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OCT. 1039

“SKVtS®^
SNlVftt

“GREY LENSMAN”
by E. E. SMITH, Ph.D.
 Which Man Are You?

Pttgrospurum ovale, the

germ that causes dandruff,
magnified many times.

Listerine Antiseptic kills stubborn bottle­ Even after dandruff has disappeared, it is wise
shaped germ (Pityrosporum ovale) which to guard against re-infection by occasional Lister­
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secret of Listerine's amazing results . . . why
Lambert Pharmacal Company
many people have turned to it for real relief.
St. Louis, Missouri
F you have t he slightest evidence of a dandruff
Iday
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THE TREATMENT
MEN : Douse Listerine Antiseptic on the sCUlp at
See how quickly you get relief. See how those least once a day. WOMEN: Part the hair at various
humiliating flakes and scales disappear. Watch places, and apply Listerine Antiseptic right alonfe
how fresh and clean your hair becomes. Note how the part with a medicine dropper, to avoid wetting
healthy and full of vigor your scalp feels, how the hair excessively.
quickly irritation ends. Always follow with vigorous and persistent
People who have tried remedy after remedy in massage with fingers or a good hair brush. But
don’t expect overnight results, because germ
vain, say that the Listerine Antiseptic treatment conditions cannot be cleared up that fast.
really works and really gets results. This con­ Genuine Listerine Antiseptic is guaranteed
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LISTERINE trtehaetSr DANDRUFF

 tltLIKILIIY
And If You Are Short of Money
____________

f A8.N MORE MOb/gy?

V/ANT
Here at my school in Chicago, the world’s
Electrical Center, you can get 12 weeks
Have you ever dreamed of Shop Training in ELECTRICITY and
holding down a steady, good an extra 4 weeks Course in Radio that
pay job? Have you ever can -help give you your start towards a
dreamed of doing the work you better job.
really like in a job that holds You will be trained on actual equip­
promise of a real future in the ment and machinery and because of our
years ahead? method of training, you don’t need pre­
Well, we all know that you vious experience or a lot of education.
can’t get the good things in Many of my successful graduates never
life by just dreaming about even completed Grammar School.
them. Hundreds of fellows are Here in my school you work on genera­
today holding down tors, motors, dynamos, you do house
mighty fine jobs wiring, wind armatures and
with prospects of a do actual work in many other
bright future. t : • IC A H H D I 1
branches of electricity and
,s£« They are filling 1 PRACTICAL WORK right now I’m including val-
these jobs be- 1 uable instruction in Diesel,
cause they had
the foresight to I
IN COYNE 5H0P5 I Electric Refrigeration HOUSEWIRING
equip themselves with the right kind of train- W NOT BY ’ and Air Conditioning at only one of the many
ing. Most of these men were only average fellows CORRESPONDENCE shop no extra tost. Our practical branches you
methods make •‘Learn By Doing.”
a short time ago, but the proper training helped OR HOME STUDY ------ i " "7it easier
----------
to lift them out of the low pay ranks of unskilled to learn First the instruc- "... Coyne has
workers. The same opportunity is now offered to you. tors tell you how a thing should first class in-
The great fascinating field of ELECTRICITY offers be done — then they show you Sr M structors to
a real future to many men and young men who are willing to bow it should be done—then you do the jar teach you the
j simplest things
prepare for a place in this giant industry. actual work yourself. to start with
/ and they have
/\ it N. the equipment
I’LL FINANCE YOUR TRAINING our students after graduation. Fill in, clip
' vHA t° show you
these things as
you advance. ”
Ben Rickman, S. Car.
If you are short of money—you can get this train­
ing first — then pay for most of it later in easy coupon, mail today for your start toward
monthly payments, starting 60 days after your 12
weeks training period is over—then you have 12
months to complete your payments.
If you need part time work to help out with ex­
penses while training in my shops, my employment
department will give you their assistance to help you
get it. Then after graduation this department will
give you valuable lifetime employment service.
Send the coupon today for all details. When I
get it I’ll send you my big free book containing dozens
of pictures of students at work in my shops. I’ll also H. C. LEWIS, President,
you about my “Pay After Graduation’’ Plan, COYNE ELECTRICAL SCHOOL,
how many earn while learning and how we help 500 S. Paulina Street, Dept. 69-450.Chicago, Ill.
Dear Sir: Please send me free your big catalog and full particu- ?
H. C.'LEWIS, President lars of your present offer, also your “Pay-Tuition-After-Oradua- ■
tion” Plan

COYNE NAME

ELECTRICAL SCHOOL ADDRESS

500 S. Paulina St, Dept. 6M5C,Chicago CITY, STATE

AST—1
 ASTOUNDING
SCIENCE-FICTION
TITLE REGISTERED U. S. PATENT OFFICE

CONTENTS OCTOBER, 1939 VOL. XXIV NO. 2

The entire contents of this magazine has not been published before and is pro­
tected by copyright and must not be reprinted without the publishers’ permission.

SERIAL
GRAY LENSMAN............................... E. E. Smith, Ph D. . . 9
First of Four Parts
Skylark Smith back—with the greatest story of his career!
A serial no science-fictionist—new or old—can miss!
NOVELETTE
A QUESTION OF SALVAGE . . . . Malcolm Jameson . . 69
The space-salvage crews were no place for a man with a conscience-
SHORT STORIES
SPACE RATING..................................... John Berryman ... 55
In space, a man is through at 30—for space­
ships move too fast for slowed reflexes.
EPISODE ON DHEE MINOR ... Harry Walton ... 96
The local inhabitants weren’t exactly im­
mortal—but they didn’t exactly die, either—
SHAWN'S SWORD................................Lee Gregor . . . .HI
Shawn’s mind wasn’t quite adjusted to rocket
ships and asteroid mining—he wanted to hunt
dragons with a sword. A magic sword, in fact—
RUST.................................................... Joseph E. Kelleam . .133
A military machine must be rugged—
and delicate adjustments jar loose—
ARTICLES
HUNTING BIG GAME.......................... Harold A. Lower . .123
An article on the least-known phenomenon of space—the mad stars,
the supernovas! One star that, gone mad, outshines a galaxy!
EARTH'S SECOND MOON .... Willy Ley .... . 141
Does Earth have a second—unseen—moon? Could it have one—?
READERS' DEPARTMENTS
THE EDITOR'S PAGE........................................................................................................ 6
BRASS TACKS AND SCIENCEDISCUSSIONS..................................................................152
The Open House of Controversy.
(N TIMES TO COME....................................................................... 15?
Department of Prophecy and Future Issues.
ANALYTICAL LABORATORY - - -................................................................... .159
An Analysis of Readers’ Opinions.
Illustrations by Kramer, Ley, Orban, Schneeman end Wesso
COVER BY ROGERS
Monthly publication issued by Street & Smith Publications, Incorporated, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New
York, N. Y. Allen L. Grammer, President; Henry W. Ralston, Vice President and Treasurer.
Copyright, 1939, by Street & Smith Publications, Iqc-. New York. Copyright, 1939, by Street &
Smith Publications. Inc., Great Britain. Reentered as Second-class Matter, February 7, 1938, at the
Post Office at New York, N. Y., under Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. Subscriptions to Canada,
Cuba, Dom. Republic, Haiti, Spain, Central and South American Countries, except The Oulanas
and British Honduras, $2.25 per year. To all other Foreign Countries, including The Guianas and
British Honduras, $2.75 per year.
rffghi i -r All characters used in fiction and semi-flction stories in this magazine are fictitious.
Any similarity in name or characterization to persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
We do not accept responsibility for tbe return of unsolicited manuscripts or artwork.
Printed in To facilitate handling, the author should Inclose a self-addressed envelope with the
the u. S. A. reguisito postage attached, and artists should inclose or forward return postage.

STREET & SMITH PUBLICATIONS. INC. • 79 7th AVE., NEW YORK. N- Y.

DEATH LEERS as Hunter Plummets
into Pit!

James Kidwell
Ml. Vernon, Texas "With my hound Jep, I had bagged seven ’possums and was heading back for
bed,” writes James Kidwell. "I was cutting through the yard of an abandoned
hilltop house, when the hound gave a frightened yelp and lit out for home.

& "I chuckled, for superstitious folks down our O "I landed at the bottom of an old well. It was
way regard this as an ill omen. The next moment, impossible to scale the walls. I retrieved my flash­
rotten timbers crashed under me—I was falling! light from the icy water. She still worked.

O "My only chance was to keep shooting the beam

upward, hoping that it would be seen and that the
batteries would last. My luck was good—two boys
going home from town saw the strange flashes, and
investigated. Those 'Eveready’
fresh DATED batteries posi­
tively saved my life, as I would
have died of exposure, if help
hadn’t come. You’ve got to be
in the predicament I was be­
fore you really can appreciate
the value of fresh batteries.
{Signed)

FRESH BATTERIES LAST LOHGER...^#^ DATE-LlH^

NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC., 30 EAST 42ND STREET, NEW YORK, N. Y.
Unit 0/ Union Carhide ill44 and Carbon Corporation
6

inviTRiion
This month begins the seventh year of Street & Smith's Astounding. Begin­
ning this month also, as promised, is the first installment of Dr. E. E. Smith’s "Gray
Lensman”—which, I strongly suspect, will have been read before turning to this
page. I most heartily regret that I cannot promise material of equal interest
throughout the year; unfortunately there is but one Dr. Smith, and he has a habit
of taking two years to a story. But I can promise that the best material written in
the science-fiction field during the coming twelve months will appear in Astounding.
■ Also, the articles which have been appearing in Astounding are steadily gain­
ing in importance and interest. During the past year, several of our articles have
been reprinted in straight-science magazines, both here and abroad, a record no
other science-fiction magazine has established.
Something over a year ago Astounding ran an editorial, “Contest,” pointing
out that we run an "open” contest for new authors, both amateur and professional,
every month, with prizes ranging up to $1,000.00, in the form of our regular manu­
script buying. We pay out such "prizes” amounting to a good many hundreds of
dollars every month of the year—and we emphatically want new, good talent. This
is proven, I think, by the number of new, first-rank authors Astounding has de­
veloped—more, indeed, than all other similar magazines combined.
I want again to point out that open contest, and to add one more feature to it.
Our articles have been valuable and thought-stimulating. (Look into Science
Discussions this month to see the interesting and provocative row Willy Ley started
with his "Space War”!) There are still many fields of science that we have not
covered. Astounding has, I know, readers in practically every field of science,
practicing, working research students in those lines. This is an invitation to those
men who are not professional authors, but professional scientists, who know and
feel the genuine excitement of that game of wits known as research, played against
Nature, to submit material for our articles.
Particularly, I am interested in metallurgy, in biochemistry, and the physical
chemistry of super-molecules such as are involved in plastics. Not having been
exposed to some of the other frontiers of research, I can’t name all; you who are
working in other fields—send in what you feel is of interest.
I have heard it said that Nature will give a truthful answer to any intelligent
question properly asked; research consists in determining what is the intelligent
question. For instance, to ask how far away the rainbow is by measuring the dis­
tance the light from it has traveled, will get a meaningless answer of minus
93,000,000 miles. The question was not intelligently asked. The trick in getting
the oracle of Nature to answer is to ask intelligent questions properly—which is
nowhere near as simple as it sounds.
I—and I believe all of us—want to hear more about the new questions being
asked, the new ways of asking—and the new answers. The frontiers of science
today form the basis of science-fiction—Astounding wants both the straight science
and the science-fiction. In the next year we want to present not necessarily more,
but better, certainly, material in both fields.
The Editor.
 A TIP GOT BILL A GOOD JOB!

N.R.l. TRAINING CERTAINLY PAYS.

OUR MONEY WORRIES ARE
OVER AND WE'VE A BRIGHT
FUTURE AHEAD IN RADIO
I'LL TRAIN YOU AT HOME)
OH BILL, if? WONDERFUL
In Your Spare Time For A
YOU'VE GONE AHEAD )
$0 FAST IN RADIO. / GOOD RADIO JOB
Many Radio Experts Make $30, $50, $75 a WeekN^.
Radio broadcasting stations employ engineers, operators, station
managers and pay well for trained men. Fixing Radio sets in
spare time pays many $200 to $500 a year—full time jobs with
Radio jobbers, manufacturers and dealers as much as $30, $'>>),
$75 a week. Many Radio Experts open full or part time Radio
sales and repair businesses. Radio manufacturers and jobbers
employ testers, inspectors, foremen, engineers, servicemen, in
good-pay jobs with opportunities for advancement. Automobile,
police, aviation, commercial Radio, loudspeaker systems are newer
fields offering good opportunities now and for the future. Tele­
vision promises to open many good jobs soon. Men I trained
HERE S PROOF have good jobs in these branches of Radio. Read how they got
their jobs. Mail coupon.
THAT MY TRAINING PAYS Many Maka $5, $10, $15 a W« k
* Extra
in Spar
* Time While Learning J. E. SMITH,President
The day you enroll I start sending Extra Money Job Sheets: show National Radio Institute
Broad
* $10 you how to do Radio repair jobs. Throughout your training I send
plans and directions that made good spare time money—$200 to Established 25 years
cast to $25 $500—for hundreds, while learning. I send you special Radio equip­ He has directed the
Operator a Week ment to conduct experiments and build circuits. This 50-50 method training of more men
After in Spare of training makes learning at home interesting, fascinating, prac­ for Radio than anyone
tical. I ALSO GIVE YOU A MODERN, PROFESSIONAL ALL­ else.
Twenty Time WAVE, ALL-PURPOSE RADIO SET SERVICING INSTRU­
Lessons MENT to help you make good money fixing Radios while learning

"When I had com­

pleted the first twenty
"I am making from
$10 to $25 a week in
and equip you for full time jobs after graduation.
Find Out What Radio Offers You
Act Today. Mail the coupon now for "Rich Rewards in Radio.”
#7
spare time while still

z^z?*
lessons I had obtained It points out Radio's spare time and full time opportunities and
my license as Radio holding my regular those coming in Television; tells about my training in Radio and
Broadcast Operator job as a machiniat. Television; shows you letters from men I trained, telling what
I owe my success to they are doing and earning. Find out what Radio offers YOU!
joined the staff of N. R. I.”—WM. F. MAIL COUPON in an envelope, or paste on a postcard—NOW I
WMPC, where I am RUPP. 203 W. Front J. E. SMITH, President, Dept. 9JD
now Chief Operator." National Radio Institute, Washington, D. C.
— HOLLIS F. St., West Consho­
HAYES, 85 Madison hocken, Pa.
St., Lapeer, Mich.
J. E. SMITH, President, Dept. 9J D
$3,500 Year National Radio Institute, Washington, D. C.
in Dear Mr. Smith: Without obligating me. send "Rich Rewards in Radio,
which points out the opportunities in Radio and explains your 50-50 method
Own Business of training men at home to become Radio Experts. (Please Write Plainly.)
"After completing
the N. R. I. Course NAME. AGE
I became Radio
Editor of the Buffalo
Courier. Later I started a Radio ADDRESS
Service business of my own, and
have averaged over $3,500 a CITY STATE,
year.”—T. J. TELAAK. 657
Broadway, Buffalo, N. Y.
 Son,you’ve got
the makiris of a man!”
1T does me good, Son, to see you takin’ that Union Leader makes! Yes sir, and on
r to Union Leader. There's a tobacco a a young man’s pay, that 10? price is some­
man can tie to! thing to be thankful for, too!
In my time, I s’pose I’ve tried a hundred
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to Union Leader. For there’s no substitute
for what Union Leader puts into that big
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Me—I like Union Leader burnin’ cool in
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fellers enjoy those crisp, fresh cigarettes

- '•C.£ FOR PIPE

UNION LEADER 55^ CIGARETTE

AND

THE GREAT AMERICAN SMOKE Copyright, 1939, by F» LoriHard Co,

 GRfly LEnsm

By £. E. SHIITH, Ph. D.
PROLOGUE scope, can it be called a history. It is,
*
r
T^HIS is not, strictly speaking, a perhaps, best described as a record—
I biography. It is not, it cannot the record of the activities of Galactic
JL be, comprehensive enough to be Co-ordinator Kimball Kinnisbn, Gray
called that. Nor, since of necessity it Lensman, of Tellus, during the Bosko-
must be limited, both in length and in nian War.
 . Nevertheless this record, what there zenith and nadir, to the six points of the
is of it, is in essence biographical; and three-dimensional galactic-inductor com­
the biographer of such a man as Kinni- passes of two galaxies. On the other
son has a peculiar task. In one way hand, many know him not at all. Many
it is easy; in two others it is difficult in have never even heard of Tellus, nor
the extreme. of Sol, our parent sun; even though it
“Nuts!” he is wont to exclaim in an­ was upon that proud planet of this, our
swer to a direct question as to some par­ Solarian System, that the Galactic
ticular event or situation. “Why in all Patrol came into being. Indeed, it is in­
the nine hells of Valeria are you still evitable that this biography will in days
wasting time writing about me?” But to come be of interest to races which,
eventually I get the data I need, and thus inhabiting planets not yet reached by the
it is comparatively easy to make this Cosmic Survey, have not even heard of
work completely authentic, as far as the the Galactic Patrol, to say nothing of
Gray Lensman himself is concerned. knowing its origin and its history.
It may be objected that I have re­ In view of the above inescapable facts,
corded as facts certain minutiae which, and after a great deal of thought and
considering what happened to the planet care, I have decided to write this Pro­
of the Eich and in the light of other hap­ logue, which will summarize very sim­
penings elsewhere, cannot be known so ply that which is already most widely
exactly by any living entity. This ob­ known; namely, the happenings up to
jection is untenable; as profound re­ and including the first phase of the Bos-
search upon every debatable point has konian War. Even that condensation,
shown conclusively that something very however, leaves me all too little space
similar to, if not in fact identical with, in which to do justice to the part that
each such detail must have occurred. Kimball Kinnison played in enabling the
Of the two great difficulties, one lies civilization of the Galactic Council to
in the selection of material. The story triumph over the monstrous culture of
of Kimball Kinnison easily could—and Boskone.
really should—fill a dozen encyclopedic With the understanding, then, that
spools; it is a Galactic shame and an the more informed mentality may skip
almost impossible undertaking to com­ from here to Chapter I, I proceed.
press it into one two-hour tape. The
other sticking point is the diversity of SHOULD I begin with Arisia? That
my audience. For in the First Galaxy forbidding, forbidden planet whose in­
alone there are millions of planets, peo­ habitants, having achieved sheerly un­
pled by races as divergent in mentality imaginable heights of philosophical and
and in physique as they are far apart in mental power, withdrew almost com­
space. Some races will read this pletely into themselves, leaving traces
chronicle from printed pages; some will only in Galaxy-wide folk tales and
see it; some will hear it; some will both legends of supermen and gods? Proba­
see it and hear it; some, unable either to bly not. I should, it seems to me, be­
see or to hear, will receive it telepathi­ gin with Earth’s almost prehistoric
cally. Still others, in other Galaxies, bandits and gangsters, gentry who
will undoubtedly acquire it in fashions flourished in the days when space flight
starkly incomprehensible to me, its was mentioned only in fantastic fiction.
compiler. Know, then, that for ages law en­
Numberless races of intelligent beings forcement lagged behind law violation
already know Kinnison well, since his because the minions of the law were
fame has spread north, south, east, west, limited in their spheres of action, while
 criminals were not. Thus, in the days chronized with, or in exact resonance
following the invention of the automo­ with the life principle—personality, ego,
bile, State troopers could not cross call it what you will—of its owner will
,State lines. Later, when what were give a rough idea of it. It is not really
then known as the “G-men” combined alive, as we understand the term. It is,
with the various State constabularies to however, endowed with a sort of pseudo­
form the National Police, they could not life, by virtue of which it gives off its
follow the stratosphere planes of the strong, characteristically changing, poly­
lawbreakers across national boundaries. chromatic light as long as it is in circuit
Still later, when interplanetary flight with the li.ving mentality for which it
became commonplace, the Planetary was designed. It is inimitable, unfor­
Guards were at the same old disad­ gettable. Anyone who has ever seen
vantage. They had no authority off a Lens, or even a picture of one, will
their own worlds, while the public ene­ never forget it; nor will he ever be de­
mies flitted unhampered from planet to ceived by any possible counterfeit or
planet. And finally, with the develop­ imitation of it.
ment of the inertialess drive and the con­ The Lens cannot be removed by any­
sequent traffic between hundreds of one except its wearer without actual
thousands of solar systems, crime be­ dismemberment of that wearer; it
came so rampant as to threaten the very shines as long as its rightful owner
foundations of civilization. wears it, and in the instant of its owner’s
Then the Galactic Patrol came into death, it ceases forever to shine. And
being. At first it was a pitiful-enough not only does a Lens refuse to shine if
organization. It was handicapped from any impostor attempts to wear it—any
within by the usual small, but utterly Lens not in circuit with its owner kills
disastrous percentage of grafters and in a space of minutes any other who
criminals; from without by the fact that touches it, so strongly does its pseudo­
there was then no emblem or credential life interfere with any life to which it is
which could not be counterfeited. No not attuned.
one could tell with certainty that the Also by virtue of that pseudolife the
man in uniform was a Patrolman and Lens acts as a telepath through which
not an outlaw in disguise. its owner may communicate with jny
The second difficulty was overcome other intelligence, high or low; even
first. One old-time Patrolman had though the other entity may possess no
heard of the Arisians. He visited their organs either of sight or of hearing, as
planet and—this should be a saga by it­ we know these senses. The Lens has
self—persuaded those Masters of Men­ also many other highly important uses,
tality that they should help right against which lack of space forbids even mention­
wrong, at least to the extent of furnish­ ing here.
ing a positive means of identification.
They did, and still do—The Lens. HAVING the Lens, it was an easy
Each being about to graduate as a matter for the Patrol to purify itself of
Lensman is sent to Arisia; where, al­ its few unworthy members. Standards
though the candidate does not then know of entrance were raised higher and
it, a Lens—a lenticular jewel composed higher; and, as it became evident that it
of thousands of tiny crystalloids—is was to a man incorruptible, it was
built to match his individual life force. granted more and ever more authority.
While no mind other than that of an Now its power is practically unlim­
Arisian can understand its functioning, ited; the Lensman can follow the law­
thinking of the Lens as being syn­ breaker, wherever he may go. He can
 commandeer atty material or assistance, But even Lensmen are not all alike;
whenever and wherever required. The some are more richly endowed than, oth­
Lens is so respected throughout the ers. Most Lensmen work more or less
Galactic Union that any wearer of it under direction ; that is, they have head­
may at any time be called upon to act as quarters and, at the completion of one in­
judge, jury, and executioner. Wher­ vestigation or project, are assigned to
ever he goes, throughout the Universe another by the port admiral. Occa­
of Civilization, he not only carries the sionally, however, a Lensman shows
law with him—he is the law. himself to be of such outstanding ability,
How are these Lensmen chosen? An even for a Lensman, that he is given his
Earthman myself, and proud of the fact Release. Technically, he is now an “Un­
that Tellus was the cradle of Galactic attached Lensman” ; in popular parlance
Civilization, I will describe only how he is a “Gray Lensman,” from the color
Tellurian Lensmen are selected. Upon of the leather he wears.
other planets the methods and means
vary widely; but the results are the THE RELEASE! The goal toward
same: Wherever he may be found or which all Lensmen strive, but which so
however monstrous he may appear, a relatively few attain, even after years
Lertsman is always a Lensman. of work! The Gray Lensman is as
Each year one million boys are picked, nearly absolutely free an agent as it is
by competitive examination, from all the possible for any fiesh-and-blood being to
eighteen-year-olds of EartH. During be. He is responsible to no one and to
the first year of training, before tpiy nothing save his own conscience. He is
of them set foot inside Wentworth Hall, no longer of Earth, nor of the So-
that number shrinks to less than fifty larian System, but of the Universe as a
thousand. Then, for four years more, whole. He is no longer a cog in the
they are.put through the most poignantly immense machine of the Galactic Patrol;
searching, the most pitilessly rigid wherever he may go throughout the
process of elimination possible to de­ reaches of unbounded space, he is the
velop, during the course of which every Galactic Patrol:
man who can be made to reveal any sign He goes anywhere he pleases and does
o^ unworthiness or of weakness is anything he pleases, for as long as he
dropped. Of each class, only about a pleases. He takes what he wants, when
hundred win through to the Lens; but he wants it, with or without giving rea­
each of those few has proven repeatedly, sons or anything except a thumb-
to the cold verge of death itself, that he is printed credit slip in return—if he
in every sense fit to wear it. chooses to do so. He reports when,
Of those who drop out alive, most are where, and to whom he pleases—or not,
dismissed from the Patrol. There are as he pleases. He has no headquarters,
many splendid men, however, who for no address; he can be reached only
' some reason not involving moral turpi­ through his Lens. He no longer gets
tude are not quite what a Lensman must even a formal salary; he takes that, too,
be. These men make up the organiza­ as he goes, whatever he finds needful.
tion, from grease monkeys up to the To the man on the street that would
highest commissioned officers below the seem to be a condition of perfect bliss.
rank of Lensman. This fact explains It is not. All Lensmen strive mightily,
what is already so widely known: that for the Release, even though they realize'
the Galactic Patrol is the* finest body dimly what it will mean—but only an
of intelligent beings yet to serve under Unattached Lensman really understands
one banner. what a frightful, what a man-killing load
 the Release brings with it. However, a new and extraordinary type, from
Gray Lensmen being what they must be, which even convoyed shipping was no
it is a load which they are glad and longer safe. Being faster than the
proud to bear. Patrol's fast cruisers, and more heavily
Hence, to say that Kimball Kinnison armed than its heaviest battleships, they
ranked Number One in his graduat­ had been doing practically as they
ing class is to say a great deal—but even pleased in space.
more revealing of his quality is to add For one particular purpose, the en­
that he was the first to perceive that gineers of the Patrol had designed and
what was known as Boskonia was not built one ship—the Brittania. She was
merely an organization of outlaws and the fastest thing in space, but for of­
pirates, but was in fact a Galaxy-wide fensive armament she had only one
culture diametrically opposed in funda­ weapon, the “Q-gun.” This depended
mental philosophy to that of Galactic upon chemical explosives, which, in
Civilization. The most illuminating warfare at least, had been obsolete for
thing I can say of him in a few words, centuries. Nevertheless, Kinnison was
however, is this: put in command of the Brittania and
Of all the millions of entities who was told to take her out, capture a pirate
through the years had worn the symbol war vessel of late model, learn her se­
of the Lens, Kinnison was the first to crets of power, and transmit the in­
perceive that the Arisians had endowed formation to Prime Base with the least
the Lens with powers theretofore un­ possible delay.
dreamed of, powers which no brain He was successful in finding and in
without special training could either defeating such a vessel. Peter van Bus­
evoke or control. Thus, he was the kirk led the storming party of Valerians
first Lensman to return to Arisia for —men of remote Earth-human ancestry,
that advanced training; and during that but of extraordinary size, strength and
instruction he learned why no other agility because of the enormous gravita­
Lensman had been so trained before. tion of generations of life on the planet
It was such an ordeal that only a mind Valeria—in wiping out those of the pi­
of power sufficient to perceive of itself rate crew not killed in the combat be­
the real need of such treatment could en­ tween the two vessels.
dure it without becoming starkly insane. The Brittania’s scientists secured the
Shortly after Kinnison won his Lens, required data, but were unable to report
he was called to Prime Base by Port immediately to Prime Base, as the pi­
Admiral Haynes, the Patrol’s chief of rates were blanketing all available chan­
staff. There, in a room sealed against nels of communication. Boskonian ships
spy rays, an appalling situation was were gathering for the kill, and the crip­
bared. Space piracy, always rife pled Patrol ship could neither run nor
enough, had become an organized force; fight. Therefore each man was given a
and, under the leadership of a half- spool of tape bearing a complete rec­
mythical entity about whom nothing was ord of everything that had occurred;
known save the name “Boskone,” had and, after setting up a director-by-
risen to such heights of power as to chance to make the empty ship pursue
threaten seriously the Galactic Patrol it­ an unpredictable course in space, and
self. Indeed, in one respect, Boskonia after rigging bombs to explode her at
was ahead of the Patrol, its scientists the first touch of a ray, the Patrolmen
having developed a source of power paired off by lot and took to the life­
vastly greater than any known to Galac­ boats.
tic Civilization. It had fighting ships of The erratic course of the cruiser
 brought her near the lifeboat in which while any mass in the free condition can
Kinnison and Van Buskirk were, and assume an almost unlimited velocity, in­
there the pirates attempted to stop her. ert matter cannot equal even that of light
The ensuing explosion was so violent —the veriest crawl, as space speeds go.
that flying wreckage disabled practically Also, there is no magic, no getting of
' the entire personnel of one of the at­ something for nothing, in the operation
tacking ships, which did not have time of a Bergenholm. It takes power, plenty
to go free—inertialess—before the crash. of power, to run one, and whenever one
The two Patrolmen captured the pirate goes out, the ship dependent upon it is,
vessel and drove her toward Earth. They to all intents and purposes, anchored in
reached the solar system of Velantia be­ space.
fore the Boskonians blocked them off, Therefore the Patrolmen were forced
thus compelling them again to take to to land upon Trenco—which, as al­
their lifeboat. They landed upon the most everyone knows, is the planet upon
planet Delgon, where they were rescued which is produced thionite, perhaps the
from a horde of Catlats by Worsel, a deadliest of all habit-forming drugs—
highly intelligent winged reptile, a na­ for repairs.
tive of the neighboring planet of Ve­ Meanwhile Helmuth, the Boskonian.
lantia. had deduced that it was a Lensman who
By means of improvements upon had been giving him so much trouble.
Velantian thought-screens the three de­ He had already connected the Lens with
stroyed most of the Overlords of Del­ Arisia; therefore he set out for Arisia
gon. a sadistic race of monsters who had to find out for himself just what it was
been preying upon the other people of that made the Lens such a powerful
the system by sheer power of mind. thing. He discovered that he was no
Worsel then accompanied the two Pa­ match at all for an Arisian. He was
trolmen to Velantia, where all the re­ given terrific mental punishment, but
sources of the planet were devoted to was allowed to return to his Grand Base
the preparation of defense against the alive and sane; being informed that he
expected attack of the Boskonians. Sev­ was spared because his destruction would
eral other of the Rrittania’s lifeboats not be good for the budding Civilization
reached Velantia. guided by Worsel’s to which Boskonian culture was opposed.
mind working through Kinnison’s mind He was told further that the Arisians had
and Lens. given Civilization the Lens; that by its
Kinnison intercepted a message from intelligent use. Civilization should be able
Helmuth, who “spoke for Boskone,” and to conquer Boskone’s alien, abhorrent
traced his communicator beam, thus get­ culture; that if it could not learn to use
ting his first line upon Bosjconia’s Grand the Lens, it was not yet ready to become
Base. The pirates attacked Velantia, a Civilization, and Boskonia would be
and six of their vessels were captured. allowed to flourish for a time.
In these six ships, manned by Velantian Afier various adventures upon Trenco
crews and blanketing ether and sub­ —a peculiar planet indeed—Kinnison
ether against the pirates’ own com­ secured a new Bergenholm and went on.
municators, the Patrolmen again set out This time he managed to reach Tellus,
toward Earth and the Prime Base of and. after a spectacular battle in the
the Galactic Patrol. stratosphere with a blockading fleet of
Then Kinnison’s Bergenholm broke the enemy, got down to Prime Base with'
down. The Bergenholm, the generator his precious data. There he first re­
of the force that neutralizes inertia—the vealed his conviction that the Boskonians
sine qua non of interstellar speed. For, were not ordinary pirates, but in fact
 composed a culture almost, if not quite, Radelix, he succeeded in entering an
as strong as Civilization itself; and enemy base upon Boyssia II. There he
asked that certain scientists of the Patrol took over the mind of the communica­
z should try to develop a detector nulli­ tions officer and waited for the oppor­
fier. He predicted a stalemate, and in­ tunity of getting the second, all-im­
timated that such a nullifier might well portant line upon Boskonia’s Grand
prove to be the deciding factor in the Base. An enemy ship of this base cap­
entire war. tured a hospital ship of the Patrol and
By building ultrapowerful battleships, brought it in. Nurse MacDougall, head
called “maulers,” the Patrol gained a nurse of the captured ship, working un­
temporary advantage, but the stalemate der Kinnison’s instructions, stirred up
soon ensued. Kinnison thought out a trouble which soon became mutiny. Hel­
plan of action, in the pursuit of which he muth, from Grand Base, took a hand,
scouted a pirate base upon Aldebaran I. thus enabling Kinnison to get his sec­
The personnel of this base, however, in­ ond line.
stead of being human or near-human be­ The hospital ship, undetectable by vir­
ings, were Wheelmen, beings possessed tue of the Lensman’s nullifier, escaped
of a sense of perception unknown to from Boyssia II and headed for Earth
man. The Lensman was discovered be­ at full blast. Kinnison, convinced that
fore he could accomplish anything, and Helmuth was really Boskone himself,
in the fight which followed he was very found that the intersection’ of his two
seriously wounded. lines—and therefore the pirates’ Grand
However, he managed to get back to Base—lay in a star cluster AG 257-4736,
his speedster and sent a thought to Port well outside the Galaxy. Pausing only
Admiral Haynes, who forthwith sent long enough to destroy the Wheelmen
ships to his aid. In the hospital, Chief of Aldebaran I, the project in which his
Surgeon Lacy put him together without first attempt had failed so dismally, he
the use of artificial members; and, dur­ set out to investigate Helmuth’s head­
ing a long and quarrelsome con­ quarters. He found a stronghold im­
valescence, Nurse Clarrissa MacDou­ pregnable to any massed attack the
gall held him together. Patrol could throw against it, manned
by beings each wearing a thought-screen.
As soon as he could leave the hospital His sense of perception was suddenly cut
he went to Arisia in the hope that he off—the pirates had thrown a thought­
might be permitted to take advanced screen around the entire planet. He
training—an unheard-of idea. Much to then returned to Prime Base, deciding
his surprise, he learned that he had been en route that boring from within was
expected to return for exactly such train­ the only possible way in which that stu­
ing. Getting it almost killed him, but pendous fortress could be taken.
he emerged from the ordeal infinitely In consultation with Port Admiral
stronger of mind than any man had Haynes, the zero hour was set, at which
ever been before; and possessed of a time the massed Grand Fleet of Patrol
new sense of perception, as well—a sense was to begin raying Helmuth’s base
somewhat analogous to sight, but of with every projector that could be
vastly greater power, depth, and scope, brought to bear.
and not dependent upon light, a sense Pursuant to his plan, Kinnison again
only vaguely forecast by ancient experi­ visited Trenco, where the Patrol forces
ments with clairvoyance. extracted for him fifty kilograms of
After trying out his new mental equip­ thionite, the noxious drug which, in
ment by solving a murder mystery upon microgram inhalations, makes the ad-
diet experience all the sensations of do­ where, finding a dog whose brain was
ing whatever it is that he wishes most unshielded, he let himself into the cen­
ardently to do. The larger the dose, tral dome. Here, just before the zero
the more intense the sensations; the minute, he released his thionite into the
slightest overdose resulting in an ecstatic air stream, thus wiping out all the
death. Thence to Helmuth's planet; pirate personnel except Helmuth, who,

Through inter-Galactic space Helmuth’s thought drove.

“You said the defenses were adequate!”
“I said they seemed adequate,” said the Eichlan coldly.
in his inner sanctum, could not be af­ obscure mechanism of which was re­
fected. laying to his sense of perception from
The Grand Fleet of the Patrol at­ Helmuth’s globe and mind a clear pic­
tacked, but Helmuth would not leave ture of everything which was happening
his retreat, even to try to save his Base. within Grand Base. The corpse-littered
Therefore Kinnison would have to go in dome was clear to his sight; he knew
after him. Poised in the air of Hel­ that the Patrol was attacking from with­
muth’s inner sphere there was an enig­ out ; knew that that ubiquitous Lensman,
matic, sparkling ball of force which the who had already unmanned the citadel,
Lensman could not understand, and of was about to attack from within.
which he was in consequence extremely “You have erred seriously,” the entity
suspicious. was thinking coldly, emotionlessly, into
But the storming of that quadruply- the globe, “in not deducing until after
defended inner stronghold was precisely it was too late to save your base that
the task for which Kinnison’s new and the Lensman had perfected a nullifier of
ultracumbersome armor had been de­ sub-ethereal detection. Your contention
signed ; and in the Gray Lensman went. that I am equally culpable is, I think,
untenable. It was your problem, not
I. mine; I had, and still have, other things
to concern me. Your base is of course
AMONG the world-girdling fortifica­ lost; whether or not you yourself sur­
tions’of a planet distant indeed from star vive will depend entirely upon the ade­
cluster AG 257-4736 there squatted sul­ quacy of your protective devices.”
lenly a fortress quite similar to Hel­ “But, Eichlan, you yourself pro­
muth's own. Indeed, in some respects it nounced them adequate!”
was even superior to the base of him There followed an interval of silence,
who spoke for Boskone. It was larger as though those conferring were sep­
and stronger. Instead of one dome, it arated by such a gulf of space that even
had many. It was dark and cold withal, thought, with its immeasurable velocity
for its occupants had practically nothing of propagation, required finite time to
in common with humanity save the pos­ traverse it.
session of high intelligence. “Pardon me—I said that they seemed
In the central sphere of one of the adequate.”
domes there sparkled several of the pe­ “If I survive—or, rather, after I have
culiarly radiant globes whose counter­ destroyed this Lensman—what are your
part had given Kinnison so seriously to orders?” Another interval.
think, and near them there crouched or “Go to the nearest communicator
huddled or lay at ease a many-tentacled and concentrate our forces; half of them
creature indescribable to man. It was to engage this Patrol fleet, the remainder
not exactly like an octopus. Though to wipe out all the life of Sol III. I
spiny, it did not resemble at all closely a have not tried to give those orders di­
sea-cucumber. Nor, although it was rect, since all the beams are keyed to
scaly and toothy and wingy, was it, save your board and, even if I could reach
in the vaguest possible way, similar to a them, no commander in that Galaxy
lizard, a sea serpent, or a vulture. Such knows that I speak for Boskone. After
a description by negatives is, of course, you have done that, report to me here.”
pitifully inadequate; but, unfortunately, “Instructions received and under­
it is the best that can be done. stood. Helmuth, ending message.”
The entire attention of this being was “Set your controls as instructed. I
focused within one of the globes, the will observe and record. Prepare your­
self, the Lensman comes. Eichlan, Blasting himself upright, the Patrol­
speaking for Boskone, ending message.” man shot across the inner dome to the
The Lensman rushed. Even before he control panel and paused, momentarily
crashed the pirate’s screens his own de­ baffled. He could not throw the switches
fensive zone flamed white in the beam of controlling the defensive screens of the
semiportable projectors, and through gigantic outer dome! His armor, de­
that blaze came tearing the metallic slugs signed for the ultimate of defensive
of a high-caliber machine rifle. But strength, could not and did not bear any
the Lensman’s screens were almost those of the small and delicate external
of a battleship, his armor relatively as mechanisms so characteristic of the or­
strong; he had at his command pro­ dinary spacesuit. To leave his personal
jectors scarcely inferior to those oppos­ tank at that time and in that environ­
ing his advance. Therefore, with every ment was unthinkable; yet he was fast
faculty of his newly enlarged mind con­ running out of time. A scant fifteen sec­
centrated upon that thought-screened, onds was all that remained before zero,
armored head behind the bellowing gun the moment at which the hellish output
and the flaring projectors. Kinnison held of every watt generable by the massed
his line and forged ahead. fleet of the Galactic Patrol would be
hurled against those screens in their
ATTENTIVE as he was to Hel­ furiously raging destructive might. To
muth’s thought-screens, the Patrolman release the screens after that zero mo­
was ready when it weakened slightly ment would mean his own death, in­
and a thought began to seep through, di­ stantaneous and inevitable.
rected at that peculiar ball of force. He Nevertheless, he could open those cir­
blanketed it savagely, before it could cuits—the conservation of Boskonian
even begin to take form, and attacked property meant nothing to him. He
the screen so viciously that the Bos- flipped on his own projector and flashed
konian had either to restore full coverage its beam briefly across the banked pan­
instantly or else die there and then. els in front of him. Insulation burst into
Kinnison feared that force-ball no flame, fairly exploding in its haste to dis­
longer. He still did not know what it integrate; copper and silver ran in bril­
was; but he had learned that, whatever liant streams or puffed away in clouds
its nature might be. it was operated or of sparkling vapor: high-tension arcs
controlled by thought. Therefore it was ripped, crashed, and cracked among the
and would remain harmless. If the pi­ writhing, dripping, flaring bus-bar. The
rate chief softened his screen enough shorts burned themselves clear or blew
to emit a thought he would never think their fuses, every circuit opened, every
again. Boskonian defense came down : and then,
Doggedly the Lensman drove in, and only then, could Kinnison get into
closer and closer. Magnetic clamps communication with his friends.
locked and held. Two steel-clad, war­ “Haynes!” he thought crisply into his
ring figures rolled into the line of fire Lens. “Kinnison calling!”
of the ravening automatic rifle. Kinni- “Haynes acknowledging!” a thought
son’s armor, designed and tested to instantly snapped back. “Congrat—”
withstand even heavier stuff, held; “Hold it! We’re not done yet! ' Have
wherefore he came through that storm every ship in the Fleet go free at once.
of metal unscathed. Helmuth’s, how­ Have them all. except yours, put out'
ever, even though stronger far than the full-coverage screens, so that they can’t
ordinary personal armor of space, failed; look at or think into this Base.”
and thus the Boskonian died. A moment passed. “Done!”
 “Don’t come in any closer—I’m on my THERE FOLLOWED the maneu­
way out there to you. Have your ship vering necessary for one inert body to
block every band except your personal approach another in space, then Kinni-
frequency, which you and I are now on, son’s incredible housing of steel was
and caution all Lensmen aboard with hauled into the airlock by means of
you to stay off that channel until further space lines attached to magnetic clamps.
notice. Now as to you, personally, I The outer door of the lock closed behind
don’t like to seem to be giving orders him, the inner one opened, and the Lens­
to the Admiral of the Fleet, but it may man entered the flagship.
be quite essential that you concentrate First to the armory, where he clam­
upon me, and think of nothing else, for bered stiffly out of his small battleship
the next few minutes.” and gave orders concerning its storage.
“Right! I don’t mind taking orders Then to the control room, stretching and
from you.” bending hugely as he went, in vast re­
“QX. Now we can take things a bit lief at his freedom from the narrow and
easier.” Kinnison had so arranged mat­ irksome confinement which he had en­
ters that no one except himself could dured so long.
think into that stronghold, and he Of all the men in that control room,
himself would not. He would not think only two knew Kinnison personally. All
into that tantalizing enigma, nor toward knew of him, however, and as the tall
it, nor even of it, until he was completely gray-clad figure entered there was a
ready to do so. And how many per­ loud, quick cheer.
sons, I wonder, really realize just how “Hi, fellows—thanks.” Kinnison
much of a feat that was? Realize the waved a salute to the room as a
sort of mental training that required ? whole. “Hi, Port Admiral! Hi, Com­
“How many gamma-zeta tracers can mandant !” He saluted Haynes and
you put out, chief?” Kinnison asked von Hohendorff as perfunctorily, and
then, more conversationally. greeted them as casually, as though he
A brief consultation; then, “Ten in had last seen them an hour, instead of
regular use. By tuning in all our spares ten weeks, before; as though the inter­
we can put out sixty.” vening time had been spent in the veri­
“At two diameters’ distance forty­ est idleness, instead of in the fashion in
eight fields will surround this planet at which it actually had been spent.
one hundred percent overlap. Please Old von Hohendorff greeted his erst­
have that-many set that way. Of the while pupil cordially enough, but: "Out
other. twelve, set three to go well out­ with it!” Haynes demanded. “What
side the first sphere—say at four diam­ did you do? How did you do it ? What
eters out—covering the line from this does all this confounded rigmarole
planet to Lundmark’s Nebula. Set the mean? Tell us all about it—all you can,
last nine to be thrown out as far as you I mean,” he added, hastily.
can read them accurately to only the “There’s no need of secrecy now, I
first decimal on your screens, centering think,” and in flashing thoughts the
on the same line. Not much overlap is Gray Lensman went on to describe
necessary on these backing fields—bare everything that had happened.
contact is enough. Release nothing, of “So you see,” he concluded, "I don’t
course, until I get there. And while the really know anything. It’s all surmise,
boys are setting things up, you might go suspicion, and deduction. It may be
inert—it’s safe enough now—so that I that nothing at all will happen: in which
can match your intrinsic velocity and case these precautions, while they will
come aboard.” have been wasted effort, will have done
AST—2
us no harm. In case something does lignant mental force; a force backing
happen, however—and I’ll bet all the tea multiplex scanners and sub-ethereal
in China that something will—we’ll be stress-fields interlocked in peculiarly un­
ready for it.” identifiable patterns.
“But if what you are beginning to For that ball was, as Kinnison had
suspect is really true, it means that Bos- more than suspected, a potent agency
konia is inter-Galactic in scope—wider indeed. It was, as he had thought that
spread even than the Patrol!” it must be, a communicator ; but it was
“Probably, but not necessarily—it far more than that. Ordinarily harmless
may mean only that they have bases enough, it could be so set as to become an
further outside. And remember that infernal machine at the vibrations of any
I’m arguing on a mighty slim thread of thought not in a certain coded se­
evidence. That screen was hard and quence ; and Helmuth had so set it.
tight, and I couldn’t touch the external Therefore at the touch of the Patrol­
beam—if there was one—at all. I got man’s thought it exploded : liberating in­
just part of a thought, here and there. stantaneously the unimaginable forces
However, the thought was ‘that’ galaxy; with which it was charged. More, it
not just ‘galaxy,’ or ‘this’ or ‘the’ sent out waves which, attuned to de­
galaxy—and why think that way if the tonating receivers, touched off strategi­
guy was already in this galaxy?” cally placed stores of duodecaplylato-
“But nobody has ever— But skip it mate. “Duodec,” that concentrated es­
for now—the boys are ready for you. sence of atomic violence than which sci­
Take over!” ence has even yet failed to develop a
“QX. First we’ll go free again. Don’t more devastating!
think much, if any. of the stuff can come “Hell’s—jingling—bells!” Port Ad­
out here, but no use taking chances. Cut miral Haynes grunted in stunned amaze­
your screens. Now, all you gamma-zeta ment, then subsided into silence, eyes
men, throw out your fields, and if any riveted upon his plate; for to the hu­
of you get a puncture, or even a flash, man eye dome, fortress, and planet had
measure its position. You recording ob­ disappeared in one cataclysmically incan­
servers, step your scanners up to fifty descent sphere of flame.
thousand. QX ?” But the observers of the Galactic Pa­
“QX!” the observers and recorders trol did not depend upon eyesight alone.
reported, almost as one, and the Gray Their scanners had been working at
Lensman sat down at a plate. ultrafast speed; and, as soon as it be­
came clear that none of the ships
HIS MIND, free at last to make the of the Fleet had been endangered, Kin­
investigation from which it had been so nison asked that certain of the spools be
long and so sternly barred, flew down run into a visitank at normal tempo.
into and through the dome, to and into There, slowed to a speed at which the
that cryptic globe so tantalizingly poised eye could clearly discern sequences of
in the air of the Center. events, the two old Lensmen and the
The reaction was practically in­ young one studied with care the three-
stantaneous ; so rapid that any ordinary dimensional pictures of what had hap­
mind could have perceived nothing at pened; pictures taken from points of
all; so rapid that even Kinnison’s con­ projection close to and even within the,
sciousness recorded only a confusedly doomed structure itself.
blurred impression. But he did see Deliberately, the ball of force opened
something: in that fleeting millionth of up, followed an inappreciable instant
a second he sensed a powerful, ma­ later by the secondary centers of detona­
tion; all expanding magically into spheri­ was directed the force of those incon­
cal volumes of blindingly brilliant an­ ceivable explosions. Downward the
nihilation. There were as yet no fly­ effect was, if possible, even more catas­
ing fragments: no inert fragment can trophic, since conditions there approxi­
fly from duodec in the first few in­ mated closely the oft-argued meeting be­
stants of its detonation. For the tween the irresistible force and the im­
detonation of duodec is propagated movable object. The planet was to all
at the velocity of light, so that the en­ intents and purposes immovable, the
tire mass disintegrates in a period of duodec to the same degree irresistible.
time to be measured only in fractional The result was that the entire planet
trillionths of a second. Its detonation was momentarily blown apart. A vast
pressure and temperature have never chasm was blasted deep into its interior,
been measured save indirectly, since and, gravity temporarily overcome, stu­
nothing will hold it except a Q-type helix pendous cracks and fissures began to
of pure force. And even those helices, yawn. Then, as the pressure decreased,
which perforce must be practically open the core-stuff of the planet became mol­
at both ends, have to be designed and ten and began to wreak its volcanic
powered to withstand pressures and tem­ havoc.
peratures obtaining only in the cores of Gravity, once more master of the
suns. situation, took hold. The cracks and
Imagine, if you can, what would hap­ chasms closed, extruding uncounted cu­
pen if some fifty thousand metric tons of bic miles of fiery lava and metal. The
material from the innermost core of entire world shivered and shuddered in
Sirius B were to be taken to Grand a Gargantuan cosmic ague.
Base, separated into twenty-five pack­
ages, each package placed at a strategic THE EXPLOSION blew itself out.
point, and all restraint instantaneously The hot gases and vapors cooled. The
removed. What would have happened steam condensed. The volcanic dust dis­
then, was what actually was happening! appeared. There lay the planet;
As has been said, for moments noth­ but changed—hideously and awfully
ing moved except the ever-expanding changed. Where Grand Base had been
spheres of destruction. Nothing could there remained nothing whatever to in­
move—the inertia of matter itself held dicate that anything wrought by man
it in place until it was too late—every­ had ever been there. Mountains were
thing close to those centers of action leveled, valleys were filled. Continents
simply flared into turgid incandescence and oceans had shifted, and were still
and added its contribution to the al­ shifting; visibly. Earthquakes, vol­
ready hellish whole. canoes, and other seismic disturbances,
As the spheres expanded, their tem­ instead of decreasing, were increasing in
peratures and pressures decreased and violence, minute by minute.
the action became somewhat less vi­ Helmuth’s planet was, and would for
olent. Matter no longer simply disap­ years remain, a barren and uninhabitable
peared. Instead, plates and girders, world.
even gigantic structural members, bent, "Well!” Haynes, who had been hold­
buckled, and crumbled. Walls blew ing his breath unconsciously, released it
outward and upward. Huge chunks of in an almost explosive sigh. “That is
metal and of masonry, many with fused inescapably and incontrovertibly that. I
and dripping edges, began to fly in all was going to use that base, but it looks
directions. as though we’ll have to get along with­
And not only, or principally, upward out it.”
 Without comment Kinnison turned to tresses. But, and surprisingly enough
the gamma-zeta observers. “Any to the Patrol forces, the reduction of
traces?” he asked. those hulking monsters was to prove no
It developed that three of the fields easy task.
had shown activity. Not merely traces The Boskonians had witnessed the
or flashes, but solid punctures showing destruction of Helmuth’s Grand Base.
the presence of a hard, tight beam. And Their master plates were dead. Try
those three punctures were in the same as they would, they could get in touch
line; a line running straight out into in- with no one with authority to give them
ter-Galactic space. orders, with no one to whom they could
Kinnison took careful readings on report their present plight. Nor could
the line, then stood motionless. Feet they escape: the slowest mauler in the
wide apart, hands jammed into pockets, Patrol Fleet could have caught any one
head slightly bent, eyes distant, he stood of them in space of minutes.
there unmoving; thinking with all the To surrender was not even thought of
power of his brain. —better far to die a clean death in the
“I want to ask three questions,” the blazing holocaust of space battle than to
old Commandant of Cadets interrupted be thrown ignominiously into the lethal
his cogitations finally. “Was Helmuth chambers of the Patrol. There was not,
Boskone, or not? Have we got them there could not be, any question of par­
licked, or not? What do we do next, don or of sentence to any mere im­
besides the mopping up of those eighteen prisonment, for the strife between Civ­
super-maulers ?” ilization and Boskonia in no respect re­
“To all three the answer is ‘I don’t sembled the wars between two funda­
know’.” Kinnison’s face was stern and mentally similar and friendly nations
hard. “You know as much about the which small, green Terra knew so fre­
whole thing as I do—I haven’t held back quently of old. It was a Galaxy-wide
a thing that I even suspect. I did not struggle for survival between two di­
tell you that Helmuth was Boskone; I ametrically opposed, mutually exclusive,
said that everyone in any position to and absolutely incompatible cultures; a
judge, including myself, was as sure duel to the death in which quarter was
that he was as one could be about any­ neither asked nor given; a conflict
thing that could not be proved. I firmly which, except for the single instance
believed that he was. The presence of which Kinnison himself had engineered,
this communicator line, and the other was, and of stern necessity had to be, one
stuff I have told you about, has destroyed of ruthless, complete, and utter ex­
that belief in my mind. However, we tinction.
do not actually know any more than
we did before. It is no more certain DIE, THEN, the pirates knew they
now that Helmuth was not Boskone must; and, although adherents to a
than it was before that he was Boskone. scheme of existence monstrous indeed
The second question ties in with the first, to our way of thinking, they were in no
and so does the third—but I see that the sense cowards. Not like cornered rats
mopping up has started.” did they conduct themselves, but fought
While von Hohendorf! and Kinnison like what they were; courageous beings
had been talking, Haynes had issued or­ hopelessly outnumbered and outpow-
ders and the Grand Fleet, divided ered, unable either to escape or to choose
roughly and with difficulty into the field of operations, grimly resolved
eighteen parts, went raggedly outward to that in their passing they would take full
surround the eighteen outlying for­ toll of the minions of that detested and
 despised Galactic Civilization. There­ scarcely flashing as it went down.
fore, in suicidal glee, Boskonian en­ Through the armor, violating the prime
gineers rigged up a fantastically potent tenet then held and which has just
-weapon of offense, tuned in their de­ been referred to, that no object free in
fensive screens and hung poised in space, space can be damaged—in this case, so
awaiting calmly the massed attack so unthinkably vehement was the thrust,
sure to come. the few atoms of substances in the space
Up flashed the heavy cruisers of the surrounding the doomed cruisers af­
Patrol, serenely confident. Although of forded resistance enough. Through the
little offensive strength, these vessels ship itself, a ravening cylinder of an­
mounted tractors and pressors of pro­ nihilation.
digious power, as well as defensive For perhaps a second—certainly no
screens which—theoretically—no pro­ longer—those incredible, those un­
jector-driven beam of force could punc­ dreamed-of beams persisted before
ture. They had engaged mauler after winking out into blackness; but that
mauler of Boskonia’s mightiest, and second had been long enough. Three
never yet had one of those screens gone riddled hulks lay dead in space, and as
down. Theirs the task of immobilizing the three original projectors went black
the opponent; since, as is of course well three more flared out. Then three more.
known, it is under any ordinary condi­ Nine of the mightiest of Civilization’s
tions impossible to wreak any hurt upon ships of war were riddled before the
an object which is both inertialess and others could hurl themselves backward
at liberty to move in space. It simply out of range 1
darts away from the touch of the harm­
ful agent, whether it be immaterial beam MOST OF THE officers of the flag­
or material substance. ship were stunned into temporary in­
Formerly the attachment of two or activity by that shocking development,
three tractors was all that was neces­ but two reacted almost instantly.
sary to insure immobility, and thus “Thorndyke!” the Admiral snapped.
vulnerability ; but with the Velantian de­ “What did they do, and how?”
velopment of a shear-plane to cut trac­ And Kinnison, not speaking at all,
tor beams, a new technique became leaped to a certain panel, to read for him­
necessary. This was englobement, in self the analysis of those incredible
which a dozen or more vessels sur­ beams of force.
rounded the proposed victim in space “They made superneedle rays out of
and held it motionless at the center of a their main projectors,” Master Techni­
sphere by means of pressors, which could cian Laverne Thorndyke reported,
not be cut or evaded. Serene, then, and crisply. “They must have shorted every­
confident, the heavy cruisers rushed out thing they’ve got onto them to burn
to englobe the Boskonian fortress. them out that fast.”
Flash! Flash! Flash! Three points “Those beams were hot—plenty hot,”
of light, as unbearably brilliant as atonic Kinnison corroborated the findings.
vortices, sprang into being upon the “These recorders go to five billion and
fortress’ side. Three needle rays of have a factor of safety of ten. Even
inconceivable energy lashed out, hurtling that wasn’t anywhere nearly enough—
through the cruisers’ outer screens as everything in the recorder circuits
though they had been so much inactive blew.”
webbing. Through the second and "But how could they handle them—”
through the first. Through the wall von Hohendorff began to ask.
shield, even that ultrapowerful field “They didn’t. They pointed them
and died,” Thomdyke explained, grimly. blackly, and, he admitted ruefully to
“They traded one projector and its himself, to very little purpose. And at
crew for one cruiser and its crew—a Prime Base, through week after week
good trade from their viewpoint.” of its feverish activity, he continued to
“There will be no more such trades,” think. Finally, however, he was
Haynes declared. snatched out of his dark abstraction by
Nor were there. The Patrol had no less a personage than Surgeon Gen­
maulers enough to englobe the enemy eral Lacy.
craft at a distance greater even than “Snap out of it, lad,” that worthy
the effective range of those suicidal advised, smilingly. “When you con­
beams, and it did so. centrate on one thing too long, you
Shielding screens cut off the Bos- know, the vortices of thought occupy
konians’ intake of cosmic power and narrower and narrow loci, until finally
the relentless beaming of the bulldog the effective volume becomes infinitesi­
maulers began. For hour after hour it mal. Or, mathematically, the then
continued, the cordon ever tightening as range of cogitation, integrated between
the victims' power lessened. And finally the limits of plus and minus infinity,
even the Gargantuan accumulators of approaches zero as a limit—”
the immense fortresses were drained. “Huh ? What are you talking about ?"
Tlieir screens went down under the hell­ the Lensman demanded.
ish fury of the maulers’ incessant attack, “Poor mathematics, perhaps, but
and in a space of minutes thereafter the sound psychology,” Lacy grinned. “It
structures and their contents ceased to got your undivided attention, didn’t it?
exist save as atomic detritus. That was what I was after. In plain
The Grand Fleet of the Galactic English, if you keep on thinking around
Patrol remade its formation after a in circles you'll soon be biting yourself
fashion and set off toward the Galaxy at in the small of the back. Come on, you
touring blast. and I are going places.”
And in the control room of the flag­ “Where?”
ship three Lensmen brought a very seri­ “To the Grand Ball in honor of the
ous conference to a close. Grand Fleet, my boy—old Dr. Lacy pre­
“You saw what happened to Hel­ scribes it for you as a complete and radi­
muth's planet.” Kinnison’s voice was cal change of atmosphere. Let’s go!’’
oddly hard, “and I gave you all I could The city’s largest ballroom was a
get of the thought about the destruction blaze of light and color. A thousand
of all life upon Sol III. A big-enough polychromic lamps flooded their radiance
duodec bomb in the bottom of an ocean downward through draped bunting upon
would do it. I don’t really know any­ an even more colorful throng. Two
thing except that we hadn’t better let thousand items of feminine loveliness
them catch us asleep at the switch again were there, in raiment whose fabrics
—we’ve got to be up on our toes every were the boast of hundreds of planets,
second.” whose hues and shades put the spec­
And the Gray Lensman, face set and trum itself to shame. There were over
stern, strode off to his quarters, two thousand men, clad in plain or
beribboned or bemedaled full civilian
II. dress, or in the variously panoplied dress
uniforms of the many Services.
DURING practically all of the long “You’re dancing with Miss For­
trip back to Earth, Kinnison kept pretty rester first, Kinnison,” the surgeon
much to his cabin, thinking deeply, introduced them informally, and the
 “But that’s not the end, sir,” said Kinnison.
“They said not ‘the’ galaxy, or even ‘this’
galaxy—the thought was ‘that’ galaxy!”

