by Guy d'Armen
Five streaks of lightning cut through the darkness.
Alexandroff was hit in the head and fell into the fire, dead. Three more Cossacks were either gravely wounded or shot dead.
Before the others could react, Ardan used his knife, Ardan to cut the other horse’s rope and grasped its bridle. He then rode away at full gallop, dragging it behind him.
The surviving Chekists finally regained their senses and shot after him, but the young man had already reached the road and was galloping furiously north.
The whole assault and rescue mission had not taken more than two minutes.
Even if the Cossacks decided to give chase—a risky proposition considering that they knew they would be facing a presumably guarded Chinese convoy coming from the other direction—Ardan was already too far away for them to catch up with him.
Eventually, the young man reached the spot where he had killed Ivan hours earlier. There, he stopped behind a grove of dark oak that would hide them from sight. As soon as he set foot on the ground, he rushed to cut Suleyma’s bonds and free the young woman.
She stretched her muscles, rubbed her sore wrists and ankles, and thanked her companion.
“I don’t think we should stay here long,” he said. “If we can reach Abakan, I’ll be able to alert the authorities. Kyzyl Kaya is a threat to the entire world. They’ll listen to me, but we must hurry.”
And they rode off into the night.
CHAPTER XVI
Recaptured!
Ardan and Suleyma rode until dawn.
As they reached a ford where the road crossed the river, they came across the Chinese caravan and warned its masters of the Chekists ambush. Ardan also wrote a sealed message, with instructions to forward it to the French consul in Hankou 4
The caravan master told them that there had been some flooding on the road ahead due to the recent storm. They discovered the truth of it when, during the mid-afternoon, they reached a place where the road had turned into a swamp.
“It’s because of the Sungacha river,” explained Suleyma. “It’s an affluent of the Yenisei and overflows easily at the first rain. It’s going to make travel beyond this point very difficult.”
“Could we try going around?” suggested Ardan.
The young woman did not seem too convinced, but as she knew they were in a hurry, made no objection.
So, they cautiously headed their horses into the swamp. What Ardan at first mistook for trees turned out to be giant reeds, mixed with other semi-aquatic vegetation.
Progress as slow, but about an hour later, they reached what appeared to be a small lake. Flocks of geese and ducks took flight as they approached its peaceful waters.
“This is a good place to stop and spend the night,” proposed Ardan. “There’s plenty of game for dinner, and tomorrow if we go around that lake, we’ll rejoin the main road further north.”
They tied the horses to a tree and took a walk around. They quickly came across several haystacks, which would provide them with comfortable and secure shelter for the night.
“I’ll brew us a cup of tea,” offered Suleyma.
With the lighter and the tin cup, they had also found a small bag of tea leaves in Ivan’s saddlebags.
“And I’ll get us some food,” said Ardan, grabbing the rifle.
Half an hour later, the young man returned with a fat goose, already plucked, and the two enjoyed a good dinner and conversation before retiring for the night.
They were awakened by sunshine—and the sounds of the birds reacting in a panic.
Ardan, immediately alarmed, jumped to his feet and left their shelter to investigate.
He experienced a frightful shock as he looked in the direction of the lake.
There, three giants were tramping through the water, scaring away the local fauna. They each held huge staffs—small tree trunks—with which they searched the vegetation.
One of them bore awful scars on his face, and appeared to have lost an eye. Ardan had no doubt that it was the same giant who had besieged him several days earlier after he had just escaped from Kyzyl Kaya’s underground lair.
The evidence was inescapable: all three must be the Red Wizard’s slaves sent after him!
Ardan suddenly felt the crushing weight of despair on his shoulders. After he had overcome so many obstacles and defeated so many enemies, he found the Red Wizard again in his path!
How can they roam so freely so far from his lair? he wondered.
Then he remembered some of the local legends that spoke of the giants who had erected Abuk Khan’s stone mausoleum, and theorized that anyone who saw the giants would mistake them for the creatures of legend, and any reports to the outside world would be dismissed as mere superstition.
Ardan quickly rushed back to the haystacks, being careful not to attract attention.
“What is it?” asked Suleyma, seeing her friend’s stricken face.
“You remember what I told you about the Red Wizard and his pet giant? Well, that one is back—with two more of his friends—looking for me.”
Suleyma took a look outside and shrank back in horror.
“What can we do?” she whispered. “They’re almost upon us. If we try to make for the horses, they’ll see us.”
“Besides, I think they could still catch us. The ugly one with the scarred face is fast.”
“We have guns...”
“I tried that before. They’re mostly impervious to bullets, like elephants. We’d have to hit him in the eye... I could perhaps disable one, but not all three.”
They felt trapped like rats and kept searching for an escape, but in vain.
“How come they don’t sink into the muck, with all that weight?” asked Suleyma.
“The bottoms of these lakes are made of hard rock,” replied Ardan. “They’re in no danger of being swallowed up by quicksand as I almost was.”
At that moment, they heard the whinnying of the horses which, seeing the monsters, had managed to slip their tethers and were galloping away in panic.
