diff options
Diffstat (limited to '24913-h/24913-h.htm')
| -rw-r--r-- | 24913-h/24913-h.htm | 3308 |
1 files changed, 3308 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/24913-h/24913-h.htm b/24913-h/24913-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6171c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/24913-h/24913-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3308 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Monster, by S. M. Tenneshaw + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; clear: both; visibility: hidden;} + .dfx {margin: 0em auto;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + img {border: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em;} + .cpq {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .illo {margin: 0 auto 3em; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; width: 700px;} + .tease {margin-top: 2em; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em;} + .titl {background: url("images/001.png") top left no-repeat; width: 700px; height: 503px; margin: 0 auto;} + .bk1 {width: 350px;} + .figtran {float: left; text-align: justify; border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15% 0; padding: 1em;} + .figtran img {float: left; padding-right: 1em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Monster, by S. M. Tenneshaw + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Monster + +Author: S. M. Tenneshaw + +Release Date: March 25, 2008 [EBook #24913] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MONSTER *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="titl"> + +<div class="bk1"><h1><big>The MONSTER</big></h1> + +<h2>By S. M. TENNESHAW</h2> + +<p class="tease">What will cosmic rays do to a living organism? +Will they destroy life, or produce immortality? +The eminent Dr. Blair Gaddon thought he knew ...</p> +</div></div> + +<div class="illo">They watched as white-hot flames shot +from the base of the cradled rocket. +There was a tremendous roaring, and +then the rocket slowly lifted upward.</div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Fred Trent</span> pulled his coupe +into the curb and leaned his head +out the open window beside him.</p> + +<p>"Hi, Joan, need any help?"</p> + +<p>He called to a trim-looking girl in a +nurse's uniform. Joan Drake was holding +on to a leash with both hands, and +her slender body was tugging against +the leash as she strained against the +pull of a Great Dane on the other end.</p> + +<p>She looked over her shoulder as Trent +called out, her blonde hair glinting in +the warm afternoon sunlight. Blue +eyes smiled an impish greeting at him.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Fred. No thanks. Brutus +and I get along famously."</p> + +<p>Trent opened the car door and got +out. He walked up the sidewalk and +stood beside the girl.</p> + +<p>"Business must be mighty slack for +the great gland specialist, Stanley Fenwick. +Is this all he can find for his pretty +nurse to do?"</p> + +<p>The girl sniffed. "Walking Brutus +around has its compensations. At least +he doesn't get fresh—like some people +I know."</p> + +<p>Fred grinned as he saw the huge dog +suddenly turn on its leash and raise +itself off the ground to stick out a long +rapier-like tongue and lick the girl's +cheek before she could move her head +away.</p> + +<p>"Down, Brutus! Down!" she called +out, half-laughing.</p> + +<p>Trent stepped in and pulled the big +animal away from the girl, patting the +dog's head as he did so.</p> + +<p>"What was that you said about getting +fresh?" Trent asked her. "Looks +to me like the dog's life is the best +around the Fenwick offices."</p> + +<p>"Just don't get any ideas!" Joan +Drake shot back.</p> + +<p>"I've already got them," he replied. +"Which reminds me, am I seeing you +tonight?"</p> + +<p>The girl held a tight grip on the leash +and looked at him coyly.</p> + +<p>"Let's see. We'll take in a movie, +stop for a bite to eat at Joe's Hamburger +Palace, and then drive out to North +Butte. You'll park the car and then +you'll ask me when I'm going to quit my +job and settle down raising a family for +you, and I'll say—"</p> + +<p>"You'll say not until I get the biggest +scoop in Arizona, a big raise, and a +bonus as a down payment on a house," +he completed her sentence.</p> + +<p>"There! You see? We might just as +well not have our date. In effect, we've +had it already."</p> + +<p>He looked at her for a long moment, +and when he spoke again his voice had +lost its humorous note.</p> + +<p>"You forgot one very important +item. When I ask you that usual question, +and after you give your usual +answer, I'll take you in my arms and +tell you how much you mean to me, +and—"</p> + +<p>"You win," she interrupted him. "I +had forgotten about that."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> dog started to pull against the +leash again and Fred reached out +to help her hold the big animal in check. +Then she looked at him again.</p> + +<p>"What brings you to the outskirts of +Tucson? Don't tell me there's a big +story breaking on the edge of town."</p> + +<p>He shook his head. "Not exactly. I'm +on my way to the Rocket Research +Proving Grounds. Just a routine story +on the experiment they're going to pull +off this evening. I've got to interview +Mathieson, Gaddon, and a few other +scientists on the project."</p> + +<p>The girl laughed. "That's something +of a coincidence. Dr. Blair Gaddon is in +Dr. Fenwick's office right now."</p> + +<p>Fred Trent's eyebrows raised in surprise.</p> + +<p>"That so? Something wrong with +him?"</p> + +<p>"No. He's just having a physical +checkup. Seems to be worried about his +heart. Dr. Fenwick didn't need me since +it's a routine job, so I took Brutus for +a walk."</p> + +<p>Trent nodded. "That's a bit of luck. I +think I'll stick around and give Gaddon +a lift out to the Proving Grounds. I +wanted to talk to him anyway."</p> + +<p>"In that case," the girl replied, "you +can give me a hand putting Brutus back +in his kennel. Once he gets out he's +something of a problem."</p> + +<p>Fred nodded, taking the leash from +her hands and feeling the big dog tug +against him.</p> + +<p>"Never could figure out why Fenwick +wanted a big hound like this. Seems to +me a terrier would be more practical."</p> + +<p>"That's a matter of taste," Joan +answered. "Dr. Fenwick is very fond of +Brutus—and so am I for that matter. +But tell me something about this experiment +you're covering."</p> + +<p>They had turned in at a large Spanish +type house that Trent knew served as +a combination living quarters and office +for the famous gland specialist. He +shrugged.</p> + +<p>"Don't know much about it myself. +They're shooting off this new type rocket, +a really big affair, loaded with all +sorts of instruments. Some sort of experiment +with cosmic rays. The rocket +will go up to the outer layers of the +Earth's atmosphere, where a clocked +mechanism will release a parachute-attached +section containing the instruments. +This will float back to the surface +of the Earth.</p> + +<p>"There is one interesting thing about +it though. They're also including a live +animal with the instruments. A cat I +believe. They want to see what effect +the cosmic rays will have on a living +creature."</p> + +<p>The girl turned a shocked face toward +him as they walked up the steps +to the front door of the house. Trent +could see a panel in the center of the +door that opened from the inside, and +over it, the sign, <i>Doctor is in, please +ring</i>.</p> + +<p>"But I think that's positively cruel!" +Joan Drake said earnestly. "Subjecting +an innocent animal to what may be certain +death!"</p> + +<p>Fred laughed at her concern. "Hold +on, now. You should be the last one to +take such an attitude. Doesn't medical +science experiment on animals to find +out about human ailments?"</p> + +<p>"That's different," the girl insisted, +opening the door and leading the way +into a long hall. "Doctors know what +they are doing—but this is a sheer waste +of life ..."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Trent</span> let the dog pull him down the +hall toward a door at the end which +he knew opened on the backyard where +the Great Dane was kept.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me it's much the same +thing," he answered her. "Scientists +want to explore the mysteries of space, +and the only way to do it is with an animal. +Or would you like to make the +trip—maybe I can arrange it? Would +make a big story, just the one I've been +waiting for."</p> + +<p>"I believe you would at that!" she +mocked, opening the rear door. "Here, +give me the leash."</p> + +<p>Trent handed over the leash to her +and watched as she released the huge +dog. Brutus flicked out a long tongue +once again and caught the girl's cheek in +a wet caress before she straightened.</p> + +<p>"Brutus! Now get along with you!"</p> + +<p>The dog took a leisurely bound +through the door and into the backyard. +Trent glanced through the door at the +tall fenced-in yard with the large kennel +that might well have served as a small +garage. He stood beside the girl watching +the big animal romp for a few moments, +then she shut the door and they +turned back down the hall.</p> + +<p>"I'll have to go inside now, Fred," +she said. "If you want to wait for Gaddon, +have a seat. It shouldn't be long."</p> + +<p>She started to turn in at a door +marked private, when Fred pulled her +gently around and before she could stop +him, had kissed her.</p> + +<p>"I was getting mighty jealous of +Brutus. Now I feel better."</p> + +<p>"I don't know which of you I prefer," +she shot back, then smiled and +pulled away from him.</p> + +<p>He watched her open the office door +and close it after her.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">He had</span> lit his second cigarette and +gotten halfway through his third +magazine on the rack beside the chair +when the office door opened again. He +heard the pleasant voice of Dr. Stanley +Fenwick.</p> + +<p>"If every man had a heart as strong +as yours, Blair, we wouldn't need half +the doctors we have."</p> + +<p>Then he heard the deep, gruff voice of +Dr. Blair Gaddon half laugh.</p> + +<p>"Thanks a lot, Fenwick. You've taken +a load off my mind. Goodbye, Miss +Drake."</p> + +<p>He heard Joan reply and then saw +Dr. Fenwick usher the physicist out +into the hall.</p> + +<p>Trent rose as the two men approached.</p> + +<p>"Why, hello, Trent," Dr. Fenwick +said.</p> + +<p>Trent nodded at the tall, white-coated +figure of the famous gland specialist.</p> + +<p>"Afternoon, doctor."</p> + +<p>Fenwick smiled at him. "Don't tell +me you're waiting to see me?"</p> + +<p>Fred shook his head. "Not exactly. I +was waiting to see Dr. Gaddon though. +I was on my way out to the Proving +Grounds and I happened to stop by and +talk to Miss Drake." He turned to the +physicist, a bulky man with firm, hard +features, who moved his large body with +an almost cat-like grace.</p> + +<p>"I hope you don't mind, Dr. Gaddon. +Possibly I can give you a lift back out +to the Base. I'm covering the launching +for my paper."