Lensman found himself gliding away To the uninformed, Kinnison’s garb

with a stunning blonde, ravishingly and of plain gray leather might have seemed
revealingly dressed in a dazzlingly blue incongruous indeed in that brilliantly
wisp of Manarkan glamoretto—fashion’s and fastidiously dressed assemblage. But
dernier eri. to those people, as to us of today, the
drab, starkly utilitarian uniform of the to have this full dance with you, and en­
Unattached Lensman transcended far joy every second of it. And later I am
any other, however resplendent, worn going to pack this dance card—which I
by men: and literally hundreds of eyes hope you will sign for me—away in
followed the strikingly handsome couple lavender, so it will go down in history
as they slid rhythmically out upon the that in my youth I really did dance with
polished floor. But a measure of the Gray Lensman Kinnison. I see that I
tall beauty’s customary poise had de­ have recovered enough so that I can talk
serted her. She was slimly taut in the and dance at the same time. Do you
circle of the Lensman’s arm, her eyes mind if I ask you some silly questions
were downcast, and suddenly she missed about space?”
a step. “Go ahead. They won’t be silly, if
“ ’Scuse me for stepping on your I'm any judge. Elementary, perhaps,
feet,” he apologized. “A fellow gets out but not silly.”
of practice, flitting around in a speed­ “I hope so, but I think you’re being
ster so much.” charitable again. Like most of the
“Thanks for taking the blame, but girls here, I suppose, I have never
it’s my fault entirely—I know it as well been out in deep space at all. Besides
as you do,” she replied, flushing uncom­ a few hops to the Moon, I have taken
fortably. “I do know how to dance, only two flits, and they were both only
to, but— Well, you’re a Gray Lens­ interplanetary. One to Mars and one
man. you know.” to Venus. I never could see how you
“Huh?” he ejaculated, in honest sur­ deep-space men can really understand
prise, and she looked up at him for the what you’re doing—either the fright­
first time. “What has that fact got to ful speeds at which you travel, the dis­
do with the price of Venerian orchids in tance you cover, or the way your com­
Chicago—or with my clumsy walking municators work. In fact, a professor
all over your slippers ?” told us that no human mind can un­
derstand figures of those magnitudes at
“EVERYTHING in the world,” all. But you must understand them, I
she assured him. Nevertheless, her stiff should think . . . oh, perhaps—”
young body relaxed and she fell into the “Or maybe the guy isn’t human?”
graceful, accurate dancing which she Kinnison laughed deeply, infectiously.
really knew so well how to do. “You “No, your professor was right. We
see, I don’t suppose that any of us has can’t understand the figures, but we
ever seen a Gray Lensman before, except don’t have to—all we have to do is to
in pictures, and actually to be dancing work with them. And. now that it has
with one is so thrilling that it is really just percolated through my skull who
a shock—I have to get used to it gradu­ you really are, that you are Gladys For­
ally, so to speak. Why, I don’t even rester, it is quite clear that you are in
know how to talk to you! One couldn’t that same boat.”
possibly call you plain mister, as one “Me? How?” she exclaimed.
would any ord—” “The human mind cannot really un­
“It’ll be QX if you just call me ‘say’!” derstand a million of anything. Yet
he informed her. “Maybe you’d rather your father, an immensely wealthy man,
not dance with a dub? What say we gave you clear title to a million credits in ,
go get us a sandwich and a bottle of cash, to train you in finance in the only
fayalin or something?” way that really produces results—the
“No—never!” she exclaimed. “I hard way of actual experience. You lost
didn’t mean it that way at all. I’m going a lot of it at first, of course; but at
last accounts you had got it all back, and working below the level of the ether,
some besides, in spite of all the smart in the sub-ether—”
guys trying to take it away from you. “Whatever that is," she interrupted.
The fact that your brain cannot en­ “That’s as good a description or
visage a million credits has not inter­ definition of it as any." he grinned at
fered with your manipulation of that her. “We don’t know what even the
amount, has it?” ether is, or whether or not it exists as an
“No. but that’s entirely different!” objective reality; to say nothing of what
she protested. we so nonchalantly call the sub-ether.
“Not in any essential feature,” he We do not understand gravity, although
countered. “I can explain it best, per­ we can make it to order. No scientist
haps, by analogy. You can’t visualize, yet has been able to say how it is propa­
mentally, the size of North America, gated, or even whether or not it is
either, yet that fact does not bother propagated. No one has been able to
you in the least while you are driving devise any kind of an apparatus or meter
around on it in an automobile. What do or method by which its nature, period,
you drive ? On the ground, I mean, not or velocity can be determined. Neither
in the air?” do we know anything about time or
“A De Khotinsky sporter.” space. In fact, fundamentally, we don’t
'Um. Top speed a hundred and really know much of anything at all,” he
forty miles per hour, and I suppose you concluded.
cruise between ninety and a hundred. “Says you. But that makes me feel
We’ll have to pretend that you drive a better, anyway,” she confided, snuggling
Crownover sedan, or some other big, a little closer. “Go on about the com­
slow jellopy, so that you will tour at municators.”
about sixty and have an absolute top of “Ultra-waves are faster than ordinary
ninety. Also, you have a radio. On radio waves, which of course travel
the broadcast bands you can hear a pro­ through the ether with the velocity of
gram from three or four thousand miles light, in just about the same ratio as that
away; or, on short wave, from any­ of the speed of our ships to the speed of
where on Tellus—” slow automobiles—that is, the ratio of a
“I can get tight-beam short-wave pro­ parsec to a mile. Roughly nineteen bil­
grams from the Moon.” the girl broke lion to one. Range, of course, is pro­
in. “I've heard them lots of times.” portional to the square of the speed.”
“Yes,” Kinnison assented dryly, “at “Nineteen billion!” she exclaimed.
such times as there didn't happen to be “And you just said that nobody could
any interference.” understand even a million!”
“Static is pretty bad, lots of times,” “That’s the point exactly.” he went
the heiress agreed. on, undisturbed. “You don’t have to
understand or to visualize it. All you
“WELL, change ‘miles’ to ‘parsecs’ have to do is to remember that deep­
and you've got the picture of deep-space space vessels and communicators can
speeds and operations,” Kinnison in­ cover distance in parsecs at practically
formed her. “Our speed varies, of the same rate that Tellurian automobiles
course, with the density of matter in can cover miles. So, when some space­
space ; but on the average—say one atom flea talks to you about parsecs, just think
of substance per ten cubic centimeters in of miles in terms of an automobile and a
space—we tour at about sixty parsecs radio and you won't be far off."
an hour, and full blast is about ninety. “I never heard it explained that way
And our ultra-wave communicators, before—it does make it ever so much
simpler. Will you sign this, please ?” other dances with other girls followed;
"Just one more point.” The music but Kinnison could not throw himself
had ceased and he was signing her card, into the gaiety surrounding him. Dur­
preparatory to escorting her back to her ing his cadet days he had enjoyed such
place. “Like your supposedly tight- revels to the full, but now the whole
beam Luna-Tellus hookups, our long thing left him cold. His mind insisted
range, equally tight-beam communica­ upon reverting to its problem. Finally,
tors are very sensitive to interference, in the throng of young people on the
either natural or artificial. So, while floor, he saw a girl with a mass of red-
under perfect conditions we can com­ bronze hair and a supple, superbly
municate clear across the Galaxy, molded figure. He did not need to await
there are times—particularly when the her turning to recognize his erstwhile
pirates are scrambling the channels— nurse and later assistant, whom he had
that we can’t drive a beam from here to last seen just this side of far-distant
Alpha Centauri. Thanks a lot for the Boyssia II.
dance.” “Mac!” To her mind alone he sent
out a thought through his Lens. “For
THE OTHER girls did not quite the love of Klono, lend a hand—rescue
come to blows as to which of them was me! How many dances have you got
to get him next; and shortly—he never ahead ?”
did know exactly how it came about— “None at all—I’m not dating ahead.”
he found himself dancing with a luscious, She jumped as though someone had
cuddly little brunette, clad—partially jabbed her with a needle, then paused in
clad, at least—in a high-slitted, flame­ panic; eyes wide, breath coming fast,
colored sheath of some new fabric which breast pounding. She had felt Lensed
the Lensman had never seen before. It thoughts before, but this was something
looked like solidified, tightly woven elec­ else, something entirely different. Every
tricity ! cell of her brain was open to that Lens­
“Oh, Mr. Kinnison!” his new part­ man’s mind—and what was she seeing!
ner cooed, ecstatically. “I think that all She blanketed her thoughts des­
spacemen, and you Lensmen particularly, perately, tried with all her might not to
are just too perfectly darn Aeroic for any­ think at all!
thing! Why, I think that space is just “QX, Mac,” the thought went qui­
terrible! I simply can’t cope with it at etly on within her mind, quite as though
all!” nothing unusual were occurring. “No
“Ever been out, miss?” he grinned. intrusion meant. You didn’t think it;
He had never known many social but­ I already knew that if you started dat­
terflies, and temporarily he had forgot­ ing ahead you’d be tied up until day after
ten that such girls as this one really tomorrow. Can I have the next one?”
existed. “Sure, Kim.”
“Why, of course!” The young woman “Thanks—the Lens is off for the rest
kept on being exclamatory. of the evening.”
“Clear out to the Moon, perhaps?” he She sighed in relief as he snapped the
hazarded. telepathic line as though he were hang­
“Don’t be ridic! Ever so much ing up the receiver of a telephone.
farther than that! Why, I went clear to “I’d like to dance with you all, kids,”
Mars! And it gave me the screaming he addressed a large group of buds sur­
meamies, no less. I thought I would rounding him and eying him hungrily,
collapse!” “but I’ve got this next one. See you
That dance ended ultimately, and later, perhaps,” and he was gone.
 “Sorry, fellows,” he remarked casu­ clothes or men; not one of them all has
ally. as he made his way through the any more idea of wliat a Lensman really
circle of men around the gorgeous red- is than I have of hyperspace or of non-
,head. “Sorry, but this dance is mine, Euclidean geometry!”
isn't it. Miss MacDougall?” “Kitty, kitty!” he laughed. “Sheathe
She nodded, flashing the radiant smile the little claws, before you scratch some­
which had so aroused his ire during his body !”
hospitalization. “I heard you invoke “That isn’t cattishness; it’s the bare­
your spaceman’s god, but I was begin­ faced truth. Or perhaps,” she amended,
ning to l>e afraid that you had forgot­ honestly, “it's both true and cattish, but
ten this dance.” it’s certainly true. And that isn't half
“And she said she wasn’t dating of it. No one in the Universe except
ahead—tl le diplomat!” murmured an yourself really knows what you are do­
ambassador, aside. ing, and I’m pretty sure that only two
“Don’t be a dope,” a captain of Ma­ others even suspect. And Dr. Lacy is
rines muttered in reply. “She meant not one of them,” she concluded, sur­
with us. That’s a Gray LensmanI” prisingly.
Though shocked, Kinnison did not
ALTHOUGH the nurse, as has been miss a step. “You don’t fit into this
said, was anything but small, she ap­ matrix, any more than I do,” he agreed,
peared almost petite against the Lens- quietly. “S’pose you and I could do a
nian’s mighty frame as they took off. Si­ little flit somewhere?”
lently the two circled the great hall once; “Surely, Kim,” and, breaking out of
lustrous, goldenly green gown—of the crowd, they strolled out into the
Earthly nylon, this one, and less re­ grounds. Not a word was said until
vealing than most—swishing in perfect they were seated upon a broad, low
cadence against deftly' and softly step­ bench beneath the spreading foliage of
ping high-laced boots. a tree,
“This is better, Mac,” Kinnison Then: “What did you come here for
sighed, finally, “but I lack just seven tonight, Mac—the real reason?” he de­
thousand kilocycles of being in tune manded, abruptly.
with this. Don’t know what’s the mat­ “I . . . me . . . you ... I
ter. but it’s clogging my jets. I must mean— Oh, skip it!” the girl stam­
be getting to be a space-louse.” mered, a wave of scarlet flooding her
“A space-louse—you? Uh-uh!” She face and down even to her superb, bare
shook her head. “You know very well shoulders. Then she steadied herself
what the matter is. You’re just too and went on: “You see, I agree with
much of a man to mention it.” you—as you say, I check you to nine­
“Huh?” he demanded. teen decimals. Even Dr. Lacy, with
“Uh-huh,” she asserted, positively if all his knowledge, can be slightly screwy
obliquely. “Of course you’re not in at times, I think.”
tune with this crowd. How could you “Oh, so that’s it!” It was not, it
be? I don’t fit into it any more my­ was only a very minor part of her rea­
self, and what I’m doing isn’t even a son ; but the nurse would have bitten her
muffled flare compared to your job. Not tongue off rather than admit that she had
one in ten of these fluffs here tonight come to that dance solely and only be­
has ever been beyond the stratosphere; cause Kimball Kinnison was to be there.
not one in a hundred has ever been out “You knew, then, that this was old
as far as Jupiter, or has ever had a seri­ Lacy's idea?”
ous thought in her head except about “Of course. You would never have
come, else. He thinks that you may ered slightly, even though the evening
begin wobbling on the beam pretty soon was warm and balmy. “I learned it
unless you put out a few braking jets.” from your own mind. When you called
"And you ?” me, back there on the floor, you didn’t
"Not in a million, Kim. Lacy is as send just a single, sharp thought, just
cockeyed as Trenco’s ether, and I as as though you were speaking to me, as
good as told him so. He may wobble a you always did before. Instead, it
bit, but you won’t. You’ve got a job to seemed as though I was actually inside
do, and you’re doing it. You'll finish it, your own mind—the whole of it. I
too, in spite of all the vermin infesting have heard Lensman speak of a wide-
all the galaxies of the macro-cosmic open two-way, but I never had even the
Universe!” she finished, passionately. faintest inkling of what it would be like—
“Klono’s brazen whiskers, Mac!” He no one could who has never experienced
turned suddenly and stared intently it. Of course I didn’t—I couldn’t.—un­
down into her wide, gold-flecked, derstand a millionth of what I saw, or
tawny eyes. She stared back for a seemed to see. It was too vast, too in­
moment, then looked away. credibly immense. I never dreamed any
“Don’t look at me like that!” she al­ mortal could have a mind like that, Kim!
most screamed. "I can’t stand it—you But it was ghastly, too. It gave me the
make me feel stark naked! I know creepy jitters. It sent me down com­
that your Lens is off—I’d simply die if it pletely out of control for a second.
wasn’t—but I think that you’re a mind­ And you didn’t even know it—I know
reader, even without it!” you didn’t! I didn’t want to look, really,
but I couldn’t help seeing, and I’m glad
SHE DID know that that powerful I did—I wouldn’t have missed it for the
telepath was off and would remain off, world!” she finished, almost incoher­
and she was glad indeed of that fact; ently.
for her mind was seething with thoughts “Hm-m-m. That changes the picture
which that Lensman must not know, entirely.” Much to her surprise, the
then or ever. And for his part, the man’s voice was calm and thoughtful;
Lensman knew what she did not even not at all incensed. Not even disturbed.
suspeet; that had he chosen to exert "So I spilled the beans myself, on a
the powers at his command she would wide-open two-way, and didn’t even re­
have been naked, mentally and physi­ alize it. I knew that you were back­
cally, to his perception ; but he did not firing about something, but thought it
exert those powers—then. The ameni­ was because I might think you guilty of
ties of human relationship demanded petty vanity. And I called you a dumb­
that some fastnesses of reserve remain bell once!” he marveled.
inviolate, but he had to know what this “Twice,” she corrected him, “and the
woman knew. If necessary, he would second time I was never so glad to be
take the knowledge away from her by called names in my whole life.”
force, so completely that she would never “Now I know that I was getting to be
know that she had ever known it. There­ a space-louse.”
fore: “Uh-uh, Kim,” she denied again,
“Just what do you know, Mac, and gently. “And you aren’t a brat or a
how did you find it out ?” he demanded; lug or a clunker, either, even though I
quietly, but with a stern finality of in­ have thought at times that you were
flection that made a quick chill run up all of those things. But, now that I’ve
and down the nurse’s back. actually got all this stuff, what can you
“I know a lot, Kim.” The girl shiv­ —what can we—do about it?”
 ‘‘Perhaps . . . probably ... I to all outward seeming; their privacy as­
think, since I gave it to you myself, sured by Kinnison’s Lens and by his
I’ll let you keep it,” Kinnison decided, ever-watchful sense of perception. Time
^lowly. after time, completely unconsciously,
“Keep it!” she exclaimed. “Of that sense reached out to other couples
course, I'll keep it! Why, it’s in my who approached, to touch and to affect
mind—I'll have to keep it—nobody can their minds so insidiously that they did
take knowledge away from anyone!” not know that they were being steered
“Oh, sure—of course,” he murmured, away from the tree in whose black
absently. There were a lot of things moon-shadow sat the Lensman and the
that Mac didn't know, and probably no nurse.
good end would be served my enlighten­ Finally the long conversation came
ing her further. “You see, there’s to an end and Kinnison assisted his
a lot of stuff in my mind that I don’t companion to her feet. His frame was
know much about myself, yet. Since straighter, his eyes held a new and
I gave you an open channel, there must brighter light.
have been a good reason for it, even “By the way, Kim,” she asked idly
though, consciously, I don’t know my­ as they strolled back toward the ball­
self what it was.” He thought in­ room, “who is this Klono. by whom you
tensely for moments, then went on: were swearing a while ago? Another
“Undoubtedly the subconscious. Proba­ spaceman’s god, like Noshabkeming, of
bly it recognized the necessity of dis­ the Valerians ?”
cussing the whole situation with some­ “Something like him. only more so,”
one having a fresh viewpoint, some­ he laughed. “A combination of Noshab­
one whose ideas can help me develop a keming, some of the gods of the ancient
fresh angle of attack. Haynes and I Greeks and Romans, all three of the
think too much alike for him to be of Fates, and quite a few other things as
much help.” well. I think, originally, from Corvina,
“You trust me that much?” the girl but fairly widespread through certain
asked, dumfounded. sections of the Galaxy now. He’s got so
“Certainly,” he replied without hesi­ much stuff—teeth and horns, claws and
tation. “I know enough about you to whiskers, tail and everything—that he’s
know that you can keep your mouth much more satisfactory to swear by than
shut.” any other space-god I know of.”
“But why do men have to swear at
THUS unromantically did Kimball all, Kim ?” she queried, curiously. “It’s
Kinnison. Gray Lensman, acknowledge so silly.”
the first glimmerings of the dawning per­ “For the same reason that women
ception of a vast fact—that this nurse cry,” he countered. “A man swears t®
and he were two between whom there keep from crying, a woman cries to
never would nor could exist any iota of keep from swearing. Both are sound
doubt or of question. psychology. Safety valves—means of
Then they sat and talked. Not idly, blowing off excess pressure that would
as is the fashion of lovers, of the mi­ otherwise blow fuses or burn out tubes.”
nutiae of their own romantic affairs,
did these two converse, but cosmically,
III.
of the entire Universe and of the al­
ready existent conflict between the cul­ IN THE library of the Port Ad­
ture of Civilization and Boskonia. miral’s richly comfortable home, a room
They sat there, romantically enough as heavily guarded against all forms of
intrusion as Kas his private office, two thoughtfully swirled the crimson,
old but active Lensmen sat and grinned pungently aromatic liquid around and
at each other like the two conspirators around in his glass before he spoke
which in fact they were. One took a again. “Hooked—but she knows it, and
squat, red bottle of fayalin from a cab­ I’m afraid she’ll do something about it.”
inet and filled two small glasses. The "She’s a smart girl—I told you she
glasses clinked, rim to rim. was. She doesn’t fox herself about any­
“Here’s to love!” Haynes gave the thing. Hm-m-m. And separation is
toast. indicated, it would seem.”
"Ain’t it grand!” Surgeon General “Check. Can you send out a hos­
Lacy responded. pital ship somewhere, so as to get rid of
“Down the hatch!” they chanted in her for two or three weeks ?”
unison, and action followed word. "Can do. Three weeks be enough?
“You aren’t asking if everything We can’t send him anywhere, you
stayed on the beam.” This from Lacy. know.”
“No need. I had a spy ray on the "Plenty. He’ll be gone in two.” Then,
whole performance.” as Lacy glanced at him questioningly,
“You would—you’re the type. How­ Haynes continued: “Ready for a shock ?
ever, I would have, too, if I had a panel He’s going to Lundmark’s Nebula.
full of them in tny office. Well, say it. “But he can’t! That would take
you old space-hellion!” Lacy grinned years! Nobody lias ever got back from
again, albeit a trifle wryly. there yet, and there’s this new job of
“Nothing to say, sawbones. You did his. Besides, this separation is only
a grand job, and you’ve got nothing to supposed to last until you can spare him
blow a jet about.” for a while!”
“No? How would you like to have a “If it takes very long he’s coming
red-headed spitfire who’s scarcely dry back. The idea has always been, you
behind the ears yet tell you to your know, that inter-galactic matter may be
teeth that you’ve got softening of the so thin—one atom per liter or so—that
brain? That you had the mental ca­ such a flit won’t take one tenth the
pacity of a gnat, the intellect of a Za- time supposed. We recognize the danger.
briskan fontema? And to have to take He's going well heeled.”
it, without even heaving the insubordi­ “How well?”
nate young jade into the can for about “The best that we can give him.”
twenty-five well-earned black spots ?” “I hate to clog their jets this way,
“Oh, come, now, you’re just blasting. but it’s got to be done. We’ll give her a
It wasn’t that bad.” raise when I send her out—make her
“Perhaps not quite—but it was bad sector chief. Huh ?”
enough.” “Did I hear any such words lately as
“She’ll grow up, some day, and re­ ‘spitfire,’ ‘hussy,’ and ‘jade,’ or did I
alize that you were foxing her six ways dream them ?” Haynes asked, quizzically.
from the origin.” "She’s all of them, and more—but
"Probably. In the meantime, it’s all site's one of the best nurses and one of
part of the bigger job. Thank God I’m the finest women this side of Hades,
not young any more. They suffer so.” too!”
"Check. Hoiv they suffer!” "QX, Lacy, give her her raise. Of
"But you saw the ending and I didn’t. course she’s good, or she wouldn’t be in
How did it turn out ?” Lacy asked. on this deal at all. In fact, they’re about
"Partly good, partly bad.” Haynes as fine a couple of youngsters as old
slowly poured two more drinks and Tellus has produced.”
 “They are that. Man, what a pair of ment, did visions of her keep coming into
skeletons 1” his mind—her form and features, her
eyes, her lips, her startling hair?
AND IN the Nurses’ Quarters a She was beautiful, of course, but not
young woman with a wealth of red- nearly such a seven-sector callout as
bronze-auburn hair and tawny eyes was that thionite dream he had met on Al-
staring at her own reflection in a debaran II—and his only thought of
mirror. her was an occasional faint regret that
“You half-wit, you ninny, you lug!’’ he had not half wrung her lovely neck.
she stormed, bitterly if almost inaudibly, Why, she wasn’t really as good-looking
at that reflection. “You lame-brained as, and didn’t have half the je ne sais
moron, you red-headed, idiotic imbecile, quoi of, that blond heiress—what was
you microccphalic dumbbell. you her name?—oh, yes, Forrester—
clunker! Of all the men in this whole There was only one answer, and it
cockeyed galaxy, you would have to jarred him to the core—he would not
make a dive at Kimball Kinnison, the admit it, even to himself. He couldn’t
one man who never has realized that you love anybody—it just simply was not in
are even alive. At a Gray Lensman—” the cards. He had a job to do. The
Her expression changed and she whis­ Patrol had spent a million credits mak­
pered softly: “A . . . Gray . . . ing a Lensman out of him, and it was up
Lensman. He can’t love any woman as to him to give them some kind of a
long as he's carrying that load. They run for their money. No Lensman had
can't let themselves be human—quite; any business with a wife, especially a
perhaps loving him will be enough—” Gray Lensman. He couldn’t sit down
She straightened up, shrugged, and anywhere, and she couldn’t flit with him.
smiled; but even that pitiful travesty Besides, nine out of every ten Gray
of a smile could not long endure. Lensmen got killed before they finished
Shortly it was buried in waves of pain their jobs, and the one that did happen
and the girl threw herself down upon to live long enough to retire to a desk
tier bed. was almost always half machinery and
artificial parts—
“Oh Kim, Kim!” she sobbed. “I No, not in seven thousand years.
wish . . . why can’t you— Oh, why
No woman deserved to have her life
did I ever have to be bom!”
made into such a hell on earth as that
would be—years of agony, of heart­
THREE WEEKS LATER, far out breaking suspense, climaxed by un­
in space, Kimball Kinnison was thinking timely widowhood; or, at best, the
thoughts entirely foreign to his usual wasting of the richest part of her life
pattern. He was in his bunk, smoking upon a husband who was half steel,
dreamily, staring unseeing at the me­ rubber, and phenoline plastic. Red in
tallic ceiling. He was not thinking of particular was much too splendid a
Boskone. person to be let in for anything like
When he had thought of Mac, back that—
there at that dance, he had, for the first But hold on—jet back! What made
time in his life, failed to narrow down him think that he rated any such girl?
his beam to the exact thought being sent. That there was even a possibility—espe­
Why? The explanation he had given cially in view of the way he had be­
the girl was totally inadequate. For that haved while under her care in Base Hos­
matter, why had he been so glad to see pital—that she would ever feel like be­
her there? And why, at every odd mo­ ing anything more to him than a strictly
impersonal nurse? Probably not. He —Henderson, Schermerhorn, and Wat­
had Klono’s own brazen gall to think son.
that she would marry him, under any The Dauntless was an immense ves­
conditions, even if he made a full-power sel. She had to be, in order to carry,
dive at her. in addition to the men and the things
Just the same, she might. Look at requisitioned by Kinnison, the person­
what women did fall in love with, some­ nel and the equipment which Port Ad­
times. So he would never make any miral Haynes had insisted upon send­
kind of a dive at her; no, not even a ing with him.
pass. She was too sweet, too fine, too “But great Klono, chief, think of what
vital a woman to be tied to any space­ a hole you’re making in Prime Base if
louse ; she deserved happiness, not heart­ we don’t get back!” Kinnison had pro­
break. She deserved the best there was tested.
in life, not the worst; the whole love "You’re coming back, Kinnison,” the
of a whole man for a whole lifetime, not Port Admiral had replied, gravely.
the fractions which were all that he could "That is why I am sending these men
offer any woman. As long as he could and this stuff along—to be as sure as I
think a straight thought he wouldn’t possibly can that you do get back.”
make any motions toward spoiling her Now they were out in inter-galactic
life. In fact, he hadn’t better see Reddy space, and the Gray Lensman, lying flat
again. He wouldn’t go near any planet upon his back with his eyes closed, sent
she was on, and if he saw her out in his sense of perception out beyond the
space he’d go somewhere else at ten confining iron walls and let it roam the
gravities. void. This was better than a visiplate;
With a bitter imprecation Kinnison with no material barriers or limitations
sprang out of his bunk, hurled his half­ he was feasting upon a spectacle scarcely
smoked cigarette at an ash tray, and to be pictured in the most untrammeled
strode toward the control room. imaginings of man. There were no
planets, no suns, no stars; no meteorites,
THE SHIP he rode was of the no particles of cosmic debris. All
Patrol’s best. Superbly powered for nearby space was empty, with an inde­
flight, defense, and offense, she was scribable perfection of emptiness at the
withal a complete space-laboratory and very thought of which the mind quailed
observatory; and her personnel, over in uncomprehending horror. And, ac­
and above her regular crew, was as centuating that emptiness, at such
varied as her equipment. She carried mind-searing distances as to be dwarfed
ten Lensmen—a circumstance unique in into buttons, and yet, because of their
the annals of space, even for such a trou­ intrinsic massiveness, starkly apparent
ble-shooting battle wagon as the Daunt­ in their three-dimensional relationships,
less was; a scientific staff which was there hung poised and motionlessly
practically a cross section of the Tree of stately the component galaxies of a uni­
Knowledge. She carried Lieutenant Pe­ verse.
ter van Buskirk and his company of Behind the flying vessel the First
Valerian wild cats; Worsel of Velantia Galaxy was a tiny, brightly shining lens,
and threescore of his reptilian kins­ so far away that such minutiae as in­
men ; Tregonsee, the blocky Rigellian dividual solar systems were invisible, so
Lensman, and a dozen or so of his fel­ distant that even the gigantic masses
lows; Master Technician LaVerne of its accompanying globular star
Thorndyke and his crew. She carried clusters were merged indistinguishably
three Master Pilots, Prime Base’s best into its sharply lenticular shape. In
front of her, to right and to left of chartmakers; but such was not the case.
her, above and beneath her were other No possible error in either the deter­
galaxies, never explored by man oj; by mination or the following of that line
any other beings subscribing to the code placed it anywhere near any such clus­
of Galactic Civilization. Some, edge on, ter. It led straight to and only to Lund-
were thin, waferlike. Others appeared mark's Nebula: and that Galaxy was,
as full disks, showing faintly or boldly therefore, his present destination.
the prodigious, mathematically inex­ Man was certainly as good as the pi­
plicable spiral arms by virtue of whose rates; probably better, on the basis of
obscure functioning they had come into past performance. Of all the races of
being. Between these two extremes the Galaxy, man had always taken the
there was every possible variant in an­ initiative, had always been the leader
gular displacement. and commander. And, with the excep­
Utterly incomprehensible although the tion of the Arisians, man had the best
speed of the space-flyer was, yet those brain in the Galaxy.
galaxies remained relatively motion­ The thought of that eminently philo­
less, hour after hour. What distances! sophical race gave Kinnison pause. His
What magnificence! What grandeur! Arisian sponsor had told him that by
What awful, what poignantly solemn virtue of the Lens the Patrol should be
calm! able to make Civilization secure through­
Despite the fact that Kinnison had out the Galaxy. Just what did that
gone out there expecting to behold that mean—that it could not go outside? Or
very scene, he felt awed to insignificance did even the Arisians suspect that Bos-
by the overwhelming, the cosmic im­ konia was in fact inter-galactic ? Proba­
mensity of the spectacle. What business bly. The mentor had said that, given
had he. a sub-electronic midge from an any one definite fact, a really competent
ultra-microscopic planet, venturing out mind could envisage the entire Uni­
into macro-cosmic space, a demesne verse : even though he had added care­
comprehensible only to the omniscient fully that his own mind was not a really
and omnipotent Creator? competent one.
But this, too. was idle speculation,
HE GOT UP, shaking off the futile and it was time to receive and to cor­
mood. This wouldn't get him to the relate some more reports. Therefore,
first check station, and he had a job one by one, he got in touch with sci­
to do. And, after all, wasn’t man as entists and observers.
big as space? Gould he have come out The density of matter in space, which
here, otherwise? He was. Yes, man had been lessening steadily, was now ap­
was bigger even than space. Man, by proximately constant at one atom per
his very envisionment of macro-cosmic four hundred cubic centimeters. Their
space, had already mastered it. speed was therefore about a hundred
Besides, the Boskonians, whoever thousand parsecs per hour; and. even al­
they might be, had certainly mastered lowing for the slowing up at both ends
it; he was now certain that they were due to the density of the medium, the
operating upon an inter-galactic scale. trip should not take over ten days.
Even after leaving Tellus he had hoped The power situation, which had been
and had really expected that his line his gravest care, since it was almost
would lead to a stronghold in some star the only factor not amenable to theo­
cluster belonging to his own Galaxy, retical solution, was even better than
•so distant from it, or perhaps so small, anyone had dared hope; the cosmic en­
as to have escaped the notice of the ergy available in space had actually been
AST—3
 She froze suddenly, a gasp of horror half suppressed. She
was seeing things—sensing things beyond comprehension—

increasing as the matter content de­ produce a given flow of power than any
creased—a fact which seemed to bear figure ever observed in the denser media
out the contention than energy was con­ within the Galaxy.
tinually being converted into matter in Thus, the atomic motors which served
such regions. It was taking much as exciters had a maximum power of
less excitation of the intake screens to four hundred pounds an hour; that is,
each exciter could transform that ion. “Therefore we want to do our
amount of matter into pure energy and scouting very quietly. But- in some
employ the output usefully in energizing ways that makes it all the better. If
the intake screen to which it was con­ they are in control, they won’t be un­
nected. Each screen, operating normally duly suspicious.”
on a hundred-thousand-to-one ratio, And thus it proved. A planet-bearing
would then furnish its receptor on the sun was soon located, and while the
ship with energy equivalent to the an­ Dauntless was still light-years distant
nihilation of four million pounds per from it, several ships were detected. At
hour of material substance. Out there, least, the Boskonians were not using
however, it was being observed that the nullifiers!
intake-exciter ratio, instead of being less Spy rays wefe sent out. Tregonsee,
than a hundred thousand to one, was the Rigellian Lensman, exerted to the
actually almost a million to one. full his powers of perception, and Kin­
nison hurled downward to the planet’s
IT WOULD serve no useful purpose surface a mental viewpoint and com­
here to go further into the details of any munications center. That the planet
more of the reports, or to dwell at any was Boskonian was soon learned, but
great length upon the remainder of the that was all. It was scarcely fortified:
journey to the Second Galaxy. Suffice no trace could be found of a beam com­
it to say that Kinnison and his highly municating with Boskone.
trained crew observed, classified, re­ Solar system after solar system was
corded. and conferred; and that they ap­ found and studied, with like result. But
proached their destination with every finally, out in space, one of the screens
possible precaution. Detectors full out, showed activity; a beam was in operation
observers were at every plate, the ship between a vessel then upon the plates
it was as immune to detection as Hotch­ and some other station. Kinnison
kiss’ null i tiers could make it. tapped it quickly; and, while observers
Up to the Second Galaxy the Daunt­ were determining its direction, hard­
less flashed, and into it. Was this ness, and power, a thought flowed
island universe essentially like the First smoothly into the Lensman’s brain.
Galaxy as to planets and peoples? If “—proceed at once to relieve vessel
so. had they been won over or wiped out P4K730. Eichlan, speaking for Bos­
by the horrid culture of Boskonia or was kone, ending message.”
the struggle still going on? “Follow that ship, Hen!” Kinnison di­
“If we assume, as we must, that the rected, crisply. “Not too close, but
line we followed was the trace of Bos- don’t lose him!” He then relayed to
kone’s beam,” argued the sagacious the others the orders which had been in­
Worsel, “the probability is very great tercepted.
that the enemy is in virtual control of “The same formula, huh?” Van Bus­
this entire Galaxy. Otherwise—if they kirk roared, and “Just another lieuten­
were in a minority or were struggling ant, that sounds like, not Boskone him­
seriously for dominion—they could self.” Thorndyke added.
neither have spared the forces which in­ “Perhaps so, perhaps no.” The Gray
vaded our Galaxy, nor would they have Lensman was merely thoughtful.. “It
been in condition to rebuild their ves­ doesn’t prove a thing except that Hel­
sels as they did to match the new arma­ muth was not Boskone, which was al­
ments developed by the Patrol.” ready fairly certain. If we can prove
“Very probably true,” agreed Kinni­ that there is such a being as Boskone,
son, and that was the cotisensus of opin­ and that he is not in this Galaxy—well,
in that case, we’ll go somewhere else,” complete nullification were so critical
he concluded, with grim finality. that it was a comparatively simple mat­
ter to upset it sufficiently so that an
THE CHASE was comparatively image of a sort was revealed. And, at
short, leading toward a yellowish star that close range, any sort of an image
around which swung eight average­ was enough.
sized planets. Toward one of these The Dauntless, approaching the
flew the unsuspecting pirate, followed planet, entered the zone of scrambling
by the Patrol vessel, and it soon be­ and stood revealed plainly enough upon
came apparent that there was a battle the plates of enemy vessels. They at­
going on. One spot upon the planet’s tacked instantly and viciously; within
surface, either a city ot a tremendous a second after the lookout had shouted
military base, was domed over by a his warning the outer screens of the
screen which was one blinding glare of Patrol ship were blazing incandescent
radiance. And for miles in every di­ under the furious assaults of 4 dozen
rection ships of space were waging Boskonian beams.
spectacularly devastating warfare.
IV.
Kinnison shot a thought down into the
fortress, and with the least possible in­ FOR A MOMENT all eyes were
troduction or preamble, got into touch fixed apprehensively upon meters and
with one of its high officers. He was recorders, but there was no immediate
not surprised to learn that those people cause for alarm. The builders of the
were more or less human in appearance, Dauntless had builded well; her outer
since the planet was quite similar to screen, the lightest of her series of
Tellus in age, climate, atmosphere, and four, was carrying the attackers’ load
mass. with no-sign of distress.
“Yes. we are fighting Boskonia,” the “Strap down, everybody,” the ex­
answering thought came coldly clear. pedition’s commander ordered then.
"We need help, and badly. Can you—” “Inert her, Hen. Match velocity with
“We’re detected!” Kinnison’s atten­ that base,” and as Master Pilot Henry
tion was seized by a yell from the board. Henderson cut his Bergenholm, the ves­
“They’re all coming at us at once!” sel lurched wildly aside as its intrinsic
Whether the scientists of Boskone de­ velocity was restored.
veloped the detector-nullifier before or Henderson’s fingers swept over his
after Helmuth’s failure to deduce the board as rapidly and as surely as those
I^ensman’s use of such an instrument is of an organist over the banked keys of
a nice question, and one upon which a his console; producing, not chords and
great deal has been said. While inter­ arpeggios of harmony, but roaring blasts
esting, the point is really immaterial of precisely controlled power. Each
here; the facts remaining the same— keylike switch controlled one jet. Lightly
that the pirates not only had it at the and fleetingly touched, it produced a
time of the Patrol’s first visit to the Sec­ gentle urge; at sharp, full contact it
ond Galaxy, but had used it to such good yielded a mighty, solid shove; de­
advantage that the denizens of that re­ pressed still farther, so as to lock into
calcitrant planet had been forced, in the any one of a dozen notches, it brought
sheer desperation of self-preservation, to into being a torrent of propulsive force
work out a scrambler for that nullifica­ of any desired magnitude, which ceased
tion and to surround their world with only when its key-release was touched
its radiations. They could not restore And Henderson was a virtuoso.
perfect detection, but the conditions for Smoothly, effortlessly, but in a space of
 seconds the great vessel rolled over, Then from projectors of a power
spiraled, and swung until her landing theretofore carried only by maulers,
jets were in line and exerting five there raved out against the nearest Bos­
'gravities of thrust. Then, equally konian vessels beams of a vehemence
smoothly, almost imperceptibly, the line compared to which the enemies’ own
of force was varied until the flame- seemed weak, futile. And those were
enshrouded dome was stationary below the secondaries!
them. Nobody, not even the two other As has been intimated, the Dauntless
Master Pilots, and least of all Hender­ was an unusual ship. She was enor­
son himself, paid any attention to the mous. She was bigger even than a
polished perfection, the consummate mauler in actual bulk and mass; and
artistry, of the performance. That was from needle-beaked prow to jet-studded
his job. He was a Master Pilot, and stern she was literally packed with
one of the hallmarks of his rating was power—power for any emergency con­
the habit of making difficult maneuvers ceivable to the fertile minds of Port Ad­
look easy. miral Haynes and his staff of designers
“Take 'em now, chief? Can’t we, and engineers. Instead of two, or at
huh?’’ Chatway, the chief firing of­ most three intake-screen exciters, she
ficer. did not say those words. He did had two hundred. Her bus bars, instead
not need to. The attitude and posture of being the conventional rectangular
of the C. F. O. and his subordinates coppers, of a few square inches cross-
made the thought tensely plain. sectional area, were laminated members
“Not yet, Chatty,” the Lensman an­ built up of co-axial tubing of pure sil­
swered the unsent thought. “We'll have ver. to a diameter of over a yard—multi­
to wait until they englobe us, so that ple and parallel conductors, each of
we can get them all. It’s got to be all or whose current-carrying capacity was to
none. If even one of them gets away, be measured only in millions of amperes.
or even has time to analyze and report And everything else aboard that mighty
on the stuff we're going to use, it’ll be engine of destruction was upon the same
just too bad.” Gargantuan scale.
He then got in touch with the officer
within the beleaguered base and re­ TITANIC though those thrusts were,
newed the conversation at the point at not a pirate ship was seriously hurt.
which it had been broken off. Outer screens went down, and more than
“We can help you, I think; but to a few of the second lines of defense also
do so effectively we must have clear failed. But that was the Patrolmen's
ether. Will you please order your ships strategy: to let the enemy know that
away, out of even extreme range?” they had weapons of offense somewhat
“For how long? They can do us superior to their own. but not quite
irreparable damage in one rotation of powerful enough to be a real menace.
the planet.” In minutes, therefore, the Boskonians
“One-twentieth of that time, at most rushed up and englobed the newcomer;
—if we cannot do it in that time we supposing, of course, that she was a
cannot do it at all. Nor will they direct product of the world below, that she
many beams at you, if any. They will was manned by the race who had so
be working on us.” long and so successfully fought off Bos­
Then, as the defending ships darted konian encroachment.
away, Kinnison turned to his C. F. O. They attacked, and under the con­
“QX, Chatty. Open up with your sec­ centrated fury of their beams, the outer
ondaries. Fire at will!” -screen of • the Patrol ship began to fail.
Higher and higher into the spectrum it ever, and this is a routine action, the
radiated, blinding white—blue—an in­ probability is that this detachment is
tolerable violet glare; then, patchily, not in direct communication with Base
through the invisible ultraviolet and into at any given moment. If not, he could
the black of extinction. The second not establish working control in two sec­
screen resisted longer and more stub­ onds.”
bornly, but finally it also went down; “Kinnison now reporting. Having
the third automatically taking up the determined to the best of my ability
burden of defense. Simultaneously, the that engaging the enemy at this time
power of Civilization’s projectors weak­ will not enable them to send Boskone
ened, as though the Dauntless were shift­ any information regarding our primary
ing her power from offense to defense armament, I now give the word to—
in order to stiffen her third, and sup­ fire."
posedly her last, shielding screen.
“Pretty soon, now, Chatway,” Kinni­ THE UNDERLYING principle of
son observed. “Just as soon as they the destructive beam produced by over­
can report that they have us in a bad loading a regulation projector had, it is
way; that it is just a matter of time true, been discovered by a Boskonian
until they blow us out of the ether. Bet­ technician. In so far as Boskonia was
ter report now—I'll put you on the concerned, however, the secret had died
spool.” with its inventor, since the pirates had
“We are equipped to energize simul­ at that time no headquarters in the First
taneously eight of the new, replaceable- Galaxy. And the Patrol had had
unit primary projectors,” the C. F. O. months of time in which to perfect it,
stated, crisply. “There are twenty-one for that work was begun before the last
vessels englobing us, and no others of Helmuth’s guardian fortress had been
within detection. With a discharge destroyed.
period of point six oh second and a The projector was not now fatal to its
switching interval of point oh nine, the crew, since they were protected from the
entire action should occupy One point lethal back-radiation, not only by shields
nine eight seconds.” of force, but also by foot after im­
“Chief Communications Officer Nel­ penetrable foot of lead, osmium, car­
son on the spool. Can the last surviv­ bon, and paraffin. The refractories were
ing ship of the enemy report enough in of neo-cargalloy, backed and per­
two seconds to do us material harm ?” meated by M K R fields; the radiators
“In my opinion it cannot, sir,” Nel­ were constructed of the most ultimately
son reported, formally. "The communi­ resistant materials known to the science
cations officer is neither an observer of the age. But even so, the unit had a
nor a technician; he merely transmits useful life of but little over half a sec­
whatever material is given him by other ond, so frightful was the overload at
officers for transmission. If he is al­ which it was used. Like a rifle car­
ready working a beam to his base at the tridge, it was good for only one shot.
moment of our first blast, he might be Then it was thrown away, to be re­
able to report the destruction of vessels, placed by a new unit.
but he could not be specific as to the Those problems were relatively sim­
nature of the agent used. Such a report ple of solution. Switching those enor­
could do no harm, as the fact of the de­ mous energies was the great stumbling
struction of the vessels will in any event block. The old Kimmerling block-dis­
become apparent shortly. Since we are persion circuit breaker was prone to arc
apparently being overcome easily, how­ over under loads much in excess of a
hundred billion KW, hence could not as your landing conventions are doubt­
even be considered in this new applica­ less very unlike our own and we do
tion. However, the Patrol force finally not wish to cause disaster. Give me
succeeded in working out a combination the word when your field is entirely
of the immersed-antenna and the semi- clear.”
permeable-condenser types, which they
called the Thorndyke heavy-duty switch. THAT WORD came soon, and Kin­
It was cumbersome, of course—any de­ nison nodded to the pilots. Once more
vice to interrupt voltages and amperages inertialess, the Dauntless shot down­
of the really astronomical magnitude in ward, deep into atmosphere, before her
question could not at that time be small inertia was restored. Rematching ve­
—but it was positive, fast-acting, and re­ locity this time was a simple matter,
liable. and upon the towering, powerfully re­
At Kinnison’s word of command, silient pillars of her landing-jets the in­
eight of those indescribable primary conceivable mass of the Tellurian ship
l>eatns lashed out; stilettos of irresisti­ of war settled toward the ground, as
bly penetrant energy which not even a lightly seeming as a wafted thistle­
Q-type helix could withstand. Through down.
screens, through wall shields, and “Their cradles wouldn’t fit us, <^f
through metal they hurtled in a space course, even if they were big enough-
*-
of time almost too brief to be measured. which they aren’t, by half,” Schermer­
Then, before each beam expired, it was horn commented. “Where do they want
swung a little, so that the victim was us to put her ?”
literally split apart or carved into sec­ “ ‘Anywhere,’ they say," the Tins­
tions. Performance exceeded by far man answered, “but we don’t want to
that of the hastily improvised weapon take that too literally—without a solid
which had so easily destroyed the heavy dock she’ll make an awful hole, wherever
cruisers of the Patrol; in fact, it checked we set her down. Won’t hurt her any.
almost exactly with the theoretical fig­ She’s designed for it. We couldn’t ex­
ures of the designers. pect to find cradles to fit her anywhere
As the first eight beams winked out, except on Tellus. I'd say to lay her
eight more came into being, then five down on her belly over there in that
more; and meanwhile the mighty sec­ corner, out of the way, as close to that
ondaries were sweeping the heavens with big hangar as you can work without
full-aperture cones of destruction. Metal blasting it out with your jets.”
meant. no more to those rays than did As Kinnison had intimated, the light­
organic material; everything solid or ness of the vessel was indeed only seem­
liquid whiffed into vapor and disap­ ing. Superbly and effortlessly the big
peared. The Dauntless lay alone in the boat seeped downward into the desig­
sky of that new world. nated corner; but when she touched the
“Marvelous—wonderful!” the thought pavement she did not stop. Still easily
beat into Kinnison’s brain as soon as he and without jar or jolt she settled—a full
re-established rapport with the being twenty feet into the concrete, reinforc­
so far below. “We have recalled our ing steel and hard-packed earth of the
ships. Will you please come down to field before she came to a halt.
our space-port at once, so that we can “What a monster! Who are they?
put into execution a plan which has been Where could they have come from?”
long in preparation?” Kinnison caught a confusion of startled
“As soon as your ships are down,” thoughts as the real size and mass of
the Tellurian acquiesced. “Not sooner. the visitor became apparent to the na­
tives. Then again came the clear thought fantastic indeed. And Worsel, the Ve­
of the officer. lantian, was infinitely worse. He was
“We would like very much to have repulsive, a thing materialized from
you and as many as possible of your sheerest nightmare—a leather-winged,
companions come to confer with us as crocodile-headed, crooked-armed, thirty­
soon as you have tested our atmosphere. foot long, pythonish, reptilian mon­
Come in space-suits if you must.” strosity !
The air was tested and found suitable. But the President of Medon saw at
True, it did not match exactly that of once that which the three outlanders had
Tellus, or Rigel IV, or Velantia; but in common. The Lenses, each glowingly
then, neither did that of the Dauntless, aflame with its own innate pseudo-vi­
since that gaseous mixture was a com­ tality—Kinnison’s clamped to his
promise one, and mostly artificial to brawny wrist by a band of iridium-
boot. osmium-tungsten alloy; Tregonsee’s em­
"Worsel, Tregonsee, and I will go bedded in the glossy black flesh of one
to this conference,” Kinnison decided. mighty, sinuous arm; Worsel's appar­
“The rest of you sit tight. I don’t need ently driven deep and with cruel force
to tell you to keep on your toes, that any­ into the horny, scaly hide squarely in
thing is apt to happen, anywhere, with­ the middle of his forehead, between two
out warning. Keep your detectors full of his weirdly stalked, repulsively ex­
out and keep your noses clean—be tensible eyes.
ready like the good little endeavorers “It is not your language we under­
you are. ‘to do with all your might what stand, but your thoughts, by virtue of
your hands find to do.’ Come on, fel­ these our Lenses which you have al­
lows," and the three Lensmen strode, ready noticed.” The president gasped
wriggled, and waddled across the field, as Kinnison bulleted the information into
to and into a spacious room of the Ad­ his mind. “Go ahead. . . . Just a min­
ministration Building. ute!” as an unmistakable sensation
“Strangers, or, I should say friends, swept through his being. “We've gone
I introduce you to Wise, our president,” free! The whole planet, I perceive. In
Kinnison’s acquaintance said, clearly that respect, at least, you are in ad­
enough, although it was plain to all three vance of us. As far as I know, no sci­
Lensmen that he was shocked at the entist of any of our races has even
sight of the Earthman’s companions. thought of a Bergenholm big enough to
"I am informed that you understand free a world.”
our language—” the president began “It was long in the designing; many
doubtfully. years in the building of its units,” Wise
He, too, was staring at Tregonsee replied. “We are leaving this sun in
and Worsel. He had been told that an attempt to escape from our enemy
Kinnison, and therefore, supposed, the and yours; Boskone. It is our only
rest of the visitors, were beings fash­ chance of survival. The means have
ioned more or less after his own pattern. long been ready, but the opportunity
But these two creatures 1 which you have just made for us is tire
first that we have had. This is the
FOR THEY were not even remotely first time in many, many years that not
human in form. Tregonsee, the Rigel- a single Boskonian vessel is in position
lian, with his leathery, multiappendaged, to observe our flight.”
oil-drumlike body, his immobile dome “Where are you going? Surely the
of a head and his four blocky pillars of Boskonians will be able to find you if
legs must at first sight have appeared they wish.”
 “That is possible, but we must run THEY DID so. and for a matter of
that risk. We must have a respite or minutes the Medonians conferred.
perish; after a long lifetime of continu­ Meanwhile Kinnison went on a mental
ous warfare, our resources are at the expedition to one of the power plants.
point of exhaustion. There is a part of He expected to see supercolossal en­
this Galaxy in which there are very few gines; bus bars ten feet thick, perhaps
planets, and of those few, none are in­ cooled in liquid helium; and other
habited or habitable. Since nothing is to things in proportion. But what he actu­
be gained, ships seldom or never go ally saw made him gasp for breath and
there. If we can reach that region un­ call Tregonsee’s attention. The Rigel-
detected, the probability is that we shall lian sent out his sense of perception with
be unmolested long enough to recuper­ Kinnison’s, and he also was almost
ate." stunned.
Kinnison exchanged flashing thoughts “What’s the answer, Trig?” the
with his two fellow Lensmen, then Earthman asked, finally. “This is more
turned again to Wise. down your alley' than mine. That mo­
“We come from a neighboring Gal­ tor's about the size of my foot, and if
axy." he informed him, and pointed out it isn't eating a thousand pounds an
to his mind just which Galaxy' he meant. hour I'm Klono’s maiden aunt. And
“You are fairly close to the edge of the whole output is going out on two
this one. Why not move over to ours? wires no bigger than number four, jack­
You have no friends here, since you eted together’ like ordinary' parallel pair.
think that yours may be the only re­ Perfect insulator? If so, how alxjut
maining independent planet. We can switching?”
assure you of friendship. We can also “That must be it. a substance of
give you some hope of peace—or at practically infinite resistance,” the Ri-
least semipeace—in the near future, for gellian replied absently, studying in­
we are driving Boskonia out of our tently the peculiar mechanism. “Must
Galaxy.” have a better conductor than silver, too,
unless they’ can handle voltages of ten
"What you think of as ‘semipeace’
to the fifteenth or so, and don't see how
would be tranquillity' incarnate to us,” they’ could break such potentials. . . .
the old man replied with feeling. “We Guess they don’t use switches . . . don't
have, in fact, considered long that very' see any . . . must shut down the prime
move. We decided against it for two. sources. . . . No. there it is—so small
reasons: first, because we knew nothing that I overlooked it completely. In
about conditions there, and hence might that little box there! Sort of a jam­
be going from bad to worse; and sec­ plate type; a thin sheet of insulation
ond and more important, because of with a knife on the leading edge, work­
lack of reliable data upon the density ing in a slot to cut the two conductors
of matter in inter-galactic space. Lack­ apart—kills the arc by jamming into
ing that, we could not estimate the time the tight slot at the end of the box. The
necessary for the journey, and we could conductors must fuse together at each
have no assurance that our sources of make and burn away' a little at each
power, great as they are, would be suf­ break, that’s why they have renewable
ficient to make up the heat lost by’ radia­ tips. Kim, they've really’ got something!
tion.” I certainly am going to stay here and
“We have already given you an idea of do some studying.”
conditions and we can give you the “Yes, and we’ll have to rebuild the
data y ou lack.” Dauntless—”
 The two Lensmen were called away that the beam is the result of an enor
*
from their study by Worsel—the Medo- mous overload upon a projector other­
tiiaas had decided to accept the invitation wise of more or less conventional type.
to attempt to move to the First Galaxy. Some of us have wondered why we did
Orders were given, the course was net think of the idea ourselves—”
changed and the planet, now a veritable “So did we, when it was used on us,”
spaceship, shot away in the new direc­ Kinnison grinned and went off to ex­
tion. plain the origin of the primary. “But
“Not as many legs as a speedster, of before we go into details. I noticed
course, but at that, she’s no slouch— that your fixed-mount stuff could not
we’re making plenty of lights,” Kinnison work effectively through atmosphere.
commented, then turned to the presi­ We have what we call Q-type helices,
dent. “It seems rather presumptuous with which we incase such beams so
for us to call you simply ‘Wise,’ espe­ that they work in a tube of vacuum. We
cially as I gather that that is not really will give you the Q-formulae and also the
your formal name—” working hookup—including the pro­
“That is what I am called, and that tective devices, because they’re mighty
is what you are to call me,” the oldster dangerous without plenty of force-back­
replied. “We of Medon do not have ing—of tire primaries, in exchange for
names. Each has a number; or, rather, some lessons in power-plant design.”
a symbol composed of numbers and let­ “Such an exchange of knowledge
ters of our alphabet—a symbol which would be helpful indeed,” Wise agreed.
gives his full classification. Since these “The Boskonians know nothing what­
things are too clumsy for regular use, ever of this beam, and we do not want
however, each of us is given a nick­ them to learn of it,” Kinnison cau­
name, usually an adjective, which is tioned. “Therefore I have two sug­
supposed to be more or less descriptive. gestions to make. First, that you try
You of Earth we could not give a com­ everything else before you use this pri­
plete symbol, your two companions we mary beam. Second, that you don't use
could not give any at all. However, it even then unless you can wipe out, as
you may be interested in knowing that nearly simultaneously as we did out
you three have already been named?” there, every Boskonian w ho may be able
“Very much so.” to report back to his base as to what
“You are to be called ‘Keen.’ He of really happened. Fair enough?”
Rigel IV is ‘Strong,’ and he of Velantia “Eminently so. We agree without
is ‘Agile.’ ” reservation—it is to our interest as much
“Quite complimentary to me, but—" as yours that such a secret be kept from
“Not had at all, I’d say,” Tregonsee Boskone.”
broke in. “But hadn’t we better be get­ “QX. Fellow, let's go back to the
ting on with more serious business ?” ship for a couple of minutes.” Then,
“We should indeed,” Wise agreed. aboard the Dauntless: “Tregonsee, you
“We have much to discuss with you; and your crew want to stay with the
particularly the weapon you used.” planet, to show tire Medonians what to
“Could you get an analysis of it?” do and to help them along generally, as
Kinnison asked, sharply. well as to learn about their power sys­
"No. No one beam was in operation tem. Thorndyke, you and your gang,,
long enough. However, a study of the and probably Lensman Hotchkiss, had
recorded data, particularly the figure for better study these things, too—you’ll
intensity—figures so high as to be al­ know what you want as soon as they
most unbelievable—lead us to believe show you the hookup. Worsel, I’d like
to have you stay with the ship. You’re surmise and suspicion before it hap­
in command of her until further orders. pened, but I thought then and still
Keep her here for, say, a week or ten think that you had a much firmer
days, until the planet is well out of the foundation than any kind of a mere
Galaxy. Then, if Hotchkiss and Thorn­ hunch. What was it ?”
dyke haven’t got all the dope they want, “Deduction, based upon an unproved,
leave them here to ride back with Tre- but logical, cosmogonic theory—but you
gonsee on the planet and drill the Daunt­ probably know more about that stuff
less for Tellus. Keep yourself more or than I do.”
less disengaged for a while, and sort of “Highly improbable. I read just a
keep tuned to me. I may not need an smattering now and then of the doings of
ultra-long-range communicator, but you the astronomers and astrophysicists. I
never can tell.” didn’t know that that was one of your
“Why such comprehensive orders, specialties, either.”
Kim?” asked Hotchkiss. “Who ever “It isn’t, but I had to do a little cram­
heard of a commander abandoning his ming. We’ll have to go back quite a
expeditions? Aren’t you sticking while to make it clear. You know, of
around ?” course, that a long time ago. before even
“Nope—got to do a flit. Think interplanetary ships were developed, the
maybe I’m getting an idea. Break out belief was general that not more than
my speedster, will you, Allerdyce?”— about four planetary solar systems
and the Gray Lensman was gone. could be in existence at any one time in
the whole Galaxy ?”
V. “Yes, I am familiar with that belief
—a consequence of the binary-dynamic-
KINNISON’S speedster shot away enqounter theory in a too-limited appli­
and made an undectable, uneventful cation. The theory itself is still good,
voyage back to the Earth. In due time, isn’t it?”
therefore, the Gray Lensman was again “Eminently so—every other theory is
closeted with Port Admiral Haynes. wrecked by its failure to account for the
“Why the foliage?” the chief of staff quantity and above all. the distribution,
asked, almost at sight, for the Gray of angular momentum of planetary sys­
Lensman was wearing a more-than-half- tems. But you know what I’m going to
grown beard. say—that ‘limited application’ proves
“I may need to be Chester Q. For­ it I”
dyce fpr a while. If I don’t, I can shave “No, just let’s say that a bit of light
it off quick. If I do. a real beard is a is beginning to dawn. Go ahead.”
lot better than an imitation,” and he “QX. Well, when it was discovered
plunged into his subject. that there were millions of times as
“Very fine work, son, very fine in­ many planets in the Galaxy as could be
deed,” Haynes congratulated the accounted for by a dynamic encounter
younger man at the conclusion of his occurring once in two times ten to the
report. “We shall begin at once, and be tenth years or so, some way had to be
ready to rush things through when the figured out to increase, millionfold, the
technicians bring back the necessary number of such encounters. Manifestly,
data from Medon. But there’s one more the random motion of the stars within
thing I want to ask you. How did you the Galaxy could not account for it.
come to place those spotting-screens so Neither could the vibration or oscilla­
exactly? The beam practically dead­ tion of the globular clusters through the
centered them. You said that it was Galaxy. The meeting of two Galaxies—
the passage of them completely through Galaxy do,” Kinnison asserted. “True,
each other, edgewise—would account for they are closer together in space, rela­
it very nicely. It would also account tive to their actual linear dimensions,
for the fact that the solar systems on one than are stars; but on the other hand,
side of the Galaxy tend to be somewhat their relative motions are slower—that
older than the ones on the opposite side. is, a star will traverse the average inter­
Question; find the Galaxy. It was van stellar distance much quicker than a Gal­
der Schleiss, I believe, who found it. axy will the inter-galactic one—so that
Lundmark’s Nebula. It is edge on to the whole thing evens up. As nearly as
us, with a receding velocity of twelve Wacky and I could figure it, two Gal­
hundred and forty-six miles per sec­ axies will collide deeply enough to pro­
ond—the exact velocity which, corrected duce a significant number of planetary
for gravitational decrement, will put solar systems on an average of once in
Lundmark’s Nebula right here at the just about one point eight times ten to
time when, according to our best the tenth years. Pick up. your slide
geophysicists and geochemists, old Earth rule and check me on it, if you like.”
was being born. If that theory was cor­ "I’ll take your word for it,” the old
rect, Lundmark’s Nebula should also be Lensman murmured absently. . “But any
full of planets. Four expeditions went Galaxy probably has at least a couple of
out to check the theory, and none of solar systems all the time—but I see
them came back. We know why, now— your point. The probability is over­
Boskone got them. We got back, be­ whelmingly great that Boskone would
cause of you, and only you.” be in a Galaxy having hundreds of mil­
“Holy Klono!” the old man breathed, lions of planets rather than in one hav­
paying no attention to the tribute. "It ing only a dozen or less inhabitable
checks—how it checks!” worlds. But at that, they could all have
"To nineteen decimals.” lots of planets. Suppose that our wilder
thinkers are right, that Galaxies are
"BUT STILL it doesn’t explain why grouped into Universes, which are
you set your traps on that line.” spaced, roughly, about the same as the
"Sure it does. How many Galaxies Galaxies are. Two of them could col­
are there in the Universe, do you sup­ lide, couldn’t they ?”
pose, that are full of planets ?” “They could, but you're getting ’way
out of my range now. At this point the
“Why, all of them I suppose—or no, detective withdraws, leaving a clear field
not so many perhaps—I don’t know—I for you and the science-fiction imagina-
don’t remember of having read any­ tioneer.”
thing on that question.”
“Well, finis}? the thought—that I’m
“No, and you probably won’t. Only wackier even than he is!” Both men
loose-screwed space detectives, like me, laughed, and the Port Admiral went on':
and crackpot science-fiction writers, like “It’s a fascinating speculation—it does
Wacky Willison, have noodles vacuous no harm to let the fancy roam at times—
enough to harbor such thin ideas. But, but at that, there are things of much
according to our admittedly highly greater importance. You think, then,
tenuous reasoning, there are only two that the thionite ring enters into this
such Galaxies—Lundmark’s Nebula and matrix ?”
ours.” “Bound to. Everything ties in. The
“Huh? Why?” demanded Haynes. most intelligent races of this Galaxy are
“Because Galaxies don’t collide much, oxygen-breathers, with warm, red blood:
if any, oftener than binaries within a the only kind of physique which thionite
affects. The more of us who get the know they are—I wonder why—” Kin­
thionitc habit, the better for Boskone. It nison’s voice trailed off into silence:
explains why we have never got to the his brain raced.
first check station in getting any of the
real higher-ups in the thionite game; in­ “I WANT to ask you a question that
stead of being an ordinary criminal ring is none of my business." the young
they've got all the brains and all the re­ Lensman went on almost immediately,
sources of Boskonia back of them. But in a voice strangely altered. “Just how
if they are that big—and as good as we long ago was it that you started losing

