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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b26f3d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #60944 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60944) diff --git a/old/60944-0.txt b/old/60944-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 72b79a9..0000000 --- a/old/60944-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6668 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Ralph 124C 41+, by Hugo Gernsback - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Ralph 124C 41+ - A Romance of the Year 2660 - - -Author: Hugo Gernsback - - - -Release Date: December 17, 2019 [eBook #60944] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RALPH 124C 41+*** - - -E-text prepared by Tim Lindell, Graeme Mackreth, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images -digitized by the Google Books Library Project (http://books.google.com) -and generously made available by HathiTrust Digital Library -(https://www.hathitrust.org/) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 60944-h.htm or 60944-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/60944/60944-h/60944-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/60944/60944-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - HathiTrust Digital Library. See - https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015003928853&view=1up&seq=5 - - - - - -RALPH 124C 41+ - - -[Illustration] - - -A ROMANCE OF THE YEAR 2660 - - -RALPH 124C 41+ - -by - -HUGO GERNSBACK - -Forewords by Dr. Lee de Forest and Fletcher Pratt - - - - - - -New York: Frederick Fell, Inc. - -Copyright 1925 by the Stratford Company - -Second Edition Copyright 1950 by Hugo Gernsback - -All rights in this book are reserved. It may not be used for dramatic -or motion- or talking-picture purposes without written authorization -from the holder of these rights. Nor may the book or part thereof be -reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission in writing, -except for brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. -For information, address: Frederick Fell, Inc., 386 Fourth Avenue, New -York 16, N.Y. Manufactured in the United States of America by H. Wolff, -New York. Designed by Sidney Solomon. - -Published simultaneously in Canada by George J. McLeod, Ltd., -Toronto. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION _7_ - - PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION _11_ - - FOREWORD BY DR. LEE DE FOREST _15_ - - FOREWORD BY FLETCHER PRATT _19_ - - 1 _The Avalanche_ _25_ - - 2 _Two Faces_ _40_ - - 3 _Dead or Alive?_ _52_ - - 4 _Fernand_ _66_ - - 5 _New York A.D. 2660_ _79_ - - 6 "_Give Us Food_" _97_ - - 7 _The End of Money_ _110_ - - 8 _The Menace of the Invisible Cloak_ _118_ - - 9 _The Conquest of Gravitation_ _127_ - - 10 _Two Letters_ _140_ - - 11 _The Flight Into Space_ _147_ - - 12 _Llysanorh' Strikes_ _164_ - - 13 _Alice Objects_ _172_ - - 14 _The Terror of the Comet_ _176_ - - 15 _Llysanorh' Throws Off the Mask_ _188_ - - 16 _The Supreme Victory_ _195_ - - - - -PREFACE - -TO THE SECOND EDITION - - -Since the first edition of _Ralph 124C 41+_ in 1925, an eventful -quarter century has passed. Since I first wrote the story, 39 amazing -years have been swallowed into the Einstein space-time-continuum--years -pregnant with scientific progress. - -Since 1925, the 5,000-edition volume has had a rather remarkable -career. It has been quoted by hundreds of authorities both great and -small, in hundreds of publications--not only in the United States but -also in many other countries. Whenever a history of science-fiction -was written, _Ralph_ nearly always was included routinely, much to my -surprise. - -In the meanwhile the book became a sort of museum piece. Early in 1950 -the quoted price in the second-hand book market was $50.00 for a single -copy. Left with only two copies of the 1925 edition I myself endeavored -to buy a copy for a friend in France, but no copies were forthcoming -even at $50.00! - -Authors avowedly never read their own books--I am no exception to that -rule. So the other day when I was reading proofs for the 1950 edition, -after a lapse of 25 years, I began to ask myself a lot of questions. - -Why for instance was _Ralph_ written, in the first place? - -In 1911 I was a young publisher--not yet 27 years old. I had started -publishing _Modern Electrics_ in 1908, three years before. It was -the world's _first_ radio magazine. By 1911 it had attained a print -order of around 100,000 copies and was for sale on all the principal -newsstands in the U.S. and Canada, and sold by subscription all over -the world. - -Yet, today I must confess I do not recall just _what_ prompted me to -write _Ralph_. I do recall that I had no plan whatsoever for the whole -of the story. I had no idea how it would end nor what the contents -would be. - -The story began in the April, 1911, issue of _Modern Electrics_ and -ended with the March, 1912, number. On the twelve covers of the -magazine for that year there was a monthly illustration depicting -some _Ralph_ exploit as divulged in the current installment. Thus -for instance the first (April, 1911) cover showed Ralph at the -_Telephot_--not the broadcast television of today but person-to-person -television by phone, which has as yet to be realized. (See -illustration.) - -Indeed the word _television_ was practically unknown in 1911. (The -first technical article in print, using the term, was written by me: -"Television and the Telephot," _Modern Electrics_, December, 1909). - -As the story developed from month to month there was the age-old -scramble to beat the deadline--but somehow or other I always made -it--usually under duress, finishing the installment at 3 or 4 A.M. on -the last day. That the literary quality suffered painfully under such -continuous _tours de force_ every month, there can be no question, but -somehow the scientific and technical content came through unscathed -most of the time. - -[Illustration] - -After 39 years I could point out a number of minor technical flaws -in some of my early predictions, but on the whole I probably could not -do much better today. To be sure, I would not think of a gyroscopic -propelled space flyer now, but then in 1911 no one was thinking -of rocket-propelled or atomic-powered space flyers. In 1911 too, -scientists still thought of a universal ether permeating all space. -Today we seem to get along very well without it. - -While quite a number of the scientific predictions made in _Ralph_ have -come to pass, many more are still unrealized. I have, however, little -concern that all--or most of them--will come about in the not too -distant future. I am certain that _all_ of them will be commonplace by -2660, the time in which the action of this novel moves. - -Perhaps I can do no better than reprint the foreword of the original -1911 "_Ralph_": - - This story which plays in the year 2660, will run serially during the - coming year in Modern Electrics. It is intended to give the reader as - accurate a prophecy of the future as is consistent with the present - marvelous growth of science. The author wishes to call especial - attention to the fact that while there may be extremely strange - and improbable devices and scenes in this narrative, they are not - impossible, or outside of the reach of science. - -We are now at the beginning of a new and fantastic era--the -electronic-atomic age--an age that makes the impossible come true -overnight. If _Ralph 124C 41+_ can fire the present-day young minds -with the same enthusiasm for scientific research and accomplishment as -it did their fathers in the past, I shall feel amply repaid in having -instigated this new, 1950 edition of _Ralph_. - - Hugo Gernsback - -_New York, May 1950_ - - - - -PREFACE - -TO THE FIRST EDITION - - -Ralph 124C 41+ first appeared as a serial in the author's first -magazine, "Modern Electrics," in 1911. This magazine was first devoted -exclusively to radio activities. At the time the story was written the -word "radio" had not yet come into use. We were at that time still -using the term "wireless." - -It has been necessary, in view of scientific progress since the time -the story was first written, and in order to present the book to a -much wider reading public, to rewrite much of the story and to make -many changes. Yet, the ideas and conceptions embodied in the original -manuscript have been little altered. - -The author appreciates that many of the predictions and statements -appear to verge upon the fantastic. So was Jules Verne's submarine -"Nautilus" in his famous story "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." -Verne's conception of the submarine was declared utterly ridiculous. -Nevertheless, the prophecy was fulfilled. In fact, Verne's imagination -hit far below the mark in what was actually accomplished by science -since the book was written. - -Lest you think that the author has gone too far into the realms -of pure imagination, place yourself in the position of your -great-great-grandfather being told about locomotives, steamships, -X-rays, telegraphs, telephones, phonographs, electric lights, radio -broadcasting, and the hundred other commonplaces of our lives today. -Would he not have condemned such predictions as the height of folly and -absurdity? - -So with you. You are in the same position with respect to the -prophecies in this work as your remote ancestor. Your descendants, -picking up this book 750 years hence,--or at the time in which this -story is laid,--will ridicule the author for his lack of imagination -in conceiving the obvious developments in the first half of the next -century. - -It may be of passing interest to note that several of the predictions -made by the author when this story was written have already become -verities. Notable among these is what the author termed the -_Hypnobioscope_, the purpose of which is to acquire knowledge while -asleep. The author was greatly astonished to read the results obtained -by J.A. Phinney, Chief Radioman, U.S. Navy, who, having tried the -system himself, in 1923, introduced it at the Pensacola, Florida, Naval -Training School. Here one may see naval students stretched out on long -benches asleep with casket-like coverings over their heads. The caskets -contain two telephone receivers through which radio code is sent to -the sleeper. It has been demonstrated that the sleeping student can be -taught code faster than by any other means, for the sub-conscious self -never sleeps. Students who have failed in their studies have passed -examinations after being taught by this method. - -The scientific conception or vision of the world of 750 years hence, -represents the author's projection of the scientific knowledge of -today. Scientific progress is moving at an accelerating pace, and if -that pace is maintained, it seems fair to assume that the conception -herein described will, 750 years hence, be found to have fallen far -short of the actual progress made in the interim. - - Hugo Gernsback - -_September 3, 1925_ - - - - -FOREWORD - -BY LEE DE FOREST, Ph.D., D.Sc., D.Eng. - -_Father of Radio_ - - -No book in two generations, no book since Jules Verne, has undertaken -to do what Hugo Gernsback in the first decade of our century has here -so outstandingly achieved. - -He is gifted with a mind eternally alert, trained from childhood to -observe and think. His unbridled imagination has ever fed on the facts -of science and technology which his habit of omniverous reading has -been continually storing within his brain. As result of this unusual -combination his tireless energies have been directed, since childhood -in Luxembourg, to writing popular science in a fashion peculiarly -attractive to young men and boys who, like himself, possess a keen -interest in all realms of physical Nature. - -His first essay in this field was his monthly magazine, _Modern -Electrics_, the first to attempt to outline in language understandable -by American youth the newly developing science of _wireless -communication_. He made of this first venture into the publishing -business a medium wherein, amid serious newsy articles regarding -current electrical developments, his eager imagination could find full -play. The most outstanding, most extraordinary prophecies which this -young clairvoyant had at that time conceived--all based on his keen -observations and appreciation of their real significance and trend--he -chose to record in the guise of a fanciful romance bearing the -strange, cabalistic title of this book. - -The author, even at that early date (1911) had a clear conception of -future television, then quite unheard of, almost undreamed of. He dubs -it "Telephot" and outlines its revolutionary utilities. His hero, -Ralph, explains to his enamorata how man has mastered weather-control. -Only today has a professor shown New York City how to end its water -famine by man-made torrential rains. Years in advance of their advent -he describes libraries of microfilm projected on large screens; and -news printed electrolytically, without printer's ink. Today we begin -to read of this as being partially commercialized. His "Menograph," or -thought recorder, is today crudely realized in our lie-detector. By -means of his "Hypnobioscope" most of scholastic studying is done while -the pupil sleeps. Who is bold enough to scoff at the possibility of -such a delightful method? For one, not I. - -"Most of the studying was done while one slept," explains Ralph--a -statement truly applicable to many a somnolent student's performance -today! - -Ralph explains, as of the year 2660, the resuscitation of animal -(human) life years after the body has been drained of blood. Yet only -yesterday a Russian doctor claims to have accomplished this "miracle." -His 750-year future has already begun to be realized. Many Utopias -are here foretold, such as absolutely permanent non-wearing, metallic -highways, where trolley-cars and gas-driven autos are only ancient -memories, long obsolete. - -"Only electrobiles were to be seen." Here the author badly misjudged -the future trend of auto-travel, _away_ from the electric. - -He foresaw far better night-illuminated streets than we have yet -attained. Let us hope that we must not wait 750 years until cities are -"as bright by night as by day"; nor New York's climate, man-controlled, -to be "the finest on Earth," with temperatures perennially at 72, -sunshine all day, rain for one hour only, every night! In that future -we shall have reliable transfer of sun energy into electric by means of -photo-electric elements responsive to ultra-violet radiation. - -In Musak we already have the wide distribution of music which Mr. -Gernsback foresaw in 1911; also our night baseball games, then -first foretold. His airplanes launching from roof-tops we partly -realize already in our helicopter mail service. But instead of his -agglomeration of colored light-beams for direction of aviation we have -the far reaching radio beacons, coupled with Loran. - -Even today's mysterious "flying saucers" he foretold with nice detail! - -Foreseeing the vast increase in global population (the world's gravest -menace) Ralph has so deftly applied science to plant growth that we -shall reap four crops of wheat per year in sun-heated glass houses -of county-sized acreage, to feed the new billions. He fears not an -overcrowded, 200 million metropolitan New York! - -Only today I read of a recent system for using heat from deep earth for -house-warming, now being commercialized. "Ralph" described the same -arrangement forty years ago! - -Here is liquid fertilizer sprayed as a crop accelerator; and plant-root -stimulation by means of high-frequency currents, wholesale diathermy -applied to farming; and many other improvements in farm procedure which -make this book profitable reading for today's science-minded farmers. - -The author foresaw a much-to-be-desired manufacture of news-print from -the resultant excessive growth of grain stocks, thereby terminating -today's wanton destruction of our forests for comic supplements and -sexy pulps. - -Last year in the Bell Laboratories I witnessed the recording on paper -of the complexities of my voice, very much as Ralph described it in -1911 to his A.D. 2660 friends. - -As to the plausibility of Ralph's conquest of gravitation I refer -the reader to the recently published General Field Equations of Dr. -Einstein. Ralph insisted, even in 1911, that gravitation is indeed -wave form, similar to the electromagnetic, and that by interference -there--between the force of gravitation may be partially nullified. Let -us wait until 2660 to see if he was correctly reported. This and many -other strange things our descendants _may_ see. - -But to me the most impressive pages of this strange book are those -that outlined with striking clarity the basic idea of radar as we -know it today. Although gummed over with reference to imaginary -metals, inter-planetary ships travelling at comet speeds, and a very -earthy romance, the uncanny foresight of Hugo Gernsback in 1911 into -the realities of World War II constitutes perhaps the most amazing -paragraphs in this astonishing Book of Prophecy. - - _Chicago, Ill. - May 1950_ - - - - -FOREWORD - -BY FLETCHER PRATT - - -This is a book of historic importance, which belongs on the shelves -of a variety of types of people, though not for the usual reasons -why a fictional work is a must. No one will ever compare _Ralph 124C -41+_ with the novels of Marcel Proust or even those of Robert Louis -Stevenson. The story is the simplest kind of romantic adventure tale -and characters are not particularly significant as such. What matters -is the view from the windows as the train runs through the landscape. - -For it is a book of prophecy, one of the most remarkable ever -written. It has long since been a gold mine for nearly every writer -of science-fiction during a generation. No author laying his story -in the future would think today of doing without Mr. Gernsback's -three-dimensional color television, and very few without his satellite -city circling the Earth; and no reader would think of questioning the -feasibility of these devices. - -The very method employed in the book, that of supplying the people -of the future with technical inventions which are the logical -outgrowths of those currently in use or logically developed from -currently accepted principles--this method has become fundamental in -science-fiction. Indeed, it may be said to constitute that new art; -and in a very proper sense, _Ralph 124C 41+_ may be called the first -science-fiction story ever written. - -This will doubtless bring some protest from the admirers of Mr. H.G. -Wells. But a little thought will show that, in spite of some arresting -and rather wonderful pictures of the future, and some extremely -ingenious scientific devices described, Mr. Wells was not really -writing science-fiction. There is nothing known to science out of which -the time machine could be developed; Wells simply tells us that it was -built and goes on with his story. The invincible balloon-battleships -in _The War in the Air_ are flatly contradictory to logic; even when -the book was written, everybody knew that hydrogen is inflammable. -Heat dissipates in air far too rapidly to allow the heat-ray camera of -the Martians in _The War of the Worlds_ to be built; and a very brief -consideration will show that the construction of the antigravity plates -in _The First Men in the Moon_ would be child's play beside the problem -of constructing the screens which temporarily kept those plates from -working. - -It is the same all down the line, and with Jules Verne as well--whose -passengers in the moon-shell would be killed at the moment of firing. -The fact is that Wells, himself enough of a scientist to use technical -terms correctly, was afflicted with low scientific morality where -fiction was concerned. He tried to be a prophet in the domain of -sociology, but he was not really interested in the progress of physical -science. As long as he could get his characters into a situation by -means of a plausible-sounding device, he was quite willing to flim-flam -the reader about the practicability of the device and the soundness of -the principles involved. - -Mr. Gernsback, on the other hand, founded the school of fiction in -which the technical plausibility of the surroundings is at least as -important as the literary plausibility of the characters. For that -matter, the reader is besought to show some interest in what can be -done for us by the chemist, the inventor, the electrician, and even the -meteorologist. It has often been pointed out that these technicians -cannot change human nature, but Mr. Gernsback indicates that they can -put human nature into a position where it can hardly avoid changing -itself. World government is not an impossibility in an atmosphere where -any person on the planet can be instantly in visible communication with -any other, and where the barrier of language can be thrown down during -a night's sleep. - -Thanks to the rules he set for himself (and also, no doubt, to his -wide acquaintance with that region in which all the sciences are -applied to the practical service of man in the form of inventions) Mr. -Gernsback has been rather astoundingly successful in predicting actual -developments. _Ralph 124C 41+_ was written in 1911. The writer's most -famous hit, of course, is _radar_ (p. 152), which no one else had come -near to conceiving at the time. Yet his description will do as a fair -working description of radar as it is today. The device here called -"the hypnobioscope" (p. 49) for teaching during sleep, has not been -developed to the extent described in the story, but works in a limited -fashion and is obviously capable of extension. On p. 116 artificial -silk and wool are produced by a process so much like that currently -used in the manufacture of rayon and nylon that one wonders whether Mr. -Gernsback has a share in the patents. Rustproof alloy steel (p. 103), -magnesium alloys in light-weight construction (p. 29), televised opera -performances (p. 86), vending machines (p. 89), packing in paper-thin -sheets of metal (p. 89)--are all things we know about today but which -only Hugo Gernsback could have conceived in 1911. - -In addition, there are a number of items where the essential -correctness of the concept may be concealed from the reader by the -terms employed in this book--for it is not granted to prophets to -foresee what words will be employed when inventors designate their -products. The "glass" furniture (p. 25) has been made good in the form -of plastics--which are, technically, glasses. Fluorescent lighting -appears on p. 30 under the name of "luminor." The electric elevator -(p. 43) has not turned up as an elevator, but its mechanism is used to -drive the electric torpedoes which sank much of the Japanese merchant -marine during the war. Newspapers are printed on microfilm on p. 46, -and the trans-Uranium elements show up on p. 53. Baseball and football -are played at night on p. 80 and paper is made from straw on p. 104. A -device which is essentially the radio-direction-finder is on p. 120, -and on p. 128 there is a recording mechanism which differs from today's -wire-recorders only in employing a strip of paper scanned by light, and -which has since been built. This by no means exhausts the list, but it -would detract from the reader's enjoyment not to allow him to make some -discoveries for himself. - -To be sure, there are certain inaccuracies. The underearth tube from -France to New York does not seem a good engineering proposition today. -Nobody understood the nature of radium emanation in 1911 and neither -did Mr. Gernsback. But the percentage of accurate judgments (one cannot -call them guesses, when they are so numerous and so close to the mark) -is somewhere up in the nineties. - -Which leads one to the thought that this book perhaps has an importance -beyond that as a literary and historical curiosity. Not all the -predictions have been fulfilled or placed beyond fulfillment; and -if research had proceeded along the lines of (for instance) Mr. -Gernsback's suggestion for radar, we might have had that device a -good deal earlier. In _Ralph 124C 41+_ the weather is under complete -control. We seem to be edging in that direction, but maybe a little -more push is needed--the kind of push that could be supplied by a -book like this. Medical research has now caught up with Gernsback by -deciding that thought in the human brain is accompanied by electrical -manifestations; on p. 48 this concept has advanced to the point where -thoughts can be recorded on a tape in the form of interpretable graphs, -and it may become true in practice if someone works on the problem. The -idea of draining off all the blood from a living body for purification -and then replacing it (transfusion also ranks as a Gernsback -prediction) is today far from fantastic. It is the standard and only -treatment for RH newborn infants. - -Yet perhaps the most interesting of all the predictions is that -regarding space flight. (Incidentally, the physical and psychological -effects of space travel are worked out with a care that would be -worth the attention of some current science-fiction writers.) In the -days of _Ralph 124C 41+_, this is not accomplished by means of the -rockets everyone is talking about at present, but by using a gravity -neutralizer. - -But be it noticed that this is not the mysterious metal of H.G. Wells. -Gernsback does it in a technically explicable and plausible way, by -means of a metal grid, electrically (or electronically) excited. Today -it is as possible to do this as it was to build a radar set in 1911; -that is, not at all. But the new formula of Dr. Einstein, at last -integrating gravity with other manifestations, makes it seem probable -that it is not beyond hope to screen gravitation from a selected area; -and when that happens, Mr. Gernsback's educated imagination, which has -preceded the normal human mind to so many things on Earth, will have -led the way to the stars. - - _New York, May 1950_ - - - - -1 - -THE AVALANCHE - - -As the _vibrations_ died down in the laboratory the big man arose from -the glass chair and viewed the complicated apparatus on the table. -It was complete to the last detail. He glanced at the calendar. It -was September 1st in the year 2660. Tomorrow was to be a big and busy -day for him, for it was to witness the final phase of the three-year -experiment. He yawned and stretched himself to his full height, -revealing a physique much larger than that of the average man of his -times and approaching that of the huge Martians. - -His physical superiority, however, was as nothing compared to his -gigantic mind. He was _Ralph 124C 41+_, one of the greatest living -scientists and _one of the ten men on the whole planet earth permitted -to use the Plus sign after his name_. Stepping to the _Telephot_ on the -side of the wall he pressed a group of buttons and in a few minutes -the faceplate of the Telephot became luminous, revealing the face of a -clean shaven man about thirty, a pleasant but serious face. - -As soon as he recognized the face of Ralph in his own Telephot he -smiled and said, "Hello Ralph." - -"Hello Edward, I wanted to ask you if you could come over to the -laboratory tomorrow morning. I have something unusually interesting to -show you. Look!" - -He stepped to one side of his instrument so that his friend could see -the apparatus on the table about ten feet from the Telephot faceplate. - -Edward came closer to his own faceplate, in order that he might see -further into the laboratory. - -"Why, you've finished it!" he exclaimed. "And your famous--" - -At this moment the voice ceased and Ralph's faceplate became clear. -Somewhere in the Teleservice company's central office the connection -had been broken. After several vain efforts to restore it Ralph was -about to give up in disgust and leave the Telephot when the instrument -began to glow again. But instead of the face of his friend there -appeared that of a vivacious beautiful girl. She was in evening dress -and behind her on a table stood a lighted lamp. - -Startled at the face of an utter stranger, an unconscious Oh! escaped -her lips, to which Ralph quickly replied: - -"I beg your pardon, but 'Central' seems to have made another mistake. I -shall certainly have to make a complaint about the service." - -Her reply indicated that the mistake of "Central" was a little out of -the ordinary, for he had been swung onto the Intercontinental Service -as he at once understood when she said, "_Pardon, Monsieur, je ne -comprends pas!_" - -He immediately turned the small shining disc of the Language Rectifier -on his instrument till the pointer rested on "_French_." - -"The service mistakes are very annoying," he heard her say in perfect -English. Realizing however, that she was hardly being courteous to -the pleasant looking young man who was smiling at her she added, "But -sometimes Central's 'mistakes' may be forgiven, depending, of course, -on the patience and courtesy of the other person involved." - -This, Ralph appreciated, was an attempt at mollification with perhaps a -touch of coquetry. - -Nevertheless he bowed in acknowledgment of the pretty speech. - -She was now closer to the faceplate and was looking with curious eyes -at the details of the laboratory--one of the finest in the world. - -"What a strange place! What is it, and where are you?" she asked -naïvely. - -"New York," he drawled. - -"That's a long way from here," she said brightly. "I wonder if you know -where I am?" - -"I can make a pretty shrewd guess," he returned. "To begin with, before -I rectified your speech you spoke French, hence you are probably -French. Secondly, you have a lamp burning in your room although it is -only four o'clock in the afternoon here in New York. You also wear -evening dress. It must be evening, and inasmuch as the clock on your -mantelpiece points to nine I would say you are in France, as New York -time is five hours ahead of French time." - -"Clever, but not quite right. I am not French nor do I live in France. -I am Swiss and I live in western Switzerland. Swiss time, you know, is -almost the same as French time." - -Both laughed. Suddenly she said: - -"Your face looks so familiar to me, it seems I must have seen you -before." - -"That is possible," he admitted somewhat embarrassed. "You have perhaps -seen one of my pictures." - -"How stupid of me!" she exclaimed. "Why of course I should have -recognized you immediately. You are the great American inventor, Ralph -124C 41+." - -He again smiled and she continued: - -"How interesting your work must be and just think how _perfectly_ -lovely that I should be so fortunate as to make your acquaintance in -this manner. Fancy, the great Ralph 124C 41+ who always denies himself -to society." - -She hesitated, and then, impulsively, "I wonder if it would be too much -to ask you for your autograph?" - -Much to his astonishment Ralph found himself pleased with the request. -Autograph-hunting women he usually dismissed with a curt refusal. - -"Certainly," he answered, "but it seems only fair that I should know to -whom I am giving it." - -"Oh," she said, blushing a little, and then, with dancing eyes, "Why?" - -"Because," replied Ralph with an audacity that surprised himself, "I -don't want to be put to the necessity of calling up all Switzerland to -find you again." - -"Well, if you put it that way," she said, the scarlet mounting in -her cheeks, "I suppose I must. _I am Alice_ 212B 423, of Ventalp, -Switzerland." - -Ralph then attached the Telautograph to his Telephot while the girl -did the same. When both instruments were connected he signed his name -and he saw his signature appear simultaneously on the machine in -Switzerland. - -"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed, and added, "I am really proud to -have your autograph. From what I have heard of you this is the first -you have ever given to a lady. Am I right?" she asked. - -"You are perfectly correct, and what is more, it affords me a very -great pleasure indeed to present it to you." - -"How lovely," she said as she held up the autograph, "I have never seen -an original signature with the +, for there are only ten of you who -have it on this planet, and now to actually _have_ one seems almost -unbelievable." - -The awe and admiration in her dark eyes began to make him feel a -little uncomfortable. She sensed this immediately and once more became -apologetic. - -"I shouldn't take up your time in this manner," she went on, "but you -see, I have not spoken to any living being for five days and I am just -dying to talk." - -"Go right ahead, I am delighted to listen. What caused your isolation?" - -"Well, you see," she answered, "father and I live in our villa half -way up Mount Rosa, and for the last five days such a terrible blizzard -has been raging that the house is entirely snowed in. The storm was -so terrific that no aeroflyer could come near the house; I have never -seen such a thing. Five days ago my father and brother left for Paris, -intending to return the same afternoon, but they had a bad accident in -which my brother dislocated his knee-cap; both were, therefore, obliged -to stay somewhere near Paris, where they landed, and in the meanwhile -the blizzard set in. The Teleservice line became disconnected somewhere -in the valley, and this is the first connection I have had for five -days. How they came to connect me with New York, though, is a puzzle!" - -"Most extraordinary--but how about the Radio?" - -"Both the Power mast and the Communico mast were blown down the same -day, and I was left without any means of communication whatever. -However, I managed to put the light magnesium power mast into a -temporary position again, and I had just called up the Teleservice -Company, telling them again to direct the power, and getting some other -information when they cut me in on you." - -"Yes, I knew something was wrong when I saw the old-fashioned Radialamp -in your room, and I could not quite understand it. You had better try -the power now; they probably have directed it by this time; anyhow, the -Luminor should work." - -"You are probably right," and raising her voice, she called out -sharply: "_Lux!_" - -The delicate detectophone mechanism of the Luminor responded instantly -to her command; and the room was flooded at once with the beautiful -cold pink-white Luminor-light, emanating from the thin wire running -around the four sides of the room below the white ceiling. - -The light, however, seemed too strong, and she sharply cried, -"_Lux-dah!_" The mechanism again responded; the cold light-radiation of -the Luminor wire decreased in intensity at once and the room appeared -in an exquisite pink light. - -"That's better now," she laughed. "The heater just begins to get warm, -too. I am frozen stiff; just think, no heat for five days! I really -sometimes envy our ancestors, who, I believe, heated their houses with -stoves, burning strange black rocks or tree-chunks in them!" - -"That's too bad! It must be a dreadful predicament to be cut off from -the entire world, in these days of weather control. It must be a novel -experience. I cannot understand, however, what should have brought on a -blizzard in midsummer." - -"Unfortunately, our governor had some trouble with the four -weather-engineers of our district, some months ago, and they struck -for better living. They claimed the authorities did not furnish them -with sufficient luxuries, and when their demands were refused, they -simultaneously turned on the high-depression at the four Meteoro-Towers -and then fled, leaving their towers with the high-tension currents -escaping at a tremendous rate. - -"This was done in the evening, and by midnight our entire district, -bounded by the four Meteoro-Towers, was covered with two inches of -snow. They had erected especially, additional discharge arms, pointing -downward from the towers, for the purpose of snowing in the Meteoros -completely. - -"Their plans were well laid, for it became impossible to approach the -towers for four days; and they finally had to be dismantled by directed -energy from forty other Meteoro-Towers, which directed a tremendous -amount of energy against the four local towers, till the latter were -fused and melted. - -"The other Meteoros, I believe, will start in immediately to direct -a low-pression over our district; but, as they are not very near us, -it will probably take them twenty-four hours to generate enough heat -to melt the snow and ice. They will probably encounter considerable -difficulty, because our snowed-under district naturally will give -rise to some meteorological disturbances in their own districts, and -therefore they will be obliged, I presume, to take care of the weather -conditions in their districts as well as our own." - -"What a remarkable case!" Ralph ejaculated. - -She opened her mouth as if to say something. But at that moment an -electric gong began to ring furiously, so loud that it vibrated loudly -in Ralph's laboratory, four thousand miles away. - -Immediately her countenance changed, and the smile in her eyes gave way -to a look of terror. - -"What is that?" Ralph asked sharply. - -"An avalanche! It's just started--what shall I do, oh, what shall I do! -It'll reach here in fifteen minutes and I'm absolutely helpless. Tell -me--what shall I do?" - -The mind of the scientist reacted instantly. - -"Speak quick!" he barked. "Is your Power Mast still up?" - -"Yes, but what good--?" - -"Never mind. Your wave length?" - -".629." - -"Oscillatory?" - -"491,211." - -"Can you direct it yourself?" - -"Yes." - -"Could you attach a six-foot piece of your blown-down Communico mast to -the base of the Power aerial?" - -"Certainly--it's of alomagnesium and it is very light." - -"Good! Now act quick! Run to the roof and attach the Communico -mastpiece to the very base of the power mast, and point the former -towards the avalanche. Then move the directoscope exactly to -West-by-South, and point the antenna of the power mast East-by-North. -Now run--I'll do the rest!" - -He saw her drop the receiver and rush away from the Telephot. -Immediately he leaped up the glass stairs to the top of his building, -and swung his big aerial around so that it pointed West-by-South. - -He then adjusted his directoscope till a little bell began to ring. -He knew then that the instrument was in perfect tune with the far-off -instrument in Switzerland; he also noted that its pointer had swung to -exactly East-by-North. - -"So far, so good," he whistled with satisfaction. "Now for the power!" - -He ran down to the laboratory and threw in a switch. Then he threw -in another one with his foot, while clasping his ears tightly with -his rubber-gloved hands. A terrible, whining sound was heard, and the -building shook. It was the warning siren on top of the house, which -could be heard within a radius of sixty miles, sounding its warning to -all to keep away from tall steel or metal structures, or, if they could -not do this, to insulate themselves. - -He sounded the siren twice for ten seconds, which meant that he would -direct his ultra-power for at least twenty minutes, and everybody must -be on guard for this length of time. - -No sooner had the siren blast stopped, than he had seen Alice at the -Telephot, signalling him that everything was in readiness. - -He yelled to her to insulate herself, and he saw her jump into a tall -glass chair where she sat perfectly still, deathly white. He could see -that she clasped her hands to her ears; and he knew that she must be -trying to shut out the thunder of the descending avalanche. - -He ran up his high glass ladder; and having reached the top, began to -turn the large glass wheel the shaft of which was connected with the -ultra-generator. - -As he started turning the wheel, for the first time he looked at the -clock. He observed that it was just nine minutes after he first had -heard the gong and he smiled, coldly. He knew he was in time. - -A terrifying roar set in as soon as he had commenced to turn the wheel. -It was as if a million devils had been let loose. Sparks were flying -everywhere. Small metal parts not encased in lead boxes fused. Long -streamers of blue flames emanated from sharp objects, while ball-shaped -objects glowed with a white aureole. - -Large iron pieces became strongly magnetic, and small iron objects -continually flew from one large iron piece to another. Ralph's watch -chain became so hot that he had to discard it, together with his watch. - -He kept on turning the wheel, and the roar changed to a scream so -intense that he had to pull out his rubber ear vacuum-caps so that -he might not hear the terrible sound. As he turned the wheel farther -around the tone of the ultra-generator reached the note where it -coincided with the fundamental note of the building, which was built of -steelonium (the new substitute for steel). - -Suddenly the whole building "sang," with a shriek so loud and piercing -that it could be heard twenty miles away. - -Another building whose fundamental note was the same began to "sing" -in its turn, just as one tuning fork produces sympathetic sounds in a -similar distant one. - -A few more turns of the wheel and the "singing" stopped. As he -continued turning the wheel of the generator, the latter gave out -sounds sharper and sharper, higher and higher, shriller and shriller, -till the shrieking became unendurable. - -And then, suddenly, all sound stopped abruptly. - -_The frequency had passed over twenty thousand, at which point the -human ear ceases to hear sounds._ - -Ralph turned the wheel a few more notches and then stopped. Except for -the flying iron pieces, there was no sound. Even the myriads of sparks -leaping around were strangely silent, except for the hissing noise of -flames streaming from sharp metal points. - -Ralph looked at the clock. It was exactly ten minutes after the first -sounding of the gong. He then turned the wheel one notch further and -instantly the room was plunged into pitch-black darkness. - - * * * * * - -To anyone unacquainted with the tremendous force under the control of -Ralph 124C 41 +, but having the temerity to insulate himself and stand -on a nearby roof there would have been visible an unusual sight. He -would also have undergone some remarkable experiences. - -The uninitiated stranger standing--well insulated--on a roof not very -far off from Ralph's laboratory, would have witnessed the following -remarkable phenomena: - -As soon as Ralph threw the power of the Ultra-Generator on his aerial, -the latter began to shoot out hissing flames in the direction of -West-by-South. - -As Ralph kept turning on more power, the flames became longer and -the sound louder. The heavy iridium wires of the large aerial became -red-hot, then yellow, then dazzling white, and the entire mast became -white-hot. Just as the observer could hardly endure the shrill hissing -sound of the outflowing flames any more, the sound stopped altogether, -abruptly, and simultaneously the whole landscape was plunged into such -a pitch-black darkness as he had never experienced before. He could -not even see his hand before his eyes. The aerial could not be seen -either, although he could feel the tremendous energy still flowing away. - -What had happened? The aerial on top of Ralph's house had obtained such -a tremendously high frequency, and had become so strongly energyzed, -that it acted toward the ether much the same as a vacuum pump acts on -the air. - -The aerial for a radius of some forty miles attracted the ether so -fast that a new supply could not spread over this area with sufficient -rapidity. - -Inasmuch as light waves cannot pass through space without the medium -of ether, _it necessarily follows that the entire area upon which the -aerial acted was dark_. - -The observer who had never before been in an etherless hole (the -so-called negative whirlpool), experienced some remarkable sensations -during the twenty minutes that followed. - -It is a well known fact that heat waves cannot pass through space -without their medium, ether, the same as an electric bell, working in -a vacuum, cannot be heard outside of the vacuum, because sound waves -cannot pass through space without their medium, the air. - -No sooner had the darkness set in, than a peculiar feeling of numbness -and passiveness would have come over him. - -As long as he was in the etherless space, _he absolutely stopped -growing older_, as no combustion nor digestion can go on without ether. -_He furthermore had lost all sense of heat or cold._ His pipe, hot -previously, was neither hot nor cold to his touch. His own body could -not grow cold as its heat could not be given off to the atmosphere, -nor could his body grow cold, even if he had sat on a cake of ice, -because there was no ether to permit the heat to pass from one atom to -another. - -He would have remembered how, one day, he had been in a tornado center, -and how, when the storm center had created a partial vacuum around -him, he all of a sudden had felt the very air drawn from his lungs. He -would have remembered people talking about an air-less hole, in which -there was no medium but ether (inasmuch as he could see the light). -Now things were reversed. He could hear and breathe, because the ether -has no effect on these functions; but he had been robbed of his visual -senses, and heat or cold could not affect him, as there was no means by -which the heat or cold could traverse the ether-hole. - - * * * * * - -Alice's father, who had heard of the strike of the Meteoro-Tower -operators and guessed of his daughter's predicament, rushed back from -Paris in his aeroflyer. He had speeded up his machine to the utmost, -scenting impending disaster as if by instinct. When finally his villa -came into sight, his blood froze in his veins and his heart stopped -beating at the scene below him. - -He could see that an immense avalanche was sweeping down the -mountain-side, with his house, that sheltered his daughter, directly in -the path of it. - -As he approached, he heard the roar and thunder of the avalanche as it -swept everything in its path before it. He knew he was powerless, as -he could not reach the house in time, and it only meant the certain -destruction of himself if he could; and for that reason he could do -nothing but be a spectator of the tragedy which would enact itself -before his eyes in a few short minutes. - -At this juncture a miracle, so it seemed to the distracted father, -occurred. - -His eye chanced to fall on the Power mast on the top of his house. He -could see the iridium aerial wires which were pointing East-by-North -suddenly become red-hot; then yellow, then white-hot, at the same -time he felt that some enormous etheric disturbance had been set up, -as sparks were flying from all metallic parts of his machine. When he -looked again at the aerial on his house, he saw that a piece of the -Communico mast, which apparently had fallen at the base of the Power -mast, and which was pointing directly at the avalanche, was streaming -gigantic flames which grew longer and longer, and gave forth shriller -and shriller sounds. The flames which streamed from the end of the -Communico-mast-piece looked like a tremendously long jet of water -leaving its nozzle under pressure. - -For about five hundred yards from the tip of the Communico mast it was -really only a single flame about fifteen feet in diameter. Beyond that -it spread out fan-wise. He could also see that the entire Power mast, -including the Communico mast, was glowing in a white heat, showing that -immense forces were directed upon it. By this time the avalanche had -almost come in contact with the furthest end of the flames. - -Here the unbelievable happened. No sooner did the avalanche touch the -flames, than it began turning to water. It seemed that the heat of -those flames was so intense and powerful that had the avalanche been -a block of solid ice it would not have made any marked difference. As -it was, the entire avalanche was being reduced to hot water and steam -even before it reached the main shaft of the flame. - -A torrent of hot water rushing down the mountain was all that remained -of the menacing avalanche; and while the water did some damage, it was -insignificant. - -For several minutes after the melting of the avalanche the flames -continued to stream from the aerial, and then faded away. - -Ralph 124C 41+, in New York, four thousand miles distant, had turned -off the power of his ultra-generator. - -He climbed down his glass ladder, stepped over to the Telephot, and -found that Alice had already reached her instrument. - -She looked at the man smiling in the faceplate of the Telephot almost -dumb with an emotion that came very near to being reverence. - -The voice that reached him was trembling and he could see her struggle -for coherent speech. - -"It's gone," she gasped; "what _did_ you do?" - -"Melted it." - -"Melted it!" she echoed, "I--" - -Before she could continue, the door in her room burst violently open -and in rushed a fear-stricken old man. Alice flew to his arms, crying, -"Oh father--" - -Ralph 124C 41+ with discretion disconnected the Telephot. - - - - -2 - -TWO FACES - - -Feeling the need of fresh air and quiet after the strain of the last -half hour, Ralph 124C 41+ climbed the few steps leading from the -laboratory to the roof and sat down on a bench beneath the revolving -aerial. - -The hum of the great city came faintly from below. Aeroflyers dotted -the sky. From time to time, trans-oceanic or trans-continental air -liners passed with a low vibration, scarcely audible. - -At times a great aircraft would come close--within 500 yards -perhaps--when the passengers would crane their necks to get a good view -of his "house," if such it could be called. - -Indeed, his "house," which was a round tower, 650 feet high, and thirty -in diameter, built entirely of crystal glass-bricks and steelonium, was -one of the sights of New York. A grateful city, recognizing his genius -and his benefits to humanity, had erected the great tower for him on a -plot where, centuries ago, Union Square had been. - -The top of the tower was twice as great in circumference as the main -building, and in this upper part was located the research laboratory, -famous throughout the world. An electromagnetic tube elevator ran down -the tower on one side of the building, all the rooms being circular in -shape, except for the space taken up by the elevator. - -Ralph, sitting on the roof of his tower, was oblivious to all about -him. He was unable to dismiss from his mind the lovely face of the -girl whose life he had just been the means of saving. The soft tones -of her voice were in his ears. Heretofore engrossed in his work, his -scientific mind had been oblivious to women. They had played no part in -his life. Science had been his mistress, and a laboratory his home. - -And now, in one short half hour, for him the whole world had become a -new place. Two dark eyes, a bewitching pair of lips, a voice that had -stirred the very core of his being-- - -Ralph shook himself. It was not for him to think of these things, he -told himself. He was but a tool, a tool to advance science, to benefit -humanity. He belonged, not to himself, but to the Government--the -Government, who fed and clothed him, and whose doctors guarded his -health with every precaution. He had to pay the penalty of his +. To be -sure, he had everything. He had but to ask and his wish was law--if it -did not interfere with his work. - -There were times he grew restive under the restraint, he longed to -smoke the tobacco forbidden him by watchful doctors, and to indulge -in those little vices which vary the monotony of existence for the -ordinary individual. There were times when he most ardently wished that -he were an ordinary individual. - -He was not allowed to make dangerous tests personally, thereby -endangering a life invaluable to the Government. That institution would -supply him with some criminal under sentence of death who would be -compelled to undergo the test for him. If the criminal were killed -during the experiment, nothing was lost; if he did not perish, he would -be imprisoned for life. - -Being a true scientist, Ralph wanted to make his own dangerous -experiments. Not to do this took away the very spice of life for him, -and on occasion he rebelled. He would call up the Planet Governor, the -ruler of 15 billion human beings, and demand that he be relieved of his -work. - -"I can't stand it," he would protest. "This constraint which I am -forced to endure maddens me, I feel that I am being hampered." - -The Governor, a wise man, and a kindly one, would often call upon him -in person, and for a long time they would discuss the question, Ralph -protesting, the Governor reasoning with him. - -"I am nothing but a prisoner," Ralph stormed once. - -"You are a great inventor," smiled the Governor, "and a tremendous -factor in the world's advancement. You are invaluable to humanity, -and--you are irreplaceable. You belong to the world--not to yourself." - -Many times in the past few years he recalled, had the two been over the -same ground, and many times had the diplomatic Governor convinced the -scientist that in sacrifice of self and devotion to the world's future -lay his great reward. - -The voice of his manservant interrupted his reverie. - -"Sir," he said, "your presence in the transmission-room would be -appreciated." - -"What is it?" asked the scientist, impatient at the interruption. - -"Sir, the people have heard all about the Switzerland incident of an -hour ago and desire to show their appreciation." - -"Well, I suppose I must submit," the inventor rather wearily responded, -and both stepped over into the round steel car of the electromagnetic -elevator. The butler pressed one of the 28 ivory buttons and the car -shot downward, with neither noise nor friction. There were no cables or -guides, the car being held and propelled by magnetism only. At the 22nd -floor the car stopped, and Ralph stepped into the transmission-room. - -No sooner had he entered than the deafening applause of hundreds of -thousands of voices greeted him, and he was forced to put his hands to -his ears to muffle the sound. - -_Yet, the transmission-room was entirely empty._ - -Every inch of the wall, however, was covered with large-sized Telephots -and loud-speaking devices. - -Centuries ago, when people tendered some one an ovation, they would all -assemble in some great square or large hall. The celebrity would have -to appear in person, else there would be no ovation--truly a clumsy -means. Then, too, in those years, people at a distance could neither -see nor hear what was going on throughout the world. - -Ralph's ovation was the result of the enterprise of a news "paper" -which had issued extras about his exploit, and urged its readers to be -connected with him at 5 p.m. - -Naturally everyone who could spare the time had called the Teleservice -Company and asked to be connected with the inventor's trunk-line--and -this was the result. - -Ralph 124C 41 + stepped into the middle of the room and bowed to -the four points of the compass, in order that all might see him -perfectly. The noise was deafening, and as it rather grew in volume -than diminished he beseechingly held up his hands. In a few seconds the -applause ceased and some one cried--"Speech!" - -Ralph spoke briefly, thanking his audience for their interest, and -touching but lightly upon his rescue of the young Swiss girl, begged -his hearers to remember that in no way had he risked his life and -therefore could scarcely be called a hero. - -Vociferous cries of "No, no," told him that no one shared his humble -opinion of the achievement. - -It was at this juncture that Ralph's attention was caught by two -persons in the audience. There were so many thousands of faces on each -plate that nearly every countenance was blurred, due to their constant -movement. (He himself, however, was clearly seen by them, as each one -had switched on their "reversers," making it possible to see only the -object at the end of the line.) - -To Ralph, the shifting, clouded appearance of his audience was a -commonplace. - -This was not the first time that he had been called upon to receive the -thanks of the multitude for some unusual service he had rendered them, -or some surprising scientific feat he had successfully accomplished. -While realizing that he must of necessity yield to public adulation, it -more or less bored him. - -He was not particularly interested in the crowd, either collectively -or individually, and as there were so many faces crowded into each -faceplate he made no attempt to distinguish friends from strangers. - -Yet there were two faces among the numerous Telephot faceplates -that Ralph in making his brief speech, found his eyes returning to -again and again. Each occupied the whole of a respective faceplate -and while dissimilar in appearance, nevertheless were markedly alike -in expression. It was as if they were studying this great scientist, -endeavoring to fix in their minds a permanent picture of him. Ralph -sensed no animosity in their steady almost hypnotic gaze and yet they -were curiously apart from the enthusiastic throng. He felt as though he -were, to both of them, under the microscope. - -One of the faces was that of a man in his early thirties. It was a -handsome face, though, to the close observer, the eyes were set just -a trifle too near together, and the mouth betrayed cunning and had a -touch of viciousness. - -The other was not a Terrestrial, but a visiting Martian. It was -impossible to mistake the distinctly Martian cast of countenance. The -great black horse eyes in the long, melancholy face, the elongated -slightly pointed ears were proof enough. Martians in New York were not -sufficiently rare to excite any particular comment. Many made that city -their permanent home, although the law on the planet Earth, as well as -on Mars, which forbade the intermarriage of Martians and Terrestrials, -kept them from flocking earthwards in any great numbers. - -In the applause that followed the conclusion of Ralph's words the -incident of the two pairs of scrutinizing eyes vanished from his -thoughts. But his sub-conscious self, that marvelous mechanism which -forgets nothing, had photographed them indelibly. With the plaudits of -the crowd still ringing he bowed and left the room. - -He went, via the elevator, directly to his library, and asked for the -afternoon news. - -His man handed him a tray on which lay a piece of material _as large as -a postage stamp_, as transparent and flexible as celluloid. - -"What edition is this?" he asked. - -"The 5 o'clock _New York News_,[1] sir." - -Ralph took the "News" and placed it in a metal holder which was part -of the hinged door of a small box. He closed the door and turned on -a switch on the side of the box. Immediately there appeared on the -opposite white wall of the room, a twelve-column page of the _New York -News_ and the scientist, leaning back in his chair, proceeded to read. - -The _New York News_ was simply a microscopic reduction of a page, -which, when enlarged by a powerful lens, became plainly visible. - -Moreover, each paper had eight "pages," in separate sheets, as was the -fashion centuries ago, but eight pages literally on top of each other. -The printing process was electrolytic, no ink whatsoever being used in -the manufacture of the "newspaper." This process was invented in 1910 -by an Englishman, and improved by the American 64L 52 in 2031, who made -it possible to "print" _in one operation_ eight different subjects, -_one on top of another_. - -These eight impressions could be made visible only by subjecting the -"paper" to different colors, the color rays bringing out the different -prints. The seven colors of the rainbow were used, while white light -was employed to show reproduced photographs, etc., in their natural -colors. With this method it was possible to "print" a "newspaper," -fully ten times as large in volume as any newspaper of the 21st -century, on a piece of film, the size of a postage-stamp. - -Each paper published an edition every 30 minutes, and if one did not -possess a projector, one could read the "paper" by inserting the _News_ -in a holder beneath a powerful lens which one carried in one's pocket, -folded when not in use. To read the eight different pages, a revolving -color screen was placed directly underneath the lens, to bring out the -different colors necessary to read the "paper." - -Ralph, 124C 41+, glancing over the head-lines of his _News_, saw that -considerable space was given to his latest exploit, the paper showing -actual photographs of the Swiss Alpine scene, which a correspondent had -taken as the avalanche thundered down the mountain. The photographs -had been sent by _Teleradiograph_ immediately after the occurrence -in Switzerland, and the _News_ had printed them in all the _natural_ -colors twenty minutes after Ralph had turned off the ultra-power in New -York. - -These photographs seemed to be the only thing that interested Ralph, -as they showed the house and the surrounding Alps. These, with the -monstrous avalanche in progression photographed and reproduced in the -natural colors, were very impressive. - -Presently he revolved the color screen of his projector to green--the -technical page of the _News_--to him the most interesting reading in -the paper. - -He soon had read all that interested him, and as there was still an -hour before dinner time he began to "write" his lecture: "On the -prolongation of animal life by π-Rays." - -He attached a double leather head-band to his head. At each end of -the band was attached a round metal disc that pressed closely on the -temples. From each metal disc an insulated wire led to a small square -box, the _Menograph_, or mind-writer. - -He then pressed a button and a low humming was heard; simultaneously -two small bulbs began to glow with a soft green fluorescent light. -Grasping a button connected with a flexible cord to the Menograph, he -leaned back in his chair. - -After a few minutes' reflection he pressed the button, and at once a -wave line, traced in ink, appeared on a narrow white fabric band, the -latter resembling a telegraph recorder tape. - -The band which moved rapidly, was unrolled from one reel and rolled up -on another. Whenever the inventor wished to "write" down his thoughts, -he would press the button, which started the mechanism as well as the -recording tracer. - -(Below is shown the record of a Menograph, the piece of tape being -actual size. - -[Illustration: - - I N--OLD EN--T I M ES--] - -Where the wave line breaks, a new word or sentence commences; the three -words shown are the result of the thought which expresses itself in the -words, "_In olden times_." ...) - -The Menograph was one of Ralph 124C 41+'s earliest inventions, and -entirely superseded the pen and pencil. It was only necessary to press -the button when an idea was to be recorded and to release the button -when one reflected and did not wish the thought-words recorded. - -Instead of writing a letter, one sent the recorded _Menotape_, and -inasmuch as the Menolphabet was universal and could be read by -anyone--children being taught it at an early age--it was considered -that this invention of Ralph's was one of his greatest gifts to -humanity: Twenty times as much work could be done by means of the -Menograph as could be done by the old-fashioned writing, which required -considerable physical effort. Typewriters soon disappeared after its -invention. Nor was there any use for stenographers, as the thoughts -were written down direct on the tape, which was sent out as a letter -was sent centuries ago. - -As was his custom in the evening he worked for some hours in the -laboratory, and retired at midnight. Before he fell asleep he attached -to his head a double leather head-band with metal temple plates, -similar to the one used in connection with the Menograph. - -He then called for his man, Peter, and told him to "put on" Homer's -_Odyssey_ for the night. - -Peter went down to the library on the 15th floor, and took down from a -shelf a narrow box, labeled _Odyssey, Homer_. From this he extracted -a large but thin reel on which was wound a long narrow film. This -film was entirely black but for a white transparent wave-line running -through the center of it. - -Peter returning to Ralph's bedroom placed the reel containing the film -in a rack and introduced the end of the film into the _Hypnobioscope_. -This wonderful instrument, invented by Ralph, transmitted the impulses -of the wave-line direct to the brain of the sleeping inventor, who -thus was made to "dream" the _Odyssey_. - -It had been known for centuries that the brain could be affected during -sleep by certain processes. Thus one could be forced to dream that a -heavy object was lying on one's chest, if such an object was placed on -the sleeper's chest. Or one could be forced to dream that one's hand -was being burnt or frozen, simply by heating or cooling the sleeper's -hand. - -It remained to Ralph, however, to perfect the Hypnobioscope, which -transmitted words direct to the sleeping brain, in such a manner that -everything could be remembered in detail the next morning. - -This was made possible by having the impulses _act directly and -steadily on the brain_. In other words, it was the Menograph reversed, -with certain additions. - -Thus, while in a passive state, the mind absorbed the impressions -quite readily and mechanically and a story "read" by means of the -Hypnobioscope left a much stronger impression than if the same story -had been read while conscious. - -For thousands of years humanity had wasted half of its life during -sleep--the negative life. Since Ralph's invention, all this was -changed. Not one night was lost by anyone if anywhere possible, -conditions permitting. All books were read while one slept. _Most -of the studying was done while one slept._ Some people mastered -ten languages, during their sleep-life. Children who could not be -successfully taught in school during their hours of consciousness, -became good scholars if the lessons were repeated during their -sleep-life. - -The morning "newspapers" were transmitted to the sleeping subscribers -by wire at about 5 a.m. The great newspaper offices had hundreds of -Hypnobioscopes in operation, the subscriber's wire leading to them. -The newspaper office, notified by each subscriber what kind of news is -desirable, furnished only such news. Consequently, when the subscriber -woke up for breakfast he already knew the latest news, and could -discuss it with his family, the members of which were also connected -with the newspaper Hypnobioscope. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 1: At the time this was written there was no newspaper of -that name.] - - - - -3 - -DEAD OR ALIVE? - - -An apologetic cough came through the entrance to the laboratory. It was -nearing one o'clock of the following day. - -Several minutes later it was repeated, to the intense annoyance of the -scientist, who had left orders that he was not to be interrupted in his -work under any circumstances. - -At the third "ahem!" he raised his head and stared fixedly at the empty -space between the doorjambs. The most determined optimist could not -have spelled welcome in that look. - -Peter, advancing his neck around the corner until one eye met that of -his master, withdrew it hastily. - -"Well, what is it?" came from the laboratory, in an irritated harsh -voice. - -Peter, in the act of retreating on tiptoe, turned, and once more -cocked a solitary eye around the door-jamb. This one feature had the -beseeching look of a dog trying to convey by his expression that not -for worlds would he have got in the way of your boot. - -"Beg pardon, sir, but there's a young--" - -"Won't see him!" - -"But, sir, it's a young lady--" - -"I'm busy, get out!" - -Peter gulped desperately. "The young lady from--" - -At this moment Ralph pressed a button nearby, an electromagnet acted, -and a heavy plate glass door slid down from above, almost brushing -Peter's melancholy countenance, terminating the conversation summarily. - -Having secured himself against further interruption Ralph returned -to the large glass box over which he had been working, and in which -one could see, through greenish vapors, a dog, across whose heart was -strapped a flat glass box filled with a metal-like substance. - -The substance in the box was Radium-K. Radium, which had been known for -centuries, had the curious property of giving out heat for thousands of -years without disintegrating and without apparently obtaining energy -from any outside source. - -In 2009, Anatole M610 B9, the great French physicist, found that -Radium obtained all its energy from the ether of space and proved that -Radium was one of the few substances having a very strong affinity -for the ether. Radium, he found, attracted the ether violently and -the latter surging back and forward through the Radium became charged -electrically, presenting all the other well known phenomena. - -Anatole M610 B9 compared the action of Radium on the ether with that -of a magnet acting upon a piece of iron. He proved this theory by -examining a piece of pure metallic Radium in an etherless space, -whereupon it lost all its characteristics and acted like a piece of -ordinary metal. - -Radium-K, as used by Ralph, was not pure Radium, but an alloy composed -of Radium and Argonium. This alloy exhibited all the usual phenomena -of pure Radium and produced great heat, but did not create burns on -animal tissue. It could be handled freely and without danger. - -The dog lying in the glass box had been "dead" for three years. Just -three years previous, in the presence of twenty noted scientists Ralph -124C 41+ had exhibited a live dog and had proceeded to drain off _all_ -its blood till the dog was pronounced quite dead and its heart had -stopped beating. Thereupon he had refilled the empty blood vessels of -the animal with a weak solution of Radium-K bromide, and the large -artery through which the solution was pumped into the body had been -closed. - -The flat box containing Radium-K was then strapped over the dog's heart -and it was placed in the large glass case. The latter was filled with -_Permagatol_, a green gas having the property of preserving animal -tissue permanently and indefinitely. The purpose of the box containing -Radium-K was to keep the temperature of the dog's body at a fixed point. - -After the case was completely filled with gas, the glass cover was -sealed in such a manner that it was impossible to open the case without -breaking the seals. The scientists had agreed to return after a lapse -of three years to witness the opening of the box. - -There were several delicate instruments inside the box and these were -connected by means of wires to recording instruments on the side, and -these Ralph inspected twice each day. Throughout the three years the -"dead" dog had never stirred a muscle. His temperature had not varied -1/100 of a degree and his respiratory functions had shown no signs of -life. To all intents and purposes the dog was "dead." - -The time was close at hand for the final stages of what Ralph -considered to be his greatest experiment. Three years ago when he faced -his fellow scientists at the end of the first stage of this work, he -electrified them by announcing that he expected to prove that this -dog, which they had all pronounced "dead," could be restored to life, -unharmed, unchanged, with no more effects upon the dog's spirits, -habits, and nature, than had the animal taken but a short nap. - -For three years this experiment of Ralph 124C 41+ had been the subject -of innumerable scientific papers, had been discussed intermittently in -the newspapers and the date of the final phase of the great experiment -was fixed in the mind of every human being on the planet. - -If the experiment succeeded it meant the prolongation of human life -over greater periods of the earth's history than had ever been -possible. It meant that premature death except through accident would -be ended. - -Would he succeed? Had he attempted the impossible? Was he challenging -Nature to a combat only to be worsted? - -These thoughts obtruded themselves into his consciousness as he began -the preparations for the great test of the afternoon. He pumped out -the Permagatol from the box until the green vapor had completely -disappeared. With infinite care he then forced a small quantity of -oxygen into the box. The instruments recording the action of the -respiratory organs indicated that the oxygen reaching the dog's lungs -had stimulated respiration. - -This being all he could do for the present, he pressed the button -that raised the glass barrier, and summoned Peter by means of another -button. - -That individual, looking a trifle more melancholy than usual, responded -at once. - -"Well my boy," said Ralph good-humoredly, "the stage is all set for the -experiment that will set the whole world by the ears.