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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..69467ba --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63716 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63716) diff --git a/old/63716-8.txt b/old/63716-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 86dab80..0000000 --- a/old/63716-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2941 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Time-Techs Of Kra, by Max Sheridan - -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: The Time-Techs Of Kra - -Author: Max Sheridan - -Release Date: November 11, 2020 [EBook #63716] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TIME-TECHS OF KRA *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - THE TIME-TECHS OF KRA - - By MAX SHERIDAN - - _The elusive technical knowledge of eons, - past and future, was held captive by the mighty - Kralons--learned giant insects that seined the - stream of Time for the great Truth that would - mold them into unrivalled masters of the universe._ - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Planet Stories Fall 1954. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -The little gray man peered timidly over gold-rimmed spectacles at -the great black hole which yawned hungrily almost at his feet. He -edged back cautiously from the massive steel lattice which guarded -its circumference, then plucked timidly at the sleeve of the -blue-uniformed guard who stood impressively erect before the barrier's -huge gate. - -"I--I beg your pardon. Could you tell me when the next one leaves?" he -asked in a voice as colorless as his thin, nondescript features. - -The guard catalogued the speaker with a glance, and a superior smile -lifted the corners of his lips. - -"Not figuring on making the Big Drop, are you, Uncle?" he asked in -obvious amusement. - -"Well, I--" - -Then the gilt epaulets on the guard's padded shoulders jerked as he -came suddenly to a respectful attention. - -"Next Diamvator leaves promptly at 2:30 P.M., sir. Arrives at the -Antipodes at 6:30 P.M. Central Standard Time, sir." - -The obsequious reply brought a veil of mild surprise to the little -man's pale gray eyes. - -Then it was replaced with a twinkle of understanding as he saw the -Terminal Agent approaching. - -J. B. Andrews, the big bluff Supervisory Agent of Earth-Tube, -Incorporated, cast a cursory glance at the little gray man, then turned -to the guard. - -"The 'Vator will leave at 2:35 P.M. today, Jamieson. Five minutes later -than schedule. You will act accordingly." - -As the Agent turned to leave, the little gray man cleared his throat -and said timidly, "I--I'd like to ask about your round trip rate to--to -the other side." - -The Terminal Agent looked appraisingly at the little man for a moment, -then said courteously, "Glad to answer any questions. If you will step -over to my office I'll give you one of our brochures which describes in -detail the advantages of the Diamvator over surface travel." - -When the door had dosed behind them in the Agent's office, the little -man's appearance changed subtly. His drooping shoulders were suddenly -squarer, and his pale eyes seemed to darken to the color of the granite -blocks of the floor. - -"Randall is my name, Mr. Andrews. Willard Randall," he said, and his -thin, colorless voice seemed to have gained the depth and assurance of -a man who is confident of his ability to meet any situation. - -Andrews' jaw sagged, and a startled ejaculation burst from his lips. - -"You--Randall? I--" The Agent paused, then recovered his usual -composure and apologized. "I'm sorry, Mr. Randall. I guess I had -expected a--well, a larger man," he completed lamely. - -"I understand," Randall said, smiling at Andrews' evident -embarrassment. "I don't look exactly like the popular conception of an -International Investigation Agent, you mean. But, you see, the less we -look like IIA's, the more likely we are to catch someone off-guard." - -"That's probably true," Andrews agreed doubtfully, "but--" - -"But can I deliver the goods?" Randall completed with a smile. "That's -what's worrying you, isn't it?" - -Without waiting for an answer from the embarrassed Andrews, Randall -continued, "Now, about your trouble. If you'll please outline the whole -affair. Absolutely everything you know about it, whether it seems -relevant or not." - -The Agent for Earth-Tube, Inc. hesitated a moment, then began. - - * * * * * - -"As you probably know, it was in 1996 that the International Federation -of Nations was formed, supplanting the United Nations. At that time all -countries were consolidated under a single unified government. - -"Because the consolidation definitely obviated the possibility of war, -and because the economic situation necessitated a governmental boost, -the leaders conceived the idea of utilizing the excess man-power in -sinking a huge shaft to investigate the hypothesis that the Earth's -core is a vast treasure house of metal. - -"The results of the gargantuan undertaking were, from one standpoint, -considerably less than miraculous. After penetrating almost four -thousand miles to the very center of the Earth, it was found that the -major part of the core was metal, alright, but only nickel-iron, which -could be mined much more cheaply nearer the Earth's surface. - -"There seemed to be no higher a proportion of the rarer metals in the -core than on the surface. - -"Although somewhat disgruntled at the results of their investigation, -the governmental heads knew that they must keep busy the thousands of -men thrown out of employment by the dissolution of armies and navies. -So, having nothing better in mind, this fantastic WPA was commissioned -to put the shaft on through to the other side of the Earth." - -Randall nodded impatiently. "I am familiar with the historical data," -he said. "Now if you will give me a resumé of the circumstances which -have an immediate bearing on the trouble--" - -Andrews colored at the little man's tone, and said gruffly, "I was only -reviewing the data from the beginning, because there have been several -developments in the past which may well have a bearing on our present -difficulty." - -The Investigation Agent nodded. "Make the historical review as brief as -possible, then." - -"After the shaft was completed," Andrews continued, more than a little -piqued, "the question arose as to what should be done with the hundred -billion dollar hole in the ground, now that it was finally completed. - -"Some engineers advised salvaging the incredibly heat-resistant -fifty-foot thick cellular caisson of Tungalloy, which alone had made -possible the penetration through thousands of miles of molten material -under tremendous pressure. - -"Others maintained that the cost of removing it would be far in excess -of the caisson's value. - -"While the battle was raging, J. T. Weller, president of Metals, Inc. -came to the fore with an offer for a concession on the Earth-Tube. - -"He proposed to construct a tubular car or cage which would traverse -the almost eight thousand miles in only four hours--more than twenty -four hours less than the time required for a trip to the Antipodes by -stratosphere plane. - -"His argument for the success of the undertaking lay, not so much in -the time saved on the trip, but in the novelty of the method of travel, -and its value for giving people a taste of what weightless travel in -space ships would be like. His imagination capitalized on the fact that -Man is always on the alert for some new and strange way of cheating his -perambulatory equipment of its needed exercise. - -"Before advancing his proposition, he'd had his engineers draw up -complete plans and specifications of the proposed cage and the -necessary auxiliary equipment. - -"The cage itself was to be a zeppelin-shaped projectile--But come, the -Diamvator itself is due in five minutes." - -Andrews arose and led the way to the terminal gate, and for the next -few minutes Randall unobtrusively strolled around the circumference -of the Earth-Tube, examining its massive steel barrier. He completed -his circuit and was peering timidly through the steel lattice, when -a long-drawn "whoooosh" and a metallic click sounded from the black -depths. - -He turned inquiringly to Andrews, who hastened to explain. "Closing of -the air-locks," he said. "You see, the air is only partially exhausted -from the Earth-Tube, so that the Diamvator will be held from the -Tube sidewall during its free fall. Thus it does not attain the full -acceleration of a freely falling body in a vacuum by a great deal. -Consequently it does not approach its full pendular ascent from the -Earth's center against gravitation. - -"It lacks 'falling' to the surface of the Earth by over ten thousand -feet, so some means had to be provided for propelling the Vator on up -to the surface. To accomplish this, automatic air-locks were installed -in the tube almost three hundred miles from either end, with other -locks every few miles from there to the surface. - -"When the Vator has passed a lower lock, both that one and the lock -above it close, and air is admitted under high pressure below the Vator -and exhausted above it, thus pushing the car up to the surface, where -it is grasped and held by interlocking steel arms--" - -Andrews was interrupted by a second "whoooosh" as the upper lock -opened, followed immediately by the appearance of the bullet-shaped -nose of the Diamvator. - - * * * * * - -Slowly the tube car ascended until its nose towered far above the -heads of the milling crowd which by this time surrounded the terminal. -Suddenly a harsh click told that the steel arms had gripped the Vator. -Friction rollers whined as they rotated the car until its massive door -coincided with the barrier gate. - -As Andrews and Randall watched, the guard unlocked the gate and slid -it into its slot, then unbarred the Vator door and pushed it open. - -"All out for American Terminus, Ladrigo, Brazil," he called in a -routine monotone. - -Not a sound came from the interior of the Diamvator. The guard -hesitated a moment, then stepped through the door into the tube car. - -Within ten seconds he reappeared, fright etched on drawn features. - -"Mr. Andrews!" he rasped from stiff lips. "It--it's happened again!" - -Andrews' heavy features sagged. "No!" he said huskily. "No, it -couldn't!" - -Then with a bound he was through the Vator door with Randall at his -heels. Inside, it took a moment for Randall's eyes to accommodate to -the dimmer light. Then he saw that the interior of the Diamvator was -remarkably like a comfortable drawing room in a luxurious home. - -Several beautifully inlaid walnut tables occupied the central portion -of a mirror-like floor. Gleaming chrome and leather chairs were spaced -around them. Luxurious davenports and huge easy chairs ringed the -circumference of the room, and the whole inviting scene was softly but -pleasantly illumined by high-frequency tubes set flush in the domed -ceiling. - -Randall's glance made the complete circuit of the room before the -astounding fact crashed through to his mind that there was not a single -person in the room! - -Randall stood stock still for a moment, cataloguing the details of the -room, and trying to assimilate the facts of this strange enigma. - -Then he turned to Andrews and asked, "How many passengers left the -Antipodes in the Vator?" - -"Ten," Andrews said huskily. "That's three times in the last month this -has happened. I--I don't know what--" - -"How about cargo?" Randall interrupted, his pale eyes glowing with a -newly awakened fire. "Any valuable shipment?" - -Andrews shook his head vehemently. "That's what makes it even more -inexplicable! Each time this thing has happened there has been nothing -but baggage scheduled. The mail and most of our insured expressage -goes out on the 6:30 A.M. trip. I--" - -"Any idea how anything could possibly disappear from the Diamvator -during its trip? Don't you have radio contact with the car?" - -Again the Earth-Tube supervisor shook his head. "How anything or -anyone could leave the Vator during the trip, even with the aid of its -passengers, is more than a mystery. It's impossible! As for contact, we -have no communication with the Vator from the time it leaves one side -until it reaches the other. You see, the Earth's metal core entirely -absorbs and blankets Hertzian waves, making radio communication -impossible from car to surface." - -Randall nodded. "Do you have a steward on the Tube Car during the trip?" - -"Yes," Andrews said wearily. "This is the third we've lost. I don't--" - -"That's queer," said Randall suddenly. He pointed to the clock on the -mantel above the imitation fireplace. "Over two hours slow," he mused, -glancing at his wrist watch. "It's a wonder you fellows wouldn't supply -the Vator with a good timepiece." - -Andrews' jaw sagged. "Why, that's the same thing that happened the -other two times!" he said in amazement. "The first time it was almost -six hours fast. The second time, over eight hours slow. And now, two -hours slow!" - -"Well?" prompted Randall. - -"There's something queer about that. The last time I radioed the -Antipodes and made sure the clock was correct just before the Vator -left!" - -Randall was silent for a moment. "Well," he said at last. "There's only -one way to track this thing down. And that's to get the information -first hand. Andrews, you can book my passage on your next trip." - -The Earth-Tube supervisor gasped. "You aren't going in the face of -what's happened!" - -"Someone has to," Randall returned. "I'll go as your steward." - - - II - -Two hours later Randall stood stiffly at attention in his somewhat -oversized steward's uniform while eleven passengers filed into the -Diamvator, chattering in excitement over their coming adventure. - -Randall wondered with a wry smile what their reactions would be if they -knew what had happened to the Diamvator's passengers on three preceding -trips. The secret agent had not been entirely in agreement with his -Chief's orders that the mysteries be suppressed and that passengers -still be accepted. But he saw the logic of keeping the trap baited. And -Randall realized, with a warm feeling inside, that his Chief depended -upon him to protect the eleven lives which were the bait in a trap -which he hoped fervently would not close upon those who set it! - -Slowly the chattering passengers took their places in the comfortable -chairs. After the yard-thick door had swung ponderously shut, and the -outside bar had been thrust home, Randall cautioned the passengers to -keep their seats, then found his own place. - -There came a sudden breathless drop as the upper lock opened, and -the steel arms released the Vator upon the cushioning column of air -above the next lower lock. A sibilant hiss sounded through the room as -twelve people fought for breath when the Vator floor tried to drop from -beneath them. - -Two women screamed in high thin voices that tore at the agent's ears. -The fat traveling salesman from New Orleans clapped his plump hands to -his throat, and his eyes looked like pale blue marbles. The bronzed big -game hunter looked as if he were face to face with a lion crouched for -attack. The white-haired professional gentleman colored as if he had -swallowed a chameleon. - -Slowly the falling sensation faded, and a vast sigh of relief sounded -through the room. Then a second chorus of gasps arose from eleven -throats. The young engineer on his way to the uranium mines in Borneo -rasped out in a choked voice: "Just--passing through the lower -lock--into--near vacuum!" - -Randall nodded with effort and waited breathlessly until finally the -Vator had attained an almost constant acceleration. - -When the eleven passengers had lost a little of their pallor, and a few -had even begun to laugh and talk among themselves, Randall arose and -strolled around the room. - -He quietly examined the massive door which could be opened only from -the outside. Then he turned and strolled about the room, carefully but -covertly scrutinizing every person aboard. - -There were four middle-aged school teachers who were trying to recover -the vicarious thrills of vanished youth. - -A young couple with the obvious devotion of honeymooners occupied the -lounge across the room. - -A reserved old gentleman with a mane of white hair and a professional -mien sat in the big Morris chair to the right of the newlyweds. Randall -immediately catalogued him as a doctor, or perhaps a scientist of some -sort. - -On the other side of the four school ma'ms was a chap Randall couldn't -quite analyze. He was tall and spare and lithe, with the bronze of the -sun in his cheeks, and a thousand tiny wrinkles like ripples surrounded -the deep blue of his eyes. - -Randall instinctively liked the chap. He looked wholesome and -true-blue. He looked like a man who'd seen a lot of the world and liked -most of it. - -The young engineer, the lion hunter, and the fat traveling salesman -completed the list of passengers. - -The trouble was, Randall concluded, there wasn't a person in the Vator -who looked as if he could be guilty of any real crime, much less the -wholesale kidnappings, which had evidently taken place. - -But if the enigma of the Earth Tube were not instigated by some one in -the Vator, how in the name of a thousand mysteries could it happen at -all? - -Randall shrugged. It looked as if a philosophical approach was worse -than hopeless. - -He'd have to map out a plan of direct action. A plan that would tell -him more of the true characters of his eleven companions. - -He looked at the clock on the mantel. It's dial showed a little after -4:00 P.M., so according to the schedule, the Vator should be rapidly -nearing the center of the Earth. - -Randall started toward the professional gentleman in the big chair. He -had completed four steps when sudden catastrophe blasted all plans from -his mind. - - * * * * * - -The women didn't scream this time. It all happened too quickly. There -wasn't even time for Randall to complete the step he had started. - -Thunder with a thousand toneless voices echoed through his mind. -Lightning with the hues of alien spectra shot blindingly into his eyes. -He felt as though he had suddenly grasped the two poles of an electric -circuit. His muscles contracted spasmodically and numbness clutched -with deadly anesthesia at his groping mind. - -When the stupor finally began to retreat from Randall's bewildered -consciousness, the first sounds he identified were the delayed screams -of the four school ma'ms and the bride. - -He cautiously opened his smarting eyes and looked around. What he saw -was far from reassuring, for it was vividly apparent that they were no -longer in the Diamvator. In fact, there was no sign whatever to be seen -of the Tube Car! - -Randall blinked, looked again. He and his eleven companions were -suspended like fallen acrobats in a huge net constructed of -closely-woven metallic strands. - -A dozen feet above his head was a coruscating sheet of stratified -radiance that arched across like a miniature sky, forming a -hemispherical dome of light over the great net. - -Randall cleared his throat noisily. He had stalked desperate criminals -into their hiding places. - -He had daringly matched cunning with determined dope rings. He had -stood face-to-face with armed murderers, but never as now had he felt -so completely at a loss. Never had he been so neatly and easily trapped. - -But what was behind it all? And how had it been done? What earthly--or -other--agency could contrive to tear twelve people from the interior of -a locked metal car traveling in excess of two thousand miles an hour? - -Randall shrugged and turned to examine his eleven charges. - -The newlyweds, Charles and Evelyn McMahon, were clutching each other -frantically as if their very salvation lay in their proximity. - -Blake Garnet, the lion hunter, had cautiously gained his feet and was -edging gingerly across the net toward Randall. - -The four school ma'ms were trying frantically to sit up, clutching each -other as if separation spelled death. - -Randall remembered their names because they were so thoroughly, almost -ludicrously American. Retta Shields, Laura Hanks and Sarah Nelson were -the three thin ones, and Mamie Wilson was the plump, good-natured one. - -Paul Gerard, the white-haired professional gentleman, was interestedly -gazing up at the coruscating hemisphere of radiance. - -Angus McClellan, the lean whimsical chap whom Randall hadn't been able -to catalogue, was talking in low tones with Gordon Malherne, the young -engineer. - -Randall started forward to meet Blake Garnet, when suddenly the net -began to sink beneath his feet. - -Down and down it sank, until Randall felt a firm foundation under his -feet. Then the edges of the net were pulled up and over until the -twelve humans were rolled pell-mell together in the bottom of a huge -woven bag. A huge eye peered in at the twelve startled humans. An eye -that glinted light from a thousand separate facets. - -Randall heard his own gasp amid the bedlam of mingled screams and -shouts from the passengers. Then a huge clawed arm reached down through -the opening at the top of the net bag. Reached straight for the huddled -humans. - -Randall felt the chitinous limb slide past his body, then a frenzied -scream dinned in his ears. - -The kicking thrashing body of Evelyn McMahon was lifted high in the air -to disappear through the opening above. - -Her husband had clutched her until she was torn from his grasp, and -now, with a low cry of anguish he started climbing frantically up the -strands of the net. - -He had clambered half the distance when the chitin-covered limb -appeared again, and Charles McMahon went to join his bride. - -Randall was heartsick. He could do nothing, absolutely nothing, and he -knew it was only a matter of seconds until that huge claw would return -for another struggling, screaming human. - -He hoped frantically that he would escape the horrible suspense; that -he himself would be the next victim. However, he wasn't. He had to -wait until two of the school teachers and the young engineer were gone -before the opposing claws closed around him. - -He waited for the crushing violence of those great talons, but instead, -there was only a gentle pressure as he felt himself lifted smoothly and -easily from the net. - -In another moment he was set free in a small open field covered with a -thick carpet of grass. A tall stockade constructed of foot-thick wooden -piling, sharpened at the upper ends, enclosed fifteen or twenty acres -of field. - - * * * * * - -He looked around and saw Charles McMahon trying to calm his sobbing -bride, and Gordon Malherne, the engineer, chafing the hands of the two -school teachers who had preceded him. - -Randall started toward the group, when a shadow passed over him, and -Doctor Gerard was released from the great claw almost beside him. The -white-haired scientist scrambled to his feet and turned toward Randall -with a grimace. - -"Nice business," he said. "I used to consider Entomology a respectable -profession, and I fancied myself quite capable in my line. But from the -looks of our captor, I guess my job has grown too big for me!" - -Randall tried to smile at the other's joke, but his grin wasn't very -successful. "Let's see what we can do for the women folk," he suggested. - -Their work was immediately complicated by the arrival of the other two -teachers in quick succession. They were finally beginning to have a -little success in quieting the trembling women, when the claw again -appeared, depositing Jerome Jackson beside them. - -The fat little salesman scrambled to his feet with a squall of fear. -His cheeks quivered like twin puddings, and his eyes seemed almost to -be growing on stalks. - -"Wha--what was it?" he quavered. - -Randall almost smiled. "Doctor Gerard seems to think it's somewhat -buggy," he replied. "You can draw your own conclusions." - -Jackson was about to reply when the claw again descended, and Blake -Garnet was released. - -His black eyes were inky pools of consternation, and his healthy bronze -had faded a dozen shades. He recovered his composure quickly when he -saw his companions, and a thin smile fought through. - -"Looks like a one-bug plague to me," he remarked. "--Whoops, here comes -our cowpuncher!" - -Angus McClellan still had his one-sided grin as he shook his long lanky -body and looked quizzically at the disheveled group of humans. - -"Never had anything like that around Sidney," he said. "Chamber of -Commerce wouldn't allow it. What's the next installment anyway of the -'Clue of the Chitin Claw'?" - -Randall shook his head. "That's all of us, I guess. Anybody hurt?" - -Everyone looked around, and finally all shook their heads. - -"That is, if you don't count a damaged ego and a completely wrecked -peace of mind," added Blake Garnet. "Now what, for heaven's sake?" - -"May as well look around," suggested Randall. "I see some kind of -buildings across the field." - -The others followed the Agent's gesture; saw several dozen low, domed -structures squatting in even rows a few hundred yards away. - -Randall started toward them, the others following cautiously. When they -were within a dozen yards of the structures, a door in the first one -opened and a man stepped out. - -He was a magnificent figure of a man. And his splendid body was a -fitting support for the god-like head, broad of brow, features finely -chiseled. - -"Wel-come," he said in queer blurred accents. "Wel-come to the Time -Tribe." - -He advanced toward them, extending his hand. "I am Zor Ala, a 40B-7 -type from the 43rd Century, according to the ancient reckoning of Anno -Domini. And you--?" - -Randall spoke for the group, his mind fumbling for the meaning of the -man's words. "We're a group of passengers who were somehow snatched -from our passage through the Earth-Tube. But what--" - -"Oh, yes," interrupted Zor Ala reminiscently. "That strange and useless -hole through the Earth that finally collapsed around 3000 A.D. We have -a number of other Earth-Tube passengers here with us. But from what -period did you come?" - -Randall replied wonderingly, "Why from this,--2062 A.D. of course!" - -Zor Ala shook his head slowly, a strange smile on his lips. "But this -is far from being 2062, my friend," he said softly. "As closely as we -have been able to reckon it, we are now living in what you would call -the Carboniferous Period, probably in the latter part." - -He waited a moment for his words to take effect, then continued: "And -that would place our present era--" He nodded at Doctor Gerard. "Yes, -my friend, I see that you understand we are now, amazingly enough, -living in a time which preceded our births by approximately two hundred -million years!" - -Doctor Gerard turned to face his companions. "Yes," he said slowly. "I -had guessed at something like this. The color and brilliance of the -sun, the type of grasses, and the size and shape of the flora visible -over the stockade. Yes, I'd thought of this possibility, but couldn't -bring myself to really believe it!" - -"But our captors," interjected Randall. "What are they? How did they -trap us? And what do they intend to do with us?" - -"They're just what they appear to be," said Zor Ala solemnly. He looked -at Randall, and his fine eyes were bleak. "They are a species of insect -which has apparently progressed both in size and in intellect far -beyond any other life form of this period. And unlike the insects of my -time, and undoubtedly of yours, these things act through intelligent -reasoning rather than through a set pattern of instincts." - -"But," interrupted Doctor Gerard, "according to the theory of most -Entomologists of my time, it would be impossible for an insect to -attain the size of these creatures! Their bodily structure is wrong. -They couldn't support their own weight. And if they could, their -inefficient breathing tubes and trachea couldn't furnish their bodies -with sufficient oxygen, nor remove the waste products!" - -Zor Ala smiled tolerantly. "The proof of possibility is their -existence," he said. "Your contemporaries' theory is obviously -incorrect. - -"How can one deny the possibility of huge insects without knowing the -strength of materials in their supporting structure? Do the gigantic -Sequoias in North America collapse because of their almost four hundred -foot height, as a Balsa undoubtedly would if it attained the same size? - -"Is it philosophically logical that, because insects of your day -possessed an exoskeleton incapable of supporting larger creatures, that -these creatures must also possess those exact characteristics? Such -an argument is absurd. Evolution fits the strength of the supporting -structure to the weight it must support. And naturally the means for -oxygenation and elimination are likewise accommodated." - -Doctor Gerard was still unconvinced, but Randall got in the next word. - -"How many more of you are there?" he asked. "Have you any more -companions from your own Age?" - -Zor Ala shook his head. "No more from my own time, but there