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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/26917-h.zip b/26917-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ef6c6ff --- /dev/null +++ b/26917-h.zip diff --git a/26917-h/26917-h.htm b/26917-h/26917-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b0f6c77 --- /dev/null +++ b/26917-h/26917-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2134 @@ +<!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 Zehru of Xollar, by Hal K. Wells + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: center; font-weight: normal;} + h2 {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin: 0 1em 0 0; padding: 0; text-align: center; width: 341px;} + .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 {width: 15em; margin: 2em auto; padding: 1em .25em; text-align: center; border: solid 2px;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Zehru of Xollar, by Hal K. Wells + +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: Zehru of Xollar + +Author: Hal K. Wells + +Release Date: October 14, 2008 [EBook #26917] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZEHRU OF XOLLAR *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figleft"> +<img src="images/001.png" width="341" height="400" alt="" title="" /> +<b><small><i>Blake made a lightning snatch at a tentacle with both hands.</i></small></b> + +<div class="bk1"><small>Three Earthlings are whisked on an<br /> +inter-dimensional journey to the den<br /> +of the Scientist Zehru.</small></div></div> + +<h1><big>Zehru of Xollar</big></h1> + +<h2>By Hal K. Wells</h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">When</span> the rolling thunder +of infra-bass first came +to their ears, Robert +Blake and Helen Lawton +were standing on +the platform of a +New York subway +station waiting +for the arrival +of an uptown express +to bear them to their homes.</p> + +<p>They made a strikingly attractive +couple as they stood there. New +York had not had time as yet to remove +the bronze +tan of an outdoor +life from Blake's +ruggedly good-looking +face. His +tall athletic figure +was still conspicuous for the +lithe strength that had made him an +All-Western tackle less than two +years ago.</p> + +<p>Standing beside Blake's husky figure, +Helen Lawton looked like a +tiny, very perfect, blonde doll, with +an exquisitely molded face framed +in curly bobbed hair that was the +clear golden-amber hue of orange +honey. There was a diamond sparkling +on the ring finger of the girl's +slim left hand, placed there by Blake.</p> + +<p>It was well after midnight, and the +only other passenger waiting on the +station was a burly chap leaning +against one of the white pillars on +the other side of the platform. After +a casual glance at the fellow, with +his derby hat shoved far back from a +low forehead, his blatantly conspicuous +clothing, and the suspicious +bulge under one arm-pit, Blake had +mentally set him down as a minor +gangster, probably a strong-arm man +for some beer mob.</p> + +<p>Blake and Helen had been standing +there but a few minutes when +the strange sound first became audible. +For a moment Blake thought it +was merely the rumbling roar of an +express approaching far down the +tunnel. Then he realized that no +subway train could possibly produce +a sound effect so oddly disturbing +and strangely alien.</p> + +<p>It was like no sound that Blake +had ever heard before. Vibrant with +colossal power, it suggested a sustained +note struck from a giant organ, +a note so low in pitch that it +seemed a full octave below the lowest +bass note ever struck. Whatever +it was, the thundering vibration of +infra-bass was coming nearer with +startling swiftness.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">It</span> was impossible to locate the +source of the mighty pulsing +note. It seemed to be coming simultaneously +from all directions, like a +great hollow sphere of invisible +sound waves closing in with the station +platform as its central focal +point.</p> + +<p>Helen's face was white with dread +as she shrank closer into Blake's embrace. +Blake noted that the gangster +across the platform was standing +tensely at bay with his back against +the pillar and his right hand thrust +under his coat as he stared wildly +about him in an effort to discover the +cause of the disturbance.</p> + +<p>The rolling thunder closed in +upon them with a final rush that +brought it so near that their very +bodies seemed to vibrate in harmony +with that mighty note of shuddering +bass. Then with startling abruptness +the green net came.</p> + +<p>Out from the walls and down from +the roof spurted scores of quivering +ribbons of blinding green flame. +Swiftly the radiant tendrils rushed +in upon the shrinking three from +every side, while the infra-bass +thundered in mighty crescendo.</p> + +<p>Blake instinctively swept Helen +close within the shelter of his arms +in an effort to protect her with his +own body against the searing menace +of those onrushing green flames. +The next moment the fiery ribbons +were upon them, lashing about their +bodies, crossing and crisscrossing in +the air above and around them in a +great tangled web of interlacing +lines of flame that filled the entire +platform.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">With</span> a shock of relief Blake +found that there was no heat +in those strange flames, but his relief +was short-lived as the next second +brought him realization of the +real menace of the radiant ribbons. +There was a solidity and strength in +those glowing streamers that held +them as helplessly captive as though +they were gripped in ribbons of +steel. Dazed and helpless, the three +struggled for a moment in the +meshes of the weird net of flame like +fish caught in the strands of some +giant cosmic seine.</p> + +<p>The trembling thunder of infra-bass +abruptly changed to a thin +whining note so high in pitch that it +seemed the nearly soundless ghost +of a metallic scream. With the +change in sound Blake became aware +of a new and astounding change in +his surroundings.</p> + +<p>The walls and roof of the station +seemed closing in upon him as +though he were growing in size at +an incredible rate. The next moment +he shot through the roof, hurtling +on and upward with the velocity of +a rocket. The sensation was one that +his reeling brain could not even +grasp. His body seemed to be inside +every stone, iron bar, and lump of +earth, yet at the same time every exterior +object seemed <i>within</i> his body. +It was an eery chaos of a dozen different +dimensions blending to form +a Space in which there was no +known dimension.</p> + +<p>As they flashed on out to the surface +Blake had one hazy glimpse of +Manhattan's glowing lights spread +all about them. Then the speed of +their progress leaped into a new and +terrible acceleration that blotted out +every tangible sensation from +Blake's brain.</p> + +<p>Time and Space alike seemed to +vanish as their hurtling flight sent +them rocketing on for distances inconceivably +vast through a bleak and +appalling Nothingness, where neither +sight nor sound existed.</p> + +<p>Then abruptly the speed of their +flight seemed to be lessening. Sensation +returned to Blake. He again +heard the thin high-pitched metallic +wail, now swiftly deepening to the +familiar growl of rolling bass. He +again noted the presence of the glowing +green ribbons of the net that +still encircled them.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">A blindingly</span> brilliant purple +mist was now closing in upon +them from every direction, bringing +with it a nameless and agonizing +force that seemed to be shaking the +very atoms in Blake's body asunder. +Then they dropped swiftly down out +of the purple mists, and the strange +agony at once vanished. Blake felt +their downward progress come to an +end with the gentle arrival of his +feet upon firm ground.</p> + +<p>The encircling net of green flame +glowed dazzlingly brighter for a +brief moment, then swiftly vanished +into thin air, while the mutter of +bass vibrations simultaneously died +away into silence. Blake staggered +and nearly fell as the sudden release +from the net's strands again +left his body free.</p> + +<p>He looked down at Helen as she +stood huddled close beside him, still +in the shelter of his arms. The girl's +face was white with terror as she +looked back up at him.</p> + +<p>"Bob, what happened—and where +on earth are we?" Her voice trembled +a little in spite of her plucky +effort to keep it steady.</p> + +<p>Blake's bewildered gaze was already +roving around them trying to +comprehend the incredible details of +their surroundings. "I've no idea +what happened, dear," he answered +slowly. "As to where we are now, +I'm very much afraid it's nowhere on +Earth!"</p> + +<p>"Then where is this hopped-up +layout anyway, fellah, if it ain't on +Earth?" broke in a voice with a decided +East Side twang. Blake quickly +turned and saw that the gangster +had remained with them in that eery +flight in the green net. There was an +expression of dumfounded amazement +upon the man's heavy face, and +he was obviously anxious to be +friendly with the two who now represented +the only link with the familiar +world he had known.</p> + +<p>"Gee, for a minute I thought they +had me on the spot in some new way, +sure!" he chattered excitedly as he +came quickly over to join Helen and +Blake. "There's plenty of guys +wantin' to turn the heat on me there +in the Big Town. I'm Gil Mapes, +see? But this ain't no frame-up like +any I ever heard of. What happened +anyway, fellah?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">For</span> the moment Blake did not +answer. The three of them were +silent as they stared about them with +eyes that were dazed by the startlingly +unfamiliar aspect of every +detail in their surroundings.</p> + +<p>From the twin purple suns that +blazed down through the tenuous +mists overhead to the barren blue-gray +ground underfoot, there was +not a single object familiar to Earthly +eyes. The huge enclosure in which +the three of them stood was obviously +the work of intelligent beings +of some kind, but its mechanical details +were products of a science different +from any known to Blake.</p> + +<p>The purpose of the enclosure +seemed to be to maintain an area of +clear air in the midst of the swirling +purple vapors that pressed in +against it from the top and from +every side. In shape it was a great +oblong cell, some fifty feet high, two +hundred yards long, and about one +hundred yards wide. The three captives +stood near the center.</p> + +<p>Fencing in the enclosure at twenty-yard +intervals and reaching upward +to the ceiling were slender +posts of some lusterless black metal. +Between these posts streamed unbroken, +nearly transparent sheets of +some unknown force, the only visible +sign of which was the presence +of countless millions of tiny shimmering +golden flecks which danced +like dust motes in a ray of sunlight. +It was obviously this thin sheet of +unknown force that was keeping the +purple mists at bay, for fan-like antennae +at the top of each post spread +a similar shimmering sheet that +formed a ceiling for the clear-aired +area.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> three Earthlings were facing +one of the side walls of the +big enclosures. The purple mists +outside made it hard to see clearly +for any distance, but Blake had an +impression that the surrounding terrain +was featured by the same barren, +nearly desert bleakness that +characterized the interior of the enclosure, +where scattered clumps of +dead, spiky black branches of shrub-like +vegetation were the only sign of +plant life.</p> + +<p>Just within the distant end wall +at their right there was a low platform +surmounted by a wide arch +some ten feet in height, both constructed +of silver-colored metal. +There was nothing between them +and the end wall to their left, but +they could see that the ground +sloped sharply upward from the barrier-sheet, +and on the crest of the +ridge a gigantic cone-shaped structure +of solid black could be seen +dimly through the intervening mists.</p> + +<p>The cone-building seemed to be +the source of the power that kept the +enclosure intact. Slender cables of +black metal ran down the slope from +it into the clear-aired space, spreading +out over the dusty gray-blue +ground to the base of each of the +tall posts, with a heavier copper-colored +cable running on the silver +arch. From within the windowless +interior of the cone there was audible +a low hum as of tremendous +power being generated there.</p> + +<p>"Gee, what a rummy joint this +place is!" There was frank awe in +the gangster's voice as he at last +broke the silence. "That guy with +the green net sure took us for one +sweet ride. Mebbe we're on the Moon +now, or on Mars, huh?"