abner just as well milady’s flesh with the calmness of familiarity as you do. maybe the gals want a little enjoyment, too, with- Ambitions are to do a lot more traveling, write out feeling self-conscious about it And there’s a several novels and essays, learn classical Greek and vague rumor about that guys and dolls sometimes Old Norse, own a seagoing sailboat, become a con- get married simply because they have a hell of a noisseur of wine, get a doctor’s degree in astro- good time together and want to raise a couple of physics, and spend the pipe-and-slippers stage of kids. life on a peaceful mountaintop photographing re- In short, while we worry about what people will mote galaxies. That’s program enough to keep me think — who says they think Pah! busy for a while. Too bad one has to A curse on sleep. ’em! I am moved to remind some sweet, innocent !

THE VIZIGRAPH 111 fans of the not-so-good old days of stf, when the public thought it to be mere “Buck Rogers" fool- ishness—rocket ships, rayguns, crazy things that SPEEDY STITCHER could never happen. A few crazy things have hap- Sews Lock-Stitch Like a Machine pened, somewhat altering that opinion. Save time and money in repairing shoes, boots, leather jackets, gloves, it enough, in fact, so that groups of Altering auto tops, saddles and many other fans meeting need not remove themselves to local- things. Speedily sews grain bags, burlap, canvas, leather and heavy is there, ities where the juke-box is there, the bar textiles and wire cuts on live- our table between, and here comes the double- stock. Beady to use the min- ute you need it. Comes with breasted saloonkeeper’s daughter. As I recall, she reel of waxed thread and 3 hideous in the light of day. needles in different sixes. was rather Spare needles are carried Ye Olde Methuselah, in handle. Get this handy tool now so that you'll Gibson have it when you need It, Joe home, on hunting, fishing or FAN BITES FAN camping trips. Priceless when you need it, but costs only 942 Scribner St., $1.50 postpaid if you send cash, check or money or- Grand Rapids, Mich. der. C.O.D. $1.50 plug fee and postage. Dear Jerome : This following letter, while it undoubtedly will SPORTSMEN'S be extremely unpopular, is, however, a sincere at- POST tempt to define what I consider to be a malign influence in science-fiction today. I am speaking of the driveling adolescents who feel it their duty to send you their nauseous comments on Planet FEAR NO ONE! Stories, its fiction and writers. While examining the VIZIGRAPH column Master American Combat throughout several issues, I found a remarkable dialectic evident in the styles of writing. From mere listing of stories and their ignorant reac- tions, I found this detestable chilaswarm soon ad- JUDO This took vancing psychopathetical humor. —and Master combat fudo and you won’t be afraid of anyone. is taking—the form of sly parenthetical inserts, You’ll stand up to the toughest bully and give more than senseless exclamations of their own contrivance you take. Bernard J. Cosneck, author of "American Com- bat Judo," was twice Big-Ten wrestling champion, and has and inane plays on words. I also find evidences devoted many years developing personal fighting methods. of cultist leanings among your ‘regular contribu- In supervising the training of U. S. Coast Guardsmen, ha Improved Japanese Ju-|itsu and perfected new fighting tors’ and much to my horror, I found that these ; methods for the armed services. This 128 page book is same humorists that defile the pages of PS are chock-full of the most effective defensive and offensive held in high regard by science-fiction devotees. fighting methods, containing 188 photographs illustrating Ju-jitsu, foot fighting, Certain fan magazines actually go out of their police tactics and commando fighting. If it's worth $1.00 to you to have the edge way to make a favorable impression on people (?) on the other guy. send for "American Combat Judo" now. (I’m sorry that I resorted to one of their tricks) It will be mailed postpaid for only $1.00 In cash, stamps, money-order or check. like Rick Sneary, Boggs, Stewart, Carter and that whole tight little clique of bully boys. And SPORTSMEN'S POST, Depf. FHS I’m the letters that these grubs sorry to see throw 366 Madison Avenue New York 17, N. Y. out from beneath their rocks are printed so often. I have a picture in my mind as to how these flabby pseudo-intellectuals operate. I have no doubt that they come from the slightly lower middle-class; they were more or less good stu- dents—and while they were attending high school, they decided to attach themselves onto a cult just CREMED BUST sufficiently out of the way so that they could be considered slightly different, but still have cohorts LOTION in “other rooms.” I consider them mostly para- "I am more than sitical dilettantes who have nothing to give s-f thrilled since I Unfortunately, this lunatic fringe has always, tried and proved and probably will always, place their suckers on Milo-Creme Lotion" any art form and go along for the ride hinder- ; —KORKY KELLY, ing the artists at every turn or development he (Noted New York (the artist) chooses to make. Of course, I real- Model.) ize how true the statement is that all generaliza- If you yearn for a shapely bust and the opportunitiee tions are wrong—including this one, and there of having others look at you with admiration, then are some contributors to your letter column who MILO-CREME may be just the thing for you. Con- tains 30.000 units have developed some intelligent critical faculty. int of Estrogenic Hormones that Science now reveals may be absorbed by the skin of These people who have studied science, fiction the breasts. Easy and simple to apply. and science- fiction have a great deal to offer s-f 8END NO MONEY. Pay Postman only $2.00 plus magazines like Planet. But I see intelligent one Postal Charges on delivery, or enclose $2.00 and we letter to five meaningless excrescences which are will pay all charges. REMEMBER, we guarantee un- meant to be taken by the editor as witty sallies— conditionally that if you are dissatisfied for any rea- son. we will make an immediate refund. Puli but expressing Profound Ideas. direc- tions—sent in a plain box. 3 months supply $5.00. I am constantly appalled by these idiots’ child- 1 ish scrawls; these senseless praising and damn- MILO LABORATORIES DEPT. M-18 225 West 34 S*. New Turk 1. N. X. ; —