--But you don't -look happy, Peter. What's troubling your dear old soul?" - -Peter, whose feelings had evidently been lacerated when the door had -been lowered in his face, replied with heavy dignity. - -"Beg pardon, sir, but the young lady is still waiting." - -"What young lady?" asked Ralph. - -"The young lady from Switzerland, sir." - -"The--which?" - -"The young lady from Switzerland, sir, and her father, sir. They've -been waiting half an hour." - -If a bomb had exploded that instant Ralph could not have been more -astounded. - -"She's here--and you didn't call me? Peter, there are times when I am -tempted to throw you out--" - -"Pardon sir," replied Peter firmly, "I made bold to assume that you -might be interested in the young lady's arrival, and presumed to step -into the laboratory to so inform--" - -But his master had gone, shedding his laboratory smock as he went. -Peter, gathering his dignity about him as a garment, reached the -doorway in time to see the elevator slide downwards out of sight. - -And in it, Ralph, his heart thumping in a most undignified way, was -acting more like a schoolboy than a master of science. He twitched at -his tie with one hand and smoothed his hair with the other, peering -into the elevator's little mirror anxiously. Discovering a smudge on -his cheek he checked the car between floors while he wiped away the -spot with his handkerchief. - -When he reached the reception room he sprang from the elevator eagerly -and hurried in. Seated by one of the windows were Alice 212B 423 and -her father. Both turned as he entered, and the girl rose to her feet -and with a charming gesture held out both hands. - -"We just _had_ to come," she said prettily, and in perfect English. -"You didn't give us an opportunity to thank you yesterday, and anyhow, -we felt that telephot thanks were not nearly so nice. That is, father -thought we really ought to come in person--of course, I did, too. I -wanted to see you ever so much"--she broke off, and then, realizing -the implication of her words, went on hastily with reddened cheeks and -downcast eyes, "I mean, to--to thank you, you know." - -"It was wonderful of you," he declared still holding her two hands, and -utterly unmindful of the fact that she was gently trying to disengage -them. Indeed, he was not conscious of anyone or anything but her, until -the voice of her father brought him to the realization that there was -someone else in the room. - -"We need no introduction I think," said the gentleman, "but I am -James 212B 422 and I must ask you to pardon our intrusion upon a -busy scientist's time, but I felt that we should come personally to -thank you for the great service you have done us both. She is my one -daughter, sir, and I love her dearly--dearly--" - -"I can quite understand that," said Ralph with an unconscious ardor -that caused Alice, who had completely recovered from her momentary -confusion, to dimple and blush delightfully. - -"I'm afraid, father dear," she said, "that we are keeping a busy man -too long. Your man," she added, turning to Ralph, "said you were -engaged in a wonderful experiment, and could not be disturbed." - -"Busy? Not at all," said Ralph gracelessly. "You should not have been -kept waiting one moment, and I am very indignant with Peter for not -breaking down the door. He should have known, when he saw you, that you -were not to wait." - -"Oh, please, don't scold him because of me," said Alice, not, however, -at all displeased with the implied compliment. - -"I didn't know yesterday that you spoke English," he said, "so I -used the language-rectifier, but I see that you speak it perfectly. -That is a great relief to me, I assure you, for I speak French very -indifferently. But tell me," he continued, "how did you get here so -soon? The afternoon transatlantic aeroliner is not due yet, and it can -hardly be twenty-four hours since you left Switzerland." - -"We had the honor of being the first passengers to arrive by means of -the new _Subatlantic Tube_," said James 212B 422. "As you are doubtless -aware, the regular passenger service opens next week, but being one of -the consulting engineers of the new electromagnetic tube, my daughter -and I were permitted to make the first trip westward. We made it in -perfect safety, although it was a little risky, as some small portions -of the tube are not entirely completed." - -"And we were so anxious to get here as quickly as possible," broke in -Alice with a glance at Ralph. - -"But you shouldn't have risked your lives, in an untested tube," he -exclaimed. And then, the scientist in him to the front: "Tell me all -about this new tube. Busy with my own work I have not followed its -progress closely enough to know all its details." - -"It has been most interesting work," said James 212B 422, "and we -regard it as quite an achievement in electrical engineering. The new -tube runs in a straight line between New York and Brest, France. If the -tube were to run straight along the bottom of the ocean the distance -between the two points would be from 3600 to 3700 miles due to the -curvature of the earth. For this reason the tube was pushed _straight -through the earth_, thereby making the distance only 3470 miles. - -"You will understand it better by examining this chart," and unfolding -a plan, he proceeded to elaborate on the finer points of the tube -construction. "The greatest trouble," he went on, "our engineers -experienced near the middle of the tube; this point is 450 miles -nearer the center of the earth and the heat became very marked. It was -necessary to install large liquid-air plants at several points in the -tube to reduce the heat, and now as you ride through no heat is noticed. - -"We boarded the spacious steel car, which resembles a thick cigar, at -Brest last night at midnight, and arrived at the New York terminal -at noon today. There was only one stop, a few hundred miles out from -Brest, because of several short-circuited electromagnets. - -"There are no wheels to the tube car and it is propelled by magnetism -only. At each three hundred feet is stationed a powerful tubular -electromagnet, about thirty feet long, through which the tube car -passes. Each electromagnet exerts a tremendous pull upon the car -three hundred feet away, this being the only steel object, and the -car rushes toward the electromagnet with a tremendous speed. When the -car is only two feet away from this electromagnet, the current is cut -off automatically by the car itself, the latter plunging through the -open space of the magnet coil, only to be influenced now by the next -electromagnet, three hundred feet distant. - -[Illustration] - -"The momentum acquired by the pull of the former electromagnet propels -the car with ever-increasing speed, and by the time it has passed -through twenty-five electromagnets it has reached the speed of three -hundred miles an hour. It then continues at a steady pace till the end -of the journey. - -"As the car is held suspended entirely by magnetism, there is -practically no friction whatever, as there are no wheels or rails. The -only friction is from the air, and in order that this may not heat the -car it is equipped with a double wall, the space between the inner and -outer walls being a vacuum. Consequently the temperature inside is -comfortable at all times. Once inside the car, we retired and slept -as soundly as in our swinging beds at home. There were no shocks, no -noise, no rocking--all in all the trip was so delightful, that I must -say the new tube is a decided success!" - -"Fine, fine," said Ralph enthusiastically. "This new tube is going to -revolutionize intercontinental travel. I suppose it won't be long now -before we will regard our tedious twenty-four hour journeys as things -of the past. Tell me," turning to Alice who had been an interested -listener, "how did the trip impress you?" - -"Oh," she exclaimed eagerly, "it was delightful! So smooth and fast! I -was so excited. Really, it was over too soon." - -As she spoke Ralph watched her with keen interest. Here was a girl who -attracted him. Beneath the vivacity that so fascinated him he sensed -the strength of her character, and the depth of her mind. - -"I am so glad to be in New York," she was saying. "Do you know, this -is my first visit here for ages. Why, the last time I can just barely -remember, I was such a little girl. Father has been promising me a trip -for years," with a laughingly reproachful glance at him, "but it took -an avalanche to get us started." - -"I'm afraid I've been a neglectful father of late years," said her -father, "but my work has kept me tied pretty close to home. I, too, -am pleased to be here once more, and my visit promises to be doubly -interesting, for I understand that your great dog experiment will be -completed today. I am looking forward to receiving the earliest reports -of it at the hotel." - -"But I can't permit you to spend your days here in a hotel," protested -Ralph. "Of course you must both be my guests. Yes, yes," as they seemed -about to demur, "I won't take no for an answer. I am counting on -showing you New York, and, as for my experiment, it will give me great -pleasure to have you both present in my laboratory this afternoon at -four." - -He pressed a button. "Peter will show you to your rooms, and I will -send some one for your luggage." - -"You are more than kind," said James. "This is quite unexpected, -but none the less delightful. As to attending the meeting in your -laboratory this afternoon, it is an honor, sir, that I appreciate -deeply." - -At this moment Peter stepped from the elevator and Ralph, after giving -him instructions to show his guests to their apartment, and directions -as to their bags, escorted them to the car and returned to the -laboratory. - - * * * * * - -Promptly at four, Ralph greeted a notable group of fellow scientists, -who had come from all corners of the planet to witness the completion -of the famous "Dead-Alive Dog" experiment. A host of reporters lined -the walls. Alice and her father were seated near Ralph. - -A number of the twenty scientists who had witnessed the beginning of -the experiment three years before were dubiously contemplating the -glass box, and one or two of the reporters, unawed by the personages -in the laboratory, seven of whom were "Plus" men, seemed to find much -covert amusement in the whole affair. - -Finally, when all of the preparations were completed, and Ralph's two -assistants had stationed themselves beside the glass box containing the -body, the young scientist addressed the gathering. - -"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "you have come here to witness the -final phase of my dog experiment. The preliminary phases you observed -three years ago this day in this room. The seals you put in place are -intact, and you may see them for yourselves, untouched as you left them. - -"As I explained three years ago I formulated the theory that a well -preserved animal, though dead to all intents and purposes, could be -revived, or new life given to it, provided the body had not undergone -decomposition; and also provided that none of the organs had suffered -in the least. - -"I found that the rare gas Permagatol would conserve animal tissue and -animal organs indefinitely; when it is used in conjunction with a weak -solution of Radium-K bromide, mixed with antiseptic salts, no part of -an animal body would undergo any change for many years. - -"I also found that the body would have to be kept at a fixed -temperature and this was possible by the use of Radium-K alloy. I am -now ready to prove my theory." - -He signaled to his assistants, and with their aid, the seals were -broken and the glass cover of the case removed. - -A profound silence prevailed. Every eye was focussed on the dog and -many of those present found it difficult to remain seated. - -Ralph coolly and deliberately freed the dog of his bandages and -attachments and placed him on an operating table in plain view of -everyone. - -From then on he and his aides moved rapidly. First the dead dog's -artery was opened and the Radium-K bromide solution drained off. A -young goat was brought in and strapped on the table, and in a very few -seconds one of its arteries had been opened and connected to the dead -dog's main artery. In less than a minute the dog's body was full of -fresh warm blood and immediately efforts were made to bring the dog -back to life. - -Oxygen was freely administered and the heart was artificially pulsated -by means of an electrical vibratory apparatus. - -At the same time one of the assistants had trained a vacuum tube on the -dog's head and its cathode shot the powerful F-9-Rays into the animal's -brain. No sooner had these rays, which are among the most powerful -brain stimulants, been trained on the dog than he began to show weak -signs of life. One of the hind legs was drawn up with a jerk as if in a -fit. Then came a faint heave of the chest, followed by a weak attempt -to breathe. - -A few minutes later the body seemed to contract and a shiver ran -through it from head to tail. A deep respiration followed, and the -animal opened its eyes as if awakening from a long sleep. - -In a few minutes more the dog was lying on its paws and licking up milk -when Ralph turned to the group and said: - -"Gentlemen, the experiment is concluded and I believe the condition of -the animal at this moment establishes sufficient proof of my theory." - -As the reporters eagerly dashed from the laboratory to get to the -nearest Telephot in order to communicate the news to the waiting -world the scientists gathered around Ralph and one of them, a white -haired old man considered to be the dean of the "Plus" men, voiced the -sentiment of the entire group. - -"Ralph, this is one of the greatest gifts that science has brought to -humanity. For what you have done with a dog, you can do with a human -being. I only regret for myself that you had not lived and conducted -this experiment when I was a young man, that I might have, from time to -time, lived in suspended animation from century to century, and from -generation to generation as it will now be possible for human beings to -do." - -The vista opened up by the results of this experiment in the minds -of the other scientists had dazed them and it was with the most -perfunctory good-byes that they left the scene of the experiment, -enveloped with their thoughts of the future. - -Tired and exhausted by the nervous strain of the afternoon Ralph, a -few minutes later, lay down on his bed for a few hours' rest. But as -he closed his eyes there came to him a vivid picture of a pair of warm -dark eyes, radiating admiration, trust and something more that aroused -an emotion he had never before experienced. - - - - -4 - -FERNAND - - -On the following morning, Ralph, breakfasting alone, sent Peter to the -apartments of his guests to ascertain at what hour they would be ready -to do a little sight-seeing with him as guide. - -He himself, in the habit of rising at an early hour, had not expected -to see either Alice or her father much before noon, and it was a -decided surprise to him, to see the latter enter the room a moment -after Peter had gone on his errand. - -"I see that you, too, like to get up with the birds," said the -scientist after they had exchanged morning greetings. - -"And Alice also, when she is at home; but the journey, and our exciting -day following it have tired her. I shall just have a bite to eat -with you, if you will permit me, and then I must be off to keep an -appointment with one of the chief engineers of the Tube." - -"Then you will be unable to accompany us on our tour of the city?" - -"Yes, but don't let that interfere with your plans. I know that Alice -will be safe with you," smiled her father, "and I daresay you young -people can get along very well without me." - -"I'm sorry," replied Ralph, but in his heart he could not but rejoice -that he was to spend the day alone with her who, in a few short hours -had so captivated him. Perhaps something of this showed in his face, -for James 212B 422 smiled to himself. - -Peter returned and presently Ralph and James were seated together at -the table. They conversed in a more or less desultory manner until just -before the end of the meal when Alice's father, laying down his napkin, -said: - -"Before I leave you I have a request to make, a strange one, you may -think." He hesitated. "A short time ago I said that I felt that Alice -would be safe in your care. I had a special reason for making the -remark. The fact is, I am a little worried about her. A young man, -by name Fernand 60O 10, has been making rather a nuisance of himself -lately. He has asked her to marry him, a number of times, and she has -refused, and he has begun to force his attentions on her in a manner -which savors something of persecution. - -"In fact, he went so far, four days ago, as to threaten her. Exactly -what passed between them I don't know, but I do know that, although -she treated the matter lightly at the time, she is frightened. I -have an impression that he may try to kidnap her if she does not -accept him, and though, in these enlightened days such a thing seems -ridiculous--well, the affair makes me a little nervous myself. When -we left Switzerland I understood that he was there, but he may have -followed Alice here. If he has and renews his unpleasant surveillance I -shall know that my fears have some grounds." - -"What does this Fernand look like?" asked Ralph. - -"Oh, a nice looking fellow--at least, the women think so. Personally, -I don't care for him. He is tall and dark, and has the sort of -temperament that seems to delight in opposition. His eyes have a -sullen expression, and his mouth is somewhat weak. She has, by the -way, another admirer, a thoroughly harmless chap, who is here on a -visit at present. He is the Martian Llysanorh' CK 1618, and he is -really hopelessly infatuated, but being, as I say, a very decent -chap who respects the law against marriage between the Martians and -Terrestrials, he has never annoyed her in any way. On the other hand -they are very good friends, and I doubt very much whether she even -suspects that he has any other feeling for her than that of a devoted -friend." - -As he was speaking, a picture leapt to Ralph's mind. He saw again -two faces, each in the center of a Telephot, who, among the crowds -of applauding admirers regarded him with such intentness. If these -were the two men who cared for Alice, each in his own way, it was not -surprising that they had displayed more than a passing interest in the -man who had rescued her from what seemed to be certain death, and who -was a possible rival. - -He recounted the incident to James, who agreed with him that in all -likelihood his suspicions were correct, and the two men parted for the -day, the older bearing with him the comforting reassurance that Ralph -would take care of his daughter as he would himself. - -It was nearing eleven when Alice appeared, bright-eyed after her long -rest. She laughingly apologized for being so late, and they set out at -once. - -"You know," he said before they started, "we New Yorkers are strange -birds. We only like our city when we are far away from it, or when we -can take some stranger about to show him or her the marvels of the -town. As a matter of fact the real, dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker hates -the town and only stays in it because it has cast a spell over him -which he cannot escape." - -By this time they had arrived at the street level of the building and -Ralph bade Alice sit down on a chair in the vestibule. He pressed a -nearby button twice and a servant brought two pairs of what appeared to -be roller-skates. - -In reality they were _Tele-motor-coasters_. They were made of -alomagnesium and each weighed only about one and one-half pounds. Each -had three small, rubber-covered wheels, one in front and two in the -rear. Between the wheels was a small electric motor--about the size of -a lemon; this motor could only be operated by high frequency currents -and, despite its small size, could deliver about one-quarter horsepower. - -Ralph explained the coasters and their use to his companion; and after -they had put them on by means of an ingenious clutch, whereby the -coaster could be snapped onto the shoe in less than five seconds, they -both went out into the street. From each coaster a thin insulated wire -led up the wearer's back to the hat or cap. Here it was attached to the -_collector_, which was a stiff pin about eight inches long, projecting -half-way out from the hat or cap. This pin sucked up, as it were, the -high frequency electricity and carried it to the small motors, which -latter propelled the coaster. To control the speed of the motor, one -simply lifted up the front part of the coaster; this not only cut off -the current, but automatically braked the two rear wheels. - -When the two rolled out in the street, Alice at once remarked upon the -splendid condition of the roads. - -"You see," the scientist explained, "for centuries the city had to -content itself with temporary pavements, until about fifty years ago it -woke up and covered every street with steelonium. - -"You will notice that there are no cracks or fissures. Steelonium won't -rust and is ten times as strong as steel. We now make our streets by -putting down large slabs of the metal, six inches thick. After they are -in place we weld them together electrically and the result is a perfect -street composed of a uniform sheet of metal without cracks or breaks; -no dirt or germs can collect. The sidewalks are made in the same manner. - -"As a matter of fact, the Tele-motor-coasters would not be possible -were it not for the metallic streets. The flat spring which trails on -the street between the two rear wheels must make continuous contact -with the metallic 'ground,' else the current cannot flow." - -"But where does the current come from?" asked the girl. - -"You have perhaps noticed already the white slender posts at the edge -of the sidewalk, and on their tops umbrella-like insulators which carry -a thick spiked wire. This wire, as you see, is about fifteen feet above -the curb and carries the high frequency current which not only supplies -our coasters with power, by way of our needle collectors, but also -propels all the vehicles which you see gliding so noiselessly." - -They were well under way and rolled along at a speed of about twenty -miles an hour. They passed thousands of citizens, all coasting at -high speed. There was no noise but the peculiar hum produced by the -thousands of motors, a sound which was in nowise annoying. - -Each sidewalk was divided in two parts. On the outside only people -going in one direction, on the inside only people going in the opposite -direction could coast. Collisions, therefore, were impossible. If a -person rolling on the outside wished to enter a store, it was necessary -to go to the end of the block, and then turn to the left, which brought -him on the inside of the sidewalk where he could roll up to his -destination. Of course, this was only necessary when the sidewalk was -crowded, nothing preventing one's crossing it if but few people were on -the block. - -The trolley car had long since become obsolete as well as the -gasoline-driven automobile. Only electromobiles carrying either -passengers or freight were to be seen. Each vehicle was equipped with -a short collector mast by means of which the electrical energy was -conveyed to the motors. The wheels of all vehicles were rubber-covered. -This accomplished two purposes: one to insulate the vehicle from the -metallic street, the other to minimize the noise to the greatest extent. - -Although Alice had had a good scientific training, some of the wonders -of New York amazed her and she, as strangers had done for centuries, -asked questions continuously, while her companion eagerly explained -everything with a pleasure peculiar to the New Yorker, loving his town. - -"What are those strange spiral wire affairs hanging high over all -street crossings?" was one of her first questions. - -"Those illuminate our streets at night," was the answer. "They are -iridium wire spirals, about ten meters in diameter, hanging forty -meters up in the air, at the intersection of all our streets. This -evening you will see how the entire spiral will glow in a pure white -light which is absolutely cold. The wire throws out the light, and -after sundown you will find that the streets will be almost as light as -they are now. Each spiral furnishes over one-half million candlepower, -consequently one is needed only where streets intersect, except on very -long blocks, when a smaller spiral is hung in the middle." - -Presently, while crossing a large square they passed Meteoro-Tower No. -26, of the seventh district, and Ralph at once launched off into praise -of it. - -"While you of other countries have a good weather service, we in -New York boast of having the finest climate of any town on the face -of the globe. As you may imagine, our weather-engineers always have -difficult work, owing to the peculiar shape of the city, geographically -as well as physically. The tall spires and buildings make the work -exceptionally hard, as the air currents are extremely erratic over the -city and very hard to control. We now have sixty-eight Meteoro-Towers, -all of various power, in Consolidated New York. These are scattered -over a radius of ninety miles from the _City Governor's Building_, -and control the weather as well as the temperature of New York's two -hundred million inhabitants. - -"You may look at a thermometer any time during the year and you will -find it invariably pointing at fifty units.[2] There is never an excess -of humidity in our air and life is made enjoyable for the hard-working -city dwellers, thanks to our well-trained weather engineer corps. - -"During the daytime rain or snow is unheard of. There is continuous -sunshine during the three hundred and sixty-five days of the year. -Between two and three each morning it rains for exactly one hour. This -is done to freshen the air and to carry the dust away. It is the only -rain New York ever gets and it seems to be sufficient for all purposes." - -When it neared noon Ralph escorted his companion to a luxurious eating -place, which across its entrance bore the name _Scienticafé_. "This -is one of our best restaurants, and I think you will prefer it to the -old-fashioned masticating places," he told her. - -As they entered, a deliciously perfumed, yet invigorating fragrance -greeted them. - -They proceeded at once to the _Appetizer_, which was a large room, -hermetically closed, in which sat several hundred people, reading or -talking. - -The two sat down on leather-upholstered chairs and looked at a humorous -daily magazine which was projected upon a white wall, the pages of the -magazine changing from time to time. - -They had been in the room but a few minutes when Alice exclaimed: - -"I am ravenously hungry and I was not hungry at all when we entered. -What kind of a trick is it?" - -"This is the Appetizer," Ralph exclaimed laughing, "the air in here is -invigorating, being charged with several harmless gases for the purpose -of giving you an appetite before you eat--hence its name!" - -Both then proceeded to the main eating salon, which was beautifully -decorated in white and gold. There were no attendants and no waiters, -and the salon was very quiet except for a muffled, far-off, murmuring -music. - -They then sat down at a table on which were mounted complicated silver -boards with odd buttons and pushes and slides. There was such a board -for each patron. From the top of the board a flexible tube hung down -to which one fastened a silver mouthpiece, that one took out of a -disinfecting solution, attached to the board. The bill of fare was -engraved in the board and there was a pointer which one moved up and -down the various food items and stopped in front of the one selected. -The silver mouthpiece was then placed in the mouth and one pressed upon -a red button. The liquid food which one selected would then begin to -flow into the mouth, its rate of speed controlled by the red button. -If spices, salt or pepper were wanted, there was a button for each -one which merely had to be pressed till the food was as palatable as -wanted. Another button controlled the temperature of the food. - -Meats, vegetables, and other eatables, were all liquefied and were -prepared with utmost skill to make them palatable. When changing from -one food to another the flexible tube, including the mouthpiece, were -rinsed out with hot water, but the water did not flow out of the -mouthpiece. The opening of the latter closed automatically during the -rinsing and opened as soon as the process was terminated. - -While eating they reclined in the comfortably upholstered leather -arm-chair. They did not have to use knife and fork, as was the custom -in former centuries. Eating had become a pleasure. - -"Do you know," said Ralph, "it took people a long time to accept the -scientific restaurants. - -"At first they did not succeed. Humanity had been masticating for -thousands of years and it was hard to overcome the inherited habit. - -"However, people soon found out that scientific foods prepared in a -palatable manner in liquid form were not only far more digestible -and better for the stomach, but they also did away almost entirely -with indigestion, dyspepsia, and other ills, and people began to get -stronger and more vigorous. - -"The scientific restaurants furnished only foods which were nourishing -and no dishes hard to digest could be had at all. Therein lay the -success of the new idea. - -"People at first did not favor the idea because the new way of eating -did not seem as aesthetic as the old and seemed also at first devoid -of the pleasures of the old way of eating. They regarded it with a -suspicion similar to a 20th century European observing a Chinaman using -his chopsticks. This aversion, however, soon wore off as people became -used to the new mode of eating, and it is thought that the close of the -century will witness the closing of all old-fashioned restaurants. - -"You will notice, however, that the liquid scientific foods are not -absolutely liquid. Some of them, especially meats, have been prepared -in such a manner that slight mastication is always necessary. This -naturally does away with the monotony of swallowing liquids all the -time and makes the food more desirable." - -After their luncheon Ralph and Alice rolled "uptown," the former -explaining the various sights as they progressed. At Broadway and 389th -street, in a large square, a petrified animal stood upon a pedestal. -The girl, desiring to know what it represented, approached and read -this inscription, hewn in the stone: - - PETE - - The last Horse in Harness in the - Streets of New York - Died on this Spot - June 19th, 2096 A.D. - -"The poor thing," she said, "it looks so pitiful, doesn't it? To think -that once the poor dumb animals were made to labor! It is much better -nowadays with electricity doing all the work." - -Ralph smiled at this very feminine remark. It was like her, he thought -tenderly, to feel sympathy for even this former beast of burden. - -As they turned to leave the pedestal, the girl made an involuntary -shrinking movement toward him. He looked up and saw, advancing toward -them on Tele-motor-coasters, a tall dark man, a little younger than -himself. The newcomer ignoring Ralph utterly, rolled up to Alice. - -"So you are enjoying the sights of New York," he said, with no other -greeting, and with a disagreeable smile on his lips. - -"Yes," said the girl coldly, "I _was_ enjoying them, very much." - -He bit his under lip in an annoyed fashion, and a dull flush mounted -to his hair. "I told you I'd follow you if you ran away," he said in a -lower tone. - -Ralph, unable to catch the words, but reading a menace in the fellow's -look, stepped forward. Alice turned to him eagerly and put her hand on -his arm. - -"What is next on our program, Ralph?" she asked in a clear voice, -while at the same time she pressed his wrist with her fingers as a -signal for him to go on. - -As if Fernand had not existed, she moved away, her hand still on -Ralph's arm. "Please, please," she murmured as he would have turned -back. - -"That fellow needs his head punched," muttered Ralph savagely. - -"Don't make a scene--I just couldn't bear it," she pleaded. Looking -down at her he saw that she was on the verge of tears. - -"I'm sorry," he said gently. - -"I'm so ashamed," she said pathetically, "what must you think!" - -"That I should go back and knock his head off," said Ralph. "But if you -ask me not to, I won't. I suppose that was Fernand?" - -She looked at him in astonishment. "Do _you_ know him?" - -"Your father told me." - -"Oh," she said, troubled, "father shouldn't have done that. But I -suppose he was afraid of a meeting of this sort." - -"How long has he been following you around?" - -"Oh, for ages, it seems. Really, about a year. I never liked him, but -lately he's been perfectly horrid, and acts in such a threatening -way--you saw him. I can't see why he should take the trouble to annoy -anyone who loathes him as I do. But let's forget it. We have had such -a wonderful day that I don't want it spoiled." And then timidly, with -downcast eyes: "I called you Ralph. You must have thought me very -forward, but I wanted him to think--" - -She stopped suddenly, and in confusion. And then, her natural gaiety -coming to her rescue: "Heavens, the more I say, the worse I make it, -don't I?" - -"It sounded fine to me," said Ralph, falling in with her mood, "I hope -you will always call me that." - -And laughing together they rolled on. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 2: 72° Fahrenheit.] - - - - -5 - -NEW YORK A.D. 2660 - - -Being much interested in sports, she desired to know presently how the -modern New Yorker kept himself in condition and for his answer Ralph -stopped at a corner and they entered a tall, flat-roofed building. They -took off their coasters, stepped into the electromagnetic elevator and -ascended the fifty odd stories in a few seconds. At the top, they found -a large expanse on which were stationed dozens of flyers of all sizes. -There was a continuous bustle of departing and arriving aerial flyers -and of people alighting and departing. - -As soon as Ralph and Alice appeared a dozen voices began to call: -"_Aerocab, sir, Aerocab, this way please!_" Ralph, ignoring them, -walked over to a two-seated flyer and assisted his companion to -the seat; he then seated himself and said briefly to the "driver," -"_National Playgrounds_." The machine, which was very light and -operated entirely by electricity, was built of metal throughout; it -shot up into the air with terrific speed and then took a northeasterly -direction at a rate of ten miles per minute, or 600 miles per hour. - -From the great height at which they were flying it was not hard to -point out the most interesting structures, towers, bridges, and wonders -of construction deemed impossible several centuries ago. - -In less than ten minutes they had arrived at the National Playgrounds. -They alighted on an immense platform and Ralph, leading Alice to the -edge, where they could see the entire playgrounds, said: - -"These National Playgrounds were built by the city in 2490, at the -extreme eastern end of what used to be Long Island, a few miles from -Montauk.[3] An immense area had been fitted up for all kinds of sports, -terrestrial and aquatic as well as aerial. These municipal playgrounds -are the finest in the world and represent one of New York's greatest -achievements. The City Government supplied all the various sport -paraphernalia and every citizen has the right to use it, by applying to -the lieutenants in charge of the various sections. - -"There are playgrounds for the young as well as for the old, grounds -for men, grounds for the women, grounds for babies to romp about in. -There are hundreds of baseball fields, thousands of tennis courts, and -uncounted football fields and golf links. It never rains, it is never -too hot, it is never too cold. The grounds are open every day in the -year, from seven in the morning till eleven at night. After sunset, the -grounds and fields are lighted by thousands of iridium wire spirals, -for those who have to work in the daytime. - -"As a matter of fact all the great baseball, tennis, and football -contests are held after sundown. The reason is apparent. During the -daytime, with the sun shining, there is always one team which has an -advantage over the other, on account of the light being in their eyes. -In the evening, however, with the powerful, stationary light overhead, -each team has the same conditions and the game can be played more -fairly and more accurately."[4] - -Ralph and his companion strolled about the immense grounds watching -the players and it was not long before he discovered that she, like -himself, was enthusiastic about tennis. He asked her if she would care -to play a game with him and she acquiesced eagerly. - -They walked over to the dressing building where Ralph kept his own -sport clothes. Since the girl had no tennis shoes, he secured a pair -for her in the Arcade, and they sauntered over to one of the courts. - -In the game that followed, Ralph, an expert at tennis, was too -engrossed in the girl to watch his game. Consequently, he was beaten -from start to finish. He did not see the ball, and scarcely noticed the -net. His eyes were constantly on Alice, who, indeed, made a remarkably -pretty picture. She flung herself enthusiastically into her game, as -she did with everything else that interested her. She was the true -sport-lover, caring little whether she won or not, loving the game for -the game itself. - -Her lovely face was flushed with the exercise, and her hair curled into -damp little rings, lying against her neck and cheeks in soft clusters. -Her eyes, always bright, shone like stars. Now and again they met -Ralph's in gay triumph as she encountered a difficult ball. - -He had never imagined that anyone could be so graceful. Her lithe and -flexible figure was seen to its best advantage in this game requiring -great agility. - -Ralph, under this bombardment of charms, was spellbound. He played -mechanically, and, it must be admitted, wretchedly. And he was so -thoroughly and abjectly in love that he did not care. To him, but one -thing mattered. He knew that unless he could have Alice life itself -would not matter to him. - -He felt that he would gladly have lost a hundred games when she at last -flung down her racket, crying happily: "Oh, I won, I won, didn't I?" - -"You certainly did," he cried. "You were wonderful!" - -"I'm a little bit afraid you let me win," she pouted. "It really wasn't -fair of you." - -"You were fine," he declared. "I was hopelessly outclassed from the -beginning. You have no idea how beautiful you were," he went on, -impulsively. "More beautiful than I ever dreamed anyone could be." - -Before his ardent eyes she drew back a little, half pleased, half -frightened, and not a little confused. - -Sensing her embarrassment he instantly became matter-of-fact. - -"Now," he said, "I am going to show you the source of New York's light -and power." - -A few minutes later, after both had changed their shoes, they were -again seated in an aerocab and a twenty minute journey brought them -well into the center of what was formerly New York state. - -They alighted on an immense plain on which twelve monstrous -Meteoro-Towers, each 1,500 feet high, were stationed. These towers -formed a hexagon inside of which were the immense _Helio-Dynamophores_, -or Sun-power-generators. - -The entire expanse, twenty kilometers square, was covered with glass. -Underneath the heavy plate glass squares were the photo-electric -elements which transformed the solar heat _direct_ into electric -energy. - -The photo-electric elements, of which there were 400 to each square -meter, were placed in large movable metal cases, each case containing -1,600 photo-electric units. - -Each metal case in turn was movable, and mounted on a kind of large -tripod in such a manner that each case from sunrise to sunset presented -its glass plate directly to the sun. The rays of the sun, consequently, -struck the photo-electric elements always vertically, never obliquely. -A small electric motor inside of the tripod moved the metal case so as -to keep the plates always facing the sun. - -In order that one case might not take away the light from the one -directly behind it, all cases were arranged in long rows, each -sufficiently far away from the one preceding it. Thus shadows from one -row could not fall on the row behind it. - -At sunrise, all cases would be almost vertical, but at this time -very little current was generated. One hour after sunrise, the plant -was working to its full capacity; by noon all cases would be in a -horizontal position, and by sunset, they again would be in an almost -vertical position, in the opposite direction, however, from that of -the morning. The plant would work at its full capacity until one hour -before sunset. - -Each case generated about one hundred and twenty kilowatts almost -as long as the sun was shining, and it is easily understood what an -enormous power the entire plant could generate. In fact, this plant -supplied all the power, light, and heat for entire New York. One-half -of the plant was for day use, while the other half during daytime -charged the chemical gas-accumulators for night use. - -In 1909 Cove of Massachusetts invented a thermo-electric -Sun-power-generator which could deliver ten volts and six amperes, or -one-sixtieth kilowatt in a space of twelve square feet. Since that -time inventors by the score had busied themselves to perfect solar -generators, but it was not until the year 2469 that the Italian 63A -1243 invented the photo-electric cell, which revolutionized the entire -electrical industry. This Italian discovered that by derivatives of -the Radium-M class, in conjunction with Tellurium and Arcturium, a -photo-electric element could be produced which was strongly affected by -the sun's ultra-violet rays and in this condition was able to transform -heat _direct_ into electrical energy, without losses of any kind. - -After watching the enormous power plant for a time Alice remarked: - -"We, of course, have similar plants across the water but I have never -seen anything of such magnitude. It is really colossal. But what gives -the sky above such a peculiar black tint?" - -"In order not to suffer too great losses from atmospheric -disturbances," Ralph explained, "the twelve giant Meteoro-Towers which -you notice are working with full power as long as the plant is in -operation. Thus a partial vacuum is produced above the plant and the -air consequently is very thin. As air ordinarily absorbs an immense -amount of heat, it goes without saying that the Helio-Dynamophore plant -obtains an immensely greater amount of heat when the air above is very -clear and thin. In the morning the towers direct their energy toward -the East in order to clear the atmosphere to a certain extent, and in -the afternoon their energy is directed toward the West for the same -purpose. For this reason, this plant furnishes fully thirty per cent -more energy than others working in ordinary atmosphere." - -As it was growing late they returned to the city, traversing the -distance to Ralph's home in less than ten minutes. - -Alice's father arrived a few minutes later, and she told him of the -delightful time she had had in the company of their distinguished host. - -Shortly after they had dined that evening Ralph took his guests down -to his _Tele-Theater_. This large room had a shallow stage at one end, -with proscenium arch and curtain, such as had been in use during the -whole history of the drama. At the rear of the room were scattered a -number of big upholstered chairs. - -When they had seated themselves, Ralph gave Alice a directory of the -plays and operas that were being presented that night. - -"Oh, I see they are playing the French comic opera, _La Normande_, at -the National Opera tonight," she exclaimed. "I have heard and read much -of it. I should like to hear it so much." - -"With the greatest of pleasure," Ralph replied. "In fact, I have not -heard it myself. My laboratory has kept me so busy, that I have missed -the Opera several times already. There are only two performances a week -now." - -He walked over to a large switchboard from which hung numerous cords -and plugs. He inserted one of the plugs into a hole labeled "National -Opera." He then manipulated several levers and switches and seated -himself again with his guests. - -In a moment, a gong sounded, and the lights were gradually dimmed. -Immediately afterward, the orchestra began the overture. - -A great number of loud-speaking telephones were arranged near the -stage, and the acoustics were so good that it was hard to realize that -the music originated four miles away at the National Opera House. - -When the overture was over, the curtain rose on the first act. -Directly behind it several hundred especially constructed Telephots -were arranged in such a manner as to fill out the entire space of the -shallow stage. These telephots were connected in series and were all -joined together so cleverly that no break or joint was visible in the -rear part of the stage. The result was that all objects on the distant -stage of the National Opera were projected full size on the composite -Telephot plates on the Tele-Theater stage. The illusion was so perfect -in all respects that it was extremely hard to imagine that the actors -on the Telephot stage were not real flesh and blood. Each voice could -be heard clearly and distinctly, because the transmitters were close to -the actors at all times and it was not necessary to strain the ear to -catch any passages. - -Between the acts Ralph explained that each New York playhouse now had -over 200,000 subscribers and it was as easy for the Berlin and Paris -subscribers to hear and see the play as for the New York subscriber. On -the other hand, he admitted that the Paris and Berlin as well as the -London playhouses had a large number of subscribers, local as well as -long distance, but New York's subscription list was by far the largest. - -"Can you imagine," mused Alice, "how the people in former centuries -must have been inconvenienced when they wished to enjoy a play? I was -reading only the other day how they had to prepare themselves for the -theater hours ahead of time. They had to get dressed especially for the -occasion and even went so far as to have different clothes in which to -attend theaters or operas. And then they had to ride or perhaps walk to -the playhouse itself. Then the poor things, if they did not happen to -like the production, had either to sit all through it or else go home. -They probably would have rejoiced at the ease of our Tele-Theaters, -where we can switch from one play to another in five seconds, until we -find the one that suits us best. - -"Nor could their sick people enjoy themselves seeing a play, as we can -now. I know when I broke my ankle a year ago, I actually lived in the -Tele-Theater. I cannot imagine how I could have dragged through those -dreary six weeks in bed without a new play each night. Life must have -been dreadful in those days!" - -"Yes, you are right," Ralph said. "Neither could they have imagined in -their wildest dreams the spectacle I witnessed a few days ago. - -"I happened to be passing this room and I heard such uproarious -laughter that I decided to see what caused it all. Entering unnoticed, -I found my ten-year-old nephew 'entertaining' half-a-dozen of his -friends. The little rascal had plugged into a matinee performance of -'Romeo and Juliet' playing at the 'Broadway'--in English of course. -He then plugged in at the same time into _Der Spitzbub_, a farce -playing that evening in Berlin, and to this, for good measure, he added -_Rigoletto_ in Italian, playing at the 'Gala' in Milan. - -"The effect was of course horrible. Most of the time, nothing but a -Babel of voices and music could be heard; but once in a while a single -voice broke through the din, followed immediately by another one in a -different language. The funniest incident was when, at the 'Broadway,' -Juliet called: _Romeo, Romeo, where art thou, Romeo?_, and a heavy -comedian at the Berlin Theatre howled: _Mir ist's Wurst, schlagt ihn -tot!_ - -"Of course, everything on the stage was blurred most of the time, but -once in a while extremely ludicrous combinations resulted between some -of the actors at the various theaters, which were greeted with an -uproar by the youngsters." - -As he concluded the anecdote the curtain rose once more, and the -audience of three settled back to enjoy the second act of the opera. - -Later, when it was all over, they went down to the street floor at -Ralph's suggestion, where they put on their Tele-motor-coasters, -preparatory to seeing more of New York--this time by night. - -The party proceeded to roll down Broadway, the historic thoroughfare of -New York. Despite the fact that it was 11 o'clock at night, the streets -were almost as light as at noonday. They were illuminated brilliantly -by the iridium spirals, hanging high above the crossings. These -spirals gave forth a pure, dazzling-white light of the same quality as -sunlight. This light moreover was absolutely cold, as all electrical -energy was transformed into light, none being lost in heat. Not a -street was dark--not even the smallest alley. - -James 212B 422, as well as his daughter, lingered over the superb -displays in the various stores and they entered several to make a few -purchases. Alice was much impressed with the automatic-electric packing -machines. - -The clerk making the sale placed the purchased articles on a metal -platform. He then pushed several buttons on a small switchboard, which -operated the "size" apparatus to obtain the dimensions of the package. -After the last button was pressed, the platform rose about two feet, -till it disappeared into a large metal, box-like contrivance. In about -ten to fifteen seconds it came down again bearing on its surface a neat -white box with a handle at the top, _all in one piece_. The box was -not fastened with any strings or tape, but was folded in an ingenious -manner so that it could not open of its own accord. Moreover, it was -made of _Alohydrolium_, which is the lightest of all metals, being -one-eighth the weight of aluminum. - -The automatic packing machine could pack anything from a small package -a few inches square up to a box two feet high by three feet long. It -made the box to suit the size of the final package, placed the articles -together, packed them into the box which was not yet finished, folded -the box after the handle had been stamped out, stenciled the firm's -name on two sides and delivered it completely packed, all within ten to -fifteen seconds. - -The box could either be taken by the purchaser or the clerk would -stencil the customer's name and address into the handle, place a -triangular packet-post stamp on the box and drop it into a chute beside -the counter. It was carried down into the _Packet-Post Conveyor_, -which was from seventy-five to one hundred feet below the level of the -street, where it landed on a belt-like arrangement moving at the rate -of five miles an hour. The action was entirely automatic and the chute -was arranged with an automatic shutter which would only open when there -was no package immediately below on the moving belt. This precluded -the possibility of packages tumbling on top of each other and in this -way blocking the conveyor tube. - -When the package had landed on the conveyor belt it traveled to the -nearest _distributor office_, where the post office clerk would take it -from the belt and see if it was franked correctly. The stamp was then -machine cancelled and after the clerk had noted the address he routed -it to the sub-station nearest to the addressee's home. Next he clamped -onto the package an automatic metal "rider" which was of a certain -height, irrespective of the size of the package. - -The package with its rider was placed on an express conveyor belt -traveling at the rate of 25 miles an hour. This express belt, bearing -the package, moved at an even speed, and never stopping, passed -numerous sub-stations on the way. At the correct sub-station the rider -came against a contact device stretching across the belt at right -angles, at a certain height. This contact arrangement closed the -circuit of a powerful electromagnet placed in the same line with the -contact, a few feet away from the express belt. The electromagnet acted -immediately on the metal package (Alohydrolium is a magnetic metal), -drawing it in a flash into the sub-station from the belt. If there was -another package right behind the one so drawn out, it was handled in -the same manner. - -After the package had arrived at the sub-station it was despatched -to its final destination. Another rider was attached to it and the -package placed on a local conveyor belt passing by the house to which -it was addressed. On arriving at the correct address its rider would -strike the contact overhead, which operated the electromagnet, pulling -the package into the basement of the house, where it fell on the -platform of an electric dumb-waiter. The dumb-waiter started upward -automatically and the package was delivered at once. - -By this method a package could be delivered in the average space -of forty minutes from the time of purchase. Some packages could be -delivered in a much shorter time and others which had to travel to the -city limits took much longer. - -"How wonderful!" Alice exclaimed after Ralph had explained the system. -"It must have taken decades to build such a stupendous system." - -"No, not quite," was the reply. "It was built gradually by an enormous -number of workers. The tubes are even now extended almost daily to keep -pace with the growth of the city." - -From the stores Ralph took his guests to the roof of an aerocab stand -and they boarded a fast flyer. - -"Take us about 10,000 feet up," Ralph instructed the driver. - -"You haven't much time," the man answered, "at 12 o'clock all cabs must -be out of the air." - -"Why?" - -"Today is the 15th of September, the night of the aerial carnival, and -it's against the law to go up over New York until it's all over. You -have twenty-five minutes left, however, if you wish to go up." - -"I forgot all about this aerial carnival," said Ralph, "but twenty-five -minutes will be time enough for us if you speed up your machine." - -The aerial flyer rose quickly and silently. The objects below seemed to -shrink in size and within three minutes the light became fainter. - -In ten minutes an altitude of twelve thousand feet had been reached, -and as it became too cold, Ralph motioned to the driver not to rise -further. - -The spectacle below them was indescribably beautiful. As far as the -eye could see was a broad expanse studded with lights, like a carpet -embroidered with diamonds. Thousands of aerial craft, their powerful -searchlights sweeping the skies, moved silently through the night, and -once in a while an immense transatlantic aerial liner would swish by at -a tremendous speed. - -Most beautiful of all, as well as wonderful, were the _Signalizers_. -Ralph pointed them out to his guests, saying: - -"In the first period of aerial navigation large electric lamps forming -figures and letters were placed on housetops, and in open fields -that the aerial craft above might better find their destinations. -To the traffic flying 5,000 feet or higher such signals were wholly -inadequate, as they could not be correctly read at such a distance. -Hence the signalizers. These are powerful searchlights of the most -advanced type, mounted on special buildings. They are trained skyward -and shoot a powerful shaft of light directly upward. No aerial craft -is allowed to cross these light shafts. Each shaft gives a different -signal; thus the signalizer in Herald Square is first white; in ten -seconds it changes to red and in another ten seconds it becomes yellow. -Even an aerial liner at sea can recognize the signal and steer directly -into the Herald Square pier, without being obliged to hover over the -city in search of it. Some signalizers have only one color, flashing -from time to time. Others more important use two searchlights at one -time, like the one at Sandy Hook. This signalizer has two light shafts, -one green and one red; these do not change colors, nor do they light -periodically." - -From on high Ralph's guests marveled at these signalizers, which -pierced the darkness all around them. It was a wonderful sight and the -weird beauty of the colored shafts thrilled Alice immeasurably. - -"Oh, it is like a Fairyland," she exclaimed. "I could watch it forever." - -But presently the aerocab was descending rapidly and in a few minutes -the strong light from below had obliterated the light shafts. As -the craft drew closer the streets could be seen extending for miles -like white ribbons and the brilliantly lighted squares stood out -prominently. They landed, at the stroke of twelve, and Ralph found -three unoccupied chairs on the top of one of the public buildings and -only then did they notice that hundreds of people were seated, watching -the sky expectantly. - -At the last stroke of twelve, all the lights below went out and -simultaneously the light shafts of all the searchlights. Everything was -plunged in an utter darkness. - -Suddenly overhead at a great height the flag of the United States in -immense proportions was seen. It was composed of 6,000 flyers, all -together in the same horizontal plane. Each flyer was equipped with -very powerful lights on the bottom, some white, some red, others blue. -Thus an immense flag in its natural colors was formed and so precisely -did the flyers co-operate that, although they all were at least 50 feet -from each other, the appearance to those below was that of an unbroken -silk flag, illuminated by a searchlight. The immense flag began to -move. It passed slowly overhead, describing a large circle, so that the -entire population below obtained a perfect view. - -Everyone applauded the demonstration. Then as suddenly as it had -appeared the flag vanished and all was once more in darkness. Ralph -explained to his guests that the lights of each one of the aerial -flyers had been shut off simultaneously in preparation for the next -spectacle. - -All at once there was seen an enormous colored circle which revolved -with great rapidity, becoming smaller and smaller, as though it were -shrinking. Finally it became a colored disc, whirling rapidly on its -axis. In a few seconds, the edge opened and a straight line shot out, -the disc unrolling like a tape measure. After a few minutes more, there -remained nothing of the disc. It had resolved itself into a perfectly -straight many-hued line, miles long. Then the lights went out again. -The next spectacle was a demonstration of the solar system. In the -center a large sun was seen standing still. Next to the "sun" a small -red round globe spun rapidly about it, representing the planet Mercury. -Around both the sun and the "planet" Mercury revolved another globe, -blue in color; this was Venus. Then followed a white orb, the "Earth" -with the moon turning about it. Next came the red planet Mars with -its two small moons, then green Jupiter and its moons, and Saturn in -yellow. Uranus was orange and lastly came Neptune in pink, all globes -and their moons traveling in their proper orbits around the "sun."[5] -While the spectacle was in progress a white "comet" with a long tail -traveled across the paths of the planets, turned a sharp corner around -the "sun," its tail always pointing away from that body, recrossed the -orbits of the "planets" again on the other side and lost itself in the -darkness. - -Several other spectacles were presented, each more superb than the one -preceding it. The carnival closed with a light-picture of the Planet -Governor. This was exhibited for fully five minutes during which time -the applause was continuous. - -"We have never seen such a marvelous spectacle," James 212B 422 -declared. "You Americans still lead the world. Upon my word, the old -saying that 'Nothing is impossible in America,' still holds good." - -It was after one when they reached the house, and Ralph suggested a -light lunch before they retired for what remained of the night. The -others assented and Ralph led the way to the _Bacillatorium_. - -The Bacillatorium, invented in 2509 by the Swede 1A 299, was a small -room, the walls and bottom of which were composed of lead. On each of -the four sides were large vacuum bulbs on pedestals. These tubes, a -foot in height and about six inches thick and two feet in diameter, -were each equipped with a large concave Radio-arcturium cathode. The -glass of the tube in front of the cathode had a double wall, the space -between being filled with helium gas. - -The rays emanating from the cathode, when the tube was energized with -high oscillatory currents, were called _Arcturium Rays_ and would -instantly destroy any bacilli exposed to them for a few seconds. -Arcturium Rays, like X-rays, pass through solid objects, and when used -alone burned the tissue of the human body. It was found, however, that -by filtering arcturium rays through helium no burns would result, but -any germ or bacillus in or on the body would be killed at once. - -The Bacillatorium was prescribed by law and each citizen ordered to -use it at least every other day, thus making it impossible for the -human body to develop contagious diseases. As late as the 20th century -more than half the mortality was directly attributable to diseases -communicated by germs or bacilli. - -The Bacillatorium eradicated such diseases. The arcturium rays, -moreover, had a highly beneficial effect on animal tissue and the -enforced use of the Bacillatorium extended the span of human life to -between one hundred and twenty and one hundred and forty years, where -in former centuries three score and ten was the average. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 3: Since this was written a national playground has actually -been created at Montauk, L.I. A rather strange coincidence.] - -[Footnote 4: At the time this was written, no illuminated, night time -sports fields existed.] - -[Footnote 5: In 1911 the outer planet Pluto had as yet not been -discovered.] - - - - -6 - -"GIVE US FOOD" - - -The following day was set aside for a visit to the Accelerated Plant -Growing Farms. It had been known for hundreds of years that certain -plants, such as mushrooms, could be fully developed in a few days. -Plant or vegetables grown under glass and the temperature within kept -at a high point, would grow at great speed and be ready for the market -long before those grown in the open. - -But only recently, as Ralph explained to Alice, had it been possible -to do this on a large scale. To be sure, certain vegetables, like -asparagus, lettuce, peas, etc., had been produced in hothouses for -hundreds of years, but these, after all, were rather luxuries, and -could not be classed as essentials. - -When, about the year 2600, the population of the planet had increased -tremendously and famines due to lack of such essentials as bread and -potatoes had broken out in many parts of the world, it was found -vitally necessary to produce such necessities on a larger scale and -with unfailing regularity. These farms became known under the term of -Accelerated Plant Growing Farms and were located in every part of the -world. The first (and now obsolete) European and African farms were -built along the lines of the old-fashioned hothouses. The European -farms were simply horizontal steel-latticed roofs, with ordinary glass -panes, permitting the sunlight to penetrate to the soil beneath. While -covering huge acreages, they were not heated artificially, using only -the sun's rays to accelerate plant growth. As compared with Nature's -single crop of wheat or corn, two could be made to grow in the same -season by means of these super hothouses. - -Similar farms were used in America until Ralph undertook their study -and approached the subject from a scientific angle. One of his first -efforts was to obtain greater heat for these huge hothouses. One of -these hothouses is about three miles long and the same width. Ralph -took the existing hothouses, which were simply oblong steel and glass -boxes, and built a second hothouse box covering each of them, thus -creating a double-walled, air-locked hothouse. The second glass-paneled -wall was about two feet inside the outer one. This left dead air locked -between the walls, and as air is a poor heat conductor, the heat in the -hothouse was retained longer, particularly during a cold night. - -Ralph and Alice left early in the morning, winging their way in an -aeroflyer toward northern New York, where there were many Accelerated -Plant Growing Farms. When the farms came into view, the entire country -below, so far as the eye could see, appeared to be dotted with the -glass-covered roofs of the plants, reflecting the sunlight and -affording an unusual sight. Alice marveled at their number, for while -she had seen some of these farms in Europe, she had never seen so many -grouped together of such immensity. - -Within a few minutes, they landed near one of the giant hothouses. The -manager led them inside of the farm labeled No. D1569. - -D1569 was exclusively a wheat growing farm. Where Mother Nature used -to grow one crop of wheat a year, Ralph's latest Accelerator made -it possible to grow four, and sometimes five crops a year. In the -old-fashioned European farms such as Alice knew, only two crops could -be grown. - -"How is it possible," she asked, "that you can obtain three more crops -a year than we do in Europe?" - -"In the first place," said Ralph, "it may be taken as an axiom that the -more heat you supply to plant growth, the quicker it will grow. Cold -and chilly winds retard plant growth. Electricity and certain chemicals -increase the ratio of growth, a fact that has been known for many -centuries. It is, however, the scientific application of this knowledge -that makes it possible to raise five crops a year. The European farms -use only the heat of the sun to stimulate plant growth, but during the -night, when the temperature drops, growth is practically nil. - -"Notice that the top and sides of our hothouses have two walls. In -other words, one hothouse is built within another. The air locked -between the two hothouses is an excellent heat insulator and even -though the sun is low at 4 o'clock, the temperature is practically -unchanged in the hothouse, at 8 or 9 o'clock in the evening. Even in -the winter, when the sun sets about 4 o'clock and it is cold, we are -able to store up enough heat during the day to keep a high temperature -as late as 7 and 8 o'clock. If we did nothing between the hours of 8 -in the evening and 8 in the morning, the temperature would continue to -fall to a point where no plant growth would be possible. - -"Here in America we had to have a greater production to supply our -huge population. It was a pure case of necessity. So we had to employ -artificial heating during the night. - -"If we start sinking a shaft into the earth, the heat increases rapidly -as we go down--more quickly in some parts of the world than others. On -an average, the temperature rises about one degree Fahrenheit each 100 -feet of depth. We found it economic, therefore, to use the earth's own -heat to heat our farms. - -"By means of high speed drills, we can cut a three-foot shaft 3,000 -feet deep in the earth in less than a month. We go down until we strike -a temperature around 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Then we lower steel -tanks into the cavity and run pipes up to the surface. The tanks are -filled with water and two larger pipes run from each tank into the -circulating system of pipes, around the lower walls throughout the -length and breadth of the farms. The shafts are then closed at the top -and we have a circulating system that is both cheap and efficient. The -hot water continually rises into the pipes and circulates. As it cools, -it flows down again into the tanks, where it is reheated and rises -again. Thus the temperature of our farms is uniform all the year around -and plant growth is as rapid during the night as during the day. - -"Heat alone, however, is not sufficient. We should still get only a -normal growth. We wanted five crops a year. I put my research forces -to work studying fertilizers. While the old nitrogen fertilizers were -excellent, they were not suitable for high pressure, high speed growing -methods. We evolved chemicals which were both cheap and easy to apply. -We found that small quantities of _Termidon_, when mixed with water and -sprayed over the field by overhead sprayers, which you will see running -along the ceiling, would accelerate the growth of the crops enormously. - -"This liquid Termidon is sprayed over the entire length and breadth of -the field before planting time, so that the soil becomes well soaked. -The Termidon immediately turns the soil into a rich, dark strata, the -best soil for potatoes, wheat, or corn. No other fertilizer need be -used, the Termidon, applied after every growth, giving the soil all the -vitality necessary." - -They were now in the field, when suddenly Alice asked: - -"What is the peculiar tingling in the soles of my feet, I feel as we -walk along? You are using some electrical vibrations, I suppose." - -"You guessed correctly," Ralph replied. "With all our artifice the -speed of the plant growth had not been accelerated sufficiently. I -therefore insulated the inside hothouse from the ground. The inside -hothouse rests upon glass blocks, and is electrified by high frequency -currents. The entire area is sprayed day and night with a high -frequency current, in the use of which we found was the real secret of -driving plant growth ahead at enormous speed. The theory of course is -nothing new, having been known for centuries. What is new, however, is -the way it is done. It makes all the difference in the world if the -current density is too high or too low, if it is direct or alternating -current, and many other details. I found that the quickest way to -accelerate plant growth by electricity was to send the current from -the growing plant toward the ceiling, and the current must be direct, -pulsating, but not alternating." - -Ralph asked for a discharge pole from one of the attendants. It was -a metal pole about seven and a half feet high. In the middle it had a -long glass handle which Ralph grasped. He then set the pole vertically -so that its top was about six inches from the glass ceiling. A roar of -fine sparks leaped from the steel frame of the ceiling to the top of -the pole. - -"See," said Ralph, "there is the current we use in accelerating the -growth of our plants." - -Removing the pole, Ralph continued: "The electrical current density per -square foot is not very high and the wheat does not get a very great -amount of electricity during the twenty-four hours. _The continuance of -the force applied is what counts._" - -After luncheon, during which they ate some of the bread made from wheat -grown on the premises, they went to an adjoining farm, also a wheat -farm, where harvesting was in full progress. Machinery, suspended from -overhead tracks, cut the wheat rapidly with circular scythes. All -the wheat being of the same height, the machine cut the wheat almost -directly below the heads, dropped them on a conveyor, which carried -the real harvest to a central distribution point. Another machine -immediately followed the cutter, grasping the stalks that were still -standing, unerringly _pulled out the straw hulks_, roots and all. -Thus the roots were entirely removed and the soil loosened, obviating -plowing. Within a few hours following cutting, the last stem was out. -The field was then sprayed with the liquid Termidon from overhead. -Within another three hours, sowing began, also from overhead pipes. - -Going to an adjoining plant, they saw a bare field with almost black -soil, ready to be sowed. An attendant, at Ralph's request, pulled a -switch and immediately Alice witnessed a seed rain from the overhead -pipes. - -"The seed," Ralph explained, "is supplied to these tubes by means of -compressed air. The tubes are perforated, and when air pressure is -applied, the seed, flowing through the tubes is ejected evenly--just -so many seeds to a given area. Closing the openings of the pipes -automatically as the seeding proceeds, means only a given quantity -of seed will fall upon any given square foot of soil. This makes for -scientific planting, and we raise just the exact quantity of wheat we -want." - -Alice watched the seed rain spellbound. Like a wall of rain it slowly -receded into the distance until finally it disappeared. "How long does -it take to sow this field?" she asked. - -"From two to three hours, depending upon the size of the field. This -particular field is about eight miles long and three miles wide. The -process should be completed within about three and a half hours." - -"And when will this crop be ready for the harvest?" Alice wanted to -know. - -"In about seventy days from now the wheat will be ready to cut." - -Alice walked along thoughtfully and then inquired whether the great -cost of such an undertaking would not make the growing of the -foodstuffs prohibitive. - -"Quite the contrary," Ralph replied. "We are now growing wheat, corn, -potatoes, and many other foodstuffs, for a much lower price than -our ancestors did five or six hundred years ago. You see, it is the -installation of the hothouses and machinery that is costly, but these -glass and steel buildings will last for centuries with proper care. -The frames are made of non-rusting steel which needs no painting. The -glass lasts for hundreds of years. The labor we use in planting and -harvesting is a mere fraction of what was used in olden times. Thus, -for sowing and harvesting this plant, eight by three miles, we require -only twenty people. This is a very much smaller number than was used on -a small old-fashioned farm. - -"We waste nothing. We have no poor crops, and we get three or four -times as much as our ancestors did." - -They stepped up to a glass case containing samples of wheat grown for -hundreds of years, showing that a head of wheat grown in the year 1900 -was about three inches long, while the present year's crop showed a -length of more than six inches, or twice as much flour content per -stalk. Ralph also pointed out to Alice that the modern wheat stalk -was much bigger in circumference than the ancient ones, which, he -explained, was attributable to the greater weight of the modern wheat. -The old stalks could not possibly have supported such a great weight of -grain, so it was necessary to cultivate bigger stalks. - -Ralph went on: "As I said before, we waste nothing here. The harvested -hulks go to a paper mill, a few miles away, and are converted into a -first class paper. A few decades ago an entirely new paper process was -invented. Where straw was once used for making so-called strawboard or -cardboard, the finest commercial papers are now being made from the -straw grown right here. We no longer annihilate our forests, to make -paper pulp. Since the invention of the straw paper process, chopping -trees for paper purposes has been forbidden and all the paper in this -country is now made exclusively of straw chemically treated." - -A potato farm was seen the same afternoon. The processes in this -and other vegetable growing plants being under somewhat different -conditions than the wheat farm. - -It was dark when Alice and Ralph returned to wheat farm No. D1569, and -found that the manager of the plant had prepared an elaborate supper -for the two, informing Alice that _everything_ set before her had been -grown the same day. The whole wheat bread had been harvested that -morning, the grains had been artificially aged by heat, flour had been -made, and the bread had just been baked. He said, somewhat proudly, -that this was probably a record. - -The entire meal consisted of vegetables, all grown in plants in the -vicinity. There were fresh peas, fresh asparagus, new potatoes, fresh -lettuce, juicy apples, and many delicacies. - -For dessert the manager brought in, on a great silver tray, a number -of new crossfoods, which as yet had not been seen in the open market. -There was, the _appear_, a cross between an apple and a pear, which -had all the good qualities of the apple and all the good qualities of -the pear. There was also a delightful combination of plum and cherry, -a cantaloupe with a faint taste of orange, and cherries as big as a -good-sized plum. - -Tea was served from tea leaves grown in one of the farms and harvested -the same day. The manager also showed Alice cigarettes and set before -Ralph a box of cigars, made from tobacco planted and harvested that -day. The leaves had been aged rapidly by dry heat in a partial vacuum. - -Both thanked the manager for the novel treat. After dining they walked -into the wheat growing farm. It was now dark outside, but in the -hothouse, the wheat for miles and miles seemed to be aglow in a light -purple haze. A faint half-crackling, half-swishing sound was heard. The -points of the wheat seemed to be almost luminous. - -"This is the night appearance of the electricity you felt this -afternoon," said Ralph. "During the daytime you do not see the faint -discharge, but in darkness it becomes luminous. One pole of the high -frequency generator is connected with the soil and the other with the -steel framework of the hothouse. Without this electric current we would -not be able to grow more than two, or at the utmost, three crops a year. - -"It is also necessary to vary the strength of the current during -the day. With full sunshine and maximum heat we do not need as much -current as we use during the night. Several hundred years ago when -using somewhat similar methods that had not as yet been perfected, it -was necessary to use artificial light during the night, as plants need -light for growth. We found, however, that the electric current with the -soft light which you see glowing now, is sufficient for the purpose and -the plant does not require any other light." - -Alice stood for many minutes silently watching the beautiful sight of -the glowing purple field, listening to the faint crackling discharge of -the electric current as it leaped from the points of the wheat into the -air. They finally left and flew back to New York. - -The next day, Ralph took Alice to one of the city's Synthetic Food -Laboratories. While flying toward it, Ralph explained that while the -farms which they had looked over yesterday were for the purpose of -raising real foodstuffs, there were many commodities that could not be -so raised, such as sugar, milk, and many others, which were now made -synthetically. As chemists had known for many hundreds of years, sugar -was nothing but a simple carbohydrate, whereas milk was composed of -an emulsified mixture of casein, lactic acid, butter, water and minor -constituents. - -As the population increased, it was neither possible, nor profitable -to obtain these foods by natural means, and it was found necessary to -resort to the chemist. - -They alighted at one of these chemical laboratories which manufactured -sugar, milk, cooking fats, butter and cheese. - -There was really not much to see, save large boiler-like chemical -retorts, large white enameled vats, and a lot of pumps and electric -motors. The manager explained that sugar was made out of sawdust and -acids. The sawdust, he explained, was digested in the huge white -enameled steel vats by means of certain acids. After the digesting -process was completed other chemicals were added, the ensuing syrup -then being run through retorts and finally emerging as a stream of -white liquid sugar. - -The manager handed Alice a piece of clear, transparent sugar, as well -as several specimens of crystallized sugar, which she ate delightedly, -exclaiming laughingly that "it was the best sawdust she had ever eaten." - -They next visited the synthetic milk section, where hundreds of -thousands of gallons of milk were produced every day. This being a -recent discovery the manager explained it in detail. - -"Milk," he said, "has been known since the dawn of humanity, but only -when man became somewhat civilized did he learn how to obtain milk from -animals, such as the goat and the cow. It took thousands of years to -domesticate these animals, and it is not known at what period man first -began to milk these domestic animals for his own supply of milk. - -"Men of an inquisitive nature must have asked themselves the question -for thousands of years, 'Why grow grass, let the cow eat the grass, -digest it, and finally turn it into milk? Why not eliminate the -cow entirely?' The thought, while elementary, had no actual basis -or foundation for centuries, because the chemical processes of the -intermediate stages between the grass and the final milk were too -complicated and were not at all well understood. Only during the last -few years has the problem been solved satisfactorily. - -"Now we grow the fresh grass, which we put into these large retorts, -where the grass is digested just the same as if it were in the stomach -of the cow. By the addition of salts and chemicals we imitate this -digestive process, and by eliminating solids and the liquids, we -finally get a milk that is not only better than the original cow or -goat milk, but has many qualities not possessed by cow's milk. - -"Try this glass of artificial milk," he said to Alice, handing her a -glass of rather unappetizing-looking liquid of a slightly pale green -color, not too clean looking and somewhat thick. Alice tasted it, -however, and found that it tasted exactly like a good rich cow's milk. -The manager asked Alice to close her eyes and take a good drink. She -did so, and exclaimed in surprise that it tasted exactly like rich, -creamy milk. - -The manager then explained that synthetic milk was free from the -bacteria which give milk its white color. Moreover, the fat content was -much higher than cow's milk, and, there being a greater percentage of -sugar present, the milk tasted sweeter. Certain added salts gave it a -distinguishing taste. - -From this milk, he further explained, any sort of fat could be -extracted, and the usual array of milk products, such as butter, all -sorts of cheeses, etc., could be made much better than from cow's milk, -which never ran uniform. - -After inspecting the laboratory, Alice and Ralph sampled a number of -products, all of which tasted excellent--better, if anything, than -the natural products. The manager added "You will find our synthetic -products are far easier to digest, and are more wholesome than the -natural product. The reason is that we have eliminated all of the -disease-carrying microbes and bacteria, retaining only the beneficial -ones, which we can control very easily in our plants, more than the cow -or goat can do." - - - - -7 - -THE END OF MONEY - - -A few days later, Alice, while rolling along one of the elevated -streets of the city with Ralph, inquired how the present monetary -system had been evolved: "You know," she confided, "I know very little -of economics." - -"Well," said Ralph, "all monetary systems of the past or present are -based on one principle--the exchange of one thing for another. At -first it was simply a bartering or swapping of such things as a goat -for a pig, or a string of beads for a piece of cloth. Only much later -did money evolve. Before we had coins, certain rare shells were used -as tokens. Still later, precious metal was exchanged for goods, using -the weight of the metal as a basis. Later on, coins were developed, -and still later on, paper money replaced part of the coins. Where the -shells, the precious metals, and, later the metal coins, had intrinsic -value, the paper money had no such value. The public accepted with -faith and confidence a piece of paper across which was printed the -guarantee that the bearer of it would receive so many metal dollars -in exchange for the piece of paper. The paper money was built upon -confidence that the people had in the government issuing the paper -money. - -"Very few people ever thought of going to a bank or to the -government's treasury to exchange the paper money for gold or silver -coins. Instead, they freely circulated this paper money among -themselves, and after people became accustomed to it, they accepted the -paper money to the practical exclusion of gold and silver. Particularly -in the former United States did this system reach a high development, -more so than in old Europe, where paper money was used in conjunction -with gold or silver coins. - -"In the United States, however, nothing but paper money was eventually -used, even to the exclusion of the smallest coins. Whereas up to a -certain period the dollar bill was the smallest paper money unit used, -this was later split into the former coins of fifty cents, twenty-five -cents, ten cents, five cents, and one cent. It was found that small -paper bills the size of former postage stamps were not very practical -when issued in separate pieces, so the printed tape coins, which we -have today, came into extensive use. - -"The small metal box you carry, and from which you unroll your printed -perforated tape, still represents the old paper money. When you, -therefore, make a purchase today and you unroll fifty cents in ten cent -denominations on your perforated roll, you are using a portion of the -old system. - -"But the real monetary system is built upon confidence. It could not -be otherwise today because we have no more precious metals. When, -about 95 years ago, the Frenchman P865 + finished the transmutation of -all the precious metals, the death-knell of the old monetary system -was sounded. Everybody could make gold and silver for less than iron -used to cost in the old days. Consequently, if you had a one hundred -dollar bill that said on its face that you could exchange it for one -hundred dollars' worth of gold, you could have gone to the treasury -and received five twenty dollar gold pieces, which, however, were not -worth more, perhaps, than one or two cents. So of what use was the one -hundred dollar bill?