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diff --git a/26906-h/26906-h.htm b/26906-h/26906-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bc3c1d8 --- /dev/null +++ b/26906-h/26906-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2382 @@ +<!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" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Jameson Satellite, by Neil R. Jones + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h3 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + h2 {text-align: right;} + h3 {line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; visibility: hidden;} + .p2 {width: 65%; margin: 2em auto; clear: both;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin: 1em 0 1em 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center; width: 362px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: justify;} + img {border: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .bk1 {margin: 2em 0; width: 30em;} + .p1 {margin-top: 2em; text-align: center;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Jameson Satellite, by Neil Ronald Jones + +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 Jameson Satellite + +Author: Neil Ronald Jones + +Release Date: October 13, 2008 [EBook #26906] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JAMESON SATELLITE *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1><big>THE JAMESON SATELLITE</big></h1> + +<h2>By NEIL R. JONES</h2> + +<div class="bk1"><p><i>The mammoths of the ancient world have been wonderfully +preserved in the ice of Siberia. The cold, only a few miles +out in space, will be far more intense than in the polar regions +and its power of preserving the dead body would most probably +be correspondingly increased. When the hero-scientist of +this story knew he must die, he conceived a brilliant idea for +the preservation of his body, the result of which even exceeded +his expectations. What, how, and why are cleverly told here.</i></p></div> + +<h3>PROLOGUE<br /> +<i>The Rocket Satellite</i></h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">In</span> the depths of space, some +twenty thousand miles from +the earth, the body of Professor +Jameson within its rocket container +cruised upon an endless +journey, circling the gigantic +sphere. The rocket was a satellite +of the huge, revolving world +around which it held to its orbit. +In the year 1958, Professor +Jameson had sought for a plan +whereby he might preserve his +body indefinitely after his death. +He had worked long and hard +upon the subject.</p> + +<p>Since the time of the Pharaohs, +the human race had looked +for a means by which the dead +might be preserved against the +ravages of time. Great had been +the art of the Egyptians in the +embalming of their deceased, a +practice which was later lost to +humanity of the ensuing mechanical +age, never to be rediscovered. +But even the embalming of +the Egyptians—so Professor +Jameson had argued—would be +futile in the face of millions of +years, the dissolution of the +corpses being just as eventual as +immediate cremation following +death.</p> + +<p>The professor had looked for +a means by which the body could +be preserved perfectly forever. +But eventually he had come to +the conclusion that nothing on +earth is unchangeable beyond a +certain limit of time. Just as +long as he sought an earthly +means of preservation, he was +doomed to disappointment. All +earthly elements are composed of +atoms which are forever breaking +down and building up, but +never destroying themselves. A +match may be burned, but the +atoms are still unchanged, having +resolved themselves into +smoke, carbon dioxide, ashes, +and certain basic elements. It +was clear to the professor that +he could never accomplish his +purpose if he were to employ one +system of atomic structure, such +as embalming fluid or other concoction, +to preserve another system +of atomic structure, such as +the human body, when all atomic +structure is subject to universal +change, no matter how slow.</p> + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/001.png" width="362" height="550" alt="" title="" /> +<b><small>It glowed in a haze of light, the interior clearly revealed.</small></b></div> + +<p>He had then soliloquized upon +the possibility of preserving the +human body in its state of death +until the end of all earthly time—to +that day when the earth +would return to the sun from +which it had sprung. Quite suddenly +one day he had conceived +the answer to the puzzling problem +which obsessed his mind, +leaving him awed with its wild, +uncanny potentialities.</p> + +<p>He would have his body shot +into space enclosed in a rocket +to become a satellite of the earth +as long as the earth continued to +exist. He reasoned logically. Any +material substance, whether of +organic or inorganic origin, cast +into the depths of space would +exist indefinitely. He had visualized +his dead body enclosed in +a rocket flying off into the illimitable +maw of space. He would +remain in perfect preservation, +while on earth millions of generations +of mankind would live +and die, their bodies to molder +into the dust of the forgotten +past. He would exist in this unchanged +manner until that day +when mankind, beneath a cooling +sun, should fade out forever in +the chill, thin atmosphere of a +dying world. And still his body +would remain intact and as perfect +in its rocket container as on +that day of the far-gone past +when it had left the earth to be +hurled out on its career. What a +magnificent idea!</p> + +<p>At first he had been assailed +with doubts. Suppose his funeral +rocket landed upon some other +planet or, drawn by the pull of +the great sun, were thrown into +the flaming folds of the incandescent +sphere? Then the rocket +might continue on out of the +solar system, plunging through +the endless seas of space for millions +of years, to finally enter the +solar system of some far-off star, +as meteors often enter ours. Suppose +his rocket crashed upon a +planet, or the star itself, or became +a captive satellite of some +celestial body?</p> + +<p>It had been at this juncture +that the idea of his rocket becoming +the satellite of the earth +had presented itself, and he had +immediately incorporated it into +his scheme. The professor had +figured out the amount of radium +necessary to carry the rocket +far enough away from the earth +so that it would not turn around +and crash, and still be not so far +away but what the earth's gravitational +attraction would keep it +from leaving the vicinity of the +earth and the solar system. Like +the moon, it would forever revolve +around the earth.</p> + +<p>He had chosen an orbit sixty-five +thousand miles from the +earth for his rocket to follow. +The only fears he had entertained +concerned the huge meteors +which careened through +space at tremendous rates of +speed. He had overcome this +obstacle, however, and had eliminated +the possibilities of a +collision with these stellar juggernauts. +In the rocket were installed +radium repulsion rays +which swerved all approaching +meteors from the path of the +rocket as they entered the vicinity +of the space wanderer.