TOftlE

>
3!

ANUARY 935

25its

SSI
ft
1

lg

88

HfOR THE PLA

"ampbell, Jr.
,

'*

Kll
.

'li.L4 r

Skidmore

({MU.D

AFLAME
chanson
on by
J

We|

NEVER
BEFORE SUCH A

SMOOTH SHAVING BLADE

at this low price!

Amazingly Easy

Way to Get Into

ELECTRICITY
PAY YOUR TUITION AFTER GRADUATION
teach you how to prepare for positions thai lead to Mlaries of (M, Si* aad up a week In electricity NOT by correspondence, bat by an mazing way to tearhrlht her* In lhgrt>tC<yn Shops that make*

NOW
PROBAK JUNIOR

mi*
'

25
of

b|ades

yoaaprarti.'i-l IGettingintoeleatrieitylseasierthan you imagine fprricbt now larnmakingen offer noother school cverdared to make. PAY FOR YOUR TUITION IN EASY PAYMENTS AFTER

YOU GRADUATE.

1EARN BY DOING IK 90 DAT9 BT ACTUAL WORK- In Coyne

1 don't care If yon don't know an armature from an air brake I don't elcpect you to! ItmBkeanodifferencol Don't let lack of money atop you. Most of the men at Coyne have no more money than you have. That's why I have worltedOUt toy astonishing oSfl, Mail coupon telow (or
all

Also Trial Package

the Great

Shop*

4 Blades For 10c

At Your Dealer

the facts.

EARN WHILE LEARNING

If yon need part-time work to help pay your living expense* 111 help you uet it and when you graduate I'll give you lifetime employment service. And, In 12 brief weeks, In lb* great roaring shop* of Coyne, I train you as you never dreamed you could be trained , , on one of tbe greatest outlays of electrical apparatus ever assembled, .real dvnamos,

'.

engines t power plants, autos, switchboards, transmitting stations everjihintt frum door bells to farm power and liBbting. . full sized In t till operation.

. . .

ELECTRICAL REFRIGERATION
Right dow I am Including my big new Electrical KefrigerstionCours*. you on real electrical machinery . building real batteries . winding real armatures, operating real motors, dynamo* and generaI train
. . .

"Gentlemen: "During the past few years I've been driven because of necessity into the lowerpriced razor blades my beard suffering because of
the shortcomings of my pocket-book. Your Probak has brought back shav"Sincertly yours,

CITY a?Aa**1 C CoyDels7ourooeBTMtchanretoget to* Till? *H*1 rAViatntoelectridty.Eyery^batacle re,

is

tor*, wiring houses, #te.

Jr.

moved for you don'thave to pay for yourtuition until after you (tradusfo then you have ten months to pay it in small payments tart ngSmonlhs after yoogradnate, Thiiaeboo] U S3 years old -iv.yrw training ia tested beyi all doubt endored by many large eleetriraJ concerns. You flan find Out everything absolutely free. SIl

ing comfort at no extra cost.

E.

and

let
.

me send you
.

facts

Jobs

. . .

ttio big, free Coyne book of salaries . . .opportunities. Telia g and how ire assist o

Eugene Leonhart,
Calif."

San Jose,

{a PAULINA ST., Dept.lMv

BigBookFree!SSS COYNE ELECTRICAL SCHOOL

CHICACO,
ttt.
DearMr. !>wis: Without obligation send me yom- big, and all details of Free Employment Service, as well as Ian Course, and how many "earn
fng," Also about your "PAY AFTER

Unsolicited letters like this

prove the amazing quality of Probak Jr. Try this remarkable blade uniformly keen and smooth-shaving, Ger Probak Jr. from your

J I

nearest dealer's a remark-

GRADUATION*' off.*.

able value at 25 blades for only 59ff or a special trial

A.
I I

package of 4 for
Gillette and

10fS.

Addren
City
,

*^H
Stat*
....1

Probak Junior fits all Probak razors

'"LOOK HERE, N.R.I. /HAS TCAINEO HUNDREDS'

\t

''THIS

/AND
J TO
8

LIKE

ME TO

MAKE MONEY

IS 5WLLFUN>y AM BEGINNING

MAKE &OOD MONEY

ON THE SIDE ALREADY. 1 RADIO SUOE IS FULL

|0F OPPORTUNITIES
j

FOR TRAINED MEN.

^OH! JIM,

IT'S

WONDERFUL.

ILL TRAIN

YOU AT HOME
Jt>
i

wow on rue wAy

you're
I

TO 5UCCE3S

GOOD RADIO JOB

Hall the coupon now. Get the full about Radio the fl'ld with s future. N. R. I. training fits you for jobs In conBftlon with th* manufacture, sal* and operation of Radii equipment. II }oq to go In imilnej! for juurflf, service lets, operate on hoard ships. In broadcasting, tplriUior), stLtion, police Radio and many ether Jobe. Mv FltFE book tells how you quietly learn at hone In spare time to be Radio Expert.

m
HE RE'S PROOF
that

Many

Radio Experts

Make

S40, 560, $75

Week

my

training pays

Why struggle along In a dull Job with low pay anil no future f Start training now far the lire-wire Sadie field. I hare doubled and tripled salaries. Hundreds of aui-ressful men now In Radio cot their (tart through N. It I. training.

Many Make
In Spar*

$5,

no, MS a Weak Extra Time While Learning

Tnt man wbo baa directed the Home- Study Training
of

With

1 am with B,
I

R. C. A. Viator C. A. bite been

Id full

Spare rime Jobe

Victor.

EvntlSa WMk

Hold your Job. I'll not only train you In a few hours of your spare time a week, hut the day you enroll I'll tend you instructions, wblrh you should tnesler Quickly, far doing 2S Radio jobs common In moat every neighborhood. I sire you IUd;o EquipiMtit for cwiducUag eaprrimertl* and making tmta that teee-h you to build and seirlre practically every type of rereirtng set made. Cleo T. Better. 30 W. Beec.hwood Ave.. Dayton, Olie, nMa: "Working only In ipire time, I mala about 11,500 while taking the Course."

more men
industry

for tbe

dio

than

other

man

Is

Raany America.

ororaoted i->-t
limes.

Am

charge of Radio Fre-

ling
XJept." Louta
'

F.Lset
Ble.,

"I baea no trouble getting Bsdio workhare the reputation of being the B, :
I

Find Out

What

Radio Offer*

Lt

My book haa she* '*/",* =. v,."***

of age. Inreattgau. Find out whet Badie offers . ynu. Read what My Employment Department does to help yog get into Rirllo efter graduation, about my Money Back Agreement, and the many other N. R. I_ failures- Mall the coupon in an (uvtloc*, or paite It on a lc. pott card TODAT.

<io

Kenderton Apte..
Phi lade Ipbia, Pa.

&

Tioga

arerara

IH

to 120

only." 6. Bernard Cray, lsi Wsthingtoe St. Br on a on. Ui-Jilcan.

J. B. EMTTH, PraeUest, D*pt,5AM National FUdio Ir.stilote, Waahinftoa, D.

Owes His Suceesi Radio Train no

I

I*

J. E. SMTTH, President, Dept. SAM National Radio Isjtitute, Washington. D. C. Dear Mr. Smith: Without obligating toe, end your bosk which cois'a on! the apare time and fcU tima job opportunltiee In Radio and your to-iO method Of tr ainin g; men at tuma in spire lima to become Radio Exparta.
I

"Stnre 1923

my

living
:

hare earned' In Hadlo. I

I

Please print plainly)

a my

last three jobs to

KAME

AGE,

N. R, the main

eattlng chain* Serge A. De Somo>, 1516 Library a.. New Tork City.

.""

Please mention

Newsstand Fiction

U.nit

when answering advertisements

Amazing Stories
Science Fiction
Vol. 9

JANUARY,

1935

No. 9

CONTENTS
Editorial
Troposphere, Tropopause and Stratosphere
T.

O'Conor Shone, PhJ).

Serials

The Contest of the Planets (Port I) .John W. Campbell, Jr. Robert Page Preston Land of Twilight (Conclusion)
Stories

11

88

Complete

in This Issue
Isaac R. Nathanson

The World Aflame

44
112

An Epos
The Tale

of Posi of the

and Neija

Joe W. Shidmore
Philip Dennis Chamberlin

Atom

132

Poem
The Radio
Science Questionnaire
Discussions

Dix Van Dyke

Ul
87
136

Cover and

Illustrations

by Morey

Published Monthly by

TECK PUBLICATIONS,
Executive and Editorial Offices
Let
Eltiosfcer. Pre*,
:

INC.

4600 Diverscy Avenue, Chicago, IU.

461 Eighth Avenue,

New
8.

York, N. Y.
Holcepl, See'y.

end Trees.

M.

Canada. Registered in U. S. Pat. Coov-iaht 1935 by Teek Publications. Inc., in United State* and matter Sept. 8, 1933. at the wsstojfice at Chie*p>, Oince \i\ rights reserved. Entered as second-class SJ-O0 Canada $3.50 in f.roTgn Mind, code? the Act of March 3. 1879, 23c a am. J2.S0 a year. retries Scbscriber* are notified that change of address must reach u five weeks in advance of the next date of issue.

Printed

its

V.

S. A.

HOME-STUDY
BUSINESS TRAINING
Your opportunity can never bo bigger than your preparation. Prepare now and reap the reward* in earlier and larger success. Free 64-Pagt Backs Tell Haw. Write now for book you want, or mail coupon with your name and address In margin today.

O Hujner Accountancy O Mod. Salesmanship

OTnffic Management

Expert Bookkeeping 6 Banting and Finance O C. P. A. Coaching O StetMKypy O Rail. Station Mjm't O Business EnjUith O Paper Salesmanship D Effective Speaking

O Law: Degree of LL.B. O Commercial Law O Industrial Mgm't

O Business MguTt O Bud loess Carres. O Credit and Collection

Cor responde net

O Modern Foreman a hip

Personnel

Mgm't

LA SALLE EXTENSION UNIVERSITY

Dept. I75-R

Chicago

Pbui
..at
ft

thrill

wnen you

play your tint tuna, tie vary first week, on P-ASax. Then popular-

admiring friends, good time*, a glorious future. Try a new model

ity
. .

P-A Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Clarinet at your local music store,

or write for beautiful literature today. No obligation.

Easyterms. im

~AN-AMERICAN - p-ABUEEIMiart,[iid

Sell

7 Biq Bars

RmaJNmm&7X

No Joke To Bekaewi Deaf -Ewery deal RiatMr.

-'-

WaymsdBhJmlfh*ar bis watch tic * after

IntunitSonal Typi miter

bob, iw. : cSt

t deaf for twenty-fire years, with hie ArtiEex Drums. He wore them day ana night.

,Tb*y stopped his btad noisea. Tbeyarsiirrixlble 1

andeomfortabie.nowirns I or batteries. Write for g

TRUE STOHY. Also V bookletonDeafness. Aruiuiai sarDnm THE WAV COMPAKY

TSTBofBuaBlde.
Dstxstt. Miriitaaa

immmm
Ry. Mail Clark P. 0. Laborer H- F. D. Carrier
( 1 ( >

P03TMAETEB

SoametMeS

Learn to

MOUNT BIRDS
By Mill to meant Birds. Animals, _ LQams'Haadijta Ua >bDi. Mount!
Jipwt Tuddmnlit.

Special

lout

Cuatoms

Injp**fir

Otv Mail Carriar

P. 0. Clerk

Wa

Matron
Immig't Ias*etF

iKniimU. rbbli, roes sod nfe- f :lii. Big Profits la ipirc time. I

MEN
WOMES
A<fe

Typist

( ) Auditor < ) Stonccrspbar ( ) U.S. Bordai Patrol < ) Telophona Opt. ( > Watchman, I } Stilled Laborer C ) Statistical Clerk ( ) TOe Clerk

FREE BOOK

n"w bo have a wonderful hobby

BM,ff!| I

MTRUCTION WREAU.DtiL T12r$L Louli. HA SoS nt yEEE HTdmlsrs "Hov in Qualify far
Geiirenjwt Positions" toarkd "X". gaiwisa,

hmtl on*. wjpcrtanJUM.

etc,

ALL SEKT FREE.

_ .,o Sure Profits, free. Bead Tor day. Doe'tdalar. State A*.
K.W.SCHOOI. OF TAXIDERMY, 303tEfwooOeni|r.,

Ranfe

Id+o50

Name...
Addreas..

Please mention

Newsstand Fiction Unit when answering advertisements

for unhappy mard3ges. Also thatovery woman "haitiwcas paaityfoT8eKesprewion"biJ.ttDOoft-

A Baby In Your Home Kidneys Must Clean Out Acids

ScieEiiiits cow stats that Eesbem;'^i5 "si;dtL!a.ttbe!aci:ofit!atiieonesieaMBtcaoee
_

1 eneheiavndevdopedariuaerasrwUDeeii* I era] faBal<aBorfarB, which robneroflier

iv

who had Been child-

leasforyeara became proud wifl happy Motoera. Husbands have written ehb the most glowing lettareof ratltode and now 1 want every woman who Is run-dawn or
Br.fFcrina fratn f enisle disorders to learn sbcgithiSBplendid treatment, and bow she may naa it in the privacy at her own home.

Get This Knowledge

the female ees that ai
itally

Id my two bookietj, which will be sent in plain wrapper, I Intimately <jiacnts man? Important anSjacta relating to tateestin^ to every woman. Sneytell

FREE

The only way your body can clean out Acid* and Poisonous wastes from your blood is through the function of mil* lions of tiny Kidney tubes or filters, but be careful don't use drastic, irritating drugs. If poorly functioning Kidneys suffer from Getting Up Night*. Leg Pains, Nervousness, Stiffness, Burning, Smarting, Acidity, Neuralgia or Rheumatic Pains, Lumbago, or Loss of Energy, don't waste a minute. Try the Doctor's prescription called Cystex (pronounced Siss-tex). Formula in every package. Starts work in IS minutes. Soothes and tones raw, irritated tissues. It is helping millions and is guaranteed to fix you up or money hack on return of empty package. Cystex is only 75c at druggists.
and Bladder make you

STOP Your

Rupture

Suite BS2-A, 7th and Felix Streets, St. Joseph, Me.

TOBACCO HABIT

Worries!
Why worry and suffer with that ruptureany
longer? Learn aboutinyperfectedinvention. It has brought ease, comfort and happiness to thousands by assisting in relieving and curing many cases of reducible hernia. It has Automatic Air Cushions which bind

BANISHED
>/
F,

6R

THOUSANDS

MEN

Oui'CK,

SUR, LASTING RESUlTS

in mast cases Tobacco Eedesmar relieves craving for tobacco completely in a very few days. An absolutely safe, dependable, and thoroughly reliable treatment. No matter how Iocs the habit, or in what form used, all Craving for tobacco usually vanishes whan, this pleasant, inexpensive treatment it used according to simple directions. The treatcent has helped thousands and should help you. Your money returned without argument or question if not satisfiedWrite for free explanatory booklet and proof of what Tobacco Kedeemer ha* done for men addicted to the tobacco habit. Send post card or letter today.

as you would a broken limb, No ob> noxious springs or pads. No salves or plasters. Durable, cheap. Sent on trial to prove it. Beware of imitations. Never sold in stores nor by agents. Write today for fall information sear free plain, ceiled envelope.

and draw the broken parts together

H. C. BROOKS,

74 toto tti MarthaR, Mleblsao

mMSMSM
(uncuet
in feed

hirolau con* twvewrf.

Cm

t #iw*

dtfak te

\ Hoe* Sre*.
'

Wot

twoufwHaintiata'XfmSK.
Boon*hi c
You?

woi

NEWELL PHARMACAL CO.

De-pt. 500

icgB . bill fopply to Waira mil *nd fej faCD yew may wy under t 30 cay k&ukT cupulas, lev

Dayton Station

St. Louis,

Mo.

AfiLtE CO. EsptH-lJ, BitTlMORE. UO.

OPPORTUNITY AD-LETS
These columns will appear monthly
In

Amazing
Kate rany

Stories

Read

Eight
all

credited

less

cents a word. Cash should accent' advertisements unless placed by an acadvertising agency. Advertisements of than 10 words not accepted.

"Red Robe Murders"

by Melville Burt
Follow the daredevil adventures of Jerry Tcdd, famous investigator, as he finds the

TECK PUBLICATIONS, INC. 461 Eighth Ave^ New York, N.

Correspondence Courses
USED
sold

Y.

or

CanesDonduici Couth* end Educational Books Intensive. Honey -back guarantee. rented.

Write

tor free

Boufiht.)

lee

listing 40IM bargain*. Mountain, Plst'ah, Aitbamt,

catalog

(Courses

answer to his personal mystery in a cave

of the secret East.

Read "Red Robe Mur-

ders"
yourself. "Ses Secrets" tutoK, darlael? traei. your TIoroseofi&." hath 50c postpaid. Blrtbdate. Sed. Boi 1T03. EoflywcHi. Calif.

-a

complete,

new

detective novel

KriMine
:

Science Fiction

and enjoy over two hours of thrills and chilis galore. Go to your newsstand today and get your copy of this masterpiece of
detective fiction!

Iw

Vcei Ci

In The January-February
Complete Detective Novel Magazine

Song Writers

FJease mention

Newsstand Fiction Unit when answering

advertiseraents

STUDY AT HOME
Lea-ally fr&iaed men via high pOtmoBB End big IQCKEI 10 bojinces and public Htm. Be [it

| lwcwt,7t8CTM.Q&TlartlM-paa:*' rUwT*ainlBlw Lfida.rr"*nd'-EiduiK.'l>oi'K.?RtaE. Stud lei Uiem NOW. F La5a!!ExURtonUaivertty,Dpt.ro-I. Chleagw

IOTEMTO:
rirorl.s Id applying tor patents. Don't risk dole? In protecting your ideas. Write for FBEE book. 'How 10 Obtain a re tent" Md "EmotC" of Invention" form. No charge for information an how to proeeed. Com nrtlBica ticca

Time

Prainpt, careful, efficient gerrte*, ratal? confidential. lly success built upon stTflcgtii of satisfactory (orrief to tutenlcn located is erery State In the Union. CLARENCE ' A. O'BRIEN. Registered Patent Attorney, IS70C / Building, Washington, D.

FOREST JOBS
$125-3200 per mouth. Permanent. Cabin, hunt, trap, patrol. C*f details Immediately
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$1260 to $2100 Year

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18 to 50

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STEADY WORK

RuahFREE.Iiatof U. S.
J

Government big pay

mwn
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TREATMENT
real roo down, let* pap, rigor trWrtyt Dojeawleh fortnejenot fc-innae fw>l Yoo oil b amazed &e notnl* made ribl with GIJ.5XUT remarkable propagation Biada ap of [niredifDli eodorwd by pbjiieisae in rsrtnriog aesvitj to Weakened [laade end tebaaUtiat ear^s caster*. ThMuanda of Btiifitd nr>, Ssni in plain wreprei poitpald far t).> caih. or C.O.D. pltle pcetata. Satisfaction foarantatd.

Many Winter
examinations expected
Common
Mall
education
usually sufficient
e
I ;
I

=. L
i

LTFE JOBS.

52-pag"

book describing salaries, hours, work. Tell me 'now to get a position.

Todsy-SURE

Address..

WAlTpt.

CO., 6<w

3WA.

Station D,

St

Joseph. He.

EiVJflr
efaftAJ The time has come

THE THRILL
has a right to he without this pricel e knowledge. In flaming, tin ashamed word* the authors have DARED to tell th* about SEX information ureviously found only in restricted medical books. Everything you want to know about Hex. love and marriage is disclosed.

an^^frftrfla

f T^jeefKLrf

^A

!_,

wn By|
ftWrf

to banish fear and ignoranee. Every adult person is entitled to the joy and freedom of a perfect love life. Science has discovered many startling; facts about love and passion that are openly and frankly dlnauned in an amazing new book, written by two famous doctors. No one

TRUTH

A FEW OF THE VITAL SUBJECTS

The
Sexual Enhntee. Semal Slavery end Btsfailen. 'Earn to Gala Gret DelUat. 'Secret* of the Honeymoon.
'Lore Mtkieg

DISCUSSED!
*BirHi Control. "Venereal Diseaiet. *exual Weakneii. *U Marriage a Neeeteltrt
I

ud

Its

Dingers.

*Th* Crime of Abortion*Tbe Troth About Misttubation.

*Waat

to Allow i

Low

to Do,

DONT TAKE tmNECESSART CHANCES

YOU WILL FIND PRICELESS
FORMATION
in
thia

IN.
book.

sensational

varDlahad facta, it will prove a Meninc. Beautifully bound and illustrated; printed

Some people, ashamed of their - bodies, tZt-1, will -,-n *ay .. h w should -fc n M own

PPf"J jy ,h e fie* book of

1

fi

Ah

^jTra^g^gWiHCviTlSaa.

^
postte
irf-l,.. mistakes

**

v\ ^^J^WBHMa^aLfcafA
hold rnn nn*" "I
1

"W"

PAGE5

8"

7rt

those

who bk^

tie

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on-

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books r "i* l V f% Will CIRCLE PUBLISHING COMPANY,

"^
BrMd '*'!y
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T
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New

Vflric

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sex how
A_ how
i,

everj nd<ilt orderr uie book

!To

who
"Sei

1 I I ! I |
,

Plesse

to avoid . ,- to enjoy

BeUilinu
Bugeniee."

and

Ne>
will

nd ABMLUTELY

FEES BOOKS in plain wrapper. I agree to pay poetfl.ag P i, pmuge. If I am pot jiiiH..ii I trill return the booLs and my ocnej will be refunded.

"Sex Relation* end New Euoenlos." and I

mm

the thrilling ecstasy of physical love. Avoid tho tragedlw of ei isnoraiioo! Stop mak-

" '"".^vrniT
W

TRO^atfi
menon.

N,M*

*
j
"

kg

tragic tornder,

Knowledge

en

brin*

happiness and true pleasure.

a"'^^'

^^
c^adian

'""

CIRCLE PUB* CO., Depte 370

ll3 Broadway
Please nientioo

WtwTorfc,M.Y,

L_ _-- -

ud

mmm

ewi->eod . wui

V*

.J

Newsstand Fiction Unit when answering advertisements

!E2 OIL BURNER INVENTED

Beats Coal or
Blip)
Into

SWEEPING THE COUNTRY Wood

stove,

AGENTS,

Let

He TeS You
i

Any old

SALES MEM,

fwis*

ifie

COOKS A MEAL for lc

Beats any oil burner ever gotten cut lew cost, pei feat porEOrinance. Eur Slips into any old ston. rang* or furburns cbaap all i new sty, nace;
wLthMit,'
Ir.tea sa

Bere'i a

REAL HM.
Hi

led- Mlfl 03

Oor!s ef SO da;e. O'TejJ.

About your business, travel, changes, matrimony, love affairs, friends, enemies, lucky days and many other interesting and important a3air& of your life as iridicated by astrdogy. Send for your special Astral Reading- AH work strictly scientific, individual and guaranteed sat-

garters ting

heal

or instantly

TDBN OF VALYS.

EY SIMPLE
.

dossing

W-

TRY AT OUR RISK

s

30

DAYS TRIAL

FOR MANY YEARS PRIVATE ASTROLOGICAL ADVISOR TO ROYALTY and the ELITE. Write
isfactory.

prove Jt ends drudgery acd

rati bills !o

Hilt pays halt van for

itself Gulcllly

TO AGENTS
to make j-tcird fcKLsy. kb City, Mo.

y;A L MONEY DOTTED

take order be Srst to learn right now, spare or full time mail FiCTOEIES, 6T8 Esehange Bldg.,

demonstrate

and

Writs

a.uick,

name, address and date of birth plainly. Is'o money required, but if you like send 15 cents (stamps) to help defray costs. Address: PUNTtfT TABORE (Dept. 424A), Upper Forjett Street, BOMBAY VII, BRITISH INDIA. Postage
to India
is 5?.

BECOME AN EXPERT

HARD OF HEARING?
SEND FOR THIS 30-DAY TRIAL TREATMENT
restored the bearing, removed head noises and eliminated catarrh of the head for so many people. This treatment has been used by over 1,157,000 sufferers in the past 34 years. Write for full inforI mation about this ethical treatment used n by a_ prominent ear specialist in Ms office
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ACCOUNTANT
E::m*:a AecMniaatsasd C. P. i.'i *wn SS,CM fa :s,000 ajeir. yVnuaridt ? flnp* B *d tt"- OclT 12.000 Crtifld PcDha A=.n=t. : forC-P-A. .ltilr.lhiU.S. Wtn!r,;s<.-'

"Accountancy, * ProfflMiei] tip* Tm. " frM USaEle Extension livrtity, Dept 175-H, Chicago
f./,-

!U]nC?H-. PwrjoD*] eFlBDal tnlnba; tfBdrnsojr1iOB of uff of C.I\A'i, *..} jambem of tlit Aanglcan louttoU of AcoonattntB. Wnt
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now simplified for home use. DR, W. O. COFFEE CO.

I
jw

Aie School That

Km TraUndOvtr 1.200 C.f.A.'n

St James

Bids.

DawnpOft

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Please mention

Newsstand Fiction Unit when answering advertisements

THE MAGAZINE OF
SCIENCE FICTION
T.
Editorial
Jan.,

1935

No. 9

O'CONOR SLOANE,
Office*:

Ph.D., Editor

and General

461 Eighth Avenue,

New

York, N. Y.

Extravagant Fiction Today

Cold Fact Tomorrow

Troposphere, Tropopause

and Stratosphere
By
T.

O'CONOR SLOANE,
areas

Ph.D.

THE
Thus
tant

surface

of

small
liquids

of the

shore lines of the land, so that tides are higher and lower in some places than in
others.

water,
earth,

or
are

other

on

taken

as

being

level.

in taking observations with

a sex-

The atmosphere
ers,

includes

several layin

when on

land, an

absolutely level
essential,

distinctive

and varying

thickness

reflecting surface is

an

and a

through relatively large amounts. While

vessel of
this,

mercury
it

is

arranged to supply

we speak
come
fectly

of the depth of the ocean in

feet or of fathoms,

although

really has the curvature

numbers of

when we
it

of the earth.
flects
is

Its mirror-like surface re-

to the atmosphere,

we

speak of

any

celestial

body whose

altitude

in terms of miles.
elastic,

The

layers of the per-

to be determined.

This gives so nearly

highly mobile air can be

level a reflecting surface

and so nearly
feet

defined and designated with the provision that they

a plane, that the latitude can be deter-

vary greatly in relative

mined within a few hundred

use.

by

its

depth from time to rime. phere in which

The atmosair

The surface
tides

of the ocean

is

very

we

live is

an ocean of

nearly spherical.
to

ferred to

The disturbances due are infinitesimal, when rethe diameter of the earth. The
carried

varying in height, for

wards, from six to

of water

we measure it upten miles. The ocean

in depth or

we measure

down-

disturbances due to the true tidal wave,

wards. This layer of the atmosphere has

which
the

is

around the world by

of the attractions
is

been named the troposphere.

It
is

combined
the

effect

the

layer

of

the

atmosphere

of the sun and of the moon,

modified
of
the

termed the troposphere, whose meteorology affects

the

by

irregular

conformation

drama o i our

lives.

8
Storms
part
of

AMAZPJG STORIES
and
our
temperature-changes,
the
in the

seasons and clouds and sunshine are a

life

are

still

upper layers of the stratosphere a matter of conjecture. We do

the

experiences,

general history of the troposphere

of constant change.

and the is one

is

not

know when
if it

problem

will

be
sup-

solved

ever will be.

The water

And

there

one

plies the fishes'

oxygen.

We

live

by the

point of similiarity between our troposphere, taking

it

oxygen of the troposphere.

It

as the ocean of air,

and

has long been

known

that the tem-

the

ocean

of

water

they

are

rather

perature of the air falls at higher elevations.

closely related in their depths.

The ocean
is

This

it

does with some degree of

proper at
miles in

its

deeper portions

about six
varies
in

regularity, the higher a balloon ascends,

depth the troposphere

from

six miles to ten

and a half miles

range
height

the higher we ascend a mountain, the lower the thermometer reading will be.

height.

And
Its

in

this

occur

the

But

this

law obtains only for the troposthe limiting or separating

is

meteorological
lives.

changes that affect our

is

phere.

When
in

greatest

at

the

layer called the tropopause

passed the
the
ther-

equator and the least height

far north

is

in

the

decrease

the

readings
fall

of

and south
the

latitudes.

mometer, the regular

a
dividing
ture

of

tempera-

Above
layer
is

troposphere
called
is

encountered

in
filled

the

troposphere,

assumed

the tropopause, the tropis

ceases,
is

and a layer

with rarefied air

where the change

made from

reached, beginning at a height of five ten

osphere to another layer of air which

to

the stratosphere, and which has figured

earth,

miles from the surface of the where the temperature of highly

conspicuously in the daily news items of

recent years.

rarefied air is approximately

at least

uniform or

The
being

stratosphere varies in
coldest
earth,

has no change due to elevation

unaffected by distance from the
surface.

temperature
farthest

where

it

is
is

and

is

from the

which place
is

earth's

The

stratosphere

ex-

the equatorial region. It

coldest above

tends from the tropopause to a height of

the warmest part of the earth.

about thirty miles above the earth.

The
rain,

stratosphere

has no

clouds,

no
re-

and intense

cold.
is

The lowest
It

from the earth's surface does not effect any graduated

fact that height

The

corded temperature

-134 F.
the

may

regular change in the temperature of the

stratosphere,

be said to have no change in temperature

except
It

must not be taken

from the
is

as

mean-

as

related

to

troposphere.
that the

ing that
ture in
face,

it

possesses a uniform temperadistance

its

appears

perfectly

obvious

its

earth's sur-

temperature as
of

we

rise into the stratosfall,

in

all

parts.
it

The tropopause

phere, should constantly

following
en-

varies

and where
it is

nearest to the earth

the

rule

temperature

changes

the temperature of the stratosphere overlying the highest.

countered in ascending mountains.

for

Yet
does

The temperature
at ground Dutch East

some unexplained reason

this

of -76 F. for the troposphere has been

registered
level.

not occur in the stratosphere.

The tem-

in

the

Antarctic

perature changes in general accordance

Over

in Batavia in the

with

its

distance

from the

earth, but the

Indies in the tropics a temperature of

almost regular reduction in temperature with increased height does not hold above
the tropopause.

-134

at a height of ten miles in the

stratosphere has been recorded.

We

have never
lead
to

gone
this

On

the

earth
its

the

troposphere

is

so

very far into the stratosphere, but the

records of halloon ascents
conclusion. The changes in temperature

irregular in

attributes that

we

never

know what
are
quite

the next hour

may

bring,

we

uncertain

about

the

future

TROPOSPHERE, TROPOPAUSE AND STRATOSPHERE

weather.

But

in the

stratosphere these

The

history of balloon ascensions

it

is

one

uncertainties

hardly exist

or

do so

in

of flotation. But
that the highest

is

interesting to note

very small degree. There are no storms,

.no
rains,

elevation ever reached

no clouds.

It

has been

ex-

by man's instrumentality was attained

by

plored

by one balloon to a height of

steel

projectile.

about

11%

miles by standard methods.

"German guns"
miles, did
it

that

Several balloons with

human

observers
its

Paris from a distance of

The celebrated bombed the city of some seventy The

shell in

have gone nearly thus far into

terious depths.

mys-

by giving a very high angle

The

difficulties

involved

of projection to the gun.

are very

great

the

car containing the

a few seconds penetrated the troposphere

observers has to be hermetically sealed

and went on through the almost

regions
it

airless

and several
ascensions.

lives

have been

lost in these

of

the

stratosphere,

and above

so that by far the greater portion of

But untenanted balloons with

istering adrift

self -reg-

instruments
it

have

been

sent

was made through an approximate vacuum.

the course

and

is

reported that in one case

The
near

curve

followed
the

by a projectile

a height
miles.

has

been registered

of

23%
of

These balloons are

and
the
is

called sound-

ing

balloons,

average
record

15

miles

assigned them

for the heights

attained.

The 23%

n-rlle

we

are

at liberty to doubt.

Sounding balloons are liberated with their equipment of extremely light reg.

curve by due to the whose resistance distorts it. If there were no air the curve would be a parabola. But the shells of the guns bombarding Paris, did so much of their journey in an approximate vacuum, that they approached the parthe
earth,
ballistic

name,

is

unsymrnetrical
air,

presence of the

istering

instruments
for

and with a writreturn,

abola in the course they

followed.

It

ten

request

their

by any-

has been calculated that they attained a

height

one

who

should find them. These regis-

of

thirty-four

miles,

or

nearly

trations

were

for

various

phenomena

noted,

and varied greatly in their reliability. Some were quite accurate, but., as already elevations determined by baro-

one two hundred and fortieth of the diameter of the earth. On the eight inch
globe,

we

referred to last month, this

thirtieth of

would be about the

an
it

inch.

metric readings are not very reliable.

The

An

interesting coincidence as
is

may
to

which the little balloons carry are suspended at the end of a thread about a hundred feet in length, so
instruments
as not to be affected in

be termed in the troposphere

be

found in the height of Mount Everest.

This
is

probably the highest mountain on

its

any way by the

earth and

summit has an elevation

balloon.

almost equal to the

the
troposphere.

minimum depth
has

of

comparatively recent system of confor

And man

never

struction

sounding

balloons

is

to

been able to climb to the summit of this

giant of the Himalayas.

use two balloons, one small one inside the

other larger one. It was determined at what rarefaction of air the larger one When this occurs the would burst.
smaller interior balloon
acts as

The many changes

that occur in the

stratosphere, its perpetual unrest, have done much for mankind, much good and

a par-

achute and descends gently to the earth

For long years have driven machinery and

a
little

evil.

the winds
ships

for

with its load of tiny instruments. This method is due to Regener of Stuttgart and the ascent of 17% miles is credited
to one of his balloons.

him, but at
holiday
vessels,

last have been given their from mechanical uses. Sailing

whose driving power was the wind, are rapidly disappearing from ocean

10
and

AMAZING STORIES
lake; windmills are nearly extinct,

from

the edge of a glacier the

and
is

floats off

except small ones for country houses. So

the wind, except as a possible source of

to melt in

ocean,

it

only going

back to

its

parent source.

destruction
ceases
it

in

tornadoes
interest

and cyclones,
us,

Our

arithmetically disposed readers can

to

directly

although
in de-

calculate

how much

of the heat of the

It is

is

still

working for our benefit

the sun is used by the earth.

an

veloping the beneficial weather changes

especially rain.

infinitesimal proportion of the total heat

This phenomenon of the

in

of the great luminary yet

receive

if

we

did not

troposphere

is

sense the greatest

triumph of nature over man. For while

heat

our infinitesimal proportion of the sun's radiations we would perish on

an earth sinking into desolation.
this

motors and

electric

motors

have
of

And

displaced

much

of

the

possibilities

shows how active

is

the troposphere

using the wind,

man

has

not yet suc-

in taking care of the earth.

ceeded, and has naturally not even tried,

to
distill

But go above the tropopause and a

region
is

pure water from the

salt

water

reached,

rainless

and
rest,
;

bitterly

of the ocean and to distribute the distillate

cold, a place of

comparative

which
it

on mountain tops to produce

cat-

humanity

is

striving to explore

is

aracts,

and on many vast regions to sup-

truly desert stratum of our atmosphere.

ply rivers and to keep lakes

from evap-

There

is

an absence of clouds and

peaks
of
the

it

is

orating to dryness, and to give life to

vegetation.

virtually of the one temperature.

The

cataracts in the

mounand

The
Everest,

great

Himalayas,

tains of Switzerland drive machinery,

in

Kinchingunga
the

and
levels
in

Dapsang
of

doing so

utilize the

energy of the sun.

would
itude.

pierce

lower

the
lat-

for years to produce a solar engine, but every water tur-

Man

has

striven

stratosphere

were they
in

another

Man

his

passionate

desire to

bine, large or small, is driven

by the solar

reach mountain summits has tried several times to climb

its

heat and by the disturbances of the air

Mount
It

Everest, but

by the winds of the troposphere.

out
the
heat

Withwater
in
it

summit, about 29,000 feet elevation,

has a record

of
salt

the

sun

the

has never been reached.

charged
ocean.

with

would

stay

the up,

of several deaths in the efforts to ascend

its summit. But in the latitude of the Himalayas the troposphere is far more

Even when
is

the sun draws

to

the operation

incomplete for here the

does

wind comes into play and blows the humid air over the land area, where it its work by forming rain for man-

than 29,000 feet in depth.

At this height

few men can climb without an oxygen

supply, so rarefied
is

the

air.

The

bal-

kind.

Wind, water and

in

the heat of the

loon with an hermetically sealed car can

reach well into the stratosphere.

sun working
not
exist

a sort of

unison

are

what make the earth

on
the

habitable.

We

could
these
is

There
physical

is

a thory that the stratosphere

locale

earth

without

the ideal

for

air
its

travel.

Its

three factors interlocking in their actions.

constitution,

comparative

And how few

of

us

realize

that
all

the

freedom from atmospheric disturbances,

wind, strong or gentle, does the

im-

would favor the operation of

dirigibles.

portant action of distributing the water

distilled

The disadvantage

of

an

hermetically

from the ocean over the land.

glaciers of the earth, the great
ice,

sealed car with artificial supply of

The very
rivers

of

are
is

maintained

by the

oxygen would seem to mitigate strongly against the idea. There would be a good opportunity to obtain the full benefit of rocket

wind.

The

iceberg

a product of wind,
it

sun and ocean, and when

breaks off

propulsion in space so nearly vacuous.

The Contest of the

MOTHER WORLD
By

"Planets
Jr.

JOHN W. CAMPBELL,
life

In this interesting story, Mr. Campbell pictures the future of what

be termed interplanetary

may

and

tells

of

haw

the inhabitants of earth

There is no doubt that if mankind ever did succeed in conquering space it is an open Question whether what he found there would increase the good opinion which so many of its often unjustly hold of our own characters or whether it would diminish what may be called the self-conceit of mankind.
contrast with those of distant spheres.

Part
Prologue

ly

now.

"We've almost stopped comparativeAbout a mile and a half to

and
falling back. Can you now? They're working

THE
quiet

crowded men, a
room,

full

hundred

go. Stopped,

and twelve cramped

crete

in a tiny con-

hear the rockets

fairly

were

unbelievably

loudly.

thousand
we'll

feet

and tense. Only one small light, thrown on the tuning controls of the
big
that
set,

hundred five hundred

a second, and
time.
if it's

bad

know in we had a nice

it.

eight

relieved

the

absolute
in

darkness

ssemed to push

from the win-

Try again!" "We're floating on

is

the rockets. Stev-

dows. McLaughlin, at the controls, was

quietest of
all.

ens

doing

wonderful job of

His ears were intensely

roar, like

There's a big pinnacle of rock near us.

aware of the strange rushing

the loudspeaker.

This floor wasn't so smooth as

it

looked.

heavy ocean surf, that beat out through

We're
rattle,

sinking

we've

"

The loud
static

speaker crackled with a tinny, broken

voice struggled through the wash-

and then only the washing

it.

ing sound. "Elevation about twenty-five

sounded in

miles now. Incredibly jagged rock. This

side

much rougher than

crater-bottom

other.

Found a
for

small
that

looks
tense

we're

aiming

A low, heavy groan came from the hundred and twelve men. Three near the door darted out, headed for their offices.
The second attempt had
McLaughlin
tensely as ever.
sat
failed.

smooth."

Again only the

static

washing roar of short-wave

the
silence.

and

just

as

quietly,

and

"Elevation
rockets.

twenty

"They smashed
snapped
softly.

a tube,

miles.

Dropping on
us

Almost no
big boy
is

anyway,"
doesn't
hell

he

"That
tube's a

gravity pull, however.

pulling

The
bit

mean

they're broken.

around a

though.

Hard
is

of a lot

to handle. Tricky motion. Fifteen miles.

The hundred
static

more tender than a man !" and nine men were

Listening to the
it

We've got an horizon now. There

axial rotation, or
it.

no

rustling and weaving.

we would never make

Washing
static,

sounds.

"Whatever happened,

Ten

miles," Silence.

happened a long time ago

it

takes time

Five miles, the voice reported.

even for radio on that hop," someone

11

"She's hot.

Now

watch."

Slowly he began turning a control dial on one of his machines.

12

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

said.

13

His voice was low, but

loudspeaker
to

it

seemed

will

be

profits

promise

you but"
and then to
of
like

a shout in the bare concrete room.

he looked
the

down

at himself,

The

crackled,

hummed
roar, but

towering,

powerful

body
other

his

and silenced again

men.

washing

friend.

"No more
on
and

half-men
those

me.
ever

an instantaneous quiver ran through the

"Sorry," said the voice, "probably

the are

conditions

planets

hard

harder

than

men

worried you. Tube gave out.

perfect
landing,

We

made a
jar

faced before, and I'm going to set up a

control board. There'll be plenty of willing to go.

but

the

slight

men

cracked a tube's air-seal."

Look

at the

thousands on

The

rest

was

lost as a roar

went up

thousands of applications we both got

for this trip.
several

from the men

toothpaste
out,

in the

room.

jammed
squirted
line

But I'm going to combine

dreams
a
greater
in this.

stream squeezed out of the door, like

of

my

I'm goearth-

from a
for

tube.

They

ing to

make

race
finer,

of

sprinted

the

monorail

men, a more powerful,

venturous
this

more adI

near by.
they

Over

charred, blackened earth

race

of

earth-men.
its

hate
I

stumbled and

sprawled,
in the

cheering.

body of mine and

all

weakness.

Five

men remained

room. Mc-

want
like

men
I
it

to have bodies
will

and minds

Laughlin was talking into his

own

trans-

yours.
forbid

have reason enough I'm going to forbid one

single

mitter now, while the recorder took

down

to

and
of
is

every detail of the message coming in

the

acceptance

man

or

from space.
Philip

woman who
the
little

not physically and men-

Laurie,

narrow

tally perfect.

chested dreamer

who had

designed the

"Earth
forth,

is

greater this day,

will

and hence-"
children

broad-shouldered

"ton" was dreaming out loud to big, John Cummings, the

intelligence

she

grow

as

her

grow!" said Philip Laurie.

It

man who had had

terest

and

in-

was
it

inevitable.

His decision perhaps

radical

enough to

listen to the

man and

made
fate.

bit

more

and more

his strange ideas.

"It's done,
ily.

rapid, but the result

John," said Laurie dreamit."

was as inevitable as There were no barbarians to pour

civilization

"They've made

in
yet, only

on

any more, but Philip

life-blood

"They're not on Mars,

bos."

Phonow.

Laurie had cut open earth's veins, where

flowed
the
It

Cummings
little

replied.

richest

of

the

"No
The
back,

difference.-

Mars
can do

is
it

easy

planet.

was not a greater planet he'd was not merely

his plan.

rocket

and land
aren't

created, not a mightier earth.

with her wings.

either.

No

trick.

They

And
very

it

The
on
that

That's

harder.
it

But

it

forces that

made

life

harder
it

doesn't count.

To them

does of course,

those planets would have done

fectively.

as ef-

but I
space.

mean

to earth. Earth has crossed

Earth's
it

greatness

died

Earth-men have reached another

first.

day, that hour,

died the very second

world. That's just the

years,

In twenty

Robert Gady
ried you.

said,

"Sorry, probably wora perfect landing."

large,

John, you will be able to

make
col-

We

made

the trip in a regular, commercial linerfreighter.

But the corpse was very

took

and

it

New

colonies

Earth-men

many
it.

centuries for the corruption

onizing other planets'.

to spread,

and the ultimate decay to de-

"John, that's always been

I can't trol
tion.

my

dream.
con-

stroy

go

I won't.

You gave me

of

this.

That was

my
yours

one stipula-

*******
Bruce Robert Laurie, great grandson

The

profits are

and

there

14
of the inventor of the
the crossing to Mars,
first

AMAZING STORIES
ship to

make

dexing machine had interpreted

the physician in seconds.

it

for

was an humble emService.

ployee in the

office

of the Interplanetary

"This Laurie?"
"Yes,

is

your second
I

visit,

is

it

not,

Transport Examination
Laurie or

Bruce

Tom

Jones got the same treatPhilip Laurie, back in

sir.

came immediately

after

ment

here.

Old

my
all

twenty-fifth birthday."

when he fashioned it. And John Cummings had been willing to trust Laurie. The result had been a board of scientists who had to pass on every man who made that trip,
1983, had fashioned well

"Right.

The

card contains not only

the information

you handed

in,

but,

of course,

plus the decision

much more that we gathered, we reached, and why.

was against you, I'm sorry
fine

The

decision

and for four generations that office had been all but flooded, for only an intermittent service

to say.

You're a
heredity
as

engineer as your

reputation already shows.

cellent
tics

You have
your

ex-

was

possible.
full

The

air ships

of

mental

characteris-

of that day, even a

century after
all

but

you

know,
died

famous

Laurie's invention, were not free of

troubles.

great-grandfather

of

tuberculosis.

For

instance,

while they had

Your grandfather
cause

didn't,

probably bedisease

been able to reach Mars, and the Jovian

satellites

we'd

conquered

the

by

ship had

and the Saturnian satellites, no ever returned from Jupiter's

then, but he died at forty-seven of heart

disease.

Your

father

died

two

years
the

surface. Jupiter's mighty gravity stopped

ago

at

fifty- two,

of hardening of

them.

arteries,

and attendant physical degensorry,

There was much room on those Jovian

worlds, and even on Mars, although the
colonies

eration.

"I'm

Laurie.

We

need your

were

growing
ships,

there were

few

swiftly. But and many people

mentality in the
build
tip,

new

race we're trying to

isn't

but

your physique

de-

trying to go.
tion
it.

Interplanetary Tranporta-

signed
earth.

had their chance to pick and took

for hard wear, even here on I'm not sure you would survive
trip.

even the space

The

effects are

very

Bruce Laurie was hopeful

ful.

but

fear-

He was

twenty-five, just three

weeks

due to lack of equalization of blood pressure in the absence of gravitasevere,

tional or other acceleration.
If

past the necessary twenty-fifth birthday He stood five- feet, five, rather in fact.
light in build, but already

you did

survive
all

your great-grandfather, who of

a right to emigrate to Mars,

he had a rep-

men had

utation in engineering.

refused to go.
application

You remember when

himself,

his

automatically

up

The girl at the Statistics Desk looked at him as his turn came.

turned

it

down
it?

came up, he and he alone

is

voted against

"Name?" In
will

Vital Statistics card. "Dr.

see

moment she had his Thomas Drew

four-fifty-seven

"He was

right.

There

some

taint

of weakness in your inheritance that has,

you.

Room

time after time,

robbed the world of

in their prime.

down

the hall to the left." Laurie took

its

powerful minds

What

the card with

series of

punched holes

on a perfectly blank white card. The indexing machines would read it for Dr.

have mentioned in connection with your direct descent is equally true of vour uncles and grand-uncles.

Drew. Laurie entered four-fifty-seven, handed the card to the brisk, pleasantlooking doctor, and sat down. The in-

"But
will

go

on,

Laurie.

Your

type

is

needed here on earth,

too. That weakness be driven out, through the genera-

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

tions.

15
fifteen

You may

not

make

the

trip,

but

which would make the

and
tive

million

neither did your great-grandfather. Per-

proportionate

numbers
the

unproducof the

haps your great-grandson will."

consumers

in

armies

Laurie was not greatly surprised as

he

world.

Further, the
profits.

made

his

way

out of the office and

by falling
a good

war was indicated The customers needed

they'd
accept

took the moving ways toward the airport

for

reason

before

New York

once more. But he was

price boost.

war would be

ideal.

vastly

disappointed.

The moon shone

Then
real

incidentally of course, there

was

pale in the daylit sky.

No

Laurie had

enmity arising from the Planetary

ever reached even so far.

Affairs

Commissions. For nearly three

practical control

Some
of

day, he was determined that one them would. In the meantime, there
still

centuries, the Interplanetary Transportation

Company had had

were

opportunities to

for himself here

make a name on earth. Even though

States,

and ownership of the planets. Interplanetary

had gotten off to such a flying had simply bought up

first, all

there were only two do2en business organizations in the United

there

start, it

com-

petition at

and since then no one

in

was room for

their ramifications.

had been interested

starting a rival

company.
Planets

The
had

only government of the

the

been

Iuterplanetary's

Ban human
2243

Miller had reached that

aims,
for the

acme of

own Executive
there

Office.

Now

however,
feeling
definite

average

man

of

had

arisen

considerable

he

had been accepted. Accepted,

on

earth, that

some nation had a

Miller

of course, meant that within two years

claim to the control of those planets.

"They'll

he would be given a berth in one of the

argue,"

explained to
1900'$

crowded Planetary Transports. Wherefore,

the Cub,

"on the basi3 of the claims

in the late

since

Ban

Miller's particular field

made way back

the early '200ffs.

and
be-

Of mental activity had been news reporting and interpreting, he

as trainer to the

The United

States has
really,

was now acting

naturally, but
this field

an iron-clad claim on Mars,

cause
it

Unlicked Cub. The Cub

was an all-American crew that

Laurie's
ship

was not wholly unlicked,

of

took old
her

up

there.

But
hap-

he was inexperienced as far as

navigator,

and

her

captain,

reporting was concerned. Televisonews was a highly interesting and effective means of spreading the stories, but
the average

pened to be of French descent, and France has laws to the effect that no Frenchman can become a national of any
other
country.

man

did not care to

sit

be-

Therefore,
the

the

captain,

fore his televisor

national
fairs

and watch the

all-day

Inter-

when he claimed
further,

planet
to to

for
so,

the

Conference on
fifteen

Planetary
sessions,

Afand

United States had no right

the

do

and
the

for

second
actually

ship

make

further,

he didn't have the

time.
to

The
fif-

crossing

was
half

French, and also

Conference

was scheduled
good

run

claimed

the planet.

But Germany

teen days, and the nations were spoiling

for
a
real,

pointed out that neither ship had fully

battle-royal.

It

would

explored the planet, and not until their

ship

be a battle-royal, too, because the Industrial Committees were fearing a violent

made

the crossing in

1989 was a
available.

complete

survey

in

detail

depression,

and realized that they

fifteen million

unemployed in the United States, and proportionate numbers elsewhere, or a war

had the choice of

Therefore they claim about a third of Mars.

"Now

the

Jovian

Worlds
all

were ex-

plored by nationals of

the Terrestrial

16
countries,

AMAZING STORIES
they have a true democratic government

and Io was explored by an American-bom Martian. The big fight

of course
is

on the Planets now

over Mars.

And
is

in

something

on the

I sort of

order of the old Socialistic schemes pro-

have a hunch old Terra shock of her life."

for the

posed here on earth back in the twentieth

century
out.

"Why?"
twenty- four

asked the Cub.

see.

tried

and which Russia even But what the planets have

"Wait and

We'll

know

within

is

supposed to be a corporation-voting
Actually

hours."

idea.
in

well
Of
lot

you'll

see,

I'm

"Who's
the Cub.

that

coming

now?" asked

willing to bet.

course their socialdifferent

ism

is

a whole

from anyway,

"M. Poireau.
urally for war.
aircraft

French Premier.

thing they proposed back in the twentieth

Elected by the Steel interests. He's natSteel in France includes

century.

Started

that

you

might say, because everything on Mars

with,

and rockets."

"Who's following him there? I don't recognize him at all." "Oh oh! Watch the fireworks! I knew that would happen. Terra is definitely in for a shock. That's John Mongommery, terrestrial president of Inter-

was owned by Interplanetary to begin and every immigrant of course paid his fare by buying 'stock.' But

you'll probably see."

The gentleman from France had been

appointed temporary chairman,

and so

French was the

Conference
till

official

language of the

planetary.

'Mystery

Montgommery.'

the

permanent Chairman
calling the meet-

Every time he does show his face, somebody gets blown off the map look at those delegates there Every one of them is trembling in his boots right now. Cart-

was
their

elected.

He

was

ing to order now.

places

The

delegates took

and order ensued.

Monteyes

gommery had taken a

were turned
to

place in the Dis-

from 'these United' represents Metals and Allied Utilities, and he's wondering what's up. If he works against Montgommery, he may lose business for Metals and if he doesn't, why he may
wright

tinguished Visitors' gallery.

More

him than to the Chairman. Montgommery's presence was like the tick of a time-bomb. When would it
explode ?
Sir Reginald

lose his job.

Metals can have his

of course."
innocence,

electo,

Barry of England was

to
at
fire order.

tion 'recounted'

any time they want

it

made Permanent Chairman according

schedule in rapid

and

find fraud in
I,

Almost
in

"And
there were

in

my

thought

once,
ful

M. Poireau
diplomatic

rose,

and

beautiall

some traces of the ancient democratic government left on earth." "Funny, lots of people still do. Clerks
still

English,

beating

around the bush and Robin Hood's barn, stated that France declared one half of
Mar's surface area as hers, that hal f
being
delineated
carefully.
It

and so forth think

counted.
do.
ly,

their votes really get

Of
I

course,
all

some of the votes

is

included
Berlin,
of

They may
though.

be counted pretty quickgoing to start

so
fingerprints

Mars
and

Center,

New

Denver,

New

hear Metals employees'

Salamance.

France

knew,

taking their

course, that the nations

would

realize the

they can check up on

who

voted and

justice of her claims at once, and with-

how, when they find

it

necessary."

"The Secret
gates

Ballot!

What

a secret!"

draw any claims of their own. However, France was fully prepared to stand up
for her rights

"That gang is worried. All those deleare worked-up. Montgommery 's

and intended

to.

Cartwright of the United States rose,

presence means real trouble.

You know

and read

his speech.

"Notice he's read-

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

ing a typed speech, and answering Poireau's points?
eau's
all

17
and
passed

of

envelope

of

papers,

them

That speech of Poirsurprise,

over with a smile of confidence, and a

was

complete
Miller.

of

handshake.

course,"

chuckled

"Now

watch

"Ah

it's

come. Now, the bomb ex-

Hans Schenkie answer both speeches from his own typed script. Man, this
Conference
hurry.
is

plodes."

going to
is

explode in
the

Cartwright had been watching. In remarkable fashion, he concluded his address almost at once.

Montgommery

cause of

The

conclusion was

this; they'd

have delayed these speeches

that France's claims were wholly baseless

over a period of days, but they want

and

false according to international law.

him
all

to hear their claims.

He's taking

it

Mars belonged wholly and

United States of America.

singly to the

in himself

few vice-assistant-seconds to be
in.

ing

Say

and they'd hold on

a call."
fifteen

just expected
listen-

Montgommery
"Mr.
Sir

rose in his seat.

here, will

you?

"Mr. Chairman."

want
In
back.

to

make

Miller rose, and

Montgommery,"

acknowledged
official

vanished along the corridor.

Reginald,

"You have no

perhaps

minutes

he

was

status at this meeting, but I

am

sure

we

Cartwright was answering Poir-

eau's third point

by

this time, with only

eleven
the

more

to go.

Miller

glanced at

would all be glad to hear your views, as an expert on Martian affairs." "Mr. Chairman, I should like to present

Cub's

notes
too

and

laughed.

"Too
the
three

these

credentials."

Montgommery
passed
over
to

serious,

man,

intent.

Here's

stalked

forward,

and

way."

He

condensed

the

Cub's

Sir Reginald the papers he

cently

pages, to

two paragraphs, and explained

rate, at

received

had so refrom the messenger.

looked
at

"At

that

you'll

fill

several

large

Sir
riedly,

Reginald

them

hur-

volumes
again.

the average conference,

and
all

then stopped.

He
at

looked again,

never be able to find what you wanted

then

smiled

slowly
isn't
it,

Montgommery.
the

Those points

he's

making are

"Surprising,
will

how
the

obvious

in the Terrestrial Encyclopedia.

escape
on,

attention.

Gentlemen,"

he

"But here's a note to make. The 'New is due to land to-morrow at noon in New York. But they've spotted
Denver'

went
"I

addressing

Conference,

beg to present Mr. Montgommery,

Delegate
Council,
tiary

from
and
Mars.

the

United

Planetary
Plenipoten-

life-boat

leaving

her.

The

life-boat
will

Ambassador

broke out
in

five

hours ago, and

land

for

He

will explain

Mars'

about an hour. I'm waiting. The

then.
I'll

bomb
right

answer."

explodes

bet

it

lands

here in Geneva, too."

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman," Montgommery replied, interrupting the sudden

Cartwright
speech,

had
the

nearly

finished

his

hushed

murmur

of
I

surprise

and
to

when

man

entered the Dis-

anger.
say,

"Gentlemen,

have

little

tinguished

Visitors'

Gallery.

He was
Mar-

but I believe you will agree v)lth

it

clad in the loose-looking, dust-tight

tian

Sir Reginald, that

is

obvious.

Mars

garments,
lean

and

and his face was dark with Martian sunlight. He

heavily on earth here,
certain

does not belong solely and singly to the

United
to

States.

moved somewhat
but there was a

France,

or

She does not belong half one-third to Germany;

alertness

and

neither do the Jovian Worlds,

energy about him.

went directly to John Montgommery, and spoke softly to hirn. From a brief-case he drew a large

He

nor the Saturnian Worlds. Mars belongs solely

citizens of

and singly to the

Mars.
singly

"The Jovian

Worlds

belong

18
and solely

AMAZING STORIES
to the colonists of those Jov-

"That
really.

is

the reason for this change,

is

ian Worlds, as the Saturnian

Worlds

be-

Mars

now

in theory as well as

long to their inhabitants.

"I am,
I

in fact, a self

governing world, She has

realize that fact, although

realize, getting forth a great

it

been.

You

all
it

principle, but
It is

is

yet an old principle.

technically
called

has

been

corporation

the principle that set up the United

Interplanetary

Transport.
to the

Now
Mar-

States, that

men
do

should determine their

the

name has been changed

Union, a
those
similar
to

own

courses of action.
so.

