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diff --git a/29735-h/29735-h.htm b/29735-h/29735-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0bd177 --- /dev/null +++ b/29735-h/29735-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1571 @@ +<!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 Martians Never Die, by Lucius Daniel + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: center;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 2em auto; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .rgt,.figr {text-align: right;} + .figr {float: right; clear: right; margin: 1em 0 1em 1em; padding: 0; width: 364px;} + img {border: none;} + a:link,a:visited {text-decoration: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em; width: auto;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .figt {float: left; clear: left; margin: 15px; padding: 0; width: 145px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; min-height: 230px;} + .trn p {margin: 15px;} + .bk1 {margin: 2em auto; width: 16em; line-height: 1.5;} + .sp1 {font-size: 200%;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Martians Never Die, by Lucius Daniel + +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: Martians Never Die + +Author: Lucius Daniel + +Illustrator: Ed Emshwiller + +Release Date: August 19, 2009 [EBook #29735] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARTIANS NEVER DIE *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1><span class="sp1">martians never die</span></h1> + +<h2>By LUCIUS DANIEL</h2> + +<div class="bk1"><p><i><big><b>It was a wonderful bodyguard: +no bark, no bite, no sting ... +just conversion of the enemy!</b></big></i></p></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">At</span> three-fifteen, a young man +walked into the circular +brick building and took +a flattened package of cigarettes +from his shirt pocket.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stern?" he asked, throwing +away the empty package.</p> + +<p>Stern looked with hard eyes at +the youthful reporter. He recognized +the type.</p> + +<p>"So they're sending around +cubs now," he said.</p> + +<p>"I'm no cub—I've been on the +paper a whole year," the reporter +protested, and then stopped, +realizing his annoyance had +betrayed him.</p> + +<p>"Only a year. The first time +they sent their best man."</p> + +<p>"This ain't the first time," said +the young man, assuming a bored +look. "It's the fourth time, and +next year I don't think anybody +will come at all. Why should +they?"</p> + +<p>"Why, because they might be +able to make it," Beryl spoke up. +"Something must have happened +before."</p> + +<p>Stern watched the reporter +drink in Beryl's loveliness.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mrs. Curtis," the young +man said, "everyone has it figured +out that Dr. Curtis got stuck in +the fourth dimension, or else lost, +or died, maybe. Even Einstein +can't work out the stellar currents +your husband was depending on."</p> + +<p>"It's very simple," replied +Beryl, "but I can't explain it intelligibly. +I wish you could have +talked to Dr. Curtis."</p> + +<p>"Why is it that we have to +come out here just once a year to +wait for him? Is that how the +fourth dimension works?"</p> + +<p>"It's the only time when the +stellar currents permit the trip +back to Earth. And it's <i>not</i> the +fourth dimension! Clyde was always +irritated when anyone +would talk about his traveling to +Mars in the fourth dimension."</p> + +<p>"It's interdimensional," Stern +put in.</p> + +<p>"And you're his broker?" asked +the reporter, throwing his cigarette +down on the brick floor and +stepping on it. "You're his old +friend from college days, handled +his financial affairs, and helped +him raise enough money to build +his machine?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Stern replied, a little +pompously. "It was through my +efforts that several wealthy men +took an interest in the machine, +so that Dr. Curtis did not have to +bear the entire expense himself."</p> + +<p>"Yeah, yeah," the reporter +sighed. "I read an old story on +it before I came here. Now I'm +out of cigarettes." He looked +hopefully at Stern.</p> + +<p>Stern returned the look coldly. +"There's a store where you can +buy some about three blocks +down the road."</p> + +<p>"Is that the room where he's +expected to materialize with his +machine?" The reporter pointed +to an inner door.