SPRING

ISSUE

m.w fflW ;nd \w tfs

 fresh Eveready Batteries

"One Moment, Please . . . There's Someone on /he WireV*

FL igiit n o w the armed forces are using much of our pro­

duction of “ Eveready” No. 6 Dry Cells for field telephone
units. That limits the civilian supply, so please use yours
carefully

Are you buying all the

War Bonds you can as
often as you can?

The words “ Eveready” and "Ignitor” are registered trade-marks o f National Carbon Company, Inc,
 Y o u B uild T h e se and M any
O t h e r R a d i o C ir c u it s
W ith K its I S u p p ly !
By the ttare ybu'ce conducted 60 sets of Ex­
periments with Badio Parts I supply—hare
made hundreds of measurements and adjust­
Many Man I Trained Fill Vital Jo b s Now ments—you'll hare had valuable PRACTICAL
— Have Bright P eacetim e Futures
I will send you a sample Lesson, "Getting Ac­
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practical it is to learn Radio at home In spare time. , PERHETERO-
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without obligation! And with this Lesson I'll send my <3»^,.v,<Alr3sg!re■ containing a preae-
61-page illustrated book, "WJn Rich Rewards in selector oaciUator-
Radie.” It describes many fascinating lobs In Radio, miier -first detector,
explains how X.R.I. train* you at home for success l.f. stage, diode-
b u sin ess
in Radiol detector-a.v.c. stage
Big Demand Now to r W ell-Trained and audio stage. It
'* "For several years Radio Technicians, O perators will bring in local
: W>' - « 1 hat8 been ln There's a big shortage today of capable Badio anddistant stations.
business for my- Technicians and Operators, With new Radios out of ” Get the thriU of
« « lf m aking production, tatng old sets, which ware formerly learning at home evenings In ware tlnjo while
vSBSSmz&l* around $200 a traded in, adds greatly to the normal number of you put the set through fascinating testa.
M f e f i ! month. Business
B B t ' l haa steadily in- servicing jobs.
- creased. I have Broadcasting Stations. Aviation and Police Badio,
N.R.I. to thank for my start and other Radio branches are scrambling for Opera­ You build th is 9 B
In this aeld/r 'A3U^ll 3. tors and Technicians. Radio Manufacturers, now MEASURING IN- HI
FBOEHNm 300 W. Texas working on Government orders for Radio equipment, STRUMBNT your- H I
Ave., Goose Creek, Texas. employ trained men. Tbe Government, too, needs sell early ln the BB
<5 TO $10 WEEK IN hundreds qf competent Civilian and enlisted Radio Course, useful for
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SPARE TIME Television. Electronics and other Radio developments
" l am engaged **., will open after the war. work ea neighbor- Yag'J
In spare time X-' hoed Radios to pl«k v$?|i
Radio work. I * -flfc'i up EXTRA ware Hggl
average from $5 to Spar* Tima While Learning time money. It tfl
to $10 a week. The day you envoi! for my Course I start sending a vacuum tube mul-
I often wished '. % X$bM you EXTRA MONEY JOB SHEETS that show bow tlmeter, measures
to earn HXTBA money fixing Radios in spar* tlxae volts, currents, re­
rolled sooner. starting soon after you enroll. I send you SIX big sistance, receiver output.
All this extra kita of real Badio parts. You LEARN Radio funda­
mentals from my lessons-^PBAOTICB what you team Building this A.
does come in handy.” by building typical circuits like those illustrated on M. SIG N A L
THEODORE K. DuBREE. this page-----PROVE what you learn by tests on the GENERATOR
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1st LIEUTENANT IN Mail Coupon far Free Lesson and Book uable experience.
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B
as to my type of 64-page, illustrated hook. No obligation—do sales­
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say that N.R.I. paate it on a penny postal.—1. E- SMITH. President,
training Is com­ Rest. 4C09, National Radio Institute. Washing-
ing in mighty ton 9. D. C.
handythesedays'
RICHARD W.
ANDERSON.
(Address omitted for mili­
tary reasons.) Food For Poth A feu a u *. P ic,- m

J . E . SM ITH , President, Dept. 4COR

b / j inArn»y» rtri) National Badio Institute, W ashington 9, D . C.
SL Q
Men likely to go Into mili­
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ors. marines, should mail

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for good Radio Jobs.
V O L. 6, N O . 2 CO NTENTS S P R IN G ISSU E

Curtis Newton and the Futuremen

in
a Complete Book-Length Morel

D a y s o f C re a tio n
By BRETT STERLING
Four P ow erfu l Factions W ork at Cosmic Cross Pur­
poses in a Game o f System-wide Stakes A s Curt N ew ­
ton and H is Staunch Comrades Set Out to Create a
Brand N ew Planet to Add to the Family o f the Sun! . . . . II

Thrilling Short Stories

V IC T O R Y D R U M S ........................................... Ross Rockiynne 79
A Broken-down Actor Battles Ruthless Invaders on Pluto
TH E RETU R N O F T H E IC E A G E ................. Nathaniel Nitkin 95
Reggie Hart and a Party of Scientists Move Far Into the Future
N O T H IN G S IR IU S .................. ...................... Fredric Brown 106
Captain "Pop” Wherry and His Family Discover a Planet

Special Features
U N D E R O B S E R V A T IO N (Letters)...................... Sergeant Saturn 6
TH E F U T U R E M E N .................................. ........ A Department 76
TH E W O R L D S O F T O M O R R O W ..................................Futuria 92
A T A S P E C IA L PR IC E (A Message). .........................H. I. Phillips 105
TH E S H A P E O F T H E F U T U R E ........................... Science Feature 117
THE FUTURE O F C A P T A IN F U T U R E ..................Announcements 129
C over P aintin g b y E a rle K . B erg ey Illustrates “ D a ys o f C rea tion ”

CAPTAIN FUTURE, published quarterly and copyright, 1944, by Better Publications, Inc., 10 East 40th St., New York 16,
N. Y. N. L_ Pines, President. Single copies, 15 cents. Manuscripts must be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelope,
and are submitted at the author's risk. Names of all characters used in stories aod semi-iiction articles are fictitious. If the
name of any living person or existing institution is used it is a coincidence. March, 1944, issue.
Read our companion magazines: The Phantom Detective, Thrilling Detective, Popular Detective, Thrilling Wonder Stories,
Thrilling Mystery, Thrilling Love, Thrilling Ranch Stories, Thrilling Western, Thrilling Sports, Sky Fighter?, G-Men Detec­
tive. West. Popular Sports Magazine, Popular Love, Popular Western, Everyday Astrology, Texas Rangers, Range Riders
Western, Startling Stories, Detective Novels Magazine, Masked Rider Western Magazine, Rio Kid Western, Thrilling Ad­
ventures, Black Book Detective, Air War, Exciting Detective, Exciting Mystery, Exciting Love, Exciting Western, RAF Ace*
and Rodeo Romances, PEINTED IN THE U. S, A-
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 Where Sergeant Saturn Space-Pilots and Kiwis Meet
HE cargo this voyage is formidable in sight in one eye and I started reading everything

T bulk, and we'd better have at it with­

out a lot of rocket gas from the old sarge.
As to the quality of the said cargo— I’ll leave
I could get hold o f (a fter X learned how to read).
So far, I think I would rather sit down with a good
S F mag, yours in particular,
som e cute Hep-chick- I mean it? and I do like to
go dancing with
dance. Also, I am 23 summers on this planet Earth,
to you kiwis and junior pee-lots to weigh which still leaves me enough thne to I iv e (? ) and
and judge,. learn( ? )
Let’s aot start the old space dog’s head to Using the 10.00 rating, I w ant to classify the fo l­
lowing magazines.
throbbing with that old howl about the type C a pta in F uture — W inter Issue
of letters you want to see printed here for Cover .................................................................... 6.75
general observation. Saturn win print a fair M agic Moon ........................................................ .7.70
cross sample of the cemmuniques that come T o Dust B eturneth............................................. 8.15
The Companions o f Sirius.............................. 5.80 .
in, apologizing for not printing more of them Features ............................................................... .8.50
—and you space birds who object can just STARTLING STORIES— F all Issue
sit down and write in the kind of letter you Cover .................................................................. 8.35
think would look nice in this department. P irates o f the Tim e T ra il.......................... 9.05
The Monkey and the T yp ew riter............... . 4.80
Okay, Frog-eyes; dump out the mail sack The Space D w ellers............................ .............. 7.65
—no, not through the garbage chute, you Secret W e a p o n ................................................. 5.40
dope! Here on the chart table in the astro- Features ............. .... — . . . — ...................... 6.90
Illustrations ...................................................... 6.35
gation chamber. H m m m —maybe you had a I could rave on and on but I ’ll save It fo r some
good idea, at that. other time. I don’t presume to be an authority on
The first flash from the ether pertains to Science Fiction, hut— I just happen to have every
THE FUTUREMEN Club. C a p t a i n F u t u r e and S t a r t l i n g S t o r ie s from th e
first issues o f both to the above mentioned issues,
phis every issue o f T W S from the Spring o f ’38 to
SIGNING ON T W S V ol. X X V , No. 1. Fall, 1943. N ot bad. eh? I
want to Jiear from som ebody else with a collection
By Karl Kozarsky com parable to mine.
Dear S a rg e: 1 am sending the necessary articles, Enclosed is my application to the Futuremen.
so please accept me as a member o f the Futuremen. W ould like to hear from some o f you peelots and
The N ovem ber ish o f C.F. was a humdmger, and Kiwis. A t present I dm em ployed in the Prop Dept,
now, positively convinced, I unhesitatingly sa y Ster­ at Universal Studios.
ling is as good as or better than MamHtan- Pardon m y writing, but it isn't bad fo r just six
But, the co v e r: W hat w as that bleb o f blubber years, huh?
with teeth defacing it? You know, B ergey gets bor­ Gotta go now. m y crew is waiting to shove off for
ing after a while. a date with som e Venusianettes.— <i5 5 i LanTccrahim
Next ish, looks like a repeat o f the last one. Swell, Blvd., N orth Hollyw ood, Calif.
and with Finlay, too. Pee-!ot Whetstone, it's kiwis like you who
The Futuremen w as exceptionally good this issue make pioneering and exploration and ad­
and Is a swell department if there is one.— 2156
Crwger A v e., Bronx, N. Y. vance a pleasure. You’re spacing under full
Official dignity restrains the old Sarge from acceleration, and you’ re dang tooting your
discussing here on the first page in simple writing and progress in general isn’t bad for
language that you will understand, Kiwi only six years. More power to you, and I
Kozarsky, the matter of last issue’s cover hope you hear fAm a lot of fellow fans.
painting. You will run into a few faint allu­ And keep right on saving copies of our three
sions to this matter deeper in this depart­ scientifiction magazines, but make sure you
ment. For the moment, simply let us wel­ have plenty of storage space—because we are
come you as a new member to THE FU- going to keep right on publishing them.
TtJREMEN Club and wish that you enjoy
the association with us. FROM THE FIRST ISSUE
Anybody else who feels the urge to join By Al Greninger
our happy family group, just fill out the cou­ Dear S a rg e: I ’ve read C a p t a in F u t u r e since the
pon you will come across further along in this first issues, but this is the first time I have written
department and mail it in. We’ll attend to to UN D ER O BSERVATION.
C F is the best science fictioh m ag I have re a d ;
you later. in fact, it’s “ good.” Ham ilton is tops aa an SF
Now, before I stitch your ears back with a writer, especially Captain Future and stories like
row of rivets, Kiwi Kozarsky, we will peek “ Treasure on Thunder Moon,” Sterling is doing a
good job and has some swell ideas, but lacks the
at the next communique. “ Ham ilton Touch.” I’d like t o see a story by both
o f them when this w ar is over.
LIVE AND LEARN The only real fault with the m ag is the c o v e r ;
even the Sarge’s picture on the front would look
By Wallace Whetstone better. The last Issue w as awful (T he Star o f
D read). In the story Joan was w earing space slacks
Dear Sarge: I can’t do it any lon ger! I mean and ft makes the raag look crum by to see a half-
keeping quiet. T is time I stick my neck out o f my dreased dame on the cover (n ot that Joan Is a
shell and say something about TW S, SS, and (last d a m e ).
but not least) CF. That’s about all fo r this letter. Don’t fall in the
Ah, me, I feel better already. F irst let me explain X eno.— 26 Orchard A v e., Angola, N . Y.
about m yself. From birth to the age o f 16 years
1 w as blind, then through operations, I w as given (Continued on page 8)
• 6
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 U N D E R O B S E R V A T IO N
Learn this v (Continued from page 6)
And don’t you fall into the fuel vat, Pee-
lot Greninger. Now, go stand in the corner
Profitable with Kiwi Kozarsky. When I have a full
squad lined up—and that won’t be long now
Profession —we’II engage in a gentle and gentlemanly
free-for-all about the cover.
IN 90 D AYS
A T HO M E W ORLDS OF T O M O RRO W
M O N E Y -M A K IN G CAR EER OPEN By Rodney M. Palmer
to M EN and W O M E N , IS to SO D ear S a rg e : A fter this w a r there w ill b e a de­
velopment o f magazines running along the same
lines o f C a pta in F uture , et, al. W hen xyriters try
Hydro Therapy treajmsilts. Therfe is big demand from doc­ to build these stories they will find themselves
tors, hospitals, sanitarium* and (flubs. Omdo&tes earn large against a brick wall. This w all is being constructed
full time ihcofiips from these or in private practice la their own b it bv bit b y y ou r feature, W O R L D S O F TOM OR­
offices. Others make good money from home treatments given R O W . Y ou seem to be carefully m apping out the
in spare time. Learn this Interesting, mooey-maklng profession entire Solar System fo r the benefit o f readers.
In your own home, through our home study W riters w ill have tw o alternatives: T hey will
course. Same instructors as in our nationally either study carefully the maps and data published
known resident school. You can win indepfend-
«~wandinmil 61166 prepare tor future security by oualify- in this feature, and try to adhere a s close to them
l l l l u ■ J j lag for your Diploma. Course can be completed as pcfssible, o r they w ill m ap out their own idea o f
ft _» in 3 to 4 months. Many earn while they loam, the system and follow it l In the form er, the result
9, .lU W r t S Begia yOUr lrainlng w w ill be the ohrtailm ent o f imagination and develop­
ment, and in the latter there will be utter confusion
Anatomy Charts & Booklet FREE am ong scienee-flction readers. I f, in 1945, five books
Enroll how and we will include, at no extra appeared on the stands, one stating that M ars was

L
oust, many needed supplies. Pit youraelf to help a dead w orld, another it had a secret population in­
meet growing demand for massage now and after side a hollow shell, another that it w as covered with
the war. Send the conpon at once lor cetnpleft
details. Anatomy Charts and 32-paoe Illustrated a shallow sea through w hich the sand beneath could
Booklet, FREE, postpaid. be seen from Earth, and so on, the result w ould be
dem oralizing. The plausibility o f science-fiction
TH E CO LLEGE OP SW E D ISH MASSAGE would be shattered at a blow. W ith this situation
D ept 363. IOO E ast Ohio S t.. C hitase I I , HIlDOla bontinuing month after month eventually it would
Please send me 1TCUEE and postpaid. Anatomy Charts, S2-p8*» becom e dull and unbelievable. Readers a re a finieky,
Booklet and complete details on Home Training. petty bunch.
W riters o f the S la ck Bat. T he Crim son Mask, and
Name ..................... .............. .................................................... . the Phantom have a com m on ground and setting
Address .................................................................. .........................* -upon which to w rite their stuff. Science-fiction
w riters have no such ground.
City ....................................................................... State.................... There will be a trend tow ard m aking all the char­
acters on other w orlds o f human stock. A very good
Idea This makes them m ore likeable and under­

POEMS WANTED ' For Musical Setting ■— I

standable. T he m otives o f other w orlds will he
appreciated clearer.
B y all means relegate W O R L D S O F T OM O RRO W
t o places unknown to readers (oth er universes, and
specific asteroids) or do aw ay with the deadly thing
a ltog eth er! Though the thing is interesting and

I Mother, Home. Love, Sacred, Patriotic. Comic I w him sical in itself, it is the psychological aspect o f
or any su b je ct D ofi't Delay — Send us your I It that has me w orried.-—226 W . 60th St., Chicago,
Original Poem at on ce — fo r Immediate ex- I 111.
animation and F R E E Rhym ing Dictionary. I Personally, Pee-lot Palmer, the old Sarge
Richard Brothers 74181” f K H thinks you are full of rocket gas, but there
is material for a good b unkrooni argument in
your letter, and I turn you over to the tender
Protect Entire Fam ily f mercies o f your fellow junior astrogators.
fo r I I a M o nth At least, your letter presents a different view
Certificate Paying Benefits up to $1,000.00. F A F F from the usual communique, and the old
Sent for FREE Inspection m C C space dog wiH welcome a little open discus­
Covers accidental or natural death. No medical examina­ sion. Hop to it, you space imps.
tion. Ase limits 2 to 75 years. SEND NO MONEY*—
Just your name and address No obligation. No salesman
will call. Postcard will do. Atlas Mutual Benefit Au'n. TH E M A D SC IEN TIST
Dept. 104. Wilmington, Delaware.
By Monroe Kut+ner
D ear S a rg e: I t ’s me again, the Mad Scientist.
Sarge, I m ust congratulate you on C.F. It is now
the best S.F. m ag on the stands,
I have a few ideas fo r C.F., Sarge. First, publish
it offeener. Second, when you can get enough paper,
w hy not have a C.F. annual starting with a reissue
<?f the first 3 issues o f C.F* this year, the ne^t 3
Issues o f C.F. the next year and so on. You could
The medicated smoke of Dr. charge 25 or 80 cents. I'm sure there are plenty o f
R. Schiffmann's asthmador S.F. fa n s that haven't read the first issues o f C.F.
and w ould buy it. A nd there’ll a lw ays b e more new
aids in reducing the severity readers to read past issues. Third, if possible, Why
of asthmatic attacks —helps not put Capt, Future on the radio as a serial?
make breathing easier... . There’ll be plenty o f S.F. fans and other people b e­
sides that w ill w ant to listen.
asth m a d o r is economical / W ell, that's all, Sarge, keep C.F. g oing strong.—
dependable, uniform — 41-16 51 St., W oodside, N. Y.
quality mote thanever insured by You know, Kiwi Kuttner, you might have
rigid laboratory control of poten­ dug up a pretty good idea in that trilogy re­
cy. Use asthmador in powder, print scheme— after the lifting of the paper
cigarette,or pipe mixture form. At restrictions, of course. How many of you
any drugstore—try it today! pee-lots would like some day to see, say, a
8
couple of such issues per year until all the
Captain Future stories have been re-issued?
Would you pay as much as a quarter per copy
for such a book? And would you like a new
TO TH E M AN
cover or a reproduction of one of the original
covers? Kick this idea around until .blast-off
time. W H O W A N TS
JU ST A S P A C E W O L F
By Austin Hamel
D ear S a r g e : W ell, another Issue o f C P , and an­
other Under O bservation full o f quips, suggestions,
and gripes.
T he first thin g that I w ou ld like to discuss is the
cover. A lthough this w a s a v e ry g o o d co v e r con ­
SUCCESS
sidering It w a s done b y B ergey, w hy doesn’t C F
take an exam p le from SS o r T W S ? T h eir last fou r
covers w ere sim ply tops. T h ey all show ed a picture
o f a spaceship, except the W in ter SS w h ich show ed
AFTER THE WAR
the inside o f a ship with the hero and h eroin e g azin g I f y o u w a n t s u c ce s s a n d s e c u r it y w h e n p e a ce
outw ard. B u t speaking o f g ood cov ers, the W in ter
C F w as not so bad a t all, J ane R a n da ll looked bet­ co m e s , p r e p a re f o r i t n o w . M a k e s u r e th a t y o u
ter on this co v e r than she has fo r a lon g time. h a v e t n e t r a in e d a b i li t y t h a t e m p lo y e r s w Q l
W hen I first glanced a t her I g o t a s hot a s M alcolm w a n t a n d p a y fo r in t h e p o s t -w a r a d ju s tm e n t.
Jam eson’s “ Giant A tom .” Oh, didn’t y ou k n ow ? A s b u s in e s s c o n v e r t s b a c k t o civ ilia n g o o d s ,
I'm a space w olf. . . .
I f you had a contest fo r the b est letters I w ould t h e r e w ill b e u rg e n t c a ll fo r a c c o u n ta n ts , b o o k ­
choose w ithout hesitation Chad O liver (th e looney k e e p e rs, sa les m en , sa le s a n d c r e d it co r r e s p o n d ­
lad o f L e d g e w o o d ). H e really g iv es m e a laugh o r en ts, tra ffic m a n a g e rs , m a r k e tin g m e n , secre­
two, and he know s SF. Speaking o f im a g in a ry con ­ ta rie s , o ffic e m a n a g e rs and le g a lly tra in e d
tests, w hy n ot have a rea l on e? e x e cu tiv e s .
Your inner p ics a re the best o f a n y S F m ags. D id
Orban do the n o v e l? I f not, w h o d id ? A lso, how F o r 3 5 y e a r s , L a S a lle h a s befeh tra in in g
does the a rtist w h o drew the pics f o r “ T o the D ust a d u lts in th e ir s p a r e t im e f o r s u c h p o s itio n s .
R eturneth,” spell his nam e, Soklos, Soko, o r Solot, I t k n o w s h o w . I t c a n t r a in y oU “ q u ic k ly ,
o r w h a t? th o r o u g h ly , a t m o d e r a t e c o s t , a n d w ith o u t in ­
I am not going to com plain abou t trim m ed edges
or a B i-m onthly, all I w ill sa y is that a fte r the w ar t e r r u p t io n t o y o u r p r e s e n t w o r k .
please try and do som ething abou t it, o k a y ? M a r k t h e c o u p o n b e lo w f o r o u r fr e e b o o k le t
Also, deareBt S&rge* I atn join in g T H E F U T U R E - a b o u t th e fie ld o f y o u r in te r e s t. I t c o s t s n o th in g
M E N with this letter; but please d o not get sore
when I tell you that I am sending the Sum m er issue t o g e t t h e fa c t s a n d t h e y m a y le a d y o u t o
cover instead o f the W inter, a s I found the W inter la rg e r s e c u r it y a n d siic ce s s — n o w a n d a fte r th e
issue too nice to deface. I f it la u nacceptable, please a r m is tic e w h is tle s b lo w .
tell me and I will send yhti the rig h t cover.
B y the w ay , w h atever happened t o the F a ll issue
o f CF, o r is it now b ecom in g an a nnual?— 2090 E.
T rem ont A v e., N e w Y ork 62, N . Y ,
No, Junior, CAPTAIN FUTURE has not
become an annual—as you darig well know.
It is a quarterly. Sokoli is the name of the
artist you are asking about. And Orban did
the pix for the Captain Future novel. And
after the war we are planning on doing a num­
ber of interesting things. Now, go line up
with the cover boys in the dark corner, and
the old sarge will get around to you shortly.
H A IL T H E F U T U R E W O M E N
By Martha Masort
D ear S a r g e : E n closed is m y application fo r m em ­
bership in the “ F uture W om an,’1 and I w ou ld like LASALLE EXTENSION UNIVERSITY
v ery m uch to join.
I have just begun to. read abou t C aptain F uture A C orrespondence institution
a few stories b ack and I think he is gra nd. The Dept. 3329-R C H I C A G O 15. IL L .
stories are v e ry interesting.
I am interested in knowing what your training is and
(Continued on page 118) how it can help mein the post-war adjustment. Pleaae
send me your free booklet on the field 1 have marked
below-
□ A c co u n tin g □ O ffice M a n a g e m e n t
□ B o o k k e e p in g □ B usiness C o rre s p o n d e n ce
□ S a le s m a n s h ip O T r a ffic M a n a g e m e n t
□ B u s in e s s E n glish D E s ecu tiv e M a n a g e m e n t
□ L a w :L L .B . D egree [jF o r e m a n s h lp
□ B u s in e s s Law □ I n d u s tr ia l M a n a g e m e n t
□ S ten oty p y : m a c h in e s h o r th a n d

Name____ _— - - - --------------..-A g e -------------------- -

Position.

Address.

City- State.
c J n y&uti
M in d i

Un&Swiei
M ENTAL CREATING
*1 y o u j u s t lik e t o d r e a m , re a d n o fu r th e r. T h e r e 1

r c o m e s a tim e w h e n y o u r fa n c ie s must be b r o u g h t
in t o lig h t — a n d s ta n d th e te s t o f e v e r y -d a y , h a r d
re a litie s . A r e y o u o n e o f t h e t h o u s a n d s — p e r h a p s
m illio n s — w h o s e t h o u g h t s n e v e r g e t b e y o n d t h e
s ta g e o f wistful wishing? D o y o u o ft e n c o m e t o
fr o m a d a y d r e a m w it h t h e s ig h , “ I f o n l y I c o u l d
b r in g i t a b o u t — mal^e it real?"
A l l t h in g s b e g in w it h t h o u g h t — i t is w h a t f o l ­
lo w s t h a t m a y ta k e y o u r life o u t o f t h e cla s s o f
th o s e w h o h o p e a n d d r e a m . T h o u g h t e n e r g y , lik e
a n y t h in g e ls e , c a n b e d is s ip a te d — o r it c a n b e m a d e
t o p r o d u c e a c t u a l e ffe c ts . I f you know how to place
your thoughts y o u c a n stim u la te th e c r e a t iv e p r o c ­
esses w ith in y o u r m in d — t h r o u g h th e m y o u c a n
a s s e m b le t h in g s a n d c o n d it io n s o f y o u r w o r ld in t o
a h a p p y li fe o f a c c o m p lis h m e n t . Mental creating
d o e s n o t d e p e n d u p o n a m a g ic a l p r o ce s s . I t c o n ­
sists o f knowing how t o m a r s h a l y o u r t h o u g h ts in t o
a p o w e r t h a t d r a w s , c o m p e ls a n d o rg a n iz e s y o u r
e x p e r ie n ce s i n t o a w o r th -w h ile d e s ig n o f liv in g .

ACCEPT THIS H ee B O O K
L e t th e R o s ic r u c ia n s te ll y o u h o w y o u m a y a c ­
c o m p lis h th e s e th in g s . T h e R o s ic r u c ia n s ( n o t a
r e lig io u s o r g a n iz a t io n ), a w o r ld -w id e p h ilo s o p h ic a l
fr a te r n ity , h a v e p r e s e rv e d fa r ce n tu r ie s t h e a n cie n ts ’
m a s te rfu l k n o w le d g e o f th e fu n c t io n in g o f th e in n er
m in d o f m a n . T h e y h a v e t a u g h t m e n a n d w o m e n
h o w t o u s e th is k n o w le d g e t o recreate their Hoes.
T h e y o ffe r y o u a free c o p y o f th e fa s c in a tin g b o o k ,
“ T h e M a s t e r y o f L ife .” I t te lls h o w y o u m a y r e ­
c e iv e th is in fo r m a tio n f o r s t u d y h n d use. U s e
c o u p o n o p p o s ite .

m e Rosicrucians
( A M O R C )
SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA
 T im s se e m e d t o s t a n d s t ill a s B la c k b o a r d arid S b a p fta n d a li s t a r e d In to e a c h 6 tfte rP £ *y % 8
( C h a p t e r fV )

DAYS OF CREATION
By BRETT STERLING
Curtis Newton and His Staunch Comrades Set Out to
Create a Brand New Planet to Add to the Family of the Sun!

CH APTER I appearance was that of a man well

pleased with himself and with everyone
The New Planet else.
For Captain Future, whatever Brooks
AR T LE Y BROOKS almost ex­ might call him, was in reality far from a
H ploded.
“T h e in te rfe rin g fo o l!”
fool. And it would not do for Future to
suspect all that was at stake in the mat­
Brooks did not say the words aloud ter soon coming to a vote.
The anger and rage that were seething Brooks, with the. fixed anile almost
within him as he listened to the red- seeming to grow out of his face, glanced
haired young man were near the boiling casually about him. The Interplanetary
poin£, but none the less he managed to Board of Governors, which had been
smile. His well laid plans might be called together in special session to con­
crumbling about him, the interplanetary sider the Systran’s greatest problem, Was
empire he had coveted for so long might hanging intently on Future’s every
be escaping his grasp—-but his external word. There Was no sign of disagree-

A COMPLETE BOOK-LENGTH NOVEL

11
Four Powerful Factions W ork at Cosmic Cross
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------— --------------- -----------------------.j---------------- --------------- -----------

roejit with what he was proposing. And

Hartley Brpoks, together with the few BROOKS grew tense. He knew what
was coming, but it would not be
members who would vote as he directed, any more palatable for that. He had
dared not attract attention to himself worked hard these past few years. Op­
by openly opposing the popular Curt erating behind the concealment of dum­
Newton. my brokers, he had slowly been gathering
“ The question of overcrowding,” Cap­ the threads of a great monopoly into his
tain Future was saying, “must be faced hands. Railroads, shipping, interplane­
frankly. Halfway methods, such as have tary traffic, heavy industry, food manu­
been tried before, must be discarded. facture—it was hardly possible to name
Take a look, gentlemen, at the situation an important basic industry in which he
that actually exists on several of the did not have the controlling share.
more densely populated planets.” He would be the nearest thing to a czar
The televisor screen glowed. One of that the System had ever known. And
the hanging cities of Mars appeared be­ now the entire fabric of his empire was
fore their eyes. Layer after layer of being torn to shreds by this interfering,
crowded buildings, crowded streets, pal­ serious-minded young—he sought for
lid and unhealthy-looking people, passed suitable word. “ Fool” did not fit Curt
in review. Newton, the man who was known as Cap­
“You see the results of lack of ade­ tain Future.
quate sunlight. It is true that sunlight “ I propose, gentlemen, that we* build
substitutes exist, but they are expensive, an entire new planet, which will circle
and so long as men in power remain the sun between the orbits of Earth and
greedy, they will not be supplied in suf­ Mars. I have already submitted to your
ficient quantity to maintain what we president the preliminary calculations
consider normal health. Consider now which prove the feasibility o f the plan.
the condition here on Earth itself . . I need but your approval to go ahead.”
The smile on Hartley Bropks’ face be­ There it was, the solution to the Sys­
came sardonic. It was almost as if Fu­ tem’s greatest problem, a solution that
ture were making a personal attack upon would put an end forever to all of Hart­
the capitalist. For that hanging city of ley Brooks’ dreams. Building the planet
Mars belonged to Brooks. It was his would be a government project; no pri­
greed that was being damned. Those vate corporation was large enough to
overcrowded towers on Earth, those handle the job effectively. Its heavy in­
swarming underground beehives on dustry, its space ships, its food factories,
Ve.nus, that thin strip on the Twilight everything of any importance would be­
Zone o f Mercury—all were his. He long to the System Government. Its
pondered if Captain Future had any sus­ very existence would smash any threat
picion of that truth. He had covered his of private monopoly.
trail well, but still one never was sure Captain Future had finished speaking,
about Curt Newton. and the applause that now swept the
“ As for the outer planets, we have suc­ huge hall was spontaneous. Brooks
ceeded in establishing colonies on many joined in, applauding all the more vig­
of them,” Future’s resonant voice went orously as the physical exertion af­
on, “but they will never absorb the ex­ forded some relief to the emotions he
cess population from Earth alone, not to felt. He had just one month in which
speak of Mars and Venus. Jupiter and to act. Except in time of war or special
Saturn, vast as they are, are for the most emergency, no construction bill could
part uninhabitable by humanoid types. become law without two readings before
Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto are almost the Board of Governors, with at least
total losses. There remains but a single a month intervening. The bill was sure
possible solution.” of passage at the next meeting of the
Purposes in a Game of System-Wide Stakes!
Board, to be held on Mars, but mean­ haired girl. This was Joan Randall.
while that month might come in useful. Hartley Brooks paused, listening to the
He was thankful for the red tape which words that came to his ears.
prevented the project from being started “ What it amounts to,” Curt Newton
at once. was saying, Vis that we have a month’s
As the president announced that the vacation. W e’re going to spend it in­
vote in favor of the bill was unanimous, vestigating those ruins on that planetoid,
there was another wave of applause. Baldur. Simon thinks the ancient inhab­
Brooks arose from his seat and moved itants achieved a degree of civilization
slowly toward the exit. He wanted to beyond our own.”
see Captain Future at closer range. “ Sorry I can’ t come with you,” re-

C A PTA IN F U T U R E

At the door of the council hall he plied Joan regretfully. “ The Planet
stopped suddenly. He had almost collid­ Patrol wouldn’t hear of my taking a
ed with something that floated silently vacation at this time.”
in the air, a case whose presence he had Hartley Brooks began to fumble in the
not previously noticed. He stared at it pockets of his clothes. He found a ciga­
—and shuddered as two cold lens-eyes rette, put it in his mouth, then frowned.
stared back. It had failed to light, quite naturally, as
This was Simon Wright, the Brain, he had chosen a dud that he kept on
one of the Futuremen. The lens-eyes hand for such purposes. He muttered
seemed to drill into his skull, reading a curse at the inconvenience of these
his mind, dragging out into open day­ new-fangled automatic contrivances,
light the thoughts that he had been keep­ and began to search through his pockets
ing so carefully hidden. He turned away. again. Then he walked away a few
Captain Future, on leaving the hall, steps. But he was listening more in­
had stopped to speak to a pretty, dark- tently than ever. He had switched on
14 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

a tiny portable sound-magnifier that he o f unidentified metals.”

carried with him at all times. Over the sensitive receiver, Hartley
Brooks could hear the faint sound of
A P T A IN FUTURE had not appar­ Kars Virson scratching his head. The
ently noticed him. “ W e ’ll leave vacant face seemed puzzled.
Eek and Oog at the Moon,” he was say­ “ I wouldn’t know about that, Chief.
ing. “ Those animals are a little trying W hat’s on your mind?”
on the nerves at times, and I ’d rather “ I want another landslide to occur.”
have them fed automatically than see “ Oh— I get it. Dynatomite will do the
Otho and Grag waste half a morning trick. It’ll be a cinch. W ho do you want
petting them and coaxing them to eat.” bumped off?”
Joan was smiling. “ Poor Otho and “ Captain Future and his Futuremen.”
Grag! You’ d deprive them of the There was a pause, and in the next
things they love most in this world.” second Hartley Brooks heard another
“ I’ll be depriving myself,” replied peculiar, faint sound, as of a man swal­
Curt, and looked deep into her eyes. lowing hard. When Kars Virson’s voice
The financier grunted to himself. came back to him, it sounded troubled
These personal matters were of no con­ and undecided.
cern to him. But at the significance “ That w on’t be so easy, Chief. You
of that first statement he had overheard, see, Future is wise to all such tricks,
his eyes glittered. and— ”
He moved along again, thinking “ I know that as well as you do. Nev­
rapidly. One reason he had reached his ertheless, your job is to get rid of him
present position was that he had never and his companions. Make no mistake
waited for opportunity’s knock. He had about this, Kars. Either you do this,
always been able to recognize opportu­ or some one else does. In the latter
nity while it was still at a distance. In case, that some one else will take your
Future’s words he had recognized his place. I don’t care to be served by in­
chance. competent cowards.”
Fifteen minutes later, he was speaking Another pause. Then: “ W ell, maybe
over his own private Mars-Earth tight- I can manage it, Chiefs But it won’t
beam televisor system to Kars Virson, be easy. Future would get wise if
his most trusted lieutenant. Virson was there was anybody else on that plane­
the head of his personal detective-and- toid with him, or within a million miles
spy agency, and had been invaluable in of it. He’s got ways of finding out. Our
his rise to power. Tall and lanky, he had only chance would be by long-distance
the vacant stare of a helpless moron and control. And for that, I ’d have to know
the cold, remorseless brain of a murderer. when he’s setting out, and when he’ll
Now his eyes widened as he listened to arrive.”
Brooks’ voice. “ I imagine he’s leaving at once. He
“ Ever hear of Baldur?” asked the intends to investigate some ancient ruins
financier. that have aroused his interest.”
“ Sure, Chief! He was a Greek god “ Ruins? That makes it easier. I can
who got bumped off—” plant this dynatomite, with a visor set
“ He was a Norse god, you idiot. But near it, so I can keep an eye on what’s
I don’t mean that. I ’m referring to the going on. When he gets in range, I
newly discovered planetoid.” press a button. Bang, he goes up in
Kars Virson hesitated. “ Sounds kind the air— if there’s any air in the place.
of familiar. Isn’t that the place where And the explosion destroys all the evi­
some guys got killed in a landslide?” dence, so nobody can tell what hap­
“ That’ s it. A party of twenty was pened.”
wiped out completely. The landslide Virson’s voice was becoming actually
was precipitated by unpredictable cheerful. A light sparkled in his watery
magnetic forces caused by the presence eyes. “ Say, Chief, I think I ’m going to
U n d e r th e B r a i n 's d ir e c t io n , G r a g 's e y e s e m itte d a p u rp le g lo w ( C h a p t e r V I )
15
16 C A P T A IN F U TU R E

enjoy doing this. It’ll be the neatest stops,” he explained with elaborate
job I ever pulled. Only I’ll have to work casualness. “ The Chief said it was
fast. I’ ll have to find the ruins, plant okay. T oo bad it upset your delicate
the stuff, and make a getaway before he nerves. You probably have some rust
shows up.” spots on the central ganglia.”
“ That shouldn’t be too difficult. The Comet was dropping slowly now,
You’re about a hundred million miles so slowly that the planetoid beneath
closer to Baldur than he is right now. seemed to grow imperceptibly. Grag
So, get busy.” snorted.
As he moved away from the visor set He had been created in the same lab­
Hartley Brooks smiled. In those few oratory as Otho, in the long-dead past.
words of Captain Future’s no one else But unlike Otho, he had been made of
would have recognized opportunity. He metal. He wa3 a gigantic manlike
had. And therefore, within a month, figure, seven feet high. His metal limbs
there would be neither Captain Future and torso hinted at colossal strength.
nor Futuremen. No new planet would be But the bulbous metal head, with such
created. And the System of Free Inter­ strange features as gleaming photo­
planetary Republics would become in electric eyes and a mechanical loud­
reality the private interplanetary empire speaker voice-orifice, gave no sign of
of Hartley Brooks. the intelligence and loyalty that re­
sided in the complex mechanical brain.
CH APTER II Nearby, the Brain, entirely oblivious
of the strange behavior of the Comet,
The Witness as well as of the squabble that was
now following, was absorbed in a study
IN ST E A D of slow­ of film graphs of previously discovered
ing down, the tear­ Baldurian inscriptions. By far the
drop - shaped vessel strangest o f the Futuremen, he was yet
raced in for a landing, the most human.
and then a scant mile Once he had been Simon Wright, a
from disaster, quiv­ brilliant, aging Earth scientist. Dying
ered in every riveted of an incurable ailment, his living brain
seam as t h e braking had been removed from his human body
rockets burst out in and transferred into a special serum
sudden flaming blasts. case in which it still lived, thought, and
Within t h e Comet, acted.
the metallic voice of The Brain now inhabited a square
Grag, the robot, roared in dismay. box of transparent metal. From one
“ C hief! That crazy refugee from a face protruded stalked, lens-like eyes,
test tube is trying to wreck the ship!” as well as microphonic ears and speech
Otho, the android pilot, grinned in apparatus. Compact generators inside
delight. O f Captain Future’s three the case emitted magnetic tractor-beams
companions, he was the most human in that enabled the Brain to glide swiftly
appearance. He might have passed, in­ through the air and to handle objects
deed, for an ordinary man, except that and tools.
his lithe body had a curiously rub­
bery, boneless appearance, and his HE Comet nestled slowly into the
chalk-white face and slanted green eyes
held a superhuman deviltry and mock­
T landing place that Otho had selected,
a rocky hollow between two bleak hills.
ing humor. Otho was a man, but a syn­ Captain Future had already slipped into
thetic man. He had been created in the his space suit, his mop of tousled red
Moon laboratory long years before. hair and his keen gray eyes lighting up
Now he was overjoyed at having the handsome space-tanned face within
startled Grag. “ Just practicing quick the transparent glassite helmet.
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 17

Otho left the controls, and began to ally vacant face now registered intense
don his own suit. Grag, who did not excitement.
breathe, and needed no protection He saw the four Futuremen leave
against the airless cold outside the ship, the ship and approach the ruins where
still rumbled on about the injury to his deadly charges of dynatomite had been
feelings: planted. His finger hovered over a but­
‘‘Chief, maybe you did tell him he ton, and then drew reluctantly away.
could practice quick stops, but 111 bet It would be fatal to get three of the
you didn’t tell him he had to pick a spot Futuremen and leaye the fourth alive.
a mile away from a landing place to try He must get all of them in one blast.
it. Myself, I ’m kind of rusty at driving And Grag, the one who would be most
the Comet—" difficult o f all to destroy, was lagging
“ I ’ll say that living scrap pile is rusty,’* behind.
jeered Otho. “That hot air of his is oxi­ Actually, Grag was interested in the
dizing all his rivets.” Earthman they had detected earlier.
Curt Newton smiled absently, and But Kars Virson, with his space-visor
stared at one of the instruments on the of limited view, saw no Earthman. He
ship’s control board. “ Otho,” he said believed merely that some natural ob­
quietly, “while you were busy exchang­ ject had claimed Grag’s attention. And
ing compliments with Grag, did you he waited in a fever of impatience.
happen to notice that the detector dial A few moments later his chance
is registering five plus?” came. His finger sought the button so
“ Huh? What’s that, Chief?” Otho eagerly that for a fraction of a second
stared at the dial. “ Holy sun-imps, he fumbled. Then he had made con­
you’re right! There’s somebody else tact, and the scene on his televisor
on this planetoid!” screen went blank as the dynatomite ex­
Curt was busily adjusting the view­ plosion destroyed his pickup equip­
finder of a short-range space-visor. ment on Baldur.
Slowly a face came into sharp focus, a The first victim of the explosion had
weak, none too attractive human face been the sending part of the visor set.
with shifty eyes, and mobile, uncertain But the Futuremen were dead, he was
lips. Beyond the face was the old bat­ sure of that. He had killed people
tered hulk of a space ship, built some with much smaller charges o f dynato­
fifty years before for short-distance mite. He licked his lips happily, and
freight hauls. put in a call to the waiting Hartley
“ Wonder what that prospector is Brooks on their private beam.
doing here, Chief,” rumbled Grag.
“This place is no bonanza for space
miners.” O NLY one person actually saw the
explosion; Edward Loring, the
“Looks like a petty crook,” sug­ small, shifty-eyed Earthman. He had
gested Otho. “ Maybe we ought to ques­ noticed the Comet while it was still high
tion him, and if he can’t explain him­ above Baldur, and had been frightened
self pick him up, and turn him over almost out of his wits by Otho’s mis­
to the Space Patrol.” chievous handling of the controls.
“ W e’ve got more important things to From then on, he had watched the ship
do,” decided Curt. “ W e ’ll keep our and its passengers from a distance, fear­
eyes open to make sure he doesn’t try to ful of who they might be. Clever, and
harm us, and meanwhile, we’ll get occasionally reckless, he now exercised
started digging at those ruins.” extreme caution. He was wanted on
A few million miles away, Kars Virson, numerous charges of robbery, forgery,
at the visor screen of a space vessel and similar crimes, and he was taking
that was drifting a safe distance off no chances of falling into the hands of
the well-traveled interplanetary lanes, the Space Patrol.
grew tense with expectation. His usu­ The sight of the Futuremen had
18 C A P T A IN F U TU R E

alarmed him, despite his failure to planets, powered by a tiny atomic motor.
realize that he himself had been under Loring removed the ring, which was
observation. He had heard, as had every obviously valuable for its own sake, and
criminal, of the quick-witted Captain slipped it onto one of his own fingers,
Future, of the lithe Otho, of ponderous where it rested loosely. The other Fu­
Grag, and the fearful Brain. Then he turemen had been buried by the explo­
realized with a feeling of relief that sion. Anyway it was unlikely that any
they were not seeking him. of those unhuman creatures had carried
From then on he had spied on them objects of value to the ordinary person.
with less o f fear, but with more But one master prize Loring did not
of curiosity. What did-the Futuremen overlook. No other ship in the Solar Sys­
expect to find on this deserted, out-of- tem could match the Comet. And there
the-way planetoid? Gold, platinum, was no one to claim it but himself.
uranium, radium—perhaps some of the Loring easily found the air-lock, and
newer precious elements? There might entered the tear-drop-shaped vessel.
be something in this for Edward Lor- Most of the instrument board was a be­
ing. wildering maze of dials and thermom­
Then came the inexplicable explo­ eter-like threads of liquid, but he could
sion. He saw three bodies buried under recognize the atomic starter, the differ­
an avalanche of rock. He saw the fourth, ent throttles, the brake-rocket controls—
that of Captain Future himself, thrown all that was really needed to operate the
high into the air, almost beyond sight, ship. He gingerly tried the starter.
before it began to float slowly down
again. The slowness o f the descent puz­ HE ship rose jerkily, but he soon
zled him, until he realized that Future’s
gravity-equalizer must have been torn off
T managed to smooth out its course.
He had handled the controls of many
his body. And Baldur’s natural gravity ships in his time, and compared to the
was extremely low. tubs which were usually the best he could
Captain Future settled to the ground get, this one was a delight. He made up
and did not move. For a moment Edward his mind. He was not going back to his
Loring stared in dazed silence. Then he own ship.
scrambled eagerly toward the motionless Then a sudden thought struck him.
planeteer. Future’s absence from his usual haunts
The face was bloody, the body limp. would be noted soon. There would be an
The glassite helmet had been shattered. investigation. His body and the bodies
No breath came from the pinched nos­ of his companions would be found, and
trils. Loring had seen dead men before, not far away from them, Loring’s old
and his eyes gleamed. This was one ship. That must be disposed of.
tracker of criminals he need never fear The task turned out to be easier than
again. he had expected. He simply nosed up to
He ripped open the space suit, and the old tub in the Comet, pushed it
eager fingers fumbled through Curt along until it was free of Baldur’s weak
Newton’s pockets. His face fell slightly gravity, and left it drifting in free space.
at what he found, for Curt had been in Some day it would be discovered, like
the habit of carrying little ready money. the famous Marie Celeste of a few cen­
Then his eyes fell on Curt’s right hand turies back, empty and undamaged, and
. . . and a delighted expression spread offer a puzzle for the Space Patrol to
over his face. solve. Meanwhile, it could not possibly
On one finger was a large ring with a connect him with what had happened on
gleaming sun-jewel in the center, and Baldur.
nine planet-jewels surrounding it. This But the Comet itself . . . he shivered.
was Captain Future’s famous signet ring, The tear-drop design was unique. The
a design of the Solar System with jewels Comet would not long go unrecognized.
that moved in the proper order of the And when it was learned that there was
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 19

neither Captain Future nor any of the

other Futuremen within it___
He drove on, troubled in mind. It was
no longer possible for him to abandon
the vessel now, and at any rate, he would
have hated to do so. The Comet was the
kind of ship he had always dreamed of.
But it was too characteristically Captain
Future’s. So for that matter, was the
remarkable ring he had taken from Fu­
ture’s finger. Any one, anywhere, would
recognize both the ship and the ring.
He had proof o f how difficult it would
be for the Comet to go unnoticed within
the next hour. A patrol ship flashed
close, and he shuddered, feeling sure
that the game was up. Then the ship
veered away again, sending out several
signal flashes in salute.
“There’s no need to be afraid,” he mut­
tered to himself. ‘‘I can pass as Captain
Future. I can pass . . .”
A light began to grow in his eyes.
“ No, I can’t, but I know some one who
can!”
He opened the forward throttle wide,
and the Comet leaped ahead. As the
miles sped by, an idea ripened in his
brain. It was startling. It would require
almost more courage than he had, but it
would work. He was sure it would work.
And by the time he had reached Earth, it
was fully formed.
He landed in a secluded spot, left the
Comet unguarded in full confidence that
no one would dare interfere with it, and
sought out Hro Zan, actor at liberty.
Hro Zan stared at him stupidly, but im­
pressively.
“You’ve got something for me to do?
I don’t understand. You’re not a man­
ager, you’ve got nothing to do with
shows.”
“ I ’m offering you the greatest role of
your career,” promised Loring.
Hro Zan twirled one of his waxed mus­
taches. He was a tall, powerfully built
man, over six feet in height, and the one-
quarter Martian blood in him lent an air
of gravity and impressiveness to his
glance. Still in his thirties, he had the air
of a dignified savant . . . and the brains
of a bird. And though he himself was A tall, b e a rd e d m a n w a s d is p e r s in g t h e h e a v y i n ­
s e c t s w it h th e fo rc e -fie ld of a c u r io u s l y alte re d
not a criminal, his stupidity made him a p ro t o n p ist o l ( C h a p t e r X V I I )
20 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

useful tool for the clever man who was. untold wealth. At his leisure he could
“ You’re joking,” he said finally. concoct schemes that, under the cloak
“ I didn’t make a trip of over a hun­ of Curt Newton’s fame, would bring in
dred million miles merely to joke. I’ve golden revenue in an endless stream.
got something good for you.” As for discovery, or for the Planetary
Patrol—he shrugged. Under Curt New­
RO ZAN drew himself up. ton’s protection, as long as he shied clear
“ I have five other offers,” he an­ of violent crime, he need have no fear.
nounced. “ I ’ve almost decided to ac­ Already he had forgotten the planetoid
cept an engagement for a serious com­ Baldur. His next step was the acquisi­
edy that’s going to play the Mars-Earth- tion of the Moon.
Venus circuit. I want you to know, Lor-
ing, that you can’t just secure my ser­ CH APTER III
vices at the last moment. Two years
ago, when I was playing the leading role Blackbeard
in ‘The Villain of Mars’—you may re­
member the rave notices I received, by IT was the hiss of
the way—my leading lady was Mona gas that revived Curt
Granis, and she told me it was an honor Newton. T h e man
to act with me. Anyway, a producer who had been known
came to me, and—” as Captain Future
“ Stop raving, you idiot,” interrupted sat up slowly and
Loring impatiently. “ I’vt got a job that stared about. Almost
will pay you more in the next few u n c o n s c i ously he
months than you can hope to receive in wiped away the blood
a lifetime,” that was trickling
“ You have?” down his face. Then,
“ Yes, Curt.” as he turned his head,
“ Curt? My name is Hro Zan.” he choked, and at that moment he real­
“ Not from now on. I’m christening ized where the hiss of gas had come from.
you Curt Newton. Get used to the sound His glassite helmet had ben shattered,
of it. Learn to answer to it. It’s a role and the air had leaked out. But a small
you’re going to play twenty-four hours stream of oxygen had been trickling past
a day.” his face from a pipe that led to the tank
“ Curt Newton,” repeated the actor, strapped to his back. He awoke sud­
with slow dignity. “ I seem to have heard denly to the fact that his life depended
the name before. I remember, in Venus on this tiny stream. The trickle of oxy­
City—” gen was due to the fact that there was a
“ I’ll have to dig up an android and break somewhere in the line, and if there
a robot,” murmured Loring, almost to was one break there might be another,
himself, “ and then I’ll have to do some­ and the oxygen might be ebbing away
thing that’s practically impossible— I’ll into the airless void. Without knov/ing
have to find you a Brain. But I’ll manage how they acted, his fingers deftly sought
somehow.” for the unwanted break in the pipe and
“ Curt Newton,” said Hro Zan once found it. A quick dab with a plastic re­
more. “ Yes, I ’m sure Fve heard the name. pair material from his belt, and the pipe
He was a scientist who discovered grav­ was repaired.
ity.” Judging from the pressure of the es­
But Edward Loring was paying his caping oxygen, he had a supply suffi­
newy acquired dupe no further attention. cient for several hours still remaining.
He was dazzled by the golden future his After that—-he shrugged. He had a more
growing idea was opening before him. pressing question to answer.
Why, with care, he could milch people “ What happened?” he whispered to
of the Solar System in Future’s name for himself.
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 21

He frowned painfully. “ There was an pointed when it slid away and was buried
explosion, and then . . . I seem to re­ in the depths of his unconscious mind.
member some other people. . . He could not even remember now wheth­
He stared about him in perplexity. It er it began with a “G” or a “ K.”
was at that moment that he realized he He found the instruments Grag had
did not remember his own name. been carrying, partly buried by the ex­
At first a feeling of near-panic seized plosion. There were several elements
him. It disappeared as he stood up, al­ represented in the different alloys, in­
most floating into the air with the ef­ cluding copper and iron. That settled
fort. That reminded him he could use one problem. He would be able to
a gravity equalizer. Strange that he breathe, at least until he starved to
should recall that when he couldn’t re­ death.
call his name.
Even more strange that he should re­ OME hours later, when an ugly, me­
call the principle of the device, that a
gravity-equalizer depended for its effect
S dium-sized space vessel edged in
with snorting rockets for a jittery land­
on the formation of a low-energy high ing, the men who clambered slowly out
potential ponderomagnetic barrier in­ in awkward space suits stared at him
vented by . . . with an amazement they did not attempt
He frowned again. He could remem­ to conceal.
ber facts that had nothing to do with him “ By the Gods of Space, Urg, here’s a
personally, but he seemed completely to man who doesn’t have to breathe!” cried
have forgotten names. W ith an intent­ one of them, a short, squat Martian whose
ness that was almost physically painful, face was as round and good-natured as a
he tried to recall who he was, why he Martian doll’s.
had come here. But the effort was use­ Then he got a closer glimpse of the
less. His mind simply would not re­ man who had been Captain Future, and
spond. whistled. Two jagged wounds across
He moved slowly in the direction the strong space-tanned face had pro­
where the explosion had taken place. A duced a sinister, almost demonic effect.
heavy mass of rock had fallen here, ef­ The tousled hair, red no longer, but
fectively burying any companions he stained a purplish black by a gust of
might had had. There was no doubt about vapor resulting from the action of dyna-
their being dead. He must think of him­ tomite on unfamiliar minerals, added a
self. Never mind who he might be. frightening touch that reminded the
Somehow he must secure food, water— Martian of a Uranian devil-giant. All in
and air. all, this was no customer he would have
He studied the instruments in his belt. wanted to meet in a dark alley in Mars
Only one seemed to offer any hope. It City.
was a proton pistol, that depended for The man had looked up at his excla­
its effectiveness on atomic disintegra­ mation. “ Take off your helmets and
tion. If only he had suitable material to make yourselves at home,” he invited.
work with, he might set off a self-sus­ “ What are we supposed to do for
taining, high-energy process that would oxygen?” demanded the squat Martian.
support an exothermic chemical reac­ “ What I ’m doing. I ’m getting it from
tion. And his oxygen could then be these rocks. There’s so much of it, I’m
drawn from the rocks themselves. letting it escape freely ”
Something seemed to stir in his mind. By this time Urg had approached. Tall
One of his companions had been carry­ and lanky, he had a calculating look in
ing a set of tools for some purpose he his eyes that was hardly customary in a
could not now remember. “ I think his Venusian. His eyes took in the scene at
name was . . . was. . . a quick glance that left him puzzled.
The name had been almost on the tip “ What the devil’s going on here?” he
of his tongue. He felt horribly disap­ demanded of the man who was creating
22 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

his own oxygen. “ You can handle a space ship?” asked

“ Nothing much. I’ve been waiting for Seldor.
you.” “ I think so, but I ’m not sure. Once I
Urg and the squat Martian inter­ got my hands on the controls, I’ d
changed glances. know.”
“ You know who we are?” demanded Urg nodded. “You retain a certain mus­
Urg suspiciously. cular memory, even though your brain
“ No. I don’t even know who I am isn’t functioning fully.” Urg had re­
myself. But I had an idea that some ceived an education in five colleges
one would notice these atomic flares and spread over three planets, and he was
cruise in to have a look at what was not a man to permit his underlings to
going on.” forget that fact. “ And in time you’ll
Urg’s face wore a puzzled frown. probably remember who you are.”
“ What do you mean by saying you don’t “ I’ve been trying so far without suc­
know who you are?” cess. And I’ve got a feeling that it’s
“ Exactly that. I awoke after an ex­ important for me to remember.”
plosion to find myself apparently alone “ It’ll come to you suddenly, maybe
on this forsaken planetoid. I know I in a week, maybe in a half year. The
had companions, but all indications are best thing is not to worry about it,” ad­
that they’re dead. I think we were on vised Seldor. “ In the meantime, if you’d
a scientific expedition, but I don’t re­ like to get off this oversized piece of
member what we were investigating. I rock, to some place where you don’t have

Curt Newton Battles Against tlie Sinister Cunning o f Resourceful Space-Booter

Rab Cain in RED SUN OF DANGER, a Complete Book-Length Novel by Brett
Sterling Packed with Interplanetary Surprises — Coming in the Next Issue!

did recall, however, enough about science to make the air you breathe, I guess we
to rig up this oxygen unit.” can accommodate you.”
He pointed to the rock-disintegrator
set-up he had devised, with his proton RG’S attitude had become unac­
pistol to start it going. countably tense. The man who had
“A scientist, eh?” mused Urg. “ Do been Captain Future did not know why
you think we could use a scientist, Sel­ but he sensed the fact.
dor?” “ That’s why I sent up those flares,”
The short squat Martian seemed puz­ he answered quietly. “ I ’ll work my
zled. “I’ve been used to thinking that way back to any port you name.”
we could get along with nothing but a “ Our port hasn’t got a name,” replied
pilot who knew the spaceways, and men Seldor. “ Something like you. You see,
who weren’t scared of death, and could we’re prospectors.”
handle an atom-gun, but all the same— ” “ Yes?”
He scratched his head. “Any man who “ W e do our prospecting,” put in Urg,
could rig up something like this is “ in other people’s ships.”
worthy of consideration.” “ I see. Pirates.”
He waved his arm to indicate the rock- “ Like to join us?” Urg pursued.
disintegrator. Urg’s voice was smooth and uncon­
“ That was easy. I needed oxygen, and cerned, but the man who heard his in­
it was a question of working in a hurry vitation made no mistake about what
or suffocating to death,” said Captain was going on in his mind. Urg was
Future. “ The thing I’m proud of is the giving him his choice of staying alive
way I used the excess energy to con­ or dying.
struct an atomic flare.” “ I ’ve been waiting for you to ask that,”
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 23

promptly accepted the man who had been CH APTER IV

Captain Future. *Tm with you.”
“ Then let’s get back to the ship. W e The Trap
don’t want to waste any more time here.”
As they picked their way over the T H E Y overhauled
rocky landscape, one o f the men asked the other vessel with
essentially the same question that had startling ease. It was
been troubling the ex-Captain Future. obviously o l d a n d
“ What do we call him, Seldor?” slow-moving, useless
Seldor considered. “ His beard’s com­ for a n y t h i n g but
ing in purplish black. And with those moving freight.
scars he’s going to have, I don’t think “ Hope they’ve got
he’ll do much shaving. Make it Black- a worthwhile cargo
beard.” aboard,” murmured
“ Thanks,” said the newly christened Urg.
recruit. “ That name will do as well as “ W e’ll know soon
any. You’re Urg’s assistant, aren’t you?” enough,” observed Seldor.
Seldor shook his head. “ Urg and I are One of the gunners spoke nervously.
co-captains,” he explained briefly. “ Some “ They’re in range now, Captains. Maybe
of the men are prejudiced against Venu- we ought to let them have it.”
sians and others against Martians. It “No use damaging the cargo,” returned
takes two of us to keep them in line.” Urg. He spoke into a space visor. “ Ahoy,
Seldor’s attitude was casual, like that there! W e ’ve got you under our guns,
of the other pirates, but Blackbeard was and you can’t get away. Better surrender
not fooled. He had joined a group of before we start firing!”
men whose lives were dedicated to rob­ The entire crew waited breathlessly
bery and murder, and he too would have for the freighter’s reply. When it came,
to rob and murder along with them if they stared at each other in bewilder­
he expected to stay alive. ment.
The pirate craft was small but sleek, The old tub underwent a sudden
with atomic engines that seemed almost transformation. Its sides swung out and
too powerful for the size of the ship. back, revealing ugly snouts of atom-guns,
Told that he would be expected to help aimed straight for the pirate ship. They
handle one of the atom-cannon that were heavier and more numerous than
thrust grimly from the vessel’s snout, the guns of their pursuers. The ship it­
Blackbeard nodded as if no job could self suddenly assumed the swift trim
have been more to his liking. He was outlines of a cruiser of the Planet Pa­
hoping that the test of his eagerness to trol. And in the receiving screen of the
aid his new-found companions would not space-visor, a space-bronzed, somewhat
come before he had a chance to plan what amused face stared at the dumbfounded
to do. Urg.
But his hopes were not destined to be “ Sorry, Captain,” came an ironic voice.
fulfilled. Four hours after he had “ W e’re not as helpless as we appeared
stepped on board, an eager voice re­ to be. I think it would be preferable if
sounded through the pirate vessel. you were to do the surrendering!”
“ Freighter ahead of us, sir!” Urg lost his head completely. “ Fire!”
“All men to battle stations!” rbared he yelled. “ W e’ll fight it out with them!
Urg. His eyes glittered with the lust for Fire, you blasted space rovers!”
battle and loot. Blackbeard acted quickly. One mem­
Blackbeard moved silently toward the ber o f his own gun crew moved to obey
controls of the gun he had been ordered and found himself sprawling on the floor.
to handle. Come what may, he knew that A swift beam from Blackbeard’s atom-
he was not going to fire at the other pistol turned the control panels of the
ship. neighboring guns into heaps of useless,
24 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

smoldering metal. “ There’s no sense in Only Seldor shed any light on the
committing suicide,” he said grimly. situation for Blackbeard. He was re­
“ It’s better than being sent to rot away turned to the cell next to that of the
on Cerberus, you space-struck idiot!” newest pirate recruit.
snarled Urg, furiously. “ Sure, it was a trap for us,” he growled
He plunged at Blackbeard, his hand in answer to Blackboard’s unspoken
clawing for the atom-gun at his own belt. question. “The Planet Patrol has been
Blackbeard shot first. Urg’s gun fell to after Urg and me for months. But it
the floor, a puddle of molten iron. Urg wasn’t only us. There’s a drive on to
shouted in pain as the beam scorched clear up this area of pirates and outlaws.
his hand. W e were just unlucky enough to be the
“Any one else prefer suicide to Cer­ first to tumble into this clumsy trap.
berus?” asked Blackbeard grimly. And, by the way, Blackbeard, Urg may
No one did. be mad as a sun devil for what you did,
but I hold you no grudge. You really
OMENTS later, there sounded the saved our lives. W e’ d have been blasted
M clang o f the other ship humping
against the pirate vessel. Magnetic grap­
into cosmic dust if we had started fight­
ing.”
ples held the two ships together, and in “ What are they going to do with us?”
a few seconds, the ait-locks were in asked Blackbeard a bit helplessly. “ I
contact. The pirates muttered sullenly still can’t figure out where or how I
to themselves as the members of the ought to fit into things—anywhere.”
Planet Patrol came aboard. Seldor shrugged philosophically. “ The
A tall, lean, space-tanned Venusian rest of us are going to serve a prison
was in charge. term on Cerberus, of course. As for
“ W e rather expected a struggle,” he you, I don’t know. I put in a good word
said in pleased surprise. “ Glad to see for you. W hy not? You really did us a
you had more sense.” favor.”
“ You wouldn’t have got us so easily There was nothing to do but wait.
if not for that rat,” growled Urg. Hatred Blackbeard sat down on his bunk and
for Blackbeard twisted his face into a fingered the ugly cuts on his face which
scowl. “ I suppose he’s a spy o f yours.” were roughly scabbing over. He won­
“ Not that I know of,” returned the dered if he would recognize himself as
Venusian, regarding Blackbeard with a definite person if he saw his reflection
interest. Then he turned to the others in a mirror. Probably not.
again. Finally it was his turn to be exam­
“ You will kindly disarm yourselves, ined.
gentlemen, and then precede me into the A pair of guards took him from his
other vessel, where suitable hospitality cell and marched him along the main
is awaiting you.” corridor of the disguised patrol ship.
Atom-guns fell into a heap in the cen­ “ What happens now?” he asked them.
ter of the ship’s floor. Blackbeard re­ “ You made it possible for us to capture
tained his to the end. the pirate vessel without firing a shot,”
“ You, too,” ordered the Venusian po­ replied one of the guards. “ You are to
litely. “ W e will investigate your case be examined by a special officer of the
later.” patrol.”
Reluctantly ^Hackbeard surrendered Blackbeard strode along between his
his weapon. W ith dispatch all of the burly and armed guards in silence. He
prisoners were herded into the patrol recognized the interior of this vessel as
vessel. Cells were waiting for them, and a space patrol cruiser, and wondered
here they were detained, to be removed how he knew this fact. Had he ever
one at a time for examination. Each was been a prisoner aboard such a ship be­
returned minutes later, cursing and un­ fore?
communicative. A moment later he was presented at
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N L25

the opaque plastite door of a small o f­ CH APTER V

fice which was definitely not the main
B ror Ingmann, Terror o f Space
office of the commander of this police
cruiser. Both guards drew their ray guns ON Baldur, G r a g
and motioned him to open the door and once more stretched
enter. his mighty muscles,
“ This is a special examination,” and h e a v e d . The
warned one of them, “but don’t try any rocks a b o v e h i m
tricks. W e have orders to blast you down yielded slightly, then
if you make one false move. Walk in.” held firm. As Grag
Frowning, wonderingly, Blackbeard relaxed in the at­
did so. He crossed the threshold of the tempt to free himself,
little office, uncomfortably aware that a they fell back into
pair of ray blasters were trained on his place again, locked as
back. And then he stopped short in gen­ securely as ever.
uine surprise. “ By all the little devils of Pluto,” rum­
From a desk in the room the special bled Grag. “ To think that I, the strong­
patrol officer had arisen and was stand­ est man in the System—though that ani­
ing there in an attitude of shock at his mated rubber doll, Otho, would say I ’m
villainous appearance. not a man at all—should be stuck here
Blackbeard was conscious of as great a like a helpless infant Martian in his in­
shock. For the officer was a tall and cubator-nest!”
slender, dark-haired and beautiful girl He knew what the trouble was. The
in the abbreviated uniform worn by weight of rock above, equivalent to many
women members of the Interplanetary tons on Earth, was little indeed here on
Police when off duty. Baldur. But several flat slabs must have
For a space time seemed to stand fallen across the debris that covered him
still as Blackbeard and the girl stared in such a way that their ends made a
into each other’s eyes. Only vaguely was neat joint. The harder he pushed, the
the man conscious of her feminine al­ more securely he locked them in place.
lure. A f first he had been merely enraged
His mind was whirling, spinning, striv­ at realizing his helplessness. But as time
ing to grapple with the illusory idea that passed, and his first fury had been ex­
he should recognize this woman—that he pended in a vain struggle to free himself,
had seen her before. he had begun to worry. He knew well
One of the guards spoke, explaining enough what had happened. There had
the situation. been an explosion o f dynatomite, judg­
“ This is that fellow who fused the ing by the accompanying odor. He could
pirates’ firing controls, Captain Ran­ recognize it by means of his artificial
d a ll” [Turn page]
26 C A P T A IN F U TU R E

sense of smell, even though he did not years, and what I don’t know—*”
breathe. The force of it had torn out a He spat in triumph, then continued
huge crater, and then the debris had his monologue. The ship dropped down
fallen back and buried him. But where with breathtaking speed, then hovered
were his companions? above the surface motionless, and final­
If Curt Newton were alive, why had he ly bumped to the ground. Bror Ing­
not come to the rescue? Grag could mann picked himself up slowly, and be­
think of only one answer. Curt needed gan to pull on a space suit.
air to breathe. The explosion, even if "N ot many men coulda made a landing
it did him no other harm, had probably like that,” he mused absently as he
torn his oxygen line. And without air stepped out through the airlock. He
Curt Newton would die. made a gesture to scratch his head, found
Grag did not put the logical conclu­ the helmet in the way, and let his hand
sion into words, even mentally, but he drop frustrated to his side. This was as
saw no way of escaping it. Curt New­ barren a planetoid as he had ever seen.
ton must already be dead. And what went No air, no water, no nothing. Only
for him went for Otho, too. For Otho rocks and—
also needed air. Only the Brain was a He caught himself. There was some­
non-breather like Grag, and he needed thing. It might be valuable, too. Far
a continual renewal of the nutrient ser­ off to one side several rocks were glow ­
ums in his case, just as Grag needed an ing like the embers of a logwood fire
occasional chunk of copper to supply such as he had once seen back on Earth,
fuel to his atomic power engine. red, and orange, and yellow. His eyes,
“ Holy sun-imps,” said Grag helpless­ brightened. Those rocks might be extra
ly, using Otho’s favorite oath. He was valuable. They probably contained—and
the only one of the Futuremen left alive. from supposition he passed at once to
He must be. And without his compan­ certainty — they probably contained
ions, he might as well be dead, too. radium, uranium, even new elements.
He began to repeat to himself all the He ran over, like a lumbering bear,
oaths he knew. To some slight degree, to take a look.
they eased his feelings, and besides that, The apparatus he found was where
he enjoyed hearing the sound of a hu­ Blackbeard had left it.
man-type voice again. Even his own. “ Pits of Pluto, it must be worth mil­
Or as poor Otho, whom Grag had never lions!” he muttered to himself. “ This
appreciated enough, would have said, here other feller dug out lots of it.”
especially his own. This he decided from the crater left by
Then—-just in case—he tried to push the rocks Blackbeard had used in creat­
the rocks away once more. They held. ing oxygen. “ And he left his tools.
And time continued its relentless flight. That must mean he intends cornin’
back.”
BO VE the planetoid, a small space Having checked this reasoning and
A vessel wheezed asthmatically, fell
for a time to silence, and then began to
decided it was valid, Ingmann examined
the tools. “ Funniest gadgets I ever
cough and spit like a marsh-tiger. The did see. Maybe they’re valuable* too.”
lone voyager inside wiped some of the He picked up a peculiarly shaped rod
sweat away from his forehead. whose end had been smeared with dis­
“ Durned fools,” he muttered. “ I said integration catalyst. “ Don’t look much
them rocket-feeds weren’t working right. good for digging” he grumbled depre-
I told them. W ait’ll I get back and let catingly, and poked it at one of the
’em know they almost cost me my life. glowing rocks.
‘You blasted idjits,’ I ’ll say, ‘whaddya Then his jaw dropped. But he him­
mean tell in’ me, Bror Ingmann, you self rose, so rapidly that at first he
know more about ships than I do? I thought he was leaving the planetoid
been a prospector nigh onto fourteen for good.
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 27

