01 Kings Of Space

by Captain W E Johns

  The meal finished, and the work of tidying up the Space-master attended to, the Professor announced his intention of doing a little exploring.

  They all went off together towards the nearest group of trees, which were found to be growing in a little depression in which had accumulated some leaf mould and rock debris. Even the trees, with their short, bristling, primitive form of leaf, were uncouth. Rex hadn't realized that the so-called monkey puzzles, often seen in gardens at home, were survivors of an era that existed long before the deciduous trees, the oaks and the elms, had come to soften the landscape. There were some conifers, too, huge fir trees, similar but harsher forms of the famous redwoods of California. Yellow resin oozed like treacle down their trunks.

  The Professor pointed to a sticky mass of it. 'Do you know what that is?'

  he asked. As no one answered he went on. 'Amber is what we call it today.

  Those big yellow beads with which ladies sometimes adorn themselves started life just as you see it here. In due course the trees perished and rotted away, leaving their resin deep in the ooze, to be washed up by the waves of the sea millions of years later. What is now the Baltic Sea must have been a great forest of these trees at one time, for it is on that coast that amber is most commonly found. Look. See those flies sticking on that piece? You will see those same insects in the amber we fiud today, having been mummified in it for untold ages.

  Very interesting, I think you will agree A gruesome touch was provided by bones that lay on all sides. Some were enormous.

  Some were obviously old, but others appeared to be fairly recent.

  'What is this — a prehistoric slaughterhouse?' inquired Tiger, pipe between his teeth.

  'With everything hunting for food no doubt some desperate battles have been fought on this piece of dry land,' answered the Professor. 'Apart from that, everything has to die some time, if only of old age. Most creatures would crawl on to dry land to die, I imagine. These remains cover a long period. One can see that. Bones of this size, even exposed to the weather, would take centuries to decompose.'

  He examined some of the bones, as he did the rocks on which they lay. He picked up a piece, greenish in colour, and tested its weight in his hand.

  'Almost pure copper,' he stated. 'Here will be the copper mines of the future, no doubt, when the Earth has exhausted its own supply. There will be gold, too, for the finding, I expect; and, for that matter, all the other minerals we have on Earth. There's just a chance that a new one may turn up. In ancient records there is mention of a red metal which no one can find now.

  What fabulous wealth awaits the pioneers who establish the first colony here! Mind you, they won't necessarily come from Earth. At least one other planet has a cosmobile besides ourselves. Don't forget the flying saucers. They couldn't have come from here, that's certain. It isn't unlikely that one day men will fight for possession of this ground we're walking on. They fought for the new continents. Here is a complete new world.

  Some people would be staking claims on it within a month if I let out the secret of the Spacemaster, or if they could find some other way of getting here. What tales they'd have to tell! Poor Columbus and his America would cut a second-rate figure in comparison.'

  They strolled on, the Professor examining everything with the closest attention. 'Ah!

  What have we here?' he cried suddenly, stooping and picking up a small semi-transparent object, the shape and size of a filbert nut.

  'What is it?' asked Rex.

  'Quartz crystal, I think. No. Bless my soul! It's a diamond!' 'A diamond!'

  'Yes. Look! There are plenty. See them sticking out of that rock? That's where they were formed by heat and pressure. The action of water has through the ages worn away the rock, leaving the diamonds, which are much harder, exposed. Ultimately, when the rock has all worn away, the crystals will be left lying on the ground.'

  'May I have some?'

  'Certainly not.'

  'Why?' Rex looked surprised and disappointed.

  'Because the law forbids anyone to import precious stones without declaring them to the customs officers. I have no intention of reporting myself at a customs office, and I'm not going to risk being sent to prison for failing to declare a bauble, however pretty it may be.' The Professor tossed the diamond aside.

  They walked on.

  They had not gone far when an exclamation from Tiger brought the party to a halt. He pointed to the far side of the island, beyond which lay a lagoon. Words were unnecessary. Dragging themselves out of the mud were several creatures of such a size that Rex would have sought in vain for an adjective to describe them.

  'More brontosaurus,' said the Professor. 'Probably quite harmless, provided we don't molest them.'

  'I haven't the slightest intention of molesting them,' declared Tiger, knocking out his pipe and mopping his face with a handkerchief already wet.

  'Let's sit down and watch them,' suggested the Professor.

  'A pity we can't take one home with us. What an attraction it would be at the zoo.'

  'And what a cage would be needed to hold it,' murmured Tiger.

  Sitting on a convenient bank of rock they watched the enormous brutes splashing about at the water's edge like cattle round a pond on a summer's day. Sometimes one would tear up a trailing mass of weed. They watched for some time, but as nothing unusual occurred, they were about to move on when another beast, smaller, but of the same lizard type, appeared from nowhere, as the saying is. It made a rush at the brontosaurus, which appeared to be a young one, farthest from the water.

  It was obvious that it would catch it, too, for the ungainly creature, quickly deserted by its companions, blundered about in a panic, screaming with terror.

  Oh dear. A megalosaurus,' said the Professor. He's a carnivore.'

