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diff --git a/29309-h/29309-h.htm b/29309-h/29309-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7095b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/29309-h/29309-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1727 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Death Traps of FX-31, by Sewell Peaslee Wright + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; background-color: #FFFFFF; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + + +.tr {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 2em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} + +.img1 {border:solid 1px; } + +.f1 {font-size:xx-large; font-weight:bolder; } + +.blockquote { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + + +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Death-Traps of FX-31, by Sewell Peaslee Wright + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Death-Traps of FX-31 + +Author: Sewell Peaslee Wright + +Release Date: July 4, 2009 [EBook #29309] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEATH-TRAPS OF FX-31 *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="tr"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<p class="center">This etext was produced from Astounding Stories March 1933. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.</p> +</div> +<p> </p> +<h1>The Death Traps of FX-31</h1> + +<h4><i>A Commander John Hanson Adventure</i></h4> + +<h2>By Sewell Peaslee Wright</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="sidenote">Commander John Hanson recalls his harrowing expedition +among the giant spiders of FX-31.</div> + + +<p><span class="f1">I</span> do not wish to appear prejudiced against scientists. I am not +prejudiced, but I have observed the scientific mind in action, on a +great many occasions, and I find it rather incomprehensible.</p> + +<p>It is true that there are men with a scientific turn of mind who, at +the same time, you can feel safe to stand with shoulder to shoulder, +in an emergency. Young Hendricks, who was my junior officer on the +<i>Ertak</i>, back in those early days of the Special Patrol Service, about +which I have written so much, was one of these.</p> + +<p>Nor, now that I come to think of the matter in the cool and impartial +manner which is typical of me, was young Hendricks the only one. There +was a chap—let's see, now. I remember his face very well; he was one +of those dark, wiry, alert men, a native of Earth, and his name +was—Inverness! Carlos Inverness. Old John Hanson's memory isn't quite +as tricky as some of these smart young officers of the Service, so +newly commissioned that the silver braid is not yet fitted to the +curve of their sleeves, would lead one to believe.</p> + +<p>I met Inverness in the ante-room of the Chief of Command. The Chief +was tied up in one of the long-winded meetings which the +Silver-sleeves devoted largely to the making of new rules and +regulations for the confusion of both men and officers of the Service, +but he came out long enough to give me the <i>Ertak's</i> orders in person.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you here at Base again, Commander," he said, in his +crisp, business-like way. "Hear some good reports of your work; keep +it up!"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," I said, wondering what was in the air. Any time the +Chief was complimentary, it was well to look out for squalls—which is +an old Earth term for unexpected trouble.</p> + +<p>"Not at all, Commander, not at all. And now, let me present Carlos +Inverness, the scientist, of whom you have undoubtedly heard."</p> + +<p>I bowed and said nothing, but we shook hands after the fashion of +Earth, and Inverness smiled quite humanly.</p> + +<p>"I imagine the good captain has been too busy to follow the activities +of such as myself," he said, sensibly enough.</p> + +<p>"A commander"—and I laid enough emphasis on the title to point out to +him his error in terminology—"in the Special Patrol Service usually +finds plenty to occupy his mind," I commented, wondering more than +ever what was up.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_001.jpg" width="500" height="535" alt="At the same instant two other trap-doors swung up." /> +<span class="caption">At the same instant two other trap-doors swung up.</span> +</div> + +<p>"True," said the Chief briskly. "You'll pardon me if I'm exceedingly +brief, Commander, but there's a sizeable group in there waiting my +return.</p> + +<p>"I have a special mission for you; a welcome relief from routine +patrol. I believe you have made special requests, in the past, for +assignments other than the routine work of the Service, Commander?"</p> + +<p>He was boxing me up in a corner, and I knew it, but I couldn't deny +what he said, so I admitted it as gracefully as I could.</p> + +<p>"Very well," nodded the Chief, and it seemed to me his eyes twinkled +for an instant. "Inverness, here, is head of a party of scientists +bent upon a certain exploration. They have interested the Council in +the work, and the Council has requested the cooperation of this +Service."</p> + +<p>He glanced at me to make sure I understood. I certainly did; when the +Supreme Council <i>requested</i> something, that thing was done.</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir," I said. "What are your orders?"</p> + +<p>The Chief shrugged.</p> + +<p>"Simply that you are to cooperate with Inverness and his party, +assisting them in every possible way, including the use of your ship +for transporting them and a reasonable amount of equipment, to the +field of their activities. The command of the ship remains, of course, +in you and your officers, but in every reasonable way the <i>Ertak</i> and +her crew are to be at the disposal of Inverness and his group. Is that +clear, Commander?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly, sir." Nothing could have been clearer. I was to run the +ship, and Inverness and his crew were to run me. I could just imagine +how Correy, my fighting first officer, would take this bit of news. +The mental picture almost made me laugh, disgusted as I was.</p> + +<p>"Written orders will, of course, be given you before departure. I +believe that's all. Good luck, Commander!" The Chief offered his hand +briefly, and then hurried back to the other room where the +Silver-sleeves had gathered to make more rulings for the confusion of +the Service.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">"S</span>ince when," asked Correy bitterly, "are we running excursions for +civilians? We'll be personally conducting elderly ladies next thing."</p> + +<p>"Or put on Attached Police Service," growled Hendricks, referring to +the poor devils who, in those days, policed the air-lanes of the +populated worlds, cruising over the same pitiful routes day after day, +never rising beyond the fringe of the stratosphere.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," suggested the level-headed Kincaide, "it isn't as bad as it +sounds. Didn't you, say, sir, that this Inverness was rather a decent +sort of chap?"</p> + +<p>I nodded.</p> + +<p>"Very much so. You'd scarcely take him for a scientist."</p> + +<p>"And our destination is—what?" asked Kincaide.