The Frightened Planet
Page 3
blank.
But there was something Karn could use. The gargoyles. Greatarchitectural excrescenses, they had never served any purpose. Theycould serve a purpose now.
Each was the size of a small boulder, weighing close to six hundredpounds. Karn lifted one easily, carried it to the door, and set it down.One more trip and he was safe.
From the edge of the roof he could see beyond the wall. His hundred werethere, puny indeed from this height. His yell brought them around.
They could see him, but they were still afraid. Indecision held themmotionless for an instant. Then they began to move. And they movedforward.
* * * * *
The Green Ones had not seen them yet. Their own eyes were turned up atthis shouting giant on the roof. Then the gates of the city swung openand Karn's men were in the broad street.
Swarms of the Green Ones poured from the buildings. They paused to forma line of attack, their spears poised in readiness. That was when Karnwent into action.
He ripped a gargoyle loose from the mortar that held it and dropped itover the parapet. Before it landed he had started another on its waydown.
On the Green Ones they fell with devastating suddenness, each onecrushing dozens. Another of the great missiles fell, and another. A halfdozen of them there had been in all, and when the last one landed thestreet was a shambles.
Karn's men fell on the disorganized remnants of the Green Ones. Hairlessthe Mahloans were, and puny. But there was a trace of manhood still inthem. Spears darted and clubs flailed, and the Green Ones fell.
Karn had known that only the taste of blood was needed. And he had beenright. Now his men knew that they too could fight, and that the GreenOnes were not irresistible.
By the time Karn reached the ground again the Green Ones were in fullflight. As long as they had held the upper hand they had been braveenough. In the face of resistance they were cowardly.
Like Tur, Kara thought. Or like any other bully.
Then he looked up. A shadow crossed his path and he saw the great ballskim over the city. Tur was forgotten now. As he went toward the landingfield with his men, Karn knew that he would never return to Earth. Aslong as Andra was on Mahlo he wanted to be there too.
"You beat them!" she cried as she came from the ship.
"Yes. And we will drive them from every city on Mahlo and back to theforests from which they came."
"But that won't be necessary. There's no reason for you to risk yourlife. That's the trouble with--"
"There is only one trouble," Karn interrupted. "The women of Mahlo haveturned their men into women too."
"You can't talk to me like that!" Andra flared.
Karn found his men watching him. He had led them to victory over theGreen Ones. But with women it was another story. Could he stand up toAndra? They were watching Karn, ready to follow him again. But which waywould he go?
"Woman," Karn said, "hold your tongue!"
Her face reddened with anger, then turned white as Karn took athreatening step forward. Her head dropped in submission.
It was victory, complete and final. Before Karn's eyes the men of Mahloseemed to grow inches taller. Their shoulders straightened. For thefirst time they were out of bondage. They were men. And it was this manfrom another world, Karn, who made them so.
THE END
* * * * *
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
This etext was produced from Amazing Stories October 1948. Extensiveresearch did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on thispublication was renewed.