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Dr. Curtis wanted to be +sure no one would be injured. +This inner circular room was +built first; then he had the outer +wall put up as an added precaution. +The circular passageway +we're in leads all around the old +room, but this doorway is the +only entrance."</p> + +<p>"And what are those holes in +the top of the door for?"</p> + +<p>"If he returns, we can tell by +the displaced air rushing out. +Then the door will open automatically."</p> + +<p>"And when is the return scheduled +for?" asked the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Three-forty-seven and twenty-nine +seconds."</p> + +<p>"If it happens," the reporter +added skeptically. "And if it +doesn't, we have to wait another +year."</p> + +<p>"Optimum conditions occur +just once a year."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm going out to get +some cigarettes. I've got time ... +and probably nothing to wait +for. I'll return though."</p> + +<p>He walked briskly through the +outer door.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"This</span> is the hardest part of +the year, especially now. +Suppose he did come back," +Beryl said plaintively.</p> + +<p>"You don't have to worry," +Stern assured her. "Clyde himself +said that if he didn't come back +the second year, he might not +make it at all." Stern opened his +gold case now and offered Beryl +a cigarette.</p> + +<p>She shook her head. "But he +made two trial runs in it first and +came back."</p> + +<p>"That was for a short distance +only—that is, a short distance +astronomically. Figuring for +Mars was another story. Maybe +he missed the planet and ..."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't! It's just not <i>knowing</i> +that I can't stand."</p> + +<p>"Well," he said drily, "we'll +know in—" he stopped and +looked at his wristwatch—"in +just about fifteen minutes."</p> + +<p>"I can't wait," she moaned.</p> + +<p>He put his arm around her. +"Relax. Take it easy and stop +worrying. It'll just be like last +time."</p> + +<p>"Not the last time at all. We +hadn't—"</p> + +<p>"As soon as we are able to +leave here," he said, drawing her +close and squeezing her gently, +"I'll take steps to have him declared +legally dead. Then we'll +get married."</p> + +<p>"That's not much of a proposal," +she smiled. "But I guess +I'll have to accept you. You have +Clyde's power of attorney."</p> + +<p>"And we'll be rich. Richer than +ever. I'll be able to use some of +my own ideas about the investments. +As a matter of fact, I +have already." And he frowned +slightly.</p> + +<p>"We have enough," Beryl said +quickly. "Don't try to speculate. +You know how Clyde felt about +that."</p> + +<p>"But he spent so damned much +on the machine. I had to make +back those expenses somehow."</p> + +<p>Steps sounded outside and they +drew apart. The reporter came in +with a companion of about his +own age.</p> + +<p>"Better wipe the lipstick off," +he grinned. "It's almost time for +something to happen."</p> + +<p>Stern dabbed at his mouth angrily +with his handkerchief.</p> + +<p>At first the sound was so soft +that it could hardly be heard, but +soon a whistling grew until it +became a threat to the eardrums. +The reporters looked at each +other with glad, excited eyes.</p> + +<p>The whistling stopped abruptly +and, slowly, the door opened. The +reporters rushed in immediately.</p> + +<p>Beryl gripped Stern's hand convulsively. +"He's come back."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but that mustn't change +our plans, Beryl dear."</p> + +<p>"But, Al ... Oh, why were we +so foolish?"</p> + +<p>"Not foolish, dear. Not at all +foolish. Now we have to go in."</p> + +<p>Inside the room was the large +sphere of metalloy. It had lost its +original gleam and was stained +and battered, standing silent, +closed, enigmatic.</p> + +<p>"Where's the door?" called the +first reporter.</p> + +<p>The sphere rested on a number +of metal stilts, reaching out from +the lower hemisphere, which held +it about three feet from the floor, +like a great pincushion turned +upside down.</p> + +<p>Slowly, a round section of the +sphere's wall swung outward and +steps descended. As they touched +the floor, both reporters, caught +by the same idea, sprinted for it +and fought to see which would +climb it first.</p> + +<p>"Wait!" shouted Stern.</p> + +<p>The reporters stopped their +scuffling and followed Stern's +gaze.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Something</span> old and leathery +and horrible was emerging +from the circular doorway. Several +tentacles, like so many +snakes, slid around the hand rail +which ran down the steps. Then, +at the top, it paused.