</p> + +<p>"That I don't know. Inverness is to give us that information when he +arrives, which will be very shortly, if he is on time."</p> + +<p>"Our destination," said Correy, "will probably be some little ball of +mud with a tricky atmosphere or some freak vegetation they want to +study. I'd rather—"</p> + +<p>A sharp rap on the door of the navigating room, where we had gathered +for an informal council of war, interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Party of three civilians at the main exit port, Port Number One, +sir," reported the sub-officer of the guard. "One sent his name: +Carlos Inverness."</p> + +<p>"Very good. Admit them at once, and recall the outer guards. We are +leaving immediately."</p> + +<p>As the guard saluted and hurried away, I nodded to Correy. "Have the +operating room crew report for duty at once," I ordered, "and ask +Sub-officer Scholey to superintend the sealing of the ports. Mr. +Kincaide, will you take the first watch as navigating officer? Lift +her easily until we determine our objective and can set a course; this +is like shoving off with sealed orders."</p> + +<p>"Worse," said Hendricks unhappily. "Sealed orders promise something +interesting, and—"</p> + +<p>"Carlos Inverness and party," announced the guard from the doorway.</p> + +<p>Inverness nodded to me in friendly fashion and indicated his two +companions.</p> + +<p>"Commander Hanson," he said, "permit me to present Godar Tipene and +Cleve Brady, who are my companions on this expedition." I bowed, and +shook hands with Brady; Tipene was a Zenian, and hence did not offer +me this greeting of Earth. Then, quickly, I completed the round of +introductions, studying Inverness's companions with interest as I did +so.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">B</span>rady was short, and rather red-faced; a beefy, taciturn type, with a +trap-like mouth and thoughtful discerning eyes. He struck me as being +one with whom most men would like to be friendly, but who would have +exceedingly few friends.</p> + +<p>The Zenian was a perfect foil for him. Tipene was exceedingly tall and +slender, like all his race, and very dark. His eyes were almost +womanly in their softness, and he had the nervous grace of a +thoroughbred—which is an Earth animal of particularly high breeding, +raised for show purposes. He had the happy faculty of speaking the +language of Earth without a trace of Zenian or Universal accent; the +Zenians are exceeded by none in linguistic ability, which was a real +accomplishment before these decadent days when native languages are +slipping so rapidly into obscurity.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Inverness crisply, when the introductions were over, +"I presume you'll wish to know something about our destination and the +objects of this expedition, sir?"</p> + +<p>"It would be helpful in charting our course," I admitted, smiling.</p> + +<p>Inverness, with beautiful disregard for the necessities of space +navigation, spread voluminous papers over the table whose surface was +formed by the pair of three-dimensional charts which were the +<i>Ertak's</i> eyes in outer space.</p> + +<p>"Our destination," he said, "is a body designated on the charts as +FX-31. You are familiar with it, Commander Hanson?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly familiar," I admitted, smiling at Correy. "The universe is +rather sizable, and even the named bodies are so numerous that one is +able to be familiar with but an exceedingly small percentage. Its +designation, of course, gives me certain information regarding its +size, location and status, however."</p> + +<p>"How much information, Commander?" asked Tipene nervously.</p> + +<p>"Well, 'F' indicates that it is large; larger than Earth, for example. +The numerals tells me where to locate it upon our space charts. And +the 'X' would indicate that it is inhabited, but not by intelligent +beings. Or that there is reasonable doubt as to the nature of those +inhabiting it."</p> + +<p>"A very good summary of the knowledge we have," nodded Inverness +approvingly. "I can add but one bit of information which may or may +not be accurate: that the sphere known as FX-31 is populated by a +ruling class decidedly unusual in type, and possessed of a degree of +intelligence which has made them virtual masters of the sphere."</p> + +<p>"What are they like?" asked Correy. "Will they put up a fight? Are +they dangerous?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">"O</span>ur knowledge came from a luckless tramp liner which set down on +FX-31 in search of water, their water-producing equipment having been +damaged by carelessness. They found water, a great river of it, and +sent a party of five men to determine its fitness for human +consumption. They were snapped up before they had gone a hundred feet +from the ship—and no more men were sent out. They hovered over the +stream and drew up the water in containers devised for the purpose."</p> + +<p>"Snapped up?" asked Correy impatiently. "By whom? Or what?"</p> + +<p>"By spiders!" replied Inverness, his eyes shining with the fanatical +gleam of a scientist who scents something strange. "Great +spiders—perhaps not true spiders, but akin to them, from the +descriptions we have—of what is known on Earth as the trap-door +variety, but possessed of a high degree of intelligence, the power of +communication, and definitely organized."</p> + +<p>"Organized," put in Tipene, "in the sense that they work together +instead of individually; that there are those to command and those to +obey."</p> + +<p>"You say they are large," I commented. "How large?"</p> + +<p>"Large enough," said Inverness grimly, "to enable one of them to +instantly overpower a strong man."</p> + +<p>I saw Correy glance forward, where our largest disintegrator-ray tubes +were located, and his eyes lit up with the thought of battle.</p> + +<p>"If there's anything I hate," he gritted, "it's a spider. The hairy, +crawling beasts! I'll man one of the tubes myself, just for the fun of +seeing them dissolve into nice brown dust, and—"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not, Mr. Correy," said Inverness, shaking his head. "We're +going to study them—not to exterminate them. Our object is to learn +their history, their customs, their mode of communication, and their +degree of intelligence—if possible."</p> + +<p>"Yes," grunted Brady. "If possible."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">K</span>incaide set the <i>Ertak</i> down on FX-31, close to the shore of a river, +as gently as a feather settling to earth. Correy and I made our way to +the exit port, where Inverness and his companions had gathered, with a +considerable amount of scientific apparatus, and what seemed to be a +boat, ingeniously taken down for shipment.</p> + +<p>All three of the scientists were clad in suits of some gray material, +flexible as cloth, but possessed of a certain metallic sheen, which +completely covered them. The material had been stiffened to form a +sort of helmet, with a broad band of transparent material set in at +the eye level, so that the wearer could see to both sides, as well as +to the front. I could also discern the outlines of menores—the crude +and cumbersome type of thought-transference instrument used in that +day—apparently built into the helmets. Belted around their middles +were atomic pistols of the latest and most deadly model.