‘You mean the close-up. I don’t see anything so terrible about that.’ Kem’s grin broadened. ‘Of course, it could have been a bit embarrassing if Estévan had been playing tag with a neat little number in blonde secretaries. Anyhow, the lens they used must be a wonderful piece of magic to have taken that interior shot from somewhere up in the sky.’
‘Such an invention would have been easy to perfect by people so far advanced in science as these,’ Escobar told him. ‘It is many years since our own scientists first discovered how to photograph objects through solids. Ordinary X-rays of the human body pioneered the way, and now we take photographs through sheet steel. Of course, we cannot yet get plates that would convey anything to anybody except experts; but the achievement of perfect clarity can only be a matter of experiment and time. As my laboratory in on the top storey of the building there would have been no complications, and it would have been simple for them to film me at work through the roof.’
‘But the only afternoon a Flying Saucer came over your plant you weren’t there. I had left you tied up, miles away in the bush.’
‘Oh, the film must have been taken at some other time; perhaps weeks before we were kidnapped. It doesn’t follow that the Saucer would have had to come down low enough for us to see it when the photographs were taken. I have no doubt that they possess telescopic lenses of tremendous power.’
‘I see!’ Kem grinned mischievously again. ‘I only wish I had had a camera like that when I was at my old job. I would have got some sporting R.A.F. type to fly me over the Kremlin.’
‘I thought the early pictures—I mean the ones they showed us after the first half-hour—tremendously interesting,’ Carmen remarked.
‘Yes,’ her husband agreed. ‘I would like to have seen a lot more of early Egypt, Greece and Rome, and Europe during the Middle Ages.’
‘But what was the object of the operation?’ Kem asked. ‘That’s what I want to know.’
‘Presumably to inform us that they have been watching our world for thousands of years, and know more about the development of civilisation on Earth than we do ourselves.’
‘I don’t think they are interested in our civilisation so much as in the great upheavals to which Earth is subject, and the development of modern weapons.’
‘Given very powerful telescopes their attention would naturally be caught by any great disturbances, either natural or artificial; so it follows that most of their films would be records of eruptions or wars—particularly our more recent wars in which great quantities of high explosives have been used.’
‘Yes, but what is giving us this show leading up to?’
Neither Escobar nor Carmen could suggest an answer to that; but Kem was not to wait very long before receiving one.
After they had been standing there for a few more minutes, one of the giants crawled out into the passage and beckoned them to follow. Twenty yards further along it he wriggled through another arch. The place beyond was in only semi-darkness and as they peered ahead over his massive shoulders they caught a glimpse of one of the Thinking Lights slowly circling about eight feet up from the floor. With a downward swoop it passed out of sight behind the giant’s body; then the steady glow it had given was suddenly replaced by a much brighter light, but one that constantly flickered as though it came from a powerful electic bulb that had a faulty connection.
Entering the room they saw that its floor and walls were of plain polished stone, but that, unlike the little cinema, it was furnished with a great variety of familar objects. There was an armchair and three upright ones, two side-tables, a desk, a filing cabinet and, along one wall, a bench with scales, phials, retorts and other scientific impedimenta set out on it; and the brilliant flickering light came from bulbs on the desk and near the ceiling.
Throwing up his hands, Escobar gasped: ‘But this is my room at the plant! All the things in it, except that machine over there, are replicas of the things in my laboratory.’
The others saw at once that, although the furniture appeared to be made of plastic instead of wood and leather and many of the items were unusual in texture and colour, in size and shape they were exact duplicates of those they had seen on the screen ten minutes earlier.
The one exception was a squat, square machine made of some transparent substance through which an incredibly complex array of wires, levers, pipes and pistons could be seen. It stood near to the desk. As they were looking at it two creatures similar to the four-inch long bee-like beetle they had seen when leaving their cell that morning flew out from behind the armchair and alighted on its top.
Next moment the machine began to make a whirring noise and many of the parts inside it became blurred through intense activity. But they were not looking at the whirring machinery. They could hardly believe their eyes; yet they knew that they had not imagined what they had seen. One of the big insects had lifted its right horn, clipped with the claw at the end of it a tiny lever and, by depressing the lever, set the machine in motion.
The implications of the movement were tremendous. In a flash it revealed to all three of them that no race resembling the giants, but of greater intelligence, had designed the Saucers and were responsible for the film of progress on Earth. The brains behind those great achievements were those of the insects, who in darkness became the Thinking Lights. Incredible as it at first appeared, the fact was inescapable. These bee-beetles must be the masters of all life on Mars.
16
The Masters of a World
For a few moments their thoughts were chaotic. All through their uneasy, monotonous, seven-week journey in the Saucer; all through the trials, tribulations and anxieties of the past twelve hours, they had hoped to find on Mars beings with whom they could communicate. Somehow, it had seemed impossible to believe that any form of brain capable of producing such scientific wonders could be housed in a body totally unlike that of man. The near-human appearance of the giants had seemed a definite confirmation that life on Mars had developed very much as on Earth. Since they were so mentally under-developed and obviously under instructions, it had been logical to assume that they received their orders from a race physically like themselves, but far superior in all other respects.
