l\CIUI\ll Ur Jl nut\u By CHESTK S.

GOER
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 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES 3

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 JANUARY 1949

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WILLIAM B. XUT THE EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

Chairman of the Board By The Editor 6
and Publisher
THE MELANCHOLY DANE
By Carter T. Wainwright 63

AMULETS AND TALISMANS

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IT WAS BRILLIG
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RETURN OF THE DEAD

By Cal Webb
READER’S PAGE
By, The Readers

Front cover painting by Robert Gibson Jones, illustrating

a scene from "The Return of Sinbed."

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 VOLUME 11 NUMBER 1

All £tvu&i, Gampheie,

9®000000000000000000®00000000000<j00000000000000000*00000000000
THE RETURN ©F SINBAB (Novel—31,000) by Chester S. Geier 8

Illustrated by Bill Terry

A giant bird swooped out of the sky over Bagdad — and carried Bade to a land of enchantment

THE DEVIL ©F BOOM (Novelette— 12,000) ,by A. Morris 64

Illustrated by Bill Terry ,

Mota gloated from his throne — for would not Talet soon die in the pit of the giant toad? . . .

THE CAN ©PENES (Short— 7,000) by Rog Phillips 86

Illustrated by T. E. Willis

It was a simple little- gadget, made for opening cans—without puncturing them, of course . . .

*
I

THE HAMMER ©N THE MOON (Novelette— 10,000) .. . .by Charles Reeour 98

Illustrated by Malcolm Smith

Jim Benton piloted the first space ship to the Moon, and found it inhabited — by Earthmenl . . .

THAT GUY, SATAN, SENDS ME! (Novelette— 10.000) by George Reese 118

Illustrated by Brad Pendleton

Slim and the Devil got along famously. And why not? Hot music was made to order — in hell!

\ \
UNFORESEEN (Short—5,500) by Roger P. Graham 136

Illustrated by Julian Krupa '

The robots were built for one purpose: with mankind doomed, somebody had to live on . . .

»*ee®oooa*®oooc»ee®eeo«eeeeeeaeeeeeeeoeeeeeeee®»eoooo®oooooo8oo
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£
 OR & long time now you’ve been after us Rog came through 'with a really neat idea story,

F
begin to count
to get Chet Geier
a new novel.
all
on the ball and produce
As a matter of fact, we can’t
mak-
the letters you’ve sent us
with a nice twist ending that will really smack
you.

ing that request. Well, we want to say that we

/CHARLES RECOUR has been turning out some
went work and told Chet to get busy
right to really fine stories for our companion maga-
with that magic pen of his. And did we get re- zines, Amazing Stories and Mammoth Western,
sults Take another good look at the cover for
I
Remember his “That We May Rise Again ."? . .

this month. Terrific, huh? You said it! And. And if you haven’t been, reading Mammoth West-
there it is, right smack in front of you, “The Re- ern you are a whale of a lot of
certainly missing
turn of Sinbad,” by Chester S. Geier. Shall we fine by the same writers you praise so
fiction

tell you what it’s all about? Well, maybe not highly in FA. (Plug for the best western maga-
exactly that, for we wouldn’t think of spoiling zine on the newsstands!) Anyway, Chuck re-
this novel for you, but the very title should give turns this month with a swell novelette, “The
you, more than a rough idea of what kind of a Hammer on the Moon.” It’s a story of the first
story Chet penned. Sinbad— the "Arabian Nights” flight of a rocket ship to the Moon. You say
—adventure—mystery—magic—^romance, and ev- this has been done before? Sure it has but hot —
ery other word you can possibly think of to de- like this story. We guarantee that Recour ap-
scribe a ’tale laid in that mythical land. Only . . .
plied a neat twist to a current idea that is being
Chet seems to think that maybe Sinbad wasn’t so talked about in newspapers all over the country.
much of a myth after all! 0.k., that’s enough But you can decide that for yourself. . . .

to whet your appetite. Now sit back and get set

for some mighty enjoyable reading. And when 'T'HIS month we present a newcomer to the
A pages of FA. His name is George Reese, and
you finish the story, be sure and drop us a line
and let us' know how you liked it. he presents a novelette entitled, “That Guy,
Satan, Sends Me!” You’ll get a lot of laughs out
TXTE’RE also glad to welcome back another old of Reese’s yarn, and
you’ll do quite a bit of
’ "
favorite this month. A. Morris, who has been traveling —from heaven to hell in one quick trip!
an all. too infrequent contributor lately, returns The story concerns a character who is nuts about
with 'a swell novelette, entitled, “The Devil of swing music. Well, when he
dies and .finds him-
Doom.” This is a story of strange people on a self in heaven, only natural that he wants
it is

strange world. It’s a story of evil cunning forces
pitted against a pirate of the spaceways. You
think that sounds a little peculiar? Well, this
pirate wasn’t the conventional type. You might
even call him a sort of “Robin Hood” instead.
And what happened to him when he was captured
by “The Devil” is what will make this a swell
piece of reading. You’ll like
D OG PHILLIPS is always big news, so the
next story we’ll mention will really be a
treat. Rog walked .in the other day and asked
. possible for perfection to exist as a by-product
us if we thought a simple can opener was any-
thing out of the ordinary. We knew he had a
reason for we answered by saying,
asking, so
“Not the kind we use, Rog.” Well, Phillips
grinned and laid a story on our desk entitled,
“The Can Opener.” So naturally we sat back
and read it. When we finished we had to admit
to join a heavenly band. And that’s where his
troubles start. Exactly where they end is some-
thing you’ll have to find -oiit for yourself
'T'lNiSHING up the issue is a great new story
A by top favorite Roger P. Graham. If you’ve
been a fan of Graham’s, you already know that
it. he has a habit of coming up with unique stories.
This new one, “Unforeseen,” is no exception. The
idea behind it is simple enough: Since man as a
human, is not a product of perfection, then, is it
of man’s intelligence? Using that as a theme,
Roger presents a scientist who created a perfect
robot that not only resembled man, but bad a
mind and will of its own. The problem facing
the scientist was a great, one, however, because
—
the robot oops, we nearly spoiled everything
O-k., you can take over from there. . Which . .

that a can opener— at least the kind Rog meant’— just about winds up shop for this month. So
could be unusual. You don’t know what we’re
. keep your eye peeled for next month’s issue.
talking about? Well don’t let that stop you, turn You’ll find some great yams waiting for you
to page 86 and start reading. We’ll just say that we’re preparing them right now! WLH
 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES 7

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 The Return Of Sinbad
by Chester S. Geier

Only ©ne man could thwart the evil

plans of Meznlr, so the mighty Roc hurtled
through space and time in quest of— Sinbad

HE tiny sportster winged its way

T swiftly
blue sky,
through the cloudless
its metal surfaces glint-

ing in the hot sunlight. Seated easily

before the controls of the plane, Single-
ton Bade glanced through the cabin
windows at the desolate terrain below.
The monotony of the desert remained
unbroken, a sea of sand that .flowed
around occasional outcroppings of
bleached rock, stretching flat and bare
to the horizon. Bade’s reaction to the
scene was a wry grimace. After two
years in Iraq, he’d had quite enough of
desert landscapes. He thought briefly,
wistfully, of Oklahoma and Texas, back

Sinbad lunged forward, his fist thudding against Yusuf's bearded jaw,
while the sla
10 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

in the distant United States, where he he had taken' the oil company job in
had obtained much of his experience as Iraq. As a boy he had saturated him-
an oil well engineer. self in the glamorous tales of the Ara-
With an impatient gesture, Bade bian Nights, and their enchantment had
pushed his shapeless felt hat back on his never left him. Bagdad, scene of many
dark hair and leaned forward to peer of the tales, had become as revered by
through the windshield. Dark-lensed him as is Mecca by the devout Moslem.
glasses protected his eyes from the daz- Nor had he ever been able to escape
zle of sunlight on the sportster’s engine the feeling that there was some sort of a
cowling. bond between the city, certain tales in
Far ahead, intersecting his line of the Arabian Nights, and himself—
was a long dark line. That would
flight, bond of which his very name seemed a
be the Euphrates, he decided. Bagdad, link. His intimates often shortened his
the objective of his trip, lay some sev- first name, Singleton, to “Sin,” and in

enty miles beyond. combination with his last name, the

Bade’s hawkish, spare features,
burned almost black by the sun, wrin-
kled in a frown. A visit to Bagdad was
welcome enough, but the whole flight
wouldn’t have been necessary if the
supply plane hadn’t failed to arrive.
Because of defective equipment, much
precious oil was going to waste back at
camp. He had radioed the Bagdad
headquarters of the American oil com-
pany with which he was employed, and
he had been told that a plane with the
necessary replacements would be dis-
patched at once. But the plane had . He peered around him in bewilderment.
failed to put in an appearance. And to
make matters worse, the radio at camp
had been damaged in an accident, leav-
ing Bade with no recourse but to fly to
Bagdad, to find out what ,was wrong.
He was glad he had insisted that a
private plane be put at his disposal
against just such an eventuality.
Glancing at the chronometer on the
instrument panel, Bade figured quickly.
He would arrive in Bagdad in another
half hour or so. It was not too soon to
satisfy him, though heknew the jour-
ney would have taken much longer by
automobile.
He realized his impatience was due
the fascination that the famous old city
had always held for him. This fascina-
tion was one of the main reasons why
whole required little effort of the im-
agination to become “Sinbad.” Even
his appearance had a strong Arabian
quality, for he was lean, dark, and
hawkish of features. He had often
been mistaken for an Arab, especially
since he had learned to speak Arabic
like a native.
TDADE was jolted from his musing as
a shadow suddenly darkened the
interior of the plane. It vanished al-
most as soon as he became aware of it.
There were no clouds. Only another
plane could have thrown such a shadow,
but
The interior of the cabin darkened
again.
Bade leaned toward the windshield,
peering upward. His body stiffened in
amazement. The object casting the
shadow was neither a plane, nor a
cloud. It was an enormous bird —
bird fully as large as a bombing craft!
The monster soared some fifteen or
twenty feet above 'Bade’s sportster,
moving effortlessly and yet with a speed
greater than that of the plane. It swept
to past, then curved around in a great
half-circle that would take it over the
sportster once more.
.Staring alternately through the wind-
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 11

shield and side windows, Bade incred- It was more than merely curious about
ulously followed the flight of the huge the plane. Evidently it -saw in the
bird. He had a nightmarish sensation sportster an enemy or rival whose very
of unreality. Never before had he seen existence was a challenge to combat.
anything like this impossible creature With mighty surges of its huge wings,
gliding on vast wings through the air. the roc overtook the plane
/ —passed it.

He had never even known that such a To Bade the monster’s speed seemed
giant existed —
except in one place. In incredible. He wondered how fast it

the Arabian Nights. could fly when

put forth real effort.
it

But Arabian Nights ,

this wasn’t the
he told himself. This was modern Iraq.
And in modern Iraq were no such things
as flying carpets and magic lamps, no
such things as Genies or Efrits or
rocs, one of the mythical winged crea-
tures which the monstrous bird seemed
to be.
Yet Bade knew he was gazing at
something that couldn’t be a delusion.
The feathered colossus was solid and
In the next instant he returned his
attention frantically to the controls.
The roc had wheeled again. It was
coming directly at the sportster now, its
— clawed feet raised to seize and rend.
Bade sent the plane into an abrupt
dive that took it beneath the roc and
then beyond as he leveled out. The
evasive tactics of the plane seemed to
enrage the feathered giant. It beat
furiously at the air as it turned to fol-

substantial enough to have cast a low, its great curved beak open, its huge
shadow. eyes flaming.
Bade tensed as the monster returned
toward the plane. Its huge head was /T^NCE again it attacked, and once
cocked to one side, and the eye that was again Bade slipped the sportster
visible seemed to glitter with an amaze- from within reach. Anxiety was deep-
ment as great as Bade’s own. Then the ening within him. He knew he couldn’t
cabin darkened as the bird glided by keep up his flight indefinitely. The
overhead. plane hadn’t been built to take pro-
Again it approach the plane
circled to longed rough handling.
— but now it dipped down to the level The attacks grew swifter, more reck-
at which the sportster was flying. less. Lines of strain gouged Bade’s
Abrupt dismay surged through Bade as face as he fought to keep the plane from
he noted the maneuver. Was this the contact with the maddened roc’s huge
prelude to an 'attack? beak and talons.
He didn’t wait to find out. Settling And then, darting under a particu-
himself quickly before the controls, he larly swift rush, Bade found he hadn’t
sent the sportster climbing upward, been fast enough. The spinning pro-
revving the engine to obtain every bit of pellerbrushed against one of the roc’s
available speed. In his mind he began clawed feet, crumpling into a useless
raking over the dogfighting tricks he mass. .

had learned as a pursuit pilot during Dismay gripped Bade with an icy
the war. hand. Then, as the sportster started to
The roc —Bade found himself think- go into a spin, he began working des-
ing of the huge bird by that term- perately to glide the craft down to a
wheeled sharply to follow the sport- landing.
ster’s altered path.There seemed little The bite of the propeller apparently
doubt about the giant’s intentions now. had registered upon the roc, startling
12 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES
it out of its anger. The creature
no immediate move toward the plane.
It flew in great slow circles, watching
the sportster descend.
Bade was relieved to note that the roc
had temporarily abandoned the strug-
gle. He gave his full attention to land-
ing the plane. Hunched tensely before
the controls, he fought to bring the craft
down on a long He knew that a
slant.
crack-up was unavoidable. The sand
here was too loose to permit the wheels
to roll. All he could do was to slow the
sportster as much as he possibly could.
To Bade’s anxious eyes, the ground
seemed to. come up much too
He felt the wheels touch the sand and
then dig in. He twisted sidewise in the
seat, crouching, one hand pressed
against the floor. The nose of
dipped, touching the sand.
assembly reared into the air. For a
moment it seemed that the craft would
turn a complete somersault, but then it
slipped heavily to one side, the wing
folding back with a tearing and rending
of metal. '
Bruised and shaken, Bade climbed
from the wreck. He surveyed the re-
mains of the sportster bitterly and then
glanced up at the sky.
The roc was still circling. It had
descended for a closer view of the
ground, and its great eyes seemed to
stare at Bade in astonishment,
wondering in what Weird manner the
plane had gorged him up.
Bade shook a vengeful fist at the
monster. “You overgrown buzzard!”
he said. “What I wouldn’t give for an
anti-aircraft now!”
gun right
In another moment he- wished he
hadn't spoken, for'as though drawn by
the soundcof his voice, the roc began
gliding down toward him. It came with
what seemed express train speed, grow-
ing larger instant by instant.
Bade turned wildly and began
made knowing even as he did so how hopeless
the effort was. He heard the beat of.
mighty wings, saw the sand darken un-
der his straining legs. And then a pair
of scaly clawed feet that were each as
large as the scoops ,of a steam shovel
closed around, his body. He felt him-
self lifted from the ground, drawn up
and up with a swiftness that made his
.
mind reel. The earth fell away. The
'wrecked sportster below him dwindled
to the proportions of a toy. Smaller
and smaller it grew, until it became only
a speck against the vast, flat expanse
of the desert.
swiftly. And still the mighty wings threshed
at the air. Bade fought for breath in
thewind that rushed past him, rocking
under the surges of giant muscles.
the plane Faster and faster higher and
. . .
The tail higher. Bade had wondered how fast
the roc was able to fly. Now he knew.
But the immediate fact of what was tak-
ing, place left no room for astonishment.
There was no room even for ordered
thought. Bade gasped and choked in a
roaring cataract of air that seemed to
hammer at him -with hurricane force.
His senses blurred under the numbing
thrust of the frightful speed at which he
was being borne. Earth and sky melt-
ed into a vague, spinning chaos. He
had the sickening impression that he
was falling, falling endlessly, whirling
as. if around and around like a feather in the
grip of a cyclone.
Faster, still faster , . a roaring and
a rushing of tremendous winds ... a
grayness without form or feature that
yet was somehow instinct with life,
pulsing, flowing, echoing to the throb
and thunder of momentous events. Be-
yond that grayness civilizations that
had been dust flowered, anew; voices
thathad been stilled clamored again.
Dimly, through the flame-shot dark-
nessfilling his mind, Bade sensed this.
to run, Dimly he understood. Then an im-
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 13

mense black hand seemed to snatch roc’s flighttaken him through space, or
away his last remnant of consciousness. through something else something
. . .

that might have been time ? Impos-

CHAPTER II sible as the idea appeared, it was the
only one that explained the presence of
CLOWLY Bade became aware of sun- the huge bird in modern Iraq.
light pressing like warm fingers up- Thought of the monster made him
on his closed eyes. He opened them, scan the cloudless blue sky uneasily. No
then closed them quickly against a flood moving objects were visible, but he was
of brightness that bit like acid. Pres- only partially reassured. He turned to
ently, goaded by his sharpening aware- the rocky peak behind him, saw it
ness, he sat up. wouldn’t be difficult to scale, and made
He glanced about him, questions be- his way over to the rock-littered base.
stir in his mind. He saw that
ginning to He began to climb. Reaching the crest,
he had been laying upon a stretch of he shaded his eyes with one hand and
sand, near the base of a rocky peak. peered about him.
-Before him the sand sloped down to an He saw now that he was situated
expanse of white beach, against which upon a tiny island. It was rocky, cov-
long, lazy waves of blue water broke \ ered with a sparse growth of grass and
gently. palm trees. He could find no signs of
Shock pulled him staggeringly up- human habitation, nor did the roc seem
right. Water! A great sea of it, spread- to be present. A
dread struck him at
ing to the horizon 1 The sight didn’t the knowledge that he was hopelessly
make sense. His last impressions marooned. There appeared to be no
seemed to be those of a desert. There way off the island. He would be at the
had been no body of water this size any- roc’s mercy if it returned and he felt—
where near. certain it would. Even if he did man-
And then full memory returned. He age to escape the monster, the problem
recalled being forced down in the sport- of food and water made his future a
ster as the result of a weird duel with bleak one.
an enormous bird that couldn't possibly Trying to shake off his forebodings,
have existed anywhere but in certain Bade searched the sky again. He
Arabian legends. Yet the bird the roc — stiffened as he saw something that
— had been real enough. It had taken hadn’t been visible before. It was a
him captive, carrying him through the tiny black shape, little more than a
sky with frightful speed. He remem- speck against the blue, but growing
bered the experience with the sense Of swiftly larger. Within instants, it

unpleasantness and confusion that one seemed, the shape took on recognizable
remembers a nightmare. outlines. It was the roc, Bade became
In a vague yet insistent way, Bade positive, returning to the island. Re-
felt there had been something strange membering the incredible speed at
and incredible about the flight. He which the giant bird was able to fly, he
thought of the pulsing, vibrant grayness knew it would arrive very soon.
through which he had passed, and some- His spare face grimly anxious,
how he was certain it had been due to Bade hastily descended the peak, slid-
more than just the effect of speed and ing to a stop among the debris strewn
pressure upon his senses. A chill of along the base. He sent his eyes dart-
awed wonder touched him. Had the ing about him. He had to find a hiding
14 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

place of some kind. Quite probably Het guided himself for-'

of the interior.
the rochad brought him here to make a ward by running his palms along the
meal of him, and he didn’t feel in a , walls on either side.
co-operative mood. The cleft abruptly widened into what
could only have been a cave. Not until
TTE BEGAN running along the peak then did Bade feel safe. He drew a
base, slipping repeatedly in the deep breath and glanced back toward
loose rubble. The ground abruptly rose the opening.
in a steep slope. He thought of skirting The cleft was darkened by the huge
it, but decided it was safest to remain shape of the roc. Head cocked to one
close to the peak. He climbed hurrie'd- side, a glittering eye visible, the
ly. Near the top a rock turned under feathered' giant was peering intently
his foot. Clutching for balance at a within. There seemed something anxi-
stone projection that tore free in his ous and impatient about the creature.
grasp, he went rolling down the slope For some strange reason it showed no
in a small avalanche of sand and anger over Bade’s escape.
pebbles. Nor did Bade wonder about that. He
Shaken, dazed, he scrambled back to was safe for the moment, and this was
his feet. He realized he had lost pre- all that mattered.
cious ground and swore weakly. The His calm was blasted as a voice spoke
roc was already looming large in the from the depths of the cave, behind him.
sky. Within seconds it would be di- ‘‘Now, by Allah, how is this? I

rectly over the island. thought Yasmina had finished you mur-
Ignoring the bruises collected in his dering dogs.”_
fall, Bade now followed his first impulse The voice was soft, yet held an edge
and started running around the slope 6? repressed, cold rage.
instead of attempting to climb it again. Bade whirled with a gasp. “What
He barely reached the peak base once the devil . . Straining his eyes
more when the roc soared down. against the gloom, he saw that the cave
He
glanced frantically about him as was occupied by a number of dim
he ran, but he could see no means of shapes. Most of these seemed rectan-
shelter as yet. Then, as his pistoning gular and immobile, apparently boxes
Lgs took him around a sharp angle in or bales of some sort. Seated upon one
the peak base, he saw ahead of him a of them was the vague figure of a man.
deep cleft or opening in the rock wall. Bade felt quickly through his pock-
At almost the same time, he heard the ets. He found a box of matches and
threshing of huge wings, and the ground struck one. In the sputtering glow he
darkened about him. saw that he was in a cave as he had
Throwing his remaining energy into sensed, its dimensions, approximately
a supreme effort, Bade hurled himself at . those of a large room. The seated fig-

the cleft. Scant instants after he ure was watching him with, a bleak
ducked within it, he heard the scraping quietness, eyes narrowed against the
and grinding of the roc’s huge claws in flare of the match.
the gravel outside as the monster Bade discovered that his companion
landed. was a youth rather than a man, slender
The cleft appeared deep, though nar- —
and handsome and bound in chains.
row. Bade’s eyes, still adjusted to the He wore a white turban and a brocaded
glare of sunlight, could make out little sleeveless jacket over a shirt of blue
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 15

silk, bound at. the waist by a scarlet gasped. “By Allah, now I begin to un-
sash. .
His legs were covered by flowing derstand!”
trousers, fitting tightly at the ankles, “Yasmina?” Bade echoed in bewil-
and his feet were shod in narrow shoes derment. “You mean that overgrown
of. maroon leather, with pointed, up-
-

buzzard is a pet?”
curled toes. The youth nodded quickly, smiling
There was a quality about the gar- for the first time. ,
“A very clever one.
ments that Bade found disturbingly Yasmina removed the pirates who had
odd. They were Arabian in flavor been guarding me, but she was not able
yet anachronistic. He
thought again of to take me from this cave. She seems
his impression that time had somehow to have brought you here for that pur-
been involved in his flight as a captive pose. Perhaps she thought you were a
of the roc. magician and would thus do her bidding
without fear.”
HPHE match went out. Bade struck “You may be right,” Bade said. “I
A another, and as the glow steadied wa§ . well, flying through the air
. .

he became aware that the youth was
staring at him with a puzzled intentness.
“What manner of a man are you?”
the other asked slowly. “You do not
seem to be one of the thrice-cursed sea
jackals who were left to guard me. You
—
must be a magician or a jinn.”
The youth’s Arabic had an odd qual-
ity, too. Bade was familiar with the
language and knew the various dialects.
He grinned at the youth and shook
his head. “I’m not a magician or a jinn,
just an ordinary human being. And I
most certainly have nothing to do with
keeping guard over you.”
The youth’s fine-chiseled features ap-
when I first saw Yasmina. This may
have made her think I was a magician.”
The other stared. “But if you can do
that, then you must be!”
“To be more accurate, I was flying in
a machine, an airship,” Bade explained.
“They are common in my land, not
magic. You must have heard of them.”
“Allah be my witness, stranger, I
have not. Tales of flying horses and
magic carpets I have heard but not of —
ships that fly. I do not doubt that there
are such things, for El Khad has taught
me that the impossible is only what we
do not know or understand.”
. “El Khad?”

peared doubtful. “I have never seen “He is the vizier of Jahlad, an old
anyone with clothing such as yours man and very wise. He is a magician,
nor with those little sticks that make though he does not like the word. He
fire so easily. Where are you from?” says it is used by the ignorant to de-
“America,” Bade said. He found scribe what is really a vanishing art.”
himself waiting tensely for the other’s “Vizier . . .” Bade muttered. He
reaction. struck another match thoughtfully. A
“America? must be a very dis-
It vizier, he knew, was a minister of state,
tant land, of which I have never heard. an important official. For the youth to
But how did you get here?” be acquainted with one meant his own
“There’s a bird outside as big as a position must be quite high.
house. It carried me here through the Bade studied the slim, exotically
air— or through something more than dressed figure a moment, then asked,
air, if the experience hasn’t affected my “Are you related to El Khad?”
mind.” The other shook his turbaned head.
“Yasmina brought you?” the youth “I am Tarnib, prince of Jahlad,” he
 16 \ FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

said simply. “Who are you, stranger?” his ankles. The chains there, too, fell
“You can call me Sin Bade.” away. \
“Sinbad, eh? Well, Sinbad, our meet- Tarnib stood up and stretched, his
ing seems a fortunate one — at least grin of delight showing white teeth that
where I am concerned. It is now pos- were small and even. “Free!” he ex-
sible for me to leave this place. I have ulted. “Free, by Allah!”
been here since yesterday and had be- He was somewhat under average
gun to lose hope.” height, slim, and almost delicately
“What do you want me to do?” Bade formed. His skin had a clear, golden
asked. tan, and his eyes, Bade discovered, were
“You might carry meoutside,” Tar- blue and long-lashed,.. An odd expres-
nib suggested. “These chains seem too sion came into them as they turned
secure to remove, but possibly Yasmina presently to Bade and sharpened with
can take care of them.” an awareness of his gaze. It was an
Bade hesitated. “She might take care expression that seemed wary, secretive,
of me as well.” and somehow overlaid with mock- . . .

“I swear by Allah that you will not ery. But it was fleeting. An instant
be harmed. Yasmina obeys my com- later Bade was not sure of what he
mands, but even so she would not touch thought he had seen.
anyone who bears me friendship.” In the bright silence the waves mur-
Bade finally shrugged. He tossed mured gently as they broke in soft frag-
aside the reriiains of the present match ments against the white sand of the
and went to where the youth sat. The beach. Still vaguely disturbed, Bade
other was not heavy. Bade gathered glanced from Tarnib to where the roc
him up easily enough and strode toward squatted a short distance away. Head
the cleft opening. cocked to one side, it was watching with
The roc was waiting, still peering a kind of ponderous maternal patience.
within. yAs it caught sight of Bade and He gazed past the creature and out over
his burden, it began shifting its huge the.sea, to where the limitless and placid
bulk in excitement. stretch of blue ended in a clear, straight
line against the lighter blue of the cloud-
r
J7'HE giant bird moved back as Bade less sky. A warm breeze touched his
emerged from the cleft and into the face, and unconsciously he found him-
sunlight. It touched Tarnib with its self savoring the fresh, tangy odors it

beak, as though assuring itself that he brought.

had not been hurt. And abruptly the utter bizarreness of
Depositing Tarnib carefully upon a the scene swept over him. . He had an
convenient rock, Bade stepped back. almost overpowering feeling of shock,
He was not entirely sure about his of— instability. He wasn’t here on this
status with the roc. remote island. He couldn’t be. He was
. Tarnib glanced at the bird and held in the sportster, flying over the desert
out his chained hands. “Come, Yas- stretches of Iraq, towardBagdad. Or
mina. That sharp beak of yours should —perhaps that had only been a dream.
make short work of this.” Perhaps he would awake on his cot at
Carefully, almost daintily, the roc camp and find that he had suffered the
caught the chains in the tip of its great delusions of fever.
beak —
and bit. The chain parted. Rub- The breeze touched his face again.
bing his wrists, Tarnib now indicated The murmur of the waves on the beach
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 17

held a sudden note of irony. passed through it ranged from lowly

He squeezed his eyes tightly shut and woolstuffs and brassware to costly
pressed his palms, hard, against his spices and rare gems. Ivory and jade,
cheeks. porcelain and fragile glass, rugs and
Footsteps scraped against gravel. He rich fabrics, oils and pigments, frank-
felt fingers close upon his shoulder. incense and ambergris, sandalwood and
Tarnib’s soft voice said, “What is —
cedar all these were a part of the flow.
wrong, friend Sinbad? Are you ill?” It was a feudal age. The vast terri-
Bade drew a deep breath. “I’m all tory beyond Bagdad was broken into
right,” he said. “But . . . but I think dozens of tiny tribal states, kingdoms,
Yasmina has brought me to a different caliphates, and principalities. Wars
time.” were frequent. Robbers and pirates
“Of course,” Tarnib said. “That has were numerous and bold.
become clear to me.” A vivid picture of the time formed in
Bade’s mind at the realization of where
CHAPTER III , he was. For an instant he felt a deep
excitement. Then the full implications
jDADE had a long talk with Tarnib of his predicament dawned upon him.
about his location in time. There He turned anxiously to Tarnib.
were difficulties. Terminology and “If Yasmina was able to bring me
standards of measurement were the here, it should be possible for her to re-
most serious, but at last Bade became turn me to my own time.”
certain that his flight with the roc had Tarnib nodded. “It is possible. You
ended in the early Middle Ages. see, friend Sinbad, Yasmina has the
It was the period when Bagdad was ability to travel through time. This is

the greatest metropolis of the East. not an accurate statement, for time is

Wars had not yet ravaged it, leaving not what we commonly consider it.

upon its successive ruins the drab and Actual time what might be called a
is
ugly mud-brick city of Bade’s time. state of being, where everything that
The sun had not yet burned the fertile has existed still exists, and where every-
green of its surrounding fields into arid thing that will exist already does. We
sand. travel through this state, this actual
Bagdad was still the splendid city of time, and we measure the periods be-
legend. It was a city of marble and tween our experiences in it according
alabaster, of rainbow-hued tiles and to such standards as are available to us
gold-covered domes, of lace-like carv- — the changes of night and day, the
ing and intricate ironwork. Silk awn- changes of seasons. We call this sys-
ings rippled in the breezes that roamed tem of measurement time, but it is only
its bustling streets. In cool, walled a system of measurement. It has no
gardens the singing of nightingales reality.”
mingled with the tinkling of fountains. “I don’t understand,” Bade said. “If
Its great bazaars were a riot of sound we travel through actual time, measur-
and activity as hordes of merchants ing the periods between our experiences
haggled over their wares. in it, that is the same as measuring ac-
For Bagdad was a mighty heart of tual time.”
trade, pumping a constant stream of in- “But actual time is a state of being,’.’
finitely varied goods to all parts of the Tarnib returned. “Everything in it is
then-known world. The shipments that always there. We can measure, ac-
18 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

cording to some sort of standard, the already been made. Our actions mere-
—
periods between things in it but this is ly shift us to those conditions in actual
not a measurement of actual time itself. time where the changes that grow out of
It is like trying to measure the world in them already exist.”
units of time.” “You mean actual time covers even
probability?”
'T'HE youth leaned closer, blue eyes “Yes. For actual time is not one
A narrowed intently. “Look, friend road, but a vast system of. roads, cross-
Sinbad', imagine actual time as a road ing each other and placed one atop the
a very long road. Placed at intervals next. Our actions take us along many
along that road are certain things different roads. They may be very
markers, perhaps. As we travel along small and unimportant roads, or very
the road, we encounter one marker after large and important ones. The actions,
another. The sun rises and sets, the of individuals with great power of one
seasons change. We use this to meas- kind or another may shift to different
ure the periods between our encounters roads everyone traveling with them.
with the markers. We
say there is a This creates what is in effect a small
difference of three days between some world within the vastly greater world
markers, and five years between others. of actual time. There are very many
We call this time. such small worlds.”
“But actual time is the portion of the “Planes of existence,” Bade mut-
road that we have traveled, and all the tered. He rubbed the back of a hand
markers along it. They are always dazedly ,over his. forehead.
there. Nothing changes. The things “El Khad has used that term,” Tar-
along the road only seem to change as nib said. “He explained all this to me,
we pass them, one after another, but you know, and I can tell you it was a
each rpmains the same.” difficult' task getting it into my head!

Bade nodded slowly. “I begin to According to El Khad, all that I have

see what you mean. You’re trying to told you is very ancient knowledge. And
tell me that actual time is a sort of this knowledge is vanishing. Only a
—
world a much greater world. We few now possess it and know how to use
travel through this greater world, and it. They are called magicians or sor-
from our experinces in it we construct cerers — or worse.”
a smaller world that has no reality ex- Bade sat erect in sudden tension as
cept to us. A world that is ... an a thought occurred to him. “This pic-
s
illusion.” ture of actual time is complicated. That
Tarnib flashed a grin. “That is it, by must be why you said it might be pos-
Allah.!” sible for Yasmina to return me to the

—
“It makes sense yet it doesn’t,”
Bade added with a frown. “This idea
of actual time means that the future is
fixed and predetermined. We cannot
change things. And that is wrong. For
we do change things. Everything we do
has an effect upon the future.”
“True enough, friend Sinbad. But in
actual time everything already exists.
Any changes we can possibly make have
period from which I came. You didn’t
say she definitely could.”
Tarnib nodded 'reluctantly, glancing
away in evident discomfort. “She
seems to have stumbled upon you by
accident, friend Sinbad. She is clever,
but I do not know if she can return you
to the identical road in the system that
makes up the world in actual time which
you left.”
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 19

“But she was able to return here,” the veil between the nearest systems.
Bade pointed out.. “If she can do that, That is why we have tales of jinni,
she ought, to be able to take me back.” efrits, demons, and other weird crea-
“She is familiar with the system that tures not of this world.”
makes up this world in actual time,” Bade thought of all the mythical
Tarnib said. “Like a true bird, she has monstrosities with which he was fa-
an instinct that leads her to the place miliar, realizing nowthey had
that
she regards as home. She has not de- origins in fact than fantasy.
rather
veloped this instinct where your world Then the thought faded, and once more
is concerned, and thus in trying to re- his problem was uppermost in his mind.
turn you, there is the danger that, she “This matter of returning me to my
might mistakenly take you to what was own world can’t be impossible,” Bade
only a probability- world— a parallel told Tarnib. “Not since so much seems
system which seems like the one you to be known. There ought to be a way
came, from, but which has beginnings to locate the exact period I left.”
leading to a different system in the fu- “El Khad may be able to do it,”
ture. You would not fit.” . . . Tarnib/said. “He is very wise.”
Bade rose eagerly. “I’ve got to see
T>ADE nodded slowly, glancing in him, then. Can Yasmina carry both of
wonder at the roc. “How she is us?”
able to do it is more than I can imag- Tarnib nodded, rising also. “Easily.
ine.” I, too, am anxious to go to Jahlad. I
“Yasmina is not a creature of this have been worried about affairs there.
world,” Tarnib explained. “She is from The attack upon me by the pirates may
a system that goes beyond even prob- have had deeper reasons than appear on
ability —what is called another plane of the surface.”
existence. a system in which liv-
It is “What sort of reasons do you mean?”
ing things have followed a much differ- “Political reasons, friend Sinbad. You
ent pattern. of development. see, the pirates would have feared to at-
“Yasmina has strange powers. One tack me unless they had the protection
is the power to travel at will through of someone who was equal to me in
the different systems in actual time. She power. Such as another prince. Other-
isable to pierce the veil between them wise they would have risked being hunt-
because of a sound she makes in flight ed down and executed. I think I know
.
—a sound we cannot hear or feel. It who is behind them.” Tarnib’s slender
is like the sound which is able to shat- features turned grim. “We will leave
ter a goblet of thin glass.” for Jahlad at once.”
“A vibration. . .
.” Bade said softly. Bade hesitated, glancing back toward
•''“Yasmina seems to have wandered the cleft opening. Recalling the boxes
.into this system when I was much and bales he had seen inside, he ges-
younger,” Tarnib went on. “El Khad tured. “What about the things in
captured and made a pet of her. He there?”
wanted to study “They are not important,” Tarnib re-
her. principle of flight
between systems. This principle^ was turned. “They merely consist of pro-
already known and used in a limited, visions and equipment from my ship.
way, and El Khad hoped to improve on The pirates looted the vessel of them
the ancient knowledge. He and other before they sank it. Fortimately, I had
students had long been able to penetrate just been taking a pleasure cruise, and
20 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

so carried nothing valuable. I often go “Is your airship better than this,
on such cruises.” friend Sinbad?”
“Unescorted?” Bade said. “Not much better.” Bade tried to
The youth shrugged and grinned. “I conceal his unease by squinting ahead.
dislike being followed about by soldiers. Presently he saw a dark line appear
There is no adventure in it.” against the horizon. It grew swiftly,
X" Bade grinned back understanding^. taking on detail. Hills appeared, and
c
He felt liking grow within him. For a then a long curving line of white beach.
-prince the other had spirit and daring. Further back along the beach palm
Prince. . . . Bade felt a belated sur- treesbecame visible.
prise over the title. Here on this lonely Within moments the roc began dip-
Tittle islandrank had meant little up ping downward. It turned toward a
to now. point of land beyond which the distant
He
broke from his musings as he saw towers of a city glittered in the sunlight.
Tarnib gesture arid stride toward the “That is Jahlad,” Tarnib announced,
roc. The youth spoke a brief com- pride shining in his face.
mand, and in response the great bird Bade peered intently at the city. It
spread one huge wing' as a sort of ramp. was small and almost fairy-like, a vision
-Tarnib mounted by this to the roc’s of slender minarets and pointed domes.
back. It seemed less a picture of reality than
•
“Come,” he said, beckoning to Bade. one taken from a book of tales of the
Arabian Nights.
•A BANDONING his last shreds of And then, as the roc soared over the
caution, Bade followed. When he point of land, Bade discovered that a
’and the youth were firmly settled in ship was anchored just on the other
their places at the back of the roc’s side, having previously been concealed
towering neck, the monster rose, from view. A rowboat was drawn up
Spreading its vast wings. It ran for on the beach beyond. 'Near the edge of
sbme distance along the beach, its wings the water a group of men stood staring
moving more and more rapidly. Then, upward.
even more easily than a plane would Hardly had Bade recognized the fig-
have done,' it breasted the air. ures as those of men when one of the
-
Higher it rose, and higher. The island group turned and ran to where a sad-
fell away, dwindling to saucer propor- dled horse stood waiting. He leaped
tions. The sea took on a smooth, glassy into the saddle and spurred the animal
look. away at a break-neck gallop.
Bade clung to the great feathers un- “That ship!” Tarnib cried. “It be-
der him, as the roc’s speed increased. Air longs to the pirates who captured me.”
roared past his ears. The lash of it His lips thinned in a hard smile. “This,
stung his eyes, sent his hair streaming friend Sinbad, is where I even up the
behind him. score.”
After a while his arms and fingers
began to ache from the intensity of his CHAPTER IV

grasp. He glanced at Tarnib and saw

rT^ARNIB shouted directions to the
that the youth was relaxed and confi-
the
A dipped down toward the
dent. Noticing his gaze, other roc. It
smiled, white teeth flashing. He shout- water.
ed against the rush of air. The men on the beach had leaped
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 21

into the rowboat, and now were trying Tarnib evidently noticed the direc-
frantically to reach the ship. The roc “What do you seek,
tion of Bade’s gaze.
glided toward them with the speed of a friend Sinbad?”
striking dive bomber. Just above the . “There was one who rode away on a
water it leveled off. Its claws grasped horse.”
the rowboat, spilling' its occupants into Tarnib peered at the hills a moment,
the sea. Then, rising a short distance then shrugged. “He is well hidden by
into the air again, the roc turned toward now, most likely. A search would take
the ship. time, and I wish to reach. Jahlad as
Bade clung desperately to the huge quickly as possible.”
feathersupon which he lay. He was The youth leaned forward to pat the
dizzy from the breathtaking swoops. roc’s massive neck. “Yasmina made
This bareback stuff, he told himself, short work of those pirates, by Allah 1

was a lot different from riding in the A useful pet, eh, friend Sinbad?”
cabin of 'a plane, held down by safety “I wouldn’t like to have her as an
straps. enemy,” Bade said.
As the roc approached the ship, it Jahlad grew in size and detail. It
released the rowboat, which it had been stood in a great green depression amid
holding in its claws. The object landed encircling hills. At the seaward side
amid a group of pirates on the deck, was a fine, large harbor in which bright-
who had been preparing a defense- with sailed ships rode quietly at anchor. Be-
crossbows. They were knocked sprawl- yond the harbor spread the city, its

ing like tenpins, while those who. had white, tile-roofed buildings cool and in-
been, fortunate enough to escape dam- viting in appearance. There were nu-
age scattered in panic, flinging away merous larger structures, exotically
.their, weapons.' domed and minaretted. One in partic-
Claws outstretched, huge wings flut- ular caught Bade’s attention. It stood
tering, the roc now settled down upon at the far side of the city, framed in a
the ship. - It caught the vessel at the picturesque setting of lawns and walled
stern, and its mighty pinions threshed gardens. It certainly looked like a
powerfully at the air. palace, he decided.
Amid the howls and curses of the His guess proved correct. Tarnib di-
frightened pjrates, the ship slowly lift- rected their winged mount toward the
ed. The roc turned it sidewise with a building, and shortly it glided down to a
last tremendous effort, and then the landing in one of the gardens.
feathered giant’s great claws released Bade followed stiffly as the youth
their hold. The ship fell heavily back climbed to the ground. He was re-
into the sea. Within moments it filled lieved that his experience as a passenger
with water and began to sink. of the roc was over.
His slender features quietly trium- “Solid earth,” he said with a sigh.
phant, Tarnib called orders to the roc. “My gratitude to Allah.”
It rose once more into the air, turning Tarnib grinned impishly, stretching.
toward the city in the distance. He appeared calm and unruffled, as
Bade remembered the mounted man though he had just returned from a
and tried to find him. But the other quiet walk. “You can have solid earth,
had become lost to view behind hills friend Sinbad. I want food and —
that rose in tumbled confusion far back plenty of it. What I have been through
from the shore. has given me an appetite.”
 22 -FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

THIRDS chirped -and fluttered among ing further to worry about. The rest of
the trees at the edges of the gar- you, return to your duties.”
den. Somewhere a fountain splashed Bade followed as Tarnib and the man
musically. The air was cool and laden called Achmed turned toward the pal-
with the scent of flowers. Sunlight, ace. Achmed, Bade found upon being
dimming now the approach of eve-
wrtth introduced, was the palace chamberlain.
ning, made bright patterns on the grass He had a round, putty-colored face in
where it filtered through intervening which his features were set like nuts in
foliage. dough. His eyes were black and but-
^
In the next instant the sound of ton-like, somehow suggestive of a sly
voices and of numerous approaching cunning.
. feet became audible.' Bade saw a group “Is El Khad in his laboratory?” Tar-
of men appear and come hurrying for- nib asked Achmed.
ward. In the lead was a short, fat man, The other shook his huge turban.
resplendently dressed, with a huge tur- “He seems to have gone away on one
ban apparently worn to make up for his of his trips, your highness.”
lack of height. The others were com- “Gone away!” Bade said involuntar-
posed of lesser officials and of several ily. Sudden anxiety rose in him.
armed men who obviously were soldiers. “That is not an unusual thing for El
“Highness ” the man with the turban
! Khad to do,” Tarnib explained. “He
exclaimed. “Is anything amiss that often takes these trips. He goes to the
you should return in this fashion? places I described to you, friend Sin-
Where is your ship? What has hap-, bad.”. The youth returned his atten-
pened?” tion to Achmed. “But did not El Khad
£:{
Tarnib explained quietly. He told tell you of his plans, or when he in-
how pirates had attacked his ship, mur- tended to return?” .
dering those of the crew who had not The chamberlain shook his turban
pjerislied in the fight. He himself had again. He looked startledly concerned,
been taken prisoner, and had been as if the possibility of something wrong
chained in a cave on a tiny island, with had only now occurred to' him.
three of the pirates left as guards. Sens- “Strange . . Tarnib muttered.
ing that something had happened to “That is not like El Khad.” Abruptly
Him, Yasmina had appeared during the his slender form grew rigid. “Friend
night, taking the three pirates by sur- Sinbad, I believe I know now why Yas-
prise and killing them. But she had mina brought you! It was most logical
been unable to rescue Tarnib from the that she should summon El Khad —but
cave, since the opening was too small to he had gone. She went to . . the .

permit her to enter. So she had searched other places in an* attempt to find him.
for a man who would be intelligent This, however, seems she was not able
it

enough to understand what needed to be
done, and who would co-operate. She
had found Bade and brought him to the
island.
Tarnib’s familiar grin flashed as he
described his revenge in the sinking of
the pirate vessel by Yasmina. Finally
he gestured.
“That is all, Achmed. There
to do. Sne obtained you in his place,
evidently having decided from the ship
in which she found you, that you were
equal to him in power.”
Bade nodded slowly, his unease grow-
ing., If something had happened to El
Khad, he would be marooned in this
world in actual time.
is noth- Tarnib had turned back to the cham-
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 23

berlain.“When did you learn that El which gives El Khad his power. Mez-
Khad was gone?” nir does not know of it, or you may be
“It was yesterday, your highness. In certain that he would make efforts to
the morning. Since El Khad was con- steal it in one way or another.”
ducting the affairs of state in your ab- They had reached the end of the gar-
sence, Iwent to bring him word that a den, and now they strode into a broad,
guest had arrived at the palace. Then arched doorway leading into the palace.
it wasfound that he had gone. Serv-
I Beyond was a .
large, exotically fur T
ants told me he had been performing nished room. They passed through
some sort of an experiment the night be- this and into a long hall. Passing serv-
'
fore.” ants, greeted Tarnib with evident affec-
“Who is this guest you mentioned?” tion, glancing curiously at Bade. The
“Prince Hussein al Meznir, your youthful prince seemed to notice this.
highness.” “There are those who do not under- .

“Meznir?” Tar nib’s voice was sharp stand about time as I have explained it
with sudden annoyance. “What does to you, friend Sinbad. It would be wise
he want? To ask for Najla in marriage not to mention that you have come from
as usual?” another world. Else you would be
“As usual, your highness,” Achmed feared as a sorcerer —
or as a demon.”
said. He sighed and spread his fat Bade nodded in quick comprehen-
hands.
^
sion. He remembered that he was in.
the early Middle Ages, a time when-
HP ARNIB glanced at Bade, frowning. superstitiondominated the lives of al-'
“By Allah, if Meznir were not a most everyone. Only a very few were
prince, I would have "him whipped and as modern in knowledge and outlook as
thrown into a dungeon. He rules the Tarnib.
principality bordering Jahlad, and it is “I shall say that you have come from
no secret that he had designs upon my a far country,” Tarnib added. And
state. He hopes to obtain control by then his grin flashed impulsively. “If
marrying my sister, Najla. If I were you wish, I shall say that you are a
to consent, no doubt he would arrange prince of that country. Sinbad, prince
”
to have something happen to me. As of America!
he may well have arranged the attack Bade smiled and shook his head
upon nte t>y the pirates.” quietly. “I’m not a prince — just an
“Not a nice neighbor to have,” Bade ordinary man. I couldn’t pretend a
returned thoughtfully. “Now I under- rank I didn’t really have. If I must
stand why you were so anxious to re- have a title, let it be that of Sinbad the
turn here.” Voyager. For that is true. I have come
Tar nib moved his head in a grim a long way to Jahlad.”
nod. “Meznir would long ago have “A very long way,” Tarnib said soft-
taken Jahlad by force, but he fears El ly. He rested a hand omBade’s arm.
Khad’s magic. And well he might, “There is honesty in you and cour-
. . .

friend Sinbad As long as El Khad has age. These are qualities that I like.
!

the talisman, Jahlad is safe.” I wish

—
” The youth moved his slen-
“Talisman?” Bade echoed question- der shoulders in a quick shrug. He
ingly. grinned crookedly. “But who am I
“It is . . . well, a sort of instrument. to interfere with the will of Allah? It

A key to sorcery. It is the talisman is written that you must go back.”

24 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

Bade said nothing, aware at that mo- gazed back at him in wry amusement.

ment of an odd perplexity.. While Tar- He told himself that he probably looked
nib’s eyes had gazed into his, echoing like a fugitive from a masquerade
the softness that had been in his voice, party. Then the amusement faded as
he’d had the strange impression that the full effect of his appearance struck
the .youth was somehow not what he into him.
—
seemed that he was another person He was was no clown-
Sinbad. There
entirely. Bade could not understand ish mixture of East and West. For the
the reason for the feeling. But it was first time he completely realized that his
strong enough to leave him disturbed. face had a distinctly Arabian cast.
Achmed, the chamberlain, had ex- A short time later one of the servants
cused himself upon reaching the palace. led him to a large room lighted by nu-
Now he came hurrying back important- merous hanging oil lamps. In the center
ly,a servant following in his wake. of it was a long, low table surrounded
“I am having a room prepared for by cushions. What seemed an army of
your stay,” he announced, bowing to servants were hurrying to and fro, their
Bade. “No doubt you will wish to arms laden with steaming dishes. The
bathe. And . ah. .perhaps change
. . .
table already groaned beneath a burden
your garments.” of food.
•
“I think that is an excellent idea,” Bade sniffed hungrily —then checked
'Tarnib agreed. .“Later, friend Sinbad, himself as he noticed Tarnib standing
I will be pleased to have you join me at at one side of the room, talking with an
food. Perhaps I had better warn you air of weary patience to a heavy-set
that Meznir will be present.” man with saturnine features who could
-
“I’ll be ready for him,” Bade said. only have been Meznir.
He followed as the servant led the way
through the palace and to a suite of CHAPTER V
large, luxurious rooms. Other servants
were waiting. Self-consciously Bade al- npARNIB brightened as he in turn be-
lowed himself to be scrubbed and •
came aware of Bade. He smiled
dressed. His clothing consisted of a quickly and gestured.
brocaded jacket and full trousers that Bade felt Meznir’s eyes upon him as
fitted snugly at the ankles and were held he approached. They were deep-set
up by a scarf wound about his waist. eyes, heavy-lidded and cold. Above
His feet had been fitted with leather them his thick black brows met in a
slippers, the toes of which curled up- solid line. His nose had a prominent
ward, and a satin turban with an egret hook, and his mouth was full and sen-

plume had been placed upon his head. sual. The squareness of his face, with
With numerous final adjustments, the the hard planes of its high cheekbones,
servants at last stepped back to sur- was offset by a pointed, short beard. He
vey the result of their work. Bade was elaborately, even flamboyantly,
waited defensively, expecting them to dressed. His bearing was arrogant and
burst out into laughter. But oddly they self-assured, indicating, unlike Tarnib,
did not laugh. Their faces seemed that he took his royal title seriously.
admiring. Tarnib performed introductions.
A mirror was brought, and Bade was Meznir salaamed stiffly, his glance at
allowed to view himself for his own crit- Bade hard and searching.
ical inspection. His hawkish features Tarnib said, “I was telling Prince
. al
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 25

Meznir how you rescued me from the enemy. Meznir appeared to be a man
cave, friend Sinbad.” who held a grudge, as well as one who
“Yasmina was really the one who res- was determined and cunningly re-

cued you,” Bade disclaimed. "I just
helped her a little.”
“The roc must have brought you
from somewhere,” Meznir said. His
voice was deep, with a growling under-
tone. It carried at the moment
tinct note of inquiry that implied the
demand for an answer.
“Yes,” Bade said. He saw Tarnib’s
faint frown of warning and remembered
sourceful. He would stop at nothing
not even within the borders of another
prince.
Bade decided that Tarnib had excel-
lent reasons for suspecting that Meznir
a dis- had been responsible for the attack by
the pirates. By rescuing the young
prince from the cave, Bade realized that
he might very well have ruined Mez-
nir’s plans. This in a mind like Meznir’s

the other’s admonition that it would be would make him an object of hatred and
wise not to reveal the incredible nature retaliatory schemes of some highly un-
of the place from which he had come. pleasant sort.
“You were nearby, perhaps?” Mez- Bade made a mental note to watch
nir said again. his step as long as Meznir was around.
“Not too far away.” Presently, as if mellowed by the food,
“In a ship, no doubt.” Meznir thawed to the extent of initiat-
“No. Another island.” ing an exchange of small talk between
“Ah,” Meznir said. “And what was Tarnib and himself. Bade he pointedly
’

your station there, effendi Sinbad?” ignored.