</p> + +<p>"For emergency use only, Commander," explained Inverness, observing my +glance. His voice came quite clearly through the fabric which covered +his face, so I gathered it was sufficiently porous to admit air for +breathing. "This garment we wear will be sufficient protection, we +believe; their mandibles are the weapons of the creatures we are to +study, and this fabric should be ample protection against much more +deadly weapons.</p> + +<p>"Now, we shall walk to the shore of the river; if we are not +molested—and I believe we shall not be, here, because the +infiltration of water would quickly fill any passage sunk into this +sandy earth so close to the river—please have your men bring our +supplies to us, the boat first."</p> + +<p>I nodded, and the three men walked through the open port, out across +the gleaming, golden sand, to the water's edge. A number of great +scarlet birds, with long, fiercely taloned legs, swooped about them +curiously, croaking hoarsely and snapping their hawkish beaks, but +offering no real molestation.</p> + +<p>My men quickly carried their supplies to them, and before the last of +the equipment had been delivered, the boat was assembled and afloat: a +broad-beamed craft with hollow metal ribs, covered with some shining +fabric which was unfamiliar to me. There was a small cabin forward and +a small atomic engine housed back near the stern.</p> + +<p>I walked to the edge of the water and shook hands with Inverness and +Brady; with Tipene I exchanged bows.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry," said Inverness, "that I am facing you with what will, +undoubtedly, be a monotonous and wearying vigil, for we shall probably +be gone several weeks." He referred, I must explain, to a period of +seven Earth days, a common unit of time on Earth.</p> + +<p>"We'll make the best of it," I said, thinking of Correy, and how he +would rage at such a period of inaction. "The best of luck to you!"</p> + +<p>"Thanks; we'll remain no longer than necessary," smiled Inverness, +smiling, his shining eyes already fixed on the river ahead.</p> + +<p>"And that will be no short time," said the taciturn Brady. "Shall we +start?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">C</span>orrey raged. I had expected that, and I was in complete sympathy with +him. Routine patrol was better than being earth-fast on this barren +and uninteresting ball of mud.</p> + +<p>"Have I your permission, sir," asked Correy on the fourth day, "to +make a little tour of inspection and exploration? We might run into +some fresh meat."</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure that would be wise. These spider creatures—"</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, sir," interrupted Correy eagerly, "but we could take a +small landing force, armed with pistols and grenades. Even a field ray +tube. Certainly we could handle anything which might turn up, then."</p> + +<p>"And, you rather hope that something will turn up, Mr. Correy?"</p> + +<p>Correy grinned and shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"It would break the monotony, wouldn't it, sir? And, too, if anything +should happen to them"—and he glanced up the river, in the direction +taken by the three scientists—"we'd know something about what we had +to contend with, wouldn't we?"</p> + +<p>I'm not sure whether it was Correy's argument or my own venturesome +disposition which swayed me, but immediately after lunch Correy and I, +with a picked crew of men, started out from the ship.</p> + +<p>Up until that time, we had confined our activities to the area between +the ship and the shore—a small enough space at best. Now we rounded +the shining blunt bow of the <i>Ertak</i> and headed inland, Correy and +myself in the lead, the two portable disintegrator ray-men immediately +behind us, and the four other men of the party flanking the ray +operators, two on each side.</p> + +<p>It was hot, but the air was dry and invigorating. There was not a +cloud visible in the sky. Far ahead was a low line of bluish, fronded, +vegetation; whether small trees or some fern-like undergrowth, we +could not determine. The ground between the ship and the line of +vegetation was almost completely barren, the only growth being a +lichenous sort of vegetation, gray-green in color.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">H</span>ere and there on the ground were the imprints of sharp, split hoofs, +and Correy pointed these out to me with the comment that one of the +guards had reported seeing a number of slender-legged animals roaming +here in the star-light, apparently seeking water, but frightened by +the strange apparition of our ship.</p> + +<p>"From the way he described them, they're something like the deer we +used to have on Earth," he said. "I've seen the fossils in the +museums, and they had little sharp, split hoofs like—"</p> + +<p>One of the men behind us shouted a warning at that instant, and we +both whirled in our tracks. My eyes fell instantly upon one of the +strangest and most fearsome sights I have ever seen—and I have +explored many strange and terrible worlds.</p> + +<p>To our left, a huge circular section of the earth had lifted, and was +swinging back on a hinge of glistening white fibers; a disk as great +in diameter as the height of a man, and as thick as a man's body.</p> + +<p>Where the disk had been, gaped a tunnel slanting down into the earth, +and lined with the same glistening white fibers which covered the +bottom of the disk, and hinged it in place. As I looked, there sprang +from this tunnel a <i>thing</i> which I shall call a spider, yet which was +too monstrous to be called by such an innocuous name.</p> + +<p>It was rust red in color, with eight bristling legs, each tipped with +three curved and tufted claws. On each side of its face was an armored +mandible, tipped with shining fangs, and beside them, slender, +six-jointed palps stretched hungrily.</p> + +<p>The man who had seen the disk fly up opened fire without orders, and +if he had not done so, some of us would not have returned to the ship. +As it was, the atomic pistol whispered a steady stream of death which +spattered the hairy body into an oozing pulp while it was still in +mid-air. We leaped away, adding our fire to that of the alert guard +who had first seen the apparition, and the spider, a twitching bundle +of bespattered legs, fell on the spot where, an instant before, we had +been.</p> + +<p>Almost at the same instant two other great circular trap-doors swung +up, just beyond the first, and their hairy, malignant occupants leaped +toward us.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">O</span>ur pistols were ready, now, however, and the portable ray equipment +was humming. The ray dissolved the first into a sifting of reddish +dust, and our pistols slashed the other into ribbons.</p> + +<p>"Back to the ship!" I shouted. "Look, Mr. Correy—there are hundreds +of them!"</p> + +<p>Before us score upon score of the great disks were lifting, and from +the tunnel each revealed, monstrous rust-red bodies were pouring.