[6] - -"When P865 + made his announcement, it caused neither panic nor -confusion. Several centuries prior there would have been panic, but the -world had been progressing in knowledge, and understood that commerce -and economics are stabilized by confidence. - -"There is only one thing in this world that has a real value, and that -is man's work. You can replace almost everything else with something -else, but you can not replace labor. The modern economic structure is, -therefore, reared entirely upon man's work. - -"When the check came into use, in the 19th century the monetary system -underwent a great change. Instead of people paying what they owed by -means of coins or banknotes, they took to paying each other by means of -a written piece of paper--the check. Billions upon billions of dollars -and cents changed hands, simply by signing a check to some one else, -the check clearing through the bank. While one account was credited, -another was debited. There was little actual money that changed hands, -either between the man who wrote the check and the man who received it, -or even between the banks who cleared the checks. In other words, this -entire check system was based upon credit. You received a check for one -hundred dollars from a man who owed you one hundred dollars. You took -this check in good faith because you knew that he must have the one -hundred dollars in the bank--otherwise he probably would not make out -the check. You sent the check to your bank, which, in turn, collected -it from the bank in which your debtor had his account. In all these -transactions no real money ever changed hands. It was credit, pure and -simple, all the way through. - -"So when P865 + demonstrated his synthetic metals, the situation did -not change at all. The people appreciated the fact that the government, -in one way or another, must be good, and that although the money -reserves as figured in metal dollars and cents had become valueless, -every one knew that the country was not founded and based upon -valueless metals alone. Incidentally, no government, the entire world -over, could have redeemed in gold or silver coin all of its outstanding -obligations. - -"Therefore, when gold and silver became practically valueless, nothing -happened, because actual coins were no longer used, and every one used -checks, so that even banknotes had become obsolete. - -"But, with the devaluation of the so-called 'precious' metals the -governments substituted other values. This was done at first by setting -fixed values on property, such as real estate, buildings, manufacturing -plants, etc. Valuations of these were made several times a year, and -whoever owned such properties was given a 'State-value certificate.' -A building, valued at $50,000, was appraised by the state three or -four times or more, a year, and a certificate was given to you which -you took to your bank, the latter immediately crediting you with -part of the $50,000. If you wanted to sell your property to a friend -for $50,000 or more, you would take his check and then, demand from -your bank the return of the original deed, which in turn would be -transferred to your friend. In that case your bank would credit you -with the $50,000 check of your friend, while he would have the property. - -"Of course the illustration which I gave is not exactly accurate, for -the reason that you could not get from your bank the exact amount of -the valuation of whatever realty changed hands. The bank advanced -about seventy percent of the appraised value, with certain exceptions. -This also was in no wise different from the way our ancestors were -accustomed to do, because in the old days such a transaction would -simply have been called a mortgage. The important difference, however, -later on, was that the valuation was made by the state and such -valuation was final. This tended to stabilize real estate and property -valuations. - -"Merchandise, today, is bought and sold the same as it was bought -and sold centuries ago, and that is by check. So is everything -else, including labor. Every workman is, of course, paid by check, -which check he can use either in his own bank account or for buying -merchandise from his grocer or tailor, getting the difference in a -check or otherwise in fractional paper tape coin. - -"These government paper tape coins and banknotes--the few that are -being used--instead of being covered by gold and silver bullion, are -now covered by real estate bonds or other tangible property." - -"But," Alice asked, "suppose there were a panic, as described in some -of the ancient books, and everybody ran to the bank at once to get his -money, what would happen?" - -"Nothing," said Ralph. "Absolutely nothing. Suppose there was a -'panic,' as you call it. In the first place, why should there be one? -There is no reason for it and no one nowadays would think of running to -the bank and getting his or her 'money.' There is no 'money,' as you -call it. - -"Remember, the banks are all under government control, and if a bank -should fail, which no bank has done for the last four hundred years, -the government would be obliged to make good the shortage out of its -own resources. If everybody ran simultaneously to every bank throughout -the country, a bank would simply make out a check for each total -balance, and pass out a check for the amount. Then the next morning, as -the people could not eat their checks for breakfast, they would have -to do one of two things: either take the check back to the bank and -redeposit it, or exchange the check for commodities. - -"That means that within twenty-four hours all the checks would have -found their way back to the banks and things would be just exactly -where they had left off before the 'run' on the bank. As banks are no -longer under the necessity of paying in coin or banknotes, but under -the law can pay by check, there is no reason why any one should wish to -make a 'run' on the bank, simply to get a check." - -"But," Alice persisted, "suppose you draw out more than you have to -your credit? Suppose you write out a check for more than you have in -the bank? What happens then?" - -"You probably can answer that just as well as I can," replied Ralph. -"To do so is a prison offense, and again, it would do you no good, -because following the first offense you would get a warning from the -government, and at the second such offense you would get a still -stronger warning, and on the third, you would go to jail, because the -first two offenses could perhaps be mistakes, but the third could not. -On top of this, your account would be withdrawn from all banks and you -would not be able to open another account again for ten years, because -all checks as you know, are identified with fingerprints in addition to -the signature. The fingerprint experts of the government would prevent -you from opening another account in any bank anywhere in the country. -So no one abuses his checking privilege and writes out checks when -there are no funds to his credit." - -A few days later Ralph took Alice to one of the great industrial -artificial cloth works. They flew to Pennsylvania, where the great -artificial silk, cotton, and wool mills were located. Ralph explained -that during the 20th century silk had finally been made artificially -from wood and chemicals. This was then known as artificial silk. But -only during the last century had it been possible to manufacture -artificial cotton and artificial wool, synthetically from wood and -other chemicals. Moreover, they wore better than real cotton and real -wool. - -In the enormous plant were immense tanks in which the raw materials -were first cooked and then treated by chemicals until the fibers issued -in fine microscopic streams from nozzles under hydraulic pressure, the -threads were then wound on huge reels. From here the hanks were sent to -the spinneries and cloth-weaving mills. - -Of particular interest was the new kind of cloth, which was much -fighter than wool or cotton, and, at the same time, cooler in summer -and warmer in winter. This material was made from cork, which was first -pulverized and then afterwards digested by means of chemicals. Under -hydraulic pressure, a somewhat thick thread was obtained, which had -all the good properties of cork, but none of its poor ones. This cork -thread, when woven into cloth, made a texture both light and durable, -had a velvety touch to the fingers, and being a poor heat conductor, -protected the wearer from heat in the summer and cold in the winter. - -A number of combinations were made whereby cork thread and silk thread -were spun together, giving an entirely new product, with all the -virtues of silk as well as those of cork. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 6: When this was written gold coins were legal tender. Gold -payments were outlawed by Congress in 1933.] - - - - -8 - -THE MENACE OF THE INVISIBLE CLOAK - - -Leaving the Pennsylvania mills the aeroflyer, traveling at high speed -landed the party within a very short time on one of the tall landing -buildings in New York. Ralph and Alice made their way down to the -elevated roadway, where, at Ralph's suggestion they put on their _power -skates_, for, as he explained smilingly, it was but a short distance -to his home and the exercise would do them both good and give them an -appetite for luncheon. - -When they were but a little way from their destination Ralph became -conscious of a faint hissing sound close behind them. Twice he glanced -over his shoulder, but the roadway at that hour--it was just before -noon--was deserted. - -Yet the sibilant sound persisted, seeming to be getting closer and -closer, like some persevering insect about to alight. - -Alice apparently heard nothing, or perhaps she thought it merely one -of the noises of the street, for she chattered on in the gay animated -fashion that was one of her charms, oblivious to the fact that the man -at her side was so preoccupied that he scarcely replied to her. - -For Ralph had now satisfied himself that there was nothing anywhere -around them which could cause that untiring pursuant hiss. Then from -what secret invisible source did it emanate--and why? - -To the scientist, accustomed to explaining the unexplainable, it was -ominous--menacing-- - -Again he turned to look behind him, along the deserted way, and at that -moment he heard a stifled cry from the girl beside him. He whirled to -face her, and faced--nothing! He was alone in the empty street! - -Unbelieving, doubting the evidence of his eyes, he stared about -him, too astounded for the moment, by this mystifying and amazing -disappearance to think collectively. - -Above him the sun shone in a clear blue sky, before and behind him -stretched the still roadway. Then he was aware of the silence, the -deadly quiet. For the hissing had receded into nothingness, and with -it, Alice. - -As the full force of the catastrophe struck him, something akin to -panic seized him. Danger to himself he could have faced with the calm -courage of a brave man, but this unseen and unexpected blow from an -invisible source aimed at the girl so close and dear to his heart smote -him with a chill terror that for an instant held him powerless in its -grip. - -That he should have been careless when she was in danger--but this was -no time for self-reproaches. To act, and to act at once--that was vital. - -Thoughts of high frequency radio waves--of X-rays--of Fernand-- - -"Fernand!" he exclaimed aloud, and with the name coherent thought -returned. Putting on all possible speed he covered the distance to his -home in a few seconds and dashed up to his laboratory, the while his -swiftly-working brain attacked the greatest personal problem that it -had ever been called upon to solve. - -Having experimented with ultra-short waves, he knew that it was -possible to create total transparency of any object if the object could -be made to vibrate approximately at the same rate as light. He was -familiar with the theory, and although he had worked on it at times, -he had never seen a practical demonstration of it.[7] He realized a -machine was in the hands of someone, intent on kidnapping Alice. He -knew, too, that a police description would be flashed within a radius -of thousands of miles instantly, it would be necessary for the abductor -to keep Alice invisible for some time to come, for fear of some one -seeing and recognizing her. All this flashed through his mind as he -assembled a detecting apparatus consisting of a portable aerial and a -small box containing a few radio instruments and a pair of headphones. - -The aerial, by being rotated, could determine the point from which -the waves emanated. In ten minutes Ralph had the apparatus rigged up -and began rotating the aerial, until a roaring noise was heard in the -telephones. He knew that this must be the apparatus producing the -invisibility, and within a few seconds he had dashed from the house on -his power skates, carrying the detector in front of him. Two of his -assistants accompanied him. - -The pursuit was on. As they approached the kidnapper the sounds in the -telephones became stronger. They sped along Broadway, while the hastily -notified police kept the way open. The rising sound in the 'phones -clearly indicated they were headed directly toward the abductor. - -They gained steadily on him while the rolling, flying police cleared -Ralph's way with their shrieking sirens, while the kidnapper had to -pick his way slowly through crowds. - -The chase led them into a narrow street on the outskirts of the city. - -The sound that came through the telephones was now exceedingly loud, -indicating that the quarry was near by. But this very nearness was -confusing to Ralph, for the volume of sound prevented him from exactly -locating the invisible kidnapper and the girl. In vain he turned the -aerial in all directions, seeking one point from which it came louder -than another that would determine the course of his pursuit. For the -moment he was halted, and, like some hound baffled by the cunning of -the fox, he cast about him eagerly, waiting for what he knew must come, -the next move of the pursued man. - -And then it came--a deepening tone in the telephones, a gradation of -sound that to the trained ear of the scientist told him all that he -wished to know. With an exultant cry he sprang forward, and dashed -through the entrance of a small store. - -The proprietor, whose state of mind may best be described by the word -"flabbergasted," struggled for some moments in vain for speech while -Ralph and his men, with outstretched hands eagerly swept from wall to -wall. - -"Here, here, you fellows," he finally managed to gasp, "what are you -after? What are you trying to do? You'll knock something over in a -minute. Hey, look out there--there it goes!" - -For Ralph had reached around a tailor's dummy, knocking it over as his -hands closed upon something behind it, something invisible and yet warm -and firm; something that quivered and shrunk away at his touch. - -The proprietor, rushing forward to pick up the dummy, stopped short, -gaping. Ralph's hands, at the moment of contact, vanished into thin -air. But in an instant they re-appeared, as he drew towards him, out of -the influence of the ultra-short waves what he knew must be the bound -and gagged form of Alice. - -Once away from the influence of the apparatus she became visible again. -A sack had been tied over her head and shoulders and her hands were -tightly bound to her sides. She was still on her roller skates, and her -feet had been left free, the sack being sufficient to render her almost -wholly helpless, and unable to make any effective resistance. - -As Ralph removed the fastenings and released her, she staggered and -clung to him, her head dropping in exhaustion. - -"Oh," she gasped faintly, "what is it? Where did you go?" - -"Water!" exclaimed Ralph harshly to those about him, and the fat -storekeeper, trembling with excitement, but withal displaying an -extraordinary energy for one who could never at any time have been a -streamline model, made a dive for a vase of flowers on the counter. -Grasping the tops of the flowers with one hand he flung them in a -corner, and tendered the vase of discolored water to Ralph, panting the -while as one who has run his race, and emerged triumphant. - -"I said water--not mud," shouted Ralph in exasperation, as he rubbed -the girl's cold hands between his own warm ones. - -"Well, that's water, ain't it?" said the man, and Ralph glowered at him. - -"Please," said Alice, trying to withdraw her hands, "I'm all right, -indeed I am. I was just a little dizzy for a minute, but it has all -passed now." - -The color returned to her pale cheeks with a rush, and she straightened -herself, and turned away in some confusion, her hands instinctively -going to her hair, the gesture that women have ever used when at a loss -for words. - -In the meantime, Ralph's two assistants had found the ultra-wave -machine by the very simple method of feeling about the spot where the -girl had been discovered. When their hands disappeared they knew that -they had it, and Ralph ordered some water thrown upon it, which had the -twofold result of stopping its activity and of bringing it into view. - -Having assured himself that Alice was unharmed and recovering from the -shock resulting from her misadventure, the scientist made a minute -examination of the instrument. It was a complicated machine and one -totally strange to him. As he studied it he felt a growing conviction -that this was no earth-made machine, but one conceived and made by a -Martian. Undoubtedly it was the work of some master of science, a true -mental giant. - -Then where, he asked himself, did Fernand--if it was Fernand--secure -it, and how? His object, of course, was obvious. He was evidently -prepared to go to any lengths to secure the girl for himself. -Had he not so threatened her? His method of attack had been -ingenious--fiendishly ingenious. Here was no mean antagonist, no petty -enemy, but one whose cunning would tax Ralph's resourcefulness to the -utmost. - -When he finally turned away from his inspection he found Alice quite -herself again. She was listening to the store proprietor's version of -the affair, a story that, under the stimulus of Alice's dark eyes, lost -none in the telling, for where facts failed him, imagination did not. - -"--flew open before my very eyes," he was saying when Ralph turned -around, "as if by unseen hands. And then this terrible sound--I -can't scarcely describe it, more like (his eye fell on the ultra-ray -apparatus), more like a great machine than anything else. I says to -myself, says I, 'There's something strange about this,' I says, 'I'd -better be on the lookout, I might be needed, for it looks to me,' I -says, 'as though someone was up to something'." - -As a matter of fact, he had thought the opening of the door due to a -passing wind, and the hissing of the machine, which has already been -likened to the buzz of an insect, the humming of a bee, let in by the -same agency. - -"And then that black man, he gave me a fright for fair," he went on. - -"What about him? What was he like?" asked Ralph sharply. - -"Ah," said the proprietor, swelling with importance, "that's just what -I've been asking myself. Strange we should hit on the same thoughts -ain't it?" - -"Very," commented the scientist, with wasted irony. "Can't you give any -description of him? When and how did you see him, anyway?" - -The proprietor put his hands into his pockets and swayed backward and -forward on the balls of his feet. He surveyed each member of his -little audience with glances of poignant meaning, as one who had much -of consequence to tell--all in good time. - -Finally he spoke. "He was black," he said, "black all over." - -"Yes, yes," exclaimed Ralph impatiently, "you told us that before. -Can't you give us something definite to go by? His face, for instance. -What was that like?" - -The other leaned forward and tapped him on the chest impressively. - -"Ay, that was black too," he said. - -"Black!" cried Ralph. - -"Black it was--all covered with a black cloth," said the -none-too-intelligent shopkeeper smugly. "He come right out of the air -before my very eyes, all black, with a black cloth on his face, and -rolled out of my store like a cyclone." - -"You should have tried to hold him," said Ralph. - -"Well, I gave him a look, I can tell you. He won't forget it in a -hurry. I just stood there and looked at him--like this." - -He screwed up his face in so alarming a manner that one of Ralph's -assistants was moved to remark that it was a wonder he didn't drop dead -with a face like that. - -"What d'ye mean?" demanded the owner of the countenance in question. - -"I said," repeated the assistant, "it was a wonder he didn't drop dead. -I would have. It's all I can do to look at you right now." - -Alice, unable to control her laughter any longer, hastily murmured -something about "fresh air" and went to the door. - -Ralph, keeping his own face straight by a valiant effort, ordered his -men to lift the ultra-ray machine and take it back to the laboratory to -give it a more minute inspection at his leisure. - -The girl and the man were very silent on their way back to Ralph's -home. A tragedy had been narrowly averted and each felt that this first -attempt might by no means be the last. - -Only once did Alice voice her fears. - -"You know," she said, "I am certain it was Fernand." She hesitated for -a brief moment and then held out her hand. In the palm lay a small -heart-shaped object of a curious translucent green, delicately carved. -It was pierced for a chain, and indeed, a part of the chain still hung -there, but it had been broken off short, and only a few links remained. - -"What's that?" asked Ralph. - -"A charm that Fernand always carries. He showed it to me once. He's -very superstitious about it, he told me--and I found it back there in -the store when I went to the door." - -Ralph looked very thoughtful. - -"Then he must have brought that machine from Mars," he said with -decision. "And with such resources at his command, I wonder what his -next move will be." - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 7: In 1925 John L. Reinartz, working with ultra-short radio -waves, actually made it possible to look through solid metal plates -with the naked eye.] - - - - -9 - -THE CONQUEST OF GRAVITATION - - -Alice and her father had been invited, the next day, to Ralph's -laboratory, as he wished to show them some of his latest discoveries. -They found him sitting in front of his desk while he was engaged in -dictating scientific data to thin air. - -"Ah!" said Alice, as she entered, "you are evidently using some of the -methods of my kidnapper, since you seem to be dictating to an invisible -secretary!" - -"Nothing so complicated," said Ralph. - -Ralph, who then welcomed them, denied the charge, and went on to -explain to his party his new invention. - -"The evolution of letter-writing has been a slow and painful one. Our -remote ancestors, many thousands of years ago, carved their letters -in stone slabs. Later on, the more civilized Egyptians wrote their -letters upon papyrus. Still later, upon the invention of paper and ink, -communications and letters could be written much better and faster in -that improved manner. Later still, the typewriter came into use. - -"All of these methods had one great drawback. It was possible to easily -falsify such records. While there had been handwriting experts, it -happened very frequently in olden times--too frequently, in fact--that -a signature on such an important document as, for instance, a will, -was forged, and it became a question for handwriting experts to decide -whether the signature was genuine. But even the handwriting experts -were not always right. - -"It has often occurred to me that it should be possible to use the -human voice as its own document so that it could be preserved in a -different manner than the phonographic method discovered in the 20th -century. Of course, under that method it was possible for one to speak -one's last will and testament, but it was a clumsy way and was rarely -used on account of its high cost. Furthermore it was difficult to -make copies of a talk. Then, too, the disc or cylinder upon which the -phonographic records were made were very fragile, and could be broken, -either accidentally or purposely. - -"The method you see me using is phonetic, and it is practically -impossible to falsify such a record. Watch how the machine works." - -Ralph reseated himself at his desk and started to talk. Facing him -on the desk was a machine of about the shape of an old-fashioned -typewriter, except that there were no keys. There were a few dials and -knobs and from the top of the cabinet a white sheet of paper slowly -emerged as Ralph dictated. When he had finished, he pressed a button -and the entire sheet was ejected. It was covered with queer-looking -wave lines, similar to the lines made by a seismograph when recording -earthquakes--queer little parallel lines with humps at the tops that -increased from very short wave-like scrolls to long ones. The entire -sheet was covered with these lines in indelible ink. Ralph showed Alice -the page and went on explaining: - -"The page which you see here is an exact record of my voice, but just -as no two fingerprints are alike in this world, no two voices are -alike either. Each has certain characteristics produced by certain -overtones in the voices of the various individuals. The pronunciation -of individuals varies, so does the intonation, so does the speed -of talking, so does the timbre of the voice, and a hundred other -differences that to an expert are observable immediately. - -"Suppose, then, during my life I have recorded a great many documents -similar to this one. The waves traced on this piece of paper have -certain characteristics, which are entirely individual. Here are two -sheets of paper, both containing the Lord's Prayer, but spoken by -two different individuals in my office. Both of these individuals -have voices that are very nearly alike, yet, you can see how great a -difference there is between the lines. On one sheet the lines are much -heavier and swing in quite an apparently different manner. - -"By reference to authentic documents of this character, it will be -impossible to falsify any record by having some one else make such a -spoken record. A will, or any other important document, will, in the -future, be made by this machine and will do away with many court cases -and much business squabble, and much shirking of responsibility. - -"Furthermore, by my method it is possible with the same machine to make -as many as twenty-five copies at one time, while the original is being -made. This is done by a chemical process in the machine itself, the -copies being simply thin chemical papers which are being developed at -the same time as the voice-writing is being made. - -"Reading these pages is not as difficult as you might think. It would -be necessary, however, to know the _phonolphabet_. The phonolphabet -is not very much different from the alphabet that you now know. Every -syllable and every consonant used by you makes a certain impression -in my machine, and while it may vary, as explained before, still it -remains roughly the same, exactly as handwriting by different persons -may vary, but still you can read because the characteristics are the -same. The same is true of my machine. By studying the characters of the -phonolphabet, it is possible, within a few weeks, to learn how to read -a phonetic letter, with the same ease that you read a handwritten or -typewritten letter. - -"I expect that in the schools of the future children will be taught the -phonolphabet so that every one will be able to read phonetic records. - -"Another feature of my invention is that if you do not wish to read the -letter you can listen to it." Saying so, Ralph inserted the letter into -an odd-shaped cabinet, which had a slot at the top. Two grippers slowly -began to draw the paper into the inside of the machine. Ralph turned -two knobs and pushed a button, and within a few seconds his own voice -was heard with unmistakable clarity repeating what he had said fifteen -minutes before. - -"This machine, likewise, is very simple," said Ralph. "The ink tracing -on the paper record is opaque, while the paper itself is more or less -transparent under a strong light. A light-sensitive cell on the other -side slowly moves from left to right, taking off the entire phonetic -record, as it were. This light-sensitive cell moves in the same ratio -and with the same speed that I originally dictated, and the words -are reproduced exactly as I spoke them, by means of a loud-speaking -telephone coupled to an amplifier. - -"Thus it is now possible to have a double record; an audible and a -written one, and with the two it is practically impossible to falsify -records. - -"As you know, there have been some big embezzlement scandals recently -and it was not always possible to convict those suspected due to the -clever methods which these swindlers used. - -"One great advantage of the new system is that it is done entirely by -machine and does away with the human element. I do not require my real -secretary when I dictate. I sit alone in my study or office and simply -talk." - - * * * * * - -"There is one unique place, I am sure you will be interested in." Ralph -led the way to the elevator and they quickly shot up to the roof, -where they boarded one of Ralph's flyers and within a few minutes -were heading north. The machine rose until they were up about 20,000 -feet. The cold made it necessary to turn on the heat in the enclosed -cab. In the distance, just ahead there shortly appeared a brilliant -spot of light suspended in the dark sky, which quickly increased in -size as they approached. From a distance it appeared like an enormous -hemisphere with the flat side facing the earth below. As they drew -close, they could see that it was a great city suspended in the air -apparently covered with a transparent substance, just as if a toy city -had been built on a dinner plate and covered with a bell-shaped globe. - -They alighted on the rim, at a landing stage outside the transparent -covering. They were soon walking along a warm, beautifully laid out -street. Here was neither bustle nor noise. The deepest calm prevailed. -There were small houses of an old-fashioned design. There were shops -in great profusion. There were playgrounds, neatly-laid-out parks, but -without looking at the humans that were walking around, the visitors -felt as if they had gone back many centuries. - -There were no power roller skates, no automatic vehicles. There were no -aeroflyers beneath the glass ceiling. Instead a serene calm prevailed, -while people with happy expressions on their faces were leisurely -walking to and fro. - -Very much puzzled, Alice wanted to know what this mysterious -glass-encased city was. - -"This," explained Ralph, "is one of our many vacation cities that I -hope will soon dot every part of the world. People are living entirely -too intensely nowadays and with the many functions that they have to -perform, with all the labor-saving devices they have, their lives are -speeded up to the breaking point. The businessman or executive must -leave his work every month for a few days, if he is not to become a -wreck. Heretofore we have sent him to the mountain tops or to the -seashore; there he found no rest. The noise, even on top of the -mountains, due to aeroflyers and other vehicles, did not give a man a -real rest. On our floating city there is absolute rest. There is no -noise, no excitement, not even a radio telephone. - -"The city, 20,000 feet above the ground, is floating in perfectly clean -and uncontaminated air. This air, while less dense than that further -down, is renewed automatically every few hours. It is invigorating, -just the same as mountain air with all its benefits. - -"The roof is made of steel lattice work, thick glass panes being fitted -in between the steel frames. The shape is in the form of a huge dome -covering the entire city, which measures about a little over a mile in -circumference. The height of the center of the dome from the floor of -the city is about 200 feet. At night the city is illuminated by cold -light from high frequency wires running below the dome, similar to the -system now used to light up our cities. - -"The floor upon which the entire city rests is steelonium, and the city -is held up by means of anti-gravitational impulse. By neutralizing the -gravity for the area below the floating city and a little beyond it, it -is possible to keep the floating city at any distance from the earth. -In other words, we use a gravitational 'screen,' and then build a city -on top of this screen. - -"By charging the gravitational screen at a very high potential, we -nullify gravity and as the city no longer has any weight it can be -placed on any level and remain there practically indefinitely. A few -air propellers keep the city from being blown away by storms or wind. - -"Although it was very cold in our aeroflyer as we came up, it is nice -and warm on the streets here. Nor is there any artificial heating -during the daytime. There is perpetual sunshine during the day at this -level, at which practically no clouds ever form. - -"The city being entirely roofed over by the glass dome, and the -interior being filled with air, the sun quickly heats up the -atmosphere. Within two hours after the sun rises the air is balmy, and -it would become stifling hot if the air was not renewed from time to -time. Air is a poor conductor of heat, and if the air were not renewed, -it would soon be 150 degrees in the shade. Cold air, however, from -the outside, is continually drawn in so that an even temperature is -maintained. Only at night is the city heated artificially, as without -the sunlight at this altitude it soon becomes exceedingly cold. - -"All the heating is done by electricity, and a uniform temperature -is maintained during the night, which is somewhat less than the -temperature during the day. - -"There is nothing that a man or woman can do up here except rest, and -that is precisely what they do. One week's rest up here is equivalent -to a month's rest down below." - -Ralph, with Alice and her father strolled through the suspended city -in which the simple life was the keynote. There were recreation -parks, gymnasiums, baths of various kinds, such as hydrotherapy, -electrotherapy, and others. There were sun parlors and sun baking -parks. The din of the city, the curse of man's own handiwork, was -absent. Everyone wore either felt or rubber shoes. The entire -atmosphere was delightful and restful. - -It was with genuine regret that Alice and her father returned to the -aeroflyer and back to New York. - -That night after dinner Ralph took his guests to a new entertainment -that had just become popular. They entered a big building on which, in -big fiery letters, was inscribed - - GRAVITATIONAL CIRCUS - -Ralph explained to his guests that with the invention of the nullifying -of gravitation, many new and wonderful effects had come about. Gravity, -he explained, was an electromagnetic manifestation, in the ether, -the same as light, radio waves, etc. It had always been the dream of -scientists for hundreds of years to nullify the effect of gravitation. -"In other words," Ralph continued, "if you pick up a stone and open -your hand, the stone will fall to the ground. Why does it fall? First, -because the earth attracts the stone, and second because the stone -attracts the earth. There is a definite gravitational pull between -the two. The effect of the stone in pulling up the earth is, however, -inconsequential, and while the stone does exert a certain amount of -pull towards the earth, the latter is so tremendously larger that the -effect on the earth is not felt at all. - -"'If,' scientists had argued for hundreds of years, 'you could -interpose between the stone and the earth a screen which nullified -gravitation, the stone would not fall down when let go, but would -remain suspended just exactly where you left it.' - -"Scientists also argued that if gravitation was an electromagnetic -manifestation of the ether, it should be possible to overcome and -nullify it by electrical means. - -"It took hundreds of years, however, before the correct solution was -found. It was known that certain high frequency currents would set up -an interference with the gravitational waves, for it had been found in -the first part of our century that gravitation was indeed a wave form, -the same as light waves, or radio waves. When this interference between -the two waves, namely, the gravitational waves and the electrical -waves was discovered, it was found that a metallic screen charged by -electric high frequency waves would indeed nullify gravitation to a -certain extent. If you charged a metal netting in this fashion and you -weighed yourself on a spring scale on top of the screen, insulated of -course from the screen itself, your weight would be roughly diminished -one-half. - -"In other words, about half of the gravitation had been nullified, the -other half still remaining. Thus things stood until about two years -ago, when I began to occupy myself with the problem. I reasoned that -while we had achieved much, still much more remained to be done. Our -anti-gravitational screen still let through some of the gravitational -waves, or fifty percent of the energy, which we could not seem to -counteract. I felt that it was not so much the effect of the current as -the material of the screen which seemed to be at fault. Experimental -work along this line convinced me that I was on the right track and -that if ever gravitation was to be annulled in its entirety a screen -of a special material would have to be evolved in order to obtain the -desired results. - -"I finally found that only the densest material known, namely -thoro-iridium, would completely stop the gravitational waves, providing -that the metal screen was uninterruptedly bombarded with alpha rays -which are continually emitted by radium. - -"The screen finally evolved was expensive to make at first, but -quantity production now has very considerably lowered the price." - -By this time the party had found their seats in the amphitheater, and -they had seated themselves. Seats were all around a ring, which did -not look much different from the old-fashioned circus ring, except -that it was, perhaps, a little larger. The gravitational screen, -Ralph explained, was located below and could not be actually seen. -The machinery, too, was located in the basement. A fine wire netting -surrounded the entire arena, from top to bottom, the purpose of which -became apparent later. - -It was an old-fashioned horse and bareback rider act. Suddenly the -gravitation was cut off, and the horse rose, beating the air with his -hoofs, while the rider, in a sitting position hung onto the horse with -his legs. The horse and rider no longer having any weight, they could -not of course entirely control their movements. Both horse and rider at -times hung with their heads downwards, then sideways, until finally, by -jerking, they arrived in the center of the arena. - -The horse had been well trained and ceased pawing the air, and his legs -hung limp. - -The rider mounted on the back of the horse, and with a slight jump -reached the ceiling of the arena, some hundred feet up. Having no -weight left, he bounced by the least muscular effort. Pushing against -the ceiling with one of his fingers, he bounded down to the floor of -the arena, only to rebound again to the ceiling. He kept this up for a -few minutes, and then repeated the same thing sideways, where he hit -against the wire netting, stretched from top to bottom of the arena to -keep the performer from falling into the audience. - -The gravitational field extended only vertically, but was not in -evidence immediately beyond the sides of the arena. Had there been no -screen, the performer, when passing outside the gravitational boundary, -would have immediately regained his full weight and would have fallen. - -The performer could jerk himself around anywhere in the arena, and -being a good acrobat, he had no difficulty in reaching his horse. Much -care had to be exercised, however, because the slightest kick against -the horse would have sent the horse to the opposite side. - -Slowly the gravitation was turned on, and both horse and rider sank -gracefully toward the ground, where with the full gravitation -restored, the horse and rider made their exit. - -The next act was one that even Ralph had not seen. Two experts at -juggling bounded into the arena and after the gravitation was cut off -one of them placed a billiard cue on his forehead, and an old-fashioned -hand lamp on top of the cue. The juggler then took the cue away and -withdrew jerkily. The lamp remained in the same position, until brought -down by one of the performers. - -The tricks aroused great enthusiasm among the audience. An acrobat, -using one of the billiard cues as a standing trapeze, revolved around -the trapeze as if it were held securely in place. By jerking around -the billiard cue, it was made to appear as if he was actually swinging -around under his full "weight." - -A beautiful effect was obtained when the jugglers brought several -colored glass pitchers, filled with different-colored liquids. When the -pitchers were inverted, nothing happened, because the liquid, having no -weight, could not flow out. However, by turning the pitcher upside down -and suddenly jerking it away the colored liquid, due to its own lag or -inertia, stayed behind. - -Due to the surface tension of liquids, it did not retain the shape of -the pitcher, but formed itself immediately into a globe. The jugglers -emptied a number of pitchers all in a row, leaving behind the globular -liquid balls, formed of water and fruit juices. - -The jugglers approached the balls and began to drink, simply by placing -their lips against them. They then demonstrated the mobility of the -water balls by pushing their fingers into them and cutting the balls -in two, the halves immediately becoming new and smaller balls. Then -by carefully giving each of the balls a slight push, the water balls -would gravitate up to the ceiling of the arena and still having enough -momentum left they would rebound and come back, only to be pushed up -again by flat tennis racquets. - -This had to be done carefully because the slightest false motion spread -out the water balls into a flat sheet. The surface tension of the -liquid always reasserted itself and the water balls came down sometimes -in an elliptical shape. Every time the flat tennis racquet hit the -balls, they lost their shape momentarily, but soon were globular again. - -The two jugglers finally managed to push the liquid spheres one into -another, until finally all balls had been joined into one. This, of -course, amalgamated the various colors, but the colors had been made in -such a way that the ball became a somewhat dirty-looking white, all the -colors having recombined, making one color, just as all the hues of the -rainbow, if combined together, make white. - -The final act was where a huge water ball, about twenty-five feet in -diameter, was pushed to the center of the arena, while a number of -pretty girls entered the liquid itself and swam within the ball. The -ball was lit up by strong searchlights, and the entire arena darkened, -as the girls swam within the clear crystal water ball. When the -swimmers needed air, all they had to do was to push their heads out of -the sphere, breathe, and then resume "swimming," or jerking themselves -around within the weightless water. - - - - -10 - -TWO LETTERS - - -During September Alice and her father had remained Ralph's guests, -extending their stay at his urgent request. James 212B 422 made a most -satisfactory chaperon. If they visited one of the great historical -museums he always managed to disappear in search of some exhibit, -leaving the other two to sit on a bench to wait his return, which was -often delayed purposely. - -But to his daughter and the scientist time had become of little -importance and though the engineer was sometimes gone an hour, when he -returned he would find them still sitting on the bench, sometimes deep -in conversation, sometimes absorbed in a silence that meant more than -any words could express. - -Together they were blissfully happy, apart they were wretchedly lonely. - -Ralph, it appeared, had completely forgotten numerous of his lectures -in which he had labeled love as "nothing but a perfumed animal -instinct." No lover more abject than he now, none more humble in the -presence of his divinity. During those weeks they had arrived at a -mutual understanding. - -All the world knew and rejoiced in their happiness. Ralph had always -been extremely popular with the people. Even the Planet Governor -himself had been moved to privately express his approval. Many times -had the scientist worried him. Ralph had so often been restive under -the restraints which must of necessity be imposed upon one so important -to the Earth's progress. And now, with this new influence to hold him, -the Governor felt that the task of keeping Ralph contented had been -lifted from the official's already over-burdened shoulders. - -All the world rejoiced--all but two, and for them the knowledge of the -two lovers' happiness was gall and wormwood. - -One was roused to fury, the other plunged in despair. - -To Fernand the scientist was one hitherto unforeseen obstacle to be -removed from his path in his conquest of Alice. To the Martian, knowing -beforehand that his passion was hopeless, the knowledge that she loved -another was, nevertheless, a bitter blow. Before, at least, she had -been heartfree. Wretched as he had been, bitter as he had been against -the laws that made such a union impossible, there had been the barren -comfort of the fact that she belonged to no one else. Now, even that -was taken from him, and he felt that he could bear no more. - -In his desperation he made up his mind to leave Earth, and immediately -booked his passage to Mars. But on the very eve of his departure he -found himself unable to make the decision that would separate him from -her forever, and the next inter-planetary liner, which left Earth for -Mars, carried, not himself, but this code letter to his best friend on -his distant planet. - - New York, September 20, 2660. - - To Rrananolh AK 42, - - Although I am booked on the _Terrestrial_ which departs tomorrow, I - have cancelled my reservation and consequently will not arrive on - Mars November 31st as planned. I do not know whether I shall take - passage on the next transport or not. In fact, I don't know what I - shall do. I am mad with despair and anguish. A thousand times over - have I wished that I had never come to this planet! - - I have not told you before, but as perhaps you have guessed from my - previous letters, I am in love with a Terrestrial woman. Never mind - her name. I loved her from the first moment I saw her. You, who have - never visited the Earth, can hardly understand. It does not matter. - - I have tried in every way to free myself from this mad infatuation, - but it is hopeless. Chemicals and Radio-treatments seem but to - accentuate my longing for that which is forever beyond my reach. I - thought at first that I could conquer myself, but I know now that I - cannot, and the knowledge is driving me to madness. - - She has never known, and I think no one else here does. I have told - none but you, my friend. Always I feared that in some way I might - betray myself to her. There are times now when I wish that I had. - - And yet--to have her suffer as I am suffering--I could not have borne - that. - - I will, I suppose, go the way of all Martians who have had the - misfortune to care for a Terrestrial. A little _Listadinide_ injected - under the skin will free me from an existence which has become a - daily torture unless I find a way to evade the harsh laws. - - Please hand the enclosed documents to my Second. If I do not see you - again do not grieve for me, but remember our friendship, and think - sometimes of your unhappy friend. - - Llysanorh' - -Long after his missive had gone, he sat rigid, motionless, by the -window with unseeing eyes fixed on the city below him. At last he rose -with a sigh and left the room. Was there no way out of such misery? Was -there no straw he could grasp? - -Of a very different caliber was an epistle sent by Fernand 60O 10 to -his friend Paul 9B 1261. - - New York, Sept. 28th, 2660. - - Dear Paul: - - You have heard the gossip, but don't fear my having a broken heart. - I am not easily downed, and I have a card or two yet to play in this - game. - - Fact is, Alice is as hard to conquer as a steelonium wall is to - break through. That, however, is to my liking, my dear Paul. I love - obstacles, particularly when the goal is as pretty as Alice. I have - never wanted her more than now that she has thrown me down. Perhaps - if she had ever encouraged me I would not have cared a rap for her. - But--this opposition inflames me! Now I will have her. I _will_ have - her, and she shall love me, mark my words. - - I have mentioned to you before the ridiculous Martian, Llysanorh', - I believe. It is very amusing to see him staring at Alice with - adoration in those enormous eyes of his. I really believe he is in - love with her, but these Martians are so self-controlled it is hard - to tell anything about them. - - If Alice had fallen in love with this lanky, seven-foot Llysanorh' - she would have been lost to me, and to all the rest of the world. - That fellow certainly can be sugary when he wants to. However, she - really imagines that she's in love with this crazy scientist, and - right now I'm decidedly _de trop_. That worries me very little, I - assure you. She will soon learn to love me once I can get her away - from him. And I am going to provide for that. - - Everything has been arranged, and I am only awaiting my opportunity. - If I am successful, I will take her out into space for a few months. - My machine is in readiness. It is the latest type, and the finest - I have ever seen. Provisions, books, reels for the Hypnobioscope, - instruments, etc., in fact, everything you can think of is on board. - I have even provided a well trained maid. I can assure you Alice - won't find it lonesome. Besides, I flatter myself that I can be very - entertaining. - - Before I close I must ask you to attend to several matters for me, - as per enclosed rolls. You will understand everything better after - you read the instructions. I do not expect to be away more than three - months at the latest, and you will see from the gray document that I - empower you to take charge of my affairs. I will send you a message - from on board the machine if all goes well. - - Until then, - - Fernand. - -It was the night of the full moon. There was a faint touch of crispness -in the early autumn breeze that now and again gently ruffled the waters -of the ocean. A thousand stars danced lightly in the sky and were -reflected in the undulating waves below. And in the moonlit path over -the waters hovered an aerocab gleaming silvery white in the radiance. - -The cab was far from New York, away from the beaten traffic. -Occasionally other aircraft came into view but always at a distance. - -To Alice and Ralph this solitude was Paradise. Night after night they -hired an aerocab and flew to this lonely airway, where seated side by -side, with only the driver for a chaperon, they were absolutely happy. - -The driver was a silent man who, as long as he was well paid for his -time, was content to describe endless circles indefinitely. - -On this particular evening Alice seemed, to Ralph, more lovely than he -had ever before seen her. In the caressing light of the mellow moon her -flowerlike face glowed with a new radiance, and her dark eyes, shadowed -with long curling lashes, were mistily tender. - -Between these two there was no need for words. So perfectly were their -thoughts attuned that each knew what the other felt. - -And so, presently, their hands stole out and met, and clasped. And it -seemed to both that Heaven could hold no greater happiness than this, -until, with one accord, they turned their faces to each other, and -their lips met. To them nothing existed beyond themselves and their -love. - -The voice of another aerocab driver hailing them made them realize that -there were still ties that bound them to Earth, and they moved apart a -little self-consciously, as a cab drew alongside their own. - -"Having some trouble with my motor," called the newcomer. "Could you -let me have a few copper connectors to repair the damage?" - -"Sure," returned their driver, and the two cabs came together and were -made fast. - -Ralph, seeing that his man could attend to the matter, turned away from -them towards Alice, and again drew her hand into his own, where it -snuggled confidingly. - -Quite suddenly he was aware of a sickish, sweet odor, which almost -instantly became suffocating. He was conscious of the pressure of -Alice's fingers and then blackness overwhelmed him. - - - - -11 - -THE FLIGHT INTO SPACE - - -How long he was unconscious Ralph did not know, but when he came to his -senses the moon had sunk low on the horizon. He felt unbearably weary -and his limbs seemed too heavy to move. For a time he half lay in his -seat looking stupidly down at the ocean, his mind a blank. - -All at once it dawned upon him that the seat next to him was empty. -"Alice, Alice," he muttered, trying to shake off his stupor, "Alice, -where are you?" - -There was no reply. The driver, his hands on the steering disc, was -slumped forward in his seat, his head sunk on his breast. - -With a stupendous effort Ralph managed to open the glass window -in front of him. Instantly the strong odor of chloroformal almost -overpowered him, and a terrible sensation of nausea forced him to cling -blindly to his seat. In a moment it passed and he was able to collect -his senses somewhat. His first thought was for Alice. His dimmed sight -had cleared sufficiently for him to see that she was not in the cab. He -thought she must have fallen into the sea, and in his agony he cried -aloud her name again and again. - -And then a recollection came to him, of her father's words on the first -morning of their visit. He had feared for Alice. Someone had threatened -her. Ralph forced his still wandering mind to concentrate. Some one -had threatened to kidnap her, and that someone was Fernand 60O 10. - -He recalled the stranded aerocab. Its helplessness had been a trick to -deceive him, and to get near enough to drug him and his driver while -they took Alice away. - -The thought aroused him from his dreadful lethargy. With a rush his -vitality came back. He flung himself upon the stupefied driver and -shook him violently. - -The cab was still flying at an even speed in a great circle and Ralph -saw that it was imperative that he get control of it at once, for -another machine, bound evidently for New York, was bearing down upon -the helpless men. - -With a powerful shove he got the driver into the auxiliary seat and -climbed over, seizing, as he did so, the steering disc. He flung it -over, just in time to escape the onrushing cab, whose occupants, as it -passed, leaned out, and in fluent profanity inquired if he wanted the -whole airway. - -Unheeding, Ralph set the steering disc toward New York, and proceeded -to lighten the cab. Overboard went the glass doors, cushions, matting, -even the hood of the machine. Everything that he could wrench off he -tossed to the dark waters beneath him. - -The cab, relieved of the weight of its equipment shot ahead at -tremendous speed, and in less than ten minutes dropped onto the landing -place on top of the scientist's laboratory. Leaving the driver where -he was Ralph dashed into the building. Meeting Peter he did not stop, -only motioned him to the cab while he himself sprang to the nearest -Telephot. And within fifteen minutes every detective and special agent -had been notified of the disappearance of Alice. Ralph had immediately -transmitted the lost girl's photograph to the Central Office where it -was placed before a Telephot connecting with every member of the entire -police force, and the picture was reproduced for them in their portable -radio instruments for ten seconds, enabling them to get her features -firmly impressed on their minds. - -His next act was to call the Intercontinental Hotel where Fernand had -been stopping. - -Upon inquiry he was informed that Fernand had left three hours ago with -his baggage. His destination was unknown. - -"I knew it!" Ralph muttered to himself. - -On second thought it occurred to him that it might be of advantage to -visit the hotel, and as it was only a few blocks away he flew over to -it, leaving his assistants in charge of his radio stations, with strict -orders to record every message, to tune into everything, and to take -the messages down on the recorder discs. - -At the hotel he was recognized at once, and as the news had spread over -the city like wild-fire, he was treated with every consideration. - -He closely questioned everyone and then asked to see the rooms which -Fernand 60O 10 had occupied. - -The rooms were just as their occupant had left them and Ralph requested -that he be undisturbed there for a short time. - -He examined every nook and corner without finding anything to give him -a clue to Fernand's whereabouts, and he was about to leave when his -eye caught the reflection of a light-ray falling on a bright object -under the dresser. - -Insignificant as the little metal object was, it was enough to convey -a fearful picture to his mind. He recognized it at once as a metal -turning belonging to the balancer of the _Gyro-Gyrotor_ of a _Space -Flyer_. Evidently the metal part had been dropped and Fernand had not -had the time to look for it. Ralph decided that Fernand had obtained a -supply of the parts which are only required on a prolonged flight into -space. - -He was now positive that Fernand 60O 10 had carried off his sweetheart -in a space flyer and that the machine by this time was probably far -away from the earth, headed for unknown regions. It would also be -practically impossible to follow without knowing the direction of the -space-defying machine. - -In a daze Ralph returned to his laboratory, where he again called the -Central Office. As all space flyers must be licensed by law, he had -no trouble in getting the information he desired. A new machine of a -well-known Detroit firm had been registered four days ago, and the -description of the owner answered to that of Fernand 60O 10. - -Late as it was, Ralph immediately communicated with the Detroit -manufacturer, who, upon hearing his reasons for the request, supplied -him with all the necessary details. - -Ralph learned from him that the purchaser of the new machine, one of -the very latest models, was Fernand, beyond any doubt, and when he was -informed that the latter had plentifully supplied himself with spare -parts as if for a long journey, and moreover, the most significant -fact that the cabin had been fitted out as a lady's boudoir, then -indeed were his worst suspicions confirmed. - -The manufacturer also told him that the entire outside shell was of -_Magnelium_--an invention of Ralph's--and that this flyer was the first -to be equipped with the new metal. - -As he concluded his conversation and disconnected, Ralph brought his -clenched fist down upon the desk. "Magnelium," he muttered between -set teeth, "the only machine out in the universe made with Magnelium. -Magnelium, my own Magnelium, about which no one in the world knows more -than I do. Perhaps the odds are not all with you, Fernand, damn you!" - -At first thought it might be considered a difficult feat accurately -to locate a machine thousands of miles from the earth, speeding in -an unknown direction somewhere in the boundless universe. The feat -was easy to the scientist. As far back as the year 1800 astronomers -accurately measured the distance between the earth and small celestial -bodies, but it was not until the year 2659 that Ralph 124C 41+ -succeeded in accurately determining the exact location of flyers, in -space, beyond the reach of the most powerful telescope. - -[Illustration] - -A _pulsating polarized ether wave_, if directed on a metal object -can be reflected in the same manner as a light-ray is reflected from -a bright surface or from a mirror. The reflection factor, however, -varies with different metals. Thus the reflection factor from silver -is 1,000 units, the reflection from iron 645, alomagnesium 460, etc. -If, therefore, a polarized wave generator were directed toward space, -the waves would take a direction as shown in the diagram, provided the -parabolic wave reflector was used as shown. By manipulating the entire -apparatus like a searchlight, waves would be sent over a large area. -Sooner or later these waves would strike a space flyer. A small part -of the waves would strike the metal body of the flyer, and these waves -would be reflected back to the sending apparatus. Here they would fall -on the _Actinoscope_ (see diagram), which records only reflected waves, -not direct ones. - -From the actinoscope the reflection factor is then determined, which -shows the kind of metal from which the reflection comes. From the -intensity and the elapsed time of the reflected impulses, the distance -between the earth and the flyer can then be accurately and quickly -calculated. - -The reflection factor of Magnelium being 1060, Ralph succeeded in -locating Fernand's space flyer in less than five hours' search. He -found that Fernand's machine at that time was about 400,000 miles -distant from the earth and apparently headed in the direction of the -planet Venus. A few seconds' calculation showed that he was flying -at the rate of about 45,000 miles an hour. This was a great surprise -to Ralph and it puzzled him somewhat. He knew that Fernand's machine -was capable of making at least 75,000 miles an hour. Ralph reasoned -that if he were in Fernand's place, he would speed up the flyer to the -utmost. - -Why was Fernand flying so leisurely? Did he think himself secure? Did -he think that nobody could or would follow? Or was he having trouble -with the _Anti-Gravitator_? - -Ralph could not understand it. However, his mind had already been made -up. He would pursue Fernand even though it took him into those parts of -the solar system yet uncharted, and, if necessary--kill him! - -It was now noon, and he gave sharp, quick instructions to his -assistants, ordering his space flyer, the "Cassiopeia," to be made -ready at once. Provisions sufficient to last for six months were put -on board and Ralph himself installed a great number of scientific -instruments, many of which he considered he might find useful. He also -ordered a large number of duplicate parts of the flyer's machinery to -be stowed on board in case of emergency. - -To the astonishment and dismay of Peter and the others, the scientist -announced his intention of making the journey alone. - -"The fight is to be man against man, brain against brain," he -said as he stood by his space flyer which was in readiness upon -the tower-platform. "Today it is not brute force that counts, but -scientific knowledge. I will demonstrate to the world that crimes of -this kind need not be tolerated." - -He stepped onto the running board as he spoke and was about to step -into the flyer when the sound of an aeroflyer descending close by made -him hesitate. It was a government flyer, and even as Ralph paused, it -landed on the platform beside his own machine, and a smartly uniformed -young official sprang from the seat beside the driver. Saluting Ralph -he handed him a transcribed telegram with the words: - -"Message from the Planet Governor, sir." - -Dismay seized the scientist, as, breaking the seal of the wrapper, he -read the printed words: - - Unipopulis, Sept. 34, 2660, - Planet Governor's Capitol. - - I have just received news of the calamity that has befallen you. - - I extend to you my sincere sympathy. - - I will this afternoon place at your disposal six Government space - flyers, the crews of which are absolutely under your instructions. - - I must, however, caution you not to enter into any pursuit in person. - - As Planet Governor it is my duty to advise you that you have not the - right to place your person in unnecessary danger. - - Allow me furthermore to point out to you that under the law "+" - scientists are not allowed to endanger their lives under any - circumstances. - - I therefore command you not to leave the earth without my permission. - - I have ordered your space flyer to be guarded. - - In high esteem, - William Kendrick 21K 4, - _The 18th Planet Governor_. - - To - Ralph 124C 41+, - New York. - -Ralph read the radiogram twice before he folded it slowly and -deliberately thrust it into his pocket. - -Then slowly withdrawing his hand and extending it to the government -official, he said: - -"Well, I must obey orders." - -The official took the proffered hand, and no sooner had he grasped it -than he stiffened and became as rigid as stone. - -With one bound Ralph was in his machine crying to the stupefied -audience: - -"Don't worry about him. I pricked his hand with a little _Catalepsol_. -In fifteen minutes he will be all right again." - -He slammed the door of his space flyer and simultaneously the machine -rose as if shot from a cannon, and in ten seconds was lost to sight. - - * * * * * - -Since the Dark Ages, men have had a powerful longing to leave Earth and -visit other planets. Towards the end of the twenty-first century, when -atmospheric flying had become common, scientists began seriously to -think of constructing machinery to enable man to leave the confines of -the planet to which humanity had been chained for ages. - -Towards the beginning of the twenty-second century economic conditions -had become acute and the enormous population of Earth, which had passed -the twelve billion mark, clamored for an adequate outlet which the -planet itself could no longer furnish. - -The moon was regarded with longing eyes, and although that body was -known to have no atmosphere and was known to be sterile, it was equally -well known that Earth's scientists and engineers felt that they could, -in a few years' time, make it habitable. - -Atmospheric flying machines were, of course, totally unsuited, as they -could not even reach the limits of the Earth's atmosphere, only forty -miles away. - -Obviously to reach the moon or any other celestial body, it was -necessary to devise a method of overcoming the enigmatical force known -as the Earth's gravity, which chains all bodies to the planet. - -A multitude of inventions and suggestions were made, but none proved -to be of any value until the _Anti-Gravitator_ was invented by the -American 969L 9 in the year 2210. - -This scientist had made extensive studies of the gyroscope and had -finally evolved a machine which when set in motion would rise freely -and continue to rise as long as power was supplied. - -The action, moreover, was purely gyroscopic. - -969L 9 took a large hollow sphere (the rotor) inside of which he built -a number of independent gyroscopes, all of which traveled in fixed -orbits. The large sphere which hung in a gyroscopic frame was made -to spin around on its axis at great speed. This sphere thus acted as -the fly-wheel of a gyroscope and as such was not influenced by the -so-called _horizontal gravity_. As in the case of simple gyroscopes, -its axis would always be in a vertical line as long as the spheric -rotor was in motion. - -If, however, the independent gyroscopes inside of the sphere were -set in motion by means of electrical current, the _Vertical Gravity_ -(weight) was overcome, the entire contrivance rising into the air, its -rising (lifting) speed being directly proportional to the speed of the -enclosed gyroscope rotors. - -From 969L 9's experimental work the anti-gravitators were perfected, -and it became possible to lift a weight of 1,000 kilograms with an -anti-gravitator weighing but 12 kilograms. - -Space flyers were equipped with from six to twelve large -anti-gravitators attached to various points of their shells, all of -which could be worked in unison, or operated independently in order to -control the direction of the flyer. - -As Ralph's space flyer rushed through the atmosphere, the friction of -the machine against the air made the interior uncomfortably hot in -spite of the fact that the machine had triple walls, the spaces between -being filled with poor heat conducting materials. - -After the flyer, however, had left the atmosphere, the stellar cold -rapidly made itself felt. - -Ralph then took his bearings, after he had verified, by means of the -polarized wave transmitter that Fernand's flyer was still headed -towards Venus. He then locked the steering disc and the space flyer -continued its journey in a straight line of pursuit toward the machine -of Fernand. - -This done, Ralph flashed a radiogram asking the Planet Governor's -indulgence for disobeying the law. Then he took his first look at the -earth, which, since he was traveling at the rate of 80,000 miles an -hour, had shrunk to the dimensions of a medium-sized orange. As he -was flying toward the sun, Earth, being directly behind him was fully -illuminated and appeared like a full moon. The continents and oceans -were visible except where temporarily obscured by mist or clouds. - -The general aspect of the Earth as seen from Ralph's flyer was that of -a delicate faint blue green ball with white caps at each of the poles. -The ball was surrounded by a pinkish ring near the circumference. This -was the earth's atmosphere, the white caps being snow and ice around -the north and south poles. - -The brilliantly lighted earth was silhouetted against the inky black -sky in sharp contrast.[8] The moon, hidden behind the earth, was not in -evidence, when Ralph first looked earthward. - -The stars shone with a brilliancy never seen from Earth; distant -constellations which ordinarily cannot be seen, except, with a -telescope, were plainly visible to him, in outer space. - -The sun shone with a dazzling brilliancy in a pitch-black sky, and had -he looked directly into its rays he would have been stricken blind. - -The heat of the sun in the outside space when striking objects was -tremendous. Had he held his hand against the glass window of the space -flyer where the sun could strike it full, his hand would have been -burned in a few seconds. - -There was of course no night in the outer space (within the bounds of -the planetary system). The sun shone uninterruptedly. - -Time was an unknown quantity. Had it not been for the chronometer, -reeling off seconds and minutes according to man's standard, time would -cease to exist in a space flyer. - -To a man who had never left the Earth, the phenomena encountered -inside of a space flyer in the outer space was still more amazing. - -"Weight" is synonymous with the gravity of the Earth. The denser a -celestial body, the greater its gravity. The larger such a body is, the -more strongly it will attract its objects. The smaller the body (if it -has the same density), the smaller its force of attraction. - -Thus a man weighing eighty kilograms on a _spring_ scale on the earth, -would weigh but thirty kilograms on the planet Mars. On the sun, -however, he would weigh 2232 kilograms. - -Inside of a space flyer, which had an infinitely small gravity, objects -weighed practically nothing. They were heaviest near the walls of the -machine, but in the exact center of the flyer, _all objects lost their -weight entirely_. Thus any object, regardless of its earthly weight, -_hung freely suspended in the center of the space flyer_. It could not -move up or down, of its own accord, but hung stationary, motionless, -like a balloon in the air.[9] - -The occupant of a space flyer, having no weight, moved around with -astonishing ease. He almost floated around in the machine. There was -no physical labor. The biggest table was no heavier than a match. The -passenger in a flyer could perform an incredible amount of work without -tiring and without effort. - -He could walk up the walls or walk "upside down" on the ceiling without -danger of falling, as there is no "up" or "down" in outer space. - -_Sleep was practically impossible._ There being nothing to tire the -occupant, _sleep is unnecessary_. Dozing off is all he can do, and that -could never last long, except after strenuous mental work. - -As long as a space flyer was not too far distant from the sun (within -the orbit of Mars, at least), little artificial heat was needed. The -sun heated one-half of the flyer's shell to a fierce heat, but the -side turned away from the sun was exposed to the terrible stellar cold -(absolute zero) and a fairly comfortable temperature was the result. - -The air supply was manufactured by chemical means on board, but very -little was needed, as the original supply taken from the earth is used -over and over by altering the carbonic acid gas by means of automatic -generators. - -It was of course of the utmost importance that no port-hole or doors -leading to the outside be opened. The air would have rushed from the -flyer instantly, resulting in a perfect vacuum inside of the flyer, and -instant death to all living organisms. - -As the flyer moved away from a celestial body, the less the mechanical -energy needed to propel it. There were of course exceptions. Thus -between every two celestial bodies a point will be found where the -attraction that one body exerts on the other is zero. If the flyer were -brought to this point its gyroscopes could be at rest, as the machine -would not be attracted by either body. It would "hang" between the two -just as an iron ball hangs between two powerful magnets if carefully -balanced. Give it the slightest push, however, and the ball will fly to -either of the magnets. - -The same was true of a space flyer, between two bodies at the "zero -point." If it moved over that point it was immediately attracted by -one of the bodies, and if its gyroscopes refused to work, the flyer -would have been dashed to pieces against the attracting body. - -If, however, the machine came to rest at the "zero point" it would -begin to turn around on its own axis, while at the same time moving -in an elliptical orbit around the sun--_the space flyer would become -a tiny planet_, and as such was subject to the universal laws of the -planetary system. - -It was not hard to steer the space flyer; the nearer it came to a -celestial body, the faster the gyroscopes worked; the further it drew -away, the slower their movement. - -After Ralph had thoroughly inspected the entire flyer he devoted his -full attention to the course of Fernand's machine. At the rate at which -he was flying he computed that he would overtake Fernand in ten hours, -provided the latter did not increase his speed meanwhile. - -Fernand, when Ralph left Earth, had a handicap of 400,000 miles. He was -moving at the rate of 45,000 miles an hour. Ralph's machine had made -80,000 miles an hour since its start. If everything went well he would -overtake the other in ten or eleven hours. - -As there was nothing else to do, he busied himself in the laboratory -near the conning tower at the top of the flyer in an attempt to make -the hours pass more rapidly. With all its speed his machine seemed to -crawl. He was in an agony of impatience. - -At the end of the ninth hour he finally sighted Fernand's machine -through his telescope. He then tried to signal Fernand by radio, but -the other either did not hear or else did not want to answer. - -Eleven hours after his departure from Earth, his machine drew to within -a few hundred meters of Fernand's. After careful maneuvering he brought -the machine parallel to the other, and looking through one of the heavy -plate windows saw the strained, drawn and ghastly white face of Fernand -staring at him. - -Ralph moved a few levers and then closed a switch. A hissing sound was -heard, and Fernand was seen to fall backwards, the window turning green -at the same moment. - -Ralph had struck him senseless with his _Radioperforer_. - -In a few minutes he anchored his flyer to the other by means of a -powerful electromagnet. He then pushed the connecting tube of his flyer -into the tube-joint of Fernand's machine. With great care he made the -joint air-tight. Taking a coil of rope he opened the port-hole and -crawled through the tube leading into the other flyer. - -Arrived at the other end he made sure that the joint at Fernand's -machine was tight before he moved on. - -Fernand lay unconscious on the floor and in a twinkling Ralph had bound -him with the rope. - -In high excitement he bounded upstairs to gain the room Alice should be -occupying. His heart throbbed tempestuously. In another moment he would -hold his sweetheart in his arms. - -Arriving on the next floor he stood still for a moment and listened. -There was no sound except for the gentle purring of the gyroscopic -machinery. - -He went from one room to another, then to the last one. The door was -open. He entered with a strange feeling of dread. The room was empty. -Apparently it had never been used. - -In terror Ralph ran from one end of the flyer to the other. He looked -in every corner, in every closet. He could find neither Alice nor her -maid. Where were they hidden? To make sure he went all over the ground -again more thoroughly. - -After the most careful scrutiny of every inch of the machine he fell -limply into a chair, and buried his face in his hands. - -_Alice was not on board the flyer!!_ - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 8: In the outer space the "sky" is dead black; the blue color -of the sky as seen from the earth is due to the atmosphere. The real -sky is colorless.] - -[Footnote 9: If a shaft were sunk to the center of the earth, an object -placed there would stay suspended in space.] - - - - -12 - -LLYSANORH' STRIKES - - -For some minutes, Ralph stood motionless, completely bewildered. To -have spent so much time and effort to no avail, hours--days wasted in a -fruitless search! The thought was maddening. - -Obviously, she was not on board Fernand's space flyer. Where, then, -was she? Certainly Fernand himself had had no opportunity to hide -her, unless his whole flight into space were a trick to deceive the -searchers, and that was more than unlikely. Fernand was cunning--was -this some new piece of duplicity? - -Turning from the empty room he ran down to where Fernand lay, still -unconscious. Kneeling by his side Ralph applied a small electrical -shocking device to the spine of the insensible man, with the result -that in a few minutes Fernand opened his eyes and stared dazedly into -those of his captor. - -"Where is she?" asked Ralph hoarsely. "What have you done with her? -Answer me, or by God, I'll blow you into Eternity!" and, aiming his -Radioperforer at Fernand's head, he spoke with such ferocity that the -other shrank involuntarily. - -"I don't know," he muttered, weakly. "It's God's truth I don't know. -The Martian got her. He took her away and left me drugged." His voice -trailed off and he seemed about to collapse. - -"You're a liar!" growled Ralph, but his tone lacked the conviction -of the words. There was that in the other's voice that rang true. -Mechanically, he cut the cords that bound Fernand, and the man rolled -over helplessly. He was weak and dazed, and altogether too broken in -spirit to make any further trouble. His nerve was gone. - -Ralph propped him up against the wall, but he slumped over on his side -limply. Impatient at the delay, Ralph went in search of water, and -finding a pitcher of it in Fernand's laboratory, unceremoniously dumped -the contents over the prone man's head. This had the desired effect of -restoring him somewhat, and in a short time he was able to tell the -story in detail. - -"When I applied the chloroformal to you that night, I used the same -drug on Alice, while Paul 9B 1261, a friend of mine, took care of your -driver. We dragged Alice into our cab, and made for the outskirts of -New York where I had the space flyer in readiness. A maid for her was -already on board. We got Alice on and I put her in the care of Lylette, -and in a few seconds we were off. - -"When we got well out in space I locked the steering disc and helped -the maid revive Alice, and in a few minutes she was herself again, -which she fully demonstrated by slapping my face and then trying to -tear me apart like a wildcat, when she found where she was." He gave a -wry smile at the recollection. - -"Go on!" snapped Ralph. - -"It was an hour later, and we were burning up space, traveling at a -rate of 70,000 miles an hour, that the radio signalling apparatus began -ringing furiously. I tuned in, and heard a faint, gasping voice from -somewhere out in the great void. With difficulty I learned that there -was another space flyer somewhere near me, with two men and four women -on board, and that their oxygen supply was being rapidly exhausted, -due to the spoiling of some of the oxygen-producing chemicals. They -asked for a small supply of oxygen, enough to get them back to Earth. -Otherwise they would be doomed. - -"Knowing myself to be safe from pursuit for some hours, even had you -known I abducted Alice, I decided to aid the crippled flyer, and -answered that I would assist them as soon as possible. I went up to the -conning tower and, with the telescope, located the other machine. Then -I reversed the anti-gravitator machinery and within a short time I had -drawn up level with the flyer. - -"We made fast, and ran the connecting tube between the two machines. -When the joints were made air-tight I crawled through, and just as my -head came through the opening into the other, two hands gripped me -around the throat and I was jerked into the machine. I made a desperate -effort to wrench myself free but I was absolutely helpless in such -hands. I found myself gripped by Llysanorh', the Martian, and I might -as well have fought a tiger as that seven-footer. - -"He said nothing, only stared at me with his enormous eyes, while he -dragged me to a small compartment, manacled my hands, and left me, -locking the door behind him. But he was back in fifteen minutes or -so, with a triumphant look in his eyes. He picked me up and pushed me -through the connecting tube into my own flyer. He dragged me into my -machine-room, and forced me to watch while he, using a big hammer, -smashed the mechanism of my six anti-gravitators, so that I would not -be able to steer, and could fly in only one direction. He ruined all -the spare parts, to make sure that I could not make any repairs or -replacements. - -"Then catching me by the back of the neck, he said: - -"'I intercepted your letter to Paul 9B 1261, and followed you. You -didn't count on _me_, Fernand, when you stole Alice. Neither you nor -that fool scientist Ralph 124C 41+ shall have her. _No_ man shall have -her but myself. I will kill her first. I don't know why I don't kill -you, except that you are scarcely worth the trouble. You can't pursue -me with your machine in this condition, and when--_if ever_--you are -found, it will be too late.' - -"'Good God, man,' I said, 'surely you won't take a helpless Terrestrial -girl!' - -"'It is only what you did,' he replied, 'and at least, I love her!' And -with that he pressed a cloth saturated with some drug unknown to me -against my face, and that is all I remember. - -"I must have been unconscious at least six or seven hours and when -I came to, it was another hour before I shook off the effects -sufficiently to recollect anything. Llysanorh' had taken off the -manacles, but I was as helpless as if I had been bound. I must have -dozed off, for I had only just awakened when I looked out and saw your -flyer approaching. And that's the whole story." - -Ralph had listened to the amazing narrative with growing apprehension. -He knew enough of the Martian character to realize that Alice was in -the hands of a man who, once the die was cast, would stop at nothing. -He had been hopelessly, pitifully in love with Alice. It was easy to -see that, having, probably quite by accident, intercepted Fernand's -letter to Paul telling of his plans, he had in a moment of desperation, -born of despair, determined to carry her off himself. Perhaps, in -the first place, he had only intended to save her from Fernand, and -then, considering the small possibility of discovery and pursuit, had -succumbed to his overwhelming passion for her, and abducted her instead -of returning with her to Earth. But whither was he bound? Surely, not -to Venus where the inhabitants were nearly all Terrestrials, and whose -laws were identical with those of Earth. - -Mars? Possible, but improbable, although Llysanorh' might have some -friend in his sect who would perform the Martian marriage ceremony -secretly. But even if this were the case where could he take his -captive bride? They would not be permitted to live on Mars, neither -would Earth or Venus accept them. - -The intolerably hot planet Mercury was out of the question, and the two -moons belonging to Mars had no atmosphere. - -There remained only the Asteroids. - -At this thought Ralph sprang to his feet with an exclamation. - -"I've been a fool not to think of them before," he cried. "Of course he -would get her to one of them, and once there she will be lost forever. -Good God, I must find his machine and head him off before it's too -late." - -He turned savagely on Fernand still crouched against the wall. "I'm -tempted to leave you to the fate the Martian intended for you. God -knows it wouldn't be half what you deserve." - -"Don't do that, in Heaven's name," mumbled the other. "Don't leave me -here like this." - -The scientist looked at him contemptuously for a moment. - -"Bah!" he said scornfully, "can't you even take your medicine like a -man? But I'll turn your machine around and direct it Earthward. You -will intercept the Earth in about thirty hours. You can't steer, but -you can accelerate or retard the speed of your flyer, and need not -collide with the Earth if you are careful. - -"And remember this," he added grimly, "if you and I ever meet again I -will pound your miserable cowardly body into jelly!" - -He turned his back on the abject man, and returned to his own flyer. -Then he turned Fernand's machine around, disconnected the two from each -other, and in a few seconds Fernand's flyer had disappeared. - -Ralph sprang into action. He immediately began taking observations. -These told him that it would take him at least thirty days to reach -Mars, even though he forced his machine to the utmost. He could not -travel over 90,000 miles an hour, but, on the other hand, he felt sure -that Llysanorh's machine was incapable of making more than 85,000 miles -an hour. But the Martian had a handicap of probably 600,000 miles, and -if Ralph gained on him at the rate of only 5,000 miles an hour, it -would take 120 hours, or five terrestrial days to overtake him. - -Ralph turned his machine towards the point in space where Mars would be -at the end of thirty days, and now set himself to the task of making a -search for the other flyer with the polarized wave apparatus. - -For four wearisome and anxious hours he sought through space -perseveringly, and was at last rewarded by locating another machine -which he was certain was that of the Martian, as he had reasoned, -heading for Mars. - -At the same time the results of his calculations dismayed him greatly, -for they revealed that Llysanorh's machine was making no less than -88,000 miles an hour. At this rate, Ralph was gaining only 2,000 miles -an hour, and it would take thirteen or fourteen days to overhaul -the other flyer. But as the Martian could not hope to reach Mars -under twenty-nine days himself, Ralph figured that he, barring some -unforeseen accident, would overtake him long before he landed there. - -It was absolutely imperative that he do so, for once the Martian left -Mars and headed for the Asteroids further pursuit would be useless. -There were over 4,000 of these little planets already known[10] and it -would be the work of a lifetime to search on each one for the fugitive -and his victim. Speedy action on Ralph's part was urgent. - -These little Asteroids, revolving in an orbit between Mars and Jupiter -were practically uninhabited, although most of the larger ones had a -good atmosphere, and a fair climate, considering their distance from -the sun. - -Some of them were only a few miles in diameter, and the largest -measured but 485 miles. An electromobile, running at the slow rate of -60 miles an hour could circle such a tiny planet in 24 hours! - -The larger planetoids had a superb vegetation, and as the gravity on -these bodies was only a fraction of that on the Earth, the trees and -shrubs were gigantic, while colossal fruits and vegetables grew in -abundance. These plants helped to create a dense atmosphere, in spite -of the small gravity, and life, on one of these little planets, was, -in many respects, far more comfortable and pleasant than on Earth or -Mars. - -[Illustration: - - ---- ORIGINAL DIRECTION OF RALPH - - * WHERE RALPH OVERTOOK FERNAND - - -.-.-. NEW COURSE OF RALPH IN - PURSUIT OF LLYSANORH' - - ® WHERE MARS WOULD BE AT END - OF LLYSANORH'S JOURNEY - - --- COURSE OF LLYSANORH' - - O POSITION OF LLYSANORH' WHEN - RALPH OVERTOOK FERNAND - - 1 WHERE VENUS WOULD HAVE BEEN MET - IF FERNAND HAD CONTINUED HIS JOURNEY - - x WHERE LLYSANORH' ABDUCTED ALICE] - -Now began the hardest part of the chase for Ralph. There was nothing -more to do than he had already done. From now on he must wait with what -patience he could summon to his aid, until such time as his machine -should catch up with that of the Martian. He could force his own no -further, and he was very sure that Llysanorh' was also flying at his -utmost speed. - -At work, he had not had much time for thought. - -Now, with time hanging heavily on his hands, his conjectures as to the -fate of his sweetheart drove him, at times, nearly to madness. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 10: Up to 1911 over 650 Asteroids had been discovered.] - - - - -13 - -ALICE OBJECTS - - -Alice, on being aroused to consciousness by the ministrations of -Lylette, the maid, and Fernand, and finding herself a prisoner on -board a space flyer at the mercy of the latter, was overwhelmed with -fury. This cool abduction of herself provoked her to such a passionate -outburst that Fernand had actually retreated before it. - -"You coward," she blazed, "how dare you keep me here! Turn around and -take me back at once--at once, do you hear?" - -Fernand, in the act of opening her door and going back to his -laboratory, paused smilingly. - -"My dear girl," he said mockingly, "ask of me anything and I will grant -it--except that. You have a temper that delights me. Your smiles will -be all the sweeter, later." - -Her answer was to fly at him with such passion that he involuntarily -took a step backwards. In a flash she had run by him, was down the -stairs and tugging at the fastening of the door that led outward. -Fernand bounded after her calling to Lylette as he ran, and in a -moment they were both struggling with the girl, who had indeed become -a veritable wildcat. She had both hands fastened around the great bar -that held the door and fought madly to unfasten it. Let that door be -opened the fraction of an inch and all three would instantly have been -blown to pieces. Fernand wrenched at her hands in real fear that she -would succeed in her purpose, which was evidently their destruction. - -She was a strong athletic girl, and at the moment her desperation -gave her added vigor. But the combined strength, and by no means -gentle handling of Fernand and Lylette, who herself was a large and -powerfully built woman, forced Alice to relinquish her hold, and she -was dragged, struggling, back to her room, and left there, with the -door double-locked. - -Alone, she passed from the high exaltation of anger to a state of -nervous apprehension. Another woman in her place might have wept, have -begged piteously for mercy where there was no mercy, but this girl was -made of sterner stuff. She might be frightened but Fernand should never -guess it. - -Dry-eyed, with lips set in a firm line, lest they tremble and betray -her, she sat facing the door, gripping in her small hands the only -weapon she had been able to find--a small metal vase, having a round, -and fairly thick base. - -Knowing that Fernand would come back, prepared as she was for his -return, she was unable to repress a start of genuine terror when she -heard someone unbolting the door. She clutched the vase more tightly, -white-faced, but courageous. - -Fernand entered alone, carefully closing the door behind him. He wore -his customary, rather bland smile, and his voice was suave to the point -of oiliness. - -"All over our little fit of temper?" he asked. - -Alice stared at him, disdainfully, unanswering. Then her eyes fell upon -something in his hand--manacles of glistening steelonium! - -The horror she felt was depicted in her face, for he said, holding them -out for her to see, "A pair of bracelets for you, sweetheart. Just as -a precautionary measure. You are rather too quick with those hands of -yours. But I am not unkind, my dear. You need not wear them if you will -only give me your word not to repeat your recent performance." - -Beyond the door she saw Lylette standing in readiness, and she knew -that physical resistance would be ineffectual. Far better to give her -promise and be free than to be bound and helpless. Besides, there was -the laboratory. In it there were many roads to freedom--there were -poisons that killed instantly and painlessly. Unmanacled she might -reach them eventually. Bound, even that way would be closed. - -Coldly, clearly, she gave her promise, but inwardly she offered up -a prayer of thankfulness when he turned and handed the handcuffs to -Lylette. - -"You can lay down your weapon, Alice," he said, still with his mocking -smile. "I can assure you that you have no need of it. You will find me -a gentle lover, and one who is willing to wait for his lady's favors." -He stopped suddenly, and turning his head in the direction of the -stairs, listened intently. - -From the laboratory, came the insistent ringing of the radio calling -apparatus. - -With a muttered order to Lylette, he was gone. - -What was happening, Alice did not know. She could not read radio -messages, but she knew that only something of grave import could have -made Fernand rush like that to the radio. She strained her ears, but -heard nothing. - -Her hopes rose with a great bound with the thought that perhaps Ralph -was on his way to her. Perhaps it was he signalling. She had been sure -that he would follow her as soon as possible, and now her dark eyes -brightened with hope. - -At this moment Lylette, without a glance in her direction, closed the -door, and Alice was once more alone and a prisoner behind bolted doors. - -It was then that she gave way to her loneliness and despair. She knew -that if it had been Ralph signalling, Fernand would at once, having -received the news that the scientist was in pursuit, set about making -plans to elude him. She knew that Fernand was desperate, that his life, -under the law, was forfeit for this crime he had committed. He would -stop at nothing. Instinctively, she felt that he would destroy her and -himself, rather than be taken. Certainly, he would not hesitate to -murder Ralph if the opportunity presented itself. - -She flung herself upon the couch, and burst into tears of agony, and -terror. Suddenly she sprang to her feet, still sobbing, wide-eyed with -dread of what she knew not. - -The space flyer had stopped. The throb of the machinery had stilled and -the flyer was hanging motionless in space. - -Standing in the middle of the room, rigid with suspense, Alice waited -with beating heart. Suddenly she heard the sound of rapid steps on the -stairs. Now they halted at the door, and someone fumbled at the bolts -and locks. - -The next instant the door was flung wide open, and Llysanorh' the -Martian stood upon the threshold! - - - - -14 - -THE TERROR OF THE COMET - - -During the next few days Ralph passed midway between Earth and Venus. -This was the spectacle that at times greatly increased the transport -space flyer travel between Earth and Mars, many of the inhabitants -of both planets making the long journey simply to get a view of the -beautiful planet Venus. - -Ralph ran almost parallel for a time with the two planets (see -diagram), Venus to his left, Earth to his right. Although he was quite -near the former he could hardly see it, as the bright rays of the sun -precluded detailed observation. A few days later, however, it had swung -sufficiently far enough to the left to afford him occasional glimpses -of its beauties. - -Ralph worked almost continuously in his laboratory in the conning -tower. In the course of the week since he had left the Earth, he had -only catnapped for about two hours, since sleep was impossible. - -He constructed several new pieces of apparatus, which he considered -might be useful in case of a possible encounter with Llysanorh'. He -knew that Llysanorh' could not be as easily subdued or caught as -Fernand. This tall Martian was an inventor himself and knew much about -handling modern death-dealing weapons. It would be useless to try -the Radioperforer as he probably would carry a Silonium armor, proof -against all Radium emanations. - -One of the first things he had done was to lead wires from the steering -apparatus up to the conning tower. On the floor of the tower he -arranged contacts in such a manner that he could press them together -with his feet. The control was similar to the foot pedals of an organ. -He then practised for some days until he could steer the flyer wholly -with his feet. Thus his hands were free to control any apparatus he -would need for attack or defense. With his feet he could so control the -machine as to avoid projectiles if necessary. - -As the days rolled by, however, Ralph became more and more disturbed. -He now took observations hourly, his eyes glued to the indicator. With -a sinking heart he saw that he was not gaining on the Martian. The -latter had his machine well tuned up and was covering almost 90,000 -miles an hour. At this rate Ralph could never catch up with Llysanorh'. -It was maddening. The days became a long, drawn-out agony. Ralph had -done everything in his power to accelerate the speed of his flyer and -to strain the machinery further meant inviting certain death. Within -eight days Llysanorh' would land on Mars--his course now plainly showed -that he was headed for the planet. At best Ralph would be ten hours -behind--time enough for the Martian to accomplish his purpose. And he, -Ralph 124C 41+, the greatest inventor the world had ever produced, was -powerless. - -Again he took observations, and again the results were the same. A -weariness of the spirit swept over him. The dark waters of despair -seemed to inundate his very soul. To have been physically exhausted -would have been a relief. To know the blessedness of but an hour's -sound sleep, to be free from this terrible tension-- - -He sank down upon a seat and buried his head in his hands, and as he -sat, striving to quiet his worn and troubled mind there came to him -an idea--nay, more than an idea, an inspiration, by which he would -overcome the formidable difficulties that beset him. - -An idea, so simple that, having once formulated it, it seemed -ridiculous not to have thought of it before. - -His soul-weariness fell from him like a discarded garment. He sprang -to his feet, once more the scientist, the man of action, triumphant, -dominant. - -His marvelous ingenuity saw the way out. His mind would again triumph -over time and space. He would achieve the impossible, surmount the -insurmountable. - -The battle was not lost--it had but begun! - -He knew he could not overhaul Llysanorh'. Neither could he intercept -him. A wireless decoy message was futile. Llysanorh' would never be -caught by such a flimsy trick. But he must do something to prevent -Llysanorh' from reaching Mars. - -How could it be accomplished? By sending a message to the Martian -authorities? A futile thought. Even if the distance could be bridged, -which was doubtful, Llysanorh' would, in all likelihood, intercept the -message with his recorder. He would simply send a message to his friend -to board a space flyer and to rush to him at top speed. The marriage -ceremony could then be performed out in space. - -No, Llysanorh' must not know that he was pursued and still he must be -prevented from landing. - -Ralph would literally move the heavens. He would threaten Mars with a -comet! Llysanorh's patriotism could be depended upon to make an effort -to divert the comet from its course, to avoid the imminent collision -with Mars. This, Llysanorh' could do without danger to himself, simply -by steering his flyer close to the head of the comet--within a few -hundred kilometers. The gravitational action of his machine on the -comet would deflect the course of the latter enough--even a few degrees -would be sufficient to change the path of the meteor. - -But where was the comet to come from? To Ralph this was simplicity -itself. He did not need to "catch" a comet--_he would manufacture one -for himself_--a comet more unique than ever rushed through space. - -He knew that comets had been reproduced artificially on a small scale, -centuries ago;[11] however, no one had ever tried to make a real -comet. He also knew that the largest comets have a very small mass, -and that the tail is composed mainly of gas and dust, which is so thin -that the stars may be readily observed through the tail of almost any -comet.[12] - -Ralph thus became the first human being to _create_ a heavenly body. As -comets are composed mainly of hydrogen gas and dust, the creating of -Ralph's artificial comet was absurdly simple to the scientist. - -By means of scraps of zinc and iron filings, over which sulphuric acid -was poured, Ralph produced a great quantity of hydrogen. This he filled -in tanks and when he had generated enough of the gas he connected the -tanks with a large metal stop cock in the wall of the space flyer. As -soon as the stop cock was opened the hydrogen rushed out into the open -with a roar. - -Immediately Ralph connected his high frequency apparatus with the -outside aerials of the space flyer and the expected phenomenon took -place. - -_The hydrogen particles which heretofore had been invisible, began -to glow with a wonderful light_, enveloping the entire flyer. For -thousands of miles behind the machine stretched a true comet's tail, -the flyer forming its head or nucleus. The tail, as in all comets, was -turned away from the sun, and although Ralph could not see the end of -the tail, he knew that what he had created could be seen for hundreds -of thousands of miles, like any natural comet. - -Ralph, however, was not fully satisfied, and he therefore started to -"improve" the comet. He manufactured several other gases in large -quantities, which he ejected into space, greatly enhancing the -brilliancy and size of the comet's head as well as of its tail. - -The head, however, he thought was not "solid" enough as yet, and so he -set about correcting this defect. - -Comets are composed chiefly of gases, but contain a large amount of -dust. The dust particles act very much like the dust particles upon -which a sun ray falls, and it is these particles which create the -comet's appearance. If the atmosphere is eliminated and the same dust -placed into outer space, a small comet will result. The small particles -will be highly electrified by the sun and begin to glow. Each particle -repels the other and thus even a handful of light dust will form a -respectable comet in space. - -Ralph made his dust by grinding paper and wood and other materials on a -fine carborundum wheel. - -After he had made a few pails full, he blew the dust out into space, -and if his comet had been a magnificent sight before, it was really -awe-inspiring to look upon now from a great distance. - -The heavier particles clung close to the flyer, on account of -gravitational action, but completely enveloped it. The machine was -now a true planet, while the fine dust particles had become little -satellites, revolving around their central body, the flyer. - -The lighter dust particles found their way into the tail, as the -powerful pressure of the sun's light overcame the attraction which the -flyer brought upon them. - -Ralph turned off the high frequency current and yet the comet was not -extinguished and its brilliance was not in the least dimmed. The gas -and dust particles had no way to dissipate their initial electrical -charge, being in an absolute vacuum; and Ralph's artificial comet had -become a real one. - -Inasmuch as the dust was quite dense immediately around the flyer, -Ralph's outlook was not as clear as it had been before. He could just -see the stars, which seemed enveloped in a haze. This, however, pleased -him greatly, as he knew that his artificial comet must look like a -natural one from a great distance. - -In this he had not been mistaken. As he afterwards learned, his comet -had been "discovered" simultaneously on Earth, on Venus, and on Mars -the same day he had made it. It had been charted and named, and on -account of its great brilliance and long tail, had been immediately -termed "The Great Comet of 2660." - -That Llysanorh' would see the comet Ralph never doubted for a second. -He headed his comet-space flyer exactly toward the point where it would -collide with Mars at the end of six days. He figured that the Martians -would be on the lookout, and inasmuch as Ralph's careful search did -not reveal another space flyer anywhere near him, he knew that the -Martian officials would surely locate and attempt to communicate with -Llysanorh'. - -In this he was not mistaken. His chronometer pointed to 5 p.m. when he -first recorded weak signals coming from Mars. Several messages were -exchanged between the Martians and Llysanorh'. Llysanorh' gave his -number and position in the heavens and he in turn received instructions -to approach as near to the "comet's" head as feasible in order to -change its course. He was also instructed to bombard the comet's -nucleus with time-set torpedoes, if he could not deviate the comet from -its course. Llysanorh' answered that he would follow instructions as -far as his equipment allowed. - -During the next few days Ralph was relieved to note that the distance -between him and Llysanorh' diminished with great rapidity. His trick -had worked. Llysanorh' was rushing at top speed toward Ralph's flyer, -firmly believing it a comet. - -Confident of success, sure of victory, Ralph was jubilant. Hope, so -long deferred, flooded his spirit. He whistled cheerily at his work. - -Was not every minute bringing him closer to his sweetheart, his Alice? -Was not every second drawing nearer to that moment when he would hold -her in his arms? - -What wonder that he whistled all day long, and laughed to himself from -sheer joy and relief. - -At last the Martian came into range. Llysanorh' approached the "comet" -up to about 150 kilometers and then receded. He then took observations, -but somehow or other the "comet," instead of being deflected, commenced -to pursue him. This was opposed to all astronomical knowledge and -reasoning, and Llysanorh', fearing collision with the "comet" began to -fire explosive torpedoes into its nucleus. As the distance between it -and his machine was only 100 kilometers, he could watch the torpedo -in its flight. Through his telescope he could see the torpedo rushing -toward the "comet's" head. - -But the "comet" dodged, and the torpedo shot far above the nucleus! -It was uncanny. His aim had been accurate, he could have sworn. The -distance was short. Yet he had missed. The "comet" had moved out of the -projectile's path. - -He had fired again, with equal accuracy. The torpedo would surely -strike now. But the "comet" this time "side-stepped," as it were, and -the torpedo sped on through space, missing its target by a wide margin. - -Llysanorh' was bewildered. Fear gripped him. - -Gravitational action had not made the "comet" act in this strange -manner. He fired one torpedo after another, but the "comet" dodged them -all. - -He suddenly stopped firing torpedoes. He next tried to destroy the -infernal "comet" by electricity. - -Soon his aerials were white hot with the energy he threw into them. He -then turned his flyer into such a position as to direct the outflowing -energy towards the "comet's" head. The only result was to increase the -luminosity of the "comet." - -Suddenly Llysanorh' realized that the "comet" was only fifty kilometers -away. He noticed with horror that the head of the "comet" now seemed to -fill up almost one-quarter of the "sky." Another discovery that came -simultaneously was that instead of the "comet's" head being solid, -there was a mysterious small black speck in the center of the nucleus. -This was against both knowledge and theory of comets. - -When Ralph had brought his "comet" within fifty kilometers of -Llysanorh', he felt that the time had come to throw off the mask. He -had lured Llysanorh' to within striking distance. It was now time to -strike. - -He had one great advantage over Llysanorh'. The latter was wholly -unprepared, believing he had to deal with a comet. This facilitated -Ralph's movements. - -He carefully insulated himself by sitting on a tall glass tripod. He -then attached to his ears the telephone receivers that were connected -with the induction balance,[13] which he had attached to one of the -glass port-holes. - -He then started to turn the glass wheel of the ultra-generator, -connected to the outside aerials. - -A terrible screaming sound came from the generator and the whole -flyer shook. Ralph continued to turn the wheel quickly. The generator -shrilled higher and higher, until the frequency had become so high that -no sound could be heard. The vibrations had passed 35,000. - -Ralph turned the wheel a few more notches and everything became -pitch-dark over a space sixty kilometers in diameter. - -As in his Switzerland exploit, two months before, Ralph's aerial on -the space flyer due to the powerful action of his ultra-generator, -attracted the ether so fast that it could not be replenished quickly -enough. It acted much like an immense vacuum pump on the atmosphere. - -Darkness spread over a large area as the inky fluid of the octopus -blackens the sea. Both flyers became invisible to each other. - -Ralph, however, pointed his machine on its former course and speeded it -up. - -Llysanorh', dismayed by the unexpected darkness, had brought his -machine to a dead stop. He was almost frantic with terror and stood -like one paralyzed, unable to think or to act. - -Within a few minutes Ralph's induction balance caused his telephones -to emit higher and higher notes, indicating, despite the pitch-black -darkness, just how near he was to the other flyer. - -When he was certain that he had approached Llysanorh's machine, he -suddenly shut off his ultra-generator. Quick as lightning he had -grasped his radioperforer, and although the light which returned -instantly blinded him for a few seconds, he had glimpsed Llysanorh's -terrified face, just a few meters distant, his forehead pressed tight -against the glass plate of the port-hole. - -Ralph took quick aim and pressed the trigger. - -There was a silent flash and Llysanorh' seemed to topple over. -Simultaneously the glass of the port-hole turned green. - -In a flash Ralph jumped up and peered anxiously out one port-hole, then -another, hoping to catch sight of Alice. - -There was nobody to be seen. - -He rushed to the wireless and signaled frantically for several minutes. -Breathlessly he clasped the receivers to his ears. - -There was no answer--no sound--nothing. - -With sinking heart, he rushed to the connecting tube. In his -excitement it took him twenty minutes to make the connection between -the two machines and the tube air-tight. Before crawling into the -connecting tube he grabbed up his radioperforer as a precaution. - -The sight that presented itself to him as he crawled into Llysanorh's -machine drew from him an involuntary agonized cry. - -Llysanorh's dead body lay across that of Alice, his sharp dagger sunk -into the upper part of her arm. Ralph hurriedly moved the rigid body -aside. - -_There lay Alice in a terrible pool of her own blood, her eyes -closed--dead._ - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 11: In 1876 Reitlinger & Urbanitzky before the Vienna Academy -of Sciences published a report on their experiments on artificial -comets. A tube containing hydrocarbon has been pumped out till the -pressure has fallen to 0.1 millimeter. If connected to an induction -coil, a blue sphere will be formed at the positive electrode after a -short time, which "hangs" suspended freely. Connected to the sphere is -a tail, fig. 1. One is struck immediately with the close resemblance -between this artificial comet and that of Henry's Comet of 1873, fig. -2. If a - -[Illustration: _Fig. 1_] - -[Illustration: _Fig. 2_] - -conductor (a brass ball) as seen in fig. 1 is brought near the tube, -the tail flees from the conductor as far as the tube allows. This again -proves that the artificial as well as the real comets are subject -to the same natural laws. As is known, the tails of all comets are -repulsed strongly by the sun, which latter is nothing but a conductor.] - -[Footnote 12: According to Bredikhine, the long straight tails, as -seen in the comet of 1861, are composed of hydrogen; the long curved -tails, like the principal tail of Donati's Comet, consist largely of -hydrocarbon vapors; while the somnolent, rare, short tails of violent -curvature are made up of mixed iron, sodium and other metallic vapors. -This classification has received support from spectroscopic evidence. -In 1882, Fitzgerald first propounded the theory that the tail was -due to the pressure of light upon the gaseous matter composing it. -In 1900 Arrhenius revived the theory, but modified it to the extent -of supposing the tail to consist, not of gaseous matter, but of -fine particles produced by condensation from the emanations of the -comet.--New International Encyclopædia.] - -[Footnote 13: The induction balance is an instrument which, connected -with a telephone, causes the latter to emit a singing sound, when a -piece of metal is brought near the balance. It is incredibly sensitive -and has been used to locate buried treasures, etc. Invented in 1880 by -Professor Hughes.] - - - - -15 - -LLYSANORH' THROWS OFF THE MASK - - -When Alice saw that it was Llysanorh' standing on the threshold of her -room she experienced at once great disappointment and overwhelming -relief. - -The second space flyer was not driven by Ralph, but she was at least -safe from Fernand. - -"Oh," she cried with a sob of relief, "I am so glad it is you, -Llysanorh'! I have been so frightened." - -He made no answer, but regarded her with enormous eyes in which burned -a somber flame. - -"You _are_ going to take me off this horrible flyer, aren't you, -Llysanorh'? You won't leave me here alone with that--that beast, will -you?" - -He shook his head soberly, and extended one hand to her. - -"Come," he said briefly. - -She put her own hand confidently in his, and he led her down the -stairs, and past the laboratory. She shrank back as she saw Fernand's -bound and motionless form. - -"Is he--dead?" she whispered. - -"No," said Llysanorh', leading her to the connecting tube. He helped -her through with gentle hands, and in a moment she found herself in -the other flyer. Taking her hand again in his, Llysanorh' led her to a -luxuriously furnished room. - -"Stay here until I come back," he said. "I won't be long." - -He turned to go but she, catching his sleeve, detained him. - -"Are you going to--to kill him?" she asked. - -"Perhaps. I haven't decided yet," he replied, unsmiling. And then, -gripping her shoulders with startlingly sudden emotion, "Has he harmed -you?" - -"No, no," she said, frightened, "he just tried to terrify me, that was -all." - -He released her, and strode to the door. - -"I won't kill him," he said, and for the first time he smiled, but in -that smile there was no mirth. "I shall let him live, that he may pray -for the death I have denied him." - -And he was gone. - -Presently Alice heard him disconnecting the two machines, and a moment -later she knew that Llysanorh's flyer was moving. A half hour passed -and still she was left alone. Beyond the vibration of the machinery -there was no sound to indicate that she was not absolutely alone on the -flyer. - -Feeling a little panicky she finally left the room and made her way -through a corridor. Several doors that she opened led into rooms even -more luxurious and splendid than the one she had left. - -So this was the space flyer owned by the Martian of which there had -been so much gossip. Stories she had heard before of its spaciousness -and magnificence came back to her. - -It was like the palace of the Beast in the ancient fairy story, where -Beauty had wandered for hours through room after room filled with new -marvels. Alice smiled whimsically at the thought. She was "Beauty," -she reflected, and Llysanorh'--yes, he made a very good "Beast." -Her buoyant spirits were rapidly recovering from the strain of her -imprisonment. - -Finally, she tried one more door, and entered a wonderful laboratory -fully equipped. - -And at the farther end, seated before a low table sat the Martian, his -head resting on his folded arms. His whole attitude suggested hopeless -desolation. He looked very lonely and remote, and somehow, to her, very -pathetic. - -She stood, hesitating, uncertain of whether to advance or retreat. -Finally she spoke his name softly. At her voice he raised his head and -stared at her. And she saw that his face was lined and furrowed as if -with some terrible strain, but his eyes were steady with resolve. - -"How serious you look," she said, coming into the middle of the room. -"You seem so worried and anxious, Llysanorh'. Has something gone wrong -with the flyer? And what did you do with Fernand and his machine?" - -"I left him recovering from the effects of the drug," he said, in -a forced and unnatural voice which betrayed, even more than his -expression, the disturbed state of his mind. "And nothing is wrong with -the flyer. It is I--I with whom everything is wrong." - -"Oh, surely it can't be as bad as you think," said the girl, her quick -sympathies aroused by his obvious misery. "Would it make you feel any -better to tell me? We have always been such good friends, Llysanorh', -and I might be able to help you." - -"Later, perhaps, later," he said, and then with an effort, "can you -make yourself comfortable here for a few days, do you think? I brought -the maid with me. You will find her waiting in your rooms for you. I -don't think she will give you any trouble." - -"Oh, yes, I surely can," she replied. "It is lovely here. I have -heard so much of this flyer. Why haven't you shown it to father and -me before? The rooms are like those of a fairy palace. Tell me, -Llysanorh', will it be long before we get back to Earth? Everyone"--she -had been about to say Ralph, but checked herself--"everyone will be so -worried about me." - -"We are never going back to Earth," he said. - -"Never going--why, what has happened then? Is there something wrong -that you won't tell me?--or are you joking? But of course you're -joking, Llysanorh', and for a minute I thought you were serious." - -"I was never more serious," he said, rising to his feet and facing her. -"We are never going back, you and I." - -Alice looked at him wide-eyed, amazed and bewildered. - -"But I don't understand," she faltered. "Why, Llysanorh'?" - -It was then that the pent-up emotion of months burst the bonds of -self-restraint that he had forced upon himself. - -"Why!" he cried passionately, "you ask me why! Can't you see why? How -can you look into my eyes and not know why? Because I am a man--because -I am a fool--good God, because I love you!" He flung himself upon his -knees, clasping her about the waist with his arms. - -"I worship you, I adore you--I always shall. You must love me, you -cannot help but love me, I love you so much, Alice, Alice, my dearest, -my beloved." - -He threw his head back and looked into her face imploringly, as if by -the very force of his love she must respond, but he read there only -terror and a growing abhorrence. It cooled him more effectually than -any words she could have spoken, and he relinquished his hold on her, -rose and went back to his former position at the table, while she -watched him speechlessly. - -For a time neither spoke. At last he said in quiet tones strangely in -contrast with his late passion, "You can't hate me, Alice, I love you -too much." - -"No," she said, gently, "I don't hate you, Llysanorh', but oh, can't -you see how hopeless all this is? I love Ralph, and if you keep me here -forever I will still love him." - -She got a glimpse, then, of the terrible struggle this man of Mars had -had with his conscience. - -"I know, I know," he groaned, "I have gone over that ground many -times--many times, but I can not--will not--give you up. I tell you," -he went on with a return of his former frenzied emotion, "that rather -than let him have you I will kill you with my own hands. At least, when -you are dead I will be sure that no other man can possess you." - -She was a courageous girl, but before the madness in his face she fled -shuddering. - - * * * * * - -During the next several days Alice kept close to her rooms. She saw -little of Llysanorh', who seemed to be avoiding her purposely, and -the maid, Lylette, was uncommunicative. Alice was horribly lonely and -afraid. At first she had confidently expected Ralph to rescue her at -any moment, but as the days dragged on, and still the space flyer -drew nearer to Mars, and there were no signs of Ralph, she became -increasingly aware that her situation was desperate. - -She knew that Llysanorh' controlled powerful interests on his native -planet, and that once there, all her pleadings would be in vain and he -would make her his bride. - -The few times she saw him he was quiet in manner, showing a courteous -deference to her. But he could not hide the triumphant light in his -eyes, which, the nearer they came to Mars, he took less pains to -disguise from her. And yet, she could not deny the fact of his genuine, -and fervent love for her. Only once, did he again speak of it. - -One day she was sitting in the beautifully appointed library reading, -with Lylette near by, when he entered. He gazed at her a moment in -silence. Then he said, "You know, Alice, just to have you here with me, -where I can see you occasionally, is wonderful to me." - -Her eyes filled with quick tears, for she was worn and unhappy. And -seeing them he quickly withdrew. - -Later, he seemed very busy in the machine room. Passing it, once, she -saw him working frantically at something; what, she could not see. But -a glimpse of his face revealed it haggard and drawn. It was but a few -minutes after that, back in her own room, a complete and terrifying -blackness obliterated everything. She heard Lylette screaming somewhere -in dreadful panic, and she heard Llysanorh' shout something hoarsely. - -Stumbling, she made her way as fast as she could in the darkness back -to the machine room. She heard him at one of the windows. Apparently he -was trying to pierce the blackness, to ascertain its cause. She started -toward him, when the light returned in a blinding flash, and she saw -Llysanorh' stagger as if struck by something. - -"Llysanorh'," she cried, "what is it? What is happening?" - -He lurched toward her and caught her in his arms savagely. "I'll tell -you what has happened," he shouted, "I see it all now. The comet--a -trick, damn him! And now he's got me. But not you, Alice, not you. You -are going with me--" - -The Martian's face was distorted with passion. He had a gleaming dagger -in his right hand poised over her. Then, just as it was about to strike -she saw his face go blank and felt a terrific blow on her arm. The next -instant she was slumping--seemed to drop off into a dreamless sleep. - - - - -16 - -THE SUPREME VICTORY - - -When Ralph burst into the machine room of the Martian's flyer and -saw Alice lying dead in a pool of her own blood the shock was almost -more than he could bear. Falling on his knees beside her he caught -her small, yet warm hand in his, calling her name again and again in -agonized tones. He covered her lovely white face with kisses, while dry -tearless sobs tore at his throat. - -Then, thinking that perhaps he had made a mistake, that her heart -_must_ still beat, he tried, with trembling hands to discover the -extent of her injuries. Llysanorh' had aimed at her heart but the dying -man had missed his mark, and the sharp point of the dagger had slashed -her arm, cutting into the large artery. And in those precious moments -when Ralph had been connecting the two flyers, and making his way from -one to the other, her warm rich life's blood had ebbed rapidly away. - -He lifted the lifeless body in his arms and carried it to his machine, -where he laid it on his bed. His mind was confused and disordered and -he was unable to think coherently. A sickening sensation of depression -so overwhelmed him that he felt physically ill. - -Suddenly an electric thrill seemed to pass through his body and his -clouded mental vision cleared. A picture flashed upon his mind. He -saw himself in his laboratory on Earth, bending over a "dead" dog. And -there came to him a memory of the words of that Dean of scientists: - -"_What you have done with a dog, you can do with a human being._" - -In that instant Ralph was galvanized. For the first time in his life -he doubted. Could he do it? What if he failed? Then he pushed such -thoughts from him with stem resolution. - -_He would not fail!_ - -He touched the body of the girl. It had not yet grown cold with the -icy chill of death. He rushed for some electric heating pads, which he -applied to her to keep what warmth remained. - -Then came that which proved itself a terrible ordeal for him. It was -absolutely necessary to drain away all the remaining blood, so that it -would not coagulate. - -It had been a simple matter to empty the blood vessels of a dog, but -this was the girl he loved, and he shuddered as he began his work. - -He opened the large artery, and it was only with supreme courage that -he forced himself to complete the heart=breaking task, while scalding -tears ran down his cheeks unheeded. - -He had scarcely terminated his work, when he heard steps in the -corridor. He could feel his hair bristling, and he whirled to face the -door, reaching for his radioperforer as he did so. Could Llysanorh'?... -The next moment a large woman stood in the doorway. - -Ralph stared at her in amazement. Then suddenly it dawned upon him that -this must be the maid Fernand had provided. - -She had hidden herself in abject terror when the darkness came down, -and had only now mustered enough courage to investigate. The first -object she had seen upon creeping to the machine room was the dead body -of the Martian. Horrified, she had fainted away, but later, recovering, -she crawled through the connecting tube. - -She was weak, trembling with fright, and could be of no use, and -Ralph hastened to get her into another room, where he put her into -a comfortable chair and left her, for he could not afford to lose a -minute now. - -A most important task was now before him. He had to pump an antiseptic -solution through the veins of Alice, and after that the blood vessels -must be filled with a weak solution of Radium-K Bromide, which, taking -the place of the blood would prevent her body from undergoing physical -and chemical changes. - -With infinite care Ralph applied himself to his difficult task. -After the blood vessels had been completely filled with the Radium -preparation, he sewed up the arteries. In this gruesome task he was -assisted by Lylette, who had recovered sufficiently to be of some help -to him. - -There remained only one more thing--to apply the Permagatol, the rare -gas, having the property of conserving animal tissue, which Ralph had -used successfully in his dog experiment, in keeping the respiratory -organs from decomposing in the absence of blood in the blood vessels. - -Ralph then quickly constructed a case of flexible glass, which he -fitted around the upper part of Alice's body, covering her head and -torso. - -He took special precautions, moreover, to make the case air-tight. - -When the case had been completed and the recording and registering -instruments put in place, Ralph went up to the laboratory to get the -Permagatol. - -When, however, he tested the steelonium bomb, labeled "Permagatol," he -found it absolutely empty. - -The discovery nearly paralyzed him. His head swam and he was forced to -sit down to keep from slumping over in the gravitation-less flyer. This -last blow was almost too much. His cup of hope, that Alice could be -brought back to life, had been snatched out of his hands. - -Without the Permagatol, it was impossible to save her. There was -nothing to keep the beautiful dead body from disintegrating. While -the Radium-K Bromide stayed the process to a certain extent, the -respiratory organs could only be saved by means of the precious -Permagatol. - -Could he use a substitute gas? It was a dangerous experiment to make, -but he had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. - -He threw himself with a frenzy into the work and in six hours had -compounded a gas that, in its general structure and atomic weight, came -close to the properties and characteristics of Permagatol. The gas he -evolved was Armagatol, and while he knew that it had never been used -for the purpose for which he intended it, he felt justified in risking -the experiment. - -After the air had been drawn from the glass case, he immediately -introduced the Armagatol into it. - -The change in Alice's face shocked him, as he watched the Armagatol -fill the case. The green gas-vapors cast an unearthly green pallor -over her countenance, and the ghastliness was further enhanced by the -deathly pallor of her face. - -He arranged the electric heating pads around Alice's body, and -inspected the registering instruments. - -It had now become necessary to take his bearings. He found to his -amazement that instead of being close to Mars, as he had expected, he -was moving away from that body. - -The two space flyers, although their machinery was not working, -had been moving rapidly, due to the gravitational action of the -nearest large celestial body. This body was not Mars, however, but -Earth. Although, at the time of the encounter with Llysanorh', the -two machines had been slightly nearer to Mars, the larger mass, and -consequently the stronger attraction of the Earth had overcome the pull -that Mars exerted on the machines, and as a result the machines were -now being drawn toward Earth. - -A glance at the celestial chart revealed to Ralph that Earth and Mars -would be in opposition the next day and that he was separated from -Earth by twenty-two million miles. He would have to move faster than -Earth if he were to overtake that body. Besides, he was twenty-two -million miles to the east of the planet. - -The Earth was traveling 65,533 miles per hour in its orbit. A simple -calculation indicated that, by forcing his space flyer to the utmost, -or 90,000 miles an hour, he could not hope to reach Earth in less than -fifty days, as he could only gain about 24,400 miles an hour on Earth. - -The next important step was to cut loose Llysanorh's machine. He -instructed Lylette to get her things from the Martian's flyer. She -started to crawl through the connecting tube, and that was the last -time Ralph saw her alive. - -A loud hissing noise, like escaping steam caused him to rush to the -connecting tube, but he was too late. The automatic safety valve -had sprung, and the circular door of the connecting tube had been -hermetically closed. - -The two machines had drifted apart, and as Ralph peered anxiously -through one of the windows, he was horrified at the sight of Lylette, -hanging by her feet from the circular connecting-tube door of -Llysanorh's machine. - -The door had closed automatically when the two machines had become -disconnected. The air had of course rushed out immediately from -Llysanorh's flyer. She had died in a few seconds and her body had -become distended to a great many times its normal size. Ralph, -nauseated by the terrible spectacle, turned away from it. There was -nothing he could do. - -Few people realize that it is nothing but the atmospheric pressure that -keeps our bodies from falling apart; thus, it is well known that when -flying at high altitudes on the Earth, where the atmosphere becomes -thin, blood will begin to flow from the mouth, nose and ears. - -When he glanced backwards a few minutes later and saw Llysanorh's -machine he gave an exclamation of astonishment. The machine was not -to be seen, but in its place was a wondrous comet, its tail streaming -thousands of miles behind it! - -Llysanorh's flyer, which was somewhat larger in size than that of -Ralph's, had "captured" the artificial comet! There remained not a part -of it attached to Ralph's flyer. Ralph reasoned that the air that had -been contained formerly in Llysanorh's machine had, upon rushing out -of the flyer after Lylette's fatal accident, mixed with the gases of -the "comet" and thereby assisted the latter in detaching itself from -Ralph's flyer. - -It remained within range of his vision for many weeks, before it was -finally lost in the depths of infinite space, where it would, in all -probability, rush through the boundless universe for aeon upon aeon, -ere it would eventually collide with some other body, and would be -reduced to cosmic dust. - - * * * * * - -The long days during Ralph's flight back to Earth left their indelible -imprint upon his mind. Never, in all the years to follow, could he look -back upon them without a shudder, remembering the heart-break of the -terrible hours in which he sat beside the bed on which lay his beloved. - -The nearer he drew to Earth, the more his dread of the coming ordeal -increased. He was by no means sure that he could bring Alice back to -life; it was not even probable. It was but an experiment at best, the -outcome of which could not be foretold. If Armagatol would bring the -same reactions as Permagatol, there was a reasonable assurance of -restoring Alice to life, but Ralph was inclined to doubt the efficiency -of the substitute gas. - -He examined her every few hours, and once in twenty-four he looked -at the blood vessels. This was made possible by means of his -_Platinum-Barium-Arcturium_ eyeglasses, which acted in a similar manner -to the old-fashioned X-ray screen. Inasmuch as all the blood vessels -of Alice's body were filled with Radium-K Bromide--which latter, like -Radium, excited the Platinum-Barium-Arcturium eyeglasses--each blood -vessel could be inspected with ease. - -The invisible Rays (the same as X-rays) emanating from the Radium-K -Bromide solution in the blood vessels, showed Ralph their exact -condition. - -While all the blood vessels remained healthy, Ralph became greatly -alarmed over the change that slowly, but steadily, made itself apparent -in the respiratory organs. Some change was taking place which he did -not understand. He knew it must be the action of the Armagatol, but -he was unable to do anything, as with the chemicals on hand it was -impossible to produce the life-saving Permagatol. - -Ralph grew more despondent each day, and his hope of bringing his -betrothed back to life grew dimmer and dimmer as the hours rolled on. -For the first time since he left the Earth he became _space-sick_. - -Space-sickness is one of the most unpleasant sensations that a human -being can experience. Not all are subject to it, and it does not last -longer than forty-eight hours, after which it never recurs. - -On Earth, gravitational action to a certain degree exerts a certain -pull on the brain. Out in space, with practically no gravitational -action, this pull ceases. When this happens, the brain is no longer -subjected to the accustomed pull, and it expands slightly in all -directions, just as a balloon loses its pear shape and becomes round -when an aeronaut cuts loose, to drop down with his parachute. - -The effect on the brain results in space-sickness, the first symptoms -being violent melancholy and depression followed by a terrible -heart-rending longing for Earth. During this stage, at which the -patient undergoes great mental suffering, the optical nerves usually -become affected and everything appears upside down, as if the sufferer -were looking through a lens. It becomes necessary to take large doses -of _Siltagol_, otherwise brain fever may develop. - -At the end of two days the sickness left Ralph, but it left him worn -and exhausted physically and he was subject to terrible fits of -depression. At these times the boundless space about him appalled him, -weighing him down with its infinite immensity. The awful stillness -crushed him. Everything seemed dead--dead as was that silent motionless -figure that had been a living laughing creature who had loved him--it -seemed so long ago. - -He felt that Nature herself was punishing him for his daring assault -upon her dominions. He had presumed to set the laws of Life and Death -at variance, and this was the penalty, this living death, shut in with -the living dead. - -At such times a madness of fear and despair would grip him. He would -fling himself down at Alice's side, his face buried in her cold inert -hand, and sob like a child in his loneliness and agony of spirit. - -When this had passed he would return to his state of lethargy, sitting -hours at a time staring moodily at the floor. Gaunt, hollow-eyed and -listless, he seemed more mad than sane. - -And yet, the tremendous will-power of the man came into evidence when, -within forty-eight hours' distance of Earth he threw off his blinding -lethargy, and made himself ready, mentally and physically, for his last -fight for Alice's life. - -He had drawn close enough to Earth now to use the Radio apparatus, -and soon he was in hourly communication with his laboratory. He gave -his instructions clearly and definitely, and he soon had assurance -that everything that could possibly be done for the dead girl had been -carefully arranged. - -Ralph's flyer landed on top of his tower sixty-nine days after his -departure. He was greatly impressed at the sight of the flags of the -city at half mast. The town itself was very still. There were no -aeroflyers, no vehicles in motion in the streets. Business was at a -standstill for ten minutes after Ralph landed. Thus the world expressed -its deep sympathy. - -Within a few minutes Alice had been placed on an operating table in -Ralph's laboratory, and 16K 5+, the world's greatest surgeon, who had -been summoned, was in readiness. Ralph was placed on an operating table -to the right of Alice. To the left lay Cléose, a beloved cousin of -Alice. - -In a few seconds Alice's arteries had been opened and the Radium-K -Bromide solution was drawn off. A quantity of warm, distilled water, -containing antiseptic salts was then pumped through her blood vessels -by two assistants. During this time the surgeon had opened the large -arteries of both Ralph and Cléose, and had introduced a flexible glass -tube into each. In a short time the blood of Ralph and Cléose began -flowing rapidly through these tubes into Alice's blood vessels. - -Simultaneously a third assistant administered oxygen to Alice, while -a fourth commenced to excite her heart rhythmically by means of -electrical current. - -The brain was stimulated energetically at the same time by means of the -powerful F-9-Rays, and while Ralph and Cléose grew paler and paler as -their blood flowed out into Alice's body, the latter began to acquire -color by degrees, though there was no other sign of life. After enough -blood had been taken from the two, the surgeon closed their arteries; -and, while Cléose had fainted during the ordeal, Ralph, weakened as he -was, remained conscious by sheer force of will. - -The surgeon 16K 5+, asked Ralph if he did not think it would be better -for him to be removed to another room, but Ralph refused so vehemently, -despite his terribly depleted strength, that he was allowed to remain. -He asked to be raised slightly higher that he might watch the work of -restoring Alice to life, and this request too, was granted. - -Almost two hours had passed since Alice had first been laid upon the -operating table, and still there was no sign of life. The suspense -became well-nigh unendurable, not only to Ralph, but to the workers as -well. - -Was she lost after all? - -Was he fated never to see her alive again? - -The great surgeon and his assistants were working desperately. Every -conceivable means was used to revive the inanimate body, but all was -to no avail. As attempt after attempt failed the faces of the men grew -graver. A tense silence prevailed throughout the laboratory, broken -only by the surgeon's sharp low instructions from time to time. - -It was then, when the tide of hope was at the lowest ebb, that Ralph -beckoned one of the assistants to his side. Though unable to speak -above a whisper, so weak was he, he managed with difficulty to convey -his meaning to the man, who sprang to the side of the surgeon and in a -low voice gave him Ralph's message. - -Ralph had sent for a Hypnobioscope, the head pieces of which they -fastened to Alice's temples. They brought a number of rolls and from -them Ralph chose one of the world's most beautiful love stories. - -It was the last trench in his desperate combat with Nature. It was the -supreme effort. It was the last throw of the dice in the game between -Science and Death, with a girl as the stakes. - -Ralph knew that if the brain was at all alive to impressions, the -effect of the story would stimulate it to voluntary action. - -As the reel unrolled, Ralph fixed his burning eyes on the closed ones -as though he would drive by the very force of his will the impressions -coming from the Hypnobioscope deep into her brain. - -Then, while they watched, with bated breath, the slight body on the -operating table quivered almost imperceptibly, as the water of a still -pool is rippled by a passing zephyr. A moment later her breast rose -gently and fell again, and from the white lips came the suggestion of a -sigh. - -When Ralph saw this, his strength returned to him, and he raised -himself, listening with throbbing heart to the soft breathing. His eyes -glowed with triumph. The battle was won. His face was transfigured. All -the agony, the heart-breaking foreboding of the past weeks passed from -him, and a great peace settled upon his soul. - -The surgeon sprang to catch him as he dropped, unconscious. - - * * * * * - -About a week later Ralph was admitted by the nurse to the room where -Alice lay, regaining her strength. He was still weak, himself, from the -loss of blood. Alice had just awakened, and at his step, she turned her -lovely face eagerly toward him. Her cheeks were faintly tinged with the -delicate pink of the seashell, her eyes were bright with the soft glow -of health. - -She beckoned to him smiling into his eyes, and he knelt down beside -her, taking her hands in his own, and holding them close. She moved -her lips and he bent his head close to them, so that her gentle breath -fanned his cheek. - -"I can't talk very loud," she whispered. "My lungs and vocal chords are -not strong yet, but the nurse said I might speak just a few words. But -I wanted to tell you something." - -"What is it, my darling?" he asked tenderly. - -She looked at him with the old sparkle of mischief in her dark eyes. - -"Dearest," she said, "I have just found out what your name really -means." - -Ralph twined a little tendril of her hair around one of his fingers. - -"Yes?" he asked with a quizzical smile. - -"Well, you see," and the lovely color deepened to rose, "your name is -going to be my name now, so I keep saying it over to myself--" - -"My darling - - ONE TO FORESEE FOR ONE!" - (1 2 4 C 4 1) - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RALPH 124C 41+*** - - -******* This file should be named 60944-0.txt or 60944-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/0/9/4/60944 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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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 <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p>Title: Ralph 124C 41+</p> -<p> A Romance of the Year 2660</p> -<p>Author: Hugo Gernsback</p> -<p>Release Date: December 17, 2019 [eBook #60944]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RALPH 124C 41+***</p> -<p> </p> -<h4>E-text prepared by Tim Lindell, Graeme Mackreth,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> - from page images digitized by the<br /> - Google Books Library Project<br /> - (<a href="http://books.google.com">http://books.google.com</a>)<br /> - and generously made available by<br /> - HathiTrust Digital Library<br /> - (<a href="https://www.hathitrust.org/">https://www.hathitrust.org/</a>)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - HathiTrust Digital Library. See - <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015003928853&view=1up&seq=5"> - https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015003928853&view=1up&seq=5</a> - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<hr class="pg" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<p class="ph1">RALPH 124C 41+</p> - -<p class="ph4" style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<img src="images/illus7.jpg" alt="illus" /> -A ROMANCE OF THE YEAR 2660</p> - -<p class="ph2" style="margin-top: 10em;">RALPH 124C 41+</p> - -<p class="ph3"><i>by Hugo Gernsback</i></p> - -<p class="ph5">FOREWORDS BY DR. LEE DE FOREST AND FLETCHER PRATT</p> - -<p class="ph5" style="margin-top: 10em;">NEW YORK: FREDERICK FELL, INC.</p> - -<p class="ph6" style="margin-top: 10em;">COPYRIGHT 1925 BY THE STRATFORD COMPANY</p> - -<p class="ph6">SECOND EDITION COPYRIGHT 1950 BY HUGO GERNSBACK</p> - -<p class="ph6">All rights in this book are reserved. It may not be used for dramatic -or motion- or talking-picture purposes without written authorization<br /> -from the holder of these rights. Nor may the book or part thereof be -reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission in writing,<br /> -except for brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. -For information, address: <span class="smcap">Frederick Fell, Inc.</span>, 386 Fourth<br /> -Avenue, New York 16, N.Y. Manufactured in the United States of America -by H. Wolff, New York. Designed by <span class="smcap">Sidney Solomon</span>.</p> - - -<p class="ph6"><i>Published simultaneously in Canada by George J. McLeod, Ltd., -Toronto.</i></p> - -<p class ="ph2" style="margin-top: 10em;">CONTENTS</p> - -<table summary="toc" width="60%"> -<tr><td></td><td><a href="#PREFACE">PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION</a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_7">7</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td></td><td><a href="#PREFACE1">PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION</a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_11">11</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td></td><td><a href="#FOREWORD">FOREWORD BY DR. LEE DE FOREST</a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_15">15</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td></td><td><a href="#FOREWORD1">FOREWORD BY FLETCHER PRATT</a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_19">19</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">1</td> <td><a href="#chap_1"><i>The Avalanche</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_25">25</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">2</td> <td><a href="#chap_2"><i>Two Faces</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_40">40</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">3</td> <td><a href="#chap_3"><i>Dead or Alive?</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_52">52</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">4</td> <td><a href="#chap_4"><i>Fernand</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_66">66</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">5</td> <td><a href="#chap_5"><i>New York A.D. 2660</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_79">79</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">6</td> <td>"<a href="#chap_6"><i>Give Us Food</i>"</a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_97">97</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">7</td> <td><a href="#chap_7"><i>The End of Money</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_110">110</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">8</td> <td><a href="#chap_8"><i>The Menace of the Invisible Cloak</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_118">118</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">9</td> <td><a href="#chap_9"><i>The Conquest of Gravitation</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_127">127</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">10</td> <td><a href="#chap_10"><i>Two Letters</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_140">140</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">11</td> <td><a href="#chap_11"><i>The Flight Into Space</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_147">147</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">12</td> <td><a href="#chap_12"><i>Llysanorh' Strikes</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_164">164</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">13</td> <td><a href="#chap_13"><i>Alice Objects</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_172">172</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">14</td> <td><a href="#chap_14"><i>The Terror of the Comet</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_176">176</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">15</td> <td><a href="#chap_15"><i>Llysanorh' Throws Off the Mask</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_188">188</a></i></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">16</td> <td><a href="#chap_16"><i>The Supreme Victory</i></a></td> <td align="right"><i><a href="#Page_195">195</a></i></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE">PREFACE</a><br /> - -TO THE SECOND EDITION</p> - - -<p>Since the first edition of <i>Ralph 124C 41+</i> in 1925, an eventful -quarter century has passed. Since I first wrote the story, 39 amazing -years have been swallowed into the Einstein space-time-continuum—years -pregnant with scientific progress.</p> - -<p>Since 1925, the 5,000-edition volume has had a rather remarkable -career. It has been quoted by hundreds of authorities both great and -small, in hundreds of publications—not only in the United States but -also in many other countries. Whenever a history of science-fiction -was written, <i>Ralph</i> nearly always was included routinely, much to my -surprise.</p> - -<p>In the meanwhile the book became a sort of museum piece. Early in 1950 -the quoted price in the second-hand book market was $50.00 for a single -copy. Left with only two copies of the 1925 edition I myself endeavored -to buy a copy for a friend in France, but no copies were forthcoming -even at $50.00!</p> - -<p>Authors avowedly never read their own books—I am no exception to that -rule. So the other day when I was reading proofs for the 1950 edition, -after a lapse of 25 years, I began to ask myself a lot of questions.</p> - -<p>Why for instance was <i>Ralph</i> written, in the first place?</p> - -<p>In 1911 I was a young publisher—not yet 27 years old.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> I had started -publishing <i>Modern Electrics</i> in 1908, three years before. It was -the world's <i>first</i> radio magazine. By 1911 it had attained a print -order of around 100,000 copies and was for sale on all the principal -newsstands in the U.S. and Canada, and sold by subscription all over -the world.</p> - -<p>Yet, today I must confess I do not recall just <i>what</i> prompted me to -write <i>Ralph</i>. I do recall that I had no plan whatsoever for the whole -of the story. I had no idea how it would end nor what the contents -would be.</p> - -<p>The story began in the April, 1911, issue of <i>Modern Electrics</i> and -ended with the March, 1912, number. On the twelve covers of the -magazine for that year there was a monthly illustration depicting -some <i>Ralph</i> exploit as divulged in the current installment. Thus -for instance the first (April, 1911) cover showed Ralph at the -<i>Telephot</i>—not the broadcast television of today but person-to-person -television by phone, which has as yet to be realized. (See -illustration.)</p> - -<p>Indeed the word <i>television</i> was practically unknown in 1911. (The -first technical article in print, using the term, was written by me: -"Television and the Telephot," <i>Modern Electrics</i>, December, 1909).</p> - -<p>As the story developed from month to month there was the age-old -scramble to beat the deadline—but somehow or other I always made -it—usually under duress, finishing the installment at 3 or 4 -<span class="smcap">A.M.</span> on the last day. That the literary quality suffered -painfully under such continuous <i>tours de force</i> every month, there can -be no question, but somehow the scientific and technical content came -through unscathed most of the time.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> - - -<p>After 39 years I could point out a number of minor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a><br /><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> technical flaws -in some of my early predictions, but on the whole I probably could not -do much better today. To be sure, I would not think of a gyroscopic -propelled space flyer now, but then in 1911 no one was thinking -of rocket-propelled or atomic-powered space flyers. In 1911 too, -scientists still thought of a universal ether permeating all space. -Today we seem to get along very well without it.</p> - -<p>While quite a number of the scientific predictions made in <i>Ralph</i> have -come to pass, many more are still unrealized. I have, however, little -concern that all—or most of them—will come about in the not too -distant future. I am certain that <i>all</i> of them will be commonplace by -2660, the time in which the action of this novel moves.</p> - -<p>Perhaps I can do no better than reprint the foreword of the original -1911 "<i>Ralph</i>":</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>This story which plays in the year 2660, will run serially during the -coming year in <span class="smcap">Modern Electrics</span>. It is intended to give the -reader as accurate a prophecy of the future as is consistent with -the present marvelous growth of science. The author wishes to call -especial attention to the fact that while there may be extremely -strange and improbable devices and scenes in this narrative, they are -not impossible, or outside of the reach of science.</p></blockquote> - -<p>We are now at the beginning of a new and fantastic era—the -electronic-atomic age—an age that makes the impossible come true -overnight. If <i>Ralph 124C 41+</i> can fire the present-day young minds -with the same enthusiasm for scientific research and accomplishment as -it did their fathers in the past, I shall feel amply repaid in having -instigated this new, 1950 edition of <i>Ralph</i>.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 35%;"><span class="smcap">Hugo Gernsback</span></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>New York, May 1950</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p><a name="PREFACE1" id="PREFACE1">PREFACE</a><br /> - -TO THE FIRST EDITION</p> - - -<p>Ralph 124C 41+ first appeared as a serial in the author's first -magazine, "Modern Electrics," in 1911. This magazine was first devoted -exclusively to radio activities. At the time the story was written the -word "radio" had not yet come into use. We were at that time still -using the term "wireless."</p> - -<p>It has been necessary, in view of scientific progress since the time -the story was first written, and in order to present the book to a -much wider reading public, to rewrite much of the story and to make -many changes. Yet, the ideas and conceptions embodied in the original -manuscript have been little altered.</p> - -<p>The author appreciates that many of the predictions and statements -appear to verge upon the fantastic. So was Jules Verne's submarine -"Nautilus" in his famous story "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." -Verne's conception of the submarine was declared utterly ridiculous. -Nevertheless, the prophecy was fulfilled. In fact, Verne's imagination -hit far below the mark in what was actually accomplished by science -since the book was written.