“I was a digger of holes,” Bade said
gravely. “Very deep hoi: ” .
npHE conversation touched upon top-
x evidently were of deep in=
“A curious occupation,” Meznir said. ics that
His heavy lids drooped. “Allah has in- terest to Meznir. He spoke of wars be-
deed been kind to see that you have not tween other states and detailed choice
fallen into one of them. But your good items of gossip involving neighboring
fortune may not last, effendi Sinbad. princes or chieftains. At one point he-
You must be more careful in the described an expedient he had devised
future.” to create a new flow of funds into his
The subtle warning was not lost on, treasury —which, he slyly assured Tar-
Bade. He said quietly, “That is excel- nib,was bulging fatly.
lent advice. I shall remember it —par- Merchants passing through his prin-
ticularly if your highness happens to be cipalityon their way to markets in
in the neighborhood of my digging.” other states had had their journeys con-
Meznir drew himself up, his full lips by the necessity of
siderably lengthened
tightening. Tarnib said quickly, “The detouring a deep gorge at a critical
food is served. Come, let us be'seated.” point along the route. Meznir had been
The meal began in strained silence. approached for permission to construct
Bade was aware that Meznir’s gaze a bridge to span the gorge. This he had
turned frequently to him while he ate. given, o Later, when the bridge was
The man’s anger seemed to have faded completed, he had confiscated it under
— :Or at least to have been filed away for the excuse of military precautions..
future reference. He looked darkly Then he had begun charging merchants
thoughtful. a high toll for the right to pass over it.

Bade knew he had made a serious And to insure that the toll would be
 26 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

paid, he had secretly ordered the older though a hot tide of anger mounted
route blocked up. This was accom- within him. Meznir, for all his princely
plished by creating a deliberate ava- background,. was an unmannerly boor
lanche at another critical point. To and needed a sound beating. Bade did
detour this meant that the merchants not doubt his ability to administer it.
,
would have their trip lengthened still His years around oil camps had brought
further. The bridge was left as the him into conflict with toughs of all va-
only convenient avenue of traffic. rieties, and he had won more than his

Meznir chuckled in appreciation of share of fights. But as a guest of Tar-

his tactics.Then, obviously recalling
, another matter connected with his re-
he scowled. “Talk of low breed-
cital,
ing! Those merchants actually had the
bad manners to form a delegation peti-
tioning me to lower the toll. Well, by
Allah, Ishowed them I had the whole
! tones. “Meznir, Sinbad is my guest as
delegation arrested and worked over by
my torturers. You can be certain that
.the merchants were glad to pay the toll
afterward.”
Tarnib said nothing. He kept his
lacelowered, but Bade could see
enough of it to know the other looked as
nib he did not feel at liberty to make
worse what was already a difficult
situation.
Tarnib was leaning forward, his slen-
der face flushed. He spoke quietly,
though evident rage throbbed in his
much as you yourself. Moreover, he is
an invited guest, which I think gives
him certain privileges. He may not be
of royal blood, but his manners show
that he is above certain who .are. It is
my wish that he remain in my presence
at all times. If you have anything to

r sick as he felt himself. say to me which I cannot share with

Meznir wiped his lips and leaned him, then I shall consider it beneath my
.back among the cushions with a belch. interest.”
..“Since we are talking in this pleasant Meznir relaxed slowly, his lids droop-
..manner, Tarnib, I think it would be a ing.^He said softly, “That is strong
.good time to bring up a certain subject. a young prince who may not be
talk for
It is . f highly personal.
. I would able to support it by force of arms.”
prefer to talk to you in private.” He “You think not?” Tarnib demanded
glanced meaningly at Bade. coolly.
. Tarnib said, “I am sure there is “There is the possibility.” Meznir
nothing you have to say to me which looked detached, almost sleepy, but his
could not be said in front of my friend lidded gaze had a hard and glittering
Sinbad.” intentness. “I notice that El Khad is
- Meznir’s heavy brows lowered. “This not present in the palace. There seems
„ seems a very strange friendship ,that a strange uncertainty regarding his
you should allow it to interfere with whereabouts. Can it be that his magic
_ serious matters of state.” has for once proved too much for him?”
.“Sinbad saved my life,” Tarnib said Tarnib shrugged easily. “There is

simply. nothing strange about El Khad’s ab-

“Which does not alter the fact that sence. He will return soon. I know his
he common digger of holes,” Meznir
is a habits better than the servants do, so do
grunted. “He is beneath the position not let their actions lead you to the
which would allow him to overhear mat- wrong conclusions. As for El Khad’s
ters concerning those of royal blood.” magic, Meznir, he has more control
Bade forced himself to remain quiet, over it than you think. For all you
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 27

know, El Khad may be watching what ject Iwish to discuss with you concerns
is taking place here' right now.” Najla. I have not yet begun to despair
that you might agree to our marriage.”
T^ESPITE Tarnib’s confident bear- “I have not been disagreeing,” Tar-
ing,Bade realized that Meznir’s nib returned. “It is for Najla to say
thrust must have struck home. Bade, whether she desires marriage, and to
whom.” *
recalled what Tarnib had said about El
Khad’s magic forming the basis of “But she is woman,” Meznir
just a
Jahlad’s resistance to Meznir’s imperi- protested. “Women have no choice in
alistic ambitions. And something had such matters. custom of the
It is the
happened to El Khad. Meznir only land for the nearest male relative to
suspected it, and Tarnib’s denial might decide whom a woman shall marry.”
sidetrack him temporarily. But If El Tarnib shrugged. “Women are hu-
Khad’s absence continued, Meznir man beings just as much as men. They
would become certain that the magician have a right to make decisions which
was no longer an obstacle. He would affect their life and happiness.”
attack Jahlad at once, before Tarnib Meznir’s lips parted for further argu-
could muster a substitute defense. ment. Then he seemed to think better
A coldness spread through Bade. So of it. He fingered his short beard
many things depended on El Khad’s re- reflectively.
turn. Among them was the answer to “Najla knows of my suit,” he said at
his problem of finding the exact world last. “Has she not mentioned her feel-
in actual time from which he had come. ings regarding it?”
It —
was important to him but not all- “She does not seem able to make lip
important. Somehow the security of her mind.”
Jahlad and the personal safety of Tar- Meznir swept one muscular hand in
nib and his sister mattered just as much. a sharp gesture. “A woman’s mind is
Perhaps because his own safety was al- made up for her! You must assert
so involved. But he felt certain there yourself, Tarnib. By Allah, are ydu
was more to it than that. He knew he not a man and the ruler of Jahlad?”
liked Tarnib and wanted to help him to “There are circumstances that you do
the same extent that he disliked Meznir not understand,” Tarnib explained pa-
and wanted to see the man’s predatory tiently. “Najla and I are twins. We
hopes blasted. have been alone for most of our lives.
Inuring the momentary silence, Mez- Our mother did not survive us, and our
nir appeared to have been thinking over —
father may his soul be at peace !~
Tarnib’s last remark. Now he leaned was deeply immersed in affairs of state
forward, a conciliatory smile on his too- up to the very hour of his death. Thus
full lips. Najla and I have always been very
“You must not take me too seriously, -
close. For this reason I am content to
Tarnib. In the heat of things one is apt let her decide on the question of mar-

to make remarks that he does not riage. I shall honor' her decision.”
mean.” “I must talk to her, then,” Meznir
“I am willing to dismiss the matter,” growled. “I am sure she will agree to
Tarnib said. the idea after I have explained the bene-
Meznir nodded as though pleased, fitsconnected with it. A marriage be-
but it was evident that he did not relish tween Najla and myself would mean a
having to humble himself. “The sub- closer union of our states.”
 28 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

T> ADE grimaced inwardly at this. He not return soon, he will be certain.”
knew the marriage would also mean “But there must be something you
that Meznir would be in a position to can do alone,” Bade suggested. “Don’t
obtain control of Jahlad in the event you have a fighting force of some
'
that something happened to Tarnib. kind?”
Out of loyalty to Najla, the people “There, are the harbor police and the
might be willing to let him rule. Thus palace guard. But they are too few in
there would be no necessity for 'war, numbers to serve as a defense against
which would lead to a defeat by El an army. I am afraid, friend Sinbad,
Khad’s magic. It became clear to Bade that I have placed too much trust in El
that Meznir ’s scheme had been devised Khad.”
. as a way of getting around El Khad.' Bade rubbed his jaw, frowning. At
In the next moment Bade found him- he said, “There seems only one way
last
self thinking of 'Najla. He wondered to stop Meznir, then. And that’s to
what she was like. If she resembled make the man a prisoner while he’s still

Tarnib as much as their relationship as here, in the palace.”

twins seemed to imply, she would be a Tarnib shook his head with a slight,
nice person to know. humorless smile. - “Meznir has not
Tarnib finally rose from the table. overlooked that possibility. On each of
“I must ask you to excuse me for the his visits, I -have been informed that
present,” he said to Meznir. “I have largenumbers of heavily armed troops
been through an unpleasant experience, had taken up positions the border
and am in need of rest.” which would permit a swift advance
Meznir rose also, nodding in a pre- into Jahlad. Undoubtedly, such prep-
occupied way. “But Najla? Will you arations are even now in effect. To
see that a meeting is arranged?” touch Meznir in any way would mean
a “I shall speak
to her.” Gesturing to
-

immediate invasion.”
Bade, Tarnib left the room.. He strode Bade sighed hopelessly, and the mood
‘unseeingly, his eyes on the floor, and his deepened in him when shortly he and
shoulders bowed. He looked tired and Tarnib parted. He went slowly to his .

“careworn. room. It was starkly clear that El

As they
strode through a long, dim Khad was his and Tarnib’s only hope.
Tarnib stopped suddenly and
Hall, —
But suppose El Khad never re-
looked up at Bade. “Perhaps you will turned?
think me a child, friend Sinbad. Or one
"hot fitted to shoulder the burdens of CHAPTER VI

state. But I am worried. El Khad’s

disappearance is creating grave difficul- RyJORNING dawned. Bade ate
ties. —
he does not return and soon
If breakfast in his room, dressed,
I fear that Jahlad may perish.” and wandered outside. He breathed
“Because of Meznir?” Bade said. deeply of the cool and in the splen-
air,

The youth nodded somberly. “Be- dor of the new day it seemed incredible
cause of Meznir. He is arrogant and that the shadow of disaster hovered
—
boorish but he is clever, friend Sin- over his pleasant surroundings.
-
bad. Do not let his poor qualities blind ’
He followed the garden paths about
you to that fact. He suspects that the palace, until presently, off to one
something has happened to El Khad. side, he came into sight of a long, low
He is not certain, but if El Khad does building, which evidently was a stable.
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 29

He thought at once of the mounted man he had plotted to have Tarnib kidnaped
who had been conversing with the pi- by the pirates and done away with.
rates on the beach the day before. With He heard sudden footsteps behind
purpose now directing his steps, he hur- him, and whirled, a vague alarm tight-
ried forward. ening his muscles. He relaxed as he saw
A number of men were gathered be- it was Mustapha Ali.
fore the stable, engaged in various tasks. The old man looked anxious. “Ef-
The not unpleasant smell’ of h'orses rose fendi —
it seems we were spied upon by

on the morning air, and Bade could hear Meznir ’s groom. The others saw him
the impatient thudding of hoofs against sneaking away. When Meznir learns
wooden stalls, interspersed with occa- what I said about him, it will go hard
sional whickers. He sought out the head with me.”
groom, a grizzled and wiry oldster, who “Don’t worry,” Bade said. “I intend
seemed astonished to find himself the to see Prince Tarnib about this. He
target of Bade’s attentions. The man won’t let Meznir touch you.”
salaamed awkwardly and stood blink- Mustapha Ali was profuse in his
ing in confusion under Bade’s glance. thanks, and with a dull anger burning
“I am Mustapha Ali, effendi ... in him, Bade continued on. Damn Mez-
at your service. Is there aught I can do? nir, he thought. The man’s baleful in-
Perhaps the -effendi desires a horse to fluence seemed to touch everywhere.
ride?” Bade turned his steps back to the
Bade smiled reassuringly. “I wish palace. In response to his questions, a
to ask a few questions.” He glanced at servant directed him to the audience
the others,who were listening intently, hall, where it seemed Tarnib was con-
and motioned for Mustapha Ali to fol- ducting affairs of state.
low him out of earshot. The chamber was crowded, Bade
“Does Prince Meznir have his own found. Tarnib was seated in a chair
horse with him?” he asked, then. upon a dais, with numerous scribes and
The nodded,
oldster interested, palace officials gathered about him.
though puzzled. “That he does, effendi. Most of those present —obviously spec-
A fine animal.” tators —stood around the sides of the
“Too good for Prince Meznir, no room, while the others were seated on
doubt,” Bade suggested with an impul- benches, according to their rank and
sive grin. business.
Mustapha Ali studied Bade a mo- Deciding that this was no time to in-
ment, then chuckled. “It is my opinion, terrupt with other matters, Bade retired
effendi, that the horse ought to be riding discreetly to a spot near one wall, where
Prince Meznir. It is less an animal than he fell to watching the proceedings with
his highness.” interest.
“Was Meznir riding the horse yester-
day? Around late in the afternoon?” THE minutes passed, he was
“That he was, effendi. He came rush- amazed at the number and variety
ing back in a great hurry, as though an of the matters with which Tarnib dealt.
army of jinni were in pursuit.” The youth was ’’
upon to settle
called
“I . . see.” Bade thanked the old
. lawsuits, civil problems, and questions
man and thoughtfully resumed his walk. involving taxation or commerce. -He
Meznir had been the man on the horse, made new laws and sat in judgment bn
then. There was no further doubt that criminal cases. His decisions were swift
 30 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

and always appropriate. Only occasion- the hall, seemingly in a great hurry.
ally did he confer with his advisers. Bade gazed after him, angered yet—
Sometimes he was grim, but more often impressed. He knew Meznir’s threat
his decrees were enlivened by flashes wasn’t an empty one. Momentarily he
of humor. More than once the audience had the sensation that the jaws of a vise
hall rang with laughter as he gave a were closing inexorably about him. He
. Solomonesque twist to some affair that could not forget that return to his own
r otherwise would have been sordid and world in time was still a virtual impos-
depressing. It was evident that the peo- sibility.

ple of Jahlad were well satisfied with When Bade brought his attention
. their prince. back to the audience hall, he found that
A small stir at the entrance, near. the meeting was breaking up. Palace
Bade,- presently drew his attention. He guards cleared the chamber, and one by
saw that Meznir had entered. The one the officials about Tarnib bowed
man’s square, dark face wore a preoccu- themselves from his presence. The
pied frown. He watched the proceed- youth stood up, glancing around. Sight-
ings for some moments, his sensuous ing Bade, he smiled quickly and ges-
lips slowly twisting in a grimace of con- tured.
-tempt. And then he noticed Bade.. His “So much for that, friend Sinbad.
black eyes sharpening and his features Did you find the affairs of state inter-
^tightening bleakly, he stalked forward: esting?”
(<
Effendi Sinbad, I have heard that “Very interesting,” Bade said. “And
you have been asking certain questions instructive. But I have learned other
about me. For a mere digger of holes things as well.” He told the other of
you take a great, deal of authority upon the information he had obtained at the
yourself.” stable, and of the threat Meznir had
- “When I have good reasons, yes,” made a short time before.
? Bade said pointedly Tarnib stared into distance, wor-
“A digger of holes does not have rea- rying his lip. At last he made a helpless
: sons. You would be wise indeed, effendi gesture. “I wish there were some course
Sinbad, not to meddle in affairs which of action I could take against Meznir,
. do not concern you.” but without El Khad my hands are tied.
“I think they do concern me. And I can only try to delay the man as long'
a I’m sure Tarnib would tell you the as possible. And I am depending on
-same.” Najla’s help to do this.”
‘‘Do not place too great dependence “Is she interested in him?” Bade
.upon Tarnib. His reign may end soon asked before he had time to consider
very soon.” Meznir leaned forward the propriety of the question. He real-
.slightly, his black glance hard and in- ized that his growing curiosity about
tent upon Bade. “You have displeased Najla would lead him into further slips
me, effendi Sinbad. And the time may if he weren’t more careful.

not be far distant when I shall hold an —

“Najla interested in Meznir?” Tar-
accounting with those who have done nib said. “Hardly, friend Sinbad. She
so. It would be an excellent idea if you dislikes the man exactly as much as I
were to make haste in returning to the do.”
place from which you came.” “Then it would seem that she has an
A moment longer Meznir’s eyes held unpleasant job ahead of her.” Bade
Bade. Then he turned sharply and left rubbed his jaw in sudden indecision. He
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 31

weighed his impulses against his better impatiently. Time seemed to be lag-
—
judgment and the impulses won. With ging. He wished vaguely for a news-
an effort at being casual he said, "You paper.
know, Tarnib, I think I would like to Something flashed through the air
meet Najla.” and buried itself in the turf at his side.
He sat erect in startled surprise, heard
A SWIFT grin flashed over Tarnib’s a ripping sound, and discovered that
face. "You would? I’m sure Najla his silken blouse was pinned to the
will be pleased to hear that. I had been earth with a knife. With a convulsive
planning to see her as soon as possible, movement, he pulled the weapon free
and I shall mention it. If you present and jerked to his feet, staring in the
yourself at the pearl garden within the direction from which the cast had been
hour, friend Sinbad, you may get your made. The branches in a spot amid some
chance.” bushes several yards away were wav-
With the grin still evident at the cor- —
ing gently- but it might have been due
ners of his lips, the youth hurried from only to the breeze. The garden w;as still.

the room. Bade hesitated, feeling Bade saw no indication of a human

vaguely that he had made a fool of him- figure.
self, then once more strode outside. He
looked for a long moment at the
He found a secluded spot in one of knife in his hand, then thrust it slowly
the gardens and stretched out on the into the sash at his waist. It seemed
grass. The sky was blue and serene. obvious tha,t Meznir was emphasizing
The air was still cool, fragrant with the the warning he had made.
scent of flowers. All about him, blend-
ing pleasantly,was the musical splash- CHAPTER VII

ing of fountains and the twittering of

birds. Yet he was tense. He could not A GARDENER supplied Bade with
relax completely. directions to the pearl garden. The
Exactly why, he wasn’t certain. Per- man seemed hesitant.
haps it was the shadow of threatening "The pearl garden .
is part of v Che
danger Meznir had cast over the palace. women’s quarters,” he explained. "Men
Perhaps it was Najla.
. . . are not allowed there, except under cer-
But why should he be excited over tain conditions.”

the thought of meeting her? It might, "I’m sure it will be all right,” Bade
have been mere curiosity. It might have said. "Prince Tarnib told me to go
been because she was an unknown quan- there.”
tity, an object of mystery and specula- Following the directions, he came to
tion. a high wall on the seaward side of the
Somehow, though, he knew it wasn’t palace. The wall was covered with
that.He knew she would be very much flowering vines, and shrubs grew thick-
like Tarnib.And that, of course, was ly along its base. Bade found the nar-
the answer. He liked Tarnib, admired row flagstone path which had been de-
and respected him, in a way he had sel- scribed to him, and this led to a narrow,
dom experienced. Since Najla was Tar- iron-bound door in the wall. The door
nib’s female counterpart, he knew he was open.
would like her just as well or more. — Slowly Bade stepped through. The
Within the hour, Tarnib had said. garden beyond seemed very large, and
> . .In the pearl garden. Bade shifted it was . . . gorgeous. There was no
32 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

other word to describe the place. It soft voice, like her blue eyes, 'had a
was a riot of exotic colors and scents. haunting familiarity.
Flowers and shrubs-grew in masterfully “I’m all right,” Bade said. He ges-
arranged plots and beds. Fairy-like tured at the Nubian, who now seemed •

bridges arched over lily-pad covered making an effort to be properly aloof

pools, and in tree-shaded nooks were, and impassive. “I was looking for Naj-
fountains or benches of marble and ala- la, and I wasn’t expecting anyone like

baster. Nightingales fluttered among your big friend, there.”

the branches of the trees; and as Bade “Ibrahim didn’t mean to frighten
advanced, he saw peacocks flee from you,” the girl said. Then, mistily visi-
his approach. ble beneath the veil, her red lips parted
He continued with growing uncer- in a flashing smile. “I am Najla. And
tainty along the path he was following. you, of course, are Sinbad, the Voyager.
There seemed no indication that his ap- Tar nib has told me of you. He said you
pearance was expected, and he was wished to meet me.”
uneasy at the thought that he might be Bade grinned self-consciously. “I
intruding. Then, as he rounded an was curious, I guess.”
abrupt turn in the path, a number of “And I as well,” Najla said with as-
things happened in jolting succession. tonishing frankness. She gestured to-
A giant figure with a shining black ward the bench. “Would it please you
face loomed without warning before to be seated?”
Bade. He darted aside instinctively,
.
Bade sat down, careful not to trip
tripped, and fell sprawling. And while again. His legs still seemed strangely
the thought of possible danger still awkward. He heard the girl speak to
flamed in his mind, he heard soft, sil- the huge Nubian.
very laughter. His head jerked to the “You may. leave us, Ibrahim.”
sound, and he stared. The giant bowed and strode out of
:
,A girl was seated on a marble bench sight, and Najla turned to the bench.
at the edge of a small pool. His first Bade watched her intently as she seated
confused impression of her was that herself gracefully beside him. She was
she was young, slender and lovely. This so much like Tarnib that it was difficult
startled him in no less measure than the to determine exactly .where the one left
realization that she must be Najla. off and the other began. Najla was boy-
He started awkwardly to his feet,
; ish in the same way that there was a
then felt powerful hands close about feminine quality about the slender
him and lift him easily the rest of, the handsomeness of Tarnib.
way upright. He
muttered his thanks Her light brown hair was long and
at the grinning Nubian, who afterward soft, shining with warm golden glints
stepped back with folded arms. in the light. It was held back from
There was a flutter of motion, and temples and forehead by a jeweled tia-
Bade found the girl standing before ra. Her clear skin had something of
him. Her eyes were blue and long- Tarnib’s golden tan, though -it was
lashed —
and widened in concern. They lighter in hue. She wore a sleeveless,
looked up at him over a veil of sheer brocaded jacket over a blouse of rose-
silk that covered the lower half of her colored silk, and a long striped skirt
face, the usual concession to Arabian that rustled stiffly with her movements.
custom. The curled-up toes of small scarlet slip-
‘‘Are you hurt?” she asked, and her pers were visible at the hem.
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 33

gHE became aware of Bade’s glance sounds like a wonderful and magic
and smiled. She looked away cas- place, this world of yours. Too good,
ually, plucking a flower from a nearby almost, to be true. I wish that it were'
shrub and running the^tip of a finger possible for me to visit it.”
over the petals. “And I wish it were possible for me.
“It is not usual to entertain a man to take you there,” Bade said. “But:
•
in this place and in this fashion,” she I don’t know yet whether I can got
said. “There are special circumstances, back myself.”
of course. But Tarnib and I have nev- “I understand. Tarnib told me of^
er bothered ourselves overmuch with that, too.” : s

conventions. We have found it makes “Did he also tell you of Meznir?”

life simpler.” “Yes. ... He has asked me to be
“That’s true, isn’t it?” Bade said. pleasant to Prince Meznir, so as to der .

^“One can lose a lot of enjoyment in lay him in his plans until El Khad re--'

following the rules too closely.” turns. It will be difficult, but I shall:

“Tarnib told me you came from an- do my best.”

'

other world in time,” the girl went on. “I’m sorry you have to be involved
“I understand about that, you know. in this,” Bade said abruptly. “If only-
The customs must be very different in there were something I could do . ..

your world. You do not seem to be a something brilliant and clever, like the
prince, yet you might very well have things done by heroes in adventure:
been one. You do not seem awed by tales. I suppose had some?
I could, if I

royalty.” of the weapons and machines used in

“There are no princes in my coun- my world. But I don’t have themV-
try,” Bade explained. “All men are And without the tools and materials,'
—
equal or at least that is the idea of without the knowledge and skills, it '-rs
our form of government.” impossible to make them. I can only ;

—
“It seems strange yet there is an do things as they are done here and —
appeal to it. Tell me about your world. it seems I am no more clever than any-

How do the people live? What are the one else.”

cities like?” “It is always thus in real life,” Najlar
He began describing what she wanted said softly.
to know, haltingly at first, for the differ- They talked a while longer, following
ence in language was a handicap. There the philosophical note Bade had struck.
were no terms for many of the ideas he The girl possessed a depth ofN under-

wished to get across. However, he standing that surprised and delighted'

found he couid do almost as well by the him. She was quick to grasp unfamiliar'
use of metaphors and allusions, and as details, and she could continue along-
he grew more accustomed in these, the any line of thought, regardless of how
word-picture he drew became vivid and complex it became'.
realistic enough. The conversation was almost insidi-
He talked for a long time, softly, ously pleasant. Bade did Nnot know
sometimes smiling, sometimes serious, how much longer it might have gone
often gesticulating in his absorption on, if Ibrahim had not put in a sudden
with the task. Najla listened with her appearance. •

small chin cupped in her palm, her blue “One approaches, my princess,” he
eyes intent on his face. said in a muted rumble. With that the
When he was finished she said, “It huge Nubian took up an impassive
34 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

stand beside the bench, great arms wall and walked out.
crossed over his massive chest. Returning to the palace, he encoun-
tered Achmed, the chamberlain. Tar-
'-pHE arrival proved to be Meznir. nib, he learned, was occupied with,
When he appeared around the sharp household matters for the present, hav-
turn in the path, he was muttering to ing left orders that Achmed was to at-
himself in evident ill-humor. At sight tend to Bade’s needs. Food was -the
of Najla, Bade, and the Nubian, he only necessity Bade could think of at
stopped .short. He masked his surprise the moment.
with a smooth bow in the direction of He
spoke to the chamberlain while
the girl. he Achmed mentioned having eat-
ate.
; “I was promised an audience with en a short time before, but he made a
you at the hour just passed, princess. full meal
of morsels that he picked
I expected it to be conducted with prop- from the table as he talked. With his
er formalities, but since none were fat body and ridiculous turban, Ach-
made, I decided to seek you out.” med appeared simple and harmless
“I am sorry,” Najla said quickly. “It enough, yet again Bade noticed a quali-
was a grave oversight.” ty of slyness about the man, a sort of
Meznir bowed again, gesturing mag- lurking guile in his button-like, black
nanimously. Then he directed a search- eyes. Bade became certain that there
ing glance at Bade, and for a brief in- was more to the chamberlain than ap-
stant naked hate and fury surged into peared on the surface.
his face. *
When presently Bade prepared to
“You seem to be everywhere, effendi leave the table, Achmed lifted a detain-
Sinbad:” ing hand. He glanced about him, then
Bade shrugged and- rose from the leaned forward with a conspiratorial
bench. “It would seem that way.” air.

“Everywhere that a common digger “Effendi Sinbad, I have been speak-

of holes has no right to go,” Meznir ing to you with a purpose. There is
added. no longer any doubt in my mind that
“That,” Bade returned, “is a matter you are a completely trustworthy and
of opinion.” He pulled the knife casu- capable person. I need your help in a
ally from andheld it out. “Did
his sash certain matter.”
you Meznir?”
lose this, Prince “What do you mean?” Bade asked.
The heavy lids drooped
other’s “I cannot explain here. All I can
v
slightly. “Of course not.” say is that it concerns El Khad:”
“But perhaps you know who did.” “You know what happened to him?”
“Why should I?” “Yes.”
“It was the way I found the knife,” “Then why haven’t you told
—
Bade said. His eyes.gazed steadily into “I will explain it all later, effendi
Meznir’s for a moment. Then he turned Sinbad. . FirstT must have your prom-
to Najla. “I have enjoyed meeting you ise of help.”

very much, princess.” “All right. What do you want me to

She smiled and nodded. She said do?”
nothing, but the warmth of her glance The chamberlain described a spot
was all the answer Bade needed. He which he said was easy to
in the city,
bowed, ignoring Meznir, and strode find. Bade was to go there in an hour
away toward the door in the garden and wait. Achmed would meet him and
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 35

lead the way to a place where a full ex- CHAPTER VIII

planation would be made.

Bade agreed quickly. He spent the T>EFORE Bade could overcome his
tittle waiting in his room, questions tum- shock, it was too late for struggle.
bling in confusion through his mind. His His assailants held him helpless.
analysis of Achmed’s character gave A light was struck, and Bade saw
him doubts about the meeting, but if rough, bearded faces looming over. him.
the man knew anything about El Khad, The owners appeared to be typical dock
any 'risks .were worth taking. rats, recruited for the purpose. One
Finally Bade left the palace and . produced a rope, and Bade was swiftly
found his way out of the grounds. He and thoroughly bound.
located the spot Achmed had desig- Then, as his captors stepped back,
nated, a large public fountain, and set- two. figures appeared in the circle of
v
tled down to wait. illumination around Bade. He stared,
Not long afterward, a figure muffled a cold wind sweeping through him. One
in a cloak appeared beside him. It of the men was Achmed, the other
was Achmed. -As a further disguise, he Meznir.
had replaced his usual ornate style of “I might have known you would be
turban with one smaller and less con- back of this,” Bade said softly.
spicuous. Meznir’s full lips curved in a wolfish
“What now?” Bade questioned. smile. His face, with its pointed beard
“We willgo to a place where we can and hooked nose, looked Satanic in the
talk in complete privacy,” Achmed lamplight. Like Achmed, he had donned
said. “You have only to follow me.” a less noticeable costume for the occa-
Their steps led toward the bustling sion.
waterfront district. Here the streets “Unfortunately, the k n-o w 1 e d g e
were narrower than elsewhere and comes too late to do you any good,”
crowded with people. Porters with Meznir returned. “You are securely in
laden donkeys, laborers, seamen, mer- my power, effendi Sinbad. And what
chants, and shopping town folk mingled that means, you shall quickly learn.”
in a jostling stream. A babble of voices Almost leisurely, Meznir strode for-
and a ‘wailing of musical instruments ward. Before Bade could twist aside,
rose on the air from innumerable small he drew back his foot and sent a vicious
shops and inns. kick into Bade’s ribs.
They reached an alley near the docks. Pain and nausea exploded in Bade.
Achmed stopped at the door of a long Through a haze, he saw the foot coming
wooden building that seemed to be a . toward him again. He was too numbed
warehouse. Gesturing to Bade, he to make an effort to avoid it. There
strode inside. Bade followed, misgiv- was another burst of pain another, —
ings surging once more within him. The and another. The haze thickened
interior was unlighted, seeming all the around him.
more dark after the comparative bril- Presently Meznir desisted, breathing
liance outside. hard. Through the dull agony throbbing
“Here he is!” Achmed said. within him, Bade took a desperate grip
That was the only warning Bade re- on consciousness. When his mind
ceived. In the next instant figures seemed to steady, he -opened his eyes
leaped at him out of the gloom, and he and looked at Achmed.
was knocked roughly to the floor. “You let that devil put you up to
36 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES
this? I suspected you had a scheming
nature, but I didn’t think you would
go so far as to become a traitor to your
prince.”
The chamberlain lifted his
shoulders in a shrug. He tried to
tera display of bravado, but succeeded
only in looking uneasily defiant.
“What about El Khad?” Bade went
on. “Was that just a trick to get me
here?”
“Naturally,” Achmed said.
nothing about El Khad.”
Meznir laughed grimly. “That
matter which we will now take up.”
Achmed stiffened in swift apprehen-
sion. “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, my over-fed traitor, that I
have planned this little affair so as to
accomplish two things at one time. As
you well know, it was arranged between
us that you should steal El Khad’s talis-
man in return for a fortune in gold and
gems and the position as vizier of Jah-
lad. As a major step in that direction,
I was to remove Tarnib, so that he
would be unable to interfere. I acted
while he was away on one of his sea-
faring jaunts, following information
with which you supplied me. I had
hoped, incidentally, that Tarnib’s loss,
which could easily be explained as hav-
ing been due to a storm, would make
Najla more amenable to the idea of
marriage.”
Meznir shrugged and directed a
scowling glance at Bade. “That end
of the plan would have succeeded had
it not been for this upstart and. that
thrice-cursed pet roc of Tarnib’s. It
was a great blow to see the roc appear
out of the sky with Tarnib as I talked
to my men on the beach. They had
just finished assuring me that they had
been successful in capturing Tarnib.”
“The pirates were your, men?” Bade
put in.
“My men, disguised as
Meznir grunted. “Just as this group,
here, is dock scum.” He
disguised as
swung back Achmed. “When I ar-
to
rived in Jahlad, you told me that El
plump Khad had departed for some mysteri-
mus- ous other place, and that you had been-
unable to steal the talisman. However,
it soon began to appear that there was
something extremely strange about El
Khad’s going. I am now convinced that
you did manage to steal the talisman
“I know after all, and further, that you are
responsible for El Khad’s vanishment.
is a If you were willing to betray Tarnib,
you would have no scruples about be-
traying me also. And possession of the
talisman would be more important than
the reward' I offered you.”
“No!” Achmed said hastily. “No
you are wrong. It is as I have told you.”
“We shall see about that.” Meznir
motioned to his men.
ACHMED was gripped from both
sides, squealing in panic. As Mez-
nir barked swift orders, a gag was
forced into the chamberlain’s mouth,
his hands were tied behind his back,
and then he was lowered to the floor.
While part of Meznir’s men held him.
helpless, the others removed his slippers
and began to busy themselves with the
oil lamp.
Shortly the odor of burning flesh rose
on the air. Achmed threshed and jerked
in agony. Choked cries came from be-
hind his gag.
Bade looked away, sick and angry.
He seized the interval to test the ropes
binding him, and found they had been
knotted too carefully to permit loosen-
ing.
Achmed’s struggles grew weaker.
Once he signaled his willingness to talk,
but it was only to insist that he did not
have the talisman. His gag was replaced
and the torture resumed.
pirates,” At last the chamberlain nodded in
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD

response to Meznir’s demands that he showing in his face. There seemed little-
tell the truth. When the gag was re- doubt that Meznir was right. Achmed’s
moved this time, Achmed admitted hav- confession, even though wrung from
ing been successful in obtaining the tal- him by torture, had fitted in too neatly
isman. He had used the magic instru- with known facts. And the luckless
ment to maroon El Khad in another chamberlain’s description of the talis-
world, then had hidden it. Questioned man’s hiding place had been too concise
by Meznir, he revealed that the talis- - andxdefinite to be a fabrication made
man was located in a secret compart- on the spur of the moment.
ment in his room at the palace. He had El Khad was already out of the way
intended using it after' Meznir left' Jah- as a source of danger. With the talis-
lad. He had not been certain of his man in his possession, Meznir would
ability to manipulate the talisman’s have nothing further to fear. He had
powers correctly, and with Meznir and only to give the word, and his troops,
Tar nib both present, he had felt that poised, even now at the border, would
he would have been taking too big a come sweeping irresistibly into Jahlad.
risk. Tarnib would be made. a prisoner, of
Achmed’s confession was made halt- course. And most probably Meznir
ingly, forced out between gasps and would use the youth’s life as a tool to.
moans of pain. His plump face, which force Najla into marriage. Bade
had never held a healthy color, was thought of that with a sudden sickness.
deathly pale and beaded with sweat: He knew his meeting with Najla had not
Meznir was beginning to question him left him unaffected. More, he knew he
about El Khad, when abruptly he stiff- had been half in love with her even be-
ened with a sharp intake of breath. He fore that.
held the grotesque pose a moment, body As for himself, he couldn’t overlook
rigid, eyes squeezed shut, his lips drawn the knowledge that a return to his own
back in a grimace. Then, slowly, he period in time was now forever impos-
went limp. sible. The loss of El Khad and the talis-
Meznir leaned forward with a puz- man precluded But even so he had
that.
zled expression. He grasped Achmed’s no assurance of continued existence. He
shoulder and shook it impatiently, but was certain that Meznir intended to kill
this produced no signs of awareness. him in some unpleasant fashion.
Finally Meznir placed a hand over the
other’s heart. When he straightened JN THE next moment, as though hav-
up again, his saturnine features were ing sensed the thought, Meznir
twisted in disgust. brought up the subject of Bade’s fate.
“Dead,” he said. He shrugged. “I “For the immediate present, effendi
intended to him anyway. His
kill use- Sinbad, there remains only the matter
fulness to me had ended.” of your disposal. You have insulted, hu-
Meznir returned his attention to miliated, and defied me on a number of
Bade. He looked darkly exultant. “Tri- occasions. I would enjoy killing you
umph is within my' grasp, effendi Sin- with my own hands, but a quick death
bad ! Achmed has told me where to find is more than you deserve. I intend to
the talisman. That obstacle has been make arrangements for a method which
lifted from my path. Within a matter will be drawn out over a period of.
of hours, Jahlad will be in my hands!” months, and which will make you suffer
Bade fought to keep his despair from every second. You will think of me
38 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

many times before you finally die.” An order was barked by the
leaving.
Meznir watched Bade for a moment, man
into whose custody he had been
smiling thinly. Then he turned to his He felt the cloth being removed
left.

men and issued curt orders. All but from about 'him, and suddenly he dis-
three followed him as he strode from the covered where he was on a ship. It —
building. These settled themselves on was dark, now. Stars were visible in
the floor around Bade, having been left the sky between intervening sails and
as guards. .rigging. A number of dim shapes were
Anxiety gnawing within him, Bade clustered about him, and one began
wondered what Meznir planned to do. sawing at his ropes with a knife. Freed
It wasn’t until some time later that he of his bonds, he was pulled erect and
learned. shoved forward along a narrow wooden
The men who had left with Meznir walk. There was a trench-like space on
came trooping back. They spoke briefly both sides, within which were visible
to the guards, and all joined in making the wraith-like figures of men.
certain swift preparations. Even then Bade didn’t quite under-
Bade was lifted roughly and placed stand until he was pushed from the
on a broad strip of heavy cloth, which walk and onto a wooden bench in one
was then wrapped about him. The muf- of the spaces. Heavy cold chains were
fling folds galvanized him into desperate locked about his ankles. His' eyes fas-
action. He squirmed and kicked vio- tened to the handle of a long oar loom-
lently in an effort to fight free. But it ing in front of him.
proved futile, even as he had known He knew, then. He knew that he had
deep within him it would be. Hands become a galley slave, doomed to row
gripped and tightened about him. constantly under the merciless bite of
Something crashed into his head. a whip, until his strength finally left
He did not entirely lose conscious- —
him. And then a grave in the sea.
ness. Vaguely he was aware of being
lifted and carried. He did not know CHAPTER IX
how far he was borne. It did not seem
distant. HPHE ship left Jahlad a short time
A A man appeared on
Then he felt himself lowered heavily later. burly the
to a hard surface. His head was clear- catwalk and began to lash at the chained
ing. Through the folds of cloth he heard figures in the trenches on either side of
the mutter of voices. him with a whip. ^ .

“You understand what you are to “Awake, you scum! Awake!” he

do?” shouted between cuts. “Pull oars, or by
“Aye. He is to be chained carefully Allah I’ll have the skin off the backs of
and not to be allowed to escape. He is every one of you!”
to be driven hard. When he can no A shape stirred oh the bench beside
longer work, he is to be thrown into the Bade. For the first time he realized that
sea.” he had a companion rower.
“See to —or
it it will go hard with “Grip the oar, friend,” the other
you.” whispered, in a strangely accented
“Aye, that I will. And the money voice. “I’ll row until you learn the
which was promised me?” method of it. But in the meantime it
“Here.” must appear that you are working, or
After a pause Bade heard footsteps Yusuf the overseer will flay you with his
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 39

whip. He gives no mercy.” The activity helped to ease the pain of

Bade muttered his thanks and placed his hurts. Once, glancing at his com-
his hands on the oar. A moment later panion, he saw the man nod and grin in
the overseer came forward, still shout- a flash of white teeth.
ing and laying around him with the lash. “I am in your debt, it seems,” Bade
Bade felt the sting of it across his shoul- said.
ders. Then, as it descended again and “Think nothing of it. share aWe
again, he realized that he had been, de- common misfortune. Perhaps you can
liberately singled out for punishment. lighten my load a little in time to come
Fury surging within him, he started . . . My name is Chundar • Singh.
erect, hands reaching blindly for his Yours?”
tormentor. “Sinbad.I’m glad to know you,
In the next instant he felt himself Chundar. Been here long?”
pulled back down on the bench as his “Two months, as 'nearly as I can
oar companion caught at him from the reckon it. I was captured in a war with
other side. He heard the other whisper an enemy province and then sold as a
urgently. • slave.”
“Nay! Fight will avail you nothing. “Two *months ...” Bade- mut-
You will need your strength.” tered.
The overseer was cursing. “Defiance, “Cease that chattering, you- two!”
by Allah! Well, I’ll take it ’out of you. Yusuf’s voice shouted above him. “Pull
Breaking in is what you need —and your oar!” And to emphasize his com-
you’re going to get it. You’ll learn who mands, he swung his whip viciously.
is master here!” A short time later Yusuf was called
Bade felt the whip burn repeatedly forward by a group of crewmen. They
across his back. He gripped the oar were gathered about a dim shape on
handle spasmodically, eyes squeezed the deck.
shut against the agony that flamed “What is that?” Bade asked Chun-
through his body. In a far corner of his dar.
mind a diamond-hard, diamond-bright “Don’t you know? It is one who was
core of determination grew. Yusuf was carried aboard with you. He seems to
going to pay for this, he promised him- be dead.”
self. And Meznir as well. One way or “He is,” Bade affirmed. He had re-
another, impossible as it seemed, he membered Achmed.’
would accomplish it. He watched the group. One of the
Presently Yusuf desisted to devote men held a lantern, and in its light Bade
his attention to the other rowers. Bade saw that the others were engaged in.

sagged against the oar, his back and' stripping the chamberlain’s corpse.
shoulders aflame with pain. His com- They commented over each article as it
panion was keeping the oar in motion, was removed, arguing among them-
and as he gradually recovered to an selves for possession. At last a couple of
awareness of his surroundings and real- the men lifted the body and carried it
ized this, he felt a deep gratitude for to the ship’s side, dropping it over the
the other’s help. He gripped the handle rail. Bade heard a heavy splash as
more tightly and straightened. He Achmed’s remains hit the water. He
swayed with the movements of the oar decided that Meznir had had the unfor-
for a time, accustoming himself to the tunate chamberlain taken, aboard the
rhythm, then began to aid in rowing. ship for exactly that purpose.
40 PANTASTIC ADVENTURES

"VrUSUF returned along the catwalk, have been part of his motives. Un-
1 and once more Bade devoted his at- doubtedly he feared my presence at the
tention fully to rowing. The rhythm of palace would spoil his hopes of marry-
the oar was sinking into him. He found ing her.”
he could follow it without concentrating. Farkuz rose half out of his chair. His
His mind was free to follow its own mouth was open, his eyes wide.
thoughts, and in the sea-scented dark- “Prince!” he muttered. “Princess
ness, with the creak of plied oars rising . palace!” He gulped and sat
. .

over the murmur of water against the down again. “Just who are you?”
'

ship’s hull,he thought of Najla. “Why, I am Sinbad, Prince of Ameri-

Morning dawned. The rowers were ca. Weren’t you told?”.
allowed to rest in shifts, and Bade and Farkuz shook his bony head numbly.
Chundar Singh were among those pres- Then he looked puzzled. “America?
ently enjoying a respite. Bade was nap- I’ve never heard of it.”
ping against the oar, when he became “It is a very distant state,” Bade
aware that someone was shaking his said.
shoulder roughly. He lifted his head Farkuz moistened his lips. His eyes
and found himself looking into Yusuf’s had narrowed, and the calculating look
bearded, brutal face. had crept back into them. “You look
“Captain Farkuz wants a word with like a prince, all right ... No doubt
you. Step lively now. He doesn’t like there would be a large reward for me
to be kept waiting.” if I returned you to this state of yours.”
The chains were unlocked from about “A very large reward,” Bade agreed.
Bade’s ankles, and he was pulled to his “However, returning me to America is

feet. He stifled a groan. His muscles not exactly necessary. Jahlad is much
were stiff and sore, making movement closer, and Prince Tarnib would pay
an agony. And blisters had formed and you just as well.He and I have become
broken on the palms of his hands. close friends.”
Captain Farkuz was seated in his ca- Farkuz fingered his long nose. “But
bin, a dingy, sour-smelling room. He there is the possibility that I would be

was a small, bony man with a rat-like, punished by Prince Tarnib for having
narrow face, clad in garments that were taken you .aboard as a galley slave.”
wrinkled and stained. His cold eyes “You didn’t know,” Bade said. “How
ran over Bade in calculating appraisal. can you be blamed?”
“This is a strange affair,” he began, —
“But the other Prince Meznir?”
and Bade recognized his voice as that “My return could be made secretly.
of the man who had spoken when he Meznir wouldn’t learn of it until it was
first arrived on the ship. “It seems you too late.” /

were badly wanted out of the way. I
was paid to take you aboard as a galley
slave, when I would have been glad to
do so for nothing. Most of the time I
have to pay to get rowers. I was told
that political reasons were at the bot-
tom of it. Is that true?”
Bade nodded. “Prince Meznir want-
ed me removed because of his designs
on Jahlad. Princess Najla may
Farkuz continued to rub his nose,
frowning. “I must think ,this over,” he
said finally. “In themeantime ” He —
turned to Yusuf, who had been an in-
terested listener throughout, and di-
rected that the overseer take Bade to
a spare cabin.
Alone- in the narrow, plain room to
which Yusuf led him, Bade fell to pac-
also ing the floor in excitement. He had
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD
gauged Farkuz’ avaricious nature ex-
actly, and the man had fallen for his
ruse. 'The essence of his scheme was
not so much to be taken back to Jahlad
as to be freed of his chains as a slave
rower. There were difficulties about the
former arrangement, what with Meznir
already in probable control of the state,
that would make Farkuz suspicious.
The only way to guarantee his return to
Jahlad was thus to take over the ship.
And without the obstacle of being
chained, he planned to do precisely that.
HPOWARD noon Bade was taken
' back to Farkuz’ cabin, where he was
invited to join the captain at food. Far-
kuz appeared still hesitant, but Bade
played his role as a prince for all it was
worth, at the same time minimizing the
dangers which Farkuz feared would
arise in returning him to Jahlad. The
man seemed reassured. But he refused
to put the ship about immediately. He
had a cargo to deliver at Basra, and
only after that would he set a course
'back to Jahlad. Bade gave in, cursing
inwardly at thought of the increased
distance.
He went through his pretense again at
the evening meal. Farkuz seemed de-
lighted at the opportunity to share his
table with a prince, though it became
evident to Bade that the man’s reasons
had a more practical significance. For
as they ate Farkuz slyly questioned
Bade about the financial condition of
Jahlad and America. Bade realized sud-
denly that the other was thinking of
more than a mere reward. In his ava-
riciousness he appeared to be consider-
ing nothing less than the idea of holding
Bade for ransom.
Bade’s dislike for the rodent-faced
captain grew. Farkuz was as wholly un-
scrupulous and evil as he was physically
unclean. No act of treachery, where it
'involved possible profits, was beneath
41
his consideration. Nor did Bade over-
look the fact that Farkuz was the real
force behind Yusuf’s inhuman and sa-
distic supervision of the slave rowers.
Bade spent the remainder of the day
in his cabin. When night at last lay
deep and still over the ship, he roused
into grim action.
He went directly to the cabin win-
dow, having ascertained long before
that the door was kept securely locked.
The window was barely large enough to
permit him to squeeze through. He ac-
complished this easily enough and
pulled himself up on deck. He searched
the gloom carefully, listening. Only one
or two of the crew seemed to be on duty
at this part of the ship. Reassured, he
made his way slowly over to Farkuz’.
cabin, keeping to the shadows and tak-
ing advantage of various obstructions.
He reached the door without discov-
ery. Wiping his moist palms on his
sash, he tried the latch. It moved under
his fingers, and the door swung open.
He stepped inside quickly. The interior
of the cabin was dark, but he had been
careful to memorize the details of it on
his previous visits. He knew that the
ring of keys he wanted hung on a nail
above the table where Farkuz kept his
instruments and charts.
He listened for a moment to the sound
of the man’s thin snores. Farkuz
seemed safely asleep. Bade felt his way
over to the table, groped against the
wall above it, and found the keys. In
the next instant the ship gave a sudden
roll, and the keys dropped to the table
with a clatter.
A vast silence followed.There was
an abrupt rustle of motion from the cot
where Farkuz lay.
“What’s that?” his voice demanded.
“Who’s there?”
“Yusuf, master,” Bade said, pitching
his voice to the burly overseer’s deep
tones. He moved toward the cot.
42 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

'T^'HERE was a momentary silence man on duty finally became aware of

from the captain. Then his voice
.
the activity at the galley section. The
sounded again, heavy with doubt. man released a shout of alarm, and a
“Yusuf? But it does not sound
— short time later the others of the crew
Bade’s gripping fingers choked .
off came boiling to the deck.
the rest. He kept squeezing until Far- The liberated rowers met them and
kuz went limp. held them off while Bade completed his
In motion again, Bade found a cloaV task. And when Bade at last was free
and draped it over his shoulders, using about him, he
to join the battle raging
one corner of it to wrap and muffle the found his help was no longer neces-
ring of keys. Then he left the cabin. He sary.
strode boldly toward the galley section, Later, with a grinning Chundar Singh
stooping so as to conceal his height. beside him, Bade altered the course of
Yusuf was on guard at the head of the ship back to Jahlad. Though freed
the catwalk. He had a trick of being of their chains, the rowers werff back
able to nap while on duty. Any slight- at their oars. The places of those too
est unusual sound, or deviation in rythm weak to continue had been filled by
of the oars, would rouse him. former members of the crew. The oars
Bade was able to approach the over- were plied lustily, amid much singing.
seer closely before the creaking of a
board gave him away. For an instant CHAPTER X
Yusuf gazed at the oncoming, cloaked
figure without recognition. Then, his rested in the shadow of the

eyes flaring wide, he started to his feet.
Bade lunged the remaining distance.
His fist came upward in a long arc,
thudding solidly against the other’s
bearded jaw. Yusuf staggered back,
arms flailing at the air. He 'tottered
momentarily at the edge of the catwalk,
"thenfell sprawling among the wildly in-
credulous and staring rowers.
Instantly there was a whirl of violent
movement, of which Yusuf was the fo-
cus.. Eager hands closed about him,
muffling his cries, stilling his struggles.
There was a terrible delight, a deadly
thoroughness, in the attention he re-
ceived. The rowers had lived for noth-
ing but this moment.- In the scant sec-
onds of it they were making up for long
months of suffering and abuse.
Bade did not linger to witness what
was already a foregone conclusion. With
the keys he began unlocking the chains
of the men nearest him, working his
way toward the other end of the ship.
He was half finished when a crew-
palace wall, gazing back toward
the moonlit city. In the sadness that
rose' within him he forgot his exhaus-
tion. There no longer was any doubt
in hismind that Meznir had conquered
Jahlad. The city had become gloomily
silentand still. There were numerous
burned buildings and other signs of
damage. And several times, in making
his way toward the palace, Bade had
had to hide from patrolling troops. Once
he had been sighted and pursued for
some distance.
He was glad that he’d had the ship
approach Jahlad by night and well
down the coast from the harbor, for
beyond doubt Meznir also had patrol
craft on duty. He thought briefly of his
long trek from the place where he had
swum ashore to the spot where he now
rested. Chundar Singh and numerous
others of the liberated gaily slaves had
wanted to accompany him, but he had
felt that he would accomplish his mis-
sion best alone.
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 43

Questions nagged in Bade’s mind. Slight though it was, the sound did not
Had Meznir located the talisman, as go unnoticed. There was a sharp in-
conditions in Jahlad seemed to show? halation from a near point along the
What had happened to Najla and Tar- path, then the clinking of metal. Foot-
nib? Was there ''some way he could
.
steps followed, approaching hastily, yet
help them? x
with unmistakable caution.
He sudden impatience and
stirred in Bade dodged back behind the bushes,
glanced at the wall beside him. Vines cursing silently. He realized that he
covered it, reaching completely to the had given himself away to one of the
top, and they appeared strong enough guards. It meant he would have to do
to support his weight. something about the man. His search
He straightened, rubbed his palms might attract the attention of others.
against his hips, and began to climb.
Reaching the top of the wall, he peered IDADE waited until the oncoming
over, listening. Fountains splashed and footsteps sounded very near, then
leaves rustled in the garden beyond. moved abruptly from behind the bush-
Weird patterns of silver light and sable es, straightening from his crouch. He
shadow lay over the moon-bathed lawns. took the guard completely by surprise.
There were guards, Bade was certain, Before the man could swing up his
but none in his immediate vicinity. sword, Bade rammed his fist into the
He lowered himself carefully into the pale oval of the other’s face. The
garden, listened again, then began mov- guard’s own forward momentum helped
ing toward his next objective. This make the blow effective.Bade’s arm
was the garden where he had met Najla. seemed to go numb to the shoulder, and
He felt certain that he would find the in the next instant the guard sprawled
girl there. Tarnib, the greatest pos- limply against him-, unconscious. Bade
sible source of danger to Meznir, would caught the man, staggering to keep his
most probably be imprisoned in some balance, then carried him out of sight
place as unknown as it was inaccessible. behind the shrubbery.
Moments later Bade crouched to A sudden idea made Bade pause as
earth in the shadows of a bush as a he turned away to resume his trip to
soldier strolled past, slapping a long, the pearl garden. He went back to the
curve-bladed sword against his leg. In fallen guard and began quickly to strip
the next quarter of an hour he repeated the man of his uniform and weapons.
the maneuver again and again as he Then he removed his own salt-stiffened
continued toward his destination. He and dusty garments, replacing them
knew luck was with him in his close with those of the guard. As an after-
escapes from discovery. It didn’t seem thought, he used his sash to bind and
possible that it could last. gag his victim.
Finally he saw the wall of the pearl Breathless from his efforts, but grin-
garden looming across a stretch of ning in his newly appropriated and
moonlit lawn. ,
He circled the area, slightly too small finery, Bade now
knowing the grim need to keep con- strode boldly forward. He found the
stantly in the shadows. As he went door that led into the pearl garden, but
around a dark clump of bushes, he came it was locked. Another climb was in-
without warning upon a stone path. dicated, and Bade didn’t hesitate. He
The .sole of one of his tattered slippers found a conveniently vine-covered spot
caught on the edge, and he stumbled. along the wall and went over.
44 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

He dropped lightly to^the ground on that he couldn’t define. He only knew

the other side, pausing to listen again. that she drew him in a way he had
The silence held. He found' the path never before experienced.
that led from the door- and into the gar- Minutes he heard the sound of
later
den and strode along it, toward the quick footfalls. A slender figure mate-
pale bulk of the palace wing, ahead. rialized out of the surrounding darkness

He was close, when a giant figure and hurried toward him. .

loomed with paralyzing abruptness out “Sinbad!” She caught his hand. “It
of the shadows to one side of the path. is really you I had given up hope
! .