We

of the Plan-

tian Planetary

state

with powindividual

ets desire to

ers

of the

"I fully realize the feelings that will

states of the

United States of America,

be stirred up, but I intend

now
say

in

open

in the greater

government of the Inter-

conference

to
all

say,

and

bluntly,

planetary Union.

what
great

we

are

thinking.
all

"We
represent
represent

have combined against an unde-

"Mars, and the Planets,

wealth.

sirable immigration.
ple,

We

need more peowill continue

Further,

they

need them badly, and

present system,
select

room

for colonization. Interplanetary has

our
but

and
them.

expand

it
ap-

long held absolute control, and only so

we

will

The

Inter-

because of the vast wealth and consumptive

planetary

Union

government

will

power

it

represented. This very con-

point as officers the entire staff of the

ference represents the culmination of a

recent tendency we,

present

Interplanetary

Transport,
to the

re-

who
want

are interested

naming them according

bassadors.

more usual

in Planetary affairs, have

watched with

diplomatic practice as Consuls and

Am-

alarm.
built,

Terrestrials

more
for
all

ships
inter-

more accommodations
so that

"The immediate

reaction on the part

planetary travel,
to the

can move

of the Terrestrial nations having claims

to the Planets will of course be a deis a strong economic need for war right now, I understand" Montgommery added bitterly,

Planets
of

who want

to,

and

this

pressure

public

opinion

has

grad-

sire

for

war.

There

ually been bringing forth legislation that

would weaken Interplanetary to a point where an undesired rush of colonists would be possible. "The Planetarians have been carefully selected, and are quite literally a
chosen race. The result has been a
of superiority on their part,
bit

"but I would like to point out the absurdity of such a course.

Mars

is

not

wealthy enough in

capital to desire such a

it

should

be

human and economic war but I think remembered that all the

but there
for

existing

ships,

capable

of

the
solelv

Inter-

has

always

been

the

opportunity

planetary
exclusively

crossing,
to the

belong

and
Inter-

Terrestrials to be chosen, and this hope

newly-created

has prevented any strong feeling against

them.

planetary Union.

"But the reason we have given for

this selection, so rigorous that

"Oh, no doubt you could build and attack, within two or three

ships,

years.

we have
facilities.

What would you

armour a
space-ship.

gain?

You

cannot

refused ninety per cent of

all

applicants,

They

are very ten-

has been limited transportation

Terrestrial

der machines, as

we

well know. There-

governments

could

build

fore they could not attack readily, nor

effectively. Further, they

more
there.

ships, say the people,

and take us

could not carry

fuel for the

round
result

"Frankly

Mars

doesn't

want

too

euver.

The

heavy an unselected immigration."

derelict,

helpless

trip, and still manwould be a fleet of machines in space,

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

hanging
off

19

Mars powerless
at the

to

move,

agreed on that.

It's
it

bad for the people."

and completely
small,
.

mercy of our own

agree
that

"I'm afraid

has," said a

new

voice.

wift battle-rockets.

."I
is

believe

you

will

out of the question

purely so

war from a
doubt
a

ing

The messenger from the Interplanetary Union had appeared. "There was nothwe were ashamed to have on the
air,

mechanical standpoint. However,

that

and

it

has

all

gone

out.

have a

the people would

all

support such

new
was

ultravisor in the bag here,

and

it

venture, for they

expect, to get to

hope, and secretly

relayed

from

my

life-boat.

The

Mars themselves. Every

himfeel

Conference will

have to

answer that
if

man with any

self

self-respect believes
choice.

frank challenge as frankly,

they want

worthy of
or

Those

that

the sympathy of the people."

sure they won't be chosen are cripples,

weaklings,

"But

don't

worry,"

Miller

replied

completely

spiritless.

Of

ironically, "those

boys will cook up some

their

such you cannot

England tried to of her American

because
her

make an army. put down the rebellion

not
brave,

When

kind of hash.

Or

companies

will."

A
is

voice pierced suddenly through the

floor of

colonies, she failed, not

mounting angry buzz from the

the Conference. the desperate
"

men were

or

all

realize that

this

strong or spirited, but because the men of England agreed with their brothers

jealous

move of a German Government

traitorous,

to prevent

and cousins
to
fight

in the colonies,

and refused

the just claims of France being realized

them.

Mercenaries had to be

and

hired, with deplorable results.

" The voice was drowned in a bellow of denunciation from the German

"Well you may find mercenaries. But every worthy citizen of Terra has a real, and genuine chance to join us in
the greatest

Delegate.

"I guess they have already," grinned

the Cub. "They've got their war,

any-

work man has undertaken:

way.
ler,

I'll

send the pictures to you, Milinter-

the colonization of

new worlds by new

if

you Martians should be

and better races of mankind." Montgommery sat down. Suddenly

the

ested."

Cub became aware

of the fact that

Miller had vanished.

In his place was with his

tele-

Moon-faced,

fat

an International
viso projector.

Newsman

Chairman
dustrial

of

the

Simon Wallowy was Conference. Simon

Wallowy was

There was an angry mutter of discontent rising from the Conference, and
officials

also Chairman, of the InCommittee of the United States of North America, the son of a long
line of

were heading for the Internadirectly

tional

Newsman.
broad-

men
of

of the

Wallowys who had been ChairCommittee naturally, because

"That scene was not

cast of course?"

demanded the sergeant-

at-arms ?
Miller reappeared before the Internaman could speak. "No, Rafferty,
wasn't.

tional
it

the vast properties owned by the Wallowy interests. Simon Wallowy was very much annoyed by this conference, as it had called him away from a very pleasant time he

We

wouldn't care to put that

air.

had been having

at

his

country home
girls

red-hot stuff on the

But

it's

being

with a number of Plehb

directed to go there.

groomed

for broadcast right now.

We
said
all

But

he had

this

annoy-

canned it temporarily." " 'Fraid it won't go,

Rafferty,

ing conference had been necessary.

Miller,"

The

trouble with the world

was

that there

shaking his head.

"They

were a number of semi-Plehbs with a

20
little

AMAZING STORIES
property, and

some influence
adversely.

that

it.

It

reminded him so forcefully of the

had had when
first

could

make

so

much

noise, that they in-

trouble his grandfather

fluenced

opinions

Now

if

the atomic flames were

invented by

Morten's idea would just be accepted by

David Laurie of
increase
in

Io.

The tremendous
energy

some of the other men, this last annoyance could be done away with in another two decades. However, since things were as they were, the disarmament conference would
have
it

the

available

had

made
tion,

it

possible to

throw thousands of
maintain produca great deal of

workers out, and

but
it
till

still

had brought
the

trouble,

British-American

war

to be

would come

gone through with. Naturally just when war had almost

had gotten rid of the excess, and brought

Canada

into the

Union. But

it

had had

been decided on by the Sino-Japs and the Americans. Wallowy didn't see what he was going to do with the present un-

the beneficial effect of opening

up the Major Planets and Venus and Mercury

to colonization, so that a great

many

of

employment
have a war
that that

situation,
fairly soon.

if

they

didn't

Also he was annoyed by the attitude

the remaining semi-plehbs had left earth, and made things quieter. Anti-gravity had come almost simultaneously, and

John Montgommery had displayed, annoying attitude of indifferent

as

completely opened the system to colonization,

but by that time the Interplanetary

superiority,

though he

was not a

Union got

descendant of middle-class incompetents,

squeezed Out of and off earth by the strife
of business.

nasty, and wouldn't permit any further emigration from earth.

Wallowy passed through

dle.

the door of

The

Planetarians acted as

the Peace Palace with a determined

wad-

though they had wanted to leave earth. dreamers billion incompetents and

He

might be able to induce the

Heinrichs and the Derriers to join him

in declaring

earth had gotten rid of, so that a real,

stable society could be established,

war on the
solve

Interplanetary.

and

That

would

the

unemployment
little sat-

now

these

same

exiles

were

'acting

problem, and might get them a

isfaction

superior/

on the score of Interplanetary 's

attitude.

They
didn't

scarcely

carried

on any trade

superior
as

He frowned

though,

with earth any more, but then Wallowy

he

remembered that Interplanetary

want

it

really.

He'd have had to

if

wouldn't respect his properties .properly.

make some
he
had,

concessions on the tariffs

They might cause damage.

and

those

cheap

all-machine
to

An

hour

later

made goods

of the Planets would have

order.

He

he called the meeting had intended calling on

first

caused trouble

Ah
ing.
set

well.

among the workers. Wallowy wandered across

building,

Karl Heinrich as the he

discovered
to his

speaker, but
that

annoyance

the park toward the Conference build-

Montgommery
wanted the
called

of Interplanetary Union

The beautiful, white, silica among the green of trees on

floor.

He

ignored him, and

the shore

Heinrich to
think,"
said

speak.

of the blue lake, backed by snow-capped

"I

Montgommery

inter-

mountains, was shimmering pink in the

twilight.

rupting, "that

Above

it,

a great

tongue of

me

first.

it would be wisest to hear Mr. Chairman, may I have the

azure and golden atomic flame hung motionless

tle

floor?"

and steady, unmoved by the genbreeze the azure and gold of the

"Very well, Mr. Montgommery. Your manners however, are execrable."

Peace building.

Montgommery
nodded
to

Wallowy had always been annoyed by

him.

smiled slightly, and "Worse, according to

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

your
not
fore."
ideas.

21
earth everyrace strong,

been

heard

However, my message has by you er men be-

eration

thing that

we have taken from makes the human

left

He

continued more soberly.

we have

only the dregs, the weak,

/'Interplanetary

Union has decided that

has

the stupid, the unadventurous,

and

the
know

we have made
Mother

a bad mistake. Earth, the

contented.

World,

always

been

re-

"The

result

we can

see

all

too clearly

garded with some feeling of interest and

sympathy.

now. Earth

still

has a remnant of hope

semi-plehbs.

However,

we have

come

the
sult.

so-called

We

more and more

sacrificing

to realize that in giving

that genius arises slowly. If a thousand

birth to the children, old earth has been

morons mate, a few normal men

If a thousand

will re-

her life-blood.

am

sadly

normal men mate,

will

afraid that the children have been stupid,

a few near-geniuses

result.

If

and

selfish.

course, but our

The result is inevitable, of own interest in our own

in

hundred near-geniuses mate, perhaps one

genius will rise to lead
all

the others on-

problems and the vast work that we had

to

ward.
genius.

The

planets

took

every genius

accomplish,

making

civilization

earth produced and nearly every near-

possible on such bleak worlds as Pluto

They did
The
result

this

not

once,

but

and Athena, turned our attention from

earth.
ests.

time and time again, through thirty generations.

all

We

have neglected her intersmiled,

was

that

now

nearly

"Now," he

"we have
is

de-

the genes of intelligence

and health
carried,

cided that earth's only hope

that

we
to

and wisdom that the human race

genes
of
stupidity,

completely neglect her.

"Interplanetary

have been isolated on the planets.

The
and

Union has decided

all

and

disease,

completely withdraw
earth.

relations

with

every form of weakness have concentrated

that,

We

will
all

withdraw our consuls,

our interests.

ambassadors
send
none."
''This

send no further ships to earth.

We We

will
will

on earth. Your death rate shows and that is a benefit. Fortunately,

in a

machine age, the genes of stupidity

no messenger.
should

We
put on

will

receive

lead only to death

death.

sudden

and violent

So,

we

of the planets have this

be

record
earth

for
first

hope for earth. Through perhaps another

thirty generations, the genes of

future

generations.

When
ship,

weakness
bearers.

sends a ship again to Interplanetary at

and disease

will

kill

off

their

Mars

Center, a

new

with some
then

new

More and more

they will concentrate in

invention

of

importance,

Inter-

certain strains, and bring death.

planetary will revisit earth, and help her

finish settling her problem.

"You do not understand me.

life to the Planets.

Poor

"Even among your plehbs there is some opportunity for intelligence, there will be such a divisioning, that the more
intelligent will be

earth has given her life-blood in giving

thrown together, and

people,

Earth

is

nearly dead.

there will slowly rise a group of normal,

healthy,
intelligent

We

will leave her, for

no effort of ours
only the slow
it.

then

from

can bring

cleansing of

new life to her, Time can do

them,
finally

group of near geniuses, and

a real genius

who

will fly his ship

"The

planets have,

for nearly seven

to

centuries, through thirty generations of

Mars Center, and redeem "It was the selfishness of

it

earth.

the planets

men, robbed earth of her greatest heritage,

that brought

about

the near-geniuses.

We
the

have acintelligent

form

but
the

in its present acute

it

was

inevitable.

AH
but

the nearaccel-

cepted

only

the

strong,

geniuses would have

erated
process,

gone.

We
it

and the healthy.

Generation after gen-

true,

would

22
have been just those
ones,

AMAZING STORIES
intelligent, restless

"One
first

other thing," he added with a

"I

who

sought greater opportunities,

the trip anyway.

faint smile,

may hope
the

to greet the

who would have made

"America young for
intelligence

led the earth

just

when she was one reason. She was

Steven

man of Munro

New

Earth.

James

has discovered a system

life

of prolonging

for a period as yet

populated by only those people

who had
pas*

enough to earn

their

unknown. I am proud to say that I am one of the few who have been chosen to
receive this treatment.

sage-money,
to

seek

who had ambition enough new opportunity, and brains

"We
thanks
death

of
to

the
the

planets

have

decided,
that

them to cut loose from the land where they were born. America lost her advantage slowly as a new race of settled people rose. For a time, all the restless, driving genes of the Cauenough
to permit

example of

earth,

is a necessary evil. It alone purges the race, and makes room for the

new
the

generations.

Only the coming of

new, and newer generations can bring

not stop

casian race
ica.

were concentrated
there

in

Amerthe

In

Europe,
land-loving

remained

new and better men. Evolution did when men arose from the mud.
have seen evolution.

stupid,

peasant

who

could

"We

You

have

not see beyond the horizon.

seen the short, inhumanly powerful

"The

planets inevitably

were populated

of Jupiter, and the lean, dry, dark of Mars.

men men
of

by a race of men who could see beyond

the horizon, even beyond the skies, and

up

to the stars.

They

inevitably got the

restless,

ambitious

men and women who

for their abilities.

may live to receive the new men of earth. "Now I am leaving. The
"But
I

the

first

decision

is

sought

new room

final/'

"Why-earth was doomed to decay when Laurie sent his first rocket to Mars nearly seven hundred years ago. We of the planets made it worse still by
our selection, generation after generation,

"Do you mean

planetary
their

to

say

that

Inter-

considers

earth

unworthy of

high and mighty society?" roared

his

Wallowy,

face crimson with rage.

Montgommery
smiled at him.

stood

up slowly, and

of the finest
offer.

and

best blood earth

had to

"I'm afraid
are leaving earth.

it

does.

Of

yours, at any

"Now, we

We
we

will

rate.

might add, for your interested

send no ships.

We

will

send no mesearth.
all,

consideration, that

we thought

of teachIt

sages, nor receive

will

any from

We
will

ing you

how

to live

for centuries.

send no men.
none.

Most of

take

Thirty

generations

brought

about the downfall of earth. Thirty more

would prevent any increase in your inIf you become intelligent, telligence. you may prevent the re-evolution of intelligence
in

may

see

it

rebuilt.
I

the

plehbs.

We

decided

"We

leave within a month.

leave

against

it,

because you would probably

this evening.

give
to

it

to the plehbs also, so that

new

"We

hope

hear from you, or better,

earth, in

from the people of

matter

another

workers would not have to be trained, so that less time would be lost during
their infancy.

seven or eight hundred years.

But no

That would prevent new

it."

how

long

it

may

take, earth will

generations,

be completely isolated so far as we are concerned. It is impossible for us to do

so we decided against Montgommery smiled, and despite

the

any positive thing to aid earth. Only time, and generations of men can do it.

storm of anger bellowing from enraged and life-hungry men, he walked out, protected

by the same,

short,

powerful Jo-

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

vian guard he had previously mentioned.
city,

23
had
to be trav-

and
the

all

the distance

The
"Terra"
tip of

interplanetary

transport-cruiser
its

ersed on foot. Once, his father had told

rose

gently,

weight

de-

him,

streets

had moved, and you

the

stroyed, and lifted across the white, calm

could ride on them, but that had been

stopped,
to

Mt. Blanc, Her ion-rockets flared

flames as she shot

discourage

wandering

to

pale bluish

up-

of the Plehbs.

ward.
Interplanetary was leaving earth.

His father had been apprenticed to

a

man who knew

of

the story of the great

End

of Prologue.
I

city

father had told

N'yak of long ago. Then, his him not only the Pol-

CHAPTER

shins had surface homes, but even the

Plehbs

BRAVELY boy swung

through

the

nine-year-old

because
light

along the passages,

almost
deserted

Only it was cheaper to create artificial from atomic power and maintain
had lived above ground.
than to maintain both
buildings
that

the

air conditioning,

main corridors, past the roaring workshops. Polshin guards

stationed here and there paid
little

of

these

and

also

the

weather constantly wore down, had the

Plehbs been moved below the surface,
into the rocks.

at-

tention to him. Plehb workers plodding

about

their

work

heavily,

or

walking
paid
sole

more
,

briskly,

carrying

messages,
the

sometimes, to

Jon had even been to the surface fix power lines leading
homes.

no attention

to him.

He was
if

to the Polshin

care of his parents and himself.

No

one

child

would pay any was caught

attention,
in a

one more

machine or crushed

Bruce walked more slowly as he came at last to the edge of the city. There were few people in the streets
here now.
apart,

under a heavy truck.

Bruce Lawry, actually was considerably frightened, for he had bravely de-

The Polshin guards were far and the light-tubes were scanty. Bruce looked down the corridor he was
following,

termined to reach the far-away Deserted Passages

I

ended.
there,

and saw where the light There was no Polshin stationed

it

Jon Lawry, Brace's father had told him about those Deserted Passages. Jon was a mechanician, a Plebh of the *A class' in consequence, and fairly free to roam, his blue garb a protection from Polshin guards. Jon had seen and entered these deserted passages, when a mysterious short circuit in a power circuit had to be located. Far back in the Deserted Passages, the power line had long since been dead-ended, and never A fall of stone from the removed. passage roof had shorted it. Bruce was
determined to see them.

for

was

little

side-street,

where no people

lived.

TJURRIEDLY
*
*

Bruce

scuttled

be-

yond the

lighted zone,

back.

No

Polshin

and looked had seen him. He

in the

went on, stumbling

to
light

dark, afraid

his

hand-torch.

Something

tripped

him suddenly, and he

cry of fear.

little

fell with Quickly he turned

his light on
lattice

only

He

had told

Don
see.
It

he would.
little

He

had taken one of his

it. It was a strange, white, work of rounded bars. It was when he saw that it was an outline, own size, and that, draped over it was the metal-cord belt such as

about his

father's

light-tubes so that he could

he wore, that he realized what

be

it

a
He

must

skeleton.

was nearly four miles across the

almost went back.

But he looked.

24

AMAZING STORIES
he

this

and saw there was no light-tube beside skeleton, and determinedly he

started on. He wondered how many more might have come this way, and
died.

knew

that.

He knew more

than

most children of that thirty-second century civilization would have known.

He
him,

could read the inscription above the door,

even
the super-developed sense of di-

though

it

meant

little

to

With

"INTERPLANETARY LIBRARY
FOUNDATION."
derstood.
read,

rection he had acquired

from many walks

city,

Foundation he un-

about the lighted part of the

felt

he

no fear of getting

lost.

Instead he

Went on and on, his light-tube glowing

now.

He

passed

long

rows

of

deserted

His father had taught him to for Jon Lawry, being a mechanhad to be able to read meters, and other things, as had his predecessors, and so the art of reading had been
ician,

dwellings.

Then he came

to a section,

the like of which he had never seen.

The
as

handed down among the mechanicians. Bruce knew foundation only as a heavybase one put machines on.

corridor had

grown wider and wider

with

He

looked

he

advanced,
it.

incoming
at
last

passages

adding to
a great

Here
far

he came to
than

around for the machine, and wondered what kind of thing it could have been
that
ture.

Cube,

greater

Cube

had been

set

on

this beautiful struc-

Center in the part of the city he knew. In the center of the Cube was a building, not

made of

the universal granite,

INTERPLANETARY
to him.

meant nothing

grey and cold, but of white stone, of marble had he known it. It was utterly
different
seen,

He

did not

know what
little,

planet was.

Library meant as
almost

for

from anything he had ever beautiful and clean and white. In

the Plehbs had printed

the
little

forgotten libraries and

entirely,

literature

and

the spread light of the tiny, but wonderfully powerful hand-light, he could dimly see the graceful columns and the

they

knew was
they

the simple tech-

nical

material

needed.

Actually

Brace's mother, Marta, had taught him

roof.

That was something he had never

place.

reading more than his father had done,

seen before, in this weather-less

though his
struction,

He

did not

know

that this

was

copy of

had begun his for Marta was a worker

father

in-

in

Greek

architecture.

the chemical plants.

She had nearly half

on
thin

a
Breathlessly, excited as he

dozen

books,

books

metal

had never

been before, he looked around him. The whole Cube was lined with various great
glass windows,
far larger than he

worn and broken now, for they were some four hundred and fifty years old. These were the only books Bruce
plates,

had

knew. Libraries were unheard of among

the

ever seen before.

They were dark now,

heaps of rubbish lay

Plehbs.
stared
at

and lonely
purpose.

little

Bruce
doors.

the

great

bronze
It

behind them, he could not guess their

Cautiously he pulled at one.

did not open.

The

grill

Cautiously he

made

his

way toward

far

too

fine-meshed

the beautiful white building. There was

through, and there

the
building.

was him to slip were no windows in

of the gate

for

rubbish on the stone floor of the great

Inside

he could see the

Cube.

Over

it

he picked his way with

the aid of the

little light-tube and went up the broad, foot-worn steps of the

smooth layer of grey dust on the white stone, and long racks, a series of great
tables,
It

library.

This library w as very

r

old,

even

and here and there a low desk. was very dark, save where his light

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

touched
get in.
it.

25
could
see the

He

wanted very much to

attention
rust'

about
stacks,

him.

Now

he

and with a soft intake of breath

Suddenly he turned
the lock.
steel, far

his

to
-is

he realized they were books. Books in

such quantities as he had never imagined! Rapidly he went to them, and read
their titles.

It

was

steel,

bright,

too well

made

to be opened

somewhere there still existed a key for that lock, but no man on all earth could have said where it might be. But Bruce was a mechanhis
efforts.

Perhaps

"T-h-e D-e-v-e-1-o-p-m-e-n-t O-f I-nt-e-r-p-1-a-n-e-t-a-r-y

t-i-o-n."

C-o-l-o-n-i-z-a-

He
it

spelled out.

But he

d-dn'r

ician,

his

mind was
and

sharp,

and trained
thoughts.

know what

was.

So he took down the

it.

to

mechanical

electrical

book, and looked at

Confidently he examined the door.

Then

back, realizing he did not

Then he put it know anything

at

he

turned,

and
he

made

his

way back
what
he

about

it

at

all,

and

looked

other

through the trash and Hunting,

finally

litter

of the Cube.

shelves.

found
he

Three hours

later his light

was grow-

wanted, a bent piece of metal some six

inches
long.

ing very dim, and he realized he must

Fearfully

made

his

hurry back to the lighted ways soon.

Regretfully he turned away, and started

way

to the door, stripped off his single

garment, and wrapped his hand and the

light-tube
in
it.

Then with

the

other

homeward. But he determined that this Library, the meaning of which he knew
now, wis
with
to be his secret,

hand he removed the

tube from
serted tected the device,

tiny glowing gas-

shared only

and carefully incarefully

Don Wade.

They would

come

the

bent

metal,

pro-

back here, and bring fresh light-tubes

with them, and they would learn what

with some mouldering doth. In

located the thinnest
grill.

moment he had

was

in

all

those thousands of books.

of the metal bars of Vat

Why,
made

they

might

learn

even

what

sudden groaning

hum came from

the Burners give off their silent,

his light-tube as

he made the contact, a

hot flame endlessly, and the great surg-

popping and crackle of sparks, and a

shower of incandescent metal

cloth-wrapped hand.
bare

fell

on

his his

Some burned
grill-bar

Nobody knew that anymore, but Jon Lawry had said, "They have forgotten. Once men knew, but
ing currents. they have
all

body
gave

but
way.

the

parted.

forgotten now.

And

the
told

Again he applied
bar
fused.

his light-tube, another

books are
once

lost.

They must have

Once,

more bars he Then he stopped, and replaced

Three
It didn't
fit

upon a time.

men were

wiser than now."

the gas-tube.

well now, for

Maybe

these books told even that!

even the resistant light-tube was some-

what burned, and

nearly used.

it

didn't

glow very

CHAPTER

II

brightly any longer, for the charge

was
it

He knew

though that
for

would

burn

satisfactorily

another

DOT STEEL
son
to

was the third perthe

library

enter

after

four hours, and then he would have the

the
tion.

seven

centuries

of

deser-

emergency
more.

cell

left

for

half

an hour

Bruce brought

Don

back with him

that next day. Children had their

work

to do too, soon enough in

TUGGING,
aside.

straining

with

all

his

life. By the time he was twelve, Bruce was appren-

power, he pulled

the

broken

bars

tived to his father in the mechanic:- basiness.

He

crept

inside,

and

looked

Time and again he amazed

his

26
father with

AMAZING STORIES
work Jon could not do. By some of the books in
and what had been a
child's

the sociologist.

Bruce was the scientist

the sheer, thrilling exbrilliance

then he had read

that library,

To Bruce came
ultation

of

intellectual

as

he

secret from the first day, became even more of a secret. And from them he had learned the secrets of the machines Jon repaired blindly by rule. They were to hirn, just as to Don Wade, an escape. In

read of the scientific achievements of the

Old Days.
face

When men
an

had come face to

impassable

with

boundary

why they
or over
it

absolutely

had simply dodged

or crept around
it.

under

it

the books

they left the grinding labor

Nothing
seemed.

had

stopped

man

then,

it

3340 and went back through time to the days when earth was great.
of

In the greatness of earth,

Man

An

even deeper secret

it

was as they

advanced to adolescence. Then, as their apprenticeship approached an end, their

maturing minds began to realize more

had sought, and found the secret of the energy of exploding atoms. One of the things that had given Bruce the keenest
joy was the infinite subtlety with which

men had
rays.
lines

attacked

the problem

of

X-

and more
thing.

fully

the significance of this

No

substance could be ruled with

They

realized

the

true

inherit-

so close together as to produce a

ance of mankind.
technical

Bruce had studied the

both because they lay

diffraction grating such as

light study.
ural,

books,
field

So

inan had used

was used

in

the nat-

along the
in

of his

them

lay his

work and because interests. He knew how

regularly

spaced crystal-molecules

in

substances as his diffraction grating

the Burners worked, splitting the atom,

and releasing the protons and electrons

in flying

X-rays could not be reflected by a mirror, or concentrated by a lens to form an

image.
focus X-rays to

streams,

to

give

off

the trelife-

mendous currents

that

were the

Yet man had used crystals to make pictures of things

light.
it

blood of their civilization.

too minute to be caught by

had studied the historical books, he had gathered more and more a true picture of what the human race had
been.

Wade

Bruce did not wonder

perfectly

at

it,

seemed

natural

to

him,

but he was
those

able to understand and follow with ease

mind.

But one problem was What had happened?

left in his

the

deepest

thoughts

of

greatest

Why

had

thinkers of the
he, he

men fallen so, and fallen so completely and abruptly ? In 2695, dozens of books were placed on the shelves. In 2697, the
last

Old Days. Why shouldn't would have thought? They were

men, he was a

man

so

why

not?

library

book had been placed there. The records ended in 2703. What
this

'TPHE
-*-

Planets

had

done better
and

by had

earth, in leaving her, than they

had brought about abrupt fall, from

tremendous and
vast
civilization

guessed.

Wheat,

strong

healthy,

planted in fertile ground, produces lavish/.

that spread to every planet of the sys-

But

ALL

the wheat grows,

weak

tem, to a tiny shrunken thing that could

with the good, and gradually the yield

falls to

not maintain itself at

its

high

level

for

that of ordinary

wheat

in ordi-

even one brief decade?

afflicted

Had men

been

nary ground.
poor, lean

with some titanic system-wide

Weak, poor wheat, in ground, will grow very poorly.

will

plague?

Why

was there

absolutely

no

The crop
normal

be nearly nothing.
it

But

record of this tremendous, world-shaking change?

with a few generations,

level.

rises to a

more

Now

if

that

wheat be

Don, more than Bruce, was absorbed

in this problem.

transplanted to good land, the yield will

Don was

the student,

be enormous, because that harsh, poor

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

land has killed out the weaklings, the unresistant,

27
In
six

first-grade

apprentice.

months

and

only

strong,

vigorous

he was to get his Class

pers,

Masters' pa-

stock could survive.

and with them in hand he could

The

planets had concentrated

all

the

petition the local Polshin for a separate

weakness

of

the

race

on

earth.

AU
it-

apartment, and on mating he would be

granted, with his wife, a two-week hol-

the weakness of the race had killed

self

by

its

very weakness. Now, in the a tiny population of

thirty-fifth century,

two hundred million remained of earth's three billions. But those two
scarcely

hundred million were far above the average of the twentieth century, before
the great dividing began.

Bruce and Don had studied, each

books.

find-

So they had not gone at once ti Mating Office. Dot Steel wanted to. She cared only for the moment, and she wanted Don, wanted him as only a Plehb, who had little in life to long for, could want anything. She wanted to be with him, and Not Some Time, but feel him near her.
iday.

the

ing a vast interest and release in these

Now.

More and more

it

they
lest

realized

they must keep

shins find
sible
it,

secret,

the Pol-

AND Don, with the keener, more powerful mind, realized

better
if
it

and destroy them as pos-

would be

far
in-

revolutionists.

No

other

humans
was
fin-

they started their

own home,

knew
ally

of these finds. that

stead Of bringing a wife to live with his

Steel

And

was why Dot

brought Don met her when doing some special work for the Metals Department. They had worked together,
togetherand Don,
soon
they

own One

parents. Further,

now, as a Class
his

apprentice, he

and

wife were en-

titled to

but one week of vacation.

to

Dot began

doubt him, she grew

talked

loved

suspicious of his love.

And

further, she

together.
tall

twenty-two

now,

was
pleas-

and wirely powerful, his keea,

knew when his hours of rest came, she knew he had twelve full hours off every
day, yet never did he spend
three

ant face framed in golden blond hair.

more than

He

wore the Blue of a Class A plehb, Dot Steel. There was no law that forced them to
and, for that matter, so did

with her, and then only once a

week.
self

The

other days, he limited him-

to

one hour

and

vanished.

Try

marry
lines of

within

their

own

Plebh-dass,

as she would, coax as she would, she

but the class

Plehbs, being in similar

could not learn where he spent the other

time.

work, tended to come more to-

gether, they lived in the

same parts of

So one day when Don Wade

expecting three hours with his

called,
girl

the

city,

and there was a natural tend-

own

ency to intermarry.

she
"I

was twenty when they met, five feet two in height, slim, as soft and Her hair was black graceful as a cat. as the Deserted Co-jdors and shiny as laquer. Her lips were full and red, and her black eyes seemed to challenge Dot
Steel

was cold and angry, she accused him of spending nearly all his time with
another girL

know

but where

know. You say you don't do you go? Have you ever
ever denied

told

me? Have you

even

Don

to love her.
did,

He

he loved her whole-heartedly.

to

you were free those hours? One hour then you are gone. You do not loverand you do not even play fair
that

He'd have gone

the Mating Office

with the other

love better, for

with her within a week of the day he met her. but that he was still only a

girl, the one you must you spend most of your

time with her."

28
"Oh, Dot, darling. and only you.
I

AMAZING STORIES

I don't, I

love you,

all

she could stand.

tion to see

"Then why

Why
off

don't you stay with me? do you always leave? You go with Bruce and stay away. You

drove her on.

Only her determinawhere Don was leading her As they came on, she bethat

came convinced

Don was
it.

taking her

here that he might scare her,

afraid to go through with

have lovers together."

"Sweetheart, in this town you
that

make her Then al-

know

couldn't

be

true,"

Don

smiled,

"you'd have heard the 'Truth' from the

neighbors."

ways he could say when he left her that he was going to the place he would have taken her had she not been afraid. As the lights blazed up suddenly.
mysteriously,
at

their

approach,
altogether.

her

"I
all

have,"

snapped

the

girl.

"They

know you

leave me. That's

why

nerves almost gave

"It's
all

way

it's

so unbearable. If

you love me, and not

right

honey

just

an auto-

some other girl, prove it. where you have been going."
That was
final.
all

Take me

matic photo-cell device Bruce arranged

to light
it

at

our approach."
gasped,

Either Dot went where

time

"Oh"
beautiful

she
!"

then

"oh

how
stone
set-

Don
spend

spent

his

or

Don

could

ALL

his time there so far as she

In the
little

full light of the light-tubes, the

silica

was concerned.
In despair,

Greek temple of white

in

Don
was

shone like a great jewel,

turned to the
tele-

a dark
granite
it

phone

system.

Bruce,

now a Master
available

ting.

About
to

it

the
it

dark

ab-

sorbed the

light,

alone reflected
its

and

Mechanician,

necessarily

seemed
her, Bruce. It
is

glow of

own

light.

by phone.

"We
"Of
Shall I

must show

your

Warm
the

yellowish light shone from the

the library

discovery

shall

we
Don,

take
if

her?"
it

doorway of
clean
lights,

now. Inside was

of

white

light

course,

means your
but here the
light

the

reading
the yel-

happiness you need not have asked me.

warmth of
to

come along?" "Will you? I'm afraid," he laughed

"she

lowish

seemed

welcome them.

Rapidly they advanced, and Dot Steel

entered the library, the third
enter
serted
it

ruefully,

would

not

believe

my

human

to

word

in her present

mood."
an
in

since this region

had been de-

six

centuries

before.

THEY
ters*

started

in

hour,
blue

Bruce

"In-ter-plan-et-ary Li-brar-y Foun-dati-on.

leading the

way

his

Mashalf-

What's that mean? What

a place

is

this

garb with

its

gold star.

Down

place ?"

lighted

back passages, then

through a

"A
kept,

library
darling.

is

series of

apartments long deserted that

Bruce

where books are found this place

stood right on the border line between

the deserted and the populated regions,

missing the Polshin guards as always.

Then down
Great Cube.

the familiar passages to the

It

Bruce knew now.

was Laurie Cube as As they came to it,

when he was a small boy, and ever since we have been coming here, studying, reading the books of the Old Days. Darling, we know more about this city here than the Polshins. We know more
about the machines than any other
living.

man

the great gas-tubes lighted suddenly.

little scream of surprise came from Dot. Those miles of black, mysterious cor-

the knowledge
ten.

These books have kept forever that men have forgotWe have learned it again."
the girl cried, "Just books?"

ridors, deserted

for centuries,

had been

"Books?"

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

She looked into the library now, looked
about at the shelves of books, racked in

29
that

Plehbs?

Do you know

'Polshin'

and thousands. The tables were strewn here and there with sheets
thousands
of paper,
pencils,

calculating machines.

comes from a corruption of the old word 'Politician,' a man who sought to gain some public office. Oh but you don't know what a public office is. "There are mysteries and wonders in

"

TUST

books," smiled Bruce, his deep him. "But you

books.

those books."
"I

voice smiling with

read one," insisted Dot.

"It

was

shouldn't

say

'just'

Books are

very uninteresting."

something you have not learned to understand. Man practically lost books for
seven
centuries.

Why,
lost lost

don't

know.
he
lost

And

because

he

Books,
lost

"Dot," said Bruce, "there are one hundred and fourteen thousand books in this library. There are one hundred and three thousand different books no two

everything.

He

freedom, and wis-

alike.

You

read one.

You know how

dom and
happiness.

judgment.

He

ease

and

"The books can

back."

teach

him

to

win them

you hate Jak Studds. Would you say because Jak Studds was hateful, that all Plehbs are hateful? Be fair. Because
one book
is

uninteresting to
little

one very
girl,

"I tried to read a book once,"

said

small,

and very pretty

that

"It was was so uninteresting I went to sleep, and was nearly late to work. I don't believe you come

Dot, her suspicions returning.

It

does not

mean
a

that

one

hundred and
all

very uninteresting.

three thousand books are

teresting to

very unin-

No one could be so interested books as you pretend."

here.

in

man." "Wellmaybe. "But then why is Don so unwilling to go to the Mating Office with me?" she
launched her attack suddenly along different lines.

That is how we have gotten our advancement so quickly. Don't you remember Bruce got his

"But we

are,

Dot.

"Dot,
willing
cried,

Master's
cian could

Papers
fix.

because

he
it

fixed

broken burner that no other Mechani-

Dot you know I'm not unto go there with you," Don wrapping her suddenly in his

He

could fix

because

he

knew how
alone of
all

those machines

worked.
they do

arms, and turning her face up to his. "There's nothing I want moreexcept

He

men knows why

I

perhaps
think,
little
I

your

happiness.

And

that,

what they

do.

have gotten

my

papers

can best assure by waiting a

can't

rapidly, because I

have taken from these

lost

longer."

books knowledge that has been centuries, and put it to use."

for

you can't," she suddenly sobbed, and hugged him harder,

burying her face suddenly on his chest.
"I

"OOOyou
I

"But
are
after

that doesn't

so

interested

make me believe you you come here day

want you Don

want you now! 1 *

said the last

day and read read books," she words with Scorn.

"Sweetheart,
books.

you

have

never

read

You

don't
that

know
say.

the mystery

the romance and surrounds them, and

Don lifted her face again. "If you want me so much now,, as much as I want you maybe, why I guess we can get to the Mating Office in half an

hour."

the things

they
like

Old Days

What were the and why did they end?

Who

are the Polshins?

Who

are the

But Dot didn't stop crying. She cried harder, and hugged him harder, and began to dance. Let's golet's
|

30

AMAZING STORIES
CHAPTER
III

parted.

another

were THERE them when

of

three couples ahead

Don,
lin's

Then
as

they

reached

the

entrance

The green couple followed, as couple came behind Dot and Omallin came in. Oriialat that precise moment

Mating
of

Office.

All of them were

All

was

mighty a force
history,

in the course of

trying to look bored and indifferent.

human

as

Montgommery's
MontEarth."
leader,

them

were

being

very

stiff

and

speech on the "Independence of Mars,"

or that later speech of the later

wooden. The couple in the Blue were being Recorded first. A mixed couple, a man in Blue and a girl of the Greens was next, then a Green pair, and finally
a pair of big, powerful-bodied Greys.

gommery on

the "Isolation of
local

Omallin was the

Polshin

Each couple was accompanied by a his class to act as witness and identifier. The Blues' witness was evidently the girl's father, and he was
Master of
quite
selves.

N'Yak's Polshin Chief. He was round, and short and fat, his face was red and fat, his hair faded, and missing on
top altogether, so his pink, shiny skull

showed.

unrestraint
eyes,
in

His fifty-three years of utter showed in the bleary, pig-

as

themThe Plehb derk behind the bench

flustered

as

the

pair

looked at him with a

while
the

bit

of annoyance,

but not too much, for he was a secondclass blue,

Master was, of
Finally

the flabby, fat face and the He waddled when he walked, and his voice was high-pitched and unpleasant. But he was followed by a retinue of lesser Polshins, bowing
flabby, fat belly.

course

first-class.

the

pair

morally, intellectually, and physically to

this

moved away,

to

the accompaniment of

scarlet-cloaked

monstrosity.

His

chuckles and snickers of half-suppressed

laughter from the Polshin Guards stand-

once sharp hawk's nose was half buried

in the soft fat of his face,

and the sharp

ing at the door.

chin whose evolution marked the evolution of

One

of the Polshins left his post long

man was

lost

in rolling, quiver-

enough to press his seal-ring on the wax, and returned, his soft scarlet cloak
flapping about his legs.

ing

fat.

Omallin entered, and the Polshin guards sprang to the straightest of attention.

This guard-duty was the one task the

Polshin

The Plehb

clerk

bowed

low,
in-

men performed

in all their lives.

and the other Plehbs in the room

clined their heads.

For two years they were forced

to

do

the strenuous job of standing or sitting

about in the Plehb sections and guarding

the

Omallin

nodded grandly.

The

Pol-

Polshin's

interests.

Usually

they

shin Guards relaxed, the Plehbs straight-

went in pairs, for company. Each was armed with a shock-rod, but it meant nothing, for they were seldom needed. Their duty in this office was merely to put a Polshin stamp of approval on and collect their the Mating Record

ened again. "Plehb, how many matings

this

month?"

demanded
four

the

Polshin

Leader.

"Six
clerk.

thousand
Polshin

hundred
replied

and
the

thirty-nine,

Sir,"

Two, lest the duty be too boring. The mixed couple, accompanied by a Blue Master, was up now. The Master in this case was evidently the young
fees.

"The

rate

is

rising?"

"Yes, Polshin Sir."

''tjMMMM

man's

Apprentice-master.
speedily,

The

records

11

will

maybe, Karrody, I admit your request to open

were entered

and the three de-

some of

the Deserted Passages to

Coun-

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

til.

31
fist,

Hmmmm"

Omalin looked around

muscles.

One blow

of his

backed by
flying half

him.

the work-hardened muscles of a strong

Steel had, with the other Plehbs,
less lighted portion of

Dot

man, sent the Polshin Guard

across the room.

sunk hick to the

the soom,

but the softer

light

merely

One
jerked
ness.
Steel.

touch of

the

other's

shock-rod

enhanced

and softened her beauty. Omallin's wandering eyes suddenly focussed. A slow smile came across the
fat face.

Wade
His

into

abrupt
fell

unconsciousacross

lax

body

Dot

Raging, holding his near-broken

first

jaw, the

Polshin started across the

"By
here."

Gaha
Steel's

beauty.

Plebh,

come
went

room, his shock-rod glowing

the

now

with
its

blue

fire

that

meant death

at

Dot

richly

colored

face

touch.

white as the clerk's papers.

Her body

"Wait,
crazy.
thing.

Mark.
his

The

poor

fool

was

was suddenly trembling, her eyes opened, dilated slowly. But she did not move. The Polshin Guard nearest the girl
stepped

He's a Blue, and worth some-

Losing

woman made him

kill

kind of crazy, don't

him."

over
of
the

abruptly.

"Plehb,

move

when you're ordered," he snapped.

touch

and the girl jumped violently. With a little whimper she turned, and started for the door on
shock-rod
flying
feet.

"Out of the way, that Plehb-spawned maggot struck me! No Plehb can "Let him live, Mark, let him live. He was crazy. Don't worry. He's paying

for

it."

The Polshin guard caught

Bruce Lawry,
his cold

her, just as

grey

eyes blazing caught

Don Wade.

"Fool,"
fight-

he whispered, "you cannot help by

ing.

IT

was hours

later

when Don Wade

woke. Bruce was leaning over him.

It will only be death."

The Polshin guard brought Dot

toward
Omallin.
Omallin's
fat

Steel

hand

reached up, caught the fastener of the

girl's suit,

a swift crinkle of sound and

his eyes cold and clear. There was a hypodermic needle in his hand. "Dot," groaned Wade. Abruptly he sat up. He stared about him. He was in the Library now, lying on one of the
tables.

garment fell away, leaving her white body under the lights. Omallin's eyes seemed to lose their bleariness for a moment.
the single

"Lie back, Don.

You

almost died any-

way. Believe

it

or not, the interference

life."

of a Polshin saved your

"Ahh "
to

he said softly. "Send her to very nice."

slowly,
quiet
as

Infirmary Five for the treatment then

"Where's Dot?" "She's gone, Don,"

steadily.

replied

Bruce

my placeshe
The
girl
floor,

is

"You know

that."
to

collapsed

gently

to

Don's eyes began

colder, saner hate

smolder with a

the

and

lay

Omallin

now. "I'm going to

the

walked out of the room. The Plehbs in room were tensely quiet as the gringirl.

get her back. Those

They
I'll

will

maps the old maps show where Infirmary is, and

ning Polshin Guards picked up the

bring her back!"

Passing his hands over her. one turned to his companion with a broader grin.

"No, Don. You won't. Listen to me, Don. You aren't prepared to bring
her back.

"Old Omallin"
White-faced, even
the

You

couldn't get

to

her

in

frozen

Don

exploded

the

first place.

In the second,

into life so suddenly that

feel

Bruce did not warning tensing of his

not be able to bring her

you would away now. She

has been operated on by now. She will

32
be unable to

AMAZING STORIES
move
I

for days. If

reach her, and escape with her,

you did where

all

the whole PoLslrin order:

we

will

bring

back the Old Days

!"

could you go?

this.

have thought of
that

While

was getting

stuff

to revive

you from the old Interplanetary

Hospital, I thought that out.

"Don, you will have to lose Dot. I know more of medicine now than do
those doctors of

and again he sat up. "Use these secrets of the Old Days to end Omallin and the Polshins. Yes, Bruce. I want

Q LOWLY
much

Don's eyes

lit

up

again,

very

to live."

Infirmary Five.

They

His

voice

was

so

coldly,

precisely

is remembered from the Old Days. I know all that is of the Old Days more than they do. Listen, I will tell you what will

are trained only by what

deadly, Bruce looked at

him

sharply.

Don
for

spoke again. "It will take years, won't

it,

known

Bruce?
it

We

cannot do

it

alone,

happen. Dot
girls taken.

is

not like most of the Plehb

is

She

not the
last.
t

first

but she
will

would not stay done. The other Plehb girls would be seen by other Omallins, and want to not-live. No, it
then
will

will

be

almost

the

Dot
he

be-

take years, and

come
wears

conscious
of?

when

anasthetic

careful.
in
if

We
and

about two days

will
will

from now.
has

N'Yak

help us

we must be very must make all the Plehbs first. Then I wonder

Then
pened.
will
live.

she

know what
be treated.

hapshe

the old cities

still

exist, like this one.

She

And

Shkaga

Washton,

San

Franco

die because

she does not want to

Nothing they knew even in the Old Days would have been able to make her whole again, so even if you could
it would avail you nothing, Dot would not want to live, and she would die. When a human not

and London. Somehow, Bruce, we must learn, and start in all those cities, so that
all

the

Polshins

everywhere

are

de-

stroyed.

reach her,

"And
crets
if

first

because

of

the

possible. I

we must learn all the seOld Days, and more too, think perhaps we can. We

only does not fight for

death, that

life,

but seeks

will

human
sound

will die,

even though
a wound,

atories.

open the old Interplanetary LaborSomehow we must build an

I

they be in

health.

With
is

atomic cruiser, for

know

that while

we

death

is

inevitable.

Dot

lost,

Don."

For

a long minute

Don

sat in silent*

have seen only the pleasure cruisers of the Polshins, they must have, somewhere, the old atomic cruisers.

blank-faced
baek. "Yes.
that too.
faintly at her, will

thought.

Slowly
I

he

sank

We
are

will

She
I

is,

I guess.

have read

need powerful

weapons

if

we

to

And
work

Bruce.

know Dot." He smiled "What will work for

I

regain the surface for the Plehbs."

"I thought you would agree with me.

for mc, Bruce.

do not

Don.

Yes,

it

will

take years.

And

all

want

to live."

those years you must keep out of the

sight of the Polshin Guards, for one of

Bruce's eyes just hardened. "I thought

of that, too.
I

would not have saved

those two in the Office there will look

for

to live because

you 1 f I had not known you would want very much to live. Don, you want you know more than any

you.

The one you

life."

hit.

The

other

saved your

"For
him.
If

that,

perhaps
I

should

thank

other living human.

crets of the old

You know the sedays, and we can learn

he did not,

would not have

had

this opportunity."

Dons

cold, pre-

more.
destroy

With them We will not only OhujWh, but we will destroy

cise voice

seemed with him permanently

now.

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

CHAPTER IV
the semi-Plehbs, the small property
ers

33
ownhad

and near-genius trade

complete

intellects

DON WADE
chology of

began the study of

the
individual
that

been suppressed almost immediately after

Interplanetary's

mass psychology, and the psy-

withdrawal,

there had been violent, crafty rebellion,

led

day, while Bruce began the study of the

by

these

intelligent

ones.

Soon,

maps with more

were using
stolen

care.

The power

they

though,

they

had been

killed

off,

had
the

to light the library

and the
simply

died out, or by intermarriage with the weaklings, both in

last

Laurie Cube outside, they had

mind and
tendencies

spirit,

had never been torn out. But now, Bruce realized, he would want vastly more power, power to light and operate the buildings. For they had decided that some small part of this deserted section was going to be restored to the beauty it must have had before the Great Catastrophe, as they had come to call that period of sudden fall from earth's greatness, the sudden change from the Old Days. Bob Steel, Dot's brother, was their first recruit, and Jon Lawry their second. Bob Steel was a Master of Direction, and a class A Blue. And he hated

from

the old power-lines that

revolutionary

had been

stamped out. The far-reaching spy system of those days had died out with it.
Gradually the televiso-system
decay, and failed utterly.
fell

into

The

telephone
less
intel-

system was simpler, needed

ligence for
its

operation, and

was main-

tained because the Polshins needed rapid

communication at times of emergencies.

The Masters were connected by

phone system, but that had, watched with the greatest
be used for plotting.
at first

tele-

been
it

care,

lest

Finally even this

had stopped.

the Polshins with as deadly a hate as

Don Wade. With Wade he began read the old books, and to learn what had been before. He quickly appreciated the mystery and romance of them.
did
to

was no check on the Plehbs, because there seemed to be no need for it. The Plehbs had no unification whatever, no common leaders save
in 3350, there

Now,

the Polshins.
But,
ligence

unnoted by the Polshins,

intel-

had

risen

again.

And their

The dampness

possibilities for revenge,

for reinstatement of the Old Days.

and Old

Jon read the books, and with

learned again the
secrets

ecstatic joy

forgotten
centuries.
difficulty

by

men

for
in

more than
himself
at

six

He
he

reveled

knowing. With

restrained

knowledge
on,

showing his every job he was called

calling

from

and from

on

Bruce's

far

Bruce was the fulminate cap that would set it off. Omallin had pounded the cap. Already the trains of fire were streaking out through the loose mass of highly intelligent and explosive men. All they needed was to be shown what could be and they would demand it. In a month, Bruce and Jon, and a

and

of stupidity had dried out of the powder

greater

knowledge.

Bruce

had

trained

dozen

other

master

mechanicians
station

had

himself through years to study to a point

that equalled the learning of
cist

restored the great

power

in the

any physiOld Days. To him the atomic engines were clear, and straightof the

Mahtan

section of the city, the long de-

serted part, that part furthest

from the

inhabited portion. There were lights there

forward

in their action.

and centuries ago, a spy system. That had been thrown over now, long since. When first
had, years

The Polshins had

now, the great atomic burners supplying plentiful power. And the elevators had

been restored to operation, the moving

walks moved again. There were goods in

34

AMAZING STORIES
slightest

the show-windows, goods manufactured

in

degree,

your ideas have been

to

the

hidden

plants
skilled

in

that

deserted

changed."

section

by the

Plehbs

who had

There was everything

win. Those

been converted to the movement.

Plehbs, seeing the city alive, the walks

moving

freely

once more,

the televiso

HP HE
in
full

and * breathed with a surface semblance of the old life. The televiso system was
section
lived

Mahtan

news working, admitted

the

freely

now

to

half-dozen
did

libraries

that

found,

change.

But

they

had been were

thou-

operation here, and century-old

of
televiso-plays,
steel

chosen Plehbs, too.

Not over a

reels

stored

in

the

sand
the

at

any time were allowed to enter

magnetism of thin
again

ribbons,

were

Deserted Passages.

There must be
population of

in action, the theatres were lighted and showing scenes of the Old Days.

no sudden decrease

in the

the inhabited section.

These educated the people

life

to the old

far

more quickly than

the finest of

orators could
ucational reels

have educated them. Ed-

were found for entering the deserted section. There were a score or more Plehbs who
other, side-separated routes

And

System,
it

how

it

showed the whole Solar was made up, and how

Reels

had permanently left the old section, and lived now as guards and watchmen at
the entrances to the new.

worked.

News

showed

the

Televiso sys-

mighty jungles of Venus, the blazing, smoking rocks of Mercury, the yellow,
red deserts of Mars, and their gleaming;
cities.

tems kept them connected with Bruee's

headquarters.

squat

tanned
iers

They saw the ultra'pewerful, men of Jupiter, and the lean, tall, men of Mars. The mighty glacAthena's frozen
rivers
airs,

Bruce had established himself. He was one of those who no longer lived
in

the old

section,

but on one of the

of

and her
flowed

broad

of

liquid

helium

lowest levels of the Mahtan section. Deep down here, two levels below the power plant, was the Interplanetary Research Laboratory.

again across Terrestrial screens.

When

Interplanetary

had maintained

its offices

on earth, these
finest research

They rode again

in the early rockets,

laboratories

had been the

far

then in the mightiest of the great spaceliners of seven centuries before.

organizations on the planet.

They had
in

been

used

research

physics,

And Don Wade

spoke.

Don had

in chemistry

trained himself with the aid of the old

research,

for testing applicants

and biology, and for human for emInterplanetary had

left,

books, and with the patient, deadly precision of a

migration.
that

When

man who's

life is

directed to

laboratory had been simply closed

one end, the destruction of a hated system. Normally when he spoke now, his
voice held only that cold deadliness. But

down. The Polshins had not been interested in research and they could have

found no adequate
it,

scientists to populate

when he spoke
rich,

to his audiences,
It

it

was

had they been so

found
it.
it.

inclined.

and strong.

told the

men what

they could be.

Blues and Greens were

BRUCE
ulated
class,

And Bruce
the

repop-

admitted, but as yet

no Greys,

for

Don
to
intel-

From

Master

Kem
and them

Wade had
give,
ligent

one

important

message

he drew chemists, from the Mas-

and no Grey would have been enough to obey.

ter

Meks,

he drew

mechanicians

electricians.

From

the

Master Bios, he
set

"Do

not let any Polshin, for whatever

drew
all,

his biologists.

Then he

reason, even gain suspicion that in the

nearly fifty of the most intelligent

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

Plehbs, the most intelligent Terrestrians,

35
the

"The treatment
particle,

of

working on the books and records he found here; the more advanced books in
Physics he read himself, the
the
that
last records,

however,

brought

atom as a them the

as a

energy of the atom, while the treatment wave brought them nothing what-

reports

and

scientific

publications

ever.

had

been

printed

on

Mars and
will,
it

"The treament
them a
this

as a particle brought

Jupiter.

particle of the energy.

Think of

"For there

is

one problem that

way;

thousand tons of water

when

solved, give us the things

we need

is

a mile above you. by treating

You

can extract
it

real

power.
this.

the potential energy of that water as

"Remember
:

The

old revolutions

falls,

it

as a mass.

But

if

were always stamped out by two methods shutting off the air flow, and pumping in heat
focated.
till

you
of

treat it as an enormous number atoms and take out its atomic en-

the Plehbs nearly sufto stop.

the

ergy,

you get

infinitely

more energy.
atom
in

They had
are
still

All those of the

"The break-up of
Burners
charges.
yields

an

the as

controls

in

hands

electrical

energy

Polshins at the surface.

They
bet.

still

know

how
ness

to use them,

I'll

Then they

the

The Burners simply break up atom the way a man might take
an accumulator, and
separately.
plate
is

turned off

all the power, so that darkand utter lack of energy forced

apart the plates of

discharge each

In the

submission and the deliverance of the

leaders to them.

burner the atom

exploded, in a tre-

"Our
power.

first

necessity
can't

is

independent
build

We
a

mendous magnetic field. The protons and electrons which composed the atom are hurled apart and scattered like the fragments of a bursting
energy can
tricity,
shell.

possibly

new

Before that
as
elec-

atomic burners.
lining f
plates
is

Remember

the

'infuse'

become

available

the burners,

and of the stop

the particles

must be separated

substance

we cannot make

We ments. We
here.

into

two

types, the positive protons go-

must have the Jovian elemust seek a new answer to

ing one place and the negative electrons

another.
it

The magnetic
moving
negative

field

does

this,

the old problem of power. Chemical fuels

directs the protons

one way, because

charges,

simply won't do. Accumulators, marvel-

they are

positive

and

ous as they are, aren't enough.

"Besides,

the electrons the other, because they are

power than the

we must have Polshins. And

greater

moving
streams

charges.

The

two
field,

they have

move
the

in

opposite

directions

the atomic cruisers.

tains the secret.

Don, the atom con-

around the center of the magnetic

That was the one probfully solved in the

and

strike

'infuse'

collector

plates.

lem that was not

Days.
I

Old

They

build

up

a charge on these plates,

think I have a chance, where

I

that tends to repel the

incoming

particles.

they failed, because

at

have learned not

T

The charge
the

reaches about a million volts,

there, for at that voltage
is

the time,

but centuries later, and

and then stays

repulsion

have gotten a perspective that they did

not have.
centuries.
I

so

great that

the

in-

have learned across

the

all

the

coming protons or electrons are almost

stopped before striking. If

Toward

end of the Old

we draw

off

Days they were treating the atom more and more as a particle, but several centuries before that, they

power, the voltage

falls to just

such an

extent as will allow such a

number of

had considered

it

more

as

series of

waves."

protons and electrons to strike as will maintain the charge.

36

AMAZING STORIES
protons

"DUTthe
*-*

and

electrons

can't

be

stopped in

practice,

but

actually strike with about twenty thou-

sand

volts

velocity.

That
the

means

that

the kinetic impact will heat the 'infuse'

plates.

were normally in a pretty bad way if the thing went on very long, because Atomic power engines would permit of about two billion horsepower in a moderate sized battle cruiser
they'd overheat.
mfettt
if

That's

why

'infuse'

plates
is

they

ever

tried

to

use that,

are

made

hollow, and the mercury

ch>

they'd have four hundred million horse-

culated

through

them.

The

mercury

cools them,

and helps stop the protons

earth,

and

electrons.

power of heat to get rid of. 'That doesn't satisfy me at all. In the first place, you are just using the
potential

"Here on
energy.
It's

of

course,

we we

use

energy
I

of

the

water

falling
to

water-cooling, and just waste the heatso cheap anyway,

that.

down
all

hill.

want

to find a

way

use

don't

the energy of the atom. Destroy even

have

to

worry about

But

in a space

the remnants, so that I don't have even

ship, that heat has to fee taken care of.

a hydrogen gas exhaust as the atomic

I think I can see some way toward doing it. That's the goal I am heading toward now."