</p> + +<p>Stern felt an immediate and +unreasoning hate for the thing, +whatever it was, a hate so strong +that he forgot to feel fear. It +seemed to him to combine the +repulsive qualities of a spider and +a toad. The body, fat and repugnant, +was covered by a loose +skin, dull and leathery, and the +fatness seemed to be pulled downward +below the lower tentacles +like an insect's body, until it was +wider at the bottom than at the +top.</p> + +<p>Like a salt shaker, Stern +thought.</p> + +<p>It turned its head—it had no +neck; the loose skin of the body +just turned with it—and looked +back inside the sphere. The head +resembled a toad's, but a long +trident tongue slid in and out +quickly, changing the resemblance +to that of a malformed +snake.</p> + +<p>From the interior, Dr. Curtis +appeared beside the creature and +stood there vaguely for a moment. +Stern noticed that his clothes +seemed just as new as when he +had left, but he had grown a +long, untrimmed beard, and his +face had a vacant expression, as +if he were hypnotized.</p> + +<p>The creature looked upward at +Curtis, who was head and shoulders +taller, and its resemblance +changed again in Stern's mind, +so that now it looked like a dog, +at least in attitude. From its +mouth came a low hissing noise.</p> + +<div class="figr"><img src="images/001.png" width="364" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +<b><small>Illustrated by WILLER</small></b></div> + +<p>Curtis looked down at the dog-spider-toad, +his eyes slowly beginning +to focus. The creature +wiggled like a seal with a fish in +sight, then slid and bumped down +the steps, with Curtis following +him.</p> + +<p>"Clyde!" cried Beryl and +rushed toward Curtis.</p> + +<p>The outstretched tentacles of +the beast stopped her, but at a +touch from Curtis they fell away +and Beryl was in his arms.</p> + +<p>Stern watched the scene sourly +and with rage in his heart. Why +hadn't Clyde waited another +year? Then nothing could have +changed things. Now he would +lose not only Beryl, but the management +of the money that was +left, and the marketing of new +patents on the machine. Curtis +did not approve of speculation, +especially when it lost money.</p> + +<p>"You've changed, Clyde," Beryl +was saying as she hugged him. +"What is the matter—do you +need a doctor?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't want a doctor, but +I have to get home," said Curtis.</p> + +<p>Stern felt anger again beating +in his brain like heavy surf on a +beach. Curtis was sick. The least +he could have done was die. Well, +maybe he still would. And if he +didn't he could be helped to—Stern +saw the beast looking at +him intently, malevolently. Its +face might have looked almost +human, now that it was so close, +if it had possessed eyebrows and +hair. As it was, its nose rose +abruptly and flared into two +really enormous nostrils, but its +mouth looked small and wrinkled, +like that of an old grandmother +without any teeth.</p> + +<p>They turned to the doorway +without noticing the absence of +the reporters, who had long since +run off to telephone and get +photographers.</p> + +<p>Curtis walked slowly. He would +stop for a moment, look about as +if expecting something entirely +different, and then he would move +forward again.</p> + +<p>They all got into the car, Curtis +and Beryl on the front seat, +with Beryl driving, and Stern and +the creature in the rear. As Beryl +drove, Stern looked savagely at +the back of Curtis's head, but he +felt the beast staring at him balefully. +Could it be a mind reader? +That was ridiculous. How could +anything that couldn't speak read +a person's mind?</p> + +<p>He turned to study it. The +Martian, if that was what it was, +had only six tentacles, three on +each side. The lower ones were +heavy and almost as thick as legs. +The upper ones were small and +were obviously used as hands, +while it was possible that the +middle ones could be used either +way. A series of suction cups or +sucking pads were at the end of +each tentacle. With equipment like +this, it could walk right up the +side of a building, except, perhaps, +for the higher gravity of +Earth.</p> + +<p>Stern could smell it now, a dry, +desert smell, and that made it +more revolting than ever. They +were born to hate each other.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">When</span> they got home, Beryl +was all solicitousness. The +way a woman is when she has a +man to impress, Stern thought.