</p> + +<p>The aged professor had prepared +for every contingency, and +had set down to rest from his +labors, reveling in the stupendous, +unparalleled results he +would obtain. Never would his +body undergo decay; and never +would his bones bleach to return +to the dust of the earth from +which all men originally came +and to which they must return. +His body would remain millions +of years in a perfectly preserved +state, untouched by the hoary +palm of such time as only geologists +and astronomers can conceive.</p> + +<p>His efforts would surpass even +the wildest dreams of H. Rider +Haggard, who depicted the wondrous, +embalming practices of +the ancient nation of Kor in his +immortal novel, "She," wherein +Holly, under the escort of the incomparable +Ayesha, looked upon +the magnificent, lifelike masterpieces +of embalming by the long-gone +peoples of Kor.</p> + +<p>With the able assistance of a +nephew, who carried out his instructions +and wishes following +his death, Professor Jameson +was sent upon his pilgrimage +into space within the rocket he +himself had built. The nephew +and heir kept the secret forever +locked in his heart.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Generation after generation +had passed upon its way. Gradually +humanity had come to die +out, finally disappearing from +the earth altogether. Mankind +was later replaced by various +other forms of life which dominated +the globe for their allotted +spaces of time before they too +became extinct. The years piled +up on one another, running into +millions, and still the Jameson +Satellite kept its lonely vigil +around the earth, gradually closing +the distance between satellite +and planet, yielding reluctantly +to the latter's powerful attraction.</p> + +<p>Forty million years later, its +orbit ranged some twenty thousand +miles from the earth while +the dead world edged ever nearer +the cooling sun whose dull, red +ball covered a large expanse of +the sky. Surrounding the flaming +sphere, many of the stars could +be perceived through the earth's +thin, rarefied atmosphere. As the +earth cut in slowly and gradually +toward the solar luminary, +so was the moon revolving ever +nearer the earth, appearing like +a great gem glowing in the +twilight sky.</p> + +<p>The rocket containing the remains +of Professor Jameson continued +its endless travel around +the great ball of the earth whose +rotation had now ceased entirely—one +side forever facing the +dying sun. There it pursued its +lonely way, a cosmic coffin, accompanied +by its funeral cortege +of scintillating stars amid the +deep silence of the eternal space +which enshrouded it. Solitary it +remained, except for the occasional +passing of a meteor flitting +by at a remarkable speed +on its aimless journey through +the vacuum between the far-flung +worlds.</p> + +<p>Would the satellite follow its +orbit to the world's end, or would +its supply of radium soon exhaust +itself after so many eons +of time, converting the rocket +into the prey of the first large +meteor which chanced that way? +Would it some day return to the +earth as its nearer approach portended, +and increase its acceleration +in a long arc to crash upon +the surface of the dead planet? +And when the rocket terminated +its career, would the body of +Professor Jameson be found perfectly +preserved or merely a +crumbled mound of dust?</p> + +<hr class="p2" /> +<h3>CHAPTER I<br /> +<i>40,000,000 Years After</i></h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Entering</span> within the boundaries +of the solar system, +a long, dark, pointed craft sped +across the realms of space towards +the tiny point of light +which marked the dull red ball of +the dying sun which would some +day lie cold and dark forever. +Like a huge meteor it flashed +into the solar system from another +chain of planets far out in +the illimitable Universe of stars +and worlds, heading towards the +great red sun at an inconceivable +speed.</p> + +<p>Within the interior of the +space traveler, queer creatures +of metal labored at the controls +of the space flyer which juggernauted +on its way towards the +far-off solar luminary. Rapidly +it crossed the orbits of Neptune +and Uranus and headed sunward. +The bodies of these queer creatures +were square blocks of a +metal closely resembling steel, +while for appendages, the metal +cube was upheld by four jointed +legs capable of movement. A set +of six tentacles, all metal, like +the rest of the body, curved outward +from the upper half of the +cubic body. Surmounting it was +a queer-shaped head rising to a +peak in the center and equipped +with a circle of eyes all the way +around the head. The creatures, +with their mechanical eyes +equipped with metal shutters, +could see in all directions. A +single eye pointed directly upward, +being situated in the space +of the peaked head, resting in a +slight depression of the cranium.</p> + +<p>These were the Zoromes of the +planet Zor which rotated on its +way around a star millions of +light years distant from our +solar system. The Zoromes, several +hundred thousand years before, +had reached a stage in +science, where they searched for +immortality and eternal relief +from bodily ills and various deficiencies +of flesh and blood anatomy. +They had sought freedom +from death, and had found it, +but at the same time they had +destroyed the propensities for +birth. And for several hundred +thousand years there had been +no births and few deaths in the +history of the Zoromes.</p> + +<p>This strange race of people +had built their own mechanical +bodies, and by operation upon +one another had removed their +brains to the metal heads from +which they directed the functions +and movements of their inorganic +anatomies. There had +been no deaths due to worn-out +bodies. When one part of the +mechanical men wore out, it was +replaced by a new part, and so +the Zoromes continued living +their immortal lives which saw +few casualties. It was true that, +since the innovation of the machines, +there had been a few accidents +which had seen the destruction +of the metal heads with +their brains. These were irreparable. +Such cases had been +few, however, and the population +of Zor had decreased but little. +The machine men of Zor had no +use for atmosphere, and had it +not been for the terrible coldness +of space, could have just as well +existed in the ether void as upon +some planet. Their metal bodies, +especially their metal-encased +brains, did require a certain +amount of heat even though they +were able to exist comfortably +in temperatures which would instantly +have frozen to death a +flesh-and-blood creature.</p> + +<p>The most popular pastime +among the machine men of Zor +was the exploration of the Universe. +This afforded them a never +ending source of interest in +the discovery of the variegated +inhabitants and conditions of the +various planets on which they +came to rest. Hundreds of space +ships were sent out in all directions, +many of them being upon +their expeditions for hundreds +of years before they returned +once more to the home planet of +far-off Zor.