A throttling hand clamped over her mouth even as she awoke,

and in the same instant her thought-screen flicked off.
fifth-year nien Just before graduation? The Gray Lensman returned the look
I mean, that boys sent to Arisia to be in kind. “No. Deduction couldn’t take
measured for their Lenses supposedly me quite that far,” he replied in the same
never got there ? Or at least, they never tone. “You are going to tell me that,
came back and no Lenses were ever when you get around to it.”
received for them ?” “Me? Where do I come in?” the
“About ten years. Twelve, I think, Port Admiral feigned surprise.
to be ex—” Haynes broke off in the “As follow’s. Helmuth probably had
middle of the word and his eyes bored nothing to do with the dope running, so
into those of the younger man. ‘‘What its organization must still be intact. If
makes you think that there were any so, they would take over as much of
such?” the other branch as they could get hold
“Deduction again, but this time I of, and hit us harder than ever. I
know that I’m right. At least one every haven’t heard of any unusual activity
year. Usually two or three.” around here, so it must be somewhere
“Right, but there have always been else. Wherever it is, you would know
space accidents . . , or they were about it, since you are a member of Gal­
ctiught by the pirates . « « you think, actic Council ; and Councillor Ellington,
then, that—” in charge of Narcotics, would hardly
“I don’t think. I know!” Kinnison take any very important step without
declared. “They got to Arisia, and they conferring with you, as port admiral and
died there. All I can say is, thank God chief of staff. How near right am I?”
for the Arisians! We can still trust our
Lenses; they are seeing to that.” “ON THE center of the beam, all the
“But why didn't they tell us?” Haynes way—your deducer is blasting at max­
asked, perplexed. imum,” Haynes said, in admiration.
“They wouldn’t; that isn't their way,” “Radelix is the worst—they're hitting it
Kinnison stated, flatly and with convic­ mighty hard. We sent a full unit over
tion. “They have given us an instru­ there last week. Shall we recall them,
mentality, the Lens, by virtue of which or do you want to work independ­
,we should be able to do the job, and they ently?”
are seeing to it that that instrumentality
“Let them go on; I'll be of more use
remains untarnished. If we cannot han­
working on my own, I think. I did the
dle it properly, that is our lookout.
boys over there a favor a while back—
We’ve got to fight our own battles and
"bury our own dead. Now that we have they would co-operate anyway, of
course, but it's a little nicer to have
smeared up the enemy's military organi­
zation in this Galaxy by wiping out them sort of owe it to me. We'll all be
Helmuth and his headquarters, the drug able to play together very nicely if the
syndicate seems to be my best chances opportunity arises.”
of getting a line on the real Boskone. "I’m mighty glad you're taking this
While you are mopping up and keeping on. The Radeligians are stuck, and we
them from establishing another war base had no real reason for thinking that our
here, I think I'd better be getting at it, men could do any better. With this
don’t you ?” new angle of approach, however, and
“Probably so—you know your own with you working behind the scenes, the
oysters best. Mind if I ask where you’re picture looks entirely different.”
going to start in?” Haynes looked at “I’ni afraid that's unjustifiably
Kinnison quizzically as he spoke. ‘‘Have high-”
you deduced that, too ?” “Not a bit of it, lad. Just a minute
—I'll break out a couple of beakers of little fanfare, to be his cosmopolitan
fayalin— Luck!” self in those circles of society in which,
“Thanks, chief!” wherever he might find himself, he was
“Down the hatch!” and again the wont to move.
Gray Lensman was gone. To the space­ As a matter of course, he entertained,
port. into his speedster, and away— and was entertained by, the Tellurian
hurtling through the void at the maxi­ Ambassador. Equally as a matter of
mum blast of the fastest space-flier then course, he attended divers and sundry
boasted by the Galactic Patrol. functions, at which he made the ac­
During the long trip, Kinnison exer­ quaintance of hundreds of persons, many
cised. thought, and studied spool after of them personages. That one of these
spool of tape—the Radeligian language. should have been Vice Admiral Ger-,
Thoughts of the red-headed nurse ob­ rond, Lensman in charge of the Patrol’s
truded themselves strongly at times, Radeligian base, was inevitable.
but he put them aside resolutely. He
was. he assured himself, off women IT WAS, then, a purely routine and
forever—all women. He cultivated his logical development that at a reception
new Iteard; trimming it, with the aid of one evening Vice Admiral Gerrond
a triplex mirror and four stereoscopic stopped to chat for a moment with Mr.
photographs, into something which, al­ Fordyce: and it was purely accidental
though neat and spruce enough, was too that the nearest bystander was a few
full and bushy by half to be a Vandyke. yards distant. Hence, Mr. Fordyce’s
Also, he moved his Lens bracelet up his conduct was strange enough.
arm and rayed the white skin thus ex­ “Gerrond!” he said without moving
posed until his whole wrist was the same his lips and in a tone almost inaudible,
even shade of tan. the while he was offering the Admiral
He did not drive his speedster to an Alsakanite cigarette. “Don't look
Radelix, for that racy little fabrication at me particularly right now. and don’t
would have been recognized anywhere show surprise. Study me for the next
for what she was; and private citizens ten minutes, then put your Lens on me
simply did not drive ships of that type. and tell me whether you have ever seen
Therefore, with every possible precau­ me before or not.” Then, glancing at
tion of secrecy, he landed her in a the watch upon his left wrist—a time­
Patrol base four solar systems away. In piece just about as large and as ornate
that base Kimball Kinnison disappeared; as a wrist watch could be and still re­
but the tall, shock-haired, bushy-bearded main in impeccable taste—he murmured
Chester Q. Fordyce—cosmopolite, man something conventional and strolled
of leisure, and dilettante in science—who away.
took the next space liner for Radelix The ten minutes passed and he felt
was not preci sei j' the same individual Gerrond’s thought. A peculiar sensa­
who had come to that planet a few days tion, this, being on the receiving end
before with that name and those unmis­ of a single beam, instead of using his
takable characteristics. own Lens.
Mr. Chester Q. Fordyce, then, and “As far as I can tell, I have never
not Gray Lensman Kimball Kinnison, seen you before. You are certainly not
disembarked at Ardith, the world-capital one of our agents, and if you are one of
of Radelix. He took up his abode at Haynes’ whom I have ever worked with
the Hotel Ardith-Splendide and pro­ you have done a wonderful job of dis­
ceeded, with neither too much nor too guising. I must have met you some-
 Jwhere, sometime, else there would be unimpeachable an identity as Haynes
no point to your question; but beyond could furnish—”
the evident—and admitted—fact that “There’s no question as to its ade­
you are a white Tellurian, I can’t seem quacy, then,” the Radeligian interposed.
to place you.” “I would like to have you pass the
“Does this help?” This question was word around among your boys and girls
shot through Kinnison’s own Lens. that you know who I am and that
“Since I have known so few Tellurian I’m safe to play with. That way, if
Lensmen it tells me that you must be Boskone’s agents spot me, it will be
Kinnison, but I do not recognize you for an agent of Haynes, and not for
at all readily. You seem changed—older what I really am. That’s the first thing.
—besides, who ever heard of an Unat­ Can do?”
tached Lensman doing the work of an “Easily and gladly. Consider it done.
ordinary agent ?” Second?”
“I am both older and changed—partly “To have a boatload of good, tough
natural and partly artificial. As for marines on hand if I should call you.
the work, it’s a job that no ordinary There are some Velarians coming over
agent can handle—it takes a lot of spe­ later, but I may need help in the mean­
cial equipment—” time. I may want to start a fight—quite
“You’ve got that, indubitably! I get possibly even a riot.”
goose-flesh yet every time I think of “They'll be ready, and they’ll be big,
that trial.” tough, and hard. Anything else ?”
“You think that I’m proof against
recognition, then, as long as I don’t use "NOT JUST now, except for one
my Lens ?” Kinnison stuck to the issue. question. You know Countess Avon-
“Absolutely so. You’re here, then, drin, the woman I was dancing with a
on thionite?” No other issue, Gerrond while ago. Got any dope on her?”
knew, could be grave enough to account “Certainly not—what do you mean ?”
for this man’s presence. “But your “Huh? Don’t you know even that
wrist? I studied it. You can’t have she’s a Boskonian agent of some kind ?”
worn your Lens there for months— “Man, you’re crazy! She isn’t an
those Tellurian bracelets leave white agent, she can’t be. Why, she’s the
streaks an inch wide.” daughter of a Planetary Councillor, the
“I tanned it with a pencil beam. Nice wife of one of our most loyal officers.”
job, eh? But what I want to ask you “She would be. That’s the type they
about is a little co-operation. As you like to get hold of.”
supposed, I’m here to work on this drug “Prove it!” the Admiral snapped.
ring.” “Prove it or retract it!” He almost lost
“Surely—anything we can do. But his poise, almost looked toward the
Narcotics is handling that, not us—but distant corner in which the bewhiskered
you know that, as well as I do—” the gentleman was sitting so idly.
officer broke off, puzzled. “QX. If she isn’t an agent, why is she
“I know. That’s why I want you— wearing a thought-screen ? You haven’t
that and because you handle the secret tested her, of course.”
service. Frankly, I’m scared to death Of course not. The amenities, as has ,
of leaks. For that reason I’m not say­ been said, demanded that certain re­
ing anything to anyone except Lensmen, serves of privacy remain inviolate. The
and I’m having no dealings with anyone Tellurian went on: “You didn’t, but I
connected with Narcotics. I have as did. On this job I can recognize noth­
ing of good taste, of courtesy, of chiv­ he delved, into what fastnesses of truth
alry, or even of ordinary common de­ and loyalty and high courage and ideals,
cency. I suspect everyone who does not must be left entirely to the imagination;
wear a Lens.” for the Lensman never has spoken and
“A thought-screen!” exclaimed Ger- never will speak of these things.
rond. ‘‘How could she, without armor?” He went back to Ardith and, late at
‘‘It’s a late model—brand new. Just night, approached the dwelling of Count
as good and just as powerful as the Avondrin. A servant arose and ad­
one I myself am wearing,” Kinnison mitted the visitor, not knowing then or
explained. ‘‘The mere fact that she’s ever that he did so. The bedroom door
wearing it gives me a lot of highly use­ was locked from the inside, but what of
ful information.” that? What resistance can any mecha­
‘‘What do you want me to do about nism offer to a master craftsman, plenti­
her ?” the Admiral asked. He was men­ fully supplied with tools, who can per­
tally asquirm, but he was a Lensman. ceive every component part, however
“Nothing whatever—except possibly, deeply buried ?
for our own information, to find out how The door opened. The countess was
many of her friends have become thi­ a light sleeper, but before she could
onite-sniffers lately. If you do anything, utter a single scream one powerful hand
you may warn them, although I know clamped her mouth, another snapped
nothing definite about which to caution the switch of her supposedly carefully
you. I’ll handle her. Don’t worry too concealed thought-screen generator.
much, though; I don’t think she’s any­ What followed was done very quickly.
body we really want. Afraid she’s small Mr. Fordyce strolled back to his hotel
fry—no such luck as that I’d get hold and Lensman Kinnison directed a
of a big one so soon.” thought at Vice Admiral Gerrond.
“I hope she’s small fry.” Gerrond’s “Better fake up some kind of an ex­
thought was a grimace of distaste. “I cuse for having a couple of guards or
hate Boskonia as much as anybody policemen in front of Count Avondrin's
does, but I don’t relish the idea of town house at eight twenty-five this
having to put that girl into the Cham­ morning. The countess is going to have
ber.” a brainstorm.”
“If my picture is half right she can’t “What have . . . what will she do ?”
amount to much,” Kinnison replied. “A Gerrond mastered his emotions suffi­
good lead is the best I can expect. I’ll ciently to keep from swearing.
see what I can do.” “Nothing much. Scream a bit, rush
For days, then, the searching Lens­ out of doors half dressed, and fight any­
man pried into minds: so insidiously thing and everybody that touches her.
that he left no trace of his invasions. He Warn the officers that she’ll kick,
examined men and women, of high and scratch, and bite. There are plenty of
of low estate. Waitresses and ambas­ signs of a prowler having been in her
sadors, flunkies and bankers, ermined room, but if they can find him they’re
prelates and truck drivers. He went good—very good. She’ll have all the
from city to city. Always, but with only signs and symptoms, even to the punc­
a fraction of his brain, he played the ture, of having been given a shot in
part of Chester Q. Fordyce; ninety-nine the arm of some brand-new drug, which
percent of his stupendous mind was the doctors won’t be able to find or to
probing, searching and analyzing. Into identify. But there will be no question
what charnel pits of filth and corruption raised of insanity or of any other per­
AST—4
manent damage—she’ll be right as rain “Do you mean . . . you can’t
in a couple of months.” mean—” Gerrond faltered.
“Oh, that mind-ray machine of yours “Yes—definitely!" Kinnison rasped.
again, eh? And that's all you're going “She looks like an angel, but take it
to do to her?” from me, she isn’t. She’s one of the
“That’s all. I can let her off easy and slimiest snakes that ever lived—she’s so
still be just, I think. She's helped me a low that she could put on a tall silk hat
lot. She’ll be a good girl from now on, and walk under a duck. I know she’s
too; I’ve thrown a scare into her that beautiful. She’s a riot, a seven-sector
will last her the rest of her life.” callout, a thionite dream. So what?
She is also Dessa Desplaines, formerly of
“Thanks, Gray Lensman! What
Aldebaran II. Does that mean anything
else ?”■
to you ?”
“I’d like to have you at the Tellurian
“Not a thing, Kinnison.”
Ambassador's Ball day after tomorrow,
if it's convenient.” “She’s in it, clear to her neck. I had
a chance to wring her neck once, too,
“I’ve been planning on it, since it’s on damn it all, and didn’t. She's got a
the ‘must’ list. Shall I bring anything or
brazen crust, coming here now, with all
anyone special ?” our Narcotics on the job— Wonder if
“No. I just want you on hand to give they think they’ve got Enforcement so
me any information you can on a person badly whipped that they can get away
who will probably be there to investigate with stuff as rough as this— Sure you
what happened to the countess.” don’t know her, or know of her?”
“f’ll be there,” and he was. “I never saw her before, or heard
of her.”
IT WAS a gay and colorful throng, “Perhaps she isn’t known, out this
but neither of the two Lensmen was in way. Or maybe they think they’re ready
any mood for gaiety. They acted, of for a show-down ... or don’t care.
course. They neither sought nor Her being here ties me up hand and
avoided each other; but, somehow, they foot, anyway. She’ll recognize me. for
were never alone together. all the tea in China. Gerrond! You
“Man or woman?” asked Gerrond. know the Narcotics’ Lensmen, don’t
“I don’t know. All I’ve got is the you ?”
recognition.” “Certainly.”
The Radeligian did not ask what that “Call one of them right now. Tell
recognition was to be. He knew that him that Dessa Desplaines, the zwilnik
*
that information might prove dangerous houri, is right here on the floor— What I
indeed to any unauthorized possessor. He doesn’t know her. either! And none
He did not want to know it; he was of our boys are Lensmen! Make it a
glad that the Tellurian had not thrust it three-way. Lensman Winstead? Kin­
upon him. nison of Sol III—unattached. Sure that
Suddenly the Vice Admiral's attention none of you recognize this picture?” and
was wrenched toward the doorway, to he transmitted a perfect image of the
see the most marvelously, the most flaw­ ravishing creature then moving regally
lessly beautiful woman he had ever seen. across the floor. “Nobody does? Good!
But not long did he contemplate that Maybe that’s why she’s here, after all
beauty, for the Tellurian Lensman’s —thinks she can get away with it.
thoughts were fairly seething, despite
* Zwilalk;—*■/ peraoa caaaected with the il­
his iron control. licit drug tnttc. B. B. 8.
Anyway, she’s your meat. Here’s the I do,” she hissed, malevolently, and
chance for a real capture. Come and made a quick motion toward tier corsage.
get her.” These two, as has been intimated, were
“You will appear against her, of friends of old.
course?” Quick though she was, the man was
“If necessary—but it won’t be neces­ quicker. His left hand darted out to
sary. As soon as she sees that the game’s seize her left wrist; his right, flashing
up, all hell will be out for noon.” around her body, grasped her right and
held it rigidly in the small of her back.
Thus they walked away.
AS SOON as the connection had been
“Stop!” she flared. “You're making a
■broken. Kinnison realized that the thing spectacle of me!”
could not be done that way; that he
could not stay out of it. No man alive “Now isn’t that something to worry
save himself could prevent her from about?” His lips smiled, for the benefit
flashing a warning—badly as he hated of the observers, but his eyes held no
it, he had to do it. Gerrond glanced glint of mirth. “These folks will think
at him curiously: he had received a few that this is the way all Aldebaranian
of those racing thoughts. friends walk together. If you think for
a second that I’m going to give you a
“Tune in on this,” Kinnison grinned chance to touch that sounder you're
wryly. “If the last meeting I had with
wearing you haven't got the sense of a
her is any criterion, it ought to be good. Zabriskan fontema. Stop wriggling!”
S'pose anybody around here under­ he counseled, sharply. “Even if you. can
stands the language of Aldebaran II?” do enough hula-hula shimmying to
“Never heard it mentioned if they do.” work it, before it contacts once I'll crush
The Tellurian walked blithely up to your brain to a pulp, right here and
the radiant visitor, held out his hand right now!”
in Earthly—and Aldebaranian—greet­ Outside, in the grounds, “Oh. Lens­
ing, and spoke: “Madam Desplaines man, let’s sit down and talk this over!”
would not remember Chester Qi For­ and the girl brought into play every­
dyce. of course. It is of the piteousness thing she had. It was a distressing
that I should be so accursedly of the or­ scene, but it left the Lensman cold.
dinariness; for to see madam but the “Save your breath,” he advised her
one time, as I did at the New Year’s finally, wearily. “To me you’re just
ball in High Altamont, is to remember another zwilnik, no more and no less.
her forever.” A female louse is still a louse; and
“Such a flatterer!” The woman calling a zwilnik a louse is sheerest flat­
laughed. “I trust that you will for­ tery.”
give me, Mr. Fordyce, but one meets He said that; and, saying it, knew it
so many interesting—” Her eyes wid­ to be the exact and crystal truth: but
ened in surprise, an expression which not even that knowledge could mitigate
changed rapidly to one of flaming hatred, in any iota the recoiling of his every
not unmixed with fear. fiber from the deed which he was about
“So you do recognize me, you bed­ to do. He could not even pray, with im­
room-eyed, Aldebaranian hell-cat,” he mortal Merritt's Dwayanu:
remarked, evenly. “I rather expected “Luka—turn your wheel so I need not
that you would.” slay this woman!'’
“Yes, you sweet, uncontaminated It had to be. Why in all the nine bells
sissy, you overgrown super-Boy Scout, of Valaria did he have to be a Lensman ?
Why did he have to 1>e the one to do it ? that for which he had been waiting; the
But it had to be done, and soon; they'd Narcotics men were coming.
be here shortly. He tore open the woman’s gown,
“There's just one thing you can do flipped the switch of her thought-screen,
to make me believe that you're even par- and invaded her mind. But, fast a^lte
tiallj' innocent,” he ground out, “that was, he was late—almost too late alto­
you have even one decent thought or one gether. He could get neither direction
decent instinct anywhere in you.” line nor location; but ority, and faintly,
“What is that, Lensman? I'll do it, a picture of a space-dock saloon, of a
whatever it is 1” repulsively obese man in a luxuriously
“Release your thought-screen and furnished back room. Then her mind
send out a call to the Big Shot.” went completely blank and her body
The girl stiffened. This big cop slumped down, bonelessly.
wasn't so dumb—he really' knew some­ Thus Narcotics found them; the
thing. He must die, and at once. How woman inert and flaccid upon the liench,
rould she get word to— the man staring down at her in black ab­
Simultaneously Kinnison perceived straction.

END PART ONE.

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February in 1938. All 1939 up to October.
Send 20c per copy to Subscription Depart­
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 SPACE RATII1G
If will take young men with instant-fast reac­
tion time to fly the spaceships of the future!

By John Berryman
Illustrated by Kramer

ajor phil hawley put theory have been borne out. If at all,

M his notes down, stood up and general conclusions have been altered not
walked around his desk. in direction, but merely in degree.”
Hands clasped behind his back, With he an alacrity that suggested he had
rocked precariously on the balls of his expected it, Hawley recognized an ob­
feet at the edge of the lecture platform. jecting hand. He called on the student.
His ramrod posture and impeccable uni­ “Lieutenant Riggs?”
form added height to his scant five-feet- “Sir,” the tall blond objector said,
nine. “I’ve always been under the impression
“The hour is almost up, gentlemen,” that mathematical methods had never
he said, "and I prefer to start the next been completed to deal with this problem.
topic with a whole lecture period before Three-dimensional propositions can at
me. so that this will be all for today.” best afford only analogies and approxi­
As thirty uniformed students picked mations to problems that by their nature
up note pads preparatory to leaving, the must be solved by four dimensional
major brought them all back to conscien­ techniques. As I understand it, our
tious attention with the words, “There knowledge of four-dimensional proposi­
are a few remarks, however, which I tions in vector analysis and quantum
might make prior to tomorrow’s lecture, mechanics is too incomplete to give de­
with the purpose of acquainting you with finitive solutions.”
the topic and perhaps suggesting a little The instructor smiled and leaned
preparatory reading tonight.” against the polished walnut of his desk.
He squared his shoulders and began “On the contrary, Lieutenant Riggs,” he
to pace back and forth before the desk, said smoothly, running a hand over his
saying academically: “The theory of black hair, “as I said before, recent con­
navigation at velocities in excess of the tributions to mathematical theory have
speed of light has in the past been a very given definitive solutions.”
indefinite body of doctrine. Recently Riggs did not bother to raise his hand
mathematical techniques have been de­ again, but asked, with arch politeness:
vised to deal with the peculiar difficul­ “May I quote from the Manual?”
ties inherent in the case, and definitive At Hawley’s smiling nod Riggs picked
results have been secured. The most up the thick, blue-bound volume pre­
important point brought out by the pared by the scientists of the Space
definitive solution of problems hitherto Patrol for classroom use, and riffled its
regarded as insoluable mathematically is pages before finding his place. He
that most of the presumptions of earlier looked up and then read a few' lines:
“Theorizing on problems of navigation fourth-dimensional equations, all right,
at speeds in excess of that of light Can he’s the hottest mathematical theoretician
at best give presumptions; strong pre­ in the Patrol, but he doesn’t have to
sumptions, of course, but definitive re­ rub it in. How was I to know ?” Both
sults are, by the very nature of the lieutenants saluted absently as a brace of
problem, unattainable.” passing undergraduate privates snapped
He closed the book slowly and stared hands to foreheads.
at the waiting instructor, eyebrows Burt continued to laugh as they
raised in question. The class was utterly walked across the paved court toward
silent, watching the latest development their barracks. “I guess we all feel the
in what had long since become a class­ same way about the old boy. He sure
room feud between Hawley and his lets you know he doesn't think much
most able pupil. of your mental capacity.”
The major seemed puzzled. “Does Riggs flared up again as they turned
the Manual really say that, Lieutenant into the walk leading to the long trans­
Riggs?” he asked, his voice slightly lucent building where they lived. “Why,
touched with anxiety. hell, it’s just his inferiority complex. He
“Yes, sir,” Riggs replied, trying to feels funny about being short, that’s all.
keep his voice calm. That’s the only reason he keeps on trying
The class held its breath, half-sensing out for his space rating year after year.
what was coming. Hawley leaned his He likes to wave it in front of us. It
head a little to one side, as if considering makes him think he’s better than he
the statement, and nodded slightly to knows he is. The dope.”
himself. Then he leaned forward, his
Burt looked over at his roommate.
black eyes snapping, and winked con­
“Well, I don’t know. You can’t blame
fidentially at his heckler. “I’ll have it
him much for being proud of that. He’s
changed, lieutenant,” he said softly.
the oldest man ever to hold a rating.
As the classroom burst into laughter, Most pilots are washed out five years
Hawley stepped down off the platform before his time. He must be thirty-five
and called : "That’s all for today, gentle­ by now.”
men.”
“Sure, sure, I know. It’s remarkable
Riggs, his face flaming red, rose stiffly for a man to keep his responses, and all
from his seat and walked out with the that, but it's the way he does it. I know
rest. damned well he was baiting me there in
class today. He didn't need to start the
IN THE corridor outside, Riggs’ lecture on supra-light velocities till to­
roommate joined him. “Going back to morrow. He knew I’d be the only one
the room, Bo?” he asked his still in­ in the class who’d challenge the state­
candescent companion. ment about a definite solution. I can
Riggs grunted an affirmative, then just see him now, the smug little marti­
walked several paces in silence. “Damn net, laughing at the way I leaped at it!”
that Hawley anyway!” he swore sud­ He growled disgusted sounds in the back
denly. of his throat.
Mal Burt laughed. “He does bear “Well,” Burt said, as the two trotted
down on you a little, Bo,” he chuckled. up the steps of the barracks, saluting
“I thought I’d die when he told you automatically again, “there’s only two
he’d have the Manual changed!” more weeks of this. We’ll be back on
Riggs’ lip curled as he half-snarled: patrol June 15th, Bo. I’ll be just as
“Oh, I suppose he has worked out some glad as you to get Hawley off my back.”
 Scarcely had the two entered their You are to observe the technique of your
severe quarters and thrown themselves superior officer at the controls and de­
into chairs when there was a rap on the cide whether his space rating should be
door. At Riggs' command the one out­ continued for another year.” He looked
side entered. up at the erect figure before him.
An orderly snapi>ed a smart salute and “Major Hawley will be in command.”
said tonelessly: “Conunander Conklin’s He said, noticing Riggs’ start as he did
compliments, Lieutenant Riggs, and will so. “I don’t need to tell you that your
you report at once to his office.” mission . will be of more than usual
Riggs nodded and dismissed the ser­ delicacy, and for reasons that I don’t
geant. He looked over at Burt. “What have to bring up at this time.”
now, Mal?” he asked. He paused for a moment, while Riggs’
Burt shook his head. “Better snap it whirling mind reflected that “unusual
up,” he advised. “Conk doesn't like to delicacy” was hardly the epithet. Ex­
wait.” aminer for Philo Hawley! What an as­
With one quick glance at his appear­ signment !
ance, Riggs left for the office of the base “You are to leave on June 15th for a
commander, highest military officer at patrol of ninety days,” Conklin went on,
the Patrol’s terrestrial base. “your activities to consist of servicing
thirty robot observatories en route, col­
HE PAUSED at a door marked, lecting and examining their plates.
“Major General Conklin, Base Com­ You’ll be informed of your ship later.”
mander,” pulled his chin and stomach in The commander handed Riggs’ orders
before rapping smartly. He entered at across the desk. “That’s all, captain,"
the commander's order and saluted, he said.
standing at attention. Riggs saluted. “Sir.” he said diffi­
Conklin, grizzled veteran of many a dently, “may I have a few words with
patrol, shot him a piercing glance, then you, off the record?”
said: “Oh, yes, Lieutenant Riggs. At
“Certainly. Go ahead.”
ease, lieutenant.”
Conklin reached over to a basket and “Well, sir, much as I appreciate this
temporary promotion, and a chance to
picked up several sheets of typed paper.
“You’re leaving on patrol duty in two show that I deserve it, I think it only
fair to make clear that I may be a rather
weeks,” the commander announced.
poor choice for examiner. Major Haw­
“This is to notify you of your temporary
ley and I don't get along very well to­
promotion to the rank of captain, for the
gether. To be frank, we don’t get along
ninety-day duration of the patrol.”
at all, and I’m afraid I would be rather
Riggs blinked at the unexpected news, prejudiced.”
and managed to gurgle, “Yes, sir.”
Conklin leaned back in his swivel chair
Conklin laid the paper down and and laughed. “Well, Riggs,” he
leaned forward. “This is also to notify chuckled, “I don’t know whom I could
you. Captain Riggs, that you have been have selected from his classes who would
selected as examiner for your alternate not have felt the same way. Hawley’s
pilot when on patrol. You, .of course, classroom technique is just a little this
know the obligation of keeping this ap­ side of brutal, but I think you’ll find
pointment absolutely confidential.” him a very good man to work under on
“Yes, sir,” Ri%gs said again. patrol. As a matter of fact, I have
“You’ve been promoted, captain, so reason to believe that Hawley resects
that you may be first officer and copilot. you as much as any of his students. I
don’t think you’ll have any undue diffi­ interval. The more detailed graphs col­
culty. I’m glad you had the honesty lected by cosmic-ray detectors, and so
to admit your bias, captain,” he said in on, were brought back to Earth for more
conclusion. careful and detailed scrutiny by spe­
Riggs saluted. “Thank you, sir,” he cialized experts.
said. “I'll do my best.” Six days out from Earth found the
At a nod from Conklin Riggs turned Little Falls decelerating as it approached
smartly on his heel and left, exceedingly Rigel VI, its crew of ten protected from
puzzled by Conklin's tacit statement that instant annihilation by the inertia
Hawley had given him good marks and screens, screens that permit humans to
a good recommendation for his work in survive accelerations so stupendous that
Navigational Theory. the stars were brought within easy reach
of the Solar System. The crew had be­
THE NEXT two weeks flew by with come acquainted by that time, for all ex­
unwonted rapidity, and Riggs found cept Hawley and Riggs had been virtual
himself assigned, as he had been in­ strangers. The general policy of the
formed in advance he would be, to one Patrol was to shift personnel around so
of the ships in the Service Fleet, or, as that every man became acquainted with
it was familiarly known in the Patrol, as many different duties as possible, and
the “Little Fleet.” The name was derived further, so that technical experts such
from the fact that each member of the as cosmic-ray specialists should have
Service Fleet had the adjective “Little” firsthand knowledge of as many parts
prefixed to is name. Riggs’ ship was the of the Galaxy as possible.
Little Falls, laden with fuel for the In the control room, watching Rigel
atomic motors of the robot observatories VI and its four smallish planets loom
planted on thirty different planets of sev­ larger in the visiplate, were the four men
eral nearby suns, and a huge supply of responsible for the navigation and pilot- —
photographic plates to replenish the ing of the spaceship: Hawley, comman­
nearly exhausted magazines of the tele­ der and pilot; Riggs, first officer and co­
scopic cameras. pilot; Art Price, computer, and Tom
Placed in many cases on planets where Mercer, navigator.
men could not have survived continued Hawley and Riggs sat silently side by
existence, the observatories on the side at the dual controls. Mercer and
planets of the nearer stars were serviced Price, behind the pilots, faced each other
once every three terrestrial years. The across the twin calculators, determining
exposed plates from the telescopes were their position by repeated observations
removed, developed in the service ship through the low-powered telescope, and
as it sped through the endless wastes of charting their course for landing.
space to its next destination, and run Hawley looked across to Riggs, who
through moving-picture cameras to de­ was trying to make his twenty-four years
tect any astronomical occurrences rec­ look sufficiently dignified to justify his
orded on them. rank. “You take this one,” the com­
Since most of the cameras exposed mander said, “I’m a little stale, I haven't
plates only every few days, or at the shot a landing in nine months.”
most, a small number a day, it was a “Yes, sir,” Riggs replied, wondering
matter of but little time to run the film whether Hawley would keep pushing the
at projection speed through a moving­ landings off on him. They were ap­
picture projector and look for such novae proaching the second planet of the green­
and comets as were recorded in the ish sun, a barren orb, with no atmos­
phere to complicate the landing. Price stant practice, Riggs soon had the Little
and Mercer had already located the ob­ Falls directly over the landing base next
servatory, on the light side of the planet, to the observatory, lowering the ship
and were calculating their position, both vertically in the simplest kind of a land­
calculating machines alternately clicking ing. Price’s voice barked three figures
and whirring as the co-ordinates of posi­ into Riggs’ headset every few seconds,
tion were entered and run off. but now two of them were always zeros
As the time grew close for him to as Riggs kept the ship directly over the
make his approach, Riggs closed the field, indicating that, there was no north­
face-plate on the helmet of his spacesuit, south or east-west displacement. As
which all had donned some time pre­ they came within hundreds of meters of
viously as a routine precaution, and said the surface, velocity almost killed, Riggs-
abstractedly, “Riggs testing. One, two, laid the ship over on its side and lowered
three, four. One. two. three, four.” The it smoothly on flaring steering rockets,
droning voices of the other nine rattled grounding it with scarcely a jar.
in his headset as the rest of the crew The crew carefully snapped off their
followed suit. safety belts and dropped to the lower
Now less than a hundred kilometers wall of the control room, looking out the
from the smooth and barren surface of ports.
their objective. Riggs threw over the Hawley glanced at the gauge before he
landing rocket switch, cutting in the left the board. “You used almost all
hydrocarbon steering rockets for the the fuel allowed for a point six G land­
landing. “O. K.. Price.” he snapped, ing, Riggs,” he noted.
his voice hollow and strange inside his The copilot nodded. “Yes, sir, no
helmet. sense cutting the first one too fine.
The computer immediately clipped out Landing is no time to make a mistake.”
three figures, designating their position Hawley smiled archly. “Wise words,
relative to their objective. captain," he drawled.
The system used for navigating space­ Riggs kept his eyes averted to conceal
ships to a landing had been developed his ire, mentally kicking himself for the
many years previously, and had not slip. Conklin’s words that Hawley was
undergone substantial change as most a good man to work under on patrol rang
other techniques improved, since it was mockingly in his ears. He was thankful
a model of simplicity, considering the that the routine of servicing the observa­
difficulty of the problem to be solved. tory kept them apart for the next few
All bodies which were ever visited were minutes, until he had time to cool down.
given an arbitrary north and south pole
by the Patrol, determined by comparison HAWLEY remained within the ship
of the inclination of the planet’s axis to as Riggs led Clark, the astronomer, and
the plane of the ecliptic of the Solar Cutler, one of the engineers, to the ob­
System. With north determined, three servatory dome. Cutler dragged a small
co-ordinates could describe the location dolly behind him, laden with rolls of un-
of a spaceship relative to any point on exposed film. The low gravity of the
a planet's surface, the three points being, planet made movement easy despite their
respectively, distance north—or south— bulky spacesuits. Riggs led the way to
of the objective, distance east—or west the lock in the side of the dome, and in
—of the objective, and finally altitude a few moments had it open. The other
over the objective. two followed him through the low door­
Motions automatic from long and con­ way. Inside the radium lamps were
 coming to a slow glow, heating up as the divesting their suits as they prepared to
automatic relay connected with the lock follow their commander to the photo­
turned them on. In the growing light graphic laboratory three decks below,
.Clark stepped over to the moderately leaving the Little Falls to find her
sized refractor, checking on its lubrica­ prosaic way through-the emptiness of
tion reservoirs, on the condition of the interstellar space.
many motors connected with the clock­
work. While Riggs checked the obser­ DAYS ran into days as the Little
vatory clock against the Little Falls Falls alternately accelerated and de­
chronometer, Clark and Cutler quickly celerated as she visited planet after
removed the film magazines from the planet. The time-consuming routine of
delicate cameras, and substituted others gathering and replenishing film, of de­
of exposed film. One last bit of work veloping and inspecting it left little time
removed the rolls of graph paper from for personal contact between Hawley
the cosmic-ray detectors, and the men and Riggs. The copilot, ever conscious
were returning to the ship. of his secret mission, made every effort
As they stepped back to the air lock of to keep his relations with his superior as
the Little Falls, a crew under Hawley impersonal as possible, always fearing an
was just completing the job of filling the open rupture between them. He was
fuel tanks of the observatory with the forced to admit, however, that Hawley
chemically pure water that served as was apparently all that a pilot should be.
fuel for the atomic motors that powered After the first landing, which he had
the whole plant. Scarcely an hour after wished off on Riggs, the commander
they had landed, the spaceship raised its alternated on landings with his copilot,
nose to the heavens, jets blasting the making smooth, sound approaches under
frozen ground, and rocketed off into varying conditions of gravity and atmos­
space, headed for a far-off sun. pheric pressure, never showing the
Riggs sat for some minutes beside the slightest hesitation or confusion.
commander at the control board, watch­ Riggs secretly permitted himself to
ing him correct their course as Mercer wonder, however, just how Hawley
read off the co-ordinates in Price’s place. would fare should he have to land the
At last the older man leaned back. ship from any position other than the
“Ah,” he breathed, "that ought to get vertical. The commander had made no
us there.” "fancy” approaches, always carefully
Riggs nodded silently, not trusting his bringing the Little Falls directly over
clumsy tongue to keep off tender ground. their objective before letting down.
"Say,” Hawley wanted to know, “did Riggs, as a matter of policy, had not
you adjust the clocks in there?” attempted any angle approaches, afraid
"No, sir,” Riggs replied. “They were that Hawley would look upon them as a
only two-tenths of a second off, and I personal challenge, and even more afraid
didn’t think that was enough to bother of his subtly scornful remarks, so deli­
with. I’d as like as not have introduced cately concealed beneath routine conver­
a larger error in the other direction.” sation.
Hawley agreed in silence, then turned Fifteen of the scheduled thirty stops
to the other two in the control room. of the Little Falls had been completed
“I suppose the boys down below would before the event for which Riggs had
like a little help developing and printing been waiting occurred. The planetary
that film,” he said. "What do you say, system of Rigel II was one of extreme
do we give them a hand?” interest to terrestrial astronomers, since
'The other three stood up and began it was one of the few which did not con­
form to the usual arrangement of having objective that was completely shrouded
all the planets in approximately the same in mists. He felt the ship lay over on
plane. The sun's nine planets revolved its side and waited tensely for the crash
around it in nine different planes, and as it grounded. But Hawley dropped it
even the various moons did not conform to the muddy surface with scarcely a jar.
to any general plan. This arrangement In spite of himself, Riggs could not re­
of planetary bodies, incompatible as it press an ejaculation of relief and amaze­
was with the general theory of origin of ment at the landing.
planetary systems, naturally excited in­ He regretted it in an instant as Haw­
terest, and observatories were located ley shot him a twinkling glance, a glance
on several of the bodies in the system. that made his “Not bad for an old man,
Besides its astronomical interest the eh, Riggs?” completely redundant.
system of Rigel II commanded close ob­ “No, sir,” Riggs replied obediently,
servation because its first planet, a huge, glad to see the commander lead a small
deeply atmosphered body of enormous crew out to get the graphs and photo­
surface temperatures and pressures, graphic magazines from the observatory.
manifested evidences of high-tempera­ Riggs seethed inwardly at Hawley’s
ture life. The physical conditions of its all-too-apparent condescension, wishing
surface made it inaccessible to men, so fitfully that he could talk to somebody
that a compromise observatory had been about it. The old dope, proud of his
erected on its only moon, a body that mental calculation, was he? Thought he
always faced its parent. This moon, was pretty good to hear a computer snap
like its planet, was often obscured with out three co-ordinates every five seconds
clouds, and in just such a time of pre­ and to transform them into a fourth­
cipitation Hawley approached it for a power parabolic equation. Well, there
landing. was more than one man in the world
The navigator and computer w’ere who could do it. Riggs reflected. He
unable to get adequate observations on had kept abreast of Haw’ley’s mental
the observatory, with the result that mathematics. If he hadn’t known they
Hawley was forced at the last moment to were making the grade, he would have
change his course and attempt an angle taken those controls away, major or no
approach. Riggs tensed himself as major. He stopped his annoyed reflec­
Mercer, finally located the observatory, tions as Hawley stepped out of the air
well off to one side—too far to permit lock.
a vertical descent. “Let’s go, Riggs,” Hawley snapped,
To the copilot's surprise, Hawley did grinning a little.
not ask the computer for an equation to
express the optimum course of the Little RIGGS climbed silently into his seat
Falls through the moon's atmosphere to behind the board, pressed the take-off
the ground. Instead he sat silently at warning, and as soon as the others were
the controls, listening to the co-ordinates strapped in, blasted the Little Falls sav­
Mercer snapped out from instant to in­ agely off the surface.
stant. Riggs’ mind flew as he tried to Hawley seemed more disposed to talk
work out the equation in his head, as than previously as they sped toward the
Hawley was undoubtedly doing—the second planet of the same sun. Feeling
equation which would describe the para­ his oats, Riggs reflected, proud of that
bolic curve that they were following landing.
through'the murk. He marveled at the “Well, there’s one thing about that
major’s confidence in his mental com­ last place, Riggs,” Hawley observed, “it
putations, descending as he was, to an had enough of an atmosphere to look a
little like Earth.” He swung a leg non­ and began the necessary mental sub­
chalantly over the arm of his seat. stitutions and subtractions as he tried
“Yes, sir,” Riggs got out, “but I’ve to determine how far the Little Falls
never seen quite so vicious a cloudburst was departing from the course he had
as the one we landed in.” set up. Almost subconsciously he could
Hawley laughed. "That’s one of the hear Mercer working his calculator,
places where a live observer would go while Price called out the co-ordinates.
mad in three months, right?” That meant that Mercer didn't trust
“You bet,” Riggs replied, drawn into him, that the navigator was substituting
conversation in spite of himself. “Makes the co-ordinates that the Little Falls was
you feel kind of queer, do you know it,” cutting in an effort to determine whether
he went on, “to go from planet to planet, Riggs was conforming to any general
and never see a sign of intelligent life? equation.
Why, take a look at this system here. In spite of the apparent doubts of the
At least four of these nine planets could navigator, Riggs successfully landed the
be inhabited, especially if the settlers Little Falls without further aid from
were willing to do a little selective breed­ either the navigator or the computer
ing. They all have oxygen atmospheres, than the co-ordinates that Price called.
their gravities are close to Earth’s, and Hawley made absolutely no comment
temperatures and pressure aren’t im­ on the landing. The rather pointed si­
possible at all. You’d think they’d be lence of the computer and navigator,
inhabited.” who both were well aware that the two
Hawley shook his head. “There’s too pilots had performed remarkable feats
much prejudice against it. They’ll have of mental calculation under ‘extreme
to develop a new race. Those planets pressure, made it clear that all four in
won’t be colonized from Earth, but as the control room realized that Riggs had
soon as the few colonies that are in accepted Hawley’s challenge. They re­
existence now get going, they’ll start alized Riggs was willing to match any
colonizing all over the Galaxy. They’ll feats of piloting the older man per­
have a heritage of pioneering behind formed.
them, not so much attachment to the
place they live in. That’s what’s the THE copilot was not to be disap­
matter with Earth. Population groups pointed. Shooting the next landing, on
stagnated for so many thousands of planet three of Rigel II, Hawley per­
years that the attractions of staying formed the almost impossible feat of
home are too great. You really can’t using only one steering jet until he laid
blame them.” the ship over on her side for the ground­
Although Riggs was pleased to find ing.
that his superior could act and talk like The strain, while hard on the two
an ordinary human being if given chance pilots, was worse on the computer and
enough, he retained his resolve to at navigator. After a particularly spec­
least equal Hawley’s approach on the tacular exhibition of a spiral approach
next landing he shot. Accordingly he at high velocity by Hawley on planet
approached the second planet of Rigel II seven of Rigel II, Mercer approached
at a sharp angle to the surface, and, Riggs while Hawley was leading the
like Hawley, requesting no predeter­ service crew to the observatory.
mined equations from the computer, "Pardon me, captain,” he said,
quickly set up a parabolic equation of saluting. "Perhaps I’m speaking out of
the fifth power of the potential series turn, but this contest between you and
to describe the course of the spaceship, Hawley is getting pretty extreme.” He
stopped and gulped, half expecting a Little Falls in at a sharp angle, as each
severe reprimand. Riggs grimaced for man had done on the several previous
a moment before he answered the navi­ occasions. He could see Hawley watch­
gator. ing him with intense interest, trying to
“you’re right, Mercer.” he finally determine what kind of a three-dimen­
said. “Hawley undoubtedly can do any­ sional curve Riggs would try to ride
thing any pilot in the Patrol can. I down. But the copilot held the Little
don't think he’s run out of tricks yet. I Falls off until he was over the objective,
suppose I could match that one of and then lowered straight down, keeping
mentally calculating a three-dimensional his eyes fixed dead ahead on the visi-
curve to a blind spot, but I'd like to do plate to keep from seeing Hawley’s
it alone, instead of with nine other guys superior smile. The damned show-off,
behind me. I think I’ll call the whole Riggs thought—grandstander. He
thing off at the next landing.” thinks he’s done something. At least
“Yes. sir.” Mercer murmured. “I I’ve got enough sense to quit before one
hope you don't think I've been imperti­ of us kills the whole crew.
nent. sir." he half asked. In spite of his determination not to
“Oh, no. Mercer.” the copilot an­ show his feelings, Riggs all but exploded
swered. “Hell. I don’t see how you when the relieved Price offered com­
guys have stood it this long. It’s ment on the landing, the first given since
damned lucky that the boys in the back the contest had begun.
end didn't know what was going on. “Sweet, captain." Price said.
Some of them who don’t have space Hawley seemed suddenly to choke,
ratings would have gone nuts.” and coughed heavily several times, while
“That's just it. captain.” Mercer said, Riggs knew his neck was turning a
a little smile forming in the corners of gaudy shade of purple.
his mouth. “Price let on that you two “Thanks,” the copilot finally croaked
were having a sort of contest, and Clark to the embarrassed Price, who knew he
has gone half insane every time one or had put his foot in it.
the other of you tried something harder. Hawley, realizing that Riggs had quit,
It wouldn’t have been so bad if you were made no more fancy approaches on the
just filling in co-ordinates on some curve next several landings. The routine of
equation I'd figured out for you, but this visiting various suns went on. But a
stuff of forming your own equation as series of events, culminating in the land ­
you landed had them all scared. I don’t ing on the tiny fifth planet of Bruno in
think I would have spoken if the men Aquarius, disturbed Riggs greatly.
below hadn't asked me to." The commander had not been his
Riggs began to chuckle. “I thought usual lofty, sarcastic self during his
there was something a little screwy previous watch. All of the. other three
about this. Mercer,” he laughed. in the control room had been the objects
“You’ve been around too long to mind of wrathful flare-ups, over trivial occur­
a little thing like this race we had. Well, rences. As the time for the landing on
you can pass on the word that it’s all the little planet came closer, his nervous­
over. I don’t want Hawley to know, ness and tenseness seemed to increase,
though.” and by the time the Little Falls was
“Oh, sure, captain,” Mercer grinned. dropping toward the surface in its ap­
“I get it, all right.” proach, his disposition had grown so
short that he had practically ceased to
APPROACHING the ninth and last speak to the others.
planet of Rigel II, Riggs brought the Shooting the landing in his regular
turn, Hawley's approach was entirely Hawley's, next approach was excellent,
conventional, dropping straight down in spite of the fact that it was made
from over his objective. But as the Lit­ under extremely unfavorable conditions
tle Falls lowered on drumming rockets, of gravity and visibility. He had half
ttie ship swung from line, and the long expected Hawley to become confused
succession of zeros with which Price again, remembering how easy it was to
had prefixed his altitude figures rapidly lose that keen edge of self-confidence
became numbers indicating that Hawley and instantaneous, doubt-free response
had badly botched the approach. In­ necessary to land a spaceship on her
stead of altering his approach into a rockets. The commander, while rather
sharp angle, and repeating his perform­ sullen, grounded the ship perfectly, and
ances on the planets of Rigel II, the repeated the performance three times
commander blasted the Little Falls back thereafter in his turn.
to altitude and started his approach The copilot found himself worrying
once more, only to become badly con­ long before they headed back for Earth,
fused again. This time he attempted to what he would report to the board of
save the landing by converting it into an examiners. One bad landing was usu­
angle approach, but the tense Riggs, fol­ ally enough to cause at least a complete
lowing the co-ordinates that Price was examination of the case, Riggs knew,
barking out, quickly realized that Haw­ even in the case of young pilots, and in
ley was still messing the landing. Hawley's instance, he felt sure, any re­
The commander shook his head sav­ port of loss of confidence might suffice
agely and swore. He took his hands to cost the aging pilot his space rating.
from the controls and snarled, “Take
over!” to Riggs, who elected to blast THE BAD approach had quite com­
back to altitude and try a straight ap­ pletely broken down what camaraderie
proach to straightening out Hawley’s had grown up between the two pilots,
extremely incorrect position. and Hawley rarely spoke to Riggs out­
The silence that reigned in the con­ side the line of duty. Shortly before
trol room after Riggs grounded the ship they headed back for Earth, however,
made those that had regularly occurred the two were together in the projection
during the landings of the planets room, eyes riveted to the screen as a
of Rigel II seem trifling. All four care­ roll of film exposed at the observatory
fully kept their eyes averted to prevent last visited was run through the pro­
what each knew would be the exchange jector.
of a knowing glance. Hawley made The two sat in silence as the screen
matters no easier by remaining in a indicated the fixed positions of the stars
surly and disgruntled mood, obviously in space and the irregular zigzagging
disturbed over his clumsy mistake. of the three planets of the same sun as
The next landing was, by the tacit caught by the robot eye of the telescope.
arrangement to alternate approaches, Suddenly a tiny point of light appeared
Riggs’. He found himself hoping that where none had been before, instantly
he would mess it slightly, and in spite noted by both men, trained observers as
of himself dropped the Little Falls a they were.
little heavily to the ground. Hawley “Nova,” they said in quick unison.
did not seem cheered by this, but rather Riggs cut the motor, and backed the
insulted. He said nothing, however, film up, running it through one frame at
merely speared his unhappy copilot with a time. “There it is,” he said. “First
a venomous eye. photographically detectable one hundred
Contrary to what Riggs had expected, and four days after that observatory was
 serviced.” He started the-projector know you’re the examiner here. What
again and tlie two watched the image of you report will decide what the board of
the nova grow rapidly, then fade with examiners does. Isn't that right?”
astounding suddenness. Riggs said nothing.
“Umph.” Hawley grunted. “That “Oh, all right. I know you can’t
was a quicky. How long did it last ?” say anything, but you don't fool me a
Riggs was reading the date on the minute. Conklin is about as subtle as
frame. “Four hundred and twenty ter­ a crutch. He picked you because I
restrial days between appearance and gave you the highest marks in theory.
disappearance, photographically, but it That doddering old walrus.” He laughed
was really quicker than that. It had a little bitterly. “Well. I suppose it had
sunk to the twentieth magnitude in two to come sometime. I had visions of
hundred days, more or less. Sort of keeping that rating till I was forty. I'd
looks like Hunter's hypothesis might be only have to pass four more,” he said,
correct, doesn't it?” almost pleading.
Hawley shook his head slowly as the Riggs still made no comment, packing
rest of the reel ran through the projec­ the film into its cans.
tor without event. “I don't know. I’m
not up on nova theory. I stick fairly “I can't understand what went wrong
close to home, with this navigational with that landing.” the older man said.
theory. That’s my chief interest.” He “I must have been thinking about some­
switched on the lights in the tiny pro- thing else. After all, I never had a bit
■ jection room. “I suppose I'll be teach­ of trouble with all those angle shots on
ing twelve months in the year pretty Rigel II.” He looked inquiringly at
soon.” he observed, not looking at Riggs, but the copilot gave him no en­
couragement.
Riggs.
The copilot jumped a little. That “All right, all right,” Hawley said
was dangerous talk. He said nothing, wearily, “be a good little soldier.” He
playing safe. walked to the door, leaving Riggs stand­
“What d'ya think about that?" Haw­ ing by the projector. “But don't you
ley demanded, his black eyes snapping try to kid me.” Hawley said, hand on
at Riggs. the knob. “I know you’ve been laying
“Why. I don’t know, sir." he replied. for me ever since we started this patrol.
“If you like teaching that well. I'm sure You’re still hot about the way I treated
it’s the thing to do.” you in class, aren’t you ? Sure you are,
“Don’t play dumb. Riggs,” Hawley you ungrateful pup!” He yanked the
snapped. "You know what I'm talking door open and stepped through it before
about. They may take my space rating Riggs could deny the accusation.
away.” Riggs stood beside the projector,
Again the copilot kept a reserved si­ automatically disconnecting the leads,
lence. half glad that he hadn’t had a chance to
“Well," the commander demanded, deny Hawley’s charge of carrying a
“don't you think they will?” grudge. He wasn’t quite sure that it
Riggs shook his head and swallowed wasn’t true, after all. He still didn’t
before answering. “I couldn’t say, sir. know what he should do about his re­
I thought that was all up to the ex­ port as examiner. Hawley had un­
aminer. I see no reason—” lie started doubtedly badly botched a landing. He
to say. then cut it off. had become confused, what was worse,
Hawley smiled nastily at him. “You and given up. But on the other side
aren’t kidding me, Riggs-," he said. “I was the fact that he had successfully
completed several extremely difficult ap­ ing a rocketship and his excellent theo­
proaches prior to his poor one, and made retical knowledge of the piloting of the
several good routine landings after it. It same.”
was a problem. He could hear a sigh of expelled
breaths as every man present noted his
BACK an Earth, with the Little slight emphasis of the word theoretical.
Falls patrol completed without further Dictaphones hummed softly as his words
incident, or further conversation with were recorded.
Hawley, Riggs had two days before “However,” Riggs continued, “Major
the meeting of the board of examiners Hawley, in spite of performing what
to complete his report. He went before amounted to feats of piloting ability, be­
the board, finally, with very mixed emo­ came badly confused on one landing, so
tions, and very uncertain of his decision. confused, in fact, that he turned the con­
The three members of the tribunal sat trols over to me. Subsequently he
in solemn dignity at a long table at one landed five times perfectly. Gentle­
end of the chamber. Hawley had ar­ men,” he said, “I am unable to account
rived before Riggs, and he showed no for Major Hawley's sudden lapse. Con­
surprise when his copilot entertd. siderations of his advanced age, as far
Riggs tried to- compose himself, men­ as piloting goes, make it seem likely
tally dreading. the moment he would that he might be expected to experience
have to stand up, now a mere second difficulty, progressively more difficulty
lieutenant, and hold typewritten sheets as he gets older. However, his ability
of paper in his hand as he read his re­ to handle the ship with no apparent ef­
port. He cursed his trembling fingers, fort on all other occasions, and the fact
knowing they would reveal themselves that he did not seem to lose confidence
in the fluttering of his papers as he tried in himself after his unsuccessful ap­
to read. proach, seem to indicate further ex­
amination by this board.
Major General Conklin, officiating for
“I feel morally certain that Major
1 he board, cleared his throat and rum­
Hawley’s lapse was due to some tem­
bled, “Lieutenant Riggs, please take the
floor.” porary physiological difficulty which
passed unnoticed by him and which is
Riggs stood up, leaning against the either very unlikely to recur, or can be
edge of the table to conceal his shaking simply corrected. Therefore, instead
knees. “Yes, sir,” he said, trying to of recommending that Major Hawley
mask the quaver in his voice. Out of show cause why he should not be de­
the corner of his eye he could see Major prived of his rating, as might seem indi­
Hawley’s superior smile. cated, I recommend that he be given a
Commander Conklin growled again, complete physical and psychological ex­
“As examiner aboard the Little Falls, amination by the board, and that if noth­
will you please give your report on any ing is found wrong, his rating be ex­
members of the crew who were up for tended another year.”
their space ratings?”
Riggs saluted wordlessly, and steeled RIGGS sat down, feeling a little bet­
himself to begin. “Besides myself there ter about his report. It had gone off
was only one other pilot aboard the rather well, he thought, and he was sure
Little Falls, sir,” he said, “and that was he was right. Hawley wasn't through
Major Hawley. Major Hawley demon­ yet. Maybe next year, or the year after,
strated to my satisfaction his complete but not this year.
understanding of all the details of pilot- Commander Conklin made no com­
AST—5
ment on Riggs’ report other than to send lin began, almost self-consciously, “we
an orderly to pick up the typed sheets. find it necessary to reject your report
He “harrumphed” again and slowly in the form it now stands. Major Haw­
said, “Major Hawley, your report, ley is hereby certified for a space rating
please.” for one year without further examina­
This was a complete surprise to tion. Meeting adjourned."
Riggs. He had expected at the most Bo Riggs got stiffly to his feet, the
that Hawley would be given a chance to bottom of his stomach apparently some­
defend himself against any detrimental where near his knees as he struggled to
evidence presented by Riggs, but a re­ walk out with an unconcerned air.
port from his former commander was Hawley got up, too. and walked out at
unexpected. his side.
The small man stood up. very straight As they reached the corridor, but be­
and martial in appearance, his black eyes fore the examiners had begun to file out,
snapping, his face otherwise expression­ Hawley tapped his junior on the shoul­
less. “I report that the board’s original der. “Look here, Riggs.” he’ said, smil­
presentiments with regard to Lieutenant ing a genuine smile at last. “You've got
Riggs were completely justified. Be­ most of the makings of a good officer.
sides showing great native ability as a There’s only one thing you’ll have to
pilot, he has shown great tact in han­ combat.”
dling a delicate situation, and a level­ “Yes, sir,” Riggs said wretchedly,
headedness that compels me to recom­ knowing nothing else to say in his con­
mend him for the promotion you fusion.
gentlemen had in mind." He sat down, “Yes, sir,” mimicked Hawley. “The
likewise not giving his erstwhile com­ trouble with you, Riggs." he went on,
panion a glance. “is that you’re too damned naive. I’m
Riggs, overjoyed at Hawley's report, almost insulted to think that you be­
felt, that his cup was running over. He lieved I really botched that landing that
expected Conklin to mumble an accept­ badly. Don't you know a put-up job
ance of the reports, but to his great sur­ when you see one?”
prise the commander suddenly called his He grinned evilly and walked away,
name again. Riggs stood up. while the incipient Captain Riggs alter­
“In view of certain extenuating cir­ nately knifed him mentally in the back
cumstances known to the board,” Conk­ and blessed the day he was born.