</p> + +<p>"Just sit right here in your old +chair," she told Curtis, "and I'll +call a doctor. Then I'll put some +water on to heat." But first she +knelt by his side and laid her +head on his breast. "Oh, darling," +she said with a sob, "Why did +you wait so long? I've missed you +so."</p> + +<p>A very good act, Stern told +himself bitterly, without believing +it at all.</p> + +<p>She got up and turned toward +Stern. "Will you help me get +some water on, Al?" she asked. +"I'm going to phone."</p> + +<p>He went into the kitchen. He +knew where the kettle was, the +refrigerator, the mixings. He +could hear her dialing, and then, +before he got the kettle on the +burner, she came inside and +closed the kitchen door.</p> + +<p>"Clyde's sick and I have to +take care of him," she said +anxiously.</p> + +<p>It wasn't entirely the money, +he confessed to himself now. He +hated the situation, but he had +to give in—on the surface anyway.</p> + +<p>"Okay, let's forget the whole +thing," he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Al dear, I knew you'd understand! +I've got to go back now +and try the phone again. I got a +busy signal."</p> + +<p>Stern followed her, still rankling +at the way Curtis had +forced Beryl to live while he spent +so generously on his own expensive +interests. Shortly after their +marriage, he had built a home +for Beryl and himself in an exclusive +suburb, on a hilly bit +of land with a deep ravine at the +back. But it was small and Beryl +had not even been allowed maids +except when they entertained, +which was seldom. Soon he would +change all that, Stern told himself. +They had not dared to while +Clyde was away.</p> + +<p>In the modern living room, +Curtis sprawled in his easy chair +as though he hadn't moved since +they had placed him there. But +his air of abstraction seemed to +have increased. Before him sat +the beast, looking, Stern thought, +more like a dog than ever. Its +head wasn't cocked to one side, +but that, less than its alien appearance, +was the one thing to +spoil the illusion.</p> + +<p>Tires screeched in the driveway +while Beryl was still at the telephone. +Stern went to the front +door, closed it and put the chain +bolt in place. The back door +would still be locked and they +would hardly try to force the +screen windows.</p> + +<p>Heavy steps pounded up the +front walk. "Did Dr. Curtis really +get back?" The first man shot out. +The one who followed had a +camera.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Curtis has returned," +Stern spoke through the opening +of the front door which the chain +permitted, "but his physical condition +won't permit questioning, +at least until his doctor has seen +him."</p> + +<p>"Did he really bring back a +Martian? We want to see the +Martian anyway."</p> + +<p>"We can't have Dr. Curtis disturbed +in any way until after his +physician has examined him," +Stern said bluntly.</p> + +<p>"Is he in there?"</p> + +<p>"We'll give you a report when +we're ready."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">A second</span> car pulled up to +the house as Stern shut the +front door, and went to check the +rear one. When he came back, +flashes from the window showed +the cameraman was trying to take +pictures through the glass. Stern +drew the shades.</p> + +<p>"Well, poor Schaughtowl, so +you had to come with me," Curtis +was saying to the monster.</p> + +<p>The beast wiggled again as it +had on the steps of the machine. +A tail to wag wasn't really necessary, +Stern decided, when there +was so much body to wiggle.</p> + +<p>Schaughtowl, as Curtis addressed +it, seemed to brighten in +the darkened room.</p> + +<p>"Poor, dear Schaughtowl," said +Curtis gently.</p> + +<p>It was unmistakable now—the +skin actually brightened and +emitted a sort of eerie, luminous +glow.</p> + +<p>Curtis leaned over and put his +hand on what would have been +Schaughtowl's neck. The loose +skin writhed joyously, and, snakelike, +the whole body responded in +rippling waves of emotion.</p> + +<p>"Gull Lup," the monster—said +wasn't the right word, but it was +not a bark, growl, mew, cheep, +squawk or snarl. Gulp was as +close as Stern could come, a dry +and almost painful gulping noise +that expressed devotion in some +totally foreign way that Stern +found revolting.</p> + +<p>He realized that the phone had +been ringing for some time. He +disconnected it, and then heard +loud knocking.</p> + +<p>"It's Dr. Anderson," he heard a +man's voice calling impatiently +and angrily.</p> + +<p>Cautiously, Stern opened the +door, but his care was needless. +With a few testy remarks, the +doctor quickly cleared a space +about the door and entered.