Beneath him, the ground was heaving. Earthman’s helmet, so that his voice
Under the force of an atomic explosion might carry better than if it had to
set off by the catalyst, rocks were spout­ travel through the ground.
ing upward in beautiful long curves, “ W ho are you?” he roared.
some of them glowing orange and red The grim face frowned. “ Don’t think
like the rock he had touched. A cloud you kin scare me, iron man. I been pros­
of dust had formed suddenly, and was pectin’ nigh onto fourteen years, and
trailing after him, like a comet’s tail. I seen your kind before. I tear robots
But he felt nothing. It was as if he apart. They call me Bror Ingmann, Ter­
were standing still, or coasting at a ter­ ror of Space. There w&s a robot I mis­
rific speed through space without using handled once . .
his rockets. Then he swallowed, and the fierceness
“ Moons of Mars,” he said resentfully, went out of both voice and expression.
“ you can’t trust nobody or nothin’ in “ I ’m tough, I am. Only I ain’t lookin’
these strange places.” for trouble.”
He had reached the top of a long slow Grag snorted in disgust. He knew a
parabola, and now, so gradually that at braggart when he met one. What he
first he wasn’t sure it was happening, he would have liked to see right now was
began to come down again. He picked a really tough customer, some one who
up speed as he fell, and for the second knew how to fight, and was anxious to
time, landed on Baldur with a bump. do so. He had a lot of energy to work
Thanks to the planetoid’s low gravity, off. He wanted to got his steellite fin­
his injuries were chiefly to his feelings. gers on the party responsible for that ex­
He rose painfully to his feet. And plosion.
then, once more, his jaw dropped. He turned on his heel abruptly, leav­
The ground near him was heaving ing the Earthman gazing after him.
again, this time as if being cast up by Then quickly and systematically he be­
an explosion in exceedingly slow motion. gan to dig.
Rocks flew apart, one or two of them It was a long job, even for Grag. The
narrowly missing his head. Then Bror dynatomite had torn up a wide area, and
Ingmann swallowed hard. A metal man his companions might be buried any­
was rising out of the ground. where. He noticed the Earthman with­
draw after a time, as his oxygen tank

GRAG had felt the tremor of an ex­

plosion vibrating through the
began to empty, but he paid no attention.
Finally, after several hours, he un­
ground around him. He had felt the covered the body of Otho. For a mo­
rocks leap up above, then settle down ment he gazed at it, motionless as a metal
even lower than before. He wondered statue. A wave of emotion overwhelmed
what was happening. He waited. Sud­ him.
denly he realized that those slabs which “ Poor O tho!” A human being would
had been locked together before might have been tearful, but Grag^ eyes could
now be disengaged. He exerted all his achieve no tears and his voice remained
strength. Bursting upward from his but a deep rumble. “ He was a fine com­
temporary tomb, he stared at Bror Ing­ panion,” he muttered, conscious of the
mann. inadequacy of his words. “ I f only I had
He saw an Earthman about six feet treated him better.”
in height, strong and burly even through There was a frown on Otho’s white
the clumsy old space suit. The man features, as if he had died fighting. Grag
had a formidable, square-cut face, with turned his face away. All his life, he
the flaring mustaches o f an old Viking, thought, the memory of how he had be­
and the fierce old eyes of a veteran space haved to the android would torture him.
pirate. All the resentment stored up With a deep sense of shame, he moved
in his long imprisonment underground the body aside, and continued digging.
boiled to the surface. He touched the Many hours later, he came across the
28 C A P T A IN FU TU R E

Brain. The compact box-home of Simon number, would emerge, to seek new vic­
Wright had been covered by a thick tims.
layer of debris, but was apparently un­ Ordinary methods of defense were
injured. Nevertheless, Simon gave no useless against a danger like this. For
sign of life. several valuable seconds Grag simply
Grag could hardly go on. The Brain, stared. He might outrun the attackers
his own creator, dead! For once in his —and he would not be ashamed to run,
life, the robot felt weak and powerless. either—but Baldur was a small planetoid
Finally, he placed the Brain alongside and eventually they would catch up with
the body of Otho, and continued to dig. him.
But, to his relief and perplexity, no­ Through Ingmann’s space-helmet,
where could he find a trace of Curt New­ Grag could see the terrified eyes of the
ton. self-named Terror of Space.
The Earthman had returned by now “ You might try your gun,” he rumbled.
with a new oxygen supply from his ship “ What have you got it for?”
and was watching with the curiosity of Ingmann’s atom-pistol lanced a beam
a child. Grag, intent on his search for at one of the small gray heaps of cells.
Curt Newton’s body, heard him speak, The thing simply split in two. And each
without paying too much attention. half kept on coming.
“ Friend, I—I ain’t sayin’ I ’m s-scared, The next moment, Grag heard some­
but they look sort of d-dangerous to thing that froze him in his tracks. “ Use
me!” your eyes, Grag!”
“ Quiet!” roared Grag. Then he real­ It was not the words that startled him
ized that the Earthman must indeed be but the sharp rasping voice in which
badly puzzled at what was going on. He they were uttered. The Brain’s voice!
looked up. Bror Ingmann was running The Brain was alive!
toward him. The fierce Viking face was
pale with terror. But Ingmann was not CH APTER V I
referring to Grag’s companions.
Some distance away, a group of what Pygmalion
appeared to be small furry rodents were
approaching, marching forward like an SIMON CART­
army. No more than a foot or so long, W R IG H T ’S m i n d
and half that in height, they seemed to had recovered from
be oozing along the ground behind him. its shock.
Grag recognized them at once. They “ W ide pupils, dis­
were not individual animals at all, but tant focus, and ultra­
parasitic cell-colonies, such as were oc­ violet b e l o w two
casionally found on several of the less thousand Ang­
frequented planetoids. It mattered lit­ stroms,” directed the
tle to them whether the animal they at­ Brain coldly. “ Quick­
tacked was of metal, silica, or organic ly, Grag!”
matter, for they had the power to digest Grag’s eyes opened
almost anything. They did not kill at wide. The fear-stricken Bror Ingmann
once. Having selected a victim, the gaped as he saw the lenses change shape
colonies would dissolve, their cells pene­ and emit a faint violet glow.
trating those of the host until they were That was all he saw—except for the
dispersed through the animal’s entire manner in which the approaching cell-
body. colonies disintegrated. It was like magic.
For several days the host might feel Even a proton-pistol never produced as
nothing. And then as suddenly and striking results. For a proton-beam was
completely as the one-hoss shay, the host always accompanied by sharply visible
would collapse. And the parasitic cells, light, but the wide circle of ultraviolet
swollen now in size and multiplied in Grag had produced was all but invisible
 DAYS OF CREATION 29

to any eyes but his own.

“ You should have thought o f that
yourself,” rasped the Brain reproving-
iy*
Grag nodded sheepishly. “ I ’m sorry,
Simon. I sometimes forget how my eyes
work, just as an ordinary person forgets
how his work. The idea of using the
photo-electric cells to generate certain
light, as well as detect it, just didn’t oc­
cur to me.” Then his eyes opened wide
again, and this time no ultra-violet came
from them. “ But I thought you were
dead, Simon! You didn’t move.”
If the Brain had been capable of mak­
ing the gesture, a shrug would have
suited his words perfectly. “ I couldn’t
free myself, and I knew my nutrient
serums wouldn’t last indefinitely, so I
simply suspended animation. It was the
only thing to do. Then the vibrations of
your voice reached me through the
ground, and I awoke again.”
The Brain paused, and his stalk-eyes
examined Bror Ingmann as if he were
some strange specimen of planetoid life.
OTHO
The Terror of Space broke into a cold
sweat. He hadn’t recognized the metal
ward the lifeless body of the android.
man, for there were other robots beside
“ He was buried.”
Grag. But the Brain’s appearance was
“ So of course he suffocated.” The
unmistakable. These were Futuremen.
Brain sounded almost impatient. He
He had heard of them but he hadn’t
addressed Ingmann. “ You have a medi­
known they’d be so frightening. If only
cal kit in your ship?”
he could get away from here.
“ An old one. I don’t have any of these
The Brain turned to Grag again.
new-fangled drugs.”
“ Where’s Curt?”
“ An old one will do. Go with him,
“ I couldn’t find him, Simon! The
Grag, and get it. He’s afraid of us and
low gravity makes digging easy, and I’ve
might be tempted to blast off, so be sure
turned up all the debris left by the ex­
to bring him back. And bring back also
plosion, but there’s no sign of him.”
a steady-pressure pump and an oxygen
“ You haven’t overlooked the Comet?”
tank.”
“ The Comet is gone.”
The Brain was silent for a moment, “Now, look here,” said Bror Ingmann
pondering. “ I can’t imagine Curt’s tak­ desperately. “ That’s my ship, see, and
ing it without leaving some sign.” nobody ain’t tellin’ me what I ’m gonna
“ I can’t imagine his leaving us at all,” do— hey!”
declared Grag. Grag had picked him up and slung
“ Under certain circumstances, that is him over his shoulder. The Terror, of
quite possible.” Space protested so loudly that even after
he was more than a dozen yards away,
IMON fell silent again. When next the Brain’s audio-receiver vibrated
S he spoke, it was but to utter a single
word. “ O tho?”
heavily.
When Grag returned, Ingmann was
Grag almost choked as he pointed to- considerably more subdued. His fear
30 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

had been supplanted by curiosity. He until the android came down again.
couldn’t imagine what the Brain was There was no doubt about it, Otho did
planning to do. belong to the devil.
Simon’s eyes scanned the opened But the devil was apparently not
medicine kit rapidly, picked out several very sure of his victim, for Otho hav­
items, and swung around toward Grag. ing leapt into airlessness, was choking.
The voice-box barked out a curt order, “ More oxygen,” said Simon calmly, and
and Grag began to mix the selected Grag, his metal face expressing none of
chemicals. the emotion of which the robot was
A tractor beam from Simon picked capable, hastened to comply.
up a hypodermic syringe, filled it with “ W hy, you misguided meal for a
nutrient serum from his own case, and metal-eater, what’s the idea of putting
injected the liquid into Otho’s inani­ that acid on my face?” yelled Otho.
mate body. Bror Ingmann shifted un­ “ It almost burned the skin right o ff!”
easily from one foot to the other. He “ You see, Simon,” sighed Grag, “ that’s
didn’t understand this at all. the thanks we get. W e should have let
The Brain now took the mixture of this piece of worn plastic stay dead.
chemicals which Grag had prepared and W e’d have been a lot better off.”
sprayed it over Otho’s face, and into “ What? I was dead?” exclaimed
his mouth and nostrils. Next he con­ Otho, startled.
nected the steady-pressure pump to one “ Well, of course, you wouldn’t be able
of Otho’s arteries and set it going. Blood to tell the difference, Otho. It’s so close
began to course through the dead an­ to your normal state,” explained Grag.
droid’s body once more. “ It’s no time for joking, Grag,” re­
“How about the oxygen, Simon?” proved the Brain. He faced the in­
asked Grag. credulous android. “ Without air, you
“ When I tell you.” couldn’t, help dying. But you didn’t die
They waited in silence. The pump as a human being dies. You lack auto-
was noiseless, and the needle of the lytic enzymes to dissolve the tissues of
gauge remained absolutely motionless, your body. Therefore, all the colloids
so that for a long time nothing seemed that had coagulated were reversible.
to happen. Then the needle began to The job of bringing you to life was noth­
quiver. Its vibrations increased in amp­ ing to that of creating you in the first
litude until there was a swing of some place. And the time required was in­
forty millimeters o f mercury. finitely less.”
“ His heart’s beginning to function,” “ W hy throw good time after bad?”
observed the Brain. “ Feed him the muttered Grag.
oxygen, Grag. But don’t keep the fun­
nel too close to his nostrils.” UT the Brain was in no mood to lis­
Grag obeyed, and Ingmann began to
shrink away. This business of bring­
B ten to an exchange of compliments
between the two synthetic Futuremen.
ing a dead man to life smacked of black He spoke to Ingmann. “ Does your ship
magic to him. Suppose the dead man have a clock?”
came back, but his soul belonged to the “ Earth or Mars reckoning?”
devil, as the ancients used to believe? “ Either one,” returned the Brain im­
The Brain was apparently not wor­ patiently.
ried about that. He waited patiently. “ I go by Mars. Last time I looked,
Then suddenly there was a loud howl, and that was about ten hours ago, it was
and Ingmann almost fainted. Otho, Wednesday, five-fifty-five-twenty.”
who a moment before resembled a mo­ “ Which day of the month, and which
tionless statue of white marble, leaped month?”
high into the air. His voice died away “ Well, unless they’ve changed the cal­
at once as he left the ground, but the endar again, it’s February thirtieth.”
sound of it haunted the old prospector “ So we’ve been lying here more than
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 31

a month,” observed the Brain. “And you’ll learn a lot,” added Grag.
“ I could have told you that, Simon,” “ Not from you,” put in Otho. But
said Grag. his heart was not in the remark. He
“ No, Grag, for all you knew, it might was worried about Curt. And, like his
have been a year. When you’re living companions, he was greatly puzzled
at low energy, your sense of the passage about many things.
of time is extremely inaccurate.” Meekly, the Terror of Space led the
“ The Board o f Governors must have way to his ship.
finally passed that planetary bill,* sug­
gested Otho. And then something CH APTER VII
seemed to strike him. His slanting
green eyes opened wide. “ Say, where’s The Terror of Otho
the Chief? Last thing I knew he was
walking along just ahead of me.” INGMANN’S s h i p
“ Being dead hasn’t improved your was a slow one, and
wits any,” rumbled Grag gloomily, the trip to Mars re­
“ The Chief is missing.” quired m o r e time
“ He isn’ t dead?” than they had antici­
“ W e haven’t found the body. You pated. On the way,
don’t think, Simon, that he could have however, a radio fla^h
been blasted off into space, do you?” gave them o n e im­
Simon considered. “ It isn’t likely. portant bit of news.
A dynatomite blast has a powerful The Mars meeting of
brisant effect, hut the total energy in­ the Board of Gover­
volved isn’t too high. And at any rate, nors had not been
the explosion couldn’t have blown the held on the date scheduled. The inex­
Comet away.” plicable absence of the Futuremen had
“ No, it couldn’t. I ’ve been trying to led to a postponement of several weeks.
think why the blast took place at all. The final passage of the bill to create
Some prospector, like Bror Ingmann a new planet was to take place when
here, must have forgotten where he Captain Future appeared.
planted a charge. And we accidentally They landed at Radium City at a small
set it off.” spaceport used mostly for cargo ships.
The Brain’s pressor beams raised him Bror Ingmann turned hopeful eyes to
into the air, where he hovered weirdly. his uninvited guests.
“This was no accident, Grag. Some one “ I got you here okay,” he said. “Now
deliberately tried to kill us all, then maybe you can go away and let me be
made off with the Comet ” alone.” *
“ That prospector who looked like a “ W e have no intention of inflicting
petty crook!” exclaimed Otho. “ I’ll our company on one who does not desire
never forget what he looks like. Wait it,” said the Brain coldly. “But we may
until I get my hands on him!” still need your ship. If you wish, you
“ He may have been more clever than may remain in some obscure place, out
we realized.” of harm’s way, while we investigate.”
“ Possibly,” agreed the Brain. “ That’s Ingmann scratched a worried head.
one thing we must find out.” The stalk- “N—no, that don’t sound so good to me.
eyes swiveled around to stare at Ing­ Nobody can operate this ship like I can.
mann. “ You’ll take us to Mars?” I better stay around.”
“Aw, now, Mr— er— Brain,” Ingmann “ Good idea,” grinned Otho. “ Your
began, and his voice trailed off help­ older brother will take care of you ”
lessly. Grag turned to gaze suspiciously at
“ You’ll be paid for your trouble more the white-faced android. There was a
than you could ever earn as a pros­ gleam of anticipation in Otho’s eyes, as
pector.” if he were enjoying the thought of some
32 C A P T A IN F U TU R E

clever trick he had planned. triguing sights of the pleasure district

“ What’s that about an older brother?” through which they passed, Otho impa­
asked the Terror of Space suspiciously. tiently urged him on. Bror frowned
“ Excellent idea, Otho,” rasped Simon. menacingly. Though he permitted him­
“ Until we learn who our enemy is, we’d self to be hurried into moving on, there
better not appear as ourselves.” were some vague threats that he could
“You Futuremen talk in riddles,” com­ not help uttering.
plained Ingmann crossly. “ I ain’t got no “ You’ll be sorry you done this to me,
older brother.” pardner. Bror Ingmann ain’t no man to
“ But you will have,” Otho assured forget insults.”
him. “ I ’m not insulting you,” explained
The android sat down in front o f a Otho impatiently. “ I’m simply in a
gleaming metal plate that could serve hurry.”
him as a mirror. Incredibly rapid white “ Where we goin’ ?”
fingers skipped through the medicine “ T o a space port.”
chest. And before Ingmann’s startled Bror’s lower jaw dropped. “ But we
eyes, another Terror of Space began to just came from one!”
take shape. “ No reason why we can’t visit the oth­
Even Grag was forced to utter a ers,” returned Otho acidly, “ I’m looking
grudging compliment at the final result. for a ship. It’s probably berthed at one
For Otho’s plastic face had broadened of the larger places.”
out, grown into a fierce duplicate of the “ Pardner, I don’t understand—”
dumb-struck Bror Ingmann’s. In a faded “ You don’t have to understand. Move,
suit of the latter’s clothes, padded to fit you space-blasted hunk of meteor-
his slighter frame, he could be distin­ meat!” roared Otho.
guished from his model only by the fact The baffled Terror of Space mumbled
that he was slightly broader and scowled to himself more fiercely than ever. But
more frighteningly. he followed Otho meekly.
Ingmann swallowed hard. “ You ain’t Otho found the Comet at the space
aimin’ to walk around like that?” port nearest the council hall where the
“ That's the general idea,” returned Board of Governors met.
Otho, and for a moment the scowl was On the way, he had heard a news re­
wiped away by a pleased grin. “ Come port which puzzled him, but this did not
on, pardner. W e gotta do a little inves­ stop him from searching. The Board
tigatin’. And, by the way, my name is of Governors had met yesterday and
Snor— Snor Ingmann. W e’re the Terror finally passed the bill providing for the
Twins.” creation of a new planet. They were
Bror followed opert-mouthed as Otho supposed to have waited for the return
led the way out of the ship. of the Futuremen. He wondered why
A stranger might have noticed one in­ they had changed their minds.
significant difference between the two The Comet looked exactly as Otho
formidable brothers who lu m b ered had last seen it on Baldur. Guards sur­
across the space port and into the bus­ rounded it, and he did not attempt to
tling Martian town that lay beyond. The get too close, merely staring in bewil­
older and more frightening of the two derment. Only Captain Future could
had slanting green eyes that darted have brought it here—and Captain Fu­
everywhere and saw everything in the ture would never have left his faithful
time his companion required to absorb companions. The whole thing didn’t
a single trifling detail. But as it hap­ make sense.
pened, no stranger felt tempted to stare Then he heard a commotion in the
long into the eyes of either man. crowd. A small group of people was
moving toward the ship, but there were

W HEN Bror Ingmann showed a

tendency to linger among the in­
too many spectators in the way for Otho
to discern who they were. It was not
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 33

until the guards had cleared a path for And then his own self-control snapped.
them that O f ho glimpsed their faces. For the imitation android had suddenly
He gasped. Striding toward the ship bent back, twisting his body almost dou­
was Captain Future himself! And with ble, to pick off the ground some trifle
him was the shifty-eyed Earthman they he could have obtained more easily by
had seen on Baldur, now very expen­ simply stretching out an arm. He
sively dressed, and looking as dignified thought he could impress the crowd, did
as any judge! he?
Could this Earthman have saved Curt He thought that little grand-stand
when the dynatomite exploded? That tricks Kke that would make people think
was possible, but it still didn’t explain him genuine, win their respect? Otho’s
why Curt had gone off, leaving the other synthetic teeth gritted alarmingly. He’d
Futuremen still buried. show this faker!
Two other men came into view, and An incredible leap took him over the
this time Otho’s eyes almost popped out heads of the startled guards. As he
of his head. landed on the ground again, some of
They were Grag and an android who them rushed toward him, but the quick­
was the very image o f his undisguised est fist in the Solar System lashed out
self! to strike them aside before they even
Grag was carrying a metal box with realized Otho’s intentions. Then the
stalk eyes! maddened android was rushing at his
The rage that was seething within imitator.
Otho was so furious that he almost stran­ The man, whoever he was, seemed
gled. He understood it now. Even if he both startled and frightened. “ ’ Ware
had not seen the pretended android, the Snor Ingmann, Terror of Space!” roared
sight of an apparent Brain being carried Otho, and stretched out an avenging
by a robot would have given the game hand.
away. None of the onlookers was ever quite
Captain Future was an impostor. sure of what followed. They saw the
The robot and the android were impos­ two men, apparently Otho and a burly
tors likewise. And the pretended Brain space miner, execute a series of twists
could only be an inanimate machine. It and turns that they would later main­
was probably nothing but a lifeless box, tain were impossible. Otho twisted the
that must be carried about. impostor into a knot, untied him, spun
As for the Earthman, he was either him around like a hoop, and leaped
the villain himself or an agent of the through it.
man who had set off the dynatomite. Then he whirled around the man like
Otho’s brain sought for gaps in his un­ a Phobos-snake, until he seemed only a
derstanding of the unknown enemy’s blurred spiral.
plot, and quickly filled them in. The More guards were coming. Otho tied
man must have planned to kill off the his howling victim into one last knot,
Futuremen, steal the Comet, substitute and hurled him at them. Then a final gi­
his hirelings, and somehow cash in on ant leap took him over the Comet, into
Captain Future’s name. It was the only a group of small surface vehicles. Otho
way of looking at things that made sense dived into one of them, started it racing
to Otho. ahead, and as it reached a corner, leaped
out.
LO W LY , he was mastering his rage. He had the satisfaction of seeing the
S The astonished Bror Ingmann, at
his side, was staring back and forth from
guards pursue the empty vehicle.
He ran a quick hand over his features,
the pretended android to the real one, as molding them into a new shape. On the
if unable to believe his eyes. other side of the Comet, people were
“ Stop showing your surprise!” hissed yelling, as if some new disturbance had
Otho. “ Act as if, as if—” arisen. Otho slipped quietly into a side
34 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

street. The pursuit behind him had ap­ to be confined to an institution for the
parently died away. mentally ill.
He reached Ingmann’s ship without “ Then too, he’s been starving for es­
being molested. The Brain listened to teem all his life. His self-bestowed title
his story with interest. of Terror of Space is sufficient indica­
“ I think we're beginning to under­ tion of that. And now that in the eyes
stand a few things more clearly,” he of the public he is a major hero, he’s cer­
commented at last. “ But I’d still like tainly not going to admit the truth.”
to know where the real Curt is.” “A ll the same,” observed Grag, “we’d
“I didn’t hear anything about that,” better get out of here.”
admitted Otho. “ Where shall we go?” asked Otho.
“ You wouldn’t,” said Grag. But he “ T o the Moon-home,” answered the
was evidently not thinking about Curt. Brain. “W e ’ll borrow the ship temporar­
He seemed to be trying to stifle a feeling ily, and pay Ingmann for it, as well as
of amusement. release him from jail, later. The im­
Otho looked at him sharply. postors may try to reach the Moon first.
If they do, that will be the end of them.
TH INK we’d better leave, Si- They’ll never get past our automatic de­
mon,” commented the robot. fenses.”
“Yes. For the present we may as well Otho slid into the control chair, mum­
permit these gentlemen to think their bling to himself.
plans will succeed.” As the ship rose slowly, he could hear
“ Wait a minute,” put in Otho. “ What Grag’s voice, lowered to a rumbling
about Ingmaijn?” monotone.
“ You’ve taken care of Ingmann,” ex­ “ I guess it was the sight of this here
plained Grag happily. android showin’ off. I don’t like show-
“ What do you mean?” offs nohow . . . ?”
“ W e had a fadio report o f what hap­ Otho yanked at the rocket-throttle so
pened near tile Comet.” Grag appeared furiously that he almost tore it off. Even
to be licking his tips. “ Bror Ingmann, the Brain looked up at that.
Terror of Space, was captured on the
tarmac, and readily admitted his guilt CH APTER V III
in assaulting one Of the Futuremen. ‘I
git that way every once in a while,’ he The Impostors
told the police. T ’jti mild by nature, but
now and then somethin’ comes over me. BEH IND the closed
I guess it was this sight of this here doors of the Comet,
android showin’ off. I don’t like show- Edward Loring was
offs nohow, so I decided to put him in raging. “ You fools!
his place.” After all the trouble
“ What?” growled Otho. “ He took the I ’ve been t a k e n to
credit?” teach you your
“ He certainly did. And the name of a roles!”
certain Futtfreman named Otho is now The man who was
mud in popular opinion!” im p e rs o n a tin g the
“ Ytfu should learn to control your android stood facing
temper, Otho,” reproved Simon. “ Your him unhappily. He
actions might have led to a search for was Calvin Shane, a perennially unfor­
us and revealed that we were still alive. tunate Earthman who had once been a
Fortunately, there is fettle chance that rubber man in a circus. “ Nobody had
Ingmafm wife ever reveal the truth. His any suspicions, boss,” he protested. “ It
stofy of two androids, two robots and was just one of those things.”
two Brains would sound insane, and I “ You mean to say.that you weren’t
imagine he knows it and doesn’t want recognized?”
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 35

“ Me own mother couldn’t know me.

This here Ingmann was crazy. You
yourself heard what he told the cops.”
“ Yes, about your showing off. And
he’s right. You still seem to think you’re
in a circus.”
“ Okay, if you just want me to look
the part, I ’ll limit myself to that. But
you’ll be the first one to complain.”
“ Shane is perfectly justified,” ob­
served Hro Zan importantly.
“ Oh, he is?” Loring turned in fury
to the actor who was such a startling
double for Captain Future. “ You’re a
fine one to talk! A fter the trouble I ’ve
taken with you—molding your face,
teaching you how to walk like Future,
how to speak like him, how to gesture
like him—after the hours I’ve spent be­
fore his films, studying each movement,
and trying to get it through your thick GRAG
head that he was a real man, and not a
character in some melodrama, that you tian ham a mile away. The king con­
can play better than the man who created ferring a sight o f himself upon his loyal
the part. After I ’ve given you the most subjects, no less. There was one fellow
expensive educational courses on the who almost fell out of his chair. He
market, trying to put at least a smatter­ must have laughed himself silly.”
ing of science into that numskull of Calvin Shane nodded. “I noticed him.
Financier by the name of Brooks. Some
v^ u rs-—”
of these rich men have sharp eyes. But
“You needn’t go on,” said Hro Zan
most people paid little attention.”
with dignity. “ I resign.”
“ You resign? You histrionic moron. ORING bit his lip. “ I hope not.
Do you think this is one of those polite L Meanwhile, if we’re even pretend­
comedies you always talk about? The ing to go ahead with this planet-build­
only time you resign from this is when ing, we’ll have to hire some good men.
we split the swag and drop the whole A fter all, we'll need a little more time
thing—or else when you resign your to cash in on Future’s name, and we’ll
life.” have to put up a good bluff while we
“ I think you got yourself worked up are collecting funds.”
over nothing, Chief,” commented a me­ “ After we finish with the planet, why
tallic voice. This came from a Jovian not try the Moon-laboratories?” put in
named Vens, who possessed a stolidity the hulking Jovian. “ I understand
and good-nature that nothing had so far there’s some valuable stuff there.”
shaken. Encased in a metal shell, he “ J understand that the place is well
was the very image of Grag. “Nobody guarded.”
suspected a thing.” “ W e’ll go easy. W ith the real Future-
“ You think not?” Loring spoke sav­ men dead, we shouldn’t have too much
agely. “ I ’ve been trying for weeks to trouble. And we can take our own good
impress upon this—this idiotic tragedian time. I can break into any place— if I’m
that Future and the Futuremen act nat­ not interrupted.”
urally, that they don’t pose. And the Loring nodded. Shane and the Jovian
minute we walk ii\to the council hall he were good men. Too bad he had been
strikes an attitude that smells of Mar- forced to rely for the key imposture
36 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

upon such a mental lightweight as Hro CH APTER IX

Zap.
Hro Zan felt insulted. He had heard The Pirate and the Lady
many unpleasant things from directors,
managers, and other actors, but he had BLACK BEARD was
never been subjected to such indignities staring with so little
as had been his lot since undertaking pretense of polite­
the role of Captain Future. Moreover, ness or common cour­
the part was not one for which he cared tesy that Joan Ran­
greatly. Captain Future, to his mind, dall felt a slow blush
hadn’t lived. He had gone.to strange reddening her cheeks.
places, experienced remarkable adven­ Her e y e s snapped
tures, fought his way through danger dangerously. She was
at great odds, but he had never, or so a m e m b e r of the
Loring claimed, got drunk on tekeel Planet Patrol as well
liquor. as a woman, and it
Hro Zan had taken this failing of Curt annoyed her that something about this
Newton’s very much to heart. horribly disfigured ruffian appealed to
With Loring’s mind occupied by the her in way that was quite outside the
necessity for making a pretense of matter of duty.
building a planet—as absurd and unin­ “How long have you been a pirate?”
teresting a project as Hro Zan had ever she snapped at him.
heard of—the actor had his chance. He “ I don’t think I ’ve ever been one,”
slipped out of the Comet so quietly that Blackbeard replied in a husky voice.
no one noticed his going. “ What were you doing aboard that
Half an hour later he was seated at a ship? Vacationing?”
table admiring the floor show of the Ra­ “ You might call it that,” he agreed
dium City Country Club. Several gob­ coolly.
lets of tekeel had gone swimming down For a moment sheer anger and surprise
his throat, and the effect was hearten­ at the man’s impudence prevented Joan
ing. He had begun to appreciate him­ from speaking. Slowly, however, she
self. regained control of herself. She even
“ Waiter,” he said importantly. The managed to smile. “And how long did
robot waiter stared, but did not move. your vacation last?”
He was cued to remain motionless until Bleackbeard stroked his beard, which
he had actually received a patron’s order. was now little more than an unpleasant
growth of stubble. His wounds im­
“ I ’m a great scientist, waiter. First I
parted a sinister air to the gesture.
thought I was Isaac Newton, but now I
“ Several hours,” he answered finally.
know I’m Curt. Ever study tekeel liq­
“ I’m sorry we had to interupt. And
uor? Simon and I did once. It’s good
before that?”
for you. Improves the health. W aiter!”
“ I was stranded accidentally on a
he roared suddenly. “Another drink!”
planetoid.”
The robot obediently moved off. “ How?”
Around him, Hro Zan could see heads “ My ship left without me.”
leaning toward each other, lips buzzing. Joan bit her lip. “ How would you like
So people knew who he was? Hm, some­ to continue your vacation,” she asked
body must have told them. Or maybe pleasantly, “ on Cerberus?”
he was so famous they didn’t have to “ Not at all.” He grinned. “ It’s rather
be told. unfortunate, isn’t it, that the decision’s
They didn’t. up to a court, and not to you alone?”
It was not long before all Radium City “ Yes, but I can influence the court.”
knew that Captain Future was drunk on “ Not in view of the facts. I don’t
tekeel liquor. know what my pirate friends said about
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 37

me. But I think you realize how little The Planet Patrol ship, he learned,
their evidence is worth. The officer who was on its way to Mars. And although
boarded the ship will testify that I aided it was agreed that he was no pirate, it
the Planet Patrol by keeping Urg under seemed that Captain Randall felt that
my gun until he and the others had been his testimony would be useful at the
disarmed. There is no one who can tes­ Martian court. So, while he would be
tify that I aided the pirates in any way. released at Radium City on his own
No sane court would send me to Cer­ recognizance, he was to consider himself
berus.” a System witness.
As he spoke, he continued to stare at Blackbeard smiled grimly. He knew
her. what power could be used to enforce
“ You’ve seen me before?” she snapped. this polite request. He agreed to the
“I think I have. But I don’t remember terms, saluted Captain Randall, and pre­
where.” ceded his guards out into the corridor
“ There’ s something familiar about cheerfully.
you, too,” said Joan slowly. “ You’re
sure you haven’t been in any patrol line­ I T H E days that followed aboard
ups?”
Blackbeard smiled faintly. “ Are you
F ship, Blackbeard found himself
growing t» like the girl. He liked the
asking me to incriminate myself?” frank open way in which she approached
The question was a mocking one, but him, believing as she did that he was a
behind it, Joan detected 4 certain dis­ criminal. She didn’t examine his fea­
quiet. He very definitely did not wish tures furtively, or try to take his finger­
to speak about his past history. Very prints from the objects he handled. She
well, she woudn’t speak about it. But' wanted his identification patterns, and
there were fingerprints, Bertillon meas­ she asked for them.
urements, eye-retina patterns, all the Biaekbeard laughed. “ You’ve got no
other marks o f identification which right to them, you know.”
aided in the tracking down o f criminals. “ I f I had a right, I wouldn’t ask your
Meanwhile, according to the testimony, permission.”
this man was entitled to some considera­ He thought over the request. I f he
tion in this case. were a criminal, he’d be found out 30oner
On the other hand, Blackbeard had or later. The Planet Patrol system was
already considered the possibility that too thorough to have missed him. I f he
he might have been a criminal, and he weren’t—well, that would be good to
had been troubled by the thought. The know also. He consented.
fact that a member o f the Planet Patrol It was while they were waiting for the
had at first glance struck him as familiar report from Planet Patrol Center that
drove home the warning. And when the the i n c i d e n t with the Plutonian
trim and attractive Captain Randall freighter occurred, This particular ves­
hinted that she might have seen him in sel, the Space Monarch, seemed to be
a patrol line-up, Blackbeard began to headed for Earth at the time the Patrol
have serious doubts of himself. ship loaded with pirate prisoners en­
Meanwhile, he found the interview countered it. Blackbeard, overhearing
disconcerting for another reason. He the conversation between Joan and one
had hoped, from the moment he realized of her subordinates concerning it,
he had forgotten his name, that the sight frowned slightly. The Space Monarch,
of a familiar face would start a chain it seemed, was a problem that the Planet
of memories that would enable him to Patrol had thus far failed to solve.
recall everything. W ell, he had gazed “ There’s no doubt that it’s somehow
at a face that was undoubtedy familiar involved in the transradite drug-smug­
—and things hadn’t worked out that gling that’s been going on for the past
way. His type o f amnesia wasn’t going few months,” said Joan. “ But somehow,
to be cured as simply as that. we’ve never been able to obtain proof.”
‘38 C A P T A IN F U TU R E

“May I suggest, Captain Randall,’' ob­ Joan’s eyes studied him curiously.
served the respectful officer to whom “ You seem to have a great deal of confi­
she spoke, “ that we stop the ship and dence in yourself—Blackbeard.”
search her with the transradite detec­ “ I have.”
tor?” Joan hesitated. Then she gave the
Joan shrugged. “ That’s been done be­ order to turn the ship about. And soon
fore, without result. But I suppose it’s afterward they overhauled the Earth-
our duty to do it again.” bound freighter.
Shortly afterward, Blackbeard heard
their voices die away. The freighter HE captain was surprised to see
had been duly brought to a halt. When
later he heard Joan’s voice once more,
T them, surprised and annoyed—but
polite. And he was puzzled to see Joan
he could detect both disappointment approach him in the company of a man
and bewilderment. who was obviously a prisoner, under the
“ That freighter’s captain sneered at muzzle o f an atom-pistol carried by a
us,” she exclaimed. “ He knew we wary patrolman.
wouldn’t find anything!” “ Anything in the ship you think
“ It’s barely possible the ship wasn’t you’ve overlooked, Captain Randall?”
carrying transradite.” It was Blackbeard who answered. “ No,
Joan shook her head impatiently. Captain, nothing in the ship. Just a little
“ That’s the conclusion we’ve always transradite outside,” he said mockingly.
come to. And yet the stuff continues to The freighter captain’s face turned
be smuggled into Earth. It always pale, and tiny beads o f perspiration be­
makes its appearance shortly after the gan to form on his forehead. “ I’m
Space Monarch has landed! It’s true sorry, but I—don’t understand.”
that the mineral is so transparent it’s “ I think you do. Do you want me to
almost invisible, but it’s also radioactive, get into a space suit and drag the de­
and our detector would have found it if tector outside, or will you confess
it had been aboard the ship!” quietly now how you’ve been smug­
In his cell, Blackbeard chuckled, and gling transradite?”
called out, “ Captain Randall!” For answer, the captain turned away
Joan returned along the corridor and and tried to plunge down a long corri­
confronted him, her face cool and un­ dor. Blackbeard hurled himself lithely
concerned. after him, and the two men crashed to
“ Yes, prisoner twenty-four?” she said. the floor in a swirl of flying fists. A few
“ I couldn’t help overhearing your dis­ seconds later, Blackbeard alone arose.
cussion, Captain Randall. I think I can “You might regard that as a confes­
be of some help.” sion,” he smiled. “ Although it really
“ Indeed?” Her voice was sarcastic. “ I wasn’t needed.”
suppose you know the exact place in­ “ You mean,” asked Joan incredu­
side the ship where the transradite is lously, “that he’s been smuggling the
hidden?” transradite on the outside of the ship?”
“ I’d say it differently,” he replied. Blackbeard nodded. “ It’s just as in­
“ But I prefer to let you see with your fusible as the metal hull, so there’s no
own eyes. Suppose you let me out of danger from the friction of any atmos­
here— I can’t escape, of course— and I ’ll phere. The hull, of course, absorbs or
lead you straight to the drug— if reflects all the radiations, which is the
that freighter carries any.” reason why your detector showed noth­
“The freighter’s a few thousand miles ing inside the ship. And as transradite
astern of us by now.” is practically invisible, it could be car­
“ It will be easy to overtake. Apolo­ ried in full view without danger o f being
gize to the captain for the inconven­ seen.”
ience you’re causing him, and allow me “ Very clever,” said Joan reflectively.
to do the searching.” “ There’s only one other man I can think
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 39

of who might have guessed the solution “ Looking at yours—” he began, and
—and he’s about as different from you as broke off as he looked. Then, very de­
night from day.” liberately, he put his arms around her
“ He’ s probably honest. I guess I have and kissed her.
the advantage of the criminal mind. I Joan’s face was a flaming red. Her
simply asked myself, if the stuff had to hand smacked against his bearded cheek
be smuggled, how I would have done it, so hard that it tingled. “ You—you—”
and the answer was simple. Set a thief to “ I suppose I am something of a pirate
catch a thief, you know.” after all,” he observed. “ But the things
“ I wonder,” mused Joan aloud. “ I ’m I steal are well worth taking.”
beginning to think—-well, we’ll know Joan turned on her heel and left him.
in a day or so. And I thank you for In a way, she felt, the blame for what
your aid, in the name of the Interplane­ had happened was hers. She had allowed
tary Police. This will count in your herself to become too familiar with him.
favor, also.” She had encouraged him. From now on,
It was the next day that the radioed she would treat him with the coldness he
report on Blackbeard arrived. deserved.
“ You’re unknown,” said Joan impas­ And yet, the kiss had been not un­
sively. “ Either you’re honest or pleasant. Alone, she blushed again, this
you’re so skillful a criminal that we have time unhappily. Where was her loyalty
no record of you. Too bad there’s no to Curt Newton, if an ordinary none-
universal System registration to tell us too-attractive stranger could give her
who you really are.” a thrill, and make her forget, even mo­
“ I ’m not sure myself who I am,” mentarily, his existence?
Blackbeard admitted sadly. For the rest of the trip, she avoided
“ Looking at your face, I still have Blackbeard. For his part, Blackbeard
trouble believing you’re not a pirate.” [Turn page]

Produced By The Maker Of The Famous Gillette Blue Blade

40 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

h a d f o u n d a n o t h e r p u z z l e t o s o lv e . CH APTER X
‘T v e k i s s e d t h a t g i r l b e f o r e ,” h e t o l d
h i m s e l f in b e w ild e r m e n t . “ W h a t reason The New Planet
— o r r a t h e r , w h a t r i g h t — d id I h a v e to
k is s h e r ? ” AN hour la t e r , s t ill
p r o w lin g near th e
IS q u e s t io n r e m a in e d u n s o lv e d b y

H
sp a ce fie ld , B la c k -
th e t im e th ey la n d e d on M ars. b e a r d h a d h is w is h . A
B la c k b e a r d t r ie d to put it out of h is door in th e Comet
m in d as h e v i e w e d th e b u s t l i n g a c t i v i t y o p e n e d q u ie t l y , a n d a
o f th e r e d p la n e t . S o o n h e w o u l d b e fa c e d m an ste p p e d o u t w ith
w it h m o r e im p o r t a n t p r o b le m s t o s o lv e fu r tiv e h a s te . The
— th e p r o b le m , f o r i n s t a n c e , o f w h e r e h is t a ll s p a c e -t a n n e d f ig ­
n e x t m eal w a s c o m in g fr o m . F o r , on ce u re and th e u n r u ly
th e P la n e t P a t r o l h a d d e c id e d it d i d n ’t red h a ir in d ic a t e d
w a n t h im , h e w a s o n h is o w n . th a t h ere w as un­
M a r s w a s f a m i li a r t o h im . T h e ru st- d o u b t e d ly t h e f a m o u s C u rt N e w to n .
c o v e r e d d e s e r t s , th e h a n g i n g c i t ie s , w i t h T h e m a n h u r r ie d a w a y b e f o r e B la c k -
th e ir u n h e a l t h y -l o o k in g p o p u la t i o n , th e beard c o u ld speak to h im , to reappear
w o n d e r fu l s k y -p i e r c i n g p a la c e s of th e a f e w m o m e n t s la t e r o u t o f t h e s h a d o w
r ic h in th e s u b u r b s — a ll stirre d m em ­ of a s p a c e lin e r . B la c k b e a r d f o l lo w e d ,
o r ie s w h i c h r e m a in e d b e n e a th th e su r­ so m e w h a t p u z z le d . The fu r tiv e m an n er
fa c e , an d c o n fu s e d h im w ith o u t g iv in g d id not t a lly w ith w hat he h eard of
h im a c lu e t o t h e t r u t h ab o u t h im s e lf. C a p t a in F u tu re .
E v e n th e s p a c e p o r t s , w h i c h h e s e e m e d O u t s i d e th e s p a c e p o r t B la c k b e a r d ran
to k n o w lik e t h e p a lm o f h is o w n h a n d , in t o Joan R a n d a ll a g a in . She w as a c­
f a i le d t o t o u c h o f f a t r a in o f t h o u g h t th a t c o m p a n ie d b y a k e e n -e y e d , w h i t e -h a i r e d
m i g h t r e v e a l h is p a s t. v e t e r a n in th e u n if o r m o f a m arsh al o f
T h e r e w a s a t e a r -d r o p -s h a p e d v e s s e l, t h e p la n e t p a tr o l. S h e h a d o n l y a q u ic k
th e Comet, b e r th e d a t o n e o f t h e sp a c e w o r d o r t w o t o sp a r e f o r h im as sh e h u r ­
fie ld s, a n d w h i l e h e w a s s t i l l s o m e d i s ­ r ie d o n . B o t h s h e a n d h e r e l d e r ly c o m ­
ta n c e aw ay, he c o u ld hear th e uproar p a n io n a p p e a r e d w o r r ie d .
th a t c a m e f r o m a c r o w d n e a r b y . B la c k b e a r d h a d a n id e a t h e y w e r e g o ­
I n r e s p o n s e to h is q u e s t io n , a g r i n n in g in g to v is it th e Comet, a n d in s t e a d of
M a r t ia n e x p la in e d e a g e r ly w hat had h a s t e n in g a f t e r th e r e d -h a ir e d f ig u r e , he
happen ed. The C o m e t ’s p a s s e n g e r s , it w a it e d . A fe w m in u te s la t e r , he saw
seem ed , had u n dergone an u n p le a s a n t th e m r e t u r n in g . J o a n ’s f a c e w a s w h it e ,
e x p e r ie n c e . t h e o ld m a r s h a l’s r e d w i t h a n g e r .
“ T h e s e F u tu r e m e n are su p p o s e d to be “If y o u ’r e l o o k i n g fo r C u rt N e w to n ,
u n b e a ta b le ,” s a id th e M a r t ia n . “ B u t, C a p t a in R a n d a ll ,” o b s e r v e d B la c k b e a r d ,
f r ie n d , I ’v e n e v e r s e e n a n y t h i n g l ik e t h is “ I t h in k I k n o w w h e r e h e ’s g o n e .”
In g m a n n la d in a c t io n . He took O th o “ So he isn’ t in t h e s h i p ! ” r o a r e d t h e
a n d t w is t e d h i m i n t o k n o b s .” m a r s h a l. “ I k n ew th ey w ere ly i n g !”
The Comet, th e F u tu re m e n , O th o — J o a n s e e m e d u n e a s y a n d at a lo s s . “I
a ll w ere f a m ilia r nam es th a t som eh ow d o n ’t u n d e r s t a n d w h y , E z r a . I t ’s a lm o s t
f a i le d to e l i c i t th e p r o p e r r e s p o n s e f r o m as i f t h e y w a n t e d to a v o id u s. B o th G rag
h is o w n m in d . and O th o w ere c o ld and d ista n t, an d
H e lis t e n e d to t h e M a r t i a n ’ s e x p la n a ­ S im o n d id n ’t e ve n com e o v e r to sa y a
t io n s o m e w h a t a b s e n t ly . W h a t had o c­ w o r d .”
c u r r e d w a s a f t e r a ll n o t h in g b u t an o r d i­ “ P r e t e n d s t o b e w o r k i n g a t h is e x p e r i ­
n a r y b r a w l, a n d h e w a s not in t e r e s t e d m e n t s ,” g ru n ted her c o m p a n io n . “And
in b r a w ls . He w o u ld h a v e l ik e d , h o w ­ sen d s th a t f e llo w L o r in g o v e r to m ak e
e v e r , t o m e e t t h is C a p t a in F u t u r e , p o s ­ a p o lo g i e s . I w o n d e r w h e r e t h e y p ic k e d
s i b l y t o e n lis t h i s s c ie n t if ic h e lp . h im up. The F u tu rem en o r d in a r i ly
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 41

w o u l d n ’t t o le r a t e s u c h a m a n f o r a m i n ­ s h a l. “ W e ’ ll have to get you out of

u t e .” h e r e .”
B la c k b e a r d w a it e d s i le n t l y . T h e m ar­ “ W h a ffo r ? N is h p la s h e h e r e .” He
s h a l, he now r e a liz e d , m u st be E zra fo ld e d J o a n ’ s arm u n d e r h is , p a t t e d it
G u rn ey, o f w hom Joan had spoken on a ffe c tio n a te ly . “T h ey to ld me sh ta y
th e t r ip t o M a r s . B u t so m e h o w he w as aw ay fr o m y o u , s a id you w o u ld know
s u r e th a t h e h a d m e t h im b e f o r e . s h o m e t h i n g w r o n g .” H e w in k e d at h er.
Joan w as b itin g her lip . “T hey a ll “ N o th in g w ro n g . N o s h ir r e e !”
seem d i f f e r e n t ,” sh e s a id . “ E ven C u rt He s t r a ig h t e n e d up w ith an e ffo rt,
m u st have ch a n g ed , or h e w o u ld n ’t be a n d w i t h J o a n o n h i s a r m b e g a n t o s t r id e
a s s o c ia t in g w i t h L o r in g . And, E zra, I across t h e p o li s h e d p la s t i n e f lo o r w i t h
c a n ’t b e lie v e th a t s t o r y L o r i n g g a v e u s a pom pous d ig n ity th a t stru c k B la c k ­
of u n u su al r a d ia tio n s in sp a ce h a v in g b e a r d a s c u r io u s l y a f f e c t e d . T h e b e a r d e d
h a d a t e m p o r a r y e f f e c t o n t h e ir m i n d s .” m a n ’s b r o w w r i n k l e d . T h e fa m o u s C a p ­
“ S o u n d s f i s h y t o m e .” T h e s h a r p o ld t a in F u tu re had a ll th e p r o f e s s io n a l
eyes tu rn e d c r it ic a lly upon th e ta ll t r i c k s o f an a c t o r in s o m e c h e a p m e l o ­
b e a r d e d m a n w h o s t o o d w a i t in g . “Y o u dram a.
sa y you know w here C a p t a in F u tu re Then s u d d e n ly , a v o ic e spo ke fro m
has g o n e ? W h o are y o u , a n y w a y ? ” t h e d o o r w a y , a v o i c e t h a t w a s t r y i n g to
Joan h a s te n e d to e x p la in , and th e a p p e a r c a lm , a n d y e t c o u ld n o t c o n c e a l
ir a te o ld m a r s h a l at o n c e b e c a m e a lm o s t th e ra g e th a t l a y u n d e r n e a t h . “ C u r t !”
f r i e n d ly . The m an w ho spoke w as s m a ll and
“He w as headed fo r R a d iu m C i t y ,” s h ifty -e y e d . H is fa c e w as p a sty w ith
s a id B la c k b e a r d . fe a r . He w as a c c o m p a n ie d by an a n d ­
“ W e ’ll have a t a lk w ith h im . C om e r o id a n d a g r e a t r o b o t .
o n , J o a n ,” s a id G urney. C a p t a in F u t u r e ’ s f a c e d a r k e n e d . “ L o r ­
They e v id e n tly e x p e c t e d h im to f o l ­ in g !”
lo w , so B la c k b e a r d w e n t a lo n g . C a p t a in The lit t le m an h a ste n e d across th e
F u t u r e n o t b e i n g a m a n w h o c o u ld l o n g f lo o r to m eet h im . “ E x cu se m e, M is s
r e m a in u n re c o g n iz e d in R a d iu m C ity , R a n d a ll ,” h e s a id a s, w i t h o u t s p o k e n in ­
t h e y h a d n o d i f f ic u l t y i n p i c k in g u p h is stru c tio n s, th e a n d r o id and th e rob ot
t r a il. A s t h e y e n te r e d th e C o u n t r y C lu b , each s e iz e d one of th e d ru nk en m an’s
th ey w ere a lm o s t o v e r w h e lm e d by th e a r m s . “ I w a n t e d to s p a r e y o u t h is . T h a t ’s
la u g h t e r t h a t s w e p t t h e p la c e . w h y I t o l d y o u h e w a s o n th e s h ip , b u t
B la c k b e a r d c o u ld h e a r J o a n ’s g a s p o f c o u ld n ’ t s e e y o u .”
i n c r e d u lit y . E veryon e w as s t a r in g c u r io u s ly .
“ I t ’s C u r t t h e y ’re l a u g h i n g a t! H e ’s B la c k b e a r d , t a k i n g in t h e s t r a n g e s c e n e ,
d r u n k !” sh e m u rm u re d u n b e lie v in g ly . r e m a in e d u n o b t r u s i v e ly in th e back­
E zra’s eyes w ere ste e ly . “You sta y grou n d . N e ith e r L o r in g nor h is com ­
h e r e , J o a n . I ’l l h a v e a t a lk w i t h th a t l a d .” p a n io n s n o tic e d h im . If th e s it u a t io n
But th e u n ste a d y r e d -h a ir e d fig u r e h a d c a lle d f o r t e c h n ic a l s k i l l o r p h y s ic a l
d id n o t w a it f o r E z r a . H e h a d a lr e a d y s t r e n g t h , he w o u l d h a v e c o m e t o J o a n ’ s
c a u g h t s i g h t o f t h e m , a n d c a m e w a v e r in g a id , but as it w as, he fe lt th a t sh e
to g r e e t t h e m . m u s t h a n d le th e m a t t e r h e r s e l f .
“ Y o u ’re Joan R a n d a ll ,” he sa id . “ S in c e w h e n h a s C u r t t a k e n t o d r i n k ? ”
“ R e c o g n is h y o u f r o m y o u r p i c t u r e . N i s h J o a n a sk ed b itte r ly .
g i r l, n is h g i r l .” L o r in g sh ru g g ed . “ S in c e h is r e tu r n
B la c k b e a r d , s t a r i n g a t h e r w i t h s y m ­ fr o m th a t e x p e d itio n . I to ld y o u th a t
p a th y , c o u ld se e not o n ly th e p a in f u l t h o s e r a d ia tio n s h a d a v e r y u n f o r t u n a t e
em ba rrassm en t in her fa c e , but o th e r r e s u lt . S im o n is w o rk in g on som e­
e m o t io n s — fe a r , w o n d e r , c u r io s it y . T h i s t h i n g t o o v e r c o m e t h e ir e f f e c t s , b u t I ’m
w as not th e C a p t a in F u tu re sh e had a f r a id t h a t h is e x p e r i m e n t s w i l l ta k e a
know n. l i t t l e t i m e .”
“ S t e a d y , C u r t ,” s n a p p e d t h e o ld m a r ­ He tu rn ed to th e s ta g g e r in g f ig u r e
42 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

a g a in . “ C om e a lo n g now , C u r t ,” he w a s b e r th e d . H e w a s g o i n g t o b l u f f h is
sa id m i l d l y . B u t b e n e a t h t h e g e n t le n e s s w a y in t o a jo b .
o f h is t o n e , B la c k b e a r d c o u ld s t ill de­ I t w a s L o r i n g , h e d is c o v e r e d , w h o w a s
t e c t th e u n d e r c u r r e n t o f r a g e . d o in g th e h ir in g of m en, not C a p t a in
T h e te a r s w e r e c o m i n g t o J o a n ’ s e y e s F u tu re. H is tem p er w as a b it m ore
a s s h e w a t c h e d t h e t a ll, h a n d s o m e fig u r e u n d e r c o n t r o l th a n i t h a d b e e n t h e p r e ­
b e in g le d a c r o s s th e flo o r . E z r a to u c h e d v i o u s e v e n i n g , b u t at t h e s a m e t i m e L o r ­
h e r a rm . in g w a s d is t in c t ly u n easy. B la c k b e a r d
“No u se s ta y in g h ere any lo n g e r , g a in e d th e im p r e s s i o n th a t he w as
la s s .” a f r a id o f s o m e t h in g .
T hey le ft th e e s t a b lis h m e n t , B la c k - L o r in g ’ s s h ift y e y e s ran q u ic k ly over
b e a r d t r a i l in g b e h in d . O u t s i d e , t h e g ir l B la c k b e a r d ’s fig u r e .
t u r n e d to t h e o ld m a r s h a l. “ Y o u ’re a s c i e n t i s t ? ” h e d e m a n d e d .
“ E z r a , w e ’l l h a v e to w a t c h o v e r h i m ! ” “ T h a t ’s p u t t i n g it m i l d l y . ”
* T d l ik e t o , J o a n ,” s a id G u r n e y , and L o r in g ’s eyebrow s w ent up. “Any
h is g r i z z l e d h e a d b o w e d h e lp le s s ly , “ b u t one e ls e b e s id e y o u r s e l f t h in k w e ll of
w e b o t h h a v e o u r d u t ie s , a n d I d o n ’t se e you ?”
h o w w e c a n .” B la c k b e a r d d e c id e d t o m a k e h is b lu f f
“ I t h in k I k n o w a w a y .” B la c k b e a r d a g oo d on e. " T h e P r e s id e n t o f t h e S p a c e
w as s p e a k in g th o u g h tfu lly . “ C a p ta in I n s t i t u t e o n V e n u s , t h e D ir e c t o r o f th e
F u tu re w ill be n e e d in g t e c h n ic a l T e r r e str ia l G e o p h y sic a l L a b o ra to r y ,
a s s is t a n t s soon fo r th a t p l a n t -b u il d in g p r a c t ic a ll y a ll t h e p r o f e s s o r s in t h e M a r ­
p r o je c t a n d I n e e d a jo b .” t ia n A c a d e m y o f P u r e a n d A p p l i e d S c i ­
“That w o u ld be p e r f e c t ,” re tu rn e d e n c e s , a n d a c o u p le o f t h o u s a n d o t h e r s
J o a n , “ i f w e o n ly k n e w w h o y o u r e a l l y b e s i d e s ,” r a t t le d o f f B la c k b e a r d .
w e r e , a n d c o u ld t r u s t y o u .” “ E x c e l l e n t !” e x c la i m e d L o r i n g . “You
“ I c o u ld h a v e o n e o f m y m e n a p p l y ,” m u st b e lo a d e d dow n w ith r e fe re n c e s.
s a id E z r a . “ W e ’ re r a th e r s h o r t -h a n d e d I ’ d lik e t o s e e , s a y , a d o z e n o f t h e m .”
at th e m o m e n t, but it c o u ld be ar­ “No re fe re n ce s. Y o u ’ ll h a v e t o ta k e
r a n g e d .” m y w o r d .”
B la c k b e a r d w as sta rin g str a ig h t at L o r in g gazed at h im s h a r p ly . “I
J o a n , w a i t in g f o r h e r d e c is i o n . H e r eyes c o u ld c o n t a c t s o m e o f t h e s e p e o p l e .”
r o se to m e e t h is , th e n dropped. “ I t w o u l d n ’t d o any good. You see,
“I t h in k w e ’d b etter accept B la c k - you w o u l d n ’t know by w hat nam e to
b e a r d ’s o f f e r ,” s h e o b s e r v e d a t la s t . H er r e f e r t o m e .”
eyes rose a g a in to th o se of th e u g ly “ Y o u ’v e b e e n in j a i l ? ”
bearded m an . “ Y o u ’l l w a t c h o v e r C u r t “N ot at a l l ,” e x p la in e d B la c k b e a r d
N e w to n c a r e f u l ly , fo r my sake. H e ’s e a s i ly . He had p repared in a d v a n c e a
— e v e r y t h i n g — t o m e .” s t o r y h e f ig u r e d m i g h t a p p e a l t o L o r i n g .
B la c k b e a r d n o d d e d , fe e lin g at th e N o w h e l e t it s lip o u t, a l m o s t c a s u a lly .
s a m e t im e a g r o w i n g r e s e n t m e n t a g a in s t “N obody has proved a n y th in g a g a in s t
th e m a n t o w h o m h e w a s g o i n g t o p la y m e. B u t c e r t a in p e o p le did h a v e s u s p i­
n u r s e m a id , as h e w a t c h e d th e g i r l an d c i o n s , w h i c h I d o n ’t c a r e t o d i g n i f y b y
th e o ld m a r s h a l w a l k a w a y . d i s c u s s in g . S o , o b v io u s l y , I c a n n o t g i v e ,
A p p a r e n tly n e it h e r Joan nor E zra you my r i g h t n a m e .”
G u r n e y had th o u g h t o f it, an d he w as L o r i n g ’s fin g e r s dru m m ed a g a in s t a
to o p r o u d t o m e n t io n th e fa c t th a t he d e sk to p . B la c k b e a r d s m i le d t o h i m s e lf .
had no m o n e y . H e p r e f e r r e d w a n d e r in g He h a d an id e a o f w h a t w a s g o in g on
h u n g r i l y a b o u t th e g a i l y l i t c i t y , t r y i n g in th e m a n ’ s m in d . L o r in g seem ed to
t o r e c a ll w h e n h e h a d la s t se e n it b e f o r e b e e n g a g e d i n s o m e p r o je c t t h a t h e d id
— e n d w h o h e h a d b e e n a t t h e t im e . In not w ant know n. H e w a s p r o b a b ly t a k ­
th e m o r n in g , s h o r t l y a f t e r a b r i g h t su n in g a d v a n ta g e of C u rt N e w to n ’s te m ­
r o s e o v e r th e h o r iz o n , h e m a d e h is w a y p o r a r y i ll n e s s w h i c h m e a n t th a t i f a n y ­
to w a rd th e sp a ce p o rt w h e r e th e Comet th in g d is h o n e s t w a s i n v o lv e d , th e la s t
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 43

th in g he w a n ted w as a grou p of as­ p le te ly h id d e n , G rag and O th o h a r d ly

sista n ts w ho w ere t h e m s e lv e s h o n e st. s p o k e e x c e p t t o e a c h o t h e r , a n d t h e t a ll,
O n ly m en w ho w ere none to o scru p u ­ r e d -h a ir e d C a p t a in F u t u r e w a s w a t c h e d
lo u s c o u ld be in d u c e d to keep th e ir over as c a r e f u l ly as if he had been a
m o u th s sh u t about w h a tev er shady p r is o n e r . O n ly L o r in g p a id any con­
t h i n g s t h e y sa w . s id e r a b le a tte n tio n to h is t e c h n ic a l a s ­
On th e o th e r h a n d , w ith o u t d e fin ite s is t a n t .
in fo r m a tio n a b o u t th e m e n he w a s h ir ­ It w as d u r in g th e seco n d w eek out
in g , it w as d iffic u lt to be su re about fro m M ars th a t th ey s ig h te d th e new
t h e ir s c ie n t if ic a t t a in m e n ts . I t w a s a r e a l w o r l d t h a t s c ie n c e w a s c r e a tin g .
d ile m m a , a n d f o r h is o w n s a k e B la c k - T h e ir fir s t g l i m p s e of it w as s im p le
b e a r d d e c id e d t o g i v e L o r i n g a h i n t as enough. A s tr in g of s p a c e - f r e ig h t e r s
to t h e s o lu t i o n . w a s d u m p i n g m e t a l o re u p o n a n a s t e r o id
“W hy not h ir e m e te m p o r a r ily ? ” he th a t had been to w e d in fro m som e
su g g e ste d . “ T r y m e o u t fo r , sa y , a w e e k , p la c e b e t w e e n E a r t h a n d M a r s . T h e as­
a n d i f a t t h e e n d o f th a t t i m e y o u d o n ’ t t e r o id w as a w ay sta tio n . B eyond it,
l ik e th e w a y I w o r k , y o u c a n fir e m e — n o m o re th an a p in p o in t in sp a ce, w as
w i t h o u t w a g e s .” a n o th e r, an d b e y o n d t h a t s t i l l a n o th e r .
“ Y o u are c o n fid e n t o f y o u r s e l f . ” M o r e t h a n a t h o u s a n d a s t e r o id s , B la c k -
“ O n c e y o u s e e w h a t a h e lp I a m , y o u b e a r d le a r n e d , w e r e b e i n g u t i l iz e d .
w o n ’ t b e a b le t o g e t a l o n g w i t h o u t m e . T h is w as th e o u te r s h e ll, a sort ©f

