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diff --git a/37145-h/37145-h.htm b/37145-h/37145-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7c48a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/37145-h/37145-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5646 @@ +<!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"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Image and The Likeness, by John Scott Campbell. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + + h1 { text-align : center; + line-height : 2; + margin-bottom : 2em; + margin-top : 2em; + } + + h2 { text-align : center; + line-height : 1; + margin-bottom : 2em; + margin-top : 2em; + } + + hr.r15 {width: 15%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + + hr.r65 {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .extraspacetop {padding-top: 2em; } + .extraspacebot {padding-bottom: 2em; } + + .cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; margin: -0.2em 0.1em 0; margin-top: 0%; + padding: 0; line-height: .75em; font-size: 300%; text-align: justify;} + + .blockquote {margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: center;} + + + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Image and the Likeness, by John Scott Campbell + +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 Image and the Likeness + +Author: John Scott Campbell + +Release Date: August 21, 2011 [EBook #37145] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE IMAGE AND THE LIKENESS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover_1.jpg" width="150" height="220" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /><br /> +<span class="caption">Cover</span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop"> +<img src="images/001_1.jpg" width="300" height="444" alt="We stared—frozen—at the great face above us." title="" /><br /> +<span class="caption">We stared—frozen—at the great face above us.</span> +</div> + + + + +<div class="blockquote extraspacetop"><i>Up from the horror of Hiroshima came a +god. He gave the people hope and for this +they killed him—as they have always killed +their gods.</i></div> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h1>THE IMAGE<br /> +and<br /> +THE LIKENESS<br /> + +<small>By John Scott Campbell</small></h1> + + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> SHANGHAI had changed. We +sensed that the moment we +came ashore. Extraterritoriality +was long gone; we had known that, +of course. The days of exploitation, +of clubs where Chinese and Burmese +and Indian servants waited +on Britons and Americans were +passed. Pan-Asia had seen to that. +This was 1965. The white man's +burden in the east had been upon +brown and yellow shoulders for +over sixteen years now, and the Indians +and Burmese and Indonesians +were ruling themselves, after their +fling at communism in the fifties.</div> + +<p>The initial bitterness which followed +the debacle of 1955 had +passed, we were glad to see. Porters +no longer spat in the faces of white +men. They were polite, but we had +not been in the city a half hour before +we sensed something else. +There was an edge to that politeness. +It was as Major Reid had +written before we left San Francisco—a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +subtle change had come +over Asia in the previous few years. +They smiled—they waited on us—they +bent over backwards to atone +for the excesses of the first years of +freedom from foreign rule; but +through it all was an air of aloofness, +of superior knowledge.</p> + +<p>Baker put it in his typically blunt +British way.</p> + +<p>"The blighters have something +up their sleeves, all right. The +whole crew of them. Did you notice +that rickshaw boy? When I said +to take us to the hotel, he answered +'Yes, today I take you'. The Major +was right—there's something in the +wind, and it's damned serious."</p> + +<p>We were sitting, surrounded by +our luggage, in our suite at the New +China Hotel. There were four of +us: Llewelyn Baker, Walter +Chamberlin, Robert Martin, and +myself, William Cady. Baker +and Martin were anthropologists, +and old China hands as well. +Chamberlin was a geologist, and I +claimed knowledge of zoology. We +were here ostensibly as a scientific +expedition, and had permission +from the Republic of East Asia to +do some work on Celebese man, +following up the discoveries by +Rance of bones and artifacts on +that East Indian island in 1961.</p> + +<p>We had another reason for coming +at this particular time, although +this was not mentioned to the authorities. +Our real objective was to +find out certain things about New +Buddhism, the violently nationalistic +religion which was sweeping +Pan-Asia.</p> + +<p>New Buddhism was more than +a religion. It was a motivating force +of such power that men like Major +Reid at the American Embassy +were frankly worried, and had communicated +their fears to their home +governments. The Pan-Asia movement +had, at first, been understandable. +At first it had been nationalism, +pure and simple. The Asiatics +were tired of exploitation and +western bungling, and wanted to +rule themselves. During the communist +honeymoon in the early +fifties, it was partly underground +and partly taken over by the Reds +for their own purposes. But through +everything it retained a character +of its own, and after '55 it reappeared +as a growing force which +was purely oriental. Or at least so +it seemed. Our job was, among +other things, to find out if Russian +control was really destroyed.</p> + +<p>We had already made several observations. +The most obvious was +the number of priests. Yellow +robed Buddhist priests had always +been common, begging rice and +coppers in the streets, but in 1955 +a new kind appeared. He was +younger than his predecessors, and +was usually an ex-soldier. And his +technique was different. He was a +salesman. "Rice—rice for Buddha," +he would say. "Rice for the Living +Buddha, to give him strength. Rice +for the Great One, that he may +grow mighty. Rice for the strength +to cast off our bonds."</p> + +<p>And they had organization. This +wasn't any hit or miss revival, +started by a crackpot, or by some +schemer for his own enrichment. +There was direction back of it, and +very good direction too. We sensed +that it had been Japanese, at least<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +at the start, but with the end of the +occupation, we could no longer +barge in and investigate officially. +Now there were treaties to respect, +and diplomatic procedure and all +that sort of thing.</p> + +<p>Instead, we were here to spy. +Unofficially, of course. The ambassador +was very explicit on that +point. We were strictly on our own. +If we were caught, there could be +no protection. So here we were. +Four scientists investigating Celebese +man, and trying to find out, +on the side, just what was back of +New Buddhism.</p> + +<p>We washed up, had dinner, and +presently, as we had expected, +Major Reid called. After a few +jocular references to anthropology, +for the benefit of the waiter, he +got down to business.</p> + +<p>"I'll have to be brief," he said, +"because I can't spend too much +time with you without stirring up +suspicion. You all know the background. +They claim that this business +is simply a new religion, a revival +of Buddhism modeled to fit +new conditions. President Tung +claims that there is no connection +between it and the state. We think +differently. We have reason to believe +that the direction back of this +movement is communism, and that +its ultimate object is military attack +on the western world. What +we don't know is the nature of the +proposed attack. Some of us suspect +that they are making H-bombs, and +have covered up so that we cannot +spot them. That's what we must +find out.</p> + +<p>"The headquarters of New Buddhism +is on a small volcanic island +called Yat, off the east coast of +Celebes. Your job is to reach that +island and find out what's going +on, and then bring the information +back. Clear?"</p> + +<p>We nodded. We had received a +similar briefing in Washington, and +from a far more distinguished personage +than Major Reid, but we +felt no need of mentioning this. In +such a business, gratuitous information, +even to friends, serves no useful +end.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> OUR INFORMANT in Washington +had told us a good +many other things, too. In the +name of New Buddhism, the priests +had been collecting immense quantities +of supplies, and on an increasing scale. +Tons of foodstuffs had +been gathered and then shipped off +to an unknown destination. Machinery, +lumber, structural steel, +canvas by the thousands of yards +had been purchased, loaded onto +ships and barges, and spirited away. +It appeared that the New Buddhists +were maintaining a standing army, +or perhaps a labor force somewhere +east of Borneo, but the picture was +very incomplete.</div> + +<p>Part of the failure of ordinary +methods of intelligence may have +been due to the supersecrecy of the +New Buddhists themselves. It was +not difficult to corrupt priests on +the lower levels, but all they knew +was that certain quotas of food +and materials were set for their territory, +which were then shipped +away to Borneo.</p> + +<p>The big break had come only a +few months ago. One of the OSS<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +men got through to a barge captain, +who had been to the headquarters +itself. He identified the location as +an island a few miles off the northeast +coast of Celebes. It was, he +said, highly mountainous—in fact +he believed it to be an extinct volcano, +with a water filled crater +reached only by a narrow passage +from the sea. Boats, he said, could +go in and out, but his barge was +not among those permitted. He delivered +his cargo, three thousand +tons of rice and five thousand raw +hides, and was then sent on his +way. Under questioning, he said +that there were many people living +on the island—thousands at least. +Most of them lived in barracks +among the trees fronting the ocean, +but some had special privileges and +were allowed to go to the top of the +crater rim.</p> + +<p>Of the activities within the crater +our informant knew nothing. At +night the clouds were often lit by +reflections from there, and once +he had heard noises, accompanied +by a distinct shaking of the earth, +as though blasting were being done +at a great depth.</p> + +<p>This was the extent of our +knowledge. We knew the location, +but it was up to us to find out the +rest.</p> + +<p>Our departure from Shanghai +for the great island of Celebes involved +the usual exasperation of delay +and red tape. The American +Embassy did everything possible to +expedite matters, and brought a little +pressure to bear, I think, on the +strength of the then impending +American Sixth Loan to China. In +any case we were at last cleared, +and boarded the plane for Celebes.</p> + +<p>We took one of the six place +compartments on the upper deck, +and presently had company in the +form of two yellow-clad New Buddhist +priests. Baker, who had the +best command of Chinese, engaged +them in conversation.</p> + +<p>As we had expected, they were +very willing to talk, and displayed +a lively interest in Celebes man. +That they were here to watch us +was obvious. Baker bided his time, +and then switched the conversation +to New Buddhism. On this subject +too the priests were anything but +reticent. They described with enthusiasm +the great spiritual renaissance +that was sweeping all Asia +"like a wind, the breath of life +from the Living Buddha." Baker +asked a few questions about the +Buddha, since to show no curiosity +about such a life subject might excite +suspicion. The priests were +ready for them, and gave what was +evidently the stock answer: the +Living Buddha was the very incarnation +of Gautama himself, a +spiritual leader who was being +groomed to take over the guidance +of all mankind, in east and west +alike.</p> + +<p>"Where does the Great One +live?" asked Baker, alert for a trap.</p> + +<p>"In Celebes, where you are going," +was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Baker innocently, +"Then perhaps it could be arranged +for us to meet him?"</p> + +<p>This, explained the priest, was +quite impossible. In due time +Buddha would display himself for +the world to see and marvel over; +meanwhile, while his preparation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +was yet incomplete, he must remain +in seclusion.</p> + +<p>By now convinced that the presence +of the priests was no accident, +Baker settled down to the sort of +verbal sparring match that he enjoyed. +He had been speaking in the +Cantonese dialect, but now he abruptly +switched to English.</p> + +<p>"You know," he remarked, "you +fellows are using an amazing +amount of material at your headquarters. +Enough food to keep a +good sized standing army."</p> + +<p>The two priests, who had professed +ignorance of English at the +start of the conversation, stiffened +visibly. Baker returned to Chinese.</p> + +<p>The priests recovered their composure +with some effort. The older +replied suavely, "Gossip is a creative +art. There is a large monastery +at our central temple, and much is +needed to maintain its activities."</p> + +<p>"Truth," said Baker pontifically, +"is usually disappointing. The imagination +changes a mud hut to a +palace, and a sickly priest to a +demigod."</p> + +<p>The two priests inclined their +heads slightly at this. We watched +their expressions. If Baker's purposely +provoking language brought +a reaction, it was not visible. But +we had learned one thing: they +spoke English but preferred that +we did not know it.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> OUR ARRIVAL at New Macassar, +the Indonesian capital +of Celebes, was attended by the +usual confusion and delay. Our +Buddhist friends vanished with a +speed which suggested special consideration, +while the man from the +American Consulate was still getting +our equipment through customs.</div> + +<p>This business at length completed, +we were escorted to a taxi +by the attache and whisked up one +of the wide avenues of the city +without a question as to where we +were to stay. Baker and Martin +stared out the window with studied +ease—they knew that something +was up, but were content to await +further developments. Now I noticed +something else. The driver of +our cab was a European, not a native. +I started to frame a question, +when, without warning, the car +ducked into a side street, swung +around two corners and abruptly +entered an open doorway in a tall +stucco building. Both Walt and I +were half out of our seats in alarm, +when our guide spoke.</p> + +<p>"The American Consulate, gentlemen," +he said, with the slightest +trace of a diplomatic smile.</p> + +<p>The cab had stopped in the +ground floor garage of the consulate, +and opening the door was the +consul himself.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, I'm Stimson. +Hope Avery didn't give you too +wild a ride, but I thought it best not +to advertise my interest in you at +the front door. Things have +changed a bit in the last few days. +Well, Avery will show you to your +rooms. I'll be in the upstairs study +when you're freshened up."</p> + +<p>There was little to speculate on +as we shaved and changed to less +rumpled clothes, but we worked +over the available data for what it +was worth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Consul takes us in tow," remarked +Chamberlin. "That isn't in +line with the unofficial status so +strongly impressed on us at Washington."</p> + +<p>"And sneaking us in through the +back door isn't according to best +diplomatic form, either. Stimson +wants to protect us from something, +but obviously doesn't want the local +constabulary to know." This from +Martin.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me," I ventured, +"that they could check the hotels. +It shouldn't take them long to put +two and two together when we +don't show. I'm blessed if I can see +what Stimson has to gain from this +maneuver."</p> + +<p>Baker turned from the mirror +where he had been adjusting his +tie. "Suppose we ask him," he commented.</p> + +<p>The consul was waiting for us in +his study. After the briefest greeting +which his official position permitted, +he got down to business.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, I've had to pull a +diplomatic boner of the first magnitude. +I refer to the cloak and +dagger method of getting you here. +But believe me, it was the only way. +They're onto your scheme. If you +went to a hotel in New Macassar, +you wouldn't be alive tomorrow +morning."</p> + +<p>"But, the taxi—" began Martin.</p> + +<p>"It gave us a few hours. If I had +sent the consulate car, they'd have +us sealed off tight right now. I +could keep you safe here, or get you +on the Shanghai plane, but you +couldn't make another move. As it +is, we have perhaps two hours—with +luck."</p> + +<p>The consul settled back in his +chair, evidently gathering his +thoughts. We waited, more mystified +than before, if that were possible. +At length Stimson started +again.</p> + +<p>"You're well briefed on the general +situation. Reid gave me the +gist of his conversation. But there +are some other things that even +Reid doesn't know." He opened a +folding blotter on his desk and +drew out an eight by ten photographic +print.</p> + +<p>"You're aware of the efforts that +have been made to look into the +crater on Yat. To date we have not +succeeded in getting an eye witness +to the rim. We have flown over +Yat, of course, and have taken pictures +from every altitude from +5,000 to 70,000 feet, but so far they +have outsmarted us. They have +smoke generators all around the +rim, which they fire up night and +day whenever the natural clouds +lift. We've used every color, including +infra red. We've taken +stereo pairs, and flash shots at night, +but, with one exception, all we've +ever gotten are beautiful pictures +of clouds and smoke. The exception +I have here. It was taken two +weeks ago, during a brief break in +a heavy storm. Before I say anything +more, I'd like to have you +look at it and form your own +opinions."</p> + +<p>He placed the print on the desk, +facing us, and leaned back while +we four crowded around. My first +glimpse was disappointing. Fully +two thirds of the picture was occupied +by clouds. But gradually I +made out the details. There seemed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +to be several buildings of uncertain +size in the lower part, and a fringe +of brush extending up to the left. +Half visible through the mist were +several structures which seemed to +me, in comparison to the larger +buildings, like chicken houses or +perhaps rabbit hutches. No humans +were in sight, evidently because of +the storm. But in the center of the +picture was the thing which fixed +our attention from the first, leaving +the other details for later scrutiny. +This was an immense human figure, +lying on its side with the head pillowed +on its hands in the attitude +of the colossal figures of the reclining +Buddha found in the mountains +of China. The body was partly +covered by a robe, but whether this +was part of the figure or a canvas +protection against the rain, was difficult +to tell. Only the head, hands +and feet showed. The face was +partly in shadow, but enough could +be seen to identify the typical +Buddha countenance: closed eyes +and lips curled in an enigmatic +smile.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> WE STARED at this peculiar +picture for a good minute, +taking in the details, while Stimson +watched us. Then Baker looked up.</div> + +<p>"What is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Before I tell you our guesses," +replied the consul, "I'd like to hear +your reactions."</p> + +<p>"It would appear that the New +Buddhists are doing the obvious—setting +up a Buddhist temple. +Although, except for the statue, +you'd never guess it." This from +Chamberlin.</p> + +<p>Martin squinted closely at the +print. "Yes, the buildings look more +like airship hangars than a temple."