</p> + +<p>He went at once to Curtis, with +only a single shocked glance at +Schaughtowl.</p> + +<p>"Where the devil have you been +and where in hell did you get that +thing?" he asked as he unbuttoned +Curtis's coat and shirt.</p> + +<p>Since playing with his pet, Curtis +seemed more awake. "I went +to Mars," he said. "They're incredibly +advanced in ways we +hardly guess. We're entirely off +the track. I just came back to +explain how."</p> + +<p>"Your friend doesn't look very +intelligent," the doctor answered, +busy with his stethoscope.</p> + +<p>"Animals like Schaughtowl are +used for steeds or pets," said Curtis. +"The Ladonai are pretty much +like mankind, only smaller."</p> + +<p>"Why did you stay so long?"</p> + +<p>"After I left, the Ladonai told +me, they were going to shut off +any possible communication with +Earth until we advance more. +They think we're at a very dangerous +animal-like stage of development. +Once I came home, +I knew I couldn't go back, so I +wanted to learn as much as I +could before I left them."</p> + +<p>"Stand up for a minute," ordered +the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Not right now," said Curtis. +"I'm too tired."</p> + +<p>"You'd better get to bed, then."</p> + +<p>"I think not. It's merely caused +by the difference in gravity and +heavier air. The Ladonai told me +to expect it, but not to lie down. +After a while I'll try to take a +short walk."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">So</span> Clyde wasn't going to die, +after all, Stern thought. He +had come home with a message, +and, remembering the determination +of the man, Stern knew he +wouldn't die until he had given it. +But he had to die. He would die, +and who was competent enough +to know that it wasn't from the +shock of having come home to +denser air and a heavier gravity?</p> + +<p>There were ways—an oxygen +tube, for example. Pure oxygen +to be inhaled in his sleep by lungs +accustomed to a rarified atmosphere, +or stimulants in his food +so it would look like a little too +much exertion on a heart already +overtaxed. There were ways.</p> + +<p>Stern's scalp tingled unpleasantly, +and he saw the Martian +looking at him intently, coldly. +In that moment Stern knew without +question that his mind was +being read. Not his idea, perhaps, +but his intent toward Curtis. +The Martian would have to +be attended to first.</p> + +<p>"Is it true, Dr. Anderson? Will +he be all right?" Beryl was sitting +on the arm of the chair next to +Schaughtowl, and she was looking +at Clyde almost as adoringly +as the Martian. A few hours had +undone all that Stern had managed +to do in four years.</p> + +<p>If Stern had been uncertain, +that alone would have decided +him.</p> + +<p>"I think so," said the doctor. +"He seems to be uncomfortable, +rather than in pain. I'll send you +a prescription for his heart, if he +breathes too heavily. Be sure, +though, not to give him more +than one pill in three hours."</p> + +<p>"Of course." Beryl was never +that solicitous toward Stern.</p> + +<p>"And you'll be in quarantine +here until the government decides +what, if any, diseases he and the +Martian may have brought back +with them."</p> + +<p>"None at all, Doctor." Curtis's +voice was markedly more slurred, +and he stared intently with unblinking +eyes at the blank wall.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's something we +can't tell yet. Well have to keep +out the press and television men, +anyway, because of your health. +If I'm not detained, I'll be back +tomorrow morning. Call me if +there's any change."</p> + +<p>On his way out, the physician +was besieged by reporters and +photographers, baulked of better +subjects. Shortly after the doctor's +departure, police sirens came +screaming up. The men waiting +around the house were moved +outside the gate and a guard was +set at every entrance.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Later</span>, a messenger came, was +interrogated by the police +sergeant who took a small package +from him and brought it to +the house.</p> + +<p>"Medicine," the sergeant said, +handing it gingerly to Stern. "You +can't leave here without permission." +And he walked hurriedly +away.</p> + +<p>This might be the answer. Stern +had a good idea of what the doctor +had prescribed—something +he'd said, for the heart. It must +have been pretty powerful, too, +for the doctor to warn against an +overdose. Two at once might do +it, or another two a little later.</p> + +<p>But there was Schaughtowl.