</p> + +<p>Our retreat covered by the two ray operators, we made our way swiftly +to the ship. The great spiders, apparently alarmed by the magical +disappearance of those of their comrades upon which the disintegrator +ray rested, hesitated for a moment, their tremendous legs tensed, and +their mandibles quivering with venomous anger, and then scuttled back +into their holes, swinging their covers into place as they did so.</p> + +<p>"We didn't do so badly, at that," grinned Correy rather breathlessly, +as we gained the welcome shelter of the <i>Ertak</i>. "There are a score +and more of those potlids still standing open—which means that many +spiders didn't go back to tell about what happened to them."</p> + +<p>"True—but had they waited until they could have surrounded us, the +<i>Ertak</i> would have been short-handed on the return trip. She would +have been just two officers and six men short."</p> + +<p>I have never seen a real expression of fear on Correy's face, but I +came as close to it then as I ever did.</p> + +<p>"They're tough customers," he said. "I never did like spiders, and I +like them less, now. Those things stood half again as high as a man on +their long legs, and could jump half the length of the ship."</p> + +<p>"Hardly that," I said. "But I'll say this: if they're the gentry +Inverness and the other two are investigating, they're welcome to +their jobs!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">T</span>here wasn't any difficulty in keeping the men close to the ship after +that, although waiting was a tedious and nerve-racking procedure.</p> + +<p>We watched the spider-infested territory closely, however, and found +that they fed at night upon the deer-like creatures Correy had +mentioned. These unwary beasts, seeking water, were pounced upon the +instant they came close to one of the hidden dens, and dragged swiftly +out of sight. These observations were made by television, and Correy +in particular would sit up half the night watching the creatures at +work.</p> + +<p>It was the second day of the fourth week that the sentry on duty +called out that the boat was returning. We hastened down to the river +to welcome them back, and I for one felt very much relieved.</p> + +<p>But as the boat approached, I felt my fears returning, for there was +only one man visible: Tipene.</p> + +<p>The Zenian, bedraggled and weary, had lost or discarded the protective +suit he had worn, and his lean, dark face was haggard.</p> + +<p>"We leave immediately, Commander Hanson," he said as he disembarked. +"Please give the necessary orders."</p> + +<p>"But the others, sir? Where are Inverness and Brady?"</p> + +<p>"Dead," said Tipene. "The Aranians got them. I barely escaped myself."</p> + +<p>"And who are the Aranians?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"The creatures which control this world. The spider creatures. +Aranians, they call themselves. Do we leave at once, as I ordered?"</p> + +<p>I thought quickly. I didn't like Tipene, and never had, and I fancied +even less the high-handed attitude he was taking.</p> + +<p>"I would suggest, sir, that you first give us an account of what has +happened," I said shortly. "If there is anything we can do for the +other two, perhaps—"</p> + +<p>"I said they were dead," snapped Tipene. "You can't do anything for +dead men, can you?"</p> + +<p>"No. But we must have a report to enter on our log, you understand, +and—I'll be very busy on the return trip. I'd like to have your story +before we start." Somehow, I was suspicious of Tipene.</p> + +<p>"Very well. Although I warn you I shall report your delay to your +superiors." I shrugged, and led the way to the dining saloon which, +small as it was, held chairs enough to seat us all.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">"M</span>y story is very brief," he said, when my three officers, Tipene, and +myself were seated. "We proceeded up the river to a spot which we +deemed suited as a point of entry into the country, and far enough +from the ship so that its presence would not be alarming to the +inhabitants.</p> + +<p>"We permitted ourselves to be captured by the Aranians, knowing that +our protective suits would prevent them from doing us serious bodily +injury.</p> + +<p>"You have seen the creatures—word of your adventure with them +precipitated our misfortune, I might say here—and you know of their +tunnels. We were taken down one of these tunnels, and into a still +larger one. This in turn gave onto a veritable subterranean avenue, +and, in time, led to a sort of underground metropolis."</p> + +<p>"What?" growled Correy. "An underground city of those things?"</p> + +<p>"I should like to ask that you do not interrupt," said Tipene coldly. +"This metropolis was really no more than a series of cubicles, opening +off the innumerable crisscrossing tunnels, and many layers in +thickness. Passage from one level to another was by means of slanting +tunnels.</p> + +<p>"Some of these cubicles were very large, and utilized as storage +rooms. Others were used for community activities, schools, +entertainments, and so forth. We learned these things later, and +explored them by means of our <i>ethon</i> lamps—the entire system of +tunnels being, of course, in utter darkness.</p> + +<p>"The first few days they were exceedingly hostile, and tried to tear +us to pieces. When they could not do this, word was sent to some of +their more learned members, and we were investigated. By the use of +extra menores we had brought with us, we established a contact with +their minds; first by the usual process of impressing pictures of our +thoughts upon their minds, and later by more direct process."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">"I</span> will say nothing of the great scientific value of our discoveries, +for you would neither understand nor appreciate them—although they +will set the scientific universe agog," continued Tipene, his eyes +gleaming suddenly with a triumphant light. "As we perfected +communication, we convinced them that we were friendly, and we gained +their complete confidence.</p> + +<p>"They are a very ancient race. Very slowly have they come to their +present stage of mental development, but they now possess reasoning +faculties, a language—and a form of community government. There is +much more, which, as I have said, would be of no significance to you.</p> + +<p>"And then word came that beings like ourselves had attacked and killed +many of the Aranians. The news had traveled slowly, for their system +of communication is crude, but it reached the community center in +which we were staying.</p> + +<p>"Instantly, all was hostility. They felt they had been betrayed, and +that we might betray them. Brady and Inverness, always rash and +thoughtless, had discarded their protective suits, feeling sure they +were perfectly safe, and they were torn to pieces.</p> + +<p>"I, having a more scientific and cautious mind, doubting everything as +a true scientific mind must, still wore my armor. By the liberal use +of my pistol, I managed to fight my way to the surface, and to the +boat. And now, Commander Hanson, will you start back, as I have +ordered?"</p> + +<p>I don't know what I would have said if I had not caught a peculiar +glance from Correy, a glance accompanied by a significant, momentary +closing of one eye (a gesture of Earth which means many things, and +which is impossible to explain) and a slight nod.