</p> + +<p>Stimson raised his eyebrows +slightly. "That's an interesting observation," +he commented.</p> + +<p>"Wish there were some humans, +or something else to give a scale," +said Baker. "For all we can tell, it +could be anything from doll houses +and a life sized statue, all the way +up to an air base, and a reclining +Buddha to end all reclining +Buddhas."</p> + +<p>There was an expectant pause. +Stimson, seeing that we had nothing +more to add, cleared his throat, +glanced briefly out of the window +behind his chair, and hunched forward.</p> + +<p>"This picture was made from an +F-180A, modified for photo reconnaissance. +The plane was on a +routine flight from Singapore to +Mindanao, over a solid deck of +clouds. The pilot swung south over +Yat just out of curiosity. He approached +the island at 50,000 feet, +using radar, and was about to pass +over when he spotted a hole in the +overcast. Time was 1800—just sunset—but +the edge of the crater was +well lighted, although the bottom +was in deep shadow. More important, +the smoke generators had +been turned off. Obviously the +clouds had just parted, and would +close in again in a minute. The +presence of the F-180A at this particular +instant was just one of those +one in a million lucky breaks. The +pilot realized this. He put the ship +into a dive and ordered his photographer +to ready the cameras.</p> + +<p>"The plane approached Yat at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +a speed above Mach 1.2, so there +was no audible warning, and evidently +the island's radar was off, for +the surprise was complete. Within +90 seconds the F-180A closed level +just over the crater and shot past +with only a thin stratus layer between +it and ground. Time over the +crater was hardly 10 seconds, and +neither pilot nor observer saw anything, +but the synchronous vertical +camera was operating and four +flashes were made during the middle +four seconds. Then the plane +was in the clouds again at a 45 degree +climb and a dozen miles towards +the Philippines before anyone +on Yat could even get outdoors.</p> + +<p>"As might be expected there was +a considerable protest over this violation +of Celebese territory, although +oddly, it was based on +moral grounds rather than national +integrity. The protest was signed by +the Lama of Macassar, and demanded +neither indemnity nor +punishment of the pilot, but asked +merely that incense be burned in +Washington to appease Buddha. +Now of course the Lama isn't that +naive, or devout. As you may know, +Phobat Rau was educated at Harvard +and CIT, and is a thoroughly +trained and tough statesman who +knows his way around anywhere, +and doesn't believe the theological +hogwash in Pan-Buddhism any +more than I do. So it was a question +of getting behind his motives. +Of course, it could be a cover, but +our final guess was that the protest +was really made for the benefit of +the faithful in Asia. This opinion +was strengthened, at least as far as +I am concerned, about a fortnight +ago when Rau attended the British +Embassy reception for Lord Hayes. +He didn't avoid me, but actually +seemed to single me out as a foil +for some of his witty small talk. +Asked if I was much of a student +of Buddhist architecture and carvings, +and if I had seen the Kyoto +Buddha, or the reclining Buddha +on the Yangtze. He was fishing, of +course, but I played it dumb, and +presently he gave up.</p> + +<p>"Well, there you have it, at least +as far as the picture is concerned. +The Buddhists were considerably +upset, for they tightened up security +all over the islands. And then +you came into the scene. Naturally +nobody believed that you were just +after Celebese man, but the governor +granted permission—so easily, +in fact, that we got suspicious. +Americans are no match for oriental +subtlety, but we do have a few +tricks, one of whom is a code clerk +in the Macassar foreign office, and +from her we learned that you were +set for the preferred treatment: to +be let in easily, and then knocked +off in some painless way. Hence the +taxi, and the sneak ride here."</p> + +<p>He paused. "That's the situation +to date, gentlemen. Any questions?"</p> + +<p>Martin had been studying the +photograph. "At what altitude was +this taken?"</p> + +<p>The consul shook his head. "The +autorecorder was off. The observer +forgot to set it, in the rush."</p> + +<p>"Well, couldn't they estimate?"</p> + +<p>"They did, but it's obviously way +off. The pilot swears that he levelled +at 9,000, but that would make +these buildings a quarter of a mile +long, and the Buddha at least five<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +hundred feet. Unless you want to +believe that they have another Willow +Run on Yat, you can't take that +figure."</p> + +<p>Another pause. Finally Baker +spoke. "You said you had a guess."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have." Stimson seemed +reluctant to speak. "But it sounds +so damned fantastic I hate to tell it +to you—well, to be short, I don't +think that this Buddha is a statue."</p> + +<p>We all sat up. "Then what is it?" +This from Martin.</p> + +<p>"I mean, not a statue of stone +or masonry in the usual sense of the +term. I think that it is a portable +image of Buddha—an inflated gas +bag like they use in the Easter parade. +I think they intend to float +it in the air—perhaps tow it—to +impress the faithful. If the thing's +really 500 feet long, it may be a +blimp or a rigid airship with its +own motors. But, whatever the details, +I think our mystery is just a +piece of propaganda for Neo-Buddhism, +although a damned good +one, from the native standpoint."</p> + +<p>We all relaxed. This was an anticlimax. +Stimson had built us up to +something—just what, we were not +sure—and then had pricked the +bubble.</p> + +<p>"Well, it sounds reasonable," +Baker finally remarked, returning +the print to Stimson, "although not +particularly dangerous, and certainly +not worth risking our necks to +spy on. However, I don't think it's +good enough to explain all of the +supplies that have gone into Yat."</p> + +<p>The consul nodded. "Yes, that's +the rub. If they hadn't taken such +pains to conceal the thing, I'd be +inclined to call it just a cover for +something else."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it still is," said Baker.</p> + +<p>Stimson looked at us carefully, as +though making up his mind.</p> + +<p>"That is where you gentlemen +come in," he said finally. "I have +reason to believe that our picture +has tipped their hand, that they are +going ahead with whatever they +have planned in the next few days. +Someone's got to get to Yat first—someone +who can observe intelligently, +and speak the language. My +staff is all clerical, and there is no +chance to get any CIA men now. +You're the only ones available."</p> + +<p>He paused. We looked at each +other, and then at Baker. He +cleared his throat a couple of times, +took another squint at the photo, +and then spoke.</p> + +<p>"Speaking for myself, Stimson, +when do we leave?"</p> + +<p>"That goes for me too," said +Martin. Chamberlin and I nodded.</p> + +<p>Stimson seemed relieved. "I'd +hoped to hear that. In fact, I'd +have been considerably embarrassed +if you gentlemen hadn't +come through, because I have a seaplane +waiting right now to take +you to Yat."</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h2>II</h2> + + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> THE NEXT two hours passed +swiftly. Once the decision was +made, we all became so involved in +the details of preparation as to have +no more time for reflection, either +upon the nature of what we should +find on the island of Yat, or the +possible personal consequences of +our expedition.</div> + +<p>First Stimson briefed us on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +geography of our objective. Yat was +a volcanic island, one of a group +strung across the shallow sea east +of Borneo and north of Celebese. It +was almost circular, with a diameter +of about seven miles, and was +entirely covered by a dense tropical +forest. The principal feature of the +island was an extinct volcanic +crater, rising to an altitude of 2,000 +feet, at the east end of the island. +The crater measured about two +miles across, and perhaps a third of +its area was filled with water from +a narrow channel leading to the +sea. Photos taken before the closure +of Yat by the Indonesians showed +a typical Malay isle: cocoanut and +mango plantations, with forests of +gum and mahogany climbing and +filling most of the crater. The entrance +channel was narrow and +quite deep and the interior lake +constituted an ideally sheltered anchorage. +On the east coast the land +rose steeply in a series of mossy +cliffs over which waterfalls poured, +while to the west, away from the +volcano, plantations stretched inland +from the coral beaches.</p> + +<p>As we studied the pictures and +charts, Stimson briefed us on the +course of action.</p> + +<p>"Your first objective is to find +out what they're doing in that +crater. Are they building some new +weapon, or training an army, or +what. You'll have Geiger counters +and a krypton analyser of course, +although the analyser is no guarantee +in detecting fissionable material +production. Then we want to know +what their plans are, particularly in +the next few days or weeks. Finally, +just who is involved in it? Is New +Buddhism entirely Asiatic, as they +claim, or has Russia cut herself in +too?"</p> + +<p>"You will be landed on the west +coast of the island just after sunset. +The east, with its cliff and entrance +channel is undoubtedly too +well guarded, but on the west side, +with four miles of flat country, they +may depend on defense in depth, +so that you'll have a better chance +of getting past the beach. The +plane will come in low, make a +landing just off the breakers and +drop you off in rubber swim suits. +It will then taxi to the north of the +island and make a fairly long stop, +to divert attention, since it will certainly +be picked up by radar. Your +job will be to swim ashore, bury the +rubber suits, and make your way +east to the crater. If you reach the +rim, see what you can, and report +by radio at any hour. If you don't +make it to the top, observe as much +as possible on the island, make your +reports, and rendezvous with the +plane at your landing point at 2400 +the next day. If you miss that time, +a plane will be back daily at the +same time for four days. After that, +we will assume that you have been +caught."</p> + +<p>We were driven to the harbor in +the same disreputable taxicab +which had brought us to the consulate +a few hours before. Time was +a little past three in the afternoon +as the seaplane roared down a lane +in the swarm of junks, tramp +freighters and warships of the Indonesian +state. We hoped that we +were not too well observed; there +was no way of knowing until we arrived +on Yat, and the learning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +might not be too pleasant.</p> + +<p>The flight northeast from New +Macassar was uneventful. We +passed over a blue tropical sea, +dotted with island jewels. For a +time the low coast of the great island +of Celebes made a blue haze +on the eastern horizon, and then +we had the ocean to ourselves. At +dusk there were still two hundred +miles between us and Yat, a flight +of about forty minutes. Pulling +down the shades, lest the cabin +lights reveal us to a chance Indonesian +patrol, we busied ourselves +with packing the portable radio +equipment and putting on our +watertight clothing.</p> + +<p>The last fifty miles were made +on the deck—in fact, once or twice +the hull actually touched a wave-top. +The pilot extinguished the +cabin lights and we peered ahead +for a first glimpse of our objective. +The sky was clear, but the moon +would not rise until nine, so that +the only indication we had that Yat +was at hand was a slight deepening +in the tropic night ahead and to +the right, which the pilot said +marked Mount Kosan, the ancient +crater. But no sooner had we gotten +this vaguely orienting information, +than the flaps were lowered, the +plane slowed to under 100 miles +per hour, and we touched the water. +The co-pilot opened the side +door, and we crouched together +peering out. The plane taxied over +a choppy cross sea toward the +shadow of the island, while we +squinted through the salt spray. +Presently the engines dropped to +idle, and the rumble of surf became +audible.</p> + +<p>"Practically dead calm tonight," +said the co-pilot reassuringly. "Wind +usually dies out at sunset. You +won't have any trouble getting +through. Just watch your step when +you're ashore."</p> + +<p>"That's always good advice for +sailors," remarked Baker.</p> + +<p>As the plane lost headway, the +white line of surf and the silhouettes +of cocoa palms took shape. +Evidently the plantations came +right to the water's edge at this +point, a circumstance for which we +were all thankful. I was just turning +to Martin with some remark +about this when the pilot called +softly and urgently. "We're as close +as we can drift safely. Jump, and +good luck."</p> + +<p>"Righto, and thanks," came +Baker's voice, and then a splash. I +was next. I took a deep breath, +and clutched my rubber covered +bundle of radio gear. I leaped out +into darkness. An instant later I +was gasping for air beside Baker. +Two more splashes in quick succession +and then the engines picked +up speed, the dark shape of the +wing overhead moved off, and we +were alone.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> FOR A moment we swam in +circles, getting our bearings. +Baker had removed his glasses for +the jump, and so we depended +mainly on Martin for directions. +There was really no need for worry, +however, for it soon became apparent +that a strong onshore current +was bringing us in to the +breakers at a good clip. The line of +phosphorescence marking their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +crests was now hardly a hundred +yards away.</div> + +<p>With Martin in the lead we began +to swim. Presently one of the +swells picked us up quite gently, +moved us forward, and then suddenly +exploded into a foamy torrent +which tossed us head over heels +and left us gasping and spitting +sand on the beach.</p> + +<p>As quickly as possible we got into +the shelter of the first ranks of trees. +Here we dug a hole at the base of +a great cocoanut palm and buried +the rubber suits and cases of radio +gear, along with a small vial of +radium D. This had been provided +for us, along with the Geiger counter, +by the thorough Mr. Stimson as +a means for locating our cache +when we returned, if we should +miss our bearings.</p> + +<p>It was 7:45 when this chore was +completed. We had an hour and +twenty-three minutes to moonrise.</p> + +<p>Turning inland, we walked in +silence through the grove for a few +hundred yards, and then came +upon a road. This we recognized, +from our map study, as the main +coastal highway. We hurried across, +rather elated at the progress we +were making and a little surprised +at the lack of fences or other protective +devices on the island. Things +seemed just too easy.</p> + +<p>On the other side of the road we +encountered a rice paddy, which +made the going a good deal more +difficult. But after about ten minutes +of sloshing through this, we +came to a diagonal road, or rather +path which seemed to be going our +way. Thanks to this, by 8:45 we felt +the ground rising underfoot and +sensed a darker bulk in the shadows +ahead, which could only be Mount +Kosan itself. Here we came to our +first fence, an affair of steel posts +and barbed wire, which appeared +to be a guard against cattle, but +hardly more. After inspecting one +of the posts for signs of electrification, +we crawled under the bottom +wire and started up the slope.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure we're on the right +island?" asked Chamberlin. "From +the security measures I don't think +we're going to find anything more +secret than a copra plantation."</p> + +<p>Baker shushed him, and whispered +back, "We're on the right island, +but that's the only thing that's +right. This is simply too easy to be +true."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Martin, "Stimson +could be all wet. Maybe they're just +sculping a king sized Buddha after +all."</p> + +<p>The slope had now steepened considerably, +and further conversation +died out in the effort of climbing. +The volcano was heavily forested +all the way up with mahogany and +gum trees, and a dense undergrowth +of vines and ferns entangled +our feet. Twice we came upon rapidly +flowing streams.</p> + +<p>We were perhaps two thirds of +the way up when the moon appeared. +Its light didn't penetrate +very far into the dense foliage, but +it did enable us to make out the top +of the mountain, which took the +form of a vine covered outcrop of +lava. We altered our course slightly, +and at 9:50 P.M. the forest fell +away and we faced a rough wall of +rock some two hundred feet in +height.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>Before tackling this last obstacle, +we paused for a rest and some hot +coffee from the thermos which was +included in our equipment. Then, +at five minutes past ten, we started +the final ascent.</p> + +<p>The cliff proved to be more of a +climb than we had anticipated, and +the time was close to eleven before +we pulled ourselves up over the last +boulder and could look across the +crater to the other rim.</p> + +<p>The last few feet we negotiated +with the greatest caution. Martin, I +think, was first, and he pulled himself +on his belly across to the beginning +of the inner slope. He lay +quietly for a half minute, then muttered +something under his breath +which sounded vaguely like "I'll be +damned", and made way for Baker, +who was next. I squeezed in beside +him, and so we got a look into the +crater at the same time. Baker, being +a very self-contained man, made +no audible comment, but I must +have, for the sight which met our +eyes was certainly the last thing I +had expected to see.</p> + +<p>The crater of Mount Kosan was +filled with steel and concrete structures +of gargantuan size, and of the +most amazing shapes I had ever +seen. I say amazing, but I do not +mean in the sense of unfamiliar, on +the contrary these incredible objects +had the commonest shapes. +Had it not been for trees and normal +buildings to give the scene a +scale, I would have sworn that we +were looking into a picnic grounds +a hundred feet across instead of a +two mile diameter plain ringed by +mountains 2,000 feet high. The +buildings seen in the aerial photo +occupied only a small part of the +crater—all of the other structures +must have been concealed by +clouds.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> DIRECTLY below our perch +the rim dropped vertically +into deep shadows, as the moonlight +reached but half the crater. A thousand +yards west of us, where the +light first touched the floor, we +could make out several clumps of +brush or small trees, among which +was set a rectangular concrete surface +measuring perhaps four hundred +feet square, and resting on +hundred foot steel columns. Near +this, and partly supported by the +side of the mountain was what appeared +to be a great table, of roughly +the same area, but standing on +trussed columns the height of a +thirty story building. In front of +this was a chair, if by chair you understand +me to mean a boxlike +building twenty stories high, with a +braced back rising as far again. A +half mile along the rim was an +even larger structure whose dimensions +could only be measured in +fractions of miles, which resembled +nothing more than a vast shed built +against the cliff.</div> + +<p>Next my attention was attracted +to a number of objects lying upon +the platform immediately west of +us. One of these appeared to be a +steel bowl-like container some thirty +feet deep and a hundred in diameter, +like the storage tanks used in oil +fields. Nearby was an open tank +measuring perhaps fifty feet in each +dimension, and beside this were the +most startling of all—several hundred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +foot pieces of built-up structural +steel resembling knife, fork +and spoon.