are more -than a hundred humans from other ages," he said. "Come, they are -anxious to meet the new arrivals." - -He led them to a large structure which bulked in a central position, -surrounded by the smaller buildings. - -An oddly-assorted but unquestionably colorful group of humans greeted -their entrance in a dozen different tongues. They gathered around the -new arrivals with a hundred excited queries. - -"A minute, my friends," Zor Ala cautioned in his queer, blurred -English. "These people are come from the year 2062. They were captured -during a passage through the ancient Earth-Tube by the Kralons' Time -Net, just as you were dragged from your own various Ages for the -Kralons' selfish plans." - -In the bewildering hours that followed, the Vator companions learned -the answers to some of their enigmatic experiences. But they learned -also of strange and horrible things which even the more advanced of the -queer colony did not understand. - - - III - -Among their new acquaintances was a stocky, pop-eyed physicist with -a fringe of hair like stiff iron wire, who introduced himself as -Gordo Lanson. In the year 2076 he had been experimenting with a new -super-cyclotron and inadvertently had been caught in the almost -inconceivably strong magnetic field used for the acceleration of -electrons in the vast atom smasher. - -He had felt a moment of intense vertigo, a wrenching, dimensional sort -of straining of every cell, then he, like the Vator passengers, had -found himself suspended in the huge net. - -There were also a dozen orientals, some from Hiroshima and some from -Nagasaki. They had been here since the days of the atomic blasts. - -Then there was a thin, dark-skinned chap with strange eyes. He had been -flashing through space on an exploratory trip to Jupiter, when suddenly -his ship had spun into an etheric vortex, one of those enigmatic -whirlpools of magnetic flux which were so deadly to space travel. He, -Dar Mikol, had been torn from 3122, the year of the great space war -between Earth-colonized Mars and its parent planet. - -There was a Russian peasant who had been plowing his field in 1688 when -a lightning bolt split the lowering skies and threw him through time -and space to land in the Kralons' net. - -There were also fifteen other people from Randall's own time; the -missing Vator passengers of prior trips. - -There were a hundred or so more humans in the strange colony, and all -had been drawn to this strange primeval world through some esoteric -passage induced by the Kralons' Time Trap. - -"But what is the reason behind it?" Randall asked Zor Ala in -bafflement. "Why do they want us? What do they do with us?" - -Before Zor Ala had a chance to reply, a loud click sounded from a small -diaphragm on the wall, then a harsh voice rasped out a dozen words in -crudely accented English. - -Randall didn't catch the meaning. He turned questioningly to Zor Ala. - -The future man sighed. "The Kralons want to interview the new -arrivals," he said. "You are to wait at the West gate in the stockade." - -"And if we don't?" Randall asked. - -"I would," Zor Ala said soberly. - -Randall shrugged and led his companions across the field. - -Jerome Jackson was shaking even more violently than the four school -ma'ams. The fat little salesman's plump cheeks quivered, and his pale -eyes rolled in their sockets. - -"Wha--what are they going to do with us now?" he quavered. - -Randall examined the man pityingly. "Apparently nothing very serious," -he said. "Because our new companions over there are still very much -alive." - -However, Randall didn't know the full extent of the Kralons' -inhumanity. Zor Ala hadn't had time to tell him that not all the human -arrivals in the world of the Kralons were still in the stockade. There -hadn't been time to discuss the fate of sixteen humans who had never -come back from their appointments with their strange captors! - -Just then the stockade door opened and a harsh voice rasped: "First -human will come now." - -The companions looked at each other, then Randall started to step -forward, but Blake Garnet was ahead of him. The hunter stepped through -the door, head held high, a saturnine grin on his rugged features. - -"Just my meat," he called back. "An ant with Elephantiasis should be -fair prey for a big game hunter." - -When the door had closed behind Garnet, Angus McClellan grinned a -little wryly at Randall. - -"A great a'nt is sometimes okay," he drawled, "if her name is Sarah, -and she leaves you a pile of jack." - -Randall grinned back at him. He recognized the other's wisecracking as -an attempt to keep up the morale of the party. - -"Which species do you prefer?" he asked. - -The lanky Australian squinted. "Wa--al," he said. "Don't know but what -I'd prefer the Kralons to Aunt Sarah, when she had her dander up." - -The companions grinned feebly. It was hard to even attempt -cheerfulness, when God alone knew what might lie on the other side of -that bare metal door. - -It seemed hours that they waited for Blake Garnet to come back. But he -never came. Instead, again the door opened, and a harsh voice rasped: -"One more now." - -Randall was first this time, with McClellan close at his heels. The -voice rasped sharply: "Only one at a time." And McClellan turned back -slowly. - -Randall found himself on a hard smooth path outside the stockade, and -waiting for him was a smaller edition of the gigantic creature he had -glimpsed while he and his companions were in the net. - -This Kralon was not much larger than Randall, but the agent shuddered -instinctively at its repulsive appearance, and at the strange, -nauseating odor it exuded. - -The creature turned and led the way down the path. Randall followed. - -The weird creature led the way into a great high-domed structure of -gray stone. It led Randall down a huge hallway from which hundreds of -openings diverged to lesser corridors leading to other parts of the -massive building. Then the hall they were following evolved into a -great central chamber, lighted with a weird blue glow which emanated -from the walls and ceiling of the huge room. - - * * * * * - -In a semicircle, facing Randall, sprawled ten enormous Kralons, their -huge mandibles clacking like monstrous telegraph keys. But it was the -central figure which held Randall's attention. - -In the center of the semicircle, the eleventh Kralon crouched before -a massive instrument of wood and metal. And as Randall and his guide -entered the room, the monster started to finger a yard-long keyboard -surprisingly similar to that of a huge pipe-organ. - -A crudely-accented voice asked in uneven tempo: "What is your name, and -what is your Time Era?" - -Randall didn't answer. He hadn't even heard. He was staring with -horrified fascination at the hands of the monster at the keyboard. -Hands which each had four tapering fingers and a thumb, instead of two -opposing claws; hands the delicate hue of old ivory, instead of the -brownish black of the other Kralons' chitinous limbs! - -"What is your name, and your Time Era?" - -"Randall," he answered, his voice thin and colorless in the huge room. -"Willard Randall. And I'm from the twenty-first Century, A.D." - -The mandibles of the huge creatures clacked spasmodically for a moment, -then the Kralon at the instrument, which Randall had recognized as a -sort of Voder, ran those weird, incongruous fingers over the keyboard, -and the instrument spoke again. - -"We're sorry," it said. "We had hoped to draw from the more distant -future, when more intelligence could be expected." - -"Sorry," said Randall in his flat voice. "Awfully sorry to disappoint -you." - -The creature at the instrument looked at him, and Randall wondered -whimsically whether it had recognized the sarcasm. - -Then the voice continued, "However, there is the satis--satis--" Even -this fantastic Voder could not cope with the hissing sibilance of an -"F," so the creature finally substituted: "consolation that our Time -Net is working so well. In the end, the law of averages will bring us -what we want." - -"May I ask," Randall said, "just what it is you want from us? Why you -were seining the stream of Time, dragging us back into your own age?" - -"We want knowledge," it said. "Our race has found that the method -of gleaning information from the future is far preferable to the -painstaking and laborious task of slowly gaining that knowledge through -millennia of blind searching. - -"We want to make our civilization the greatest that ever has or ever -will exist. We want to forestall the evolutionary phenomenon in one -phase of the future which apparently brought about a retrograde change -in our race, and an astounding evolutionary development and ascendance -of your species of warm-blooded vertebrates!" - -Randall frowned. He couldn't quite grasp the inference of those words. -He had read fantastic stories to Time Travel, to be sure. But this -was something else again. This was a wholesale pilfering of precious -knowledge which only millions of years of miraculous evolution and -heartbreaking effort would in the future eventually produce! - -And the Kralon spoke of the future, Randall's future, as only a phase -of the Times to Come. Did the creature mean that the past controlled -the future at will? That if the past were altered, his, Randall's -future, could be wiped out, and a fantastic future of insect supremacy -be substituted? - -Randall snorted. It was the age-old paradox of the Time Traveler who -goes into the past and kills his grandfather. Only in this case, the -Kralons were gleaning from a future civilization the knowledge which -would prevent the development of that same civilization! - -Sublime absurdity! Things which had sprung into being from Time's -capacious womb could not be relegated to oblivion merely by the selfish -ambitions of the Kralons or any other creatures! - -Then Randall remembered with a pang of fear that his own presence in -this fantastic world of the past was apparently a contradiction to that -same logic. If he and his companions could be catapulted into a time -preceding their birth by millions upon millions of years, was it then -so fantastic that the Kralons could alter a future which now existed -only as a memory of Randall and his companions? - -He closed his eyes for a moment, then turned again to the huge -creatures who were waiting for him to speak. - -"And if we refuse to give you the information you desire?" he asked -tonelessly. - -The Voder sputtered in an expression of wrath. - -"In that case," it said in response to the Kralon's flying fingers, "In -that case, we can still make use of those who wish to be obstinate!" - -"What do you want to know?" he asked. - -"We want the secret of atomic power," was the reply. "And the process -for neutralizing gravitation. We want the data on methods for varying -electronic and nuclear structure of atoms, transmutation of elements, -as you call it. We want--" - -"But I know nothing of these things!" interrupted Randall. "Even the -most brilliant physicists of my time had just learned the rudiments -of atomic fission and fusion, and they had as yet not even touched -the theory of gravitational neutralization! How can I help you, when -apparently your knowledge is greater than mine?" - -"We know," was the reply. "Zor Ala seems to be the only one we have -thus far trapped in our Time Net who came from an era in which those -phenomena were understood. And so far we have been unable to persuade -him to reveal that knowledge." - - * * * * * - -Apparently the interview was over insofar as Randall was concerned, and -the small Kralon returned and led the agent out another door. Randall -followed his guide back to the stockade where he was met with a storm -of questions from his companions who still waited at the gate. His eyes -searched for Blake Garnet. - -When he saw that the man who had preceded him to the interview with the -Kralons was not among them, he went in search of Zor Ala. - -The future-man winced when Randall asked him if he had seen Garnet. - -"No," he said in a low voice. "Blake Garnet has not returned. He will -never return." - -Randall's thin brows lifted. "What do you mean?" - -Zor Ala's dark eyes mirrored a world of emotion. "The hunter was a -magnificent physical specimen," he replied. "The Kralons have use for -such as he." - -Then Zor Ala told of the sixteen human beings who had not returned from -the interviews; told him of the suspicions he had concerning the fate -of those humans at the hands of the Kralons. - -Throughout the long afternoon Randall kept a check on his companions. - -When Jerome Jackson, the last called, finally returned, Randall spoke -up. - -"Friends," he said. "Twelve of us went to a forced interview with these -fantastic creatures of a long-dead Age. Nine of us have returned. -Missing are Blake Garnet, Charles McMahon, and his bride, Evelyn -McMahon." - -Randall paused, then said softly, "I am calling for volunteers." - -Angus McClellan took a step forward which carried him half across the -room. Gordon Malherne, the young engineer, wasn't far behind him, and -the white-haired Doctor Gerard was surprisingly agile for his sixty-odd -years. - -Jackson, the salesman, was quivering in indecision, when Laura Hanks, -the tallest of the teachers, stepped forward. - -"You can count me in," she said firmly, her angular chin set in -determination. - -The instant protest from the men goaded Jackson, and he stepped -sheepishly forward to join the others. - -"All right," said Randall briskly. "Here's the setup. As soon as it's -dark we'll form a human chain and go over the stockade on the side -furthest from the gate. I have an automatic and an extra clip of -ammunition. Are any of the rest of you armed?" - -All shook their heads. - -"No matter," Randall continued. "I'll go over first to cover the rest -of you." - -"But what'll we do then?" protested Jackson. "Why don't we get some of -the rest of the people to help?" - -Randall examined the fat little man coldly. "Circumstances determine -the move," he said. "As for enlisting the aid of the rest of the -colony, one man in the enemy's castle is worth a thousand storming -the ramparts. We'll leave here at an appointed time and proceed by -different routes, all meeting directly across the enclosure from the -gate. Now we'd all better get some rest." - - - IV - -That evening when a thin crescent crept wanly into the sky, five -figures faded into the ebon night and slunk across the broad field. - -When the five had met in the dim shadow of the towering stockade, -Randall whispered softly: "When I'm over the barrier, I'll let you know -if the coast is clear, then step on it! We're going to try to make it -as far as the entrance to the big building. Then we'll decide on our -next step. Okay, let's go." - -Gordon Malherne braced his hands against the stockade, motioned Jackson -to climb on his shoulders. When the salesman was set, Doctor Gerard -clambered to his shoulders, and Randall followed up the human ladder -with Angus McClellan close behind. - -When the two reached the top of the stockade, they wedged themselves -between the sharpened ends of two piling, reached down and grasped the -Doctor's hand and pulled him up. Then Randall removed his belt, asked -for Gerard's. He buckled them end to end into a strap long enough to -reach Jackson's clawing hands. The salesman clung while the engineer -scrambled over his body and up the strap, then the three men hauled the -perspiring Jackson to the top. - -After a quick look below him, the little agent swung over the sharpened -ends of the piling, hung by his hands for a moment, then dropped to the -ground outside the stockade. In a moment he signalled the others to -follow. - -Silently they scurried through the night toward the massive central -building which McClellan had dubbed "The Hive." Safe in the deeper -gloom of its entry, they paused at Randall's whispered command. - -"Here's the plan," Randall said softly. "There are half a hundred -corridors branching from the main hallway. We'll each explore one -corridor, and if anyone finds any clue as to what has happened to -Garnet or the McMahons, he'll return to the main hallway at once and -wait for the rest. Satisfactory?" - -Everyone nodded but Jackson. "That's all very well for you," the fat -man protested. "You're armed, but how about the rest of us?" - -Randall silently extended his automatic, butt first. Jackson lost any -possible remaining respect his companions might have possessed for -him when he accepted the gun and turned sheepishly down one of the -corridors. - -Randall found himself in a narrow, arched passage dimly illuminated by -small glowing studs set in the walls. He glanced quickly behind him, -then started on a soundless trot down the passage, staying close to the -right wall, and pausing occasionally to listen at the frequent panels -which broke the monotony of the walls. - -Once a panel slid open a hundred feet down the hall ahead of him, and -one of the diminutive Kralons emerged and, luckily, started down the -corridor away from Randall. - -Randall waited until the creature had gained a considerable lead, then -followed cautiously. At length he came to an open arch at the end of -the corridor, and, in what appeared to be a lounging salon, he saw -a number of the small Kralons busy at enigmatic occupations, their -mandibles clacking in weird conversation. - -Randall shrugged, turned and made his way back along the corridor. When -he arrived at the main hallway, he found Angus McClellan crouched back -in the darkness of the entry, waiting for him. The lank Australian -grinned weakly. - -"Found somethin'," he said huskily. "Don't know what, but I heard human -voices. Screams, rather. We'd better hurry." - -Randall thought wistfully of his automatic, then nodded and followed -McClellan down the corridor until the Australian stopped before a panel -and jerked a thumb. Randall put his ear to the panel. For a moment he -heard nothing. Then came a scream, a human scream that told of extreme -agony; anguish beyond the unbearable pain of the ancient rack! - -Randall's face was chalky white as he turned, looked at McClellan for a -split second, then rasped, "Let's go!" - -Together, they stepped back, then threw their combined weight against -the panel. - - * * * * * - -When Jerome Jackson left his companions and crept sheepishly down the -dim corridor with Randall's automatic clutched tightly in one pudgy -hand, he came closer to hating himself than he ever had before in all -his introverted, cowardly existence. - -His mind skimmed back over the miserable pages of his life. Born on -the wrong side of the tracks in a mid-western city, he had lacked the -innate ability and courage to grow above his inheritance. Rather, -he had allowed his childhood handicaps to reduce the advantages of -a series of lucky breaks to an extremely mediocre existence. He -was a reasonably successful salesman only by virtue of a perpetual -hang-dog look which brought a momentary feeling of magnanimity to his -prospective customers. - -All in all, Jerome Jackson could not under any circumstance be expected -to make the most of any situation, much less this almost foolhardy -venture which Randall had precipitated. - -Jackson realized his own limitations as he crept miserably down the dim -corridor, and was actually regretting that he, rather than Randall had -the revolver, when he heard a sound behind one of the panels. Leaning -close, he heard the low throb of massive machinery and the high-pitched -whine of generators. - -He stopped and peered at the panel searchingly. He noticed a glowing -stud set in the casement, and after a moment's hesitation he pressed -it. The panel slid back smoothly. Jackson looked up and down the -hallway, then stepped cautiously through the door. - -He found himself in a great high-domed room filled with ordered ranks -of mighty but absolutely incomprehensible machinery, all humming -enigmatic paens of power. Far down the serried ranks of gargantuan -equipment he saw a light glinting on mighty crystal tubes. - -With hypnotic fascination, Jackson advanced slowly through the maze -of humming mechanisms. The closer he came to those enigmatic tubes, -the wider his pale eyes opened, until, as he stood at the base of -the rod-high crystal cylinders, he looked like a puppet registering -amazement and consternation. - - * * * * * - -Doctor Gerard held neither Jerome Jackson's cowardly fear of danger, -nor Randall's contempt for it. While there were important scientific -facts to be learned, danger didn't count. It just didn't exist insofar -as he was concerned. - -Consequently it wasn't at all surprising that Gerard stepped right into -a regular hornet's nest of trouble. - -The little Doctor had been counting doors on his way down the corridor, -more from scientific habit than anything else, and on the seventh -door to his right, he noticed a very strange insignia. It was a weird -diagrammatic inscription which immediately caught his interest. - -Emblazoned in the central panel in glowing outline was a triangle -enclosing a huge multi-faceted eye. As Gerard stared at the weird orb -in its geometrical figure he suddenly recalled that a similar figure -had been used by ancient necromancers and later by hypnotists, as a -symbol of their questionable accomplishments. - -Puzzledly he wondered whether its use here in this fantastic -world of the past held any esoteric connection with its meaning -in the far-distant future. Without stopping to consider potential -consequences, he pushed the stud which opened the panel, and stepped -inside. - -When his eyes finally became accustomed to the even deeper gloom, -he saw that the room was filled with a number of coffin-like glass -cabinets and an equal number of switchboards crowded with dials and -levers. Slowly he edged toward one of the crystal cabinets and peered -down into its dimly illumined interior. - -He saw a number of oval white objects resting on tiered trays, for all -the world like eggs in an incubator. Then Gerard realized that was -exactly what these instruments were. Incubators! But they were Kralon -eggs, not chicken eggs. Furthermore, it was obvious that the elaborate -instruments which adjoined the incubators had a far more involved -function than merely maintaining the eggs at incubation temperature. - -Doctor Gerard's grizzled eyebrows lifted in interest as he turned -back to examine the dials. Both the design of the controls and the -hieroglyphics engraved upon them were entirely incomprehensible to him. - -He shrugged his shoulders, then began to turn every triangular control -on the panel to its extreme limit. - -Nothing untoward happened during the alteration of the first two -settings, but when Gerard threw over the third, all hell broke loose in -that dim crypt! - -Violet light danced between the poles of circuit breakers and ate away -the metal like butter. Great gongs dinned a cacophony of sound through -the lurking dusk of the room, then were suddenly silent as brilliant -lights flashed on. - - * * * * * - -Meanwhile, Gordon Malherne had also engineered something for which his -text books had provided no solution. - -After leaving his four companions, he had started down the corridor -furthest to the right. - -"Always go right," he told himself whimsically as he crept noiselessly -down the dim hallway. "And you'll never go wrong." - -However, this must have been the exception which proved the rule, for -Malherne hadn't gone a dozen yards when things started to happen. - -A double panel just ahead and to his left slid open and a column of -small worker Kralons, two abreast, started marching into the corridor. - -The two leaders saw the engineer almost simultaneously, and both -started for him with mandibles clacking furiously. - -Malherne started on a dead run for the "Hive" entrance. Behind him he -heard the harsh rustle of chitin-clad limbs. - -It seemed for a moment as though he were gaining, then the foremost -insect lunged and caught his jacket. It threw Malherne off stride, and -he caromed against the wall of the corridor. He regained his balance -almost instantly, but he had lost ground, and he felt another limb -clutch his right arm. - -He jerked to a stop, pivoted suddenly in an attempt to dislodge the -hold. His motion threw the foremost Kralon into the one immediately -behind, and the human and the two huge insects went down in a heap. - -When Malherne hit the floor under a tangle of limbs, he reached in his -pocket and pulled out a knife, snapping the spring blade open in the -same motion. - -He slashed viciously at everything which touched him, and was rewarded -with a raucous clatter of mandibles and the sticky feel of a warm -liquid which spattered his hands and face and rendered his knife almost -too slippery to hold. - -He pulled free from the two mangled Kralons, slashed at a third which -had hooked through the fabric of his sleeve. Then he went down as a -heavy blow caught him in the temple. - -When consciousness pushed through the haze, Malherne found himself back -in the stockade. He was lying on a crude bed in the main hut. Zor Ala -was bending over him. - -"How do you feel?" the man from the 43rd century asked solicitously. -"It appears that you encountered a little trouble." - -Malherne gingerly felt the lump on his temple. "So I did," he grimaced. -"But how did I get here? Did those entomological nightmares really let -me live, even after I carved them up?" - -Zor Ala nodded somberly. "For awhile, at least," he said. "They intend -to drain all knowledge possible from any of the 'fish' they catch from -the future before the--" He shrugged, left his sentence unfinished. - -"But your companions," he continued. "Where are they?" - -Malherne winced. "Still somewhere in the Hive, I guess. I got caught -before I got started. Let's hope the others have better luck. I'm still -alive, though," he added thoughtfully. He stretched painfully, then sat -up, grimacing as the wrenched muscles responded. - -"Zor Ala," he said, "how does it happen that these insects are so -much further advanced way back here in time, while in my day insects -apparently have nothing but complex instincts? Seems as though they -should have progressed up the evolutionary scale the same as everything -else." - -The future-man shook his head, sat down on the crude bench. "No one -knows what happened to the Kralons after the Carboniferous Period," he -said. "Nor does anyone understand why later insects retrogressed from -the logical thinking of the Kralons' level of intellect, back to a mere -set of complex instincts. - -"We do know that the Kralons made a mighty stride ahead of the rest -of Earth life many millions of years ago. They've admitted to me that -they have not progressed at all for untold ages now, and they're very -worried. They don't know why they do not progress in an evolutionary -sense as the rest of the life forms seem to be doing. - -"And they are exceedingly worried about the future, for we have let -them know that apparently the Kralon race vanished around the end of -the Carboniferous Period, leaving only diminutive descendants with -instinct rather than intelligence to show that their race might ever -have existed. - -"Of course, we of the future know that there is another similar -parallel in the disappearance of the dinosaurs. As you probably have -read in paleontological treatises, those huge reptiles seemed to have -had everything their own way through the late Triassic, the Jurassic -and the Cretaceous Periods." - -The engineer nodded. "I remember a paragraph from Gamow's 'Biography -of the Earth' which I learned by heart," he said. "It went like this: -'The kingdom of giant reptiles, with its innumerable representatives on -the land, in the sea, and in the air, was certainly the most powerful -and most extensive animal kingdom during the entire existence of life -on the Earth, but it also had a most tragic and unexpected end. During -a comparatively short period toward the end of the Mesozoic era the -tyrannosaurus, stegosaurus, ichthyosaurus, plesiosaurus, and all the -other 'sauri' disappeared from the surface of the Earth as if wiped -away by some giant storm, leaving the ground free for miniature mammals -that had awaited this opportunity for more than 100 million years.'" - - * * * * * - -Malherne paused, reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out the half -packet of cigarettes he had been hoarding. He offered them to Zor Ala, -and when the other refused, he lit one and inhaled gratefully. - -"Then, in conclusion," Malherne continued, "Gamow says that the causes -leading to the elimination of all the dinosaurs in a very short period -of time are obscure. There are many hypotheses which have been advanced -by various scientists to account for it. One theory was that the rising -of general ground levels destroyed the inland seas and marshes. But -that wouldn't have had any effect on the dinosaurs who had already -fully adapted to dry land. Neither would it affect those reptiles -who inhabited the oceans. So the whole episode has remained one vast -mystery, without much chance of solution." - -Zor Ala nodded. "Even in my time we still didn't know," he said. "We -had theories that perhaps the tiny mammals of the later Mesozoic were -eating the eggs of the dinosaurs to an extent which brought about their -eventual extinction. There was also the theory of 'dilution of genetic -stock' in a very old race of any life form. That is, through millions -of years of reproduction, the hereditary stock of any race eventually -becomes so diluted that the cells become 'tired' of dividing. As a -result, reproduction dwindles away, and the race dies out. But even -that doesn't satisfactorily explain the geologically sudden death of -the dinosaurs." - -"Apparently quite a parallel to what must have happened to the -Kralons," Malherne observed. "How is it that we don't find clear -paleontological evidence of the existence of the Kralons?" - -"No calcareous skeletal structure," returned Zor Ala. "They have only a -chitinous exoskeleton. Also, you must remember that the dinosaurs held -sway for almost 100 million years, and invaded almost every part of -the world. In all that time, with the animals existing by the billions -in almost every clime, there were naturally a few 'saurs' who fell -into asphalt pits or other unusual environments where their bones were -preserved for us. - -"That is not true of the Kralons, for they seem to have suddenly -appeared as the first insect type, sometime during the latter half of -the Carboniferous Period, and existed as a race for only a few million -years. - -"Furthermore, their distribution is apparently very limited. From -what they have told me, there are only a few dozen community hives -or nations like this one. Thus it is not at all surprising that such -an extremely restricted species, possessing no calceous skeletal -structure, left no paleontological evidence." - -Malherne considered this thoughtfully. "Then you believe that the -insect types of the future are degenerated descendants of the Kralons?" -he asked. - -"Undoubtedly," returned Zor Ala. "But without the size or the logical -reasoning ability of the Kralons. You see, insects apparently arose -suddenly during the Carboniferous Period, without any prior evidence -of existence in the ages preceding. They seem to be an offshoot from -the main line of evolutionary development, and their sudden appearance -in geologic history is without precedence in the development of life -forms." - -Malherne was nodding eagerly. "In connection with that, why is it that -an insect goes along in its development, just like a common worm, until -it reaches a certain size and age. Then it builds itself a cocoon or -chrysalis, becomes a pupa, and starts a sort of 'prenatal' development -all over again, but this time emerging as a full-fledged insect? Seems -like they've been given a second crack at development which the other -forms of life didn't get." - -"That is substantially correct," agreed Zor Ala. "And we of the future -have suspected that a higher type of life from somewhere has intervened -in the development of life on Earth, and has experimentally given a -boost to one branch of Earth-life by showing it how to re-encyst in -a secondary 'egg' as a pupa, and thus continue its progress toward a -higher evolutionary form before it finally emerges as an adult type." - -"Whew!" Malherne ejaculated. "Whoever or whatever did that must really -have been supermen!" - -Zor Ala smiled. "At least," he agreed. - -Malherne was struck with a sudden inspiration. "Look, would it be -possible that the Kralons had something to do with the disappearance of -the Dinosaurs during the latter part of the Mesozoic?