by Various
Brigands of the Moon
(The Book of Gregg Haljan)
PART THREE OF A FOUR-PART NOVEL
_By Ray Cummings_
Light-rays and silent flashes seemed to envelop us.]
[Sidenote: Gregg and Anita risk quick, sure death in a desperate bluffon the ruthless Martian brigands.]
_WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE_
One day in 2075 the Interplanetary Space-Ship _Planetara_ left theEarth for Mars. I, Gregg Haljan, was third officer.
It was destined to be a tragic voyage. For in our midst wereunscrupulous brigands, masquerading as harmless passengers, intent onseizing the secret treasure of radium ore Johnny Grantline of theGrantline Expedition had dug from the Moon. The _Planetara_ was tostop on the Moon and pick the treasure up on her return trip fromMars.
Miko, a giant Martian, and his sister, Moa, were the ringleaders. Withthem were, as passengers, Sir Arthur Coniston and Ob Hahn, a Venusmystic. The whole crew was in their pay.
Miko struck. The captain was killed, as were the officers. Only SnapDean, the radio-helio operator, Venza, a girl of Venus, and I wereleft. And, of course, Anita Prince, who had captivated my heart uponmy first glimpse of her.
The brigands abandoned the other passengers on a small asteroid, andMiko signaled his space-ship far off on Mars to meet him on the Moon.I was forced to guide the _Planetara_ to the Moon. We sighted the hutsof the Grantline Expedition, and suddenly, just as we started todescend, the controls, snapped, and the _Planetara_ tumbled like aspent rocket! Desperately I tried to check her, but only partiallysucceeded. We crashed horribly against the barren gray rock of theMoon. Anita, Venza, Snap and I lived through it, but we could not findthe bodies of Miko and Moa in the wreckage. Evidently they were stillalive, somewhere.
We reached Johnny Grantline. The _Planetara_ was a complete wreck.And, speeding to us from Mars, was Miko's brigand ship.
We were powerless--without means of leaving the Moon--and completelyat the mercy of Miko's fast approaching brigands!
CHAPTER XXIII
_The Prowling Watchman_
"Try it again," Snap urged. "Good God, Johnny, we've got to raise someEarth station! Chance it! Use your power--run it up to the full.Chance it!"
We were gathered in Grantline's instrument room. The duty-man, withblanched grim face, sat at his senders. The Grantline crew shovedclose around us, tense and silent.
Above everything we must make some Earth station aware of our plight.Conditions were against us. There were very few observers, in thehigh-powered Earth stations who knew that an exploring party was onthe Moon. Perhaps none of them. The Government officials who hadsanctioned the expedition--and Halsey and his confreres in theDetective Bureau--were not anticipating trouble now. The _Planetara_was supposed to be well on her course to Ferrok-Shahn. It was when shewas due to return that Halsey would be alert.
And it seemed, too, that nature was against us. The bulginghalf-Earth[1] hung poised near the zenith over our little crater. Itsrotation through the hours was clearly visible. We timed our signalswhen the western hemisphere was facing us. But nature was against us.No clouds, no faintest hint of mist could fog the airless Lunarsurface. But there were continuous clouds over the Americas.
[Footnote 1: Between the half and the full illumined disc, thecomplete Earth now was some ten days old.]
"Try it again," Snap urged.
* * * * *
These bulging walls! Grantline used his power far beyond the limits ofsafety. He cut down his lights; the telescope intensifiers werepermanently disconnected; the ventilators were momentarily stilled, sothat the air here in the little room crowded with men rapidly grewfetid. All to save power pressure, that the vital Erentz system mightsurvive.
Even so it was strained to the danger point. The walls seemed to bulgeoutward with the pressure of the room, the aluminite braces strainingand creaking. And our heat was radiating away; the deadly chill ofspace crept in.
"Again!" ordered Grantline.
The duty-man flung on the power in rhythmic pulses. In the silence thetubes hissed. The light sprang through the banks of rotating prisms,intensified up the scale until, with a vague, almost invisible beam,it left the last swaying mirror and leaped through our overhead domeinto space.
"Commander!" The duty-man's voice carried an appeal. These bulgingwalls! If they cracked, or even sprung a serious leak, the camp wouldbe uninhabitable....
"Enough," said Grantline. "Switch it off. We'll let it go at that fornow."
It seemed that every man in the room had been holding his breath inthe darkness. The lights came on again: the Erentz motors acceleratedto normal. The strain on the walls eased up, and the room beganwarming.
Had the Earth caught our signal? We did not want to waste the power tofind out. Our receivers were disconnected. If an answering signalcame, we could not know it. One of the men said:
"Let's assume they saw us." He laughed, but it was a high-pitched,tense laugh. "We don't dare even use the telescope. Our rescue shipwill be right overhead, visible to the naked eye before we see it.Three days more--that's what I'll give it."
* * * * *
But the three days passed, and no rescue ship came. The Earth wasalmost at the full. We tried signaling again. Perhaps it gotthrough--we did not know. But our power was weaker now. The wall ofone of the rooms sprang a leak, and the men were hours repairing it. Idid not say so, but never once did I feel that our signals were seenon Earth. Those cursed clouds! The Earth almost everywhere seemed tohave poor visibility.
Four of our eight days of grace were all too soon passed. The brigandship must be half-way here by now.
They were busy days for us. If we could have captured Miko and hisband, our danger would have been less imminent. With the treasureinsulated so that its Gamma rays could not betray us, and our camp indarkness, the arriving brigand ship might never find us. But Miko knewour location: he would signal his oncoming ship when it was close andlead it to us.
Three times during those days--and the days which followedthem--Grantline sent out searching parties. But it was unavailing.Miko, Moa and Coniston, with their five underlings, could not befound. We searched all the territory from the camp to the _Planetara_,and off to the foot-crags of Archimedes, and a score of miles into theflatness of the Mare Imbrium. There was no sign of the brigands. Yetwe knew they could be near here--it was so easy to hide amid thetumbled crags, the ravines, the gullies, the numberless craters andpit-holes: or underground in the vast honeycombed subterraneanrecesses.
* * * * *
We had at first hoped that the brigands might have perished. But thatwas soon dispelled! I went--about the third day--with the party thatwas sent to the _Planetara_. We wanted to salvage such of itsequipment, its unbroken power units, as might be available. And Snapand I had worked out an idea which we thought might be of service. Weneeded some of the _Planetara's_ smaller gravity-plate sections. Thosein Grantline's wrecked little _Comet_ had stood so long that theirradiations had gone dead. But the _Planetara's_ were stillefficacious.
We secured the fragments of Newtonia.[2] But our hope that Miko mighthave perished was dashed. He too had returned to the _Planetara_! Theevidence was clear before us. The vessel was stripped of all its powerunits save those which were dead and useless. The last of the food andwater stores was taken. The weapons in the chart-room--the Bensoncurve-lights, bullet projectors, and heat-rays--had vanished.
[Footnote 2: An allusion to the element Newtonia, named in memory ofthe great founder of celestial mechanics, Sir Isaac Newton.Artificially electronized, this metal element may be charged eitherpositively or negatively, thus to attract or repell other masses ofmatter. The gravity plates of all space-ships were built of it.]
Other days passed. The Earth reached the full, and began waning. Thetwenty-eight day Lunar night was in its last half. No rescue ship camefrom Earth. We had ceased our efforts to signal, for we nee
ded all ourpower to maintain ourselves. The camp would be in a state of siege.That was the best we could hope for. We had a few short-range weapons,such as Bensons, heat-rays and rifles. A few hundred feet of effectiverange was the most any of them could obtain. The heat-rays--in giantform one of the most deadly weapons on Earth--were only slowlyefficacious on the airless Moon. Striking an intensely cold surface,their warming radiations, without atmosphere to aid them, were slowto act. Even in a blasting heat-beam a man in his Erentz helmet-suitcould withstand the ray for several minutes.
* * * * *
We were, however, well equipped with explosives. Grantline had broughta large supply for his mining operations, and much of it was stillunused. We had, also, an ample stock of oxygen fuses, and a variety ofoxygen light flares in small fragile glass-globes.
It was to use these explosives against the brigands that Snap and Iwere working out our scheme with the gravity-plates. The brigand shipwould come with giant projectors and with some thirty men. If we couldhold out against them for a time, the fact that the _Planetara_ wasmissing would bring us help from Earth.
"A month," said Grantline. "A month at the most. If we can hold themoff that long--even in a week or two help may come."
Another day. A tenseness fell on us all, despite the absorption of ourfeverish activities. To conserve the power, the camp was almost dark,we lived in dim, chill rooms, with just a few weak spots of lightoutside to mark the watchmen on their rounds. We did not use thetelescope,[3] but there was scarcely an hour when one or the other ofthe men was not sitting on a cross-piece up in the dome of the littleinstrument room, casting tense searching gaze into the black, starryfirmament. A ship might appear at any time now--a rescue ship fromEarth, or the brigands from Mars.
* * * * *
Anita and Venza during these days could aid us very little save bytheir cheering words. They moved about the rooms, trying to inspireus; so that all the men, when they might have been humanly sullen andcursing their fate, were turned to grim activity, or grim laughter,making a joke of this coming siege. The morale of the camp now wasperfect. An improvement indeed over the inactivity of the formerpeaceful weeks!
[Footnote 3: An old-fashioned telescope, of limited field and needingno electronic power, would have been immensely serviceable toGrantline, but his was of the more modern type.]
Grantline mentioned it to me. "We'll put up a good fight, Haljan.These fellows from Mars will know they've had a task before they eversail off with this treasure."
I had many moments alone with Anita. I need not mention them. Itseemed that our love was crossed by the stars, with an adverse fatedooming it. And Snap and Venza must have felt the same. Among the menwe were always quietly, grimly active. But alone.... I came upon Snaponce with his arms around the little Venus girl. I heard him say:
"Accursed luck! That you and I should find each other too late, Venza.We could have a mighty lot of fun in Great-New York together."
"Snap, we will!"
As I turned away, I murmured: "And, pray God, so will Anita and I."
The girls slept together in a small room of the main building. Oftenduring the time of sleep, when the camp was stilled except for thenight watch, Snap and I would sit in the corridor near the girls'door-grid, talking of that time when we would all be back on ourblessed Earth.
* * * * *
Our eight days of grace were passed. The brigand ship was due--now,to-morrow, or the next day.
I recall, that night, my sleep was fitfully uneasy. Snap and I had acubby together. We talked, and made futile plans. I went to sleep, butawakened after a few hours. Impending disaster lay heavily on me. Butthere was nothing abnormal nor unusual in that!
Snap was asleep. I was restless, but I did not have the heart toawaken him. He needed what little repose he could get. I dressed, leftour cubby and wandered out into the corridor of the main building.
It was cold in the corridor, and gloomy with the weak blue light. Aninterior watchman passed me.
"All as usual, Haljan."
"Nothing in sight?"
"No. They're looking."
I went through the connecting corridor to the adjacent building. Inthe instrument-room several of the men were gathered, scanning thevault overhead.
"Nothing, Haljan."
I stayed with them awhile, then wandered away. The outside man met menear the admission lock-chambers of the main building. The duty-manhere sat at his controls, raising the air-pressure in the locksthrough which the outside watchman was coming. The relief sat here inhis bloated suit, with his helmet on his knees. It was Wilks.
"Nothing yet, Haljan. I'm going up to the peak of the crater to see ifanything is in sight. I wish that damnable brigand ship would come andget it over with."
Instinctively we all spoke in half whispers, the tenseness bearing inon us.
The outside man came out of his helmet. He was white and grim, but hegrinned at Wilks.
"All is usual." He tried the familiar jest at Wilks, but his voice wasflat: "Don't let the Earthlight get you!"
Wilks went out through the portes--a process of no more than a minute.I wandered away again through the corridors.