</p> + +<p>Blake shook his head. "No, we're +completely out of our entire solar +system. Those twin purple suns up +there prove that. We may even be in +another universe, or another dimension +from our own. A piece of apparatus +that could whisk us up through +fifty feet of earth and masonry as +that green net did obviously works +in dimensions of which we've never +dreamed. The only thing we're sure +of is that we were brought to this +purple world deliberately and intentionally +by an intelligent being of +some kind, scooped up like tadpoles +from a mud-puddle and dumped here +in this elaborate enclosure It had +already prepared for us."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Blake</span> nodded to where the +black cone-building loomed +through the purple mists outside the +end wall. "Whoever or whatever the +thing was that brought us here, I +have a hunch It's there in that +power-house watching us. I'd suggest +that we walk down toward that +end of the enclosure for a closer +look. We may at least find out +whether we're guests or prisoners."</p> + +<p>"Listens good to me, fellah," +agreed Mapes, sliding a hand up to +his shoulder holster and bringing +out a squat black automatic pistol of +heavy caliber. "We'll do a prowl, +over that way, and if His Nibs tries +any more funny business mebbe a +few slugs outta this rod will change +his mind for him."</p> + +<p>"Better go easy with the gun, +Mapes," advised Blake as the three +of them started slowly toward the +cone-building. "From what we've already +seen, there must be weapons +in this world that would make your +pistol look like a kid's pop-gun. +We'd better go easy till—wait, +what's that?"</p> + +<p>The thin high-pitched whine, followed +promptly by the familiar +growling thunder of infra-bass, had +again become audible. At the same +moment a long pencil-like beam of +green light glowed into visibility, +extending from the tip of the cone +to a point high within the enclosure +just back of them. As they halted +abruptly and watched, they saw the +interlacing meshes of the green +flame-net materialize suddenly at the +end of the beam.</p> + +<p>The beam curved into an arc that +dropped the net swiftly to the +ground some thirty yards from them. +Its meshes were packed nearly full +of dark, writhing figures.</p> + +<p>"Looks like some more tadpoles +arriving for our pond!" Mapes exclaimed. +"I wonder what part of +N' Yawk His Nibs yanked these babies +from?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Blake's</span> answer died on his lips +as the net and beam glowed +blindingly brighter for a brief second, +then disappeared, leaving the +dark figures in full view. Helen +choked back a gasp of horror. Mapes +swore in consternation and hurriedly +swung his pistol into line with +those writhing shapes.</p> + +<p>The net's latest captives were not +from New York, nor were they from +any other part of the planet Earth. +Hideous spawn of some unknown +world out in the black void of Space, +they writhed for a moment in a +nightmare chaos of countless brown-furred +bodies, then swiftly disentangled +themselves before the staring +eyes of the three Earthlings.</p> + +<p>The things were apparently too +low in the mental scale to have any +reaction to their situation other than +a blind instinct to attack any other +living being within reach, for they +promptly headed for the three captives +from Earth.</p> + +<p>As the creatures came shambling +rapidly forward on powerful bowed +legs, and with the tips of their long +hairy arms brushing the ground, they +looked like grotesquely distorted +apes. The crowning horror of those +shambling figures, however, lay in +the fact that they were completely +headless!</p> + +<p>Even when the things approached +to a distance of less than ten feet +before halting in momentary indecision, +Blake could detect no sign of +any normal skull in the blunt space +at the top of the powerful hairy +torso. There was a furry-lipped +mouth opening of some kind in the +hollow between the bulging shoulders, +but of eyes, ears, nose, or brain +cavity there was no discernible trace.</p> + +<p>For a long moment the headless +ape-things and the three human beings +stood silently facing each other. +Mapes' pistol was leveled pointblank +at the nearest of the creatures, but +their overwhelming numbers made +the gangster hold his fire.</p> + +<p>There were two distinct groups of +the things. At least twenty members +of each group were in the crowd facing +the Earthlings. To the rear of +these attackers two oddly repulsive +objects were carried and carefully +shielded by picked guards of four +unusually large and powerful ape-things.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> nature of those two guarded +objects puzzled Blake. They +looked like large eggs of dirty-gray +jelly, about a yard in length. They +were obviously alive, for their gelatinous +masses quivered and trembled +in constant activity. Blake noted +that there seemed to be a curious +connection between the ebb and flow +of pulsations in the egg-masses and +the movements of the ape-things.</p> + +<p>His attention was abruptly recalled +to the headless things in front +of him as they suddenly began shambling +forward again. There was no +possible mistaking the intention of +those advancing horrors. They were +moving to the attack.</p> + +<p>They reached barely to Blake's +shoulders, but he realized that their +enormous numbers and hook-taloned +hands would make the result of the +battle almost a foregone conclusion. +The fact that the headless things +were without eyes was no handicap +to them. The swift certainty of their +movements proved that they had a +sense of sight of some kind that was +in every way as efficient as eyesight.</p> + +<p>Blake looked hurriedly around +him, seeking a place where they +might be at the best possible advantage +in the impending battle. There +was a small dense thicket of the +spiky dead branches half a dozen +yards to their right. At Blake's low +command, the three made a dash for +the thicket. Arriving there, they +ranged themselves against it, with +their backs at least partially protected +from attack.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> maneuver seemed to puzzle +the ape-things for a moment. +They stood passively watching the +retreat of the three until they had +reached the thicket. Then the creatures +again began slowly closing in +upon them. Blake snatched up a +dead branch from the ground near +the thicket, and was delighted to +find that its weight and tough fiber +made it an excellent club.</p> + +<p>He stripped off his topcoat and +passed it back to Helen. Its tough +fabric, heavily rubberized for proof +against rain, might guard her head +and face at least momentarily from +those ripping talons if the headless +attackers came to close quarters. +With Helen safely behind them, +Blake and Mapes turned grimly to +face the enemy.</p> + +<p>The attack was prompt in coming. +Moving with the perfect synchronization +of a single unit, one of the +main groups came shambling in, followed +an instant later by the other +group. Mapes' pistol sent a bullet +crashing squarely into the nearest +attacker. The creature staggered +momentarily, then came lurching on +again, apparently not even crippled. +Blake swung his heavy club in a +whistling arc that sent two of his adversaries +broken and writhing to the +ground.</p> + +<p>He heard Mapes' pistol bark four +times more as the things closed in. +Then the gun was knocked from the +gangster's grip by a groping talon-armed +hand. Mapes tried to batter +back his assailants with his naked +fists, but the flailing arms of the +horde knocked him from his feet. +His limp body was promptly +tramped into unconsciousness by the +milling feet of the close-packed +group.</p> + +<p>Blake lashed the heavy club about +him with a burst of savage fury that +for the moment sent the furred horrors +reeling backward. Their retreat +ended after a scant two yards. +Reforming their ranks, they again +began cautiously shambling forward +in a new attack that Blake realized +would probably mean the end.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">It</span> was easy enough to batter the +things to ground, but it seemed +impossible to seriously hurt them. +Their incredible vitality and their +overwhelming numbers made them +almost invincible. Grimly Blake set +himself to battle as long as he could +in that last desperate effort to keep +the hordes at bay.</p> + +<p>He noticed idly that the two +groups still kept their oddly separated +formation. Behind them the +two egg-masses of jelly were now +seething in new activity after a brief +lessening of their gruesome shivering. +Blake now saw that there was a +direct and unmistakable connection +between the activity of the jelly and +the corresponding activity of the +ape-things.</p> + +<p>Realization of the fact sent a sudden +flash of inspiration flaming +through Blake's weary brain, correlating +the real significance of a dozen +different things he had been subconsciously +noting ever since the first +appearance of the weird beasts.</p> + +<p>Those attacking things were not +hordes of individual animals. They +were merely two complete organisms, +with the members of each organism +controlled by its nucleus +through invisible lines of nervous +force as the various individual cells +of the human body are linked by +nerve fibers. No wonder the creatures +themselves were blind. The +egg-mass that was the nucleus of +each of the two groups was eyes, +brain, and seat of life for every ape-thing +in the group.</p> + +<p>With a swift surge of hope Blake +realized the way to conquer the +things. If he could only shatter those +flaccid masses of jelly, he would destroy +the swarming dozens of beasts +at the same time.</p> + +<p>Reaching the jelly ovoids seemed +at first consideration to be an impossible +task. They were carefully +guarded far in the rear of the attacking +groups. Blake knew that he had +scarcely a chance in a hundred of +battering his way through the intervening +ape-things.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Then</span> he remembered the gangster's +pistol. His searching eyes +found it immediately, there on the +ground nearly under the feet of the +ape-things as they again shambled +forward to the attack.</p> + +<p>Blake staked everything upon a +last desperate sortie against the advancing +things. With his club whistling +around his head in crashing +blows that wrought murderous +havoc in the close-packed hordes, he +drove them back for one breathless +moment that gave him time to leap +forward and snatch up the pistol.</p> + +<p>The ape-things were already +springing back upon him as he +swung the pistol into line with one +of the jelly-masses. He barely +pressed the trigger before the charging +brutes knocked him from his +feet.</p> + +<p>As he went down he flung his arms +over his head to protect his face +from the expected attack of those +hooked talons, but none came. A +body thudded down upon him, then +slid limply off again without making +any move to attack. Blake scrambled +to his feet.</p> + +<p>Writhing upon the ground all +around him were ape-things in their +death agonies. On the ground beyond +them, quivering and broken in +the midst of its dying guards, was a +viscid mass of loathsome gray jelly. +Blake's shot had apparently struck +home squarely in the center of that +vulnerable blob. Even as he watched, +the gelatinous mass shuddered in a +last convulsion, then became quite +still. At the same instant the last sign +of life vanished from the writhing +ape-things on the ground.</p> + +<p>A good half of the attacking creatures +were included in the dead +bodies. The other half, Blake now +saw, had retreated to cluster in wild +panic about the remaining blob of +jelly. Realizing exultantly that his +single shot had slain one of the two +weirdly disassociated organisms, +Blake with pistol in hand advanced +toward the other, trying to get a +clear shot at the jelly through the +furry bodies clustering around it.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> group promptly turned and +fled in blind panic. Blake sent +the pistol's last shot crashing into +the mass without any appreciable effect. +Then the things' stampede carried +them hurtling on through one +of the gold-flecked side walls out +into the swirling purple mists.</p> + +<p>The gold-flecked sheet flowed together +again so swiftly behind the +things that a fraction of a second +later there was not even the slightest +indication in its shimmering unbroken +surface to show that it had +ever been pierced.</p> + +<p>For thirty yards the fleeing ape-things +sped on into the purple vapors. +Then disaster struck them +with bewildering swiftness. They +stopped in full flight, shuddered for +a moment, then slumped to the +ground with their limbs writhing in +agony. In their center the jelly +ovoid quivered madly in the same +strange torture.</p> + +<p>Tiny patches of vivid purple appeared +at a hundred different points +upon the dying creatures. The +patches spread and merged with +lightning rapidity until a solid sheet +of livid purple covered the writhing +mass. Swiftly that mass lost both +movement and shape as it melted +down into a pool of turgid purple +slime. Then the slime vaporized into +purple mists that blended into the +surrounding vapors, and all trace of +the ape-things and their jelly nucleus +had vanished.