</p> - -<p>Lest you think that the author has gone too far into the realms -of pure imagination, place yourself in the position of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> your -great-great-grandfather being told about locomotives, steamships, -X-rays, telegraphs, telephones, phonographs, electric lights, radio -broadcasting, and the hundred other commonplaces of our lives today. -Would he not have condemned such predictions as the height of folly and -absurdity?</p> - -<p>So with you. You are in the same position with respect to the -prophecies in this work as your remote ancestor. Your descendants, -picking up this book 750 years hence,—or at the time in which this -story is laid,—will ridicule the author for his lack of imagination -in conceiving the obvious developments in the first half of the next -century.</p> - -<p>It may be of passing interest to note that several of the predictions -made by the author when this story was written have already become -verities. Notable among these is what the author termed the -<i>Hypnobioscope</i>, the purpose of which is to acquire knowledge while -asleep. The author was greatly astonished to read the results obtained -by J.A. Phinney, Chief Radioman, U.S. Navy, who, having tried the -system himself, in 1923, introduced it at the Pensacola, Florida, Naval -Training School. Here one may see naval students stretched out on long -benches asleep with casket-like coverings over their heads. The caskets -contain two telephone receivers through which radio code is sent to -the sleeper. It has been demonstrated that the sleeping student can be -taught code faster than by any other means, for the sub-conscious self -never sleeps. Students who have failed in their studies have passed -examinations after being taught by this method.</p> - -<p>The scientific conception or vision of the world of 750 years hence, -represents the author's projection of the scientific knowledge of -today. Scientific progress is moving at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> an accelerating pace, and if -that pace is maintained, it seems fair to assume that the conception -herein described will, 750 years hence, be found to have fallen far -short of the actual progress made in the interim.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 35%;"><span class="smcap">Hugo Gernsback</span></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>September 3, 1925</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a><br /><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p><a name="FOREWORD" id="FOREWORD">FOREWORD</a><br /> - -BY LEE DE FOREST, Ph.D., D.Sc., D.Eng.</p> - -<p><i>Father of Radio</i></p> - - -<p>No book in two generations, no book since Jules Verne, has undertaken -to do what Hugo Gernsback in the first decade of our century has here -so outstandingly achieved.</p> - -<p>He is gifted with a mind eternally alert, trained from childhood to -observe and think. His unbridled imagination has ever fed on the facts -of science and technology which his habit of omniverous reading has -been continually storing within his brain. As result of this unusual -combination his tireless energies have been directed, since childhood -in Luxembourg, to writing popular science in a fashion peculiarly -attractive to young men and boys who, like himself, possess a keen -interest in all realms of physical Nature.</p> - -<p>His first essay in this field was his monthly magazine, <i>Modern -Electrics</i>, the first to attempt to outline in language understandable -by American youth the newly developing science of <i>wireless -communication</i>. He made of this first venture into the publishing -business a medium wherein, amid serious newsy articles regarding -current electrical developments, his eager imagination could find full -play. The most outstanding, most extraordinary prophecies which this -young clairvoyant had at that time conceived—all based on his keen -observations and appreciation of their real significance and trend—he -chose to record in the guise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> of a fanciful romance bearing the -strange, cabalistic title of this book.</p> - -<p>The author, even at that early date (1911) had a clear conception of -future television, then quite unheard of, almost undreamed of. He dubs -it "Telephot" and outlines its revolutionary utilities. His hero, -Ralph, explains to his enamorata how man has mastered weather-control. -Only today has a professor shown New York City how to end its water -famine by man-made torrential rains. Years in advance of their advent -he describes libraries of microfilm projected on large screens; and -news printed electrolytically, without printer's ink. Today we begin -to read of this as being partially commercialized. His "Menograph," or -thought recorder, is today crudely realized in our lie-detector. By -means of his "Hypnobioscope" most of scholastic studying is done while -the pupil sleeps. Who is bold enough to scoff at the possibility of -such a delightful method? For one, not I.</p> - -<p>"Most of the studying was done while one slept," explains Ralph—a -statement truly applicable to many a somnolent student's performance -today!</p> - -<p>Ralph explains, as of the year 2660, the resuscitation of animal -(human) life years after the body has been drained of blood. Yet only -yesterday a Russian doctor claims to have accomplished this "miracle." -His 750-year future has already begun to be realized. Many Utopias -are here foretold, such as absolutely permanent non-wearing, metallic -highways, where trolley-cars and gas-driven autos are only ancient -memories, long obsolete.</p> - -<p>"Only electrobiles were to be seen." Here the author badly misjudged -the future trend of auto-travel, <i>away</i> from the electric.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> - -<p>He foresaw far better night-illuminated streets than we have yet -attained. Let us hope that we must not wait 750 years until cities are -"as bright by night as by day"; nor New York's climate, man-controlled, -to be "the finest on Earth," with temperatures perennially at 72, -sunshine all day, rain for one hour only, every night! In that future -we shall have reliable transfer of sun energy into electric by means of -photo-electric elements responsive to ultra-violet radiation.</p> - -<p>In Musak we already have the wide distribution of music which Mr. -Gernsback foresaw in 1911; also our night baseball games, then -first foretold. His airplanes launching from roof-tops we partly -realize already in our helicopter mail service. But instead of his -agglomeration of colored light-beams for direction of aviation we have -the far reaching radio beacons, coupled with Loran.</p> - -<p>Even today's mysterious "flying saucers" he foretold with nice detail!</p> - -<p>Foreseeing the vast increase in global population (the world's gravest -menace) Ralph has so deftly applied science to plant growth that we -shall reap four crops of wheat per year in sun-heated glass houses -of county-sized acreage, to feed the new billions. He fears not an -overcrowded, 200 million metropolitan New York!</p> - -<p>Only today I read of a recent system for using heat from deep earth for -house-warming, now being commercialized. "Ralph" described the same -arrangement forty years ago!</p> - -<p>Here is liquid fertilizer sprayed as a crop accelerator; and plant-root -stimulation by means of high-frequency currents, wholesale diathermy -applied to farming; and many other improvements in farm procedure which -make this book profitable reading for today's science-minded farmers.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> - -<p>The author foresaw a much-to-be-desired manufacture of news-print from -the resultant excessive growth of grain stocks, thereby terminating -today's wanton destruction of our forests for comic supplements and -sexy pulps.</p> - -<p>Last year in the Bell Laboratories I witnessed the recording on paper -of the complexities of my voice, very much as Ralph described it in -1911 to his <span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 2660 friends.</p> - -<p>As to the plausibility of Ralph's conquest of gravitation I refer -the reader to the recently published General Field Equations of Dr. -Einstein. Ralph insisted, even in 1911, that gravitation is indeed -wave form, similar to the electromagnetic, and that by interference -there—between the force of gravitation may be partially nullified. Let -us wait until 2660 to see if he was correctly reported. This and many -other strange things our descendants <i>may</i> see.</p> - -<p>But to me the most impressive pages of this strange book are those -that outlined with striking clarity the basic idea of radar as we -know it today. Although gummed over with reference to imaginary -metals, inter-planetary ships travelling at comet speeds, and a very -earthy romance, the uncanny foresight of Hugo Gernsback in 1911 into -the realities of World War II constitutes perhaps the most amazing -paragraphs in this astonishing Book of Prophecy.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>Chicago, Ill.</i></span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>May 1950</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p><a name="FOREWORD1" id="FOREWORD1">FOREWORD</a><br /> - -BY FLETCHER PRATT</p> - - -<p>This is a book of historic importance, which belongs on the shelves -of a variety of types of people, though not for the usual reasons -why a fictional work is a must. No one will ever compare <i>Ralph 124C -41+</i> with the novels of Marcel Proust or even those of Robert Louis -Stevenson. The story is the simplest kind of romantic adventure tale -and characters are not particularly significant as such. What matters -is the view from the windows as the train runs through the landscape.</p> - -<p>For it is a book of prophecy, one of the most remarkable ever -written. It has long since been a gold mine for nearly every writer -of science-fiction during a generation. No author laying his story -in the future would think today of doing without Mr. Gernsback's -three-dimensional color television, and very few without his satellite -city circling the Earth; and no reader would think of questioning the -feasibility of these devices.</p> - -<p>The very method employed in the book, that of supplying the people -of the future with technical inventions which are the logical -outgrowths of those currently in use or logically developed from -currently accepted principles—this method has become fundamental in -science-fiction. Indeed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> it may be said to constitute that new art; -and in a very proper sense, <i>Ralph 124C 41+</i> may be called the first -science-fiction story ever written.</p> - -<p>This will doubtless bring some protest from the admirers of Mr. H.G. -Wells. But a little thought will show that, in spite of some arresting -and rather wonderful pictures of the future, and some extremely -ingenious scientific devices described, Mr. Wells was not really -writing science-fiction. There is nothing known to science out of which -the time machine could be developed; Wells simply tells us that it was -built and goes on with his story. The invincible balloon-battleships -in <i>The War in the Air</i> are flatly contradictory to logic; even when -the book was written, everybody knew that hydrogen is inflammable. -Heat dissipates in air far too rapidly to allow the heat-ray camera of -the Martians in <i>The War of the Worlds</i> to be built; and a very brief -consideration will show that the construction of the antigravity plates -in <i>The First Men in the Moon</i> would be child's play beside the problem -of constructing the screens which temporarily kept those plates from -working.</p> - -<p>It is the same all down the line, and with Jules Verne as well—whose -passengers in the moon-shell would be killed at the moment of firing. -The fact is that Wells, himself enough of a scientist to use technical -terms correctly, was afflicted with low scientific morality where -fiction was concerned. He tried to be a prophet in the domain of -sociology, but he was not really interested in the progress of physical -science. As long as he could get his characters into a situation by -means of a plausible-sounding device, he was quite willing to flim-flam -the reader about the practicability of the device and the soundness of -the principles involved.</p> - -<p>Mr. Gernsback, on the other hand, founded the school<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> of fiction in -which the technical plausibility of the surroundings is at least as -important as the literary plausibility of the characters. For that -matter, the reader is besought to show some interest in what can be -done for us by the chemist, the inventor, the electrician, and even the -meteorologist. It has often been pointed out that these technicians -cannot change human nature, but Mr. Gernsback indicates that they can -put human nature into a position where it can hardly avoid changing -itself. World government is not an impossibility in an atmosphere where -any person on the planet can be instantly in visible communication with -any other, and where the barrier of language can be thrown down during -a night's sleep.</p> - -<p>Thanks to the rules he set for himself (and also, no doubt, to his -wide acquaintance with that region in which all the sciences are -applied to the practical service of man in the form of inventions) Mr. -Gernsback has been rather astoundingly successful in predicting actual -developments. <i>Ralph 124C 41+</i> was written in 1911. The writer's most -famous hit, of course, is <i>radar</i> (p. 152), which no one else had come -near to conceiving at the time. Yet his description will do as a fair -working description of radar as it is today. The device here called -"the hypnobioscope" (p. 49) for teaching during sleep, has not been -developed to the extent described in the story, but works in a limited -fashion and is obviously capable of extension. On p. 116 artificial -silk and wool are produced by a process so much like that currently -used in the manufacture of rayon and nylon that one wonders whether Mr. -Gernsback has a share in the patents. Rustproof alloy steel (p. 103), -magnesium alloys in light-weight construction (p. 29), televised opera -performances (p. 86), vending machines<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> (p. 89), packing in paper-thin -sheets of metal (p. 89)—are all things we know about today but which -only Hugo Gernsback could have conceived in 1911.</p> - -<p>In addition, there are a number of items where the essential -correctness of the concept may be concealed from the reader by the -terms employed in this book—for it is not granted to prophets to -foresee what words will be employed when inventors designate their -products. The "glass" furniture (p. 25) has been made good in the form -of plastics—which are, technically, glasses. Fluorescent lighting -appears on p. 30 under the name of "luminor." The electric elevator -(p. 43) has not turned up as an elevator, but its mechanism is used to -drive the electric torpedoes which sank much of the Japanese merchant -marine during the war. Newspapers are printed on microfilm on p. 46, -and the trans-Uranium elements show up on p. 53. Baseball and football -are played at night on p. 80 and paper is made from straw on p. 104. A -device which is essentially the radio-direction-finder is on p. 120, -and on p. 128 there is a recording mechanism which differs from today's -wire-recorders only in employing a strip of paper scanned by light, and -which has since been built. This by no means exhausts the list, but it -would detract from the reader's enjoyment not to allow him to make some -discoveries for himself.</p> - -<p>To be sure, there are certain inaccuracies. The underearth tube from -France to New York does not seem a good engineering proposition today. -Nobody understood the nature of radium emanation in 1911 and neither -did Mr. Gernsback. But the percentage of accurate judgments (one cannot -call them guesses, when they are so numerous and so close to the mark) -is somewhere up in the nineties.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> - -<p>Which leads one to the thought that this book perhaps has an importance -beyond that as a literary and historical curiosity. Not all the -predictions have been fulfilled or placed beyond fulfillment; and -if research had proceeded along the lines of (for instance) Mr. -Gernsback's suggestion for radar, we might have had that device a -good deal earlier. In <i>Ralph 124C 41+</i> the weather is under complete -control. We seem to be edging in that direction, but maybe a little -more push is needed—the kind of push that could be supplied by a -book like this. Medical research has now caught up with Gernsback by -deciding that thought in the human brain is accompanied by electrical -manifestations; on p. 48 this concept has advanced to the point where -thoughts can be recorded on a tape in the form of interpretable graphs, -and it may become true in practice if someone works on the problem. The -idea of draining off all the blood from a living body for purification -and then replacing it (transfusion also ranks as a Gernsback -prediction) is today far from fantastic. It is the standard and only -treatment for RH newborn infants.</p> - -<p>Yet perhaps the most interesting of all the predictions is that -regarding space flight. (Incidentally, the physical and psychological -effects of space travel are worked out with a care that would be -worth the attention of some current science-fiction writers.) In the -days of <i>Ralph 124C 41+</i>, this is not accomplished by means of the -rockets everyone is talking about at present, but by using a gravity -neutralizer.</p> - -<p>But be it noticed that this is not the mysterious metal of H.G. Wells. -Gernsback does it in a technically explicable and plausible way, by -means of a metal grid, electrically (or electronically) excited. Today -it is as possible to do this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> as it was to build a radar set in 1911; -that is, not at all. But the new formula of Dr. Einstein, at last -integrating gravity with other manifestations, makes it seem probable -that it is not beyond hope to screen gravitation from a selected area; -and when that happens, Mr. Gernsback's educated imagination, which has -preceded the normal human mind to so many things on Earth, will have -led the way to the stars.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><i>New York, May 1950</i></p></blockquote> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2a">1</p> - -<p><a name="chap_1" id="chap_1">THE AVALANCHE</a></p> - - -<p>As the <i>vibrations</i> died down in the laboratory the big man arose from -the glass chair and viewed the complicated apparatus on the table. -It was complete to the last detail. He glanced at the calendar. It -was September 1st in the year 2660. Tomorrow was to be a big and busy -day for him, for it was to witness the final phase of the three-year -experiment. He yawned and stretched himself to his full height, -revealing a physique much larger than that of the average man of his -times and approaching that of the huge Martians.</p> - -<p>His physical superiority, however, was as nothing compared to his -gigantic mind. He was <i>Ralph 124C 41+</i>, one of the greatest living -scientists and <i>one of the ten men on the whole planet earth permitted -to use the Plus sign after his name</i>. Stepping to the <i>Telephot</i> on the -side of the wall he pressed a group of buttons and in a few minutes -the faceplate of the Telephot became luminous, revealing the face of a -clean shaven man about thirty, a pleasant but serious face.</p> - -<p>As soon as he recognized the face of Ralph in his own Telephot he -smiled and said, "Hello Ralph."</p> - -<p>"Hello Edward, I wanted to ask you if you could come over to the -laboratory tomorrow morning. I have something unusually interesting to -show you. Look!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> - -<p>He stepped to one side of his instrument so that his friend could see -the apparatus on the table about ten feet from the Telephot faceplate.</p> - -<p>Edward came closer to his own faceplate, in order that he might see -further into the laboratory.</p> - -<p>"Why, you've finished it!" he exclaimed. "And your famous—"</p> - -<p>At this moment the voice ceased and Ralph's faceplate became clear. -Somewhere in the Teleservice company's central office the connection -had been broken. After several vain efforts to restore it Ralph was -about to give up in disgust and leave the Telephot when the instrument -began to glow again. But instead of the face of his friend there -appeared that of a vivacious beautiful girl. She was in evening dress -and behind her on a table stood a lighted lamp.</p> - -<p>Startled at the face of an utter stranger, an unconscious Oh! escaped -her lips, to which Ralph quickly replied:</p> - -<p>"I beg your pardon, but 'Central' seems to have made another mistake. I -shall certainly have to make a complaint about the service."</p> - -<p>Her reply indicated that the mistake of "Central" was a little out of -the ordinary, for he had been swung onto the Intercontinental Service -as he at once understood when she said, "<i>Pardon, Monsieur, je ne -comprends pas!</i>"</p> - -<p>He immediately turned the small shining disc of the Language Rectifier -on his instrument till the pointer rested on "<i>French</i>."</p> - -<p>"The service mistakes are very annoying," he heard her say in perfect -English. Realizing however, that she was hardly being courteous to -the pleasant looking young man who was smiling at her she added, "But -sometimes Cen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>tral's 'mistakes' may be forgiven, depending, of course, -on the patience and courtesy of the other person involved."</p> - -<p>This, Ralph appreciated, was an attempt at mollification with perhaps a -touch of coquetry.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless he bowed in acknowledgment of the pretty speech.</p> - -<p>She was now closer to the faceplate and was looking with curious eyes -at the details of the laboratory—one of the finest in the world.</p> - -<p>"What a strange place! What is it, and where are you?" she asked -naïvely.</p> - -<p>"New York," he drawled.</p> - -<p>"That's a long way from here," she said brightly. "I wonder if you know -where I am?"</p> - -<p>"I can make a pretty shrewd guess," he returned. "To begin with, before -I rectified your speech you spoke French, hence you are probably -French. Secondly, you have a lamp burning in your room although it is -only four o'clock in the afternoon here in New York. You also wear -evening dress. It must be evening, and inasmuch as the clock on your -mantelpiece points to nine I would say you are in France, as New York -time is five hours ahead of French time."</p> - -<p>"Clever, but not quite right. I am not French nor do I live in France. -I am Swiss and I live in western Switzerland. Swiss time, you know, is -almost the same as French time."</p> - -<p>Both laughed. Suddenly she said:</p> - -<p>"Your face looks so familiar to me, it seems I must have seen you -before."</p> - -<p>"That is possible," he admitted somewhat embarrassed. "You have perhaps -seen one of my pictures."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> - -<p>"How stupid of me!" she exclaimed. "Why of course I should have -recognized you immediately. You are the great American inventor, Ralph -124C 41+."</p> - -<p>He again smiled and she continued:</p> - -<p>"How interesting your work must be and just think how <i>perfectly</i> -lovely that I should be so fortunate as to make your acquaintance in -this manner. Fancy, the great Ralph 124C 41+ who always denies himself -to society."</p> - -<p>She hesitated, and then, impulsively, "I wonder if it would be too much -to ask you for your autograph?"</p> - -<p>Much to his astonishment Ralph found himself pleased with the request. -Autograph-hunting women he usually dismissed with a curt refusal.</p> - -<p>"Certainly," he answered, "but it seems only fair that I should know to -whom I am giving it."</p> - -<p>"Oh," she said, blushing a little, and then, with dancing eyes, "Why?"</p> - -<p>"Because," replied Ralph with an audacity that surprised himself, "I -don't want to be put to the necessity of calling up all Switzerland to -find you again."</p> - -<p>"Well, if you put it that way," she said, the scarlet mounting in -her cheeks, "I suppose I must. <i>I am Alice</i> 212B 423, of Ventalp, -Switzerland."</p> - -<p>Ralph then attached the Telautograph to his Telephot while the girl -did the same. When both instruments were connected he signed his name -and he saw his signature appear simultaneously on the machine in -Switzerland.</p> - -<p>"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed, and added, "I am really proud to -have your autograph. From what I have heard of you this is the first -you have ever given to a lady. Am I right?" she asked.</p> - -<p>"You are perfectly correct, and what is more, it affords<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> me a very -great pleasure indeed to present it to you."</p> - -<p>"How lovely," she said as she held up the autograph, "I have never seen -an original signature with the +, for there are only ten of you who -have it on this planet, and now to actually <i>have</i> one seems almost -unbelievable."</p> - -<p>The awe and admiration in her dark eyes began to make him feel a -little uncomfortable. She sensed this immediately and once more became -apologetic.</p> - -<p>"I shouldn't take up your time in this manner," she went on, "but you -see, I have not spoken to any living being for five days and I am just -dying to talk."</p> - -<p>"Go right ahead, I am delighted to listen. What caused your isolation?"</p> - -<p>"Well, you see," she answered, "father and I live in our villa half -way up Mount Rosa, and for the last five days such a terrible blizzard -has been raging that the house is entirely snowed in. The storm was -so terrific that no aeroflyer could come near the house; I have never -seen such a thing. Five days ago my father and brother left for Paris, -intending to return the same afternoon, but they had a bad accident in -which my brother dislocated his knee-cap; both were, therefore, obliged -to stay somewhere near Paris, where they landed, and in the meanwhile -the blizzard set in. The Teleservice line became disconnected somewhere -in the valley, and this is the first connection I have had for five -days. How they came to connect me with New York, though, is a puzzle!"</p> - -<p>"Most extraordinary—but how about the Radio?"</p> - -<p>"Both the Power mast and the Communico mast were blown down the same -day, and I was left without any means of communication whatever. -However, I managed to put the light magnesium power mast into a -temporary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> position again, and I had just called up the Teleservice -Company, telling them again to direct the power, and getting some other -information when they cut me in on you."</p> - -<p>"Yes, I knew something was wrong when I saw the old-fashioned Radialamp -in your room, and I could not quite understand it. You had better try -the power now; they probably have directed it by this time; anyhow, the -Luminor should work."</p> - -<p>"You are probably right," and raising her voice, she called out -sharply: "<i>Lux!</i>"</p> - -<p>The delicate detectophone mechanism of the Luminor responded instantly -to her command; and the room was flooded at once with the beautiful -cold pink-white Luminor-light, emanating from the thin wire running -around the four sides of the room below the white ceiling.</p> - -<p>The light, however, seemed too strong, and she sharply cried, -"<i>Lux-dah!</i>" The mechanism again responded; the cold light-radiation of -the Luminor wire decreased in intensity at once and the room appeared -in an exquisite pink light.</p> - -<p>"That's better now," she laughed. "The heater just begins to get warm, -too. I am frozen stiff; just think, no heat for five days! I really -sometimes envy our ancestors, who, I believe, heated their houses with -stoves, burning strange black rocks or tree-chunks in them!"</p> - -<p>"That's too bad! It must be a dreadful predicament to be cut off from -the entire world, in these days of weather control. It must be a novel -experience. I cannot understand, however, what should have brought on a -blizzard in midsummer."</p> - -<p>"Unfortunately, our governor had some trouble with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> the four -weather-engineers of our district, some months ago, and they struck -for better living. They claimed the authorities did not furnish them -with sufficient luxuries, and when their demands were refused, they -simultaneously turned on the high-depression at the four Meteoro-Towers -and then fled, leaving their towers with the high-tension currents -escaping at a tremendous rate.</p> - -<p>"This was done in the evening, and by midnight our entire district, -bounded by the four Meteoro-Towers, was covered with two inches of -snow. They had erected especially, additional discharge arms, pointing -downward from the towers, for the purpose of snowing in the Meteoros -completely.</p> - -<p>"Their plans were well laid, for it became impossible to approach the -towers for four days; and they finally had to be dismantled by directed -energy from forty other Meteoro-Towers, which directed a tremendous -amount of energy against the four local towers, till the latter were -fused and melted.</p> - -<p>"The other Meteoros, I believe, will start in immediately to direct -a low-pression over our district; but, as they are not very near us, -it will probably take them twenty-four hours to generate enough heat -to melt the snow and ice. They will probably encounter considerable -difficulty, because our snowed-under district naturally will give -rise to some meteorological disturbances in their own districts, and -therefore they will be obliged, I presume, to take care of the weather -conditions in their districts as well as our own."</p> - -<p>"What a remarkable case!" Ralph ejaculated.</p> - -<p>She opened her mouth as if to say something. But at that moment an -electric gong began to ring furiously, so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> loud that it vibrated loudly -in Ralph's laboratory, four thousand miles away.</p> - -<p>Immediately her countenance changed, and the smile in her eyes gave way -to a look of terror.</p> - -<p>"What is that?" Ralph asked sharply.</p> - -<p>"An avalanche! It's just started—what shall I do, oh, what shall I do! -It'll reach here in fifteen minutes and I'm absolutely helpless. Tell -me—what shall I do?"</p> - -<p>The mind of the scientist reacted instantly.</p> - -<p>"Speak quick!" he barked. "Is your Power Mast still up?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, but what good—?"</p> - -<p>"Never mind. Your wave length?"</p> - -<p>".629."</p> - -<p>"Oscillatory?"</p> - -<p>"491,211."</p> - -<p>"Can you direct it yourself?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"Could you attach a six-foot piece of your blown-down Communico mast to -the base of the Power aerial?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly—it's of alomagnesium and it is very light."</p> - -<p>"Good! Now act quick! Run to the roof and attach the Communico -mastpiece to the very base of the power mast, and point the former -towards the avalanche. Then move the directoscope exactly to -West-by-South, and point the antenna of the power mast East-by-North. -Now run—I'll do the rest!"</p> - -<p>He saw her drop the receiver and rush away from the Telephot. -Immediately he leaped up the glass stairs to the top of his building, -and swung his big aerial around so that it pointed West-by-South.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> - -<p>He then adjusted his directoscope till a little bell began to ring. -He knew then that the instrument was in perfect tune with the far-off -instrument in Switzerland; he also noted that its pointer had swung to -exactly East-by-North.</p> - -<p>"So far, so good," he whistled with satisfaction. "Now for the power!"</p> - -<p>He ran down to the laboratory and threw in a switch. Then he threw -in another one with his foot, while clasping his ears tightly with -his rubber-gloved hands. A terrible, whining sound was heard, and the -building shook. It was the warning siren on top of the house, which -could be heard within a radius of sixty miles, sounding its warning to -all to keep away from tall steel or metal structures, or, if they could -not do this, to insulate themselves.</p> - -<p>He sounded the siren twice for ten seconds, which meant that he would -direct his ultra-power for at least twenty minutes, and everybody must -be on guard for this length of time.</p> - -<p>No sooner had the siren blast stopped, than he had seen Alice at the -Telephot, signalling him that everything was in readiness.</p> - -<p>He yelled to her to insulate herself, and he saw her jump into a tall -glass chair where she sat perfectly still, deathly white. He could see -that she clasped her hands to her ears; and he knew that she must be -trying to shut out the thunder of the descending avalanche.</p> - -<p>He ran up his high glass ladder; and having reached the top, began to -turn the large glass wheel the shaft of which was connected with the -ultra-generator.</p> - -<p>As he started turning the wheel, for the first time he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> looked at the -clock. He observed that it was just nine minutes after he first had -heard the gong and he smiled, coldly. He knew he was in time.</p> - -<p>A terrifying roar set in as soon as he had commenced to turn the wheel. -It was as if a million devils had been let loose. Sparks were flying -everywhere. Small metal parts not encased in lead boxes fused. Long -streamers of blue flames emanated from sharp objects, while ball-shaped -objects glowed with a white aureole.</p> - -<p>Large iron pieces became strongly magnetic, and small iron objects -continually flew from one large iron piece to another. Ralph's watch -chain became so hot that he had to discard it, together with his watch.</p> - -<p>He kept on turning the wheel, and the roar changed to a scream so -intense that he had to pull out his rubber ear vacuum-caps so that -he might not hear the terrible sound. As he turned the wheel farther -around the tone of the ultra-generator reached the note where it -coincided with the fundamental note of the building, which was built of -steelonium (the new substitute for steel).</p> - -<p>Suddenly the whole building "sang," with a shriek so loud and piercing -that it could be heard twenty miles away.</p> - -<p>Another building whose fundamental note was the same began to "sing" -in its turn, just as one tuning fork produces sympathetic sounds in a -similar distant one.</p> - -<p>A few more turns of the wheel and the "singing" stopped. As he -continued turning the wheel of the generator, the latter gave out -sounds sharper and sharper, higher and higher, shriller and shriller, -till the shrieking became unendurable.</p> - -<p>And then, suddenly, all sound stopped abruptly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> - -<p><i>The frequency had passed over twenty thousand, at which point the -human ear ceases to hear sounds.</i></p> - -<p>Ralph turned the wheel a few more notches and then stopped. Except for -the flying iron pieces, there was no sound. Even the myriads of sparks -leaping around were strangely silent, except for the hissing noise of -flames streaming from sharp metal points.</p> - -<p>Ralph looked at the clock. It was exactly ten minutes after the first -sounding of the gong. He then turned the wheel one notch further and -instantly the room was plunged into pitch-black darkness.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>To anyone unacquainted with the tremendous force under the control of -Ralph 124C 41 +, but having the temerity to insulate himself and stand -on a nearby roof there would have been visible an unusual sight. He -would also have undergone some remarkable experiences.</p> - -<p>The uninitiated stranger standing—well insulated—on a roof not very -far off from Ralph's laboratory, would have witnessed the following -remarkable phenomena:</p> - -<p>As soon as Ralph threw the power of the Ultra-Generator on his aerial, -the latter began to shoot out hissing flames in the direction of -West-by-South.</p> - -<p>As Ralph kept turning on more power, the flames became longer and -the sound louder. The heavy iridium wires of the large aerial became -red-hot, then yellow, then dazzling white, and the entire mast became -white-hot. Just as the observer could hardly endure the shrill hissing -sound of the outflowing flames any more, the sound stopped altogether, -abruptly, and simultaneously the whole landscape was plunged into such -a pitch-black darkness as he had never experienced before. He could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> -not even see his hand before his eyes. The aerial could not be seen -either, although he could feel the tremendous energy still flowing away.</p> - -<p>What had happened? The aerial on top of Ralph's house had obtained such -a tremendously high frequency, and had become so strongly energyzed, -that it acted toward the ether much the same as a vacuum pump acts on -the air.</p> - -<p>The aerial for a radius of some forty miles attracted the ether so -fast that a new supply could not spread over this area with sufficient -rapidity.</p> - -<p>Inasmuch as light waves cannot pass through space without the medium -of ether, <i>it necessarily follows that the entire area upon which the -aerial acted was dark</i>.</p> - -<p>The observer who had never before been in an etherless hole (the -so-called negative whirlpool), experienced some remarkable sensations -during the twenty minutes that followed.</p> - -<p>It is a well known fact that heat waves cannot pass through space -without their medium, ether, the same as an electric bell, working in -a vacuum, cannot be heard outside of the vacuum, because sound waves -cannot pass through space without their medium, the air.</p> - -<p>No sooner had the darkness set in, than a peculiar feeling of numbness -and passiveness would have come over him.</p> - -<p>As long as he was in the etherless space, <i>he absolutely stopped -growing older</i>, as no combustion nor digestion can go on without ether. -<i>He furthermore had lost all sense of heat or cold.</i> His pipe, hot -previously, was neither hot nor cold to his touch. His own body could -not grow cold as its heat could not be given off to the atmosphere,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> -nor could his body grow cold, even if he had sat on a cake of ice, -because there was no ether to permit the heat to pass from one atom to -another.</p> - -<p>He would have remembered how, one day, he had been in a tornado center, -and how, when the storm center had created a partial vacuum around -him, he all of a sudden had felt the very air drawn from his lungs. He -would have remembered people talking about an air-less hole, in which -there was no medium but ether (inasmuch as he could see the light). -Now things were reversed. He could hear and breathe, because the ether -has no effect on these functions; but he had been robbed of his visual -senses, and heat or cold could not affect him, as there was no means by -which the heat or cold could traverse the ether-hole.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Alice's father, who had heard of the strike of the Meteoro-Tower -operators and guessed of his daughter's predicament, rushed back from -Paris in his aeroflyer. He had speeded up his machine to the utmost, -scenting impending disaster as if by instinct. When finally his villa -came into sight, his blood froze in his veins and his heart stopped -beating at the scene below him.</p> - -<p>He could see that an immense avalanche was sweeping down the -mountain-side, with his house, that sheltered his daughter, directly in -the path of it.</p> - -<p>As he approached, he heard the roar and thunder of the avalanche as it -swept everything in its path before it. He knew he was powerless, as -he could not reach the house in time, and it only meant the certain -destruction of himself if he could; and for that reason he could do -nothing but be a spectator of the tragedy which would enact it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>self -before his eyes in a few short minutes.</p> - -<p>At this juncture a miracle, so it seemed to the distracted father, -occurred.</p> - -<p>His eye chanced to fall on the Power mast on the top of his house. He -could see the iridium aerial wires which were pointing East-by-North -suddenly become red-hot; then yellow, then white-hot, at the same -time he felt that some enormous etheric disturbance had been set up, -as sparks were flying from all metallic parts of his machine. When he -looked again at the aerial on his house, he saw that a piece of the -Communico mast, which apparently had fallen at the base of the Power -mast, and which was pointing directly at the avalanche, was streaming -gigantic flames which grew longer and longer, and gave forth shriller -and shriller sounds. The flames which streamed from the end of the -Communico-mast-piece looked like a tremendously long jet of water -leaving its nozzle under pressure.</p> - -<p>For about five hundred yards from the tip of the Communico mast it was -really only a single flame about fifteen feet in diameter. Beyond that -it spread out fan-wise. He could also see that the entire Power mast, -including the Communico mast, was glowing in a white heat, showing that -immense forces were directed upon it. By this time the avalanche had -almost come in contact with the furthest end of the flames.</p> - -<p>Here the unbelievable happened. No sooner did the avalanche touch the -flames, than it began turning to water. It seemed that the heat of -those flames was so intense and powerful that had the avalanche been -a block of solid ice it would not have made any marked difference. As -it was, the entire avalanche was being reduced to hot water<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> and steam -even before it reached the main shaft of the flame.</p> - -<p>A torrent of hot water rushing down the mountain was all that remained -of the menacing avalanche; and while the water did some damage, it was -insignificant.</p> - -<p>For several minutes after the melting of the avalanche the flames -continued to stream from the aerial, and then faded away.</p> - -<p>Ralph 124C 41+, in New York, four thousand miles distant, had turned -off the power of his ultra-generator.</p> - -<p>He climbed down his glass ladder, stepped over to the Telephot, and -found that Alice had already reached her instrument.</p> - -<p>She looked at the man smiling in the faceplate of the Telephot almost -dumb with an emotion that came very near to being reverence.</p> - -<p>The voice that reached him was trembling and he could see her struggle -for coherent speech.</p> - -<p>"It's gone," she gasped; "what <i>did</i> you do?"</p> - -<p>"Melted it."</p> - -<p>"Melted it!" she echoed, "I—"</p> - -<p>Before she could continue, the door in her room burst violently open -and in rushed a fear-stricken old man. Alice flew to his arms, crying, -"Oh father—"</p> - -<p>Ralph 124C 41+ with discretion disconnected the Telephot.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_2" id="chap_2">2</a></p> - -<p>TWO FACES</p> - - -<p>Feeling the need of fresh air and quiet after the strain of the last -half hour, Ralph 124C 41+ climbed the few steps leading from the -laboratory to the roof and sat down on a bench beneath the revolving -aerial.</p> - -<p>The hum of the great city came faintly from below. Aeroflyers dotted -the sky. From time to time, trans-oceanic or trans-continental air -liners passed with a low vibration, scarcely audible.</p> - -<p>At times a great aircraft would come close—within 500 yards -perhaps—when the passengers would crane their necks to get a good view -of his "house," if such it could be called.</p> - -<p>Indeed, his "house," which was a round tower, 650 feet high, and thirty -in diameter, built entirely of crystal glass-bricks and steelonium, was -one of the sights of New York. A grateful city, recognizing his genius -and his benefits to humanity, had erected the great tower for him on a -plot where, centuries ago, Union Square had been.</p> - -<p>The top of the tower was twice as great in circumference as the main -building, and in this upper part was located the research laboratory, -famous throughout the world. An electromagnetic tube elevator ran down -the tower on one side of the building, all the rooms being cir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>cular in -shape, except for the space taken up by the elevator.</p> - -<p>Ralph, sitting on the roof of his tower, was oblivious to all about -him. He was unable to dismiss from his mind the lovely face of the -girl whose life he had just been the means of saving. The soft tones -of her voice were in his ears. Heretofore engrossed in his work, his -scientific mind had been oblivious to women. They had played no part in -his life. Science had been his mistress, and a laboratory his home.</p> - -<p>And now, in one short half hour, for him the whole world had become a -new place. Two dark eyes, a bewitching pair of lips, a voice that had -stirred the very core of his being—</p> - -<p>Ralph shook himself. It was not for him to think of these things, he -told himself. He was but a tool, a tool to advance science, to benefit -humanity. He belonged, not to himself, but to the Government—the -Government, who fed and clothed him, and whose doctors guarded his -health with every precaution. He had to pay the penalty of his +. To be -sure, he had everything. He had but to ask and his wish was law—if it -did not interfere with his work.</p> - -<p>There were times he grew restive under the restraint, he longed to -smoke the tobacco forbidden him by watchful doctors, and to indulge -in those little vices which vary the monotony of existence for the -ordinary individual. There were times when he most ardently wished that -he were an ordinary individual.</p> - -<p>He was not allowed to make dangerous tests personally, thereby -endangering a life invaluable to the Government. That institution would -supply him with some criminal un<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>der sentence of death who would be -compelled to undergo the test for him. If the criminal were killed -during the experiment, nothing was lost; if he did not perish, he would -be imprisoned for life.</p> - -<p>Being a true scientist, Ralph wanted to make his own dangerous -experiments. Not to do this took away the very spice of life for him, -and on occasion he rebelled. He would call up the Planet Governor, the -ruler of 15 billion human beings, and demand that he be relieved of his -work.</p> - -<p>"I can't stand it," he would protest. "This constraint which I am -forced to endure maddens me, I feel that I am being hampered."</p> - -<p>The Governor, a wise man, and a kindly one, would often call upon him -in person, and for a long time they would discuss the question, Ralph -protesting, the Governor reasoning with him.</p> - -<p>"I am nothing but a prisoner," Ralph stormed once.</p> - -<p>"You are a great inventor," smiled the Governor, "and a tremendous -factor in the world's advancement. You are invaluable to humanity, -and—you are irreplaceable. You belong to the world—not to yourself."</p> - -<p>Many times in the past few years he recalled, had the two been over the -same ground, and many times had the diplomatic Governor convinced the -scientist that in sacrifice of self and devotion to the world's future -lay his great reward.</p> - -<p>The voice of his manservant interrupted his reverie.</p> - -<p>"Sir," he said, "your presence in the transmission-room would be -appreciated."</p> - -<p>"What is it?" asked the scientist, impatient at the interruption.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Sir, the people have heard all about the Switzerland incident of an -hour ago and desire to show their appreciation."</p> - -<p>"Well, I suppose I must submit," the inventor rather wearily responded, -and both stepped over into the round steel car of the electromagnetic -elevator. The butler pressed one of the 28 ivory buttons and the car -shot downward, with neither noise nor friction. There were no cables or -guides, the car being held and propelled by magnetism only. At the 22nd -floor the car stopped, and Ralph stepped into the transmission-room.</p> - -<p>No sooner had he entered than the deafening applause of hundreds of -thousands of voices greeted him, and he was forced to put his hands to -his ears to muffle the sound.</p> - -<p><i>Yet, the transmission-room was entirely empty.</i></p> - -<p>Every inch of the wall, however, was covered with large-sized Telephots -and loud-speaking devices.</p> - -<p>Centuries ago, when people tendered some one an ovation, they would all -assemble in some great square or large hall. The celebrity would have -to appear in person, else there would be no ovation—truly a clumsy -means. Then, too, in those years, people at a distance could neither -see nor hear what was going on throughout the world.</p> - -<p>Ralph's ovation was the result of the enterprise of a news "paper" -which had issued extras about his exploit, and urged its readers to be -connected with him at 5 p.m.</p> - -<p>Naturally everyone who could spare the time had called the Teleservice -Company and asked to be connected with the inventor's trunk-line—and -this was the result.</p> - -<p>Ralph 124C 41 + stepped into the middle of the room<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> and bowed to -the four points of the compass, in order that all might see him -perfectly. The noise was deafening, and as it rather grew in volume -than diminished he beseechingly held up his hands. In a few seconds the -applause ceased and some one cried—"Speech!"</p> - -<p>Ralph spoke briefly, thanking his audience for their interest, and -touching but lightly upon his rescue of the young Swiss girl, begged -his hearers to remember that in no way had he risked his life and -therefore could scarcely be called a hero.</p> - -<p>Vociferous cries of "No, no," told him that no one shared his humble -opinion of the achievement.</p> - -<p>It was at this juncture that Ralph's attention was caught by two -persons in the audience. There were so many thousands of faces on each -plate that nearly every countenance was blurred, due to their constant -movement. (He himself, however, was clearly seen by them, as each one -had switched on their "reversers," making it possible to see only the -object at the end of the line.)</p> - -<p>To Ralph, the shifting, clouded appearance of his audience was a -commonplace.</p> - -<p>This was not the first time that he had been called upon to receive the -thanks of the multitude for some unusual service he had rendered them, -or some surprising scientific feat he had successfully accomplished. -While realizing that he must of necessity yield to public adulation, it -more or less bored him.</p> - -<p>He was not particularly interested in the crowd, either collectively -or individually, and as there were so many faces crowded into each -faceplate he made no attempt to distinguish friends from strangers.</p> - -<p>Yet there were two faces among the numerous Tele<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>phot faceplates -that Ralph in making his brief speech, found his eyes returning to -again and again. Each occupied the whole of a respective faceplate -and while dissimilar in appearance, nevertheless were markedly alike -in expression. It was as if they were studying this great scientist, -endeavoring to fix in their minds a permanent picture of him. Ralph -sensed no animosity in their steady almost hypnotic gaze and yet they -were curiously apart from the enthusiastic throng. He felt as though he -were, to both of them, under the microscope.</p> - -<p>One of the faces was that of a man in his early thirties. It was a -handsome face, though, to the close observer, the eyes were set just -a trifle too near together, and the mouth betrayed cunning and had a -touch of viciousness.</p> - -<p>The other was not a Terrestrial, but a visiting Martian. It was -impossible to mistake the distinctly Martian cast of countenance. The -great black horse eyes in the long, melancholy face, the elongated -slightly pointed ears were proof enough. Martians in New York were not -sufficiently rare to excite any particular comment. Many made that city -their permanent home, although the law on the planet Earth, as well as -on Mars, which forbade the intermarriage of Martians and Terrestrials, -kept them from flocking earthwards in any great numbers.</p> - -<p>In the applause that followed the conclusion of Ralph's words the -incident of the two pairs of scrutinizing eyes vanished from his -thoughts. But his sub-conscious self, that marvelous mechanism which -forgets nothing, had photographed them indelibly. With the plaudits of -the crowd still ringing he bowed and left the room.</p> - -<p>He went, via the elevator, directly to his library, and asked for the -afternoon news.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> - -<p>His man handed him a tray on which lay a piece of material <i>as large as -a postage stamp</i>, as transparent and flexible as celluloid.</p> - -<p>"What edition is this?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"The 5 o'clock <i>New York News</i>,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> sir."</p> - -<p>Ralph took the "News" and placed it in a metal holder which was part -of the hinged door of a small box. He closed the door and turned on -a switch on the side of the box. Immediately there appeared on the -opposite white wall of the room, a twelve-column page of the <i>New York -News</i> and the scientist, leaning back in his chair, proceeded to read.</p> - -<p>The <i>New York News</i> was simply a microscopic reduction of a page, -which, when enlarged by a powerful lens, became plainly visible.</p> - -<p>Moreover, each paper had eight "pages," in separate sheets, as was the -fashion centuries ago, but eight pages literally on top of each other. -The printing process was electrolytic, no ink whatsoever being used in -the manufacture of the "newspaper." This process was invented in 1910 -by an Englishman, and improved by the American 64L 52 in 2031, who made -it possible to "print" <i>in one operation</i> eight different subjects, -<i>one on top of another</i>.</p> - -<p>These eight impressions could be made visible only by subjecting the -"paper" to different colors, the color rays bringing out the different -prints. The seven colors of the rainbow were used, while white light -was employed to show reproduced photographs, etc., in their natural -colors. With this method it was possible to "print" a "newspaper," -fully ten times as large in volume as any newspaper<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> of the 21st -century, on a piece of film, the size of a postage-stamp.</p> - -<p>Each paper published an edition every 30 minutes, and if one did not -possess a projector, one could read the "paper" by inserting the <i>News</i> -in a holder beneath a powerful lens which one carried in one's pocket, -folded when not in use. To read the eight different pages, a revolving -color screen was placed directly underneath the lens, to bring out the -different colors necessary to read the "paper."</p> - -<p>Ralph, 124C 41+, glancing over the head-lines of his <i>News</i>, saw that -considerable space was given to his latest exploit, the paper showing -actual photographs of the Swiss Alpine scene, which a correspondent had -taken as the avalanche thundered down the mountain. The photographs -had been sent by <i>Teleradiograph</i> immediately after the occurrence -in Switzerland, and the <i>News</i> had printed them in all the <i>natural</i> -colors twenty minutes after Ralph had turned off the ultra-power in New -York.</p> - -<p>These photographs seemed to be the only thing that interested Ralph, -as they showed the house and the surrounding Alps. These, with the -monstrous avalanche in progression photographed and reproduced in the -natural colors, were very impressive.</p> - -<p>Presently he revolved the color screen of his projector to green—the -technical page of the <i>News</i>—to him the most interesting reading in -the paper.</p> - -<p>He soon had read all that interested him, and as there was still an -hour before dinner time he began to "write" his lecture: "On the -prolongation of animal life by π-Rays."</p> - -<p>He attached a double leather head-band to his head.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> At each end of -the band was attached a round metal disc that pressed closely on the -temples. From each metal disc an insulated wire led to a small square -box, the <i>Menograph</i>, or mind-writer.</p> - -<p>He then pressed a button and a low humming was heard; simultaneously -two small bulbs began to glow with a soft green fluorescent light. -Grasping a button connected with a flexible cord to the Menograph, he -leaned back in his chair.</p> - -<p>After a few minutes' reflection he pressed the button, and at once a -wave line, traced in ink, appeared on a narrow white fabric band, the -latter resembling a telegraph recorder tape.</p> - -<p>The band which moved rapidly, was unrolled from one reel and rolled up -on another. Whenever the inventor wished to "write" down his thoughts, -he would press the button, which started the mechanism as well as the -recording tracer.</p> - -<p>(Below is shown the record of a Menograph, the piece of tape being -actual size.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> - - - - - -<p>Where the wave line breaks, a new word or sentence commences; the three -words shown are the result of the thought which expresses itself in the -words, "<i>In olden times</i>." ...)</p> - -<p>The Menograph was one of Ralph 124C 41+'s earliest inventions, and -entirely superseded the pen and pencil.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> It was only necessary to press -the button when an idea was to be recorded and to release the button -when one reflected and did not wish the thought-words recorded.</p> - -<p>Instead of writing a letter, one sent the recorded <i>Menotape</i>, and -inasmuch as the Menolphabet was universal and could be read by -anyone—children being taught it at an early age—it was considered -that this invention of Ralph's was one of his greatest gifts to -humanity: Twenty times as much work could be done by means of the -Menograph as could be done by the old-fashioned writing, which required -considerable physical effort. Typewriters soon disappeared after its -invention. Nor was there any use for stenographers, as the thoughts -were written down direct on the tape, which was sent out as a letter -was sent centuries ago.</p> - -<p>As was his custom in the evening he worked for some hours in the -laboratory, and retired at midnight. Before he fell asleep he attached -to his head a double leather head-band with metal temple plates, -similar to the one used in connection with the Menograph.</p> - -<p>He then called for his man, Peter, and told him to "put on" Homer's -<i>Odyssey</i> for the night.</p> - -<p>Peter went down to the library on the 15th floor, and took down from a -shelf a narrow box, labeled <i>Odyssey, Homer</i>. From this he extracted -a large but thin reel on which was wound a long narrow film. This -film was entirely black but for a white transparent wave-line running -through the center of it.</p> - -<p>Peter returning to Ralph's bedroom placed the reel containing the film -in a rack and introduced the end of the film into the <i>Hypnobioscope</i>. -This wonderful instrument, invented by Ralph, transmitted the impulses -of the wave-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>line direct to the brain of the sleeping inventor, who -thus was made to "dream" the <i>Odyssey</i>.</p> - -<p>It had been known for centuries that the brain could be affected during -sleep by certain processes. Thus one could be forced to dream that a -heavy object was lying on one's chest, if such an object was placed on -the sleeper's chest. Or one could be forced to dream that one's hand -was being burnt or frozen, simply by heating or cooling the sleeper's -hand.</p> - -<p>It remained to Ralph, however, to perfect the Hypnobioscope, which -transmitted words direct to the sleeping brain, in such a manner that -everything could be remembered in detail the next morning.</p> - -<p>This was made possible by having the impulses <i>act directly and -steadily on the brain</i>. In other words, it was the Menograph reversed, -with certain additions.</p> - -<p>Thus, while in a passive state, the mind absorbed the impressions -quite readily and mechanically and a story "read" by means of the -Hypnobioscope left a much stronger impression than if the same story -had been read while conscious.</p> - -<p>For thousands of years humanity had wasted half of its life during -sleep—the negative life. Since Ralph's invention, all this was -changed. Not one night was lost by anyone if anywhere possible, -conditions permitting. All books were read while one slept. <i>Most -of the studying was done while one slept.</i> Some people mastered -ten languages, during their sleep-life. Children who could not be -successfully taught in school during their hours of consciousness, -became good scholars if the lessons were repeated during their -sleep-life.</p> - -<p>The morning "newspapers" were transmitted to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> sleeping subscribers -by wire at about 5 a.m. The great newspaper offices had hundreds of -Hypnobioscopes in operation, the subscriber's wire leading to them. -The newspaper office, notified by each subscriber what kind of news is -desirable, furnished only such news. Consequently, when the subscriber -woke up for breakfast he already knew the latest news, and could -discuss it with his family, the members of which were also connected -with the newspaper Hypnobioscope.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> At the time this was written there was no newspaper of -that name.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_3" id="chap_3">3</a></p> - -<p>DEAD OR ALIVE?</p> - - -<p>An apologetic cough came through the entrance to the laboratory. It was -nearing one o'clock of the following day.</p> - -<p>Several minutes later it was repeated, to the intense annoyance of the -scientist, who had left orders that he was not to be interrupted in his -work under any circumstances.</p> - -<p>At the third "ahem!" he raised his head and stared fixedly at the empty -space between the doorjambs. The most determined optimist could not -have spelled welcome in that look.</p> - -<p>Peter, advancing his neck around the corner until one eye met that of -his master, withdrew it hastily.</p> - -<p>"Well, what is it?" came from the laboratory, in an irritated harsh -voice.</p> - -<p>Peter, in the act of retreating on tiptoe, turned, and once more -cocked a solitary eye around the door-jamb. This one feature had the -beseeching look of a dog trying to convey by his expression that not -for worlds would he have got in the way of your boot.</p> - -<p>"Beg pardon, sir, but there's a young—"</p> - -<p>"Won't see him!"</p> - -<p>"But, sir, it's a young lady—"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I'm busy, get out!"</p> - -<p>Peter gulped desperately. "The young lady from—"</p> - -<p>At this moment Ralph pressed a button nearby, an electromagnet acted, -and a heavy plate glass door slid down from above, almost brushing -Peter's melancholy countenance, terminating the conversation summarily.</p> - -<p>Having secured himself against further interruption Ralph returned -to the large glass box over which he had been working, and in which -one could see, through greenish vapors, a dog, across whose heart was -strapped a flat glass box filled with a metal-like substance.</p> - -<p>The substance in the box was Radium-K. Radium, which had been known for -centuries, had the curious property of giving out heat for thousands of -years without disintegrating and without apparently obtaining energy -from any outside source.</p> - -<p>In 2009, Anatole M610 B9, the great French physicist, found that -Radium obtained all its energy from the ether of space and proved that -Radium was one of the few substances having a very strong affinity -for the ether. Radium, he found, attracted the ether violently and -the latter surging back and forward through the Radium became charged -electrically, presenting all the other well known phenomena.</p> - -<p>Anatole M610 B9 compared the action of Radium on the ether with that -of a magnet acting upon a piece of iron. He proved this theory by -examining a piece of pure metallic Radium in an etherless space, -whereupon it lost all its characteristics and acted like a piece of -ordinary metal.</p> - -<p>Radium-K, as used by Ralph, was not pure Radium, but an alloy composed -of Radium and Argonium. This alloy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> exhibited all the usual phenomena -of pure Radium and produced great heat, but did not create burns on -animal tissue. It could be handled freely and without danger.</p> - -<p>The dog lying in the glass box had been "dead" for three years. Just -three years previous, in the presence of twenty noted scientists Ralph -124C 41+ had exhibited a live dog and had proceeded to drain off <i>all</i> -its blood till the dog was pronounced quite dead and its heart had -stopped beating. Thereupon he had refilled the empty blood vessels of -the animal with a weak solution of Radium-K bromide, and the large -artery through which the solution was pumped into the body had been -closed.</p> - -<p>The flat box containing Radium-K was then strapped over the dog's heart -and it was placed in the large glass case. The latter was filled with -<i>Permagatol</i>, a green gas having the property of preserving animal -tissue permanently and indefinitely. The purpose of the box containing -Radium-K was to keep the temperature of the dog's body at a fixed point.</p> - -<p>After the case was completely filled with gas, the glass cover was -sealed in such a manner that it was impossible to open the case without -breaking the seals. The scientists had agreed to return after a lapse -of three years to witness the opening of the box.</p> - -<p>There were several delicate instruments inside the box and these were -connected by means of wires to recording instruments on the side, and -these Ralph inspected twice each day. Throughout the three years the -"dead" dog had never stirred a muscle. His temperature had not varied -1/100 of a degree and his respiratory functions had shown no signs of -life. To all intents and purposes the dog was "dead."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> - -<p>The time was close at hand for the final stages of what Ralph -considered to be his greatest experiment. Three years ago when he faced -his fellow scientists at the end of the first stage of this work, he -electrified them by announcing that he expected to prove that this -dog, which they had all pronounced "dead," could be restored to life, -unharmed, unchanged, with no more effects upon the dog's spirits, -habits, and nature, than had the animal taken but a short nap.</p> - -<p>For three years this experiment of Ralph 124C 41+ had been the subject -of innumerable scientific papers, had been discussed intermittently in -the newspapers and the date of the final phase of the great experiment -was fixed in the mind of every human being on the planet.</p> - -<p>If the experiment succeeded it meant the prolongation of human life -over greater periods of the earth's history than had ever been -possible. It meant that premature death except through accident would -be ended.</p> - -<p>Would he succeed? Had he attempted the impossible? Was he challenging -Nature to a combat only to be worsted?</p> - -<p>These thoughts obtruded themselves into his consciousness as he began -the preparations for the great test of the afternoon. He pumped out -the Permagatol from the box until the green vapor had completely -disappeared. With infinite care he then forced a small quantity of -oxygen into the box. The instruments recording the action of the -respiratory organs indicated that the oxygen reaching the dog's lungs -had stimulated respiration.</p> - -<p>This being all he could do for the present, he pressed the button -that raised the glass barrier, and summoned Peter by means of another -button.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> - -<p>That individual, looking a trifle more melancholy than usual, responded -at once.</p> - -<p>"Well my boy," said Ralph good-humoredly, "the stage is all set for the -experiment that will set the whole world by the ears.—But you don't -look happy, Peter. What's troubling your dear old soul?"</p> - -<p>Peter, whose feelings had evidently been lacerated when the door had -been lowered in his face, replied with heavy dignity.</p> - -<p>"Beg pardon, sir, but the young lady is still waiting."</p> - -<p>"What young lady?" asked Ralph.</p> - -<p>"The young lady from Switzerland, sir."</p> - -<p>"The—which?"</p> - -<p>"The young lady from Switzerland, sir, and her father, sir. They've -been waiting half an hour."</p> - -<p>If a bomb had exploded that instant Ralph could not have been more -astounded.</p> - -<p>"She's here—and you didn't call me? Peter, there are times when I am -tempted to throw you out—"</p> - -<p>"Pardon sir," replied Peter firmly, "I made bold to assume that you -might be interested in the young lady's arrival, and presumed to step -into the laboratory to so inform—"</p> - -<p>But his master had gone, shedding his laboratory smock as he went. -Peter, gathering his dignity about him as a garment, reached the -doorway in time to see the elevator slide downwards out of sight.</p> - -<p>And in it, Ralph, his heart thumping in a most undignified way, was -acting more like a schoolboy than a master of science. He twitched at -his tie with one hand and smoothed his hair with the other, peering -into the elevator's little mirror anxiously. Discovering a smudge on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> -his cheek he checked the car between floors while he wiped away the -spot with his handkerchief.</p> - -<p>When he reached the reception room he sprang from the elevator eagerly -and hurried in. Seated by one of the windows were Alice 212B 423 and -her father. Both turned as he entered, and the girl rose to her feet -and with a charming gesture held out both hands.</p> - -<p>"We just <i>had</i> to come," she said prettily, and in perfect English. -"You didn't give us an opportunity to thank you yesterday, and anyhow, -we felt that telephot thanks were not nearly so nice. That is, father -thought we really ought to come in person—of course, I did, too. I -wanted to see you ever so much"—she broke off, and then, realizing -the implication of her words, went on hastily with reddened cheeks and -downcast eyes, "I mean, to—to thank you, you know."</p> - -<p>"It was wonderful of you," he declared still holding her two hands, and -utterly unmindful of the fact that she was gently trying to disengage -them. Indeed, he was not conscious of anyone or anything but her, until -the voice of her father brought him to the realization that there was -someone else in the room.</p> - -<p>"We need no introduction I think," said the gentleman, "but I am -James 212B 422 and I must ask you to pardon our intrusion upon a -busy scientist's time, but I felt that we should come personally to -thank you for the great service you have done us both. She is my one -daughter, sir, and I love her dearly—dearly—"</p> - -<p>"I can quite understand that," said Ralph with an unconscious ardor -that caused Alice, who had completely recovered from her momentary -confusion, to dimple and blush delightfully.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I'm afraid, father dear," she said, "that we are keeping a busy man -too long. Your man," she added, turning to Ralph, "said you were -engaged in a wonderful experiment, and could not be disturbed."</p> - -<p>"Busy? Not at all," said Ralph gracelessly. "You should not have been -kept waiting one moment, and I am very indignant with Peter for not -breaking down the door. He should have known, when he saw you, that you -were not to wait."</p> - -<p>"Oh, please, don't scold him because of me," said Alice, not, however, -at all displeased with the implied compliment.</p> - -<p>"I didn't know yesterday that you spoke English," he said, "so I -used the language-rectifier, but I see that you speak it perfectly. -That is a great relief to me, I assure you, for I speak French very -indifferently. But tell me," he continued, "how did you get here so -soon? The afternoon transatlantic aeroliner is not due yet, and it can -hardly be twenty-four hours since you left Switzerland."</p> - -<p>"We had the honor of being the first passengers to arrive by means of -the new <i>Subatlantic Tube</i>," said James 212B 422. "As you are doubtless -aware, the regular passenger service opens next week, but being one of -the consulting engineers of the new electromagnetic tube, my daughter -and I were permitted to make the first trip westward. We made it in -perfect safety, although it was a little risky, as some small portions -of the tube are not entirely completed."</p> - -<p>"And we were so anxious to get here as quickly as possible," broke in -Alice with a glance at Ralph.</p> - -<p>"But you shouldn't have risked your lives, in an untested tube," he -exclaimed. And then, the scientist in him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> to the front: "Tell me all -about this new tube. Busy with my own work I have not followed its -progress closely enough to know all its details."</p> - -<p>"It has been most interesting work," said James 212B 422, "and we -regard it as quite an achievement in electrical engineering. The new -tube runs in a straight line between New York and Brest, France. If the -tube were to run straight along the bottom of the ocean the distance -between the two points would be from 3600 to 3700 miles due to the -curvature of the earth. For this reason the tube was pushed <i>straight -through the earth</i>, thereby making the distance only 3470 miles.</p> - -<p>"You will understand it better by examining this chart," and unfolding -a plan, he proceeded to elaborate on the finer points of the tube -construction. "The greatest trouble," he went on, "our engineers -experienced near the middle of the tube; this point is 450 miles -nearer the center of the earth and the heat became very marked. It was -necessary to install large liquid-air plants at several points in the -tube to reduce the heat, and now as you ride through no heat is noticed.</p> - -<p>"We boarded the spacious steel car, which resembles a thick cigar, at -Brest last night at midnight, and arrived at the New York terminal -at noon today. There was only one stop, a few hundred miles out from -Brest, because of several short-circuited electromagnets.</p> - -<p>"There are no wheels to the tube car and it is propelled by magnetism -only. At each three hundred feet is stationed a powerful tubular -electromagnet, about thirty feet long, through which the tube car -passes. Each electromagnet exerts a tremendous pull upon the car -three hundred feet away, this being the only steel object, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> -car rushes toward the electromagnet with a tremendous speed. When the -car is only two feet away from this electromagnet, the current is cut -off automatically by the car itself, the latter plunging through the -open space of the magnet coil, only to be influenced now by the next -electromagnet, three hundred feet distant.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> - - -<p>"The momentum acquired by the pull of the former electromagnet propels -the car with ever-increasing speed, and by the time it has passed -through twenty-five electromagnets it has reached the speed of three -hundred<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> miles an hour. It then continues at a steady pace till the end -of the journey.</p> - -<p>"As the car is held suspended entirely by magnetism, there is -practically no friction whatever, as there are no wheels or rails. The -only friction is from the air, and in order that this may not heat the -car it is equipped with a double wall, the space between the inner and -outer walls being a vacuum. Consequently the temperature inside is -comfortable at all times. Once inside the car, we retired and slept -as soundly as in our swinging beds at home. There were no shocks, no -noise, no rocking—all in all the trip was so delightful, that I must -say the new tube is a decided success!"</p> - -<p>"Fine, fine," said Ralph enthusiastically. "This new tube is going to -revolutionize intercontinental travel. I suppose it won't be long now -before we will regard our tedious twenty-four hour journeys as things -of the past. Tell me," turning to Alice who had been an interested -listener, "how did the trip impress you?"</p> - -<p>"Oh," she exclaimed eagerly, "it was delightful! So smooth and fast! I -was so excited. Really, it was over too soon."</p> - -<p>As she spoke Ralph watched her with keen interest. Here was a girl who -attracted him. Beneath the vivacity that so fascinated him he sensed -the strength of her character, and the depth of her mind.</p> - -<p>"I am so glad to be in New York," she was saying. "Do you know, this -is my first visit here for ages. Why, the last time I can just barely -remember, I was such a little girl. Father has been promising me a trip -for years," with a laughingly reproachful glance at him, "but it took -an avalanche to get us started."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I'm afraid I've been a neglectful father of late years," said her -father, "but my work has kept me tied pretty close to home. I, too, -am pleased to be here once more, and my visit promises to be doubly -interesting, for I understand that your great dog experiment will be -completed today. I am looking forward to receiving the earliest reports -of it at the hotel."</p> - -<p>"But I can't permit you to spend your days here in a hotel," protested -Ralph. "Of course you must both be my guests. Yes, yes," as they seemed -about to demur, "I won't take no for an answer. I am counting on -showing you New York, and, as for my experiment, it will give me great -pleasure to have you both present in my laboratory this afternoon at -four."</p> - -<p>He pressed a button. "Peter will show you to your rooms, and I will -send some one for your luggage."</p> - -<p>"You are more than kind," said James. "This is quite unexpected, -but none the less delightful. As to attending the meeting in your -laboratory this afternoon, it is an honor, sir, that I appreciate -deeply."