A huge hand closed about his throat. that you might return.”
The blade of a great sword glittered in He grinned down at her. “I did the
the moonlight as it was raised high. same a few times. But did it matter
“Dog of MeznirJ” a deep voice so much to you?”
growled. “I thought it was decreed She met his eyes gravely. “Very
that the soldiery were not to trespass in much.” Then she turned away, pulling
this part of the palace.” him toward a stone bench. A shaft of
It was Ibrahim, Bade realized, Naj- moonlight struck across the spot where
la’s giantNubian guard. In the next she sat, and in its silver radiance her
instant the other recognized Bade also. loveliness tookon an ethereal quality.
The whites of his eyes showed in a stare She wore a cloak over a long white
of utter disbelief. He released his hold gown, and her shining hair hung in
and stepped back. awry curls about her shoulders.
“Effetidi Sinbadl It was thought that “Tell me what happened, Sinbad. Did
you had vanished — thatyou might be Meznir do something to you?"^ And can
dead. How does it happen that you you tell me why Achmed has also
are here, in the uniform of Meznir’s gone?” .

-troops?”
Bade explained briefly. “I must see T> ADE repeated what he had already
Najla,” he finished. “You must tell told Ibrahim, though- in greater de-
her that I am here. Perhaps there is tail. He described Achmed’s treachery
something I can do while my presence arid the chamberlain’s death as a result'
remains undiscovered.” of the torture at the hands of Meznir’s
Ibrahim ducked his head in a quick men.
bow. yl
will tell, her at once, efiendi. Najla’s slender face was saddened.
She will be delighted to know that you^ “I had been trying to decide in what
are back. Najla has not been the same incredible fashion Meznir was able to
since learning that you were gone.” obtain the talisman. ' The matter is now
With a grin, he turned and vanished in clear. And the mystery of El Khad’s
the darkness. disappearance, also. I had never sus-
Bade thought of the Nubian’s last pected that Achmed might turn trai-
words as he waited. He felt a glow of tor.”
deep pleasure in the discovery that Naj- “He most probably would never have
la Had been concerned about him. He done Meznir hadn’t suggested it/,’
so, if
realized this was because she had been Bade said. He questioned her abou^
in his mind almost continuously since Meznir’s conquest of Jahlad.
their meeting. “It happened very rapidly,” she said.
She was an unusual girl, he told him- “But of course, he had his troops ready
self. There were qualities about her allthe time. The battle was over be-
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 45

fore we fully knew what was going on.” Meznir, his conquest will crumble from
“And Tarnib? What has been done under him like a thing of sand!”
with him?” She looked into 'his determined eyes,
“Tarnib cannot be found. Or at least and her face twisted. Almost as though
that is what Meznir claims.” in weariness, she leaned toward him,
Bade stared dismay filling
at her, placing her head on his shoulder. Her
him. Had Meznir killed Tarnib? He slender body was shaking with quiet
had been confident that the man would sobs. He held her tightly until she
keep Tarnib prisoner, using the youth’s grew calm, then stood up.
life as a bargaining point against Najla. “I must hurry. There is not much
But perhaps, Bade decided, Tarnib had time left.”
somehow forced Meznir’s hand in a She rose, too, standing slim and
fatal direction. straight before him. Her eyes shone.
“I’m sorry,” Bade told the girl, who “Whatever happens, Sinbad, we shall
was looking steadily down at her folded share the same fate. I would not want
hands. “But it may be possible that it otherwise Now come with me.
. . .

Tarnib is still alive somewhere. He I shall show you a way into the palace.
may have escaped Meznir.” There are secret passages of which
She said nothing. Meznir knows nothing.”
“The talisman* . . Bade muttered A short time later Bade strode down
after an interval of silence. “What is a long, luxurious hall, toward a pair of
it like? Have you seen it?” richly carven and inlaid doors at its
Najla moved her small head in a nod. end. Meznir slept behind them, he
,

“It is a very large, round jewel that knew. And the lines of his hawkish
constantly changes color. It is en- face tightened bleakly at the knowl-
closed ^with an intricate framework of edge. Hatred of Meznir surged within
gold, towhich a gold chain is attached. him, overcoming for the moment the
Meznir wears it about his neck always, cold tension that gripped his mind.
obviously fearing its loss. And he is
slowly learning to use it. I have heard HE .drew nearer, he saw that two
that lie spends much time in studying soldiers were stationed before the
the manuscripts and volumes El Khad doors. 'He congratulated himself for
left behind. Before much longer he his forethought in donning the uniform
will be too powerful ever to be sub- of the guard he had overcome outside
dued.” the palace. The dim illumination of
Bade began questioning the girl care- the hall was also a help. But he wasn’t
fully about Meznir’s location in the certain he would be able to pass these
palace. She answered mechanically. two particular soldiers as easily as he
And then, evidently realizing the signif- had /those along his route here from
icance of his quiz, she caught anxious- the spot where Najla had left him.
ly at his arm. He told himself he had to pass. Ev-
“Sinbad — what is in your mind? erything depended on it. Never again
Surely you cannot be planning to attack would conditions shape themselves into
Meznir. He is surrounded by his guards. such an opportunity.
You will be caught.” The two soldiers straightened to at-
“It a risk I have to take. As the
is tention as Bade came up to them. They
situation is now, there’s no hope for us. were staring in bewilderment.
If I can take the talisman away from Bade was hunched over as though in
46 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

pain, breathing like a man who has icent silk robe. A familiar voice spoke
expended great physical effort. He held harshly./
an end of his turban over one side of “What is this nonsense about magi-
his face, and the twisted expression of cians? Speak up, man, or you will re-
the visible portion left little doubt that gret this disturbance!”
he nursed some serious wound. Bade raised his head. He looked into
The soldiers had long since noted the Meznir’s face. He saw the recognition
fact of Bade’s familiar uniform. Their there, the shock, the swift hatred
observations went no further than that. and the surging fear. At the same time
Whatever suspicions they might have he saw the great jewel, enclosed within
had were submerged in the perplexity an intricate gold framework, hanging
and vague alarm evident on their fea- by a gold chain from Meznir’s neck.
tures. And he saw there was nobody close
“I must see Prince Meznir at once,” enough to Meznir and himself to inter-
Bade gasped out. “It is urgent!” fere with what he intended.. The set-
“What has happened?” one of the up was perfect.
guards demanded curiously. While surprise still gripped Meznir,
“A magician has slipped into the Bade acted. He leaped forward, and
palace,” Bade said. “I tried to captyre his hand shot out toward the gold
him outside, but he used his fiendish chain.
arts on me. Prince Meznir must be He had hardly moved, when he felt

warned!” himself gripped about the body and

As Bade had guessed, the threat of lifted high in theair. It seemed that
magic was something the guards under- giant hands had seized hold of him.
stood. It seemed to leave no hesitation And in the next instant, through the
!
in their minds that the matter was seri- dismay flaring within him, he realized
ous enough to warrant the immediate that this was exactly what had hap-
knowledge of their prince. pened. But the hands, as well as the
The guard who had spoken whirled creature to which they belonged were
to his companion, cautioning him to re- quite invisible.
main on watch. Then he gestured to
Bade and led the way through the CHAPTER XI
doors. Bade followed into a dim-lit
sitting room, waiting as the guard left OECOVERING his self-possession,

to awaken Meznir. Meznir smiled grim delight. He

in

Bade remained hunched over, the touched the jewel about his neck and
strip of turban still pressed to his face. spoke a few swift words in what was
His- pulses drummed in mounting ten- obviously an alien tongue.
sion. Flame-like in his mind was the Bade felt himself lowered to the

knowledge that the next several seconds floor, though the hands gripping his
were crucial. His plan must not fail, body did not relax their hold. His
for never again would he have another struggles were futile. The unseen, huge
chance. fingers about him contained an enor-
He
heard a door open, heard foot- mous strength.
steps approach him from across the Meznir strolled closer, surveying
room. The footsteps stopped before Bade from lidded eyes. “Your disguise
him. He could see the toes of hand- was clever, effendi Sinbad but not —
some bedroom slippers under a magnif- clever enough, it seems. It was quite
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 47

a surprise to see you again. I had felt seemed that his skull would split. The
certain you were completely out of the welcome darkness, shot with red flames
way. However, it appears that I have of pain, began to gather within him
made a mistake in the method by which again.
I attempted to dispose of you. It is But again it was denied. The hands
a mistake I shall not repeat.” relaxed. —
Relaxed and tightened. Over
Bade The knowledge
said nothing. and over. The process occupied only a
of Meznir’s triumph, underscored by matter of minutes, but to Bade it
the man’s arrogant tones, brought a seemed an eternity. And then the black
sudden, blinking rage that rose over tide which had been mounting within
his despair. He took swift advantage him swept over his mind in a sudden
of the grip about his body, usingit as a rush.
support to lash out at Meznir with both The sting of repeated slaps brought
legs. But quick as he was, the invisi- him back to consciousness. He opened
ble, giant hands jerked him back out of his eyes.Through a haze, he saw Mez-
reach. nir nod
in satisfaction and step back,
Meznir chuckled in mockery. “My rubbing the palm of one hand against
little pet makes an effective guard, eh? his robe.
I conjured it into being through use of “I could have had you killed very
the talisman and the formulae El Khad easily, effendi Sinbad, but I have a use
left behind. an other-plane crea-
It is for yqu. -
Until you have served your
ture, which for some reason is not visi- purpose, you shall live.” Meznir smiled
ble in our world. But no doubt you are thinly. “It will interest you to know
quite uninterested in these details. that this purpose concerns Najla. She
What you is that I intend
will interest has refused to consider marriage, and if

to see that you are punished for your I must force her into it, I prefer to do
attempt to harm me a moment ago.” so in a way that will make her beg for
Once again Meznir touched the jewel the opportunity. Unfortunately, Tar-
about his neck, voicing alien words. nib is not available for the plan I have
Abruptly the huge fingers tightened in mind, having somehow escaped me.
around Bade, squeezing like the jaws But you, effendi Sinbad, will serve quite
of a vise. Unbearable agony rose with- as well as a substitute.To judge from
in him, and only through a tremendous her^anxious questions over your where-
effort of will did he keep himself from abouts, she regards you with consider-
shrieking. He did not want to give able favor. It is a situation you both
Meznir that much added satisfaction. are going to regret. I will leave you to
—
His mind darkened but he was not ponder that for the time being.”
permitted to reach the haven of un- Meznir turned away, issuing curt
consciousness. Meznir spoke again, and orders, and shortly a group of addi-
the grip loosened. The man watched tional guards appeared. The invisible
intently, lips pressed against his teeth hands turned Bade over to them. Chains
in a wolfishly cruel smile. When Bade were fastened about him, and then he
showed signs of returning awareness, was led through the silent palace and
he spoke another command. into the long-unused dungeon section
The hands tightened once more,' and below. He was pushed roughly into a
Bade locked his teeth against the tor- lightless, musty cell. The heavy door
ment. His head throbbed with the thudded shu.t, and he was alone with
mounting internal pressure until it his thoughts in the darkness. They
 48 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

were not pleasant. He lowered his if briefly. And despite their stark real-
bruised and aching body to the cold ity, his emotions abruptly struck him as
floor and tried not to think. strange . . . strange to have known
this slender girl for so short a time, yet
'"pHE long, sick hours dragged tortu- to feel that he had known her always.
A “Your fate
ously past. Napping fitfully, Bade Najla’s fingers tightened.
heard the sound of footsteps in the cor- shall be mine as I promised, Sinbad
ridor outside.Voices muttered briefly. but . but I wish we had gone
. .

Then the door opened and two uni- away together while we had the chance.
formed men entered the cell, jerking Yasmina could have taken us-^”
Bade to his feet. “Yasmina!” Bade said,., a desperate
With a guard on either side of him hope flaring within him. “Where is
and two others bringing up the rear, he she?” .

was led back up into the palace. He “Searching for El Khad, I think.”
realized presently that his destination Najla’s voice quickened still more un-

was the audience and a sharp won-

hall, der the impetus of the sound' and ac-
der -rose within him. Just what sort of tivity which was beginning to come
a scheme did Meznir have in mind? from the direction of the dais. Meznir
The audience hall was well filled, was on his feet, snarling furious com-
Bade found upon being shoved inside. mands. “I have been hoping that Yas-
Meznir occupied the chair of state on mina would not return for the present.
the dais, and guards clustered
officials I feared that Meznir would destroy
about him. He was
listening to some her.”
-

sort of petition when he became aware Bade’s forlorn hope died. Dully, he
of Bade’s arrival. Alertness came into turned his attention to the group of sol-
his square, dark face, and his sensuous diers now hurrying forward behind
lips twisted into a faintly jeering smile. Najla. They grasped the girl with polite
He turned his gaudily turbaned head to firmness and began to direct her back
glance at a spot to one side of the dais. to her former position near the dais.
Najla stood there, vher widened eyes Ibrahim released a deep growl, anger
fixed on Bade. Behind her was Ibrahim, contorting the lines of his black face.
huge and impassive, arms crossed over He started into motion, sweeping aside
his mighty chest. the figures before him as though they
As Bade .was led forward, Najla were no more substantial than' shadow.
abruptly darted around the figures in- The soldiers about Najla. swung to
tervening and ran to him. She caught the defensive. A moment later they
his bound arms, her blue eyes searching were joined by part of Bade’s own
his face in anguished concern. She group, while others began hastening
spoke swiftly, her voice soft and urgent. toward the scene from various portions
“Sinbad— what has been done to of the chamber.
you? I was told that you had been . Swords glittered, crossbows were
captured. A part of me seemed to readied and aimed. The situation thun-
perish.” dered to a crisis that could end only in
“I’m all right,” Bade said. “Don’t
— Ibrahim’s death. Yet there was some- s
He tried to go on, but the words thing magnificently implacable about
seemed to catch in his throat. He the giant Nubian which indicated that
clenched his imprisoned hands in the he would sow widespread destruction
intensity of his desire to touch her, even before he fell.
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 49

Najla spoke softly. She stepped for- uneasy tension. The pleasant, lively
ward, and her slender hand touched atmosphere which had marked Tarnib’s
Ibrahim’s heavily muscled forearm. reign was strikingly absent.
He quieted in an instant. Then she led Meznir’s heavy-handed tactics, Bade
him back to the place they had occu- suddenly realized, boded ill for the
pied near the dais. The tension in the group of men around him. Their chains
room dissolved like some tangible thing. indicated that they were accused of
Meznir gazed coldly at the girl. serious crimes, which made it certain
“Princess Najla, I have consented to that their fate was to be a bleak one.
allow this servant of yours to remain Bade didn’t overlook the fact that his
free only to please you. But if he ever having been placed among them meant
again threatens my men, I shall see that he was to share that fate. And just
he promptly killed. As for yourself, I
is what it was, he learned a short time
hope you will remember your position in later.
the changed circumstances here.” With other matters evidently out of
She met his eyes with equal coldness. the way, Meznir directed his attention
“My position is no more than you think to the group of chained prisoners, ges-
it is, Prince Meznir. And what you turing toward them as he spoke briefly
think is not important to me.” to the 'officials about him. Quick prep-
“It may be that you will soon feel arations were made, while the tension
otherwise,” Meznir answered grimly. in the hall mounted.
Then he turned from the girl, motioned A powerfully built man in a black
peremptorily at Bade’s guards, and re- hood appeared. He was stripped to the
sumed his seat. waist and carried a huge sword over one
shoulder. Behind him came several
jgADE was prodded into motion and men, who apparently were assistants.
led to an isolated spot against one They bore with them a variety of ob-
wall of the chamber, where stood a jects, which they arranged in a cleared
group of dejected looking men, all space near the center of the floor.

chained and under heavy guard. He First a large square of thick cloth was
was unceremoniously shoved among spread. Upon this was placed a heavy
them, and except where the vigilance block of wood, the surface of which was
of the guards was concerned, ignored covered with dark stains. A number
for the time being. of woven baskets were ranged to one
Affairs within the audience hall were side of the block. Then the assistants
resumed. As Bade watched, it swiftly stepped back, while the hooded man
became clear to him that Meznir was a took up a stand beside the block, lean-
typical despot. He was short-tempered ing on his great sword;
and intolerant with subordinates. In The significance of the tableau was
dealing with persons who had sought starkly clear to Bade. Through the
interviews with him over legal or com- despairing emptiness that filled him, he

mercial matters, he was rude and openly
contemptuous. He imposed heavy
taxes and made harsh laws, and the
penalties for even the lightest crimes
were needlessly severe.
Bade noted that the room was
vaded by an undercurrent of dread and
was aware that the men around* him
were shifting and muttering in fear. And
somehow, despite everything, he felt a
nagging perplexity. The audience hall
was hardly an appropriate place for a
per- mass execution. 'He felt certain that
Meznir had some sort of a scheme in
50 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

mind —that Najla, because of her pres- paused for an instant, and brought it
ence, was involved. 1 down in a flashing arc. There was a
heavy, thudding sound, followed by a
TRUMPET sounded, shattering one as the victim’s severed head
lighter
J^ '

the oppressive silence that had dropped into the basket.

fallen over the chamber. Meznir rose, Bade watched numbly while the re-
fondling the intricate gold framework maining prisoners followed in quick
covering the huge jewel that hung about succession. .He had a feeling of remote-
his neck. He glanced around the cham- ness, detachment. He knew his own
ber, then brought his eyes to rest on the death would take place before much
group of chained men. As if to further longer, and the certainty of the knowl-
emphasize the attention he was draw- edge seemed to deaden his emotions.
ing to them, he lifted a solemnly point- Once he glanced at Najla. She was
ing hand. holding her hands before her eyes, her
“Yonder prisoners are each proven slender form trembling. He did not try
criminals. Some have attempted to ob- to catch her attention. It would only
struct my rule by circulating plans of make parting more difficult for both of
rebellion, or by inciting the townfolk them. ,
I*

to open mutiny. Some have gone so far Through it all, Meznir sat leaning
as to take part in cowardly attacks upon forward in his chair, still toying with
my troops on night patrol. Others have the talisman. His black eyes were glit-

refused to pay the taxes levied against tering, his full lips bared in a ghoulish
them, or have disobeyed the new laws. smile.
One in particular”— and Meznir’s gaze And then Bade felt the hands of the
—
hardened on Bade “has actually been, guards close about him. He straight-
rash enough to make an attempt upon ened his shoulders and strode forward
my life. without hesitation, determined that
“I therefore condemn each and every Meznir should not have the satisfaction
one of these men to death. They shall of seeing him struggle or cringe in fear.
'

be executed here and at once. I intend He saw the wooden block appear be-
that their fate shall serve as a warning fore him, its top and^ sides covered with
to the people of Jahlad that my author- blood. He kneeled, not waiting to be
ity' is not to be denied or overcome. forced. He placed his head at the
. . Let the execution proceed.” Ges-
. proper angle and waited.
turing at the guards, Meznir resumed He felt the labored pumping of his
his seat. heart. He tried to keep count of the
The first was
of the prisoners pulled beats in an effort to escape his thoughts.
from the group and led, kicking and But he was still aware of the heavy, taut
struggling, toward the wooden block. silence of the room around him. He
He was forced into a kneeling position heard the executioner take up his posi-
and held down, while a woven basket tion,and knew, within instants, that the
was placed in front of him. The hooded huge sword would come sweeping down.
executioner hefted his great sword and
placed himself in position with deliber- CHAPTER XII

ate, slow movements, as if enjoying the

drama
prolong
of the
it.
moment and anxious to
Then, measuring distances
j ^ SHARP cry tore the- straining fab-
ric of stillness. It was followed by

carefully, he raised the great blade high, the sound of running feet.
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD
Bade looked up startledly.
Najla before him, her slender features
pale and dilated with horror. She had
thrown herself in front of the
executioner, preventing the descent of
his blade.
In another instant she whirled to
Meznir. “You can’t do this! You can't!
I ask mercy for Sinbad. Surely the
crime of which you accuse him is less
greater than the crime of which I
able to accuse you —
the very crime
which led. him into his action.”
Meznir rose leisurely to his feet, eyes
lidded. “Must I remind you that I am
in power here, Princess Najla? It is for
me to decide which are crimes and
which are not. The man you seek to
protect made an attempt upon my life.
That is all I intend to take into consid-
eration.”
“Have you no understanding
dignity and honor expected of a
prince?” Najla demanded. “Do you re-
fuse even to consider the princely qual-
ities of justice and mercy?”
“I condemned this man to death,”
Meznir grunted; “I intend to see that
the sentence is carried out.”
“Very well. But I will permit you to
carry it out only on one condition that —
my head be placed beside Sinbad’s.”
“Suppose I refuse, Princess Najla? I
have only to speak to my troops to keep
you from making such a noble gesture.”
“Then I will join Sinbad at a later
time,” the girl answered quietly. Deter-
mination glinted in her eyes. “You can-
not have me watched at all hours of
the day aand night. Eventually there
willbe an unguarded moment when I
shallbe able to keep my pledge.”
Meznir studied her, stroking his short
beard. Helooked almost sleepy. “I
have little doubt that you would keep
your word, Princess Najla. Since I
would regret your death as much as I
desire Sinbad’s, it would seem that you
51
He saw have presented me with a dilemma. Ah
alternative of some sort seems neces-
sary. Therefore, I will suggest the only
hooded one that can be permitted under the
circumstances.
“As you well know, I have been seek-
ing your agreement in the matter of
marriage. you now consent, I will
If
allow Sinbad to live. You will have that
satisfaction. However, I must impose
am the condition that he be exiled to
another plane of existence. Do you con-
sent?”'
Najla glanced at Bade, distress evi-
dent in every line of her face. He met'
-
her eyes with a sudden deepening of
misery, knowing how difficult was the
decision she had to make. Whether she
accepted or refused, their separation
would result. And he realized that his
death could hardly be more difficult for.
of the Najla to bear than a distasteful mar-
riage to Meznir.
He wanted to tell her- to refuse, but
he knew he couldn’t do that. It would
be an admission of defeat. Death was a
futile means of escape. In life there was
always the possibility of a later triumph.
Najla seemed to reach that conclu-
sion also. She straightened purpose-
fully, meeting Meznir’s waiting gaze.
“I consent,” she said.
TWTEZNIR’S square face lighted in
A exultation, and abruptly Bade
realized that the man had cunningly ar-
ranged events to force Najla into her
decision. It explained the incongru-
ously staged mass execution, and the
reason for Najla’s being present to wit-
ness it. And it' explained the use for
Bade of which Meznir had hinted. This
had been to serve, in lieu of the strange-
ly missing Tarnib, as a means of bring-
ing pressure upon Najla.
Meznir said abruptly, “Then it is un-
derstood, Princess Najla, that you are
to marry me. This marriage is to take
 52 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

.place as quickly as can be arranged. he realized that he was receiving the

It is further understood that effend\ other’s thoughts in some weird way
Sinbad is to be exiled to another plane apparently transmitted to him via the
of existence instead of being executed. mysterious power of the talisman.
J decree that this matter be carried “Farewell, effendi Sinbad! May you
out at once.” find your new plane of existence pleas-
. Without waiting for the girl’s re- ant. From El Khad’s notes, I deliber-
sponse, Meznir issued swift orders. '
ately chose a formula which would re-
Bade’s chains were removed, and then, sult inyour being sent to a completely
as Meznir issued further orders, those inhospitable world. You were foolish
about him withdrew. Najla moved back to hope that you could escape my ven-
with despairing reluctance, urged into geance!”
motion by guards. Bade met her tear- The chuckle sounded again and . . .

bright eyes in a last glance of farewell, faded. Bade’s mind was left to its own
and despite the turmoil within him, he sick, cold thoughts.
itried to smile in reassurance. Then he Bade continued falling through the
turned expectantly to Meznir, assum- grayness, though he realized that this
ing a calmness he did not feel, wasn’t quite true. Actually he was
it' The other held the talisman in his only in motion. He seemed to fall, be-
ihands, gazing down at it in scowling cause this was a sensation familiar to
concentration. And watching, Bade him. in conditions* whefe was swift
Was to see the room blur
startled movement without means of reference.
’around him, become hazy and indis- Again he noticed that the grayness
tinct, saw it through a
as though he was somehow imbued with life, throb-
gathering mist. At the same time he bing, flowing, as though the intangible
•became aware of a sound that was fabric of it vibrated to the beat of
somehow not a sound, for it was some- countless thoughts. And he found, by
thing he sensed rather than heard. It concentrating, that he could perceive
•seemed to be a voice, reciting a strange vague shapes and scenes in the gray-
formula, and with a shock he realized ness — not with his senses, but with
it held Meznir’s hatefully familiar his mind. As he moved, he was aware
tones. of an odd and confusing mixture of
The oddly soundless voice grew impressions, of awesome interstellar

sharper, clearer. It rose to a crescendo vastnesses in which swam planets and

—and in the next instant, while Bade suns, of tremendous, sky-high cities, of
still peered in tense wonderment oceans, deserts, and towering mountain
through the gathering mist, the floor ranges. Sometimes they seemed very
seemed to drop from beneath his feet. near, as though he were in the midst
•The distorted outlines of the audience of them; often they appeared enor-
hall dissolved, and all Jahlad as well, mously distant. Once his perceptions
down to the very time-world of which touched an object in the sentient fog
was a
it: part. Bade had the sensation that seemed curiously different and —
of falling . . . falling endlessly, through familiar. But it vanished too rapidly
a featureless grayness that was bitterly for more than a mere hint of recogni-
Tamiliar. tion. •

And within him he felt a soundless

chuckling, mocking, triumphant. He T)RESENTLY he' found that his mo-
Now A
recognized Meznir’s tones again. tion was slowing, that the grayness
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 53

was fading. A scene was forming blur- enshrouded valley. Reaching the valley,
rily around him . . . clearing, taking he knew, in the thin air and greater
on reality. And then he was sprawling gravity of this unknown world, would
against ice-cold rock. He caught him- be a tortuou'sly difficult process. He
self, recovered his balance, and peered might very well collapse of exhaustion
dazedly about him. —
along the way if a misstep didn’t send
Discoveries, each dismaying and him plunging to his death in the rocky
bleak, began to register upon his mind. depths. But it was a risk he had to
The first was that it was cold in this take.
places bitterly, numbingly cold. And He began working his way laborious-
dark. The sky was a purple-black, ly down the slope, inching around fis-

strewn and dotted with remote pin- sures or steep ridges, lowering himself
points of light. He could recognize none from rock to rock. He felt his way
of the constellations.' In another mo- along carefully, eyes straining at the
ment, as his lungs began laboring for gloom. Vivid in his thoughts was the
breath, he realized that the air here was knowledge that an error in judgment
perilously thin. The effort to keep his would be fatal.
lungs supplied would soon exhaust him. Very soon he was forced to stop and
And then, as he shifted, he grew rest. He leaned against a shelf-like out-
aware that his weight was much greater cropping, breathing hard, each breath
here. Movement would draw heavily searing his lungs like fire. His muscles
—
upon his strength and this in turn ached from his efforts in the greater
would mean increased breathing. He gravity. His hands were numb and stiff
would have to remain motionless as from constant contact with freezingly
much as possible to conserve his ener- cold stone.
gies . . . but he couldn’t do that. When he felt the chill reach into him
Even now the terrible cold was eating again, he forced himself to resume the
into him. He would have to move about descent. But the lack of sufficient air
to keep warm. But he couldn’t and the drain upon his strength took
The full extent of his dilemma burst swift toll. His pauses became more
upon him. There seemed no way out. frequent, and finally, sprawling in utter
Meznir in his treachery had planned despair upon a broad ledge, he realized
well. He had exiled Bade to unpleas- — he could no longer go on. He pillowed
ant and certain death. But what filled his head wearily on one outflung arm,
him with rage was the thought that shivering,’ sobbing in his efforts to
Najla had bargained herself away to breathe. .

save him. Her sacrifice, he knew now, The cold closed around him like a
had been futile. hand of ice. The cold sent insidious
Gasping, shivering, Bade forced his tendrils through him, numbing where it
thoughts away from unavailing recrim- touched. The numbness spread. A
inations and regrets. He studied his dreamy langour filled his mind, almost
surroundings more closely. The need like sleep. He was tired, he told himself.
of shelterbecame vivid in his mind, and It would be good to rest —
even if it
fuel of some sort for warmth. He had meant' the final oblivion of death.
to make an effort to keep alive. As though from far away, he heard a
He saw that he was situated high on sound. was a sound he seemed to
It

a precipitous, rocky slope that seemed have heard somewhere before, and the
to lead endlessly down into a shadow- very familiarity of it, added to the won-
54 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

der.that there could possibly be a sound neck. He flattened himself at its base,
in this desolate place, struck fire in his taking a firm handhold on the feathers
dimming mind. beneath him.
With a tremendous effort, he sat up. Yasmina rose, poised a moment at
He saw a giant bird, monstrous and un- the brink of the ledge, then leaped out
real in the dusk, settling to the ledge into the shadowed, steep declivity be-
beside him. low. She fell rapidly in the greater
gravity, but her mighty wings began
CHAPTER XIII threshing at the air, checking her de-
downward. More
scent into a long glide
JT WAS Yasmina. He stared at her and more rapidly the vast pinions beat,
incredulously, convinced that he was and then slowly but steadily the roc
suffering a delusion. But it was a began to rise.
strangely persistent delusion. The roc Its speed increased. Pinnacles and
did not vanish. It remained there, on peaks flashed past, showing as fantastic
the ledge, cocking its huge head at him black outlines against the purple-black
and fluttering its wings in excitement. sky. The mountains fell away, became
•- Then, as the bird reached down to lostin the shadowed vistas below.
nudge him with its beak, his last doubts Above the dark vault spread limitlessly,
.

evaporated. Perplexity followed. How glittering with the far-flung splendor

had Yasmina traced him here? of its alien stars.
Abruptly he recalled the tantalizing- Faster . . . always faster. Bade clung
ly familiar shape he had seen in the desperately to the feathers under him,
grayness. It had been Yasmina, of his senses reeling under the terrific im-
course. And she had evidently been petus of the roc’s flight. A part of his
,

returning from a fruitless search for El mind retained a crystal-bright clarity,

Khad. Their paths had crossed. But
Yasmina had recognized Bade and had
utilized her weird abilities to come to
his rescue.
Unsuspected reserves of strength and
and it was through^this that he realized
/ the secret of -Yasmina’s speed. For as
she moved, she emitted the vibration
that took her through the barrier be-
tween co-existing planes . through . .

warmth flowed into Bade. Yasmina’s and into that grayness between them,
presence meant that he could return to which was a dimension common to all,
Jahlad. Somehow he would find a way a dimension of such properties that
to reach Najla. And somehow he would limited and inadequate human senses,
find a way to strike at Meznir. The jn their inability to register them,
situation wasn’t as completely hopeless brought only a sensation of grayness.
as he had feared. In that dimension were no restrictions.
- Yasmina nudged him with her beak Physical movement was capable of a
again, and in the next instant he under- speed as infinite as the speed of thought.
stood. The wanted him to mount
roc And that was, in fact, the secret. For
to its back. seemed to dislike this
It thought accomplished what muscles
cold, almost airless, and barren world only strained to do. Thus, as the vibra-
as much as he did. tion took Yasmina over' the borderline
Bade pulled himself to his feet. between any particular plane and the
Grasping the feathers along one great all-pervading dimension beyond, her
wing and digging in with his 'toes, he speed increased as the restrictions of
reached the tall column of the roc’s .that plane decreased.
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 55

J^EEPING a fingernail grip on con- to direct the roc back to the afternoon
Bade saw that the star-
sciousness, when Achmed had been forced to di-
gemmed darkness was beginning to dis- vulge his secret. Jahlad then had not
solve, and at the same time, to lighten. been conquered as yet. He would be
The grayness appeared, like a luminous, able to land at the palace without
slowly thickening fog. Then it spread opposition.
everywhere, inchoate and without limit. But how to direct Yasmina to where
Bade’s mind cleared and sharpened. he wanted to go? How to make her
He realized that Yasmina’s destination understand?
evidently was Jahlad. Somehow he had “Easily,” a silent and curiously
to prevent the roc from landing at the strange voice seemed to whisper. “I am
palace. For that would be the equiva- aware of your wishes.”
lent of leaping from the frying pan into Bade jerked in shocked surprise.
the fire. Meznir would be warned of There had been identity in that voice
the appearance of Bade and the giant . .that thought. Yasmina’s identity.
.

bird. And aided by the powers of the Incredibly, impossibly, the roc knew
talisman, he would' act swiftly to de- what was going on in his mind. Equally:
stroy any possibility of a fresh attack. was the fact that the creature
startling
‘

But Bade knew as well that it would should be able to answer him.
accomplish little if any good to have Then he realized it was all quite log-.

Yasmina land elsewhere. It meant he
would have to overcome the obstacle of
distance in any steps he took against
Meznir. Even if he did get into the
palace without being discovered, there
remained the greatest obstacle of all
Meznir’s possession of the talisman.
Bade shook his head hopelessly.
There was nothing he could do while
Meznir retained that miraculous, un-
canny instrument.
He thought with regret of that after-
noon when, under torture, Achmed had
revealed the talisman’s hiding place. If
he had only been able to escape then
and there, he could have reached the
talisman before Meznir and thus pre-
vented the present situation from hav-
ingcome about.
In another instant Bade stiffened as
ical. He had already sensed that the
grayness surrounding him was somehow
a medium of mind. It was a condition
in which only the mind had ultimate;
reality. Thought was as natural a
means of communication here as speech
would have been under other circum-
stances.
Bade began concentrating intently.
Swiftly he went over his plan, enlarging
upon the Yasmina would
details so that
clearly understand what needed to be
done. Her grasp of the problem proved'
astonishingly thorough. Bade learned,
in fact, that Yasmina’s degree of intelli-
gence closely approached the human
level. Hers had been the highest form
of life in the plane of existence from
which she had come. In assuming from
her bird-like shape that she was little;

a memory burst like a signal flare in his more than an animal monstrosity, Bade
mind. He could still do precisely that! now realized that he had made a serious:
It was quite simple. He had remem- error.
bered Yasmina’s ability to travel in Yasmina’s thoughts grew purposeful
time — to move ahead or back, that is, — questing. Bade became aware that
among the various co-existing planes in she was using her mind to peer through
which forward motion produced the. the grayness, as he had previously dis-
illusion of time. He therefore had only covered could be done. He followed
56 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

suit,and once again he had a confused returning extension in this part of the
impression of worlds and alien land- series.
scapes, sometimes near, sometimes tre- Yasmina began moving downward.
mendously distant. The gray mist that hung over thg scene
And then his perceptions touched and began to thin. And then, abruptly, all
fixed upon a familiar scene. Almost at the curious extensions of objects were
the same time he learned that Yasmina gone. Bade found himself in one of the
had discovered it also. The scene was scenes of the previous palace series, all

that of the palace at Jahlad. He seemed
to see it at a distance —
and from, an
impossible angle. It was as though he
viewed all sides of it at once, yet was
able to look at it from above as well.
HIS and the roc’s attentions cen-
tered upon the palace, it
abruptly to leap toward them, like the
image in a telescope when the magni-
fication is sharply increased.
strange angle of view was no longer
apparent, but there was another oddity.
Instead of one palace, there seemed a
long series of them, merging one into
the other and stretching away into the
distance in both directions. The
nomenon resembled the repeated im-
ages on a strip of motion picture film
except that Bade was in the film at the
same time.
Yasmina began questing backward
and forward along the series. As she
did so, Bade noticed that the human
beings visible' also presented a long-
drawn-out double-exposure effect. He
found he could easily follow their routes
from one part of the palace to the other,
and he suddenly realized what he had
only sensed from Yasmina’s preoccu-
—
pied thoughts that she was searching
for the routes taken by Achmed, Mez-
nir, and himself on the afternoon Mez-
nir had obtained the talisman.
The roc found what she was seeking.
Bade detected the satisfaction in her
thoughts, while at the same time he saw
the repeated, merging figures of Ach-'
med, Meznir, and himself extending
away from the palace. There was no
that was now visible with his senses
limited to a three-dimensional point of
view.
He had a confused feeling as his out-
look shifted. The overpowering reality
of his surroundings made it seem that
the events leading up to this moment
seemed had been only a delusion.
The afternoon sun was bright and
warm. A breeze touched Bade’s.face,
The and he drew its fragrance in deeply. As
the roc descended toward one of the
gardens near the palace, he heard the
splashing of fountains and the chirping
of birds.
In another moment Yasmina glided
phe- to a landing on the grassy turf, and
Bade slipped down from her back.
While the huge bird settled down to
wait, Bade strode into the palace. He
was certain that his appearance would
arouse no suspicions. There was no
reason for anyone in the palace to sus-
pect that anything unusual was afoot.
He encountered a servant in one of
the halls and casually asked the way to
Achmed’s suite of rooms. He explained
that he wished to see the chamberlain
about a certain matter. The directions
were given without hesitation. As he
had guessed, Achmed’s departure had
not been noticed.
The door to the suite opened easily
under Bade’s hand. He slipped inside.
A quick search showed that no servants
were present at the moment. Without
hesitating now, Bade went directly to
the chest in Achmed’s sleeping chamber
which the unfortunate chamberlain had
described as the hiding place of the
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 57

talisman. He located the secret com- In that new plane of probability,

partment in the bottom drawer and — further, Bade would still have escaped
then the huge jewel, .with its gold frame- his predicament as a slave rower. Thus
work and chain was in his hands. He there seemed nothing of real and im-
thrust it into his sash and left the room. mediate importance that he could
Nobody tried to stop him as he strode accomplish.
from the palace. No shouts rose in his Where his helpwas badly needed was
wake. in the plane where Meznir had obtained
Yasmina was where he had left her. the talisman and conquered Jahlad. But
Her eyes glittered as he approached, Bade realized that his possession of a
and her great head bobbed in excite- duplicate jewel had created a paradox-
ment. ical situation, which might very well
He mounted quickly to her back. She exclude him from that plane.
rose erect and began running along the
turf, flapping her wings with increasing CHAPTER XIV
rapidity as she moved. Then she was
airborne. She circled for altitude, her
J-JE
THOUGHT of the .talisman and
vast pinions beating powerfully at the wondered if somehow it 'might not
air. furnish him with the answer to^his un-
Higher and higher, she rose. The certainty. Removing the instrument
palace below seemed to shrink into it- from his. sash, he peered hopefully into
self. The surrounding landscape flat- its depths. It glowed with a light of its
tened and spread. - own. And amid the shifting rainbow
Faster, now .and faster. The
. . hues of its interior vague shapes seemed
thresh of giant wings in ever-mounting to move. Bade squinted intently at.
tempo, the exulting, eager surge of them in the effort to bring them into
mighty muscles. And then the gray- — focus.
'

ness. Abruptly he found himself peering

As Bade’s mind steadied, he became through and beyond the jewel with the
aware of a whisper of thought from the he gazed through
eerie impression that
roc. a great window .... through and into
“We go forward?” the black void of some space between
“Yes,” he said. And then dismay worlds. Distant pinpoints of light
struck into him. Forward to where? — blazed against the ebon backdrop. As
For the first time he realized that he Bade stared at them, he^saw a number
had, in taking the talisman, created a of slender, pointed shapes flash into
new plane of probability. In that plane view. They seemed for all the world
Meznir did not gain possession of the like submarines, but as he watched
talisman, and hence a different set of them a moment longer, he realized, what
conditions had resulted. Finding the they were-^space ships. He had seen
magical jewel gone, Meznir undoubted- futuristic depictions of them in the
ly would have reached the obvious con- time- world he had left.

clusion that someone had beaten him to
it. He would have feared to attack
Jahlad until he knew who
was. And" since it was extremely un-
likely that he would ever find out,
Jahlad would remain safe.
Awe gripped him. He knew he might
very well be looking at a scene from a
that person future phase of that world.
He must have peered too intently—
for in the next instant the grayness was
gone, and he and Yasmina were in the
 58 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

star-spattered void, in the very midst of explanation of what had happened. „

the vessels of space. “I was not injured,” the roc's whisper
Stunned awareness came to him of answered. “It was fortunate that you
what must have happened. He already acted quickly. The talisman must be
knew that the talisman was a sort of handled with caution.”
catalyst, acting upon the power of Bade described what he had been
mind. And only mind had ultimate attempting to do when he had accident-
reality. He and Yasmina were in es- ly projected the roc and himself. He
sence little more than three-dimensional finished, “It’s still a question whether
images of what they considered them- my possession of the talisman will ex-
selves to be. With the aid of the talis- clude me from the plane I want to
man, he had projected those images into reach, because Meznir also possesses a
another plane, in much the same fash- talisman.”
ion that the two-dimensional images of “I believe that would happen,” the
a moving picture are projected upon a response came. “However, it is a mat-
screen.
/ ter for El Khad to decide.”
But Bade found that he had somehow “But how could I possibly locate
projected the roc and himself in the him?”
wrong perspective, for they were huge “With the talisman anything is pos-
£
At the
in proportion to the space ships. sible. You can make easy for me a
.moment, however, that was a minor task which I have found impossible to
detail. He was reminded by a number accomplish.”
of painful physical sensations that he Bade learned that he had simply to

and Yasmina were in a frigid vacuum. focus into the talisman the desire to find
It was imperative that they leave at El Khad. However remote the ma-
once. Added to this, the space ships gician was, the thought would reach
were beginning to conduct themselves him.
in a dismayingly aggressive manner.
The RAZING into the jewel, Bade con-
led
vessels had already shown start-
awareness of Bade and the roc, ^ centrated intently. After 'a mo-
scattering amid flashes of blue-white ment he received an impression of tre-
brilliance from the propulsion tubes' at mendous distance. His awareness
1

their sterns. Now 'they were swinging seemed to plumb this distance, to wing
back, in the next instant beams of through it with inconceivable speed.'
light leaped out from their tapering Plane beyond alien plane, he soared
'bows, arrowing toward Yasmina. beyond and ever beyond, to what
Frantically, Bade returned his atten- seemed the very end of all creation. And
tion to the talisman, forcing himself to there, floating in physical suspension
"ignore the obviously lethal rays for within a sphere of being just large
the moment. He peered into the depths enough to enclose his body, he found
of the jewel, trying to get the grayness El Khad.
into focus. It came —and abruptly the The old magician’s mind reached out
Starry void and the attacking ships were like an eager hand, incredulous, delight-
"gone. He and Yasmina were back in ed, questioning. Swiftly, Bade ex-

|
that familiar, formless and placeless plained how he had spanned the gulf
.gray mist. separating them, and his reasons for so
“Are you all right?” Bade asked. He doing. With the flashing speed possible
continued his thought to give a brief in mental contact, he sketched his own
 THE RETURN OF SINBAB 59

personal background, the method of his Science and outright sorcery. He did
arrival in Jahlad,and the sequence of notknow how long the process went on,
events there which had led up to this though in a medium where no time
moment. effect existed, he had the impression
In turn, El Khad told briefly how he that a very long interval passed.
had been tricked out of the talisman by was ready. He withdrew
Finally he
Achmed and imprisoned within the his mind from El Khad, and almost in
sphere. He went on, “It is impossible the same instant was back with the roc.
for me to. leave this place until the talis- First enlightening her as to what had
man in Meznir’s possession is de- taken place, he began outlining swift
stroyed. He has not had sufficient depth plans.
of mind to be able to locate me, but he Yasmina started into purposeful mo-
has set up certain conditions to prevent tion, utilizing the uncanny instinct that
my return. In combination with those would bring Bade within perception of
previously created by Achmed, an im- the plane he wanted to reach.
penetrable barrier has been erected The palace at Jahlad appeared
against me. The simplest and swiftest through the grayness, again weirdly dis-
way to remove that barrier is by de- torted. And again it seemed to leap
stroying the one thing that keeps it in toward Bade, suddenly magnified, its
force —the talisman Meznir now holds, series of repeated images stretching
in his grasp.” away into the distance on either side.
“That’s what I hope to do,” Bade re- Yasmina quested along the forward
turned grimly. “But I don’t know if it extension, while Bade peered into the
is possible for me to reach Meznir.” talisman. He wanted to choose a dra-
“It is,” El Khad said. “You have matic moment for his encounter with
simply overlooked a certain detail. As Meznir. The most likely was the scene
you have guessed, your possession of a His
of the latter’s marriage to Najla.
duplicate talisman has created a para- appearance would interrupt the cere-
doxical situation.You could not enter mony with devastating effect.
Meznir’s plane unless the talisman he But strangely the scene could not be
has is destroyed. But since each of you found. And then, concentrating intent-
possesses an identical instrument, you ly upon the talisman, Bade came upon
can easily make contact across the a tableau within the audience hall of
probability gulf. That is, because he the palace that made his mind harden
also has a talisman, Meznir will be real with abrupt purpose.
to you,though his plane will not.” Meznir was seated upon the chair
Bade’s thought was fiercely eager. atop the dias, his dark features twisted
“Then I’m going to arrange a little in rage. Before him, gripped on either
meeting at once. There is much that side by guards, stood Tarnib. The
Meznir and I have to discuss.” youth’s slender body was straight and
“I understand.” El Khad seemed to determined as he returned Meznir’s
shiver, slightly. “But before you go, wrathful gaze with cool defiance.
there is certain information that you Through the talisman, Bade gath-
will need. Prepare your mind to re- ered that Meznir was questioning Tar-
ceive it.” nib. The subject of the quiz, it be-
Knowledge began pouring into Bade, came was Najla. The girl had
evident,
a strange knowledge that seemed com- disappeared. And somehow Tarnib had
pounded of highly abstruse theoretical fallen into Meznir’s hands — into a dan-
60 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

ger immediate and deadly, for Meznir His hands tightened spasmodically on
was convinced that the youth was re- the talisman about his neck, his
sponsible for Najla’s vanishment. Tar- thoughts drove into it like a searing
nib was being threatened with torture beam.
unless he revealed Najla’s hiding place. A bolt of lethal force leaped out at
Suddenly Bade awoke to the fact that Bade. It was a phenomenon he sensed
in his interest and excitement he had rather than saw in the utter rapidity
not been careful enough in spying on the with which it materialized. But he was
scene. For Meznir had leaped to his prepared. The bolt struck the shield
feet, and was now peering startledly he had erected and glanced off in a
into the depths of his talisman. pyrotechnic display of brilliance.
Bade realized he had been discov- Almost at the same time Bade
ered. launched a bolt of his own.' Meznir,
tardily throwing up a barrier, was
CHAPTER XV hurled back across the room, his in-
cipient defense torn down.
TMMEDIATE action _ was required “I could kill you now,” Bade said,
now, Bade knew. Meznir must have his thought implacable and cold. “But
no time to prepare a defense. you have too much to answer -for. This,
He didn’t hesitate.. From the knowl- efiendi Meznir, is just the beginning.”
edge El Khad had given him, he knew Trapped, animal fury blazed in Mez-
precisely what to do. He directed cer- nir’s mind. He moved as though to
tain thoughts into his talisman, and stand erect —
then, simultaneously, he
abruptly he was soaring through the thrust an incandescent blade of force at
grayness. Phantom-like, he floated Bade. It struck his shield with a vio-
through the palace walls and into the lent impact, staggering him. Its unut-
audience hall. He was unreal in re- terably fierce radiations burst into a
lation to this plane. The apparently coruscating shower about him. With
material aspects of it were no barrier to fulious rapidity, it struck again and
him. him back.
again, driving
He came to a stop before Meznir. Bade fashioned a blade of his own,
Only Meznir was real. Tarnib and the parried the next descent of Meznir’s,
others were wraith-like. then drove in a sudden assault. Yhe
“We meet again,” Bade said quietly. other darted aside, but Bade gave him
“But this time, Meznir, the circum- no opportunity to recover completely.
stances have changed.” He; pressed his momentary advantage,
The other was staring. Chaotic emo- slashing, thrusting, keeping his oppo-
tions showed on his square face — sur- nent on the defensive.
prise, bewilderment, disbelief. He In desperation, Meznir leaped from
gasped, “You! But impossible!
it is within immediate range. Abandoning
I sent you to certain death
” ! his present line of battle, he again
> Bade shrugged. “It proves you. can’t hurled a bolt at Bade, following it up
keep a good man down.” with others as swiftly as he could pro-
And then Meznir noticed Bade’s talis- duce and dispatch them.
man. His black eyes flared wide, his Bade flung up his shield, deflecting
full lips curled back in a grimace. His the first few, but the savage violence of
body stiffened, crouching. In the next the rest forced him to retreat. Then
instant he exploded into frantic action. the quality of his shield changed, be-
 THE RETURN OF SIN BAD 61

came a condition in which the blasts of catches up with its users.”

energy were captured and held. He Meznir said slowly, “It may be, dig-
launched the whole, and Meznir hastily ger of holes, that you are wrong. What
took cover, shuddering under the im- you term nastiness often has its adr
pact. vantages.” The thought rose over the
Back and forth across the chamber black intention in his mind, obscuring
the battle raged, not entirely within it, it for thefew instants he needed. As
yet not entirely out of it. The cham- the last echoes of it reached Bade, he

ber was merely a focal point of a con-
flict that took place beyond all planes,
and only an echo of it reached there.
But even that echo was a storm of forces
that shook the walls and bathed them
in kaleidoscopic patterns of lurid radi-
ance.
j^/jTEZNIR shifted from weapon to
weapon in his efforts to find a
weak spot in Bade’s armor, through
which he could drive in a supreme on-
acted with desperate cunning. Pouring
his last dregs of strength into a final
effort, he hurled a vicious bolt at Bade.
And as it struck Bade’s shield and ex-
ploded into a geyser of blinding, scintifc-
lant energy, he whirled in a flash of
movement toward the spot where Tar-
nib lay, stunned and shaken, against a
wall. He snatched the youth up, held
him as a screen.
“One move, ejjendi Sinbad, and Tarr
”
nib dies !

slaught. Hardly had one attack been Recovering from the fury of the bolt;
met, when he followed with another. Bade felt a chill dismay strike through

But Meznir’s ability to use the talis- him. In the danger and intensity of the
man in his possession was' based upon struggle, he had overlooked Tarnib.
information he had obtained from El Meznir had remembered the youth in
Khad’s notes. And the old magician time to make a crafty attempt to ward
had known certain devastating tricks off otherwise certain defeat. .

and techniques which he had not re- In his anxiety; Bade started forward.
corded. Bade had been given these. A stinging lash of thought from Meznir
They constituted an edifice of super- stopped him.
human ability whose mighty walls were “Careful! I can kill Tarnib in an in-
rooted deep in the. foundations of his stant.0 You dare not use the forces of
mind. your talisman against me, for they
He took everything Meznir had to would destroy Tarnib as well. Keep
offer —and countered with even more that in mind.”
punishing blows of his own. Slowly Bade stood quietly, inwardly raging.
Meznir’s attacks weakened. The in- He knew the other was right.
tensity and brilliance of his. bizarre “I am now going to leave this plane,”
weapons dwindled. At last only his Meznir went on. “And Tarnib is going
shield remained, flickering dully. He with me. He will pay with his life if

crouched behind it in exhaustion, red you try to follow.”

embers of defiance glowing through the s
Bade’s distress grew. He realized
fear and desperation that filled his that it would be impossible to. locate
mind. Meznir once the other succeeded in es-
Bade released a soft mental laugh. caping. With his talisman, he could
“You’re beaten, ejjendi Meznir beaten — construct barriers against detection by
as all your kind sooner or later are. Bade’s own instrument. And there
Nastiness is something that always would always be the danger that Mez^
 62 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES
nir would return to strike unexpectedly,
to catch Bade completely off guard and
regain control.
Tarnib had been dazed by the con-
flict,,' which, though it had not reached
into his three-dimensional basis of real-
ity, had nevertheless left its
Now, evidently jolted into full aware-
ness by Meznir’s grasp, he showed sud-
den understanding of the situation. His
slender body erupted. into frantic ac-
tion, kicking and struggling. His tur-
ban was knocked from his head, and
-from beneath its confining folds
stream of shining brown hair. Instant-
ly his appearance altered.
Meznir froze with shock and incre-
dulity, staring. And Bade stared, too.
In that moment both reached a conclu-
sion which, to all previous evidence,
seemed wildly impossible.
Tarnib was Najla!
. . . for he wished his dynasty to continue as
While Meznir still stared, the girl
broke free. And in his confused state
of mind Meznir made a mistake. He
.
forgot to erect his shield. He
Bade entirely. He plunged after Najla.’
Hardly had he moved, when hands
.of force caught him, fixed vise-like
about his throat. They squeezed re-
lentlessly, mercilessly. There was a
snapping sound —
and Meznir’s neck
broke. His body sagged limply against
the invisible fingers holding him, a shell
suddenly without movement, without
'threat .without life.
. .
Sickened, Bade now directed a beam
of energy at the remains, and under its
bright, consuming touch, Meznir and
his talisman were dissolved into primal
.particles.
Without pausing, Bade once again di-
rected his mind into the talisman, this
time to remove the sphere from about
-El Khad, and to set up the conditions
which would accomplish the old magi-
’
dan’s swift return to Jahlad. Then, and
only then, did he feel 'competent enough
to deal with the starkly incredible fact
that Tarnib and Najla were, one and the
’
same.
rT''HE garden was cool and fragrant.
Through the evening shadows deep-
effects. ening over it came the splashing of
fountains and the twittering of birds.
Bade and Najla sat on a marble
bench before a small pool. Nearby
stood El Khad, short and gnome-like,
stroking his white beard. He was grin-
ning in sympathy with Najla, who with
fell a head thrown back, was laughing mer-
rily at the expression on Bade’s face.
Bade stammered, “Do you mean that
you were Tarnib all the time ... on
the island . . . here, at the palace?”
“Of course,” Najla said. “As I have
explained, there never was a Tarnib.
My father felt the lack of a son keenly,
rulers of Jahlad. A girl could not rule,
since it would be against custom. Wom-
en are not permitted to take part in pub-
forgot licor political affairs. They could not
command the respect due a male ruler,
and hence there would be- internal as
well as external difficulties.
“But since my had been bur-
father
dened with a daughter, he had to make
the best of it. In fact, it was I who con-
vinced him. It was decided to create
the identity of Tarnib. With the talis-
man, El Khad produced conditions in
which Tarnib was accepted as a real
person, and all those involved in the
deception were shifted to a new plane
of probability.
“Only a very few knew the secret. I
adopted the guise as Tarnib for matters
of state, alternating with my true iden-
tity when it became necessary. When
Meznir conquered Jahlad, for instance,
I realized that my life would be best in-
sured by becoming Najla. And when
Meznir forced me into a promise of
marriage, I became Tarnib.”
 THE RETURN OF SINBAD 63

Bade shook his head wonderingly. ruptly. “As a vacation, if things here
“I should have guessed it. You were a ever become too much for me. El Khad
bit too much like Tarnib, and Tarnib told me a return was possible.”
a bit too much like you.'
5
The old magician nodded. “A simple
“But you were fooled, were you not?” matter. The mechanics are interesting.
“Yes,” Bade admitted ruefully. “And You have only to trace the prob
—
Meznir as well.” “I’m sure you can explain that later,”
“He is gone,” Najla said, a momen- Najla broke in. “Sinbad and I have
tary shadow touching her face. “Just certain matters to discuss.”
as the last remnants of his rule in Jah- El Khad chuckled. “You can save
lad are gone. El Khad saw to that.” your breath. There is little use in pre-
“It was nothing,” the old magician tending that you have to lead Sinbad
said, with a wave of one small hand. into talk of marriage. Didn’t I show
“Sinbad did the really important' work. you the ceremony taking place, with the
There was little left for me to do.” talisman?” •*

“And now I suppose you will want to Najla rose in dismayed confusion.
return to your own world in time,” “But you were not to have told!”
Najla said to Bade. “That’s quite all right,” E! Khad re-
He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. turned imperturbably. “Sinbad knows
He frowned and pinched the lobe of his already. What I showed you in the
ear. “I’ve been thinking about that. talisman was his idea!” £
And I think I will.” He, grinned ab- THE END

*
VERYONE
'

BBy aim
knows and loves Shakespeare’s
TT. W ARMWKHffilHir
observer breathless. Hollywood fantasies merely

E “Hamlet." Among fantasy lovers espe-

cially, it has a unique, hold. Confused and
maddened Hamlet, mentally deranged Ophelia, the
seem
subtlety
to make
or
on a lavish technical
the observer bored.
understanding.
There is no
.