</p> + +<p>This particular space craft of +the Zoromes had entered the +solar system whose planets were +gradually circling in closer to +the dull red ball of the declining +sun. Several of the machine men +of the space craft's crew, which +numbered some fifty individuals, +were examining the various +planets of this particular planetary +system carefully through +telescopes possessing immense +power.</p> + +<p>These machine men had no +names and were indexed according +to letters and numbers. They +conversed by means of thought +impulses, and were neither capable +of making a sound vocally +nor of hearing one uttered.</p> + +<p>"Where shall we go?" queried +one of the men at the controls +questioning another who stood +by his side examining a chart on +the wall.</p> + +<p>"They all appear to be dead +worlds, 4R-3579," replied the +one addressed, "but the second +planet from the sun appears to +have an atmosphere which might +sustain a few living creatures, +and the third planet may also +prove interesting for it has a +satellite. We shall examine the +inner planets first of all, and +explore the outer ones later if +we decide it is worth the time."</p> + +<p>"Too much trouble for nothing," +ventured 9G-721. "This +system of planets offers us little +but what we have seen many +times before in our travels. The +sun is so cooled that it cannot +sustain the more common life on +its planets, the type of life forms +we usually find in our travels. +We should have visited a planetary +system with a brighter +sun."</p> + +<p>"You speak of common life," +remarked 25X-987. "What of the +uncommon life? Have we not +found life existent on cold, dead +planets with no sunlight and atmosphere +at all?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we have," admitted 9G-721, +"but such occasions are exceedingly +rare."</p> + +<p>"The possibility exists, however, +even in this case," reminded +4R-3579, "and what if we do +spend a bit of unprofitable time +in this one planetary system—haven't +we all an endless lifetime +before us? Eternity is ours."</p> + +<p>"We shall visit the second +planet first of all," directed 25X-987, +who was in charge of this +particular expedition of the Zoromes, +"and on the way there we +shall cruise along near the third +planet to see what we can of the +surface. We may be able to tell +whether or not it holds anything +of interest to us. If it does, after +visiting the second planet, we +shall then return to the third. +The first world is not worth bothering +with."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The space ship from Zor raced +on in a direction which would +take it several thousand miles +above the earth and then on to +the planet which we know as +Venus. As the space ship rapidly +neared the earth, it slackened its +speed, so that the Zoromes might +examine it closely with their +glasses as the ship passed the +third planet.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, one of the machine +men ran excitedly into the room +where 25X-987 stood watching +the topography of the world beneath +him.</p> + +<p>"We have found something!" +he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Another space ship!"</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"But a short distance ahead +of us on our course. Come into +the foreport of the ship and you +can pick it up with the glass."</p> + +<p>"Which is the way it's going?" +asked 25X-987.</p> + +<p>"It is behaving queerly," replied +the machine man of Zor. +"It appears to be in the act of +circling the planet."</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose that there +really is life on that dead world—intelligent +beings like ourselves, +and that this is one of +their space craft?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is another exploration +craft like our own from +some other world," was the suggestion.</p> + +<p>"But not of ours," said 25X-987.</p> + +<p>Together, the two Zoromes now +hastened into the observation +room of the space ship where +more of the machine men were +excitedly examining the mysterious +space craft, their thought +impulses flying thick and fast +like bodiless bullets.</p> + +<p>"It is very small!"</p> + +<p>"Its speed is slow!"</p> + +<p>"The craft can hold but few +men," observed one.</p> + +<p>"We do not yet know of what +size the creatures are," reminded +another. "Perhaps there are +thousands of them in that space +craft out there. They may be of +such a small size that it will be +necessary to look twice before +finding one of them. Such beings +are not unknown."</p> + +<p>"We shall soon overtake it and +see."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if they have seen +us?"</p> + +<p>"Where do you suppose it +came from?"</p> + +<p>"From the world beneath us," +was the suggestion.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps."</p> + +<hr class="p2" /> +<h3>CHAPTER II<br /> +<i>The Mysterious Space Craft</i></h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> machine men made way +for their leader, 25X-987, +who regarded the space craft +ahead of them critically.</p> + +<p>"Have you tried communicating +with it yet?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"There is no reply to any of +our signals," came the answer.</p> + +<p>"Come alongside of it then," +ordered their commander. "It is +small enough to be brought inside +our carrying compartment, +and we can see with our penetration +rays just what manner +of creatures it holds. They are +intelligent, that is certain, for +their space ship does imply as +much."</p> + +<p>The space flyer of the Zoromes +slowed up as it approached the +mysterious wanderer of the cosmic +void which hovered in the +vicinity of the dying world.</p> + +<p>"What a queer shape it has," +remarked 25X-987. "It is even +smaller than I had previously +calculated."</p> + +<p>A rare occurrence had taken +place among the machine men of +Zor. They were overcome by a +great curiosity which they could +not allow to remain unsatiated. +Accustomed as they were to witnessing +strange sights and still +stranger creatures, meeting up +with weird adventures in various +corners of the Universe, they +had now become hardened to the +usual run of experiences which +they were in the habit of encountering. +It took a great deal +to arouse their unperturbed attitudes. +Something new, however, +about this queer space craft had +gripped their imaginations, and +perhaps a subconscious influence +asserted to their minds that here +they have come across an adventure +radically unusual.</p> + +<p>"Come alongside it," repeated +25X-987 to the operator as he +returned to the control room and +gazed through the side of the +space ship in the direction of the +smaller cosmic wanderer.</p> + +<p>"I'm trying to," replied the +machine man, "but it seems to +jump away a bit every time I +get within a certain distance of +it. Our ship seems to jump backward +a bit too."