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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..fc48505 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #64228 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64228) diff --git a/old/64228-0.txt b/old/64228-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 72a8707..0000000 --- a/old/64228-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,918 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Quest On Phoebe, by James R. Adams - -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 -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Quest On Phoebe - -Author: James R. Adams - -Release Date: January 07, 2021 [eBook #64228] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUEST ON PHOEBE *** - - - - - QUEST ON PHOEBE - - By James R. Adams - - Savagely, Ron Farr tore and blasted through the - Saturnian moon's jungle, snarling at the timid - natives to keep their distance. He sought - eternal life--and they might get in his way.... - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Planet Stories Summer 1947. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Others before him had tried--and failed. Ron Farr meant to succeed. He -had come fully prepared to surmount whatever obstacles might lie in -his path, to conquer the dread guardian jungle and its unknown terrors -and return triumphant to Earth, master of destiny and possessor of -undreamed of power. - -Farr knew the obstacles would be there, for he sought the secret of -eternal life, the fabulous elixir that lay hidden somewhere on Phoebe, -enigmatic moon of Saturn, and there was little doubt in his mind that -the ancients of the ringed planet had made ample provision for the -protection of this, their most cherished treasure. One by one, a dozen -eager men had gone in quest of the secret--none had returned. That was -enough proof for him. - -But, in spite of this grim evidence, Farr was not afraid. He was -ready to face death itself, if need be, to gain the goal that would -prostrate the world at his feet. He was ready to face death, but he -had taken every precaution against it. For instance, in selecting a -likely landing place, he had shunned the area in which the life secret -was reputed to be, for his instruments had detected some sort of -force-field above the region. Invisible to the eye, the field would -have crushed his ship in an instant, had he attempted to enter the area -without consulting the instrument panel. - -The region was boxed in on three sides by sheer cliffs, leaving but one -avenue of approach. That was through the dense and foreboding jungle -that stretched for miles across the face of the canyon. - -Farr had taken that avenue. Now, as he stepped from his ship and -regarded the jungle's fringe with clear, steady eyes, he looked -anything but the ruthless brigand he was. - -Straight black hair, high forehead, firm, unsmiling lips--all gave the -man the appearance of a gentlemanly scholar. But behind those austere -features lurked a cunning, treacherous mind. That he should be seeking -the secret of eternal life in so surreptitious a manner was proof that -the gaining of it would be put to his own advantage, and not to the -benefit of mankind. - -Now the thin lips parted in a wry smile as his searching gaze focused -on a group of watchful creatures gathered silently at the jungle's -edge. Somber eyes stared unwinkingly back at him. - -Harmless beings, these, the _Mumums_ of Phoebe. They resembled Earthly -pygmies in stature, but were wholly alien in anatomy. Hairless and -ebon-skinned, they wore only a loincloth as protection against the -elements. Depending from this brief garment by means of a length of -chain swung a small silvery, tubelike affair. Some sort of tribal -fetish, Farr thought, intended to ward off evil spirits. The tubes -gave off a musical tinkling whenever the pygmies moved, and he almost -had to laugh at their ignorance in believing such nonsense could avert -sickness and injury. - -They seemed to be attempting to bar his way. He drew his blaster and -balanced it in his hand, smiling grimly. If nothing more ferocious than -these miserable beings were to test his strength and cunning, securing -the life secret was going to be an easy task. - -He stepped forward. The _Mumums_ did not move. His steps brought him -closer, and still they remained in his way. Farr curled his lips and -raised his blaster. If it was necessary to teach them a lesson, he -would. - -One more stride and he would be touching them. "You asked for it," he -gritted and squeezed the release. - -[Illustration: _"You asked for it," he gritted and squeezed the -release._] - -There was a hissing crack and a bright stab of flame. The _Mumum_ in -front of Farr fell stiffly over backwards without a sound, an ugly -smoking hole drilled clean through him. The others cringed and drew -back as Farr