</p> + +<p>In retrospect, the deduction from +this evidence was obvious, but as +we stared down at this spectacle, a +sort of numbness took hold of our +minds. As a later comparison of +impressions verified, none of us +came remotely near guessing the +truth in those incredible seconds. +For what seemed like minutes we +just stared, and then the spell was +broken. Walt had squeezed in beside +me, where he gave vent to a +low whistle of amazement. Baker +shushed him, and then shifted to a +better position, in so doing knocking +a rock from the ledge. This +started a small avalanche which +went clattering down the cliff with +a sound, to our hypersensitive ears, +like thunder. We all froze in our +places, abruptly aware that the +moon illuminated us like actors in +a spotlight. For a good minute we +waited tense, and then gradually +relaxed. Baker started to say something +when without warning the +ground beneath us shook, starting a +score of rockslides. We recoiled +from the edge and braced for a +stronger earthquake shock. Then +suddenly Baker uttered a hoarse cry. +He was pointing—pointing down +into the blackness at our feet where +our eyes had as yet been unable to +penetrate. Something was there, +something vast and dim and shapeless +like a half inflated airship. Then +a part of it was detached and came +up almost to our level. It moved too +rapidly for any detail to be seen—our +only impression was of a vast +white column large as the Washington +monument which swung up into +the moonlight and then was +withdrawn. At the same time the +ground quivered anew, starting +fresh slides.</p> + +<p>We blinked stupidly for several +seconds, and then became conscious +for the first time of the sound. It +was like a vast cavernous wheeze at +first, and then a series of distinct +wet thuds followed by a prolonged +gurgling rumble. If these descriptive +phrases sound strange and awkward, +let me give assurance that +they are as nothing to the eerie +quality of the noises themselves. +We lay glued to our rocky perch, +hardly daring to breathe, until the +last windy sigh had died away.</p> + +<p>Baker found his voice first. +"Good God, it's something alive!"</p> + +<p>Chamberlin tried to reason. "It +can't be—why, it's two hundred +feet high—it's just a gas bag, like +Stimson said. It's—"</p> + +<p>He stopped. The thing had +moved again, more rapidly and +with purpose. The great column +rose, then pressed down into the +ground and pushed the main bulk +up out of the shadows. There was +a moment of confusion while our +senses tried to grasp shape and scale +at the same time, and then it all +came into focus as the thing arose +into the light. At one instant we +were sane humans, trying to make +out a great billowy form wallowing +in the darkness below. In the next +instant we were madmen, staring +into a human face a hundred feet +wide, that peered back at us from +the level of the cliff top! For a second +we were all still—we four, and +that titanic placid oriental face<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +hanging before us in the moonlight. +Then the great eyes blinked sleepily +and the thing started to move +toward us.</p> + +<p>I cannot recall in detail what +happened. I remember someone +screamed, an animal cry of pure +terror. It may have been me, although +Baker claims to be the +guilty one. In any case the four of +us arose as one and plunged headfirst +off our rock into the tangle of +brush at the top of the cliff. I think +that only the vines saved us from +certain death in that first mad instant. +I know that we were wrestling +with them for what seemed like an +eternity. They wrapped around my +legs, tangled in my arms. They were +like clutching hands, holding me +back in a nightmare-like struggle, +while the thing in the crater came +closer. Then abruptly I realized +that they <i>were</i> hands, human hands +seizing us, pulling us back from the +cliff and then skillfully tieing us up.</p> + +<p>It was all over in a moment. The +madness was ended. We were once +more rational humans, tied hand +and foot, and propped against the +rocky ledge in front of a dozen yellow-robed +men. For a time we just +breathed heavily—ourselves and +our brown skinned captors alike. +Then one of the latter spoke.</p> + +<p>"You can stand now, yes?"</p> + +<p>Baker struggled to his feet in reply. +The rest of us did likewise, aided +not unkindly, by the yellow-robed +men. Baker found his voice.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," he said. In the +brightening moonlight we looked +more carefully at our captors. They +were of small stature, evidently +Japanese, and, by their costume, +all priests.</p> + +<p>Baker laughed briefly and +glanced at the rest of us. "It would +appear," he said dryly, "that we +have been taken."</p> + + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h2>III</h2> + + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> THE LEADER of the priests +indicated by a gesture that he +wished us to move along a narrow +trail cut in the vines along the rim. +I attempted to get another look at +the horror within the crater, but +the ledge of rock down which we +had just fallen stood in the way. We +were guided into a pitch black trail +which descended steeply into the +forest on the outer slope of Mount +Kosan.</div> + +<p>I lost track of direction almost at +once. The trail zigzagged a couple +of times, and then I sensed that we +were in a covered passage. After a +few more steps and a turn, a light +appeared ahead, to show we were +walking in a concrete lined tunnel. +Our captors had split themselves +into two groups, a half dozen ahead +and an equal number behind. Soon +there appeared a metal door in one +wall, which proved to be the entrance +to an elevator. We all +squeezed in, and were taken down +a distance which surely must have +brought us near to the crater floor +itself. The door then opened, and +again we were escorted along a concrete +passage. There were many +turns. Our captors paused before a +narrow door with a tiny barred window. +This was unlocked, we were +directed to enter, and the door +clanked shut behind us.</p> + +<p>For the first few minutes no one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +had anything to say. We examined +the interior of our cell, but found +nothing more remarkable than concrete, +a small ventilator hole near +the ceiling, and a wooden bench +along the wall opposite the door.</p> + +<p>Martin found his voice first. "A +human being," he said slowly, "as +big as the Woolworth Building!"</p> + +<p>Chamberlin, apparently still involved +in his last abortive try at +reason said, "But it's impossible. +The laws of mechanics—why the +biggest dinosaurs were only eighty +feet long, and they had to be supported +by water. It's a mechanical +device, I tell you."</p> + +<p>"It could have been an illusion," +I ventured. "Perhaps an image projected +on a fog bank, or something +similar—" Neither Walt nor I were +very convincing—not with the +memory of that face fresh in our +minds. We all fell silent again.</p> + +<p>Several minutes passed, when +abruptly we became conscious of a +movement of the floor, slight but +repeated with regularity. A shake, a +pause of six or eight seconds, then +another shake. Baker stood on the +bench and put his ear to the ventilator. +He heard nothing. The movement +came again. Shake, pause, +shake, pause, like some distant and +monstrous machine. I was reminded +of the small earthquakes felt in +the vicinity of a heavy drop hammer. +Shake, pause, shake, pause, +and then a heavier jolt accompanied +by a distinct thud. After that, +quiet.</p> + +<p>"Obviously," Baker said, "they +knew all about us." He was evidently +thinking out loud. "Probably +picked us up on the beach, and +then just let us go on, clearing out +the guards ahead, and keeping near +enough to see that we didn't use +the radio. Why? Maybe to find out +how much we knew about the place +already. I daresay they know one +thing now: we never expected to +find—what we did. Which brings +us to our Buddha. The big question +is, is it mechanical or—alive?" He +paused. "I don't know—none of us +can know yet—but, I'm inclined to +believe the latter. Cady, what's your +opinion?"</p> + +<p>I had forgotten for the moment +that I was a zoologist. To tell the +truth, the whole thing had been a +little outside of the type of specimen +I was familiar with.</p> + +<p>"Its movements were lifelike," I +replied. "They suggest muscular +action rather than mechanical +drive. But, as Walt says, it's just not +possible. Nature has placed a limit +on the size of living creatures. The +strength of bones, the energy requirements, +the osmotic pressures +needed to move fluids through tissue. +Besides, where could it come +from? There have been giants—eight, +ten, maybe up to twelve feet—but +this thing is of a different +order of magnitude. It must weigh +millions of pounds. As a zoologist, I +can't believe that it's alive."</p> + +<p>Martin and Chamberlin had a +few more remarks of the same nature, +and then the conversation +died away. We waited. Eventually +they would come—the yellow-robed +ones. When they did, we +might learn more. I had little doubt +as to our ultimate fate, but in the +dulled condition of my senses, I +didn't seem particularly to care.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>My watch had been smashed in +the struggle, so that I had no idea +of how long they kept us in the cell. +It could not have been too many +hours, for the elementary needs of +nature had only begun to assert +themselves when the sound of a key +came from the door. We all stood +up. It was our conductor of last +night, the one who spoke pidgin +English.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, gentlemens," he +said with a bow. "You spend nice +night, yes? Get plenty sleep?"</p> + +<p>We did not reply. Still smiling +politely, he beckoned. "Now please +to come with me. Head Lama talk +to you now."</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> ONCE MORE we traversed the +interminable concrete corridors +of that subterranean city, but +this time we came out into a hall illuminated +by natural daylight. The +walls here were neatly plastered, +and the doors more ornamental.</div> + +<p>"Getting near the high brass," +murmured Chamberlin.</p> + +<p>The last hall was terminated by +a window and balcony, beyond +which the green of a distant hillside +could be seen. Before we +reached this, however, our guide +stopped at a heavy aluminum door +and directed us into a sort of ante-room, +occupied by uniformed +guards and a male receptionist. A +few words were exchanged in Japanese, +and the guards quickly and +expertly frisked us, although this +had already been done once. This +ceremony over, another door was +opened and we were admitted to a +large and sunny office, whose big +windows gave a panoramic view of +the whole crater.</p> + +<p>Our eyes were so dazzled by the +sudden burst of light, and our curiosity +was so great to see that fantastic +place by daylight, that we did +not at once see the man who sat behind +a desk opposite the windows, +watching us with an expression of +high amusement. Baker first noticed +him.</p> + +<p>"Phobat Rau! So you're back of +this, after all!"</p> + +<p>The other stood up. He was a +short man, evidently Burmese, and +wore a tan military uniform. His +smile revealed a bonanza of gold +teeth, while his thick lensed spectacles +glittered in the brilliant sunshine +streaming in through the windows.</p> + +<p>"It is a great pleasure to have you +here, Professor Baker, although +there is in the circumstances some +cause for regret. But all that in its +time. What do you think of our +Buddha?"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, Baker was glancing +about the room, and I saw that his +eye had alighted upon an instrument +just behind Rau's desk. A second +look showed it to be a tape recorder, +with the operating lamp on.</p> + +<p>"Until we have more data," replied +Baker, "our views are still as +you have them recorded."</p> + +<p>Phobat Rau laughed delightedly. +"You're a good observer, Professor. +Yes, I must confess I was curious +about your reactions to our charge. +So you doubt that he is alive?"</p> + +<p>Baker nodded. "Under the circumstances +last night, there was +every chance for a mistake, or a +hoax."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In that case, perhaps you would +like a second look. He's right across +the valley now, having his breakfast."</p> + +<p>We hastened to the window. +Rau's office, we found, was in a sort +of cliff house perched half way up +the northern side of the crater, and +commanded a view of the entire +area, now brightly illuminated by +the morning sunlight. We easily +identified the enormous furniture of +last night, against the west cliff +about a mile away. But we had little +interest in these structures, monstrous +as they were. For, sitting +cross-legged on the ground before +the low table, was the giant. At that +distance he did not look so huge—in +fact, with an effort we could almost +ignore scale and perspective +and imagine that he was a normal +human fifty feet distant. He appeared +a typical young Japanese, +his hair cut long in the old style, +and wearing a sleeveless tunic like +the statues of Buddha. His face was +smooth and serene, and he was eating +a white pasty looking substance +from his great steel dish, using a +big spoon. Even as we watched, he +finished the meal and stood up, +causing the whole building to sway +slightly. He glanced about for a +moment, his eye lingering briefly in +our direction, and then he walked +in a leisurely way to the lagoon, +where he bent over and rinsed out +his utensils. Returning to the table, +he placed them carefully in the position +we had noted last night. He +then straightened to his full height, +raised his great arms far up into the +morning air and began a series of +earth shaking calisthenics. After +about ten minutes of this he walked +over to the leanto structure, entered +and closed a curtain behind him.</p> + +<p>Rau, who had been watching us +with great amusement, offered an +explanation.</p> + +<p>"His reading room. Books on his +scale would be a bit difficult to +make, so he uses microfilm and a +projector. The microfilm," he added, +"is on eight by ten plates, and +the screen is two hundred feet +square."</p> + +<p>We returned to the desk and took +the seats Rau indicated.</p> + +<p>"So now," said our host, "you +would like to hear a word of explanation, +perhaps?"</p> + +<p>"Several, if you can spare the +time," answered Baker with a dryness +equal to Rau's.</p> + +<p>"It all began," began Phobat +Rau, "on a beautiful summer's day +in 1945, August 6, I believe, was +the exact date. Perhaps you recall +what happened on that day, in the +city of Hiroshima. If not, I will refresh +your memories. A bomb was +dropped on that day, a new type of +bomb. It caused a great deal of destruction, +and killed tens of thousands +of people. Some died at once +from the blast and heat, but many +more, who had escaped apparently +uninjured, developed serious illness +days later and died. The cause +you know, of course. It was called +radiation injury, the internal destruction +of cell structure by gamma +rays emitted by the bomb.</p> + +<p>"Many strange things happened +in that blast. In some, injury was +confined to particular parts of the +body, as the hair. Others were made +sterile, in fact, the reproductive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +function and apparatus seemed +particularly susceptible to the +rays. In many cases, the genes—those +vital units within the cell +which determine growth and structure +and all physical and mental +characteristics—the genes were altered, +so that children grew abnormally, +with deformities or mental +sickness.</p> + +<p>"But these things you well know. +Afterwards biologists and physicians +and geneticists came from all +parts of the world to study the effects +of the atomic bomb, and the +flow of learned papers on this subject +is not ended even now."</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> THE SPEAKER paused, as if +inviting some comment or +question. Seeing that we intended +to remain silent, he resumed.</div> + +<p>"There was one case, however, +which was not studied by western +scientists. In many respects, it was +the most interesting of all, for the +bomb blast and the accompanying +deluge of gamma radiation occurred +just at the instant of conception. +As usual, damage was sustained +by the genes, but this damage +was of a peculiar and highly +special sort. The only gene affected, +apparently, was the one controlling +growth, although, as you will see +presently, other structural and +chemical changes took place without +which the growth could never +have occurred.</p> + +<p>"The infant involved was a male, +named Kazu Takahashi. He was +born prematurely on March 26, +1946, with a weight of fourteen +pounds six ounces. The parents +were well to do, and the infant was +given the best of care, first in a private +hospital, and later in its own +home.</p> + +<p>"During the first few days of life, +little Kazu was apparently normal, +except for his prematureness and a +rather great weight for a seven-month +infant. And then the change +began. His nurse first noticed an increasing +appetite. He cried constantly +and would be silent only +when feeding. He emptied nursing +bottles in a few seconds, after he +learned to pull off the nipple, and +was soon consuming a quart of milk +every hour. The nurse humored +him, in order to keep him quiet, +and presently became afraid to tell +either the parents or the doctor just +how much milk her charge was +drinking. As the days passed and no +ill effects developed, she became +less worried, although the daily +milk ration had to be increased +twice, to 23 quarts a day on the +sixth day.</p> + +<p>"Kazu doubled his weight in the +first eleven days, and at the end of +two weeks tipped the scales at 39 +pounds. His pink tender skin was +now rapidly becoming normal in +color and texture, and he was behaving +more and more like an ordinary +child, although already of +startling size. By the fourth week he +was drinking 59 quarts of milk a +day and weighed 145 pounds. The +parents—by now thoroughly +alarmed—called in the doctor, who +at once realized the cause of the +abnormality. He could offer no suggestions, +however, save to continue +feeding at a rate to keep the child +quiet. This, by the sixth week,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +soared to the incredible figure of +130 quarts a day to feed a baby +now five feet tall and weighing 290 +pounds. At this point the Takahashi +family felt that their problem +was getting beyond them, and being +Buddhists, they appealed to the local +temple—it was not in Hiroshima, +but at a nearby town—for +assistance. The priests took the +child in, after a generous contribution +had been made by father Takahashi, +and for a time the embarrassing +matter seemed solved. The +Takahashis went on a three weeks +vacation to the south coast of Honshu, +and all was peaceful, externally +at least.</p> + +<p>"When the family returned, they +found a note under the door urgently +requesting their presence at +the temple. When they arrived, +they were met by a highly agitated +chief priest. Something had to be +done, he said. Things were getting +out of hand. He then took them to +the nursery. Here they beheld a +baby that would have been seven +feet eight inches tall if it could +stand, and which had weighed in +that morning on the platform scales +in the temple kitchen, at 670 +pounds. After hearing the details of +the milk bill, father Takahashi +wrote out another check and departed +hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"After the passage of three more +weeks, a delegation from the temple +again waited upon Mr. Takahashi, +with the news that his son now +measured 9 feet 3 inches in length, +weighed 1175 pounds, and consumed +the entire output of a local +dairy. They politely requested that +he take care of his own infant. Mr. +Takahashi as politely refused, and +at this point bowed out of our +story completely."