</p> + +<p>"Are they trying to elude us?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. They should +pick up more speed if that is +their object."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are now progressing +at their maximum speed +and cannot increase their acceleration +any more."</p> + +<p>"Look!" exclaimed the operator. +"Did you just see that? The +thing has jumped away from us +again!"</p> + +<p>"Our ship moved also," said +25X-987. "I saw a flash of light +shoot from the side of the other +craft as it jumped."</p> + +<p>Another machine man now entered +and spoke to the commander +of the Zorome expedition.</p> + +<p>"They are using radium repellent +rays to keep us from approaching," +he informed.</p> + +<p>"Counteract it," instructed +25X-987.</p> + +<p>The man left, and now the +machine man at the controls of +the craft tried again to close +with the mysterious wanderer +of the space between planets. +The effort was successful, and +this time there was no glow of +repulsion rays from the side of +the long metal cylinder.</p> + +<p>They now entered the compartment +where various objects +were transferred from out the +depths of space to the interplanetary +craft. Then patiently they +waited for the rest of the machine +men to open the side of +their space ship and bring in +the queer, elongated cylinder.</p> + +<p>"Put it under the penetration +ray!" ordered 25X-987. "Then +we shall see what it contains!"</p> + +<p>The entire group of Zoromes +were assembled about the long +cylinder, whose low nickel-plated +sides shone brilliantly. With interest +they regarded the fifteen-foot +object which tapered a bit +towards its base. The nose was +pointed like a bullet. Eight cylindrical +protuberances were affixed +to the base while the four +sides were equipped with fins +such as are seen on aerial bombs +to guide them in a direct, unswerving +line through the atmosphere. +At the base of the +strange craft there projected a +lever, while in one side was a +door which, apparently opened +outward. One of the machine +men reached forward to open it +but was halted by the admonition +of the commander.</p> + +<p>"Do not open it up yet!" he +warned. "We are not aware of +what it contains!"</p> + +<p>Guided by the hand of one of +the machine men, a series of +lights shone down upon the cylinder. +It became enveloped in a +haze of light which rendered +the metal sides of the mysterious +space craft dim and indistinct +while the interior of the cylinder +was as clearly revealed as if +there had been no covering. The +machine men, expecting to see +at least several, perhaps many, +strange creatures moving about +within the metal cylinder, stared +aghast at the sight they beheld. +There was but one creature, and +he was lying perfectly still, +either in a state of suspended +animation or else of death. He +was about twice the height of +the mechanical men of Zor. For a +long time they gazed at him in +a silence of thought, and then +their leader instructed them.</p> + +<p>"Take him out of the container."</p> + +<p>The penetration rays were +turned off, and two of the machine +men stepped eagerly forward +and opened the door. One +of them peered within at the +recumbent body of the weird-looking +individual with the four +appendages. The creature lay +up against a luxuriously upholstered +interior, a strap affixed +to his chin while four more +straps held both the upper and +lower appendages securely to the +insides of the cylinder. The machine +man released these, and +with the help of his comrade removed +the body of the creature +from the cosmic coffin in which +they had found it.</p> + +<p>"He is dead!" pronounced one +of the machine men after a long +and careful examination of the +corpse. "He has been like this +for a long time."</p> + +<p>"There are strange thought +impressions left upon his mind," +remarked another.</p> + +<p>One of the machine men, +whose metal body was of a different +shade than that of his +companions, stepped forward, his +cubic body bent over that of the +strange, cold creature who was +garbed in fantastic accoutrements. +He examined the dead +organism a moment, and then he +turned to his companions.</p> + +<p>"Would you like to hear his +story?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" came the concerted reply.</p> + +<p>"You shall, then," was the +ultimatum. "Bring him into my +laboratory. I shall remove his +brain and stimulate the cells into +activity once more. We shall give +him life again, transplanting his +brain into the head of one of our +machines."</p> + +<p>With these words he directed +two of the Zoromes to carry the +corpse into the laboratory.</p> + +<p>As the space ship cruised +about in the vicinity of this +third planet which 25X-987 had +decided to visit on finding the +metal cylinder with its queer +inhabitant, 8B-52, the experimenter, +worked unceasingly in +his laboratory to revive the long-dead +brain cells to action once +more. Finally, after consummating +his desires and having his +efforts crowned with success, he +placed the brain within the head +of a machine. The brain was +brought to consciousness. The +creature's body was discarded +after the all-important brain had +been removed.</p> + +<hr class="p2" /> +<h3>CHAPTER III<br /> +<i>Recalled to Life</i></h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">As</span> Professor Jameson +came to, he became aware +of a strange feeling. He was +sick. The doctors had not expected +him to live; they had +frankly told him so—but he had +cared little in view of the long, +happy years stretched out behind +him. Perhaps he was not +to die yet. He wondered how long +he had slept. How strange he +felt—as if he had no body. Why +couldn't he open his eyes? He +tried very hard. A mist swam +before him. His eyes had been +open all the time but he had not +seen before. That was queer, he +ruminated. All was silent about +his bedside. Had all the doctors +and nurses left him to sleep—or +to die?</p> + +<p>Devil take that mist which +now swam before him, obscuring +everything in line of vision. He +would call his nephew. Vainly +he attempted to shout the word +"Douglas," but to no avail. +Where was his mouth? It seemed +as if he had none. Was it all +delirium? The strange silence—perhaps +he had lost his sense +of hearing along with his ability +to speak—and he could see nothing +distinctly. The mist had +transferred itself into a confused +jumble of indistinct objects, +some of which moved about +before him.</p> + +<p>He was now conscious of some +impulse in his mind which kept +questioning him as to how he +felt. He was conscious of other +strange ideas which seemed to +be impressed upon his brain, but +this one thought concerning his +indisposition clamored insistently +over the lesser ideas. It even +seemed just as if someone was +addressing him, and impulsively +he attempted to utter a sound +and tell them how queer he felt. +It seemed as if speech had been +taken from him. He could not +talk, no matter how hard he +tried. It was no use. Strange to +say, however, the impulse within +his mind appeared to be satisfied +with the effort, and it now put +another question to him. Where +was he from? What a strange +question—when he was at home. +He told them as much. Had he +always lived there? Why, yes, of +course.