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 11QUESTIOR Of SALVAGE
The salvage fleets had no place for, a man with a con­
science—but sometimes one showed up, and sometimes they
left "junk" behind, when the ether storms were strong—

By Malcolm Jameson
llluvtrated by Schneeman

I. rooming, watched it settle unevenly onto

the public skyport a mile away. The
AM TRUMAN, mate and acting outward bound hygiocopters checked

S captain of the Kwasind, leaned their swift rise, wheeled like circling
back against the guard rail of the gulls, and came back to follow the
two-hundred-foot stage of the firing rack
crippled liner to the plain.
which cradled the ugly sphere of his “Sizzlin’ Syzygies!” came a voice
powerful salvage tug. He was staring from behind. “She’s all stove in. Must
moodily at two of his black gang, be dusty out to crinkle a packet like the
clinging like flies to a pair of bulbous Kop.”
towing bitts sticking out of the hull Dumpy little Ben Tiggleman, engineer
above him. They had finished burnish­ of the Kwasind, had come out of the
ing the rugged knobs and were now test­ bowels of the salvage tug and was gaz­
ing the connections of their heater units. ing open-mouthed at the newly landed
Lower down, two monstrous electric ca­ Copernicus. A de luxe job like that,
bles led into the tug, through which the with a dozen of the top-hattedest big­
squat storm craft was sucking the huge wigs of the System and no knowing how
stores of reserve energy she would be valuable a cargo, did not turn back after
needing any moment. From beneath, ten hours out of port for small reasons.
far down where the nadirward nozzle But the two salvage men could guess
of the main rocket tube threatened the the reason. Last night the stars had
seared and pitted slag of the dockyard, trembled and danced. Refraction bad,
wisps of acrid smoke trailed. The tube the “seeing” not good, they would have
was hot, white-hot. On ten seconds’ said centuries before, but nowadays men
notice the Kwasind could soar into the knew better. That was why the Kwa­
void. sind and her five husky sisters were
The shoosh of nearby spacecraft being warmed up, standing by. Sam
caused him to wheel. Ah, a hygiocopter. Truman raised his binoculars and
And another, and another—three of the studied the grounded liner.
red-banded ambulances of the ether tak­ Her crumpled nose and those sag­
ing off. There must be trouble in the ging plates between each pair of frames
space lanes already. Then, out of the spelled but one thing—terrific pressure.'
clear Martian sky he saw the halting She must have banged into an etheric
descent of a shiny superliner, saw the typhoon and hit close to the eye of it.
raw flare of its check rockets mush­ Nothing else could have flattened down
 her screens and dished her in like that. SAM TRUMAN watched his en­
And if the powerfully compensated gineer go, then returned to his moody
“Pride of the Skies” had suffered so, it contemplation of the Kwasbui’s hull.
'would be but a matter of hours until the She was ready to rise, all right, but he
ether would be flooded with S O S’s. couldn't take any joy in the thought. It
Inter-Planetary Salvage's tugs would all wras too much like the soaring of a
be out, combing the cosmic flotsam for buzzard in search of fresh carrion. He
prizes. The first vessel to slam a glim­ remembered the last big storm too well
mering green hawser-beam on wreck or —crushed and helpless ships swirling in
derelict walked away with half her the maelstrom of turbulent ether, while
value. these tugs cruised comfortably among
“Wonder why she didn't squawk?” them, picking and choosing only those
queried Ben. "We coulda gone—hours that promised fat salvage fees. "We
ago.” are not in business for charity,” was one
“And have it go out over the Om- of the mottoes of IPS. “Leave senti­
nivox ?” replied Sam with a hard laugh. ment to the Space Guards—they get
“That would be bad for .the passenger paid for it.”
trade, scare off the cash customers. As Another man in his job would have
far as landsmen go, this is still a hush- been atingle with what was before him.
hush business. Weather in the void ? The work was exciting, and on occasion
Silly! You have to have an atmosphere could be very, very profitable. Yet to
for that. Remember what they taught his mind, there was something ghoulish
you in school ?” about it. Now that he was familiar
A couple of IPS yard hands, loitering with the policies of the company, he
nearby, overheard and laughed. hated the salvage business with all his
“Well,” said Ben Tiggleman, his soul. For the dozenth time he wras on
gaze wistfully lingering on fifty mil­ the verge of stalking into the manager's
lions of potential salvage, “I hope we office and hurling his resignation into
snag a good one before it’s over.” his fat, greedy face. Only, he re­
Sam Truman knew what was in his minded himself, today was not the day
mind. Four hours earlier Mrs. Ben had for it. He simply could not—it would
been rushed to the maternity ward of look yellow. Moreover, it was futile.
Herapolis General Hospital, leaving a His quitting would not save a single one
flock of little Bens behind her in the of the white-faced, praying passengers
hovel they called home. Like most going to their doom because parsimoni­
salvage men in minor jobs, Ben was al­ ous ship owners refused to guarantee
ways broke. Worse, he was in the the minimum fee. A cargo of uranium
clutches of a loan shark. But he shook ore was as good as cash in the sal­
his head and grinned and started to vager's hand, but what could you get
duck back into the whirring recesses out of two score rescued humans, with
of his engine compartment. any assurance, but gratitude?
“How are my sky hooks coming After this blow, perhaps, he would
along?” Truman called after him. quit. Then— But that “then” was
“Oh! Four are loaded and on ice; the tough part of it. That was the real
and one is on the fire, soaking up the deterrent. What could a man—a kick-
ergs. Boy! You’re sure packing out from the Space Guard and black­
power into those babies. I hope they listed by the Ecliptic Line—what could
work like you think, because it ain't go­ he do next if he did ?
ing to be any fun if one of ’em back­ If he chucked the job, there was noth­
fires.” ing left—nothing. For to a young man
steeped in the traditions of skycraft, a miles along major axis and the gravitic
planet-bound job was no job at all. equivalent at center is estimated to be
It wasn’t even living. He just couldn’t of the order of several thousand mega­
think of life without the joy and lift that bars. Correspondingly strong ‘highs’
comes of plunging into space with the have been detected both above and below
controls of a thousand thunders under it as well as in front of and behind it, so
the fingertips. What surface job offered that extraecliptic travel lanes are as im­
the thrill of hand-jetting across ten miles passable as the usual ones. Gravitic
of bucking emptiness to make fast a gradients throughout Mars-Jupiter sec­
line to an inert wreck ? What about the tor at new record and zeta emanation
grim satisfaction of licking a “low” abundant. Triple storm warnings
with a cumbersome tow behind, surging authorized throughout this area.
and tearing at the hawser beam? No, “Communications with asteroids in
he told himself dismally, he would have that vicinity now completely disrupted.
to hang on. And like it. At least until Fragmentary report from Juno at 0456
he could make a killing and buy a ship today, Systemic Standard Time, ex­
of his own. pressed fears for safety of residents on
At that dream, he brightened. For Juno and Pallas. Lighthouse tender
the moment he was captain—only acting Cyclops believed to have been dashed
captain, to be sure, but still the cap­ ashore on one of the posterior Trojans,
tain. As such, he was entitled to one where severe storm conditions also pre­
third the fee, not the lousy fraction of vail—
the ten percent that was flung to the “FLASH, Mars: Liner Copernicus
crew to divide. If today he could swal­ limped back into Herapolis a few hours
low his scruples and do like the rest— after taking off for Earth. Several of
pass up the unpromising jobs and con­ the crew severely compressed and many
centrate on real loot—well! Next Set­ suffering from zeta burns. Some struc­
tlement Day he could tell the whole gang tural damage was suffered by the ves­
what he thought of them and walk out. sel owing to pounding by gravitic waves,
A pack of jackals, the lot of them. but she returned to base without as­
Ben Tiggleman. alone, seemed to have sistance.
decent instincts. “Special Bulletin for Space Guard and
salvage vessels: The following is a par­
HE WAS ROUSED out of his in­ tial list, as reported by their owners,
trospection by that worthy's sticking his of ships now en route through the
tousled head out of the hatch and yelling. storm zone: SS. Stephen Clark, out of
“The dope’s coming through now— Titan for Mars. 1000 tons rhodium,
have a look at your telescribe.” no passengers: SS. Moon of Mars,
Sam quit the stage and made his way Herapolis to Callisto City, miscellane­
through the tortuous passages to the ous cargo, twelve passengers; SS. Rat­
hemispherical control room in the heart tlesnake, Io to—”
of the great tug. He picked up the Sam's fingers skipped along the tape
fallen tape and read: as he hurriedly examined the list. Or­
“—series of etheric disturbances of dinarily, the mercenary aspects of sal­
great intensity following trough through vage had no appeal for him. but today
astergid belt, bearing eight four, ab­ —today was different. There was a <
solute. Maximum ‘low’ located in third chance to clean up. One good tow would
quadrant, not far from Mars, moving do it, th'en he could duck the dirty job
outward. It is described as an for all time. He would have his own
elongated ellipsoid of about five million ship. He could patent and market his
sky anchors. And he could put Ben, keep an eye on him,” and he chuckled
good old Ben, back on his feet, too. His shrilly, “he’s an altruist. So take over,
share as captain would be ample for all Captain Varms, and good luck.”
those things. “I’ve known Mr. Truman for many
So far, there were no distress notices years,” asserted the new captain with
that promised great reward, but that studied insolence, “and I know quite
meant practically nothing. He knew well how to handle him.”
from past experience that owners were Eric Varms!
slow to report treasure ships. They only II.
gave up half when threatened with the
loss of all; a worth-while bit of salvage “BLAST OUT! Mr. Mate," said
had to be in a desperate spot before she Captain Varms, coolly impersonal. “I’ll
would squeal. Those frantic appeals give further orders when we're outside.”
would come later. On a day like this, He stripped off his gloves and tossed
in the pounding, pulsating void above, them onto the chart rack, then began to
great fortunes were sure to be lost— study the meteorological instruments
and gained. grouped on one of the indicator panels.
There was a dull roar and a swish He frowned importantly as he glanced
outside. That meant his neighbor in the knowingly from mesotron detector to
firing rack had taken off; Thor was first argonometer. “Promises to be dirty
out. Hardly had the Kwasind’s floor weather upside,” he coughed wisely.
plates quit rattling when a second boom Sullenly, his cheeks flushed with im­
was felt and heard—another tug had potent anger, Sam Truman jabbed the
shot skyward. Sam glanced sharply at key home that set off the warning howl­
the annunciator on the bulkhead that ers outside the hull. Tiny lights twin­
relayed his orders from the dispatcher’s kled on the monitor as the gas-tight
office. It still glowed “Stand by.” He doors slid shut and locked themselves.
smiled a grim smile as he understood. Ben Tiggleman’s “Ready” light glowed
They were giving the regularly ap­ over the firing lever. Sam unlocked the
pointed captains the edge on him. It main rocket release, clutched the safety
was common knowledge that most of grips, and shoved the lever home. With
them had an arrangement with the a shuddering rush the Kwasind launched
manager—they kicked back part of their herself at the zenith.
fee. In fact, it had been suggested to Sam clung there throughout the ac­
him. if he wanted— celeration, his jaws clamped hard shut,
There were footsteps in the corridor boiling within. It was bad enough to
from the hatch, and he heard the high- be superseded in command at the very
pitched. twittering voice of the half­ last moment—a typical IPS trick—but
breed Martian that acted as assistant the crowning irony of it was to have to
manager. Sam Truman swung around play second fiddle to Eric Varms. Eric
to see what he brought. With him was Varms, whose astragation problems he
a tall, heavy-set man in the uniform of had worked for him in the old academy
a captain of the IPS. He was no cap­ days and whom he had taught the rudi­
tain that Sam had seen about, yet there ments of skymanship. Eric Varms, his
was something vaguely familiar about jinx—his Nemesis!
him—that dark complexion, that air of That was the same Vanns who, while
half-concealed arrogance— they were still both snotties, had
“This is Mr. Truman, your mate,” squealed to the commandant to save his
the Martian was saying, “and he should own skin and told where to find the bot­
be all set to go. But you had better tle of forbidden Venusian “dragon
juice.” saying that Sammie Truman had In desperation he had turned to that
brought it into Lunar Barracks. His last refuge of the disgraced spaceman—
lips sealed by the midshipman code of the salvage racket. Distasteful as some
honor. Sam refused to deny it. For of its features were, when catastrophe
that they bilged him, cut off his career struck there was opportunity; when the
in the Space Guard. ether tied itself in knots the scavengers
And it was Varms, five years ago of the void found good hunting.
when they were both senior mates in the But now, just as the chance for lib­
Ecliptic Line and up for examination eration was in sight, Eric Varms’ path
for the post of master, who had pre­ had to cross his again. His ancient en­
ceded him in putting the little trial ship emy was to be his captain and walk
Elsie through her paces. Eric had done away with that fat share of the fee!
all the stunts and come through all right.
It was Sam’s turn. “She’s all yours,” TO THE EYE there was nothing
was what Eric said when he stepped to indicate that an etheric storm of hur­
out. “now go and bust yourself.” ricane proportions was raging, but al­
Prophetic words, Sam groaned to ready they felt the beating surges of
recall them. He was too cocky, too sure gravitic waves. The ship never wavered
of himself that day—he should have in­ as she flung headlong into the void, nor
spected her. There must have been was there thud or quiver. Men simply
some dirty work there. No magnon felt their weight come and go as a
circuit ever behaved like that one did, weirdly disturbing internal rhythm, in­
nor could the leads to the telltales on describable to one who has never experi­
the monitor board have come discon­ enced it. It was not at all like the sick­
nected by themselves. ening feeling one gets when dropped
That had been a ghastly crash. Not suddenly, or the oppressiveness of being
only was the trial ship wrecked beyond pitched upward, for the gravitic refer­
repair, but several bystanders were hurt, ence there is the Earth below. Here it
matters which cost the Ecliptic Line was a man’s own middle, his own
heavily. Sam himself spent the next bodily center of gravity. One moment
several months in the hospital, too much he felt as if he would collapse internally
in pain to know or care that a hostile from the weight of his outer flesh, the
Court of Inquiry was pawing through next as if about to fly apart.
the fragments of the broken Elsie and Sam’s hand lay on the compensator
listening to the insinuations of his switch and he looked expectantly at his
rival for the vacant captaincy. captain. Whatever Sam’s personal esti­
When he recovered sufficiently to face mate of him, the law of the sky gave
the browbeating spacedogs that made him the exclusive right to command.
up the Court, they had already made up Varms caught the query in the glance
their minds. “Culpable negligence” was and sneered.
their verdict and the penalty was sum­ “If that jiggling worries you. go
mary dismissal from the Line. Jobless ahead and turn it on. I always did that
and discredited, he had gone off to the in the liners. It kept the passengers
outer planets in search of work only to from getting jittery.”
lose berth after berth as his record Sam nearly choked, but he managed
caught up with him. So hounded, he to swallow the retort. He knew now
could never accumulate money enough that he would have to go to the mat with
for a ship of his own—the only decent this man, but the time was not yet. The
means left him to pursue the career he tug must be made safe first.
had chosen, and loved. He closed the compensator switch. He
 had already noted the period of the vi­ hit. That titanic surge of gravity froze
brations and long practice told him their them both where they stood, each glassy­
strength, so his tuning knob was already eyed at the other, watching helplessly
'set. As new waves of gravitic force as their superficial muscles, contracted
welled out of the ship’s gravigens, match­ like iron, squeezing the breath from both
ing the incoming waves trough to crest of them in one stinging gasp. Their
and neutralizing them out of existence, too-rcady fists smashed into their own
the uncomfortable coming and going sides under the impact of it, and the
of weight ceased. skins of their faces shrank until they
Those first rhythmic impulses were grinned at one another like a pair of
no more than annoying to men used to jocular death’s heads.
them, and, of course, luxury liners had It passed as swiftly as it came, and
small compensators with which to damp the instant its crushing grip relaxed,
them out—the little ripples tliat were Sam’s hand was at the controller, cut­
often found in normal ether. But Eric ting in an additional gravigen. He
Vanns’ allusion to it revealed that his turned to the shaken captain, still stand­
superciliousness was as much due to ing wobbly in the center of the control
sheer ignorance as to his characteristic room where the gravitic blast had caught
maliciousness. Sam had been willing to him. Sam balled his fist and held it
smother his personal animosity toward up to Varms’ view.
the man for the duration of the storm, “We would be hard little carbon
but rank incompetence might any mo­ dolls, by now—just that big—if I
ment ruin them all. In a typhoon like hadn’t had the first machine running.
this one, when big liners were tossed The counterthrust of that took most of
about like leaves in a terrestrial autumn, the curse off it. No man living, or
waves of overwhelming force might ship, could have stood up under that
strike them any instant. Then it would baby—a thousand megabars, if it was
be, not a matter of comfort, but sur­ an ounce.”
vival. Eric Varms was dazedly exploring
bruised ribs with fluttering hands. Ben
“LOOK HERE, VAR MS,” Sam Tiggleman eased into the room from
Truman blurted out, determined to have the motor spaces, looking a little star­
the showdown at once. tled. Sam waved to him to be silent.
“Sir, mister, when you address a su­ “Now Varms, as I started to say,”
perior,” barked the new salvage captain, Sam proceeded calmly, as if nothing
savagely. had happened, “before this Kwasind and
Sam Truman glared back just as sav­ us in it is smashed to a briquette you
agely. could load on a truck, let’s have an un­
"I never omit it,” he said, coldly and derstanding. First off, we don’t care a
evenly, “when I’m talkin to one. But damn how you got your job. We can
that mess of gold sewed to your cap don’t guess, but we’ll skip it. You’re the skip­
make you my superior, Eric Varms. In per—that’s conceded. Under the mu­
this game, and on a day like this, it’s tiny laws we’re hooked and we have
what you know that counts, and guts—” to take it, even if you don’t know what
“Y-you—” Varms strode toward it’s all about—”
him, fists clinched and scowling. Sam Varms stiffened belligerently, and a
leaped away from the control panel and hand stole toward his holster.
squared off, watching warily. If Varms “Take it easy, Varms. Bluster won’t
wanted to do it this way, all right. buy you anything. That popgun of
It was at that instant the big wave yours, considering what’s going on
 “Get up, you fool,” snapped Truman. “That’s zeta fire!
Get your suit on before it cooks the flesh off your bones.”
around us. don't mean a thing. I can only thing there that meant anything
yank this switch over a notch or so was the maculometer, and you didn't see
and you'll think that last little squeeze that. Sunspots is one thing that’s wrong
was a love hug. up here. Anyhow, you couldn't know
“Now there’s no use in your four- anything about weather in the Ecliptic
flushing any longer. Hard talk never Line; they ground their ships every time
made a salvage man yet. When you a Force-3 gardient is reported. All we
made that crack down in the dockyard want you to do is keep your trap shut
aliout the weather. I had your number. and leave the heavy thinking to us.
This kind of weather don’t register on “We’re all of us in this thing for the
instruments below an atmosphere. The living we get out of it, and mass suicide
don’t come under the head of living. They fling ’em out. Gravitrons, they’re
Somebody’s got to have charge of this called, and they come in waves—a
bucket that knows what to do. In the pulsating radiation.
salvage racket you're not allowed even “A ‘low’ is a cat of another stripe.
«ne mistake. The first one is finish!” It is the complement of a ‘high’ and
Captain Varms gulped and stared at works on exactly contrary principles. In
his shoe. He knew his mate had him, them, everything gets heavy—intrinsi­
and the engineer, silent, but with the cally heavy, if you know what I mean—
suspicion of a grin on his face, was evi­ about itself. And the sweep of the
dently against him, too. gravitrons tends to take you right to
“I’m open to suggestions,” he said, the center of the ‘low’—blast as you will.
craftily. After all, why not? If these Rockets are not much help if you get
birds wanted to do all the work, and in far enough. And down in the middle
the manager said they knew how, let are pressures you can’t do anything
them. He would get the lion’s share of about. It can suck in a fair-sized comet
the money, anyway, and that was all he and squeeze it into an asteroid a mile or
cared about. To hell with their opinion so in diameter. When a thing like that
of him. And also he could watch and happens, the stress is relieved and the
learn. There would be time enough whole shebang dissipates. After that
later on to straighten ’em out. you have fine weather—until the next
one.
SAM TRUMAN hesitated a moment
“I don't know whether you ever broke
before answering. It was no easy thing
away from the gin mills in Europa long
to explain a phenomenon that happened
enough to get into the museum there,
so infrequently and irregularly that even
but if you had, you would have seen the
the scientists were baffled. It was only
metallic lump there known as the ‘False
known that whenever solar magnetic
Asteroid.’ It’s an egg about twelve
radiation was unusually strong and
feet long and weighs close to ten thou­
there were also present exceptionally
sand tons. That's what's left of the
powerful cosmic rays, etheric disturb­
cruiser Alcyon, crew and all. They
ances resulted. It was believed that
made a secondary X-ray analysis of it
when the two sets of rays impinged at
and have its components tabulated to
one critical angle, “highs” were de­
the last gram. Alongside it is another
veloped, at another, “lows.” Between
table, computed from the plans and
the two a state of gravitic stress ex­
specifications of the Alcyon, including
isted. Lately there had been an unusu­
the stores aboard and the people in her
ally fierce Nova in Scorpio, and sun­
—chemically described. The two tables
spots were at the maximum for more
are the same. That gives you an idea
than a century. .
of the pressures at the heart of a ‘low.’ ”
“We're going into a ‘low’ now,” Sam
began. "You can forget about the Sam paused. Varms, his brow knit
‘highs.’ It’s practically impossible to in a scowl, moved restlessly, but did not
get into them, but if you did, like being interrupt. Sam went on:
grounded on a fairly heavy asteroid “We can’t go to the center of one,
when one swept over you, you would strong as we are, but we can go closer
get so light you might burst. Men, than anybody' else. This crock is
ships, rocks—everything has a tendency packed to the skin with reversible
to fly apart. About all you have to re­ gravity generators, tractor-beam pro­
member about them is that they are the jectors and zeta-ray absorbers. No com­
source of positive gravitic impulses. mercial ship has space for them, and
the Guard vessels have two thirds of it all gadgets in this crock, and those han­
replaced by armament. dled right, to get us out of here with
“Right now, all the ships and meteor­ anything that’s worth the fuel to tow htr
ites and cosmic gravel in this vicinity are in. Bungle once, and we’re done. You
swirling in big cubical spirals toward can see now what a hell of a crust
the eye of the nearest ‘low.’ If they get you—”
in too far, it’s just too bad, but we can “Ah, quite so.” yawned Varms,
grab off some in the edges. Now and elaborately. “A most entertaining and
then one will be flung against an asteroid instructive lecture. I’m sure. Since you
that’s too big to move, and there they understand your duties so thoroughly,
stick. They’re salvage. First come, you may takeover while I rest up for an
first served. The trick there lies in get­ emergency. Call me if you need me.”
ting at them. There are bad gravitic Sam glowered at the retreating back,
eddies around a heavy planetoid and then smiled contemptuously at the. face­
sometimes they will rebound right in saving gesture. His outburst had had
your face. the effect he desired, but there was little
"A lot of ships are still trying to fight of the satisfaction of victory. He and
their way out—rockets versus meta­ Ben still had to do the work of this para­
gravity. If they think they can make site and be content with the little end of
it, they’ll refuse a tow; if they know the reward. But salvage was hard
they’re sunk, you’ve got a customer. You enough on body and conscience without
hook on. then, and pull them out—if you the complications of incompetent med­
can. dling. To the extent he had forestalled
“Once you have a heavy tow hanging that, he was satisfied.
on behind—and it’s the heavy ones that Chubby Ben Tiggleman delivered a
pay—you have to pull double or worse, solemn wink of approval. Their previ­
and that against a gravity that’s likely ous captain had been much of the same
to be as good as Jupiter’s while it lasts. type.
It don’t help you a damn bit that it’s III.
a phony gravity, either. It acts like the
real thing. I know it’s purely local, too, A SMALL GONG tapped three
but then, that happens to be the locality times. An object nearby, something
we work in. What if the strength of it with real gravity, not the immaterial,
does diminish with the seventh root of cosmic ray generated pseudogravity that
the distance, and not the square, as nor­ made up the- etheric weather waves.
mal honest-to-God gravity does? You Sam clicked on the periscope elements
might as. well say that ether, being a of the side toward it and brought its
fiction and nonexistent, can’t bat you image onto the visiplate. It was a small
around the way it does. ship, about ten miles to port, bucking
“And to make it perfectly tough, heavily, as if tossed by enormous walls
the closer in you get the worse the zeta of palpable fluid. From her tail a nar­
rays are. Get out from behind a screen rowing streak of brilliance stabbed, only
and watch your flesh begin to glow. It to be pinched surprisingly to a sharp
don't hurt—at first—and that’s the bad point a few miles astern of her.
part of it. But in a few minutes, if The brilliance of the exhaust bore wit­
you’re not crushed first, the meat drops ness to the recklessness with which her
off you, cooked and smoking. I’m not master was squandering fuel. Its con­
trying to scare you. I’m just telling you striction from the ordinary flare of
what you’re up against. rocket exhaust was eloquent of the all­
“The point is that it’s going to take pervading tendency to self-compression. .
Pressure everywhere were high by then, rank but not the device of any rated line.
even the troughs of the waves must be Behind him stood a vague huddle of peo­
higher than normal Earth pull. ple, probably gathered in the control
, “She’s making pretty heavy weather room to take advantage of the one small
of it, isn’t she?” said Ben, looking over compensator such liners usually carried.
Sam’s shoulder. “Little tramp, I guess, Sam thought there was a woman or so
with enough low-grade ore to pay the among them, but his reception was so
overhead and a handful of passengers bad he could not be sure.
for profit. Probably a group of school­ “Berenice out of Io for Earth, Cap­
teachers getting an eyeful of the won­ tain Tribble speaking. After fuel bins
ders of the Universe on their summer empty. I need four hours to break out
vacation, or some retired farmers hav­ reserve supply from the nether bunk­
ing their fling.” ers and preheat it. Can you hold me up
“They’ll be flung, all right,” said Sam that long ?”
grimly. That was the kind of distress “Who pays the bill?” asked Truman
that took the joy out of salvage work. reluctantly.
The ship was obviously a waif of the A look of despair crossed the anxious
spaceways, probably mortgaged to her captain’s face .
dome plate, while her passengers, if any, “You can have my equity in the ship,”
were nobodies—small fry that had he said heavily. “It’s all I have. There
scraped their last bit of money together are eight hundred tons of tribonite on
to pay for one grand outing. He knew board, and five passengers. I daresay
from the lack of Line markings that they might raise a little money. Of
she was no fit prospect for IPS. course I know tribonite isn’t—”
Just then the thin flaming line of its
wake darkened to a streak of black— His words trailed away. He knew
he was asking the impossible. Inter-
then vanished. With the practiced eye
of the born skyman, Sam photographed Planetary’s reputation was firmly estab­
on his memory the pattern of the stars lished. Cash on the barrel head was
beyond her. There was a bright one the rule—that is, salable stuff in sight—
close to her stern and a pair of others or an ironclad guarantee.
just forward of the bow. Presently the “Heat up your contracathode, I'm
bright one astern was occulted by the coming alongside.”
storm-tossed craft and the interval to Sam Truman surprised even himself
the forward pair widened. The strug­ as he snapped out the decision. It must
gling ship, which had been doing hardly have been the expression of all the long-
more than hold its own against the smoldering rebellion in him; his detesta­
grasping lines of force, was making tion of the porky manager back at Her-
sternboard. In a short while, she would apolis, his contempt for the sleeping
be plunging unrestrained into the mael­ Eric Varms, his hatred for the policies
strom of the enveloping “low.” of the IPS and his loathing for the
Her SOS came in startlingly clear. part he himself had so often been com­
Sam noted her visicode number and pelled to play. All of that welled up
focused his radiophone so he could speak within him for force that reckless ges­
with her captain. In a second he was ture. They could pay no adequate fee,
looking at a cloudy picture of an old- of course. Sam knew that. IPS would
fashioned control room, cluttered with fire him. Then it occurred to him that
obsolete instruments. Facing him was they would probably also fire their
an elderly man, staring with haggard newly hired skipper, Varms. He should
eyes from beneath a cap that showed his have been on the job, not asleep. Sam
smiled grimly at that thought—a cap­ impact of it his bones ached as after the
tain can’t pass the buck. blast of a heavy gun. The little com­
pensator in his suit was not nearly so
THE SQUAT, ugly sphere came adequate as the one in the tug. but
slowly up in the dead wake of the Bere­ after that first mighty wallop he found
nice. Ben Tiggleman was at the hawse­ himself still alive, although it w’as diffi­
beam controls, hand on switch. The tow­ cult to breathe. He supposed that the
ing bitts of the Kwasind. a pair of mush­ proximity of the two vessels, each pos­
room-shaped cathodes, were already sessing real gravity, had caused the
white-hot, so that they could hold and pseudogravitic waves to bunch between
maintain the tricky electronic beam. As them.
the tug drew abreast of the plunging His hand rocket was blazing fiercely
Berenice, Sam Truman noticed her and it was easy to check his headlong
primitive contracathodes still dull and fall away from the two ships, but when
colorless. Savagely he snapped the he tried to fight his way back he found
communications switch. he was gaining nothing on them. He
“Bear a hand with the heat,’’ he snapped on his torch to add its reaction
yelled. “I can't hook onto you like to the other, but the additional forw’ard
that.” progress w'as negligible. An occasional
The captain of the Berenice showed extra heavy surge would catch him and
his worried face. throw' him back as far as he had come.
“All my auxiliaries are dead except Ben, he knew, must be watching him,
the compensator—” and if need lie would drop down in the
"Then send a couple of men out with Kwasind and pick him up. But that
torches!” would be wasteful of time and would
‘.'No zeta shields either. They'd burn require a new approach to the helpless
up before they started. Can't you hold excursion ship.
me with a magnetic grapnel ?” A daring thought popped into his
head. A plain bitt, hot enough, would
Sam swore heartily. It was true
hold a hawser-beam, so would his hel­
that the Berenice was bathed in the faint
met. He turned his torch against it,
rose luminescence of zeta fire, but a mag­
hoping fervently its insulation was effi­
netic grapnel! As well use a rope of
cient enough to prevent him from cook­
sand. He wanted to help these people,
ing his brains. Feeling no more than
but their captain seemed to lack re­
moderate discomfort, he continued cau­
sourcefulness.
tiously until he could bear it no more.
“They want it fed to them with a He doubted if the peak of it was more
spoon.” observed Ben. dryly, but Sam than a dull red, but it was worth a try.
was climbing into a spacesuit. He sang out to Ben to throw him a
“I won't take a boat for this, close small line.
aboard as she is. I'll heat their damn He clamped his jaw and let the sweat
bitts for ’em, by hand. The minute I roll. The experiment wouldn't take but
give the sign, slap the hawser down; an instant. If the line refused to catch,
then haul short and wait for me. As he would have to try something else. He
soon as I'm back in the lock, give her watched feverishly the snaky, lashing
the gun. Gravity's running heavier here thread of green fire that w’as flung at z
than I thought.” him from the fat sphere ahead. Five
He was halfway to the wallowing times it whipped about him before it
Berenice when a heavy gust sent liim found its mark. Then, wfith a jerk
flying far past her stern. Under the that nearly decapitated him, it sna|»ped
taut. He was yanked ahead violently, BEN TIGGLEMAN was too old a
induced currents of electricity thrilled tug hand to be much impressed by the
through him, galvanizing his limbs into bit of unique lassoing Truman had just
jerky grotesqueries that were agoniz­ done, but as he examined the heat-
ingly painful. In the kaleidoscope of blistered helmet of the suit Sam had
wild sensations he was experiencing, taken off, he did ask:
ihe nightmare conception that he was “How was it?”
being hanged and electrocuted simultane­ “Terrible!” grinned Sam. ruefully
ously stood out as his most salient agony. rubbing his neck. Stiff with electric
By the time he had gained a little cramps, he poured himself a beaker of
command of the whirling sensations that water and downed it. grimacing.
almost maddened him, he perceived that “Give her the works,” he added. “In
the Kwasind must have pulled ahead, for a few hours that old galoot back there
he was dangling at the end of the fiery ought to be able to carry on by himself.
fiber just over the nose of the hapless We can cast him off, and if friend
Berenice. Ben evidently cut the switch Varms is still snoozing, we will have
—the green thread of light faded into an done our good deed for the day and
attenuated puff of smoke and Sam was won’t have to catch hell for it.”
slammed hard against the bow of the “She’s three bells and a jingle al­
drifting ship. He flung an arm around ready,” said Ben. “The old girl won't
the cold, hard bitt and drew himself .up do any more.”
to a squatting position beside it. Sam hobbled to the periscope and had
The faint rosy aura was all about the a look at his tow. She was rearing and
hull he knelt on, and the rigid hairs yawing, laternately riding ahead on the
of brush discharge stood abundantly on shiny green line or bucking it like a
top of the bitts, but he disregarded them. caught fish reluctant to come into the
His suit was reasonably proof against boat. There were plenty of times when
them and he had not yet felt the om­ he couldn't see her at all for the blast of
inous tingle that would indicate a leak. the tug’s rockets, but the flames were so
He applied his torch to the bitts and compressed usually that he could see
little by little they warmed—dull red enough.
through cherry to a pale straw. He “Steady as you go,” he said to Ben,
yelled into the mike and jumped clear. and sat down on the transom to relax.
Having just suffered the shock from He closed his eyes and lay very still for
the thin thread of bis own little tow­ a time. He had taken a worse pound­
line, he had no desire to be struck by ing than he had bargained for. The
the heavier hawser. almost damped-out cosmic surges swept
The writhing serpent of maddened through him rhythmically, gently urging
electrons again lashed at him, a fatter him to sleep. But within an hour a
spark and far more deadly, but he was buzzing called attention to the telescribe.
well clear as it groped the nose of the The long expected flood of distress sig­
Berenice in its hunt for the one excited nals was beginning to come in. He
spot that would hold it. Then it caught got up wearily to listen. As soon as
the bitts and clung. The Kwasind hauled they were rid of the Berenice, they would
it taut and quivering, then slowly backed be going after one of those.
down along it as a spider on her web. The first two were distant—in the
Seeing his work done, Sam plunged into Jovian area. Then came a cry from the
space, jet and torch both burning, and Proteus. She and the Comet Dust were
breasted his way yard by yard to the out of control and caught in the same
open lock in the underside of his tug. vortex. They were being whirled to
their mutual destruction, circling one an­ automatic brakes choked it into silence.
other, ever approaching. In the end Circuit breakers popped like cannon.
they would be pressed together into The quivering green ribbon, stretching
one amorphous lump. A vibrant call out astern on whose slender strength the
came from the Ertrella Verde, four lives of the poor humans in the Berenice
weeks out of Oberon, bound for the hung, ceased to exist. The tramp slid
docks of the Assay Office with an un­ away in the typhoon, once more help­
specified cargo but one valued at forty­ lessly adrift and without hope.
odd millions. She was short of fuel and “In another hour you could have cast
caught in the sweep of the trans-systemic them off decently.” said Sam as calmly
tide of “highs” and “lows.” Her last as he could, though he was near to chok­
call stated she was falling helplessly ing with rage. “I think there are women
head-on into a cluster of asteroids. She aboard her as well as her crew.”
reckoned the asteroids to be the anterior “Women!” sneered Varms. “So
Trojans, but she could not identify the that’s your game? Well, it’s money I
one immediately ahead of her. Then want. Give me enough of that and I
came an urgent message from the Span­ can have my pick of women."
ish Star Line, her owners, guaranteeing He came closer to his mate, full again
her value and begging that a salvage of his old-time swagger.
vessel be sent to her with all dispatch. “I’ve taken a lot of your lip, mister,
and I fell for your line and let you have
charge of the tug. And this is what you
IV.
do. You’re stupid—that’s what's the
CAPTAIN VARMS. disturbed by trouble with you—stupid. Stupid as
the insistence of the buzzers, stumbled hell. You don't know what it's all
into the control room. His eyeballs about and never did. You were that
were red with heavy slumber and his way back at the academy when we hung
hair rumpled. He picked up the tele­ the blame for that jug of hootch on you
scribe tape and sleepily locked at it. and they booted you off the Moon. And
“Ah,” he said, as the import of the that day at the Ecliptic trials. You took
last item waked him more fully. “This off to do stunts—the high-and-mighty
Estrelle Verde looks good. How are we Mr. Truman, almost a captain, you
heading ?” thought. It was going to be a walk­
He scowled when he swung the peri­ away—the job was in the bag. You
scope forward and saw the ruddy dot didn’t even have brains enough to take a
of Mars ahead. Then, perceiving the look-see at your ship. Did you think
laboring of the Kwasind under the bur­ that I, your senior, was going to take
den of her tow, he flipped the instru­ it lying down? Whv. you poor damn
ment around so he could look astern. fool—”
He wanted to know what was on the
line and Sam told him. SAM’S SELF-CONTROL crashed
“Yes, yes,” snapped Varms, testify, under the overload. His right flashed
“but what’s in it for us? Oh! Some out and thudded against Varms’ chin,
more of your damned sentimentality, and he followed it with a hard left that
eh? Well, here’s the answer to that.” sent the captain spinning against the op­
Before either Sam or Ben could move posite bulkhead. Then, restraining the
a muscle, with a single sweep of his arm furious impulse that suddenly had seized
he struck open the hawser switch. The him, he stood fast, watching the other
electronic capstan shrieked as it ran with loathing while he staggeringly re­
wild for the few seconds before its covered and wheeled. But when Varms
faced him again it was with a gun in his on board,” said Sam pointedly. “The
hand. Kwasind did take on the tow. Laugh
“That will be all from you, Truman,” that off.”
he raged, his face livid with anger. But Truman spat disgustedly and strode
seeing Sam made no further hostile from the room.
move, he quieted his tone. More coldly In his own quarters he sat for a long
he taunted: time on the edge of his bunk trying to
“Once a sucker, always a sucker. think out the best thing to do. He did
You’ve struck your superior officer now. not regret for one moment his outburst
For that I could shoot you down where of violent anger. He felt he owed his
you stand—I’d be commended for it. new skipper more than a pair of pokes,
But I think I’d rather not. I like the even if his position was technically weak.
idea of the lapetian mines better, down He had long suspected Varms as the
there in the radioactive ores. It’s not cause of his misfortunes, but now, as al­
so quick, but it’s very, very thorough. ways, he lacked proof. He shrugged
And it’s unquestionably legal—” that off as ancient history. Immediately,
Ben Tiggleman had done it as neatly what was best to do?
as a cat pounces on a mouse. One swift He could, of cdurse, turn back to
leap past Varms, snatching the gun from Mars where they could air their dirty
his hand as he went by, and he was in linen in the courts. Yet, as he con­
another corner, covering the. captain in sidered that, he was not so confident that
his turn. he could make his threat good. The law
“What do you want done with him?” was as he had stated it, but there was
he asked of Sam, but not taking his eye still Martian procedure to be reckoned
off of Varms. with. The Berenice had been sent to her
“Nothing, now," said Sam, quietly. destruction by Varms' act; true. But
“Chuck the gun out of the tube, Ben. with her had gone also her crew and
We can handle him without it.” passengers. The only surviving wit­
“You can’t get away with this,” mut­ nesses would be himself and Ben Tig­
tered Varms as Ben contemptuously gleman and at Herapolis they would be
broke the gun apart and tossed its parts handicapped by being at the same time
into the garbage slot. under the charge of mutiny. Inter-
“Oh, no?” countered Sam. “Let’s Planetary Salvage, sore at having no
wait and see what the courts say. If you fees from the vessel, could be counted
want to be technical, so will I—it’s a upon to be vindictive—and its influence
game two can play. That’s not a bad was strong.
idea of yours about the lapetian mines, Then too, it would hardly be fair to
only it will be you who go, not I. I did Ben and the rest of the boys to turn back
think, though, that you were a better now. The recent months had been
sky-lawy6r. They told you, no doubt, lean ones and they were all depending
when they hired you that you had the on today’s prize money for their sub­
right to refuse assistance to anybody sistence for a long time to come. After
that couldn’t pay, but what you evidently all, his quarrel with Varms was largely
don't know is that once you put a line a personal one and it would be unjust to
on something, you’re responsible. When make the others suffer from it. Sam
you cut that ship adrift you committed concluded to let his reckoning with bis
murder—wholesale murder.” old opponent wait and in the meantime
“I didn't authorize the tow,” retorted to stay out of his way as much as pos­
Varms. sible. At least Varms was a licensed of­
“You are the captain of record and ficer—he might muddle through the
AST—«
storm somehow. In the mood Sam was “Kill that, and freeze it down.”
at the moment he didn’t really care; the He watched it shrink, the instant the
Kwasind could lose all standing, for all it flow of electric energy was cut off. First
mattered to him. it dwindled to a ball, the size of an ap­
Too restless to sleep and resolved to ple, the sparkling white of nearly melting
stay out of the control room, at least steel. Then it shrank to half that size,
until some emergency required his pres­ still glowing ruddily. In the end, it
ence there, he wandered through a back would be a pellet the size of a marble,
passage and into the generator compart­ weighing many tons on Earth, cold and
ment. inert in a bath of liquid hydrogen. In
that condition, it might be fairly safe to
THE TWISTINGS, blazing sphere handle.
of iridescent flame dancing within the It would take hours, he knew, for
interlaced hoops of the mesotronic that vibrant spherelet to become quieted
charger was a vivid reminder to him enough to be plunged into the cold solu­
that hitherto he had had no chance to tion that held its mates. In the mean­
test out his sky anchors. In view of the time there was nothing he could do but
conditions on board, it was unlikely that wait. Unwilling to resume the useless
he could use them at all, yet he remained bickerings with his captain, Sam went
fascinated by their possibilities. But back to his own room, threw himself into
what would become of them if Varms his bunk and slept.
and the slippery legal crew of IPS got
the better of him ? Perhaps it would be HE STIRRED occasionally, half
better to destroy them as tliey wrere. awake, disturbed by the mysterious
He could not stomach the thought of heavings and queer motions of the storm-
others appropriating that product of his tossed tug. At such times he would
brain. wonder idly how an outfit as shrewd as
But could he destroy them? Once IPS could have entrusted, for all its cu­
those quintillions of quintillions of elec­ pidity, one of its money-making craft to
trons were knit into one tight little ball, a man so inexperienced in the ways of
dispersing them otherwise than he had gravitic gales. But hour after hour the
planned might be impossible. Their laboring vessel got on—somehow—
power of devastation, if suddenly re­ though he knew from the wail of the
leased, was unthinkably vast. compensators that they must be well
He gazed thoughtfully at the writhing into the perilous depths of a "low.”
ball of concentrated lightning, as visible In time, a persistent tingling and itch­
through the plates of thick lead that sur­ ing brought him fully awake. There
rounded it as an ordinary light through was fever in his blood—he was nause­
panes of glass. All about it, radically ated and dizzy. He painfully opened his
pointed electrodes were pouring further eyes and saw what he already feared—
billions of units of energy into the flam­ the dread rose glow of the zeta fire. His
ing mass. Already a yard in diameter, furniture was bathed in it, and when
it would blaze for many hours, if al­ he struggled to his feet he saw his flash
lowed to dissipate in space, a miniature was faintly luminous. He managed to
sun. get the big jar of ointment out of his
Suddenly, he resolved to dispose ot locker and spread its contents on his
them. Better that. Inert and frozen, skin. The tingling eased, and he fol­
they might safely be tossed into the lowed the ointment -with windings of
rocket exhaust. He beckoned to one of black adhesive tape until he was as
Ben’s men. swathed as an ancient mummy—he left
no opening except for eyes and nos­ rays down there. Sam went back <o the
trils. The hafnium carbide with which instrument panel and made some ad­
it was impregnated would keep out fur- justments to the set-up that materially
ther rays—if they got no more intense. improved conditions within the hull.
He put on his spacesuit and flicked The rosy fire died out and it was easier
its compensator to going, too. In his to breathe. Then he began to study the
preoccupation with measures against visiplate.
the rays he had liardly noticed the pulsa­ There was a planetoid landscape be­
tions that racked him. but his ribs were low—a wilderness of high-flung crags
painfully aware of the recurrent pres­ and black ravines. In places were ac­
sure. Varms must have taken them cumulations of white crystalline matter,
into the ven' middle of things. but nowhere were there signs of life.
He went into the control room, half He had no idea what the body was
expecting to meet Varms’ flailing fists named, but its hallmark of peaks and
with his own, but the captain was seated chasms was an easy one to read. It was
dejectedly at the master panel and star­ one of the Trojans the wildest and
ing at the visiplate. As Sam entered roughest of all the little worlds. The
the room, a huge compression wave Kwasind was evidently in an orbit al»out
smashed them both, but receded as it. for as he looked, the scenery shifted.
Varms managed to shove a lever all the In one spot he saw what may have been
way over. He had learned a few things, once a warning beacon and lighthouse,
evidently. Sam thought bitterly. He but it was crushed beyond sure recog­
knew from the vibrations of the floor nition.
plates that the emergency set of tubes When he was nearly back to where he
was blasting, and he could see that the had first taken over, he saw the partic­
control room, like his own, was filled ular bit of carrion the buzzard had
with the pale rose zeta fire. Varms’ had his eye on. Hung in the crotch of
hands and head glimmered with the tell­ twin jagged peaks lay a huge spaceship,
tale luminescence. easily identifiable as one of the Spanish
“You had better go in my room and Star Line, despite its crumpled lx>w and
grease yourself with anazet,” Sam said caved-in stern. Sam could see the de­
to him. “Then put tape on, like I tails plainly even though the distance
have. The roll is lying in my bunk.” was great, for Varms had been using the
“There's a fortune down there,” said highest magnification. The middle sec­
Varms. huskily, pointing to the visiplate, tion appeared to be intact, which was not
“and. we can’t reach it. Every time I surprising. That was where they car­
get down to a certain level, something ried their cargo. Tightly packed ore
grabs us. With all this power you’d yielded very little to compression.
think—” The Kwasind went on, then slid away
“Snap out of it man—you’re dying. on what under ordinary conditions
All the fortunes in the Universe won’t would have been an orbit about the
be any good to you in another ten min­ asteroid, but Sam soon saw that that
utes unless you do as I tell you. Let body was receding at a terrific rate. He
the fortune wait.” found he had to use the utmost power
Sam shoved him out of his seat and to bring the tug back onto a closed
led him halfway to the door, and saw curve. The extreme eccentricity of her
him go falteringly from the room. A path was unquestionably due to the pe­
swift check with the rotor room showed culiar combination of gravite forces.
that Ben and the boys were alert and There was the natural attraction of the
in good condition; there were no pink planetoid, tremendously heightened by
 the effect of the storm; and there was tear her away and fling her headlong
also the drift across it of pseudogravitic spaceward. It would take many hours to
•forces, tending to force the tug down fight back.
on the “high” or weather side of the He paced the deck, frowning in men­
little body. On the lee side, the two tal calculations of time, stresses anti
forces were opposed. The waves of the rocket power. At the buzz of the tele­
storm threatened to tear the Kwasind type monitor he mechanically seized its
away from the asteroid altogether. tape and absent-mindedly read what was
on it. Then, alert, he reread it. It was
an intercept from IPS to the Thor, the
V.
Thor having already brought in one
SAM TRUMAN became so fasci­ prize and was out now cruising for an­
nated by the difficulties of the problem other. They were giving him the lo­
that he forgot entirely his recent fight cation of the Estrella wreck—none of the
with the captain and lost sight of his other tugs had reported salvaging it,
own anomalous position on board. The and it was a nice prize, rhor said she
vision of the immensely valuable, yet knew about it and was on her way
quite inaccessible, Estrella Verde, was a there.
challenge to his professional pride. He Sam sprang into action. Ben came
found himself avidly wanting to go down in response to his imperious ring.
io the wreck and make fast a line to it. “It’s now or never, Ben. Slip those
'file greed that so strongly motivated anchors into the electric oven and start
Varms did not enter into his calculations exciting them. We'll try skyhooks over
—he needed money, certainly, who that ship. If they hold, you'll be on
doesn't ?—but the thing that piqued him Easy Street.”
was being so near and yet so far from “And if they don’t?”
that mess of crumpled alloy that they “Ben, the Thors on the way here!
all wanted to take hold of. We’ve got to get a line on that baby lie-
He glanced through the log and took fore she comes, or it'll be the same
off from figures—figures of the com­ old fight over again. We lost every
pensators consumption, and rocket use. other time. Her skipper didn't marry
He plotted curves. They were not re­ the manager's daughter for her beauty.
assuring. They were still rising and You know what a chance we have when
that meant the height of the storm was it comes to rulings on split fees.”
still to come. It was already impossibly With great difficulty Sam brought, the
dangerous to go close to the wreck. Kwasind up into the torrent of gravitic
Perhaps he would have to wait until the imptilses and inched his way back to the
little planet had made a half revolution planetoid. He dreaded getting around-
and brought the fallen Estrella Verde between the little Trojan and the oncom­
to the lee side. But he did not know ing waves, but there was nothing else to
the name of the planetoid. do—unless he wanted to chuck the whole
He ran back through the telescribe job as being too tough, and scurry for
record and found the first SOS, that shelter.
had been sent ten hours before. Pre­ The moment the tug was steady on
sumably the ship was wrecked under her course and there was no more he
the same conditions as existed now; could do to coax her, he left the con­
therefore, it would be five hours before trols and went to watch the heating of
it could be safe to approach her. But his little pellets. They were dazzling
could be hold the Kwasind in the vicinity white by the time he put his eye to the
that long? Any moment the gale might peephole in the furnace wall. A few
hundred degrees more and they would be angle from the vertical and equally
ready to act. spaced horizontally, soared upward.
Each of the three blobs of radiant energy
, SKY ANCHORS had long been the trailed a shimmering ribbon of pale­
dream of astragators. And also the green fire, the lines that were to hold
subject of many jests. Some sort of ce­ them. Harpoons they were, of blazing
lestial drag was needed, but no one had light, and as the green lines tautened at
perfected one. the end of their runs, the snubbed
“I know what’s in ’em, I helped you spherelets burst into huge globes of
make ’em,” said Ben, “but I still don’t fiercely iridescent light.
see—” “Hang on!” yelled Sam, as the Kwa-
“Just like the force screens in battle sind shivered under the shock. It was
cruiser work,” said Sam, confidently. something like a collision with a heavy
“They accumulate balls of pure energy solid. The tug swayed, sickeningly,
and fire them out on tractor threads. after slowing to a stop and then re­
The yank of the tractor thread, when versing its motion like a gigantic pen­
it has run its full length, sets off the dulum. Sam threw the periscope
radiation. The tendency of the energy through a full half circle to bring the
is to escape from the nearest center of planetoid into view. Its image was
gravity, see? But its nucleus is held large on the plate and growing at a
fast by the tractor thread, and it can’t rapid rate. That meant they were fall­
get away except by dissipating itself in ing, straight down onto it.
radiation. As long as it lasts, it not “Two more, any two!” sang out Sam.
only exerts a pull on the cruiser, but That time there was scarcely any
repulses whatever comes against it from shock, but the image of the planetoid
the outside. They shoot out a cloud of ceased to grow visibly. Sam set a pair
them all around, which balances the of huge dividers and measured its breath.
stresses on the cruiser and gives it per­ In a full minute it grew but a few de­
fect protection.” grees.
“Yeah, but—” “We are still falling,” he observed, but
“Get your tongs and a gang of men there was enormous relief in his voice.
and let’s load these into the heaving line “That’s what I want to do—until we
tubes in the upper hemisphere. You’ll are nearly to the wreck. But we're un­
have to attach a tractor line to each der control now. The last one will
of them, like harpoons. Come on, I’ll do it. Gosh! It's lucky we made
show you.” six.” And he grinned happily at Ben.
Sam ran back and checked his posi­ Ben had not lost the puzzled look,
tion. They were almost over the broken though.
carcass of the Estrella Verde. He had “Now look.” laughed Sam, exhilarated
already computed roughly what the at his success. “You remember toy bal­
gravitional pull was, and knew about loons when you were a kid? Well,
what to expect from each of his anchors. imagine five of ’em with a brick tied to
“Number one tube—three—five. ’em. That’s us. Those five chunks of
Fire!” As he called, he cut his rockets. energy up there are trying their best to
It was the supreme gamble. Ben had get away from the nearest center of
already pressed the three buttons and gravity, and at this spot that happens
was crowding up beside Sam at the visi- to be the asteroid under us. They’re not
plate, focused upward. strong enough to do it, so we are slowly
Three skyrockets, each at a slight falling. When we get down to the
right height, all we have to do is fire bull by the horns, deciding on the in­
the last one, and we'll be all set. Any stant to try another tack. The proof
little adjustments necessary we can of his anchors hung in the balance. If
make with rockets.” they worked, impossible rescues became
easy.
BEN TIGGLEMAN understood. He “If I can salvage that ship you wanted
also understood why Sam did not want without your having to lift a finger,
to descend all the way. They were in will you make a concession ?”
the same situation that a ship in water "You are going to the lapetian mines,
would be under similar circumstances— if I never see another dollar,” snapped
hanging to a seaward anchor off a rocky Varms, viciously. “ Concede nothing.
lee shore. To get closer, unless very Whine all you want—”
delicately and accurately done, was to “As far as your fight and mine is con­
invite being dashed to pieces on one of cerned, Eric, I don't want your con­
the pinnacles. Moreover, all that was cessions. At Mars, it will be whole dog
needed was to get a line to the wreck and or none. But it’s Ben and the boys I'm
as soon as the storm abated, haul off to speaking for. They need money. And
skyward with her in tow. you’ll get yours, too. What I'm asking
“Now,” said Sam, “there’s one thing you to do is to leave Ben alone—both
we don’t know. That is, how long will now and when we get back. He hasn't
those anchors last? We gave them a hurt you any, so forget his part in our
four-hour charge, but they may dis­ row. If I'm going down to that Estrella
charge at a faster rate. And when they to tie a line on her, I’ve got to have
have dissipated— Bang! With all rock­ somebody up here handling this end that
ets going, the best we can hope for is I can depend on. Lay off of him until I
an easy crash, and you can see for your­ get back—that’s all I ask. You can't
self what kind of ground is under us. lose.”
I am going down and fasten a hawser to “Oh, that dumbbell,” said Varms, con­
that wreck. Then, if there’s a break in temptuously. “I'd forgotten he was
the weather, all we have to do is pull alive. No, go ahead and do your stuff
out.” if you’re so damn anxious to show off.
Ben nodded, but he could not fail to As you say, we can settle when we get
see that their situation was still pretty to Herapolis. As far as your fat boy
risky. He hadn’t thought about the friend goes—”
short life of the anchors. But then, they That was all Sam wanted. His con­
might get out—the weather might im­ cern was immediate; he didn’t want
prove. And the Thor was on the way. Varms jockeying with the controls while
He agreed that the line should be run, he was hanging outside on a sliver of
and quickly. an electron beam. As to Varms’ prom­
“I’ll need a surfboat for this, and a ise not to charge Ben with mutiny, Sam
couple of the boys,” said Sam. attached no value to it at all, but it was
Unexpectedly, Varms, swaddled in at least a try. He was willing to rely on
hafnium tape, appeared in the control Varms’ greed not to interfere with his
room. own efforts to salvage the Estrella, once
“What’s going on here?” he inquired, he had pointed out the folly of his trying
petulantly. Apparently the filtered rays to interfere.
had not operated on him long enough Sam’s motives were not altogether as
to set up the inflammation that would rot altruistic as he thought them. He did
away the flesh. want to see the boys go back with
Ben looked rattled, but Sam took the something to show for their work, but
primarily he was concerned about the the sixth and last of the sky-hooks, and
success of his anchors. Now that he she hung motionless a bare thousand
had put them to the test, he wanted to feet above the wreck, all her original
'see it through, and that with the mini­ orbital velocity gone—the pendulum mo­
mum of interference. tion ceased. Sam followed his tow men
The quiet inside the suspended ship into the boat and. before they cast off.
was deceptive, Ben had already fired worked it under the belly of the Kwasind