</p> + +<p>Phobat Rau hesitated again and +inquired if his statistics were boring +us. Baker glanced out of the window +and replied that while he ordinarily +did not have much appreciation +of figures of this kind, under +the circumstances they had a +certain interest. Rau smiled briefly +and continued.</p> + +<p>"The summer of 1946 was one of +increasing difficulty for the temple. +By the beginning of July Kazu +weighed 1600 pounds and cried +with a voice like a wounded bull. A +number of trustworthy medical +men examined him, and concurred +that his only abnormality was size. +In bodily proportions he was quite +ordinary, and, for a 3-1/2 month +baby, his mental development was, +if anything, a bit ahead of normal. +The priests took in their belts, appointed +eight of the strongest as +nursemaids, and wondered where +it would all end.</p> + +<p>"It was at this point that a member +of the Buddhist priesthood from +Burma happened to pass through +the neighborhood and heard of the +infant. After being sworn to secrecy; +even from other members of his order, +he was allowed to view little +Kazu. Now this priest, whose name +I might as well admit was Phobat +Rau, had perhaps a bit more imagination +than some others, and when +he looked upon the little monster, +he was struck by an idea which was +to grow like Kazu himself."</p> + +<p>"The Living Buddha," murmured +Baker, "Ye Gods, what a +symbol."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rau nodded like a schoolteacher. +"A symbol, and more. A machine +to rebuild the world, or conquer +it!"</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> BAKER CHOSE to ignore this +leading remark. He wanted +more of the story.</div> + +<p>"So you took him over?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it was not so easy as that. +You see, I was only a young priest +then, and had no resources to undertake +such a project. But the +more I thought of the possibilities, +the more sure I was. But first I had +to convince others, and time was +short. The priests were near to +their limit, and were about to appeal +to the Americans. I secured +their promise to wait until I could +return to Burma, and then I flew to +Bangkok, to Rangoon, to every center +of Buddhism where I was +known. It was a sales trip, you +might say, and for a time I thought +that I had failed. But there were +also forces working for me. The +world was uncertain. The communists +were at the start of their triumphal +sweep over Asia, and the +leaders of our faith foresaw what +lay ahead. On the first of August, +1946, a delegation of priests from +eight Buddhist countries journeyed +to Japan to view Kazu, who was +now a lusty 4-1/2 months old, 12-1/2 +feet long and of 2914 pounds +weight. He was in fine health, and +when he slept the resemblance to +the infant Buddha was startling. +You gentlemen are worldly men, +and I pride myself upon freedom +from the more naive illusions of my +faith, but perhaps you can try to +imagine that our feelings were not +entirely those of ambitious schemers—that +perhaps within us was +some higher motive for the step we +took. Our poor suffering Asia was +in deeper misery than ever before, +for atop her own famine and war +had come also the troubles of the +west. Under the Red flag millions of +our deluded countrymen were taking +arms against their brothers. +Confused by a glib ideology, they +were daily turning more from the +religion of their fathers. Although +we did not speak it, we all felt inwardly +that perhaps there was a +purpose in this great infant—that, +though we made promises with +tongue in cheek, perhaps a miracle +would occur to fulfill them.</p> + +<p>"And so we arranged to transport +Kazu Takahashi from Japan +to a safe location where he might +grow to manhood, where he might +be suitably educated to take the +place that we would prepare for +him. The details of this move were +not difficult to arrange. A special +traveling crib 20 feet long was +built, and in this by truck, lighter +and motor junk he was carried by +easy stages to this island. Here we +established a great monastery, surrounded +by rice and fruit plantations. +Here we brought physicians +and scholars to care for him and +plan his education, and we built a +nursery to accommodate his increasing +bulk.</p> + +<p>"We did not know, of course, +what his final size would be. We +kept careful records of his growth, +but even after the first year he was +not more than ten times the normal +height. But year by year we had to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +revise our estimates, for his growth +soon accelerated beyond our wildest +expectations. For a time indeed +we feared that it would never stop +and that he would die of starvation +when the world could no longer +feed him. For a time also we were +sure that he would never be able +to stand, through the action of simple +mechanical laws relating to +weight and the size of bones, but +apparently nature has provided a +marvelous compensation, for his +bones, as revealed by X-rays, are of +a density and strength equal to that +of steel.</p> + +<p>"His feeding was always a problem, +although fortunately its increase +was not beyond our ability to +organize and plan. At first we supplied +him from plantations on Yat +and on neighboring islands. Then +we were forced to organize Neo-Buddhism +as an implement to solicit +contributions of food and +money. Perforce we took many into +partial confidence, but the complete +story was known only to those on +Yat.</p> + +<p>"On his first birthday Kazu was +29-1/2 feet long and weighed 30,100 +pounds. By his second birthday he +could walk, and now surpassed all +land animals save the monsters of +the Jurassic age, with a height to +51 feet and a weight of 158,000 +pounds. During 1949, while the +communists were overrunning +China, our Buddha grew from 70 +to 82 feet. In June of 1950, while +the world watched the flames of +war kindle in Korea, we saw him +exceed the capacity of our million +pound scale. In the year of 1950 +also we built his first schoolroom +and developed the system of projected +pictures and letters used in +his education.</p> + +<p>"In 1951, Buddha's increasing +appetite combined with the inroads +made by the communists upon our +territory brought a crisis. He was +now 200 feet tall, weighed seven +million pounds and ate as much as +75,000 men. In spite of all our efforts, +his food supply was dwindling +and, worse, the communists +were becoming suspicious. And so +we were forced to a decision. We +had to appeal to the western world. +But to whom? To America, or to +Russia? You all know the situation +in 1952, the time of the false peace. +We turned to Russia. They sent a +commission to investigate, and then +acted with dispatch. Russia would +feed our Buddha, but on a condition: +Neo-Buddhism must sponsor +communism.</p> + +<p>"We had no choice. Now that the +secret was out, Russia had Yat at +its mercy. So we agreed, but with +one reservation. We alone should +direct the education of Kazu. To +this Russia agreed. Perhaps they +considered that it was unimportant. +Perhaps they thought that Kazu +was an idiot, useful only as a symbol. +But they agreed, and so his education +continued in the tradition of +Buddhist scholarship. He is well +read, gentlemen. He knows the +classics of China, and of India, and +of the west also. I myself taught +him English. At the request of our +sponsors, he has studied Russian. +He is still young, but he has an inquiring +mind. When he takes his +true place in the world, he may not +always be the tool of the Kremlin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +But of these things even I am not +given to know."</p> + +<p>Rau paused, and indicated the +window. Buddha was emerging +from his leanto.</p> + +<p>"Look well, gentlemen. There +stands the hope of Asia. There is +the Living Buddha himself. He is +only 19 years of age, but he stands +590 feet high, and weighs +198,000,000 pounds. At first he will +be but a symbol, but soon he will be +much more. The time of compromise, +I promise you, will not last +forever."</p> + +<p>Rau stopped. We waited for him +to resume, but instead, he pressed +a button on his desk. Immediately +several members of the guard entered. +Rau now addressed us in a +new voice.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, you probably wonder +why I have spoken so frankly of +all of this. To be candid, to a certain +extent I wonder also. Perhaps +it is to get it off my chest, as you +say. Perhaps it is just pride in what +I have done. But whatever the reason, +the consequences for you are +regrettable. Your spying trip to Yat +alone is sufficient for death; what I +have told you makes your return a +complete impossibility. I am sorry, +particularly for you, Baker. We +shall do it as humanely as possible. +Good day."</p> + +<p>The guards, as upon a signal, +closed in on us. For a second I +thought insanely of flight, or a +plunge through the great windows +to certain death on the crags below. +But there was no chance. Before +any thought could be translated +into action we were back in the +corridor, escorted by an augmented +guard of priests, on our way back +to our cell, and death. A death that +would be—as "humane as possible".</p> + + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h2>IV</h2> + + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> IT WAS NOT until some minutes +after the steel door had clicked +shut that the full realization of our +predicament came to us. Rau's +story had been so fascinating, and +his manner so rational and civilized +that we all had forgotten that he +was of a race and ideology opposed +to all that we stood for, and that we +were spies caught red-handed in the +innermost shrine of Neo-Buddhism. +Even after twenty years of cold war, +all of our civilized instincts rose +against the idea that a suave brilliant +intellectual like Phobat Rau +could so cold bloodedly order our +deaths.</div> + +<p>But the awakening was at hand. +If we doubted Rau's intentions, one +look at the cold Mongol faces of the +guards was enough to dispel any +hope. Baker tried to sum it up.</p> + +<p>"No use trying to argue with him. +Fact is, we won't even see Rau +again. We could, of course, simply +call it quits and wait for them, but +I'd rather fight it out. Anyone have +an idea?"</p> + +<p>Martin hopped up on the bench +and studied the ventilator. He +reached one arm in as far as possible, +and reported that there was a +bend about a foot in. While he was +doing this, Chamberlin made a +minute investigation of the door, +but found that neither hinges nor +lock were accessible. There were no +other openings into the chamber<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +save the electric conduit which presumably +entered above the electric +fixture in the ceiling. Finally Baker +spoke.</p> + +<p>"Nothing we can do until they +come for us. We'd better plan +towards that, unless they're going +to gas us through the ventilator."</p> + +<p>This unpleasant thought had not +occurred to the rest of us before. +Martin returned to the opening and +sniffed, and then with happy inspiration, +he rolled up his jacket +and stuffed it in. Baker nodded approval.</p> + +<p>So the time passed. We listened +at the door for footsteps but none +came. Presently we became aware +of a now familiar sensation. The +floor commenced to shake gently +and regularly. We counted the +steps. There were twelve, and then +they stopped. Chamberlin calculated +mentally.</p> + +<p>"Say, about 250 feet per step. +That would be three thousand feet—six +tenths of a mile. Wonder +where—"</p> + +<p>Martin, still near the ventilator, +shushed him, and pulled the coat +out. Through the small hole we +heard a deep sound, a sort of low +pitched irregular rumble. Baker +suddenly jumped up and listened at +the opening. After a bit the sound +stopped. Baker became excited.</p> + +<p>"It was a voice," he explained. "I +think it was <i>his</i> voice. It was speaking +Japanese. I couldn't catch +many words, but I think he was +talking about us."</p> + +<p>Now the rumble came again, and +louder. A few words, a pause, and +then more words, as though he was +in conversation with someone +whom we could not hear. Baker listened +intently, but he could catch +only fragments, owing to his small +knowledge of Japanese and the extremely +low pitched articulation of +the giant. Presently the voice rose +to a volume which literally made +the mountain tremble, and then it +stopped.</p> + +<p>Baker shook his head. "Couldn't +make it out. I think he was inquiring +where we were, but it was too +idiomatic. I think he became excited +or angry at the last."</p> + +<p>"Fee, fi, fo, fum," said Chamberlin. +"Now wouldn't <i>that</i> be an interesting +end?"</p> + +<p>Martin laughed. "We wouldn't +even be enough to taste."</p> + +<p>As no one else seemed anxious to +pursue this subject further, we subsided +into a sort of lethargy. Even +plans for what we should do when +the guards came were forgotten. +And then, suddenly, the door was +opened.</p> + +<p>We all sprang to our feet. A +priest—in fact, the same one who +had brought us here originally—came +in. A squad of guards stood +outside.</p> + +<p>"Good afternoon, how are you? +Chief Priest ask me to tell you, +Buddha wish to see you. Please you +come with me." He politely indicated +the door.</p> + +<p>With a shrug Baker complied, +and the rest of us followed. Down +the hall we marched again, through +all of the turns of the morning and +so at last into the corridor which +ended in a window. This time we +passed the aluminum door and continued +right to the end. The window, +we now saw, was really a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +French door which opened to a +small balcony. Our guide opened +the door and pushed us out. The +balcony, we found, was about four +hundred feet above the valley floor, +but we did not spend much time +enjoying the view.</p> + +<p>Scarcely fifty feet in front of us +stood the Living Buddha!</p> + +<p>For a full minute we stared at +each other, and then I began to +realize that he was embarrassed! A +wrinkle appeared between his eyes +and he swallowed a couple of times. +Then he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Good afternoon, Professor Baker +and party. I am happy to meet +you."</p> + +<p>The voice, and particularly the +language, so startled us that for a +moment nobody could think of a +reply. The voice was a deep pulsing +rumble, like the tone of the biggest +pipes of an organ, and filled with a +variety of glottal wheezings and +windy overtones. I think it was +through these additional sounds +rather than the actual tones that we +could understand him at all, for the +fundamentals were surely below the +ordinary limits of human audibility. +What we heard and could translate +into articulate words was hardly +more than a cavernous whisper. +The important thing was that we +could understand him, and, more +than that, that he was friendly. +Baker made reply at last.</p> + +<p>"Good afternoon. We also are +happy, and most honored. How +should we address you?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Kazu Takahashi, +but I am told that I am also +Buddha. This I would like to discuss +with you, if you have time."</p> + +<p>"We have time for nothing else," +said Baker.</p> + +<p>Buddha's eyebrows raised slightly. +"So I was right. They are going +to kill you."</p> + +<p>Baker glanced at us meaningfully. +This giant was no fool. Suddenly +there came over me a little thrill +of hope. Maybe—but he was speaking +again.</p> + +<p>"I have not before had opportunity +to talk to men from west. +Only from China, Japan, Soviet +State. You will tell me of rest of +world?"</p> + +<p>"With pleasure," said Baker.</p> + +<p>I became conscious that the door +behind us was opening. I glanced +back, and saw Phobat Rau, surrounded +by guards and priests. He +gestured to us to come in. Baker +turned, while Buddha bent his head +closer to see also.</p> + +<p>Rau came to the door. "Come +back," he called urgently. "You are +in grave danger. You must come +in."</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> QUITE DEFINITELY I had no desire +to go in. Neither did Baker, +for he shook his head and moved +away from the door. Rau's face was +suddenly enraged. He made a quick +motion to the guards, and then +held them back. With an evident +effort he calmed himself and called +again, softly.</div> + +<p>"Please come in. I was hasty this +morning. I am sorry. I think now I +see a way for you to return safely, if +you will come in."</p> + +<p>For reply, Baker turned to the +giant. He climbed upon the rail of +the balcony.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Take us away from here, if you +wish to hear what we have to say. +Take us, or they will kill us!"</p> + +<p>In answer, Buddha extended one +hand, palm up, so that it was level +with the balcony. For an instant I +hesitated at the sight of that irregular +rough surface, big as a city +block, and then I heard steps behind +us and a click. With one accord +we leaped over the parapet +just as a scattered volley of pistol +shots rang out. We tumbled head +over heels down a rough leathery +slope into a hollow, and then the +platform lifted like a roller coaster. +In a second the balcony, the whole +hillside vanished and we went +rocketing up into the blue sky. A +gale of wind blew past, almost carrying +us with it, and then a portion +of the surface rose and became +thirty foot tree trunks which curled +incredibly over and around us, +forming a small cavern which shut +out the wind and held us securely +against falling.</p> + +<p>Buddha had closed his fist.</p> + +<p>For a breathless fifteen seconds +we were carried in darkness, and +then the great hand unfolded. It +was lying flat on an immense +smooth area of concrete, which we +presently identified as the higher of +the two tables. We got to our feet +and staggered to the edge of the +palm. Here we met another problem, +in the form of a rounded ten +foot drop-off to the concrete table. +As we stood looking down in dismay, +the other vast hand came up +from below, carrying a heavy sheet +of metal. This was carefully placed +with one edge on the hand and the +other on the table, forming a ramp. +Holding onto each other for mutual +support, we made our way to the +table and there literally collapsed. +Chamberlin became violently sick, +and none of the rest of us felt much +better. The giant carefully withdrew +both hands and watched us +from a distance of a hundred yards, +with only the head and upper part +of his body visible.</p> + +<p>From our position on the concrete +platform I now looked closely +at Kazu for the first time. My first +impression was not so much one of +size, as of an incredible richness of +detail. It was like examining a normal +human through a powerful microscope, +except here the whole was +visible at once. Even at a distance +of two hundred feet, the hair, the +eyelashes, the pores of the skin +showed up with a texture and form +which I had never noted before, +even in my studies as a biologist. +The general effect was most confusing, +for I would lose and regain +the sense of scale, first thinking of +him as an ordinary man, and then +realizing the proportion. The nearest +comparison that I can think of +is the sensation when standing very +close to a large motion picture +screen, but here the image is blurry +whereas I saw with a clarity and +sharpness that was simply unbelievable.</p> + +<p>Buddha seemed to realize our +condition, for he smiled sympathetically, +and waited until poor Walt +had recovered somewhat from his +nausea. Baker, as spokesman, renewed +the conversation. Walking a +few steps toward the front of the +enormous desk, he spoke in a loud +clear voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You have saved our lives. We +thank you."</p> + +<p>The great head nodded benignly, +and after a thoughtful pause, that +strange voice began.</p> + +<p>"My teachers have brought others +before me to lecture, but always +I know that they speak only as they +are told to speak. You are different. +I am glad that I saw you last night, +or I would never know that you +had come."