</p> + +<p>The aged professor was now +becoming more astute as to his +condition. At first it was only a +mild, passive wonderment at his +helplessness and the strange +thoughts which raced through +his mind. Now he attempted to +arouse himself from the lethargy.</p> + +<p>Quite suddenly his sight +cleared, and what a surprise! He +could see all the way around him +without moving his head! And +he could look at the ceiling of +his room! His room? Was it his +room! No— It just couldn't be. +Where was he? What were those +queer machines before him? +They moved on four legs. Six +tentacles curled outward from +their cubical bodies. One of the +machines stood close before him. +A tentacle shot out from the +object and rubbed his head. How +strange it felt upon his brow. +Instinctively he obeyed the impulse +to shove the contraption +of metal from him with his +hands.</p> + +<p>His arms did not rise, instead +six tentacles projected upward +to force back the machine. Professor +Jameson gasped mentally +in surprise as he gazed at the +result of his urge to push the +strange, unearthly looking machine-caricature +from him. With +trepidation he looked down at +his own body to see where the +tentacles had come from, and his +surprise turned to sheer fright +and amazement. His body was +like the moving machine which +stood before him! Where was +he? What ever had happened to +him so suddenly? Only a few +moments ago he had been in his +bed, with the doctors and his +nephew bending over him, expecting +him to die. The last +words he had remembered hearing +was the cryptic announcement +of one of the doctors.</p> + +<p>"He is going now."</p> + +<p>But he hadn't died after all, +apparently. A horrible thought +struck him! Was this the life +after death? Or was it an illusion +of the mind? He became +aware that the machine in front +of him was attempting to communicate +something to him. How +could it, thought the professor, +when he had no mouth. The desire +to communicate an idea to +him became more insistent. The +suggestion of the machine man's +question was in his mind. Telepathy, +thought he.</p> + +<p>The creature was asking about +the place whence he had come. +He didn't know; his mind was +in such a turmoil of thoughts +and conflicting ideas. He allowed +himself to be led to a window +where the machine with waving +tentacle pointed towards an object +outside. It was a queer sensation +to be walking on the four +metal legs. He looked from the +window and he saw that which +caused him to nearly drop over, +so astounded was he.</p> + +<p>The professor found himself +gazing out from the boundless +depths of space across the cosmic +void to where a huge planet lay +quiet. Now he was sure it was +an illusion which made his mind +and sight behave so queerly. He +was troubled by a very strange +dream. Carefully he examined +the topography of the gigantic +globe which rested off in the distance. +At the same time he could +see back of him the concourse +of mechanical creatures crowding +up behind him, and he was +aware of a telepathic conversation +which was being carried on +behind him—or just before him. +Which was it now? Eyes extended +all the way around his head, +while there existed no difference +on any of the four sides of his +cubed body. His mechanical legs +were capable of moving in any +of four given directions with +perfect ease, he discovered.</p> + +<p>The planet was not the earth—of +that he was sure. None of the +familiar continents lay before +his eyes. And then he saw the +great dull red ball of the dying +sun. That was not the sun of his +earth. It had been a great deal +more brilliant.</p> + +<p>"Did you come from that planet?" +came the thought impulse +from the mechanism by his side.</p> + +<p>"No," he returned.</p> + +<p>He then allowed the machine +men—for he assumed that they +were machine men, and he reasoned +that, somehow or other +they had by some marvelous +transformation made him over +just as they were—to lead him +through the craft of which he +now took notice for the first +time. It was an interplanetary +flyer, or space ship, he firmly +believed.</p> + +<p>25X-987 now took him to the +compartment which they had removed +him to from the strange +container they had found wandering +in the vicinity of the +nearby world. There they showed +him the long cylinder.</p> + +<p>"It's my rocket satellite!" exclaimed +Professor Jameson to +himself, though in reality every +one of the machine men received +his thoughts plainly. "What is +it doing here?"</p> + +<p>"We found your dead body +within it," answered 25X-987. +"Your brain was removed to the +machine after having been stimulated +into activity once more. +Your carcass was thrown away."</p> + +<p>Professor Jameson just stood +dumfounded by the words of +the machine man.</p> + +<p>"So I did die!" exclaimed the +professor. "And my body was +placed within the rocket to remain +in everlasting preservation +until the end of all earthly time! +Success! I have now attained unrivaled +success!"</p> + +<p>He then turned to the machine +man.</p> + +<p>"How long have I been that +way?" he asked excitedly.</p> + +<p>"How should we know?" replied +the Zorome. "We picked up +your rocket only a short time +ago, which, according to your +computation, would be less than +a day. This is our first visit to +your planetary system and we +chanced upon your rocket. So it +is a satellite? We didn't watch +it long enough to discover whether +or not it was a satellite. At +first we thought it to be another +traveling space craft, but when +it refused to answer our signals +we investigated."</p> + +<p>"And so that was the earth at +which I looked," mused the professor. +"No wonder I didn't recognize it. +The topography has +changed so much. How different +the sun appears—it must have +been over a million years ago +when I died!"</p> + +<p>"Many millions," corrected +25X-987. "Suns of such size as +this one do not cool in so short +a time as you suggest."</p> + +<p>Professor Jameson, in spite of +all his amazing computations before +his death, was staggered by +the reality.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he suddenly +asked.</p> + +<p>"We are the Zoromes from +Zor, a planet of a sun far across +the Universe."</p> + +<p>25X-987 then went on to tell +Professor Jameson something +about how the Zoromes had attained +their high stage of development +and had instantly put a +stop to all birth, evolution and +death of their people, by becoming +machine men.</p> + +<hr class="p2" /> +<h3>CHAPTER IV<br /> +<i>The Dying World</i></h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"And</span> now tell us of yourself," +said 25X-987, "and +about your world."