* * * * *
I suppose it was half an hour later that I chanced to be gazingthrough a corridor window. The lights along the rocky cliff-edge weretiny blue spots. The head of the stairway leading down to the abyss ofthe crater floor was visible. The bloated figure of Wilks was justcoming up. I watched him for a moment making his rounds. He did notstop to inspect the lights. That was routine; I thought it queer thathe passed them.
Another minute passed. The figure of Wilks went with slow bounds overtoward the back of the ledge where the glassite shelter housed thetreasure. It was all dark off there. Wilks went into the gloom, butbefore I lost sight of him he came back. As though he had changed hismind he headed for the foot of the staircase which led up thecliff-face to where, at the peak of the little crater, five hundredfeet above us, the narrow observatory platform was perched. He climbedwith easy bounds, the light on his helmet bobbing in the gloom.
I stood watching. I could not tell why there seemed to be somethingqueer about Wilks' actions. But I was struck with it, nevertheless. Iwatched him disappear over the peak of the summit.
Another minute went by. Wilks did not reappear. I thought I could makeout his light on the platform up there. Then abruptly a tiny whitebeam was waving from the observatory platform! It flashed once ortwice, then was extinguished. And now I saw Wilks plainly, standing inthe Earthlight, gazing down.
Queer actions! Had the Earthlight touched him? Or was that a localsignal-call which he had sent out? Why should Wilks be signalling?What was he doing with a hand-helio? Our watchmen, I knew, had noreason to carry one.
And to whom could Wilks be signalling across this Lunar desolation?The answer stabbed at me: to Miko's band!
I waited another moment. No further light. Wilks was still up there!
* * * * *
I went back to the lock entrance. Spare suits and helmets were herebeside the keeper. He gazed at me inquiringly.
"I'm going out, Franck, just for a minute." It struck me that perhapsI was a meddlesome fool. Wilks, of all Grantline's men, was, I knew,most in his commander's trust. The signal could have been some part ofthis night's ordinary routine, for all I knew.
I was hastily donning an Erentz suit. I added, "Let me out. I just gotthe idea Wilks is acting queerly." I laughed. "Maybe the Earthlighthas touched him."
With my helmet on I went through the locks. Once outside, with theouter panel closed behind me, I dropped the weights from my belt andshoes and extinguished my helmet-light.
Wilks was still up there. Apparently he had not moved. I bounded offacross the ledge to the foot of the ascending stairs. Did Wilks see mecoming? I could not tell. As I approached the stairs the platform wascut off
from my line of vision.
I mounted with bounding leaps. In my flexible gloved hand I carried myonly weapon, a small bullet projector with oxygen firing caps for usein this outside near-vacuum. The leaden bullet with its slight masswould nevertheless pierce a man at the distance of twenty feet.
I held the weapon behind me. I would talk to Wilks first.
I went slowly up the last hundred feet. Was Wilks still up there? Thesummit was bathed in Earthlight. The little metal observatory platformcame into view above my head.
Wilks was not there. Then I saw him standing on the rocks nearby,motionless. But in a moment he saw me coming.
I waved my left arm with a gesture of greeting. It seemed to me thathe started, made as though to leap away, then changed his mind andwaited for me.
I sailed from the head of the staircase with a twenty-foot leap andlanded lightly beside him. I gripped his arm for audiphone contact.
"Wilks!"
Through the visors his face was visible. I saw him, and he saw me. AndI heard his voice.
"You, Haljan! How nice!"
It was not Wilks, but the brigand Coniston!
CHAPTER XXIV
_Imprisoned!_
The duty-man at the exit locks of the main building stood at hiswindow and watched me curiously. He saw me go up the spider-stairs. Hecould see the figure he thought was Wilks, standing at the top. He sawme join Wilks, saw us locked together in combat.
For an instant the duty-man stood amazed. There were two fantastic,misshapen figures swaying in the Earthlight five hundred feet abovethe camp, fighting desperately at the very brink. They were small,dwarfed by distance, alternately dim and bright as they swayed in andout of the shadows. Soon the duty-man could not tell one from theother. Haljan and Wilks--fighting to the death!
The duty-man recovered himself and sprang into action. An interiorsiren-call was on the instrument panel near him. He rang it, alarmingthe camp.
The men came rushing to him, Grantline among them.
"What's this? Good God, Franck!"
They saw the silent, deadly combat up there on the cliff. The twofigures had fallen together from the observatory platform, droppedtwenty feet to a lower landing on the stairs. They lay as thoughstunned for a moment, then fought on.
Grantline stood stricken with amazement. "That's Wilks!"
"And Haljan," the duty-man gasped. "Went out--something wrong withWilks--acting strangely--"
The interior of the camp was in a turmoil. The men awakened fromsleep, ran out into the corridors, shouted questions.
"An attack?"
"Is it an attack?"
"The brigands?"
* * * * *
But it was Wilks and Haljan in a fight out there on the cliff. The mencrowded at the bulls'-eye windows.
And over all the confusion the alarm siren, with no one thinking toshut it off, was screaming with its electrical voice.
Grantline, stricken for that moment of inactivity, stood gazing. Oneof the figures broke away from the other, bounded up to the summitfrom the stair-platform to which they had fallen. The other followed.They locked together, swaying at the brink. For an instant it seemedto Grantline that they would go over; then they surged back,momentarily out of sight.
Grantline found his wits. "Stop them! I'll go out to stop them! Whatfools!"
He was hastily donning one of the Erentz suits which stood at the lockentrance. "Shut off that siren, Franck!"
Within a minute Grantline was ready. The duty-man called from thewindow:
"Still at it! By the infernal, such fools! They'll kill themselves!"
The figures had swayed back into view, then out of sight again.
"Franck, let me out."
Grantline was ready. He stood, helmet in hand.
"I'll go with you, Commander."
But the volunteer was not equipped. Grantline would not wait.
"I'm going at once. Hurry, Franck."
The duty-man turned to his panel. The volunteer shoved a weapon atGrantline. "Here, take this."
Grantline jammed on his helmet.
* * * * *
He moved the few steps into the small air-chamber which was the firstof the three pressure locks. Its interior door-panel swung open forhim. But the door did not close after him!
Cursing the duty-man's slowness, he waited a few seconds. Then heturned to the corridor. The duty-man came running.
Grantline took off his helmet. "What in hell--"
"Broken! Dead!"
"What!"
"Smashed from outside," gasped the duty-man. "Look there--my tubes--"
The control-tubes of the portes had flashed into a close-circuit andburned out. The admission portes would not open!
"And the pressure controls smashed! Broken from outside--!"
There was no way now of getting out through these pressure-locks. Thedoors, the entire pressure-lock system, was dead. Had it been tamperedwith from outside?
As though to answer Grantline's amazed question there came a chorus ofshouts from the men at the corridor windows.
"Commander! By God--look!"
A figure was outside, close to the building! Clothed in suit andhelmet, it stood, bloated and gigantic. It had evidently been lurkingat the porte-entrance, had ripped out the wires there.
It moved past the windows, saw the staring faces of the men, and madeoff with giant bounds. Grantline reached the window in time to see itvanish around the building corner.
It was a giant figure, larger than a normal Earthman. A Martian?
* * * * *
Up on the summit of the crater the two small figures were stillfighting. All this turmoil had taken no more than a minute or two.
A lurking Martian outside? The brigand, Miko? More than ever,Grantline was determined to get out. He shouted to his men to don someof the other suits, and called for some of the hand bullet projectors.
But he could not get out through these main admission portes. He couldhave forced the panels open perhaps; but with the pressure-changingmechanisms broken, it would merely let the air out of the corridor. Arush of air, probably uncontrollable. How serious the damage was noone could tell as yet. It would perhaps take hours to repair it.
Grantline was shouting. "Get those weapons! That's a Martian outside!The brigand leader, probably! Get into your suits, anyone who wants togo with me! We'll go by the manual emergency exit!"
But the prowling Martian had found it! Within a minute Grantline wasthere. It was a smaller, two-lock gateway of manual control, so thatthe person going out could operate it himself. It was in a corridor atthe other end of the main building. But Grantline was too late! Thelever would not open the panels!
Had someone gone out this way and broken the mechanisms after him? Atraitor in the camp? Or had someone come in from outside? Or had theskulking Martian outside broken this lock as he had broken the other?
The questions surged on Grantline. His men crowded around him. Thenews spread. The camp was a prison. No one could get out.
And outside, the skulking Martian had disappeared. But Wilks andHaljan were still fighting. Grantline could see the two figures up onthe observatory platform. They bounded apart, then together again.Crazily swaying--bouncing--striking the rail.
* * * * *
They went together in a great leap off the platform onto the rocks,and rolled in a bright patch of Earthlight. First one on top, then theother, they rolled, unheeding, to the brink. Here, beyond the midwayledge which held the camp, it was a sheer drop of a thousand feet, ondown to the crater-floor.
The figures were rolling: then one shook himself loose, rose up,seized the other and, with a desperate lunge, shoved him--
The victorious figure drew back to safety. The other fell, hurtlingdown into the shadows past the camp-level--down out of sight in thedarkness of the crater-floor.
Snap, who was in the group nea
r Grantline at the windows, gasped.
"God! Was that Gregg Haljan who fell?"
No one could say. No one answered. Outside, on the camp-ledge, anotherhelmeted figure now became visible. It was not far from the mainbuilding when Grantline first noticed it. It was running fast,bounding toward the spider-staircase. It began mounting.
And now still another figure became visible--the giant Martian again.He appeared from around the corner of the main Grantline building. Heevidently saw the winner of the combat on the cliff, who now wasstanding in the Earthlight, gazing down. And he saw, too, no doubt,the second figure mounting the stairs. He stood quite near the windowthrough which Grantline and his men were gazing, with his back to thebuilding, looking up to the summit. Then he ran with tremendous leapstoward the ascending staircase.
Was it Haljan standing up there on the summit? Who was it climbing thestaircase? And was the third figure Miko?
Grantline's mind framed the questions. But his attention was torn fromthem, and torn even from the swift silent drama outside. The corridorwas ringing with shouts.
"We're imprisoned! Can't get out! Was Haljan killed? The brigands areoutside!"
And then an interior audiphone blared a call for Grantline. Someone inthe instrument room of the adjoining building was talking:
"Commander, I tried the telescope to see who got killed--"
But he did not say who got killed, for he had greater news.
"Commander! The brigand ship!"
Miko's reinforcements from Mars had come.
CHAPTER XXV
_The Combat on the Crater-top_
Not Wilks, but Coniston! His drawling, British voice:
"You, Gregg Haljan! How nice!"
His voice broke off as he jerked his arm from me. My hand with thebullet-protector came up, but with a sweeping blow he struck mywrist. The weapon dropped to the rocks.
I fought instinctively, those first moments; my mind was whirling withthe shock of surprise. This was not Wilks, but the brigand Coniston.
His blow wrenched him around. Awkward, fighting in the air-puffedsuits, with only a body-weight of some thirty pounds! Conistonstumbled over the rocks. I had still scarce recovered my wits, but Iavoided his outflung arms, and, stooping, tried to recover myrevolver. It lay nearby. But Coniston followed my scrambling steps andfell upon me. My foot struck the weapon; it slid away and fell down acrag into a six-foot pit.
We locked together, and when I rose erect he had me around the middle.His voice jangled with broken syllables in my receiver.
"Do for you now, Haljan--"
It was an eery combat. We swayed, shoving, kicking, wrestling. Hishold around my middle shut off the Erentz circulation; the warningbuzz rang in my ears to mingle with the rasp of his curses. I flunghim off, and my tiny Erentz motors recovered. He staggered away, butin a great leap came at me again.
I was taller, heavier and far stronger than Coniston. But I found himcrafty, and where I was awkward in handling my lightness, he seemedmore skilfully agile.
* * * * *
I became aware that we were on the twenty-foot square grid of theobservatory platform. It had a low metal railing. We surged againstit. I caught a dizzying glimpse of the abyss. Then it receded as webounced the other way. And then we fell to the grid. His helmet bashedagainst mine, striking as though butting with the side of his head topuncture my visor-panel. His gloved fingers were trying to rip at thefabric around my throat.