Heat
while

is

very hard to get rid of, and

process
is

engines do.

the

80%

efficient,

twenty per cent of one hundred million horespower is twenty million. A space
ship,

"What progress?" asked Don.

"Whoa-^not so
set
fast.
I

one of the big

free

liners,

may

easily

haven't even
is

use two hundred million horsepower in

pulling
of Jupiter. That means a

up the apparatus
it.

yet.

Lora Wayne
girl.

helping with

She's a bright

constant
horse.

heat

energy

of

forty

million
to

"You go back
mine.
this

Therefore,

on space

ships,

and I to to your work Remember, even when we have

tool them, they carry mercury cooling,

whole city ready,

till

we

will

still

have

use the mercury vapour so created to

to

wait

we can

convert the others

run turbines, and cool and recondense the mercury vapor in water turbine
boilers-

around us."

CHAPTER V
system
turbines

"'That

of

atomic-electricity-*-

mercury
tion

water
By

turbines

will

take care of the normal, constant producof heat energy.

BRUCE Lora.

smiled

up

in

triumph to
it,

"That proves

think,

converting

it

doesn't it?"

to

electrical

energy
it.

they can

use and

"It certainly looks to pie like the an-

thus get rid of

For the short period

swer Bruce," she

replied,

her eyes glow-,

try
it it

of two hundred million horsepower used

in leaving a planet, they used heat-reservoirs,

ing with excitement.

"Can you

out

someway

practically?
its

What

will

do

tanks

of

liquid

hydrogen, the
the

can you limit

action?"

substance

which

holds

most

heat,

weight for weight, then they could get

rid of the heat slowly. ever,

"I'm sure I can. Those old mathematicians were right, when they made
their calculations, but

As

it

was, how-

wrong when they

I

even the atomic

cruisers

had

to

passed on unheeding.
infinitely

think this

is

stop at the Jovian satellite* to cool off

between jumps.
will

In space, only radiation

the heat

carry

away
at

you

see,

and

radiation
isn't

any

normal

temperature

more important than anything done. The Old Days had else anti-gravity, and we have it again." He nodded toward a large metal ball, float-

we have

very rapid.
the atomic eruisers
for battle,

ing unsupported in the

air,

a small string
its

"Now

holding

it

down, and against

tend-

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

ency to be thrown because of earth's
centrifugal
reaction,

37
known
as as 'atoms'

the property of space

correctly,

force.

"Now we
say,"

have anti-

then

it

should describe that

you might

property of space

known

'momentum'

"Those waves of force though must

act

and

'kinetic energy'

correctly.

against
I

something,"

objected

Lora.

perfectly

logical

derivation

Through on the

"When

made

the apparatus for you, I

to react

mathematics of the wave-atom, you can

derive this formula of
this kinetic energy.

didn't see
against.'*

what that was going

momentum, and

"They don't

react against .something,

they react against everything.

They

are
that

(,/

T*HEY
JL

seemed to
of

me

the simplest

of such incomprehensible
they slip through

fineness
call

means

proving

or

disproving
out nearly

what we

matter,

the theory.

Though worked

and space, and react against the stuff out of which our curved space is cut. They pull on all space. They push the
and the Sun, on Jupiter, Mars and the Magellenic Clouds equally.
earth,

fourteen hundred years ago,

in the twentieth century, they
tested. If a theory is
dict,

way back
were never
will pre-

good,

it

"Practically they
out the
tell-tale

mean a

ship withfire

come true. Here is a prediction that has come true. By these momentum waves we can drive a
and
its

predictions

streams of atomic

ship

silently,

invisibly

and almost

in-

pushing
visible.

along. Atomic rockets are it These momentum waves aren't."

detectably.

We

are one step toward the

defeat of the Polshins."

"It

seems strange that the wave theory

"Are you going

to

make a

ship

now?"

of atoms should lead to a means of generating

asked Lora eagerly.

momentum

directly in space."

"Any
tation

correct theory of the

atom must

our

"Not yet. We have not enough men in movement yet. Remember, we

delve far deeper than surface manifes-

must have workers enough to operate

the deserted machines here to

of force
into

we know

as matter. It

make
will

the

must take
of space.

account the real nature

aren't things

vast

number

of

things

we

need.

Atoms

they're
by the
are

symptoms of
fields

space.

We

detect magnetic
steel,

Only one hundred of us are living here permanently, and nearly a third of that

by their action on

or on an

electric particle.

We
atoms

detect space

number must spend the major portion of its time in services, making food on
the

existence

of

but

atoms

merely symptoms of space as the move-

ment of the compass needle is a symptom. The wave theory asserts, remember,

machines, and clothing and other Another portion must spend some time on the generators, and other
necessities.
is

apparatus. Scarcely a score of us

en-

that

every electron, every proton,

is

gaged in advance work.

every tiniest particle

of

actually a series
all

"Besides I
want to work
important
!"

have
out. It

another

thing

complex waves spread through

space.

may be even more

infinite

Over
out,

all

space,

these

waves cancel
wave-system
except in

the

trough
the

of
crest

one
of

"What Bruce?"
Bruce turned to
tant with a smile. the
his laboratory assis-

coming
that

on
tiny

another wave-set of that same electron,

only
bit

These members of
not clad in blue,

of space

new movement were

where we can detect its effects, where the waves are not visible, and we say
the electron or proton
is. it

or green.
white,

They wore costumes of pure trimmed with whatever color they

fancied

save
idea.

only

scarlet.

That

was

"That involves space. If

described

Don's

The

Scarlet would merely

38
have broken the law. been a choice.
Jt

AMAZING STORIES
would not have
the

and the recording meters mounted as

the
heaters

began

to

throw out

their

Lara was dressed

Hi

white cos-

electrons.

tume, trimmed with gold, as was Bruce.

"She's hot.

Now

watch."
dial

Slowly he

Her

jet-black hair

and dark eyes made a

it,

began turning a control

his

on one of
something

striking contrast to

contrast she

machines.

Abruptly
cubical box.

that some day Bruce would notice. But Bruce turned tp Jus laboratory assistant with a smile. "The solution to another problem the men of the Old

hoped

snapped softly into existence on the top

of the
little,

flat,

Carefully

Bruce focussed

it.

loud speaker be-

gan

to chatter meaninglessly.

As

abruptly
it

Pays never
"But

solved.

Television without

as the cloudiness
ified,

had appeared,

solid" in-

a sending device."
didn't they say in the

and the speaker began to talk

014 Days
before

telligibly.

that that

was impossible?"
did,

"They
it

but they also

that

said,

Three men bent over their work. They were clad in the white of the

had been done,

fly

chine that would

that

making

a ship to cross space

finally

making a mawas impossible, and was

that

Freedom Party.

The

delicate apparatus

they were working on was taking shape.

The scene was

high,

scarely

twelve
the

inches
the

impossible and.

overcoming

but

the

coloring,

detail,

gravity was impossible.

after
it

But they didn't

weave of the
absolute
Ten-ineh-tall

cloth

even,
that

was

in

such

had been done.

perfection

Lora gaspedinch--long

"The trouble is that you have to pick up some form of energy coming from
the scene
in

men working on

apparatus, their tiny hands

functioning

question

before you can

with perfect precision.

view it Light won't do, because bodies No wave will in between will stop it.
do thit
in
is

"What
Jon?

will it

he when

we
?

get through,
tike

This looks to

me

the

old

short enough to be effective

radio-receiving set circuit

Do you

sup-

delineating the object.

Radio waves

pose he's going to start a radio-broadeast station again?" "I doubt

it
it.

will penetrate, but they are so long that

they will also penetrate the body to be

The PoUhins might

pick

viewed."

up.

That would he bad.

It is prob-

"Then haven't you yourself was impossible?"

said

it

ably something quite different.

Rememfrom and

ber that radio-frequeney currents were,

used for thousands of purposes,

"TI/'ATCH.
' this

have been working on

sterilizing

foods
aiding

under
medical
fevers."

super-some
healing

while you were making up

waves,
causing

to

that apparatus for me. It isn't fully

pleted.
I
I

comthan

artificial

will

need a better

tie-in,

have now, between the two focusing

"Oh, Bruce! Ted! They're

granite walls!"

It's

Jon, and

sis blocks

Mark and away through

not
all

devices."

Bruce walked over

sulated
vices,

to a piece of ap-

"Not

all

of

them, Lora,

of

paratus he had set up on one of the inbenches.

tbem. Touch one of those images there."

There were two deThis third was

feet

Timidly Lora advanced her hand and,

half-frightened,

about ten feet apart, and directly

touched
finger

the

image of
easily

between them a third.

flat-topped,

Jon's

head.

Her

passed

some two
thick.

square and
to glow,

through it-but there was a slight resistance, just the barest feeling of pressure.

six

inches

One by one Bruce

Tubes began

turned them on.

"Whythey're

sort of solid!"

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

"They
tons.
arc.

39
built
Still

They are

real

images,

Days that had been gradually

in

up
the

they are part-formed electrons and pro-

the

old

This device here, perfected, will

ever

Polshins,

Mahtan district. fat and comfortable

centuries

in

their

mean more than anything we have

dreamed
fold
of.
It

assurance of power, not imagining such

will

surpass a million-

a movement after

of

peace,

the

televiso

system

of

the

Old

did not feel the growing tension.

Days.

The
proton
all

Plehbs

swung

more

briskly
still

"Every
exists

and
space.

every

electron

through Center Cube now, but

grinning
girl

the

through

Part of the

Polshin guards loitered aimlessly, laughing,

protons and electrons that compose Jon

exist in this

and

occasionally

still

space where
is.

we areand
That machine

Plehb

disappeared as she attracted

where the machine

that the rest,
ing,

the attention of one of those guards.

cancels out part of the electron- wave, so

become
I

real

no longer mutually cancelThose in our space.

of the
full,

Then Bruce and Don and movement would have

suppressing the

the leaders
their

hands

tendency

for

an

images are one one-hundred-thousandth

real.

untimely explosion.
that
this

have condensed them for great-

With a
just

realization

er solidity.

The microphone

was

have just
course of of rebellion.
so that
inevitable as

NOT

the

normal

events,

turned

off,

picks up the tiny voices of

those images, and amplifies

them

we can
"So

came a new feeling Before it had seemed as death. Now it was not.

actually hear them.

far as I

know

the device has no

distance limits!"

"Bruce

you
and

mean we could pick up

!"

Silently, the Freedom scientists were Bruce was not alone now; he was the director of a competent and

working.

even the planets

growing force of
we've
it

scientists..

One man

"We
first

can.

When
Because

built the big

is

was studying the problem of insulation

against the shock-rods of the Polshins,

apparatus,
step.

at that

to be our

can reverse the

appear.

another that of

the

problem of hand-

process, and

make myself
limited.
I

But

there

am

cannot

appear

weapons for the Plehbs. Others were aiding Bruce in his studies of the atom. More
and more Bruce was realizing that he
studied not the atom, but the properties

further than

one thousand miles away

with any practical apparatus, and at that

distance
I

must make myself a ghostly

of space.

The

gravity-field

was one of
field

image

fifty feet tall."

his greatest aids, the

magnetic

sec-

ond, yet both of these had to be handled

UNDER
paratus he installed
l-ices,

Bruce's

direction,

the

ap-

cautiously
to

for their effects reached out

was begun within a week. They, who made it, did not know why
all

infinity,

and powerfully to the Sur-

face, at

where some Polshin might wonder

the elaborate timing de-

them.

the

careful

clock-work.
occasionally,

And
be-

Three months were needed

struct the timing

to

congreat

Bruce

appeared

only

devices of

the

cause most of the time he left the

to Lora.

work

projector.

Two

months more saw the

Week after week passed. The apparatus neared completion, the Freedom movement spread through all N'yak, till more than half the Plehbs were enrolled
in
it,

two focusing machines set up. A full eight months passed all together before the apparatus was ready for its first
trial.
it,

and had seen the City of the Old

the

All the staff that had worked on and many of the elected leaders of Freedom Party were present. Based

40 now on
These
the
rived.
Briefly, to

AMAZING STORIES
the Planetary
Socialistic

Govwith

will

be

fully

capable

of

anything

we

ernment, elected leaders ruled the party.

elected

need.

delegates

gathered

"The big apparatus

stage there
is

is

ready.

That

scientists

and Bruce and Don arthe

leaders,

ten by ten, arjd I will put

on

it

life-size

human

images, with one

Don Wade
first

ten thousandth real sQlidity.

jects

The
a

subslight

described the intended functions of the

which are viewed

tensity,

will feel

machine.
all

With

it,

they hope4

of

electrical

but absolutely nothing

to see the other cities of earth.

To

that will disturb

them

in the Jeast,

see whether there, too, the

same system
Then,

"I have adjusted the controls to view

of

Pojshin and

Plehb existed.

the old city of Shkagathe Center

level."

This should
at the

fee

they hoped to turn their giant eye put

to

Loop Cube,

ground

Mars and Venus,

to

to

see

what had
of

happened
Planets.

the

civilization

the

Bruce walked to the main controls, This was, actually and started them.

"Does

it

require so huge a machine

and

really,

the

first

time

the

machine
tubes

for shorter ranges, earth-scenes ?"

gates.

such as looking at

as a whole had been tested.

The

asked

one of

the

dele-

warmed, a low humming echoed momentarily

from

the

speakers.

Thenab-

ruptly,

solidification

was complete.
a
portion

On
of

""VTO," Bruce

replied.

"I

can,

and

the

stage

there

was
the

* *

will,

make much
But

smaller replicas

building, fading off into misty unreality at the edges of focus.

of the important parts of this machine

for that purpose.
this

Dark

rub-

machine

is

bish lay at

its

base,

and on the pavement.

all

intended

for

viewing the planets.

To

make
to

that possible, I

had

to

mount an
For Thanton

There were no people on the stage; was dark, apparently.

enormously complex clock-work device

follow the planetary motions.

The

Bruce rapidly condensed the image. building shrank, and the whale of

instance, to

on

Callisto,

view a city such as I have first to neutralize

the great

Cube was
It
is

visible,

dark,

and

rubbish-heaped.
this section.

earth's daily rotational

movement, than
to
Callisto's

"There are no men in dark here, evidently.

by our
lights here.
I will shift

to

neutralize

the

effects

The image
In
the focus."
to

is

lighted

daily rotation, her orbital rotation Jupiter,

around
motion

reality, it is utterly dark.

and

Jupiter's

orbital

The

setting blurred,

seemed

around the Sun.

All

of

this

requires

shimmer and change,

flashes of solid

an exceedingly complex apparatus. And already now, sets similar to the primary
vi&w-apparatus
tion.

rock obscured everything, then suddenly

for an instant a flashing

human

figure

are

in

machine-produc-

appeared and was gone.

Instantly Bruce

We
is

that

had to cut what took so

are

dies for that,

long.

and

changed the setting back.

It

That, and

was a passage, lighted

evidently.
in

the

development work.

But the techa

similar

Half a dozen human figures

garb slunk disconsolately
corridor
in
;

grey

nicians

now working on
will

down

the rocky

device

which

have

an

illimitable

at its

end was a Polshin guard,

orange
the

theoretical range, that

and a

practical

range

the

deep

Polshjns

of

Athena.
but

would permit glimpses of However, this device

feet

life

on
be

Shkaga wore. Bruce raced down the corridor

will

with his settings, branched to a

two

square,

and three inches

earth,
it

larger one,

down

tbat,

and

finally

reached

thick.

For viewing scenes on

a small Cube.

There were more people

THE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

hete, Plthbs in grey,

41

and dark red and

dark blue.
highest,

The Red here was evidently Bat the men recognized again

An trees and solid mountains. angry cry mounting up from the audigreen
ence dfowned out the sound, as the scene

the Plehb and the Polshin,

was established
forest of pities.
its

at

last

in

swaying
a
quiet

ruined bridge flung

across

IN

swift succession, Bruce brought in

broken

members

scenes

from

San Franco, Washton,

stream. "I think that Will be enough of that,"

and a dozen other cities. Then, in Londn, he found again the Polshin and the Plehb in Berlin and
in

Bruce decided harshly.

"I did not pick

Paris.

In

Tokyo and
iio

Peiping.
cities

In

every major
tried

City.

Only three

he

showed
Utterly

human

life,

deserted

and
afid

dead.

Barcelona,

Munich

Lyons.
us what the Polshins are do-

up the Polshins at first, because I feared some such scene. We did not have to see in order to know. We have heard all this. I think it Would be best if we used now the* more complex features, and viewed Mars, that is the great
problem
fallen
really.

"Show

ing above us!" called a delegate.

fered a like fate?

Have Has

the planets suftheir civilization

Bruce smiled grimly.

prepared
for
this

Don

Steel

had
for

so far as has ours?

Remember,
but
a

request.

Not

We

never

did

have

anything

nothing had he studied mass psychology,

straight democratic government, with

no

and he had searched for many minutes on BrUce's original model of the machine

proper
ently.

controls.

Mars
they

started

differ-

Perhaps

have

not

fallen

knew Would most quickly and effectively rouse the people. Suddenly the stage was a garden, a magnificent garden of flowers and
before finding the scene he
shrubs.
It

quite so low."

Carefully he was setting his apparatus now, with the aid of two other trained

mathematicians, one in training

now

to

was
a

night,

but sdft lights

In the garden
figures.

be an astronomer.
then

made
were

dim

illumination.

scarcely

dGzen

Two
The
from
cheek.

The clockwork began was silenced to a

it

to

hum

softly,

barely

audible

young Polshin men, an older

and three Plehb
older Polshih
five

Polshin,

purr as
"I

got into action.

girls in a group.

think

we
five

are ready.

We
miles

should
of
the

was

bleeding- freely
fat

be within
planet.

thousand

long gashes across his

One

of the Pltfhb girls Was bound to a

exact time,

pair of young, stout trees,

the Polshin
at

had a heavy whip, and was beating

her body With
all

his fat strength.

Her
criss-

whole
cross
in

raiment

Was colored

by

know the we are not absolutely certain, even, that we know the exact day. The old calendar was known to have defects, and we may be wrong. However" The lights had been turned off in the
Ydii see^we do not

streaks of blood,

she hung loose

main part of the room now, and only

her bounds, perking feebly to each

some very carefully designed

lighted

reflectors

stroke of the whip.

Low moans came

cries

the

scene.

Abruptly-

on
some

the
five

from the speaker, and soft

the

from

stage appeared a floating ball,

feet in diameter.

two other Plehb

girls,

held by the
scene.

Just within the limits

observation,

two younger men, watching the

Abruptly Bruce cut the
across.

of

the

machine's

was an-

dials sharply

other ball, a tiny ball scarcely larger than a golf

ball,

rumbling roar sounded from

jagged rock,

jagged and ruggedly shadlarger ball

the speaker as there were flashed on the

stiige

owed
ing
it.

in the light of the spotlight flood-

masses of tumbled,

The

was edged with

42

AMAZING STORIES
they ever had!

a thin, shining belt of light, bright in the powerful spotlight.

space ships

They must have

settings,

ships,

Bruce twisted the

until

the

"]\/fARS,"
to equal that
!

said Bruce,

"and even
out, I

in

scene
tiny,

on the stage shrunk, and grew

the buildings

"* the 'Old Days' they had nothing

reappeared,

dimin-

We

will

win

am

ished, the city

sure."

became small and the curve of the planet showed itself again. The
ships sailing about the city seemed con-

The
satellite

planet

ished at the edge of the scene.

expanded swiftly, the tiny became hazy, ghostly, and vanTiny

centrated

near

great

open

square.

spots appeared on the very slowly turn-

Bruce re-expanded the scene, entering on this view. The square was huge, so
great that the great ships even seemed
small.
side, It

ing globe, spots of black and glowing

light.

"Those
even

are

lights

on

Mars,"

was

fully

three miles

on a
it.

Bruce
as

said, his voice tense. in

"Lights shine

the city, actually, built around

as they watched,

lights,

this

device."

The
of

And

they saw some-

surface

came
it

nearer,

toward
light.

one
It

thing dart into being on the screen, a

those shining clumps of

grew,

and, as

grew, the rotation of Mars

huge something that settled on the field, and occupied a space half a mile long.

became evident. The scene was turning past them. Bruce centered it again, and
engaged
another

titanic

space

freighter.

The

scene

steadied and

piece

of

clockwork.

"A "Why
have

space

ship!"

Bruce
look
at

exclaimed.
if

do they never come here

they

expanded

abruptly.

They were hanging,

a great
city of black

it

seemed, some
city.

Venus The

them?
stage

Let's

Callisto

grew blank with

the night

ten thousand feet above the

It

was

of space.

In seconds, the giant of the

and gold and

silver

and

colors.

The

buildings towered slim

a six-foot

Solar System appeared, mighty Jupiter, ball, with smaller balls mov-

and graceful, ships flew through the air around them, and into them. Only here there was no perspective. Bruce altered
the setting, and the whole
iature,
city, in

ing slowly about him, planetary in size

themselves.
Callisto

it

separated, cen-

tered on the stage, then abruptly clicked

into

min-

immobility
in.

as

the

clockwork

was

was on

the stage.

Now

the ships

thrown

flew across the stage, and tiny, crawling

dots

In moments Bruce had located Thantor.

moved

in streams below.

Thantor was a mass of moving, happy

people.

Abruptly there appeared a section per-

Small
about.

transplanetary

ships

haps two blocks square. Only half the buildings were visible, the upper halves People, soaring off into the upper air.
thousands
seemed,
ways.
of
gaily

moved
ships
circled

Slightly larger inter-moon

and gigantic interplanetary ships and moved freely.

ships,
full

dressed

people

it

flowed

along

on the moving
laughing,

VENUSmore
Space seemed

moving

freely.

They

were
Brisk,

smiling,

of them.

happy.
ever

scene such as no Plehb had

clear

on the

Moon and

earth

Only were there no

of himself.
?

seen.

sounds

came
of

great space ships.

through

the

speaker,

the

sounds

"Why?"

asked every

man

voices mingled faintly, the

hum and

rush

"Why

is

earth alone deserted thus

Why

of vast business.
"Civilization didn't fall there!" gasped

was earth left to a savage, feudal system in an ultra-machine age?"

Muttering, stupefied

Don.

"They have

all

the

civilization

men

left the hall.

TEE CONTEST OF THE PLANETS

Back
to their jobs,

43

had sent them.

eartb>cities

and Back

to the to
tell

men who
of
other

stantly

day and night, were observing

things on earth. Five of them observed

in

under the crushing rule of

N'Yak, the other

Shkaga,

six

Were trained
Washton,

the Polshins.

Back

to to

tell

of Plehb girls

on

San
the

Franco,

bound and beaten

death

by heavy

Felfya, St. Loui.

whips in gardens of beautiful flowers

Swiftly
city

now
cut,

campaign with the

and tinkling fountains.

millions of
planets.

Of hundreds

of

was

gaining.

And now new

to

dies

happy people on the other

to

were being

dies

make

the pro-

Happy people from Mercury

jection apparatus

Bruce had mentioned.

being chosen,

far out Athena.

And

misery, and terror

In every city

men were

and hate only on earth.

shins, taking Plehbs as

Ko

brutal Polliv-

without their even being aware of the

examinations, for the local leaders.

mere animals

ing solely for their amusement, save on

earth.

Bosn, Felfya,

Shkaga, and Washton

would be the
in

cities

where the
cities

first starts

would be made. These

were within

AND going
the

the hall,

furious

work was
set

the possible range of Bruce's projector,

forward.

Nearly twenty of

here he would be able to reach out And

electron-Ware

visors

were

up

speak to the men, the personnel, which

directors chose.

within three days, the stamped parts com-

ing out in

steady

stream now.

force of permanent dwellers in

The Mahtan
to

And Bruce worked

other problems.
Still

constantly at his

he had merely beL

increased
fifty,

now

to nearly

two hundred and

beginning
in

even
a

the

Polshins
difference

notice

slight

the

city,

They had communication but not Time and time again he had tried to make the apparagun.
material communication.
tus transmit the entire piece of matter
it

were working
simpler
these

at furious speed.

Smaller.

clock-drives

worked

nine

of

viewed.

Time and time again on

had
failed.

the

wave-visors.

Nine of these maoperation obplanets,

tiniest particles-~-he

When

he

chines
serving

Were
oh

in

constant

reached the half -transmitted point, instantaneously

to

the

nine

and the
satel-

some

terrific force

seemed
played
it

great machine
lite

was examining the

it

wrench

all

space

with

unutterable
arcs

worlds which

alone could follow.

violence.

Terrific

flaming

Recording
thing seen.

cameras

took

down
operated

every-

momentarily over his apparatus

fused in ruins.

and

The

other

machines,

con-

So Bruce worked on something

I.

else.

End of Fart

44

The World
By ISAAC R.

flame iA

NATHANSON

In this story /. R. Nathanson delves into the world of the atom in which such marvelous potentialities are locked up, which we may hope for man It gives a strange picture of natural to eventually set free and utilize. forces exceeding mans control and making one almost afraid of the future.

CHAPTER

Here
dramatic
in the

the

Professor
his

lapsed

into

pause,
fire

dark
;

eyes

aglow

DEEP
er's
lips.

silence

reigned

with the
iron-gray

of the prophet

his tousled

Lecture Hall. The listeners

sat

hair,

brushed

back

from

with

wrapt
in

attention

massive forehead, accentuated the

tual

spiri-

drinking
that
fell

every

word

expression

of

face

which was
exact
to

from the speakProfessor Samuel Mendoza,

stu-

more
a

that of a poet or musician than of

hard-thinking,

mathematically

admired and revered by the entire

dent body, was an inspired lecturer.

scientist.

His gaze shifted from one

ascetic

the other of his listeners, rested

lean,

on the
face of

"...

Indee^" the Professor was

"it
is

handsome, almost
the

saying in his concluding remarks,

young James Tomlinson.

almost impossible for the

human mind
call the

"And

conquest

of

the

internal

to conceive of the vast energies residing

energy of the atom," the Professor then

continued, "is not as far off as
think.

within that microcosm

we

atom.

many
it

From what
of
it:

other source come the prodi-

Of

this,

as you have seen,

privilege
to

has

gal radiations of sun

and stars? Think Within one pound of ordinary

if

been

my

happy

present

prosaic matter

annihilated,

there

is

some measure of proof. "But" pointing a long

finger as his

enough energy to
perature!

raise 100,000,000 tons

listeners,

of water from freezing to boiling tem-

warning

as "with
jinni

if

sounding
the

an

ominous
this all-

coming of

powerful
the

of science,

comes also
responsibility

"When

day comes that we can

unequalled

responsibility;

hitch on to the mighty energies locked

away within the body of the atom, a truly new age of man will be ushered
in.

most solemn and tremendous upon those charged with the proper use of this
illimitable force entrusted to man's care. These intra-atomic energies are too vast and fundamental to be ill used or trifled

All

the

past achievements

of the

human
parison.

race will be as nothing, the fire

in

of Prometheus a mere plaything

comall-

with.

With such power

in his hands,

a
so

Even

flight to other

worlds in

time

may

well

come, perhaps not

space

greatest miracle perhaps of

very far
race

off,

when

the very life of the

may
in

opment.

then follow as the inevitable develWhat this alone would mean

life,

the
all

stability of the planet itself

may depend on how mankind

make
"In
earnestness
I

chooses to

revolutionizing

no one in our

use of such a priceless gift.

close with these

generation can even begin to visualize."

45

JO an

An

indescribable electric tension filled the air; a sputtering, crackling roar assailed their ears, tingled every nerve and cell of their bodies.

46

AMAZING STORIES
latest

solemn words uttered from the bottom

of

experiments

which
with

they

were

my

heart

Man

will

either

rise

to

pushing
2eal.

through

such

fanatical

the heights of the gods, or, if he does

The "Chief" himself

was

not take care, he

stroy himself!"

may

just as *asily de-

there

"with

didn't think

proper

precautions

;"

but, as he often remarked,

"When

.you

step out into the cold realm of the un-

HP HE lecturer had finished.

*-

The
if

post-

known,

strange

things

are

possible."
re-

graduate students

filed

slowly out of
still

No, Professor Mendoza must have

tarian,

the room, strangely silent, as

un-

ferred to the improper, nay inhumanidestructive,

der the speaker's

that

spell.

He
all

always had

even senseless
scientific

uses
dis-

uncanny

effect

upon
life

who

listened

to

which the greatest of

Perhaps
in

to him.

He

breathed

and drama even

coveries are often put by the world at

large.

into the
subjects.

most abstract and technical of

brilliant

many ways
that, in the

it

might

prove only too true

pupil

not far

James Tomlinson,
as

and

distant future, the very life of the race

great favorite with Professor Mendoza,

well as his tireless assistant,

would

depend

upon how

it

chose

to

waited

make
toying

use of the

new

forces released by

patiently
still

while the Professor, evidently

science.

Could
with

it

be true that
lightning

man was
would

under the

momentum

of his lecture,

the

that

slowly and absent-mindedly collected his

papers.

destroy him in the end!

"Ah,

yes,

Jim.

Have you

finished

CHAPTER

II

with those equations?"

"Last night, sir. They're in my room. Checked them over most carefully." "Better go get them and meet me in
the laboratory in half an hour."

WHEN
his

Jim

entered
the

the

great

laboratory,

"Chief"

was

already hard at work.

Despite

sixty-seven years, the scientist

was

Jim

left

the

building,

crossed

the

spacious,

grass-covered

campus,

sweet-

remarkably youthful in appearance, and might have been taken easily for no

smelling after a recent rain, and hurried

his
full

more than
have
lost

fifty.

The

fire in his eyes,

the
to

toward his quarters.

thoughts,

All the way,

energy of his hand and brain, seemed

eager

and aflame,

were
on

of

the prodigious

experiments

which the Professor was embarked.

could scarcely believe that he,
linson,

He Jim Tomshould

none of the vigor of youth. himself was a glutton for work, he often marveled at the older

Though Jim
man's

tireless energy.

obscure

and

unknown,

have been so signally honored as to have

been chosen by the great Mendoza to
assist

looking
diately

The Professor nodded to Jim without up. The younger man immedonned
his laboratory

smock and

him

in his

profound researches.
running over and over

was soon

also absorbed in the elaborate

The
in his

substance of the lecture he had

experiments,

just heard kept

working the

last

on which they had been two years. Daily, often

testing,

mind, particularly the concluding

far into the late hours of the night, they

remarks, uttered with such solemn and

passionate earnestness.

had thus driven ahead, figuring,

experimenting,
studying.

Was

there a hid-

More
it

than
trail

den meaning, more than his mere words had indicated, which had passed over
the listeners' heads?

once they had seemed close on the

of their quarry, yet somehow
eluded

always

Surely there could

their

them.

With

the

characteristic

be no serious physical threat in

patience of true scientists, they were not

THE WORLD AFLAME

the
least
bit

47
enormous
near
cost.

discouraged.

Rather,

imall

X-ray

tubes, built at an
in a

portant results only drove them on

the harder.

These were arranged

shining ^netal

circle.

large peculiarly designed

that

mechanism of

The hours on
forgot
their

particular

after-

was spaced between every

noon came and went. In

evening

their zeal, both

ten tubes, dividing the battery into four

meal.

The long
became

main
one

divisions.

The whole,

linked

to-

summer's day turned

dark outside.
intense
Still

to twilight,

gether end to end, could be operated as

they worked on with

mighty unit the

world.

wonder of

the im-

concentration,

exchanging

only

scientific

All around

was an
of
a

the necessary words.

posing array of mechanical and electrothat

Though both knew

experiment

the

special

magnetic apparatus,

mostly

kind

on

which

they

were
of

just

and design altogether new

an
ordinary
engineer

to the eyes of

then engaged was far advanced toward

possible
success,

or

laboratory

neither

them

worker.

Huge
feature

generators
of

were humAnother
arresting

dreamed that, during the later hours of the same night, they would so suddenly and with such dramatic fierceness succeed in unshackling
the

ming
special

their

tong

power.

immediately

the eye,

were the two 30-foot spheres

negative and
positive

chains of the
Still

of highly polished metal, which Served

as

awful jinni of atomic energy.

could they

less

the

terminals

dream of

the

ultimate con-

of

an

enormous

electrical

field.

The
the

sequence of that particular night's work

to

highly

charged apparatus gave

to

the

whole earth,

to

everything that

air Of the

lived and ran and crawled or

swam

or

Now
flash

room a sharp tang of ozone. and then, would come a forked

crackling

grew on

it

or flew over
itself

it.

of dazzling intensity, followed by

explosion
that

The
best,

laboratory
certainly

was one of the

thoroughly
Upkeep, esincident
Its

loud,

shook

the

most

the walls of the building.

equipped in the world.

pecially

the enormous expense

"QO

to the elaborate

and profound researches

far,

so
in

good,"

Prof.

Mendoza

spoke

a slow, quiet voice.

to

"Now

and experiments, was not infrequentlyobjected to by some of those in control

of the University funds, but

we are ready
force of our
beryllium.
point
in
I

concentrate the entire

voltage
believe

on that piece of

was more

we have reached a when we

step

or less grudgingly acquiesced in due to the quiet insistence of the master physicist

our experiments where there

hit

should be no

or miss

and the influence of some of his

up that stream of speeding protons.

should
hits,

We

able colleagues in and out of the University.

score

at
to

least
split

twenty per cent

the beryllium nuWe'll

enough
!" I

The main
tory

portion of the entire laboraset

cleuses wide

open but

have to be

wing was

.vide

for

the

ex-

careful

clusive use of the great

Mendoza. This

"Shall

turn on the power?" Jim en*

was specially equipped, and very few had access to it without his special permission. There, surrounded by a maze
of extraordinary apparatus, the scientist

quired

in his

an

equally

calm

tone,
it

al-

though
to

heart

was pounding;
test.

was
the

be the crucial

"Yes:

increase

slowly.

When

was
the

to be

found

at

almost

all

hours of

the day

or night.

center of the huge laboratory,

Most prominent, in was

beryllium atoms begin to kick out neutrons heavily, we'll turn on full force

and see what happens."

"Isn't

the multiple battery of forty gargantuan

that" the younger man moisf

48
tcned
risky;
his
lips

AMAZING STORIES
and
hesitated

"rather

humming and
"Now,
lets try

vibrating

and crack-

might burn out something with-

ling.
full

out stronger insulating shields?"

power," the Pro-

"Perhaps.

But

this field

has already

fessor

commanded.
the

speeded up before to near 500 million

volts,

Jim shoved
limit
.
.

main switch to the

with no bad results. Another hun-

twenty million volts

... 30

dred million or so should not get out of

hand.
Besides,
right

million

money
set

we can't get any more now for a more powerful

So guess
little

THEY held
first

their breath.

It

was

the
full

of

insulators.

we'll

just

time they ever dared the

indescribable
air;
electric

have to
ahead.
gained,'

take

chance

and

go

load.
filled

An
the

tension

'Nothing

ventured,

nothing

spluttering,
ears,

crackling

you

know.

But stop quickly

pushed
the

roar

assailed
cell

their

tingled

every

when
Jim
power.

call out.

Are you ready?"

and

nerve and

of

nodded

main

the

concentrated

their bodies. Under bombardment of the

switch part way, gradually increased the

terrifically

speeding

protons,

magneticeffect the
hits,

ally controlled

and guided to
of nuclear

metal got under

The bombardment of the beryllium way with a powerful

The extreme power of their disposal was capable
was only
for
this

maximum number
super-gamma
began
rays,

complate

bined with the intense flood of piercing

the

stream of protons produced from ionized hydrogen.

beryllium

to radiate

with intense brilliancy.

the plant at

And

as the process of accelerating the

of 30 million volts. But that

a

bombarding protons by means of the

circular electro-magnetic field continued,

beginning,

mighty

power
to

could

be

gradually

stepped

up

an

the voltages climbed to fantastic heights

. . .

even vastly greater voltage by means of

the tremendous circular electro-magnetic
field,

800 million
intensity

volts

The temperature
degrees
to
that

at the focal point

recorded the unimagof

which could accelerate the shoot-

inable

2,000,000

ing protons to hundreds of millions of

volts

centigrade,

comparable
in

only
interior

power never before dreamed

which obtains
stars.

the

of

the

of in laboratory science.

As

the enorthe

No

such

artificial

heat

had ever
in

mous

voltage

increased,
at

speeding ever

been thought
test,

possible.

As

if

pro-

bombarding
velocities,

particles

greater
of

the specially designed thermometer

the

electrostatic

charges

suddenly exploded in a cloud of gas.

the

atomic nucleuses,
the

which ordinarily
began
to

Professor Mendoza slammed shut the

anti-radiation screen of the insulated in-

repel

oncoming protons,
completely,

break

down
with

permitting

an

ever deeper penetration of the nuclear

hearts,

from behind whose thick quartz windows they were taking observations.
closure,

more frequent

collisions.

And
ful,

well for

them that he did

Aiding mightily in the new process of atomic annihilation as devised by Professor Mendoza, was a piercing concentration of super-gamma rays of cosmic ray intensity- Further and further went

just then something let

so. For go with an aw-

explosive

roaring. like that of

es-

caping steam under a tremendous head.

The

brilliantly

incandescent
to

beryllium
bluish-

suddenly

turned

strange

the switch.

Ten

million volts!

The

white radiation of such dazzling intensity as to all

mighty X-ray tubes glowed fiercely with From the their surcharge of power.
rest

but overpower the senses.

fierce

So overwhelmingly
light rays

became

the

of the complicated apparatus

came

which pierced every nook and

THE WORLD AFLAME

cranny
of
the
laboratory,
it

49
it

was imtheir

so suddenly

had

all

happened, someIn no time

possible to

open the eyes for more than

time,

body turned in an alarm.

a moment, even when they turned backs to the source. At the same
ing rays became unbearable,

came the loud

fighters.

siren of the speeding fire-

huge

crowd
all

gathered.

despite the protecting screen, the sear-

People flocked from

directions,
fire

ham-

pering the work of the

department.

"Quick, turn off the power," the Professor yelled.

As
eral

the fire

grew rapidly worse, a gen-

alarm brought almost every piece

Almost at the same instant, young Tomlinson threw back the main power
switch.

of apparatus in the city to the scene.

The immense Physics Building was soon

an inferno of flames, even threatening
the other buildings.

To
the

their

fright

as

well

as

amazement, the overpowering rays and

heat

While high above

falling

and

deafening

roaring

con-

the crackling flames, the the

walls,

tinued unabated.

The power

apparently

shouts

and other

noises,
terrific

the

two

would not turn

off.

scientists could

hear the

roaring

"Something's gone wrong; the switch

won't work," the younger

of the disintegrating beryllium,

blinding and searing radiations

whose

man

gasped.

made

The

older

man

turned swiftly to the

near approach to the burning building

control panel, shading his eyes with his

very dangerous. In a short time the building was in

complete
all

hands to
all

see.

"Ifs

in

working order
disconnect
the

right;

quick

let's

ruins.

The

fire-fighters

bent
in-

cable."

their efforts

toward keeping the

the

They
either.

worked

frenziedly

to

discon-

tense flames from spreading to the other

buildings

nect the power.

no good suffocating rush of gas and

But
that

did

on

campus.

Mighty

streams of water from

many

lines of hose,

deadly heat rays penetrated their shelter.

The two were

momentarily,

forced

to flee

for

thrown with great force from the highpressure mains with which the city was
provided, seemed of no avail.

their lives. In the corridor outside they

The water
it

halted

shaken and

unde-

turned to steam almost as last as

fell

cided what to do.

They were
off,

sure the

on the burning building.

And from
same same

the
ter-

power had been turned

would not put a
refused to they had started.

but that

costly laboratory continued the

rific

halt to the thing

which
nature

hissing and roaring, the

blind-

The laws
as

of

ing

and searing

heat, undiminished

and

work
it

expected.
at the

mystifying and
terrifying.

was

It was same time

unquenchable.
Outside, among the milling and extwo scientists, pale and temporarily unnerved, turned to excited spectators, the

The
that

building shook and trembled so,

the

instinctively

two ran

outside.

change

significant

glances.

Upon

looking back at the huge wing which housed the laboratory, they were
to

almost like two frightened children

They were who

and gotten
up, finally

had been playing with

badly burned.

fire

horrified

see

burst

of

white hot

flames shooting

from every window. In

at

"Jim," the older

man spoke

a thrice the whole wing was enveloped in fire and smoke. The flames spread
rapidly to the rest of the
ing,

regaining his usual composure,

last

"we have

unchained our jinni of Atomic

immense
to

build-

Energy."
"Well, that's what

forcing

them

to retreat

a safe

we have

all

along

distance.

While they were standing bewildered,

younger man answered with a wry smile.

tried to do, isn't it?" the

50

AMAZING STORIES
CHAPTER
III

worshiping assistant, now and then pathy and anxiety

"We'll
quick,"

cast-

ing a side-long glance of mingled sym-

ALL

that night

and throughout the

at the older

man,

next day, and the nights and ' days which followed, the roaring and flaming of the disintegrating ele-

have to do something and came from Professor Mendoza

almost in a groan.
the
possibilities."

ment continued with no apparent diminution in hs intensity. To those that came and beheld the spectacle, it was fascinating and Was somehow frightening. It was a sort of intensified version of
Moses' burning bush.

"I'm worried over His teeth were chat-

tering as if

with cold.

"You mean?"
"Well, of
that
to

you know, the disintegration berylliummight communicate

other elements, unless neutral-

itself

"Somebody oughter put a

crazy
scientists

stop to those
fool

ized.

Look," pointing to several small

and

their

experi-

molten streams, brilliantly incandescent,

that

ments," one overawed onlooker remarked

to those standing near him.
they'll

were flowing
small,

out

of
that

the

ruined
of

"Some day
in-

building.

"Fortunately
is

piece

"I don't see the good of

blow up the damned town." any more

group of

beryllium
radiate
all

and

may perhaps

its

substance before anything

ventions," another all-knowing being delivered himself to a

listeners.

happens

to the intra-atomic structure of

other matter."

"Too much machinery and unemployment

as
it

is.

If

it

was up

to me, I'd pass a

"And if it does infect-?" The Professor shrugged his

ders.

shoul-

law

prohibiting
until

inventions

any more newfangled everybody had a job.

if

"Come, we've got

to lose."

to

do something
himself

no time
again.

He was now

Mark

you,

men:

new
as
all

things
they've

keep
done,

cropping up as

fast

At

his

urgent request, after voicing

machinery

will

be doing

the work, and

a possible danger, the University heads,

in cooperation with the city

everybody '11 be thrown out of a job."

and county
electro-

"You

can't

put the blame on those

authorities, aided the scientist in assem-

fellows for that," countered a listener,

bling

the

necessary

powerful

"Under the right industrial system, the work of inventors and such will only create more wealth for everybody."
"Industrial system, hell!

magnetic and other equipment Which he

called for.
It

took ten days of stubborn

fighting

What's that

on the part of Professor Men; doza and Jim Tomlinson, aided by a

of technicians,
before they
suc-

got to

do with furnishing those nutty

corps

professors with oodles of dough so they

ceeded,

by means of
which
as to

a reverse process,

can putter around with expensive dew-

in so retarding the fierce rate of atomic

dags while thousands are starving right

radiation

was
finally

annihilating

the

now."

beryllium,
this

bring

it

under

While
fessors"

impromptu
standing
at

forum
far

was
away,

control.

gathering heat, one of "those nutty pro-

was

not

WELL,
sighed

that's

that," the Professor

wringing his hands

the sight of his

with

huge

relief.

"The

expensive "dew-dags", which had taken

so

next thing

is

an effective means of con-

many

years to develop,

undergoing

trolling this jinni

and of making

irretrievable destruction.

woebegone

for us, whether

it

it Work comes from beryllium

expression was on his pale face.

side,

At

his

or any other element."

also

sad

and

forlorn,

stood

his

But the mighty

jinni of atomic energy

THE WORLD AFLAME

were not so docile as to be conquered
thus easily by man's genius.
It is

51

al-

As a University president, Dr. Lorman undoubtedly was a far better politician.

ways

easier to let loose or distroy than

That

is,

he had a far keener eye

to synthesize

and

create.

to politics behind adequate finance,

and

The
but the

repercussions of his

discovery was not to end here.

first

momentous It was
in-

on which
to

side the University's bread, not

mention his own, was buttered, than

of a chain of events of
nobly-i mentioned

matters pertaining to mere learning.

He

which Professor Mendoza was the

nocent
that

and

initiator,

was therefore extremely careful of anything in the way of deeds, or even mere
unconventional
utterances

was destined

to end in such

an

all

anywhere

consuming
earth.

catastrophe

for

the

whole

within the realm of the institution under

his
jurisdiction,

The scientific genius which should and could be used for the glory and achievement of a greater humanity and
a
finer
civilization,
is

whether by student or

teacher,

that

might offend the delicate

still

sensibilities

and
the

more

delicate pock-

often

as

not

etbooks of

influential

donors and
it is,

garbled and misused and misdirected by

others
for personal

keepers of the school. Certain

there

or selfish aims, to

had been a rumor among those who professed to be in the know, that the dignified Dr.

the detriment, nay tragedy of countless

numbers.

Lorman owed

his

high posi-

On
doza
finally

the

morrow

after Professor
in

Menand

tion, to

an extent few appreciated, to his

had

succeeded
the

subduing

well-connected political association rather

nullifying

atomic

outburst
its fierce

than
other

to

his

profound

educational

or

which had so amazingly kept up

radiation

abilities.

long after the building

itself

had been reduced to a shapeless mass of steel and masonry, he was called into "conference" by the dignified president
of

*OE
^-*
quite
fire

that as

it

may, the good Dr. Lordisastrous

man was

thoroughly dismayed and

put out by the recent

the

great

university.
tor-

To

understand more clearly the

which had wrecked the newest and finest building on the campus, and came
to

tuous, psychological twistings which, op-

uncomfortably close
others.
least,

destroying some
time,
to

erating

within

the

some human

skulls,

duced such mournful

narrow confines of have so often proresults, we must

At

the

same

say the

he was quite annoyed at the disphysicist

tinguished

who had been

the

digress slightly on the character of the

careless, if unwitting

and unhappy cause

before,

head of the university.

Dr.

of the disaster.
since

More than once

it

Quentin Ix>rman, the somewhat

president,

taking

office,

had occurred to

past middle-age

had entered

him, and
greater

now came
certainty,

to

him with even

the
physicist,

into his duties as the head of the great

institution of learning about a year prior

that

granting his great

distinction,

had

all

to

the disastrous

fire

earlier

described.

along been allowed too much, altogether

too much, of the lately restricted University funds for those never-ending
costly experiments of his.

If a signally imposing appearance, fine

carriage and
indication

grace
inner

of

manner
let

is

any
alone

and

of

abilities,

Could there
school
thing,

character, then indeed the

Board of Di-

be any doubt of
needed
a

rectors had

made

a fine choice. Unforexterior appearances

lies

it now? The new gymnasium, for one

tunately, however,

much more. There was

ity for a

a crying need

do not always tell what man's head, still less his

inside

voiced by a large and vociferous major-

heart.

new and

larger stadium.

After

52
all,

AMAZING STORIES
he had his obligations to the student
not to mention the alumni.
sorry.

No

doubt there was

full

insur-

body,
sides

Be-

ance ?"
"Well, hardly," and he gave the luckless scientist

he doubted

if

the Professor, Con-

sidering his age. could accomplish

much
the

an icy

stare.

"You

see, the

more anyway. And even allowing

utmost
charitable

for the

insurance companies take the stand that

in

view,
of

what did

view of your highly dangerous ex-

professional

work

one

man mean

perimentations, there can be

tation

no expec-

alongside the larger needs of the school

as a whole
?

of adequate insurance."

And
to

since he

had for a long

the

Professor

Mendoza looked down on

face,

time

intended

cut

down

pro-

the floor, a sad, worried expression on

his

fessor's

huge laboratory appropriations,

as good a time as any,

scholarly

and shook
were,

his

head
sure

right

now was

in silent contrition.

without arousing too

much antagonism
scientifically

"And even

if

there

I'm

on the part of those more

minded.

the Board of Directors

would be agaihst
I

any more such large scale experiments-

Furthermore-and
importance, despite

Was of prime the man's renown-

this

at

least for the present.

may add
has
at

for

your
State

information

that

there

been
the

he did not

like,

to

put

it

mildly,

the

considerable

adverse

Criticism
I

Professor's entirely too open and critical

Qapitol.

Already

fear

legisla-

views on such public matters as religion,

politics, industry,

tive steps will be taken to cut

total
sity.

down our

and
at

society in general;

of appropriations for the UniverIt

is

views

radically

variance

with

his

being said, this

is

no time for

own. There was great danger of such open expressions contaminating the developing mind of many an innocent
Student,

expensive researches, especially of Such

a doubtfully practical nature,

when

there

are

many

other crying needs."

whose parents Certainly had

the

He
let his

paused in momentary silence to

right to expect protection of their off-

words sink

in

deep; the tips Of

spring against such radical doctrines.

the

If

his fingers pressed together in a

attitude.

benign

learned

ProfesSOr,

personally

such

an admirable fellow, would only

itself, aside

stick to

"I

regret

very much,

my

dear Pro-

his grubbing, scientific experiments, that

ift

from the expense, would

But his utter
it

not be so bad.

indiscreet-

you have to confine yourself to lectures and other academic duties."

Will

fessor, but for the present at least

neSS-he would not term

fearlessness^-

his last.

holly-balloo
science.

When it came to his radical utterances! AnyWay, the shoemaker should stick to Again, regardless of the modern for science and still more
Dr. Lorrnan could not restrain
it

CHAPTER

IV

STUNNED
stricted

and grieved, Professor

his

Mendoza Went about

activities.

now

re*

Also

grieved,

a secret belief that

was somewhat over* was

getting
alto-

although more chagrined and rebellious,

done

the

scientist

was

his

brilliant

assistant,

Jim

Tonv
De-

gether too

much

attention.

linson.

"My dear Professor; Won't yOu have a seat ?" the President began in his sauVe
voice,

The Professor

suffered in silence.

prived of the expensive apparatus which

his

florid

face wavering between

a polite Smile

and a veiled frown. "Its

been quite a disaster, quite a disaster."

"Yes,
I

had taken him so many years to build Up, and now a melted and twisted heap Of metal; with no visible funds to re-

know.

For

this

am

truly

sume those profound researches Which

THE WORLD AFLAME

had
occupied him for so long the amounts required were beyond anyone

53
a
difficulty

extent

it

did

unspoken of
in

and
halls,
pline^

usually

soft-pedaled
its

academic
disci-

but a rich individual or institution

felt

he
the

but effective in
religious

power of

himself utterly
that

lost.

Bitterly he reto

and

political

intolerance

flected

here he

had come
and
still

against anyone of radical views.

that

Some

verge of perfecting perhaps the greatest

discovery of
all

might have been willing and well

time,

the

men

able to take

him under
'politics,

his

conditions,
in

in control of the necessary

funds lacked

had heard of his radical utterances

the realms

the vision

and imagination to allow him

Prof.

of

economics,

reli-

to continue.

gion and what not.

That always marks

"Well,

Mendoza,"
that

Tomlinson
if

a man, regardless of his other attain-

spoke cheeringly, "I should say,

will

you
in.

ments or
ing to

qualifications.

Many were
all.

will-

permit
in

me,

there

are

other

let

him

lecture

on his favorite

ponds

this

wide world to swim

it

science, but that

was

With your

reputation,

should not be

hard to get going elsewhere." Prof. Mendoza thought for a while,

Undaunted, after wasting a precious year, his soul chafing under the restraints
at the University, the Professor

sought

and smiled sadly.

aid

outside the

confines

of

houses of

"Other ponds
our apparatus
rebuilt,

to

swim
have

in?
to

yes.

But

learning.

He was

promptly snapped up

will

be entirely

and that

will take

a long time
with
almost

by the laboratory division of a great industrial corporation. He was offered

and

lots

of money.

And

an enormous

salary,

which he declined,

every institution retrenching again these

days? " he shrugged his shoulders

characteristic way.

except what he needed for his modest

living expenses,

in his

way
is

and was given full leeto go ahead with his unfinished

his valuable assistant

True
for
its

genius,
It

however,
has a

not easily
striving

work.

to be denied.

way of
all

Taking

and

col-

purposes despite

handicaps.

league with him, Tomlinson being

now

Prevented from going ahead

with his
University

a full-fledged Ph. D., he

lost

no time in

profound
fruitful

researches

at

the

plunging into his interrupted work.

where he had spent so many happy and

years,

Prof.

Mendoza decided

T)UT
J-*

try as they would,

and though
no
hours
re-

to

pointment awaited him.

go elsewhere. But here, as he had feared, disapFor although

the world, and

they

spared

themselves
their

nor

respite

from
all

grueling

searches, they

made no

progress what-

the fame of the distinguished Professor

soever in the

important goal which

practical

was known throughout

although

was

their

aim

means of conenergies so

many

a university in America,

trolling

the

fierce

atomic

Europe and elsewhere would have been gladly honored by his presence in their midst, there were few at that time who could or would take him under the conditions he stipulated

they could be safely harnessed for useful purposes. As it was, all they had learned to develop, so far, was an im-

large financing for

proved method of releasing these basal energies of radiating matter, but they
always were forced to follow immediately with a terrific struggle to halt the

the

purpose of concluding his experiIn ad-

ments on the structure and control of

the internal energy of the atom.
dition, he ran

culty

smack into another diffihe never dreamed to exist to the

dangerous process in quick time. More than once they risked their very lives.

For so

fierce

and

terrific

was the out-

54
pouring of
energy,

AMAZING STORIES
the
rate

when
partial
it

process

once begun even was operating at a

tion, that

he or his disciple could have

all

access to their use at any and

times.

that they dared not allow

This the responsible

the
file

officials

to reach its full amplitude, fearful of

it

good sense

to accept

had at least and carefully

year
for

their inability to control

utterly,

and

away

foi possible future use.

fruitless

apprehending the possibly dire

results

Followed another
Professor
linson.

from a
stances.

toe prolonged contact of the dis-

integrating

element

with

other

sub-

They worked with only

a bare

from the
tense

Mendoza as well as for TomThe master scientist languished let-up of his many years' ininto

pinch of the elements under experimentation, finding that

trol as
it

researches

atomic

physics.

hard enough to constarted,

it

Nevertheless, he did not give

up hope,

was.

Once
it.

Was nip

even though for the time being he was

obliged to confine his main activities to
lecturing and

and tuck to stop

The most

refractory

substances melted and volatilised almost

minor

researches.

In and

immediately from near contact with the

fiercelv

between he delved as much as he Could

into
his

disintegrating

element.

Try

as

favorite

subjeet,

and in

this

they would, no receptacle or

form of

quest used Up the very last of his private

resources.

container could confine the force of these

radiations for a period sufficient to de*

But deep discouragement as well as

his

velop practical
within
a

use

without

everything

advancing years began to

fire in his

tell,

al-

considerable

radius disappear-

though the

eye and the fiame

ing in explosive clouds of incandescent

of his genius never faltered.

attack of pneumonia,
illness

severe

gas and rivulets of molten matter.

following a Short

Thus matters stood when, on account

of thorough going retrenchments forced

brought about by overwork and

self-denial,

proved

too

much
His

for

the

by the bad economic conditions which descended On general industry the world
over,

aged

scientist.

He
old

died a penniless and

broken-hearted

man.

passing

a halt was called

With
the

on

Professor

came
his

rather

suddenly;

the

Only

ones

Mendoza's expensive researches. In vain

he
the

present

when he breathed

his last

were

pleaded

high

officials

of

idolized

daughter Esther, the only

company

to permit

him to continue
was
long-

child

by a

former marriage, and the

scientific journals,

just a short while longer; that he

devoted and worshipful Jim TomlinsOn. Outside of the

his

on the
of
a

right trail

and truly on the verge

where
given

successful

outcome

to

his

great

accomplishments

were

sought quest.

He

was

politely but firmly

their just recognition, the passing Of this

informed that the

Electrical

Products

superlative

physicist

received

scarcely

Corporation had for the time being gone

along that line as far as
Fearful
lest,
it

more Space
or
thrill

in the daily press

than the

could.
his

tawdry doings of many a minor athlete

producer.
it

in

the

meantime,

great secrets pertaining to his discoveries

In passing,

is

perhaps not too

much

should

fall

into

irresponsible

hands,

to say that this, of all the strange quirks in the public psychology,
is

should perhaps be put to dangerous uses,

the

perhaps the
of
true

Professor

decided,

after

due conall

most maddening and, to

genius,

men

sultation with TomlinsOn, to entrust

nothing
as
this

so

thoroughly

heartoft-

his secret formulae, priceless data as well

breaking
recurring

indifference
in

and
to

as the specially developed apparatus in

his possession into

blind-spot
the

regards
souls

so

the keeping of the

many of

truly

great

of

the

Federal government,

with the reserva*

world until long after their death.

THE WORLD AFLAME

CHAPTER V
kind.

55
as

For

just

Dr.

Tomlinson's

ceaseless efforts to pursuade the proper

BUT

though Professor Samuel Men-

authorities

doza, great thinker and outstand-

had met with success, in the form of a generous appropriation, but

a great,
devastating

ing genius in the realm of science,

before he could launch into actual operations,

passed on into the Great Beyond without

realizing his greatest ambition, he left a

war burst

upon the world.

annihilated.

His fond hopes were

great pupil full worthy of himself in the

person of the
able

tall,

lean-faced and person-

In the
the

new
the

alignment, on the side of

Central

James Tomlinson, who had worat

Associated

and

Southern
greatly

shipped
teacher.

the

shrine

of

his

great

Nations,

ACSN, was
Empire.

the

enlarged
grit

Japanese
strange

Conditions

With the persevering

completion the unfinished
revered
master,
the

of

true

do

make

bed-fellows.