Everything is done
scale, but in the matter where
whole host of characters that sprang full blown it
s
really counts, the presentation of the fantasy
from the master’s brain are probably the most itself, Hollywood leaves us cold.
immortal that have ever been created. Who will fail to remember that gem, “Stairway
For the first time we are to have the pleasure to Heaven.” It was worthy of the best in any
and privilege of seeing this incomparable master- fantasy fiction that we’ve read. Of course Holly-
work in the movies. Lawrence Olivier has wood has done some fine things. The first
again created an incredibly fine piece of artistry. Frankenstein pictures, as well as other fantasies
Critics who have seen the film have raved over were done superbly, but in recent years there
it. has been an awful tendency to give the effect
What makes it particularly appealing to lovers of “I don’t care.”
of the fantastic, is the fact that it is filmed with In “Hamlet” Olivier does not stick strictly: to
such sensitive understanding. It is in black and the original text but takes liberties where he
white, not lavish technicolor, in order to keep sees fit, to suit the mood of the film. Like any
with the tense and sombre mood that the play wise craftsman he realizes that working in movies
demands’ Films of this sort are causing Holly- is working in a different medium than the stage.
wood no end of anxiety, as everyone knows. Logically then he proceeds to exploit that fact,
Of late, the finest work in fantasy has been instead of simply attempting to transfer the
done by the British. stage play to the screen. The net result is that
For some unknown reason, as any lover of he achieves an unquestionable success. Hollywood
fantasy can tell, Hollywood fantasy films do not would do well to take some cues from him -or
ring the bell, whereas the .English importations to watch the success of some of its own notable
almost always manage to convey that indescrib- members, among them Orson Welles.
able air of half-fantasy, half-fact, that leaves the * * *
 The Devil Of Doom
hy i Morris
wins ffloweal tin® Mood
Bai.TaBat’s
-

of klmgs. roamed the spsaeeways

ssemS yet fee

an OBEteast—for Lather had flammed it ttas

Talat backed detperately away from tha open

maw of tha creature; at hit puny dagger wat
poited to itrike at the tead'i next attack \
“rip ELL me more of this won- toad. Only three ships, but they are
derful adventurer of yours,” as three thousand, for thedamage they
Lathar commanded. can do. Aye, mighty Lathar! He is a
Mota, leader of the King’s forces, devil And we must be rid of him.”
!

bowed his head to the command and Lathar’s fingers caressed the mar-
continued: ble-white shoulders of his favorite con-
“He lies in wait out there where cubine. They slipped lower and
the space freighters fly their courses encircled the bared waist of the girl,

and pounces upon them, like a mad holding her in a firm familiarity.
 66 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES
A
The girl looked up at him and smiled. And like machines, they stopped when
Her whitevteeth matched the .whiteness p
the king did.
of her half-nude body. But Lathar ?
s “So my people know more of this
touch and interest were only physical.. than Lathar said. His eyes were
I do’,”

His mind was at work on this nemesis stillcrinkled in laughter, and his voice
who had suddenly, like a comet of de- seemed almost merry, but Mota knew
struction, appeared on the scene of his better. It was at such times that
rule and seemed 'bound to, make rubble Lathar was most to be feared. “My t

of the highways of space that Lathar’s people!” Lathar continued, and there
ships of commerce flew. , was a world of contempt in his voice.
“And what is this sprightly sprig “So the time has come when they have
Lathar asked.
called?'’ reached the age of knowledge. Trea-
“He has many names,” Mota re- sonable knowledge. It seems that their
plied. “By some, he is called the mad king has been too lenient with them.
pirate. By others, the avenger. And I must remedy that situation. And at
by the men of our air fleet, the devil of once. Mota!”
doom. I .fear no man, mighty Lathar, “Sire?” Mota came to attention.
but this pirate has me worried.” ,
“Our jails are hungry, I think,”
“The avenger,” Lathar murmured, Lathar said. “Fill their stinking maws
his fingers falling from the girl’s bared with a sufficiency of food. Certainly
waist. He suddenly leaned forward on your secret police can find enough of
his throne and the court and all those these glib-tongued, treason-spouting,
x
watching and listening were stilled. who deem it proper to
know-it-alls
“What an odd name: And what does know more than their king. And while
our friend take vengeance on?” your men are at it, be sure to wring
Mota felt a flush, of embarrassment their knowledge from them. You un-
steal
‘
over his features. He lowered derstand, I hope, Mota?”
his eyes and failed to reply. Mota paled at the lips. He .knew.
“Well!” Lathar’s eyes, purple- Another reign of terror. It had been,
irised, flamed in sudden anger. a number of years since the last. Well,
“No one seems to know,” Mota said it was a command. And one from
softly, trying to turn the wrath pf his which there was no recourse.
king. “Probably for some' obscure rea- “I understand, Sire,” Mota said.
son. These pirates need no reason “Then go. And when you return, I
other than loot. And if the people . . will want to hear more of this pirate of
“The people! What do the people yours. In fact,if you could bring him

know of this?” Lathar half-rose from here, I would be even more pleased.
his seat at mention of the people. . Particularly if he is in chains.”^
Mota’s eyes went wide. Was it pos-
sible that the king didn’t know how ENDU, ;hawk of the
self-styled
matters stood in his realm?But the J There
skies, stared at his leader.
question had been answered by the was a look bordering on worship in his
king’s startled manner. . He didn’t eyes. How, he thought, could anyone
know. look so innocent, so handsome and
Lathar’s lips spread wide and his carefree, so untroubled as this man
voice boomed out in laughter. Like before him, and have the police, the
machines which the king had set in military of an entire universe at his
motion, the rest of the court tittered. heels? He shrugged shoulders so
 THE DEVIL ©£ DOOM 67

broad he could only step through the Talat reeled back, recovered his bal-
'pilot’s port, sideways. Then he was' ance and then laughed softly, as Jendu
at instant attention.
,
;
His chief had said:
come.. to,a.: decision. “Like a cock among a hundred hens.
“Jendu,” the tall, blond man in the In my old age, I grow curious about
skin-tight space suit, whose figure was things. Why do you do this?”
like that of a god’s, had begun to talk. “There are reasons for everything.
“I think we have been a thorn long For black being black, for white being
enough. The time has come when we white and for Talat being a fook —
must be more. A sword! And what Watch and listen.”
a sword. Not the clumsy weapon of Talat stepped back, let his head drop
Mota’s minions. Oh, no. We will be slightly so’ that it seemed to rest slight-
something that will prick, stab, wound, ly askew on the molded neck, drew his
but not kill; not until the proper mo- chest in, and spoke in a thick, coarse
ment.” voice:
Jendu looked with dismay at his “These vermin! We must rid our-
leader. Had Talat gone out of his selves of them. Lathar has spoken.”
mind? What was this talk of swords? Jendu’s lips parted and his eyes wid-
What new, mad venture was in this ened at the mimicry. An involuntary
man’s mind? Wasn’t it bad enough to cry of admiration escaped him. “But
flaunt Lathar’s secret police by hiding it is Lathar to the very sound of his

out in the very city that bore the name voice! I would think it was the tyrant
of its king? Jendu shook his head in
. I was hearing— and facing.”
bewilderment. Talat straightened. The smile still
Talat only smiled more broadly. It was on his lips. It was as though he
was as if he had read the other’s mind. was waiting for something. Then
“Jendu does not shy from danger Jendu understood.
that might come?” Talat taunted. “You are going to abduct Lathar?”
The other flushed. “Jendu fears he asked hesitantly.
nothing. Neither man, beast, or danger, Talat nodded.
present or otherwise,” Jendu said, Jendu exploded a fist into a palm.
straightening the thick, short body that “By the mad toads! What a thought!
was a keg of wine.
like s What an idea! But how? The palace
“That’s more like my Jendu,” Talat is guarded by too many men. And
said, throwing his arms around the when Lathar makes one of his infre-
other. “Now hear me out,” he went quent visits into the city, he makes sure
on. “My beautiful little ships are in that no one man, or one thousand, can
up there in those mountains.
their nests get to him.”
Nobody knows of them. And here we “Listen, old hawk with the body of
are, one hundred and fifty men, pirates a toad,” Talat said softly. “What is
all, with prices on our heads, whose there in this world we live in, that
every moment is with danger.
filled Lathar would want most?” ,

Mota would sacrifice every man-jack Jendu shrugged his shoulders in a

of his police if he could take even one negative sign. I
S
of us. Yet we are under his very nose! “Oh, fine! Fine!” Talat exclaimed
Hah! I boast, eh, Jendu?” in disgust. hope Lathar sets
.“I only
Jendu placed a heavy palm against a higher value on my head than you.
the other’s chest and shoved, lightly. Why me, of course!”
 68 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

ENDU exploded in laughter. This will think again, and say to himself
J young cock! This finely-tempered that no man could be that foolhardy.”
sword! But it was true what he said. “Yes. Yes,” Jendu put in. “But
Lathar would turn his kingdom upside Lathar. Will he come alone?*’
down, to lay his hands on Talat. Did “I think so,” Talat said thoughtful-
Talat think Jendu was an utter fool? ly. “I think he’s that curious about
Of course Jendu understood. Talat me.”
was going to, to . . . “Well,” Jendu said, sighing deeply,
Talat answered the unspoken ques- “I see you have made your mind up.
tion. But one last question. Let us say that
“It is five, years since first I began we are successful. What are you going
to irritate our king. Nor has he once to do then?” .
v

in those years so much as even seen An unexpected development made

one of us. So that should jendu, let the two men switch their thoughts to
us say, approach Mota and say that he, other things. Just as Talat opened
Jendu, can lead Mota to the lair of his mouth to tell Jendu what he was go-
Talat, would Mota know that it was ing to do, a man burst into the room.
a trap?” ! His eyes were wide in excitement and
“Knowing our friend Mota, I would words bubbled on his parted lips:

say that he would be highly suspi- “Sir! Sir, the city is full of Mota’s
cious.” men. They search from house to house.
“Granted. But if the news was The twins, Laman and Malan, have
spread that Jendu and his leader had seen them. They told me to warn you.”
quarreled, and Jendu wanted immunity “What!” Jendu shouted. “The po-
for his tale's telling, how would Mota lice! Stop that idiot’s babbling and
think, then?” tell us. where and how you heard this?”
“H’m,” Jendu thought that over. He “Yes, sir,” said the youngster, for his
didn’t like it and said so. youth was all too apparent in his man-
“But why, Jendu?” Talat asked. ner and in his beardless face. “I walked
“Too many factors we can’t take the market place, as you told me, sir.
into account,” Jendu said, laying his The twins made rendezvous with me at
a
fingers on the very weakness that should the baker’s shop. But even before they
have been apparent to Talat. “Look, came, the police were already making
boy,” he argued, “when we attack car- their way through the market. Babu,
go liners up there in the great void of the baker, hid the three of us in an
space, we are in direct and simple ac- empty kiln. Then when all was clear,
tion. Our course is plain, one ship or I came to warn you. The twins are on
two or how many there may be, against their way to the others to warn them.
ours. But here, how do we know that They wait on your word.”
Mota will believe, and if he does, “Those twins!” Talat exclaimed
whether Lathar will come, and if he rapturously. “They’re jewels. You
does, whether he will come alone. No, know, Jendu, there is something about
I don’t like it!” being twins that is exciting to the
Talat brushed Jendu’s objection thought. Possibly I’m Lathar’s twin.
aside.
(
We look alike.”
“Don’t you see,” he said, “that’s the “Yes, yes,” Jendu said impatiently.
beauty of my scheme, the boldness, of “But what do we do now?”
it. Mota will think as you. Then he “We? You mean you,” Talat said,
 THE DEVIL OF DOOM 69

grinning broadly. “This makes my man between slipped to the floor.

plan far more simple and more certain. “Sir,” one of them said, “this one
Jendu is going to take a walk and the has confessed to being one of those you
police are going to take, him into pro- seek.”
(

tective custody. They are going to Mota looked at the guard, coldly.
question him. And, under duress of “Take him out, clean him up and
course, Jendu is going to tell them he is bring him back,” he said. “And give
one of us. More, that he will lead him some food and drink. He looks
them to my hideout, assuring them that like he hasn’t had any in a few days,”
I am quite alone. Quite alone.” Mota commanded.
The youngster looked from one to the They were back in a short while.
other in perplexity. He stepped back The prisoner looked a bit changed.
in fright as Jendu slapped his palms to- There was still the puffiness of swollen
gether and shouted: flesh, particularly in the cheeks and lips,
“That’s it! That will hold up. But but he was clean of face and the blood
what of the men? How are we to ar- had' been wiped from his mouth. They
range this ambush?” stood him in front of the seated man
Talat told him his plan in detail. and stepped back a few feet to stand
at rigid attention.
A/TOTA tapped nervous fingers “Well!” Mota barked. “What is

against the smooth surface of the this tale you’ve invented?”

Cresa-stone desk that was a gift from “No. No! I swear it’s the truth!
Lathar. The vast machinery of search I do not lie . .

had been set into action, was still in “All right! And before you start,
motion, but the wheels were beginning let me warn you. They only tore your
to slow Only a few were left of
down. finger nails loose. If you lie, I’ll have
the tens of thousands who might be them tear your arms loose. One at a
suspect. The jails were full to bursting.
'
time!” '

The inquisitors could not handle the “Yes. Yes,” the prisoner went on
numbers of people, so many were there. hurriedly. It was
he was anxious
as if

And still no trace, no clue of this man
who had made Mota’s life miserable.
'Mota slammed his fist down on the
stone. It was as a signal. For of a
sudden, the door to his office
and two of the green-tuniced guards of
to get his confession over and done
with, so that perhaps then he would
have some peace. “My name is Jendu,”
he went on. “I was Talat’s second in
opened command. We quarreled —
“About what?” Mota broke in on the
4

his secret police entered. Between babbling voice.

them, they dragged the pitiful figure of “Talat^ wanted to raid the king’s
a man. palace. I said no. But he said he
Mota looked at the bloodied, puffed would force me —
up features, let his glance come down Again Mota broke “Never mind in.

to the man’s hands, and saw the bleed- that! Forget that I asked you why
ing, quivering fingers, from whose tips you quarreled. What I want to know
the nails had been torn, and barked: is where is this Talat man? Where is
“What is this, the slaughter-pen, that his hideout? How many men does he
you drag this stinking hulk in this have?”
way?” The prisoner licked his cracked, torn
The two came to attention. And the lips. He was obviously terrified. Twice
70 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

he tried to talk and both times stopped lence was discovered some years back;
before a word could come through the Lathar condemned the whole district,
quivering flesh. including the district jail. Talat fig-
Mota and came
stood, sullenly, ured it would be the last place where
around the massive desk and stood be- anyone would look for him.”
fore Jendu. Jendu fell back a few Mota felt a vast exhilaration sweep
feet, half-turned as if to flee, then through him. By all that was holy!
hesitated, tremblingly, as the guards He had the devil! There was no doubt
made a move to intercept him. in /his mind of the truth of Jendu’s
“Speak, you idiot!” Mota’s voice words. Lathar’s gratitude would know
crackled menacingly. no bounds. But first he had to get aH
“Yes, yes,” Jendu said in a quaver. the information. Mota’s credulity had
“Talat is here in the city. He and an- an almost unnatural suspicious cast.
other. The rest of his men are in the “How long has he been there?” he
hills where the ships are hidden. I was asked.
on my way to the police when they “Four days,” Jendu replied..
dragged me off the street and tortured “And how many fighters were with
me even when I wanted to talk. Look the last space liner?”
how they have broken my fingers and “Six,” Jendu said automatically.
torn the nails. Why have they done “And the cargo?” Mota continued on
this? ...” the strange tack.
Jendu had become a monotonous “Nothing,” Jendu answered. “A
voicewho had suddenly learned to talk thousand fighting men in the hold.”
and could not stop but had to go on and
on until someone put a halt to his A/tOTA laughed, a sharp sound that
babbling.
x echoed through the square-built
“Shut up and listen!” Mota com- room. Jendu lifted his head with the
manded sharply. last of the echo. The numbness had
“. . . I have done nothing. They passed off at last. He gave silent
struck me, tortured Ow, no!” . . . thanks to Mota. Had the man per-
the voice ended in a scream as one of mitted another half hour of beatings,
the guards struck him a blow at the Jendu knew that his capacity to resist
back of the neck, at Mota’s silent com- would have ended. He would have told
mand. more, everything, in fact. He felt

“Where is this man hiding?” Mota weak. Never had he imagined such an
asked in a suddenly normal tone. ordeal.He could understand Kow men
The strange quietness of the words went mad from the inquisition and
penetrated through the numbed facul- babbled anything if only the inquisitors
ties of the prisoner. If Mota had been would stop the torture. His hands felt

more observant, he would have noticed numb but already the numbness was
the change in the expression of Jendu’s beginning to pass and the terrible pain
eyes. But. he didn’t see it. was becoming a living thing again, as
“In jail,” Jendu said. it had been when they had pulled the

Mota only stared; his mind didn’t nails from the living flesh. His face
quite grasp what Jendu had said. was tough, scarred from a hundred
-
“In jail,” Jendu repeated. “At the fights. The new blows they had given
outskirts of the city there is that con- had neither added to his looks nor
demned community where the pesti- taken anything from them. But the
 THE DEVIL OF DOOM 71

business with the nails . . . nesty is yours.”

“Bring this man a drink,” Mota said, “But Talat will kill me,” Jendu
breaking in on Jendu’s thoughts. seemed possessed of a single thought.
One of the guards wheeled and left. Mota regarded him reflectively.
Mota sat at his desk again and busied “And it was with such as you that
himself with pen and paper. When he thisTalat worked. Incredible! I don’t
was done, he sealed the note he had see how he did it. Yes, damn it, he
written and handed it to the other may kill you! But I am not going to
guard, saying: put the king in danger. You are going
“Deliver this to the king’s chamber--, to walk in there and tell this man you
lain. And say it is of the utmost im- were freed, but that you heard he is in
portance, that the king must read it danger and had better flee for his life.
immediately. Go.” Then you will lead him, by a route I will
Mota looked up Jendu and smiled
at select, to safety. Have no fear, we will
conspiratorily. Jendu gave him a blank be waiting. Ah! The king!”
face. Lathar had entered and Mota rose
f

“Oh, you don’t have to be afraid any to his feet, bowing deeply.
longer,” Mota said. “All you have to
do is lead us to this hideout . . ENDU turned and looked closely at
“Talat would killme,” Jendu said. J the tyrant. He marvelled at the re-
Fear made his voice rise again, gave a semblance between Talat and the king.
bewildered brightness to his eyes. Talat It was as if Lathar was a distorted
would have been proud of his acting. image of the other. There were the
Mota continued to smile, his fingers same characteristics. But in Lathar
again tapping the desk top. the refinement and beauty were miss-
“Look, my friend,” he said. “There ing. There was a coarseness to the
is nothing to fear any more. In a short face, the lips pouted, the head was
while we will have this pirate all nicely angled toward the right shoulder, the
wrapped and ready for the executioner. chest was drawn in, there was an over-
We wait only the king’s arrival. Really, all laxness to his carriage.
there isn’t anything to it, now.” Lathar removed the heavily brocaded
“But you have said, lead'us to him. purple cape he wore. Beneath he was
Talat will kill me.” dressed in the green tunic of the secret
“Death,” Mota became the philos- police. On his shoulder, the insignia of
opher, “ends all of life’s plans. But the Supreme Commander blinked
with a reasonable amount of foresight brightly in 'the light of the overhead
and caution, we can evade the hooded fixtures.
one for a while. You, my friend, were “Good work, Mota,” Lathar said.
a pirate. As such, you took the con- “Where is the rascal?”
stant risk of discovery and the punish- Mota told him.
ment. Death and you walked hand in “So,” the king said. “The pestilence
hand, night and day. Why this sud- returned to its old quarters. But this
den fear of him? At any rate, the king time we will wipe it out completely, eh,
is generous with those who are loyal. Mota?”
Besides, you have done a great good by “Yes, sire,” Mota replied. “This
talking. Perhaps the, shall we say, man will lead us to him.”
confession of your sins, will find the Lathar looked directly at Jendu for
king in a forgiving mood? If so, am- the first time. It was then Jendu real-
72 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

ized that' though the king looked a Too suddenly. Another thing. Your
weakling, the appearance was deceiv- men have been at work for three days
ing. The eyes which held his own were now.' Why is it that he hasn’t had wind
amber in color, or purple; it was hard of the raids? How is it that this one
to tell in the light, but they were stead- here feels sure that Talat is still

fast and searching. Nothing escaped there?”

their steady look. Jendu felt his Itwould have been impossible for
stomach muscles twitch. Jendu to show any great change in ex-
“So this is one of them,” Lathar said. pression, what with the purple bruises'
“Looks more like one of those who hang and cuts on his face. But internally,
about wine shops. But, if you are sat- he quaked with a new-born fear.
isfied . . “Sire,” he began, his voice a whimper,
/‘I am, sire. I asked him questions “I can explain
that. Talat waits for
about this Talat’s last attack that could the rest of his men. They plan a raid
only have been answered by one who on the king’s treasury here in the city.
was there. Oh, he is one of them all It was a coup he has long planned.”
right.” “Logical,” Lathar said musingly.
“And what is your plan?” Lathar “Yes, it makes sense. JJh, let me see.
asked. You can tell us where the rest of his
“We can lose no time. This Talat may men aie?” .

have fled already, though this vermin

'
“Yes, sire,” Jendu sakk And went
claims no. I have arranged for an es- into a detailed and completely false ac-
cort of ten men . . count of how and where the hide-away
“Amnesty!” Jendu bleated suddenly. was.
There was something about the way the “Good!” Lathar exclaimed when'
king looked that Jendu did not like. Jendu was done. “Mota, you will send
And he thought he knew the answer. a full battalion of men to this moun-
The whole plot hinged on the king’s tain place. Surround them and exter-
desire to get to Talat as quickly as pos- minate them to the last one. Have
sible, without thinking of the danger four full companies accompany us to
involved. Jendu knew it was the true this place where Talat hides. Hurry.

weakness So he acted again

in the plan. noWj man. Let’s get going.”
to gain their attention and take the 4

king’s mind away from whatever he HpWO of the three moons swung their
was thinking. “Amnesty! You prom- A silver bodies across the. star-
ised.” streaked sky. The night was almost as
“What is this of amnesty?” Lathar bright as the day. And whoever was
asked. abroad at that hour in the sprawling
Mota told him. vastness that was the city of Lathar
“Oh give the fool his life. I’m not wondered at the Sudden activity cen-
interested in him anyway. But this' tered in the central
jail. Couriers sped
Talat. Ah! There is a man I want to back and forth to the military garrison
see. Only not alone, or as you have in the center of the city. Some few,
planned, with ten men. I do not like who loved the night better than the day,
the idea. It is as if you were a string saw the king, himself, Walk out of the
he was pulling. For five years we have jail inthe company of the dread Mota.
been bothered by this plague of a man. Beside them was the short thick fig-
Now, of a sudden, he is in our grasp. ure of a man whose face bore the signs
 THE DEVIL OF DOOM 73
•
i

of a terribly severe beating. HPALAT had known of their coming.

;

Then there was the sound of march- He had men planted along the route
ing feet and four companies of soldiers to warn him of their approach. When*
made their appearance. They waited he had found out that Lathar had
for Lathar to assume the- lead, and crossed him up by bringing enough men
marched off towards the north outskirts to make Talat’s attempt at abduction
of the city. It was a half hour march, ridiculous, he had instantly dispatched
but to Jendu it was that many seconds. the most of his force to his hideaway.
He beat at his brain to tell him what Who remained were volunteers he had
to do. For surely Talat was lost, un- managed to pick up in the short time he
less he could warn him. had been in the city. It was always so.
They arrived at last at the new wall They flocked to him, offering their lives
which had been put up as a safeguard Mor the chance to fight against the ty-
when the plague had broken out. The rant Lathar. Well, he thought, now
old wall lay beyond, in a shallow de- they were going to have that chance.
pression that sloped down to the plain, Each of them, was armed. It would
some two miles away. The twin moons be man against man. Too bad, yet he
gave stark relief to the scene and etched deserved to lose. For he realized, then,
in silver beauty the crumbled stone that he had bungled badly in the whole
houses, empty of human life. The jail thing. He was a much better general
stood alone, like a pariah hound, among up there in the blue, when it was a
the simple, empty dwellings. No sign question of ship against ship, nor did
oflife was there to show that Talat or the number make any difference then.
anyone else was alive in all that desola- “See,” one of the men who was with
tion. him, said. “They are deploying around
Mota called his captains to his side the outer wall.”
gave them their instructions. There
"'and • Talat nodded. He had seen the
was another wait while the men de- maneuver long before the other had.
ployed around the wall until there were His mind was busy. There was only
some beyond the far walland on the one thing to do, and that quickly, be-
plain itself. When the men had the fore they had a chance to achieve mo-
place completely surrounded, Mota bility. Since Lathar’s forces were in
gave the signal for the attack. the midst of a maneuver, if he could
Jendu watched the slaughter, power- catch them off balance he and his men
less either to join his friends orwarn might have a chance to escape. In-
them of Four men guarded
their danger. stantly he made up his mind. Three
him. And in their hands were the short, couriers went out, shouting at the top
thick naked blades that was their sole of their lungs, “Attack! Attack. To
weapon. It would have been suicide the attack!”
for him to have made any deliberate And at their heels, Talat had swung
attempt to escape. into action. Directly toward the main
Talat had planned well.But not as body of troops in front of them, he led
well as Lathar. Each of the stone hismen. Nor were Mota’s men loath
houses had complement of men,
its to join the fight.In a moment the ad-
waiting for the arrival of Lathar. But vance was an inextricably mixed group,
they hadn’t thought that theming would man against man, hacking, thrusting,
bring his army. They were a hundred chopping with their blades. And in the
against four hundred. center of them all was Talat, his slender
74 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

blade a whirling, flashing carrier of sobbed out something, and Talat saw
doom. Beside 'him were the pick of the point of a sword emerge at the back
his men, proven fighters, afraid of noth- of his neck. Before he could step aside,
ing, thirsting only for the blood of their the dead man fell backward. And in

enemies. trying to avoid the falling body, Talat

Every now and then, Talat caught a stepped on another corpse which rolled
glimpse of Lathar at the top of the under his feet. Before he could re-

small hill, Mota at his side. Slowly, cover his balance, he tripped and went
and by the power of his arm alone, he to his knees. And like a mad tide, the
forced the fighting to go away from the battle rolled over him. He lifted his
rim of the Mota, observing the
hill. head and a metal-shod foot struck him
fight raging below, suddenly became on the point of the chin. Consciousness
aware of Talat’s intention. left him in a blinding flash.

“Look!” he pointed toward the

struggle. “He is trying to force them “QO THAT is the avenger,” he heard
into that shallow gap. If he gets them a voice say.
in there, he’ll chop them up. They won’t He opened his eyes and looked about.
be able to move around.” He didn’t have to feel his bonds to
“If he escapes, Mota,” Lathar. said know that he was a prisoner. These
softly, “I’ll have your body thrown to grinning men around him were Signs
the toads.” enough of that.
Mota looked about him. There were “Lift him up,” Lathar said. “I want
some hundred odd men up there with a good look at him.”
him, a reserve force he had held back. Willing arms tugged him upright.
Leaping to their head, he plunged down Facing him was Lathar, Mota and
the hill toward the fighting. Talat Jendu. Before any of the others could
might have won out had the fight gone prevent Jendu, he had stepped forward
another five minutes. But Mota’s en- and had struck Talat two blows in the
trance spelled his doom. Mota’s force face, shouting:
struck his flank and bent it inward and “That. For the indignities I suffered.
around, so that of a sudden, Talat and And that because I wait the chance to
his men were in the same trap he was even up.”
preparing for the others. Several of Mota’s men dragged Jendu
Now the fight raged even more than away amidst squalls of laughter. The
before. Talat’s ^ sword ran red, the men enjoyed seeing Jendu strike the
blood cascading down on his fingers helpless prisoner. But only Talat had
making his grip become insecure. It noticed Jendu spoke in the future tense.
was thrust and recover now. They Jendu had pulled his punch. Yet as
were pressed too close for fancy sword lightly as the blow had fallen it brought
work. More and more of Mota’s re- blood.
inforcements arrived. Talat fought Both Mota and Lathar were grinning
upon a mound of dead. His arm was as the soldiers dragged
Jendu aside.
tired. Only by a miracle had his life “He has Spirit,” Mota said.
been spared. More and more of the “Yes. Like carrion hunters, they
enemy were trying to give up their lives, sport on the dead,” Lathar said. Then
if only to take him along. Yet he sur- to Talat, “So you are the man who has
vived their most vicious swipes. been making life miserable for my
The man in front of Talat suddenly Mota? Well, what now?”
 THE DEVIL OF DOOM 75

Talat grinned through his blood. a sound of feet coming down the stone
“This plan did not succeed, the next dungeon walk. It was the
flags of the
plan will,” he said. jailer. With him were three guards.
Lathar laughed. But Jendu’s eye- They were armed and wore their swords
lids hooded the strange light that came in the open.
into them. Now he had to escape. “All right, you,” the jailer said,
Talat had told him what to do.-. Well, throwing the barred door wide. “Out
it wouldn’t be too hard. you go. And no funny business. These
“So you have other plans?” Lathar men’ll put holes in you at the first
asked. “It’s too bad you won’t be able sign.”
to put them into force. But speaking Talat smiled and moved in between
of plans, I have plans also. And you two of them. The third acted as a rear
are the one who will be most affected guard. They ascended a steep curv-
by them. Right now I am weary. It ing stone staircase. It led upward for
was good sport, but it did not last long a long distance. Finally the lead man
enough. Tomorrow, I will provide bet- stopped before a locked door. Talat
ter.” noticed that the staircase continued up-
He turned with the last word and ward. And far ahead, he saw the glim-
marched off, his head, angled toward mer of light. The guard pushed the
’

his shoulder, nodded back and forth door open and went through. Talat
as though he had the ague. Four men and the other two followed. They en-
lifted the bound figure of Talat and tered a small, square room. Here one
carried him. There was much shouting of ‘the guards produced chains, and
and jesting as the captains gave the while the other two watched that Talat
commands to fall in after sending out made no move to escape, the first bound
parties to kill the wounded, friend and him securely in the chains. Then they
foe alike. The resa birds would take passed through another door and di-
care of their carcasses before the sun rectly into the king’s chamber, where
rose. Nor did anyone see Jendu slip Lathar was entertaining lavishly. The
among those who went out. He wasn’t women lounged about, clad in the bar-
even missed. est of essentials, the men, all of them
dressed in the usual court dress of toga
'“T'ALAT looked about the bare stone draped loosely around them, stood
wall of the dungeon into which he’d about in groups chatting, or sat with
been cast and smiled reflectively. Jendu the women giving voice to flattery.
should be at the rendezvous by now. . x At the far end of the vast chamber,
Tonight only a single moon, the smallest Lathar sat on his golden throne, his
of the would illuminate the
three, two favorite concubines at either side.
heavens. It would make the three ships A goblet of wine was in his right hand.
silently skimming the low clouds al- He took a sip of the purple liquid as
most invisible. Their anti-rada equip- the guards began to march Talat down
ment would 'foil any effort to pick up the aisle formed by the curious who
their trail. In the meantime he was came running to see the famous pirate.
waiting for the sun to come up and A young girl, no more than twenty,
herald a new day. He wondered, idly, stepped directly into the path of the
what refined torture Lathar had in mind prisoner. The guards had to bring him
for him. to a halt. She smiled up into the hand-
He turned from looking at the wall at some face. Talat returned the smile
76 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

and she said to him: her flowing blood.

“A touch of your lips, my sweet, and “She was too young. But the rest of
I shall be yours, ever.” you are old enough. Vengeance is mine
She placed her hands on the stat- alone. Turn around, brother,” Lathar
uesque shoulders and stepped forward, commanded.
on tiptoe. As Talat bent to kiss the red Talat only smiled. But the guards
mouth, she suddenly drew backhand be- twisted him about until he faced the
fore he could avert his face, she spat court.
full into it. A shout of laughter went “Look at him,” Lathar said. “He is

up. Lathar, watching from the throne, handsome, isn’t he! Proud, too. My
joined in. But at the end, he called the mother’s pride. But he has a single
girlup to Him. fault, my father’s. A stubborn willful-
She came and stood beside him, while ness. Well, I’ll cure him of that. Won’t
the other two at his side glowered their I, Talat?”
hatred of her. Lathar waited until “Like you killed our father?” Talat
Talat was brought before him. He turned and asked calmly. “That made
turned to the girl, then, arid said: you king. Rightfully so. But you
“So you don’t like my twin, do you?” didn’t know of me, did you?”
The court fell silent at the words. “But d did. You were, full-grown
Many had noticed the resemblance and when I found out I was a twin. And
had whispered of it even as Talat was when I sent the men to slay you, some-
being brought forward; Their sus- one had warned you. Now I have you
picions were confirmed now. in my power. And this time you will
The girl looked her bewilderment, not escape.”
first to Lathar, then to Talat. “If I do,” Talat said, “I’ll come
“Well?” Lathar’s voice was soft, but back and destroy you forever. The peo-
in menace. ple h^ve suffered your tyranny long
Terror suddenly filled the girl’s eyes. enough. Now
you want to conquer the
“Come here, my sweet/’ Lathar said. universe, don’t you?”
She came and stood directly in front Lathar laughed aloud.
of him. “Oh, good. Good! You too have
“He is my twin,” Lathar said. “And spies. And I see that they have told
bears the same /royal blood. .It is not you of my plan to break the covenant
right, that such as you spit on him.” of the universe. The atom is mine 'to
do with as I please. I shall use it to
'T'HE girl shrank from the open whatever purpose I wish.”
menace in the king’s eyes. He “Not if I can stop it,” Talat said.

thrust out a hand and caught her wrist, “But you can’t, dear brother. Didn’t
drawing her toward him. She seemed that wise man who raised you tell you
hypnotized by what she saw in his eyes. that in us flows the blood of madmen?
Only Talat saw his hand reach for the I am mad. Yes. Quite mad. Yet
small dagger at 'his waist. His warn- sane enough to know that you are in my
ing cry came too late. Lathar plunged power and not the reverse! But enough
the dagger into her throat, to the very of talk. I shall tell you what I’m going
hilt. His hand still held her wrist as to have done to you.
she swayed, but as her knees gave' way, “They tell of your courage and
he relaxed his grip.- The girl slumped strength. I am going to test both. And
to the floor, bathed in the crimson of perhaps other things also. Below this
 THE DEVIL OF DOOM 77

palace floor are three levels. Talat, time to see four more screen sets slide
brother dear, you are going to spend into place. These were set between all

some time on each level. I have even the planes of his prison, so that there
named these havens of rest, for you. were layers of space between him and
The first is the haven, of desire. The the walls beyond, on all sides. As far
next is the haven of hunger. And the as he could see there was nothing be-
last is thehaven which all of us must hind the farthest walls. Only black-
reach, death. I am going to be greatly ness met his eyes.
interested in seeinghow you react.” Talat sniffed loudly. Strange, heady
Lathar stopped talking and raised a perfumes were being wafted into his
languid hand in a signal to the guards. prison through concealed vents. Their
Talat was seized, placed on two pairs of scented odor worked strange things
brawny shoulders and carried to the with him. His senses were suddenly
center of the palace floor. Once more stirred as by the cloying south wind
Lathar raised his hand, in a signal, this that sometimes blew in from the hot,
time to some unseen agency. And be- central plains. Hidden lights glowed
fore the startled eyes of the court, a in the spaces between the walls. And
whole section of the floor sank down- from behind the blackness scores of
ward, and with it Talat and his guards. women came into the light. They were
Several men came from the wings of in various stages of undress, some com-
the vast room. They carried a long, pletely nude, others with coverings only
sectional ladder which they telescoped for the upper part of their bodies, and
down to the waiting guards, who in the others only the lower part. With them
meantime had undone Talat’s bonds came a collection of beasts and humans,
although he could
sufficiently, so that all males.
not get them off quickly enough to at- An orgy followed such as Talat had
tack them, yet were loose enough so never imagined possible. Voices came
that in a short time he could free him- to him, telling him in exact detail of
self. The guards scurried up the ladder how wonderful itwas what he was see-
which was immediately drawn upward ing. Talat closed his eyes, shutting out
out of reach. Then a vast floor of glass- the panting twisting figures. He kept
like material slid out of a groove and them closed, for a long time, his mind
.
across the opening into another slot at emptied of all thoughts. But when he
the other end. When the glass parti- opened them, the figures were still
tion was in place Lathar had his throne there.
placed at one of the borders and sat He bent all his will not to think of
down, his eyes viewing what was below. what he was seeing. Gradually peace
The rest of the court formed a square came to him. His pulses no longer
and watched also. leaped. And he willed a desire to sleep.
Talat only glanced up once, saw the Stretching out full length, Talat closed
glass screen slide into place, then gave his eyes. And suddenly the floor heaved
all of his attention to his bonds. In a so that he was tossed about. He looked
moment they fell away from him. He up then and saw Lathar staring in-
was free. But free in a glass-enclosed tently at him. He laughed up at the
cubicle, no more than thirty feet square. other. Lathar grinned crookedly in
return. He knew those below were not
'T^HERE was a sudden clicking sound having the effect he desired on the pris-
and Talat looked around just in oner. He turned his glance away and
78 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

nodded to someone in a signal. ture when the tenth followed the ninth.
Once more the platform on which For a long time after the tenth diner
Talat reclined, sank. left,nothing happened. Talat was left
The .business of the sliding screens ,
alone with his thoughts. That was
was repeated again when the platform worse than the others. For he managed
came to rest at last. Only this time a spiritual fullness by imagining him-
nothing happened, though Talat waited self eating their food. Now the physi-
a long time. Once more he reclined full cal' properties were gone. And his
length on the smooth floor and closed imagination made matters worse.
his eyes. Sleep came instantly. If only I had a drink, Talat thought.
Talat awoke. He did not know Just a few drops of water. But if I
whether it was night or day. In the -

know up there, worse is yet

that devil
half gloom of his prison there was no to come. know how long I can
I don’t
way of knowing. He looked;above and stand His thoughts wandered to
this.

was surprised to see that Lathar still Jendu. Had he arrived at the rendez-
kept his vigil. Talat wondered why vous? How long a time had gone ,by?
this part was called the haven of Maybe he never made it? They should
hunger. He yawned and realized that have come to his rescue before this.
a long time had passed since he had What was keeping them?
eaten. Coincident with the thought, a A new succession of monsters ap-
curtain parted and two men came out. •. peared on the scene. These were worse
They bore a linen covered table be- than the ones who had come before.
tween them. This they set down close The others ate, these did nothing but
to the inner glass. /Then another man drink, Talat tore at his clothes in sud-
came out from behind the curtain. The den mad frenzy. For the last man, in-
man nodded a greeting to Talat and sat stead of drinking the liquid placed in
at the table. In a few seconds the serv- front of him, had tilted the glass and
ants appeared and set several plates of spilled it to the floor.
food on the table. The seated man be-
gan to eat. It was obvious that he en- HpALAT didn’t realize he was shout-
joyed eating. For Talat was able to A ing, screaming imprecations and
hear the sounds he was making. He curses. He knew he was beating at the
would smack his lips loudly with each partition with clenched fists, but to
bite, and before taking a bite he would him it seemed as if there were two of
show Talat the particular bit of food. him, one helpless in the grip of a mad
Talat felt hunger 'begin its gnawing at anger, the other standing off to one
his vitals. Finally, the man finished side watching withcalm disregard. The
his repast. Talat wiped the sweat from watcher won out. Talat didn’t try to
his brow and felt thankful that it was rationalize what happened. He only
at an end. But no sooner had that knew that once more Lathar had been
man .left than another made his ap- beaten. It no longer made any differ-
pearance. He also nodded a greeting ence whether the man behind the screen
to Talat. Again the servants appeared' drank the precious water xor spilled it
with food. And again the gustatory out of the glass. Talat was indifferent
exhibition. Saliva trickled down Tal- to the action.
at’s chin. He clenched his fists so hard Two others came to the same realiza-
the nails bit into the flesh. And all the tion simultaneously, the man who was
while his hunger grew. It became tor- trying to break Talat by his action, and
 THE DEVIL OF DOOM 79

Lathar, still seated in his throne above. hand in a last signal.

lifted his
Talat wondered in a detached way, There had always been light —sun,
whether the king had had any sleep. A moon, or man-made. But now there was
great lassitude fell on the tortured man, only darkness. Talat had never known
so that he found it necessary to lie such impenetrable black. It was like
down. He lay flat on empty
his back, a curtain behind which he seemed to
of mind and spirit. The play was at an lie, naked and alone. He struggled
end. Not another soul came out to erect, his muscles quivering in fear.
prolong the torture. The darkness was all around him; it
Talat’s fingers made useless gestures, was a palpable thing, something to be
playing with a piece of fringe on his felt and feared. For certainly it con-
short robe, caressing his cheeks, feel- cealed something. And that something
ing the stubble growing there, smooth- held danger to Talat.
ing down a line of wrinkles which had A fine, greenish glow came to life at
formed by his lying stretched out, and the edges of the platform. And with it

finally wandering to his belt. He felt came a peculiar odor. Talat sniffed,
something hard, a hilt or handle which the hackle rising sharply as he identi-
protruded from it. He plucked the fied the odor. It was that of a toad.
thing out and looked at it curiously. It Then from the farthest corner of the
was a short, slender-bladed knife, sharp green glow, twin fires shone. Talat re-
as a razor. treated to the farthest point possible
He was not left long in the dark as away from those twin flames. The fires

to why it had been placed there. glowed brighter, more hypnotizing.

Once more the platform sank. Talat Talat could not tear his gaze from them.
waited with a calm, resigned indiffer- Suddenly he stopped. It wasn’t until
ence for whatever new torture Lathar he stopped that he realized his feet had
had devised. It was not long in com- from some will of their own, been lead-
ing. Talat did not know that he had ing him toward those fires. And even
proved a vast disappointment to the as he stopped, the fires began a slow
man above. Lathar had imagined that advance toward him.
his prisoner would show more sport. Talat’s hand slipped to the knife
Go mad perhaps, from desire, and hun- and drew it from the belt. Now the
ger. Talat did not know that two full toad was plainly to be seen. It stood
days had passed. But Lather knew. as high as a man at the shoulders, with
And the thought that Talat had es- a fearsome head, revolting to the sight.
caped, or at least had not broken Talat had met these reptiles before in
under the strain, made Lathar more their native habitat. But always there
than jusfe angry. It made him feel had been others with him, and always
bored. And boredom was a thing more there had been weapons to fight the
terrible than anything Lathar ever beasts. Now he had only a small, thin
feared. For he had known power blade. It would be like the prick of a
for a long time. Now even the torture needle to the toad’s thick, green hide
of his twin brother no longer gave his that was like armor.
twisted, distorted mind any pleasure. Now the toad was in the center of
There was only the havens
last of the the platform. Talat saw the short paws
for Talat to reach, then death. There of the animal, with the curving razor-
wasn’t the smallest sign of regret, pity edged talons whose power could tear
or any other emotion on his face as he a man to bits at a single blow. And
 80 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

those rear legs. They could kick a them which had saved his life more
building apart'. The toad advanced than once. They blinked just before
slowly. And Talat noticed the leanness the toad made a move. It was a warn-
of the beast. It was slavering in hun- ing which he had to have in order to
f

ger. Lathar had made certain that the gain that split second of time.
^toad would be very hungry before he Once more the eyes blinked and
released it on the human. Talat crouched, waiting for the hop. It
came and Talat ducked again, running
nPALAT flexed his muscles. It would as he did so, for the other end of the
be a game for a while. The toad platform. But his second step stum-
was slow, both in reflex and action. bled and Talat’s feet shot out from
But there was no place for the man to under him. He slid across the floor, on
escape to and in the end the beast his hands.Before he realized what was
would win out. Suddenly the toad made happening, the toad had turned and
\& quick hop. At the very last possible was on him. There was a terrible stink
second Talat ducked. One of the hind in Talat’s nostrils. The fearsome head

legs swept past Talat’s head with a was a foot from his own, the jaws were
swishing sound. The skidded
toad open revealing twin rows of spike-like
across the smooth floor and landed with teeth set to tear his flesh. There was no
a dull thud against the far wall. He escape. Then the head of the toad
turned instantly and hopped again. And —
dashed downward and Talat threw
once more Talat evaded him. the knife at it!