As we regained our feet, I flung him off, and bounded, like a diver,head-first into him. He went backward, but skilfully kept his feet,gripped me again and shoved me.
I was tottering at the head of the staircase--falling. But I clutchedat him.
We fell some twenty or thirty feet to the next lower spider landing.The impact must have dazed us both. I recall my vague idea that we hadfallen down the cliff--my Erentz motors smashed--my air shut off. Thenthe air came again. The roaring in my ears was stilled; my headcleared, and I found that we were on the landing--fighting.
He presently broke away from me, bounded to the summit, with me afterhim. In the close confines of the suit I was bathed in sweat, andgasping. I had had no thought to increase the oxygen content of myair. But I sorely needed more oxygen for my laboring, pounding heartand my panting breath. I fumbled for the oxygen control-lever. I couldnot find it; or it would not operate.
I realized I was fighting sluggishly, almost aimlessly. But so wasConiston!
* * * * *
It seemed dreamlike. A phantasmagoria of blows and staggering steps. Anightmare with only the horrible vision of this goggled helmet alwaysbefore my eyes.
It seemed that we were rolling on the ground, back on the summit. Theunshadowed Earthlight was clear and bright. The abyss was beside me.Coniston, rolling, was now on top, now under me, trying to shove meover the brink. It was all like a dream--as though I were asleep,dreaming that I did not have enough air.
I strove to keep my senses. He was struggling to roll me over thebrink. Ah, that would not do! But I was so tired. One cannot fightwithout oxygen!
I suddenly knew that I had shaken him off and gained my feet. He roseup, swaying. He was as tired, confused, half-asphyxiated as I.
The brink of the abyss was behind us. I lunged, desperately shoving,avoiding his clutch.
He went over, and fell soundlessly, his body whirling end over enddown into the shadows, far down.
I drew back. My senses faded as I sank panting to the rocks. But withinactivity, my thumping heart quieted. My respirations slowed. TheErentz circulation gained on my poisoned air. It purified.
That blessed oxygen! My head cleared again. Strength came to me. Ifelt better.
Coniston had fallen to his death. I was victor. I went to the brink,cautiously, for I was still dizzy. I could see, far down there on thecrater-floor, a little patch of Earthlight in which a mashed humanfigure was lying.
* * * * *
I staggered back again. A moment or two must have passed while I stoodthere on the summit, with my senses clearing and my strength renewedas the blood-stream cleared in my veins.
I was victor. Coniston was dead. I saw now, down on the lowerstaircase below the camp-ledge, another goggled figure lying huddled.That was Wilks, no doubt. Coniston had doubtless caught him there,surprised him, killed him.
My attention, as I stood gazing, went down to the camp-buildings.Another figure was outside! It bounded along the ledge, reached thefoot of the ascending staircase at the top of which I was standing.With agile leaps, it came mounting at me!
Another brigand! Miko? No, it was not large enough to be Miko, notnearly large enough. I was still confused. I thought of Hahn. But thatwas absurd. Hahn was in the wreck of the _Planetara_. One of thestewards then....
The figure came up the staircase recklessly, to assail me. I took astep backward, bracing myself to receive this new antagonist.
And then I saw Miko! Unquestionably he: for there was no mistakinghis giant figure. He was down on the camp-ledge, running toward thefoot of the staircase, coming up to help this other man in advance ofhim.
I thought of my revolver. I turned to try and find it. I was awarethat the first of my assailants was at the stairhead. I could notlocate at once where the revolver had fallen. I would be caught,leaped upon from behind. Should I run?
I swung back to see what the oncoming brigand was doing. He hadreached the summit. His arms went up, legs bent under him. With asailing leap he launched for me. I could have bounded way, but with alast look to locate the revolver, I braced myself for the shock.
The figure hit me. It was small and light in my clutching arms. Irecall I saw that Miko was half-way up the staircase. I gripped myassailant. The audiphone contact brought a voice.
"Gregg! Is it you?"
It was Anita clutching at me!
CHAPTER XXVI
_At Bay_
"Gregg, you're safe!"
; She had heard the camp corridors resounding with the shouts that Wilksand Haljan were fighting. She had come upon a suit and helmet by themanual emergency lock, had run out through the lock, confused, withher only idea to stop Wilks and me from fighting. Then she had seenone of us killed. Impulsive, barely knowing what she was doing, shemounted the stairs, frantic to find if I were alive.
"Anita!"
Miko was coming! She had not seen him: for she had no thought ofbrigands--only the belief that either Wilks or I had been killed.
But now, as for an instant we stood together on the rocks near theobservation platform, I could see the towering figure of Miko nearingthe top of the stairs.
"Anita, that's Miko! We must run."
Then I saw my bullet projector. It lay in a bowl-like depression quitenear us. I jumped for it. And as I tore loose from Anita, she leapeddown after me. It was a broken bowl in the rocks, some six feet deep.It was open on the side facing the staircase--a narrow, ravinelikegully, full of gray, broken, tumbled rock-masses. The little gully waslittered with crags and boulders. But I could see out through it.
Miko had come to the head of the staircase. He stopped there, hisgreat figure etched sharply by the Earthlight. I think he must haveknown that Coniston was the one who had fallen over the cliff, as myhelmet and Coniston's were different enough for him to recognize whichwas which. He did not know who I was, but he did know me for an enemy.
* * * * *
He stood now at the summit, peering to see where we had gone. He wasno more than fifty feet from us.
"Anita, lie down."
I pulled her down on the rocks. I took aim with the bullet projector.But I had forgotten our helmet-lights. Miko must have seen them justas I pulled the trigger. The flying bullet missed him as he jumpedsidewise. He dropped, but I could see him moving in the shadows towhere a jutting rock gave him shelter. I fired again.
"Gregg."
I had stood up to take aim. I saw the bullet chip a bit of rock. Anitapulled me sharply down beside her.
"Gregg, he's armed!"
It was his turn to fire. It came--the familiar vague flash of theparalyzing ray. It spat its tint of color on the rocks near us, butcould not reach us.
Miko rose a moment later and bounded to another rock. I scrambled up,and shot at him, but missed. Then he crouched and returned my firefrom his new angle; but Anita and I had shifted.
Time passed--only a few moments. I could not see Miko momentarily.Perhaps he was crouching; perhaps he had moved away again. He was, orhad been, on slightly higher ground than the bottom of our bowl. Itwas dim down here where we were lying, but I feared that every momentMiko might appear and strike at us. His ray at any short range wouldpenetrate our visor-panes, even though our suits might temporarilyresist it.
"Anita--it's too dangerous here."
Had I been alone, I might perhaps have leaped up to lure Miko. Butwith Anita I did not dare chance it.
"We've got to get back to the camp," I told her. The audiphone broughther comment:
"Perhaps he has gone."
* * * * *
But he had not. We saw him again, out in a distant patch ofEarthlight. He was further from us than before, but on still higherground. We had extinguished our small helmet-lights. But he knew wewere here, and possibly he could see us. His projector flashed again.But we had again shifted, and were untouched. He was a hundred feet ormore away now. His weapon was of longer range than mine. I did notanswer his fire, for I could not hope to hit him at such a distance,and the flash of my weapon would help him with his aim.
I murmured to Anita, "We must get out of here."
Yet how did I dare take Anita from these concealing shadows? Mikocould reach us so easily as we bounded away, in plain view in theEarthlight of the open summit! We were caught, at bay in this littlebowl.
The camp from here was not visible. But out through the broken gully,beyond the staircase top, a white beam of light suddenly came up frombelow.
"_Haljan._"
It spelled the signal.
"_Haljan._"
It was coming from the Grantline instrument room, I knew.
I could answer it with my helmet-light, but I did not dare. Ihesitated.
"Try it," urged Anita.
* * * * *
We crouched where we thought we might be safe from Miko's fire. Mylittle light-beam shot up from the bowl. It was undoubtedly visible tothe camp.
"_Yes? I am Haljan._"
And I added:
"_Help! Send us help._"
I did not mention Anita. Miko could doubtless read these signals. Andin the camp they must have missed Anita by now. They answered:
"_Cannot_--"
I lost the rest of it. There came a flash from Miko's weapon. But itgave us confidence. He could not reach us at the moment.
The Grantline beam repeated:
"_Cannot come out. Portes broken. You cannot get in. Stay where youare--an hour or two. We may be able to repair portes._"
The portes were broken! Stay here an hour or two! But I could not holdthis position against Miko that long! Sooner or later he would find aplace from where he could sweep this bowl beyond possibility of ourhiding. I saw him running now, well beyond my range, to ferret outanother point of vantage.
I extinguished my light. What use was it to tell Grantline anythingfurther? Besides, my light was dangerous.
But the Grantline beam spelled another message:
"_The brigand ship is coming! It will be here before we can get out toyou! No lights! We will try and hide our location._"
And the signal-beam brought a last appeal to me:
"_Miko and his men will divulge where we are. Unless you can stopthem_--"
The beam vanished. The lights of the Grantline camp made a faint glowthat showed above the crater-edge. The glow died, as the camp now wasplunged into darkness.
CHAPTER XXVII
_Anita's Plan_
We crouched in the shadows, the Earthlight filtering down to us. Theskulking figure of Miko had vanished; but he was out there somewhereon the crags I was sure, lurking, maneuvering to where he could strikeus with his ray. Anita's metal-gloved hand was on my arm; in my eardiaphragm her voice sounded eager and unmistakable:
"What was the signal, Gregg?"
She could not read the semaphore lights. I told her.
"Oh Gregg, the Martian ship coming!"
Her mind clung to that as the most important thing. But not so myself.To me there was only the realization that Anita was caught out here,almost at the mercy of Miko's ray. Grantline's men could not get outto help us, nor could I get Anita into the camp.
She added, "Where do you suppose the ship is? In telescopic view?"
"Yes--twenty or thirty thousand miles up, probably."
The stars and the Earth were visible over us. Somewhere up theredisclosed by Grantline's instrument but not yet discernible to thenaked eye, Miko's reinforcements were hovering.
I stood up cautiously to try and locate Miko. Immediately I saw him.He jumped as though fearing my coming bullet, and I dropped back,barely avoiding his flash, which swept across the top of our bowl.
"Gregg--Gregg, don't take such a chance!"
We lay for a moment in silence. It was horribly nerve-straining. Mikocould be creeping up on us. Would he dare chance my sudden fire?Creeping--or would he make a swift, unexpected rush?
The feeling that he was upon us abruptly swept me. I jumped to myfeet, against Anita's effort to hold me. But again Miko had vanished.Where was he now?
* * * * *
I sank back. "That ship will be here in a few hours."
I told her what Grantline's signal had suggested: the ship washovering overhead. It must be fairly close; for Grantline's telescopehad revealed its identity as a bandit flyer, unmarked by any of thestandard code-identification lights. It was doubtless too far away asyet to have loca
ted the whereabouts of Grantline's camp. The Martianbrigands knew that we were in the vicinity of Archimedes, but no morethan that. Searching this glowing Moon surface, our little lights, thetiny local semaphore beams we had momentarily been using, could easilypass unnoticed.
But as the brigand ship approached now--dropping close to Archimedesas it probably would--our danger was that Miko and his men would thensignal it, join it, and reveal the camp's location, and the brigandattack would be upon us.
I told this now to Anita. "The signal said, '_Unless you can stopthem_.'"
It was an appeal to me. But how could I respond to it? What could Ido, alone out here with Anita, to cope with this enemy?
Anita made no comment.
I added, "That ship will land near Archimedes I imagine, within anhour or two! If Grantline can repair his portes, and I can get youinside--"
Again she made no comment. Then suddenly she gripped me. "Gregg, lookthere!"
Out through the gully break in our bowl the figure of Miko showed! Hewas running. But not at us. Circling the summit, leaping to keephimself behind the upstanding crags. He passed the head of thestaircase; he did not descend it, but headed off along the summit ofthe curving crater-rim.