</p> + +<p>He paused, evidently gathering +his thoughts for the next foray into +an unfamiliar language. Then he +leaned closer.</p> + +<p>"Phobat Rau has spoken to you +of my birth and life here?"</p> + +<p>Baker nodded, and then, realizing +that Kazu could not see such +a microscopic movement, he replied +orally.</p> + +<p>"He has told us your story in detail. +It is a marvel which we can +yet scarcely believe. But the greatest +marvel of all is that you speak our +language, and comprehend so +quickly."</p> + +<p>Kazu thought of this for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my teachers have done +well, I think. I have studied the +writings of many great men, but +there is yet much that I do not understand. +I think it is important +that I understand, because I am so +strong. I do not wish to use this +strength for evil, and I am not sure +that those whom my teachers serve +are good. I have studied the words +of the great Buddha, but now my +teachers say that I am to appear as +if I were Buddha. But that is an untruth, +and untruth is evil. So now I +hope that you will tell me the +whole truth."</p> + +<p>Kazu stepped back a quarter of +a mile, and then reappeared, dragging +his four hundred foot chair. +Sitting on this, he crouched forward +until his face was hardly a +hundred feet before us, and his +warm humid breath swept over us +like wind from some exotic jungle. +Baker took a moment to marshal +his thoughts, and then came forward, +threw out his chest and began +speaking as though addressing +an outdoor political meeting.</p> + +<p>How long Baker spoke I do not +know. He began by outlining history, +contrasting the ideals of +Buddha and other great religious +leaders with the dark record of human +oppression and cruelty. Kazu's +vast face proved most expressive of +his feelings as he listened intently. +When Baker came to the subject of +communism, he leaned over so far +backward in his effort to be fair +that I feared that he was overdoing +it, and would convince the giant in +the wrong direction.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> WHEN BAKER was only part-way +through his lecture, he +remarked that some point in geography +could be better explained by +a drawing, but that obviously he +could not make one large enough +for Kazu to see. At this the giant +laughed and pointed to his big +leanto.</div> + +<p>"Come," he said, "you shall draw +on a piece of glass and the light will +make it great that I may see."</p> + +<p>We were thereupon transferred +the mile distance to the building by +a reversal of our previous route:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +up the ramp to Kazu's ample palm, +a series of breathtaking swoops +through space, and we were in the +vast interior of the leanto.</p> + +<p>The furnishings of this study +room consisted of a chair, a sloping +writing desk and a screen fully two +hundred feet square on the wall +opposite the chair. Beside the chair +was a sort of bracket on the wall +which supported the projection +room. Kazu placed his hand level +with an elevated balcony leading to +this and we scrambled off. With +Baker in the lead, we opened the +door and entered the projection +room. It was larger than we had estimated +from outside, when we had +the immense furniture for comparison. +The dimensions were perhaps +forty feet on the side, and most of +the interior was taken up by shelves +on which were stored thousands of +films of book pages, maps, photographs +and diagrams of all kinds. +In the side facing the screen were +a number of ports and a battery of +movie and still projectors. One of +the latter was, we saw, adapted for +writing or drawing on the glass +slide while it was being projected. +We studied this for a moment, located +the special marking pencil, +and then I called out of the door +that we were ready.</p> + +<p>"Look also," replied Kazu, "you +will find device which magnify +voice. My teachers use this always."</p> + +<p>A further search disclosed a +microphone and the switch for a +public address amplifier. Baker +settled down to his now illustrated +lecture.</p> + +<p>After he had talked himself +hoarse, Baker asked each of the +rest of us to speak briefly on our +own specialties. I was the last, and +I was practically through when I +became aware that we were not +alone in the room. I gave Martin a +nudge, and turned from the microphone +to face eight of the uniformed guards, +led by our friendly +yellow-robed priest. Only now he +wasn't friendly, and he carried a +heavy automatic which was carefully +aimed right at us.</p> + +<p>"Very clever, gentlemen," he +said. "You took good advantage of +your chance with our simple giant, +did you not? Tried your best to +ruin the whole work of Pan-Asia +just to save your miserable skins. +Well, you shall not—"</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by the thunder +of Kazu's voice.</p> + +<p>"Please continue, Mr. Cady. I +find it most interesting. Why do you +stop?"</p> + +<p>I took a step toward the microphone, +but a menacing gesture with +the gun stopped me. I looked from +yellow-robe to Baker. After a moment's +hesitation, the latter spoke.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid, my friend, that you +have misjudged the situation. I +admit that we jumped into +Buddha's hand to escape from Phobat +Rau, but if you are familiar +with the expression, our leap was +from the frying pan into the fire. +Your giant is holding us prisoner, +and even now forces us to tell him +things on pain of death."</p> + +<p>The priest looked astonished, and +the gun barrel dropped slightly.</p> + +<p>"No one," continued Baker in a +sincere tone, "could have been +more welcome than you. But"—his +voice dropped and he took a step<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +toward the other—"we must be +careful. If he should even suspect +that you are here to rescue us, he +would crush this room like an egg!"</p> + +<p>The priest, now thoroughly +alarmed, glanced about nervously, +his automatic pointing at the floor. +The guards, who knew no English, +looked at each other in surprise.</p> + +<p>Baker took quick advantage of +the confusion.</p> + +<p>"We must not allow him to become +suspicious. I will continue +talking over the microphone while +your guards take my friends to +safety."</p> + +<p>With this he stepped to the +microphone and projector. The +priest seemed for an instant about +to stop him, and then he turned to +the guards and gave a series of +rapid orders. They advanced and +surrounded Martin, Walt and me, +and indicated by gesture that we +were to go with them to the walk-way +which led to the wall of the +great room. In panic I looked at +Baker, but he was bent over the +glass plate of the projector, drawing +something and speaking in his +precise clipped voice.</p> + +<p>"I shall now show you a map of +the United States and indicate the +principal cities. First, on the Atlantic +coast we have New York...."</p> + +<p>We were out of the room and on +the gallery. For a moment I +thought that Kazu might see us, +and then I realized that the whole +place was dark and that he was +concentrating on Baker's silly map. +Briefly I wondered what Baker was +up to anyway, but this sudden terrible +turn of events made any kind +of calm reasoning very difficult.</p> + +<p>Outside the projection room, +Baker's voice came booming over +the loudspeakers.</p> + +<p>"Chicago is located at the +southern end of Lake Michigan, +just west of Detroit, while St. +Louis—"</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> SUDDENLY the room lights +came on, and the whole structure +of the bridge shook as from an +earthquake. The guards ahead +abruptly turned and scrambled +back, knocking us over in their +haste. I grabbed the handrail for +support, and then became aware of +a vast blurry shape looming above +and of a hand as large as a building +that reached down toward the +guards, now halfway back to the +projection room. In a sort of +hypnotic horror I watched the +thumb and forefinger snap them +and a thirty foot section of railing +off into space. Then, very gently the +hand plucked the roof from the +projection room, exposing Baker +and the priest. Yellow-robe +dropped his gun and ran towards +a corner, but Baker neatly tripped +him and then stepped back for +Kazu to finish the job.</div> + +<p>A moment later Baker came out +onto the bridge. Martin tried to +frame a question.</p> + +<p>"What—how did he—?"</p> + +<p>Baker grinned and pointed silently +at the screen. We looked and +understood. Where a map of the +United States should have been was +a scrawled message in English: +"Priests here taking us captive."</p> + +<p>We returned to our lecturing, but +after what had happened neither<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +we nor Kazu felt much like concentrating +on geographical or other +general facts. We all knew that Rau +had not given up. For the moment +we were protected by Kazu's immense +power, but there were some +doubts in our minds as to how long +this might last. After all, Rau was +his lifelong mentor and protector. +For the moment the young giant +seemed to have taken a liking to us, +but perhaps it was only a passing +whim. Presently Rau would assert +his authority and Kazu, his curiosity +satisfied, would hand us over—in +exchange, perhaps, for supper.</p> + +<p>After about fifteen minutes more +of lecturing, Kazu interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Soon will be sunset. Suggest we +return to privacy of high table to +discuss next move."</p> + +<p>The transfer took less than a +minute. The afternoon, we saw, +was indeed far gone. None of us +had realized how long we had been +in the projection room. Once we +were safely back on the table, Kazu +addressed us, using his softest voice, +which was a hurricane-like whisper.</p> + +<p>"Phobat Rau plans for me to go +soon to head armies of Asia in fight +against west. My study of history +has raised doubts of rightness of +such war, and what you say +strengthen these. Now I must see +for myself, without guidance or interference +from Rau. But I need +assistance, to direct me how I shall +go. I believe you will be fair. Will +you help me?"</p> + +<p>For a moment the incongruity of +that last question prevented our +grasping the full implication of +Kazu's statement. Then Baker, evidently +realizing that this was no +time for philosophic quibbling, +signified our assent. Kazu proceeded +at once to practical plans.</p> + +<p>"Tonight I sleep in usual place, +where you disturbed me with small +rock slide. But you must stay awake +by turns to guard against capture. +In morning you direct my steps +away from Yat to mainland of +Asia, where—"</p> + +<p>He stopped. Seeing the direction +he was looking, we hastened to the +edge of the table. Far below, on the +ground, was a railroad train surrounded +by a small crowd of priests. +For a moment we were puzzled, +and then we saw that the train was +made up entirely of gondola cars +such as are used to carry coal and +other bulk cargo. But these cars, a +dozen in number, contained a white +substance which steamed. We did +not require more than one guess. +The train brought Kazu's supper.</p> + +<p>The giant made a slight bow of +thanks to the delegation at his feet, +and proceeded carefully to empty +the cars into his dish. Then, instead +of squatting at his low eating table, +he brought the dish and other +utensils up to our level and dumped +a ton or so of steaming rice at our +feet. Evidently he wished us to +share his supper. We had no tools +other than our hands, but since we +had not eaten in almost twenty-four +hours, we did not stop for the +conventions. Scooping up double +handfuls of the unseasoned stuff, +we fell to even before Kazu had +gotten his ponderous spoon into +position. Suddenly, Baker yelled at +us.</p> + +<p>"Hold it!" He turned to Kazu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +who had a spoonful poised halfway +to his mouth. "Kazu, don't eat. +This rice is doped!"</p> + +<p>I took a mouthful of the rice. +There was not much flavor—only a +little salt which I guessed came +from seawater. I explored the stuff +with my tongue, and presently noticed +a familiar taste. It took me a +moment to place it. Yes, that was it. +Barbiturate. The stuff in sleeping +pills.</p> + +<p>Kazu bent his great face over us. +Baker briefly explained. Kazu appeared +at first puzzled. He dropped +the spoon into the dish and pushed +it away from him. His brow +wrinkled, and he glanced down at +the ground. Walking to the edge, +we saw that the group of priests +were standing quietly around the +engine, as though waiting for something. +What they were waiting for +evidently struck Kazu and us at the +same time. Kazu leaned toward +them and spoke in Japanese. His +voice was angry. Baker tried to +translate.</p> + +<p>"He says, 'how dare you poison +Buddha'—Look, they're running +off—"</p> + +<p>The next second things happened +too rapidly for translation or even +immediate interpretation. Kazu +spoke again, his voice rising to an +earth shaking roar at the end. The +little men below were scattering in +all directions, and the train started +to back off down its track. Suddenly +Kazu turned and picked up his +hundred foot steel dish. He swept it +across the table and then down in +a long curving arc. There was an +earth shaking thud and where the +running figures and the train had +been was now only the upturned +bottom of the immense dish. Priests +and cars alike were entombed in a +thousand tons of hot rice!</p> + +<p>Kazu now turned to us. "Come," +he said, "Yat is not safe, even for +Buddha. Now we must leave here +at once."</p> + +<p>He extended his hand towards +us, and then, with another thought, +turned and strode to the leanto. In +a moment he returned carrying +the projection room, with a tail of +structural steel and electric cables +hanging below. This he placed on +the table and indicated that we +were to enter. As soon as we were +inside, Kazu clapped on the roof +and picked up the stout steel box. +We clung to the frame supporting +the projectors, while a mass of +slides, film cans and other debris +battered us with every swooping +motion. We could not see what was +going on outside, but the giant +seemed to be picking up a number +of things from the ground and from +inside the leanto. Then he commenced +a regular stride across the +crater floor. Now at last we got to +a window, just in time to glimpse +the nearby cliff. On the rim, some +hundreds of feet above I saw a +group of uniformed men clustered +about some device. Then we were +closer and I saw that it was an antiaircraft +gun, which they were trying +to direct at us. I think Kazu must +have seen it at the same moment, +for abruptly he scrambled up the +steep hillside and pulverized gun, +crew and the whole crater rim with +one tremendous blow of his fist.</p> + +<p>I got a brief aerial view of the +whole island as Kazu balanced momentarily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +on the rim, and then we +were all thrown to the floor as he +stumbled and slid down the hillside +to the level country outside of +the crater.</p> + + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h2>V</h2> + + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> UP UNTIL this moment we had +been engaged in an essentially +personal enterprise, even though its +object was to secure information +vital to the United Nations. From +this time on, however, the personal +element was to become almost completely +subordinate to the vast +problems of humanity itself, for, +as we were to soon find, we had +tied ourselves to a symbol that was +determined to live up to all that was +claimed or expected of him, and +further, who depended upon our +advice. The situation for us was +made much worse because at first +we doubted both his sincerity and +good sense—in fact, it was not until +after the Wagnerian climax of the +whole thing that we at last realized, +along with the rest of the world, +exactly what Kazu Takahashi believed +in.</div> + +<p>Kazu crossed the flat eastern half +of Yat in less than a minute, evidently +wishing to get out of range +of Rau's artillery as quickly as possible. +His feet tore through the +groves as a normal man's might +through a field of clover; indeed, he +experienced more trouble from the +softness of the ground than from +any vegetation. As we were soon to +learn, one of the disadvantages of +Kazu's size lay in the mechanical +properties of the world as experienced +by him. Kazu stood almost +600 feet high, or roughly 100 times +the linear dimensions of a normal +man. From the simple laws of geometry, +this increased his weight by +100³ or 1 million times. But the area +of his body, including the soles of +his feet which had to support this +gigantic load, had increased by but +100², or ten thousand times. The +ground pressure under his feet was +thus 100 times greater, for each +square inch, than for a normal +man. The result was that Kazu sank +into the ground at each step until +he reached bedrock, or soil strong +enough to carry the load.</p> + +<p>At the beach he hesitated briefly, +as though getting his bearings, and +then waded into the ocean. The +surf which had used us so violently +was to him only a half inch ripple. +He strode through the shallows and +past the reef in a matter of seconds, +and then plunged into deeper +water. From our dizzy perch, now +carried at hip height, we watched +the great feet drive down into the +sea, leaving green walls of solid +water about them.</p> + +<p>Although we did not realize it at +the time, we later learned that +Kazu's wading forays were attended +by tidal waves which inundated +islands up to a hundred miles +away. This trip across a twenty mile +strait swamped a dozen native fishing +craft, flooded out four villages +and killed some hundreds of people.</p> + +<p>We fared better than some of +these innocent bystanders, for Kazu +carefully held our steel box above +the sea, and presently lurched +through shallow water to the dry +land.</p> + +<p>The new island was larger than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +Yat, and entirely given over to rice +growing for Kazu's food supply. He +threaded his way easily among the +paddies, up through some low hills, +and then down a narrow gorge into +the sea again.</p> + +<p>Ahead lay a much more extensive +body of water. The sun was now +hardly fifteen degrees above the +horizon, and its glare plus a bank of +clouds made it difficult to see the +distant land. Kazu raised our room +to the level of his face.</p> + +<p>"Is that Island of Celebes?"</p> + +<p>Baker started to pick up the +microphone, and then abruptly +realizing that it was dead, he +shouted back from the projection +port.</p> + +<p>"I think it is. Let me look for a +chart."</p> + +<p>Kazu waited patiently while we +searched, placing the room on a +hilltop to give us a steadier platform. +We all began a mad scramble +in the mass of debris. Kazu removed +the roof to give more light, +but it soon became clear that there +wasn't much hope. All that we +could find were thousands of slides +of the Chinese classics. At last we +gave up. When we told Kazu this, +he looked across the water and +wrinkled his brow. We could sense +the reason for his anxiety, for the +distant shore could hardly be less +than seventy miles away. Mentally +I reduced this to terms I could understand. +Seven tenths of a mile, of +which an unknown percentage +might be swimming.</p> + +<p>Kazu's voice rumbled down to +us, "I would prefer to wade. I cannot +swim well." He peered down +into our roofless box anxiously.</p> + +<p>"If we only had one chart," began +Baker, when Walt, who had +been rummaging near the projector +window, called to us.</p> + +<p>"Take a look over there, just +around the point."</p> + +<p>We saw the prow of a ship. There +was a moment of terror lest it be an +Indonesian coast patrol, and then +we saw that it was just a small +island steamer of a thousand tons +or so, chugging along less than two +miles offshore.