</p> + +<p>"Al," said Beryl, "stay with +Clyde while I fix something for +him to eat."</p> + +<p>She was more beautiful than +ever. Emotions, he thought wryly, +become a woman; they thrive on +them. In a few minutes a woman +could change like this. It was +enough to make a man lose faith +in the sex.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," he said easily.</p> + +<p>Curtis seemed to sleep with +wide open eyes gazing blankly +at the far wall. Schaughtowl sat +motionless before him, watchful +as a dog, yet still like a snake or +spider patiently waiting. Didn't +the beast ever sleep?</p> + +<p>A drink was what Stern needed. +He went to the closet and poured +a double brandy. He sipped it +slowly. As delicious fire ran down +his gullet and warmed his stomach, +he felt his tension ease and +a sense of confidence pervade his +mind.</p> + +<p>He needn't worry. He was always +successful, except that once +with the stocks. And he had calm +nerves.</p> + +<p>There were guards out in front +now in khaki uniform; the Governor +must have called out a +company of the National Guard. +Stern noticed some state police, +too. The house was well guarded +on the three sides surrounded by +a neat, white picket fence. In the +back, the severe drop into the ravine +made guards there unnecessary.</p> + +<p>It was dark before Dr. Curtis +moved. Beryl was watching him; +she had little to say to Stern +now.</p> + +<p>"How about some broth, dear?" +she asked Curtis immediately.</p> + +<p>Slowly, Clyde's eyes focused on +her. He smiled. "Let's try it."</p> + +<p>He let Beryl feed him, sitting +on a stool beside his chair and +being unnecessarily motherly and +coddling about it.</p> + +<p>For a while after he had eaten, +Clyde sat in his chair, looking at +Beryl with his new and oddly +gentle smile. It seemed to activate +some hidden response in her, +for she glowed with tenderness.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," Curtis slurred, "I +ought to try to walk now."</p> + +<p>"Let me help." Stern rose and +crossed the room.</p> + +<p>The Martian rustled like snakes +in the weeds, and hissed.</p> + +<p>Beryl said without suspicion, +"Thank you, Al. I knew you'd do +whatever you could for Clyde." +And she rested her hand trustingly +on his arm.</p> + +<p>What was past was past, not to +be wept over, not to be regretted.</p> + +<p>"Like to walk out in the back +for the air?" Stern asked. "The +breeze is coming from that direction."</p> + +<p>"That will do very well," said +Curtis, obviously not caring a bit.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Stern</span> helped Curtis from his +chair and supported him under +the arm. They went out the +back door, the Martian slithering +after them. It was cooler in the +garden. Stern felt a renewed surge +of self-confidence.</p> + +<p>"The stars—" Curtis stopped +to look upward.</p> + +<p>The night was almost cloudless +and there was no moon. The +house hid any view of the crowds +and the guards holding them +back. They were alone in the +dark.</p> + +<p>Curtis started forward again, +with the Martian scraping along +behind. It would never let Curtis +out of its sight as long as it lived; +that much was clear to Stern.</p> + +<p>He guided Curtis to a seat close +to the ravine, a favorite spot. Always +the Martian was a step—or +a slither—behind, and when Curtis +sat down, Schaughtowl sat between +his beloved master and the +precipitous drop.</p> + +<p>Stern picked up a rock from +the rock garden and tossed it +into the ravine. The Martian did +not take his eyes off Curtis. Stern +picked up a larger rock, a sharp, +pointed one. He was behind the +Martian and Curtis was looking +away unseeingly into the night.</p> + +<p>It was simple, really, and well +executed. The beast's skull bashed +in easily, being merely thin bones +for a thin atmosphere and light +gravitation. A push sent it over +the edge of the ravine.</p> + +<p>Curtis sat unnoticing, and the +traffic jam out front created more +than enough confusion to drown +out any noise from the creature's +fall.</p> + +<p>Stern's palm stung. He realized +that, before the Martian had +pitched over the ravine, a suction +pad had for a moment caught at +his hand. It had done the beast +no good, though.</p> + +<p>Curiously, the Martian had not +guarded itself, only Curtis. Sitting +with its back to Stern had +really invited attack. The mind-reading +ability was just something +that Stern had nervously +imagined.</p> + +<p>The police would not be able +to tell his rock from any other. +The heavy body, its ungainly +movement and thin bones would +explain everything. Besides, there +was no motive for killing the +Martian and what penalty could +there be? It couldn't be called +murder.