--I understand, of -course," he added hastily, "that this period where we find ourselves is -around 100 million years before the time when the dinosaurs met their -Waterloo. However, isn't it possible that descendants of the Kralons -could have retained sufficient intellectual development to have been a -serious threat to the existence of the 'saurs'?" - -Zor Ala shook his head. "I'm afraid your theory won't stand up," he -said. "For the Kralon race apparently only existed for a few million -years, disappearing from the surface of the Earth around the end of the -Carboniferous period. - -"Thus the Kralons must have died out very nearly 100 million years -before the dinosaurs' catastrophe, and the giant insects were -apparently supplanted by only small, unintelligent prototypes without -their size or intellectual vigor. No, there is almost certainly some -other reason for the disappearance of the huge reptiles." - -Malherne came to his feet suddenly. "Here I am discussing fantastic and -fanciful theories, when four of my companions are somewhere in that -hive of monsters! I've got to help them!" - -"Calm down," Zor Ala soothed. "You would do them far more harm than -good, now that the Kralons are watching for you. The best thing to do -is to stay here and let them work out their own salvation as best they -can. I know it sounds rather calloused, but any interference on your -part now will certainly not be helpful." - -"But I can't just sit here!" objected Malherne. - -Zor Ala nodded. "I know how you feel," he said. "But you can do your -friends far more good alive than--" - -He left the sentence unfinished. Then, as if he had been considering -something, he continued: "You're an engineer, Malherne, and I think -it's time for you to have a talk with Gordo Lanson concerning an idea -we have in mind. How do you feel by now?" - -"A little creaky," said Malherne, rising and stretching painfully. "But -let's get started." - - - V - -He followed Zor Ala out of the central hut and across to a smaller one. -At Zor Ala's knock, a voice called, "Come in." - -As they entered, Gordo Lanson looked searchingly at the two men, then -through the open door beyond them. His expression became concerned. - -"What happened to your companions?" he asked. "You ran into trouble?" - -Malherne laughed rather embarrassedly. "I don't know about the others," -he said. "But I stupidly picked a fight with a whole army of Kralons, -and ended up back here, right where I started." - -The stocky physicist grimaced. "Well, I'm afraid your companions will -have to look out for themselves," he said. "You certainly can't help -them by doing something noble and frantic." - -"That's what I've told him," said Zor Ala, "and I think he is -reluctantly in agreement." - -Then he continued, "Malherne is an engineer, Gordo, and I thought -perhaps it might be wise to acquaint him with the rudiments of your -theory on Time Flux, and to give him an idea of what we have in mind." - -Lanson nodded, shuffling the heap of crude parchmentlike sheets in -front of him into a stack on the edge of the desk. He motioned toward -one of the rough benches. Zor Ala and Malherne seated themselves, then -waited for Lanson to speak. - -"As an introduction," the psysicist began, "are you familiar with the -theory of Teleology?" - -"Only that it has something to do with the future affecting the past," -said Malherne. - -"That is a broad statement of its general implication," Lanson agreed. -"And this predicament in which we find ourselves makes it necessary -for us to attempt a use of ramifications of that theory. Put it this -way," he continued. "If you were positive through an esoteric source of -knowledge that a certain event definitely was to happen in the future, -would it not affect your reactions to existing environment? Would it -not influence your actions in working toward a goal? Would it not thus -aid in the fulfillment of that occurrence?" - -"You mean that the knowledge would give me courage and confidence to -accomplish what I knew would eventually come to pass?" asked Malherne. - -"That is one way of putting it," said Lanson. "But it can be stated a -trifle more scientifically. Let us say rather that the Teleomagnetic -effect of such an occurrence induces a tendency in the past to evolve -toward such an event." - -"I think I have it so far," said Malherne, "but it's getting shaky!" - -Lanson laughed. "I'll admit it's a little like the perplexity of the -'Flatlander,'" he said, "who was trying to find a way out of a circle -which had been drawn around him. He proceeded to investigate his -barrier through every dimensional direction known to Flatlanders, which -of course were limited to two. He utilized movement through both of -those as he followed around the interior of his barrier to the point -where he had started. - -"Being a very observant and discerning Flatlander, he finally realized -he was getting exactly nowhere in his two-dimensional attempts to -escape a three-dimensional barrier." Lanson paused, grinned. - -"We humans are faced with a somewhat similar difficulty in trying to -solve a multi-dimensional problem with three-dimensional thinking. -However, there is some precedence for hoping that we can surmount the -obstacle. Remember that mankind, without ever being able to see the -interior of an atom, was able to divine the number and function of its -component parts, and was finally successful in inducing both fission -and fusion of unstable atoms." - -Malherne nodded agreement. "But where does this lead us?" he asked -rather impatiently. "How is this discussion of obscure theory going to -help us escape from the world of the past, back into our own ages?" - -Gordo Lanson nodded toward the stack of parchment sheets on the desk, -covered with his meticulous figures. "That is an attempt," he said, -"to formulate a method for determining the amount of Teleomagnetic -energy or influence required to bring about a given distortion in the -Time-flux." - -Malherne considered this for a moment. "Oh. I think I'm beginning to -see," he said. "You are attempting to compute the amount of energy -required to return us to the various ages from which we were pulled by -the Kralon's Time Trap." - -"Something of that sort," nodded Gordo Lanson. - -"To answer a question you are undoubtedly thinking," interjected Zor -Ala. "We have found, by laboriously gleaning bits of knowledge from the -Kralons, the location of the equipment which induces the Teleomagnetic -or gravitic energy which powers the Time Trap." - -"Where is it?" Malherne asked. - -"In one of the laboratory rooms off the main corridor in the Hive," -returned Zor Ala. "The Time Net itself is supported on pylons situated -outside the Hive building immediately adjoining the Time-Trap generator -room." - -"What plan do you have in mind?" asked Malherne eagerly. - -"Not a fully-formulated one at all," returned Zor Ala. "But each of -us is doing whatever he can to further his knowledge of the Kralon's -equipment, and all of us are trying to prepare to take advantage of any -opportunity which may arise in the future." - -"But," objected Malherne, "even the Kralons apparently can't control -the Time sector from which they get their victims. By their own -admission, they are trying to gain knowledge by picking humans from -as far in the future as possible. But apparently they have been only -partially successful, for some of the people they have obtained are -from a Time preceding mine. It seems that Gordo Lanson and Dar Mikol -and you are three of the few from a period further in the future than -my time." - -Gordo Lanson nodded. "That is the reason for all this," he said, -gesturing toward the stack of sheets on the desk. "I am attempting to -formulate a method of controlling the point from which or to which the -Time Trap gleans or delivers its victims. Apparently the Kralons have -never accomplished that, but I think we can succeed in doing what they -could not." - -"May the Lord grant that to be true!" said Malherne fervently. - -"I regret," said Zor Ala, "that Randall felt it necessary to make his -foolhardy attempt to invade the Hive, but of course I understand and -sympathize with his reasons. - -"He feels entirely responsible for the passengers of the Diamvator, and -considers himself obliged to attempt their rescue. However, I am very -much afraid that his attempt will be ill-fated." - -Lanson nodded. "The Kralons are very intelligent," he said. "And they -will have no scruples whatsoever in dealing with troublesome humans. -They resent the fact that their own race is to vanish from the surface -of the globe in one phase of the future, and that man has supplanted -them as the intelligent, governing form of life. And they intend to do -something about it!" - -Malherne nodded impatiently. "Yes," he said, "but what can we do now? -What can we do to help Randall and the rest of my companions? And how -can we prepare to use Lanson's theories concerning the Time Trap?" - -Both Zor Ala and Gordo Lanson regarded the engineer understandingly. -They realized his fear concerning his companions, and sympathized with -his frustration in being unable to help them. - -The physicist nodded toward the pile of sheets on the desk. "If you -remember your calculus," he said, "you could be of great help to us by -checking my figures." - -Malherne looked uncertainly toward the desk. "I'll do what I can," he -said. - - * * * * * - -When Randall and McClellan threw their combined weights against the -panel in the Hive corridor, they had no idea what lay beyond. - -The metal sheet bulged, then popped from its guides, and Randall -sprawled through the opening, with McClellan atop him. - -They found themselves in a room which was shining white from ceiling -to floor. In the middle of the room was a flat white table over which -several Kralons were absorbed. - -Gathered around the central figures were a dozen or more Kralons, -apparently spectators. And on the table lay something which Randall -knew, from its outlines, had once been human. - -Randall looked around for a weapon. A neat stack in one corner of -the room caught his eye. There were a dozen or more foot-long metal -bus-bars or ingots, apparently spares for fusing electrical circuits. - -McClellan followed his glance. Simultaneously both men dove for the -bars, each arming himself with one of the twenty-pound metal ingots. - -Meanwhile, the room was in a furor. The metallic clack of Kralon -conversation sounded furiously, and huge insect figures were converging -from all sides. - -"Back to back," said Randall tersely, "and let 'em have it!" - -The first Kralon who approached the Australian put up a protective -foreleg, but the heavy ingot brushed it aside like a matchstick, and -crushed the Kralon's head to a pulp. It went down twitching, and the -next insect had to scramble over the body to reach McClellan. - -Meanwhile, Randall was flailing at two Kralons which were trying to -reach him with their vicious claws. Whenever one got in the way, the -heavy bar cracked the chitinous shell like that of a crab, and both -Kralons drew back, nursing their injuries. - -Randall spoke tersely over his shoulder. "Edge over toward the stack of -bus-bars," he told McClellan. - -Back to back, still flailing with the heavy metal ingots, they worked -their way to the corner of the room. - -"Use them as missiles," said Randall briefly. "Whenever one of the -things starts for us, let him have it with an ingot!" - -McClellan did, and, with great effect. The heavy metal bars, flying -end-over-end toward attacking Kralons, soon convinced the huge insects -that another method of attack should be formulated, and the remaining -able individuals withdrew to an adjoining room. - -Seizing this opportunity, Randall made sure that there was no life left -in the form on the operating table, then he and McClellan dashed from -the room, back into the main corridor. - -A panel at their left opened suddenly, and a Kralon stepped into the -corridor. - -Randall sent his ingot flying end-over-end toward the huge insect. It -was a perfect hit, and the Kralon went down, limbs twitching feebly. - -"In here!" said Randall tersely, and McClellan followed him through the -opening. They found themselves in a high-domed room filled with huge -generators and other elaborate electrical equipment. Massive four-inch -conduits led from the generators to a main cable, which in turn left -the building through a sleeved opening in the wall. - -Through a large window across the room, Randall saw the Time Net on -which they had first made their appearance into this strange world. It -was stretched like an acrobats' net between four pylons just outside -the building. The supporting pylons extended on above the net, forming -four towers, between the crests of which was supported a complex skein -of intermeshing heavy metallic strands with spherical nodules studding -their length every few feet. - -Randall nodded toward the massive equipment. "The mechanism for the -Time Trap," he said. - -McClellan raised his metal ingot suggestively. - -Randall shook his head. "Not yet," he said. "We might have use for it." -Then he noticed that the generators were operating, and what appeared -to be a huge rectifier was humming with a deep vibrant moan, violet -light flashing in a dozen huge tubes which reached almost from ceiling -to floor. - -He nudged McClellan. "It's running," he said. "The Kralons must leave -it in operation all the time in their effort to catch victims from the -future." - - - VI - -While Randall and McClellan were deciding what should be done about the -Time Trap, Jerome Jackson was standing in open-mouthed awe before the -huge crystal cylinders in the room which he had entered. - -In the first cylinder was a twelve-foot length of undulating livid -flesh which looked exactly like a gigantic maggot. - -Then his glance flicked to the next crystal cylinder. In it was a -replica of the first. - -That is, it was almost a replica. But the exterior covering seemed -greyer and thicker, more like a shell than that of the first. - -The third cylinder held still another monstrous larva. And its -difference was even more apparent. The sickly gray covering was -translucent, and through it Jackson could see that the interior of the -thing was definitely undergoing metamorphosis. - -Following on down the line of crystal tubes, it became quite apparent -that these were steps in the pupation of Kralon larvae, for the -inhabitant of the tube on the end of the row was our almost fully -developed Kralon. - -"Artificial cocoons!" thought Jackson. "I wonder if it is necessary for -the Kralons to protect all the larvae of their race in this way during -development?" - -Then Jackson reached a sudden decision. "Why should I risk my neck, -just because the rest of them don't respect theirs?" he thought. "I'm -going to get out of here!" - -On his way from the room he paused curiously for a moment beside the -huge control panel, with its myriad triangular controls and dials, but, -unlike Dr. Gerard, he held too much esteem for his own safety to chance -an impetuous action. Furthermore, destruction of Kralon property wasn't -in his plans now. - -He left the laboratory room, closing the panel behind him. He scurried -rapidly down the corridor to the main Hive entrance. There he looked -about cautiously, then crept across the open space to the foot of the -stockade. - -He put two fingers to his lips, whistled loudly. "Kralons!" he shouted. -"Kralons, can you hear me?" - -There was no immediate response, and for several minutes Jackson -alternately whistled and called out for the Kralons. Before long, one -of the smaller worker insects came rapidly up the path from the Hive -and stopped before Jackson. - -Then the speaker above the main entrance to the Hive boomed a message. -"You will follow the guide," it said. - -Jackson did so, and his Kralon guide led the way to a separate entrance -a dozen yards south of the main Hive corridor. In a few moments, -they again entered the conference room where the comrades had been -questioned after their arrival in the world of giant insects. - -A few of the council group were present, and the Kralon "Voderist" -was ready at the keyboard of the mechanical voice. In answer to the -insect's flying fingers, a question sounded in metallic tones: "What do -you want?" it asked. "Why are you calling the Kralons? And how did you -leave the stockade?" - -"I came to warn you," said Jackson. "Four of my companions are hiding -somewhere in the Hive, and they will try to do all the damage they can." - -The several council members conferred, mandibles clacking. - -"We knew of one," the Voder said. "We caught one of your companions in -the corridor. After a fight with some of our workers, he was returned -to the stockade." - -"Well," said Jackson, "there are three more somewhere, and you'd better -find them before they cause trouble." - -The Kralon who was apparently leader of the council, examined the -salesman suspiciously with its many-faceted eyes. He spoke briefly to -the Kralon at the keyboard, and the Voder asked: "Why are you telling -us these things? Why are you betraying your companions?" - -"They're fools!" said Jackson contemptuously. "Even if they have no -regard for their own welfare, I value mine. I'd like to make a deal -with you." - -"What kind of a deal?" - -"In return for my safety," replied Jackson, "I will give you -information on the activities of the group in the stockade." - -Again the Kralons conferred, then the question came: "How do we know -that we can trust you?" - -"Why not?" asked Jackson. "I have everything to gain and nothing to -lose by cooperating with you." - -After another short conference, the Voder said: "We find your terms -acceptable, and you will be returned to the stockade as if you had been -apprehended in the Hive." - -Just then, warning gongs sounded brazenly in the conference room, and -violet lights flashed a signal above the entry. The Kralons clacked -furiously to each other for a moment, then scurried from the room, -leaving the smaller guide to escort Jackson back to the stockade. - - * * * * * - -Back in the Incubator Room, Doctor Gerard watched in fascination the -havoc his actions were producing. - -Under the increased intensity of the heating elements and infra-red -tubes which normally warmed the Kralon eggs to incubation temperature, -disaster was slowly occurring. - -The Doctor's handiwork on the dials of the control panel had apparently -inactivated the thermostatic controls, and now the eggs were bathed in -vicious radiation overtaxed tubes and scorched by overloaded elements. -The Doctor was literally cooking the Kralon eggs! - -He knew that his interference had set off warning gongs and signal -lights, so he discreetly turned from the room and down the main -corridor. - -When he was halfway to the Hive entrance he heard the metallic clatter -of Kralon mandibles ahead of him. He spotted an open panel across the -hall, stepped inside and touched the stud which closed the panel. - -He found himself in the generator room, with Randall and McClellan -looking at him in amazement. - -"Hi!" Doctor Gerard said brightly. "What's up?" - -"Hi, yourself," said the little gray agent. "Find anything -interesting?" - -Gerard nodded. "Just cooked the next generation of Kralons," he said -proudly. Then he told the two men what had happened in the incubator -room. - -"Oh--oh!" said McClellan. "The Hive will really be a hornet's nest now!" - -Randall nodded. "We'd better make ourselves scarce." - -"How?" asked Dr. Gerard. - -Randall gestured toward the opening overlooking the Time Net. "Out that -way," he replied. - -Hurriedly the three men pushed a low table over against the wall under -the opening. - -Randall climbed upon it. "Better hurry," he said. "You first, Doctor." - -Dr. Gerard climbed upon the table, and with Randall's and McClellan's -help, pulled himself up into the opening. He hung outside by his hands -for a moment, then dropped to the ground below. McClellan was next, -pulling his lanky body up to the opening, with Randall boosting. - -Settling himself on the sill, he reached a hand down to Randall. - -Just then a giant Kralon stepped into the room. Its faceted eyes -regarded them for a moment in almost ludicrous surprise. It turned -its head, clacked a message to companions in the hall, then scurried -rapidly toward Randall, two more Kralons close behind it. - -Randall had just touched McClellan's hand when the foremost Kralon -caught the table with a hooked foreleg, sliding it and Randall away -from the opening. - -"Hurry up!" he told McClellan. "Jump!" - -McClellan hesitated. - -"You can't help me alone," Randall urged. "Get back to the stockade and -get help!" - -McClellan was still undecided. He started to drop back into the room, -then as if realizing the truth of Randall's words, he turned and leaped -from the opening to the ground below. - -Randall stepped calmly from the table to the floor and held his hands -above his head in universal gesture of surrender. - -"Okay," he said quietly. "Now what?" - -The Kralons apparently understood. Without touching Randall, one of -them motioned toward the corridor. - -Doctor Gerard and McClellan scrambled to their feet outside the -building. - -"We'd better get help, fast!" said McClellan. - - * * * * * - -In Gordo Lanson's hut, Lanson acquainted Dr. Gerard and McClellan with -his theory, and told them of his tentative plans. - -Dr. Gerard was faintly hopeful, but immediately voiced an objection. -"How do you propose to escape the Kralons long enough to acquaint -yourself with the operation of the Time Trap, and to perform the -necessary experimentation?" - -"We thought perhaps you could help us there, Dr. Gerard," said Lanson. - -"You're a physiological chemist, are you not?" - -"Used to be," admitted Dr. Gerard. "But of late years I have concerned -myself more with my avocation of Entomology. That is, it _was_ an -avocation until I met the Kralons. - -"But that isn't the thing of immediate importance," he continued. "The -Kralons have captured Randall. We've got to find some way of helping -him!" - -"That would be pretty hard to do now," said Zor Ala. "The Kralons have -turned the spotlights on the stockade, and apparently are sending out -guards. I'm afraid Randall will have to take care of himself for the -present." - -"Say, how about Jackson?" said McClellan. - -"He's back," replied Lanson. "According to his story, he was caught in -the Hive corridor." - -"Too bad," remarked McClellan laconically, leaving a doubt as to what -was too bad. - -Zor Ala and Lanson grinned appreciatively, but McClellan was deeply -absorbed in thought. - -"We've got to do something to help Randall!" he insisted. "That's why -the doctor and I left him and came to the stockade.--To get help!" - -"How?" asked Zor Ala. - -McClellan shrugged helplessly. - -Then his dilemma was solved by a voice outside the hut which asked: -"May I come in?" - -"Randall!" shouted McClellan exuberantly. - -"How did you do it?" asked Dr. Gerard and McClellan simultaneously. - -Randall shrugged. "I didn't," he said. "They just decided that I was -entirely harmless, and brought me safely back to the stockade." - -McClellan eyed him suspiciously, remembering the agent's flailing metal -bar. "That isn't all of it," he accused darkly. - -Randall grinned. "Well, not quite all," he admitted. "When they took me -to the conference room and questioned me, I inferred I had knowledge of -what destroyed their race in the future. I told them that if they would -return me to the stockade for consultation with my companions, I would -give them that information later. They took me up on it." - -Zor Ala was the first to ask: "Do you really mean that you have an idea -what destroyed the Kralons?" - -Randall nodded. "I think so," he said. "I believe there's a good -possibility that it was--" - -Just then the door opened again, and Jackson stepped into the hut. - -"Outside intervention," completed Randall, regarding the new arrival -with expressionless eyes. - -Jackson looked at Randall sharply, as if wondering whether the last -words applied to him. - -"What's up?" he asked. "When did you get back, Randall?