</p> + +<p>Gaddon smiled at him. "But of +course I don't mind. And I'll take you +up on that offer. It'll save me a trip +back to town to take one of the staff +cars."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> words had a friendly note to +them, as did the smile on Gaddon's +face. And yet, somehow, Fred Trent +found that he did not like this man. It +was nothing he could put his finger on, +nothing he could rationalize, unless it +was the coldly calculating look in the +scientist's eyes.</p> + +<p>"That's fine, doctor," Trent replied. +"Shall we go?"</p> + +<p>He turned and said good-bye to Fenwick +and passed a smiling glance at the +girl. He could see her blush slightly as +Fenwick caught the glance and laughed. +Then they were out of the house and +Trent led the way to his car.</p> + +<p>Inside, he started the motor and +drove away. Beside him, Gaddon lit a +cigar and blew a long plume of smoke +through the open window.</p> + +<p>"You said you wanted to talk to me, +Trent?"</p> + +<p>Fred nodded. "That's right, doctor. +I'm writing up the rocket experiment +for my paper, and I thought maybe you +could give me a few details of interest." +He paused for a moment, then asked: +"Would it be too personal to ask if +your visit to Dr. Fenwick had anything +to do with the coming experiment?"</p> + +<p>Gaddon shot a quick glance at him.</p> + +<p>"Why do you ask that?"</p> + +<p>Fred Trent shrugged. "It was just a +thought. I heard Dr. Fenwick talking +about your heart, but you look pretty +healthy to me, so I thought maybe it +was because Fenwick is a gland specialist +and you might be talking to him +about examining the cat after the rocket +returns ..."</p> + +<p>Gaddon laughed roughly. "A mighty +clever reasoning, Trent, but not quite +correct. The fact is, I was seeing the +doctor for personal reasons. Just a +physical checkup. It had nothing to do +with the rocket experiment or the effect +of the cosmic rays on the animal +we're including in the experiment."</p> + +<p>"It was just a thought, doctor," Trent +replied, as he moved the coupe out on +the open highway away from Tucson +and toward the Rocket Proving +Grounds on the desert flats in the distance.</p> + +<p>"So now that we've disposed of that, +what else would you like to know?" +Gaddon asked him, a peculiar edge to +his voice that Trent did not miss.</p> + +<p>"Well, I would like to get a first hand +bit of information on just exactly what +you plan to prove with this experiment. +If I'm correct, Dr. Mathieson, the head +of the project, contends that cosmic +rays may be lethal, and this experiment +is to prove his point."</p> + +<p>The physicist snorted. "It is no secret +that Mathieson and myself disagree violently +on that subject."</p> + +<p>Trent's eyebrows raised. "Is that so? +I wasn't aware of it?"</p> + +<p>Gaddon paused, seeing that his words +had slipped out too freely. Finally he +said, "What I meant to say, Trent, is +that up until now it has not been a public +issue of disagreement. And I would +prefer to have it remain a private matter +until after the experiment."</p> + +<p>"I see," Trent mused. "You have my +word that I won't print anything you +say without your permission. But just +what is the difference of opinion between +you and Mathieson?"</p> + +<p>Gaddon took a long pull at his cigar +and waited a few moments before replying. +It was apparent to Trent that he +was debating continuing the subject +with a newspaperman. But Trent had +gauged the man correctly. There was a +flair of vanity in Gaddon that dated +back to his English ancestry. Trent remembered +that Gaddon, quite a figure +in English scientific circles, had created +a stir when he had come over to the +United States to assist in rocket research +at the Arizona proving grounds. +It seemed that Gaddon had not wanted +to take a back seat to the famed +American scientist, Mathieson. It had +made a few gossip columns in the newspapers +before Washington put an official +clamp on the matter.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Now</span>, as Trent waited for the Englishman +to reply, he could almost +sense the thoughts that were going +through Gaddon's mind. The Englishman +was debating whether to take an +open stand against the viewpoints of +his American colleague. But Trent felt +that the British stubbornness in the +man would make him reveal his own +theories. Especially since Trent had already +promised not to print anything +without Gaddon's permission. That +would give him an opportunity to gloat +safely, should his own ideas be proven +correct.</p> + +<p>"Very well, Trent, I'll take you at +your professional word to keep this matter +confidential. But if what I contend +is correct, you'll have a big story to +tell."</p> + +<p>Trent waited expectantly, not wanting +to break the Englishman's train of +thought.</p> + +<p>"The fact is, Trent, that Mathieson +is all wrong. To go even further, most +of your American scientists don't have +the haziest idea of exactly what the +cosmic rays are. We in Britain have +made quite exhaustive studies of the +phenomena."</p> + +<p>Trent didn't bother to argue with +him. He only nodded his head. It would +have been silly, he knew, to contradict +Gaddon, to tell him that the English +didn't know a thing more about the +cosmic rays than the American scientists, +that American science had made, +and was continually making, exhaustive +research into that scientific field of +study on as great if not more so a scale +than Britain could possibly achieve. +It was only Gaddon's vanity talking, +Trent knew, so he let him put in the +barb of ridicule, waiting.</p> + +<p>"I was sent over here, as you may +know, to aid in the current experiment. +To formulate it as a matter of fact. +This test is being conducted to determine +just what effect cosmic rays will +have on a living organism. As I said, +Mathieson, and your other scientists +are of the opinion that the rays are +lethal. That they will destroy life. In +effect, that they are death rays.</p> + +<p>"But I contend that they are wrong. +What would you say if I told you that +cosmic rays are the very source of life +and energy in the universe?"</p> + +<p>Trent whistled judiciously, and noted +that Gaddon's face smiled at the apparent +surprise Trent evinced.</p> + +<p>"You find that a startling statement?"</p> + +<p>Trent nodded. "I'd say that it sounded +like the beginning of a very interesting +theory."</p> + +<p>"And you would be right," Gaddon +replied, warming to his subject. "It is +my contention that the cosmic rays will +prove to be the fountain of youth that +men have sought through the ages. That +they will react on the glands of a living +creature and produce immortality.</p> + +<p>"Now take your choice. Whose theory +would you rather believe? Mathieson's +idiotic claims of a death ray, or +mine as a source of the utmost benefit +to science?"</p> + +<p>Trent took a moment before replying. +When he did so, he spoke with tact, and +also with the feeling that his trip to +Fenwick's office had proven very valuable. +For there was a story here. A +big story.</p> + +<p>"I'd say, doctor, that I'd like to believe +your theory was correct. But isn't +it a little premature to be so definite +about it?"</p> + +<p>Gaddon snorted. "No more premature +than Mathieson's. And I'll tell +you something else, Trent. You may +not realize it, but you're about to take +part in what may be the biggest story +of the century. And when it breaks, +you'll remember our conversation here. +I intend to prove that your American +scientists are wrong."</p> + +<p>Trent noticed the personal emphasis +that Gaddon put in his last statement, +but he was drawn away from the conversation +as he turned the coupe into +the guarded entrance to the proving +grounds.</p> + +<p>There was a moment of credential +flashing to the guards, and a respectful +salute to the scientist in the car beside +Trent. Then Trent moved his coupe +through the entrance and up the cement +roadway to the Administration building.</p> + +<p>As Gaddon got out of the car he +turned to Trent.</p> + +<p>"I'll leave you here. The members +of the Press will be conducted to the +launching site at dusk. I'll see you +then. In the meantime, don't forget that +you've given your word not to release +any of the information I've given you."</p> + +<p>Trent nodded and watched him walk +away. He followed the Englishman +with his eyes, a frown crossing his face. +There was something too cocksure +about the man. His ridicule of American +scientists could be ignored, but +the way he spoke about his theory, as if +it had already been a proven fact +against the ideas of Mathieson....</p> + +<p>A faint chill ran up Fred Trent's +back. He couldn't explain it. But it was +there. An ominous note of foreboding.</p> + +<p>He shrugged it off and left his car to +walk toward the Administration building.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> remaining hours of the afternoon +dragged by in a monotony of +idle speculation. Trent listened to the +gathered newspapermen discussing the +coming experiment at dusk, accompanied +them as Dr. Mathieson, the head of +the project, conducted them on a tour +of the project, to the launching site, and +then back to the central building.</p> + +<p>The launching site itself had been an +impressive sight. The huge rockets, +much in appearance like the famed V2 +of World War II, but on a much larger +scale, were cradled in their launching +platforms like some huge monsters +about to be unleashed into the unsuspecting +heavens.</p> + +<p>They had listened as Mathieson explained +the various number of instruments +that were being included in the +first rocket, to record its hurtling trip +through the atmosphere to the outermost +layers of the Earth's surface.</p> + +<p>And they had been told of the other, +and to the gathered newspapermen, the +most interesting part, the inclusion of a +cat in the rocket, in a large oxygen-fed +chamber, to study the effects of the cosmic +rays on a living creature.</p> + +<p>Then back to the central building. +Back to wait. And the tension began +to mount. For the shadows were lengthening, +the sun sinking behind the horizon +to the west. The moment was now +close at hand.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">A stocky</span> figure detached itself +from the shadows beside the huge +bulk of the laboratory building and +slowly edged out into the dusk.</p> + +<p>It paused momentarily, to survey the +scene. Sharp eyes scanned the looming +rockets and their launching platforms, +watchful, alert. They finally settled +upon the armed guard who walked a +measured distance back and forth in +front of the rockets. Then the figure +moved forward again, cautiously, purposefully.</p> + +<p>The distance from the giant rockets +shortened gradually, and then the +guard, turning to retrace his steps, saw +the approaching figure.</p> + +<p>There was a snapping sound as a +rifle was brought into position, and a +rapping command barked out.