THE G R E A T EG O , an Amazing Complete Novel by Norman A. Daniels— THE

PO IN T O F VIEW , a Hall of Fame Classic by Stanley G. Weinbaum— Plus Many
Other Stories and Features in the Spring Issue of ST A R T L IN G STORIES, Only 15c

And you w o n Jt n eed any o th e r a ssist­ s o a f f o l d i n g o f t h e n e w p la n e t . A hun­

a n t s ,” r e p li e d B la c k b o a r d b o l d ly . d red o r s o m i le s beyond w as a seco n d
“ I ’m n o t so s u r e o f th a t. B u t c o n s id e r r i n g o f a s t e r o id s . U p o n th e se had b e e n
y o u r s e lf h ir e d . And b r in g your s tu ff b u il t t h e m a t t e r -c r e a t i n g m a c h in e s c o n ­
in t o th e s h ip . W e ’r e b la s t i n g o f f s o o n .” s tr u c te d b y th e W o r l d G bvern m en t ac­
A f e w m o m e n t s la t e r , B la c k b e a r d w a s c o r d i n g t o t h e s p e c if ic a t io n s o f t h e F u ­
in s id e th e Comet. O nce a g a in he had tu re m e n . T h is h e r c u le a n but p r e li m i ­
th a t h a u n t in g s e n s a t io n of f a m i li a r i t y . n a ry w o r k w a s b e in g d o n e b y d o ze n s o f
A s h e w a n d e r e d a b o u t t h e s h ip , s e v e r a l c o n tra c tin g e n g in e e r s . The m ost im ­
m o r e t e c h n ic a l a p p lic a n t s cam e ab oard , p o r t a n t w o r k t o b e h a n d le d b y C a p t a in
w en t th rou gh a s e s s io n o f q u e s t io n in g , F u t u r e a n d h is p e r s o n a l s t a f f , c a m e la t e r .
and w ere r e je c t e d . The F u tu re m e n T hey c o u ld w a t c h th e v a r io u s c r e w s
t h e m s e lv e s , as i f u n w il l in g t o a s s o c ia t e in o p e r a t io n a s t h e y c r u is e d s l o w l y b y .
w i t h th e c o m m o n h e r d , r e m a in e d h id d e n . E a c h m a t t e r -c r e a t i n g m a c h in e w a s a v a s t
A b o u t m i d d a y , t h e y b la s t e d o f f . L or­ o b lo n g m e c h a n is m , a t th e t o p o f w h ic h
in g h im s e lf w as at th e c o n t r o ls , and w e r e b a n k s o f s m a ll k e y s . F r o m th e fa c e
B la c k b e a r d n o t ic e d th a t a l t h o u g h h e w a s p r o t r u d e d d o z e n s o f n o z z le -l i k e s p o u t s .
h e a d in g t h e s h ip t o w a r d t h e in n e r p a r t As th e y w a tch e d th e y c o u ld se e
o f th e S y s t e m , E a r t h i t s e l f w a s n o t on c lo u d s o f s h i n i n g p a r t i c le s s p u r t in g f r o m
t h e ir p a th . T h ere c o u ld be o n ly one th e n o z z le s . Som e of th e c lo u d s d is ­
c o n c lu s io n . T h e y w e r e t r a v e l i n g to w a r d ap peared b e fo r e t h e ir eyes. O th e r s
t h e p la n e t th a t w a s now in p r o c e s s o f c o a g u la t e d in t o d iffe r e n tly c o lo r e d
c o n s t r u c t io n . lu m p s o f ore. T h e n o n -m e t a ls a n d th e
T h e d a y s a b o a r d s h ip w e r e p la c id a n d l ig h t e r m e t a ls t h e m s e lv e s w ere b e in g
m o n o to n o u s. T h e B r a i n r e m a in e d c o m - m a n u f a c t u r e d h e r e , f o r th e n e w w o r ld .
44 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

CHAPTER XI “ E a c h n o z z le , I im a g in e , e m it s a d i f ­
f e r e n t e l e m e n t ,” L o r i n g r e m a r k e d .
Catastrophe Averted “A d i f f e r e n t i s o t o p e o f e a c h e le m e n t .
Y o u ’ll h a v e n o t ic e d t h a t e a c h m a c h in e
TH E Comet s lo w e d is c r e a t in g ju s t one or tw o e le m e n t s ,
dow n, and c r u is e d t h e i s o t o p e s b e i n g a p p r o x i m a t e ly in t h e
at a le is u r e ly pace s a m e p r o p o r t i o n a s in th e e le m e n t s f o u n d
to w a rd th is seco n d on E a rth . T h a t s im p lif ie s o p e r a t io n s e x ­
r in g o f a s t e r o id s . It c e e d in g ly . T h a t , in f a c t , is o n e o f th e
sto p p e d f in a lly near reaso ns th e I n t e r p la n e t a r y G overn ­
a m a t t e r -c r e a t i n g m a ­ m e n t h a s b e e n w i l l i n g t o ta k e c h a r g e o f
c h in e th a t w a s tu r n ­ p r e li m i n a r y o p e r a t io n s , le a v in g to th e
in g out huge c lo u d s F u tu r e m e n o n ly th e ta sk of fittin g in
of s o d iu m c h lo r id e . th e fin a l c o r e .”
The p la n s fo r th e s e B la c k b e a r d , w ho had been w a t c h in g
m a c h in e s , brought a n d l is t e n i n g i n t e n t l y , n o w in t e r r u p t e d .
b a c k t o E a r t h b y C a p t a in F u t u r e fro m “ I s e e h a l f a d o z e n o f t h e m a c h in e s are
h is s u c c e s s f u l s e a r c h f o r t h e b ir t h p la c e c r e a t in g o n l y o x y g e n . I d o n ’t l i k e i t .”
of m a tter, had been s u b m it t e d to th e The e n g in e e r s ta r e d a t th e o f f e n d in g
B oard of G overn ors a lo n g w ith o th e r m a c h in e s , an d la u g h e d . “I su p p ose
d e ta ils b y C u r t N e w t o n . y o u ’ r e a f r a i d t h e o x y g e n w i l l g o o ff in t o
Jackson , th e e n g in e e r in ch arge, space. B u t y o u n e e d n ’t f e a r . I t ’ s b e in g
s e e m e d f la tte r e d a t t h e ir v i s i t . H e cam e h e ld in p la c e n e a r e a c h s h ip b y a r tific ia l
aboard at L o r in g ’ s in v ita tio n s o m e w h a t g r a v it y .
h e s it a n t ly , but soon sh ow ed an over­
w h e lm in g d e s ir e to t a lk . O R IN G regard ed B la c k b e a r d d is­
“ T h i s , o f c o u r s e , is o l d s tu ff to y o u tr u s tfu lly . “H ow d id you know
g e n t le m e n ,” h e s a id a p o lo g e t i c a l ly . “ B u t t h e y w e r e m a k in g o x y g e n ? ”
it’ s n e w to m e , an d I s till ca n ’ t g e t over “By w a tc h in g w h ic h n o z z le s th e
m y lu c k at b e in g p la c e d in c h a r g e h e r e .” c lo u d s cam e fr o m . The oxygen is
The e n g in e e r w as sta rin g re sp e ct­ fo rm ed as a fin e m ist, w h ic h , im m e ­
fu lly at th e i m it a t io n C a p t a in F u tu re . d i a t e l y v a p o r i z e s .”
H r o Z a n s m ile d , as h e h a d b e e n t a u g h t , T h e e n g in e e r n o d d e d . “ I w as w o n d er­
a n d o b s e r v e d c a s u a lly , “ Y e s , y e s , I can in g m y s e lf h o w y o u k n ew , bu t o f cou rse,
i m a g in e ,” an d e x c u s e d h im s e lf, le a v in g t h a t ’ s th e a n s w e r . F u t u r e h a s p u b lis h e d
th e e n g in e e r a lo n e w i t h B la c k b e a r d an d seve ral s c ie n t if ic a r t i c le s about th e
L o r in g . d e v ic e , a n d y o u a p p e a r to h a v e r e a d th e m
“ I ’m no s c ie n tis t m y s e lf ,” rem arked c a r e f u l ly . I n c i d e n t a l ly , t h is q u e s t io n o f
L o r in g . “ I ’m ju s t C a p t a in F u tu re ’s oxygen is t h e o n ly o n e o n w h ic h Cap­
b u s in e s s m anager. A ll I can see is t a in F u t u r e a n d t h e I n t e r p la n e t a r y a u ­
th a t y o u ’r e c r e a tin g s o m e t h in g out of th o r itie s d is a g r e e d . I hope h e ’s not
n o t h in g . I t l o o k s p r e t t y m y s t e r i o u s to an gry at th e ch an ge in h is o r ig in a l
m e .” p l a n s .”
“ R e m a r k a b le , but not m y ste rio u s. “ H e ’s not a n g r y ,” r e p lie d L o r in g
W e ’ re c r e a tin g th e lig h te r e le m e n t s d r y ly .
fro m th e c o s m ic e n e r g y b e i n g r a d ia te d “ I ’m g la d of th a t. You se e , h e s u g ­
t h r o u g h o u r p o r tio n o f s p a c e . T h e cos­ g e s t e d th a t t h e m a n u f a c t u r e o f o x y g e n
m ic p o t e n t ia l b e in g r a th e r l o w , w e h a v e be le ft to th e la s t , so th a t th e gas
no c h o ic e but to im p o r t th e h e a v ie r m i g h t b e h e ld b y t h e n a tu r a l g r a v it y o f
m e t a ls .” J ack son in d ic a te d th e sev­ t h e n e w p la n e t . H e h a d s o m e o b je c t io n ,
eral dozen n o z z le s . “ In th e o r ig in a l w h ic h I d o n ’t r e m e m b e r , t o t h e u se o f
m e c h a n is m , th e se n u m bered h u n dreds. th e g r a v it y m a c h in e s . But th a t w o u ld
B u t C a p t a in F u t u r e h i m s e l f d e v is e d t h is h a v e m e a n t th a t i n th e la t t e r s t a g e s o f
s im p lif ie d f o r m f o r o u r p r e s e n t p u r p o s e .” c o n s t r u c t io n , our w ork m en w o u ld be
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 45

fo rc e d to use sp ace s u it s , d e la y in g The c lo u d s o f n e w ly fo r m e d oxygen

t h i n g s c o n s id e r a b ly . S o , q u it e w i s e l y , it had sto p p e d ru sh in g fr o m th e n o z z le s .
s e e m s to m e — ” In ste a d , a n o th e r gas w as now h issin g
B la c k b e a r d in t e r r u p t e d h a r s h ly . “ Y o u out in t o th e v o id , th en c o lle c tin g
t h in k s o ? T a k e a lo o k at t h a t !” a r o u n d th e m ,
One of th e a s t e r o id s w h ic h he had “ T h a t ’ll sto p i t ,” announced th e en­
in d ic a te d a m o m e n t or tw o b e fo r e had g in e e r in ch arge. “ N o th in g lik e a
s u d d e n ly e r u p t e d in t o fla m e s . T h e m a t­ n itr o g e n b la n k e t to head o ff an ex­
t e r -c r e a t i n g m a c h in e , th e m e n w h o h a d p lo s i v e w a v e .” He lo o k e d up to see
been o p e r a t in g it, th e s p a c e -s h ip in B la c k b e a r d r a c in g to w a rd h im . “ T a k e
w h ic h th ey had com e, a ll had d is a p ­ your t im e , M is te r . W e ’ve got her
p eared. They w ere now g lo w in g gas u n d e r c o n t r o l .”
a n d i n c a n d e s c e n t c in d e r s in a s e a o f d a z ­ B la c k b e a r d ’s eyes w ere b la z in g lik e
z lin g fire. one of th e stric k e n a s t e r o id . He
A s L o r i n g a n d J a c k s o n g a p e d , B la c k - lo o k e d m ore th an ev e r lik e a n a n c ie n t
beard ru sh ed fo r th e c o n tr o ls of th e p ir a t e . “ C u t o ff y o u r n itro g e n , an d cu t
Comet. T h e s h ip w a s s p e e d i n g t o w a r d , i t o f f in a h u r r y ! S h oot on you r o x y g en
th e s c e n e o f th e d is a s t e r b e f o r e t h e y h a d a g a in .”
r e c o v e r e d t h e ir w i t s . L o r in g ’s fa ce b e ­ “ W h a t , m an , y o u m u st be c r a z y ! T h a t
c a m e w h it e . w o u ld b e su re s u ic id e !”
“ S to p , y o u s p a c e -b la s t e d f o o l , y o u ’re B la c k b e a r d ’s fist caught h im on th e
h e a d in g r i g h t f o r t h e fire I” ja w , and he w ent dow n. Two m en
He th rew h im s e lf h y s t e r i c a ll y at n e a r b y s t a r t e d f o r h im , b u t B la c k b e a r d
B la c k b e a r d , w h o b r u s h e d h im a w a y i m ­ ducked q u ic k l y , and p lu n g e d fo r th e
p a t i e n t l y w it h o n e h a n d . T h e t e a r -d r o p ­ bank of co n tro l keys. N ext m o m e n t,
sh ap ed v esse l s k ir t e d th e fla m e s so e n o r m o u s c lo u d s o f o x y g e n r o lle d o u t,
c l o s e ly th a t it seem ed th e very p la t e s a t t e n t i m e s t h e p r e v i o u s r a te .
w o u ld have b u c k le d under th e h e a t. Two m en caught up w ith h im th e n ,
T hen it w as p a s t, r a c in g fo r th e next a n d h i t h im t o g e t h e r . B la c k b e a r d w e n t
o x y g e n -p r o d u c in g a s t e r o id . That on e over backw ard, and th ey th rew th e m ­
b la z e d u p u n e x p e c t e d l y a h e a d o f t h e m , s e lv e s a t h im . T h e c h ie f e n g in e e r , f o l ­
a n d a g a in B la c k b e a r d m i s s e d i t b y th e lo w in g c lo s e ly b e h in d B la c k b e a r d , w a s
n a r r o w e s t o f m a r g in s . s t a g g e r in g t o w a r d th e c o n t r o l b a c k .
T h e im it a t io n a n d r o id a n d r o b o t w e r e “The m a n ’s c r a z y ,” he w as m u tte r­
r u s h in g f o r w a r d t o le a r n w h a t w a s h a p ­ in g . “If th e e x p lo s io n d oesn ’t g et us
p e n in g . L o r in g screa m ed at th e m a l­ t h is w i l l . Ten t im e s t h e n o r m a l r a t e ! ”
m o s t h y s t e r ic a ll y .
L A C K B E A R D ’S arm sh o t out of
B
“ S to p h im ! H e ’ s t r y i n g t o w r e c k th e
sh ip ! H e ’s tr y in g to get us b u rn ed a t a n g le d m ass o f arm s an d le g s
a l i v e !” j u s t as th e e n g in e e r w a s a b o u t t o b r in g
The fa k e rob ot lu m b e r e d fo rw a rd , h is fist d o w n o n th e co n tro l k e y s, and
th e n s t o p p e d a t s i g h t o f th e w e a p o n in c lo s e d a b o u t J a c k s o n ’s a n k le . T h e en­
B la c k b o a r d ’s fre e hand. g in e e r t u m b le d d o w n , h is h e a d l a n d in g
“ G e t b a c k o r I ’ll d r ill y o u r b r a in -b o x . in t h e s t o m a c h o f o n e o f h is o w n m e n .
S o rry , G ra g , b u t th e r e ’ s n o tim e to e x ­ The m an e x c la i m e d p a i n f u l ly , “ O u ff!”
p la i n .” a n d r e la x e d .
The J o v ia n in s id e th e ro b o t’s s h e ll B la c k b e a r d ’s fist sm ash ed in t o th e
w as a p ru den t m an. H e h a lt e d , u n c e r ­ s o la r p l e x u s o f h is o t h e r s t i l l d a n g e r o u s
ta in ly . The next m o m e n t, B la c k b e a r d o p p o n e n t. The m an gasp ed, c la w e d
had b rou gh t th e Comet to a l a n d in g fe e b ly a t h im , t h e n s a n k b a c k . B la c k ­
o n a t h ir d a s t e r o id . J a c k so n w a s sh o u t­ b e a r d r o s e t o h is f e e t .
in g o rd ers over h is s h o r t -w a v e r a d io O f f in th e d is t a n c e , s e v e r a l o t h e r a s ­
se t. In sp ace su its th e y ru sh ed ou t o f t e r o id s w e r e a b la z e . L o r i n g , n o t w a it ­
th e Comet. in g to se e w hat w o u ld happen , had
 46 C A P T A IN F U TU R E

ta k e n o ff in th e Comet, and w as now j e c t e d t o t h e u s e o f th e a r tific ia l g r a v it y .

h o v e r in g in sp a ce, w a tc h in g fe a r fu lly . A p i t y h is a d v ic e w a s d i s r e g a r d e d .”
But th e a s t e r o id upon w h ic h B la c k - “ H e m u s t h a v e k n o w n th e d a n g e r o f
b e a r d h a d b e e n b a t t l i n g s o f ie r c e ly w a s th is h a p p e n i n g ,” agreed B la c k b e a r d .
s t i ll a p p a r e n t ly u n to u ch ed . “ A r t i f i c i a l g r a v i t y is p r o d u c e d b y e l e c ­
A dazed v ic tim of B la c k b e a r d ’ s fists t r o -g r a v i t a t i o n a l w a v e s , w h i c h d o n ’t o r ­
w as liftin g h im s e lf to h is fe e t, g ru n t­ d i n a r i l y in t e r f e r e w i t h t h e o p e r a t io n o f
i n g w i t h p a in . t h e c o s m ic r a y c o n d e n s e r . B u t o c c a s io n ­
“ Q u ic k m a n !” B la c k b e a r d sp o k e a lly , som e of th e p a r t i a l l y sp en t rays,
f ie r c e ly . “ W h e r e ’ s th e s p a c e -r a d io ? ” c o n s is t i n g m o s tly of h i g h -s p e e d p a r t i­
“ Y o u t h in k I ’l l t e l l y o u ? ” s n a r le d t h e c le s , a re e m it t e d t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e c r e ­
a s s is t a n t e n g in e e r . He sh o u ted su d ­ a te d m a tte r. T h e a t o m s o f t h e e x c it e d
d e n ly t o a f o u r t h m a n , w h o s t o o d s o m e m a t t e r a r e p a r t i a l l y e n e r g iz e d , a n d b e ­
d is t a n c e a w a y , w a t c h i n g t h e s c e n e o p e n - com e e x c e e d in g ly r e a c t iv e c h e m ic a ll y
m o u th e d . “ Q u i c k , J a n , r a d io f o r h e l p ! u n d e r t h e in f lu e n c e o f th e e l e c t r o - g r a v i ­
T h is m an ’ s c r a z y !” t a t io n a l w a v e s .”
B la c k b e a r d caught Jan ju s t as he “And w hen th ey happen to be oxy­
reached th e r a d io , h u r le d h im aw ay. g e n , j u s t a c h in g f o r a c h a n c e to c o m b in e
“ C a ll i n g a ll r e m a in in g a s t e r o i d s ! ” he w i t h w h a t e v e r ’s a r o u n d , t h e r e ’s a ll sp a c e
began. A g u ttu r a l r e p ly reach ed h is to p a y ,” added Jackson . “ B u t w hat I
e a rs. “I d o n ’t care if th a t is n ’t th e don ’t q u it e u n d e rsta n d is how you
proper s ig n a l! T h i s is a m a t t e r o f l i f e sto p p e d th e e x p lo s i o n s .”
an d d e a th —your l i f e a n d d e a t h ! C u t o ff “ T h e fir s t e x p lo s i v e w a v e w a s lim i t e d
your n itro g e n , an d sw itc h on your t o i t s o w n a s t e r o id . B u t th e r a d ia tio n s
o x y g e n a g a in , f u l l f o r c e ! Y e s , I k n o w it e m it t e d b y t h e e x p lo s io n h a d n o t r o u b le
is n ’t s a fe , but i t ’s sa fe r th an b e in g l e a p i n g t h e g a p , a n d s e t t i n g o f f a n o th e r
caught in th a t e x p lo s iv e w ave! And e x p lo s io n o n th e n e ig h b o r i n g o n e . N i­
i t ’s k e p t us u n to u ch ed so fa r! H u rry t r o g e n w a s o f n o u s e in t r y i n g t o d a m p
up, m e n !” th e e x p lo s io n b e c a u s e u n d e r th e c o n d i ­
A n o t h e r a s t e r o id s p r a n g in t o s u d d e n tio n s th a t e x iste d i t w o u ld have com ­
b r illia n c e . And th en , o n it s n e ig h b o r , b in e d w ith th e oxygen to fo rm n it r ic
th e n it r o g e n sto p p e d r o llin g o u t, g a v e o x id e . T h e o n e w a y to p r e v e n t th e e x ­
w ay to h i g h -p r e s s u r e oxygen a g a in . p lo s io n s fr o m s p r e a d i n g w a s t o a b so r b
S l o w l y , th e fla m e s on th e ill-fa te d as­ th e e m itte d r a d ia t io n s h a r m le s s ly . . .
t e r o id s d ie d aw ay, le a v in g o n ly a a n d t h e m o s t e f f e c t i v e a b s o r b in g agent
m a s s o f g l o w i n g r o c k s t h a t w o u l d ta k e w a s h i g h -p r e s s u r e o x y g e n .”
m o n th s and p erh ap s years to r a d ia te
HE c h i e f e n g in e e r g r in n e d s l o w l y .
T
t h e ir h e a t in t o s p a c e o n c e m o r e .
The m en he had fo u g h t so f i e r c e ly “W h y , o f cou rse! I r e m e m b e r th a t
a fe w m o m e n ts b e fo r e a p p ro a c h e d ca u ­ even in th e e a r ly T w e n tie th C e n tu ry
tio u s ly n o w . T h e r e w a s n o lo n g e r a n y c h e m is t s k n e w th a t e x p lo s io n s h a d b o t h
fig h t in th em . T hey sta re d at B la c k ­ lo w e r an d u p p e r lim it s . M any gas re­
b e a r d in sh e e r a d m ir a t io n . T h e y knew a c t io n s w o u l d n ’t b e g in u n t il th e o x y g e n
t h a t h e h a d s a v e d t h e ir l iv e s , b u t t h e y w a s in c r e a s e d b e y o n d a c e r t a in m i n i m u m
s t i ll c o u ld n ’t fig u r e out how . a m o u n t, a n d w o u ld sto p a g a in w h e n it
H a l f a n h o u r la t e r , a b o a r d th e Comet p a ssed a m a x im u m . I s h o u ld have
o n c e m o r e , B la c k b e a r d a p o lo g i z e d . t h o u g h t o f th a t m y s e l f . ”
“ S orry I h a d t o b e so r o u g h , b u t as L o r in g g r o w le d a g a in , and s t u d ie d
y o u c a n s e e f o r y o u r s e lv e s , I h a d l i t t l e B la c k b e a r d ’ s fa ce c u r io u s ly . He h ad
t im e .” c e r t a i n ly m a d e n o m is t a k e i n h ir in g t h is
L o r i n g g r o w l e d a n g r i ly . T h e c h ie f e n ­ m an. H i s k n o w le d g e o f s c ie n c e s e e m e d
g in e e r w ho had re tu r n e d aboard t h e ir a lm o s t e q u a l to th a t w h i c h t h e r e a l C a p ­
s h ip n o d d e d . t a in F u t u r e h a d p o s s e s s e d .
“ So t h a t ’s w hy C a p t a in F u tu re ob­ T h e e n g in e e r w a s s h a k i n g h a n d s w i t h
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 47

B la c k b e a r d . “ W e a re c e r t a i n ly in y o u r
d e b t ,” h e c o m m e n t e d . “ I f n ot fo r you ,
th e se e x p lo s io n s w o u ld have w reck ed
e v e r y th in g so fa r d o n e — p r o b a b ly h a v e
m eant th e en d of th e p r o je c t . I t ’s a
p i t y ,” h e a d d e d , “ t h a t F u t u r e i s so b u s y
w i t h h is e x p e r i m e n t s t h a t h e d i d n ’t n o ­
t ic e w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g .”
A fte r th ey had retu rn ed Jackson to
h is m a in base , L o r in g and B la c k b e a r d
in t e r c h a n g e d g la n c e s .
“No use le ttin g h im know th a t Fu­
t u r e ’s m in d has w e a k e n e d ,” obse rved
L o r in g .
“ P erh ap s n o t. B u t h e w a s c e r t a i n ly
c u r io u s .”
L o r in g s h ru g g e d . “ L e t h im m a k e w h a t
h e can o f F u t u r e ’s p r e -o c c u p a t io n . M e a n ­
w h ile , s e e i n g a s th e w h o le th in g is a t T H E B RAIN
p r e s e n t b e i n g r u n b y t h e I n t e r p la n e t a r y
G o v e r n m e n t , w e ’re n o t r e a l l y n e c e s s a r y . a n d w i t h o u t w a r n i n g , th e Comet le a p e d
W e ’ d b e t t e r g e t o u t o f h e r e .” ahead. H u r le d b a c k w a rd b y th e su d d e n
A fe w h o u r s la t e r , t h e y w e r e b e y o n d a c c e le r a t io n , L o r in g reb ou n d ed as if
t h e o u t e r a s t e r o id r i n g , h e a d e d f o r th e f r o m a c u s h io n o f f o r c e in t h e a ir . Then
M oon. L o r in g h im s e lf w as at th e c o n ­ t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e a c c e le r a t io n d ie d a w a y ,
t r o ls a g a in . A l t h o u g h he m a n e u v e r e d th e and L o r i n g ’s h a ir sto o d on end. For
s h ip w ith r e a s o n a b le sk ill, B la c k b e a r d s u d d e n ly , th o u g h th e y w ere not m ore
k n e w f r o m h is p r e v i o u s h a n d l i n g o f th e th a n fo u r h o u rs o u t o f M a r s , th e y w ere
c o n t r o ls , t h a t h e h i m s e l f c o u ld d o b e t t e r . a p p ro a c h in g E a r th .
H e w a i t e d u n t il L o r i n g h a d t w is t e d o u t
H O W L o f t e r r o r r o s e in L o r i n g ’ s
of a p a r t i c u la r ly k n o tty
a n d w a s d r y i n g h is f o r e h e a d .
s t e p p e d o v e r t o t h e c o n t r o l p a n e l.
tr a ffic t a n g le ,
T h e n he A th ro a t,
f r i g h t e n e d lip s .
to be choked o ff
T h e y w o u ld c r a s h !
by h is
At
“ M in d i f I try m y h a n d ? ” h e ask ed . t h a t s p e e d t h e y c o u ld n ’ t h e lp i t !
“ Y o u ’re a l i t t l e m o r e p o li t e th a n y o u The fo r c e c u s h io n su rr o u n d in g h im
w ere b e fo r e . S u r e y o u ’ re u s e d t o s h ip s w a s s u d d e n ly r e m o v e d , a n d h e f e l l t o th e
as c o m p li c a t e d as t h i s o n e ? ” flo o r . The Comet w a s p r o c e e d in g a t it s
“ Y o u ’ll s e e , M r . L o r i n g . ” n o r m a l p a c e a g a in , h e a d i n g f o r t h e M o o n .
H a lf u n w illin g ly , L o r in g m a d e w a y fo r L o r i n g b o u n d e d t o h is f e e t in f u r y .
h im . B la c k b e a r d ’s stro n g f in g e r s s lid B la c k b e a r d g r i n n e d at h im . “ H o w do
over th e c o n t r o ls as if th ey w ere o ld y o u lik e t h e w a y I h a n d le th e s h i p ? ”
fr ie n d s. L o r i n g ’s e y e s n a r r o w e d a s he “You b la s t e d s p a c e -d e v i l, y o u a lm o s t
w a tch e d B la c k b e a r d h a n d le le v e r s and w reck ed u s !”
in s t r u m e n t s w hose use he h im s e lf d id “ D o y o u h a v e a n y id e a o f h o w m a n y
not know . m i l l i o n m i l e s w e ’v e c o v e r e d in as m a n y
“ The Comet has several p ie c e s of seco n d s?”
m e c h a n is m n o t f o u n d in a n y o t h e r s h ip . L o r i n g g a in e d c o n t r o l o f h i m s e l f . T i m e
H o w do y o u h a p p e n to u n d e rsta n d a b o u t w a s im p o r t a n t t o h im , a n d h e o w e d s o m e ­
th em ?” th in g to B la c k b e a r d fo r th a t. A ll th e
B la c k b e a r d la u g h e d . “ D o n ’ t le t C a p ­ s a m e , h e r e s e n t e d t h e w a y in w h i c h th e
t a in F u t u r e k id y o u , L o r i n g . Som e of m an had ta k e n c o n tro l of th e Comet.
th e se th in g s aren’t as e x c lu s iv e as he L o r i n g w a t c h e d B la c k b e a r d ’s fin g e r s f o r
p r e t e n d s .” a m o m e n t w ith o u t sp e a k in g . Then:
T h e r e w a s c le a r s p a c e a h e a d o f th e m , “ H ow d id y o u g e t th a t e x t r a s p e e d ? ”
 48 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

h e s n a p p e d in a n g r y t o n e s . CH APTER X II
“ B y m e a n s o f t h e v i b r a t i o n d r iv e .”
B la c k b e a r d ’ s eyes s u d d e n ly c lo u d e d . Moon-Home, Sweet Home
H e h a d a n s w e r e d w i t h o u t t h i n k in g . H o w
h a d h e h i m s e l f k n o w n t h e n a m e o f t h is L O R IN G s t a r t e d
m e c h a n is m ? back in terro r, h is
H e w o n d e r e d i f h e c o u ld h a v e w o r k e d hands s e e k in g th e
f o r C a p t a in F u t u r e b e f o r e . a to m p is to l at h is
L o r i n g c o n t in u e d t o e y e h im s u s p ic i ­ s i d e . The th ree­
o u s ly as th e te a r -d r o p -s h a p e d vessel headed m o n ste r th a t
d ro v e fo r th e M o o n . had fr ig h te n e d h im
H is e y e s w id e n e d , as w ith o u t in s tr u c ­ now b e g a n t o s h r in k
t io n s , B la c k b e a r d h e a d e d f o r t h e s i d e o f in to the grou n d .
th e s a t e l l it e t h a t h e ld t h e la b o r a t o r i e s o f It o o z e d in to a
th e F u t u r e m e n . c r e v i c e , becam e a
“You know w h ere C a p t a in F u tu re h a r m le s s gray rock
liv e s ? ” he d em a n ded. fr o m w h i c h t h e s u n li g h t g l i s t e n e d . As
“ O f cou rse, w h o d o esn ’t ? ” tw o tim id eyes peeked out fr o m one
T h ere w ere p le n ty of p e o p le w ho sid e , B la c k b e a r d sh ook w ith s ile n t
d i d n ’t. la u g h t e r .
L o r in g m ade n o fu r th e r c o m m e n t as The th r e e p r e te n d e d F u tu rem en ,
th e s h ip brak ed , began to s e ttle dow n s t r a n g e l y i l l a t e a s e a n d s u b d u e d in w h a t
s m o o th ly . w a s s u p p o s e d l y t h e ir o w n h o m e , h a d f o l ­
B la c k b e a r d ’s hands fla s h e d r a p id ly l o w e d L o r i n g a n d B la c k b e a r d o u t o f t h e
o v e r th e i n s t r u m e n t p a n e l. The Comet s h ip . T h e tin y w ir e le s s se t in sid e B la c k ­
c a m e t o r e s t p e a c e f u l l y in a m o o n c r a t e r b e a r d ’ s h e lm e t b r o u g h t h i m t h e a n d r o i d ’s
th a t m i g h t h a v e b e e n h o l l o w e d o u t f o r w ord s.
her. “ W h y , it’s O o g !”
L o r in g b re a th e d a s ig h o f r e lie f. T h e r e E v e r y o n e in t h e S y s t e m h a d h e a r d o f
h a d b e e n n o d i f f ic u lt y a t a ll i n l a n d in g . th e F u tu r e m e n ’ s fa m o u s p e ts — O o g , th e
W h i c h m e a n t t h a t a ll h e h a d h e a r d a b o u t m e te o r -m im ic , tre a su re d by O th o , an d
th e a u t o m a t ic d e fe n s e s of th e M oon- Eek, th e m o o n -p u p w h ic h had w on
h o m e w as a lo t o f n o n sen se . G ra g ’s m eta l h e a rt. As B la c k b e a r d
P r o b a b ly n o t h in g m ore th a n rum ors w a tc h e d , th e lit t le m e te o r -m im ic , w h ic h
th a t C a p t a in F u t u r e h a d s p r e a d f o r h is c o u ld i m it a t e every o b j e c t it had ever
ow n p u rp oses. s e e n , c h a n g e d t o a f a t l i t t l e w h i t e lu m p ,
He d id not n o tic e th a t B la c k b e a r d ’s its n a tu ra l f o r m . I t sta red at O jh o as i f
brow w a s w r in k le d . The bearded m an p u z z le d , th e n m o v e d s lo w ly aw ay.
w a s w o n d e r in g at h im s e lf. W h y h a d h is Eek, a s m a ll gray b e a r -l i k e a n im a l,
fin g e r s m o v e d o v e r t h e in s t r u m e n t p a n e l c a m e s u d d e n ly u p o n t h e s c e n e , g a l l o p i n g
as t h e y d i d ? C e r ta in ly n o t fo r th e p u r ­ to w a rd G r a g — an d s to p p e d ju s t as su d ­
p o s e o f b r a k in g t h e s h ip . d e n ly . G ra g , as i f c h a g r i n e d , r u m b le d
I t w a s a lm o s t a s i f h is h a n d s r e t a in e d a n g r i ly .
a s p e c ia l m e m o r y o f t h i s p l a c e th a t h is “ T h e s t u p id b e a s t ! E v e r y t i m e w e ’ re
m in d d id n o t, a s i f in h is h a n d s l a y th e aw ay fo r m ore th a n a fe w w eek s, he
s e c r e t o f h is p a s t. d o e sn ’t re c o g n iz e m e ! H e ’s g o t a m em ­
B u t h e h a d l o n g s in c e d e c id e d n o t to o r y a s s h o r t a s h i s a p p e t i t e is l o n g ! ”
t r y to f o r c e a s o l u t i o n . H e p u t th e p r o b ­ T h e t w o a n im a ls h u d d l e d t o g e t h e r , as
le m o u t o f h is m i n d o n c e m o r e , s l ip p e d if f o r p r o t e c t io n . T hey c ir c le d w a r ily
in t o a s p a c e s u i t , a n d l e d t h e h e s it a t i n g about th e grou p o f m en an d ap proached
L o r in g o u t u p o n th e M o o n ’s su rfa c e . B la c k b e a r d . B u t w h e n h e le a n e d o v e r as
T h e n e x t m o m e n t a s m a ll t h r e e -h e a d e d i f to p e t t h e m , t h e y r e t r e a t e d h u r r i e d l y .
m o n ste r le a p e d at th e m w ith row s of “ Y o u ’v e got a w ay w ith th e b e a s t s ,”
g lis te n in g te e th b ared . s a id L o r i n g .
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 49

“ I t ’ s a w a y th a t d o e s n ’ t g o v e r y fa r ,” a g a in . The J o v ia n s p o k e fir s t.
r e p lie d B la c k b e a r d . H e s t a r e d in w o n ­ “ A n y lu c k , b o s s ? ”
d e r m e n t a t t h e m o o n -p u p . A n d t h e s m a ll, “ N o n e at a ll.”
s h a r p -s n o u t e d a n im a l s t a r e d b a c k in b e ­ “ T h e o n l y s i g n I ’v e s e e n o f a n y t h i n g
w i ld e r m e n t , i t s t e l e p a t h ic s e n s e t e l l i n g i n t e r e s t i n g ,” s a id S h a n e , t h e g l o o m y p r e ­
i t th a t h e r e w a s a f a m i li a r f ig u r e , a n d it s te n d e r to O t h o ’s i d e n t i t y , “ i s a m o o n -
e y e s a s s u r in g it th a t th e f ig u r e w a s a w o lf. And I d o n ’t w a n t t o t a n g le w i t h
c o m p le t e ly s t r a n g e o n e . t h a t .”
L o r in g sta r te d to w a r d th e g la s s it e w i n ­ “ W e ’ll h ave to b reak a g la s s ite w in ­
dow s of th e dom e th a t in d ic a te d th e d o w ,” d e c id e d L o r i n g . “ L e t t i n g th e a ir
M o o n -l a b o r a t o r y . S tru ck by a su d d en o u t m a y r u in t h e w o r k s , b u t t h e r e ’ s n o
t h o u g h t , h e t u r n e d t o B la c k b e a r d . n e e d t o b e t o o w o r r i e d a b o u t t h a t a n g le .
“ G et back to th e s h i p ,” he ord ered . W e ’ l l t a k e w h a t t h e r e is w o r t h ta k in g
“ T h e e n tr a n c e t o t h e l a b o r a t o r y is a s e ­ a n d r u n .”
c r e t, a n d C a p t a in F u t u r e w a n t s it t o r e ­ The J o v ia n lifte d a la r g e rock an d
m a in o n e .” brou gh t it dow n w ith a ll h is grea t
B la c k b e a r d n o d d e d a g r e e a b l y . “ Y o u ’re s tr e n g th o n th e n e a re st s e c tio n o f g la s s ­
t h e b o s s ,” h e s a id . it e . T h e r o c k r e b o u n d e d , b u t th e g la s s ­
it e s h o w e d n o t a s c r a t c h .
H EY w a tc h e d th e a ir l o c k of th e
T
“W hat n ow ?” he dem anded. “ T h is
s h ip c lo s e b e h in d h is s t a l w a r t fig u r e . s e e m s t o b e s p e c ia l s t u f f . ”
Then th e p r e te n d e d a n d ro id fa c e d th e “ W e ’ ll b l a s t i t w ith e x p lo s i v e s ,” de­
m a n w h o h a d h i r e d h im . c i d e d L o r i n g a n g r i ly .
“H ow d o w e g e t i n t o t h i s p la c e , a n y ­ “ D o y o u k n o w h o w to se t o ff a b la s t ? ”
w ay? M ost of it seem s to be u n der­ “N o. I th o u g h t y o u or Shane c o u ld
grou nd. A n d th e re ’s no sig n o f a d o o r ­ do it ? ”
w a y .” S h a n e s h o o k h is h e a d . “ W e ’ll h a v e to
“ T h a t ’ s w h a t w e ’l l h a v e t o l o o k f o r , ” c a ll o n B la c k b e a r d . A n d a fin e i m p r e s ­
a d m it t e d L o r in g . I d i d n ’t w a n t B l a c k ­ s io n i t ’ll m a k e o n h im i f w e c a n ’ t g e t in t o
b e a r d a r o u n d t o w a t c h u s a n d r e a li z e o u r o u r o w n h o u s e w i t h o u t t e a r i n g it a p a r t .”
ig n o r a n c e .” “ D e v ils o f s p a c e !” m u tte re d L o r in g .
H r o Z a n , h is h e a d a t t h i s m o m e n t as “ A n d y o u c a ll me s t u p id ,” s n e e r e d H r o
c le a r a s it e v e r w o u l d b e , g r o w l e d a lo u d . Zan. “ C a n ’t e v e n fin d t h e d o o r t o y o u r
“ S o n o w y o u a d m i t t h a t y o u ’r e ig n o r a n t . o w n h o u s e .”
Y o u ’ re a lw a y s ta lk in g a b o u t m e .” They ig n o r e d h im .
“ Q u ie t, f o o l.” L o r in g sp o k e a b se n tly . “ I f o n l y ,” m u s e d t h e J o v ia n a lo u d , “ th e
“ T h e r e m a y b e a d o o r o n t h e o t h e r s id e . s t u f f w e r e n ’t s p e c ia lly m a d e — p r o b a b ly
W e ’l l t r y t h a t .” to re sist m e te o rs— I ’d be a b le to cu t
B u t th e o th e r s id e o f th e la b o r a to r y th r o u g h it .”
w a s a b le a k w a ll o f r o c k , w i t h n o sig n “ T h e r e ’ s a n i d e a ,” s a id L o r i n g e a g e r l y
o f an o p e n in g v is ib le a n y w h e r e . L o r in g “ I ’l l h a v e B la c k b e a r d m a k e u p a sh a r p
sta re d a t it w ith r isin g re se n tm e n t. c u t t i n g t o o l , w i t h o u t t e l l i n g h i m e x a c t ly
“ T h e r e h a s t o b e a w a y i n ,” h e s a i d at w h a t i t ’s f o r . H e o u g h t t o b e ^ a b le t o d o
la s t. th e jo b .” H is e y e s g lin te d in a p p r o v a l
“ It m ay be u n d e r g r o u n d ,” su g g e ste d o f t h e J o v ia n . “ Y o u can u se y o u r h ead,
t h e J o v ia n . V en s. It d i d n ’t t a k e you a seco n d to
“ T h a t ’s p o s s ib le . S e e in g a s p r a c t ic a l ­ t h in k u p a n e x p la n a t i o n o f w h y t h a t a n i­
l y n o n e o f t h e la b o r a t o r y i t s e l f is a b o v e m a l d i d n ’t r e c o g n i z e y o u , a n d n o w y o u ’v e
g r o u n d , w ith lit t le m o r e th a n th e s e w in ­ g o t t h e a n s w e r t o t h i s p r o b l e m .”
dow s s h o w in g , F u tu re m ay have ar­ Som ew hat la t e r , how ever, th e y w ere
r a n g e d t o e n te r b y a s h o r t t u n n e l. W e ’ll not so sure. B la c k b e a r d , w hen he
sca tte r, a n d lo o k f o r t h e o p e n i n g .” le a r n e d o f w h a t th e y w a n te d d o n e , w a s
H a lf an hour la t e r , w h ile th e tw o m o re th an a little d o u b tfu l.
w o n d e rin g p e ts sta red , th e y a s s e m b le d “ S o m e o f t h i s s p e c ia l g l a s s i t e i s n ’t e a s y
 50 C A P T A IN F U TU R E

to c u t. N o t th a t i t ’s so h a rd , b u t th a t “ H e h a s , b u t I h a v e n ’t , ” r e t u r n e d L o r ­
i t ’ s m o n o c o h e s iv e , l i k e a li q u i d . I t S o w s in g q u ic k ly . “ W h a t ’s h a p p e n i n g ? ”
back w h en th e c u ttin g in stru m e n t has “A n e c lip s e o f th e Sun. O f cou rse,
p a s s e d o n , a n d y o u ’v e a c h ie v e d n o t h i n g . ” t h e p e o p l e o n E a r t h w o u l d c o n s id e r it
“ I t ’s l i k e r o c k ,” g r o w l e d L o r in g . “I an e c lip s e o f th e Moon, I t ’s m u ch m ore
d o n ’t s e e h o w i t c a n f lo w b a c k .” e ffe c tiv e as se e n fr o m h e re. W a t c h .”
B la c k b e a r d sh ru gged . “You m ig h t D a r k n e ss h a d sp re ad o v e r A s ia . N ow
a s k F u t u r e .” it e d g e d to w a r d th e e n d s o f th e c re sc e n t,
“That w o u ld n ’t do any good. Ever g r a d u a lly e n v e lo p in g th e m . A n d a t th e
s in c e he w as s u b je c t e d t o t h o s e r a d ia ­ sam e tim e , th e E a r th a d v a n c e d s te a d ily ,
tio n s out in s p a c e , h i s b r a in has been g n a w i n g a t t h e S u n ’s s u r f a c e . T h o s e c o n ­
ra th e r f o g g y .” tin e n ts o f E a r th w h ic h h a d p r e v io u s ly
been in d ark n ess, n o w g lo w e d w ith a
RO ZA N g lo w e r e d . B la c k b e a r d ,
H
f a i n t r u d d y e f f u l g e n c e , f r o m t h e c o m b in ­
h o w e v e r , w a s p a y in g n o a tte n tio n a t i o n o f l i g h t r e f le c t e d f r o m th e M o o n
t o h im . a n d w h a te v e r d ir e c t s u n lig h t h a d b een
“ I h a v e a n id e a o f a m e t h o d t h a t m i g h t r e fr a c te d arou n d E a rth ’s edges by it s
w ork. You m ig h t fr e e z e th e g la s s ite o w n a tm o s p h e r e .
w i t h a r e t a r d in g r a y , s o t h a t t h e m o l e ­ L o r in g w a s g a z in g u p w a rd , as i f h ard­
c u le s d o n ’t f lo w b a c k t o o r e a d i ly . T hen l y d a r in g t o b e l i e v e h is e y e s . S o o n th e
u s e y o u r c u t t i n g d e v ic e .” S u n d is a p p e a r e d a l t o g e t h e r , a n d a ll t h e y
“ I s t i l l d o n ’t s e e w h y y o u c a n ’t u s e a n c o u ld s e e w a s a s h a d o w y E a r t h , t h e c o n ­
e x p l o s i v e ,” p u t in H r o Z a n . tin e n ts of one h e m isp h e r e v is ib le as
B la c k b e a r d g la n c e d i n q u i r i n g ly at l i g h t e r s h a d o w s a g a in s t t h e g l o o m y b a c k ­
L o r in g . “ W here is th is g la s s ite , any­ g r o u n d o f th e ocean s.
w ay?” “ I ’v e n e v e r s e e n a n y t h i n g l i k e i t , ” h e
“ N e v e r m in d . H ow l o n g w i l l it t a k e a d m itte d h u s k ily .
y o u t o p r e p a r e a r e t a r d in g r a y , a n d m a k e “I h a v e ,” observed B la c k b e a r d casu ­
a c u ttin g d e v ic e ? ” a lly .
“ S e v e r a l d a y s .” The rob ot lo o k e d up, h is m e ta l fa c e
" S t a r t w o r k a t o n c e ,” o r d e r e d L o r i n g , s h e ll w e i r d in t h e d i m l i g h t . “ W h ere?”
M e n t a l l y , h e c u r s e d t h e d e la y . A l l th is “ I d o n ’t rem e m b e r e x a c t ly . I t c o u ld n ’t
t i m e w a s t e d g e t t i n g i n t o a p l a c e t h a t th e have been any c lo s e r to th e Sun th a n
real F u tu re w o u ld have p e n e tra te d in E a r th , a s th e in n e r p la n e ts d o n ’t h a v e
a fe w se c o n d s! s a te lite s . And it c o u ld h a r d ly have
I t w a s f o u r d a y s b e f o r e b o t h d e v ic e s b e e n m u c h fu r th e r a w a y , o r m o s t o f th e
w ere ready. A n d on th e fo u rth d a y th ey e ffe c t w o u ld b e lo s t .”
s a w t h e s u n b l o t t e d o u t. “ I ’v e s e e n p l e n t y o f e c l i p s e s f r o m J u p ­
T h e y w e re o u t o f th e sh ip a t th e tim e . i t e r ,” o b s e r v e d t h e r o b o t . “ T hey d o n ’t
B la c k b e a r d w as in str u c tin g th e bogus a m o u n t t o m u c h .”
G r a g in t h e u s e o f t h e c u t t i n g d e v ic e , a n d B la c k b e a r d n o d d e d . “ I d o n 't s u p p o s e
th e p r e te n d e d O th o in th e m a n n e r of I ’v e b e e n o n th e M oon b e fo r e , or y o u
o p e r a t io n o f t h e r e t a r d in g r a y . L o r in g f e l l o w s w o u l d h a v e k n o w n it . I t ’s p o s ­
w a s w a tc h in g th e m , w h e n H r o Z a n s u d ­ s ib le I s a w so m e th in g lik e th is fr o m a
d e n l y lo o k e d u p in a la r m . s h i p o u t i n s p a c e .”
“ I t ’s g e t t i n g d a r k ! ” h e c r i e d . “ Y o u ’v e seen e v e r y t h i n g ,” m u tte re d
T h e y a ll l o o k e d u p a t t h a t . T h e s l im L o r in g . D e s p ite h im s e lf, he w as im ­
crescen t of E a rth , sh in in g w ith b lu e - p r e s s e d w i t h h i s a s s i s t a n t ’ s k n o w le d g e .
green lig h t, had g r a d u a lly ap p roach ed H e h a d t h o u g h t B la c k b e a r d a b r a g g a r t ,
th e Sun. N ow th e c o n t in e n t of A s ia b u t h e w a s fo r c e d to a d m it th a t th e m a n
seem ed to b e ta k in g a h u g e b ite o u t o f had c la im e d fo r h im s e lf n o th in g m ore
t h e s o la r r im . th a n th e tru th . “H ow lo n g does th is
“You m u st have seen th is p le n ty of th in g la s t? ”
t i m e s b e f o r e ,” c o m m e n t e d B la c k b e a r d . “ A b o u t a n o th e r q u a rter o f an h o u r, as
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 51

far as totality is concerned. The Earth’s Virson shrugged. “ It doesn’t look like
disk is so much bigger than the Moon’s overconfidence to me. W e’ve got a thous­
that solar eclipses are o£ longer duration and men against four. W e’ve got a dozen
here than on Earth.” space ships with enough armament on
The bogus Otho was staring upward them to blast the Planet Patrol out of
with an intensity that could not be ex­ the skies. And we’ll be coasting in un­
plained by his interest in the eclipse der cover of this eclipse, so that we can
alone. “ What are those patches of light catch them by surprise. What more do
moving off to one side of the Earth?” he you want, Chief? In a couple of min­
demanded. utes Earth’s shadow will reach us, just
Blackbeard’s eyes narrowed. A dozen as we’re ready to open our attack. If
ships were speeding toward the Moon, you can think of anything else—”
a few hundred miles beyond the edge of “ You know the details of your business
the Earth’s penumbra. And the Moon, better than I do,” replied Brooks impa­
he knew, was no haven for either pas­ tiently. “ But remember, Captain Fu­
senger liners or freighters. Those ships ture is still the greatest scientific mind
spelled danger! in this System, or anywhere else that I
know of. I don’t believe that story of
CH APTER X III vibrations affecting his mind, and you’d
better not believe it, either. It’s just
The Moon Fights Back intended to blind us to the truth, and
throw us off our guard.”
ON the leading ship, “He’s not fooling me, Chief,” de­
Kars Virson sat at a clared Virson. “ I ’ll be careful.”
private space-visor “ You’d better be, if you value your
set. He stared at the own skin. Good luck, Kars. I’m signing
f r o w n i n g face of o f f.”
Hartley Brooks and Virson stood up. His lean, shrewd
replied respectfully. face, with no trace of its usual vacant
“ Yes, sir.” expression, was grim with determination
In his Earth home, as he strode toward the ship’s gun-con­
Brooks’ face twisted trol room.
into what in a less “ The ships are synchronized?” he
suave man w o u l d asked.
have been a snarl. “ Don’t ‘yes’ me, Kars. “ Yes, sir.” The ship’ s commander
You thought you had finished Future spoke respectfully. W e’re ready to blast
before this.” them with a total of a hundred and thir­
“ I still don’t see how I failed.” ty-eight guns, all the rays striking with­
“ You wouldn’t. But your failure in five seconds of each other.”
warned him, and I ’m sure he suspects “ Pass the word.”
me. When he stalked into that meeting The commander touched a button,
of the Interplanetary Board of Gover­ nodded.
nors, he caught my eye. He had never “ F ire!” ordered Virson coldly.
looked at me before like that. He has
no proof, but he knows.” HROUGH the glassite window of
“ He won’t know much longer.” Virson
promised vindictively. “ W e’ve got
T the Moon-laboratory came a sudden
fierce red glow. Somewhere, too, an
enough atom cannon along to blast the enormous vibrator was in motion, mak­
Moon itself out of existence, let alone ing the Moon tremble under the uneasy
Captain Future. Don’t worry about him feet that trod its bleak surface.
any longer.” “ It’s the alarm!” gasped the robot.
“ You fo o l!” Brooks almost groaned “ Somebody’s attacking us!”
the words. “ A fter what happened last “ Back to the ship!” yelled Loring, pan­
time, you’re still overconfident,” ic mottling his face. “ W e may be able
52 C A P T A IN FU TU R E

t o t a k e o f f a n d o u tr u n t h e m ! Q u i c k !” te re d th e g r o s s to n n a g e an d th e m eta l
B la c k b e a r d f o u n d h i m s e l f r u n n i n g , b u t to n n a g e of th e d i f f e r e n t v e s s e ls , a l o n g
not to w a rd th e Comet. S everal t im e s w i t h t h e i r p r o b a b le c o m p le m e n t o f m e n
b e f o r e h is h a n d s h a d r e t a in e d a m e m o r y and gu n s.
h is b r a in h a d f o r g o t t e n . N o w th e k n o w l­ “ A d o z e n s h i p s , a ll a b o u t t h e s a m e s iz e
edge of w hat to do seem ed to have and fire p o w e r ,” m u tte re d B la c k b e a r d
p a s s e d t o h is f e e t . A s h e r a n , h e k ic k e d to h im s e lf. “ I ’d b e tte r sta rt w ith th e
at a c u r io u s l y s h a p e d r o c k th a t re se m ­ n e a r e s t .”
b le d in rou gh o u tlin e th e head of a The M o o n - la n d sc a p e s u d d e n ly
m o o n -w o l f . An o p e n i n g a p p e a r e d in a c h a n g e d it s a p p e a r a n c e . P r o t o n -c a n n o n
s m a ll m o o n -c r a t e r , and he p lu n g e d in . y a w n e d o u t o f a r t if ic ia l c r a t e r s , b e g a n to
A seco n d la t e r , th e b r ig h t g lo w fro m fla sh s i l e n t l y . A b o v e e a c h w e a p o n , th e
w i t h in th e o p e n i n g w a s c u t o f f f r o m t h e f o r c e - b a r r ie r t h i n n e d a u t o m a t ic a ll y , t h e n
a ir le s s v o id o u ts id e by th e c la n g of c lo s e d a g a in a s t h e p r o t o n - r a y s p e d f o r t h .
m eta l d oors, c u n n in g ly sh a p ed an d The dozen s h ip s had been c h a rg in g
c o a te d to r e s e m b le th e la n d s c a p e in t o dow n w ard at fu ll sp e ed , a tte m p tin g to
w h ic h t h e y h a d b le n d e d . b r in g th e m a x im u m fo r c e o f th e ir w ea ­
He p a ssed fr o m th e a ir lo c k in to th e p o n s to b ea r. A s t h e fir s t o f t h e m d i s ­
M o o n -l a b o r a t o r y i t s e l f . P o w e r w a s a l­ a p p e a r e d in a b la z e o f g l o w i n g v a p o r , th e
read y s u r g in g th ro u g h th e a u t o m a t ic rest veered s h a r p ly . B la c k b e a r d h it a
f o r c e -b a r r ie r s th a t th e F u tu rem en had seco n d one b e fo r e th e y race d out of
c r e a te d to s h i e ld th e m s e lv e s fr o m any ran ge.
a t t a c k e r s o u t s id e . T h e ra y s fr o m a h u n ­ H e knew th e y w o u ld com e back, and
dred and t h ir ty -e ig h t a t o m -c a n n o n , th ey d id , o n ly a fe w m o m e n ts la t e r ,
h u r le d w ith fu ll fo r c e at th e b a r r ie r s , s w e e p in g in a t a n a l t it u d e o f no m ore
r e b o u n d e d in t o s p a c e . S h a ttered beam s t h a n a m i le , in t h e b e l i e f t h a t h is c a n n o n
s t r u c k b a c k a t t h e s h ip s w h i c h h a d fire d w o u ld b e in e ffe c tiv e a t lo w a n g le s .
th e m , a n d t h o u g h w e a k e n e d b y d is p e r ­ “ T h e y ’ l l le a r n b e t t e r ,” h e t o l d h i m s e l f
s io n , t o s s e d t h e v e s s e ls a b o u t in t h e d a r k g r im ly .
sh a d o w th a t ca m e fr o m E a r th . H e le t t h e m c o m e c l o s e , k n o w i n g th a t
T h e s h ip s s c a t t e r e d , t o o f f e r a l e s s v u l ­ t h e s h a r p e r t h e a n g le , t h e l e s s c h a n c e o f
n e r a b le ta rg e t fo r re b o u n d in g en ergy, th e ir o w n w e a p o n s p e n e tr a tin g th e bar­
a n d fire d a g a in . B la c k b e a r d c o u ld f e e l th e r ie r , a n d t h e g r e a t e r t h e p r o b a b i l i t y th a t
im p a c t in s id e th e la b o r a t o r y . So fa r t h e ir a t o m -b e a m s w o u l d ric o c h e t. But
th e b a r r ie r w a s h o ld i n g w e l l , a t e s t i m o n y as t h e y c a m e w i t h i n r a n g e , h e fir e d an
t o t h e s k i ll a n d s c ie n c e o f t h e F u t u r e m e n . e n t ir e b a n k o f g u n s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . F i v e
B u t it h a d b e e n m e a n t t o w a r d o f f a s u r ­ o f t h e s h ip s d is a p p e a r e d t o g e t h e r . T w o
p r is e a t t a c k , n o t a s i e g e . I t w o u ld n o t of th e o th e rs, t w is t in g fe v e r is h ly to
s t a n d a g a in s t a lo n g - c o n t i n u e d a s s a u lt . a v o id h is n e x t v o l l e y , c r a s h e d t o g e t h e r
T h e la b o r a t o r y w a s a m a z e o f a p p a r a ­ w i t h a b u r s t o f o r a n g e fla m e , a n d c a m e
tu s a n d c o n tro l b o a rd s th a t w o u ld h a ve h u r t li n g t o t h e M o o n ’s s u r f a c e .
b a ffled a s k i l l e d e n g in e e r f o r d a y s . B la c k - T h e rest had had en ou g h . T h e y sw ep t
b ea od n e v e r h e s it a t e d . F e e t and h an ds across th e h o r iz o n , to d is a p p e a r fro m
c o m b in e d t h e ir m e m o r ie s , a n d h e r u s h e d sig h t. The w a r n in g g lo w th ro u g h th e
fr o m o n e c o n tr o l b o a rd to a n o th e r, m a n ­ g la s s ite , th e w a rn in g v ib ra tio n of th e
n i n g t h e d e f e n s e s th a t s h o u ld h a v e b e e n g r o u n d , b o t h d ie d a w a y . T h e th r e e su r ­
m a n n e d b y a ll th e F u t u r e m e n . v iv o r s w e re n o t c o m in g back .
T h r e e -d im e n s io n a l s p a c e -v is o r g lo b e s
T H IS s p a c e - v is i o n set on E a rth ,
A
g le a m e d a lo n g o n e w a l l, t h e i m a g e s w i t h ­
in g i v i n g t h e e x a c t l o c a t i o n of th e a t ­ H a r tle y B r o o k s w a s tr y in g fr a n ti­
ta c k e r s . In f r o n t o f th e g l o b e s , p a n e ls c a lly to c o n ta c t K a r s V ir s o n . An hour
s p r a n g a liv e w i t h fig u r e s w h i c h t o l d t h e sped b y b e fo r e h e h eard an a n s w e r in g
p o s it i o n a n d v e l o c i t y c o o r d i n a t e s o f e a c h v o ic e .
s h ip . G r a v i t y -s c a n n in g d e v ic e s r e g is ­ “ K a r s !”
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 53

The face o f one of Virson’s comman­ Moon-laboratory left no doubt that

ders showed in the screen. here too he had been on intimate terms
“ Mr. Virson’s unable to answer, sir. with every weapon, every bit of appara­
He had given me orders previously to tus. It was obvious then that no mat­
tune in to your wave-length in case any­ ter what his previous name, he had
thing happened to him, but my generator been a close friend of the Future-
system has been out o f commission up men.
till the present.” He could deduce a little more than
The financier’s face was gray. “ What’s that. The Futuremen, he knew, were
happened? Where is Kars?” wary, of inviting visitors to the Moon.
“ Our attack failed, sir. W e didn’t Ezra Gurney, Joan Randall, on rare
stand the ghost of a chance. Mr. Vir­ occasions a man by the name of Halk
son’s ship crashed into a neighboring Anders, possibly a few others—these
vessel, and blew up. There were no sur­ had been the only ones to win their
vivors. He’s dead, sir.” confidence. A ll of them had been either
So Virson had failed again. And this members of the Planet Patrol, or some­
time he had paid for his failure with his how connected with it. It would seem
life. then that Blackbeard himself had been
Brooks breathed heavily. I f Captain a member of the Planet Patrol.
Future had lacked proof before that That would account, too, for the fact
some one had tried to kill him, he would that Joan had thought him familiar.
not lack it now. An investigating com­ The fact that she had not identified
mittee would have no trouble picking up him could be ascribed to the disguising
the fragments o f the wrecked ships, trac­ effect of his beard and his scars.
ing them to their home ports, and thence He was sorry now that he had not
to Brooks. The situation was growing tried to make himself known to her.
desperate. He must act fast, and with­ The next time they met, he would cor­
out Kars to aid him. rect that mistake.
He must act fast, he repeated to him­ There was something of a more
self. But for several hours he remained startling nature he could deduce now.
without moving, lost in thought. As the Futuremen had not rushed to the
shelter of the laboratory and its death­
C H APTER X IV dealing defenses, that could mean only
that they knew nothing of what was
An Affair of Weight inside it. Which in turn meant that
they were not really the Futuremen!
IN the Moon-labora­ All that had happened confirmed him in
tory, B l a c k b e a r d this belief. Captain Future was ill, pos­
watched the images sibly, as Loring claimed, because of ex­
in the three-dimen­ posure to strange radiations in space.
sional g l o b e s die He had no idea how it had happened,
away, he felt the but there could be little doubt that
ground grow quiet Loring had taken advantage of this ill­
again. Not until then ness to substitute impostors he himself
did he stop to wonder had chosen in place of the genuine
at himself. android and robot. The Brain had not
A conclusion to­ really made an appearance on either
ward which he had Mars or the Moon. No doubt, the real
already been tending, now rushed to Simon W right was likewise among those
meet him, inescapable. The familiar missing.
manner in which his fingers had handled Blackbeard knew now why they had
the Comet had convinced him that he wanted him to arrange a glassite-cutting
had piloted the ship before. His intui­ device. Because they did not know how
tive knowledge of what was within the else to enter the laboratory, and hoped
54 C A P T A IN F U TU R E

to b r e a k in b y m a in f o r c e ! p e r ilo u s situ a tio n th a n th e y had su s­