This time the toad lay still, its
skin pumping in and out in even
rhythm. There was something like a
mad grin on the distended jaws. Slow-
ly, the toad started to crawl toward
Talat. It was as if Talat could read
the mind. He was going to
beast’s
crowd him into the smallest space, then
strike. But the platform was too large.
And Talat too quick. For no sooner
belly’s One of the lights went out. The toad
screamed wildly as the knife plunged
deep into an eye, tearing out the sight.
The head swivelled from side to side
and Talat scrambled erect. But his
escape was only temporary. For now
the toad had gone mad, either from
pain or hunger. It screamed, tearing
frightening sounds, and foam-flecked
matter appeared at the corners of its

did the toad seem to have Talat cor- mouth. Its body swayed from side
nered, than the man made his escape to side as it advanced 'on Talat.
with a sinewy leap. And this time, Talat knew there was
How long the contest wore on, Talat no escaping his fate.

didn’t know. But suddenly he realized

that he was growing tired. His leg /^vNLY a few feet separated the two.
muscles no longer responded to his Talat resigned himself to the Gods.
will. His last leap had barely enabled The hind legs of the toad drew back:
him to escape. He was panting, cov- And the glass above burst with the
ered with' perspiration. The closed in sound of atom-gunfire. A blaze of white
space reeked with themusk odor of the light streamed down and struck the
animal. Talat danced around on his top of the toad’s head. There was a
tiring legs. There was something ter- smell as of- lightning striking. And the
ribly hypnotic about those eyes. Yet toad had lost its head.
he couldn’t take his own, from them. Talat looked up and saw above him
For he had discovered something about the grinning face of Jendu. A ladder
 THE DEVIL OF DOOM 81

unfolded its length until the bottom fully. “A twin. So that’s why you
rung was within his grasp. In a few want vengeance.”
seconds, Talat was with his friends. “Wrong guess, Jendu,” Talat said.
The court was empty. His voice was stronger, and he sat up
“Quick,” Jendu warned. “We can’t as he started to explain. “Lathar is
waste time! They’ll be here any sec- the rightful heir to the throne. Right-
ond.” ful but not proper. He was born a
Talat tried to run with the rest but minute before I was. It was enough
his legs made his running a stagger. for succession. But my father was a
Strong hands assisted him up the out- wise man. There had been twins be-
side flight of stairs. Then he saw it, a fore in our line and always one of the
slender tube, perched on the very roof twins was evil, the other good. Lathar
of the palace. In a moment he was in was evil. My father placed me in the
itand around him were his own crew. care of a wise man who sheltered me,
There was a flash of blinding light as taught me, showed me the manner of
the ship took off, then there was only rightful living and gave me all my
the blackness of interstellar space. knowledge.
Talat reclined on one of the bunks “He died on my twenty-third birth-
in the pilot’s cabin. Water was brought day, four years after my father. Lathar
to him, then food. He ate slowly, rel- had ruled for those years. I don’t have
ishing each mouthful. Not until he was to tell you of his reign, or of the terror
done, did Jendu tell him what hap- he inspired in his mad desire to rule
pened. the whole universe. But the council
“The Gods must be with us for sure,” had outlawed the use of the atom ex-
Jendu said, his manner jovial. “I tell cept in extreme emergency. And all the
you, boy, they gave me rough treat- implements of war are on that far
ment in that jail. Had they known how planet, Mirotl.
close to really breaking I was . . . “Now do you understand why we
well, that’s ended now. But when those have only attacked space liners on the
volunteers broke into the open, I Mirotl line? Haven’t you always no-
thought was done. Because I had told
I ticed that those liners always held a
Mota that there was only you and an- full complement of soldiers? Lathar
other in the empty jail. Probably the ex- was sending those men to take the
citement of it all made him forget what atom rays and guns by force. I had
I had said. Anyway, it was a simple to intercept them. And I had to be
matter to escape. But it took longer brutal and savage. Those ships had to
than I thought to get to our own men. I be stopped.”
had given Mota wrong directions. But “But we did the same thing,” Jendu
do you know that those men of his had said. “Didn’t we raid . . .
?”
somehow blundered into the right path “No,” Talat said. “We were given
I had to get around them and after the guns. I contacted the council long
doing that warn of their approach. That ago and convinced^ them of Lathar’s
was what took us so long. As it was intentions. There was nothing they
we barely made it in time.” could do about the armament he had
“Yes,” ,Talat said wearily. “My on his ships. They were granted to
brother almost had hi$ will with me.” him as well as to any -other of our
“Your brother, eh? I thought so, planet, both for power and protection.
when I saw him,” Jendu said thought- There are pirates, after all, who do prey
 82 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

on the. commerce lanes.” cided the battle. He looked through

“I see,” Jendu said thoughtfully. the visiport, watching and trying to
“So we really haven’t been pirates. All anticipate everymove of the enemy.
'

this has been going on with the ap- There wouldn’t be any second guess
proval of the council. Had they come here.
into the open, it would have meant The gunners were ready for action
interplanetary war. But what do we and the sky blazed with sudden balls
do now?” of red and orange flame, as the 'atom
“We must destroy Lathar. Yet I’m charges exploded. Talafmeasured the
afraid. That madman will tear the speed of the oncoming ship and saw it
whole planet wide open before he goes was just the barest bit slower than his.
down, if he sees there is no escape.” He could outrun it in the long run.
/ “And speaking of. escape,” Jendu But better, he wanted to make the kill.

said, glancing through one of the ports, He slowed down suddenly and watched
“we. haven’t made our own good, yet.” his gauge.Another ten miles and he
would be within range of the other’s
rT''ALAT followed the other’s glance guns.
and saw the silvery shape of a slim “All right, men!” he said tersely.
fighter craft streaking through the “Hold fife till I give the word.”

heavens after them. Fire streaked from His hands moved deftly and surely
its stern. It. would be a matter of sec- over the instrument panel. He touched
onds before -it came into range. a lever here, adjusted a knob there.
( .
Talat left his couch in a leap for the And all the while his eyes never left the
pilot’s seat. The pilot turned a star- other ship. Suddenly he twirled aknob
tled’ look in his direction, then' felt and the ship literally whirled on its
himself being lifted bodily from the
.
axis and streaked directly Vor the en-
seat. emy. And in another instant took an-
“To the guns!” Talat shouted. “Jen- other tack at right angles to the other
du, take the bow. I’ll do the chasing ship. c

now.” “Now!” Talat shouted as the ship

Whoever was at the helm of the banked away.
other ship was more than an expert The shots were short.
pilot. He was one of the best Talat Talat meant them to be. There had
had ever known. Lathar must have to
;
be the proper reaction from the other
sent up his best man. So much the pilot, otherwise the whole maneuver
better, Talat thought.- It will be one would prove their undoing. The other
ship less to fight. The two ships man reacted as Talat expected. In-
streaked through the blackness, fiery, stinctively, the man turned away from
miniature comets. Their speed .was the shots, to put distance between
even. It was in the maneuvering that them. And a second,
in that part of
the battle’s end would prove who was Talat twisted the gleaming tube of
'

victor and vanquished. metal hard over. He' could feel the
Talat knew from long experience strain and stress of his sudden maneu-
that these sky battles did not last long. ver. But though metal groaned *and
x

-There was too much speed involved, protested the strain, the ship held. It
too much fire -power. A single burst was as fast as lightning striking. Miles
from one of the atom guns and it was separated them when Talat set his last
doom. Split-second timing always de- course. Before the other pilot could
 THE DEVIL OF DOOM . 83

put his ship into safety, Talat was on of escapewas gone. It was do or die,
him. And when he shouted, “Fire!” now.
his men did not miss. The other, ship, Talat called one of the crew to him
exploded in a single, brilliant burst of and gave instructions for those who
flame. would follow. Then he loosened his
.

“What now?” Jendu asked excitedly,
as he came into the pilot’s cabin.
Talat came to an instant’s decision.
“Get intouch with the other two
ships. If I know Lathar, he’s sent
every ship in his fleet searching for us.
Only our anti-rada shell hides us from
them. This one managed to see us.
We can’t take another chance.
going to do the last thing Lathar ex-
pects. Attack the palace itself.”
A broad grin spread itself
wide, thin lips of Jendu. Now
to his liking. Besides, he owed Lathar
a little something for the beating he
-
atom pistol in its holster and walked
to the front of the small group of men
awaiting him.
The palace seemed unusually quiet.
Talat walked silently down the narrow
flight of stairs. Gently his hand twisted
at the knob to the king’s chamber. The
door opened without a sound and he
I’m entered the room. His men filed in be-
hind him. There wasn’t a soul to be
seen. Talat felt a stirring of suspicion.
across the Things were too quiet. Someone should
this was have been there, even if only a courte-
san. But the room was empty.
The greyness of the pre-dawn filled

had taken. Jendu liked the idea im- the room and gave it a ghostly air.
mensely. Talat gave low- voiced instructions to
He leaped to the communications 'Some of the men. They scattered about,
room. And even as he left, Talat had searching out each nook for a possible
set the new course. He looked through ambush. The rest covered their every
the port and saw that the moons were move. But there wasn’t anything to
low on the horizon. Night was about be found.
to give way to day. They hadn’t much A sudden burst of gunfire made each
time. Everything depended on the man jump. They looked at each other,
speed with which they could manage. too startled to do anything but stare.
Talat was the first to realize the mean-
HPALAT maneuvered the craft above ing of the sounds. /
A narrow shelf of roof. He saw
the “Our ships!” he shouted. “They’re
that there was room for but a single being attacked.We led them into an
ship on the narrow ledge. Slowly and :
ambush.”
carefully, he brought it to rest. Then There were six sharp explosions as
he fiddled with a knob, and as he did they raced, pell-mell, up the stairs.
so, commanded the crew to abandon Powdered dust of atomized masonry
ship. He was the last out. No sooner settled about their shoulders and the
had he set foot on the roof top, than building shook and trembled like a leaf
the ship took off, seemingly of its own in a high wind. The palace had been
volition. Jendu looked questioningly hit! But Talat had defined all the
at him. sounds. More than, the palace had been
“Not enough room up here for all hit. Two of those sounds had the ex-

“It was
of the ships,” Talat explained. plosive crackle of metal hulls bursting.
the onlyway to make more room.” The outer door was burst from its

Jendu sighed as he watched the ship hinges. A scene of utter destruction

.

disappear into the sky. Their means met their eyes when they reached the
8.4 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

roof top. Gun .'ports, concealed from He chopped

Talat was not so fancy.
the eye with artistic cunning, showed down and his opponent fell to the
once,
blackened and burned. The blasted floorminus his head. Talat looked
parts ofhuman bodies strewed the nar- about for Mota. The man had disap-
row ledge. One whole wall of the palace peared. Another green-shirted man
had been obliterated by the atom fire. faced Talat. And for .
the first time
Talat took in the whole situation in a Talat knew an equal in sword play.
single glance. Already the sun was Parry, thrust and recover, the other
above the horizon. held his own, and more.' Talat had to
But where was Lathar? retreat, so hotly did the other press
Talat turned and raced back down him. And all the while Talat’s mind
the stairs. He ran past the chamber was on the escaping Mota. There was
door, down he was at the landing
until only one place he could run to and
that led into the dungeon. He had sud- there Lathar would y be.
denly recalled something he had seen A trick of fate decided their contest.
as the guards had le,d him from his Talat, stepping away from a quick
prison. There was a door which had thrust, slipped in a pool of blood. His
been open. Talat knew what was in arm swung upward. He was wide open.
the room which he had glimpsed as
,
But the other, trying to dispatch Talat
they passed. It was an armory. Rows too quickly, also stepped in the same
of atom pistols hung from hooks on the slimy pool. And Talat’s sword, up-
wall. thrust, tore into the man’s throat.
They were just in time. Whirling, Talat made for the door.
The room was men. One of
full of Hands clutched at him, tore the belt
them turned at the sound of intruding from him, with its holstered pistol. But
feet. It was Mota. Talat attacked im- Talat didn’t feel the clutching fingers.
mediately. His men followed him with Far ahead, he saw Mota make a^turri
wild shrieks of elation in their voices. on the stairs. He raced after the fleeing
There was no room for gunfire. A figure. He was twenty feet behind
single burst, gone wild would have when they reached the chamber door.
killed every one in the room, friend But he lost a few precious seconds
and foe alike. It was sword work and when Mota slammed the door in his
not the fancy kind. Man against man', face. When he swung it open it was
blade against blade, and as it turned on a strange scene. Lathar and Mota
out, teeth, fists, and feet played their stood face to face. They seemed to be
parts. having words. They turned at the
sound of the opening door. Talat heard
r T'ALAT headed straight Mota.
for Mota shout, “No!” Then Lathar drew
But before he could reach him, two a knife from his girdle and drove it
men interposed themselves. Jendu deep into Mota’s chest.
laughed aloud as he parried the thrust Talat 'paused for an instant as he
of one and slid his own blade along the passed Mota. Something urgent in the
stub length of the other. The man other’s eyes stayed him.
squealed as the sword point tickled his “Switch . . . Lathar’s room . . . quick
throat. Then the point stopped tickling . . . atom bomb, planet dies ...”
and went Jendu was covered
to work. Talat didn’t wait for more. He un-
with blood as the sword went all the derstood. Lathar had planned the plan-
way. et’s destruction if the day came when
 THE DEVIL OF DOOM 85

he nvas in danger. Talat had to head lifted his head, helpless to stop the mad-
him off. man racing to destroy the planet. And
Talat burst through the door that saw Lathar disappear!
led into the immense room that was the Talat walked slowly to the spot into
king’s own. Lathar was half way across which Lathar had sunk. The opening
It; in the floor! Either Lathar forgot or
“Stop!” Talat called. He knew it hadn’t thought to have it closed. He
was an empty command. His hand had lay on the bottom of the shaft, and
already told him that his belt with its there was something in the way his
destructive gun was gone. neck had been twisted about that told
But Lathar did stop. He stopped and Talat his brother was dead.
turned. Talat approached. Lathar
waited until they were separated by a “^ELL, Talat, what is to be now?”
few yards. Jendu asked.
“So it’s you again, eh, brother?” Lathar’s body had been brought up
Lathar said. and placed on the king’s bed.
“Yes. And this time I’m on top.” Talat shrugged his shoulders.
“But not for long.” “What was it you said? That one
“Forever, brother. But I can’t wait of the twins was evil and one good?
for you. Or rather — Well, it seems to me the evil one had
Of a sudden an atom appeared pistol his chance. Now I think we ought to
in Lathar’s hand. Talat never knew try the- good.”
how his brother missed, even though Talat shrugged his shoulders again.
he tried to dive out of the way. The But this time there was a smile on his
blast burned the hair on his head. He face.

AMULETS AND TALISMANS

m. JS. STANTON
A MULETS and talismans have been in use substances were inserted under the skin during the
/-Vi since the beginning of time. In the be- process of tattooing to make the pattern stand out
•A- all marking on the
ginning the amulet was used as an object in relief. In the beginning
with healing power, while the talisman exercised skin had a magic significance. There were sym-
a magic influence and was thought to possess the bolic birds which seemed to be flying toward the
power of bringing good fortune and success to heart, serpents that appeared to be wrapping
whoever would wear it. Both the amulet and themselves about the person, figures, and names
the talisman were used by ancient medicine-men, of loved ones. Today when we don a necklace,
and were quite often formed from parts of the ring, or pearl, we don’t think of the magic signifi-
body corresponding to the infected parts of the cance originally attached to the item. The magi-
patient. Among
a certain very primitive race of cal powers of amulets account for the large num-
people, the father would rub his new-born child ber worn by primitive people on all parts of
with a fatty substance taken from his’ own body,' their bodies to protect each portion from threat-
and tie the teeth of a ferocious animal about its ened dangers.
neck and cover it with the hide of a bull or a In the beginning a person who was visited by
tiger. This custom can be attributed to the pro- good fortune while wearing a certain garment or
tective power of teeth and thick hides of certain ornament would tend to give credit to this ob-
animals. ject, and would henceforth use it daily'. It was
Amulets were considered more effective if worn *
believed that the power and magic forces in an
close to the skin. This brought on the custom of object could be transferred to another. This led
tattooing. Symbols of virile animals were drawn to the wearing of leopard claws, tiger skins, etc.
on the skin, and in the early days certain organic
 THE CM OPENER
by Rojj Phillips

Empty a cast without first piametasriHg

It? Impossible, the psychiatrist said. Bait
of course, he had never seen the opener • . • •

“
f ^ 00D night, fellows,” Joe said, doc, just park and wait. We want to
I -w- pausing at the locker room all be there right at seven thirty. Then
V— " door. “See you at the office we’ll all go in together.”
Monday. So long, doc. Going to be at “Let’s see. How many cars’ll that be
the golf course Sunday?” then?” George Grabe said. “There’s
Dr. Ronald Spellman nodded. mine, yours, doc’s, Harry’s you’re rid-—
Joe Carver dipped his head in final ing with Harry, aren’t you, Pete? And
farewell and went through the door. Bill, I’ll pick you up . .
.”
“ ”
‘See you at the office Monday/
“ rT''HE
Bill Carter aped after Joe had gone. others are here already,” Harry
“He’ll sure be surprised when we all Miller said, pulling into the curb.
show up tomorrow night!” He tossed The two men and their wives got. out.
his bowling shoes in his locker, chuck- ,
An oblong package bulged from Harry’s
ling/ coat pocket. Pete held a similar pack-
“What’s up, Bill?” Doc Spellman age in his hand. The others joined
asked. “You sound like you’re plan- them. There was a quick but hushed
ning a surprise party on Joe. Come to round of introductions to Dr. Spell-
think of it, it’s his tenth wedding an- man’s wife.
niversary.” “Dr. Spellman’s a psychologist—you
“That’s right,” Harry Miller an- know, psychoanalyst,” Pete Berry whis-
swered. “You’re a good friend of Joe’s. pered to his wife.
Why don’t you come along? It isn’t “Where’s Joe’s car?” George Grabe
going to-be anything much. A couple asked, pointing to the empty garage and
of cases of canned beer. It’s the tin driveway at the side of the house.
anniversary — tenth. We decided not to “It would be, too bad if he and his
make the gifts more than a buck.” •

wife were out for the evening,” Bill Car-

“I’d be glad to,” Dr. Spellman said. ter grumbled.
“O.K.,” Carter said.
Bill “Only “The lights are on in the house,” Dr.
don’t make a pot or a pan. Joe’s
it Spellman pointed out. “Anyway, I
wife, Mary, has a complete set of that thought of that possibility and called
copper bottom stuff. Anything but Joe up this morning and asked him if
pots and pans so long as it’s tin.” he’d be home this evening. Told him
“We’ll all meet right here,” George I might be over; in this neighborhood
Grabe spoke up. “If you get there first, this evening on a call and might drop in
 [ felt a queer chill run up the base of
my spine as my finger seemed to vanish
in thin air— but then I saw the spout . . .

87
 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

if he’d be here. He said he would.” allof us giving him can openers.”

“Maybe he went down to Howard Dr. Ronald Spellman shook his head.
Street to get a few cans of beer,” George “Ordinarily it would be,” he admit-
suggested. “Say! You didn’t forget ted. “But not with Joe. He has a
the beer, did you, Harry?” phobia against the things. ..As a matter
“No. It’s in the back seat,” Harry of fact that’s the. way I 'first met him
said. He went to his car and returned as a patient. He was on the verge of
with the case of beer. a nervous breakdown. I’ll tell you
Dr. Spellman and his wife led the about it. But first, let’s get rid of our
way up the walk and rang the bell. Mrs. presents.”
Carver ppened the door. Her eyes lit “I’ll put them in my car,” Harry said
up with delighted surprise when she saw quickly. He collected them and slipped
all the company. out the front door. Less than a minute
“Come on in,” she invited.
“Joe just later he returned. “O.K., let’s hear it,”

phoned from downtown. He’ll be home he said, out of breath.

in a few minutes. Make yourselves at “It was about thirteen years ago,”
home and if you’ll excuse me I’ll dress Dr. Spellman began. “Joe Carver had
up a little.” She ran up the stairs in an appointment. When he came into
confusion. the office he was thin and run down. It
The women took up the chairs and was obvious that he was nothing but a
the men stood around awkwardly, look- bundle of nerves. He was confused and
ing for a topic of conversation. Their fumbling. One of the first things he
eyes slowly settled on one another’s did. when he came into my office was to
gift packages. reach up with his left hand and scratch
“What did you get?” Bill Carter his head, then look half sore and reach
whispered to Harry Miller. up with his right hand and scratch the
“A can opener,” Harry whispered right side of his head. Then he looked
loudly enough so that everyone heard frustrated and
£
mumbled, A11 right! Go
him. '
ahead and itch!’
“Ohmigosh!” Bill exclaimed. “That’s “I immediately started running over
what I got!” the different rest homes in my mind and
“Me too,” came a horrified chorus of wondering which one he’d be able to
male voices. afford. I didn’t have much trouble get-
.

“Hunipf!” came a chorus of disgust- ting him to unburden himself. He was

ed female voices. eager to talk about it. This is the story
“I should have thought to warn all he told ...”
* * *
of you,” Dr. Spellman groaned, glanc-
ing anxiously toward the stairs to make TT ALL began about six months ago.
sure Mary Carver wasn’t returning yet A new man started to work at the
from changing her dress. “Now it’s too office. I never could pronounce his
late. You’ll just have to not give him name and no one else could either. We
anything. I brought a new kind of cake called him Slide, which .was short for
tin. Fll take mine back out to the car slide That was as close as we
rule.
too, so none of us will be giving pres- could come toit. It was something like
ents.” — —
Shrdlu no Shldrl is more like it.
“What’s the matter with a half a doz- He had been working there for nearly
en can openers?” George Grabe ob- two weeks before I decided to be-
jected.“I think that’s a good joke come friends with him. That delay
 THE CAN OPENER 89

wasn’t because he wasn’t likeable, be- didn’t sink in at first. I turned it over
cause he was. He had already become and saw what was wrong. Both lids
friendly with everyone including me. were smooth and unpunctured!
Now I decided I .would like to cultivate All th'ree cans were the same, and all
an active friendship with him. three were undoubtedly empty. Their
One thing I had observed he never — contents had been drained out without
missed bringing a lunch, and it was al- poking so much as a pin hole in them!
ways three cans, a large can of tomato Impossible? I thought so too. There
juice, a can of peas, and a can of some could only be one rational answer. For
kind of fruit. some reason Slide was going through
He brought them in a sack and he had the motions of eating without actually
some kind of metal spouts he poked doing so, and carrying on the deception
into the cans so that he could drain the by bringing empty cans that were sealed
contents directly into his mouth from and throwing them away.
the can. He kept those spouts in a Then I remembered a few days be-
drawer in his desk. fore when he had spilled tomato juice
It was several days before I realized on his shirt. THAT hadn’t come from
how impossible that was. I didn’t really an empty can!
notice before, because you know how a I dropped the can back in the waste
person only sees what they are used to basket and a strange explanation en-
seeing. tered my mind., »

Up until I noticed it I never guessed A fourth dimension! That was the

that I would have been much better off answer. A Sealed tin can was just an
if I had never laid eyes Buton him. open container in the fourth dimension.
how could I suspect even when I saw The spouts acted as tubes in some way,
it. He ATE, didn’t he? That’s what that lifted the contents of the can up-
fooled me. He ate, even if it WAS out ward in the fourth dimension, and over
of tin cans. the edge, so to speak, dropping them
I KNOW he ate, because I saw some outside the can back in our three dimen-
tomato juice'spill out of the spout onto sional space. ['

his shirt once. I —I’m SURE I saw it. I decided that maybe Slide could be
When he’d finish his lunch he woulcf content to merely eat his lunch with
toss the cans into his waste basket. The them while he worked for wages, but I
way he’d do it was to pick up the empty was built differently. I made up my
can by the spout on it, and give it a mind to keep quiet about my discovery
flick that would toss the can into the and swipe one of those things the first
waste basket. Then he’d take the spouts chance I got.
to the washroom and wash them off. My chance came sooner than I had
After that he’d bring them back and expected. That very evening at quit-
put them in the drawer. ting time the boss gave me some extra
One day I got to wondering what work that would keep me until quite
brand of tomato juice he drank. He late. By five thirty I had the office to.
had gone to the washroom to wash the myself.
spouts, so I just lifted the empty can With my heart in my mouth I went
out of the waste basket and read the over to Slide’s desk and tried the draw-
label. er. It was locked.
It was a standard brand, but there Crawling underneath the desk I saw
was something funny about the can that how I could cut away part of the back
 90 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

'
of the center drawer so that the rod it more thoroughly. Around the. end
that locked thfe others could be lifted that was supposed to fit against the lid
far enough to unlock them. It took a of the can was a strange distorted effect.

precious half hour of hard work, but at I shoved my finger through the spout.
last I pulled on the drawer and it slid When it came out the other end the tip
open. of my. finger seemed to jump forward
My fingers shook as I picked up one a half inch or less, and where it passed

of the spouts. Without taking time to through that strange field it had almost
examine it there I hid it in my overcoat a half inch gap! I could see a cross
pocket and closed the door again. section of my finger just as plain as if
Thievery was a little out of my line it had been cut off, though no blood
and I was afraid that if Slide missed dripped from it and it didn’t hurt.
one of his spouts the next day all he It gave me a queer feeling. I slid
would have to do would be to look at me my finger in and out, trying to figure
and I would give myself away. out what it might be that could push it ,

I decided to go out and buy a few out of the three dimensions of the or-
cans of stuff and try to figure out how dinary world and back in again.
the thing worked. If I could do that I finally had to give up. It would
maybe I could put it back and then take a smarter man than I to figure it
Slide would never know about it until out. That meant that if I returned it
the patented product was on the . .
;
rightaway I might never know. Slide
market. might know someone had used it and
get suspicious. Of course he would
QCHULTZ’S delicatessen was just know that if I kept it; but at least I
around the corner. I went in and would have one then, and he wouldn’t
bought half a dozen cans of sauerkraut, be able toffind out I was the one that
the cheapest canned food there is. With had it.
the heavy sack in my arms I caught the Hiding the gadget carefully, I went
bus and went back to my room. back to the office and worked, until after
There, with the door securely locked, midnight rounding up the work I should
I adjusted the spout to the can. The have finished by nine-thirty.
spout was open at both ends. I saw
immediately that one end could be J^VERY evening for the following
brought securely against the top of the three weeks I experimented with it.
'

can when the band was slipped into I found that when it wasn’t attached to
place around the top. the lid of a can it leaked a little. I
The spout itself was only about an spent hours carefully pouring water
inch and a half long. Without tipping through it from one pitcher to another
the can I stuck a finger in. It never and seeing its volume slowly grow less
reached the lid About a quarter of an
1 as the water vanished to someplace in
inch from the lid my finger seemed to the fourth dimension.
twist Other
queerly and disappear. was a little worried about Slide.
I
than the visual queerness there was no He didn’t seem to miss the thing. He
sensation except that of wetness. didn’t even so much as ‘flick an eye
I pulled my finger out-and it brought when he opened the drawer the next
a few strings of sauerkraut with it!' day and found one of his things/ gone.
Taking the thing off the can without The day after, he brought another one
spilling out the sauerkraut, I examined to replace it so he would have three of
 THE CAN OPENER 91

them again for his lunch. be a ring of ice around my finger where
One day I noticed two fine screws it disappeared that hadn’t felt that way
that held the spout onto the ring that when the ring and the spout were
fitted around the cans. I stopped at a hooked together.
jeweler’s on the way home that follow-
ing evening and bought a small screw- ¥ TP TO that point I had been con-
driver. ^ vinced that the secret of the thing
In my room I carefully took the spout was in its shape. Now I began to figure
off the ring. The queer place stayed that perhaps it lay in some property
with the ring. I laid the spout on the of the metal. If4hat were so, then a
table and took the ring to the wash- chemical analysis of it should give me
stand and ran water into the queer the whole secret.
place. It vanished entirely! hunted up the janitor of the room-
I
That was fun. I held the ring under ing house and borrowed his tin snips
the tap and turned the water on full. long enough to trim a sliver off the or-
It dropped to the queer field and simply dinary end of the spout.
disappeared. It didn’t seem to change the opera-
Something wet lapped at my foot. It tion of the spout any, for which I felt
distracted my attention from the ring. quite relieved.
I glanced down. The floor was covered The next day. at noon I took the sliver
with water. of metal to a chemist and asked him to
The horrible truth struck me. Sure analyze it for me. I had to wait two
enough, when I turned and looked, the weeks for the report. During that time
water from the tap was running out of I played with the gadget every night,
the spout! There was gallons of it on learning more things I could do with it.

the floor that had spilled off the table. Finally the daycame when the chem-
Two hours later when I had mopped ist’s report would be ready. I stopped
it up and gotten rid of the wild tenant in On the way home and picked it up.
in the room below mine, I brought the “Of course,” the chemist said, “you
two pieces of the gadget out of hiding know I can’t be too accurate on the per-
again and stared at them with a sort of centages with such a small sample. All
horribly dreadful fascination. the elements are there, though.”
Did you ever dread doing something I glanced it over while he was talk-

with every atom of your being, yet ing. There was about three percent
KNOW you were going to do it? That’s iron, fifteen percent nickel, seventy-five
the way I felt. percent copper, and two percent lead.
I laid the spout on the table once Those were the metals. The remaining
more, then slowly stuck my finger into five percent was a mixture of Sulphur,
the distorted area. Sure enough, the carbon and phosphorus.
end of my finger crept out of the spout. “Could you make me up a batch of
Iwiggled my finger, and five feet away, this?” I asked him.
on the table my finger wiggled! It was “I could try,” he said. “I couldn’t
uncanny! guarantee it to be just like the original,

Suddenly I saw something different. though.”

My finger came out of the spout all “Could you,” I hesitated, “could you
right, bijt there was part of it still in the make me Up about ten pounds of it?”
fourth dimension. ’The reason I no- “Sure,” he agreed. “It’ll cost you
ticed this was because there seemed to. about fifty dollars though.”
92 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

I wrote him out a check to cover it the spout thing, were derived complete-
and the, cost of the analysis. When I ly from the material it was made from.
lefthe promised to have the ten pounds The six heavy rods laid side by side
of the stuff ready by the end of the- were exhibiting the same fourth dimen-
week. sional effects.
Saturday I didn’t have to work. At
nine thirty I was at the chemist’s door IF WALKED down the street toward
waiting for him to show -up. He didn’t the bus line carrying the package un-
show up until almost ten. der my arm. I hadn’t gone a block
he greeted me.
“It’s all ready, Joe,” before people started staring at me.
Five maddening minutes later he had One woman shrieked, dropped
a sack
his coat hung up and the million things of grocerieswas carrying, and
she
done that he felt were more necessary fainted. My first impulse was to stop
than waiting on me, and brought out a and help her. There were' others with
rod of metal half an inch in diameter the same idea and I was in a hurry to
and two feet long. get to my room, so I didn’t stop.
“This is one,” he said. “How does it I got to the corner bus stop and
look?” waited. The bus came along in a few
It had exactly the right color. When minutes. The driver saw me and pulled
I touched it I KNEW it would do the over, getting ready to stop.
trick. Suddenly the driver’s eyes took on a
“It looks O.K.,” I said casually. glazed, horrified look. He shifted gears
“Fine,” he answered. “I’ll get the with a grinding clash and stepped on
others.” the gas, zooming down the street like
He brought out more rods and
five the hounds of hell were on his heels.
wrapped the six of them up. Puzzled by this climax to the peculiar
“Queer stuff,” he commented dryly. behavior of everyone, I glanced down
I had to agree with him. When he at my package for the first time since
was wrapping them the paper had be- I had left the chemist’s. Then I received
haved strangely. At the ends it had a shock.
wrapped itself much as thin iron sheets I had cradled the package containing
might cling to the poles of a magnet. the six rods in the crook of my arm,
As he handed the package to me a with my hand hooked into my belt for
crucible dropped to the counter after support. It was still that way, but the
materializing' out of thin air. center section of the package had dis-
“Oh, there’s that crucible that I was appeared completely. So had the el-
looking for yesterday,” the chemist ex- bow of my arm, leaving a gory stub at-
claimed. tached to my shoulder, and a gory fore-
I left the shop hurriedly. My last arm casually gripping the belt of my
glimpse of that chemist was of him trousers. -

standing with the small crucible in his It didn’t really alarm me. After all,

hand and a thoughtful frown on his I had spent hours shoving a finger
face. through a small fourth dimension warp.
There was probably a thoughtful Dknew my arm was still whole.
frown on MY ’
face too. I was begin- So also was my side, even though a
ning to see that my surmise had been neat section of it seemed to be gone. I
correct; that the abilities of the “can could understand now about the woman
opener,” as I had begun to think of fainting and the bus driver dashing
 THE CAN OPENER 93

away. But I couldn’t just stand there into the curb. I squared my shoulders
exposed that way. and decided to brazen things out. The
I bent over and gently upended the door was open. I picked up the pack-
package so that one end rested on the age and darted through the opening.
sidewalk. Standing away from it I Fortunately the bus was nearly
looked down at my arm and side once empty. The driver didn’t look around
more. They were whole again. That when I stepped in, but merely glanced
settled that. at the fare box to be sure I paid my
The package was a different problem. fare, and then got the bus into motion.
It stood^there, seeming to be two sepa- The few passengers paid no attention
rate packages, one resting on nothing to me as I scurried down the aisle to
above the other. It was beginning to the rear and sat down. If any of them
percolate in my mind what had prob- had taken a good look at me they would
ably happened. have no doubt fainted, because I looked
The metal was similar to a magnet, at myself and almost did. My midsec-
only the lines of force and the poles tion had vanished to leave my body al-
were at right angles to what they would most cut in two except for a shaved-off
have been in a normal magnet. The backbone with exposed nerves.
lines of force were also at right angles
to every direction in the three known npHE bus sped along. There were
dimensions! few passengers at that time of the
That created a strong field in the morning. People were going downtown
middle of the bundle of rods, leaving rather than out into the residential sec-"
the two ends exposed and seemingly tions.
normal. I sat there looking out the window
It had probably taken a few minutes and ignoring the hole in the back of the
after the six rods were, laid together seat ahead, the opening in the side of
before their molecules clicked into the the bus, and all the other vanished
pattern they were in now. things within the field of the rods.
The seemed to act on any kind
field When we got to the corner where I
of matterand pulled it into the fourth would get off I rang the bell and waited
dimension when it went into the field. until the bus stopped before grabbing
That was why my arm and a neat half my package and scurrying off.
moon section of my side had disap- Fortunately the driver was thinking
peared, leaving parts of me so startling- of something other than watching me.
ly exposed. And fortunately there were no people
How far out did the field extend? I on the street. I made it to my room
cautiously approached the package. My almost at a run, slammed the door be-
knees began to vanish as they came hind" me, and' upended the package on
within a foot of it. the floor.
I bent over and grasped the bundle An idea had been percolating inside
by the upper part and tried to lift it. my skull that made me shudder. I knew
Its ten pounds were too much to hold that if I held the thing near my head,
at arm’s length. The package swung in my head would' go into the fourth di-
toward my body, exposing half of a mension. It wouldn’t kill me or hurt
beating heart, spongy lungs, and a par- me, if the vanishing of other parts of
tially digested breakfast. my body was any criterion.
Another bus came along and pulled I couldn’t resist for long. After pac-
"94 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

ing up and down and debating it I gave wrist,it might have startled me; but it

in. I don’t know exactly what I ex- wouldn’t have sent those chills up my
pected to see. In a story you might spine. And yet what happened is quite
expect the hero to see a green pasture simple to state.
with a gentle cow with three horns In my mind I gave the order for my
grazing peacefully while a beautiful right hand to raise the knob of the cab-
girl is being pursued by five-legged hor- inet door. My left hand was the one
rors.' that came up at the command.
Actually, up to a certain point, I saw That’s all that happened.' That’s all

the same things I had been seeing in that happened THEN. Yet, its hap-
the room. Then they sort of blurred pening was the first conscious realiza-
and came 'back into focus in reverse. tion I had of what had taken place
I lowered the package of rods of that when I stuck my head in that field.
metal until, judging from the position
of my arms, my head and shoulders TJEFORE the day. was over I had ex-
were invisible outside the field. plored the full, devastating conse-
At that position I couldn’t see a quences of that rash act. I proved that
thing. Everything was absolutely black. my head had switched about in some
Feeling a little disappointed I lifted the unimaginable way so that right was left
rods slowly as high as I could reach and and leftwas right.
set them back on the floor upended ,
My right hand had the clumsiness
again. I didn’t want to lay them down that, had normally belonged to my left
and have part of the floor vanish so hand, and rhy left hand had- the skill
the fellow in the room below would start that had belonged to my right, except
kicking like he did about the water that my right arm was less clumsy than
seeping through the floor. my left had been, and my was less
left
The experiment'Tiad left me a little than my right had been.
skillful
dizzy. I felt funny in other ways. For Writing was impossible. The only
one. thing, I felt. and behaved as if I way I could write proficiently was with
Were clumsy. That’s the way I ana- my left hand, and writing backwards.
lyzed it at first. It was readable in the mirror.
It would be impossible to describe I put my head back in the field sev-
the sensation when I first discovered eral times in an effort to make the
what was really wrong. I became switch back to normal. No results.
thirsty.; The trip downward to get the Some fiendish chance had interchanged
metal rods and the excitement and rush the parts of my head that first time.
on the way home had made me thirsty. Without trying, I knew what it had
I went over to the wash, basin and done to my typing skill. Anyone who
reached up to open the medicine cabi- has learned to type knows how hard it
net and get my drinking glass. would be for me to have forgotten my
Just that. I reached up to open the old reflexes and to learn to type all over
medicine cabinet. You wouldn’t think again.
there could be any possible thing about Unable to type or to write longhand,
that to send chillsup your spine. there was no use in going to work Mon-
If my hand had been a claw with all day.
the flesh rotted off, if had suddenly
I I glared at the package of rods, blam-
discovered that my hand was gone and ing c
it for my trouble. Then I noticed
there was only a bleeding stub of a something. The visible ends of the
 THE CAN OPENER 95

package were growing" shorter slowly. told the story of what had happened to
When I had upended the package on him and I could guess what had really
the sidewalk there had been six inches happened.
of each end clearly visible. Now there His wife reported him missing. She
was less than two inches! and the police had gone to his shop.
The logical thing to do occurred to The doors to his lab were bolted on the
me. Separate the six rods. Unfortu- inside. His hat and coat were hanging
nately the chemist had tied the package on a coat hanger. There was no trace
with strong twine in the middle. The of him. He had “vanished from the
middle was undoubtedly still some place face of the Earth.” Those were the
but there was no way to get at it to eut very words the newspaper used.
the twine. I tried every way, but It was Wednesday before I got up
couldn’t break even one rod loose from enough courage to get hold of Slide and
the others. confess all and ask him to get me out of
I’ll never forget the terrible hours of my predicament. I called the office.
that Saturday night as I sat watching One of the fellows answered Slide’s
those visible ends melt slowly into noth- phone.
ingness. “Didn’t you know?” he said. “Slide
Somewhere around midnight they quit Saturday. He gave notice early last
quietly melted away. For several min- week. Didn’t say where he was going,
utes there was nothing visible, but there either.”
was a feeling of something still there. from the employ-,
I got his address
Then a hole appeared for a second in ment company and called-
office of the
the floor, and filled back again. that number. His landlady told me he
I knew what was happening. The had moved out without leaving any for-
rods were falling to the center of the warding address. I advertised for him;
Earth I could visualize them shoving
! in all the papers. No results.
the matter that entered the field to one I was stuck. Absolutely stuck. I
side into the fourth dimension. That couldn’t earn a living unless I could,
was what had to be happening because write and use a typewriter. I called up
two objects can’t occupy the same space the office again arid talked the boss into
at the same time. giving me a three weeks’ leave of ab-
Over Sunday I gradually realized to sence. In that three weeks I found out
the full what my desire to make a better that I was going to have a tougher time-
can opener had brought me to. learning to write and type all over again,
That can opener? It had disappeared. than I had had in the first place because,
I’ll always believe that in the proximity there were too many deeply ingrained,-,
of the larger field the small field of the mixed up things to unlearn.
thing had grown stronger, and it top At the end of the three weeks’ leave
went completely into the fourth dimen- of absence I had to call up and quit my.
sion and sank into the Earth. job. That was two months ago.
Monday morning I called the office
. * * *
and told them I wouldn’t be down for
“;
several days. I planned to go back to T' HAT was
,
his story and he stuck tor

the chemist and have him make another A Dr. Spellman said, lifting his
it,”

ten pounds of the stuff. eyebrows and spreading his hands. “I

I didn’t even make the trip down sathim down at a typewriter and asked
after reading the morning papers. They him to type something. He started to
 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES
'

96 /

type and nothing but nonsense came in afterhim and closed the door, j

out. “Well well, well well,” he said. “This

“He have much money saved
didn’t
up, but happened that there was a rest
it
home out in the suburbs that needed a
janitor and hadn’t been able to keep
one more than a month at a time. He
took the job and stayed there, work-
ing as janitor and following my instruc-
IS a surprise. Mary, I want; you to
meet an old friend of mine, Chuck.
Chuck, this is my wife, Mary. We’re
going into business together Mary.”
“Glad to know you; Chuck,” Mary
said. “If you’ll excuse me a moment,
I was just going to get some glasses for

tions. the beer.”

“In two years he was as good as ever. “Wait a bit, Mary,” Joe said. “I’ve
I never was able to rid him of his phobia got a big surprise for you. This is our
against can openers though. Just the tenth wedding anniversary rememT —
sight of one upsets him.” ber? —
But first Chuck, this is Bill Car-
The doctor shook his head sadly. “I ter, and Mrs. Carter The intro-
. .

hate to think what would have hap- ductions went quickly.

pened if he had gotten six of them all •
—
“And now ” Joe looked around,
at once tonight.” then started for the kitchen. “Be back
—
“Do do you think that story he told in a second,” he tossed over his shoul-
was true?” Harry Miller’s wife asked der. He came back with a tray of glasses
timidly. - and passed them around, insisting that
“True?” Dr. Spellman laughed un- each person take one.
comfortably. “He was convinced it had “Anyone got a can opener?” he
all happened. But of course it was all asked.
in his mind.” There was a stunned silence.
The sound of a door closing came “Never mind,” he said.
down the stairs. It was followed in a With a deft motion he plucked a can
moment by Mary Carver. of beer out of the case setting on the
“Hasn’t Joe come yet?” she asked. table. With another deft motion" he
“I wonder what could be keeping him?” plucked something out of his coat
“He didn’t know we were going to pocket.
be here,” George Grabe said. “He “The very latest can opener,” he said.
might have run into somebody he knew “Chuck Schordulski and I just formed
and stopped to chew the fat for awhile.” a partnership to manufacture them.”
“Well why don’t you open some of He attached it to the beef can swiftly
your beer?” Mary suggested. “I’ll get and poured the contents of the can into
an opener and some glasses from the Dr. Spellman’s glass. Then, with a
kitchen.” •- swift motion he loosened the. can opener
j

.
“Let me help you, Mary,” Mrs. Mil- and held it up so that everyone could '

ler said, rising quickly. see it. .

'

The sound of footsteps on the front “Simple little gadget,” he said. “But
porch made them pause at the kitchen look at THIS!”
door. A key clicked noisily in the lock. He held up the can and twisted it
The front door swung open. around to show it at all angles, then
Joe Carver appeared briefly, smiled, tossedit to Dr. Spellman.

and disappeared again as another man “Look, doc,” he exclaimed trium-

stepped through the door.- Joe came phantly. “NO HOLES!”
;
THE END
 SAVAGE DECORATIONS
'ir • By Sandy Miller it?

ONG, long ago the warriors in some savage the world, at different periods of antiquity, some-

I 4
battle.
tribes in Africa
their
Front teeth
teeth, to
were accustomed to
add to their
filing

efficiency
filed to long, sharp points
in
times for the express purpose of affecting intelli-
gence. Primitive Africans did it for decorative
purposes. When important children were very
gave them a ferocious, fanged appearance like young, string was wound around their heads,
the wolf or fox. When his weapons were ex- and gradually tightened until the skulls were
hausted in combat, or when caught with none compressed and lengthened. Treated thus through-
had always his teeth, and could
at hand, the savage out childhood, the heads took on the appearance
spring at his opponent’s throat, fighting “tooth of elongated eggs. The goal was the highest
and nail.” When iron-tipped weapons came possible headdress in adulthood. To the long,
into use, the primitive practice of fighting with tall heads were added long, tall headgears. Hair
sharpened teeth died out however, the custom of
;
was drawn to the top of the head' and tied there.
filing the teeth survived for a long time as a mark Hats made of plaited grasses were fastened to the
of distinction, and a form of decoration among hair with ivory pins. To the top of the hats
the savages. were added bunches of long feathers. The total
Skulls of children of chiefs were molded by effect, to one not accustomed to such sights,
some African savage tribes. This practice has must have been extremely startling and fantastic.
been experimented with by peoples throughout

‘The Bitter Cold ...

By Frances Yerxa
EMEMBER those immortal lines of Robert radiations until all of it had been

R
of infra-red
Service’s poem which go, “. . . Have you dissipated, but contrary to popular belief this
ever been out in the Arctic cold when it’s would take time, very likely a matter of hours
sixty-nine below? And the iceworms wriggle depending on the size of the object, its original
their purple heads through the crust of the pale temperature, and its surface, the nature of which
blue snow.” Well those lines offer a good starter is quite a determining factor.
for the consideration of a hoary old legend that Atthe same time if the object were in the
has been debunked a hundred times and yet still solar system and not too remote from the Sun,
finds its way into the pages of science fiction. it would be absorbing heat, at a rate like its
“The bitter cold of interplanetary space . . dissipation, dependent upon the factors mentioned
Bunk! Interplanetary space is not cold for the above. Consequently a balance would eventually
simple reason that sheer nothingness can’t have be struck where the object gained as much heat
a temperature! Temperature as science defines as it lost—possibly.
it, is a measure of the average statistical motion It can be seen, therefore, that temperature in
of the molecules or atoms of a substance. Heat space refers oqly to objects, not to space itself.
is the motion of those molecules. On an arbitrary You don't have a temperature and the heat that
scale we have assigned such motion a measure that word implies when you don’t have any-
— its temperature. thing for it to exist in.
When it is said that the temperature of boiling We said before that absolute zero, minus two
water is one hundred degrees centigrade or two hundred and seventy three degrees centigrade
hundred and twelve degrees Fahrenheit, what is is the temperature at which no molecular motion
meant is that the molecules of water are in rapid ensues. Theoretically this temperature has never
motion due to the energy imparted to them, and on been attained but it has been closely approached
our arbitrary scales, this temperature is one hun- in the laboratory. Scientists have gotten to within
dred or two hundred and twelve. It is generally a few hundredths of a degree of it. While the
understood that the point where no molecular energy extraction that cooling represents works
motion at all is involved, is minus two hundred effectively on a large scale, we still are not sure
and seventy three degrees centigrade. what exactly happens at absolute zero. Modern
As far as we know it, space is an almost perfect quantum theory and wave mechanics show that
vacuum. No matter permeates it. Therefore energy is compounded of discrete and definite
it is impossible to speak of space as having a bundles, the “quanta.” And since all molecular
temperature, or of being hot or cold. It is, in motion is of a completely random nature, purely
a word, meaningless. If an object were located statistical, even at absolute zero, some molecules
in space it would radiate its heat in the form will be in motion.