* * * * *
I stood up to watch him. He was making off. Abandoning us!
"He's going!"
I let her stand up beside me; cautiously, at first, for it occurred tome that this might be a ruse to cover some other of Miko's men whomight be lurking up here.
But the summit seemed clear. The figure of Miko was a thousand feetaway now. We could see the tiny blob of it bobbing over the rocks.Then it plunged down--not into the crater-valley, but out toward theopen Moon surface.
Miko had abandoned his attack on us. The reason seemed plain. He hadcome here from his encampment with Coniston, had sent Coniston aheadto lure and kill Wilks. When this was done, Coniston had flashed hisbrief signal to Miko, who was hiding nearby.
It was not like the brigand leader to remain in the background. Mikowas no coward. But Coniston could impersonate Wilks, whereas Miko'sgiant stature at once would reveal his identity. Miko had been engagedin smashing the portes. He had looked up and seen me kill Coniston. Hehad come up to assail me. And then he had read Grantline's signal tome. It was his first knowledge that his ship was at hand. With thecamp exits inoperative, Grantline and his men were imprisoned. Mikomade an effort to kill me. He did not know my companion was Anita. Theeffort was taking too long: with the Grantline camp imprisoned and hisship at hand, it was Miko's best move to return to his own camp,rejoin his men, and await their opportunity to signal the ship.
At least, so I reasoned it. Anita and I stood alone. What could we do?
* * * * *
We went to the brink of the cliff. The unlighted Grantline buildingsshowed vaguely in the Earthlight.
I said, "We'll go down, I'll leave you there. You can wait at theporte. They'll repair it soon, perhaps, and let you in."
"And what will you do?" she demanded.
I was hurrying her down the stairs. But suddenly she stopped. "Whatare you going to do, Gregg?"
I had not intended to tell her. "Hurry, Anita!"
"Why?" She stood stock still. Through the visors I could see her whiteface gazing at me rebelliously.
"Why should I hurry, Gregg?"
"Because I want to leave you at the porte. I'm going after Miko--tryand locate where he and his men are camping."
I had indeed no specific plan as yet. But it seemed useless for me tosit at the porte waiting to be let in.
"But he's gone, Gregg."
She was right on that. Miko was already a mile or more away, down onthe outer surface, making off. He would soon be out of sight. It wouldbe impossible to follow him.
"Gregg, let me go with you."
She jerked away from me and bounded back up the staircase. I caughther on the summit.
"Anita!"
"I'm going with you."
"You're going to stay here."
"I'm not!"
This exasperating controversy! And time was so precious!
"Anita, please."
"I'll be safer with you than waiting here, Gregg."
* * * * *
It almost decided me. Perhaps she would. It was only my intention tofollow Miko at a distance. And with much more of this delay here, hewould be lost to me.
And she added, "Besides, I won't stay, and you can't make me."
We ran along the crater-top. At its distant edge the lower plainspread before us. Far down, and far away on the distant brokensurface, the leaping figure of Miko showed.
We plunged down the broken outer slope, reached the level. Soon, as weran, the little Grantline crater faded behind us.
Anita ran more skillfully than I. Ten minutes or so passed. We had seenMiko, and the direction he was taking, but down here on the plain wecould no longer see him. It struck me that this was purposeless--anddangerous. Suppose Miko were to see us following? Suppose he stopped andlay in ambush to fire at us as we came leaping heedlessly by?
"Anita, wait," I said, checking her.
I drew her down amid a group of tumbled boulders. And then abruptlyshe clung to me.
"Gregg, I know what we can do! Gregg, don't tell me you won't let metry it!"
* * * * *
I listened to her plan. Incredible! Incredibly dangerous! Yet, as Ipondered it, the very daring of the thing seemed the measure of itspossible success. The brigands would never imagine we could be sorash!
"But Anita--"
"Gregg, you're stupid!" It was her turn to be exasperated. In truth, Iwas indeed in no mood for daring, for my mind was obsessed withAnita's safety. I had been planning that we might see the glow ofMiko's encampment, and then return to Grantline and hope that he wouldhave the portes repaired.
"But Gregg--the safety of the treasure--of all the Grantline men...."
"To the infernal with that! It's you--your safety."
"My safety, then! If you put me in the camp and the brigands attack itand I am killed--what then? But this plan of mine, if we can do it,Gregg ... safety, in the end, for all of us."
And it seemed possible. We crouched, discussing it. So daring a thing!
The brigand ship would come down near Archimedes. That was fifty milesfrom Grantline. The brigands from Mars would not have seen the darkGrantline buildings hidden in the little crater-pit. They would waitfor Miko and his men to make their whereabouts known.
* * * * *
Miko's encampment was ahead of us now, undoubtedly. We had beenfollowing him toward the Mare Imbrium; we were at its borders now.Archimedes from here was also about fifty miles.
And Anita proposed that we go to Archimedes, climb in slope and awaitthe coming of the brigand ship. Miko would be off in the Mare Imbrium.Or at least, we hoped so. He would signal his ship. But Anita and I,closer to it, would also signal it--and, posing as brigands, couldjoin it!
"Remember, Gregg, I am Anita Prince, George's sister." Her voicetrembled as, she mentioned her dead brother. "They know that Georgewas in Miko's pay, and I am his sister.... It will help convincethem."
This daring scheme! If we could join the ship, we might be able topersuade its leader that Miko's distant signals were merely a ruse ofGrantline to lure the brigands in that direction. A long-rangeprojector from the ship would kill Miko and his men as they cameforward to join it! And then we could falsely direct the brigands,lead them away from Grantline and the treasure.
"Gregg, we must try it."
Heaven help me, I yielded to her persuasion!
We turned at right angles and ran toward where the distant frowningwalls of Archimedes loomed against the starlit sky.
CHAPTER XXVIII
_The Ascent of Archimedes_
The broken shaggy ramparts of the giant crater rose above us. Wetoiled upward, out
of the foothills, clinging now to the crags andpitted terraces of the main ascent. An hour had passed since we turnedfrom the borders of the Mare Imbrium. Or was it two hours? I could nottell. I only know that we ran with desperate frantic haste.
Anita would not admit that she was tired. She was more skilful than Iin this leaping over the broken rock masses. Yet I felt that herslight strength must give out. It seemed miles up the undulatingslopes of the foothills with the black and white ramparts of themassive crater close before us.
And then the main ascent. There were places where, like smooth blackfrozen ice, the walls rose sheer. We avoided them, toiling aside,plunging into gullies, crossing pits where sometimes we perforce wentdownwards, and then up again; or sometimes we stood, hot andbreathless, upon ledges, recovering our strength, selecting the bestroute upward.
This tumbled mass of rock! Honeycombed everywhere with caves andpassages leading into darkness impenetrable. There were pits intowhich we might so easily have fallen; ravines to span, sometimes witha leap, sometimes by a long and arduous detour.
Endless climb! We came to a ledge, with the plains of the Mare Imbriumstretching out beneath us. We might have been upon this main ascentfor an hour; the plains were far down, the broken surface down theresmoothed now by the perspective of our height. And yet still above usthe brooding circular wall went up into the sky. Ten thousand feetstill above us--I think it was at least that, or more.
"You're tired, Anita. We'd better stay here."
"No! If we could only get to the top--the ship may land on the otherside--they would see us if we were at the top."
* * * * *
There was as yet no sign of the brigand ship. With every stop for restwe searched the starry vault. The Earth hung over us, flattened beyondthe full. The stars blazed to mingle with the Earthlight and illuminethese massive crags of the Archimedes walls. But no speck appeared totell us that the ship was up there.
We were on the curving side of the Archimedes wall which fronted theMare Imbrium to the North. The plains lay like a great frozen sea,congealed ripples shining in the light of the Earth, with darkpatches to mark the hollows. Somewhere down there--six or eightthousand feet below us now, or even more than that, for all I couldtell--Miko's encampment lay concealed. We searched for lights of it,but could see none.
Or had Miko rejoined his party, left his camp and come here likeourselves to climb Archimedes? Or was our assumption whollywrong--perhaps the brigand ship would not land near here at all?
Sweeping around from the Mare Imbrium, the plains were lesssmooth--the shattered, crag-littered, crater-scarred region beyondwhich the distant Apennines raised their terraced walls. The littlecrater which concealed the Grantline camp was off that way. There wasnothing to mark it from here.
"Gregg, do you see anything up there? There seems to be a blur."
* * * * *
Her sight, sharper than mine, had picked it out. The descendingbrigand ship! A faintest tiny blur against the stars, a few of themocculted as though strangely an invisible shadow were upon them. Agrowing shadow, materializing into a blur--a blob, a shape faintlydefined. Then sharper until we were sure of what we saw. It was thebrigand ship. It came dropping slowly, silently down.
We crouched on the little ledge. A cave-mouth was behind us. A gullywas beside us, a break in the ledge; and at our feet the wall droppedsheer.
We had extinguished our little lights. We crouched, silently gazing upinto the stars.
The ship, when first we distinguished it was central over Archimedes.We thought for a while that it might descend into the crater. But itdid not; it came sailing forward.
I whispered into the audiphone--whispering by instinct, as though outhere in all this airless desolation someone might overhear us!
"It's coming over the crater."
Her hand pressed my arm in answer.
I recalled that when, from the _Planetara_, Miko had forced Snap tosignal this brigand band on Mars, Miko's only information as to thewhereabouts of the Grantline camp was that it lay between Archimedesand the Apennines. That was Grantline's first message to us, and Mikohad relayed it to his men. The brigands from Mars now were followingthat information.
A tense interval passed. We could see the ship plainly above us now, agray-black shape among the stars up beyond the shaggy, toweringcrater-rim. The vessel came upon a level keel, hull-down, slowlycircling, looking for Miko's signal, no doubt, or for possible lightsof Grantline. They were also picking a landing place.
* * * * *
We saw it soon as a cylindrical, cigarlike shape, rather smaller thanthe _Planetara_, but similar of design. It bore lights now. The portsof its hull were tiny rows of illumination, and the glow of lightunder its rounding upper dome was faintly visible.
A bandit ship, no doubt of that. Its identification keel-plate wasempty of official pass-code lights. These brigands had not attemptedto secure official sailing lights when leaving Ferrok-Shahn. It was anoutlawed ship, unmistakably. And here upon the deserted Moon there wasno need for secrecy. Its lights were openly displayed, that Miko mightsee it and join it.
It went slowly past us, only a few thousand feet higher than ourlevel. We could see the whole outline of its pointed cylinder-hull,with the rounded dome on top. And under the dome was its opendeck-space, with a little cabin superstructure in the center.
I thought for a moment that by some fortunate chance it might landquite near us. There was a wide ledge a quarter of a mile away.
"Anita, look."
But it went past. And then I saw that it was heading for a level,plateau-like surface a few miles further on. It dropped, cautiouslyfloating down.
There was still no sign of Miko. But I realized that haste wasnecessary. We must be the first to join the brigand ship.
I lifted Anita to her feet. "I don't think we should signal fromhere."
"No. Miko might see it."
We could not tell where he was. Down on the plains, perhaps? Or uphere, somewhere in these miles of towering rocks?
"Are you ready, Anita?"
"Yes, Gregg."
* * * * *
I stared through the visors at her white, solemn face.
"Yes, I'm ready," she repeated.
Her hand-pressure seemed to me suddenly like a farewell. Were weplunging rashly into what was destined to mean our death? Was this afarewell?
An instinct swept me not to do this thing. Why, in an hour or two Icould have Anita back to the comparative safety of the Grantlinebuildings. The exit portes would doubtless be repaired by now. I couldget her inside.
She had bounded away from me, leaped down some thirty feet into thebroken gully, to cross it and then up on the other side. I stood foran instant watching her fantastic shape, with the great rounded,goggled, trunked helmet and the lump on her shoulders which held thelittle Erentz motors. Then I made after her.