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> I THINK that the idea hit us all +at the same instant. Baker, as +spokesman, called to Kazu. The +giant, for the first time, grinned at +us. Then he picked up our box and +waded into the ocean.</div> + +<p>I don't think the people in the +little ship even saw us until we were +practically upon them, because of +the mist and sunset glare. What +they thought I can only imagine, +for the water was little more than +knee deep and Kazu towered fully +four hundred feet above it. Then a +hand as big as the foredeck reached +down and gently stopped them by +the simple expedient of forming a +V between thumb and fingers into +which the prow pushed. I heard +the sound of bells and saw tiny +figures scurrying about on the deck. +On the opposite side a number of +white specks appeared in the water +as crewmen dove overboard. Our +box was now lowered until its door +was next to the bridge. We leaped +aboard, under cover of a great hand +which obligingly plucked away the +near wall of the pilot house. We +entered the house just as the captain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +beat a precipitate retreat out +the other side, and after a moment +in the chartroom we found what we +wanted. While Martin stood watch +at the far door, we took advantage +of the electric lights to examine the +chart of the east coast of Celebes. +That island, we found, was only +sixty miles away and the deepest +sounding was less than six hundred +feet. Kazu could wade the whole +distance.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> THE NAUTICAL charts did not +show much detail for the interior +of Celebes, but from our elevation +we could see enough of the +terrain to guide Kazu quite well. +The course which Baker plotted +took us across the northern part of +the big island, and far enough inland +to avoid easy detection from +the sea. As the day progressed, the +sky gradually filled with clouds, +promising more rain, so that I +doubt if many people saw us. Those +who did, I suspect, were more interested +in taking cover than in interfering +with Kazu's progress.</div> + +<p>The journey across Celebes took +only a couple of hours, and so, by +noon, we stood on the shore of the +strait of Macassar, looking across +seventy-five miles of blue water to +the mountains of Borneo.</p> + +<p>It was not until now that Baker +explained what he had in mind in +choosing this particular route.</p> + +<p>"We're going to Singapore," he +said. "Get under the protection of +the Royal Navy and Air Force +before the commies spot us and +start dropping bombs and rockets. +If Buddha wants to see the world, +he'd better start by getting a good +bodyguard."</p> + +<p>Kazu seemed agreeable when appraised +of this plan, and so we began +to plot a more detailed route +over the 1,100 miles between us and +the British crown colony. We stood +at the narrowest part of the strait, +but unfortunately most of it was +too deep for Kazu to wade. +Reference to the charts showed that +by going 250 miles south, we would +reduce the swim to about 30 miles, +or the equivalent of some 500 yards +for a normal man. To this was +added a wade of 120 miles through +shallows and over the many small +Balabalagan Islands.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Kazu's hand swept +down and came up with a 60-foot +whale, which he devoured in great +gory bites. After this midocean +lunch, Kazu resumed his wading. +In the middle of the strait the +depth exceeded five thousand feet, +and he had to swim for a time, after +fastening our box to his head by +means of the trailing cables.</p> + +<p>At length the sea became shallow +once more, Kazu's feet crunched +through coral, and the coast of +Borneo appeared dimly ahead. We +were all taking time for the luxury +of a sigh of relief when Chamberlin +screamed a warning.</p> + +<p>"Planes! Coming in low at three +o'clock!"</p> + +<p>Fortunately Kazu heard this also, +although the language confused +him. Precious seconds were wasted +while he held the box up to his face +for more explicit directions. The +planes, a flight of six, were streaking +towards us just above the wavetops. +We could see that they carried torpedoes,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +and it was not difficult to +guess their intentions.</p> + +<p>"Go sideways!" Baker yelled, but +Kazu did not move. He simply +stood facing the oncoming aircraft, +our box held in his left hand at +head level, and his right arm hanging +at his side, half submerged. +Either Kazu was too frightened to +move, or he did not understand the +danger. The planes were hardly a +half mile away now, evidently holding +their fire until the last moment +to insure a hit. What even one torpedo +could do I didn't dare to +contemplate, and here were twelve +possible strikes. After all, Kazu was +made of flesh, and after having seen +the effect of TNT on the steel side +of a ship, I had little doubt as to +what would happen to him.</p> + +<p>Now the last seconds were at +hand. The planes were closing at +five hundred yards, the torpedoes +would drop in a second.... But +suddenly Kazu moved. His whole +body swung abruptly to the left and +at the same time the right hand +came up through the water. We, of +course, were pitched headlong, but +we did briefly glimpse a tremendous +fan of solid green water rising up +to meet the planes. They tried to +dodge but it was too late. Into the +waterspout they flew, all six with +their torpedoes still attached, and +down into the ocean they fell, +broken and sinking. It was all over +in a moment. We were so amazed it +was moments before we could +move.</p> + +<p>Kazu turned and resumed his +stroll toward Borneo without a single +backward glance at the havoc +wrought by his splash.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> AS WE entered the foothills +I became conscious for the +first time of a curious change. It +was a psychological change in me, +a change in my sense of scale. We +had been carried so long at Kazu's +shoulder level, and had grown so +accustomed to looking out along his +arms from almost the same viewpoint +as his, that we were now estimating +the size of the mountains +as though we were as large as Kazu! +It is difficult to express just how I +felt, and now that it is all over, the +memory has become so tenuous and +subtle that I fear I will never be +able to explain it so that anyone +but my three companions could understand. +But this was the first moment +that I noticed the effect. The +mountains were suddenly no longer +4,000 foot peaks viewed from +a plane 500 feet above ground level, +but were forty foot mounds with a +six inch cover of mossy brush, and +I was walking up their sides as a +normal human being! The change +was, as nearly as I can express it, +from the viewpoint of a normal human +being under extraordinary circumstances +to that of an ordinary +man visiting a miniature world. +The whale to me was now a fat +jellyfish seven inches long, the +Chinese warplanes were toys with +an eight inch wingspread, the little +steamer of yesterday was a flimsy +toy built of cardboard and tinfoil. +We had, in effect, identified ourselves +completely with Kazu.</div> + +<p>And so we climbed dripping from +the Straits of Macassar, and entered +the mists and jungles of Borneo.</p> + +<p>Our course toward Singapore +carried us across the full width of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +southern Borneo, a distance, from a +point north of Kotabaroe to Cape +Datu, of almost six hundred miles.</p> + +<p>After about an hour, the blue +outlines of the Schwanner Mountains +appeared ahead and presently +we passed quite close to Mt. Raya, +which at 7,500 feet was the greatest +mountain Kazu had ever seen. +Then, dropping into another valley, +we followed the course of the +Kapuas River for a time, and finally +turned west again through an +area of plantations. Here Kazu +made an effort to secure food by +plucking and eating fruit and treetops +together. The result was unsatisfactory, +but presently we came +upon a granary containing thousands +of sacks of rice. The workmen, +warned by our earthquake approach, +fled long before we reached +it. Kazu carefully removed the corrugated +iron roof and ate the whole +contents of the warehouse, which +amounted to about a handful. The +sacks appeared about a quarter of +an inch in length, and seemed to +be filled with a fine white powder.</p> + +<p>Following this meal, Kazu +drained a small lake, getting incidentally +a goodly catch of carp, although +he could not even taste +them. Then, since it was now late in +the afternoon, he turned northwest +to the hills to spend the night.</p> + +<p>The last part of the journey was +almost entirely through shallow +water—three hundred miles of the +warm South China Sea. Baker +planned to make a before dawn +start, so that we might be close to +the Malay Peninsula before daylight +could expose us to further attack. +Kazu suggested pushing on at +once, but Baker did not think it +wise to approach the formidable +defenses of Singapore by night. +And so for a second time we sought +out an isolated valley where Kazu +could snuggle between two soft +hills, and we could get what sleep +was possible in the wreckage of the +projection room.</p> + +<p>The China Sea passage was made +without incident. We started at +three A.M. in a downpour of rain, +and by six, at dawn, the low outline +of the Malay Peninsula came into +sight. We made our landfall some +forty miles north of Singapore, and +at once cut across country toward +Johore Bahru and the great British +crown colony.</p> + +<p>The rice paddies, roads and other +signs of civilization were a welcome +sight, and I was already relaxing, +mentally, in a hot tub at the officers +club when the awakening came. It +came in the form of a squadron of +fighter planes carrying British +markings which roared out of the +south without warning and passed +Kazu's head with all their guns firing. +Fortunately neither his eyes nor +our thin shelled box was hit, but +Kazu felt the tiny projectiles which +penetrated even his twelve inch +hide. As the planes wheeled for another +pass he called out in English +that he was a friend, but of course +the pilots could not hear above the +roar of their jets. On the second try +two of the planes released rockets, +which fortunately missed, but this +put a different light on the whole +thing. A direct hit with a ten inch +rocket would be as dangerous as +a torpedo. Baker tried to yell some +advice, but there was no chance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +before the planes came in again. +This time Kazu waved, and finally +threw a handful of earth and trees +at them. The whole squadron +zoomed upwards like a covey of +startled birds.</p> + +<p>By the time we had reached a +temporary haven, Kazu was thoroughly +winded, and we were battered +nearly insensible. Baker, in +fact, was out cold. Kazu slowed +down, and then finding no directions +or advice forthcoming, he +resumed a steady dogtrot to the +north. Martin and I tried to draw +Baker to a safer position beside the +projector, but in the process one of +the steel shelves collapsed, adding +Martin to the casualty list. Walt +and I then attempted to drag the +two of them to safety, but in the +midst of these efforts a particularly +hard lurch sent me headfirst into +the projector, and my interest in +proceedings thereupon became nil. +Walt, battered and seasick, gave up +and collapsed with the rest of us. +Further efforts at communication +by Kazu proved fruitless. Buddha +was on his own.</p> + + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h2>VI</h2> + + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> I AWOKE with a throbbing +headache to find the steel room +motionless, and warm sunshine +streaming into my face. Looking +around, I saw that my three companions +were all up and apparently +in good shape. Baker was the first +to notice that I was awake, and he +came over immediately.</div> + +<p>"Feel better?" he inquired cheerfully.</p> + +<p>He helped me up and I staggered +to the window. The room was +perched, as usual, on a hilltop, but +the vegetation around was not +tropical jungle. I turned to the +others, noting as I did that the +room was cleaned up.</p> + +<p>"Where—" I started, with a +gesture outside. Baker stopped me +and led me to an improvised canvas +hammock.</p> + +<p>"You really got a nasty one," he +said. "You've been out two days."</p> + +<p>"Two days!" I tried to rise, but +the effort so increased the headache +that I gave up and collapsed into +the hammock.</p> + +<p>"Just lie quiet and I'll bring you +up to date." Baker drew up an +empty film box for a seat. "I was +knocked about a bit myself, you +know, and by the time I came +around, our friend had trotted the +whole length of the Malay Peninsula +and was halfway across +Burma."</p> + +<p>"But the people at Singapore," +I began, "Don't those fools know +yet—"</p> + +<p>"Things have changed," said +Baker. "The biggest change has +been in Buddha's mind. He took +our advice and almost got killed +for his pains. Now he's on his own."</p> + +<p>I tried to look through the open +door. Baker shook his head.</p> + +<p>"He's not here. No—" this in +answer to my startled look, "just off +for a stroll, towards China this time, +I think. Yesterday he visited Lhasa. +Said it's quite a place. Talked to the +Lamas in Tibetan, and they understood +him. He calls it playing +Buddha."</p> + +<p>Baker got up and searched +among the maps, finally finding one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +of southeast Asia. He spread it out +before me, and placed a finger +rather vaguely on the great Yunnan +Plateau between Burma and China.</p> + +<p>"We're here, somewhere. Buddha +doesn't know exactly, himself. He +made it to Lhasa by following the +Himalayas, and watching for the +Potala. I hope he'll find his way +back this time—be a bit awkward +for us if he doesn't."</p> + +<p>He stepped outside and brought +in some cold cooked rice and meat.</p> + +<p>"Kazu brought us a handful of +cows yesterday. They were practically +mashed into hamburger. I +guess you'd call this pounded +steak."</p> + +<p>I ate some of the meat and settled +back to rest again. Presently I dozed +off.</p> + +<p>When I awakened it was dark +and Kazu was back. Martin had +started a big campfire outside, evidently +with Kazu's aid, for it was +stoked with several logs fully eight +feet in diameter and was sending +flames fifty feet into the sky. Kazu +himself was squatting directly over +it, staring down at us. When I came +to the door, he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Ah, little brother Bill. I am so +sorry that you were hurt. I am +afraid I forgot to be gentle, and +that is not forgiveable in Buddha."</p> + +<p>I made an appropriate reply, and +then waited. Evidently he had as +yet told nothing of his day's expedition. +Finally he plucked a roasted +bullock from the fire and popped it +into his mouth like a nut.</p> + +<p>"Today," he said, "I visit Chungking, +Nanking, Peking. I think +I see hundred million Chinese. I +know more than that see me. Also I +talk to them. They understand, for +miles. They expected me. As you +say, brother Llewelyn, Rau has excellent +propaganda machine. +Everywhere they hail me as Buddha, +come to save them from war +and disease and western imperialism. +I speak to them as Buddha; +today, I am Buddha."</p> + +<p>Baker glanced at us meaningfully +and murmured, "I was afraid of +this." But Kazu continued.</p> + +<p>"Today all of China believes I am +Buddha. Only you and I know this +is not so, but we can fight best if +they believe."</p> + +<p>"Have you eaten?" inquired +Martin. Kazu nodded.</p> + +<p>"At every temple they collect rice +for Buddha. Many small meals +make full belly. But," his face +wrinkled with concern, "many +thousands could live on what I eat +today. China is so poor. So many +people, so little food. I must find +ways to help them." He paused, +and then resumed in a firmer tone.</p> + +<p>"But not in communist way. Rau +was right about western imperialists, +but he named wrong country. +Russian imperialists have enslaved +China. First we must drive communists +from China. Then I can +help."</p> + +<p>"Amen," said Baker softly. Then, +to Kazu....</p> + +<p>"We've been trying to do just +that for years. But how can you +fight seven hundred million people?"</p> + +<p>"Don't fight—lead them."</p> + +<p>It sounded so simple, the way +he said it. Well, maybe he could. +But now Baker had more practical +questions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What does the rest of the world +think about all this? Have you +talked to any Europeans, or heard +a radio?"</p> + +<p>Kazu shook his head. "But I +caught communist General. He tell +me Russia sending army to capture +me. He say only hope is for me to +surrender, or Russian drop atom +bomb on me. Then I eat him."</p> + +<p>We must have showed our +startled reaction, for Kazu laughed.</p> + +<p>"Not much nourishment in communist. +I eat him for propaganda—many +people see me do it. Effect +very good." He paused. "Not tasty, +but symbolic meal. China is like +Buddha, giant who can eat up enemies."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do +next?" asked Baker.</p> + +<p>"That is question. I need more +information. Where is leadership in +China I can trust? What will Russians +do? How long for British and +Americans to wake up?"</p> + +<p>"You're not the only one asking +these questions," said Baker. "But +maybe you can get some answers."</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> BEFORE Kazu could continue, +Chamberlin held up his +hand for silence. We listened, and +presently heard above the crackle of +the great bonfire, the throb of an +airplane engine. Kazu heard it too, +for he suddenly arose and stepped +back out of the light. We four also +hastened into the shadows and +peered into the dark sky. The approaching +aircraft displayed no +lights, but presently we saw it in +the firelight—a multi-jet bomber +bearing American markings. We +rushed back into the illuminated +area and danced up and down, +waving our arms. The huge plane +swung in a wide circle and came in +less than five hundred feet above +the hilltop. I could make out faces +peering down at us from the glassed +greenhouse in front. As it roared +past, one wing tipped slightly in the +updraft from the fire, and then +suddenly the plane stopped dead in +its tracks. The jets roared a deeper +note as they bit into still air, and +then very slowly and gently the +great ship moved back and down +until it rested on its belly beside our +steel box. Not until it was quite +safe on the ground did Kazu's +hands release their hold on the +wings, where he had caught it in +midair.</div> + +<p>The eleven crew men from the +B125 came out with their hands in +the air, but their expressions were +more incredulous than frightened. +Baker added to the unreality of the +situation by his greeting, done in +the best "Dr. Livingstone-I-presume" +manner.</p> + +<p>"Welcome to Camp Yunnan. +Sorry we had to be so abrupt. I'm +Baker, these are Chamberlin, +Martin, Cady."</p> + +<p>"I'm Faulkner," replied the leader +of the Americans automatically, +and then he abruptly sat down and +was violently sick. We waited patiently +until he could speak again.</p> + +<p>"My God, I didn't believe it +when we heard." He was talking +to no-one in particular. "One minute +we're flying at 450 miles per +hour, the next we're picked out of +the air like a—like a—"</p> + +<p>He gave up. Kazu came into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +firelight and squatted down, quite +slowly. Baker introduced him.</p> + +<p>"Colonel, I'd like you to meet +Kazu Takahashi." The American +arose and extended his hand, and +then dropped it abruptly to his side. +Kazu emitted a thunderous +chuckle.</p> + +<p>"Handshake is, I fear, formality +I must always pass up, even at risk +of impoliteness."