</p> + +<p>Stunned by the incredible speed of +this general dissolution, Blake realized +for the first time the real reason +for the presence of the gold-flecked +walls of force. Without those shimmering +walls the captives would not +have lived for a minute in the deadly +purple atmosphere of this weird +world beneath the twin suns. The +gold-flecked walls were both their +protection and their prison. The +swirling purple mists outside those +walls held the Earthlings as effectively +and hopelessly prisoners in +their enclosure as gold-fish in a bowl +of water.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Blake</span> turned back to the +thicket to see how Helen and +Mapes had fared in that terrific battle +with the headless things. He was +relieved to see that the girl had apparently +escaped without even a +scratch. She was kneeling beside +Mapes' prone figure, doing what she +could to revive him. The gangster +was badly battered, but he seemed to +have no serious injuries. He was already +beginning to stir weakly and +show signs of returning life.</p> + +<p>Blake started to step over to the +two. Then he stopped abruptly as he +heard a sharp metallic clang from the +cone-building out in the purple +mists beyond the end wall. He +looked quickly up and saw that an +oval window had opened in the +structure near its tip. Framed in the +opening was what seemed to be a +large concave mirror. At one side of +the mirror was a living being of +some kind, but the intervening mists +prevented Blake from making out +any details beyond a hazy glimpse of +a cluster of what seemed to be long +slender snake-like black tentacles.</p> + +<p>The next moment there spurted +from the mirror a broad and swiftly +spreading beam of red light so brilliant +that it glowed clearly even in +the bright purple rays of the twin +suns. Before Blake could shout a +warning to Helen the racing flood of +ruddy radiance was upon them. The +scene reeled in a blurred kaleidoscope +of flaming colors before +Blake's eyes for a brief second, then +complete oblivion swept over him.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">After</span> an interval that seemed +hours, consciousness returned +to him as suddenly as it had left him. +His first bewildered look around him +disclosed the fact that startling +changes had occurred in his surroundings +during the period while +he was under the anesthesia of the +red ray.</p> + +<p>His first effort at movement +brought realization that he was in +the grip of a strange paralysis. His +head and neck seemed quite normal +in every way, but from the throat +downward his body was completely +dead as far as any power of voluntary +movement was concerned.</p> + +<p>He twisted his head stiffly to one +side, and saw that Helen was standing +there beside him. Just beyond +her was the motionless figure of Gil +Mapes. Both the gangster and the +girl were in the grip of the same +strange paralysis. Like Blake, they +were standing there rigidly motionless, +facing the gold-flecked barrier +wall just in front of them.</p> + +<p>A moment's painful scrutiny of +their position showed Blake that the +posts forming the wall of the enclosure +at the end toward the cone +had been brought in nearly a hundred +yards toward them while they +slept. The shimmering barrier sheet +was now scarcely a yard from their +faces, yet they still stood near the +thicket where they had battled the +headless horrors. Blake saw his coat +half-buried in the blue-gray dust +near his feet where Helen had discarded +the garment to minister to +Mapes.</p> + +<p>Their unseen captor had obviously +made definite preparations for +whatever his next purpose with them +was to be, for a long wheeled platform +had been brought to a position +opposite them just outside the shimmering +gold-flecked sheet. Blake +noted the shattered remains of +Mapes' pistol on the ground at one +side of the platform. It had apparently +been fished from the enclosure +and rendered harmless after their +captor had seen the weapon's efficient +use against the headless ape-things.</p> + +<p>Clustered upon the wheeled platform +was an assemblage of intricately +winding coils, glowing tubes, and +other apparatus that conveyed no +more meaning to Blake's bewildered +gaze than a sight of the interior of a +metropolitan power-house would to +a Congo savage.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">There</span> was only one piece of +the apparatus regarding whose +probable function Blake could even +guess. This was a pair of long slender +arms that projected through the +shimmering walls into the enclosure, +supporting at their end a large thin +metal plate located just over the +heads of the three Earthlings. Blake +was willing to wager that it was this +overhead plate that was responsible +for the odd paralysis that held them +helpless.</p> + +<p>Then a figure came slowly into +view from where it had been concealed +by the apparatus, and Blake +forgot all thought of the strange +mechanisms as he watched the monstrous +thing clamber stiffly from the +platform and halt squarely in front +of the captives to stare at them +through the transparency of the intervening +force sheet.</p> + +<p>The thing was a curious blending +of human and bestial features. It +stood barely five feet in height, yet +its great scale-armored skull was at +least three times as large as that of +a grown man. There was colossal +mental power and nameless evil +glowing in the dark depths of the +two abnormally large eyes that +stared fixedly out from under the +heavy forehead. The thing had no +nose. The mouth opening, surrounded +by a rosette of flabby gray +skin, was a mere slit. The entire +skull and face were covered with +small, closely overlapping scales of +lusterless gray.</p> + +<p>The head merged directly into a +short black torso nearly as wide as +the skull itself. From this trunk +there writhed a score of long black +snake-like tentacles, each terminating +in a flexible three-fingered +"hand." The trunk was supported +by two short thick legs, armored +with gray scales, and ending in +broad three-toed feet.</p> + +<p>"Greetings, Earthlings!" The +voice that emanated from the grotesque +mouth was surprisingly resonant +in tone. "Allow me to present +myself. I am Zehru, imperial scientist +of Xollar."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> monstrosity seemed amused +at the expressions of blank surprise +upon the faces of his captives. +"I learned your crude language from +your brain cells while you slept under +the red ray," he explained. "Also +I learned many other things regarding +your planet, Earth. I am glad to +find your world so well adapted to +my purpose. Within a few years +after my arrival there I shall be its +unquestioned ruler."</p> + +<p>Blake started to voice the many +questions that were surging through +his mind, but an imperious gesture +of an outflung tentacle stopped him.</p> + +<p>"Silence, Earthling!" There was +tolerant contempt in Zehru's ringing +voice. "I will explain some of +the things that puzzle you. There is +no reason why I should trouble myself +to do so, yet it may while away +the tedium of the short wait yet remaining +before my apparatus becomes +charged to the required point. +Listen carefully, Earthling, for at +best you will find many of my +thoughts beyond the feeble limits of +the word forms with which you have +provided me.</p> + +<p>"The world of Xollar, where you +now are, is a planet in the island universe +known to your astronomers as +the Great Nebula of Andromeda. +Until a short time ago I was one of +its ruling scientists. Then I sinned, +and so grave was my sin according +to the laws of this planet that the +Council of Three decreed my death. +That death sentence upon Xollar is +irrevocable, and no man has yet escaped +it no matter where upon the +planet he may be when the appointed +time for his execution comes. I was +given the usual period of grace in +which to put my affairs in order. Instead, +I have labored unceasingly +here in my laboratory, and my labors +have borne fruit. I am the first man +in Xollarian history to find a means +of escaping the dread death penalty.</p> + +<p>"Briefly, I discovered a way by +which I can flee to your far-distant +universe, where not even the powers +of the Council of Three can follow +me. That way lies through the door +of inter-dimensional Space. In Space +as you know it, the almost unthinkable +distance of a million light years +separates Xollar from the dwarf star +you call your Sun. Yet, traveling +<i>between</i> Space, the two planets nearly +touch each other. The same situation +of being near neighbors in inter-dimensional +Space holds true with +Xollar and at least seven other planets +located in widely separated parts +of your universe.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"Let</span> me try to illustrate what I +mean by traveling between +Space. We will assume a nearly two-dimensional +universe in the form of +a circular piece of paper three feet +in diameter. There is a dot in the +exact center of each side of this +paper. To a two-dimensional creature, +forced to travel only on the +surface of the paper, the distance between +the two dots can never be less +than thirty-six inches. Yet by cutting +<i>between</i> the two surfaces and +going directly through the paper the +dots are less than one-hundredth of +an inch apart.</p> + +<p>"Such is the case with Xollar and +the planets in your universe which +are our immediate neighbors in inter-dimensional +Space. In order to +reach those planets I had only to develop +a method of using sufficient +force to cut <i>between</i> the three dimensions +of intervening Space. In +solving this problem I developed +both an inter-dimensional net to +bring beings from your universe to +mine, and an inter-dimensional gate +to permit beings to pass from here +back to worlds in your galaxy.</p> + +<p>"You have already seen the workings +of the net. It was the device of +green fire that brought you here. +The use of the net was a vital part +of my plans, for without the use of a +physical body from some world in +your universe I could not hope to +live longer than a few minutes after +leaving Xollar via the inter-dimensional +gate. The inherent characteristics +and basic elements of your +galaxy and the Andromedan universe +are so different in every way +that an inhabitant of either star-group +cannot exist in the other. +Xollar's purple atmosphere is characteristic +of Andromedan worlds. +Your oxygen-saturated air is typical +of worlds in your galaxy. Just as +Xollar's purple mists would be immediately +fatal to you, so would +your clear oxygen-tainted air be +quickly fatal to me.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"Accordingly</span>, my only +chance of surviving in one of +your worlds is to first transfer my +Intelligence to the body of one of +the dwellers upon that planet. Of +the seven planets within reach of my +net I found only two that promised +to be at all suitable. One was your +Earth, the other a minor planet circling +the star you call Vega. I +brought both you and a net-load of +Vegans here to this oxygen-filled enclosure +I had already prepared.</p> + +<p>"The Vegans were the headless +things with the jelly nuclei. I +watched your battle with them, and +waited to choose as my vehicle the +planetary type that proved the +stronger. You vanquished the Vegans, +so it is in the body of an +Earthling that I shall leave Xollar, +and it is to the planet Earth that I +shall be hurtled through the inter-dimensional +gate.</p> + +<p>"Aside from the slight difficulty +caused by having to keep my body +and yours each in its proper element +during the operation, the matter of +transfer into one of your bodies is a +simple one. It involves none of the +clumsy brain surgery of your Earthly +science. We of Xollar have found +that the real Intelligence of a being +is an invisible force not at all dependent +for existence upon the protoplasm +through which it manifests. +My Intelligence can function quite +as well in your brain cells as in my +own.</p> + +<p>"I require no assistant in the +transfer." Zehru indicated an intricate +piece of apparatus on the platform +behind him. It was a massive +cylinder of fluorescent metal, with +two long metallic cables running +from its center, each cable ending in +a saucer-shaped disk.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"I have</span> only to thrust one cable +through the force-wall into +your enclosure and place its disk +upon one of your heads, then place +the other disk upon my own head. +The apparatus is entirely automatic. +Three seconds after both disks are +in place my Intelligence will course +into the Earthling brain, driving out +his Intelligence and destroying it as +mine enters.