It did not take us long--two or three miles of circling along thegiant wall. The ship lay only a few hundred feet above our level.
We stood at last on a buttelike pinnacle. The hull-porte lights of theship were close over us. And there were moving lights up there, tinymoving spots on the adjacent rocks. The brigands had come out,prowling around to investigate their location.
No signal yet from Miko. But it might come at any moment.
"I'll flash now," I whispered.
"Yes."
The brigands had probably not yet seen us. I took the lamp from myhelmet. My hand was trembling. Suppose my signal were answered by ashot? A flash from some giant projector mounted on the ship?
Anita crouched behind a rock, as she had promised. I stood with mytorch, and flung its switch.
My puny light-beam shot up. I waved it, touched the ship with itsfaint glowing circle of illumination.
They saw me. There was a sudden movement among the lights up there.
* *
* * *
I semaphored:
"_I am from Miko. Do not fire._"
I used the open Universal Code. In Martian first, and then in English.
There was no answer, but no attack. I tried again.
"_This is Haljan, once of the_ Planetara. _George Prince's sister iswith me. There has been disaster to Miko._"
A small light-beam came down from the brink of the overhead cliffbeside the ship.
"_We read you._"
I went steadily on: "_Disaster--the_ Planetara _is wrecked. All killedbut me and George Prince's sister. We want to join you._"
I flashed off my light. The answer came: "_Where is the Grantlinecamp?_"
"_Near here. The Mare Imbrium._"
As though to answer my lie, from down on the Earthlit plains, tenmiles or so from the crater-base, a tiny signal-light shot up. Anitasaw it and gripped me.
"There is Miko's light!"
It spelled in Martian, "_Come down. Land Mare Imbrium._"
Miko had seen the signalling up here and was joining it! He repeated,"_Land Mare Imbrium._"
* * * * *
I flashed a protest up to the ship: "_Beware! That is Grantline!Trickery!_"
From the ship the summons came: "_Come up._"
We had won this first encounter! Miko must have realized hisdisadvantage. His distant light went out.
"Come, Anita."
There was no retreat now. But again I seemed to feel in the pressureof her hand that vague farewell.
Her voice whispered, "We must do our best, act our best to beconvincing."
In the white glow of a search-beam we climbed the crags, reached thebroad upper ledge. Helmeted figures rushed at us, searched us forweapons, seized our helmet lights. The evil face of a giant Martianpeered at me through the visors. Two other monstrous, towering figuresseized Anita.
We were shoved toward the port-locks at the base of the ship's hull.Above the hull bulge I could see the grids of projectors mounted inthe dome-side, and the figures of men standing on the deck, peeringdown at us.
We went through the admission locks into a hull corridor, up anincline passage, and reached the lighted deck. Our helmets were takenoff. The Martian brigands crowded around us.
CHAPTER XXIX
_On the Brigand Ship_
Anita's words echoed in my memory: "We must act our best to beconvincing." It was not her ability that I doubted as much as my own.She had played the part of George Prince cleverly, unmasked only by anevil chance.
I steeled myself to face the searching glances of the brigands as theyshoved around us. This was a desperate game into which we had plunged!For all our acting, how easy it would be for some small chance thingabruptly to undo us! I realized it, and now, as I gazed into thepeering faces of these men from Mars, I cursed my witless rashnesswhich had brought Anita into this!
The brigands--some ten or fifteen of them here on the deck--stood in aring around us. They were all big men, nearly of a seven-footaverage, dressed in leather jerkins and short leather breeches, withbare knees and flaring leatherboots. Piratical swaggering fellows,knife-blades mingled with small hand-projectors fastened to theirbelts. Gray, heavy faces, some with scraggling, unshaved beard. Theyplucked at us, jabbering in Martian.
One of them seemed the leader. I said sharply, "Are you the commanderhere? I speak not Ilton[4] well. You speak the Earth English?"
[Footnote 4: Ilton, the ruling race and official language of theMartian Union.]
"Yes," he said readily, "I am Commander here." He spoke English withthe same freedom and accent of Miko. "Is this George Prince's sister?"
"Yes. Her name is Anita Prince. Tell your men to take their hands offher."
He waved his men away. They all seemed more interested in Anita thanin me. He added:
"I am Set Potan." He addressed Anita. "George Prince's sister? You arecalled Anita? I have heard of you. I knew your brother--indeed, youlook very much like him."
He swept his plumed hat to the grid with a swaggering gesture ofhomage. A courtierlike fellow this, debonair as a Venus cavalier!
He accepted us. I realized that Anita's presence was immenselyvaluable in making us convincing. Yet there was about this Potan--aswith Miko--a disturbing suggestion of irony. I could not make him out.I decided that we had fooled him. Then I remarked the steely glitterof his eyes as he turned to me.
"You were an officer of the _Planetara_?"
* * * * *
The insignia of my rank was visible on my white jacket-collar whichshowed beneath the Erentz suit, now that my helmet was off.
"Yes, I was supposed to be. But a year ago I embarked upon thisadventure with Miko."
He was leading us to his cabin. "The _Planetara_ wrecked? Miko dead?"
"And Hahn and Coniston. George Prince, too--we are the onlysurvivors."
While we divested ourselves of our Erentz suits at his command, I toldhim briefly of the _Planetara's_ fall. All had been killed on boardsave Anita and me. We had escaped, awaited his coming. The treasurewas here; we had located the Grantline camp, and were ready to leadhim to it.
Did he believe me? He listened quietly. He seemed not shocked at thedeath of his comrades. Nor yet pleased: merely imperturbable.
I added with a sly, sidelong glance, "There were too many of us on the_Planetara_. The purser had joined us, and many of the crew. And therewas Miko's sister, the Setta Moa--too many. The treasure dividesbetter among less."
An amused smile played on his thin gray lips. But he nodded. The fearwhich had leaped in me was allayed by his next words.
"True enough, Haljan. He was a domineering fellow, Miko. A third of itall was for him alone. But now...."
The third would go to this sub-leader, Potan! The implication wasobvious.
I said, "Before we go any further--I can trust you for my share?"
"Of course."
* * * * *
I figured that my very boldness in bargaining so prematurely wouldconvince him. I insisted, "And Miss Prince? She will have herbrother's share?"
Clever Anita! She put in swiftly, "I give no information until youpromise! We know the location of the Grantline camp, its weapons, itsdefense, the amount and location of the ore. I warn you, if you do notplay us fair...."
He laughed heartily. He seemed to like us. He spread his huge legs ashe lounged in his settle, and drank of the bowl which one of his menset before him.
"Little tigress! Fear me not--I play fair!" He pushed two of the bowlsacross the table. "Drink, Haljan. All is well with us, and I am gladto hear it. Miss Prince, drink my health as your leader."
I waved it away from Anita. "We need all our wits; your strong Martiandrinks are dangerous. Look here, I'll tell you just how the situationstands--"
I plunged into a glib account of our supposed wanderings to find theGrantline camp; its location off in the Mare Imbrium--hidden in acavern there. Potan, with the drink, and under the gaze of Anita'seyes, was in a high good humor. He laughed when I told him that we haddared to invade the Grantline camp, had smashed its exit portes, hadeven gotten up to have a look at where the ore was piled.
"Well done, Haljan! You're a fellow to my liking!" But his gaze was onAnita. "You dress like a man, or a charming boy."
She still wore the dark clothes of her brother. She said, "I am usedto action--man's garb pleases me. You shall treat me like a man, giveme my share of the gold-leaf."
* * * * *
He had already demanded of us the meaning of that signal from the MareImbrium. Miko's signal! It had not come again, though any moment Ifeared it. I told him that Grantline had doubtless repaired hisdamaged portes and sallied out to assail me in reprisal. And seeingthe brigand ship landing on Archimedes, had tried to lure it.
I wondered if my explanation were very convincing. It did not soundso. But he was flushed now with the drink. And Anita added:
"Grantline knows the territory near his camp very well. He is equippedonly for short-range fighting."
I took it up. "It's like this, Potan: if he could get you to landunsuspectingly near the mouth of his cavern...."
I pictured how Grantline might have figured on a sudden surpriseattack upon the ship. It was his only chance to catch it unprepared.
We were all three in friendly, intimate mood now. Potan said, "We'llland down there right enough! But I need a few hours for myassembling."
"He will not dare advance," I said. "For one thing, he can't leave thetreasure."
"He knows we have unmasked his lure," Anita put in smilingly. "Haljanand I joining you--that silenced him. His light went out verypromptly, didn't it?"
She flashed me a side-gaze. Were we acting convincingly? But if Mikostarted up his signals again, they might so quickly betray us! Anita'sthoughts were upon that, for she added:
"Grantline will not dare show his light! If he does, Set Potan, we canblast him with a ray from here! Can't we?"
"Yes," Potan agreed. "If he comes within ten miles, I have onepowerful enough. We are assembling it now."
"And we have thirty men?" Anita persisted. "When we sail down toattack him it should not be very difficult to kill all the Grantlineparty. Thirty of us--that's enough to share in this treasure. I'm gladMiko is dead."
"By Heaven, Haljan, this girl of yours is small, but veryblood-thirsty!"
"That accursed Miko murdered her brother," I explained.
* * * * *
Acting! And never once did we dare relax! If only Miko's signals wouldhold off and give us time!
We may have talked for half an hour. We were in a small, steel-linedcubby, located in the forward deck-space of the ship. The dome wasover it. I could see from where I sat at the table that there was aforward observatory tower under the dome quite near here. The ship waslaid out in rather similar fashion to the _Planetara_, thoughconsiderably smaller.
Potan had dismissed his men from his cubby so as to be alone with us.Out on the deck I could see them dragging apparatus about--bringingthe mechanisms of giant projectors up from below, beginning toassemble them. Occasionally some of the men would come to our cubbywindows to peer in at us curiously.
My mind was roaming as I talked. For all my manner of casualness, Iknew that haste was necessary. Whatever Anita and I were to do must bequickly done. But to win this fellow's utter confidence first wasnecessary, so that we might have the freedom of the ship, might moveabout unnoticed, unwatched.
I was horribly tense inside. Through the dome windows across the deckfrom the cubby the rocks of the Lunar landscape were visible. I couldsee the brink of this ledge upon which the ship lay, the descendingcrags down the precipitous wall of Archimedes to the Earthlit plainsfar below. Miko, Moa, and a few of the _Planetara's_ crew were downthere somewhere.
* * * * *
Anita and I had a fairly definite plan. We were now in Potan'sconfidence. With this interview at an end, I felt that our statusamong the brigands would be established. We would be free to moveabout the ship, join in its activities. It ought to be possible tolocate the signal-room, get friendly with the operator there.
Perhaps we would find a secret opportunity to flash a signal to Earth.This ship, I was confident, would have the power for a long-rangesignal, if not of too sustained a length. It was a desperate thing toattempt but our whole procedure was desperate! And I felt--if Anitaperhaps could cajole the guard or the duty-man from the signal-room--Imight send a single flash or two that would reach the Earth. Just adistress call, signed "Grantline." If I could do that and not getcaught.
Anita was engaging Potan in talking of his plans. The brigand leaderwas boasting of his well-equipped ship, the daring of his men, andquestioning her about the size of the treasure. My thoughts were freeto roam.
A signal to Earth. And while we were making friends with thesebrigands, the longest range electronic projector was being assembled.Miko then could flash his signal and be damned to him! I would be onthe deck with that projector. Its operator, and I would turn it uponMiko--one flash of it and he and his little band would be wiped out.
But there was our escape to be thought of. We could not remain verylong with these brigands. We could tell them that the Grantline campwas on the Mare Imbrium. It would delay them for a time, but our liewould soon be discovered. We must escape from them, get away and backto Grantline. With Miko dead--a distress signal to Earth--and Potan inignorance of Grantline's location, the treasure would be safe untilhelp arrived from Earth.
It all fitted together so nicely! It seemed possible of success.