--And Gerard and -McClellan," he added, seeing the other two men. "How did you make out?" - -"Didn't accomplish a thing, unfortunately," said Randall. "How about -you?" - -Jackson shook his head. "I got caught in the corridor. What's the -conference about?" - -"We were just discussing--" began Lanson, when Randall interrupted. - -"Plans for the future," he completed. "Now how about us all getting -some sleep. The night is almost over, and none of us have had any rest." - -The others took the hint, and all agreed that it was far past bedtime. - -Randall didn't sleep much, but he did rest his weary body in -preparation for the day to come. - - - VII - -The hot yellow sun was just bulging over the eastern horizon as he -dressed. He made his way to Lanson's hut and tapped quietly. - -After spending half an hour with the physicist, he went to Zor Ala's -hut and spent ten minutes with him. Then he went back to the shelter -which he shared with McClellan. - -"Up bright and early, aren't you?" the Australian greeted him as he -entered. - -"Rather early, but none too brightly," Randall replied. "I'm getting -too old to be frolicking around with a bunch of overgrown ants." - -"You aren't alone," agreed McClellan ruefully. He stretched painfully, -groaned, then quickly donned his clothes. - -"What's on the agenda for today?" he asked. - -"Among other things," replied Randall. "I'm going to find out what -happened to McMahon and his bride. We already know what happened to -Blake Garnet," he added, memory of that silent form on the operating -table still vivid in his mind. - -Someone rapped sharply on the door, and Jackson stuck his head in. -"Lanson asked me to tell you that Zor Ala is sick," he said. - -"What's the trouble?" Randall asked. - -Jackson shrugged. "He called in Dr. Gerard. He is afraid it's serious." - -"Oh-oh!" said Randall. "We would be in a mess with an epidemic on our -hands, wouldn't we?" - -Jackson's eyes were frightened. "You mean it's contagious?" - -"I don't know, of course," Randall answered. "We'll see what Dr. Gerard -has to say." - -Within a few moments, the three men joined Lanson and Dr. Gerard -outside Zor Ala's hut. - -"What do you think, Doc?" asked Randall. - -"Can't tell for sure," Gerard replied. "My medical knowledge is -definitely limited. Furthermore, I have no equipment to make tests, but -my diagnosis is meningococcus--cerebrospinal meningitis." - -"Well, will the rest of us get it?" asked Jackson, edging away from -the men who had been in Zor Ala's shelter. - -"Could be," said Dr. Gerard seriously. "We'll have to keep him -isolated, but I'm afraid some of us have already been exposed. We may -have real trouble on our hands." - -"What's the remedy?" inquired McClellan. - -"Well, sulfonilamide, if we had it," replied Dr. Gerard. "But we don't -have any medicine at all." - -"What--what will we do?" asked Jackson apprehensively. - -The doctor shrugged. "If I had access to a chemical laboratory," he -said, "I could synthesize some sulfa, but I doubt if the Kralons would -let me use theirs." - -"They might, at that," said Randall, watching Jackson out of the corner -of his eye, "If they knew an epidemic might wipe out their entire -colony of humans after all the work they've done in getting them from -the future." - -"Maybe they would," said Jackson eagerly. "Should I talk to them about -it?" - -"Couldn't hurt anything," replied Randall casually. "And it might help." - -Together the group made its way to the locked gate in the stockade -wall. There they set up a disturbance until a Kralon guard came and -unlocked the gate. At the same time the speaker blared: "One human will -follow." - -Jackson stepped out from the group and followed the Kralon down the -path and into the Hive. - -"Do you really think the Kralons will let us have access to their -chemical laboratory?" asked McClellan. - -Randall shrugged. "They might," he said, "if Jackson is convincing -enough. I know they don't want to lose all their human guinea pigs." - -In less than an hour Jackson was back. "The Kralons said that Dr. -Gerard could use the laboratory," he said. "And I'm to help him with -his work." - -"Okay," said the doctor briskly. "We'd better hurry." - -Together, the two men followed the guide back to the Hive. - -A few moments later, Randall, McClellan and Lanson joined Malherne in -Lanson's hut. They seated themselves before the crude desk with its -pile of figured sheets. - -"How does it look?" asked Randall. - -"Very good," replied the physicist. "Malherne has checked my figures -and they are apparently all right." - -"Just how does it all stack up?" asked McClellan. - -Lanson ran a hand through his bristling thatch. "Well," he said, "In -the first place, from my computations it seems quite apparent that if -we reverse the current through the mosaic mesh of the screen above the -Time Net, the Teleomagnetic flux should create a stress in the opposite -direction to that induced by the Kralons. Thus, theoretically, the -direction of the Teleomagnetic or gravitic displacement, acting on -anyone in the net, should be forward in Time, rather than backward." - -"How about selecting the proper spot in Time?" asked McClellan. - -"That is accomplished by the amount of energy, figured in Teleomagnetic -magnetons, and interpolated to dynes required to produce a given Time -displacement or warp," he answered. - -"How about conversion to your system of the readings on the Kralon -indicators and instruments?" asked Randall. - -Lanson held up a flashlight which one of the humans had had among his -possessions. "By checking the standard output of a dry cell against the -instruments, and computing the indicator readings in our own terms," he -replied. - -Randall nodded. "Looks as if you have done quite a thorough job," he -agreed. "Now, if Dr. Gerard can do his stuff we may have a chance." - - * * * * * - -In the laboratory of the Kralons, Dr. Gerard was having his troubles. -The various containers and their enigmatic labels were of course -entirely foreign to him, and it was necessary for him to start a -basic qualitative analysis, without knowing one reagent from another. -However, it wasn't too difficult for him to qualitatively identify -sulfuric acid and a few other basic chemicals, and from then on his -task was easier. - -Jackson was a surprisingly good assistant, although he bothered Dr. -Gerard frequently with questions about the degree of contagion of -meningitis. - -The doctor did nothing to ameliorate his fear. Rather he spurred -Jackson to increased effort by conjecturing upon the havoc the disease -could wreak if it reached epidemic proportions. - -Twice he called upon the Kralons for more reagents and chemicals. The -third time he was questioned at length concerning the quantity he was -using. - -His explanation was the admission of difficulty in reconciling his -own and the Kralon terminology for materials. Thus it was easy to -understand, he explained carefully, why he had inadvertently wasted -several batches. - -But all the time the quantity of white powder in a large cask in one -corner of the room was growing steadily. When the cask was finally -full, Dr. Gerard called a halt to their labor of synthesis. - -"Seems as though that should be enough for an army," remarked Jackson, -examining the huge container full of the chemical powder. - -"May have to use it on about that many," replied Dr. Gerard brusquely. - -While Jackson was busy filtering and running the last batch, Dr. Gerard -had fabricated a Venturi tube and a spray nozzle from odds and ends -of laboratory equipment. Working rapidly, he filled a large metal -container with powder from the cask, then added enough liquid to fill -the cask and to dissolve its contents. - -Then, with Jackson's help, he moved the cask over beside the air return -of the air conditioning and recirculating system for the Hive. He -pulled a small table over beside the cask, clamped the Venturi tube -and spray nozzle in place, with the nozzle pointing into the return -duct. Then he connected a hose from the laboratory water system to the -Venturi, and a return hose back to the drain. - -The spray worked beautifully, vaporizing the solution and spraying it -as a fine mist into the air return duct. - -"What's that for?" asked Jackson suspiciously. - -"Just arranging decontamination for the Hive so that it'll be safe for -us to come here." - -Jackson looked at Gerard sharply, but didn't say anything. - -It was evening again by this time, and Gerard asked Jackson to see -whether the Kralons had some kind of portable lighting equipment, so -that he could see to minister to Zor Ala and any others who might need -attention. - -While Jackson was gone, Dr. Gerard pulled a large carton over in -front of his spray system, hiding it quite effectively from casual -inspection. He closed the entrance panel, carefully inserting a wedge -of metal in the guide which jammed it as it closed. - -Then he started down the hall with a container of powder under his -arm. Jackson met him in the corridor. The salesman was carrying -two transparent globular jars slung from handles. The globes were -apparently filled with highly phosphorescent matter, for they gave -almost as much light as a lantern. - -"How will these do?" Jackson asked. - -"Fine," said Dr. Gerard heartily. "Now let's get going." - -Back in the stockade a few minutes later he left Jackson with a hurried -excuse, conferred briefly with Randall, then went to Lanson's shelter. - -By this time things were beginning to add up in Jackson's rather -sluggish mental processes, and they didn't come out even. Thoroughly -he turned the whole sequence of events over in his mind, reached a -decision, then decided to wait until the rest of the human colony had -retired for the night, before making a move. - - * * * * * - -A little later Randall, McClellan, Gordo Lanson, Dr. Gerard and -Malherne were gathered in Zor Ala's hut for a final council meeting to -outline timing and strategy for their next moves. - -"Remarkable recovery you made, sir," McClellan told Zor Ala with a grin. - -The future-man smiled. "Yes," he said. "I believe that Dr. Gerard's -medication is quite effective. It's made me feel much better already, -even though it's the Kralons rather than I who are taking it!" - -Then he turned to the little investigation agent. "Neat idea of yours, -Randall, of synthesizing D.D.T. to fight the Kralons." - -"D.D.T.?" asked Malherne, who had not been a member of this particular -phase of the intrigue. "What's that?" - -"Dichloro-diphenyl-trichlorethane, to use the generic term for the -chemical," replied Dr. Gerard. "It's a chemical insecticide that's -quite specific for most insects." - -"Oh," said the engineer in comprehension. "That's what you were -synthesizing instead of sulfonilamide!" - -"Right," said the little doctor. "But it _is_ a remedy for our -troubles, we hope," he added in defense of the deceit they had -practiced. - -The group chuckled at Gerard's righteousness, even in dealing with -inhuman monsters. - -"How long do you think it will take for the chemical to have a material -effect on the Kralons?" inquired Lanson. - -"Shouldn't be too long," interposed Dr. Gerard. "Unlike the insects of -our own times, these creatures have had no opportunity to build up an -immunity, nor time to mutate as a race to types resistant to chemical -insecticides. Therefore its effect should be considerably more rapid -than upon even the small insects of the future." - -Zor Ala nodded in satisfaction. "The floor is yours, Randall," he said. - -Randall stepped to the center of the group. "We are apparently all -in agreement that the zero hour is to be set at 4:00 AM, or 1600 -in universal time. That should give sufficient time for the DDT to -accomplish its work, and we do not dare delay beyond then for fear -that Dr. Gerard's contrivance will be discovered in the morning, thus -alerting the Kralons." - -He paused a moment, his pale gray eyes flicking from one member of the -group to another. "It might be wise to keep an eye on Jackson in the -meantime," he said. "He undoubtedly has had time to think things over, -and to have concluded that Dr. Gerard's fake synthesis and subsequent -actions weren't quite plausible under the circumstances." - -"How did you happen to suspect him in the first place?" asked McClellan. - -Randall smiled faintly. "It was quite obvious that the salesman lacked -courage," he replied. "We all were fully aware of that. Also, both by -profession and inclination, Jackson was an opportunist. - -"In my dealings with the renegades of society, I have always found that -to be a deadly combination. A cowardly opportunist can almost always -be expected to turn traitor to a cause which offers him any particular -inconvenience. Also," he added, "the Kralons asked me several questions -about Jackson which set me thinking." - -Lanson nodded. "He very clearly gave his position away when he so -willingly volunteered to contact the Kralons with our request," he -said. "We certainly have you to thank for preventing us from exposing -our plans before him. You were particularly adroit in utilizing his -treacherous contact with the Kralons to our advantage." - -As the other members nodded agreement, Randall shifted uneasily. "I -didn't do much," he said briefly. "Dr. Gerard did all the work. But -the hardest part is still ahead of us. The DDT, at best, is only going -to make the Kralons lethargic and slow in the time we have allowed. -Even if they don't suspect something and vacate the Hive before the -chemical-laden air affects them adversely. In any event we will have -many problems to solve. - -"Let us outline briefly the tasks assigned to each of us, and formulate -a time schedule of action, starting with 4:00 AM as the zero hour." - -He turned to Zor Ala. "You are to make such contacts with the other -humans of the colony as you feel advisable, and you will organize -several parties from those you feel you can trust. Have them gather in -small groups on either side of the main gate, staying in the shadows of -the stockade wall. Be sure they are ready at one minute to four. Have -the members armed with any weapons you can devise." - -Then he continued, outlining carefully the assigned plan of action and -time schedule for each individual. - - - VIII - -Outside, behind the low hut, Jackson strained his ears to catch -Randall's words. With an innate animal cunning, he had finally surmised -most of the intricate plot, and had crept to his vantage point shortly -after the meeting in Lanson's shelter had begun. - -However, Jackson was still faced with the problem of escaping the -surveillance of his human companions long enough to contact the Kralons -and acquaint them with the plot. He realized that if he made sufficient -noise to attract the huge insects, he would be intercepted and subdued -before he could accomplish his objective. - -Then his dilemma was suddenly solved by the mechanical voice of the -Voder. Amplified by the speaker, it called out in hesitant, somewhat -garbled accents: "The hu-man called Jack-son will come to the gate -immed-iately." - -With a glance around to see that none of his companions were close -enough to intercept him, Jackson made a run for the gate. When he -arrived there, the Kralon guide had already unlocked it and was waiting -for him. Rapidly it led the way up the beaten path to the Hive entrance -and down the long corridor to the conference room. - -The Voderist sat ready at the instrument, and it was evident that -the Kralon was maintaining its posture with difficulty. The DDT was -apparently having a pronounced effect. - -A number of the council members were present, and they too seemed to -be showing effects from the chemical. But their multi-faceted eyes -regarded the salesman with unmistakable enmity. - -"Human," said the Voder in tones as severe as possible for the -mechanical contrivance, "what trickery have you and your companions -used to poison the air of the Hive?" - -"I didn't," denied Jackson, shrinking back from the virulence of those -inhuman eyes and the very real menace of the huge pincers. - - * * * * * - -Back in the stockade, Randall and his council members had heard the -Kralon voice, and had seen Jackson disappear with the guard. The agent -was sick at heart, for he knew that this meant the destruction of all -their carefully formulated plans. - -If they had only had a few hours more, the DDT would certainly have -rendered the Kralons vulnerable to attack. - -Randall quickly conferred with his group. Following the directions the -agent gave, Malherne ran back to one of the shelters and brought rope. - -Randall handed the rope to McClellan without comment. The Australian -silently improvised a hondo, made a loop, and twirled it skillfully. He -tossed it over the top of one of the pilings, watched it settle into -place, then tugged it tight. - -Randall was halfway up the rope before anyone could object. He gained -the top of the stockade, dropped to the ground on the other side. -Hastily he located the massive bolt which barred the gate and stood -on his toes to reach it. The Kralons had not constructed it for human -manipulation, and Randall was having trouble. - -As he glanced back over his shoulder he saw several Kralon guards start -down the path toward him. - -"Be ready for a fight," he called through the wall to his companions, -"as soon as I get the gate open. The guards are coming." - -It wasn't until the Kralons were within a dozen yards that the bolt -finally gave under Randall's frenzied efforts, and the gate swung open. -Then out streamed a motley mob of determined humans, with Dr. Gerard -leading. He held his container ready, advancing toward the approaching -Kralons. He waited until they were within a few feet, then dashed the -contents of the container at their heads. - -Randall never knew whether it was partially the effects of the -insecticide or purely the virulence and vicious determination of the -band of humans which finally overcame the Kralons. But as soon as he -saw that both were down, limbs threshing, he led the group to the Hive -entry and down the huge corridor. - -He almost grinned as he thought of this ludicrous army storming the -ramparts of a fantastic race in the dim forgotten past, for the motley -human crowd from a dozen different ages brandished clubs, stones, and -knives, and McClellan was twirling his improvised lariat. - -Quickly the agent found the entry to the Time Trap laboratory and -opened the panel. The Kralon guard didn't have much chance, for it was -already lethargic from the effects of the DDT, and the milling mob of -humans soon swarmed over its prostrate figure. - -Wasting no time, Gordo Lanson rapidly began his check tests with the -drycell, calling out his readings to Malherne who noted them down on -the white wall. - -Meanwhile, Randall was determined to find out definitely what had -happened to the McMahons. Calling McClellan, he left the Time Trap -laboratory and led the way to the operating room. No trace of any form -there. - -From room to room they searched. Finally they arrived at the council -room door. Randall opened it and stepped in, McClellan close behind -him. What he saw brought the gorge to his throat, inured though he was -to dealing in violence. - -It was quite apparent that Jackson had failed to sell the Kralon -Council the truth of his innocence. Their final acts had been to exact -retribution. - - * * * * * - -Slowly the two men turned away, then continued their search for some -sign of the McMahons. And Randall knew then, with a sudden flash of -insight, that the phase of the future to which he and his companions -would soon return would not know the names of Blake Garnet, Jerome -Jackson, or Charles and Evelyn McMahon. He knew with an esoteric -knowledge that in that particular future there would have been just -seven Diamvator passengers and himself scheduled on the historic -trip. And he was somehow sure that the passenger check list would -substantiate that count. - -For it would be an alternate phase of the future, rather than the -one in which those people had, or might have existed. Those four -personalities would henceforth exist only as a memory in his mind. And -perhaps it wouldn't even be strictly a memory. Perhaps it would be a -dream; an ephemeral and elusive link between alternate potential Time -phases. - -There was a fantastic thought! Perhaps all dreams were but vague links -between Time potentials or alternate phases. - -Then Randall impatiently thrust aside the fanciful theories and turned -to the search. - -The room he and McClellan now entered was quite obviously a genetics -research laboratory. And it was there that they found unmistakable -evidence of the two young McMahons. - -They examined the grisly proof that the young couple had been -victimized by vicious Kralon experiments. Apparently the research was -aimed at the use of human gene-determinants in synthesizing a greater -Kralon race. - -In the next room Randall found a case filled with metallic sheets -covered with hieroglyphics. Feeling that the records might hold -information of value to Zor Ala and Lanson, the agent removed the first -sheet and took it with him. - -Back in the Time Trap room he called it to Zor Ala's attention, and -while Lanson and Malherne were busily completing their transpositions -and calibrations, the future-man excitedly examined the record. - -"It's written in Ulla!" he cried. "The Universal written language -adopted in the 30th Century for documentary purposes. Where did you -find it?" - -Randall led the way back to the room where he had found the records. -Zor Ala avidly began to read the information contained in the file, -making notes from time to time on his mechanical pocket recorder. - -Meanwhile Randall wandered from room to room, finding that the DDT had -done a thorough job, for nowhere did he find a sign of life in the -motionless Kralon corpses. - -When he finally returned to the vault, Zor Ala looked up from his work -and took a deep breath. - -"Randall," he said, his fine eyes shining with an almost evangelical -light, "this is a summary of the most magnificent revelation in the -history of the universe!" - -On the way back to the generator room Randall plied him with questions, -but Zor Ala was so deep in thought that he didn't even hear them. - -As they re-entered the Time Trap laboratory, Malherne and Lanson looked -up from their work. At Zor Ala's gesture they paused in their labor, -and the rest of the humans waited for his words. - -"Friends," he said, his splendid head held proudly, and his deep voice -rich with the surge of mighty emotion, "before we again return to our -various ages, it is important that all of us know the most astounding -story that it has ever been the privilege of mortal men to hear." - -While the crowd fell silent within the room, and those in the corridor -crowded closer to hear his words, Zor Ala continued: - -"It is the story of Man in all his glory! It is the story of a -superb race of men who exist so far in the future that my own age is -antediluvian by comparison. It is the stupendous history of that race's -realization of the ultimate goal of Life; a goal so tremendous that its -concepts were staggering, even to those supremely mature minds!" - -Zor Ala paused, drew a deep breath, then went on. - -"Those far distant future-men knew that goal to be far more important -than any one life or any one race or any galaxy. They knew that no -effort should be spared in its ultimate accomplishment. - -"That infinite purpose transcended even individual or racial survival, -and this almost divinely intelligent and benevolent race knew that the -history of Life's development must be reviewed; must be re-examined -to determine whether Mankind was the most suitable vehicle for its -eventual attainment. - -"Following this postulate, they developed the science of Dimensional -Time, and devised equipment for investigating the past. There, their -first test of Man's fitness for the ultimate purpose was to aid forms -of life other than Man. - -"First they set up elaborate scientific equipment to provide an -artificial evolutionary leap ahead for one form which had diverged from -the main stem. - -"Knowing full well that if this life-form progressed, Man's whole -future would undoubtedly be replaced by an alternate future of insect -supremacy, this super-race without hesitation continued its work of -producing a tremendous artificial advancement for the rudimentary -invertebrates. - - * * * * * - -"They accomplished this objective by inducing a re-encystment or -pupation which carried the invertebrates up the evolutionary ladder -countless millions of years in a single stride! - -"They fully realized that if their help was successful in aiding -this life-form to reach ascendance, that Man's phase--their phase of -the future--would no longer exist. But they knew that the infinite -importance of the ultimate goal must be placed above all else! - -"Thus the Kralons sprang suddenly from low invertebrate stock which had -strayed off as a branch of the main evolutionary stem. But they were -an artificial race, raised to their pedestal among other life-forms by -outside help, rather than through sturdy, solid evolutionary progress." - -Zor Ala paused while his audience looked at each other soberly, all -realizing that the Kralons had failed the splendid chance which had -been offered them by the almost divine race of the far distant future. - -And then they realized that they themselves had played a part in the -cosmic scheme which once again was assuring Man of his place in Life. -They had helped to forge another link in the chain of evidence pointing -toward the conclusion that Man and Man alone was to be selected to -reach that ultimate goal! - -Zor Ala continued! - -"The investigators assigned by the super-race were not content with -testing only this single life-form against Man's development. They -combed the infinite past, selecting various promising genera to aid; -hoping, always hoping in their hearts that Man himself would emerge -from the tests as the chosen species, but never allowing that hope to -influence their work. - -"They helped man, very many species with well-planned steps; a help -which Man's progenitors never had. They implanted determinant genes -in a certain reptilian branch which eventually produced the mighty -dinosaurs' great size; reasoning that the advantage of protective size -might allow this life-type to evolve toward the heights. - -"But the reptiles also failed their chance, possibly even as the -Kralons are failing theirs. Perhaps, like the Kralons they were not -satisfied with all the help the future had already given them. Perhaps -they, like the selfish insects, again reached forward in Time for more -and more unearned information, thus bringing back the elements of their -own destruction!" - -The listening humans exhaled almost as one. This was a concept so -vast that it was almost mentally painful; yet so glorious in its -implications for Man that every heart felt the surge of a mighty -emotion. - -Randall looked around at his companions. On every face he saw the glory -of tremendous purpose. - -No longer would they blunder through Life with fumbling and despairing -uncertainty. No more would hollow frustration gnaw at searching minds -which eternally wondered: "Why survive? For what purpose? What is our -destiny?" - -Now they knew! Now the distant view of a magnificent purpose would be -always before them, filling them with a vast serenity coupled with a -mighty incentive. Whence now, little man? Onward! - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Time-Techs Of Kra, by Max Sheridan - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TIME-TECHS OF KRA *** - -***** This file should be named 63716-8.txt or 63716-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/7/1/63716/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from 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 -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: The Time-Techs Of Kra - -Author: Max Sheridan - -Release Date: November 11, 2020 [EBook #63716] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TIME-TECHS OF KRA *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>THE TIME-TECHS OF KRA</h1> - -<h2>By MAX SHERIDAN</h2> - -<p><i>The elusive technical knowledge of eons,<br /> -past and future, was held captive by the mighty<br /> -Kralons—learned giant insects that seined the<br /> -stream of Time for the great Truth that would<br /> -mold them into unrivalled masters of the universe.</i></p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories Fall 1954.<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>The little gray man peered timidly over gold-rimmed spectacles at -the great black hole which yawned hungrily almost at his feet. He -edged back cautiously from the massive steel lattice which guarded -its circumference, then plucked timidly at the sleeve of the -blue-uniformed guard who stood impressively erect before the barrier's -huge gate.</p> - -<p>"I—I beg your pardon. Could you tell me when the next one leaves?" he -asked in a voice as colorless as his thin, nondescript features.</p> - -<p>The guard catalogued the speaker with a glance, and a superior smile -lifted the corners of his lips.</p> - -<p>"Not figuring on making the Big Drop, are you, Uncle?" he asked in -obvious amusement.</p> - -<p>"Well, I—"</p> - -<p>Then the gilt epaulets on the guard's padded shoulders jerked as he -came suddenly to a respectful attention.</p> - -<p>"Next Diamvator leaves promptly at 2:30 P.M., sir. Arrives at the -Antipodes at 6:30 P.M. Central Standard Time, sir."</p> - -<p>The obsequious reply brought a veil of mild surprise to the little -man's pale gray eyes.</p> - -<p>Then it was replaced with a twinkle of understanding as he saw the -Terminal Agent approaching.</p> - -<p>J. B. Andrews, the big bluff Supervisory Agent of Earth-Tube, -Incorporated, cast a cursory glance at the little gray man, then turned -to the guard.</p> - -<p>"The 'Vator will leave at 2:35 P.M. today, Jamieson. Five minutes later -than schedule. You will act accordingly."</p> - -<p>As the Agent turned to leave, the little gray man cleared his throat -and said timidly, "I—I'd like to ask about your round trip rate to—to -the other side."</p> - -<p>The Terminal Agent looked appraisingly at the little man for a moment, -then said courteously, "Glad to answer any questions. If you will step -over to my office I'll give you one of our brochures which describes in -detail the advantages of the Diamvator over surface travel."