</p> + +<p>"Halt! Who goes there?"</p> + +<p>The shadowy figure halted abruptly +a short distance away from the guard. +And a voice answered.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Blair Gaddon."</p> + +<p>The guard's rifle snapped into present +arms and then back to the soldier's +right shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's you, sir. Is there anything +wrong? The launching is set for fifteen +minutes from now, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>Gaddon walked slowly up to the soldier +and the guard could then see his +face in the thickening shadows.</p> + +<p>"That's right," Gaddon replied. "I'm +making a last minute inspection."</p> + +<p>The guard nodded. "Dr. Mathieson +and the newspapermen will be along +any minute, sir?"</p> + +<p>Gaddon moved closer to the soldier, +and then suddenly his hand came out of +his coat pocket and there was a gun in +it.</p> + +<p>"Drop your rifle, soldier. Quick!"</p> + +<p>The guard stared at the scientist in +shocked astonishment.</p> + +<p>"What is this, sir? A gag?"</p> + +<p>Gaddon motioned with his gun.</p> + +<p>"It is no gag! Do as I say—or must I +shoot?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">There</span> was an ominous note in +Gaddon's voice. And a strained +quality to it that told the guard the man +meant what he said. Very slowly the +soldier removed the rifle from his shoulder +and dropped it to the ground.</p> + +<p>Gaddon motioned with his gun.</p> + +<p>"Now step back! Move!"</p> + +<p>The guard moved slowly back a pace, +and then the Englishman stepped forward +and kicked the rifle away from the +man. Then he motioned around the +rocket.</p> + +<p>"Now move over around the side of +the number one rocket to the far side +of number two."</p> + +<p>He watched as the guard turned and +began to walk slowly around the huge +base of the waiting rocket. He followed +the soldier.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what this is all about, +Dr. Gaddon," the guard protested. "But +I can tell you one thing, you're playing +with the United States Government +right now. When Dr. Mathieson hears +about this—"</p> + +<p>"When Dr. Mathieson hears about +this, soldier, I'll be a long way from +here—out at the edge of space itself!"</p> + +<p>Gaddon could hear the guard draw +in his breath sharply, but the man kept +walking around to the far side of the +second rocket cradle.</p> + +<p>"You can't mean that you're going +to go up—"</p> + +<p>The soldier's voice broke off uncertainly +and Gaddon laughed shortly.</p> + +<p>"You are a discerning man, soldier. +That is exactly what I intend to do. +And I warn you, don't make a false +move or I'll shoot. My plans are made +and I intend to carry them out!"</p> + +<p>They had reached the far side of the +second rocket now, away from view of +the rest of the buildings, out of sight. +Away in the distance the faint outlines +of the great wire fence circling the testing +grounds could be seen, and beyond +that, the twinkling lights of Tucson, +already visible in the dusk.</p> + +<p>"This is far enough," Gaddon said +suddenly.</p> + +<p>He watched as the soldier halted. +Then Gaddon moved up quickly behind +the man. Before the soldier sensed what +was about to occur, Gaddon's hand +raised over his head and the butt of +the weapon in his hand crashed against +the back of the man's head.</p> + +<p>There was a soft groan in the shadows +as the soldier crumpled limply to +the ground. In the silence that followed, +Gaddon's tense breathing was +the only sound. He looked down at the +still body of the unconscious man, then +he quickly turned and retraced his footsteps +back the way he had come.</p> + +<p>When he had reached the far side of +the first rocket, he stopped before the +metal steps of the cradle leading up to +the closed door of the rocket. He looked +quickly about him, making sure that +nobody was in close proximity, then he +threw his gun under the rocket beside +the rifle of the soldier, and ran up the +steps.</p> + +<p>A cool breeze sprang up in the western +night and whispered softly around +Gaddon as he fumbled for a moment +with a switch set in the smooth side of +the rocket beside the sealed door.</p> + +<p>There was a click, finally, and the +door slid open.</p> + +<p>Gaddon took a last look about him +and then quietly slipped through the +opening. A moment later there was the +sound of the door sliding shut.</p> + +<p>Inside the rocket, Gaddon lit a small +pocket flash and looked around him. A +soft sound struck his ears. The mewing +sound of a cat. He turned the flash on +the startled animal and a low laughter +crept from his throat.</p> + +<p>He moved through the large instrument +chamber then and sat on the floor +beside the cat.</p> + +<p>Then the flash went out and his +laughter came again ...</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="cpq">"A</span><span class="dcap">ll</span> right, gentlemen, the time has +come. In a few minutes an automatic +control, synchronized with controls +in the rocket will be set off in +the main laboratory building. If we +want to watch the launching we'll have +to hurry."</p> + +<p>Fred Trent listened to the voice of +Mathieson, and saw the famed American +scientist start out of the central +lobby toward the launching site. The +gathered newspapermen followed, their +voices filled with excitement now that +the moment had come.</p> + +<p>Trent followed along with them, but +felt a peculiar tenseness within him. He +had been watching for Gaddon to make +his appearance. But as yet the Englishman +had not showed up. Was it possible +that he wasn't going to watch the rocket +launching? As Trent followed the others +out into the gathering night, he frowned +to himself. It was certainly strange. And +entirely unlike the blustering manner +Gaddon had displayed on the drive back +from Tucson. Or had the man suddenly +realized that he had made a fool of +himself and was taking this easy way +out?</p> + +<p>But that too didn't seem natural. And +Trent found himself edging forward +through the ranks of the newsmen, until +he had reached the side of Mathieson.</p> + +<p>The scientist was talking to one of +the journalists as they rounded the corner +of the Administration building. +Now the rockets were in sight, standing +tall and immense in the shadows.</p> + +<p>Mathieson held his hand up in a gesture +of halt, and the men behind him +drew into a compact circle.</p> + +<p>Fred turned to Mathieson.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Mathieson, isn't Dr. Gaddon going +to be here for the launching?"</p> + +<p>The head of the rocket project turned +to Trent. Fred could see a suddenly +puzzled look in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is strange ..." Then he +laughed. "I suppose Gaddon is in the +laboratory supervising the firing controls. +Well, if he wants to miss the +show, that's his fault. He knows the +schedule."</p> + +<p>Trent accepted the scientist's words +without replying. But he still wasn't +satisfied. What was it that Gaddon +had said in the car about the biggest +story of the year? What had the man +meant? Question after question arose in +Trent's mind as he stood there, and +always the queer feeling inside him +grew in intensity. He could not place +his finger on it, but somehow, he knew +that something was wrong.</p> + +<p>But then his suspicions were put +aside for the moment as he heard Mathieson +say:</p> + +<p>"All right, gentlemen, the time is +nearly here. In precisely one minute the +rocket will be fired."</p> + +<p>The statement was made with a quiet +eagerness, and then suddenly the gathered +witnesses grew silent.</p> + +<p>Trent's eyes, along with the others, +fastened on the looming bulk of the +waiting rocket.</p> + +<p>And the seconds ticked off in Fred's +mind.</p> + +<p>As he counted them, he thought that +it seemed impossible that within a very +few moments that gigantic hulk of +smooth, tapered metal would dislodge +itself from the cradle it rested in with +a burst of roaring flame. That in another +few seconds it would shoot into the +blackened sky, and in a few short minutes +would reach unbelievable heights +in the heavens, to the edge of space +itself before the automatic controls +released the instrument section to be +returned safely to earth.</p> + +<p>And the seconds passed.</p> + +<p>"Time!"</p> + +<p>Trent heard the voice of Mathieson +rap the word out sharply.</p> + +<p>And then there was a roar of sound +from the cradled rocket.</p> + +<p>A spear of flame shot from its base, +exploding the night into a brilliant display +of pyrotechnics.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> roaring grew louder as the tremendous +power of the now unleashed +rockets took hold of the night +air. Fred watched as the flames grew +white-hot bright, and then he saw the +gigantic rocket shudder in its cradle.</p> + +<p>The shudder grew into a spasm of +movement, and then slowly, but steadily +growing faster, the rocket lifted from +its cradle.</p> + +<p>Fred's eyes were fastened on the +rocket now, a feeling of awe sweeping +through him. He suddenly realized how +puny man was against the forces man +could unleash. Forces that here were being +utilized to scientific ends, but +forces that upon a moment's notice, +could in turn be unleashed upon the +rest of humanity in a burning, devastating +terror of death.</p> + +<p>And as the thought flitted across his +mind, he saw the rocket gather speed +as it left its cradle. It was now rising +in a swift, sure arc, lashing into the +dark sky like a fury.</p> + +<p>And then the terrible speed of the +rocket took hold against the forces of +gravity and it shot into the heavens, its +roaring becoming a fading hiss of sound, +the brilliant flash of flame from its exploding +tubes, a receding beacon of +light that gradually faded to a pinpoint +far over their heads.</p> + +<p>After the terrific thunder of sound +that had accompanied the launching of +the rocket, the sudden silence now was +almost palpable. The gathered witnesses +stood mutely, awe still in their +eyes, their ears still ringing with the +sound of the takeoff.</p> + +<p>Finally the voice of Mathieson broke +the quiet night air.</p> + +<p>"Well, gentlemen, that's it. Tomorrow +morning we'll scout the returned +section. It should land somewhere in +the open country to the south. We've +computed that pretty carefully. I guess +that's about all for—"</p> + +<p>His voice broke off suddenly and +Fred Trent heard what must have distracted +the scientist.</p> + +<p>A man was shouting from the vicinity +of the second rocket, and as they +looked, a dim figure could be seen staggering +away from the side of the other +rocket, coming slowly toward them.</p> + +<p>"Good Lord!" Mathieson breathed. +"What's that man doing out there? He +could have been killed!"</p> + +<p>Then suddenly they saw the staggering +figure stumble on the ground.</p> + +<p>And then Trent and the others were +racing across the ground to the side of +the fallen man.