Our futile plans! Star-crossed always, doomed, fated always to beupset by such unforeseen evil chances!
"By the infernal, little Anita, you look like a dove, but you're atigress! A comrade after my own heart--blood-thirsty as afire-worshipper!"
* * * * *
Her laugh rang out to mingle with his. "Oh no, Set Potan! I amtreasure-thirsty."
"We'll get the treasure, never fear, little Anita."
"With you to lead us, Potan, I'm sure we will."
A man entered the cubby. Potan looked frowningly around. "What is it,Argle?"
The fellow answered in Martian, leered at Anita and withdrew.
Potan stood up. I noticed that he was unsteady with the drink.
"They want me with the work at the projectors."
"Go ahead," I said.
He nodded. We were comrades now.
"Amuse yourself, Haljan. Or come out on deck if you wish. I will tellmy men you are one of us."
"And tell them to keep their hands off Miss Prince."
He stared at me. "I had not thought of that--a woman among so manymen."
His own gaze at Anita was as leeringly offensive as any of his mencould have given. He said, "Have no fear, little tigress."
Anita laughed. "I am afraid of nothing."
But when he had lurched from the cabin she touched me. Smiled with hermannish swagger, for fear we were still observed, and murmured:
"Oh, Gregg, I am afraid!"
We stayed in the cubby a few moments, whispering--trying to plan.
"You think the signal room is in the tower, Gregg? This tower outsideour window here?"
"Yes, I think so."
"Shall we go out and see?"
"Yes. Keep near me always."
"Oh, Gregg. I will!"
We deposited our Erentz suits carefully in a corner of the cubby. Wemight need them so suddenly! Then we swaggered out to join thebrigands working on the deck.
CHAPTER XXX
_Desperate Plans_
The deck glowed lurid in the queer blue-greenish glare of Martianelectro-fuse lights. It was in a bustle of ordered activity. Sometwenty of the crew were scattered about, working in little groups.Apparatus was being brought up from below to be assembled. There was apile of Erentz suits and helmets, of Martian pattern, but still verysimilar to those with which Grantline's expedition was equipped. Therewere giant projectors of several kinds, some familiar to me, othersof a fashion I had never seen before. It seemed there were six oreight of them, still dismantled, with a litter of their attendantbatteries and coils and tube-amplifiers. They were to be mounted hereon the deck, I surmised; I saw in the dome-side one or two of themalready rolled into position at the necessary pressure portes.
Anita and I stood outside Potan's cubby, gazing around us curiously.The men looked at us, but none of them spoke.
"Let's watch from here a moment," I whispered. She nodded, standingwith her hand on my arm. I felt that we were very small, here in themidst of these seven-foot Martian men. I was all in white, the costumeused in the warm interior of the Grantline camp. Bareheaded, whitesilk _Planetara_ uniform jacket, broad belt and tight-laced trousers.Anita was a slim black figure beside me, somber as Hamlet, with herpale boyish face and wavy black hair.
The gravity b
eing maintained here on the ship we had found to bestronger than that of the Moon--rather more like Mars.
"There are the heat-rays, Gregg."
* * * * *
A pile of them was visible down the deck-length. And I saw caskets offragile glass globes, bombs of different styles; hand-projectors ofthe paralyzing ray; search-beams of several varieties; the Bensoncurve-light, and a few side-arms of ancient Earth-design--swords anddirks, and small bullet projectors.
There seemed to be some mining equipment also. Far along the deck,beyond the central cabin in the open space of the stern, steel railswere stacked; half a dozen small-wheeled ore-carts; a tiny motorengine for hauling them--and what looked as though it might be thedismembered sections of an ore-shute.
The whole deck was presently strewn with this mass of equipment.
Potan moved about, directing the different groups of workers. Thenews had spread that we knew the location of the treasure. Thebrigands were jubilant. In a few hours the ship's armament would beready, and it would advance to attack Grantline.
I saw many glances being cast out the dome side-windows toward thedistant, far-down plains of the Mare Imbrium. The brigands believedthat the Grantline camp lay in that direction.
Anita whispered, "Which is their giant electronic projector, Gregg?"
I could see it amidships of the deck. It was already in place. Potanwas there now, superintending the men who were connecting it. The mostpowerful weapon on the ship, it had, Potan said, an effective range ofsome ten miles. I wondered what it would do to a Grantline building!The Erentz double walls would withstand it for a time, I was sure. Butit would blast an Erentz fabric-suit, no doubt of that. Like alightning bolt, it would kill--its flashing free-stream of electronsshocking the heart, bringing instant death.
I whispered, "We must smash that before we leave! But first turn it onMiko, if he signals now."
* * * * *
I was tensely watchful for that signal. The electronic projectorobviously was not yet ready. But when it was connected, I must be nearit, to persuade its duty-man to fire it on Miko. With this done wewould have more time to plan our other tasks. I did not think Potanwould be ready for his attack before another time of sleep here in theship's routine. Things would be quieter then--I would watch my chanceto send a signal to Earth, and then we would escape.
With my thoughts roving, we had been standing quietly at the cubbydoor-oval for perhaps fifteen minutes. My hand in my side pouchclutched the little bullet projector. The brigands had taken it fromme and given it to Potan. He had placed it on the settle with myErentz suit; and when we gained his confidence he had forgotten itand left it there. I had it now, and the feel of its cool sleek handlegave me a measure of comfort. Things could go wrong so easily--but ifthey did, I was determined to sell my life as dearly as possible. Anda vague thought was in my mind: I must not use the last bullet. Thatwould be for Anita.
I shook myself free from such sinister fancy.
"That electronic projector is remote-controlled. Look, Anita--that'sthe signal room over us. The giant projector will be aimed and firedfrom up there."
It seemed so. A thirty-foot skeleton tower stood on the deck near us,with a spiral ladder leading up to a small square steel cubby at thetop. Through the cubby window-ovals I could see instrument panels. Asingle Martian was up there; he had called down to Potan concerningthe electronic projector.
* * * * *
The roof of this little tower room was close under the dome--a spaceof no more than four feet. A pressure lock-exit in the dome was upthere, with a few steps leading up to it from the roof of the towersignal-room. We could escape that way, perhaps. In the event of direnecessity it might be possible. But only as a desperate resort, for itwould put us on the top of the glassite dome, with a sheer hundredfeet or more down its sleek bulging exterior side, and down theoutside bulge of the ship's hull, to the rocks below. There might be aspider ladder outside leading downward, but I saw no evidence of it.If Anita and I were forced to escape that way, I wondered how we couldmanage a hundred foot jump to the rocks and land safely. Even with theslight gravity of the Moon it would be a dangerous fall.
"You are Gregg Haljan?"
I started as one of the brigands, coming up behind us, addressed me.
"Yes."
"Commander Potan tells me you were chief navigator of the_Planetara_?"
"Yes."
"You shall pilot us when we advance upon the Grantline camp. I amcontrol-commander here--Brotow, my name."
He smiled. A giant fellow, but spindly. He spoke good English. Heseemed anxious to be friendly.
"We are glad to have you and George Prince's sister with us." He shotAnita an admiring glance. "I will show you our controls, Haljan."
"All right," I said. "Whatever I can do to help...."
"But not now. It will be some hours before we are ready."
I nodded, and he wandered away. Anita whispered:
"Did he mean that signal room up here in the tower? Oh, Gregg, maybeit's only the ship's control room!"
"I don't know. But the projector range-finders are up there, and Ithink it's the signal room."
"Suppose we go up and see? Gregg, Miko's signals might start anyminute."
* * * * *
And the electronic projector now seemed about ready. It was time forme to act. But a reluctant instinct was upon me. Our Erentz suits werehere close behind us in Potan's cubby. I hated to leave them: ifanything happened and we had to make a sudden dash, there would be notime to garb ourselves in the suits. To adjust the helmets was badenough.
I whispered swiftly, "We must get into our suits--find some pretext."I drew her back through the cubby doorway where we would be moresecluded.
"Anita, listen: I've been a fool not to plan our escape morecarefully! We're in too great a danger here."
It seemed to me suddenly that we were in desperate plight. Was itpremonition?
"Anita, listen: if anything happens and we have to make a dash--"
"Up through that dome-lock, Gregg? It's a manual control; you can seethe levers."
"Yes. It's a manual. But up there--how would we get down?"
She was far calmer than I. "There may be an outside ladder, Gregg."
"I don't think so. I haven't seen it."
"Then we can get out the way they brought us in. The hull-porte--it'sa manual, too."
"Yes, I think I can find our way down through the hull corridors. Imean, for a quick run. If we have to run, you stay close behind me.I've this bullet projector, and evidently there aren't many men in thelower corridors."
"There are guards outside on the rocks."
We had seen them through the dome windows. But there were notmany--only two or three. A surprise rush at them would turn the trick.
* * * * *
We donned our Erentz suits.
"What will we do with the helmets?" Anita demanded. "Leave them here?"
"No--take them with us. I'm not going to get separated from them; it'stoo dangerous."
"We'll look strange going up to that signal room equipped like this,"she commented.
"I can't help it. We'll figure out something to explain it."
She stood before me, a queer-looking little figure in the nowdeflated, bagging suit with her slim neck and head protruding abovethe metal circle of its collar.
"Carry your helmet, Anita. I'll take mine."
We could adjust the helmets and start the Erentz motors all within afew seconds.
"I'm ready, Gregg."
"Come on, then. Let me go first."
I had the bullet projector in an outer pouch of the suit where I couldinstantly reach it. This was more rational: we had a fighting chancenow. The fear which had swept me so suddenly began to recede. I wascalm.
"We'll climb the tower to the signal room," I whispered. "Do itboldly."
On the deck, we were immediately accosted. This was different--ourappearance in the Erentz suits!
"Where are you going?"
This fellow spoke in Martian. I answered in English.
"Up there."
* * * * *
He stood before us, towering over me. I saw a group of nearby workersstop to regard us. In a moment we would be causing a commotion, and itwas the last thing I desired.
I said in Martian, "Commander Potan told me, what I wish I can do.From the dome we look around--see where is the Grantline camp--I ampilot of this ship to go there."
The man who had called himself Brotow passed near us. I appealed tohim.
"We put on our suits. I thought we might go up on the dome for aminute and look around. If I'm to pilot the ship...."
He hesitated, his glance sweeping the deck as though to ask Potan.Someone said in Martian:
"The commander is down in the stern storeroom."
It decided Brotow. He waved away the Martian who had stopped me.
"Let them alone."
Anita and I gave him our most friendly smiles.
"Thanks."
He bowed to Anita with a sweeping gesture. "I will show you over thecontrol room presently."
His gaze went to the peak of the bow. The little hooded cubby therewas the control room. Satisfaction swept me. Then this, above us inthe tower, must surely be the signal room. Would Brotow follow us up?I hoped not. I wanted to be alone with the duty-man up there, givingme a chance to get at the projector controls if Miko's signal shouldcome.
I drew Anita past Brotow, who had stood aside. "Thanks," I repeated."We won't be long."
We mounted the little ladder.
CHAPTER XXXI
_In the Tower Cubby_
"Hurry, Anita!"
I feared that Potan might come up from the hull at any moment and stopus. The duty-man over us gazed down, his huge head and shouldersblocking the small signal room window. Brotow called up in Martian,telling him to let us come. He scowled, but when we reached the trapin the room floor-grid, we found him standing aside to admit us.
I flung a swift glance around. It was a metallic cubby, not much overfifteen feet square, with an eight-foot arched ceiling. There wereinstrument panels. The range-finder for the giant projector was here;its little telescope with the trajectory apparatus and the firingswitch were unmistakable. And the signalling apparatus was here! Not aMartian set, but a fully powerful Botz ultra-violet helio sender withits attendant receiving mirrors. The _Planetara_ had used the Botzsystem, so I was thoroughly familiar with it. I saw, too, what seemedto be weapons: a row of small fragile glass globes, hanging on clipsalong the wall--bombs, each the size of a man's fist. And a broad beltwith bombs in its padded compartments.