D ia ls o n t h e w a l ls of th e la b o r a t o r y p e cte d w hen L o r in g had fir st p la n n e d
w e re r e g is te r in g th e v ib r a tio n s o f fe e t t o t a k e F u t u r e ’s p la c e . A n d th e r e a li z a ­
o u t s id e . So th e y had le ft th e s a fe ty tio n th a t th e unknow n en em y m ig h t
o f th e Comet, a n d w e r e c a u t io u s l y l o o k ­ m a k e o th e r, p e rh a p s m o re s u c c e s s fu l, a t­
in g a r o u n d a g a in . H e t h o u g h t r a p id ly . ta ck s la t e r , set th e lit t le m a n ’s te e th
He had to have a sto ry to te ll th em , c h a t t e r in g .
an d h e m u s t m a k e it g o o d . B la c k b e a r d ap peared to be m u s in g
a b se n tly . “ I t ’ s a p ity th a t th is ru m p u s
FE W s e c o n d s la t e r h e s e e m e d to
A
had to occu r. N ow th e r e ’ll be an in ­
p o p u p o u t o f th e g r o u n d to fa c e v e stig a tin g c o m m itte e , and w e ’l l have
a g a p in g L o r in g . t o w a s t e d a y s in g i v i n g t e s t i m o n y .”
“ W h a — -w h at— w h e r e d id you com e A s he h a d e x p e c te d , th e v e r y th o u g h t
fro m ?” of th is m ade L o r in g p e r s p ir e w i t h in
B la c k b e a r d g r in n e d g e n i a ll y . “I h is s p a c e s u i t .
n e v e r t h o u g h t I ’d c o m e o u t o f t h a t a liv e . “ W e c a n ’t a f f o r d t o d o t h a t . W e have
I h id b etw een tw o rock s, e x p e c tin g to get on w ith our p l a n e t -b u i ld i n g ,”
t h o s e a t o m -r a y s t o b u r n m e t o a c r is p .” L o r i n g sa id h a s t i l y .
“ I w a s p le n ty sca re d m y s e lf .” L o r in g “If we le a v e n o w ,” su g g e ste d B la c k ­
g la n c e d at th e i m it a t io n a n d r o id an d beard s lo w ly , “ an d t h e r e ’s n o e v id e n c e
R o b o t. “But G rag and O th o h ere as­ th a t w e ’v e been h e r e , it w i l l be c le a r ,
s u r e d m e th a t t h e r e w a s n o d a n g e r .” even to an in v e stig a tin g c o m m it t e e ,
“ W e k n e w th a t t h e a u t o m a t ic d e f e n s e s th a t th e a u t o m a t ic d e fe n s e s d e s tr o y e d
w o u ld account fo r any w o u ld -b e in ­ th e in v a d in g s h ip s , and th a t we ou r­
v a d e r s ,” p u t in t h e p h o n e y G r a g in h is s e l v e s h a d n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h t h e w h o le
r a s p in g v o ic e . a f f a i r .”
“ T h e y c e r t a i n ly d i d .” B la c k b e a r d e m ­ “ W h e r e d o w e g o t o ? ” a sk e d L o r in g
p h a s iz e d th e p o in t . h e lp le s s ly . W i t h o u t r e a liz in g it, h e had
A p p a r e n tly th ey d id n o t s u s p e c t h is com e, as B la c k b e a r d had p r e d i c t e d , to
o w n r o le in w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d , a n d he r e l y m o r e a n d m o r e o n h is n e w a s s is t a n t .
d id n o t w a n t th e m to . H e h a d a lr e a d y “ Y o u h a v e a n o u t l i n e o f p la n s f o r th e
p u z z le d L o r i n g a little to o o ft e n w ith n e w p la n e t? ”
som e of th e s c ie n t if ic k n o w le d g e th a t L o r in g nodded. “ C u rt, h ere, drew
seem ed to r is e to th e s u rfa c e th ro u g h t h e m u p b e f o r e h is m in d w e n t b a d , a n d
t h e c lo u d s in h is m i n d , a n d h e h a d n o handed th e m in to th e B oard of G ov­
d e s ir e t o h a v e th e m a n t o o c u r io u s a b o u t ern ors, in th e fo rm of a t e c h n ic a l
h im . m em oran d u m . M o s t o f t h e w o r k is t o b e
L o r in g and th e o th e rs ap peared done by th e govern m en t it s e lf . The
s t r a n g e ly u n in t e r e s t e d in t h e i d e n t i t y o f F u tu re m e n t h e m s e lv e s w ere to u n der­
th e m u rd erou s a tta ck ers. He h im s e lf ta k e th e ta sk o f s u p p ly in g a h e a v y co re .
h ad n o w a y o f k n o w in g w h o t h e y w e r e , B u t th e B r a i n — ” L o r i n g h e s it a t e d p e r ­
a n d it w o u ld b e w i s e , h e d e c id e d , n o t to c e p t ib ly — “ t h e B r a i n t h i n k s a h e a v y c o r e
b r in g u p t h e s u b je c t a t a ll. B e s t f o r h im i s n ’t n e c e s s a r y .”
to p r e te n d in t e r e s t rig h t now o n ly in B la c k b o a r d ’s eyebrow s w e n t up.
th e s c ie n t if ic p r o b le m s th e lit t le m an “ T h a t’s s u r p r i s in g . I ’m b e g in n i n g to
w o u ld b r i n g h im . t h in k t h a t t h o s e r a d ia tio n s a f f e c t e d t h e
A c tu a lly , L o r in g and th e p r e te n d e d B r a i n as w e l l as C u r t . Any e x p e rt on
F u t u r e m e n h a d n o t t h e s l i g h t e s t id e a o f g e o p h y sic s know s th a t y o u c a n ’t b u ild
w h o w a s b e h in d t h e a t t a c k . They had a s t a b le p la n e t w ith lig h t e le m e n t s
d is c u s s e d th e q u e s t io n fe v e r is h ly , and a lo n e .”
c o m e to t h e c o n c l u s i o n o n ly th a t C a p ­ “ I ’m no e x p e r t ,” retu r n ed L o r in g
t a in F u tu re had m ade e n e m ie s u n su s­ su lle n ly . “ B u t I ’l l ta k e S i m o n W r i g h t ’s
p e cted by th e gen eral p u b lic . E v i­ w ord on s c ie n t if ic m a t t e r s .”
d e n t ly , t h e y had ste p p e d in t o a m ore “ S o w ill I. But p o s s i b ly y o u d i d n 't
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 55

understand him. Suppose you let me on for years, making normal life on the
speak to him for a few moments.” surface impossible. The whole purpose
“ He doesn’t care to speak to strangers/' of building the planet would be de­
replied Loring, in obvious haste. feated.”
“ You might have been reading Fu­
LACK B EARD repressed a smile. ture’s memorandum,” admitted Loring.
B As he had guessed, the real Simon
W right was not in the ship, and Loring
“ He suggested as the solution to the
problem the use of the recently discov­
was in deadly fear of the fact being dis­ ered planetoid Thor.”
covered. “ And I agree with him. I suppose
The pretended r o b o t interposed. you know that Thor is a small body,
“ Suppose you try to explain to us why not much larger than Phobos or
a heavy core is necessary.” Deimos, but it’s incredibly compressed.
“ I think I can. From what I’ve heard It appears to be made of such atoms
of Captain Future’s methods, he was as may be on the companion of Sirius,
probably intending to create the lighter with a density of close to a ton per
elements, those with atomic weights up cubic inch. Use that as the core for
to 30 or 40, by means of a matter-creat­ the new planet, and the problem’s
ing device he himself invented.” solved.”
“ You mean that he brought back from Otho spoke slowly, his eyes searching
his search for the birthplace of matter,” Loring’s face. “ O f course, Grag and
corrected the false Otho. “ I was with I have worked with Curt and the Brain
him when he discovered it.” for many years, and we know their sci­
“ Well, you would know.” Evidently, entific methods, but we’re not really
the impostors had studied as much of capable of judging a question of this
Captain Future’s history as was avail­ sort. Perhaps if Mr. Loring would re­
able to the general public. They seemed mind Simon of some of these things—
to know more about it than he did. “ You might remind him, too,” added
Blackbeard went on. “ However, be­ Blackbeard with subtlety, “ that on
cause of the low energy-potential Thor we won’t be bothered by an in­
throughout the System, it’s very difficult vestigating committee, and will be able
to create the heavier elements. I imagine to conduct whatever scientific experi­
that Future intended to import what­ ments are necessary without being dis­
ever amounts were needed.” turbed.”
He could see that Loring was im­ “ I ’ll see,” replied Loring curtly. He
pressed and puzzled. At times Black­ disappeared, to return a few moments
beard seemed to be more clever than later. “ Simon advised us to go ahead.
any man had a right to be. He himself isn’t interested. He’s too
“That’s what Future states in his busy trying to overcome the effect of
memorandum,” admitted Loring. those radiations on Curt’s mind.”
“ The net result would be that a Hro Zan growled to himself. More
planet with a diameter about that of and more he was growing to resent these
Earth would have a density between slurs on his intelligence. Loring was al­
one and two. Its gravitational pull ways pretending that there was no dif­
would be so low that the atmosphere ference between his normal behavior and
and water would be continually escap­ the behavior of a Captain Future who
ing, and would need constant renewal. suffered from softening of the brain.
That in itself would be reason enough W ell, he’d show everybody. And soon,
for a heavy core. too!
“ In addition, the settling down Meanwhile, Blackbeard was consid­
process, caused by the gradual contrac­ ering the situation somberly. Loring, the
tion of the planet’s mass, would be master of puppets, had himself become,
drawn out immeasurably in the case of without knowing it, little more than a
so light a body. Earthquakes would go puppet in the hands of his supposed
56 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

a s s is t a n t . B la c k b e a r d had p e rsuad ed th e b o d i le s s B ra in w ere n o d d in g .

h im to le a v e th e M o o n -l a b o r a t o r y un­ “ I ’ v e im p r o v e d t h i s a n c ie n t c r a f t s o m e ­
to u c h ed an d g o to T h o r w ith lit t le m ore w h a t , b u t it c o u ld s t a n d b e i n g im p r o v e d
d iffic u lt y th an if he had been d e a lin g s t i ll m o r e . T h e l a b o r a t o r y c o n t a in s a p ­
w it h a c h ild . p a r a t u s I s h o u ld h a v e .”
N e v e r t h e le s s , B la c k b e a r d knew th a t “W hat about th e s e fa k e F u tu rem en
t h e s it u a t io n w a s n o t c o m p le t e ly u n d e r and th e Comet? Do we le t th e m get
h is c o n t r o l. T h e s e m e n had u n d e rta k e n aw ay w ith t h e ir act any lo n g e r ? ” de­
to p e r fo r m a s e r io u s s c ie n t if ic jo b , k n o w ­ m a n d e d th e a n d r o id i n d i g n a n t l y . “ I ’v e
in g th a t t h e y w o u l d b o t c h it . I t w as up g o t a r e p u t a t io n t o fix u p ! ”
to h im to see th a t th e jo b w as com ­ “I t h in k I know w h ere th e Comet
p le t e d as it s h o u ld be. And in a d d i­ is h e a d e d ,” r a s p e d t h e B r a in . “ But we
t io n , h e h a d t h e t a s k o f p r o t e c t in g th e s h a ll d i s c u s s th a t la t e r . F i r s t w e la n d
u n fo rtu n a te C u r t N e w t o n , w h o w a s so o n th e M o o n .”
h e lp le s s a n d p it ia b le a m e n t a l w r e c k th a t O t h o , a t t h e c o n t r o ls , a m u s e d h i m s e l f
h is v e r y p r e s e n c e s e e m e d t o e m b a r r a ss by l a n d in g th e s h ip w ith th e use of
th e p r e te n d e d F u t u r e m e n . o n ly a sin g le hand. As th ey em erged
L o r in g le d th e w a y b a c k t o t h e Comet. u p o n th e M o o n i t s e l f , t h e y w e r e a lm o s t
A fe w m o m e n ts la t e r , th e vessel r o se o v e r w h e lm e d by th e su d d en o n s la u g h t
s l o w ly , and headed fo r th e a s t e r o id o f t w o o v e r jo y e d s m a ll a n im a ls .
b e lt. B la c k b e a r d , a t t h e c o n t r o ls , m a d e “ So y o u ’v e m is s e d m e !” g rin n e d th e
no a ttem p t to use th e v ib r a t io n d r iv e . a n d r o id , as th e doughy lit t le m e te o r-
T h e s h ip r o c k e t e d f o r w a r d a t a m o d e r a t e m im ic c u d d le d c lo se . “That seco n d -
pace as he c o n s id e r e d so le m n ly w hat c la s s im it a t io n o f a r e a l m a n m i g h t f o o l
h e c o u ld d o . a l o t o f h u m a n b e in g s , b u t h e c o u ld n ’t
f o o l y o u .”
CHAPTER X V G rag w as m a k in g "w h a t he fo n d ly
im a g i n e d w e r e c r o o n in g n o is e s a t E e k .
Council of War S im o n i m p a t i e n t l y c u t s h o r t h is b e l l o w ­
in g .
IN th e d is r e p u t a b le “ T o th e la b o r a t o r y , q u ic k l y . W e h a ve
tu b w h ic h on ce had n o t i m e t o w a s t e .”
been th e h o m e o f th e
A T E R , t h e d i s a p p o in t e d p e t s r e g r e t ­
L
T error o f S p a c e , th e
th ree g e n u in e Fu­ f u l l y l e f t b e h in d , th e t h r e e F u t u r e -
t u r e m e n tu r n e d a w a y m en w ere headed out in sp a ce on ce
f r o m t h e s p a c e v is o r s m ore.
t h a t S im o n had con­ “ W h e r e to , S im o n ? ” a sk ed O th o . “Do
stru cted . w e f o l l o w th e Comet?*’
“ H o ly sun im p s !” “ N ot y e t. I ’d l ik e to g e t a lo o k at
gasp ed O th o . “That o n e o f t h o s e d e s t r o y e d s p a c e s h ip s .”
w a s so m e b a t t le !” O th o nodded. He c r u is e d s l o w ly
“L ucky we d id n ’t get to th e M oon a b o v e th e M o o n ’s s u r f a c e , in th e d i r e c ­
any e a r lie r ,” r u m b le d G rag, “or w e’d tio n in w h ic h th e s h ip s h a d -c r a s h e d .
h a ve b e e n in t h e m i d d l e of it. T h ere A fte r about an h o u r, he lo c a t e d th e
w o u ld n ’t have been m uch le ft of In g - p a r ts of w hat had been one of th e
m a n n ’s s h ip .” sm ash e d s h ip s , sca tte re d over a la r g e
T h e y w a tch e d th e Comet d w i n d le an d lu n a r c r a te r . He la n d e d a g a in , and
d is a p p e a r in s p a c e . T h e n b o t h th e r o b o t h a s tily d o n n in g a sp a ce s u it, accom ­
an d th e a n d r o id tu rn e d to w a rd th e p a n ie d G rag and S im o n to w a rd th e
B r a in . s c e n e o f d e v a s t a t io n .
“W hat n e x t, S im o n ? Do you s t i ll T h e in s id e o f th e s h ip h a d o b v io u s l y
w ant to la n d on th e M oon ?” b u rst in t o fla m e on b e in g h it , b u t th e
“ A y e .” T h e s t a lk -e y e s lo w e r e d , as i f crash had r e le a s e d th e oxygen in t o
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 57

s p a c e , th u s e x t i n g u i s h i n g th e b la z e b e ­ l o w th e Comet on to T h o r .”
fo re a grea t deal of dam age had b een “ T h o r ? ” r u m b le d G r a g in c r e d u lo u s ly .
done. T h e c lo t h e s o n s e v e r a l o f th e m e n “W hy, in th e nam e of S a tu r n w o u ld
had been l it t l e m ore th an scorched . th o s e f a k e r s b e in t e r e s t e d in t h a t ? ”
G rag searched t h e ir b o d ie s m e th o d i­ “ B e c a u s e o n e o f t h e m is n o t a f a k e r .
c a lly , c o m i n g f in a lly a c r o s s a c e r tific a te It isn ’t c le a r to me y e t, but H a r tle y
o f a p p o in t m e n t , w h i c h th e s h i p ’s c a p ta in B r o o k s w o u l d n o t h ir e a p o o r t o o l.”
had borne. He p a ssed it s ile n t ly to G r a g s h o o k h is m e t a l h e a d h e lp le s s ly .
S im o n . “ I d o n ’t g e t i t .”
The B ra in h e ld th e sh e et of parch­ “I h a te to go a lo n g w ith G rag, but
m ent in h is tra cto r beam s, w h ile h is n e it h e r do I ,” a d m it t e d O th o .
s t a lk e d le n s -e y e s took in th e co n ten ts. T h e r e w a s a to u ch of im p a t ie n c e in
“ T h e d e a d c a p ta in w a s a p p o in t e d t o c o m ­ th e B r a i n ’ s v o i c e . “ Y o u saw w h a t h a p­
m a n d a s h ip o w n e d b y H a r t l e y B r o o k s ,” p e n e d t o th e a t t a c k in g s h ip s . H ow do
h e r a s p e d fin a lly . y o u t h in k t h e y w e r e b l a s t e d ? ”
“ Then B rooks is th e on e w ho in sti­ “ W i t h t h e d e fe n s e s y o u an d C u r t c o n ­
g a te d t h is a tta ck ?” dem anded O th o . t r iv e d . A c h ild c o u ld h a v e d o n e i t ,” sa id
“ A p p a r e n tly . B u t w e had b etter m ake O th o . “ Y o u j u s t g e t th e m in th e sp a ce
su r e . Let us fin d a n o th e r w reck ed v is o r g lo b e s , s w iv e l t h e c a n n o n a r o u n d
s h ip .” u n t il th e im a g e s o f th e s h ip s are c e n ­
S everal hours la t e r , th ere c o u ld no t e r e d in t h e c r o s s -h a ir s , a n d p r e s s a b u t­
lo n g e r b e a n y d o u b t. M e ta l fo o d con - t o n .”

Coming Next Issue: C A P T A I N F U T U R E in R E D S U N OF DANGER

t a in e r s th a t bore th e nam e of one of “V ery s i m p le ,” agreed th e B r a in

th e f in a n c ie r ’ s e n t e r p r is e s m a d e it c le a r ir o n ic a lly . “And w h o t e l ls y o u w h ic h
th a t th e u n f o r t u n a t e s p a c e fle e t h a d b e e n b u tto n to p ress? And w hy w o u ld
ow ned and c o n t r o l le d by H a r tle y H a r t l e y B r o o k s ’ t o o ls fire o n th e ir o w n
B rook s. c o n fe d e r a te s ? ”
“ I d o n ’t u n d e r s t a n d !” e x c la im e d G r a g
TH O lo o k e d a little m o re th o u g h t­
O
in b e w ild e r m e n t . “ W h y s h o u ld B r o o k s
w a n t to h a r m t h e F u t u r e m e n ? ” fu l. “ I se e w h a t y o u m e a n , S im o n .
To S i m o n ’s m in d th ere cam e an But a fte r a ll, th e se fa k e r s m ust have
im a g e — C u r t N e w t o n s p e a k in g to J o a n , s t u d ie d us c a r e f u l ly b e fo r e th ey a t­
an d H a r tle y B rook s p a u s in g n earby to te m p te d t h e ir im p o s t u r e . T h e y m ig h t
f u m b le u n c e r t a in ly in h is p o c k e t s . He have v isite d th e M o o n -l a b o r a t o r y pre­
m u s t h a v e b e e n l is t e n i n g t o t h e ir c o n v e r ­ v i o u s l y .”
sa tio n . The fin a n c ie r had been in t e r ­ “ P o s s ib ly . But a y e a r ’s t im e w o u ld
e s te d in C u r t ’s a c tiv ity at th a t tim e , have been in s u ffic ie n t fo r th e average
and th e one t h in g th e n up p erm ost in s t r a n g e r t o le a r n h o w to e n te r th e la b o r a ­
C u r t ’ s m in d h a d b e e n th e b u il d i n g o f th e t o r y w i t h o u t d e s t r o y i n g it , an d h o w to
n e w p la n e t . o p e ra te th e d iffe re n t m e c h a n is m s .
The B r a in e x p la in e d h is th o u g h ts T h e r e ’ s m o r e t o a ll t h is th a n m e e t s th e
b r ie fly to th e o th e rs. “ B rooks m ust eye. R e m e m b e r , y o u w e r e th e r e b u t a
h a v e b e e n t h e o n e r e s p o n s ib le f o r th a t f e w m o m e n ts a g o . D i d y o u see a n y s ig n s
e x p lo s io n o n B a ld u r ,” he a d d e d . “And o f d a m age?”
d o u b t le s s t h e r e ’l l b e o t h e r a t t a c k s la t e r .” “By th e G reat D ip p e r , n o !” roared
“W e ought to sto p t h e m ,” d e c la r e d G rag. “ S im o n , y o u ’ re r i g h t ! ”
G rag a n x io u s ly . “Or b e fo r e t h e y ’ re “ I f o n e o f th a t b u n c h is n ’t a f a k e r , he
fin is h e d , t h e y ’ll r u in t h e Comet.” m u s t b e C u r t ,” o b s e r v e d O t h o . “ A n d if
“ E x c e lle n t id e a , G rag. As th e first h e c o u ld h a n d le th e d e fe n s e s , th e n h is
m o v e to w a rd s t o p p in g th e m , w e ’l l fo l- m in d c a n ’t have been a f f e c t e d .” The
58 C A P T A IN FU TU R E

s la n t in g g r e e n e y e s n a r r o w e d s u d d e n ly . “You str e tc h e d it a lit t le to o fa r , m y

“ L i t t l e s p a c e -d e v i ls , I t h i n k I ’v e g o t i t ! r u b b e r y f r i e n d ,” r u m b le d G r a g . “ S tic k
L i s t e n , S im o n . S u p p o se , a fte r th a t e x ­ to th e f a c t s — in case you ever le a r n
p lo s i o n on B a ld u r , C urt is h u rt but a n y !”
s t i ll c o n s c io u s . H e k n o w s th a t so m e one “ W h y , y o u r e fu g e e fr o m a scrap h eap,
has t r ie d to k ill th e F u tu re m e n , and, you w ere th e fir st o n e to agree I w as
except fo r h im , has a p p a r e n t ly su c­ rig h t! And ta lk in g about stic k in g to
ceeded. A n d o f f in th e d is t a n c e , h e s e e s fa c ts, w ho f ig u r e d out w hy C u rt w as
a s p a c e -s h ip h e a d in g t o w a r d B a ld u r to h e a d in g fo r T h or? You d id ! As if
ch eck up. y o u c o u ld e v e r h o p e t o u n d e r s t a n d w h a t
“ H e s t u m b le s t o w a r d t h e Comet, hop­ w a s g o i n g o n in h is m in d V*
i n g to fig h t o f f t h e m e n B r o o k s h a s s e n t. “ I t w a s r e a l l y S i m o n w h o f ig u r e d th a t
O n th e w a y h e r u n s i n t o L o r i n g , w h o ’s o u t ,” s a id G r a g m o d e s tly . “I ju s t pu t
bee n a ttra cte d b y t h e n o is e o f t h e ex­ in t o w o r d s w h a t h e w a s t h i n k i n g .”
p lo s io n , a n d h a s n o o b j e c t i o n t o e a r n in g T h e B r a i n h a d m o v e d o n s i le n t t r a c t o r
th e g ra titu d e of th e fa m o u s C a p t a in beam s a w a y fr o m th em . H e k n e w th a t
F u tu re. The Comet ta k e s o ff— b u t C u rt th e p r o b le m of h a n d lin g th e f a ls e
i s n ’t in c o n d i t io n to conduct a b a t t le F u tu rem en , o f m a k in g use o f th e m to
a lo n e , a n d L o r i n g d o e s n ’t k n o w h o w to d e c e iv e B r o o k s , an d y e t o f n o t le ttin g
h a n d le t h e s h ip p r o p e r l y . S o th e Comet th e m c a r r y t h e d e c e p t io n t o o f a r , w o u ld
p u ts on sp e e d a n d e sca p es. be a d if f ic u lt on e. But if C u rt w ere
“ C u r t t h in k s w e ’r e d e a d . B u t i t ’ll be r e a lly w ith th em , th ere w a s a p o w e r fu l
a te r r ific b l o w t o B r o o k s i f h e m a k e s th e a l l y in t h e e n e m y ’s c a m p .
la t t e r b e lie v e w e ’r e s till a liv e . So he A f e w m o m e n t s la t e r , t h e y w e r e b a c k
r ig s u p th e se fa k e r s — a n d B r o o k s fa lls in th e s h ip on ce m ore. The Comet
f o r t h e b a it , t r ie s t o a t t a c k , a n d is b e a te n m ig h t reach Thor ahead of th em , but
o f f , t h is t i m e l e a v in g e v id e n c e t h a t w i l l u n le s s C u r t m a d e u s e o f t h e v i b r a t i o n -
e v e n t u a lly c o n v ic t h i m .” d r iv e , t h e p u r s u e r s w o u l d n o t b e f a r b e ­
G r a g ’s p h o t o e le c t r i c eyes seem ed to h in d .
g le a m . “ Y o u ’v e got it, O th o ! N ext W ith t h e a id of a new fu e l m ix tu r e
t h in g , C u r t h e a d s f o r T h o r b e c a u s e he t h a t S i m o n h a d s e c u r e d f r o m t h e la b o r a ­
know s th a t th e i n t e r p la n e t a r y govern­ t o r y , t h e y c o u ld c o u n t o n a t t a in in g t w ic e
m ent is a lr e a d y at w ork on th e new th e m a x i m u m a c c e le r a t io n t h e s h ip h a d
p la n e t , a n d h e w a n t s to g e t th e heavy ev e r reac h ed p r e v io u sly .
core r e a d y .” O t h o w a s a t t h e c o n t r o ls on ce m ore,
“ A l l o f w h ic h m e a n s ,” s a id O t h o , “ th a t th e v e sse l h e a d in g fo r T h o r , w h e n s u d ­
w e ’v e been m is ju d g in g th o se fa k e rs. d e n ly th e b ra ke ro ck e ts roared . The
T h e y ’v e m e r e ly been d o in g as C urt B r a i n ’ s s t a l k - e y e s t u r n e d i n q u ir in g ly to
w a n te d th e m to do. W e ’ll g o u p t o h im , O th o .
a n d m a k e o u r s e lv e s k n o w n — ” “ P la n e t P a tr o l s h ip c o m in g to w a r d
“ W e s h a ll la n d o n T h o r u n o b s e r v e d ,” u s, S i m o n ,” e x c la i m e d th e a n d r o id .
r a s p e d t h e B r a in c o l d l y . “ Y o u r t h e o r y is “ P r o b a b ly h eard new s of w hat took
a p r e t t y o n e , O t h o , b u t it g o e s f a r b e y o n d p la c e , a n d h a p p e n e d to b e c lo s e e n o u g h
t h e e v id e n c e , an d t h e r e a r e m a n y fla w s t o i n v e s t i g a t e .”
in it . The one fa c t of w h ic h we can L e s s t h a n a n h o u r la t e r t h e y la y a l o n g ­
be c e r t a in is th a t th e real C a p t a in s id e th e P la n e t P a tr o l vessel and
F u tu re m ust be w ith L o r in g . W e do w a ite d w h ile t w o o ffic e r s c o m e a b o a r d .
n o t k n o w w h o h e is . A n d I d o n o t in ­ O th o ’s green eyes a lm o s t popped out
te n d to put m y s e lf in L o r i n g ’s hands o f h is h e a d . “ B y a ll t h e s u n - i m p s ! ” he
o n th e b a s is o f your g u e s s w o r k .” gasp ed . “ I t ’s Joan and E z r a !”
T h e c h a s t e n e d a n d r o id s m i le d sh eep ­ O t h o at le a s t c o u ld s p e a k . J o a n an d
is h ly . “ A ll r ig h t, S im o n , w e’ll do as E zra, as th e F u tu re m e n q u ic k ly ob­
y o u say. But I th o u g h t I had a w o n ­ serve d , w ere so a sto u n d ed th ey w ere
d e r fu l t h e o r y !” u n a b le to u t t e r a w o r d .
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 59

CH APTER XV I c o u ld e a s i l y d e t e c t i t . W ith n o c lo u d s
t o h a m p e r t h e m , t h e y c o u ld s e e t h e h o r i­
The Butterflies Who Chased Men z o n , l e s s t h a n a m i le a w a y in e a c h d ir e c ­
t io n . N u m e r o u s s m a ll g r a y b u s h e s w e r e
TH E Comet had fe lt t h e o n l y b r e a k in t h e m o n o t o n y o f th e
th e g r ip of T h o r ’s r e d d is h la n d s c a p e .
g r a v ity m any th o u ­ A hu ndred yard s or so aw ay fro m
s a n d s o f m i le s a w a y , t h e m , a t i n y o b j e c t s p r a n g in t o t h e a ir,
ju s t as if th e tin y and s e t t le d r a p i d ly d o w n a g a in .
p la n e to id w ere on e “ A n im a l lif e ,” rem ark ed th e g lo o m y ,
of th e S u n ’s la r g e r w h i t e - f a c e d p s e u d o -a n d r o id .
s a t e l l it e s . B la c k b e a r d Several o th e rs of th e tin y o b je c t s
brou gh t th e tea r­ le a p e d u p c lo s e r at h a n d .
d r o p -s h a p e d v e s s e l “ T h e y ’r e b u t t e r f l i e s !” e x c la i m e d L or­
dow n fo r a la n d in g , in g .
and w ith o u t b o th e r­ “ I ’ v e s e e n t h e i r k in d o n J u p i t e r ,” o b ­
i n g t o s l ip i n t o a s p a c e -s u i t , s t e p p e d o u t s e r v e d t h e J o v ia n .
u p o n its s u r f a c e . L o r i n g a n d th e la t t e r ’ s B la c k b e a r d w a s s t a r in g at th e i n s e c t ­
c o m p a n io n s f o l l o w e d h im u n e a s i ly . lik e c r e a tu r e s u n e a s ily .
“ T h e r e ’s good a ir h e r e !” e x c la i m e d “I w a s n ’t e x p e c tin g t h i s ,” he sa id .
L o r in g . “I d i d n ’t k n o w t h a t .” “ W e ’ d b e t t e r r e t u r n t o t h e s h ip .”
B la c k b e a r d n o d d e d . “ T h o r is o n l y t e n The p re te n d e d rob ot lo o k e d at h im
m i le s i n d ia m e t e r , b u t it h a s n o t r o u b le w ith p u z z le d ey e s. “W hy? T h e y ’ re no
h o ld in g th e a t m o s p h e r e it s t o l e .” m o r e t h a n a c o u p le o f in c h e s l o n g . T hey
“ S to le ? ” I t w a s th e p r e t e n d e d r o b o t c a n ’t b e d a n g e r o u s ! ”
w h o a s k e d th e q u e s t io n . “T hey have w in g s, but d e sp ite th e
“ From s o m e o t h e r s t e lla r b o d y . The presence of an a tm o sp h e re , th ey can’t
o x y g e n is o f th e o r d in a r y t y p e , o r e ls e fly . T h a t m e a n s th a t t h e y ’ re t o o h e a v y
w e w o u l d n ’ t b e a b le t o b r e a t h e i t . But to be su p p o rte d b y m a tte r o f an y o rd i­
th e m o l e c u le s of th e p la n e to id it s e lf n a ry k in d . And if t h e ir b o d ie s are o f
are of th e h e a v y k in d , t o t a lly a lie n to h e a v y m a tter, w e d o n ’t w a n t to t a n g le
ou r p h y s ic a l m a k e -u p . You o b v io u s l y w i t h t h e m .”
d id n ’ t read th e s c ie n t if ic re p o rts m ad e
N E o f t h e p e c u lia r in s e c t s s p r a n g up
O
p u b l ic u p o n t h e d i s c o v e r y o f T h o r . ”
T h e s u r f a c e o f t h e p la n e t o i d w a s s u r ­ u n e x p e c t e d ly a fe w fe e t a w a y fro m
p r i s i n g l y fia t, as i f t h e g r e a t w e i g h t o f th em , rea ch ed th e to p of it s le a p , an d
each p a r tic le of grou n d had fu rth e re d t h e n f e l l t o w a r d B la c k b e a r d . H e du cked
th e p r o c e s s o f l e v e l i n g o f f . L ik e P h o b o s q u ic k ly , b u t n o t b e fo r e o n e o f th e w in g s
and D e im o s , s a t e l l it e s of M ars, Thor h a d b r u s h e d h is s h o u ld e r . H e s p r a w le d
had a c u rv a tu re so great th a t th e eye [Turn page ]

Now She Shops

“ Cash and Carry”
Without Painful Backache
M a n y s u ffe r e r s r e l ie v e n a g g in g b a c k a c h e n ig h ts , s w e llin g , p u ffin ess u n d e r th e ey e s, h e a d ­
q u ic k ly , o n c e t h e y d is c o v e r t h a t t h e re a l ca u s e a ch e s a n d d iz z in e s s . F r e q u e n t o r s c a n ty p a s­
o f t h e ir t r o u b le m a y b e t ir e d k id n e y s . sa g es w it h s m a rtin g a n d b u r n in g s o m e tim e s
T h e k id n e y s a re N a t lu r e ’ s c h i e f w a y o f ta k ­ sh o w s th e re is s o m e t h in g w ro n g w ith y o u r k id ­
in g t h e e x c e s s a c id s a n d w a s te o u t o f th e b lo o d . n e y s o r b la d d e r .
T h e y h e l p m o s t p e o p le p a ss a b o u t 3 p in t s a d a y . D o n 't w a it! A s k y o u r d r u g g is t fo r D o a n ’ s
W h e n d is o r d e r o f k i d n e y fu n c t io n p e r m its P ills , u s e d s u c c e s s fu lly b y m illio n s fo r o v e r 4 0
p o is o n o u s m a tt e r t o r e m a in in y o u r b lo o d , it y ea rs. T h e y g iv e h a p p y r e l ie f a n d w ill h e l p th e
m a y c a u s e n a g g in g b a c k a c h e , r h e p m a t ic p ain s, 1 5 m ile s o f k id n e y tu b e s flu sh o u t p o is o n o u s
le g p ain s, loss o f p ap a n d en ergy, g e t t in g up w aste fro m you r b lo o d . G e t D o a n ’ s P ills . tAdv.i
60 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

to th e grou n d as i f h u r le d by a g ia n t c u r io u s ly o u tw a r d . In to th e b u tt had
hand. b e e n f itt e d s e v e r a l t i n y t r a n s f o r m e r s a n d
The o th e rs w ere r u n n in g in p a n ic r e c t if ie r s needed to change th e en ergy
back to w a rd th e Comet, w ith th e dan­ o f a t h in c u r r e n t o f e x c i t e d p r o t o n s i n t o
gerou s in se c ts h u r t li n g a fte r th e m . t h e b r o a d b a n d o f a f o r c e b u ff e r .
B la c k b e a r d p ic k e d h is b r u is e d b o d y o f f “ That s h o u ld do th e jo b . W ant to
f r o m th e g r o u n d , w h i c h w a s a s h a r d an d co m e a lo n g w ith m e a n d t r y i t ? ”
r e s is t a n t as t h e f in e s t t e m p e r e d s t e l li t e . L o r in g shook h is head. “ One ex­
He sw e p t arou nd th e c lo u d of b u tte r­ p e r ie n c e w i t h t h o s e i n s e c t s is e n o u g h .”
flie s, w h ic h seem ed to have in c r e a s e d “I su p p ose th e r e ’s no u se a s k in g
w ith e a c h s t e p , a n d c u t i n t o th e g r o u p G rag or O th o . But it would be con­
of fle e in g m en c lo s e to L o r in g . A v e n ie n t if one of th e m w ere to com e
seco n d a fte r th e door c la n g e d b e h in d a l o n g a n d h a n d le th e s p e c t r o s c o p e , w h i l e
th e m , t h e y c o u ld h e a r t h e t h u d o f a h e a v y I u se d th e g u n .”
b o d y a g a in s t t h e h u ll o f t h e Comet. “ T h e y ’ r e b u s y . Y o u ’ d b e t t e r g o a lo n e .”
L o r i n g w a s p a le . “W hy d id w e ever
com e to th is G o d -fo r s a k e n p la c e , any­ R ESE N TLY B la c k b e a r d w as o u t­
w a y ? ” he g r o w le d sa v a g e ly .
“To m ake a s p e c t r o s c o p ic e x a m in a ­
P s i d e t h e s h ip . T h ere w ere none o f
t h e l e a p i n g in s e c t s n e a r b y , b u t n e v e r t h e ­
t io n o f i t s m a t t e r ,” r e t u r n e d B la c k b e a r d le s s h e s e t u p h is i n s t r u m e n t s a n d w o r k e d
c o o ll y . “ I f w e ’r e g o i n g t o m a k e u s e o f c a u t io u s l y , not k n o w in g w hen th e y
th e s t u f f , w e ’ll h a v e t o le a r n i t s in t e r n a l m ig h t s p r in g in to s ig h t. I t w a s stra n g e
s t r u c t u r e .” t o f e e l a s t r o n g b r e e z e a g a in s t h i s f a c e ,
O u t s i d e , t h e b u t t e r flie s w e r e c o n t in u ­ t o s e e f le e c y c l o u d s s c u d d i n g p a s t o v e r ­
i n g to b e a t a g a in s t t h e v e s s e l, a n d t h e y h e a d , a n d y e t to d e te c t n o t th e s lig h te s t
c o u ld f e e l t h e s l i g h t v i b r a t i o n o f t h e h u ll s i g n o f m o t i o n in t h e s m a ll b u s h e s th a t
at e a c h b l o w . “ T h e y ’l l b r e a k t h r o u g h ,” covered th e grou nd . C om posed o f th e
m u tte re d L o r in g . in c r e d ib ly d en se m a tter of T h or, th ey
B la c k b e a r d shook h is head. “The w e r e i m m o v a b le b y t h e f o r c e o f a n o r d i ­
Comet w a s b u ilt to w ith sta n d th e im ­ n a r y h u r r ic a n e .
p a c t o f h u n d r e d -t o n p r o je c t i l e s . W e ’re S m a ll sh ad ow s crep t th ro u g h th e
sa fe so lo n g as we sta y in sid e . But b u sh es near at hand, and B la c k b e a r d
w e ’l l have to f ig u r e out a w ay of de­ r e a li z e d t h a t t h e r e w e r e o t h e r f o r m s o f
f e n d i n g o u r s e lv e s .” l i f e p r e s e n t b e s i d e t h e b u t t e r flie s .
“ W h a t abo u t ou r p r o to n -p is to ls ? ” d e ­ A fe r a tim e , as he had ju s t about
m a n d e d th e J o v ia n . fin is h e d h is o b s e r v a t i o n s , o n e o f t h e b u t ­
“T ry h ittin g a b u tte r fly w ith a pro­ t e r f l y -c r e a t u r e s le a p e d up, o ff to one
t o n -r a y ,” co u n tered th e p r e te n d e d and­ s id e . As th o u g h th is w ere a s ig n a l,
r o id , “ a n d se e h o w f a r y o u g e t .” o t h e r s b e g a n t o s p r i n g u p n e a r h im . But
B la c k b e a r d nodded. “I th in k th e th e y d id not com e to o c lo s e fo r com ­
a n s w e r lie s in a w i d e - a n g l e d fo r c e ray fo r t, a n d at a r u s tlin g fr o m th e b u sh e s,
th a t w o n ’t k ill, b u t w ill have enough s e e m e d t o fle e .
p o w e r to k n o ck th e m b a c k w a rd . I can T h e r u s tlin g so u n d , h e n o tic e d , cam e
b u ild o n e t h a t w o r k s o n t h e s a m e p r i n ­ f r o m w h a t a p p e a r e d a t fir st t o b e a liz a r d
c i p le as t h e f o r c e b a r r ie r t h a t p r o t e c t e d about a a fo o t lo n g . C lo s e r in v e s tig a ­
th e M o o n -l a b o r a t o r y .” t i o n , h o w e v e r , r e v e a le d t h a t t h e c r e a t u r e
“ T h a t ’ll m ean th a t we sta y in h ere w a s m o r e l ik e a n in s e c t , w i t h s i x j o i n t e d
fo r a n o th e r w e e k ? ” le g s, an d c o m p o u n d m a n y -f a c e t e d eyes
“ N o m o re th an a d a y . I can a d a p t a t h a t s p a r k le d l ik e j e w e l s . I t w a s lu d i­
p r o t o n - p i s t o l .” c r o u s l y l ik e a g i a n t g r a s s h o p p e r .
A c t u a lly , it w a s n o m o r e th a n a f e w It w as c r e e p in g to w a rd h im , and
hours b e fo r e B la c k b e a r d f in is h e d h is B la c k b e a r d , m a k i n g a r o u g h c a lc u la t i o n
w ork. T h e t a ll, b e a r d e d m a n h e ld u p a of th e w e ig h t of th e c r e a tu r e — s o m e ­
p r o to n p is to l w h o se m u z z le now fla r e d w h ere in th e n e ig h b o r h o o d of a th o u -
 D A Y S O F CR E A TIO N 61

san d to n s— g a v e it a w id e b e r th . B u t h is “ S im o n t h in k s th a t C urt is a c tu a lly

v e r y avoid anc-e o f it h a d th e e f f e c t o f a b o a rd th e Comet,” sa id G r a g .
a r o u s in g i t s c u r io s it y . I t p u r s u e d h im “The d is a s te r to th e a tta c k in g sh ip s
w it h sh o r t, r a p id le a p s , b a r e ly s k im m in g le a v e s n o d o u b t ,” ra sp e d th e B r a in .
th e g r o u n d . “If he r e ta in s h is sc ie n tific k n o w l­
B la c k b e a r d r a ise d h is d o c t o r e d p r o to n - e d g e , th e n i t c a n ’t b e th e m a n w h o c a lls
gun, an d p u lle d th e t r ig g e r . The h i m s e lf C a p ta in F u t u r e . H e m u s t b e an
s m a ll b o d y tu r n e d a s o m e r s a u lt in th e im p o s t o r , t o o ,” sa id J o a n . “ T h a t le a v e s
a ir as th e p o w e r fu l f o r c e -f ie ld d r o v e i t o n ly on e p e r s o n — B la c k b e a r d . T h a t’s
b a c k , th e n ca m e t o r e st, a n d sta r e d at h im w h o it is, an d I s h o u ld h a v e k n o w n i t ! ”
as b e f o r e . H e fire d a g a in , a n d t h is tim e , S h e d e s c r ib e d b r ie fly h o w sh e h a d m e t
t h o u g h s t ill u n h a r m e d , th e c r e a tu r e had h im a b o a rd th e p ir a te s h ip . A s h e l is ­
h ad e n o u g h . I t tu r n e d , an d fled . te n e d to th e s t o r y o f w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d
B la c k b e a r d b e g a n to a s s e m b le th e in ­ th e n an d la te r , S im o n ’s le n s -e y e s seem ed
s t r u m e n t s w it h w h ic h h e h a d b e e n w o r k ­ to g litt e r . He d id not n o tic e J o a n ’s
in g . As he tu r n e d h is h e a d , h o w e v e r , flu sh .
h e h a d a s h o c k th a t s e n t h is h a n d g r o p ­ “ T h e r e can be n o d o u b t a b o u t it , lass.
i n g a g a in fo r th e w e a p o n h e h a d ju s t T h a t w o u ld e x p la in w h y h e a p p a r e d f a ­
u se d . A f e w f e e t a w a y , r e g a r d in g h im m ilia r . A s f o r th e c h a n g e in h im , th e r e ’s
w ith c u r io s it y , w a s a n o th e r and m u ch an o b v io u s e x p la n a t io n fo r th a t— h e ’s
la r g e r h o p p e r in s e c t . A lm o s t th ree fe e t l o s t h is m e m o r y . R e m e m b e r , th a t sam e
in h e ig h t , it s t w is t e d le g s m a d e it r e ­ e x p lo s io n k ille d O th o , a n d p in n e d G r a g
s e m b le one of th e bu shes d o t t in g th e d o w n so th a t h e c o u ld n ’t m o v e . W hen
p la n e t o id ’ s s u r fa c e . O n ly th e b r illia n t C u r t a w o k e , h is m in d d a z e d , th e r e w a s
c o m p o u n d e y e s r e v e a le d th a t it w a s no n o o n e t o r e m in d h im o f w h o h e r e a lly
p la n t. w as. L a te r, w h en he h a d p a r tia lly r e ­
T h e tw o f o r e le g s ru b b e d a g a in s t each c o v e r e d h is w it s , y o u r s u s p ic io n s o f h im
o th e r so r a p id ly th a t th e y seem ed to m ig h t h a v e m a d e h im fe a r h e w a s r e a lly
b lu r . A h ig h v o ic e , so s h r ill th a t it w a s a c r im in a l. H ence h is r e fu s a l t o ta lk
a lm o s t in a u d ib le , reac h ed B la c k b e a d ’ s a b o u t h i m s e l f .”
ears. “ C an he b e b r o u g h t b a c k t o h is o ld
“ H e llo , h e l l o ! ” s e lf? ” dem anded E zra.
“ I t h in k so. B u t first w e m u s t re m o v e
CHAPTER X V II h im f r o m th e Comet. I t m a y b e d iffic u lt.
R e m e m b e r th a t h e is w o r k in g f o r L o r -
Reunion on Baldur in g , an d w i t h h is m e m o r y o f h is p a st lif e
g o n e , p r o b a b ly t h in k s h e o w e s h is lo y a lt y
ABOARD th e s h ip to th e m a n .”
w h ic h th e y had b o r ­ G r a g m o v e d h is m i g h t y m e ta l lim b s.
r o w e d f r o m th e T e r ­ “I d o n ’t se e w h y th e r e s h o u ld b e a n y
r o r o f S p a c e , th e F u - d if f ic u lt y . W e ’ll fo llo w th e Comet to
tu rem e n fa c e d J oa n T h o r , S im o n , w a it t i ll w e g e t h im a lo n e ,
and E zra. A fte r th e and I ’l l grab h im . He w o n ’t be ex- >
first sh o ck of th e p e e r in g tr o u b le . E v e n i f h e d id , th e re
m e e t in g , th e tw o is n ’t a m a n a liv e w h o c o u ld b r e a k ou t
m e m b e r s of the o f m y g r i p .”
P la n e t P a tr o l had O t h o g r in n e d . “ C u r t d id it o n c e . R e­
recovered ra p id ly m e m b e r , y o u b ig h u n k o f ju n k y a r d on
fro m th e ir s u r p r is e , w h e e ls?”
an d q u ic k e x p la n a t io n s h ad e n su e d . “ T h a t ,” r e p lie d G rag, “ w as w h en he
“ So th e o th e r s are im p o s t o r s ,” m u r­ p r e te n d e d to b e a S v e r d , th a t t im e w e
m u red E z ra . “ T h a t m a k e s c le a r a g r e a t w ent a fte r G orm a H ass, an d he u sed
deal th a t w a s p u z z lin g m e. B u t w hat a t o m ic m o t o r s . T h i s t im e , h e ’ll be j u s t
about C u rt h im s e lf? ” a n o r d in a r y m a n . I can h a n d le him.**
62 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

“ You should be able to,” agreed Simon. cular strength with the ordinary person.
He turned to Joan and Ezra. “ You had And then you’ll understand—”
better come along with us. Those im­ One of Grag’s metal legs brushed
postors will undoubtedly see us as we against a low bush, and he halted, to
land on Thor, and there’s less chance stare at it in bewilderment. The bush
of our frightening them if we’re not with had remained immovable, but his leg re­
a Patrol vessel.” bounded, and there was a visible scratch
Joan and Ezra nodded. A few mo­ in the metal.
ments later, they had radioed their de­ The next moment one of the flitting
cision to their own ship, and were insects struck him full on the chest.
heading for Thor. Grag went over backward and landed
on the ground with a loud metallic clang.
H E Y saw the Comet for a brief mo­
T ment before Otho brought their ves­
sel down on the planetoid of heavy mat­
Otho ducked lithely as one of the insects
leaped at him. From hiding places on the
ground and in the bushes a veritable
ter. The Brain was busy in his make­ cloud of the tiny creatures sprang into
shift laboratory. Beyond suggesting to the air. A dazed look on his face, Grag
the others that they had better not stir rose slowly as Otho shouted to him.
from the ship until he permitted them, “ Get up and run, you bragging junk-
he took no immediate interest in his sur­ heap!”
roundings. “ But they’ve cut off our way back to
The android and the robot objected the ship!”
restlessly. They had been confined for “ Then run away from the ship! W e
long periods of time on previous occa­ can’t stay here!”
sions, but not because of fear. The at­ Grag obeyed sullenly, and soon the
mosphere here was breathable, large ani­ cloud was strung out behind them. “ How
mals were absent, and they had proton- far do you think we’ll have to go?” he
guns. Moreover, they were not as sus­ demanded.
ceptible to danger as Joan and Ezra. “Maybe all around this little world,
Grag had superhuman strength, Otho and thus back to the ship. It wouldn’t
had unmatched speed and agility. What take us long,” yelled Otho. “ And you
harm could there be in stepping outside can keep me entertained by telling me
for a moment? how strong you are—before you get
Shortly afterward, they were outside. yourself knocked over by another but­
“ W e’ll be careful,” observed Otho. terfly!”
“ W e’ll show Simon we’re not reckless After that, they ran for a time in sil­
fools.” ence. Some of the insects lost interest
Grag nodded ponderously. “ And we and dropped out of the race, but others
may learn something useful. After all, joined in to take their places. The robot
the way to find out things is to look for groaned. “ I’ve bumped my leg again. It’s
them, not just remain cooped up wait­ twisted this time.”
ing for information to come to you.” “ You can always get another leg. Keep
A small insect leaped into the air on going.”
ahead of them. Grag’s eyes passed over Leaping unexpectedly from one side,
it carelessly. “ A butterfly. I don’t sup­ one of the insects sailed past the lithe
pose Simon was afraid of danger from Otho and crashed into Grag. The robot
that.” struck the ground once more, and Otho
“ I’m not sure. Remember, if all these paused angrily.
creatures are of heavy matter—” “ I ’ll give you a hand. Quick!”
“A butterfly may be something for you “ My leg is ruined this time, Otho. I
to worry over, Otho, but not for a man can’t run. But you can. Save yourself.”
who’s constructed of steel instead of “ W e’re sticking together,” returned
rubber. Some day, my plastic friend, I ’ll the android. He reached down with a
tell you exactly how I compare in mus­ strong hand to help pull the robot to
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 63

h is feet. At t h a t m o m e n t th e c lo u d of “ T h o s e o t h e r f e l l o w s , ” d e c la r e d G r a g ,
in s e c t s b e g a n t o d is a p p e a r . “ a re a c o u p le o f f r a u d s .”
O t h o ’ s q u ic k eyes sa w m o s t o f th e m “ I ’m s u r e o f t h a t . B u t I ’m s t i ll a l it t l e
v a n is h t o g e t h e r , as i f a g ia n t i n v is ib le d o u b t f u l as t o w h e t h e r y o u a r e .”
hand had stretch e d th r o u g h th e a ir to “ H o ly s u n -i m p s ,” e x c la im e d O th o ,
p u sh th e m a w a y . T h e h an d h u r le d b ack “ t h e y d o n ’t r e a l l y r e s e m b le u s, d o t h e y ,
a p a ir h e r e , a t r io t h e r e , a n d f i n a lly th e C h ie f? Y o u o u g h t t o b e a b le to t e l l u s
fe w sca ttered c r e a tu r e s th a t s t ill re­ a p a r t a t a g l a n c e .”
m a in e d . “ E ven if you d o n ’t rem em b er th a t
y o u ’re C u rt N e w t o n ,” added G rag,
TA LL bearded m an w as ap p roach ­ “ y o u ’v e s e e n u s e n o u g h n o t t o m is ta k e
A in g t h e m , a c u r i o u s l y a lt e r e d p r o ­
t o n -p is to l in h is h a n d . W a l k i n g b e s id e
u s f o r t h o s e p h o n i e s .”
B la c k b o a r d ’s f a c e w o r e a b la n k lo o k .
h i m w a s a n i n s e c t a l m o s t t h r e e f e e t in “ I ’m C u rt N e w to n ?”
h e ig h t, a grassh op p er th in g th a t w as “ I k n o w y o u ’v e f o r g o t t e n a b o u t it , b u t
w e i r d l y h u m a n in it s a t t i t u d e . T h e g i a n t as O t h o s a id , S i m o n w i l l fix t h a t .” The
c o m p o u n d e y e s t o o k in th e t w o s y n t h e t ic rob ot g la n c e d u n e a sily at a n o th e r b u t­
c r e a tu r e s , a n d t w i g l i k e fo r e le g s ru b b ed t e r f ly th a t sp ra n g in to th e a ir n o t fa r
to g e th e r. a w a y , a n d tu rn e d to O th o . “ W e s h o u ld
“ H e llo , h e ll o !” b e g e t t i n g b a c k t o t h e s h i p , O t h o , in s te a d
“B y th e s e a -m o n s t e r s of S a tu r n !” o f ta lk in g so m u c h .”
g a s p e d O t h o . “ T h a t g r a s s h o p p e r is t a l k ­ “ W e l l , t a k e h im , a n d l e t ’ s g o .”
i n g !” G ra g reach ed fo rw a rd . A s e c o n d la te r
G r a g g o t s l o w l y t o h is f e e t a g a in . H e th e sam e in v i s i b l e hand w h ic h had
w a s in a b a d t e m p e r . H e h a d d is r e g a r d e d b r u s h e d a w a y t h e b u t t e r f lie s h u r le d h im
th e B r a i n ’s w a r n in g and had a b a d ly to th e grou nd . O th o sta rte d fo r C u rt,
t w is t e d le g to s h o w f o r it, w h ile O th o , t h e n t h o u g h t b e t t e r o f it , a n d d r e w b a c k .
d e s p it e h is in fe r io r stre n g th , w as un­ G r a g t r i e d t o r is e t o h is f e e t , h is b ad
h a r m e d . H e c o u ld i m a g i n e t h e a n d r o i d ’s l e g t w i s t i n g u n d e r h im . O t h o w a s g r i n ­
j e e r s as h e s t r a i g h t e n e d t h e b e n t l e g i n ­ n in g .
to a p r o p e r ly fu n c t io n in g p ie c e on ce “ I t h o u g h t y o u w e r e s t r o n g e r t h a n he
m ore. w a s ,” t h e a n d r o id je e r e d .
He lim p e d fo rw a rd b e llig e r e n tly . “ P e r h a p s w e h a d b e t t e r d i s c u s s t h is a
“ H e l l o , y o u r s e l f , ” h e r u m b le d . “ A n d if lit t le m ore b e fo r e I accom pan y y o u ,”
y o u t r y a n y m o r e t r i c k s I ’l l u s e m y p r o ­ s u g g e s t e d B la c k b e a r d m i l d l y . “ Y o u tw o
to n -p is to l. U n l i k e t h o s e b u t t e r flie s , y o u a r e a c t i n g e x a c t l y l i k e t h o s e im p o s t o r s .
a r e n ’ t t o o s m a ll t o h i t .” So fa r y o u ’v e g iv e n no e v id e n c e th a t
H e w a s r e a c h in g f o r th e p r o t o n - p i s t o l y o u ’re t h e g e n u i n e F u t u r e m e n .”
w hen O th o put a r e s tr a in in g hand on “Then p erh ap s th is w ill c o n v in c e
h is a r m . y o u ,” r a sp e d an u n e x p e c te d v o ic e .
“ W a it a m in u te , G rag. D o n ’t you T h e y a ll l o o k e d u p t o s e e t h e n e w f ig ­
r e c o g n iz e th e m a n w e ca m e h e re to g e t ? u re th a t h a d m a d e its ap p eara n ce. O v e r ­
T h is is C u r t .” h e a d , t h e B r a i n w a s g l i d i n g a lo n g n o is e ­
“ L i t t l e f is h e s o f V e n u s ! ” r u m b le d t h e l e s s l y o n h is t r a c t i o n b e a m s . H e r e a c h e d
r o b o t. “I had fo r g o tte n how d iffe r e n t t h e m as G r a g g o t b a c k o n h is f e e t .
h e ’d l o o k ! ” “T h is is g e ttin g m o n o t o n o u s ,” G rag
“ W e ’r e l u c k y t o r u n in t o h i m a l o n e .” c o m p la in e d .
O t h o t u r n e d t o f a c e B la c k b e a r d . “ Y o u ’ d “ So you o v e r r u le d my s u g g e s t io n
b e tte r co m e w ith u s, C h ie f. W e know about re m a in in g in th e s h ip ,” g ra ted
y o u ’v e f o r g o t t e n w h o y o u a r e , b u t S im o n S im o n at th e s h a m e fa c e d rob ot and
w i l l fix t h a t .” a n d r o id .
B la c k b e a r d gazed q u iz z ic a lly at th e “ I ’m s o r r y , S i m o n ,” s a id O th o m eek ­
e a g e r p a ir . “ I s u p p o s e y o u t w o p r e te n d ly . “ W e th o u g h t— ”
t o b e g e n u i n e F u t u r e m e n ,” h e r e m a r k e d . “I know e x a c tly w hat y ou t h o u g h t .”
64 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

T h e B r a in f a c e d B la c k b e a r d o n c e m o r e . T h e B r a in s p o k e s l o w ly . “ I can c h a n g e
“ C u r t , la d , y o u don’t kn ow h ow happy t h a t, la d . And I t h in k I h a d b e t t e r d o
w e a r e t o fin d y o u ! Y o u ’ll c o m e w i t h u s it b e fo r e you re tu rn to th e Comet, so
to o u r s h i p ? ” th a t y o u ’ll b e a b le to m e e t t h o s e s c o u n ­
“ I ’m s t i ll w a i t in g f o r t h is c r e a tu r e th a t d r e ls w i t h a ll y o u r w i t s a b o u t y o u . It
c a lls i t s e lf G rag to p e r s u a d e m e ,” re­ w i l l r e q u ir e a d e lic a t e o p e r a t io n .”
tu r n e d B la c k b e a r d d r y ly . “ B u t, S im o n !” p ro te ste d Joan. “It
“V ery w e ll,” agreed S im o n . “ G rag, w o u ld t a k e C u r t w e e k s to r e c o v e r ! H e ’ d
p ic k h im u p .” b e u n a b le t o r e t u r n t o th e Comet, and
t h e y ’ d m i s s h im .”
H E n e x t m o m e n t G r a g d is a p p e a r e d .
T T h e n B la c k b e a r d f e l t h i m s e l f l if t e d
in t o t h e a ir b y i n v is ib le m e t a l h a n d s , th e
“ N o , J o a n , i t w i l l ta k e b u t a f e w m o ­
m en ts
p e r io d
fo r
of
th e
recovery
o p e r a t io n
w i ll
it s e lf,
be
a n d no
n e c e s s a r y .”
p r o t o n -p i s t o l r e m o v e d f r o m h is h a n d . S i m o n ’s s t a l k - e y e s s w i v e l le d around to
“By th e d e v ils o f s p a c e ,” h e g a s p e d , f a c e B la c k b e a r d . “Do you tru st my
“ w h a t’s g o in g o n ? ” sk ill, la d ? ”
“ T h i s s h o u ld c o n v in c e y o u th a t w e are T h e b e a r d e d m a n s m ile d . “ I m a y have
th e g e n u in e F u t u r e m e n ,” observed fo r g o tte n w h o I am , b u t I re m e m b e r a
S im o n . “ I ’v e u se d a d e v ic e w h ic h y o u fe w th in g s I ’v e heard about w hat th e
y o u r s e l f in v e n t e d t o s c r e e n G r a g fro m B r a i n can d o . I ’m r e a d y i f y o u a r e .”
v ie w . C o m e p e a c e a b ly n o w , C u r t . Jean I t w a s a t t h is m o m e n t th a t t h e r e c a m e
a n d E z r a a re w a i t in g t o t a lk to y o u . ” fro m o u t s id e th e s h ip a s h r ill p ip in g
“ Y o u r a r g u m e n t is i r r e s i s t ib le ,” c a p i­ sou n d . “ H e l l o , h e l l o !”
tu la t e d B la c k b e a r d . “ I ’l l g o w i t h y o u .” “ J u m p in g J o v i a n s ! ” e x c la i m e d O th o .
A b r i e f t i m e la t e r B la c k b e a r d w a s i n ­ “ I t m u s t b e th a t in s e c t-m a n ! H e ’s f o l ­
s id e th e ir s h ip . J o a n k i s s e d h im w a r m ­ lo w e d u s h e r e .”
l y , an d th e n b lu s h e d . E zra shook h is “ H e llo , h e llo !”
h a n d w a r m ly , a n d s la p p e d h is b a c k to “ T h a t a p p e a r s t o b e t h e o n ly w o r d he
h id e th e e m o tio n th a t w a s overpow er­ k n o w s ,” m u t t e r e d G r a g .
in g h im . Th rough it a ll, th e p u z z le d “ I t i s n ’t ,” r e p lie d C u rt. “I t h in k h e
lo o k o n C u r t ’s f a c e d id n o t d is a p p e a r . has a fa ir ly g o o d g ra sp o f E n g lis h .”
“ N o w , la d , w e ’r e g o i n g t o b r in g b a c k G rag sta re d . “ That g rassh op p er?
y o u r p a s t,” s a id S im o n . W h a t does he sa y ?”
C u rt lo o k e d d u b io u s . “ I ’m b e g in n in g “ I d o n ’t k n o w . I t h in k th a t y o u , G r a g ,
to w o n d e r w h e t h e r t h a t ’s p o s s ib le . E v e r s h o u ld b e a b le t o u n d e r s t a n d h im b e t t e r
s in c e I a w o k e o n B a ld u r t o fin d m y o x y ­ th a n a n y o n e e ls e . L e t ’s g o o u ts id e an d
gen tr ic k lin g a w ay and m y m e m o r y g o n e, h a v e a lit t l e c o n v e r s a t i o n .”
I ’v e b e e n t r y i n g t o fin d o u t w h o I a m . “N o harm in t h a t ,” agreed S im o n .
I t h o u g h t f o r a t im e t h a t t h e m e m o r y “ M e a n w h ile , I ’ll c o l l e c t t h e in s t r u m e n t s
of my p r e v io u s life w o u ld com e back I n e e d .”
to m e o f i t s e l f . ”
H e la u g h e d h a r s h ly . “ W e l l , it h a s n ’t. U T S ID E th e s h ip , th e i n s e c t -m a n
I d o n ’t rem em b er a n y th in g th a t hap­ w a s r u b b in g h is fo r e le g s to g e th e r
p e n e d t o m e as C a p t a in F u t u r e . S o fa r a g a in , t h is t im e w i t h o u t s e e m in g t o p r o ­
as I k n o w , I ’m s t i ll B la c k b e a r d .” duce an y sou n d . B u t a l o o k o f a le r t n e s s
“ B u t th e Comet, t h e M o o n -l a b o r a t o r y ! a n d c lo s e a t t e n t io n b e c a m e a p p a r e n t in
W e r e n ’t th o s e f a m i li a r t o y o u ? ” G rag.
B la c k b e a r d nodded. “ T h e y w ere, but “ D o n ’t te ll m e ,” c r ie d O th o , “ th a t
th e k n o w le d g e d id n ’t s e e m p a r t o f m e . y o u ’v e g o t b e t t e r ea rs th an we h a v e !”
I k n e w th e m as I ’d k n ow th e d is t a n c e “ U n d o u b t e d ly ,” r u m b le d G rag. “I
f r o m t h e S u n t o th e E a r t h , a s I ’d k n o w d o n ’t know w hy, but I can get every
th e d ia m e t e r o f t h e M o o n — as o b je c t i v e w o r d !”
s c ie n t ific f a c t s th a t h a d n o p e r s o n a l r e ­ “ O ur fr ie n d h e r e ,” e x p la in e d B la c k ­
la t io n t o m y s e l f . ” beard, “ produces sou nds in th e u lt r a ­
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 65

s o n ic ran ge. By d in t of c o n s id e r a b le l a n g u a g e , a lt h o u g h t h e s t r a n g e r s c o u ld
e f f o r t , h e c a n m a n a g e t o s a y , ‘ H e l l o , ’ in never u n d ersta n d th e m t o o w e ll.
a s u f f ic ie n t ly l o w t o n e f o r u s to h e a r h im . “ O n e o f th e m e n w a s a s c i e n t i s t w h o
B u t he can’t carry on m u c h o f a con­ w a s m o r e in t e r e s t e d in s t u d y i n g t h e m a t ­
v e r s a t io n th a t w a y .” te r o f w h i c h T h o r w a s m a d e th a n in s a v ­
“ S im o n a n d y o u r f a t h e r b u ilt G r a g ,” i n g h is o w n l i f e . ”
added E zra, “ so th a t he c o u ld d e te c t “ T h a t w o u l d h a v e b e e n C a s s h i m s e l f ,”
so u n d s above th e usu al a u d ib le fr e ­ in te rp o se d E z r a .
q u e n c y .” “ From h i m ,” w ent on G rag, “ th e y
“ J u s t a m i n u t e ,” s a id G r a g . “ T h i s is le a r n e d t h a t T h o r a n d a ll th e c r e a tu r e s
i n t e r e s t i n g .” liv in g upon it w e r e doom ed. A stu d y
T h e r o le o f t r a n s la t o r w a s s o m e t h in g o f i t s o r b it r e v e a le d i t t o b e n o t t h e u su a l
new f o r th e r o b o t , a n d h e w a s m a k in g e llip s e , but a slowly narrowing s p ir a l.
th e m ost of it. He lis t e n e d c a r e f u l ly T h o r is g r a d u a l l y a p p r o a c h in g th e S u n .
f o r a t im e , i n t e r p o s e d a f e w w o r d s , w a it ­ E v e n t u a lly , f o r so m e reason th a t A r n n
e d f o r t h e r e p l y , a n d t h e n t u r n e d t o th e d id n o t u n d e r s t a n d , t h is w i l l c a u s e th e
o th e rs. e n tir e p la n e t o i d to d isin te g ra te or
“ H i s n a m e is A r n n , a n d he is o f a r a c e p lu n g e in t o t h e s u n .”
c a lle d O r m i. A ll th e in s e c t -l ik e crea­ B la c k b e a r d nodded.
tu res on th is lit t l e w o r ld are r e la t e d , “ A r n n w a n t s t o k n o w i f w e s tr a n g e r s