The
and

genius and a determination to carry to

country of the Rising Sun had long since

cut a wide swathe clear across Asia,
this

work of

his
set

younger
that

man
little

about

accomplishing

great

object.

for

was the moment she had long waited her complete hegemony over pracof Asia.

In this he was perhaps not a

en-

tically the entire vast continent

couraged by the beautiful Esther Mendoza, beloved daughter of the late physicist.

In this she had been held in check only

by

the

fear

of

the

Anglo-American-

Throughout the years of Jim's

with her father, the limpid
lips

French Alliance.

association

Knowing

the secret plans of the ento strike first at

dark eyes and curving

of the
scientist,

girl

emy, which was

France
at

had a lure for the young

to himself.

the

and England, overwhelm them

one
force

extent of which he hardly dared admit

blow and then

against
the other

proceed France,

in

full

And
and

her shy, yet compelling

oft

America,

Britain

and

personality

reddening

cheeks

members of

the Alliance,

which
took

when

in his presence,

on more than one

included Poland, the traditional ally of

occasion

had

he been less gifted with

France, the nations of the

the

ACSN

the divine spark of genius

might
scientific

have
en-

proved disastrous to his

they

jump without waiting for the blow knew was coming. They immedi-

thusiasm for the subject in which he and

her father were so absorbed.

ately declared war.

All the leading countries of the world

By
his

dint of his great inherent abilities,

were soon drawn into the

the
Socialist Republics,

conflict,

with

as well as of the prestige derived from

exception of the Union of

Soviet

former

association

with

the

re-

The

latter

decided to

knowned Mendoza, Jim, now known as Dr. Tomlinson, made rapid strides in the
Federal Bureau of Scientific Research.

remain neutral and sat back to await

the

now long-overdue world

inevitably, as the

Socialist

State which they proclaimed

to

was

at last
this

His efforts finally reached a point where it seemed that before long the great aim to which he had sworn to devote himself,

come

outcome of

new world war.

In those last decades of the 20th century,

late

Professor,

and which, since the death of the had long been held in

no country, no matter how far

war.

re-

moved, could long remain untouched by

the horrors of

abeyance, seemed in a fair

way

to get

The new

aviation
easily
al-

going again.

could span the widest ocean as

fate

But here once more a perverse

stepped in to the detriment of
all

and, by taking to the stratosphere,

man-

most as swiftly as though

it

were a mere

56
jump. The
rival air fleets

AMAZING STORIES
of the fighting
their

mission.

The

foremost

grated

nations soon brought the

war home to everybody. From then on things moved

with appalling swiftness, and the results

were horrible and terrifying

batant

to

com-

ahd

non-combatant

alike.

The

some harsh order in a foreign tongue and the intruders immediately pounced on the two unarmed men. The sharp struggle which followed was soon over; cruel blows on the head laid them out
cold.

rulers of the world,

more or

less hide-

bound by
have
such a

tradition

and far behind the

dreadful
results

When
his head,

Tomlinson

came

to,

the

in-

advances of the latter-day science, should

foreseen
conflict,

truders were gone.

Despite the pain in

the

of

the red blurr in his eyes, he

and long ago should have

it.

quickly discovered what they had

come

taken steps to forestall

for

his

priceless

plans

and equations

But with the

which can
lust
this

details

and general con-

were gone! Staggering outside, Tomlinson and Maywell reported the theft to
the military authorities,
several

duct of this horrible war, the onus for

time be laid at the door

they

released

of the group of misled nations

for

whose
ideas

guards
also.

world

power and mad

these

powered

who had been overBut the foreign spies had

sought to achieve their object by forcible

succeeded in making a clean get-away.

means with
concerned.

all

we

are not here

is

Our aim

rather

to trace

The only Clue Was a swift plane of enemy design headed eastward at an extreme altitude and sighted momentarily

the causes which so unhappily led to a

far

vaster

catastrophe

than

any

war
on

by a
in

searchlight

near
it

the

continental

in itself could possibly

have

inflicted

shores, just before

Was swallowed Up

a Whole planet.

The war but

reveals the

the darkness over the brooding At-

unworthy, nay ghastly uses to which the

greatest

lantic.

and noblest products of man's

genius can be put by irresponsible and

AT

the end
carnage,

of

year
the

of
G.

frightful S.

hatemaddened individuals and peoples.

i\
war,
the

with

N.-

JapaneSe side on the verge of losing the

CHAPTER

VI
shortly
after

an ominous thing
dreadful
results

came

to

pass,

of

which no one
underCentral

LATE
*
Where
his

one

evening

dreamed of
In a ground
dreds of
a

at the time.

hostilities

had

commenced,

Dr.
the

carefully
retreat

camouflaged
in

James

fotnlinson

was
and

in

somewhere

private archives of the Research Bureau,

secret

Europe, buzzed strange

activity.

Hunlike
1ft

plans

data

on

men were

hurrying about

atomic energy were kept, and to which,

according to the agreement, he had ac-

SWarm of

ants in a burrow.

the

labyrinth of huge underground chambers

any time. With him was a league, Oliver Maywell.

cess at

col-

bomb-proof steel and concrete, hummed and throbbed a titanic assemof

blage

While pouring over these two men were

startled

plans,

the

of

complicated

machinery

of

by the sudden

kind strangely resembling those devel-

unexpected entry of four intruders.

A
not

glance showed they were heavily armed.

oped by the late Professor Mendoza and James Tomlinson, only vastly larger and

How

they had gained entrance to the

did

carefully guarded precincts, he

more powerful. In still another cavern was a monstrous mechanism, resembling

a cannon of grotesque
fully
size.

know, but there they were. And Totnlinson was soon made painfully aware of

The

fright-

gaping muzzle, the

tip only of its

THE WORLD AFLAME

many
hundred-feet length was
all

57
1

that

the other,

marvekmsly insulated and of

refractory
material trial

showed above the surface of the ground. The uncanny enemy mind had devised
an engine of destruction as frightful as

some
the

amazingly

previously unknown. In the center

was
the

immense
stages

cere

of

matter
nothing

in

wag dangerously suicidal. The world was about to learn something new of
it

initial

of

atomic

annihilation,

whose awful
long
resist.
its

radiations

could

the

old
lost
;

spirit

of

{rightfulness,
its

which

had
ness
their

none of

previous ruthless-

After
giant

terrific

expulsion

from the

but this time science had placed in

mouth of
with

the howitzer-like engine

misguided
never

hands

power
trifled

that

took place, the combination rocket me~

should

have
the

been

with,

chanism
kept
the

which

it

was
at

equipped
a
swiftly

Pespcrate and virtually beaten, instead

of

projectile going

bowing

to

victorious

Western

aeeelerating rate.
its

Allies, the crazed Central rulers permit-

objective by
last

By the time it reached way of the stratosphere,

multiple

ted the launching of this final

less

and senseat

the

of

the

outer

shells

engine

of

{rightfulness

their

would be almost reduced

the core.

to a trail of

near-victorious enemies.

incandescent gas by the internal heat of

a hot

day on the 10th of August, secret word went around among those actively engaged in
the
close

Toward

of

The

multiple shell construction

served merely to convey the disintegrating charge before

It
it

struck home.
that

manning the engines

the stroke of midnight

that

promptly

at

was necessary

the

projectile

would commence
of long range

leave the muzzle of the firing engine at

the

first

of

that

series

the very

moment

the state of true atomic

bombardments,

which

was

to

strike

terror into the hearts of the Allies

and

force them to their knees.

The awful messengers of

about to be hurled at the
lands,
tons,

destruction

commenced. The muzzle was two miles a second, which was soon accelerated by the terrifie exfrom the haust of flaming gasses
annihilation
velocity
.

allied

home-

rocket-type construction to five miles a

second, capable of taking
it

and

weighed no one knows how many were ingeniously freighted

of
fierce

to the shores

of America in about ten minutes. Everything required split-second precision to

with an immense charge of matter in

a
state

atomic disintegration.

avoid a premature release of the atomic

energies

Only minds crazed with hate and desperation

before

the

charge

could
its

be

could

have

deliberately

em-

hurled
flight,

on

its

way.

During

brief

barked on such a dangerous course. The misguided braips, the technicians who
understood and built the dread engine
of destruction surely must have realized
in large

practically all the multiple outer

shells,

despite the marvelous system of

insulation, rapidly

melted aud volatilized

the destroyers counting on results after

measure

at least, the

world-wide

the disintegrating mass of fiercely radiating matter had buried itself in the
lands.

But who can fathom the infernal depths to which fanaticallythreat

involved.

enemy

crazed minds can descend.

Such
of

in brief

were the
on
their

terrible engines

The

giant

projectiles

such

un-

that

were

to start

way beginning

heard-of size were in reality a combination, rocket-type design. tion,

that night.

Their construc-

as

much

as can be gleaned

from

FROM a young Central

Mueller,
lone

officer,

named

the

meager

details

obtainable, consisted

survivor of the hmtthe

personnel.

of a series of thick shells one within

dreds

who

comprised

58

AMAZING STORIES
what was going on far below the surface."

comes an eye-witness story of the shot which destroyed the earth.

"Thirty

As
retold

the
the

interviewer
story,

long

afterwards

minutes
his

before

midnight,"

Mueller here paused,

his

he

tells

in

vivid

way, "everything
shot,

and a sad look came over

face,

was ready for the

in

first

sharp at

the while he closed his eyes

if

handsome mo-

the stroke of twelve.

secret

The

radio signals

mentarily as

to efface

code were corning in strong

memory.
tinued
:

Then

the

some horrible young fellow con-

from our planes which were that minute

approaching
our range.

New York

City to

direct

"But you should have seen the beehive

of

activity

far

down below

the

It

"Everyone was excited and nervous. was the first time anything like that

surface in the deep caverns which housed

the

works. Officials were buzzing and

had ever been tried. Even the experts were not absolutely sure of the results,
and an underground rumor
thing
to that effect

running
orders.

around

giving

last

minute

The
the

mammoth

engines

were
other
in-

primed and ready; the enormous power

tubes,

had passed around among the men.

One
im-

electromagnetic

and

was

stressed

above

all:

the

works were beginning the process of

tion of the great core within the rocket-projectile.

portance of coordinated precision in the

timing."

ducing the state of atomic disintegra-

huge
ac-

He
first,

goes on to say. "The main ob-

The long muzzle of

jectives

of these long range shots were

the

gun was pointed and corrected

New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington and other important eastern

centers;

cording to the latest signals.

"I took

then

range

further

inland

my

appointed station far for-

to

include the Niagara Falls

power

ward and
the
initial

off to

one

side,

to

observe

plants,

Buffalo, the important Pittsburgh area,

that I

course of the shot;

life."

and to

Geveland, Detroit, Chicago and

owe my

finally

westward
clear to

escaped his
to
all

lips.

the

populous

An unhappy sigh "My position was in

I

centers
a specially built observation station just

the west coast.

Buenos Aires,
list.

Rio

De

Janeiro and other South Ameri-

below the surface.

the

looked at
off

my

watch;

can centers were also on the

similar

seconds
to

ticked
in

interminably,

bombardment of the nearer

Allies

seemed
heart.
fifty

pound

unison

with

my

cities

of

the

including

Paris,

Marin

Came

the warning

last

signal

London, Liverpool, was to follow as soon as

seilles,

Warsaw
possible,
in

seconds more and the atomic charge

order to grip the entire Alliance

great
fear.

one

would be ready, the moment for the first shot would come simultaneously. I

center

One or two hits was considered enough.

officer

for each

knew
ment,

the timing had to be perfect.

"I had

my

eyes glued to
there

my

instru-

"Outside, above the ground," as the

when

came an awful de-

young
serted

told

it,

"the virtually de-

tonation, followed
ling
laid

country-side, where the great works lay hidden, was dark and deserted. Not a solitary light was allowed

by a sickening rumband earth-shaking. I was almost fiat. The darkness of the night went
brilliant as

suddenly

with sunlight.
I

The
fleet-

draw the suspicions of a possible enemy. The moonless sky was clear and thick with stars. Not a sound outside of those made by the night insects. No
to

change was blinding.

ing
as
it

had but a

glimpse

of

the

flaming

projectile

streaked westward across the sky;

the incandescent gasses which streamed

one passing by would have dreamed of

from

its

wake

left

an enormous comet-

THE WORLD AFLAME

like tail that

was

visible for a long time

The
thing

lone

afterwards."

survivor relates that somemust have gone wrong as the

dis-

Here ends

the officer's account of the

second projectile was about to be

orate hide-out but an

epochal tragedy-filled exploit, worthy of

charged. Nothing remained of the elab-

a better and more humanitarian cause.

thousand feet

in diameter.

immense crater two The exploded

THE
tion,

gigantic messenger of destruc-

and melted equipment together with the

personnel were scattered to the winds.
Scarcely a trace was ever found.

already incandescent the

the

mo-

ment

it left

muwle

of the

huge

firing

engine,

grew ever more brilliant as. it streaked westward toward the American Continent. Observers who happened

But
call.

the

harm was done beyond

re-

below the path of

the
daylight

its

trajectory,

noted
the

CHAPTER

VII
reported
the

brilliance

with which
disp_elled,
rail.

darkness
length
of

of
its

night
fiery,

was
took
miles

the
Its

'HE morning news

comet-like
the

immense
some
earth's

trajectory

projectile

T:
fiasco.

unprecedented
at

long-range

attempt

hundreds

of

beyond
exactly

the

bombardment and its apparent Most of the space was devoted

atmosphere,

and

in

13
the

to the well deserved, self-destruction of

minutes

and

20

seconds

bridged

the

would-be "baby assassins," as one

it.

two continents. However, the

radio announcer put

best
laid

"Fitting punishfrightfulness,"

plans

often

ment

for the apostles of

"go awry." Despite the vast amount of

care which went into the
failed to strike
its

a leading French paper commented.

first

shot,

it

But very

little

or nothing was

said

objective

New York
it

at the time about the flaming

and roar-

Cityby a wide marginthat

Partly

seems
pro-

ing and earth-shaking volcano-like outburst in the heart of the peaceful Catskills,

an
is

atomieally

disintegrating

jectile

hard to manage; partly, the

where the dazzling

had
fallen.

brilliant

pro-

enemy
had

pilots,

who had

risked their lives

jectile

For no one happened

high over been

New York
spotted

to direct the shot,

at

within miles of the deserted spot where

it fell

almost

the

last

during the dead hour of the night.

lights they

cane of

moment. Caught in a maze of searchbecame the center of a hurrifire from above and below, and their final signals, just before they were
brought down, were too hurried.
net result
tile,

spot,

Expert geologists who arrived on the sent thither by the County and
it it

State Authorities, declared

true
eruption,

was net a
exhibited

although

The

many

of the usual phenomena that go

Certainly the usual volabsent.

was

that the flaming projec-

with volcanoes.
canic cone
projectile

roaring with the noise of a thoutrains,

sand express

passed
fell

New York
terrific

far to the north

and

with a

detonation

in

an

uninhabited

section

at the bottom of this, most experts who journeyed thither had no doubt.

was was

That the flaming

in the heart of the Catskill Mountains,

However,
the
fierce

in

so far as the center of

burying

itself

deep in the ground.

first

This was the

its

and the

last shot

of
at-

serted

consummation was in a demountain spot devoid of in-

kind that was ever

firing of the

fired.

The

habitants,

and

since, after the

surroundthere

tempted
took
night,

second shot, which

later

ing

vegetation

was

consumed,
threat

place

some time

that

very

seemed

no

serious

of

further

proved disastrous to themselves.

danger, outside of some poisonous gasses

60
and
falling hot cinders,
it.

AMAZING STORIES
no one got exThe papers and the radio commented on it, and a came over the television.
in its concluding phases,
all

right.

You know, from

it

the description,

cited over

I think

must be an atomic bomb of

occasionally

some

sort which they shot over; prob-

few

views

ably got the idea from those stolen plans

The war, now

tended to drive

what's
off

the matter, dear?" She broke

at the

else

from the public

volcano

and looked anxiously

wounded

mind, so that few gave the small but

fiercely belching artificial

man.

much
it

attention.

In time,

it

was assumed,

Tomlinson who had been listening to Esther with eyes and mouth wide open,
suddenly sat up.

would burn

itself out.

an BYone man

unfortunate streak of
in

fate, the

lips.

"My God!" burst from his tremulous "My God!" he repeated in an agon-

the

whole world who

at

ized tone as he attempted to get out of

would have
local

realized
in

once the dire

spectacular

bed.

danger inherent

the

but

Frightened almost out of

her wits,
diffi-

and apparently harmless eruption,

just then confined in a hospital

Esther signalled for help, and with

culty
lie

was
in

ward
an

persuaded the wounded

for

man

to

the

city

of

Washington,
in
force,

suffering

back in his bed-

from shock and wound

as a result of

"Please, Jim,

my

sake,

do calm

enemy

aerial

raid

which had

yourself," she pleaded.

"What has gone

of the

occurred on the Capitol, the very hour

the projectile
fell.

wrong suddenly?" Anxiously she peered

into

For four days Tomwhat was transpiring

the

frightened

eyes

man

linson lay in a delirium of sickness and

fever, ignorant of

she adored.
"I

must get up, Esther. Don't you

in the heart of the Catskills.

understand?

that

atomic

bomb

.!

On the fifth day the fever left him; and although still suffering from the pain of hts wound, which was not serious, he was more himself again. Esther,
the
late

Haven't you been long enough around

your father and

thing.

me

to realize
I

what that

might mean? Quick,

There

is

must do somenot a minute to lose.

Mendoza's daughter, now

his

devoted wife, was at his bedside.

first

The

Over four days it's been burning, you say ? Good Heavens It may be too late
1

thing he asked for, was

news of the
pleaded.

already.
It

."

war.

was now her turn

her
of
scientist

to stare at

Jim
dis-

"Dp be
"Read
please?"

quiet,

Jim,"

she

with frightened eyes, for well she knew

that
ciple
idly.

"Nothing of importance has occurred."

husband,

great

me

the

headlines,

Esther

her great father, never spoke

After
him,
she

reading the

main features
page

to

turned
Still

the

and

read:

"But what can you do now?" she pleaded, the woman's fear for her beloved outweighing everything
are too weak.
else.

"Catskills

"Erupting?
tioningly.

Erupting."
"

"You

he eyed Esther ques-

The

doctor says you are

not to get
fotgot.

up

for several days."

lose, I tell

"Oh,
It's

The enemy
it

fired

a long

"No

time to

you."

He

fell

range shot and

fell

into the Catskills.

back on his pillow with a groan, and

closed his eyes

been burning ever since. They tried

is

to fire a second shot, but the report

that something

went wrong and the whole

few must get me

moments:

from weakness. After a "Esther, dearest; you

with
it's

in touch immediately

works blew

to smithereens

serves

them

Dr. Grey at the Bureau. Tell him

THE WORLD AFLAME

he come here. Mortimer Grey, head of the Federal Bureau of Scientific Research, sauntered in leisurely and sat
absolutely

61

urgent

that

to confine

it

sufficiently long to be able

An

hour

later,

Dr.

to shoot it over to

our shores,

"Now, a tjny charge, such as we experimented with, and the release of a

large

down

at

Jim's

bedside.

He

eyed the

mass containing perhaps ton* of

disintegrating

wounded man

sympathetically after ex-

fiercely

matter

liberating

changing greetings.

blind energy at a rate

more than enough

Without wasting any words, Jim began "I have called you with regard to the
atomic
kills."

to run all the industries of the world,

is

a totally different thing altogether!"

Tomlinson paused
tener's eye.

and held his

lis-

bomb

disintegrating in the Cats-

He

paused a moment to moisten

before continuing.
there

"The
huge

annihilation of atoms

on such a
itself

his

dry

lips

scale

may communicate
Once allowed
. . .

to

"Oh,

that,"

was

just

trace
if

other elements.
sufficient

to gain a

of annoyance in Grey's voice, as

he

start
.
.

may

set

the earth

resented being thus urgently called upon

for something so trifling when he had

aflame
planet.

perhaps detonate the whole

Does

that

mean anything
seat,

to

much else to do that was important. "Nothing worth while bothering about that, my dear man, is there? Doing no
so
serious

you ?"
Dr. Grey leaned back in his
half-startled, a half-dubious look

on

his

harm,
out

bum

itself

from all reports. Will no doubt, with time."

usually serene face.

the gibbering of a

Was

he listening to

madman, of
if

He

shook

his

head as

warding

off

an un-

GREY looked DR. doctor, who just

face of the sufferer.

up

at the house

pleasant thought.

then stepped in;

"But,
ingly,

my

dear man," he began sooth-

glanced with mild suspicion at the drawn

"aren't

you perhaps
I

the least bit

all

"Gone

to his head,

over-alarmed?
living

grant that you of

poor fellow," the thought flashed through

him.

men

are perhaps best qualified to

possible
effects

The
I

trace of annoyance vanished

judge of the
a thing; but

of

such

and gave way to sympathy.

"Well,
ing,

"

He

stopped when he

must be going," he spoke,

off.

ris-

noticed the rising tide of impatience in

the

impatient to be

"Glad to see

wounded man's
Grey,"

face, the fire of

anger
imlose.

you getting along so

sat bolt upright

"

and scorn

in his eyes.

"Don't go, Dr. Grey." The siek

a cool, collected tone, as

man
in

"Dr.

his
is

voice

became

and began to speak

if

perious, "there

not a second to
rests the

he were dis-

On

you

at this

moment

awful
ca-

coursing an academic subject. "That eruption

responsibility

of

averting

a major

up there
it

in the Catskills is not

an
is

tastrophe of unthinkable proportions.

to

Go
at

ordinary eruption. The

causing
is

bomb which

the

State

or

Federal authorities

not an ordinary bomb.

Do

you remember the plans and equations those spies stole over a year ago? Well
.
.

them what I told you. Have some of them come here to me if

once,

and

tell

they wish.
to

Regardless

there
the

is

no time

in

the enemy has evidently succeeded producing a state of atomic disinte.

lose

in
I

assembling

necessary

equipment.

have the complete plans

for
just

gration

on

vastly

larger
either

and

more

and

specifications

such
it

an

complete

scale
I

than

Professor

emergency.

And

pray

God

that

may

Mendoza or

ever dared to try. Fur-

not prove too late."

thermore, they have

somehow managed

As

the head of the Research

Bureau

62
stood
hesitant,

AMAZING STORIES
a

mixture of infected
superior,

anxious to get

it

over with, so he could

anxiety and incredulity, he added: "Dr.

be about his usual pressing duties, Dr.

Grey, you are

my

and

it is

not

Grey immediately arranged

ference in Albany,
linson's

for

a con-

meet that I should speak to you in such a tone; but, if you refuse to carry my
message to the proper authorities and disaster comes ... I shall point
. . .

He
to

followed

Tom-

advice

not

waste any time

my

with the county authorities, as the matter was something of too great a magnitude for them to tackle. As head of an important national bureau, he found no trouble in obtaining a respectful hearing almost at once.

finger at

you!"

CHAPTER

VIII
Dr.

WHEN
Grey
scientist

the

good

Mortimer
hav-

Among
man
tion

those present were the chair-

left the hospital after

of the

New York
the

State Conserva-

ing promised to do whatever he

could, he no longer doubted the youthful

Board,

Lieutenant

Governor,
mili-

Major General Wilkinson, ranking

tary defence
official

was
;

perfectly sane and in his

of the entire eastern

right

mind

and what was more, was

seaboard, the congressman of the district,

deadly

seri ous about the great danger which he believed threatened. But truth
tell,

and

several other highly placed Federal,

State and Military Officials.

quite

though he himself was by now and in a measure infected with the grave misgivings imto

Dr. Grey did his best to convey

linson's
fears.

Tonv
fears

perturbed

But as
the

his

own

kept dying away, he took pains to make

it

parted to him, and though he had

respect

much
recent

clear

that
his

views

he

expressed

for

the

young Dr. Tomlinson,

latter's

were not

especially in

view of the

own, that he himself was loath to subscribe to them if pinned right

Mendoza more than he cared to acknowledge to a subordinate somehow, the more he thought about it, the less it excited him and the further he got away from the burning eyes of the wounded man, the more ready he became to take it all with
collaboration with the great

down

to

it.

"This young
to say," he

scientist,

went on
capable

in his quiet,

make bold monfeel

otone
ably

way

of speaking, "is unquestion-

highly

and

sure

knows a great
lems
relating

deal about certain prob-

to

the

internal

structure

a generous pinch of

salt.

After

all,

it

was hard

to believe that such

a thing

could come to pass. But, then again, the

and radiant energy of matter, but that is all that I would care or dare to say in recommendation. Most certainly I do
not wish to arouse any baseless fears your minds, gentlemen for I know you have enough worries without it. I have merely done my duty. You will
in
;

new

physics

.?

Remotely possible

hardly probable.
shoulders

And he shrugged his and breathed deeply of the

good air, took in the pleasant sunshine and felt the gradual return of his former cheery outlook on life and the good
universe in general.
Still,

have to decide for yourselves," he concluded.

The important
;

officials listened

blandly

he had promised

else,

Dr. Mortimer Grey was a

and whatever man of

his word.

be clear;

His conscience at least should the burden would have to be

and with a measure of curiosity these scientists always did come up with something new and startling. But when Dr.

Grey had

finished

presenting the case,

taken up by others.

including the possible dire results as pic-

Without wasting any time, for he was

tured by Tomlinson,

it

was

plain to see

THE WORLD AFLAME

that,

63

much
the

to the speaker's embarrass-

port of the almost indifferent reception

ment,

majority

of

those

present

of what to him was a matter of perhaps

world-life
let

looked askance, some partly amused, the

rest

or

world-death,

Tomlinson
idiots!"

almost resentful at being called in

out a loud, "Those

to the

damned

for a conference on a matter

which had

much
done

shocked ears of his dignified

latter

been given them to believe was of such

superior.
all

The
I

with a "Well, I've

their

paramount importanuce, but which, to way of thinking, was not. Somebody was evidently trying
iculously sensational.
"It can hardly be so bad as
all

could,"

refused

to

commit
the

himself

in
off,

any further way, and took

quite

to

be

rid-

himself

eager

to

escape

scornful remarks and the burning eyes

that,"
in

of the scientist.

one of them thoughtfully remarked

an all-knowing way, voicing everyone's

sentiment.

'TPWO
-*

weeks

later,

Tomlinsqn,

still

"Tell

this

man

Tomlinson,
for one ex-

weak and somewhat wabbly from

confinement, left the hospital.
fire,

whoever he may
grass to
all

be, that I

his

Pale

pect the seasons to roll

around and the

of face but soul on

after hearing

grow

just as green, long after

and

reading

about

the

long-continued

of us are gone."

The rest And someone

laughed
clinched

good-bumoredly.
the decision by

"eruption" in the Catskill Mountains, he boarded a plane and soon was in the vicinity

of the fierce conflagration to see

remarking that, "Surely he can't expect anyone to get insanely excited over
a

for himself.

Approaching
of the
terrific

as near as he could,
heat,

what

mountain

woods

fire

far

from

the

the dangerous rays

nearest town."

and the gases,

ing
that

let

alone the constant pelt-

Dr. Grey, whose fears, whatever they

of
his

hot

ash,

may have been

dissipated

before, were
the

now

quite

fears

Tomlinson soon saw were far from being

by

confident

self-assur-

groundless.

The

explosive roaring which

ance of the others, stood up to leave

with the uncomfortable feeling that per-

he knew so
heat,

haps he had
ridicule

made a mistep and

even
remotely

risked

well, the intense light and which even at a considerable distance was unbearable and unapproachable, all these to his trained

for

espousing

mind were

such a far-fetched idea before these important men.

but harbingers of the dreadful aftermath

some goodnatured banter about making their wills

closed with

The meeting

which might follow unless something, and at once, was done about it.
Careful inquiry of those

who had
its

been

"before the world conies to an end," and

observing the eruption

nings, elicited the

from

beginin-

degenerated into a discussion of the closing phases of the

information that
it

which to
teresting.

war and other subjects them were important and inwith

other
matters,

stead

of

abating,

especially the last

had grown worse, few days. This only

apprehensions.

confirmed
busied

his

horrible

Grey,

pall

of scarlet-hued clouds of poison-

waited a few days before going to the

hospital to report the result of the con-

ous gases

made

a closer inspection, even

with the aid of gas masks, impossible.

ference to Tomlinson.
feeling that he

He

went with a
the
did.

But he saw and heard enough

quite sure of one thing
activation,

had done

his duty, even

its

was

the intra-atomic

though he shouldn't have allowed

through

inconceivable

young man

to infect

him the way he

power of
cating
its

disintegration,
state
to

was communimatter;
-was

Upon

hearing Grey's light-hearted re-

other

64

AMAZING STORIES
going on somewheres
the nearest
village, in

slowly, even if very slowly, spreading!

little

known

Fired

with

dread

apprehension,

not

corner of a deserted mountain side from

as

only for himself and his loved ones but

for the whole world

the very

more important
all

existence

than a gigantic war in which

the im-

o the earth

James
ington.

itself and all it contained Tomlin hurried back to Wash-

Once more he sought

the chief

portant nations of the earth were engagedwell, the human mind certainly had strange off-shoots.

of his Bureau. But the latter this time

"Better see the

thorities.

New York

State au-

turned a deaf ear to his pleas, and refused under any eircumstanuces to take an active part.

"I'm

afraid

you'll

only

end up

in

making

yourself

ridiculous/'

was

his

That's something for them to worry about." "I have already done so, Mr. Hammond." "Then why come here?"
"I

parting advice.

was referred

to you.

They claim

Undaunted and with the

viction
out,

fire

of con-

burning with him, Jim sought

difficulty,

to have done all they could, and, anyhow, won't take it seriously."

one by one, and not without conthe

officials

siderable

whom
As
be-

"Do you expect me to?" "You would, if I could make you

understand
it."

Grey had
fore,

formerly

convened.

they refused to become alarmed.

it

Hammond
and
to

chuckled with amusement

And
weeks

was not
had
he

until

two more
that

hectic

elapsed,

after
to

much
a

lit a cigar, politely offering one Tomlinson. "Better see Miss Hark-

wire-pulling,

managed

obtain

ness, Secretary of the Interior. I've got

short interview with no less a personage

too
fall

much
within

to

look after.

than Grover T.
Secretary of
ferred,

Hammond,
to

the Assistant

her

jurisdiction

That should anyway."

War,

whom
to

he was re-

With

that he dismissed his caller, refus-

and who was said

have enor-

ing even to consider Tomlinson's request

for arranging an

mous influence with the Secretary of War, and even with the President himself. The right hand man of the Secretary
of

interview direct

with

the

Secretary

of

War

himself,

"over
it,

such a petty thing," as he termed with a shade

of
ironical
in his voice.

War
full

listened to the serious scientist

exasperation

with

respect for a

few minutes. But

he
his

just as soon as he caught the drift of

Tomlinson's
great

remarks,

arose

with

politeness

from

comfortable

"Those impractical scientists," he muttered to himself as Tomlinson closed the door. "Next thing I suppose he'll ask
of the Great General Staff to side-track the
fire

chair and stood up.

"My
war.

dear sir: I'm not a scientist.

in

But

war
in

for

little

while to put out that

you know, we are

the

midst of a

the

Catskills.

More important
out

do what little I can toward conducting this war to a sucbusiness

is to

My

than the war, ha! ha!" he chuckled to

himself,
aloud,

and then
to

burst

laughing
th

cessful conclusion."

much

the

amusement of

"But

this

is

infinitely

more important
is

comely

y oung

lady

who

ust

entered

than even the war

which

about

won

with a stack of mail.

anyway."

The

Assistant Secretary looked at the

MISS
the
Cabinet,

HARKNESS,
Interior in

Secretary

of

speaker with calm compassion. Pacifists

the

President's

were no new thing to him

one should consider a

but that any-

a thoughtful

woman

of near

scientific curiosity

middle age,

who had

attained her high

THE WORLD AFLAME

position

65

due to her great

say.

abilities,

lis-

"In the case of the enormous charge

tened with interest to what the scientist

now

activating

in

the

Catskills,

the

had
out

to

She had an

intelligent lay-

man's curiosity

in things scientific with-

understanding a thing about them.

fine

right
in

Her

gray eyes,

set in a not unattrac-

amount and power of the equipment that would be required to neutralize it even from the start, is enormous. And view of its long start and undoubted
it

tive face, took in the

handsome features
in

spreading since

began
fear
it

to activate over

of the scholarly scientist with secret ad-

a month ago,
that
faster

quite

probable
accelerate
asfight

miration.

Her long experience

the

from now
than

on

it

may

hard-boiled world of

men

told her that

we

can construct and

here was one of an altogether different

land.

semble the equipment necessary to

it.

Now
"I

do you see?" Tomlinson gazed

think
I

"Off hand, I dare say that, although I'm not a scientist, it seems to me you
are
needlessly
that
fire

expectantly at the Secretary.

see,
I

understand.

But
del-

frightening

yourself.

still

"

She looked away, and her

toyed with
the

Surely

which
should

is

arousing so
itself

icate

fingers
in

platinum

much
\

curiosity
just

burn
of
its

out
in-

pencil

her hand.
say,

"Just
it

how much,
cost

shortly,

because

very

would you
the

would

to take
I

t;

tensity."

necessary

measures,

granting

's

Tomlinson smiled grimly, "But

not a
fire,

that

could be influential in getting them ap-

),is

as you

call

it.

In that

moun-

proved and under way?"

"I can't say offhand, but no doubt
it

tain side

lies

buried an enormous charge

d)i matter weighing at least several tons,

isp a state of swift

atomic disintegration,

would run into millions." "Millions!" Secretary

straightened shock.

Harkness

comparable only to the process no doubt giving on in our sun and the stars. Do
yoi;i realize the

up as if from an electric "Oh, I'm afraid that would be

amount of atomic energy locked up in the tip of the pencil you hold in your hand? Well, right now, in Catskill Mountain, more concenthat trated*, energy is being released and at a faster rate than all the power engines of
the woifld could generate. If this process

quite impossible
If
it

sands, or even a
that

any rate. were only a matter of some thoufew hundred thousand,

right
at

now

would be
the

different.

But when you

would not even
such

talk of millions,

why,
to

have
thing.

audacity

sponsor

My

dear man: don't you realize

is

of disintegration should communicate

self to this

it-

the country

all

but bankrupt

other substances

and

right

fear that

now,

as a result of the

war!"
dis-

has .already happened to a partial

"The present center of atomic

integration

extent

if

allowed to go too
the -world

far,

then

does

not

recognize

the

indeed

is

doomed!"
is

troubles of war, finance, labor or capStill,

"Grant that such

I understand
it.

the case.

as

ital.

It is

mightier than either or

all.

If

you and the

late

Pro-

necessary, capital and labor and material

fessor

the process

Mendoza have started and stopped many times during your exwithout
she

may have
ness
his
;"

to be conscripted. Miss Harkand he leaned forward in his seat,

periments
world,"
laugh.

burning
soft,

up
it

the

pale

face

stern

as

the
if

face

of

and

gave a

musical

prophet.
is

"Miss Harkness,

something

"Surely,

therefore,

ought

not to be any trouble

to a point
it

now

if

it

comes

not done about it and at once without any further quibbling or delay, regardless

where

it

is

desirable to take

of the cost to each and

will all too

all

our

under control."

sun

soon become a binary,

66

AMAZING STORIES
versations

with a small flaming companion to ac-

with responsible

New York
re-

company him

in his galactic course!"

State

officials

met with the assuring

it

ply that the State Forestry Department

CHAPTER

IX
wave of alarm
handsome
once gave

had done

all

could

in

safeguarding

the areas adjoining the "eruption."

She
the

A
way
saying.

MOMENTARY
this

was

told

that

the

few

settlers

in

spread over the Secretary's face,

a startled look in her

danger zone had been removed and well

cared for, that aside from the
ing
center,
still

raglocal

gray eyes. But

almost at

the

"fire"

was purely

to her usual unruffled calmness.

bit

and of "no consequence and should soon

burn
itself out."

"Aren't you a

sensational in this,

Dr. Tomlinson? Consider what you are

Thus

valuable

weeks

slipped

into
it.

Do you

expect the masses, even

months, and nothing was done about

Secretary Harkness, with
sitiveness,

the

more

intelligent

and better posted,

initiate

womanly
she

sen-

to believe such a thing?"

fearing that,

if

she laid too

"The masses never

low,"

they fol-

much
fears,

stress

on the

subject,

might

lay herself open to ridicule for senseless

legislators?

"But the
this
is

Remember:

if

especially

on account of her sex

felt

a national threat, Congress would

something
was not
any
rate,

she

her high position

to

have to pass on any such large appropriations as

could not afford

decided
if

drop the
all,

you mention."
sheep that follow.
of these earnest gentlemen

matter altogether. Besides, after

she

"They,

too, are only

perfectly sold on the idea.

At
the

The majority
and
ladies

she reasoned,

the disturbfor
all

only

echo

the

votes

back

ance did take a serious turn

home.

There must be an honest fearless

worse

thing

which

nearly

she

leadership that will take them in tow. In

that lies humanity's salvation."

spoke to seemed to scoff at

there should
espestill

be time enough then to act without in-

long silence followed, the

man and

curring

the

danger

of

ridicule,

woman

studying each other, as serious

will.

cially the

sharp darts of those

who
in

minded people often

"Well, cannot
I

were old-fashioned
I

enough
no
place

to

believe

shall

see

what

can do.

that

women

had

high

promise

anything.

Right

now

politics.

everybody is taken up with the forthcoming armistice, which all are praying for. But I shall confer with the ranking members of Congress; perhaps sound
the

This

decision

cated to the

she finally communimore Uian ever concerned

a frequent visitor

Tomlinson,
the remarks

who was

to her office.

When
made by
to

she quoted

some of
replied

Governor of
it

New

York.

may even
his

responsible officials

mention
"This
put

to the President

and get

who

refused

he moved,

he

reaction."

grimly

woman
together,"

has

more brains than

"In not so long to come, they

will all

half a dozen of the to

men

have talked

be falling over each other to vote not

millions but billions 'to finance a flight
to Mars', but it will then be too late."

Tomlinson remarked
the Interior,

to himself as he left the office.

The famous Secretary of

under
the

pressure

of

her

manifold

duties, delayed taking

any action on the

his unflagging determination to IN awaken those responsible for public

matter until nearly a week had passed by. Her first move, viso-telephone con-

opinion and safety, Tomlinson went so

far

as

to

seek

an audience with the

THE WORLD AFLAME

President himself. In this he was unsuccessful

67

the war-torn Peresident, kindly, haggard and overworked, referred the

;

a few of note, were of the opinion that the danger as pictured by Tomlinson

was
vast

too far fetched. True, the activating

its

matter to others,
others,

who

referred
it

it

to

still it

mass, buried deep underground, with

store

who

pigeon-holed

and

let

of

internal

energy,
for
years,

might
had,

die

a natural death through indifference

neglect.

well continue

radiating

and

in a measure, already

communicated and
to

Despairing of

his

efforts

to

arouse

would perhaps continue

its

communicate
uneffected;

the world to the danger which threatened, he addressed himself to leading scientists,

fierce

state of

atomic disintegration

to

other

matter

previously

scientific

and

other

organizain-

still,

they did not think, in the light of

tions in

America as well as abroad,

accepted knowledge of the day, that the

process could continue indefinitely,

cluding even the late

enemy
articles

countries.

but

He

sent

number of
whose

to lead-

must gradually thin out and eventually

die out.

ing publications,

staid editors re-

fused to publish them as

it

on account
their

of,

As

to

those
if

scientists

of

Central
definite

seemed to them,

extreme

Europe, even

a few did have

sensationalism.

In truth his was "a voice

opinions, these

were

strictly

gagged and
back
all

crying in the wilderness."

muzzled

by

their

policy
lid

home,

Some
published

of the articles were, however,

in

which had put a tight

of thought.

on

freedom

a certain

section

of

the

press and

some of

the lesser magazines,

it

Dr. James Tomlinson ground his teeth.

It

whose editors considered

they

good
in

for

their sensation-hungry readers, although

new

themselves
articles

took

no

stock

it.

fight

was not the first time that something to the wisdom of mankind had to for its life before it was acthe

Some

on the subject by others

little

cepted.

did appear a

later

the technical journals,

on in a few of whose content in

not

Thus
each

world
in

came
his

and
daily

went,

engrossed

round

the main recognized the scientific possibilities

the
foot.

ant heap that saw not the poised

of Tomlinson's warning,

if

the probabilities.
scientists

And

still

later,

a few

and

technical

experts of note

CHAPTER X

even went so far as to espouse his ideas

and

lent their voice to his.

But by far
into a

TWELVE months whizzed

deserted
section

by. In a
Catskill

the larger majority of scientific opinion

of

the

held aloof, refusing to be

drawn

Mountains

off the beaten

path,

controversy which,
selves
their

if

they proved them-

fearful eruption, small in area as

com-

wrong,

might

be

injurious

to

pared to a natural volcano but incomparably fiercer and more terrifying in

the intensity of
flaming,
its ceaseless

hard-won reputation.

theory

was

not a theory until proven.

roaring and

As
of

time went on, however, and the

was
the

shaking
which,
gigantic

the

mountains.

strange

abating,

phenomenon showed no signs but on the contrary was

if

The
fall

eruption

starting
projectile

with

the

of

over

distinctly

not

almost perceptibly on
all

year ago and continuing unabated, had

the increase, scientists from

over the

grown slowly but

ferocity;
cially

steadily in extent

and

world became more and more attracted

to the spot.

Most

of

them came away

shaking their heads. Some, including not

turn.

few weeks espeit had taken on a truly ominous As if it had waxed subterfor the last

68

AMAZING STORIES
its

raneously as well as on the surface, gathering strength had

all

mediately at the behest of the

New York

at once burst

Governor
the one

to consider

ways and means

out in a mighty upheaval which blew the

entire top off a whole

of fighting the menace. Curiously enough

mountain and sent

rock

man who,

despite his comparintri-

thousands of tons of

and gravel

ative youth,

understood best the

far and wide. The temblor of the shock which accompanied the explosion were felt over most of the States of New

cate science of atomic physics,

most
done,

about

what could

or

and knew might be

field

was not

called upon.

In the
its

York, Connecticut, Massachusetts,

Jersey

New
Penn-

of science youth sometimes has

dis-

and the eastern half of

advantages,

for

it

usually

takes

many

sylvania.

The roaring and

hissing and

years to gain a solid reputation- Indeed,

electric-like crackling could

be heard for

one or two of the high State

Officials

miles arid miles, and the lurid skies at night lent a garish light clear to Albany

who
the
call

their being

remembered somewhat vaguely warned the year before of

re-

on the north, and

visible as far as

New
had

coming danger, could not even

did

York City to the south, The menace which up

increasing attention, by

Tomlinson's name and, inexcusably

not

to that time

enough,
of the

even

think

it

worth

been receiving slight although gradually

its

while to ascertain his identity in view

sudden out-

many eminent
in.

experts

who were
was
and
thus
base-

burst brought itself violently to the public

already sitting

eye.

Another
well
it

priceless
fruitless

month
surveys

And
it

might.

generated made anything

approach impossible.
tion within

The heat which like a near Trees and vegeta-

wasted

in

less plans, all of

which came

to naught.

an increased range of twenty

eign experts, including

miles scorched and died almost at once.

former

Residents and vacationists,

who thought
distance
fled

came, saw,
in

number of European and other forsome from the enemy, were called in. They made their surveys, handed
expensive
departed
bills

themselves

within

safe

their

for

their

ser-

for their lives. Considerable streams of

vices

and

for

their

homes,

molten lava flowed down the mountain

openly admitting there was nothing they

could do.
that
selves

and hot cinders buried everything within the danger zone; were carried far afield by the
sides.

Thick

falls

of ash

Some

held the optimistic view

forces
right

"Natural

might
the

of

them-

step in to

unbalanced

winds.

Enveloping

all

of bright coppery-red

was a thick pall smoke capped by

danger zone."

To

all

of which Jim Tomlinson in his

flaming incandescent gases several miles

high, through which lightning-like flashes

study at

continue with his

home would smile grimly and own constant studies

played and thundered.

At

times, during

toward a solution of the problem.

a sudden rift in the gaseous clouds, the blinding intensity at the core of the dis-

AT

Congressional

session

comfull

turbance dazzled and overwhelmed the

eye,
its

**

mittee
to

was

appointed
the

with

blueish-white rivaling the sun in

power

investigate

situation

and
the

intensity.

And

more

immediate,

the

bring back recommendations

as to

winds which blew from the affected region carried a poisonous breath to distances that spelled deadly danger.

steps that should be taken. After dele-

gating this

work

to a committe

and votto

ing a

generous

appropriation

care

A
and

conference of well
practical

known
was

scientists

for a thoroughgoing survey and workable plans

engineers

called

im-

as

if

squelching the eruption

THE WORLD AFLAME

was a routine matter
care of
ically

69

that could be taken

delayed unreasonably long,

much

longer

by

legislation

Congress,

iron-

than good judgment would warrant, and

I for

enough,
matters

turned
before

its
it.

attention

to

one cannot guarantee an efficacious

date.

other

Which only
for
serious

cure at this late

However,

it

is

proves that even great bodies of serious

imperative that something be tried and

regardless of the cost.
of
failure

men and women convened

purposes can,
if

The consequences
for

they

lack vision

and

are too

horrible

me

to

proper knowledge, be easily shifted from

the
all

dwell on."

important to the insignificant and

"How much
the

do you estimate the

cost

the inconsequential.

to be?" one of the committee inquired, in

Again a number of leading scientists and others were convened by the important

ness

manner of one deciding on a busiventure, and clearly showing he

slightest grasp

Congressional

Catskills

Committee.

had not the

nor believed

This time Dr. James Tomlinson, at the

urgent
request
of

the danger was as pictured.

Secretary

Harkness
he had

"Well, I cannot say exactly, but off-

and several other

the meeting.

officials

whom

hand
lars

should estimate in the neighborfive or six

formerly approached, was also called to

hood of

hundred million

dol-

possibly a
entire

great deal more,"

Tomothers

As none
ing
plans,

of the eminent

men

present

linson answered laconically.

could offer definite and practical work-

The
present
pion.

committee
if

and

Harvey
the

C.

Bradner,

the

jumped as

bitten

by a scor-

Chairman of

Committee, prompted

by Miss Harkness who was also present, called upon Tomlinson to state his
plans.

"How much
man
it

did you say?" the Chairincredulous.

queried,

"Please state

again."

"Dr.

Tomlinson,"
understand,
ideas

the

chairman
I

ad-

dressed himself to him, given

definite
us.

"As
you

have been
quite

likely

"Five or six hundred million, most more."

to

have

"Phew," several
whistle.

let

out

a concerted

on

the

problem

before

We

should therefore like very

much
the

"Only
a mere

five

or six hundred million

to hear

from you."
Chairman,

trifle,"

Walters, another

Comrate

"Mr.

Members
I

of

mitteeman
guess
it'll

ejaculated.

"At
burn.

that

Committee, Friends: Yes,

definite ideas

have very even more

pay to
is

let it

The whole
half

on the problem before us

CatskiU area
that."

hardly worth

of

very

definite.

And what

is

important, practical plans, without which

ideas alone won't count." Without stoop-

Tomlinson rose to his mocking expression on

scorn in his voice.

feet,

bitter,

his

fine

face,

ing to point out that certain responsible

leaders,

whom
of

he had approached long

"My
bluntly

dear
to

sir:"

addressing

himself

ago,

had

failed

gravity

the

measure up to the impending danger, he

to

went on to explain the type and manner of the gigantic works that would now be
required
if

Congressman who had thus delivered himself, "With all due respect for your position on this imthe

portant

Committee,

it

is

plain

to

see

there

was to be any hope of

it

you don't know what you are talking

about. This
is

successfully

combating the menace bewith

not a question of

money
worth

fore

coping

grew

absolutely
to say:

or effort, but to save the whole world

hopeless.

Then he went on

from going up

in flames. Is that
billion to

"But unfortunately the cure has been

a half or even a whole

you?

70
"Man,
a
alive,

AMAZING STORIES
do you
realize

what such
at

realization, he returned to his

Washing-

sum

is?"

The Congressman looked

pityingly.

ton home.

Tomlinson

Those unbusinessbillions as if they

Esther met him as he came to the

door.

like scientists!

Talk of

One

look into his eyes told her

were marbles, he
"Yes.

felt like saying.

the story.

And

have no illusions that

will

any of you here

less
late

recommend, much
until
it

"Too late, too late," was all he said. She clung fearfully to her husband.
"Jim, must

vote any such

to

sum

is

too

we and our kiddieseveryCannot something

do

any

good,"

he

answered

body
there

...

is

scornfully.

no way out?" Hopefully and with

a woman's confidence in a capable hus-

CHAPTER

XI
happened. The
disintegration

band, she looked up at him.

He

shook his head. "Beyond anything

AND then A% area

-""

one day
of

it

man

can do."

atomic

She was brave, but the thought of the

horrible fate in store for herself

which up to now bad on the sur-

face kept within certain

bounds but had

into

she loved was too

much
the

for her.

and all She

evidently

eaten

its

way deep

the

buried her head against Jim's shoulder

bowels of the earth, suddenly blew several

and

cried

softly,

while

he gently

smithereens.

more square miles of mountain to Huge blocks of rock and

it

kissed

away her
isn't

tears.

"But
wailed.

there

some way out?" she

pulverized material, some of

danger-

ously
rained

incandescent

down

over

radioactive, and wide territory.

"Perhaps, but not on this earth," he

answered

quietly.

There came such a

lions of hearts.

terrific flare-up

and

earthquaking as to strike terror into mil-

To add

to the ferocious-

She lifted her head and looked up at him with a mixture o startled hope and fear. "What do you mean?"
"This
salvation

ness of
ten

it all,

matter

immense quantities of moland asphyxiating gases

planet for

is

doomed.
is

The only
to

mankind

trek

to

poured forth in true volcanic form out

of the interior of the earth.

another."

"But Jim, you're not serious?" and

a trace of a smile came to her tearstained
face.

From
the

then

on the situation became

truly appalling. Tomiinson,

who had

felt

shock clear

down

in

Washington,

"Never more
"That
to
is

serious in

my

life."

hurried at once to the scene, but was

"But, how, where?"

the problem that will have

unable

to

approach within
fiery

more than
edge of the

twenty miles of the

disturbance.

be

solved.

There

is

no other way

From what he

could gather,

out!"

the heart of the raging inferno had

now

grow to at least a half mile in diameter. Between slight rifts in the enveloping
clouds
of

THEY
shifted

were

startled

by a sickening
feet.

temblor under their

Pictures

incandescent gas

and ashes,

there shot forth the stabbing radiations

on the walls, windows rattled; from the dining room came an unnerving crash as several pieces of china
to the floor.
fell

which were too

heat even at

brilliant to look at.

The

a distance of

more than

twenty miles was unbearable. Sadly and with fear in his heart, his
worst apprehensions

"Look," Jim
outside.

cried,

pointing a finger
like

fine

gray ash was falling

now on

the road to

snow,

covering

Washington

with

THE WORLD AFLAME

ghostly mantle,

71
of
bitterness.

He

had noticed
at

it

when
air-

a feeling of frustration,

he

had
but

first
it

disembarked

the

port,

was

getting

much

worse.

The thought came many people wait

self
is

to him.
until

Why

do so

the devil him-

Another temblor, more severe followed

Frightened people, some with a shocked,
unbelieving
as
if

to reason?

upon them before they will listen There came over him a long-

expression

on

their

faces,

ing for his departed great teacher.

Had
felt

doubting their

own

senses,

were

Professor Mendoza been

sure, the threat

alive,

he

scurrying about; others stood in uncertainty,

would have received the

in excited, milling groups.

proper attention long ago, and the dreadface

ful

The visophone
to the receiver.

rang.

An

official's

emergency might never have come

appeared on the screen as Esther came

"Dr, James Tomlinson, please." Tomlinson stepped over to the
ophone.

to pass.

At the end of an hour's discussion pro and con, Tomlinson was called upon to
vis-

speak.

When

he stood up,

all

trace of

nervousness
is

and

bitterness
fell

was

gone.

"Dr. Tomlinson, your presence

quested
at the

re-

A
It

dramatic silence

upon the room.

White House
President

at

10 A.

M.

was

plain,

he was the master.

of
in-

to-morrow.

The

has

called

an important meeting of his Cabinet and

others.

Please bring

all

the

plans

and

MR.

the Cabinet, Friends: "I

PRESIDENT, members am

important data you

the
Catskill

may have relative to eruptions. Thank you."

at the

deed glad to have the honor of addressing so distinguished a gathering, to partake in deliberations so
of our nation.
vital

When
House

Tomlinson arrived

White

to the life
I feel

at the

appointed time, the session

At

the

same time
I

was almost ready to begin. He was directed to the "new wing" which had been added a few years before, and immediately

constrained to say that I speak with a

heavy heart. For nothing that

or do, nothing that

can say

we can

all

of us say

ushered

into

the

spacious

or do, will avail to alter the fatal course

"Presidential Hall."

of circumstances."
state the case as
it

Then he went on

to

As he
the

entered,

he was surprised to

stood from the very

it

note the large

regular

number present besides members of the Cabinet.

beginning to the fatal stage to which

had been allowed to

go.

Continuing:

Everyone's eyes turned with ill-concealed

curiosity in his direction, rendering the

"The

neglect can be laid at the door

not only of the public leaders but of the

usually reticent scientist extremely selfconscious.

rank and

file

of

those

high in

office,

Miss Harkness shook hands

of the notables.

who, no matter what

cations,

their other qualifi-

with him very warmly and introduced

have proved themselves woefully

imagination,
facts

him

to

some

short of

ignorant of
lacking

im-

himself

few minutes later the President came in and the session comin

portant
in

of

science,

even

true

intelligence."

Governor

Sim-

menced
torical,

earnest
in

It

was the most

meeting

his-

ons of
his

New

York coughed and scraped

crimson spot appeared on
cheek. Others looked

and

many

respects perhaps the

feet.

most

dramatically

strange

of

Hammond's
on the
floor.

down

the kind ever held.

Tomlinson
liminaries,

listened silently to the pre-

"The bogey of money has proved our

undoing.

He knew
yet,

he was signally hona notable gath-

few millions
the

right

at

the

ored to be called
ering.

to such

start could

have supplied the necessary

put

And

he could scarcely repress

means

to

atomic

bomb under

72
control.
lions,

AMAZING STORIES
Later on a few hundred milor less, might have perhaps
trick.*'

done, which

it

cannot, the area

now

in

more
the

a state of atomic disintegration will have

increased

turned the
ters of

(Bradner and Walseat.)

many

times

faster

than any-

former Catskills Committee

thing
it.

we

could hope to muster to equalize equations which can be checked

scientist

squirmed in their

"But now,"
bitter

My

he concluded, "we must face the

truth; It
is

by any competent

prove

this

too late at any price."

He
to

sat

down amidst a
the
his
in

deadly silence.

beyond a peradventure of a doubt." "But the effort must be made shall

"Surely,"

President
quiet,

found voice

be

made

!"

And

the President's iron jaw

say

forceful

way

closed hard.

"surely,

it

cannot be that our latter-day

and engineering should acknowledge itself incapable of subduing this terror which the thoughlessly cruel and
science

"OOME

things

are
wills
it

beyond
or
not.

whether he

man, Mr.

President,

Members
estimate

of the Cabinet and

malicious
inflicted

ac.t

of pur former enemies

lias

Friends

Resign yourselves to meet your

on our jair land.

idol

way must
nation,
that

Maker.
earth

My

is

that in twentylife

be found!" His powerful and commanding

personality,

five to thirty years at the most,

on

of

the

will

have become

insupportable.

breathed

an

infectious

confidence

In one hundred to two hundred years

seldom

failed.

"I

am

prepared to go

from
last

to-day, or sooner, lpng after

the
the

before Congress at once and

limited

demand ungreat evil

the
believe

germ

of life has perished

off

funds

to

combat
us.

this I

face of the earth, a small

new

star,

com-

which has overtaken

tion should

panion to the sun,

itself

will

have announced
the universe,
its

might and resources of

this

great na-

to

the
lit

rest

of

be equal to the task."

fiery

face

by man

itself.

There

will

Tomlinsoa

shook
I

his

head

sadly.

then be no

man

or beast on the lifeless,

it

"Mr.
grief

President,
in

cannot express

my
docthe
to

incandescent earth as
its

careens around

saying

this,

but no power on

parent sun in

its

yearly pilgrimage."
disting-

earjh can stop this thing now.

tor

The
All

Dr.
uished

Tomlinson paused. The

gathering

has

been called
in

too
will

late.

remained

Uke

parin-

money
capital

America

not

suffice

alyzed, a mingled look of terror

and

undo what has been done.

If

all

the

credulity

on

everyone's

face.

After a
ray of

and labor of the were conscripted, even if

entire
all

world

long painful silence, he continued

mankind

"But
our

there
A

is

perhaps

one

worked as one without stint or let-up, it still would not avail. It is dreadful to
admit, but the reasons are simple
:

hope, and the only hope.

globe;
that
is

No, not for

finished,

doomed,
that. I

We

make no mistake about

humanity."
relief

mean

for

could never build the necessary

equip-

momentary expression of
his listeners

ment

fast

enough and powerful enough.

this

on the part of
to

gave

Right now,

very second, there

is

way
is"

bepuzzlement.

pouring out of that center of disintegration

in

"The only hope

to

his

words came slow and almost a

"a

the

Catskills

more energy,
all

whisper
planet."

mass migration

another

many

times

more, than

the energy

and power we could muster against it with all the science and engineering resources

There was a
Everyone
speaker,

slight lifting of the ten-

sion, a scraping of feet, a faint

murmur.
at

known

to

man. Long before we

it

present
as
if

stared

hard

the
to

could even finish the gigantic works that

undecided

whether

would be required, granting

could be

doubt

his sanity of the accuracy of their

THE WORLD AFLAME

hearing.