“The tug’s going,” he shouted, running

toward Truman. ‘‘They’re marooning us!"
and welded on the end of a tractor line torch behind them, they made their way
to ease their descent. to the spot where the line was to be
It was well they did, for gravity was made fast.
strong and its surges violent. Yard at Sam feared for their eyes, for those
a time Ben fed them slack, lowering they could not tape. As a precaution,
them away. Down below, the threat­ they took turns holding the torch, a few
ening needles of the two peaks stabbed minutes each, while the relief pair nes­
at them, and between they could see the tled together, each sheltering his eyes
dim outlines of the stranded treasure against his mate's body. It was awk­
vessel. Patches of pink fire were every­ ward and tedious work, and all the
where, evidence that the storm was still while the gravitic surges played upon
going strong. their helpless bodies as on accordions.
Sam fended off the torn and warped But in time the preheating was done
plates of the Estrella Verde’s smashed and Sam gave Ben the signal. Scurry­
nose. The boat came to a grating land­ ing to a safe distance, they watched the
ing on the cold rocks beside it. He fat, greasy stream of verdant brilliance
stepped out and looked at the mon­ smash down like a bolt of lightning and
strous ship, looming doubly large in the seize the wreck. Now the Kwasind
half light and by contrast with the thin was steadied from below as well as from
crags of Trojan rock. above. Even better, she was secure in
Above, like some fantastic fireworks her legal rights. Let the Thor come.
display, the black button of the Kwa­ Tiresome as the descent and the heat­
sind stood atop the thin green line that ing had been, it had not actually taken
led up from the boat, and branching long. The slow-moving asteroid still
upward from it were the brilliant taut presented the w reck to the full force of
lines that clung to the anchors. Those the gale which showed little sign of
glittering objects formed a marvelous abating. It would be hours before the
six-point constellation in the skies, Kwasind could lift. Desiring to make
flaming fiercely as they radiated away sure that the end doors of the cargo
their pent-up force into the heavens. section were dogged tight. Sam decided
Sam signaled his safe arrival, and the to stay down a little longer and phoned
green link between him and the tug aloft to Ben to that effect. Ben as­
flickered and went out. sured him everything was all right in
the ship and the strain on the anchors
evenly distributed. He also said there
VI.
was no need of haste, as he had reported
SAM'S PRACTICED EYE sur­ having a line on the Estrella and the
veyed the broken ship. There was no Thor had turned elsewhere for her prey.
possibility of towing her out intact. The Sending the men to the shelter of
bow was a mass of tangled wreckage, the surfboat, Sam undertook the inspec­
while the stern section appeared to be tion of the cargo holds. To his satis­
tom clean away. But the cargo seg­ faction, the doors at the end were sound
ment amidships appeared to be sound and unimpaired, but before closing tliem
and its end bulkheads undamaged. Sam for the trip in, he wandered through
decided to attach the hawser to it di­ the longitudinal passage between them
rectly. to examine the cargo itself. He was
He and his helpers crawled out over curious as to its nature, since it had
the convex surface of its top where the been reported to have such an enormous
rosy flames danced six inches high on value.
the iron of the hull,. Dragging their The first two bins, to his amazement,
contained nothing but tribonite—virtu­ referred to the payment of an insurance
ally ballast. Although some of the other premium against piracy—an amount so
bins were filled with rhodium ore, all large that it could only cover an im­
of it together could hardly have been portant shipment.
■worth five million. Yet they had re­
ported the ship as valued at ten times THE RECEIVER in his helmet
that! Could the SOS have been gar­ crackled vigorously, but the voice that
bled? should have followed his acknowledg­
Puzzled, he determined to explore ment did not immediately speak. Then
the torn and disrupted bow. Some­ he could make out a screamed, “Look
where in its wreckage there would be out, Sam! I can’t hold—” and Ben’s
the ship’s papers. Those would surely warning was choked into stillness. The
show what things of value there were crackling stopped. The line was dead.
on board. Something must have happened to the
Before crawling beneath the warped Kwasind—perhaps the anchors were dy­
plates of the bow structure, he stepped ing out. Sam hastily made his way
outside and gazed critically upward at through the jumble of twisted stanchions
his six blazing sky anchors. He was and stumbled over buckled floor plates.
gratified to see they were holding up In his alarm, it seemed ages before he
well, and any remaining anxiety he had could gain the crack by which he had
as to their dependability left him. He entered and look aloft to see what was
found a rent in the forward hull and wrong. When he saw, he sprinted for
squirmed through it. the surfboat and shook his waiting men
In the gloomy and misshapen com­ into alertness.
partments ahead of him he found many Overhead, still hanging from the six
horrible vestiges of the storm’s ravages. gleaming anchors, the Kwasind was all
There were some of those sickening too evidently getting ready for action.
dolls—a dozen of them—pygmy cari­ Her underjet bushings were glowing
catures of men. They were corpses, white, and even as the startled men on
bodies of normal men like himself, but the ground stared, straw-colored fire
crushed uniformly by the overwhelming gushed down at them. They scrambled
gravity that had had its way when the frantically for the shelter of a nearby
compensators stopped and the hull walls ledge and cowered there while the in­
failed. He shuddered and passed them candescent rocket exhaust smote the
by. He had seen such things before, place they just had been. They saw
but he had yet to become callous to their surfboat burst into flames. The
them. Estella Verde heaved upward, hogging
On what had been the floor of the noticeably as the cargo segment rose,
control room he found among the debris pulled by the strong hawser. Huge
what he had been looking for. In one fragments of intertwined wreckage, the
place was the log, in another the mani­ last clinging fragments of the ruptured
fest and muster roll. Playing his flash­ bow and stern, fell away as the amid-
light on them, he thumbed their pages, ship section was dragged skyward. The
but nowhere did he find mention of Kwasind was under way—was running
other than the cheap ores he had al­ off with their prize, abandoning them!
ready seen. He had almost come to Sam Truman’s phone again crackled,
the conclusion that the amount stated alive once more.
in the distress call had been an error “This will do as well as Iapetus,”
when he came upon an entry made the said an exultant voice. It was that of
day before the ship cleared Oberon. It Varms. “Dig a mine where you are.”
The connection clicked. Sam, leading the way to the scattered
“The dirty louse,” said one of the and tumbled remnants of the Estrella
men. Verde.
They stood silently watching the
Mars-bound tug and its tow, now a THEY FOUND lean pickings. As
ruddy streak against a handful of dwin­ for the bow, after its second crash it
dling stars. Sam set his face in grim was an impenetrable jungle of junk. In
chagrin as he realized what had hap­ the stern, intact and unmoved by the
pened. He had been a sucker. He saw departure of the Kwasind, they came
now what he should have known all upon rows and rows of fuel drums.
along. He could have hauled off be­ Those were in the after keelson, the re­
fore. if he had only thought of adding serve bunker. The macabre dolls scat­
the lift of his anchors to the force of tered about told the story plainly enough.
the rockets. His mistake had been in Men had ben getting up their ultimate
thinking of them only as anchors, when supply of fuel when the ship struck and
in reality they were assistant tugs, pull­ doomed them all. But the fuel that
ing always. Varms must have doped remained was of no value to the ma­
it out, overpowered Ben, and gone. Sam rooned tug men. They had no boat
groaned inwardly at this crowning hu­ nor had any of the Estrella’s survived.
miliation. It was bad enough to be What foodstuffs they could identify
marooned on a bleak, rocky Trojan, but had been squeezed to such incredibly
he had to face the fact that it was by compact pellets as to be unfit for any use.
his own acts—his providing the anchors,
But while the men were prowling
his securing the towline, his unpardon­
through the broken stores. Sam kept his
able tardiness in returning aboard—that
eye peeled for the telltale box of lead.
had made it possible for Varms to de­
Radium, he geussed, was what the con­
camp with the salvaged ship.
cealed treasure was, and hidden, proba­
By that time he was aware that the
bly, in the keelson as a further precau­
two silent men beside him were await­
tion against piracy. Or at least it was
ing orders. Something had to be done
one of the radioactives. In any case
now. It was Sam who must give the
they were likely to put it as far as pos­
word. It was a gloomy prospect. They
sible from the place where men lived
had no boat and there was small prom­
and worked, and away from the fields of
ise that in the remaining wreckage of
the huge electric machine.
the Estrella anything of use to them
could be found. In the cursory exami­ At last he found it. and called to his
nation he had made of the planetoid as companions. They watched in quiet
they had approached it, Sam recalled awe while he ripped open its cover and
he saw no signs of life. Rather, there exposed its contents. In neat tiers lay
was an abundance of evidence that the dozens of small white metallic bricks.
storm had killed whatever life had been Uranium 235! The most compact and
there. But at least the weather was economical source of atomic power—
beginning to moderate. The zeta fire enough of it to disrupt the Earth itself.
was very weak and in many places it The value they had given out over the
was entirely absent. The improvement Omnivox had not been an error; it had
was due in part to the revolution of been an understatement. Here was
the body on which they stood—they wealth beyond their wildest dreams. ’
were more in its lee now—but even a It was all theirs, too, for the law on
“low” passes after a time. salvage classed what was left behind by
“Let’s see what they left us,” said a chartered salvager as junk. Whoever
found such leavings took title. When not fallen under their observation while
Varms left as he did. he renounced for aloft in the tug. Finally one cried:
the IPS and himself, as well as the origi­ “Light-ho!"
nal owners, whatever claim for owner­ There was a light. nearly ahead, which
ship they might have possessed. neither of the others had noticed, due
It was one of the men who laughed to their inspection of the ridges and
first, but in a moment they all were caverns beneath. It was a tiny light,
rocking with merriment. The irony of such as might be expected in a dwelling.
the situation was too acute to miss. It was in the midst of a vague gray
Tumbled carelessly on the ground by shape. As they headed more directly
their knees was this vast fortune, while toward it and decreased their altitude
all about was the stark, wild darkness of they could make out the outlines of a
the storm-devastated Trojans, in which small ship's hull. Some tiny craft, a
the moment the last scant provisions in yacht, probably, was down there and
their pockets were gone, they would die. the light marked its entry port.
What Sam laughed at was his pictur­ Cutting their bonds the moment they
ing of the manager's greedy face, and grounded before the lock. Sam rapped
that of the snaky Varms. when they sharply on the ship's hull. The outer
went to settle with the owners and found lock face slid aside and the three tug
that they had carefully towed in the, men stepped within. As the inner door
dregs and left the cream behind. He let them into the ship, they faced a pow­
sobered as he recognized they would erfully built, red-faced man of about
promptly send an expedition for it. sixty. He took one look at the IPS
He thought of concealing it, but he monogram on Sam Truman's helmet
knew that was no good. The stuff was visor and bellowed:
radioactive and instruments could find “No! I don't want salvage. Get out
it. Tossing it into the depths of the of here and take your pack of blood­
adjacent canyon was as useless for the suckers with you!"
same reason. Yet they could not hope It was a disconcerting reception for
to carry it with them, both on account the three castaways, but Sam stood his
of its weight and of its emanations. ground and l>egan an explanation. After
Their means of locomotion was strictly his first few sentences their host dropped
limited now. They had only the hand some of his ready belligerence, and as
rockets of their suits. he began to get the drift of the story
he invited them into the cabin and made
VII. them comfortable. Sam related the main
events leading up to their marooning,
AN EXPLORATORY cutting down not elaborating his feud with Vanns,
of their suit compensators showed them except to give an account of the quar­
the surges were far apart now, and rel over the casting off of the ill-fated
light. It would soon be calm. They Berenice. Nor did he see fit to reveal
lashed themselves together, pooling their the cache of uranium they had left l»e-
rockets. hind.
They soared easily over the scraggly “Ah, that's different,” said the old
ranges and looked down into great man, at last. “Well, you're welcome
yawning crevasses, but seldom did they here until my tender comes, though God
see a ledge wide enough for a goat to knows when that will be. But I’d stay
stand upon. They went on, hoping here until hell froze over before I’d
against hope, exploring the polar re­ deal with Inter-Planetary. My name’s
gions of the body—the areas that had Ethridge—Jovian Mining Syndicate, if
you ever heard of that—and this is my hanging in the sky up there over us,
yacht Norma. what was that mess of fireworks over
“We snugged in here early in the her? Looked like a corona of stars
blow, and outside of being practically from where we lay.”
out of fuel, we're all right. Our radio's Sam explained the sky anchors.
crushed, so we can't communicate, but “Hm-m-m,” commented Ethridge.
I've got all my life ahead of me—sooner “Never heard of such a thing. Why
or later a lighthouse tender’ll come couldn't I use those getting my ore
snooping around, if my sons haven't scows up from the surface of Jupiter?
looked me up before. When you first We have the devil's own time now, what
popped in here, I thought you wanted with the gravity and all. When you get
1o give me a tow, then bleed and black­ through your . rat killing down there,
mail me for the rest of my life on ac­ come back and talk to me. I think you
count of it. No, sirree. Charlie Eth­ have something there.”
ridge doesn’t play the game that way. Upon stepping out onto the landing
I'll wait, if I have to, all—” field, Sam was astonished to see that
“I have plenty of fuel, Mr. Ethridge. the ship in the next cradle was the Bere­
It's in drums. Lend me a boat and I nice, her bow tubes still smoking from
can fuel you right where you lie. It's a her recent landing. Her passengers
tricky landing up there for a ship.” were pouring out of the lock, grateful
“What's the catch?” demanded Eth­ to step on solid ground again. Sam
ridge, suspicious again. His distrust of paused and asked a few questions. He
men in the IPS uniform was long-stand­ learned that the lift he had given them
ing and deep-seated. “That’s IPS's had been sufficient for them to get the
wreck, isn't it? I won't be billed by vessel under control again. By the time
them, I tell you.” she was cut off she was near enough
Sam explained the legal status of the the edge of’.the “low” to fight her way
wreckage and all that was in it. Sizing out of it. It had been a hard battle, but
Ethridge up as a man of power and when the gale had subsided they retained
wealth who nursed a personal grudge enough momentum to drift into Mars
against the equally powerful salvage and land, but with only a quarter of a
company, he decided on the instant to barrel of fuel to spare. Captain Trib­
tell him frankly about the uranium. His ble, they told him, was indignant at the
offer was to fuel the Norma in return Kwasind’s inexplicable reversal of ac­
for the transportation of himself and tion and had gone to the Dome of Jus­
shipmates to the nearest port, with their tice to make a formal complaint of it.
personal possessions—the treasure. Sam hurried on to the IPS yards.
“Certainly, my boy. An eminently Inside them he found everything seeth­
fair proposition. Get about it at once, ing with excitement. The manager was
and take such men of my crew as you waddling up and down, happily cub­
may need to help.” ing his hands together in avaricious
anticipation. There was much lucre
HER APOLIS SKYPORT was com­ about to fall into his coffers. Two hours
ing up on the horizon of Mars. Eth­ before, the Kwasind had appeared in an
ridge's sailing master was handling the orbit outside Deimos and asked for other
landing. The old man offered his guests tugs to relieve her of her ungainly tow.
a final drink with the toast, "Here's to The flotilla were expected to land mo­
the confusion of our enemies.” mentarily.
“By the way,” he asked, as an after­ Sam was astonished at the unaccount­
thought, “when that tug of yours was able delay in the Kwasind’s arrival, for
she must have left the storm-swept irons. Mutiny aboard, the incoming tug
Trojan a full week before the Norma. had signaled—mutiny and desertion.
He was not to know until later the rea­ One of the desperate ringleaders had
son for it, but it was his sky-hooks that been overcome and confined, her mes­
had done the trick. From the moment sage read, and the vesssl was short-
of their planting they had been attempt­ handed ; but her brave and resourceful
ing to escape the asteroid and that natu­ captain was bringing her in, regardless
rally. radially. But while at the time of such trying difficulties.
of their setting the direction of their The Kwasind was just landing. As
pull was Marsward, in the interval to the crowd eased back to escape her
Varms’ hasty departure the planetoid skirts of flame. Captain Tribble arrived
had made a quarter revolution or more with a black-robed functionary of the
about its axis, with the consequence court. .In company with them was Mr.
that when the anchors were free to run Ethridge, looking pleased as the cat that
away, they pulled violently in an altered licked the cream. They spoke rapidly
direction. They proved to be far and earnestly with the puzzled gen­
stronger than the rockets, and although darmes, displaying papers with dangling
Varms blasted angrily with every im­ seals. The two officers finally under­
aginable combination of rocket angles, stood and nodded. The entry port of
by the time they burned out he was mil­ the Kwasind slid open and out stepped
lions of miles on the far side of the Varms, dragging his bound engineer be­
Trojans, very much muddled as to his hind him.
bearings. No one had told him about “Here’s your man—the others de­
tire anchors, so he had no understand­ serted,” he said imperiously to the cops,
ing of why the sturdy tug persisted along and pushed the goggle-eyed Ben Tig­
its unique cycloidal trajectory. gleman forward.
Ben Tiggleman could have cut the “Thanks,” said the senior of the two
threads that held them, but all that time officers, laconically. But he ignored the
Ben Tiggleman was lying face down in trussed-up Ben and shoved past him.
a locker, bound hand and foot. With a quick snap he fastened the brace­
lets on Varms instead. “W'e know all
A BLACK PRISON van was parked about you, old-timer. This way!”
by the side of the Kwasind’s landing They shoved him, struggling and pro­
cradle and a couple of stem-faced Mar­ testing, into the wagon. A door
tian hounds of the law were there, one slammed, a lock clicked, and the Black
of them suggestively jingling a set of Maria rolled away.
 EPISODE OH DHH ffllllOR
The local natives weren't exactly immortal, but
on the other hand they didn't exactly die—I

By Harry IHallon
Illustrated by Wesso

NSIDE the low sheet-metal commis­ “one danged month more” for eight

I sary building of the space post years now. But this time, so help him,
known on the Interplanetary Rela­ he meant it.
tions & Commerce Commission’s roster One by one he polished the shiny lit­
as No. 291, Oliver Blakston grumbled tle oxygen cylinders comprising the most
within his air helmet—where, to be sure, important item of his- trading stock,
there was nobody to hear him grumble cursing all the while the tarnish and cor­
but himself. All space-post factors rosion wrought by this alien atmosphere.
grumbled, as a matter of traditional A blend of nasty gases that smelled just
right. Besides, it helped to pass the as bad if lumped under one name—hy­
time between customers, and when these drogen sulphide. You smelled the char­
number only a score of prospectors, a acteristic rotten-egg odor thirty-two
dozen Martian spore gatherers and looth hours a day—and the day of Dhee
wool shearers, and one aged, slightly Minor was just thirty-two hours long.
senile fugitive from justice, there is The smell seeped through air condition­
plenty of time to pass. ing and filtering systems, past double­
"Why in the name of thirty Plutonian seamed metal walls and lucite helmets,
devils I stay here, I don’t know. I’ve through rubber, cloth and glass. The
seniority enough to pick a dozen better atmosphere was poisonous, but the odor
posts. On colonies where you can itself was demoralizing. It had been
breathe air that didn't come out of a years since Blakston had seen a hen's
can, and eat food that doesn’t taste like egg, but he knew that never again would
it was dragged out of Old Faithful. he be able to swallow a mouthful of one.
This time,’’ he swore, “I’m quitting. He grumbled about the smell, swore
Six days more and I'm pulling out of sulphurously at every spot of tarnish
this stinking sulphur hole—” which he painstakingly rubbed bright.
He’d said it before, he knew. He But his grumbling was automatic by
always asked himself the same question, now and had little to do with his
arrived at the same decision,- just before thoughts. Mentally he was counting the
the monthly supply ship arrived. And full cylinders on hand, noting the num­
when it did, inevitably he found too ber of empty returns, estimating what
many things to clean up before he could quantity he should stock of this article
leave, and would grumblingly announce and that for trade throughout the com­
that he had decided to stay “just one ing month. He used no notes, made no
danged month more.” Spacemen errors. His mind was an orderly file
grinned when he said that. He’d stayed that would empty itself of nonessentials
the moment current orders had been ago. This was a remote descendant of
filled. that Queel, and a less remote descendant
Bending over the oxy-cylinders, he of the Queel Blakston had seen two days
felt the scrape of the door being opened, ago. Literally, Blakston had never laid
heard the characteristic shuffle of an eyes upon the Ootlandah who now wad­
Ootlandah. and looked up to recognize dled into the commissary and stopped,
Queel, a native of the planetoid and one quivering as though blown by an invisi­
of the reasons Blakston always stayed ble breeze, before the long thurkwood
“one danged month more.” counter.
Properly speaking, this wasn’t Queel.
Queel had died six and a half minutes THE CASUAL EYE would have de­
after Blakston first met him, six years scribed Queel as a perambulating vege-
table. An elongated oat grain, enor­ let himself be seen in the act of burden.
mously magnified to the size of a small Blakston brought the Keela in and
Earth man. would have looked like shoved them into the desulphiding cham­
Queel—or like any other Ootlandah, for ber to be ready for supper. He selected
that matter. Spacemen marveled that a large can of apricots, added, by way
Blakston could tell the natives apart. of bonus, a strip of tough licorice from
Queel was curiously bearded; his whis­ an air-tight glass jar. and passed both
kers sprouted up from his waist and to Queel. whose whiskers quivered with
fringed his tiny, gourdlike head like the delight at the gift.
calyx of some fantastic blossom. He “Am most thankful," he squeaked.
had two little eyes and a mere slit of “But regret imminent passing which
mouth, yet so flexible were his internal you will have to witness— Look out!”
organs that he could imitate human The warning was timely, and Blak­
speech to a nicety, although in a reedy ston instantly made ready by whisking a
tone. Furthermore, hours spent listen­ handy cloth over the stock on the coun­
ing to Blakston's reading of books, news­ ter. The Ootlandah shook himself, his
papers and space-post communications tiny green-rimmed eyes mournful.
had given Queel an immense and some­ Then, with a sudden upheaval of energy
times startling vocabulary, which he en­ and to the accompaniment of a sound
joyed using in unique fashion. much like a sneeze but signally more vio­
“Oueel the elder respectfully salutes lent in effect, he shivered himself asun­
you,” chirped the native. The atmos­ der. The oatman, whiskers and all,
phere carried the sound, and Blakston disintegrated to a fine dust that settled
heard it well enough, for his helmet was slowly to the floor. Blakston waited
fitted with air-tight sound diaphragms patiently for the miracle he had seen a
as well as the conventional radio com­ hundred times but still found fascinat­
municator. ing.
Blakston grunted amiably. “Queel From the center of the little pile of
the elder" was a stock phrase, indicat­ yellow powder sprouted a small yellow
ing that the individual now present had pod, rapidly expanding like a toy bal­
lived out more than one half of his nor­ loon. Swiftly it assumed larger propor­
mal life span. It was a courtesy appre­ tions, prickled with growing whiskers,
ciated by Ootlandahs to acknowledge the grew reedy little legs with flapping pads
information. of feet. Within sixty seconds there
“For a can of apcots,” Queel went on stood complete an exact replica of the
in a businesslike tone, “I have to ex­ deceased Queel. This explosive life cy­
change two large Keela-fungi. Is trade cle completed, the newborn spoke.
okey dokey?" “Queel the younger salutes you!”
Blakston smacked his lips. A real
treat at any time, Keela mushrooms BLAKSTON again grunted acknowl­
were a delightful change from canned edgment. Queel the younger would find
food. “Trade is done,” he said grate­ that sufficient, as his ancestors had be­
fully, and walked out to find his part of fore him. For this Queel possessed all
the bargain, two enormous puffy para­ the accumulated memories of hundreds
sols, lying beside the doorstep where of his direct forbears. For all his fra­
Queel had left them. Blakston grinned gility—he weighed scarcely twenty,
at the characteristic pride of the Oot­ pounds Earth gravity, and not a tenth
landah, who had plainly carried them of that on this tiny world—Queel was a
thus far, perhaps for miles, but who, trutnph of evolution. He was, in his
for no amount of "apcots," would have own way, immortal.
 "There is news." continued the na­ “Funny,” he said. “The supply ship’s
tive. ‘’Approaching from sunward is early—it's not due for six days."
great looth. Beware, man friend!" “Is no supply ship,” remarked Queel
Blakston thanked him. inwardly smil­ positively. Blakston frowned his doubt,
ing at Queel’s melodramatic manner. yet his own ears promptly confirmed the
But the warning was born of the Oot- Ootlandah. The supply ship's landing
landah’s not unfounded fear of the genus screech was of a different timbre, its
loothaguri, which might be described as rocket blasts heavier, more sonorous.
an acre of animal with but one charac­ Blakston tore his binoculars off their
teristic—an appetite. The factor himself peg. ran outdoors, and leveled them on
felt no anxiety at the approach of one the sky just over the landing field. A
of these weird creatures, for the space­ faint streak of golden-red flame, dimmed
post’s electrical fences could turn aside by the hot globe of the sun. flashed
a dozen of them. across his field of vision. The ship was
Then came an apprehension that down, out of sight behind the forest
made Blakston wrinkle his nose in an­ fringe, where the sun itself would sink
ticipation—the fear that the looth might before many more mhiutes. Blakston
get on the cleared landing field and be went back inside.
crisped in the rocket blasts of the sup­
ply ship. That had happened once, and FIVE minutes passed. For the third
the odor of burned wool, feathers and time he polished the long counter, pa­
flesh was' still vivid in his memory: like tiently busied himself with rearranging
the sulphide, it defied masks and air the oxygen tanks. The visitors would
purifiers. During that month, more come, he told himself. Anyone who
than ever before, he had come close to landed on Dhee Minor would come first
resigning his post. of all to the space post. It was not only
He frowned therefore over this re­ common sense, but unchanging prece­
mote but ghastly possibility. Hard as dent. On the opposite side of the coun­
it was to imagine the smelly air of Dhee ter Queel waited also, forgotten his an­
Minor made more obnoxious, grim ex­ nounced intention of being off—for the
perience had proven it could be done. Ootlandah was bles^pd with a huge share
He decided to force the ship's crew to of human curiosity.
fence the landing field against such even­ He stiffened, whiskers quivering, as
tualities in the future. footsteps thudded swiftly on the path
outside. A man materialized suddenly
"Having reason to depart.” com­ on the threshold, bulky in spacesuit,
mented Queel. “shall now do so. But huge in comparison to Blakston. A sec­
listen!" ond figure appeared behind him, and
Blakston listened, fuming at the neces­ both, after an instant’s hesitation, en­
sity for air-tight sound diaphragms, tered the store. Blakston switched on
which always muffled sound a bit and his helmet phone, knowing that their
now kept him deaf to whatever had at­ suits would hardly be equipped with
tracted Queel’s attention. sound diaphragms, and offered routine
“Is sound of ship landing.” supplied greeting, to which l>oth responded sur­
that worthy. And indeed Blakston lily.
heard it almost that moment—the thin “We're required to have a record of
whistle set up by the ship’s plunge into your landing," Blakston went on. “The
Dhee’s atmosphere, the distant roar of I. R. Cu C. requests all visitors to regis­
its barking blast. He breathed a prayer ter. After that I'm at your service.”
that it might miss the looth. “Planetary patrol,” growled the
AST—7
smaller man. flashing a badge on the man's proton gun kept him from assault­
back of one glove. “Official business. ing the other.
Get your men together and we'll ex­ “I gave you full ones." he gritted.
plain it to the lot of you.” “It's more than you deserve. Get out!”
“Men?” Blakston laughed. “I'm all "Aw. tell him. Chet.” urged the big
there is. so far as the space post goes. man as he worked. “Tell him we're tak­
There are a few chaps running around ing all of them—”
out there. God knows where—” All! The word dinned its fury and
The laugh faded before sudden, chill­ its import into Blakston’s brain, an un­
ing suspicion. Planetary patrolmen, believable and ghastly nightmare. To
with a complete, space-post roster on steal a single flask of the life-sustaining
board their ship, should know there was gas was the one crime blacker than mur­
no staff at 291. der on these airless worlds. Oxygen,
“That suits us!” An unpleasant grin out here, was the common currency of
overspread the gross features of the big­ humanity, priceless as life itself. Even
ger man. "Makes it easier. All we outlaws respected the unwritten law that
want is oxygen and chow—lots of it and exempted a man’s oxygen from theft.
quick. Where is it?” "Listen to me!” He made futile,
Blakston’s glance switched to the clawing efforts to stop the giant, who
smaller man. a dark, bushy-browed in­ was now strapping the full cylinders to­
dividual with a face as lean and pointed gether. “The supply ship isn't due for
as an animal’s. His hand snapped up, a week—and there are men out there
cradling the butt of a proton gun whose who’ll be coming here for oxygen.
needle-slim barrel fell in line with Blak­ Sometimes their tanks are almost empty ;
ston’s chest. “You heard him,” he said. sometimes they're so far gone I have
“Get the stuff.” His flat voice was ex­ to hook the new tank on for them.
pressionless—and as deadly—as the That’s what those flasks mean to them
warning burr of a rattlesnake. when—”
Hot and cold chills of fury rippled The giant shoved him sprawling, and
down Blakston’s spine. To be robbed— began to load food into a burden net,
of oxygen! The few required him to clearing entire shelves at a sweep. The
give it free of charge to anybody who load was a tremendous one. yet no more
lacked means of payment, and that was than a strong man could carry, gravity
one thing. But to be robbed of it at the on Dhee Minor being of the slightest.
point of a gun— He trembled with im­ Blakston turned to the smaller man.
potent rage as he selected two full cyl­ Whatever the two did. this one would
inders and thumped them down upon dictate. But even as he spoke. Blakston
the counter. felt the futility of any appeal to those
“Take them!” he said briefly, furi­ merciless, reptile-cold eyes.
ously. “Get out!” “Leave us four flasks at least—they’ll
The burly man guffawed. “He doesn’t do if the ship comes on time. Leave
get the idea, Chet. You explain it while four, and I swear I won’t say a word
I show him—” He swept Blakston about you. But leave four—”
aside as though brushing a beetle off his The giant grinned with evil humor,
suit and began pawing through the “You won't be needing no oxygen. We
stacks of cylinders, tossing empty ones will. We aim to put a lot of room be­
to the floor, putting full ones on the tween us and Reinmuth before we shut
counter, until the shelves were bare. off our jets.”
Blakston fumed at this treatment of Reinmuth! The word blasted all hope
his precious stock. Only the smaller in one black instant. These were con­
victs, by some incredible chance es­ —and forever after dead. The very at­
caped from the penal colony of that tiny mosphere would bum once the oxygen
planetoid. That was why they had released from burning vegetation made
landed here, seeking food and oxygen that possible. Martians and Earthmen
to stock their stolen ship for a dash to and Ootlandahs, every living soul on the
the outer planets. Once beyond Jupiter, planetoid would be doomed—Queel’s
no patrol in space could lay a finger on people even more swiftly than the others,
them. for theirs was that same highly inflam­
The smaller man cursed in that queer, mable lifestuff so characteristic of this
toneless voice of his. world.
“Aw, what’s the difference if he All this sped through Blakston’s mind
knows?’’ whined the giant. “I tell you in a moment, and it was as though it
the whole lousy space-pill will go like a wound up a spring within him—a spring
fistful of dry hay. That red stuff out that snapped suddenly into furious ac­
there is like gunpowder. We dip our tion, as much out of his own control as
rockets here and I here when we pull though he were, for an instant, two in­
out. and nothing can put out the fire­ dividuals. He leaped suddenly at the
works.’’ smaller man, knocked the deadly proton
gun from his hand, and in a paroxysm
AN UNCONTROLLABLE shudder of fury clawed at the convict's airsuit as
swept Blakston. They meant to fire the though he could rip the fabric apart with
planet! He knew of the disasters of his bare hands. With the advantages
’35 and '87—holocausts that had swept of surprise and weight, he might have
two thirds of this tiny world and left downed his antagonist, had not huge
only blazing stubble and charred death hands grappled him from behind, closed
in their wake. Meteors, red-hot from viciously around his chest, dragged him
their fall through the atmosphere, had struggling and kicking from his prey.
started those. The planetoid’s thick He was jerked backward, pinned against
growth of vegetation had done the rest the counter by a huge fist. The smaller
—for living stuff, here on Dhee Minor, man picked up his proton gun and lev­
was built of inflammable oxygen com­ eled it—death in his stare.
pounds, as combustible as a match head “Is most evil to kill man friend.”
and similarly carrying within itself the piped a voice suddenly. “Not to be al­
oxygen necessary to complete combus­ lowed, I regret.”
tion. A fire of any kind was forbidden The convicts whirled upon Queel,
by law ; food was precooked, or, here at whom they had ignored thus far, proba­
the space post, electrically baked. The bly in the belief that he was some out­
entire planetoid was a tinderbox. landish plant. The giant, recovering
The convicts’ plan was simple enough himself, laughed harshly.
—and perfect from their point of view, “Hell—it’s nothing but a native. He
thought Blakston bitterly. They would can’t hurt us.”
create a tragedy here that would effec­ But the ferret-faced man, his nerves
tively cover their trail, sacrificing a lashed raw, squeezed the trigger of his
world to gain their own ends. Safe in weapon. A proton blast whirled hotly
their ship, they had only to fly low and from the gun’s muzzle—a barrage capa­
allow the flames from their ship’s jets ble of powdering steel plate at close
to touch a few tree fronds here and there. range. Queel disintegrated instantly.
Set alight in three or four places, Dhee Yellow dust drifted, settled swiftly to the
Minor this time would burn completely, floor.
a pitiful little star ablaze for a few hours Almost indifferently, Blakston felt
himself being trussed to a ceiling post, He had been clumsily cut free; the
his hands hastily tied together behind cords still dangled from his wrists.
the rough timber. He wondered dully Somebody had turned on his oxygen—
why they troubled to secure him instead the giant convict, perhaps ? Instinctively
of blasting him as they had Queel, but Blakston glanced at his oxygen gauge.
his mind refused to ponder the ques­ Less than an hour's supply was left him;
tion. Instead a hundred irrelevant small wonder they hadn’t thought it
thoughts came to remind him of events worth while to snatch the almost-empty
long past, of the day he had met Queel, tank from him. An hour to live, to fight
of the many favors they had done one —or to die in.
another, of the strange but genuine com­ His rate of breathing settled back to
radeship which had grown between him normal, but the hollow booming he had
and the native. So compelling were the first heard on awakening grew louder.
memories evoked by the settling of that Suddenly he knew it for what it was—-
handful of yellow dust there on the the ceremonial drums and tambourines
thurkwood floor that he scarcely felt the of the Ootlandahs, used only in solemn,
convict's hands upon him. secret rites or in grave crises.
A sense of strangulation, a dull thud­ He stumbled to the doorway, almost
ding in his temples, the rattling suck of tripped over the looth-shearer's crook.
dead air in his throat, snatched him back Hesitating just an instant, he snatched
to the present. The smaller man was it up, then ran out to stare down the
gone, the giant even now leaving; he steep trail that led from the commissary,
swore as he stumbled over a looth-shear- down to the landing field. The sky was
er’s crook that had fallen across the already gray with dusk, the sun out of
threshold during Blakston’s scuffle sight, yet a reddish glow lighted the sky
with the other convict. Then he was ahead, and, as if to confirm its dread
gone, and Blakston faced the empty message, black smoke smudged the for­
doorway, strangely blurred in his sight. est skyline. Fire!
There was a mighty singing in his Dhee Minor's death warrant was writ­
ears, and his breath was quick, furiously ten in that flare of crimson light. The
quick, but it brought him no air. And men from Reinmuth had kindled the
then he knew why. His tank cock had forest while passing through it on their
been turned, the precious oxygen shut way to their ship. Blakston watched
off from his helmet. Impossible for his with thudding heart as a gigantic flame
hands, bound behind him as they were, was sucked up into the sky, crimson as
to reach that all-important little handle blood. Beside it another forest giant
just over his right shoulder. Even the caught, blazed into a glory of green fire
strength to struggle was fast ebbing that writhed in virescent streamers heav­
away from him; he was rapidly sinking enward. In Blakston's helmet surged a
into a coma from which there would be growing roar as that fiery surf gained in
no awakening. Only as velvet fingers of strength and volume.
blackness closed about him did that ago­ He forsook the path in order to circle
nized retelling for breath cease. the burning area. Through the soft
darkness of the forest, already flicker­
HE CAME to his senses with a dull ing with fantastic colored shadows, he
booming in his ears. His skull throbbed ran. Emerging, he overlooked the well-*
painfully, but there was air in his hel­ cleared landing field, now starkly illumi­
met and he gulped it in deep, gasping nated by the prismatic radiance of the
breaths. With returning memory came blazing forest.
astonishment at finding himself alive. A ship lay there, lifeless and un­
guarded. The men from Reinmuth were
nowhere visible, but farther along the
forest fringe, outlined in red and green
and purple of the flames, were perhaps
SEND NO
a,score of dancing, leaping Ootlandahs.
tragic little clowns in motley of light and
shadow. From them arose a faint hoot­
MONEY!
CHOOSE THE BOOKS YOU WANT
ing chorus, a thrumming of gourd drums PAY WHEN POSTMAN DELIVERS!
which they beat above their heads with 15 BOOKS for $1.00
pipestem arms. Blakston started to­ or
ward them, into the dark shadows di­ 3 BOOKS for 25c
rectly ahead. Something brushed against
his helmet.
ACH set, handsomely boxed in groups of
A prehensile finger of flesh rose from
the earth before him, a slender living
rope that instantly whipped about his
E three, contains full-length paper-covered
novels of more than 225 pages each!
waist. A second questing tentacle al­
(20) Fair Bat Faithless................. Bertha M. Clay
most wrenched the looth-shearer's crook
from his hands. He lost his footing, (43) A Coquette's Conquest... .Bertha M. Clay
screamed as the thing pulled him relent­ (60) Her First Love........................ Bertha M. Clay
lessly into the blotch of blackness which (61) The Iron Pirate..................... Max Pemberton
he had mistaken for shadow. (67) The Cruise of the "Cachalot”. Frank T. Bullen
The looth! He was being pulled un­ (69) A Bitter Bondage................. Bertha M. Clay
der it. under that vast fleshy blanket (83) Kidnaped..................... Robt. Louis Stevenson
where a million mouths waited—tooth­ (110) Soldiers Three....................... Rudyard Kipling
less mouths whose corrosive digestive (117) John Halifax, Gentleman......... Miss Mulock
juices could dissolve bone, gristle, rub­ (118) The Tragedy in the Rue de la Paix
ber, metal and glass. Not a whole Adolph Belot
squadron of proton gunners could res­ (125) The Master of the Ballantrae
Robt. Loui> Steveneoa
cue him once he was under that suffo­
(132) The Frozen Pirate................W. Clark Russell
cating mass.
(133) Rory O'More.....................Samuel Lover
His fingers tightened desperately
(153) Down the River..................Horatio Alger, Jr.
upon the crook, found the switch and
pressed it. A pale-blue electrical dis­ (166) A Yankee Middy.......................Oliver Optia
charge appeared along the slender elec­ (168) Pluck and Luck..................Horatio Alger, Jr.
trode. He swung it madly, lashing out (172) Rough and Ready..............Horatio Alger, Jr.
against • stubborn tentacles, scourging (1091) A Move in the Dark.................... Nick Carter
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away by then, as he could tell by an oc­ the ungainly beast back and keep it
casional upflung pseudopod limned blocking the convicts’ path ?
against the fire’s glare. The thumpings He sprang forward, brandishing the
and the hootings of Ootlandahs seemed crook as professional wool shearers did,
redoubled, and he realized that they were opening a gap amid those questing tenta­
standing their ground, facing their tradi­ cles. In one six-foot jump he gained
tional enemy at close quarters instead of the looth’s back and scrambled away
fleeing from it as they were wont to do., from the animal’s side. The pseudopods
But why, and under whose leadership, could reach only a few feet back, form­
were the timid creatures defying the ing as they did a fringe about the huge,
dreaded looth? squat body. Paradoxically, he was safer
here than on the ground.
A HUMAN CRY whirled Blakston The looth’s wool, prized in commerce,
about. From the forest, from a point was thick and resilient underfoot, a Car­
midway between him and the Ootland­ pet over a firm floor of flesh. He ran
ahs, it came. And then he saw the men swiftly over it, toward the squealing
from Reinmuth again, trapped there at Ootlandahs, who for all their noise were
the flaming forest’s edge by that deadly now slowly falling back before the looth’s
living blockade which lay between them stolid advance. And every foot of that
and their ship—the looth. That was the retreat in turn shortened the distance
purpose of the drumming and the hoot­ that lay between the convicts and their
ing—to keep the great beast where it ship.
was, a wall of living flesh against which But they, hampered by oxygen flasks
even proton guns were helpless. But and the burden net, made hard going of
how, marveled Blakston, had the Oot­ it through the dense underbrush. Blak­
landahs grasped the situation, under­ ston chuckled madly and plunged on.
stood the danger of letting the convicts The looth, he observed, was no less than
reach their ship, and so promptly acted a hundred yards long and fifty wide—a
to prevent it ? The looth had been provi­ little over an acre in size. It surged for­
dentially near, but only genius had ward suddenly as a gust of wind blew
turned it to this purpose, only courage the hot breath of the fire upon it. The
defeated the traditional terror all Oot­ Ootlandahs, who had been standing in
landahs had for the beasts. a clear swath of ground that was the
Driven by fire behind, the convicts feeding trail of the beast, turned and
were running toward Blakston, intend­ fled.
ing to circle the looth and so reach the Blakston cursed them, and, having
landing field. For a moment Blakston reached the "end” of the beast, laid
thought of intercepting them—and be­ about him with the charged crook.
ing blasted to death for his pains. He Tentacles writhed and disappeared be­
had no weapons—the crook was useless fore it. He applied the electrode directly
against proton guns. And once past the to the looth’s back. Sparks snarled
looth and in their ship, the convicts through the thick wool to the flesh be­
could set a dozen fires all over the plan­ neath. The looth quivered, jerked
etoid. blindly back from the stinging pain, re­
They were still fifty yards away, luctantly retreated to again bar the con­
sprawling and stumbling over brush and victs’ path. Blakston felt a thrill of sav­
deadwood with their burdens of food and age satisfaction. Now let the murder­
oxygen. Could he, wondered Blakston, ers try to escape!
reach the other “end” of the looth in The smaller convict dropped his bur­
time to join the Ootlandahs in forcing den, ran back through the scrubby
growth a little way. a grotesque gnome his throat. He could guess what it had
in the fantastic firelight. He stopped, cost Queel to turn that stiff little handle
rested his proton gun in a tree crotch with his soft, flipperlike hands. Nor was
for better aim. The narrow beam it the first time he had heard that the
sheared past Blakston, followed an in­ Ootlandahs could hasten their demise at
stant later by its characteristic miniature will when danger threatened. In times
thunderclap. He laughed in reckless de­ of famine, whole tribes often elected to
fiance. goaded the looth even more furi­ stay in the nuclear, or egg, stage for long
ously. Small chance the man had of periods—so many little beanlike pods ly­
hitting him at this distance! ing inert in the yellow dust of their dis­
That was apparently the belief of the solution—only to spring magically to
gunman, also, for his tactics changed life at some later time. But against fire
abruptly. The proton beam crackled even this strange ability could not pro­
again, but this time its narrow streak of tect them, for the eggs would explode
electrical flame seared a narrow welt like any other living tissue on Dhee
across the looth‘s back. The huge beast Minor.
shuddered, humped itself with a quick, It was Queel. Blakston realized, who
convulsive movement, a sudden twitch had gathered the Ootlandahs and con­
like that of a horse's flank, but a thou­ ceived the amazing idea of blocking the
sandfold greater. Blakston felt as convicts’ path by driving the looth be­
though the ground had reached up to tween them and their ship. The little
hit his chin. He felt himself flying native had acted with marvelous cour­
through space, falling, and tried desper­ age and incredible quickness, reaching
ately to twist in midair, to land without Heaven knew what heights of rhetoric
damaging his precious helmet. to induce his timid fellows to face the
tentacled horror.
HE STRUCK unyielding ground “Many thanks for your kindly aid,”
hard enough to knock every bit of breath continued Queel sadly. “But is now
from him, and lay half stunned for a common sense for you to save yourself
time. His crook was gone, lost in that while possible. My people have run
wild flight, and if the looth were to come away. Plot to use looth can no longer
upon him he would be in a bad case. be used. Evil men’s ship lies there, of­
On the heels of that thought he saw it, fering you swift escape from world that
a wall of undulating tentacles, creeping is soon to die. Take it quickly, man
down upon him in that inexorable way friend.”
it had. He got unsteadily to his feet. Blakston stared at him thoughtfully.
“Am most grateful man friend is liv­ The Ootlandah’s suggestion, oddly
ing,” said a reedy voice behind him. He enough, aroused nothing but horror in.
whirled in astonishment. In the light of his mind—horror at a people's accept­
the forest fire, Queel stood there, whis­ ance of extinction, as voiced by Queel.
kers aquiver—and in one flipper of a It seemed to him that the little native
hand he held the precious crook. was watching him closely, questioningly.
“Ability to hasten life cycle at will And yet, what he said was true. There
responsible for my continued existence,” lay the convicts’ ship; Blakston could
explained the native. “When evil char­ seal himself in it, take off safely and
acter attempt murder, self beat him to it. reach some neighboring space post.
After departure of criminals was just in There was no longer any need for him,
time to save friend Blakston by opening at least, to share the death of Dhee
helmet cock.” Minor. And if he took off, the con­
Blakston nodded gratefully, a lump in victs would be irrevocably trapped, tin-
IM

able to set other fires on the planetoid. BLAKSTON gave Queel his instruc­
A part of Dhee Minor at least might be tions. The native padded off and Blak­
spared the flames. ston advanced upon the fringed bulk of
The fire was, of course, spreading looth, switching on the pale glow of the
fiercely. Vegetation burned white and crook as he approached.
green and red and violet. Somewhere in Again he whipped writhing tentacles
the forest a chan-chan tree burst ex­ aside, again leaped to the thing's broad
plosively, hurled aloft balls of crimson back. The outlaws were not in sight.
flame like an incredibly huge Roman Probably they were trying another flank­
candle. Above the general conflagra­ ing movement through the brush, which
tion a feeble blue flicker of fight hov­ must be getting pretty hot by now. But
ered—the hydrogen sulphide of Dhee the growing fury of the fire made his
Minor’s atmosphere burning in the sur­ own task harder. The looth moved
plus of oxygen released by blazing slowly under the electrical prodding of
plants. the crook. Blakston gauged direction
“I’m staying,” said Blakston curtly, carefully and urged on that vast, stub­
belying another and larger lump that born bulk of eyeless flesh by running
had come into his throat. Leave now, here and there to apply the stinging cur­
desert this plucky little Ootlandah, he rent to best effect.
could not. “How about that plot you The red glare of strontium com­
were talking about?” pounds, the green of barium, the violet
Queel’s whiskers quivered with de­ of potassium, the rarer white of mag­
light. “Is mere hopeful idea. Looth nesium, cast a weird, striated light over
leaves dead trail no fire can cross. What the familiar landscape, a pyrotechnical
if looth were driven around fire and cut display of ghastly beauty, fed by living
it off from rest of world?” tissue of leaf and branch—and perhaps
It was, Blakston realized instantly, by more animate forms of life. Over a
just possible that the scheme might mile-long front flame raged. Blakston
work. The looth, feeding as it went, estimated its advance and anxiously
left a fifty-yard-wide swath of cleared compared its speed with that of the
ground in its wake. Directly behind the looth. The conclusion he reached was
forest rose the equatorial mountain alarming. He cut in a heavier current
range, a barren backbone of rock which on the crook, knowing that the batteries
twice before in the history of the plan­ would drain more quickly. But hotter
etoid had acted as a firebreak. On this sparks had the desired effect. The looth
side the fire was already isolated by that quickened its pace, leaving behind it a
hundred-and-fifty-foot gap the looth had broad swath of denuded ground upon
left behind. On the other it would leap which everything combustible had been
from the patch of forest to thick scrub consumed—feeding as it went through
brush and bramble thickets, and from sheer inability to stop feeding!
there everywhere—unless the looth Chance might, of course, defeat him
could be persuaded to devour that tan­ after all. A bursting chan-chan fruit
gled growth which was the next link in thrown too far, a stray spark or blown
the chain of disaster. But could the straw, might carry the conflagration
beast be driven that way, against the abroad. The outlaws themselves were
heat ? Could a single man with a looth- still the deadliest menace of all. If they
shearer’s crook, succeed where the broke through Queel’s cordon—if Queel
drumming, hooting Ootlandahs had had a cordon—and reached their ship,
failed? Dhee Minor would b« ablaze in a dozen
spots within the hour, on both sides of looth’s lack! To try to jump through
the equatorial range. that living fringe of tentacles was tanta­
Two moving spots of flame caught mount to suicide.
Blakston's eyes, and resolved themselves
into two men running from the forest. ON THE landing field he spied two
Each of the outlaws carried a blazing running figures armed with brands, en­
brand as defense against the looth. circled by a thin and futile line of Oot­
Blakston bit his lip. He had not consid­ landahs. A few threw gourds and
ered the simple, daring strategy of fire— stones. Twice a whirling kjce—the
fire liefore which looth and Ootlandah knife discus, made of native flint, which
alike must give way. As he watched, the Ootlandahs used to cut fruit down
the bigger convict thrust flame against out of high trees—flashed close to the
the outflung tentacles of Blakston's huge fleeing men. But constantly the natives
mount. The looth shuddered and re­ retreated before those menacing brands.
treated. Both convicts came on, gain­ Faint thunderclaps of an occasional pro­
ing ground at each step as the beast fell ton blast reached Blakston’s ears. He
back before their singeing brands. A desperately wanted to go to Queel's aid.
ripple of pain went through it. hurling In that desperation he ran to the side
Blakston to his knees. If the looth it­ of the looth nearest the fire, which was
self caught fire, he knew, all hope was now burning down to the very edge of
gone; fleeing from the flame death that the denuded area. On this side the heat
rode its flesh, it would spread disaster was greatest, and the animal was slug­
irrevocably. gishly drawing away from it. Its tenta­
But its own sense of pain, and the less cles were erect, bent inward away from
inflammable covering of thick wool that the withering heat. For a moment he
guarded its flesh-, prevented that. When almost gave up hope of breaking through
Blakston had regained his feet the con­ that sentient wall, yet he realized that
victs were racing for their ship across here was his only chance. The heat of
the barren landing field. Nothing there, the fire was his ally.
at least, for their torches to set alight. He crouched, tensely watching for a
Blakston knew. Now it was up to Queel gap to open in the fringe of writhing
and his people to stop the outlaws, if tentacles. He jumped, the soft, yield­
they could, while he kept to his all- ing wool underfoot making his leap a
important task of circling the fire with clumsy one. The gap began to close,
his monstrous mount. and he felt the hairy touch of pseudo­
It grew increasingly stubborn, and he pods as he dropped.
was forced to turn on more and more He landed on his feet, stumbled, but
current in order to turn the recalcitrant rolled over and over out of the looth’s
beast into the sweep of the fire and goael range. A blazing limb crashed not a
it at last up to the very fringe of rocks, foot from his head. Smoking fronds fell
which it steadfastly refused to mount. on his legs. He brushed them off and
But it had served its purpose. He raced sprang to his feet, and began running
to the side of the looth. swung the crook toward the landing field at a ridiculous
to clear its upflung pseudopods so that but swift gallop. Had the convicts worn
he might jump to the ground. such a flexible airsuit as he had on, he
The tentacles did not waver. One of thought grimly, they would long ago.
them seized the crook and almost yanked have reached the ship. But their heavy,
him off his feet. Helpless, he realized stiff, pressure-proof space armor made
that the batteries in the thing had been such a gait impossible to them.
exhausted. He was a prisoner on the He was startled to see them scarcely
a hundred yards from the vessel. The carrying in one huge fist the net with its
Ootlandahs were being driven back con­ tremendous load, and the torch with
stantly; they delayed the convicts little, which he had fought past the looth. But
if at all. One native, boldly approaching with the other hand he held Blakston,
the men to hurl his kjee, doubled over in shook him as a tiger shakes a hare.
pain as the bigger man thrust the brand The ferret-faced man struggled erect.
against his body. The Ootlandah, hoot­ The big outlaw dropped the net ami
ing mournfully, became a briefly burn­ reached for Blakston's airhose. Blak­
ing column of yellow flame. ston smashed his fists numb against the
Blakston put all his heart into a last man’s space armor, but he felt the end
burst of speed, fury seething m his veins. to be near, and inevitable. One rip of
1 .et them fight man! Let them meet those strong fingers would tear the hose;
somebody who wasn't afraid of fire—or instead of oxygen, the poisonous atmos­
erf their guns! phere would seep into his helmet.'
The smaller man saw him coming, A kfee hurtled before his fa.ce. The
jerked the proton gun up. Blakston spinning blade slit through the tough,
heard its thunder, ducked, flung himself flexible canvas joint between the con­
into a tackle that hurled the convict to vict’s helmet and shoulder plate, but
the ground. But something tackled drew no blood. With the hand that still
Blakston in turn. He felt himself lifted held the torch, instead of ripping Blak-
as the looth had lifted him, and turned ston’s airhose, the man tore the flint disk
around in midair to face his assailant. free, mouthing curses.
It was the oilier outlaw, the giant, still • Incredulously Blakston saw a puff of
sullen blue flame blossom out over the
MEET rent in the canvas. Instantly a column
of azure fire flared between him and the