swung the blaster in a threatening arc. "Get the idea?" he -grinned. - - * * * * * - -Sweat plastered Farr's shirt to his back and streamed copiously down -his masklike face. It was only an hour since he had entered the jungle, -but already he was beginning to tire. His wiry muscles ached and his -breath came wheezily, laboriously. Wearily he sat down on a porous rock -and produced a vacuum-carton from his tunic pocket. The mushy food -mixture contained in the carton was tasteless, but nourishing, and he -ate in contemplative silence, keeping a wary eye on the foliage around -him. - -Thus far he had successfully avoided contact with malignant life-forms, -but he did not allow this fact to lull him into a complacence that -might prove his undoing. Even though the jungle denizens had not yet -manifested themselves, he knew they were there, waiting for him to grow -lax in his vigilance, waiting for his eyes to close in sleep--a sleep -from which he would never awaken. - -The _Mumums_--the pygmy people--were still with him. They stood a few -feet away, soulful eyes watching him devour his meal. Their stares -vaguely irritated Farr. What made it the worse, was that they never -uttered a sound, but just watched silently, fingering those crazy -silver tubes, moving when he moved, freezing into immobility when he -called a halt, always keeping between him and the goal toward which he -progressed. - -Farr uttered a sneering laugh. They couldn't stop him! Let them stare. -Let their saucer eyes reproach him. He would go on and emerge from the -jungle with the secret that would place the fate of the world in his -hands. - -He laughed again and wiped the last particles of the meal from his -lips. The food was making him sleepy. Gratefully he allowed leaden lids -to close over sun-dazzled eyes. A keen sense of danger prodded his -drowsy mind, telling him to awake, to throw off the torpor before the -perils of the jungle closed in on him. - -By will-power alone, Farr forced his eyes open and strove desperately -to rise. He seemed to be rooted to the rock, and the insidious lump of -matter was sucking out his life-force, draining him of vitality. Where -he had been prepared to face fang and claw, this inanimate foe had -caught him completely off-guard and was swiftly fulfilling the purpose -for which it had been placed here--the destruction of interlopers who -sought the secret of immortality by way of the jungle. - -A less determined man than Farr would have succumbed to that compelling -force, would have fallen back on the stone and let the life flow from -his exhausted body. But Farr was made of stern stuff, and as long as -there was life in him, there was fight. - -Sweat stood out in glistening beads on his forehead and his lips -compressed in a bloodless slit as he marshaled his powers of -concentration. Slowly his hand moved to his side, clutching at the -blaster that hung there. Minutes passed as his fingers closed around -the butt of the gun and inched it from the holster. - -His thumb adjusted the weapon to a tight beam, then he was aiming it -steadily at the rock. A thin finger of flame lanced out and drilled -into the porous stone, devouring it hungrily. A moment later he leaped -free as the chunk of mineral cracked under the heat and suddenly -collapsed in a pile of jumbled fragments. - - * * * * * - -Farr was too shaken for a moment to do anything but stare in horror at -the cooling pieces of the devil stone. Then, reaction over, he became -his calculating, impassive self again. Reflection on the fate he had -narrowly averted was not for him; he must push on. But he did marvel -at the cleverness of the ancients of Saturn in placing the stone here. -It had come close to getting him--too close, for he felt strangely -lethargic and weak. - -Groping in a pocket he brought forth a vitamin capsule and popped it in -his mouth. The potent stuff went to work immediately and shortly Farr -could feel his energy returning, slowly at first, then faster as the -capsule's contents worked through his bloodstream. - -Feeling better, he tested his legs, then moved forward once more, -resuming his interrupted progress through the brooding jungle. Before -him the ever-present _Mumums_ retreated slowly, backing away through -the underbrush, always with their sad eyes fixed unwaveringly on the -intruder. - -Farr had come to hate those eyes, in the short space of time he had -known the creatures. Though he realized now that neither they nor their -owners could do him harm, still he was somehow disturbed by the intent -and mournful gaze. - -Shrugging off the feeling, he plodded on, moving ever toward the -distant goal in utter defiance of the terrors lurking around him. Farr -would not be denied his triumph and, now that he knew what to look for, -he kept a wary eye out for other such diabolical traps as the devil -stone. - -But, in spite of his caution, he had