“No choice now,” said Ardan. “We must hide and pray for the best.”
They hid back inside the haystack, and the young man covered the hole with more hay so to be totally invisible.
They heard the one of the giants comment upon the fleeing horses, then laugh a dumb, fatuous laugh.
“Kyzyl Kaya increased their size,” whispered Ardan, “but to the detriment of their intelligence, I think.”
Suddenly, the haystack that served them as shelter was grabbed and lifted up by a monstrous hand, and they were exposed, just like two dolls in a box.
The monster who’d discovered them uttered a few joyous words and summoned his brethren.
The giant whom Ardan had maimed earlier shook his fist in fury, obviously intent on wreaking revenge upon the young man, but the first giant ordered him to stand down.
Ardan and Suleyma had feared they would be killed on the spot, but the giant just tied them up tightly and hung them on his staff, which he swung over his shoulder. They looked just like two rabbits having been caught and trussed, while the hunter was returning home.
The giants began walking south, towards Kyzyl Kaya’s lair.
Ardan and Suleyma swung in the air at the rhythm of their captor’s prodigious strides. It was extremely uncomfortable—but at least, they were alive.
It took the giants the rest of the day to reach the Red Wizard’s underground city, but eventually they got there. The two prisoners were delivered to the Tartars loyal to the Red Wizard. Suleyma as thrown into a cell, and, at sunset, Ardan was led into the presence of the diabolical Comte de Bertheville.
The Mephistophelean scientist smiled icily as his black eyes fell upon his prisoner. Ardan, unfed, dizzy and shaken by the return journey, was barely able to focus on his enemy’s words.
“So, Doctor Ardan, you are back at last. I told you one doesn’t escape easily from my grasp. You may have avoided my giant spiders and outwitted by loyal servants, but ultimat
ely, your little adventure has been for naught. Who is that young woman with whom you were found?”
“A local girl whom I helped escape from a would-be kidnapper. She knows nothing. Leave her be.”
“Certainly, certainly,” replied Kyzyl Kaya unctuously. “But you understand that steps will have to be taken. No more cottage and unrestricted freedom for you. I have other methods to keep you here forever, and I mean to use them. The fate of your companion will depend on your docility.”
“I will not resist as long as you don’t harm her.”
“Excellent. We’re of the same mind, then!”
“What do you have in store for me, if I may ask?”
“Ah! I recognize you there, Doctor Ardan! Always and foremost the man of science! You’re proud of your intelligence—nay, genius! You think you can best all your enemies because you’re smarter than they—but you’re not smarter than I. If you give me your sacred word to collaborate with me, however, I could be merciful...”
“Never.”
“I thought so,” sighed Kyzyl Kaya. “Very well...”
The Red Wizard pulled a vial of green liquid from his pocket.
“You will drink this. You know I have the means to force you to do it, so don’t waste my time. And when you wake up, your fate will be sealed. And let me remind you: the fate of your lady companion is in my hands. Now, drink!”
Ardan took the vial, uncorked it and smelled it. There as a vague odor of elderberry, but he could not identify the contents.
However, he was sure it was not some kind of fatal poison. Kyzyl Kaya did not want him dead—but then, what?
What horrible fate had the evil mastermind in store for him?
He would know soon enough.
Without closing his eyes, he drank the liquid, and immediately fell unconscious.
CHAPTER XVII
Transformed!
When Francis Ardan woke up, he found himself strapped to a flat surface seemingly made of hard teak wood, set up at a slight angle.
He could turn his head side to side, but that was all.
He was appalled to discover that Suleyma—still unconscious—lay on an identical table to his right.
From what he could tell, the room where they were was bare, with no visible source of light, nor any other furniture.
There was a soft whirring noise and a panel slid into the wall, revealing an opening through which stepped Kyzyl Kaya.
The Red Wizard wore a pair of blue-tinted goggles over his eyes.
“I see you woke up earlier than I had anticipated, Doctor Ardan,” he said. “You must have a phenomenal constitution—the dose I gave you would have kept an ox sedated for six hours. But perhaps it is better this way. You’ll be more able to appreciate my genius...”
“Let her go, you monster!” said Ardan, twisting his head towards Suleyma.
“You behave as if I was planning to kill you, but believe me, nothing is farther from the truth. In fact, I care so much about you that I have made sure your eyes are protected if either of you were to wake up during the, er, treatment.”
He pulled two more pairs of blue goggles from his pocket and set them carefully on his prisoners’ faces.
“Now, I just have to adjust the lighting and leave,” he concluded.
He made a gesture and a strange orange light filled the room.
He then left and the wall panel closed behind him.
As time passed, Ardan felt himself grow increasingly dizzy and lost the notion of the passage of the hours. His brain felt as if it was trapped in the midst of some impenetrable fog. It was difficult to think and hold ideas together.
He didn’t hurt, but, at the same time, he felt a strange sensation, as if a very low voltage of electricity was running through his entire body.
Sometime later, he had the impression that his hands—which he could see by lowering his eyes—had grown in size.