How greatly the captives had counted on that, and being able to ensure reasonable treatment by conveying their thoughts, they realised only now that they found themselves at the mercy of insects. The disappointment was so bitter that they felt faint and sick. Even their disappointment was submerged in frantic half-formed speculations about the treatment they would receive from creatures so utterly unlike themselves; possessing intelligence far greater than their own, yet of a kind that might be utterly soulless.
In that awful moment they looked at one another, and each guessed that the others were thinking much the same thing; but none of them spoke. Before they had a chance to get their thoughts into any kind of order their attention became riveted by a new development. The whirring machine gave a loud click, then began to talk.
For a moment they grasped only that it was speaking in Spanish. New hope suddenly surged up in all of them. If the bee-beetles could understand human languages there was still a chance that things might not turn out so badly. They could be asked to provide for their captives some of the comforts that were enjoyed on Earth; better quarters, more water, and, if it were obtainable on Mars, food that would relieve the monotony of those dreary beans. Perhaps, too, when they had acquired all the information about Earth that their captives could give them, they might be persuaded to send them back.
Eagerly, they concentrated on what the machine was saying, but after a few moments disappointment showed in all their faces. It was not addressing them personally, and its theme appeared to be as irrelevant as had been the first film. It was an extract from a broadcast on knitting for young mothers. Only a few minutes of it were given, then the machine switched to a talk in French on Renaissance architecture.
Carmen cut in, her voice low but tense, ‘Did you… did I reall
y see that creature set the machine going; or was it a trick of my imagination?’
To have asked the question at the time had not even occurred to her, because she was so positive of what she had seen. She asked it now only because it seemed so incredible, but without any real hope of reprieve from this new twist of the nightmare that they were actually living.
‘If it was a trick, my imagination played me the same one,’ Escobar muttered glumly. Kem, too, confirmed her fears, but less directly, by whispering, ‘Anyhow, they don’t seem hostile.’
The French voice was cut short in the middle of a sentence and, after an interval of a few seconds, replaced by an English one reading poetry. There followed portions of broadcasts, apparently selected quite arbitarily, in German, Italian, Dutch and several other languages, including one that Escobar said was Russian. As far as they were understandable by the captives, none of them had any bearing on the situation; but they continued to listen in the hope that, like the film series, they would later begin to make sense. In that they were disappointed. After the machine had been working for a little over half an hour it gave a louder click than usual and fell silent.
‘Well; what do you make of that?’ asked Kem.
‘Nothing,’ replied Escobar, ‘except that these amazing insects wish to show us that they have means of recording human speech as well as filming human activities.’
‘I’m not sure you’re right there. It may be only that they are in radio touch with Earth, and simply transmitted bits of the talks that are being given at the moment.’
‘I don’t think so. To tune in to Earth would be pointless unless they were accustomed to do so. It seems more probable that those were recordings of broadcasts made some time back. In either case such a collection of extracts would only have been given in order to convey to us that they understand a number of Earth languages.’
‘I hope to God you’re right. Anyhow, we’ll soon put it to the test.’ Kem took a pace forward and addressed the two insects in English.
‘Er… excuse me; we’d like to introduce ourselves. I’m Kempton Lincoln and my friends are Colonel and Madame Estévan Escobar. We fully realise that we are in your power; but all the same we feel that we are entitled to claim the honours of war. I mean, the furniture in this room shows that you can make the sort of things we are used to; so can’t you provide us with beds and baths and a change of food from those awful beans?’
While he was speaking he was conscious of an urge to burst into hysterical laughter. The whole situation was so fantastically unreal.
The two bee-beetles remained perched on top of their machine and seemed to be regarding him speculatively; but they made no sound or movement, much less did they blow themselves out and produce, like the Djin from The Arabian Nights, a seven-course dinner.
‘It is no use expecting them to reply,’ said Escobar a little testily. ‘The odds against their having developed human vocal cords as well as phenomenal brains puts that out of the question. If they do understand you the most likely way for them to show it is by making a drawing of some kind.’
Carmen turned quickly towards him. ‘We have never seen them do that with the giants, and they must have some way of giving them orders.’
‘It is possible that they have developed some form of thought transference,’ Escobar conceded.
At that moment Kem was conscious of an impulse to walk over to the long bench on which the scientific instruments were laid out. As he would not have known what to do with any of them, he dismissed it as one of those casual thoughts which are apt to cross the mind for no apparent reason; yet he had hardly done so when he saw Carmen take a step in that direction and Escobar turn to follow her.
‘Stop!’ he cried. ‘Stop!’
They halted and looked at him in surprise, as he added, ‘What were you going to do over there?’
‘Er… I don’t quite know,’ Carmen answered vaguely; but Escobar replied more definitely: ‘It suddenly occurred to me to examine some of the instruments they have made, to see how exactly they have succeeded in copying the detail.’