My heart was pounding as my first quick glance took in these details.I saw also that the room had four small oval window openings. Theywere breast-high above the floor; from the deck below I knew that theangle of vision was such that the men down there could not see intothis room except to glimpse its upper portion near the ceiling. Andthe helio set was banked on a low table near the floor.
In a corner of the room a small ladder led through a ceiling trap tothe cubby roof. This upper trap was open. Four feet above theroom-roof was the arch of the dome, with the entrance to the upperexit-lock directly above us. The weapons and the belt of bombs werenear this ascending ladder, evidently placed here as equipment for usefrom the top of the dome.
* * * * *
I turned to the solitary duty-man. I must gain his confidence at once.Anita had laid her helmet aside. She spoke first.
"We were with Set Miko," she said smilingly, "in the wreck of the_Planetara_. You heard of it? We know where the treasure is."
This duty-man was a full seven feet tall, and the most heavy-setMartian I had ever seen. A tremendous, beetling-browed, scowlingfellow. He stood with hands on his hips, his leather-garbed legsspread wide; and as I fronted him I felt like a child. He was silent,glaring down at me as I drew his attention from Anita.
"You speak English? We are not skilled with Martian."
I wondered if at the next time of sleep this fellow would be on dutyhere. I hoped not; it would not be easy to trick him and find anopportunity to flash a signal. But that task was some hours away asyet; I would worry about it when the time came. Just now I wasconcerned with Miko and his little band, who at any moment mightarrive in sight. If we could persuade this scowling duty-man to turnthe projector on them....
He answered me in ready English:
"You are the man Gregg Haljan? And this is the sister of GeorgePrince--what do you want up here?"
"I am a navigator. Brotow wants me to pilot the ship when we advanceto attack Grantline."
"This is not the control room."
"No, I know it isn't."
I put my helmet carefully on the floor-grid beside Anita's. Istraightened to find the brigand gazing at her. He did not speak; hewas still scowling. But in the dim blue glow of the cubby I caught thelook in his eyes.
* * * * *
I said hastily, "Grantline knows your ship has landed here onArchimedes. His camp is off there on the Mare Imbrium. He sent up asignal--you saw it, didn't you?--just before Miss Prince and I cameaboard. He was trying to pretend that he was your Earth-party, Mikoand Coniston."
"Why?"
The fellow turned his scowl on me, but Anita brought his gaze back toher. She put in quickly:
"Grantline, as Brother always said, has no great cunning. I believehe's planning now to creep up on us, catch us unaware by pretendingthat he is Miko."
"If he does that," I said, "we will turn this electronic projector onhim and annihilate him. You have its firing mechanism here."
"Who told you so?" he shot at me.
I gestured. "I see it here. It's obvious. I'm skilled attrajectory-firing. If Grantline appears down there now, I'll helpyou--"
"Is it connected?" Anita demanded boldly.
"Yes," he said. "You have on your Erentz suits: are you going to thedome-roof? Then go."
But that was what we did not want to do. Anita's glance seemed to tellme to let her handle this. I turned toward one of the cubby windows;she said sweetly:
"Are you in charge of this room? Show me how that projector isoperated; it will be invincible against the Grantline camp."
"Yes."
* * * * *
I had my back to them for a moment. Through the breast-high oval Icould see down across the deck-space and out through the side domewindows. And my heart suddenly leaped into my throat. It seemed thatdown there in the Earthlit shadows, where the spreading base of thegiant crater joined the plains, a light was bobbing. I gazed,stricken. Miko's lights? Was he advancing, preparing to signal? Itried to gauge the distance; it was not over two miles from here.
Or was it not a light at all? With the naked eye, I could not be sure.Perhaps there was a telescopic finder here in the cubby....
I was subconsciously aware of the voices of Anita and the duty-manbehind me. Then abruptly I heard Anita's low cry. I whirled around.
The giant Martian had gathered her into his huge arms, hisheavy-jowled gray face with a leering grin close to hers!
He saw me coming. He held her with one arm: his other flung at me,caught me, knocked me backward. He rasped:
"Get out of here! Go up to the dome, leave us."
Anita was silently struggling with her little hands at his thickthroat. His blow flung me against a settle. But I held my feet. I waspartly behind him. I leaped again, and as he tried to disengagehimself from Anita to front me, her clutching fingers impeded him.
My bullet projector was in my hand. But in that second as I leaped, Ihad the sense to realize I should not fire it a
nd with its noise alarmthe ship. I grasped its barrel, reached upward and struck with itsheavy metal butt. The blow caught the Martian on the skull, andsimultaneously my body struck him.
We went down together, falling partly upon Anita. But the giant hadnot cried out, and as I gripped him now, I felt his body limp. I laypanting. Anita squirmed silently from under us. Blood from the giant'shead was welling out, hot and sticky against my face as I lay sprawledon him.
* * * * *
I cast him off. He was dead, his fragile Martian skull split open bymy blow.
There had been no alarm. The slight noise we made had not been hearddown on the busy deck. Anita and I crouched by the floor. From thedeck all this part of the room could not be seen.
"Dead!"
"Oh, Gregg--"
It forced our hand. I could not wait now for Miko to come. But I couldflash the Earth signal now, and then we would have to make our run toescape.
Abruptly I remembered that light down at the crater-base! I kept Anitaout of sight on the floor and went cautiously to a window. The deckwas in turmoil with brigands moving about excitedly. Not because ofwhat had happened in our tower signal room; they were unaware of that.
Miko's signals were showing! I could see them now plainly, down at thecrater-base. A group of hand-lights and a small waving helio-beam.
And they were being answered from the ship! Potan was on the deck--ababble of voices, above which his rose with roars of command. At oneof the dome windows a brigand with a hand search-beam was sending itsanswering light. And I saw that Potan was working over a decktelescope-finder.
It had all come so suddenly that I was stunned. But I did not wait toread the signals. I swung back at Anita.
"It's Miko! And they are answering him! Get your helmet; I'll tryfiring the projector."
Or would I instead try to send a brief flash-signal to Earth? Therewould be no time to do both: we must escape out of here. The route upthrough the dome was the only feasible one now.
This range mechanism of the projector was reasonably familiar, and Ifelt that I could operate it. The range-finder and switch were on aledge at one of the windows. I rushed to it. As I swung the littletelescope, training it down on Miko's lights, I could see the hugeprojector on the deck swinging similarly. Its movement surprised themen who were attending it. One of them called up to me, but I ignoredhim.
* * * * *
Then Potan looked up and saw me. He shouted in Martian at theduty-man, whom he doubtless thought was behind me: "Be ready! We mayfire on them, whoever they are. I'll give you the word."
The signals were proceeding. It had only been a moment. I caughtsomething like, "_Haljan is impostor._"
I was aiming the projector. I was aware of Anita at my elbow. I pushedher back.
"Put on your helmet!"
I had the range. I flung the firing switch.
At the deck window the giant projector spat its deadly electronicstream. The men down there leaped away from it with surprise. I heardPotan's voice, his shout of protest and anger.
But down in the Earthglow at the crater-base, Miko's lights had notvanished! I had missed! An error in the range? Abruptly I knew it wasnot that. Miko's lights were still there. His signals still coming.And I remarked now a faint distortion about them, the glow of hislittle group of hand-lights faintly distorted and vaguely shot with agreenish cast. Benson curve-lights! I realized it.
My thoughts whirled in the few seconds while I stood there at thetower window. Miko had feared he might summarily be fired upon. He hadgone back to his camp, equipped all his lights with the Benson curve.He was somewhere at the crater-base now. But not where I thought I sawhim! The Benson curve-light changed the path of the light-raystraveling from him to me--I could not even approximate his trueposition!
Anita was plucking at me. "Gregg, come."
"I can't hit him!" I gasped.
Should I try the flash-signal to Earth? Did we dare linger here? Istood another few seconds fascinated at the window. I saw Potan downin the confusion of the deck, training a telescope. He had shouted upviolently at his duty-man here not to fire again.
And now he suddenly let out a roar. "I can see them! It's Miko! By theAlmighty--his giant stature--Brotow, look! That's not an Earthman!"
He flung aside his little telescope finder. "Disconnect thatprojector! It's Miko down there! This Haljan is a trickster! Where ishe? Braile--Braile, you accursed fool! Are Haljan and the girl upthere with you?"
But the duty-man lay weltering in his blood at our feet.
I had dropped back from the window. Anita and I crouched for aninstant in confusion, fumbling with our helmets.
The ship rang with the alarm. And amid the turmoil we could hear theshouts of the infuriated brigands swarming up the tower ladder afterus!
CHAPTER XXXII
_A Speck Amid the Stars_
I was only inactive a moment. I had thought Anita would have on herhelmet. But she was reluctant, or confused.
"Gregg."
"We've got to get out of here! Up through the overhead locks to thedome."
"Yes--" She fumbled with the helmet. Under the floor-grid the climbingmen on the ladder were audible. They were already nearing the top. Thetrap door was closed: Anita and I were crouching on it. There was athick metal bar set in a depressed groove of the grid. I slid it inplace--it would seal the trap for a time, at any rate.
A degree of confidence came to me. We had a few moments before therecould be any hand-to-hand conflict. That giant electronic projectorwould eventually be used against Grantline: it was the brigands' mostpowerful weapon. Its controls were here--by Heaven, I would smashthem! That at least I could do!
I jumped for the window. Miko's signals had stopped, but I caught aglimpse of his distant moving curve-lights.
A flash came up at me, as in the window I became visible to thebrigands on the ship's deck. It was a small hand-projector, hastilyfired, for it went wide of the window. It was followed by a rain ofsmall beams, but I was warned and I dropped my head beneath the highsill. The rays flashed diagonally upward through the oval opening,hissed against our vaulted roof. The air snapped and tingled with ashower of blue-red sparks, and the acrid odor of the released gasessettled down upon me.
* * * * *
The trajectory controls of the projector were beside me. I seizedthem, ripped and tore at them. There was a roar down on the deck. Theprojector had exploded. A man's agonized scream split the confusion ofsounds.
It silenced the brigands on the deck. Under our floor-grid those onthe ladder had been pounding at the trap-door. They stopped, evidentlyto see what had happened. The bombardment of our windows ceasedmomentarily.
I cautiously peered out the window again. In the wreck of theprojector three men were lying. One of them was screaming horribly.The dome-side was damaged. Potan and other men were franticallyinvestigating to see if the ship's air were hissing out.
A triumph swept me. They had not found me so meek and inoffensive asthey might have thought!
Anita clutched at me. She still had not donned her helmet.
"Put it on!"
"But Gregg--"
"Put it on!"
"I--I don't want to put it on until you put yours on."
"I've smashed the projector! We've stopped them coming up for awhile."
But they were still on the ladder under our floor. They heard ourvoices; they began thumping again. Then pounding. They seemed now tohave some heavy implement. They rammed with it against the trap.
But the floor seemed holding. The square of metal grid trembled,yielded a little. But it was good for a few minutes longer.
I called down, "The first one who comes through will be shot." Mywords mingled with their oaths. There was a moment's pause, then theramming went on. The dying man on the deck was still screaming.
* * * * *
I whispered, "I'll
try an Earth-signal."
She nodded. Pale, tense, but calm. "Yes, Gregg. And I was thinking--"
"It won't take a minute. Have your helmet ready."
"I was thinking--"
She hurried across the room. I swung on the Botz signaling apparatus.It was connected. Within a moment I had it humming. The fluorescenttubes lighted with their lurid glare; they painted purple the body ofthe giant duty-man who lay sprawled at my feet. I drew on all theship's power. The tube-lights in the room quivered and went dim.
I would have to hurry. Potan could shut this off from the main hullcontrol room. I could see, through the room's upper trap, the primarysending mirror mounted in the peak of the dome. It was quivering,radiant with its light-energy. I sent the flash.