Join T H E F U T U R E M E N C l u b — See Coupon on Page 128!

h a v in g evolved fr o m th e sa m e o r ig in a l have com e to save h im and h is r a c e ,”

a n im a ls . T h a t in d i c a t e s t h a t t h e y ’v e h a d c o n c lu d e d G r a g .
no co n ta ct w ith o th e r w o r ld s th r o u g h ­ “ In a w ay, w e h a v e ,” r e p lie d B la c k -
o u t t h e ir h i s t o r y — u n t il r e c e n t ly . A rnn b ea rd s lo w ly . “ T h e o x y g e n o n T h o r is
s a y s t h a t a s h o r t t i m e a g o a s p a c e s h ip of l i g h t m a t t e r , so i t w o u l d seem th a t
la n d e d o n T h o r . ” th e O r m i a re n o t o x y g e n b r e a t h e r s . H o w
“ N o t so s h o r t a t i m e b y o u r s t a n d a r d s ,” are t h e y a ffe c te d b y h e a t an d c o ld ? ”
observed E zra. “Thor w as d is c o v e r e d G r a g l is t e n e d t o t h e r e p ly , t h e n t r a n s ­
b y G le n n C a s s t e n y e a r s a g o .” la te d . “ A r n n r e c o g n iz e s th e w o r d s b u t
“ The m e n on th e s h i p ,” c o n t in u e d d o e s n ’t k n o w w h a t t h e s e t h i n g s a r e .”
G r a g , “ were t h e fir s t c r e a tu r e s m a d e o f “ G ood enough. That in d ic a t e s th e y
lig h t m a tte r th a t th e O rm i had ever a r e n o t a f f e c t e d .”
seen . S e v e r a l w e r e k i l l e d b y th e s m a ll “W hat becam e of C ass and th e
i n s e c t s , w h i c h a ls o m a d e t h e ir w a y in t o o th e rs?” dem anded Joan.
t h e s h ip i t s e l f , a n d a c c id e n t a l l y r u in e d A r n n s p o k e r a p id ly . T h e y c o u ld h e a r
t h e e n g in e s . T h e s h ip c o u ld n o lo n g e r o n l y a s y lla b le o r t w o o f h is s h r i ll r e ­
t a k e o f f .” p ly . G r a g e x p la in e d .
T h e o ld m a r s h a l’ s v o i c e t r e m b le d w i t h “ E v e n t u a lly th e y u sed up th e fo o d
eag ern ess. “ S o t h a t ’s w h a t h a p p e n e d to th ey had b ro u g h t w ith th e m and th e y
C ass! H e r a d io e d t h e n e w s o f h is d i s ­ sta rv e d . In th e cou rse of t im e th e ir
c o v e r y in t o s p a c e , a n d it w a s p i c k e d u p s h ip w a s c r u s h e d b y t h e liz a r d -c r e a t u r e s ,
b y a p a s s e n g e r lin e r . B u t n o t h in g m o r e a n d f e w t r a c e s o f it r e m a in .”
w a s e v e r h e a r d o f h im , e v e n t h o u g h t h e “It w as th e in e v i t a b le e n d ,” m u sed
P la n e t P a t r o l k e p t u p th e s e a r c h f o r a B la c k b e a r d .
y e a r .”
E LOOKED u p to see S im o n a p ­
H
“ A r n n s a y s t h a t h e a n d h is r a c e p r o ­
t e c t e d t h e m e n w h e n t h e y le a r n e d h o w p r o a c h in g e a g e r ly .
ill -a d a p t e d th e v is ito r s w ere to t h is “ R e a d y n o w , la d . W e ’d b e t t e r g e t i n ­
w o r ld . And by c o n ta c t w ith th e n e w ­ t o t h e s h ip a g a in .”
com ers, th e y g r a d u a lly le a r n e d th e A r a n ’s t e r r ific w e i g h t w o u l d h a v e ta k -
 66 ' C A P T A IN F U TU R E

e n h im t h r o u g h th e b o t t o m o f t h e ir v e s ­ CHAPTER X V III
s e l, an d h e s e e m e d to u n d e rsta n d th a t
fa c t, fo r he m a d e no a tte m p t to jo in th e m Plans for Failure
in s id e . O t h o w a s t h e l a s t o n e t o e n te r ,
a n d as h e m o v e d f o r w a r d , h e l o o k e d u p , I T w a s th e fir s t t im e
d r a w n b y a w h i s t li n g s o u n d in t h e air. in h is l i f e t h a t H a r t ­
A b r i g h t s t r e a k w a s fla s h in g a c r o s s th e l e y B r o o k s c o u ld r e ­
sk y , to d is a p p e a r b e h in d th e h o r iz o n . m em b er b e in g d e sp e r­
A n o th e r s p a c e s h ip ! At th is r a te th e a te . H i s p la n s t o r id
t i n y p la n e t o id w o u ld s o o n b e w e l l p o p u ­ h im s e lf of th e Fu­
la t e d . tu rem e n had f a ile d ,
T h e B r a in w a s n o t s u r p r i s e d t o h e a r h is m o s t t r u s t e d l i e u ­
th e n e w s . “ I t w a s to be ex p e c te d , O th o , t e n a n t w a s d e a d , an d
th a t B r o o k s w o u l d m a k e a n o t h e r a t t e m p t soon t he P la n e t
t o k i l l C u r t a n d t h e p e o p le h e t h i n k s are P a tr o l w o u ld be on
th e F u tu r e m e n . T h e r e a r e t w o f a c t io n s h is t r a il. H e h a d r e ­
to th is m y s te r y . I do not know w hat p e a te d t o h i m s e l f a g a in a n d a g a in th a t
B rook s in te n d s to do n o w , a lth o u g h I h e m u s t a c t r a p id ly — w i t h o u t b e i n g a b le
t h in k I s h a ll s o o n . But fir s t w e m u s t to d e c id e w hat a c t io n he sh o u ld ta k e .
r e s t o r e C u r t ’ s m e m o r y .” O n l y h is i n a b il i t y t o t h in k o f a n y t h i n g
The o th e rs w e re ten se . E z r a ’s h a n d b e t t e r h a d l e d h im t o f o l l o w t h e F u t u r e -
tr e m b le d as he r a is e d it to h is m o u t h m en to T h o r .
w ith a c h e w o f batab, th e V e n u s ia n su b ­ I t h a d b e e n e a s y e n o u g h t o t r a il th e
stitu te fo r to b a c c o . Joan ’s eyes w ere Comet, and to le a r n th a t s till a n o th e r
m o ist. E ven G rag and O th o sh o w ed s h ip w a s i n t e r e s t e d in t h e d o in g s o f th e
by t h e ir s i le n c e and th e un usual F u tu rem en . T h e s e n e w c o m e r s in t o th e
s o l e m n i t y o f t h e ir m a n n e r h o w g r e a t l y p ic t u r e p u z z l e d B r o o k s , b u t h e d id n o t
th e y w e re a ffe c te d . O n ly C u rt h im s e lf a llo w th e m to d iv e r t h im fr o m h is o b ­
se e m e d to b e u n c o n c e rn e d . je c t i v e . He m u st get r id of C a p t a in
“ W e ’ll have to save th o se O r m i, F u tu re ! N o w t h a t s t r o n g -a r m m e t h o d s
S i m o n ,” h e o b s e r v e d , “ a s w e l l as t h e n e w h a d f a i le d , h e w o u l d t r y h is o n e o t h e r
p la n e t . I t h i n k t h e s i m p l e s t t h i n g w o u ld resou rce.
be to re m o v e th e m t o P l u t o , w h e r e th e H e h a d b r o u g h t a lo n g w i t h h im b o t h
S u n ’ s u ltr a -v io le t w o u ld have little e f­ m o n e y and w e a p o n s. H e k n ew th ere w a s
fe c t. W e c o u ld r e m o v e a s m a ll p a r t o f n o h o p e o f b r i b i n g o r i n t i m id a t in g e it h e r
Thor a lo n g w ith th em , so th a t t h e y ’d C u r t N e w to n o r th e F u tu r e m e n , b u t he
h a v e an is la n d o f t h e ir o w n m a t t e r , w h ic h w a s n o t s o s u r e a b o u t t h e i r c o m p a n io n .
w e m u s t a n c h o r f i r m ly t o th e s u r f a c e .” F r o m w h a t h e h a d h e a r d o f L o r i n g , th e
“ T h a t s o u n d s lik e t h e w a y o u t ,” a g r e e d la t t e r h a d a n e y e t h a t g l i s t e n e d a t th e
S im o n . “ B u t n e v e r m i n d t h e m n o w , la d . s ig h t o f m o n e y . A stra n g e c o m p a n io n
The one I ’m con cern ed w ith is you r­ fo r th e F u t u r e m e n , b u t it w a s n o t f o r
s e lf. S i t h e r e .” B r o o k s to m a r v e l a t t h e f a c t . H is b u si­
C u r t l a y b a c k in t h e c h a ir w h i c h S im o n n e s s w a s t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f it .
d e s ig n a t e d . T h e n e x t m o m e n t , th e lo w If, in th e e n d , L o r in g s h o u ld prove
h u m m in g of a h y p n o tic p r o je c t o r be­ to b e u n e x p e c t e d l y h o n e s t , th e n — B r o o k s
c a m e a u d ib le . C u r t ’s e y e s c lo s e d s l o w ­ s h r u g g e d — h e w o u l d b e f o r c e d t o u s e h is
l y , a f a i n t t r a c e o f a s m ile a p p e a r e d o n a to m -p is to l. H e m u s t ta k e th e F u tu r e -
h is f a c e , t h e n v a n is h e d . H e w a s a s le e p . m e n b y s u r p r is e , a n d g e t a w a y a f t e r k i l l ­
T h e o th e rs w a tc h e d b r e a th le s s ly as th e in g th e m . I f h e f a i le d i n t h i s fin a l d e s ­
B r a in h o v e r e d in t h e a ir a b o v e h im . p e ra te attem p t it m ade no d iffe re n c e
“ C u t o f f th e m a c h in e , O t h o . H and me w hat w o u ld happen to h im . He w as
m y fir st in s t r u m e n t s , G r a g .” r u in e d e it h e r w a y .
T h e tw o c o m ra d es m o v e d w o r d le s s ly A s h is fle e t s p a c e y a c h t c lo s e d in o n
in s w i f t , s i le n t o b e d ie n c e . Thor he c o u ld see th e g lis te n in g h u ll
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 67

o f th e Comet. H e s p o k e to h is p i l o t , a n d t e r o f v i t a l im p o r t a n c e — t h e b u il d i n g o f
t h e la t t e r b r a k e d , a n d b e g a n t o p r e p a r e t h i s n e w p la n e t . M y p o s it i o n is s im p le .
f o r l a n d in g . I d o n ’ t w a n t t h e j o b c o m p le t e d .”
T h e F u t u r e m e n w e r e w a i t i n g f o r h im . F r o m t h e l a n d in g p o r t o f th e Comet a
B rooks ap p roach ed th e Comet s t iff ly , h u sk y r e d -h a ir e d f ig u r e e m e r g e d .
r ig id w ith an in n e r te n s e n e s s th a t h is “ C a p t a in F u t u r e ! ” e x c la i m e d B rook s.
m a n n e r d id n o t sh ow . B o th th e rob ot “W hat a s u r p r is e ! I w as to ld you
a n d t h e a n d r o id w e r e s t a r i n g as i f d o u b t ­ w e r e n ’t a n x io u s t o r e c e iv e v i s i t o r s ! ”
in g th e ir e y e s , an d th e s h if t y -e y e d L o r - “ C u r t !” L o r in g ’s v o ic e w as c h o k in g
i n g w a s o p e n -m o u t h e d . w ith re p re sse d ra g e . I f n o t f o r th e p r e s ­
They w ere even m ore d u m b fo u n d e d e n c e o f t h e f in a n c ie r , h e w o u l d h a v e o v e r ­
th an h e w o u ld h ave e x p e c te d , an d fo r a w h e lm e d t h e u n f o r t u n a t e a c t o r w i t h h is
m om en t th e shadow of doubt flit t e d an ger. “You c a n ’t le a v e your e x p e ri­
th r o u g h th e fin a n c ie r ’ s m i n d . F r o m a ll m e n t s n o w .”
th a t he had h e a rd o f th e m , th e F u tu r e - “ W h a t e x p e r im e n ts ? ” a sk ed H r o Z a n .
m en, s h o u ld have been m ore d if f ic u lt “ I ’m tire d of ju s t sittin g in s id e th a t
to s u r p r is e . He w o u ld have th o u g h t sh ip . E ven if t h e r e ’s d a n g e r o u t h ere,
th ey w ere o v e rra te d , i f h e ha d n o t re ­ I w a n t s o m e f r e s h a ir f o r a c h a n g e .”
m e m b e r e d th e fa te o f K a r s V ir s o n , an d B rooks w as g a z in g at h im in te n tly .
t h o s e t e n s h ip s . “ S o i t ’ s t r u e a f t e r a l l ,” h e r e f le c t e d . “He
“ I am H a r t le y B r o o k s ,” h e a n n o u n c e d is m e n t a l l y i ll . And y e t fr o m th e w a y
u n n e c e s s a r i ly . “ F d l ik e t o s p e a k t o C a p ­ he o p era ted th o se d e fe n s e s on th e
t a i n F u t u r e .” M oon— ”
L o r in g s w a llo w e d h ard. “You c a n ’ t. “ M r. B r o o k s , p e r h a p s y o u ’l l ta k e m y
C u r t a n d th e B r a i n are b u s y w i t h a n i m ­ w o r d f o r it t h a t C a p t a in F u t u r e d o e s n ’t
p o r t a n t e x p e r i m e n t .” w ant to see v i s i t o r s ,” g r o w le d L o r in g
“ F u tu re bu sy w ith an e x p e r im e n t? a n x io u s ly . “ H e is n ’t w e ll.”
E x c e lle n t . S o y o u ’ re d r o p p in g th a t p r e ­ B r o o k s w a s s i le n t . A s L o r i n g w a t c h e d
t e n s e a b o u t h is m in d b e i n g a f f e c t e d . A ll h im u n e a sily , h e tu rn e d to gaze a f th e
t h e m o r e r e a s o n w h y h e ’ d b e w i l l i n g to a n d r o i d a n d th e r o b o t , t h e n b a c k to t h e
t a l k t o m e .” t a ll r e d -h a ir e d f ig u r e . H e r e c a lle d w h a t
L o r i n g s h o o k h is h e a d s t u b b o r n l y . “ H e th e m i n e r n a m e d I n g m a n n h a d d o n e to
i s n ’ t le a v i n g t h e Comet. And y o u are O th o on M a rs. A stra n g e lig h t o f u n ­
n o t p e r m it t e d t o e n t e r it .” d e r s t a n d i n g b e g a n t o g r o w in t h e fin a n ­
B rooks sh ru g g ed . “ I ’ve m ad e a lo n g c ie r ’ s e y e s.
j o u r n e y j u s t to s e e h im , b u t i f h e i s n ’ t “ B y t h e d e m o n o f N e p t u n e ! ” h e r a sp e d
a n x io u s to t a lk , t h e r e ’s n o h e lp fo r it . o u t. “ S o t h a t e x p la in s i t ! Y o u ’r e im ­
P e r h a p s , h o w e v e r , I c o u ld s p e a k t o y o u p o s t o r s , e v e r y o n e o f y o u .”
in s te a d ? ” The J o v ia n c la n k e d fo r w a r d m enac­
“ N o t a lo n e .” T h e r e w a s f e a r in L o r - in g ly at a s ig n a l fr o m L o r in g .
i n g ’s e y e s . “ G ra g and O th o a ccom p an y “ Y o u ’r e n o t g o i n g to le a v e T h o r w i t h
m e e v e r y p la c e . Y o u ’ll h a v e t o s p e a k in th a t s t o r y ,” be g r o w le d , h is v o ic e no
f r o n t o f t h e m .” l o n g e r r e s e m b li n g t h a t o f G r a g .
A sa rd o n ic s m i le tw is te d th e fin a n ­
H T H E fin a n c ie r ’ s e x p r e s s io n becam e c ie r ’ s fa c e . “ W e ’v e b e e n f o o l s , a ll o f u s.
•*- p u z z le d . O f a ll t h e t h i n g s h e m i g h t If y o u ’d com e to me lo n g b e fo r e , I ’d
have ex p e c te d fr o m th e tw o s y n t h e t ic have m ade a lu c r a t i v e deal w ith you.
F u tu r e m e n , th e la st w a s th a t th e y w o u ld And I ’d have saved m y s e lf p le n ty of
be degraded to th e p o s it i o n of body­ t r o u b le . K ars V ir so n w o u ld be a liv e ,
g u a r d s fo r th e w o r th le s s L o r in g . Som e­ and te n of my best s p a c e s h ip s w o u ld
th in g in th is setu p w as w rong, a ll n o t h a ve b ee n b la ste d o u t o f e x iste n c e .
w ron g. A n d i f I h a d g u e s s e d — as I s h o u ld h a v e
He sh ru gged a g a in . “You le a v e me — I ’ d h a v e c o m e t o y o u fir s t.”
n o C h o ic e . I c a m e h e r e to d i s c u s s a m a t ­ H e s t a r e d a t L o r i n g a g a in , a n d s h o o k
68 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

h is head r e g r e t fu lly . “You fo o le d me “ N e v e r m in d t h a t. W h a t ’s you r p ro­

to o w e ll fo r y o u r o w n g o o d , L o r in g . I p o s it io n ? ”
w o u l d n ’t h a v e r e m a in e d b lin d i f I ’d had B rooks s m i le d . “Ah, yes. W e ll, I
th e o p p o r t u n i t y b e f o r e o f s t u d y i n g y o u m a y a s w e l l s t a r t o f f b y t e l l i n g y o u th a t
a t c lo s e q u a r t e r s . Y o u r C a p t a in F u t u r e I can r e w a r d y o u w i t h m o r e m o n e y th a n
lo o k s im p o s in g , b u t e ve n a C u rt N e w to n you can ever p ic k up p la y in g a lo n e
o u t o f h is m i n d w o u l d d i s p l a y m o r e i n ­ h a n d — p r o v id e d you p la y th e gam e as
t e l li g e n c e t h a n t h is m a n d o e s .” I d ir e c t . I w a n t y o u t o g o a h e a d w it h
H ro Z an g lo w e r e d . “I d o n ’t h a v e t o th a t p l a n e t -b u i ld in g p r o je c t .”
ta k e i n s u l t s f r o m you” he m u ttered . “ Y o u k n o w t h a t w e c a n ’ t fin is h t h e jo b
“And your rob ot and a n d r o id , upon as F u t u r e w o u l d h a v e d o n e .”
c lo s e e x a m in a t io n , are a l i t t l e t o o h u m a n “ P r e c is e ly . B u t a c t as i f y o u c o u ld .
— an d a lit t le to o m u ch d e v o t e d t o th e C o n tin u e to fo o l th e p u b lic about th e
in t e r e s t s o f E dw ard L o r in g in s t e a d of id e n tity of your a ssista n ts, b u t som e­
C a p t a in F u tu re. I s h o u ld have k n ow n w h a t b e t t e r t h a n y o u ’v e f o o l e d m e . A n d
w hen you e n te r e d th e c o u n c i l h a ll , at t a k e o v e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f th e w o r k , w i t h
th e t im e t h e B o a r d o f G o v e r n o r s m e t o n t e c h n ic a l a s s is t a n c e if n e c e s s a r y , so as
M a r s .” n o t t o r e v e a l y o u r o w n ig n o r a n c e .”
B rooks began to p ace up and dow n. T h a t w o u ld b e a jo b f o r B la c k b e a r d .
“ Poor K ars! H e d i d h i s j o b w e l l, a f t e r L o r i n g n o d d e d a b s e n t ly .
a ll, d e s t r o y i n g th e F u tu re m e n as I o r ­ “ A t th e c r i t i c a l m o m e n t , o f c o u r s e , I
d e r e d h im to , b u t h e fa ile d to d e s t r o y w a n t y o u to b o tc h th in g s up . I w a n t t h is
th e Comet.” p r o je c t to be so r e s o u n d in g a f a i lu r e ,
L o r in g n o d d ed . “I fo u n d th e Comet t h a t t h e e c h o e s o f i t w i l l l a s t f o r y e a r s .”
o n B a ld u r , n o t f a r f r o m F u tu re’s b o d y . “ T h a t w ill be easy . I ’l l s i m p l y p u t m y
T h a t g a v e m e t h e id e a o f th e w h o le m a s ­ im it a t i o n C a p t a in F u tu re in c h a r g e .”
q u e r a d e .” L o r i n g i n d ic a t e d H r o Z a n .
“And a v e r y u n f o r t u n a t e id e a it w a s “ Y o u w i l l r e c e iv e th e f ir s t in s t a l l m e n t
fo r m e .” B rooks s a id , s m i li n g c o ld ly . on our co n tra ct w h en we reach M ars.
N o w t h a t h e h a d le a r n e d th e F u t u r e m e n The s e c o n d w i l l c o m e a f t e r th e p r o je c t
w e r e r e a l l y d e a d , h e c o u ld a p p r e c ia t e th e h a s f a i le d . I f y o u do a g o o d jo b , w e m ay
jo k e on h im s e lf. “ H ow ever, I t h in k I b e a b le t o g e t t o g e t h e r o n a lo t o f t h i n g s
m a y y e t tu r n i t t o m y a d v a n t a g e . But la t e r .”
how d id y o u fa k e rs m a n a g e to d e str o y T h e e y e s o f L o r in g a n d th e tw o p r e ­
m y s h ip s o n t h e M o o n ? ” te n d e d F u tu r e m e n w e re g litte r in g w ith
“ T h ose d e fe n s e s w ere a u t o m a t ic ,” greed. O n ly th e fa ls e C a p t a in F u tu re
L o r in g sa id . w a s s u lle n a n d u n in t e r e s t e d . H i s p r id e
“I to ld you b e f o r e ,” g r o w le d th e h a d b e e n h u r t a g a in . S o m e d a y h e w o u ld
J o v ia n , “ th a t y o u ’ re not le a v in g th is show th e se co n te m p tu o u s p e o p le th a t
p la c e .” h e w a s n o t t o b e s n e e r e d at.
“ I t h i n k I c a n c h a n g e y o u r m i n d s on L o r i n g g la n c e d a t t h e i n t e l l i g e n t m a s k
th a t p o i n t ,” s a id H a r t l e y B r o o k s . o f a f a c e t h a t h id s o m u c h s t u p i d i t y b e ­
The s m a ll b u tte r fly -in s e c ts w ere be­ h i n d it.
g in n in g t o le a p i n t o th e a ir a g a in , a n d “ O nce h is u s e f u ln e s s is fin is h e d , th e
L o r in g su g g e s te d n e r v o u s ly : f o o l w i l l h a v e t o b e p u t o u t o f th e w a y ,”
“ P erhaps we had b e tte r t a lk in s id e . he th o u g h t. “ H e ’s da n gero u s. H e ’s ju s t
T h ese s m a ll c r e a tu r e s are d a n g e r o u s .” s t u p id e n o u g h to t a l k .”
H e h a d n o s u s p ic io n t h a t B r o o k s , t o o ,
O R IN G le d th e w a y . O nce in s id e w a s t h i n k in g i d e n t i c a ll y t h e s a m e t h i n g

L th e Comet, w ith th e d o o r s lo c k e d ,
t h e f in a n c ie r g a z e d a b o u t w i t h in t e r e s t .
about h im . On th e im p o s to r s , B ro o k s
w a s t e d l i t t l e t h o u g h t . T h e y w o u l d c a u se
“ Y o u ’v e in h e r it e d an e x c e ll e n t s h ip , h im n o t r o u b le w h a t e v e r .
L o r in g . I h a ve n o n e th e equ al o f it. I As fo r h is ow n lo o m in g d if f ic u lt ie s
r a th e r e n v y y o u .” w ith th e P la n e t P a t r o l, h is m in d w as
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 69

a lr e a d y t u r n in g o v e r v a r io u s p la n s th a t je c tin g p o in t , and p e n etra ted b e n e a th

o f f e r e d a w a y o u t. I n t h e fir s t p la c e , o f t h e s k u ll . C u r t ’ s b r a in s e e m e d t o b e o n
c o u r s e , t h e P la n e t P a t r o l w o u l d b e f a c e d fire. But th e p la c id e x p r e ssio n of h is
w i t h t h e v e r y r e a l d i f f ic u lt y o f p r o v in g f a c e r e m a in e d u n c h a n g e d .
th a t h e h a d b e e n p e r s o n a l l y r e s p o n s ib le O th o h a n d e d o v e r s till a n o th e r in str u ­
f o r t h e a t t a c k o n th e M o o n . m en t. A n d n o w S im o n b e g a n to tra ce a
I f m a tte rs s h o u ld r e a c h s u c h a s t a t e s lo w p a th th r o u g h th e cerebral h e m i­
s u p p o s e h e w e r e t o m a k e k n o w n th e f a c t s p h e r e , a p a th s o fin e a n d n a r r o w , th a t
th a t th e p a s s e n g e r s o n th e Comet w ere o n ly th e r o b o t a n d t h e a n d r o id am ong
im p o s t o r s . Su p p ose he w ere to c la im t h e w a t c h e r s c o u ld p e r c e i v e i t . N o hu­
th a t h e h a d s u s p e c t e d t h is f a c t l o n g b e ­ m an hand c o u ld have possessed th e
f o r e , h a d s e n t h is m e n t o t h e M o o n to n ecessary s t e a d in e s s , n o n o r m a l h u m a n
i n v e s t i g a t e , h a d b e e n p a i n f u l l y s u r p r is e d b r a in c o u ld have possessed th e k n o w l­
on le a r n in g th a t th e im p o sto rs had e d g e t o g u id e t h e h a n d .
opened fire, a n d h is ow n m e n , a g a in s t B u t S i m o n , o f w h o m n o t h in g r e m a in e d
h is o r d e r s , r e t u r n e d t h e fire. Y e s , th ere o f h u m a n n e s s b u t t h e b r a in i t s e l f , had
w as lit t le d o u b t th a t th in g s w e re sh a p ­ b e e n u n e q u a lle d in h is k n o w le d g e o f th e
i n g u p b e a u t i f u ll y f o r H a r t l e y B rook s. b r a in s of o th e rs. It w as he w ho had
T h e r e w a s a p le a s e d s m ile o n h is fa c e fir s t s k e t c h e d t h e e n o r m o u s l y c o m p li c a t ­
as h e s h o o k h a n d s w i t h L o r in g t o se a l e d s y n t h e t ic b r a in s o f O t h o and G rag.
t h e ir b a r g a in . O n l y h is d e e p u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f th e n a ­
t u r e o f m e n t a l p r o c e s s e s h a d e n a b le d h im
CHAPTER X IX to do so. And h e h a d l o s t n o t h in g o f
t h i s u n d e r s t a n d in g .
A n d Plans for Success E v e r so s lo w ly , h e f o llo w e d th e g r a y
t w i s t i n g p a th s t h a t d e t e r m in e d t h e l i f e
TH E B ra in w a s h o v ­ and u n d e rsta n d in g of a hum an b e in g .
e r in g in t h e a ir a b o v e So c a r e fu lly d id he m ove th a t b e fo r e
C u r t ’ s u n c o n s c io u s lo n g b o th J o a n a n d E z r a fe lt e x h a u ste d
body. As G rag and fro m th e sh e er e ffo r t o f c o n c e n t r a t in g
O t h o h a n d e d h i m th e o n w h a t h e w a s d o in g . B u t S im o n , n o
in s t r u m e n t s h e c a lle d lo n g e r a ffe c te d by th e w eak n esses of
fo r , he s e iz e d th e m o r d in a r y hum an b e in g s, w as beyond
w i t h in v i s i b l e t r a c t o r fa tig u e .
beam s, so th a t th ey H e w a s r e k n i t t i n g m e n t a l c o n n e c t io n s
to o seem ed to flo a t th a t h a d b e e n s n a p p e d b y t h e s h o c k C u r t
above C u rt w ith a N e w t o n h a d s u f f e r e d o n B a ld u r . I f gaps
w i l l o f t h e ir o w n . w e r e n o t t o r e m a in in C u r t ’ s m e m o r y , h e
A s m a ll m e t a l r o d g l o w e d d u ll y , w i t h m ust o v e r lo o k n o t h in g . The s t a lk e d
t h e f a i n t e s t o f r e d d is h l i g h t s . S im o n d i ­ l e n s - e y e s f o l l o w e d t h e t h i n g l o w i n g p a th
re cte d its b ea m s d o w n w a rd , a n d C u r t ’s h e w a s tr a c in g w ith an in te n s ity th a t n o t
s k u ll g r a d u a lly becam e t r a n s p a r e n t, eve n he h a d ever sh o w n p r e v io u sly .
e v e r y v e in a n d a r t e r y , e v e r y s e c t i o n o f E v e n t u a l l y , t h i s p r o c e s s t o o c a m e to
th e b r a in s t a n d in g o u t as c l e a r l y as i f a n e n d . F r o m S i m o n ’s m a n n e r , t h e o t h e r s
t h is w e r e an a n a t o m is t ’ s m o d e l in s te a d c o u ld t e l l th a t h e w a s n o w r e l a x i n g . H e
of a l iv in g h u m a n b e in g . T hey c o u ld s p o k e a g a in to O t h o . “ T h e b u lb .”
see th e a r t e r ie s t h r o b b in g as t h e b lo o d O t h o p a s s e d o v e r a n a r r o w b u lb w it h
p u ls e d t h r o u g h t h e m . a m eta l fila m e n t in sid e . The f ila m e n t
“ N e x t , O t h o .” g le a m e d w ith a fie r c e w h ite in c a n d e s ­
O t h o h a n d e d u p a s m a ll s p h e r e w i t h a c e n c e t h a t h a d t h e e f f e c t o f s e e m i n g to
p o in t e d knob p r o je c t in g fro m its su r­ e x t i n g u i s h t h e fire in C u r t ’s b r a in . N o w
fa c e . T h e B r a i n ’s t r a c t o r b e a m s h e ld it t h e s k u ll b e c a m e o p a q u e a g a in , a n d t h e
a f e w in c h e s a b o v e C u r t ’s s k u ll . A t h in b r a in f a d e d s l o w l y f r o m v ie w .
sh o w er o f sp a rk s sp ra n g fro m th e p r o ­ S im o n sw itc h e d th e h y p n o t i c r a y o n
70 C A P T A IN F U TU R E

a g a in , t h is t i m e in r e v e r s e . C u r t sat u p “ So your w eapon w as e ffe c tiv e ? ” he

s l o w l y a f t e r a m o m e n t , o p e n i n g h is e y e s . g r e e te d B la c k b e a r d .
He b lin k e d . “ H e llo , I seem to have “ I t w a s a g a in s t t h o s e i n s e c t s . I don ’t
b e e n a s le e p !** T h e n h e g r in n e d . “ I re­ th in k it w ill be a g a in s t th e P la n e t
m em ber n o w ! S im o n , y o u ’ re a w o n d e r ! P a t r o l.”
I e v e n r e m e m b e r a ll t h a t h a s h a p p e n e d L o r in g ’s eye b row s w en t up.
s in c e I b e c a m e B la c k b e a r d .” “ T h e y ’re h e r e o n t h e o t h e r s i d e , in a
“ C u rt, y o u ’ re y o u r s e l f a g a i n ! ” Joan d is g u is e d s h i p ,” added B la c k b e a r d .
th re w h e r a rm s abou t h im d e lig h te d ly , “ T h e y ’ re a l i t t l e s u s p ic io u s a b o u t w h a t
and he re sp o n d e d . h a p p e n e d o n th e M o o n . I ’m j u s t w a r n ­
“ T e ll us w h a t h a p p e n e d , c h ie f ,” u r g e d i n g y o u t o b e r e a d y f o r t h e m .”
G rag. “ T h ank s. W e ’v e g o t n o t h i n g t o h i d e .”
“ Su re. B a c k o n B a ld u r , I n o t i c e d t h is In s id e th e sh ip , B la c k b e a r d lo o k e d
f e l l o w , L o r i n g , in th e s p a c e v i s o r s . . . a b o u t. H ro Zan, bored as u s u a l, w as
T h e y a ll l is t e n e d t o C a p t a in F u t u r e ’s s n o r in g in h i s b u n k . T h e tw o p re te n d e d
sto r y in te n tly . F u tu re m e n w ere p la y in g card s. B la c k -
b e a r d ’ s lip c u r le d . T o th in k th a t th e se
AR SH AL E zra G u rn e y had been t w o s h o u l d c o n s id e r t h e m s e l v e s p a s s a b le
M s t a r in g in d e li g h t .
lo u s , S im o n , e v e n f o r y o u !
“ I t ’s m a r v e l­
I w as w on­
i m it a t i o n s o f G r a g a n d O t h o !
H e p u t a w h i s t le t o h is l ip s , a n d b le w
d e r in g h o w y o u w e r e g o i n g t o a v o id a a s h r ill u ltr a -s o n ic n o te th a t o n ly th e
s lo w p e r io d o f r e c o v e r y . You a v o id e d g e n u i n e G r a g ’ s e a r s c o u ld d e t e c t . A fe w
a ll p h y s ic a l o p e r a t io n by not p i e r c in g m o m e n t s la t e r , a s J o a n a n d E z r a m a d e
th e s k u l l .” th e ir ap pearan ce, he h eard L o r in g ’s
“ T h e r e ’s no tim e fo r c o n g r a tu la tin g a m a z e d v o ic e .
o u r s e lv e s ,” rasp ed S im o n s h a r p ly , h is “The P la n e t P a t r o l! T h is i s an u n ­
o ld u n e m o t io n a l s e lf on ce m ore. “I e x p e c te d h o n o r !”
w o n 't r e s t o r e C u r t ’s p h y s i c a l a p p e a r a n c e " I ’d lik e to speak to C urt N e w t o n ,”
y e t , a lt h o u g h e v e n tu a lly t h e r e ’ll be no b e g a n J o a n a b r u p tly .
d if f ic u lt y a b o u t th a t. For th e p re se n t, As sh e had e x p e cte d , L o r in g shook
he m u s t re tu r n to th e Comet as B la c k - h is h e a d . “ I ’m s o r r y , b u t y o u k n o w h is
b e a r d .” c o n d i t io n , C a p t a in R a n d a l l .”
“I t h in k it w o u l d be a d v is a b l e ,” de­ “ I k n o w t h a t th e F u t u r e m e n h a v e a l ­
c id e d C u rt, “ to s u b s titu te G rag, O th o w ays sp ok en fo r th e m se lv e s, and n eed
a n d y o u r s e l f f o r t h e i m p o s t o r s .” n o i n t e r p r e t e r to e x p la in t h e i r t h o u g h t s ,”
“ T h at m ay be ra th e r d if f ic u lt ,” m ur­ she sn apped . “ Y o u h ave n o sta tu s h ere,
m ured E zra d o u b tfu lly . “ L o r in g i s n ’t M r . L o r i n g , t h a t g i v e s y o u t h e r i g h t to
a f o o l , a n d y o u ’l l h a v e t r o u b le t r y i n g t o i n t e r f e r e .”
m a k e th e s u b s titu tio n u n d e r h is n o s e .” L o r in g s w a l lo w e d hard. An an gry
“ N o t i f I h a v e y o u r h e lp a n d J o a n ’s ,” r e to r t tr e m b le d on h is l ip s , b u t h e re­
re tu rn e d C u r t. “ H e r e ’s w h a t I p la n to pressed it. It w as b e tte r to have no
do. . . t r o u b le w i t h t h e P l a n e t P a t r o l . L e t her
N o t l o n g a f t e r w a r d L o r i n g , in s i d e th e sp e a k to th a t fo o l, H r o Z a n , and m uch
Comet, l o o k e d o u t t o s e e B la c k b e a r d r e ­ g o o d it w o u l d d o h e r .
t u r n in g w i t h h is s p e c t r o s c o p ic a p p a r a ­ Joan e n te r e d th e Comet, to fin d th e
tu s. So th e m a n ’ s a lt e r e d p r o to n -g u n m a n w h o p o s e d a s C u r t N e w t o n a lr e a d y
h a d r e a lly b e e n a b le t o p r o t e c t h im . L o r ­ a ro u se d at th e s o u n d o f a w o m a n ’ s v o ic e .
i n g w a s im p r e s s e d d e s p it e h i m s e l f . “ C u r t, d a r lin g !” e x c la i m e d Joan.
B r o o k s h a d b la s t e d o f f s o m e t i m e b e ­ H ro Zan b lin k e d . T h is w as th e o n e
fo r e in h is ow n s h ip , an d L o r in g , a b ­ p e r s o n w h o a p p r e c ia t e d h im , a n d h e w a s
s o r b e d in w h a t h e a n d th e f in a n c ie r h a d n o t s lo w to ta k e a d v a n ta g e o f th e fa c t.
a g r e e d t o d o , w a s n o t c o n s c i o u s o f th e He k i s s e d J o a n b e f o r e s h e c o u ld a v o id
le n g th of tim e th a t had e la p s e d s in c e h im .
B la c k b e a r d h a d s e t o u t. “ C u r t , w h a t ’s w r o n g w i t h y o u ? ”
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 71

“ Nothing much.” Hro Zan sought for come back here, and bring Simon with
a suitable answer, failed to find it. Loring you.”
had not expected this interview, and had Thus, it was that when the Comet
therefore been unable to rehearse him blasted off, leaving the planetoid of
for it. Hro Zan let his own impulses heavy matter behind, once more the real
guide him. “ I’m just not being treated Futuremen manned the tear-drop-shaped
right,” he complained. ship, fitting into their accustomed
“You poor dear!” places. And Loring, as Blackbeard
From then on, Hro Zan would have knew, had no suspicion of what had hap­
paid no attention to an earthquake. At pened.
last, some one who sympathized with
him! CH APTER X X

M E A N W H IL E Ezra was arguing

hotly with Loring at the entrance
Showdown at Planet’s Core

W EEKS had passed,

port about what had happened on the
Moon, with Loring denying that he or and the new planet,
the pretended Futuremen had been pres­ Futuria, w a s near
ent. Loring scarcely noticed the genuine completion. A hollow
Grag and Otho as they stepped by him. space ten miles in
“ I didn’t know you two were outside,” diameter had been
was all he said. left at the very cen­
“ You were busy talking and didn’t no­ ter for Thor to oc­
tice us step out, boss,” came Drag’s rum­ cupy, but only a small
ble. “ Some of the planets here reminded tubular corridor lead­
me of Jupiter, and I wanted to make ing from the surface
sure.” had been preserved.
“ I thought I ’d go with him,” said Otho, Now, as the Comet descended slowly
in his character as the pretended Otho, down this corridor, Hro Zan spoke un­
alias Shane. easily.
Inside the Comet, the two imposters “ I hope this thing isn’t dangerous.”
looked up in amazement at hearing what It was a remark as much out of char­
seemed to be their own voices. As they acter as possible for a man who was pre­
rose to their feet, Blackbeard faced tending to be Captain Future. Joan,
them. who heard it, raised an eyebrow. Brooks,
“Just a minute, boys.” who stood some distance away, shrugged.
“ What? Say,” growled the Jovian, “ do It no longer mattered whether Hro Zan
you see what I see, Shane?” gave the show away or not. Joan and
At sight of the genuine Grag and Otho Ezra, whom the Planet Patrol had for
the jaws of their doubles dropped. reasons of its own insisted on sending
The struggle was over before it real­ along, were in no position to force any
ly started. Otho’s fist landed on Shane’s change in his plans. For once, thought
jaw, and the man was unconscious before the financier, he was in absolute control
he hit the ground. And Grag’s metal of the situation. And any fool could
hand quickly covered his imitator’s see that nobody was going to get a ten-
mouth to choke off any cry for help. mile-thick planetoid through this small
Hro Zan, pouring out his troubles to shaft.
Joan, noticed nothing. Blackbeard approached the financier
“ Now I ’ll help Ezra keep Loring respectfully. Not a muscle of his face
busy,” said Blackbeard. “ Carry these betrayed how thoroughly he understood
two characters out, and deliver them to what was ging on.
Simon. He’ll show you where to stow “ I f you’d care to listen, Mr. Brooks,
them away. Then, when Joan and Ezra I ’m ready to explain what we intend to
return to the Ingmanii ship, you two do.”
72 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

Grag, passing nearby, was saved by ourselves. You see that we have pre­
the expressionless metal of his face from pared the apparatus.”
the need of repressing a grin. Mr.
Brooks would receive a scientific ex­ ROOKS gazed at a small squat
planation. He would have no idea of all
the Futuremen intended to do.
B tower built into the center of the
Comet, baffling by its apparent sim­
Brooks nodded curtly. “ Go ahead.” plicity. This was no maze of tubes and
“The outer surface of the planet has electrical apparatus such as he had ex­
been built up,” explained Blackbeard, pected. The tower was transparent, ap­
“of light elements formed from the parently constructed of some plastic
energy of space by the machine the material that Blackbeard himself had
Futuremen brought back from their invented. From the very top, a flexible
quest beyond the System, and from a glass-like tube ended in a flaring nozzle.
small amount of imported heavier ele­ “ The energy will be retransformed
ments. The core is to be filled with into heavy matter at an incredible rate
the heavy matter of Thor.” as it flows from that nozzle. The order
There was an air of quiet authority of potentials involved is much higher
about the man that impressed Hartley than in the case of cosmic rays, and curi­
Brooks despite himself. He was actual­ ously enough, with this increased poten­
ly talking as if the plan were going to tial, the penetrating power of the energy
be carried out. is lost, so that we need not fear stray
“ However,” went on Blackbeard, radiations. The heavy matter will be
“there is a difficulty. If Thor were to deposited on the inside of the ordinary
be brought here directly, its gravita­ matter of Futuria, and the core built up
tional attraction would tear Futuria quickly. W e shall leave the corridor
apart. W e sought another method of open until the last, to assure ourselves
transporting it, and finally found one. of a safe exit.”
“ Our studies on the planetoid revealed Blackbeard spoke so confidently that
that this heavy matter, ordinarily stable, Brooks was shaken.
can be transformed explosively, under “ What of the living creatures on
suitable conditions, into vast amounts Thor?” he asked.
of energy.” “ They have already been transported
“By means of illumination with ultra­ unharmed to Pluto. Preliminary experi­
violet light,” put in Brooks. ments on that point with the butterfly-
“ Yes, Mr. Brooks. The transforma­ type insects have reassured us. The
tion can be slowed down somewhat, and Interplanetary Government, as you
brought under control by the proper know, is insistent that no harm be done
choice of wave-lengths, but it remains to the fauna of the different System
nevertheless potentially dangerous.” bodies, and we were able to convince
The financier nodded. He was count­ them rather easily. Shielded from the
ing on that danger, as he was also count­ Sun’s light, the Thorians will be safer
ing on the dozen extra men he had than ever.”
forced Loring into taking along on the As the Comet approached the center
Comet, just to make sure that nothing of the new-built planet, the gravity had
went wrong. been slowly diminishing. Now, as they
“ However, I think that everything will reached the hollow centre, it disappeared
take place smoothly here. Government altogether, to be replaced, at a nod from
officials, working under our instructions, Blackbeard to Otho, by the artificial
have erected suitable apparatus on Thor, gravity of the Comet.
and will transform the entire planetoid They traveled slowly across the dark
into energy as we have directed, on re­ void, lit only by the illumination from
ceipt of our signal. The more difficult the tear-drop-shaped vessel. The Comet
part of the process, the recreation of nosed into the opposite side, started to
matter from the energy, we shall handle drift back.
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 73

“ Steady.” ly as the explosion wave. W e might be

A tiny rocket blast held the ship in tossed around slightly, but I am sure
position. The tower that would spray that we would withstand the shock.
the heavy energy of Thor into place “ However, unless Grag and Otho slip
swung on a specially built platform to up, as I do not expect them to do, the
the outside of the ship. Blackbeard contingency I have mentioned will not
studied a chronometer, then spoke to occur. And at present, everything is
Otho. “ Signal the men outside. Make going well.”
sure we’re synchronized.”
Otho touched a button, and a red light ORING and Brooks interchanged
glowed on the panel board. Ten seconds glances. They had discussed this
later another red light glowed. Five possibility beforehand. Let the planet
more seconds, and he threw a lever. blow up just as it was nearing comple­
Heavy matter began to spray out tion, and Captain Future’s reputation
upon the inner side of the planet. It would be ruined forever. The disastrous
shot out, as Blackbeard had predicted, loss of life involved, the terrific expendi­
at an incredible rate, thousands of times ture of time and money wasted, would
more rapidly than water could have never be forgotten in the history of the
flowed. System.
Brooks and Loring stared through And the Futuremen had their orders.
special visors, constructed for the pur­ Given the signal from Loring, both
pose of enabling those within the ship Shane and Vens would slip up. The
to see what was happening. The whole Comet would streak for the outside of
interior of the planet had suddenly burst the planet, and the great venture of
into brilliant illumination. But strange­ Futuria would be a thing of the past.
ly enough, except for a slight hiss from Despite himself, the financier was
the nozzle, the entire process was silent. tense.
They could see the beam of light from He licked his lips nervously. “ It looks
the nozzle strike against the curving past the tenth-full stage to me.”
wall and deposit the huge masses of new “Just about,” replied Blackbeard non­
matter. As the core grew rapidly larg­ committally.
er, the walls began to buckle from the Brooks caught Loring’s eye and
terrific gravitational effect. But wher­ nodded slowly. The shifty-eyed man
ever there was a sign of weakening, an­ swallowed hard. Despite Blackbeard’s
other deposit of heavy matter was skill­ explanation, he still felt that he would
fully built up at the right spot to correct be in danger during the explosion to fol­
the strain. low. But there was no help for it now.
“ W e’re reaching the critical stage,” He raised a trembling forefinger, so that
spoke Blackbeard slowly. “ As I have neither Otho nor Grag could miss the
told Mr. Loring previously, from the gesture.
time the hollow is one-tenth filled, the Blackbeard smiled and did not move.
matter, if reconverted suddenly into The seconds ticked by. Brooks* eye­
energy, would suffice to blow the entire brows went up angrily.
planet to pieces. It is possible that the “ Well, Loring?” he demanded.
fragments would travel with sufficient “ Otho!” snapped Loring.
force to affect Mars or Earth. But be­ “ Yes, Mr. Loring?”
cause there would be an interval of “ You remember what I told y o u ! A c t !”
warning, of some ten or fifteen seconds, Blackbeard chuckled. “ There’s no
during which the reaction would auto- use building up Mr. Brooks’ hopes any
accelerate, we ourselves, who appear to longer. You may as well let him know
be in the greatest danger, would be un­ that there will be no explosion.” He
affected. In those few seconds, we could laughed as he saw the growing confusion
attain a speed that would enable us to and alarm in the eyes of the two men.
streak out through the corridor as rapid­ “You idiot—” Brooks spoke Savagely
74 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

to L o r i n g . “You assu red m e th is m an T TH E so u n d o f th e v o ic e , B ro o k s*

w o u ld f a i l ! ”
L o r in g sh ra n k b ac k w ith a c ry o f te r­
A m e n s t o p p e d m o m e n t a r ily .
“ W e ’v e g o t t o g e t o u t o f h e r e ,” one
ro r , T h e B r a i n h a d r is e n f r o m th e d e ­ o f t h e m c r ie d .
s e r t e d p o r t i o n o f th e s h ip , w h e r e h e h a d B la c k b e a r d w as w o r k in g r a p id ly at
la in a p p a r e n t ly m o t i o n l e s s f o r s o lo n g . t h e c o n t r o ls o f th e m a t t e r -t r a n s f o r m e r .
N o w h e h o v e r e d in th e a ir, h is s t a l k -e y e s F l i g h t h e k n e w w a s o u t o f th e q u e s t io n .
c b ld ly e x a m i n in g b o t h t h e t e r r ifie d l it t l e I t w o u ld m e a n a g i v i n g u p o f t h e p r o je c t ,
m a n a n d th e e n r a g e d fin a n c ie r . a d e fe a t ju s t as c e r t a in as if B rooks
“ W e h a p p e n to be th e g e n u in e F u tu r e - h a d h a d t h i n g s h is o w n w a y .
m en, M r. B r o o k s ,” s a id B la c k b e a r d He s p o k e r a p id ly in t o h is o w n c o m ­
q u ie tly . “ L o r i n g ’s co n fe d e r a te s are in m u n ic a t o r .
p r is o n — a ll but t h is a cto r nam ed H ro “Y ou m u st have g o t a fe w beam s of
Zan. My real nam e, by th e w ay, is u ltr a -v io le t of th e w rong w a v e -le n g th
C u r t N e w t o n .” in t o y o u r r e a c t io n r a y s . C ut out your
T h e fin a n c ie r ’ s f a c e w e n t d e a t h l y p a le . u l t r a -v i o l e t a l t o g e t h e r ! S w itc h on y o u r
S o L o r i n g , a f t e r a l l , h a d p la y e d h im f o r a lig h t a b so rb e rs an d k e e p th e m o n !”
fo o l! H is m in d a w e lte r of co n fu se d The heavy m a tte r w h ic h had been
a n d d e s p e r a t e t h o u g h t s , h e f o u n d it im ­ b u il d i n g u p o u ts id e t h e v e s s e l h a d c e a s e d
p o s s ib le t o g r a s p c le a r ly w h a t h a d h a p ­ to fo r m . Then th a t w h ic h had been
pened. H e k n e w o n l y th a t n o w w a s th e d e p o s it e d b e g a n to d is a p p e a r .
c r i t i c a l m o m e n t , t h e m o m e n t h e h a d so A b e w ild e r e d v o ic e spo ke fro m th e
lo n g a w a it e d — a n d t h a t f a i lu r e , d is g r a c e c o m m u n ic a t o r . “ V o lt a g e d e c r e a s in g
a n d r u in s t a r e d h im in t h e f a c e i f h e d id out h e re ! W e d o n ’ t k n o w h o w y o u d id
n o t a c t. it, b u t th a n k s a n y w a y , Comet!”
He saw h is e m p ir e c r a s h in g about “I s im p ly sen t a reverse cu rrent
h im , s a w h i m s e l f s t a n d in g t r ia l b e f o r e b a c k to y o u ! N e x t t im e b e m o r e c a r e ­
a g r im I n t e r p la n e t a r y j u r y , s a w h i m s e l f f u l!”
co n d e m n e d to C e rb e ru s a n d th e s o c ie ty B r o o k s w a s r i s i n g s l o w l y t o h is f e e t .
o f t h e S y s t e m ’s w o r s t c r im in a ls f o r l i f e . H e s a w t h e F u t u r e m e n w a i t in g t e n s e ly
“ Y o u d o u b le -c r o s s e r ,” h e s a id h o a r s e ly , on on e sid e o f th e s h ip , saw H ro Zan
and h is a t o m -b e a m caught L o r in g fu ll a l o n g w i t h J o a n a n d E z r a s t a n d in g n e a r
in th e c h e s t . B la c k b e a r d , saw h is ow n m en w a i t in g
T h e l i t t l e m a n ’ s s c r e a m d ie d a w a y in a lik e fr ig h te n e d c h ild r e n to le a r n w hat
c h o k in g g u r g le as B rooks tu rn e d w o u ld h a p p en .
q u ic k l y t o t h e F u t u r e m e n , w h o h a d b e e n “ G e t th e m n o w l” h e sh o u ted . “ H ere’s
p repared fo r any m ove a g a in s t th e m ­ your c h a n c e !”
s e lv e s , b u t n o t f o r th is . The m e n su rg e d fo rw a rd on ce m ore.
O t h o p l u g g e d f o r w a r d a n d t h r e w th e A to m -b e a m s la n c e d fo rw a rd to w a rd
m u r d e r o u s f in a n c ie r a g a in s t t h e w a l l o f J o a n , E z r a a n d B la c k b e a r d .
t h e s h ip so h a r d th a t h e l a y in s t u n n e d B u t t h e e x p e c t e d v i c t i m s d id n o t f a l l.
s ile n c e . “ W e ’v e b e e n r e a d y f o r y o u , M r . B r o o k s ,”
I t w a s a t t h is m o m e n t t h a t t h e d o z e n s a id B la c k b e a r d g r i m l y . “ W e are w e a r­
m e n B r o o k s h a d p la n te d o n b o a r d , s u m ­ in g i n v is ib le a t o m - s h i e l d s .”
m o n e d b y L o r i n g ’s s h r ie k , c a m e p l u n g ­ At th a t B r o o k s l o s t h is head f in a lly
i n g in t o th e c e n t e r o f t h e s h ip . and c o m p le t e ly . He th r e w h im s e lf
B la c k b e a r d , about to r e li n q u is h th e s t r a ig h t at th e ap p a ra tu s B la c k b e a r d
c o n t r o ls h e h a d b e e n h a n d li n g , s u d d e n ly had been h a n d li n g . He knew th a t
w e n t p a le , a s a v o i c e ra n g out o f th e d e a th w as c e r t a in fo r h im , but if he
r a d io c o m m u n ic a t o r n e a r b y h im . c o u ld w r e c k t h e a p p a r a t u s d e a t h w o u ld
“ C a ll i n g th e Comet! Pow er out of c o m e t o B la c k b e a r d , t o t h e o t h e r F u t u r e -
c o n tr o l! V o lt a g e r isin g r a p id ly , and m e n , t o e v e r y o n e a b o a r d th e s h ip .
d a n g e r o f a n e x p lo s io n i n s i d e ! P repare B o th G rag and O th o w ere to o fa r
f o r q u ic k e s c a p e !” a w a y t o s t o p h im , a n d B la c k b e a r d , n o t
 D A Y S O F C R E A T IO N 75

daring to relinquish the controls, felt his used him as a model if I ’d known. Now
heart pound suddenly against his chest. all there’s left for me is an exit . . .
This looked like the end, after all. He and I always knew . . . how . . . to
had guarded against any direct attack make . . . them . .
against himself or the others, but he had His head dropped forward.
not counted on an insane suicidal at­ Otho had gathered t h e discarded
tempt. weapons. Now he herded the men into
A fraction of a second later, Brooks the rear of the ship again, this time as
was reeling aside, a cry of despair on prisoners.
his lips. It was Hro Zan who had un­ With Blackbeard once more at the
expected stopped him. He had hurled controls, the planet’s core continued to
himself into the financier’s path, and grow. They watched in awe as Thor
been thrown to one side, to have his took shape once more inside the new
chest seared by an atom-gun triggered planet. Hours later, the task completed
by one of Brooks’ bewildered men. But without further incident, and only a
he had stopped the madman. small empty space left near the corri­
Blackbeard noticed the Brain gliding dor, the Comet streaked for the surface.
toward him, and knew that they had
won. Even as he left the apparatus W O days—and Curt Newton was
he had been handling, the Brain’s tractor
beams took over.
T himself again. The Brain’s uncanny
surgery had removed the ugly scars
Blackbeard plunged low, caught from his face. Only his hair remained
Brooks around the knees, and threw him black, and under the influence of an
back. An atom-ray from one of the antidote which the Brain had applied
financier’s own men passed across his to counteract the effect of dynatomite
face, cutting off his scream of pain and gases, that too would soon resume its
terror. natural red color.
The man who had killed him threw Joan gazed at him and marveled. “ I
his gun forward. “ I f you’re really prefer you this way,” she asserted. “ Not
Captain Future, and you’ve got a shield that you weren’t-handsome before, in an
against this gun, we may just as well ugly sort of way—but I do like a clean­
surrender. Come on, boys. No use keep­ shaven face!”
ing up the fight, especially after the Curt kissed her. “ In that case,” he
rat who brought us into this tried to said sternly, “ you have a great deal of
kill us all.” explaining to do. I hear, from reliable
“ Pick up the guns, Otho,” ordered witnesses, that you were practically in
Blackbeard briefly. Then he turned to love with this man Blackbeard!”
Hro Zan. “ Not exactly.” Joan’s face was de­
The actor was not yet dead, but he mure. “ But there were certain things
was going rapidly. about him that pleased me.”
“ They always said I didn’t know how “ Such as?”
to play the role,” he gasped. “ They said Joan began to explain, and Grag
I was a fool. But I wasn’t so bad, was snorted. For once, Otho, squirming in
I?” His glazed eyes sought Joan’s. sympathy, shared his feelings. There
She shook her head, biting her lips. were times when human beings in­
“You were wonderful!” dulged in queer conversations. And for
“ I did as well as Future himself their part, the two synthetic comrades
would have done. Strange that he should would rather face the dangers of Thor
have been aboard all the time . . . I ’d have over again, than listen to them!