</p> + +<p>"Very well, Mr. Tipene," I said shortly. "We'll start at once. +Gentlemen, will you join me in the navigating room?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">C</span>orrey was the last to arrive in the navigating room, and when he came +in his eyes were dancing.</p> + +<p>"I've just transferred Tipene to another stateroom, sir," he said. "A +specially equipped stateroom."</p> + +<p>"You what?"</p> + +<p>"If you'll give orders, sir, for an immediate start, I'll tell you all +about it," chuckled Correy. "Tipene says he's worn out, and is going +to retire as soon as we start. And when he does—we'll learn +something."</p> + +<p>I nodded to Kincaide, and he gave the general attention signal. In a +few seconds the outer sentry was recalled, and the exit port had been +sealed. Slowly, the <i>Ertak</i> lifted.</p> + +<p>"Maybe I'm wrong, sir," said Correy then, "but I'm convinced that +Tipene is lying. Something's wrong; he was in altogether too much of a +hurry to get away.</p> + +<p>"So, before I transferred him to the other stateroom, I concealed a +menore under the mattress of his bunk, immediately under where his +head will lie. It's adjusted to full strength, and I believe it will +pick up enough energy to emanate what he's thinking about. We'll be in +the next stateroom and see what we can pick up. How does that sound, +sir?"</p> + +<p>"Like something you'd cook up, Mr. Correy!" I said promptly. "And I +believe, as you do, that if it works at all, we'll find out something +interesting."</p> + +<p>We equipped ourselves with menores, adjusted to maximum power, and +silently filed into the stateroom adjacent to Tipene's.</p> + +<p>He was moving about slowly, apparently undressing, for we heard first +one boot and then another drop to the floor. And we could sense vague +emanations, too faint to be intelligible, and unmistakably coming from +him.</p> + +<p>"Probably sitting on the edge of his bunk," whispered Correy. "When he +lies down, it'll work like a charm!"</p> + +<p>It did—almost too well. Suddenly we caught a strong emanation, in the +Universal language.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">"S</span>urly individual, that Hanson—didn't like my giving orders—hurt his +dignity. But I had my own way, and that's all that's important. Seemed +to be suspicious—they all were. Maybe I was a bit urgent—but I was +afraid—those damned Aranians might have changed their spidery minds.</p> + +<p>"They can't be very intelligent—to think I'd come back with tribute +to pay for the spiders that fool Hanson and his men killed. Why, the +ship's rays could wipe them all out, drill a hole in the ground—they +didn't realize that. Thought that by holding Brady and that conceited +Inverness for hostages, they'd be safe—and I'd be idiotic enough to +not see this chance to get all the glory of the expedition for +myself—instead of sharing it with those two. You're a quick thinker, +Tipene—the true, ruthless, scientific mind...."</p> + +<p>I motioned for my officers to follow me, and we made our way, silent +and grim-faced, to the navigating room.</p> + +<p>"Nice, friendly lad, isn't he?" snarled Correy. "I thought there was +something up. What are your plans, sir?"</p> + +<p>"We'll go to the rescue of Inverness and Brady, of course. Mr. Correy, +place Tipene under arrest, and bring him here at once. Mr. Kincaide, +take over the ship; give orders to set her down where we were. And +you, Mr. Hendricks, will take personal command of the forward ray +tubes."</p> + +<p>My officers sprang to obey orders, and I paced restlessly up and down +the room, thinking. Just as the <i>Ertak</i> settled softly to earth, +Correy returned with his prisoner. Two men stood on guard with drawn +atomic pistols at the door.</p> + +<p>"What's the meaning of this indignity, sir?" flared Tipene. He had +dressed hurriedly, and was by no means an imposing spectacle. He drew +himself up to his full height, and tried to look domineering, but +there was fear in his eyes. "I shall report you—"</p> + +<p>"You'll do no reporting, Tipene," I broke in coldly. "I'll do the +reporting. You see, we know all about your little plan to desert your +comrades, held by the Aranians as hostages, and to grasp all the glory +of your findings for yourself. But—the plan doesn't work. We're going +back."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">T</span>ipene's face drained a dirty yellow—a Zenian can never be actually +pale.</p> + +<p>"You ... how...." he floundered.</p> + +<p>"A menore, under your pillow," I explained crisply. "But that doesn't +matter, now. You will guide us to the spot where you found the Aranian +city, and establish communication with the Aranians. When that's done, +I'll give you further orders."</p> + +<p>"And if I won't?" breathed Tipene, his teeth clenched in a shaking +rage.</p> + +<p>"But you will. Otherwise, we'll permit you to continue your +explorations on this interesting little sphere—minus your protective +suit."</p> + +<p>Tipene stared at me with horror-stricken eyes. I think he saw that I +meant exactly what I said—and I was not bluffing.</p> + +<p>"I—I'll do it," he said.</p> + +<p>"Then watch the river carefully," I ordered. "Kincaide, lift her just +enough so we can get a good view of the river. Tipene will tell you +where to set her down."</p> + +<p>Navigating visually, Kincaide followed the winding course of the +river, covering in a few minutes a distance it had taken the +scientists a day to navigate.</p> + +<p>"There—there is the place," said Tipene suddenly. "Just this side of +the patch of vegetation."</p> + +<p>"Very good. And remember what happens if you play any tricks," I +nodded grimly. "Descend to within a few yards of the ground, Mr. +Kincaide; we'll drop Tipene through the trap."</p> + +<p>Correy hurried the prisoner away, and I ordered the trap in the bottom +of the <i>Ertak's</i> hull to be opened.</p> + +<p>"Now," I informed Tipene, "we'll let you down and you will establish +communication with the Aranians. Tell them you have brought back, not +tribute, but an enemy powerful enough to blast their entire city out +of existence. It will be a simple matter for you to picture what an +atomic grenade or one of the ship's rays will do. We'll arrange a +little demonstration, if they're not convinced. And tell them that if +they don't want to be wiped out, to bring Inverness and Brady to us, +unharmed, as fast as their eight long legs will manage."</p> + +<p>"They won't do it," whined Tipene. "They were very angry over the +killing of those others. I'm just risking my life without the +possibility of gain."</p> + +<p>"You obey my orders, or you go down and stay there," I said abruptly. +"Which?"</p> + +<p>"I'll do as you say," he said, and the cage dropped with him swiftly.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">A</span>s soon as he was on the ground he reached up and adjusted his menore, +peering around anxiously. For several minutes nothing happened, and +then, the length of the ship away, one of the great trap-doors flew +open. Out of it came one of the spiders, not rust-red like those we +had seen, but faded to a dirty yellow. Close behind him were two of +the rust-red Aranians, which fell in one on each side of the yellow +chap.</p> + +<p>The first Aranian, I presumed—and rightly—was one of the old learned +members of the race. As he scuttled closer to the cowering Tipene, I +saw that, amidst the bristles which covered his head and thorax, was a +menore.