The flattened, past-full Earth was up there. I knew that the westernhemisphere faced the Moon at this hour. I flashed in English, with theopen Universal Earth-code:
"_Help! Grantline._"
And again: "_Send help! Archimedes region near Apennines. Attacked bybrigands. Send help at once! Grantline!_"
If only it would be received! I flung off the current. Anita stoodwatching me intently. "Gregg, look!"
She had taken some of the glass globe-bombs which lay by the foot ofthe ascending ladder. She held some of them now.
"Gregg. I threw some."
* * * * *
At the window we gazed down. The globes she flung had shattered on thedeck. They were occulting darkness bombs.[5]
[Footnote 5: Filled with an odorless, harmless gas, these bombs wereused in warfare, taking the place of the old-fashioned smoke screens.The diffusing gas was of such a nature that, when released, itabsorbed within itself all the color inherent to the light-raysstriking it, thus creating a temporary darkness.]
Through the blackness of the deck, the shouts of the brigands came up.They were stumbling about. But the ramming of our trap went on, and Isaw that it was beginning to yield. One corner of it was bent up.
"We've got to go, Anita!"
"Yes."
From out of the darkness which hung like a shroud over the deck anoccasional flash came up, unaimed--wide of our windows. But thedarkness was dissipating. I could see now the dim glow of the decklights, blurred as through a heavy fog.
I dropped another of the bombs.
"Put on your helmet."
"Yes--yes, I will. You put on yours."
We had them adjusted in a moment. Our Erentz motors were pumping.
I gripped her. "Put out your helmet-light."
She extinguished it. I handed her my bullet projector.
"Hold it a moment. I'm going to take that belt of bombs."
The trap-door was all but broken under the ramming blows of the men onthe ladder. I leaped over the body of the duty-man, seized the belt ofbombs and strapped it about my waist.
Anita stood with me.
"Give me the projector."
She handed it to me. The trap-door burst upward! A man's head andshoulders appeared. I fired a bullet into him--the little leadenpellet singing down through the yellow powder-flash that spat from theprojector's muzzle.
* * * * *
The brigand screamed, and dropped back out of sight. There wasconfusion at the ladder-top. I flung a bomb at the broken trap. A tinyheat-ray came wavering up through the opening, but went wide of us.
The instrument room was in darkness. I clung to Anita.
"Hold on to me! You go first--here is the ladder."
We found it in the blackness, mounted it and went through the cubby'sroof-trap.
I took a hasty look and dropped another bomb beside us. The four-footspace up here between the cubby roof and the overhead dome went black.We were momentarily concealed.
Anita located the manual levers of the lock-entrance.
"Here, Gregg."
I shoved at them. Fear leaped in me that they would not operate. Butthey swung. The tiny porte opened wide to receive us. We clamberedinto the small air-chamber; the door slid closed, just as a flash frombelow struck at it. The brigands had seen our little cloud of darknessand were firing up through it.
We were through the locks in a moment, out on the open dome-top. A sleek,rounded spread of glassite, with broad aluminite girders. There werecross-ribs which gave us footing, and occasional projections--streamlinefin-tips, the casings of the upper rudder shafts, and the upstandingstubby funnels into which the helicopters were folded.
We moved along the central footpath and crouched by a six-foot casing.The stars and the glowing Earth were over us. The curving dome-top--ahundred feet or so in length, and bulging thirty feet wide beneathus--glistened in the Earthlight. It was a sheer drop down thesecurving sides past the ship's hull, a hundred feet to the rocks onwhich the vessel rested. The towering wall of Archimedes was besideus; and beyond the brink of the ledge the thousands of feet down tothe plains.
* * * * *
I saw the lights of Miko's band down there. He had stopped signaling.His little lights were spread out, bobbing as he and his men advancedup the crater's foothills, coming to join their ship.
I had an instant's glimpse. Anita and I could not stay here. Thebrigands would follow us up in a moment. I saw no exterior ladder. Wewould have to take our chances and jump.
There were brigands down there on the rocks. I saw three or fourskulking helmeted figures, and they saw us! A bullet whizzed by us,and then came the flash of a hand-ray.
I touched Anita. "Can you make the leap? Anita, dear...."
Again it seemed that this must be farewell.
"Gregg, dear one--oh, we've got to do it!"
Those waiting figures would pounce on us.
"Anita, lie here a moment."
I jumped up and ran twenty feet toward the bow; then back, toward thestern, flinging down the last of my bombs. The darkness was like acloud down there, enveloping the outer brigands. But up here we wereabove it, etched by the starlight and Earthglow.
I came back to Anita.
"We'll have to chance it now."
"Gregg...."
"Good-by, dear. I'll jump first, down this side--you follow."
To leap into that black patch, with the rocks under it....
"Gregg--"
She was trying to tell me to look overhead. She gestured. "Gregg,see!"
I saw it out over the plains--a little speck amid the stars. A movingspeck, coming toward us!
"Gregg, what is it?"
* * * * *
I gazed, held my breath. A moving speck out there. A blob now.
And then I realized that it was not a large object, far away, butsmall, and already very close--only a few hundred feet off, droppingtoward the top of our dome. A narrow, flat, ten-foot object, like awingless volplane. There were no lights on it, but in the Earthlight Icould see two crouching, helmeted figures riding it.
"Anita! Don't you remember!"
I was swept with dawning comprehension. Back in the Grantline campSnap and I had discussed how to use the _Planetara's_ gravity plates.We had gone to the wreck and secured them, had rigged this littlevolplane flyer....
The brigands on the rocks saw it now. A flash went up at it. One ofthe figures crouching on it opened a flexible fabric like a wing overits side. I saw another flash from below, harmlessly striking theinsulated shield.
I gasped to Anita, "Light your helmet! It's from Grantline! Let themsee us!"
I stood erect. The little flying platform went over us, fifty feet up,circling, dropping to the dome-top.
I waved my helmet-light. The exit-lock from below--up which we hadcome--was near us. The advancing brigands were already in it! I hadforgotten to demolish the manuals. And I saw that the darkness down onthe rocks was almost gone now, dissipating in the airless night. Thebrigands down there began firing up at us.
It was a confusion of flashing lights. I clutched at Anita.
"Come this way--run!"
The platform barely missed our heads. It sailed lengthwise of thedome-top, and crashed silently on the central runway near thestern-tip. Anita and I ran to it.
The two helmeted figures seized us, shoved us prone on the metalplatform. It was barely four feet wide: a low railing, handles withwhich to cling, and a tiny hooded cubby in front, with banks ofcontrols.
"Gregg!"
"Snap!"
It was Snap and Venza. She seized Anita, held her crouching in place.Snap flung himself face down at the controls.
The brigands in the lock were out on the dome now. I took a last shotas we lifted. My bullet punctured one of them; he fell, slidscrambling off the rounded dome and dropped out of sight.
Light-rays and silent flashes seemed to envelop us. Venza held theside-shields higher.
We tilted, swayed crazily, and then steadied.
The ship's dome dropped away beneath us. The rocks of the open ledgewere under us. Then the abyss, with the moving climbing specks ofMiko's lights far down.
I saw, over the side-shield, the already distant brigand ship restingon the ledge with the massive Archimedes' wall behind it. A confusionback there of futile flashing rays.
It all faded into a remote glow as we sailed smoothly up into thestarlight and away, heading for the Grantline camp.
CHAPTER XXXIII
_Besieged!_
"Wake up, Gregg! They're coming!"
I forced myself to consciousness. "Coming--"
"Yes. Wake up!"
I leaped from my bunk, followed Snap with a rush into the corridor. Wehad returned safely to the Grantline Camp. Anita and I found ourselvesexhausted from lack of sleep, our arduous climb of Archimedes and thattense time on the brigand ship. On the flight back Snap had explainedhow the landing of the ship on Archimedes was observed through theGrantline telescope, using but little of its power for this localrange. They had read with amazement my signals to the brigands. Snaphad rushed to completion the first of our contemplated flyingplatforms. Then he had seen Miko's signals from the crater-base, seenthe lights of the fight to capture Anita and me in the cubby, and hadcome to rescue us.
Back at the camp we were given food, and Grantline forced me to tryand sleep.
"They'll be on us in a few hours, Gregg. Miko will have joined them bynow. He'll lead them to us. You must rest, for we need everyone at hisbest."
And surprisingly, in the midst of the camp's turmoil of last minuteactivities, I slept soundly, until Snap called me that the ship wascoming.
The corridor echoed with the tramp of Grantline's busy crew. But therewas no confusion now; a grim calmness had settled upon everyone.
Anita and Venza rushed up to join us. "It's in sight!"
* * * * *
There was no need of going to the instrument room. From the windowsfronting the brink of the cliff the brigand ship was plainly visible.It came sailing from Archimedes, a dark shape blurring the stars. Allits lights were extinguished save a single white search-beam in thebow-peak, slanting diagonally down.
The beam presently caught our little group of buildings; its glareshone in the windows as it clung for a moment. I could envisage thetriumphant curiosity, of Potan and his fellows up there, gazing alongthe beam.
Then it swung away. The ship was at an altitude of no more than threethousand feet when I first saw it, coming upon a level keel. Would itcircle over us, firing at us? Or sail past, after inspecting us? Orland, perhaps, boldly crowded upon our little ledge?
We were ready--as ready as we could be with our meager equipment. Thecamp was in a state of siege. The cliff-lights were extinguished: theinterior lights were dim, save in the workshops of the main building,where the final assembling of Snap's other flying platforms and theirinsulated protective shields was still in progress.
We had dimmed the lights to conserve our power, and to enable theErentz motors to run at full capacity. Our buildings would have towithstand the brigand rays which soon would be upon us.
Outside on our dim, Earthlit cliff, the tiny lights showed where ourfew guards were lurking. As I stood at the window watching theoncoming ship, Grantline's voice sounded:
"Call in those men! Ring the call-lights, Franck!"
The siren buzzed over the camp's interior; the warning call-lights onthe roof brought in the outer guards. They came running to theadmission portes, which had been repaired after Miko disabled them.
* * * * *
The guards came in. We dimmed our lights further. The treasure shedswere black against the cliff behind us. No need for guards there--thebulk of the ore was such that we reasoned the brigands would notattempt to move it until our buildings were captured. But, if theyshould try it, we were prepared to sally out with our hand-weapons anddefend it.
In the dim lights we crouched. A silence was upon us, save for theclanging in the workshop down the corridor. Most of us wore our Erentzsuits, with helmets ready, though I am sure there was not a man of usbut who prayed he might not have to go out. At many of thewindows--our weakest points to withstand the rays--insulated fabricshields were hung like curtains.
The brigand ship slowly advanced. It was soon over the opposite rim ofour little crater. Its search-beam swung about the rim and down intothe valley.
My thoughts ran like a turgid stream as I stood tensely watching.
Four hours ago I had sent that flash-signal to Earth. If it werereceived, a patrol-ship could come to our rescue and arrive here inanother eight hours--or perhaps even less.
Ah, that "if!" _If_ the signal were received! _If_ the patrol-shipwere immediately available! _If_ it started at once....
Eight hours at the very least. I tried to assure myself that we couldhold out that long....
The brigand ship crossed the opposite crater-rim. It dropped lower. Itseemed poised over the crater-valley, almost at our own level and lessthan two miles from us. Its search-beam vanished. For a moment ithung, a sleek, cylindrical silver shape, gleaming in the Earthlight.
Snap looked at me and murmured, "It's descending."
It slowly settled, cautiously picked its landing-place amid the cragsand pits of the tumbled scarred valley floor. It came to rest, a vaguesilver menacing shape lurking in the lower shadows, close at the footof the inner opposite crater-wall.
A few moments of tense waiting passed. Soon tiny lights were movingdown there, some out on the rocks near the ship, others up under itsdeck-dome.
A stab of searchlight shot across the valley, swung along our ledgeand clung with its glaring ten-foot circle to the front of our mainbuilding. Then a ray flashed.
The assault had begun!
(_To be concluded_)
[Advertisement:]