73
and
wondering to the

struck

his

listeners
if

few smiled. It must have as more than odd,

the

less

uneasiness

masses of the North American Continent, particularly those living east of the

almost as

speaker

had allowed

himself an ill-timed jest in the midst of

solemnity.

entire

Appalachian

Range.

Notes

of

warning
his
voice,

by
in

The President found

face
still

his

appeared
centers;

prominent scientists had European and other foreign

these were promptly sup-

solemn, but there was a quiz-

but

zical look in his eyes.

pressed by their governments out of fear

of creating an uncontrollable panic
their population.

"Are you
"Utterly."

serious, Dr. Tomlinson?''

among

"How,

pray,

may

such a feat be ac-

complished?"
"Inter pi aiietary navigation/'

sible

For there was now no longer any posshadow of a doubt in the minds

of those
to say

who knew

that

the prophetic
later of

"But the idea iser fantastic,

the least/'

warnings of Dr. Tomlinson, and

others,

which should have received more

heed long before
it

"Not
possible

at

all.

On

the

contrary,

quite

intelligent
late,

was too
true.

if

we

set ourself to the task.

were only too dreadfully

The

Given the
trifle

will

and ample funds, a mere

to other items in the

ferociously radioactive release of

culable

incal-

as

compared

amounts

of

energy

brought

usual government's budget, I believe a

about by the atomic annihilation of thousands of tons of matter, the intense rays

way can
power
here.
in

be found. Already the necessary

the
little
it

form of atomic energy is more experimentation and

can be brought to a point
its

and

terrific heat,

of an order totally difthat

ferent

from any
or other

mankind had ever

study and

experienced before mere chemical, electrical

of control where

terrific

power

in-

forms of energy, these

embraced an even

stead of destroying us

may

be utilized
purwill in
al-

continued to induce a like state in hitherto unefTected matter,

for our
poses.

salvation,

for

practicable
vehicle

The

interplanetary

larger

and larger

territory.

have to be worked out, most

likely

some rocket form. Much work has

ready been done in that direction
the world,
all

So far, the historical Council at the White House three years before, from
which so much was expected, had proved Little good had come from it, a fiasco.
outside of panicky

over

more than

is

realized by the

average layman.

And

with the govern-

and
the

futile efforts to-

ment's active interest, rapid progress in

that line can

ward

controlling

danger.

Several

be accomplished.
solar
life."

great councils of leading scientists and

practical

"But where would you go?" Any Venus "Mars

.

engineers

were

convened

by

the

government. These met

long.

frequently

planet that

is

found

fit

for

human

and

Tomlinson's

figures

were

The room became

a beehive of voices.

checked and rechecked. There could be

no doubt about

it.

CHAPTER

XII
by.

sustained

there was

His Contentions were not enough counter

practically

power more dragged THREE Dread omens worry and

years
less

available in all the world's coal

and

oil

and

what notthe

sleep-

unlimited amounts of the necessary elec-

nights
;

for
all

responsible

heads
at last

tro-magnetic and other equipment with

of government

for

those

who

which to
time.

fight

the

accelerating

terror

understood. Loss of

life

and property to

could not possibly be built in effective

thousands within a large radius.

Name-

74

AMA2ENG STORIES
yet,

And

deep down, despite the rag-

furnace
pieces of

of

incandescent

gas.

ing calamity

drawing ever nearer, and

radioactive matter
started

Large thrown to
of

strange as it may seem to-day, the government authorities could not get over a secret feeling that everything would

great

distances

new

centers

infection.

The

steady desertion of

New

York, Albany,

New

Haven, Philadelphia

come out all right The world was too

in the end, after all.

and other

cities

which had been going

big,

it

had

lasted too

on for over a year, now gave way to a

many
fate

billions of years

(if the scientists

were to be believed)
as
pictured.
It

to

suffer

such a

mad stampede north and south, via land and air and sea, which quickly depopulated a wide swath of the eastern states
for hundreds of miles up and down. Only a providential downpour of rain, unusual in amount and duration, cooling

could not be that

God Almighty would

thinkable thing.
the
intense
It

permit such an unthe old story of

father

was

wish being

to

the

thought.

the overheated atmosphere, prevented a

holocaust

right

then

and

there.

Then,

ABOUT
-i~V
it

the only

all

good that came from was that Dr. Tomlinson was

too,

be

it

said for the authorities,

some
it.

such outburst

was

not

unexpected and

granted unlimited means to conduct the

they were in large part prepared for

most thorough-going researches into the

problems of atomic energy control.
this,

In

Many, who could, fled oceanward toward European and other shores.

Tomlinson, working day and night

Up

to now, the government through

with a corps of able colleagues, made tremendous progress, and was well on the way to devising a practical engine, whose motive power was to come from
the controlled annihilation of tiny quantities

various channels of control, had its minimized the extent of the danger, in a mistaken desire to allay the fears of the populace at large.

tight lid

was

of matter.

But when

it

came

to
all

clamped on to keep as much as possible the full news of what was transpiring

taking any stock in his advice that

efforts

from reaching the general American public.

should

be concentrated toward
the

They

feared the nameless reaction of

developing a practical means of leaving

the

an unreasoning mob-psychology, the disorganization

that

planet

that
as

main

authorities

comes

from an upwas thus

considered
absurd, and

altogether

fantastic

and

rooted population, the loosening of social

ties.

anyway

impossible.

Such a

Much

irretrievable time

thing was too

much

for their training

and powers of imagination. However, later on, he was allowed

means
lems
till

to

take

up

seriously
flight;

the

probnot

away by such tactics. Instead of their belated and wasted efforts to avert a calamity whose hopelessness was borne in more and more upon those
frittered

of

interplanetary

but

competent to

see,

the authorities should

the pressure and active financial supprivate

citizens

have
toward

directed

themselves

long

ago
re-

port of influential

and

planned

and

systematic

organizations had taken a hand.

Then came another

advance
of
the

of

those

savage

moval of the entire population of the crowded eastern seaboard to regions

west of the Appalachians, and not to

spurts in the otherwise slow but steady

violent
disintegration,

have

waited

until

driven

out

by

the

which blew the entire eastern half of

the Catskills out of existence.
sults

inexorable march of the fiery terror.

were frightful.

The reThe entire moun-

When

the

truth

of

the

inevitable

tain area

and beyond became a flaming

which faced the American people could no longer be suppressed or minimized,

TRE.

WORLD AFLAME
was
that,

75
squad would attend to

the public explosion which followed

and a

firing

almost

frightening.
fell

high and low, not

gently
at

Government heads, right and left, a few

hands
of

obstructionist tactics.

This had an immense calming

on the entire public.

effect

the

enraged

mobs. The Governor and the entire State

Legislature of

The
tasks
tical
:

Council
First,

set

itself

to

the

twin

Hew York
his

were the most

Cabinet,
the

the completion of a practhat could

unhappy butt of the public storm. The

President
himself,

mechanism

control

and

utilize the
at

awful Jinni of atomic energy,

House
all

of

Representatives
in

and Senate,
pulpit.

once the death-threat and the possible

came
it

for an

unmerciful lashing

saviour of mankind. It alone could fur-

from

the press, the radio

and the

nish

the
that

tremendous

energy
to

in

small
large

Indeed,

was fortunate

that the public

bulk

was

needed

take

was given a quick opportunity to let off steam, but two weeks later when the
general elections came, the national gov-

masses from the gravitation of the earth.

Second, a practical means or space-ship
to take a party of intrepid explorers

on

ernment

and

practically

all

State

inout,

voyages of inter-planetary discovery, to

find if possible a
ity.

cumbents everywhere Were turned bag and baggage, cleaner than a

new home
years
to

for

humanstill

whistle.

Tomlinson's estimate was that only

twenty-five
in

about

perhaps

new THE vened Congress

extraordinary.

President immediately conin a special session

remained

which

accomplish

this

almost superhuman task before the earth

With

characteristic

en-

became

unfit for life.

ergy and the true

of men, he

spirit

of a true leader

As
tive

to the

former, that
engine,

is,

an effecfor

demanded

the immediate pas-

atomic-energy
important

except

sage

of

the

"Save America Act."

certain

refinements,

which

state of

extreme emergency was passed

would come as a
a
little

practical certainty with

unanimously empowering the President

to take

more

time,

Tomlinson had by
an effective vessel
interplanetary

any measure he saw

Esther,

fit.

"Perhaps now," Tomlinson remarked

bitterly

now virtually Of the latter,

for taking a

solved the great problem.

that
is,

to

"something
that

will

be
like

party into

done besides
squirting toy
conflagration."

methods

were
a

space* that had to be almost completely

water-pistols

at

forest

worked

out.

In the meantime, the immediate plans

of energy and decision
as adopted
linson's

With

the

fire

by the Council under Tomleadership,

called

which characterized him, our great President Spencer at once

able

for

a to

formed a "Save
of
life,

series of high

and mighty walls two

America
ablest

Council"
in
all

composed
walks
of

the

men
in

with
ap-

himself

supreme command.

He

and spaced some two hundred miles apart to be erected west of the Appalachians. These were
three miles in height

pointed Dr. James Tomlinson as Director in Chief of the Council, which

only partly for the purpose of temporarily

ter.

had

stemming the

rivers of molten mat-

unlimited power to take whatever steps

What was
would
as

of supreme importance,
to
deflect

were necessary.
capital

It

was announced that

should

these

serve

the

hot,

and

labor

immediately
as

poisonous breath of the terror and confine

prepare

themselves

for conscription

much
of

as

possible
gas,

the
the

fearful

needed. There
ing,

was

to be no dilly-dally-

clouds

incandescent

over-

evasion- or chiseling
situation Could

of any kind.
like

whelming
ter,

quantities of pulverized

mat-

The

brook nothing

the Cinders and the ashes that were

76
carried
to

AMAZING STORIES
great
distances

inland

with

ruling authorities across the seas, true to

their

every shift of the winds.

ancient

conception
peoples

of
in

what was
as

As

the atomic conflagration bit

ever

best,

kept

their

much

westward,

north

and
in

south,

inevitably

ignorance of the deadly menace raging

overwhelming these walls, others to be

constructed
far

on the American Continent as

arrest

possible.

advance would take

if

Editors were prohibited under pain of

up the burden of holding back

for

only
of

and

time

the

devastating

breath

the full

confiscation from printing news of what was going on. In

free

death.

France and

England,

Switzerland

Gas-proof suits and gas-masks were

also distributed to the entire population,

and the Scandinavian countries, where

the glorious spirit of

freedom kept

its

with

training

in

their

proper use,
fire-proof

to-

head and saving sense

there

the public

gether
to

with

sufficient
in

places

followed with interest and apprehension

house everyone
food

case of a sudden

and

sympathy

the

news

from

their
seas.

shift in the hot gases.

Immense

reserves

stricken sister

democracy across the

of

and

other

necessities

were

Russia and Asia, Africa and Australia

felt themselves too far removed to become immediately concerned. And some-

stored west of the Rockies.

The uprooted

population of the east were settled and

cared for most admirably and with astonishing

order.

how,
the

in the

The

entire

industrial

abroad, there

minds of almost everybody was a strong belief that

machine had to be almost reorganized.

mighty Atlantic and Pacific would

to the

The
with

fortitude

and the orderly manner

uprooted
millions

prove effectual barriers and confine the

fiery cancer

which the

ad-

Western Continent.
students of science,

justed themselves to the unprecedented

Keen observers and

calamity

was

the

wonder of the world.

XIII
at

with great misgiving, kept a close eye on

what would happen when the

real

edge

CHAPTER

of the atomic vortex

first

reached the

shielding waters of the Atlantic.

THUS
earth's

matters

stood

the

end
of

To

jolt the

peoples of other lands out

sense

of the fifth year.

The

fiery cancer,

their

false

of

security,

Dr.

which was slowly consuming the

substance,

continued
circle.

its

march

Tomlinson and the Save America Council, by special and open appeals, through
whatever channels the authorities over
there allowed,

in an ever widening
explained cause,
rapidly
it

For some unmoved seaward more

other
directions.
It

pleaded with those

to

who

than
to

in

would
the

listen,

make

haste and follow

marched

the

edge

of

the

Hudson,

American

obliterated the

mighty river in clouds of

bed with white hot
entire

way
the

efforts toward finding a of escape from the earth's confines.

dense steam,
lava

filled its

and overflowed eastward. The

flow.

seaboard from Massachusetts to Virginia

mosphere

"Only about twenty-five years more at most remain before the earth's atwill have become unfit to
if

was covered by the molten

Capital

The

breathe, even

the atomic disintegration

of

the nation

fled

to Chicago.

does not attack every continent in that

time,"

Hissing rivers of lava emptied into the

Atlantic.

Tomlinson pleaded.
this

"My
is

fellow

Steaming clouds

blew

east-

men, make haste while there

yet time."
Isles,

ward.

To
far,

plea,

the

British

and

South America, Europe and the other continents remained untouched.

So

France responded
steel

immediately

by em-

barking on the construction of mighty

Distance lent a sense of security.

The

and concrete walls on the wester-

THE WORLD AFLAME

most
shores,
in

77

two miles or more

design
to

in height,

In their rage, and feeling themselves

similar

those

erected

in

duped,

the

populace

of

Central

and

America, to

deflect the

poisonous breath
Similar

Southern Europe,

Spain

and Portugal

which

was coming.
begun

bulwarks

turned upon their rulers in that raging

fashion,
in

was

on

the

north -north-east

shores of South America.

to the liberal
racies,

which people unaccustomed methods of true democruling

classes.

often turn upon their dictatorial

DUT
*-*

never was a false sense of se-

rulers

and
in

The timely
howsheltering

curity
that

more rudely shocked than

indulged
of
in

action of the British and French,

ever,

was

by most of the
countries,
partic-

building

the

great

inhabitants
ularly

other

walls, finished not a

day too soon, for-

those masses

thorities

whose guiding auhad kept them mostly in the

the

tunately broke the full fury of the tidal

waves which struck

the
their countries

their shores, deflected

dark, well-meaning or otherwise.

sulphurous winds, and thus

saved

Long before
reached
terrifice

atomic

fires

finally

the

edge of the Atlantic, the

of
the
rays,
still

Torrents of

heat

miles
boil

from preventable losses. rain fell and fell, and from then on continued to fall often and

warm

away, caused the shore waters to

heavily.

and

steam

furiously.

The

raising

of

As

for the teeming millions of China,

huge clouds of white steam prevented

ocean-going, air or water vessels,

India and other parts of the world far

from

removed,

if

they thought

of

it

at

all,

touching any but far northern or southern portions of the United States' eastern shores.

they must have thought of the calamities

which had befallen

ers in

their

western brothin

And when

the real activat-

much

the

same way

which the

ing edge of the disintegration, which

had

westerns had always viewed the recurring famines, floods and other disasters

eaten

its

way many

miles deep into the

bite

earth's

vitals,

began to

underneath

which had

afflicted the

Oriental Peoples
bad, but nothit.

the ocean floor, there

came such an erup-

for generations back.

Too

tion as to strike terror even greater than

ing they could

the person

do about

Who

is

what had gone before. The shock was felt clear around the globe. Hundreds
of square miles of ocean bottom blew

who

gets excited, aside

from
of

mild
people

sympathy, over the

unrelated to

afflictions

up and became a
osphere.

seething, incandescent

culture

whom

him in blood and he never met ? As for the

in

inferno that roared upward to the strat-

backward natives
places,

the hinterlands of

Under

the disintegrating forces

South America, Africa and

these

other

far
ig-

the oxygen and hydrogen of the ocean'3

went

on

in

blissful
if

waters

disassociated
in

and again
explosions.

and united again tremendous and continuous

security of the

norance of the coming fate; or

they

heard something about what was transpiring, they

The long
once.

felt

Euroall

if

it

shrugged their shoulders as were no business of theirs.

active breath of the fiery

peans and others was

shattered

at

An

appalling

tidal

wave which

THE
brotherly

first

resulted from the last upheaval struck the

terror

which

readied

Continental

European Continent, followed by dense

clouds

Europe, which should have immediately

of

water

vapor

mingled

with

prompted them to unite

defense
threatened, caused
selfish

in

common
whatever

volcanic dust and poisonous gases.

The

against
instead

unprepared multitudes, especially of countries

stupefaction,
dis-

bordering

the

sea,

paid

dearly.

bickerings

and wide-spread

78
cord.

AMAZING STORIES
All the evils of centuries of in-

such things before. At the same time,

practically

tolerance,

animosity and prejudice and

hatreds
of

every

known

volcano

on
fur-

unreasoning
face.

rose

to

the

surother,

earth, including

some long

since extinct,

Instead

helping

each

beside

many new

ones, burst into

the general tendency in

at first

many

quarters

ious activity.

seemed

to be to let the devil take

At

last the

whole world woke up. The

the hindmost. Those that could, fled to the safer reaches of

thing was at their door.

Much
and

valuable time

more easterly lands. was lost improperly

frequent

CHAPTER XIV

caring for those

who through

disastrous hurricanes and tidal waves were made homeless. And still more valuable time was lost irrevocably

IT

was

the tenth year. In every civ-

ilized land, earnest, able

men labored

before everybody at last woke up to the

necessity of organizing for the great inevitable,

to shield themselves as best they could from the fiery consummation. The

greatest

brains

worked incessantly on

protecting

and of erecting a series of high walls, and the preparing of

the problems of successful interplanetary

flight.

The

free interchange of thought

all

the general populace against the gaseous

and new discovery

lem.

went toward the

winds which began to blow. The subject

of finances, that specter of the civilization of those times,

conquest of the imperative world prob-

caused

much

delay,

Laboring mightily with

having

all

the force

red

tape

and

inexcusable

blundering,

of his great genius, James Tomlinson,

finally conquered the problem of an atomic energy power plant, then conall his energies on the vehicular method best suited for reaching another

as well as selfish

and shortsighted seek-

ing of private gain in the face of calamity.

centrated
to Esther one

As Tomlinson remarked
himself for
rest,

day during the few hours he allowed

planet.

With unlimited power

available

"Those people remind

has a weapon aimed but
still

in the compact

form of controlled atomic

long

me
to

of a

man who
at

energy, the most obvious vehicle was the

rocket
principle,

straight

his

heart,
his

refused

recognized

but

surrender

pocket-book.

What
with

never fully developed. Coordinating the

deprivation and
will

suffering

many people
parting

many

refinements and improvements and

stand

for

before

endless

experiments

of

many
last

master

money I"

minds, Dr. Tomlinson at

longer
the

succeeded

How much

delays

and

in constructing the first rocket-type en-

bickerings of those in control of the de-

gine
void.

capable

of

flight

through

the

luded countries would have gone on, no

one can say. But the deadly progress of

the
earth's

cancer

did

not hesitate
gently.
in

to

It was a great day for the harassed and thoroughly frightened people of the

wake them up none too

The
all

fiery

consummation progressing dimensions, not merely on

affected

three

world when he announced the first trial flight. This took Tomlinson and his aides
several

the

surface,

thousand miles from the earth

entirely successful.

the

ages- old

stability

of

the

and was

rocky layers of the earth in

a bolt from the blue, a ing volcanoes burst out

many widely
and
like

In a great speech over the visoradio,

at the conclusion of the flight, he
that,

scattered sectors. Unexpectedly

urged
lost

number of
all

belch-

"Now

not a

over Central

in

constructing

moment should be as many vessels

as

Europe

in places that

had never known

needed to transport the world's popula-

THE WORLD AFLAME

tion,

79
to

including

the

necessary

supplies
is

tion

of

all

humanity

some

far-off
star,

and other
short
;

tilings desirable.

The time
if

twinkling star.
call
it

To
a

such people a

and universal unselfish devotion

cause
is

planet or
star,

otherwise, had always

to the
is to

imperative

salvation

been a
light,

just

blinking

point

of

come. Everyone must not give their

all,

for star-gazers to rave over and

mite, but their

lest

we

each and

all

poets to laud.

perish."

a
defeatist spirit, residing with-

possible
fact,

But as an abode of life, homeland for humanity

But the
in
a.

In

many

people declared they did

large

number of

individuals,

would
to

not believe such a thing as "getting up there"

possible.

not altogether down.

present
miseries,

Why

add
a

our

There

was

large

voiced

many

critic,

school, the religious fanatics,

who were
any such

by undertaking such a vast amount of

construction before a suitable planet
is

more or

less

openly

against

"tinkering to thwart the will of God."

found?
worlds
is

Perhaps

the
all

idea

of

other
will

Others, of

whom

there were not a few,

last if the total de-

a myth, and

our efforts

doubted to the very

struction
of

be in vain.

What

then? Admittedly the

such a large body as our

solar planets are

if

our only hope, for even

earth

would ever come to pass. These

that

other planets existed in far-off stellar

predicted

Tomlinson and
as

all

the

systems, there can be no hope of bridging the vast distances in ample time.

"wise ones,"

they

were dubbed in
be

But
were
be

some

quarters,
in

would

confounded,

what

if,

after

the

solar

planets

when
saw

the

end "God did not forget

reached,

which

still

remains

to

His children," Opposite were those who

in this disaster the

achieved, and these are found uninhabitable?

coming of the

Why

plunge the

world into a

"true

end of the wicked world;" and

a pulpit thundered against a sin-

frenzy of construction, only perhaps to be followed by disillusionment and the dreadful

futility ?

many
ful

humanity and the deserved coming

final

reaction

that

will

come from
supporters

last and and Geinorah.

of this

and greatest Sodom

To

this

Tomlinson and
if

his

"Esther," spoke up her husband one

day, "did you ever see a burning stable
filled

replied:

Even

the quest for a habitable

world should prove unsuccessful, there

with frightened animals

refusing

was nothing
sels.

to

lose

by the immediate

to be taken out?"

construction of vast fleets of space ves-

"No

but I've heard of

it."

Improvement would thus follow

rate, if a habitable

Fortunately, however, by far the vast

improvement. At any

majority of the more clear-headed and

the practical were in the saddle, and the

new world should be found, as there was every reason to hope, then the immediate
sels

work was driven through without further

stint

construction

of

sufficient

ves-

of effort.

to

remove the

earth's

population

was imperative and might not otherwise

be completed in time.
It
is

ABOVE
hope.
it

the haunting fear and dread,

-i\ sounded
men
will

clear,

clarion

note

of

remarkable to what depths of

be

Great excitement prevailed. But

different

stubborn foolishness some

was a

kind of excitement,

carried by ignorance, demoralization

the defeatist feeling.

and
the

that

for the

time almost drowned out

terror
that

And

indeed there

the

inexpressible
heart.

clutched
of a

were

large

numbers

throughout

at every

The

lilting

tones

world who could make no sense of such a fantastic idea as the bodily transporta-

possible deliverance

somehow communiall

cated

itself

to

the mass-soul of

the

80
people

AMAZING STORIES
throughout
first

the

entire

world.

sel

was capable

this

was

a distance that
less.

The

of
that

the

great
to

atom-driven

could be covered in a few weeks or

rocket-ships

was

span the

il-

limitable spaces in search of a

new home
at last fin-

for despairing mankind,

ished.

was

AT
>

a wave of Tomlinson's hand, the

great
sliip

took

off,

smoothly and

wild-fire.
trified.

The news ran like the proverbial The entire world was elecAh, something
definite,

swiftly,

the

propulsion
of

coming

from
gas

flaming

exhausts

incandescent

tangible

generated by the atomic engines.

initial rate

The

at last!
First to complete the hitherto thought-

of speed was easily regulated

due

to

the

enormous power
therefore,

available.

of-as-impossible

tuna the

trick,

mechanism that could was Dr. Tomlinson and

The

take-off,

though

swift,

his capable colleagues.

first

To

America, the

and so far the greatest sufferer, went the glory and the honor of a new

was comparatively slow, thus avoiding the danger and discomfort which a too sudden release would bring. Those who were present at the epochal event will
never
forget the dramatic scene. In a few minutes the huge space-ship became

and greater kind of leadership.

From
platform

the

great,

roofless

take-off

in the outskirts of Chicago, the

an invisible speck to be seen only through

a powerful glass.

mighty
of

spaceship

was

ready

to

be

launched into space.

thanksgiving

public holiday

Soon
chief

to

follow,

under the command

a

was

proclaimed.

The

of Oliver Maywell, one of Tomlinson's

assistants,
sister ship

people

by

the

hundreds of thousands

was another

vessel,

came to see the new miracle which man had wrought. With Dr. Tomlinson himself in command, despite the protests of those who
claimed

which was rapidly nearing completion. Its goal was Venus when she approached inferior conjunction.
twin

Other expeditions were being rushed to

take the place of the
first

was too valuable to the most vitally important expedition in all history was awaiting the moment of take-off. The
his
life

two

in case

humanity

to

risk,

something went wrong.

Across

the

seas

the

British,

the

French and the

Italians
to be

were working
outdone
in the

personnel,

besides

trained

crew,

in-

might and main, not

cluded a company of the most promi-

race for carving out their share of a

new

nent scientists and specialists in

fields.

many

world. Utilizing the successful principles

first

devised by Tomlinson, to which they

The

goal decided

upon was

the planet

Mars, the ancient planet of war, but now

a welcome sight in the heavens. Mars

added ideas of their own, they were not far behind their American rivals. Their
expeditions,

not

long

afterwards

fol-

was chosen
expedition
nearest in

as the objective of the first

because
its

of

its

then

being
its

lowed in the depths of space. Spanish efforts were severely

ham-

orbit

and because of
except
in size

pered by their belated erection of protective barriers, and the terrific tidal waves which struck far inland, one after

apparent
its

similarity

to

sister planet the earth.

Just then at

opposition near perihelion, which occurs

the

other,

with

disastrous

every

fifteen

to

seventeen

years,

the

great technical genius of

force. The Germany was

ruddy

planet

was shining with extraordi-

unfortunately lost to the world during

those
violent
that

nary brilliance and only about 35,000,-

trying times,

000 miles
deed
!

distant.
at the

long journey in-

volcanoes
in

on account of the which burst out in

numbers,

But

speed of which the ves-

land

overwhelming

THE WORLD AFLAME

driving practically the entire population
lions.

81
from the worth
great-

The

great stakes, aside

for
escape,

eastward.

dire
S.

necessity

were

The U.
so
in

S.

R.

with

their

high

racing for and lightened the burdens of

despair.
est
peril,

geared industrial machine, their country

far the least touched of

Even

in his

moments of

any nation

the economic instincts of the

Europe,

set

themselves the task, in

acquisitive

human animal

could not be

addition to two separate expeditions to

altogether downed. Perhaps so

better.

much

the

Mars and Venus,

the
tling
lites,

of

discovering what

favorable

conditions

were for

set-

on the Jovian or Saturnian

CHAPTER XV

satel-

particularly Saturn's Titan, almost

half the size of Mars.

To

cover such stu-

pendous distances as the outlying solar

system presented, within reasonably short
time, they
velocities

A
ten

PRAYERFUL

humanity

filled

with new hope settled

down

to

await the return of the various

as

expeditions,

one after

another

de-

counted on the special high

to

parted from their respective homelands.

which they claimed

their

ships could accelerate.

Anxious days, was America's lot

pedition

uncertainty,

suspense

after Tomlinson's exparticularly

as
their

Japan, though as yet untouched by the

direct

departed,

force of the atomic terror,

was

country

embraced

the

center

of

the

suffering almost as severely indirectly by

fiery cancer.

Five millions of miles out,

one continuous horror of earthquakes,

flaming volcanoes and mountainous tidal

their velocity

having accelerated to over

second,
their

miles

per

powerful
could not then on

waves.

force that

The terrific pressure of was eating its way deep

parts
far

the
into

radio

transmission
itself

system

make
the

felt

on earth.
infinite

From

the earth, was causing vast dislocations

in

silence

of

space swallowed

many

removed from the

disturbance.
all

them

up.
sister vessel
later,

immediate

center

of

The

The American

Japanese, too, in spite of

handicaps,

lowed two months

which folbound for the

were but

little

behind in the race for

conquest.

planet Venus, which

was drawing near

interplanetary
objectives,
ets,

One

of

their

to the earth, took off the very

same day
with

on the way to the solar planstop-over on our moon.

as

the

first

British

expedition,

was a

The

Venus the
later

latter's goal also.

Some days
said to be

practical Japs

were not going to over-

they were

followed by a French
larger

look any bet so close to

could
be

home

if

way
sup-

rocket-ship,

much

and

found

to

colonize

the

better equipped than

posedly airless

satellite.

And
work
preparor Venus.
in

the

any of the others. month following the Union of

Republics
dispatched
great
their

India was also hard at

ing an expedition to

Soviet

Socialist

Mars

Nor
the

two separate expeditions

void, with
heels.

into the

was China neglecting her share

general race for salvation.

Japan and India close on

nations
of

From

then on, from various of

the

Altogether, there was an intense but

friendly rivalry to get there
first.

the

civilized

burning

But

globe, one expedition followed the other,

under the surface, although not openly

admitted,
the

bound for the various

their
satellites.
flag,
all

likely planets

or

various governments had

With

each,

regardless

a keen eye toward carving out the choice

under what
prayers
of

went the hopes and the

humanity.

portions of whatever planet or planets,

if

An

anxious
first

and when they got

there,

that

was

world awaited the return of these

worth carving out for their teeming mil-

Argonauts of space.

82
Six months
at every heart.
later,

AMAZING STORIES
despair was eating
far not one of the
all

pioneering adventurers

have always
to the

So

had to pay.
lack

Much

of

it

was due

expeditions had returned.

Not

a word,

of

astronautical

experience.

Ac-

not a signal of any kind. Every instru-

curate charting of the abysmal depths of

ment, every telescope was trained heaven-

space
cated.

is

new

science,

highly compliof

ward.

To

all

intents and purposes they

in the

The

swift

movements

the
for mil-

were as completely swallowed up

immensities

heavenly bodies

of

space

as

if

they

had
that

the tyro to miss his

lions

made it quite easy mark by many

never

existed.

Other
brothers

expeditions

of miles, perhaps
tin*

forcing a long
is

bravely set out to find what had become

chase after

retreating globe which

It
is

of

their

lost

were

as

com-

apt to prove disastrous.

also very

pletely

swallowed up.

important to learn

how

to avoid the in-

Tomlinson
overdue.
It

was
a

now many months

sick-

numerable small and large bodies which

circle
ets.

gave the entire world a

sense
of
fell

about the sun or the various plan-

ening

feeling,

frustration.

A
at

collision

with any of these, movvelocities,

The

spirits

of humanity
level.

to the low-

ing

cosmic

spells

finish

est possible

Was

the conquest of

instantly.

space to prove an impossible feat after

all

Another most
expeditions,
in

important

factor

that

chimera of the tortured soul of

reaction

counted heavily against the unfortunate

first

man? The

was on

the point of

were

certain

serious

taking a fatal turn.

defects

the

construction

of

these

earliest space

ships.

similar fate had

THEN
and the
world was

suddenly,

just

when

all

the
lost,

come within an ace of snatching Tomlinson's

expeditions were given up for

expedition

also.
in

Although

his

mourning
electrified

was

universal,

the

vessel

had succeeded
it

landing safely

by the safe return

on

Mars,

of Tomlinson's expedition.

Of

all

those

crash,

due

to

was not without a severe trouble which had unexand

partly

his

who had departed with such high hopes, was the only one ever to return. All
with the later on exception

pectedly developed with the control sys-

tem.

Fortunately,

due

to

the others,

Tomlinson's supreme genius, their equip-

of the Japanese, were never

more heard

ment and preparations were such

that

from. Several, as was learned long after-

they were able at last to effect the necessary repairs in time; although not until
after

wards, had crashed fatally in the act of

landing; others had evidently been unable to

several

months of agonizing unsafe return

it

take

off

again
Still

for

the

return

certainty.

journey

to earth.

others must have

With
tion,

the

of his expedipossible to iron

lost control

and continued on endlessly

of
space,

however,

was now

into

the

depths

or

perhaps

out

met with some unknown collision or other accident. The Japanese expedition

defects

most of the serious unlooked for in the new science and art of
as

space ship construction, as well

better

the to

had

partially crashed

on the moon

to

avoid

the

errors

incident

and had been unable to take off again. They were later found and rescued by a Belgian party that was exploring the satellite, just as the Japs were about to perish from lack of air and water.
travel

astral navigation.

TOMLINSON
was
habitable,

reported

that far

Mars
from

although

being an ideal planet for the needs of

a transplanted mankind. For one thing,
too
large

These first disasters of interplanetary were the unavoidable price which

a proportion of

its

available

THE WORLD AFLAME

surface was a hopeless desert
onizable
;

83
work, of course, would

the colfor

eral preparatory

areas entirely too

life

limited

be required.

the

full

cf

the

teeming
the

terrestrial

millions.

Second,
ample,
it

water

supply,

NOT
for

content,

however,

Tomlinson
to

though

was

badly

distributed,

immediately announced his plans

another and greater expedition

most of
caps,

confined to the frozen polar

and would require an immense amount of engineering before it could be made available on the needed scale.
Rainfall was very scanty and practically

Venus.

The

cloud-enshrouded

planet
inferior

would shortly again approach

conjunction and be at

its nearest.

His

plans

for

this

new

expedition

non-existent over large portions of the

planet.

The
on

air

was very

thin

and dry

were on a much more ambitious scale. It comprised six of the largest and newest

and much
tains
terrifically

like that

earth.

on the highest mounThen there were the

about twice as

type

atomic-power

driven
all

rocket-

ships,

which incorporated

the

best

cold winters,

ideas gained

from
all

his previous voyage,

long as the terrestrial (the Martian period of revolution at a 141 Vk

million

without the defects which had proved so

disastrous to
the others
to his

mean
from

distance of
the

and which
own. Alto-

miles

sun

is

was well nigh

on

fatal

687 days, although the daily rotation, in 24 hours and 37 minutes, and the axial
inclination
is

gether, over eight

hundred men departed

it

this great expedition.

practically

the

same

as

And
time,
est

successful

proved to be. This

the earth's.

Venus, the Evening Star, at nearinferior

There were of course the peculiar drawbacks due to

its

conjunction

only

about

small size, only 4,216

still

24,500,000 miles away

conquest.
of
six

proved
sixth

an easy
fleet

miles in diameter, and the

culiar

more peits

Five of the expedition's

conditions
is

incident

to

small

vessels

spanned the distance

days,

in in

mass, which

only about one-ninth that

only

fifteen

landing

safely

of earth. But Tomlinson was overjoyed

to
find

perfect

condition.

The
in a

unforstorm,

there

was
it

life

on

the

ruddy

tunately

was

lost

meteoric

planet,

although

proved to be of a

something

that

with

experience

could

very low order and of vegetable type,

confined chiefly to certain narrow tracts

in the future be avoided.

Venus, as explored by Tomlinson,

re-

traversed

by

the

summer-time streams
all

vealed itself to be a raw, young world,

lifeless
first

fed from the polar caps. All in

planet

the

and uninhabited. This

was

at

was not a very

it

inviting world.

But

was something. And under the

necessity
If
it is

stern lash of

surprising
better

But after closer study the planet was found to have tremendous possibilities in its favor
sight very disappointing.

what can be done.

nothing

as a future homeland.
life
itself,

For, outside of

turned up, the red planet could be

to do.

made
if

which had never developed

for life as

there, the planet contained within itself

For the atmosphere, even

was
fairly invigorating

practically all the essentials

rarefied,

and fornature.

required

by

terrestrial

creatures.

tuntely

adaptable

to

man's
supply

Almost the same

planet

size

as

its

sister

Of

water,

an ample

could

be

the earth, or to be exact 7,575

in

achieved with the aid of art and science,

despite
the

miles

diameter,

with

somewhat

severe

conditions

imposed

larger proportion of ocean covered surface and large copious

ents,
it

by most of the available supply being

watered contin-

impounded

in the polar caps.

Much

gen-

offered, according to

Tomlinson

84
and his colleagues, a
onization;
far
fit

AMAZING STORIES
world for
to
col-

best

bet,

although Mars, too, could be

preferable

the

small

colonized after a fashion, especially by

the highland races accustomed to a dry

and arid Martian planet.

the

To be

sure, the

atmosphere was heavy and quite below

and

rarefied atmosphere.

oxygen content

to

which human be-

Then began a
rocketships

feverish race to build

still

ings Were accustomed, but far

ficient.

from deart-

and
short.

more
fatal

rocketships.

With time and

the agencies of

Time was
life

The

days when

transplanted vegetation and

ifice this

human
if

on earth would no longer be sup-

could be brought up to the de-

portable

was drawing shockingly neartwenty years

at

sired

content.

Adaptation, too,

need

fifteen to

the most.

be, could

be relied On.
its

The temperature,
nearness of 67,-

of course, due to

AND

there was in very truth a whole

200,000 miles from the sun, was hot and

humid, but
this

.aV. world of things to be done, a most

was considerably com-

stupendous
remaining,
dicaps

and to

many

seemingly
brief years

pensated for by the thick envelope of

hopeless task, what of the

few

moisture laden clouds which prevented a

made

still

harder by the handislo-

from reaching the surface. An important drawback was the excessive amount of carbonic
great deal of the killing heat

presented

by the already

cated conditions on earth.

First of
all

there

was the necessity of

for

acid gas, but not dangerously so,

in

it

could

outfitting vast pioneer organizations

fact be turned to advantage as con-

the arduous

and tremendous preparatory

ducive to a rapid and luxuriant growth

of transplanted vegetation.

work on

the

new homeland,
;

before the

number

of

years of intensive preparation and pioneering

even begin to be moved

as fast as with safety

work would be required before

first of earth's teeming millions could to break the raw ground for the masses that would follow

a general transmigration of the human masses could begin.

Altogether, however, and in spite of
other drawbacks, such as the long days

and with reason,

under the lash of necessity, they could

be transported and
settled.

Powerful
first

electrolytic

plants were

the

and nights and the unequal seasons and

temperatures which prevailed, the planet

thing to be set up in various parts

the

of

New

World,

to

release

vast

an uprooted humanity. Anyhow it was the best there was to offer, and there was
prove
a
fit

should

place

for

amounts of free oxygen from the abundant ocean waters.

The

disassociated hy-

drogen would have to be expelled into

space
to

every reason for a dispossessed mankind

to

avoid

dangerous

explosions.

be

grateful

for

this

gift

of

the

The
an

lifeless soil

had

to be prepared

heavens.

fertilized.

This in

itself

and would have been

task
it

Tomlinson further reported that before leaving Venus, he had staked out in the name of the United States of America a continental mass in keeping
with the power and needs of his country.

almost

insurmountable

in

the

short time remaining

were

not for the

available

inconceivably great power

now
of

through
energy.

the

controlled

use

atomic

The

vegetable kingdom, without

life

The

other countries of earth were free

which human or other

ist,

could not ex-

to stake theirs, first

come

first

served.

had to be rooted

in the

new world

Subsequent expeditions which shortly afterwards explored not only Venus but
practically
all

billions

of seedlings planted; a compre-

hensive system of forestation; domestic

the

other

solar

bodies,

and useful animals and birds

their

moved

to

agreed that Venus was incomparably the

new

habitat; rivers

and lakes and

THE WORLD AFLAME

oceans stocked
fish

85

with

edible

and useful
and happy

The
with

fine volcanic dust that encircled the

and other of the multitudinous marforms necessary for a

full

earth to great heights, coloring the skies

ine
life.

flaming
;

colors

at

once

beautiful

Even

the useful but invisible bac-

and ominous
ash
carried
. .

the

frequent showers of
distances

teria

and other necessary micro-organhad

In this the great-

to
.

long

by

the

isms, which did not exist on Venus, to be transferred to

est care
it.

hot winds

The

fantastic

numbers of
where
sickening

active volcanoes everywhere, even

had

to be taken not to include

none

had been

before

the

the

destructive

forms
animal

which

had

in-

earth tremors, the rumblings, the violent

'quakes.

flicted

mankind on
life,

earth.

Also

desir-

No

need to be told what was

able

wild

and

vegetable,

coming. All these drove the slaving populations

those that flew or ran or crawled; fruits

forward

with

super-human
feared that
center,

and flowers
sary
for

in

short, everything necesit

frenzy
at

the greatest danger

fiery

the

complete life-cycle as

any moment the

now

went on on

earth.

over half a thousand miles in diameter,

in its im-

The

task

was overwhelming

should not in one devastating outburst

detonate the whole globe and blow
bits
it

mensity. But the cruel lash of necessity

to

drove a frenzied humanity on and on, and

the
toil

before the

work of transmigration

such an undertaking required,

could be finished.

which ordinarily would have taken centuries to complete,

The advancing wall of death was unapproachable anywhere within hundreds

of miles above or around. Its sun-like
brilliancy dispelled the darkness of night

was crowded through

skill

in

a few years,
to stand

Nothing now mattered

and the
the utmost

but brains and brawn and

ability

number of

over millions of square miles. The general rise

in

grueling hours of

The

entire

work and hardship. populations were called upon,

children

temperature

even

began

melting the polar caps.

from the
oldsters.

little

who

could con-

In

America,

the

population
the

sought

tribute their tiny mite, to the doddering

temporary safety behind

with
them.

ramparts

Work and still more work was demanded. Finance and ownership and
hours and what not, so dear a part of
the

of the Rockies, carrying their industries

The

surplus

population

ranged clear into northern Canada and

Alaska, and south to Mexico and the

pre-catastrophic

age,

were thrown

overboard as so much useless baggage.

Fortunately, too,

South
barriers

American
were
forced

Continent.

National

earth in

all

the minerals

Venus was as rich as the and metals and

spur necessary to
writing

forgotten.

In
bances

Europe,

the the

tremendous
western

distur-

other necessary elements.

populations

Nor was
drive

artificial

ever eastward, where they

reorganized

everybody.
so

The

was on
read
requiring

and continued
national

their

work. There, too,

all

the
it
.

wall,
. -

plain

a child

could

the force of circumstance obliterated

the poisonous winds,

boundaries.

Closer association

frequent use of gas masks ... the mild,

brought better understanding and mutual

summer-like

temperatures

over

large

sympathy.
us
all.

Sorrow

makes

brothers

of

areas where winter should have

the unbearably hot

been

summer
rains

seasons; the

In Asia, Africa, South America and

oft steam-laden air; the devastating tidal

even as far as the Antipodes, the shiftings of populations also took place on a
vast scale, even though these lands

waves

the torrential

and almost

everpresent heavy drifting clouds, even

had

where rain was formerly unknown.

not as yet been directly touched by the

86

AMAZING STORIES
almost incapable of effecting an escape

searing terror, but rather indirectly, on

account of the fantastic number of volcanic and other dislocations touched off

through their
unfortunates,

own
it

efforts.

Many

of these

by the main center of annihilation,

doomed and about

ment
in the arts
air

were feared, was to pay the supreme

sciences.

penalty for their low state of develop-

CHAPTER XVI

and

The

became

increasingly

bad,

THE
mies
of

time was near.

With
still

the vast

necessitating the constant wearing of gas

engineering and

prepartory work
far

masks,

and protective

suits.

The

heat

on the

New World
workers

from

was
the

torturesome,

scarcely

relieved

by

complete, although mote and larger arfrenzied

were trans-

now incessant downpour of hot rain. None of those still remaining could
longer aid in the

ported and thrown into the work; with

the flaming disintegration approaching a

work, or even help

of
rescue

themselves.

The work

planetary

crisis;

it

became

imperative

now on had
carried out

to be altogether directed

from and

for the wholesale transportation of the

earth's masses to begin.

from the new homeland.

efreter-

That could not

be put off another day.

As

fast as ships

were rushed

to completion,

humanity and

the midst of these last frenzied INforts, with the vast work of

necessary supplies streaked Venusward,

moval almost complete, there came a

rific

and the ships returned for more. There was no time for niceties. The main thing was speed and more speed with safety as
the

explosion

that

rocked

the

earth

imperative
as

goal.

The ferocious disintegration which by now had worked almost half way across the floor of the
from pole
to pole. Atlantic,

And
settled

rapidly

as

the

first

masses,

suddenly

lifted

thousands

of

fortunate to escape from the earth, were

square miles of sea bottom in one vast

land

and organized on the new homeby their respective governments,

upheaval that sent flaming elements hundreds of miles into space, showering
the entire remaining surface of the earth.
It

they, too, continued at the herculean task

of planetary preparation, of home-building,

was the beginning of the end.

soon
enveloped
the

An

endless
to

fabricating and manning the number of rocket ships needed remove their terror-stricken fellow

of

appalling hurricane of dust and gaseous

moisture

entire

planet, blotting out the sun completely.

men who awaited their turn to be The populations still remaining on

more
alized

taken.
earth,

The
tidal

tortured surface heaved and rolled;

waves

truly

mountainous in height
that

or

less

disorganized and

demorto

swept

everything

was

not

at

were

less

and

less

able

help

higher altitude.

Unspoken was the fear that work of escape for all those millions who still remained might at any moment become impossible.
themselves.
the

To
of

the very last

moment

the heroic

work of succor went

on. Into the thick

Came
was not
lions
cially

the

critical

months.

The end
Mil-

The work removal became ever more

far off.
still

of rescue and
difficult.

directing, guilding, planning was it, James Tomlinson, without rest or sleep. As supreme head of the International Great Council, he had given orders that

the

work should continue

until the

very

remained to be moved, espe-

the
in

more backward peoples who

and were therefore

last man and beast shall have been removed, as long as there was any pos-

lived
arts

countries less advanced in the

civilization

sible chance.

Happily, with the exception

inhabi-

of

of

some unfortunate primitive

THE WORLD AFLAME

tants of mountain, jungle

87
had actually happened.
like the substance

and
the

desert,

who
then

lieve that all this

It

could not be

reached,

great

work

seemed more
dream.

of a

was done.

The

fiery

hurricane

realistic

He

gazed long and ar-

forced the last of the recuers to leave.

dently at the tragic yet brilliant spectacle

presented by Terra aflame. The great dazzling spot formed by the main cen-

HIGH

above the thick, fiercely crim-

ter of the atomic vortex,

stood out al-

son clouds which enshrouded the

eastern hemisphere of the burning earth,

most sun-like

in

its

brilliancy.

Through
words

his

mind

flashed the closing

James Tomlinson
flyer hovered.

in

his

great

rocket-

of his long departed great teacher

.

His heart was heavy and

to venture

sad. It

was sure death

sigh,

more
vast

before that class so many years ago that warning prophecy. . . .

Stricken

unto the surface.

Terra,

great

giver

of

life,

With a
rescue
beast

he

signalled

the

mother of man. Victim of thy own creature, that

fleets,

some laden with man and

being with the mind as of a

is

of earth, some unhappily empty. There was nothing more to do. They streaked away toward their new home.

god, yet with a heart that

not.

From

now on
the

Arriving
ered

high
of

above

the

cloud-covto

thy sister planet will take up work which thou hast finished. Then a feeling of happiness surged a
feeling

surface
in

Venus,
spiral

and about
preparatory

through him,

of

brake

long

to

done. Eagerly he dipped the

work well prow of his

the

landing,

Tomlinson,
hair,

now a man with

back at the dis-

rocketship below the friendly mantle of

greying

looked

white

clouds

which

draped

new
rich

tant globe which for so

many

countless

homeland.

All that he held most dear

safely

aeons had been the sheltered

terrestrial
life.

home

of
be-

was

now

housed

on

its

He

could

scarcely

surface.

The End

What do you know?

1.

2. 3. 4.

What What What

5.

the test of the validity of a theory? (See page 37.) a symptom of space? (See page 37.) does one of the wave theories suggest? (See page 37.) Can the atom be regarded as a source of energy? (See page 44.) Is the idea of possible danger to mankind to be found in intra-atomic energy?
is is

(See

page 44.)
the planetary satellite nearly half the size of the earth? (See page 81.) the mean distance of Mars from the sun? (See page 83.) the length of its year? (See page 83.) 9. How long is its day? (See page 83.) 10. What is its diameter and its mass compared to that of the earth? (See page B3.) 11. What is Venus* nearest approach to the earth? (See page 83.) 12. What is the diameter of Venus? (See page 83.) 13. What is the mean distance of Venus from the sun? (See page 84.) 14. How would the power of jumping, when on Mercury, be affected by its gravitation?
6.
7.
is

8.

What What What

is

is

(See page 106.)

15. Is the principal
16.

17. 18.

What What

How

19. Is

20.

What remarkable
page 127.)

mass of an atom in its protons or electrons? (See page 114.) (See page 114.) is the relative weight of the two constituents of atoms? are some of the characteristics of calcium and sodium? (See page 116.) does a fish breathe? (See page 117.) moist air heavier than dry air? (See page 119.) (See decomposition can plants effect at ordinary temperatures?

88

J^and of Twilight
By We
are

ROBERT PAGE PRESTON

now

lines that the

end

concluding this serial and it is enough to say in these few justifies the means. It departs a little bit from the spirit

of the proverb because the means have been extremely good and we know the readers will enjoy the interesting climax of this story, so skillfully brought about by the author.

Conclusion

-ll-SAN

T
turned by
fore.

and his brother Muhad put over the idea of domesticating the troad and kan
hundreds of the beasts were
being
trained
in

powerful but far faster long bow. All

the

men were

equipped
It

with

short

.spear

and sword.

had been a long

I

time since any of the Sen Lev had been

sighted
sure,

agriculture

near the settlement, but

felt

and for use in war. The

soil

was now
instead of

that,

with a

man

such as Ig for

steel -tipped plows",

their leader,

being scratched with a stick as hereto-

at

When
they

these

beasts

are
their

captured
training

We would hear from them some time. Nor was I wrong. The women of the nation took a

young
easily,

assimilate

greater share of the task of teaching. I

but the adult beasts either break

to
I

free
sulk.

and return
Eventually

the forests or else

expected

that

they
the

would play an important part

defense of the nation.

in

found time to make occasional visits to these classes and we spent many hours in writing down for them as much as we could of the sciences that we knew. All work was done on a
substance
similar

The
certain

drilling of the

period
other

of

each day.

time

or

we

expected

army occupied a At some to make

to

slate,

which be-

came

as important in the lives of these

children as their notebooks to the scholars

Energy Guns for all, at the present time they depended mostly upon the bow and arrow. Archery had been developed to a
surprising degree of efficiency.

of earth. In the course of time the King

and his leaders expected

substance that would
paper,

to

find

some

play the

part of

Our army

but

at

present

they

were conIn a few

obtained a

around a small corps of gunners, using the weapons that we had brought from earth, supplemented by
built
aerial

was

cerned with getting as

much knowledge
had

as possible in a short time.

short

months

they

attack with the ship.

In addition

we had

a force of

nearly a thousand

in the ladder of progress.

knowledge of the most important steps They had a

the

mounted on troads. The rest of the army was composed of archers with an assortment of types of bows, from the huge cross-bows with a range of
cavalrymen,

knowledge of architecture, the use of the

metals,

domestication

of

animals,

tactics and,

weapons and a knowledge of military most important of all, an alphabet and the power to put thought into

over a thousand yards

down

to the less

89

Wave upon wave

barrier

onlyofa

the

men from the inner lands charged against the few lived to return again to the main body.

90
form

AMAZING STORIES
land, accentuated

fully elaborated and indestructible. For centuries our ancestors on earth had struggled with these problems be-

by
of

the shortened horithe

leafless

zon,

the

colors

trees

and the surface vegetation mystified by

the hazy light.
It

fore they had mastered them, then to be

was perpetual

twilight.

retarded

for countless years,

lost in a

when our
of superthis

Through my
flash
lights

glasses I picked

up the
the

world had been

stitions

maze
is

of

signal-pistols.

"Sen-Lev,"

and unnecessary wars. In

no

flashed,
I

"many, many of them!"

shouted to the captain of
fleet

region of Mercury there

night or day, which
is

definite

"Ti-Dan"
the guard,

perhaps the rea-

"A

runner to the King

son

why
is

superstition plays no important

and the white

riors here with

giant.
all

Bring the war-

part in the lives

night

of these people,

for the

equipment.

Hordes

the time of mystery,

when

of the barbarians are attacking, so

haste."

make
de-

mind of man conjures pictures of evil spirits and evil deeds. I have often
thought that this
is
is

One

of

the

fastest

messengers
I

the reason that there

evil
spirit

parted for the city below.

glasses again eastward.

turned

my

no counterpart of the
similar to Hades.

in

Over the

plain

the religion of these men, nor anything

that
is

came a warrior mounted on one of the

steeds.
I

We
I

have never

marveled

at the

speed of the

tried to alter these beliefs.

beast and the natural skill of the rider.

During these months

had

insisted
limits of

Fast as a swift horse would travel they

upon

a patrol

far

beyond the

came, unhindered by the rough ground

the valley.

consented, even
believe that I

The King had laughed but Hughes was inclined to was overcautious, but I
this

and the bad

light.

He
in,

was carrying
Ti-Dan.

special message, I surmised.

"Call the scouts

We

do

had persisted and obtained

that in the last

guard,

not wait, but will attack as an army;

few weeks had become

much more

efficient,

tireless troads.

mounted on the For the same reason I

however, we must learn how many we face and where we shall meet them." The Vereans were assembling now.
first,

had insisted upon the speeding up of the

completion of the high voltage barrier
that

Among
Bill

the

first to

and Dianna.
entirely

arrive were Sen Eo, She was commander

surrounded

the

domain.

They

of the reserve forces, an

army

in itself,

seemed
able

to believe, that,

bested in a small

composed

of

Verean maidens,

skirmish with only a few of their avail-

who demand

equal rights in battle as in

life.

men

in action, the

men

of the land
I

the other walks of

To men

un-

of darkness would leave us alone.

not believe
Ig,

did

familiar with their customs, as Bill

I were, this

and

this. I had seen their chief, and knew that he had far more in-

might seem wrong; to the

people of Sen

Ver

it

was but

natural.

telligence

and ambition than the average

I

They have done so

since the beginning

Dar, also

had seen the look of en-

during hate that he had bestowed upon

Bill

and do not draw the lines of sex very finely. While not as strong as the male,
the

and me, when he had parted from

had emerged
one day
top
to

women
they

are oftentimes stand

the

more

alert

us on that night so long ago.

and
the

hardships

of

As was my custom,
from

campaign

to an

amazing degree. Possibly

battle
instills

the terminals of the city

action

of

in

their

and

climbed

to

the

mountain

hearts a true hatred of bloodshed, which

watch the signals of the guards upon

the range to the eastward.
I

never tired

passed on to the young, for all of them detest slaughter. A strange parais

of studying the sharp contours of the

dox,

desiring

peace

above

all

things,

LAND OF TWILIGHT
yet their very
existence
I

depends upon

CHAPTER XV
The
Electric Soldier

hoped that soon the time would come when they would
their ability to fight.

not find

it

necessary to be always ready

to do battle,

when they could pursue

of

the

OVER
flying.

the plain

beyond the range

of mountains

we came upon

the

occupations

normal

men

as

they

enemy.

wished to do.

hear us at the altitude at which

They could not see or we were

fears

The crew had gone to their posts in the ship, which was always ready to take off. I lingered to speak with Hughes
and the King. "I will scout
tion
their posistill

My

worst

were

realized.

from the

air,

they must
I will

be a

This was no mob of beasts but an army of men with some semblance of order. They were encamped below us and huge fires were blazing away. As I studied

great distance away.

in the passes tains,

report to you

them through the glasses

nearly

I could see that

of the
it

first

range of moun-

since

is

agreed that

we

shall

all of them were armed with long bows and many with swords. The sight

await the Sen Lev there and attack from

that point."

brought home the fact that

ultimate artists in mimicry.

men

are the

few short

"Happy
I

landings, partner," said

ship,

Bill.

weeks Hughes had been amongst them, still they had learned from him to make
fire.

turned to board the

to

find

Dianna waiting for

me

there.

On

one occasion only had they seen

brave

bow, arrow and sword in action.

agile

and handsome picture she made as she stood beside the outer port. She was
clad in the conventional

An

brain

among

the

tered the value of these and put

use. Against this

mass had registhem to

fact tliat for

garment of the

was the

Vereans, with a purple band around her

flaxen hair, from which arose a plume

of three purple feathers, insignia of

all

ages untold they had lived and died and no being amongst them was able to think of his own accord of any of these

higher

officers.

short officer's bard.

"I

For a weapon, she had a sword in a golden scab-

advancements.
I called to

Mu, who, with

glasses,

was

Smiling she extended a slim hand.

estimating the numbers below us.

"How

wish

you

happy

landings,

too,

many

of the

enemy do we
be

face."

David."

"There

must

about

seventy-five

On

the spur of the

moment,
was an

forget-

thousand of the savages," he said when

he

ting that this

was a princess, unmindoutsider,

had completed

his

survey,

"that

is

ful of the fact that I

three times the

the

number of troops

that

without a thought of
that I loved her

anything except

Sen Ver have mustered, even with

shall

more than any one I had ever known, I drew her to me and
crushed the rose-petal
she resisted
lips to

the regiments of maidens."

"We
and
call

go back

to

meet nur forces

"and as the
if

mine.

Had

a council," I said,
it

me

it

would have done her

that she did.

council votes so shall

be;

we

shall

no good.
this

was not sure

I

make an
barrier

attack

or

retreat
set

behind
up."

the

Realizing finally that I could not stand

which we have

way

forever,

tore

myself away
rose swiftto

In a very short time

and entered the

ly

ship.
I

As we
see

our

forces,

we had returned made camp and the

I

into

the

air

could

my
in

loved
salute.

council had
tions as

met and
of

reported condi-

one

below,

sword

raised

we had

seen them.

Swiftly

we sped

across the valley and

"Men and women

Sen Ver. we face

I

over the mountains beyond.

a very grave danger,"

advised,

"not

92
only do the wild
three
to

AMAZING STORIES
men outnumber
to

us by
well
to

base of the range.

The mounted men,

of

one,

but

they are quite

armed
energy
lar

with

most

our

supply

of

armed and seem

a fair degree of
before

have been trained

pistols in addition to their regu-

efficiency.

Think well

equipment,

would attack

all

along

we

attack.

We
lives."

can return be-

the line of battle.

My
the

crew, using the

hind our barrier, no doubt such action

big guns of the ship would cover the

attack.

would save many

Any
through

of

opposition

that

Much
first

to

my

surprise

it

was Dianna,
voiced the

broke

would meet

the

main

as leader of the
objection.

women who
"there
is

body of archers.