</p> + +<p>The three great spiders approached the ship warily, watching it +constantly with huge, glittering eyes. A safe distance away they +paused, and the old one fixed his attention on Tipene.</p> + +<p>Evidently, what Tipene emanated caused the old fellow to become very +angry; I could see his legs quivering, and his withered old mandibles +fairly clattered.</p> + +<p>"He says he won't do it!" Tipene called up to me, excitedly. "Says we +can't reach them underground, and that they'll kill their hostages if +we try to harm them."</p> + +<p>"Ask him if there are any tunnels between the ship and the river," I +commanded. "We'll demonstrate what we can do if he harms Inverness and +Brady."</p> + +<p>The two were in silent communion for a moment, and Tipene looked up +and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No," he shouted. "No tunnels there. The water would seep into them."</p> + +<p>"Then tell him to watch!"</p> + +<p>I stepped back and pressed an attention signal.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hendricks?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Open up with the starboard tube, full power, concentrated beam, at +any spot halfway between here and the river. At once."</p> + +<p>"At once, sir!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">T</span>he ray generators hummed instantly, their note deepening a moment +later. The ray bit into the dry, sandy soil, boring steadily into the +earth, making an opening over twice the height of a man in diameter.</p> + +<p>The fine, reddish-brown dust of disintegration hung swirling above the +mouth of the tunnel at first, and then, as the ray cut deeper into the +earth, settled quickly and disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Cease operation, Mr. Hendricks!" I commanded. "Keep the generators +on, and stand by for further orders."</p> + +<p>As soon as Hendricks' quick acknowledgment came back, I called down to +Tipene.</p> + +<p>"Tell your friend to inspect the little hole we drilled," I said. +"Tell him to crawl down into it, if he wishes to see how deep it is. +And then inform him that we have several ray tubes like this one, and +that if he does not immediately produce his hostages, unharmed, we'll +rise above his city and blast out a crater big enough to bury the +<i>Ertak</i>."</p> + +<p>Tipene nodded and communicated with the aged Aranian, who had cowered +from the shaft in the earth disintegrated by our ray, and who now, +very cautiously, approached it, flanked by his two far from eager +guards.</p> + +<p>At the lip of the slanting tunnel he paused, peered downward, and +then, circling cautiously, approached the lidded tunnel whence he had +emerged.</p> + +<p>"He agrees," Tipene called up sullenly. "He will deliver Inverness and +Brady to us. But we must come and get them; he says they have +barricaded themselves in one of the cubicles, and will not permit any +Aranian to approach. They still have their atomic pistols; the +Aranians did not realize they were weapons."</p> + +<p>"Very well; tell him a party from the ship will be ready in a few +seconds. You will go with us as interpreter; you understand how to +communicate with them."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">I</span> pressed Correy's attention signal and he answered instantly.</p> + +<p>"Pick five good men for a landing party, two of them portable +disintegrator ray operators, with equipment. The others will be +provided with <i>ethon</i> lamps, pistols, and atomic grenades. Get the men +to the trap as quickly as possible, please."</p> + +<p>"Immediately, sir!"</p> + +<p>I had the cage drawn up, and by the time I had secured my own +equipment and returned, Correy was waiting with his men.</p> + +<p>"One second, Mr. Correy, and we'll leave," I said, calling the +navigating room. "Mr. Kincaide, I'm leaving you in command. We are +going into the Aranian city to pick up Inverness and Brady. I +anticipate no trouble, and if there is no trouble, we shall return +within an hour. If we are not back within three hours, blast this +entire area with atomic grenades, and riddle it with the rays. Is +that clear?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Kincaide.</p> + +<p>"And then proceed immediately to Base and report. I have made an entry +in the log regarding this expedition, as official evidence, if +needed."</p> + +<p>"Right, sir," said Kincaide, who was as near a perfect officer as I +have ever seen.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Correy, you've heard my orders. So have you, men. We're going +underground, into a veritable warren of these spider creatures. If any +of you wish to refuse this service, you have my permission to +withdraw."</p> + +<p>Not a man moved. Correy hardly repressed a grin. He knew the men he +had picked for the job.</p> + +<p>"Good!" I said, and signaled to the cage operator. Swiftly we dropped +to earth, where Tipene and our three hairy guides awaited us.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">T</span>he descent into the white-lined tunnel was a terrifying experience. +The lining was tough and fibrous, a sort of coarse material +corresponding to the silk of a spider of normal size, although these +strands were as large as my little finger, and strong as cables.</p> + +<p>A close inspection of our guides added nothing to my confidence or +bravery; their eight beady eyes, set at strategic spots about their +heads, seemed unwinkingly ominous. And their mandibles, with fangs +folded back like the blades of a pocket-knife, paired with their +bristly palps, seemed like very capable weapons.</p> + +<p>The Aranians ran ahead of us, our <i>ethon</i> lamps making strange and +distorted shadows on the curving walls of the tunnel. Correy and I +herded the unwilling Tipene just ahead of us, and the five picked men +brought up the rear.</p> + +<p>About forty feet down, the floor of the tunnel curved sharply and +leveled off; a short distance farther on a number of other level +tunnels merged with it, and the shape changed; from a tube perfectly +circular in cross-section, it became a flattened oval, perhaps half +again the height of a man, and at least three times that dimension in +width.</p> + +<p>Our party was joined by scores of other Aranians, who darted in from +side passages; some going ahead, some closing in behind us, until the +tunnel was filled with the peculiar brittle sound of their walking.</p> + +<p>"They don't lack for numbers," muttered Correy softly. "Think they'll +make trouble, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Your guess is as good as mine. I showed them what the ray would do; I +believe it threw a scare into the old chap. Did you tell them what we +would do if they played any tricks, Tipene?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly; my own life is endangered, isn't it?" snapped the Zenian.</p> + +<p>"It certainly is," I told him grimly. "And not only by the spiders, if +you make any suspicious moves."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">W</span>e went on without further conversation, until we came to the +beginning of the cubicles Tipene had mentioned.