</p> + +<p>Stern looked at the palm of his +right hand, the one that had held +the rock. It stung a little, but in +the darkness he couldn't see it. +A stinger of some kind, like a +bee, probably. The hell with it—couldn't +be fatal or Curtis would +have warned them about it.</p> + +<p>The Martian had been walking +by the ravine and had clumsily +fallen in. He would report it after +he had got Curtis back into the +house.</p> + +<p>Curtis was easy to arouse and +didn't seem to miss Schaughtowl. +Stern maneuvered him to the living +room, where he sank into a +chair and fell into his mood of +abstraction.</p> + +<p>Beryl must be in the kitchen +cleaning up, Stern supposed. Perhaps +he had better put some kind +of germicide on his palm, just to +ward off infection.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">He</span> looked at Curtis relaxed in +the chair. Clyde suddenly appeared +oddly boyish to him, +hardly different than he had +been in college days. For a moment +Stern felt again the adolescent +admiration and fellowship +he had felt so strongly then. Don't +be stupid, he told himself angrily. +This man had the money and +the woman that had almost belonged +to him.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Moving</span> slowly, Stern deliciously +savored the aroma of +his triumph. On the table was the +bottle. Clyde would be easy, unsuspecting, +kindly.</p> + +<p>It wouldn't be safe to marry +Beryl right away, but there could +never be any suspicion.</p> + +<p>No need to hurry. For a moment +he wanted to watch Curtis. +He wondered what kind of pictures +Clyde was seeing on the +blank wall. Martian landscapes? +The strange Ladonai? Too bad +he hadn't stayed on Mars. Stern +couldn't help having a friendly +feeling for his old college chum, +pity, too, for what must happen +to him soon.</p> + +<p>This was no way to kill anyone!</p> + +<p>He was growing old and soft!</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Curtis <i>did</i> have a +noble and striking face. Funny +he had never noticed it before. +It seemed to glow with an uncanny +peace.</p> + +<p>Unnoticed, the numbness crept +from Stern's palm along his right +arm, and a prickly sensation appeared +in his right leg.</p> + +<p>It was funny to read a person's +thoughts like this. Love flowed +from Curtis like the warm glow +from a burning candle. A sort +of halo had formed from the light +above his head.</p> + +<p>Symbolic.</p> + +<p>From Curtis came wave after +wave of love. He could feel it +pulsating toward him, and he felt +his own heart turn over, answer +it. Yes, Curtis was noble.</p> + +<p>Stern sank cross-legged on the +floor beside Curtis and gazed at +him. The prickly sensation had +ascended from his leg up through +his chest and to his neck. But it +didn't matter. Now, for a last +time, he could feel the spell of +that perfect friendship—before +the end.</p> + +<p>What end? Why should there +be any end to this eternal moment?</p> + +<p>Curtis noticed him now. Those +half-closed eyes were strangely +penetrating. They looked him +through.</p> + +<p>"Well, Al," he said, "so you +killed Schaughtowl?"</p> + +<p>Stern looked at the kindly, godlike +face and loved it.</p> + +<p>Killed whom?</p> + +<p>"Poor Al," Curtis said. He +leaned over and laid his hand on +the back of Stern's neck, fondling +it much as one would a dog. +"Poor old Al."</p> + +<p>Stern's heart leaped in joy. +This was ecstasy. It must be expressed. +It demanded expression. +If he had possessed a tail, he +would have wagged it. Perhaps +there was a word for that bliss. +There was, and with immense +satisfaction he spoke it.</p> + +<p>"Gull Lup," he said.</p> + +<p class="rgt"><b>—LUCIUS DANIEL</b></p> + +<div class="trn"><div class="figt"><a href="images/002-2.jpg"><img src="images/002-1.jpg" width="145" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a></div> + +<p><big><b>Transcriber's Note:</b></big></p> + +<p>This etext was produced from <i>Galaxy Science Fiction</i> April 1952. +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.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Martians Never Die, by Lucius Daniel + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARTIANS NEVER DIE *** + +***** This file should be named 29735-h.htm or 29735-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/7/3/29735/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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