"No," she
beasts!

cried,

why we must

always run

no reason from these

We

have superior weapons, we

enemy was spread out in an encampment about twelve Yurgs in length. Far up on the side of the mountain our line was made
In the valley below, the
the same length as that on the plain below.

have a force of mounted

it

men and when

becomes necessary to retreat we can

!"

The

first

action

would begin
cavalry

at the

always do so at a faster pace than the

savages are able to maintain

edge of the wooded slopes.

long

Our thousand
first

of

advanced
air I

and heated discussion followed, Hughes

and
at
I

to

meet them and from the

fire

both being in favor of returning

gave the signal to attack. Simultaneously

once,

but

we

were over-ruled
I

by

we opened
Indian
long

with the

big

guns
out

Dianna and her following.

that either they

suppose
faith in

aboard the
using
in

ship.

The mounted
were
always

troops,

had not much

tactics

strung

the

wires that

we had

strung around

line,

else, as some of them had intimated, they were tired of being chased around by the enemy.

over the landscape, or

enemy front. The fire was supposed to clear a path

the

moving along from the ship

for them,

the arrows of the archers to take care

of any that they missed.
the
first

"If

we

are
I

to

give

battle,"
it

said,

knew

that, if

when

finally

saw

that

was of no

burst of firing did not demoral-

use to argue further, "the supreme com-

ize the forces of

Sen Lev we were

in

mand should a man who

Otherwise
lose
in

be placed in the hands of

for a long hard battle, the outcome of

has had military training.

which was
rifles

really doubtful, as

we

did not

your ambition you

will

have enough ammunition for the energy

to

more

lives

than there will be any

carry

on a sustained

attack.

necessity of losing
circled by the

and may become enis

enemy. Hughes
a

such a

man."

Bill

was

West Point man, had

the army.
to

been an

officer

This sort of
of
course,
all

The supply that we had brought from earth was nearly exhausted and we had not as yet found time to make more. The leaders of the nation had expected
some
attack by their enemy, but had not
it

warfare was
since

new

him,

on earth, for many years,

lost,

wars

thought that

would come so soon nor

have been won, or

part, in the air.

for

the

most

by such a large force.

versed, as

However he was well an army officer must be, in the

distribu-

methods of ground warfare, the

The enemy had been well trained. As soon as men began to fall and they knew that our attack was on, they made
use of their natural ability for camouflage.

tion of supplies, care of the wounded and all the many details of a campaign. This was to be guerrilla warfare, fighting

Amid

the small growth they could

not be seen, either from the air or by our ground forces, their mottled skins
blending with the colors about them.

from behind trees and of action was to meet

rocks.

the

Our plan enemy at the

LAND OF TWILIGHT
"I can not see anything at which to
shoot,''

93

the gunners reported.

"Then
I

hold

your

fire,"

replied,
is

more ammunition our losses will be greater. The Sen Lev have lost many more than we, but I am told that they
have
reinforcements

"since our stock of ammunition

low."

coming

up.

We

had not been able

for

to see

any of the
glasses.

have none, but should they break through

the electric wall the fire balls. If

enemy
were

some

time, except those that

at a distance,

by the aid of

we can fight them with we must we can abanrecapturing

Our

attack

on the ground was also

being unable to locate

don
it,

the

city

temporarily,

failing, the riders

targets, while they

were open to arrows from hidden bows. The casualties were few, however, as the Sen Lev are poor

when we have made ammunition enough for the big guns." The dissenters were overruled and we

shots and the arrows will not pierce the

made a forced march back over the route we had traveled. When our purpose became clear to the savage hordes,
they came in
full pursuit.

tough hides of the troads.

ionally did a rider fall

Only occashis steed.

from
I

There was not

"I

see

a
the

signal

from

the

cliffs

!"

much danger from

that source however,

shouted
glasses

look-out. direction

levelled

the

because they cannot travel at the fast

in

the

that

he desig-

pace of the Vereans.

The mounted

de-

nated, and received the message to

in.

come
point

tachment cut down those that ventured

ahead of the main body, further slowing
their

Hughes,

from

his

vantage

overlooking the whole of the

seen that
cavalry

battle,

had

advance.
ultimate

The

barbarians,
did

scent-

we were

getting nowhere.

The

ing

victory,

not

halt

but

and other ground troops had

as

kept on the march and

we were thus
rest,

also been ordered to cease the attack.

forced to continue with no

forced the pace at the
last,

but

we

The Sen Lev advanced

as

we

retreated,

outdistancing

our

troops

had

definite

orders
at

to

our slower enemy.

Inside the fifty yard wire barrier
halted

attempt
quarters.

no

battle

with them

close

we

"This

does

not

mean

that

we

are

as

quickly

and replaced the movable sections as possible and soon we

current
at

beaten, by any means," I consoled the

had

sixty-six

kilovolts
I

of my crew, "many a battle ha* won by a strategic retreat." From the air and with the force of among the ground we wreaked havoc among the enemy troops when

men

traveling over the wires.

This

counted
waited

been

upon
in

as

our best defense.

We

battle

formation

in

case the

enemy

cavalry

broke through.
"It
is

an awesome sight" said the

they

crossed

the

stretches

of

naked

King, "see the lights which dance above

the wires."

rock, where their colors failed to hide them and where they could be seen to

He

referred to the corona

around
the

the

conductors

caused

by

the

shoot

at.

This

slowed

their

advance,

ionization of the air in the vicinity. In

made them

cautious in exposing them-

selves, but this could last

only as long as

dim light this could be plainly seen. "There they come!" Bill shouted as
vanguard
of
the

our dwindling supply of shot held out.

the

attacking

party

"We
of

must

retreat
told

beyond our barrier

the
in

came on

at their

fastest pace, "they are

shall

wires,"

Bill

council,

"you
will
this

sure of victory

we

soon know."

have
since
do.
style

not

much
lose

faith

that

defense
it

Conversation ceased as a few, more

eager

you have never seen what

than

their

fellows,

swept

far

We
of

too

many men

in

into the lead.

fighting.

When we

have

no

obstructing

The first man touched the wire a short hideous scream

94
rent the air,

AMAZING STORIES
followed by the odor of
ery.

We

did not return for

many

hours,

burned

flesh.

Others attempted

to

cut

the barrier wire with their heavy swords

till we had seen the last of them beyond the point where they could stage

not

and were electrocuted as soon as the blade touched the wire. Those that touched any that were connected to the
system became a part of the circuit and immediately died. The Vereans gazed
in

surprise
rest

attack.

Following a
late

much
of

needed

we met

the

following

day to hold council with the

the land of Dar.
treaty

men

No

sealed and signed

since

could

be

drawn up

these

awe-struck wonder.

men
"it is

could not write.

We

met on the

"Tiva!" the King exclaimed,

terrible ending, struck

level

land just inside the harmless ap-

down by an un-

pearing wires which had proven so deadthe Vereans that were phybe there formed a huge before which the Dar chiefs were assembled. They were about three hundred in number. The circuit had been closed and the current turned on in the barrier. The high voltage hissed and smoked along its carriers.
ly.

seen power."

Most of

Wave upon wave

the

of the

men from
against
the

sically able to

inner

lands

charged

throng,

barrier
to the

only a few

lived to return again

main body. "They are going

"It
is

to attack at a point

further away," said Groten.

no matter,"
the

I
;

replied,

"the re-

sult

must be

can check the

same power

the only
is

way

they

Bill

having

spent

considerable

time

to cut off

our
kills

among

water supply, for the power which

comes from the water that flows so peacefully a few hundred yards away." The forces of the Sen Lev stopped detachment aptheir futile attack.

the Dars was ordered to be our spokesman by the King and council. "Great chief Ig, and all chiefs of Dar.

We

are here to

make

peace.

What

pur-

pose can be served when creatures of

intelligence slay each other?

There are

and stopped a few yards from it. In their number I recognized Ig, leader and cause of the
proached the barrier slowly
bloodshed.

beasts in plenty

among

the forests and

birds
for

enough
In

in the air to

furnish food
lie

all.

all

directions

the

fertile

He

raised his hands clasped

lands,

above his head in the Mercurian truce symbol and shouted across the space.

more than enough for centuries to come. The men of Sen Ver wish no bloodshed, but for every Verean that is
they

"The

chiefs of the

Dar would parley

killed

promise
fall!

that

ten

of

his

with your leaders."

enemies shall

You

ask then:

why

He
Bill

spoke in the Darian tongue which

translated to

me.

We

hastily

dis-

cussed the situation and King

Eo gave

did not the Verean hold his ground when you met him in battle in the open field? The answer is that the magic of the
stick that
kills

them his answer. "Send your forces back into the hills, only your chiefs may parley with us. When this has been done you may come
beyond the enclosure."

was low. The Sen Ver

sure that, in the future,

expected you to attack but not so soon.

They Then

will

make
is

enough

death-dealing

magic

is

ready.

there

the wall of flame which

control, through

There was a lengthy council over this among the Darians which we could not
hear but finally they reached a decision

they have

made and can

which no living thing

desire to take for our

may pass. own as much

We
land

and their forces took up the march towards the dim, distant peaks. With my crew I scouted the march, fearing treach-

we may may the women

as
parties

need, that Verean

hunting

not be slaughtered and that of

the

race

shall

not

be

LAND OF TWILIGHT
spirited

95
great
chief

away.

In

return

for

this

the

While

am

of

the

Dars

Vereans promise not to molest the Dar,

to teach to the agent of Ig
all

they shall be kept."

the arts,

The

great

mass of the attacking party

except the secrets of war. These we must keep because we are few in number against the many." For a long time the savages discussed my friend's words heatedly and more or less violently. This in itself was a good
sign, since it

took up the march back into the lands

from which it had come. The great chief and a few of his leaders were staying with us for a short time. They were
given
the

freedom of the place

electric

to

a
to

certain degree but were not allowed in

presaged that the ultimate

our quite modern

plant

or

decision would be sincere to a greater degree. If they had consented to our terms too easily, we should have had good reason to expect that they would forget them as soon. The ultimate decision,

study certain other things that

we were

doing. After a time they also departed and we again took up our work where
it

had been interrupted the attack upon us.

at

the time

of

one

on man,

their part, I
Ig.
I

felt,

rested with

watched

him

closely

CHAPTER XVI
North of
the

but as yet he had taken no active part in

the argument, but remained aloof, though
listening carefully to all that

Equator
with the work of

Once more

I felt that here

was said. was an ex-

INTERSPERSED
flights

repairing our ship

ceptional character

among

his kind.

He
pose

over the surface.

we made many The purfirst

was thinking about the problem and in this lay the qualities that separated him from his fellows, for when a man
ceases to
let

of
the

these

were twofold:
terrain,

to

his

impulses

or

passions

guide his speech or his deeds, but debates

and secondly to search for a place where another colony might be started. We felt sure that no attacks upon us would succeed against
whole
our defenses, particularly the system of
electrical

map

them
vance.

to

himself in

the

cold

light

of

reason, then indeed does he start to ad-

wiring

that

we had

set

up.

The

limit of his

advancement

is

and so the entire population had moved

to

controlled only by his ingenuity

the time the great

and by

the

surface.

The abodes
but

inside

the

Director has alloted

mountain were kept

unforseen

intact in case of

an

him

to play

upon

the stage.

emergency,
ideas

everywhere
structure,

At
the

length, Ig called for silence

among

houses were springing up in the valley.

his chiefs

man

and such was the power of that he obtained their complete

Given

the

of

surface

the native mechanics soon put

operation.

them
for

into

attention.

That he ruled them by sheer

physical

dominance mattered
five

little,

the

The one
the
in

valley

was adequate

the

important fact was that he did rule them.

needs of the present population but with

For about
leaders

minutes he spoke

to

his

means of
operation

protection that
it

we now had
to

was reached. He approached Hughes and spoke. "Leaders of the Sen Ver, we have come to a decision on what has been said.
and
their decision

would cease
afield

support

the Vereans of a decade hence.

Venturing
these
tours,

farther

on
the

one
plain

of
at

we followed

We
that

have had visions of power, visions

the end of the great morass. In the dis-

must be abandoned.
outer lands.

can see that

tance

we

sighted a great body of water

cal-

we
the

cannot conquer the pale

men from
are
fair.

extending inland. According to our

culations,

Your terms

we were

about

one

degree,

96
Mercurian
equator.

AMAZING STORIES
measurement,
streams north of the
these
invisible
I

areas

were

similar

to

nothing that

ever had heard of or seen.

Numerous

outer sea, but this

body of water that extending from west

empty into the one was the largest we had encountered

to east.
is

We

landed on a small ridge of land

beside a small valley, through which a

stream wended

its

way.

It

place for a camp, the elevation

cient for us to see a
direction.

was a good was suffiin

"I believe that this

a sea quartering

good distance

any
left

the globe," I told our assembled party,

Most of

the personnel, taking

Dianna,
Bill

which consisted of the King and Queen, the regular crew of the ship,

advantage of a chance to exercise,

the ship

and we
small

started

down

the length

Hughes and myself, "and

be of considerable width.

that

it

of

the

valley

on a preliminary

will

We

have

tour of exploration.

as yet found no suitable location. Shall

we

turn

inland

or

cross

this

water ?

We

have

food
fuel

body of enough for

can
be

As usual, my insatiable curiosity urged me on and I drew away from the main
party.

We

had seen no signs of

life

and

several weeks
plete

and

enough to comglobe

the possibility of danger did not enter

I came to a small intersecting from which flowed a trickle of water Thinking that I would find a spring back in the shadows I entered. I was very thirsty and longed for a drink of cool water. Most of the water on Mercury is very warm, except when its source is underground or in small

the

circle

of

the

my

mind.

carried in a man's pockets."

valley

"By
if this

all

the king, "I

means let us continue," said would like very much to see

is

northern continent

like

our

own

land."

We

brought the ship down, however,

on the southern shore before continuing.

We

found that

this

was not a

sea but

springs.

found the spring and obdraught of water.

a river of huge proportions as there was a perceptible current flowing in the direction

tained

my
I

As
see

arose

of

the

sea.

We

flew over the

that the

from the rocks I could main party was entering

yards
distant.
I

great river early the next day and found

the opening through which I had come,

a land similar to that on the south except that the plains

sive,

about

two

hundred

were more exten-

shouted to them that the water was very

the mountain ranges not as high.

We
Bill

had

travelled

using the

many miles north with glasses, when he suddenly

queer

and decided to wait for them there. They had covered more than half the distance when I raised my eyes
cool

spoke to me.

"There
faces

is

phenomena

dis-

played below. Large areas of the surare opague, I

am
the

unable to see

through them."
I

along the steep sides of the fissure and saw something else. On these slopes were beings Completely enclosed in armor of some black substance they carried a peculiar sort of weapon or in!

looked

through

glasses

and

strument.

large bellows

was

carried

passed

them to the Vereans, thinking

that possibly with their superior vision

under one arm and a flexible tube extended from it, which was manipulated

they might pierce the veil and discern

what was below. "Perhaps it is some natural condition," I said, "we can land on an elevation and
investigate."

My

curiosity

was aroused. Certainly

by the opposite hand. From these tubes were issuing sheets of an opaque vapor which hung dead and lifeless in the air. These opaque sections were man-made and were not a natural phenomenon! Their object was to envelope our whole

LAND OF TWILIGHT
party as the vapors were being directed
to no effect. tion at
all

91

We could

discern no altera-

towards the mouth of the valley and

travelling
in

in the substance at

any point
it.

that

direction

with

con-

where our shots should have pierced

siderable speed.

"We
I

can only await developments

is

"Run,

Vereans,"

shouted,

"attack

look

it

dissipating

from above!" I drew my

tackers

are probably using the

pistol

They already! same weapon but

counteract
the

and

fired at

our

at-

another
first."

compound
are

to

but

the

missiles

struck

the

which they had below the level on which they stood, and were deflected from its
vaporous
substance,
craftily
laid

"They
Dianna.

coming forward now/* said

as the mists disappeared
six

surface.

of

his

One of them carelessly left half body below the veil. I brought
the sides screaming horribly.

True enough we could see

distance.

of

the

number ap-

proaching while the others remained at a

him down

I could not

make

the entrance.

Bill

Those that were nearest did not carry the funny looking but effective
weapons.

and Dianna had stopped, he was vainly

trying to urge her
time.
on,

losing precious
I

"Do
others

not

shoot,

Bill"

warned,

as

"Run, you fools!"

into English.

I shrieked, lapsing

saw him reaching for his pistol "the would only cut us down."
leader opened the helmet to his

The
suit

My
started

friend picked her

up bodily and on again but the load slowed his

to

revealing

a smooth shaven

face.

In his eyes, large and bright, an expression of cruelty predominated.

speed and the cloud of vapor was over

and beyond them dipping downward

catch
the

"I fear that

we

can expect very

little

balance

of

the

party,
I

The
could

three of us were in the trap but

mercy from these men," Dianna exclaimed and exactly the same thought was in

prevent the capture of the others.

my own
unknown
to

mind.
tongue.

He
I

addressed

me
in
Bill

in an

In

my

pockets
storbite,

carried

two small
high
the

answered

Verean
spoke

bombs of
plosive.

a terribly
I

ex-

but he did not understand.

Quickly

adjusted
at

deto-

him

in the language of the

to

Dars and
inquisitor
I

natcrs and threw

the valley

them

each side of

much

our

surprise

our

beyond the curtain and back

understood and answered him.

had

of

our retreating comrades.

burst

The
crash

exas

never learned the language of the wild

plosive

with a

terrific

the sides of the narrow valley caved in

men, so upon my partner must burden of interpretation.

fall the

leaving the three of us effectually bottled

"What
"Only

desire

you,

strangers,

in

the

up,

but cutting our assailants off

into

land of Nimara?"
to

from entrance
I

the

larger

valley.

see

what lay north of the

Bill,

knew that our friends had time to make the not far distant ship. I came up to Bill and the girl who
were waiting for me. "The opaque wall is
us"
"I
said
Bill,

water" answered

"our land
travels
5

is

an-

other world than this,

from which we
in

came
air.

in

the

ship

that

the

Doubtless you have seen

for
that

it.'

settling
if

around

Nithon,

was

the

leaders

"I

wonder
I

we can
answered.

break through".

name, stepped closer to Dianne looking at her with covetous eyes.

do not think so."

"Perhaps that

is

true of yourself and

"Shot from
it".

my

pistol

will

not

pierce

the other man, but the

woman must

be

We

fired

a volley at the wall but

a species of Sentor."

AMAZING STORIES
I

had

been

inwardly

boiling
in

with

they speak a Daran tongue as well and

wrath because of the manner

he looked upon her.

which

have

little to

do with
general
is

their slaves in

any
huge

When
her,

he reached
reason
left

event.

The

shape
that

of

these

forward and touched

me, swift as
i.

gaseous
umbrella.

envelopes

of &

flash I

readied out with

a blow to his uncovered jaw which felled

We
when
whole

were
the

not

molested

again,

and

him before he could

tect

lift

a finger to prothe

Transatel

ship had

been re-

himself.

None

of

people

of

ported to have flown into the south, the

party

Mercury can match

an earth
ing

the speed with which

was

loaded

into

motor

man

can move.

came

closer

with

Those guardweapons ready

transport vehicles that had arrived for

this

purpose,

and we departed for the

of

for action, but the leader,

now

recover-

north.

ing from the blow, got to his feet

and
off

This

race

men have
to

developed

waved them
"Tell the

back.

motor transportation
to keep his

an amazing de-

hound

hands

the girl and take us to his superior," I

said to Bill.

of perfection. The vehicles arc much more powerful and smoother in operation than any that we have on

gree

"I

am

the ruler,"

answered Nithon,
said Bill.

earth.

Perhaps
all

this is because,

on

earth,

when this was translated. "You have a false tongue"

practically

transportation,

except

freight, has taken to the air.

The Nimar
a
successful

My

surmise

was

correct.

He was

have

never

constructed

only a military nib-commander.

heavier-than-air craft for flight and s6

Our weapons were

I

taken from us but

this

have concentrated their

fection
in

ability

on perActually.

was not extremely bothered by

since
I

another direction.

fact,

had been robbed of

to

my
this

the conditions that prevail in the

Mer-

weapons so often since coming

world
that
it

curian

atmosphere

are

not

altogether

was becoming a
to

habit.

favorable for flying.

Quickly they
that
trails

marched us away from

always keeping
forest
at a point

At

the

first

of the journey, over in-

locality,

ferior "roads," as they called them, our

until

we were

beyond
to

speed was from fifty to sixty miles an

hour. In a few hours

where die others who had returned

the

we came

to the

Transatel

ship could

locate

us

on

beginning of the great Nimar highway

the march.

A
their

camp was made and a curtain of protective vapor was spread over
camp.

system and our speed from that point on was steadily better than one-hundred
miles per hour.
Internal combustion engines are used,

the

There

were

hundreds

of
it

these opaque sections over the land,

but they are powered by a fuel of which

I

would be

practically impossible

for our

know

nothing,
efficient

except that

it

is

ex-

friends to locate the right one.

Even
it

if

tremely
less.

and

practically

noise-

they did they could not attack

cessfully.

suc-

The

vehicles that they use are also

We

remained there for two

until

much

better

sprung

than

any

that

days

and

nights

the

scouts
its

re-

ported that the ship had ceased

bom-

had seen before. The highway systems are on the same

principle
traffic, all

bardments of the different "umbrellas'".

as

those

of

earth.

Express
is

The Nimar give this protective covering the name of "tourij". which may mean
umbrella in
their

going in one direction,

specified

over-

head.

Only

stops

are

made.
travels

language.
the

We

never
as

Slower

traffic

and cross

traffic

learned die language of

Nimar

on the surface

not much

different

from

LAND OF TWILIGHT
our surface travel on earth but faster and
better

99

that in

comparison with the beauty of

regulated.

large

settlement

the

native

women

she

would be over-

loomed

in the distance.
is

"Our speed

slower," said

Bill,

"we

must be approaching our destination." We entered a huge terminal shop and came to a stop. News of our coming had been sent on ahead. A guard of armored

looked by any of the Nimar. "Your appearance certainly is changed," said Bill, "I would not know you for the same woman." "Am I bad enough?" she asked in a
rough, strained voice.

armed with their weapons crowd of civilians, both men and women. In the few mosoldiers

awaited us,

"If you can only keep the part,"

her, "but don't drop the

told

queer
there

looking

but

efficient

masquerade."

was

also a great

Soon our car stopped before an imposing building fronted by a huge stair-

ments of waiting we had an opportunity to study them. The men invariably gave
the appearance of high intelligence and
the

way

of solid metal.

The

building

was

constructed externally of
metal, which
light weight.
I

some burnished assumed must be of very

slid

women were

extremely beautiful.
as
cruel

Doors

back noiseless-

"They appear
carved in stone,"
ever our fate
that

as

images "what-

ly

for our entrance.

Inside
hall

we

passed

said
be,

Dianna,
I

through an immerse
predominating
in

decorated in

may

do not think

a marvelous manner with gold and silver

the
;

we

can expect any mercy or help

scheme.

Silent

from any of them."

guards were everywhere

to

the regal guard,

hall

We

were

transferred

another

assumed.

At the end of the long

vehicle and were soon moving through

gilded doors opened and

we

entered a

the streets of the town.

smaller chamber in which were assembled a

"Where do you
us.

take us?" Bill asked

the leader of the patrol that

was with
ruler,"

number of men. One, an elderly man, sat behind a desk

dais, the others

on a raised
he
in

"To Duneen Thiunter, our

answered, "your disposal
his
will

semi-circle

of

seats

were grouped on the floor

adthe

be upon
the inner

below.

The whole

effect

was not unlike

judgment.

Were you from

;

a court room on earth. vanced to a position

to
in

Our guard
front

valleys

we would throw you

in the slave

of

quarters without his counsel

are of another race he

since you must decide."

raised dais, saluting smartly.

When
in

bid the

do

so,

he

made

his

report

"Not a very pleasant outlook," I said, when the rather lengthy speech had
been translated. "I only hope that

native language, during which time the

ruler and his aids looked ns over.

we
to

"The two males

Nimara, the

are of a race
is

can keep together. These

cruel

men

are cold,

woman

not.

unknown You say

and sensual." "If we must be separated,

I

that the large one speaks the mouthings

my

loved

of the Imar."

one,"

cautioned

Dianna,

"put on an

The
Bill

leader

turned

his

attention

to

appearance of ignorance and uncleanliness."

and questioned him

at great length

about his origin.

had obtained no chance to remove the grime of our long journey. Dianna surreptiously worked the dirt into her
fair skin, tangled

We

"You would have us believe that you and the other man have come here from
another world.

There

is

no other world.
north

hair

The change was

and mussed the flaxen and her eyes assumed a vacant look. miraculous. I hoped

Nimara ends

at the great waters

and south; the Boiling Seas to the west and the waters of the Great Pits far

100
away extend
"But
if

AMAZING STORIES
into the land of no light."

maining four. They were clad in their

protective

you have explored to the east you must have seen the stars in the
sky,"
Bill

armor,
in

but

as

is

customary
their

when

not

action

the

helmets were

argued,

"it

is

from one of

these that

we

have come."
heavens are there,

thrown back. They could not use weapons 1

"The

lights in the

The

Iniars witnessing the brawl dared

but they have nothing in our world."

common

with

not interfere in our behalf, but I could

see that they

were enjoying the rough-

When
I could

this

had been translated to me,

built

ing of one of their hated masters.

understand how a very complete

civilization

had been
at

out any attempt

up here withexploration. These

world

It was some moments before the man recovered from the wicked punch that he had re-

ceived.

men were
was
fiat;

convinced that their

"I

am

afraid that

we

cannot fight them

that the limits to which they

fay

very long, Bill," I said.

"I know," he replied, "I have prob-

could travel were imposed

that they could see.
this

the land

To

venture beyond

ably let us
geance,

all

in for this

man's venthey

meant

extinction,

dropping

into

but

we must know what

nothingness, and so they had never ven-

intend to do with Dianna. It would be

better for the three of us to die fighting
right here, than

tured beyond the bodies of water which

surrounded them.

"Take them
said story."

to

the

slave-quarters,"
believe
their

Duneen, "I

do not

become the plaything of this type of man." We had spoken in English, he now
for her to

addressed the leader

who was

rising

from

We
and

were marched out of the palace

the ground.

into the car.

We

were taken out of

"Will you answer

or must
costs
I

my

question

now
if it

and into another of ramshackle quarters, and dilapidated huts which for the most part at this time of day were
the city
deserted.

beat you to death?

lives."

Even

our

I don't suppose that this captain

had

We

drew np in front of what

ever been crossed in this

way

or slugged

looked to be a headquarters.
interior

From

the
in

quite as hard in his life, his expression

certainly

issued

number of men

showed surprise and

hate.

general appearance like the Dars.

these
other.

All of

"The woman goes

quarters.

to the female slave

strik-

were injured in one way or anThey ordered Bill and me out of

spoke to the leader.
the
girl,

You

will

pay dearly for

I

ing a Royal Guard."

the carriage.
Bill

"Keep
where are you

your

courage,"

said

to

Dianna, "I believe that in some way

we

"What of taking her ?"

ated."

We

supposed that whatever

can outwit these people, clever as they are. As long as you are amongst the
slave

happened we should not be far separ-

women you

are safe. If

it

would
have

gain anything for you

leader leaped to the ground, ig-

we would make
still
it

The

a last stand here. I see that you

noring the

question
if

and grabbed

Bill

your deadly amulet. Use

resort.

only as a last

by the arm as
seat.

to pull
left

him from
seat

the

My

friend

his

readily

enough and

hit the

ground with a rush.

felled

One

terrific

blow
I

the leader.

followed snatching one of the Nimars

weapons which

trained

on the

re-

There must be some means of I will let you know if we can do anything. If I should crush you close now, it would be something for them to hold against you, hence I must refrain."
communication and

LAND OF TWILIGHT
CHAPTER XVII
Slavery

101

OUR
fellow,

fellow slaves, for there

was

had been captured in the lands of darkness and brought here, a greater number had been born in captivity. All hated and feared the men that they slaved
for, but

now no doubt
here,

as to our status

none seemed to have the resource-

collected

around
than

us.

One
the

fulness to organize a successful revolt,

larger

man
sling.

even

although outnumbering their masters.

famed Urd, came forward. His arm was

in

an improvised

number of sporadic attempts at escape had been made within the memory of
Zuth, but the results had been so disastrous that they were at the point of

"You
he
said

are not of
to
Bill,

Imar, great man,"

"yet

you speak the

language of our fathers, from whence

complete

submission.

wondered why

came you and

replied,

the others?"

the leader had

"From another

world, comrade," Bill

the

amongst

these, but could find

thrown men, such as Bill no other

that

"a world beyond

darkness

explanation

than

he

rated

us as

of the inner lands and far of the stars that

away on one

very inferior in intelligence, or else was

secure in his
belief

may

be seen from your

of the infallibility

homeland."
"I have seen them," answered

of
Zuth,
I

Nimar

defense.

A
had

plan was forming in

my

mind.
learn

We
the the
stir

for this

was
the

the man's name, "for

was

numbers,
of
the

if

we

could

born a free man.

slaves

Most of
call

the captives,

secret

Nimar

us,

were born

here."
I noted that

weapon up and
this

that

they used,

Nimar armor or of we might

Bill

Zuth did not doubt our from another

fact that,

and I talked over for some time and finally he

direct a revolt.
say,

story
It

of coming

planet.
in

addressed the

demonstrated the

some

"You

ways, the mind of the ignorant savage

never been able to escape from the

that hold

was more open than that of his well trained and educated master. The Nimar ruler and his following had refused to
accept our explanation of our presence

men gathered about us. men of Imar, that you have men you. To us this seems strange.

upon Nimar

soil,

because their books

is

have said that there

no other land than

As slaves of the Nimar, some of you secret of their weapons and of the material that prevents them from being destroyed by the gas that they use as a method of destroying
must know the
others."

Nimara. These simple men accepted our

story without question.

There were more than one hundred slaves in this building, and I saw that all were incapable of doing work, from one cause or another. This seemed to be a
sort of a hospital
at that.

as

To this Zuth replied in such a way to show us conclusively, how the few could hold such a large number of
physically,

men, much stronger

long a time.

for so

He

said in reply,

"To

be

and a very poor one

That these men held us in great respect was evident from their attitudes. Those able to do so crowded around Bill,
asking him

sure, we make the armor and the weapons that the Nimar oftentimes uses to slay us, but they guard their secret well.

If

they find that any slave

has given
if

many

questions.

We

learned

knowledge of the materials used, or

they simply slaughter
all

much

of their history and

mode

of living

they find any of those materials missing,

of the slaves in

in a short time.

We
is

also

found out a

great deal about their masters.

these

Some

of

any way connected with the manufacture

of these things!

men, Imar

the

name

of the race.

We

could easily gain

102
the knowledge, but
it

AMAZING STORIES
would be of no
our attacking the guards before they had
to

use

us under

these circumstances."

time to bring their weapons into play,

until a
that,

I was dumfounded at the extent to which the Nimar carried their cruelty,

number of us were armed,

after

our armor protecting us from the

as just unfolded to us by Zuth. Naturally

gas,
their

no

slave

would dare

to let as

much

we planned to kill any others with own weapons, or, failing that, to

as a
lips.

word about these

secrets cross his

beat them to death.

We

counted a great

We

understood quite readily, that

deal on the fact that the guards, except

any break for freedom would have to be planned differently. But Bill was scheming for the same result, from another angle.
"It seems to me,
said, "that

when

actually in combat, leave the heltheir

suits

met of

open,

and

that

we

could put them out of action before they

could prepare to

fight.

men

of

Imar," he
to use the

The Imar argued

heatedly.

over this long and

the

you have neglected

Most of
all

older

men

con-

most
as

effectual

weapon of

all,

and one

sidered

it

as impossible, but the younger

in

that can never be taken

from you as long

slaves were

favor of some sort

lacked
a
leader.

you

live."
is

of

action.

They had

"What

that?" he was asked.

physical strength and the

Zuth, a powerful influence, was hesitant,

undecided.

"Your great

speed with which you can hurl a stone.

"You
wished
to

say,"

argued

Bill,

since
all

he

At

least the

Dar of
very

the southlands,

who
these

win Zuth over, "that

It is

may

resemble

you
said

much,

have

be killed?

only a living death that

attribxites."

"Yes,"

Zuth,

"our people

still

you have now. There must be many of you, who, like Zuth were born far away
under the
light

are adept at the hunt and

we have
much

con-

of

the

stars,

and

to

siderable chance to practice, for in this

whom

the first years of life are

remem-

manner

the

Nimar

obtain

of their

bered as free ones. Then there was no

lash to sting your back

food supply. All of the younger slaves,

particularly,
this

when you were

that
kill

delight

to

have a turn at
only
pleasure

so

exhausted that

it

seemed

you
the

work,

as

it

is

the

could not go on, you had only to

that

ing
for

we ever know. Our masters, realizthis, make of it a sort of a reward

faithfulness,

game

to

feed yourself and your family,

only the worry of finding a cave suitable

to sleep in.
is

as

they

consider
all

it."

To men

of
if

spirit,

freedom

Bill's

plan in short, was that

the

worth dying for

necessary."

He

Imar should be informed that a break was to be made sometime in the near
future, that, under penalty of being killed

finally

persuaded Zuth that the plan had

to his views.

a very good chance of success and so

won him

by their fellow slaves, no mention was

ever to be
the time
ters

We

had talked a long time.

An Imar

for sleep, at

made of this plan except at when we were locked in quarwhich time we were

posted at the door shouted to us that

slaves were being driven in

course

guards

were with

them.

and that of Soon

in the long

sure that no inquisitive ears would hear

after that the

hundred men

our conversation.

We

planned to

dig

our way out of our quarters, capture our guards by surprise, and armed with
their

room were herded into line and marched to another long low building, where we were fed. Much to our surprise,

weapons and armor,

of our plan

way
cess

to the land of darkness.

to fight our The sucwas dependent upon

the

food,

though

coarse,

was

wholesome and there was plenty of it. Apparently the Nimar were crafty

LAND OF TWILIGHT
enough
whether
to
realize

103
were lined up
outside
in the

that

creature,

Conveyances
of the

more work when well fed. No conversation was allowed while eating and the table was ringed by a number of guards with weapons. There was no time for conor beast, can do
versation in any case since a

man

waiting for us and

foothills

we were soon mountains. The

in a
five

gang,

that

we were
metal.
to

in,

were mining copper

huge vein of the
hours

which existed here

native

For

we were

man must

compelled

swing a
It

heavy hammer

grab what he desired quickly.

dered
at

We
and

wondis-

drilling the holes that other slaves

fill

the

haste displayed

with explosive.

would was man-killing

rest. If

covered the reason,

dered away before

when we were

or-

toil

without a moment's
for
the a

the pace
felt

my

companion and

slackened
lash

moment, we

the

I had found time to satisfy our hunger.

of

guards great whip across

We
I

were hurried back

it

to the first .build-

our backs.
"I begin to see the hand of the captain

ing and

was barred from the

outside.

no

was thankful in one respect, in that move had been made to separate Hughes and myself. I would have been
handicapped

of our guard in this," I said.

"I

notice that the other drilling crews are

not rushed at the pace which

is

forced

greatly

had

our

captors

upon

us."

done

so, since I

knew

only a few words

"I imagine that

we

will
Bill,

be continually
"since that
is

of the tongue. Excitement

point after our

was

at a

high

harassed," answered

and

his

guards had left. Zuth companions were gravely dis-

the nature of the cruel

man wherever

he

may

be."

cussing the ideas that Bill had given to

We
which

were allowed
to

fifteen

minutes in

them.

eat a

We
whom

learned that the Imar

women, of

exhausted that
to

it

midday meal. I was so was necessary for me

there were not many, as compared

force the food

that I

down my

throat but

to the males,

were kept
to

in a separate sec-

knowing
if I

would be in better shape

tion of the town.

transported

the

Each day they were city proper where

between
the

ate something I did so.

Then we were
I

driven back to our work.

the

noted that

they performed the menial tasks of the

household.

other drilling crews were changed

Meetings

two

but that
the

sexes were few. In spite of their

of living the

mode
wild

Imar were much further

civilization

the day passed

my friend and same assignment. The somehow.

were given

latter half of

We

were

in

advanced

in

than

the

the best of physical condition but unused

to

men

of the southlands. Living in con-

hard physical labor. I was thankful

tact with a civilized

scheme they must

indeed given

of necessity absorb considerable of that scheme. Conversation soon ceased in

the building and they
all slept.

when the signal for and we were marched

a halt was
to the cars

and started on our return journey.

In the seat beside us was a young Iman who opened conversation as soon as our vehicle was under way. "The Nimar intend to kill you by

We

were

soon to learn the reason. That sleep was the sleep of complete exhaustion. In the

dim

light of the following

day we were

routed

out by

the

guards and herded

Bill and from the experience

work," he

said.

"I

overheard

two of

once more to the mess-room.

I,

the guard talking in

taking our cue

Niman. Some of us understand their language, though they

of the previous day, wolfed our victuals

the

know

it

not.

The

big captain that you

same

as the others,
fill

managing

in the

struck cannot have you killed outright,

confusion to

our stomachs.

but should you refuse or be unable tq

104
work, he
will

AMAZING STORIES
have his guards beat you

Two
into
false

hours after
building.

to the death! If

we

could help you

we

our

we had been checked pulled away the I

would,"

support that held up the scant six

"Thank you,
only
to

friend," said Bill,

"the

inches of soil that remained between us

way

that

you can help us

will

be

and the outer

scraped

air.

Very

carefully

we
I

persuade the

men

to

organize

into

away
for

this layer until

a hole big made.

a revolt.

Should the labor be not more

enough

egress had

been

we can get along." "They have put you to the hardest work that there is. As you may have obsevere than to-day
served, in the other gangs they take turn

poked

my

head above the surface and

took a hurried look around. The guard

on our side of the building was just

disappearing

from view around a cor-

about and only work one-half the day at

the

ner of the structure!

hammer and
can
last

drill.

We

did not be-

lieve that

you could

last

the day."

CHAPTER

XVIII

"We
replied,

many

days,"

"but as soon as the

Hughes Nimar dis-

Surprise Attack
a low spoken

cover

this

they will find other means of

getting rid of us."

WITH
ing
after him.
building,
I

word

directI

the

others

to

follow,

The

routine in the days that followed

grasped

my

club and went out

was much the same as the first. were fed and locked up each night
hut that contained the physically
fit

We
in a

reached the corner of the

around which
and
in

he

had
I

disap-

men.

peared,
his

the

shadows

awaited

The aged one, Zuth, I saw was in the same shanty. He told us that he had
been returned to the mining gang.

return.

As

he came into view, his

helmet open, I recognized him as one of

the

many who had

lash,

crossed

my

back with

"We

have had word of the she that

the

leaving scars
for

that

would
of

re-

was captured with you," he said one night. "She has been taken by one of
the

main with me
me,
he
helmet, to close

many
the

years.

Seeing
his

reached

for
it,

visor

wives of

Duneen, as her personal

but he never had a

club,

slave.

She

will be safe

from any Nimar,

chance,

the

heavy

painstakingly

except perhaps, the ruler himself. Being

fashioned from the poles oi flooring, de-

more comely than

mistress
will

the

Imar women her

scended upon his head crushing the

skull.

take pains to protect her

The two remaining guards

building

to

this

from

all

other Nimar."

were
I left

stalked,

surprised

and

Every night for one hour we tunneled

under our prison walls. One thing
doors
in

killed before they could give

Bill

an alarm.

and

the disposal of the corpses

our favor was the fact that once the

and recovery of weapons and armor to

were
us,

barred
unless

our
the

guards
covers

never

some of

the

others

and

ran

to

tne~

molested
lifted

were

nearest adjoining building.

As we made
and
so

from the

lights,

which was never

our attack there, the slaves inside came

permitted to happen during this time.

through
spread
vicinity.

and
our

joined

us,

we
the

One month from

ture

the day of our cap-

conquest

throughout

word came in from all sources that Imar were ready for the break. To me it was pleasing news. I swung the hammer almost joyously that day under
the the

As we

collected

numbers, and
lead-

obtained armor and weapons from the

slain guards, I called

some of the

ers to conference, Bill said to them:

glowering,

baleful

glare

of

our

"Men
and

of Imar, the other white being

swifter,
will

man
run

guards.

myself,

LAND OF TWILIGHT
down and You, men
kill

105
in our

any that may get

free.

The

slave

town was
this
it.

hands

of the inner lands,

must bear

and but for

circumstance
Bill

now we were
near as

the brunt of the attack."

ready to leave

and

called the

The

buildings were invariably guarded

in a

Imar

together.

They were

all

by three men. Sometimes one,

the slaves

few

there had been strict orders that there

eases two, of the guards would escape

should be no looting, no disturbance to rouse the upper town.

who are very slow of movement. Our earth-trained muscles enabled us to run these down before they could escape, and clad in their own armor the weapons did not harm us. Our forces were now large enough so
that

Now

the

order

was changed, we

called

for a score of

men

to follow us to the regal quarters

I believed

where

we would
if

find Dianna.

The response was not

it

as spontaneous as

would have been,

with
Vereans,
of
either

some

sort of

campaign could be
the
council

fol-

ing

we had been dealwho would gladly

through
fire,

lowed.

We

called

together

follow

us
I

al-

once more, Zuth was chosen, by them

as their

though in justice
dissenters

must say

that

the

spokesman.

Bill

gave him his

the other

were greatly

in the minority.

instructions.

At
er,

last

we

picked a score of the young-

"Very soon the Nimar from

not been warned already.
action
is

more

daring, only to find that none

city will be here in force, if they

have

knew
been
tivity,

the upper town.

They had
in
their

never
capthat

Our

plan of
their
plain.

be)'ond

the

river

to lead

them away from

to

but

we soon found
after

woman

headquarters,

on

the

open

had been there many times.

There we
veyances

will destroy all of their con-

"Twenty minutes
bridge, create as
until

we

cross the

and

prevent
city.

them

from
near

re-

much

noise as you can,

turning to their
that
shall

Pick a strong force

concealed
the

you know that the entire Nimar

is

remain

town

aroused.

Retreat
to

to

the

open

bridges. After the

Nimar have crossed

to

country, leaving

men

they

shall

come

forth

prevent

any
the

bridges but the one.

blow up all the Those men are to band against

lay in the

from returning."

wait for our raiding party here."

to

We

went on, and soon came

section

We
asleep.

sallied forth, a small

section of the

women. This
Imar

town housing the Nimar was not nearly as

a great town.

Our advantage

fact that nearly all of the populace

large as that which held the

men

the

We

were had no means of knowing

women

were

few
find

number.

what
had

policing system prevailed here.

We

Quickly we went through their quarters

but no where did
Bill
I

traveled

considerable

distance

Dianna

questioned

one woman. "Where

be in the city upon the

has the strange girl gone?"

when one of our party spied a sentinel. The Imar have sharper eyes than their masters. The party came to a halt.
"I will circle around him," I said to
Bill, "since, if I

"She must
hill.

still

will get

you a

woman who was

is

am

seen, less notice will

quartered in the same hovel with her."

be

taken

of

me.

Your

great
in

stature

"Do
lose!"

so at once!

There

no time

to

makes you .a marked man pany here."

any com-

Soon the woman put in an appearance. "They keep the white one at nights now. I do not see her often but she
tells

The man was

standing partly in the

me

that

she has to entertain the

Nimar."

shadow of a building that faced the street. He had not moved since we had Imar told us that he was not apparently directing his attensighted him, but the

106
tion
to
us.

AMAZING STORIES
I

went over into the next

its

thirty

thousand Nimar

in

the city, at-

street
I

and hurried along

length

till

tended by a force of about forty thous-

had him

in a position directly
I

between

and slaves

the

large

ma
the

ority

of

the

myself and our party.

was returning slowly towards him when suddenly he

started
in

slaves were adult males. This

we hoped
call
all

for,

that

noise
forces

was what would

to

my
head

direction!

Twelve

feet

of

the

fighting

the

above

my

porch. I leaped in the air with

outstretched.
I

was the railing of a my arms was again thankful for

of

lower town, leaving us an easier course

in

my

what we wished to accomplish. I left post and hastened to join the others, from now on we must work Imar could
travel,

the

lesser

gravity

Mercury,

as

because
swiftly.

grasped the railing and hauled myself

over
!

Tensely

waited as he approached

As

fast as the

we

but nothing seemed out of place to him

as

hurried through the town, our objective

the palace of Duneen,

he sauntered

along.
I

When
launched

he was myself

which was located

directly
at

underneath

on a

hill

overlooking the town.

will

him kicking out hard with

my

feet
to

"There
said,

be guards here, Bill," I

as I neared the bottom of

my

leap,

"spread them out, use clubs and

give the blow the necessary power.

fell

He

stones I"

to the

ground
to

dead.

hardly

ceased

The body had convulse, when Bill

ever,
to

The
grounds
Imar.

dozen
fell

guards

in

the

outer
of
the

under

the

blows

came up ready,
in

as

take part

Their

armor could not

delivered.

protect

any trouble that might develop. no one had been aroused.

How-

them from blows

The same
from
dis-

ever, the episode

that

had passed so swiftly

armor on our persons rendered us im-

mune from
con-

the

gas

that

issued

We
to

signalled to the rest of our party

their weapons,

though that same gas

come forward

so that

we might

integrated sticks and stones in the few

tinue on our way. Behind us, at the edge

times that they had time to bring

play.

it

into

of the river, pandemonium broke loose!

The

element of surprise was what

are cleared now," one
"I

Heavy explosions sounded and

out in

fire

broke

beat them.

many

places, as the Imar, follow-

"The grounds
that

ing our instructions, wrecked buildings

of the Imar reported.

have learned
to the

near the river front.

In the shelter of a huge storehouse,

Sanu knows the way

it

slaves
!"

entrance,

is

unguarded, she says."

we heard

the

alarm

sounded

in

the

streets about us. In a

very short time, we

"Then take us there immediately Through the barred windows I could

see a light
faint

saw, from our hiding place, the Nimar

forces marching en masse, to the settle-

upon the second sounds of revelry came

floor

and

to us oc-

ment across the

river.

climbed to a
as accurate

casionally.

We

skirted the building fol-

point on the roof and

made

lowing the lead of the Imar woman,

a survey of their numbers as was possible.

who was running

as fast as she could

was able

to estimate their

num-

in that direction, but at a pace

which

bers quite accurately, as they collected

at the bridges

seemed unbearably slow

Intuition, telepathy or
it

to

me.

and were

in the full light

whatever sense

of

the

burning buildings.

There were
all

is

that at

certain

moments whispers
was
all

about five thousand of them when

arrived, practically
lation.
all

had

to us of the future,

telling

me

that
in

of the male populearned that

the one

loved above

others

was

From Zuth we had

were
between

that lighted
help.

room and

that she needed

there

twenty-five

and

LAND OF TWILIGHT
First
to

107

arrive

found

the

door

fore they

make no impression on it with my weight as it was built securely and made of metal.
barred. I could

pains to

knew it, although I took no make my progress quiet. Perhaps for this moment alone, had I

put in eight seasons upon the gridiron.

I

"Let

me

at

it

Master," said one of

I

sped over the remaining short distance,

the Imar, "for a long time

to break

have wanted

left
air.

my

feet

and hurtled through the

I

one of these apart. Bring

me
the

This time, as

desired, I took out

yonder big block of stone," he pointed

to

two men, sending them both spinning,

to bring

a large obelisk at the head of

up with a crash against a

weapons.
Bill,"
I

wall,

walk a short distance away.

minus
the
it

their

Four
as if
it

of

our number

lifted

slab

"Get their weapons,

shouted,

were a toy and brought

so that I can

for-

ward.
"Place
it

"and guard the doorway!" I entered the room. The noise in the
hall

it

wedge between

had attracted the attention of

it

its in-

and the door while

suit."

I get rid of this

mates, but
that

had been over so quickly

to

clown

they

had not been able

arm

His back and shoulders against the

door, his feet braced against the stone,
all

themselves,

them as

had the drop on entered. Well in front of the

Bill

and

of his powerful strength

legs

was

exerted.

main group stood

man,

in

his

hands
side

His

began

to

straighten

as

the
I

one of the slave whips.

lay Dianna, covering her
best

At one

center of the door began to buckle.

nude body as

heard a click as one lock snapped

lock gave way.

fol-

she could. red

Across her back were

lowed shortly by another as the other

It

great

welts,

from
I

which
at

blood

was

a marvelous ex-

streamed! All this

but vengeance came
Bill

saw
first,

a glance,
later.

hibition of brute strength.

escape

I fore

was
the

inside the building almost be-

stood ready to use the weapon.

door

had stopped

swinging,

"Do
brute

not use the gas," I said,

is

"this

going to get some of his

!"

own

CHAPTER XIX
The Whip

medicine

As
drew
hurry.

advanced, the
his

man
yet

with the lash before

the

back

arm,

C
It

\OME
rest
sible."

on

Bill,

let's

The

motion forward was completed,

can come on as fast as pos-

upon him. Speed has

important
place
is

its

place,

I was and an

in

combat.

Across
the the

was poorly
floor,

lighted

here

on the

my

shoulder
I

ground
tion

but I could see illumina-

wrong way,
"devil'
trick to
result
it's

his arm was bent was greeting him with

streaming

down from
I

above, at a

hand-shake,"
fullest

and

used

the

not far distant stairway.

stairs in a flash,

was up the
seemed to
stood

degree of harm, the

my

friend close behind

me.

From

the noise,

there

be a party in progress at the other end of the corridor.

was a broken arm! As he lay on the floor, writhing in pain, I tore the clothes from his back
and picked up the heavy whip where lay on the floor. "You like the lash,"
snarled, not realizing that I
it

At a doorway
I

two

guards,

thought, since they wore armor

and carried weapons.

club, but in

had

lost

my

was speak-

my
it

present state of mind I

a

ing a tongue that he could not understand,

never gave
est

thought.
in the

Their

inter-

"you

shall

have the lash!"

the whip bit deep into

was centered
I

room

that they

Time and again

his

were guarding,

was

close to

them

be-

body'as

vented some of the pent-

108
up fury that was would not forget
he
in me,
this

AMAZING STORIES
upon him. He
that

in the possession of the Imar,

who had
while

beating soon and

hidden themselves in the

the

vicinity,

was not the only one

ire.

would

main force
battle

led their enemies a run-

know my
cruel

In

common

with most

ning

out into the open country.

men, he could not stand punish-

When

the fighting had been carried to

I turned away from his screams and babblings, disgusted, and advanced upon the ruler of these merciless men,

ment.

a certain distance they had emerged and

wrecked

all

the bridges but one.

In possession of armor and weapons

the slaves,

it

was only fitting some of the same

fear,
I

that sort

he should get
of
treatment.

now

slaves

no longer, waged
always making

an even
they
their tains

contest, only retreating because

so,

While

his subjects looked

on in helpless advanced and gave him stroke

wished to do

way towards
and
into their

the range of

moun-

for stroke, the

number of

lashes that I

own

land.

had received from Nimar guards! "We had better be on our way,
David,"

my

friend interrupted, or perthe

re-

Soon we overhauled the rear ranks of the Nimar and in the confusion of the battle we worked our way to the front
ranks,

haps

Nimar
get

present.

would have lashed all of "The Nimar will

forging on ahead of
It

body of troops.

the main was surprisingly easy

turn soon, this would be a bad place to

caught.

to get ahead of the

Nimar

forces in the

He

turned to the
us.

woman
are,

guerrilla type of fighting that

place, but

who had accompanied

girl,"

"Clothe the

was taking some of our men were clubbed

he ordered. "Stay where you

will return

to death before

people of Nimar, perhaps your country-

own

forces that

we could convince our we were not enemies.

Bill,

men
of

and

free you,

it

is

pos-

"Now we
own,"
flank
I

can begin an attack of our

to

sible that

we may destroy the building, one thing you may be certain, if you
barricaded the two doors to the
this

said

"lead a

force to
their

attempt to follow us you will be killed!"

column, while

them on the other side of I circle them on this

side."

We
room,

The Nimar attempted

to outflank

our

would hinder them

greatly,

forces but smart soldiers that they are.

and left the palace at once. "Did they harm you very much,
loved one?" I anxiously inquired.

they did not have the numbers or the

my

weapons. As soon as they saw that they

could not
succeed,
that

they stood

in

"Except for the

night
I

terrible

lashing to-

grave danger of being surrounded and

slaughtered, their ranks closed into regu-

have not been hurt."

"Your world is a land of superlaThe Vereans docile to a high tives. degree, the Nimar extremely cruel, the Dar abysmally ignorant. Even nature
.

formation and they started their retreat. I called a halt.

lar

"There
said

is

no use in pursuing them,"

BUI.

manifests her wonders in contrasts of

splendor

"But we can capture the entire band,"

argued Zuth.

and gloom.

She rears
contrasts

her
the

mountains in bold

relief,

"That you cannot do.

place you are not able to

In

the

first

riot of color of the vegetation

skies.

with drab

march

as fast

On

earth

many of

these conflict-

as the Nimar,

secondly,

without doubt
cities.

ing qualities exist, but side by side, in-

a message has been sent to other

deed often existing in the thoughts of one human being, each quality in its proximity tempering the others."

They can
capture
us,

recruit a
if

sufficient

force to force
is

indeed

such a

not already on the way."

We

found the one remaining bridge

For many years the Imar had acted

LAND OF TWILIGHT
on the thoughts of others.
thing else,
it

109
a big

Like everyin

from one
kid,

foot to the other like

becomes a habit

the

course of time.

Soon we had dissuaded them and were continuing on our way.

who has been caught stealing jam. Romance had been in progress right
under
the

my

nose, and I
its

had never even

suspected

existence.

He

couldn't fool

CHAPTER XX
Two Times Two

woman, however,
were mutual.

so the congratula-

tions

H
"We
fore
fears

OW wonderful
free,"
i

it is

to be again

CHAPTER XXI
Homeward Bound

soft voice whispered

my

ear, as I sat apart

from

the others in our first camp.

have still a long way to go bewe see the City of Man, Dianna." "Of course I am anxious to see my
to set at rest the

OUR
in

sentries

must have
I could

slept

at
it

their posts.

not find

my

heart to blame them.

The
fol-

preparation

for

our

revolt,

working

mother and father and

of

long hard days at the same time,

my

people,

yet

the

journey

lowed by the unusual and violent exertion of the last twenty-four hours could
easily

will pass too quickly."

"I do not feet as happy as I should,

but

have been enough to slow their

why

is it that

you are not?"

sensibilities.

Not being trained must

the

soldiers,

"Because soon you and the other man will vanish into space and leave us, for

who

realize that they

stay awake,

no matter
appear,

how

safe

position

may

your
ably

own Earthland and you will probnever return. You will be famous
probably one of the fair maid-

they

had

undoubtedly

grown
awake
are sur-

careless in a sense of security.

men and

Hughes
from

shook

me
it,

roughly

ens of your

own

race wilt claim you."

a sound slumber.

Something
of

in her eyes, the wistfulness

in

"Come
rounded
!"

out of

Dave,

we

her voice, both aroused

me

the

desire to break the barriers of custom

and race that had ever seemed between

us.

Quickly he explained the situation me.

to

I clasped her tightly.

"The

NTmar
entirely

are

using

different

"Will you, dearest, can

the
cil ?

we

persuade

methods. They have thrown up a breast-

King and Queen, would the coun"

yes," she

works

around

the

camp.

All

about us they have put

down

a curtain

"The answer to all is, mured happily. "But what of Bill?"

"Bill

mur-

of gas masking their movements. can walk through

this,

We

those of us that

are armored, but they are using explofair

can take care of himself,

sives in the

form

of bombs.

It

appears

lady," a voice near at

hand

replied, "I

have been waiting a long time for

bashful
friend
to

my

that they intend to starve us into submission 1"

make up
this

his
I

mind.

We

were walking around the inside

I lighted

Congratulations to you both.

desire
to

have no
land

of the wall of gas.

a pipeful

leave

interesting

of the Mercurian substitute for tobacco

that
Bill

permanently."
"I can

and

used.

Thoughtlessly I
it

name

the girl in one guess,"

is

cast the
still

match from

me and

landed,

said Dianna.

"She

the younger sister

aflame, at the base of the gaseous

of Groten."
Bill

substance.

turned a share redder and jiggled

"Look, Dave,"

Bill

shouted,

"it

will

110
burn!
Quick,

AMAZING STORIES
smother
wall.
it

before
are

it

gas that the Nimar had spread over the

burns through the

yet ready to

We

not

whole

sector.

It

went up in a blaze
I kept together; for

The

stuff

make use of the fact!" was burning quite rapidly

fast

of glory.

Dianna,

Bill

and

but by working

and with the aid

the two of us harbored one thought and

that

of several of our men,

getting
it

we

succeeded in
it

was

to protect
if

the girl as long as

extinguished before
the

had benot

possible; also

the battle

went against
never
to

come

noticeable to

opposing force.

us

we were determined

be

ticklish procedure, since

we knew

taken alive again.

whether the armor that we wore was inflammable or explosive. Fortunately it

wa:; neither.

Dianna, with her keen eyes, saw

first,

it

coming up swiftly from the south

in

the

dim

light.

We
ers

had

organized

the

Imar

into

thousand
closer.
air.

feet

It was less than a up and rapidly coming

units, of a score each,

choosing as lead-

The

great

searchlights

cut

the

those that,

in

our judgment, were

mentally best fitted to lead.

The men
and they

"Back,
circle
I

Imar

to

the

center

of

the

were responsible
in turn to us.

to the captains

We

sent the

command

along the line

ordered

"Find the leaders immediately," Bill the Imar present, "and send
at once."

of fighting men. Powerful glasses I

knew
below

were up

there, searching the field

them here

to separate friend

from enemy.