</p> + +<p>Each of these was closed, or could be closed, by a circular door such +as those which concealed the outer entrance to the tunnels, save that +these were swung on a side hinge. From the central passage we were +following, smaller ones branched off in all directions: to the left, +to the right; upward and downward. And all were lined with the +cubicles, from which a constantly increasing army of Aranians emerged +to accompany us.</p> + +<p>We had gone but a short distance into the "city" when our ancient +guide paused, turning to stare down a deserted passage.</p> + +<p>"He says," grunted Tipene—as near a grunt as the high-pitched Zenian +voice is capable of, "that they're down there. He asks that we go and +get them; he is afraid. They have killed two of the Aranians already +with their atomic pistols."</p> + +<p>"For which I don't blame them in the least," said Correy. "I'd get as +many as I could before I let them sink their mandibles into me."</p> + +<p>"But I thought they were hostages, and being treated as such?"</p> + +<p>"The Aranians got tired of waiting; some of the younger ones tried to +do their own executing," explained Tipene. "The whole brood of them is +in an ugly mood, the old fellow tells me. We were fools to come!"</p> + +<p>I didn't argue the matter. You can't argue such a matter with a man +like Tipene. Instead, I lifted my voice in a shout which echoed down +the long corridors.</p> + +<p>"Brady! Inverness! Can you hear us?"</p> + +<p>For a moment there was no reply, and then, as our <i>ethon</i> lights +played hopefully along the passage, a circular door opened, and +Inverness, his pistol drawn, peered out at us. A moment later, both he +and Brady were running toward us.</p> + +<p>"Hanson!" cried Inverness. "Man, but we're glad to see a human face +again—but why did you come? Now they've got us all."</p> + +<p>"But they'll let us all go," I said, with a confidence I did not feel. +"I've demonstrated to one of their leaders just what the <i>Ertak</i> can +do—and will do—if we aren't aboard, safe and unhurt, in three +hours."</p> + +<p>"The young bloods don't obey well, though," said Brady, shaking his +head. "Look at them, milling around there in the central passage! They +didn't see your demonstration, whatever it was. They started for us +some time back, and we had to rip a couple of them to pieces, and +barricade ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Correy grimly, "we'll soon find out. Ready to start back, +sir?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">I</span> turned to Tipene, who was staring at the packed mass of Aranians, +who choked the tunnel in both directions.</p> + +<p>"Tell them to make way," I commanded. "We're leaving."</p> + +<p>"I've—I've been in communication with him," moaned Tipene. "And he +hasn't any power over these youngsters. They want blood. Blood! They +say the ship won't dare do anything so long as so many of us are +here."</p> + +<p>"It will, though," I snapped. "Kincaide will obey my orders to the +letter. It'll be a wholesale slaughter, if we're not there by the +specified time."</p> + +<p>"I know! I know!" groaned Tipene. "But I can't make them understand +that. They can't appreciate the meaning of such discipline."</p> + +<p>"I believe that," put in Brady. "Their state of society is still low +in the scale. You shouldn't have come, Commander. Better the two of us +than the whole group."</p> + +<p>"It may not be so simple as they think. Mr. Correy, shall we make a +dash for it?"</p> + +<p>"I'd be in favor of that, sir!" he grinned.</p> + +<p>"Very well, you take three of the enlisted men, Mr. Correy, and give +us a brisk rear-guard action when we get into the main passage—if we +do. Use the grenades if you have to, but throw them as fast as +possible, or we'll have the roof coming down on us.</p> + +<p>"The two ray operators and myself will try to open a way, backed up by +Inverness and Brady. Understand, everybody?" The men took the places I +had indicated, nodding, and we stood at the mouth of the side tunnel, +facing the main passage which intersected it at a right angle. The +mouth of the passage was blocked by a crowded mass of the spider +creatures, evidently eager to pounce on us, but afraid to start an +action in those narrow quarters.</p> + +<p>As we came toward them, the Aranians packed about the entrance gave +way grudgingly, all save two or three. Without an instant's +hesitation, I lifted my pistol and slashed them into jerking pulp.</p> + +<p>"Hold the ray," I ordered the two men by my side, "until we need it. +They'll get a surprise when it goes into action."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">W</span>e needed it the moment we turned into the main corridor, for here the +passage was broad, and in order to prevent the creatures from flanking +us, we had to spread our front and rear guards until they were no more +than two thin lines.</p> + +<p>Seeing their advantage, the Aranians rushed us. At a word from me, the +ray operators went into action, and I did what I could with my +comparatively ineffective pistol. Between us, we swept the passage +clean as far as we could see—which was not far, for the reddish dust +of disintegration hung in the quiet air, and the light of our <i>ethon</i> +lamps could not pierce it.</p> + +<p>For a moment I thought we would have clear sailing; Correy and his men +were doing fine work behind us, and our ray was sweeping everything +before us.</p> + +<p>Then we came to the first of the intersecting passages, and a +clattering horde of Aranians leaped out at us. The ray operators +stopped them, but another passage on the opposite side was spewing out +more than I could handle with my pistol.</p> + +<p>Two of the hairy creatures were fairly upon me before the ray swung to +that side and dissolved them into dust. For an instant the party +stopped, checked by these unexpected flank attacks.</p> + +<p>And there would be more of these sallies from the hundreds of passages +which opened off the main corridor; I had no doubt of that. And there +the creatures had us: our deadly ray could not reach them out ahead; +we must wait until we were abreast, and then the single ray could work +upon but one side. Correy needed every man he had to protect our rear, +and my pistol was not adequate against a rush at such close quarters. +That fact had just been proved to me with unpleasant emphasis.</p> + +<p>It was rank folly to press on; the party would be annihilated.</p> + +<p>"Down this passage, men," I ordered the two ray operators. "We'll have +to think up a better plan."</p> + +<p>They turned off into the passage they had swept clean with their ray, +and the rest of the party followed swiftly. A few yards from the main +corridor the passage turned and ran parallel to the corridor we had +just left. Doors opened off this passage on both sides, but all the +doors were open, and the cubicles thus revealed were empty.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">"W</span>ell, sir," said Correy, when we had come to the dead end of the +passage, "now what?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," I confessed. "If we had two ray machines, we could +make it. But if I remember correctly, it's seven hundred yards, yet, +to the first of the tunnels leading to the surface—and that means +several hundred side passages from which they can attack. We can't +make it."