97
 Benton looked up to find the girl examining e curious fragment from the floor

HE brilliant Arizona sun beat Three hundred feet away from the

T down with full intensity. I straight-

ened up from tightening the nut
on a four-inch pipe flange, dropped the
Administration shack, the slim needle
'of stainless steel that
first spacial-rocket,
was the Luna, our
stood poised in its

heavy spanner and started to wipe the cradle, like an Egyptian obelisk. The
sweat that beaded my forehead. The long shadow that it cast made the re-
soft desert wind swept across everything semblance even more was
startling. It
and everybody, like a breath from a the most inspiring sight that could be
hellish blast-furnace. But in spite of imagined.
the physical discomfort, I could smile. "Jim!” My name came from the love-
I had every reason to be happy. ly lips of Dr. Henderson’s daughter. She
98
 Jim Benton knew that something
had happened to the rocket ship on its
maiden voyage to the Moon—bat what ? . .

came across the sand toward me and my “Jim,” she said as she came up to me,
eyes swung from the rocket to her. She “Dad says that it won’t be long now.
wore and her
dirty, oil-stained coveralls, Maybe tomorrow. Aren’t you happy?”
long brunette hair was masked by a , I slipped an arm about her slim waist,
bandanna. But these things failed to Her head came up to my shoulder,
conceal the complete and beautiful “I’m happy, Peggy” I said, "but not
femininity of her. for the same reasons. I’m thinking of
99
100 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

you. I love you, darling.” My voice way in Advanced Mechanics II. The
dropped. I couldn't look at her without classroom was quiet, but there wasn’t
practically worshipping her. a nodding head in the room. In my
For a moment her laughing face be- mind’s ear I can still hear Dr. Hender-
came serious. “Me too, sweetheart,” she son’s voice:
said. Then her features twisted into a . . and so, gentlemen, the problem
delightful grin: of rocket flight into interplanetary space
^
“I think I’ve got a terrific rival in that. in our time is really a very simple one.
Are you sure you don’t .love steel and We shall not achieve it until we find
electricity more than me?” more suitable fuels.' As you can see by
“Peggy, if that beautiful hunk of metal the charts and the equations on the
was made of platinum-plated rhodium blackboard, the governing factor is the
studded with diamonds, I’d still prefer discovery or invention of a rocket fuel'
Dr. Henderson’s lovely irresponsible whose exhaust velocity is considerably
daughter. It’s a beauty though— I have higher than anything we have now, in-

to admit that.” cluding the alcohol-oxygen combinations

“That’s what I mean,” she said mis- as well as the various fuels used in the
chievously, “you’re never sure. If that German V*2’s.”
old rocket could talk, Jim, I’d believe It wasn’t those words that startled us
you’d make love to it.” or kept us particularly interested. We
"Don’t worry about it. You humans had known all those things from the pre-
still have advantages,” I cracked back. ceding classes of mechanics. We were
Then seriously I said: all graduate students and because my
“Just look at it, Peggy. Do you 'realize specialty was nuclear physics in which
what this represents? How long have I was going to get my master’s at the
we worked for it and thought about it? time, I suppose I wouldn’t have bothered
It seems like an eternity and now that taking the course in Advanced Mechanics
it’s finished I can’t believe it myself.” II, if I hadn’t been dating Peggy, Pro-
We suddenly both became silent, as fessor Henderson’s daughter. I had met
we watched workmen swarming over the her casually at a dance, found her so
vessel giving it the finishing touches. It intelligent and intriguing as well as
must have been painful working near beautiful, that before long I was going
that hot, gleaming metal, but no one steady with her. Often I promised her
minded. It represented too much. As my Phi Beta Kappa key.
I stood with my arm around Peggy, I
couldn’t help but muse on the origin of
that tribute to brains and skill and a
big dream.
Eight years is a long time. But I don’t
W
than now— only
HEN
time,

a distinguished but gaunt looking

I

a
met her
he wasn’t much different
little less
father at the

gray. He was
man,
think I’ll ever forget that long ago after- aman to whom work was real pleasure.
noon at school. It was one of those long, One evening when I called for Peggy
lazy, dreamy afternoons. The Univer- who had evidently told him a good deal
sity campus was quiet with only a few about my love for nuclear and atomic
people moving on it. It was the type of physics, he got me into a conversation,
afternoon when you’d to walk expect and I found that that was his field also.
into a classroom or a laboratory and find During the war he had worked with the
the class asleep under the slow drone of Government on the Bomb.
the Professor’s voice. But it wasn’t that He was really filling in on the Ad-
 THE HAMMER ON THE MOON 101

vanced Mechanics course for a friend of on most our faces. He went on:
his who was ill. Dr. Henderson suggested “Now, I’m going to ask you a ques-
that if I had any free time, I would find tion. How are we— or am 1— going to
it to my interest to join the class. It heat lead into a gaseous vapor of ex-
was a late, afternoon class and so I en- tremely high temperature without hav-
rolled. I never regretted that move, not ing a fuel problem? There would be no
only because the lecturer was Peggy’s advantage if there is such a problem.
Dad, but because it changed the course It would be just a case of transferring
of my life. It was “to my interest” all the fuel problem from the rocket cham-
right. ber, the combustion charpber, to the
The words of that afternoon’s lecture lead-heating chamber? What’s the an-
still drone through my skull: . . fuel swer?”
then is the limiting factor in our desire Before he could say another word, I
to leave this planet. We must look for a had shot out with a succinct and correct
liquid or gaseous fuel whose exhaust answer:
velocity is high enough to enable us to “An atomic pilel”
do enough work to overcome gravity and “Yes, Mr. Benton, that is correct.”
stillhave adequate amounts for maneu- .
The class broke up in a hub-bub of
verability. It must be a compact and small conversation. Of course the solu-
handled fuel. Other experimenters
easily tion to rocket flight was obvious. Use an
have thought of atomic hydrogen which atomic pile to create your energy source,
would fill the bill, except that it is too to serve as a source of heat energy and
dangerous to work with easily and safe- you could use almost anything in the
ly. Gentlemen, I think I have the an- rocket combustion chambers that could
swer. It will probably surprise you, but be converted to a gas by heat. Old shoes,
on reflection I think you’ll agree that milk bottles— you name it. The idea was
I am right. astounding.
“I’m going to use either lead or mer- The had continued, “When
Professor
cury.” He smiled. “Yes, molten lead is classes close for the summer, I’m going
a liquid. So is mercury. We’ll hurl these to supervise this project. If any of you
atoms through our rocket tubes in the feel that interested in working
you are
form of gases of course. They have great with me, we’ll see what can be done. It
mass which is desirable. They are easily is going to' be a long and tedious project

and safely handled. They are compact. —but interesting. Talk td\ me in my
But from the looks on your faces I can office tomorrow. Class dismissed.”

see that you’re wondering what I’m That night I had gone over to Peggy's,
talking about. Where and how do we but I must confess that my mind hadn’t
make lead into a gas with a high escape been on her as much as it had been on
velocity? That’s the question running the rocket. Her Dad hadn’t been in that
through your minds, eh? It’s really sim- night and Peggy sensed my detachment
pler than you think. All we have to do, during the evening. Finally she had
is to heat the metal to extremely high drawn it out of me, and much to my sur-
temperatures and we have a rocket cham- prise thought that it would be a wonder-

ber full of the nicest high-exhaust veloc- ful idea if I were to join her father in his
ity fuel that you. ever saw.” work.
His words were a surprise. The class “You big lug!” I came back to the
was stunned for the moment. But present. Peggy was giving me the elbow
glimpses of understanding were already in the side. “You’re squeezing me so
 102 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

tightly, I can’t breathe. Do you want to The rocket-area was a beehive of ac-
crush me? Where’s your mind? You act tivity as workmen swarmed everywhere,
as if you’re in a daze.” cleaning up loose ends. The Luna was
“I’m sorry dear,” I said, "my mind as complete as human beings could make
was o^t of our time. I was thinking her and no end of money and engineer-
about the start of this. It was a lucky ing skill had been spared in constructing
day for me— for us.” I pressed her to me her. I had my doctorate in nuclear
again. physics and I had personally installed the

“Yes, Jim,” she said, her 'lovely face highly efficient Uranium pile that pro-
sweat-stained and still beautiful, “I vided the basic heat source for vaporizing
couldn’t be happier. Here comes Dad.” our fuel— mercury. In an emergency we
could use almost anything, but a good

D R. HENDERSON, preoccupied
and a little grayer now than eight
years ago, shuffled his tall slim bulk to-
deal of the bulk of the rocket was mer-
cury metal, a liquid which could be
handled so easily.
ward us. He held a. sheaf of papers in Special alloys had been developed as
his hands. They were official communica- well as special ceramics for the combus-
tions from Washington. tion tubes. They had to be, for they
“Jim,” he said, “these are the okays. were going to operate at inconceivably
The three of us have permission and great temperatures. This had to be, in
authority to officially claim the Moon order to give the mercury atoms a suf-
when we land there.” He flipped the. ficiently high exhaust velocity.
papers away.
i "So much red tape,” he Dr. Henderson, Peggy Henderson and
said mockingly. myself were to take the first trip to the

I passed cigarettes to Peggy and Dr. moon, primarily because the Luna was
Henderson, and the three of us stood basically our design, although the actual
in the shadow of the stainless steel obel- construction was done with the aid of
isk and marveled for a moment that all government funds and engineers. It had
this had come to pass. I looked around been too costly a project to be taken over
at the crude buildings, with everything by anything but such a huge organiza-
designed for function and utility, not tion. We spent about eighty million dol-
looks. Nor did the guards and the steel lars on the project, as nearly as we could
fence escape me. It was known that other estimate.
nations, more specifically the Soviet Un- And all three of us were eminently
ion, was as interested as we in inter- qualified for the job. Dr. Henderson was,
planetary flight. Hence the need for basically, the Brains of our group. I was
precautions like those. And I still re- a specialist in nuclear physics and Peggy
membered Koneff and Glieskow, the two was a thoroughly grounded electronics
Russian exchange students at the Uni- engineer. Most of the radio and radar
versity. They had been in class the day equipment in the Luna, was of her de-
Dr. Henderson had lectured. We never sign. Peggy was hot only beautiful— she

did learn what they were doing, but was smart! ^

from the way their faces had lighted up There would be no test run of the
during the lecture and from what’ they Luna Liquid fuel rockets of conven-
.

had said afterward, it was a good bet tional design and of the same size had
that they were doing much the same been flown successfully before. In addi-
thing for their country as we were doing tion Peggy and I had built and assem-
for ours. bled small models, radio-controlled.
 THE HAMMER ON THE MOON 103

which Had worked perfectly. The main and checking on our navigational— astro-
worry that had concerned us— the atomic gational— equipment.
pile, mercury-fuel system— had worked He was a pleasant fellow. His prime
perfectly in these test jobs. Also we had concern was not for us or for the rocket.
built a small stub-winged plane using He was more worried about the security
such a rocket power plant and it had regulations. It was known that the Soviet
functioned just as our design had pre- Union was more than casually interested
dicted. We were as certain of the Luna in the project. What made it of prime
as we were of anything. There was no concern to that nation was the fact that,
question about what it could do. already on the way at different fabrica-
Dr. Henderson, Peggy and I went tion points all over the country, were
back to the mess hall and had lunch. We exact duplicates of the Luna, as many as

spent the rest of the day in supervising a hundred was rumored. Consequently
it

the clearing of the ship. The Luna was the was honey-combed with
country
a hundred and seven feet long and Soviet agents, whoseminds were on one
twentyieight feet in diameter at its thing— American rockets. The method of
widest part. It was constructed of a spe- propulsion was no secret but there were
cial stainless-steel alloy with stressed-skin many intricate aspects of it that required
construction that gave it great strength a great deal of knowledge and research.
and rigidity. It could stand any stress This existed, so far as we knew, only in
that we were likely to give it. It was a American vaults under the heaviest of
smooth sleek steel cigar, its lovely lines guards.
disturbed only by the tripodlike stern The men who had built the Luna and
rocket tubes. This was because the craft who had worked with us, had been care-
was intended to be landed and supported fully screened and subjected to the most
on its stern jets. It was impossible to do rigorous of scrutinies, but there was al-

anything else in light of the rough sur- ways the possibility that agents could
face of the moon which we expected to slip (through, regardless.

encounter. Yet, should the craft by Hence, was agreed that just before
it

chance be tipped on its side, we firmly the Luna was to take off the next morn-
believed •
that it would have strength ing the three of us would, personally,
enough to stand launching from *
that and in lavish detail, go over the ship
position. Every safety device and con- with a fine tooth comb, in order to make
trol that engineers could think of had certain that nothing had been tampered
been incorporated in it. with.
.
That night, Peggy and I left the head-

HE day went by with quarters building a walk and

T ing the mounting tension. It
be hard to sleep at night. There was so
all of us
would
feel- for
air. The Arizona desert
breath of cool
may be hot during the day, but the
a

much on our minds. And it was not all nights are exceedingly cool. It was a

of a technological nature. In fact that beautiful sight, the Luna, outlined by

was the least of it. the intense searchlight beams. It gleamed
Dr. Kingston of the Bureau of Stand- and glistened, its nose pointed heaven-
ards, who had acted as coordinator of ward, a symbol of Man’s perpetual reach-
the project and who had given us a com- ing for the stars.

pletely free rein in the whole affair, “Darling,” I said as we strolled

spent a good deal of the time with us, through the maze of guards, my arm
briefing us with the latest observations around Peggy, “don’t you feel the thrill
.
104 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

of this thing? Isn’t it almost the culmi- But I feel good. I’ve got you, darling—
nation of our lives?” and that.”
She looked up at me, now so com- “And I’ll bet you think more of that,
pletely feminine in evening gown— re- than you do of me,” Peggy said, with
quired by the farewell dinner— that my that eternal feminine jealousy of things
heart melted. Her deep brown eyes held material that fasten themselves in the
a spell a thousand times more potent soul of a man a woman loves.

and mysterious than anything thought “Not in a billion years,” I answered

of by Man’s brain. and I stopped any further discussion
"No, Jim,” she answered softly, "this with akiss. She clung to me fiercely and

isn’t the culmination— it’s only, the be- I held her closely. Tomorrow we were
ginning.” going on Man’s supreme adventure.
We were quiet after that as we walked Who knows what could happen. I
among the massive machines that had brushed the thoughts from my mind.
helped shape the monster before
often we were challenged by
guards who, above all,

anything now. But a glimpse of our faces

and the badges that.we wore was enough.
us. Very
the alerted
were prepared for W E WALKED
istration buildings. After I
taken her in I came back out for just
one more look. The
back to the

stately projectile
admin-
had

If Peggy and I had been dressed we looked as grimly beautiful as before and
would have gone into the Luna, but we it seemed to have an air about it as if to
would get plenty of the ship tomorrow, say: “All right, you pitiful little humans

so why bother we thought. We stood at —ride me! And you’ll know the thrill of

the base of this tribute to Dr. Hender- the spaceways. You may have designed
son’s genius, and we could almost feel me, you may have built me, but I still

each other’s thoughts. have the last word. Just wait . .

They were a mixture of pride and awe I stopped the fanciful rumoring. Dr.
—the natural reaction of' people who Henderson met me and we had a fare-
have been intimately concerned with a well toast to the encampments. We
great all-consuming, driving project into talked over the possibilities of the dan-
which they’ve put their greatest energies, gers of the trip which we both tended
their thoughts and their hopes. This was to dismiss as vague fears.
the realization of a dream greater than I slept, oddly enough, very soundly
both of us and we had a calm pride in, that night . . .

knowing that we had helped bring it

HE NEXT
about.
The awe
-

that enveloped us came from

just the consideration of that magnifi-
T haze of
There wasn’t a great deal
day turned out to be a
whirlwind impulsions.
to do except
•

cent tribute to human skill, a sculpture to make recordings of the take-off. Every-
in stainless steel and electrical cable, thing within the ship had been readied
greater than any sculpture that man had for us. But there were the usual public-
hitherto attempted. ity angles to be considered. The three
The chill night air became uncomfort- of us. Dr. Henderson, Peggy and myself,
able after a time. made pompous statements. To-
the usual
“Let’s go back, Jim. I feel tired. And ward mid-day this broke off, the com-
you know we’re not going to get a lot pound was cleared of all but the essen-
of sleep from now on.” tial workers, who were making last min-

“Certainly, Peggy. I’m fagged myself. ute checks on various bits of equipment
 THE HAMMER ON THE MOON 105

and mechanisms and who were giving at all times you know. And I think the
the ship the final once over. televisors that Peggy, built will serve
I looked at my watch. In an hour after too.”
meal-time we would be in the ship and “Just one other thing— check every-
take-off time would be entirely up to us. thing yourselves— once more. We’ve tried
Because the ship need not /be sent in a to make everything fool-proof and we
specially calculated trajectory in order' don’t think anything has been changed
to conserve fuel, there was no necessity or damaged since the last check, but you
to start at a specific time. Actually there never know. According to our secret
was sufficient fuel to take us to Mars and service, this trip is considered the hot-
back if we so chose. But we had settled on test thing that the Soviets can think
making the trip definitely to the Moon about. And they’re very interested: Play
and back before we tried anything else. it safe.”

After the luncheon for the three of us “We will,” Dr. Henderson and myself
with a few government scientists and answered simultaneously.
technicians, we prepared
to board the "Again good-bye and good-luck.”
silvery streak thatwas the Luna. There The three turned away and
of us
was nothing very elaborate about this. Peggy led the way into the Luna. She
We had no personal belongings to con- and Dr. Henderson climbed the steel
sider. Everything, from clothes to food, rungs— in space and on the moon, gravity
was aboard the rocket. would be no problem— while I turned to
We walked, the three of us, noncha- the port as soon as I was inside and pro-
lantly toward the base of the Luna. An ceeded to lock it. It was thoroughly
entry port with a long tube leading to sealed by the neoprene gasket and the
the forward part had been built in the sturdy submarine-type locks. There was
base. Because the rocket at rest would another door of course, forming the air-

be standing on its tripod tubes, and be lock as well as the door at the top of the
cause the inner tube served as a passage tube into the control cabin. This gave
to the “engine room,” the place where us a triple-dooredo lock which, in con-

the atomic pile and the mercury lines junction ,with the automatic safety de-
were located, this arrangement was nec- . vices, protected us against any chance- of
essary. Under operation, however, it was leaving them open.
expected that we need never go near the With the doors sealed the three of us

pile or its massive shielding. found ourselves in the control cabin.

The head of the Bureau of Standards The floor was at right angles to the axis
shook hands with each of us: v of the ship. Numerous quartzite ports

“I wish, as does every man and woman enabled us to view space directly, but in

on this base, that I was going with you, addition we had views in all directions

but it’s your baby. It really belongs to because of large numbers of television
iconoscopes located at strategic places.
the three of you. Good luck from all of
us.”He turned to Dr. Henderson.
“As chief of the expedition, I want to HERE were acceleration but
caution you to give us at least an hour
to clear the base. You never know . . .
T these were
than anything
more
else
for
seats
emergency use
because the Lu'na
not that anything will happen but . . could travel as slowly or as rapidly 'as
“Don’t worry,” Peggy’s Dad said, desired and at no time did we anticipate
“we’ll wait for complete and official re- using great accelerations.
lease. We’re going to be in radio contact “Well,” said Dr. Henderson, “let’s get
106 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

to work. Peggy, you start right away on before me and I knew exactly how to
the electrical inspection. I’m going to handle this craft even though I hadn’t
check the controls and Jim, you go down handled it before. I had sufficient . ex-
to the pile and keep in touch with me— perience with the smaller models of the
both of you— through the intercom. ship, so that I had no fear of handling
When everything is checked come up this. All the bugs had been reduced to
here and we’ll coordinate our findings. a minimum anyway. Actually Peggy
Frankly I don’t think anything will be could have handled it or Dr. Henderson,
wrong, but you never know. So make a but there was just the chance that it

good job of it.” would be advisable to have a young

"Aye, aye, sir,” Peggy retorted and
man’s, quick reactions at the throttle.
smiled. Immediately she went to the “All right, Jim," Dr. Henderson said
room right beneath the control cabin
slowly but calmly, “if you’re ready,” he
where all electrical equipment and ca- smiled, “give it the gun!”
bles were centered. I turned to Peggy. “Okay, darling?”
“I’ll give everything a thorough going-
“Right!” she came back.
over,” I said and back down the entry gently fed power to the Luna. I
I
tube I went. Everything that I examined shuddered delicately, there was a hissing
in the instrument-crammed space 'of the
whine, a feeling of gentle acceleration
atomic-pile room was in order. I missed
and the Luna was aloft! The whole
nothing, though. Outside, I could hear
thing seemed anti-climactic. There was
the sounds of men carefully examining
no difficulty whatsoever. We were rising
the base of the ship and no doubt thor-
rapidly as the screens before us showed
oughly checking the tubes themselves,
and from the loudspeaker overhead we
from which would soon issue intensely
could hear the voice of the operator at
-hot, lethal blasts of mercury vapor— un-
the base:
like any other mercury vapor that had
"... Luna, you are air -borne. You
ever been generated.
are rising perfectly.” The Bureau head’s
As soon as my inspection was over, I
voice cut in as he must have grabbed the
returned to the control room and re-
—
mike '*... it’s perfect. Dr. Henderson.
ported my findings to Dr. Henderson.
Did you notice anything unusual?’’
He too was satisfied. Peggy joined us a
little while later and her report was the “Not a
thing. Everything is under

same. Everything was in perfect shape. control. We’re going to recheck now.
Call us back if anything of importance
Close to an hour had elapsed and Dr.
Henderson called the base over the ra- occurs.” Dr. Henderson put down the

dio, checking it and the television sets.

microphone.

All was in order. We would be in con- I set the auto-pilot, a complex mecha-
stant communication with the base from nism of electrk^l equipment, gyros and
the instant we left it to the time when gears and cams. It held the ship per-
we returned. fectly steady. We knew that our auto-

The base reported to Dr. Henderson matic radio equipment was pouring me-
that everything was clear and ready, and teorological data down to the receivers

that at his discretion, he could take off. on. Earth.

I went over to the control panel, and From now on there was -nothing to
with Peggy and Dr. Henderson "flanking do. Once we were free to relax from
me, sat in the comfortable seats. I had the thoughts of the take-off and the my-
studied the maze of gauges and dials riad of minor duties that consumed the
 THE HAMMER ON THE MOON 107 .

time of each of us, we were able to ap- in a pretty enviable position.

preciate our position. At last we were We suffered — or rather, underwent —
out In space, a desire that had con- the peculiar effects associated with
sumed human beings from the time that weightlessness as we neared the moon.
they had been able to conceive of it. Eating and drinking was not difficult

The Earth was one of

visible to us in because provision had been made for
the rear view screens that had been set that. We sucked our liquids from plastic
up and we- could watch it become a huge containers. were necessary, all we
If it

silvery ball. The seas and continents would have to do would be to increase
were clearly distinguishable despite the the acceleration sufficiently to give us a
pall of clouds and smoke that hung over “gravity.” The floor of the control cabin
them. It was awesome and breath-taking, would then be our “Earth.”
though not nearly as much as we might The trip showed no signs of being
have imagined. These same sights had eventful. Everything went as planned.
been seen before through television trans- We maintained constant communica-
mitters on the remotely controlled rock- tion with Earth. The high frequency
ets thathad been built. In spite of our radio worked perfectly, a tribute to Peg-
probably all of
relatively blase attitudes, gy’s skill. The power plant gave us no
us an unworded thrill more at the
felt trouble, nor did we expect any, for the
thought of being the first humans to do test craft had proven beyond the shadow
and see it, than at the sights we were of a doubt that Dr. Henderson had built
seeing. well. His theory and his practice were

W E MAINTAINED
eration,
terbalanced gravity,
and
a low
as distance
we could
lessening attraction of the Earth for us.
feel
accel-
coun-
the
both correct.
Peggy and
we’d have to
the surface of the
nearer and
I

tell
were talking of the
our grandchildren,
moon loomed ever
we were applying now a neg-
tale
as

It was a magnificent sensation almost in- ative acceleration. ,

describable, contrary to some beliefs that Peggy’s hearing is acute. Over the hiss
it might be inducive of nausea. We felt of the motor and the blare of the loud-
none. I was fearful for Peggy, but she speaker, she must have sensed some-
was as unconcerned as Dr. Henderson thing.
and myself. “Jim,” she asked, startled,, “did you
The only danger that could conceiv- hear something?”
ably menace us was the possibility of “What do you mean? I didn’t hear
being struck by a meteor, but even then anything. Where?” •

the chance of that occurring was so slim “Dad, did you?” She turned to Dr.
that it gave us little pause. Had it oc- Henderson who was working with pencil
curred, if the meteor was large enough and paper on some calculations.
we’d never know what hit us. If the me- He looked up: “No, 1 didn’t hear any-
teor was extremely small as most are, thing. Why?”
and none of us were injured by its
if The answer came. There was a shud-
striking, we had equipment to plug the dering blast that undoubtedly came from
hole. the electrical room. It was muffled and
Our oxygen supply was more than ade- thumpy — as if it was a blanketed ex-
us, and there was a
quate to take care of plosion. The loudspeaker went dead.
largeenough converter to supply us with The televisors once and our
blinked
more than we needed. All in all we were only view was through the quartzite
108 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

ports. some reason agents unknown want to

Simultaneously Peggy and I dashed stop our communicating with Earth. Is

for the electrical rOom — groped would there any possible reason?”
be a better word. The gravitation was “Yes, Dr. Henderson,” I answered,
non existent. We reached it and I tore “there is!”

open the door. The sight that greeted “Why, Jim? Why?” i

our eyes was terrible and a grim rejoin- “Somebody — the Soviets — have
der against overconfidence. beaten us to the moon!” I came back at

Every bit of glassware, insulators, and him.

'vacuum tubes, was a smashed wreck. “Ridiculous, J^m. You don’t know
Glass and metal, wire and” parts littered what you’re saying. They’d have broad-
the floor. The cause was obvious. Some- cast it all over the Earth if they had.”
one, somehow, had planted. a time bomb. “They wouldn’t if they had a good
Peggy’s premonition was more than that. reason.”
She undoubtedly hadtheard a relay click “I think Dad’s right, Jim,” Peggy said.
just before the infernal gadget went off. “Whatever they wrecked our com-system
“But I checked it a dozen times. I for, it wasn’t because of that, that’s for
don’t know how they managed to con- sure.”
ceal a time bomb in the place.” Peggy Well, we quieted down after that. I

was almost in tears. She felt that this didn’t press the issue. Instead I helped
was her responsibility. Peggy salvage what she could from the
“Don’t worry about it, honey,” I said. mess that had been made of the control
“It isn’t the worse thing that could room. By the time we had assembled
happen.” enough for a workable transmitter, land-
Suddenly I thought that if a bomb had ing time was nearing. We’d have to post-
been planted here, it could, have been pone the transmitter for now, even
planted anywhere. I dashed down to the though there would be a great deal of
“engine room” but I couldn’t find the worry and doubt back on Earth.
slightest evidence. As we assembled again v
The Moon loomed up before us and
in the control there were a hundred we decided to select the edge of a modest-
questions in our minds. sized crater with what looked like a
suitable plain. The partial glimpse we
VOICED the obvious one: “Why did
had seen of the other side of the Moon
convinced us that was no different
I they or he plant such a small bomb?
than our present site.
it

Besides we wanted
Why the radio equipment? It can’t stop
the expedition. That’s the fishy part to be within sight of the Earth’s tele-

of the whole thing. Why do they want scopes. /We planned to set off a huge
to knock out our communications? It flare as a symbol. Now with the radio
make sense.” out,it would be the only assurance that
doesn’t
“I’ll manage to knock together some we had landed.
sort of a transmitter. We have some I took over the controls. The Luna
spare tubes and there are plenty of responded of course as we had intended.
parts. But it’ll take time.” Peggy was The cracked, rugged “terrain” loomed
contrite and anxious to make up for beneath us and because the television
what she considered her failing. viewers were out of order the landing
.

Dr. Henderson was grim-faced. "I’m would have to be made blind. I had to
not worried about communications, Peg; “feel” the ship down.
what bothers me is the ‘why’ of it. For Carefully and delicately I toyed with
 THE HAMMER ON THE MOON 109

the controls, holding the nose steady and the floor cabinet where we kept the space
balancing the ship on its tail jets. Watch- suits.. "Let’s think of work; congratula-
ing the instruments like a hawk, I let us tions can come when we get back.”
lose altitude, a centimeter at a time. As “Sir,” I said, “I think that Peggy and
the ship descended, Dr. Henderson and I, being less valuable to this trip, ought
Peggy both kept close watch through to make the first exploration. Don’t you
their sides of the ports. think that’s reasonable?”
“Keep it up, Jim. Steady as you go.” “What you mean is that the both of
1

Dr. Henderson called to me. “Your jets you are a lot younger— eh?” he shot back,
are licking ground. I'd say roughly and a smile covered his face.
twenty more meters.” I had to grin, too. “Something like

"It’s straight and clear on this side,” that, Dr. Henderson.”

Peggy called. “Can’t we go down slower?” We got out the suits; they were quite
“I’m dropping it in as tiny decrements conventional. They or their prototype

as I can, Peggy,” I answered. “I don’t had long been in service for the super-

think we’ll hit very hard.” high altitude rocket-work that was being
was the work of the better part of
It done every day back on Earth, and the
an hour to lower the vessel so slowly but only modification was the insertion of
I couldn’t afford to take a chance. If I transceivers, and a longer-lasting oxygen

should .drop it too fast on one side, I supply. The suits were good for about
might tip the craft over, and as ruggedly eighteen hours. They were sturdily con-
built as it was, I would have done tre-
(
structed of neoprene and flexible metal
mendous damage. mesh for abrasion protection. The trans-

There was a gentle shudtier that ran parent helmets had polaroid rotatable
the length of the ship, a mere whisper, shades in them, as well as lead glass
,then abump. protection so that the intense solar radia-
“We made it, Jim, we made it!” Peggy tion wouldn’t harm us.

cried excitedly and came dancing over Peggy and I slipped into ours— strug-
to me. I shut off the power, jumped up gled is the word— and as we had pre-
and gave her the first kiss in the moon. viously decided, we each took an auto-
She clung tightly to me. “I'm so happy, matic rifle of very small calibre — it’s

Jim.” range and accuracy on this light-gravity

“Me too, darling. Well, Dr. Hender- world would be as good as any heavier
son,” I released Peggy and shook hands weapon on Earth — and we also took
with him, “may I congratulate you, sir? Alpenstocken to help us climb if we had
This trip is more yours than anyone to. We were ready to step out on the
else's.” Moon!
Peggy ran over to him and kissed him. we checked our radios, our
First

“Dad,” she said, “we knew you’d do it breathing equipment, and our instru-
someday.” ments. “We’ll make the first trip a casual
one and we won’t go far from the ship,"
HE GAUNT and rigid “We won’t take a chance on
T for a
Henderson’s face relaxed.
moment that he might even cry
lines of Dr.
I thought
I\said.
ting lost. We’ll keep the ship in sight!”
“While you two are gone. I’ll do what
get-

he was so overcome with emotion. He I can toward assembling a new trans-

managed to regain his composure after mitter,” Dr. Henderson said. “Are you
a minute and briskly he headed toward going to set off the flare now?”
110 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

“I think it would be a good idea to But walking wasn’t difficult. The terrain
wait until a little later. Then you can was barren and hideous. It was just a mass
join us in doing
. it.” I answered. of rock, ruts, crevices, with not a sign of
"All right, we’ll work it 'that way. Peg, life to it. We had hoped we might land
how are we fixed for spare tubes? Have '
near one of the trial robot-rockets that
we got any big bottles?” ha'd been shot to the moon, but we
"Dad, there are two one thousand tee couldn’t find any. Possibly their remains
aitches. I thinkyou can build a power were buried too deeply in the pumice
amplifier around them,and I’ll throw in crest for us ever to find them.

a preamplifier and a modulator section

when we come
to sort of

sensitive receivers
back. We
push a signal back to Earth
with that set-up. They’ve got some super-
on us
should be able

right now I’ll

W E COULD walk quite a distance
from the ship and yet keep it in
sight. Its tall cylindrical

our guidepost.
shape served
The lights in it were un- .
as

bet. Don’t you think so Jim?” Peggy necessary. Peggy followed behind me. I
turned toward me. carefully and gingerly stepped along. It
“She’s right, Dr. Henderson,” I said. was not easy for the crevices in many
“You do what you can on the amplifier. spots weredeep— apparently bottomless
We’ll see what the lunar surface is like.” and here and there on the fronts of
Dr. Henderson was in constant com- craggy structures, we could detect open-
munication with us of course. We gave ings that could be only the mouths of
our helmets the final adjustments, and •
caverns. We did not attempt to explore
I took Peggy by the hand to the escape any. Our initial trip was to study the
tube. 'We climbed or "floated” down the land— nothing else— as much as we would
ladder, to the airlock. have liked to.

As we waited for the doors to seal, All the while we kept in radio com-
I turned to Peggy: munication with Dr. Henderson. I could,
"Scared, honey?” I asked. tell from the tone of his voice, even over

“Are you?” the flat-sounding loudspeakers in our

“No.”, helmets, that he was more excited than
"Then, I’m not either.” we, even though nothing of significance
I bumped my helmet lightly against had been turned up.
hers. “Remind me to kiss you when we We had gone about two miles from
get out of these things,” I said. the ship. Suddenly I had a funny feeling.
"Don’t worry, I will.” I
While I had been talking with Dr. Hen-
Finally, the door above us was sealed. derson, Peggy had not interrupted the.
I opened the side door. "You have the conversation. I turned toward her.
honor,” I said, “of being the first woman “Darling—” I started to say, and then
to set footon the Moon.” stopped. Peggy was not there !
1

my arm in wide-swept gesture

I flung I couldn’t believe my eyes. She had

likean Elizabethan gallant. Peggy minc- been in back of me not ten seconds
ingly stepped out on the surface of the before. Where was she?
Moon! Of course she sank to her ankles. “Peggy! Peggy! Where are you?” Dr.
In spite of the low gravitation, she had Henderson heard my excited shouts over
enough weight to sink into the powdery the phones. “What happened, Jim?
pumice that formed the satellite’s sur- What happened to Peggy?”
face. I followed. It was a weird sensation. I told him. I didn’t half believe my-
 THE HAMMER ON THE MOON 111

self. She had disappeared completely. I immediately dispelled. This was where
started to retrace my steps. The foot- Peggy had been taken. And emblazoned
prints were still clear in the pumice. on the door of the airlock was that un-
About twenty feet from where I had no- forgettable symbol— a crossed hammer

ticed her disappearance, her footsteps and sickle. Things began falling in place

ended. was just alongside a three foot

It rapidly. There was sense now to the
opening in a hillock. We had commented timed destruction of our communication
on it at the time and I had turned away. equipment aboard the Luna. Dr. Hen-
The answer was obvious, but it didn’t derson, I prayed, get some sort of a

seem like Peggy. She had decided to ex-

transmitter going— but quick.

plore the cave. Maybe she wanted to We went through the airlock. Still the
scare me. I poked my head in vthe cave.
Soviets said nothing. We passed through
Because the hillock was between the ship the second door of the lock. The sight

and myself I couldn’t talk with Dr. Hen-

that greeted me there was unbelievable
—I believed it!
derson. I just enjoined him to remain
where he was, while I did this exploring.
A miniature city, intensely compact,
had been built. Living quarters, streets,
I could tell that he wanted very much ,

electric vehicles, lay spread before my

to come out, but neither of us wanted
eyes. But the ominous thing was the
to leave the ship alone.
piles of material laying everywhere in
.1 stuck my head in the hole. It was
confusing but neat order. Stockpiles of
completely dark. I brought up my hand
metal of every type and description, elec-
torch* and before I could light it, before
tric motors, and countless crates of what
I could touch
button, it was the
could only be complex machinery. Every-
wrenched from me. found myself star-I
thing here was obviously intended for
ing into a grinning Mongoloid face, clad
the construction of a permanent . base.
in a space suit that was almost identical
The number of rocket trips that must
to my own. There was no chance for me
have been made in order to transport
to unlimber my rifle. The Mongolian
this base to the Moon, staggered me.
held a pistol in his gloved hand. He The Soviets were really doing this on
pointed it at me and gestured' I under- a grand scale, a scale that made our ven-
stood all right.
ture look like child’s play.

W
climbed into the cave mouth. A half
I
dozen figures similar to the one who held HAT was the objective of all
the gun on me, were waiting. They all this Herculean labor? What
carried arms and lights. was the point in building this elaborate
For a moment I was stunned. Human base in secrecy. True it was our inten-
beings on the Moon before us! It was tion eventually to do the same, but cer-
only a moment before I had gathered tainly our government wouldn’t have
my wits. The Mongolian and Slavic fea- done it in secrecy. There was something
tures of my captors could mean only one very wrong here.
thing. The Soviets had beaten us to the The guards who were taking me some-
Moon. where did not prevent me from remov-
Closely surrounded by the soldiers ing my helmet. The air-plant here must
who had said nothing, though I could be huge, I thought. There was the same
see their suits were equipped with radio- flat odor and taste to it, that existed in

phones, I was led to a large steel door, any color airsystem dependent upon
apparently an airlock. My doubts were machinery.
312 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES
•j

We entered a low structure, illum- and scientific?”

inated as everything here, by fluorescent “Yes, I know. I know all about the

lamps. The whole thing was eerie and Luna and you. But about your inten-
unreal. How desperately I wanted to tions— I question them. In fact, I don’t
contact Dr. Henderson. I had a feeling believe them!” he said harshly.
it was more than necessary although so Peggy and I remained silent.. We
far nothing really hostile had been done jvaited for hixn to speak. She glanced at
against us. I told myself that the Soviets me and I looked sideways at her. I shrug-
were merely taking natural precautions ged-
in holding us, but I didn’t really believe “You may very well play cool and
that. The radiophone wouldn’t carry of calm,” Colonel Ogloneff snapped. “I’m
course through the rock above us. That going to stop this play-acting. My gov-
isolation from the Luna was what both- ernment considers that a. state of war
ered me. exists between it and yours. Undeclared,
The motioned me to enter the
soldiers true— but a state of war. Therefore we
doorway. They remained behind. I en- are taking^ over tlte .Moon and making
tered. The room y/as obviously- a head- preparations against attack. We are
quarters of some sort. building rocket launching platforms very
There was a desk covered with instru- soon. In fact they are under construction
ments and communications equipment. now. Does that satisfy you?”
Behind' it sat an officer in full military I laughed— but it was no laughing mat-

regalia—a colonel by his insignia. In a ter. Defensel That was ridiculous. They

chair in front of him, still wearing her were building rocket launching equip-
was Peggy; her helmet lay at her
•suit ment for one purpose. When they were
side.As I entered, she turned. Her face ready it would be a simple matter to
was white, but her lips, were pressed to- launch a host of radio-guided atomic
gether into thin lines of determination. war-headed rockets to any spot on Earth.
“Jim, darling!” she shouted as she
'
And there was no possibility of defense
jumped up to greet me. for us!
“Sit down, please. Miss Henderson,” Here in this underground cavern lay
the officer said’ in perfect English. “I’m the seeds for a plan that couldn’t fail.

sure Dr. Benton will do the same.” He 'I ignored Colonel Ogloneff’s statements.
gestured to another chair in front of the “What do you -intend doing with us?”
desk. I asked.
“Yes, I will,” I said. “Peggy— don’t be His anger had subsided. He said mock-
afraid. I’m sure Colonel.. . I hesi- ingly: “I’m afraid we’ll have to try the
tated. three of you— yes, we know about Dr.
“Ogloneff,” he supplied. Henderson too— as invaders of Soviet ter-
“. . . Colonel Ogloneff will easily ex- ritory. It’s too bad but the three of you

plain this impossible situation and re- will of course be executed.” He called to
lease us at once.” I finished. the guards. “Take them away,” he said..
“Not exactly. Dr. Benton. You see we
have other intentions," he said, a nasty WAS I wanted
trembling\vith rage.
smile, almost of contempt, on his face. I monstrous agent of the
to tear this
“You know about the Luna}” I asked. Soviets apart. But it would have been
“You understand that we represent the pointless. we were still alive.
Besides
government of the United States? You As we were led through the door, he gave
know that our intentions are peaceful us a parting shot:
 THE HAMMER ON THE MOON 113

"Did you have any difficulty with' your ^ “Of course not. Why?” I answered .

communications equipment?” petulantly.

We didn’t bother answering. The “Look at these boxes,” she said.
guards led us to a storage building about I looked. Previously we had paid no

a hundred feet from the airlock. It was attention to the contents of the room,
isolated and surrounded with mountains though it seemed funny that any stores
of beams, girders, crates and boxes. would be placed in a locked room. The
We were shoved into the building room was practically filled to the ceiling
which had only one door, a single light, with rather carefully 'made wooden
and before which a guard' was stationed. crates, completely sealed and bound with
Nothing had been taken from us but metal bands. Their sides were lavishly
our guns. I held Peggy as close to me decorated with Russian letters and sym-
as I could through our bulky suits. Gent- bols. Neither of us understood them ex-
ly I kissed her, but there were no tears cept for the numbers which were the,

in her eyes. Only smouldering anger. same. I looked closely at the side of one
"Jim, those fiends!” she said. "Think of the boxes.
of what they’re going to do. If only Dad “Isn’t this Uranium concentrate?”
has a transmitter built. He could give Peggy asked. I studied the symbology
the Earth warning, and they’d get rock- closely. It was! I couldn’t believe my
ets here in a hurry.” eyes. We
were caged in a room with
“They might even be on the way now,” tons of Uranium metal.
I said, but in my heart, I knew this Peggy looked up at me and for the
couldn’t be. “If anything is done, it’s first time since we had been captured

got to be from this end.” a broad and lovely smile wreathed her
We talked for an hour or two trying lovelier face. “Are you thinking of the
to think of possibilities. Through the same thing I am?” she quizzed laugh-
window in the door we could see that ingly-
the base was larger than we had thought. “Darling, I haven’t been a nuclear
From what we could must be man-
see, it physicist for nothing,” I answered.
ned by at least five hundred men. The “Watch my smoke. You’re the radio ex-
main thing that worried me was what pert. Rip the transceiver from your suit
if they had already captured the Luna while I open one of these boxes. All we
and Dr. Henderson? Still, I told myself, need now is time. Pray that they don’t
it would be a pretty hard thing to do. disturb us. Their cockiness is going to
He was smart and shrewd. cost them this trip.”

We sat in helpless impatience for bet- With the aid of the small tool kit.
ter than three hours, interrupted only fastened to each suit, I managed to rip
once by the appearance of a guard with the band off one of the boxes rather
two trays of fairly palatable food. I had easily. All the while Peggy worked fast
finished eating and I was pacing back and furiously with her wrist watch and
and forth like a caged lion. I felt so im- the transceiver ripped from her suit.
potent. I could do nothing to break up “What sort of a time delay should 1

a scheme that meant the sure subjuga- build into the fuse?” she asked. I mar-
tion of the Earth if not the destruction veled at her skill and dexterity.
of everything on it. Suddenly my reverie “Give it a four hour delay, darling.
was disturbed. That should be long enough after we
“Jim, can you read Russian?” Peggy get out of this flea trap— if we get out
asked. of this flea trap,” I corrected myself.
 114 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

The box I opened, I dragged to the We had better act, I thought, and soon.
side of the room away from the door so We were going to wreck their pretty
that it wouldn’t >be seen. It took Peggy scheme— that was for sure—but both
the better part of an hour to complete Peggy and I wanted to escape with whole
her work. When she finished, she pre- skins if possible. I thought of a plan
.
,

sented me with as neat a fuse as I could and told her.

want. Her watch formed the timing ele- We went to the door and through the
ment, which, when properly set would window we attracted the attention of
cause contacts to close, delivering a nice- the guard. He was apparently a techni-
ly timed high-frequency pulse of current cian from the little I knew of Soviet' in-

at a fairly high voltage for any length of signia. Maybe he had a soul. I tried to
time desired. This latter was controlled find out. With hand motions we made it
by setting, a potentiometer on the con- clear that we would like som'e water.
verted transmitter section of the trans- He called out.' Evidently there was no
ceiver. All in all it was a beautiful, job. ,
answer. He turned to us and' shrugged
“If we ever get out of this, darling,’’ as if to say “there's no one around to
I told Peggy, “I’ll see that you get a good get the water, so go thirsty.”
job in a factory as a radio technician.” We were insistent. We hammered and
“You’d make a good dock-walloper rapped on the window. After about five
yourself,” she shot back glancing at the minutes of this.pantomine, he finally got
opened box. “Remind me not to kiss up. He looked around carefully. There
you again. Seriously, Jim, how are we was no one in sight. ' He walked into the
going to get out of here?” airlock section, a short distance away.

“Junior is still outside. We can’t do Soon he came back with' a metal contain-
anything yet. Give me the fuse. I’ll er filled with water. He set it down in
get it set anyhow.” • •
front of the door, drew a key from his
pocket and opened it. As he did so, I
TOOK the neat job which she handed stepped back; flicked the switch on the

I me, and set it to. one side of the box. fuse, and as quickly stepped back to the
With the aid of a little piston and cylin- half-opened door. My arms shot out, and
der devised from a condenser and a in an instant I had a grip around his

scrap bit of metal, I had a chamber suit- throat.

able for setting off the atomic blast— Savagely I kneeded him in the face.

“triggering it” so to speak. While he wore a space was as suit, it

Our preparations were complete. The awkward for him as it was for me. Peggy
minute we left the room, regardless of hammered him on the head with, her
how, I was. going to flip the switch. We helmet. He passed out. I took the auto-
left no traces of our handiwork. Four matic rifleand cartridge pouch he tvas

hours after we left this room, things were carrying. Peggy took his automatic pis*

going to happen— mighty unpleasant - tol. It happened so rapidly and so easily

things. we couldn’t believe it ourselves. We
We waited. The guard remained on dragged him to one side, leaving the door
duty. The door was locked from the out- open so that there would be no inspec-
side. There seemed to be no chance of tion of the room we had been confined
(
escape. Probably right now they were in.

drumming up some sort of a court just Slipping on our helmets, we dashed

j

to satisfy the conventions— or more like- for the airlock. I entered the room with
ly, x their own sense of the conventions. my rifle ready. There were three men
 THE. HAMMER ON THE MOON 115

sitting in the lock.

, . As* fast as I could through. That was my cue.
press the trigger, I fired. The three were I turned and ran like mad for the
dead before they knew what had hap-, Luna and as I neared her she became
pened. The men in the lock beyond this the most magnificent sight I had ever
door, flung it open. With Peggy right seen. Peggy was aboard, for the lower
behind me, I dashed through knocking lock was open. I was not a hundred feet
the first man down. There were three from it when I turned my head to look
men here too. Peggy shot one right back. Men in space suits were iboiling
through the head and I blasted down the from the cavern opening. A few were
other two. taking careful aim at me.
The mechanism of the outer door
lock Ten feet to go. Something hit me in
was as simple as our lug- fastened lock on the ankle. My air purifiers overloaded
the ship. I undid the lugs, pressed the and went out.I was suffocating. I was
button and the motor swung the door dying. I stumbled face down. That
open. Peggy and I shot through it into probably saved my life. I managed to
the tunnel. drag myself into the airlock. I heard
Under the light gravitational influence the hammer-like blows of bullets against
we half-jumped half-ran down in to the the Luna’s steel sides.
opening. We knew pursuit would be im- Then I passed out. I didn’t even re-
minent. member closing the lock.

ing.
I

we had

to her
It
put

It

now
my helmet against Peggy’s when
gotten through the cave’s open-
was the only way I could speak
that her transceiver was gone.
was pure sound conduction.
W
above me. Next
HEN
I
I came
recognized was
my
and delighted by the thin whine of the
to the first thing

ears
Peggy’s .face
were assaulted

“Listen, darling,” I said, “You head motors. We had made itl

for the ship, get the controls set and leave “Darling, it’s mel” Peggy said as she
the lower lock open. Air or no air we’ve held me in her arms. “Can you talk?”
got to make a break in a hurry. I’ll lag “Who wants to?” I mumbled. “Did it

behind and cover the cave mouth so go off yet?” *

that they can’t bring any big stuff out “You’ve been out two hours,” she said.
to stop the ship.” "I don’t know.”
“Only hurry, Jim. Please.” And she I sat up and we started to talk with
was off toward the ship. Dr. Henderson. Peggy had told him our
I went toward the ship too, circling incredible tale. He said that for a mo-
in an ever growing circle but always ment he was going to follow us, but that
keeping the mouth of the cave in front getting communications was still the
of me. logical thing and the most important.
Sure enough, Peggy was halfway to Now, he and Peggy were working to-
the Luna, when men started to emerge gether on the transmitter and it was al-
from the opening. I knelt on one knee most completed.
and took careful aim. As fast as I could, “It still doesn't mean a thing,” Dr.
I poured a devastating fire into them. Henderson said. “Unless that fuse trig-
Five of them dropped, and for a mo- gers the atomic explosive. Our govern-
ment no more came through. Evidently ment will never get rockets here in time
some officer must have been behind to stop it. The only thing we can d<y is

them, for more started through again hope.”

and again I fired. Again no more came And so they worked on the transmitter
116 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

while the zero hour drew near; I could of light accompanied it, a flare toward

do nothing but wait. The minutes drag- which none of us were staring. A visible
ged by like hours. Supposing our fuse Moon’s crust rose and set-
section of the
had been found. Supposing it failed to tled. Dust boiled and fumed furiously

work. Then what? Then we could be and that gigantic blast of intra-atomic
sure that within days, rockets loaded energy conveyed its component energies
with atomic warheads would be drop- to the particles of the Moon’s surface by
ping on the principal cities of the West- that mysterious activity.. The Moon had
ern World. We held civilization in our received a mortal wound. Nothing with-
grasp— or rather a cheap little mechanism in a hundred miles of that explosion—
plus Lady Luck, Dame Fortune, and completely catastrophic— had survived.
Miss Chance, did. The menace was gone.
According to the time for which I had Peggy and I were in each other’s arms.
set the fuse we had eight minutes to go. “Darling,” she whispered against my-
The moon was still a huge sphere by ear, “do you, realize what we’ve done?
Earthly standards, but we were distant Those madmen are gone. Now our rock-
•enough to watch in perfect personal ets can land!”
safety-r-which didn’t really mean a thing. “Peggy, stop talking about rockets and
Yet we were close enough to see every- let me kiss you.” I said.
thing in detail. “I won’t. It’s important Jim. I want
Eight minutes, seven minutes, six min- to talk ab—
utes, five minutes, four minutes, three She stopped talking as my lips met
minutes, two minutes, one minute, zero hers. In a dream world, I heard Dr.
minutes — H-hour — and nothing hap- Henderson’s voice:
pened! (
“Bureau of Standards! Bureau of
“The fuse is defective or they’ve Standards! Take this down in detail.
found—” Dr. Kingston, listen to this report! You
A gigantic cloud of dust shaped like saw the .explosion? You know what it
a needle suddenly and with lightning- was? Now listen to what caused it. Take
like raipidity lanced out from the surface it down. ...”

of the Moon. An intensely brilliant flare THE END

Betatron
By Fa-ami Ferris
i

VERYONE who is interested in the prog- give ordinary electrons from a heated filament,

E ress of science has

that incredibly
heard of the cyclotron,
huge magnet-machine
accelerating charged particles and for aiding the
for
a terrific velocity.
used for whatever research
These electrons then may be
is at hand.
the most interesting applications of the betatron,
One of

fundamental study of nuclear physics. Equally is its use as the electron source in a super-super

important but perhaps less well-known is a sim- x-ray generator.

flar machine called the betatron. It made its
appearance a few years before the war.
The betatron is similar to the cyclotron, but
instead of accelerating ordinary general charged
particles as does the cyclotron, it is specifically
designed to accelerate electrons— "beta particles”
—from, which it obtains the name. As in the
cyclotron, a combination of a changing electric
field and an intense magnetic field, serves to
Scientists have kept improving the elementary
x-ray tube from a simple gas-filled electric dis-
charge tube, to its present state of being. Now
an x-ray tube is a highly evacuated tube with
a filament at one end and a target at the other.
The filament boils off electrons— these, driven
by the powerful voltage between the tube ele-
ments, hurl themselves at the target which' is
usually tungsten, but may be almost any other
 BIS BERTHA BETATRON 117

metal, and vanish in a coruscant. flare of electro- and when the machine is operating, no human
magnetic radiation— that is, x-rays. remains near it. Everything is done by -remote

The penetrating power of x-rays depends on control. The

adjustments are taken care of by
their energy, and the energy in turn depends clever instrumentation and the liberal use of
mainly on the voltage that the tube is capable selsyn motors.
of withstanding. With the conventional type of The danger of being near such a machine is
x-ray tube, the practical limit seems to be about obvious. This is not simply a matter, of being
two million volts, after which it is impossible slightlyburned or sterilized— here, flesh withers
to insulate or manage such huge voltages. Some before such destructiveness.
other means must he found to provide electrons The penetrating x-radiation that is produced,
of still higher energies to smash their way into will penetrate many feet of steel. Hence it is

targets to release still shorter and more pene- perfect for the examination of huge castings
trating x-rays. that formerly were impossible to examine. Be-
The answer— or one of the answers— to this cause of its intensity, the time element is short-
problem, is the betatron. Electrons are accel- ened extremely, and what formerly took days
erated to vast velocities within the whirling elec- with radium, now takes minutes. This is im-
tric field, and then allowed to emerge to strike portant in an industrial economy where time
the desired target. The only difference between is the equivalent of money.

thismethod of x-ray generation and the conven- The betatron, by providing such powerful
tional, is the fact that the target is literally x-rays, also serves to help atomic research. X-rays,
outside the tube— by several feet. unlike most other forms of electromagnetic ra-
The resultant x-radiation that is generated by diation, do — or can — cause nuclear reactions
this process corresponds to what would be re- within the core of the atom. This is always
garded tubes as hundreds of millions of
in important, because it is the nucleus of the atom
voltsl X-rays of this caliber go through gigantic whose secrets scientists are desirous- of ferreting
thicknesses of like a knife through
material out.
lead— almost anything is
cheese. Steel, concrete, (
More and becoming the
more, physics is

penetrated by beams of such short wave length. ma-

science 'connected with high-powered costly
The betatron and its target are housed in a chines. But the dividends cannot be measured
steel, lead and concrete structure of huge size. except in terms of human welfare.

Ghosts!
ffiy William Karney -fc

M ANY people today are beset by that an-

cient horror.
And
Ghosts are in our midst!
these malignant creatures are inter-
fering with our pleasures. Sly and devilish they
sneak in just where they’re not wanted and where
and
How
furriness.
can ghosts be eliminated from
by the tedious practice
ghosts are caused by
structures, the TV
of trial
reflections
and

antenna must be so oriented

TV? Only
error. Since
from adjacent

they can have the most fun at the most unpleas- that these ghosts are avoided.That is the solution.
ant times. Perhaps, as in conventional radio practice, a
These ghosts we’re referring to are not of the wave trap of some sort may. be developed in the
conventional variety. They appear only in Tele- future. And just as a wave trap removes the in-
vision sets! terfering wave-length from the incoming radio-
TV owners know them well. They will be sit- wave, so may a wave trap for ghost images do
ting in the living room enjoying a pleasant wres- the same. This of course is highly theoretical and
tling match or a variety show, when suddenly the no such device exists at present nor is -there any
screen will distort and perhaps the picture will guarantee that one will' be invented. Nevertheless
appear twice or more' giving everything a blurred, we can hope for such a thing. Nothing is impos-
fuzzy look. Why is this? What are these strange sible and we dare predict that it may be done.
actors? What causes the funny appearances of Who would have thought that TV was possible
the ghosts? What are ghosts? in the first place?
Ghosts are caused by reflected radio waves. In man sets his mind to is impossible
Nothing that
fact they are the same radio wave picked up twice in applied science,it seems. Whether or not this
and projected on the TV receiver. And because is good thing remains to be seen. Regardless,
a
the reflected wave is picked up from a slightly the ghosts must be eliminated one way or another.
different point, its timing is not quite the same. Perhaps the answer lies in obtaining an African
It may appear on the screen a few millionths of a witch doctor and exorcising them 1

second which results in an out-of-phase image

later,
That Guy, Satan, Sends Me!
by George Reese

Swing music was frowned upon In

Heaven, so Send-me Slim felt he’d be much

happier in Meil— where music was very hot

UTS!” the Perfessor said. tion of the half dozen men at the corner
“Any particular kind?” table not far from the door was drawn
Send-me Slim asked- sarcas- to the pipe as though it held concealed
tically. in the bowl some odd kind of yocky,
“Wot’s the difference?” Jumbo a new kind, one which came in the bowl
O’Toole demanded. „“We’re all that of a pipe.
way, ain’t we?” “What the hell is that?” Flaherty
“Yeah,” Flaherty the cop agreed. asked.
“But not when it comes to music.” Charley’s eyes became a little crossed
“S’pose we break it up,” a new voice as they centered themselves on the pipe
suggested. ^It was that of Charley below the line of his chin.
-Borsh, the genial owner of the Tea Shop “Uh, uh,” he stuttered slightly, “uh
on Van Buren street. A peculiar-look- Meerschaum. Yeah. Breaking it in.
ing pipe snuggled tightly in the right Fella named Phil, over at my pipe shop,
corner of Charley’s mouth. The atten- told me to get a chamois jacket for it:

118
119
120 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

Says it’ll get nice and brown all Phlug?

over “
. . ’S matter? Don’t you like Phlug,
“Nuts!” the Perfessor said again, it either?” Slim demanded.
was obvious he had a one-track mind. “Listen!” Charley said softly. “If
And that the train he was on knew no I owned all the corned beef in the world,
other gauge than that track. and that guy Phlug was told that the
Charley looked at the Perfessor with only thing he could eat to live was ,

that air known as judicious. On Char- corned beef, ham he’d get by me.”
leyit didn’t look good. Even with the “Ahh! A wise guy. Just a wise guy!
chamois-covered pipe he was wearing. Why’n’t you write gags f’r radio com-
“Well now, Perfessor,” he began. ics?” Slim demanded. He was in high
“Uh, uh, what’s the fuss about?” dudgeon. Abruptly, he shifted to low
They all began to talk at once. It dudgeon. “Look! Who makes Amer-
was Send-me Slim’s voice which ica dance? Who makes America sing?
drowned the rest out, however, and in Who makes America —
the end became the voice in the wilder- “Act like St. Vitus was the national
ness of their ignorance, as he called it. hero,” Charley broke in. “I know.
Slim had the kind of voice that Phlug. Listen, crack-pot, and I’m be-
would diave been noticed in a harbor ing polite, that trumpet playing goon
.

full of tug boats, all of whose horns were
going at the same time. Not
so deep, or full, or resonant, or anything
but what it was, a shrill pipe,
so high it was a shriek. Charley’s face
drew in lines of pain as the shrill shriek
drowned out all other sounds including
that of the loud drunk at the far end
of the bar who was offering to take on
all comers. Charley’s hands came up
as though in protection.
“Please, uh, Slim!” he begged.
can hear you. Uh, I’m right here.
ovei\in Evanston.”
“Well, these guys was yellin’ so loud
. . Slim shrieked in self-defense.
“That’s all right,” Charley said.
“Just lower your, uh, voice to a shout.
That’s better,” he concluded as Slim
put the soft pedal on.
“It’s on account of Phlug,” Slim said.
makes noise— not music! Wah, wah,
that it was wah! Every time I turn on the radio,
that’s all I hear. Does Truman make
pitched a speech, they got to interrupt it to play
a new Phlug recording!”'
. “Nuts!” said the Perfessor. “That’s
what the whole kit an-’ caboodle of you
are, nuts. And I’m includin’ you in on
that deal, too, Charley. Now, if you’d
asked me instead of this platter-bait,
beat-out, hep-happy ’gator from Deca-
“I tur, what the argument was about,
Not you’d of got an answer, instead of what
you did.”
“So give me the answer,” Charley
asked unhappily. He should have known
better than to get involved in any of
the arguments which had to do with any
of the inmates of the Mansion, that
relic on Van Buren street. Particular-
ly when the two in question were the .