When
them.

they had assembled he said to

The Nimar
the
ship
first lines.

located the Transatel ship,

but in the confusion

best chance
is

we

got clear

of

"Our
ley.

to set fire to the

Then

the big guns of the

wall on the semi-circle towards the val-

went

into action,

supplemented by

When

the wall burns through

it

will

the smaller arms as the Vereans sent a

rain of steel

make much smoke. If the majority of the enemy concentrate on that side, those
of us that have armor can break through
the wall nearest the hills
fortifications.

from

the clouds. Before gas

issue

weapons could be brought into use the was settled. Those that remained
flight

and take
that

their

of the enemy force were in full

across the plain.

The ones
will

have

no

Such

is

the

power of

armor must burn the

through.

barrier after

we go
fast

You

have
to

to

work
us
off,

rapid fire small bore weapons when used by men who know them.

before

they

return

cut

as

In a few days we had covered the

soon as they learn that we have tricked

them."

march

We
The

were

only

partially

successful.

gas burned very fast as the blaze

of the Imar beyond the first high It then seemed unlikely that they would be immediately followed and we left them to make their way to their

range.

gained headway, but the force that op-

homeland.
It

posed us was both desperate and well

trained.

was with
that
is

satisfaction

that,

at the

They ceased

trying to use their

controls of the ship, in the mystic halflight

deadly gas, falling back and relying entirely

neither

night nor day,

upon grenades of high explosives. Some of the men however, won

set fire to the outer film of

lay our course southward into the land

I

had learned

to

call

home, the one

through and

loved seated at

my

side.

The End

AMAZING STORIES

111

The Radio
Once upon
a

midnight

stuffy

while

pondered, peeved and

huffy,

On

the quaint and curious variants of that ancient genus "bore", As 1 nodded, nearly napping, Suddenly there came a tapping As of crabbed canines scrapping. I oozed wrath at every pore.
I remember, 'twas a sweltering September, last cigar's last ember was then damaging the floor. Vainly 1 had sought to borrow One sole dime for grub tomorrow. resentment, hunger, sorrow, through my tortured

Ah, distinctly

By

And my
Rage,

DIX

vitals tore.

VAN
DYKE

Them-<t

curled Radio going turned

my

blood to poison
it

flowing.

And

groaned, "There's chore."

murder owing and

seems to be

my

Louder swelled the raucous clamor. Through my teeth I hissed, "A hammer Or an axe 111 get, and jam 'er." Life a crimson color wore.

But the Radio, never Kepi on with its din

core.

quitting, lessening, or Intermitting, being's ear-splitting tiled me to

my

I begged, "here's one beseeches, Vile Contraption, that your screeches You will take, your jazz and speeches, to the night's Plutonian Shore!" Quoth the Radio, "NEVERMORE!"

"Wretch,*

And
As

the strident,
pulting.

shrill,

insulting sound went soaring, cataI

of fiends

malign exulting. Cried L "Tell me, Has some wandering banshee strayed in?

implore,

Cease, before I get my blade in Yon infernal nuisance made in Satan's workshop!'"

Then

swore.

What

said

would pass no

censor,

All

my

muscles stiffened

Up my

tenser, sleeves

went (I'm a fencer, and a half-back, with a

Down
"This

Boob!

score). I rushedthe guy had risen is KFIjnst listen!" I surely gave him his'n, wrecked his "set" and spilled his gore.

Now

I'm permanently pent in gloomy gruesome old San

Quer.tin;
in!

But even here are programs sent of my door

Through the grating

Steals a faint but everlasting Tinkle of some far broadcasting

All

my

hopes of respite

blasting.

I'LL

ESCAPE ITNEVERMORE!!

112

*An Epos

of

Tost and
By JOE W.
We

Nega
little

SKIDMORE
beings.

have another episode in the lives of the two interesting

Post and Nega, whose protonic and electronic lives are so full of strange

adventure and adventure not a whit more strange than the unvarnished
truth of the history of molecules

would read,

if

put

down

in cold print.

Proem

""W" "W" /I

TrHERE
trim,

are we now?" I vibrated Nega, the

A GAIN
*
*

we adventure with
our
diminutive,

Posi and
electronic

%/ %/
y

young

negative

Nega,

electron.

Her

speed-

friends.

In past prefaces of Posi and

I

ing,

flashing

orbit

Nega
you

narrations,

have rashly promised

glowed an agitated purple.

"Say,

that the little beings will

some day
I

you dumb,

female

electron!"

live in the

brain box of a great scientist

snarled Posi, the positive electron, "I've

told

and philosopher
attempt
mighty.
to

that

you and
thoughts

might
of
the

share the

ocean.

you before we're on our way to the We're in a cursed sewer, built by

those stupid Tellurians!

vast, temerarious conceit

Of

all

the bad

Such a
part!

on

my

luck! This

is

the limit!"

Shakespeare in "Hamlet" wisely

:

Nega,

politic as

women

can be, ignored

observes

"Conceit

in

weakest

bodies

the fury of the angry proton and turned

to other electrons in her

strongest works."
its

The eaglet must nutter weak wings before it may soar. This
pen,
too,
flutters

atom of oxygen

for information.

weak

and

falters

so

hold with Posi and

me

in patience.

Mayhaps
?

again,

Posi and Nega, the two tiny electrons,

Nega may
all, it's

had experienced many incredible adven-

After

not important what

my

tures together in various elements.

They

impotent pen records of Posi and Nega.

were born far out

endless space

Even you and

But
think

are not important in the

mothered

in the "cold places" of

by the mysteri-

vast, incomprehensible
it

scheme of things
I

ous cosmic rays and fathered by that in-

is

important that you and

think!

comprehensible energy that gives

life

and

and
that

motion

to electrons.

Atlantean

thoughts!

And

we marvel

in reverent

wonder

Posi was created a positive electron,

at the incredible

scheme of things

the
that

sometimes called by Tellurians a "proton."

orbital electron.

vastness

So

let's

the smallness of things hope "the mighty hopes

J.

an atom of helium
and yon

Nega came into life a negative or They were first met in gas. For countless
in the vast voids of space.

make

us men." (Tennyson)

eons they lived and loved, drifting hither

W.

S.

113

They are drowning even now! The dirigible is fast breaking apt The engines and heavy structures have torn loose and sunk.

114
care free existence, whirling

AMAZING STORIES
and dancing
teor.

In the frightful heat developed

terrific heat

at

strange dances of love; singing vibrating,

hissing melodies with the amazing speeds

the impact, Posi

and Nega were transand pressure

mutated by the

of

their

flashing
!

orbits.

diminutive

into the structure of

an iron atom.
the space car,

solar system

that atom of helium, with

for Posi

The meteor and

fused,

now

plenty of
oscillate iu

room

and Nega

to

shapeless

piece

of

metal,

being

with only four positive protons

within the attraction of earth, plunged

to

compound nucleus, partly balanced by two orbital, negative electrons. Strange! but Posi was 1840 times
the
heavier than the radiant, vivacious Nega.

Arizona

soil.

For years Posi and Nega

in
soil.

led

a very dull existence

their iron

atom, 1400 feet under the

party of earth scientists, ever search-

The mighty and

negative

inscrutable Intelligence

ing for truths and facts,

the meteorite

that directs all life

and motion has vested

with

electrons

an

astounding

periments.
the

Posi and

dug a shaft to and took samples for exNega were among

billions

power.

In the composition of the eleit

countless
the

of

electrons
tiny

that

ments known to humans

quires
but.

usually

re-

made up

mass of the

fragment
for

one tiny negative electron to

of

of the meteorite taken by the scientists

for laboratory tests.
the

balance
electrons.

one

the

massive,

positive

Then followed
their

two

little

beings horrible experiences.

Posi, the positive electron,

was male;
it

The

scientists

put

iron

atom

Nega, negative, or female

as

is

in

along with billions of others into a deadly

human
than

life,

Posi was

many thousand

years older

Nega and had braved many dangers on various planets and stars. Then, in the mighty vastness of space, they by
chance drifted into the powerful pull of
the sun's gravity.

"Alpha Ray" machine. The tiny fragment of iron was bombarded with rending, streaking rays. The scientists were
trying to disintegrate atoms

The

result

was a might}' debacle of

atoms, protons and electrons gone

serkly from their orbits!
verses

mad

For years they sped,

furnace of
into

Incredibly small solar systems flying ber-

with ever increasing velocity, toward the

blazing,

Worlds
and
being

exploding

the

sun.

smashed disintegrated
some
miracle

uniNega
struck

Had
fiery

they been
blaze,

drawn

Phaethon's

By

Posi
not

they would have been ex-

escaped

destruction,

The positive charge of their atom would have helped with its infinitesimal bit to form a sun wave or pulse of energy to warm and light the planets.
ploded.

squarely by any of the darting, swording

"Alpha
to

Rays."

They

were,

however,

driven into the lead lining of the device,

Thus

electrons
fee

are

transformed

into

energy, to add

the heat

and

light of

the sun; to prevent that mighty orb from

turning cold and freezing the entire solar

system.
ible

Just a small unit of the incred-

become part of a lead atom. Years passed the "Alpha Ray" device, worn out, was sold for junk, to the supreme disgust of the excitable Posi, who was exceedingly vain and proud of his knowledge and experience brought about
;

and orderly scheme ot things! giant space car picked them up,
its

by his long
stars.

life

on many planets and

barely in time, scooping millions of the

The
where

lead was finally sold to a factory,

it

helium atoms into one of

petlation tubes.

forward imcar, carrying

The space

hundreds of Vega travellers and en route

to earth, collided with

was melted and cast into bullets. Posi and Nega in their lead atom that helped to make up the mass of a bullet
experienced a
very exciting, adventure.

an immense me-

AN EPOS OF
A
human used
their bullet to

POSI

AND NEGA
gullible

115
and eager for
are
flat-

murder anin

Nega, ever
tery

other unlucky

human!
the lab-

as

women
tell

usually

was

in-

After a mighty explosion

oratory of the crazed doctor,
mitted the murder, Posi

stantly mollified.

who comand Nega found

into

"Please

me where we
in

are."

Nega's

vibrations were beseeching.

themselves
of oxygen.

literally

blown

an atom

"We're now
Pacific

the ocean

called

the

They

drifted in the atmos-

by those dumb humans.

We've

phere and, to the added indignation of

Posi,

been carried out to sea about

five miles

were breathed
infected

into the lungs of a

by offshore currents." Posi's humor was

better as he

human

with

typhoid

fever!

went on academically.
is

They were introduced

man's
alimentary

into the patient's

"This Pacific Ocean

after
all.

a great place
Tellurians are

blood stream and were carried to the husystem.

Those
their

foolish

There they

very proud of their land, but they don't

realize that
little

were attacked and eaten by a dreadful Typhosus Bacillus. Posi's rage knew no
bounds when they suffered the indignity of passing through the diseased human's
digestive system

planet, earth, is

surfaced by

many

times

more of an area
this

of water than of land.

Maybe
all,

won't

be

so tough.

After

you're always

into a sewer!

with

we find Posi raging with stark fury, and Nega sweetly and mildly excited, on their way to the ocean!
Thus
it is

me !" "What is

this

water that makes up the

purred

mighty

oceans?"

Nega

archly,

pretending great ignorance that her lover

might appear important.

"You are

so

A
for

FINE
Posi,

piece of business!" snarled

wise, Posi.
It

You know

everything!"

suddenly
silence.

breaking

long

seemed

that the colossal conceit of

and sullen

"But

at least we're

the positive electron fairly increased his

out of that infernal sewer."

mass as Nega's words vibrated on

consciousness.
to

his

"Where

are

we?" purred Nega, eager

and glad
orbit!"

information

observe

"My
vast

dear

Nega," buzzed Posi, with

Posi's better

humor.
vibrated

importance,

and

using

his
is

best

"Watch your
sharply,

Posi

scholastic

manner, "ocean water

a most

as if
his

the

whole universe de-

interesting liquid.

We
Of

will

drift

about

pended on

command.

Nega

in

her

and meet many electrons who

ferent

live in dif-

excitement had oscillated the slightest in

her speeding

flight.

"I've as
getting

"Watch your own flight !" much orbital pride

sick
!

hissed Nega.

you know that oxygen atoms, and you and I live in one of the oxygen atoms, combine with
elements.

course

as you.

I'm
surly

hydrogen atoms
lived
in

to

make pure
But
in

water. I've
it

and
"

tired

of

your

ordinary water before, and

so exciting.

growling

was not
Don't get excited,

in sea-water it's

"Wait a minute!

different.

The

salts

sea

water are
chloride,

my

darling Nega. I just wanted to

make

seventy-eight
fifteen percent

percent

sodium
salts,

you mad.
ing,

Do

you know,

my

sweet, you
that charm-

magnesium

and four

look so lovely

when you glow

It fits

percent calcium salts."

angry red?

you

like the tail

"But

that's only ninety-seven percent,"

critically

of Halley's comet." Posi smugly fancied in his vast conceit

that he

sang out Nega, quite

the atomic

and proud

of her numerical observation.

the rest?"

"What

is

was the great lover of

universe. Jurgen, in the novel, boasted no

"Oh,

just various

other substances,"

greater conquests of love than Posi did.

whistled Posi quickly, to cover his con-

116

AMAZING STORIES
"Yes,

fusion and lack of knowledge.

darling Nega,

my

"Yes, on the planet Mercury,

the
fifty

where

we

will

meet

lots of fine

temperature

is

seven hundred and

I

magnesium,
trons.

sodium
don't ask

and

calcium
!

elec-

degrees Fahrenheit,

met Cacel, a
I
!

Oh
to

me

know you
Well, here

want

know what

these elements are.

young negative electron what am I talking about?

dreaming!"
lied

Oh
I

Now
just

was

You
goes
!

stupid, female electron!

Posi shrewdly,

remem-

Watch your orbit "Magnesium is number twelve in atomic number and has an atomic weight of
twenty-four and thirty-two hundredths,
taking hydrogen as 1.008.
quence,
it

bering his former social error and hasten-

ing on to cover his embarrassment.

"You
lovely,

wanted

to

know about sodium, my

Oh, yes
or
!

radiant sweetheart.

Sodium has
elec-

As

a conse-

twenty-three
trons, I

protons
a proton,

positive

has in each atom twenty-four

is

am

you know,

in each

protons like myself, and each nucleus

atom with eleven

tive

free or orbital, nega-

balanced by twelve free, orbital, negative

electrons, like

electrons,

each one just like your

your

own

trim

self.

Mag-

own
cific

beautiful mass.

Sodium has a spe-

nesium
ductile
I

is

a silver-white metallic element,

light as to its specific gravity.

gravity of nine seventy one-thou-

and

sandths, and a melting point of ninety-

once met a female electron named Mec-

seven and five-tenths degrees centigrade.

It oxidizes quickly in the air, reacts vio-

tro

love.

adventures," snapped
bitter rage.

on the planet Venus the planet of " Mectro was lovely, and oh, so "Never mind about your ancient love Nega in a sudden,

lently with water,

producing caustic soda

and
the

hydrogen.

The
in

erudite

Tellurian

scientist,
first

Davy, also found sodium for

time
the

"What

is

calcium ?"

earthly

year

of

"Calcium," hastened Posi, anxious to cover the

tion,
slip

eighteen hundred and seven.

of his amorous retrospec-

"And
years
"'finishes

knew about sodium

a million
Posi,
this

"has

in

each atom

forty

positive

ago

and

that,"

concluded

electrons

(40.7)

with twenty planetary

is

your chemistry lesson for

negative electrons, like you. Calcium

time,

my

stupid but exquisite pupil." are certainly going to meet a

a silver-white, soft metal of the alkaline

earth group.

"My! we
lot

When
light

heated,

it

burns with
quickly

of electrons in this nice ocean. Thanks,

brilliant

and
air,

tarnishes

Posi,

you

darling,

for the information."

it

when exposed
ignorant,

to

And,
if

my

sweet, but
to

"Lots of good

has done.

don't
retain

negative one,

you want

suppose your feminine mind

will

know more, calcium

a
specific

melts at eight hun-

any of
that
is

it!

Wait!

dred and ten degrees centigrade and has

gravity of one and fifty-six

news.

Here is some news We're going to have an

sudden glow of purNega.
keen excitement.

adventure!"
ple

Posi's
his

hundredths.

Calcium

is

bivalent, a con-

showed
is

Ca and hydroxide Ca(OH) 2 (slaked lime) and other compounds valuable to these elemental humans. Those
stituent of the highly basic oxide,

"What

it?" shrilled

(quicklime)

"More bad luck!"

snarled Posi, quickly

changing to an angry vibration.

just been breathed in

"We've
fish."

by a large

ignorant Tellurians didn't isolate

their calendar year of Eighteen

it

until

"I

don't understand,"
in

whined Nega.

hundred

"Are we

any danger?"
this

and

eight.

est scientists,

Then one of their truly greatnamed Davy, discovered it."

flirted !"

"No, but

cursed flounder, that the

is

Tellurians call a Paralichthys dentattts,

"I suppose," buz2ed Nega, with omi-

a most remarkable

fish.

It inhabits the

nous vibrations, "that you have

with

deepest waters where fish can withstand

many

negative calcium electrons

the terrific pressures, and

it

has a habit

AN EPOS OF POSI AND NEGA

of migrating frequently to shallow waters
It's

117
just

rotten

luck.

We've

been ab-

near the shore

flounder fish

lines.

Don't you see

This

sorbed by a Nogagus Latreitltif"

may

take a notion to take

"Cosmos
that?"

!"

shrieked

Nega.

"What

is

for deep water, and

in the

we may have

to live
Pilet

deeps for countless ages.

is

Posi did not reply for some time.

did not
lish

Nega

says

it

about time for the flounder to

know

he was trying to re-estab-

swim

for deep water."

is

his

contact of communication with

lived
in

"Who

Pilet?" shrilled Nega.

Pilet,

who

the

brain

of

the

"Pilet is a positive electron, living in a bismuth atom in the tiny brain of the
flounder.
Pilet has
is

flounder.

"We've been absorbed by a

louse."
disgust.

dirty fish

been there for many

Posi's

tones

carried

supreme

years and
dull

existence.

much discouraged about his As soon as we were

gills,

"A

fish

louse?" from Nega, for once

drawn

into the flounder's

estab-

her feminine complacency shaken.

lished a fine line of

communication along
all

the energy that flows through

elec-

THE
in turn

smallest of microbes, barely vis-

trons, until I have a perfect line of contact. Billions

ible to the

most powerful human mi-

and

billions of

oxygen, posiPilet is

croscopes, are

made

of elements, that are

tive electrons are

listening in,

almost crazy to hear news of the Universe.

composed of atoms and electrons. Each atom of the millions comprising one
single germ,

He's a talkative cuss, just like you

are

in

turn

female negative electrons."

countless diminutive solar systems.

made up of The
orbit-

"Why
gills

did the fish

and what are

gills ?"

draw us into his Nega allowed

scheme of solar systems, whirling

ally

and spinning

in

amazingly orderly

her orbit to oscillate as she asked the

questions in frenzied excitement.

flights, is
all

the theory of the basic plan of

matter from a tiny grain of sand to

"What

ignorant clucks you negative

Posi. "The fish must have oxygen. mouth
clefts

the mighty universe.

electrons are!" grated

This impotent pen again poises uncertainly.

has to breathe;

it

Would

that

it

possessed inspired

Our

flounder draws water into his

it

power
vast
flight

to describe the

wonder of

that

and expels

through the

between
thus

Intelligence that directs the timed

the bronchial

arches of his

gills,

of the smallest electron and like-

aerating his blood stream, which circulates

wise that of the mighty star!

"Yes, a louse!' shrilled Posi,
still

in the thin-walled gills.

From

its

angry.

heart,

which has but one

auricle

and one
ventral

"Humans have
lice,

lice,

their

domestic an-

ventricle,

we

will

pass by the

imals and other animals have fleas and

aorta again to the

and from there to various organs of the fish, and unless we are stopped to restore some tissue or
gills,

and our flounder has

if

parasites, or

fish-lice,

you

wish.

Thousands
gills.

of

them, that infest the

louse, a

fishes'

cells,

the blood

we

are in will return to the

Nogagus

LatreillH, is a

Our member
Nega,

heart in a venous condition.

While

tell

of the true Copepods.

You

see,

you

this,

trips.

Just

we have made now we are in

is

several

round

these lice live in the soft, feathery folds

of the gills, where the blood is almost exposed for oxygenation. These parasites suck a little blood from the sponge-like, thin walls of the
that
gills.

the gills again

and
angry

here

news!"
Is
it

"What now?
violet.

exciting?" squealed
sullen,

Nega, as she saw Posi glow a

"Exciting?
It's

Thus

it

happens Nega.

we

are in the stomach of this louse."

just

worse than the sewer!

"I'm

as

happy,"

sang

118

AMAZING STORIES
many
years
All
(as figured by Tellurians)
this

"We're still in our atom of oxygen, and what difference does it make ?"
"None,
ignorance
this place. I

passed.

while

their

atom of

guess,

at

least
is

to

you,"

snapped Posi. "Yours

is

a case where
I it

oxygen drifted hither and yon with the urge of whimsical currents. For a while
they lived in the body of a floating argonauta,

certainly bliss.

don't like

But, one thing,

won't

last

large

specimen of the genus

long, for the life of this pesky louse is

Cephalopoda, with eight arms or tentacles

only

few hours by Tellurian time.

news! This may prove
fairly sibilated

then
A

in the soft

body of a drifting
the order Cteno-

Hold

fast! Here's

jelly-fish, a

medusa of

exciting 1"

phora.

giant sperm whale,

a ninety

"What
"Our

is it

now ?" Nega

foot

specimen of the genus Mystaceti,

jelly-fish

in her excitement.

scooped in the
lions of others,

along with mil-

flounder started for deep water

and has just been attacked by a large and vicious barracuda. This roving terror
of the ocean has torn our flounder to

and Posi and Nega traveled a thousand miles in their immense

host's

sluggish

blood

stream before a
ferocious killer
literally

coursing group of the

whales,
the

and is gorging the large portions. There we go! Our louse is now floating in the water, quite free from the struggle.
pieces

(Orca gladiator)
appetites.

tore

huge whale to small pieces

incredible

to

appease

their

And

once

We
and

are free,

Nega

At

least

we

will

be

more

the

two

little

beings were floating

soon, for the louse has died of old age

is

freely in the ocean.

beginning to disintegrate, due to

Posi and
the
line

Nega

drifted for

months with
this

the eating

by even smaller

bacteria in the

warm Japan

current toward the shore

water."

of North America.

By

time the
to life

"Then what will happen to us?" "I don't know!" rasped Posi. "I hope

irrepressible Posi
in the sea

was reconciled

and was his usual vivacious,

we

are near to the surface, so that, in a

so,

cynical self.

thousand years or

we may be picked

"Well, Nega," he sang in happy vibrations,

up by the sun in the form of water

vapor."

"we

are

now

almost at the surface

of the ocean.
is

There's an upward curis

"What

water vapor ?" asked Nega.

rent,
is

and the sun

in

high and hot. This

"Oh, don't bother

snarled Posi.

me

for a few years!"

to establish

a chance

a million.

We

may

be

"I

want

some

picked up

evaporated

by the sun!"
Tell

new

lines of

communication.

"I don't understand.

me more,"

"Ill be glad to leave you alone," retorted

pleaded Nega. Posi hastily glowed his best color and began.

Nega.

"Don't forget, there are

seven other nice, handsome protons in

The smug
to

little

positive proton
his

our atom of oxygen."

was ever eager

show

knowledge.

Truly the

retort of a

woman

in love!

It

pleased his vast conceit.

still

Ten

million

years old was Posi and

TIME,

the ever-flowing force of the

chap.
in

timed, intricate dance of the Universe, flowed

but a young had lived on many planets and various elements. A great talker and

He

on and on
it

in its mighty
it

a good fellow, he had acquired an astonishing fund of information.

dimensional stream. Time? Is

Tellurians have called

a force?

"the measure of

"Listen carefully,
tiful

my dumb

but beau-

Which is rather an evasion. Posi did not know the true meaning of time, but he and Nega did realize that
duration."

Nega. The land of earth must have

rain.

Water out

of the ocean in the

is

form
by

of water vapor

drawn

into the air

AN EPOS OF
the powerful pull of the sun's rays.

POSI

AND NEGA
is

119
where the
it

The
is

water, suddenly enters an area

process

is

called evaporation.

Heat

ab-

temperature

colder and where

fifty

re-

sorbed in the process of evaporation

but the

duces the entire volume to

Fahrenheit.

degrees
cubic

more

heat,

the

creation of water vapor.

tains

more rapid the Normal air conall

Don't you see?

each

foot of air will have to lose or discharge

oxygen and water vapor,

necesalso
life,

seven grains of water, which, of course,

will be precipitated to earth,

sary for animals and humans.

And

drawn there
see

carbon dioxide for plants and tree

by the force of gravity. Do you

now

and nitrogen
"Moist dry
ters
air
:

to dilute the oxygen.

is

why
enest

it

rains ?"
in her sweetI

lighter

in

weight than

"Oh, yes," purred Nega,

vibrations.

air, this air,

it

because

when moisture

"Of course

do

it's

displaces other

components,

caused by the force of gravity!"

mostly oxygen and nitrogen.

molecule
is

An

oxygen

"Cosmos

!"

groaned Posi in dismay.

nearly twice as heavy as a

"What's the use of trying to explain anything technical to a

water molecule, and a nitrogen molecule

woman!"
Tell

weighs a

little less

than one of oxygen.

"Oh, Posi, don't be angry.

about humans, and

me

Therefore an increase in water vapor

how

they

make

love."

means a decrease
whereas

in density of the air,

"Well, now, that's different!" laughed

Posi.

a decrease in

water vapor causes

proportion
of
the

"Swing
see,

in

your orbit a
it's

bit closer.

an increase

in

the

You

my

sweet one,
is

like

this.
little

heavier components, and therefore an increase in density."

There!
closer,

Love

my

dish.

Just a

my

sweet!"

"More water
portions.

is

evaporated by the sun

at the. equator of the earth than on other

\\ 7"ATER,
*

all

important to
is

human
all

life

The sun draws

the ocean;
the

at the

equator

and comfort,
is

a remarkable liquid.

about eight cubic feet yer year per square

foot of

Hydrogen

the simplest form of

the the

sun evaporates
In
is

known

elements,

number

one

in

over five hundred pounds of water from

atomic scale and 1.008 in atomic weight.

every square
polar

foot

of

surface.

the

Thus hydrogen has a nucleus of but one

proton, or positive electron, with one orbital or negative electron.

regions

the

evaporation

only

about one-tenth as much.

"It rains

This monad,

from the clouds when

I

the air
it

or univalent element,
less, odorless,

is

a colorless, taste-

reaches the point of saturation,

will hold

when

inflammable gas. Free hy-

no more moisture.
is

don't sup-

drogen occurs only very sparingly

earth,

on

pose any of this

registering on your

though

it is

abundant

in the

atmos-

stupid, female mind, but

"
I

pheres of the sun and

scientists

many

stars.

This

"Oh,

yes,

my my

dear Posi.

understand

are able to prove

perfectly," lied Nega.

of their spectroscopes.

by the use Though not rethe positive ion

"All right,
Posi.

beautiful one,"

went on
four

sembling the metals physically, hydrogen

is

"A

cubic foot of air at fifty de-

electropositive
all acids.

and

is

grees

Fahrenheit will hold about

of

grains of water vapor; at sixty degrees

Fahrenheit, about five and three-quarter
grains;
grains,
at

Oxygen, eight

in the atomic scale

is

and

sixteen in atomic weight,

tasteless,' odorless,

a colorless,

seventy degrees about eight

at

chemically active gas-

and

eighty
it's

degrees,

about

eous element, occurring in a free state in

the atmosphere, of which
it

eleven grains.

So

like this

suppose
of

forms about

large

mass of

air

at

eighty degrees grains

23 percent by weight and about 21 percent

Fahrenheit,

holding

eleven

by volume. Oxygen

is

the

most

120
abundant of
earth's
all

AMAZING STORIES
the

elements

on

the

million

years will

pass

before

such

surface.

Each atom of oxygen

in the nucleus,

catastrophe and long, long before that,

the

contains 16 protons, (positive electrons),

human

race will be able to

move

to

and eight bound electrons gen

tion.
is

other stars or planets, or will have suc-

with eight free (orbital) electrons. Oxyabsolutely indispensable in respira-

ceeded in controlling climate and water

erosion.

Pure water,

that fluid so necessary to

T7 IN ALLY

an

upward

current

of

humans, animals and plants, consists of hydrogen (11.186 percent) and oxygen
(88.814 percent) by weight.

- warmer
to

water pushed a mass of water

of the
gently
in their

the

surface

heaving

Pacific.

Posi and

Nega

atom of

strange paradox that water, without

oxygen had reached the surface

"Everything
is

which

man
is

could not exist,

is

slowly de-

stroying the earth

but

perfect," sang out Posi

infinitely slowly.

with startling suddenness, after a pro-

Water

drawn by evaporation from

air.

longed silence.
surface at
last.

"Cosmos

We're

at the
!"

oceans and lakes into the

Wind

cur-

The sun

is

hot and high

rents carry the clouds laden with water

vapor over the land and mountains. Rain

falls,

"What do you mean, Posi?"

"Just this," buzzed the happy and excited proton.

each

drop,

wind-driven,

cutting

away a
drops

tiny particle of soil or rock.

The
form

"I believe we're going to

form
;

rivulets

rivulets

be

evaporated.

Our

luck

is

great

as

brooks
to
all

brooks
seas,

form

rivers,

that rush

Betelgueze.
there's

Conditions are perfect.

risk

But
this

the

lakes

and oceans, almost

some

connected

with

eventually flowing into the ocean.

As
fall

evaporation business.
tp

We

stand a chance
intp
all

the waters rush

from the mountain slopes

become separated. As we change

to seek their level, to give

man

harnesses
it

its

water vapor, hold tight to

me

with

power and uses

for irrigation.

your pull!"
"I do hope

But every drop of water that eventually

reaches lake, sea or ocean, carries a tiny

we won't

be separated. Will

something happen to our atom?"

Nega's

burden of
sorbed.

soil

or mineral that

it

has ab-

questioning vibrations were harsh.

That

is

why

the oceans are salty,

"Small chance,"

consoled

Posi,

"As

because for eons rivers have been depositing water laden with salts
erals,

we

turn into water vapor, our water will

and

ir-n-

be changed to tiny molecules, so that they

while the sun evaporates and picks

can be lifted by the sun's rays.

integrated by evaporation.
safe, to be

But

up only pure water. So the mighty liquid

never heard of an oxygen atom being discycle of water is

I

guess we're
adventure

down mountains and hills. There will come a time in infinitely remote ages, when the ever-moving water will have worn down
a steady, relentless process, wearing

and

it

will be a thrilling

back in the atmosphere again. I do

hope
that

we

lose that

funny hydrogen atom

our

insists

on

crowding

oxygen

and our globe will be a vast sphere of water. But Providence will
all

land,

atom. Only one proton in that hydrogen atom, and he's a nut.
braggart
;

He

is

an awful

find a

remedy

perhaps by the cooling of

may
not absorb so

says his hydrogen atoms are

the sun that the air

the building stones of the universe.

his

And
a

much water
All
suns,

to

become

rain.

stupid

negative

electron,

she's

matter

even

planets,
to

stars

and
self-

tough old bird. Told

me

was an ignorflirt.

seems subject

decayto
million,

ant wretch and a hopeless

What do
Posi,

destruction.

But many

million,

you think

of

that,

Nega?

I,

AN EPOS OF
wretch and a
flirt!

POSI

AND NEGA
for mice,

121

Did you ever hear

tronsand schemes
stars.

men and
of

of such unmitigated nerve!"

"I guess
it's

Chanceor

should write fate

about time we're moving,"

"It looks like our neigh-

drifted the

mass of water vapor

which

sighed Nega.

Posi and

Nega were

infinitesimal parts

bors have found you out and are gossip-

into a colder area,

and instantly Posi and

The negative electron in our neighboring hydrogen atom is right, Posi."

ing.

Nega were plunged toward the ocean

again as rain water.

"Say, listen," snarled Posi, in a

fierce,

"Iapetus

of

Saturn !"

wailed

Posi.

quick rage, "you have no right to insult

Hold everything! Here's news, my sweet Nega. We're being lifted into the air! At last! We're being evaporated! We're on our way to the
me.

Wait!

"Our tough luck is still working. We're on our way back to that stupid ocean!" "How long will it be before we fall
into

sun

!"

And

Phaethon, the mighty sun god,

the ocean? purred Nega, quite composed as usual. "Just a few seconds," began Posi. "We wait! We've had great luck! A
'

one of the uncountable hosts of the universe's suns, blazed merrily and fingered

human's
picked

airplane

speeding

along

has

the

earth

caressingly

with

beneficent,

we're in that drop.

fortune
!

up a drop of our water, and What splendid good

flashing rays

from
roof
fretted

But we're only on the smooth fuselage of the plane, and we may slip
with
off into space again.

"This
golden

majestical

No!
is

fire."

(Hamlet)
beard of the Comet,
this is

We

won't!

The
and

strong

air-blast

forcing

us
slip

"T>Y the -' great

sky!"

through a crack in the door!

roll

We

We're on our way

to the

Posi's excited vibrations

strummed out
was a

We're safe, Nega, my beautiful one! We're safe inside the plane's cockpit! Vega of Lyra! what a break We're going places !"
through.
!

a rondo of joy.

"Where
inquisitive,
bit

are
I

But Nega, ever

fearful.

"How

do

do know
will

it's

we going?" buzzed Nega. know ?" whistled Posi. "I warm in here, and our
is

"But what
Posi?"

happen

to

us 'now,

atom of water
going
to
lose

fast drying out.

We're

those
to

funny

hydrogen

"Who
going
to

cares,

you dumb but beautiful

is

negative one? All that matters

!"

we're
we
her

atoms that cause us

are

be water,

We

becoming free oxygen gas again

have some new and wonderful

adventures

"Will

we

fall

again as rain after

We're floating free in the air Here we go! The human piloting this plane has breathed our atom
Fine!

now!

reach the clouds?" persisted

sweetest vibrations.

Nega

in

of oxygen into his lungs.

in
his

Now

we're

blood stream
this

and just pulsing

sturdy
heart

"Stars

of

Pegasus!"
think of that!

snapped
water!

Posi.

through

human's

"You would
bound
if

We're almost

We"
"Do you
man's
last

to fall again as rain

fall in that

And
will

think we'll get in this hu-

we

cursed ocean,
started.

we

alimentary

system

like

we

did

be right where we
is

Our

only hope
will

time

we were on

earth ?"

asked

that strong

wind currents

us well out over the land before

as rain."
Fate, or Kismet,

cany we fall
elec-

Nega with embarrassed, red

"It

vibrations.

"Don't mention that!" snarled

Posi.

makes me
horrible

sick

to

even remember
Wait,

had plans for

that

adventure.

Nega!

122
I've

AMAZING STORIES
established a perfect line of

comfor

that electrons are but tiny, lifeless particles

munication with an old positive electron

of electrical energy?
will

named

Pitron!

Pitron

has

lived

Man
bravely.

always
will will

toil,

strongly

and
in

years in the brain of this human.

And
but
!

Man
but

always always

gain

what do you

think,

my

beautiful

knowledge,

wonder

dumb

sweetheart ?

It's

good news

Our

and wonder
"I wonder, in

oxygen atom has lodged securely in the Crystalline Lens of this human's eye.
We'll
time,

my

soul,
I

What you would

deny."

ask me, that

should

and just think.

few

no doubt stay here for a long There are only trillion atoms between us and
Talking with Pitron
a
lot
is

Shakespeare.
recloser to Posi,

At length Nega could no longer

She swung her orbit

strain her impetuous, feminine curiosity.

Pitron

a cinch,

who

and

I've

to

ask him.
will

quiet a

few hours,
in

So keep you Nega? You

atom
for

with the other seven positive electrons

made up
atom.

the nucleus

of

their

oxygen
vi-

can talk to the other seven stupid positive

electrons

our

you

but

mind
is

"Have
"I'll

you

heard

any

news ?"

don't

flirt!"

brated Nega.
life

The
love,

business of

humans

say

so!"

birth, play,

fundamental learning, work,

excited

vibrations.

twanged out Posi "We're going

in

to

marriage, procreation,
finally the inevitable
cells.

and

more work and total disguided by a

a

have a most astounding adventure! The

human
from a
fine

piloting this plane is a

famous

integration of

busy, whirling,

scientist.

His brain has become diseased

horrible,

useful cycle of life!

All

eating

cancer.

The
of
his

mighty impulse or

instinct.
is

poor human with one portion

brain,

The

business of life for electrons

keen and normal, and one

cycle or service

much

the

same as

for

portion diseased, has become insane.

is

He
his

humans.
cal

The

little

electrons whirl

and

obsessed with a
worried.
really

mad

plan to destroy
lives in

vibrate in their orbits.

Various numeri-

the universe.
brain,
is

Pitron,

who

combinations of the tiny beings form

different
tip

He

says this crazed

the

elements,

which

in

turn

scientist

has a practical scheme

make

sealing-wax and kings.

Who

can safely say that electrons, (the basic

elements of
all

matter), do not actually

and device to wreck the universe. Poor Pitron and millions like him are doomed Every day the loathsome cancer consumes
tells
its

possess life and intelligence?

to

Who

dares

way
the

nearer and nearer to

him
flying

make rebuttal? Man, toiling at

the bottom of a vast

What a me
to

horrible

way

to

die!

Pitron

mad

scientist is

now
all

sea of yet undiscovered wonders, gazes

at the stars,

his

laboratory.
!"

There he plans to
exist-

exist

with his puny telescopes and smugly claims that li f e does not in the atom or the planets. He
fancies in his

carry out his plan to destroy

ing matter

"But how can he do that?"

Nega.

shrilled

vast conceit that

all

the

trillions of stars

and moons were placed

Posi glowed importantly as he continued.

in the heavens, merely that he be dimly

lighted

by night!
a colossal ego
!

"The mad
!

scientist

has discovered a

Such

such unmitigated
should man, yet
stars, set

way

self-importance

Why

but an infant in knowledge and unable

to

to disintegrate all atoms and since atoms are the building stones of all matter, it looks mighty serious. Pitron
tells

comprehend the mighty

up

me

the

scientist

has

worked for

AN EPOS OF POSI AND NEGA

many
years to develop atomic power for

123
But
disloyal

of

common

benefit.

or

the lazy

humans

to use.

electrons possessed those

Say! If we wonder hands,

anarchistic cells group together

off other
cells

and eat

without any regard for

we'd be glad to use them!

tist

The

scien-

the
cells

common
of

weal.

discovered

how

to greatly speed

up

cancerous

tissue

So the multiplying expand and

the self -disintegration of atoms, such as

grow without organization

no veins
ease.
evil

no

cells act-

occurs

in

the

element

radium.

Then
static,

ing as carriers or scavengers

to

no

nerves,
disall

one unlucky day

discovered
electricity

this scientist accidently

relieve
is

the the

growth of
essence

powerful
will

ray

of

cancer
!

of

which

cause the protons

selfishness
that's

It

and electrons in an atom to actually meet and coalesce. A sort of cosmic For instance, I am a "short-circuit!" positive charge of electricity, you are a
negative charge
to this ray
tact,

"Oh!

enough, Posi.
It's

Don't
!"

tell

me any
Nega,

more.

too horrible

begged

now

thoroughly alarmed.

"Well! well!" snapped Posi.

asked me!"

"You

if

we were

subjected

and forced into actual con-

"Where
did

are

we now?"

mollified Nega.

our charges would cancel, or neueach other, and we would inbecome a splash of energy in the

For some time the

not
reply.

irrepressible

Posi
his

tralize

Nega knew, from

that the

stantly

deep,

purple

vibrations,

tiny

ether and spread out in electro-magnetic

proton

was receiving some

important

waves carrying us off as energy. It's awful, Kega! Instantly our atom's explosion would explode our next atom,

information.

"Well,

my
It

beautiful Nega,"

from Posi
real
finish

in great agitation,

"now
like

we're in
the

and on and on! All mass and matter would instantly disappear and energy would take their places. We would be-

trouble!

looks

for

us

for everything!
Pitron
to
all
is

has landed his

laboratory.
eral

The crazy scientist plane and is now in his

is

come
a
like like

Cosmos

knows

what!
hot,

Perhaps
gas,

sending out a gen-

seething,

incredibly

heavy
It

alarm

us protons.

This in-

some of
serious

the younger stars.

looks

sane Tellurian universe with

integration

going to blow up the

infernal
!

trouble

ahead

for

us,

my

his

The scientist's reason snapped when he made this awful disdear

covery.

Nega!

machine

He

atomic

dis-

His poor, half-rotted brain bethis

"What good will the general alarm do?" buzzed Nega. "We electrons can
do nothing
to

came obsessed with

to explode the

insane scheme

prevent the scientist from

whole universe.
is

And
eating

all

destroying the universe!"

because the terrible cancer

his brain cells."

up
is

"Keep
calling

quiet!" hissed

Posi.

"Pitron
all

an emergency council of
within
the

"What

is

a cancer?" begged Nega, ap-

positive

electrons

range of

parently undisturbed by the threatened

his vibrations."

debacle of atoms and worlds.

"How many
vibrated
cells that

will that

be in number?"

"A

cancer," buzzed Posi importantly,

Nega, apparently unconcerned

"is a large

group of anarchist
the soft,

as to the
verse.

impending

fate

of

the

uni-

sometimes attack humans.

that

make up

Normal cells weak bodies of

tissue.

those hunians, stick to their job of restoring

"Cosmos!" whistled Posi. "What a question, and at such a time. You female
electrons

worn and damaged

with
all

They

are

surely

stupid.

cooperate
cells

the

human's other
mutual scheme

should say about a trillion raised to the

trillionth

in a

well-ordered,

power.

Now, my dumb, but

124
exquisite one,

AMAZING STORIES
this great

have
quiet!

you count them while we conference. And keep

a man's job!
to

to start his cursed atomic engine!

Pi-

tron

is

a mighty leader Archimedes.

a great proton!
is

This

is

Maybe
the

He

once lived in the brain box of the

we can do something
scientist

prevent

great

There

bare
!"

chine.

from starting his deadly maWe've got to do something quick

chance for the world

for the universe

"Tell me," begged Nega,

"what chance

for he's adjusting the device right

now I"

have we?"
"There's some hope," began Posi with
incredibly

portentious purple.

Nega remained quiet and anxiously watched Posi's color turn to a deep, Minutes passed that seemed eons to Nega. Her fear and
.

rapid

vibrations.

"At

the

mighty conference of positive electrons we just held, many plans were discussed.

anxiety increased as she noted the orbit of Posi was oscillating and his usual
repellant

Some

of

the greatest electronic minds

in the universe

had a

voice.

It

was deand save

a

force

to

her
that

weaker.

She knew

was suddenly some mighty

cided to

kill

the
!"

mad

scientist

the universe

fear or problem had possessed her lover.

"But how

can
out

electrons
in

kill

hu-

In sudden feminine sympathy and understanding, she timed her circling, flash-

man?" sang
"Listen

Nega
kill

amazement.
sweet
one.
It's

carefully,
to

my

ing orbit to compensate for Posi's er-

movements. Instantly she vibrated an urgent warning to the other seven

ratic

We're trying amazing yet

in the soft,
scientist are

him now!
see, this

negative electrons in her

to help hold the

atom of oxygen

simple. You weak body of many millions

is

Nega,
insane

of selenium

Nega now
threatened.

realized that

rhythm of their atom. some great crisis

atoms.

Selenium
in

element
scale.

number
Each

thirty-four

the atomic

She was Posi's

woman
planned."

atom of selenium contains

negative electrons like your
self,

thirty- four

she must help!

own sweet

"A

perfect

woman

nobly

and

in the nucleus of each selenium

(Wordsworth.)
Dangers
and
all

atom there are seventy-nine

catastrophes

positive elec-

make

all

trons like me.

Now

get this carefully!

thirty-three in

mankind
lays aside

kindred.

nation

invaded

Arsenic, element

number

personal, internal matters

the atomic scale, has in each

three negative, and to

to better resist the

it

common enemy.

So

was with Posi and Nega and the countless trillions of their kind. But no man's courage ever knew the mighty
fortitude

of each
trons.

atom thirtyform the nucleus atom seventy-four positive elecarsenic

is

And

a deadly poison
sele-

to those soft

humans! From each

and bravery that

impetuous,
a
yet

is

woman's

nium atom
tive electron

in the scientist's body,

four

in time of greatest dangers!

glorious positive electrons and one nega-

Usually
waited

now
in

Nega

have heroically volunteered

with

mighty
tiny
part

patience

and
vast
re-

to

die

and save the universe!

martyrs!

What
self-

spun well

her

the

noble

What
shrilled

splendid

scheme of
Finally

things.

sacrifice !"

Posi's

orbit

and

color

"But how?"
understand."

Nega.

'T don't

His harsh, excited vibrations almost hurt Nega's consciousgained

normalcy.
ness.

"Don't you

see,

my

lovely one?

When

four positive electrons and one negative

"Nega,
like the

my
finish

dear sweetheart,
for us!

it

looks

electron in each selenium

atom destroy

Be

brave,

my

sweet one.

The crazy

scientist is

about

themselves by deliberately dashing themselves together and ceasing to exist, all

AN EPOS OF
the selenium
will then

POSI

AND NEGA

125
by the minispassed,

atoms

in the scientist's

body

be so easily cheered

even

have the same atomic number and atomic weight as arsenic atoms. All the selenium in the human's body will
instantly

trations of the delightful Nega.

Some
violet.

considerable time

and

Posi remained silent, glowing a sullen

become
scientist
!"

arsenic,
will

and the danof

arsenical

Time!

Man

gerous

die

to best define time.

has wondered how Cogent and careful

poisoning

"But what about

trons?

all

those heroic elec-

will they go?" know," puzzled Posi. "No one knows. Not even the aged and wise Pitron. They will die!"

Where

"I don't

thought proves that a mass or body must be of three dimensions Length, Breadth and Thickness. But a mass or body to exist in these three planes of space must also exist in time. For most

certainly,

my

pen, that
phrases,

is

now

scribing

"Great
son.)

deeds

cannot

die."

(Tenny-

these

impotent

has the

three

dimensions of Space, and without quessilent.

For a time Posi was

Nega
in

tion this

knew
for

the

little

proton

was

listening in

time

is

pen exists in time. And that now. Not yesterday or to-mor-

news.

Finally

Posi

sang out

row

but

joyous vibrations.
"It worked,

testable

now. So is summation that

Length,
?

it

not an inconfaltering pen

my

Nega!
!

We

have destroyed
universe
is

exists

in

Breadth,

Thickness

the

insane

scientist

The

and

Duration
is
!

saved \ Pitron says the scientist collapsed and died of arsenic poisoning just as he

Time
sion
to deal
ories.

therefore the fourth dimenthis is not

But

an essay of science

was about

to start his devilish

machine!

and conjure with abstruse theIt is

Humans on earth will never know how we saved their little globe and the other
billions of stars,

a record of Posi and

Nega
and

and

their

atomic

love,

emotions
this

We
we

moons, suns and worlds. electrons never get credit for what

adventures.

And,
into
that

also

unlearned

pen
let

is

getting

deep
it

waters!

do."
will

me

record

So

was

quite a while

What

happen

to us

now?" buzzed

before Posi buzzed out of his intense,

angry

silence.
last,

out Nega.
"I've been too busy to think of that,"
replied Posi.

"Of

course we're

now

in

"Well, Nega," from Posi at must make the most of it. escape being buried. There
atory.

"we
great

We may
is

body of the scientist. Say!" became a sudden, snarling whine. "This is not so good Our caught up with us again! has luck bad These ignorant tellurians have a barbaric
the dead
Posi's vibrations
!

excitement in our dead scientist's labor-

The

silly

tellurians

have

dis-

covered our dead

scientist's body.

And

custom of interring their dead.

der
the

So we

what do you think? These humans are making a great fuss over the corpse.

stand a good chance of being buried un-

years.

ground for a few thousand Adib of Draconis! what cursed

They are grieving and proclaiming he was a great benefactor because of his scientific work for the human race.
Skat of Aquarius!

What

fools

these

luck!"

humans
to do!

are.

If

they but

"We

"Never mind, Posi," strummed Nega. have each other, and just think!
electrons saved the universe!
!" It's

their so-called benefactor

It

makes me

sick!

knew what was planning Even now

We

our miserable corpse

wonderful

is being conducted through the streets in high state! A

But the

irrepressible Posi

was not

to

great crowd of these stupid, pomp-loving

126

AMAZING STORIES

humans are standing bare-headed.

famous minister
is

A
of

If

we

could only get into some other

giving a fine oration.

this

kind of an element for a while.

This

He

is

eulogizing
to
I

madman who
Sirius

oxygen
sides

is

a shifty, tricky element; besilly

planned

destroy

them!

I'm getting fed up on the

seven
positive

Canis! but

wish we could get away

planet
it's

other

electrons

in

this

from

this I

stupid

earth!"

atom.

They're a dull bunch."

"Why,
citing,"

think

all

been very ex-

Nega's orbital speed increased with a

quick rise of rage.

purred Nega.
electrons are surely ig-

She flashed a quick

"You female
that

retort across the distance that separated

norant," snarled Posi. "Can't you realize

them
size,

a distance as vast, in relation to

when
cursed

this

pomp and ceremony

is

as the space between the planets.

over,
this

the earthlings are going to

corpse.

bury
rot,

"I notice you're not tired of the other

And

it

will

seven negative

electrons
flirting

in

this

atom!
to

filthy worms gnawing at us and we may be under-ground for thousands of

with

You're always
sleep.

every time I go to
be
true

You
!

couldn't

one

years.

I'm a young chap, and

ha!" teased Nega.

want

woman
"Well
I

for a thousand years!"

well !" sizzled out Post.
if

to see the universe."

"Can

"Ha

"You're not
rings have
last ten

help

it

the decorative

sex admire

so young.

Your atmospheric

me?"
"Never
flirt!"

turned a bit silver in the

thou-

mind,

you

you

hopeless

sand years!"
"Say,
Posi

you dumb
sudden
that
poise.

female,"
anger,
will

shot

out

hissed Nega. "Tell me, what's happening to us now."

with

"you
going

waitl
your
to

"Hold
"We're
you
is

everything!"

screamed

Posi.

Here's
feminine

news

ruffle

in the crematory furnace! Can't

?

We're

be

feel the heat

And

our orbital speed

bumed !" "What do you mean?"

stantly
rel.

increasing!"

shot Nega, in-

"Oh,
seems

Posi,"

whimpered

Nega,

"it

forgetting

the

impending quarto

terrible to

be cremated."

"What
cremate
expires

feels the

body when the soul

"The humans are going

"Great
"Will
it

the body of the dead scientist!"

By
fires."

hurt us

Cosmos!" Nega squeaked. when we are getting

time corrupted, and consumed by (Ovid.)

ancient philosopher, Empedocles,

The
and
totle

burnt ?"

classed fire with air, earth

and water,
ether,
stars,

"Sadr of Cygni!" flashed Posi with

called fire the fourth element. Aris-

happy
trons

vibrations.

"You
!

negative elec-

added a

fifth

element

which
suns,

are

stupid

Do you
foolish

think

the

he thought composed

the

temperature

these

humans can
heat will re-

moons and
Shakespeare
earlier

planets.

Even

the

mighty

produce in their crematory furnace will

harm
duce
ashes,

us electrons
this
filthy

The

by these great minds, for the "Bard of

influenced
life consist

was

cadaver to gasses and

Avon" wrote
"Does not our
elements?" of the four
says

but the higher temperature will

Besides,
this

only exhilarate us. but

my
is

stupid,

The modern
in light

scientist

charming

Nega,
stand a

great
to

that fire is the principle of

combustion
especially

break.

We

good

chance

as

manifested

and

escape in one of the light gases, which

will

flame,

and

in

heating,

destroying and

then

form as the dead body burns. And we can have some new adventures.

altering effects.

Flames are usually the

result of chemical combinations with at-

AN EPOS OF
mospheric oxygen.
the

POSI

AND NEGA

127

Smoke

is

one of

mists were most greatly concerned with

the vain hope of transmutating the baser

products

of
is

burning

organic

ma-

terials.

Smoke

rendered visible by

metals into gold

secret

and

to find the elusive

the presence of

small particles of carsoot.

of

eternal

life.

These

ancient

bon; and hydrocarbons and

is

Smoke

searchers
preciated
to

for truths are not to be detheir

always
All
this

the

result

of

imperfect

efforts

combustion.
to

great

discoveries.

An

paved the way old Chinese

say that
scientist

of the
fire, it

mad

when the body was cremated by

in element forms.

manuscript

written two thousand sbc hundred and ninety years before Christ

was but changed

ashes.

tells

of a great Chinese alchemist

Tai.

named
of

The body became

smoke and

heat

energy,

gases,

Wong

This

ancient

"Father
eyes

Every

electron

that

Medicine"

prescribed

crab's

for

existed before the cremation rotated on

stomach disorders, and pulverized toad

skins for cures for other troubles

and on, but perhaps

in another element.

Man
energv
:

can neither create nor destroy he may but change it from one

Don't smile!
chemists

just think!

for

modern

now

find that crab's eyes are

form to another. "Things are happening fast, Nega," We're Posi. "Hold tight! shrilled going to experience a change of elements!
heat,

composed mostly of calcium carbonate fine remedy for stomach hyperaci-

dity.

And

that

pulverized
efficacious
is

toad skins
in

contain

bufagin.

drbpsv,

The
!

heat has reached us!

The

and ephedrine, which

for

a splendid tonic

steam and pressure are disrupting Try and hold your orbit our atom Spica of around me as we change.
Virgo!
Posi

weak hearts! The erudite scientist of over four thou-

Here we go!" was old in vears and experience.

his usual repellent
to

sand years ago could well smile at the conclusions and findings of to-day. But
such a future scientist will not smile at the rungs we have fixed in the mighty
ladder of
credible

He

suddenly changed

force

Nega

to

that

of

a powerful
Posi

knowledge.

Rather,

his

in-

attraction-^that their chances of remain-

ing in the same atom be greater.

amazed
ings

at

and tolerant mind will be our small but important find-

and

Nega
the

experienced
arhazing

no

discomfort
that

from

transmutation

and more greatly amazed at the wonders yet to be unfolded to him.

Nature, in her marvelous laboratories,

occurred from the heat of the tellurian

furnace.

mild

vortex

of

shifting

can

in

many ways

surpass man's pony

atoms and
Posi

electrons.

The

irrepressible

efforts.

In man's laboratories, a ten**

was

in a great ecstasy of delight;

perature of two thousand four hundred

Nega
Posi.

but mildly and sweetly excited.

degrees Fahrenheit
iron

ment.

"Hold tightly to me, Nega!" whirred "We're going into another eleCosmos! look at those pretty
electrons

enough

to melt pig

is

required to separate the carbon

and oxygen atoms of the carbon dioxide

molecule.

White Sundrops and

(tiny

Pink
for

negative

crowding
a
harsh,

into

our

Abronias
existence

flowers

struggling

atom!"

Then
your

in

vibrating

on the sandy wastes of the

other plants
these

snarl to a strange

and intruding proton: you

fool,

Mohave Desert) and many

can separate

"Keep

distance,
!

and
art
it

atoms without dif-

watch your rotation Chemistry

is

I'm Posi.

I"
Once

ficulty in their tiny cell laboratories!

an old and ancient

-old as the history of man.

For a moment Posi and Nega felt a queer shifting about of their posrn6fis
and
orbits.

was

called

alchemy and the early alche-

They were amazed

to see

128

AMAZING STORIES
turn

four positive electrons and two negative

electrons

makes smoke.
sweetheart,

So,

my
up

darling,
in

suddenly

dart

fast

as

light

negative
air in

we're

the

from their atom! It was astounding! "Atik of Persei!" gasped Posi. "Did you see that! We're losing our old
friends
!"

a cloud of smoke!"
interesting,"

"How

Nega
!

purred, "and

what is carbon?" "Chara of Cams

question.

expected

that

"I'm glad to see that negative electron,

Neta, leave.

Carbon," said the conceited

little

She was old and

fairly

fat

and
at

but wise of
his

proton, raising the pitch

that
all

was always
you."

orbiting

herself

vibrations

the

negative

electrons in the carbon

"is

atom might hear,

in

"You're just a jealous female electron, Nega," sizzled Posi smugly. "But something has happened to the numerical composition of our atom. Wait till
I

the

sixth

element

the

atomic

scale.

You know now,

of course, that

there are twelve of us positive electrons

here in the nucleus of this carbon atom,

get a line of communication

and find

and

that six of

you lovely negative

elec-

out what

we are. This is great luck !" Nega conversed excitedly with the
remaining negative electrons
in with their

trons

revolve

around our nucleus and

make up our atom.

"I
"Tell

We've more room

other five
in

to oscillate in this carbon atom."

strange atom.

knew

that already," impulsed Nega.

Posis excited vibrations broke

happy impulses.
"Great
luck,

me more about carbon." "Propus of the Twins! snarled Posi,

'

Nega

We've

been

"but you're getting wise!

But do you
at

changed by the chemistry of the burning from an oxygen atom to a carbon

know
three

that

carbon volatilizes

sixty-

hundred

and

thirty-two

degrees

atom!

Carbon

is

such

an

interesting

F.? Did you know that chemically carbon

is

element, and we're sure to have exciting

bivalent

and quadrivalent? Does your

little

adventures!
but

And

best of

all,

my

sweet,

dumb, but sweet

our atom
that
it

brain

know

that

dumb Nega,

lives

tive electron.

only a few atoms away an extremely old and wise posiHis name is Proto. He's
million

is

most interesting

one
because
we're

has the remarkable property of

forming

complex

compounds

a million, been
lines

years

old,

and has
wonderful

our carbon atoms can unite with others

in

everywhere.

He

has
I

chains and rings.

Just now,
air.

of

communication.

met him
in the

only soot drifting about in the

But
If

ages ago on Saturn.

