November 1930

by Unknown

  * * * * *

  I heard a sound! A toneless, unidentifiable sound. Another like it; a little sequence of faint sounds. Growing louder. Approaching footsteps? Jetta's? I prayed so.

  Then a low voice. Two voices. Both the same in quality. But from the words I could identify them.

  "Hello, Gutierrez."

  "Niña, hello."

  Jetta! She had come!

  "The captive is safe? No trouble?"

  "No. He has not moved."

  "Careful of him, Gutierrez. He is worth a lot of money to us."

  "Well you say it. Señorita. In half an hour now, we will be away. Santa Maria, when this is over I shall breathe with more comfort!"

  "We'll have no trouble, Gutierrez. We're almost there. In ten minutes now, or a little more."

  "So soon? What time is it?"

  "Well, after half-past ten. When it's over, Gutierrez, we head for Cape Town. Clever of me, don't you think, to persuade Hendrick to take us to Cape Town? Just you three men to divide all this treasure. It would be foolish to let a hundred others have it."

  "True, Niña; true enough."

  "I insisted upon you and Hans--Gutierrez, what is that?"

  A silence.

  "I heard nothing."

  "A voice, was it?"

  "The Americano?"

  "No! No--the commander calling? Was it? Calling you, Gutierrez? Perhaps we have sighted Hanley's Wasp. Go! I'll stand here, and come quickly back."

  * * * * *

  Footsteps. Now! Our chance, come at last! I twisted over on my side, and lay motionless. Ah, if only those were Gutierrez' fading footfalls! And Jetta, here alone with me in the green darkness! Just for this one vital moment.

  Fingers were fumbling at the top of my sack, unfastening the cord. Hands and arms came swiftly in. Fingers ran down my back as I lay on my side to admit them quickly. Fingers went fumbling at the cords that lashed my crossed wrists behind me. A knee pressed against me. A hurried, panting, half sobbing breath close over me--

  Just a hurried moment. The hands withdrew. The sack went back over my head. The knees, the slight weight against me, was gone. A few seconds only.

  Footsteps. The voices again.

  "Was it the commander, Gutierrez?"

  "No. I do not know what it was. Nothing, probably."

  "The Wasp in sight?"

  "Not yet, Niña. You had best go back: De Boer, he might be jealous of us, no? He is busy with his instruments, but should he realize you are here, talking with me--"

  "Senseless, Gutierrez!"

  "Is it so, Niña? I have no attraction? Go back to him. Gold I want, not trouble over you!"

  Faint laughter.

  "When we sight the Wasp, I'll call and tell you, Gutierrez. Too bad you won't let me stay with you. I like you."

  "Yes. But go now!"

  Faint laughter. Footsteps. Then silence.

  Our vital moment had come and passed. And Jetta had done her part; the role of action upon this dim lurid stage was now mine to play.

  My hands were free.

  CHAPTER XVIII - The Combat in the Green Darkness

  Another interval. A dead, dark silence. I did not dare move. Gutierrez was here, within a few feet of me, probably. I wondered if he could see the outlines of the black sack. Doubtless they were very vague. But if I exposed my flesh, my face, my hands, that would at once attract his attention.

  I worked the loosened cords from my wrists; moved my stiffened hands until, with returning blood, the strength came to them. I could not reach my bound ankles without doubling up my knees. I did not dare chance such a movement of the sack. But, after a moment, I got my hands in front of me.

  Then I took the gag from my mouth and, with a cautious hand, pried at the top of the sack where it was bunched over my head. Its fastening was loose.

  Another interval. A dim muffled voice; "The Wasp is in sight, Gutierrez!"

  A movement--a sound like footsteps. Probably Gutierrez moving to the corridor window to glance at Hanley's distant hovering flyer. I hoped it might be that: I had to take the chance.

  * * * * *

  I slid the bag from my face. I feared an abrupt alarm, or Gutierrez leaping upon me. But there was silence, and I saw his vague dark outlines at the window oval, five feet from me.

  I got my ankles loose and slid the bag off. I was unsteady on my feet, but desperation aided me.