</p> - -<p>When the door had dosed behind them in the Agent's office, the little -man's appearance changed subtly. His drooping shoulders were suddenly -squarer, and his pale eyes seemed to darken to the color of the granite -blocks of the floor.</p> - -<p>"Randall is my name, Mr. Andrews. Willard Randall," he said, and his -thin, colorless voice seemed to have gained the depth and assurance of -a man who is confident of his ability to meet any situation.</p> - -<p>Andrews' jaw sagged, and a startled ejaculation burst from his lips.</p> - -<p>"You—Randall? I—" The Agent paused, then recovered his usual -composure and apologized. "I'm sorry, Mr. Randall. I guess I had -expected a—well, a larger man," he completed lamely.</p> - -<p>"I understand," Randall said, smiling at Andrews' evident -embarrassment. "I don't look exactly like the popular conception of an -International Investigation Agent, you mean. But, you see, the less we -look like IIA's, the more likely we are to catch someone off-guard."</p> - -<p>"That's probably true," Andrews agreed doubtfully, "but—"</p> - -<p>"But can I deliver the goods?" Randall completed with a smile. "That's -what's worrying you, isn't it?"</p> - -<p>Without waiting for an answer from the embarrassed Andrews, Randall -continued, "Now, about your trouble. If you'll please outline the whole -affair. Absolutely everything you know about it, whether it seems -relevant or not."</p> - -<p>The Agent for Earth-Tube, Inc. hesitated a moment, then began.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"As you probably know, it was in 1996 that the International Federation -of Nations was formed, supplanting the United Nations. At that time all -countries were consolidated under a single unified government.</p> - -<p>"Because the consolidation definitely obviated the possibility of war, -and because the economic situation necessitated a governmental boost, -the leaders conceived the idea of utilizing the excess man-power in -sinking a huge shaft to investigate the hypothesis that the Earth's -core is a vast treasure house of metal.</p> - -<p>"The results of the gargantuan undertaking were, from one standpoint, -considerably less than miraculous. After penetrating almost four -thousand miles to the very center of the Earth, it was found that the -major part of the core was metal, alright, but only nickel-iron, which -could be mined much more cheaply nearer the Earth's surface.</p> - -<p>"There seemed to be no higher a proportion of the rarer metals in the -core than on the surface.</p> - -<p>"Although somewhat disgruntled at the results of their investigation, -the governmental heads knew that they must keep busy the thousands of -men thrown out of employment by the dissolution of armies and navies. -So, having nothing better in mind, this fantastic WPA was commissioned -to put the shaft on through to the other side of the Earth."</p> - -<p>Randall nodded impatiently. "I am familiar with the historical data," -he said. "Now if you will give me a resumé of the circumstances which -have an immediate bearing on the trouble—"</p> - -<p>Andrews colored at the little man's tone, and said gruffly, "I was only -reviewing the data from the beginning, because there have been several -developments in the past which may well have a bearing on our present -difficulty."</p> - -<p>The Investigation Agent nodded. "Make the historical review as brief as -possible, then."</p> - -<p>"After the shaft was completed," Andrews continued, more than a little -piqued, "the question arose as to what should be done with the hundred -billion dollar hole in the ground, now that it was finally completed.</p> - -<p>"Some engineers advised salvaging the incredibly heat-resistant -fifty-foot thick cellular caisson of Tungalloy, which alone had made -possible the penetration through thousands of miles of molten material -under tremendous pressure.</p> - -<p>"Others maintained that the cost of removing it would be far in excess -of the caisson's value.</p> - -<p>"While the battle was raging, J. T. Weller, president of Metals, Inc. -came to the fore with an offer for a concession on the Earth-Tube.</p> - -<p>"He proposed to construct a tubular car or cage which would traverse -the almost eight thousand miles in only four hours—more than twenty -four hours less than the time required for a trip to the Antipodes by -stratosphere plane.</p> - -<p>"His argument for the success of the undertaking lay, not so much in -the time saved on the trip, but in the novelty of the method of travel, -and its value for giving people a taste of what weightless travel in -space ships would be like. His imagination capitalized on the fact that -Man is always on the alert for some new and strange way of cheating his -perambulatory equipment of its needed exercise.</p> - -<p>"Before advancing his proposition, he'd had his engineers draw up -complete plans and specifications of the proposed cage and the -necessary auxiliary equipment.</p> - -<p>"The cage itself was to be a zeppelin-shaped projectile—But come, the -Diamvator itself is due in five minutes."</p> - -<p>Andrews arose and led the way to the terminal gate, and for the next -few minutes Randall unobtrusively strolled around the circumference -of the Earth-Tube, examining its massive steel barrier. He completed -his circuit and was peering timidly through the steel lattice, when -a long-drawn "whoooosh" and a metallic click sounded from the black -depths.</p> - -<p>He turned inquiringly to Andrews, who hastened to explain. "Closing of -the air-locks," he said. "You see, the air is only partially exhausted -from the Earth-Tube, so that the Diamvator will be held from the -Tube sidewall during its free fall. Thus it does not attain the full -acceleration of a freely falling body in a vacuum by a great deal. -Consequently it does not approach its full pendular ascent from the -Earth's center against gravitation.</p> - -<p>"It lacks 'falling' to the surface of the Earth by over ten thousand -feet, so some means had to be provided for propelling the Vator on up -to the surface. To accomplish this, automatic air-locks were installed -in the tube almost three hundred miles from either end, with other -locks every few miles from there to the surface.</p> - -<p>"When the Vator has passed a lower lock, both that one and the lock -above it close, and air is admitted under high pressure below the Vator -and exhausted above it, thus pushing the car up to the surface, where -it is grasped and held by interlocking steel arms—"</p> - -<p>Andrews was interrupted by a second "whoooosh" as the upper lock -opened, followed immediately by the appearance of the bullet-shaped -nose of the Diamvator.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Slowly the tube car ascended until its nose towered far above the -heads of the milling crowd which by this time surrounded the terminal. -Suddenly a harsh click told that the steel arms had gripped the Vator. -Friction rollers whined as they rotated the car until its massive door -coincided with the barrier gate.</p> - -<p>As Andrews and Randall watched, the guard unlocked the gate and slid -it into its slot, then unbarred the Vator door and pushed it open.</p> - -<p>"All out for American Terminus, Ladrigo, Brazil," he called in a -routine monotone.</p> - -<p>Not a sound came from the interior of the Diamvator. The guard -hesitated a moment, then stepped through the door into the tube car.</p> - -<p>Within ten seconds he reappeared, fright etched on drawn features.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Andrews!" he rasped from stiff lips. "It—it's happened again!"</p> - -<p>Andrews' heavy features sagged. "No!" he said huskily. "No, it -couldn't!"</p> - -<p>Then with a bound he was through the Vator door with Randall at his -heels. Inside, it took a moment for Randall's eyes to accommodate to -the dimmer light. Then he saw that the interior of the Diamvator was -remarkably like a comfortable drawing room in a luxurious home.</p> - -<p>Several beautifully inlaid walnut tables occupied the central portion -of a mirror-like floor. Gleaming chrome and leather chairs were spaced -around them. Luxurious davenports and huge easy chairs ringed the -circumference of the room, and the whole inviting scene was softly but -pleasantly illumined by high-frequency tubes set flush in the domed -ceiling.</p> - -<p>Randall's glance made the complete circuit of the room before the -astounding fact crashed through to his mind that there was not a single -person in the room!</p> - -<p>Randall stood stock still for a moment, cataloguing the details of the -room, and trying to assimilate the facts of this strange enigma.</p> - -<p>Then he turned to Andrews and asked, "How many passengers left the -Antipodes in the Vator?"</p> - -<p>"Ten," Andrews said huskily. "That's three times in the last month this -has happened. I—I don't know what—"</p> - -<p>"How about cargo?" Randall interrupted, his pale eyes glowing with a -newly awakened fire. "Any valuable shipment?"</p> - -<p>Andrews shook his head vehemently. "That's what makes it even more -inexplicable! Each time this thing has happened there has been nothing -but baggage scheduled. The mail and most of our insured expressage -goes out on the 6:30 A.M. trip. I—"</p> - -<p>"Any idea how anything could possibly disappear from the Diamvator -during its trip? Don't you have radio contact with the car?"</p> - -<p>Again the Earth-Tube supervisor shook his head. "How anything or -anyone could leave the Vator during the trip, even with the aid of its -passengers, is more than a mystery. It's impossible! As for contact, we -have no communication with the Vator from the time it leaves one side -until it reaches the other. You see, the Earth's metal core entirely -absorbs and blankets Hertzian waves, making radio communication -impossible from car to surface."</p> - -<p>Randall nodded. "Do you have a steward on the Tube Car during the trip?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," Andrews said wearily. "This is the third we've lost. I don't—"</p> - -<p>"That's queer," said Randall suddenly. He pointed to the clock on the -mantel above the imitation fireplace. "Over two hours slow," he mused, -glancing at his wrist watch. "It's a wonder you fellows wouldn't supply -the Vator with a good timepiece."</p> - -<p>Andrews' jaw sagged. "Why, that's the same thing that happened the -other two times!" he said in amazement. "The first time it was almost -six hours fast. The second time, over eight hours slow. And now, two -hours slow!"</p> - -<p>"Well?" prompted Randall.</p> - -<p>"There's something queer about that. The last time I radioed the -Antipodes and made sure the clock was correct just before the Vator -left!"</p> - -<p>Randall was silent for a moment. "Well," he said at last. "There's only -one way to track this thing down. And that's to get the information -first hand. Andrews, you can book my passage on your next trip."</p> - -<p>The Earth-Tube supervisor gasped. "You aren't going in the face of -what's happened!"</p> - -<p>"Someone has to," Randall returned. "I'll go as your steward."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">II</p> - -<p>Two hours later Randall stood stiffly at attention in his somewhat -oversized steward's uniform while eleven passengers filed into the -Diamvator, chattering in excitement over their coming adventure.</p> - -<p>Randall wondered with a wry smile what their reactions would be if they -knew what had happened to the Diamvator's passengers on three preceding -trips. The secret agent had not been entirely in agreement with his -Chief's orders that the mysteries be suppressed and that passengers -still be accepted. But he saw the logic of keeping the trap baited. And -Randall realized, with a warm feeling inside, that his Chief depended -upon him to protect the eleven lives which were the bait in a trap -which he hoped fervently would not close upon those who set it!</p> - -<p>Slowly the chattering passengers took their places in the comfortable -chairs. After the yard-thick door had swung ponderously shut, and the -outside bar had been thrust home, Randall cautioned the passengers to -keep their seats, then found his own place.</p> - -<p>There came a sudden breathless drop as the upper lock opened, and -the steel arms released the Vator upon the cushioning column of air -above the next lower lock. A sibilant hiss sounded through the room as -twelve people fought for breath when the Vator floor tried to drop from -beneath them.</p> - -<p>Two women screamed in high thin voices that tore at the agent's ears. -The fat traveling salesman from New Orleans clapped his plump hands to -his throat, and his eyes looked like pale blue marbles. The bronzed big -game hunter looked as if he were face to face with a lion crouched for -attack. The white-haired professional gentleman colored as if he had -swallowed a chameleon.</p> - -<p>Slowly the falling sensation faded, and a vast sigh of relief sounded -through the room. Then a second chorus of gasps arose from eleven -throats. The young engineer on his way to the uranium mines in Borneo -rasped out in a choked voice: "Just—passing through the lower -lock—into—near vacuum!"</p> - -<p>Randall nodded with effort and waited breathlessly until finally the -Vator had attained an almost constant acceleration.</p> - -<p>When the eleven passengers had lost a little of their pallor, and a few -had even begun to laugh and talk among themselves, Randall arose and -strolled around the room.</p> - -<p>He quietly examined the massive door which could be opened only from -the outside. Then he turned and strolled about the room, carefully but -covertly scrutinizing every person aboard.</p> - -<p>There were four middle-aged school teachers who were trying to recover -the vicarious thrills of vanished youth.</p> - -<p>A young couple with the obvious devotion of honeymooners occupied the -lounge across the room.</p> - -<p>A reserved old gentleman with a mane of white hair and a professional -mien sat in the big Morris chair to the right of the newlyweds. Randall -immediately catalogued him as a doctor, or perhaps a scientist of some -sort.</p> - -<p>On the other side of the four school ma'ms was a chap Randall couldn't -quite analyze. He was tall and spare and lithe, with the bronze of the -sun in his cheeks, and a thousand tiny wrinkles like ripples surrounded -the deep blue of his eyes.</p> - -<p>Randall instinctively liked the chap. He looked wholesome and -true-blue. He looked like a man who'd seen a lot of the world and liked -most of it.</p> - -<p>The young engineer, the lion hunter, and the fat traveling salesman -completed the list of passengers.</p> - -<p>The trouble was, Randall concluded, there wasn't a person in the Vator -who looked as if he could be guilty of any real crime, much less the -wholesale kidnappings, which had evidently taken place.</p> - -<p>But if the enigma of the Earth Tube were not instigated by some one in -the Vator, how in the name of a thousand mysteries could it happen at -all?</p> - -<p>Randall shrugged. It looked as if a philosophical approach was worse -than hopeless.</p> - -<p>He'd have to map out a plan of direct action. A plan that would tell -him more of the true characters of his eleven companions.</p> - -<p>He looked at the clock on the mantel. It's dial showed a little after -4:00 P.M., so according to the schedule, the Vator should be rapidly -nearing the center of the Earth.</p> - -<p>Randall started toward the professional gentleman in the big chair. He -had completed four steps when sudden catastrophe blasted all plans from -his mind.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The women didn't scream this time. It all happened too quickly. There -wasn't even time for Randall to complete the step he had started.</p> - -<p>Thunder with a thousand toneless voices echoed through his mind. -Lightning with the hues of alien spectra shot blindingly into his eyes. -He felt as though he had suddenly grasped the two poles of an electric -circuit. His muscles contracted spasmodically and numbness clutched -with deadly anesthesia at his groping mind.</p> - -<p>When the stupor finally began to retreat from Randall's bewildered -consciousness, the first sounds he identified were the delayed screams -of the four school ma'ms and the bride.</p> - -<p>He cautiously opened his smarting eyes and looked around. What he saw -was far from reassuring, for it was vividly apparent that they were no -longer in the Diamvator. In fact, there was no sign whatever to be seen -of the Tube Car!</p> - -<p>Randall blinked, looked again. He and his eleven companions were -suspended like fallen acrobats in a huge net constructed of -closely-woven metallic strands.</p> - -<p>A dozen feet above his head was a coruscating sheet of stratified -radiance that arched across like a miniature sky, forming a -hemispherical dome of light over the great net.</p> - -<p>Randall cleared his throat noisily. He had stalked desperate criminals -into their hiding places.</p> - -<p>He had daringly matched cunning with determined dope rings. He had -stood face-to-face with armed murderers, but never as now had he felt -so completely at a loss. Never had he been so neatly and easily trapped.</p> - -<p>But what was behind it all? And how had it been done? What earthly—or -other—agency could contrive to tear twelve people from the interior of -a locked metal car traveling in excess of two thousand miles an hour?</p> - -<p>Randall shrugged and turned to examine his eleven charges.</p> - -<p>The newlyweds, Charles and Evelyn McMahon, were clutching each other -frantically as if their very salvation lay in their proximity.</p> - -<p>Blake Garnet, the lion hunter, had cautiously gained his feet and was -edging gingerly across the net toward Randall.</p> - -<p>The four school ma'ms were trying frantically to sit up, clutching each -other as if separation spelled death.</p> - -<p>Randall remembered their names because they were so thoroughly, almost -ludicrously American. Retta Shields, Laura Hanks and Sarah Nelson were -the three thin ones, and Mamie Wilson was the plump, good-natured one.</p> - -<p>Paul Gerard, the white-haired professional gentleman, was interestedly -gazing up at the coruscating hemisphere of radiance.</p> - -<p>Angus McClellan, the lean whimsical chap whom Randall hadn't been able -to catalogue, was talking in low tones with Gordon Malherne, the young -engineer.</p> - -<p>Randall started forward to meet Blake Garnet, when suddenly the net -began to sink beneath his feet.</p> - -<p>Down and down it sank, until Randall felt a firm foundation under his -feet. Then the edges of the net were pulled up and over until the -twelve humans were rolled pell-mell together in the bottom of a huge -woven bag. A huge eye peered in at the twelve startled humans. An eye -that glinted light from a thousand separate facets.</p> - -<p>Randall heard his own gasp amid the bedlam of mingled screams and -shouts from the passengers. Then a huge clawed arm reached down through -the opening at the top of the net bag. Reached straight for the huddled -humans.</p> - -<p>Randall felt the chitinous limb slide past his body, then a frenzied -scream dinned in his ears.</p> - -<p>The kicking thrashing body of Evelyn McMahon was lifted high in the air -to disappear through the opening above.</p> - -<p>Her husband had clutched her until she was torn from his grasp, and -now, with a low cry of anguish he started climbing frantically up the -strands of the net.</p> - -<p>He had clambered half the distance when the chitin-covered limb -appeared again, and Charles McMahon went to join his bride.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Randall was heartsick. He could do nothing, absolutely nothing, and he -knew it was only a matter of seconds until that huge claw would return -for another struggling, screaming human.</p> - -<p>He hoped frantically that he would escape the horrible suspense; that -he himself would be the next victim. However, he wasn't. He had to -wait until two of the school teachers and the young engineer were gone -before the opposing claws closed around him.</p> - -<p>He waited for the crushing violence of those great talons, but instead, -there was only a gentle pressure as he felt himself lifted smoothly and -easily from the net.</p> - -<p>In another moment he was set free in a small open field covered with a -thick carpet of grass. A tall stockade constructed of foot-thick wooden -piling, sharpened at the upper ends, enclosed fifteen or twenty acres -of field.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He looked around and saw Charles McMahon trying to calm his sobbing -bride, and Gordon Malherne, the engineer, chafing the hands of the two -school teachers who had preceded him.</p> - -<p>Randall started toward the group, when a shadow passed over him, and -Doctor Gerard was released from the great claw almost beside him. The -white-haired scientist scrambled to his feet and turned toward Randall -with a grimace.</p> - -<p>"Nice business," he said. "I used to consider Entomology a respectable -profession, and I fancied myself quite capable in my line. But from the -looks of our captor, I guess my job has grown too big for me!"</p> - -<p>Randall tried to smile at the other's joke, but his grin wasn't very -successful. "Let's see what we can do for the women folk," he suggested.</p> - -<p>Their work was immediately complicated by the arrival of the other two -teachers in quick succession. They were finally beginning to have a -little success in quieting the trembling women, when the claw again -appeared, depositing Jerome Jackson beside them.</p> - -<p>The fat little salesman scrambled to his feet with a squall of fear. -His cheeks quivered like twin puddings, and his eyes seemed almost to -be growing on stalks.</p> - -<p>"Wha—what was it?" he quavered.</p> - -<p>Randall almost smiled. "Doctor Gerard seems to think it's somewhat -buggy," he replied. "You can draw your own conclusions."</p> - -<p>Jackson was about to reply when the claw again descended, and Blake -Garnet was released.</p> - -<p>His black eyes were inky pools of consternation, and his healthy bronze -had faded a dozen shades. He recovered his composure quickly when he -saw his companions, and a thin smile fought through.</p> - -<p>"Looks like a one-bug plague to me," he remarked. "—Whoops, here comes -our cowpuncher!"</p> - -<p>Angus McClellan still had his one-sided grin as he shook his long lanky -body and looked quizzically at the disheveled group of humans.</p> - -<p>"Never had anything like that around Sidney," he said. "Chamber of -Commerce wouldn't allow it. What's the next installment anyway of the -'Clue of the Chitin Claw'?"</p> - -<p>Randall shook his head. "That's all of us, I guess. Anybody hurt?"</p> - -<p>Everyone looked around, and finally all shook their heads.</p> - -<p>"That is, if you don't count a damaged ego and a completely wrecked -peace of mind," added Blake Garnet. "Now what, for heaven's sake?"</p> - -<p>"May as well look around," suggested Randall. "I see some kind of -buildings across the field."</p> - -<p>The others followed the Agent's gesture; saw several dozen low, domed -structures squatting in even rows a few hundred yards away.</p> - -<p>Randall started toward them, the others following cautiously. When they -were within a dozen yards of the structures, a door in the first one -opened and a man stepped out.</p> - -<p>He was a magnificent figure of a man. And his splendid body was a -fitting support for the god-like head, broad of brow, features finely -chiseled.</p> - -<p>"Wel-come," he said in queer blurred accents. "Wel-come to the Time -Tribe."</p> - -<p>He advanced toward them, extending his hand. "I am Zor Ala, a 40B-7 -type from the 43rd Century, according to the ancient reckoning of Anno -Domini. And you—?"</p> - -<p>Randall spoke for the group, his mind fumbling for the meaning of the -man's words. "We're a group of passengers who were somehow snatched -from our passage through the Earth-Tube. But what—"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes," interrupted Zor Ala reminiscently. "That strange and useless -hole through the Earth that finally collapsed around 3000 A.D. We have -a number of other Earth-Tube passengers here with us. But from what -period did you come?"</p> - -<p>Randall replied wonderingly, "Why from this,—2062 A.D. of course!"</p> - -<p>Zor Ala shook his head slowly, a strange smile on his lips. "But this -is far from being 2062, my friend," he said softly. "As closely as we -have been able to reckon it, we are now living in what you would call -the Carboniferous Period, probably in the latter part."</p> - -<p>He waited a moment for his words to take effect, then continued: "And -that would place our present era—" He nodded at Doctor Gerard. "Yes, -my friend, I see that you understand we are now, amazingly enough, -living in a time which preceded our births by approximately two hundred -million years!"</p> - -<p>Doctor Gerard turned to face his companions. "Yes," he said slowly. "I -had guessed at something like this. The color and brilliance of the -sun, the type of grasses, and the size and shape of the flora visible -over the stockade. Yes, I'd thought of this possibility, but couldn't -bring myself to really believe it!"</p> - -<p>"But our captors," interjected Randall. "What are they? How did they -trap us? And what do they intend to do with us?"</p> - -<p>"They're just what they appear to be," said Zor Ala solemnly. He looked -at Randall, and his fine eyes were bleak. "They are a species of insect -which has apparently progressed both in size and in intellect far -beyond any other life form of this period. And unlike the insects of my -time, and undoubtedly of yours, these things act through intelligent -reasoning rather than through a set pattern of instincts."</p> - -<p>"But," interrupted Doctor Gerard, "according to the theory of most -Entomologists of my time, it would be impossible for an insect to -attain the size of these creatures! Their bodily structure is wrong. -They couldn't support their own weight. And if they could, their -inefficient breathing tubes and trachea couldn't furnish their bodies -with sufficient oxygen, nor remove the waste products!"</p> - -<p>Zor Ala smiled tolerantly. "The proof of possibility is their -existence," he said. "Your contemporaries' theory is obviously -incorrect.</p> - -<p>"How can one deny the possibility of huge insects without knowing the -strength of materials in their supporting structure? Do the gigantic -Sequoias in North America collapse because of their almost four hundred -foot height, as a Balsa undoubtedly would if it attained the same size?</p> - -<p>"Is it philosophically logical that, because insects of your day -possessed an exoskeleton incapable of supporting larger creatures, that -these creatures must also possess those exact characteristics? Such -an argument is absurd. Evolution fits the strength of the supporting -structure to the weight it must support. And naturally the means for -oxygenation and elimination are likewise accommodated."</p> - -<p>Doctor Gerard was still unconvinced, but Randall got in the next word.</p> - -<p>"How many more of you are there?" he asked. "Have you any more -companions from your own Age?"</p> - -<p>Zor Ala shook his head. "No more from my own time, but there are more -than a hundred humans from other ages," he said. "Come, they are -anxious to meet the new arrivals."</p> - -<p>He led them to a large structure which bulked in a central position, -surrounded by the smaller buildings.</p> - -<p>An oddly-assorted but unquestionably colorful group of humans greeted -their entrance in a dozen different tongues. They gathered around the -new arrivals with a hundred excited queries.</p> - -<p>"A minute, my friends," Zor Ala cautioned in his queer, blurred -English. "These people are come from the year 2062. They were captured -during a passage through the ancient Earth-Tube by the Kralons' Time -Net, just as you were dragged from your own various Ages for the -Kralons' selfish plans."</p> - -<p>In the bewildering hours that followed, the Vator companions learned -the answers to some of their enigmatic experiences. But they learned -also of strange and horrible things which even the more advanced of the -queer colony did not understand.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">III</p> - -<p>Among their new acquaintances was a stocky, pop-eyed physicist with -a fringe of hair like stiff iron wire, who introduced himself as -Gordo Lanson. In the year 2076 he had been experimenting with a new -super-cyclotron and inadvertently had been caught in the almost -inconceivably strong magnetic field used for the acceleration of -electrons in the vast atom smasher.</p> - -<p>He had felt a moment of intense vertigo, a wrenching, dimensional sort -of straining of every cell, then he, like the Vator passengers, had -found himself suspended in the huge net.