F u rth er E x p lo its o f C urt N evston in R E D S U N O F D A N G E R ,

N e x t Issu e’ s C o m p lete B o o k -L en g th N o v e l b y B r e t t S t e r l i n g
 From Bubbling Test-Tubes, Great Scientists Roger Newton
and Simon Wright Create a New Being Who Attains Full
Mental Growth Within an A s to n is h in g ly Short Time!
I M O N W R I G H T e m it t e d a lo u d c a ll. t r o u b le . I s o m e tim e s w o n d e r w h y w e d e ­
“ G r a g , h e r e , q u ic k ly !” h e c r ie d . c i d e d t o m a k e t h i s a n d r o i d o f c o l l o i d , in ­
I n r e s p o n s e , t h e g i a n t r o b o t r a n as s t e a d o f m e t a l .”
r a p i d l y a s h i s m e t a l l e g s w o u l d t a k e h im . “ B e c a u s e it w a s a c h a lle n g e t o o u r s k ill,”
I n a ll h i s b r i e f s p a n o f l i f e , h e h a d n e v e r r e p lie d S im o n th o u g h tfu lly . “The search
s e e n s u c h e x c it e m e n t in th e M o o n - L a b o r a ­ f o r th e p r o p e r s o r t o f p l a s t ic a lo n e r e q u ir e d
to ry . T h e a g i n g s c i e n t i s t , h i s e y e s s h i n in g , m o n th s . . . . R e m e m b e r h o w w e m a d e th e
w a s w a r m in g a b u b b lin g flu o r e s c e n t m a s s o f m is t a k e o f a t te m p t in g t o u s e p r o t e in - lik e
s e r u m w i t h a b u r n e r h e l d in o n e h a n d , w h i l e c o n d e n s a t io n p r o d u c t s ? ”
w it h th e o t h e r he m e a s u r e d a y e llo w is h liq u id “ O n ly t o d is c o v e r e v e n t u a lly th a t a s im p le
in to a g r a d u a te . h y d r o - s i ll ic a n e p o l y m e r w a s e a s ie r t o m a k e
B e s id e h im , h is f a c e flu s h e d a s w it h fe v e r , and m o re s a t is fa c t o r y .”
R o g e r N e w to n w a s v ig o r o u s ly b e n d in g b a ck
an d f o r t h th e li f e l e s s r u b b e r y a rm s o f w h a t Brain Proves Troublesome
a p p e a re d to b e a g r e a t w h it e d o ll th a t sw a m
u n c e r t a i n l y in a h u g e t a n k in t h e c e n t e r o f “And th en th e b r a i n .” S im o n W r ig h t
th e la b o r a t o r y . s h o o k h is h e a d r u e f u ll y . “ I t t o o k u s a n o t h e r
“ S ta rt th e th e r m o s ta t,” y e lle d S im o n m o n t h t o r e a liz e th a t a t e r r ific a lly c o m p li­
W rig h t. ca ted sy stem of s y n t h e t ic c e r e b r a l p a th s,
s u c h as G r a g h a s, n o t o n ly w a s n ’ t n e c e s s a r y —
it w o u ld n ’ t d o . A p l a s t ic a n d r o id r e q u ir e s a
Serum Is Injected m u c h le s s d iffe r e n t ia t e d m a ss o f c o m b in e d
G ra g h a sten ed to o b e y . M o m e n t s la t e r , c a r b o n -s ilic o n c o n d e n s a t io n p rod u ct. The
w h e n th e ta n k h ad r is e n o n c e m o r e t o th e c e r e b r a l p a th s m u st b e fo r m e d a ft e r li f e has
p r o p e r te m p e ra tu re , and th e seru m h ad b e e n b e g u n , and n o t b e fo r e .”
in je c t e d in to th e w h ite d o l l ’ s u n r e s is t in g G r a g in te r p o s e d . “ D o e s th a t m ea n , M a s ­
a rm s, th e t w o m e n r e la x e d . t e r , th a t t h is n e w t h in g w i l l b e b o r n w it h n o
S im o n W r ig h t dropp ed w e a r ily in to a m o r e se n s e th a n a b a b y — lik e lit t le C u r t ? ”
c h a ir . h e in q u i r e d .
“ T h a t w as c lo s e ,” h e s ig h e d . “ T o o clo s e
f o r c o m fo r t .” N o Prophets Here!
“ A h a lf y e a r ’s w o r k a lm o s t th r o w n a w a y ,”
agreed R o g e r N ew ton . H e g estu red tow a rd N o m o r e s e n s e t h a n “ l i t t l e C u r t .” Y ea rs
th e r o b o t. “ G ra g’s b od y w as m u ch le s s la t e r , t h e r o b o t w a s t o r e c a l l t h i s r e m a r k ,
a n d t h in k o f i t in w o n d e r . N e ith e r h e n or
a n y o f th e o t h e r s d r e a m e d o f th e C u r t N e w ­
t o n o f th e fu t u r e — th e ta ll, s t u r d y k e e n - e y e d
MEET THE FETUREMEN! fig u r e th a t w o u ld b e t h e t e r r o r o f c r im in a ls
In thi$ department, w hich is a re gu la r feature th r o u g h o u t th e S y s te m , th e b r illia n t s c ie n ­
of C A P T A I N F U T U R E , we a c q u a in t you further t is t w h o s e m in d w o u ld a b s o r b a ll th a t th e
with the c om p an ion s o f C A P T A I N F U T U R E whom B r a in c o u l d im p a r t , a n d e v e n s u r p a s s h is
you have met in our com plete b oo k-length novel. t e a c h e r in. t h e m a g n i f i c e n c e o f hiB a c h i e v e ­
H e re yo u are told the off-the-record stories o f their m e n ts. “ L it t l e C u r t ” in d e e d 1
lives and an e cd o te s plucked from their careers. “ T h a t ’ s r i g h t ,” a n s w e r e d S im o n W r i g h t .
Follow this de p a rtm e n t closely, fo r it c on ta in s m any “ H e ’ ll b e b o r n w it h o u t k n o w l e d g e o f a n y
interestin g and fa sc in a tin g facts to su pple m ent k in d .”
those you read in a u r fea ture d novels. “ H e ’ ll m a k e a n i c e p e t ,” b o o m e d th e g r e a t
rob ot.
(5
 T H E F U T U R E M EN 77

Roger Newton smiled, and left the labora­ “ He’s alive, Master,” boomed the robot.
tory. Graft it seemed, had delusions. Roger Newton and Simon Wright hurried
In the part of the Moon-home set aside toward the android. They lifted his head
for the daily routine of living, Roger New­ out of the thermostat into the artificial air
ton found his young wife. She was staring of the Moon-Laboratory. Otho gasped deeply
out of one of the glassite windows at the for breath. The next moment his arms and
bleak lunar landscape. In the distance, a legs flew about in a spasm of excitement.
moon-wolf was snarling soundlessly at some Otho was already as well-grown physically
unseen rival cowering in a crater. as he would ever be, and it was only his
mental powers that needed to develop. It
was necessary for him to learn how to use
Moonscape Is Fantastic his arms and legs, how to adjust himself to
No land on Earth, no matter how wild his environment. He picked this up with a
and craggy, could possess the fascinating speed that amazed the huge robot.
horror of the fantastic hills and mountains
of the Moon. It was a horror that, for O tho Stands Erect
strangers, was to persist even long after the
Futuremen had built their improved labora­ The day after he w'as bom, he stood up
tory, and come to regard the forbidding spot unsteadily.
as their permanent home. For a young girl, “Say, he’s doing better already than I ex­
accustomed to the comforts of Earth civili­ pected,” exclaimed the robot.
zation, and forced to flee for life from power­ “ Naturally,” said Simon Wright dryly.
ful and evil enemies, its desolation was al­ “ Otho is physically mature, and is growing
most unendurable. mentally at the rate of a year a day.”
As Roger Newton joined her, the moon- “ By all the Moon-devils I” gasped Grag.
wolf sprang with bared teeth into the crater. “ How long will it take him to grow up?”
The girl shuddered. “ He won’t maintain the same pace for
“ Now they’re tearing each other apart, long. But I think that the end of a month
as happens every day. Oh, Roger, it’s so should see him a mature android.”
frightening.” The next day, Otho exhibited his delight
“ I know.” The scientist stroked her hair. in the discovery of his own agility, bouncing
“ We’ve been here for more than a year now, around the laboratory like a great rubber
and after the novelty wore off, it can’t have ball until Grag finally secured him and put
been pleasant for you. The loneliness, the him out of harm’s way. The day after found
lack of amusements, the lack of companion­ him mixing half a dozen chemicals and cre­
ship. . . . Simon and I are so busy in the ating an explosion that blew away a section
laboratory that for most of the day we might of the laboratory. The day after that found
just as well not be here. But it’s necessary him holding out some of his own food to the
to stay on the Moon, dear. We have no robot and snatching it away in delight as
choice.” Grag pretended to reach for it.
“ I’m not complaining, Roger.”
Shows Love of Mischief
Seek for Companions “Why, the green-eyed little devil is try­
ing to tease me,” declared Grag.
“ As a matter of fact,” went on her hus­ Roger and Simon Wright smiled. Roger’s
band thoughtfully, “ I’ve felt the loneliness wife laughed as Otho impishly snatched at
here almost as much as you have. Simon, one o f her own hats and, putting it on his
of course, is so wrapped up in the work that own head, strutted proudly about.
it matters little to him where he is. But I “He likes to dress up,” she exclaimed.
had hoped, when he created Grag, that he “ From now on, none of our clothes will be
might seem almost like a companion.” safe around here I”
She shook her head. “ I don’t think we need worry,” asserted
“ His appearance is too frightening. No Roger. “ Otho’s intelligent. And it won’t
matter how human he is inside, I can’t accus­ take him long to learn discipline.”
tom myself to him.” He was right. The android was mischiev­
“ I think you’ll find the android looks hu­ ous, but entirely without malice, and he
man enough. And I believe that you’ll like learned quickly what sort of actions were
him.” permitted him and which were forbidden.
A few days later, Otho was finally born. By the end of the month following his birth,
In contrast to the dramatic and almost terri­ Otho was as quick and alert mentally as the
fying awakening of the robot, Otho’s entry average man, despite the great gaps in his
into the world was placid, and almost unim­ knowledge. And when those were filled, pre­
pressive, At the proper time, Simon dicted Simon, he would be a better labora­
Wright’s skillful hand injected a trace of tory assistant than Grag or any human being
piniferalone, a hormonal extract from the could possibly be.
pineal gland, into the serum that circulated
through the doll’s body.
O th o's First Big Joke
Doll Begins to M ove It was then that there occurred the inci­
dent that Grag was ever after to think of
Some hours later, Grag, who was observing, as the “great double-cross.”
noticed the white doll’s arms and legs begin It began one day when the robot returned
to kick spasmodically. to the laboratory after a short trip over the
78 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

surface o f the Moon, where he had been accompanied by his wife, stepped into the
digging at a deposit of ore Simon had dis­ room.
covered. The grizzled figure of Simon The dazed robot’s eyes shifted from one
Wright greeted him. Roger Newton to the other. The newcomer
“ You’ve been gone a long time, Grag. caught Simon W right’s glance, and smiled.
What have you brought back?” “ So, Otho, you still retain your childhood
Grag stared in bewilderment. “ Why, noth­ passion for disguises?”
ing, Master. You asked me to loosen the ore The false Roger Newton grinned in de­
so that—” light. “ You should have heard the way I
“ I ordered you to bring it with you!” The fooled him, Master—first as Simon, then as
voice that shrieked at Grag was shrill with yourself. He didn’t know what to do.”
indignation. "You stupid, clumsy metal imi­
tation of a man, you haven’t the brains of a G rag Sees Big Light
moon-pup 1”
“ But I distinctly remember—■** Grag be­ A light of understanding was dawning in
gan again helplessly. the robot’s photoelectric eyes.
“ Don’t tell me what I said, you imitation “ W hy, it’s that rubbery son o f a test tube,”
junk-heap. You go right back and bring a he roared. “ That mess of colloid, that white­
ton of that ore with you.” faced imitation of a man!”
“ Yes, Master.” “ Imitation yourself,” returned O t h o .
“ Just a moment,” came the stern order. “ You’re nothing but a collection of rusty
“ I ’m taking no more chances with that fee­ rivets, a refugee from a scrap yard. You
ble brain of yours. I’m going to write ev­ have a muddled brain to go with your metal
erything down so that even you can’t make body. You’re-^”
a mistake.” Otho’s flow of insults was cut short as
Grag roared and lunged at him. But almost
Orders Are Canceled as the robot’ s fingers reached him, the an­
The figure o f Simon W right disappeared droid had slipped aside and flashed into the
into the next room. A moment later Grag next room. W ith a bellow of rage, Grag fo l­
heard other footsteps. “ I ’m waiting—oh, I lowed.
thought you were Simon, Master.” Roger Newton’s wife was laughing so hard
“ What’s wrong, Grag?” that tears were starting from her eyes.
“ Simon says he ordered me to get a ton
of that ore. Now I have to go back for it.” Stay Friends Despite Jokes
“ Nonsense. I distinctly heard him tell you
to do nothing but dig it up. And you can’t Suddenly she stopped short.
go back because I have something else for “ But suppose Grag catches him?”
you to do.” “ He’ll give Otho a walloping that he well
“ But he said—” began the robot. deserves. But he won’t harm him.”
Simon Wright nodded. “ They insult each
“ Never mind what he said,” roared the other like deadly enemies, but in actuality,
figure o f Roger Newton. “ I’m the one that’ s
giving you orders. I want you to take off there’s a great deal of affection between
your right arm and dissolve it in an acid them. They’re going to be the best com­
mixture.” rades in the world.”
“ What?” “ I ’m so pleased.” She smiled. “ I don’ t
think I ’m going to be lonely from now on.
Now that Otho’s here, even Grag seems more
True Sim on W r ig h t A p p e a r s human. And when they start to insult each
It was at this moment that Simon Wright other— it’s as good as being back on Earth
stepped into the room. Grag turned toward watching a show.”
him pathetically. “ I thought Otho would please you. I ’m
“ He wants me to dissolve my right arm in glad, for your sake, if for nothing else, that
acid,” he complained. “ But you told me to we decided to make him differently from
go back after that ore. What am I supposed Grag. And I think,” he added, “ that none of
to do?” us will ever regret making either of them.”
“ Quite a problem, isn’ t it?” observed Si­ Years later, Simon W right was to remem­
mon Wright. And just then Roger Newton, ber those prophetic words.

A GOD NAMED K R O Q , an Amazing Com plete N ovel by H enry Kuttner

— SPACE COMMAND, an Interplanetary N ovelet by R obert
Arthur — TH E INVISIBLE A R M Y , a Fantasy by Ross
R ocklynne— and O ther Unusual Stories in the W inter
TH RILLING W ONDER STORIES— 15c Everyw here!
 ------------------ - ja HI.II -x-yss.:
A s A r a k a po u nd a d th e d r u m a n d R u m s t e d d s r a im e d a r in g o f p o is o n g a s sa ile d t o w a r d th e p la n e

V IC T O R Y CRUM S
By ROSS ROCKLYNNE
Broken-down Actor Rumstedder Suddenly Finds Himself
Battling a Horde of Ruthless Invaders on Pluto!

W
ITH a yell the bartender of gents outside want a look-see.
turned to the blond young man Pronto!”
who sat at a rear table of the “ Rum” looked up, scowling. W ho
smoke-infested, roaring Venusian Jim- would want him at this hour, and what
Jam bar. about? He returned his attention to his
“ Hey, Hum,” he bellowed. “ A couple fourth drink, gulped it down. He in­
80 C A P T A IN FU TU R E

h a le d fr o m h is sto g ie , p u ffe d out a u m s t e d d e r now saw he w as

v o lu m in o u s
c i r c le d
s m o k e -r i n g .
a b u z z in g fly and
The
th re w
r in g
it
en­
o ff
R f a s t e n e d t o a s i lk -c o v e r e d b e d w i t h
s i l v e r c h a in s .
cou rse. Rum la u g h e d n a s tily . H e had “ K id n a p m e?” he y e lle d . “W hy—
been th ro w n o ff co u rse, to o .
w hy, you— D o n ’t y o u k n o w t h a t w h e n
He grab bed u n s te a d ily at th e t a b le ,
th e p o li c e h e a r th a t th e great E ugene
a n d s t a g g e r e d t i p s i l y in t o t h e l i t t l e a n t e ­
R u m ste d d e r— ”
room o u tsid e th e b a r r o o m . In a d a rk
H e sto p p e d , w a n ly . H e w a s n o lo n g e r
c o r n e r , a t a ll fig u r e w a s s t a n d i n g . Rum
dru n k .
p o in t e d a f in g e r in d ru n k en b e llig e r ­
en cy. “ That is th e p o in t ,” th e o th e r sa id

“ W b a tch a w a n t? W h y n ’t y o u com e n e r v o u s ly . “ Y o u a r e so g a -r e a t . W e are

in s id e in s t e a d of m a k in g m e, Eugene so s o r r y w e f e l t i t n e c e s s a r y t o k id n a p
R u m sted d er, g r e a te st tra g e d ia n of th e you. W e com e fr o m t h a t p a -la n e t y o u
a g e s, co m e o u ts id e to see y o u ? ” w o u l d c a ll P a - l u t o , M i s - t a r R u m s t e d d e r .
“ R e m a in k a -w i t e s t ill,” s a id th e t a ll As you know , m en of y o u r race know
d a r k f ig u r e . n o th in g of o u r p a -la n e t , f o r t h e y have
R u m ste d d e r s tiffe n e d as he saw th e n o t b e e n a b le t o b u il d s h i p s th a t w o u ld
a c c u r a t e ly h e ld p yrogun . A h o ld u p ? ta k e th e m th e r e . W e o f P a -l u t o , h o w ­
W e l l , he m ig h t be a v a u d e v ille ham , b u t
e v e r , s e c r e t l y v i s i t E a r t h n o w a n d th e n .
h e w a s n o t g o o d e n o u g h to le t so m eo n e
It w as som e years ago th a t I and my
g e t a w a y w i t h t h is .
c o m p a n io n saw you in ‘T h e Vagabond
“ H a h !” h e y e lle d as h e ju m p e d .
K i n g ’— a s F r a n -s a w V illy a h . It w as
But s o m e th in g s o lid sh a p ed it s e lf
w o n d e r fu l. T h i s t im e , w h e n w e f in a lly
arou nd th e b a c k o f h is u n c u t h a ir lin e .
f o u n d y o u , w e t h o u g h t w e w o u l d n o t be
He fe ll. C o n sc io u sn e ss b la n k e d o u t.
a b le t o p e r s u a d e y o u . W e t h o u g h t th a t
And th a t— c o n c lu s iv e ly — w a s th a t « . .
y o u r d u t y t o y o u r g a -r e a t p u b lic w o u l d
A s p a c e -s h ip ! T h rough h is h a lf-
n o t a llo w y o u to a c c e p t a p a rt w e w ish
stu p o r, R u m h e a rd th e te ll-ta le r u m b le
y o u t o p a -l a y — ”
of ro c k e t b la sts. He groan ed in s e lf-
“ W a it a m i n u t e ,” R u m ste d d e r w as
p ity , s u d d e n ly re m e m b e rin g th e b itte r
g id d y . “ Y o u m e a n y o u w a n t t o h ir e m e
years at th e orp h a n a g e w h ere he had
f o r a p a r t i n a r e a l, h o n e s t - t o -g o s h p l a y ?
b e e n l e f t as a b a b y , t h e n a m e “ E u g e n e ”
Y o u t h o u g h t I w a s n ’t — a h — at l i b e r t y ? ”
s a fe ty -p in n e d to h is d ia p e r s; th e or­
“ T h a t , ” s a id t h e o t h e r , h is f a c e l i g h t ­
ph anage fr o m w h ic h h e h a d run aw ay,
s u b s e q u e n t ly b e c o m in g a c h il d - a c t o r . i n g , “ is i t . E x c e p t t h a t w e w i s h y o u to
p l a y a r e a l - l i f e p a r t. W e have been sen t
A t e le v e n h e w a s h a ile d a s t h e w o n d e r
b y o u r P a -r i m e M i n i s t e r t o fin d a g r e a t
o f th e s t a g e . A t t w e n t y - t h r e e h e p la y e d
a cto r, one w ho c o u ld im p e rso n a te our
h is g r e a t e s t r o le . A t t w e n ty -s ix —
p o o r K in g A r a k o .” H e d ro p p e d h is ey e s
A t t w e n t y -s ix he w a s a v a u d e v ille ham s a d ly .
b i l li n g h i m s e l f as t h e S m o k e R i n g K i n g . Im p e r so n a te a k in g . A r e a l - l i f e p a r t.
D r in k and d issip a tio n t a k in g h im fu r­
U n til n ow Rum had fo r g o tte n th e ap­
t h e r d o w n t h e s c a le . A t h e a t e r -r a t w h o s e
p la u s e of th o u sa n d s on w h ic h he had
b a d b l o o d w a s b e g i n n i n g t o t e l l.
been fe d . T h ese tw o w ere a p p la u d in g
R u m sted d er g r o g g ily opened h is h im d i f f e r e n t l y — b u t t a n g i b ly .
eyes. T w o m e n , t h e ir t r a p p i n g s a b la z e “ L e t ’ s t a lk t h is o v e r w i t h a b o t t l e o f
of c r is s -c r o s s in g le a t h e r and je w e ls , w i n e ,” he su g g e ste d h o a r s e ly . “You
s t o o d o v e r h im . H e gasp ed. have som e, I h o p e ? ”
“W e do naught speak th e E n g lis h W h ile th e y t a lk e d , R u m ste d d e r pro­
w e l l,” th e fo r e m o s t of th e m en began cee d ed to g e t ro s ily d ru n k . A s k y -f u ll
h a l t i n g l y , h is fin e b lu e eyes so m ew h a t o f s t a r s s h o w e d t h r o u g h t h e p o r t o f th e
w o r r ie d . “But we th o u g h t it w e ll to lo u n g e . The s h ip w as d r iv in g at fu ll
k id n a p you” speed th ro u g h sp ace. R u m ste d d e r l is -
 V IC T O R Y DRUM S 81

tened and drank. When he awoke, he knew someone

And afterwards, when they led him had come into the room. His senses
back to luxuriously appointed quarters, swam when he found himself staring
he felt like a new man. He was to be a up into the face of a girl.
king indefinitely. The present king, “ H uh!” he exploded, at which the girl
staggering under the burdens o f royalty, started back. Her midnight hair was
had become insane. And Rumstedder piled in great waves back from her fore­
because with make-up skillfully applied head. She was dressed in a lustrous
he would pass as the king’s own double, green gown.
and because he was a great actor, had
been honored with the job. ER full lips parted in a delicious
The transformation, he was told,
would be simple. He would be given a
H “ o” o f surprise as he lurched to
his feet.
knowledge of the Plutonian language, She thrust a sheaf of papers at him.
the king’s mannerisms, his associates, “ Y-your morning mail, your majesty!”
his personality by means of a machine she stammered.
which, Rumstedder decided, was the Rumstedder took an unconscious step
same as the hypnobioscope discovered toward her. His intentions were to kiss
in the Twentieth Century. her, and she knew it. But he stopped.
The trip across the frightful empti­ Here he was, forgetting himself and
ness between Pluto and Venus took two his role already. This was the Lady Iya,
weeks. An hour out from the planet, his private secretary.
Rumstedder stood in front of a mirror, “ Ah, yes, Iya!” he managed. He ex­
and approvingly surveyed a strikingly' tended a well-kept hand. But before he
handsome man with blond hair, blond could take the mail, there was the jingle
mustache, dressed in handtooled, jew­ of tiny bells behind him.
eled leather harness. But he was “ Your majesty will hardly find any­
frowning. thing of interest in the mail,” a subtly
No changes fiad been made in his insulting voice spoke. “ Iya, return to
appearance save clipping his hair, and your office.”
the addition of a mustache. It did not Rumstedder turned and was face to
seem as if he could look like the king. face with the Prime Minister. He knew
But Rumstedder had long since learned it was he by the sharp nose, the smoke-
that he was to ask no questions. He film eyes, the shoulder-scraping hair,
shrugged. W ho was he to look a gift the black, bell-hemmed cape. Rumsted­
horse in the mouth? der disconsolately felt his kingship slip
Not much later, the ship was plowing away from him, at least in part.
through Pluto’s cold atmosphere. Below But he had to play his role.
were frozen lands. Ahead, a sparkling “ Good day, Pintor,” he said. “ Ah, yes,
city shone through the night. Iya, best to let the Prime Minister
On the roof-top of a towering edifice, handle the mail today. Then leave us
the small ship landed. And muffled with alone.”
a heavy cloak, “ King Arako” was taken The Lady Iya dipped in a eurtsy. She
into the interior of the building, shown thrust the mail into Pintor’s hands and
into the royal suite, and left to himself. with a strange look at Rumstedder hur­
“ W e shall send the Prime Minister ried from the room.
in the morning,” his two captors prom­ Pintor’s eyes lidded. He made no pre­
ised, and departed; which was the last tense at friendship. “ You are to remem­
Rumstedder ever saw of them. ber that you are no king, merely an
Rumstedder looked around the suite. actor,” he said. “ Furthermore, please
He could not find the bed, the suite was understand that the Lady Iya can be
so big. But he did find a bottle of wine. none o f your concern, particularly since
He lapsed into a vaguely discontented after this crisis, we are to marry.” His
sleep on a pillow-covered davenport. smoky eyes flicked sardonically. “ Please
82 C A P T A IN FU TU R E

to sit down, your majesty.” meantime you will remain in your suite.
Rumstedder sat down without saying Your meals will be served here. You
a word. will ask questions of nobody.”
Pintor stood over him, cold contempt The door closed with a click. Rum­
in his expression. stedder scowled. What kind of a king
‘ ‘There is no time to be lost, your was it that did not have the run of his
majesty,” he said. “ Please let me explain own country?
the complete situation. You already But the next afternoon came along to
know the general structure of civiliza­ bolster him. Pintor had come in the
tion on this planet. Pluto is no lush, morning, handing him his speech. And
fertile world. It doesn’t support a great now, outside the balcony, wave upon
population. W e have no appreciable day wave of cheers were sounding. Pintor
and night. The Sun is too far away to ushered Rumstedder onto the balcony.
make much difference. The whole popu­ Rumstedder was stricken with stage-
lation of Pluto is gathered in two great fright. There were thousands of Pres­
cities—Dargantala to the north, our tra­ motigoans going mad at the sight of
ditional enemies; and this city, Pres- him. He trembled. He gagged, but then,
motigo, of which you are—ah—the king. as always before the bright lights, he
You know of our vast farmlands, elec­ recovered. He raised his hands for
trically heated under the soil. Also, you silence.
understand the contention that has
existed between the two cities over these OM ETHING happened to him du­
vast areas.
“ Now,” and he pointed a jeweled
S ring that speech. He started as an
actor. He ended up a king!
finger at Rumstedder, “ it is your job He spoke with emotion, with fine his­
to save Presmotigo.” trionic shadings. “The Dargantalans are
“ My job to save Presmotigo,” Rum­ friendly. In a personal talk with the
stedder echoed faintly. Dargantalan minister, we, your king,
“ And not to save it from Dargantala, were assured o f friendliness. W e in
but from itself. Presmotigoans are now turn promised our everlasting friend­
imbued with a patriotic war fever. Gen­ ship to the Dargantalans. And yet,
eral Kanig had impressed upon the rumor has reached our ears that as the
people the insane desire to acquire Dar- result of an unscrupulous man’s activi­
gantala’s farmlands. I have been unable ties, as a result of his lying propaganda,
to counteract General Kanig’s war fever, the people are being inflamed with a
and the— man you have succeeded was ravaging war fever.
mentally incompetent to do so. There­ “ Subjects, it is our wish—”
fore, your first act as king will be to The change from actor to king was
address the people from the balcony of subtle. He merely forgot that he was
your palace. It has been circulated that acting. From his subconscious came a
you have recovered from a siege of ill­ consciousness o f true royalty. He was
ness.” talking to his people. They were wrong
“ What do I tell ’em?” to make war on the friendly Dargan­
“ The speech will be prepared. In the talans.
morning, you will learn it. In the after­ The applause was beyond anything
noon, you will deliver it as only a great he had been accorded in his acting days.
actor can deliver it.” His pulse did not thrum with the pride
Rumstedder felt a warm glow o f pride. of that applause, but with the certainty
“ I’ll have them throwing down their that he had convinced them to lay down
arms after the first ten minutes,” he their arms.
said confidently. He stumbled back from the balcony.
“ See that they do.” Pintor’s narrowed Pintor regarded him with awe.
eyes surveyed him for a moment. He “ You were magnificent. You have
turned sharply toward the door. “ In the shown them the futility of remaining
 V IC T O R Y DRU M S 83

arm ed . W h a t e v e r w e do n o w , th e P r e s- sa m e t im e k n o w th e h u m ilia t io n o f i g n o -
m o t i g o a n s w i l l be b e h in d u s .” m in o u s b e g in n i n g s . . . .
A n d s u c h R u m s t e d d e r d is c o v e r e d w a s C o n t r a r y to P i n t o r ’ s in s t r u c t io n s , an d
th e t r u t h . T h e n e x t d a y , P in to r ru sh ed fr o m a g rim sen se of r e b e llio n , Rum ­
in w a v in g s h e a f s o f p a p e r s . T h e s e w ere s t e d d e r m a d e p la n s t o e x p lo r e t h e c i t y .
p e titio n s d e m a n d in g th a t th e arm y be The la c k e y w ho brou gh t h is s t e a m in g
d is b a n d e d , th e a n t i -a i r c r a f t p o s it r o n g u n s m e a l th a t e v e n in g d is r o b e d at R u m s t e d ­
b e d e p r iv e d o f p o w e r , a n d t h a t G e n e r a l d e r’ s ste rn com m an d. R u m sted d er put
K a n i g b e j a ile d . t h e c u r e d le a t h e r c l o t h i n g o v e r h is ow n
A l l o f P i n t o r ’s c o ld d i g n i t y w a s f o r ­ rega l harness. As a la c k e y , h e p a sse d
g o tte n . E x c ite m e n t g litte r e d in h is f r o m h is s u it e , o u t th e r e a r o f th e p a la c e .
sm o k y eyes. A vagabond k in g !
“ D o y o u s e e w h a t it m e a n s ? ” h e c r ie d .
“ T h e p e o p le h a v e e m p o w e r e d y o u , t h e ir H e s t r o d e a lo n g t h e s t r e e t w i t h s h o u l­
k in g , to tu rn o ff th e p o w e r o f th e p o s i­ d ers sq u a re d . T h e n i g h t w a s c h il l . The
tro n g u n s. T h a t w i l l b e y o u r n e x t jo b . Sun w as dow n. T h e s t a r s w e r e s n o w on
In th e m e a n t im e , G eneral K a n ig has th e s k y . V e h ic le s w ith on e w h e e l m oved
a lr e a d y been th ro w n in t o th e p a la c e m a g ic a lly a lo n g n arrow stre e ts. S to re
d u n g e o n s .” w i n d o w s b li n k e d . C it i z e n s b r u s h e d b y
T h ere w as a fa ra w a y lo o k in Rum * w i t h o u t r e a liz a t io n o f w h o h e w a s.
ste d d e r’ s ey es. H e je r k e d h im s e lf back H e t u r n e d a c o r n e r , ran f u l l t i l t in t o a
to th e p re se n t. h e a v i ly v e i le d f ig u r e . A w om an. He
“ T u rn o f f t h e p o w e r o f t h e p o s it r o n h e a r d h e r s l ig h t g a s p . T h e n sh e w a s on
g u n s ? ” h e re p e a te d , sta r in g at P in to r . h e r k n e e s b e f o r e h im . I t w a s th e L a d y
P in to r w as i m p a t ie n t . “ C e r ta in ly . Iy a .
The p o s it r o n gu n s, a fu ll th o u sa n d of “ Y o u r m a je s t y !” H e r g r e a t b lu e e y e s
th e m , a re s p o tte d t h r o u g h o u t th e c it y . w e r e f a s t e n e d o n h is in a m a z e m e n t .
B u t t h e y r e c e iv e t h e i r p o w e r b r o a d c a s t “ I y a , ” h e e x c la im e d .
fro m a c en tra l sta tio n . By t r a d it io n , H e a c t e d q u ic k l y , a n d d r e w h e r d o w n
a n d b y an in n a te a b i li t y , y o u o n ly , th e a d a rk s id e stre e t. H e m a n a g e d a sm ile ,
k i n g , c a n t u r n o f f t h e p o w e r .” th o u g h th a t w as h ard w hen h is h e a rt
“H ow ?” dem anded R u m ste d d e r. w a s b e a t in g s o u n a c c o u n t a b ly f a s t .
P i n t o r ’s e y e s w e r e h o s t i le . “ B y a te le ­ “ I y a , w h a t a r e y o u d o in g h e re o n th e
p a t h ic com m and w h ic h you a lo n e p o s ­ s t r e e t s ? ” h e in q u ir e d .
s e s s .” He added s o ftly , “ R em em ber. “ I m ig h t ask th e sam e of y o u , your
Y o u h a v e d o n e a m a g n if ic e n t j o b o f s a v ­ m a j e s t y ,” w a s h e r a w e d a n s w e r .
i n g P r e s m o t ig o f r o m i t s f o l l y , b u t o n ly
HEN s h e b it h e r lip s , r e a liz in g th e
T
by fo llo w in g my d ir e c t io n s . I ’m pro­
d u c i n g t h e s h o w , in a m a n n e r o f s p e a k ­ f u l l e x t e n t o f h e r im p u d e n c e .
in g — y o u * ll r e c it e th e lin e s . The cere­ T i m i d l y s h e p la c e d a h a n d o n h is arm .
m o n y t a k e s p la c e t o m o r r o w .” “ T o d a y — th e speech, s ir e — y o u w ere
H e la u n c h e d i n t o a t o r r e n t o f in s t r u c ­ m a g n if i c e n t ,” sh e v e n t u r e d . “ I a ls o w as
t i o n s a n d l e f t a b r u p t ly . caught up in G eneral K a n i g ’s propa­
R u m ste d d e r sto o d w h ere he w as, ganda. I , too, had been le d t o b e lie v e
s h a k e n w i t h h is o w n t h o u g h t s . A stro n g t h e D a r g a n t a la n s w e r e a n x io u s t o e n s la v e
fe e lin g of r o y a lty p u ls e d th r o u g h h is u s. B u t h ow w ro n g w e have been. To
m in d . W here h a d it c o m e f r o m ? H ad th in k th a t G en era l K a n ig m ade us be­
P in to r h y p n o tic a lly in d u c te d it in t o l ie v e h is s t o r y o f th e h u n d r e d w in g e d
h i m ? — h y p n o t i c a l l y g i v e n h im t h e t e l e ­ c r a f t t h e D a r g a n t a la n s h a v e p r e p a r e d to
p a th ic pow er to tu rn o ff th e pow er le v e l o u r c i t y to t h e g r o u n d . H a d it n o t
sta tio n ? S u c h m u st be th e tru th . b ee n fo r y o u , w e m ig h t so o n be en gaged
For th e fir s t t im e s in c e th e speech , in a n o t h e r b l o o d y w a r .”
R u m s t e d d e r ’s e r e c t s h o u ld e r s f e l l . One “ O u r p e o p le h a v e b e e n t o ld t h e t r u t h ,”
c o u ld n o t f e e l h i m s e l f a k i n g a n d at th e R u m s t e d d e r s a id g r a c io u s ly .
84 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

She then told him she often walked plane down with one of these,” he mused.
alone in the deep night. She stood Iya’s eyes were big. “ Could you real­
motionless, wordless, then, as if awaiting ly? But the gas would not go high
his command. enough. Well, it does not matter. Now
“You are beautiful, Iya,” said Rum- that we are at peace, we will need no
stedder. weapons at all.”
She curtsied quickly. “Thank you, When Rumstedder took his leave of
your majesty.” her near the palace, she looked at him
“You may take your walk with me.” strangely.
“ Oh, thank you, your majesty,” she “ Sometimes—it is so queer—I feel you
said gladly. are not Arako at all, your majesty. But
She fell into step, walking lightly but that is silly. Your illness may have
without conversation. Rumstedder con­ changed you.”
trived for her to lead the way, though She was standing close to him. There
she did not know it. was something about Iya, her slim, royal
By covert questioning, he discovered carriage, that awoke in him a hunger.
that the city was three miles in diameter, But he dare not ask if she were in love
that it supported a fleet of thirty air­ with Pintor. He took his leave of her
planes which were constructed of ex­ with a gruff, kindly word, and was gone.
tremely light and fragile vegetable sub­ Back in his suite, he released the
stances. There was little metal on Pluto. lackey, and then sat in the dark, trying
Since the gravitation was small, their to untangle his thoughts.
method of locomotion, flapping wings, What was it about this whole situation
was entirely feasible. that struck the wrong note? W hy did
What interested him more than any­ he look so much like King Arako that
thing else were giant “ bass drums” set even Iya couldn’t tell the difference?
on pedestals at various points through
the City. Cautiously, he questioned Iya, Rumstedder remembered little of the
as they halted beside the mounting of ceremony of the following day, ]?ut he
one. was destined to remember vividly the
“ But your majesty,” she cried, in sur­ events that occurred afterward. Pintor
prise. “ Was it not you who condemned arrived, laboring under a taut, unex­
them as obsolete in warfare?” plained excitement. He gave Rumsted­
Rumstedder colored. “A t the advice der last minute instructions.
of the prime minister, however. But Glittering robes were draped on Rum-
how they work—” stedder’s shoulders. He was led from
“It is quite simple, your majesty. The the palace in a series of parades. Then
tank next to the drum contains a tep-- into a carriage, riding between roaring
rible phosporescent poison gas. The thousands of waving Presmotigoans.
operator swings the drum on its giant Music sounded, as Rumstedder ascended
screw, fills the drum with gas, and spews in grandeur the great, milk-white stairs
it out of a nozzle at attacking planes.” of a mighty, colonnaded building. He
Both drum faces were made of a vege­ walked between rows of nobles, his eyes
table substance which boomed when resting with unkingly interest on those
Rumstedder struck them. He saw a of the Lady Iya at the end of the line.
detachable nozzle in the front drum face. She flushed and lowered her eyes.
“ They have not yet emptied the tanks
nor dismantled the projectors,” Iya ex­ ■W STH AT he considered a quite iropos-
plained. “ There are about a hundred. » » sible moment had come. Here
They are useless because wind resistance were doors, buttressed, physically im­
turns the streams of gas into great clouds pregnable, and by mere mental com­
which drop back to the city streets and mand, by a power which he alone pos­
kill our own people.” sessed, they were to swing open.
Rumstedder smiled. “ I could bring a Rumstedder gulped and hoped that
 V IC T O R Y DRUM S So

the show would not be spoiled at the last Rumstedder’s first thought was Iya.
minute. He whispered the command. He stood as if frozen. His lips finally
“ Doors, open!" moved.
And so the doors opened. And the “ Save yourself, guard," he said. “Your
crowd cheered and roared. Other im­ king will work his own salvation.”
possible things happened. Other doors The guard disappeared. Rumstedder
opened and Rumstedder found himself leaped for the door, only to see Iya come
facing the mighty complex of machin­ running through. Her face was tear-
ery which automatically supplied power stained. She was choking from the
to the positron guns. He walked between smoke.
banks of softy glowing tubes. He hurled “ Your majesty, I have discovered a
his mental command. The tubes went plot,” she said. “ Pintor forced me into
out. the plane on the palace roof. He told
He turned and left the building. The me that Presmotigo was doomed. The
doors were left open. Only a corps of entire enemy air fleet is about to attack
technicians could start that mighty us.”
atomic-power plant to working again. Rumstedder grabbed her.
The great peace-gesture was finished. “ You don’t know what you’re saying,”
Back in his suite, Rumstedder ex­ he cried.
pected to see the prime minister waiting But even as he denied it, the truth was
for him. There was no one. Rumsted­ smashing at his brain with blinding
der waited—and waited. He began to clarity. The sight of Pintor, standing
walk up and down, biting at his nether in the doorway with a pyrogun, com­
lip. Something was troubling him. pleted Rumstedder’s education.
He was uneasy. A vast quiet had The truth, as Rumstedder saw it then,
settled on the palace. An ominous quiet. was sickening. So he was an actor.
Rumstedder knew his imagination was They had hired him because he was an
getting him. He was worried simply be­ actor. Hah! Rumstedder gagged at his
cause his duties were done and Pintor own thoughts, and on his own opinion
would now send him back where he came of himself. They had hired himTbecause
from. He would never see the Lady Iya he was a gullible fool.
again. He knew he would squirm in self-dis­
And yet was he worrying about that? gust at the truth, until the moment of
He found himself listening, waiting, for his death, which, probably, was not far
something. His spirits drooped lower distant.
and lower, as an hour, two hours passed, He took the only chance that re­
and still Pinton did not show up. He mained open to him, though. He thrust
gave a savage curse. Thoughts of his Iya to one side, and with the same
former existence, his shadowed begin­ motion picked up and threw an empty
nings, the humiliation of being a nobody, wine bottle. The wine bottle struck
came back to plague him. He sank into Pintor’s arm, and the pyrogun flew from
a chair, lost in utter dejection. his hand.
And then came the smell of smoke. Rumstedder leaped toward Pintor.
Rumstedder sprang up in alarm. He He wrapped his long fingers around the
whirled. A blood-red sheet of flame shot man’s neck. Pintor made a gurgling
up past the windotvs. Choking smoke sound. His knee came up with agonizing
bellowed in. Then there were cries in forces. Rumstedder sailed back, landed
the hall, running feet. Came a tremen­ against the wall in a sitting position. By
dous clattering at the door. It burst in­ the time he was cognizant of events, he
ward. A guard stood on the threshold, saw the wine bottle coming back at him.
framed in smoke. It ricocheted off his head. His muscles
“ Your majesty,” he shouted. “ The turned into wet, sodden ropes as needles
palace is in flames. Shall I lead the way of pain shot through his head. He went
for your escape?" down remembering with clarity the
86 C A P T A IN FU TU R E

flames that licked in from the open Rumstedder stumbled f o r w a r d ,

corridor. stupidly.
A racking cough shook him back to “ King Arako,” he cried.
consciousness. He crawled to hands and A bearded face looked from the cell,
knees, choking in smoky blackness. His swept Rumstedder’s face with sharp
eyes opened, and flames rolled around eyes.
him. “ W ell,” Arako said unsteadily. “ Per­
haps we both but look into a mirror? Or
HE doorway was blocked. He are we both mad?”
T looked toward the window and in
another half dozen seconds, had reached
The mad king, Rumstedder thought.
Mad? No, this was another facet of
it and was squirming along the ledge Pinto’s treachery. Refusing to close
outside. Soon he managed to dart into down the power station, Arako had been
another window, beyond which no flame thrown into a cell, and Pintor had looked
showed. He pounded down a stairs. around for a substitute.
Flame gushed. He hugged the wall “ W e do look alike,” said Rumstedder.
as he descended. He reached the floor He brought the pike down crushingly.
below, and screamed as the whole floor Arako stepped out, bearded, his lips
gave way beneath his feet. Miraculously, tense. His hand grasped Rumstedder’s
he found himself erect, beating at shoulder, his blue eyes held a piercing
smouldering places on his clothing. light.
Three more flights to go. “ ‘Look alike’ is inadequate to describe
He took advantage of every break in the situation,” he muttered. “ However,
the flames. the time for explanations could be best
But when he reached ground level used to keep our general calmed down.”
and easy escape, he went in another di­ He smiled gravely at Rumstedder, then
rection, toward the rear of the palace, turned and went loping down a leftward
where he knew the dungeons were lo­ tunnel. General Kanig was shaking the
cated. He pounded down the steep, dungeon with his howls.
musty stairs, one thought uppermost in They found his cell, and Rumstedder
his mind— General Kanig. He was in the used his pike again. Kanig came burst­
dungeons, the one man who could wield ing out, his granite-bearded jaws moving
the power to help Rumstedder with the in outraged profanity. He stopped
plan that had occurred to him. An stock-still when he saw the two rescuers.
enemy airfleet was on its way. The posi­ His heavy face went pale as death.
tron guns were useless. There was only “ What does this mean?” he began in
one way to repair that inconceivable a strangled voice.
blunder. “ W e look alike,” said Arako, gravely.
Rumstedder grabbed up the heavy Rumstedder was too excited to ap­
pike a guard had left behind, smashed preciate the grim humor. “ I’m an im­
at the massive lock on the door to the poster. To blazes with it though.
cell block. The lock cracked in two. There’s bigger battles to fight. W e have
The door’s own weight swung it open. a city to save.”
Rumstedder plunged into the river of He rushed through a resume of the
smoke that came rolling out. story. Kanig made a motion toward him.
A voice blasted from the tunnel, roar­ “ You fool,” he howled. “ You’re not
ing. Kanig, perhaps, the only man who a double. The explanation is different.”
could gather men for Rumstedder’s Rumstedder howled back at him.
plan? Rumstedder roared back. “ There’s an air fleet on the way. W e
“ Ho, there.” Rumstedder stopped in have to beat them off.”
his tracks as the weary, amused voice Kanig was panting in a tempest of
spoke from a near cell. “W e think you rage. “ And how will we beat them off?
had best take time out to free your own Even in my cell I heard about this mad
king, shouter,” said the voice. policy to reduce the city to helplessness.
 V IC T O R Y DRUM S 87

There are no defenses. W e might as Boooom f

well die here as perish in the ruins of a Rumstedder bounded into the control
toppling city.” chair, wincing at the metal on his bare
“ Says you,” a voice dripped with scorn. flesh. He put his eye to the periscopic
“ If you’ll listen to me— ” eye-piece. When a plane was centered
He began to talk. on the cross-hairs. . . .
The control board was complex.

A RAKO laughed
had finished.
shortly when he Arako shouted instructions. Within
minutes Rumstedder had the drum un­
“ I doubt whether the plan is worka­ der control, swinging it in all conceiv­
ble,” was his objections. able upward angles. A horizonal plunger
“ W orkable?” Rumstedder blew up. controlled the entrance of the phospho­
“ I ’ve done it myself on a smaller scale. rescent poison gas into the drum. He
You must give this thing at least a try.” pushed in the power, and then slumped
He stopped in a rage. Arako and back with a sigh.
Kanig looked at each other. “ Ready,” he told Arako. Arako
As they fought their way out of that nodded grimly, his eyes fixed to the dark
raging furnace, Rumstedder thought east.
miserably of the Lady Iya. It was an Rumstedder looked around. Citzens
apparent fact that Pintor intended to were running toward the site of the
take her with him to Dargantala in the burning palace. He guessed they didn’t
royal airplane on the palace roof. even know of the air attack about to
Pintor, he or his henchman, had set fire take place.
to the palace, hoping thus to get rid of Arako yelled suddenly. He was
Rumstedder, King Arako, and General pointing into the star-frosted sky.
Kanig. Rumstedder groaned. “ They com e!”
They made ground level, and dashed And come they did. Rumstedder’s
their way into a panic-stricken crowd, stomach turned over as he heard the
the general beating at his flaming beard. full-throated thunder of the approach­
When Rumstedder looked around, he ing fleet—the crescent shaped armada of
saw that Kanig had left. He had gone Dargantala, flickering like so many
to gather his men together. The pro­ stars as their mobile wings beat against
jectors, the whole kit and kaboodle of air. Soon they would drop atomic
them, should soon be at work. bombs.
A ll thought of kingly distinction was But no bombs dropped as the fleet
gone as Rumstedder and Arako ran came sweeping along.
through cold, windless streets, the burn­ “ The curs think to terrify us first,”
ing palace bathed the city in a crimson Arako shouted angrily. “ They think us
glare. They reached the first of the defenseless. Give the word! Give the
poison gas projectors. w ord!”
Together, the two men detached the The fleet broke, dipping and diving
nozzle from the front face of the giant like gnats over carrion. One plane
drum. There was now only a dark, eight- now flapped along in a line that would
inch hole, with an opening and closing put it in range of Rumstedder’s pro­
valve operatable from the control chair. jector. He felt nerveless. Had Kanig
“ The drum stick, now,” Rumstedder succeeded? Had he gathered men to­
panted. He and Arako tore most of the gether? W ere they at their posts, prep­
clothing from their bodies. Rumstedder arations made?
wrapped this around the spear-point of And what if the plan did not work.
the pike, securing it with his sandal It could not work. The whole thing
thongs. He thrust the long “ drum­ was madly fantastic. And yet those
stick” at Arako. planes were light, fragile, slow-moving
Arako grinned and swung the stick ... So ran Rumstedder’s sickening
in practice. thoughts as he caught the approaching
88 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

plane on the cross-hairs of the eye-piece. tail-spin. Two planes down, forerun­
He swung open the intake valve. The ner of the disaster which shortly was
drum was filling with gas. Another in­ to befall the whole Dargantalan fleet.
strument opened the ejection valve. He “ The other projectors,” Arako called
held his breath, then blasted out a single to Rum. “ General Kanik has his men
word. at work.”
“ Swing!” It was true. Scores of brilliant rings
In the immeasurable moment which were puffing up over the city of Pres-
lay between the command and Arako’s motigo. And scores of planes, in the
answering stroke. first three minutes of action, came crash­
Boooom ! ing. Most o f the rings missed their
The sheer absurdity of the plan came mark. Other rings, even though they
to Rumstedder. It was well to play missed, were drawn to the planes by the
tricks before an audience as the Smoke planes’ motion through the air—a suc­
Ring King. Feasible to knock a man off tion effect. Poison gas did its work.
balance at a distance of forty feet. But Arako worked like mad, sweat stream­
to hope to bring an entire air-fleet down ing from his near-naked body. Seven-
in the same way was but an indicator of eights of the Dargantalan planes came
insanity. down before any of the pilots under­
stood enough of what was happening to
O W EVE R, the die was cast. He activate and then drop their atomic
H watched leadenly. Arako pounded
once at the drum face opposite the ejec­
bombs. But bombs finally did fall, and
where he sat Rum could see the livid
tion hole face, and at a velocity of more bursts of the explosions. Fragments
than a hundred feet a second— flew.
A phosphorescent ring of gas hurtled With a mere dozen o f the enemy
into the air for two hundred and fifty planes in the sky, the air-fleet of Pres-
feet and coiled itself around the plane. motigo was at last manned. They buzzed
Rumstedder yelled hysterically, his upward, ludicrously slow-moving in con­
withheld feelings released. The gas trast to the heavier, more powerful craft
ring, in its slow, equalized expansion, of Earth.
was a diabolically beautiful sight, bil­ Rumstedder sent out concentric rings
lowing like floss glowing with brilliant of gas, now. They were more effective
sheen against the sky. than a single ring. In this manner, he
What actually happened was more emptied the gas tank. No more rings
devilishly satisfying to Rumstedder’s came forth. Arako, fatigue eating at his
soul. The ring retained its shape until bones, hunkered down on his haunches,
the moment of impact. Then the plane gleaming with perspiration, chuckling
literally staggered under the force of to himself in glee.
the blow. The ring broke up, softly The other projectors were still work­
curled around the plane, reached inside ing, now and then crippling another
with many-fingered tentacles. hostile plane. Once in a while, the en­
The plane, an insect fatally wounded, emy sent a Presmotigoan plane leafing
tipped over on its side, its wings miss­ down in flames. From numerous points
ing a half-dozen beats. The nose in the city, fires were in competition
pointed downward. It screamed in ift with the flaming spire of the palace.
flight. It disappeared behind a tiered The last Dargantalan plane dropped.
building. The sound of its point-blank Rumstedder felt his muscles relaxing
crash was audible. in sheer relief. Then Arako was on his
“ It worked,” Arako howled gleefully feet, pointing, his face clouded.
at the sky. “ Quick, now—another, be­ “ Off to your left,” he shouted. “ My
fore they collect their wits.” own private plane. There—and it must
The second ring went home, forced be Pintor. W e must bring it down.”
the nose of the ship up. It went into a Rumstedder saw the plane alluded to.
 V IC T O R Y DRUM S 89

It was truly the royal plane, the dou­ feted by an amazing storm, turned over
ble-sun insignia showing plainly on the and then fluttered down. At the last
fuselage. second it plunged.
Pintor—and the Lady Iya. Arako was off the dais then, speeding
Arako made a strong, savage gesture. toward the site of the crack-up. Rum­
“ Come on,” he cried. “ There’s a pro­ stedder raced after him, and putdis-
jector in the next block that was work­ tanced him. He went charging around a
ing until the last enemy plane went corner. The plane was crumpled on the
down. The victory is no victory if the cobbled street like a tattered moth.
traitor escapes.” A figure rose from the tangle of wreck­
Rumstedder was swung half-way age as Rumstedder came up, a figure
around in the metal chair, his heart a that held a pyrogun. Pintor’s sharp face
stone in his breast. Arako had started was white and coldly impassive. As
away—to send a poison gas ring against Rumstedder shot toward him, the pyro­
Iya as well. gun went off. A red-hot needle jabbed
“ W ait a minute,” Rumstedder called. through his shoulder. It did not stop
Arako turned, one foot on the dais steps, Rumstedder.
his face impatient. He grappled with Pintor and bore the
“An air ring,” Rumstedder snapped. man backward. Pintor’s lips twisted in
“ An air ring?” repeated Arako, look­ a snarl. He clawed and screamed as
ing at Rumstedder without comprehen­ Rumstedder forced the pyrogun around
sion. so that it pointed at Pintor’s chest. The
“ You don’t have to have smoke or man’s breath was hot in Rumstedder’s
gas,” Rumstedder explained. Excite­ face. They stood like statues, straining
ment and dread took hold of him. for victory, each determined to conquer.
“ Come on !” he yelled. “ Traitor,” said Rumstedder. The py­
rogun went off. Pintor sagged. There
was an unpleasant burning odor on the
A RAKO reacted to what was nothing
less than a command, though he air. Rumstedder made a convulsive
motion with his hands, and Pintor, quite
was plainly angry at what he thought
a fool’s plan. dead, dropped and rolled.
The royal plane was moving slowly. Rumstedder stood t h e r e panting,
It was zigzagging painfully, making blood pounding in his pulses. He turned
little headway. It was keeping itself in then, in time to see Arako stooping over
the air only by a miracle. Almost the Iya, whom he had taken from the wreck­
entire tail was burned away. Rumsted­ age. He went over and dropped to his
der grinned tautly. So Pintor, thinking knees beside her. He took one of her
to make an easy escape, had permitted hands in his. Her eyes were open.
the palace fire to turn against him. All She smiled bemusedly.
this while, he had been fighting the fire “ I don’t know which one to call your
that had virtually ruined his steering majesty,” she said.
mechanism. Rumstedder helped her to a sitting
Rumstedder caught the plane on the position.
hair-line. He forced himself to give Arako’s lips were crooked in a puzzled
Arako the word, for he could not know smile. “ That you should have forgotten
what would happen to Iya when the me, Iya,” he mourned.
plane crashed. Rumstedder told him the story, in­
Arako swung. Apparently, nothing cluding every detail. She caught her
emerged from the drum. But something breath. Her eyes moved to Pintor, on
did. The flapping wings stopped mo­ the ground. No emotion save of relief
mentarily. The plane sagged down. crossed her face. W ith Rumstedder’s as­
Arako swung again and again as Rum­ sistance she arose to her feet. She stood
stedder moved the drum to keep the close to him, holding onto his arm, still
plane on the hair-line. The plane, buf­ looking at Pintor, who was dead.
90 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

“ It is good,” she said at last. “ It was “ I didn’t think it was literally true,
but a poltical marriage, arranged be­ though,” he said.
tween our families.” She shuddered. “ The story begins a quarter of a cen­
Then she gave a little frightened gasp tury ago,” said Kanig. “ I was present
as she saw Rumstedder’s burned shoul­ when the late queen gave birth to her
der. He winced as she touched it, with twin sons.”
gentle pity. Arako started. His bearded face paled.
A howl split the Plutonian night. “ Arako was born some hours before
General Kanig came swinging into sight, the other,” Kanig continued grimly. “ It
followed by a half dozen of his solders. was feared there would be political dif­
“ So,” he cried as he saw Rumstedder. ferences later on over the throne. The
“ The impostor king!” former king gave me the task o f taking
Rumstedder’s jaw came out. the unwanted twin to Earth. As was the
“ I ’m here,” he said. “And I’ll take tradition, however, the king first gave
my medicine.” to each of the twins, by means of the
“ He’ll take his medicine?” The great hypnobioscope, the subconscious tele­
man was thunderstruck. “ And where pathic ability to will the machinery of
did you learn of the weapon that saved the central power station to stop. Pintor,
our city?” too, knew the secret of the twin sons.
Rumstedder explained wearily. “ I “ It is true,” he said gruffly. “ Pintor,
used the same kind of projector in my however, kept track of the twin son.
act, only on a smaller scale. It could put Pintor’s father was Dargantalan. His
out a match at the back of the auditor­ loyalties to that city remained, though
ium. Or blow a late-comer’s silk hat he was born in Presmotigo.”
from his head. Or knock a man off bal­ Rumstedder felt Iya’s small hand
ance at forty feet—all according to the nestling in his.
force used. Sometimes I used just air— “And the name Eugene?” he asked.
no smoke. It just happened that the Kanig fondled at his scorched beard.
poison gas projectors were fitted to the “ I gave you into the hands of our
task. The planes were too light and too scouts on Earth. It was they who sug­
slow. gested the name Eugene—”
“ It’s quite scientific. Gaseous surface Rum broke in, crossing glances with
tension holds the rings together. I was Arako.
able to shoot small streams of the gas “ Now the problem our father sought
upward. It eliminated the difficulty to prevent arises after all, you think?”
caused by solid streams of the gas drop­ he persisted.
ping back over the city. It’s an old idea. Arako’s fine eyes were pained, help­
Back in the twentieth century on my less. “ I would not have it so.”
planet, they were talking about throw­ “ And I wouldn’t, either. There’s only
ing smoke rings from smokestacks to one king in Presmotigo. It isn’ t I. You
eliminate dirt. Such rings could be shot see, I’m still an actor—the Smoke Ring
clear up to the stratosphere.” King. Up until now, I ’ve been ashamed
of that, but—well, the Dargantalan fleet
¥ W E added as an afterthought: “ The no longer flies. I thought I had sunk
M M fact that there’s no day or night as low as I could, but the name Eugene—
here helped. Some of my acts were well, I’m going back to my profession—”
ruined in drafty theatres.” he swung toward Iya, flushing pain­
Kanig nodded, his lips working with fully—“ if Iya will go with me?”
emotion. “ Your majesty-—!” She caught her­
“ Have you ever wondered why you self and smiled gladly. She curtsied to
were given the name Eugene?” he asked. Arako. “ I do not know if my king will
Rumstedder did know, now. Old John permit.”
Rumstedder, his tutor, had told him Araako’s glance was kindly. “ Your
what the name meant. king so permits.”
 V IC T O R Y D R U M S 91

"I will go with—with Eugene then,” loathing, o f loneliness in which he had

said Iya. submerged himself. Strange how much
Rumstedder found his arms around the true meaning o f a name could have
her, unaware and uncaring that Kanig made—if he had known the implications
and Arako were withdrawing, smiling behind it!
their pleasure. Rumstedder thought He kissed Iya tenderly.
then o f the hours o f despair, of self­ Eu-gene . . . well born!

Curt New ton Faces His Most Formidable F oe — Rab Cain—

and Fights to F oil a Sinister Plot to Gain the
M astery of the Solar System— in

RED SUN OF DANGER

An Amazing Complete Book-Length Novel

By BRETT STERLING
COMING NEXT ISSUE
FLTLIRIA, the PLANET o f W ONDER
Despite a Few Unwelcome Immigrants, Such as Jovian
Fire-Men and Carnivorous Plants, the Futuremeq’s
Strange World Still Remains the Ideal Place to Live!
HE planet created by the Futuremen But even before that, the news of its cre­
T is the only one in the System that con­
tains a place where normal humanoid
ation had spread panic among land specu­
lators, and eased the land shortage. The
beings are accustomed to walk upside down. Interplanetary Government could complete
The Institute of Pure and Applied Gravita­ its landscaping at leisure, while the Future-
tion, covering several square miles of ground, men went on to other tasks.
has for years conducted experiments on the Futuria’s orbit is an ellipse, averaging
effect of variable gravity on plant life, and about 160,000,000 miles from the sun. By
one of its Rare Plant Departments is main­ treating the planet as a huge space-vessel,
tained under reverse gravity. and giving it the proper acceleration from
Once inside, of course, a visitor soon be­ time to time, its motion can be easily con­
comes accustomed to seeing top and bottom trolled.
interchanged, and soon loses any idea that The use of gravity screens prevents it from
he is walking on his head. But as seen from disturbing the stable orbits of Mars and
the outside, the entire group of buildings Earth.
and greenhouses presents a weird appearance. Futuria itself is smaller than Earth, but
Only the plant life bears its familiar aspect has much more available living space. It’s
—and this is the one thing that is really ab­ surface is mostly dry land. Only two small
normal. Grown under natural gravity, it has artificial oceans have been created to serve
been transplanted here in the usual Earth as planetary reservoirs, and from these, a
fashion, and then subjected to reversed grav­ network of canals radiate over the entire
ity. surface.
However, the planet does not show all the
Plants Grow Huge regularities of design some government of­
The appearance of the plants is thus af­ ficials hoped it would.
fected amazingly. With gravity pulling them Planet Still Shrinks
upwards, they grow to many times their
usual height. These experiments have al­ The reason lies below the surface. Though
ready led to valuable discoveries of hitherto previously packed down under high pressure,
unsuspect functions of plant cells. the materials used in its construction have
The Upside-Down Institute, as it is called, undergone further shrinkage that is still con­
is but one of the many wonders of Futurian- tinuing. Great folds in the surface have
life. The transportation system is another. formed the beginnings of mountain ranges,
Futuria is the one planet that maintains wide-spread depressions indicate the beds of
practically free lateral and vertical transpor­ new, natural oceans. Already the Rising Hills
tation for all inhabitants. The costs are paid promise to put the Himalayas of Earth in the
by taxes on special magnetic clothing sold shade, and the Vanishing Lake has a water
only by the government. A man wearing this level a thousand feet below that of the
clothing need only step into the proper lane, neighboring dry land . . . wheir it has a
at certain designated station, and be whisked water level at all. It dries up during the
away at a speed close to a hundred miles an summer, to reappear during the fall.
hour. In addition to the expected inhabitants,
As seen from below, he has all the appear­ Futuria has had a great many unwanted im­
ance of flying, and the Futurian skies, full migrants.
of soaring men, women, and children, never These have been smuggled in on unfumi­
fail to intrigue visitors. gated space ships, in a gigantic System-wide
racket that has only recently been broken
Eases Land Shortage up by the Planet Patrol.
The new planet has had a great effect on Serpent-Men Under Control
System economic life. Five years after com­
pletion of its core, it was ready to receive As a result one large area is in the hands
immigrants. of Martian Serpent Men, a semi-humanoid
92
race whose fierce murderous habits had set Carnivorous Plants Appear
the other inhabitants of their native planet
against them. Of the thousand or so sur­ Along with the unexpected animal immi­
vivors of this almost extinct species of Mars, grants, Futuria has also found itself supplied
almost half succeeded in reaching Futuria. with unwanted plants. A living forest, com­
Here conditions of life have proved so posed of carnivorous vegetative and semi-
favorable for the development of their eggs, vegetative forma undoubtedly owes its for­
that their numbers have increased tenfold. mation to spores brought in on unfumigated
But the planet government has now limited ships. So too do the Fungus Plains, a flat
their expansion, and they offer no threat to area some fifty miles in diameter, that shines
the planet’s future. with a queer greenish light of its own, and

The Jovian fire-men, flame-breathers who at night serves as a gigantic natural light­
had been threatened with extinction by the house for space ships racing in from the
gradual cooling of their native planet, also outer planets.
emigrated without Government consent, and Mycologists estimate that more than ten
settled near the giant volcano which had thousand varieties of molds and other fungi
formed in Futuria’s southern hemisphere. grow here in great profusion. Unfortunately,
They too gained a new lease on life. the predominant kinds seem to be relatives
of the exceedingly virulent Saturnian vari­
The shrinking of the new planet’s surface eties, and most animals live no more than a
had naturally led to the evolution of consid­ few moments after setting foot within its
erable internal heat. This heat was particu­ borders.
larly evident in the volcanic region, and had
the double effect of making life tolerable for Inhabitants Like Futuria
the Jovians, and impossible for most other Of course, not all of Futuria’s immigrants
races. are unwanted. Great numbers of people from
94 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

all hitherto existing planets have taken up Voters Become Divided

their abodes not far from the Equatorial
Canal, where the climate is most pleasant. Otho’s tactics were to split Grag’s sup­
They have come in bewildering variety, and porters into two rival groups— one in favor
form the most cosmopolitan population yet of Gragville, the other in favor of Robots-
seen within the System. town. In this way he hoped that even if he
They have built up, with Government help, didn’t obtain a majority of the votes, at least
three main cities— Lunar City, named for the he would be able to win.
Futuremen’s home, Cometstown, for the tear­ However, Grag’s supporters saw through
drop-shaped vessel, and what may come as this maneuver, and made it clear that they
a surprise— Gragville, named, it need not be were heartily opposed to Robotstown. The
said, for the great robot himself. name didn’t necessarily apply to Grag, and
then too it might have been misleading.
The choice of a name for Gragville came At the same time, following Grag’s direc­
only after an excited and somewhat amusing tions, they repeated to any listeners they
controversy that lasted for more than a found that Otho had been made a fool of by
month. one Bror Ingmann, Terror of Space— as nar­
The mayor of what had at first been known rated in “ Days of Creation.” This lie had
as Settlement Number Three wrote to New­ already been exposed, but it still found ig­
ton asking that either he or Simon accept the norant believers,' and Gragville squeaked
honor of having the city named after him­ through to a narrow victory.
self, and be present at the dedicatory exer­ Grag magnanimously permitted a suburb of
cises. Simon, who had long since passed the his city to be called Otho Heights—to be
stage of seeking such honors, refused at greatly chagrined some time later when he
once. learned that the suburb had outgrown the
Curt Newton, who had other matters to in­ town proper and was considered far superior
terest him at the moment, and could not as a residence.
spare the time needed to visit the city, de­ Mystery Shrouds Mountain
clined politely, stating that the planet’s name
was honor enough, and BUggeffted instead No description of Futuria would be com­
that the new metropolis be named after plete without some reference to the Haunted
either Grag or Otho. And as he temporarily Peak, an unexpected evidence of superstition
needed the services of neither the android to find on a planet which had been con­
nor the robot, he shipped them both off to structed synthetically and should have been
Futuria, and the delighted but worried mayor entirely without mystery. But even before
of Settlement Three now found himself fac­ the planet was officially opened to immigra­
ing a real problem. tion, strange reports wei'e circulated about
mysterious noises and events occurring in
the neighborhood of a peak not far from the
Synthetic Men Seek Honor South Polar Ocean.
There was no evidence that any familiar
Should the city be named for Otho or for life-forms had made the peak their home,
Grag? The two synthetic creatures were and an official investigating committee de­
both anxious for the honor, and all the quar­ nied absolutely that this part of Futuria was
relsomeness in their natures came to the fore. inhabited.
The mayor, too discreet to show his pref­ Popular opinion still insists, however, that
erence either way, proclaimed a special elec­ the peak had become the home of invisible
tion to settle this great question, and for men from outer space. Astonishingly enough,
several weeks both Grag and Otho threw this belief is shared by none others than
themselves into electioneering with all the Curt Newton and the Brain.
vigor and skill of veteran politicians. “ Some day, Simon,” observed Captain Fu­
ture, “we’ll have to investigate that place.
It was a bewildering and not uncommon There should be at least as much to learn as
experience for a Voter to find himself ap­ from a study of past civilizations.”
proached by the two rivals at once, each “ Some day, lad,” agreed the Brain. “ Mean­
securing a firm grasp on some part of his while, we have our studies on magneto gravi­
clothes, and extolling his own virtues. tational waves to occupy us.”
It is doubtful whether either Grag or Otho Curt Newton nodded. And yet, he had a
won many voters in this fashion, for their feeling that the Haunted Peak might be even
usual victim was too paralyzed with fright more important than the investigations that
to understand what either of them said. Tfce now occupied the attention of the Future-
real decision was apparently the result of a men. Some day, as he had observed , . .
whispering campaign— or rather, of two Reluctantly, he relegated the idea to the
whispering campaigns, one of which failed back of his mind. It was a mystery that
to achieve its effect. for the time being must remain unsolved.

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 A s B a ’ a b s m o tio n e d f o r h im t o fo llo w , R e g g ie H a r t g la n c e d u p a n d s a w B e rn

T H E RETURN O F T H E ICE A C E
By N A T H A N IE L NITKIN
R eggie Hart and a Party of Scientists Move One Thousand Years
into the Future—and Face Terrible Catastrophe
Engineered by a Ruthless Secret Enemy!