</p> + +<p>"I will, of course, remove the selected +body from under the paralyzing +plate before I attach the disks. +Then when I am safely transferred +to the Earthling body I will have +only to walk on through the enclosure +to the silver arch at the far +end and leave Xollar forever.</p> + +<p>"That silver arch is the inter-dimensional +gate to your Earth. Its +operation is slightly different from +that of the net. Where the net was +capable of reaching under the surface +of your planet, a proceeding I +tried when two attempts upon the +surface proved fruitless, the gate is +so adjusted that it will place its passenger +exactly upon the surface of +your world. It requires no cooperation +from this end. When I step under +the arch I merely close a black +lever there. Inter-dimensional force +immediately catapults me to your +Earth. Then the automatic mechanism +of the gate will within half a +minute of my departure release an +explosion that will shatter everything +within a radius of a mile here, +and so prevent the Council of Three +from even guessing the method of +my escape."</p> + +<p>"But what of the two of us whose +bodies you do not need?" Blake protested. +"Can you not at least take +them through the arch-gate with you +back to their home world?"</p> + +<p>"Why should I do anything so +foolish as that?" Zehru answered +callously. "They might easily be a +menace to my first attempts to establish +myself upon your planet. Far +better to leave them here in their +present state of paralysis to be safely +destroyed in the explosion of the +gate."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Zehru</span> now thrust three of his +tentacles into a vat of milky +fluid, and withdrew them coated +with a silver sheen on the black +flesh. The silver glaze seemed to be +an insulation against both the oxygen +of the enclosure and the paralyzing +force of the overhead disk, +for the Xollarian promptly thrust +the three silver-coated arms through +the wall and began handling the +bodies of Mapes and Blake in a +painstaking process of examination.</p> + +<p>Again Blake noted that the shimmering +gold-flecked wall closed +quickly in and kept its surface unbroken +no matter how often objects +were thrust through it.</p> + +<p>Completely ignoring Helen, Zehru +lifted first Mapes, then Blake, his +tentacles probing, fingering, exploring. +There was enormous power in +the Xollarian's grotesque body. He +lifted the men as though they were +wooden dolls, bringing them close to +the shimmering wall to peer at them, +then setting them carefully down +again on their feet under the disk. +Blake wondered idly why their stiff +bodies did not topple over when +they were left unsupported, then decided +that the paralyzing force of +the disk probably left the automatic +muscular balancing movements unimpaired, +affecting only the powers +of voluntary movement.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Then</span>, as Zehru set him down +after one of the periods of examination, +Blake noticed a new and +startling change the moment his feet +touched the ground. His right leg +and right arm were no longer dead!</p> + +<p>He hurriedly glanced down at the +ground at his feet, and promptly +found what seemed to be the reason +for his partial freedom from the +paralysis. In setting his body down +the last time Zehru had moved Blake +slightly. His right foot now rested +upon a corner of the discarded topcoat +lying half-buried there in the +blue-gray dust.</p> + +<p>The heavily rubberized cloth apparently +acted as an insulating sheet +that prevented the effective grounding +of the paralyzing force that +streamed down through Blake's body +from the overhead disk. Consequently +all portions of his body between +the coat and the disk were free from +the paralysis. For a moment Blake +wondered at Zehru's carelessness. +Then he realized that the insulating +qualities of rubber would naturally +be unknown to a Xollarian.</p> + +<p>Noting that Zehru was busy at the +moment with his work upon Mapes, +Blake quickly grasped at the faint +chance the presence of the rubberized +cloth offered him. Working +with infinite slowness and caution, +he edged his right foot over an inch +at a time, dragging the rest of his +body with it.</p> + +<p>Luck was with him. Zehru continued, +absorbed in his work upon +Mapes. The Xollarian's telepathic +powers apparently functioned only +with the aid of the red ray, for he +remained oblivious of Blake's actions. +One final cautious dragging +movement, and Blake's entire body +was upon the cloth, with every muscle +again vibrantly alive.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Blake</span> stood there motionless, +faking paralysis, while his +brain raced in an effort to figure the +best use to make of his present advantage. +He was still trapped, not +daring to reach even a hand beyond +the protection of the cloth underfoot. +The first essential of any effort +at escape would have to be a +lunge of sufficient power to take him +safely beyond the area of the disk's +influence.</p> + +<p>Blake's first thought was to hurl +himself through the barrier wall +upon Zehru, trusting to sheer surprise +to overwhelm the Xollarian, +but he quickly dismissed that plan. +It left too many elements in Zehru's +favor. There was a tube-like weapon +thrust in a belt around Zehru's middle +and there were probably a dozen +other different weapons lying handy +to his reach among the apparatus on +the platform. The deadly purple +mists beyond the wall would alone in +all probability overcome Blake before +he could batter Zehru down.</p> + +<p>By far the best plan was to stage +the battle inside the enclosure where +Blake would be in his own native +element. If he could yank Zehru inside +the wall he would have him +away from contact with his mechanical +weapons and battling in an atmosphere +inherently poisonous to +him. Under those circumstances, +Blake felt that he might have an +even chance in a hand-to-hand combat +with the powerful but slow-footed +Xollarian.</p> + +<p>Once Zehru was eliminated, escape +back to Earth should be a simple +matter. The silver gate, with its automatic +mechanism needing only the +closing of a lever, was ready and +waiting there in the enclosure behind +them.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">For</span> long tense minutes Blake +forced himself to remain rigidly +motionless while Zehru labored over +Mapes. Then finally the Xollarian +turned his attention briefly back to +Blake, and thrust two tentacles in +to grip his body. No sooner had the +tentacles crossed above the border of +the cloth than Zehru realized that +something was wrong. He tried to +whip his arms back again but too +late.</p> + +<p>Blake made a lightning snatch at +a tentacle with both hands, and in +the same lithe movement turned +from the barrier wall and flung himself +headlong toward the center of +the enclosure. Zehru had no time to +brace himself. He was jerked bodily +through the shimmering wall and on +after Blake's lunging body.</p> + +<p>One of the Xollarian's waving tentacles +grasped wildly at the overhead +disk in an effort to stay his +flight. The only result was to bring +the entire disk and its supports +crashing in ruins to the ground upon +the struggling figures of Blake and +himself.</p> + +<p>Blake was upon his feet again instantly. +Snatching up a yard-long +scrap of metal from the wreckage of +the disk, he flung himself upon +Zehru. The Xollarian seemed for the +moment too dazed by his fall to fight +back. With tentacles raised to guard +his head, he staggered backward in +retreat, every step taking him farther +away from the wall and the purple +mists.</p> + +<p>Blake was vaguely aware that +Helen and Mapes, freed by the +wrecking of the disk, were scrambling +to their feet. Mapes was already +running toward the combatants. +Blake was glad at the prospect +of an ally. Zehru's dazed condition +was swiftly passing. He had now +stopped his retreat and was already +fumbling a tentacle toward the tube-weapon +in his belt.</p> + +<p>Blake flung himself upon Zehru in +another effort to beat him down before +he could draw that weapon, but +his metal club glanced harmlessly +off the tentacles Zehru raised to +shield his head. Then beyond Zehru +Blake saw something that made him +stop his assault.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">It</span> was Mapes, sprinting toward +the silver arch-gate at the other +end of the enclosure. Blake's heart +sank as he realized the gangster's +treachery. If he once reached that +arch he could send himself safely +hurtling back to Earth, while Blake +and Helen would be left to perish +with Zehru in the explosion that +would immediately follow. It was +too late for Blake to head the gangster +off. He had already covered half +the distance to the arch.</p> + +<p>Zehru noted Mapes' fleeing figure +almost as quickly as did Blake. +Swiftly the Xollarian swung his +tube-weapon into line with the fleeing +gangster. A thin pencil of dull +yellow light of a peculiar density +spurted from the tube toward +Mapes. There was a flash of blinding +flame as the light beam met the gangster's +body; then Mapes' figure +seemed to literally explode, as +though blasted by dynamite from +within. So devastating was the force +of that explosion that nothing remained +of Mapes' body beyond a few +scattered fragments of shoes and +clothing.</p> + +<p>Blake was still dazed at the cataclysmic +suddenness of Mapes' death +as Zehru swung the tube around to +train it upon him. Only a last-minute +desperate effort upon Blake's part +saved him. His wildly thrown metal +club made a lucky hit on the tube itself, +knocking it, shattered and useless, +out of Zehru's grasp.</p> + +<p>Unarmed, Zehru faced Blake with +his face contorting in agony. For a +moment the Xollarian swayed there, +apparently trying to gather his failing +strength for the next move. The +deadly air of the enclosure was already +taking hideous toll. The scaly +flesh of his head and face was dissolving +like melting butter.</p> + +<p>Zehru's strength was ebbing too +swiftly for him to have any chance +of gaining safety through either of +the distant side walls. His only hope +of fighting back to the purple mists +was to pass Blake and go through +the nearby end wall through which +he had originally been drawn.</p> + +<p>He came lunging forward in an attack +whose sheer fury made Blake +give ground before the menace of +the lashing tentacles.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Blake</span> took another backward +step, then staggered as his foot +struck a rough spot in the ground. +Zehru's tentacles were upon him before +he could recover himself. His +club was jerked from his fingers and +sent hurtling far out of reach. Half +a dozen of the tentacle-arms lashed +around his throat in a strangling +grip.</p> + +<p>He clawed wildly at the choking +coils, but they failed to loosen even +a fraction of an inch. Desperately +Blake sent his fists smashing into +the gray face. The scale armor of +Zehru's skull, fast weakening in the +liquefying influence of the oxygen, +gave way beneath that battering attack. +He staggered, and his coiling +tentacles relaxed slightly.</p> + +<p>Blake tore himself free. A final +smashing blow, with every ounce of +his one hundred and ninety pounds +behind it, sent Zehru crashing to the +ground. The Xollarian tried to rise, +then feebly slumped back, his +strength spent. Blake leaped forward +to finish his opponent, but +stopped as he saw that his efforts +were not needed.</p> + +<p>The deadly air of the enclosure +was now overwhelming Zehru with +swift and hideous death. He was literally +rotting before Blake's horrified +eyes, the gray-scaled skin +sloughing off in streaming rivulets +of pallid ooze, and the entire body +contorting in what was obviously a +death agony.</p> + +<p>Sickened, Blake stepped back a +pace or two. Zehru's tentacles feebly +beat the ground around him, then +suddenly one of the writhing arms +blundered upon a thin cable running +along the ground. Before Blake +could spring forward to stop him, +Zehru with a last surge of power +ripped the fragile metal strand completely +in two.</p> + +<p>It was the Xollarian's dying effort. +He slumped in a motionless, nearly +liquescent heap. But that last blind +blow at the Earthlings threatened to +be a deadly one. The severed cable +led to one of the black posts surrounding +the enclosure. With the +cable's parting an entire section of +one of the gold-flecked barrier walls +vanished. Xollar's deadly purple +mists were already surging in.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Speed</span> was the Earthlings' only +chance now. Helen was as quick +to realize the danger as was Blake. +Side by side they started their mad +race toward where the silver arch-gate +loomed nearly a hundred yards +away.</p> + +<p>They had covered barely half the +distance when the air around them +began to show a definite tinge of purple. +With the appearance of the purple +hue there came a strange and +swiftly increasing agony, a torturing +vibration that seemed to be tearing +every atom in their bodies asunder.