  The newcomer, its jaws agape, overtook its victim, and flung itself upon it in such insensate fury that Rex could only watch speechlessly. The titanic struggle that followed, in a noise that defied description, did not last long; and the result was never in doubt. The brontosaurus, for all its size, had no chance against its ferocious assailant, which, seizing its prey by the neck, flung it on its side and began to devour it while it was still alive, tearing away great masses of meat while its victim's swaying head drooped nearer to the ground. Its cries became fainter.

  'A disgusting example of nature in the raw,' observed the Professor calmly. 'The many bones we see about are now explained.'

  But this, it soon appeared, was not to be the end of the brutish display.

  From all sides, perhaps attracted by the clamour, came the pterodactyls, their leathery wings outspread like umbrellas, as vultures gather round a stricken camel in the desert. Their obvious intention was to share the feast; and this

  they did, in spite of the efforts of the frenzied proprietor to drive them off. More than one of the birds went down under tooth or claw, but the others, not to be denied, took the opportunity to dash in and tear at the carcase with their teeth-lined mandibles. The din was appalling. And it may have been for this reason that the next arrivals on the scene were neither heard nor observed until they were close.

  The source of the mysterious barks was now revealed. From a belt of trees that ran far out into the mire, barking and yelping came a mob of creatures of a very different type.

  Indeed, so different were they, and so unexpected, that at first sight of them everyone sprang to his feet. Rex instinctively began to back away towards the ship.

  'Keep still!' ordered the Professor curtly. Ìf we keep still they may not see us. We must watch this.'

  Rex noticed that he offered no explanation of what the creatures were, perhaps assuming that this would be understood. To him they looked uncommonly like men, very big men, men or apes, covered with either hair or mud; it was impossible from the distance to tell which. From the fact that they carried clubs he decided that they must be something more than apes, and therefore, as creatures of some intelligence, to be more feared than th
e monsters. Apparently the megalosaurus knew this, for it broke off its gory repast to stare at the barking, snarling figures, running and leaping towards it. The pterodactyls rose in a cloud, wings clashing, but the megalosaurus stood its ground, turning with jaws wide open to face those who would deprive him of his prey — for that, clearly, was the intention of the newcomers. This brave front did not last long. Yelping like mad dogs the apemen assailed it from all sides, hurling rocks so thickly that the air was full of them.

  This was too much for the megalosaurus. Roaring with rage it began to back towards the water, whereupon the apemen rushed upon the now dead brontosaurus and tore at it like wolves.

  Observe our ancestors before they learned table manners,'

  said the Professor, quietly. Could you imagine a picture of such bestial ferocity. In my papers I shall devote a chapter to this enlightening incident. A most wonderful experience, don't you think?'

  If you really want to know what I think, it's this,' answered Tiger. I think if we had any sense we should get a bit nearer to the ship. I don't like the look of those fellows. They can move a lot faster than we can.

  They haven't seen us yet. They're too busy stuffing themselves with uncooked brontosaur. But presently they may look around, and seeing us, decide to have us for a savoury to round off their nauseating dinner.'

  'I think you're right,' agreed the Professor. Ì'd very much like to have a closer look at one of those barbaric gentlemen; indeed, I'd like to measure his head; but I fear he would object. It seems that one of the first things our ancestors learned to do was hunt in packs.'

  'We haven't altogether lost that habit,' returned Tiger whimsically. I think we'd better be going. I can see one of them looking this way.'

  They began to retreat towards the Spacemaster, Rex snatching furtive glances over his shoulder. And it was soon evident that Tiger had been right, for the apemen had gathered in a bunch and were gazing in their direction.

  Further observation was now prevented by something for which none of them was prepared. Without the slightest warning the clouds above them seemed to collapse, and there descended such a quantity of water that the weight of it nearly beat them to the ground. It could not be called rain. Even to describe what was happening as a cloudburst would be understatement.

  Rex had seen a cloudburst but it was nothing like this. In such quantities did the water come down that it was like standing in a waterfall; and there did, in fact, seem to be a risk of their all perishing by drowning. The noise of it was indescribable. Water fell faster than it could run off the rock, so they had to splash along ankle deep, holding each other to prevent

  them from becoming separated. The Spacemaster had disappeared from sight, of course, the moment the deluge started, and Rex could only hope that they would be able to find it. He also hoped that when they did find it it would not be damaged.

  Worse was to come. 'Where is it?' yelled Tiger, meaning the ship. 'We can't be far away.'

  Any answer was drowned in such a clap of thunder that Rex thought his eardrums had been shattered. Then the storm really began. Again and again the thunder crashed as if the planet was falling to pieces, while through the dim twilight flashed lightuing so blinding that Rex covered his eyes with a hand as he stumbled along hanging on to Judkins's arm. With a shattering roar something struck the ground near them. Pieces of rock screamed past and a strong smell of sulphur filled the air. All Rex could think was, if one of these thunderbolts, or whatever the things were, hit the Spacemaster, they were finished.

  A yell of 'Here it is !' from Tiger brought relief, and a minute later, with water pouring off them, they were dragging themselves into the Spacemaster. Inside, the noise was even more deafening, but it was at least possible to breathe freely.

  'My fault. I should have been prepared for this,' shouted the Professor, as they twisted the worst of the water from their clothes. After that, all they could do was wait. Conversation was impossible. Tiger did, it is true, cup his hands round his mouth and yell in the Professor's ear:

  'Wouldn't it be better to get above this?' But the Professor shook his head emphatically.

  The tempest lasted for about half an hour and then ended as abruptly as it had begun. At least, it died away to a drizzle. The steam now rose in clouds from the hot ground —

  from everything, in fact, including the Spacemaster. The cabin soon looked, and felt, like a Turkish bath. Visibility was still restricted to a few yards.

  'What are you going to do?' Tiger asked the Professor. Surely it's not much use staying here in this?'

  'I am afraid you're right,' was the answer. 'We've done very well for one visit. As I said just now, I should have been prepared for such a deluge.

  The conditions pointed to it. I have no doubt that such storms occur here frequently; perhaps every few hours. The water falls. Excessive evaporation, due to Venus's proximity to the Sun, lifts it again until the clouds become overloaded and down it comes. So it goes on, year after year. A most unpleasant climate. It may improve as the surface water cuts channels for itself, always supposing that there are depressions deep enough to hold it all. It is our great oceans that save us. Without those great holes there is enough water on Earth to cover the land. If Venus has no ocean it will be too bad. Even if she had an ocean the water might be pulled out of it at regular intervals by the Sun, just as our little Moon creates high tides by pulling the water about when it is near the Earth.'

  I'm sorry to interrupt your learned observations, Professor, but don't you think it's time we made a move?' suggested Tiger. It looks like being some time before this steam clears, and should those hairy missing-links decide to investigate it might be rather awkward.'

  If one of them got into the cabin it might be very awkward indeed,'

  admitted the Professor. What those tough gentlemen lack in brains they more than make up for in brawn. One can judge that from the size of some of the rocks they tossed about.'

  As he finished speaking the Professor advanced to the door to close it; but at that same moment a grey shape materialized in the mist, and moving forward fulfilled his wish for a close view of an apeman. They came face to face. Both stopped. Both stared. Neither of them made a sound.

  Rex, who happened to be standing just behind the Professor, found himself gazing at a visage that was certainly not that of an ape. The eyes were too intelligent, and their expression sad and thoughtful rather than ferocious. The nose was flat, with distended nostrils, but it was a human nose. The mouth was

  large. Below it was a definite chin, although this was covered with unkempt hair that started on the head and formed a mat, covering the ears and running down to the neck, which ended on a pair of massive shoulders.

  The chief difference between the Venusian and civilized man was the forehead, which sloped back sharply from just above the eyes.

  For perhaps three seconds the man from Earth and the man of Venus gazed at each other.

  Then they both sprang back together, one with a yelp, the other with a startled cry. Recovering, the Professor slammed the door and dashed to his control table. 'Air, Judkins,'

  he called swiftly. 'Full pressure.'

  Rex remained rigid, wondering if they were going to be in time, for he could see more shapes emerging from the mist and there were some threatening barks. He drew a deep breath of relief when the rotors began to whirr, causing the figures outside to withdraw with an outburst of barks and yelps which were presumably some primitive form of conversation.

  'Poor fellows,' said the Professor sympathetically. 'I should like to stay and help them.

  Think what we could teach them.'

  Think what they could teach us,' returned Tiger grimly. Let's go, before they decide to come aboard.'

  This is a great occasion,' declared the Professor. 'For the first time, perhaps in the history of all creation, men of two planets have met.'

  As the Spacemaster began slowly to rise Rex caught a last glimpse of several pensive faces looki
ng up at them.

  They must wonder, for I believe they are capable of wondering, where we came from,'

  resumed the Professor. 'Remember, these eternal clouds that blanket their world prevent them from seeing any others. They know nothing of the stars. It is unlikely that they have ever seen the Sun, although it belongs to them as much as it does to us. We are neighbours, rushing for ever round and round that same fiery master. The cloud, of course, may save all life on Venus from extinction, by toning down the solar rays which here must have great force.

  Things may change over the next few million years. Should Venus throw off her excessive atmosphere, which could happen, she might become a comfortable place on which to live. She is obviously still very young, as worlds go. It's a great pity we couldn't have taken one of our new friends home with us. They were not such bad-looking chaps as I would have expected. What fun it would have been to introduce one to the Royal Society.' The Professor chuckled.

  Gentlemen, allow me to introduce Hairy Harry from Hesperus,' murmured Tiger.

  Judkins started to laugh, but broke off.

  The Professor looked at him reproachfully over his glasses. Beg pardon, sir,' said Judkins apologetically.

  Now while this was going on it had seemed to Rex that their ascent was not as swift as usual. The customary pressure was less severe, and he could only suppose that the Professor, for some reason of his own, was making a slow departure. But when a puzzled frown creased the Professor's forehead, and he threw over a lever without materially affecting the acceleration, he had an uncomfortable feeling that something was amiss.