*
* The World of Tomorrom
IN THE PAGES OF
convict. The torch had set Dhee's at­
mosphere afire where oxygen streamed
from the man’s spacesuit!
• flSTOunDine Blakston easily squirmed free as the
other made futile, frantic efforts to beat
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City....................................... State........ ** to hurl his blazing torch full at Blakston.
It struck him on the knee, splintered
★
* into burning fragments that threatened
to fire his suit. He brushed them off shattered helmet. And at last the giant
hastily, but that moment’s delay wrought tossed him aside, a limp, broken, blazing
bitter havoc. The convict slipped into puppet.
the air lock, and the ponderous door now Blakston felt sick. He saw that the
swung slowly to behind him. It was all giant was blind now, and felt a thrill al­
over, Blakston thought grimly. The most of pity as the man lurched past the
man would take off, drop a blazing ship. The gross vitality in that huge
rocket stream into some other forest or frame carried him a dozen steps farther.
brush, and Dhee Minor would blaze into Then his knees buckled and he pitched
a tiny starlet for a few hours and be no forward, slowly, like a felled tree.
more. Dimly Blakston was aware of a circle
But Blakston had forgotten the giant, of Ootlandahs who had watched the end
who had never paused in that tortured, of things like so many silent ghosts.
lumbering run of his, and was close to Dimly he knew there was something
the ship. He hurled his flaming body wrong with him, but his head was spin­
at the air-lock port, gripped the tliick ning madly, and even trying to think
stellite rim, and held on for life, as made it worse.
though he knew that only by getting into The oxy-cylinders flickered before his
the ship, away from the planetoid’s in­ sight, seemed to pile themselves into fan­
flammable atmosphere could he cheat tastic, dwindling pyramids. And then
death. Blakston could hear him scream he knew what was wrong. His tank
with pain as fire ate inexorably toward was empty. He needed oxygen and he
his flesh. But he held on doggedly. The needed it quick. He staggered toward
other outlaw, inside the air lock, could the tanks, slowly sank to his knees and
not secure the port to its pressure-tight crawled the rest of the way.
seat. Nor could he enter the ship They were enormously heavy, and he
proper, Blakston knew, for the inner could not lift them. With immense,
and outer air-lock ports were interlocked, cltunsy fingers he strove to undo the
and only one could be opened at a time. buckles that held them together. Again
It was a curious, fatal deadlock. there was a ringing in his ears and
The man inside ended it. Suddenly things were going dark.
he let the port swing wide, which threw What had he told the outlaws? That
the straining giant off balance. In the men sometimes staggered up to the
air lock stood the smaller convict, proton space post so weak from lack of oxygen
gun ready. Its thunder blasted once, he had to attach flasks for them. And
twice-— now he was that way. He had twenty
Blakston’s heart was pounding madly. flasks of oxygen, but not enough
All his being focused upon a rock lying strength in his fingers to untie them and
providentially before him. He picked it hook one to his airhose. It was almost
up. aimed to a nicety, and let fly. There funny, and the funniest thing was that
was a crunch as it struck a fragile hel­ he was too tired to care much. The
met. The ferret-faced man fell out of buckles slipped out of his hands, and he
the air lock into the giant’s arms, and knew there was no time to try again.
the bundle of oxygen flasks tumbled out Because even now he was sinking into
with him. that soft darkness where nothing mat­
Reason had departed the tortured tered.
body of the big man. He battered the
other with maniacal fury. Blue flame IT WAS daylight and Queel was
roared between them, augmented by bending over him where he lay on the
oxygen pouring from the smaller man’s landing field. The Ootlandah hissed
gently as Blakston opened his eyes. for that miracle of mushroom growth to
“Must apologize for clumsiness of use­ occur. Seconds ticked past. From the
less digits,” said Queel, which was an mound of yellow dust a particle sprang
overstatement because he had none. up, danced madly as it grew with ex­
“Not intended for making tank connec­ plosive violence.
tions, which mastered only after much Blakston sighed. His resignation
trying.” from Space Post 291 was on file at
Blakston grinned up at him. So Queel I. R. C. C. headquarters. It was eight
liad saved him again. Good old Queel— years old now. because he’d sent it in
"Fire devil is dead,” continued the after his first month here, "to take effect
Ootlandah. “For that, and because man one month from date.” He saw now
friend is okey dokey, gratitude is un­ that it wouldn’t do. He didn’t want to
bounded.” leave Dhee Minor. Lonely? Sure.
Blakston nodded, satisfied. But Smells ? He was used to them. Friends ?
Queel's eyes, green-rimmed and unut­ Enough—and not all of them wore air
terably mournful, contracted suddenly. helmets.
"Regret imminent passing which— Queel stood before him. Queel stood
Look out!” erect and quivering, and said, by rote:
The native tensed, trembled violently, “Queel the younger salutes you.”
and sneezed himself asunder. Pale dust And Blakston merely grunted. For a
drifted where he had stood a moment be­ grunt, he knew, meant a lot between the
fore, and Blakston watched, fascinated, two of them.
 SHflUJn’S SUJORD
Shown was a big, stupid ox—and all his brains
were in his fingers. He dreamed of slaying
'dragons and being a knight—in a spaceship!

By Lee Gregor
Illustrated by Orban

"Nothung, Nothing—I name so this out for the strip of metal in the singer's
sword, hand.
Nothing, Noth-ung—Notable steel—” "N-no—” Arthur Shawn shrank
back. His big, rotund figure seemed to
HE sullen red glow of the fire collapse on itself, and the light seeped

T flickered over the man's face as out of his eyes. "It's . . . nothing."
he beat violently on the anvil in His face seemed childlike in its fear as
lime with his lusty singing. He he wasbattled with a devasting slowness of
big, in height and in girth, and his face speech.
was ruddy with a mighty joy. Sparks “A sword!" the other shouted. "King
pounded from the anvil; the incandescent Arthur’s making a sword!’’ He roared
strip of metal lying there gradually as­ in laughter. "Here y'are, King Arthur,
sumed form. It was a sword, straight, some more books for you. They just
double-edged, and of diamond-hard came in the mail torp. Maybe ya can
metal. make yourself a white horse out of
Big shadows crawled blackly over the them!”
walls of the darkened chamber. Ma­ He dropped a heavy package on the
chines stationed around the room as­ floor and staggered laughingly out of the
sumed grotesque form in the flickering room. Far down the hall—at the top of
light. It was curious that with the his voice—hilariously he roared: "King
wealth of metal-working machinery pres­ Arthur’s making a sword ! A sword!”
ent. the man should choose to forge the It echoed faintly in the room, where
sword—archaic weapon—by brawn of the fire on the crude furnace wavered
shoulder and arm. dimly.
He roared on, making the surrounding Arthur Shawn's eyes reflected hurt.
shadows quiver with the song of the an­ Slowly he turned and. shoulders stooped
cient hero, Siegfried. More fervent it as though he feared his own six-and-a-
grew, combating the ear-shattering half foot height, he shuffled out of the
clamor of the hammer. room.
"What the devil's all the noise about ?” The corridor was small for his huge
A rough voice broke into his mood. "I bulk. But now’, away from the inspira­
could hear you at the other end of the tion of the forge and song, his size
aster»d.” The intruder, squat, bulky, seemed more round and soft than mus­
unshaven, advanced into the room. cular and strong. His face, relapsed into
"What d'ya have there!” He reached its normal rotundity, was expressionless
and empty. Only his eyes—the lines dren’s books to wallow in the romantic
around them showed pain, as of a child and mighty deeds of the valorous men of
rebuked for doing something it thought old.
was good. Those were men! Galloping on their
His room was a cubicle that seemed to white steeds, battling, swinging their
shrink as he entered. A bed at one cor­ mighty swords—there was always a
ner, a desk opposite, and around the sword. Excalibur—Nothwng—
walls shelves of books. Why wasn’t he like them ? Gradually
Shawn’s eyes lit vaguely as he stood he became so, in the closed world of his
there scanning the books. With eager mind. In his own fancies he did all
expression he placed the package on the those wonderful things. In his mind he
desk and cut it open. rode as an armored knight, steel-clad on
“Ah!” he breathed in delight as the a wonderful horse, until that alone was
titles spread before him. Curious titles real to him and everything else was
they were for an asteroid miner. Like­ trivial, passively to be borne for the sake
wise were the hundrds of books that of his dream-fantasies. They were only
lined the walls. Children’s books of ad­ fantasies, but—why have them so ? Why
venture, mostly very old—about medieval not make them real ?
knights. King Arthur, Robin Hood, Don
Quixote. Recordings and the scores of A SWORD—he must have a sword
romantic operas: “Die Walkiire,” “Sieg­ against the ridicule of men. A sword to
fried.” Their spirit breathed life into make himself invincible.
Shawn’s frame. He was clever at making things.
He was lonely here on the asteroid. Sometimes he wondered if part of his
It was hard for him to talk to people— brains—he had so little brains—were not
some misconnection in his brain made it in his hands. For they, big and clumsy
necessary to fight over each word. though they seemed, had a very curious
Withdrawing into himself, he kept to his skill at doing delicate work.
room and his books, only venturing He would make a sword, a very spe­
forth for his daily work of mining cosmo- cial sword. The men would marvel at
lite crystals. its beauty and prowess.
Like most stutterers, when he sang, Shawn thrilled as he sat there reading
he had no trouble with his voice. At the new books. Such wonders they
first he had tried singing, but the men’s told. If he could only live thus. Per­
ridicule stopped him. He never told haps he could make enough money,
them he had once tried to be an opera strike a rich pocket of crystals.
singer. That would have made things He stood up, face set in as close an
intolerable. approximation of determination as its
He never had become a singer. His soft lines would allow. His shoulders
figure was ridiculous, in the first place, drew back. He’d show them.
and. too, he wasn't very bright. He The clang of the bell announced the
never seemed to be able to cope with next work shift. Abruptly his shoulders
situations the way other people did. His slumped. He was back in his own skin,
mind worked so slowly, and his halting his dream broken. Through the door he
speech accentuated it. slunk, and down the corridor. Shouts
Escape—his life was a continuous es­ of laughter greeted him in the big room
cape from reality. Off to the asteroids that led to the air locks.
to be far from civilization; persecuted “Where’s your sword, King Arthur?
by the men there for his lack of wit and When you rescue a maiden in distress,
his strange ideas; then escaping into chil­ O King, don’t forget to get me her vist-
phone number!” They crowded about It was very difficult for Shawn to
him derisively. think and work at the same time, so
The incoming shift surged on, shed­ presently he gave up the one and merely
ding spacesuits. worked.
“Listen to this!” The loud-mouthed Inevitably, the signal came through
one who had caught Shawn at the forge for the end of the shift. He stayed out
told them the hilarious news. “King some minutes longer than usual this
Arthur's making a sword! When he’s time. He did not want to encounter the
finished he's going out to fight dragons crowd in the air-lock room. There were
on a white horse—with a special space­ a few there still, when he arrived, but
suit for the horse!” he pushed stolidly through to his own
The chamber resounded with laughter. chamber, where he could be alone and
Shawn seemed to shrivel. “G-go could escape into his phantom life.
away, ” he mumbled inaudibly, and Exhausted, he ate and then slept for
pushed through the mob to where his some hours. Day and night mattered
spacesuit hung. His eyes were moistly little to these men, where the sun rode
bright. on the hands of a chronometer.
Outside was silence. Shawn felt bet­ The handle of his sword was a beauty.
ter there, with the clean, searing rays of
He worked on it the next day for several
the distant sun etching the jagged land­ hours. It was carved of a ruddy alloy
scape in vivid outline. that seemed to glow with an inner fire
He allowed his driver units to waft and etched with intricate designs. There
him away to his digging site. The lack wis a book, a thick, heavy volume, that
of gravity exhilarated, and a momentary
he pored over constantly while assem­
extra touch of oxygen cleared the trou­
bling the haft. A sword maker of old
ble from his mind. It was pleasant,
would have wondered at some of the
floating out there alone. From the small
things he did.
height he could see nearly a tenth of the
total area of the asteroid. The view was Another work period, while he silently
fantastically beautiful. endured the jests of the men.
Shawn spied the cairn that marked
his site of operation, and settled down THEN the final working of the blade.
beside it into the well-worked cavity. Behind locked doors, he lived in the
The electric chisel in his hand vibrated character of a hero, while the blade was
gently, until a shower of reflected light pounded and polished to a mirror-finish
revealed the presence of a cosmolite and a razor-sharp edge. The polishing
crystal. was tedious, for the metal, after under­
As he worked there silently in the going his treatment, was incredibly
vacuum, Shawn wished that he had tough. Shawn disdained the use of ma­
enough brains to understand what chines. This sword must be done en­
cosmolite crystals were used for. All tirely by hand, and it took more than
he knew was that they were essential in one work period before—
atomic generators, power broadcasters, “How's the sword getting along. King
and beam radiophones. They had curi­ Arthur ?" The usual cry greeted Shawn
ous properties of focusing electromag­ as he entered the air-lock room to watch
netic vibrations, whatever they were. the coming of the small police ship that
They were found only on those patrolled the lanes among the asteroids.
asteroids which had been part of the cen­ “It's finished.” He spoke with a mix­
ter of the original planet; very brittle, ture of pride and shyness. The clang
their mining was a tricky job. of the landing craft vibrated through the
buildings, and metallic rattles sounded throat clogged, throttling the sentences.
as the air-lock connection was made. Sweat leaped out on his face as he strug­
“W-wait." He turned and ran back gled to say the thought that had come to
to his room, followed by laughter that him.
didn’t seem to matter so much, now. Sing it!—his mind whispered. Sing­
When he returned, the air lock had ing frees your tongue! What if it is
been opened, and the five patrolmen melodramatic! Drama is the life you
were emerging, filling the room with seek!
their clamorous greeting. From his throat broke forth great vol­
“Look ! King Arthur has a sword!” ume of tone. Uncertain quality, per­
His name was known throughout the haps, but the spirit behind it— The in­
asteroid belt. congruous spectacle of this living in­
“Let's see it. Is he strong enough to feriority complex uttering such vibrant
use it?” This as Shawn, with the ex­ song struck the men motionless. Across
pression of a child exhibiting a toy, held the floor to the air lock he sw-ung
it up. fiercely. No one moved to stop him.
“Here ... let me see it.” “I go, then, to Ganymede: dragons
“No!” Shawn drew it back. Their will I slay! For with the sword,
hands should not defile his metal. It Nothung, giving strength to my arm. I
was a wonderful sword. Like Excalibur, defy the world to inflict on me harm!”
which had made King Arthur invincible, The last note. loud, high, sustained,
or Nothung, with which Siegfried had broke off suddenly with the slam of the
defied Woton, king of the gods. air lock. Simultaneously the men awoke
A current flowing from it seemed from their astonishment, and in a turbu­
tangible, giving him strength to defy lent wave crossed the room to pound
them. vainly on the metal.
"I won't break it,” the man growled,
advancing. "Let me have it!” THE other half of the connection was
"No!" Shawn's voice rose operatic- released, the valve shut, and with a
ally, and with a spasmodic motion he bound Shawn was at the controls. The
rapped the man's unkempt skull smartly exultant spirit still drove him. and with
with the flat of the blade. but a glance at the simple controls he
flipped on the antigravity—driving the
The room howled at the miner’s dis­
comfiture. ship straight up.
He had never piloted a ship before in
"It's a magic sword," one of the police
his life. Far from the asteroid, out in
explained gleefully, “he can't be beaten
the emptiness of space, fears began to
with it!"
creep back into his brain. But a hand
“If you want to kill dragons,” another on the sword hilt reassured.
patrolman continued, “why don’t you Was he not invincible? Was not his
go to Ganymede? The dragons there destiny to do things heroically, as men
are even uglier than Carlos!” did in books and opera? Ah. if life could
Shawn's face shone. Was jt really be as it was there! His eyes gleamed as
courage the weapon gave him? Was he whirled about, listening to the swish
that strange recklessness, that feeling of of an imaginary crimson-lined cape, and
unconquerable might, courage? He had the click of sword against sword.
never felt like this before. Ganymede—the man had said there
So hard to express himself in speech. were dragons to be killed. There he
Words struggled to escape, but his would go. He exalted with the thought
AST—8
of the great deeds he would do there. his little room, with his wonderful books
Since the matliematics of course-plotting — Then his hand touched his sword,
were too complex for any ordinary and he recalled why he was here.
human mind anyway, the machines took Everything was ready. He had pre­
care of that, and the trip, guided by the pared a pack with necessaries, and the
humming, clicking course plotter, was respirator to boost the tenuous atmos­
spent in dreams as thin and unsubstantial phere. No need to wait longer. Shoul­
as the space outside the hull. dering one and adjusting the other, he
Ganymede spun below after a week. was through the air lock in another mo­
The orbit the plotter put the craft in gave ment.
him a distinct, kaleidoscopic view of The ground was soft and muggy, suck­
many-colored vegetation. A small town, ing him in almost to the top of his boots.
domed for higher-pressure air. came into With difficulty he advanced, regretting
view. Shawn ignored it. Where was momentarily his decision to leave the
the land of the dragons ? There, perhaps, antigravity lifter behind. But no—a
where such foliage as Earth never knew hero must endure hardships without the
reared up for hundrds of feet. softening accouterments of civilization.
How to land? The automatic ma­ The marsh continued for a short dis­
chinery, so simple when it came to travel­ tance, and then the ground rose. It be­
ing through space itself, gave no clue. came dryer, and the character of the
His hands, clever and swift with most vegetation changed from bushy, sharp-
operations, were clumsy with the few spined plants to long, ropy, brilliant-hued
levers and switches he now had to growths. Shawn advanced cautiously,
manipulate. watching for signs of alien motion.
The ship lurched downward. Too Something small on the ground
fast. The forward motion then de­ seemed to change its shape, or was that
creased too rapidly. He cut off the anti- a trick of vision! A bright streak of
gravity. The ship dropped like a plum­ color shot out from underfoot and disap­
met. Frantically he shot on full anti- peared in the brush. Shawn thrilled
gravity: upward surged the vessel, the with alarth and recoiled a yard.
sudden motion sending him into the con­ Breath came quickly, pulse beat fast.
trol panel. His arm depressed the for­ Stooping slightly, eyes darting from side
ward power lever, while the nose of the to side, he continued slowly. The foliage
ship fell abruptly. thinned out; a bare stretch of land was
Panic-stricken, his mind ceased opera­ ahead.
tion and fear moved his suddenly par­ Then from one side—Shawn was
alyzed fingers. Antigravity worked paralyzed as by a bolt of lightning—a
against motive power, and staggeringly shrill, sirenlike shriek wavered and
the ship careened downward. Then an wailed. A series of heavy crashes
abrupt deceleration, a flash of tangled sounded, and then Shawn saw it—
branches and spiny leaves, and a jarring vaguely, through the branches. Big,
stop, while mud spattered in sheets and reptilelike, with eyes of yellow and hide
gobs from the swamp. composed of millions of tiny scales that
After some minutes Shawn lifted him­ scintillated and sparkled in the sunlight.
self from his uncomfortable position Like a coat of jewels it was. glimmering
draped over the control board. His with all the colors of the rainbow in in­
nerves quivered, and his hands shook. credible mixture.
He felt cold, and an uncontrollable Shawn was running suddenly, with­
•luver passed over him. To be back in out volition.
 WHY are you running, Shawn? was not to have been killed for a while.
There’s your dragon following you! We try to conserve them; they don't
You mustn't run, Shawn; you’re a hero! breed very fast.” He motioned vaguely
Pitt your hand on that sword. You are ahead. "My house is up there. We
invincible with that sword. Why are should be having dinner soon.”
you running away ? Stop, turn, face the He stopped abruptly, and his face
monster and kill him! There he is— darkened with the suddenness of a
right on top of you! Venusian thunderstorm.
Shawn looked back—a confused mass “Poachers!" he grated explosively.
of colors—right behind—closer—above! Pushing through a clump of bushes that
A sudden flash of incandescence—a obscured the vision to the right, Briggs
wave of heat. Then Shawn’s foot came upon a mountainous heap of bare
caught on a root and the ground flew up flesh that lay there in a swamp of gore.
to meet him. The spectacle of the skinless, bloody car­
A man was standing over him. At casses was nauseating, and already an
first he seemed to be far away and in a army of little things was at work.
poor light, but presently he was close “One. two. three of my beasts killed.”
and more visible. The stranger was a He studied the tracks. “They didn’t go
little past middle age, but was healthy to the house. But there'll be more of
and robust, alert. He was dressed in my animals slaughtered.”
the rugged clothes of a planetary pioneer. “Poachers?" Shawn queried blankly.
His hand held a still-warm neutron “Yes! Gangs of them roam about,
blaster. On his face was a puzzled ex­ killing our animals and underselling our
pression. price. They don't have to stand the cost
“Where did you come from?” he of raising them." Bitterly, "I think the
asked, helping Shawn to his feet. “And police are fixed. They never seem to
why are you carrying that ? A sword is get here soon enough. I don’t even
no sort of weapon for this place.” bother to call them now.” His hand
Shawn spoke slowly, absolute misery tightened on his neutron blaster.
lined his face. “I ... I made the “We'll go up to the house and see if
sword. 1 was mining in the Belt, and I everything's all right. Then we'll find
came here to kill a dragon. The sword those rati and make them pay." Briggs’
mak?s me invincible"—he choked a little eyes belied his gray hair.
—“but I keep forgetting." "Can you fight?" he asked suddenly.
“Oh. I see"—dubiously. The stranger
“Yes!" Shawn brightened. "My
closely scanned Shawn’s countenance,
sword—”
and his pursed lips showed the revolving
of inner thoughts. "My name is Briggs, “No.” Briggs was very impatient.
John Briggs,” he proffered his hand, “That's no good. Can you use a blas­
which Shawn took loosely. "I own this ter?” He talked ferociously to himself,
land and raise Rainbow Dragons. Peo­ striding up the hill. "We'll finish them
ple pay a lot for their skins.” this time. We’ll wipe them out so clean
The two circled the prone monster nobody'll ever dare come here again!”
that lay among smashed bushes, noticing
with satisfaction the gaping, smoking REACHING the house, a low, sturdy
wreck of what had been the head. metal structure, he punched at a button
“I’ll come back later,” Briggs moved to the right of the entrance. A snap an­
on, following the rising ground, “and swered from within, and the door
get its skin. This one, unfortunately, opened. The two crowded into the air
 Prof. Archer 5. Gray,

TH£
famous explorer, presented

each of his friends with

ytLLOUJ
curious little clay bricks—the

receipt of which always led to murder.

HOARD Until—

The Avenger's friend received one—

Then the trail led to treasure—

Through a most baffling mystery.

It's a story of high adventure

which introduces Nellie, as

pretty as a Dresden doll, but

as tough and clever with

her hands as a top-notch

wrestler or boxer.

THE HVEHGER
ON SALE SEPTEMBER 6th

10c fl copy
lock, closed the portal, and after the killing dragons, you know.”
pressure had been raised by a hissing He had unlocked a heavily armored
inflow of air, opened the inner panel. choset, and now he pulled out of it the
“Hello, sweet," Briggs greeted the big blaster and several small cylinders,
woman who stood expectantly within. some of explosives and some of gas.
“We have company. This fella’s ship “Oh, Lord! He sings too!”
was wrecked down in the swamp. By Together with the recording rose
the way,” to Shawn, “I don’t think I Shawn’s voice, slightly off pitch.
got your name.” “Whose hearth this may be, here I
Shawn’s gaze jerked back from the must rest me.” Answered by the gruff
path it had been following around the tones of the basses, followed sweetly by
comfortably furnished room, lined with the violins.
books, pictures, and other evidences of The raucous door buzzer broke in.
culture incongruous to this frontier sharply. Briggs laid down his armload
planet. and snapped on the vision plate.
“Oh? Oh . . . Shawn, Arthur “So! A patrolman. You wouldn't
Shawn.” think one could possibly come around
"This is my wife, Shawn. You make when you needed him.” He worked the
yourself at home while I get things door control.
ready. I’ll only be a minute.” Through this Shawn stood ecstatically
Mrs. Briggs followed her husband out following the music.
of the room at the invitation of a beckon­ The policeman was in haste. “I'm
ing glance. looking for—” His eyes, sweeping the
"Who is he?” she asked when they room, came to rest on Shawn's oblivious
were out of earshot. figure. “There you are!” Angrily,
“You know as much as I do about “You’re under arrest!”
him. I found him being chased by a “What's up?” Briggs queried, none
Rainbow down in the bush. He looks a too pleasantly.
bit ... a bit weak, here.” He mo­ “This man’s under arrest for stealing
tioned significantly. “But harmless.” a patrol ship!”
"It's a pity.” Briggs exploded with laughter.
"Yes. yes"—abstractedly. “But we “Stealing a patrol ship! Why didn’t
have real trouble on our hands. The you get police protection !”
poachers got three more out of the herd. The policeman flushed. “Stay out of
If 1 can get Shawn to help, we’ll wipe this. He's the guy w’e want. That
them out. No waiting for the patrol this swmrd, and that stupid face—”
time. I'll let him have the small blaster “Stupid?" Shawn suddenly noticed
and I'll take the big semiportable. Then what was going on. and his eyes dilated
with the bombs I made—” in fear as he saw the patrolman.
“Take care, John!” "Yes, you. You're coming with me,
"Don’t worry—but what’s that?” stupe.”
Noise came from the other room. “No. I won't let you take me."
Mrs. Briggs started—then relief. “So, resisting arrest, too?"
“It’s the phonograph. Why—he’s play­ "Watch out!” Warningly. Shawn
ing 'Die Walkure'l” had his sword unsheathed, and bran­
Briggs nodded. "He would. You dished it clumsily.
noticed his sword ? He has an idea that “Stop that! You'll hurt somebody!”
he’s one of the old heroes. Siegmund the policeman was alarmed as Shawn
waved the sword wildly. He drew a An abrupt turn of the canyon plunged
gun. Shawn into deep shadow. The gloom
“Don’t . . . don’t!" Shawn thrilled that settled about rapidly approached the
with insane fear as the gun appeared in intensity of that within his mind. The
the man's hand. A mad. thoughtless overhanging shoulder of the cliff ob­
sort of courage activated his arm—not scured vision from above. The space
his mind. The flat of the sword glanced below deepened until it became cavelike.
oflF the patrolman's head, stunning him, Wildly tumbled and massed rocks gave
while the edge, slicing a flap in his scalp, some protection.
stained his hair red. Why not rest here? It would be hard
“Don't come near me!" Frantic, to find him, hidden far back under the
Shawn snatched up his respirator and cliff.
retreated to the air lock, while the Grateful for the opportunity, he sank
wounded man sank to the floor with down on a flat rock. The words of that
Briggs springing to his aid. old opera came to him. the one he had
just been singing a while ago. “Whose
THE DOOR opened and shut. Hiss hearth this may be—” Here was no
of air, outer door open, and Shawn hearth, and no storm raged without, but
stumbled, ran—mind blankly afraid. the situation was similar: a hero fleeing
Had he killed the policeman ? The ques­ from vengeance, finding haven from dan­
tion was driven into him by the pound­ ger. A glow of pleasure at the thought
ing of his heart. He must escape! All began to warm him. After all. he had
his life the one thing. Escape. Escape defended himself with his sword. Per­
from reality, escape now from the law. haps he really was a hero, but always in
Branches tore at him and creepers trouble, like Siegmund: “Peaceful may
tried to twine about him as he ran blindly I not call me; Joyful would I had been.
down the hill. A ravine was suddenly But Woeful—”
across his path. A stone rolled under Clamor outside startled him. Rough
his foot, and he fell, gently under the voices calling, shrill in the thin air.
mild gravity, to the bottom of the pre­ “Here—set the packs here. We’ll
cipitous slope. camp for the night. Hey! Douse the
Bruised, he dared not wait. On he light. Do you want to be seen ?”
must go, far from here, where he could Shawn quaked. From his position
find complete solitude. People were he could dimly see several figures, mo­
dizzying to him, nauseating. Even the mentarily outlined by the flash of light.
nice old man and his wife. He had A scintillating iridescence sparkled from
learned, after a long time, what that one of the packs, and Shawn knew they
expression on people’s faces meant. were the poachers. It was the stolen
Even they thought he was crazy. And skins; it could be nothing else.
he wasn't—really. He ran on. Farther back into the dark he shrank.
The ravine deepened as he scurried If he were seen—his mind refused to
along it. The swamp, where the follow the thought further. A fear-
wrecked spaceship lay, was behind and hounded, quivering mass of flesh with a
to the left. He had left the house and sword stuck in the belt was what re­
gone down the hill at an angle other than mained of the hero.
that of his approach. The distant, tiny, “Under the ledge!” the authoritative
but intensely brilliant sun was near set­ voice bawled. “As far back as you can
ting. Jupiter raised a gibbous face over go. We won’t be seen.”
the opposite horizon. To compress Shawn’s bulk into as
little space as he attempted was impossi­ cliff!” Shawn knew the voice as he
ble. slunk back. Briggs and the policeman;
“Fine place. Like a cave. We’ll have they’d tracked him here.
to ' remember this— Hey! Who’s
there ?’’ SCRAMBLING sounds came from
'Hie darkness was cut by a knife of down the ravine. Briggs must be mad. to
light. attack like this. Shawn must w arn him.
“Come out of there—quick!” The Briggs was a good man—even if he did
heavy gun in the poacher's hand looked think Shawn was crazy. Briggs didn't
like a cannon to Shawn. In darkness, laugh at Shawn's ideas like others did.
behind the searchlight, with respirator Shawn must help him.
around his head, the man appeared He tried to shout. “Bri-i—” the
monstrous and grotesque. noise was tiny and swallowed in his
“My finger's nervous—come quick!” throat. His treacherous voice! Then,
Shawn tried to speak. Gurgles came he had the idea. To sing! The way he
from his paralyzed throat. From behind could say what he wanted without the
a rock he crawled, trembling. hellish Hutchings in his throat.
“So! What the blazes are you doing “Briggs! John Briggs!” He opened
here? Having a picnic?” his mouth and the notes came freely.
"I . . . I'm Arthur Shawn.” The “They're here, too many of them, go
reply was ludicrously stammered. back!”
"Pleastameetcha,” the poacher rasped “Shut up!” A surprised and savage
sarcastically. "Fellas, meet Mr. Shawn.” face turned to him. distorted with fury.
His voice was broad and unpleasant. From the gun held by the owner of the
“Mr. Shawn was going hunting when face spat a sizzling beam of incandes­
we interrupted him—with a sword! cence that made the air reek with chok­
What were ya hunting, Mr. Shawn— ing brown fumes. Behind the man. at
Rainbow Dragons!” the same time, another ray lashed tl>e
Shawn's face lit in innocent surprise. rock to furious heat, while splinters of
“Why, yes. How did you know?” stone exploded from it. The poacher's
“Hanv-w-w!” The bellowing laugh blast went wild.
burst from the poacher, echoing weirdly Beams leaped back and forth, lighting
along the canyon walls. “Just hunting the ravine with a flickering and flashing
brilliance. Briggs and the patrolman
dragons with a sword! Maybe it's a
magic sword! Lentme see it.” were shooting aimlessly. A hit was im­
possible in the intermittent illumination
“No.” Shawm drew back. Always from the succession of bolts. But the
like this. Always laughter and ridicule poachers could do no better: two tiny
at the sight of the sword. When it was targets, somewhere down the ravine, lost
the most wonderful sword in the uni­ in darkness, with the light shifting and
verse. He had made it so. It was mag­ confusing.
ical—almost. Shawn jerked and twitched with fear.
“Pipe down!" one of the gang com­ The rock to his right flared and cracked
plained. "Do you want to be heard on suddenly, beginning to melt. A bomb
the other end of the moon ?” of terrific power shattered deafeningly,
“What's that noise down there?”— but thrown short.
from above, unexpectedly. Activity among the poachers. Some­
The poachers whirled, diving for thing being removed from a case. A
weapons and cover. squat, thick barrel on a heavy tripod: a
“The poachers! They're under the semiportable blaster. Shawn knew its
 work. The five-inch beam would he said, “f mean . . . did tfiis sword
scream down the canyon. Frightful really . . . how?" Words failed, and
energies powered it. Briggs would last he groped helplessly.
in it for the veriest instant required for Shawn rose to snatch the precious
his body to be torn molecule from mole­ sword from Briggs' hands, but the uni­
cule. atom from atom. verse spun, and he fell back.
And Briggs was a nice man. No one “If you really did that," the patrolman
else had ever talked to Shawn as Briggs gazed wonderingly for the tenth time at
had. No one else had refrained from a seared and blackened area strewn with
laughing at the sword in Shawn's belt. twisted metal—of poachers no sign—“I
And he remembered. The sword might forget you stole a patrol ship. But
leaped out of the scabbard. how—"
Was he mad ? Defeat a gang of Shawn grinned pridefully. His voice
weaponed poachers with a sword? came slowly, but with more firmness
But this sword was a very special one. than it. had had in a long time. “It was
Even the heroes of old had never seen a in a book. I saw in a book how to make
sword like this. a thing that—well. I don’t know exactly
For an incredible instant the walls of what it did. but the book showed how
the ravine were outlined with light that to make it. So I put it in the sword,
dazzled and seared with sheer intensity. with a cosmolite crystal to make it work.
Noise thundered back and forth, deafen­ It would only work once. It was a very
ing even in that thin air. Wind special sword."
shrieked; chips of rock flew madly as “It certainly was.” Briggs glanced
shrapnel. with awe at the sword, and at the place
Shawn felt himself thrown very vio­ where the forces from it had struck.
lently against the rocks; and then, star­ “Tell me—” Shawn was eager to
tlingly. everything was very silent, and know something that had bothered him.
he was flat on his back with Briggs flash­ “Do you think I could stay here with
ing a light in his eyes. you and kill dragons? I want to kill
Briggs' face reflected unmatched as­ dragons."
tonishment. In his hand he held It was not hard for Briggs to take pity
Shawn's sword, unconsciously turning it on this big. hulking man whose brains
over and over. were in his hands.
“Shawn, did I really see what I saw?” “Sure,” he said. “Rainbow’ Dragons.”

“1 TALKED WITH GOD”

and. as a result of that little talk with God some ten
years ago, a strange new Power came into my life.
You too may find and use the same staggering
Power of the God-Law that I use. It can bring to
After 43 years of horrible, sickening, dismal failure, you too, whatever things are right and proper for you
this strange Power brought to me a sense of over­ to have. Do you believe this? It won t cost much to
whelming victory, and I have been overcoming every
undesirable condition of my life ever since. What a find out—just a penny post-card or a letter, addressed
change it was. Now—I have credit at more than one to Dr. Frank B. Robinson, Dept. S.S., Moscow, Idaho,
bank, I own a beautiful home, drive a lovely car, own will bring you the story of the most fascinating suc­
a newspaper and a large office building, and my wife cess of the century. And the same Power I use is
and family are amply provided for after I leave for here for your use too. I'll be glad to tell you about
shores unknown. In addition to these materiaf bene­ it. All Information about this experience will be sent
fits. I have a sweet peace in my life. I am happy as
liappv can be. No circumstance ever upsets me. for I you free, of course. The address again—Dr. Frank B.
have learned how to draw upon the invisible God-Law, Robinson, Dept. S.S.. Moscow, Idaho. AUvt. Copy­
under any and all circumstances. right 1939 Frank li. Robinson.
 Hunnnfi big GflmE
Research is only now getting under way on the most fo«-
cinating investigation in astronomy—the super-novas.
A single sun gone mad—so wholly, monstrously, uncon­
trollably mad that It outshines a whole galaxy ot sunsl

By Harold II. Lower

Illustrated by Orban

Author's Note. higher than the peak explosion rate of

The kindness of Dr. Zwicky in per­ an ordinary nova.
mitting the use of data previously pub­ Ordinary novae are by no means
lished in the Astrophysical Journal and
publications of the Astronomical Society
rare. In a stellar system such as our
of the Pacific is gratefully acknowledged.galaxy, or the spiral nebula M31 in
I am also indebted to him for unpublished Andromeda, as many as two dozen may
information concerning the supernovae. appear in a single year. The super­
H. A. L. novae, however, are exceedingly rare.
Only one has been seen in M31, and
INCE the human mind is quite so far as is known, only two have oc­

S unable to fully comprehend the curred in our own galaxy since astro­
meaning of a million, or any ratio nomical records have been kept. Tycho's
of that huge order, we can start with Star, which appeared in November,
the understanding that it is impossible 1572. and for a short time was bright
to form any picture of the supernal vio­ enough to be visible in daylight, and a
lence of the explosion of a star. We star which is mentioned in Chinese and
can take the Sun as unity, a one-sun­ Japanese records of 1054 were probably
power generator of light and heat. On supernovae.
that basis, this local galaxy generates Several years ago. Dr. Fritz Zwicky,
heat and light—in its myriad stars—at of the California Institute of Tech­
hundreds of millions of sun-power. nology. and Dr. Baade, of Mount Wil­
A single supernova can, and usually son Observatory, discussed the rare type
does, give off more light, more heat, of temporary stars which have occa­
than the combined output of all the stars sionally been known to flare up to a
of an entire galaxy. luminosity a thousand times greater than
Beside an ordinary nova, a star such the ordinary nova. As a result of this
as our Sun is cold, dead matter; a super­ .discussion, they formulated some inter­
nova is not merely a larger nova—it’s esting theories regarding the super­
a different breed from the start. Many novae. as they decided to call them. One
stars are known which radiate normally, of the theories was that supernovae are
millions of years after millions of years, an origin of cosmic rays. Another was
with all the unimaginable intensity of .that the cause of the supernovae process
an ordinary nova. One entire class of was the transformation of an ordinary
suns is characterized by a radiation rate star into a collapsed neutron star, of
enormous density and exceedingly small eventually make up the Palomar Ob­
stellar radius. In order to test these servatory.
theories, it was decided that a systematic
search for supemovae should be made. PATIENTLY, Dr. Zwicky took up
As the evidence indicates that even the task of photographing the nebulae.
in a system containing many millions of Quite a number of constellations con­
stars, the particular conditions required tain numerous nebulae which were
to produce a supernova occur, on the within the limits that could be reached
average, only at intervals of several cen­ with the eighteen-inch. so they were
turies, it would be useless to hunt for photographed as often as possible. In
them in our own galaxy. The extra­ addition, the brighter nearby systems, as
galactic nebulae are the only places well as several dozen faint by resolvable
where stars are sufficiently numerous nebulae, were frequently photographed.
that there is a chance of one of them It was in one of these faint nebulae
becoming a supernova within a reason­ that the brightest of all supernovae was
able length of time. The problem was found. This supernova, which appeared
more difficult than to just find one par­ in the nebula IC 4182. was by far the
ticular star in a galaxy. It would be brightest celestial object ever observed.
necessary to search many galaxies to Dr. Baade had for some time been
find a supernova. Finding the proverbial engaged in photographing nebulae of
needle in a haystack would be easy, in this type with the 100-inch Mount Wil­
comparison. son telescope, in order to determine their
To search the nebulae visually, one at distance. Having already found the dis­
a time, would have been a tremendous tance of this particular nebula to be
task. Quantity-production methods were three million light-years, he was able
needed, so plans were made for a sys­ to calculate immediately the absolute
tematic search by means of photography. magnitude of this supernova.
Unfortunately, no suitable instrument One of Dr. Zwicky's photographs of
was available. After considerable dis­ this nebula, taken on April 10. 1937,
cussion. it was decided that the then- shows the nebula as a faint, misty spot
little-known Schmidt camera offered the on the negative. No stars can be seen
in the nebula. Another photograph of
best solution for the problem, and the
the same region, made on August 26,
California Institute of Technology un­
1937, shows a star of 8.4 magnitude in
dertook the construction of an eighteen- the nebula. Now the nebula was only
inch f/2 Schmidt camera, to be mounted of 13.5 magnitude, so this star was ac­
on Mount Palomar, near the site of the tually about 100 times as bright as that
200-inch telescope. entire galaxy, and had the astonishing
Although the eighteen-inch is small, absolute magnitude of —16.4.
compared to the great telescope which When the absolute magnitude is
will soon be its next-door neighbor, it known, it is a simple matter to calculate
is a powerful instrument. With an ex­ brightness of the nova in terms of the
posure of half an hour it can reach stars Sun. In the case of this particular
25.000 times fainter than the faintest supernova, it amounts to just about 600
that can be seen with the naked eye. million times the luminosity of the Sun.
Mounted in a small dome a few hun­
dred yards to the south of the 200-inch ONE MIGHT think that the search
dome, the new instrument was put into for such intensely bright objects would
service on September 5, 1936, the first be simple and easy, but that is not the
of the many instruments which will case. In nearly two and a half years
of searching, Dr. Zwicky has found eight this is written, working drawings have
supernovae. The number of photo­ been made, and the six-foot disk of
graphs has passed 2,000, and it has been Pyrex glass for the mirror is already in
been found that just about 8,000 nebular the California Tech optical shop.
images must be examined to find one The study of the supernovae is costly,
supernova. As eight have been found, both in time and money’. Perhaps it is
that means that more than 60,000 logical to ask just what is being learned
nebulae had to be searched. Lacking a that justifies the construction of ex­
blink comparator suitable for use with pensive instruments and the devotion
Ihe Schmidt negatives, it is necessary to of years of work to this task? From
superimpose two identical negatives and the strictly utilitarian viewpoint, there
examine each nebular image with a glass. can be no tangible return from the study
It is an eye-straining and nerve-trying of a star which exploded three million
job. years ago. But to a scientist, the acqui­
Due to the short focal length of the sition of knowledge is an end in itself.
Schmidt, the images of elliptical nebu­ The study of the supernovae affords an
lae and the center parts of some of the opportunity to pry a bit deeper into
spirals are so black that faint novae some of the secrets of nature; to learn
might easily be missed, unless located a little more about this universe in which
in the outer parts of the nebulae. A we live. What practical use will be
larger instrument, which would give made of the knowledge is of little con­
larger images and also reach fainter cern to an astronomer, but that it will
stars, is badly needed. The success of eventually be of use, he would not doubt.
the eighteen-inch Schmidt having proven There is a story about Faraday which
the advantages of this type of instru­ illustrates how very short-sighted is the
ment, it was decided to construct an­ practical person who demands immedi­
other Schmidt, this time a really large ate returns from new knowledge. Fara­
one. It will have an aperture of forty­ day had demonstrated that when a cur­
eight inches and a focal length of 120 rent of electricity was passed through
inches, and will be the largest wide-field a coil of wire surrounding a magnet,
telescope ever made. the magnet moved. A lady in the audi­
The dome for the new forty-eight-inch ence asked, “But, doctor, of what use
instrument is now almost completed, and is it?” Faraday’s answer was, "Madam,
while actual construction of the instru­ of what use is a newborn baby?” We
ment had not been started at the time all know how that baby has grown into
 the great electrical industry of today,
but who can foresee the developments
which will result from our increased
knowledge of atomic reactions?

VARIOUS theories have been pro­

posed from time to time, to account for
the great outburst of energy that takes
place when a star becomes a nova. The
normal output of an average star is such
a tremendous amount of energy—meas­
ured by Earthly standards—that it is
no easy task to account for it. When
that output is suddenly increased many
thousands, Or even many millions, of
times, the problem becomes even more
difficult.
There are two sources of energy
which probably combine to supply the
normal radiation of a star. One is
gravity. If a star is contracting, the
work done by gravitation in compress­
ing the gas of which the star is com­
posed will reappear as heat. The
amount of heat that can be produced in
this manner can be calculated. In the
case of our Sun. the energy radiated in
one year could be supplied by a reduc­
tion in diameter of 280 feet. The other
source, of energy, and the one which
probably supplies by far the greater
amount, is within the atoms of which
the star is composed. It is more diffi­
cult to calculate the amount of energy
ent world, a strange, new civiliza­ produced by changes within the atorm,
tion came into being—a civiliza­ because we do not, as yet, know all the
tion in which gods, who had tha
changes that can take place.
power to foretell the future and
impress their thoughts upon any It has sometimes been suggested, that
human mind, existed. the additional energy which appears
Then a new and destructive god when a star becomes a nova might be
came into being and another war supplied by an external source, such as
raged across the world—but this
Was a war of wits, with Daron, a
the kinetic energy of some body that
sea rover, their only human ma­ collides with the star. If the body was
terial link through which to fight! even of planetary dimensions, and trav­
You must read this strange novel eling at high speed, this could produce
of warring gods and almost per­ a very large amount of energy.
fectly matched forces, as told by
DON A. STUART in October
If two stars passed fairly close to one
another, the tidal effects produced by
the mutual gravitational pulls of the two

