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diff --git a/24913.txt b/24913.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..579157d --- /dev/null +++ b/24913.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2311 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + + + + + +The MONSTER + +By S. M. TENNESHAW + + + What will cosmic rays do to a living organism? + Will they destroy life, or produce immortality? + The eminent Dr. Blair Gaddon thought he knew ... + + +Fred Trent pulled his coupe into the curb and leaned his head out the +open window beside him. + +"Hi, Joan, need any help?" + +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. + +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. + +"Hello, Fred. No thanks. Brutus and I get along famously." + +Trent opened the car door and got out. He walked up the sidewalk and +stood beside the girl. + +[Illustration: 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.] + +"Business must be mighty slack for the great gland specialist, Stanley +Fenwick. Is this all he can find for his pretty nurse to do?" + +The girl sniffed. "Walking Brutus around has its compensations. At least +he doesn't get fresh--like some people I know." + +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. + +"Down, Brutus! Down!" she called out, half-laughing. + +Trent stepped in and pulled the big animal away from the girl, patting +the dog's head as he did so. + +"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." + +"Just don't get any ideas!" Joan Drake shot back. + +"I've already got them," he replied. "Which reminds me, am I seeing you +tonight?" + +The girl held a tight grip on the leash and looked at him coyly. + +"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--" + +"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. + +"There! You see? We might just as well not have our date. In effect, +we've had it already." + +He looked at her for a long moment, and when he spoke again his voice +had lost its humorous note. + +"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--" + +"You win," she interrupted him. "I had forgotten about that." + + * * * * * + +The 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. + +"What brings you to the outskirts of Tucson? Don't tell me there's a big +story breaking on the edge of town." + +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." + +The girl laughed. "That's something of a coincidence. Dr. Blair Gaddon +is in Dr. Fenwick's office right now." + +Fred Trent's eyebrows raised in surprise. + +"That so? Something wrong with him?" + +"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." + +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." + +"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." + +Fred nodded, taking the leash from her hands and feeling the big dog tug +against him. + +"Never could figure out why Fenwick wanted a big hound like this. Seems +to me a terrier would be more practical." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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, _Doctor is +in, please ring_. + +"But I think that's positively cruel!" Joan Drake said earnestly. +"Subjecting an innocent animal to what may be certain death!" + +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?" + +"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 ..." + + * * * * * + +Trent 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. + +"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." + +"I believe you would at that!" she mocked, opening the rear door. +"Here, give me the leash." + +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. + +"Brutus! Now get along with you!" + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"I was getting mighty jealous of Brutus. Now I feel better." + +"I don't know which of you I prefer," she shot back, then smiled and +pulled away from him. + +He watched her open the office door and close it after her. + + * * * * * + +He had 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. + +"If every man had a heart as strong as yours, Blair, we wouldn't need +half the doctors we have." + +Then he heard the deep, gruff voice of Dr. Blair Gaddon half laugh. + +"Thanks a lot, Fenwick. You've taken a load off my mind. Goodbye, Miss +Drake." + +He heard Joan reply and then saw Dr. Fenwick usher the physicist out +into the hall. + +Trent rose as the two men approached. + +"Why, hello, Trent," Dr. Fenwick said. + +Trent nodded at the tall, white-coated figure of the famous gland +specialist. + +"Afternoon, doctor." + +Fenwick smiled at him. "Don't tell me you're waiting to see me?" + +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. + +"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." + +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." + + * * * * * + +The 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. + +"That's fine, doctor," Trent replied. "Shall we go?" + +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. + +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. + +"You said you wanted to talk to me, Trent?" + +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?" + +Gaddon shot a quick glance at him. + +"Why do you ask that?" + +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 ..." + +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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +The physicist snorted. "It is no secret that Mathieson and myself +disagree violently on that subject." + +Trent's eyebrows raised. "Is that so? I wasn't aware of it?" + +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." + +"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?" + +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. + + * * * * * + +Now, 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. + +"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." + +Trent waited expectantly, not wanting to break the Englishman's train of +thought. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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?" + +Trent whistled judiciously, and noted that Gaddon's face smiled at the +apparent surprise Trent evinced. + +"You find that a startling statement?" + +Trent nodded. "I'd say that it sounded like the beginning of a very +interesting theory." + +"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. + +"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?" + +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. + +"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?" + +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." + +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. + +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. + +As Gaddon got out of the car he turned to Trent. + +"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." + +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.... + +A faint chill ran up Fred Trent's back. He couldn't explain it. But it +was there. An ominous note of foreboding. + +He shrugged it off and left his car to walk toward the Administration +building. + + * * * * * + +The 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +A stocky figure detached itself from the shadows beside the huge bulk of +the laboratory building and slowly edged out into the dusk. + +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. + +The distance from the giant rockets shortened gradually, and then the +guard, turning to retrace his steps, saw the approaching figure. + +There was a snapping sound as a rifle was brought into position, and a +rapping command barked out. + +"Halt! Who goes there?" + +The shadowy figure halted abruptly a short distance away from the guard. +And a voice answered. + +"Dr. Blair Gaddon." + +The guard's rifle snapped into present arms and then back to the +soldier's right shoulder. + +"Oh, it's you, sir. Is there anything wrong? The launching is set for +fifteen minutes from now, isn't it?" + +Gaddon walked slowly up to the soldier and the guard could then see his +face in the thickening shadows. + +"That's right," Gaddon replied. "I'm making a last minute inspection." + +The guard nodded. "Dr. Mathieson and the newspapermen will be along any +minute, sir?" + +Gaddon moved closer to the soldier, and then suddenly his hand came out +of his coat pocket and there was a gun in it. + +"Drop your rifle, soldier. Quick!" + +The guard stared at the scientist in shocked astonishment. + +"What is this, sir? A gag?" + +Gaddon motioned with his gun. + +"It is no gag! Do as I say--or must I shoot?" + + * * * * * + +There 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. + +Gaddon motioned with his gun. + +"Now step back! Move!" + +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. + +"Now move over around the side of the number one rocket to the far side +of number two." + +He watched as the guard turned and began to walk slowly around the huge +base of the waiting rocket. He followed the soldier. + +"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--" + +"When Dr. Mathieson hears about this, soldier, I'll be a long way from +here--out at the edge of space itself!" + +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. + +"You can't mean that you're going to go up--" + +The soldier's voice broke off uncertainly and Gaddon laughed shortly. + +"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!" + +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. + +"This is far enough," Gaddon said suddenly. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +There was a click, finally, and the door slid open. + +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. + +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. + +He moved through the large instrument chamber then and sat on the floor +beside the cat. + +Then the flash went out and his laughter came again ... + + * * * * * + +"All 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." + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +Mathieson held his hand up in a gesture of halt, and the men behind him +drew into a compact circle. + +Fred turned to Mathieson. + +"Dr. Mathieson, isn't Dr. Gaddon going to be here for the launching?" + +The head of the rocket project turned to Trent. Fred could see a +suddenly puzzled look in his eyes. + +"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." + +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. + +But then his suspicions were put aside for the moment as he heard +Mathieson say: + +"All right, gentlemen, the time is nearly here. In precisely one minute +the rocket will be fired." + +The statement was made with a quiet eagerness, and then suddenly the +gathered witnesses grew silent. + +Trent's eyes, along with the others, fastened on the looming bulk of the +waiting rocket. + +And the seconds ticked off in Fred's mind. + +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. + +And the seconds passed. + +"Time!" + +Trent heard the voice of Mathieson rap the word out sharply. + +And then there was a roar of sound from the cradled rocket. + +A spear of flame shot from its base, exploding the night into a +brilliant display of pyrotechnics. + + * * * * * + +The 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. + +The shudder grew into a spasm of movement, and then slowly, but steadily +growing faster, the rocket lifted from its cradle. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Finally the voice of Mathieson broke the quiet night air. + +"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--" + +His voice broke off suddenly and Fred Trent heard what must have +distracted the scientist. + +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. + +"Good Lord!" Mathieson breathed. "What's that man doing out there? He +could have been killed!" + +Then suddenly they saw the staggering figure stumble on the ground. + +And then Trent and the others were racing across the ground to the side +of the fallen man. + +When they reached him, Mathieson came forward and knelt beside the +figure. + +"Why, it's one of the guards!" he said in shocked surprise. + +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. + +"Good heavens, man, what happened? You were ordered to leave five +minutes before launching time!" + +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. + +"Sir--Gaddon--Dr. Gaddon attacked me ..." + +There was a momentary stunned silence as the soldier's words sunk in on +the gathered men. + +"_What?_" Mathieson's voice was incredulous. + +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. + +"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 ..." + +Then the soldier was standing on his feet again, swaying as he fought to +clear his fogged senses. + +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. + +Up where a man rode on a perilous trip into the unknown. + + * * * * * + +Gaddon 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. + +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. + +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. + +The triumph would be his. _All_ his! + +And the rocket tubes exploded into sound. + +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. + +And then the rocket trembled with sudden movement. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +But it died stillborn as the roar of the rockets grew to a thundering +hiss now in his ears. + +And he felt the cool sweetness of the automatically released oxygen fill +the chamber about him and he drank it into his lungs hungrily. + +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. + +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. + +And he tensed suddenly. + +There was a glow that sprang into being in the chamber about him. + +It was dim at first. But it grew steadily in intensity around him, +revealing the interior of the chamber in its weird light. + +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. + +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. + +And the glow grew. + +And suddenly the hissing of the exploding rocket fuel began to diminish +in volume. The apex of the flight was nearly at hand then. + +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. + + * * * * * + +It tugged 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. + +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. + +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-- + +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. + +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. + +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. + +And the cat suddenly lunged against him, its sharpened claws biting +through his garments and into his flesh. + +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. + +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. + +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 ... + +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. + +And then he could move again. + +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. + +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. + +And he saw his hands clutching the body of the cat. + +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. + +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. + +And the sound left his lips. + +It left his lips and echoed terribly in his ears. A harsh sound. A +mewing sound. _A cat sound ..._ + +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. + +"_You fiend! You fiend of hell!_" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"No! No! It can't be true! I haven't _changed_ like this! +I--I--_meowrr_ ..." + +Around him the thunder of the rocket fuel suddenly vanished into +silence, and then the rocket gave a lurch. + +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. + +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. + +He fought it. He fought it mewing on the floor of the rocket chamber. + + * * * * * + +"He must have gone mad!" + +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. + +"Gaddon! The man is going to his death! It's insane!" + +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. + +"But why did he do it, doctor? The man must have had a reason!" + +Mathieson shook his head numbly. + +"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 ..." + +"What did he say, doctor?" the newsman asked. + +There was a puzzled note to Mathieson's voice as he answered. + +"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 ... + +"But this! I never dreamed of such a possibility--to prove his point he +signed his own death warrant!" + +"That's a story, doctor, a real story!" + +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. + +Fred moved suddenly away from the clamor of the newsmen around the +scientist. He knew what he had to do. + +He hurried across the ground to his waiting coupe outside the +Administration building. Then he got behind the wheel and started the +motor. + +He drove to the gate and waited until the guard passed him through, then +he turned up the road toward Tucson. + +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. + +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 ... + +Trent set his lips and sighed. No, that couldn't be true. It was beyond +the comprehension of man. + +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. + +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 ... + +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 _Tucson +Star_ and left his car at the curb. + + * * * * * + +He entered 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. + +He crossed swiftly to his desk and sat dawn. Then he motioned to a copy +boy. The boy came up to his desk. + +"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." + +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. + +"Dr. Fenwick's office." + +"Joan, this is Fred." + +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." + +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." + +There was a pause and when the girl spoke again there was an injured +note in her voice. + +"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?" + +"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?" + +He could hear the girl sniff on the other end of the wire. + +"I don't suppose he will, but I don't think I can say the same for +myself." + +"That's a good girl," Trent laughed. "Just wait for me. It may be an +hour or so--" + +"An _hour_ or so! What are you writing, the great American novel?" + +He looked up and saw the frowning face of the City Editor approaching +his desk. He spoke hurriedly. + +"I've got to sign off now. The boss is coming up. I'll see you later. +Give my regards to Brutus." + +He replaced the phone as the editor reached his desk. + +"What's all this about a remake on the front page, Trent?" + +Fred nodded. "That's right, chief. The biggest story since the atom +bomb. Listen!" + +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. + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +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. _Was Gaddon right? Could it be possible that ..._ + +Then he forgot everything but the story. And his fingers clicked against +the keys, putting it down on paper. + + * * * * * + +The 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +A growl left his lips as he struggled with it. And then a whimpering +sound. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +A growl left its lips again, and Gaddon's thoughts tried to force their +way through. Tried and failed again. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +And 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. + +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. + +Then there was quiet again. + +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. + +The door slid back with a sliding sound and the cool night air rushed in +upon it. + +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. + +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. + +He thought desperately about it. And the pattern became clearer in his +mind. + +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. + +_Glands._ + +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. + +"Fenwick! I've got to reach Fenwick before it's too late. _Before it's +too late!_" + +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. + +And in that city, at its very edge, was a house he must reach. + +He stumbled away into the darkness, feeling his limbs move rapidly +then, smoothly, covering the ground in great leaping strides. + +And though Gaddon's thoughts kept the balance of control, deep inside +his mind, the monster growled with a cunning laughter ... + + * * * * * + +Fred Trent 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. + +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. + +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. + +He got up quickly from his desk and reached for his hat. As he started +to walk away, the phone on his desk rang. + +He stepped back and picked up the receiver. + +"Trent speaking." + +"_Fred!_" + +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. + +"Joan, what's wrong?" he asked anxiously. + +"Fred! Come quickly! Bring help before it's too late--he'll kill us!" + +"Joan! For God's sake, calm down! Now what's the matter?" His voice held +a tenseness in it as he spoke. + +"It's Gaddon, Fred! Only it isn't Gaddon--it's a monster! He'll kill +us!" + +"_Gaddon?_" Trent's voice spoke incredulously. "But that's imposs--" + +"Oh, Fred, hurry-- I--oh--no--no! Keep away--" + +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. + +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. + +"Hey, Trent, the boss wants you in his office!" + +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. + +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. + +As he turned down the street where Fenwick's office was, Fred Trent's +mind was a whirl of confused thought. + +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. + + * * * * * + +He felt 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. + +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. + +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. + +He stood then on the front porch, his hand closing over the knob of the +door. + +It was locked. + +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? + +And then suddenly the panel in the front of the door opened and a face +peered out at him. + +Fred Trent felt the blood drain from his lips. A paralysis seemed to +grip his body at what he saw framed in the opening. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_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!_ + +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-- + +The door swung open then and Trent found himself facing the thing that +had been Gaddon. + +He took a backward step and started to turn and run for his car and +help, but he was too slow. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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!" + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +And 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. + +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. + +"Fred! I told you to bring help--" + +"Be quiet!" the voice of Gaddon issued from the twisted lips. And the +girl's sob stifled itself in a look of dread. + +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. + +"You are Gaddon? The Blair Gaddon who went up with the experimental +rocket?" Trent's voice came incredulously. + +The face of the creature twisted in a grimace of acknowledgment. + +"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. + +"But--you're supposed to be dead! Mathieson--" + +A strange sound of irony came from Gaddon. + +"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!" + +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. + +"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!" + +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. + +And then it turned toward the chair where Fenwick sat. The doctor was +looking at the creature, his eyes wide and terrified. + +"But what do you expect me to do for you, Gaddon? Why do you stand here +threatening--" Fenwick's voice came hoarsely. + +"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!" + +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 ..." + +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?" + +The creature advanced slowly upon the doctor, and the girl backed away +to the far wall, fear mirrored in her eyes. + +Then Fred Trent stepped forward, his voice tense. + +"Hold on, Gaddon--of course the doctor will help you--_won't_ you, +Fenwick?" + +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. + +"Yes--yes, of course ... But you'll have to remain quiet, Gaddon, and be +patient a moment...." + +The creature stopped its advance upon Fenwick then. And a growl rumbled +in Gaddon's animal throat. + +Then Fred watched as the doctor stepped swiftly to a table with +instruments and hurriedly began to prepare a hypodermic. + +"I'll give you a special extract injection to start...." Fenwick +explained as he worked. + +And Trent knew that the doctor was preparing an injection that would +subdue the monster. That would enable them to call the police.... + +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. + + * * * * * + +There 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"All right, Gaddon ..." + +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. + +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. + +A harsh growl left those lips then and the creature moved forward toward +the surgeon. + +Trent knew what was happening, and he knew what he must do. There was +death on that bestial face. Death that was reaching out ... + +He heard the dim baying of the Great Dane from the rear of the house as +he leaped forward. + +Then his fist lashed out and caught the animal face in a lashing blow. +His knuckles felt numb as he screamed: + +"The hypodermic--doctor--quick!