Then, despite the fog that obscured his brain, he understood the fate that Kyzyl Kaya had in store for him: he and Suleyma were being turned into giants!
His feet, which previously had been positioned a long way from the edge of the table, now almost reached it.
The straps that held his body were made of a rubbery substance that stretched to accommodate his growth; he could see a ruler across the side of the platform, and, very slowly but unambiguously, it showed he was definitely growing in size!
According to the ruler, his height now stood at almost seven feet—and he was still growing!
The fog in his brain was the result of the mysterious process he was being subjected to, and he did not doubt that Kyzyl Kaya also meant to rob him of his intelligence, as had been the case with the giants they had already met.
Suddenly, Suleyma woke up, coughing. She tried to get up but found herself imprisoned just as Ardan was.
“Where are we?” she asked, somewhat reassured to discover that her companion was near. “What is happening to us?”
Ardan explained as best he could their predicament. Suleyma read the ruler on her table and was horrified to find that she was now six foot five.
At that moment, the orange light died down and was again replaced by ordinary lighting.
Kyzyl Kaya returned, stepping into the room with a diabolical smile.
“I see you both have survived the first step admirably well,” he said.
He whistled and four Tartars arrived.
“Untie them, but be careful,” he instructed. “They’ll be a bit groggy and might need some help to walk. Also, they must eat. Take them to the refectory and see that they are fed.”
As he sat up, Ardan could see that he was now over seven feet tall—7.4 exactly, according to the Red Wizard’s measurement. His shirt and pants had torn under the explosive growth of his muscles. He felt like jumping and crushing the Comte with his bare hands, but he was as weak as a babe, and had to be helped to stand on his own feet.
“This is excellent progress,” snickered the Red Wizard. “In another week, I’ll have you at the optimum ten-foot size. You won’t be quite as clever and devious as you were before, of course, because my process somehow inhibits some of the brain’s higher functions. But I promise you one thing: you won’t feel like running away again.”
“Why?” muttered Ardan.
“For one thing, where would you go? There is no room for a ten-foot dullard in the world. Also, either the Russians or the Chinese would kill you on sight—it has happened before. But more importantly, I’m the only one who can restore you to your former size.”
“Why did you have to submit Suleyma to this? Can’t you make her normal again and let her go?”
“Absolutely not! First, she is your accomplice and there is a certain poetic justice in her sharing your fate. But also, she is the best guarantor that you won’t try any more of your tricks...”
After a pause, Kyzyl Kaya continued:
“But if you give me your word to work alongside me...”
“Never!” roared Ardan. “I shall never help a monster such as you!”
“Well, then, enjoy your life as a dim-witted giant. Soon you won’t even remember who you were.”
He left while the Tartars led Ardan and Suleyma to a place where food was being served. They found themselves extremely hungry and began devouring huge quantities.
“This is terrifying,” said the young woman. “The Red Wizard’s magic has turned us into those giants of the legends.”
“Or more likely, he has rediscovered a secret that dates back to Biblical times—or even before the dawn of modern civilization. We have to get out of here before we lose all the intellectual capacity to do so.”
“The giants we saw were probably not very smart to begin with,” noted Suleyma. “Perhaps you and I won’t be as badly affected?”
They weren’t being watched, so Ardan tried to lift a chair, but discovered that, despite his size and massive muscles, he could barely do it.
“Of course,” he said, “we’re like babies.
We must relearn how to use our bodies...”
They were then taken back to their cell where they slept restlessly, plagued by nightmares.
The next day the same process was repeated, and they each gained an extra foot in size.
Kyzyl Kaya, however, had become concerned about Ardan and Suleyma’s intellectual faculties. The young woman had been right. Previously, the Red Wizard had perfected his process on local tribesmen of low intelligence, who quickly became brutes. He had assumed—mistakenly, as it turned out—that the same would apply to Ardan and his companion. Now, he feared they would try to escape again, and, given their new, returning strength, succeed
“I have mastered cellular growth and regeneration, he said to himself, but the true power of the mind still lies beyond me. I need to find something else to break their resistance. But what?...”
He returned to the lab where the two young people were still unconscious.
With a stethoscope, he listened to their heartbeats, which were strong and regular, and only reinforced his fears.
“Fear...” he muttered. “Fear may be the key to effective brainwashing... I could use my spiders, but now, with their new strength and resistance, they might easily vanquish them... Unless...”
He suddenly remembered the black tarantula which he had selected before, or rather which had selected itself by proving to be the fiercest and most savage of all the captive arachnids. He had used it as a test subject to try to impress Ardan and convince him to join forces with him, but in vain.
Since then, the giant insect had remained in the special cages where the Red Wizard kept his mutated specimens.
“I can make it even bigger, stronger... and with electricity, even more savage... Yes, it will be ideal for my scheme...”
Kyzyl Kaya’s step seemed to become emboldened as he stepped into one of his laboratories, pushed a button, and unveiled the dreadful spider that was resting in its cage behind a glass partition.