</p> + +<p>"Well, we can try again, anyway, sir," Correy replied stoutly. "Better +to go down fighting than stay here and starve, eh?"</p> + +<p>"If you'll pardon me, gentlemen," put in Inverness, "I'd like to make +a suggestion. We can't return the way we came in; I'm convinced of +that. It was the sheerest luck that Commander Hanson wasn't brought +down a moment ago—luck, and excellent work on the part of the two ray +operators.</p> + +<p>"But an analysis of our problem shows that our real objective is to +reach the surface, and that need not be done the most obvious way, by +returning over the course by which we entered."</p> + +<p>"How, then?" I asked sharply.</p> + +<p>"The disintegrator ray you have there should be able to cut a passage +for us," said Inverness. "Then all we need do is protect our rear +while the operators are working. Once on the surface, we'll be able to +fight our way to the ship, will we not?"</p> + +<p>"Of course! You should be in command, Inverness, instead of myself." +His was the obvious solution to our difficulty; once proposed, I felt +amazingly stupid that the thought had not occurred to me.</p> + +<p>I gave the necessary orders to the ray men, and they started +immediately, boring in steadily at an angle of about forty-five +degrees.</p> + +<p>The reddish dust came back to us in choking clouds, and the Aranians, +perhaps guessing what we were doing—at least one of their number had +seen how the ray could tunnel in the ground—started working around +the angle of the passage.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">A</span>t first they came in small groups, and our pistols readily disposed +of them, but as the dust filled the air, and it became increasingly +difficult to see their spidery bodies, they rushed us in great masses.</p> + +<p>Correy and I, shoulder to shoulder, fired at the least sign of +movement in the cloud of dust. A score of times the rushes of the +Aranians brought a few of them scuttling almost to our feet; inside of +a few minutes the passage was choked, waist high, with the riddled +bodies—and still they came!</p> + +<p>"We're through, sir!" shouted one of the ray operators. "If you can +hold them off another fifteen minutes, we'll have the hole large +enough to crawl through."</p> + +<p>"Work fast!" I ordered. Even with Inverness, Brady, and the three of +the <i>Ertak's</i> crew doing what they could in those narrow quarters, we +were having a hard time holding back the horde of angry, desperate +Aranians. Tipene was useless; he was cowering beside the ray +operators, chattering at them, urging them to hurry.</p> + +<p>Had we had good light, our task would have been easy, but the passage +was choked now with dust. Our <i>ethon</i> lamps made little more than a +dismal glow. The clattering Aranians were almost within leaping +distance before we could see them; indeed, more than one was stopped +in mid-air by a spray from one pistol or another.</p> + +<p>"Ready, sir," gasped the ray man who had spoken before. "I think we've +got it large enough, now."</p> + +<p>"Good!" I brought down two scuttling Aranians, so close that their +twitching legs fell in an untidy heap almost at my feet. "You go +first, and protect our advance. Then the rest of you; Mr. Correy and I +will bring up the—"</p> + +<p>"No!" screamed Tipene, shouldering aside the ray men. "I...." He +disappeared into the slanting shaft, and the two ray men followed +quickly. The three members of the crew went next; then Brady and +Inverness.</p> + +<p>Correy and I backed toward the freshly cut passage.</p> + +<p>"I'll be right behind you," I snapped, "so keep moving!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">C</span>orrey hesitated an instant; I knew he would have preferred the place +of danger as the last man, but he was too good an officer to protest +when time was so precious. He climbed into the slanting passage the +ray had cut for us, and as he did so, I heard, or thought I heard, a +cry from beyond him, from one of those ahead.</p> + +<p>I gave Correy several seconds before I followed; when I did start, I +planned on coming fast, for in that shoulder-tight tube I would be +utterly at the mercy of any who might attack from behind.</p> + +<p>Fairly spraying the oncoming horde, I drove them back, for a moment, +beyond the angle in the corridor; then I fairly dived into the tunnel +and crawled as fast as hands and knees could take me toward the +blessed open air.</p> + +<p>I heard the things clatter into the space I had deserted. I heard them +scratching frantically in the tunnel behind me, evidently handicapped +by their long legs, which must have been drawn up very close to their +bodies.</p> + +<p>Light came pouring in on me suddenly, and I realized that Correy had +won free. Behind me I could hear savage mandibles snapping, and cold +sweat broke out on me. How close a terrible death might be, I had no +means of knowing—but it was very close.</p> + +<p>My head emerged; I drew my body swiftly out of the hole and snatched a +grenade from my belt. Instantly I flung it down the slanting passage, +with a shout of warning to my companions.</p> + +<p>With a muffled roar, the grenade shook the earth; sent a brown cloud +spattering around us. I had made a desperate leap to get away, but +even then I was covered by the shower of earth.</p> + +<p>I looked around. Trapdoors were open everywhere, and from hundreds of +these openings, Aranians were scuttling toward us.</p> + +<p>But the ray operators were working; not only the little portable +machine, but the big projectors on the <i>Ertak</i>, five or six hundred +yards away; laying down a deadly and impassable barrage on either side +of us.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">"T</span>hey got Tipene, sir!" said Correy. "He dodged out ahead of the ray +men, and two of them pounced on him. They were dragging him away, +tearing him. The ray men wiped them out. Tipene was already dead—torn +to fragments, they said. Back to the ship now, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Back to the ship," I nodded, still rather breathless. "Let the ray +men cover our retreat; we can take care of those between us and the +ship with our pistols—and the <i>Ertak's</i> projectors will attend to our +flanks. On the double, men!"</p> + +<p>We fought every step of the way, in a fog of reddish dust from the big +disintegrator rays playing on either side of us—but we made it, a +torn, weary, and bedraggled crew.</p> + +<p>"Quite an engagement, sir," gasped Correy, when we were safely inside +the <i>Ertak</i>. "Think they'll remember this little visit of ours, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I know we'll remember it, anyway," I said, shaking some of the dust +of disintegration from my clothes. "Just at the moment, I'd welcome a +tour of routine patrol."</p> + +<p>"Sure, sir," grinned Correy. "So would I—until we were a day or two +out from Base!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Death-Traps of FX-31, by Sewell Peaslee Wright + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEATH-TRAPS OF FX-31 *** + +***** This file should be named 29309-h.htm or 29309-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/3/0/29309/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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