A Thing of the Past. John Russell Fearn

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      BORGO PRESS BOOKS BY JOHN RUSSELL FEARN

      1,000-Year Voyage: A Science Fiction Novel

      Anjani the Mighty: A Lost Race Novel (Anjani #2)

      Black Maria, M.A.: A Classic Crime Novel (Black Maria #1)

      The Crimson Rambler: A Crime Novel

      Don’t Touch Me: A Crime Novel

      Dynasty of the Small: Classic Science Fiction Stories

      The Empty Coffins: A Mystery of Horror

      The Fourth Door: A Mystery Novel

      From Afar: A Science Fiction Mystery

      Fugitive of Time: A Classic Science Fiction Novel

      The G-Bomb: A Science Fiction Novel

      The Genial Dinosaur (Herbert the Dinosaur #2)

      The Gold of Akada: A Jungle Adventure Novel (Anjani #1)

      Here and Now: A Science Fiction Novel

      Into the Unknown: A Science Fiction Tale

      Last Conflict: Classic Science Fiction Stories

      Legacy from Sirius: A Classic Science Fiction Novel

      The Man from Hell: Classic Science Fiction Stories

      The Man Who Was Not: A Crime Novel

      Manton’s World: A Classic Science Fiction Novel

      Moon Magic: A Novel of Romance (as Elizabeth Rutland)

      The Murdered Schoolgirl: A Classic Crime Novel (Black Maria #2)

      One Remained Seated: A Classic Crime Novel (Black Maria #3)

      One Way Out: A Crime Novel (with Philip Harbottle)

      Pattern of Murder: A Classic Crime Novel

      Reflected Glory: A Dr. Castle Classic Crime Novel

      Robbery Without Violence: Two Science Fiction Crime Stories

      Rule of the Brains: Classic Science Fiction Stories

      Shattering Glass: A Crime Novel

      The Silvered Cage: A Scientific Murder Mystery

      Slaves of Ijax: A Science Fiction Novel

      Something from Mercury: Classic Science Fiction Stories

      The Space Warp: A Science Fiction Novel

      A Thing of the Past (Herbert the Dinosaur #1)

      Thy Arm Alone: A Classic Crime Novel (Black Maria #4)

      The Time Trap: A Science Fiction Novel

      Vision Sinister: A Scientific Detective Thriller

      Voice of the Conqueror: A Classic Science Fiction Novel

      What Happened to Hammond? A Scientific Mystery

      Within That Room!: A Classic Crime Novel

      THE GOLDEN AMAZON SAGA

      1. World Beneath Ice

      2. Lord of Atlantis

      3. Triangle of Power

      4. The Amethyst City

      5. Daughter of the Amazon

      6. Quorne Returns

      7. The Central Intelligence

      8. The Cosmic Crusaders

      9. Parasite Planet

      10. World Out of Step

      11. The Shadow People

      12. Kingpin Planet

      13. World in Reverse

      14. Dwellers in Darkness

      15. World in Duplicate

      16. Lords of Creation

      17. Duel with Colossus

      18. Standstill Planet

      19. Ghost World

      20. Earth Divided

      21. Chameleon Planet (with Philip Harbottle)

      COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

      Copyright © 1953 by John Russell Fearn

      Copyright © 2003 by Philip Harbottle

      Published by Wildside Press LLC

      www.wildsidebooks.com

      DEDICATION

      To the memory of Ian Dick and Joseph Storm

      CHAPTER ONE

      THE FISSURE

      The monstrous face of the basalt cliff lifted outwards under the impact of the explosion. Rocks and subsoil flew. Small boulders flashed to the zenith and rained down amidst a cloud of choking dust. On the hot summer wind a rumbling died away into silence and all was quiet.

      “That seems to be it, Mr. Brooks,” the field engineer said, cuffing up his steel helmet and mopping his face. “That’s the last of ’em. Clearance is complete, or will be when the mechanical navvies have finished.”

      Clifford Brooks nodded. He was the mining engineer in charge of the whole operation. For six weeks now throughout the unusually hot summer he and his band of iron-hard men had been at work removing a basalt area so that the ever-spreading environs of London could spread even further.

      “Better take a look at it, Dick,” he said briefly; “Make sure everything’s as it should be.”

      The field engineer nodded and, with Cliff Brooks by his side, he strode across the busy mining area, picking his way amidst the equipment whilst the men lounged around waiting for their next orders.

      After a while the two engineers reached the summit of the rubble mountain that the exploded gelignite had ejected. They looked around them in the dust haze. The whole mass of the basalt cliff that had formerly stood in their way was now completely levelled. Once the rubbish was moved, there would be a flat area around here many square miles in extent, in prime condition for laying the foundations of a new building scheme.

      “Satisfactory enough,” Cliff Brooks said, nodding. He was a tall, rangy man, СКАЧАТЬ