</p> + +<p>I think that the language, and +particularly the phrasing, jolted the +airmen even more than the actual +capture. Colonel Faulkner kept +shaking his head and murmuring +"My God!" for several moments, +and then pulled himself together. +"So the story's really true after all," +he finally said. "We got it on the +radio day before yesterday at +Manila. It was so garbled at first +that nobody could make any sense. +Ships reported thousand foot men +wading in the ocean. New Macassar +radio reported that Buddha was reincarnated, +and then denied the +story. Announcements of a pitched +battle at Singapore, and frantic reports +from every town on the peninsula. +Then a statement by some +Lama on Macassar that the British +had kidnaped Buddha, had him +hypnotized or doped, and were using +him to exterminate China."</p> + +<p>He paused and looked up at +Kazu, who had bent down until +his face was only a hundred feet +above us.</p> + +<p>"Part of it is true," said Baker. +"There was a giant wading in the +ocean. As to the rest, I fear we have +caught the red radio without a +script. I'll tell you the story presently, +but just now there are more urgent +things to do. Is your radio +working?"</p> + +<p>Faulkner nodded and led us towards +the plane. Baker continued.</p> + +<p>"Briefly, Kazu is a mutation produced +by the Hiroshima bomb. He's +been groomed for twenty years to +take over as the world's largest puppet, +but it turns out he has a mind +of his own. We just happened +along, and are going on for the +ride. Want to join the party?"</p> + +<p>The Colonel grinned for the first +time as we all squeezed into the +radio compartment of the plane.</p> + +<p>"I like travel," he said. "It's so +broadening."</p> + +<p>The radio was not only operative, +but proved most informative as +well. Every transmitter on earth, +it seemed, was talking about the +giant. In the course of an hour we +listened to a dozen major stations +and got as many versions of the +story. The communist propaganda +factory had obviously been caught +flat footed, for their broadcasts +were a hopeless mixture of releases +evidently prepared for the planned +introduction of Buddha to the +world, and hastily assembled diatribes +against the capitalist imperialists +who had so foully captured +him. Some of the Russians apparently +were not in on the secret of +Buddha's dimensions, for they +described in detail how a raiding +party of eighty American commando-gangsters +had landed by +parachute on Yat, seized Buddha, +and taken him away in a seaplane.</p> + +<p>Before we went to sleep that +night, Kazu extinguished the fire +so that no one else would be attracted +as the Colonel had been.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> NEXT morning the first question +concerned transportation. +Colonel Faulkner naturally +did not want to leave his plane, +particularly since it was undamaged, +but a takeoff from our narrow +mountain ledge was obviously +impossible, so he regretfully ordered +his crew to unload their personal +effects for transfer to our box. At +this point Kazu stepped in.</div> + +<p>"If you will enter your airplane +and start jets," he said, "Buddha +will serve as launching mechanism."</p> + +<p>Before the takeoff, the Colonel +transferred his spare radio gear to +our box, along with an auxiliary +generator, and we agreed on a +schedule to keep in touch. Then +Kazu gently picked up the bomber, +raised it high above his head and +sent it gliding off to the north. The +engines coughed a couple of times +and then caught with a roar. Colonel +Faulkner wagged his wings and +vanished into the haze.</p> + +<p>Our plan was to follow the +plane east to the Wu River, and +then north to its meeting with the +Yangtze, which occurs some seventy +five miles below Chungking. +While the B125 cruised around us +in a great circle, we loaded our belongings +into the box, and Kazu +picked us up and signalled the +plane that we were ready. Colonel +Faulkner's intention had been to +circle us rather than leave us behind +with his superior speed, but +in a moment it became clear that +this would not be necessary. Kazu +set off down the canyon at a pace +better than three hundred miles per +hour, and the Colonel had to gun +his motors to keep up.</p> + +<p>We passed only a few small +towns on the Wu. Kazu had been +here before, and had evidently +stopped to talk and make friends, +for we observed none of the fright +which had formerly greeted his advent. +Instead, crowds ran out to +meet us, waving the forbidden Nationalist +flag and shooting off firecrackers. +Kazu spoke briefly in +Cantonese to each group, and then +hurried on. Baker explained that +he was giving them formal blessings, +in the name of Buddha.</p> + +<p>An hour's time brought us to +Fowchow, on the mighty Yangtze +Kiang. Here Kazu turned left, +wading in the stream, and negotiated +the seventy odd miles to +Chungking in fifteen minutes.</p> + +<p>The distance from Chungking to +Hankow is somewhat more than +five hundred miles. For much of +this distance the Yangtze is +bounded by mountains and rocky +gorges, but in the final 150 miles, +the hills drop away and the river +winds slowly through China's lake +country. Kazu made good time in +the gorge, but his feet sank a hundred +feet into the soft alluvial soil +of the lowlands and he had constantly +to watch out for villages +and farms.</p> + +<p>Buddha had not visited Hankow +before, but he was expected. +Even before the city came into +view, the roads were lined with people +and the canals and lakes +jammed with sampans. Just outside +of the city we noticed a small +group of men in military uniform +under a white flag. We guessed +that they represented the communist<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +city government, and so did +Kazu, for he set our box beside the +group and ordered the spokesman +to come in for a parlay. The unfortunate +officer who was picked +obviously did not relish the idea, +particularly after Martin cracked +in English, "He doesn't look fat +enough." Giving Martin a glare, he +drew himself up stiffly and said, +"General Soo prepared to die, if +necessary for people of China."</p> + +<p>The communist General showed +somewhat less bravado after the +stomach turning ascent to the six +hundred foot level, but he managed +to get off a speech in answer +to Kazu's question. As before, +Baker gave us a running translation.</p> + +<p>"He says welcome to Hankow. +The people's government, ever responsive +to the will of the citizens, +joins with all faithful Buddhists in +welcoming Buddha, and in expressing +heartfelt thanksgiving that +rumors claiming Buddha to be a +puppet of western imperialists are +all false. Now he's saying that there +is to be a big party—a banquet—for +Buddha, in the central square. +Rice has been collected and cooked, +and a thousand sheep slaughtered +to feed hungry Buddha."</p> + +<p>Kazu replied formally that while +he appreciated the hospitality of +the people of Hankow, he could +not accept food from the enemies +of China. These words, which were +clearly audible to the entire city, +were greeted with cheers by the +throng below. The General took +this in, thought about it a moment, +and then made a neat about face.</p> + +<p>"General Soo," said he stoutly, +"was communist when he believed +communism only hope for China. +You have changed everything. +General Soo now faithful Buddhist!"</p> + +<p>"May I," said Baker with a grin, +"be the first to congratulate General +Soo on his perspicacity."</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> AS THE General had promised, +there was a great banquet +spread. In spite of Soo's protestations, +Baker insisted on sampling +each course rather extensively +for sleeping potions or poison, +but either the idea had not occurred +to the communists, or there +hadn't been enough time, or poison +available.</div> + +<p>For the most part the civil government +of Hankow joined with +General Soo in a loudly declared +conversion to Buddhism without +communist trappings. In spite of +Baker's skepticism, I believed that +most of them were quite sincere. At +least, they sincerely wanted to be on +the side with the most power, and +for the time being at least, Kazu +seemed an easy winner. General +Soo, in particular, insisted on making +a long speech in which he declared +the Russians to be the true +"western imperialists", now unmasked, +who since the days of the +first Stalin had sought to enslave +China with lies and trickery. Baker +shook his head over this, and privately +opined that Soo was a very +poor fence straddler: such remarks +went beyond the needs of expediency, +and would probably completely +alienate him from the +Kremlin. However, the crowd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +thought it was all fine.</p> + +<p>Kazu replied with a short, and +generally well planned statement of +his policy.</p> + +<p>"Those who follow me," he concluded, +"have no easy path. They +must be strong, to throw off the +yoke of those who would enslave +them, but they must be merciful to +their enemies in defeat, even to +those who but a moment before +were at their throats. For though +we win the war, if we at the same +time forget what we have fought +for, then we have indeed lost all. I +proclaim to all China, and to her +enemies both within and without +our borders, that the faith of Buddha +has returned, and that interference +in China's affairs by any +other nation will not be tolerated."</p> + +<p>Colonel Faulkner had landed at +the Hankow airport and now, +with his crew, shared our private +banquet on the terrace of the city's +largest hotel, only a few hundred +feet from where Kazu squatted. +Under cover of the cheering and +speechmaking, he relayed to us +some news which he had heard on +the radio, which was not quite so +rosy.</p> + +<p>It seemed, first, that the Chinese +III Army, under General Wu, had +declared itself for Buddha, and +was engaged in a pitched battle +with the Manchurian First Army +north of Tientsin. The communist +garrison at Shanghai, where there +was a large population of Russian +"colonists", had holed in, awaiting +attack by a Buddhist Peoples Army +assembled from revolting elements +of the II and VII Corps at Nanking. +A revolt at Canton, far to +the south, had been put down by +the communists with the aid of air +support coming directly from Russia. +The most ominous note, however, +was a veiled threat by old +Mao himself that if mutinous elements +did not submit, he might call +upon his great ally to the east to +use the atomic bomb. Mao spoke +apparently from near Peking, +where he was assembling the I and +V Armies.</p> + +<p>We digested this news while +Kazu finished the last of his 1000 +sheep. We all cast anxious glances +into the sky. Soviet planes at Canton +meant that they could be here +also, and Buddha, squatting in a +glare of light in the midst of Hankow, +was a sitting duck for a bombing +attack.</p> + +<p>As soon as the main part of the +formalities were over, Baker managed +to get Kazu's attention, and +informed him of the situation. +Kazu's reaction was immediate +and to the point.</p> + +<p>"We do not await attack. We go +north to free our brothers, and to +instruct our errant General Mao in +Buddha's truth."</p> + +<p>By the time we were packed and +in our travelling box, the time was +eight-thirty. Reference to our map +showed the airline distance from +Hankow to Peking to be about +630 miles, and Buddha, greatly refreshed +by the food and rest, promised +to reach the capital by eleven.</p> + +<p>To make walking easier, Baker +plotted a route which avoided the +lowlands, particularly the valley of +the Yellow River, in favor of a +slightly longer course through the +mountains to the east. We started<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +northwest, splashing through the +swamps and lakes around Hankow +at first, and presently reached +firmer ground in the Hawiyang +Shan. We followed the ridge of +these mountains for a time, and +then dropped to the hilly country +of Honan Province. At first the +night was very dark, but presently +the light of a waning moon made +an occasional fix possible, although +navigation was confusing and uncertain +at best.</p> + +<p>We splashed across the Yellow +River at ten o'clock, somewhere +east of Kaifeng, and for a time were +greatly slowed by what appeared +to be thick gumbo.</p> + +<p>Our speed improved once we got +up into the rugged Taihang Mountains. +Here also we felt safer from +air observation or attack, although +Kazu was soon panting from the +exertion of crossing an endless succession +of fifteen to thirty foot +ridges. This was indeed rough +country, terrain which had protected +the lush plains of China for +centuries against the Mongols. +Here the great wall had been built, +and presently, in the moonlight, we +saw its trace, winding serpentlike +over the mountains.</p> + +<p>We followed the Wall for almost +two hundred miles—all the way, in +fact, to the latitude of Peking—before +we swung east again for the +final lap to Mao's capital.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> DURING the last hour we +trailed an antenna and listened +in on the world of radio. +The news was not good. The +Shanghai garrison had sprung a +trap on their disorganized attackers, +and were marching on Nanking. +Mao's armies were closing the +southern half of a great pincers on +Wu's troops, and only awaited the +dawn to launch the final assault. +Worst of all, there had been reports +of increasing Soviet air activity +over the area; a major air +strike also apparently would come +with daylight.</div> + +<p>We were scarcely halfway from +the edge of the city to the moated +summer palace when a small hell +of gunfire broke out around Kazu's +feet. He jumped, with a roar of +pain, and then lashed out with one +foot, sweeping away a whole city +block and demolishing the ambush. +Limping slightly, he made the remaining +distance by a less direct +route and at last stood at the moat +before the palace. The ancient +building, and, indeed, everything +about, was quite dark. Kazu peered +about uncertainly, and then raised +our box to ask for advice. Baker +was pessimistic.</p> + +<p>"I don't think you'll find General +Mao here. But at this stage of +things, I don't believe it would matter +if you did. The decision will be +made tomorrow by the armies."</p> + +<p>Kazu stepped carefully over the +moat and wall, and sat down +wearily in the gardens of the summer +palace. We peered with interest +at the foliage, marble bridges +and the graceful buildings, illuminated +only by ghostly moonlight. +With Kazu squatting among them, +they looked like models, a toy village +out of ancient China. I wished +that a picture might be taken, for +surely never before had Buddha<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +been in so appropriate a setting.</p> + +<p>While Kazu rested, we examined +his feet. A number of machine gun +bullets had entered his foot thick +hide, and there was one wound a +yard long from which oozed a sticky +gelatinous blood. There did not +appear to be any serious damage, +although the chances of infection +worried us. In any event, there was +nothing we could do except douse +it with buckets of water from the +moat. Kazu thanked us formally, +as befitted a deity, and added, as +though talking to himself,</p> + +<p>"Now is the most difficult time. +How can I bring peace without +the use of violence? I can appear +before these armies and command +them to stop. But what if they do +not obey? Should I use force? Oh, +that I were really the Great Lord +Buddha—then I would have the +wisdom, the knowledge that is a +thousand times more potent than +giant size. Oh Buddha, grant me +wisdom, if only for a moment, that +I may act rightly."</p> + +<p>Presently the giant stretched out +full length in the garden and, while +we kept guard, slept for a time.</p> + +<p>The first pale glow of dawn appeared +soon after five, and we were +preparing to awaken Kazu when +Martin held up a warning hand. +We listened. At first we heard nothing, +and then there came a deep +drone of jets. Not a single plane, +not even a squadron. Nothing less +than a great fleet of heavy aircraft +was approaching Peking from the +west. Baker fired his automatic repeatedly +near Kazu's ear, and presently +his rumbly breathing changed +and he opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Planes," said Baker briefly. "It's +not safe here. Better get moving."</p> + +<p>Kazu sat up, yawning, and we +climbed into the box. The giant +took a long draught from the nearest +fishpond and tied our cage to +his neck and shoulder so that both +of his hands would be free.</p> + +<p>By this time the noise of the +planes had increased to a roar, +which echoed through the silent +city. Kazu arose to his full height +and waited. A pinkish line of light +had now appeared along the eastern +horizon which, I realized with consternation, +must silhouette the +mighty tower of Kazu's body to +whomever was coming out of the +western shadows.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop">AND THEN then we saw them. A +great fleet of heavy bombers, +flying high, far beyond even Kazu's +reach. Baker seized the glasses to +look, and then gave a cry of warning. +The leading plane had +dropped something—a black +spherical object above which blossomed +a parachute. I think that +Kazu realized what it was as soon +as we, but he still stood quietly. +Baker lost whatever calm he had +left and screamed, "Run, run—it's +the H-bomb!" but still Kazu +did not move. In a moment another +of the deadly spheres appeared, directly +over us, and then a third. +Now at last Kazu moved, but not +toward safety. He walked slowly +until he was directly beneath the +first bomb, and reached up, until +his hand was a thousand feet in the +air. Down came the bomb, quite +rapidly, for the parachute was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +very large.</div> + +<p>"What's the matter with the +fool," yelled Martin. But now Baker +seemed to get Kazu's idea.</p> + +<p>"It has barometric fusing—it's +set to detonate at a certain altitude. +If that's below a thousand feet, and +Kazu can catch it, it won't go off!"</p> + +<p>Martin started something about +detonation at two thousand feet, +when Kazu gave a slight jump and +his hand closed about the deadly +thing, as though he had caught a +fly. We cowered, expecting the flash +that would mean the end, but nothing +happened. In Kazu's crushing +grip the firing mechanism was reduced +to wreckage before it could +act. When Buddha opened his +palm, it contained only a wad of +crumpled metal inside of which +was a now harmless sphere of plutonium.</p> + +<p>In quick succession Kazu repeated +this performance with the +other two bombs, wadded the +whole together and flung it to +the ground. Then he turned to the +north.</p> + +<p>By the time we had cleared the +city, it was quite light, and we could +see a dark pall of smoke in the +northeast. The armies which had +been poised last night had finally +met, and a great battle was underway. +Kazu hurried towards it, and +presently we could hear the crackle +of small arms fire and the heavier +explosions of mortars and rockets. +It took a moment or so for Kazu to +get his bearings. Evidently we were +approaching Mao's legions from +the rear. Still keeping from the +roads to avoid killing anyone, Kazu +advanced to near the battle line, +and there stopped.</p> + +<p>"My brothers," his voice thundered +above the heaviest cannon, +"my poor brothers on both sides, +listen to me. Stop this killing. Stop +this useless slaughter. No one can +win, and all will—"</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a blinding +flash of light, a thousand times +brighter than the newly appeared +sun. It came from behind us, and +in the terrible instant that it remained +we could see Buddha's +enormous shadow stretching out +across the battlefield. Kazu stopped +speaking and braced his shoulders +for the blast. Subconsciously I was +counting seconds. Four, five, six, +seven—A sudden, insane hope +gripped me. If we were far enough +from the burst—and then the blast +hit us, and with it, the sound. Kazu +pitched forward a hundred yards, +and stumbled on as far again. Then +he recovered. One hand reached behind +him, to the back that had +taken the full brunt of heat and +gamma radiation, and a half animal +cry escaped from his lips. Over +his shoulder we got a glimpse of +the fireball, of the fountain of color +which would presently form the +terrible mushroom cloud. The +thunder of the explosion reverberated, +and was replaced by silence. +The crackle of rifles, the thud of +field pieces had ceased. From our +perch we looked down at a scene +straight from Dante's Inferno. +About Kazu's feet was a shallow +ravine in which a thousand or so +communist troops had taken cover. +These were now scrambling and +clawing at the sides like ants trying +to get away. Vehicles were abandoned,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +rifles thrown away. A few +had been burned, but it seemed +that for the most part the soldiers +had been sheltered from direct +radiation by the wall of their canyon, +and by Kazu's great shadow.