</p> + +<p>When they reached him, Mathieson +came forward and knelt beside the figure.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's one of the guards!" he +said in shocked surprise.</p> + +<p>And it was then that the strange feeling +of foreboding hit Fred again. As +he knelt beside the groaning guard, it +swept over him in a chilling wave. He +lifted the man's head from the ground +and the guard opened his eyes. He +recognized the face of Mathieson as +the scientist looked anxiously in his +direction.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, man, what happened? +You were ordered to leave five +minutes before launching time!"</p> + +<p>The guard's mouth opened as he +struggled to a sitting position. The +man's hand reached up and touched the +back of his head painfully.</p> + +<p>"Sir—Gaddon—Dr. Gaddon attacked +me ..."</p> + +<p>There was a momentary stunned silence +as the soldier's words sunk in on +the gathered men.</p> + +<p>"<i>What?</i>" Mathieson's voice was incredulous.</p> + +<p>And as Trent watched the soldier nod +his head, the suspicion he had felt suddenly +overwhelmed him in a grim realization. +Even as the soldier blurted out +pain-filled words, Trent knew somehow +what he was going to say.</p> + +<p>"Gaddon—he pulled a gun on me ... +He forced me to the far side of number +two—he said he was going up in +the rocket—he said he had plans—then +he hit me with the gun ... I came to +when the rocket went off—I was away +from the blasts, luckily ..."</p> + +<p>Then the soldier was standing on his +feet again, swaying as he fought to clear +his fogged senses.</p> + +<p>But Trent was no longer aware of +the soldier. And he saw that Mathieson +was no longer looking at the guard. +For a brief instant their eyes met, +and Trent saw a stunned look in the +scientist's, then Fred's gaze swept up +into the night. Up into the darkened +sky where, miles above them, the hurtling +rocket was even now reaching the +apex of its flight.</p> + +<p>Up where a man rode on a perilous +trip into the unknown.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Gaddon</span> hunched in the darkness of +the rocket, waiting. He had counted +the remaining minutes off, one by +one. And he knew that finally the moment +was at hand.</p> + +<p>It would be too late now to stop him. +They had not noticed his absence, and +if they had, they would not delay the +launching for him. He had taken that +fact into consideration.</p> + +<p>And now that the moment was close +to completion, he felt a glowing sense of +triumph within him. He would now +show those fools, and especially Mathieson. +He would prove conclusively that +cosmic rays were what he had said they +were—a source of the energy of life, a +fountain from which youth and vitality +would pour, making his body immortal. +He would go down in history as one of +the greats of science. A man who had +risked his life to prove his theory. A +man who would be the first to achieve +the goal of the ages, the dream of the +philosophers, eternal life.</p> + +<p>The triumph would be his. <i>All</i> his!</p> + +<p>And the rocket tubes exploded into +sound.</p> + +<p>Gaddon tensed in the darkness, gripping +the safety straps he had attached +to himself. Beside him he felt the cat +let out a frightened mewing sound as +the roar of the exploding rocket power +grew. He felt the furry body rubbing +against his side, seeking sanctuary +against this dread sound.</p> + +<p>And then the rocket trembled with +sudden movement.</p> + +<p>It was slow at first, but then it grew +faster, and Gaddon felt a faint intensity +of fear in his temples at the shuddering +power of that movement.</p> + +<p>And then he felt the blood draining +from his head, making him faint with +dizziness as the rocket accelerated suddenly +into a terrible burst of speed.</p> + +<p>He could feel it moving swiftly +through the atmosphere now, feel the +tortured rush of air that whipped +against the sides of the projectile in a +moaning dirge that mingled with the +roar of the exploding rocket fuel.</p> + +<p>And as the seconds passed, he became +accustomed somewhat to the increasing +velocity of the projectile, and +the dizziness passed from his head. +Then he became aware of the trembling +body of the cat beside him and a soft +laughter rose in his throat.</p> + +<p>But it died stillborn as the roar of the +rockets grew to a thundering hiss now +in his ears.</p> + +<p>And he felt the cool sweetness of the +automatically released oxygen fill the +chamber about him and he drank it into +his lungs hungrily.</p> + +<p>With each second now, he knew the +projectile was racing higher into the +rarefied atmosphere, heading steadily +out to where the air of earth would be +almost non-existent.</p> + +<p>And a grim smile crossed his face in +the darkness, for he knew that shortly +the rocket would enter the outermost +layers and the cosmic rays would play +with all their energies upon the projectile.</p> + +<p>And he tensed suddenly.</p> + +<p>There was a glow that sprang into +being in the chamber about him.</p> + +<p>It was dim at first. But it grew steadily +in intensity around him, revealing +the interior of the chamber in its weird +light.</p> + +<p>An exultation swept through him +then. He knew they had entered the +field of the cosmic rays, and that the +manifestation of light he saw was a result +of those forces of nature.</p> + +<p>Beside him the cat mewed plaintively +in fear and huddled closer against Gaddon's +body. His eyes watched the tiny +creature for a moment and then swept +around the large chamber at the massed +instrument panels that were recording +every minute fraction of a second of the +flight.</p> + +<p>And the glow grew.</p> + +<p>And suddenly the hissing of the exploding +rocket fuel began to diminish +in volume. The apex of the flight was +nearly at hand then.</p> + +<p>And the glow around Gaddon began +to color. From a weird phosphorescent +whiteness it changed to a dull but intense +yellow. And with the change, a +strange feeling crept through his body.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">It tugged</span> at him with invisible +hands. It played upon his every +nerve, his every fiber, the innermost +feelings of his sensibility. It grew +stronger, this alien probing within him, +grew as the glow pulsed in the chamber +around him.</p> + +<p>And suddenly, instead of a fierce feeling +of triumph, a sense of dread swept +through him. He fought at the gripping +sensations within him, tried to dispel +them, to no avail. They grew stronger, +like invisible hands that were changing +the very essence of life inside him.</p> + +<p>And as the thought passed through +his suddenly tortured mind, he realized +that was exactly what was taking place. +A change. A change beyond his comprehension, +beyond the understanding of +any man. Beyond—</p> + +<p>And the whining fearful mew of the +cat beside him changed. It tensed +against his body, and the whine in its +animal throat became an irate hiss. He +looked down and saw the hackles rising +on the back of the cat, saw the creature +looking up at him now, not with wide +frightened eyes of appeal, but with a +ferocity of wildness that brought a chill +to his inner being.</p> + +<p>And the glow grew around him, brilliant +yellow in texture now. And with +the increasing brilliance of the light, the +feeling of change grew within him.</p> + +<p>It was stronger than he now. It held +his every heartbeat in its pulsing grip. +It throbbed in his temples, ached to the +ends of his toes, set his body aflame +with it.</p> + +<p>And the cat suddenly lunged against +him, its sharpened claws biting through +his garments and into his flesh.</p> + +<p>His hands reached down in a quick +movement and gripped the body of the +cat. He tore the raking claws away +from his body and held the cat in the +air beside him.</p> + +<p>The creature writhed in his grasp, +fighting madly to escape. And as his +grip tightened on the animal, the eyes +of the cat suddenly locked with his.</p> + +<p>He felt the forces within him reach +a crescendo at that moment. And his +body was frozen immobile, his eyes +locked on the cat's eyes, burning into +the animal, the animal burning into +him. Burning and burning ...</p> + +<p>It could only have been a matter of +seconds, he knew. But they were seconds +that stretched into the farthermost +reaches of eternity. Seconds that lived a +million years and passed in another +fleeting instant.</p> + +<p>And then he could move again.</p> + +<p>And he felt strange as he moved. It +was as if he was another person, as if +the body he moved was alien to him, +as if it had never belonged to him, to +any man, to any thing.</p> + +<p>And his eyes tore away from the +now dulled expression in the cat's eyes. +He did not find it strange that this was +so. He knew in some inner sense that +the mighty life force in him had quelled +the cat. Had stilled the fighting in its +feline eyes.</p> + +<p>And he saw his hands clutching the +body of the cat.</p> + +<p>He stared at them for a long disbelieving +moment. For they were not the +hands he had known. They were not +the hands of Blair Gaddon. They were +not the hands of any man. They were +long and tapered and claw-like. There +was dark fuzzy fur around them, fur +that was cat-like.</p> + +<p>Deep within him a fear struggled upward +through his mind. A cold dread +that forced his lips to move, to utter a +gasp of the terror he felt.</p> + +<p>And the sound left his lips.</p> + +<p>It left his lips and echoed terribly in +his ears. A harsh sound. A mewing +sound. <i>A cat sound ...</i></p> + +<p>The creature in his grasp struggled +feebly then. It was a small movement, +a movement without vitality, almost +without life. And as the creature moved, +a sense of rage welled up inside him. A +rage that he could not control, an anger +that he wanted to unleash to its fullest. +And as it took possession of him, the +human part of his mind shrieked and +forced words from his lips.</p> + +<p>"<i>You fiend! You fiend of hell!</i>"</p> + +<p>And his fingers crept up to the neck +of the cat and closed in a mighty grip. +He felt the animal give a single desperate +effort in his grasp, but his grip tightened +and he saw the mouth of the creature +open wide and heard a faint hissing +gasp as its tongue stuck far out and its +eyes bulged in a last moment of life.</p> + +<p>Then the animal lay limp in his claw-like +hands and he dropped it to the floor +of the rocket chamber, a growl of frustration +leaving his lips.</p> + +<p>He stared at the cat's body for a moment, +then his fingers stole up and +touched his face. He felt the hairy +coarseness of it, the furry tingle of his +once smooth skin. And he screamed into +the now fading glow that he knew was +the energy of the cosmic rays.</p> + +<p>"No! No! It can't be true! I haven't +<i>changed</i> like this! I—I—<i>meowrr</i> ..."</p> + +<p>Around him the thunder of the rocket +fuel suddenly vanished into silence, and +then the rocket gave a lurch.