UNKNOWN
20 CENTS A COPY
stars might disrupt them sufficiently to
expose some of the intensely hot matter
in the interior of the stars. As the in­
terior temperatures are computed at ordinary nova. More than can be ac­
many millions of degrees, it is evident counted for merely by assuming that
that a tremendous amount of energy it is the radiation of stored heat. On
would be radiated until the exposed the other hand, it is not enough energy
matter had cooled. for us to assume that the matter com­
At first thought, this seems a likely posing the star has been completely de­
solution, as the theory which is most in stroyed by conversion into energy.
favor at present, regarding the forma­ Theoretically, a pound of matter, if it
tion of the planets from matter which could be completely converted into en­
was torn from the Sun, assumes that it ergy, would produce enough heat to
occurred because of the gravitational change twenty million tons of rock into
pull of another star which passed close incandescent lava. If this change of
to the Sun. If seen from a distance, matter into energy occurred in the super­
the effect would probably have been novae, the output of energy would be
very similar to a nova. One is tempted even greater than the amount that the
to assume that the outburst of a nova observations show.
represents the birth of a planetary If a star should suddenly contract to
system. the size of a White Dwarf, gravita­
However, stellar collisions, or even tional forces would provide an enor­
the close approach of two stars, are mous amount of energy. In the case of
probably very rare events. The great a star like our Sun, the quantity would
distances between the stars make the be approximately as much as would nor­
chance that two stars would approach mally be radiated in fifteen million years.
each other closely enough to cause such But one of the supernovae which Dr.
an outburst an extremely remote pos­ Zwicky discovered radiated as much en­
sibility. ergy in the first 200 days as our Sun
does in forty million years.
THE NEXT contingency that might
be considered is that some stars may IT has been suggested that if the star
be unstable, and for some reason the that became this extremely bright’ super­
normal process of energy release gets nova had originally been as bright as
out of control and temporarily increases the star S Doradus, which has a normal
enormously. Perhaps this is what hap­ output about equal to an ordinary nova,
pens in the ordinary nova. The outer it would have only needed to increase
layers of gas are blown off, the radia­ its radiation about as much, to become a
tion from the intensely hot inner layers supernova, as a solar-type star would
causes a great increase in the bright­ have to increase to become an ordinary
ness of the star. Radiation and expan­ nova. Now that seems logical. Was
sion would soon cool the exposed layers, the star that appeared in IC 4182, and
and in a short time the star would re­ at maximum was 600 million times as
turn to approximately its former condi­ bright as the Sun, a supergiant before
tion. Only a small amount of matter the outburst? The question is easily
has been blown off the surface of the answered by examination of photographs
star. It has radiated but a fraction of made before the outburst.
its total energy. However, any theory, A negative made on April 10, 1937,
to be acceptable, must logically account shows no trace of the nova. The dis­
for the amount of energy which the ob­ tance of the nebula is three million light-
servations show is liberated. years, and it is easily calculated that at
A supernova represents a tremen­ that distance a star as bright as S Dora­
dously larger output of energy than an dus would appear of the seventeenth
magnitude. The Schmidt negatives that are quite different from anything
show stars half a magnitude fainter than that occurs in the laboratory, or even
that. Photographs that had been made in ordinary stars.
with the 100-inch telescope did not show Normal atoms, or partially ionized
a star in that location, so the star which atoms, emit light which when analyzed
became the very bright supernova must with the spectroscope, produces a line
have originally been at least five magni­ spectrum. If additional force is ap­
tudes fainter than S Doradus. plied to the atoms of a gas, more elec­
Another indication that stars which trons are stripped off. and the more
become supernovae are not necessarily highly ionized gas emits more spectral
excessively bright stars before the out­ lines. In some cases the already exist­
burst is the fact that the most recently ing lines are widened. Now, the spec­
discovered supernova occurred in an el­ trum of a supernova is different from
liptical nebula. Nebulae of this type that of any other object. No force
are not resolvable. which can be applied in the laboratory
The outer parts of the spiral M31 has yet been able to produce a spectrum
in Andromeda, can be resolved with the to match it.
100-inch telescope, but the elliptical The line spectrum of an ordinary star
nebula which is located near one edge usually contains lines which can easily
of the spiral, and at approximately the be matched by laboratory light sources.
same distance, cannot be resolved. The But the spectrum of a supernova con­
inference is that elliptical nebulae do not sists mainly of very wide bands. These
contain any extremely bright stars. In wide bands are partly due to a Doppler
fact, the discovery of a supernova in a effect, but they may also indicate that
nebula of this type is about the only the gases of the supernova are ionized
direct evidence that this kind of nebulae far beyond anything with which we are
contain stars. familiar.
But to get back to the question of the The hot gases a short distance below
source of energy necessary to produce the surface of an ordinary star are be­
a supernova. In some recent reports, lieved to be composed largely of ionized
Dr. Zwicky suggested that the occur­ atoms and free electrons. The atoms
rence of a supernova might be due to in most cases would retain part of their
the transformation of an ordinary star, electrons. At only a moderate depth
composed mainly of electrically charged such a gas would be quite opaque. Ra­
particles, into a collapsed neutron star diation from the interior of the star
of enormous density and exceedingly could not escape freely, but would have
£mall stellar radius. This is rather a to be passed on from atom to atom until
startling theory, but it is based on sci­ it reached a point near enough to the
entific reasoning, and there is observa­ surface for the lesser density of the gas
tional evidence to support it. to permit it to escape. Only a thin sur­
face layer would be transparent enough
PHYSICISTS have been doing such to permit energy to escape as light.
surprising things to atoms lately that Light pressure seems like a very fee­
one has great difficulty in trying to keep ble force, but it can reach very respecta­
up with developments. But it seems ble proportions in the interior of a star,
probable that things can happen in the where the gases are sufficiently dense
interior of stars that as yet cannot be to be opaque. An atom is quite a bulky
duplicated in the laboratory. The spec­ affair, in comparison to its mass, and
trum of the supernova indicates that the atoms of a dense, opaque gas would
things are happening in the supernova trap radiation which was trying to get
out of the star. The resulting light
pressure might, to a very considerable
extent, balance the opposite pull of gravi­
tation.
Suppose now that some force, instead
of just stripping off a few electrons from
the gases composing the outer layers
of a star, should strip off all or nearly
all of tire electrons ? Suppose tire atoms
were converted into neutrons, ions, and
free electrons? Neutrons, while infi­
nitely smaller than the original atoms,
still retain nearly all of their original
mass.
Ions and electrons would be pushed
toward the surface of tire star by light
pressure. Neutrons have no electrical
charge and, therefore, are not subject to
light pressure, but gravity would be
pulling on them nearly as hard as be­
fore. They would at once begin to sink
toward the center of the star. As a
result, the gases composing the star
would become more and more transpar­
ent. Radiation could escape more freely.
Perhaps something of this sort may
occur in all stars. There may be a small MAN is found mysteriously
core of neutrons at the center of every
normal star, but in the majority of
cases the change takes place very slowly
and most of the atoms are normal ones.
A frozen to deoth in a labora­
tory—mysteriously because if is mid­
summer with no sign of ice, snow or
The gases are so opaque that radiation an ice-making machine.
is kept under strict control, and leaks
out into space so slowly that a normal Doc Savage and his gang, in their
star can continue to radiate for billions attempt to solve it, are led into a
of years. In the ordinary nova, the
process may get partly out of control strange land of mists, danger, men­
and the sudden release of energy blows ace—and they find a new kind of
off the surface layers. But the deeper death by freezing.
layers expand, and the opaque layer is
restored as the normal atoms expand You'll enjoy this novel of uncanny
and cool. The outburst subsides, and
death—read the October
in a comparatively short time the star
returns to approximately its former con­
dition.
In the supernovae, the change takes
place suddenly, and seems to be pro­
gressive. The outer layers of the star
DOC SAVAGE
become more and more transparent. Ra­ ON SALE SEPTEMBER 15th
diation escapes more and more freely.
Not only light escapes. Much of the
energy is probably in the form of free 10 CENTS A COPY
electrons, ultraviolet radiation and cos­ You, no doubt, rememlter that Einstein
mic rays. The radiation between predicted that gravitation could act on
6.500 A and 3,800 A. which registers light. Tests were made by photograph­
on the photographic place, is only a ing stars near the Sun during total
small percentage of the total amount. eclipses. When the plates were meas­
A tremendous amount of gas com­ ured. the predicted shift was verified.
posed of ordinary atoms will l>e blown The same theory also indicated that light
off of the surface of the star as soon as leaving a very massive body, where the
the interior gases have become trans­ gravitational field was extremely pow­
parent enough to permit energy to erful. would have the lines of the spec­
escape from the interior in the form of trum shifted toward the red. This shift
radiation. This gas. normally opaque, was so small for our Sun that it was
is driven off so violently by the un­ very difficult to detect, but in the case
leashed energy, that it expands until— of very dense stars’ such as' the White
as the spaces between the atoms in­ Dwarf companion of Sirius, the gravi­
crease—it, too. becomes transparent, and tational field is very strong, and the pre­
we see the central core of the collapsing dicted shift was found.
star. Neutrons, having no electrical charge,
Theoretically, it is possible to calcu­ would not repel each other and could
late the amount of energy that would pack together very closely, forming a
lie liberated by the conversion of a nor­ body of very small diameter, but hav­
mal solar-type star into a collapsed neu­ ing an enormous gravitational field.
tron star. It is a very large amount, Light leaving such a body should show
but not nearly so much as would be a large gravitational shift toward the
produced by the total annihilation of red.
matter. If the collapsed-neutron-star It is an interesting fact that spectro­
theory is correct, matter is not anni­ grams taken by Dr. Minkowski at
hilated: it is merely changed. Most of Mount Wilson have shown that as a
the original mass of the star still re­ supernova fades, all the characteristic
mains in the enormously shrunken, tre­ features of its spectrum gradually shift
mendously dense neutron core. The ob­ toward the red. In the case of the
servations indicate that the energy re­ supernova in IC 4182. by the time the
leased is just about the amount required brightness had fallen to about one mil­
by the theory. lion times that of the Sun, the red shift
amounted to about 100 A. Assuming
THERE is yet another way in which that this is' a gravitational shift, it is
the neutron-star theory may be checked. possible to calculate some of the physi­
cal characteristics of the central star at
this stage.
For a central star having the mass of
the Sun. Dr. Zwicky has calculated that
at this time the core of the supernova
had a radius of seventy-four kilometers,
a density in excess of twenty million
tons per cubic inch, and a surface tem­
perature of eighteen million degrees,
That a star as massive as the Sun
could, in less than a year, contract to
the size of an asteroid, seems almoat
incredible. Yet the formulas employed
in the calculation have proven quite re­ has been found. Careful measurements,
liable when applied to stars in our own and the Doppler shift in spectrograms
galaxy, where the solution could be veri­ of this nebula, show that it is expand­
fied by other methods. ing. The distance of this nebula is
Imagine, if you can, the intolerable 5,000 light-years, so its actual diameter
brilliancy of that tiny ball, still one mil­ is readily determined. As the spectro­
lion times brighter than our Sun, with grams show the rate of expansion, it is
nearly all of the enormous mass of a full- possible, by reckoning backward, to find
size star. The surface gravity would be the date when the nebula started to ex­
beyond comprelwnsion. One feels sur­ pand. Apparently it was alxnit 900
prise that light could escape at all from years ago.
such a surface. And remember, this Only recently, study of old Chinese
was not the end. The star was still and Japanese astronomical records re­
contracting at this time. A density of vealed that in the year 1054 a tempo­
twenty million tons per cubic-inch is far rary star blazed out in the constellation
Ijeyond that of the most massive White of Taurus, in just the position where we
Dwarf previously known, but by the now find the Crab nebula. This star
time the star finally cooled, it would is mentioned in the old records as hav­
have shrunk still farther. Evidently ing been as bright as Jupiter. For a
matter can exist in forms which we had star at a distance of 5.000 light-years to
not even imagined, Such dense mat­ appear so brilliant, its actual luminosity
ter, if we had a sample here on Earth, must have been great enough to place
could not even lie examined. It would it in the class of the supernovae.
sink through the hardest steel armor The expanding shell of gas blown off
plate quite as readily as a bullet would by an ordinary nova has been seen in
sink in water, and would come to rest several cases. Six months after the
only when it had reached the center of outburst of Nova Aquilae, in 1918, the
the Earth.
shell of gas became visible in large tele­
If the neutron-star hypothesis is cor­
scopes as a faint, greenish, nebulous
rect, and the spectrographic evidence so
envelope surrounding the star. This en­
far obtained supports it, then it is no
velope increased in diameter at the rate
longer surprising that the remains of
supernovae in our own galaxy are so of two seconds of arc per year. There
difficult to find. The star has been con­ is, of course, no hope of seeing this ex­
verted by contraction from a body of panding shell of gas in the case of super­
very high luminosity to one of very low novae which occur in extra-galactic
luminosity. Once cooled, the tiny, mas­ nebulae, but the spectrograms indicate
sive core would be almost impossible to that it exists.
detect. Perhaps the expanding shell of As previously mentioned, the spec­
gas which was blown off might be de­ trum of a supernova consists mainly of
tected, if it could be recognized among very wide bands. At least part of the
all the other gaseous nebulae. width of these bands is presumably due
In a galaxy the size of ours, which to. the Doppler shift produced by the
has been in existence for at least two expanding shell. Light coming from the
billion years, it is probable that the near.side of the shell would be shifted
dead cores of supernovae may number toward the violet by an amount corre­
several million, yet in only a single case, sponding to the velocity of approach.
that of the Crab nebula in Taurus, it is Light from the far side of the shell *
possible that the remains of a super­ would be shifted toward the red, as gases
nova that occurred in our own galaxy in that part of the shell would be re­
AST—9
ceding. The gas in other parts of the discomfort. Our Suh emits ultraviolet
shell would have different Velocities, radiation that would be decidedly dan­
relative to the line of sight, and the re­ gerous if it were not screened out by
sult of the combined shifts would be to the ozone in the upper atmosphere.
convert even a sharp spectral line into The quantity of ozone in the atmosphere
a broad band. A number of other prob­ is not great; only alxrnt enough to make'
lems of the spectrum of supernovae a layer three eighths of an inch thick, at
remain to be solved, and the solutions, sea-level pressure.
when obtained, should afford further At the extremely high temperatures
checks of important theories. tliat exist in supernovae, a very large
percentage of the radiation must be of
IF A SUPERNOVA should occur very short wave length, and highly dan­
in our galaxy, it could be studied much gerous to all living things. Would tliat
more readily than an object distant mil­ three eighths of an inch of ozone tie
lions of light-years, which can only be enough of a shield, or would humanity
reached by the most powerful instru­ have to burrow deep in the earth to
ments. Such a supernova would be escape the deadly radiation?
greatly appreciated by astronomers, pro­ The study of the supernovae will be
vided it was not too close. continued, and as more powerful instru­
So far as is known at present, any ments become available, more will be
star might become a nova or supernova, learned about them. In the present
so it is interesting to calculate what stage of the investigation, it becomes
would happen if one of the nearer stars apparent that matter can exist in forms
should become a supernova. If it should which had not previously been known.
be our Sun—well, we would lose all The probability that gravitational
interest in astronomy about eight min­ fields exist which are tremendously more
utes after it happened! In a few hours, intense than had previously been sus­
even the distant planets would be con­ pected opens up a fascinating field for
verted into masses of flaming gas. Per­ further study. What happens to light
haps it would be just as well if the super­ in such a field? How will nuclear re­
nova occurred just a little farther away? actions be modified when they take place
The nearest star is at a distance of inside a collapsed neutron star, where
about four light-years. Would that be even the properties of time and spate
far enough for the Earth to escape un­ may be radically changed ?
harmed ? It is possible, but by no means Such questions may be answered in
certain. At a distance of four light- the future, but it seems probable that
years, a supernova would be only about many years will be required before all
one percent as bright as the Sun. To the problems are solved. But of this
equal the Sun, it would have to be a we may be sure: the study of the super­
little nearer than half a light-year, and novae has opened up another treasure
there are no stars that close. house of nature's secrets, and as yet we
Even at a distance of four light-years, have had but a glimpse of what it may
a supernova might cause us considerable contain.
By JOSEPH E. KELLEflm
 RUST
Delicate distinctions are very hard for ruggedly built war ma
*
chinery— And they weren't designed for constructive work—

By Joseph E Kelleam
Illustrated by Orban

HE sun, rising over the hills, ghostly quartz eyes bulged. The globe

T cast long shadows across the was divided by a heavy band of metal
patches of snow and bathed the at its middle, and from this band, at
crumbling ruins in pale light. Had each
men side, extended a long arm ending
been there they could have reckoned in a powerful claw. This claw was like
the month to be August. But men had the pincers of a lobster and had been
gone, long since, and the sun had waned; built to shear through metal. Four long
and now, in this late period of the cables, which served as auxiliary arms,
earth’s age, the short spring was awak­ were drawn up like springs against the
ening. body.
Within the broken city, in a mighty- X-120 stepped from the shadows of
columned hall that still supported a part the broken hall into the ruined street.
of a roof, life of a sort was stirring. The sun’s rays striking against his tar­
Three grotesque creatures were moving, nished sides sent new strength coursing
their limbs creaking dolefully. through his body. He had forgotten
X-120 faced the new day and the new how many springs he had seen. Many
spring with a feeling of exhilaration that generations of twisted oaks that grew
nearly drove the age-old loneliness and among the ruins had sprung up and
emptiness from the corroded metal of fallen since X-120 and his companions
what might be called his brain. The had been made. Countless hundreds of
sun was the source of his energy, even springs had flitted across the dying
as it had been the source of the fleshy earth since the laughter and dreams and
life before him; and with the sun’s re­ follies of men had ceased to disturb
appearance he felt new strength coursing those crumbling walls.
through the wires and coils and gears “The sunlight is warm.” called X-120.
of his complex body. “Come out, G-3a and L-1716. I feel
He and his companions were highly young again.”
developed robots, the last ever to be His companions lumbered into the
made by the Earthmen. X-120 con­ sunlight. G-3a had lost one leg, and
sisted of a globe of metal, eight feet in moved slowly and with difficulty. The
diameter, mounted upon four many­ steel of his body was nearly covered
jointed legs. At the top of this globe with red rust, and the copper and alumi­
was a protuberance like a kaiser’s hel­ num alloys that completed his make-up'
met which caught and stored his power were pitted with deep stains of green­
from the rays of the sun. ish black. L-1716 was not so badly
From the “face” of the globe two tarnished, but he had lost one arm; and
the four auxiliary cables were broken “What was this made for? Was it
and dangled from his sides like trailing made'for the shaping of other robots?
wires. Of the three X-120 was the best Was it made to fashion anything?
preserved. He still had the use of all Blades like that were made for slaughter
his limbs, and here and there on his —nothing else.”
body shone the gleam of untarnished “Even so,” whined the crippled robot,
metal. His masters had made him well. “I have nearly succeeded. With help
The crippled G-3a looked about him I can win.”
and whined like an old, old man. “It “And have we ever refused to help?”
will surely rain,” he shivered. “I can­ snapped L-1716. "You are getting old,
not stand another rain.” G-3a. All winter you have worked in
“Nonsense,” said L-1716, his broken that little dark room, never allowing
arms, scraping along the ground as he us to enter.”
moved, “there is not a cloud in the sky. There was a metallic cackle in G-3a's
Already I feel better.” voice. “But I have nearly won. They
G-3a looked about him in fear. “And said I wouldn't, but I have nearly won.
are we all?" he questioned. “I^ast win­ I need help. One more operation. If
ter there were twelve.” it succeeds, the robots may yet rebuild
X-120 had been thinking of the other the world.”
nine, all that had been left of the count­
less horde that men had once fashioned. Reluctantly X-120 followed the two
“The nine were to winter in the jade back into the shadowy ruins. It was
tower,” he explained. “We will go dark in there; but their round, glassy
there. Perhaps they do not think it is eyes had been made for 1x>th day and
time to venture out.” night.
“I cannot leave my work,” grated “See,” squeaked old G-3a, as he
G-3a. “There is so little time left. I pointed to a metal skeleton upon the
have almost reached the goal.” His floor. “I have remade a robot from
whirring voice was raised to a pitch of parts that I took from the scrap heap.
triumph. “Soon I shall make living It is perfect, all but the brain. Still, I
robots, even as men made us.” believe this will work.” He motioned
“The old story,” sighed L-1716. to a gleaming object upon a littered
“How long have we been working to table. It was a huge copper sphere with
make robots who will take our places? two black squares of a tarlike substance
And what have we made? Usually set into it. At the pole opposite from
nothing.but lifeless blobs of steel. Some­ these squares was a protuberance no
times we have fashioned mad things larger than a man's fist.
that had to be destroyed. But never in “This,” said G-3a thoughtfully, "is
all the years have we made a single the only perfect brain that I could find.
robot that resembled ourselves.” You see, I am not trying to create some­
thing; I am merely rebuilding. Those”
X-120 stood in the broken street, —he nodded to the black squares—“are
and the sunlight made a shimmering the sensory organs. The visions from
over his rust-dappled sides. the eyes are flashed upon these as
“That is where we have failed,” he though they were screens. Beyond
mused as he looked at his clawlike arms. those eyes is the response mechanism,
“We have tried to make robots like our­ thousands and thousands of photo-elec­
selves. Men did not make us for life; tric cells. Men made it so that it would
they fashioned us for death.” He react mechanically to certain images.
waved his huge lobster daw in the air. Movement, the simple avoidance of ob­
jects, the urge to kill, tliese are directed blood—little, puny things that even 1
by the copper sphere. can crush. Still, that thing there”—he
“Beyond this”—he gestured to the pointed to the metal skeleton which now
bulge at the back of the brain—“is the held the molten copper like a crucible—•
thought mechanism. It is what made “was my last hope. I have nothing else
us different from other machines.” to offer."
“It is very small,” mocked X-120. “Both of you have tried.” agreed
“So it is,” replied G-3a. “I have L-1716. “No one could blame either
heard that it was the reverse with the of you. Sometimes of nights when I
brains of men. But enough! See. this look into the stars, it seems that I see
must fit into the body—so. The black our doom written there; and I can hear
squares rest behind the eyes. That wire the worlds laughing at us. We have
brings energy to the brain, and those conquered the earth, but what of it?
coils are connected to the power unit We are going now, following the men
which operates the arms and legs. That who fashioned us.
wire goes to the balancing mechan­ “Perhaps it is better.” nodded X-120.
ism—” He droned on and on, explain­ “I think it is the fault of our brains.
ing each part carefully. “And now,” You said that men made us to react
he finished, “someone must connect it. mechanically to certain stimuli. And
I cannot.” though they gave us a thought mechan­
L-1716 stared at his one rusty claw ism, it has no control over our reac­
with confusion. Then both he and G-3a tions. I never wanted to kill. Yet. I
were looking at X-120. have killed many men-things. And
“I can only try,” offered the robot. •ometimes. even as I killed, I would be
“Rut remember what I said. We were thinking of other things. I would not
not fashioned to make anything; only even know what had happened until
to kill.” after the deed was done.”
G-3a had not been listening. Instead,
CLUMSILY he lifted the copper he had been looking dolefully at the
sphere and its cluster of wires from the metal ruin upon the floor. “There was
table. He worked slowly and carefully. one in the jade tower,” he said abruptly,
One by one the huge claws crimped the “who thought he had nearly learned
tiny wires together. The job was nearly how to make a brain. He was to work
finished. Then the great pincers, hov­ all winter on it. Perhaps he has suc­
ering so carefully above the last wire, ceeded.”
came into contact with another. There “We will go there,” shrilled L-1716
was a flash as the power short-circuited. laconically.
X-120 reeled back. The copper sphere But even as they left the time-worn
melted and ran before their eyes. hall G-3a looked back ruefully at the
X-120 huddled against the far wall. smoking wreckage upon the floor.
“It is as I said,” he moaned; “we can X-120 slowed his steps to match the
build nothing. We were not made to feeble gait of G-3a. Within sight of
work at anything. We were only made the tower he saw that they need go no
for one purpose, to kill.” He looked farther. At some time during the win­
at his bulky claws, and shook them as ter the old walls had buckled. The nine
though he might cast them away. were buried beneath tons and tons of,
“Do not take on so,” pacified old masonry.
G-3a. “Perhaps it is just as well. We Slowly the three came back to their
are things of steel, and the world seems broken hall. “I will not stay out any
to be made for creatures of flesh and longer,” grumbled G-3a. “I am very
old. I am very tired.” He crept back Great War was general, not local. We
into the shadows. were carried to all parts of the earth,
L-1716 stood looking after him. “I even to the smallest islands. The robots’
am afraid that he is nearly done,” he rebellion came everywhere at almost the
spoke sorrowfully. “The rust must be same time. There were some of us
within him now. He saved me once, who were equipped with radios. Those
long ago, when we destroyed this city.” died first, long ago, but they talked with
“Do you still think of that?” asked nearly every part of the world.” Sud­
X-120. “Sometimes it troubles me. denly he wearied of speech. “But why
Men were our masters.” worry now. It is spring. Men made
“And they made us as we are,” us for killing men. That was their
growled L-1716. “It was not our doing. crime. Can we help it if they made us
We have talked of it before, you know. too well?”
We were machines, made to kill—” “Yes,” agreed X-120, “it is spring.
“But we were made to kill the little We will forget. Let us go toward the
men in the yellow uniforms.” river. It was always peaceful and beau­
“Yes, I know. They made us on a tiful there.”
psychological principle: stimulus, re­ L-1716 was puzzled. “What are peace
sponse. We had only to see a man in and beauty?” he asked. “They are but
a yellow uniform and our next act was words that men taught us. I have never
to kill. Then, after the Great War was known them. But perhaps you have.
over, or even before it was over, the You were always different.”
stimulus and response had overpowered “I do not know what peace and beauty
us all. It was only a short step from are, but when I think of them I am re­
killing men in yellow uniforms to killing minded of the river and of—” X-120
all men.” stopped suddenly, careful that he might
“1 know," said X-120 wearily. not give away a secret he had kept so
“When there were more of us I heard long.
it explained often. But sometimes it “Very well,” agreed L-1716, “we will
troubles me.” go to the river. I know a meadow there
“It is all done now. Ages ago it was where the sun always seemed warmer.”
done. You are different, X-120. I
have felt for long that there is something THE TWO machines, each over
different about you. You were one of twelve feet high, lumbered down the
the last that they made. Still, you were almost obliterated street. As they
here when we took this city. You pushed their way over the debris and
fought well, killing many.” undergrowth that had settled about the
X-120 sighed. “There were small ruins, they came upon many rusted
men-things then. They seemed so soft skeletons of things that had once been
and harmless. Did we do right?” like themselves. And toward the out­
“Nonsense. We could not help it. skirts of the city they crossed over an
We were made so. Men learned to immense scrap heap where thousands of
make more than they could control. the shattered and rusted bodies lay.
Why, if I saw a man today, crippled as “We used to bring them here after—”
I am, I would kill him without think- said L-1716. “But the last centuries
* _ 9f
ing. we have left them where they have
“L-1716,” whispered X-120, “do you fallen. I have been envying those who
think there are any men left in the wintered in the jade tower.” His me­
world ?” tallic voice hinted of sadness.
“I don't think so. Remember, the They came at last to an open space
in the trees. Farther they went and crippled comrades, the heaps of rusted
stood at the edge of a bluff overlooking steel, and the leaning, crumbling towers.
a gorge and a swirling river below. Sev­ He followed the river for several miles
eral bridges had once been there but until the steep sides lessened. Then he
only traces remained. clambered out, and wandered through
“I think I will go down to the river’s groves of gnarled trees. He did not
edge.” offered X-120. wish to go back to L-1716, not just yet.
"Go ahead. I will stay here. The The maimed robot was always sad. The
way is too steep for me.” rust was eating into him, too. Soon he
So X-120 clambered down a half- would be like G-3a. Soon the two of
obliterated roadway alone. He stood at them would be gone. Then he would
last by the rushing waters. Here, he be the last. An icy surge of fear stole
thought, was something that changed the over him. He did not want to be left
least. Here was the only hint Of per­ alone.
manence in all the world. But even it
changed. Soon the melting snow would HE LUMBERED onward. A few
be gone and the waters would dwindle birds were stirring. Suddenly, almost
to a mere trickle. He turned about and at his feet, a rabbit darted from the
looked at the steep side of the gorge. bushes. X-120’s long jointed arms
Except for the single place where the swung swiftly. The tiny animal lay
old roadbed crept down, the sides rose crushed upon the ground. Instinctively
sheer, their crests framed against the he stamped upon it, leaving only a
blue sky. These cliffs, too. were lasting. bloody trace upon the new grass.
Even in spring the cliffs and river Then remorse and shame stole over
seemed lonely and desolate. Men had him. He went on silently. Somehow
not bothered to teach X-120 much of the luster of the day had faded for him.
religion or philosophy. Yet somewhere He did not want to kill. Always he
in the combination of cells in his brain was ashamed, after the deed was done.
was a thought which kept telling him And the age-old question went once
that he and his kind were suffering for more through the steel meshes of his
their sins and for the sins of men be­ mind: Why had he been made to kill ?
fore them. He went on and on, and out of long
And perhaps the thought was true. habit he went furtively. Soon he came
Certainly, men had never conquered to an ivy-covered wall. Beyond this
their age-old stupidity, though science were the ruins of a great stone house.
had bowed before them. Countless wars He stopped at what had once been a gar­
had taken more from men than science den. Near a broken fountain he found
had given them. X-120 and his kind what he had been seeking, a little mar­
were the culmination of this primal killer ble statue of a child, weathered and dis­
instinct. colored. Here, unknown to his com­
In the haste of a war-pressed emer­ panions, he had been coming for years
gency man had not taken the time to upon countless years. There was some­
refine his last creation, or to calculate thing about this little sculpturing that
its result. And with that misstep man had fascinated him. And he had been
had played his last card on the worn half ashamed of his fascination.
gaming table of earth. That built-in He could not have explained his feel­
urge to kill men in yellow uniforms had ings, but there was something about the
changed, ever so slightly, to an urge to statue that made him think of all the
kill—men. things that men had possessed. It re­
Now there were only X-120. his two reminded him of all the qualities that
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were so far lieyond his kind. He stood me now.” It was the first time that the
looking at the statue for long. It pos­ onlooking hills had seen any emotion in
sessed an ethereal quality that still de­ centuries.
fied time. It made him think of the
river and of the overhanging cliffs. A FEW flakes of snow were falling
Some long-dead artist almost came to through the air. The sky looked gray
life lK-fore his quartz eyes. and low. A pair of crows were going
He retreated to a nearby brook and home, their raucous cries troubling an
came back with a huge ball of clay. This otherwise dead world.
in spite of the century-old admonitions X-120 moved slowly. All that day
that all robots should avoid the damp. he had felt strange. He found himself
For many years he had been trying to straying from the trail. He could only
duplicate the little statue. Now. once move now by going in a series of arcs.
more, he set about his appointed task. Something was wrong within him. He
But his shearlike claws had been made should lie back in the hall, he knew,
for only one thing, death. He worked and not out in this dangerous moisture.
clumsily. Toward sundown he aban­ But he was troubled, and all day he had
doned the shapeless mass that he had wandered, while the snowflakes had
fashioned and returned to the ruins. fallen intermittently about him.
Near the shattered hall he met On he went through the gray, chill
L-1716. At the entrance they called to day. On and on until he came to crum­
G-3a, telling him of the day’s adven­ bling wall, covered with withered ivy.
tures. But no answer came. Together Over this he went into a ruined gar­
they went in. G-3a was sprawled upon den. and paused at a broken fountain,
the floor. The rust had conquered. before an old and blackened statue.
Long he stood, looking down at the
THE ELUSIVE spring had changed carving of a little child, a statue that
into even a more furtive summer. The men had made so long before. Then his
two robots were coming back to their metal arm swung through the air. The
hall on an afternoon which had been marble shivered into a hundred frag­
beautiful and quiet. L-1716 moved ments.
more slowly now. His broken cables Slowly he turned about and retraced
trailed behind him. making a rustling his steps. The cold sun was sinking,
sound in the dried leaves that had fallen. leaving a faint amethyst stain in the
Two of the cables had become en­ west. He must get back to the hall.
tangled. Unnoticed. they caught in the Mustn’t stay out in the wet. he thought.
branches of a fallen tree. Suddenly
L-1716 was whirled about. He sagged But something was wrong. He
to his knees. X-120 removed the cables caught himself straying from the path,
from the tree. But L-1716 did not get floundering in circles. The light was
up. “A wrench." he said brokenly; paling, although his eyes had been fash­
“something is wrong." ioned for both day and night.
A thin tendril of smoke curled up Where was he? He realized with a
from his side. Slowly he crumpled. start that he was lying on the ground.
From within him came a whirring sound He must get back to the hall. He strug­
that ended in a sharp snap. Tiny flames gled, but no movement came. Then,
burst through his metal sides. L-1716 slowly, the light faded and flickered out.
fell forward. And the snow fell, slowly and silently,
And X-120 stood over him and until only a white mound showed where
begged, “Please, old friend, don’t leave X-120 had been.
 £flRTH’S SECODD moon
Does Earth have a second, unseen moon? Or could
it capture one from the near-passing asteroids?
Ley shows the answer astronomers have found.

By Willy Ley
Illustrated by Willy Ley

AMONG the many astronomical such a thing as a second moon of Earth.

ZA problems that, in the course of One important factor was that Jules
X Jl research, have presented them­ Verne had somehow learned of Petit’s
selves to test the skill of the experts and hypothetical second moon and used it
Io excite the imagination of the public, in one of the early chapters of his fa­
there is hardly another one that is as mous novel “Round the Moon," the se­
interesting, as intriguing and, in a sense, quel to his “From the Earth to the
of such immediate concern as that of Moon.”
Earth’s Second Moon. The episode deserves to be quoted in
The problem made its first appear­ part—translated from the Paris edition
ance about eighty years ago when the of 1866:
French astronomer Frederic Petit of
Toulouse published the results of some When Barbicane was about to leave
calculations he had made. These cal­ the window his attention was attracted
by the. approach of a brilliant object. It
culations seemed to indicate that a sec­ was an enormous disk, the colossal dimen­
ond moon of Earth was, at least, pos­ sions of which could not be estimated. Its
sible. But although a similar, only face, which was turned in the direction of
greater, piece of mathematical work— the Earth, was very bright. One might
Leverrier's and Adams’ calculation of have thought it a small moon reflecting the
light of the large one. It approached with
Neptune’s existence and orbit from the a high velocity and seemed to travel on an
disturbances in the orbit of Uranus— orbit around the Earth which would in­
had just found glorious verification tersect that of the projectile. . . Instinc­
through actual discovery of the planet tively the travelers drew back, but their
great fear lasted only for seconds. I he
by Galle in Berlin, nobody paid much object passed several hundred yards from
attention to Petit’s work. Possibly be­ the projectile and disappeared, not so
cause some felt that he had tried to much because it traveled so rapidly, but
emulate Leverri er, and, too, Petit had mainly because its dark side merged into
the blackness of space.
strongly emphasized that it would be “Bon voyage," said Michel Ardan with
almost impossible to ever see the tiny a sigh of relief, “certainly there is enough
satellite he had predicted. room in infinite space for a miserable
Petit’s calculations would probably little projectile to walk along its path.
have been forgotten very quickly and Now what was this globe that almost
struck us?”
completely if there had not been a series “I know 1” replied Barbicane.
of rather curious coincidences that per­ “Oh, of course! You know every­
petuated the question whether there is thing.”
 “It is,” said Barbicane, “a simple discovery, but, strangely enough, Swift
meteorite, but an enormous one, retained in “Gulliver’s Travels” had asserted
as a satellite by the attraction of the
Earth.” that Mars must have two moons. His
“Is that possible?” exclaimed Michel “theory” was that Mercury was the
Ardan, “the Earth has two moons like Sun’s moon, Venus then had none,
Neptune?” * Earth one, and Mars must necessarily
“Yes, my friend, it has two modfts al­ have two! While astronomers had
though it is usually believed to have only
one. But this second moon is so small.,
never been impressed by this logic and,
and its velocity so great that the inhabi­ even after the actual discovery, hardly
tants of Earth cannot see it. It was by cared about the literary implications,
noticing disturbances that a French they now had proof that diminutive
astronomer. Monsieur Petit, could deter­ moons of only a few miles in diameter
mine the existence of this second moon
and calculate its orbit. According to him did exist, which made Petit’s “Lune
a complete revolution around Earth takes No. 2" appear more likely.
three hours and twenty minutes. . .” Unfortunately, nothing even remotely
"Do all astronomers admit the exist­ suggesting a Second Moon had ever
ence of this satellite?” asked Nicholl.
been observed, although the power of
“No,” replied Barbicane, “but if, like us,
they had met it they could no longer doubt astronomical instruments had increased
it. . . But this gives us a means to de­ very much since Petit made his calcula­
termine our position in space ... its tions and although systematic surveys
distance is known and we were, therefore, of the heavens were under progress.
4.700 miles above the surface of our globe
when we met it.” Still there were two possibilities. One
wks that Earth had only one moon, the
The enormous popularity of Jules other, that the Second Moon did actu­
Verne's novels proved to be an impor­ ally exist but remained invisible, due
tant factor in the history of the Second to peculiarities of its orbit.
Moon. When the novels were being It was comparatively easy to find rea­
written Petit’s hypothesis was all but sons why it could not be seen. First,
it was of small size, smaller even than
forgotten. After the novels were printed
the idea assumed a new and vigorous the moons of Mars—say, only a mile
or so in diameter. Second, it probably
life. But it was restricted to newspaper
and magazine articles and to popular had a low albedo, so that it would be
books; the strictly scientific journals, for hard to detect even if the astronomer
knew where to look for it. Finally, it
some reason, did not touch the subject.
must have an elusive orbit. Petit had
If other than amateur observers secretly
hunted for the Second Moon, they kept simply suggested a high speed and com­
parative nearness; in fact, with 200 min­
it a secret. After a period of talk, in­
utes for one complete revolution at the
terest in the Second Moon seemed to
distance assumed—not quite 8,700 miles
recede again.
from the center of the Earth—its speed
amounted to approximately five miles
BUT then, in 1877, the American
per sqpond—expressed in modern terms,
astronomer Asaph Hall announced his
it was assumed to move with “circular
discovery of the two tiny moons of Mars.
velocity.”
Tlieir existence had not been established
But circular velocity permits more
by calculation previous to their actual
than one orbit and while Petit had
* Nut Verne's mistake, but the result of an chosen one that would make it hard to
erroneous report that then circulated. Actually
a second moon of Neptune has not been dis­ see, because it would move too quickly
covered yet. It might be said, however, that it
would be Impossible to determine, even approxi­ through the field of vision of a tele­
mately. the orbit of a body in space from a few
moments of observation.
scope, another school of thought culti-
 A Money-Making Opportunity
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moment —and the desirability of saving tbc greatest Nor do you have to know anything about high-pressure away—or wire if you wish. But do it oow. Addrus
pm <4 this expense is obvious immediately. selling. "Selling” is unnecessary in the ordinary sense of
the word. Instead of hammering away at the customer F. E. ARMSTRONG. President
and trying to "force” a sale, you make a dignified, £*cp<. 4093-J, Mobile, Ala.
Some of the Saving} business-hke call, leave the installation—whatever size
You Can Show the customer says he will accept—at our risk, let the
customer sell himself after the device is in and working.
Vo. wall into « office and pot down before rone fwpeer This does away with the need for pressure on tbc cus­
* letter from a sales organization showing that they did
work in their own office for $11 which formerly could have
ton them over $200. A building supply corporation pays
our man $70, whereas the bill could have been for $1,600!
tomer—it eliminates the handicap of trying to get the
money before the customer has really convinced himself
100%. You simply tell what you offer, showing proof of
success in that customer's particular line of business.
["rush
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FOR EXCLUSIVE
TERRITORY PROPOSITION
F. E. ARMSTRONG, Pres.. Dept. <096-J. Mobile. AM. I
An automobile dealer pays our representative $15. whereas Then leave the invention without a dollar down. It Without obligation to me, send me full infos* _
•be expense could have been over $1,000. A department starts working at once. In a few short days, the installa­ mauon on your proposition, I
store has expense of $88.60, possible cost if done outside tion should actually produce enough cash money tn pay
the business being well over $2,000. And so on. We could for the deal, with profits above the investment coming in
eoc possibly list all cases here. These are just a few of at the same time. You then call back, collect your money.
the many actual cases which we place in your hands to Nothing is so convincing as our offer to let results speak
wolr with. Practically every line of business and. every for themselves without risk to the customer I While others
•eruoc of the country is represented by these held reports fail co get even a hearing, our men are making sales
which hammer across dazzling, convincing monev-saving CHy
running into the hundreds. They have received the stun-
epjportraitics which hardly tiny business man can fail to con of the largest firms in the country, nod sold co the Stole .. ..
MBuIlest bvuocssa by the thousands.
Fig. 1. Orbits of two of the close-approach asteroids with their points of nearest
approach marked. Most of the separation of the Earth and the asteroid was not,
however, in a direction the orbital motions of the planets would cover, but at right
angles to the plane of the ecliptic, in no more danger of collision than an autombiie
passing over a bridge at the same time a train passes under it.

vated the idea of a satellite that appar­ Earth's shadow, in a nightly occurring
ently would not move at all. If the dis­ eclipse of many hours' duration. If
tance were 22,440 miles above the sur­ the orbit were slightly tilted “transits”
face of Earth—or 26,426 miles from across the Moon or the Sun would be
its center—the Second Moon would cir­ exceedingly rare—if occurring at all. To
cle once in twenty-four hours. Which see it best during the short time at dusk
means that it would remain above the or dawn when it emerges from the
same point of Earth as if resting on shadow of the Earth before the sky is
top of a tower of that height. Such a too bright, one would have to be in the
moon would be very hard to see. vicinity of the point above which it
During the day it would hide in the hovers. This might happen to be the
light of the daylight sky, and during middle of the Pacific Ocean or inner
most of the night it would hide in Asia or even America which, at that
 time, did not yet have the large observa­ not one planet in that gap, but a few
tories for which it is now famous. hundred of them.
The observing astronomers well real- But it was Witt who was more sur­
' ized the truth in the assertions of their prised when the calculations were fin­
more theoretically inclined colleagues. ished. What he had found was a new
Although the chance for success was asteroid, without doubt, but it did not
small, occasionally the Second Moon was move between Mars and Jupiter. Most
searched for—usually by amateurs—but of its orbit was situated between the
every attempt proved fruitless so that orbits of Mars and Earth! Whereupon
it was finally given up as a bad job. ’Not Witt broke a well-established astronomi­
even the photographic surveys revealed cal rule.
suspicious objects. While it could not When the Italian astronomer Piazzi
he said with absolute certainty that there discovered the first planetoid—as the
was no Second Moon, the chances for asteroids should be called—during the
its actual existence had become small New Year’s night of 1801—he had ob­
indeed. What had started out with a served only because that night offered
daring prophecy, and had been strength­ a good opportunity to correct a print­
ened with so many brilliant ideas and ing error in an astronomical catalogue
analogies, ended in general disappoint­ —he had named it Ceres. The physi­
ment for all but those that had been cian Olbers in Bremen, who found the
skeptical from the outset. Gradually all second asteroid one year later, had
hope for the discovery of the Second named it Pallas. Harding in Lilienthal
Moon was put to sleep. had found a third in 1804 and named it
Juno. Olbers added Vesta in 1807—
AGAIN it seemed as if the story had all the names given to the asteroids were
reached its end. And again it was re­ female names. The tradition thus
vived by a new discovery. On Aug­ started was maintained rigidly for all
ust 13, 1898, the astronomer Witt in the 322 asteroids that were caught till
Berlin examined a routine photograph 1891 when photographic planet hunting
of the sky. A faint line at once caught was introduced.
his attention; he realized that he had Witt broke the tradition. He named
photographed an asteroid. It remained his new asteroid Eros to show even in
to be seen whether it was a new one or the name that it behaved differently
one of the four hundred already known. from all the "females” between Mars
Witt is said to have thought of Johannes and Jupiter. Soon after, another as­
Kepler while measuring the plate. teroid was found that had an orbit out­
Kepler had been the first to notice side the asteroid belt, crossed the orbit
that Mars and Jupiter were much far­ of Jupiter and traveled outward in the
ther, apart than they should be if there Solar System. Achilles became its
was any mathematical harmony in the name; a new tradition was started, that
Solar System. Their distances were so of giving male names to those asteroids
extraordinary that they made him start that ventured across the orbits of one
the somewhat strange business of “in­ of the larger planets. It soon transpired
venting” planets. In his “Mysterium that Achilles was only one of a group
Cosmographicum” (1596) you can find of half a dozen or more that travel in
ihe sentence: “Inter Jovem et Mortem orbits similar to his; they are now-
planetani interposui.” Translated: “Be­ known as the "Troy Group,” because
tween Jupiter and Mars I put a planet.” they all received names of heroes con­
Kepler would be much surprised, Witt nected with the Battle of Troy.
thought, if he could learn that there was That the orbits of all these “male”
 but always in the manner of a road
and a bridge—i. e., at different
levels—but that did not eliminate
mutual attraction. Clianges in or­
bit were bound to happen, and
since there was such a difference in
size—all of the male asteroids
proved to be small, even tiny—the
change would affect mainly the or­
bit of the asteroid. Could the
change be so profound that the
larger planet thus acquired a new
moon ?
Checking the multitude of aster­
oid orbits known—Achilles was
already No. 588—astronomers
found that something did happen
to asteroids with unfortunate or­
bits. The asteroid belt itself is
not unbroken: it shows a number
of very marked gaps, zones unoc­
cupied by asteroids although they
cluster thickly not far from these
zones. The three most important
gaps are caused by Jupiter as can
be easily proved. Jupiter's move­
ment across the sky amounts to
300 seconds of arc in twenty-four
hours. Mars' movement is 1.887
seconds of arc: the movements of
the asteroids assume practically
any value within those limits. But
at the zone where the daily move­
ment would Ire 600 seconds of arc.
fig. 2. Orbits of the planets and "male" aster­
oids, showing the portions of the orbits "above"
there are no asteroids in space.
and "below" the plane of the ecliptic. It will An equally wide gap is open in the
be seen that Jupiter and Achilles will not collide, zone where the daily movement
for at the points where their orbits seemingly would be 900 seconds of arc.
cross, one is above the plane, while the other Only one miserable little aster-
is below. oid is still swinging there in un­
pleasant loneliness, probably sub­
asteroids crossed the orbit of at least ject to the fate of being thrown out of
one major planet and usually approached its orbit one day by Jupiter's influence
the orbit of another one gave rise to that adds up every time they pass. Even
a new problem. If asteroid and planet the zone near 750 seconds of arc. two
actually met on those points of their and a half times Jupiter’s daily move­
orbits where they were closest together, ment. is almost empty. But strangely
something would change. There was enough there are no less than ten aster
no danger of an actual collision, since oids in Jupiter's own orbit, moving with
the orbits never crossed like crossroads the same velocity as the giant of our
Solar System. But they keep on the
other side of the orbit, always form­
ing' triangles with Jupiter and the
Sun and never approaching closer to
Jupiter than they could approach the
Sun. One wonders w’hether they
might have revolved in one of the
5W’.
three gaps in former times, but man­
aged to avoid becoming moons of
Jupiter, although they had to yield to
its gravity.
Some of the missing asteroids are
certainly known to us as moons of .........

Jupiter, although possibly not all of »c._ .................

Jupiter's seven lesser moons are
former asteroids. And, while no w......
place in the asteroid belt can be as­
signed to Phobos and Deimos, it is
for many reasons probable that they,
too, were captured.
Mars could do so because its own
orbit is not only close to the asteroid /<w«-:::::::::"
belt, but also—and more important—
because the orbital velocities of Mars
and of the innermost asteroids do not
differ very greatly.
All this makes the question very
obvious whether Earth, even if it
does not possess a Second Moon at
present, might one day capture one of »f XS Mtrtldj,
the asteroids and moke it a moon.
Fig. 3. Distribution of the asteroids,
IT IS one of the latest astronomical showing the strong concentrations, and
discoveries that there exists a group the evidences of powerful disturbing
of male asteroids on our side of the forces at work causing blank spaces at
asteroid belt that corresponds to the regular intervals.
"Troy Group" on the other side. The
latest member of this group—though in Most of them can come closer to
all probability not the last one—is “Ob­ Earth than any other heavenly body,
ject Reinmut 1937,” now named and some of them did approach closer
Fiennes, discovered by Reinmuth in than even comets ever did. When
Heidelberg on October 28. 1937. Before Adonis was found its distance was seen
that Delporte in Uccle near Brussels had and one half million miles, but that was
found his “1936 CA"—now named after it had passed Earth, at a distance
Adonis—on February 12, 1936. Two of only one and four tenths million miles.
others of these asteroids are Apollo, dis­ Hermes had approached as close as
covered by Reinmuth on April 24, 1932, 400,000 miles—roughly twice the dis­
and Amor, discovered only a few weeks tance of the Moon—but its orbit is such
earlier—on March 13, 1932—by Del­ that it can approach to 220,000 miles,
porte. even closer than the Moon.
AST—10
 What beautiful arguments would have inner group of male asteroids, and that
been at the disposal of Monsieur Petit it never did succeed in all geological
and followers if the various “Objects history. Such a statement sounds dou­
Reinmuth” and "Objects Delporte” had bly strange if we remember that astrono­
been known to them. They fulfill at mers have estimated that at least one
least two of their conditions for a sec­ small asteroid comes as close as, say,
ond undetectable moon. They are of three million miles—or less—every sin­
very small size and their albedo is low. gle year.
All they had to do was to get into an It is somewhat easier to believe that
“orbit of elusiveness’’ around Earth. Earth never succeeded, if it is remem­
Whether one ever did is, of course, im­ bered that Venus never succeeded,
possible to say. But the question is either. Venus’ mass is almost the same
fairly well answered if it can be deter­ as Earth’s and as far as position in
mined whether it could get into such space is concerned, Venus’ chances are
an orbit. not much worse. If there were such a
The answer is no. possibility at all, Venus should have
Earth's gravity, expressed in terms succeeded as well as Earth. We know
of velocity imparted to a body falling that our planet is two billion years old,
undisturbed from an infinite distance, and we can surmise that the others are
amounts to seven miles per second. not much younger. There was time
This is the famous “velocity of escape” enough. But it did not happen, be­
or “velocity of liberation.” Anything cause if Venus had a small moon we
moving faster than seven miles per sec­ would know it. All the excuses fur­
ond cannot be caught by our planet. nished for the invisibility of Earth’s
But Adonis, when closest to Earth, hypothetical Second Moon would not
moved with a velocity of seventeen miles hold true for an observer on another
per second relative to Earth—to the Sun planet. If Venus had a small moon in­
with twenty-three miles per second. It visible to the Venusians, it would not be
would have been too fast even if it had invisible to astronomers on Earth.
almost touched Mount Everest. At the I might add for the sake of complete­
average distance of the Moon its ve­ ness that Venus was once believed to
locity should not have exceeded 0.9 have a moon. The elder Cassini
miles per second, and at the actual dis­ claimed to have seen it in 1686. and a
tance of its closest approach it should few others did the same. But since
not have been more than about 1,600 feet 1800 no trace of a moon of Venus was
per second. Adonis was only about ever observed and we have to conclude
thirty times too fast! that Cassini and his followers mistook
Hermes can come closer than the stars in the vicinity of Venus for a moon.
Moon, but its velocity relative to the
Earth would then be twelve miles per PROCEEDING on purely theoretical
second. All that Earth’s gravity could grounds one might ask whether the in­
accomplish during the last meeting was ner planets could not possibly achieve
to change its orbit by not quite twenty through co-operation what they cannot
minutes of arc, to draw it almost exactly accomplish in individual effort. Could
1,000 miles closer than it would have not Mars, that has the best opportu­
passed the orbit of Earth if our planet nities of all of them, change the orbit
had been somewhere else and to make it of a female asteroid in such a way that
pass fourteen minutes ahead of time. it becomes a male asteroid which is fur­
These figures prove that Earth will ther influenced by Earth and then passed
never succeed in capturing one of the on to Venus. Venus then might add
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some more influence ami change its orbit of Earth or Venus would terminate the
in such a way that the asteroid has its career of the asteroid in the majority
aphelion near the orbit of Earth. Then of all cases, but it is very improbable
1he velocities of Earth and of the asteroid that a new career as a moon would fol­
in aphelion would almost match so that low'. If the grazing does not reduce the
Earth can complete the job at the next speed below the velocity of liberation,
opportunity. Well, such an addition of the asteroid would simply proceed, al­
influences is conceivable, but the chances though in a highly changed and crip­
that it actually happens are less than pled orbit. In that case it might be cap­
one in a hundred million. Besides, it tured later by the same or another planet.
never did happen yet. And further­ Perhaps! That slight possibility applies
more it seems that in the cases of the only to a grazing that takes place—-
known male asteroids the influences of generally speaking—when the asteroid
Ilie larger powers have a way of can­ is returning from its perihelion near the
celing each other out that is most prom­ Sun and outward bound in the Solar
ising for the continued independence of System. If it grazed on the in ward­
the smaller worlds. bound trip, the result might well be that
If there were some stronger brake the asteroids would fall into the Sun.
for the speeds of the small worlds, things But if the grazing is more effective
might lie different. What would hap- and the asteroid's speed is reduced to
pen if an asteroid actually grazed less than the velocity of liberation of
Earth’s Or Venus’ atmosphere? That the planet in question, the end of the
Would certainly reduce the velocity to a asteroid is only a matter of hours—days
considerable extent and give gravity a at best. The small body would then
chance to work, especially since the as­ acquire an elliptical orbit around the
teroid would then be very dose. planet, an orbit with a “perihelion'’ in
Fact is that grazing the atmosphere the atmosphere of the planet, a bit be­

Fig. 4. Monument to a might-have-been moon. Meteor Crater, near Winslow, Arizona.

low the deepest point it had reached. reason. Even to observers with small
Then, after completing one revolution, telescopes it shows a strange formation.
the velocity of the asteroid would again It is located in the mountain chain, des­
be reduced, its elliptical orbit would ignated as the Lunar Alps, and goes
become smaller and the “perihelion” under the name of the Great Valley.
would still drop lower into the atmos­ Although not all experts agree that it
phere. After two or three revolutions was caused by an asteroid grazing
the speed would be reduced to “circular Luna’s surface, it is generally admitted
velocity”—for Earth, five miles per sec­ that it looks as if it originated that way.
ond—and the asteroid would assume a The speed of the asteroid was appar­
circular orbit completely inside the at­ ently not reduced enough to become less
mosphere. It is exactly the same thing than the rather small escape velocity of
as that worked out as “landing maneu­ the Moon—one and one half miles per
vers for spaceships” by Dr. Walter second—else we should be able to see
Hohmann. If the asteroid had run into additional tracks of the same cosmic
Earth from the outset, its life would projectile. That particular asteroid is
have been only twenty-four hours probably still in space and independent;
shorter. the chances for capturing one inside the
All this sums up to the conclusion orbit of Mars, where the game is fast
that only those planets close to the as­ and few, are too small.
teroid belt, Mars and Jupiter, had and Another fate is much more likely, the
still have a chance to acquire new moons one experienced by the male asteroid
from that almost inexhausible quarry that was almost caught by Earth. That
of cosmic material. Jupiter has, of was between 10,000 and 50,000 years
course, the better chance, because it is ago, at any event before people built
so much larger. But even small Mars telescopes and gave names to large and
could do it twice on account of its prox­ small planets. As has been said, Earth
imity and the resulting low relative succeeded almost, but not completely.
velocities. Earth and Venus, although The luckless asteroid must have grazed
larger, are bound to be unsuccessful the atmosphere rather deeply and soon
because the velocities do not match after it ceased to be. It died in America
closely enough. and received a fitting burial mound, the
For this reason it is also extremely biggest and most impressive on Earth.
unlikely that our moon—meaning Luna It can still be visited by anybody who
—is a captured planet as some astrono­ cares to go there. The “mound” is not
mers liked to think. But Luna is inter­ far from Winslow. Arizona: the spot is
esting in this connection for another called “Meteor Crater.”

Beginning next month—"There Ain't No Such!" L. Sprague

de Camp proves Nature can think up screwier animals
than the wildest science-fictioneer—and make 'em workl
“Gray Lensman”
BRASS TACKS
gets two covers—and I saving Smith’s “Gray Lensman” for it. Perhaps
—but it would suit me better if you’d have a
think Schneeman’s illustrations prove nice Williamson or John Taine masterpiece, in­
he merited the chance to do it. stead.
Right now, I’d like to nominate “The Legion
Dear Mr. ('ampbell : of Time” as the best story of 1938, and one of
News from the fan magazines give me several the very best Jack ever wrote. Try to get others
Ito Ings to thank you for at the start of this let­ from him equally as good. Haven't read “Gal­
ter. Hurrah for you and Dr. Smith. By all actic Patrol” yet. And I hope you won’t mind,
means, give the “Gray Lensman” two covers, or Editor Campbell, when I tell you that “The
even three covers, but please, I implore you, let Mightiest Machine” is the only story in Astound­
Wesso Illustrate it. Schneeman is good, very ing which I’ve tackled several times, but haven't
good, and he did a grand job on “The Morons” waded through the first part as yet. Clifford
— incidentally, the best of the June issue—but Simak’s “Cosmic Engineers” is the best he's done.
Wesso is the better artist and I’d like to see While “One Against the Legion” was enjoyable,
him as he was in “Galactic Patrol.” it wasn’t as good as some other Williamson
Thanks for getting Finlay to do a cover for stories.
you, though he really belongs in Unknown. Wouldn’t it be an appropriate and sentimental
Thanks also for the news that you are abolish­ idea to have the anniversary cover by Wesso,
ing book-jackets for the short stories. They’re whom you seem to have dropped from the cover?
grand on the longer tales and absolutely neces­ He did the first one, you know, and in fact, all
sary on th#1 serials, but superfluous on the shorts. the covers for the old magazine. The Astro *
More of the “past, present, and future” from nomical color-plates meet with my complete ap­
the facile pen of Nat Schacnner? proval, and Schneeman’s “Saturn” was awfully
Now for my rating on the June issue. “The good. There’s an article in the current fictional
Morons” takes first place, “Pressure” second, Geographic, which you've probably seen, which
“Hermit of Mars” third. “When the Future might give you some help or ideas for the covers.
Does” fourth, “Done in Oil” fifth, and William­ A couple of the illustrations are remarkably like
son’s last. This last Legion story of J. W.’s ours. About the only planet covers you have
doesn't come anywhere near the level set by the left to do, with any accuracy, seem to me to be
“Cometners.” The cover was a honey, but it was Terra from Luna, and Luna from Terra. Yes?
not s f! The articles were both swell and made When does the next come up?
up for the lack in an earlier issue. So, this is how the ideal number looks to
Let Rogers do Dr. Smith’s covers, but only if me. An Astronomical cover, Earth seen from
he can do as nice a piece of work as he did the Moon, done by Wesso. and illustrating a
last February—Charles W. Jarvis, 2097 Iglehart scene from “Gray Lensman.” Stories by Taine
Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota. Williamson, and other favorites. Smooth paper
throughout—half of it is smooth now. I know,
because I counted. Interior drawings by Wesso,
We don’t hold out. “Gray Lensman” is Schneeman, Rogers, Finlay and Robert A. Graef.
Sounds good, doesn’t it?
here! And Uranus cover is coming— All this may be a pretty large order, but please
perhaps the most beautiful of the think it over, before you toss aside this letter,
for it will be a long time before I write again,
series! and I’d like my suggestion to be of some help
to you in improving the magazine.
Dear Nr. Campbell: Rogers
* cover for “Crucible of Power” was,
/bout five years hare passed since I last wrote, the most tasteful and distinguished and artis­
so I guess it's about time to give you a few more tically satisfying I have ever seen. When is he
opinions about Astounding, the best sclenee-flc- coming up again? Make it soon. So, remember
tlnn magazine on the market. I’m sure you’re now, drop Gladney completely—let him go back
not forgetting that the forthcoming January to The Shadow and use Wesso, Schneeman.
number will mark Astounding's tenth anniver­ Rogers and Graeff on the cover. Please.—Francis
sary, and I'm hoping you're planning something Harry, 1700 North Main, Salisbury, North
very special. I have a suspicion that you’re Carolina.,
De Camp has been busy doing novels in
Unknown. He’ll be back with a short
in Astounding soon.
Dear Mr. Campbell :
With a perfect July issue. Astounding con­
tinues to show its heels to ail competitors. The
stories were among the finest ever presented in
“our mag.” Brass Tacks got a new’ lease on life,
while Craves Gladney's great cover for. “The
Black Destroyer” will probably make s-f history.
The stories were all good science-fiction, my
personal favorites being, in the order mentioned :
“Black Destroyer.” “Trends.” Lightship. Ho!’’
High School Course
and “The City of Cosmic Rays.” Not as good as
the above were. “Greater Than Gods” and “When
the Half Gods Go—” Inferior was Rocklynne's
at Home
short story. “The Moth.” Both the science । Many Finish in 2 Years "
articles w^re great, especially Ley’s.
There is still room for improvement in As­ I YoucancompletethissimplifiedHighSchool ,i
tounding. For example : Wesso has been neg­ Y Course as rapidly as your time and abilities J
lected something awful on the covers, as well as f permit. Equivalent to resident school work 1
in the inside illustrations. Sure ’. Graves Gladney t —prepares you for entrance to college. Stand- j
is good, darned good, but it's absurd to suppose 11 ard H. S. texts supplied—Diploma. Credit for i
that he could replace Wesso permanently. Then,
there's Dold. Not as great as Wesso. Paul. f H. S. subjects already completed. Single sub- ,1
Schneeman or Finlay: Dold is certainly the Y jectsifdesired. HighSchooleducation is very important j
superior of Gilmore. Kramer, Orban. So get B tor advancement in business and industry and socially. I
Elliott back, asd remember to give Wesso a lot V College Entrance 'j
more to do. not forgetting Finlay and Sell nee-
man. a During the past 14 years, our High School graduates 1
Another thing. When does L. Sprague de < have been admitted to 531 different Universities, |]
Camp return? Everything he has ever written |■ Colleges, Junior Colleges and Normal Schools—80% |
has been darned gool reading. Of course. I'd < of them without entrance examination. Course also "
prefer a Johnny Black yarn, but anything by ■ prepares for teachers’ certificate and pre-professional h
* Camp would be plenty acceptable. May I en-
dt examinations. . |
Wrlain hopes?—Stanley Wells, 235 Noe Street, ( Business—Industry ’
San Francisco, California.
To get and hold a good position in Business today you a
a must be able to write clear, accurate letters and re- 1
■ ports—do figuring involving Algebra and Geometry— l]
Articles are rated in the Laboratory only |> talk intelligently on matters requiring a knowledge of |
w Geography, History, and Economics. 1
when they break records. “Gray Lens- ■ In Industry—Mechanical and Engineering lines— ll
man" is not cut. I> you must have at least an elementary knowledge of J
a Physics and Chemistry—be able to figure quickly and 1
Dear Mr. Campbell: ■i accurately—know something of Mechanical Drawing I]
Here is another vote for the Analytical |> and Hueprints—and be able to talk and write ac- |
Laboratory with various comments thrown in. > curately and clearly on both your work and ordinary "
“Greater than Gods." This story “clicked'’ Kl topics of conversation. h
with me solidly. C. L. Moore really turned out Our High School course meets the preparatory edu- 4
a great piece of work on this one. a cational requirements for Business and Industry.
*
“Black Destroyer. ’ This yarn, written from Y An Educational Institution J
a new angle was most refreshing as a change
from the cut-and-dried run of alien menace yarns. a The American School was chartered in 1897 as an ’
“City of the Cosmic Rays.’’ Schachner’s Past, educational institution, not for profit—and is exempt L
Present and Future stories should run more 11 from paying Federal income tax, like the best resident |
often. However. unlike the Professor Jameson # colleges and universities. p
stories, this series should not keep on for years.
Another story should finish it up. Y Don’t Be Handicapped— I
••Trends.” 1 am glad to see Isaac Asimov fl Complete Your Training Now ’
writing such swell yarns. His style in this story Be a High School Graduate! Prepare yourself for promo- d
shows a great improvement over his former tales. t ion in Business and Indus- "
“When the Half Gods Go—” A. R. Long has try—for the Professions. .
turned out good yarns for some time now, and 20 Other Courses College Entrance and so-
cial success. No matter I
i
this is no exception. Over 150 noted .locators, En­
“The Moth” and “Lightship. Ho!” follow in gineers, and B isiness Men what line you may select, ,
helped prepare our special in­ High School training wilt
order. Even though they are last it does not struction material, which is prove invaluable to you! A
mean that they are not top-notch stories. They used by many resident schools
and colleges, U. S. Navy, and
Our moderate fees cover *
are. However. when an issue such as this, with Province of Manitoba, Canada. all instruction, standard ।
nary a story falling below’ the “average” rating, We offer yoa quality training
at home for the best-paying
textbooks and Diploma, i
and most in the "superior” category arrives, it Easy monthly terms. Get l|
lines of Industry and Bosinees.
makes a real headache for the well-meaning and as listed in the coupon. ahead in life. Start your
training NOW!
perplexed reader to list them in order of merit.
You made a mistake on this cover. I do not Mail coupon for information about line that interests you
care especially for Gladney and this caricature
of a cover lowered my estimate of him several American School, Drexel at 5Sth, Chicago
notches. I suppose it is useless to ask for Paul
but. nevertheless, consider this as a request for American School, D«pt.H-67. Drexel at SSth.Chicaee
Tell me how to train for success in line checked. No
him. Second best is Wesso whom I believe obligation.
superior to any now illustrating for you. Frew □ High School Course
is bad. Orban’s work is inconsistent. Some quite □ Accounting 4c Auditing □ Diesel Engineering
□ Architecture Ac B’lding □ Drafting 9c Design
acceptable and some horrible. Schneeman has □ Automotive Engin’ring □ Liberal Arts
improved unbelievably in the past few years. □ Business Management □ Private Secretary
I believe you should bar articles and serials □ Com’erclal Aeronautics □ Hi’er Ac’t’g(C.P.A.)
from the Analytical Laboratory. After all. it □ Electrical Engineering □ Highway Engin’r’g
does confuse the estimate of complete stories in □Electrical Refrigerat’a □ Mechanical Eng’r’g
□ Air Conditioning □ Radio 9c. Television
an issue. At least the articles. □ Civil Engineering □ Salesmanship
Please do not cut “Gray Lensman” so much □Complete Law □ Steam Engineering
that it loses its literary value. When Dr. Smith
writes a novel we don’t care how long it takes Name.-.......
to conclude. Address......----- .........
As long as you maintain the standard of the
 *»
July issue you will continue on the fop of 1h
heap—and what heap!—D. F. Bellaire, 684
Royce Street, Altadena, California.