not the least suspicion of the -next snare that lay in his path, and he was hopelessly enmeshed in it -before his confused mind could understand what was happening. - -He had been advancing on a small grassy clearing, and as he reached -its edge he stopped to regard it dubiously. The wood-free tract seemed -innocent enough, and its flat expanse offered no concealment for -contrivances intended to dispose of meddlers. Satisfied that it was -safe, he set foot on the clearing and moved quickly across it. - -Halfway across, Farr felt the ground shake under him and a low muffled -droning began somewhere far below. He knew then that it was a trap, and -with the celerity of one pursued by a fiend, lengthened his stride into -a desperate run. But it was too late. - -Things suddenly went black, and with the abrupt darkness that fell -over his eyes, Farr stumbled and fell face forward in the grass. -Panic-stricken, he clambered to his feet and passed a hand across his -face. He saw only blackness. - -"My Lord!" he cried in horror. "I'm _blind_!" - -Farr could feel his lips moving, knew that his frantic brain had -commanded the vocal organs to speak the words--but he could not hear -them. He was deaf, too. Blind and deaf! Walking through the glade, -his footsteps had set in action machinery buried deep in the earth, -machinery that emitted a penetrating ray, blanking out the senses of -sight and hearing. Now, surely, his quest would end in blind groping -through the forest, till some ravenous denizen would put a stop to his -misery. - - * * * * * - -Flinging his head back, Farr laughed shrilly, madly. Facing the guns of -the planetary police, he had never known the feel of fear, but he knew -it now; fear of the darkness, fear of the silence that pressed in on -him. He cried out again, but not the least sound pierced the stillness -in his brain. - -He suddenly lunged forward and ran screaming through the glade. He did -not stop until he felt the undergrowth of the jungle whipping about his -legs, then he sank to the ground in a cringing heap, sobbing out his -despair and beating his fists against his temples. - -For an hour he sat there, staring sightlessly into space. Frenzy gave -way to apathy, and he no longer strove to fight off the implacable -blackness and quiet that filled his world. Death would come soon, -creeping and crawling through the brush, and he could do nothing but -sit and wait for it, without hope of defending himself. - -Despite his despair, Farr was not the least bit penitent. He had played -the game and lost, and now he was ready to pay the price of failure. -His only regret was that he had fallen short of his goal, had been -cheated of it by the infernal ray device, one of the many traps that -had been placed throughout the jungle by the now long-dead ancients of -Saturn. - -His features hardened as he thought again of the secret those pitfalls -guarded--the secret of immortality. If only he could yet reach it! -Fumble his way through the jungle somehow and take the treasure from -its cursed temple. He could still be master of the world, if he could -accomplish that, master of all worlds, in fact, for who would not -prostrate himself for the chance of possessing eternal life? - -But it was hopeless, Farr knew. He could wander around in here until he -dropped, and still be no nearer his destination than when he started. -Nor could he find his way back to the ship, navigate the distance to -Earth and have his eyes and ears operated on by some unprincipled, yet -skillful surgeon. No, he would never have another chance at the life -secret, never return to civilization with the power that he-- - -_What was that? Was it a glimmer of light in the darkness?_ - -Farr's heart leaped with sudden hope. Was his mind playing him tricks, -or was his sight returning? He climbed to his feet, straining his eyes -at the pinpoint of light. No, it wasn't his imagination; his vision was -definitely coming back! As he watched, the small patch of brightness -grew slowly, expanding, pushing back the fearsome darkness. - -"_I--I can see again_," he whispered, voice shaking with emotion. Then, -flaming with new-born spirit, he repeated in a shout, "I can see again!" - -His joy knew no bounds as he witnessed the unfolding of this miracle. -In short minutes his eyesight had completely returned to normal and -his hearing, too, was rapidly improving. He began talking to himself, -savoring the sound of each word as it impinged on his eardrums. -He caught sight of the _Mumums_, standing at a distance, mute and -motionless as ever, and he yelled to them, "Hi, you ugly things! Am I -glad to see you!" - -Indeed, Farr was glad to see anything again, after that awful blackness -that had blotted out his most precious sense. The ray had been intended -to destroy his hearing and sight, but he had escaped its field in time -to avoid permanent injury. Had it not been