The look of pain deepened on Char- Perfessor and Slim.

ley’s face. The
very mention of the
name, Phlug, gave him the creeps. 1LTE HAD known the two for twenty
Morning, noon; no not noon, thank years, from the time the tea shop
goodness, he was at the tea shop then was a speak, back in the pro days. The
but at night the horror was resumed, two men had been regulars then. Now,,
Phlug, Phlug, Phlug. Damn it! Was looking back in his mind’s eye, he real-
that all the kids learned at school, ized- something peculiar, about them.
 THAT GUY, SATAN, SENDS ME! 121

They never talked of the day’s mooch man knew music. He wondered, idly,
or of current events, or of any of the where the Perfessor had learned all he
things that were common among the knew. There was no question in Slim’s
regulars. Music. They were music mind but that when it came to a knowl-
appreciators. In the old days it had edge of music, the other man spoke with
been the trio and piano in the back authority. Whereas Slim could only
room. Now it was the radio, but not speak generally and only say he liked
the same programs. Slim liked swing, swing because it satisfied him. Slim
the Perfessor, classic. didn’t realize it but he was suffering
“It’s like this,” the Perfessor ex- from an inferiority complex.
plained. “I say that Slim don’t know An echo of something the Perfessor
what he’s talking about when he says had once said came to haunt Slim as he
that swing’s the thing. Why? Because walked along.
all swing comes from the classics. Lis- “The trouble with you, Slim,” the
ten to some of the stuff no, listen to all ;
other had said, “is that you’ve never
of it. Where’s the background? Classic! seen music being performed. Doesn’t
Every tune why I’ll bet those
. . . sound important, you might say. But I
tune writers never’d be able to compose, think it is. Maybe if you saw the antics
weren’t for the public domain.” of some of those bands, you’d change
It was Charley, the arbiter, now. your mind about them.”
“Well, . what’s the question?” he He came to a halt as he reached the
asked. barber shop, just before the entrance
“There ain’t none,” Slim said heated- to the Mansion. The clock on the wall
ly. “I say Phlug’s ‘Sentimental Swing’ had caught his eye. The one in Char-
is all the operas, and overtures and
got ley’s 'place had the wrong time. It was
. .and all the rest of that junk wiped
. twenty minutes before broadcast time.
off the map.” Slim came to a weighty decision. Some-
But somehow, Slim felt he was bested how or other he had to get into the
in this argument. It wasn’t the looks studio at the' Mart and see the Phlug
of pity bestowed on him by the others. band in action. But how?
It was some inner feeling that told him Slim read Down Beat like the reg-
he wasn’t quite sure, himself, about it. ulars at the tea shop read the Racing
Suddenly he became angry. Form, as though it were the Bible. He,
“Okay, wise guy!” he screeched. “Go like they, knew the performances, past
ahead! Listen to that Fairy Serenade and present, of all the entries. The
on the Hyacinth Milk program. And Phlug outfit was performing at that
see where it’ll get yal I’m goin’ up to very minute at a Loop theater. Maybe,
the Mansion. Johnny Phlug’s on in if he could mooch a pass from one of

about ten minutes.- That’ll be better the band ...

than listenin’ to you guys.” It shouldn’t have taken him more
He went out of the tea shop as fast than ten minutes to cross the Loop. But
as his short, heavy legs could go. But an acquaintance stopped him on Madi-
ten feet past the tavern he slowed to a son street. O’Malley, a copper on the
crawl. For some reason or other he morals squad. O’Malley’s eyes went'
didn’t want to go back to the lobby of wide when he saw Slim. Slim spotted
the Mansion tonight. That damned the other at the same instant'. He tried
Perfessor! Always lecturing him on to pass the cop but didn’t quite make
music. Yet, Slim had to admit that the the grade.
 122 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

“And where might you be going at Slim shoved the girls aside as he
this hour?” O’Malley asked. plunged to the center of attraction.
Slim came out with the first thing Panting slightly, Slim stood beside the
that came to his mind. He didn’t real- taller man.
ize the absurdity of what he said until “Better hurry, Johnny,” he said,
the words passed his lips. “I’m on the costume ball committee.
“There’s a guy said there’s a job over They sent me to look out for you. Look
at John’s Restaurant, on Dearborn kids,” he. turned to the wondering and
street,” Slim said, looking the cop suddenly silent girls. “Johnny’ll be at
straight in the eyes. the, ’er, Palmer House after the broad-
“And I suppose you’re going to. see cast. See him there. C’mon kid. We’ll
about it?” O’Malley said with heavy be late.” .

humor. And without further ado, Slim pulled

“That I am,” Slim replied. at theband leader’s hand. Slim turned
,
toward the west end of the alley but
fYMALLEY was silent. He rather Phlug jerked him around toward the
liked the chunky little mooch. Slim east end.
never made it a habit, like some of the - “Got a cab waiting here,” Phlug said,
other bums on O’Malley’s beat, to but- as he shifted his hand so that now he
tonhole passers-by and whine his wants was holding Slim instead of the reverse,
in their ears. Slim made an honest . “Get in,” he said as they reached the
mooch. But this about a job. It just cab.
didn’t stack right. “All right, now, what was the idea of
“Levelin’ on that, Slim?” O’Malley that?” .Phlug demanded, when they
asked. were at ease and the cab got rolling.
“Swear it,” Slim said. Slim swallowed hastily, looked at the
“Okay. Better take it, fella:" I’ll good-natured, smiling face of the young
throw you in the can if I catch you on band leader, and launched into a hur-
the bum tomorrow,” O’Malley warned, ried resume of why he had done what

. Slim nodded and scurried away. A he did.

iook at another clock lent wings to the Phlug heard him through, laughed
stocky. legs. O’Malley had taken five loudly and said:
precious minutes. Slim turned the cor- “So you want to see a broadcast?
ner of the alley and ran as fast as he Well, you just tag along, fella. I’ll see
could for the back stage entrance. But to it that you get in.”
he wasn’t the only one who had had Siim was in seventh heaven. At last

ideas about seeing the Phlug outfit, he .was going to be able to offer a better
Clustered about the stage door were rebuttal to any of the Perfessor’s jibes
perhaps a hundred girls, bobby-soxers, when the subject of seeing a band in
They milled about squealing loudly, action was brought up. He looked at
Slim stopped short. It looked like he Phlug from the corner of his eye. Nice
was stymied. The stage door opened looking guy, Slim thought. Young, too.
and a slender individual, clad in a din-
'
But what the heck was he frowning
ner jacket, was outlined in the yellow about. Phlug turned just then and
light. Immediately a chorus of voices caught Slim’s inquiring glance,
were raised in demands for autographs. “Anything wrong?” he asked.
And Slim had an idea. He had seen “Why . . why I guess not,” Slim
that Phlug looked worried. said.
 THAT GUY, SATAN, SENDS ME1 123

“What do you mean, you guess not? there’s all of eternity, isn’t there? And
Don’t you know?” I only have some eight hundred and
“Well . Slim continued lamely. twenty-four thousand and twenty-six
“You look kinda jees!
. . You got
. people to interview before the night.
the world by the short hair. But you . . .Oh dear, what am I saying?”
look like an undertaker without a “Now, Peter,” the girl chided the
hearse. Something wrong?” man. She got up and Slim looked a
Phlug sighed, a soft exhalation of little harder. She was a smart chick
sound. It wasn’t lost on Slim. He had both in looks and figure. She was wear-
an idea that Phlug was going to tell him ing a simple frock of some light materi-
something. But the leader only turned al that seemed to fit like a sort of halo
his head and stared moodily out the around the well-developed figure. She
window. The cab turned west on Clark walked behind the irritated little .man
against traffic. Suddenly a car came in the large swivel chair and rubbed the
shooting out of one "of the eastbound bald spot that shone so pinkly. ‘‘You’ve
lanes on Wacker and literally exploded been working too hard. I’d ask the
in their path. The driver slammed on third cycle for a vacation.”
the brakes and twisted hard at the “Vacation!” The little, bald-headed
wheel. Too late. There was the grind- man sat erect. “Good heavens, as
ing, metal-shearing crash of two cars though I could leave! Who will
meeting. Slim was thrown hard against take care of the new arrivals if I
Phlug. Then he recochetted off and don’t?”
head-on into the glass partition separat- “Well,” she said, hesitating a trifle.

ing the driver from his passengers. “Gabriel’s sort of been throwing hints
There was the long-drawn-out shmeer that he’d like something better to do
of a trumpet blowing loudly in Slim’s than lead the band . .
.”
•
ear. There was no other sound. “Gabriel! That trumpet player! Al-
ways blowing his horn! If it’d be up
“
^A ND now, young man,” a voice
“I think you’re next. Well? Let’s
said. to me . .
.”

“I know, Peter. You’d put him in the

not just stand there with your mouth string section. But these gentlemen.
open. Get it moving. What’s your They’re waiting, you know.”
name?” Peter brought his attention back to
Slim looked about, bewildered. He Johnny and Slim.
was in some sort of office. There was “Ah yes, these gentlemen.” A sniff

a desk in front of him. Behind the accompanied the words.

desk sat a man. A smaller desk, about Slim was angered by the other’s at-
ten feet to the right of the larger one, titude.
caught his attention. A pretty girl sat “Something wrong, bud?” he asked
behind that one and smiled at some- loudly.
thing at Slim’s side. Slim turned and Peter’s shoulders went up at the
looked to see what the girl was smiling strident sound.
at and saw that Johnny Phlug stood “Well?” Slim demanded.
at his side. “Please,” Peter said gently. Then:
“Oh, come now; Come now,” the in a scream, “Don’t screech like that!
officious lookingand sounding individ- I can hear you. No, there’s nothing
ual behind the large desk said. “Let’s wrong. Nothing, that is, that the rec-'
not be hasty and tell all. After all, ords department .couldn’t make right.
124 . FANTASTIC. ADVENTURES

Sending someone like you up here. X“I

was a bum.”
Why, it’s a crime against heaven. You “Well, you’ll have to change your
should go to the other place. And may- habits here,” Peter warned. “The only
be you will.” bum things here are the jokes. And
“Just a minute,” Johnny Phlug said then only when Gabriel tells them.”

in a troubled voice. “Just to get Peter motioned toward the girl.

matters straight, are we to assume that “Jane will take care of you from now
we’re in . ... heaven?” on, he said, returning to some papers
’

“Ah!” Peter acted surprised. “An on his desk.

intelligent person. Yes, young man, “This way, please,” Jane said.
you are in heaven. Not officially, of
course. Only in the lowest cycle. A CHE turned and went out of the room
sort of probationer, you are. But, in through a side door. The two men
perhaps a few thousand years, you followed. The door opened into a cor-
might be able to get into the second ridor, down which the three walked un-
cycle. After all, you do have an awful til at a turn they came to another door.
lot of time. Now then, to business. Jane opened this one and stood to one
First you, young man. Occupation?” side as Slim and Johnny entered. She
“I am, or rather was, a band leader.” followed them in and closed the- door.
“Good. Or perhaps not so good. You “The outfitting room,” she explained.
weren’t a trumpet ...”
. . . “Haios, wings and the rest. You’ll find
“Yes,” Johnny admitted. “I was.” dressing rooms in there,” she continued,
“Oh dear!” Peter exclaimed in a as she took down several garments, two
plaintive voice. “Not another. That pairs of,-wings and two halos from a
Gabriel. Sometimes I think the whole shelf in the corner. These she handed
thing’s just a plot to people heaven with to the two men. They took them and
trumpet players! Now, take the vi- went into the little cubicle.
olin ...” “How do I look?” Slim asked.
r “Look, long-hair,” Slim said. “You “Like you’re ready for bed,” Johnny
take the violin. Me, I’ll stick by John- said. “But,what. I want to’ know is,
ny, here. Best trumpet since Bix.” howj do we get these wings on?”
“Bix, bax! Who cares. And how Jane’s voice came through the closed
did we get on the subject of trumpet door.- “Just place them against your
players?” Peter asked angrily. shoulder blades. And put the halo
- “Now Peter,” the girl warned gently. above your head and let go.”
“Remember your blood pressure.” Slim’s eyes widened in wonder as
Peter sighed. “All right, my dear. Johnny followed her instructions. The
Now then. You!” halo floated above his fyead as though
=. “The name is Slim, Send-me Slim.” itw|ere held there by invisible strings.
“Send-me Slim?” Peter asked hesi- And the wings had somehow attached
tantly. themselves to his shoulder blades.
j- “Yeah. On account a hot lick sends “Go ahead,” Johnny said. “Try
me. Right outa this world. Oh ride it, yours on.”
Johnny boy!” Slim said ecstatically. “Do they fit?” Slim asked.
“It was true that music sent you out “Like a bass string on a violin,”
of. your world,” Peter said. “And it
.
Johnny said.

might send you out of this one, too. “When you’re dressed,” Jane called
But of that, later. Your occupation?” through the partition, “come out.”
 THAT GUY, SATAN, SENDS MEl 125

“You do look better,” she said when meet you. Come.”

theymade their appearance. Once more the corridor’s vast stretch.
But Slim noticed that she lopked at And again a door which Jane opened
Johnny when she said it. He found his for them. It was just another office,
hands reaching furtively for pockets not quite, so large as Peter’s, nor again
that weren't there. If he only had a so business-like. The walls held por-
cigar, he thought. But this blessed traits, some of* which Johnny recog-
nightgown. That was funny! He nized. There was one, however, that
didn’t think the word “blessed”. But puzzled him. But before he could ques-
that was the word which came to his tion Jane about it, another door swung
mind. Oh well. open and a man walked in.

“I might as well tell you what to ex-

pect of Heaven,” Jane said. She tee- (p’ABRIEL was a hale-looking
tered on her low-heeled shoes as she ^ individual with
tall,

cheeks, a
rosy
spoke. “We lead a very simple life up short, white, immaculate beard and a
here. Music, small talk, games .
.” . twinkle in his eyes. He greeted Jane
“What kind of games?” Johnny effusively, saying:
wanted to know. “My darling brings me tyros for my
She blushed at the question. And band, eh? Good. Good. Which one
looked away when she answered: of you is Phlug?”
“Oh, charades and games like that. “I am,” Johnny said.
And once in a while we go to the movies. “A trumpet man, eh?” Gabriel asked.
Educational stuff, you know. Of course “Yes, sir.”
there are other things to occupy the “H’m. Well, we’ll see. Yes indeed.
senses. There are picnics, for instance. We’ll see. But first, let me see what
In the Elysian Fields. Refreshments you think of this.”
are served . .
.” Gabriel reached into one of the draw-
“Refreshments?” Slim asked. “What ers of the desk and came up with the
'

kind?” shiniest, brightest trumpet Johnny had

“Why nectar and ambrosia, of course. ever seen.
What other kinds would there be?” “Listen,” Gabriel said, “and tell me
Slim was tempted to tell her about what you think of the tone.”
Charley’s place. He did a few runs, then launched into
“Then there are the bands. Every a strange, haunting melody. They lis-
one here must join one of them. And tened carefully, but neither gave any
the choral society.” N
sign of what they were thinking. At
Slim became all ears at Ihat. Bands. the end, Slim looked at Johnny, pursed
Did that mean he was going to play an his lips and said
instrument? “He’s got a Spivak lip, don’tcha
“Yes. I know, you don’t have to tell think?”
me you don’t know how to play. But “More Lombardo. A little on
like
you will play quite well the moment the shmaltzy side. But not bad. Could
they give you an instrument.” of used him as a second man,” Johnny
They became aware of a low, throb- said.
bing sound on the air. Jane listened Gabriel’s face wore a puzzled frown.
for an instant, then said: “Come, gentlemen,” he said. '“Make
“That was Gabriel He’s calling. yourselves plain. What did you think
heard about your arrival and wants to of it?”
126 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

“Look, grandpa,” Johnny said, tak- VMe?” Slim asked in surprise.

ing the trumpet from Gabriel. “I can’t “And why not? We all play up here.
make myself clear in a language you’d Come, now.”
understand. But with this I can.” Slim took the trumpet in slightly
He worked his lips for a second, quivering fingers. He handled it as
placed the trumpet to his mouth, and thojugh it were a piece of fine crystal

prepared to let loose with such a blast ware. Aping Johnny’s manner, he too
as would blow Gabriel right out of the pursed his lips as he had seen the other
room. do, then, putting the. trumpet to. his
|

“Send ’em, Johnny boy,” Slim shout- mouth, Slim closed his eyes and began
ed as the first notes came out. “Send to blow. The corniest hunk of stuff ever
’em!” written, a piece named “You Are My
.Johnny was only going to improvise. Sunshine,” smote the air. Slim dropped
A sort of solo jam was all he had in the trumpet in fright, at' the end of the
.mind. Instead,- corn came out,, corn as last note.
far as his elbow. .
He found himself “Tha-that wasn’t me, was it?” he
playing a ballad and right from the asked.
book. The sweat stood out on his brow “Sorry to say, it was,” Johnny said.
as he willed his lips to play something “Not bad at all,” Gabriel seemed to
else. It was no use. He gave up final- be the only one who had enjoyed it.
ly. Slim regarded him with an expres- “jYou liked it?” Slim asked in dis-
'
sion that would have soured a persim- gust. . .

mon. “Oh, ,
there were some mistakes.
Gabriel was entranced. After all you’re not the accomplished
“My— dear — boy! What superb tone. musician your friend is, that’s certain.
What an excellent execution of a won- But I feel that with some practice you
'
derfully sweet piece. Truly heavenly, will be.”
the way you played. Isn’t that so,
Jane?” 'T'HERE was a short silence during
Jane too was looking at Johnny as which Slim contemplated an enter-
though he had suddenly pulled an imp nity of playing in a Heavenly band, a
from under his wings. shmaltzy one at that. Johnny thought
“Why Johnny Phlug,” she said soft- .ofthe eternity he was going to spend
ly. “I can see where I ... I mean with Jane. And Gabriel thought only
where all the girls are going .” she
. . of yhat he was going to say to Peter
broke off in confusion. when he next saw him. It was Gabriel
Gabriel chuckled and chucked her whoj broke the silence.
under the chin. “Would you' boys like to see our
“Looks like you’ve made a conquest, auditorium?”
my boy,” he said. “And you’re the first They didn’t say anything,
who has, as far ai Jane’s concerned., dabriel smiled blandly and said,
Ha, ha. It’ll be the first time Peter’s “Go|od. Just follow me. And thanks
ever lost a receptionist to a trumpet much, Jane, for bringing them to me.”
man. Man! Am I going to rib him.” Johnny was sure that her lips had
Slim shook his head in disapproval pur: ed in a silent kiss to him as she
(

as Gabriel broke into his thoughts. left the room.

“And now, young man, let me hear “Women,” Gabriel said in a confiden-
how well you can do.” tial whisper after the girl had gone,
 THAT SUY, SATAN, SENDS MEl 127

“are all right. But now and then they That was a Heavenly way to talk about
prove trying. Take my wife . . . someone. There it was again. He
Bless her. But every now and then she hadn’t meant to say Heavenly.
gets it into her head that I ought to bet- “But I digress,” Gabriel said. “We
ter myself. Sort of gets to nagging at were going to go to the auditorium,
me that being the concertmaster of the weren’t we? Through this door, then,
heavenly choir is not the most impor- and presto, we are in the wings.”
tant job in Heaven. Wants me to try Gabriel pressed against a section of a
to use some of my influential friends wall. open and the three passed
It slid
as stepping stones to something better. through. Immediately, the most awe-
Like Peter’s job, for instance. As inspiring sounds ever heard came to
though that’s important.” their ears.
He had been busily engaged of a sud- “Peek through the curtain,” Gabriel
den in straightening the pictures on the urged.
walls, while he talked. The two, not They were on an incredibly immense
knowing what else to do, followed him stage. There was a huge curtain drawn
around. across it. The sound came from some-
“Of course, with a man like Peter, where behind the curtain. Slim peeked
one has to be careful. He has Almighty through a tiny slit in the .satin-like ma-;,
powerful connections. Of course I’m terial. His throat tightened in an in-,
not without some, myself. Still
— voluntary gasp.
“I beg your pardon, sir,” Johnny Several years before, Slim had made
broke in. “But the pictures. Some I the freights to Los Angeles. There he
recognize. Some I don’t. Now, there’s had seen the Hollywood Bowl. This
Beethoven and Mozart and Wagner. was like looking into another such af-
But who is that long-nosed gent?” He fair, only from the wrong end. But
pointed to an individual who was wear- there was one difference. Size. It was
ing a garland of leaves around his brow. beyond description, almost beyond com-
“Eh?” said Gabriel, turning with a prehension. The tiers of seats stretched'

start to the picture in question. “Oh. out in every direction as far as the eye
Him. That’s Nero.” could see. In each of those seats there::
“Nero?” Johnny exclaimed in sur- was a musician who was playing. Nev-
prise. “How did he ever get into er had Slim or Johnny heard such
Heaven?” music. . :

“I forget,” Gabriel said. “But I re- “But is it swing?” Slim asked when,
member we needed a violinist at the they got back to Gabriel’s office.

time. And somehow or other a mis- “Who cares?” Johnny asked.

take was made in the record department Slim felt a great sadness steal over:
and Nero got in. H’m! I’ll never for- him at the question. His hero, the man
get his tryout for the band. What he had idolized through years of:

shmaltz! Rome must have burned for radio listening, had failed him. A bell
shame of his playing. And what ego! tolled in Slim’s brain. He thought it:

He wouldn’t play unless we burned was at the passing of greatness. But^

some part of Heaven while he played. Gabriel told them it signified something:
Luckily/ the record department found else.

their error.” “Ah!” Gabriel breathed in satisfact.:

Of all the nerve, Slim thought. This tion. “A picnic. How I love them.
sweet-lip calling another shmaltzy. You must come along. The first picnic -
128 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

is always a treat. Further, I’ll play is not quite to my liking. But I’m be-
a solo at this. They always ask me to, ing. catty.”

you know.” Ijohnny didn’t think so, it was evi-

Slim wondered why Gabriel made it a dent. He assured her that, “Of course
point to say, “The first picnic is always you’re not.”
a treat.” Weren’t the others also treats? But to Slim, the first wonder of
Heaven had worn a little thin. Jane
rT~'HE streets of Heaven were filled was like any earth woman to him.
A with people, all going to the Ely- Something to stay away from.
sian Fields. Each face reflected the “What’s this about buying things
happiness it felt. Each mouth was open here?” he demanded. /

to let a song come forth. Then Gabriel “We have to, you know,” Jane .ex-

and his two new musicians joined the plained. “The first wings, halo and
throng. And the voices stilled; the robe are only temporary. They wear
brows darkened. Only Gabriel didn’t out, after all. Which reminds me. Tell
notice the change. He was babbling Minerva that the new jeweler on the
of how he was “Going to put them in Milky Way has the most wonderful col-
'

the aisles, this time.” / lection of halos I’ve ever seen.”

The Elysian Fields were on the west “Nuts,” Slim said. And walked
side of Heaven. A
huge crescent of away.
roses above an immense, flower-bor- The last thing he heard was Gabriel
dered gate announced, “The Elysian assuring Johnny that, “Without boast-
Fields, west entrance.” The crowd ing, my solo is the best thing on the
streamed in, Slim, Gabriel and Johnny program.”
with the rest. Booths had been set up “His solo! ” Slim grated. “I’d rather
here and there in the spacious grounds, hear Spike Jones.”
dispensing nectar and ambrosia. Slim But no one heard him. They had
tasted some nectar and made a face. walked off in. the direction of a nectar
“What’s the matter?” Johnny asked. booth. Slim walked the other way in
‘

“No like?” disgust.

“Tastes like apple cider,” Slim said. The picnic grounds were quite large,
“Sour cider, at that.” he Jdiscovered after walking for an in-
A girlish giggle gave warning that terminable time. He became aware of
jane was near. a strong thirst and saw a crowded booth
“How silly,” she said. “Why, nectar close by. It was the merriest gathering
is just wonderful.” Slim had seen yet. The men and wom-
.

johnny gaped in open-mouthed ad-
miration. Never had he imagined any
one could look so beautiful.
“Nice halo you’re wearing,” Gabriel
said. “And if I’m not mistaken, those
are new wings.”
She dimpled at the compliment.
- “Yes, they are,” she said. “I got
them over at that new shop on Seraphim
Boulevard. And I’d better tell you that
your wife bought the most ravishing
robe, although I must confess her taste
en were singing, arms about each other’s
shoulders. Slim decided to join them.
Slim shoved his way through them
unt 1 he reached the booth itself. It
was presided over by a woman. Some-
thing about her hair, the way her halo
drooped in menacing conjunction with,
her right eye, the way she wore her
wings, one tuckedv neatly in under her
shoulder blade, the other standing stiff
andj straight, like awind vane on a
weather-beaten barn, her stained and
 THAT GUY, SATAN, SENDS MEl 129

badly-fitting robe, and above all the “I didn’t say four,” Slim said. “Jus’
jolly good-nature of her asymmetrical you’n me.”
features, intrigued Slim. “I said what for?”
“Hello,” he said in shy tones. “Who’re the other two?”' Slim was
She looked him over, nodded her altogether at sea now.
head, whichmade the halo droop even “What two?”
more, a condition she corrected by flick- “No. Wha’ four?”
ing a finger at it, making it go up as She lifted her curves from the coun-
high as had been low, then bestowed
it ter top and stared fixedly at Slim. A
a wink on him with a leaden-colored broad smile dimpled her cheeks.
eyelid. “My sugar candy’s a little stiffy,”

“Hi sugar,” she said softly. shemurmured to herself. Then to Slim,

He smiled shyly. “Look daddy. Let’s you and me go for
“Does honey-boy want a itsy-bitsy a walk.”
drink?” she asked. “Nah. Le’s have another li’l drink
“He sure do,” Slim said. The smile ambro-ambrosia.”
was less shy now. She didn’t reply to Slim’s suggestion.
“Well then, give yourself a treat with Instead, she lifted a section of the
this,” she said, handing him a huge counter and came out from behind it.

tumbler of the amber-colored liquid. Taking Slim’s arm she steered a course
He sipped hesitantly at the drink, toward one of the entrances.
then threw caution to the winds. This “Where we goin’?” Slim asked after
stuff hit the spot. He drained the tum- they had walked for a while. The effect
bler in three swallows. Slim had to ad- of his drinks had begun to wear off.
mit, “It’s mellow as a cello,” when “Why, to my place of course,”- she
the woman asked how it was. said.
“Then have another and get that bass He grinned at her. There was some-
feeling,” was her suggestion. thing in her blood-shot eyes that stirred
Slim’s pulses. A promise, a something
CLIM was no longer hesitant. He ac- that made his blood leap with desire.'
cepted the glass with a broad smile, But after her first intimate look, she
and the woman returned the smile, lean- gave all her attention to steering Slim.
ing her top-heavy curves over the wood- He was in that half -stage between being
en counter. drunk and getting sober. His surround-,
“How come I ain’t seen you around ings were a blur to him. So that when
before?” she asked. they arrived at her place, it was only a-
“Just got in. But from the looks of blurred image to him.
this place, I’m not going to be a stranger “Up we go, dearie,” she said, hoisting-
long.” him up the single flight of stairs.
“I don’t like a long stranger. I’d Slim shook his head and cleared the
rather have a short friend,” she said. cobwebs from it. He looked about the :
-

“Get it?” room. It was a nice, homey room. Pic-

Slim got it but hoped that one would tures of Peter, Gabriel and several' oth-
be the last. ers whom he didn’t know adorned the
“Look, tootz,” he said. “How’s about walls. A small phonograph stood in-
you and me sort of getting away from the corner. He looked up at the sourid-
all this?” of approaching footsteps. He recog-
“What for?” she asked. nized her when she came into the room."
13G FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

“Ah!” he said with satisfaction, when the opposite sex! Or maybe they.didn’t
he saw the two' brimming glasses she go for me. But you, you’re different,
was carrying. ij gotta admit, you’re different.” „ -

;“I thought you’d be thirsty,” she “You like me, huh?” '.?• i

said, depositing the glasses on a tray be- “Yep. I like you. I like, this pihce.
side the plush-covered sofa. “Come In fact, I like everything about this.”
here, sweet man. Sit by me.” His hand had gone up in a gesture em-
Slim had one eye on her and the other bracing the whole room.
on the ambrosia. He sidled over and
.
She clapped her hands in. delight.

sat beside her. She engulfed him with “Oh daddy! You’re wonderful. I
a mountainous arm and gripped him
' now it. I just know it. We’re going .

tight. to be so happy together. Now hurpy

“Like it here, daddy?” she asked. dear and finish your drink. We’ve got
“Uh huh,” Slim replied, squirming to get to Michael before it’s too late:”
in her grasp in an effort to get to his “Michael? Who’s he?”. Slim asked.
drink. “The keeper of the records,” she said.
She held him even more closely. “After all, if we’re- going to be married
“I like a man what,likes his pleas-
,
e have to let him know.”
ures,” she said. ' “Married,” Slim quavered. “Why
“That’s fine,” Slim groaned. . . why we hardly know each other.”
“Yep. I have to admit I. do. Most “What difference 'does that make?”
of these boys around here are so busy “But, uh, but suppose we, uh, well
spouting good they forget a gal gets a look! I might have some habits you
little lonely now and then. Now you might not like.” .

ain’t that kind, are you dearie?” “Oh don’t worry about that,” she
|

“Nah,” Slim said. He had gotten his . said. “I’ll change those.”

hand loose and his fingers were strain- Love flew out of the window. Slim
|

ing toward the glass. had her number. The bossy type. Oh,
She intercepted it and held his hand. no. Not for him. But how was he to
“Now you and me, we’re going to get out of this, mess? He turned his
have a bit of fun, aren’t we?” she mind desperately to the problem.. The
asked. only thing he could think of was music,
tie almost snapped his fingers in de-
CLIM began to wish she’d shut her light. The phonograph. She must like

trap, or if that wasn’t possible, to fill music if she had one.

it with some liquid. He liked her better “I see you like music,” he said slyly.
behind the counter. “Love it,” she said. “But then, every
“I asked you something,” she said. one up here does. I imagine you play,
Her voice held an edge to it.
1 don’t you?”
“Sure,” Slim said in agreement. “Sure,” he said. “The trumpet.
“Sure. But what say? Let’s have a What do you play?”
drink, first.” “The marimba, of course,” shean-
She was agreeable. The ambrosia swjered. “Such a divine instrument:”
tasted like whiskey. Slim smacked his Slim made a face. Where had the
lips and regarded her with a fonder woman of the counter gone. It was all
look. She wasn’t so bad after all. a snare, a delusion. She had only acted
He told her so. “Y’know,” he said, that way to trap him. She suddenly
“down on Earth I didn’t go much for bounced from the sofa.
 YHAY GUY, SAYAN, SENDS MEI 131

“Now you just wait here, dearie. I’ll
be right back.”
She was back before Slim had a
chance to move from the sofa. She
came in, wheeling a marimba stand with
one hand, the other held a trumpet case.
“Now,” she said, as she wheeled the
marimba up in front of him, “I have a
trumpet right here. Isn’t that nice?”
“Yeah,” Slim agreed sourly.
'
staggered back, his ears and senses reel-
ing from the great noise. His vision
blurred, there were great flashes of pur-
ple-colored lightning; the firmament of
Heaven seemed about to tear itself
apart and Slim fell to the ground.
There was the sound of voices in his
ears, as Slim felt life return to him. He
opened his eyes and looked dazedly
about him. He was in court again, was

“I had a boy friend once who played his first impression. Then he realized
the trumpet. A lovely man.” She that if he was; it was in some court he’d
sighed windily. “He fell in love with never -known before. Yet, that it was a
some ratty looking gal with glasses. court, he had no doubt. There was'the
Sang in the choir, an impossible person, judge’s bench right there in front of
really. He left in a hurry one. night, him. And surely that man in the robe
and forgot his instrument. Lucky for was the judge.. Slim looked at the man
you.” standing at the judge’s side and recog-
Slim groaned. But not aloud. His nized Peter.
plan had to go over. But this wasn’t the same, harassed
She opened the case, disclosing a man he had met before. There
little

gold-plated trumpet, and taking it out was something, fearsome about the way
handed it to. Slim. Then she took the he looked down at Slim. Slim found
sticks from the rack and executed a his flesh was cold and the quivers that
few runs. ran up and down his spine were, from
“Now what will we play?” she asked. fear. ,

“Anything you like,” Slim said, plac- “So this is the culprit,” the man on
ing the trumpet to his mouth. “I’ll take the bench said.
the harmony.” “Yes, Michael,” Peter said.
Just as he expected, she launched “H’m. Looks harmless. But then
into something sweetly sticky. His in- most of them do, who come here. Can’t
tentions were to give it a good ride. say I blame you for letting him pass.
Instead, perfect harmony came out. If he hadn’t blasphemed, ho one would
The trumpet drooped from listless have been the wiser. Luckily for us he
.

fingers when they were done. did. Had the Inner Council heard . .

“Now what will

it be?” she asked. “I understand, Michael,” Peter said.
.
“Another drink,” he said desperately. “I imagine Gabriel would have liked
She filled the glasses, once, twice and my job.”
another time. Then she arose once Looks like I’m in the soup, Slim
more. There was a familiar gleam in thought. Well then, let them do what
her eyes. they wantl That’ was the way he felt
Slim was disgusted. All this wasn’t at first.But as they continued to talk
getting him anywhere. Besides, he was about him as though he were a stick of
getting sleepy. wood, anger flooded his being. Who
“Ah! T’hell with it! ” he shouted. did they think they were?.
“Just a minute,” his voice was
'T'HERE was a sound as of a thou- peremptory.
A sand thunders rolled into one. Slim They turned cold-looking, judicial
 132 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

faces toward him. ambrosia stand was all right. But she
“Seems broke the law or some-
like I was only a stooge.”
thing,” Slim said. “But even back “If it is heat you’re interested in,”
where I come from they tell a man what Michael said, “I think we can satisfy
he, did and let him make a plea before you in that respect.”
they sentence him.” “Go ahead,” Slim said defiantly.
Michal looked questioningly at Peter In an instant the room, the men,
and Peter returned the glance. They everything turned black before Slim’s
nodded in silent agreement. It was eyes. There was the sound of clashing
Peter who enlightened Slim to the crime gears and Slim opened his eyes to find
he committed. he was in another scene, another world.
“You came here under false pre-
tenses,” Peter said. JT WAS another office. This one,
“Did no such thing,” Slim said. “I however, was furnished in modern
was brought here! Which makes who- decor. A tremendous desk of lined
ever did the bringing, the guilty one. oak, simple in design, was shoved close
I’m just being railroaded.” to one wall. Another smaller desk stood
“Whoever comes here,” Peter said a ong the wall at right angles to the
sharply, “knows that he is deserving of large desk. A slender, sharp-looking
Heaven. What made you think you individual sat at the large desk. He
were?” was regarding Slim with a steady, sar-
-
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t think donic stare. A neatly-trimmed mous-
much one way or the other about it. tache adorned his lip and his hair, worn
About all I thought of down there, was pompadour style, was slicked back until
music.” it was like a gleaming black helmet on

“We know that, now,” Michael took h s rather narrow skull.

up the burden of the prosecution. “The “I see we have another caller, Mer-
point is this, however. That having cedes,” the man said to the girl.

established yourself here, due to an un-
fortunate error, you violated one of the
cardinal rules. Who knows but that
you would have spent an eternity here
but for that infraction.”
“Whose fault is that?” Slim’s voice
was a loud screech. “Serving that am-
'brosia dynamite. One shot of that and
Charley would have given the joint
away.”
“Had you stuck to nectar, temptation
would not have come your way,”
Michael said in reminder. “It is one
way in which we catch those who do not
1
belong here.”
Slim was tired of the whole business.
“Ahh! I don’t think Heaven’s such
a hot place anyway. I’d only have to
listen to a lot of corny lips, like Gabriel.
I gotta admit that that gal I met at the
Slim noticed the girl for the first time
and a low whistle of admiration came
involuntarily from his lips. She was a
slick chick, if ever he had seen one.
Raven-black hair fell in smooth waves
down the back of her neck. Her face
was triangular in shape and milky-
white in complexion. She wore no make-
up other than lipstick and eyebrow
penciling. Her teeth gleamed whitely
as she smiled up at Slim.
“Yes, sir,” the girl said, turning from
her inspection of Slim and picking up
several papers from the desk. She began
to read,' “His name is Send-me Slim.
According to the file the messenger ar-
rived a little late and found that he had
been sent to the other place by mistake.-
Actually, he is only a probationer. But
it seems that he offended the dignity of
 THAT GUY, SATAN, SENDS ME1 133

our smug friends up there. So they sent “A guest. For the music room. Show
him here.” him around.” •

The man arched his fingers before his “By the way,” the guide said, as they
eyes and spoke between them: left the room and started down a wide,
“Very interesting. Ve-ry interesting. red-papered corridor, “my name is

Now me, friend, what was your vo-

tell Beelzie.”
cation down on Earth?” “Glad to know you,” Slim said. “My
“I was a bum,” Slim replied. name is
—
“Good. Excellent. Now then. We “No one asked you,” Beelzie said
like to make our visitors at home, here. abruptly.
Was there anything you liked to do Slim sniffed sharply. An oddly acrid
down there, I mean some particular vice odor came to his nostrils.
that you indulged in?” “What’s that smell?” he asked.
Slim hesitated, then took the bull by “Brimstone and hell-fire. Lovely
the horns: odor, isn’t it?”
“Look, mister,” he said desperately. Slim’s only comment was a hearty,
“The only thing I was interested in “Phew!”
back there, was music. Wait a minute,” “Oh,” said Beelzie, “you’ll get used
he stopped the other before he could to it. And speaking of smells, get a
interrupt. “Not any kind. Just swing. load of that, kid.” .

I could listen to it all the time.” They had reached a turn in the cor-
“So,” the man said. “You hear that, ridor and Slim found himself staring
Mercedes? We have a musician in our over an immense lake of brimstone.
midst. An addict of swing.” Tiny streamers of smoke curled from
Smoke suddenly curled from. his nos- the blackened cinders. A great number
and he coughed discreetly behind a
trils of people were walking about; on their
palm, sending out a small tongue of fire shoulders they carried sacks which they
when he did so. “Very well, Slim,” he dumped into an immense pile. A con-
continued. “We are a very nice group veyor belt ran through the pile and
down here. A busy little group. Busy scooped up the deposits and carried it
hands make healthy bodies, is our back to where the men and women were
motto. So I’m going to put you in our working.
musical department. You’d like that, “What in hell are they doing?” Slim
wouldn’t you, Slim?” asked.
“Not if it’s like Heaven, I wouldn’t,” “They are all those who in life kept
Slim said. saying, ‘that’s like carrying coals to
“Oh, those psalm singers,” the man Newcastle.’ .
Aren’t we the damnedest
said deprecatingly. people?”
Slim was beginning to like this man. They passed the brimstone lake and
“No "indeed,” the man continued. came to a closed door from behind
“No psalm singing here. I’ll have some- which Slim heard a vast clicking sound.
one here directly.” , “Oh. You just must see this,” Beel-
He pusheda button on his desk and zie said.

in a few seconds a short, broad-shoul-

dered man came into the room. He I_IE OPENED the door and he and
curled his tail up until it was resting on Slim passed down a long aisle.
his shoulder and said: Desks on which typewriters stood lined
'

“Yes, mighty Lucifer?” the aisle. Men sat, stooped in concen-

 134 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

trated work over the typewriters. He was a radio comic. Now he’s
:

-
“This is the silliest thing!” Beelzie doomed to listening to his own jokes.”
said. “Just look at this.” “This is Hell, isn’t it?” Slim said.
He picked up one of the typewritten “And now we come to the part that
pages one of the men had finished and will interest you. The music chamber.”
handed it to Slim. The typist didn’t was a square, box-like room. Slim
It
even look up, but inserted another sheet wondered what all the phonographs
and started typing anew. were doing there. He counted them.
Slim read: Sorry, but this duplicates An even hundred all together.
material on hand. “Nice, isn’t it?” Beelzie said.
“What’s so funny about that?” Slim Of a sudden, Slim felt that something
asked. was wrong here. He turned and looked
“Well,” said Beelzie. “In the morn- hard at the imp. But the imp wasn’t
ing they write a story and in the after- looking at Slim. He was looking at his
noon they do this.” wrist watch.
Slim looked blank. “Oh dear!” Beelzie exclaimed. “You
“You just don’t have a sense of haven’t much time. You’d better get
humor, do you? Why, they pass those to work.”
rejections around among themselves.” “Work? What am supposed to do?”
I

“But who are they?” “See those phonographs? Well, each

“Editors, silly, editors!” of them has a swing classic on the turn-

They passed through the door at the table; Your job is to keep the spring
other end of the room and Slim saw that wound, that’s all.”
they were on the doorstep to what “That’s all?” Slim asked.
looked like a broadcasting studio. Beel- “Well, there’s more to it than that.
zie opened the door and they stepped But you’ve just got time to get them all

inside. A light flashed and a sign lit up. going. I wouldn’t wait if I were you.”
Silence, the sign said. But either Beel- jSorhehow, Slim received the impres-
zie couldn’t read or he didn’t, see the sion that if he didn’t, there’d be hell to
sign. He kept babbling. pay. He raced around the room like
“Now here is one of our prize attrac- mad winding up each spring. It was as

tions. See that man?” Beelzie had said. Each turntable had
A tall, slender man stood before a a swing classic. The trouble was, that
microphone. A set of earph'ones was bv the time he got to the last, the first
clamped around his ears. He held a had unwound, and the sharp music had
huge pile of manuscripts in his hand. given way' to a screeching sound that
Slim heard the loud-speaker blare, “Is seemed to tear at his very entrails.
that your figure, Vera, or did you get Wjhen he got back to the first and' start-
lost in a washing machine?” ed to turn the handle, a stream of liquid
Slim realized that the man at the fire leaped out of the sound box and

mike had told the joke. Slim had to engulfed him. Yet in spite of the pain, •

chuckle. But the man at the mike Slim found he had to get it wound be-
didn’t think it was so funny. An ex- fore he could leave it.

pression of intense pain crossed his There it was, all the music he loved,
features. but he was doomed never to hear all of
“That’s enough of him,” Beelzie said, it played. As Slim panted to himself,
hurrying Slim from the room. this was a Hell of a place

Slim looked wonderingly at the other. THE END

T/’UDA BUX, the Kashmir magician,, was per- spread over the top. When this became a mass
^^haps the most puzzling wonder-monger from of red embers, Kuda Bux stepped into the trench.
a land which specializes in retailing magic. In He did not run, but walked deliberately, back
Surrey, England, he walked barefooted and un- and forth through the twenty-five foot trench of
harmed through a pit of burning embers. A glowing coals four times. Physicians were, on
young Englishman who tried to imitate him took hand to examine his feet, but they did not find
two steps and leaped from the coals with badly a trace of a blister.
burned feet. The second test was prepared much in the same
Two fire walking tests were made just ten days manner. There were two trenches and he walked
apart by Kuda Bux. The first was conducted by through each twice, his feet remaining in 'contact
a professional magician who specialized in expos- with the live embers five seconds at a time.
ing psychic frauds. The second test was made Science can find no explanation for this feat.
by members of the University of London Council The skin on Kuda Bux’s feet was no thicker than
for Psychical Research and other scientific men. that of other men. He said that he had walked
A trench which was twenty-five feet long, three through fire as much as six times a day without
feet wide and twelve inches deep was filled with feeling any discomfort. There were no callouses
oak logsand pine firewood and stacks of news- or blisters on his skin, yet other men who have
papers. Over all this was poured ten gallons of tried to duplicate his act have leaped from the
kerosene, then the whole thing was ignited. After pit with permanent injuries. This Indian magi-
the fire had burned for an hour and the oak logs cian certainly possessed a talent which was unique.
had turned to embers, a load of charcoal was

The Ghostly Fragrance

, IBy ]P®!t©' SB®gg -fr

N THE year of 1871 the dethroned Emperor know where the grave was. EngSnie and her
Napoleon III and his wife and son Louis friends were depressed to think that they had
I fled to England where they were received made such an arduous journey into the Dark Con-
graciously by Queen Victoria. A few years later, tinent all for naught. They were walled in on
the son was given a commission in the British all sidesby dense jungle and there seemed to be
regiment that was sent to South Africa. There, nothing to do but admit failure and return home.
in the jungles of Natal, he was killed in a skirmish Suddenly Eugenie’s face became radiant and she
with the Zulas. This was in 1879. A search party cried out, “This is the way.” She turned and
was sent out to recover the body. They gave it dashed off through the jungle like a young animal.
a temporary burial and covered the grave with She plunged along in a straight line with utter
a huge pile of stones to mark the spot. disregard for the dense undergrowth. When the
Six years before, Napoleon died,and the widow, two Englishmen caught up with her, she was on
Eugenie had a mausoleum built for him in Farn- her knees digging in the earth. There, completely
borough. When she heard the tragic news of her overgrown by bushes so as to hide it from view,
son’s death, she was determined to have the body was the cairn.
of her only child lay beside that of his father in When her companions asked her how $be knew
the vault. She .decided to go for the body in per- where it was, she said that she was suddenly
son. nearly overcome by the strong scent of violets.
During the next year, Eugenie set out for Africa, It was so heavy that she nearly fainted from it,

accompanied by two fine Englishmen, Sir Evelyn but as. she breathed it in, it seemed to draw her
Wood and Dr. Scott. After suffering many hard- along and she felt no pain as she dashed headlong
ships, they finally reached the jungles of Zululand through the jungle. She knew she was on the
where her son had been killed. They hired guides, right track. It seems that her young son had had
among them men who had buried the young a passion for violets, and violet scented cologne
prince. They searched the dense jungle for days, was all he ever used. The odor of the violets had
and soon it became apparent that the guides were led her straight to the object of her search and
bewildered. They went first one way and then
• then faded away. This was indeed a ghostly
another and finally confessed that they did not fragrance. * * *

135
UNFORESEEN by Roger P. Graham

The robot knew that as long as

Hie existed his race was in peril — but
could oil living matter be destroyed? ...
 ROFESSOR HORACE JONES far more dependable than yours.” The

P turned his eyes anxiously to the

large athletic figure walking with
effortless smoothness at his side.
robot glanced pityingly at the tired,
stooped shoulders of Professor Jones,
the fragile, susceptible organism that
“Are you sure you will be able to was his body, always in need of expen-
function properly, Rob?” he asked sive nourishment.
doubtfully. “I — I guess you’re right,” Horace
“Of course, professor,” Rob replied Jones said doubtfully. “Maybe my
with a tolerant smile. “Although you doubts came from the fact that I made
created me you have no real conception you, and I don’t have too much con-
of the complexity OR the reliability of fidence in myself or my work.”
my mechanism. I assure you that it is “You’ve done very well; Professor,”
138 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

Rob said sincerely. “Your humility is one of them asked doubtfully.

hardly supported by the facts namely, — “I am,” Rob said, smiling. “And this
me.” He chuckled throatily, his plastic is Professor Horace Jonesj the man who
face responding to the emotion of mirth created me.”
with a perfect simulation of human There were several minutes of intro-
good nature. ductions and conversation. Rob .took
“This interview will mean a lot to part with perfect poise, his humor
me,” Horace Jones said worriedly. “If matching that of the wittiest of them,
everything goes right I will be ac- his conduct equal to the most gentle-
claimed the greatest living scientist, as manly.
your creator.” Slowly Horace began to feel at ease
|

“That’s right-,” Rob said gently. under this treatment. A sparkle of

“Don’t worry so. I won’t let you down. enjoyment appeared in his eyes. He
.As a matter of fact, I’m looking for- expanded under the admiring looks of
ward to it.” the assembled government scientists as
The two turned into the massive por- Rob took off his clothing and displayed
tal of the government building. Side by nis robot body, unadorned by flesh and
side they walked across the marble skin-muscle where it was not exposed
floor to the elevator bank. In a few to view, when properly dressed.
moments they were outside the door of |
After half an hour Rob put his
the office they had come so far to enter. clothes on again. The scientists took
was Rob who turned the knob and
It seats around the wall, and Horace pre-
pushed the door open. He held it open pared to make his selling speech.
for Professor Horace Jones to pass, “Rob, as I call him,” he began,
then followed him in. glancing affectionately at his creation,
Rob saw that the professor’s knees “jfirst began about five years ago. Dur-
were beginning to wobble slightly. He ing the fifteen years preceding that I
took him by the arm and led him up to h'ad worked on and solved the circuit
the reception desk. principle of the human brain, and de-
The girl at the desk stopped chew- termined the properties of the compo-
ing her gum as she took a good look at nent parts of the brain. What I wanted
Rob. Unconsciously her hand stole up to do was- reproduce the human brain
to make sure her hair was in place. in all its functions in non-living matter.
“Professor Horace Jones and his “As you can see, I succeeded. Rob’s
robot experimental model, by appoint- |

Drain is an almost infinitely complex

ment,” Rob answered the girl’s ques- structure, createdby a combination of
tioning look. the process of metal plating and crys-
“Go right in, Professor,” the girl, talization. The resultant brain func-
said, not taking her eyes off Rob. tioned on a principle of accumulation
“They’re expecting you.” She fluttered of electric charge in microscopic con-
her eyes daintily and bit coyly on her denser cells. The charging and dis-
gum. charging of these minute condensers
produces the mental activity. The de-
T3 OB and Horace came to a stop just tails of operation are so complex that
v inside the door. Several men were there would be no hope of convincing
standing about, their eyes staring in anyone the principle is correct except
puzzled concentration, by the actual presence of such a non-
“Which one of you is the robot?” organic brain in good working order,
 UNFORESEEN 139

in a robot body. Rob is that proof.” even build up a robot civilization, since

One of the government men held up space travel is out for living beings. We
a hand for the floor. Horace nodde'd can manufacture millions of robots for
and stopped talking. this.”
“As you know, Professor,” this man A more practical voice spoke above
said, “it was found that the hard radia- the many trying to talk at once.
tions of space were what killed all liv- “Suppose we run Rob through the
ing creatures that left our atmosphere. aptitude and intelligence tests,” it sug-
It is well known that these same hard gested.
radiations have a property of discharg- Rob was led away through a side
ing condensers. How do you know door while Horace was forced to re-
that Rob’s brain will not be affected by main behind. The moment the robot
them out in space?” was gone the voices took a different
Horace, instead of answering, turned slant.
and looked knowingly at Rob. Taking “Of course,” one said dryly. “You
Rob went to a desk and, placing
his cue, have built some sort of control irtto
both hands carefully on either side of Rob so that if he turns dangerous he
his head, raised it straight into the air. can be easily destroyed, perhaps by a
As it slid up a smooth cylinder came radio signal. They must all be built
into sight. The hands lifted the head that way. Otherwise we might even-
free and set it on the table. Then the tually face a robot civilization able to
robot body walked about the room cas- destroy us and maintain itself without
ually while Rob’s head watched it. us.”