Kem nodded. ‘I thought as much. I felt an impulse to go over there, too. It looks as if you were right about these creatures possessing telepathic powers; but we mustn’t let them get a hold on us. I’ve often used a mild form of telepathy myself when doing conjuring tricks. All conjurors do, as a means of influencing people to take the card they wish; and it is well known that the more often persons allow themselves to be directed that way the easier it becomes to direct them. If we dig our toes in now we may remain immune; if we don’t they may make us do all sorts of things in the future that we should hate having to do.’
For some minutes there ensued a silent battle of wills; but forewarned is forearmed, and the captives now found little difficulty in resisting the insistent thoughts that impelled them towards the bench.
When they had shown quite clearly that they had no intention of moving, the two bee-beetles stopped staring at them and began to fuss a little and wave their claws, as though consulting together. Then one of them lifted his right pincer, grasped another of the tiny levers and depressed it. Again the machine began to whirr, and through its transparent surface the complicated array of small parts could be seen working at frantic speed.
A sonorous snore from behind Kem caused him to glance over his shoulder. One of the giants was leaning back against the wall with his toothless mouth open, fast asleep; the other had his chin on his chest and was obviously dozing. Their state made it clearer than ever that they were not playing any part in the proceedings, or even possessed sufficient intelligence to take an interest in them.
The machine spoke again. It said clearly in Spanish, ‘Music while you work,’ then broke into a sultry rumba.
‘So that’s the idea,’ smiled Escobar. ‘They have brought us here because they want to be shown some of the scientific processes we employ on Earth.’
‘Then they are going to be unlucky,’ said Kem, ‘unless they are prepared to treat us decently. Now we have something to bargain with we may by able to get somewhere.’ He then proceeded to point first at the bench, then at his mouth.
One of the insects stopped the machine; the other flew across the room and buzzed once round the heads of the giants. They woke with a start and the monster nearer the archway wriggled out through it. Two minutes later he returned and, crawling across the floor, extended a huge hand to Kem, in the palm of which were a few beans.
Kem’s fury was such that, regardless of possible consequences, he gave the hand a great swipe that sent the beans flying all over the floor. For a second he held his breath, fearing that the monster would seize and shake him; but the giant only looked surprised and set about collecting the spilled beans. When he had finished, as if he had received a silent order, he crawled out of the room again, evidently to return the precious beans to store.
Meanwhile, the bee-beetles who controlled the machine again pressed the lever; again the machine whirred and the words came, ‘Music while you work,’ followed by the rumba.
‘Come on!’ said Kem to Carmen; and, taking hold of her, he whirled her round in the first steps of the dance.
‘Stop!’ she protested. ‘Are you crazy?’
‘No, just showing them what the music was really meant for, that’s all.’
‘But to start dancing in such a situation is absolutely ludicrous. Besides, they may become angry if they think we are making a mock of them.’
‘Never mind. Let’s risk it. We’ve got to stand up to the little devils. It’s our only chance of forcing them to give us a decent deal.’
The floor was so smooth that it was easy to dance on, and they executed a few figures with considerable grace; then the music was suddenly cut off.
After a short pause the bee-beetle clipped and depressed another lever. Still speaking in Spanish, the machine said: ‘Shoulder arms! Quick march!’
They looked at it and at one another, but did nothing. The sharp command was re
peated three times; then, as they still remained motionless, the bee-beetle tried several other lines. In turn the machine said: ‘Run! I’ll race you! Quick now! Get a move on! Get going!’
That, apparently, was the end of its repertoire, as the insect kept the last little lever pressed down and it reiterated over and over again: ‘Get going! Get going! Get going!’
Suddenly the second bee-beetle flew straight at them. They all ducked, fearing that it might have a powerful sting and meant to use it; but, having circled their heads, it streaked off to the laboratory bench, then back again, and so to and fro several times. It was soon clear that it had no intention of attacking them, but by its example was endeavouring to get them to follow it to the bench.
‘It’s no good!’ Kem shouted, drowning the impersonal voice from the machine. ‘We’re on strike! We’re not going to lift a finger until they provide us with decent quarters and decent food.’
Escobar shook his head. ‘It is useless to yell at them. I am sure they can’t understand a word you are saying.’
‘All right,’ Kem retorted. ‘Let’s sit down, then. That should show them we don’t mean to give way.’ Suiting the action to the word, he sat down on the nearest chair, and the others followed his example.
After a few minutes the sit-down strike took due effect. The flying bee-beetle ceased to buzz angrily back and forth, and his companion shut off the machine. The two giants roused from their lethargy; one of them crawled out of the room and the other beckoned to the captives to follow. Evidently their first audience with the masters of Mars was over. Kem, who was last out, much elated to feel that his party had held their own, turned in the archway to give a derisive grin and make Churchill’s sign of victory.
Having walked down the passages by which they had come in, they found that the entrance to the place was a hole about six feet from the ground in a low cliff-face. The giant who had preceded them lifted them down and on to the trolley, which was waiting there unattended; then the other took one of its control levers and set it in motion.
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