</p> + +<p>Deep within his mind he knew that +the instrument section had been released +from the main body of the projectile, +and even now he knew the sealed +chamber was falling back toward the +earth, back toward the atmosphere +where the parachute would take hold +and drift the chamber safely down to +the Arizona soil.</p> + +<p>And a dread closed over him in that +moment. Back to the men. Back to the +things of men. Back he must go, a mewing +thing that was not a man. A thing +that he felt was taking hold of him, +driving the last vestige of human instinct +from him.</p> + +<p>He fought it. He fought it mewing on +the floor of the rocket chamber.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="cpq">"H</span><span class="dcap">e must</span> have gone mad!"</p> + +<p>Fred Trent pulled his gaze from +the sky and looked with stunned eyes +at the figure of Dr. Mathieson standing +beside him. The scientist was trembling +with an inner feeling, and his +head was shaking in disbelief.</p> + +<p>"Gaddon! The man is going to his +death! It's insane!"</p> + +<p>Again Mathieson's voice broke the silence +in the huddled group of men. +Then the newspapermen came to life +and excited talk became a jabber of +words around them. Trent took the arm +of Mathieson and turned him. He tried +to lead the scientist away from the +newspapermen but one of them stepped +forward and grabbed his arm.</p> + +<p>"But why did he do it, doctor? The +man must have had a reason!"</p> + +<p>Mathieson shook his head numbly.</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know, unless ..." his +voice trailed off for a moment and then +he spoke again. "Unless he really believed +what he said ..."</p> + +<p>"What did he say, doctor?" the +newsman asked.</p> + +<p>There was a puzzled note to Mathieson's +voice as he answered.</p> + +<p>"He disagreed with me on the supposed +effects of the cosmic rays. It has +been my contention that they are of +lethal effect, and Gaddon maintained +that I was wrong. He kept insisting that +they were a source of life energy. That +was why we decided to experiment +with an animal—to see what effect the +rays would have on a living creature ...</p> + +<p>"But this! I never dreamed of such a +possibility—to prove his point he signed +his own death warrant!"</p> + +<p>"That's a story, doctor, a real story!"</p> + +<p>Trent heard the newsman exclaim +excitedly. And then it came to him that +the real story was as yet untold. The +real story that had been unfolded in his +car earlier that day.</p> + +<p>Fred moved suddenly away from the +clamor of the newsmen around the +scientist. He knew what he had to do.</p> + +<p>He hurried across the ground to his +waiting coupe outside the Administration +building. Then he got behind the +wheel and started the motor.</p> + +<p>He drove to the gate and waited until +the guard passed him through, then he +turned up the road toward Tucson.</p> + +<p>As he drove he felt an odd tenseness +sweep through him. For he was thinking +of what Gaddon had said on the +drive up to the Proving Grounds. He +was remembering the man's words on +the cosmic rays and the secret of eternal +life they held. And Fred Trent knew +that this was the biggest story. The +story that he alone held. It was the big +break that he had been waiting for. It +would be his exclusive. The inside, personal +story of a man who had died to +prove his theory. Told as Gaddon himself +had related it. With all the vanity +of the man, all the pompous assurance +he had shown. It would make the +headlines and feature sections all over +the country. The story of a man who +had flown to his death in quest of immortality.</p> + +<p>And then Trent's thoughts grew sober +suddenly. But was he going to his +death? Could he be sure that Mathieson +was right? That Gaddon was suffering +from some streak of insanity that had +manifested itself in this final venture +of madness? Or could it be that Gaddon +might be right, that ...</p> + +<p>Trent set his lips and sighed. No, +that couldn't be true. It was beyond the +comprehension of man.</p> + +<p>What mattered now was the story. +The story that would put his name in a +thousand papers all over the country. +And he thought in that moment of Joan +Drake. A warm smile pulled at his lips +as he thought of her. This would force +her to quit her job now and marry him. +The one condition she had made—he had +finally overcome.</p> + +<p>He thought of the date he was supposed +to have with her that evening. +It would have to be postponed until later. +The story came first. And then ...</p> + +<p>He drove his car swiftly through the +outskirts of the city and into the main +part of town. Then he pulled up before +the offices of the <i>Tucson Star</i> and left +his car at the curb.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">He entered</span> the building, took +the elevator to his floor and walked +into the city room. The clatter of typewriters +met his ears and the sound was +sweet to him in that moment.</p> + +<p>He crossed swiftly to his desk and +sat dawn. Then he motioned to a copy +boy. The boy came up to his desk.</p> + +<p>"Jerry, tell the chief to hold up the +form on page one. I've got a special—an +accident out at the Proving Grounds. +Headline copy."</p> + +<p>The youth hurried away toward the +office of the City Editor, and Fred +picked up his phone and dialed a number. +He waited a moment and then the +voice of Joan Drake came across the +wire.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Fenwick's office."</p> + +<p>"Joan, this is Fred."</p> + +<p>The girl's voice laughed across the +wire. "Don't tell me you're planning to +break our date? Just when I get all +dressed up."</p> + +<p>A smile crossed Trent's lips. "You're +almost psychic, honey. Fact is, I was +calling to tell you I'll be a little late."</p> + +<p>There was a pause and when the girl +spoke again there was an injured note +in her voice.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's a fine thing. I wait here +deliberately after hours for you to pick +me up and now you tell me you'll be +late! Just what's so more important +than me right now?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't got time to tell you now, +Joan, but believe me, I've got the break +of the year. A story that will rock the +front pages across the country. I'll tell +you all about it later. You can wait at +Fenwick's place. He won't mind, will +he?"</p> + +<p>He could hear the girl sniff on the +other end of the wire.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose he will, but I don't +think I can say the same for myself."</p> + +<p>"That's a good girl," Trent laughed. +"Just wait for me. It may be an hour +or so—"</p> + +<p>"An <i>hour</i> or so! What are you writing, +the great American novel?"</p> + +<p>He looked up and saw the frowning +face of the City Editor approaching his +desk. He spoke hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"I've got to sign off now. The boss is +coming up. I'll see you later. Give my +regards to Brutus."</p> + +<p>He replaced the phone as the editor +reached his desk.</p> + +<p>"What's all this about a remake on +the front page, Trent?"</p> + +<p>Fred nodded. "That's right, chief. +The biggest story since the atom bomb. +Listen!"</p> + +<p>He gave a short account of what had +happened, and then added the personal +details of his talk with Gaddon. He +saw the eyes of the editor widen as he +went on, and by the time he had finished, +there was a look of excitement +on the editor's face.</p> + +<p>"Get to that story, Trent. Write it +hot, and write it fast. I'll hold the first +form and tear down the front page. +Stress the human interest angle. Play +it up big. We'll hit the news wires with +it after we go to press."</p> + +<p>Then a smile crossed the editor's face. +"And you'll get a by-line on this, Trent, +that ought to put you in for some big +money. Nice work."</p> + +<p>Then he turned on his heel and was +hurrying across the city room toward +his glassed-in office, hollering for a copy +boy as he went.</p> + +<p>Trent turned back to his desk and +slipped a sheet of paper into his typewriter. +There was a tenseness around +his eyes as he brought his fingers down +on the keys. For a moment the old +questions rose again in his mind. <i>Was +Gaddon right? Could it be possible +that ...</i></p> + +<p>Then he forgot everything but the +story. And his fingers clicked against +the keys, putting it down on paper.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> rocket chamber swayed gently +through the night air, whistling its +way slowly downward, moving more +slowly as the great parachute above it +caught in the rapidly thickening density +of the cabin's atmosphere.</p> + +<p>Inside it, the thing that had been +Gaddon, the thing that was no longer +a man, sat on the floor of the chamber, +idly toying with the dead body of the +cat.</p> + +<p>Strange thoughts coursed through +the mind inside its head. Half of +the mind that belonged to Gaddon, +and half of the mind that was an alien +thing, a creature unnamed.</p> + +<p>There was a thought of killing and +the thought was good. The claw-like +hands played with the cat's dead body, +fondling it idly, wishing it were still +alive so that it might die again.</p> + +<p>And the other part of its mind, the +part that still knew it was Gaddon, +rebelled against the thought. Tried to +drive it away. Tried to move that alien +intelligence into the rear of his consciousness.</p> + +<p>A growl left his lips as he struggled +with it. And then a whimpering sound.</p> + +<p>For now the alien thought of killing +and the joy it had experienced as the +cat died scant moments before, was +replaced by another thought. A thought +of loneliness.</p> + +<p>It was a weird feeling, an utter loneliness +that came from the great void +beyond man's planet. It cried out in +silent protest for it knew it was alone +in this world of men.</p> + +<p>And it knew it would remain alone, +friendless. For what manner of men +such as the other part of its mind +showed would react in a friendly fashion? +Where would be their common +meeting ground? There could only be +one, it knew. And that one was fear. +Fear and the hate that went with it.</p> + +<p>A growl left its lips again, and Gaddon's +thoughts tried to force their way +through. Tried and failed again.</p> + +<p>But was it necessary to want companionship? +It thought about that for +a moment. And then the alien beast +thoughts grew sharper, clearer. It +knew suddenly that it did not want +man's compassion. It knew that there +was only one driving thought in it. +Hate. Hate that would inspire fear. +Fear that would freeze its victim into +terror. And terror that would be replaced +by death. And then it would be +happy again. Happy to sit and fondle +the thing that had been alive. And it +knew something else. It knew that a +hunger would have to be satisfied. A +hunger that called for flesh.