</p> + +<p>Professor Jameson, noted in +college as a lecturer of no mean +ability and perfectly capable of +relating intelligently to them +the story of the earth's history, +evolution and march of events +following the birth of civilization +up until the time when he +died, began his story. The mental +speech hampered him for a +time, but he soon became accustomed +to it so as to use it easily, +and he found it preferable to +vocal speech after a while. The +Zoromes listened interestedly to +the long account until Professor +Jameson had finished.</p> + +<p>"My nephew," concluded the +professor, "evidently obeyed my +instructions and placed my body +in the rocket I had built, shooting +it out into space where I became +the satellite of the earth +for these many millions of +years."</p> + +<p>"Do you really want to know +how long you were dead before +we found you?" asked 25X-987. +"It would be interesting to find +out."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I should like very much +to know," replied the professor.</p> + +<p>"Our greatest mathematician, +459C-79, will tell it to you." The +mathematician stepped forward. +Upon one side of his cube were +many buttons arranged in long +columns and squares.</p> + +<p>"What is your unit of measuring?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"A mile."</p> + +<p>"How many times more is a +mile than is the length of your +rocket satellite?"</p> + +<p>"My rocket is fifteen feet long. +A mile is five thousand two hundred +and eighty feet."</p> + +<p>The mathematician depressed +a few buttons.</p> + +<p>"How far, or how many miles +from the sun was your planet at +that time?"</p> + +<p>"Ninety-three million miles," +was the reply.</p> + +<p>"And your world's satellite—which +you call moon from your +planet—earth?"</p> + +<p>"Two hundred and forty thousand +miles."</p> + +<p>"And your rocket?"</p> + +<p>"I figured it to go about sixty-five +thousand miles from the +earth."</p> + +<p>"It was only twenty thousand +miles from the earth when we +picked it up," said the mathematician, +depressing a few more +buttons. "The moon and sun are +also much nearer your planet +now."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Professor Jameson gave way +to a mental ejaculation of amazement.</p> + +<p>"Do you know how long you +have cruised around the planet +in your own satellite?" said the +mathematician. "Since you began +that journey, the planet which +you call the earth has revolved +around the sun over forty million +times."</p> + +<p>"Forty—million—years!" exclaimed +Professor Jameson haltingly. +"Humanity must then have +all perished from the earth long +ago! I'm the last man on earth!"</p> + +<p>"It is a dead world now," interjected +25X-987.</p> + +<p>"Of course," elucidated the +mathematician, "those last few +million years are much shorter +than the ones in which you lived. +The earth's orbit is of less diameter +and its speed of revolution +is greatly increased, due to its +proximity to the cooling sun. I +should say that your year was +some four times as long as the +time in which it now takes your +old planet to circumnavigate the +sun.</p> + +<p>"How many days were there +in your year?"</p> + +<p>"Three hundred and sixty-five."</p> + +<p>"The planet has now ceased +rotating entirely."</p> + +<p>"Seems queer that your rocket +satellite should avoid the meteors +so long," observed 459C-79, +the mathematician.</p> + +<p>"Automatic radium repulsion +rays," explained the professor.</p> + +<p>"The very rays which kept us +from approaching your rocket," +stated 25X-987, "until we neutralized +them."</p> + +<p>"You died and were shot out +into space long before any life +occurred on Zor," soliloquized +one of the machine men. "Our +people had not yet even been +born when yours had probably +disappeared entirely from the +face of the earth."</p> + +<p>"Hearken to 72N-4783," said +25X-987, "he is our philosopher, +and he just loves to dwell on the +past life of Zor when we were +flesh and blood creatures with +the threat of death hanging always +over our heads. At that +time, like the life you knew, we +were born, we lived and died, all +within a very short time, comparatively."</p> + +<p>"Of course, time has come to +mean nothing to us, especially +when we are out in space," +observed 72N-4783. "We never +keep track of it on our expeditions, +though back in Zor such +accounts are accurately kept. By +the way, do you know how long +we stood here while you recounted +to us the history of your planet? +Our machine bodies never +get tired, you know."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"Well," ruminated Professor +Jameson, giving a generous allowance +of time. "I should say +about a half a day, although it +seemed scarcely as long as that."</p> + +<p>"We listened to you for four +days," replied 72N-4783.</p> + +<p>Professor Jameson was really +aghast.</p> + +<p>"Really, I hadn't meant to be +such a bore," he apologized.</p> + +<p>"That is nothing," replied the +other. "Your story was interesting, +and if it had been twice as +long, it would not have mattered, +nor would it have seemed any +longer. Time is merely relative, +and in space actual time does not +exist at all, any more than your +forty million years' cessation of +life seemed more than a few +moments to you. We saw that it +was so when your first thought +impressions reached us following +your revival."</p> + +<p>"Let us continue on to your +planet earth," then said 25X-987. +"Perhaps we shall find more +startling disclosures there."</p> + +<p>As the space ship of the Zoromes +approached the sphere +from which Professor Jameson +had been hurled in his rocket +forty million years before, the +professor was wondering how the +earth would appear, and what +radical changes he would find. +Already he knew that the geographical +conditions of the various +continents were changed. He +had seen as much from the space +ship.</p> + +<p>A short time later the earth +was reached. The space travelers +from Zor, as well as Professor +Jameson, emerged from the cosmic +flyer to walk upon the surface +of the planet. The earth had +ceased rotating, leaving one-half +its surface always toward the +sun. This side of the earth was +heated to a considerable degree, +while its antipodes, turned always +away from the solar luminary, +was a cold, frigid, desolate +waste. The space travelers from +Zor did not dare to advance very +far into either hemisphere, but +landed on the narrow, thousand-mile +strip of territory separating +the earth's frozen half from +its sun-baked antipodes.</p> + +<p>As Professor Jameson +emerged from the space ship +with 25X-987, he stared in awe +at the great transformation four +hundred thousand centuries had +wrought. The earth's surface, its +sky and the sun were all so +changed and unearthly appearing. +Off to the east the blood red +ball of the slowly cooling sun +rested upon the horizon, lighting +up the eternal day. The earth's +rotation had ceased entirely, and +it hung motionless in the sky as +it revolved around its solar parent, +its orbit slowly but surely +cutting in toward the great body +of the sun. The two inner planets, +Mercury and Venus, were +now very close to the blood red +orb whose scintillating, dazzling +brilliance had been lost in its +cooling process. Soon, the two +nearer planets would succumb to +the great pull of the solar luminary +and return to the flaming +folds, from which they had been +hurled out as gaseous bodies in +the dim, age-old past, when their +careers had just begun.