112 PLANET STORIES ing of an author, whose work—though read, I seven hells already in the past few years. Aside from that Coppel is moving up rapidly. rather admit—is completely misunderstood. They seem He I consider to like—say—Ray Bradbury or dislike Ray Brad- reminds me of McDowell, whom one having no reason in the world nor any of PS’s best writers, altho he is a bit more subtle bury ; right to, as they always misunderstand Ray than Emmett about having the heroine take off Bradbury. Their ignorance of scientific concepts her clothes. (By the way, would whoever hacked this please explain is only surpassed by their ignorance of literary out the blurb for story to me form. And yet they have the gall, cowardly as it the nature of a “beast rocket”?) is, to praise and condemn stories and ideas that For once your blurbs about an author were are obviously way above their heads. The typo- correct. I enjoyed immensely C. H. Liddell’s graphical hy-jinks of a leech like Ackerman CARRY ME HOME. His style is fascinating (whose sole talent lies in exploiting writers) or and holding and he—kwote—writes with uncom- a moronic snob like Sneary (Dickens couldn’t mon power and clarity—unkwote. I didn’t appre- have improved that name—doesn’t it remind you ciate his story in the Fall issue too much, but of a sniffling pimply-faced adolescent?) deserve CARRY ME HOME was exceptional. I guess only the contempt of writers, editors and serious Liddell just has to grow on you. It’s too bad Red critics of science-fiction. Rohan was killed off to all practical purposes; As a good friend of Izaac Asimof, I am a little I would liked to have seen (gad, what a triumph distressed that you continue to spell Izomiv’s in tense that was) more of him in this blessed name incorrectly, and I don’t blame I sac a bit for bi-monthly. complaining. Since Asimov has really advanced Well, Mitkey really did ride again. The science in the field of s-f, I think it only fitting that you in the story was null, but when a good belly laugh should make an attempt to spell Isaac’s name (plural) is concerned, who cares about science! right. It should be spelled—Izak Isamoff and no (Oh, how I wish some of my profs believed other way. Asack and I will be grateful if you do. that.)_ This tale wasn’t quite as good as its prede- cessor, it Sincerely yours, but was still simply great. With the recent atomic-holocaust type of story finally being Dennis Strong laid in its grave, science-fiction needs many more of the Mitkey and Science-by-ear-Gallegher tales. The gauntlet is flang . . . and with fierce cries of Also, I hope "Pax! Pax!’’ your editor slams down his visor, MITKEY RIDES AGAIN served another purpose by setting a precedent for more levels his lance, and gallops to the safety of the illustrations per story ? Maybe ? Huh ? sidelines. Brother, leave us out of thisl Best of the shorts (stories that is) was Mac- GOOEY GALAXIES Donald’s FINAL MISSION. The picture of the 2711 La Salle Street unwanted heroes entering the spaceship was so Racine, Wisconsin well described by the author that it brings this Dear Jerry: story up to the head of the issue. MACHINE OF KLAMUGRA was good too, except that the Well, well, well, well well, well, well! Whad- “Finagle Factor” used by Lt. Kim in college does aya know—I won an original. And 1st place, too not work—I speak from experience ! The other —Great Globules of Gooey Galaxies ! But really, two tales were fair—that’s all, just fair. my sincere thanks to everyone who voted for me, Egad, but the Vizigraph was dull this issue. No and may you all win a pic too someday. race riots, no religious feuds, no challenges to And now brace yourself, B. and now, I — J. — duels. Oh well, this can’t last long, Sneary’s about to make a statement which, so far as I am bound to start something pretty soon. While we’re know, has never before been even hinted at in waiting, give pics to Sigler, Gibson, and Mitchette. these hallowed pages throughout the entire 3)4 Aside to Professor Sam Sackett of Hastings volumes of Planet's annals (Are you ready, College : I really did write my theme for English Jerry? Do you have all 10 of your gorgeous (got an "A” too), but I had to stay up half the blonde secretaries propping you up and standing night doing it. by with an assortment of vitamin capsules, as- In conclusion may I cry that I simply slobber pirins, and Lydia Pinkham’s Pills ? All right, then, whoops—slaver in anticipation of your forth- here goes—): I LIKED PLANET’s COVER coming sooper-sexy novel of the space-wolves: ISSUE! I repeat: I liked Planet’s cover THIS “Whispering Werewinds of Wilma’s Weasel- this issue. (The dull “thump” heard in the back- World.” Hurry, Hurry 1 1 can’t stand this suspense ground was our beloved editor falling flat on his much longer. face.) While gorgeous blonde secretaries look ( 9 Stfancerely, on in horror—Ed.) Just why I liked the cover I’m not quite sure, perhaps because it bears a slight Bruce Hapke resemblance to the title story, altho I don’t re- —etter-lwcks, please note: From now on, as a member Mr. Coppel mentioning that our hero result of the new bi-monthly schedule, La Viz had a yellow carcass and green face. But then, I will be running one issue behind—which means suppose one must allow one’s illustrator a little that the next issue of PS (May) will contain leeway, mustn’t one ? your letters pertaining to the last issue (January), I liked the stories too. Coppel’s THE LAST and so on... exceptions are those letters dashed TWO ALIVE would have been excellent except off by midnight oil, as soon as each PS hits the for two things : the epilogue was entirely unnec- stands. essary, as it was apparent from the middle of the Our apologies for offering such an abbreviated story that this was another Adam-and-Eve yarn Vizigraph this trip; with it, we offer the above in fact it would have been better if the much as explanation. Now, with Beale safely on his Adam-and-Eve business had been left out alto- IVorpie and his way, we’ll say a rivedcrci until

gether since this theme has been worked thru March 1st . . . —

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