We

lived
I

anything might happen to us now.

same atom

of

sulphur.

remember

we

had "
ing

Nivel, a beautiful negative electron.

We
now

Posi

stopped,
slip

suddenly
of

realiz-

happen to be subjected to enough heat and pressure, we become And diamonds are part of a diamond.
should
interesting.

his

amorous

vibration

"never mind about that adventure

the male

you some other time. Proto Nega, my has told me a lot already. sweet, we're in an atom of carbon And
I'll

tell

female

Why, do you know, Nega, human gives a diamond to the when they're in love!"
"Is

"Love," purred Nega.

element ?"

love

an
in

we've gone up in smoke!"

"Alph
?

Serpentis,"

squealed
I

Posi

"What do you mean,

more!" "We're
afloat

Posi

Tell

me

vast amusement. "Nega,

believe you're
is

reaching maturity.
in

Love
of
the

not an elepassionate

the

glorious
in

sky!"

ment.

It's

a romantic and

sang out Posi.

carbon, which
is

"We're

an atom of

affection
It's

for one

opposite sex.

part of soot, which in

a mighty,

electrical,

energized at-

AN EPOS OF POSI AND NEGA

traction

129
"These stupid

among us

electrons to complete

best scholastic vibrations.

the

needed positive and negative poles

these stupid

earthlings

have built a large gas bag

call

for our precious cosmic energy-current.

which they
craft is just

a dirigible airship. This

Among
tell

humans
Say!
is

it's

an inI

stinctive sex impulse.

if

could

flight,

now leaving its hangar for and we were lucky enough to

So we're going
that

you what love

would be the

fall

on

it.

to

take a

greatest philosopher in the atomic universe.

nice

flight."

And

you, a red-headed
!

woman,
!

"But what has

"You're such a
Posi.

got to do with

ask

about

love

This

is

rich

Say,

a crow's nest?" asked Nega.

Trona t"
"tell

Posi

impulsed to a spinning

dumb

cluck!" rasped
is

negative electron in their carbon atom,

this

"On

top of this big gas bag

poor

child,

Nega,

all

about
you're
lot

lookout station where one of these

silly

love.

You're old
hot

Iermean
Tell

humans

stays

to

watch and help navia crow's nest.

older,

and you've been around a

planets.

on

gate the ship.

It's called

those

every young girl should

Nega know!"

what

Some
out

of our soot settled into this look-

station,
fell

and by a strange chance

If

Trona, a
her

silver violet

glowing around
orbit in a

we
this

squarely into the muzzle of a

plump

figure,

moved her

signal

pistol!

something happens to

bit closer.

dirigible,

the

human

in

this

look-

ing

For many hours Trona buzzed intriguwords into Nega's eager ear. At
rogue,
Posi,

out
will

may
fly

fire

the signal pistol,

and we

out into the atmosphere again.

times the great

to
listen.

attempted
ex-

Here's more news from Proto!"

But two

women were

For
versed

considerable
the

time

Posi

conwhile
pur-

changing delightful confidences. Nega's softly glowing orbit reflected

with

learned

Proto,

Nega waited, glowing an impatient

ple.

an embarrassed red. "Oh, Trona!" throbbed

Nega,

"tell

"Nega !" impulsed Posi

fine

at last.

"Here's
built
test

me more about
Love is "The sweetest
(Bailey.)

love!"

news.
large

These earthlings who

dirigible

this

are
it's

making a
large

joy, the wildest woe."

flight.

They

think

it's

eight

hundred

feet long."

"Say,

you

gossiping

dames,

you're
I've

missing something!
just learned

Here's news.

"How long is a feet?" "My beautiful Nega,"

"it's

asked Nega.
squealed Posi,

from Proto
the soot
is

that our carsettling

a shame your delightful sex has no

bon atom
to

in

back

brains!

But

it

doesn't

matter.

Any-

earth

That means some new ad-

one so alluring has no need of brains.

Listen,
is

venture for us.

Wait a minute! Here's

settled

news

Our carbon atom has

till

my heart's delight. Our atom one hundred millionth of a human

in

We've Hold everything

to earth.

struck something solid!

I

inch
inches

diameter.
foot.

Twelve

of

those
it

find

where we
and

make a
sick

So

figure

out

are."

yourself.
patiently as possible

Don't be so stupid."

Nega waited
finally

"I'm

and

tired

of

your

wise

Posi flashed.

cracks about us

women

being stupid!"

think,

What do you "Furud of Canis! Nega? We're in a crow's nest!"

crow's
is

shrieked Nega, in a sudden, bitter, violet

rage.

"I guess we're just as important

"A "What
"It's

nest?"

shrilled

Nega.

as you male electrons.

Don't

fill

just

that?"

as important a part in our

his

atom as you?

this

way," sizzled Posi in

When two

of you vain protons get to-

130
gether

AMAZING STORIES

quite by accident
Her
get
?

doesn't

it

take

"What do
ibles

the

humans use
other

these dirig-

but one of us negatives, or females, to

for?" asked Nega.

balance you?"

"To make war on

groups of humans.
are ignorant, but
I I

organized

Nega's vibrations and orbit speeded to

know
slow,
to

the

humans

a shrieking whine.

vast patience

can't understand

why
and

was gone.

they
that stuff,
call-

construct

"Where do you
a moron!
hulk!

bulky dirigibles

even

these

costly

make war. They

ing yourself a proton

You must mean

are quite useless for anything, especially

Look

Why,

your great, lazy you're eighteen hundred

at
I,

warfare,
sluggish

for

their

unwieldy bulk and

maneuverability

would
Besir
1

be

and forty times heavier than

just
like

and

ridiculously easy target for anti-aircraft

can balance you and another lazy

bum
bluff!
flirt

guns and

fast

airplanes.

s,

they

you!

You're

big

are so large and fragile.

You're a scamp

anda
was
only

Proto says even

this

hopeless

You don't love me any more. You "Now, now, my sweet Nega," mollified

now
craft

the light

aluminum braces of
because of

are

breaking up

the

terrific twist of the

storm on such a large

this

Posi,

"I

teasing
life

you.
as
I

bulk.

Only a few minutes more and

is

You're as important to atomic

great craft

a total wreck."

am." Then the clever rogue used his best

sophistry.

"But why do humans make war on

each other?"

"Woman,

the negative pole,

is

neces-

"They
Posi. "It

don't

sary to man's positive.

So

it

is

with us,

know any better," replied was only a few million years

in

my

atomic

beauty.

There,

dry

your

ago that humans were but single-celled

creatures
dismal,

pretty eyes and glow that lovely, becom-

thermal

swamps.

ing red for me."

With
a fiery
until

evolution, the protoplasms

were

ac-

Nega, ever
red,

gullible, scintillated

tivated

by the

cosmic rays

and took
re-

and her speed increased

her

strange

forms and crawled

that

some
Humans

orbit fairly whistled.

mained aquatic things

swam. Some
in

himself.

"Zosma of Duhr!" muttered Posi to "This little dame is getting into

I'll

developed feet and walked.

a temper.

have to change

my

line.

some mysterious way developed the power of reasoning, of course, but yet in
a small way.

Hold everything, Nega, here's news! The dirigible has been flown out over
the ocean and has encountered a severe storm.
foolish

And what was

these
soft,

just as im-

portant

for

weak humans,

they developed
hands.

Proto says
this

it

looks bad for the

this silly craft.
is

hands fingered, wonder Humans owe to these marvelous

supremacy of the earth as
their
to

humans on board

fingers their

You know
helium, and
gen, loses
it

dirigible

lifted

by

much

as

yet

slight

reasoning
in

we know
of

helium, like hydro-

powers.

Humans
kill

are

advancing
will

some

its lifting

power when

knowledge, and a time

they will not
toiling

enters an area of low barometic pres-

each other.

come when They are

sure,

such as occurs in storm centers.

craft
is

upward strongly and

bravely.

Of
elec-

The huge
bad.
If

sinking!
the

This looks

course they're not so wise as

trons, for they

we

we
live

strike

water,

we may
we're

have the fearful handicap

have to
for

in the cursed ocean again

of living on earth less than a hundred

years.

years.

There!

Proto

says
is

And

look at

me

I'm ten million

climbing again, but the storm

worse.
It

growing
for

years old, and just a young chap yet.

looks like

more

trouble

Wait!

Here's

news!

The

dirigible

ua!"

struck the center of the storm, which has

AN EPOS OF
a

POSI
It's

AND NEGA
hard to
die.

131
there's

powerful,

twisting,

downward

air

But

no hope for

draft.
is

The

structure of the huge craft

them."

bent and warped from the twisting of

it

"Whate'er event the doubtful question

clears,

the storm until

to

will

the

engines

and

no longer respond controls. There

Death must be
fears."

still

unworthy of our

We've
crash
!

struck the ocean with a fearful

This

dirigible

was

traveling
it

(Lucan's Pompey)
"Jusa of Giansar!" throbbed Posi after
a short silence.

hundred miles an hour when

struck.

At

that speed the water

solid

mountain of rock.

What

would be as a a shame

"Here's something

One

are doomed.
I

The poor humans on this unlucky craft They are drowning even now The dirigible is fast breaking up The engines and heavy structures have
torn loose and
calling

of the three
pistol in his

men
hand.

has taken the signal

He

is

talking to the

others.

They

are

desperate

almost

freezing and gasping for oxygen.

sunk.

Wait!

Proto

is

are

stout,

brave humans.
is

They Hold everyhumans

me !"
excitedly with the other

thing!
in

The human
sky.

pointing the pistol

other

Nega buzzed
and nervous.

the

He

hopes

negative electrons.

They were

all

excited

searching for them will see the rocket,

which
going

will fire
is

from

the pistol.

Our atom
He's

Posi's vibrations suddenly flashed in a

of carbon

in this pistol barrel.

high pitch.

to fire it!"
it

"Nega, the strangest luck has come to

us
!

"Will

hurt us
bit,

much?"

shrilled

Nega.

The

great dirigible broke up, and the

"Not a
ventures,

my

dear Nega. In past ad-

forward part with our crow's nest has

risen

we've had impetus shocks a Don't worry."

ing altitude

from the water and is rapidly gainWe're on our way to the

!

million times stronger.

"I won't, Posi," purred Nega.

"Any
You're

sky again
fellows

There's three

in the

humans poor crow's nest. They are the

some of the others

adventure with you

so wise

is

glorious.

so strong
I

so

handsome and

only survivors of the wreck, unless hu-

man
from

boats picked itp

the

"Here we go, sweetheart!" sang out Posi. "The human fired the pistol. Move
over closer so

water.
to

These three humans

can hold your

orbit.

My,

have no

way

communicate with other

soft,

humans.

Their

weak bodies are

thin

suffering horribly
air,

from cold and the

is

woman, Nega! You're young so round and trim. I wonder what will happen to us now. We're off
you're a lovely
so

for our gas bag, without the weight

steadily ascend-

for a fine flight!"

of motors and rigging,

ing.

"Challenged Cupid

at

the flight."

I feel sorry for these three people.

(Shakespeare)

The End.

IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE

Island of White Mice By David H. Keller, M.D.

The Valley
And

of the

Rukh

By Harl Vincent
other engrossing sctence-fiction stories by well-known vrttert.

132

The Tale of
By PHILIP

the zAtorn

DENNIS GHAMBERLIN
for a bottle of
tals

^TWAR
/\
A

spun his motor-chair deftabout and rolled over to

Pulling out a drawin-

small

transparent crys-

/\

ly

with the other

left

hand.

An

as-

the blue enameled all-metal

cabinet.

sistant rolled briskly into the

room, one
eyes

of

Atwar's

four huge compound

er he

withdrew a small

turned from the instrument to him; in

silence the assistant received the thought-

strument and sped back to his slatetopped workbench. Once there he made a few adjustments in the weird machine
that

order and sped out of the room.

sec-

ond

later

he was back bringing with him

stood upon

it.

A
mass

weird machine
of

it

was, a jumbled
led
to

a group of thought-readers who were to read Atwar's mind during the experi-

wires

that

small,

ment and
pressions

to accurately record
at
first

his

imit

porcelain-like

chamber within which the

the

hand;

this

made

wires seemed to be fused into a solid mass.

equivalent to having four separate people

Above

chamber was a comof

peculiar

perform the experiment.

Silently

pound

microscope

shape,

Atwar bent over

the

micro-

with a double eyepiece and a sort of

keyboard mounted on

its

side.

There
the

were

other

peculiar

things

about

scope, two huge eyes focussed upon the stage, a third was on the paper pad on which he would write the results of the

miscroscope; for instance had one been able to examine it, he would have
noticed
that
all

experiment, while the fourth eye gazed

straight at the

group of thought-readers,
it is

the

illumination

was

in order to facilitate their task, for

provided through a microscopic aperture

through the eyes that the mind

easily

is

most

underneath the chamber,

light

was artificial, cury lamp of some type and filtered through two lenses before it reached
the hole.
tive

and that the provided by a mer-

read.

With
up

deft six jointed fin-

gers he picked

a pair of tweezers

and
the

placed a minute crystal of the substance,

which
stage.

was

in

the

bottle,

upon

Had Atwar been in a talkamood, which he never was, he would

He
the

fingered a button on the key-

board and the stage became illuminated.

have explained, that the purpose of those lenses was to increase the magnifying

Under

power
for

in a peculiar

system of his own.

Atwar was quite proud of the affair from bottom to top it was his own
it,

enormous magnification the myriad of wires no longer seemed fused together, rather they were seen to be skillfully woven into a fine screen of some sort and on that screen lay the
crystal
;

invention and the thing he proposed to

he adjusted the focus,

do with

of course with the help of his

assistants,

would

undoubtedly

astound

CAREFULLY
j

he twisted the knobs

faded
it

scientific circles if

he succeeded, and he

that controlled the microscope's ad-

knew

he would succeed. While he made a minor adjustment with two right hands, he prepared a pad

U5tments,

the

crystal

into

vast

nothingness.

But was
points.

nothingness?
filled

The blackness seemed

small,

to be

with
the

and pencil with a

left

hand and reached

blowing

He

gave

THE TALE OF THE ATOM

knob another
ball

133
heads.

twist.

Slowly materializ-

to

say,

kept

their

They were
to

ing out of the blackness, a dull reddish

chiefly the great scientists of the planet,

about the diameter of a cent apit

those

who knew
the

it

was up
worked,

them
trying

to

peared, and about

spinning at great
specks,
like

save the world.

into

All day long and

far
to

speed

were

minute

grains
it

night

they

of dust in the sunlight, or

his

was

only

devise schemes that stood a chance of

eyes? His fingers adjusted the knobs and the red ball grew to the size of a small orange, covering the whole stage.

being successful
tories of the

they had

all

the labora-

world at their disposal and

with feverish haste, most

they worked

He
now

slid

the

stage

slightly

to

one side

of them

and three of the specks came into view,

as

large as pinheads.

By
it

careful

even taking to a vice which had died out centuries before dope to keep them going; and they had to go on;

manipulation he counted eight,

he had thought;

was as

if

they

failed

the

world was doomed.

now he must

finish; the

committee met at seven and he wished

to

have a report ready.

calculation

He made

DR.
ies

ALICE NOAH

was undoubted-

ly the

head of the group, she had

rapid

as

to

what wire the

been head of the government laboratorfor a bare two years,

atom must be over and pressed a button. There was a flash that half blinded him, but that was all he had miscalculated. Speedily he worked out the correction on the pad by his side and
;

when
and

the catas-

trophe

came,

but

already

she

had

world-wide
part
of

reputation

she

was

unanimously chosen to head the body.

her
is

A
of

speech
quoted,

of
in

acceptance

pressed

another

button.

leadership

order that the

the
situation.

reader

may understand
colleagues,"
it

"My
The
the

she

said,

"we

all

earth

was

terror

stricken.
their

Men
in

realize that

is

on us that the fate of

no longer rode daily to

great
synthetic

work

the world depends;

we have been

called

food

plants;

the
for

together in the eleventh hour to undertake a task

it

huge, pleasure parks were deserted,

in the year

G73000

the end of the world

plete in a lifetime,
.
.

would be difficult to comand we must do it!

had come
less.

Panic had descended at last. upon the earth and science was help-

three

We should have taken warning hundred years ago, when Sirius

flash,

Prophets of a god
over

who had been

thousand
in

was wiped out by a strange

but

forgotten

seventy-eight

our ancestors took no heed and

or even partial protection.

now we
.

years

before,
it

(and

reckoning

old

find ourselves attacked without adequate

.
.

time

was now the year 86,300

called

AD.),
that all

We

all
is
it

were arising and proving by a forgotten

know what
is

is

threatened,

something
!

volume
this

"The Holy Bible"

the time
for

rapidly exploding in the sun

Unless

had been prophesied years ago and

that

now was

repentance.

There arose
erally

also another

and more gennamely that the

we have only six months left, before we shall be without a -solar system, and we shall go flying out into
stopped
space,
a

followed cult which held the difirst,

dead,

cold
it

meteorite.

Ladies

rect opposite of the

and gentlemen,
that
is
it

is

end was here and now was the time for pleasure; the streets of the cities were
the scenes of wild debaucheries,

is

stopped!!!

up to us to see Already the sun

electrical

showing signs of vast

dis-

and robAlso

ben' and murder were rampant.

there was a small group which, strange

and from Mount Wilson comes the report that a blue flame of some sort is rapidly approaching Sol,
turbances

134
our sun.
flame
is

AMAZING STORIES
My
the
friends,

we know
that

that

An
time.

anxious

world

was

waiting

its

same thing

destroyed
it

will

Sinus and unless something is done do the same thing to our sun.

THE
the the
nihilating
its

eighteenth
fatal

of

September was
three-thirty
flash

await your suggestions."

date.

At
blue

in

Many ideas were advanced and rejected. For the most part they were as foolish
as the theories of those

afternoon

the

streaked

across the solar heavens, heedlessly an-

who
the

set

out in

Venus and
flash,

Halley's

Comet

in

space-ships for Mars, not realizing that,

course and

struck the sun.

There
sun

with

the

break-up

of

sun,

would be as badly

off as earth.

Mars num-

was a huge
never
been

the like of which had

before,

seen

and the

ber thought of establishing some sort of

a counter -current, but
that
it

crashed into hundreds 'of flaming pieces

it was pointed out was not known whether or not the

which
a
entire
stars

flared

up
in

in the solar
itself.

heavens each

little

star

"destroying flame," as the religious fanatics

universe there

Throughout the was a jar as the

things
started
to

had named and

that, if
it

it,

was

electrical

or

readjusted themselves to the loss

not,

were such, there was

of their brother and

quiet
It

not enough electrical

successfully neutralize
tried to

power on earth to it. Another group

were
greatsuccessfully

down.

was

the instant the flame had struck,

make out
but

that the dangers

that

Dr.

Granstedt

had

thrown

the

overestimated

without

switch which world.

was

to

save or ruin the

convincing even themselves.

er

The

From

the vast network of pipes

part

of

the

group,

however, could

that lay over the world

had arisen huge

the
ex-

think of nothing and so they remained

clouds of gasses
plosion of Sol to

that
all

deadlocked for two months.

It

dimmed human eyes.

Slowly,

was the sixteenth of Sol

back)
that
his

(thir-

in great billowing clouds, they

teen-month years had been adopted centuries

went upwards, until they seemed to merge into

Dr. Hubbard Granplan,

one

vast

mass

that

completely

sur-

stedt
tire

proposed
convention

stood

and the amazed at

enthe

rounded the atmosphere. Then the change took place. The clouds seemed
to lose
all

bearded old patriarch's suggestion.

For

cloudlike aspect and to take

solid

two precious weeks

and figures so

it

was fought for

his facts
it

on the appearance of a
understrain and then
all

ceiling;

and against, but the doctor had

clearly

there was a singing sound as of metal

disposed that

was

quiet.

An

was finally adopted. Then all the body went into action, and by that statement it is meant that twenty billion tireless
robots started to labor, day and night,
to

experimental rocket was projected; up,

up
and

it

went
it

until

it

reached the ceiling;

then

seemed

to strike

something
it

solid

in

another
its

instant
steel

was

falling

complete the

terrific task.

back to earth,
smiled

head buckled by
Dr. Granstedt
time
in

Everything was in readiness by September eleventh and the world was waiting,

the impact of a collision.

for
;

the

first

many
and

waiting breathlessly
the
test

for the

result

months
planned

it
;

was

as

he had hoped

of

of

the

forlorn
all

hope
over

of
the

the gases, no longer

warmed by

humanity.

From

points

the heat of the sun, had solidified and

globe huge structures, like the long range

formed a

guns of a bygone day, were pointed skyward, and a network of some sort of
pipes

and

her

around our earth atmosphere. Terra had resolid casing

treated within her shell.

completely

checkered

the

globe.

To an

observer from the outside Terra

THE TALE OF THE ATOM

now had
no longer
a

135
was
the

strange

appearance,
at

it

was
its

All over the surface of the planet

truly

round for

intervals

a vast shallow sea, with here and there

a tiny island dotting
its

huge, spike-like tubes protruded from

surface;
! !

all

coverings, tubes which, an instant later,

began to shoot forth streams of

gasses into the void.
lurch,

fiery

There was a horrid

to

main land was submerged Dr. Granstedt's travel idea had been perfect but he had forgotten one little thing he had
;

and the planet started

move

Terra was seeking a new master; the

world was in search of another sun!
It

left the

moon

behind!!!!

IT
of

was a
race

horrible death that the hu-

the

space-ship,
rockets,

was a long journey through space; world had become a new and gigantic propelled by huge atomic
and carrying
its

man
life,

had suffered, the unconthe

earth,

trollable

water had swept the land clean

the very surface of

natural atmos-

without the moon's continual buckled

of
lava

pull

had

phere and heat hermetically sealed within

its

and
into

twisted,

throwing
sea.

masses

transparent

man-made
to

shell.

It

the

steaming

The

was not so hard

as
if

reach

its

new
Sun

sun,

earth had become a chaos in which no

life

in preparation

for the catastrophe

could have hoped to exist, however

it

from

time

immemorial

the

had

hardy

might

be.

But

that is all over

Vega at an inconand now the earth under own power completing the last its lap of the trip for it was toward Vega the independent planet was traveling.
been rushing toward
ceivable speed
It

now and

scientists
still

on one of Vega's inner

planets are

trying to figure out in

their reptile heads, for intelligence is not

a strictly

human

feature,

what brought

the watery planet to join the huge star's

coterie.

took nearly a year to complete the

if

journey but then, as

earth
fell

prearranged, the

into

an
itself

orbit

about the star

and took for

heat

a place where the

from

the

second
life.

sun

would

be

"I

Atwar pushed back knew I could do

his
it,"

motor
he

chair.

said,

or

adapted for

human

Dr. Granstedt
to perfection.

rather his eyes passed

for his race carries on
in

on the message,
all

had calculated the

It

flight

conversation

was

six of the

new

length years (1,362

that

way, not having been equipped

days) before the semi-transparent outer

with vocal cords, "I always have said

that the
I've
it

was melted off into gaseousness by Vega and when it happened, a strange There lay the was revealed. sight
shell

now

proven

atom could be exploded and it. It was all as I exunder-

pected

to be, except that I can't

world,

still

surrounded by

its

atmosphere

stand what

made

the third electron

jump

and

still

temperate in climate, "but there

difference.

to another atom, but of course that is

was some
into

Where

were

all

the mountain peaks that had once risen

the

atmosphere,
plains?

long

low

where were the Everywhere things

the land?

a But come, we must announce our findings and the committee meets in five minutes."

minor

detail.

seemed

different.

Where was

from

Whirling his motor chair he glided the room.

The End

136

AMAZING STORIES

January, 1935

K-G-USSlONS
to tliti department w> thall diicuie evenr month topic* of Intereit The aditori Invite eormpondenc on reader*. tubjecti directly or Indirectly related to the itorlut appearing In thli net ail lie. la cue a inectel Denonm inner renulred, neminil fee it !S to caver time end pottage U reauired.

all

Zealand Science Fiction Association Editor, Amazing Stories: This letter is to announce the advent of a much needed Science Fiction organization in New Zealand. Would you be good enough to publish it in the Discussions section of your excellent magazine? The New Zealand Science Fiction Association is to be a body for the promotion of this type of literature in New Zealand, and a medium through which all members may communicate and express their views. We aim to bring all
lovers of Science Fiction together in this cause.

The

New

see one, yes, just a

feeble one,

letter

in

Discussions column from England which asks for an English editor of "Amazing" over
the
here.
idea,

To
it's

this I

add

my
it's it

signature
colossal

stupendous,
start

It's
I

When

a grand are

you going to

working?

Jules Verne. I see,

m
by

Say,

is continuing to appear our mag. Ed. A. Poe too, is on the pages. why not send over here for some works Shakespeare ? These stories are good

enough

in their place, but

why

the

Heck must

Would
readers

all

New

Zealand
please

interested,

and Australian communicate with

Zealand, or myself? To such enquirers we will mail further information. The subscription rate will be low, and we are thinking of publishing a small

Mr. N. Patton, Pokeno,

New

they take up the room in which a modern story could be set? want modern stories, written in a modern less colorful language. Granted the mag. is nearly perfect, but why not make it 100 per cent?

We

If
I'd

through which we may come and discuss Science Fiction of the when we have reached a sufficient membership to warrant it. Mean-

monthly

bulletin,

me.
sold

together,

there's anybody listening from England, be glad if they'd write up and agree with There's a helluva lot of your magazines over here and I'm doing my best to

month.

This will come

increase the

Anyway,
so

here's to

demand which is growing steadily. modern science fiction and

!

while, wishing

Amazing

Stories every success.

N.

S. Jenkin,

good luck

48 Gilbert Street, New Plymouth,

long to Victorian blah!And, of course, to Amazing Stories L. A. Petts. 21, East Court,

New
(We
have always
felt

Zealand.

North Wembley,
Middlesex,

much

interest in hear-

180 ing from readers in the Antipodes, nearly degrees from Greenwich, Eng.. whichever way wish Mr. Jenkin every you go (naturally). success in his work for developing an interest Editor.) in science fiction.

We

An
Editor,

English

Edition of

Amazing Asked For

:

Stories

England. (Recently we have received a great many of foreign correspondents, especially readers. This one is especially interesting as it is the second one in which a writer asks us to publish an English edition. There is nothing we would like better to do,
letters

from English

and there

is

no knowing what the future may

Amazing Stories but it won't be my is my third letter last, although I have not yet seen any of them m the Discussions column Amazing Stories is fine nowadays much Of course, I'm takbetter than the old ones. individual stories. I ing it as a whole, not managed to pick up an old number the other day and read "Seeds of Life" by John Taine and I don't think I've ever enjoyed a story His characters lived and he didn't so much.
This

bring about. are depression here, and it

We

soon our

peculiarly

still in the middle of a is an open question how academic government in

Washington

will get us out of the trouble.

We

have not given reprints for several months so that rather eliminates your criticism, We thank you for your good wishes. Editor.)
Science Fiction Societies in England Amazing Stories:

Editor,

go over the bounds of

possibility

which

That story, in fact, the story perfect. has been instrumental in introducing A. S. to many other friends of mine . . . they are now regular readers and eager for more stories They all agree in saying that Morey like that
!

made

It is so common for you to receive letters from England nowadays that this epistle of mine will have no distinction other than this: the writer has been one of the most enthusiastic and admiring of your readers (English or otherwise) since 1927, and has a collection of your magazines commencing with the Decem-

knows more about

anybody
else
.
. .

the illustration racket than

ber, 1926, issue.

and they're right!

Although

he used to be terribly "scribbly" he seems to be paying more attention to details now.

Another thing done my utmost

for almost
to

interest

my

as long I have friends and

strangers in Science Fiction, which I believe

January, 1935

AMAZING STORIES

137

to be the greatest force in modern literature, despite the fact that it is practically entirely neglected by British publishers a sin that I

about this co-ordination, and so enable us to achieve still greater things in the name of
science fiction.
I

your pioneer magazine

have also tried hard to rectify. It really amazes me, the large number of English readers' letters there are published in There must, I in 1934. believe, be thousands of Science Fiction "fans" in this country to-day, though when I myself became converted there were very few indeed. As secretary of the Ilford Science Literary Circle, which I formed some years ago with the object of furthering the movement, I communicated with a considerable number of these English readers, many of whom, in their turn, have now formed similar organizations, and, in

shall be glad to receive suggestions as to

how

mind)
all

best to go about this great, but (to my worthy task, not only from secre-

taries of the various existing bodies, but

from

many cases, much more successful ones. It me great pleasure, I can assure you, to see their letters in your journal from time to
affords
time.

English readers of science fiction. As one who has been actively identified with the movement in this country for some time, and has therefore acquired an extensive knowledge of the subject, I shall be pleased to render assistance, and do my share of the work that will have to be done. I will not dwell upon the subject of what things could be accomplished as the result of such a union, but appeal to you, Mr. Editor, to
expedite the publication of this letter, so that we can get on with the good work as soon as
possible.

But even if British publishers refuse to appreciate the existence of these fervid adherents of science fiction, British authors who have the ability necessary to write such engrossing material, have not been so asleep. I had the pleasure, some time ago, of making the acquaintance of Mr. J. M. Walsh, the gifted English writer of many excellent mystery stories, who, in the name of H. Haverstock Hill, recently contributed "The Terror Out of Space" to the columns of Amazing Stories. At that time, he was very anxious to write science fiction, but there was (and still Anyway, the is) little scope for it over here. British publishers' loss, in this respect, is your
gain.

For
science

have

no

doubt

that

all

English

fans will agree with me that much farther in unity than scattered state in which we now so hasten the time when science fiction will be no longer regarded in this country as something so out of the ordinary as to be
fiction

we

shall progress

in the loose,

exist,

and

beyond
ture.

all

serious

consideration,
place
in

deservedly prominent

and take a English litera-

Hoping to be deluged with letters, and trusting that we shall have the continued support of the first science fiction magazine. Amazing Stories, I remain,
Walter H.
136,
Gillings,

For Mr. Walsh was quick

that

to

seize

the
in

opportunities

presented

themselves

America.
there is John Russell Fearn, another English enthusiast who wrote to me a few words of encouragement when I first formed the

Balfour Road, Ilford, Essex, England.

Then

Science Circle here, and who has since blossomed out as an author in your columns and very successfully, too, judging by the complimentary letters you have published concerning his work. Yes, science fiction has made progress within these shores since I first became familiar with your earliest issues, seven years ago But there is one thing that has yet to be There are now many organizations done. scattered throughout England whose members are devout followers of the movement, but who have no means of knitting themselves together in order to further the cause of science fiction more swiftly and efficiently than they can do These numerous clubs some of separately. them an offshoot of American societies, some

have another letter from England largely touching on the subject of Science Fiction Societies in various countries. We do not doubt that this letter will bring you the desired result of correspondence from those interested
in such

(We

work

as yours.

Editor.)

Letter

from

Ao-tea-roa
the

the

Land of

Maoris

Editor,

Amazing

Stories:

About two years ago. my brother, who was perusing some of my short story manuscripts, inquired, "Why don't you have a pop at writing for 'Amazing Stories?'" (Do not be alarmed,
Mr.
Editor, I

am

not aspiring to contribute to

magazine.) "What your are Amazing Stories?" I asked in surprise, wondering how I could have missed anything of so interesting a nature as he appeared to regard that of the

self -centered,

and others

affiliated to bodies

Germany, France, and elsewhere could work much better if they were co-ordinated into one parent body, publishing its own official organ, by means of which they could keep in touch. My object in writing to you is to ask you to publish this request for secretaries of all British science fiction societies to communicate with me, to see if something cannot be done to bring

in

magazine. I bought two copies, and that is how I became acquainted with Amazing Stories. Now I await with the greatest of eagerness, the arrival of the next month's copy. I have

you

just received the February number, so see, we are late in getting them here, in the land of Ao-tea-roa, (the pretty Maori name for New Zealand, the interpretation being

only

"Long White Cloud.")

138
When

AMAZING STORIES
A

January, 1935

I see "Ama2ing Stories" in a stashop window, it seems to leap out from all the other magazines, owing to the unusual cover design. I hope you will always adhere tioner's

to that style.

Boy of Fifteen Summers Writes * Nice Letter with Only One Brickbat in It Editor, Amazing Stories: I have only read your magazine for a short time so perhaps this letter will head for the
waste-basket.
I

The February number was especially nice. Mr. Morey has done very well. The expression
on the Martian leader's face, being so enigmatical, that one could not resist turning to
"Terror out of Space" to discover that it is a story of merit. The author, Mr. H. Haverstock Hill, deserves all the kudos he must be receiving, as he seems to be a gentleman of culture and erudition. I am awaiting the next
instalments with great impatience. I like the stories best dealing

have read many magazines, Westerns, De-

tectives,

Sport and yours is the first Science Fiction one I have ever read. Among your authors I like Neil R. Jones,

W. K. Sonnemann,

P. S. Miller, A. H. Verrill,

"The Lost Dr. Keller and J. Lewis Burtt. City" and "The Master Minds of Venus" were
swell.

with

inter-

planetary travel and "time." I also like your Slogan, if I may call it so, "Extravagant Fiction To-day Cold Fact To-morrow." In fact
.

of 15 and I read Amazing Stories just for the Your October get out of the stories. cover design was terrible. I wonder if any of your readers living in or
I

don't

know much

science as I

am

but

thrill I

I like

The
PhX).,

everything about your mag. Editorial, by Dr. T. O'Conor Sloane, is always good, and gives the magazine
I

around

my home town would

send

me some

of

the old Quarterlies with covers, please.

real scientific standing.

For years

have read

very

little

fiction.

to

Now I think it a great relaxation, after reading say, Sir James Frazer's "Golden Bough," delve into the refreshing pages of your

most excellent magazine. There seems to be some controversy regarding the size, and the quality of paper used. What does it matter, when the quality of the contents is so readable, and the cover design
so artistic.
Besides, the smaller size
is

Jack Westerdahl, Route 5, Box 73, Tacoma, Washington. (This is a boy's letter and for a wonder it does not find fault with our humble efforts. Our comment on your criticism of the October cover we would like you to consider it implied, and to be as "terrible" as what you say about
it.EulTOB.)

We
If

Are Glad

to

Put This Very Nice Letter

Stories
:

easier

in Discussions

when reading in bed, in trains Although I must admit to a or tram cars. feeling of disappointment when I first viewed the new size, but I am one of those individuals who do not take too kindly to changes.
to manipulate
I think our Editor deserves great credit and our warmest thanks in compiling a monthly and quarterly of so high a standard as "Amazing

Editor.
again.

Amazing

you do not succeed at first, try and try This we were taught by our earnest

teachers at grammar school, hinted to us by high school instructors, in college and through

out

life

we

will

be confronted by situations

testing the strength of this motto.

It is good enough if you live long enough, and perhaps I may live to see the day when one of my letters worms its way through the pages of A. S. into the Discussions Columns. Oh, well, may be fate has its thumbs down on me. Maybe I'm one of those persons who unobtrusively slips through life ignored by all the Editors of A. S. & Company. October A. S. bettered September by a whole length. ate my way through the I Andes No. II like sulphuric acid. Darned good saga. "The Pool of Life' seemed very much like another tale I read in another mag. at first, but I changed my opinion at the end. Very good. "Eighty-five and Eighty-seven" too short all good things don't last. "Buried

Stories."

wishes to the Editor and Staff, also to the extremely large "family" of keen readers of our good old "Amazing Stories," the magazine, "par excellence." Kia-Ora. (Mrs.) Verbena E. Hayes, 577 Manukau Rd.,
best

With very

Epsom, S. ., 3, Auckland, New Zealand.

(This
in
is

a letter

from

New

Zealand.

It is

especially

interesting

as coming

from a lady

name of

a distant land, where the race of Maoris formerly held sway. The writer gives us the New Zealand in the Maori tongue and ends up with what we suppose are the
for
"sincerely yours."

in

Space"no

like,

odoriferous

in

extreme.

aboriginal words

The
intelli-

combination of good wishes and really

gent criticism gives the letter a true value and we always find that letters from the fair sex are especially pleasant reading for the much Of course criticized editor of a magazine.
criticism
It is

"The Moon Pirates" ended well (all's well that ends well) I didn't read the Editorial yet, but I bet it's good. I wish you would print
more about cryptography. Interesting stuff as well as useful. As a whole, I find A. S. in good health.
Camillo Massoni, 309 Maryland Avenue N. E..

in

from readers is part of the game. never resented as such when expressed what your "aid country" people call "good form". Editor.)

(We

Washington, D. C. are sorry that for some reason we have

January, 1935

AMAZING STORIES
You
the
it

139

not given you space in our discussions.

certainly write quite vividly
is

and amusing as it is really valuable from a standpoint of criticism. We shall certainly keep in mind what you say about cryptography. A great deal of work has been done on this subject and it is believed to be almost impossible to do cryptographic writing which cannot It is a comfort that you apbe deciphered. prove of the "health" of Amazing Stories.
Editor.)

about as

same language probably operates to increase friendship, but in Europe, Austria and Germany have been having a rather disagreeable time, although both have the one language. Editor,)

An

Interesting

Plea

for

Giving Reprints

Editor,

"A Place in the Sun" Amazing Stories

:

Although I have been a reader of Amazing Stories since Volume 1 Number 1 and have written several letters to the Discussions Column, they have been completely ignored. Do letters go into the waste basket without I have no typewriter? I would like to have my say on reprints for seems to be the main subject of discussion in your columns at the present time, have I ready an answer for all arguments

Pleasant Letter from a

Young Reader

(16 Years Old)

my

Editor,

Amazing

Stories:

being read because

that

have got around have been going to do my first A. S. Mag. it, ever since I bought last January. I have before me the October haven't missed a and I ''our" Mag. edition of In these I have single edition in between, read some good and some bad stories, here is
Well, well, well.

At

last I

to writing this letter.

against them.
First: The works of Poe and Verne can be found in any library. Now, my answer to that is I consider myself a very sincere S. F. fan, as much a fan as anyone else. Half of the "kick" I get out of

how
I
1.

would grade the most outstanding stories have read in A. S. since last January:
I

2.
3.

Terror out of Space. The Pool of Life.

it is

making a
I

collection of every bit of science

Moon

Pirates.

fiction

can lay

4. Triplanetary. 5. The Lost Language. 6. The Lost City. "Through the Andes" starts out very well. The best Science Fiction story that I have ever read however was in a 1933 A. S. that a It was a Professor Jameson friend lent me. Here's Series called "Into the Hydrosphere." hoping there are some more Prof, Jameson

afford.

returned.

my hands on or that I can book from the City Library must be While poking around in a secondrecently,
I

hand book store

Verne.

came across a very

nice looking set of the Complete

Works

of Jules

"How much
reply.

is

that?" I asked.

"Eighty dollars," was the very nonchalant

If the

works of Jules Verne

is

stories

soon.
all

at a time in

controversy about artists. Keep doing all right, he's O.K. editorials by T. O'Conor Sloane also. They make very interesting read-

Re

this

other excellent

Amazing Stories along new stories for a

given a little with many

quarter
it

Morey and Keep up

you'll be

seems to

me
:

the readers are getting something

those

for their money.

Second
Poe.

Most everyone has read Verne and

ing.

The greatest compliment I have for you however is that at last you have dropped those
sex advertisements. They were the only cheap thing in the "Mag." Keep up the good work. Although I am only sixteen, I am one of I the most enthusiastic customers you have. wouldn't miss an issue if I had to roll a peanut
all the way to the newsstand with my nose. Thanking you kindly for granting me this (if you do), in our Mag.

I believe the latest census reports placed the total population of the world at two billions or so. Now, how can one person or group of persons consider themselves of such importance among such a vast multitude?

Third: The stories of Poe, Verne (and Wells?) are old fashioned and smell of mothballs.

valuable space

Bill Doran, 836 Ouellette Ave., Windsor,

Ontario,

Where can a better, more original story be found than Verne's "A Purchase of the North Pole." Stories by the above authors may some of them be rather dry reading, but there are many people who enjoy real literature. The characters created by the old masters are real
people, but the heroes put into stories by many of the modern authors could not possibly survive the many hairbreadth escapes from death they go through. The law of averages says they can't. Thus, they are not real people. I am not taking in all of the newer writers in the

Canada. (Sixteen seems to be a critical age, for it has produced so many letters by readers of that age. This letter comes from Canada where we have recently arranged to publish our magazine for the benefit of residents in that country. It is rather a good example to the world that between us and Canada there are over two thousand miles of frontier entirely unfortified and yet neither country has the faintest idea of attacking the other. The fact that both speak

above.

As for the smell of moth balls I dug a copy of Well's "Time Machine" out of a trunk so I re-read it. I found the camphorish odor did not in any way diminish my enjoyment of it.

140
It

AMAZING STORIES

January, 1935

was certainly in a very well-preserved conGet it? Fourth: Give the living authors a chance to earn their bread and butter. Says I "If any living author turns out a story of merit that is not a rehash of plots originated by the dead authors he certainly should be able to sell it. If reprints will keep mediocre stories or just plain trash out of the S. F. mags, by all means give us reprints!" To those readers who might argue that back numbers of Munsey Publications, Science and Invention and Amazing Stories can be had. Most certainly they can hut let them pick out just one story in even as recent a mag as the first Amazing Stories and really try to get it. I have been quoted a price as high as $2.00 per copy of Vol. 1, Num. 1 of A. S. Then let him go still further back to bring together a complete serial in the old All-Story or Science & Invention. It is not a simple or a cheap task. To those fans who might say they do not care to make a collection of science fiction, I
dition, too

March, June, July, August and October. Covers missing, but reading matter complete. Also have March and April, 1929; part of the first stories missing 15 cents each. Also second part of "Skylark of Space" all there, but rest of magazine not there 15 cents.

Elvin Holley,

Box
Vaughn,

322,

New

Mexico.

Very Interesting Letter from an English Reader, with Suggestions and Criticisms

Editor,

Amazing
is

Stories

This though

the

first letter I

have written you,

al-

have been reading Amazing Stories

since the beginning of 1930.

It is going to be a long letter, but I hope it won't bore you too much. When something is being sent about 4,000 miles (a fiftieth of a light second) (which doesn't sound much) you might as well send plenty. I am writing to ask you to publish an English edition of A. S. I have about 50 friends who are all S. F. fans, and they all agree with me. If this were the days of the Chartists, I would send you a petition, but it ain't (where's Miss Robb). They grumble about the Quarterly being late over

suggest that they try it. Not just to save their new mags, but to try to collect those back numbers. It is really a very fascinating game. Any spent on back numbers now will realize a profit if at any time the fan decides to give up collecting.

money

where you

I am heartily in favor of the three serials running in each issue for the reasons set forth by Mr, Cahendon in the August Discussions. To those who argue they must wait too long between installments let them wait until they have the complete serial.

didn't

are, but here we've only had one Quarterly on the bookstalls during the last fifteen months. The July and August numbers come over to England I hear from the

bookstalls,

and from what

I've read, I've sure

They
stories

will then say that

two or

three short

is not enough reading to last a whole month. Anyone with common sense can see four part serials are runif three or ning at once, one of them is almost bound end in each issue so if he reads 60 pages of short stories and about 25 pages for each installment of the complete serial he will have read about 140 pages which is about the size of any one issue of Amazing Stories.

that

to

missed something. The February number was a fortnight late. Imagine six weeks again between the Triplanetary instalments. I've still got to wait a week for the third instalment, while you finished it and also "Terror Out of Space" which looks promising. I'm sure an A. S. magazine would be extraordinarily popular in England. Recently a new practical science magazine has started up over here. They
sold 100,000 copies of the first number in a week. All S. F. fans read it as it gives developments in science, I'm just showing how popular an English S. F. magazine would be and the sooner the better. I had a bad shock when I saw your surprise was a reduction in size to the present shape. But still, it's the stories that count, though I shall be pleased when you return to the larger size. I know how bad the trade has been hit over in the U. S. A., but I have just heard the weather forecast. It said "a depression moving slowly over Iceland," so perhaps it has left America. With the exception of January, 1933, the first S. F. mag. with a decent cover, I've enjoyed every A. S. I've read. That January number though, it had as much science in it as could be written on your little finger nail. What with the new cover, I looked again to see if I had A. S. or what. But the stuff since has been the goods. Keep up the standard and you will have 50 faithful English readers even if the magazine becomes a pamphlet. Den'l have any reprints, I've missed whs*

Arthur Jones,

Jr.,

2717 Santa Clara Way, Sacramento, California.

(So much has been said against the publication of reprints in Amazing Stories that it seems quite odd to receive so long a letter approving warmly of their publication. Just for the present we do not anticipate giving any reOne prints, or possibly one in the near future. magazine of very high grade published in this One thing we city gives nothing but reprints. do observe about your letter is that it is well thought out and you know what you want to say and express it very well. Editor.)
Copies of Amazing Stories for Sale Covers Missing
Editor,
I

Amazing

Stories:

have the following Amazing Stories for 1929: January, March, October and December. 1930: January, March, June and July. 1931: October. 1932: January.
sale at 25 cents each.

January, 1935

AMAZING STORIES
years to the good old year of 1934

141
when
I

must be good stories including most of the Skylark series, but its not fair to other readers. I wish I could get those back numbers, but by the time I've written, the offers have gone. I would like some nice considerate A. S. fan to save me the back numbers he wants to sell and let me know all about them. I hope I haven't been too blunt but I would like to see A. S. rise to its pinnacle of last
Spring.
S. R.

read

my

first

Amazing.

remember

the September,

1934

issue.

My

favorite story in that issue

was

"Master Minds of Venus," by W. K. Sonneman. I often fee! that were it not for A. S. we would not have space travel now. Well,

now

I'll

close,

but

I'll

write again in another

forty years.

Steve Reckerd,
1139 So. 6th Street,

Kahan.

Terre Haute,
Ind.
certainly given us some good material and we hope, when you do start for Mars, that you will have a few copies of Amazing Stories to give to Martian readers, especially if, like Venus, this planet has "master minds." suppose that we may assume that we have your thanks for having shown you the way to interplanetary travel.

317 Queen's Road, Upton Park,

(W. K. Sonneman has

London E.
(The writer of
mentary
regularly.
this
letter
is

13,

England.

must remember
really a supple-

that our so-called quarterly

publication

which

does

not

appear

We

A
It

great

many of our

readers say

that they like the small size, as it fits in the pocket and is better adapted for the ordinary

Editor.)

sometimes seems that we have so many readers that whatever we do it will please some and displease others. We are very much interested in noting that the English reader seems to be waking up to the value of
bookcase.
the

Very Friendly Letter with an Enigmatical

Ending

Editor,

Amazing

Stories:
I

type

of

literature

which we

publish.

With your permission

to Senfior Carlos

would

like to reply letter ap-

Editor. )

Diaz Koller whose

Another Young Critic Gives

Editor,

Us

His Views

Amazing

Stories

There once was a time when I didn't have respect for "our mag" as it is sometimes Those times were when you printed such stories as "Borneo Devils" and also many

much

peared in your October, 1934, issue. It seems that friend Koller has taken the viewpoint that we are a bunch of "writing nuts." To the contrary, Senor, we are not to be classed as "nuts" but as true lovers of Science
Fiction and

called.

Amazing

Stories.

more

of that type.

Those were best suited for

Certainly you could not find a greater or truer lover of Science Fiction than Forrest J.

the cheaper "dime" novels.

Ackerman. Mr. Ackerman

and
I

At
in

present you print none of these stories.

"Amazing
petitor has

Stories" has improved very much the past year or so while your chief com;

is a friend of mine that he writes his letters with real interest at heart. Interest in Amazing Stories,

know

improved

little.

Please don't print any more of Verne's or There is no need to say more because almost all of the readers say the same thing. I can't say much about the Editorial, because there are many different opinions. I would enjoy corresponding with another reader in the same mood. I am 17 years of age. "Peek" Albrecht,
Poe's stories.

not in being a "master of the pen." Mr. Koller speaks of "persistency" on our parts; the few letters that I have had the honor of having published were not the result of persistency, Doctor Sloane will vouch for
this I

am When I
it

sure.
sit

down and pound out a

letter to

A. S.
that

is

like writing to

all

editors

appreciate criticism

a friend, I know (Doctor Sloane not excluded) and kindly suggestions and
reading

Route No.

2,

comments from
this

their readers, by this, and only

Poulsbo, Wash. (We do not agree with you on your criticism of the story entitled "Borneo Devils." It impressed us as being "Kiplingesque" and we certainly enjoyed
it

can

they

determine what their

public desires.

a great deal.

To formulate

good opinion about the writing of Editorials, treating science popularly, you should try writing one yourself.

Perhaps Mr. Koller will admit that he has judged us "nuts" a bit too harshly, please understand that our letters are not written for the mere purpose of self-glorification, nor to

We

"different opinions"

have not seen the many which yon mention at the

Editor.)

name in print. They are written to help the Science Fiction Cause by lending our views and helpful suggestions. C'est tu.
see our

end

of

your

letter.

Fred Anger,
2700 Webster Street, Berkeley, California.

A
I

Editor,

Letter from the "Space Lauding Field" from a Traveler to Mars Amazing Stories:
fitting in the "space port" at

(You speak of pounding out a

and
as
it

letter to A. S., certainly is writing to a friend, as you

it.

am

New York

expressed
well

We

want

to be told of our faults

wilting for the 12:10 Earth-Mars space liner and reminiscing back over a period of forty

as of our merits,

for there

are

lots

of both.

Like everybody

else authors

and edi-

142

AMAZING STORIES

January, 1935

There is a theory tors must fall by the way. which is really a good one to the effect that a person who never makes a mistake is far from
cannot imagine a writer who develops fiction of the type which we want The not making some mistakes in his work. Amazing Stobies watches out for these mistakes, with the firm conviction
interesting.

have found that the types of story which appeals most to me are the ones dealing with prehistoric times, and adventures far below the
surface of the earth. The best authors in my opinion of this type of story are A. Hyatt Verrill and Edgar Rice Burroughs. Verrill's "Through the Andes" starts out
excellently.

We

Editorial staff of
that

have put in your consome escape us. eluding French sentence as you wrote it. wonder if you meant, C'est tout?Editor.)

We

We

Favorable Criticism of Recent Storiei The Larger Size Preferred Editor, Amazing Stobies: I have noticed an improvement in the stories in the past two issues of Amazing Stobies. This is gratifying indeed and I only hope this

You have published only two of Burroughs novels, namely "The Land That Time Forgot" and "Master Mind of Mars." I enjoyed these stories immensely. Why not reprint more of Burroughs' works. There are many to chose from, and I am sure they would be well received.

John Lemberakes,
54 North Willow Street, Trenton, New Jersey.

change for the better continues. 'The Pool of Life" I found so fascinating I could not lay the magazine down until the
story

was completed.
and
is

Come

often,

Mr.
by

Miller.

"Eighty-five

Eighty-seven"

Eando

(This letter speaks for itself and we are always glad to publish simple criticisms and comments on the work of those whom we call our authors. Editor.)

lished in ages.
in

of the Plenty of science, but written such a way that the story was not at all text-bookish and dull. I demand a sequel. "Through the Andes" is turning out to be the

Binder

one

best shorts you have pub-

Editor,

Comments on a Number of Our Stories Amazing Stories: The August cover of Amazing Stories wao

The type of story I remember Verrill for. The fault characters certainly are interesting. with a good many science fiction authors is the
fact that they do not pay enough attention to characterizatioa "Moon Pirates" ended quite happily.

not quite so august nor amazing. It would have been much better as an inside illustration. Morey has fallen down lately. A good cover with plenty of scientific apparatus and exciting action has not graced the cover for a long time. If Morey would only draw another

"Buried
nice ihort.

in

Space" by Lawrence Smith was a

* *
* *

cover like the one for "The Lady of Light." The Editorials continue to be interesting. "Life Everlasting" was great, superb, and marvelous. Keller are masterpieces.
excellent.
is

master.
the

His

stories

you could use a smoother finished paper, the print would be much cleaner and easier to read. The covers would show up better if a more glossy cover paper were used. I hope that you do return to larger size at the beginning of the next volume as it will be the
If

repeat,

story

was

"The Velocity of Escape" was excellent. Skidmore is swell. The story was well written and exciting. I expect a sequel soon. Morey's
illustration

for

this

story

was a great im-

beginning of Amazing Stories' tenth year. Please correct your volume numbers to read Vol. 10, No. 1, with the April, 1935, issue instead of Vol. 9, No. 12. You skipped an issue last year and there should have been but 11

provement.
Stanton A. Coblentz came through again with his "In the Footsteps of the Wasps." The is not absolutely new, but was written well enough to cover his point. Coblentz's style is
idea
truly enjoyable.

You can still make issues in the 8th volume. the correction by having but 11 issues in the 9th volume.
Jack Darrow, 4224 N. Sawyer Ay., Chicago,
III.

"North God's Temple" was very good. expected something different though.
terplanetary

"Shot into Space" was also very good. Instories are still welcome. The
still

idea of space-voyaging
tion for me.

retains its fascinastory.

(You are

right in your remarks concerning

"Photo Control" was a good

It

had

They are the characters in Verrill's story. drawn with unusual skill and could well be studied by story tellers. As regards the size of the magazine there's no telling what the future

me
odd.

guessing.
It

The termination was certainly was the last thing I expected to

happen.

may

bring forth.

Editor.)

The September Amazing Stories cover was much better.. However there is still much
room
for improvement.

A
I

Note on Our Best Authors and on

Editorial O. K.

Editor,

Some Stories Amazing Stories:

The two serials promise to be good. "The Plutonian Drug" was good. I wouldn't
ghost with Clark Ashton Smith, I would not have the ghost of a chance.
like
to play

have one hundred and two Amazing Stohes on hand and have read them alL I

January, 1935

AMAZING STORIES
also

143
though I have read them however, does not leave

The much

"The Master Minds of Venus'* was excellent. story was interesting, well written, and
to

swell

even

before.

One

thing,
:

my

Hieing.

my mind
no

"The Beam" was very good, although the

After all a human is science seemed faulty. not a yeast cell and does not reproduce by
fission.

that longer considered as the best

at rest
is,

That

Democracy is form of gov-

"The Barrier" was O. K.

done
better.

Harl Vincent has

ernment by most of the learned people. Please give us some more humor (d la Bob Olsen) in the stories. When reading "The Fourth Dimensional Auto-Parker," the rest of the
family thought I was nuts because of such frequent bursts of laughter. Until this letter appears in print. I am John W. E. Griemsmann, 8725 98th Street,

Amazing

"The Molecule Trapper" was very good. Now for some advisory hints. The title, Stories on the CQver, should be changed to the old comet tail. Its reminiscent of the magazine, and can be noticed more
easily on the stands.

(There

is

Woodhaven, New York. one section of our magazine which,

that
is

Peel Marietta, 5873 Woodcrest Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. (The August cover of Amazing Stories has been greatly admired. I>r. Keller certainly distinguished himself in this relation. feel that it is one of his best. He certainly has a wonderful knack of writing, if we may so As a leading authority on psyexpress it. chotherapy, fairly standing at the head of his profession, he is peculiarly fitted to write such

Raymond

and somewhat extended number of letters from our readers which are put in with very few alterations, but practically word for word as they
in a sense, takes care of itself

the

We

a story as "Life Everlasting." You speak of there being room for improvement in our covers ; there are very few things in this world
in

which there

is

no room

for that.

The

trouble with changing the letters of the title on the cover is that there is hardly room for the old inscription. Editor.)

our read by many whose knowledge of science is very elementary and we rarely feel that the simpler facts of science appear too often in our stories. Editorially, we wish they appeared more often. You will get a lot more from Bob Olsen who is a fast friend of Amazing Stories, and you are only one of many readers who are quite devoted to this writer. How you could object to the few lines about the breathing of fishes was as deep a mystery to the Editor as is the breathing of fishes to him. Editor.)
realize that

write them.
zine
is

You must

maga-

Letter with a Nice Bit of Humor at the End Editor, Amazing Stories Although I am a constant reader of your I magazine, I have never written before. find the comments on the stories very interesting, but f have a suggestion which I and
:

A Very Nice Letter We Have Learned

Editor,
I

from the Continent

to Call

"Aussie"

Amazing
is

Stories:
the
first

think this

you or your Mag.

The

first

time I have written time I read a copy

was some years

Comments others may find more interesting. in "Discussions" heretofore have been mainly based on the literary value of the stories. My
suggestion is to devote a few pages to discuss the science involved or connected with A. S. In these few pages "extravagant fiction" could
be made to seem more realistic, and scientific puzzling the minds of the readers question Another reason for the could b^ expounded.
including of these pages is that the literary value of the stories would be improved. scientific facts in the stories are sometime clutter up the they interesting, story and detract from the emotional interest. And if the beloved editor allows me, let me

ago, the "Skylark Three" was running at the time, then I lost sight of it again only to see it recently and now, more of

them. "Tn'planetary" was one of the best I have read, will Ed. Smith write another yarn around the same characters in the near future? about the "Posi and Nega'* stories, will there be some more? Give us a reprint of the "Skylark" series, I missed part of them but what I read was very interesting. Here's wishing you the best in storiei.

And

jack Abraham,
91

Australia Street,

Although the

Camperdown,
Sydney,
Australia.

P.

S- In

anticipation
is

say

that the

trifling

since

work on many of

answered by the

these pages would be the questions could be authors of the stories and

the Lost City, year.

of your next issue, about the best I have read this

J.

A.

readers who are versed in Technics. This is just a suggestion, but I think it is a practical There is just one test; that is, to get the And now, for other opinions of the readers. That "Fall Quarterly" is a wow. I things. enjoyed everything in the issue except the "Breathing of Fishes," and 1 especially enjoyed "The Sunken World." "Barton's Island," "The
one.

(We always get nice letters from the distant side of our terrestrial globe. do not

We

expect a planetary

of Dr. Smith's interPosi and Nega are still travelling, you will hear from them soon. The author of The Second Deluge is dead. have doubts as to reprinting the Skylark stories.
story.

continuation

We

It

Malignant Entity," and "Radio Robbery" were

is a real compliment and pleasure to hear from a reader at 155' east longitude. Editor.)

144

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