EGGIE H A R T was first out. He dered snow running over the glacier.
R took one hurried look and then
frowned.
Land and sky were fused in the same
gray unity which the dim sun barely
“ So this is the future/’ he said. penetrated. There was no horizon.
As they stepped from the time ma­ Clouds seemed to rise straight out of
chine, the three men did not answer the earth, like swollen smoke puffs from
Reggie Hart. What they saw was a shock an invisible fire.
to them. After going one thousand Reggie Hart turned to the expedition
years into the future they had expected leader, Dr. Henry Burton.
to find the super metropolis of New York “ Are you sure we landed in New
City, and they saw only an undulating York?” he asked.
snow plain, broken by occasional knolls. Dr. Burton nodded. “That’s right.
And as the four men looked, the wind I ’ve been using the machine a few times
was high, and its biting gusts sent pow­ before. It’s trustworthy. This is the
96 C A P T A IN F U TU R E

first time we’ve projected ourselves one Strickland went there to check the re­
thousand years into the future, but I’m cording instruments’ graphic rolls.
sure that this is where New York should As the men broke out rope to secure
be.” He paused and added, “ Looks as the machine, Strickland ran out of the
if the Ice Age has returned.” control nose, agitated, out of breath.
Though the disappearance of civiliza­ “ The condenser,” he shouted hoarsely,
tion under ice stunned Reggie Hart, he “ It’s ruined!”
felt a strong attachment to the vast Dr. King dropped the bundle he was
snowlands. He could not understand it. carrying. Dr. Burton jerked his head
Perhaps it was Viking blood in his to Strickland. Reggie Hart swore. All
veins. He looked like a Viking in mod­ at once, the men dashed to the control
ern clothes. He had always been his best chamber.
in the far North. During the war that had As Strickland claimed, the condenser
ended five years before the Burton Ex­ —nerve center of the time machine—
pedition left the White House lawn in was bent out of shape. Part of it was
the time machine, he had seen active cracked, and strands o f mica and wire
service wtih para-ski troops. stuck out of its resin cover like foamy
The scientists began to stir. Dr. Ru­ tentacles. The men were stranded in
fus King, the geologist, whistled with an Ice Age, one thousand years into the
dismay. Burton’s brilliant assistant, Dr. future.
Boyce Strickland jerked his head nerv­ Strickland pointed to the condenser.
ously. “ I ’ll swear the condenser was in work­
“ It's my theory that we’ve lived in an ing shape when we landed,” he said
inter-glacial period,” Dr. Strickland solemnly.
said with his high-pitched voice. “ W e’ve “ Someone in this party sabotaged the
built civilization on foundations which condenser,” said Dr. Burton.
now seem to be flimsy. Glaciers have Silence gripped the four men. Accus­
come back.” ing eyes were turned upon each other.
Whoever the saboteur was, he had
A R T turned to Strickland and no­ superb control of his face and eyes.
H ticed that the mathematician’s
face had turned to a waxy hue when the
Then Dr. Burton turned to Strickland,
“ Give me the spare condenser,” he said.
sharp wind stung it. Though tall, too, “ I’ll fix the machine. W e’re going back
Strickland was thin, practically chest­ at once.”
less, and his shoulders were round. Strickland opened a drawer beneath
“ It can’t be helped, so what are we the dash board. Reggie Hart saw it was
standing here for?” Hart demanded. full of spare parts, rheostats, photo-elec­
“ W e ought to secure the machine. Don’t tric cells, transformers, and coiled wire
tell me blizzards aren’t coming. Look neat in their compartments. But one
at these clouds. If the machine is dam­ partition was empty.
aged, we can never return to the Twen­ Strickland stared at the empty Com­
tieth Century.” partment. Then he turned and looked
“ W ould you give us orders?” Strick­ at Burton.
land said. "W e ’11 do our work without “ You mean you forgot to bring the
benefit of your opinion. You’re only a spare condenser?” Dr. Burton shouted
newspaperman, a guest to boot.” with a terrible voice. “ What have you
“ Don’t be nasty, Strickland,” Dr. Bur­ done? The expedition— It is a failure.
ton interrupted. “ Mr. Hart’s right. W e have met with a catastrophe!”
W e’ll do what he suggests.” Strickland said nothing, though his
They returned to the machine, which face flushed and his eyes clouded with
was built like a huge cylinder of dura­ resentment. Dr. King sat down and
luminum with plexiglass portholes and moaned, thinking of his wife and chil­
with a blunt plexiglass observation nose. dren, Dr. Burton continued to shout at
The controls were in the nose, and Strickland.
 T H E R E T U R N O F T H E IC E A G E 97

Reggie Hart interrupted him. “ What’s with us on our march. That’s our only
the use of accusing each other? Our hope to live.”
problem now is to live. I assure you that The scientists caught some of Reggie
the North can be cruel. W e’ll all die a Hart’s infectious enthusiasm. Under his
slow and terrible death unless we act at direction, they fashioned two sleds and
once.” finished them by nightfall. Then it was
White-faced, Burton looked at him. too late to start, and Hart made the men
“ Don’t you see what it means?” he dig a snow shelter for the night.
cried. “ I ’m old and I’ll die soon—that’s “ W e ’ll have to set watches on our
true. But my mathematics of time and food,” he said. “ The fellow who sabo­
my invention may be lost. I ’ve spent all taged the machine may sabotage our
my money on them. I’ve willed them to food, too.”
the Smithsonian Institution. My work The men protested, but Hart was
is in my safe, but will they get the in­ adamant. Finally watch guards were
vention?” chosen, and as night fell, with a further
Dr. Burton had spent all of his pen­ lowering of temperature, the men slept,
sion as professor emeritus of mathe­ except for the watch guard who nursed
matical physics at Harvard, and royalties a campfire of pieces o f lumber.
from the inventions he had developed at The day had dawned exceedingly
W right Field during the war, on his cold and grey when the men broke camp
time machine. It was the last contribu­ and began their southward march. Then
tion of a rare type of scientist, a selfless they discovered that the flatness of the
man whose ambition was to advance hu­ glacier was deceptive. Yawing cre­
manity to a higher civilization. vasses and high pressure ridges had to
Reggie Hart found it difficult to say be skirted. Every time the men detoured
anything. He stood for a few moments around an obstacle, Hart built a high
o f embarrassed silence. cairn of hard snow and ice and marked
“ Isn’t there life on this planet now?” it on a map he made.
he asked. “ Surely the Ice Age didn’t There was no question of leadership.
destroy all life?” Strickland was the type o f man who
Strickland twitched his shoulders dreamed of grandiose plans and lacked
nervously. the will to carry them out. Dr. King
“ Perhaps there is,” he answered. “ The preferred to avoid responsibility and
last glacier terminated a few miles south take orders. Dr. Burton was not an out-
of New York’s latitude. It’s my theory doorsman; he was a tenderfoot in snow-
that this glacier doesn’t extend far craft. Without challenge, Reggie Hart
south, and there we may find a civiliza­ became the leader.
tion of some sort.” The long trek was an unrelieved
“ That will do,” Hart exclaimed. agony. Though the season was sup­
“ W e’re going south toward life.” posed to be summer, the weather was
cold. All woolens that the men had com­
R. KING looked up at Hart sorrow­
D fully. “ But I don’t see how we can
find any. Even if the glacier’s terminus
mandeered from the machine’s stores,
could not keep out the bite that seemed
to freeze their souls. Cold became an
is not far to the south, the new frigid obsession, almost an hallucination.
zone will exceed the Tropic o f Cancer. Strickland stumbled along in a sort of
W e can’t carry all the food necessary delirium. King and Burton had long
for subsistence before we see the first ceased to speculate on the cause of the
signs of life.” Ice Age. Their brains appeared to have
“ There’s the extra lumber in the holds shrunk to the dimensions of dried peas.
of this machine,” said Hart. Reggie Hart alone stood it, but he suf­
“ It’s lucky we brought it along to build fered nonetheless.
store-houses. W e can fashion sledges A t night, the scientists were exhausted
out of it and drag food and supplies and miserable. They would have flung
98 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

themselves on the snow, not caring if yards. He groped for a few feet, found
they lived or not, had not Hart whipped nothing. Then a blizzard exploded all
them with sharp words and forced them around him.
to dig snow shelters, one for food cache
and another for themselves. Then they E fell on his knees, blinded by the
lit a fire with lumber that Hart had in­
sisted on bringing along.
H driving snow. He was out alone,
and his shelter was barely ten yards
Warm food and coffee revived them. away. If he could reach it—but he knew
Then, except for the man standing watch that to stand erect would make him a
over food, they fell into a stupor. living dead man wandering in a blizzard
The next day was a repetition of the until cold, exhaustion, and death over­
first except they came to a particularly took him.
bad pressure ridge, which Hart jokingly Slowly he edged back. His feet struck
ascribed to snow tumbling over the Em­ s o m eth in g . He turned around. He
pire State Building. Dr. Burton caught clutched and bent over it, studying it as
the spirit by pointing out that the ridge soberly as he had ever stared at any­
extended for miles northwest and thing in the world. It was the remains
southeast. of the campfire. He tried to remember
‘T think we’ve reached the Delaware its layout.
River,” he said. He imagined that the dead campfire
But neither Strickland nor King ap­ pointed toward the shelter.
preciated the joke. All they saw in the He shook his head. Now he was cool,
pressure ridge was a barrier they had determined not to let death claim him.
to surmount. Climb it they did, and as He crawled around the fire. He found
night fell, they were on the other side a slight mound under his feet. He cleared
of the ridge. it, a heap of firewood. Now he knew
At night, Reggie Hart stood second where he was.
watch over the food cache. Though he Slowly, deliberately he turned until
was tired, he felt a strange peace sweep the mound was to his left. Then he
over him, a peace cast by the glowing crawled against the wind. Suddenly the
campfire and by the timeless constella­ wind seemed to stop blowing although
tions, evidence o f the immutibality of the blizzard raged furiously as ever. By
Nature and the insignificance o f Man in that he knew he had come to the shelter’s
her schemes. windbreak. He rose and stumbled a few
He heard stealthy feet creep up to feet before he reached the snow shelter,
him,—too late! Before he could turn, into which he threw himself.
the unknown man whipped a stick smart­ Strickland was first to be awakened by
ly on Reggie’s head. Hart flopped on the noise of Reggie Hart’s fall. Then
his back with a jerk. Dancing orbs of the men joined him. He told them what
orange fire blinded him, followed by had happened.
blackness. The blizzard was short-lived and de­
His head throbbed when he opened his parted with daybreak. As Hart emerged
eyes again.He moaned and tried to move. from the snow shelter, and dug a short
Sharp stabs of pain, like molten iron, ran path to the snowfield, his worst fears
through him and almost left him help­ were confirmed.
less. Then, as he shook his head and sat There was no sign of the food cache.
up, he realized his dangerous predica­ A fresh coat of snow obliterated every­
ment. thing.
The fire had died, and the wind was Hart bit his lips. He saw the men’s
whipping up powdery snow that struck faces turn ashen white, all e x c e p t
his face like a thousand needles. He Strickland’s, which seemed to have the
staggered to his feet and looked at the composition of candle wax. Their shoul­
sky. It was overcast, and snow had be­ ders sagged and their eyes betrayed des­
gun to fall. Visibility was barely five pair.
 T H E R E T U R N O F T H E IC E A G E 99

“ W e’ll look for the food cache,” Hart sit and brood, heavily, vacantly, sullenly,
said tonelessly. resentful against all the world, against
It was a hopeless task. They dug and a Nature that had lured man to build a
dug, but they saw only snow. The gla­ civilization and demolished it with her
cier had simply swallowed the cache. glaciers. Short rations barely satisfied
Then Hart suspected that the man who his gnawing stomach.
had waylaid him, would have broken the He curled up in his snow shelter, bit­
cache. ing down sobs as he went to sleep. His
There was nothing to do but take stock emotions, long pent-up and firmly con­
of whatever food was left in the shelter. trolled, now burst to surface. Without
Pitifully small, it was about enough for knowing it, he found himself talking al­
a man to carry in a packsack. It meant most hysterically like a child laughing
slow starvation, weakening the men one at its brainless acts.
by one as they pushed southward until It was on the sixth day that a blizzard
they dropped in their tracks to die. Hart broke out with the fury of Nature on
might reach the farthest south, but not rampage. His food rations had dwindled
the scientists. to a handful of bologna, and his stomach
“There’s only one hope for us,” Hart had a peculiar rubbed-together feeling
said thoughtfully. “Listen—we’ll divide that occasionally gave him cramps. He
food into four parts. I’ll take my share found he could stand it by huddling in
and go southward until I reach civiliza­ his shelter and waiting for the blizzard
tion. The rest of you stay here until I to abate.
come back with help.” But the storm continued for three
days, and during these three days,

A Sargue,
THE men were too despirited to
they agreed. Hart fashioned
Hart slept soundly. He woke only
to clear snow that threatened to block
a pack out of a burlap bag and stuffed his the entrance of his shelter. Then his
share of food into it. Then he shoul­ mpscles ceased to ache, but his stomach
dered the pack and left the camp with­ was a hollow vacuum that pained hor­
out further word. ribly.
The first day, Hart made seven miles. Two days after the blizzard abated,
He had to circle a dangerous crevasse. Reggie Hart found the first sign of hu­
As he walked, he studied the country and man life. During the last two days, as he
noted the prominent topography on his struggled ever southward, the glacier
map. To do this was clumsy, especially decreased in altitude, and he found dung
with his gloves on, but in the biting cold from some unknown animals. He had
he did not dare to take them off. used that as fuel for campfires, and the
Night fell. He dug a shallow shelter hot water he had prepared, partly re­
and capped it with snow blocks. Then lieved the pain in his stomach.
he ate a cold supper. There was no wood Now he was standing on a knoll. As
to build a fire. In his troubled sleep, his eyes reached out, he saw a dark line
he dreamed of warmth and comfort. on the horizon—land! Between the land
The second day, he stumbled on, some­ and his knoll, a slender thread of smoke
times sinking to his knees in a snow rose straight into the sky, dispersed
bank. H e h a d l o n g s i n c e l o s t s e n s a t io n where a breeze reached it.
in his limbs. They moved in almost per­ He resisted the impulse to dash toward
petual motion without any sensation. His the smoke. He swayed on his wobbling
body, too, ceased to ache. However when feet and sa t d o w n . B r e a t h i n g s l o w l y t o
he stopped just before nightfall, having clear his mind, he looked again. The
made fifteen miles, pain returned with smoke was still there.
the impact o f a whip lash. He marked the spot where he was sit­
But he had faithfully kept his map up ting on his map. Then he took a compass
to date. sight to the campfire. Satisfied, he
When he ate his supper, he could only tucked the map and pencil into his pocket
100 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

and stood up. “ No. Think you Evil One come like
The sun was low when he reached the tired w olf?” said another man. “ Evil
campfire. Nobody was in sight. The One never tired. Evil One stronger than
burning fire, though unattended, was sur­ Bear.”
rounded by a semi-circular windbreak of “ I think Evil One sent him. Bewitch
snow, and on the top of it was a grill of us.”
a blackened substance. On it, meat was “ I go talk him.”
roasting, and as the aroma reached his A girl, barely past eighteen, stepped
nostrils, Hart felt a nearly insupportable from the band and walked toward Hart.
pain in his stomach. The men raised their spears higher to
He stumbled toward it and knocked protect her from any move on his part.
the meat off the grill. He fell on his Hart rose as she came to him. Now she
knees. He picked the meat with his was close, and her warm breath touched
gloved hand and shoved up his impro­ his cheek like velvet. The sinking sun,
vised sun goggles with his elbow. When lighting her hair, set it off in a reddish-
he bit a chunk off, he felt a thrill of golden hue, and her tanned skin looked
ecstasy run through his body. so smooth that, in spite of his fatigue,
He was so busy, eating the meat, that Reggie Hart gazed at her in admiration.
he did not notice fur-clad men and wo­ W arily she touched him and retreated
men advance toward him. He saw their a few steps with alacrity. Nothing hap­
shadows when he was surrounded. Then pened. She advanced again, touching
he looked at them. him for the second time. Reassured, she
They were white men and women, and nudged him hard, felt his woolens and
the men were bearded. Instinctivly Hart face. Then she turned to her people
felt his face and found that he, also had triumphantly.
grown a beard. O f the women, the older “ See, he no Evil One,” she announced.
had hard faces, but the younger were “ Ba’abs touch him. Nothing happen.”
graceful, though swathed in fur parkas “ Nothing will happen to you, sister,”
with hood thrown back to expose their Reggie smiled.
long, silken hair. The girl, Ba-abs, sprang away startled
when Reggie talked. Then she returned
HE men raised their spears and cov­ to him.
T ered him. Hart looked at their ar­
mament with curiosity. Their spears and
“ You—talk like Bern,” she said.
“ W ho is Bern?” Hart asked with a
knives were made of polished stone and puzzled frown.
bone. O f iron or metal, infallible traces “ No know Bern?” Ba’abs exclaimed,
of higher culture, there were no signs. genuinely surprised. “Bern, he wise
It was as if, with the return of the Ice man. He know many, many book. He
Age, Nature had hurled highly civilized teach us mysterious things. Everyone
man back into the savagery of the Stone know Bern. You no know Bern?”
Age. It was news to Reggie Hart that, even
“ So this is the future,” Reggie Hart in savagery, man would have saved books
murmured again. and could read them. Vaguely he felt
His words had an electrical effect on that if he saw Bern or whoever he was,
the strangers. They fell into a rapid he would get a rescue party for his col­
jabber of imperfectly pronouced English leagues.
with a primitive grammar. Then Hart re­ “ Take me to Bern,” he commanded.
alized that, with the throw back to primi­ Ba’abs turned to her band. “ W e take
tive stone culture, many words lost their him to Bern. Bern angry if you no obey
usages and vocabulary and grammar had Ba’abs.”
become simplified. The men lowered their spears and
He caught a few phrases. turned toward the south. Ba’abs shoved
“ Even now he is Evil One,” Hart Hart to a position behind the men and
translated. walked along beside him. Then she
 T H E R E T U R N O F T H E IC E A G E 101

spoke to him again. men respected Bern. He was a patriarch;

“ You name?” she inquired. tall, firm and straight backed in spite of
“ Reggie Hart.” his age, and with a flowing white beard.
“ Reggie ’Art. It good name.” Chattering rapidly, Ba-abs told Bern
Hart had expected to see the worst in of her meeting with Reggie Hart. Then
the village, and he was not deceived. It Bern advanced toward him.
was composed o f hide covered shelters “ W ho are you, stranger?” inquired
like Eskimo summer abodes. Bern. “ Where you come from ?”
The village itself was on dry land be­ Though Hart had expected Bern to
side a moraine that the glacier had rolled show better command of English, he
before it. As Hart passed them, he nevertheless was surprised to hear almost
counted thirteen houses and saw curious perfect pronunciation of the halting
eyes peer out at him. Then children ran words.
toward the party. “ You will not believe me if I told you,”
He glanced at the children and saw Hart answered after a moment of hesita­
that while the predominant racial strain tion. “ I ’m from the Twentieth Century.”
was Caucasian, there were some Mongol­ “ The Twentieth Century?” Bern said
ian features among them. He fancied with a frown. “ Where is that?”
that there had been a death struggle be­ From this Hart knew Bern’s knowl­
tween the Eskimos retreating before the edge was imperfect, although he could
the advance of the Ice Age, and the dis­ speak well, which was mystifying.
possessed white men. Because he saw “ That’s long, long ago,” said Hart.
no pure Mongol type, he thought that Bern nodded. “ Books tell of time
the Eskimos were exterminated, and travel. I think I understand. How long
their women taken by white men. you stay with us?”
The men of the party scattered. Ba*- Hart shrugged. “ I ’m afraid forever.
abs led Hart to a hill outside the village. Our machine broke down.”
As twilight was vanishing, he could not He had not seen Ba’abs go, and now
see well the dull object on the top of the she re-appeared.
hill until they arrived. “ Meat ready,” she said. “ Reggie ’Art
hungry?”
T was a streamlined affair o f greenish Bern smiled at her. Then he turned
I metal. It had two pairs of fins above
and under the pointed stern, out of which
to Hart. “ W e eat first. You talk after­
wards.”
thick pipes jutted. The upper part of “ Suits me fine,” answered Hart.
the nose and portholes in the cigar­ Bern frowned. He did not seem to
shaped thing were made of glass that understand the phrase, but he let it go
was intact in spite of the obvious age of at that.
the huge thing. Over all, it was as long as Dinner was an uncomfortable affair.
the H .M .S , Q u e e n M a r y in which he had First because they ate in what was the
sailed to the front in the war. Reggie ship’s library. Books everywhere, and
Hart fancied he was looking at a space­ out of curiosity, Reggie Hart examined
ship, ancient in this century, but not yet some of them. Here was Shakespeare’s
invented in his own, complete plays, a medical encyclopaedia,
Ba’abs motioned him to follow her up Einstein’s “ Relativity Theory,” a book
the ladder into the spaceship. As he whose author Reggie never heard of, and
was about to obey, he glanced up and a thick volume entitled, “ Mathematics
saw the man known as Bern. Bern was of Time” by Dr. Henry Burton.
standing in the entry-port of the ship. He opened the last and saw Dr. Bur­
He moved back with a beckoning gesture ton’s picture on the frontispiece. The
and Ba-abs and Hart stepped into the first two pages were a foreword by the
ship. Then Hart scrutinized Bern more Smithsonian Institution, a centennial
closely. memorial to the great scientist who had
Now Hart understood why the Ice Age tried to prove that time travel was pos­
102 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

sible, but who had disappeared with his they muttered among themselves, loud
machine into an unknown time. enough for him to hear, that he was a
Reggie Hart felt a queer sensation run wise man like Bern, and that he could
down his spine. If he had Dr. Burton read magic books.
with him, he could prove the truth of his It took them only three days to reach
story beyond shadow of doubt. the base camp. The shelter was partly
Dinner was further uncomfortable be­ hidden by a big snowbank. W ith the
cause Hart’s hosts grabbed chunks of aid of his men, Reggie Hart cleared the
meat from a common plate and ate with­ entrance, shouting into the shelter as the
out benefit of utensils. Ba-abs watched work proceeded. He shouted and when
Reggie Hart with wondering eyes as he he received no reply, he became afraid
ate. She tried to copy his table man­ he was too late.
ners with ludicrous results. Soon the entrance was large enough
Finally it was over and Bern looked for him to crawl through. He was fol­
at Hart as if waiting for him to talk. Hart lowed by Ba’abs. As he entered the
omitted the time machine for the pres­ shelter, he saw Dr. King lying in his
ent and described his struggle to reach sleeping bag, eyes closed. He crept to
help for his companions. And while Dr. King and shook him violently. Slow­
Bern did not understand much of the ly the geologist opened dull eyes, staring
story, he nodded. vacantly at Hart. His lips moved slightly,
“ You say three men starve in Snow but he was too weak to talk.
Land?” he asked. Later, with a campfire burning, they
Reggie Hart nodded. “ That’s right.” fed King under Reggie Hart’s di­
rection. Soon King recovered some of
“ W e send party to save them in morn­ his strength and looked at his rescuers.
ing,” she said. “ What happened to Burton and Strick­
It was a mystery to Hart how an ap­ land?” asked Hart.
parently dogless village got dog teams. “ Went hunting—caught ptarmigan
Then Ba’abs explained that it was puppy day before—blizzard . . . L ost!”
season, and the dogs were quarantined Then as though King’s efforts to speak
in a separate compound that she called sapped his strength, he fell back into his
k e n l . Bern had- read about it in a book sleeping bag. Hart touched King’s
and prescribed k e n l treatment for dogs brow. It was warm.
in puppy season. “Look. Ba’abs find book!”
Reggie Hart turned around. Ba’abs
OON the rescue party was racing
S northward, along the line Reggie
Hart drew on his map. Now he was
had been ransacking Strickland’s bag,
and now she was displaying a book, a
small affair covered with red leather.
wearing a fur parka, and though he had “ Give me that book,” Hart said curtly.
not fully recovered from his ordeal, he Frightened by his almost violent
drove the rescue party, permitting stops speech, Ba’abs handed him the book. It
only at night. was a diary. W ith curiosity, he opened
At first the men rebelled, but they it and read the first page. It said:
were genuinely afraid of Ba-abs. Hart
could not understand what power an June 31st.—I finished the mathematical cal­
eighteen-year old girl had over hard men culations pertaining to the successful opera­
tion of the time machine, one thousand years
who could crush her, unless it was Bern’s to the future. It will be recognized as a
invisible power. Then, as the rescue triumph of my genius. Dr. Burton must not
get credit due to me.
party sped northwards, they began to
respect Reggie. Hart scowled at finding this, which
They did not comprehend how he did not affect him agreeably. He looked
found his way, even to snow shelters that further, and the next page read:
he had built on his march. When they
saw him consult his map and compass, July 2nd. My plans are complete. If
 T H E R E T U R N O F T H E IC E A G E 103

Dr. Burton knows, he’d call off the trip be­ mentally he dug snow from the hole.
cause he’ll never return. At last I will get the He enlarged it and he was looking into
credit that is due to me.
a snow shelter.
Hart’s indignation increased. The Then he called his men. Ba’abs was
implication was clear, but he could not first to reach him. Rapidly they cleared
yet understand what Strickland meant. the hole, and soon Hart crawled through.
He turned another page. It read: It was Dr. Burton, still as in a sleep
of death. W ith a beating heart, Reggie
July 5th.—The expedition starts tomorrow. Hart crawled to him. He Removed the
Dr. Burton does not know that I have a mathe­ doctor’s hand and felt for pulse. It was
matical hypothesis that the Glacial Period
will return one thousand years hence. It is faint, but nevertheless Hart refused to
perfect for my plans. abandon hope.
The forehead was bandaged with cloth
July 7th.—My plans worked! I wrecked strips. Hart thought that Strickland
the condenser and am hiding the spare con­
denser in my pocket. That fool, Reggie had tried to kill Burton by a savage
Hart, fell for my folderol that there is a blow, but the younger mathematician’s
civilization southward. Just wait until the strength had been sapped by hunger and
party is far from the machine!
ordeal, and the attempt had failed. Dr.
Anger crept over Reggie Hart’s Burton had retained the vitality to fix
flushed face. Now he knew Strickland’s his sleeping bag and crawl into it to die,
nature, an egomaniac who was planning after Strickland left him for dead in
the destruction of the expedition for the snow shelter.
his own benefit. Minutes were precious. Hart could
Rapidly Hart thumbed the pages and not afford to linger long. Although he
came to the last entry. It read: was doubtful if Dr. Burton would live,
he left one sledge and two men to try to
August 3rd.— Luck is on my side. We bring the scientist back to life. Then
caught a ptarmigan and I was able to per­ with Ba’abs and another man, he raced
suade Dr. Burton to come with me to hunt toward the time machine.
for food. Dr. King is so weak that he will
die anyway% Reggie Hart undoubtedly is lost Night overtook them before they
in the glacier. reached the machine, and they were
I will lure Dr. Burton near the time ma­ forced to camp. The next morning they
chine and tell him everything. How he will
love to hear what I am planning to avenge my found it and Dr. Strickland.
years of ignobility in his hands. He had all Lying on its side, the machine was
the credit for what I have done. Never
will it happen again. I will kill him and re­ half covered with snow. Its plexiglass
turn to the Twentieth Century. I will tell was cracked in two places, and snow
the truth about the coming Ice Age, but will filled the control room in the nose. A
add that the others were killed in a crevasse.
I will attain fame as a mathematician who girder was bent. The blizzard had ruined
proved the feasibility of time travel. it beyond repair.
Dr. Strickland lay on his back in the
EGGIE H ART closed the book
R firmly. He was thoughtful for a
while, then turned to the men he had
nose o f the time machine. His arms were
bent at right angles, and his ungloved
hands were white as the snow about him,
brought back with him. frozen stiff. His gloves lay nearby, and
“Load two sledges,” he shouted. there were a few matches spilled from
“ W e’re going to save Dr. Burton if we the match-box which Hart found, not
can. The rest of you stay here with far off, half buried in the snow, near a
K in g ” piece of timber taken from the ship. The
It was hours later when Hart thought missing but utterly useless condenser
he saw something on the snowfield, but was inside the match-box.
he was not sure. He stopped the labor­ Seeking refuge from the cold, the
ing sledges and walked to what had mathematician had tried to light a fire
attracted his attention— a mound with to warm himself. He had made a mistake
a small hole near the snow level. Experi­ in taking off his gloves. Then his hands
104 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

froze, and helpless, he died, frustrated. “ Listen, Reggie ’ Art,” Bern said. “ I
His plan had been perfect, but he had am old and will die soon. You will be
failed to take into account, a contemptu­ the wise man of my people, and you
ous Nature, which had wrecked the time must make your vows. Teach my people
machine. how to read. Teach them knowledge.”
The irony of the thing worked upon Hart looked at the books with curios­
Reggie Hart’s overwrought nerves. He ity. They were text books. Then he
burst into a hysterical laugh that scared looked at Bern.
Ba’abs and the man with her. “ My grandfather taught me how to
Several days later, Reggie Hart was read,” the patriarch continued. “ He for­
watching Ba’abs from the transparent got much, but I read books. My grand­
nose of the spaceship. She looked cute father’s grandfather taught him to read.
as she approached, puppies in her arms. My grandfather’s grandfather’s grand­
Dr. Burton had died without reviving. father made my family promise to keep
The strain had been too much for him, books for my people.”
and his life ebbed when Reggie Hart
returned. They had buried him in the OW Hart knew the mystery of the
snow shelter where he had expired. books and of Bern’s imperfect
Dr. King on the other hand, was on knowledge. He imagined that the orig­
road to recovery. Only an hour before inal survivors had loaded a spaceship
he had been talking enthusiastically to with books and scientific instruments—
Reggie Hart. he had found a microscope, a few chemi­
“ Do you realize what it means?” he cals, and many apparatus— so that the
cried. “ W hy, I can make accurate obser­ stricken civilization would not perish
vations of the glacial phenomena. I shall without leaving some record for future
write my discoveries in a record book ages.
for posterity. Later, when civilization “ Reggie ’Art, promise me you will be
returns, men who read my notes will my people’s wise man and teach them,”
appreciate them.” said Bern.
Reggie Hart, however, was not think­ “ I promise.”
ing of it. Return to the Twentieth Cen­ “ Ba’abs tell me she love you. I talked
tury was impossible. Yet somehow, as to King. He tell me where you come
he watched Ba’abs, he was not sorry. from. For years I dreamed of son like
Bern touched him lightly on the you. Promise to take care of her.”
shoulder. Reggie Hart flushed. Just then Ba’abs
“ Come, Reggie ’Art. I want to talk entered the spaceship’s library with her
to you.” puppies. She looked at Hart, and when
Hart followed Bern into the library. their eyes met, she averted her glance,
There, Bern took some books and blushing.
handed them to him. “ I promise,” said Reggie Hart.

BE fl PAID-UP PATRIOT
B Y M a rch 15th fifty m illio n A m e r ica n s w il l have
had t o file in co m e re p o rts and m ake paym ents,
m any o f th em p a y in g taxes f o r th e first tim e. A ll
D o n 't delay, p a trio ts ! F ile y o u r returns early to
h elp U n d e Sam . D o n ’ t w ait u n til the la st m inu te,
d is co v e rin g t o o late that y o u n eed ex p e rt advice, o r
s in g le p erson s ea rn in g m o r e than $ 5 0 0 and every m a k in g a b ottlen eck jam f o r the B ureau o f Internal
husband an d w if e eith er o f w h o s e in d iv id u a l in co m e R even u e. T o h e lp y o u , th ere axe accoun tants and
w as $ 6 2 4 o r m ore and ev e ry b o d y w h o paid or o w e s a law yers in tax offices and banks th ro u g h o u t th e co u n ­
tax o n 1 9 4 2 in co m e m u st file a return. try w h o w il l advise y o u fr e e o f charge. T h e re are
T h is year taxpayers m ust co m p u te in com e ta x, V i c ­ sim plified tax fo rm s and exp lan atory b o ok lets .
tory tax, a n d p ossib le percen ta ge o f the partially W a r is ex p en s iv e. R em em ber that ninety-five cents
fo r g iv e n 1 9 4 2 tax— as w e ll as m ake an estim ate re­ o f every tax d olla r g o e s d irectly in to the w a r effort.
turn o n th e cu rren t 1 9 4 4 in c o m e ! Salary and w ag e T h e s oon er th e w ar is w o n , th e soon er taxes w ill fa ll
w ith h o ld in g taxes have n o t re lie v e d us o f th e o b lig a ­ to n orm a l lev els. W e all k n o w th e j o b m ust b e d on e.
tio n o f filin g returns. S o be a P aid -u p P a trio t!
 H . ». P H I L L I P S

^ 4 t a S p e c i a l f~ ^ nt e e

By H. I. PHILLIPS
Author of “ Private Purkey,” “ A ll Out A rlen e” and other books

OU wouldn’t wait to chip in for a new Come across so that the enemy will never get
hose if the one being used to fight the across! Fork over so that they will never
fire in your own house blew out, would come over! Waving the red, white and blue
you? is swell, but the real red, white and blue
If you were going over Niagara Falls on a waver also waves the long green!
tightwire and heard it snap, you wouldn’t say: “ My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of
“ See me later,” if somebody suggested a liberty, of the I sing,” is wonderful, but we
contribution to buy a net? can’t Tfrin this war by vocal effects. Come
Would you say, “ I’m too busy just now,” down out of the choir for a few minutes and
if you saw a neighbor drowning and the only let’s see how good you are with the cash reg­
rope nearby was in a window under a sign ister, pocketbook and old sock!
“ Make me an offer” ? Yeah, you love those rocks and rills. Of
OF COURSE NOT! course you do. So don’t tighten up when you
And what you are being asked (invited is put a value on the rocks and don’t put a ten
a better word) to do when asked to buy War percent valuation on the rills.
Bonds is no different. This struggle is for sur­ And “thy woods and templed hills” . . .
vival. If you want to survive don’t quibble what about ’em? You’ll never get a chance
over the SURVIVAL RATES! to buy wood cheaper, mister. And whatever
Kick in with your money! Plenty of men the hills cost you are getting them at a special
and women are kicking in with their lives. price, with the temples thrown in.
Buy War Bonds and it’s terrific. But be a And remember the priceless crack of Jack
fullback, not a halfback or a quarterback. Lait: “When you back the attack you are
It’s what we do in back that helps in front. fighting those who attack in the back.”
N O T H IN G S IR IIJ S
By FREORIC BROWN
Captain "Pop" Wherry and His Family Discover a Planet That
Shows Them Emphatically It Doesn't Want to be Discovered!

LEA SAN TLY, I was taking the They’d stood in line to get into our tent

P last coins out of the machines

and counting them while Ma was
entering the figures in the little red
and push their coins into the machines.
So even with the plenty high expense
of the trip, we’d done all right by our­
book. I called them out as usual. Nice selves.
figures they were. Yes, they were right comforting,
Yes, we’d had a good play on both those figures Ma was entering. ’ Course
of the Sirius planets, Freda and Thor. she’d add them up wrong, but then
Especially on Thor. Those little Earth Ellen would straighten it out when Ma
colonies out there are starved to death finally gave up. Ellen’ s good at figures,
for entertainment of any kind, and and got a good one herself, even if I do
money doesn’t mean a thing to them. say it of my own daughter. Credit for
 N O T H IN G S IR IU S 107

that goes to Ma, anyway, not to me. about Sirius A.”

I’m built on the general lines of a space “ Johnny,” I began, “we’re inside the
tug. orbit of Thor, which is Sirius I, which
I put back the coin-box of the Rocket- means it’s the first planet o f Sirius and
Race and looked up. “ Ma,” I started to how can there be a planet inside of
say. Then the door of the pilot’s com­ that? You wouldn’t be kidding me,
partment opened and John Lane stood Johnny?”
there. Ellen, across the table from Ma, “You may inspect the teleplate, sir,
put down her book and looked up too. and check my calculations,” he replied
She was all eyes and they were shin­ stiffly.
ing. I got up and went into the pilot’s
Johnny saluted smartly, the regula­ compartment. There was a disc in the
tion salute with which a private-ship center of the teleplate, all right. So
pilot is supposed to honor the owner Johnny wasn’t seeing things. Check­
and captain of the ship. It always got ing his calculations was something else
under my skin, that salute, but I again. My mathematics end at count­
couldn’t talk him out of it because the ing coins out of coin machines. But I
rules said he should do it. was willing to take his word for it.
He said, “ Object ahead, Captain “ Johnny,” I almost shouted, “ W e ’ve
Wherry.” discovered a new planet. A in’t that
“ O bject?” I queried. “ What kind of something?”
object?” “ Yes, sir,” he commented, in his usual
You see, from Johnny’s voice and matter-of-fact voice.
Johnny’s face, you couldn’t guess It was something, but not much. I
whether it meant anything or not. mean, the Sirius system hasn’t been
Mars City Polytech trains ’em to be colonized long and it wasn’t too sur­
strictly deadpan and Johnny had gradu­ prising that a little three thousand
ated magna cum laude. He’s a nice kid mile planet hadn’t been noticed yet.
but he’d announce the end of the world Especially as the orbits swing high,
in the same tone of voice he’d use to wide and handsome on Thor and Freda.
announce dinner, if it was a pilot’s job So far out, they’d be colder than Pluto
to announce dinner. if the Dog Star wasn’t twenty-six times
“ It seems to be a planet, sir,” was all as bright as Sol.
he said. There hadn’t been room for Ma and
Ellen to follow us into the pilot’s com­
U ITE a while it took for his words partment, but they stood looking in at
to sink in. the doorway and I moved to one side
“A planet?” I asked, not particularly so they could see the disc in the view-
brilliantly. I stared at him, hoping that plate.
he’d been drinking or something. Not “ How soon do we get there, Johnny?”
because I had any objections to his see­ Ma wanted to know.
ing a planet sober, but because if “ Our point o f nearest approach on
Johnny ever unbent to the stage of tak­ this course will be within an hour, Mrs.
ing a good drink, the alky would prob­ Wherry,” he replied. “ W e come with
ably dissolve some of the starch out of half a million miles of it.”
his backbone. Then I’d have someone “ Oh, d o w e?” I wanted to* know.
to swap stories with. It gets lonesome “ Unless, sir, you think it advisable to
traveling through space with two change course and give it more clear­
women and a conscientious Polytech ance.”
grad who follows the rules. I gave clearance to my throat instead
“A planet, sir. An object of plane­ and looked at Ma and Ellen and saw
tary dimensions, I should say. D i­ it would be okay by them. “ Johnny,”
ameter three thousand miles, distance I continued, “ W e’re going to give it
two million, course apparently an orbit less clearance. I’ve always hankered to
108 C A P T A IN FU TU R E

see a new planet all to myself. W e’re It was cool outside, but not cold.
going to land there.” The landscape looked just like Thor,
He said, “ Yes, sir,” and saluted, but with bare rolling hills of hard-baked,
there was, I thought, disapproval in greenish clay. There was plant life,
his eyes. Oh, he’d have had cause for a brownish bushy stuff that looked
it if there had been. You never know something like tumbleweed.
what you’ll run into busting into virgin I took a look up to gauge the time
territory out here. A cargo of canvas and Sirius was almost at the zenith,
and slot-machines isn’t the proper which meant Johnny had landed us
equipment for exploring now is it? smack in the middle of the day side.
But the Perfect Pilot ne^er ques­ “ Got any idea, Johnny,” I asked,
tions an owner’s orders, doggone him! “what the period of rotation is?”
Johnny sat down and started punching “ I had time for only a rough check,
keys on the calculator and we eased out sir. It came out twenty-one hours,
to let him do it. seventeen and a half minutes.”
“ Ma,” I said, “ I ’m a blamed fool.” Rough check, he had said!
“You would be if you weren’t,” she Ma answered. “ That’s rough enough
came back. I grinned when I got that for us. Gives us time for a walk and
sorted out, and looked at Ellen. what are we waiting for?”
But she wasn’t looking at me. She “ For the ceremony, Ma,” I told her.
had that dreamy look in her eyes again. “ W e got to name tjje place, don’t we?
It made me want to go into the pilot’s And where did youtput that bottle of
compartment and take a poke at Johnny champagne we were saving for my
to see if it would wake him up. birthday? I reckon this is a more im­
“ Listen, honey,” I said, “that portant occasion.”
Johnny—*” She told me where, and I went and
But something burned the side of my got it.
face and I knew it was Ma looking at “ Got any suggestions for a name,
me, so I shut up. I got out a deck of Johnny?” I asked. “ You saw it first.”
cards and played solitaire until we “ No, sir.”
landed. I said, “ Trouble is that Thor and
Freda are wrong now. I mean, Thor

J OHNNY popped out of the pilot’s

compartment. And saluted.
is Sirius I and Freda is Sirius II, and
this orbit is inside theirs, so they ought
to be ‘two’ and ‘three’ respectively. Or
“Landed, sir. Atmosphere one-oh-
sixteen on the gauge.” else this ought to be Sirius O. Which
“ And what,” Ellen asked, “ does that means it’s Nothing Sirius.”
mean in English?” Ellen smiled, and I think Johnny
“ It’s breathable, Miss Wherry. A bit would have except that it would
high in nitrogen and low in oxygen have been undignified, while Ma just
compared to Earth air, but nevertheless grunted. “ William—” she began, and
breathable.” would have gone on in that vein if
He was a caution, that young man something hadn’t happened.
was, when it came to being precise. Something looked up over the top of
“ Then what are we waiting for?” I the nearest hill. Ma was the only one
wanted to know. facing that way and she let out a whoop
“Your orders, sir.” and grabbed me. Then we all turned
“ Shucks with my orders, Johnny. and looked.
Let’s get the door open and get going.” It was the head of something that
He saluted, and we got the door looked like an ostrich, only it must have
open. That was that. Johnny stepped been bigger than an elephant. Also
outside first, strapping on a pair of there was a collar and a blue polkadot
heatojectors as he went. The rest of bow tie around the thin neck of the crit­
us were right behind him. ter, and it wore a hat. The hat was
 N O T H IN G S IR IU S 109

bright yellow and had a long purple Nothing happened for three hills
feather. The thing looked at us a and then Ma said, “ Look,” and we
minute, winked quizzically and then looked.
pulled its head back. About twenty yards off to our left
None of us said anything for a there was a purple bush. There was a
minute, and then I took a deep breath. buzzing sound coming from it. The
“ That,” I said, “tears it. Planet, I buzzing sound came from a lot of things
dub thee Nothing Sirius.” that were flying around the bush. They
I bent down and hit the champagne looked like birds until you looked a
bottle against the clay, but it just second time and then you saw that
dented the clay and wouldn’t break. I their wings weren’t moving. But
tried again and looked around for a they zoomed up and down and around
rock to hit it on. There wasn’t any just the same. I tried to look at their
rock. heads, but where the heads ought to be
I took out a corkscrew from my pocket there was just a blur. A circular blur.
and opened the bottle instead. W e “ They got propellers,” Ma said.
all had a drink except Johnny, who “ Like old-fashioned airships used to
doesn’t drink or smoke. Me, I had a have.”
good long one. Then I poured a brief It did look that way.
libation on the ground and recorked the I looked at Johnny and he looked at
bottle. I had a hunch I might need me, and we started over toward that
it again, and maybe need it worse than bush. But the birds, or whatever, flew
the planet did. There was lots of away quick, the minute we took a step.
whisky in the ship and some Martian They skimmed off low to the ground,
greenbrew, but no more champagne. and were out of sight in a minute.
I said, “ Well, here we go.” W e started off again, none of us saying
I caught Johnny’s eye and he said, anything, and Ellen came up and walked
“Do you think it wise, sir, in view of alongside me. W e were just far
the fact that there are—uh—inhabi­ enough ahead to be out of earshot, and
tants?” she said, “ Pop------”
“ Inhabitants?” I interrupted him. And didn’t go on with it until I
“ Johnny, whatever that thing that answered, “ What, kid?”
stuck its head over the hill was, it “ Nothing,” she replied sorrowful-
wasn’t an inhabitant. And if it pops like. “ Skip it.”
up again, I’ll conk it with this bottle.” So of course I knew what she’d
wanted to talk about, but I couldn’t
UT just the same, before we started think of anything helpful to say except
B out I went inside the Chitterling
and got a couple more heatojectors. I
to cuss out Mars Polytech and that
wouldn’t have done any good. Mars
stuck one in my belt and gave Ellen the Polytech has one trouble only. It’s too
other. Ellen’s a better shot than I am, darned good for its own good, and so
but Ma couldn’t hit the side of an ad­ are its ramrods of graduates. A fter a
ministration building at ten paces with dozen years or so outside, though,
a spraygun, so I didn’t give her one. some of them manage to unbend and
W e started off, and sort of by mutual limber up.
consent, we went the other direction But Johnny hadn’t been ou t’ that
from where we’d seen the whatever-it- long, by eleven years or so. The chance
was. The hills all looked alike for a to pilot the Chitterling had been a break
while and as soon as we were over for him, of course, as his first job. A
the first one, we were out of sight of few years with us and he’ d be qualified
the Chitterling. I noticed Johnny to skipper something bigger. He’d
looking at his wrist-compass every qualify to jump up there a lot faster
couple of minutes, and knew he’d know than if he’ d had to start in as a minor
the way home. officer on a bigger ship.
110 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

Only trouble was, that he was too to think your party has discovered a new
good-looking, and didn’t know it. He planet and then have Earth-trademarked
didn’t know anything they hadn't paving bricks on the first street you come
taught him at Polytech and all they’d to. “ But what’s a street doing here at
taught him there was math and astroga- all?” I wanted to know.
tion and how to salute, and they hadn’t “ There’ s only one way to find out,”
taught him how not to. said Ma. “ So what are we standing here
“ Ellen—” I started to say. for?”
“ Yes, Pop?” So we pushed on, and on the next rise
“ Uh—nothing. Skip xt.” I hadn’t we saw a building. A two-story red
meant to say that at all, but suddenly brick with a sign on it that read, “ Bon-
she grinned at me, and I grinned back, Ton Restaurant.” It was in Old English
and it was just like we’d talked the whole script lettering.
thing over. True, we hadn’t got any­ I said, “ I ’ll be a—” But Ma
where, but then we wouldn’t have even clapped her hand over my mouth be­
if we had, if you know what I mean, fore I could finish, which was maybe
and X don’t think you do. just as well for what I ’d been going to
So just then we came to the top of a say had been quite inadequate. There
small rise, and Ellen and I stopped be­ was the building only a hundred yards
cause just ahead of us was the blank ahead, facing us at a sharp turn in the
end of a paved street. street.
An ordinary, every day plastipaved I started walking faster, and I got
street just like you’d see in any city on there first by a few paces. I opened
Earth, with curb and sidewalk and gut­ the door, and started to walk in. Then
ters and the painted traffic-line down I stopped cold on the doorstep, because
the middle. Only it ran out to no­ there wasn’t any “ in” to that building.
where, where we stood, and, at least until It was a false front, like a cinema set­
it went over the top of the next rise, ting, and all you could see through the
there wasn’t a house or a vehicle or a door was more of those rolling, greenish
creature on it. hills.
I looked at Ellen and she looked at I stepped back and looked up at the
me, and then we both looked at Ma and “ Bon-Ton Restaurant” sign, and the
Johnny Lane, who had just caught up to others walked up and looked in the door­
us. I said, “ What is it, Johnny?” way, which I ’d left open. They came
“ It seems to be a street, sir.” back and we just stood there until Ma
got impatient and said, “ W ell, what
E CAUGHT the look I was giving
H him and flushed a little. He bent
over and examined the paving closely,
are you going to do?”
“ What do you want me to do?” I
wanted to know. “ Go in and order you a
and when he straightened up his eyes lobster dinner? W ith champa— Hey,
were even more surprised. I queried, I forg ot!”
“ Well, what is it, caramel icing?” The champagne bottle was still in my
“ It’s permaplast sir. W e aren’t the jacket pocket and I took it out and
discoverers of this planet, because that passed it to Ma first and then to Ellen,
stuff’s an Earth product.” and then I finished what was left of it,
“ Um,” I sort of mumbled, “ Couldn’t and I drank it too fast, because the bub­
the natives here have discovered the bles tickled my nose and made me
same process? The same—uh—ingre­ sneeze.
dients might be available.” I felt ready for anything, though, and
“ Yes, sir. But the blocks are trade- I took another walk through the door­
marked, if you’ll look closely.” way of the building that wasn’t there.
I replied, “ Couldn’t the natives Maybe, I figured, I could see some sign
have— ” Then I shut up because even of how recently it had been put up, or
I saw how silly that was. But it’s tough ( T u rn to p a g e 112)
To be read before the 4™ War Loan Drive
n e d a y so o n you will be asked to
O lend your Government at least an
extra $100. To put at least an extra $100,
over your regular Bond buying, into War
Bonds for the 4th War Loan.
Don’t say you can’t afford it even
though you may wonder how you’re going
to get that money.
If you think that getting the money is
going to be hard, why, before the door
bell rings, look at the faces of these dead
countrymen of yours. Read their stories.
Captain Albert H. Rooks was commanding
Then think how hard it would be to officer of U.S.S. Houston. Engaging an over­
have to tell Americans like these that whelming Jap force, the Houston smashed
other Americans can’t afford to lend at least into them and went down, guns blazing.
an extra $100! Rooks went down with his ship.

Lieutenant George H. Cannon, li. s . m . c , Lieutenant Alexander Nininger, fought

was mortally wounded during the Jap bom­ hisway into the Jap lines on Bataan. Wounded
bardment of Midway, Dec. 7th. He refused 3 times, he continued to advance until he was
to be taken to a hospital til! all his men had killed. When his body was found, a Jap officer
been evacuated, and as a result, he died of and two Jap soldiers lay dead around him.
loss of blood.

K e e p B a c k i n g the A t t a c k !
The Treasury Department acknowledges
with appreciation the publication of
this advertisement by

THE PUBLISHER OF THIS MAGAZINE

C A P T A IN FUTURE

This advertisement prepared under the auspices o f the W ar Advertising Council and the U .S. Treasury Department
111
112 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

something. But there weren’t any I said, “ Ma, quit kidding or I’ll------”
signs that I could see. The inside— But by that time I was past her and in­
or rather the back of the front, if you side the tent, and it was a tent, all four
know what I’m talking about, was smooth sides of one and a good big one at that.
and plain like a sheet of glass. It looked And it was lined with the old fami/iar
like a synthetic of some sort. coin machines. There, counting coins
I took a look at the ground back of in the change booth was Sam Heide­
it, but all I could see were a few holes man, looking up with almost as much
that looked like insect holes. And that’s surprise on his face as there must have
what they must have been because there been in mine.
was a big, black cockroach sitting (or He said, “ Pop W herry! I'll be a
standing, because how can you tell dirty name.” Only he didn’t say “dirty
whether a cockroach is sitting or stand­ name”—but he didn’t get around to
ing?) by one of them. I took a step apologizing to Ma and Ellen for that
closer and he popped down the hole. until he and I had pounded each other’s
I felt a little better as I went front backs and then he’d shaken hands around
through the doorway. I said, “ Ma, I and been introduced to Johnny Lane.
saw a cockroach. And you know what It was just like old times on the
was peculiar about it?” Mars and Venus carney lots. He was
“ W hat?” said Ma. telling Ellen how she’d been just ‘so high’
“ Nothing,” I told her. “That’s the when he’d seen her last and did she really
peculiar thing. There was nothing remember him? And then Ma sniffed.
peculiar. Here the ostriches wear hats When Ma sniffs like that, there’s some­
and the birds have propellers and the thing to look at, and I got my eyes off
streets go nowhere and the houses good old Sam and looked at Ma and then
haven’t any backs to them, but that cock­ at where Ma was looking. I didn’t sniff,
roach didn’t even have feathers.” but I gasped.
“Are you sure?” Ellen wanted to A woman was coming forward from
know. somewhere in the back of the tent and
“ Sure I ’m sure. Well, let’s take the when I call her a woman, it’s because I
next rise and see what’s over it.” can’t think of the right word if there is
one. She was St. Cecilia and Guinevere

W Ebetween
W EN T, and we saw. Down in
that hill and the next, the
and a Petty girl all ironed into one. She
was like a sunset in New Mexico and
the cold, silver moons of Mars seen from
road took another sharp turn, and facing
us was the front view of a tent with a the Equatorial Gardens. She was like a
big banner that said, “ Penny Arcade.” Venusian valley in the spring and like
This time I didn’t even break stride. Dorzalski playing the violin. She was
I said, “They copied that banner from really somethin’ !
the show Sam Heideman used to have. I heard another gasp from alongside
Remember Sam, and the old days, Ma?” of me, and it was an unfamiliar note.
“ That drunken no-good?” asked Ma. Took me a second to realize why it was
“ Why, you liked him, too, Ma.” unfamiliar. I ’d never heard Johnny
“ Yes, and I liked you but that doesn’t Lane gasp before. It was an effort, bqt I
prove that you aren’t or that he isn’t------” shifted my eyes for a look at his face.
“ Why, Ma,” I interrupted. But by And I thought, “ Oh—oh. Poor Ellen.”
that time we were right in front of the For the poor boy was gone now, no
tent. Looked like real canvas because question about it.
it billowed gently. I said, “ I haven’t And just in time — maybe seeing
got the heart. W ho wants to look Johnny helped me—I managed to re­
through this time?” member that I ’m pushing fifty and hap­
But Ma already had her head through pily married. I took hold of Ma’s arm
the flap of the tent. I heard her say, and hung on.
“ Why, hello Sam, you old soak.” “ Sam,” I said, “who on Ea—on what-
 N O T H IN G SIR IU S 113

ever planet this is------” wind of it and offered the Council a

Sam turned around and looked be­ whooping rental for the place of the con­
hind him. He Said, “ Miss Ambers, I ’d dition that its existence be kept secret.
like you to meet some old friends of As there aren’t any minerals or anything
mine just dropped in. Mrs. Wherry, of value here and the soil ain’t worth a
this is Miss Ambers, the movie star.” whoop, the Council rented it to them on
Then he finished the introductions, those terms.”
first Ellen, then me and then Johnny. “ But why secret?”
Ma and Ellen were too polite. Me, I “ No visitors, no distractions, not to
maybe went the other way by pretend­ mention the jump on their competitors.
ing not to notice the hand Miss Ambers All the big movie companies spy on one
held out. Old as I am, I had a hunch I another and swipe each other’s ideas.
might forget to let go if I took it. That’s You should know that by now. Here they
the kind of a girl she was. got all the space they want and can work
Johnny did forget. in peace and privacy.”
Sam was saying, “ Pop, you old pirate, “ What’ll they do about us finding the
what are you doing here? I thought you place?” I wanted to know.
stuck to the colonies where you'd get a Sam chuckled again. “ Guess they’ll
play, and I sure didn’t look for you to entertain you royally now that you’re
drop in on a movie set.” here and try to persuade you to keep
“A movie set!” I said. Things began it under your hat. You’ll probably get a
to make sense, almost. free pass for life to all the Panetary
“ Sure. Planetary Cinema, Inc. With Cinema theaters, too.”
me as technical adviser on carney scenes. He went over to a cabinet and came
They wanted inside shots of a penny back with a tray of bottles and glasses.
arcade so I just brought my old stuff out Ma and Ellen declined, but Sam and I
of storage and set it up. All the boys had a couple apiece, and it was good
are over at the base camp now.” stuff. Johnny and Miss Ambers were
over in a corner of the tent whispering
IGH T was just beginning to dawn
L on me. “ And that restaurant front
up the street? That’s a set?” I queried.
together so earnestly that we didn’t both­
er them, especially when I told Sam that
Johnny didn’t drink.
“ Sure, and the street itself. They Johnny still had hold of her hand and
didn’t need it, but they had to film the was gazing into her eyes like a sick pup.
making of it for one sequence.” I noticed Ellen moved around so she was
“ Oh,” I went on. “ But how about the looking the other way and didn’t have
ostrich with the bowtie, and the birds to watch. I felt sorry for her, but there
with the propellers? They couldn’t have wasn’t anything I could do. Something
been movie props. Or could they?” I’ d like that just happens if it happens. And
heard that Planetary Cinema, Inc., did if I ’d been Johnny’s age and it hadn’t
some pretty impossible things. been for Ma—
Sam shook his head a bit blankly. But I saw Ma was getting impatient
“ Nope, you must have seen some o f the and edgy and after a few yams back and
local fauna. There are a few, but not forth, I said we’d better go back to the
many, and they don’t get in the way.” ship and get dressed up, if we were due
Ma said, “Look here, Sam Heideman, to be entertained royally. Then we’d
how come if this planet has been dis­ move the ship in closer. I reckoned we
covered, we hadn’t heard about it? How could spare a few days on Nothing Sirius.
long has it been known, and what’s it I left Sam in stitches by telling him how
all about?” and why we’d named the planet that,
“ Man named Wilkins discovered this after a look at the local fauna.
planet ten years ago,” Sam chuckled. Then I gently pried Johnny loose
“Reported it to the Council, but before from the movie star and led him outside.
it got publicized, Planetary Cinema got It wasn’t easy. There was a blank, bliss­
114 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

ful expression on his face, and he’d even that always do. Oh, maybe it wasn’t love
forgotten to salute me when I’d spoken but was just infatuation, but right now
to him. He hadn’t called me “ sir” either. he probably didn’t know what planet he
In fact, he didn’t say anything at all. was on.
Neither did any of the rest of us, walk­ W e were over the first rise now, out
ing up the street. of sight o f Sam’s tent.
There was something knocking at my “ Pop, did you see any movie cameras
mind, and I couldn’t figure out what it around?” Ma asked suddenly.
was. There was something wrong, some­ “Nope, but those things cost millions.
thing that didn’t make sense. They don’t leave them setting around
Ma was worried, too. Finally I heard loose when they’re not being used.”
her say, “ Pop, is Sam right about them Ahead of us was the front of that
entertaining us? I mean, if they really restaurant. It looked funny as the devil
want to keep this place a secret, wouldn’t from a side view, walking toward it from
they maybe— uh—” this direction. Nothing in sight but that,
“ No, they wouldn’t,” I answered, and green clay hills, and the crazy street
maybe a bit snappishly. That wasn’t we were walking on.
what I was worried about, though. There weren’t any cockroaches on the
street. Seemed as though they never got
LOOKED down at that new and per­ up on it or crossed it.
1 fect road, and there was something
about it I didn’t like. I diagonalled over
When I spoke to Johnny, he didn’t
seem to hear me, and I decided not to
to the curb and walked along that, say it because I didn’t know what I was
looked down at the greenish soil beyond, going to say. There was still that some­
but there wasn’t much to see except thing knocking at my mind. Something
more holes and more bugs like the one that made less sense than anything else.
I’d seen back at the Bon Ton restaurant. It got stronger and stronger and it was
Maybe they weren’t cockroaches, un­ driving me as crazy as it was. I got to
less the cinema company had brought wishing I had another drink. Sirius I
them. But they were near enough like was getting down toward the horizon,
cockroaches for all practical purposes. but it was still plenty hot.
And they still didn’t have propellers I even began to wish I had a drink of
or wheels or bow-ties or feathers. They water. Ma looked tired, too. “Let’s stop
were just plain cockroaches. for a rest, we’re about halfway back,” I
I stepped off the paving and tried to said to her.
step on one or two of them, but they W e stopped. It was right in front of
got away and got down holes. They the Bon Ton, and I looked up at the sign
were plenty fast and shifty on their feet. and grinned. “ Johnny, will you go in and
I got back on the road and walked order dinner for us?” I asked our precise
with Ma. When she asked, “ What were young man.
you doing?” I answered, “ Nothing.” He saluted and replied, “ Yes, sir,” then
Ellen was walking along not talking, started for the door. He suddenly got
and keeping her face a studious blank. kind of red in the face and stopped. I
I could guess what she was thinking, chuckled, but I didn’t rub it in by saying
and I wished there was something could anything else.
be done about it. The only thing I could Ma and Ellen sat down on the curb.
think o f was, to decide to stay on Earth I walked around back of the restau­
a while at the end of this trip and give rant front and it hadn’t changed any.
her a chance to get over Johnny by Smooth like glass on the other side. The
meeting a lot of other young sprigs. same cockroach was still by the same
Maybe even finding one she liked. hole.
Johnny was walking along in a daze. I said, “ Hello, there,” but it didn’t an­
He was gone, all right, and he’ d fallen swer, so I tried to step on it but it was
with awful suddenness, like guys like too fast for me. I noticed something
 N O T H IN G SIR IU S 115

funny. It started for the hole the second bang. And especially Sam Heideman.
I decided to step on it, even before I had It was when I remembered about Sam
actually moved a muscle. that the street went out from under us.”
I went around to the front again, and “ Remembered what about Sam?”
leaned up against the brick wall. It was “ He’s dead. Don’t you remember six
nice and solid to lean against. years ago, in New York, when we were
I took a cigar out of my pocket and reading some old copies of Interplane­
started to light it, but I dropped the tary Variety and came across his obit?
match. Almost, I knew what was wrong. Sam Heideman’s dead, so he wasn’t
Something about Sam Heideman. there. None of it was there. And the
“ Ma,” I said, and she turned around minute I realized that, they pulled it out
and looked up at me. from under us.”
“ Ma, isn’t Sam Heideman d—” “ They? What do you mean, they, Pop
And then, with utterly appalling sud­ W herry? W ho is they?”
denness, I wasn’t leaning against a wall “You mean who are they?” I said, but
any more, because the wall just wasn’t the look Ma gave me made me wince.
there and I was falling backward. “ Let’s not talk here,” I went on. “Let’s
I heard Ma yell and Ellen squeal. get back to the ship as quick as we can,
I picked myself up off the greenish first. You can lead us there, Johnny,
clay. Ma and Ellen were getting up, without the street?”
too, from sitting down hard on the He nodded, forgetting to salute or ‘sir’
ground because the curb they’d been me. W e started off, none of us talking.
sitting on wasn’t there any more either. After we got to where the end of the
There wasn’t a sign of the street we’d street had been, we could see our foot­
been walking on, or of the Ben Ton res­ prints, and the going was easy. We
taurant I ’d been leaning against. There passed the rise where had been the pur­
wasn’t anything but greenish hills like ple bush that the birds with propellers
we’d first seen from the door of the Chit- had been flying around, but the birds
terling. weren’t there now. Neither was the pur­
That fall had jolted me plenty, and ple bush.
I was mad. I wanted something to take I had a pretty good hunch, too, that
out my mad on and I looked around we wouldn’t see any more elephant­
to see if my friend the cockroach had sized ostriches in bow ties. W e didn’t.
gone up in smoke along with the wall But the Chitterling was there, thank
and the street. He hadn’t. I tried for heaven. W e saw it from the last rise,
him again, and missed again. and it was just as we’d left it. It looked
Then I looked around at the others. like home, and we started to walk faster.
Ma looked as mad as I felt. She was rub­ I opened the door and stood aside for
bing herself where she’d landed on the Ma and Ellen to go in first. Ma had just
ground. Johnny looked startled and like got her foot on the first rung when we
he wanted to cuss but didn’t know how. heard the voice. It said/ “ W e bid you
Ellen didn’t look anything. She just farewell.”
looked, down at where the street ought I looked around—all of us looked
to be and over toward me where the Bon around—but there wasn’t anybody or
Ton ought to be, then back toward where anything doing the talking. Well, there
we’d come from as though wondering hadn’t been any street there either. Or
whether the tent was still back there. one-sided restaurant or propeller-birds.
“ It isn’t,” I said, “ W e bid you farewell, too. And the
Ma asked, “It isn’t what?” deuce with you,” I answered, letting ’em
“ Isn’t there,” I explained. know I meant it.
Ma glowered at me. “ What isn’t I motioned to Ma to go on into the
there?” ship. The sooner I was out of this place,
“ The tent,” I went on, a bit peeved. the better I’d like it.
“ The movie company. The whole she­ But the voice said: “ Wait,” and there
116 C A P T A IN F U T U R E

was something about it that made us said, “Johnny, blast off.”