</p> + +<p>They were within ten yards of the +arch when Helen fell. Blake grabbed +her up in his arms and stumbled on. +There was no longer enough oxygen +in the air to even breathe. Blake's +lungs were on fire. Every cell in his +body seemed vibrating in unbearable +torment.</p> + +<p>It was all that he could do to +struggle up on the low platform. He +staggered across the space and under +the arch. It took the last shred +of strength in his tortured body for +him to lift his hand and pull the +black lever down into place.</p> + +<p>Its action was instantaneous. The +agony of the purple mists was blotted +out in a surging wave of mighty +force that swept Blake and Helen up +and away through a Spaceless universe +where black chaos reigned +awesomely supreme. There was a +long terrible moment of hurtling +through distances inconceivably +vast. Blake's brain reeled in nausea.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly all motion ceased +and everything was normal again. +There was firm grassy ground under +his feet and a cool breeze was blowing +in his face.</p> + +<p>He opened his eyes and saw the +gray half-light of early dawn. After +the first swift look around him he +sighed in mighty relief. To his left +was the familiar skyline of Fifth +Avenue. To his right was Central +Park West. They were somewhere +in Central Park, safe again in their +own world.</p> + +<p>And somewhere in that other +world beneath the twin purple suns, +the time mechanism of the silver +gate should even now be releasing +the explosive that would forever +blot out all trace of the evil handiwork +of Zehru, cosmic fisher of +Xollar.</p> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> +This etext was produced from <i>Astounding Stories</i> February 1932. +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 the Project Gutenberg EBook of Zehru of Xollar, by Hal K. 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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: Zehru of Xollar + +Author: Hal K. Wells + +Release Date: October 14, 2008 [EBook #26917] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZEHRU OF XOLLAR *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: _Blake made a lightning snatch at a tentacle with both +hands._] + + +Zehru of Xollar + +By Hal K. Wells + + + Three Earthlings are whisked on an + inter-dimensional journey to the den + of the Scientist Zehru. + + +When the rolling thunder of infra-bass first came to their ears, Robert +Blake and Helen Lawton were standing on the platform of a New York +subway station waiting for the arrival of an uptown express to bear them +to their homes. + +They made a strikingly attractive couple as they stood there. New York +had not had time as yet to remove the bronze tan of an outdoor life from +Blake's ruggedly good-looking face. His tall athletic figure was still +conspicuous for the lithe strength that had made him an All-Western +tackle less than two years ago. + +Standing beside Blake's husky figure, Helen Lawton looked like a tiny, +very perfect, blonde doll, with an exquisitely molded face framed in +curly bobbed hair that was the clear golden-amber hue of orange honey. +There was a diamond sparkling on the ring finger of the girl's slim left +hand, placed there by Blake. + +It was well after midnight, and the only other passenger waiting on the +station was a burly chap leaning against one of the white pillars on the +other side of the platform. After a casual glance at the fellow, with +his derby hat shoved far back from a low forehead, his blatantly +conspicuous clothing, and the suspicious bulge under one arm-pit, Blake +had mentally set him down as a minor gangster, probably a strong-arm man +for some beer mob. + +Blake and Helen had been standing there but a few minutes when the +strange sound first became audible. For a moment Blake thought it was +merely the rumbling roar of an express approaching far down the tunnel. +Then he realized that no subway train could possibly produce a sound +effect so oddly disturbing and strangely alien. + +It was like no sound that Blake had ever heard before. Vibrant with +colossal power, it suggested a sustained note struck from a giant organ, +a note so low in pitch that it seemed a full octave below the lowest +bass note ever struck. Whatever it was, the thundering vibration of +infra-bass was coming nearer with startling swiftness. + + * * * * * + +It was impossible to locate the source of the mighty pulsing note. It +seemed to be coming simultaneously from all directions, like a great +hollow sphere of invisible sound waves closing in with the station +platform as its central focal point. + +Helen's face was white with dread as she shrank closer into Blake's +embrace. Blake noted that the gangster across the platform was standing +tensely at bay with his back against the pillar and his right hand +thrust under his coat as he stared wildly about him in an effort to +discover the cause of the disturbance. + +The rolling thunder closed in upon them with a final rush that brought +it so near that their very bodies seemed to vibrate in harmony with that +mighty note of shuddering bass. Then with startling abruptness the green +net came. + +Out from the walls and down from the roof spurted scores of quivering +ribbons of blinding green flame. Swiftly the radiant tendrils rushed in +upon the shrinking three from every side, while the infra-bass thundered +in mighty crescendo. + +Blake instinctively swept Helen close within the shelter of his arms in +an effort to protect her with his own body against the searing menace of +those onrushing green flames. The next moment the fiery ribbons were +upon them, lashing about their bodies, crossing and crisscrossing in the +air above and around them in a great tangled web of interlacing lines of +flame that filled the entire platform. + + * * * * * + +With a shock of relief Blake found that there was no heat in those +strange flames, but his relief was short-lived as the next second +brought him realization of the real menace of the radiant ribbons. There +was a solidity and strength in those glowing streamers that held them as +helplessly captive as though they were gripped in ribbons of steel. +Dazed and helpless, the three struggled for a moment in the meshes of +the weird net of flame like fish caught in the strands of some giant +cosmic seine. + +The trembling thunder of infra-bass abruptly changed to a thin whining +note so high in pitch that it seemed the nearly soundless ghost of a +metallic scream. With the change in sound Blake became aware of a new +and astounding change in his surroundings. + +The walls and roof of the station seemed closing in upon him as though +he were growing in size at an incredible rate. The next moment he shot +through the roof, hurtling on and upward with the velocity of a rocket. +The sensation was one that his reeling brain could not even grasp. His +body seemed to be inside every stone, iron bar, and lump of earth, yet +at the same time every exterior object seemed _within_ his body. It was +an eery chaos of a dozen different dimensions blending to form a Space +in which there was no known dimension. + +As they flashed on out to the surface Blake had one hazy glimpse of +Manhattan's glowing lights spread all about them. Then the speed of +their progress leaped into a new and terrible acceleration that blotted +out every tangible sensation from Blake's brain. + +Time and Space alike seemed to vanish as their hurtling flight sent them +rocketing on for distances inconceivably vast through a bleak and +appalling Nothingness, where neither sight nor sound existed. + +Then abruptly the speed of their flight seemed to be lessening. +Sensation returned to Blake. He again heard the thin high-pitched +metallic wail, now swiftly deepening to the familiar growl of rolling +bass. He again noted the presence of the glowing green ribbons of the +net that still encircled them. + + * * * * * + +A blindingly brilliant purple mist was now closing in upon them from +every direction, bringing with it a nameless and agonizing force that +seemed to be shaking the very atoms in Blake's body asunder. Then they +dropped swiftly down out of the purple mists, and the strange agony at +once vanished. Blake felt their downward progress come to an end with +the gentle arrival of his feet upon firm ground. + +The encircling net of green flame glowed dazzlingly brighter for a brief +moment, then swiftly vanished into thin air, while the mutter of bass +vibrations simultaneously died away into silence. Blake staggered and +nearly fell as the sudden release from the net's strands again left his +body free. + +He looked down at Helen as she stood huddled close beside him, still in +the shelter of his arms. The girl's face was white with terror as she +looked back up at him. + +"Bob, what happened--and where on earth are we?" Her voice trembled a +little in spite of her plucky effort to keep it steady. + +Blake's bewildered gaze was already roving around them trying to +comprehend the incredible details of their surroundings. "I've no idea +what happened, dear," he answered slowly. "As to where we are now, I'm +very much afraid it's nowhere on Earth!" + +"Then where is this hopped-up layout anyway, fellah, if it ain't on +Earth?" broke in a voice with a decided East Side twang. Blake quickly +turned and saw that the gangster had remained with them in that eery +flight in the green net. There was an expression of dumfounded amazement +upon the man's heavy face, and he was obviously anxious to be friendly +with the two who now represented the only link with the familiar world +he had known. + +"Gee, for a minute I thought they had me on the spot in some new way, +sure!" he chattered excitedly as he came quickly over to join Helen and +Blake. "There's plenty of guys wantin' to turn the heat on me there in +the Big Town. I'm Gil Mapes, see? But this ain't no frame-up like any I +ever heard of. What happened anyway, fellah?" + + * * * * * + +For the moment Blake did not answer. The three of them were silent as +they stared about them with eyes that were dazed by the startlingly +unfamiliar aspect of every detail in their surroundings. + +From the twin purple suns that blazed down through the tenuous mists +overhead to the barren blue-gray ground underfoot, there was not a +single object familiar to Earthly eyes. The huge enclosure in which the +three of them stood was obviously the work of intelligent beings of some +kind, but its mechanical details were products of a science different +from any known to Blake. + +The purpose of the enclosure seemed to be to maintain an area of clear +air in the midst of the swirling purple vapors that pressed in against +it from the top and from every side. In shape it was a great oblong +cell, some fifty feet high, two hundred yards long, and about one +hundred yards wide. The three captives stood near the center. + +Fencing in the enclosure at twenty-yard intervals and reaching upward to +the ceiling were slender posts of some lusterless black metal. Between +these posts streamed unbroken, nearly transparent sheets of some unknown +force, the only visible sign of which was the presence of countless +millions of tiny shimmering golden flecks which danced like dust motes +in a ray of sunlight. It was obviously this thin sheet of unknown force +that was keeping the purple mists at bay, for fan-like antennae at the +top of each post spread a similar shimmering sheet that formed a ceiling +for the clear-aired area. + + * * * * * + +The three Earthlings were facing one of the side walls of the big +enclosures. The purple mists outside made it hard to see clearly for +any distance, but Blake had an impression that the surrounding terrain +was featured by the same barren, nearly desert bleakness that +characterized the interior of the enclosure, where scattered clumps of +dead, spiky black branches of shrub-like vegetation were the only sign +of plant life. + +Just within the distant end wall at their right there was a low platform +surmounted by a wide arch some ten feet in height, both constructed of +silver-colored metal. There was nothing between them and the end wall to +their left, but they could see that the ground sloped sharply upward +from the barrier-sheet, and on the crest of the ridge a gigantic +cone-shaped structure of solid black could be seen dimly through the +intervening mists. + +The cone-building seemed to be the source of the power that kept the +enclosure intact. Slender cables of black metal ran down the slope from +it into the clear-aired space, spreading out over the dusty gray-blue +ground to the base of each of the tall posts, with a heavier +copper-colored cable running on the silver arch. From within the +windowless interior of the cone there was audible a low hum as of +tremendous power being generated there. + +"Gee, what a rummy joint this place is!" There was frank awe in the +gangster's voice as he at last broke the silence. "That guy with the +green net sure took us for one sweet ride. Mebbe we're on the Moon now, +or on Mars, huh?" + +Blake shook his head. "No, we're completely out of our entire solar +system. Those twin purple suns up there prove that. We may even be in +another universe, or another dimension from our own. A piece of +apparatus that could whisk us up through fifty feet of earth and masonry +as that green net did obviously works in dimensions of which we've +never dreamed. The only thing we're sure of is that we were brought to +this purple world deliberately and intentionally by an intelligent being +of some kind, scooped up like tadpoles from a mud-puddle and dumped here +in this elaborate enclosure It had already prepared for us." + + * * * * * + +Blake nodded to where the black cone-building loomed through the purple +mists outside the end wall. "Whoever or whatever the thing was that +brought us here, I have a hunch It's there in that power-house watching +us. I'd suggest that we walk down toward that end of the enclosure for a +closer look. We may at least find out whether we're guests or +prisoners." + +"Listens good to me, fellah," agreed Mapes, sliding a hand up to his +shoulder holster and bringing out a squat black automatic pistol of +heavy caliber. "We'll do a prowl, over that way, and if His Nibs tries +any more funny business mebbe a few slugs outta this rod will change his +mind for him." + +"Better go easy with the gun, Mapes," advised Blake as the three of them +started slowly toward the cone-building. "From what we've already seen, +there must be weapons in this world that would make your pistol look +like a kid's pop-gun. We'd better go easy till--wait, what's that?" + +The thin high-pitched whine, followed promptly by the familiar growling +thunder of infra-bass, had again become audible. At the same moment a +long pencil-like beam of green light glowed into visibility, extending +from the tip of the cone to a point high within the enclosure just back +of them. As they halted abruptly and watched, they saw the interlacing +meshes of the green flame-net materialize suddenly at the end of the +beam. + +The beam curved into an arc that dropped the net swiftly to the ground +some thirty yards from them. Its meshes were packed nearly full of dark, +writhing figures. + +"Looks like some more tadpoles arriving for our pond!" Mapes exclaimed. +"I wonder what part of N' Yawk His Nibs yanked these babies from?" + + * * * * * + +Blake's answer died on his lips as the net and beam glowed blindingly +brighter for a brief second, then disappeared, leaving the dark figures +in full view. Helen choked back a gasp of horror. Mapes swore in +consternation and hurriedly swung his pistol into line with those +writhing shapes. + +The net's latest captives were not from New York, nor were they from any +other part of the planet Earth. Hideous spawn of some unknown world out +in the black void of Space, they writhed for a moment in a nightmare +chaos of countless brown-furred bodies, then swiftly disentangled +themselves before the staring eyes of the three Earthlings. + +The things were apparently too low in the mental scale to have any +reaction to their situation other than a blind instinct to attack any +other living being within reach, for they promptly headed for the three +captives from Earth. + +As the creatures came shambling rapidly forward on powerful bowed legs, +and with the tips of their long hairy arms brushing the ground, they +looked like grotesquely distorted apes. The crowning horror of those +shambling figures, however, lay in the fact that they were completely +headless! + +Even when the things approached to a distance of less than ten feet +before halting in momentary indecision, Blake could detect no sign of +any normal skull in the blunt space at the top of the powerful hairy +torso. There was a furry-lipped mouth opening of some kind in the hollow +between the bulging shoulders, but of eyes, ears, nose, or brain cavity +there was no discernible trace. + +For a long moment the headless ape-things and the three human beings +stood silently facing each other. Mapes' pistol was leveled pointblank +at the nearest of the creatures, but their overwhelming numbers made the +gangster hold his fire. + +There were two distinct groups of the things. At least twenty members of +each group were in the crowd facing the Earthlings. To the rear of these +attackers two oddly repulsive objects were carried and carefully +shielded by picked guards of four unusually large and powerful +ape-things. + + * * * * * + +The nature of those two guarded objects puzzled Blake. They looked like +large eggs of dirty-gray jelly, about a yard in length. They were +obviously alive, for their gelatinous masses quivered and trembled in +constant activity. Blake noted that there seemed to be a curious +connection between the ebb and flow of pulsations in the egg-masses and +the movements of the ape-things. + +His attention was abruptly recalled to the headless things in front of +him as they suddenly began shambling forward again. There was no +possible mistaking the intention of those advancing horrors. They were +moving to the attack. + +They reached barely to Blake's shoulders, but he realized that their +enormous numbers and hook-taloned hands would make the result of the +battle almost a foregone conclusion. The fact that the headless things +were without eyes was no handicap to them. The swift certainty of their +movements proved that they had a sense of sight of some kind that was in +every way as efficient as eyesight. + +Blake looked hurriedly around him, seeking a place where they might be +at the best possible advantage in the impending battle. There was a +small dense thicket of the spiky dead branches half a dozen yards to +their right. At Blake's low command, the three made a dash for the +thicket. Arriving there, they ranged themselves against it, with their +backs at least partially protected from attack. + + * * * * * + +The maneuver seemed to puzzle the ape-things for a moment. They stood +passively watching the retreat of the three until they had reached the +thicket. Then the creatures again began slowly closing in upon them. +Blake snatched up a dead branch from the ground near the thicket, and +was delighted to find that its weight and tough fiber made it an +excellent club. + +He stripped off his topcoat and passed it back to Helen. Its tough +fabric, heavily rubberized for proof against rain, might guard her head +and face at least momentarily from those ripping talons if the headless +attackers came to close quarters. With Helen safely behind them, Blake +and Mapes turned grimly to face the enemy. + +The attack was prompt in coming. Moving with the perfect synchronization +of a single unit, one of the main groups came shambling in, followed an +instant later by the other group. Mapes' pistol sent a bullet crashing +squarely into the nearest attacker. The creature staggered momentarily, +then came lurching on again, apparently not even crippled. Blake swung +his heavy club in a whistling arc that sent two of his adversaries +broken and writhing to the ground. + +He heard Mapes' pistol bark four times more as the things closed in. +Then the gun was knocked from the gangster's grip by a groping +talon-armed hand. Mapes tried to batter back his assailants with his +naked fists, but the flailing arms of the horde knocked him from his +feet. His limp body was promptly tramped into unconsciousness by the +milling feet of the close-packed group. + +Blake lashed the heavy club about him with a burst of savage fury that +for the moment sent the furred horrors reeling backward. Their retreat +ended after a scant two yards. Reforming their ranks, they again began +cautiously shambling forward in a new attack that Blake realized would +probably mean the end. + + * * * * * + +It was easy enough to batter the things to ground, but it seemed +impossible to seriously hurt them. Their incredible vitality and their +overwhelming numbers made them almost invincible. Grimly Blake set +himself to battle as long as he could in that last desperate effort to +keep the hordes at bay. + +He noticed idly that the two groups still kept their oddly separated +formation. Behind them the two egg-masses of jelly were now seething in +new activity after a brief lessening of their gruesome shivering. Blake +now saw that there was a direct and unmistakable connection between the +activity of the jelly and the corresponding activity of the ape-things. + +Realization of the fact sent a sudden flash of inspiration flaming +through Blake's weary brain, correlating the real significance of a +dozen different things he had been subconsciously noting ever since the +first appearance of the weird beasts. + +Those attacking things were not hordes of individual animals. They were +merely two complete organisms, with the members of each organism +controlled by its nucleus through invisible lines of nervous force as +the various individual cells of the human body are linked by nerve +fibers. No wonder the creatures themselves were blind. The egg-mass that +was the nucleus of each of the two groups was eyes, brain, and seat of +life for every ape-thing in the group. + +With a swift surge of hope Blake realized the way to conquer the things. +If he could only shatter those flaccid masses of jelly, he would destroy +the swarming dozens of beasts at the same time. + +Reaching the jelly ovoids seemed at first consideration to be an +impossible task. They were carefully guarded far in the rear of the +attacking groups. Blake knew that he had scarcely a chance in a hundred +of battering his way through the intervening ape-things. + + * * * * * + +Then he remembered the gangster's pistol. His searching eyes found it +immediately, there on the ground nearly under the feet of the ape-things +as they again shambled forward to the attack. + +Blake staked everything upon a last desperate sortie against the +advancing things. With his club whistling around his head in crashing +blows that wrought murderous havoc in the close-packed hordes, he drove +them back for one breathless moment that gave him time to leap forward +and snatch up the pistol. + +The ape-things were already springing back upon him as he swung the +pistol into line with one of the jelly-masses. He barely pressed the +trigger before the charging brutes knocked him from his feet. + +As he went down he flung his arms over his head to protect his face from +the expected attack of those hooked talons, but none came. A body +thudded down upon him, then slid limply off again without making any +move to attack. Blake scrambled to his feet. + +Writhing upon the ground all around him were ape-things in their death +agonies. On the ground beyond them, quivering and broken in the midst of +its dying guards, was a viscid mass of loathsome gray jelly. Blake's +shot had apparently struck home squarely in the center of that +vulnerable blob. Even as he watched, the gelatinous mass shuddered in a +last convulsion, then became quite still. At the same instant the last +sign of life vanished from the writhing ape-things on the ground. + +A good half of the attacking creatures were included in the dead bodies. +The other half, Blake now saw, had retreated to cluster in wild panic +about the remaining blob of jelly. Realizing exultantly that his single +shot had slain one of the two weirdly disassociated organisms, Blake +with pistol in hand advanced toward the other, trying to get a clear +shot at the jelly through the furry bodies clustering around it. + + * * * * * + +The group promptly turned and fled in blind panic. Blake sent the +pistol's last shot crashing into the mass without any appreciable +effect. Then the things' stampede carried them hurtling on through one +of the gold-flecked side walls out into the swirling purple mists. + +The gold-flecked sheet flowed together again so swiftly behind the +things that a fraction of a second later there was not even the +slightest indication in its shimmering unbroken surface to show that it +had ever been pierced. + +For thirty yards the fleeing ape-things sped on into the purple vapors. +Then disaster struck them with bewildering swiftness. They stopped in +full flight, shuddered for a moment, then slumped to the ground with +their limbs writhing in agony. In their center the jelly ovoid quivered +madly in the same strange torture. + +Tiny patches of vivid purple appeared at a hundred different points upon +the dying creatures. The patches spread and merged with lightning +rapidity until a solid sheet of livid purple covered the writhing mass. +Swiftly that mass lost both movement and shape as it melted down into a +pool of turgid purple slime. Then the slime vaporized into purple mists +that blended into the surrounding vapors, and all trace of the +ape-things and their jelly nucleus had vanished. + +Stunned by the incredible speed of this general dissolution, Blake +realized for the first time the real reason for the presence of the +gold-flecked walls of force. Without those shimmering walls the captives +would not have lived for a minute in the deadly purple atmosphere of +this weird world beneath the twin suns. The gold-flecked walls were both +their protection and their prison. The swirling purple mists outside +those walls held the Earthlings as effectively and hopelessly prisoners +in their enclosure as gold-fish in a bowl of water. + + * * * * * + +Blake turned back to the thicket to see how Helen and Mapes had fared in +that terrific battle with the headless things. He was relieved to see +that the girl had apparently escaped without even a scratch. She was +kneeling beside Mapes' prone figure, doing what she could to revive him. +The gangster was badly battered, but he seemed to have no serious +injuries. He was already beginning to stir weakly and show signs of +returning life. + +Blake started to step over to the two. Then he stopped abruptly as he +heard a sharp metallic clang from the cone-building out in the purple +mists beyond the end wall. He looked quickly up and saw that an oval +window had opened in the structure near its tip. Framed in the opening +was what seemed to be a large concave mirror. At one side of the mirror +was a living being of some kind, but the intervening mists prevented +Blake from making out any details beyond a hazy glimpse of a cluster of +what seemed to be long slender snake-like black tentacles. + +The next moment there spurted from the mirror a broad and swiftly +spreading beam of red light so brilliant that it glowed clearly even in +the bright purple rays of the twin suns. Before Blake could shout a +warning to Helen the racing flood of ruddy radiance was upon them. The +scene reeled in a blurred kaleidoscope of flaming colors before Blake's +eyes for a brief second, then complete oblivion swept over him. + + * * * * * + +After an interval that seemed hours, consciousness returned to him as +suddenly as it had left him. His first bewildered look around him +disclosed the fact that startling changes had occurred in his +surroundings during the period while he was under the anesthesia of the +red ray. + +His first effort at movement brought realization that he was in the grip +of a strange paralysis. His head and neck seemed quite normal in every +way, but from the throat downward his body was completely dead as far as +any power of voluntary movement was concerned. + +He twisted his head stiffly to one side, and saw that Helen was standing +there beside him. Just beyond her was the motionless figure of Gil +Mapes. Both the gangster and the girl were in the grip of the same +strange paralysis. Like Blake, they were standing there rigidly +motionless, facing the gold-flecked barrier wall just in front of them. + +A moment's painful scrutiny of their position showed Blake that the +posts forming the wall of the enclosure at the end toward the cone had +been brought in nearly a hundred yards toward them while they slept. The +shimmering barrier sheet was now scarcely a yard from their faces, yet +they still stood near the thicket where they had battled the headless +horrors. Blake saw his coat half-buried in the blue-gray dust near his +feet where Helen had discarded the garment to minister to Mapes. + +Their unseen captor had obviously made definite preparations for +whatever his next purpose with them was to be, for a long wheeled +platform had been brought to a position opposite them just outside the +shimmering gold-flecked sheet. Blake noted the shattered remains of +Mapes' pistol on the ground at one side of the platform. It had +apparently been fished from the enclosure and rendered harmless after +their captor had seen the weapon's efficient use against the headless +ape-things. + +Clustered upon the wheeled platform was an assemblage of intricately +winding coils, glowing tubes, and other apparatus that conveyed no more +meaning to Blake's bewildered gaze than a sight of the interior of a +metropolitan power-house would to a Congo savage. + + * * * * * + +There was only one piece of the apparatus regarding whose probable +function Blake could even guess. This was a pair of long slender arms +that projected through the shimmering walls into the enclosure, +supporting at their end a large thin metal plate located just over the +heads of the three Earthlings. Blake was willing to wager that it was +this overhead plate that was responsible for the odd paralysis that held +them helpless. + +Then a figure came slowly into view from where it had been concealed by +the apparatus, and Blake forgot all thought of the strange mechanisms as +he watched the monstrous thing clamber stiffly from the platform and +halt squarely in front of the captives to stare at them through the +transparency of the intervening force sheet. + +The thing was a curious blending of human and bestial features. It stood +barely five feet in height, yet its great scale-armored skull was at +least three times as large as that of a grown man. There was colossal +mental power and nameless evil glowing in the dark depths of the two +abnormally large eyes that stared fixedly out from under the heavy +forehead. The thing had no nose. The mouth opening, surrounded by a +rosette of flabby gray skin, was a mere slit. The entire skull and face +were covered with small, closely overlapping scales of lusterless gray. + +The head merged directly into a short black torso nearly as wide as the +skull itself. From this trunk there writhed a score of long black +snake-like tentacles, each terminating in a flexible three-fingered +"hand." The trunk was supported by two short thick legs, armored with +gray scales, and ending in broad three-toed feet. + +"Greetings, Earthlings!" The voice that emanated from the grotesque +mouth was surprisingly resonant in tone. "Allow me to present myself. I +am Zehru, imperial scientist of Xollar." + + * * * * * + +The monstrosity seemed amused at the expressions of blank surprise upon +the faces of his captives. "I learned your crude language from your +brain cells while you slept under the red ray," he explained. "Also I +learned many other things regarding your planet, Earth. I am glad to +find your world so well adapted to my purpose. Within a few years after +my arrival there I shall be its unquestioned ruler." + +Blake started to voice the many questions that were surging through his +mind, but an imperious gesture of an outflung tentacle stopped him. + +"Silence, Earthling!" There was tolerant contempt in Zehru's ringing +voice. "I will explain some of the things that puzzle you. There is no +reason why I should trouble myself to do so, yet it may while away the +tedium of the short wait yet remaining before my apparatus becomes +charged to the required point. Listen carefully, Earthling, for at best +you will find many of my thoughts beyond the feeble limits of the word +forms with which you have provided me. + +"The world of Xollar, where you now are, is a planet in the island +universe known to your astronomers as the Great Nebula of Andromeda. +Until a short time ago I was one of its ruling scientists. Then I +sinned, and so grave was my sin according to the laws of this planet +that the Council of Three decreed my death. That death sentence upon +Xollar is irrevocable, and no man has yet escaped it no matter where +upon the planet he may be when the appointed time for his execution +comes. I was given the usual period of grace in which to put my affairs +in order. Instead, I have labored unceasingly here in my laboratory, and +my labors have borne fruit. I am the first man in Xollarian history to +find a means of escaping the dread death penalty. + +"Briefly, I discovered a way by which I can flee to your far-distant +universe, where not even the powers of the Council of Three can follow +me. That way lies through the door of inter-dimensional Space. In Space +as you know it, the almost unthinkable distance of a million light years +separates Xollar from the dwarf star you call your Sun. Yet, traveling +_between_ Space, the two planets nearly touch each other. The same +situation of being near neighbors in inter-dimensional Space holds true +with Xollar and at least seven other planets located in widely separated +parts of your universe. + + * * * * * + +"Let me try to illustrate what I mean by traveling between Space. We +will assume a nearly two-dimensional universe in the form of a circular +piece of paper three feet in diameter. There is a dot in the exact +center of each side of this paper. To a two-dimensional creature, forced +to travel only on the surface of the paper, the distance between the +two dots can never be less than thirty-six inches. Yet by cutting +_between_ the two surfaces and going directly through the paper the dots +are less than one-hundredth of an inch apart. + +"Such is the case with Xollar and the planets in your universe which are +our immediate neighbors in inter-dimensional Space. In order to reach +those planets I had only to develop a method of using sufficient force +to cut _between_ the three dimensions of intervening Space. In solving +this problem I developed both an inter-dimensional net to bring beings +from your universe to mine, and an inter-dimensional gate to permit +beings to pass from here back to worlds in your galaxy. + +"You have already seen the workings of the net. It was the device of +green fire that brought you here. The use of the net was a vital part of +my plans, for without the use of a physical body from some world in your +universe I could not hope to live longer than a few minutes after +leaving Xollar via the inter-dimensional gate. The inherent +characteristics and basic elements of your galaxy and the Andromedan +universe are so different in every way that an inhabitant of either +star-group cannot exist in the other. Xollar's purple atmosphere is +characteristic of Andromedan worlds. Your oxygen-saturated air is +typical of worlds in your galaxy. Just as Xollar's purple mists would be +immediately fatal to you, so would your clear oxygen-tainted air be +quickly fatal to me. + + * * * * * + +"Accordingly, my only chance of surviving in one of your worlds is to +first transfer my Intelligence to the body of one of the dwellers upon +that planet. Of the seven planets within reach of my net I found only +two that promised to be at all suitable. One was your Earth, the other +a minor planet circling the star you call Vega. I brought both you and a +net-load of Vegans here to this oxygen-filled enclosure I had already +prepared. + +"The Vegans were the headless things with the jelly nuclei. I watched +your battle with them, and waited to choose as my vehicle the planetary +type that proved the stronger. You vanquished the Vegans, so it is in +the body of an Earthling that I shall leave Xollar, and it is to the +planet Earth that I shall be hurtled through the inter-dimensional gate. + +"Aside from the slight difficulty caused by having to keep my body and +yours each in its proper element during the operation, the matter of +transfer into one of your bodies is a simple one. It involves none of +the clumsy brain surgery of your Earthly science. We of Xollar have +found that the real Intelligence of a being is an invisible force not at +all dependent for existence upon the protoplasm through which it +manifests. My Intelligence can function quite as well in your brain +cells as in my own. + +"I require no assistant in the transfer." Zehru indicated an intricate +piece of apparatus on the platform behind him. It was a massive cylinder +of fluorescent metal, with two long metallic cables running from its +center, each cable ending in a saucer-shaped disk. + + * * * * * + +"I have only to thrust one cable through the force-wall into your +enclosure and place its disk upon one of your heads, then place the +other disk upon my own head. The apparatus is entirely automatic. Three +seconds after both disks are in place my Intelligence will course into +the Earthling brain, driving out his Intelligence and destroying it as +mine enters. + +"I will, of course, remove the selected body from under the paralyzing +plate before I attach the disks. Then when I am safely transferred to +the Earthling body I will have only to walk on through the enclosure to +the silver arch at the far end and leave Xollar forever. + +"That silver arch is the inter-dimensional gate to your Earth. Its +operation is slightly different from that of the net. Where the net was +capable of reaching under the surface of your planet, a proceeding I +tried when two attempts upon the surface proved fruitless, the gate is +so adjusted that it will place its passenger exactly upon the surface of +your world. It requires no cooperation from this end. When I step under +the arch I merely close a black lever there. Inter-dimensional force +immediately catapults me to your Earth. Then the automatic mechanism of +the gate will within half a minute of my departure release an explosion +that will shatter everything within a radius of a mile here, and so +prevent the Council of Three from even guessing the method of my +escape." + +"But what of the two of us whose bodies you do not need?" Blake +protested. "Can you not at least take them through the arch-gate with +you back to their home world?" + +"Why should I do anything so foolish as that?" Zehru answered callously. +"They might easily be a menace to my first attempts to establish myself +upon your planet. Far better to leave them here in their present state +of paralysis to be safely destroyed in the explosion of the gate." + + * * * * * + +Zehru now thrust three of his tentacles into a vat of milky fluid, and +withdrew them coated with a silver sheen on the black flesh. The silver +glaze seemed to be an insulation against both the oxygen of the +enclosure and the paralyzing force of the overhead disk, for the +Xollarian promptly thrust the three silver-coated arms through the wall +and began handling the bodies of Mapes and Blake in a painstaking +process of examination. + +Again Blake noted that the shimmering gold-flecked wall closed quickly +in and kept its surface unbroken no matter how often objects were thrust +through it. + +Completely ignoring Helen, Zehru lifted first Mapes, then Blake, his +tentacles probing, fingering, exploring. There was enormous power in the +Xollarian's grotesque body. He lifted the men as though they were wooden +dolls, bringing them close to the shimmering wall to peer at them, then +setting them carefully down again on their feet under the disk. Blake +wondered idly why their stiff bodies did not topple over when they were +left unsupported, then decided that the paralyzing force of the disk +probably left the automatic muscular balancing movements unimpaired, +affecting only the powers of voluntary movement. + + * * * * * + +Then, as Zehru set him down after one of the periods of examination, +Blake noticed a new and startling change the moment his feet touched the +ground. His right leg and right arm were no longer dead! + +He hurriedly glanced down at the ground at his feet, and promptly found +what seemed to be the reason for his partial freedom from the paralysis. +In setting his body down the last time Zehru had moved Blake slightly. +His right foot now rested upon a corner of the discarded topcoat lying +half-buried there in the blue-gray dust. + +The heavily rubberized cloth apparently acted as an insulating sheet +that prevented the effective grounding of the paralyzing force that +streamed down through Blake's body from the overhead disk. Consequently +all portions of his body between the coat and the disk were free from +the paralysis. For a moment Blake wondered at Zehru's carelessness. Then +he realized that the insulating qualities of rubber would naturally be +unknown to a Xollarian. + +Noting that Zehru was busy at the moment with his work upon Mapes, Blake +quickly grasped at the faint chance the presence of the rubberized cloth +offered him. Working with infinite slowness and caution, he edged his +right foot over an inch at a time, dragging the rest of his body with +it. + +Luck was with him. Zehru continued, absorbed in his work upon Mapes. The +Xollarian's telepathic powers apparently functioned only with the aid of +the red ray, for he remained oblivious of Blake's actions. One final +cautious dragging movement, and Blake's entire body was upon the cloth, +with every muscle again vibrantly alive. + + * * * * * + +Blake stood there motionless, faking paralysis, while his brain raced in +an effort to figure the best use to make of his present advantage. He +was still trapped, not daring to reach even a hand beyond the protection +of the cloth underfoot. The first essential of any effort at escape +would have to be a lunge of sufficient power to take him safely beyond +the area of the disk's influence. + +Blake's first thought was to hurl himself through the barrier wall upon +Zehru, trusting to sheer surprise to overwhelm the Xollarian, but he +quickly dismissed that plan. It left too many elements in Zehru's favor. +There was a tube-like weapon thrust in a belt around Zehru's middle and +there were probably a dozen other different weapons lying handy to his +reach among the apparatus on the platform. The deadly purple mists +beyond the wall would alone in all probability overcome Blake before he +could batter Zehru down. + +By far the best plan was to stage the battle inside the enclosure where +Blake would be in his own native element. If he could yank Zehru inside +the wall he would have him away from contact with his mechanical weapons +and battling in an atmosphere inherently poisonous to him. Under those +circumstances, Blake felt that he might have an even chance in a +hand-to-hand combat with the powerful but slow-footed Xollarian. + +Once Zehru was eliminated, escape back to Earth should be a simple +matter. The silver gate, with its automatic mechanism needing only the +closing of a lever, was ready and waiting there in the enclosure behind +them. + + * * * * * + +For long tense minutes Blake forced himself to remain rigidly motionless +while Zehru labored over Mapes. Then finally the Xollarian turned his +attention briefly back to Blake, and thrust two tentacles in to grip his +body. No sooner had the tentacles crossed above the border of the cloth +than Zehru realized that something was wrong. He tried to whip his arms +back again but too late. + +Blake made a lightning snatch at a tentacle with both hands, and in the +same lithe movement turned from the barrier wall and flung himself +headlong toward the center of the enclosure. Zehru had no time to brace +himself. He was jerked bodily through the shimmering wall and on after +Blake's lunging body. + +One of the Xollarian's waving tentacles grasped wildly at the overhead +disk in an effort to stay his flight. The only result was to bring the +entire disk and its supports crashing in ruins to the ground upon the +struggling figures of Blake and himself. + +Blake was upon his feet again instantly. Snatching up a yard-long scrap +of metal from the wreckage of the disk, he flung himself upon Zehru. +The Xollarian seemed for the moment too dazed by his fall to fight back. +With tentacles raised to guard his head, he staggered backward in +retreat, every step taking him farther away from the wall and the purple +mists. + +Blake was vaguely aware that Helen and Mapes, freed by the wrecking of +the disk, were scrambling to their feet. Mapes was already running +toward the combatants. Blake was glad at the prospect of an ally. +Zehru's dazed condition was swiftly passing. He had now stopped his +retreat and was already fumbling a tentacle toward the tube-weapon in +his belt. + +Blake flung himself upon Zehru in another effort to beat him down before +he could draw that weapon, but his metal club glanced harmlessly off the +tentacles Zehru raised to shield his head. Then beyond Zehru Blake saw +something that made him stop his assault. + + * * * * * + +It was Mapes, sprinting toward the silver arch-gate at the other end of +the enclosure. Blake's heart sank as he realized the gangster's +treachery. If he once reached that arch he could send himself safely +hurtling back to Earth, while Blake and Helen would be left to perish +with Zehru in the explosion that would immediately follow. It was too +late for Blake to head the gangster off. He had already covered half the +distance to the arch. + +Zehru noted Mapes' fleeing figure almost as quickly as did Blake. +Swiftly the Xollarian swung his tube-weapon into line with the fleeing +gangster. A thin pencil of dull yellow light of a peculiar density +spurted from the tube toward Mapes. There was a flash of blinding flame +as the light beam met the gangster's body; then Mapes' figure seemed to +literally explode, as though blasted by dynamite from within. So +devastating was the force of that explosion that nothing remained of +Mapes' body beyond a few scattered fragments of shoes and clothing. + +Blake was still dazed at the cataclysmic suddenness of Mapes' death as +Zehru swung the tube around to train it upon him. Only a last-minute +desperate effort upon Blake's part saved him. His wildly thrown metal +club made a lucky hit on the tube itself, knocking it, shattered and +useless, out of Zehru's grasp. + +Unarmed, Zehru faced Blake with his face contorting in agony. For a +moment the Xollarian swayed there, apparently trying to gather his +failing strength for the next move. The deadly air of the enclosure was +already taking hideous toll. The scaly flesh of his head and face was +dissolving like melting butter. + +Zehru's strength was ebbing too swiftly for him to have any chance of +gaining safety through either of the distant side walls. His only hope +of fighting back to the purple mists was to pass Blake and go through +the nearby end wall through which he had originally been drawn. + +He came lunging forward in an attack whose sheer fury made Blake give +ground before the menace of the lashing tentacles. + + * * * * * + +Blake took another backward step, then staggered as his foot struck a +rough spot in the ground. Zehru's tentacles were upon him before he +could recover himself. His club was jerked from his fingers and sent +hurtling far out of reach. Half a dozen of the tentacle-arms lashed +around his throat in a strangling grip. + +He clawed wildly at the choking coils, but they failed to loosen even a +fraction of an inch. Desperately Blake sent his fists smashing into the +gray face. The scale armor of Zehru's skull, fast weakening in the +liquefying influence of the oxygen, gave way beneath that battering +attack. He staggered, and his coiling tentacles relaxed slightly. + +Blake tore himself free. A final smashing blow, with every ounce of his +one hundred and ninety pounds behind it, sent Zehru crashing to the +ground. The Xollarian tried to rise, then feebly slumped back, his +strength spent. Blake leaped forward to finish his opponent, but stopped +as he saw that his efforts were not needed. + +The deadly air of the enclosure was now overwhelming Zehru with swift +and hideous death. He was literally rotting before Blake's horrified +eyes, the gray-scaled skin sloughing off in streaming rivulets of pallid +ooze, and the entire body contorting in what was obviously a death +agony. + +Sickened, Blake stepped back a pace or two. Zehru's tentacles feebly +beat the ground around him, then suddenly one of the writhing arms +blundered upon a thin cable running along the ground. Before Blake could +spring forward to stop him, Zehru with a last surge of power ripped the +fragile metal strand completely in two. + +It was the Xollarian's dying effort. He slumped in a motionless, nearly +liquescent heap. But that last blind blow at the Earthlings threatened +to be a deadly one. The severed cable led to one of the black posts +surrounding the enclosure. With the cable's parting an entire section of +one of the gold-flecked barrier walls vanished. Xollar's deadly purple +mists were already surging in. + + * * * * * + +Speed was the Earthlings' only chance now. Helen was as quick to realize +the danger as was Blake. Side by side they started their mad race toward +where the silver arch-gate loomed nearly a hundred yards away. + +They had covered barely half the distance when the air around them +began to show a definite tinge of purple. With the appearance of the +purple hue there came a strange and swiftly increasing agony, a +torturing vibration that seemed to be tearing every atom in their bodies +asunder. + +They were within ten yards of the arch when Helen fell. Blake grabbed +her up in his arms and stumbled on. There was no longer enough oxygen in +the air to even breathe. Blake's lungs were on fire. Every cell in his +body seemed vibrating in unbearable torment. + +It was all that he could do to struggle up on the low platform. He +staggered across the space and under the arch. It took the last shred of +strength in his tortured body for him to lift his hand and pull the +black lever down into place. + +Its action was instantaneous. The agony of the purple mists was blotted +out in a surging wave of mighty force that swept Blake and Helen up and +away through a Spaceless universe where black chaos reigned awesomely +supreme. There was a long terrible moment of hurtling through distances +inconceivably vast. Blake's brain reeled in nausea. + +Then suddenly all motion ceased and everything was normal again. There +was firm grassy ground under his feet and a cool breeze was blowing in +his face. + +He opened his eyes and saw the gray half-light of early dawn. After the +first swift look around him he sighed in mighty relief. To his left was +the familiar skyline of Fifth Avenue. To his right was Central Park +West. They were somewhere in Central Park, safe again in their own +world. + +And somewhere in that other world beneath the twin purple suns, the time +mechanism of the silver gate should even now be releasing the explosive +that would forever blot out all trace of the evil handiwork of Zehru, +cosmic fisher of Xollar. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Astounding Stories_ February 1932. + 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 Zehru of Xollar, by Hal K. 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