</p> + +<p>For an eternity, it seemed, Kazu +stood there, swaying slightly, one +hand still pressed against his back, +while the little men writhed about +his ankles. Then, quite slowly, he +raised one foot. I thought that he +was going to walk away, but instead, +the foot moved deliberately +until it was directly over the ravine, +and then, like a tremendous pile +driver, it descended. A faint and +hideous screaming came up to us, +which abruptly ended. The foot +came up, and again descended, +turning back and forth in the yielding +earth. Slowly Kazu brought his +hand up, and lifted our box so that +he could look at us. As he did so, I +saw that half of his hand was the +color of charcoal, and I smelled a +horrible odor of tons of burnt flesh. +Now at last he spoke, in a voice +that we could scarcely understand.</p> + +<p>"Guide me," he said, "Guide me, +Baker. Guide me to Moscow!"</p> + + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h2>VII</h2> + + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> KAZU walked quite slowly +from the battlefield. His gait +was unsteady, and at first we feared +that he would collapse. We could +not tell how deep the burns were, +nor whether he was internally hurt +by the blast. He appeared to be suffering +from some kind of shock, for +he did not speak again for a long +time. But gradually he seemed to +gather himself together, and we became +almost convinced that the +shock was more psychological than +physical, and that even the atom +bomb was powerless against his +might.</div> + +<p>We did not remain to see the outcome +of the battle, but presently +Martin turned the radio on. The +news at first was fragmentary. +Word that a Russian plane had +atom bombed the new Buddha +spread across China, and with it +ended the last shreds of communist +prestige. The armies which had +been pro-communist turned on +their officers. Mao himself was +murdered on the battlefield before +Kazu was out of sight. The former +red defenders of Shanghai massacred +twenty thousand hapless +Russian emigrants. All across Asia +the story was the same, a terrible +revulsion. At first it was believed +that Buddha had died instantly; +later rumor had it that he had +crawled off to Mongolia to die.</p> + +<p>Radio Moscow at first was silent. +The horror of what had been done +was too much even for that well +oiled propaganda machine. At last +a line was patched together: the +bomb had been dropped by an +American plane, bearing Russian +markings. Then Radio Peking announced +that Chinese fighters had +shot it down and that the crew was +Russian. To this Moscow could +think of only one reply: Radio +Peking was lying; the station had +been taken over by the Americans! +A little later another Moscow +broadcast announced solemnly that +the whole story was wrong—Buddha +hadn't been there at all!</p> + +<p>All the time that this confused<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +flood of talk was circling the globe, +Kazu Takahashi, still clinging to +the battered steel projection room, +was striding across Siberia, staggering +now and then, but still maintaining +a pace of better than three +hundred miles per hour.</p> + +<p>At first he simply walked westward +without any directions from +us. By ten o'clock he had put a +thousand miles between him and +the coast and was well across the +southern Gobi desert. Now Baker, +who had been almost as stunned +as Kazu, began to look into his +maps. He had nothing for central +Asia as detailed as the charts we +had used in Borneo and Celebes, +but he presently found a small scale +map that would do. With this he +identified the snowy range of +mountains now towering on our +left as the Nan Shan, northernmost +bastion of Tibet. He hurriedly +called to Kazu to turn northwest +before he entered the great Tarim +Basin, for the western side of that +vast desert was closed by a range +of mountains 20,000 feet high. +Even with the new course, our altitude +would be above six thousand +feet for many miles.</p> + +<p>At noon we were paralleling another +mighty range, the little +known Altai Mountains, and at one +o'clock we passed the Zaisan Nor, +the great lake which forms the +headwaters for the Irtysh River. +Here Kazu paused for a drink, and +to rinse his burns with fresh water. +Then we were away again, this time +due west over more mountain tops, +avoiding the inhabited lowlands. At +three-thirty the hills dropped away +and there appeared ahead the infinite +green carpet of the Siberian +forest. Kazu stopped again at another +lake, which Baker guessed +might be Dengiz. At four-thirty we +crossed a wide river which we could +not identify, and then at last commenced +to climb into the foothills +of the southern Urals. Just in time +Baker discovered that Kazu's +course was taking him straight toward +the industrial city of Magnetogorsk. +We veered north again +into the higher mountains and then +turned east to the forests.</p> + +<p>We were sure now that Kazu +must be delirious, but after a while +he stopped at the edge of a lake.</p> + +<p>"How far are we from Moscow?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"Twelve hundred miles, more or +less," said Baker. "You can make it +by nine, maybe ten, tonight."</p> + +<p>Kazu shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No. Tonight I must rest, gather +strength. We start two AM, arrive +Kremlin at sunrise. We catch them +same time they catch me. No warning +whatever."</p> + +<p>Kazu lay down on the swampy +lake bottom while we huddled on +the floor of the box, courting sleep +which never came.</p> + +<p>At one o'clock we at last gave it +up, and Baker fired his pistol until +Kazu stirred. While he was awakening +we listened to the radio. +Things had calmed down quite a +bit, and as we pieced the various +broadcasts together, an amazing realization +came over us. Everyone +believed that Kazu was dead! Evidently +no word of our trip across +all of central Asia had been received! +Search planes, both Soviet +and Chinese, were combing the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +eastern Gobi for the body.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop">OTHER news included a war +declaration by China upon +the Soviet Union, and the announcement +that the Russian Politbureau +had scheduled a meeting +in the Kremlin to consider the +emergency.</div> + +<p>We passed all of this on to Kazu, +whose grim face relaxed for the +first time in a fleeting grin.</p> + +<p>"Good reporters. Know what are +most savory items. Now guide me +well, and away from towns until +we reach it."</p> + +<p>The trip across the Urals and the +plains of European Russia retains a +nightmare quality in my mind, +comparable only with that first +night on Yat. Even Baker, who +plotted the course, can remember +it little better. Now and again we +caught glimpses of the dim lights +in farms, and once we saw the old +moon reflected in the Volga. Much +of the low country was covered +with ground fog, which reached to +Kazu's waist; this, combined with +the blackout which had been ordered +in every town, made observation +by us or the Russians either +way difficult. A few people saw +Kazu, and their reports reflect a +surrealist madness; those who had +the horrifying experience of suddenly +meeting Buddha in the early +morning mists were universally incapable +of making any coherent report +to the authorities.</p> + +<p>And then, just as the ghostly +false dawn turned the night into a +misty gray, we saw ahead the towers +of Moscow. Now Kazu increased +his speed. Concealment +was no longer possible; he must +reach the Kremlin ahead of the +warning.</p> + +<p>At 500 miles per hour Buddha +descended upon Moscow. His +plunging feet reduced block after +block of stores and apartment +houses to dust, and the sky behind +us was lighted more brightly by +the fires he started than by the dull +red of the still unrisen sun. Now at +last I heard the tardy wail of a siren +and saw armored cars darting +through the streets. On the roof of +an apartment house I glimpsed a +crew trying to unlimber an antiaircraft +gun, but Kazu saw it also, and +smashed the building to rubble with +a passing kick.</p> + +<p>And then we were at the Red +Square. St. Basil's at one end, the +fifty foot stone walls of the Kremlin +along one side and Lenin's Tomb +like a pile of red children's blocks. +Kazu stood for a moment surveying +this famous scene, his feet sunk +to the ankle in a collapsed subway. +It was my first view of the Red +Square, and somehow I knew that +it would be the last, for anyone. +Then Kazu slowly walked to the +Kremlin and looked down into it. +I remember how suddenly absurd +it all seemed. The Kremlin walls, +the very symbol of the iron curtain, +were scarcely six inches high! The +whole thing was only a child's playpen.</p> + +<p>But now Kazu had found what +he wanted. Without bothering to +lift his feet, he crushed through the +walls, reached down and pulled the +roof from one of the buildings. He +uncovered a brightly lighted ant-hill.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +Like a dollhouse exposed, he +revealed rooms and corridors along +which men were running. Kazu +dropped to his knees and held our +box up so that we might also see.</p> + +<p>"Are these the men?" he asked. +Baker replied in the negative.</p> + +<p>Kazu abruptly pressed his hand +into the building, crushing masonry +and timbers and humans all +into a heap of dust, and turned to +a larger building. As he did, something +about it seemed familiar to +me. Yes, I had seen it before, in +newsreels. It was—</p> + +<p>But again Kazu's fingers were at +work. Lifting at the eaves, he carefully +took off the whole roof. +Through a window we saw figures +hurrying toward a covered bridge +connecting this building with another. +At Baker's warning, Kazu +demolished the bridge, and then +gently began picking the structure +to pieces. In a moment we saw what +we were after. A wall was pulled +down, exposing a great room with +oil paintings of Lenin and Stalin on +the wall and a long conference table +in the center. And clustered between +the table and the far wall +were a score of men. Anyone would +have recognized them, for their +faces had gone round the world in +posters, magazines and newsreels. +They were the men of the Politbureau. +They were Red Russia's +rulers.</p> + +<p>There was an instant of silent +mutual recognition, and then Kazu +spoke to them. As befitting a god, +he spoke in their own tongue. Exactly +what he said I do not know, +but after a little hesitation they +came around the table to the precarious +edge of the room where the +outer wall had been. Kazu gave +further directions and held up our +steel box. Fearfully they came forward +and jumped the gap into our +door. One by one they made the +leap, some dressed in the bemedalled +uniforms of marshals, others +in the semi-military tunics affected +by civilian ministers. The last was +the man who had succeeded Stalin +on his death, and who had taken +for himself the same name, as +though it were a title.</p> + +<p>As he entered our room, we saw +that he even looked like the first +Stalin, clipped hair, moustache and +all. He was a brilliant man, we +knew. Brilliant and ruthless. He +had grown up through the purges, +in a world which knew no mercy, +where only the fittest, by communist +standards, survived. He had +survived, because he was merciless +and efficient and because he hated +the free west with a hatred that +was deadly and implacable.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop">I OFTEN wonder what his +thoughts were at that moment. +He came because he was ordered +to and because he knew the alternative. +He knew he was to die, but +he obeyed because by so doing he +could prolong life a little, and because +there was always a chance.</div> + +<p>At that moment I deeply regretted +knowing no Russian. The +twenty one who came in talked +among themselves in short sentences. +They saw us, but ignored +us. Baker spoke, first in English and +then in German. The one called +Stalin understood the German, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +he looked at Baker searchingly for +a moment, and then turned away. +Only one of them replied. This was +Malik, the man who wrecked the +old United Nations and then became +Foreign Minister after Vishinsky +was murdered. He ignored +the German and spat out his reply +in English.</p> + +<p>"You will not live to gloat over +us. He will kill you too, all of you!"</p> + +<p>We can never be sure of what +Kazu planned, because now—and +of this I am certain—his plans +changed. There was suddenly a +stillness. We waited. Then I ran to +the window and looked upward +into the great face.</p> + +<p>It had changed. A deep weariness +and a bewilderment was upon +it—as though Kazu had suddenly +sickened of destruction and slaughter. +His whispering was the roaring +of winds as he said, "No—no. +This is not the way—not Buddha's +way. They must talk. They must +understand each other. They must +sit at tables and settle their differences, +that is my mission."</p> + +<p>Kazu took five steps. Below us +was an airfield.</p> + +<p>"Can you fly?" he asked us. +Chamberlin had been an army pilot +in the fifties. Kazu pushed the box +up to a transport, an American +DC8.</p> + +<p>"Go in this," he said quite clearly. +"Go in this plane until you are +in Washington. Tell America about +me. Tell America I am coming—that +I am bringing—<i>them</i>. Tell +America there must be—peace."</p> + +<p>We scrambled out of the steel +box, leaving the Russians in a miserable +heap in one corner.</p> + +<p>He arose to his full height and +carefully adjusted the cables +around his neck. I noticed that his +fingers fumbled awkwardly, and +that he staggered slightly. Then he +spoke once more.</p> + +<p>"I cannot cross Atlantic. Only +route for Buddha is Siberia, Bering +Straight, Alaska. But this not +take long. You better hurry or I +get to Washington first!"</p> + +<p>He turned on his heel and +walked a few steps to the end of the +runway.</p> + +<p>"Now get in plane. I give little +help in takeoff!"</p> + +<p>We climbed into the familiar interior +of the big American transport. +A moment later it arose silently, +vertically like an elevator. +Chamberlin, in the pilot's seat, hurriedly +started the engines. He +leaned from a window and waved +his arm, and we shot forward and +upward. For a moment the plane +wavered and dipped, taking all of +Walt's ability to recover. Then with +a powerful roar, the big DC8 +zoomed over the flames of Moscow +toward the west.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> THE FLIGHT to London and +the Atlantic crossing seemed +unreal. We lived beside the radio. +War and revolt against the Soviets +had broken out everywhere. With +the directing power in the Kremlin +gone, the top-heavy Soviet bureaucracy +was paralyzed. The Yugoslavs +marched into the Ukraine, Chinese +armies occupied Irkutsk and were +pressing across Siberia. Internal +revolution broke out at a hundred +points once it was learned that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +Moscow was no more.</div> + +<p>Eagerly we listened to every report +for word of Kazu. At first there +was nothing, and then a Chinese +plane reported seeing him crossing +the Ob River, near the Arctic Circle. +They said that he carried a box +in his hand and appeared to be +talking to it. Then news from the +tiny river settlement of Zhigansk on +the Lena that he had passed, but +that he limped and staggered as he +climbed the mountains beyond.</p> + +<p>After that, silence.</p> + +<p>Planes swarmed over eastern Siberia, +the Arctic Coast and Alaska, +but found nothing. Five hundred +tons of C ration were rushed to +Fairbanks, and tons of medical supplies +for burns and possible illness +were readied, but no patient appeared. +At first we were hopeful, +knowing Kazu's powers. Perhaps he +had lost his way, without Baker and +the maps, but surely he could not +vanish. As the days passed Baker +became more worried.</p> + +<p>"It's the radiation," he explained. +"He took the full dose of +gamma rays right in his back. He +might go on for days, and then suddenly +keel over. He's had a bad +burn outside, but it's nothing to +what it did to him internally."</p> + +<p>So the days passed, and so gradually +hope died. And then, at last, +there was news. It came, belatedly, +from an eskimo hunter on the Pribolof +Islands, in Bering Sea. He +reported that a great sea god had +come out of the waters, so tall that +his head vanished into the clouds. +But, he was a sick god, for he could +hardly stand, and soon crawled on +his hands. Around his neck, said +the eskimo, he carried a charm, +and he spoke words to this in a +strange tongue. And the charm answered +him in the same tongue, +and with the voice of a man. And +the two spoke to each other for a +time and then the great one arose +and walked off of the island and +into the fog and the ocean.</p> + +<p>Questioned, the man was somewhat +vague as to the exact direction taken, +although it seemed clear +that Kazu had headed south. +When Baker examined his chart of +Bering Sea, he found that the +ocean to the north and west, towards +Siberia, was shallow—less +than five hundred feet. But the Pribolofs +stood on the edge of a great +deep. Only twenty miles south of +the islands, the ocean floor dropped +off to more than ten thousand feet, +for three hundred miles of icy fog +shrouded ocean, before the bleak +Aleutians arose out of the mists. +This desolate area was searched for +months by ships and planes, but no +trace ever appeared from the +treacherous currents of the stormy +sea. Kazu had vanished.</p> + +<p>So here ended the story of Kazu +Takahashi, who was born in the +days of the first bomb, and who +died by the last ever to sear the +world. He was believed by millions +to be the incarnation of the Lord +Buddha, but to four men he was +known not as a god but as a great +and good man.</p> + + + +<h2>THE END</h2> + + + + +<hr class="r65" /> + +<div class="center extraspacebot"> +<b>Transcriber Notes:</b></div> + +<div class="blockquote"> + +<p>This etext was produced from IF Worlds of Science Fiction November 1952. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright +on this publication was renewed.</p> + +<p>Obvious punctuation errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p>Corrections made:</p> + +<p>page 6<br /> +original: wind, and its damned serious." <br /> +replacement: wind, and it's damned serious."</p> + +<p>page 16<br /> +original: first fence, and affair of steel posts <br /> +replacement: first fence, an affair of steel posts</p> + +<p>page 31<br /> +original: When Baker as only part-way<br /> +replacement: When Baker was only part-way</p> + +<p>page 34<br /> +original: handfulls of the unseasoned stuff,<br /> +replacement: handfuls of the unseasoned stuff,</p> + +<p>Unchanged:</p> + +<p>page 16<br /> +sculping a king sized Buddha after<br /> +sculping is an old useage of the word</p> + +<p>page 55<br /> +Straight, Alaska. But this not<br /> +Straight is an old useage of the word</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Image and the Likeness, by John Scott Campbell + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE IMAGE AND THE LIKENESS *** + +***** This file should be named 37145-h.htm or 37145-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/1/4/37145/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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