</p> + +<p>The atmosphere was nearly +gone, so rarefied had it become, +and through it Professor Jameson +could view with amazing +clarity without discomfort to his +eyes the bloated body of the dying +sun. It appeared many times +the size he had seen it at the +time of his death, on account of +its relative nearness. The earth +had advanced a great deal closer +to the great star around which +it swung.</p> + +<p>The sky towards the west was +pitch black except for the iridescent +twinkle of the fiery stars +which studded that section of the +heavens. As he watched, a faint +glow suffused the western sky, +gradually growing brighter, the +full moon majestically lifted itself +above the horizon, casting +its pale, ethereal radiance upon +the dying world beneath. It was +increased to many times the size +Professor Jameson had ever seen +it during his natural lifetime. +The earth's greater attraction +was drawing upon the moon just +as the sun was pulling the earth +ever nearer itself.</p> + +<p>This cheerless landscape confronting +the professor represented +the state of existence to which +the earth had come. It was a +magnificent spread of loneliness +which bore no witness to the +fact that it had seen the teeming +of life in better ages long ago. +The weird, yet beautiful scene, +spread in a melancholy panorama +before his eyes, drove his +thoughts into gloomy abstraction +with its dismal, depressing influence. +Its funereal, oppressive +aspect smote him suddenly with +the chill of a terrible loneliness.</p> + +<p>25X-987 aroused Professor +Jameson from his lethargic reverie. +"Let us walk around and see +what we can find. I can understand +how you feel in regard to +the past. It is quite a shock—but +it must happen to all worlds +sooner or later—even to Zor. +When that time comes, the Zoromes +will find a new planet on +which to live. If you travel with +us, you will become accustomed +to the sight of seeing dead, lifeless +worlds as well as new and +beautiful ones pulsating with +life and energy. Of course, this +world being your own, holds a +peculiar sentimental value to +you, but it is really one planet +among billions."</p> + +<p>Professor Jameson was silent.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether or not +there are any ruins here to be +found?" queried 25X-987.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe so," replied +the professor. "I remember hearing +an eminent scientist of my +day state that, given fifty thousand +years, every structure and +other creation of man would be +obliterated entirely from off the +earth's surface."</p> + +<p>"And he was right," endorsed +the machine man of Zor. "Time +is a great effacer."</p> + +<p>For a long time the machine +men wandered over the dreary +surface of the earth, and then +25X-987 suggested a change of +territory to explore. In the space +ship, they moved around the +earth to the other side, still keeping +to the belt of shadowland +which completely encircled the +globe like some gigantic ring. +Where they now landed arose +a series of cones with hollow +peaks.</p> + +<p>"Volcanoes!" exclaimed the +professor.</p> + +<p>"Extinct ones," added the machine +man.</p> + +<p>Leaving the space ship, the +fifty or more machine men, including +also Professor Jameson, +were soon exploring the curiously +shaped peaks. The professor, +in his wanderings had +strayed away from the rest, and +now advanced into one of the +cup-like depressions of the peak, +out of sight of his companions, +the Zoromes.</p> + +<hr class="p2" /> +<h3>CHAPTER V<br /> +<i>Eternity or Death</i></h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">He</span> was well in the center of +the cavity when the soft +ground beneath him gave way +suddenly and he catapulted below +into the darkness. Through the +Stygian gloom he fell in what +seemed to be an endless drop. +He finally crashed upon something +hard. The thin crust of +the volcano's mouth had broken +through, precipitating him into +the deep, hollow interior.</p> + +<p>It must have been a long ways +to fall—or so it had seemed. +Why was he not knocked senseless +or killed? Then he felt himself +over with three tentacles. +His metal legs were four broken, +twisted masses of metal, while +the lower half of his cubic body +was jammed out of shape and +split. He could not move, and +half of his six tentacles were +paralyzed.</p> + +<p>How would he ever get out of +there? he wondered. The machine +men of Zor might never +find him. What would happen to +him, then? He would remain in +this deathless, monotonous state +forever in the black hole of the +volcano's interior unable to +move. What a horrible thought! +He could not starve to death; +eating was unknown among the +Zoromes, the machines requiring +no food. He could not even commit +suicide. The only way for +him to die would be to smash the +strong metal head, and in his +present immovable condition, +this was impossible.</p> + +<p>It suddenly occurred to him to +radiate thoughts for help. Would +the Zoromes receive his messages? +He wondered how far the +telepathic messages would carry. +He concentrated the powers of +his mind upon the call for help, +and repeatedly stated his position +and plight. He then left his +mind clear to receive the thought +answers of the Zoromes. He received +none. Again he tried. Still +he received no welcoming answer. +Professor Jameson became +dejected.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>It was hopeless. The telepathic +messages had not reached the +machine men of Zor. They were +too far away, just as one person +may be out of earshot of another's +voice. He was doomed to +a terrible fate of existence! It +were better that his rocket had +never been found. He wished +that the Zoromes had destroyed +him instead of bringing him +back to life—back to this!</p> + +<p>His thoughts were suddenly +broken in upon.</p> + +<p>"We're coming!"</p> + +<p>"Don't give up hope!"</p> + +<p>If the professor's machine +body had been equipped with a +heart, it would have sung for +joy at these welcome thought impressions. +A short time later +there appeared in the ragged +break of the volcano's mouth, +where he had fallen through, the +metal head of one of the machine +men.</p> + +<p>"We shall have you out of +there soon," he said.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The professor never knew how +they managed it for he lost consciousness +under some strange +ray of light they projected down +upon him in his prison. When he +came to consciousness once more, +it was to find himself inside the +space ship.</p> + +<p>"If you had fallen and had +smashed your head, it would +have been all over with you," +were the first thought impulses +which greeted him. "As it is, +however, we can fix you up first +rate."