Astounding Stories of Super-Science January 1931. Various

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СКАЧАТЬ himself in terms of pictures only, of course, and his is not a highly developed mind. I shall try to get him to go over the entire story for us again, if I can make him understand. Emanate nothing yourself; he is easily confused.”

      I nodded silently, my eyes fixed with a sort of fascination upon the creature from the darkness, and waited.

      Back on the Ertak again. I called all my officers together for a conference.

      “Gentlemen,” I said, “we are confronted with a problem of such gravity that I doubt my ability to describe it clearly.

      “Briefly, this civilized, beautiful portion of Antri is menaced by a terrible fate. In the dark portion of this unhappy world there live a people who have the lust of conquest in their hearts – and the means at hand with which to wreck this world of perpetual sunlight.

      “I have the ultimatum of this people direct from their messenger. They want a terrible tribute in the form of slaves. These slaves would have to live in perpetual darkness, and wait upon the whims of the most monstrous beings these eyes of mine have ever seen. And the number of slaves demanded would – as nearly as I could gather, mean about a third of the entire population. Further tribute in the form of sufficient food to support these slaves is also demanded.”

      “But, in God’s name, sir,” burst forth Croy, his eyes blazing, “by what means do they, propose to inforce their infamous demands?”

      “By the power of darkness – and a terrible cataclysm. Their wise men – and it would seem that some of them are not unversed in science – have discovered a way to unbalance this world, so that they can cause darkness to creep over this land that has never known it. And as darkness advances, these people of the sun will be utterly helpless before a race that loves darkness, and can see in it like cats. That, gentlemen, is that fate which confronts this world of Antri!”

      There was a ghastly silence for a moment, and then Croy, always impetuous, spoke up again.

      “How do they propose to do this thing sir?”, he asked hoarsely.

      “With devilish simplicity. They have a great canal dug nearly to the great polar cap of ice. Should they complete it, the hot waters of their seas will be liberated upon this vast ice field, and the warm waters will melt it quickly. If you have not forgotten your lessons, gentlemen, you will remember, since most of you are of Earth, that our scientists tell us our own world turned over in much this same fashion, from natural means, and established for itself new poles. Is that not true?”

      Grave, almost frightened nods travelled around the little semicircle of white, thoughtful faces.

      “And is there nothing, sir, that we can do?” asked Kincaide, my second officer, in an awed whisper.

      “That is the purpose of this conclave: to determine what may be done. We have our bombs and our rays, it is true, but what is the power of this one ship against the people of half a world? And such a people!” I shuddered, despite myself, at the memory of that grinning creature in the cell far below the floor of the council chamber. “This city, and its thousands, we might save, it is true – but not the whole half of this world. And that is the task the Council and its Master have set before us.”

      “Would it be possible to frighten them?” asked Croy. “I gather that they are not an advanced race. Perhaps a show of power – the rays – the atomic pistol – bombs – Call it strategy, sir, or just plain bluff. It seems the only chance.”

      “You have heard the suggestion, gentlemen,” I said. “Has anyone a better?”

      “How does Mr. Croy plan to frighten these people of the darkness?” asked Kincaide, who was always practical.

      “By going to their country, in this ship, and then letting events take their course,” replied Croy promptly. “Details will have to be settled on the spot, as I see it.”

      “I believe Mr. Croy is right,” I decided. “The messenger of these people must be returned to his own kind; the sooner the better. He has given me a mental map of his country; I believe that it will be possible for me to locate the principal city, in which his ruler lives. We will take him there, and then – may God aid us gentlemen.”

      “Amen,” nodded Croy, and the echo of the word ran from lip to lip like the prayer it was. “When do we start?”

      I hesitated for just an instant.

      “Now,” I brought forth crisply. “Immediately. We are gambling with the fate of a world, a fine and happy people. Let us throw the dice quickly, for the strain of waiting will not help us. Is that as you would wish it, gentlemen?”

      “It is, sir!” came the grave chorus.

      “Very well. Mr. Croy, please report with a detail of ten men, to Bori Tulber, and tell him of our decision. Bring the messenger back with you. The rest of you, gentlemen, to your stations. Make any preparations you may think advisable. Be sure that every available exterior light is in readiness. Let me be notified the moment the messenger is on board and we are ready to take off. Thank you, gentlemen!”

      I hastened to my quarters and brought the Ertak’s log down to the minute, explaining in detail the course of action we had decided upon, and the reasons for it. I knew, as did all the Ertak’s officers who had saluted so crisply, and so coolly gone about the business of carrying out my orders, that we would return from our trip to the dark side of Antri triumphant or – not at all.

      Even in these soft days, men still respect the stern, proud motto of our service: “Nothing Less Than Complete Success.” The Special Patrol does what it is ordered to do, or no man returns to present excuses. That is a tradition to bring tears of pride to the eyes of even an old man, in whose hands there is strength only for the wielding of a pen. And I was young, in those days.

      It was perhaps a quarter of an hour when word came from the navigating room that the messenger was aboard, and we were ready to depart. I closed the log, wondering, I remember, if I would ever make another entry therein, and, if not, whether the words I had just inscribed would ever see the light of day. The love of life is strong in men so young. Then I hurried to the navigating room and took charge.

      Bori Tulber had furnished me with large scale maps of the daylight portion of Antri. From the information conveyed to me by the messenger of the people of darkness – the Chisee they called themselves, as nearly as I could get the sound – I rapidly sketched in the map of the other side of Antri, locating their principal city with a small black circle.

      Realising that the location of the city we sought was only approximate, we did not bother to work out exact bearings. We set the Ertak on her course at a height of only a few thousand feet, and set out at low atmospheric speed, anxiously watching for the dim line of shadow that marked the twilight zone, and the beginning of what promised to be the last mission of the Ertak and every man she carried within her smooth, gleaming body.

      “Twilight zone in view, sir,” reported Croy at length.

      “Thank you, Mr. Croy. Have all the exterior lights and searchlights turned on. Speed and course as at present, for the time being.”

      I picked up the twilight zone without difficulty in the television disc, and at full power examined the terrain.

      The rich crops that fairly burst from the earth of the sunlit portion of Antri were not to be observed here. The Antrians made no effort to till this ground, and I doubt that it would have been profitable to do so, even had they wished to come so close to the darkness they hated.

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