</p> - -<p>At this moment Peter stepped from the elevator and Ralph, after giving -him instructions to show his guests to their apartment, and directions -as to their bags, escorted them to the car and returned to the -laboratory.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Promptly at four, Ralph greeted a notable group of fellow scientists, -who had come from all corners of the planet to witness the completion -of the famous "Dead-Alive Dog" experiment. A host of reporters lined -the walls. Alice and her father were seated near Ralph.</p> - -<p>A number of the twenty scientists who had witnessed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> the beginning of -the experiment three years before were dubiously contemplating the -glass box, and one or two of the reporters, unawed by the personages -in the laboratory, seven of whom were "Plus" men, seemed to find much -covert amusement in the whole affair.</p> - -<p>Finally, when all of the preparations were completed, and Ralph's two -assistants had stationed themselves beside the glass box containing the -body, the young scientist addressed the gathering.</p> - -<p>"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "you have come here to witness the -final phase of my dog experiment. The preliminary phases you observed -three years ago this day in this room. The seals you put in place are -intact, and you may see them for yourselves, untouched as you left them.</p> - -<p>"As I explained three years ago I formulated the theory that a well -preserved animal, though dead to all intents and purposes, could be -revived, or new life given to it, provided the body had not undergone -decomposition; and also provided that none of the organs had suffered -in the least.</p> - -<p>"I found that the rare gas Permagatol would conserve animal tissue and -animal organs indefinitely; when it is used in conjunction with a weak -solution of Radium-K bromide, mixed with antiseptic salts, no part of -an animal body would undergo any change for many years.</p> - -<p>"I also found that the body would have to be kept at a fixed -temperature and this was possible by the use of Radium-K alloy. I am -now ready to prove my theory."</p> - -<p>He signaled to his assistants, and with their aid, the seals were -broken and the glass cover of the case removed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> - -<p>A profound silence prevailed. Every eye was focussed on the dog and -many of those present found it difficult to remain seated.</p> - -<p>Ralph coolly and deliberately freed the dog of his bandages and -attachments and placed him on an operating table in plain view of -everyone.</p> - -<p>From then on he and his aides moved rapidly. First the dead dog's -artery was opened and the Radium-K bromide solution drained off. A -young goat was brought in and strapped on the table, and in a very few -seconds one of its arteries had been opened and connected to the dead -dog's main artery. In less than a minute the dog's body was full of -fresh warm blood and immediately efforts were made to bring the dog -back to life.</p> - -<p>Oxygen was freely administered and the heart was artificially pulsated -by means of an electrical vibratory apparatus.</p> - -<p>At the same time one of the assistants had trained a vacuum tube on the -dog's head and its cathode shot the powerful F-9-Rays into the animal's -brain. No sooner had these rays, which are among the most powerful -brain stimulants, been trained on the dog than he began to show weak -signs of life. One of the hind legs was drawn up with a jerk as if in a -fit. Then came a faint heave of the chest, followed by a weak attempt -to breathe.</p> - -<p>A few minutes later the body seemed to contract and a shiver ran -through it from head to tail. A deep respiration followed, and the -animal opened its eyes as if awakening from a long sleep.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes more the dog was lying on its paws and licking up milk -when Ralph turned to the group and said:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Gentlemen, the experiment is concluded and I believe the condition of -the animal at this moment establishes sufficient proof of my theory."</p> - -<p>As the reporters eagerly dashed from the laboratory to get to the -nearest Telephot in order to communicate the news to the waiting -world the scientists gathered around Ralph and one of them, a white -haired old man considered to be the dean of the "Plus" men, voiced the -sentiment of the entire group.</p> - -<p>"Ralph, this is one of the greatest gifts that science has brought to -humanity. For what you have done with a dog, you can do with a human -being. I only regret for myself that you had not lived and conducted -this experiment when I was a young man, that I might have, from time to -time, lived in suspended animation from century to century, and from -generation to generation as it will now be possible for human beings to -do."</p> - -<p>The vista opened up by the results of this experiment in the minds -of the other scientists had dazed them and it was with the most -perfunctory good-byes that they left the scene of the experiment, -enveloped with their thoughts of the future.</p> - -<p>Tired and exhausted by the nervous strain of the afternoon Ralph, a -few minutes later, lay down on his bed for a few hours' rest. But as -he closed his eyes there came to him a vivid picture of a pair of warm -dark eyes, radiating admiration, trust and something more that aroused -an emotion he had never before experienced.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_4" id="chap_4">4</a></p> - -<p>FERNAND</p> - - -<p>On the following morning, Ralph, breakfasting alone, sent Peter to the -apartments of his guests to ascertain at what hour they would be ready -to do a little sight-seeing with him as guide.</p> - -<p>He himself, in the habit of rising at an early hour, had not expected -to see either Alice or her father much before noon, and it was a -decided surprise to him, to see the latter enter the room a moment -after Peter had gone on his errand.</p> - -<p>"I see that you, too, like to get up with the birds," said the -scientist after they had exchanged morning greetings.</p> - -<p>"And Alice also, when she is at home; but the journey, and our exciting -day following it have tired her. I shall just have a bite to eat -with you, if you will permit me, and then I must be off to keep an -appointment with one of the chief engineers of the Tube."</p> - -<p>"Then you will be unable to accompany us on our tour of the city?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, but don't let that interfere with your plans. I know that Alice -will be safe with you," smiled her father, "and I daresay you young -people can get along very well without me."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I'm sorry," replied Ralph, but in his heart he could not but rejoice -that he was to spend the day alone with her who, in a few short hours -had so captivated him. Perhaps something of this showed in his face, -for James 212B 422 smiled to himself.</p> - -<p>Peter returned and presently Ralph and James were seated together at -the table. They conversed in a more or less desultory manner until just -before the end of the meal when Alice's father, laying down his napkin, -said:</p> - -<p>"Before I leave you I have a request to make, a strange one, you may -think." He hesitated. "A short time ago I said that I felt that Alice -would be safe in your care. I had a special reason for making the -remark. The fact is, I am a little worried about her. A young man, -by name Fernand 60O 10, has been making rather a nuisance of himself -lately. He has asked her to marry him, a number of times, and she has -refused, and he has begun to force his attentions on her in a manner -which savors something of persecution.</p> - -<p>"In fact, he went so far, four days ago, as to threaten her. Exactly -what passed between them I don't know, but I do know that, although -she treated the matter lightly at the time, she is frightened. I -have an impression that he may try to kidnap her if she does not -accept him, and though, in these enlightened days such a thing seems -ridiculous—well, the affair makes me a little nervous myself. When -we left Switzerland I understood that he was there, but he may have -followed Alice here. If he has and renews his unpleasant surveillance I -shall know that my fears have some grounds."</p> - -<p>"What does this Fernand look like?" asked Ralph.</p> - -<p>"Oh, a nice looking fellow—at least, the women think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> so. Personally, -I don't care for him. He is tall and dark, and has the sort of -temperament that seems to delight in opposition. His eyes have a -sullen expression, and his mouth is somewhat weak. She has, by the -way, another admirer, a thoroughly harmless chap, who is here on a -visit at present. He is the Martian Llysanorh' CK 1618, and he is -really hopelessly infatuated, but being, as I say, a very decent -chap who respects the law against marriage between the Martians and -Terrestrials, he has never annoyed her in any way. On the other hand -they are very good friends, and I doubt very much whether she even -suspects that he has any other feeling for her than that of a devoted -friend."</p> - -<p>As he was speaking, a picture leapt to Ralph's mind. He saw again -two faces, each in the center of a Telephot, who, among the crowds -of applauding admirers regarded him with such intentness. If these -were the two men who cared for Alice, each in his own way, it was not -surprising that they had displayed more than a passing interest in the -man who had rescued her from what seemed to be certain death, and who -was a possible rival.</p> - -<p>He recounted the incident to James, who agreed with him that in all -likelihood his suspicions were correct, and the two men parted for the -day, the older bearing with him the comforting reassurance that Ralph -would take care of his daughter as he would himself.</p> - -<p>It was nearing eleven when Alice appeared, bright-eyed after her long -rest. She laughingly apologized for being so late, and they set out at -once.</p> - -<p>"You know," he said before they started, "we New Yorkers are strange -birds. We only like our city when we are far away from it, or when we -can take some stranger<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> about to show him or her the marvels of the -town. As a matter of fact the real, dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker hates -the town and only stays in it because it has cast a spell over him -which he cannot escape."</p> - -<p>By this time they had arrived at the street level of the building and -Ralph bade Alice sit down on a chair in the vestibule. He pressed a -nearby button twice and a servant brought two pairs of what appeared to -be roller-skates.</p> - -<p>In reality they were <i>Tele-motor-coasters</i>. They were made of -alomagnesium and each weighed only about one and one-half pounds. Each -had three small, rubber-covered wheels, one in front and two in the -rear. Between the wheels was a small electric motor—about the size of -a lemon; this motor could only be operated by high frequency currents -and, despite its small size, could deliver about one-quarter horsepower.</p> - -<p>Ralph explained the coasters and their use to his companion; and after -they had put them on by means of an ingenious clutch, whereby the -coaster could be snapped onto the shoe in less than five seconds, they -both went out into the street. From each coaster a thin insulated wire -led up the wearer's back to the hat or cap. Here it was attached to the -<i>collector</i>, which was a stiff pin about eight inches long, projecting -half-way out from the hat or cap. This pin sucked up, as it were, the -high frequency electricity and carried it to the small motors, which -latter propelled the coaster. To control the speed of the motor, one -simply lifted up the front part of the coaster; this not only cut off -the current, but automatically braked the two rear wheels.</p> - -<p>When the two rolled out in the street, Alice at once remarked upon the -splendid condition of the roads.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> - -<p>"You see," the scientist explained, "for centuries the city had to -content itself with temporary pavements, until about fifty years ago it -woke up and covered every street with steelonium.</p> - -<p>"You will notice that there are no cracks or fissures. Steelonium won't -rust and is ten times as strong as steel. We now make our streets by -putting down large slabs of the metal, six inches thick. After they are -in place we weld them together electrically and the result is a perfect -street composed of a uniform sheet of metal without cracks or breaks; -no dirt or germs can collect. The sidewalks are made in the same manner.</p> - -<p>"As a matter of fact, the Tele-motor-coasters would not be possible -were it not for the metallic streets. The flat spring which trails on -the street between the two rear wheels must make continuous contact -with the metallic 'ground,' else the current cannot flow."</p> - -<p>"But where does the current come from?" asked the girl.</p> - -<p>"You have perhaps noticed already the white slender posts at the edge -of the sidewalk, and on their tops umbrella-like insulators which carry -a thick spiked wire. This wire, as you see, is about fifteen feet above -the curb and carries the high frequency current which not only supplies -our coasters with power, by way of our needle collectors, but also -propels all the vehicles which you see gliding so noiselessly."</p> - -<p>They were well under way and rolled along at a speed of about twenty -miles an hour. They passed thousands of citizens, all coasting at -high speed. There was no noise but the peculiar hum produced by the -thousands of motors, a sound which was in nowise annoying.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> - -<p>Each sidewalk was divided in two parts. On the outside only people -going in one direction, on the inside only people going in the opposite -direction could coast. Collisions, therefore, were impossible. If a -person rolling on the outside wished to enter a store, it was necessary -to go to the end of the block, and then turn to the left, which brought -him on the inside of the sidewalk where he could roll up to his -destination. Of course, this was only necessary when the sidewalk was -crowded, nothing preventing one's crossing it if but few people were on -the block.</p> - -<p>The trolley car had long since become obsolete as well as the -gasoline-driven automobile. Only electromobiles carrying either -passengers or freight were to be seen. Each vehicle was equipped with -a short collector mast by means of which the electrical energy was -conveyed to the motors. The wheels of all vehicles were rubber-covered. -This accomplished two purposes: one to insulate the vehicle from the -metallic street, the other to minimize the noise to the greatest extent.</p> - -<p>Although Alice had had a good scientific training, some of the wonders -of New York amazed her and she, as strangers had done for centuries, -asked questions continuously, while her companion eagerly explained -everything with a pleasure peculiar to the New Yorker, loving his town.</p> - -<p>"What are those strange spiral wire affairs hanging high over all -street crossings?" was one of her first questions.</p> - -<p>"Those illuminate our streets at night," was the answer. "They are -iridium wire spirals, about ten meters in diameter, hanging forty -meters up in the air, at the intersection of all our streets. This -evening you will see how the entire spiral will glow in a pure white -light which is absolutely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> cold. The wire throws out the light, and -after sundown you will find that the streets will be almost as light as -they are now. Each spiral furnishes over one-half million candlepower, -consequently one is needed only where streets intersect, except on very -long blocks, when a smaller spiral is hung in the middle."</p> - -<p>Presently, while crossing a large square they passed Meteoro-Tower No. -26, of the seventh district, and Ralph at once launched off into praise -of it.</p> - -<p>"While you of other countries have a good weather service, we in -New York boast of having the finest climate of any town on the face -of the globe. As you may imagine, our weather-engineers always have -difficult work, owing to the peculiar shape of the city, geographically -as well as physically. The tall spires and buildings make the work -exceptionally hard, as the air currents are extremely erratic over the -city and very hard to control. We now have sixty-eight Meteoro-Towers, -all of various power, in Consolidated New York. These are scattered -over a radius of ninety miles from the <i>City Governor's Building</i>, -and control the weather as well as the temperature of New York's two -hundred million inhabitants.</p> - -<p>"You may look at a thermometer any time during the year and you will -find it invariably pointing at fifty units.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> There is never an excess -of humidity in our air and life is made enjoyable for the hard-working -city dwellers, thanks to our well-trained weather engineer corps.</p> - -<p>"During the daytime rain or snow is unheard of. There is continuous -sunshine during the three hundred and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> sixty-five days of the year. -Between two and three each morning it rains for exactly one hour. This -is done to freshen the air and to carry the dust away. It is the only -rain New York ever gets and it seems to be sufficient for all purposes."</p> - -<p>When it neared noon Ralph escorted his companion to a luxurious eating -place, which across its entrance bore the name <i>Scienticafé</i>. "This -is one of our best restaurants, and I think you will prefer it to the -old-fashioned masticating places," he told her.</p> - -<p>As they entered, a deliciously perfumed, yet invigorating fragrance -greeted them.</p> - -<p>They proceeded at once to the <i>Appetizer</i>, which was a large room, -hermetically closed, in which sat several hundred people, reading or -talking.</p> - -<p>The two sat down on leather-upholstered chairs and looked at a humorous -daily magazine which was projected upon a white wall, the pages of the -magazine changing from time to time.</p> - -<p>They had been in the room but a few minutes when Alice exclaimed:</p> - -<p>"I am ravenously hungry and I was not hungry at all when we entered. -What kind of a trick is it?"</p> - -<p>"This is the Appetizer," Ralph exclaimed laughing, "the air in here is -invigorating, being charged with several harmless gases for the purpose -of giving you an appetite before you eat—hence its name!"</p> - -<p>Both then proceeded to the main eating salon, which was beautifully -decorated in white and gold. There were no attendants and no waiters, -and the salon was very quiet except for a muffled, far-off, murmuring -music.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> - -<p>They then sat down at a table on which were mounted complicated silver -boards with odd buttons and pushes and slides. There was such a board -for each patron. From the top of the board a flexible tube hung down -to which one fastened a silver mouthpiece, that one took out of a -disinfecting solution, attached to the board. The bill of fare was -engraved in the board and there was a pointer which one moved up and -down the various food items and stopped in front of the one selected. -The silver mouthpiece was then placed in the mouth and one pressed upon -a red button. The liquid food which one selected would then begin to -flow into the mouth, its rate of speed controlled by the red button. -If spices, salt or pepper were wanted, there was a button for each -one which merely had to be pressed till the food was as palatable as -wanted. Another button controlled the temperature of the food.</p> - -<p>Meats, vegetables, and other eatables, were all liquefied and were -prepared with utmost skill to make them palatable. When changing from -one food to another the flexible tube, including the mouthpiece, were -rinsed out with hot water, but the water did not flow out of the -mouthpiece. The opening of the latter closed automatically during the -rinsing and opened as soon as the process was terminated.</p> - -<p>While eating they reclined in the comfortably upholstered leather -arm-chair. They did not have to use knife and fork, as was the custom -in former centuries. Eating had become a pleasure.</p> - -<p>"Do you know," said Ralph, "it took people a long time to accept the -scientific restaurants.</p> - -<p>"At first they did not succeed. Humanity had been mas<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>ticating for -thousands of years and it was hard to overcome the inherited habit.</p> - -<p>"However, people soon found out that scientific foods prepared in a -palatable manner in liquid form were not only far more digestible -and better for the stomach, but they also did away almost entirely -with indigestion, dyspepsia, and other ills, and people began to get -stronger and more vigorous.</p> - -<p>"The scientific restaurants furnished only foods which were nourishing -and no dishes hard to digest could be had at all. Therein lay the -success of the new idea.</p> - -<p>"People at first did not favor the idea because the new way of eating -did not seem as aesthetic as the old and seemed also at first devoid -of the pleasures of the old way of eating. They regarded it with a -suspicion similar to a 20th century European observing a Chinaman using -his chopsticks. This aversion, however, soon wore off as people became -used to the new mode of eating, and it is thought that the close of the -century will witness the closing of all old-fashioned restaurants.</p> - -<p>"You will notice, however, that the liquid scientific foods are not -absolutely liquid. Some of them, especially meats, have been prepared -in such a manner that slight mastication is always necessary. This -naturally does away with the monotony of swallowing liquids all the -time and makes the food more desirable."</p> - -<p>After their luncheon Ralph and Alice rolled "uptown," the former -explaining the various sights as they progressed. At Broadway and 389th -street, in a large square, a petrified animal stood upon a pedestal. -The girl, desiring to know what it represented, approached and read -this inscription, hewn in the stone:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> - -<div class="bbox" > -<p class="center"> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">PETE</span><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">The last Horse in Harness in the</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Streets of New York</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Died on this Spot</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">June 19th, 2096 A.D.</span><br /> -</p></div> - -<p>"The poor thing," she said, "it looks so pitiful, doesn't it? To think -that once the poor dumb animals were made to labor! It is much better -nowadays with electricity doing all the work."</p> - -<p>Ralph smiled at this very feminine remark. It was like her, he thought -tenderly, to feel sympathy for even this former beast of burden.</p> - -<p>As they turned to leave the pedestal, the girl made an involuntary -shrinking movement toward him. He looked up and saw, advancing toward -them on Tele-motor-coasters, a tall dark man, a little younger than -himself. The newcomer ignoring Ralph utterly, rolled up to Alice.</p> - -<p>"So you are enjoying the sights of New York," he said, with no other -greeting, and with a disagreeable smile on his lips.</p> - -<p>"Yes," said the girl coldly, "I <i>was</i> enjoying them, very much."</p> - -<p>He bit his under lip in an annoyed fashion, and a dull flush mounted -to his hair. "I told you I'd follow you if you ran away," he said in a -lower tone.</p> - -<p>Ralph, unable to catch the words, but reading a menace in the fellow's -look, stepped forward. Alice turned to him eagerly and put her hand on -his arm.</p> - -<p>"What is next on our program, Ralph?" she asked in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> clear voice, -while at the same time she pressed his wrist with her fingers as a -signal for him to go on.</p> - -<p>As if Fernand had not existed, she moved away, her hand still on -Ralph's arm. "Please, please," she murmured as he would have turned -back.</p> - -<p>"That fellow needs his head punched," muttered Ralph savagely.</p> - -<p>"Don't make a scene—I just couldn't bear it," she pleaded. Looking -down at her he saw that she was on the verge of tears.</p> - -<p>"I'm sorry," he said gently.</p> - -<p>"I'm so ashamed," she said pathetically, "what must you think!"</p> - -<p>"That I should go back and knock his head off," said Ralph. "But if you -ask me not to, I won't. I suppose that was Fernand?"</p> - -<p>She looked at him in astonishment. "Do <i>you</i> know him?"</p> - -<p>"Your father told me."</p> - -<p>"Oh," she said, troubled, "father shouldn't have done that. But I -suppose he was afraid of a meeting of this sort."</p> - -<p>"How long has he been following you around?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, for ages, it seems. Really, about a year. I never liked him, but -lately he's been perfectly horrid, and acts in such a threatening -way—you saw him. I can't see why he should take the trouble to annoy -anyone who loathes him as I do. But let's forget it. We have had such -a wonderful day that I don't want it spoiled." And then timidly, with -downcast eyes: "I called you Ralph. You must have thought me very -forward, but I wanted him to think—"</p> - -<p>She stopped suddenly, and in confusion. And then, her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> natural gaiety -coming to her rescue: "Heavens, the more I say, the worse I make it, -don't I?"</p> - -<p>"It sounded fine to me," said Ralph, falling in with her mood, "I hope -you will always call me that."</p> - -<p>And laughing together they rolled on.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> 72° Fahrenheit.</p></div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_5" id="chap_5">5</a></p> - -<p>NEW YORK A.D. 2660</p> - - -<p>Being much interested in sports, she desired to know presently how the -modern New Yorker kept himself in condition and for his answer Ralph -stopped at a corner and they entered a tall, flat-roofed building. They -took off their coasters, stepped into the electromagnetic elevator and -ascended the fifty odd stories in a few seconds. At the top, they found -a large expanse on which were stationed dozens of flyers of all sizes. -There was a continuous bustle of departing and arriving aerial flyers -and of people alighting and departing.</p> - -<p>As soon as Ralph and Alice appeared a dozen voices began to call: -"<i>Aerocab, sir, Aerocab, this way please!</i>" Ralph, ignoring them, -walked over to a two-seated flyer and assisted his companion to -the seat; he then seated himself and said briefly to the "driver," -"<i>National Playgrounds</i>." The machine, which was very light and -operated entirely by electricity, was built of metal throughout; it -shot up into the air with terrific speed and then took a northeasterly -direction at a rate of ten miles per minute, or 600 miles per hour.</p> - -<p>From the great height at which they were flying it was not hard to -point out the most interesting structures, towers, bridges, and wonders -of construction deemed impossible several centuries ago.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> - -<p>In less than ten minutes they had arrived at the National Playgrounds. -They alighted on an immense platform and Ralph, leading Alice to the -edge, where they could see the entire playgrounds, said:</p> - -<p>"These National Playgrounds were built by the city in 2490, at the -extreme eastern end of what used to be Long Island, a few miles from -Montauk.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> An immense area had been fitted up for all kinds of sports, -terrestrial and aquatic as well as aerial. These municipal playgrounds -are the finest in the world and represent one of New York's greatest -achievements. The City Government supplied all the various sport -paraphernalia and every citizen has the right to use it, by applying to -the lieutenants in charge of the various sections.</p> - -<p>"There are playgrounds for the young as well as for the old, grounds -for men, grounds for the women, grounds for babies to romp about in. -There are hundreds of baseball fields, thousands of tennis courts, and -uncounted football fields and golf links. It never rains, it is never -too hot, it is never too cold. The grounds are open every day in the -year, from seven in the morning till eleven at night. After sunset, the -grounds and fields are lighted by thousands of iridium wire spirals, -for those who have to work in the daytime.</p> - -<p>"As a matter of fact all the great baseball, tennis, and football -contests are held after sundown. The reason is apparent. During the -daytime, with the sun shining, there is always one team which has an -advantage over the other, on account of the light being in their eyes. -In the evening, however, with the powerful, stationary light<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> overhead, -each team has the same conditions and the game can be played more -fairly and more accurately."<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> - -<p>Ralph and his companion strolled about the immense grounds watching -the players and it was not long before he discovered that she, like -himself, was enthusiastic about tennis. He asked her if she would care -to play a game with him and she acquiesced eagerly.</p> - -<p>They walked over to the dressing building where Ralph kept his own -sport clothes. Since the girl had no tennis shoes, he secured a pair -for her in the Arcade, and they sauntered over to one of the courts.</p> - -<p>In the game that followed, Ralph, an expert at tennis, was too -engrossed in the girl to watch his game. Consequently, he was beaten -from start to finish. He did not see the ball, and scarcely noticed the -net. His eyes were constantly on Alice, who, indeed, made a remarkably -pretty picture. She flung herself enthusiastically into her game, as -she did with everything else that interested her. She was the true -sport-lover, caring little whether she won or not, loving the game for -the game itself.</p> - -<p>Her lovely face was flushed with the exercise, and her hair curled into -damp little rings, lying against her neck and cheeks in soft clusters. -Her eyes, always bright, shone like stars. Now and again they met -Ralph's in gay triumph as she encountered a difficult ball.</p> - -<p>He had never imagined that anyone could be so graceful. Her lithe and -flexible figure was seen to its best advantage in this game requiring -great agility.</p> - -<p>Ralph, under this bombardment of charms, was spellbound. He played -mechanically, and, it must be admitted,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> wretchedly. And he was so -thoroughly and abjectly in love that he did not care. To him, but one -thing mattered. He knew that unless he could have Alice life itself -would not matter to him.</p> - -<p>He felt that he would gladly have lost a hundred games when she at last -flung down her racket, crying happily: "Oh, I won, I won, didn't I?"</p> - -<p>"You certainly did," he cried. "You were wonderful!"</p> - -<p>"I'm a little bit afraid you let me win," she pouted. "It really wasn't -fair of you."</p> - -<p>"You were fine," he declared. "I was hopelessly outclassed from the -beginning. You have no idea how beautiful you were," he went on, -impulsively. "More beautiful than I ever dreamed anyone could be."</p> - -<p>Before his ardent eyes she drew back a little, half pleased, half -frightened, and not a little confused.</p> - -<p>Sensing her embarrassment he instantly became matter-of-fact.</p> - -<p>"Now," he said, "I am going to show you the source of New York's light -and power."</p> - -<p>A few minutes later, after both had changed their shoes, they were -again seated in an aerocab and a twenty minute journey brought them -well into the center of what was formerly New York state.</p> - -<p>They alighted on an immense plain on which twelve monstrous -Meteoro-Towers, each 1,500 feet high, were stationed. These towers -formed a hexagon inside of which were the immense <i>Helio-Dynamophores</i>, -or Sun-power-generators.</p> - -<p>The entire expanse, twenty kilometers square, was covered with glass. -Underneath the heavy plate glass squares were the photo-electric -elements which transformed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> solar heat <i>direct</i> into electric -energy.</p> - -<p>The photo-electric elements, of which there were 400 to each square -meter, were placed in large movable metal cases, each case containing -1,600 photo-electric units.</p> - -<p>Each metal case in turn was movable, and mounted on a kind of large -tripod in such a manner that each case from sunrise to sunset presented -its glass plate directly to the sun. The rays of the sun, consequently, -struck the photo-electric elements always vertically, never obliquely. -A small electric motor inside of the tripod moved the metal case so as -to keep the plates always facing the sun.</p> - -<p>In order that one case might not take away the light from the one -directly behind it, all cases were arranged in long rows, each -sufficiently far away from the one preceding it. Thus shadows from one -row could not fall on the row behind it.</p> - -<p>At sunrise, all cases would be almost vertical, but at this time -very little current was generated. One hour after sunrise, the plant -was working to its full capacity; by noon all cases would be in a -horizontal position, and by sunset, they again would be in an almost -vertical position, in the opposite direction, however, from that of -the morning. The plant would work at its full capacity until one hour -before sunset.</p> - -<p>Each case generated about one hundred and twenty kilowatts almost -as long as the sun was shining, and it is easily understood what an -enormous power the entire plant could generate. In fact, this plant -supplied all the power, light, and heat for entire New York. One-half -of the plant was for day use, while the other half during daytime -charged the chemical gas-accumulators for night use.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> - -<p>In 1909 Cove of Massachusetts invented a thermo-electric -Sun-power-generator which could deliver ten volts and six amperes, or -one-sixtieth kilowatt in a space of twelve square feet. Since that -time inventors by the score had busied themselves to perfect solar -generators, but it was not until the year 2469 that the Italian 63A -1243 invented the photo-electric cell, which revolutionized the entire -electrical industry. This Italian discovered that by derivatives of -the Radium-M class, in conjunction with Tellurium and Arcturium, a -photo-electric element could be produced which was strongly affected by -the sun's ultra-violet rays and in this condition was able to transform -heat <i>direct</i> into electrical energy, without losses of any kind.</p> - -<p>After watching the enormous power plant for a time Alice remarked:</p> - -<p>"We, of course, have similar plants across the water but I have never -seen anything of such magnitude. It is really colossal. But what gives -the sky above such a peculiar black tint?"</p> - -<p>"In order not to suffer too great losses from atmospheric -disturbances," Ralph explained, "the twelve giant Meteoro-Towers which -you notice are working with full power as long as the plant is in -operation. Thus a partial vacuum is produced above the plant and the -air consequently is very thin. As air ordinarily absorbs an immense -amount of heat, it goes without saying that the Helio-Dynamophore plant -obtains an immensely greater amount of heat when the air above is very -clear and thin. In the morning the towers direct their energy toward -the East in order to clear the atmosphere to a certain extent, and in -the afternoon their energy is directed toward the West<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> for the same -purpose. For this reason, this plant furnishes fully thirty per cent -more energy than others working in ordinary atmosphere."</p> - -<p>As it was growing late they returned to the city, traversing the -distance to Ralph's home in less than ten minutes.</p> - -<p>Alice's father arrived a few minutes later, and she told him of the -delightful time she had had in the company of their distinguished host.</p> - -<p>Shortly after they had dined that evening Ralph took his guests down -to his <i>Tele-Theater</i>. This large room had a shallow stage at one end, -with proscenium arch and curtain, such as had been in use during the -whole history of the drama. At the rear of the room were scattered a -number of big upholstered chairs.</p> - -<p>When they had seated themselves, Ralph gave Alice a directory of the -plays and operas that were being presented that night.</p> - -<p>"Oh, I see they are playing the French comic opera, <i>La Normande</i>, at -the National Opera tonight," she exclaimed. "I have heard and read much -of it. I should like to hear it so much."</p> - -<p>"With the greatest of pleasure," Ralph replied. "In fact, I have not -heard it myself. My laboratory has kept me so busy, that I have missed -the Opera several times already. There are only two performances a week -now."</p> - -<p>He walked over to a large switchboard from which hung numerous cords -and plugs. He inserted one of the plugs into a hole labeled "National -Opera." He then manipulated several levers and switches and seated -himself again with his guests.</p> - -<p>In a moment, a gong sounded, and the lights were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> gradually dimmed. -Immediately afterward, the orchestra began the overture.</p> - -<p>A great number of loud-speaking telephones were arranged near the -stage, and the acoustics were so good that it was hard to realize that -the music originated four miles away at the National Opera House.</p> - -<p>When the overture was over, the curtain rose on the first act. -Directly behind it several hundred especially constructed Telephots -were arranged in such a manner as to fill out the entire space of the -shallow stage. These telephots were connected in series and were all -joined together so cleverly that no break or joint was visible in the -rear part of the stage. The result was that all objects on the distant -stage of the National Opera were projected full size on the composite -Telephot plates on the Tele-Theater stage. The illusion was so perfect -in all respects that it was extremely hard to imagine that the actors -on the Telephot stage were not real flesh and blood. Each voice could -be heard clearly and distinctly, because the transmitters were close to -the actors at all times and it was not necessary to strain the ear to -catch any passages.</p> - -<p>Between the acts Ralph explained that each New York playhouse now had -over 200,000 subscribers and it was as easy for the Berlin and Paris -subscribers to hear and see the play as for the New York subscriber. On -the other hand, he admitted that the Paris and Berlin as well as the -London playhouses had a large number of subscribers, local as well as -long distance, but New York's subscription list was by far the largest.</p> - -<p>"Can you imagine," mused Alice, "how the people in former centuries -must have been inconvenienced when they wished to enjoy a play? I was -reading only the other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> day how they had to prepare themselves for the -theater hours ahead of time. They had to get dressed especially for the -occasion and even went so far as to have different clothes in which to -attend theaters or operas. And then they had to ride or perhaps walk to -the playhouse itself. Then the poor things, if they did not happen to -like the production, had either to sit all through it or else go home. -They probably would have rejoiced at the ease of our Tele-Theaters, -where we can switch from one play to another in five seconds, until we -find the one that suits us best.</p> - -<p>"Nor could their sick people enjoy themselves seeing a play, as we can -now. I know when I broke my ankle a year ago, I actually lived in the -Tele-Theater. I cannot imagine how I could have dragged through those -dreary six weeks in bed without a new play each night. Life must have -been dreadful in those days!"</p> - -<p>"Yes, you are right," Ralph said. "Neither could they have imagined in -their wildest dreams the spectacle I witnessed a few days ago.</p> - -<p>"I happened to be passing this room and I heard such uproarious -laughter that I decided to see what caused it all. Entering unnoticed, -I found my ten-year-old nephew 'entertaining' half-a-dozen of his -friends. The little rascal had plugged into a matinee performance of -'Romeo and Juliet' playing at the 'Broadway'—in English of course. -He then plugged in at the same time into <i>Der Spitzbub</i>, a farce -playing that evening in Berlin, and to this, for good measure, he added -<i>Rigoletto</i> in Italian, playing at the 'Gala' in Milan.</p> - -<p>"The effect was of course horrible. Most of the time, nothing but a -Babel of voices and music could be heard;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> but once in a while a single -voice broke through the din, followed immediately by another one in a -different language. The funniest incident was when, at the 'Broadway,' -Juliet called: <i>Romeo, Romeo, where art thou, Romeo?</i>, and a heavy -comedian at the Berlin Theatre howled: <i>Mir ist's Wurst, schlagt ihn -tot!</i></p> - -<p>"Of course, everything on the stage was blurred most of the time, but -once in a while extremely ludicrous combinations resulted between some -of the actors at the various theaters, which were greeted with an -uproar by the youngsters."</p> - -<p>As he concluded the anecdote the curtain rose once more, and the -audience of three settled back to enjoy the second act of the opera.</p> - -<p>Later, when it was all over, they went down to the street floor at -Ralph's suggestion, where they put on their Tele-motor-coasters, -preparatory to seeing more of New York—this time by night.</p> - -<p>The party proceeded to roll down Broadway, the historic thoroughfare of -New York. Despite the fact that it was 11 o'clock at night, the streets -were almost as light as at noonday. They were illuminated brilliantly -by the iridium spirals, hanging high above the crossings. These -spirals gave forth a pure, dazzling-white light of the same quality as -sunlight. This light moreover was absolutely cold, as all electrical -energy was transformed into light, none being lost in heat. Not a -street was dark—not even the smallest alley.</p> - -<p>James 212B 422, as well as his daughter, lingered over the superb -displays in the various stores and they entered several to make a few -purchases. Alice was much impressed with the automatic-electric packing -machines.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> - -<p>The clerk making the sale placed the purchased articles on a metal -platform. He then pushed several buttons on a small switchboard, which -operated the "size" apparatus to obtain the dimensions of the package. -After the last button was pressed, the platform rose about two feet, -till it disappeared into a large metal, box-like contrivance. In about -ten to fifteen seconds it came down again bearing on its surface a neat -white box with a handle at the top, <i>all in one piece</i>. The box was -not fastened with any strings or tape, but was folded in an ingenious -manner so that it could not open of its own accord. Moreover, it was -made of <i>Alohydrolium</i>, which is the lightest of all metals, being -one-eighth the weight of aluminum.</p> - -<p>The automatic packing machine could pack anything from a small package -a few inches square up to a box two feet high by three feet long. It -made the box to suit the size of the final package, placed the articles -together, packed them into the box which was not yet finished, folded -the box after the handle had been stamped out, stenciled the firm's -name on two sides and delivered it completely packed, all within ten to -fifteen seconds.</p> - -<p>The box could either be taken by the purchaser or the clerk would -stencil the customer's name and address into the handle, place a -triangular packet-post stamp on the box and drop it into a chute beside -the counter. It was carried down into the <i>Packet-Post Conveyor</i>, -which was from seventy-five to one hundred feet below the level of the -street, where it landed on a belt-like arrangement moving at the rate -of five miles an hour. The action was entirely automatic and the chute -was arranged with an automatic shutter which would only open when there -was no package immediately below on the moving belt. This<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> precluded -the possibility of packages tumbling on top of each other and in this -way blocking the conveyor tube.</p> - -<p>When the package had landed on the conveyor belt it traveled to the -nearest <i>distributor office</i>, where the post office clerk would take it -from the belt and see if it was franked correctly. The stamp was then -machine cancelled and after the clerk had noted the address he routed -it to the sub-station nearest to the addressee's home. Next he clamped -onto the package an automatic metal "rider" which was of a certain -height, irrespective of the size of the package.</p> - -<p>The package with its rider was placed on an express conveyor belt -traveling at the rate of 25 miles an hour. This express belt, bearing -the package, moved at an even speed, and never stopping, passed -numerous sub-stations on the way. At the correct sub-station the rider -came against a contact device stretching across the belt at right -angles, at a certain height. This contact arrangement closed the -circuit of a powerful electromagnet placed in the same line with the -contact, a few feet away from the express belt. The electromagnet acted -immediately on the metal package (Alohydrolium is a magnetic metal), -drawing it in a flash into the sub-station from the belt. If there was -another package right behind the one so drawn out, it was handled in -the same manner.</p> - -<p>After the package had arrived at the sub-station it was despatched -to its final destination. Another rider was attached to it and the -package placed on a local conveyor belt passing by the house to which -it was addressed. On arriving at the correct address its rider would -strike the contact overhead, which operated the electromagnet, pulling -the package into the basement of the house,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> where it fell on the -platform of an electric dumb-waiter. The dumb-waiter started upward -automatically and the package was delivered at once.</p> - -<p>By this method a package could be delivered in the average space -of forty minutes from the time of purchase. Some packages could be -delivered in a much shorter time and others which had to travel to the -city limits took much longer.</p> - -<p>"How wonderful!" Alice exclaimed after Ralph had explained the system. -"It must have taken decades to build such a stupendous system."</p> - -<p>"No, not quite," was the reply. "It was built gradually by an enormous -number of workers. The tubes are even now extended almost daily to keep -pace with the growth of the city."</p> - -<p>From the stores Ralph took his guests to the roof of an aerocab stand -and they boarded a fast flyer.</p> - -<p>"Take us about 10,000 feet up," Ralph instructed the driver.</p> - -<p>"You haven't much time," the man answered, "at 12 o'clock all cabs must -be out of the air."</p> - -<p>"Why?"</p> - -<p>"Today is the 15th of September, the night of the aerial carnival, and -it's against the law to go up over New York until it's all over. You -have twenty-five minutes left, however, if you wish to go up."</p> - -<p>"I forgot all about this aerial carnival," said Ralph, "but twenty-five -minutes will be time enough for us if you speed up your machine."</p> - -<p>The aerial flyer rose quickly and silently. The objects below seemed to -shrink in size and within three minutes the light became fainter.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> - -<p>In ten minutes an altitude of twelve thousand feet had been reached, -and as it became too cold, Ralph motioned to the driver not to rise -further.</p> - -<p>The spectacle below them was indescribably beautiful. As far as the -eye could see was a broad expanse studded with lights, like a carpet -embroidered with diamonds. Thousands of aerial craft, their powerful -searchlights sweeping the skies, moved silently through the night, and -once in a while an immense transatlantic aerial liner would swish by at -a tremendous speed.</p> - -<p>Most beautiful of all, as well as wonderful, were the <i>Signalizers</i>. -Ralph pointed them out to his guests, saying:</p> - -<p>"In the first period of aerial navigation large electric lamps forming -figures and letters were placed on housetops, and in open fields -that the aerial craft above might better find their destinations. -To the traffic flying 5,000 feet or higher such signals were wholly -inadequate, as they could not be correctly read at such a distance. -Hence the signalizers. These are powerful searchlights of the most -advanced type, mounted on special buildings. They are trained skyward -and shoot a powerful shaft of light directly upward. No aerial craft -is allowed to cross these light shafts. Each shaft gives a different -signal; thus the signalizer in Herald Square is first white; in ten -seconds it changes to red and in another ten seconds it becomes yellow. -Even an aerial liner at sea can recognize the signal and steer directly -into the Herald Square pier, without being obliged to hover over the -city in search of it. Some signalizers have only one color, flashing -from time to time. Others more important use two searchlights at one -time, like the one at Sandy Hook. This signalizer has two light shafts, -one green and one red; these do not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> change colors, nor do they light -periodically."</p> - -<p>From on high Ralph's guests marveled at these signalizers, which -pierced the darkness all around them. It was a wonderful sight and the -weird beauty of the colored shafts thrilled Alice immeasurably.</p> - -<p>"Oh, it is like a Fairyland," she exclaimed. "I could watch it forever."</p> - -<p>But presently the aerocab was descending rapidly and in a few minutes -the strong light from below had obliterated the light shafts. As -the craft drew closer the streets could be seen extending for miles -like white ribbons and the brilliantly lighted squares stood out -prominently. They landed, at the stroke of twelve, and Ralph found -three unoccupied chairs on the top of one of the public buildings and -only then did they notice that hundreds of people were seated, watching -the sky expectantly.</p> - -<p>At the last stroke of twelve, all the lights below went out and -simultaneously the light shafts of all the searchlights. Everything was -plunged in an utter darkness.</p> - -<p>Suddenly overhead at a great height the flag of the United States in -immense proportions was seen. It was composed of 6,000 flyers, all -together in the same horizontal plane. Each flyer was equipped with -very powerful lights on the bottom, some white, some red, others blue. -Thus an immense flag in its natural colors was formed and so precisely -did the flyers co-operate that, although they all were at least 50 feet -from each other, the appearance to those below was that of an unbroken -silk flag, illuminated by a searchlight. The immense flag began to -move. It passed slowly overhead, describing a large circle, so that the -entire population below obtained a perfect view.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> - -<p>Everyone applauded the demonstration. Then as suddenly as it had -appeared the flag vanished and all was once more in darkness. Ralph -explained to his guests that the lights of each one of the aerial -flyers had been shut off simultaneously in preparation for the next -spectacle.</p> - -<p>All at once there was seen an enormous colored circle which revolved -with great rapidity, becoming smaller and smaller, as though it were -shrinking. Finally it became a colored disc, whirling rapidly on its -axis. In a few seconds, the edge opened and a straight line shot out, -the disc unrolling like a tape measure. After a few minutes more, there -remained nothing of the disc. It had resolved itself into a perfectly -straight many-hued line, miles long. Then the lights went out again. -The next spectacle was a demonstration of the solar system. In the -center a large sun was seen standing still. Next to the "sun" a small -red round globe spun rapidly about it, representing the planet Mercury. -Around both the sun and the "planet" Mercury revolved another globe, -blue in color; this was Venus. Then followed a white orb, the "Earth" -with the moon turning about it. Next came the red planet Mars with -its two small moons, then green Jupiter and its moons, and Saturn in -yellow. Uranus was orange and lastly came Neptune in pink, all globes -and their moons traveling in their proper orbits around the "sun."<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> -While the spectacle was in progress a white "comet" with a long tail -traveled across the paths of the planets, turned a sharp corner around -the "sun," its tail always pointing away from that body, recrossed the -orbits of the "planets" again on the other side and lost itself in the -darkness.</p> - -<p>Several other spectacles were presented, each more su<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>perb than the one -preceding it. The carnival closed with a light-picture of the Planet -Governor. This was exhibited for fully five minutes during which time -the applause was continuous.</p> - -<p>"We have never seen such a marvelous spectacle," James 212B 422 -declared. "You Americans still lead the world. Upon my word, the old -saying that 'Nothing is impossible in America,' still holds good."</p> - -<p>It was after one when they reached the house, and Ralph suggested a -light lunch before they retired for what remained of the night. The -others assented and Ralph led the way to the <i>Bacillatorium</i>.</p> - -<p>The Bacillatorium, invented in 2509 by the Swede 1A 299, was a small -room, the walls and bottom of which were composed of lead. On each of -the four sides were large vacuum bulbs on pedestals. These tubes, a -foot in height and about six inches thick and two feet in diameter, -were each equipped with a large concave Radio-arcturium cathode. The -glass of the tube in front of the cathode had a double wall, the space -between being filled with helium gas.</p> - -<p>The rays emanating from the cathode, when the tube was energized with -high oscillatory currents, were called <i>Arcturium Rays</i> and would -instantly destroy any bacilli exposed to them for a few seconds. -Arcturium Rays, like X-rays, pass through solid objects, and when used -alone burned the tissue of the human body. It was found, however, that -by filtering arcturium rays through helium no burns would result, but -any germ or bacillus in or on the body would be killed at once.</p> - -<p>The Bacillatorium was prescribed by law and each citizen ordered to -use it at least every other day, thus mak<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>ing it impossible for the -human body to develop contagious diseases. As late as the 20th century -more than half the mortality was directly attributable to diseases -communicated by germs or bacilli.</p> - -<p>The Bacillatorium eradicated such diseases. The arcturium rays, -moreover, had a highly beneficial effect on animal tissue and the -enforced use of the Bacillatorium extended the span of human life to -between one hundred and twenty and one hundred and forty years, where -in former centuries three score and ten was the average.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Since this was written a national playground has actually -been created at Montauk, L.I. A rather strange coincidence.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> At the time this was written, no illuminated, night time -sports fields existed.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> In 1911 the outer planet Pluto had as yet not been -discovered.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_6" id="chap_6">6</a></p> - -<p>"GIVE US FOOD"</p> - - -<p>The following day was set aside for a visit to the Accelerated Plant -Growing Farms. It had been known for hundreds of years that certain -plants, such as mushrooms, could be fully developed in a few days. -Plant or vegetables grown under glass and the temperature within kept -at a high point, would grow at great speed and be ready for the market -long before those grown in the open.</p> - -<p>But only recently, as Ralph explained to Alice, had it been possible -to do this on a large scale. To be sure, certain vegetables, like -asparagus, lettuce, peas, etc., had been produced in hothouses for -hundreds of years, but these, after all, were rather luxuries, and -could not be classed as essentials.</p> - -<p>When, about the year 2600, the population of the planet had increased -tremendously and famines due to lack of such essentials as bread and -potatoes had broken out in many parts of the world, it was found -vitally necessary to produce such necessities on a larger scale and -with unfailing regularity. These farms became known under the term of -Accelerated Plant Growing Farms and were located in every part of the -world. The first (and now obsolete) European and African farms were -built along the lines of the old-fashioned hothouses. The European -farms were simply horizontal steel-latticed roofs, with ordinary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> glass -panes, permitting the sunlight to penetrate to the soil beneath. While -covering huge acreages, they were not heated artificially, using only -the sun's rays to accelerate plant growth. As compared with Nature's -single crop of wheat or corn, two could be made to grow in the same -season by means of these super hothouses.</p> - -<p>Similar farms were used in America until Ralph undertook their study -and approached the subject from a scientific angle. One of his first -efforts was to obtain greater heat for these huge hothouses. One of -these hothouses is about three miles long and the same width. Ralph -took the existing hothouses, which were simply oblong steel and glass -boxes, and built a second hothouse box covering each of them, thus -creating a double-walled, air-locked hothouse. The second glass-paneled -wall was about two feet inside the outer one. This left dead air locked -between the walls, and as air is a poor heat conductor, the heat in the -hothouse was retained longer, particularly during a cold night.</p> - -<p>Ralph and Alice left early in the morning, winging their way in an -aeroflyer toward northern New York, where there were many Accelerated -Plant Growing Farms. When the farms came into view, the entire country -below, so far as the eye could see, appeared to be dotted with the -glass-covered roofs of the plants, reflecting the sunlight and -affording an unusual sight. Alice marveled at their number, for while -she had seen some of these farms in Europe, she had never seen so many -grouped together of such immensity.</p> - -<p>Within a few minutes, they landed near one of the giant hothouses. The -manager led them inside of the farm labeled No. D1569.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> - -<p>D1569 was exclusively a wheat growing farm. Where Mother Nature used -to grow one crop of wheat a year, Ralph's latest Accelerator made -it possible to grow four, and sometimes five crops a year. In the -old-fashioned European farms such as Alice knew, only two crops could -be grown.</p> - -<p>"How is it possible," she asked, "that you can obtain three more crops -a year than we do in Europe?"</p> - -<p>"In the first place," said Ralph, "it may be taken as an axiom that the -more heat you supply to plant growth, the quicker it will grow. Cold -and chilly winds retard plant growth. Electricity and certain chemicals -increase the ratio of growth, a fact that has been known for many -centuries. It is, however, the scientific application of this knowledge -that makes it possible to raise five crops a year. The European farms -use only the heat of the sun to stimulate plant growth, but during the -night, when the temperature drops, growth is practically nil.</p> - -<p>"Notice that the top and sides of our hothouses have two walls. In -other words, one hothouse is built within another. The air locked -between the two hothouses is an excellent heat insulator and even -though the sun is low at 4 o'clock, the temperature is practically -unchanged in the hothouse, at 8 or 9 o'clock in the evening. Even in -the winter, when the sun sets about 4 o'clock and it is cold, we are -able to store up enough heat during the day to keep a high temperature -as late as 7 and 8 o'clock. If we did nothing between the hours of 8 -in the evening and 8 in the morning, the temperature would continue to -fall to a point where no plant growth would be possible.</p> - -<p>"Here in America we had to have a greater production to supply our -huge population. It was a pure case of ne<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>cessity. So we had to employ -artificial heating during the night.</p> - -<p>"If we start sinking a shaft into the earth, the heat increases rapidly -as we go down—more quickly in some parts of the world than others. On -an average, the temperature rises about one degree Fahrenheit each 100 -feet of depth. We found it economic, therefore, to use the earth's own -heat to heat our farms.</p> - -<p>"By means of high speed drills, we can cut a three-foot shaft 3,000 -feet deep in the earth in less than a month. We go down until we strike -a temperature around 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Then we lower steel -tanks into the cavity and run pipes up to the surface. The tanks are -filled with water and two larger pipes run from each tank into the -circulating system of pipes, around the lower walls throughout the -length and breadth of the farms. The shafts are then closed at the top -and we have a circulating system that is both cheap and efficient. The -hot water continually rises into the pipes and circulates. As it cools, -it flows down again into the tanks, where it is reheated and rises -again. Thus the temperature of our farms is uniform all the year around -and plant growth is as rapid during the night as during the day.</p> - -<p>"Heat alone, however, is not sufficient. We should still get only a -normal growth. We wanted five crops a year. I put my research forces -to work studying fertilizers. While the old nitrogen fertilizers were -excellent, they were not suitable for high pressure, high speed growing -methods. We evolved chemicals which were both cheap and easy to apply. -We found that small quantities of <i>Termidon</i>, when mixed with water and -sprayed over the field by overhead sprayers, which you will see running -along<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> the ceiling, would accelerate the growth of the crops enormously.</p> - -<p>"This liquid Termidon is sprayed over the entire length and breadth of -the field before planting time, so that the soil becomes well soaked. -The Termidon immediately turns the soil into a rich, dark strata, the -best soil for potatoes, wheat, or corn. No other fertilizer need be -used, the Termidon, applied after every growth, giving the soil all the -vitality necessary."</p> - -<p>They were now in the field, when suddenly Alice asked:</p> - -<p>"What is the peculiar tingling in the soles of my feet, I feel as we -walk along? You are using some electrical vibrations, I suppose."</p> - -<p>"You guessed correctly," Ralph replied. "With all our artifice the -speed of the plant growth had not been accelerated sufficiently. I -therefore insulated the inside hothouse from the ground. The inside -hothouse rests upon glass blocks, and is electrified by high frequency -currents. The entire area is sprayed day and night with a high -frequency current, in the use of which we found was the real secret of -driving plant growth ahead at enormous speed. The theory of course is -nothing new, having been known for centuries. What is new, however, is -the way it is done. It makes all the difference in the world if the -current density is too high or too low, if it is direct or alternating -current, and many other details. I found that the quickest way to -accelerate plant growth by electricity was to send the current from -the growing plant toward the ceiling, and the current must be direct, -pulsating, but not alternating."</p> - -<p>Ralph asked for a discharge pole from one of the at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>tendants. It was -a metal pole about seven and a half feet high. In the middle it had a -long glass handle which Ralph grasped. He then set the pole vertically -so that its top was about six inches from the glass ceiling. A roar of -fine sparks leaped from the steel frame of the ceiling to the top of -the pole.</p> - -<p>"See," said Ralph, "there is the current we use in accelerating the -growth of our plants."</p> - -<p>Removing the pole, Ralph continued: "The electrical current density per -square foot is not very high and the wheat does not get a very great -amount of electricity during the twenty-four hours. <i>The continuance of -the force applied is what counts.</i>"</p> - -<p>After luncheon, during which they ate some of the bread made from wheat -grown on the premises, they went to an adjoining farm, also a wheat -farm, where harvesting was in full progress. Machinery, suspended from -overhead tracks, cut the wheat rapidly with circular scythes. All -the wheat being of the same height, the machine cut the wheat almost -directly below the heads, dropped them on a conveyor, which carried -the real harvest to a central distribution point. Another machine -immediately followed the cutter, grasping the stalks that were still -standing, unerringly <i>pulled out the straw hulks</i>, roots and all. -Thus the roots were entirely removed and the soil loosened, obviating -plowing. Within a few hours following cutting, the last stem was out. -The field was then sprayed with the liquid Termidon from overhead. -Within another three hours, sowing began, also from overhead pipes.</p> - -<p>Going to an adjoining plant, they saw a bare field with almost black -soil, ready to be sowed. An attendant, at Ralph's request, pulled a -switch and immediately Alice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> witnessed a seed rain from the overhead -pipes.</p> - -<p>"The seed," Ralph explained, "is supplied to these tubes by means of -compressed air. The tubes are perforated, and when air pressure is -applied, the seed, flowing through the tubes is ejected evenly—just -so many seeds to a given area. Closing the openings of the pipes -automatically as the seeding proceeds, means only a given quantity -of seed will fall upon any given square foot of soil. This makes for -scientific planting, and we raise just the exact quantity of wheat we -want."</p> - -<p>Alice watched the seed rain spellbound. Like a wall of rain it slowly -receded into the distance until finally it disappeared. "How long does -it take to sow this field?" she asked.</p> - -<p>"From two to three hours, depending upon the size of the field. This -particular field is about eight miles long and three miles wide. The -process should be completed within about three and a half hours."</p> - -<p>"And when will this crop be ready for the harvest?" Alice wanted to -know.</p> - -<p>"In about seventy days from now the wheat will be ready to cut."</p> - -<p>Alice walked along thoughtfully and then inquired whether the great -cost of such an undertaking would not make the growing of the -foodstuffs prohibitive.</p> - -<p>"Quite the contrary," Ralph replied. "We are now growing wheat, corn, -potatoes, and many other foodstuffs, for a much lower price than -our ancestors did five or six hundred years ago. You see, it is the -installation of the hothouses and machinery that is costly, but these -glass and steel buildings will last for centuries with proper care. -The frames are made of non-rusting steel which needs no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> painting. The -glass lasts for hundreds of years. The labor we use in planting and -harvesting is a mere fraction of what was used in olden times. Thus, -for sowing and harvesting this plant, eight by three miles, we require -only twenty people. This is a very much smaller number than was used on -a small old-fashioned farm.</p> - -<p>"We waste nothing. We have no poor crops, and we get three or four -times as much as our ancestors did."</p> - -<p>They stepped up to a glass case containing samples of wheat grown for -hundreds of years, showing that a head of wheat grown in the year 1900 -was about three inches long, while the present year's crop showed a -length of more than six inches, or twice as much flour content per -stalk. Ralph also pointed out to Alice that the modern wheat stalk -was much bigger in circumference than the ancient ones, which, he -explained, was attributable to the greater weight of the modern wheat. -The old stalks could not possibly have supported such a great weight of -grain, so it was necessary to cultivate bigger stalks.</p> - -<p>Ralph went on: "As I said before, we waste nothing here. The harvested -hulks go to a paper mill, a few miles away, and are converted into a -first class paper. A few decades ago an entirely new paper process was -invented. Where straw was once used for making so-called strawboard or -cardboard, the finest commercial papers are now being made from the -straw grown right here. We no longer annihilate our forests, to make -paper pulp. Since the invention of the straw paper process, chopping -trees for paper purposes has been forbidden and all the paper in this -country is now made exclusively of straw chemically treated."</p> - -<p>A potato farm was seen the same afternoon. The proc<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>esses in this -and other vegetable growing plants being under somewhat different -conditions than the wheat farm.</p> - -<p>It was dark when Alice and Ralph returned to wheat farm No. D1569, and -found that the manager of the plant had prepared an elaborate supper -for the two, informing Alice that <i>everything</i> set before her had been -grown the same day. The whole wheat bread had been harvested that -morning, the grains had been artificially aged by heat, flour had been -made, and the bread had just been baked. He said, somewhat proudly, -that this was probably a record.</p> - -<p>The entire meal consisted of vegetables, all grown in plants in the -vicinity. There were fresh peas, fresh asparagus, new potatoes, fresh -lettuce, juicy apples, and many delicacies.</p> - -<p>For dessert the manager brought in, on a great silver tray, a number -of new crossfoods, which as yet had not been seen in the open market. -There was, the <i>appear</i>, a cross between an apple and a pear, which -had all the good qualities of the apple and all the good qualities of -the pear. There was also a delightful combination of plum and cherry, -a cantaloupe with a faint taste of orange, and cherries as big as a -good-sized plum.</p> - -<p>Tea was served from tea leaves grown in one of the farms and harvested -the same day. The manager also showed Alice cigarettes and set before -Ralph a box of cigars, made from tobacco planted and harvested that -day. The leaves had been aged rapidly by dry heat in a partial vacuum.</p> - -<p>Both thanked the manager for the novel treat. After dining they walked -into the wheat growing farm. It was now dark outside, but in the -hothouse, the wheat for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> miles and miles seemed to be aglow in a light -purple haze. A faint half-crackling, half-swishing sound was heard. The -points of the wheat seemed to be almost luminous.</p> - -<p>"This is the night appearance of the electricity you felt this -afternoon," said Ralph. "During the daytime you do not see the faint -discharge, but in darkness it becomes luminous. One pole of the high -frequency generator is connected with the soil and the other with the -steel framework of the hothouse. Without this electric current we would -not be able to grow more than two, or at the utmost, three crops a year.</p> - -<p>"It is also necessary to vary the strength of the current during -the day. With full sunshine and maximum heat we do not need as much -current as we use during the night. Several hundred years ago when -using somewhat similar methods that had not as yet been perfected, it -was necessary to use artificial light during the night, as plants need -light for growth. We found, however, that the electric current with the -soft light which you see glowing now, is sufficient for the purpose and -the plant does not require any other light."</p> - -<p>Alice stood for many minutes silently watching the beautiful sight of -the glowing purple field, listening to the faint crackling discharge of -the electric current as it leaped from the points of the wheat into the -air. They finally left and flew back to New York.</p> - -<p>The next day, Ralph took Alice to one of the city's Synthetic Food -Laboratories. While flying toward it, Ralph explained that while the -farms which they had looked over yesterday were for the purpose of -raising real foodstuffs, there were many commodities that could not be -so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> raised, such as sugar, milk, and many others, which were now made -synthetically. As chemists had known for many hundreds of years, sugar -was nothing but a simple carbohydrate, whereas milk was composed of -an emulsified mixture of casein, lactic acid, butter, water and minor -constituents.</p> - -<p>As the population increased, it was neither possible, nor profitable -to obtain these foods by natural means, and it was found necessary to -resort to the chemist.</p> - -<p>They alighted at one of these chemical laboratories which manufactured -sugar, milk, cooking fats, butter and cheese.</p> - -<p>There was really not much to see, save large boiler-like chemical -retorts, large white enameled vats, and a lot of pumps and electric -motors. The manager explained that sugar was made out of sawdust and -acids. The sawdust, he explained, was digested in the huge white -enameled steel vats by means of certain acids. After the digesting -process was completed other chemicals were added, the ensuing syrup -then being run through retorts and finally emerging as a stream of -white liquid sugar.</p> - -<p>The manager handed Alice a piece of clear, transparent sugar, as well -as several specimens of crystallized sugar, which she ate delightedly, -exclaiming laughingly that "it was the best sawdust she had ever eaten."</p> - -<p>They next visited the synthetic milk section, where hundreds of -thousands of gallons of milk were produced every day. This being a -recent discovery the manager explained it in detail.</p> - -<p>"Milk," he said, "has been known since the dawn of humanity, but only -when man became somewhat civilized did he learn how to obtain milk from -animals, such as the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> goat and the cow. It took thousands of years to -domesticate these animals, and it is not known at what period man first -began to milk these domestic animals for his own supply of milk.</p> - -<p>"Men of an inquisitive nature must have asked themselves the question -for thousands of years, 'Why grow grass, let the cow eat the grass, -digest it, and finally turn it into milk? Why not eliminate the -cow entirely?' The thought, while elementary, had no actual basis -or foundation for centuries, because the chemical processes of the -intermediate stages between the grass and the final milk were too -complicated and were not at all well understood. Only during the last -few years has the problem been solved satisfactorily.</p> - -<p>"Now we grow the fresh grass, which we put into these large retorts, -where the grass is digested just the same as if it were in the stomach -of the cow. By the addition of salts and chemicals we imitate this -digestive process, and by eliminating solids and the liquids, we -finally get a milk that is not only better than the original cow or -goat milk, but has many qualities not possessed by cow's milk.</p> - -<p>"Try this glass of artificial milk," he said to Alice, handing her a -glass of rather unappetizing-looking liquid of a slightly pale green -color, not too clean looking and somewhat thick. Alice tasted it, -however, and found that it tasted exactly like a good rich cow's milk. -The manager asked Alice to close her eyes and take a good drink. She -did so, and exclaimed in surprise that it tasted exactly like rich, -creamy milk.</p> - -<p>The manager then explained that synthetic milk was free from the -bacteria which give milk its white color. Moreover, the fat content was -much higher than cow's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> milk, and, there being a greater percentage of -sugar present, the milk tasted sweeter. Certain added salts gave it a -distinguishing taste.</p> - -<p>From this milk, he further explained, any sort of fat could be -extracted, and the usual array of milk products, such as butter, all -sorts of cheeses, etc., could be made much better than from cow's milk, -which never ran uniform.</p> - -<p>After inspecting the laboratory, Alice and Ralph sampled a number of -products, all of which tasted excellent—better, if anything, than -the natural products. The manager added "You will find our synthetic -products are far easier to digest, and are more wholesome than the -natural product. The reason is that we have eliminated all of the -disease-carrying microbes and bacteria, retaining only the beneficial -ones, which we can control very easily in our plants, more than the cow -or goat can do."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_7" id="chap_7">7</a></p> - -<p>THE END OF MONEY</p> - - -<p>A few days later, Alice, while rolling along one of the elevated -streets of the city with Ralph, inquired how the present monetary -system had been evolved: "You know," she confided, "I know very little -of economics."