</p> - -<p>There were also a dozen orientals, some from Hiroshima and some from -Nagasaki. They had been here since the days of the atomic blasts.</p> - -<p>Then there was a thin, dark-skinned chap with strange eyes. He had been -flashing through space on an exploratory trip to Jupiter, when suddenly -his ship had spun into an etheric vortex, one of those enigmatic -whirlpools of magnetic flux which were so deadly to space travel. He, -Dar Mikol, had been torn from 3122, the year of the great space war -between Earth-colonized Mars and its parent planet.</p> - -<p>There was a Russian peasant who had been plowing his field in 1688 when -a lightning bolt split the lowering skies and threw him through time -and space to land in the Kralons' net.</p> - -<p>There were also fifteen other people from Randall's own time; the -missing Vator passengers of prior trips.</p> - -<p>There were a hundred or so more humans in the strange colony, and all -had been drawn to this strange primeval world through some esoteric -passage induced by the Kralons' Time Trap.</p> - -<p>"But what is the reason behind it?" Randall asked Zor Ala in -bafflement. "Why do they want us? What do they do with us?"</p> - -<p>Before Zor Ala had a chance to reply, a loud click sounded from a small -diaphragm on the wall, then a harsh voice rasped out a dozen words in -crudely accented English.</p> - -<p>Randall didn't catch the meaning. He turned questioningly to Zor Ala.</p> - -<p>The future man sighed. "The Kralons want to interview the new -arrivals," he said. "You are to wait at the West gate in the stockade."</p> - -<p>"And if we don't?" Randall asked.</p> - -<p>"I would," Zor Ala said soberly.</p> - -<p>Randall shrugged and led his companions across the field.</p> - -<p>Jerome Jackson was shaking even more violently than the four school -ma'ams. The fat little salesman's plump cheeks quivered, and his pale -eyes rolled in their sockets.</p> - -<p>"Wha—what are they going to do with us now?" he quavered.</p> - -<p>Randall examined the man pityingly. "Apparently nothing very serious," -he said. "Because our new companions over there are still very much -alive."</p> - -<p>However, Randall didn't know the full extent of the Kralons' -inhumanity. Zor Ala hadn't had time to tell him that not all the human -arrivals in the world of the Kralons were still in the stockade. There -hadn't been time to discuss the fate of sixteen humans who had never -come back from their appointments with their strange captors!</p> - -<p>Just then the stockade door opened and a harsh voice rasped: "First -human will come now."</p> - -<p>The companions looked at each other, then Randall started to step -forward, but Blake Garnet was ahead of him. The hunter stepped through -the door, head held high, a saturnine grin on his rugged features.</p> - -<p>"Just my meat," he called back. "An ant with Elephantiasis should be -fair prey for a big game hunter."</p> - -<p>When the door had closed behind Garnet, Angus McClellan grinned a -little wryly at Randall.</p> - -<p>"A great a'nt is sometimes okay," he drawled, "if her name is Sarah, -and she leaves you a pile of jack."</p> - -<p>Randall grinned back at him. He recognized the other's wisecracking as -an attempt to keep up the morale of the party.</p> - -<p>"Which species do you prefer?" he asked.</p> - -<p>The lanky Australian squinted. "Wa—al," he said. "Don't know but what -I'd prefer the Kralons to Aunt Sarah, when she had her dander up."</p> - -<p>The companions grinned feebly. It was hard to even attempt -cheerfulness, when God alone knew what might lie on the other side of -that bare metal door.</p> - -<p>It seemed hours that they waited for Blake Garnet to come back. But he -never came. Instead, again the door opened, and a harsh voice rasped: -"One more now."</p> - -<p>Randall was first this time, with McClellan close at his heels. The -voice rasped sharply: "Only one at a time." And McClellan turned back -slowly.</p> - -<p>Randall found himself on a hard smooth path outside the stockade, and -waiting for him was a smaller edition of the gigantic creature he had -glimpsed while he and his companions were in the net.</p> - -<p>This Kralon was not much larger than Randall, but the agent shuddered -instinctively at its repulsive appearance, and at the strange, -nauseating odor it exuded.</p> - -<p>The creature turned and led the way down the path. Randall followed.</p> - -<p>The weird creature led the way into a great high-domed structure of -gray stone. It led Randall down a huge hallway from which hundreds of -openings diverged to lesser corridors leading to other parts of the -massive building. Then the hall they were following evolved into a -great central chamber, lighted with a weird blue glow which emanated -from the walls and ceiling of the huge room.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In a semicircle, facing Randall, sprawled ten enormous Kralons, their -huge mandibles clacking like monstrous telegraph keys. But it was the -central figure which held Randall's attention.</p> - -<p>In the center of the semicircle, the eleventh Kralon crouched before -a massive instrument of wood and metal. And as Randall and his guide -entered the room, the monster started to finger a yard-long keyboard -surprisingly similar to that of a huge pipe-organ.</p> - -<p>A crudely-accented voice asked in uneven tempo: "What is your name, and -what is your Time Era?"</p> - -<p>Randall didn't answer. He hadn't even heard. He was staring with -horrified fascination at the hands of the monster at the keyboard. -Hands which each had four tapering fingers and a thumb, instead of two -opposing claws; hands the delicate hue of old ivory, instead of the -brownish black of the other Kralons' chitinous limbs!</p> - -<p>"What is your name, and your Time Era?"</p> - -<p>"Randall," he answered, his voice thin and colorless in the huge room. -"Willard Randall. And I'm from the twenty-first Century, A.D."</p> - -<p>The mandibles of the huge creatures clacked spasmodically for a moment, -then the Kralon at the instrument, which Randall had recognized as a -sort of Voder, ran those weird, incongruous fingers over the keyboard, -and the instrument spoke again.</p> - -<p>"We're sorry," it said. "We had hoped to draw from the more distant -future, when more intelligence could be expected."</p> - -<p>"Sorry," said Randall in his flat voice. "Awfully sorry to disappoint -you."</p> - -<p>The creature at the instrument looked at him, and Randall wondered -whimsically whether it had recognized the sarcasm.</p> - -<p>Then the voice continued, "However, there is the satis—satis—" Even -this fantastic Voder could not cope with the hissing sibilance of an -"F," so the creature finally substituted: "consolation that our Time -Net is working so well. In the end, the law of averages will bring us -what we want."</p> - -<p>"May I ask," Randall said, "just what it is you want from us? Why you -were seining the stream of Time, dragging us back into your own age?"</p> - -<p>"We want knowledge," it said. "Our race has found that the method -of gleaning information from the future is far preferable to the -painstaking and laborious task of slowly gaining that knowledge through -millennia of blind searching.</p> - -<p>"We want to make our civilization the greatest that ever has or ever -will exist. We want to forestall the evolutionary phenomenon in one -phase of the future which apparently brought about a retrograde change -in our race, and an astounding evolutionary development and ascendance -of your species of warm-blooded vertebrates!"</p> - -<p>Randall frowned. He couldn't quite grasp the inference of those words. -He had read fantastic stories to Time Travel, to be sure. But this -was something else again. This was a wholesale pilfering of precious -knowledge which only millions of years of miraculous evolution and -heartbreaking effort would in the future eventually produce!</p> - -<p>And the Kralon spoke of the future, Randall's future, as only a phase -of the Times to Come. Did the creature mean that the past controlled -the future at will? That if the past were altered, his, Randall's -future, could be wiped out, and a fantastic future of insect supremacy -be substituted?</p> - -<p>Randall snorted. It was the age-old paradox of the Time Traveler who -goes into the past and kills his grandfather. Only in this case, the -Kralons were gleaning from a future civilization the knowledge which -would prevent the development of that same civilization!</p> - -<p>Sublime absurdity! Things which had sprung into being from Time's -capacious womb could not be relegated to oblivion merely by the selfish -ambitions of the Kralons or any other creatures!</p> - -<p>Then Randall remembered with a pang of fear that his own presence in -this fantastic world of the past was apparently a contradiction to that -same logic. If he and his companions could be catapulted into a time -preceding their birth by millions upon millions of years, was it then -so fantastic that the Kralons could alter a future which now existed -only as a memory of Randall and his companions?</p> - -<p>He closed his eyes for a moment, then turned again to the huge -creatures who were waiting for him to speak.</p> - -<p>"And if we refuse to give you the information you desire?" he asked -tonelessly.</p> - -<p>The Voder sputtered in an expression of wrath.</p> - -<p>"In that case," it said in response to the Kralon's flying fingers, "In -that case, we can still make use of those who wish to be obstinate!"</p> - -<p>"What do you want to know?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"We want the secret of atomic power," was the reply. "And the process -for neutralizing gravitation. We want the data on methods for varying -electronic and nuclear structure of atoms, transmutation of elements, -as you call it. We want—"</p> - -<p>"But I know nothing of these things!" interrupted Randall. "Even the -most brilliant physicists of my time had just learned the rudiments -of atomic fission and fusion, and they had as yet not even touched -the theory of gravitational neutralization! How can I help you, when -apparently your knowledge is greater than mine?"</p> - -<p>"We know," was the reply. "Zor Ala seems to be the only one we have -thus far trapped in our Time Net who came from an era in which those -phenomena were understood. And so far we have been unable to persuade -him to reveal that knowledge."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Apparently the interview was over insofar as Randall was concerned, and -the small Kralon returned and led the agent out another door. Randall -followed his guide back to the stockade where he was met with a storm -of questions from his companions who still waited at the gate. His eyes -searched for Blake Garnet.</p> - -<p>When he saw that the man who had preceded him to the interview with the -Kralons was not among them, he went in search of Zor Ala.</p> - -<p>The future-man winced when Randall asked him if he had seen Garnet.</p> - -<p>"No," he said in a low voice. "Blake Garnet has not returned. He will -never return."</p> - -<p>Randall's thin brows lifted. "What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>Zor Ala's dark eyes mirrored a world of emotion. "The hunter was a -magnificent physical specimen," he replied. "The Kralons have use for -such as he."</p> - -<p>Then Zor Ala told of the sixteen human beings who had not returned from -the interviews; told him of the suspicions he had concerning the fate -of those humans at the hands of the Kralons.</p> - -<p>Throughout the long afternoon Randall kept a check on his companions.</p> - -<p>When Jerome Jackson, the last called, finally returned, Randall spoke -up.</p> - -<p>"Friends," he said. "Twelve of us went to a forced interview with these -fantastic creatures of a long-dead Age. Nine of us have returned. -Missing are Blake Garnet, Charles McMahon, and his bride, Evelyn -McMahon."</p> - -<p>Randall paused, then said softly, "I am calling for volunteers."</p> - -<p>Angus McClellan took a step forward which carried him half across the -room. Gordon Malherne, the young engineer, wasn't far behind him, and -the white-haired Doctor Gerard was surprisingly agile for his sixty-odd -years.</p> - -<p>Jackson, the salesman, was quivering in indecision, when Laura Hanks, -the tallest of the teachers, stepped forward.</p> - -<p>"You can count me in," she said firmly, her angular chin set in -determination.</p> - -<p>The instant protest from the men goaded Jackson, and he stepped -sheepishly forward to join the others.</p> - -<p>"All right," said Randall briskly. "Here's the setup. As soon as it's -dark we'll form a human chain and go over the stockade on the side -furthest from the gate. I have an automatic and an extra clip of -ammunition. Are any of the rest of you armed?"</p> - -<p>All shook their heads.</p> - -<p>"No matter," Randall continued. "I'll go over first to cover the rest -of you."</p> - -<p>"But what'll we do then?" protested Jackson. "Why don't we get some of -the rest of the people to help?"</p> - -<p>Randall examined the fat little man coldly. "Circumstances determine -the move," he said. "As for enlisting the aid of the rest of the -colony, one man in the enemy's castle is worth a thousand storming -the ramparts. We'll leave here at an appointed time and proceed by -different routes, all meeting directly across the enclosure from the -gate. Now we'd all better get some rest."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">IV</p> - -<p>That evening when a thin crescent crept wanly into the sky, five -figures faded into the ebon night and slunk across the broad field.</p> - -<p>When the five had met in the dim shadow of the towering stockade, -Randall whispered softly: "When I'm over the barrier, I'll let you know -if the coast is clear, then step on it! We're going to try to make it -as far as the entrance to the big building. Then we'll decide on our -next step. Okay, let's go."</p> - -<p>Gordon Malherne braced his hands against the stockade, motioned Jackson -to climb on his shoulders. When the salesman was set, Doctor Gerard -clambered to his shoulders, and Randall followed up the human ladder -with Angus McClellan close behind.</p> - -<p>When the two reached the top of the stockade, they wedged themselves -between the sharpened ends of two piling, reached down and grasped the -Doctor's hand and pulled him up. Then Randall removed his belt, asked -for Gerard's. He buckled them end to end into a strap long enough to -reach Jackson's clawing hands. The salesman clung while the engineer -scrambled over his body and up the strap, then the three men hauled the -perspiring Jackson to the top.</p> - -<p>After a quick look below him, the little agent swung over the sharpened -ends of the piling, hung by his hands for a moment, then dropped to the -ground outside the stockade. In a moment he signalled the others to -follow.</p> - -<p>Silently they scurried through the night toward the massive central -building which McClellan had dubbed "The Hive." Safe in the deeper -gloom of its entry, they paused at Randall's whispered command.</p> - -<p>"Here's the plan," Randall said softly. "There are half a hundred -corridors branching from the main hallway. We'll each explore one -corridor, and if anyone finds any clue as to what has happened to -Garnet or the McMahons, he'll return to the main hallway at once and -wait for the rest. Satisfactory?"</p> - -<p>Everyone nodded but Jackson. "That's all very well for you," the fat -man protested. "You're armed, but how about the rest of us?"</p> - -<p>Randall silently extended his automatic, butt first. Jackson lost any -possible remaining respect his companions might have possessed for -him when he accepted the gun and turned sheepishly down one of the -corridors.</p> - -<p>Randall found himself in a narrow, arched passage dimly illuminated by -small glowing studs set in the walls. He glanced quickly behind him, -then started on a soundless trot down the passage, staying close to the -right wall, and pausing occasionally to listen at the frequent panels -which broke the monotony of the walls.</p> - -<p>Once a panel slid open a hundred feet down the hall ahead of him, and -one of the diminutive Kralons emerged and, luckily, started down the -corridor away from Randall.</p> - -<p>Randall waited until the creature had gained a considerable lead, then -followed cautiously. At length he came to an open arch at the end of -the corridor, and, in what appeared to be a lounging salon, he saw -a number of the small Kralons busy at enigmatic occupations, their -mandibles clacking in weird conversation.</p> - -<p>Randall shrugged, turned and made his way back along the corridor. When -he arrived at the main hallway, he found Angus McClellan crouched back -in the darkness of the entry, waiting for him. The lank Australian -grinned weakly.</p> - -<p>"Found somethin'," he said huskily. "Don't know what, but I heard human -voices. Screams, rather. We'd better hurry."</p> - -<p>Randall thought wistfully of his automatic, then nodded and followed -McClellan down the corridor until the Australian stopped before a panel -and jerked a thumb. Randall put his ear to the panel. For a moment he -heard nothing. Then came a scream, a human scream that told of extreme -agony; anguish beyond the unbearable pain of the ancient rack!</p> - -<p>Randall's face was chalky white as he turned, looked at McClellan for a -split second, then rasped, "Let's go!"</p> - -<p>Together, they stepped back, then threw their combined weight against -the panel.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When Jerome Jackson left his companions and crept sheepishly down the -dim corridor with Randall's automatic clutched tightly in one pudgy -hand, he came closer to hating himself than he ever had before in all -his introverted, cowardly existence.</p> - -<p>His mind skimmed back over the miserable pages of his life. Born on -the wrong side of the tracks in a mid-western city, he had lacked the -innate ability and courage to grow above his inheritance. Rather, -he had allowed his childhood handicaps to reduce the advantages of -a series of lucky breaks to an extremely mediocre existence. He -was a reasonably successful salesman only by virtue of a perpetual -hang-dog look which brought a momentary feeling of magnanimity to his -prospective customers.</p> - -<p>All in all, Jerome Jackson could not under any circumstance be expected -to make the most of any situation, much less this almost foolhardy -venture which Randall had precipitated.</p> - -<p>Jackson realized his own limitations as he crept miserably down the dim -corridor, and was actually regretting that he, rather than Randall had -the revolver, when he heard a sound behind one of the panels. Leaning -close, he heard the low throb of massive machinery and the high-pitched -whine of generators.</p> - -<p>He stopped and peered at the panel searchingly. He noticed a glowing -stud set in the casement, and after a moment's hesitation he pressed -it. The panel slid back smoothly. Jackson looked up and down the -hallway, then stepped cautiously through the door.</p> - -<p>He found himself in a great high-domed room filled with ordered ranks -of mighty but absolutely incomprehensible machinery, all humming -enigmatic paens of power. Far down the serried ranks of gargantuan -equipment he saw a light glinting on mighty crystal tubes.</p> - -<p>With hypnotic fascination, Jackson advanced slowly through the maze -of humming mechanisms. The closer he came to those enigmatic tubes, -the wider his pale eyes opened, until, as he stood at the base of -the rod-high crystal cylinders, he looked like a puppet registering -amazement and consternation.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Doctor Gerard held neither Jerome Jackson's cowardly fear of danger, -nor Randall's contempt for it. While there were important scientific -facts to be learned, danger didn't count. It just didn't exist insofar -as he was concerned.</p> - -<p>Consequently it wasn't at all surprising that Gerard stepped right into -a regular hornet's nest of trouble.</p> - -<p>The little Doctor had been counting doors on his way down the corridor, -more from scientific habit than anything else, and on the seventh -door to his right, he noticed a very strange insignia. It was a weird -diagrammatic inscription which immediately caught his interest.</p> - -<p>Emblazoned in the central panel in glowing outline was a triangle -enclosing a huge multi-faceted eye. As Gerard stared at the weird orb -in its geometrical figure he suddenly recalled that a similar figure -had been used by ancient necromancers and later by hypnotists, as a -symbol of their questionable accomplishments.</p> - -<p>Puzzledly he wondered whether its use here in this fantastic -world of the past held any esoteric connection with its meaning -in the far-distant future. Without stopping to consider potential -consequences, he pushed the stud which opened the panel, and stepped -inside.</p> - -<p>When his eyes finally became accustomed to the even deeper gloom, -he saw that the room was filled with a number of coffin-like glass -cabinets and an equal number of switchboards crowded with dials and -levers. Slowly he edged toward one of the crystal cabinets and peered -down into its dimly illumined interior.</p> - -<p>He saw a number of oval white objects resting on tiered trays, for all -the world like eggs in an incubator. Then Gerard realized that was -exactly what these instruments were. Incubators! But they were Kralon -eggs, not chicken eggs. Furthermore, it was obvious that the elaborate -instruments which adjoined the incubators had a far more involved -function than merely maintaining the eggs at incubation temperature.</p> - -<p>Doctor Gerard's grizzled eyebrows lifted in interest as he turned -back to examine the dials. Both the design of the controls and the -hieroglyphics engraved upon them were entirely incomprehensible to him.</p> - -<p>He shrugged his shoulders, then began to turn every triangular control -on the panel to its extreme limit.</p> - -<p>Nothing untoward happened during the alteration of the first two -settings, but when Gerard threw over the third, all hell broke loose in -that dim crypt!</p> - -<p>Violet light danced between the poles of circuit breakers and ate away -the metal like butter. Great gongs dinned a cacophony of sound through -the lurking dusk of the room, then were suddenly silent as brilliant -lights flashed on.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Meanwhile, Gordon Malherne had also engineered something for which his -text books had provided no solution.</p> - -<p>After leaving his four companions, he had started down the corridor -furthest to the right.</p> - -<p>"Always go right," he told himself whimsically as he crept noiselessly -down the dim hallway. "And you'll never go wrong."</p> - -<p>However, this must have been the exception which proved the rule, for -Malherne hadn't gone a dozen yards when things started to happen.</p> - -<p>A double panel just ahead and to his left slid open and a column of -small worker Kralons, two abreast, started marching into the corridor.</p> - -<p>The two leaders saw the engineer almost simultaneously, and both -started for him with mandibles clacking furiously.</p> - -<p>Malherne started on a dead run for the "Hive" entrance. Behind him he -heard the harsh rustle of chitin-clad limbs.</p> - -<p>It seemed for a moment as though he were gaining, then the foremost -insect lunged and caught his jacket. It threw Malherne off stride, and -he caromed against the wall of the corridor. He regained his balance -almost instantly, but he had lost ground, and he felt another limb -clutch his right arm.</p> - -<p>He jerked to a stop, pivoted suddenly in an attempt to dislodge the -hold. His motion threw the foremost Kralon into the one immediately -behind, and the human and the two huge insects went down in a heap.</p> - -<p>When Malherne hit the floor under a tangle of limbs, he reached in his -pocket and pulled out a knife, snapping the spring blade open in the -same motion.</p> - -<p>He slashed viciously at everything which touched him, and was rewarded -with a raucous clatter of mandibles and the sticky feel of a warm -liquid which spattered his hands and face and rendered his knife almost -too slippery to hold.</p> - -<p>He pulled free from the two mangled Kralons, slashed at a third which -had hooked through the fabric of his sleeve. Then he went down as a -heavy blow caught him in the temple.</p> - -<p>When consciousness pushed through the haze, Malherne found himself back -in the stockade. He was lying on a crude bed in the main hut. Zor Ala -was bending over him.</p> - -<p>"How do you feel?" the man from the 43rd century asked solicitously. -"It appears that you encountered a little trouble."</p> - -<p>Malherne gingerly felt the lump on his temple. "So I did," he grimaced. -"But how did I get here? Did those entomological nightmares really let -me live, even after I carved them up?"</p> - -<p>Zor Ala nodded somberly. "For awhile, at least," he said. "They intend -to drain all knowledge possible from any of the 'fish' they catch from -the future before the—" He shrugged, left his sentence unfinished.</p> - -<p>"But your companions," he continued. "Where are they?"</p> - -<p>Malherne winced. "Still somewhere in the Hive, I guess. I got caught -before I got started. Let's hope the others have better luck. I'm still -alive, though," he added thoughtfully. He stretched painfully, then sat -up, grimacing as the wrenched muscles responded.</p> - -<p>"Zor Ala," he said, "how does it happen that these insects are so -much further advanced way back here in time, while in my day insects -apparently have nothing but complex instincts? Seems as though they -should have progressed up the evolutionary scale the same as everything -else."</p> - -<p>The future-man shook his head, sat down on the crude bench. "No one -knows what happened to the Kralons after the Carboniferous Period," he -said. "Nor does anyone understand why later insects retrogressed from -the logical thinking of the Kralons' level of intellect, back to a mere -set of complex instincts.</p> - -<p>"We do know that the Kralons made a mighty stride ahead of the rest -of Earth life many millions of years ago. They've admitted to me that -they have not progressed at all for untold ages now, and they're very -worried. They don't know why they do not progress in an evolutionary -sense as the rest of the life forms seem to be doing.</p> - -<p>"And they are exceedingly worried about the future, for we have let -them know that apparently the Kralon race vanished around the end of -the Carboniferous Period, leaving only diminutive descendants with -instinct rather than intelligence to show that their race might ever -have existed.</p> - -<p>"Of course, we of the future know that there is another similar -parallel in the disappearance of the dinosaurs. As you probably have -read in paleontological treatises, those huge reptiles seemed to have -had everything their own way through the late Triassic, the Jurassic -and the Cretaceous Periods."</p> - -<p>The engineer nodded. "I remember a paragraph from Gamow's 'Biography -of the Earth' which I learned by heart," he said. "It went like this: -'The kingdom of giant reptiles, with its innumerable representatives on -the land, in the sea, and in the air, was certainly the most powerful -and most extensive animal kingdom during the entire existence of life -on the Earth, but it also had a most tragic and unexpected end. During -a comparatively short period toward the end of the Mesozoic era the -tyrannosaurus, stegosaurus, ichthyosaurus, plesiosaurus, and all the -other 'sauri' disappeared from the surface of the Earth as if wiped -away by some giant storm, leaving the ground free for miniature mammals -that had awaited this opportunity for more than 100 million years.'"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Malherne paused, reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out the half -packet of cigarettes he had been hoarding. He offered them to Zor Ala, -and when the other refused, he lit one and inhaled gratefully.</p> - -<p>"Then, in conclusion," Malherne continued, "Gamow says that the causes -leading to the elimination of all the dinosaurs in a very short period -of time are obscure. There are many hypotheses which have been advanced -by various scientists to account for it. One theory was that the rising -of general ground levels destroyed the inland seas and marshes. But -that wouldn't have had any effect on the dinosaurs who had already -fully adapted to dry land. Neither would it affect those reptiles -who inhabited the oceans. So the whole episode has remained one vast -mystery, without much chance of solution."</p> - -<p>Zor Ala nodded. "Even in my time we still didn't know," he said. "We -had theories that perhaps the tiny mammals of the later Mesozoic were -eating the eggs of the dinosaurs to an extent which brought about their -eventual extinction. There was also the theory of 'dilution of genetic -stock' in a very old race of any life form. That is, through millions -of years of reproduction, the hereditary stock of any race eventually -becomes so diluted that the cells become 'tired' of dividing. As a -result, reproduction dwindles away, and the race dies out. But even -that doesn't satisfactorily explain the geologically sudden death of -the dinosaurs."