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you answer the +first time I called to you?" asked +the professor. "Didn't you hear +me?"</p> + +<p>"We heard you, and we answered, +but you didn't hear us. +You see, your brain is different +than ours, and though you can +send thought waves as far as we +can you cannot receive them +from such a great distance."</p> + +<p>"I'm wrecked," said the professor, +gazing at his twisted +limbs, paralyzed tentacles and +jammed body.</p> + +<p>"We shall repair you," came +the reply. "It is your good fortune +that your head was not +crushed."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do +with me?" queried the professor. +"Will you remove my brains to +another machine?"</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't necessary. We +shall merely remove your head +and place it upon another machine +body."</p> + +<p>The Zoromes immediately set +to work upon the task, and soon +had Professor Jameson's metal +head removed from the machine +which he had wrecked in his fall +down the crater. All during the +painless operation, the professor +kept up a series of thought exchanges +in conversation with the +Zoromes, and it seemed but a +short time before his head surmounted +a new machine and he +was ready for further exploration. +In the course of his operation, +the space ship had moved +to a new position, and now as +they emerged 25X-987 kept +company with Professor Jameson.</p> + +<p>"I must keep an eye on you," +he said. "You will be getting into +more trouble before you get +accustomed to the metal bodies."</p> + +<p>But Professor Jameson was +doing a great deal of thinking. +Doubtlessly, these strange machine +men who had picked up his +rocket in the depths of space and +had brought him back to life, +were expecting him to travel +with them and become adopted +into the ranks of the Zoromes. +Did he want to go with them? He +couldn't decide. He had forgotten +that the machine men could read +his innermost thoughts.</p> + +<p>"You wish to remain here +alone upon the earth?" asked +25X-987. "It is your privilege if +you really want it so."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied Professor +Jameson truthfully.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>He gazed at the dust around +his feet. It had probably been +the composition of men, and had +changed from time to time into +various other atomic structures—of +other queer forms of life +which had succeeded mankind. It +was the law of the atom which +never died. And now he had +within his power perpetual existence. +He could be immortal if he +wished! It would be an immortality +of never-ending adventures +in the vast, endless Universe +among the galaxy of stars +and planets.</p> + +<p>A great loneliness seized him. +Would he be happy among these +machine men of another far-off +world—among these Zoromes? +They were kindly and solicitous +of his welfare. What better fate +could he expect? Still, a longing +for his own kind arose in him—the +call of humanity. It was irresistible. +What could he do? Was +it not in vain? Humanity had +long since disappeared from the +earth—millions of years ago. He +wondered what lay beyond the +pales of death—the real death, +where the body decomposed and +wasted away to return to the +dust of the earth and assume +new atomic structures.</p> + +<p>He had begun to wonder +whether or not he had been dead +all these forty millions of years—suppose +he had been merely +in a state of suspended animation. +He had remembered a scientist +of his day, who had claimed +that the body does not die at +the point of official death. According +to the claims of this +man, the cells of the body did +not die at the moment at which +respiration, heart beats and the +blood circulation ceased, but it +existed in the semblance of life +for several days afterward, especially +in the cells of the bones, +which died last of all.</p> + +<p>Perhaps when he had been +sent out into space in his rocket +right after his death, the action +of the cosmic void was to halt +his slow death of the cells in his +body, and hold him in suspended +animation during the ensuing +millions of years. Suppose he +should really die—destroying his +own brain? What lay beyond real +death? Would it be a better +plane of existence than the Zoromes +could offer him? Would +he rediscover humanity, or had +they long since arisen to higher +planes of existence or reincarnation? +Did time exist beyond the +mysterious portals of death? If +not, then it was possible for him +to join the souls of the human +race. Had he really been dead +all this time? If so, he knew +what to expect in case he really +destroyed his own brain. Oblivion!</p> + +<p>Again the intense feeling of +loneliness surged over him and +held him within its melancholy +grasp. Desperately, he decided to +find the nearest cliff and jump +from it—head-first! Humanity +called; no man lived to companion +him. His four metal limbs +carried him swiftly to the summit +of a nearby precipice. Why +not gamble on the hereafter? +25X-987, understanding his +trend of thought, did not attempt +to restrain him. Instead, +the machine man of Zor waited +patiently.</p> + +<p>As Professor Jameson stood +there meditating upon the jump +which would hurl him now into +a new plane of existence—or into +oblivion, the thought transference +of 25X-987 reached him. +It was laden with the wisdom +born of many planets and thousands +of centuries' experience.</p> + +<p>"Why jump?" asked the machine +man. "The dying world +holds your imagination within a +morbid clutch. It is all a matter +of mental condition. Free your +mind of this fascinating influence +and come with us to visit +other worlds, many of them are +both beautiful and new. You will +then feel a great difference.</p> + +<p>"Will you come?"</p> + +<p>The professor considered for a +moment as he resisted the impulse +to dive off the declivity to +the enticing rocks far below. An +inspiration seized him. Backing +away from the edge of the cliff, +he joined 25X-987 once more.</p> + +<p>"I shall come," he stated.</p> + +<p>He would become an immortal +after all and join the Zoromes in +their never-ending adventures +from world to world. They hastened +to the space ship to escape +the depressing, dreary influence +of the dying world, which had +nearly driven Professor Jameson +to take the fatal leap to +oblivion.</p> + +<p class="p1"><b>THE END</b></p> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> +This etext was produced from <i>Amazing Stories</i> April 1956 and +was first published in <i>Amazing Stories</i> July 1931. +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> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Jameson Satellite, by Neil Ronald Jones + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JAMESON SATELLITE *** + +***** This file should be named 26906-h.htm or 26906-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/9/0/26906/ + +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. 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