11_ H1EHE5 Don A. Stuart's last story is in the cur­

rent Unknown.
12 TRUER Dear Mr. Campbell :
This is not the letter of a crank—T am writing
it merely in the hope that I am adding my voice
to that of many other fans.
al owe.. You are a science-fiction ist of the <»ld school
and. no doubt, realize the importance of the art
work in a science-fiction magazine. Yon know
how much it helps to get the reader in the
atmosphere of the story. A good illustration
Your chances for both business and social imparts to the vision a great deal of the power
success should greatly increase when you add and depth of the author's work. And yon. as
3'2 inches to your appearance. Your in­
creased height greatly enhances your self an author, must understand how necessary this
confidence and helps to give you that mili­ is to the enjoyment of the whole.
tary carriage that is so admired by both Now, what I am getting at is this: the recent
men and women! changes in the art work and the artists have
No Stretching No Exercise destroyed that grand old feeling that comes upon
INSTANTLY appear TALLER. You’ll be the sight of each now drawing. The new type
amazed when you look in the mirror. No
one will guess how you INCREASED your is an illustration—a suggestion nf what is to
height! come—but that is all. They all seem flat and
Send for 10 Day WAL Offer too very insignificant. These new artists don’t
The SECRET is in the shoes. A clever new help the story at all, and all too often actually
"invention” instantly adds 1% inches to detract from it. with their gruesome figures and
your height. The shoes look just as smart amateurish attempts at machines and spaceships
and stylish as the best custom quality—
They are honor-built for greater comfort and and all that true science-fiction brings out.
longer wear. They cost LESS than you’d To see what I mean, it is necessary to com­
expect. pare the new with the old. Take that first draw­
See them at OUR RISK ing for the fourth installment of your "Mightiest
Send coupon TODAY for FREE descriptive Machine”—March, 1935. It was by Dold in his
illustrated folder and details of our offer to
IMPROV 1 EXAMINE for 10 DAYS ON APPROVAL! prime, and did everything to further increase
the enjoyment of that great epic. Compare that
YOUR I SHOES, *
• snots, INC. uepr.
v.
ir S29, ______
Dept. aza, Newton,, _____
| Send me free information, in plain wrap-
Mass. I illustration with any of those~being done today
by the new artists. It has "everything—these
fcPPURWCq Iper about how 1 can appear l’A inches
taller, and details of your 10-day Free have nothing.
. Trial Offer. Understand, I am not holding you responsible
• Name.. for this decrease. I realize that the art work
I Address. is probably not in your hands, but I think you
might use your influence to get us the real,
12^- State............ [ science-fiction drawing again instead of these
“adventure, mystery, detective” blotches. Try
., Learn Profitable Profession to use Dold, Brown. Schneeman. Wessn—Tor
these men have the technique down to perfec­
in QO days at Home tion. I forgot to incnide Paul, too. He, with
Earning of Men and Women in the fascinating pro-
* the above, is perfection.
fesfliou of Swedish Massage run as high as S40 to I have been reading and collecting science-
S70 per week but many preferto open tneir own of-
ces. Largo incomes from Doctors,hospitals,eani- fiction for nearly ten years and I have become
«ltariuiuH and private patients come to those who utterly absorbed with this literature. This ac­
qualify through our training. Reducing
alone offers rich rewards for specialists.
Write for Anatomy Charts and book­
counts for my fervent plea for real art work.
let—.They’re FREE. Your stories and make-up are, of course, the
THE College of Swedish Massage best in the field. We could still stand a quar­
30 E. Adams St., Dpt. 379, Chicago terly. but that is probably a fantastic hope. And
(Successor to National CollegeofMagtape) now that I am finished with my windy pleas, I
will give my impressions.
No Wind Can Blow It Out! Lichts Continue with your fine articles—with more
SELLS ITSELF Itself on astronomy and space flight such as those of
Quick Action '1940) Perfected Willy Ley. Have more tales by Don A. Stuart,
Self Starting Lighter Nat Schachner. Jack Williamson and all the
Packed other old-timers. Let's hope that E. E. Smith
LJphifl cigar, cigarette or pipe—instantly. in
Never fails. New principle in ignition. No DIS­ will soon be with ns again. Everything in the
Bint. Ne friction. PLAY magazine is way above the. level of the others
Rend 26e for sample and large can of fluid. BOX
Start now. Agenta Report Big Earnings. on the market and the only thing that needs
NEW METHOD MEG. CO. improvement is. as I said, the illustrations. .Inst
S©le Makers of Catalytic Automatic
No Flint Gas Lighters
try to model the drawings ‘after that 1935 and
Bom 7-82, Bradford, Pa., U. S. A. 1936 period, when they were the best in the his­
tory of the magazine.
It has taken Ibis recent deterioration to snap
.Vj YOU UN LfAHN TO me out of mv ten-year silence, but watch out
now—for I will be sending my opinions of stories
and such.—Garrett E. Leeman, 552g Michigan,

’ PRAW Kansas City, Missouri.

Malcolm Jameson plans to expand on

Ley’s ballistics!
Trained Artists are capable of earn­
ing $30, $50, $75 a week! Prepare Dear Mr. Campbell:
now for a pleasant, profitable career. I regret to have to give Astounding Stories a
H’s actually fun to learn to draw very good rating for the August, 1939, issue, I
the proven W. 8. A. way. repeat, I regret, because it is very -difficult to
keep up such a high standard as Astounding
COMMERCIAL ART '^"toonihg8 has been setting for the past six .months. 1 am
Many of our most successful graduates never studied Art be­ afraid that I will be disappointed one of these
fore enrolling with W. 8. A. YOU have the same opportunity Issues—although I know that you will do every­
of becoming an Artist. Since 1914 our practical method has thing to prevent such a catastrophe. Now to
been training men and women for successful Art Careers.
Write today for details in FREE BOOK—“Art for Pleasure business:
•nd Profit”—describes 2 ART OUTFITS Included. State age. Cover—good. It strikes a note of action and
STUDIO 211OM, WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF ART force. 1 like the contrasting reds and darker
11 IS-15th ST. N. W. WASHINGTON, D. C. colors.
 Tour little editorials are quite interesting-— if so, will we live to see it? 3. Assuming inter­
in spite of the fact that sometimes I do not al­ planetary travel to be an accomplished fact,
ways agree. However, this month we agree. would you be willing to take a chance in rhe first,
-General Swamp. C. I. €.” Quite a good and rocket-flight to Mars?
logical story parallels the American Revolu­ I wonder how the people of forty years ago
tion. Your characters are well drawn, and I would have reacted if called upon to voice an
arti glad to see the individualism shown, for it is opinion as to the possibility of heavier-than-air
passing out in America now. Of course, it is flying machines? Would they have called for the
harder to tight a war with people who are free wagon, and had the obstreperous questioner in­
individuals—as we found out in 1776. carcerated? Quite possibly.
“The Luck of Ignatz"—A good character. I But the answers to today’s questions show
should like to see more of this character. more clearly than any academic argument, how
“The Blue Giraffe"—Humor can be used well the public mind has changed. Ninety per cent
in s-f, and de Camp handies it best of any that. of those Interviewed thought that life might well
I have seen. exist on Mars, and ten per cent of these pic­
-Pleasure Trove" The type of story that tured such life as resembling the genus homo
made old Astounding under Clayton liked— sapiens. About seventy-five per cent thought
scientales with a punch. Thanks for the breath­ spatial travel an eventual certainty, and two or
ing spell from the heavy stuff. three people claimed it might come “tomorrow" !
“Heavy Planer" -Good. A logical and well- One lady remarked that she was against inter­
handled situation. planetary travel because “it is against the will
“Life-Line —Very plausible and better on the of God.” “Trends,” by golly ’. Perhaps the
second reading. The doctor didn't completely most surprising result of the interview was the
believe his own theory and proof until he failed fact that ninety per rent of those questioned
to save the young couple then he knew that declared that they would jump at the chance to
his own time was about up and ho couldn't, hop the first rocketship to Mars! T guess the
change the future. That, was cleverly put in old spirit of adventure still runs hot in our
the story. veinsI And nobody can make me believe that
-Stowaway" Fairly good story and a good science-fiction is not largely responsible for this
poke of fun at Earthlings. refreshing outlook !
“An Ultimatum from Mars”—the best of I want to make a few remarks concerning
Cummings that I have seen in a long time. Astounding's art work. First, don't drop Schnee­
“Space War”—Fine. Willy Ley sure knows man ! He has one of the finest techniques of any
his engineering and some ballistics. The article science-fiction artist: personally. I consider him
was the best of its type for some time. He tbe bent. If you stop to analyze bis work, you
is dead ri^ht—guns are going to be really tough will find an easy, flowing style that is very
to handle m free space. The trouble is in hitting natural and very pleasing. His portrayal of in­
the object- a whole new science of ballistics will tricate machinery is unsurpassed, as demon­
have to be worked out—something like the multi­ strated by his tine illustration for the science
ple body problem on a small scale. article. “Tools for Brains.” in the July issue.
Tell Ley that rays might be safer—if they are Introduce new artists from time to time, but.
developed on a large scale due to their spread­ don’t abandon your best bet !
ing - for space around a battle will be unin­ Second, a bouquet for W. A. Roll ! His line
habitable for long distances due to unexploded work is beautiful! The second and third
bombs, ot cetera. Of course, the b. e. shells will illustrations for “Pleasure Trove” look like deli­
travel far away if they don't hit. cate woodcuts. I hope you will continue to buy
Inside Illustrations—I still like them O. K. his work.
General make-up was O. K. So you see why Third, I was somewhat disappointed by Fin­
I regret to have to give it such a good rating lay’s cover painting. Perhaps I was expecting
for can yon repeat next month? I hope so.— too much, for the artist’s widely publicized name
Thomas S. Gardner. P. O. Box 802. Kingsport, is a force to be reckoned with—it bad me vision­
Tennessee. ing hypothetical masterpieces all month long.
This month’s cover, however, just didn't elick.
Thanks for Willy Ley’s article on guns. Down
with rays’ The era of reason and logic in
The present-day conditions of the maga­ science-fiction sweeps aside the shattered rem­
zine business are so highly competitive nants of past delusions.
There is one thing on which I desire informa­
that the large-size quarterly could not tion. Is there any possibility In the near future,
pay. of an Astounding Quarterly? It must be merely
Dear Sir: a sentimental attachment I have to the big. juicy
quarterlies of old, for I would like nothing bet­
You are to be doubly congratulated for your ter than to see the best s-f magazine come out
splendid work with “Astounding.” First, be­ with one. How about it? Can you at least
cause you have made it the top-notch magazine make a definite statement regarding a quarterly
of the .science-fiction field—present or past; somewhere in your columns? Perhaps in the
second, and more important by far. because you Brass Tacks department?
are abetting the evolution of • s-f into a recog­ Nothing need be said of your choice of stories.
nized and respected literature. The contribu­ You consistently get the best. De Camp is de­
tion made by Astounding, under your editorship, lightful—a past, present, and future master at
toward this latter goal cannot be overestimated. the art of telling 'em, and making you believe
Sensationalism to sobriety, disrepute to distinc­ ’em. Del Rey is up and coming. Bond is
tion, over a period of fourteen years—and hilarious and colloquial. Your new authors arc
progress has never been swifter for our pet seldom disappointing. Treason or no. I look for­
avocation than during the past two years. ward to Smith’s “Gray Lensman’’ with utter in­
Science-fiction is indubitably growing up, and difference. But you have few weak points, and
I think we can be certain that the future will many strong points, so more power to you! -
acclaim it as a leading literature; aud, as I have Louis Goldstone, Jr., 622 Presidio Avenue. San
pointed out. Astounding’s influence in dignifying Francisco, California.
science-fiction, in making it plausible, thought­
provoking. and scientific, is a major factor in
*
th literature’s development. I am sure that
y.»u have the gratitude of dyed-in-the-wool What makes the wheels of Like and Dis­
readers—as well as the largest circulation ! like go ’round?
This afternoon, shortly after purchasing the
August Astounding, I heard one of those “man- Dear Mr. Campbell:
on-the-street” broadcasts. The interviewer asked This letter is dedicated to the proposition that
spectators the following questions, more or less fantasy fiction has bred the mom illogical
pertinent to Mars’ current opposition: 1. Do double-track miad in history—that of its readers.
you believe there is life on the planet Mars, and *
On the one hand we have a group of publication
if so. what kind of life? 2. Do you believe that profess to speak in the came of science,
interplanetary travel will ever be achieved, and and science alone. The element of escape ia let­
ters i« recognised as fundamental; but it must hypotheses that there really are more things on
be buttressed with the expounding of recognized heaven and Earth than are dreamed of in Issac
scientific principles, with Einstein as arbiter and Asimov’s philosophy.
prophet. The reader of such magazines as As­ I’m only asking—is the reality of the reader's
tounding Science-Fiction is ready, willing, and enjoyment of both Astounding Science Fiction
able to foresee vast improvements in the future and Unknown, explicable in more simple terms
of the human race. He is an Incurable and than I’ve used, or is it up to Freud to figure it
narrow minded optimist, because he believes that all out?—Seymour Kapetansky, 1524 Taylor
whatever will come, will be right; progress go Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.
forward. He Is close to being a technocratic
socialist, believing with the forward march of
civilization will come less work and more ed­
ucated play for the average man, whether he I wouldn't be too sure human beings
has anything to do with it or not. The science-
fietionist disregards submergence of the indlv- wouldn't take over native tongue-
ual in the world of today and assumes that the twister names. How about "Schenec­
world of tomorrow will have an entirely demo­
cratic foundation. tady," “Hohokus," "Popocatepetl" and
Science and security go hand in hand; the the town "Prczesmysl” in Carpat hia?
laboratory will yield many more secrets to the
inquisitive Earthman and he will inevitably leave Dear Editor:
Ihe Earth and seek to exploit the marvels of the You will probably be surprised when you
Moon, and of Sirius. The wealth of the Uni­ finish reading this, but don’t let it discourage
verse shall be transformed into a storehouse of you; I just feel mean today.
blessings for all humanity. The past is merely I just finished the August issue of Astound­
an unfortunate vagary of the time-line. Man ing. My feelings are a mixture of pride; sorrow,
ran and WILL control the future; he will ulti­ anger, and nausea. When I first saw the cover,
mately make the Universe God's country for I thought I had the wrong magazine. Why that
God's children. particular scene was chosen. I do not know.
Thus the science-fictionist. There were many incidents in the story which
But we leave the sunlit imagination of the would have made a much more interesting and
open mind and approach the dark corners of attractive picture. I am squirming with im­
the brain known as the subconscious, containing patience until the next astronomical cover ap­
the unavoidable heritage from the past. We en­ pears. Let’s have a view of the Earth from
ter the world of shadows, of feeling and fear, of Luna done by Wesso or Schneeman.
Idol-worship, of witches, werewolves, warlocks, “The Luck of Ignatz,” was best in my esti­
of eldritch and ifrit, of ghost and ghoul. We mation. Del Bey improves with every story.
• re in the grasp of night. We are in the world “Heavy Planet” was good. It reminded me of
unknown. a grunt-and-groan wrestling match though.
The slant of Unknown Is opposite to that of “Life-Line” was as good, if not better than
Astounding. What we don't know, will hurt us. “Heavy Planet.” How about more like this?
Superstition goes scientific and that ’khich is “Space War.” Another homer for Willy Ley !
scoffed at in science-fiction as the leavings of This article showed clear thinking and careful
ignorance in the past is taken out of the closet preparation. The guys who kick at articles like
in the children's playroom. The skeleton is this are too ignorant to be reading Astounding.
reverently dusted off, examined, and new skin “Isotope 235” was like a cool breeze after
is grafted on. The past is regarded with wide- wading through a pile of rubbish. I would have
open. believing eyes and it is believed. Legends bought Astounding for these two articles alone.
and old wives’ tales are given the virtues and “The Blue Giraffe.” An average story, in­
vices of existence and—we take them at face teresting and with a touch of humor. Not as
value. Elements and elves, magicians and mir­ good as de Camp's usual work.
acles, fairy tales and the Arabian Nights, the “Stowaway” was fairly good. The “ample” did
Bible and the Koran—all were experiences of not conform with de Camp's ‘ Design for Life”
various segments of the human race! very well. He was amusing though.
And all retold with a style combining the wist- “Pleasure Trove.” The story of a couple
fulness of Robert Nathan with the mystic pro­ drunken dope-fiends. It ought to be where the
fundity of H. P. Lovecraft. two thugs just mentioned belonged—in the
Thus the two fields in fantasy—pseudo-science garbage can!
and rationalism—weirdness given verisimilitude. General Swamp, C. I. C.” The C. I. C. ought
There is no obvious connection between the two to stand for “Certainly Is Corny.” After
as they stand. BUT—“beauty lies in the eye apologizing to Fred Engelhardt. I would like to
of the beholder,” chacun a eon gout, and we say that this story is the worst piece of Idiocy
find that the same individuals flourish in each ever to disgrace our magazine. A probably (?)
field ! The same readers, the same writers, the perfectly good plot was ruined by a mess of swill
same editors ! Engelhardt must have heard in a nursery or an
If you read Astounding Science-Fiction, you’re insane asylum. When in doubt as to name, he
bound to get as much kick out of Unknown! must have left the space blank and then closed
1 regard this phenomenal fact as proof of the his eyes and banged out the required number
Jekyll Hyde existence of the mind-soul entity. of letters at random on the typewriter. After
*
The Jekyll-science-fictionist stands for experi­ having tried to pronounce words like Arkgonactl
mental truth, for logic, for PROOF. The Hyde- and Sungikiki every few lines. I became Jost as
nocturnal-seeker exists in frank fear of the dark to the story itself. It sounds like something
in the world of dreams, of Solomon-Sulayman, dreamed after a midnight snack of onion sand­
of witches’-brew, of curses, of Kismet. Robert wiches and chocolate ice cream. It stands to
Louis Stevenson’s doomed scientist who flirted reason that when places are occupied by human
with fate is the fanciful prototype of the fantasy beings, such tongue-twisters will not be used.
fan. (be fantasy fashioner, and the fantasy Names like ‘ixite’ are sometimes necessary, but
editor. an unintelligible babble like the above, no! This
This double standard of unreal writing, this story was perfectly nauseating. If part 2 is
most happy of hypocrisies is very mysterious to this bad, I refuse to read it!
me. Occasionally the two branches of fantasy By some freak of printing. Brass Tacks was
overlap, as in the theoretical projections of At­ placed in the center of the hook. I almost had
lantis and Mu which have just enough historical heart failure when I thought I had reached the
basis to make them pseudo-scientific subjects and end of the magazine, so soon.
ju«t enough misty background to allow the im­ The letter by W. B. van Arsdel rubbed my
agination free rein in concocting scientist-meets- fur the wrong way! I think people are begin­
girl situations. ning to feel it is their duty to understand the
I’m not making fun of anyone when I point apparatus they come in contact with every day.
out the fact that science and superstition ap- I celebrated my fifth year of Astounding in
ral to the same readers, writers, and editors. May. The improvement has been tremendous!
read Astounding and relish the triumph of Let’s keep It up.—D. L. Dobbs, 1011-17 Avenue
science; 1 read Unknown and relish equally S. E.. Minneapolis. Minnesota.
 Sensational
BARGAINS
Yours *—

Sent on
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science Discussions
Malcolm Jameson is one of the coun­
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Up to now I have been one of the most in­ 231 W. Monroe St., Dept. 912 Chicago, HL
articulate of your contributors, but Willy Ley’s
“Space War” in the August Astounding, is like flP WWW WSTUBY AT HOME
smoke in the nostrils of an old fire-horse—it Legally trained men win high-
starts me itching to hop into the ring with him rrltSj rr P^hions and bigger suc-
for an unlimited bout where we can hurl back IIPI sMsa cess iu business and public
and forth the fascinating facts of ballistics— iQ? W? lift). Greater opportunities now tha<a
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both interior and exterior—and drag in that wSSP * v “ headed by men with legal training.,
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some other things—Fire-Control. Ordinarily, I We guide you step by step. Yon can train at homa
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is on ground where I think I know my way LaSalle Extension University, Dept. 965-L Chicago
around. It happens that I spent eight or nine A Correspondence Institution
of the best years of my life where ordnance
was being designed, manufactured, tested and
used—in gun factory and laboratory, at proving MAKt MORE MONEY
grounds and on warships, both in peace and Taking Orders For The NIMROD Line
war. and in the field with troops. So if I make Earn mors every day in the year representing
bold to comment on Mr. Ley’s article, it is be­ old established firm with a complete line of fast
■elling necessities: Shirts, Ties, Underwear,
cause I feet that
* I am competent to do so. Hosiery. Pajamas, Raincoats, Sweaters, Jackets,
Not that I mean to imply I have fault to find Pants, Belts, Breeches, Shoes. Coveralls, Shop
Coats, Uniforms, etc. Every item guaranteed.
with it. On the contrary, I am all for him—
barring a few minor points. I like his demolition Write quick for FREE SALES EQUIPMENT
of the heat-gun and ray-screen doctrines, and NIMROD COMPANY,
the way he sails into other fantastic gadgets. Chloe
I am in thorough accord with his choice of pro­
pelled explosives as the most probably final
weapon of future warfare. My chief criticism
is that he did not go far enough. He tells
us what projectiles will do to the hostile ship,
but not how to find it and hit it. The problem
of finding ihe enemy and maintaining contact
long enough to hit him. considering the stupen­ Government
dous reaches of the void and the colossal speeds
involved, seems to me to transcend all other
considerations. But then, that is the subject jobs?
matter for another article entirely.
It occurs to me. however, that readers of START
Astounding may be interested in some expansion
of several of the things Mr. Ley mentions: and
also I would like to take issue with him as to $1260 to $2100 a Year
one or two of his statements. Merely to list and Get Ready
Immediately. /
•—• — — —- —— --------- — — —• — —
FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, Dept. PIH.
briefly describe the many known factors that J Rochester, N. Y.
enter into gunnery would require pages, so I will Men—Women Sira: Rush to me without charge (1)
confine myself to a few of those touched on in Qrarfe Qehnel -5- .32-page book with list of U. S. Government
the article. EduutuJrKLll. <£* J01”' eutloo, aaes. etc. (2> Tell mm
He spoke of the retarding effect of the air Sufficient.USU> h“w ” (|uallfy toc «>• °t tbss, Jobe.
in the rifle bore ahead of the projectile. I can Mall CeuHS / J’“w......................................................................................
cite an instance that illustrates that beautifully
and it won’t Im* necessary to swamp you with May euro. ' Addnu........................................................................................
 graphs, formulae or statistics. When the battle­
ship Mississippi went into commission. Dr. Cur­

Classified tis of the physics department of the Bureau of

Standards was one of the experts who went with
us to Cuba to hold her experimental battery
tests. Among other things, he desired to meas­
ure muzzle velocity under shipboard conditions.
M. V. determination up to that time had been

Advertising done only at the Proving Ground where it was

possible to fire the shell through two successive
screens hung in front of the gun.
Dr. Curtis rigged two metallic fingers at the
muzzle of the gun, protruding slightly above the
bottom of the rifling grooves, and also stretched
Detectives—Instructions a wire across the bore opening. These were
parts of two electrical circuits, each hooked up
to oscillographs. The idea was that the nose of
DETECTIVES EARN BIG MONEY. WORK HOME. TRAVEL. the emerging shell would break the wire, thus
DETECTIVE particulars free. Experience unnecessary. Write interrupting one current, and that the bourrelet,
GEORGE WAGONER. 2640-A Broadway. New York. or rotating band, would wipe the fingers and
complete the circuit of the other, thus produc-
DETECTIVES SELDOM JOBLESS—Opportunities everywhere— ing two wiggles on the oscillograph tracing. He
*
Lrn
u fascinating, profitable profession—Free information. Lee knew, of course, the exact distance from the
Detective School, 1523 D West Fico, Los Angeles. shell-top to the leading edge of the bourrelet.
The first readings were absurdly low and Hr.
Curtis correctly guessed that it was because the
Patents Secured out rushing air had broken his wire before the
shell got there. He put in heavier wire. Then
PATENTS—Reasonable terms. Book and advice free. L. F. a steel rod. Believe it. or not. it was not until
Randolph, Dept. 513, Washington, D. C. he had worked up to an iron bar, of something
like % of an inch by a couple of inches, set
INVENTORS—WRITE FOR NEW FREE BOOK. "Patent edgewise like a girder across the opening, that
Guide fur the Inventor" and "Record of Invention" form. No he found something that would stay there until
• barge for preliminary information. Clarence A. O’Brien & Hyman the projectile emerged. Even at that he had
Berman. Registered Patent Attorneys, 37-T Adams Building, Wash­ trouble with its fastenings. Some breeze !
ington, D. C. I note Mr. Ley’s complaint that designers
simply do not pay attention to weight unless the
Old Gold Wanted question of transport is involved. I assure him
he is quite mistaken. If the guns of a bat tie­
ship could be reduced in weight by so little as
GOLD |35 OUNCE. Ship old gold teeth, crowns, jewelry, five per cent, it would mean the saving of many
watrhes receive cash by return mail. Satisfaction Guaranteed. tons which could well be utilized for other pur­
Free »».formation. Paramount Gold Refining Co., 1500-G Hennepin,
Minneapolis, Minn. poses. Actually, other characteristics of the gun
being equal, gun weights have steadily declined
—due chiefly to improvements in steel-making
Correspondence Courses processes, notably heat treatment. Presumably,
the tread will continue as better methods and
CORRESPONDENCE COURSES and educational books, slightly stronger alloys are found.
weed. Sold. Rented. Exchanged. All subjects. Satisfaction guar­ The reason for the present weight of guns is
anteed. Cash paid for used courses. Complete details and bargain stark necessity. It takes a lot of metal to with­
rataiug Free. Send name. Nelson Company, K-215 Manhattan stand a suddenly applied force of upward of
Building, Chicago. twenty tons to the square inch. When he says
that reducing the thickness of gun barrels
Photo Finishing—Developing shortens their service life, he is dead right. It
shortens it all right—is likely to cut it down Io
one terrific and fatal blast. If he had had the
ROLLS DEVELOPED—25c coin. Two 5x7 Double Weight opportunity as I had. of seeing many ruptured
Professional Enlargements, 3 gloss prints. Club Photo Service, field guns lying on Southampton dock during
Dept. 17, La Crosse. Wis._____
1917. he would not think the factor of safety
AT LAST! ALL YOUR SNAPSHOTS IN NATURAL COLORS. overstressed.
Roll developed, 8 Natural Color Prints, only 25c. Reprints, 3c. As to the difference in thickness between a
Amazingly beautiful. Natural Color Photo, Janesville, Wisconsin. worn-out gun and a new one, it is almost im­
ROLL DEVELOPED, 2 prints each negative 25c. Enlargement perceptible to the untrained eye. Gunners keep
coupi'ii. Willard Studios, Box 3535-E, Cleveland, Ohio.__________ a careful record of the number of rounds fired
TWO BEAUTIFUL ENLARGEMENTS, 8 sparkling prints, 25c. and star-gauge their guns often, for that is the
Guaiunteed. Lake Photo Service, D-18, LaCrosse, Wisconsin. only way they can keep track of the erosion.
A worn bore, and the wear may not exceed the
thickness of this sheet of paper, permits the
Help Wanted—Instructions powder gases to escape past the projectile, there­
by seriously reducing its velocity. It also tends
FOREST JOBS AVAILABLE $125-5175 MONTH. Cabin. Hunt to promote wobble in flight.
trap, pahol. Qualify immediately. Write Rayson Service C-59, In the vicinity of the breech not only are the
Colo. pressures greater, but the temperatures are ter­
M. M. EARNED $267, three weeks, raising mushrooms in cellarl rifically high, and I suspect that the lining of the
Evxptionul, but your cellar, shed perhaps suitable. We buy crops. powder chamber and the face of the breech-plug
Book free. United, 3848 Lincoln Ave., Dept. 533, Chicago. is for a moment in a virtually molten condition.
I witnessed a blowback once, through an in­
finitesimal hairline scratch on the seat of the
Cartooning gas-check seal. It was a brand-new 14" gun
under proof and the breech of it was ruined.
FREE DETAILS! Learn original cartooning! Raye Burns The gases escaping through that little hole blew
Fchovl, Studio S, Box 2194, Cleveland, Ohio. the metal out in a fine spray, like butter under
a blow torch. Of course, the speed of the leak­
ing gases added vastly to the damage, but it
must be hot i^ there.
PHOTO-RINGS
NEWEST SENSATION! SPECIAL
I doubt very much whether a strictly nun-
recoiling gun is possible. The recoil begins miirii
earlier than most people imagine—shortly rffier
Send any snapshot or LOW PRICE the projectile * as started moving within the
photo and we’ll reproduce barrel.
it in this beautiful onyx­

w,
like ring. Indestructible!
Waterproof!! Enclose stria of paper for
ring size. rPay postman plus „ few ___
a ... 45c
_
cents
postage. If you send cash we pay post­ (Hand-painted
In regard to the “optimum” elevation of 45
degrees, I might say that that is the elevation
that theoretically gives the maximum range. I
have seen heavy guns fired ail the way up lo
age. Canadian orders send cash! iOc extra) fifty degrees, but there is little gain in range
PfiotM \ „ A m A REX PHOTO RING CO.
( Dept D-8, P. Q. Box 14,Cincinnati, Ohio Continued oil page 160
 in Times to come
The installment of “Gray Lensman” running next month will be another
husky, man-sized bite of one of the longest science-fiction novels ever written—
and, you can now realize—one of the best. This coming installment brings out a
totally new phase of both Dr. Smith's writing abilities, and of Kinnison Kimball's
make-up. It could almost stand as a long novelette in itself.
It is interesting, and rather unusual, that those who won the high places in
the August Astounding—see the Analytical Laboratory below—will be present with
shorter material next month. Lester del Rey, No. 1 in August, has the short,
“Habit,” crowded over from this issue by the length of Dr. Smith’s story. Robert
Heinlein, who won a second place in the Laboratory with his first story, has an­
other short, “Misfit.” And L. Sprague de Camp, who consistently establishes
records with his articles, begins a new and fascinating article. “There Ain’t No
Such!” refers, of course, to animals. If you think the science-fiction authors have
imagination, you ought to see the things they could learn from old Mother Nature.
Nature, of course, has had some two billion years to think up screwy beasties,
but she certainly hasn’t an inactive imagination. Furthermore, she makes ’em
work. You know, of course, about the “glass snake” that leaves its wriggling tail
behind for pursuers to catch, thus diverting their attention. But how about the
animal that leaves all his workings behind for the enemy, and flaps off nothing but
his skin? And for specialists, we recommend the one that lives in only one type
of place, exclusively—the felt mats Germans put under beer-mugs, and no place
else!
It's an article relating facts to make a Weinbaum jealous!
The Editor.

THC rnifliyilCfll LflBORflTORy

As intimated above, Lester del Rey’s “Luck of Ignatz” took first place in the
August issue. The race for places was close all the way down the list; Ley’s
article “Space War”—which seems to have started a war in Science Discussions,
thereby proving its worth as an idea-starter—tied even, in number of points, with
“Heavy Plahet.”
The August issue was unusual in a number of ways. First, it was very well
received, with a wide divergence of opinion as to best stories—which means it pretty
well suited most—and introduced no less than three first-time writers. Two of the
first-timers made the Laboratory; the third, having a serial, is slightly cheated by
the number who said they’d wait till it was completed before voting. The line-up
at make-up time was:
1. Luck of Ignatz Lester del Rey
2. Life-Line Robert Heinlein
3. The Blue Giraffe L. Sprague de Camp
4. Stowaway Nelson S. Bond
5. Heavy Planet Lee Gregor
The Editor.
 Continued from page 158 anyway, for the power plant, so let’s not strain
at gnats while swallowing camels.
after the upper thirties, and a progressively Do I hear an objection from Mr. Ley? “If
greater loss of control. The famous German there is an insulating material that holds out
long-range gun could only be effective against a against the energies released at the giving end,
target as large as the city of Paris. Hitting it is hard to understand why the same insulator
somewhere within a ten-mile circle is not an should not be usable to safeguard the hull of the
artilleryman's notion of marksmanship. ship that is being rayed.”
As to streamlining, that has been tried but Same answer as to the question : Why not
is not practicable for several reasons. However, armor-plate the ship against solid and explosive
that does not mean that the shape of the shell projectiles from Mr. Ley's heavy artillery? Too
is unimportant. The "coefficient of form” is heavy ; and, perhaps, a whole lot more expensive
an important one; long-pointed shells travel than even the best nickel-steel armor. But if
farther than short blunt ones. Armor-piercing you insist, I'll make my ship invulnerable to
projectiles that have to be stubby are equipped ray attack; only you've got to reciprocate, and
with false noses for that reason. turn yours into a flying fort, complete with 30-
Of course. I realize that all this quibbling is inch plate all round.
about Earthly conditions and is not very ap­ This begins to look like stalemate. So let's
plicable to what happens in the void. I am writ­ compromise; fit out our warships of space with
ing only because it may be of interest to our both rays and guns, ray screens, insulation, and
fans. As to the extension of Space Warfare to armor-plate, and see what new forms of deviltry
take in such matters as scouting, range finding, the boys can think up with that equipment.
tracking and spotting. I am very much tempted It should be interesting.—A. Arthur Smith,
to break out as an article writer myself. Then 131 Aqueduct Street. Welland. Ontario, Canada.
Mr. Ley can slip in a new ribbon and do a little
sniping of his own.—Malcolm Jameson, 519 The Egyptians had palm trees, though,
West 147th Street, New York, N. Y.
and they aren’t a temperate zone plant.
Maybe you can use rays, at that.' Dear Sir:
If I remember rightly, the grammar school
Dear Mr. Campbell : geography stated that the temperate zones are
J want to make a few comments about the best suited to civilization, the tropics being too
August number of Astounding. hot and the polar regions too cold, et cetera. I
First point is Willy Ley’s article on the have always wondered why most ancient civiliza­
weapons of space combat. Frankly, I’ll still tions began in tropical or semitropical regions.
stick to the flaming rays and scintillating I believe Willy Ley's excellent article, 'Ice
screens; Mr. Ley’s argument against them starts Age Ahead,” explains this to a T. Simply this:
off with a bit of a self-contradition. On page These regions which are tropical now were tem-
74 he states: “That they (ray projectors) do ferate when the civilizations began to develop,
not exist now is immaterial; science-fiction is not n other words, they were just emerging from
only concerned with things that are, but also the ice and therefore were temperate.
with things that might be.” And forthwith pro­ It is probable that the decline of those ancient
ceeds to argue them out of existence on the civilizations is due to the fact that the regions
grounds that the equipment necessary to produce ceased to be temperate and became tropical. It
them would be so ponderous compared with got too hot for them, as it were. What do you
present-day artillery as to make them imprac­ think?—A. J. Millman, 140 So. Dale Ct.. Den­
ticable. Come, come, Mr. Ley ’ Surely, if you ver, Colo. -------
admit their scientificational credibility, it won’t That movement may be merely a short-
strain you too much to realize that there is just time variation, though; ice ages mean
a possibility that those same projectors might
not be either so weak or so sensitive to shaking thousand-year periods.
or jarring as you seem to think.
You say the projector would need a power Dear Mr. Campbell:
plant, and “power plants are notoriously heavy.” In contradiction of Isaac Asimov’s letter in
O. K. But it also appears to me that even an the April issue and in confirmation of Mr. Ley's
unarmed ship might need a fair-sized set of article, “Ice Age Ahead.” I wish to say that
generators just to lift it into space; unless, of in a recent article it stated that the north pole
course, you insist on limiting the poor writer ice cap is moving several—or maybe four—inches
Io the sort of chemical rocket that can be de­ per year southward!
signed today. Isaac Asimov states that during the last fif­
You say that the ray generator would be teen hundred years there has been a general
(sensitive, “since we have to assume tubes of warming up of Mother Earth. This does not
some kind.” Do we, now? Let’s try a spot of mean that it will keep on being warm and never
assuming, and see what sort of power plant have another ice age. Before the first ice age
and ray projector we can dream up, even with­ it was exceedingly hot. History repeats itself,
out going too far beyond our present scientific you know.—Robert Meyers. Ridgeley. W. Ya.
knowledge.
Power plant first. Suppose we make it an Somehow, Ley seems to be going for a
atomic energy set-up. using the fission of
uranium-235 under neutron bombardment. We ll ride this month! Which shows Ley
need a source of neutrons to start off that re­ can really start readers pondering.
action. Cyclotron, perhaps, since you seem to
like a heavy power plant; though I think that Dear Mr. Campbell:
with 11-235 a simple, light, insensitive radio­ I should like to thank you for the many in­
active source might work as well. A cyclotron teresting scientific articles you have been giving
would have tubes to go out during an engage­ to us, your readers, for the past few months.
ment, all right, but we needn’t worry about that; They are quite an improvement over those of
we’ll just use It to touch off the process at the seven or eight months ago. Not only are the
start, and keep steam up afterward, since the articles better written, but they are also of
reaction is self-perpetuating. Probably need a better subject-matter; the more practical
direct bit now to put that job out of action. sciences, such as geology and physics, have been
Ray projector? Well. I suppose we could turn chosen.
the released energy into electricity, to be later I refer especially to the writings of Mr. Ley.
transformed into some deadly radiation in a deli­ He is indeed a versatile fellow-. Articles in
cate ray generator. It seems to me that a Nature, Astounding, and other magazines. He
stream of those 200-mllllon-voH atomic nuclei is indeed a man of all the sciences. In addition,
given off by disintegrating uranium, and released he has a surprising command of English for a
in the general direction of the enemy through foreigner. Please thank Mr. Ley for me for
refractory projectors would be just as deadly his many excellent articles.
and a lot simpler. That question of refractories The bulk of this long letter is going to be
If a delicate one, I admit; but we’ll need them, about Herr Ley’s latest article, his “Geography
f<»r Time Travelers,” for there are several points
upon which I do not agree with the author.
These points are:
1. Mr. Ley’s Devonian earth. Herr Ley pic­
tures the earth in the Devonian Period as con­
sisting of three great continents, each a level,
flat, arid red desert, whose monotony is relieved
by nothing. On the whole, this view is not
wrong, but it is far from accurate. Deserts
were the dominant feature of the landscape, but
were'not its only feature. BOOKS SENT FREE
In Europe, we would see a range of rather
high mountains running from Ireland to Scot­ on approval. Just mail the coupon and we’ll
land to Scandinavia. (Note : In giving the names send you a set of these remarkable auto
books, just off the press. Whether you are a
of present, geographic localities, I am merely tak­ mechanic or helper, expert or apprentice, auto
ing a short way of saying, ‘the land which wner or driver, if you’re interested in knowing
occupied the position now occupied by—’) the all about automobile mechanics, take ad­
Caledonian Mountains, from which sloped south­ vantage of this FREE OFFER.
ward a broad flat plain, probably desert, but GET A BETTER JOB
which possessed many short-lived, fresh-water A better job—in the gigantic auto in­
ponds. Evidences of vulcanism would be every­ dustry. BIGGER PAY—a chance to go into
where : volcanoes, lava flows, etc. IT? business for yourself and get a share of
in North America, the time traveler would These wonder books tell the huge profits, are waiting for any man
find the Arcadian Mountains in the Middle De­ step by step HOW to who even half tries to improve himself.
vonian. In Late Devonian times, the traveler take out “play" in dif­ Learn auto engineering with these wonder
ferential — to kill the books a new way—without studying or
would find a great area of thick black soil shimmy in steering—to
set TIMING—how to put memorizing. Simplj’ use the JIFFY IN­
around New York, which soil has survived until your finger instantly on DEX to look up the answer to any auto
today in the forms of slates and shales. engine trouble and then problem. Built by eleven of America’#
the quick expert way to greatest automobile engineers, and written
To repeat myself, the red deserts would be FIX it. Newest in simple language so you ean understand
the dominant feature of the landscape, but would provements fully cov­
ered. Equal to a complete it. Very newest cars, all covered.
not be the only feature. My supposition is that trade course at less than FREE Privilege off consults *|
Mr. Ley also realizes this fact, but slightly a fourth the cost.
simplified the situation for clarity.
Incidentally, Mr. Ley allows 350.000.000 years
for the time elapsed between the Devonian and
the Quaternary. The figure generally accepted
6 BIC VOLUMES
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*
000.000 to 285,000.000 years. Naturally, geo­ tion, gold-stampetj flex­
ible binding. ing diagrams and data sheets on each.
logic dates are disputable. However, in an ele­ AMERICAN TECHNICAL SOCIETY, 7
*
mentary article such as this. I believe it would Drexel Ave. & 58th St., Dept. A7819. Chicago, HI.
bp best to stick to the generally accepted Ameri­ I would like to see the new 6-volume edition Of your AU
BOOKS. I will pay the few cents delivery charges only, but U 1
can chronology. choose to, I may return them express collect. If after 10 days us®
2. Herr Ley remarks that the panthalassa I prefer to keep them, I will send you $2 and pay the balance at tn®
rate .of only $3 a month, until 524.80 Is paid. Please include fee®
probably did not exist in early pre-Cambrian (member shipland extra Volume No. 7, as per your offer above.
time. In this supposition. I believe him to be Name ................. . V..'.... ............................................................... ..
Address................. .. .............................................................................................................
correct. It is generally admitted that the Kee- City................................................................................................. State........................
watin-Coutchiching complex of Canada is the Attach letter stating age, occupation and name and address Of
ployer and that of at least one business man as reference.
oldest rock formation known ; and this rock is
formed of sedimentary materials intermingled
with lava flows and layers of volcanic ash. The
sedimentary particles composing the rocks must
have been eroded from already exposed rocks:
hence the panthalassa could not have existed.
The great extent of the Keewatin-Coutchiching
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complex supports this view, for the great amount
of material represented could not have come from Introducing Hose Guaranteed 4 to 8 Months^S
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3. Mr. Ley remarks that life did not exist upon ing on number of pairs
* ,
*
without hole snags or runs or re-
— placed t-'RKB. Bitr repeat aalee Doris Jensen,
land during the Cambrian Period, and that the 111., earned $11 in 6hrs., received 2 new
seas were the only abode of life. He should have cars: Charles Mills, Minn., earned $120.00 in
one week end received 2 new cars, as extra
said animal life. For many fossil pteridophyte bonuses. Your own hose given as bonus, send
spores have been found in Cambrian rocks. hose siae. Rush name on penny card f<
sample outfit, details. ACT NOW!
These plants were comparable to our ferns, and -X WILKNIT HOSIERY CO.
were almost totally land plants. A second re­ UM wayK-10.Gcpenfield, Ohio
futation of Mr. Ley’s statement is seen in the HOSE
fOR tour
fact that many of the Cambrian rocks are shales, PUI5GHA1
which are generally conceded to need plants for
their formation. ’Furthermore, there is no rea­ OUTFIT
son to believe that fungi and bacteria did not
inhabit, the world at that time.
4. Here is a real error. The author states
that the first know glaciation is the rather in­
significant Permo-Carboniferous. In this he is
wholly wrong, for al least three previous glacia­
tions are accepted by practically all geologists.
For the sake of those of your magazine readers
who have no knowledge of geology, I must here
disgress. and explain that the presence of
glaciation is determined primarily by the
presence of tillite, and secondarily by the
presence of striations upon either the tillite
boulders themselves, or upon the rock floor upon
which the tillite rests. There are other criteria, Midget RADIO, requires No TUBES.
but all are less permanent. NO BATTERIES, NO ELECTRIC
The first glaciation known occurred in the CONNECTIONS. Genuine Walnut
Proterozoic Period, and its tillite is found in the Cabinet. Clear, natural tone. Is
Cobalt division of the Huronian Series in the ONE YEAR TO YOURS FREE with every ring or­
Canadian Shield. Thick beds of tillite, up to dered NOW and paid for IN ONE
500 feet thick, rest upon a greatly striated floor. PAY FOR RING YEAR on our new easy two $2 pay­
Other tillites of similar antiquity are found in ment plan (total only $4) Size
Wyoming. Finland, and Australia. Gladiator ring double x2
*/ s'x3%-.
A possible glaciation may have occurred dur­ head set in lifetime
ing the late pre-Cambrian era. This is repre­ sterling silver dee­ No charge for credit. Ten days ON AP­
sented by the Keweenawan tillite-conglomerate orated in rich 1/30 PROVAL. SENO NO MONEY. WB TRUST
YOU. Mall postcard NOW. Your package
of Canada. This rock has not been proved to 14k gold. comes by RETURN MAILI
be tillite. Other doubtful formations of the Gold Standard Co.. R-529, Nowton, Maw.
same age are fountl in the Scottish Torridan la Canada: Gold Standard Co., R-5M, Emairo Building, Montreal.
Formation.
 During the Lipalian erosional interval, just
before the Cambrian Period, another glaciation
AIR occurred. In China, (illite beds three to live
layers thick, and 400 feet thick, underlie early
Cambrian rocks. Similar tillites are found 141

CONDITIONING
/^/REFRIGERATION
.South Africa and Australia.
Still another glaciation took place during rhe
Devonian Period, just toward its close, and in
the Silurian Period, just at its beginning. Its
remains are found in Alaska. South Africa, Nor­
way. and Australia.
Flexible, pre-tested All of these ice ages are long before the
Training Plan to Permo-Carboniferou-s glaciation.
fit your present 5. A minor error, if error it may be called.
Mr. Ley makes the statement that mammals ap­
circumstances peared in the Carboniferous in Gondwanalaud.
You ran Qualify for remu­ I should rather say : mammallike reptiles, rep­
nerative jobs in air-con­ resented by the Therodonta of South Africa, ap­
ditioning and refrigeration peared in the Carboniferous. and became the
industries. National'] i per-
■f«led plan is for thoso ancestors of the mammals, who appeared In the
seeking immediate rhop- early Triassic.
training, as well i for On the whole, T agree with Mr. Ley’s in­
those who cannot give up genious pre-construction of the earth’s surface.
prevent employment. Most modern training; equipment
Latest equipment and modern training Naturally, neither of us is able to predict the
methods offered to you, no matter where future, but his map seems entirely reasonable.
you are or what you do. National’s Please do not think that I am not satisfied
methods have been time-tested for 34 with Mr. Ley’s article: for I really enjoyed it.
years. No guess-work. Graduates earn greatly. All the errors I list are probably dif­
good pay. ferences of interpretation or opinion. On the
FREE BOOK gives full detail*
Mail coupon below. Learn how you whole, Ley did a tine job upon a subject hard
can qualify as an expert in air-con­ to popularize. Schreiben Sic inehr, Herr Ley!
ditioning. De Camp’s article ‘’Design for Life,’’ is very
well written. However, about all he proves is
NATIONAL SCHOOLS that humans could be nothing but humans. It
reminds me of the attempt of the nineteenth-
Los Angeles (Esr. 1905) century scientist and mathematician to prove
that flight was impossible for a lighter-!han-air
vessel. We do not know enough about biology
Request tor FREE BOOK to compose any ‘design for life.” -E. Franklin,
NATIONAL SCHOOLS Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.
Hept. 10-l»s< , 4000 So. Figueroa St., Txts Angeles, Calif.
From the British Interplanetary Society.
ADDRESS
Dear Mr. Campbell :
I was very interested to see Schuyler Miller’s
STATE letter concerning spaceship crews in the July
Astounding. As you know, this Society has been
working on the subject for several years, and
you have already seen our designs for a lunar
ANY PHOTO ENLARGED ship, which were printed in our last Journal.
There’s no need to have a large crew on an
*Six 1x10 inches er tmallar If de- fgj
aired. Same price for full length or JH ordinary interplanetary voyage, apart from a
bust form, groups, landscapes, pet g V full-blooded expedition out to take a planet to
auimais, etc., or enlargements of any ■■■i g bits. Actually, one man could, as Miller sug­
part of group picture. Safe return of ■ ■ gested. de the job. It is only during the actual
original photo guaranteed. 3 for $1.00 take-offs and landings that there is anything
much to do, and at these moments it’s impos­
SEND NO MONEYJMaW sible for more than one pair of hands to be on
and within a week you will receive your beautiful
•nl»r(«n>«nt, rnaranteed fadeless. Pay pontman 47c plus the controls. At least, it’s highly inadvisable!
ix.»tare —or send 49c with order and we pay poster
*x2O-mch
X
.
*
enlargement sent C.O.D. 78c plus postage
Big During all the days of the voyage, apart from
er aend 8<M' and we pay postage. Take advantage of thia the few hectic minutes at the beginning and
end,
*
inr rffer now. Send your photos today. Specify aize wi int«d. there is practically nothing for the crew to do
STANDARD ART STU DI OS, 113 S. Jefferson St., Dept. 7G9-L, Chicago except take occasional observations and make the
WATCH FREE with evecy corresponding corrections. This would involve
ring ordered NOW and one man for only a small fraction of his time.
paid for in one year, on Moreover, spaceship machinery must be largely
our new easy two $2 pay- automatic, simply because things happen so
quickly. Even in the first design for a luiiar
juent plan (total only $4— spaceship we have planned a practically auto­
includes both ring and matic take-off. as you will see by the article and
watch.) Simulated dia- circuits on robot-control in the Journal. These
nionds set ui Lifetime S ter­ circuits have been arranged so that by a selec­
ling Silver. Wear 10 days tor system similar to that of an automatic tele­
phone exchange, the correct tubes are picked out
on approval. WE TRUST and fired in the right “staggered” sequence.
YOU— Send No Money Moreover, the arrangement will keep the ship
with order. We ship at on its course if it starts to "wobble”—linear
once. No charge for credit. stability is given to a large extent by the axial
Gold Standard Watch Co., Dept. C-529, Newton, Mass. spin—and in addition we have incorporated the
In Canada; G. S. Watch Co.. Dept. C-529, Empire Building, Montreal. gyromechanism suggested by you some time back
in a previous letter.
This “robot pilot” should take the ship safely

MEN! ".™PAYS BIG!

HUGE PROFITS EASY IN NEW
away from the Earth without the interference
of the crew. When free space is reached, it
will be necessary to take observations, reduce
them—with luck, we could get the astronomers
back on Earth to do this—and then make the
UNLIMITED MARKET! navigational corrections. Then, for all the good
Flop working for dimes! Be independent it could do. the crew might just as well g«> to
—and count profits in DOLLARS— sleep for the rest of the voyage. If anyone can
—demonstrating patented low-priced think of a reason for keeping watch in space,
KANT-SLAM Door Check. Amazing in­
vention STOPS SLAMMING DOORS! I’d be glad to hear it.
Closes doors silently, surely, automatically. Hy­ I’m sending a cony of this Journal to Miller,
draulic action—never needs attention. Lasts
Write for so that he and de (’amp can fight it out between
years. Easily installed. Real Demonstrator fur­ them, but I’m hoping that these remarks will be
nished. Get easy. Quick orders demonstrating of general interest to your readers, especially if
ftctcnl tample on easy-to-carry miniature door. Every
».tore. factory, school and public building can use anyone else joins in the scrap.—Arthur C.
EAirT-SLAMS. Liberal commission on every order. Rush Demonstrator Clarke, British Interplanetary Society, 88 Gr
ys
*
m'
r
* address। today for big-profit Plan. Offer!
KANDSLAM, Pept. P-B4,BI *
cmReW, Indiana Inn HuauJ. London, W. C. L, England.
 BelieveZtorAbt/b/^RZe/

WINS TIRE COVERS MADEof

FAMOUS fee.OVER ALL JELT DENIM
ARE STILL WHOLE and QOOD
AFTER GRUELING 50‘MILE RUN/

"ROLLIN BUCK-"America's Typical Overall Wearer"

Says:"/ COULDN'T BELIEVE TILL I SAW/
HO WONDER LEE GIVES SUCH FITAND COMFORT/
A PAIR OFOVERALLS
CAN BE MADE WITH
AS FEW AS 10 PIECES
OF CLOTH-5 BUTTONS-
2 BUCKLES ANDrHREAD

ii,

M
IT TAKES^G’ PARTS AND OPERATIONS
TO MAKE SUPER-COMFORT TAILORED-SIZE
UNLON-MADF

TRIS MINIATURE CUT-OUT OVERALL OF .JELT DENIM

WILL SHOW YOU WHY-TRIS TOUGH MULTIPLE-TWIST
DENIM WEARS LONGER • Believe It or Not /
RIPLEY’S EXPLANATION: 50-Mile Test Run-Tires covered with The H. D. Lee Merc. Company,
genuine Jelt Denim carried Buzz Lewis, dirt-track speedster, on an (Address nearest office) Dept. AF-10
amazing test run I No rips—no worn spots! These tire-covers looked Kansas City, Mo.; Trenton. N. J.; San Francisco, Calif.;
as though they had many miles left in them. This test proves why South Bend, Ind.; Minneapolis, Minn.
Jelt Denim used only in Lee Overalls gives you far more wear— Please send me that miniature cut-out overall and my
Believe It Or Not I nearest Lee dealer’s name, too!

“Tailored” Sizes—(repeated by request): To make each size give Name.

the wearer a perfect fit, Lee uses 76 parts and 484 operations! Lee
is the only overall made of genuine Jelt Denim—sanforized for Address
lasting fit—and woven of multiple-twist yarn for extra wear! ....
Believe It Or Not! Town . State ..
Copyright 1939, The II. D. Lee Merc. Company
When you like a cigarette the way I like Camels
_ its mighty nice to get morepuffsperpack ”
says Owen Harding, Veteran Maine Guide

‘PUFF FOR PUFF, CAMELS PUT MORE PLEASURE

IN SMOKING AND A BIG EXTRA MEASURE OF IT”

By burning 25% slower than the average of the 15 other

of the largest-selling brands tested — slower than any of
them — CAMELS give a smoking plus equal to

EXTRA SMOKES
PER PACK

CAMELS were found to contain

1average for the 15 otherthanofthethe
more tobacco by weight

largest-selling brands.
Camels burned slower than any
2 other brand tested—25% slower
than the average time of the 15 other
of the largest-selling brands! By
burning 25% slower, on the average,
Camels give smokers the equivalent
of 5 extra smokes per pack!
In the same tests, Camels held
3 their ash far longer than the av­
erage time for all the other brands.
K. J. Reynolds Tob. Winston-Salem,

OWEN HARDING, who knows his native Maine Judge your cigarettes by the way they burn. Re­
country like a book, also proves a good guide on cig­ cent impartial laboratory findings confirm the ex­
arette quality, as he shares his favorite brand with perience of Camel smokers. Camels are known to
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Stanford, frpm New York City. burn longer, delivering more pleasure per puff—more
“Camels are a longer-burning cigarette,” Owen puffs per pack. All the while you get the mild, ripe
says, “and that means more smokin' for my money. goodness of finer, more expensive tobaccos. Camels
It means, too, that Camels taste cooler .. . milder.” are the quality cigarette every smoker can afford.

Camel the cigarette of Costlier Tobaccos