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +He saw a spurt of blood burst from the man's torn throat, and then the +creature dropped the limp body. + +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. + +Then it turned toward the girl. + +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. + +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. + +The monster stood over her for a moment, then it reached down and picked +up her body in its blood splattered-arms. + +It turned for a moment, holding the girl, and shot a hate-filled glance +at Trent's limp figure. + +Then it moved swiftly across the room and out into the hall. + +And the baying of the Great Dane sounded angrily in Fred Trent's ears ... + + * * * * * + +With 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. + +He stepped over the body of Fenwick, forcing his eyes away from the +grisly sight of it as he dashed to the hallway. + +"Joan--_Joan_!" + +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. + +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. + +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 ... + +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. + +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. + +"Brutus! Quiet, Brutus!" + +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. + +Then he slipped the leash into its metal ring around the neck of the dog +and pulled the door open. + +The animal rushed into the hall, nearly tearing the leash from Fred +Trent's hands as it lunged forward. + +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. + +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. + +And then the last house was behind them and Trent was racing behind the +dog out into the desert land beyond. + + * * * * * + +His 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. + +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. + +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. + +But Trent held grimly to the leash, running as fast as his numbed body +would go. + +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. + +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. + +It was the Rocket Proving Grounds! + +And the fence of the government project loomed close ahead. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It was the second rocket! Standing in its cradle, silent in the night, a +shaft of metal that looked skyward. + +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. + +And as if the thought had been a prelude, he saw the rocket loom before +them as the Great Dane bounded around its base. + +And he saw the metal stairway leading up to the middle of the giant +projectile. + +And at the top of those stairs, going into the now open rocket chamber, +was the monster, holding the unconscious girl in its arms. + +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. + + * * * * * + +The 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. + +The monster dropped the girl's body on the narrow platform and backed +toward the opening of the rocket chamber. + +Then the Great Dane reached the platform and poised itself for a leap. + +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. + +Then the arms of the creature were tearing at the dog as it was forced +back into the rocket chamber. + +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. + +"Joan!" + +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. + +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. + +And then he was dragging the girl down the steps. + +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. + +But his head turned away from her and he stared anxiously up at the open +rocket chamber. + +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. + +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. + +Trent pulled the girl away from that blinding sheet of exploding energy, +and his eyes stared in grim fascination as they ran. + +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. + +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. + +And a terrible dread spread through Trent at the thought. For if the +first change had been terrible enough, what would happen now? + +And as he thought, he saw the rocket lift slowly from its cradle and +gather speed as it shot upward into the night. + + * * * * * + +The 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. + +Then he was surrounded by men from the project, and he caught the glint +of alert weapons and uniforms. + +He felt arms grab him and the girl and heard questions pounding at him. + +But then he saw a face he knew. And he tore away from the arms of the +guards and shouted. + +"Dr. Mathieson! Listen to me!" + +The scientist stepped up to him and Trent gripped his arm in the fading +light of the vanishing rocket. + +"What's happened here?" the scientist demanded. "Aren't you one of the +newsmen--" + +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. + +And when he had finished there was a long moment of silence. And then +Joan Drake moved tremblingly up beside Trent and she spoke: + +"It's true, doctor! Every word Fred said is true!" + +And one of the guards broke in: + +"The word just came in from post four. The fence was torn to pieces--and +Giddings has been murdered--just as they said!" + +Then the silence again. And the face of Mathieson was grim as Trent +broke through the quiet: + +"--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 ..." + +The scientist shook his head slowly, a look of awe in his eyes. + +"It won't release, Trent," he said. + +Fred Trent looked at him questioningly. + +"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 ..." + +Mathieson's voice trailed off and silence closed over the small group +then. + +There was no need to say anything further. There was only the tension of +waiting, the tension that showed in every eye. + +And the girl moved closer to Trent, her body trembling against his. + +They waited. The seconds passed like moments in eternity. Slowly they +marched by, one by one. And then a minute. And the tension grew. + +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. + +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. + +And then silence. + +After a long moment the voice of Mathieson came through the quiet night +wind. + +"... It's over. Gaddon is--dead. Poor fool, he fumbled with the tools of +creation, tools that man is not ready to wield ..." + +And Trent heard one of the soldiers gasp, "What a story! _What_ a +story!" + +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. + +He wanted only to forget ... + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Amazing Stories_ 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. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Monster, by S. M. 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