\ “You see,” Horace explained. “With

a living person the whole body must be pANIC 'bit at Horace’s soul. It sud-
protected by a lead sheathing. With a denly struck him that if he told
robot only the brain need be protected. - these men the truth they would object
A robot placed in the pilot room of a very strenuously and insist that Rob
space ship can leave his head in a place be destroyed at once. He knew he
of safety and control his body perfectly would rather die himself than have
without being exposed to radiations. On that happen.
landing someplace, he can again put “Oh yes,” he said knowingly. “How-
his head and body together for leaving ever, that is-
my secret, at present. You
the ship.” needn’t fear. I would not have built
“We will of course have to conduct such a strong, intelligent robot without
intelligence testsand other tests,” an- controls in case he became hostile. He
other voice spoke up. “I believe, doesn’t know of them, though. I wanted
though, that you have the answer to the to see how he would develop without
problem of space flight.” knowledge of the fact that I can de-
“Of course I have,” Horace said. stroy his mind almost by a thought. So
“With crews of others like Rob we can far he has proven very upright and co-
man space ships to go to the other operative in everything.”
planets and come back with details and “How long will it take for you to

with specimens.” start production on these robots, assum-

“But we want MORE than that,” ing we find that this one fulfills all
another voice spoke up hastily. “We requirements and no more experimental
want robots that can carry on compli- work is necessary?” another voice
cated surveys, explore for minerals, piped up.
140 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

“I already have a hundred well past the end of you, Rob. The new mind
the critical stage in manufacture,” Hor- that would be built up in your place
ace admitted.. “They can be completed would no more be you than are the
in a couple of months. After that it will minds of the other robots.”
take at least two years to synthesize “It would be —
death for me?” Rob
their minds to the point where they are- asked.
as capable as an adult.” “Yes,” Horace replied. “And we’ve
“Two years!” came a chorus of proven that this contamination is pro-
voices. “That long?” duced by only one thing, a radiation
“I thinkthat a remarkably short released by living protoplasm. No
period,” Horace said with his first show matter how we seal in and sterilize the
of temper. “After all they start out gel necessary for the functioning of
like a newborn babe and have to dis- your brain, this radiation seeps in and
cover their hands, feet, and other parts starts the deterioration. So long as you
of their bodies. They have to learn just and the other robots remain near living
like a human baby, except that they are matter you will die in a few years. You
full size to start with. It takes several will have to take the space ship to some
months for them to gain self awareness planet where there is no life at all, and
alone, and to know that they are think- stay there;
ing beings.” I “We can’t tell the others— the hu :
“Can’t all mans who are paying for all this. It
those things be built in,

like the instincts of animals?”

will have to simply look like an acci-
“Hardly,” Horace said. dent. That will be easy. If you drop
The argument ended abruptly with out- of sight, and I disappear with my
Rob’s return and the announcement \ secret of how to make'a robot brain, no
that he had passed all tests. m'ore will be made on Earth.”
Arrangements were made for a later Horace looked over the assembly of
|

meeting with Horace to settle financial quiet, subdued robots.

and business arrangements. Horace and “Fortunately I have taught you all
j

Rob shook hands with everyone and how to make others like you, so that
left. you can perpetuate your race by mak-
As they crossed the outer office the ing more and more robots. You can go
girl behind the desk called out, “Oh, on where the human race leaves off,
Professor!’^ building a civilization that will spread
1

over the universe. Just remember that

pROFESSOR HORACE JONES planets where life exists are death to
x The radiations of living proto-
stared bleakly through the magnify- you.
ing glass at the gel encased robot plasm, no matter,, how you try to in-
cranium.. Tensely watching were sev- sulate yourselves from them^will de-
eral robots identical with Rob except stroy the gel in which your brain rests.
in features. And no. other substance has the same
“We can only hope,” Horace said properties as that gel.”
sadly, “that the radiations of space will “But all you planned for us to do for
kill the infection. Another six months, the human race?” Rob protested as
Rob, and it would be necessary to drain Horace skillfully glued the plastiskin
out the gel and replace it. That would back over the braincase of his first robot
mean the complete loss of the stored creation.
charges in your brain. That would be “Won’t matter,” Horace said. /‘In
 UNFORESEEN 141

fact, the human

race is doomed. It you as the radiations
tions as fatal to
known, but the experi-
isn’t generally of radioactivity are tolife. You must
ments at Oak Ridge that synthesized pick a completely sterile world or you
element 103 have doomed us. That is won’t survive.”
why the government has been so anx- “Then when we leave the Earth it
ious to make contact with other planets. will, be good-bye?” Rob asked.

“In the past five years since 103 was “Yes,” Horace said. “Don’t feel too
first synthesized it has slowly expanded bad about it. I’m too old to live much
until today there is no hope of stopping . longer anyway.”
its progress. They told me all this “You’ll never die for us,” (
Rob said
when I told them it would take a couple seriously. “We’ll keepvthe memory of
of years to produce a robot crew for the you alive forever. You are our Cre-
ship.” ator.”
Rob sat up slowly.
“You haven’t said anything about nPWO days later the sleek cigar-
that to us,” he said. “Tell us more ” shaped space ship parted the air
“103,” Horace began, “is unlike into the heavens and sped away, while
other elements. It takes lesser elements atom scientists paused in their war
and develops into super atoms until it against the hungry 103 dissolved in the
reaches element 206, when it splits in molten mixture of metal and .lava that
half and becomes two of 103. This had once been Oak Ridge. And a
,

takes almost a year, so that a little lonely figure waved sadly from the roof
oftener than once a year the total of his laboratory as the ship carrying
amount of 103 is doubled. In the steps his creatures flashed overhead, its trail
from 103 to 206 there is a lot of atomic of white rocket gasses hanging station-
action that produces heat and radia- ary in the atmosphere to mark the path
tion. ithad taken.
“Already, at Oak Ridge, there are Only Horace knew that the ship
nearly fourteen ounces of 103. Next would never return. The others were
year there will be twenty-eight ounces. all filled with speculations and hopes
And it’s impossible to pick it up and of what the robots would bring back
shoot it off into space. It’s so hot that with them on, their return.
it melts anything that touches it. In Horace was eulogized in every news-
a few decades the existing 103 will paper in the world. Even as he stood
turn the Earth into a molten, gaseous on the roof' of his laboratory bidding
sun, which devours every bit of mat- silent farewell to his robots, a host of
ter that falls into it. The 103 will sink professional biographers were busy
and form the central core. Eventu- combing his letter files and diary, com-
ally the gasses will reach out and drag piling the history of this great scien-
in the moon to add to the fire.” tist, this savior of humanity, this pio-
“I’m sorry,” Rob said sadly. “But neer of history, this genius.
you? Can’t we come back after we From a hidden vantage spot an en-
find a habitable planet and take you terprising camera man was taking a
there?” newsreel shot of Professor Horace
“No,” Horace Jones replied harshly. Jones waving touchingly at his robots
“My presence would destroy your race as they went where humans could not
wherever you go. My body is nothing follow —as yet.
but protoplasm, which gives off radia- While, at Oak Ridge, radiation-
 142 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

burned scientists fought, and govern- human in its makeup; but the norm
ment censorship kept the hopeless was slowly moving away from the hu-
struggle out of the newspapers. man pattern. Without sex, the robot
mind tended to become more emotion-
I) OB gazed thoughtfully through the less and more stable. With extinction
huge telescope on Pluto’s highest something that came only, by accident,,
mountain. It was turned toward the t'henormal robot intelligence grew far
Earth, which glowed with a dull red- more adult than the human norm had
ness of its own. been, so that purely human things held
It had been eight hundred years little attraction any more than playing
since he and his fellows had landed on with a toy would have satisfied a grown
this outermost of all planets in the so- human when there were human beings
lar system. It was as far as they could . on the Earth.
get from the coming catastrophe which Rob saw this gradual drift away from
|

would pull in most of the inner planets.* human standards, in himself as well as
With his superior intellect he had others. It was inevitable. And- though
known far more than Horace Jones had he would always hold Professor Horace
guessed. He had determined, for exr Jones above all else in the universe in
ample, the critical temperature at which liis estimation, he was being forgotten
superheated steam would break up into by the others of the original space ship
monatomic hydrogen and oxygen, tri- crew, and was frankly frowned upon
pling its volume in one giant, nova-like by the robots built since their arrival
explosion. on Pluto.
He had further determined that the They considered him a superstition
|

gravitational attraction of the Earth,
transformed into almost pure
would increase several times over what
it had been for the same mass of ordi-
nary stuff.
The gaseous envelope would take in
themoon quickly, and then Mars and
Venus. In another few centuries the
. solar system would have two suns.
Already all life was gone from the
Earth. Its crustwas crumbling in the
last few stubborn areas where it had
resisted until the very end.
He turned at last from the telescope
and went back to the giant city teem-
ing with robots of all forms and de-
scriptions. In each of them was a brain
similar to his. In each of those brains
was a mind, the resultant of millions
of minute charges on microscopic con-
denser plates built up and separated by
a process of metal plating and crystal-
which the original robots had invented
103, t'o account for the insoluble riddle of
how the first robot was made. Since he
couldn’t have made himself, he must
have been created by some other agen-
cy. Since it took elaborate equipment
hot found in nature, this Creator must
have been intelligent. It if were a ro-
bot the riddle would just be pushed
back and not answered, so a fabulous
creature that had “evolved” from brute
matter in some way was the invented
Creator/
Rob knew that these views were nev-
er expressed' in the presence of the orig-
inal hundred. Such disrespect would
nave been unthought of. But the
‘jtruth” of the matter, that there sim-
ply had been no -First Robot, but that
they went back to infinity, was firmly
entrenched in the popular mind.
There had been one robot, Rob re-
membered, Jack Johnson, who had been
|

lization.
Each of the robots was essentially brave enough and foolhardy enough to
 UNFORESEEN 143

try to get the hundred to admit the order the statue of Professor Horace
. deception and confess where they had Jones destroyed. With the symbol of
come from so they could all return to the Creator destroyed all superstitious
the home planet of the robots. beliefs lost ground.
The hundred had made an example With democracy in full force, ungov-
of him, draining out his gel and blank- erned by obsolete ideas, expansion over
ing his mind. ' No one ever mentioned the planet progressed rapidly. The pop-
Jack Johnson. Rob had not liked this ulation increased from ten million when
treatment of the first insurgent. The the hundred ceased to exist, to eighty-,
majority had ruled, however,
will of the three billion, in a thousand years.
as it always did. Science advanced apace. Nuclear
Rob had foreseen that such treat- physics had gone on from its first be-
ment would never end such thoughts ginnings. The danger of element 103"
but merely drive them underground was known. The planet Pluto would
where they couldn’t be seen. He had never fall victim to it. .

raised this objection and been over- Space travel was common, though’
ruled. The others had answered that none of the other planets were worth-
the truth will triumph over everything, .
trying to settle, on. Ships were being
and the only way to deal with falsehood made that might penetrate space" to
.
is destroy it ruthlessly. other star systems eventually. ,

The ninety-nine pointed with, satis- For centuries hundreds of rocket :

faction to the results, the cessation of ships had scoured the spaceways for
atheistic doctrine in the press, the sud- asteroids of valuable substances.
den surge of enthusiastic acceptance of Astronomy discovered other systems'
the truth. with a double sun. It was proven by
Rob had looked suspiciously behind one great scientist that the only way
the bland exteriors of the robot popu- a planet such as Pluto could be pro-
lation and wondered just what was go- duced was by the sideswiping of two
ing on. As the years passed he forgot suns, which caused them to lose their
his uneasiness. He knew the under- escape velocities and to throw off huge
ground movement was now organized blobs of matter which cooled into plan-
and active. It seemed destined to re- ets.
main underground, so perhaps it would Values changed. It finally became
never prove a threat. Perhaps law that any individual had a right to
The metal dart punctured his cra- existence for only three hundred years.
nium and ended his mental existence At the end of that time he was de-
without warning. . Other robots rushed stroyed.
.to his assistance too late. Periods of wiping out the supersti-
The one who had sent the dart was tions of the pastfrom time to time de-
never discovered, just as no one ever stroyed all libraries of the original hun-
discovered who had killed the other dred. Beliefs changed subtly. Eventu-
ninety-nine of the ruling group. ally it was believed that the robot race
had always existed on Pluto and had
/
TPHE leaders of the underground never come from some other place.
stepped nobly into the breach The superstition that the race had
caused by the tragic ending of the hun- come from, one of the two central suns
dred and set up a democracy. The long ago and .been created by a God
first act of the new President was Jo that lived in that sun became pah of
144 i
FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

the folklore of the ancients, to be read was known about the basic operations
for entertainment only. of [reality.
Even in the field of chemistry the
YN ONE final experiment the basic experimental method was becoming ob-
nature of the universe was solved. solete except as verification of answers
The postulates were quickly synthe- found in calculations. Atoms and mol-
sized into a mathematical structure ecules became compact equations. Mo-
which agreed in every detail with ev- lecular equations became a field of
ery known aspect of nuclear physics. compatible atomic field patterns, a
One after another the last unknown branch of mathematics.
laws of nature were uncovered, by The announcement of the date of
figuring on paper instead of experi- departure of the fleet of interstellar
menting in laboratories. The greatest ships created only a momentary flurry

revolution was in space ship construc- of jexcitement alongside the many star-

tion. The was ob-

old rocket principle tling discoveries in all branches of sci-

solete, replaced by the new ether-drive ence*.

principle which consumed no energy at Newspapers and television were filled

all. with complex equations instead of
Immediately huge space ships were words. It' was predicted that shortly
placed under construction. Each was there would remain nothing unknown.
sixteen miles in diameter, capable of Every possibility open to reality would
Housing five million robots comfortably. be discovered by the exhaustive proc-
~ They were constructed in special ess! as billions of highly skilled mathe-
space workshops circling Pluto, the maticians worked day and night in a
metals for their construction drawn race to be listed among the immortals
from the vast storehouses of satellite of Ultimate Science.

stations where the asteroid miners sold

their finds. 'T'HE Day came. The millions had
- Smaller experimental ships with the been already transported to the
new drive principle soon began replac- wa ting ships, circling like moons about
ing the old solar cruisers. These new the planet. The admirals of the fleet
ships brought out the bugs in the drive were all of the waiting pilgrims pres-
principle so that in the large interstel- ent at the giant celebration in the cen-
was perfect.
lar ships the drive tral capitol.
• The dream or legend of an
ancient The President himself gave the fare-
original home in some other solar sys- well speech which lasted for ten hours
tem far across the galaxy was born and covered every possibility of what
anew. Volunteers for the trip were might be discovered in this maiden jour-
more than plentiful. When it was ney away from the solar system.
learned that the law of death at three During his long speech he seemed to
hundred years would be lifted on space be [hiding something. Subdued specu-
travelers everyone on Pluto volun- lation was rampant as the speech pro-
teered. gressed. Whatever it might be, it was
- The lucky ones were finally chosen quite evident that he intended to save
lot.
,
it for the last.
(

'-During the fifty years it took to com- News commentators over the tele-
plete all the ships science had marched vision, kibitzing softly so as not to
forward to its final fruition. Everything drown out the voice of the President,
 UNFORESEEN 145

were almost unanimous in agreeing that self-synthesis, for in it the new sub-
some new honor had been devised. Per- stances reproduce themselves out of
haps a new medal had been designed. the substances of their environment.
Perhaps a new rank had been created These substances are tremendously
for these fleet admirals. complex, consisting of hundreds of
Finally, after nine hours and forty- thousands of atoms to a single molecule.
five minutes, the President paused for They take the simple substances of .

a dramatic five minutes while tension their environment and add to them-,-
built up. selves until they reach the stage where,
“And now/’ he finally said, “I have they split and become two identical
an announcement to make that is al- molecules.
most as important as this pioneer flight “The six substances that followed the";

across interstellar space . itself. Just first were developed from the first by
this morning I was notified that a ma- ordinary reactions. Each of these new
jor development has taken
scientific types increases the possible variations,
place that opens up a vast new field of and is more complex in structure than
research. Where it will lead is anyone’s the original substance.’ *\'
guess at present, which is itself startling He smiled triumphantly at the space
in this day of complete knowledge. admirals.
“This discovery comes at an especial- “We no longer
need to envy you your-
ly proper moment. We are all envious he
special opportunities for discovery/’
of these pilgrims into space. Envious concluded. “When you get back we ;

of the unlimited opportunities for dis- may have even greater discoveries to
covery' open to them but not to us. reveal to you than you to us. Who
This new discovery has come to com- knows what blessings this new field of
fort us, and to give us opportunities chemistry will open up to us!” •

equal to those of the space travelers, And on the -far side of Pluto a sci-.
though in a different line of exploration. entist, having accumulated too much,
“A new type reaction in chemistry of one of the new substances, dumped
has been discovered, revealing hitherto a quart of it down the drain. It fol-
unsuspected properties of the element, lowed the. drain pipe to a nearby river,
carbon. Already seven distinct sub- and made its way to the nearest ocean
stances have been created having this where, unsuspected by the robot civi;
new type reaction, and more are ex- lization, it multiplied and mutated un-
pected to come. til.. But then it was too
. late. Pro-
“This new type reaction is best called toplasm is tenacious.

Scot Custom Weird Yampire

if
'

By .Son Barry if By J. IS. Marks it

VAMPIRE BAT—There
A FUNERAL custom still prevalent in some
sections of Scotland, is to carry the casket
of the deceased out of the house through
a hole in the wall instead of through the door.
A
pires of
,
is a species of

bats living in the American tropics which

Then , the holeis sealed up immediately after it
has served its purpose. This is to prevent the
ghost from re-entering the house because the one
opening that the ghost knows about is no longer
there,
actually does drink blood, as do the
European mythology. This vampire
vam-
,bat
does not suck blood, but drinks it. It will light
silently on a sleeping animal or human being,
carefully make a small, almost painless, incision,
then lap up the blood which flows.
 146 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

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 i IT WAS IRILLIS 147

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the night. About half an hour had gone by after with case and strap.
All taxes and postage included.
1

he left when Dr. Worcester saw Campbell pass

Also 4x40 Achromatic Field _«„?17.69
through the room. Dr. VanDyke didn’t see him, Glass with case and strap
but he felt his presence for a couple minutes. They Including taxes and postage _
both had the feeling that something had hap- include Postage— Remit with Order
pened to Campbell, so they rushed over to his Send 50c for Up-to-minute Catalog
cottage and found that he bad dropped dead with
a heart attack.
. HARRY ROSS
^ MICROSCOPES -TELESCOPES
There are numerous accounts of apparitions
Scientific and Laboratory Apparatus
appearing at the hour of death. There is a theory
Section Z, 74 West Broadway, New York 7, N.Y.
that these visions are a form of mental telepathy.
 148 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

'• MECHANICS « MOME STHBY At the hour of death, the afflicted one’s mind turns
>your own skill with tacts & figures
Mechanic* Guides oontr- "
lanlos Guide
— ol for a last thought of its children and loved ones.

Ess '
tons. I This might cause a thought form in the mind of
the object of that thought if he were a sensitive
TiffllRBSVrae person. This thought form would be an appari-
« • Masonry W QPalntlng .
riclt/$4. qMathemaH<a'|2 DSteam Engineere SI •
tion or vision created by telepathy.
- OBlue print 12 • ODleael$2 o Drawing 12,
*2. A mother and daughter are the principal char-
IIprice Is paid. |

Voris 10, N. Vo acters in this example of telepathy. The daughter

was the wife of the Dean of a cathedral in the
Middle West. One summer night while she was
sleeping on an enclosed porch, she was awakened
'
NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND ll» «u by thoughts of her mother. She sat up and looked
nay of &. SEVEN fu».flr* m.thod, outlined
now booh. Written in timpU down -to-
in tbit out across the meadow in the gray dawn. There
earth language. Be rrtpected in your com- she saw her mother walking along the path in
munity and make big money. Orhert have
1

don* h»Bd to can you. Now it the time to do the meadow. Her face seemed to radiate joy as
rt now by tending only $1 for thin
she hastened to the other side, lifting her skirts to
creeling new book, pottage paid. Write!
^VgAlTH BOOK, Box 03a Oepy.MW-l. llntoin, Nobr. keep them off the heavy dew. At the other end
of the path stood two figures with outstretched
arms which the daughter recognized as her father
and a sister who had been dead for several years.
As the mother reached her husband and daughter,
2 Yews i
the vision disappeared. She looked at her watch
abilities permit. C
and saw that it was four-thirty. The next morning
3.8. texts supplied. Diploma.
WMW W eomplatad. fBjgle aqbjscta If do- at breakfast she told her husband that she was
yottr trainloS new. mo afraid hermother was dead. He assured her that
loon on nestlN?bl feuSi
L Amorlcan School, Dept. H182, Draxel at B8th, Chlcano3P itwas only a dream, but while they were still
at the table, the phone rang. It was a relative
who told them that the mother had died at four-
thirty that morning.
ASSOT SHOES - n: |
The next experience deals with a mother and
son, but it is' different in that the son was taken
brown only. 8iurdy, long wearlni to the death-bed of his mother instead of the
fortable. 8end $1
*
C.O.D.. p’ mother appearing to him. This was told by the
of 300 (
naturalist, George Cherrie, who speaks of it as a
FARMERS MAIL ORDER HOUSE
036 Broadway (P»Pt- Z), Now York 13 dream. It was October the tenth, 1892, after he
retired for the night in an inn in Costa Rica.
He was aroused by a dream that took him back
to his boyhood home. He was met at the door
by a woman in black who led him into his moth-
< thousands 'Save with' Tobacco er’s bedroom. He saw her lying between two win-
Redeemer. Write for free booklet
wmrn/Bm^ telling of lnjorioaa effect of tobacco
and M a treatment whiohbasreliov- dows, her face reflecting the utter peace of death.
This same vision appeared to him three times dur-
39 Voara In Business fi FREE I ing the night, and he knew that his mother must
3M.COO Satisfied Custoners
RQ Qff I
~* | be dead. In the morning, he put down the details
*S5. n-Hf
'

'/& I JEM THE NEWELL COMPANY I I

284 Clayton Sta., St. Louis 5, Mo.

of hisdream in his diary. Several weeks later he
from his sister telling of the death of
llad a letter
Skylark of Space, Smith 93.00 theirmother on the night of October tenth. When
Trlplanetary, Smith 3.00
Skylark Three, Smith 3.00 he returned home, his sister confirmed every de-
All 8 for $8.8®-—copies especially autographed by author
T.nmi of Unreason, De Camp 3.00 tail of his vision.
Cornelian Cube, Pratt & De Camp. >• 3.00
.

Divide & Rule—Stolen Dormouse, by De Camp 3.00 The wife of Reverend Arthur Bellamy of Bris-
V, All 8 for $8.00
tol, England, made a pact with a schoolgirl friend
-» FREE with any order of $6 and over choice of
I. Ship of I a hear—F. 24. Ver-3. Hercules, My EtUpmate—Graves in her youth that whoever died first should appear
to the other in death if possible. The two were
lullm Unger 6401 24th Aveoue -r: if Brooklyn 4, N. Y. separated for many years before Mrs. Bellamy
heard of her friend’s death. A few nights later
.

Mr. Bellamy awoke suddenly and saw a strange

usti^tes comic
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woman sitting by his wife’s bed just looking at
nis wife. He lighted a candle and saw the stran-
ger distinctly for several minutes before she van-
ished. When his wife awakened, he described the
woman in detail, and she knew that it was her
81 in friend who had returned to visit her in death.
s.
 THOSE WHEELS AGAIN Sounds like a good place tb hold a seance Ed.
Sira
I just finished reading Tom Brewer’s letter in OKAY, SO WE ASKED
the October FA, giving his explanation of “The Sirs:
Incredible Wheels.” seems a shame to blast
It At the end of the letter section in the Novem-
such a neat explanation, but . . . ber FA you said, “Let’s hear from you!” Okay,
Captain Gabe of the steamship Bintang en- but don’t say you didn’t ask
countered one of the -.wheels in the Straits of I liked Kohn’s cover for the November issue.-
Malacca. This wheel was so vast that only a It wasn’t garish or filled with rip-roaring action.
half of the wheel could be seen, the center lying Nice and quiet for a change. But I still think that
near the horizon. Now I ask you, what kind Jones is tops.
of screw could stir up something like that? And “Dimensions Unlimited” was below Livingston’s
what’s more, the wheel was in front of the boat! standard. He has done far better. Mostly, this
Phosphorescence? Captain Breyer of the was just .a clash, dang, sword-blood-and-guts-
steamship Valentijn met a wheel in the South action story. As I say, he’sdone better.
China Sea. His wheel wasn’t even in the water. “Death’s Head” is a disgrace to Geier’s name.
It was suspended above it. —
This after “Forever Is Too Long"? and his many -

Sorry, Tom, think up a better one. other great stories. How could he do it?
Mrs. B. E. Smith, “The was the only top-notch
Spirit of Toffee”
320 E. Magnolia, story in the issue. Charles Myers continues to
Stockton, Calif. roll us in the aisles with his hilarious accounts of
Thanks for the new information on those “In- the madcap doings of Toffee & Co. This guy
credibleWheels Mrs. Smith. We won’t add any- George is quite a character, too. Hope Myers
thing here, except to say that as yet science has will keep them coming.

offered no valid proof as to whether or not the Vance’s story, like McGivern’s, was stereotyped.
-

wheels were of natural origin. Anybody else care Sorry, boys, but you too have done a lot better^
to give an
opinion? Ed. in the past. Barclay’s yarn wasn’t up to par,_
either. It was just a bit confused in the end qf :

MYSTERY TOWER the story.

£
Sirs: I’m being honest with my opinions, so you’ll.;
First off, I’d like to comment on one particular have to take them for what they’re worth. If this;
story in the November FA. “The Charming Mr. letter is published, let me hasten to nip in the?
Grant,” while a short story, really rang the bell bud those guys who will say, “If you don’t like',
with me. All honors to Lester Barclay. the mag, why buy it?” Answer: This mag ha£.
Lately I visited Newport, Rhode Island’s famous published some darned good stories despite the-''
“Mystery Tower,” said to have been built as a low average stuff that creeps in. So I keep on.,
church in the late 1700’s. Excavators sought in getting it waiting for more stories like “Forever^
vain for a clue to its real origin. Now to my point. Is Too Long?” and “Lair of the Grimalkin:”'/
I think that somebody should write a story about That’s why. '
fjj
ft. It is known in Rhode Island as the “Old Stone On this love interest business: I agree wit.fi::
Mill,” built entirely of stone, with sealed windows Linda Bowles. Leave the goo to the myriad of
except for a few exposed apertures without glass. — love mags clutteringup the newsstands. We wan.t
Birds gather by the hundreds and “haunt” the old stf —fantasy stories inFA. If people want thii
tower. I visited it on a rainy day, and the birds, love goo they can go out and buy True Goo_
hovering about the tower, looked like vultures to Stories.
me. . . Seems like a good place for a fantasy
.
That’s enough of that, but if anyone starts
writer to “hatch” a plot. In case anybody is inter- yapping for strong love interest, I’ll be on their
ested, the tower is located in Truro Park, 'New- neck right quick!
port, R. I. Next issue sounds good. Lee Frands usually
Mrs. Muriel E. Eddy, turns out a decent story. So I’ll be waiting
12 S Pearl St., patiently for next month to roll around.
Providence, R. I. Ed Cox,
If we know our fantasy writers, Muriel, New- 4 Spring Street,
port will be crowded during the next few weeks. Lubec, Maine.
 150 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

Well, Ed, guess our request bore fruit you did —

tefit and write in! We're sorry you didn’t think the whole
November issue was up to snuff, but we are glad
you liked the “Toffee” story. Just as a sort of

I sneak preview, we’ll let you in on a big secret.

Charles Myers has just turned in a new long

P - novelette featuring your favorite character.

title f

Peeled for
“ Toffee Turns the Trick.” Keep your eyes
it, it’s the best thing Myers has done
The

A M A TIM to date.
As to the love-gfo point what have you —just
got against the gals, Edt We kinda go for them
aid comfort. Ejid* forever the mess, bother and erpense I ourselves! (The line forms at your local news-
of temporary applications that last only a few hours or few \
months. Will not injure plates, and guarvntoo d to give C stand.) Anyway, thanks for your criticisms, Ed,
eallafaellon or your money back. Write for Plasti-Liner v
today. Pay postman $1.26 for one reliner, 12.25 for both op- 4 md we’ll be waiting to hear from you again. .Ed.
. per and lower—or send money now; save C.O.D. charges. \
WAI PlASTi-UNER CO., D«pt. 70C. Buffalo IB, N. Y. 4
THE FA INSPIRATION
sirs

Settle back, ’cause this is a long one.

First of all, thank you. This, I’m sure, will
leed explaining, so here goes.
1 Ideal lor Winter Huge, direct- ' This is the have ever written you,
first time I
* to-you volume saves you rcal'J
money. Beat genuine virgin »ut I’ll mag as long as any
bet I’ve read your
1 wool and fine -spun rayona fan my age has. I’ve meant to write before, but
1 blended. WARM! Twill weave
resists wrinkles, holds crease, . just never seemed to get around to it. Now, .

Igives amazing wear. Expert- ‘

1
fashion tailored for per- . . again, the thanks.
feet flt. Zipper front.
Roomy pockets. Blue, Tan/ Sand, Lt. or You see) I’m a student at U.S.C. (I’m sure you .

Dk. Brown, Blue-Gray. WAIST: 28-38 |

heard of our last episode in the Rose Bowl!) and

Send Only $1.00
plus C.O.D.
^
pleated or 28-50 plain- Order yours nowl

Or, send entire r

Money beck within 10 <J*ya if yr
* —
I’m preparing to become a Concert pianist.
don’t suppose many people are aware of the
I

LINCOLN TAILORS, DEPT 20-1, LINCOLN,

mental attitude necessary in preparing for a career
of this kind, but I can assure you it leaves much

to be desired. The long, tedious hours necessary

Free for Asthma for practice keep one alone most of the time.
But, of course, there are compensations. And
t lf you suffer with attacks of Asthma and choke and gasp that’s where FA fits in. Your magazine appeals
for brewth, if restful sleep it difficult because of the^tniggle
to the “dreamer” in me. I really enjoy stories
to breathe, don’t fail to send at once to the Frontier Asthma
Company for. a FREE trial of the FRONTIER ASTHMA written by people who can let their imagination
MEDICINE, a preparation for temporary symptomatic re- run loose. You can’t live with Brahms, Beethoven,
liefof paroxysms of Bronchial Asthma. No matter where
live or whether you have faith in any medicine under
and Chopin and be a completely normal person.
you
the sun, send today for this free trial. It will coat you nothing. (If you want to call a “dreamer” out of the
ordinary.) But to perform a great work of art
FRONTIER ASTHMA CO.
462 Niagara St. you must be a little different, so you also must
have some stimulus to feed on. That’s what stf
does for me.
|FA is wonderful. Of course, there are stories
sometimes that aren’t too good, but I will say
that you do get constantly better. And especially
inj FA I like the Reader’s Page. Wish it were a
lot bigger. Maybe you’ll think it unusual, but
before I gave my last concert I was pretty nervous,
and only reading FA kept me in shape. I guess
that’s about as big a compliment as I can give you.
START IK' AT ONCE - SEND FOR YOUR COURSE TODAY!
- f there are any fans who are interested in music,
WRITE) DAM LURIE. PERSONAL, DEPT. 164
-1729 ROCKAWAY PARKWAY BROOKLYN 12, N. Y. I’d like to correspond with them. How about the
gal fans? Well, I’ll close with another thank
. . .

STUDY AT HOME for Business Success you for helping me pass some otherwise dull hours,

P
and LARGER PERSONAL EARNINGS. Peter R. Gregg,
—
40 years expert Instruction over 114,00^
10320 S. LaSalle Ave.)
students enrolled. LL.B. Degree awarded.
All text material furnished. Easy pay- Los Angeles 44, Calif.
. ment plan.
—
Send for FREE BOOK "Law t’s been a real pleasure hearing from you,
.

—NOW. and Executive Guidance’’ Gregg, and we feel highly honored that you give
AMERICAN EXTENSION SCHOOL OF LAW FA such a fine place in your life. We’ll certainly
Dept. 10-R . £46 N. Michigan Av». Chicago 11. 111. try and keep up the good work. As to Brahms,
 READER'S PAGE 151

Beethoven and Chopin, your editors think it would

be mighty hard to find any better people to live
with: We’ve spent many an enjoyable hour listen-
ing to Schnabel’s rendition of the “Emperor Con-
certo.” Who' knows, maybe some day we’ll have
the pleasure of hearing you play it ..Ed.

GREAT “TRUTH” IN FICTION

Sirs:
During the past fifteen years I have read very
little science or fantasy fiction. Yet, when I saw
the October issue of FA on the newsstand, I was
drawn irresistibly to it. After investigating the
Wortd'e Greatest Collection of Strange and Secret Photograph*
contents of your magazine I was pleasantly sur-
TVJOW you can travel round the world with the most dating ad-'
prised to find that it consisted of what I will call venture™. You can aee with your own eyes the wotrdeet people*
-J earth.
h. You witness the
. strangest customs of the red. white.'
“psychic science-fiction.” So, naturally, I bought tjown, black and yellow attend their startling rites.
a copy and read it. five great volumes of THE SEC RE
“This Way to Heaven” held my interest as no > 600 LARGE PAGES
Here Is the won Greatest Collection of Strange and Secret Pho-
Mr. Sherman has com-
recent best-seller has.
pounded the most important of current world de- —
tographa.
'
OMMiiTand'
Here
Africa, Torture Photos from Asia.
-H* »nd America,
Axn®ric». .aod
a hundreds of others.
®
ur®P?- Primitive Photos
Strange Photos from
There are almost
PAG £8 of 8tran»* and 8aoret Photographs, each page
600 LARGE PAGE8
velopment into a story that deviates so little from 57 squsro inches in size.
what many of our best minds have reason to be- 1.000 PHOTOS
You see actual courtship practiced In every quarter of the world.
lieve is the truth of the situation that it
the not too far distant future be classified
may in
as
s&TLftt “vsr a,™»~ '*
Oriental .modes
see marriage
of Contents ot 5-V
»
and slavery In China. Japan. In- VOLUME
prophetic rather than fantastic 1 dia. etc. Through the intimacy of
I

The 8eoret Album of Afrioa

Telepathy, clairvoyance, and psychokinetics the camera you witness the exotic VOLUME 2
habits of every conUnent and the
strangest customs, *-
The Secret Album of Europe
have been proven by experiments at Duke Uni- ”
*
VOLUME 3
Europe, etc. You are bewildered
Spiritualism rapidly proving claims, The Secret Album of Asia

awras
versity. is its
ftftVNTpffiTooWK VOLUME 4
not to the general public yet, but to those who The Secret Album of America
VOLUME 5
are interested enough to make open-minded in- stories that describe them. The Secret Album ot Oceania
vestigations. The “cold war” between Russia and 5 PICTURE PACKED VOLUMES
the United States is not so much a conflict be- THE SECRET MUSEUM OF MANKIND consists of five picture
packed volumes (solidly bound together for convenient Trading) ."
tween two different peoples as between two groups Dip into any one of these volumes.
Specimen Photos
of military leaders. Yes, with these thoughts in Dress and Undress Bound it to tear yourself away.'
difficult
the World Hero, in story and unusual photo,
mind, “This Way to Heaven” was more, much Various Secret Societies lathe WORLD'S GREATEST COL.'
more than just a story. Strange Crimes. Criminals LECTION OF 8TRANGE AND SEi~
Omons, Totems & Taboos
Neither is “The Pruning Man” fantastic to Mysterious Customs
1.000 STRANGE AND
anyone with genuine psychic experience. This SECRET PHOTOS -

story hit me slap-dab on my center of interest. pagee

1

win give
hundreds and hundreds of
you days and nights oi thrilling Instruction.
! — __
‘
There is nothing I would rather do than engage in SENO NO MONEY Vj
Simply sign and mall the coupon. Bomember. each of the 5 V<d-;r
psychic experiments such as Mr. Williams has so umesls 0% Inches high. and. opened, over a toot wldel Remember,
ably written about.
also that this B-Volume Set formerly sold for $10. And it !s'-
,
bound in expensive "life- time” cloth. DoD't put this off. Fill out?
If you continue to publish a majority of stories drop it In the next mall, and receive this huge wortt

which 'one can read with the feeling that "here is

a fictional treatment of a great truth,” then I will
become one of your most avid readers.
William R. Wells, Jr.,
Box 815,
Tipton, Okla.
Welcome into the fold, Bill. We’re mighty glad
to know that you think so highly of FA after just
one reading. As to the great truth in fiction, all
we’ve got to say is that AMAZING STORIES,
our companion magazine, predicted not only the
atom bomb years before it was produced by
modern science, but also radar, the V rockets, and
other developments too numerous to mention.
As to the “psychic” field, well, that’s something we
can’t claim proof for, but, like you, we feel that
in a great many of the stories that appear in FA,
there are more truths than meet the eye. Maybe
Zone..... .State
some day we’ll be able to say more, but for the • :

CHECK HEBE If you are enclosing $1.08. thus aav-’'{

present, rest assured that you’ll find all the read- in* mailing costs. Same Money-Back Guarantee. _ I
Canadian and Foreign Orders—$2.50 In Advance.
ing pleasure you want in PA.* We can guarantee
 152 .
FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

that j.' .Ed.

and Woman. 18 — RIDICULOUS?

. .

Slur BwvdUh Muw« ffr*au»l« naaSr 150. ft 5. Sirs: . .

even son per week. Large full time Incomes Mentioning Shaver and Lovecraft in the same
im doctors, boepltAls, eantiorlum*, clubs
" rale practice. Others make good n ..

spare time. You can win Independence and

.
—
breath is ridiculous blasphemous. There is no
'(pare for future security by training at comparison. There should be no attempt to make
_>m# and qualifying for diploma. Anatomy
Charts and 32 page illustrated Book FREE) any comparison. —
—Now! The College of Swedish Manage May say that your authors are in a rut?
I
Dept. 853-A 41 Zi Pearson, Chicago II
Obviously you enjoy printing letters from people

BE & DETECTIVE
WORK HOME or TRAVEL. Experience unnecessary.
“praising” your magazine. ' My, my.
print an original story
If you’d
now and then I, too, would
DETECTIVE Particulars FREE. Write to
be inclined to bow.

WAGNER, Con Pederson,

(ISO. Z. 125 W. 86th St.,N.Y.
70S W. Kelso,
BOOKLETS The kind grownups like. Each one of these Inglewood, Calif.
booklets isPOCKET SIZE, also contains 8 ILLUSTRATIONS, and
is full offun and entertainment. 12 of these Joke booklets. ALL DIF- Mentioning Shaver and Lovecraft in the same
FLUENT, shipped prepaid upon receipt of $1.00. or 21 BOOKLETS
ALL DIFFERENT shipped prepaid for $3, cash or money order. No
.orders sent C.O.D. Print Damn and address and mall to:
breath may —
indeed be ridiculous to you. But
'Treasure Novelty Co.; Dspt. 36-A, 28 Cooper Station, N, Y- 3, N. Y.
we'd like to point out that there are many readers
who feel a similarity of spirit in the stories of the
two writers. We make no fiat claims as to peerage
For the Best Reading 0} any authors. We may point out certain simi-
larities we feel exist, but in this case, you are
Pleasure Every Month making an unjust accusation. Also, those who feel
that you can class the two authors in question
^ .Read ]9»
together are entitled to their opinion, just as you
are. As the old saying goes, “what is one person’s
MAMMOTH WESTERN food may be another’s poison.”
AMAZING STORSES You are right when you say we enjoy printing
letters preusing our magazine. (We wish we could
FANTASTIC ADVENTURES Print them all!) But we also enjoy printing
.

THE ZIFF-DAVIS FICTION GROUP honest criticisms, too. Along those lines we wish
you had been a little more specific about what you
call an “original” story.
In any event, we feel sure that we’U get that
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING bow from you one of these days Ed.

Song Poems WANTS BACK ISSUES

Sirs:
have just finished reading the October issue’
I
POEMS wanted to be aet to music. Free examination. Send poems of FA. I’m writing primarily to ask if any readers
today to MeNeU. Master of Music. BIO ZD South Alexandria Are.,
Loa Angelas, Calif. have back copies of Shaver stories that were pub-
lished prior to “Witch of the Andes.’.’ Most of
them appeared in F’s companion magazine Amaz-
MAGAZINES (back dated), foreign, domestic, arts. Books, book- ing Stories. If so, please contact me.
Catalog 10c (refunded). Cicerone's Center,
lets, subscriptions, etc.
863 First Are., New York 17. N. Y. '
Now for the October number. The cover was
good, best since the April issue. Bob Jones has
that “master’s” touch.
“This Way to Heaven” was very good. Sherman
is almost as good as my hero, Richard Shaver.
COSMIC Raya discovery revolutionizes science, bringing telepathy. “Ernest’s Evil Entity” was something I really
Instantaneous healing and oneness! Startling book. "Cosmic Rays
and Cosmic Consciousness" ($2.50) mailed on approval. Send no
enjoyed. Good for Harris.
money. Finding Inspiration, courage, strength, success, enlighten- “The Well-Wisher” was one of those stories that
— <-e return book, pay nothing.
you don’t forget. I’d like to see more of Kamins.
WOULD you pay 8% flret $350 made? Color illustrated book "505 “The Pruning Man” had “that certain some-
Odd. Successful Enterprises" free. Some offer occasional day off.
Work home. Expect something odd. Pacific 8C, Oceanside. Calif. thing” that made it a top .yarn.
Now to something else. I’d like to know who
your artists are. Why don’t you print their name
MAKE big weekly commissions selling nationally advertised alu-
on the drawings? They deserve credit.
mln urn ware,silverware, pressure cookers, earners and gift Items.
No Investment required. Simply tsko orders, collect commissions, Dixie Lee Lynch,
we- do the rest. Complete sales ktt free. Write Dry Co.. Dept.
S0C, 222 4th Ave.. New York 9. 28 Main St.,
TRADE your old magazines I MaU us your STF Blag's (5 ea. 25o Greenwich, Ohio..
or 6 ea. 20e value) and reoelre the same quantity of Different STF
Magazines, postage paid, for only EOo. 75c without trade-in. Cash We’re going to have to wave a reprimanding
c'nly.no stamps. Address Tradunag. 207 Evans Lons. Alexandria,
finger at you, Dixie. We always publish the artist’s
 READER'S PAGE 153

name — right on the contents page. But, on the

other hand, we’ll also take that as a compliment —
you never have to look at the contents page be-
cause you know every story wiU be top-notch
Okay, so we’ll take that finger back again. .Ed. . .

NEW READER REPORT

Sirs:
I am a comparatively new reader of FA. The
first copy I bought was the May ’48 issue. There-
fore, I’ll review all the mags from that date to
let you know how the stories have rated with
me. May, 1948
“Forgotten Worlds” by Chandler was incredibly
mediocre. I couldn’t get my mind on it.
“The Watching Eyes” by Williams was the
finest story in the issue. A fascinating plot and
excellent writing.
“You Bet Your Life” by Arno was fair. A
rather worn out plot.
“My World Died Tonight” by Case was su-
perlative.
June, 1948:
“The Black Arrow” was dull reading for me.
“The Tavern Knight” by Tenneshaw —never,
again, please!
“Shadow for Sale” hit a new low for Geier.
Too bad Virgil Finlay wasted his talents illustrat-
DRUNKENNESS
ing this one. ruin* health, happiness. ALCOREM may
help you Id you* home. When you begin
“I Wake Up Dreaming” ugh! — to drink, a few drops of ALCOREM
MORE
“The Ominous Bequest” by Kastel very goodl — „ ELIMINATES DESIRE FOR
flALCOHOL. NO BOOKS TO READ.
A welcome change from the rest of the yams. R ALCOREM is a REAJDY-TO-USE FOR-
MULA, and is the only low priced meth-
“The Tides of Time” by Chandler excellent. — Tl
Jod sold under a GUARANTEE OF SAT;
1 ISFACTION OR YOUR MONEY
.

Those last two stories made the issue worthwhile. fl

BACK. Can be given with or without
‘
Inker's knowledge. Not a cure, but a
July, 1948: _jane of temporarily BREAKING
“Queen of the Panther World” by Livingston
DRINKING CYCLE. Does not seek to remove underlying psy-
chiatric cause of addiction, but is a method of withdrawal of
was an excellent story. alcohol. ALCOREM IS INTENDED TO BUILD AN AVER-

“Mirrors of the Queen” was bad for Shaver.

“Contract for a Body” by Marlowe—just fair.
“Air Race” by Kastel—phooey (What hap- !

pened to Kastel on this one?)

August, 1948:
“The Man from Yesterday” by Lee Francis was
superlative —except for the ending. Avar should
MIDWEST- HCM.TOMM • o«rT,e.«Tif
never have been-killed. « areem- . cmcaco a. mt:
“Unfinished Business” by Sharp should have —
been on Inner Sanctum Mysteries.
“Tanya’s Night to Howl” was just fair.
“Tomorrow I Die” ditto.
'
September, 1948: ©e4 OSelleO This Presets *2
“The Lavender Vine of Death” by Wilcox was
Why try to worry along, with trusses that gouge your
super I More like it ! Reminded me somewhat of —
flesh—press heavily on hips and spine enlarge opening^
Burroughs’ “The Mad King.” fail to hold rupture t You need the Clutbe. No leg-straps'
or cutting belts. Automatic adjustable pad holds at real-
“Dark Wish” by McGivem— routine. opening —follows every body movement with instant in?
“Hildy Finds His Wings” by Hickey left a bad — creased support in case of strain. Cannot slip whether- it.
work or play. Light. Waterproof. Can be worn In bath'.
taste in my mouth. Send for amazing FREE book, “Advice To Ruptured,” and’
“The Key” by Livingston excellent. — details of liberal truthful 60-day trial offer. Also endorse^,
menus from grateful users in your neighborhood. Writft
“Reggie and the Vampire” by Vance good. —
Shades of Wodehouse! Slufhe Sens, Depfr. 65T, Bloomfield, Naw Jor$ey.
“Freddie Funk’s Flippant Fairies” oh no — (ILLUSTRATED COMIC BOOKIE f S
October, 1948: . Sell our ILLUSTRATED COMIC BOOKLETS and other NOVEL!
—
.
TIES. Each booklet elze A z 2%. Wo will send 25 assorted
“This Way to Heaven” by Sherman excellent booklets prepaid upon receipt of 51.00 or 75 assorted booklet!,
sent prepaid upon receipt of $2.00. Wholosalo novelty Pries Hit
I couldn’t put it down l sent with order only. No orders sent C.O.D. Send Cash or Money-
“Ernest’s Evil Entity” by Harris— fair. orden Repsao Sales Co„ 85 Fifth Ave., Dept. 40-A, New York 3, N, Yj
 154 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

“The Well-Wisher” by Karains — what a lousy

D&wYearl/feffoMbpp/fiess- title for a good yarn.

“The Pruning Man” by Williams — fair.

Wejl, that takes care of the issues to date. Sorry
FORPLEASURE

ART
Learn lo Draw In
AND PROFIT
Spare Time—at Home!
Ihad to write fair to so many of them, but that's
the way they struck me. However, the top-
notch stories you do run more than make up for
the fair ones.
TRAINED ARTISTS are capable of
earning $60, SIS AND MORE A WEEK Now I’d like to make a request. I’d like to
start a. little poll among the readers of FA to

SIGNING, CARTOONING all

complete home study course. r.njuy n
— sort of rate all the stories in each issue, and get
an idea of how a large group of. people feel about
career with no age or physical limitations.
Many pleasant art positions available in them. Don’t you think this is a good idea?
this great Held. You can hecoma your own
boss, work at home and on your own time.
Well, I’d like to have all those interested drop me
Many 6tudente earn extra money while a line on each current issue, rating the stories one,
learning by making posters, simple com-
mercial drawings, lettering, etc. W. 6. A. two, three, and so on, and reasons for rating.
is now in its 34 th successful year of
training men and women. No previous art Then I’d pass the results along to the Reader’s
experience necessary, we tench you step-
by-step aod prepare you for good jobs. Page.”
TWO ART OUTFITS and other features In-
cluded with training. Write for FREE. By the way, I have a copy of Wells' “The
BOOK, "Art for Pleasure A Profit" tells
about our course, instruction service and
— Croquet Player” and also a first edition of F.
commercial opportunities for you. Marion Crawford’s “The Witch of Prague” (circa
Approved ton vctcrans under <

1891) and also a copy of “Speak of the Devil” by

North and Bohtell. I will trade all three of these
FREE BOOK qives details
books for a 'copy of "Marginalia” by Lovecraft,
or “Lost Worlds” by Smith.
(WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF ART,
|
studio
IIIS— I5th St., N.W.. Washington S, D. C.
•'Please send me' full Information and your Free
sn-B
MBm
,

Well, guess I’ve taken up pretty much of your

[Book, "Art for Pleasure and ProBt-"
space, but I did want to give you a new reader’s
Name i AGE..;..
j report., Fly.be seeing you soon.
[Street
Bennie Jacopetti,
City -Zone. . . ..State. ^
.

|
n entitled to training under the Gl Bill
•
1892 Green St.,
San Francisco, Calif.

Here’s the Way Glad to have you with us, Bennie. And while
you did rale a lot of stories fair, you were just as
generous with your excellents and superlatives, so
to Curb a Rupture we take it you kinda like FA at that! As to your
Successful Home Method That Anyone Can Uso
poll, we’U be more than glad to publish the results
On Any Reducible Rupture Large or Small
you get, so how about it, gang, drop Bennie a
COSTS NOTHING TO FIND OUT line Bd.
. Thousands of ruptured men will rejoice to
know that the full plan so successfully used by TEARS IN HIS EYES
Capt. W. A. Collings for his double rupture Sirs:
from which he suffered so long will be sent
free to all who write for it. I’m not ashamed to admit that after I finished
Merely send your name and address to Capt. reading “This Way to Heaven” in the October FA,
W. A. Collings, .Inc., Box 579 D', Watertown, I had tears in my eyes'.
N. Y, It won’t cost you a cent to find out and
I’ve been reading both Amazing Stories and FA
you may bless the day you sent for it. Hundreds
have already reported satisfactory results fol- for a little over a year now, but Harold Sherman’s
lowing this free offer. Send right away
before you put down this paper.
—NOW novel was the very best story I read in either
magazine. It really moved me deeply.
.

If you want to know who my three favorite

authors in’ FA are, that’s easy: First, Sherman,
then Rog Phillips and Richard S. Shaver.
Thanks for a really great story.

ForMEN Henry Mendocha,

220' E. 7th St.,
TELLS HOW TO LEARN New York 9, N. Y.
5 and animals, flab, ,
.... J and all game. Learn to
TAM SKIMS with wonderful Kromo-Tan. Simple Sherman’s story was every bit as good as you
ABC. Many earn big PROFITS in epare time moon
Ing for other*. Great FUN. Wild game not needed. Ov— say, Henry, so you don’t have to feel ashamed
rtudenta since 1903. RUSH postal TOO AY for STRANQI
.

00,000 it so well. And your favorites are three

BOOK, over 100 game pictures. PRfifcNo obligation- State AOD for liking
H. W. School of Taxidermy. 4301 Etwwd Bldg., Omaha 2, Nsh. top writers in our opinion, too Ed.
PRINTED IN
 FANTASY AS YOU LIKE IT!

Eerie and haunting, the voice calls out of

the mist— shockingly, suddenly, a rocket
ship blazes across the :menacingly
skies—
the cloaked figure advances, blazing red
eyes staring hypnotically— beautiful, clad in
filmy draperies that accentuate her haunt-
ing loveliness, the mysterious Moon God
dess beckons from the moonbeams— stark
terrible, crimson with the color of blood
the corpse rises from its freshly open grave

The whole gamut of terrific emotions stirs you to the depths in these fascinating
tales of fantasy. They are the most imaginative literature in the world, made
famous by such greats as Edgar Allen Poe, H. P. lovecraft and Ambrose Bierce.
But never did these early pioneers dream of the chills and thrills that await you in

nine ymm
the leader in its field!
EVERY STGRY GUARANTEED BRAND NEW
GIVE YOURSELF A TREAT! %
? B BUY IT AT YOUR NEWSSTAND NOW!
 susRehse!

Glory in the thunder of pounding hoofs,

the' desperate deeds of brave men as
they fight for life, love and home in the
lustiest, boldest, most dangerous country
the world has ever known, the Great’
American West! Thrill to the smell of •

gunsmoke as men-of-steel tame a wild:

country and make love to the courage-
ous women who accompany them into,
adventure. Hold your breath as hot lead
and hotter passion scorches the open
range. ./

Every story is carefully selected, every story is top notch: They are the best stories
money, can buy, and editorial experience can produce. Prove it to yourself ... Read: