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diff --git a/27013-h/27013-h.htm b/27013-h/27013-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..623a1e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/27013-h/27013-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2602 @@ +<!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 Hellhounds of the Cosmos, by Clifford D. Simak + </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-bottom: 2em;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; visibility: hidden;} + .tb {visibility: visible;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .blockquot {margin: 1em 10%;} + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: center; width: 347px;} + .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: .75em; text-align: center; border: solid 2px;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Hellhounds of the Cosmos, by Clifford Donald Simak + +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: Hellhounds of the Cosmos + +Author: Clifford Donald Simak + +Release Date: October 24, 2008 [EBook #27013] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HELLHOUNDS OF THE COSMOS *** + + + + +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="347" height="400" alt="" title="" /> +<b><small><i>He glimmered momentarily, then vanished.</i></small></b> + +<div class="bk1"><small>Weird are the conditions of the +interdimensional struggle faced +by Dr. White's ninety-nine men.</small></div></div> + +<h1><big>Hellhounds of the Cosmos</big></h1> + +<h2>By Clifford D. Simak</h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> paper had gone to press, +graphically describing the +latest of the many horrible +events which had been enacted +upon the Earth in the last six +months. The headlines +screamed +that Six Corners, +a little hamlet in +Pennsylvania, had +been wiped out by the Horror. Another +front-page story told of a +Terror in the Amazon Valley which +had sent the natives down the river +in babbling fear. Other stories told +of deaths here +and there, all attributable +to the +"Black Horror," +as it was called.</p> + +<p>The telephone rang.</p> + +<p>"Hello," said the editor.</p> + +<p>"London calling," came the voice +of the operator.</p> + +<p>"All right," replied the editor.</p> + +<p>He recognized the voice of Terry +Masters, special correspondent. His +voice came clearly over the transatlantic +telephone.</p> + +<p>"The Horror is attacking London +in force," he said. "There are +thousands of them and they have +completely surrounded the city. All +roads are blocked. The government +declared the city under martial rule +a quarter of an hour ago and efforts +are being made to prepare for resistance +against the enemy."</p> + +<p>"Just a second," the editor +shouted into the transmitter.</p> + +<p>He touched a button on his desk +and in a moment an answering buzz +told him he was in communication +with the press-room.</p> + +<p>"Stop the presses!" he yelled into +the speaking tube. "Get ready for +a new front make-up!"</p> + +<p>"O.K.," came faintly through the +tube, and the editor turned back to +the phone.</p> + +<p>"Now let's have it," he said, and +the voice at the London end of the +wire droned on, telling the story +that in another half hour was read +by a world which shuddered in cold +fear even as it scanned the glaring +headlines.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"Woods,"</span> said the editor of +the <i>Press</i> to a reporter, +"run over and talk to Dr. Silas +White. He phoned me to send someone. +Something about this Horror +business."</p> + +<p>Henry Woods rose from his chair +without a word and walked from +the office. As he passed the wire +machine it was tapping out, with +a maddeningly methodical slowness, +the story of the fall of London. +Only half an hour before it had +rapped forth the flashes concerning +the attack on Paris and Berlin.</p> + +<p>He passed out of the building +into a street that was swarming +with terrified humanity. Six months +of terror, of numerous mysterious +deaths, of villages blotted out, had +set the world on edge. Now with +London in possession of the Horror +and Paris and Berlin fighting hopelessly +for their lives, the entire +population of the world was half +insane with fright.</p> + +<p>Exhorters on street corners enlarged +upon the end of the world, +asking that the people prepare for +eternity, attributing the Horror to +the act of a Supreme Being enraged +with the wickedness of the +Earth.</p> + +<p>Expecting every moment an attack +by the Horror, people left +their work and gathered in the +streets. Traffic, in places, had been +blocked for hours and law and order +were practically paralyzed. Commerce +and transportation were disrupted +as fright-ridden people fled +from the larger cities, seeking +doubtful hiding places in rural districts +from the death that stalked +the land.</p> + +<p>A loudspeaker in front of a music +store blared forth the latest news +flashes.</p> + +<p>"It has been learned," came the +measured tones of the announcer, +"that all communication with Berlin +ceased about ten minutes ago. +At Paris all efforts to hold the +Horror at bay have been futile. Explosives +blow it apart, but have the +same effect upon it as explosion +has on gas. It flies apart and then +reforms again, not always in the +same shape as it was before. A new +gas, one of the most deadly ever +conceived by man, has failed to +have any effect on the things. Electric +guns and heat guns have absolutely +no effect upon them.</p> + +<p>"A news flash which has just +come in from Rome says that a +large number of the Horrors has +been sighted north of that city by +airmen. It seems they are attacking +the capitals of the world first. +Word comes from Washington that +every known form of defense is +being amassed at that city. New +York is also preparing...."</p> + +<p>Henry Woods fought his way +through the crowd which milled in +front of the loudspeaker. The hum +of excitement was giving away to +a silence, the silence of a stunned +people, the fearful silence of a +populace facing a presence it is +unable to understand, an embattled +world standing with useless weapons +before an incomprehensible +enemy.</p> + +<p>In despair the reporter looked +about for a taxi, but realized, with +a groan of resignation, that no taxi +could possibly operate in that +crowded street. A street car, blocked +by the stream of humanity which +jostled and elbowed about it, stood +still, a defeated thing.</p> + +<p>Seemingly the only man with a +definite purpose in that whirlpool +of terror-stricken men and women, +the newspaperman settled down to +the serious business of battling his +way through the swarming street.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"Before</span> I go to the crux of +the matter," said Dr. Silas +White, about half an hour later, +"let us first review what we know +of this so-called Horror. Suppose +you tell me exactly what you know +of it."</p> + +<p>Henry Woods shifted uneasily in +his chair. Why didn't the old fool +get down to business? The chief +would raise hell if this story didn't +make the regular edition. He stole +a glance at his wrist-watch. There +was still almost an hour left. Maybe +he could manage it. If the old chap +would only snap into it!</p> + +<p>"I know no more," he said, "than +is common knowledge."</p> + +<p>The gimlet eyes of the old white-haired +scientist regarded the newspaperman +sharply.</p> + +<p>"And that is?" he questioned.</p> + +<p>There was no way out of it, +thought Henry. He'd have to humor +the old fellow.</p> + +<p>"The Horror," he replied, "appeared +on Earth, so far as the +knowledge of man is concerned, +about six months ago."</p> + +<p>Dr. White nodded approvingly.</p> + +<p>"You state the facts very aptly," +he said.</p> + +<p>"How so?"</p> + +<p>"When you say 'so far as the +knowledge of man is concerned.'"</p> + +<p>"Why is that?"</p> + +<p>"You will understand in due +time. Please proceed."</p> + +<p>Vaguely the newspaperman wondered +whether he was interviewing +the scientist or the scientist interviewing +him.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"They</span> were first reported," +Woods said, "early this spring. +At that time they wiped out a small +village in the province of Quebec. +All the inhabitants, except a few +fugitives, were found dead, killed +mysteriously and half eaten, as if +by wild beasts. The fugitives were +demented, babbling of black shapes +that swept down out of the dark +forest upon the little town in the +small hours of the morning.</p> + +<p>"The next that was heard of +them was about a week later, when +they struck in an isolated rural +district in Poland, killing and feeding +on the population of several +farms. In the next week more villages +were wiped out, in practically +every country on the face of the +Earth. From the hinterlands came +tales of murder done at midnight, +of men and women horribly mangled, +of livestock slaughtered, of +buildings crushed as if by some +titanic force.</p> + +<p>"At first they worked only at +night and then, seeming to become +bolder and more numerous, attacked +in broad daylight."</p> + +<p>The newspaperman paused.</p> + +<p>"Is that what you want?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"That's part of it," replied Dr. +White, "but that's not all. What do +these Horrors look like?"</p> + +<p>"That's more difficult," said Henry. +"They have been reported as +every conceivable sort of monstrosity. +Some are large and others +are small. Some take the form of +animals, others of birds and reptiles, +and some are cast in appalling +shapes such as might be snatched +out of the horrid imagery of a +thing which resided in a world entirely +alien to our own."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Dr. White</span> rose from his chair +and strode across the room +to confront the other.</p> + +<p>"Young man," he asked, "do you +think it possible the Horror might +have come out of a world entirely +alien to our own?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied Henry. +"I know that some of the scientists +believe they came from some other +planet, perhaps even from some +other solar system. I know they +are like nothing ever known before +on Earth. They are always inky +black, something like black tar, you +know, sort of sticky-looking, a disgusting +sight. The weapons of mankind +can't affect them. Explosives +are useless and so are projectiles. +They wade through poison gas and +fiery chemicals and seem to enjoy +them. Elaborate electrical barriers +have failed. Heat doesn't make them +turn a hair."</p> + +<p>"And you think they came from +some other planet, perhaps some +other solar system?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what to think," +said Henry. "If they came out of +space they must have come in some +conveyance, and that would certainly +have been sighted, picked up +long before it arrived, by our +astronomers. If they came in small +conveyances, there must have been +many of them. If they came in a +single conveyance, it would be too +large to escape detection. That is, +unless—"</p> + +<p>"Unless what?" snapped the +scientist.</p> + +<p>"Unless it traveled at the speed +of light. Then it would have been +invisible."</p> + +<p>"Not only invisible," snorted the +old man, "but non-existent."</p> + +<p>A question was on the tip of the +newspaperman's tongue, but before +it could be asked the old man was +speaking again, asking a question:</p> + +<p>"Can you imagine a fourth dimension?"</p> + +<p>"No, I can't," said Henry.</p> + +<p>"Can you imagine a thing of only +two dimensions?"</p> + +<p>"Vaguely, yes."</p> + +<p>The scientist smote his palms together.</p> + +<p>"Now we're coming to it!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Henry Woods regarded the other +narrowly. The old man must be +turned. What did fourth and second +dimensions have to do with the +Horror?</p> + +<p>"Do you know anything about +evolution?" questioned the old man.</p> + +<p>"I have a slight understanding of +it. It is the process of upward +growth, the stairs by which simple +organisms climb to become more +complex organisms."</p> + +<p>Dr. White grunted and asked still +another question:</p> + +<p>"Do you know anything about +the theory of the exploding universe? +Have you ever noted the +tendency of the perfectly balanced +to run amuck?"</p> + +<p>The reporter rose slowly to his +feet.</p> + +<p>"Dr. White," he said, "you phoned +my paper you had a story for us. +I came here to get it, but all you +have done is ask me questions. If +you can't tell me what you want us +to publish, I will say good-day."</p> + +<p>The doctor put forth a hand that +shook slightly.</p> + +<p>"Sit down, young man," he said. +"I don't blame you for being impatient, +but I will now come to my +point."</p> + +<p>The newspaperman sat down +again.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"I have</span> developed a hypothesis," +said Dr. White, "and have +conducted several experiments +which seem to bear it out. I am +staking my reputation upon the +supposition that it is correct. Not +only that, but I am also staking +the lives of several brave men who +believe implicitly in me and my +theory. After all, I suppose it makes +little difference, for if I fail the +world is doomed, if I succeed it is +saved from complete destruction.</p> + +<p>"Have you ever thought that our +evolutionists might be wrong, that +evolution might be downward instead +of upward? The theory of the +exploding universe, the belief that +all of creation is running down, +being thrown off balance by the +loss of energy, spurred onward by +cosmic accidents which tend to disturb +its equilibrium, to a time when +it will run wild and space will be +filled with swirling dust of disintegrated +worlds, would bear out +this contention.</p> + +<p>"This does not apply to the +human race. There is no question +that our evolution is upward, that +we have arisen from one-celled +creatures wallowing in the slime of +primal seas. Our case is probably +paralleled by thousands of other intelligences +on far-flung planets and +island universes. These instances, +however, running at cross purposes +to the general evolutional trend of +the entire cosmos, are mere flashes +in the eventual course of cosmic +evolution, comparing no more to +eternity than a split second does to +a million years.</p> + +<p>"Taking these instances, then, as +inconsequential, let us say that the +trend of cosmic evolution is downward +rather than upward, from +complex units to simpler units +rather than from simple units to +more complex ones.</p> + +<p>"Let us say that life and intelligence +have degenerated. How +would you say such a degeneration +would take place? In just what way +would it be manifested? What sort +of transition would life pass through +in passing from one stage to a +lower one? Just what would be the +nature of these stages?"</p> + +<p>The scientist's eyes glowed +brightly as he bent forward in his +chair. The newspaperman said +simply: "I have no idea."</p> + +<p>"Man," cried the old man, "can't +you see that it would be a matter of +dimensions? From the fourth dimension +to the third, from the +third to the second, from the second +to the first, from the first to a +questionable existence or plane +which is beyond our understanding +or perhaps to oblivion and the end +of life. Might not the fourth have +evolved from a fifth, the fifth from +a sixth, the sixth from a seventh, +and so on to no one knows what +multidimension?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Dr. White</span> paused to allow +the other man to grasp the +importance of his statements. Woods +failed lamentably to do so.</p> + +<p>"But what has this to do with the +Horror?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Have you absolutely no imagination?" +shouted the old man.</p> + +<p>"Why, I suppose I have, but I +seem to fail to understand."</p> + +<p>"We are facing an invasion of +fourth-dimensional creatures," the +old man whispered, almost as if +fearful to speak the words aloud. +"We are being attacked by life +which is one dimension above us in +evolution. We are fighting, I tell +you, a tribe of hellhounds out of +the cosmos. They are unthinkably +above us in the matter of intelligence. +There is a chasm of knowledge +between us so wide and so +deep that it staggers the imagination. +They regard us as mere animals, +perhaps not even that. So far +as they are concerned we are just +fodder, something to be eaten as +we eat vegetables and cereals or +the flesh of domesticated animals. +Perhaps they have watched us for +years, watching life on the world +increase, lapping their monstrous +jowls over the fattening of the +Earth. They have awaited the proper +setting of the banquet table and +now they are dining.</p> + +<p>"Their thoughts are not our +thoughts, their ideals not our ideals. +Perhaps they have nothing in common +with us except the primal +basis of all life, self-preservation, +the necessity of feeding.</p> + +<p>"Maybe they have come of their +own will. I prefer to believe that +they have. Perhaps they are merely +following the natural course of +events, obeying some immutable law +legislated by some higher being +who watches over the cosmos and +dictates what shall be and what +shall not be. If this is true it +means that there has been a flaw +in my reasoning, for I believed +that the life of each plane degenerated +in company with the degeneration +of its plane of existence, +which would obey the same evolutional +laws which govern the life +upon it. I am quite satisfied that +this invasion is a well-planned +campaign, that some fourth-dimensional +race has found a means of +breaking through the veil of force +which separates its plane from +ours."</p> + +<p>"But," pointed out Henry Woods, +"you say they are fourth-dimensional +things. I can't see anything +about them to suggest an additional +dimension. They are plainly +three-dimensional."</p> + +<p>"Of course they are three-dimensional. +They would have to be to +live in this world of three dimensions. +The only two-dimensional +objects which we know of in this +world are merely illusions, projections +of the third dimension, like +a shadow. It is impossible for more +than one dimension to live on any +single plane.</p> + +<p>"To attack us they would have to +lose one dimension. This they have +evidently done. You can see how +utterly ridiculous it would be for +you to try to attack a two-dimensional +thing. So far as you were +concerned it would have no mass. +The same is true of the other dimensions. +Similarly a being of a +lesser plane could not harm an inhabitant +of a higher plane. It is +apparent that while the Horror has +lost one material dimension, it has +retained certain fourth-dimensional +properties which make it invulnerable +to the forces at the command +of our plane."</p> + +<p>The newspaperman was now sitting +on the edge of his chair.</p> + +<p>"But," he asked breathlessly, "it +all sounds so hopeless. What can +be done about it?"</p> + +<p>Dr. White hitched his chair closer +and his fingers closed with a fierce +grasp upon the other's knee. A +militant boom came into his voice.</p> + +<p>"My boy," he said, "we are to +strike back. We are going to invade +the fourth-dimensional plane of +these hellhounds. We are going to +make them feel our strength. We +are going to strike back."</p> + +<p>Henry Woods sprang to his feet.</p> + +<p>"How?" he shouted. "Have +you...?"</p> + +<p>Dr. White nodded.</p> + +<p>"I have found a way to send the +third-dimensional into the fourth. +Come and I will show you."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> machine was huge, but it +had an appearance of simple +construction. A large rectangular +block of what appeared to be a +strange black metal was set on end +and flanked on each side by two +smaller ones. On the top of the +large block was set a half-globe of +a strange substance, somewhat, +Henry thought, like frosted glass. +On one side of the large cube was +set a lever, a long glass panel, two +vertical tubes and three clock-face +indicators. The control board, it +appeared, was relatively simple.</p> + +<p>Beside the mass of the five rectangles, +on the floor, was a large +plate of transparent substance, +ground to a concave surface, +through which one could see an +intricate tangle of wire mesh.</p> + +<p>Hanging from the ceiling, directly +above the one on the floor, +was another concave disk, but this +one had a far more pronounced +curvature.</p> + +<p>Wires connected the two disks +and each in turn was connected to +the rectangular machine.</p> + +<p>"It is a matter of the proper +utilization of two forces, electrical +and gravitational," proudly explained +Dr. White. "Those two +forces, properly used, warp the +third-dimensional into the fourth. +A reverse process is used to return +the object to the third. The principle +of the machine is—"</p> + +<p>The old man was about to launch +into a lengthy discussion, but Henry +interrupted him. A glance at his +watch had shown him press time +was drawing perilously close.</p> + +<p>"Just a second," he said. "You +propose to warp a third-dimensional +being into a fourth dimension. How +can a third-dimensional thing exist +there? You said a short time ago +that only a specified dimension +could exist on one single plane."</p> + +<p>"You have missed my point," +snapped Dr. White. "I am not sending +a third-dimensional thing to a +fourth dimension. I am changing +the third-dimensional being into a +fourth-dimensional being. I add a +dimension, and automatically the +being exists on a different plane. +I am reversing evolution. This +third dimension we now exist on +evolved, millions of eons ago, from +a fourth dimension. I am sending +a lesser entity back over those +millions of eons to a plane similar +to one upon which his ancestors +lived inconceivably long ago."</p> + +<p>"But, man, how do you know you +can do it?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> doctor's eyes gleamed and +his fingers reached out to press +a bell.</p> + +<p>A servant appeared almost at +once.</p> + +<p>"Bring me a dog," snapped the +old man. The servant disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Young man," said Dr. White, "I +am going to show you how I know +I can do it. I have done it before, +now I am going to do it for you. I +have sent dogs and cats back to the +fourth dimension and returned +them safely to this room. I can do +the same with men."</p> + +<p>The servant reappeared, carrying +in his arms a small dog. The doctor +stepped to the control board of his +strange machine.</p> + +<p>"All right, George," he said.</p> + +<p>The servant had evidently worked +with the old man enough to know +what was expected of him. He +stepped close to the floor disk and +waited. The dog whined softly, +sensing that all was not exactly +right.</p> + +<p>The old scientist slowly shoved +the lever toward the right, and as +he did so a faint hum filled the +room, rising to a stupendous roar +as he advanced the lever. From both +floor disk and upper disk leaped +strange cones of blue light, which +met midway to form an hour-glass +shape of brilliance.</p> + +<p>The light did not waver or sparkle. +It did not glow. It seemed hard +and brittle, like straight bars of +force. The newspaperman, gazing +with awe upon it, felt that terrific +force was there. What had the old +man said? Warp a third-dimensional +being into another dimension! +That would take force!</p> + +<p>As he watched, petrified by the +spectacle, the servant stepped forward +and, with a flip, tossed the +little dog into the blue light. The +animal could be discerned for a +moment through the light and then +it disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Look in the globe!" shouted the +old man; and Henry jerked his eyes +from the column of light to the +half-globe atop the machine.</p> + +<p>He gasped. In the globe, deep +within its milky center, glowed a +picture that made his brain reel as +he looked upon it. It was a scene +such as no man could have imagined +unaided. It was a horribly distorted +projection of an eccentric +landscape, a landscape hardly +analogous to anything on Earth.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"That's</span> the fourth dimension, +sir," said the servant.</p> + +<p>"That's not the fourth dimension," +the old man corrected him. +"That's a third-dimensional impression +of the fourth dimension. +It is no more the fourth dimension +than a shadow is three-dimensional. +It, like a shadow, is merely a projection. +It gives us a glimpse of +what the fourth plane is like. It is +a shadow of that plane."</p> + +<p>Slowly a dark blotch began to +grow in the landscape. Slowly it +assumed definite form. It puzzled +the reporter. It looked familiar. +He could have sworn he had seen +it somewhere before. It was alive, +for it had moved.</p> + +<p>"That, sir, is the dog," George +volunteered.</p> + +<p>"That was the dog," Dr. White +again corrected him. "God knows +what it is now."</p> + +<p>He turned to the newspaperman.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen enough?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>Henry nodded.</p> + +<p>The other slowly began to return +the lever to its original position. +The roaring subsided, the light +faded, the projection in the half-globe +grew fainter.</p> + +<p>"How are you going to use it?" +asked the newspaperman.</p> + +<p>"I have ninety-eight men who +have agreed to be projected into the +fourth dimension to seek out the +entities that are attacking us and +attack them in turn. I shall send +them out in an hour."</p> + +<p>"Where is there a phone?" asked +the newspaperman.</p> + +<p>"In the next room," replied Dr. +White.</p> + +<p>As the reporter dashed out of +the door, the light faded entirely +from between the two disks and on +the lower one a little dog crouched, +quivering, softly whimpering.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> old man stepped from the +controls and approached the +disk. He scooped the little animal +from where it lay into his arms and +patted the silky head.</p> + +<p>"Good dog," he murmured; and +the creature snuggled close to him, +comforted, already forgetting that +horrible place from which it had +just returned.</p> + +<p>"Is everything ready, George?" +asked the old man.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the servant. +"The men are all ready, even anxious +to go. If you ask me, sir, they +are a tough lot."</p> + +<p>"They are as brave a group of +men as ever graced the Earth," replied +the scientist gently. "They +are adventurers, every one of whom +has faced danger and will not +shrink from it. They are born +fighters. My one regret is that I +have not been able to secure more +like them. A thousand men such as +they should be able to conquer any +opponent. It was impossible. The +others were poor soft fools. They +laughed in my face. They thought +I was an old fool—I, the man who +alone stands between them and utter +destruction."</p> + +<p>His voice had risen to almost a +scream, but it again sank to a +normal tone.</p> + +<p>"I may be sending ninety-eight +brave men to instant death. I hope +not."</p> + +<p>"You can always jerk them back, +sir," suggested George.</p> + +<p>"Maybe I can, maybe not," murmured +the old man.</p> + +<p>Henry Woods appeared in the +doorway.</p> + +<p>"When do we start?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We?" exclaimed the scientist.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, you don't believe +you're going to leave me out of +this. Why, man, it's the greatest +story of all time. I'm going as +special war correspondent."</p> + +<p>"They believed it? They are going +to publish it?" cried the old man, +clutching at the newspaperman's +sleeve.</p> + +<p>"Well, the editor was skeptical +at first, but after I swore on all +sorts of oaths it was true, he ate +it up. Maybe you think that story +didn't stop the presses!"</p> + +<p>"I didn't expect them to. I just +took a chance. I thought they, +too, would laugh at me."</p> + +<p>"But when do we start?" persisted +Henry.</p> + +<p>"You are really in earnest? You +really want to go?" asked the old +man, unbelievingly.</p> + +<p>"I am going. Try to stop me."</p> + +<p>Dr. White glanced at his watch.</p> + +<p>"We will start in exactly thirty-four +minutes," he said.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"Ten</span> seconds to go." George, +standing with watch in hand, +spoke in a precise manner, the +very crispness of his words betraying +the excitement under which +he labored.</p> + +<p>The blue light, hissing, drove +from disk to disk; the room thundered +with the roar of the machine, +before which stood Dr. White, his +hand on the lever, his eyes glued +on the instruments before him.</p> + +<p>In a line stood the men who +were to fling themselves into the +light to be warped into another +dimension, there to seek out and +fight an unknown enemy. The line +was headed by a tall man with +hands like hams, with a weather-beaten +face and a wild mop of hair. +Behind him stood a belligerent little +cockney. Henry Woods stood fifth +in line. They were a motley lot, +adventurers every one of them, and +some were obviously afraid as they +stood before that column of light, +with only a few seconds of the +third dimension left to them. They +had answered a weird advertisement, +and had but a limited idea +of what they were about to do. +Grimly, though, they accepted it as +a job, a bizarre job, but a job. +They faced it as they had faced +other equally dangerous, but less +unusual, jobs.</p> + +<p>"Five seconds," snapped George.</p> + +<p>The lever was all the way over +now. The half-globe showed, within +its milky interior, a hideously distorted +landscape. The light had +taken on a hard, brittle appearance +and its hiss had risen to a scream. +The machine thundered steadily +with a suggestion of horrible power.</p> + +<p>"Time up!"</p> + +<p>The tall man stepped forward. +His foot reached the disk; another +step and he was bathed in the light, +a third and he glimmered momentarily, +then vanished. Close on his +heels followed the little cockney.</p> + +<p>With his nerves at almost a +snapping point, Henry moved on +behind the fourth man. He was +horribly afraid, he wanted to break +from the line and run, it didn't +matter where, any place to get away +from that steady, steely light in +front of him. He had seen three +men step into it, glow for a second, +and then disappear. A fourth man +had placed his foot on the disk.</p> + +<p>Cold sweat stood out on his brow. +Like an automaton he placed one +foot on the disk. The fourth man +had already disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Snap into it, pal," growled the +man behind.</p> + +<p>Henry lifted the other foot, +caught his toe on the edge of the +disk and stumbled headlong into +the column of light.</p> + +<p>He was conscious of intense heat +which was instantly followed by +equally intense cold. For a moment +his body seemed to be under +enormous pressure, then it seemed +to be expanding, flying apart, bursting, +exploding....</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">He</span> felt solid ground under his +feet, and his eyes, snapping +open, saw an alien land. It was a +land of somber color, with great +gray moors, and beetling black +cliffs. There was something queer +about it, an intangible quality that +baffled him.</p> + +<p>He looked about him, expecting +to see his companions. He saw no +one. He was absolutely alone in +that desolate brooding land. Something +dreadful had happened! Was +he the only one to be safely transported +from the third dimension? +Had some horrible accident occurred? +Was he alone?</p> + +<p>Sudden panic seized him. If +something had happened, if the +others were not here, might it not +be possible that the machine would +not be able to bring him back to +his own dimension? Was he doomed +to remain marooned forever in this +terrible plane?</p> + +<p>He looked down at his body +and gasped in dismay. It was not +his body!</p> + +<p>It was a grotesque caricature of +a body, a horrible profane mass of +flesh, like a phantasmagoric beast +snatched from the dreams of a +lunatic.</p> + +<p>It was real, however. He felt it +with his hands, but they were not +hands. They were something like +hands; they served the same purpose +that hands served in the third +dimension. He was, he realized, a +being of the fourth dimension, but +in his fourth-dimensional brain still +clung hard-fighting remnants of +that faithful old third-dimensional +brain. He could not, as yet, see +with fourth-dimensional eyes, think +purely fourth-dimensional thoughts. +He had not oriented himself as yet +to this new plane of existence. He +was seeing the fourth dimension +through the blurred lenses of millions +of eons of third-dimensional +existence. He was seeing it much +more clearly than he had seen it +in the half-globe atop the machine +in Dr. White's laboratory, but he +would not see it clearly until every +vestige of the third dimension was +wiped from him. That, he knew, +would come in time.</p> + +<p>He felt his weird body with those +things that served as hands, and he +found, beneath his groping, unearthly +fingers, great rolling muscles, +powerful tendons, and hard, +well-conditioned flesh. A sense of +well-being surged through him and +he growled like an animal, like an +animal of that horrible fourth plane.</p> + +<p>But the terrible sounds that came +from between his slobbering lips +were not those of his own voice, +they were the voices of many men.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Then</span> he knew. He was not +alone. Here, in this one body +were the bodies, the brains, the +power, the spirit, of those other +ninety-eight men. In the fourth dimension, +all the millions of third-dimensional +things were one. Perhaps +that particular portion of the +third dimension called the Earth +had sprung from, or degenerated +from, one single unit of a dissolving, +worn-out fourth dimension. The +third dimension, warped back to a +higher plane, was automatically +obeying the mystic laws of evolution +by reforming in the shape of +that old ancestor, unimaginably removed +in time from the race he had +begot. He was no longer Henry +Woods, newspaperman; he was an +entity that had given birth, in the +dim ages when the Earth was born, +to a third dimension. Nor was he +alone. This body of his was composed +of other sons of that ancient +entity.</p> + +<p>He felt himself grow, felt his +body grow vaster, assume greater +proportions, felt new vitality flow +through him. It was the other men, +the men who were flinging themselves +into the column of light in +the laboratory to be warped back +to this plane, to be incorporated +in his body.</p> + +<p>It was not his body, however. +His brain was not his alone. The +pronoun, he realized, represented +the sum total of those other men, +his fellow adventurers.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a new feeling came, a +feeling of completeness, a feeling +of supreme fitness. He knew that +the last of the ninety-eight men +had stepped across the disk, that +all were here in this giant body.</p> + +<p>Now he could see more clearly. +Things in the landscape, which had +escaped him before, became recognizable. +Awful thoughts ran through +his brain, heavy, ponderous, black +thoughts. He began to recognize +the landscape as something familiar, +something he had seen before, a +thing with which he was intimate. +Phenomena, which his third-dimensional +intelligence would have +gasped at, became commonplace. +He was finally seeing through +fourth-dimensional eyes, thinking +fourth-dimensional thoughts.</p> + +<p>Memory seeped into his brain and +he had fleeting visions, visions of +dark caverns lit by hellish flames, +of huge seas that battered remorselessly +with mile-high waves against +towering headlands that reared titanic +toward a glowering sky. He +remembered a red desert scattered +with scarlet boulders, he remembered +silver cliffs of gleaming +metallic stone. Through all his +thoughts ran something else, a scarlet +thread of hate, an all-consuming +passion, a fierce lust after the life +of some other entity.</p> + +<p>He was no longer a composite +thing built of third-dimensional beings. +He was a creature of another +plane, a creature with a consuming +hate, and suddenly he knew against +whom this hate was directed and +why. He knew also that this creature +was near and his great fists +closed and then spread wide as he +knew it. How did he know it? Perhaps +through some sense which he, +as a being of another plane, held, +but which was alien to the Earth. +Later, he asked himself this question. +At the time, however, there +was no questioning on his part. He +only knew that somewhere near +was a hated enemy and he did not +question the source of his knowledge....</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Mumbling</span> in an idiom incomprehensible +to a third-dimensional +being, filled with rage +that wove redly through his brain, +he lumbered down the hill onto the +moor, his great strides eating up +the distance, his footsteps shaking +the ground.</p> + +<p>At the foot of the hill he halted +and from his throat issued a challenging +roar that made the very +crags surrounding the moor tremble. +The rocks flung back the roar +as if in mockery.</p> + +<p>Again he shouted and in the +shout he framed a lurid insult to +the enemy that lurked there in the +cliffs.</p> + +<p>Again the crags flung back the +insult, but this time the echoes, +booming over the moor, were +drowned by another voice, the +voice of the enemy.</p> + +<p>At the far end of the moor appeared +a gigantic form, a form that +shambled on grotesque, misshapen +feet, growling angrily as he came.</p> + +<p>He came rapidly despite his +clumsy gait, and as he came he +mouthed terrific threats.</p> + +<p>Close to the other he halted and +only then did recognition dawn in +his eyes.</p> + +<p>"<i>You, Mal Shaff?</i>" he growled +in his guttural tongue, and surprise +and consternation were written +large upon his ugly face.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is I, Mal Shaff," boomed +the other. "Remember, Ouglat, the +day you destroyed me and my +plane. I have returned to wreak +my vengeance. I have solved a mystery +you have never guessed and +I have come back. You did not +imagine you were attacking me +again when you sent your minions +to that other plane to feed upon +the beings there. It was I you were +attacking, fool, and I am here to +kill you."</p> + +<p>Ouglat leaped and the thing that +had been Henry Woods, newspaperman, +and ninety-eight other +men, but was now Mal Shaff of the +fourth dimension, leaped to meet +him.</p> + +<p>Mal Shaff felt the force of +Ouglat, felt the sharp pain of a +hammering fist, and lashed out with +those horrible arms of his to smash +at the leering face of his antagonist. +He felt his fists strike solid +flesh, felt the bones creak and +tremble beneath his blow.</p> + +<p>His nostrils were filled with the +terrible stench of the other's foul +breath and his filthy body. He +teetered on his gnarled legs and +side-stepped a vicious kick and +then stepped in to gouge with +straightened thumb at the other's +eye. The thumb went true and +Ouglat howled in pain.</p> + +<p>Mal Shaff leaped back as his opponent +charged head down, and his +knotted fist beat a thunderous tattoo +as the misshapen beast closed +in. He felt clawing fingers seeking +his throat, felt ghastly nails ripping +at his shoulders. In desperation +he struck blindly, and Ouglat +reeled away. With a quick stride +he shortened the distance between +them and struck Ouglat a hard +blow squarely on his slavering +mouth. Pressing hard upon the +reeling figure, he swung his fists +like sledge-hammers, and Ouglat +stumbled, falling in a heap on the +sand.</p> + +<p>Mal Shaff leaped upon the fallen +foe and kicked him with his taloned +feet, ripping him wickedly. +There was no thought of fair play, +no faintest glimmer of mercy. This +was a battle to the death: there +could be no quarter.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> fallen monster howled, +but his voice cut short as his +foul mouth, with its razor-edged +fangs, closed on the other's body. +His talons, seeking a hold, clawed +deep.</p> + +<p>Mal Shaff, his brain a screaming +maelstrom of weird emotions, aimed +pile-driver blows at the enemy, +clawed and ripped. Together the +two rolled, locked tight in titanic +battle, on the sandy plain and a +great cloud of heavy dust marked +where they struggled.</p> + +<p>In desperation Ouglat put every +ounce of his strength into a heave +that broke the other's grip and +flung him away.</p> + +<p>The two monstrosities surged to +their feet, their eyes red with hate, +glaring through the dust cloud at +one another.</p> + +<p>Slowly Ouglat's hand stole to a +black, wicked cylinder that hung +on a belt at his waist. His fingers +closed upon it and he drew the +weapon. As he leveled it at Mal +Shaff, his lips curled back and his +features distorted into something +that was not pleasant to see.</p> + +<p>Mal Shaff, with doubled fists, +saw the great thumb of his enemy +slowly depressing a button on the +cylinder, and a great fear held him +rooted in his tracks. In the back +of his brain something was vainly +trying to explain to him the horror +of this thing which the other held.</p> + +<p>Then a multicolored spiral, like +a corkscrew column of vapor, +sprang from the cylinder and +flashed toward him. It struck him +full on the chest and even as it did +so he caught the ugly fire of triumph +in the red eyes of his enemy.</p> + +<p>He felt a stinging sensation +where the spiral struck, but that +was all. He was astounded. He had +feared this weapon, had been sure +it portended some form of horrible +death. But all it did was to produce +a slight sting.</p> + +<p>For a split second he stood stock-still, +then he surged forward and +advanced upon Ouglat, his hands +outspread like claws. From his +throat came those horrible sounds, +the speech of the fourth dimension.</p> + +<p>"Did I not tell you, foul son of +Sargouthe, that I had solved a mystery +you have never guessed at? +Although you destroyed me long +ago, I have returned. Throw away +your puny weapon. I am of the +lower dimension and am invulnerable +to your engines of destruction. +You bloated...." His words trailed +off into a stream of vileness that +could never have occurred to a +third-dimensional mind.</p> + +<p>Ouglat, with every line of his +face distorted with fear, flung the +weapon from him, and turning, fled +clumsily down the moor, with Mal +Shaff at his heels.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Steadily</span> Mal Shaff gained +and with only a few feet separating +him from Ouglat, he dived +with outspread arms at the other's +legs.</p> + +<p>The two came down together, +but Mal Shaff's grip was broken +by the fall and the two regained +their feet at almost the same instant.</p> + +<p>The wild moor resounded to their +throaty roaring and the high cliffs +flung back the echoes of the bellowing +of the two gladiators below. +It was sheer strength now and flesh +and bone were bruised and broken +under the life-shaking blows that +they dealt. Great furrows were +plowed in the sand by the sliding +of heavy feet as the two fighters +shifted to or away from attack. +Blood, blood of fourth-dimensional +creatures, covered the bodies of the +two and stained the sand with its +horrible hue. Perspiration streamed +from them and their breath came +in gulping gasps.</p> + +<p>The lurid sun slid across the purple +sky and still the two fought +on. Ouglat, one of the ancients, +and Mal Shaff, reincarnated. It was +a battle of giants, a battle that +must have beggared even the titanic +tilting of forgotten gods and +entities in the ages when the third-dimensional +Earth was young.</p> + +<p>Mal Shaff had no conception of +time. He may have fought seconds +or hours. It seemed an eternity. +He had attempted to fight scientifically, +but had failed to do so. +While one part of him had cried +out to elude his opponent, to wait +for openings, to conserve his +strength, another part had shouted +at him to step in and smash, smash, +smash at the hated monstrosity pitted +against him.</p> + +<p>It seemed Ouglat was growing in +size, had become more agile, that +his strength was greater. His +punches hurt more; it was harder +to hit him.</p> + +<p>Still Mal Shaff drilled in determinedly, +head down, fists working +like pistons. As the other seemed +to grow stronger and larger, he +seemed to become smaller and +weaker.</p> + +<p>It was queer. Ouglat should be +tired, too. His punches should be +weaker. He should move more slowly, +be heavier on his feet.</p> + +<p>There was no doubt of it. Ouglat +was growing larger, was drawing +on some mysterious reserve of +strength. From somewhere new +force and life were flowing into +his body. But from where was this +strength coming?</p> + +<p>A huge fist smashed against Mal +Shaff's jaw. He felt himself lifted, +and the next moment he skidded +across the sand.</p> + +<p>Lying there, gasping for breath, +almost too fagged to rise, with the +black bulk of the enemy looming +through the dust cloud before him, +he suddenly realized the source of +the other's renewed strength.</p> + +<p>Ouglat was recalling his minions +from the third dimension! They +were incorporating in his body, returning +to their parent body!</p> + +<p>They were coming back from the +third dimension to the fourth dimension +to fight a third-dimensional +thing reincarnated in the fourth-dimensional +form it had lost +millions of eons ago!</p> + +<p>This was the end, thought Mal +Shaff. But he staggered to his feet +to meet the charge of the ancient +enemy and a grim song, a death +chant immeasurably old, suddenly +and dimly remembered from out +of the mists of countless millenniums, +was on his lips as he swung +a pile-driver blow into the suddenly +astonished face of the rushing +Ouglat....</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> milky globe atop the machine +in Dr. White's laboratory +glowed softly, and within that +glow two figures seemed to struggle.</p> + +<p>Before the machine, his hands +still on the controls, stood Dr. +Silas White. Behind him the room +was crowded with newspapermen +and photographers.</p> + +<p>Hours had passed since the ninety-eight +men—ninety-nine, counting +Henry Woods—had stepped into +the brittle column of light to be +shunted back through unguessed +time to a different plane of existence. +The old scientist, during all +those hours, had stood like a graven +image before his machine, eyes staring +fixedly at the globe.</p> + +<p>Through the open windows he +had heard the cry of the newsboy +as the <i>Press</i> put the greatest scoop +of all time on the street. The phone +had rung like mad and George answered +it. The doorbell buzzed repeatedly +and George ushered in +newspapermen who had asked innumerable +questions, to which he +had replied briefly, almost mechanically. +The reporters had fought for +the use of the one phone in the +house and had finally drawn lots +for it. A few had raced out to use +other phones.</p> + +<p>Photographers came and flashes +popped and cameras clicked. The +room was in an uproar. On the rare +occasions when the reporters were +not using the phone the instrument +buzzed shrilly. Authoritative +voices demanded Dr. Silas White. +George, his eyes on the old man, +stated that Dr. Silas White could +not be disturbed, that he was busy.</p> + +<p>From the street below came the +heavy-throated hum of thousands +of voices. The street was packed +with a jostling crowd of awed humanity, +every eye fastened on the +house of Dr. Silas White. Lines of +police held them back.</p> + +<p>"What makes them move so slowly?" +asked a reporter, staring at +the globe. "They hardly seem to be +moving. It looks like a slow motion +picture."</p> + +<p>"They are not moving slowly," +replied Dr. White. "There must be +a difference in time in the fourth +dimension. Maybe what is hours to +us is only seconds to them. Time +must flow more slowly there. Perhaps +it is a bigger place than this +third plane. That may account for +it. They aren't moving slowly, they +are fighting savagely. It's a fight +to the death! Watch!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> grotesque arm of one of +the figures in the milky globe +was moving out slowly, loafing +along, aimed at the head of the +other. Slowly the other twisted his +body aside, but too slowly. The fist +finally touched the head, still moving +slowly forward, the body following +as slowly. The head of the +creature twisted, bent backward, +and the body toppled back in a +leisurely manner.</p> + +<p>"What does White say?... +Can't you get a statement of some +sort from him? Won't he talk at +all? A hell of a fine reporter you +are—can't even get a man to open +his mouth. Ask him about Henry +Woods. Get a human-interest slant +on Woods walking into the light. +Ask him how long this is going to +last. Damn it all, man, do something, +and don't bother me again +until you have a real story—yes, I +said a real story—are you hard of +hearing? For God's sake, do something!"</p> + +<p>The editor slammed the receiver +on the hook.</p> + +<p>"Brooks," he snapped, "get the +War Department at Washington. +Ask them if they're going to back +up White. Go on, go on. Get busy.... +How will you get them? I +don't know. Just get them, that's +all. Get them!"</p> + +<p>Typewriters gibbered like chuckling +morons through the roaring +tumult of the editorial rooms. Copy +boys rushed about, white sheets +clutched in their grimy hands. Telephones +jangled and strident voices +blared through the haze that arose +from the pipes and cigarettes of +perspiring writers who feverishly +transferred to paper the startling +events that were rocking the world.</p> + +<p>The editor, his necktie off, his +shirt open, his sleeves rolled to the +elbow, drummed his fingers on the +desk. It had been a hectic twenty-four +hours and he had stayed at +the desk every minute of the time. +He was dead tired. When the moment +of relaxation came, when the +tension snapped, he knew he would +fall into an exhausted stupor of +sleep, but the excitement was keeping +him on his feet. There was +work to do. There was news such +as the world had never known before. +Each new story meant a new +front make-up, another extra. Even +now the presses were thundering, +even now papers with the ink hardly +dry upon them were being +snatched by the avid public from +the hands of screaming newsboys.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">A man</span> raced toward the city +desk, waving a sheet of paper +in his hand. Sensing something +unusual the others in the room +crowded about as he laid the sheet +before the editor.</p> + +<p>"Just came in," the man gasped.</p> + +<p>The paper was a wire dispatch. +It read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Rome—The Black Horror is +in full retreat. Although still +apparently immune to the +weapons being used against it, +it is lifting the siege of this +city. The cause is unknown."</p></div> + +<p>The editor ran his eye down the +sheet. There was another dateline:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Madrid—The Black Horror, +which has enclosed this city in +a ring of dark terror for the +last two days, is fleeing, rapidly +disappearing...."</p></div> + +<p>The editor pressed a button. +There was an answering buzz.</p> + +<p>"Composing room," he shouted, +"get ready for a new front! Yes, +another extra. This will knock +their eyes out!"</p> + +<p>A telephone jangled furiously. +The editor seized it.</p> + +<p>"Yes. What was that?... White +says he must have help. I see. +Woods and the others are weakening. +Being badly beaten, eh?... +More men needed to go out to the +other plane. Wants reinforcements. +Yes. I see. Well, tell him that he'll +have them. If he can wait half an +hour we'll have them walking by +thousands into that light. I'll be +damned if we won't! Just tell +White to hang on! We'll have the +whole nation coming to the rescue!"</p> + +<p>He jabbed up the receiver.</p> + +<p>"Richards," he said, "write a +streamer, 'Help Needed,' 'Reinforcements +Called'—something of that +sort, you know. Make it scream. +Tell the foreman to dig out the +biggest type he has. A foot high. +If we ever needed big type, we +need it now!"</p> + +<p>He turned to the telephone.</p> + +<p>"Operator," he said, "get me the +Secretary of War at Washington. +The secretary in person, you understand. +No one else will do."</p> + +<p>He turned again to the reporters +who stood about the desk.</p> + +<p>"In two hours," he explained, +banging the desk top for emphasis, +"we'll have the United States Army +marching into that light Woods +walked into!"</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> bloody sun was touching +the edge of the weird world, +seeming to hesitate before taking +the final plunge behind the towering +black crags that hung above +the ink-pot shadows at their base. +The purple sky had darkened until +it was almost the color of soft, +black velvet. Great stars were blazing +out.</p> + +<p>Ouglat loomed large in the gathering +twilight, a horrible misshapen +ogre of an outer world. He had +grown taller, broader, greater. Mal +Shaff's head now was on a level +with the other's chest; his huge +arms seemed toylike in comparison +with those of Ouglat, his legs mere +pipestems.</p> + +<p>Time and time again he had barely +escaped as the clutching hands +of Ouglat reached out to grasp him. +Once within those hands he would +be torn apart.</p> + +<p>The battle had become a game of +hide and seek, a game of cat and +mouse, with Mal Shaff the mouse.</p> + +<p>Slowly the sun sank and the +world became darker. His brain +working feverishly, Mal Shaff waited +for the darkness. Adroitly he +worked the battle nearer and +nearer to the Stygian darkness that +lay at the foot of the mighty crags. +In the darkness he might escape. +He could no longer continue this +unequal fight. Only escape was left.</p> + +<p>The sun was gone now. Blackness +was dropping swiftly over the land, +like a great blanket, creating the +illusion of the glowering sky descending +to the ground. Only a few +feet away lay the total blackness +under the cliffs.</p> + +<p>Like a flash Mal Shaff darted +into the blackness, was completely +swallowed in it. Roaring, Ouglat +followed.</p> + +<p>His shoulders almost touching +the great rock wall that shot +straight up hundreds of feet above +him, Mal Shaff ran swiftly, fear +lending speed to his shivering legs. +Behind him he heard the bellowing +of his enemy. Ouglat was searching +for him, a hopeless search in +that total darkness. He would never +find him. Mal Shaff felt sure.</p> + +<p>Fagged and out of breath, he +dropped panting at the foot of the +wall. Blood pounded through his +head and his strength seemed to +be gone. He lay still and stared +out into the less dark moor that +stretched before him.</p> + +<p>For some time he lay there, resting. +Aimlessly he looked out over +the moor, and then he suddenly +noted, some distance to his right, +a hill rising from the moor. The +hill was vaguely familiar. He remembered +it dimly as being of +great importance.</p> + +<p>A sudden inexplicable restlessness +filled him. Far behind him he +heard the enraged bellowing of +Ouglat, but that he scarcely noticed. +So long as darkness lay upon +the land he knew he was safe from +his enemy.</p> + +<p>The hill had made him restless. +He must reach the top. He could +think of no logical reason for doing +so. Obviously he was safer here +at the base of the cliff, but a voice +seemed to be calling, a friendly +voice from the hilltop.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">He</span> rose on aching legs and +forged ahead. Every fiber of +his being cried out in protest, but +resolutely he placed one foot ahead +of the other, walking mechanically.</p> + +<p>Opposite the hill he disregarded +the strange call that pulsed down +upon him, long enough to rest his +tortured body. He must build up +his strength for the climb.</p> + +<p>He realized that danger lay +ahead. Once he quitted the blackness +of the cliff's base, Ouglat, even +in the darkness that lay over the +land, might see him. That would +be disastrous. Once over the top +of the hill he would be safe.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the landscape was +bathed in light, a soft green radiance. +One moment it had been +pitch dark, the next it was light, +as if a giant search-light had been +snapped on.</p> + +<p>In terror, Mal Shaff looked for +the source of the light. Just above +the horizon hung a great green orb, +which moved up the ladder of the +sky even as he watched.</p> + +<p>A moon! A huge green satellite +hurtling swiftly around this cursed +world!</p> + +<p>A great, overwhelming fear sat +upon Mal Shaff and with a high, +shrill scream of anger he raced forward, +forgetful of aching body and +outraged lungs.</p> + +<p>His scream was answered from +far off, and out of the shadows of +the cliffs toward the far end of the +moor a black figure hurled itself. +Ouglat was on the trail!</p> + +<p>Mal Shaff tore madly up the +slope, topped the crest, and threw +himself flat on the ground, almost +exhausted.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">A queer</span> feeling stole over +him, a queer feeling of well-being. +New strength was flowing +into him, the old thrill of battle +was pounding through his blood +once more.</p> + +<p>Not only were queer things happening +to his body, but also to his +brain. The world about him looked +queer, held a sort of an intangible +mystery he could not understand. +A half question formed in the back +of his brain. Who and what was +he? Queer thoughts to be thinking! +He was Mal Shaff, but had he +always been Mal Shaff?</p> + +<p>He remembered a brittle column +of light, creatures with bodies unlike +his body, walking into it. He +had been one of those creatures. +There was something about dimensions, +about different planes, a +plan for one plane to attack another!</p> + +<p>He scrambled to his bowed legs +and beat his great chest with +mighty, long-nailed hands. He flung +back his head and from his throat +broke a sound to curdle the blood +of even the bravest.</p> + +<p>On the moor below Ouglat heard +the cry and answered it with one +equally ferocious.</p> + +<p>Mal Shaff took a step forward, +then stopped stock-still. Through +his brain went a sharp command +to return to the spot where he had +stood, to wait there until attacked. +He stepped back, shifting his feet +impatiently.</p> + +<p>He was growing larger; every +second fresh vitality was pouring +into him. Before his eyes danced a +red curtain of hate and his tongue +roared forth a series of insulting +challenges to the figure that was +even now approaching the foot of +the hill.</p> + +<p>As Ouglat climbed the hill, the +night became an insane bedlam. +The challenging roars beat like +surf against the black cliffs.</p> + +<p>Ouglat's lips were flecked with +foam, his red eyes were mere slits, +his mouth worked convulsively.</p> + +<p>They were only a few feet apart +when Ouglat charged.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Mal Shaff</span> was ready for +him. There was no longer any +difference in their size and they +met like the two forward walls of +contending football teams.</p> + +<p>Mal Shaff felt the soft throat of +the other under his fingers and his +grip tightened. Maddened, Ouglat +shot terrific blow after terrific +blow into Mal Shaff's body.</p> + +<p>Try as he might, however, he +could not shake the other's grip.</p> + +<p>It was silent now. The night +seemed brooding, watching the +struggle on the hilltop.</p> + +<p>Larger and larger grew Mal +Shaff, until he overtopped Ouglat +like a giant.</p> + +<p>Then he loosened his grip and, +as Ouglat tried to scuttle away, +reached down to grasp him by the +nape of his neck.</p> + +<p>High above his head he lifted +his enemy and dashed him to the +ground. With a leap he was on the +prostrate figure, trampling it apart, +smashing it into the ground. With +wild cries he stamped the earth, +treading out the last of Ouglat, the +Black Horror.</p> + +<p>When no trace of the thing that +had been Ouglat remained, he +moved away and viewed the trampled +ground.</p> + +<p>Then, for the first time he noticed +that the crest of the hill was +crowded with other monstrous figures. +He glared at them, half in +surprise, half in anger. He had not +noticed their silent approach.</p> + +<p>"It is Mal Shaff!" cried one.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am Mal Shaff. What do +you want?"</p> + +<p>"But, Mal Shaff, Ouglat destroyed +you once long ago!"</p> + +<p>"And I, just now," replied Mal +Shaff, "have destroyed Ouglat."</p> + +<p>The figures were silent, shifting +uneasily. Then one stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"Mal Shaff," it said, "we thought +you were dead. Apparently it was +not so. We welcome you to our +land again. Ouglat, who once tried +to kill you and apparently failed, +you have killed, which is right and +proper. Come and live with us +again in peace. We welcome you."</p> + +<p>Mal Shaff bowed.</p> + +<p>Gone was all thought of the +third dimension. Through Mal +Shaff's mind raced strange, haunting +memories of a red desert scattered +with scarlet boulders, of silver +cliffs of gleaming metallic +stone, of huge seas battering +against towering headlands. There +were other things, too. Great palaces +of shining jewels, and weird +nights of inhuman joy where hellish +flames lit deep, black caverns.</p> + +<p>He bowed again.</p> + +<p>"I thank you, Bathazar," he said.</p> + +<p>Without a backward look he +shambled down the hill with the +others.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"Yes?"</span> said the editor. "What's +that you say? Doctor White +is dead! A suicide! Yeah, I understand. +Worry, hey! Here, Roberts, +take this story."</p> + +<p>He handed over the phone.</p> + +<p>"When you write it," he said, +"play up the fact he was worried +about not being able to bring the +men back to the third dimension. +Give him plenty of praise for ending +the Black Horror. It's a big +story."</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Roberts, then spoke +into the phone: "All right, Bill, +shoot the works."</p> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> +This etext was produced from <i>Astounding Stories</i> June 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 Project Gutenberg's Hellhounds of the Cosmos, by Clifford Donald Simak + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HELLHOUNDS OF THE COSMOS *** + +***** This file should be named 27013-h.htm or 27013-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/0/1/27013/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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