for the unreasoning fear -that overwhelmed him, he would have remained there in the glade, to -flounder about helplessly and eventually succumb to thirst and hunger. - -Now, he was again in full possession of his faculties, and just as -determined as ever to continue on to his destination. Twice he had -fallen prey to the ingenious devices of the Ancients, and both times -emerged unscathed. He was now convinced that the jungle could produce -no obstacle that his cunning could not overcome. - -Thus decided, Farr took his bearings. Finding that his flight had -brought him to that side of the glade nearest his goal, he had nothing -to do but resume his march through the lush Phoebe plant-life. - -On two occasions during the next few hours he came across grim -discoveries, discoveries that made him shudder in spite of his -callousness--sun-bleached, grinning skeletons. He found the first one -draped over a devil stone, picked free of carrion, mute testimony of -the insidious rock's power. - -The other lay not far away in a clump of bushes. As Farr approached, -the willowy branches of the shrubs whipped into sudden action, flicking -gobs of black, gooey matter directly at the surprised spaceman. He -dodged aside with a cry of dismay, barely averting contact with the -stuff. Several of the viscid wads plopped against the bole of a tree -and began eating furiously into the bark. - -Eyes bulging, Farr turned and fled, putting distance between himself -and the deadly bushes. No wonder there hadn't been much left of that -second heap of bones! The shrubs were living acid manufactories, -remaining dormant until the approach of a victim, then to spring into -life and bombard the prey with gobs of the fatal stuff. - -And those blanched remains back there--they had once been living men, -like himself, in search of the legendary life secret. But unlike him, -they had not been clever enough to elude the pitfalls of the jungle, -and had died agonizing deaths, miles short of the goal. Farr was glad -it was so, else the secret would not now be there for him to pluck from -its pedestal and mold to his own use. - - * * * * * - -Many hours later, Farr emerged from the jungle to stand at last at -the entrance to a desolate canyon. Aching in every muscle, battered, -bruised and hardly able to stay on his feet, he felt a surge of new -energy as he spied his objective, near the center of the valley. - -The temple was old, very old. Its walls were drab gray, as if with the -grayness of age, and a great silence hung over it, unbroken by even the -strident sounds of insect life. But in spite of its gloomy, tomb-like -appearance, there was an air of magnificence about the temple, a -faint aura of greatness once known, but long since gone. It was at -once beautiful and foreboding, guardian of the heritage left by the -Ancients to those with courage and intelligence enough to win it. - -Farr was not impressed. Beauty meant nothing to him, save the beauty of -power. But he noted the _Mumums_, still with him, were stirred by the -scene. Throughout the trek through the jungle, they had shown no signs -of emotion, but now they were milling about restlessly, staring at the -temple and chattering excitedly among themselves. - -Drawing a deep breath, he moved cautiously into the canyon, blaster -ready at his side. There was no telling what hellish devices he had yet -to face, and he did not intend to be robbed of the life secret now, -having come this far along the road. - -Sheer cliffs soared high above on three sides of him, and one look -told him that no one could scale those dizzy heights. The _Mumums_, -scampering ahead of him, silver tubes tinkling melodiously, reached -the edifice's yawning portal and stood staring apprehensively into the -impenetrable darkness. He followed quickly, eager to secure the elixir -and leave this dismal canyon far behind. - -Twenty feet from the looming entrance, something rattled loosely under -his step and he bent to examine the object. A skull. His eyes traveled -across the ground and spied the body of the skeleton lying between two -boulders. He stepped over to the grisly relic and knelt beside it, -regarding it thoughtfully. - -Clutched in the bony fingers was a corroded blaster, and through the -tatters of the dead man's rotted tunic protruded charred stumps of -ribs, grim indication of the last use to which the gun had been put. -Suicide! But why? Had the man been enmeshed in some trap from which -there was no escape? No; if that were the case Farr himself would -now be caught in its toils. At this realization he jumped back with -a start, cursing his thoughtlessness in approaching the spot without -first examining the surroundings. - -But nothing happened and, thus reassured, he moved close again, -puzzling over the inexplicable mystery confronting him. To all -appearances the man had been free to leave the valley whenever he -so