  Gutierrez half turned as I gripped him from behind. My hand on his mouth stifled his outcry. His black knife blade waved blindly. Then my clenched knuckle caught his temple, and dug with the twisting Santus blow. I was expert at it, and I found the vulnerable spot.

  He crumpled in my grasp, and I slid his falling body across the narrow corridor into the nearest cubby oval.

  Almost soundless; and in the control room Jetta and De Boer were murmuring and gazing at Hanley's ship, which hung ahead and above us at the zero-height.

  I had planned all my movements. No motion was lost. Gutierrez was about my height and build. I stripped his black suit from him, donned it, then tied his ankles and wrists, and gagged him against the time when he would recover consciousness. Then I stuffed his body in the sack and tied its top.

  This black suit had a mask, rolled up and fastened to the helmet. I loosed it, dropping it over my face. Knife in hand, I stood at the corridor window.

  * * * * *

  It was all black outside. The clouds were black overhead; the highest Lowland crags, several thousand feet beneath us, were all but blotted out in the murky darkness. Only one thing was to be seen: a quarter of a mile ahead, now, and a thousand feet higher than our level, the shining, bird-like outlines of Hanley's hovering little Wasp. It stood like a painted image of an aero, alone on a dead-black background. Red and green signal-lights dotted it, and on its stern tip a small, spreading searchlight bathed the wings and the body with a revealing silver radiance.

  Our forward flight had been checked, and we, too, were hovering. Hans doubtless would remain for a time in the pilot cubby; De Boer and Jetta were in the control room. It was only twenty feet away, but I could barely see its oval entrance.

  "Gutierrez!"

  One of them was calling. My hollow empty voice echoed back as I softly responded:

  "Yes?"

  "Be ready. We are arrived."

  "Yes, Commander. All is well."

  I continued to stand at the window. Hanley's little balloon-car was visible now. Then he cut it away. We had moved forward in the interval. The tiny car floated out almost above us.

  My gaze searched the void of darkness outside. Did Hanley have an invisible flyer out there? Perhaps so. But it could accomplish nothing as yet. It would not even dare approach, for fear of collision with us.

  * * * * *

  The tiny car, with a white pilot light in it, swayed with a slow descent. The basket beneath the supporting balloon oscillated in a wide swing, then steadied. A sudden flash showed up there--a flashing electronic stream, from Hanley's Wasp to the basket. The shot swept the basket interior. No one could be hidden there and survive.

  It was Hanley's proof to us that he was following instructions.

  "Hah! He obeys properly, Jetta!"

  The voice floated back to me from the control room. Could I creep in there, surprise De Boer now, and kill him? Doubtless. But it would alarm Hans. I must await my chance to get them together.

  "Gutierrez! Hans, get us under it! Gutierrez!"

  The vague outline of De Boer came toward me in the corridor, burly dark blob. His mask was down now. There were points of light, glowing like faint distant stars, to mark his eyes.

  "Gutierrez."

  "Yes."

  A small black figure followed after him. Jetta.

  "Yes, De Boer." I stood over the sack. "I am ready."

  De Boer's giant shape towered beside me. Now! My knife thrust now! But Hans was coming toward us. He would take alarm before I could reach him.

  "Open the side porte, Gutierrez. Hurry, the car is h
ere. Hans, you should have stayed up there!"

  "The drift is calculated; the car is just here."

  We were all swift-moving shadows; disembodied voices.

  "Get that porte open."

  "Yes." I opened it.

  * * * * *

  We went outside on the runway. I passed close to Jetta, and just for an instant pressed my gloved fingers on the black fabric of her arm--and she knew.

  "Now, seize it."

  "Here, Hans, climb up."

  "I have it. Pull it, Gutierrez!"

  The car drifted at us from the black void. We caught it.

  "Hold it, Gutierrez."

  "Hans, clip the balloon. Up with you."

  In the blurred haste, I could not get them together. I did not want to kill one and have the other leap upon me.

  We fastened the little balloon and dragged the car onto the take-off platform. The shape of Hans leaped into the car.

  "It is here! The ransom money!"

  "Lift it to me. Heavy?"

  "Yes."

  "Gutierrez, help me. Hurry! If Hanley tries any trickery--"

  Our aero was drifting downward and southward in the slight wind. Hanley's Wasp still hovered at the zero-height.

  "In, Gutierrez."

  * * * * *

  Hans and I hauled out the heavy casket and placed it on the wing runway. De Boer pried up its lid. The gold was there. I could not tell where Jetta was; I prayed she would keep away from this.

  Then the shape of De Boer was missing! But in a moment he appeared, dragging the sack.

  "Lift him, Gutierrez. Hans, unclip the balloon and shove off the car!"

  We were all standing at the two-foot rail of the runway. The car-basket, floating now, was off side and level with us. My chance!

  "In with him, Gutierrez."

  I shoved the body, encased in its black sack, with Hans helping me. And suddenly De Boer's knife came down at the sack! A stab. But an instinct to save the poor wretch within swept me. I struck at De Boer's arm and deflected the blow. The sack tumbled into the car.

  I had neglected whatever chance had existed. Too late now!

  "What in the hell!"

  De Boer's shape seized me.

  "What--"

  It sent me into a sudden confusion. I flung him off. I stumbled against the shape of Hans.

  The car was almost loose; drifting away.

  Without thought--a frantic impulse--I pushed Hans over the brink. He fell into the car. It swayed into an oscillation with the impact. The balloon sank below our wing level and was gone, with only Hans, muffled shouts floating up.

  * * * * *

  And De Boer came leaping at me from behind. I whirled around. My danger was too much for the watching Jetta. She screamed.

  "Philip, look out for him!"

  "Hah! The American. By damn, what is this?"

  It gave De Boer pause. He gripped a wing stay-wire for a second.

  Then he came with a rush.

  The corridor door was open behind me. I flung myself into it--and collided with a shape.

  "Philip!"

  I shoved at her frantically.

  "Jetta, get back! Away from us!"

  I pulled at her, half falling. De Boer's shape came through the doorway into the corridor. And was blotted out in the green darkness as he turned the other way, to avoid me if I struck.

  A silence. The shadow of Jetta was behind me. I stood with poised knife, listening, straining my eyes through the faint green darkness. De Boer was here, knife in hand, fallen now into craftly, motionless silence. He might have been close here down the corridor. Or in any one of these nearby cubby doorways.

  I slid forward along the wall. The corridor was solid black down its length: the green radiance seemed brighter at the control room behind me. Had De Boer gone into this solid blackness, to lure me?

  * * * * *

  I stopped my advance. Stood again, trying to see or hear something.

  And then I saw him! Two small glowing points of light. Distant stars. His eyes! Five feet ahead of me? Or ten? Or twenty?

  A rustle. A sound.

  His dark form materialized as he came--a huge, black blob overwhelming me, his arm and knife blade striking.

  I dropped to the floor-grid, and his blade went over me. And as I dropped, I struck with an upward thrust. My knife met solidity; sank into flesh.

  I twisted past him on the floor as he fell. My knife was gone: buried in him.

  Words were audible; choking gasps. I could see his form rising, staggering. The open porte was near him; he swayed through it.

  Did he know he was mortally wounded? I think so. He swayed on the wing runway, and I slid to the door and stood watching. And was aware of the shadow of Jetta creeping to join me.

  "Is he--?"

  "Quiet, Jetta."

  He stood under the wing, swaying, gripping a stay. Then his voice sounded, and it seemed like a laugh.

  "The craven American--wins." He moved a step. "Not to see--me die--"

  He toppled at the rail. "Good-by, Jetta."

  A great huddled shadow. A blob, toppling, falling....

  Far down there now the crags and peaks of the Lowland depths were visible. The darkness swallowed his whirling body. We could not hear the impact.

  CHAPTER XIX - Episode of the Lowlands

  There is but little remaining for me to record. I could not operate the mechanism of invisibility of De Boer's X-flyer. But its pilot controls were simple. With Jetta at my side, trembling now that our gruesome task was over, we groped our way through the green darkness and mounted to the pilot cubby. And within ten minutes I had lowered the ship into the depths, found a landing place upon the dark rocks, and brought us down.

  Hanley's Wasp had landed: we saw its lights half a mile from us. And then the lights of another ship--an X-flyer convoying Hanley--slowly materializing nearby.

  And then reunion. Jetta and I left De Boer's invisible vessel and clambered over the rocks. And presently Hanley, staring at our grotesque black forms, came rushing forward and greeted us.

  We were an hour locating De Boer's flyer, for all that Jetta and I had just left it and thought we could find our way back. But we stumbled onto it at last. Hanley felt his way aboard and brought it to visibility. It has since been returned to the Anti-War Department, with the compliments of Hanley's Office.

  The ransom money was restored to its proper source. Spawn's treasure of radiumized quicksilver we shipped back to Nareda, where it was checked and divided, and Jetta's share legally awarded to her.

  De Boer was dead when Hanley found him that night on the rocks. Jetta and I did not go to look at him....

  The balloon basket landed safely. Hanley and his men were down there in time to seize it. Hans was caught; and Gutierrez, within the sack, was found to be uninjured. They are incarcerated now in Nareda. They were willing to tell the location of the bandit stronghold. A raid there the following day resulted in the capture of most of De Boer's men.

  All this is now public news. You have heard it, of course. Yet in my narrative, setting down the events as I lived them, I have tried to give more vivid details than the bare facts as they were blared through the public audiphones.

  An episode of the strange, romantic, fantastic Lowlands. A very unimportant series of incidents mingled with the news of a busy world--just a few minutes of the newscasters' time to tell how a band of depth smugglers was caught.

  But it was a very important episode to me. It changed, for me, a clanking, thrumming machine-made world into a shining fairyland of dreams come true. It gave me little Jetta.

  (The End)

  Vagabonds of Space

  A COMPLETE NOVELETTE

  By Harl Vincent

  [Sidenote: From the depths of the Sargasso Sea of Space came the thought-warning, "Turn back!" But Carr and his Martian friend found it was too late!]

  CHAPTER I - The Nomad

  Gathered around a long table in a luxuriously furnished directo
r's room, a group of men listened in astonishment to the rapid and forceful speech of one of their number.

  "I tell you I'm through, gentlemen," averred the speaker. "I'm fed up with the job, that's all. Since 2317 you've had me sitting at the helm of International Airways and I've worked my fool head off for you. Now--get someone else!"

  "Made plenty of money yourself, didn't you, Carr?" asked one of the directors, a corpulent man with a self-satisfied countenance.

  "Sure I did. That's not the point. I've done all the work. There's not another executive in the outfit whose job is more than a title, and you know it. I want a change and a rest. Going to take it, too. So, go ahead with your election of officers and leave me out."

  "Your stock?" Courtney Davis, chairman of the board, sensed that Carr Parker meant what he said.

  "I'll hold it. The rest of you can vote it as you choose: divide the proxies pro rata, based on your individual holdings. But I reserve the right to dump it all on the market at the first sign of shady dealings. That suit you?"

  The recalcitrant young President of International Airways had risen from the table. The chairman attempted to restrain him.

  "Come on now, Carr, let's reason this out. Perhaps if you just took a leave of absence--"

  "Call it anything you want. I'm done right now."

  Carr Parker stalked from the room, leaving eleven perspiring capitalists to argue over his action.

  * * * * *

  He rushed to the corridor and nervously pressed the call button of the elevators. A minute later he emerged upon the roof of the Airways building, one of the tallest of New York's mid-town sky-scrapers. The air here, fifteen hundred feet above the hot street, was cool and fresh. He walked across the great flat surface of the landing stage to inspect a tiny helicopter which had just settled to a landing. Angered as he was, he still could not resist the attraction these trim little craft had always held for him. The feeling was in his blood.

  His interest, however, was short lived and he strolled to the observation aisle along the edge of the landing stage. He stared moodily into the heavens where thousands of aircraft of all descriptions sped hither and yon. A huge liner of the Martian route was dropping from the skies and drifting toward her cradle on Long Island. He looked out over the city to the north: fifty miles of it he knew stretched along the east shore of the Hudson. Greatest of the cities of the world, it housed a fifth of the population of the United States of North America; a third of the wealth.