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Ralph, "all monetary systems of the past or present are -based on one principle—the exchange of one thing for another. At -first it was simply a bartering or swapping of such things as a goat -for a pig, or a string of beads for a piece of cloth. Only much later -did money evolve. Before we had coins, certain rare shells were used -as tokens. Still later, precious metal was exchanged for goods, using -the weight of the metal as a basis. Later on, coins were developed, -and still later on, paper money replaced part of the coins. Where the -shells, the precious metals, and, later the metal coins, had intrinsic -value, the paper money had no such value. The public accepted with -faith and confidence a piece of paper across which was printed the -guarantee that the bearer of it would receive so many metal dollars -in exchange for the piece of paper. The paper money was built upon -confidence that the people had in the government issuing the paper -money.</p> - -<p>"Very few people ever thought of going to a bank or to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> the -government's treasury to exchange the paper money for gold or silver -coins. Instead, they freely circulated this paper money among -themselves, and after people became accustomed to it, they accepted the -paper money to the practical exclusion of gold and silver. Particularly -in the former United States did this system reach a high development, -more so than in old Europe, where paper money was used in conjunction -with gold or silver coins.</p> - -<p>"In the United States, however, nothing but paper money was eventually -used, even to the exclusion of the smallest coins. Whereas up to a -certain period the dollar bill was the smallest paper money unit used, -this was later split into the former coins of fifty cents, twenty-five -cents, ten cents, five cents, and one cent. It was found that small -paper bills the size of former postage stamps were not very practical -when issued in separate pieces, so the printed tape coins, which we -have today, came into extensive use.</p> - -<p>"The small metal box you carry, and from which you unroll your printed -perforated tape, still represents the old paper money. When you, -therefore, make a purchase today and you unroll fifty cents in ten cent -denominations on your perforated roll, you are using a portion of the -old system.</p> - -<p>"But the real monetary system is built upon confidence. It could not -be otherwise today because we have no more precious metals. When, -about 95 years ago, the Frenchman P865 + finished the transmutation of -all the precious metals, the death-knell of the old monetary system -was sounded. Everybody could make gold and silver for less than iron -used to cost in the old days. Consequently, if you had a one hundred -dollar bill that said on its face<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> that you could exchange it for one -hundred dollars' worth of gold, you could have gone to the treasury -and received five twenty dollar gold pieces, which, however, were not -worth more, perhaps, than one or two cents. So of what use was the one -hundred dollar bill?<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> - -<p>"When P865 + made his announcement, it caused neither panic nor -confusion. Several centuries prior there would have been panic, but the -world had been progressing in knowledge, and understood that commerce -and economics are stabilized by confidence.</p> - -<p>"There is only one thing in this world that has a real value, and that -is man's work. You can replace almost everything else with something -else, but you can not replace labor. The modern economic structure is, -therefore, reared entirely upon man's work.</p> - -<p>"When the check came into use, in the 19th century the monetary system -underwent a great change. Instead of people paying what they owed by -means of coins or banknotes, they took to paying each other by means of -a written piece of paper—the check. Billions upon billions of dollars -and cents changed hands, simply by signing a check to some one else, -the check clearing through the bank. While one account was credited, -another was debited. There was little actual money that changed hands, -either between the man who wrote the check and the man who received it, -or even between the banks who cleared the checks. In other words, this -entire check system was based upon credit. You received a check for one -hundred dollars from a man who owed you one hundred dollars. You took -this check in good faith because you knew that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> he must have the one -hundred dollars in the bank—otherwise he probably would not make out -the check. You sent the check to your bank, which, in turn, collected -it from the bank in which your debtor had his account. In all these -transactions no real money ever changed hands. It was credit, pure and -simple, all the way through.</p> - -<p>"So when P865 + demonstrated his synthetic metals, the situation did -not change at all. The people appreciated the fact that the government, -in one way or another, must be good, and that although the money -reserves as figured in metal dollars and cents had become valueless, -every one knew that the country was not founded and based upon -valueless metals alone. Incidentally, no government, the entire world -over, could have redeemed in gold or silver coin all of its outstanding -obligations.</p> - -<p>"Therefore, when gold and silver became practically valueless, nothing -happened, because actual coins were no longer used, and every one used -checks, so that even banknotes had become obsolete.</p> - -<p>"But, with the devaluation of the so-called 'precious' metals the -governments substituted other values. This was done at first by setting -fixed values on property, such as real estate, buildings, manufacturing -plants, etc. Valuations of these were made several times a year, and -whoever owned such properties was given a 'State-value certificate.' -A building, valued at $50,000, was appraised by the state three or -four times or more, a year, and a certificate was given to you which -you took to your bank, the latter immediately crediting you with -part of the $50,000. If you wanted to sell your property to a friend -for $50,000 or more, you would take his check and then, demand from -your bank the return of the original deed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> which in turn would be -transferred to your friend. In that case your bank would credit you -with the $50,000 check of your friend, while he would have the property.</p> - -<p>"Of course the illustration which I gave is not exactly accurate, for -the reason that you could not get from your bank the exact amount of -the valuation of whatever realty changed hands. The bank advanced -about seventy percent of the appraised value, with certain exceptions. -This also was in no wise different from the way our ancestors were -accustomed to do, because in the old days such a transaction would -simply have been called a mortgage. The important difference, however, -later on, was that the valuation was made by the state and such -valuation was final. This tended to stabilize real estate and property -valuations.</p> - -<p>"Merchandise, today, is bought and sold the same as it was bought -and sold centuries ago, and that is by check. So is everything -else, including labor. Every workman is, of course, paid by check, -which check he can use either in his own bank account or for buying -merchandise from his grocer or tailor, getting the difference in a -check or otherwise in fractional paper tape coin.</p> - -<p>"These government paper tape coins and banknotes—the few that are -being used—instead of being covered by gold and silver bullion, are -now covered by real estate bonds or other tangible property."</p> - -<p>"But," Alice asked, "suppose there were a panic, as described in some -of the ancient books, and everybody ran to the bank at once to get his -money, what would happen?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing," said Ralph. "Absolutely nothing. Suppose there was a -'panic,' as you call it. In the first place, why<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> should there be one? -There is no reason for it and no one nowadays would think of running to -the bank and getting his or her 'money.' There is no 'money,' as you -call it.</p> - -<p>"Remember, the banks are all under government control, and if a bank -should fail, which no bank has done for the last four hundred years, -the government would be obliged to make good the shortage out of its -own resources. If everybody ran simultaneously to every bank throughout -the country, a bank would simply make out a check for each total -balance, and pass out a check for the amount. Then the next morning, as -the people could not eat their checks for breakfast, they would have -to do one of two things: either take the check back to the bank and -redeposit it, or exchange the check for commodities.</p> - -<p>"That means that within twenty-four hours all the checks would have -found their way back to the banks and things would be just exactly -where they had left off before the 'run' on the bank. As banks are no -longer under the necessity of paying in coin or banknotes, but under -the law can pay by check, there is no reason why any one should wish to -make a 'run' on the bank, simply to get a check."</p> - -<p>"But," Alice persisted, "suppose you draw out more than you have to -your credit? Suppose you write out a check for more than you have in -the bank? What happens then?"</p> - -<p>"You probably can answer that just as well as I can," replied Ralph. -"To do so is a prison offense, and again, it would do you no good, -because following the first offense you would get a warning from the -government, and at the second such offense you would get a still -stronger warning, and on the third, you would go to jail, because<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> the -first two offenses could perhaps be mistakes, but the third could not. -On top of this, your account would be withdrawn from all banks and you -would not be able to open another account again for ten years, because -all checks as you know, are identified with fingerprints in addition to -the signature. The fingerprint experts of the government would prevent -you from opening another account in any bank anywhere in the country. -So no one abuses his checking privilege and writes out checks when -there are no funds to his credit."</p> - -<p>A few days later Ralph took Alice to one of the great industrial -artificial cloth works. They flew to Pennsylvania, where the great -artificial silk, cotton, and wool mills were located. Ralph explained -that during the 20th century silk had finally been made artificially -from wood and chemicals. This was then known as artificial silk. But -only during the last century had it been possible to manufacture -artificial cotton and artificial wool, synthetically from wood and -other chemicals. Moreover, they wore better than real cotton and real -wool.</p> - -<p>In the enormous plant were immense tanks in which the raw materials -were first cooked and then treated by chemicals until the fibers issued -in fine microscopic streams from nozzles under hydraulic pressure, the -threads were then wound on huge reels. From here the hanks were sent to -the spinneries and cloth-weaving mills.</p> - -<p>Of particular interest was the new kind of cloth, which was much -fighter than wool or cotton, and, at the same time, cooler in summer -and warmer in winter. This material was made from cork, which was first -pulverized and then afterwards digested by means of chemicals. Under -hydraulic pressure, a somewhat thick thread was obtained,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> which had -all the good properties of cork, but none of its poor ones. This cork -thread, when woven into cloth, made a texture both light and durable, -had a velvety touch to the fingers, and being a poor heat conductor, -protected the wearer from heat in the summer and cold in the winter.</p> - -<p>A number of combinations were made whereby cork thread and silk thread -were spun together, giving an entirely new product, with all the -virtues of silk as well as those of cork.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> When this was written gold coins were legal tender. Gold -payments were outlawed by Congress in 1933.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_8" id="chap_8">8</a></p> - -<p>THE MENACE OF THE INVISIBLE CLOAK</p> - - -<p>Leaving the Pennsylvania mills the aeroflyer, traveling at high speed -landed the party within a very short time on one of the tall landing -buildings in New York. Ralph and Alice made their way down to the -elevated roadway, where, at Ralph's suggestion they put on their <i>power -skates</i>, for, as he explained smilingly, it was but a short distance -to his home and the exercise would do them both good and give them an -appetite for luncheon.</p> - -<p>When they were but a little way from their destination Ralph became -conscious of a faint hissing sound close behind them. Twice he glanced -over his shoulder, but the roadway at that hour—it was just before -noon—was deserted.</p> - -<p>Yet the sibilant sound persisted, seeming to be getting closer and -closer, like some persevering insect about to alight.</p> - -<p>Alice apparently heard nothing, or perhaps she thought it merely one -of the noises of the street, for she chattered on in the gay animated -fashion that was one of her charms, oblivious to the fact that the man -at her side was so preoccupied that he scarcely replied to her.</p> - -<p>For Ralph had now satisfied himself that there was nothing anywhere -around them which could cause that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> untiring pursuant hiss. Then from -what secret invisible source did it emanate—and why?</p> - -<p>To the scientist, accustomed to explaining the unexplainable, it was -ominous—menacing—</p> - -<p>Again he turned to look behind him, along the deserted way, and at that -moment he heard a stifled cry from the girl beside him. He whirled to -face her, and faced—nothing! He was alone in the empty street!</p> - -<p>Unbelieving, doubting the evidence of his eyes, he stared about -him, too astounded for the moment, by this mystifying and amazing -disappearance to think collectively.</p> - -<p>Above him the sun shone in a clear blue sky, before and behind him -stretched the still roadway. Then he was aware of the silence, the -deadly quiet. For the hissing had receded into nothingness, and with -it, Alice.</p> - -<p>As the full force of the catastrophe struck him, something akin to -panic seized him. Danger to himself he could have faced with the calm -courage of a brave man, but this unseen and unexpected blow from an -invisible source aimed at the girl so close and dear to his heart smote -him with a chill terror that for an instant held him powerless in its -grip.</p> - -<p>That he should have been careless when she was in danger—but this was -no time for self-reproaches. To act, and to act at once—that was vital.</p> - -<p>Thoughts of high frequency radio waves—of X-rays—of Fernand—</p> - -<p>"Fernand!" he exclaimed aloud, and with the name coherent thought -returned. Putting on all possible speed he covered the distance to his -home in a few seconds and dashed up to his laboratory, the while his -swiftly-working<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> brain attacked the greatest personal problem that it -had ever been called upon to solve.</p> - -<p>Having experimented with ultra-short waves, he knew that it was -possible to create total transparency of any object if the object could -be made to vibrate approximately at the same rate as light. He was -familiar with the theory, and although he had worked on it at times, -he had never seen a practical demonstration of it.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> He realized a -machine was in the hands of someone, intent on kidnapping Alice. He -knew, too, that a police description would be flashed within a radius -of thousands of miles instantly, it would be necessary for the abductor -to keep Alice invisible for some time to come, for fear of some one -seeing and recognizing her. All this flashed through his mind as he -assembled a detecting apparatus consisting of a portable aerial and a -small box containing a few radio instruments and a pair of headphones.</p> - -<p>The aerial, by being rotated, could determine the point from which -the waves emanated. In ten minutes Ralph had the apparatus rigged up -and began rotating the aerial, until a roaring noise was heard in the -telephones. He knew that this must be the apparatus producing the -invisibility, and within a few seconds he had dashed from the house on -his power skates, carrying the detector in front of him. Two of his -assistants accompanied him.</p> - -<p>The pursuit was on. As they approached the kidnapper the sounds in the -telephones became stronger. They sped along Broadway, while the hastily -notified police kept the way open. The rising sound in the 'phones -clearly indi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>cated they were headed directly toward the abductor.</p> - -<p>They gained steadily on him while the rolling, flying police cleared -Ralph's way with their shrieking sirens, while the kidnapper had to -pick his way slowly through crowds.</p> - -<p>The chase led them into a narrow street on the outskirts of the city.</p> - -<p>The sound that came through the telephones was now exceedingly loud, -indicating that the quarry was near by. But this very nearness was -confusing to Ralph, for the volume of sound prevented him from exactly -locating the invisible kidnapper and the girl. In vain he turned the -aerial in all directions, seeking one point from which it came louder -than another that would determine the course of his pursuit. For the -moment he was halted, and, like some hound baffled by the cunning of -the fox, he cast about him eagerly, waiting for what he knew must come, -the next move of the pursued man.</p> - -<p>And then it came—a deepening tone in the telephones, a gradation of -sound that to the trained ear of the scientist told him all that he -wished to know. With an exultant cry he sprang forward, and dashed -through the entrance of a small store.</p> - -<p>The proprietor, whose state of mind may best be described by the word -"flabbergasted," struggled for some moments in vain for speech while -Ralph and his men, with outstretched hands eagerly swept from wall to -wall.</p> - -<p>"Here, here, you fellows," he finally managed to gasp, "what are you -after? What are you trying to do? You'll knock something over in a -minute. Hey, look out there—there it goes!"</p> - -<p>For Ralph had reached around a tailor's dummy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> knocking it over as his -hands closed upon something behind it, something invisible and yet warm -and firm; something that quivered and shrunk away at his touch.</p> - -<p>The proprietor, rushing forward to pick up the dummy, stopped short, -gaping. Ralph's hands, at the moment of contact, vanished into thin -air. But in an instant they re-appeared, as he drew towards him, out of -the influence of the ultra-short waves what he knew must be the bound -and gagged form of Alice.</p> - -<p>Once away from the influence of the apparatus she became visible again. -A sack had been tied over her head and shoulders and her hands were -tightly bound to her sides. She was still on her roller skates, and her -feet had been left free, the sack being sufficient to render her almost -wholly helpless, and unable to make any effective resistance.</p> - -<p>As Ralph removed the fastenings and released her, she staggered and -clung to him, her head dropping in exhaustion.</p> - -<p>"Oh," she gasped faintly, "what is it? Where did you go?"</p> - -<p>"Water!" exclaimed Ralph harshly to those about him, and the fat -storekeeper, trembling with excitement, but withal displaying an -extraordinary energy for one who could never at any time have been a -streamline model, made a dive for a vase of flowers on the counter. -Grasping the tops of the flowers with one hand he flung them in a -corner, and tendered the vase of discolored water to Ralph, panting the -while as one who has run his race, and emerged triumphant.</p> - -<p>"I said water—not mud," shouted Ralph in exasperation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> as he rubbed -the girl's cold hands between his own warm ones.</p> - -<p>"Well, that's water, ain't it?" said the man, and Ralph glowered at him.</p> - -<p>"Please," said Alice, trying to withdraw her hands, "I'm all right, -indeed I am. I was just a little dizzy for a minute, but it has all -passed now."</p> - -<p>The color returned to her pale cheeks with a rush, and she straightened -herself, and turned away in some confusion, her hands instinctively -going to her hair, the gesture that women have ever used when at a loss -for words.</p> - -<p>In the meantime, Ralph's two assistants had found the ultra-wave -machine by the very simple method of feeling about the spot where the -girl had been discovered. When their hands disappeared they knew that -they had it, and Ralph ordered some water thrown upon it, which had the -twofold result of stopping its activity and of bringing it into view.</p> - -<p>Having assured himself that Alice was unharmed and recovering from the -shock resulting from her misadventure, the scientist made a minute -examination of the instrument. It was a complicated machine and one -totally strange to him. As he studied it he felt a growing conviction -that this was no earth-made machine, but one conceived and made by a -Martian. Undoubtedly it was the work of some master of science, a true -mental giant.</p> - -<p>Then where, he asked himself, did Fernand—if it was Fernand—secure -it, and how? His object, of course, was obvious. He was evidently -prepared to go to any lengths to secure the girl for himself. -Had he not so threatened her? His method of attack had been -ingenious—fiendishly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> ingenious. Here was no mean antagonist, no petty -enemy, but one whose cunning would tax Ralph's resourcefulness to the -utmost.</p> - -<p>When he finally turned away from his inspection he found Alice quite -herself again. She was listening to the store proprietor's version of -the affair, a story that, under the stimulus of Alice's dark eyes, lost -none in the telling, for where facts failed him, imagination did not.</p> - -<p>"—flew open before my very eyes," he was saying when Ralph turned -around, "as if by unseen hands. And then this terrible sound—I -can't scarcely describe it, more like (his eye fell on the ultra-ray -apparatus), more like a great machine than anything else. I says to -myself, says I, 'There's something strange about this,' I says, 'I'd -better be on the lookout, I might be needed, for it looks to me,' I -says, 'as though someone was up to something'."</p> - -<p>As a matter of fact, he had thought the opening of the door due to a -passing wind, and the hissing of the machine, which has already been -likened to the buzz of an insect, the humming of a bee, let in by the -same agency.</p> - -<p>"And then that black man, he gave me a fright for fair," he went on.</p> - -<p>"What about him? What was he like?" asked Ralph sharply.</p> - -<p>"Ah," said the proprietor, swelling with importance, "that's just what -I've been asking myself. Strange we should hit on the same thoughts -ain't it?"</p> - -<p>"Very," commented the scientist, with wasted irony. "Can't you give any -description of him? When and how did you see him, anyway?"</p> - -<p>The proprietor put his hands into his pockets and swayed backward and -forward on the balls of his feet. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> surveyed each member of his -little audience with glances of poignant meaning, as one who had much -of consequence to tell—all in good time.</p> - -<p>Finally he spoke. "He was black," he said, "black all over."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes," exclaimed Ralph impatiently, "you told us that before. -Can't you give us something definite to go by? His face, for instance. -What was that like?"</p> - -<p>The other leaned forward and tapped him on the chest impressively.</p> - -<p>"Ay, that was black too," he said.</p> - -<p>"Black!" cried Ralph.</p> - -<p>"Black it was—all covered with a black cloth," said the -none-too-intelligent shopkeeper smugly. "He come right out of the air -before my very eyes, all black, with a black cloth on his face, and -rolled out of my store like a cyclone."</p> - -<p>"You should have tried to hold him," said Ralph.</p> - -<p>"Well, I gave him a look, I can tell you. He won't forget it in a -hurry. I just stood there and looked at him—like this."</p> - -<p>He screwed up his face in so alarming a manner that one of Ralph's -assistants was moved to remark that it was a wonder he didn't drop dead -with a face like that.</p> - -<p>"What d'ye mean?" demanded the owner of the countenance in question.</p> - -<p>"I said," repeated the assistant, "it was a wonder he didn't drop dead. -I would have. It's all I can do to look at you right now."</p> - -<p>Alice, unable to control her laughter any longer, hastily murmured -something about "fresh air" and went to the door.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> - -<p>Ralph, keeping his own face straight by a valiant effort, ordered his -men to lift the ultra-ray machine and take it back to the laboratory to -give it a more minute inspection at his leisure.</p> - -<p>The girl and the man were very silent on their way back to Ralph's -home. A tragedy had been narrowly averted and each felt that this first -attempt might by no means be the last.</p> - -<p>Only once did Alice voice her fears.</p> - -<p>"You know," she said, "I am certain it was Fernand." She hesitated for -a brief moment and then held out her hand. In the palm lay a small -heart-shaped object of a curious translucent green, delicately carved. -It was pierced for a chain, and indeed, a part of the chain still hung -there, but it had been broken off short, and only a few links remained.</p> - -<p>"What's that?" asked Ralph.</p> - -<p>"A charm that Fernand always carries. He showed it to me once. He's -very superstitious about it, he told me—and I found it back there in -the store when I went to the door."</p> - -<p>Ralph looked very thoughtful.</p> - -<p>"Then he must have brought that machine from Mars," he said with -decision. "And with such resources at his command, I wonder what his -next move will be."</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> In 1925 John L. Reinartz, working with ultra-short radio -waves, actually made it possible to look through solid metal plates -with the naked eye.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_9" id="chap_9">9</a></p> - -<p>THE CONQUEST OF GRAVITATION</p> - - -<p>Alice and her father had been invited, the next day, to Ralph's -laboratory, as he wished to show them some of his latest discoveries. -They found him sitting in front of his desk while he was engaged in -dictating scientific data to thin air.</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said Alice, as she entered, "you are evidently using some of the -methods of my kidnapper, since you seem to be dictating to an invisible -secretary!"</p> - -<p>"Nothing so complicated," said Ralph.</p> - -<p>Ralph, who then welcomed them, denied the charge, and went on to -explain to his party his new invention.</p> - -<p>"The evolution of letter-writing has been a slow and painful one. Our -remote ancestors, many thousands of years ago, carved their letters -in stone slabs. Later on, the more civilized Egyptians wrote their -letters upon papyrus. Still later, upon the invention of paper and ink, -communications and letters could be written much better and faster in -that improved manner. Later still, the typewriter came into use.</p> - -<p>"All of these methods had one great drawback. It was possible to easily -falsify such records. While there had been handwriting experts, it -happened very frequently in olden times—too frequently, in fact—that -a signature on such an important document as, for instance, a will,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> -was forged, and it became a question for handwriting experts to decide -whether the signature was genuine. But even the handwriting experts -were not always right.</p> - -<p>"It has often occurred to me that it should be possible to use the -human voice as its own document so that it could be preserved in a -different manner than the phonographic method discovered in the 20th -century. Of course, under that method it was possible for one to speak -one's last will and testament, but it was a clumsy way and was rarely -used on account of its high cost. Furthermore it was difficult to -make copies of a talk. Then, too, the disc or cylinder upon which the -phonographic records were made were very fragile, and could be broken, -either accidentally or purposely.</p> - -<p>"The method you see me using is phonetic, and it is practically -impossible to falsify such a record. Watch how the machine works."</p> - -<p>Ralph reseated himself at his desk and started to talk. Facing him -on the desk was a machine of about the shape of an old-fashioned -typewriter, except that there were no keys. There were a few dials and -knobs and from the top of the cabinet a white sheet of paper slowly -emerged as Ralph dictated. When he had finished, he pressed a button -and the entire sheet was ejected. It was covered with queer-looking -wave lines, similar to the lines made by a seismograph when recording -earthquakes—queer little parallel lines with humps at the tops that -increased from very short wave-like scrolls to long ones. The entire -sheet was covered with these lines in indelible ink. Ralph showed Alice -the page and went on explaining:</p> - -<p>"The page which you see here is an exact record of my voice, but just -as no two fingerprints are alike in this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> world, no two voices are -alike either. Each has certain characteristics produced by certain -overtones in the voices of the various individuals. The pronunciation -of individuals varies, so does the intonation, so does the speed -of talking, so does the timbre of the voice, and a hundred other -differences that to an expert are observable immediately.</p> - -<p>"Suppose, then, during my life I have recorded a great many documents -similar to this one. The waves traced on this piece of paper have -certain characteristics, which are entirely individual. Here are two -sheets of paper, both containing the Lord's Prayer, but spoken by -two different individuals in my office. Both of these individuals -have voices that are very nearly alike, yet, you can see how great a -difference there is between the lines. On one sheet the lines are much -heavier and swing in quite an apparently different manner.</p> - -<p>"By reference to authentic documents of this character, it will be -impossible to falsify any record by having some one else make such a -spoken record. A will, or any other important document, will, in the -future, be made by this machine and will do away with many court cases -and much business squabble, and much shirking of responsibility.</p> - -<p>"Furthermore, by my method it is possible with the same machine to make -as many as twenty-five copies at one time, while the original is being -made. This is done by a chemical process in the machine itself, the -copies being simply thin chemical papers which are being developed at -the same time as the voice-writing is being made.</p> - -<p>"Reading these pages is not as difficult as you might think. It would -be necessary, however, to know the <i>pho<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>nolphabet</i>. The phonolphabet -is not very much different from the alphabet that you now know. Every -syllable and every consonant used by you makes a certain impression -in my machine, and while it may vary, as explained before, still it -remains roughly the same, exactly as handwriting by different persons -may vary, but still you can read because the characteristics are the -same. The same is true of my machine. By studying the characters of the -phonolphabet, it is possible, within a few weeks, to learn how to read -a phonetic letter, with the same ease that you read a handwritten or -typewritten letter.</p> - -<p>"I expect that in the schools of the future children will be taught the -phonolphabet so that every one will be able to read phonetic records.</p> - -<p>"Another feature of my invention is that if you do not wish to read the -letter you can listen to it." Saying so, Ralph inserted the letter into -an odd-shaped cabinet, which had a slot at the top. Two grippers slowly -began to draw the paper into the inside of the machine. Ralph turned -two knobs and pushed a button, and within a few seconds his own voice -was heard with unmistakable clarity repeating what he had said fifteen -minutes before.</p> - -<p>"This machine, likewise, is very simple," said Ralph. "The ink tracing -on the paper record is opaque, while the paper itself is more or less -transparent under a strong light. A light-sensitive cell on the other -side slowly moves from left to right, taking off the entire phonetic -record, as it were. This light-sensitive cell moves in the same ratio -and with the same speed that I originally dictated, and the words -are reproduced exactly as I spoke them, by means of a loud-speaking -telephone coupled to an amplifier.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Thus it is now possible to have a double record; an audible and a -written one, and with the two it is practically impossible to falsify -records.</p> - -<p>"As you know, there have been some big embezzlement scandals recently -and it was not always possible to convict those suspected due to the -clever methods which these swindlers used.</p> - -<p>"One great advantage of the new system is that it is done entirely by -machine and does away with the human element. I do not require my real -secretary when I dictate. I sit alone in my study or office and simply -talk."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"There is one unique place, I am sure you will be interested in." Ralph -led the way to the elevator and they quickly shot up to the roof, -where they boarded one of Ralph's flyers and within a few minutes -were heading north. The machine rose until they were up about 20,000 -feet. The cold made it necessary to turn on the heat in the enclosed -cab. In the distance, just ahead there shortly appeared a brilliant -spot of light suspended in the dark sky, which quickly increased in -size as they approached. From a distance it appeared like an enormous -hemisphere with the flat side facing the earth below. As they drew -close, they could see that it was a great city suspended in the air -apparently covered with a transparent substance, just as if a toy city -had been built on a dinner plate and covered with a bell-shaped globe.</p> - -<p>They alighted on the rim, at a landing stage outside the transparent -covering. They were soon walking along a warm, beautifully laid out -street. Here was neither bustle nor noise. The deepest calm prevailed. -There were small houses of an old-fashioned design. There were shops -in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> great profusion. There were playgrounds, neatly-laid-out parks, but -without looking at the humans that were walking around, the visitors -felt as if they had gone back many centuries.</p> - -<p>There were no power roller skates, no automatic vehicles. There were no -aeroflyers beneath the glass ceiling. Instead a serene calm prevailed, -while people with happy expressions on their faces were leisurely -walking to and fro.</p> - -<p>Very much puzzled, Alice wanted to know what this mysterious -glass-encased city was.</p> - -<p>"This," explained Ralph, "is one of our many vacation cities that I -hope will soon dot every part of the world. People are living entirely -too intensely nowadays and with the many functions that they have to -perform, with all the labor-saving devices they have, their lives are -speeded up to the breaking point. The businessman or executive must -leave his work every month for a few days, if he is not to become a -wreck. Heretofore we have sent him to the mountain tops or to the -seashore; there he found no rest. The noise, even on top of the -mountains, due to aeroflyers and other vehicles, did not give a man a -real rest. On our floating city there is absolute rest. There is no -noise, no excitement, not even a radio telephone.</p> - -<p>"The city, 20,000 feet above the ground, is floating in perfectly clean -and uncontaminated air. This air, while less dense than that further -down, is renewed automatically every few hours. It is invigorating, -just the same as mountain air with all its benefits.</p> - -<p>"The roof is made of steel lattice work, thick glass panes being fitted -in between the steel frames. The shape<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> is in the form of a huge dome -covering the entire city, which measures about a little over a mile in -circumference. The height of the center of the dome from the floor of -the city is about 200 feet. At night the city is illuminated by cold -light from high frequency wires running below the dome, similar to the -system now used to light up our cities.</p> - -<p>"The floor upon which the entire city rests is steelonium, and the city -is held up by means of anti-gravitational impulse. By neutralizing the -gravity for the area below the floating city and a little beyond it, it -is possible to keep the floating city at any distance from the earth. -In other words, we use a gravitational 'screen,' and then build a city -on top of this screen.</p> - -<p>"By charging the gravitational screen at a very high potential, we -nullify gravity and as the city no longer has any weight it can be -placed on any level and remain there practically indefinitely. A few -air propellers keep the city from being blown away by storms or wind.</p> - -<p>"Although it was very cold in our aeroflyer as we came up, it is nice -and warm on the streets here. Nor is there any artificial heating -during the daytime. There is perpetual sunshine during the day at this -level, at which practically no clouds ever form.</p> - -<p>"The city being entirely roofed over by the glass dome, and the -interior being filled with air, the sun quickly heats up the -atmosphere. Within two hours after the sun rises the air is balmy, and -it would become stifling hot if the air was not renewed from time to -time. Air is a poor conductor of heat, and if the air were not renewed, -it would soon be 150 degrees in the shade. Cold air, however, from -the outside, is continually drawn in so that an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> even temperature is -maintained. Only at night is the city heated artificially, as without -the sunlight at this altitude it soon becomes exceedingly cold.</p> - -<p>"All the heating is done by electricity, and a uniform temperature -is maintained during the night, which is somewhat less than the -temperature during the day.</p> - -<p>"There is nothing that a man or woman can do up here except rest, and -that is precisely what they do. One week's rest up here is equivalent -to a month's rest down below."</p> - -<p>Ralph, with Alice and her father strolled through the suspended city -in which the simple life was the keynote. There were recreation -parks, gymnasiums, baths of various kinds, such as hydrotherapy, -electrotherapy, and others. There were sun parlors and sun baking -parks. The din of the city, the curse of man's own handiwork, was -absent. Everyone wore either felt or rubber shoes. The entire -atmosphere was delightful and restful.</p> - -<p>It was with genuine regret that Alice and her father returned to the -aeroflyer and back to New York.</p> - -<p>That night after dinner Ralph took his guests to a new entertainment -that had just become popular. They entered a big building on which, in -big fiery letters, was inscribed</p> - - - -<p class="center">GRAVITATIONAL CIRCUS</p> - -<p>Ralph explained to his guests that with the invention of the nullifying -of gravitation, many new and wonderful effects had come about. Gravity, -he explained, was an electromagnetic manifestation, in the ether, -the same as light, radio waves, etc. It had always been the dream of -scientists for hundreds of years to nullify the effect of gravitation. -"In other words," Ralph continued, "if you pick up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> a stone and open -your hand, the stone will fall to the ground. Why does it fall? First, -because the earth attracts the stone, and second because the stone -attracts the earth. There is a definite gravitational pull between -the two. The effect of the stone in pulling up the earth is, however, -inconsequential, and while the stone does exert a certain amount of -pull towards the earth, the latter is so tremendously larger that the -effect on the earth is not felt at all.</p> - -<p>"'If,' scientists had argued for hundreds of years, 'you could -interpose between the stone and the earth a screen which nullified -gravitation, the stone would not fall down when let go, but would -remain suspended just exactly where you left it.'</p> - -<p>"Scientists also argued that if gravitation was an electromagnetic -manifestation of the ether, it should be possible to overcome and -nullify it by electrical means.</p> - -<p>"It took hundreds of years, however, before the correct solution was -found. It was known that certain high frequency currents would set up -an interference with the gravitational waves, for it had been found in -the first part of our century that gravitation was indeed a wave form, -the same as light waves, or radio waves. When this interference between -the two waves, namely, the gravitational waves and the electrical -waves was discovered, it was found that a metallic screen charged by -electric high frequency waves would indeed nullify gravitation to a -certain extent. If you charged a metal netting in this fashion and you -weighed yourself on a spring scale on top of the screen, insulated of -course from the screen itself, your weight would be roughly diminished -one-half.</p> - -<p>"In other words, about half of the gravitation had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> nullified, the -other half still remaining. Thus things stood until about two years -ago, when I began to occupy myself with the problem. I reasoned that -while we had achieved much, still much more remained to be done. Our -anti-gravitational screen still let through some of the gravitational -waves, or fifty percent of the energy, which we could not seem to -counteract. I felt that it was not so much the effect of the current as -the material of the screen which seemed to be at fault. Experimental -work along this line convinced me that I was on the right track and -that if ever gravitation was to be annulled in its entirety a screen -of a special material would have to be evolved in order to obtain the -desired results.</p> - -<p>"I finally found that only the densest material known, namely -thoro-iridium, would completely stop the gravitational waves, providing -that the metal screen was uninterruptedly bombarded with alpha rays -which are continually emitted by radium.</p> - -<p>"The screen finally evolved was expensive to make at first, but -quantity production now has very considerably lowered the price."</p> - -<p>By this time the party had found their seats in the amphitheater, and -they had seated themselves. Seats were all around a ring, which did -not look much different from the old-fashioned circus ring, except -that it was, perhaps, a little larger. The gravitational screen, -Ralph explained, was located below and could not be actually seen. -The machinery, too, was located in the basement. A fine wire netting -surrounded the entire arena, from top to bottom, the purpose of which -became apparent later.</p> - -<p>It was an old-fashioned horse and bareback rider act. Suddenly the -gravitation was cut off, and the horse rose,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> beating the air with his -hoofs, while the rider, in a sitting position hung onto the horse with -his legs. The horse and rider no longer having any weight, they could -not of course entirely control their movements. Both horse and rider at -times hung with their heads downwards, then sideways, until finally, by -jerking, they arrived in the center of the arena.</p> - -<p>The horse had been well trained and ceased pawing the air, and his legs -hung limp.</p> - -<p>The rider mounted on the back of the horse, and with a slight jump -reached the ceiling of the arena, some hundred feet up. Having no -weight left, he bounced by the least muscular effort. Pushing against -the ceiling with one of his fingers, he bounded down to the floor of -the arena, only to rebound again to the ceiling. He kept this up for a -few minutes, and then repeated the same thing sideways, where he hit -against the wire netting, stretched from top to bottom of the arena to -keep the performer from falling into the audience.</p> - -<p>The gravitational field extended only vertically, but was not in -evidence immediately beyond the sides of the arena. Had there been no -screen, the performer, when passing outside the gravitational boundary, -would have immediately regained his full weight and would have fallen.</p> - -<p>The performer could jerk himself around anywhere in the arena, and -being a good acrobat, he had no difficulty in reaching his horse. Much -care had to be exercised, however, because the slightest kick against -the horse would have sent the horse to the opposite side.</p> - -<p>Slowly the gravitation was turned on, and both horse and rider sank -gracefully toward the ground, where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> with the full gravitation -restored, the horse and rider made their exit.</p> - -<p>The next act was one that even Ralph had not seen. Two experts at -juggling bounded into the arena and after the gravitation was cut off -one of them placed a billiard cue on his forehead, and an old-fashioned -hand lamp on top of the cue. The juggler then took the cue away and -withdrew jerkily. The lamp remained in the same position, until brought -down by one of the performers.</p> - -<p>The tricks aroused great enthusiasm among the audience. An acrobat, -using one of the billiard cues as a standing trapeze, revolved around -the trapeze as if it were held securely in place. By jerking around -the billiard cue, it was made to appear as if he was actually swinging -around under his full "weight."</p> - -<p>A beautiful effect was obtained when the jugglers brought several -colored glass pitchers, filled with different-colored liquids. When the -pitchers were inverted, nothing happened, because the liquid, having no -weight, could not flow out. However, by turning the pitcher upside down -and suddenly jerking it away the colored liquid, due to its own lag or -inertia, stayed behind.</p> - -<p>Due to the surface tension of liquids, it did not retain the shape of -the pitcher, but formed itself immediately into a globe. The jugglers -emptied a number of pitchers all in a row, leaving behind the globular -liquid balls, formed of water and fruit juices.</p> - -<p>The jugglers approached the balls and began to drink, simply by placing -their lips against them. They then demonstrated the mobility of the -water balls by pushing their fingers into them and cutting the balls -in two, the halves immediately becoming new and smaller balls.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> Then -by carefully giving each of the balls a slight push, the water balls -would gravitate up to the ceiling of the arena and still having enough -momentum left they would rebound and come back, only to be pushed up -again by flat tennis racquets.</p> - -<p>This had to be done carefully because the slightest false motion spread -out the water balls into a flat sheet. The surface tension of the -liquid always reasserted itself and the water balls came down sometimes -in an elliptical shape. Every time the flat tennis racquet hit the -balls, they lost their shape momentarily, but soon were globular again.</p> - -<p>The two jugglers finally managed to push the liquid spheres one into -another, until finally all balls had been joined into one. This, of -course, amalgamated the various colors, but the colors had been made in -such a way that the ball became a somewhat dirty-looking white, all the -colors having recombined, making one color, just as all the hues of the -rainbow, if combined together, make white.</p> - -<p>The final act was where a huge water ball, about twenty-five feet in -diameter, was pushed to the center of the arena, while a number of -pretty girls entered the liquid itself and swam within the ball. The -ball was lit up by strong searchlights, and the entire arena darkened, -as the girls swam within the clear crystal water ball. When the -swimmers needed air, all they had to do was to push their heads out of -the sphere, breathe, and then resume "swimming," or jerking themselves -around within the weightless water.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_10" id="chap_10">10</a></p> - -<p>TWO LETTERS</p> - - -<p>During September Alice and her father had remained Ralph's guests, -extending their stay at his urgent request. James 212B 422 made a most -satisfactory chaperon. If they visited one of the great historical -museums he always managed to disappear in search of some exhibit, -leaving the other two to sit on a bench to wait his return, which was -often delayed purposely.</p> - -<p>But to his daughter and the scientist time had become of little -importance and though the engineer was sometimes gone an hour, when he -returned he would find them still sitting on the bench, sometimes deep -in conversation, sometimes absorbed in a silence that meant more than -any words could express.</p> - -<p>Together they were blissfully happy, apart they were wretchedly lonely.</p> - -<p>Ralph, it appeared, had completely forgotten numerous of his lectures -in which he had labeled love as "nothing but a perfumed animal -instinct." No lover more abject than he now, none more humble in the -presence of his divinity. During those weeks they had arrived at a -mutual understanding.</p> - -<p>All the world knew and rejoiced in their happiness. Ralph had always -been extremely popular with the people. Even the Planet Governor -himself had been moved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> to privately express his approval. Many times -had the scientist worried him. Ralph had so often been restive under -the restraints which must of necessity be imposed upon one so important -to the Earth's progress. And now, with this new influence to hold him, -the Governor felt that the task of keeping Ralph contented had been -lifted from the official's already over-burdened shoulders.</p> - -<p>All the world rejoiced—all but two, and for them the knowledge of the -two lovers' happiness was gall and wormwood.</p> - -<p>One was roused to fury, the other plunged in despair.</p> - -<p>To Fernand the scientist was one hitherto unforeseen obstacle to be -removed from his path in his conquest of Alice. To the Martian, knowing -beforehand that his passion was hopeless, the knowledge that she loved -another was, nevertheless, a bitter blow. Before, at least, she had -been heartfree. Wretched as he had been, bitter as he had been against -the laws that made such a union impossible, there had been the barren -comfort of the fact that she belonged to no one else. Now, even that -was taken from him, and he felt that he could bear no more.</p> - -<p>In his desperation he made up his mind to leave Earth, and immediately -booked his passage to Mars. But on the very eve of his departure he -found himself unable to make the decision that would separate him from -her forever, and the next inter-planetary liner, which left Earth for -Mars, carried, not himself, but this code letter to his best friend on -his distant planet.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 45%;">New York, September 20, 2660.</span><br /> -<br /> -To Rrananolh AK 42,<br /> -</p> - -<p>Although I am booked on the <i>Terrestrial</i> which departs tomorrow, I -have cancelled my reservation and conse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>quently will not arrive on -Mars November 31st as planned. I do not know whether I shall take -passage on the next transport or not. In fact, I don't know what I -shall do. I am mad with despair and anguish. A thousand times over -have I wished that I had never come to this planet!</p> - -<p>I have not told you before, but as perhaps you have guessed from my -previous letters, I am in love with a Terrestrial woman. Never mind -her name. I loved her from the first moment I saw her. You, who have -never visited the Earth, can hardly understand. It does not matter.</p> - -<p>I have tried in every way to free myself from this mad infatuation, -but it is hopeless. Chemicals and Radio-treatments seem but to -accentuate my longing for that which is forever beyond my reach. I -thought at first that I could conquer myself, but I know now that I -cannot, and the knowledge is driving me to madness.</p> - -<p>She has never known, and I think no one else here does. I have told -none but you, my friend. Always I feared that in some way I might -betray myself to her. There are times now when I wish that I had.</p> - -<p>And yet—to have her suffer as I am suffering—I could not have borne -that.</p> - -<p>I will, I suppose, go the way of all Martians who have had the -misfortune to care for a Terrestrial. A little <i>Listadinide</i> injected -under the skin will free me from an existence which has become a -daily torture unless I find a way to evade the harsh laws.</p> - -<p>Please hand the enclosed documents to my Second. If I do not see you -again do not grieve for me, but remember our friendship, and think -sometimes of your unhappy friend.</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 45%;"> -<span class="smcap">Llysanorh'</span><br /> -</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> - -<p>Long after his missive had gone, he sat rigid, motionless, by the -window with unseeing eyes fixed on the city below him. At last he rose -with a sigh and left the room. Was there no way out of such misery? Was -there no straw he could grasp?</p> - -<p>Of a very different caliber was an epistle sent by Fernand 60O 10 to -his friend Paul 9B 1261.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p> - -<span style="margin-left: 45%;">New York, Sept. 28th, 2660.</span><br /> -<br /> -Dear Paul:<br /> -</p> - -<p>You have heard the gossip, but don't fear my having a broken heart. -I am not easily downed, and I have a card or two yet to play in this -game.</p> - -<p>Fact is, Alice is as hard to conquer as a steelonium wall is to -break through. That, however, is to my liking, my dear Paul. I love -obstacles, particularly when the goal is as pretty as Alice. I have -never wanted her more than now that she has thrown me down. Perhaps -if she had ever encouraged me I would not have cared a rap for her. -But—this opposition inflames me! Now I will have her. I <i>will</i> have -her, and she shall love me, mark my words.</p> - -<p>I have mentioned to you before the ridiculous Martian, Llysanorh', -I believe. It is very amusing to see him staring at Alice with -adoration in those enormous eyes of his. I really believe he is in -love with her, but these Martians are so self-controlled it is hard -to tell anything about them.</p> - -<p>If Alice had fallen in love with this lanky, seven-foot Llysanorh' -she would have been lost to me, and to all the rest of the world. -That fellow certainly can be sugary when he wants to. However, she -really imagines that she's in love with this crazy scientist, and -right now I'm de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>cidedly <i>de trop</i>. That worries me very little, I -assure you. She will soon learn to love me once I can get her away -from him. And I am going to provide for that.</p> - -<p>Everything has been arranged, and I am only awaiting my opportunity. -If I am successful, I will take her out into space for a few months. -My machine is in readiness. It is the latest type, and the finest -I have ever seen. Provisions, books, reels for the Hypnobioscope, -instruments, etc., in fact, everything you can think of is on board. -I have even provided a well trained maid. I can assure you Alice -won't find it lonesome. Besides, I flatter myself that I can be very -entertaining.</p> - -<p>Before I close I must ask you to attend to several matters for me, -as per enclosed rolls. You will understand everything better after -you read the instructions. I do not expect to be away more than three -months at the latest, and you will see from the gray document that I -empower you to take charge of my affairs. I will send you a message -from on board the machine if all goes well.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 35%;">Until then,</span><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 45%;">Fernand.</span> -</p></blockquote> - -<p>It was the night of the full moon. There was a faint touch of crispness -in the early autumn breeze that now and again gently ruffled the waters -of the ocean. A thousand stars danced lightly in the sky and were -reflected in the undulating waves below. And in the moonlit path over -the waters hovered an aerocab gleaming silvery white in the radiance.</p> - -<p>The cab was far from New York, away from the beaten traffic. -Occasionally other aircraft came into view but always at a distance.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> - -<p>To Alice and Ralph this solitude was Paradise. Night after night they -hired an aerocab and flew to this lonely airway, where seated side by -side, with only the driver for a chaperon, they were absolutely happy.</p> - -<p>The driver was a silent man who, as long as he was well paid for his -time, was content to describe endless circles indefinitely.</p> - -<p>On this particular evening Alice seemed, to Ralph, more lovely than he -had ever before seen her. In the caressing light of the mellow moon her -flowerlike face glowed with a new radiance, and her dark eyes, shadowed -with long curling lashes, were mistily tender.</p> - -<p>Between these two there was no need for words. So perfectly were their -thoughts attuned that each knew what the other felt.</p> - -<p>And so, presently, their hands stole out and met, and clasped. And it -seemed to both that Heaven could hold no greater happiness than this, -until, with one accord, they turned their faces to each other, and -their lips met. To them nothing existed beyond themselves and their -love.</p> - -<p>The voice of another aerocab driver hailing them made them realize that -there were still ties that bound them to Earth, and they moved apart a -little self-consciously, as a cab drew alongside their own.</p> - -<p>"Having some trouble with my motor," called the newcomer. "Could you -let me have a few copper connectors to repair the damage?"</p> - -<p>"Sure," returned their driver, and the two cabs came together and were -made fast.</p> - -<p>Ralph, seeing that his man could attend to the matter, turned away from -them towards Alice, and again drew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> her hand into his own, where it -snuggled confidingly.</p> - -<p>Quite suddenly he was aware of a sickish, sweet odor, which almost -instantly became suffocating. He was conscious of the pressure of -Alice's fingers and then blackness overwhelmed him.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_11" id="chap_11">11</a></p> - -<p>THE FLIGHT INTO SPACE</p> - - -<p>How long he was unconscious Ralph did not know, but when he came to his -senses the moon had sunk low on the horizon. He felt unbearably weary -and his limbs seemed too heavy to move. For a time he half lay in his -seat looking stupidly down at the ocean, his mind a blank.</p> - -<p>All at once it dawned upon him that the seat next to him was empty. -"Alice, Alice," he muttered, trying to shake off his stupor, "Alice, -where are you?"</p> - -<p>There was no reply. The driver, his hands on the steering disc, was -slumped forward in his seat, his head sunk on his breast.</p> - -<p>With a stupendous effort Ralph managed to open the glass window -in front of him. Instantly the strong odor of chloroformal almost -overpowered him, and a terrible sensation of nausea forced him to cling -blindly to his seat. In a moment it passed and he was able to collect -his senses somewhat. His first thought was for Alice. His dimmed sight -had cleared sufficiently for him to see that she was not in the cab. He -thought she must have fallen into the sea, and in his agony he cried -aloud her name again and again.</p> - -<p>And then a recollection came to him, of her father's words on the first -morning of their visit. He had feared for Alice. Someone had threatened -her. Ralph forced his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> still wandering mind to concentrate. Some one -had threatened to kidnap her, and that someone was Fernand 60O 10.</p> - -<p>He recalled the stranded aerocab. Its helplessness had been a trick to -deceive him, and to get near enough to drug him and his driver while -they took Alice away.</p> - -<p>The thought aroused him from his dreadful lethargy. With a rush his -vitality came back. He flung himself upon the stupefied driver and -shook him violently.</p> - -<p>The cab was still flying at an even speed in a great circle and Ralph -saw that it was imperative that he get control of it at once, for -another machine, bound evidently for New York, was bearing down upon -the helpless men.</p> - -<p>With a powerful shove he got the driver into the auxiliary seat and -climbed over, seizing, as he did so, the steering disc. He flung it -over, just in time to escape the onrushing cab, whose occupants, as it -passed, leaned out, and in fluent profanity inquired if he wanted the -whole airway.</p> - -<p>Unheeding, Ralph set the steering disc toward New York, and proceeded -to lighten the cab. Overboard went the glass doors, cushions, matting, -even the hood of the machine. Everything that he could wrench off he -tossed to the dark waters beneath him.</p> - -<p>The cab, relieved of the weight of its equipment shot ahead at -tremendous speed, and in less than ten minutes dropped onto the landing -place on top of the scientist's laboratory. Leaving the driver where -he was Ralph dashed into the building. Meeting Peter he did not stop, -only motioned him to the cab while he himself sprang to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> the nearest -Telephot. And within fifteen minutes every detective and special agent -had been notified of the disappearance of Alice. Ralph had immediately -transmitted the lost girl's photograph to the Central Office where it -was placed before a Telephot connecting with every member of the entire -police force, and the picture was reproduced for them in their portable -radio instruments for ten seconds, enabling them to get her features -firmly impressed on their minds.</p> - -<p>His next act was to call the Intercontinental Hotel where Fernand had -been stopping.</p> - -<p>Upon inquiry he was informed that Fernand had left three hours ago with -his baggage. His destination was unknown.</p> - -<p>"I knew it!" Ralph muttered to himself.</p> - -<p>On second thought it occurred to him that it might be of advantage to -visit the hotel, and as it was only a few blocks away he flew over to -it, leaving his assistants in charge of his radio stations, with strict -orders to record every message, to tune into everything, and to take -the messages down on the recorder discs.</p> - -<p>At the hotel he was recognized at once, and as the news had spread over -the city like wild-fire, he was treated with every consideration.</p> - -<p>He closely questioned everyone and then asked to see the rooms which -Fernand 60O 10 had occupied.</p> - -<p>The rooms were just as their occupant had left them and Ralph requested -that he be undisturbed there for a short time.</p> - -<p>He examined every nook and corner without finding anything to give him -a clue to Fernand's whereabouts,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> and he was about to leave when his -eye caught the reflection of a light-ray falling on a bright object -under the dresser.</p> - -<p>Insignificant as the little metal object was, it was enough to convey -a fearful picture to his mind. He recognized it at once as a metal -turning belonging to the balancer of the <i>Gyro-Gyrotor</i> of a <i>Space -Flyer</i>. Evidently the metal part had been dropped and Fernand had not -had the time to look for it. Ralph decided that Fernand had obtained a -supply of the parts which are only required on a prolonged flight into -space.</p> - -<p>He was now positive that Fernand 60O 10 had carried off his sweetheart -in a space flyer and that the machine by this time was probably far -away from the earth, headed for unknown regions. It would also be -practically impossible to follow without knowing the direction of the -space-defying machine.</p> - -<p>In a daze Ralph returned to his laboratory, where he again called the -Central Office. As all space flyers must be licensed by law, he had -no trouble in getting the information he desired. A new machine of a -well-known Detroit firm had been registered four days ago, and the -description of the owner answered to that of Fernand 60O 10.</p> - -<p>Late as it was, Ralph immediately communicated with the Detroit -manufacturer, who, upon hearing his reasons for the request, supplied -him with all the necessary details.</p> - -<p>Ralph learned from him that the purchaser of the new machine, one of -the very latest models, was Fernand, beyond any doubt, and when he was -informed that the latter had plentifully supplied himself with spare -parts as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> if for a long journey, and moreover, the most significant -fact that the cabin had been fitted out as a lady's boudoir, then -indeed were his worst suspicions confirmed.</p> - -<p>The manufacturer also told him that the entire outside shell was of -<i>Magnelium</i>—an invention of Ralph's—and that this flyer was the first -to be equipped with the new metal.</p> - -<p>As he concluded his conversation and disconnected, Ralph brought his -clenched fist down upon the desk. "Magnelium," he muttered between -set teeth, "the only machine out in the universe made with Magnelium. -Magnelium, my own Magnelium, about which no one in the world knows more -than I do. Perhaps the odds are not all with you, Fernand, damn you!"</p> - -<p>At first thought it might be considered a difficult feat accurately -to locate a machine thousands of miles from the earth, speeding in -an unknown direction somewhere in the boundless universe. The feat -was easy to the scientist. As far back as the year 1800 astronomers -accurately measured the distance between the earth and small celestial -bodies, but it was not until the year 2659 that Ralph 124C 41+ -succeeded in accurately determining the exact location of flyers, in -space, beyond the reach of the most powerful telescope.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> - -<p>A <i>pulsating polarized ether wave</i>, if directed on a metal object -can be reflected in the same manner as a light-ray is reflected from -a bright surface or from a mirror. The reflection factor, however, -varies with different metals. Thus the reflection factor from silver -is 1,000 units, the reflection from iron 645, alomagnesium 460, etc. -If, therefore, a polarized wave generator were directed toward space, -the waves would take a direction as shown in the diagram, provided the -parabolic wave reflector was used as shown. By manipulating the entire -apparatus like a searchlight, waves would be sent over a large area. -Sooner or later these waves would strike a space flyer. A small part -of the waves would strike the metal body of the flyer, and these waves -would be reflected back to the sending apparatus. Here they would fall -on the <i>Actinoscope</i> (see diagram), which records only reflected waves, -not direct ones.</p> - -<p>From the actinoscope the reflection factor is then determined, which -shows the kind of metal from which the reflection comes. From the -intensity and the elapsed time of the reflected impulses, the distance -between the earth and the flyer can then be accurately and quickly -calculated.</p> - -<p>The reflection factor of Magnelium being 1060, Ralph succeeded in -locating Fernand's space flyer in less than five hours' search. He -found that Fernand's machine at that time was about 400,000 miles -distant from the earth and apparently headed in the direction of the -planet Venus. A few seconds' calculation showed that he was flying -at the rate of about 45,000 miles an hour. This was a great surprise -to Ralph and it puzzled him somewhat. He knew that Fernand's machine -was capable of making at least<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> 75,000 miles an hour. Ralph reasoned -that if he were in Fernand's place, he would speed up the flyer to the -utmost.</p> - -<p>Why was Fernand flying so leisurely? Did he think himself secure? Did -he think that nobody could or would follow? Or was he having trouble -with the <i>Anti-Gravitator</i>?</p> - -<p>Ralph could not understand it. However, his mind had already been made -up. He would pursue Fernand even though it took him into those parts of -the solar system yet uncharted, and, if necessary—kill him!</p> - -<p>It was now noon, and he gave sharp, quick instructions to his -assistants, ordering his space flyer, the "Cassiopeia," to be made -ready at once. Provisions sufficient to last for six months were put -on board and Ralph himself installed a great number of scientific -instruments, many of which he considered he might find useful. He also -ordered a large number of duplicate parts of the flyer's machinery to -be stowed on board in case of emergency.</p> - -<p>To the astonishment and dismay of Peter and the others, the scientist -announced his intention of making the journey alone.</p> - -<p>"The fight is to be man against man, brain against brain," he -said as he stood by his space flyer which was in readiness upon -the tower-platform. "Today it is not brute force that counts, but -scientific knowledge. I will demonstrate to the world that crimes of -this kind need not be tolerated."</p> - -<p>He stepped onto the running board as he spoke and was about to step -into the flyer when the sound of an aeroflyer descending close by made -him hesitate. It was a government flyer, and even as Ralph paused, it -landed on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> the platform beside his own machine, and a smartly uniformed -young official sprang from the seat beside the driver. Saluting Ralph -he handed him a transcribed telegram with the words:</p> - -<p>"Message from the Planet Governor, sir."</p> - -<p>Dismay seized the scientist, as, breaking the seal of the wrapper, he -read the printed words:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p> - -<span style="margin-left: 45%;">Unipopulis, Sept. 34, 2660,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 55%;">Planet Governor's Capitol.</span> -</p> - -<p>I have just received news of the calamity that has befallen you.</p> - -<p>I extend to you my sincere sympathy.</p> - -<p>I will this afternoon place at your disposal six Government space -flyers, the crews of which are absolutely under your instructions.</p> - -<p>I must, however, caution you not to enter into any pursuit in person.</p> - -<p>As Planet Governor it is my duty to advise you that you have not the -right to place your person in unnecessary danger.</p> - -<p>Allow me furthermore to point out to you that under the law "+" -scientists are not allowed to endanger their lives under any -circumstances.</p> - -<p>I therefore command you not to leave the earth without my permission.</p> - -<p>I have ordered your space flyer to be guarded.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 35%;">In high esteem,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">William Kendrick 21K 4,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 45%;"><i>The 18th Planet Governor</i>.</span><br /> -<br /> -To<br /> -Ralph 124C 41+,<br /> -New York.<br /> -</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> - -<p>Ralph read the radiogram twice before he folded it slowly and -deliberately thrust it into his pocket.</p> - -<p>Then slowly withdrawing his hand and extending it to the government -official, he said:</p> - -<p>"Well, I must obey orders."</p> - -<p>The official took the proffered hand, and no sooner had he grasped it -than he stiffened and became as rigid as stone.</p> - -<p>With one bound Ralph was in his machine crying to the stupefied -audience:</p> - -<p>"Don't worry about him. I pricked his hand with a little <i>Catalepsol</i>. -In fifteen minutes he will be all right again."</p> - -<p>He slammed the door of his space flyer and simultaneously the machine -rose as if shot from a cannon, and in ten seconds was lost to sight.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Since the Dark Ages, men have had a powerful longing to leave Earth and -visit other planets. Towards the end of the twenty-first century, when -atmospheric flying had become common, scientists began seriously to -think of constructing machinery to enable man to leave the confines of -the planet to which humanity had been chained for ages.</p> - -<p>Towards the beginning of the twenty-second century economic conditions -had become acute and the enormous population of Earth, which had passed -the twelve billion mark, clamored for an adequate outlet which the -planet itself could no longer furnish.</p> - -<p>The moon was regarded with longing eyes, and although that body was -known to have no atmosphere and was known to be sterile, it was equally -well known that Earth's scientists and engineers felt that they could, -in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> few years' time, make it habitable.</p> - -<p>Atmospheric flying machines were, of course, totally unsuited, as they -could not even reach the limits of the Earth's atmosphere, only forty -miles away.</p> - -<p>Obviously to reach the moon or any other celestial body, it was -necessary to devise a method of overcoming the enigmatical force known -as the Earth's gravity, which chains all bodies to the planet.</p> - -<p>A multitude of inventions and suggestions were made, but none proved -to be of any value until the <i>Anti-Gravitator</i> was invented by the -American 969L 9 in the year 2210.</p> - -<p>This scientist had made extensive studies of the gyroscope and had -finally evolved a machine which when set in motion would rise freely -and continue to rise as long as power was supplied.</p> - -<p>The action, moreover, was purely gyroscopic.</p> - -<p>969L 9 took a large hollow sphere (the rotor) inside of which he built -a number of independent gyroscopes, all of which traveled in fixed -orbits. The large sphere which hung in a gyroscopic frame was made -to spin around on its axis at great speed. This sphere thus acted as -the fly-wheel of a gyroscope and as such was not influenced by the -so-called <i>horizontal gravity</i>. As in the case of simple gyroscopes, -its axis would always be in a vertical line as long as the spheric -rotor was in motion.</p> - -<p>If, however, the independent gyroscopes inside of the sphere were -set in motion by means of electrical current, the <i>Vertical Gravity</i> -(weight) was overcome, the entire contrivance rising into the air, its -rising (lifting) speed being directly proportional to the speed of the -enclosed gyroscope rotors.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> - -<p>From 969L 9's experimental work the anti-gravitators were perfected, -and it became possible to lift a weight of 1,000 kilograms with an -anti-gravitator weighing but 12 kilograms.</p> - -<p>Space flyers were equipped with from six to twelve large -anti-gravitators attached to various points of their shells, all of -which could be worked in unison, or operated independently in order to -control the direction of the flyer.</p> - -<p>As Ralph's space flyer rushed through the atmosphere, the friction of -the machine against the air made the interior uncomfortably hot in -spite of the fact that the machine had triple walls, the spaces between -being filled with poor heat conducting materials.</p> - -<p>After the flyer, however, had left the atmosphere, the stellar cold -rapidly made itself felt.</p> - -<p>Ralph then took his bearings, after he had verified, by means of the -polarized wave transmitter that Fernand's flyer was still headed -towards Venus. He then locked the steering disc and the space flyer -continued its journey in a straight line of pursuit toward the machine -of Fernand.</p> - -<p>This done, Ralph flashed a radiogram asking the Planet Governor's -indulgence for disobeying the law. Then he took his first look at the -earth, which, since he was traveling at the rate of 80,000 miles an -hour, had shrunk to the dimensions of a medium-sized orange. As he -was flying toward the sun, Earth, being directly behind him was fully -illuminated and appeared like a full moon. The continents and oceans -were visible except where temporarily obscured by mist or clouds.</p> - -<p>The general aspect of the Earth as seen from Ralph's flyer was that of -a delicate faint blue green ball with white<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> caps at each of the poles. -The ball was surrounded by a pinkish ring near the circumference. This -was the earth's atmosphere, the white caps being snow and ice around -the north and south poles.</p> - -<p>The brilliantly lighted earth was silhouetted against the inky black -sky in sharp contrast.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> The moon, hidden behind the earth, was not in -evidence, when Ralph first looked earthward.</p> - -<p>The stars shone with a brilliancy never seen from Earth; distant -constellations which ordinarily cannot be seen, except, with a -telescope, were plainly visible to him, in outer space.</p> - -<p>The sun shone with a dazzling brilliancy in a pitch-black sky, and had -he looked directly into its rays he would have been stricken blind.</p> - -<p>The heat of the sun in the outside space when striking objects was -tremendous. Had he held his hand against the glass window of the space -flyer where the sun could strike it full, his hand would have been -burned in a few seconds.</p> - -<p>There was of course no night in the outer space (within the bounds of -the planetary system). The sun shone uninterruptedly.</p> - -<p>Time was an unknown quantity. Had it not been for the chronometer, -reeling off seconds and minutes according to man's standard, time would -cease to exist in a space flyer.