wait, “ W e wish to explain, so you will He saluted and said, “ Yes, sir,” and
not return.” went into the pilot’s compartment and
Nothing had been further from my shut the door. His face had been stu­
mind, but I said, “ W hy not?” diously blank. He didn’t come out until
“Your civilization is not compatible we were on automatic course with Sirius
with ours. W e have studied your minds just a dwindling star behind us. Ellen
to make sure. W e projected images from had gone to her room. Ma and I were
images we found in your minds, to study playing cribbage.
your reactions to them. Our first images, “ May I go off duty, sir?” Johnny asked
our thought-projections, were confused. and walked stiffly to his room when I
But we understood your minds well by answered, “ Sure.”
the time you reached the farthest point
of your walk. W e were able to project FTER a while, Ma and I turned in.
beings similar to yourselves.” A A while after that we heard the
“ Sam Heideman, yeah,” I said. “ But noises. I got up and went to investigate.
how about the da—the woman? She I came back grinning. “Everything’s
couldn’t have been in the memory of any okay, Ma,” I said. “ It’s Johnny Lane.
of us because we didn’t know her.” He’s as drunk as a hoot owl.” And I
“ She was a composite—what you slapped Ma playfully.
would call an idealization. That, how­ “ Ouch, you old fool,” she sniffed. “ I’m
ever, does not matter. By studying you, sore there from the curb disappearing
we learned that your civilization con­ from under me. And what’ s wonderful
cerns itself with things, ours with about Johnny getting drunk? Are you?”
thoughts. Neither of us has anything “ No,” I admitted, regretfully maybe,
to offer the other. No good could come “ But Ma—he told me to go to blazes.
through interchange whereas much harm And without saluting. Me, the owner of
might. Our planet has no material re­ the ship.”
sources that would interest your race.” Ma just looked at me. Sometimes
I had to agree to that, looking out over women are smart, but sometimes they’re
that montonous rolling green clay. It pretty dumb.
supported those tumbleweed-like bushes, “ Listen, he isn’t going to keep on get­
a few of them, but didn’t look as though ting drunk. This is just an occasion.
it would raise anything else. As for min­ Can’t you see what happened to his pride
erals, I hadn't even seen a pebble. and his dignity?”
“Right you are,” I shouted back. “ Any “You mean because he—”
planet that raises nothing but tumble­ “ Because he fell in love with the
weeds and cockroaches can keep itself, thought-projection of a cockroach,” I
as far as we’re concerned. So—” Then pointed out. “ Or thought he did. He has
something dawned on me. “Hey, just a to get drunk once to forget that, and
minute. There must be something else from now on, after he sobers up, he’s go­
besides weeds and roaches, or who the ing to be human. I’ll bet on it. And I ’ll
deuce am I talking to?” bet, too, that once he’s human lie ’s go­
“You are talking,” replied the voice, ing to s e e Ellen and realize how pretty
“to what you call cockroaches, which is she is. I’ll even bet he’s head-over-heels
another point of incompatibility between before we get back to Earth.”
us. To be more precise, you are talking “ I f you’re right—”
to a thought-projected voice, but we are “ I am right,” I told her gleefully,
projecting it. And let me assure you of “ I ’ll get a bottle and we’ll drink a toast
one thing—that you are as physically re­ on it. To Nothing Sirius.”
pugnant to us as we are to you.” And, for once, I was right. Johnny
I looked down then and saw them, and Ellen were engaged before we got
three of them, ready to pop in holes if near enough to the Solar System to start
I made a move. Back inside the ship, I decelerating.
 THE SHAPE
OF THE FUTURE
S C IE N C E L E A D S TH E W A Y T O V IC T O R Y
C UTURE W EASELS TO G IV E A N D G IV E— If your L ifG H O C T A N E FOR FUTURE PUDDLE JUMPERS
* missus wants a fur coat of the weasel, er­ 1 * —P o st-w a r au tom obiles w ill run with high
mine, marten or mink variety after the war, octane gasoline and in co rp ora te many o f the
she will be able to get it a lot more easily curren t fea tu res o f a ircraft engine design,
and cheaply than at present, thanks to experi­ according t o engineers o f U niversal O il
ments conducted by Professors Robert K. P rod u cts Com pany. O n ce th e p r o c e ss by
Enders and Oliver P. Pearson of Swarthmore which the heavy m olecu les o f raxv o il are
College in collaboration with the U. S. Fish cra ck ed t o p ro d u ce the super fu e l, is made
and Wildlife Service. available to small refiners, individual car
It seems that before the young of these ow n ers w ill find th em selves gettin g many
species are born, they lie fallow, as it were, m ore gallons to the m ile with m uch less wear
for periods of uncertain length, while their and tear on their engines. A ll th ey ’ll need is
mamas take a long snooze during the dark w in glike mudguard exten sion s to lea p the
winter months. Artificial lighting fools the la rgest o f puddles.
fond parents, who think winter is over apd * * *
get busy producing more pelts for fur coats.
It may be a dirty trick on the animals, but H A R K IN G LOTS TO BE TERRACED LAN D IN G
the ladies won’t think so. * FIELDS —Parking lots of the future will be
* * * landscaped terraces on which heliocopters
A ST R O N O M E R C R A C K S STAR-PLANET BOR- may land, rest, and take off, according to
^ DERUNE— D r. K . Aa. Strand o f Sproul O b­ Professor Martin Wagner, regional planning
s e rv a to r y has com e up with p r o o f that the in­ chief of the Harvard School of Design. Un­
v isib le third com p on en t o f the triple star 61 der these terraces, regular parking levels for
C yg n i is a planet rather than a star as p re­ more familiar ground-hugging vehicles will
viou sly supposed. A s a resu lt o f this dis­ exist. But whether women drivers will be
c o v e r y , he is certain that a continuation o f any more adept at parking vertically without
accurate photograph ic ob serva tion o f double bumping mudguards than they are in today’s
stars w ill revea l fu rth er stellar m asses o f horizontal methods remains to be seen. We
such small magnitude that the boundary b e ­ can only hope.
tw een planet and star, w hich has h ith erto * * *
seem ed clear enough, w ill disappear. A s no
planets have h ith erto been found ou tsid e our M EW P L A N E C O M P A S S INDIFFERENT TO
ow n solar system , th e resu lts prom ise official * ' TEMPTATION — A new airplane com pass
backing f o r many o f Captain F u tu re’s in ter- w hich is n o t throw n off b y bom bload, armor
galactic planetary Jaunts. plate or th e m otion o f the plane has been de­
* * * v e lo p e d b y W . A . R eic h e l o f B en d ix Aviation
C orporation. T h e G yro F lu x Gate Compass
U U G E C A R G O PLANES TO EASE POST-W AR
r * FREIGHT PROBLEMS— Cargo planes ca­ uses the earth’s m agnetic held to d evelop
m inute ele c tr ic a l im pulses which, when am-
pable of carrying 38 tons of perishable freight plihed, turn the com pass indicator. A c c o r d ­
around the world in weather-proof packages in g to its in ven tor, i t is “ as great an advance
were predicted by paper company executive o v e r the conventions/ m agnetic com pass as
J. H. Macleod at a Chicago scientific meet­ that com pass was o v er the lo d esto n e.
ing recently. The biggest benefit to the
manufacturer will be the elimination of * * *
costly warehouse facilities now needed to
keep such freight in shape for the present M Y LON SH O RTA G E M AY ENDURE AFTER W AR
longer periods required for transshipment. —those precious nylons may be as hard
Package engineers have already assured tai­ to come by when the war is won as they are
lor-made packaging for tight stowage by in the heat of conflict—at least for a while.
means of special corrugated boards, coating Foreseeing that most of the smaller com­
materials and adhesives with tough, flexible munities of America will have air-mail pick­
corrugated material used simultaneously to up service, Dupont expects that use of the
wrap and to pack. In the near future, you may air-coal-gas miracle for two-rope purposes
have to unwrap your breakfast eggs before alone will keep a lot of ladies’ legs bare for
cracking the shell. some time to come.
 U N D E R O B S E R V A T IO N
(C o n tin u ed fro m page 9 )
As I am a bookw orm I feel I should w rite and let hands' and flipping three nickels onto the counter,
you know w hat I think o f him. I have been wanting fled, clutching m y prize.
to write, but couldn’t And the courage. But I finally I am still drooling over the cover. Bergey does
got it. I love to read about the Future, and these excellent w o rk . I like y ou r covers fo r C a p t a i n F u ­
stories are exceptionally good. tu re. W h o gives a r a p if th ey som etim es don’t
I haven't any com plaints to m ake except have a exactly click with text. F or m y steel pennies you
little m ore love between Curt and Joan as they seem have the best cov ers in the pulp field.
awful cold to each other fo r sweethearts. And I M A G IC MOON rates the best bouquet the rare
would like the stories ju st a little longer. But—-don’t gardens o f Venus can produce. It was space adven­
take out the short stories, a s they a re good too. ture o f the first order. E xcellent A. B rett Sterling
I have just finished reading “ M agic Moon.” And has the brain o f a Jules Verne. I hope his pen never
like It very much. But the first thing I alw ays read runs dry. I enclose a poem about Captain Future.
is “ Under O bservation,” as I like to read w hat other Hope you can find space fo r it. Some o f the fans
people think o f Captain Future. And tell these old will rem em ber me. I ’ve sold to national magazines.
Bachelors to stop asking to have Joan taken out o f — 1811 8 . Courtland A v e., K okom o, Indiana.
the stories. I think she is nice and v ery pretty.
Except in every picture she seem s to look different. FLY W IT H THE FU TUREM EN
Tell Brett Sterling to keep up the g ood work. He
is g re a t! by
I w ish Captain Future w as published m ore fr e ­ Earle Franklin Baker
quently.— 15 Sycam ore St.. Som erville, Mass. I'v e shipped a board the “ Comet”
Whenever you gal pee-lots write in, you I helped a w orld win f r e e ;
I went with Captain Future
just naturally have the old Sarge purring like Beneath the Jovian se a !
a full battery of rockets in perfect firing I’v e hunted fu n with m ighty Grag,
order. I quite agree with you, Martha, about W atched Otho bake and cook,
W ith aid o f “ The Brain” w e won the m oon!
the softening and refining influence of the Through the pages o f a b o o k !
romantic touch. These junior lunatics you
are caged up with in this old astrogation I ’ve sped thru space in this fast ship.
In a “ Quest Beyond The Stars
chamber may holler a lot about girls being in I ’ ve fought the “ Outlaws o f the M oon”
stories, but they would look rather silly (if And w ooed “ The M aid o f Mars.”
Saw O og and EEk break a X en o j u g !
not synthetic) running around without And w hat a yell I heard,
mothers somewhere in their lives, wouldn’t As if I ’d really been there,
they? And they’d be the first to miss the in­ T hrough “ T hrilling’s” printed w o r d !
fluence of love upon the destinies of mankind. I’ve seen Curt with “ The Comet K ings,"
W ith Joan brave bitter f a t e ;
L O O K IN G T O W A R D T O M O R R O W And battle deep inside the moon
W here horrible m onsters w a it !
By Pvt. Walter E. Pomper I ’ve roam ed uncharted stellar skies,
Y et never left this Earth,
D ear S a rg e: I ju st finished reading m y first cop y F o r a book and m y old easy chair
o f C aptain F uture and really enjoyed it. I never Gained m e a Spacem an’s b erth !
found any interest in stories connected with the
“ Tom orrow ,” but from now on you have a steady I love to fly with the Futuremen
reader o f Ca pta in F uture . n T o a fa r off golden shore,
Give m y congratulations to Brett Sterling on And like all Captain Future Fans,
“ M agic Moon.” I really liked the w ay he described I, too, ask fo r m o r e !
Capt. Future’s m aking o f the m etal-less electric I never leave this good old Earth
generator and projector. X have neglected the study As on strange scenes I look,
o f science but Capt. Future has aroused m y interest But m y humdrum life’s adventurous
again. I can hardly w ait fo r m y next eopy. I ’m Through the m agic o f a b o o k !
really looking forw ard fo r the da y when H itler and
T ojo are blasted into atom s and we can en joy a new And there’s Kiwi Baker’s tribute to the
C.F. m agazine every month.
You’ll find the name strip and coupon enclosed Futuremen. Pretty neat, eh? Of course, the
which should make me a Futurem an and Kiwi. old Sarge is no judge of this kind of stuff.
Send me m y m embership certificate and a list of He never graduated from the limerick class
rules. I also would like to know how to becom e a
“ Space Peelot.” himself. And here’s more comment on the
Hope that you w on’t have to sw allow another jug cover. Okay, Pee-lot Baker, will you take
o f X en o after you have read this.— 555th Engr. H v.
Pan. Bn., Camp W h ite, Oregon. up a position in the corner just opposite those
There are no special rules, Pee-lot Pomper, glowering-faced junior astrogators yonder?
to be a FUTUREMAN—just a genuine in­ You’re on the other side of the debate.
terest in scientifiction. You are now a mem­
ber, so start putting your two-bits’ worth in M IX IN G THE S A R G E 'S D R IN K S
to help build and plan and talk for a better By Frederick E. Warth
world tomorrow. Things are going to be D ear S a rg e: W ell, I ’ve just finished tearing the
plenty different after this war—and it’s up to last ish. to pieces, so take your head off that aspirin-
stuffed pillow and have a glass o f mifflin juice
all of us to see that they are b e tte r , as well. (w h ich is better than P aul M iles’ Su-Tuish) . A s fo r
those blub-blub b erry weeds y ou ’re g oing to feed m e,
I have just had som e mi/sTmo w hich counteracts
A POET PEE-LOT blub-blub berry weeds (m ifsuno is a m ixture o f
By Earle Franklin Baker mifflin julee, 8 u-Tuish, and X e n o ).
I know you don’t know me yet, but you’ll hear a
D ear S a rg e: Could a steel-soldier rate a berth on lot from m e in the Future (som ewhere along the
your rocket-ship? I know something abou t metal. 30th cen tu ry ). The first S.F. mag. I rea,d w as
I could com e in handy If y ou g ot w recked on some C a p t a i n F u t u r e . "T he F ace o f the D e e p .” I didn’t
world and your supply o f X eno ran low. stop reading it until I had finished. Since then I
I ’ve found time to write, aside from m y w ork at have been reading all the S.F. I can get m y hands
the steel mill here w here w e are ham m ering out the on, but your books rank with the highest.
steel that will beat the Axis. (T h ou g h t: H itler N ow to tell you w h at’s what in this ish. First,
would find him self flat on his fortress spitting out a s usual, the c o v e r : the colors m ade the book look
teeth i f w e had a half-dozen robots like Grag to set like a rainbow. Captain Future looked like a m oron
loose on Europe.) W henever I hit a low spot and and the fem ale (Jane I suppose) look ed a little odd,
feel blue, I pick up a copy o f C a p t a i n F u t u r e , and too. I could have done better m yself (O h ! Y es!
if the cover doesn’t cheer m e up, the a lw ays excel­ I ’m an a rtist) but I think he could d o much better
lent tales therein' do. T hey hit the jackpot w ith me than that. A s fo r “ M agic M oon” I did not stop
every time. reading it until I had finished. B rett Sterling is as
I fought through a mob at the corner drug store, good as Edm ond Ham ilton, i f not better.
pushed three old ladles and two boys under a table, T he shorts w ere fair.
snatched the last W inter number from some guy’s “ The W orlds o f Tom orrow ,” “ The Shape o f the
Future” and "T h e M etam orphosis o f Sim on W right,”
w ere ail interesting a s usual.

?
I have another com plaint to make. I noticed that
ou never do w hat the fa n s ask y ou to do.— 413 E.
ark A v e ., Savannah, Georgia.
“YOU ARE UNDER
Ah, so the senior astrogator doesn’t do what
the junior pee-lots want him to, eh? W ell,
AR R EST”
Kiwi Warth, life is still too pleasant fo r the
old Sarge to do certain things suggested or
to go to certain spots named or indicated There's a Thrill
where there are no tourist accommodations.
As fo r doing the other things— well, I ’m a in Bringing a
space sarge, not a contortionist.
Now, you climb over into that group of
cover dissenters on the left, and we’ll settle
Crook to Justice
your hash in time for lunch. Through
IN A T R A N C E Scientific
By Merry Coats
Dear S a rg e : This is the very first tim e I ’ve ever
w ritten to any m agazine, so i f I pull a n y boners I
hope you 'll bear w ith me.
CRIME DETECTION
I h ave taught thousands o f m en and w om en th is excit­
U nfortunately (f o r m e) I have Just recently b e­
gun to read 'science fiction— now I read all I can get in g , profitable, pleasan t profession . L e t m e teach you,
m y hands on. C a p t a i n F u t u r e is am ong m y fa v or­ too, /a y o u r o w n bo rn e . Prepare y o u rse lf in your leisure
ites. H e’s really m arvelous and he certainly gets tim e to fill a responsible, steady, w e ll-p a id position in
in and out o f am azing scrapes. a very short tim e and a t v e ry e m a il c o st. W h a t oth ers
“ M agic M oon” in the W inter Issue, and In fa ct h ave done y o u , to o , can do .
every Futurem an tale I ’ve read so far, has held me
in a trance. I couldn’t stop reading onoe I got
started. I am am ong those w ho wish fo r lon ger and
m ore Futurem en stories. 5 3 fo Be A
I ’v e never read any o f H am ilton's work, but I ’m
plenty satisfied with Sterling.
M ay I Join y ou r Futurem en Club, please?—-No of all — F I N G E R—
Address.
W elcom e to T H E F U T U R E M E N club, A m e r ic a n
gal, and pour yourself a glass of Pluto Punch.
Certainly, Merry has an address, you little Bur eaus PRINT
space apes, but in sending her a membership
card, Frog-eyes misplaced it, and the old of Expert
Sarge is not going to withhold a gal pee-lot’s
communique from print because of this tech­
Identification
E m p lo y I .A .S . stu den ts o r graduates. “ I w i ll teach y o u
nicality. In the name o f Curt Newton, Merry, F in g er P rint Identification— F irearm s Identification— !
I thank you. P o lic e P hotography—-and Secret Service.” T h at’ s what
And are we getting memberships and praise I to ld the m en w h o n o w handle jo b s i s Identification
B ureaus throughout the nation. __
[Turn page] A n d now I repeat, T H I S tim e t o Y O U . . . Just give
m e a chance and 1*11 train yo u a t hom e to fill an im ­
portant position in the fascin atin g field o f scientific
America’s Best Dime’ s Worth crime detection. I t is n ot expen sive o r difficult to learn.
N o w is the tim e to start. W a r conditions make i t
o f Picture Entertainment
. .____ ______ _________ _ ___ . ._____ Finger
P rin t experts is evid en t. F i t yourself n o w to help w in
the w a r and la ter o n to hold down a fine jo b as a
recognized expert in Crim e D etection.
ET D C IT I “ BLUE BO O K O F C R IM E ”
r a m E m E m ■ I t ’ s a thriller, filled from cover to
co v e r w ith e x citin g information o n
scientific crim e detection. I t te lls about som e o f the
m o st interesting crim es o f modern tim es, and how the
crim in als were brought to ju stice through the v e ry
methods w hich y o u are taught a t I .A .S . T h e book w ill
te ll you, too, how a t a co st so lo w y o u shouldn’t even
think o f it, you can g e t started on th is im portant work
w ithout de la y . D on ’ t w a it. C lip the coupon a n d send i t
a lon g Aoday.

INSTITUTE O F APPLIED SCIENCE

Dept. 7 9 63 ,1 92 0 Sunnysida Ave . Chicago 40. III.

CLIPAND MAILCOUPON NOW

INSTITUTE Of APPLIED SCIENCE, 1920 S u b s id e Are.. D e ft 7853, Chicago 40, IH
G e n tle m e n : W ith o u t obligation , sen d me th e “ Blue
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reaus em plo y in g your students o r graduates, together
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N O W ON SALE A T A L L STANDS
 this month! Don’t blame the old space dog.

FREE OFFER
I'm not picking out special letters. Listen
to this one:

I HAVE C H A N G ED
By Ar+hur Oesterreicher
for FALSE TEETH D ear S a rg e: In times before I read CF, I never
liked characters like him. N ow I have changed. I
think you have a swell book. I just read ‘‘Magic
Moon.” It is a very thrilling story, full o f suspense.
I have but one complaint. This Isn’t only about CF.
It concerns all artists. W hen a picture o f the earth
is shown, w hy can't you ever show something beside
the Am erica’s ? “ D ays o f Creation” sounds good. It
looks as if It will top “ M agic M oon" in this ish.
H ow about a F inlay o r Leydenfrost cover? Bergey
isn’t so bad either. Take Belarski out o f the air
m ags and put him in stf.— 2 4 1 W est Olive Street.
L ong Beach, L. I.
There’s something pertinent in what you
say, Kiwi Oesterreicher, but so many junior
astrogators wouldn’t recognize a global map
of Earth with any other c o n tin e n ts o n it, that
the artists have become chained b y custom.
Maybe things will be different after we win
the war. Then, in celebration, perhaps an in­
dividualistic artist will depict the map of
Europe on the globe of Earth as seen from
space. But you are all out of step; you
should be complaining about or praising the
cover on this present issue.
th» *ob.” Bolin* your plates with I
CROWN. I f * tast*l*sa. Has that natural I
Pink color. Order a tube of CROWN I
BJQJNER today . . . *nough to last a I C O V E R IS G O O D
S ir. W* Include M i l a tuba a t I
OWN Plata cleaner. SIND NO MOSSY. I
Just send name and address. Pay post- I By Kent Bone
man f t . 0 0 for combination, plus post* I
a je, or send cash and we pay postage. t D ear S a rg e: You told us to get our letters in a3
AAt at onca and enjoy this naw happiness. L soon as w e could so here's mine.
CROWN PLASTICS I’ve got about a dozen helium bags tied to my
Dept 7003. 4358 W. Philadelphia Ava., Detroit4. Mloh. typewriter because I’m floating around in the air.
You ask w h y? I w as so happy after reading this
issue, that I guzzled about 12 gallons o f xeno and
P O E M S WANTED so I ’m floating around.
Boy, Sterling sure did a bang-up job on “M agic
Moon.” Say, that isn’t a bad idea—I mean, making
To be set to music. Send your song poem today for
a movie about Captain Future. I certainly wish I
free examination by nationally famous hit composer. could see a m ovie about him.
Our new 6 step plan is most liberal and complete “ T o Dust Returneth,” by H enry K uttner and “ The
ever offered. W rite today fo r free booklet.
Companions o f Sirius,” b y William Morrison were
both excellent short stories.
S C R E E N L A N D R E C O R D E R S A r t ! The cover w as good, BU T don't you think
Bergey needs a rest?
PtfT. C____________HOLLYWOOD 28, CALIFORNIA Inside w ork! The best drawing w as on page 106
b y Virgil Finlay. The next best drawing was on
Complete homo-ttndy coursei and page 23.
i«lf -Instruct ion books, si labtly used. The Puturemen w as the best Special Feature, Un­
Sold, rented, exchanged. All sub­ der Observation w as the next best Special Feature.
ject*. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Cash
paid for used course*. Full details I f any o f you readers have any back issues o f
CAPTAIN FU TU R E that you don't- want (before
1943) please w rite to me. I w ould like to obtain
Dept. 227 Chicago them.
W ell, here’s hoping fo r a new cover artist and fo r
C.F. to become bi-m onthly or monthly.— 2577 F erris
BE A D E T E C T I V E A ve., D etroit 9, Mich.
W O R K H O M E o r T R A V E L . E xp erien ce u nneces­ Okay, Pee-Iot Bone, so Bergey needs a
sary. D E T E C T IV E P a rticu la rs F R E E . W rite rest, but the cover is good. You draw a
•EO. T. H. W AGN ER, 125 W. 86th St., N. Y. blue chalk mark down the middle of the floor
between our two groups yonder and lie half
BELIEVE IK LUCK?-! on one side and half on the other. Here’s
hoping you don’t get trampled—much, when
Carry a Diir of GENUINE BRAHMA the fracas starts. And look out! Here comes
RED UVE HIGHLY MAGNETIC another one.
I/JDB8T0NES! legend repute*, Occult
Oriental ancients luperitltiotuly car­
ried two Lire Lodeetone* aa MOST
POWERFUL MAGNETIC "LUCKY”
CHARMS, one to "attract" Good Luck C A N ARTISTS R E A D ?
In Money. Games. levs. Business, Work, By Steve Adams
etc., the other to "prevent" Bad Luck,
Losbm, Bril, Trouble, Harm, etc. Believe in Luck! Cany a Pair Dear Sarge; W hat’s the matter, can’t you talk
of tbeso curious Genuine Brahma Red Live Lodestonea! We make Bergey into reading the story? T ak e this issue’s
no supernatural claims. $1.97 Postpaid for the two, with all Informa­ cover (I don’t want It) the art work is wonderful,
tion. JL97 and 154 extra if C.O.D. Satisfaction GUARANTEED or
Money Returned. Order yours NOWl but please, Sarge, pretty please with Xeno on it, tell
me when both Curt and Joan were caught by a
A S T R O L CO., D ep t. 10, M ain P . O. “ Swallower?” See what I mean, Sarge? And now
B o x 78. B R O O K L Y N , N . Y. fo r the interior pics, Oh Happy D a y ! A pic b y F in­
NOTICE; Beware of imitation* 1 We absolutely GUARAN­ lay, and a honey! H ow about some more o f his
TEE these Genuine Brahma Lodetioces ar« ALIVE! We believe w ork? Preferably on the Cap. Future tale. Sokoli's
theey are just what you want, the REAL THING—POWERFUL pic w as good, but who is the guy who did the Cap-
DRAWING. EXTRA HIGHLY MAGNETIC! Fully Guaranteed—
Order TODAY! Copyright 1937—A. Co. [Turn to page 122]
120
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 tain Future draw ings? Is he afraid to sign his

Gas on Stomach nam e? I f so, I don’t blam e him.

N ow fo r the stories :
I : “ M agic Moon” definitely not up to par, not
enough science and none o f that old Ham ilton spirit.
R e l i e v e d in 5 m i n u t e s o r Another question— in the beginning o f Chap X ,
d o u b le y o u r m o n e y back Cap. got his head and one arm free o f the sw allower
and in the next m om ent w as hurled through the
When sxoasa itomach acid causes painful, suffocating gas, tour water. H ow ?
etotnaeh and heartburn, doctors usually prescribe the fastest-acting I I : “ To Dust Returneth” good, but slow -m oving.
medicines known for symptomatic relief—medicines like those In I l l : "T he Companions o f Sirius” above average,
Bell-ana Tablets. No laxative. Bell-ans brings comfort in a jiffy or
double your money back on return of bottle to us. 25* everywhere. but h ow could one man be as sm art a s Jam eson?
I V : Articles and Features, a s usual'— 100% Okay.
I guess that about does it, so until the next time.

IN
WAR WILL END —•64 8 . S. Carolina A v e., Atlantia City, N. J.
If you have studied your lesson thoroughly,
Kiwi Adams, you already know the answer
THE i SPRING O F 1945” to your question about MAGIC MOON’S
IS HE COMING BACK? artist—answered a few flashes back. You had
______________ Consult WILLIAM W. LORD better lie down beside Pee-lot Bone, as you
“ S U P E R M I N D ” . , . WORLD'S GREATEST p s y c h ic seem to hover on the fence about the cover.
8 Questions answered confidentially upon receipt of let* Pull a couple of floor plates over you for pro­
ter In your handwriting and One Dollar. Give birthdate. tection when the fight begins.
LORO, 2Q W . J ackson, Dept. R-34, Chicago 4
S y m p to m s B e lie v e d ,
DENEB D O U B L E T A L K
ASTHMA:
— » w m
i Write today for
1 fo r m a tio n
bu m i s m o n e y
and
back
fre e
specia l
offer.
in-
By Charles D. Cosby

Mi
| W. K. STERLINE,
STE-BLI 830 Ohio Ave* Sidney, Ohio D ear Sarge: D id you o r did you not say, “W ake
STUDY AT HOME for PERSONAL SUCCESS me up when you have to m this present issue to
and LABGEli EABN1NGS. 32 years expert in­ pieces?” W ell, w ake up, Sarge, time to stump the
struction—over 108,000 students enrolled. LL.B. experta (M eaning all us Futuremen, S.F.L. m em ­
Degree awarded. All texts furnished. Easy pay­ bers, K iw is, and pee-lots.) By the w ay, S a rg e; are
ments. Send for FBJSK BOOK—“Law sod you triplets or are you being im personated in T.W .S.
Executive Guidance.” and S.S.?
AMERICAN EXTEN SION SCHOOL OF LAW W ell, I suppose the best place to start is the cover.
Dept. 39-T, 8 East Huron S t,, Chicago I I , III.
I see w e have our colored proton rings bade a g a in ;
but that's O.K. T hey w ere gone so Tong I w as b e­

DUES TryPage’s
PILE PREPARATIONS
■ If you are troubled with itching, bleed-
Palliative ginning to think Curt w as using a new type gun.
N ow Earle K. B ergey is O.K. as fa r as art g o e s ;
but he, o r som eone else w ho tells him w hat to draw,
either does not read the story or ought to read it
twice.
The animal in the picture is, b y all the descrip­
H ing or protruding piles, write for a tions in the novel, a “ breather," This harmless
FREE sample of Page's Palliative Pile creature w as m ore a fraid o f Joan than she w as of
Preparations and you may bless the day it. Also, when Curt met the “ sw allow er" he was
you read this. Don’t wait. WHITE TODAY! alone. That com pletely rem oves Miss Randall from
the cover. By the w ay, what keeps the w ater from
E. R. PAGE CO., Dept. 421-K4. Marshall. Mich. going under J oan ’s suit? T here is no w atertight
IN CANADA. DEPT. 4 2 I - K 4 , TORONTO. ONT. connection as between the suit and the h elm et;
which she did not have on when Curt found her.
Let’s m ove on to you r department. O nly one thing
ja l m u x e a i i f i i n i n B I w rong there, too short. O ught to add three or fou r
more pages, both sides. Cut out the shorter o f the
Easy to use Viscose Method beak many old shorts, on ly have one, and use the space to good a d ­
kg sores caused by leg congestion, varicoseveins, vantage— in “ Under O bservation” and the rest in
swollen legs and Injuries or no ooet for TBIAL. the m ain novel.
Describe your trouble and get FEES BOOK. Pee-lot F ish er’s offer to teach E SP E R A N T O is
T . G. V I8CO SE METHOD COMPANY v e ry generous. I fo r one have taken him up on it.
140 N. Dearborn Street, Chicago. Illinois H. Malamud, I. Berkman & H. R ogovin say they
have talked to C. F. (B y the w ay, Sarge, are they
one person or is he all th ree?)
LET THE STARS BE He, or they, said :
“ Future and I figured out how w e could extend
the vibration drive to vibrate the ship slow ly back­
YOUR GUIDE w ard through time as w ell a s sw iftly through
space.”
“That m eans he could get as far as Deneb In five
m inutes."
In other w ords he, o r they, mean the Com et would
☆ have to travel 130 light years a minute. (D eneb is
650 light yeara from Sol.) This would give G reg no
Your Daily Horoscope Appears time to m iss any interstellar orb which m ight be
in their w ay. I say G reg because he w ould not be
under suspended animation.
in Every Issue of W h y couldn’t C.F. use the tw o-dim ensional warp
that w as invented b y the friends he m ade in “ Quest
Beyond the Stars” ? H e would get there in a few

EVERYDAY ASTROLOGY
Featuring a Sign-by-Stgn Analysis
hours.-—194 Main St., Binoham ton, N ew York.
You argue this matter out with Goldilocks
and the three bears, Kiwi Cosby. The old
Sarge astrogates in the old-fashioned rocket
ship. Your stand on the cover situation opens
for Each Solar Group a new angle for debate, but we’ll line you up
with the pee-lots on the righthand side. I’m
not going to go into that old explanation
☆ again about poetic license with the exact text
and stuff like that. You space rascals know
EVERY M ONTH— 1 0 c AT ALL STANDS it all by heart.
122
KUTTNER C O M E S FIRST
By Chad Oliver
Dear S&rge: W e shall commence operations with
the m ost Important item. And, fo r the first time in
m y m emory, it Is not the feature novel. No, it was
an unheralded little Item tucked aw ay in the back
o f the book. I'm speaking o f H enry K uttner’s m ag­
nificent To Dxtst Returneth. This, I think, was a
classic— the first I'v e read In a long time. It was
sim ply sup erb ; It m ade up, all b y Itself, fo r all the
tripe w e readers have so often read in CF’s short
story departm ent I t will be a long, long time be­
fore w e get another short like th is ; that is to be
expected. But now you have som ething to build on.
Come on— let'6 make CF*s short 3torles something
really exceptional.
ELECTROniCS
A w ord o f caution h ere: L im it the num ber o f
shorts per issue to two. The Captain F uture novel
is still o f prim e im portance. A yarn like To Dust
TEIEUI5I0I1
Returneth com es along only once In a blue moon. n a if/
It Is oertainly no slur on M agic M oon that It has Command good jobs asBa- Your opportunity ia here. Radio tech­
to be content with second place, for It w as an excel­ dio Technician in Uncle nicians needed everywhere— afield in
Sam's forces or in civilian action and at home in Industry. Get into
lent yarn— fu lly as good as The Star o f D read last Industries. National's ac­ Radionics now which embraces Radio,
issue. Sterling is going great guns on a difficult tual shop practice methods Electronics and Television. National
task— more power to him. qualify you. Investigate 1 Schools offers tested home training
Lastly, in the fictional realm, we have M orrison’s method— an actual extension of train­
“ The Companions o f Sirius." It w asn’t bad, but ing you would reoelve It attending
that Is all I can say for it. school In person.
And now-—the cover. The Bergey Blotch this trip NATIONAL SCHOOLS
Lot Angeles
impresses me as being extrem ely trite— which is a Eat. 1905
polite w ay o f saying something else. O f the interior
pix, Mr. Finlay was best, closely follow ed b y the
plo on P age 19. W hodunit? Orb&n? Also, a word
o f appreciation fo r the ever-careful w ork on “ The
W orlds o f T om orrow .” Those plates are alw ays ex­
S fiM fe M S lL
cellently done. MAIL COUPON FOR FREE LESSON & BOOK
T oo little attention, I think, Is given to the fea ­
tures In CF. “T he Futurem en” is alw ays interesting i NltiMtl SefeMn, Dept. 3-TGft (Hail In envelope or I
and well-written. “The W orlds o f Tom orrow ” is f 4000 8o. Figuatm, l_M Angela* 37,Cal. paste on penny postal) I
likewise excellent, with Imaginative plotting and I Mail me FREE, without obligation. on© Leisoc and Oppor- *
writing. "T he Future o f Captain Future” is about I tunity Book, with fulldetails about how I CAN becomea j
the best o f its type in the business. And “ Under I RADIO Technician. 8
Observation” is likewise usually excellent— depend­ | Name................................................................ h s»..................... |
ing, o f course, on the quality o f the letters you re ­ | Address ............................................... !
ceive.— S956 (Ledg&ioooa, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Step over to the corner, Kiwi Oliver; your | City .......................... ...................... State. ......... |
line forms on the left. The S.R.O. sign is
being dusted off, and the old Sarge is slowly 3 IN 1 R A D IO TU N E R
building up choleric pressure. O N LY 91.00 P O S T P A ID
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123
 Here’s a brief interlude in this sandlot
Mew Facts on game we are choosing teams for. ’

Chronic Ailments SIX L O N G Y E A R S

By Pvf. Charles T. Check
FREE BOOK — E x p la in s D an gers
O f P ile s — C o lo n T r o u b le s Dear B arge: Having just finished the latest C ap ­
ta in F uture novel, which I thought fa ir compared
to the rest o f his novels. I thought I might as well
join the CF club, and tell what I think o f some o f
the CF stories. The best o f them all, o r so I thought
w as the “ Star o f Dread,’ * but maybe some other en­
thusiastic S F fan m ight think different, but since I
m have been reading SF fo r about 6 long years I am
beginning to think I am a pretty good judge o f SF,
and I honestly can aay that I enjoy CF the best o f
them all, and I read every SFM that comes out.
r — Congratulate Brett Sterling fo r me, because I think
he is carrying on H am ilton's w ork successfully.
W ell, I will have to sign off! now and get back to my
work, which is soldiering.— Sind B ase Hq. & Air
40-page FREE BOOK explains the causes and Base Sq., Davis-Monthan Field, Tucson, Aris.
effects o f these ailments. W rite today—Thornton &
Minor Clinic, Suite 356, 026 MeUee St., Kansas We think so, too, Kiwi Check. In fact, it
City, Mo. looks as though most of the junior astrogators
think so this month. The only thing the lit­
tle ogres really find to snap at is the cover.
We’ll get to that all in one wad. You im­
partial pee-lots take it easy on the sidelines
and watch the fur fly.
O N E B R O A D SID E
By Herman F. Cordes, Jr.
Dear Sa rge: You had better duok because here
are a few brick bats. I finished the W inter 1944 is­
sue o f C aptain F uture this evening. It w as swell
ex cep t:
1— The cover does not depict a part o f the story.
2— The author neglected to say how Capt. Future
escaped the Swallower with the prop gun.
SIMPLS EARACHE? Get nrift nti*f front p.i» due to uiptr- 3— W hy didn’t the m ercury in the m irror from his
6d*1 e»r condition*—with Dtut’t Em Drop*. Follow*«*>• di makeup kit decompose from the blight, or did they
tion*. If your druggist doer cot hsvs those products, revise the list o f m etals?
er today from C. S. Dent 8» Co.. Cincinnati 14, Ohio. I am not alw ays this way. but this was too much !
fn> ] — 7to W . 20th St., Upland, Calif.
This brings up another one of those triangle
points about the cover. But at least you don’t
take issue with the quality of the artwork,
73Q SHAVES FROM 1BLADE A M A7 IN C NF
AMAZING NEWW A
Pee-lot Corcles. You warm the corcles of
my heart for this, so cut yourself a slice of
BLADE SHARPENER
the bread-and-jam session and enjoy it from
New sharpener for all makes of j the sidelines with the other well-behaved
Idouble-edge razor blades f!
'performs miracles! “Notl1,
students.
necessary to change blades." V
_____________________’SAZOROLU
really sharpen* blades because it strops on leath-
THREE C H E E R S F O R ,THE BIG THREE
er.Givejkeen, smooth shaving M p e . No enc^a-
work. Blade held at correct szryl* *nd proper By Joe Kennedy
DTMsaro—entoraaticaJly. dust tom crank to sharpen
_ WadeJio gears. Well made. llandsome. compact, stordr. D ear Sarge: H a w ! H a w ! H a w ! Pardon me,
1 Weighs few ounces. Will last y«*r». Makes ideal gift. Sarge, but (h e h ! h e h !) that W inter cover w as the
f SEND NO MONEY! 8M & iJ£5£SE *.!gJ iinniest darn thing I ’ve seen all year. Here w e see
RAZOROLLfor 5 day re not delighted with the head o f Dum bo the elephant, with one ear
wrapped around Cap Future and the other ear
around some old gal o f about 75. The hero looks
like Lii’l Abner from the Ozarks, and he's firing some
purty colored sm oke rings into Dumbo’s optics. The
entire miss is afloat in a green sea, full o f bubbles
and vapor. H a r ! H a r ! ’Tain’ t scientific—it’s ri­
diculous. Get B ergey to do another one o f th ese;
I haven't laughed so hard since the time somebody
m ixed H ^O * with the Surge's Xeno.
Candidate fo r the firing sq u a d; the guy who
thought up the title Magic Moon. The story itself?
and FREE “Kh.ming Dictionary” today. M agic Moon gets 3T£ stars (4 means “ superb,” while
Ph on og ra ph R e c o r d * M a d e over 4 Is a classic).
W e are truly living in an age o f m a rv els! The
V A NDE RB IL T M U S I C S T U D I O S shorts w ere actually passable! Kuttner, alw ays an
Dept. 18-C, Box 112 • Coney Island. N. Y. especial fa ve o f mine, gets 3 stars. As for Com-
pam ons Of Sirius, every Morrison story rates the
same in literary v a lu e: 2 stars, one comet, and an
asteroid (in other words, so-so).
The features are improving, happily enough. Keep
Banish tha craving for tobaeeo m Shape Of The Future— it’s a good idea to have some
thousands have. Make yoareelf fre® straight, practical science.
and happy with Tobacco Redeemer.! So F inlay w ill do the plx for D ays O f Creation,
Write for free booklet telling of tn- eh ? Sounds too good to be true. I shall hold my
foriooa effect of tobacco and or a' breath for three months before making comment.
treatment which han re- . .■ Now we rip Into Under Observation. Notice the
lievod many men. FREE amazing am ount o f youngsters! Alm ost h alf o f
3 0 Years In B usiness I a n n u l them aren’t over 15. judging from their letters in
THE NEWEU COMPANY l £ z r 2 J this and previous Issues. This is a good sig n ;
153 CtaYtoa S ta, SL Louis, Mo. STFANDOM desperately needs fresh blood if .lt in-
tends to get back on Its (flat) feet. How old am I f
W ho cares?
Ever stop to analyze the reason for the strong
appeal CP holds over young and Innocent minds?
This can be explained by three simple reasons:
1— Fast, light, easy reading.
2— Weird animals, places, people, and events, are INDEMNITY
practically Irresistible.
3— —Cap Future is merely a scientific version of
Soupyman and the Green Hairnet. LIFE IN S U R A N C E
I fully realize that I’ll be kicked back Into the P O L IC Y P A Y S M A X IM U M B E N E F IT S
bolt box for that last statement-

3000.00
Before signing off, three rousing cheers to TWS,
SS, and CP fo r the amount o f space they have un­
selfishly devoted toward backing patriotic move­
ments such as the Bed Cross, victory Gardening,
USO, and W ar Bonds. Keep It up, b y all means.
*
When the day o f peace comes at last, your maga­ Policy Costa O nly $1.00 o Month
zines will be able proudly to say, "W e helped!”— 84 Provide for those you
Baker A ve., D over, N. J. love this wise, easy way.
^ Kiwi Kennedy, you sneaked up on our soft Only a few pennies a day P R O T E C T IO N
side with that last paragraph of yours, and will pay for TRIPLE IN­
DEMNITY LIFE INSUR­
Bat*6*
the old Sarge hasn’t anything to say to you ANCE, backed by Legal L O S S o f L IF E
except to offer you a snort of Xeno. We are Reserves. Old r e l i a b l e
Pioneer Life Insurance
trying to help, and we know that every dod- Company offers this as­
gasted one of you pee-lots are doing the sured protection without
restrictions as to your
3- Ordbury Accidents
4- Aoto Accidents...
same thing. Occupation, T r a v e l or 5-Trawl Acddeots..
Residence and in c l u d e *
♦valuable Incontestability Clause— all aa plainly
H O SPITAL FLASH stated In the policy. Mdn, women and children
from 1 day to 70 years o f age eligible. No Red
By CpI. Richard M. Needham Tape—No Medical Examination 1 Full details sent
Dear Sarge: After reading your Winter issue o f by man. No Agent will calL Write at once
lo r FREE Inspection offer. DON’T DELAY J
CP I tho't it was about time to write another com­ PIONEER LIFE JNSURANCE COMPANY
munique. "M agic Moon” w as very good. 8281 Pioneer Building • Rockford, Illinois
Being as I am in a hospital, and due to the fact
that I have time on my hands and in addition that
the Post Exchange carries Opt. Future and com­
panion mags, I ’ve had an opportunity to get others
in m y ward interested in reading all science-fiction
High School Course
mags I get hold of. That won’t make you mad. As at Home i H«*f Ifcfe*m2Yams
most mags I get are companions to CP. Keep ’em ■ Goss rapidir as w ar time and abUlUea permit Cburso
coming.— Ward D-4, Station Hospital, Camp Forrest, ■ equivalent, to resident echoed work—prepares torcollega
Tenn. I entrance exams standard H.B. text* supplied. Diploma.
Thanks, Corporal. We’ll keep the mags T S S M a B S g» . Ste xft fivori & ffifg
coming up. You hurry up and get well. M ain * so w. turn

HO W COM E?
By Norman G. Johns
Dear Sarge: I would like to join your club but
IN V E N T O R S
I wish you would clear up a mystery for me. ! pBOTEUF your idee with e Patent. Secure
I recently got hold o f an old copy o f C a p t a i n A ‘ Tatect Guide" and "Beeord tf Inien-
F uture dated Winter, 1940. I read the novel called tliyr form—FVas. No charge for preliminary
Informa±l nr, Write today 1
"Captain Future and the Space Emperor,” and I
liked it so much I wanted to read more, but I didn’ t
know if the mag was still published. When I hap­
pened to see it recently at the drugstore I bought it
at once, but I found that the old Captain Future was
written by Edmond Hamilton while the new story
was by Brett Sterling. I looked through the pages
o f C a p t a i n F uture, but I could find no explanation.
SONG POEMS WANTED
We want aong poems and lyrics on all subject*. We offer the service*
I would like to know bow the author came to be of a noted Hollywood motion picture studios compojer and arranger.
changed and if Captain Future and his three- com ­ Send your pooto today for our consideration and libers! offer.
rades Grag, Otho, and The Brain have been changed HOLLYWOOD MELODIES, P . Q, B a t 21888. Hollywood 28, Calif.
in any way.— lost address.
A logical question, Kiwi Johns. Edmond
Hamilton entered the Armed Forces some
time back, and Brett Sterling took over the
job of recording the adventures of the Future-
men. There has been no change whatever
in the characters, style, or general set-up.
There is a little argument, however, on the
possible change in quality. Some like Ham­
GUM GRIPPER
ilton better, some like Sterling better. Per­ NEW P LA STIC DISCOVERY
sonally, the old Sarge likes ’em both. TIGHTENS THEM QUICKLY
A p p ly I t Y o u r s e lf-A T H O M E

UNDER O BSERVA TIO N TOPS apply am aiing now P la s tic “ Onra Gripper- ' dental plat
finer. Squeeze on with bandy tube. Wear plates while they &etI
By Donald McWilliams Before yonknow itdental plates Btlikanewonee again. NOT
A PA STE, PO W D EEO RW A X . Can be scrubbed or washed.
Dear Sarge: I’ve read about four issues o f your One application last® up to4month*—o rn o co a t.lt a tasteless.
m ag CF and I think the story "W orlds To Come” r n P P O en ero m a ir * D INTAL PLATE
has been the best. P n P P B i t T A T Weataarinduded f j« e of extra coe -
While we’re on the subject, does anybody want to H H h b V I | w l with each order. C leanses dentai
plates without brushing. Will not fade or harm the denture.
sell, trade or in any other way get rid of their CF
mags beginning with the first one? S end No Money I - T est a t Our Risk !
Your own department Is the best o f its kind in SF Send name and address. When package arrives, deposit fl.OQ
Magazines, so don’t let anybody kid-you about that. pins postage with the poetman. I f not sstisfied % . retaro
the used tone and yonr ll.OOwfl! be refunded. iffl.O O is sent
— 10 IS N. Sth Ave., BvansviUe, Ind. with order, we pay the postage. Don’t wait— W rit* today!
[Turn page) WEST LABS.. 12? N. Daartrara SL. DwLA4M.Ch 1*0*
 T h a n k s f o r th e c o m p lim e n t t o th e d e p a r t­

ORAWforMOHET m en t. N o w , h e r e ’ s a la d y :

BE AN ARTIST!
Trained Artists are Capable of
M IS S M ISSE S ISSUES
By Mary West
Earning $30, $50. $75 a Week Dear Sa rge: I have never written to a m ag be­
U u Your Spare Time to Prepare for a fore, but I have been reading CF since m y father
Profitable Art Careerl COMMERCIAL ART. brought the first issue home.
DESIGNING and CARTOONING—all In I have just finished “ W orlds T o Come,” and I
ONE complete home study eourSe. No pre­
vious Art experience necessary— we teach think it’s swell. I alw ays read C F first. I think it’s
you step by step—hundreds have profited best.
by our practical roothod. TWO ART OUT­ I missed the last tw o issues and would like to
FITS FURNISHED. Full information la have them v ery much. I a lw a ys hate m issing issues.
colorful. FREE BOOK, "A rt for Pleasure & S a y ! W hat’s the idea? T he fronts don’t go with
Profit"— tells all about our course, service,
what our graduates aay— and commercial the story? I think someone drank too much Xeno.
opportunities for you In Art. — 609 W . P a r k A v e ., K o k o m o , In d .
O k a y , K i w i M a r y , y o u b e l o n g in t h e t h i r d
F REE BOOK gives details! g r o u p o f c o v e r d is s e n te r s . G la d t o h a v e y o u
w it h us.

Send me your booklet and full particulars about

your course, I
ST E R LIN G C A N WRITE!
.......................................... A G E ....... I By Michael Pelsang
D ear Sa rge: I f you can stop pu27.1ing that X eno
ju g fo r a minute, read this etheigram . W ell, the
best m agazine I read am ong the Thrilling Publica­
tions Group is C a f t a i n F uture . T hat Fellow Ster­
ling $ure can write science fiction. Dike some o f the
M o s t A m a z in g B o o k s in the W o r ld authors in you r publications he never w rites com -

um
'Seated stories o r does he try to confuse the reader.
p i~ S e n d f o r G i a n t 5 0 0 - P a g e C a t a l o g S e knows how to blend rom ance with adventure to
m ake a good story. Keep him on till cats-kill-mts.
O C C U L T - C A B A L IS T IC M A G IC S t a r t l i n g S t o r ib s and T h r i l l i n g W o n d e r S t o r ie s
are all right, but a little more illustration please.
Nam ely, let’s see w hat the characters in the stories
~-V-.'tT„.sip Masters in utilising the powers o f Nature. look like.
y Learn their Discoveries. Laws, Rules. Codes. I guess the other readers would like to see what
Systems, Practices and Customs. Enjoy the the old Sarge looks like. I know 1 would. Don’t
fascinating study of Spiritualism, Hypnotism. Mediumship, be so m odest and pub a picture o f yourself in the
Clairvoyance, Divination, and the numerous kinds o f "M agic.” m a g .— 3 0 9 6 5 t h S t ., W e s t N e w Y o r k , N . J .
Free "Good-Luck Talismans.” AH types of Supplies and Equip­ T h e r e s e e m s t o b e a lit t le d is a g r e e m e n t o n
ment for study and practice o f the Occult Arts and Practices.
Spiritual Development “ Triangle” device FREE with th e a r t w o r k , K iw i P e ls a n g , s a id th e S a rg e
Catalog only oo roceipt o f 25c. Address : d r y ly . S o m e k i w i s t h in k t h e r e ’ s a l r e a d y t o o
DeLAURENCE CO. i l l >». Hicliipt kn„ tu t t O in p 1, IH. m u c h o f it . W e ’l l p a ss y o u r p r a is e a lo n g to
B r e t t S t e r lin g .

PICTURE N EW G A L FAN
By Mrs. Wilma Williams
RING $1-
BiqoUite Onxx-iQca Pictortt Rio*—mad
photo. Sood No Honey! Mall p------------ .-------
D ear S a rg e: I’m a new fan to y our mag. M ay I
say it’s tops?
Just finished the summer issue. But w hat’s this?
K for rtny etie. Pay poeEmn only Sl-tKl pin* poit-
• » . Baud tinted 26c expo. Photo rotarned with rio*.
The letters in you r section in the Summer issue are
all from men. D on’t you have wom en readers?
Uoo»T beck gwrentee. Send photo and rise site m v .
PORTRAIT RING CO., Dept. p-28. CINCINNATI, O. Can’t say I agree with those griping m ales about
the love interest in Captain Future’s stories. It’s
OK, not too much, not too little.
SONGWRITERS
If you’ re reaJly interested in scngwritin^. yon should write for our free
As to Otho and G rag and their bickering. I ’d say
keep it up. The story needs a bit o f com edy to
lessen the tension. You know ?
booklet. It explains our splendid service plan which new writers praise H ave read m any science fiction m ags o f future
so highly. Let us help you as we have helped other#. Write today for w orlds and people, but have found Captain Future
FREE INSPIRING BOOKLET.
ALLIED MUSIC CO.. Dept 32. 204 E. 4 t t 8 L . Oinrianati. Ohle and his Futuremen to top them all.
“ Star o f Dread” is the best I'v e read in m any
months and believe me when I say I read every*

PIMPLES
Externally thing I can get my hands on in this type o f story.
Caused D on’t know how I ’ve m issed your mag.
Count m e in from now on.
Just one little complaint. The m j'stery o f man
ACNE, BLACKHEADS, OILY SKIN, RED PATCHES origin w asn’t quite clear. W as the ending m eant to
riamureged by soaps and salves? SEBOUN E applied leave a sense o f suspense?
nightly often shows improvement in a week. M oney Back Just wondered. Let’s have m ore view s from
if not completely satisfied after 2 weeks. Skin S p ecia l­
is t P rescrip tion . SENT ON TRIAL. You risk nothing w om en in your section. H uh?— 707 N . M a d ison ,
P e o r ia , Illin ois.
B le s s y o u , g a l, th e S u m m e r is s u e ju s t h a p ­
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l hospitaL Another saved $400 wfillo
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• women 18 to 80. High School DuO
THREE Y E A R S C O N V IN C E S
By Kenneth Lesser
Dear S a rg e: A fter reading C aptain F uture for
three years, I have finally decided to join T h e
120
Futuremen. As far aa X eno Jugs go. "The Star o f
D read’’ in the Summer issue rates five, which in
m y space language is good. The shorts could have
been better. Brett Sterling is a good author, but
not as good as old Ed. "The Star o f Dread” is much
better than B rett Sterling’ s first story “ W orlds to
Come.” —Sm ith Farm s, Nassau, N ew York.
Welcome to our circle, Kiwi Kenneth. We
think Brett Sterling is getting better, too.
Here follows another comment on Sterling.

ST ER LIN G IM P R O V E M E N T
By Arlen McGee
D ear S arge: I am v ery happy to inform you that
the one science fiction fan o f Gooding, Idaho, has
accepted you as a m em ber o f his clan.
I am doing this because o f you r good judgm ent in
selecting Brett Sterling to keep the stories o f that
superfine adventurer. Captain Future, com ing to us.
The last novel by author Ham ilton that I have
been able to get was “ The Face o f the Deep,” a story
ranking v ery high on m y list o f “ better than aver­
age” science fiction.
It looks as though Brett Sterling has some im ­
proving to do before he will be able to turn out
stories o f such m erit as Ham ilton’ s “ Planets in
Peril,” however, “ The Star o f Dread” showed a de­
cided improvement over 1'W orlds to Come.”
Bergey is doing fine on the cover, and will con ­ AUDEL, Publishers, 4 9 W . 2 3 S t , N «wYork
tinue to do so as long as he shows some originality M*J1 for 7 days frae trial books marked (X ). I agree to mall |1 in 7
in his work. H is best w as fo r “W orlds to Come. ’ flays on each book ordered and SI a month until purchase price is
And I don’t think readers should do so much fussing paid. If l am not satisfied with guides, I will return them.
about the cover not depicting the exact scene, colors □ WELDERS S I. D AUTOMOBILE * 4 . □ SHIPF1TTKR
and expressions o f the story and its characters. If n BLUEPRINT 2. □ RADIO *. □ MATHEMATICS 2.
it is well-done and shows some relation to the story □ MACHINIST 4. D PLUMBERS «. □ C
w hy trifle about its m inor defects?— R ou te One, □ ELECTRICITT 4 , □ SHEET METAL J . □ 0
Gooding, Idaho.
Okay, Pee-lot McGee, you’ ve gone and □
taken sides. Line up with the cover experts
on the righthand side of yonder section.
By all the space imps! Here’s a fourth
angle on the cover controversy.

N O M O R E LEG ART! STUDY AT HOME

Legally trained men winhfgh-
By James Ayers ” positions and bigger suc-
and pul"
D ear S a rg e: Listen, you xeno-guzzling pee-lot,
quit putting those darn cheese-cake pictures on the
front o f C F ! I will put the mag down so fa st that
it will even amaze me. No m ore such pictu res!
This is a science book and you should put C F and
the Futuremen on the front.
I f you have a picture like that anym ore I won’t
read the book.— fiflS First St., A ttala, Ala.
Well, blast my rockets, but here is a kiwi
who honestly must be one of those twelve-
year-olds all you pee-lots kid about. Now,
you look here, young squirt, most everybody
likes pretty girls—even the old Sarge (thank
SONGWRITERS
Place your songs with us. Melodieg supplied W ITHOUT
CHARGE by well known Hollywood composers. We
Jupiter)—and our cover pictures are definitely record your song and make it presentable to the pub­
not what you say they are! Not by the stand­ lishers. Lead sheets and records furnished. Send your
ards of the Spacemen’s Cafe murals on all song material fo r free examination. W rite for details.
the colonized planets. So you just read the CINEMA SONC CO. DEPT. 1-F P. O. BOX «70
stories, James; the Sarge will look at the BEVERLY HILLS. CALIF.
pictures.
Right about here would be a good place
for the old Sarge to blow the whistle for the
fray to start and then pick up a rocket wrench
don’t W O R R Y
Why put up with years of
and begin peeling a few coconuts—but I’m needless discomfort and
gonna fool you. If you have stood in line worry? Try a Brooks Auto­
long enough to feel foolish and conspicuous, matic- Air Cushion. This
you may return to your astrogation charts. marvelous appliance per­
Seems to me somebody said something in mits the opening to close,
this controversy about a picture of the old yet holdsredudble rupture
space dog on the cover, and another asked securely,comfortably—day
for a picture of Saturn in this department. and night Thousands report amazing results;
About the cover, I don’t know. That would Light, neat-fitting. No hard pads or stiff springs
really start fireworks. About a drawing— to chafe or gouge. Made for men, women and
there was one of the old Sarge in STAR­ children. Durable, cheap. S e a t on trial to prove it.
TLING STORIES a few issues back, and Never sold in stores. Beware of imitations. Write for
there is one in the current issue of THRILL­ Free Book on Rupture, no-risk trial order plan, and
ING WONDER STORIES now on the proof of results. All correspondence confidential.
[ Turn page] BROOKS COMPANY. 182-LState St, MarefatO, Mick.
187
 sta n d s . I g u e s s w e ’ll h a v e to c o m p le t e th e

Getting Up Nights v i c i o u s c y c l e , a n d s h o w u p h e r e in U N D E R
O B S E R V A T I O N w it h a p o r t r a it s o m e d a y .
W h ic h re m in d s m e, K iw i C o s b y a sk e d a

Makes Many Feel Old

Do yon feel older than yon are o r suffer from Getting
Up Nights, Backache, Nervousness, Leg Pains, D izzi­
c o u p le o f p a r s e c s b a c k if S a tu rn w a s b e in g
i m p e r s o n a t e d in o u r t w o o t h e r m a g a z i n e s .
Y o u k n o w d a n g e d w e ll th e o ld S a rg e rid e s
h e r d o n y o u s p a c e m o n k e y s i n a ll t h r e e b o o k s
ness, Swollen Ankles. Rheumatic Pains, Burning, — a n d a h e c k o f a h e a d a c h e it is , t o o .
scanty or frequent passages? I f so, remember that N o , I ’ m n o t d o d g in g t h e is s u e a b o u t th e
your Kidneys are vital to your health and that these cov er scra p! Y o u ju n io r a s t r o g a to r s are to
symptoms may be due to non-organicand non-systemie d o t h e fig h t in g . T h e o l d S a r g e is j u s t t o
Kidney and Bladder troubles—in such cases C y s te x (a
physician’s prescription) usually gives prom pt and re fe re e . I f y o u m u s t h a v e a n a n sw e r, I ca n
joyous reliei by helping the K idneys flush out poison- t h in k o f n o b e t t e r o n e t h a n is c o n t a i n e d in
out excess acids and wastes. You have everything to t h is la s t c o m m u n iq u e c o m i n g u p .
gain and nothing to lose in trying C ystex. An iron-clad
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Cystex i
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J Help*Flush Kldaeys druggist today. Only 35#.
By Beverly Harris
D ear S a r g e : This m ay seem a bit Irregular to
you, a girl w riting and asking fo r a membership. I
hope you don 't bar them from T h e F u t-a rem en club.

SUPERNJUJITSU
O W G E T TOUGH
I th in k that th e Summer issue o f C a p t a i n F u t u r e
is v ery good, but it w as topped b y “ Planets in
P eril."
I have missed a good m any o f the C F issues and
I am v ery sorry.
D O U B LE-Q U IC K ! Please don 't have Captain Future g o into the fu ­
ture again. Really, tw enty m illion years is a long
Learn h ow Y O U can be dangerous. time for even C F to traverse.
Lick brutes tw ice your size with only I am v ery p oor at pronouncing doubletalk and I
your bare hands, even when they are w onder i f there couldn't be som e w a y you could
armed.Thi s powerful fighting system arrange a sort o f pronunciation department fo r those
is unbelievably efficient. Y o u d o n ’t names like Chah H ar, Deneb, Kua, Aar, Shih, Golo,
need o x -lik e m uscles — it's brains Zur, and all those others. It w ould make the story
that cou n t! N ew , easy self-study m ore interesting, I think, i f I knew how to pro­
___ course at amazing tow prlc*. Free-trial nounce the nam es o f the characters and places,
offer and m oney-back guarantee. Hurry! w r it e tod ay fo r FREE I am speaking fo r m yself, y ou understand. I
D ETA ILS. Nelson Co., 321 S. Wabash. Dept. C-511, Chicago. don’t know how the other Captain Future fans would
feel about such a thing.
SONG PO EM S W A N T E D I agree with another fan, I believe you called him
T O B E S E T T O M USIC P ee-lot A lbert Holiin, about the covers. He stated,
Frw Examination. Sand Your Poems t* "T hose kiw is and pee-lots who com plain about the
J . CHAB. M c N E I L , M A S T E R O F M USIC cov ers should have their heads exam ined! They
510 T F S o. A le x a n d r ia ____________ L o s A n g e le s 5, C alif. should know that covers don’t m ake a story . " — B o x
763, E l D o r a d o , K a n s.
T h e y s u r e d o n ’ t, K iw i B e v e r l y . T h e y ju s t
JU S T O UT! m a k e a h e a d a ch e f o r th e o ld S a rg e .
w a s n ’ t it n ic e th a t th e c o v e r w a s p r a c t ic a lly
But

t h e o n l y r e a l b e e f t h e l i t t l e m e a n i e s h a d t h is
is s u e ? T h e y ’ll b e c o m e v e g e t a r i a n s in n o
t im e a t a ll a t t h is ra te .
W i t h w h i c h s a g e r e m a r k w e w i l l n o w a ir
o u t th e a s tr o g a tio n ch a m b e r a n d b e o n ou r
m erry w ay.
— SERG EAN T SATURN.

IM P O R T A N T N O T IC E
W a r t i m e p a p e r r a t i o n i n g m a k e s it i m p o s ­
s i b l e t o p r i n t e n o u g h c o p i e s o f t h is m a g a z i n e
to m e e t th e d em a n d . T o b e su re o f g e t t in g
Y O U R c o p y , p la c e a sta n d in g o r d e r w ith
y o u r re g u la r n e w s d e a le r.

T H E FU TURKM EN,
1 0 E . 4 0 th S t., N e w Y o r k , 16, N . Y .
I w ish to a p p ly f o r m em b ersh ip In T H E
F U T U R E M E N . I p ledg e m y s e lf t o a b id e b y
all ru les and reg u la tion s.

N a m e .......................................................... ............. ...............

(P rin t L e g ib ly )

A d d r c is ...........................................................A g e ...........

C it y ............. ................. ......................... S t a te ...............

I am e n c lo s in g a stam ped, self-a d d res sed ;
en v e lo p e and the n a m e -str ip fr o m th e co v e r !
' o f th is m a ga zin e (t e a r o ff n a m e -strip so that ■
the nam e C A P T A IN F U T U R E and the date 5
* can b e seen .). Y ou w ill send me m y m em b er- S
» sh ip ce r tifica te and a list o f ru les p rom p tly. ■
| 3-44 S
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129
 ’/Meet the new ■foreman, /Mrs. Iivin |v

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 N o w YOU Can Lick A n y
AUTO REPAIR JOB!
IN LESS T IM E -W IT H LESS WORK

I*
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Sam e FR EE 7-Day Offer Applies on New

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MoToR’S TRUCK REPAIR MANUAL I M o T o R Bo o k Dept., D e sk 640,572 M a dison Ave., NewVork 22, N.Y.
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K eep prices down! For Victory and your own post-war

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3. Pay increased taxes willingly. 4. Pay off old debts and
avoid new ones. 5. Live within present income. 6. Build u p
savings and life insurance for the future. 7. Buy and
hold more War Bonds.

S p o n s o r e d b y the m a k e rs o f

C le a r h e a d s c h o o se C alve rt
Calvert
The w h is k e y w ith the " H a p p y B le n d in g ”

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