</p> - -<p>"Apparently quite a parallel to what must have happened to the -Kralons," Malherne observed. "How is it that we don't find clear -paleontological evidence of the existence of the Kralons?"</p> - -<p>"No calcareous skeletal structure," returned Zor Ala. "They have only a -chitinous exoskeleton. Also, you must remember that the dinosaurs held -sway for almost 100 million years, and invaded almost every part of -the world. In all that time, with the animals existing by the billions -in almost every clime, there were naturally a few 'saurs' who fell -into asphalt pits or other unusual environments where their bones were -preserved for us.</p> - -<p>"That is not true of the Kralons, for they seem to have suddenly -appeared as the first insect type, sometime during the latter half of -the Carboniferous Period, and existed as a race for only a few million -years.</p> - -<p>"Furthermore, their distribution is apparently very limited. From -what they have told me, there are only a few dozen community hives -or nations like this one. Thus it is not at all surprising that such -an extremely restricted species, possessing no calceous skeletal -structure, left no paleontological evidence."</p> - -<p>Malherne considered this thoughtfully. "Then you believe that the -insect types of the future are degenerated descendants of the Kralons?" -he asked.</p> - -<p>"Undoubtedly," returned Zor Ala. "But without the size or the logical -reasoning ability of the Kralons. You see, insects apparently arose -suddenly during the Carboniferous Period, without any prior evidence -of existence in the ages preceding. They seem to be an offshoot from -the main line of evolutionary development, and their sudden appearance -in geologic history is without precedence in the development of life -forms."</p> - -<p>Malherne was nodding eagerly. "In connection with that, why is it that -an insect goes along in its development, just like a common worm, until -it reaches a certain size and age. Then it builds itself a cocoon or -chrysalis, becomes a pupa, and starts a sort of 'prenatal' development -all over again, but this time emerging as a full-fledged insect? Seems -like they've been given a second crack at development which the other -forms of life didn't get."</p> - -<p>"That is substantially correct," agreed Zor Ala. "And we of the future -have suspected that a higher type of life from somewhere has intervened -in the development of life on Earth, and has experimentally given a -boost to one branch of Earth-life by showing it how to re-encyst in -a secondary 'egg' as a pupa, and thus continue its progress toward a -higher evolutionary form before it finally emerges as an adult type."</p> - -<p>"Whew!" Malherne ejaculated. "Whoever or whatever did that must really -have been supermen!"</p> - -<p>Zor Ala smiled. "At least," he agreed.</p> - -<p>Malherne was struck with a sudden inspiration. "Look, would it be -possible that the Kralons had something to do with the disappearance of -the Dinosaurs during the latter part of the Mesozoic?—I understand, of -course," he added hastily, "that this period where we find ourselves is -around 100 million years before the time when the dinosaurs met their -Waterloo. However, isn't it possible that descendants of the Kralons -could have retained sufficient intellectual development to have been a -serious threat to the existence of the 'saurs'?"</p> - -<p>Zor Ala shook his head. "I'm afraid your theory won't stand up," he -said. "For the Kralon race apparently only existed for a few million -years, disappearing from the surface of the Earth around the end of the -Carboniferous period.</p> - -<p>"Thus the Kralons must have died out very nearly 100 million years -before the dinosaurs' catastrophe, and the giant insects were -apparently supplanted by only small, unintelligent prototypes without -their size or intellectual vigor. No, there is almost certainly some -other reason for the disappearance of the huge reptiles."</p> - -<p>Malherne came to his feet suddenly. "Here I am discussing fantastic and -fanciful theories, when four of my companions are somewhere in that -hive of monsters! I've got to help them!"</p> - -<p>"Calm down," Zor Ala soothed. "You would do them far more harm than -good, now that the Kralons are watching for you. The best thing to do -is to stay here and let them work out their own salvation as best they -can. I know it sounds rather calloused, but any interference on your -part now will certainly not be helpful."</p> - -<p>"But I can't just sit here!" objected Malherne.</p> - -<p>Zor Ala nodded. "I know how you feel," he said. "But you can do your -friends far more good alive than—"</p> - -<p>He left the sentence unfinished. Then, as if he had been considering -something, he continued: "You're an engineer, Malherne, and I think -it's time for you to have a talk with Gordo Lanson concerning an idea -we have in mind. How do you feel by now?"</p> - -<p>"A little creaky," said Malherne, rising and stretching painfully. "But -let's get started."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">V</p> - -<p>He followed Zor Ala out of the central hut and across to a smaller one. -At Zor Ala's knock, a voice called, "Come in."</p> - -<p>As they entered, Gordo Lanson looked searchingly at the two men, then -through the open door beyond them. His expression became concerned.</p> - -<p>"What happened to your companions?" he asked. "You ran into trouble?"</p> - -<p>Malherne laughed rather embarrassedly. "I don't know about the others," -he said. "But I stupidly picked a fight with a whole army of Kralons, -and ended up back here, right where I started."</p> - -<p>The stocky physicist grimaced. "Well, I'm afraid your companions will -have to look out for themselves," he said. "You certainly can't help -them by doing something noble and frantic."</p> - -<p>"That's what I've told him," said Zor Ala, "and I think he is -reluctantly in agreement."</p> - -<p>Then he continued, "Malherne is an engineer, Gordo, and I thought -perhaps it might be wise to acquaint him with the rudiments of your -theory on Time Flux, and to give him an idea of what we have in mind."</p> - -<p>Lanson nodded, shuffling the heap of crude parchmentlike sheets in -front of him into a stack on the edge of the desk. He motioned toward -one of the rough benches. Zor Ala and Malherne seated themselves, then -waited for Lanson to speak.</p> - -<p>"As an introduction," the psysicist began, "are you familiar with the -theory of Teleology?"</p> - -<p>"Only that it has something to do with the future affecting the past," -said Malherne.</p> - -<p>"That is a broad statement of its general implication," Lanson agreed. -"And this predicament in which we find ourselves makes it necessary -for us to attempt a use of ramifications of that theory. Put it this -way," he continued. "If you were positive through an esoteric source of -knowledge that a certain event definitely was to happen in the future, -would it not affect your reactions to existing environment? Would it -not influence your actions in working toward a goal? Would it not thus -aid in the fulfillment of that occurrence?"</p> - -<p>"You mean that the knowledge would give me courage and confidence to -accomplish what I knew would eventually come to pass?" asked Malherne.</p> - -<p>"That is one way of putting it," said Lanson. "But it can be stated a -trifle more scientifically. Let us say rather that the Teleomagnetic -effect of such an occurrence induces a tendency in the past to evolve -toward such an event."</p> - -<p>"I think I have it so far," said Malherne, "but it's getting shaky!"</p> - -<p>Lanson laughed. "I'll admit it's a little like the perplexity of the -'Flatlander,'" he said, "who was trying to find a way out of a circle -which had been drawn around him. He proceeded to investigate his -barrier through every dimensional direction known to Flatlanders, which -of course were limited to two. He utilized movement through both of -those as he followed around the interior of his barrier to the point -where he had started.</p> - -<p>"Being a very observant and discerning Flatlander, he finally realized -he was getting exactly nowhere in his two-dimensional attempts to -escape a three-dimensional barrier." Lanson paused, grinned.</p> - -<p>"We humans are faced with a somewhat similar difficulty in trying to -solve a multi-dimensional problem with three-dimensional thinking. -However, there is some precedence for hoping that we can surmount the -obstacle. Remember that mankind, without ever being able to see the -interior of an atom, was able to divine the number and function of its -component parts, and was finally successful in inducing both fission -and fusion of unstable atoms."</p> - -<p>Malherne nodded agreement. "But where does this lead us?" he asked -rather impatiently. "How is this discussion of obscure theory going to -help us escape from the world of the past, back into our own ages?"</p> - -<p>Gordo Lanson nodded toward the stack of parchment sheets on the desk, -covered with his meticulous figures. "That is an attempt," he said, -"to formulate a method for determining the amount of Teleomagnetic -energy or influence required to bring about a given distortion in the -Time-flux."</p> - -<p>Malherne considered this for a moment. "Oh. I think I'm beginning to -see," he said. "You are attempting to compute the amount of energy -required to return us to the various ages from which we were pulled by -the Kralon's Time Trap."</p> - -<p>"Something of that sort," nodded Gordo Lanson.</p> - -<p>"To answer a question you are undoubtedly thinking," interjected Zor -Ala. "We have found, by laboriously gleaning bits of knowledge from the -Kralons, the location of the equipment which induces the Teleomagnetic -or gravitic energy which powers the Time Trap."</p> - -<p>"Where is it?" Malherne asked.</p> - -<p>"In one of the laboratory rooms off the main corridor in the Hive," -returned Zor Ala. "The Time Net itself is supported on pylons situated -outside the Hive building immediately adjoining the Time-Trap generator -room."</p> - -<p>"What plan do you have in mind?" asked Malherne eagerly.</p> - -<p>"Not a fully-formulated one at all," returned Zor Ala. "But each of -us is doing whatever he can to further his knowledge of the Kralon's -equipment, and all of us are trying to prepare to take advantage of any -opportunity which may arise in the future."</p> - -<p>"But," objected Malherne, "even the Kralons apparently can't control -the Time sector from which they get their victims. By their own -admission, they are trying to gain knowledge by picking humans from -as far in the future as possible. But apparently they have been only -partially successful, for some of the people they have obtained are -from a Time preceding mine. It seems that Gordo Lanson and Dar Mikol -and you are three of the few from a period further in the future than -my time."</p> - -<p>Gordo Lanson nodded. "That is the reason for all this," he said, -gesturing toward the stack of sheets on the desk. "I am attempting to -formulate a method of controlling the point from which or to which the -Time Trap gleans or delivers its victims. Apparently the Kralons have -never accomplished that, but I think we can succeed in doing what they -could not."</p> - -<p>"May the Lord grant that to be true!" said Malherne fervently.</p> - -<p>"I regret," said Zor Ala, "that Randall felt it necessary to make his -foolhardy attempt to invade the Hive, but of course I understand and -sympathize with his reasons.</p> - -<p>"He feels entirely responsible for the passengers of the Diamvator, and -considers himself obliged to attempt their rescue. However, I am very -much afraid that his attempt will be ill-fated."</p> - -<p>Lanson nodded. "The Kralons are very intelligent," he said. "And they -will have no scruples whatsoever in dealing with troublesome humans. -They resent the fact that their own race is to vanish from the surface -of the globe in one phase of the future, and that man has supplanted -them as the intelligent, governing form of life. And they intend to do -something about it!"</p> - -<p>Malherne nodded impatiently. "Yes," he said, "but what can we do now? -What can we do to help Randall and the rest of my companions? And how -can we prepare to use Lanson's theories concerning the Time Trap?"</p> - -<p>Both Zor Ala and Gordo Lanson regarded the engineer understandingly. -They realized his fear concerning his companions, and sympathized with -his frustration in being unable to help them.</p> - -<p>The physicist nodded toward the pile of sheets on the desk. "If you -remember your calculus," he said, "you could be of great help to us by -checking my figures."</p> - -<p>Malherne looked uncertainly toward the desk. "I'll do what I can," he -said.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When Randall and McClellan threw their combined weights against the -panel in the Hive corridor, they had no idea what lay beyond.</p> - -<p>The metal sheet bulged, then popped from its guides, and Randall -sprawled through the opening, with McClellan atop him.</p> - -<p>They found themselves in a room which was shining white from ceiling -to floor. In the middle of the room was a flat white table over which -several Kralons were absorbed.</p> - -<p>Gathered around the central figures were a dozen or more Kralons, -apparently spectators. And on the table lay something which Randall -knew, from its outlines, had once been human.</p> - -<p>Randall looked around for a weapon. A neat stack in one corner of -the room caught his eye. There were a dozen or more foot-long metal -bus-bars or ingots, apparently spares for fusing electrical circuits.</p> - -<p>McClellan followed his glance. Simultaneously both men dove for the -bars, each arming himself with one of the twenty-pound metal ingots.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the room was in a furor. The metallic clack of Kralon -conversation sounded furiously, and huge insect figures were converging -from all sides.</p> - -<p>"Back to back," said Randall tersely, "and let 'em have it!"</p> - -<p>The first Kralon who approached the Australian put up a protective -foreleg, but the heavy ingot brushed it aside like a matchstick, and -crushed the Kralon's head to a pulp. It went down twitching, and the -next insect had to scramble over the body to reach McClellan.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, Randall was flailing at two Kralons which were trying to -reach him with their vicious claws. Whenever one got in the way, the -heavy bar cracked the chitinous shell like that of a crab, and both -Kralons drew back, nursing their injuries.</p> - -<p>Randall spoke tersely over his shoulder. "Edge over toward the stack of -bus-bars," he told McClellan.</p> - -<p>Back to back, still flailing with the heavy metal ingots, they worked -their way to the corner of the room.</p> - -<p>"Use them as missiles," said Randall briefly. "Whenever one of the -things starts for us, let him have it with an ingot!"</p> - -<p>McClellan did, and, with great effect. The heavy metal bars, flying -end-over-end toward attacking Kralons, soon convinced the huge insects -that another method of attack should be formulated, and the remaining -able individuals withdrew to an adjoining room.</p> - -<p>Seizing this opportunity, Randall made sure that there was no life left -in the form on the operating table, then he and McClellan dashed from -the room, back into the main corridor.</p> - -<p>A panel at their left opened suddenly, and a Kralon stepped into the -corridor.</p> - -<p>Randall sent his ingot flying end-over-end toward the huge insect. It -was a perfect hit, and the Kralon went down, limbs twitching feebly.</p> - -<p>"In here!" said Randall tersely, and McClellan followed him through the -opening. They found themselves in a high-domed room filled with huge -generators and other elaborate electrical equipment. Massive four-inch -conduits led from the generators to a main cable, which in turn left -the building through a sleeved opening in the wall.</p> - -<p>Through a large window across the room, Randall saw the Time Net on -which they had first made their appearance into this strange world. It -was stretched like an acrobats' net between four pylons just outside -the building. The supporting pylons extended on above the net, forming -four towers, between the crests of which was supported a complex skein -of intermeshing heavy metallic strands with spherical nodules studding -their length every few feet.</p> - -<p>Randall nodded toward the massive equipment. "The mechanism for the -Time Trap," he said.</p> - -<p>McClellan raised his metal ingot suggestively.</p> - -<p>Randall shook his head. "Not yet," he said. "We might have use for it." -Then he noticed that the generators were operating, and what appeared -to be a huge rectifier was humming with a deep vibrant moan, violet -light flashing in a dozen huge tubes which reached almost from ceiling -to floor.</p> - -<p>He nudged McClellan. "It's running," he said. "The Kralons must leave -it in operation all the time in their effort to catch victims from the -future."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">VI</p> - -<p>While Randall and McClellan were deciding what should be done about the -Time Trap, Jerome Jackson was standing in open-mouthed awe before the -huge crystal cylinders in the room which he had entered.</p> - -<p>In the first cylinder was a twelve-foot length of undulating livid -flesh which looked exactly like a gigantic maggot.</p> - -<p>Then his glance flicked to the next crystal cylinder. In it was a -replica of the first.</p> - -<p>That is, it was almost a replica. But the exterior covering seemed -greyer and thicker, more like a shell than that of the first.</p> - -<p>The third cylinder held still another monstrous larva. And its -difference was even more apparent. The sickly gray covering was -translucent, and through it Jackson could see that the interior of the -thing was definitely undergoing metamorphosis.</p> - -<p>Following on down the line of crystal tubes, it became quite apparent -that these were steps in the pupation of Kralon larvae, for the -inhabitant of the tube on the end of the row was our almost fully -developed Kralon.</p> - -<p>"Artificial cocoons!" thought Jackson. "I wonder if it is necessary for -the Kralons to protect all the larvae of their race in this way during -development?"</p> - -<p>Then Jackson reached a sudden decision. "Why should I risk my neck, -just because the rest of them don't respect theirs?" he thought. "I'm -going to get out of here!"</p> - -<p>On his way from the room he paused curiously for a moment beside the -huge control panel, with its myriad triangular controls and dials, but, -unlike Dr. Gerard, he held too much esteem for his own safety to chance -an impetuous action. Furthermore, destruction of Kralon property wasn't -in his plans now.</p> - -<p>He left the laboratory room, closing the panel behind him. He scurried -rapidly down the corridor to the main Hive entrance. There he looked -about cautiously, then crept across the open space to the foot of the -stockade.</p> - -<p>He put two fingers to his lips, whistled loudly. "Kralons!" he shouted. -"Kralons, can you hear me?"</p> - -<p>There was no immediate response, and for several minutes Jackson -alternately whistled and called out for the Kralons. Before long, one -of the smaller worker insects came rapidly up the path from the Hive -and stopped before Jackson.</p> - -<p>Then the speaker above the main entrance to the Hive boomed a message. -"You will follow the guide," it said.</p> - -<p>Jackson did so, and his Kralon guide led the way to a separate entrance -a dozen yards south of the main Hive corridor. In a few moments, -they again entered the conference room where the comrades had been -questioned after their arrival in the world of giant insects.</p> - -<p>A few of the council group were present, and the Kralon "Voderist" -was ready at the keyboard of the mechanical voice. In answer to the -insect's flying fingers, a question sounded in metallic tones: "What do -you want?" it asked. "Why are you calling the Kralons? And how did you -leave the stockade?"</p> - -<p>"I came to warn you," said Jackson. "Four of my companions are hiding -somewhere in the Hive, and they will try to do all the damage they can."</p> - -<p>The several council members conferred, mandibles clacking.</p> - -<p>"We knew of one," the Voder said. "We caught one of your companions in -the corridor. After a fight with some of our workers, he was returned -to the stockade."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Jackson, "there are three more somewhere, and you'd better -find them before they cause trouble."</p> - -<p>The Kralon who was apparently leader of the council, examined the -salesman suspiciously with its many-faceted eyes. He spoke briefly to -the Kralon at the keyboard, and the Voder asked: "Why are you telling -us these things? Why are you betraying your companions?"</p> - -<p>"They're fools!" said Jackson contemptuously. "Even if they have no -regard for their own welfare, I value mine. I'd like to make a deal -with you."</p> - -<p>"What kind of a deal?"</p> - -<p>"In return for my safety," replied Jackson, "I will give you -information on the activities of the group in the stockade."</p> - -<p>Again the Kralons conferred, then the question came: "How do we know -that we can trust you?"</p> - -<p>"Why not?" asked Jackson. "I have everything to gain and nothing to -lose by cooperating with you."</p> - -<p>After another short conference, the Voder said: "We find your terms -acceptable, and you will be returned to the stockade as if you had been -apprehended in the Hive."</p> - -<p>Just then, warning gongs sounded brazenly in the conference room, and -violet lights flashed a signal above the entry. The Kralons clacked -furiously to each other for a moment, then scurried from the room, -leaving the smaller guide to escort Jackson back to the stockade.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Back in the Incubator Room, Doctor Gerard watched in fascination the -havoc his actions were producing.</p> - -<p>Under the increased intensity of the heating elements and infra-red -tubes which normally warmed the Kralon eggs to incubation temperature, -disaster was slowly occurring.</p> - -<p>The Doctor's handiwork on the dials of the control panel had apparently -inactivated the thermostatic controls, and now the eggs were bathed in -vicious radiation overtaxed tubes and scorched by overloaded elements. -The Doctor was literally cooking the Kralon eggs!</p> - -<p>He knew that his interference had set off warning gongs and signal -lights, so he discreetly turned from the room and down the main -corridor.</p> - -<p>When he was halfway to the Hive entrance he heard the metallic clatter -of Kralon mandibles ahead of him. He spotted an open panel across the -hall, stepped inside and touched the stud which closed the panel.</p> - -<p>He found himself in the generator room, with Randall and McClellan -looking at him in amazement.</p> - -<p>"Hi!" Doctor Gerard said brightly. "What's up?"</p> - -<p>"Hi, yourself," said the little gray agent. "Find anything -interesting?"</p> - -<p>Gerard nodded. "Just cooked the next generation of Kralons," he said -proudly. Then he told the two men what had happened in the incubator -room.</p> - -<p>"Oh—oh!" said McClellan. "The Hive will really be a hornet's nest now!"</p> - -<p>Randall nodded. "We'd better make ourselves scarce."</p> - -<p>"How?" asked Dr. Gerard.</p> - -<p>Randall gestured toward the opening overlooking the Time Net. "Out that -way," he replied.</p> - -<p>Hurriedly the three men pushed a low table over against the wall under -the opening.</p> - -<p>Randall climbed upon it. "Better hurry," he said. "You first, Doctor."</p> - -<p>Dr. Gerard climbed upon the table, and with Randall's and McClellan's -help, pulled himself up into the opening. He hung outside by his hands -for a moment, then dropped to the ground below. McClellan was next, -pulling his lanky body up to the opening, with Randall boosting.</p> - -<p>Settling himself on the sill, he reached a hand down to Randall.</p> - -<p>Just then a giant Kralon stepped into the room. Its faceted eyes -regarded them for a moment in almost ludicrous surprise. It turned -its head, clacked a message to companions in the hall, then scurried -rapidly toward Randall, two more Kralons close behind it.</p> - -<p>Randall had just touched McClellan's hand when the foremost Kralon -caught the table with a hooked foreleg, sliding it and Randall away -from the opening.</p> - -<p>"Hurry up!" he told McClellan. "Jump!"</p> - -<p>McClellan hesitated.</p> - -<p>"You can't help me alone," Randall urged. "Get back to the stockade and -get help!"</p> - -<p>McClellan was still undecided. He started to drop back into the room, -then as if realizing the truth of Randall's words, he turned and leaped -from the opening to the ground below.</p> - -<p>Randall stepped calmly from the table to the floor and held his hands -above his head in universal gesture of surrender.</p> - -<p>"Okay," he said quietly. "Now what?"</p> - -<p>The Kralons apparently understood. Without touching Randall, one of -them motioned toward the corridor.</p> - -<p>Doctor Gerard and McClellan scrambled to their feet outside the -building.</p> - -<p>"We'd better get help, fast!" said McClellan.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In Gordo Lanson's hut, Lanson acquainted Dr. Gerard and McClellan with -his theory, and told them of his tentative plans.</p> - -<p>Dr. Gerard was faintly hopeful, but immediately voiced an objection. -"How do you propose to escape the Kralons long enough to acquaint -yourself with the operation of the Time Trap, and to perform the -necessary experimentation?"</p> - -<p>"We thought perhaps you could help us there, Dr. Gerard," said Lanson.</p> - -<p>"You're a physiological chemist, are you not?"</p> - -<p>"Used to be," admitted Dr. Gerard. "But of late years I have concerned -myself more with my avocation of Entomology. That is, it <i>was</i> an -avocation until I met the Kralons.</p> - -<p>"But that isn't the thing of immediate importance," he continued. "The -Kralons have captured Randall. We've got to find some way of helping -him!"</p> - -<p>"That would be pretty hard to do now," said Zor Ala. "The Kralons have -turned the spotlights on the stockade, and apparently are sending out -guards. I'm afraid Randall will have to take care of himself for the -present."</p> - -<p>"Say, how about Jackson?" said McClellan.</p> - -<p>"He's back," replied Lanson. "According to his story, he was caught in -the Hive corridor."</p> - -<p>"Too bad," remarked McClellan laconically, leaving a doubt as to what -was too bad.</p> - -<p>Zor Ala and Lanson grinned appreciatively, but McClellan was deeply -absorbed in thought.</p> - -<p>"We've got to do something to help Randall!" he insisted. "That's why -the doctor and I left him and came to the stockade.—To get help!"</p> - -<p>"How?" asked Zor Ala.</p> - -<p>McClellan shrugged helplessly.</p> - -<p>Then his dilemma was solved by a voice outside the hut which asked: -"May I come in?"</p> - -<p>"Randall!" shouted McClellan exuberantly.</p> - -<p>"How did you do it?" asked Dr. Gerard and McClellan simultaneously.</p> - -<p>Randall shrugged. "I didn't," he said. "They just decided that I was -entirely harmless, and brought me safely back to the stockade."</p> - -<p>McClellan eyed him suspiciously, remembering the agent's flailing metal -bar. "That isn't all of it," he accused darkly.</p> - -<p>Randall grinned. "Well, not quite all," he admitted. "When they took me -to the conference room and questioned me, I inferred I had knowledge of -what destroyed their race in the future. I told them that if they would -return me to the stockade for consultation with my companions, I would -give them that information later. They took me up on it."</p> - -<p>Zor Ala was the first to ask: "Do you really mean that you have an idea -what destroyed the Kralons?"</p> - -<p>Randall nodded. "I think so," he said. "I believe there's a good -possibility that it was—"</p> - -<p>Just then the door opened again, and Jackson stepped into the hut.</p> - -<p>"Outside intervention," completed Randall, regarding the new arrival -with expressionless eyes.</p> - -<p>Jackson looked at Randall sharply, as if wondering whether the last -words applied to him.</p> - -<p>"What's up?" he asked. "When did you get back, Randall?—And Gerard and -McClellan," he added, seeing the other two men. "How did you make out?"</p> - -<p>"Didn't accomplish a thing, unfortunately," said Randall. "How about -you?"</p> - -<p>Jackson shook his head. "I got caught in the corridor. What's the -conference about?"