</p> + +<p>Deep, primeval thoughts raced +through it then. Thoughts that were +spawned in the ancient jungles of a new +and steaming world. A world where +great cats roamed, where screams of +cat-rage split the air as tawny bodies +arced in lightning leaps to land on the +trembling bodies of their victims. It was +a satisfying thought. A thought that +spanned the ages of Earth, a sense that +was inherent in all cat minds through +the ages.</p> + +<p>And as the thought raced through +that portion of its mind, the part that +was Gaddon struggled to fight it back. +For it realized with a sickness that +spread horror through it that the +thought was part of the animal existence +that had been created in him. +Part of the monster that lay by instinct +in all feline creatures. And Gaddon +knew that the dead creature at his +feet, the limp and twisted body of the +cat, had died long before his hands had +crushed it in their mighty grip. For the +essence of that life, that animal existence, +had been merged with him, fused +by a mighty source from outer space.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">And</span> as he struggled with the thought, +fought to regain the balance of +control of the strange body that was +now his, the rocket chamber swayed +in a gust of wind from without. And +as he clutched the sides of the chamber +with his strong claw-like hands, the +chamber gave a bounding lurch as it +struck the ground a glancing blow.</p> + +<p>There was a grating sound as the +metal chamber gouged into the earth, +sank its weight upon the Arizona soil. +And the thing was thrown violently +against the side of the chamber.</p> + +<p>Then there was quiet again.</p> + +<p>Gaddon's mind fought to the fore, +took control of that feline man-shape +that was his, struggled to its feet and +moved in a lithe bound to the opposite +side of the chamber. A clawed hand +reached up where Gaddon knew the release +mechanism of the door lay, and +pressed it.</p> + +<p>The door slid back with a sliding +sound and the cool night air rushed in +upon it.</p> + +<p>Gaddon moved his cat-body through +the opening and bounded to the ground +in a lithe, powerful movement. He felt +new muscles react as he landed on the +ground, and knew that there was a great +strength in them. Strength that was +waiting to be used.</p> + +<p>And he felt the other thoughts starting +to move forward in his mind again +and he forced them back. He knew he +must keep control of that mind. For +there was something that he must do.</p> + +<p>He thought desperately about it. +And the pattern became clearer in +his mind.</p> + +<p>The cosmic rays. The reaction in his +body. He had sought immortality in +the door to outer space and had found +a monster waiting for him. A force that +had changed his glands, grown the shaggy +fur on his body. Glands that had +warped his mind. Opened an age-old +cunning of feline thought.</p> + +<p><i>Glands.</i></p> + +<p>Gaddon's thoughts whipped the +word. Held it. Knew it must be the answer. +And then it found a prayer of +hope. And a name that went with that +thought.</p> + +<p>"Fenwick! I've got to reach Fenwick +before it's too late. <i>Before it's too +late!</i>"</p> + +<p>His voice came hoarsely, strangely +formed. And he looked wildly about +him. He saw, off in the distance, a +glowing of lights in the night. And he +knew somehow that it was the city of +Tucson.</p> + +<p>And in that city, at its very edge, +was a house he must reach.</p> + +<p>He stumbled away into the darkness, +feeling his limbs move rapidly then, +smoothly, covering the ground in great +leaping strides.</p> + +<p>And though Gaddon's thoughts kept +the balance of control, deep inside his +mind, the monster growled with a cunning +laughter ...</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Fred Trent</span> pulled the last sheet +of paper from his typewriter and +leaned back in his chair exhausted. +That was it, the end of the story. He +waved his hand at a copy boy and the +boy ran up to take the final page. Each +sheet had been taken like that, to be +immediately set in the composing room. +Now it was finished, the story of the +year.</p> + +<p>And as Trent slowly lit a cigarette +and inhaled deeply, he knew that he +had done a good job on the story. And +a smile crossed his face as he thought +of it. His future was assured now. +There could be no more stopgaps, no +more delays in his plans to marry Joan +and settle down. And the girl would +have to agree. For the first time in +many months, Fred felt that his troubles +were over with. And the feeling +was nice. It spread through him and +he was content.</p> + +<p>He glanced at his wrist watch and +frowned. The story had taken longer +than he had anticipated. It was nearly +eleven. Some of the enthusiasm ran +out of him as he thought of Joan waiting +for him at Fenwick's. He could +imagine how angry she must be by now.</p> + +<p>He got up quickly from his desk and +reached for his hat. As he started to +walk away, the phone on his desk rang.</p> + +<p>He stepped back and picked up the +receiver.</p> + +<p>"Trent speaking."</p> + +<p>"<i>Fred!</i>"</p> + +<p>Trent heard his name uttered in terror +across the wire and he felt a chill +run through him as he recognized the +voice. It was Joan Drake.</p> + +<p>"Joan, what's wrong?" he asked +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Fred! Come quickly! Bring help +before it's too late—he'll kill us!"</p> + +<p>"Joan! For God's sake, calm down! +Now what's the matter?" His voice held +a tenseness in it as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"It's Gaddon, Fred! Only it isn't +Gaddon—it's a monster! He'll kill +us!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Gaddon?</i>" Trent's voice spoke incredulously. +"But that's imposs—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Fred, hurry— I—oh—no—no! +Keep away—"</p> + +<p>He heard the girl scream over the +phone then. And he heard something +else. A growling sound. A sound of +animal noise unlike any other sound he +had ever heard. And then as he shouted +into the phone: "Joan! Joan!" the +line went dead.</p> + +<p>He stood for a moment, staring stupidly +at the receiver in his hand. Then +he slammed it back on its cradle and +turned. He nearly knocked over the +copy boy who hollered at him.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Trent, the boss wants you in +his office!"</p> + +<p>But he swept by the boy unheeding. +He didn't wait for the elevator. He +took the stairs in leaping bounds, and +then he was on the main floor of the +building and out on the street.</p> + +<p>He slammed the door of his car shut +and started the motor. His hands trembled +as he meshed the gears and shot +the coupe away from the curb. Then +he was moving swiftly through the traffic.</p> + +<p>As he turned down the street where +Fenwick's office was, Fred Trent's mind +was a whirl of confused thought.</p> + +<p>There was fear there. Fear and +dread. And there was puzzlement too. +A puzzlement that made his brain spin. +Joan had spoken with terror in her +voice. Terror that had said somebody +was going to kill. And Joan was not +a girl to be easily frightened. And she +had mentioned Gaddon's name. Gaddon, +the man who had shot into the +heavens in an experimental rocket. +Gaddon, who was supposed to be dead.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">He felt</span> now that same feeling that +had crept through him after the +launching. The feeling that had whispered +in his mind that maybe Gaddon +had been right after all. That maybe +he wouldn't die. That maybe ... +And now the dread swept him. For he +thought of the sound he had heard over +the phone. The last sound before the +line went dead. The sound of an animal +growling in wrath. And he remembered +the girl's scream about a monster.</p> + +<p>A cold sweat was on his forehead as +he pulled the coupe into the curb in +front of the Fenwick house. He +switched off the motor and closed the +car door after him.</p> + +<p>Then he was hurrying up the walk +to the front door, his eyes taking in the +house in a swift glance, noting that the +lights were lit in the consultation room. +Lights that slivered out from the closed +venetian blinds.</p> + +<p>He stood then on the front porch, his +hand closing over the knob of the door.</p> + +<p>It was locked.</p> + +<p>He pressed the bell then and heard +its clarion sound inside the house. But +other than that there was nothing to +be heard. A deep, ominous silence that +somehow brought a feeling of panic to +him. Was he too late?</p> + +<p>And then suddenly the panel in the +front of the door opened and a face +peered out at him.</p> + +<p>Fred Trent felt the blood drain from +his lips. A paralysis seemed to grip his +body at what he saw framed in the +opening.</p> + +<p>For it was not the face of a human +being. And yet, it was not the face of +an animal. It was a horrible, twisted, +cat-like visage that peered out at him, +furred and ugly, with bared teeth and +glowing, feline eyes.</p> + +<p>And as he looked, a sound came from +the twisted lips. It was the same sound +he had heard over the telephone. The +sound of a growling rage.</p> + +<p>And as the sound hit his ears, a terrible +realization swept over him. For +his eyes, riveted on that monstrous +countenance, had registered an impossible +fact upon his mind.</p> + +<p><i>As twisted as it was, as horribly +changed into an animal grimace, it was +the face of someone he knew—the English +scientist, Blair Gaddon!</i></p> + +<p>And then suddenly the face vanished +from the opening. And Fred Trent felt +his paralysis leave him. He knew now +that he should never have come alone. +That he should have called the police +first. That he—</p> + +<p>The door swung open then and Trent +found himself facing the thing that had +been Gaddon.</p> + +<p>He took a backward step and started +to turn and run for his car and help, +but he was too slow.</p> + +<p>An arm shot out and a claw-like hand +suddenly gripped his shoulder in a +swift, steel-like movement. He felt +himself being pulled forward and into +the house, as another growl snarled +from the lips of the creature.</p> + +<p>Trent tried to break the grip of that +vise-like hand. He tried to smash his +fist into the ugly visage of a face that +confronted him. But he was like a child +in that grip. And like a child, he was +hurled across the hall, and he heard the +door slam shut behind him.</p> + +<p>As he got slowly to his feet and +turned to face the creature, he heard a +sobbing sound from the open door of +the consultation room. It was the voice +of Joan Drake.</p> + +<p>And then the monster had reached +him and the clawed hand reached out +and spun him through the doorway, +into the consultation room. And he +heard a growling voice utter harshly: +"You will regret this interference, +Trent!"</p> + +<p>And he knew that it was the voice of +Blair Gaddon. And yet he also knew +that it was not the same voice. It was +changed. It had a bestial quality to it.</p> + +<p>Then Trent looked around him. He +saw Joan Drake, huddled in a corner +of the room, beside Dr. Stanley Fenwick. +The specialist was sitting in a +chair, holding his right hand to his +mouth. Fred could see blood oozing +from a gash in the surgeon's lips.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">And</span> then he heard another sound. +A sound from without the house, +coming from the rear. It was the baying +of Brutus. The big dog must have +sensed the presence of the monster. +And it was protesting in its animal +voice, a mournful dirge.</p> + +<p>Then his attention was drawn once +again to the animal body of Blair Gaddon. +And now that the first shock had +left him, Trent stared at the man. He +heard the girl sob.</p> + +<p>"Fred! I told you to bring help—"</p> + +<p>"Be quiet!" the voice of Gaddon issued +from the twisted lips. And the +girl's sob stifled itself in a look of dread.</p> + +<p>Then the face that had been Gaddon +turned to Trent. There was a twisted +leer to it, and Fred sensed that there +was a struggle going on in that warped +mind.</p> + +<p>"You are Gaddon? The Blair Gaddon +who went up with the experimental +rocket?" Trent's voice came incredulously.</p> + +<p>The face of the creature twisted in a +grimace of acknowledgment.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Trent. I am Blair Gaddon. I +am not a pretty sight to look at, am I?" +Words left the twisted lips, and there +was a bestial pain in them.</p> + +<p>"But—you're supposed to be dead! +Mathieson—"</p> + +<p>A strange sound of irony came from +Gaddon.</p> + +<p>"Mathieson was right about the cosmic +rays—I know that now. Look at +me! You see what has happened to +me? I sought immortality through the +life energy of space—and look at me!"</p> + +<p>Horror reflected in Fred's eyes in +that moment. For he felt the pained +terror in the voice of the animal shape +before him. And he saw the claw-like +hands clench spasmodically.</p> + +<p>"My glands!" the voice screamed. +"The cosmic rays reacted on them—fed +the essence of the cat into them—changed +me into this monstrous being!"</p> + +<p>Trent stared at the rage-filled face. +Felt the emotion that was sweeping +through the creature. Felt a sudden +compassion that was erased by the +bestial look that came into the monster's +eyes.</p> + +<p>And then it turned toward the chair +where Fenwick sat. The doctor was +looking at the creature, his eyes wide +and terrified.</p> + +<p>"But what do you expect me to do for +you, Gaddon? Why do you stand here +threatening—" Fenwick's voice came +hoarsely.</p> + +<p>"Why? You fool! Because there +is so little time! I am changing! Even +now my human instincts are nearly +gone!... You're a gland specialist! +There is something you can do—stop +this change—stop it!"</p> + +<p>Fenwick shook his head slowly. +"You're raving like a madman, Gaddon. +I'm not a God—do you think I +can change something that is beyond +human understanding? If you'll only +let me call in the authorities ..."</p> + +<p>A growl of rage left Gaddon's animal +lips. "Authorities! So you can have +me put in cage like a wild beast? So +you and your medical experts can stand +and watch me as you would a freak? +You're a fool! You'll help me now! +You'll do something—before it's too +late! Do you hear me?"</p> + +<p>The creature advanced slowly upon +the doctor, and the girl backed away to +the far wall, fear mirrored in her eyes.</p> + +<p>Then Fred Trent stepped forward, +his voice tense.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Gaddon—of course the +doctor will help you—<i>won't</i> you, Fenwick?"</p> + +<p>There was an urgent emphasis in +Trent's last words, and his eyes caught +those of the surgeon's, and held them +in a meaningful look. He couldn't say +what he wanted to, but the message in +his eyes was imparted to Fenwick, and +the doctor suddenly nodded.</p> + +<p>"Yes—yes, of course ... But you'll +have to remain quiet, Gaddon, and be +patient a moment...."</p> + +<p>The creature stopped its advance +upon Fenwick then. And a growl rumbled +in Gaddon's animal throat.</p> + +<p>Then Fred watched as the doctor +stepped swiftly to a table with instruments +and hurriedly began to prepare +a hypodermic.</p> + +<p>"I'll give you a special extract injection +to start...." Fenwick explained +as he worked.</p> + +<p>And Trent knew that the doctor was +preparing an injection that would subdue +the monster. That would enable +them to call the police....</p> + +<p>And the eyes of Gaddon watched the +fingers of the surgeon prepare the hypodermic. +And for a single moment +the human part of Gaddon's monster +mind relaxed its tenacious hold.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">There</span> was a rumble of raging +thought deep within his twisted +brain. It swept up, gripped the human +element, and enveloped it. A hoarse +mewing sound left the twisted lips as +the mind became a single, bestial thing.</p> + +<p>And now it thought with a viciousness. +It knew now that it was finally +in control. That the full change had +been completed. And it knew suddenly +what it wanted.</p> + +<p>Its animal eyes stared at the three +humans. And it felt a hatred for the +men who did not understand it. And +it felt a desire for the woman who +feared it. A desire that crept out of +the primeval jungles. That swept +through it to find one of its kind. And +there was the vague instinct that was +Gaddon, who told it how to fulfill that +desire. Gaddon, who knew where the +secret lay.</p> + +<p>And then there was the driving urge +that swept up from the animal ages. +The urge to kill, to destroy what was +hated. And the eyes of the monster +fastened on the figure of Fenwick as the +doctor turned from the table, the hypodermic +in his hand.</p> + +<p>"All right, Gaddon ..."</p> + +<p>The voice of Fenwick trailed off. And +Fred Trent stared at the face of the +monster. What he saw there brought a +chill to his being. And he heard the girl +gasp from the far corner of the room, +as her eyes too saw the change that had +spread over the face of the creature.</p> + +<p>For there was no longer any vestige +of human recognition in that face. +There was no longer any trace of the +man who had been Gaddon. There was +only the monster now. The twisted, +leering lips of an animal mind.</p> + +<p>A harsh growl left those lips then and +the creature moved forward toward the +surgeon.</p> + +<p>Trent knew what was happening, and +he knew what he must do. There was +death on that bestial face. Death that +was reaching out ...</p> + +<p>He heard the dim baying of the Great +Dane from the rear of the house as he +leaped forward.</p> + +<p>Then his fist lashed out and caught +the animal face in a lashing blow. His +knuckles felt numb as he screamed:</p> + +<p>"The hypodermic—doctor—quick!"</p> + +<p>Then the creature turned on him and +a long arm shot out. Trent felt a claw +rake across his face and felt the burning +bite of that claw sink into his flesh. +Then, as he tried to dodge away from +the beast and bring his fist up again, +the monster leaped at him and Trent +felt a powerful blow crash against his +chin.</p> + +<p>He spun back, falling to the floor, +his head hitting the edge of an examining +table. His senses reeled and he felt +the blood running down his cheek, +a warm, sticky stream that dripped to +the floor.</p> + +<p>He fought to keep his consciousness +as he saw the beast turn away from +him, satisfied that he was out of the +way. Then he saw it leap at the stunned +figure of Fenwick.</p> + +<p>He heard the girl scream in terror +and he saw Fenwick's arm come up with +the hypodermic. He saw the doctor try +to bring the needle down in a jab, but +the monster's arm swept the needle +aside and then a claw-like hand gripped +Fenwick's throat.</p> + +<p>There was a gasp of terror from Fenwick's +lips as those fingers closed +around his neck. Then the hypodermic +fell from his nerveless hand and he +fought to break away.</p> + +<p>A deep rumbling growl spat from the +lips of the monster as it closed with +the struggling figure of Fenwick. Then +the claws that were its hands raked +the surgeon's throat in a feline rage.</p> + +<p>Trent watched with numbed eyes, +fighting back the wave of blackness +that threatened to overcome him, and +he saw the figure of Fenwick suddenly +go limp in the grip of the monster.</p> + +<p>He saw a spurt of blood burst from +the man's torn throat, and then the +creature dropped the limp body.</p> + +<p>It fell to the floor, and a wave of red +washed across the floor from the mangled +throat. The monster stood over +the lifeless body, a triumphant sound +issuing from its twisted lips.</p> + +<p>Then it turned toward the girl.</p> + +<p>Trent tried to move. He tried to push +back the weakness that numbed his +body. But he couldn't. His head swam +with the pain of the blow he had received, +and he could only watch +through half-closed eyes as the monster +reached out for the girl.</p> + +<p>Joan Drake screamed once as the long +arms reached out for her. Then her +voice ended abruptly as she fell to the +floor in a faint.</p> + +<p>The monster stood over her for a +moment, then it reached down and +picked up her body in its blood-splattered +arms.</p> + +<p>It turned for a moment, holding the +girl, and shot a hate-filled glance at +Trent's limp figure.</p> + +<p>Then it moved swiftly across the +room and out into the hall.</p> + +<p>And the baying of the Great Dane +sounded angrily in Fred Trent's ears ...</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">With</span> a superhuman effort Fred +Trent forced the numbness from +his body and moved slowly to his feet. +A horror gripped him that brought a +new strength to his body, flooded it.</p> + +<p>He stepped over the body of Fenwick, +forcing his eyes away from the +grisly sight of it as he dashed to the +hallway.</p> + +<p>"Joan—<i>Joan</i>!"</p> + +<p>The girl's name came hoarsely from +his lips as he ran into the hall and +stared at the open door of the house. +He ran to the door and out into the +night.</p> + +<p>His eyes stared wildly into the darkness, +searching the street. But he saw +nothing but his parked car at the curb. +The monster had vanished. And with +him, the unconscious girl.</p> + +<p>A hopeless despair welled up inside +Trent at that moment. For he knew he +could never hope to find the creature +now. And by the time help came it +would be too late. They would find +Joan's mangled body ...</p> + +<p>The baying of the Great Dane rang +in his ears then. The huge dog's howls +of rage thundered in his ears and he +heard the hound crash its great body +against the closed door at the end of +the hall, striving to get through.</p> + +<p>And then a cry of hope left Trent's +lips. He turned and ran back into the +house. He grabbed the long leash from +its wall hook beside the rear door and +then he swung the door partway open.</p> + +<p>"Brutus! Quiet, Brutus!"</p> + +<p>The head of the Great Dane struggled +through the partly opened door, +a snarl of rage welling from the huge +dog's mouth as Trent shouted at it.</p> + +<p>Then he slipped the leash into its +metal ring around the neck of the dog +and pulled the door open.