</p> - -<p>To a man who had never left the Earth, the phenomena<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> encountered -inside of a space flyer in the outer space was still more amazing.</p> - -<p>"Weight" is synonymous with the gravity of the Earth. The denser a -celestial body, the greater its gravity. The larger such a body is, the -more strongly it will attract its objects. The smaller the body (if it -has the same density), the smaller its force of attraction.</p> - -<p>Thus a man weighing eighty kilograms on a <i>spring</i> scale on the earth, -would weigh but thirty kilograms on the planet Mars. On the sun, -however, he would weigh 2232 kilograms.</p> - -<p>Inside of a space flyer, which had an infinitely small gravity, objects -weighed practically nothing. They were heaviest near the walls of the -machine, but in the exact center of the flyer, <i>all objects lost their -weight entirely</i>. Thus any object, regardless of its earthly weight, -<i>hung freely suspended in the center of the space flyer</i>. It could not -move up or down, of its own accord, but hung stationary, motionless, -like a balloon in the air.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> - -<p>The occupant of a space flyer, having no weight, moved around with -astonishing ease. He almost floated around in the machine. There was -no physical labor. The biggest table was no heavier than a match. The -passenger in a flyer could perform an incredible amount of work without -tiring and without effort.</p> - -<p>He could walk up the walls or walk "upside down" on the ceiling without -danger of falling, as there is no "up" or "down" in outer space.</p> - -<p><i>Sleep was practically impossible.</i> There being nothing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> to tire the -occupant, <i>sleep is unnecessary</i>. Dozing off is all he can do, and that -could never last long, except after strenuous mental work.</p> - -<p>As long as a space flyer was not too far distant from the sun (within -the orbit of Mars, at least), little artificial heat was needed. The -sun heated one-half of the flyer's shell to a fierce heat, but the -side turned away from the sun was exposed to the terrible stellar cold -(absolute zero) and a fairly comfortable temperature was the result.</p> - -<p>The air supply was manufactured by chemical means on board, but very -little was needed, as the original supply taken from the earth is used -over and over by altering the carbonic acid gas by means of automatic -generators.</p> - -<p>It was of course of the utmost importance that no port-hole or doors -leading to the outside be opened. The air would have rushed from the -flyer instantly, resulting in a perfect vacuum inside of the flyer, and -instant death to all living organisms.</p> - -<p>As the flyer moved away from a celestial body, the less the mechanical -energy needed to propel it. There were of course exceptions. Thus -between every two celestial bodies a point will be found where the -attraction that one body exerts on the other is zero. If the flyer were -brought to this point its gyroscopes could be at rest, as the machine -would not be attracted by either body. It would "hang" between the two -just as an iron ball hangs between two powerful magnets if carefully -balanced. Give it the slightest push, however, and the ball will fly to -either of the magnets.</p> - -<p>The same was true of a space flyer, between two bodies at the "zero -point." If it moved over that point it was im<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>mediately attracted by -one of the bodies, and if its gyroscopes refused to work, the flyer -would have been dashed to pieces against the attracting body.</p> - -<p>If, however, the machine came to rest at the "zero point" it would -begin to turn around on its own axis, while at the same time moving -in an elliptical orbit around the sun—<i>the space flyer would become -a tiny planet</i>, and as such was subject to the universal laws of the -planetary system.</p> - -<p>It was not hard to steer the space flyer; the nearer it came to a -celestial body, the faster the gyroscopes worked; the further it drew -away, the slower their movement.</p> - -<p>After Ralph had thoroughly inspected the entire flyer he devoted his -full attention to the course of Fernand's machine. At the rate at which -he was flying he computed that he would overtake Fernand in ten hours, -provided the latter did not increase his speed meanwhile.</p> - -<p>Fernand, when Ralph left Earth, had a handicap of 400,000 miles. He was -moving at the rate of 45,000 miles an hour. Ralph's machine had made -80,000 miles an hour since its start. If everything went well he would -overtake the other in ten or eleven hours.</p> - -<p>As there was nothing else to do, he busied himself in the laboratory -near the conning tower at the top of the flyer in an attempt to make -the hours pass more rapidly. With all its speed his machine seemed to -crawl. He was in an agony of impatience.</p> - -<p>At the end of the ninth hour he finally sighted Fernand's machine -through his telescope. He then tried to signal Fernand by radio, but -the other either did not hear or else did not want to answer.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> - -<p>Eleven hours after his departure from Earth, his machine drew to within -a few hundred meters of Fernand's. After careful maneuvering he brought -the machine parallel to the other, and looking through one of the heavy -plate windows saw the strained, drawn and ghastly white face of Fernand -staring at him.</p> - -<p>Ralph moved a few levers and then closed a switch. A hissing sound was -heard, and Fernand was seen to fall backwards, the window turning green -at the same moment.</p> - -<p>Ralph had struck him senseless with his <i>Radioperforer</i>.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes he anchored his flyer to the other by means of a -powerful electromagnet. He then pushed the connecting tube of his flyer -into the tube-joint of Fernand's machine. With great care he made the -joint air-tight. Taking a coil of rope he opened the port-hole and -crawled through the tube leading into the other flyer.</p> - -<p>Arrived at the other end he made sure that the joint at Fernand's -machine was tight before he moved on.</p> - -<p>Fernand lay unconscious on the floor and in a twinkling Ralph had bound -him with the rope.</p> - -<p>In high excitement he bounded upstairs to gain the room Alice should be -occupying. His heart throbbed tempestuously. In another moment he would -hold his sweetheart in his arms.</p> - -<p>Arriving on the next floor he stood still for a moment and listened. -There was no sound except for the gentle purring of the gyroscopic -machinery.</p> - -<p>He went from one room to another, then to the last one. The door was -open. He entered with a strange feeling of dread. The room was empty. -Apparently it had never been used.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> - -<p>In terror Ralph ran from one end of the flyer to the other. He looked -in every corner, in every closet. He could find neither Alice nor her -maid. Where were they hidden? To make sure he went all over the ground -again more thoroughly.</p> - -<p>After the most careful scrutiny of every inch of the machine he fell -limply into a chair, and buried his face in his hands.</p> - -<p><i>Alice was not on board the flyer!!</i></p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> In the outer space the "sky" is dead black; the blue color -of the sky as seen from the earth is due to the atmosphere. The real -sky is colorless.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> If a shaft were sunk to the center of the earth, an object -placed there would stay suspended in space.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_12" id="chap_12">12</a></p> - -<p>LLYSANORH' STRIKES</p> - - -<p>For some minutes, Ralph stood motionless, completely bewildered. To -have spent so much time and effort to no avail, hours—days wasted in a -fruitless search! The thought was maddening.</p> - -<p>Obviously, she was not on board Fernand's space flyer. Where, then, -was she? Certainly Fernand himself had had no opportunity to hide -her, unless his whole flight into space were a trick to deceive the -searchers, and that was more than unlikely. Fernand was cunning—was -this some new piece of duplicity?</p> - -<p>Turning from the empty room he ran down to where Fernand lay, still -unconscious. Kneeling by his side Ralph applied a small electrical -shocking device to the spine of the insensible man, with the result -that in a few minutes Fernand opened his eyes and stared dazedly into -those of his captor.</p> - -<p>"Where is she?" asked Ralph hoarsely. "What have you done with her? -Answer me, or by God, I'll blow you into Eternity!" and, aiming his -Radioperforer at Fernand's head, he spoke with such ferocity that the -other shrank involuntarily.</p> - -<p>"I don't know," he muttered, weakly. "It's God's truth I don't know. -The Martian got her. He took her away<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> and left me drugged." His voice -trailed off and he seemed about to collapse.</p> - -<p>"You're a liar!" growled Ralph, but his tone lacked the conviction -of the words. There was that in the other's voice that rang true. -Mechanically, he cut the cords that bound Fernand, and the man rolled -over helplessly. He was weak and dazed, and altogether too broken in -spirit to make any further trouble. His nerve was gone.</p> - -<p>Ralph propped him up against the wall, but he slumped over on his side -limply. Impatient at the delay, Ralph went in search of water, and -finding a pitcher of it in Fernand's laboratory, unceremoniously dumped -the contents over the prone man's head. This had the desired effect of -restoring him somewhat, and in a short time he was able to tell the -story in detail.</p> - -<p>"When I applied the chloroformal to you that night, I used the same -drug on Alice, while Paul 9B 1261, a friend of mine, took care of your -driver. We dragged Alice into our cab, and made for the outskirts of -New York where I had the space flyer in readiness. A maid for her was -already on board. We got Alice on and I put her in the care of Lylette, -and in a few seconds we were off.</p> - -<p>"When we got well out in space I locked the steering disc and helped -the maid revive Alice, and in a few minutes she was herself again, -which she fully demonstrated by slapping my face and then trying to -tear me apart like a wildcat, when she found where she was." He gave a -wry smile at the recollection.</p> - -<p>"Go on!" snapped Ralph.</p> - -<p>"It was an hour later, and we were burning up space, traveling at a -rate of 70,000 miles an hour, that the radio signalling apparatus began -ringing furiously. I tuned in,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> and heard a faint, gasping voice from -somewhere out in the great void. With difficulty I learned that there -was another space flyer somewhere near me, with two men and four women -on board, and that their oxygen supply was being rapidly exhausted, -due to the spoiling of some of the oxygen-producing chemicals. They -asked for a small supply of oxygen, enough to get them back to Earth. -Otherwise they would be doomed.</p> - -<p>"Knowing myself to be safe from pursuit for some hours, even had you -known I abducted Alice, I decided to aid the crippled flyer, and -answered that I would assist them as soon as possible. I went up to the -conning tower and, with the telescope, located the other machine. Then -I reversed the anti-gravitator machinery and within a short time I had -drawn up level with the flyer.</p> - -<p>"We made fast, and ran the connecting tube between the two machines. -When the joints were made air-tight I crawled through, and just as my -head came through the opening into the other, two hands gripped me -around the throat and I was jerked into the machine. I made a desperate -effort to wrench myself free but I was absolutely helpless in such -hands. I found myself gripped by Llysanorh', the Martian, and I might -as well have fought a tiger as that seven-footer.</p> - -<p>"He said nothing, only stared at me with his enormous eyes, while he -dragged me to a small compartment, manacled my hands, and left me, -locking the door behind him. But he was back in fifteen minutes or -so, with a triumphant look in his eyes. He picked me up and pushed me -through the connecting tube into my own flyer. He dragged me into my -machine-room, and forced me to watch while he, using a big hammer, -smashed the mech<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>anism of my six anti-gravitators, so that I would not -be able to steer, and could fly in only one direction. He ruined all -the spare parts, to make sure that I could not make any repairs or -replacements.</p> - -<p>"Then catching me by the back of the neck, he said:</p> - -<p>"'I intercepted your letter to Paul 9B 1261, and followed you. You -didn't count on <i>me</i>, Fernand, when you stole Alice. Neither you nor -that fool scientist Ralph 124C 41+ shall have her. <i>No</i> man shall have -her but myself. I will kill her first. I don't know why I don't kill -you, except that you are scarcely worth the trouble. You can't pursue -me with your machine in this condition, and when—<i>if ever</i>—you are -found, it will be too late.'</p> - -<p>"'Good God, man,' I said, 'surely you won't take a helpless Terrestrial -girl!'</p> - -<p>"'It is only what you did,' he replied, 'and at least, I love her!' And -with that he pressed a cloth saturated with some drug unknown to me -against my face, and that is all I remember.</p> - -<p>"I must have been unconscious at least six or seven hours and when -I came to, it was another hour before I shook off the effects -sufficiently to recollect anything. Llysanorh' had taken off the -manacles, but I was as helpless as if I had been bound. I must have -dozed off, for I had only just awakened when I looked out and saw your -flyer approaching. And that's the whole story."</p> - -<p>Ralph had listened to the amazing narrative with growing apprehension. -He knew enough of the Martian character to realize that Alice was in -the hands of a man who, once the die was cast, would stop at nothing. -He had been hopelessly, pitifully in love with Alice. It was easy to -see that, having, probably quite by accident, inter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>cepted Fernand's -letter to Paul telling of his plans, he had in a moment of desperation, -born of despair, determined to carry her off himself. Perhaps, in -the first place, he had only intended to save her from Fernand, and -then, considering the small possibility of discovery and pursuit, had -succumbed to his overwhelming passion for her, and abducted her instead -of returning with her to Earth. But whither was he bound? Surely, not -to Venus where the inhabitants were nearly all Terrestrials, and whose -laws were identical with those of Earth.</p> - -<p>Mars? Possible, but improbable, although Llysanorh' might have some -friend in his sect who would perform the Martian marriage ceremony -secretly. But even if this were the case where could he take his -captive bride? They would not be permitted to live on Mars, neither -would Earth or Venus accept them.</p> - -<p>The intolerably hot planet Mercury was out of the question, and the two -moons belonging to Mars had no atmosphere.</p> - -<p>There remained only the Asteroids.</p> - -<p>At this thought Ralph sprang to his feet with an exclamation.</p> - -<p>"I've been a fool not to think of them before," he cried. "Of course he -would get her to one of them, and once there she will be lost forever. -Good God, I must find his machine and head him off before it's too -late."</p> - -<p>He turned savagely on Fernand still crouched against the wall. "I'm -tempted to leave you to the fate the Martian intended for you. God -knows it wouldn't be half what you deserve."</p> - -<p>"Don't do that, in Heaven's name," mumbled the other. "Don't leave me -here like this."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> - -<p>The scientist looked at him contemptuously for a moment.</p> - -<p>"Bah!" he said scornfully, "can't you even take your medicine like a -man? But I'll turn your machine around and direct it Earthward. You -will intercept the Earth in about thirty hours. You can't steer, but -you can accelerate or retard the speed of your flyer, and need not -collide with the Earth if you are careful.</p> - -<p>"And remember this," he added grimly, "if you and I ever meet again I -will pound your miserable cowardly body into jelly!"</p> - -<p>He turned his back on the abject man, and returned to his own flyer. -Then he turned Fernand's machine around, disconnected the two from each -other, and in a few seconds Fernand's flyer had disappeared.</p> - -<p>Ralph sprang into action. He immediately began taking observations. -These told him that it would take him at least thirty days to reach -Mars, even though he forced his machine to the utmost. He could not -travel over 90,000 miles an hour, but, on the other hand, he felt sure -that Llysanorh's machine was incapable of making more than 85,000 miles -an hour. But the Martian had a handicap of probably 600,000 miles, and -if Ralph gained on him at the rate of only 5,000 miles an hour, it -would take 120 hours, or five terrestrial days to overtake him.</p> - -<p>Ralph turned his machine towards the point in space where Mars would be -at the end of thirty days, and now set himself to the task of making a -search for the other flyer with the polarized wave apparatus.</p> - -<p>For four wearisome and anxious hours he sought through space -perseveringly, and was at last rewarded by locating another machine -which he was certain was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> that of the Martian, as he had reasoned, -heading for Mars.</p> - -<p>At the same time the results of his calculations dismayed him greatly, -for they revealed that Llysanorh's machine was making no less than -88,000 miles an hour. At this rate, Ralph was gaining only 2,000 miles -an hour, and it would take thirteen or fourteen days to overhaul -the other flyer. But as the Martian could not hope to reach Mars -under twenty-nine days himself, Ralph figured that he, barring some -unforeseen accident, would overtake him long before he landed there.</p> - -<p>It was absolutely imperative that he do so, for once the Martian left -Mars and headed for the Asteroids further pursuit would be useless. -There were over 4,000 of these little planets already known<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> and it -would be the work of a lifetime to search on each one for the fugitive -and his victim. Speedy action on Ralph's part was urgent.</p> - -<p>These little Asteroids, revolving in an orbit between Mars and Jupiter -were practically uninhabited, although most of the larger ones had a -good atmosphere, and a fair climate, considering their distance from -the sun.</p> - -<p>Some of them were only a few miles in diameter, and the largest -measured but 485 miles. An electromobile, running at the slow rate of -60 miles an hour could circle such a tiny planet in 24 hours!</p> - -<p>The larger planetoids had a superb vegetation, and as the gravity on -these bodies was only a fraction of that on the Earth, the trees and -shrubs were gigantic, while colossal fruits and vegetables grew in -abundance. These plants helped to create a dense atmosphere, in spite -of the small gravity, and life, on one of these little planets, was,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> -in many respects, far more comfortable and pleasant than on Earth or -Mars.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus5.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> - - -<p>Now began the hardest part of the chase for Ralph. There was nothing -more to do than he had already done. From now on he must wait with what -patience he could summon to his aid, until such time as his machine -should catch up with that of the Martian. He could force his own no -further, and he was very sure that Llysanorh' was also flying at his -utmost speed.</p> - -<p>At work, he had not had much time for thought.</p> - -<p>Now, with time hanging heavily on his hands, his conjectures as to the -fate of his sweetheart drove him, at times, nearly to madness.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Up to 1911 over 650 Asteroids had been discovered.</p></div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_13" id="chap_13">13</a></p> - -<p>ALICE OBJECTS</p> - - -<p>Alice, on being aroused to consciousness by the ministrations of -Lylette, the maid, and Fernand, and finding herself a prisoner on -board a space flyer at the mercy of the latter, was overwhelmed with -fury. This cool abduction of herself provoked her to such a passionate -outburst that Fernand had actually retreated before it.</p> - -<p>"You coward," she blazed, "how dare you keep me here! Turn around and -take me back at once—at once, do you hear?"</p> - -<p>Fernand, in the act of opening her door and going back to his -laboratory, paused smilingly.</p> - -<p>"My dear girl," he said mockingly, "ask of me anything and I will grant -it—except that. You have a temper that delights me. Your smiles will -be all the sweeter, later."</p> - -<p>Her answer was to fly at him with such passion that he involuntarily -took a step backwards. In a flash she had run by him, was down the -stairs and tugging at the fastening of the door that led outward. -Fernand bounded after her calling to Lylette as he ran, and in a -moment they were both struggling with the girl, who had indeed become -a veritable wildcat. She had both hands fastened around the great bar -that held the door and fought madly to unfasten it. Let that door be -opened the fraction of an inch and all three would instantly have been -blown to pieces.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> Fernand wrenched at her hands in real fear that she -would succeed in her purpose, which was evidently their destruction.</p> - -<p>She was a strong athletic girl, and at the moment her desperation -gave her added vigor. But the combined strength, and by no means -gentle handling of Fernand and Lylette, who herself was a large and -powerfully built woman, forced Alice to relinquish her hold, and she -was dragged, struggling, back to her room, and left there, with the -door double-locked.</p> - -<p>Alone, she passed from the high exaltation of anger to a state of -nervous apprehension. Another woman in her place might have wept, have -begged piteously for mercy where there was no mercy, but this girl was -made of sterner stuff. She might be frightened but Fernand should never -guess it.</p> - -<p>Dry-eyed, with lips set in a firm line, lest they tremble and betray -her, she sat facing the door, gripping in her small hands the only -weapon she had been able to find—a small metal vase, having a round, -and fairly thick base.</p> - -<p>Knowing that Fernand would come back, prepared as she was for his -return, she was unable to repress a start of genuine terror when she -heard someone unbolting the door. She clutched the vase more tightly, -white-faced, but courageous.</p> - -<p>Fernand entered alone, carefully closing the door behind him. He wore -his customary, rather bland smile, and his voice was suave to the point -of oiliness.</p> - -<p>"All over our little fit of temper?" he asked.</p> - -<p>Alice stared at him, disdainfully, unanswering. Then her eyes fell upon -something in his hand—manacles of glistening steelonium!</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> - -<p>The horror she felt was depicted in her face, for he said, holding them -out for her to see, "A pair of bracelets for you, sweetheart. Just as -a precautionary measure. You are rather too quick with those hands of -yours. But I am not unkind, my dear. You need not wear them if you will -only give me your word not to repeat your recent performance."</p> - -<p>Beyond the door she saw Lylette standing in readiness, and she knew -that physical resistance would be ineffectual. Far better to give her -promise and be free than to be bound and helpless. Besides, there was -the laboratory. In it there were many roads to freedom—there were -poisons that killed instantly and painlessly. Unmanacled she might -reach them eventually. Bound, even that way would be closed.</p> - -<p>Coldly, clearly, she gave her promise, but inwardly she offered up -a prayer of thankfulness when he turned and handed the handcuffs to -Lylette.</p> - -<p>"You can lay down your weapon, Alice," he said, still with his mocking -smile. "I can assure you that you have no need of it. You will find me -a gentle lover, and one who is willing to wait for his lady's favors." -He stopped suddenly, and turning his head in the direction of the -stairs, listened intently.</p> - -<p>From the laboratory, came the insistent ringing of the radio calling -apparatus.</p> - -<p>With a muttered order to Lylette, he was gone.</p> - -<p>What was happening, Alice did not know. She could not read radio -messages, but she knew that only something of grave import could have -made Fernand rush like that to the radio. She strained her ears, but -heard nothing.</p> - -<p>Her hopes rose with a great bound with the thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> that perhaps Ralph -was on his way to her. Perhaps it was he signalling. She had been sure -that he would follow her as soon as possible, and now her dark eyes -brightened with hope.</p> - -<p>At this moment Lylette, without a glance in her direction, closed the -door, and Alice was once more alone and a prisoner behind bolted doors.</p> - -<p>It was then that she gave way to her loneliness and despair. She knew -that if it had been Ralph signalling, Fernand would at once, having -received the news that the scientist was in pursuit, set about making -plans to elude him. She knew that Fernand was desperate, that his life, -under the law, was forfeit for this crime he had committed. He would -stop at nothing. Instinctively, she felt that he would destroy her and -himself, rather than be taken. Certainly, he would not hesitate to -murder Ralph if the opportunity presented itself.</p> - -<p>She flung herself upon the couch, and burst into tears of agony, and -terror. Suddenly she sprang to her feet, still sobbing, wide-eyed with -dread of what she knew not.</p> - -<p>The space flyer had stopped. The throb of the machinery had stilled and -the flyer was hanging motionless in space.</p> - -<p>Standing in the middle of the room, rigid with suspense, Alice waited -with beating heart. Suddenly she heard the sound of rapid steps on the -stairs. Now they halted at the door, and someone fumbled at the bolts -and locks.</p> - -<p>The next instant the door was flung wide open, and Llysanorh' the -Martian stood upon the threshold!</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_14" id="chap_14">14</a></p> - -<p>THE TERROR OF THE COMET</p> - - -<p>During the next few days Ralph passed midway between Earth and Venus. -This was the spectacle that at times greatly increased the transport -space flyer travel between Earth and Mars, many of the inhabitants -of both planets making the long journey simply to get a view of the -beautiful planet Venus.</p> - -<p>Ralph ran almost parallel for a time with the two planets (see -diagram), Venus to his left, Earth to his right. Although he was quite -near the former he could hardly see it, as the bright rays of the sun -precluded detailed observation. A few days later, however, it had swung -sufficiently far enough to the left to afford him occasional glimpses -of its beauties.</p> - -<p>Ralph worked almost continuously in his laboratory in the conning -tower. In the course of the week since he had left the Earth, he had -only catnapped for about two hours, since sleep was impossible.</p> - -<p>He constructed several new pieces of apparatus, which he considered -might be useful in case of a possible encounter with Llysanorh'. He -knew that Llysanorh' could not be as easily subdued or caught as -Fernand. This tall Martian was an inventor himself and knew much about -handling modern death-dealing weapons. It would be useless to try -the Radioperforer as he probably would carry a Silonium armor, proof -against all Radium emanations.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> - -<p>One of the first things he had done was to lead wires from the steering -apparatus up to the conning tower. On the floor of the tower he -arranged contacts in such a manner that he could press them together -with his feet. The control was similar to the foot pedals of an organ. -He then practised for some days until he could steer the flyer wholly -with his feet. Thus his hands were free to control any apparatus he -would need for attack or defense. With his feet he could so control the -machine as to avoid projectiles if necessary.</p> - -<p>As the days rolled by, however, Ralph became more and more disturbed. -He now took observations hourly, his eyes glued to the indicator. With -a sinking heart he saw that he was not gaining on the Martian. The -latter had his machine well tuned up and was covering almost 90,000 -miles an hour. At this rate Ralph could never catch up with Llysanorh'. -It was maddening. The days became a long, drawn-out agony. Ralph had -done everything in his power to accelerate the speed of his flyer and -to strain the machinery further meant inviting certain death. Within -eight days Llysanorh' would land on Mars—his course now plainly showed -that he was headed for the planet. At best Ralph would be ten hours -behind—time enough for the Martian to accomplish his purpose. And he, -Ralph 124C 41+, the greatest inventor the world had ever produced, was -powerless.</p> - -<p>Again he took observations, and again the results were the same. A -weariness of the spirit swept over him. The dark waters of despair -seemed to inundate his very soul. To have been physically exhausted -would have been a relief. To know the blessedness of but an hour's -sound sleep, to be free from this terrible tension—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> - -<p>He sank down upon a seat and buried his head in his hands, and as he -sat, striving to quiet his worn and troubled mind there came to him -an idea—nay, more than an idea, an inspiration, by which he would -overcome the formidable difficulties that beset him.</p> - -<p>An idea, so simple that, having once formulated it, it seemed -ridiculous not to have thought of it before.</p> - -<p>His soul-weariness fell from him like a discarded garment. He sprang -to his feet, once more the scientist, the man of action, triumphant, -dominant.</p> - -<p>His marvelous ingenuity saw the way out. His mind would again triumph -over time and space. He would achieve the impossible, surmount the -insurmountable.</p> - -<p>The battle was not lost—it had but begun!</p> - -<p>He knew he could not overhaul Llysanorh'. Neither could he intercept -him. A wireless decoy message was futile. Llysanorh' would never be -caught by such a flimsy trick. But he must do something to prevent -Llysanorh' from reaching Mars.</p> - -<p>How could it be accomplished? By sending a message to the Martian -authorities? A futile thought. Even if the distance could be bridged, -which was doubtful, Llysanorh' would, in all likelihood, intercept the -message with his recorder. He would simply send a message to his friend -to board a space flyer and to rush to him at top speed. The marriage -ceremony could then be performed out in space.</p> - -<p>No, Llysanorh' must not know that he was pursued and still he must be -prevented from landing.</p> - -<p>Ralph would literally move the heavens. He would threaten Mars with a -comet! Llysanorh's patriotism could be depended upon to make an effort -to divert the comet from its course, to avoid the imminent collision -with Mars.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> This, Llysanorh' could do without danger to himself, simply -by steering his flyer close to the head of the comet—within a few -hundred kilometers. The gravitational action of his machine on the -comet would deflect the course of the latter enough—even a few degrees -would be sufficient to change the path of the meteor.</p> - -<p>But where was the comet to come from? To Ralph this was simplicity -itself. He did not need to "catch" a comet—<i>he would manufacture one -for himself</i>—a comet more unique than ever rushed through space.</p> - -<p>He knew that comets had been reproduced artificially on a small scale, -centuries ago;<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> however, no one had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> ever tried to make a real -comet. He also knew that the largest comets have a very small mass, -and that the tail is composed mainly of gas and dust, which is so thin -that the stars may be readily observed through the tail of almost any -comet.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> - -<p>Ralph thus became the first human being to <i>create</i> a heavenly body. As -comets are composed mainly of hydrogen gas and dust, the creating of -Ralph's artificial comet was absurdly simple to the scientist.</p> - -<p>By means of scraps of zinc and iron filings, over which sulphuric acid -was poured, Ralph produced a great quantity of hydrogen. This he filled -in tanks and when he had generated enough of the gas he connected the -tanks with a large metal stop cock in the wall of the space flyer. As -soon as the stop cock was opened the hydrogen rushed out into the open -with a roar.</p> - -<p>Immediately Ralph connected his high frequency apparatus with the -outside aerials of the space flyer and the expected phenomenon took -place.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> - -<p><i>The hydrogen particles which heretofore had been invisible, began -to glow with a wonderful light</i>, enveloping the entire flyer. For -thousands of miles behind the machine stretched a true comet's tail, -the flyer forming its head or nucleus. The tail, as in all comets, was -turned away from the sun, and although Ralph could not see the end of -the tail, he knew that what he had created could be seen for hundreds -of thousands of miles, like any natural comet.</p> - -<p>Ralph, however, was not fully satisfied, and he therefore started to -"improve" the comet. He manufactured several other gases in large -quantities, which he ejected into space, greatly enhancing the -brilliancy and size of the comet's head as well as of its tail.</p> - -<p>The head, however, he thought was not "solid" enough as yet, and so he -set about correcting this defect.</p> - -<p>Comets are composed chiefly of gases, but contain a large amount of -dust. The dust particles act very much like the dust particles upon -which a sun ray falls, and it is these particles which create the -comet's appearance. If the atmosphere is eliminated and the same dust -placed into outer space, a small comet will result. The small particles -will be highly electrified by the sun and begin to glow. Each particle -repels the other and thus even a handful of light dust will form a -respectable comet in space.</p> - -<p>Ralph made his dust by grinding paper and wood and other materials on a -fine carborundum wheel.</p> - -<p>After he had made a few pails full, he blew the dust out into space, -and if his comet had been a magnificent sight before, it was really -awe-inspiring to look upon now from a great distance.</p> - -<p>The heavier particles clung close to the flyer, on ac<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>count of -gravitational action, but completely enveloped it. The machine was -now a true planet, while the fine dust particles had become little -satellites, revolving around their central body, the flyer.</p> - -<p>The lighter dust particles found their way into the tail, as the -powerful pressure of the sun's light overcame the attraction which the -flyer brought upon them.</p> - -<p>Ralph turned off the high frequency current and yet the comet was not -extinguished and its brilliance was not in the least dimmed. The gas -and dust particles had no way to dissipate their initial electrical -charge, being in an absolute vacuum; and Ralph's artificial comet had -become a real one.</p> - -<p>Inasmuch as the dust was quite dense immediately around the flyer, -Ralph's outlook was not as clear as it had been before. He could just -see the stars, which seemed enveloped in a haze. This, however, pleased -him greatly, as he knew that his artificial comet must look like a -natural one from a great distance.</p> - -<p>In this he had not been mistaken. As he afterwards learned, his comet -had been "discovered" simultaneously on Earth, on Venus, and on Mars -the same day he had made it. It had been charted and named, and on -account of its great brilliance and long tail, had been immediately -termed "The Great Comet of 2660."</p> - -<p>That Llysanorh' would see the comet Ralph never doubted for a second. -He headed his comet-space flyer exactly toward the point where it would -collide with Mars at the end of six days. He figured that the Martians -would be on the lookout, and inasmuch as Ralph's careful search did -not reveal another space flyer anywhere near him, he knew that the -Martian officials would surely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> locate and attempt to communicate with -Llysanorh'.</p> - -<p>In this he was not mistaken. His chronometer pointed to 5 p.m. when he -first recorded weak signals coming from Mars. Several messages were -exchanged between the Martians and Llysanorh'. Llysanorh' gave his -number and position in the heavens and he in turn received instructions -to approach as near to the "comet's" head as feasible in order to -change its course. He was also instructed to bombard the comet's -nucleus with time-set torpedoes, if he could not deviate the comet from -its course. Llysanorh' answered that he would follow instructions as -far as his equipment allowed.</p> - -<p>During the next few days Ralph was relieved to note that the distance -between him and Llysanorh' diminished with great rapidity. His trick -had worked. Llysanorh' was rushing at top speed toward Ralph's flyer, -firmly believing it a comet.</p> - -<p>Confident of success, sure of victory, Ralph was jubilant. Hope, so -long deferred, flooded his spirit. He whistled cheerily at his work.</p> - -<p>Was not every minute bringing him closer to his sweetheart, his Alice? -Was not every second drawing nearer to that moment when he would hold -her in his arms?</p> - -<p>What wonder that he whistled all day long, and laughed to himself from -sheer joy and relief.</p> - -<p>At last the Martian came into range. Llysanorh' approached the "comet" -up to about 150 kilometers and then receded. He then took observations, -but somehow or other the "comet," instead of being deflected, commenced -to pursue him. This was opposed to all astronomical knowledge and -reasoning, and Llysanorh', fearing collision with the "comet" began to -fire explosive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> torpedoes into its nucleus. As the distance between it -and his machine was only 100 kilometers, he could watch the torpedo -in its flight. Through his telescope he could see the torpedo rushing -toward the "comet's" head.</p> - -<p>But the "comet" dodged, and the torpedo shot far above the nucleus! -It was uncanny. His aim had been accurate, he could have sworn. The -distance was short. Yet he had missed. The "comet" had moved out of the -projectile's path.</p> - -<p>He had fired again, with equal accuracy. The torpedo would surely -strike now. But the "comet" this time "side-stepped," as it were, and -the torpedo sped on through space, missing its target by a wide margin.</p> - -<p>Llysanorh' was bewildered. Fear gripped him.</p> - -<p>Gravitational action had not made the "comet" act in this strange -manner. He fired one torpedo after another, but the "comet" dodged them -all.</p> - -<p>He suddenly stopped firing torpedoes. He next tried to destroy the -infernal "comet" by electricity.</p> - -<p>Soon his aerials were white hot with the energy he threw into them. He -then turned his flyer into such a position as to direct the outflowing -energy towards the "comet's" head. The only result was to increase the -luminosity of the "comet."</p> - -<p>Suddenly Llysanorh' realized that the "comet" was only fifty kilometers -away. He noticed with horror that the head of the "comet" now seemed to -fill up almost one-quarter of the "sky." Another discovery that came -simultaneously was that instead of the "comet's" head being solid, -there was a mysterious small black speck in the center of the nucleus. -This was against both knowledge and theory of comets.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> - -<p>When Ralph had brought his "comet" within fifty kilometers of -Llysanorh', he felt that the time had come to throw off the mask. He -had lured Llysanorh' to within striking distance. It was now time to -strike.</p> - -<p>He had one great advantage over Llysanorh'. The latter was wholly -unprepared, believing he had to deal with a comet. This facilitated -Ralph's movements.</p> - -<p>He carefully insulated himself by sitting on a tall glass tripod. He -then attached to his ears the telephone receivers that were connected -with the induction balance,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> which he had attached to one of the -glass port-holes.</p> - -<p>He then started to turn the glass wheel of the ultra-generator, -connected to the outside aerials.</p> - -<p>A terrible screaming sound came from the generator and the whole -flyer shook. Ralph continued to turn the wheel quickly. The generator -shrilled higher and higher, until the frequency had become so high that -no sound could be heard. The vibrations had passed 35,000.</p> - -<p>Ralph turned the wheel a few more notches and everything became -pitch-dark over a space sixty kilometers in diameter.</p> - -<p>As in his Switzerland exploit, two months before, Ralph's aerial on -the space flyer due to the powerful action of his ultra-generator, -attracted the ether so fast that it could not be replenished quickly -enough. It acted much like an immense vacuum pump on the atmosphere.</p> - -<p>Darkness spread over a large area as the inky fluid of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> the octopus -blackens the sea. Both flyers became invisible to each other.</p> - -<p>Ralph, however, pointed his machine on its former course and speeded it -up.</p> - -<p>Llysanorh', dismayed by the unexpected darkness, had brought his -machine to a dead stop. He was almost frantic with terror and stood -like one paralyzed, unable to think or to act.</p> - -<p>Within a few minutes Ralph's induction balance caused his telephones -to emit higher and higher notes, indicating, despite the pitch-black -darkness, just how near he was to the other flyer.</p> - -<p>When he was certain that he had approached Llysanorh's machine, he -suddenly shut off his ultra-generator. Quick as lightning he had -grasped his radioperforer, and although the light which returned -instantly blinded him for a few seconds, he had glimpsed Llysanorh's -terrified face, just a few meters distant, his forehead pressed tight -against the glass plate of the port-hole.</p> - -<p>Ralph took quick aim and pressed the trigger.</p> - -<p>There was a silent flash and Llysanorh' seemed to topple over. -Simultaneously the glass of the port-hole turned green.</p> - -<p>In a flash Ralph jumped up and peered anxiously out one port-hole, then -another, hoping to catch sight of Alice.</p> - -<p>There was nobody to be seen.</p> - -<p>He rushed to the wireless and signaled frantically for several minutes. -Breathlessly he clasped the receivers to his ears.</p> - -<p>There was no answer—no sound—nothing.</p> - -<p>With sinking heart, he rushed to the connecting tube.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> In his -excitement it took him twenty minutes to make the connection between -the two machines and the tube air-tight. Before crawling into the -connecting tube he grabbed up his radioperforer as a precaution.</p> - -<p>The sight that presented itself to him as he crawled into Llysanorh's -machine drew from him an involuntary agonized cry.</p> - -<p>Llysanorh's dead body lay across that of Alice, his sharp dagger sunk -into the upper part of her arm. Ralph hurriedly moved the rigid body -aside.</p> - -<p><i>There lay Alice in a terrible pool of her own blood, her eyes -closed—dead.</i></p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> In 1876 Reitlinger & Urbanitzky before the Vienna Academy -of Sciences published a report on their experiments on artificial -comets. A tube containing hydrocarbon has been pumped out till the -pressure has fallen to 0.1 millimeter. If connected to an induction -coil, a blue sphere will be formed at the positive electrode after a -short time, which "hangs" suspended freely. Connected to the sphere is -a tail, fig. 1. One is struck immediately with the close resemblance -between this artificial comet and that of Henry's Comet of 1873, fig. -2. If a -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus6.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> - - -<p> -conductor (a brass ball) as seen in fig. 1 is brought near the tube, -the tail flees from the conductor as far as the tube allows. This again -proves that the artificial as well as the real comets are subject -to the same natural laws. As is known, the tails of all comets are -repulsed strongly by the sun, which latter is nothing but a conductor.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> According to Bredikhine, the long straight tails, as -seen in the comet of 1861, are composed of hydrogen; the long curved -tails, like the principal tail of Donati's Comet, consist largely of -hydrocarbon vapors; while the somnolent, rare, short tails of violent -curvature are made up of mixed iron, sodium and other metallic vapors. -This classification has received support from spectroscopic evidence. -In 1882, Fitzgerald first propounded the theory that the tail was -due to the pressure of light upon the gaseous matter composing it. -In 1900 Arrhenius revived the theory, but modified it to the extent -of supposing the tail to consist, not of gaseous matter, but of -fine particles produced by condensation from the emanations of the -comet.—New International Encyclopædia.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> The induction balance is an instrument which, connected -with a telephone, causes the latter to emit a singing sound, when a -piece of metal is brought near the balance. It is incredibly sensitive -and has been used to locate buried treasures, etc. Invented in 1880 by -Professor Hughes.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_15" id="chap_15">15</a></p> - -<p>LLYSANORH' THROWS OFF THE MASK</p> - - -<p>When Alice saw that it was Llysanorh' standing on the threshold of her -room she experienced at once great disappointment and overwhelming -relief.</p> - -<p>The second space flyer was not driven by Ralph, but she was at least -safe from Fernand.</p> - -<p>"Oh," she cried with a sob of relief, "I am so glad it is you, -Llysanorh'! I have been so frightened."</p> - -<p>He made no answer, but regarded her with enormous eyes in which burned -a somber flame.</p> - -<p>"You <i>are</i> going to take me off this horrible flyer, aren't you, -Llysanorh'? You won't leave me here alone with that—that beast, will -you?"</p> - -<p>He shook his head soberly, and extended one hand to her.</p> - -<p>"Come," he said briefly.</p> - -<p>She put her own hand confidently in his, and he led her down the -stairs, and past the laboratory. She shrank back as she saw Fernand's -bound and motionless form.</p> - -<p>"Is he—dead?" she whispered.</p> - -<p>"No," said Llysanorh', leading her to the connecting tube. He helped -her through with gentle hands, and in a moment she found herself in -the other flyer. Taking her hand again in his, Llysanorh' led her to a -luxuriously furnished room.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Stay here until I come back," he said. "I won't be long."</p> - -<p>He turned to go but she, catching his sleeve, detained him.</p> - -<p>"Are you going to—to kill him?" she asked.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps. I haven't decided yet," he replied, unsmiling. And then, -gripping her shoulders with startlingly sudden emotion, "Has he harmed -you?"</p> - -<p>"No, no," she said, frightened, "he just tried to terrify me, that was -all."</p> - -<p>He released her, and strode to the door.</p> - -<p>"I won't kill him," he said, and for the first time he smiled, but in -that smile there was no mirth. "I shall let him live, that he may pray -for the death I have denied him."</p> - -<p>And he was gone.</p> - -<p>Presently Alice heard him disconnecting the two machines, and a moment -later she knew that Llysanorh's flyer was moving. A half hour passed -and still she was left alone. Beyond the vibration of the machinery -there was no sound to indicate that she was not absolutely alone on the -flyer.</p> - -<p>Feeling a little panicky she finally left the room and made her way -through a corridor. Several doors that she opened led into rooms even -more luxurious and splendid than the one she had left.</p> - -<p>So this was the space flyer owned by the Martian of which there had -been so much gossip. Stories she had heard before of its spaciousness -and magnificence came back to her.</p> - -<p>It was like the palace of the Beast in the ancient fairy story, where -Beauty had wandered for hours through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> room after room filled with new -marvels. Alice smiled whimsically at the thought. She was "Beauty," -she reflected, and Llysanorh'—yes, he made a very good "Beast." -Her buoyant spirits were rapidly recovering from the strain of her -imprisonment.</p> - -<p>Finally, she tried one more door, and entered a wonderful laboratory -fully equipped.</p> - -<p>And at the farther end, seated before a low table sat the Martian, his -head resting on his folded arms. His whole attitude suggested hopeless -desolation. He looked very lonely and remote, and somehow, to her, very -pathetic.</p> - -<p>She stood, hesitating, uncertain of whether to advance or retreat. -Finally she spoke his name softly. At her voice he raised his head and -stared at her. And she saw that his face was lined and furrowed as if -with some terrible strain, but his eyes were steady with resolve.</p> - -<p>"How serious you look," she said, coming into the middle of the room. -"You seem so worried and anxious, Llysanorh'. Has something gone wrong -with the flyer? And what did you do with Fernand and his machine?"</p> - -<p>"I left him recovering from the effects of the drug," he said, in -a forced and unnatural voice which betrayed, even more than his -expression, the disturbed state of his mind. "And nothing is wrong with -the flyer. It is I—I with whom everything is wrong."</p> - -<p>"Oh, surely it can't be as bad as you think," said the girl, her quick -sympathies aroused by his obvious misery. "Would it make you feel any -better to tell me? We have always been such good friends, Llysanorh', -and I might be able to help you."</p> - -<p>"Later, perhaps, later," he said, and then with an effort, "can you -make yourself comfortable here for a few days,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> do you think? I brought -the maid with me. You will find her waiting in your rooms for you. I -don't think she will give you any trouble."</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes, I surely can," she replied. "It is lovely here. I have -heard so much of this flyer. Why haven't you shown it to father and -me before? The rooms are like those of a fairy palace. Tell me, -Llysanorh', will it be long before we get back to Earth? Everyone"—she -had been about to say Ralph, but checked herself—"everyone will be so -worried about me."</p> - -<p>"We are never going back to Earth," he said.</p> - -<p>"Never going—why, what has happened then? Is there something wrong -that you won't tell me?—or are you joking? But of course you're -joking, Llysanorh', and for a minute I thought you were serious."</p> - -<p>"I was never more serious," he said, rising to his feet and facing her. -"We are never going back, you and I."</p> - -<p>Alice looked at him wide-eyed, amazed and bewildered.</p> - -<p>"But I don't understand," she faltered. "Why, Llysanorh'?"</p> - -<p>It was then that the pent-up emotion of months burst the bonds of -self-restraint that he had forced upon himself.</p> - -<p>"Why!" he cried passionately, "you ask me why! Can't you see why? How -can you look into my eyes and not know why? Because I am a man—because -I am a fool—good God, because I love you!" He flung himself upon his -knees, clasping her about the waist with his arms.</p> - -<p>"I worship you, I adore you—I always shall. You must love me, you -cannot help but love me, I love you so much, Alice, Alice, my dearest, -my beloved."</p> - -<p>He threw his head back and looked into her face im<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>ploringly, as if by -the very force of his love she must respond, but he read there only -terror and a growing abhorrence. It cooled him more effectually than -any words she could have spoken, and he relinquished his hold on her, -rose and went back to his former position at the table, while she -watched him speechlessly.</p> - -<p>For a time neither spoke. At last he said in quiet tones strangely in -contrast with his late passion, "You can't hate me, Alice, I love you -too much."</p> - -<p>"No," she said, gently, "I don't hate you, Llysanorh', but oh, can't -you see how hopeless all this is? I love Ralph, and if you keep me here -forever I will still love him."</p> - -<p>She got a glimpse, then, of the terrible struggle this man of Mars had -had with his conscience.</p> - -<p>"I know, I know," he groaned, "I have gone over that ground many -times—many times, but I can not—will not—give you up. I tell you," -he went on with a return of his former frenzied emotion, "that rather -than let him have you I will kill you with my own hands. At least, when -you are dead I will be sure that no other man can possess you."</p> - -<p>She was a courageous girl, but before the madness in his face she fled -shuddering.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>During the next several days Alice kept close to her rooms. She saw -little of Llysanorh', who seemed to be avoiding her purposely, and -the maid, Lylette, was uncommunicative. Alice was horribly lonely and -afraid. At first she had confidently expected Ralph to rescue her at -any moment, but as the days dragged on, and still the space flyer -drew nearer to Mars, and there were no signs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> of Ralph, she became -increasingly aware that her situation was desperate.</p> - -<p>She knew that Llysanorh' controlled powerful interests on his native -planet, and that once there, all her pleadings would be in vain and he -would make her his bride.</p> - -<p>The few times she saw him he was quiet in manner, showing a courteous -deference to her. But he could not hide the triumphant light in his -eyes, which, the nearer they came to Mars, he took less pains to -disguise from her. And yet, she could not deny the fact of his genuine, -and fervent love for her. Only once, did he again speak of it.</p> - -<p>One day she was sitting in the beautifully appointed library reading, -with Lylette near by, when he entered. He gazed at her a moment in -silence. Then he said, "You know, Alice, just to have you here with me, -where I can see you occasionally, is wonderful to me."</p> - -<p>Her eyes filled with quick tears, for she was worn and unhappy. And -seeing them he quickly withdrew.</p> - -<p>Later, he seemed very busy in the machine room. Passing it, once, she -saw him working frantically at something; what, she could not see. But -a glimpse of his face revealed it haggard and drawn. It was but a few -minutes after that, back in her own room, a complete and terrifying -blackness obliterated everything. She heard Lylette screaming somewhere -in dreadful panic, and she heard Llysanorh' shout something hoarsely.</p> - -<p>Stumbling, she made her way as fast as she could in the darkness back -to the machine room. She heard him at one of the windows. Apparently he -was trying to pierce the blackness, to ascertain its cause. She started -toward him, when the light returned in a blinding flash, and she saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> -Llysanorh' stagger as if struck by something.</p> - -<p>"Llysanorh'," she cried, "what is it? What is happening?"</p> - -<p>He lurched toward her and caught her in his arms savagely. "I'll tell -you what has happened," he shouted, "I see it all now. The comet—a -trick, damn him! And now he's got me. But not you, Alice, not you. You -are going with me—"</p> - -<p>The Martian's face was distorted with passion. He had a gleaming dagger -in his right hand poised over her. Then, just as it was about to strike -she saw his face go blank and felt a terrific blow on her arm. The next -instant she was slumping—seemed to drop off into a dreamless sleep.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2a"><a name="chap_16" id="chap_16">16</a></p> - -<p>THE SUPREME VICTORY</p> - - -<p>When Ralph burst into the machine room of the Martian's flyer and -saw Alice lying dead in a pool of her own blood the shock was almost -more than he could bear. Falling on his knees beside her he caught -her small, yet warm hand in his, calling her name again and again in -agonized tones. He covered her lovely white face with kisses, while dry -tearless sobs tore at his throat.</p> - -<p>Then, thinking that perhaps he had made a mistake, that her heart -<i>must</i> still beat, he tried, with trembling hands to discover the -extent of her injuries. Llysanorh' had aimed at her heart but the dying -man had missed his mark, and the sharp point of the dagger had slashed -her arm, cutting into the large artery. And in those precious moments -when Ralph had been connecting the two flyers, and making his way from -one to the other, her warm rich life's blood had ebbed rapidly away.</p> - -<p>He lifted the lifeless body in his arms and carried it to his machine, -where he laid it on his bed. His mind was confused and disordered and -he was unable to think coherently. A sickening sensation of depression -so overwhelmed him that he felt physically ill.</p> - -<p>Suddenly an electric thrill seemed to pass through his body and his -clouded mental vision cleared. A picture<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> flashed upon his mind. He -saw himself in his laboratory on Earth, bending over a "dead" dog. And -there came to him a memory of the words of that Dean of scientists:</p> - -<p>"<i>What you have done with a dog, you can do with a human being.</i>"</p> - -<p>In that instant Ralph was galvanized. For the first time in his life -he doubted. Could he do it? What if he failed? Then he pushed such -thoughts from him with stem resolution.</p> - -<p><i>He would not fail!</i></p> - -<p>He touched the body of the girl. It had not yet grown cold with the -icy chill of death. He rushed for some electric heating pads, which he -applied to her to keep what warmth remained.</p> - -<p>Then came that which proved itself a terrible ordeal for him. It was -absolutely necessary to drain away all the remaining blood, so that it -would not coagulate.</p> - -<p>It had been a simple matter to empty the blood vessels of a dog, but -this was the girl he loved, and he shuddered as he began his work.</p> - -<p>He opened the large artery, and it was only with supreme courage that -he forced himself to complete the heart=breaking task, while scalding -tears ran down his cheeks unheeded.</p> - -<p>He had scarcely terminated his work, when he heard steps in the -corridor. He could feel his hair bristling, and he whirled to face the -door, reaching for his radioperforer as he did so. Could Llysanorh'?... -The next moment a large woman stood in the doorway.</p> - -<p>Ralph stared at her in amazement. Then suddenly it dawned upon him that -this must be the maid Fernand had provided.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> - -<p>She had hidden herself in abject terror when the darkness came down, -and had only now mustered enough courage to investigate. The first -object she had seen upon creeping to the machine room was the dead body -of the Martian. Horrified, she had fainted away, but later, recovering, -she crawled through the connecting tube.</p> - -<p>She was weak, trembling with fright, and could be of no use, and -Ralph hastened to get her into another room, where he put her into -a comfortable chair and left her, for he could not afford to lose a -minute now.</p> - -<p>A most important task was now before him. He had to pump an antiseptic -solution through the veins of Alice, and after that the blood vessels -must be filled with a weak solution of Radium-K Bromide, which, taking -the place of the blood would prevent her body from undergoing physical -and chemical changes.</p> - -<p>With infinite care Ralph applied himself to his difficult task. -After the blood vessels had been completely filled with the Radium -preparation, he sewed up the arteries. In this gruesome task he was -assisted by Lylette, who had recovered sufficiently to be of some help -to him.</p> - -<p>There remained only one more thing—to apply the Permagatol, the rare -gas, having the property of conserving animal tissue, which Ralph had -used successfully in his dog experiment, in keeping the respiratory -organs from decomposing in the absence of blood in the blood vessels.</p> - -<p>Ralph then quickly constructed a case of flexible glass, which he -fitted around the upper part of Alice's body, covering her head and -torso.</p> - -<p>He took special precautions, moreover, to make the case air-tight.</p> - -<p>When the case had been completed and the recording<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> and registering -instruments put in place, Ralph went up to the laboratory to get the -Permagatol.</p> - -<p>When, however, he tested the steelonium bomb, labeled "Permagatol," he -found it absolutely empty.</p> - -<p>The discovery nearly paralyzed him. His head swam and he was forced to -sit down to keep from slumping over in the gravitation-less flyer. This -last blow was almost too much. His cup of hope, that Alice could be -brought back to life, had been snatched out of his hands.</p> - -<p>Without the Permagatol, it was impossible to save her. There was -nothing to keep the beautiful dead body from disintegrating. While -the Radium-K Bromide stayed the process to a certain extent, the -respiratory organs could only be saved by means of the precious -Permagatol.</p> - -<p>Could he use a substitute gas? It was a dangerous experiment to make, -but he had nothing to lose, and everything to gain.</p> - -<p>He threw himself with a frenzy into the work and in six hours had -compounded a gas that, in its general structure and atomic weight, came -close to the properties and characteristics of Permagatol. The gas he -evolved was Armagatol, and while he knew that it had never been used -for the purpose for which he intended it, he felt justified in risking -the experiment.</p> - -<p>After the air had been drawn from the glass case, he immediately -introduced the Armagatol into it.</p> - -<p>The change in Alice's face shocked him, as he watched the Armagatol -fill the case. The green gas-vapors cast an unearthly green pallor -over her countenance, and the ghastliness was further enhanced by the -deathly pallor of her face.</p> - -<p>He arranged the electric heating pads around Alice's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> body, and -inspected the registering instruments.</p> - -<p>It had now become necessary to take his bearings. He found to his -amazement that instead of being close to Mars, as he had expected, he -was moving away from that body.</p> - -<p>The two space flyers, although their machinery was not working, -had been moving rapidly, due to the gravitational action of the -nearest large celestial body. This body was not Mars, however, but -Earth. Although, at the time of the encounter with Llysanorh', the -two machines had been slightly nearer to Mars, the larger mass, and -consequently the stronger attraction of the Earth had overcome the pull -that Mars exerted on the machines, and as a result the machines were -now being drawn toward Earth.</p> - -<p>A glance at the celestial chart revealed to Ralph that Earth and Mars -would be in opposition the next day and that he was separated from -Earth by twenty-two million miles. He would have to move faster than -Earth if he were to overtake that body. Besides, he was twenty-two -million miles to the east of the planet.</p> - -<p>The Earth was traveling 65,533 miles per hour in its orbit. A simple -calculation indicated that, by forcing his space flyer to the utmost, -or 90,000 miles an hour, he could not hope to reach Earth in less than -fifty days, as he could only gain about 24,400 miles an hour on Earth.</p> - -<p>The next important step was to cut loose Llysanorh's machine. He -instructed Lylette to get her things from the Martian's flyer. She -started to crawl through the connecting tube, and that was the last -time Ralph saw her alive.</p> - -<p>A loud hissing noise, like escaping steam caused him to rush to the -connecting tube, but he was too late. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> automatic safety valve -had sprung, and the circular door of the connecting tube had been -hermetically closed.</p> - -<p>The two machines had drifted apart, and as Ralph peered anxiously -through one of the windows, he was horrified at the sight of Lylette, -hanging by her feet from the circular connecting-tube door of -Llysanorh's machine.</p> - -<p>The door had closed automatically when the two machines had become -disconnected. The air had of course rushed out immediately from -Llysanorh's flyer. She had died in a few seconds and her body had -become distended to a great many times its normal size. Ralph, -nauseated by the terrible spectacle, turned away from it. There was -nothing he could do.</p> - -<p>Few people realize that it is nothing but the atmospheric pressure that -keeps our bodies from falling apart; thus, it is well known that when -flying at high altitudes on the Earth, where the atmosphere becomes -thin, blood will begin to flow from the mouth, nose and ears.</p> - -<p>When he glanced backwards a few minutes later and saw Llysanorh's -machine he gave an exclamation of astonishment. The machine was not -to be seen, but in its place was a wondrous comet, its tail streaming -thousands of miles behind it!</p> - -<p>Llysanorh's flyer, which was somewhat larger in size than that of -Ralph's, had "captured" the artificial comet! There remained not a part -of it attached to Ralph's flyer. Ralph reasoned that the air that had -been contained formerly in Llysanorh's machine had, upon rushing out -of the flyer after Lylette's fatal accident, mixed with the gases of -the "comet" and thereby assisted the latter in detaching itself from -Ralph's flyer.</p> - -<p>It remained within range of his vision for many weeks,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> before it was -finally lost in the depths of infinite space, where it would, in all -probability, rush through the boundless universe for aeon upon aeon, -ere it would eventually collide with some other body, and would be -reduced to cosmic dust.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The long days during Ralph's flight back to Earth left their indelible -imprint upon his mind. Never, in all the years to follow, could he look -back upon them without a shudder, remembering the heart-break of the -terrible hours in which he sat beside the bed on which lay his beloved.</p> - -<p>The nearer he drew to Earth, the more his dread of the coming ordeal -increased. He was by no means sure that he could bring Alice back to -life; it was not even probable. It was but an experiment at best, the -outcome of which could not be foretold. If Armagatol would bring the -same reactions as Permagatol, there was a reasonable assurance of -restoring Alice to life, but Ralph was inclined to doubt the efficiency -of the substitute gas.</p> - -<p>He examined her every few hours, and once in twenty-four he looked -at the blood vessels. This was made possible by means of his -<i>Platinum-Barium-Arcturium</i> eyeglasses, which acted in a similar manner -to the old-fashioned X-ray screen. Inasmuch as all the blood vessels -of Alice's body were filled with Radium-K Bromide—which latter, like -Radium, excited the Platinum-Barium-Arcturium eyeglasses—each blood -vessel could be inspected with ease.</p> - -<p>The invisible Rays (the same as X-rays) emanating from the Radium-K -Bromide solution in the blood vessels, showed Ralph their exact -condition.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> - -<p>While all the blood vessels remained healthy, Ralph became greatly -alarmed over the change that slowly, but steadily, made itself apparent -in the respiratory organs. Some change was taking place which he did -not understand. He knew it must be the action of the Armagatol, but -he was unable to do anything, as with the chemicals on hand it was -impossible to produce the life-saving Permagatol.</p> - -<p>Ralph grew more despondent each day, and his hope of bringing his -betrothed back to life grew dimmer and dimmer as the hours rolled on. -For the first time since he left the Earth he became <i>space-sick</i>.</p> - -<p>Space-sickness is one of the most unpleasant sensations that a human -being can experience. Not all are subject to it, and it does not last -longer than forty-eight hours, after which it never recurs.</p> - -<p>On Earth, gravitational action to a certain degree exerts a certain -pull on the brain. Out in space, with practically no gravitational -action, this pull ceases. When this happens, the brain is no longer -subjected to the accustomed pull, and it expands slightly in all -directions, just as a balloon loses its pear shape and becomes round -when an aeronaut cuts loose, to drop down with his parachute.</p> - -<p>The effect on the brain results in space-sickness, the first symptoms -being violent melancholy and depression followed by a terrible -heart-rending longing for Earth. During this stage, at which the -patient undergoes great mental suffering, the optical nerves usually -become affected and everything appears upside down, as if the sufferer -were looking through a lens. It becomes necessary to take large doses -of <i>Siltagol</i>, otherwise brain fever may develop.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> - -<p>At the end of two days the sickness left Ralph, but it left him worn -and exhausted physically and he was subject to terrible fits of -depression. At these times the boundless space about him appalled him, -weighing him down with its infinite immensity. The awful stillness -crushed him. Everything seemed dead—dead as was that silent motionless -figure that had been a living laughing creature who had loved him—it -seemed so long ago.</p> - -<p>He felt that Nature herself was punishing him for his daring assault -upon her dominions. He had presumed to set the laws of Life and Death -at variance, and this was the penalty, this living death, shut in with -the living dead.</p> - -<p>At such times a madness of fear and despair would grip him. He would -fling himself down at Alice's side, his face buried in her cold inert -hand, and sob like a child in his loneliness and agony of spirit.</p> - -<p>When this had passed he would return to his state of lethargy, sitting -hours at a time staring moodily at the floor. Gaunt, hollow-eyed and -listless, he seemed more mad than sane.</p> - -<p>And yet, the tremendous will-power of the man came into evidence when, -within forty-eight hours' distance of Earth he threw off his blinding -lethargy, and made himself ready, mentally and physically, for his last -fight for Alice's life.</p> - -<p>He had drawn close enough to Earth now to use the Radio apparatus, -and soon he was in hourly communication with his laboratory. He gave -his instructions clearly and definitely, and he soon had assurance -that everything that could possibly be done for the dead girl had been -carefully arranged.</p> - -<p>Ralph's flyer landed on top of his tower sixty-nine days<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> after his -departure. He was greatly impressed at the sight of the flags of the -city at half mast. The town itself was very still. There were no -aeroflyers, no vehicles in motion in the streets. Business was at a -standstill for ten minutes after Ralph landed. Thus the world expressed -its deep sympathy.</p> - -<p>Within a few minutes Alice had been placed on an operating table in -Ralph's laboratory, and 16K 5+, the world's greatest surgeon, who had -been summoned, was in readiness. Ralph was placed on an operating table -to the right of Alice. To the left lay Cléose, a beloved cousin of -Alice.</p> - -<p>In a few seconds Alice's arteries had been opened and the Radium-K -Bromide solution was drawn off. A quantity of warm, distilled water, -containing antiseptic salts was then pumped through her blood vessels -by two assistants. During this time the surgeon had opened the large -arteries of both Ralph and Cléose, and had introduced a flexible glass -tube into each. In a short time the blood of Ralph and Cléose began -flowing rapidly through these tubes into Alice's blood vessels.</p> - -<p>Simultaneously a third assistant administered oxygen to Alice, while -a fourth commenced to excite her heart rhythmically by means of -electrical current.</p> - -<p>The brain was stimulated energetically at the same time by means of the -powerful F-9-Rays, and while Ralph and Cléose grew paler and paler as -their blood flowed out into Alice's body, the latter began to acquire -color by degrees, though there was no other sign of life. After enough -blood had been taken from the two, the surgeon closed their arteries; -and, while Cléose had fainted during the ordeal,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> Ralph, weakened as he -was, remained conscious by sheer force of will.</p> - -<p>The surgeon 16K 5+, asked Ralph if he did not think it would be better -for him to be removed to another room, but Ralph refused so vehemently, -despite his terribly depleted strength, that he was allowed to remain. -He asked to be raised slightly higher that he might watch the work of -restoring Alice to life, and this request too, was granted.</p> - -<p>Almost two hours had passed since Alice had first been laid upon the -operating table, and still there was no sign of life. The suspense -became well-nigh unendurable, not only to Ralph, but to the workers as -well.</p> - -<p>Was she lost after all?</p> - -<p>Was he fated never to see her alive again?</p> - -<p>The great surgeon and his assistants were working desperately. Every -conceivable means was used to revive the inanimate body, but all was -to no avail. As attempt after attempt failed the faces of the men grew -graver. A tense silence prevailed throughout the laboratory, broken -only by the surgeon's sharp low instructions from time to time.</p> - -<p>It was then, when the tide of hope was at the lowest ebb, that Ralph -beckoned one of the assistants to his side. Though unable to speak -above a whisper, so weak was he, he managed with difficulty to convey -his meaning to the man, who sprang to the side of the surgeon and in a -low voice gave him Ralph's message.</p> - -<p>Ralph had sent for a Hypnobioscope, the head pieces of which they -fastened to Alice's temples. They brought a number of rolls and from -them Ralph chose one of the world's most beautiful love stories.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was the last trench in his desperate combat with Nature. It was the -supreme effort. It was the last throw of the dice in the game between -Science and Death, with a girl as the stakes.</p> - -<p>Ralph knew that if the brain was at all alive to impressions, the -effect of the story would stimulate it to voluntary action.</p> - -<p>As the reel unrolled, Ralph fixed his burning eyes on the closed ones -as though he would drive by the very force of his will the impressions -coming from the Hypnobioscope deep into her brain.</p> - -<p>Then, while they watched, with bated breath, the slight body on the -operating table quivered almost imperceptibly, as the water of a still -pool is rippled by a passing zephyr. A moment later her breast rose -gently and fell again, and from the white lips came the suggestion of a -sigh.</p> - -<p>When Ralph saw this, his strength returned to him, and he raised -himself, listening with throbbing heart to the soft breathing. His eyes -glowed with triumph. The battle was won. His face was transfigured. All -the agony, the heart-breaking foreboding of the past weeks passed from -him, and a great peace settled upon his soul.</p> - -<p>The surgeon sprang to catch him as he dropped, unconscious.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>About a week later Ralph was admitted by the nurse to the room where -Alice lay, regaining her strength. He was still weak, himself, from the -loss of blood. Alice had just awakened, and at his step, she turned her -lovely face eagerly toward him. Her cheeks were faintly tinged with the -delicate pink of the seashell, her eyes were bright<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> with the soft glow -of health.</p> - -<p>She beckoned to him smiling into his eyes, and he knelt down beside -her, taking her hands in his own, and holding them close. She moved -her lips and he bent his head close to them, so that her gentle breath -fanned his cheek.</p> - -<p>"I can't talk very loud," she whispered. "My lungs and vocal chords are -not strong yet, but the nurse said I might speak just a few words. But -I wanted to tell you something."</p> - -<p>"What is it, my darling?" he asked tenderly.</p> - -<p>She looked at him with the old sparkle of mischief in her dark eyes.</p> - -<p>"Dearest," she said, "I have just found out what your name really -means."</p> - -<p>Ralph twined a little tendril of her hair around one of his fingers.</p> - -<p>"Yes?" he asked with a quizzical smile.</p> - -<p>"Well, you see," and the lovely color deepened to rose, "your name is -going to be my name now, so I keep saying it over to myself—"</p> - -<p>"My darling</p> - -<p class="center"> -<span style="margin-left: 0%;">ONE TO FORESEE FOR ONE!"</span><br /> -(1 2 4 - C 4 1) -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<hr class="pg" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RALPH 124C 41+***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 60944-h.htm or 60944-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/0/9/4/60944">http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/9/4/60944</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p>Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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