</p> - -<p>"We were just discussing—" began Lanson, when Randall interrupted.</p> - -<p>"Plans for the future," he completed. "Now how about us all getting -some sleep. The night is almost over, and none of us have had any rest."</p> - -<p>The others took the hint, and all agreed that it was far past bedtime.</p> - -<p>Randall didn't sleep much, but he did rest his weary body in -preparation for the day to come.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">VII</p> - -<p>The hot yellow sun was just bulging over the eastern horizon as he -dressed. He made his way to Lanson's hut and tapped quietly.</p> - -<p>After spending half an hour with the physicist, he went to Zor Ala's -hut and spent ten minutes with him. Then he went back to the shelter -which he shared with McClellan.</p> - -<p>"Up bright and early, aren't you?" the Australian greeted him as he -entered.</p> - -<p>"Rather early, but none too brightly," Randall replied. "I'm getting -too old to be frolicking around with a bunch of overgrown ants."</p> - -<p>"You aren't alone," agreed McClellan ruefully. He stretched painfully, -groaned, then quickly donned his clothes.</p> - -<p>"What's on the agenda for today?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Among other things," replied Randall. "I'm going to find out what -happened to McMahon and his bride. We already know what happened to -Blake Garnet," he added, memory of that silent form on the operating -table still vivid in his mind.</p> - -<p>Someone rapped sharply on the door, and Jackson stuck his head in. -"Lanson asked me to tell you that Zor Ala is sick," he said.</p> - -<p>"What's the trouble?" Randall asked.</p> - -<p>Jackson shrugged. "He called in Dr. Gerard. He is afraid it's serious."</p> - -<p>"Oh-oh!" said Randall. "We would be in a mess with an epidemic on our -hands, wouldn't we?"</p> - -<p>Jackson's eyes were frightened. "You mean it's contagious?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, of course," Randall answered. "We'll see what Dr. Gerard -has to say."</p> - -<p>Within a few moments, the three men joined Lanson and Dr. Gerard -outside Zor Ala's hut.</p> - -<p>"What do you think, Doc?" asked Randall.</p> - -<p>"Can't tell for sure," Gerard replied. "My medical knowledge is -definitely limited. Furthermore, I have no equipment to make tests, but -my diagnosis is meningococcus—cerebrospinal meningitis."</p> - -<p>"Well, will the rest of us get it?" asked Jackson, edging away from -the men who had been in Zor Ala's shelter.</p> - -<p>"Could be," said Dr. Gerard seriously. "We'll have to keep him -isolated, but I'm afraid some of us have already been exposed. We may -have real trouble on our hands."</p> - -<p>"What's the remedy?" inquired McClellan.</p> - -<p>"Well, sulfonilamide, if we had it," replied Dr. Gerard. "But we don't -have any medicine at all."</p> - -<p>"What—what will we do?" asked Jackson apprehensively.</p> - -<p>The doctor shrugged. "If I had access to a chemical laboratory," he -said, "I could synthesize some sulfa, but I doubt if the Kralons would -let me use theirs."</p> - -<p>"They might, at that," said Randall, watching Jackson out of the corner -of his eye, "If they knew an epidemic might wipe out their entire -colony of humans after all the work they've done in getting them from -the future."</p> - -<p>"Maybe they would," said Jackson eagerly. "Should I talk to them about -it?"</p> - -<p>"Couldn't hurt anything," replied Randall casually. "And it might help."</p> - -<p>Together the group made its way to the locked gate in the stockade -wall. There they set up a disturbance until a Kralon guard came and -unlocked the gate. At the same time the speaker blared: "One human will -follow."</p> - -<p>Jackson stepped out from the group and followed the Kralon down the -path and into the Hive.</p> - -<p>"Do you really think the Kralons will let us have access to their -chemical laboratory?" asked McClellan.</p> - -<p>Randall shrugged. "They might," he said, "if Jackson is convincing -enough. I know they don't want to lose all their human guinea pigs."</p> - -<p>In less than an hour Jackson was back. "The Kralons said that Dr. -Gerard could use the laboratory," he said. "And I'm to help him with -his work."</p> - -<p>"Okay," said the doctor briskly. "We'd better hurry."</p> - -<p>Together, the two men followed the guide back to the Hive.</p> - -<p>A few moments later, Randall, McClellan and Lanson joined Malherne in -Lanson's hut. They seated themselves before the crude desk with its -pile of figured sheets.</p> - -<p>"How does it look?" asked Randall.</p> - -<p>"Very good," replied the physicist. "Malherne has checked my figures -and they are apparently all right."</p> - -<p>"Just how does it all stack up?" asked McClellan.</p> - -<p>Lanson ran a hand through his bristling thatch. "Well," he said, "In -the first place, from my computations it seems quite apparent that if -we reverse the current through the mosaic mesh of the screen above the -Time Net, the Teleomagnetic flux should create a stress in the opposite -direction to that induced by the Kralons. Thus, theoretically, the -direction of the Teleomagnetic or gravitic displacement, acting on -anyone in the net, should be forward in Time, rather than backward."</p> - -<p>"How about selecting the proper spot in Time?" asked McClellan.</p> - -<p>"That is accomplished by the amount of energy, figured in Teleomagnetic -magnetons, and interpolated to dynes required to produce a given Time -displacement or warp," he answered.</p> - -<p>"How about conversion to your system of the readings on the Kralon -indicators and instruments?" asked Randall.</p> - -<p>Lanson held up a flashlight which one of the humans had had among his -possessions. "By checking the standard output of a dry cell against the -instruments, and computing the indicator readings in our own terms," he -replied.</p> - -<p>Randall nodded. "Looks as if you have done quite a thorough job," he -agreed. "Now, if Dr. Gerard can do his stuff we may have a chance."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In the laboratory of the Kralons, Dr. Gerard was having his troubles. -The various containers and their enigmatic labels were of course -entirely foreign to him, and it was necessary for him to start a -basic qualitative analysis, without knowing one reagent from another. -However, it wasn't too difficult for him to qualitatively identify -sulfuric acid and a few other basic chemicals, and from then on his -task was easier.</p> - -<p>Jackson was a surprisingly good assistant, although he bothered Dr. -Gerard frequently with questions about the degree of contagion of -meningitis.</p> - -<p>The doctor did nothing to ameliorate his fear. Rather he spurred -Jackson to increased effort by conjecturing upon the havoc the disease -could wreak if it reached epidemic proportions.</p> - -<p>Twice he called upon the Kralons for more reagents and chemicals. The -third time he was questioned at length concerning the quantity he was -using.</p> - -<p>His explanation was the admission of difficulty in reconciling his -own and the Kralon terminology for materials. Thus it was easy to -understand, he explained carefully, why he had inadvertently wasted -several batches.</p> - -<p>But all the time the quantity of white powder in a large cask in one -corner of the room was growing steadily. When the cask was finally -full, Dr. Gerard called a halt to their labor of synthesis.</p> - -<p>"Seems as though that should be enough for an army," remarked Jackson, -examining the huge container full of the chemical powder.</p> - -<p>"May have to use it on about that many," replied Dr. Gerard brusquely.</p> - -<p>While Jackson was busy filtering and running the last batch, Dr. Gerard -had fabricated a Venturi tube and a spray nozzle from odds and ends -of laboratory equipment. Working rapidly, he filled a large metal -container with powder from the cask, then added enough liquid to fill -the cask and to dissolve its contents.</p> - -<p>Then, with Jackson's help, he moved the cask over beside the air return -of the air conditioning and recirculating system for the Hive. He -pulled a small table over beside the cask, clamped the Venturi tube -and spray nozzle in place, with the nozzle pointing into the return -duct. Then he connected a hose from the laboratory water system to the -Venturi, and a return hose back to the drain.</p> - -<p>The spray worked beautifully, vaporizing the solution and spraying it -as a fine mist into the air return duct.</p> - -<p>"What's that for?" asked Jackson suspiciously.</p> - -<p>"Just arranging decontamination for the Hive so that it'll be safe for -us to come here."</p> - -<p>Jackson looked at Gerard sharply, but didn't say anything.</p> - -<p>It was evening again by this time, and Gerard asked Jackson to see -whether the Kralons had some kind of portable lighting equipment, so -that he could see to minister to Zor Ala and any others who might need -attention.</p> - -<p>While Jackson was gone, Dr. Gerard pulled a large carton over in -front of his spray system, hiding it quite effectively from casual -inspection. He closed the entrance panel, carefully inserting a wedge -of metal in the guide which jammed it as it closed.</p> - -<p>Then he started down the hall with a container of powder under his -arm. Jackson met him in the corridor. The salesman was carrying -two transparent globular jars slung from handles. The globes were -apparently filled with highly phosphorescent matter, for they gave -almost as much light as a lantern.</p> - -<p>"How will these do?" Jackson asked.</p> - -<p>"Fine," said Dr. Gerard heartily. "Now let's get going."</p> - -<p>Back in the stockade a few minutes later he left Jackson with a hurried -excuse, conferred briefly with Randall, then went to Lanson's shelter.</p> - -<p>By this time things were beginning to add up in Jackson's rather -sluggish mental processes, and they didn't come out even. Thoroughly -he turned the whole sequence of events over in his mind, reached a -decision, then decided to wait until the rest of the human colony had -retired for the night, before making a move.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>A little later Randall, McClellan, Gordo Lanson, Dr. Gerard and -Malherne were gathered in Zor Ala's hut for a final council meeting to -outline timing and strategy for their next moves.</p> - -<p>"Remarkable recovery you made, sir," McClellan told Zor Ala with a grin.</p> - -<p>The future-man smiled. "Yes," he said. "I believe that Dr. Gerard's -medication is quite effective. It's made me feel much better already, -even though it's the Kralons rather than I who are taking it!"</p> - -<p>Then he turned to the little investigation agent. "Neat idea of yours, -Randall, of synthesizing D.D.T. to fight the Kralons."</p> - -<p>"D.D.T.?" asked Malherne, who had not been a member of this particular -phase of the intrigue. "What's that?"</p> - -<p>"Dichloro-diphenyl-trichlorethane, to use the generic term for the -chemical," replied Dr. Gerard. "It's a chemical insecticide that's -quite specific for most insects."</p> - -<p>"Oh," said the engineer in comprehension. "That's what you were -synthesizing instead of sulfonilamide!"</p> - -<p>"Right," said the little doctor. "But it <i>is</i> a remedy for our -troubles, we hope," he added in defense of the deceit they had -practiced.</p> - -<p>The group chuckled at Gerard's righteousness, even in dealing with -inhuman monsters.</p> - -<p>"How long do you think it will take for the chemical to have a material -effect on the Kralons?" inquired Lanson.</p> - -<p>"Shouldn't be too long," interposed Dr. Gerard. "Unlike the insects of -our own times, these creatures have had no opportunity to build up an -immunity, nor time to mutate as a race to types resistant to chemical -insecticides. Therefore its effect should be considerably more rapid -than upon even the small insects of the future."</p> - -<p>Zor Ala nodded in satisfaction. "The floor is yours, Randall," he said.</p> - -<p>Randall stepped to the center of the group. "We are apparently all -in agreement that the zero hour is to be set at 4:00 AM, or 1600 -in universal time. That should give sufficient time for the DDT to -accomplish its work, and we do not dare delay beyond then for fear -that Dr. Gerard's contrivance will be discovered in the morning, thus -alerting the Kralons."</p> - -<p>He paused a moment, his pale gray eyes flicking from one member of the -group to another. "It might be wise to keep an eye on Jackson in the -meantime," he said. "He undoubtedly has had time to think things over, -and to have concluded that Dr. Gerard's fake synthesis and subsequent -actions weren't quite plausible under the circumstances."</p> - -<p>"How did you happen to suspect him in the first place?" asked McClellan.</p> - -<p>Randall smiled faintly. "It was quite obvious that the salesman lacked -courage," he replied. "We all were fully aware of that. Also, both by -profession and inclination, Jackson was an opportunist.</p> - -<p>"In my dealings with the renegades of society, I have always found that -to be a deadly combination. A cowardly opportunist can almost always -be expected to turn traitor to a cause which offers him any particular -inconvenience. Also," he added, "the Kralons asked me several questions -about Jackson which set me thinking."</p> - -<p>Lanson nodded. "He very clearly gave his position away when he so -willingly volunteered to contact the Kralons with our request," he -said. "We certainly have you to thank for preventing us from exposing -our plans before him. You were particularly adroit in utilizing his -treacherous contact with the Kralons to our advantage."</p> - -<p>As the other members nodded agreement, Randall shifted uneasily. "I -didn't do much," he said briefly. "Dr. Gerard did all the work. But -the hardest part is still ahead of us. The DDT, at best, is only going -to make the Kralons lethargic and slow in the time we have allowed. -Even if they don't suspect something and vacate the Hive before the -chemical-laden air affects them adversely. In any event we will have -many problems to solve.</p> - -<p>"Let us outline briefly the tasks assigned to each of us, and formulate -a time schedule of action, starting with 4:00 AM as the zero hour."</p> - -<p>He turned to Zor Ala. "You are to make such contacts with the other -humans of the colony as you feel advisable, and you will organize -several parties from those you feel you can trust. Have them gather in -small groups on either side of the main gate, staying in the shadows of -the stockade wall. Be sure they are ready at one minute to four. Have -the members armed with any weapons you can devise."</p> - -<p>Then he continued, outlining carefully the assigned plan of action and -time schedule for each individual.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">VIII</p> - -<p>Outside, behind the low hut, Jackson strained his ears to catch -Randall's words. With an innate animal cunning, he had finally surmised -most of the intricate plot, and had crept to his vantage point shortly -after the meeting in Lanson's shelter had begun.</p> - -<p>However, Jackson was still faced with the problem of escaping the -surveillance of his human companions long enough to contact the Kralons -and acquaint them with the plot. He realized that if he made sufficient -noise to attract the huge insects, he would be intercepted and subdued -before he could accomplish his objective.</p> - -<p>Then his dilemma was suddenly solved by the mechanical voice of the -Voder. Amplified by the speaker, it called out in hesitant, somewhat -garbled accents: "The hu-man called Jack-son will come to the gate -immed-iately."</p> - -<p>With a glance around to see that none of his companions were close -enough to intercept him, Jackson made a run for the gate. When he -arrived there, the Kralon guide had already unlocked it and was waiting -for him. Rapidly it led the way up the beaten path to the Hive entrance -and down the long corridor to the conference room.</p> - -<p>The Voderist sat ready at the instrument, and it was evident that -the Kralon was maintaining its posture with difficulty. The DDT was -apparently having a pronounced effect.</p> - -<p>A number of the council members were present, and they too seemed to -be showing effects from the chemical. But their multi-faceted eyes -regarded the salesman with unmistakable enmity.</p> - -<p>"Human," said the Voder in tones as severe as possible for the -mechanical contrivance, "what trickery have you and your companions -used to poison the air of the Hive?"</p> - -<p>"I didn't," denied Jackson, shrinking back from the virulence of those -inhuman eyes and the very real menace of the huge pincers.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Back in the stockade, Randall and his council members had heard the -Kralon voice, and had seen Jackson disappear with the guard. The agent -was sick at heart, for he knew that this meant the destruction of all -their carefully formulated plans.</p> - -<p>If they had only had a few hours more, the DDT would certainly have -rendered the Kralons vulnerable to attack.</p> - -<p>Randall quickly conferred with his group. Following the directions the -agent gave, Malherne ran back to one of the shelters and brought rope.</p> - -<p>Randall handed the rope to McClellan without comment. The Australian -silently improvised a hondo, made a loop, and twirled it skillfully. He -tossed it over the top of one of the pilings, watched it settle into -place, then tugged it tight.</p> - -<p>Randall was halfway up the rope before anyone could object. He gained -the top of the stockade, dropped to the ground on the other side. -Hastily he located the massive bolt which barred the gate and stood -on his toes to reach it. The Kralons had not constructed it for human -manipulation, and Randall was having trouble.</p> - -<p>As he glanced back over his shoulder he saw several Kralon guards start -down the path toward him.</p> - -<p>"Be ready for a fight," he called through the wall to his companions, -"as soon as I get the gate open. The guards are coming."</p> - -<p>It wasn't until the Kralons were within a dozen yards that the bolt -finally gave under Randall's frenzied efforts, and the gate swung open. -Then out streamed a motley mob of determined humans, with Dr. Gerard -leading. He held his container ready, advancing toward the approaching -Kralons. He waited until they were within a few feet, then dashed the -contents of the container at their heads.</p> - -<p>Randall never knew whether it was partially the effects of the -insecticide or purely the virulence and vicious determination of the -band of humans which finally overcame the Kralons. But as soon as he -saw that both were down, limbs threshing, he led the group to the Hive -entry and down the huge corridor.</p> - -<p>He almost grinned as he thought of this ludicrous army storming the -ramparts of a fantastic race in the dim forgotten past, for the motley -human crowd from a dozen different ages brandished clubs, stones, and -knives, and McClellan was twirling his improvised lariat.</p> - -<p>Quickly the agent found the entry to the Time Trap laboratory and -opened the panel. The Kralon guard didn't have much chance, for it was -already lethargic from the effects of the DDT, and the milling mob of -humans soon swarmed over its prostrate figure.</p> - -<p>Wasting no time, Gordo Lanson rapidly began his check tests with the -drycell, calling out his readings to Malherne who noted them down on -the white wall.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, Randall was determined to find out definitely what had -happened to the McMahons. Calling McClellan, he left the Time Trap -laboratory and led the way to the operating room. No trace of any form -there.</p> - -<p>From room to room they searched. Finally they arrived at the council -room door. Randall opened it and stepped in, McClellan close behind -him. What he saw brought the gorge to his throat, inured though he was -to dealing in violence.</p> - -<p>It was quite apparent that Jackson had failed to sell the Kralon -Council the truth of his innocence. Their final acts had been to exact -retribution.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Slowly the two men turned away, then continued their search for some -sign of the McMahons. And Randall knew then, with a sudden flash of -insight, that the phase of the future to which he and his companions -would soon return would not know the names of Blake Garnet, Jerome -Jackson, or Charles and Evelyn McMahon. He knew with an esoteric -knowledge that in that particular future there would have been just -seven Diamvator passengers and himself scheduled on the historic -trip. And he was somehow sure that the passenger check list would -substantiate that count.</p> - -<p>For it would be an alternate phase of the future, rather than the -one in which those people had, or might have existed. Those four -personalities would henceforth exist only as a memory in his mind. And -perhaps it wouldn't even be strictly a memory. Perhaps it would be a -dream; an ephemeral and elusive link between alternate potential Time -phases.</p> - -<p>There was a fantastic thought! Perhaps all dreams were but vague links -between Time potentials or alternate phases.</p> - -<p>Then Randall impatiently thrust aside the fanciful theories and turned -to the search.</p> - -<p>The room he and McClellan now entered was quite obviously a genetics -research laboratory. And it was there that they found unmistakable -evidence of the two young McMahons.</p> - -<p>They examined the grisly proof that the young couple had been -victimized by vicious Kralon experiments. Apparently the research was -aimed at the use of human gene-determinants in synthesizing a greater -Kralon race.</p> - -<p>In the next room Randall found a case filled with metallic sheets -covered with hieroglyphics. Feeling that the records might hold -information of value to Zor Ala and Lanson, the agent removed the first -sheet and took it with him.</p> - -<p>Back in the Time Trap room he called it to Zor Ala's attention, and -while Lanson and Malherne were busily completing their transpositions -and calibrations, the future-man excitedly examined the record.</p> - -<p>"It's written in Ulla!" he cried. "The Universal written language -adopted in the 30th Century for documentary purposes. Where did you -find it?"</p> - -<p>Randall led the way back to the room where he had found the records. -Zor Ala avidly began to read the information contained in the file, -making notes from time to time on his mechanical pocket recorder.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Randall wandered from room to room, finding that the DDT had -done a thorough job, for nowhere did he find a sign of life in the -motionless Kralon corpses.</p> - -<p>When he finally returned to the vault, Zor Ala looked up from his work -and took a deep breath.</p> - -<p>"Randall," he said, his fine eyes shining with an almost evangelical -light, "this is a summary of the most magnificent revelation in the -history of the universe!"</p> - -<p>On the way back to the generator room Randall plied him with questions, -but Zor Ala was so deep in thought that he didn't even hear them.</p> - -<p>As they re-entered the Time Trap laboratory, Malherne and Lanson looked -up from their work. At Zor Ala's gesture they paused in their labor, -and the rest of the humans waited for his words.</p> - -<p>"Friends," he said, his splendid head held proudly, and his deep voice -rich with the surge of mighty emotion, "before we again return to our -various ages, it is important that all of us know the most astounding -story that it has ever been the privilege of mortal men to hear."</p> - -<p>While the crowd fell silent within the room, and those in the corridor -crowded closer to hear his words, Zor Ala continued:</p> - -<p>"It is the story of Man in all his glory! It is the story of a -superb race of men who exist so far in the future that my own age is -antediluvian by comparison. It is the stupendous history of that race's -realization of the ultimate goal of Life; a goal so tremendous that its -concepts were staggering, even to those supremely mature minds!"</p> - -<p>Zor Ala paused, drew a deep breath, then went on.</p> - -<p>"Those far distant future-men knew that goal to be far more important -than any one life or any one race or any galaxy. They knew that no -effort should be spared in its ultimate accomplishment.</p> - -<p>"That infinite purpose transcended even individual or racial survival, -and this almost divinely intelligent and benevolent race knew that the -history of Life's development must be reviewed; must be re-examined -to determine whether Mankind was the most suitable vehicle for its -eventual attainment.</p> - -<p>"Following this postulate, they developed the science of Dimensional -Time, and devised equipment for investigating the past. There, their -first test of Man's fitness for the ultimate purpose was to aid forms -of life other than Man.</p> - -<p>"First they set up elaborate scientific equipment to provide an -artificial evolutionary leap ahead for one form which had diverged from -the main stem.</p> - -<p>"Knowing full well that if this life-form progressed, Man's whole -future would undoubtedly be replaced by an alternate future of insect -supremacy, this super-race without hesitation continued its work of -producing a tremendous artificial advancement for the rudimentary -invertebrates.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"They accomplished this objective by inducing a re-encystment or -pupation which carried the invertebrates up the evolutionary ladder -countless millions of years in a single stride!</p> - -<p>"They fully realized that if their help was successful in aiding -this life-form to reach ascendance, that Man's phase—their phase of -the future—would no longer exist. But they knew that the infinite -importance of the ultimate goal must be placed above all else!</p> - -<p>"Thus the Kralons sprang suddenly from low invertebrate stock which had -strayed off as a branch of the main evolutionary stem. But they were -an artificial race, raised to their pedestal among other life-forms by -outside help, rather than through sturdy, solid evolutionary progress."</p> - -<p>Zor Ala paused while his audience looked at each other soberly, all -realizing that the Kralons had failed the splendid chance which had -been offered them by the almost divine race of the far distant future.</p> - -<p>And then they realized that they themselves had played a part in the -cosmic scheme which once again was assuring Man of his place in Life. -They had helped to forge another link in the chain of evidence pointing -toward the conclusion that Man and Man alone was to be selected to -reach that ultimate goal!</p> - -<p>Zor Ala continued!</p> - -<p>"The investigators assigned by the super-race were not content with -testing only this single life-form against Man's development. They -combed the infinite past, selecting various promising genera to aid; -hoping, always hoping in their hearts that Man himself would emerge -from the tests as the chosen species, but never allowing that hope to -influence their work.</p> - -<p>"They helped man, very many species with well-planned steps; a help -which Man's progenitors never had. They implanted determinant genes -in a certain reptilian branch which eventually produced the mighty -dinosaurs' great size; reasoning that the advantage of protective size -might allow this life-type to evolve toward the heights.</p> - -<p>"But the reptiles also failed their chance, possibly even as the -Kralons are failing theirs. Perhaps, like the Kralons they were not -satisfied with all the help the future had already given them. Perhaps -they, like the selfish insects, again reached forward in Time for more -and more unearned information, thus bringing back the elements of their -own destruction!"</p> - -<p>The listening humans exhaled almost as one. This was a concept so -vast that it was almost mentally painful; yet so glorious in its -implications for Man that every heart felt the surge of a mighty -emotion.</p> - -<p>Randall looked around at his companions. On every face he saw the glory -of tremendous purpose.</p> - -<p>No longer would they blunder through Life with fumbling and despairing -uncertainty. No more would hollow frustration gnaw at searching minds -which eternally wondered: "Why survive? For what purpose? What is our -destiny?"</p> - -<p>Now they knew! Now the distant view of a magnificent purpose would be -always before them, filling them with a vast serenity coupled with a -mighty incentive. Whence now, little man? Onward!</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Time-Techs Of Kra, by Max Sheridan - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TIME-TECHS OF KRA *** - -***** This file should be named 63716-h.htm or 63716-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/7/1/63716/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from 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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