</p> + +<p>The animal rushed into the hall, +nearly tearing the leash from Fred +Trent's hands as it lunged forward.</p> + +<p>The dog paused beside the open +door of the consultation room where +the body of Fenwick lay dead and +still on the floor. The animal lifted its +muzzle and sniffed the air. A howl of +anguished rage left it then and Trent +knew that the dog sensed its master +had been murdered. And then it caught +the scent of the monster, the thing +that had caused its wild rage to be unleashed, +and it leaped forward, down +the hall and out the front door into +the night.</p> + +<p>Trent held the leash tightly in his +hands, running behind the straining +dog, jumping over a low hedge after +the animal as it headed down the shadowed +street to the edge of the city.</p> + +<p>And then the last house was behind +them and Trent was racing behind the +dog out into the desert land beyond.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">His</span> breath was an aching fire in his +throat. His legs were numbed beyond +feeling. They were parts of his +body that simply refused to stop moving, +though every nerve and muscle +in them screamed in protest.</p> + +<p>It seemed like he had been running +for hours, half tripping, stumbling +across the darkened ground behind the +seemingly tireless body of the Great +Dane.</p> + +<p>They ran in near silence now. Only +the sounds of their labored breathing +mingled with the night wind. The howls +of rage no longer issued from the throat +of the huge dog. There was only its +panting breath, and the strain of its +mighty body as it sought to tear loose +from the man holding it.</p> + +<p>But Trent held grimly to the leash, +running as fast as his numbed body +would go.</p> + +<p>And he knew he could not go much +further. That soon he would drop to the +ground in exhaustion. That his last +reserve of energy was nearly spent.</p> + +<p>And then his eyes peered through the +darkness ahead and he saw a glow of +lights in the distance. And suddenly he +knew those lights. And he became +aware of where they were racing toward.</p> + +<p>It was the Rocket Proving Grounds!</p> + +<p>And the fence of the government project +loomed close ahead.</p> + +<p>And as they neared the fence, Trent's +eyes pierced the darkness and he saw +a jagged tear in the metal mesh of the +fence. A tear that stood as high as a +man, a hole through which a man could +have entered.</p> + +<p>The Great Dane bounded toward +that hole and Trent followed the dog +through it. He felt the animal pause +momentarily and he nearly stumbled +over a body lying on the ground at his +feet just inside the fence.</p> + +<p>His heart stood still for a moment +and the girl's name sped to his lips. +But he never uttered the word. For he +suddenly saw that it was the body of a +guard. A body whose torn throat lay +red and gory in death.</p> + +<p>And then the Great Dane let a howl +of anger out on the night wind, and the +beast leaped forward again, Trent running +behind it.</p> + +<p>And ahead of them, Trent saw a great +looming shape in the darkness, and +as his eyes fell upon it, a despairing +terror gripped him.</p> + +<p>It was the second rocket! Standing +in its cradle, silent in the night, +a shaft of metal that looked skyward.</p> + +<p>And a realization of what the monster +had in mind struck him. He knew +now where they were headed. He knew +why the monster had torn the fence, +why a guard had been killed where he +stood.</p> + +<p>And as if the thought had been a +prelude, he saw the rocket loom before +them as the Great Dane bounded +around its base.</p> + +<p>And he saw the metal stairway leading +up to the middle of the giant projectile.</p> + +<p>And at the top of those stairs, going +into the now open rocket chamber, +was the monster, holding the unconscious +girl in its arms.</p> + +<p>The Great Dane saw the creature in +the same instant. And a terrible howl +of rage welled from its throat. It gave +a lunge forward then that broke Trent's +grip from the leash he held. And the +dog was free.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> monster turned in the same moment +and saw them. A roar of feline +anger left its throat as the huge dog +leaped up the steps toward the platform +above.</p> + +<p>The monster dropped the girl's body +on the narrow platform and backed +toward the opening of the rocket chamber.</p> + +<p>Then the Great Dane reached the +platform and poised itself for a leap.</p> + +<p>Trent was dashing forward toward +the stairs as the dog's body flew +through the air. He saw the flashing +jaws of the animal snap at the throat +of the monster, as its heavy body +smashed against it.</p> + +<p>Then the arms of the creature were +tearing at the dog as it was forced back +into the rocket chamber.</p> + +<p>Trent's feet flew up the stairs, his +breath a tortured gasp in his throat. +He saw the girl stir on the platform, +as consciousness returned to her.</p> + +<p>"Joan!"</p> + +<p>Her name sped from his lips as he +reached the top step. Then his hands +closed around the girl's shoulders, lifting +her to her feet.</p> + +<p>The snarl of the Great Dane reached +his ears from the rocket chamber, and +the answering roar of rage from the +monster as they fought. His eyes saw +the vague, terrible shadows of them, +heard the snapping jaws of the dog, +and the raking claws.</p> + +<p>And then he was dragging the girl +down the steps.</p> + +<p>They reached the ground and Trent +pulled her away from the rocket, felt +her come to life in his arms, heard the +sob on her lips.</p> + +<p>But his head turned away from her +and he stared anxiously up at the open +rocket chamber.</p> + +<p>He heard the bodies of the monster +and the dog slam against the inner side +of the chamber, and then he saw the +door of the rocket close. He knew that +the automatic mechanism must have +been touched in the battle.</p> + +<p>And even as the thought ran through +his mind he heard a sudden roar of +flaming sound. The night lit up in a +sheet of brilliant light and a wave of +flame spread out from the base of the +rocket.</p> + +<p>Trent pulled the girl away from +that blinding sheet of exploding energy, +and his eyes stared in grim fascination +as they ran.</p> + +<p>He saw the rocket shudder in its +cradle and then lift slowly. It was as +if time had turned back and he were +watching an identical scene that had +happened earlier that day.</p> + +<p>Only it wasn't the same scene. It +was now a scene of horror. For he +knew that the monster and the dog +were in that rocket. The rocket that +would shoot skyward in moments, even +as its companion had done. Would +reach into the outer fringes of the +Earth's atmosphere where the cosmic +rays would envelop it, would react upon +the animals inside it.</p> + +<p>And a terrible dread spread through +Trent at the thought. For if the first +change had been terrible enough, what +would happen now?</p> + +<p>And as he thought, he saw the rocket +lift slowly from its cradle and gather +speed as it shot upward into the +night.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> blinding light of the exploding +rocket fuel lit the proving grounds +like a huge beacon of incandescence, +and Trent was aware of shouts ahead +of him, and running feet.</p> + +<p>Then he was surrounded by men +from the project, and he caught the +glint of alert weapons and uniforms.</p> + +<p>He felt arms grab him and the girl +and heard questions pounding at him.</p> + +<p>But then he saw a face he knew. And +he tore away from the arms of the +guards and shouted.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Mathieson! Listen to me!"</p> + +<p>The scientist stepped up to him and +Trent gripped his arm in the fading +light of the vanishing rocket.</p> + +<p>"What's happened here?" the scientist +demanded. "Aren't you one of the +newsmen—"</p> + +<p>Trent interrupted him. He poured +out a string of words. Words that told +what had happened. And as he talked +he saw the eyes of the scientist widen +in disbelief. And he heard the guards +grow silent around him. Felt every ear +listening with awe to his words.</p> + +<p>And when he had finished there was +a long moment of silence. And then +Joan Drake moved tremblingly up beside +Trent and she spoke:</p> + +<p>"It's true, doctor! Every word Fred +said is true!"</p> + +<p>And one of the guards broke in:</p> + +<p>"The word just came in from post +four. The fence was torn to pieces—and +Giddings has been murdered—just +as they said!"</p> + +<p>Then the silence again. And the face +of Mathieson was grim as Trent broke +through the quiet:</p> + +<p>"—Doctor—that monster who was +Gaddon—he's up there now! When the +cosmic rays change him and the dog +and the chamber is released ..."</p> + +<p>The scientist shook his head slowly, +a look of awe in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"It won't release, Trent," he said.</p> + +<p>Fred Trent looked at him questioningly.</p> + +<p>"Gaddon must have forgotten one +thing," the scientist continued. "That +rocket was also an experimental project. +But not for the same purpose. It +was to test a new type of explosive ..."</p> + +<p>Mathieson's voice trailed off and silence +closed over the small group then.</p> + +<p>There was no need to say anything +further. There was only the tension of +waiting, the tension that showed in +every eye.</p> + +<p>And the girl moved closer to Trent, +her body trembling against his.</p> + +<p>They waited. The seconds passed +like moments in eternity. Slowly they +marched by, one by one. And then a +minute. And the tension grew.</p> + +<p>They heard it then. Off in the distance. +Out in the waste of the open +desert land. A thundering sound. An +explosion that rolled in a wave of +sound.</p> + +<p>And with it a flash of brilliant light. +Light that seared through the night +in a terrible wave. And with it the +thunder of the explosive warhead.</p> + +<p>And then silence.</p> + +<p>After a long moment the voice of +Mathieson came through the quiet +night wind.</p> + +<p>"... It's over. Gaddon is—dead. +Poor fool, he fumbled with the tools of +creation, tools that man is not ready to +wield ..."</p> + +<p>And Trent heard one of the soldiers +gasp, "What a story! <i>What</i> a +story!"</p> + +<p>But he knew, as he held the girl +against him, felt her body relax beside +his, that it was a story he didn't want +to write.</p> + +<p>He wanted only to forget ...</p> + +<div class="figtran"> +<a href="images/002-2.jpg"><img src="images/002-1.jpg" width="141" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a> +<b><big>Transcriber's Note:</big></b><br /><br /> +This etext was produced from <i>Amazing Stories</i> April 1949. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</div> + +<hr class="dfx" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Monster, by S. M. Tenneshaw + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MONSTER *** + +***** This file should be named 24913-h.htm or 24913-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/9/1/24913/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> |