willed. Yet he had snuffed out his own life--that last desperate -measure one takes when he is faced by some barrier above which his -resources cannot lift him. - -Tiring of the problem, Farr gave the remains one last scornful look and -moved away. He had no sympathy for one who comes out second best in a -contest of cunning. But as he walked on to the temple and passed into -its shadows he felt a dark premonition of danger edging into his mind. - -He paused inside the structure's entrance and switched on a torch, -sweeping its beam about the chamber in which he stood. The room was -cubical, small, dank and musty with age. Blank walls stared back at him -mockingly, and for the briefest instant he again experienced a feeling -of impending doom, then it faded as before. - -Before moving on into the temple proper, he looked over his shoulder to -see if the _Mumums_ had followed. They hadn't. They crowded around the -portal, jabbering shrilly and jostling one another in their eagerness -to get a better view, but carefully refrained from entering. - -Shrugging, he turned away. He had no time to wonder at the stupidity -of the _Mumums_; there were more important matters to look after. -Directing the ray of the torch before him he located an inner door and -moved through it, heart leaping in sudden excitement at the sight. - -There, resting in solitary splendor atop a marble pillar in the center -of a vast hall, was the object which he had braved every conceivable -type of horror to obtain. Awed in spite of himself, he walked slowly -forward, eyes riveted in fascination on the gleaming prize. - -Then the spell was gone and he broke into a run, a shout of exultation -on his lips. He caught up the object from its pedestal and waved it -wildly overhead, brain enfevered by the triumph of the moment. He -brought the gleaming metal cylinder in front of his eyes and gazed at -it in rapture. Power. This represented more power than any man had -known, and plans for its use were already spinning in his brain. - -Something rustled dryly in the vacuum container. Powder; it was a -powder, rather than a liquid. The legend had erred on that point, -but the discrepancy was inconsequential. He peered eagerly at the -container, expecting to see the formula of the powder inscribed -thereon. There was none, but it did not disturb him. Chemists could -analyze the stuff and manufacture it. - -Flashing his light once more over the great hall to make certain he had -missed nothing, he strode buoyantly to the entrance and passed into the -small outer chamber, thrusting the container of powder in his tunic -pocket as he went. - - * * * * * - -Immediately a dazzling brilliance lit up the room. Varicolored lights -played about his head, blazed radiantly in his brain and etched every -cell in bold relief. Farr fell to his knees, throwing his arms over his -eyes in a vain effort to shut out the light. The torment in his mind -was unbearable, agonizing. - -The door! He had to make it to the door! Stumbling to his feet, he -propelled himself on unsteady legs to the entrance, hurtled through it -and down the temple steps, where he collapsed in a quivering, gasping -heap on the rocky valley floor. - -Another narrow escape! He could not guess the nature or effect of the -lights, but undoubtedly they had been meant to dispose of him in some -hellish fashion. Apparently he had sustained no injury, though his head -did feel peculiarly light. - -Shaking his head dizzily, Farr arose and felt in his pocket. The -cylindrical container was still there, and he breathed a rasping sigh -of relief. All that remained now was to return to his ship and rocket -Earthward, where his plans for the life secret would immediately be put -into effect. - -The _Mumums_ brought up the rear now, apparently resigned to the fact -that their puny efforts to prevent the theft of the secret had failed. -Knowing that he would no longer be confronted by their unwinking gaze -was a comfort to Farr, and he moved quickly across the sweltering -valley. - -Moving rapidly as he was, he had no time to avoid crashing into the -towering wall of rock that loomed suddenly in his path. Strangely he -felt no pain as he clambered erect, but the very unexpectedness of the -collision stunned him, confusing his befuddled mind even more. - -There should be no wall here, yet here it was. Farr could not deny -that, though he could have sworn it had not been here when he entered -the canyon. There was nothing to do but walk around it. - -The cliff stretched a hundred yards to either side of him. He began -moving along it, a fierce anxiety to escape this infernal place beating -in his brain. The inscrutable _Mumums_ followed, pattering along on -bare feet. - -He had covered what seemed like forty yards, when he stopped and stared -in puzzlement at the craggy precipice. He looked back along the wall, -then ahead, peered up at its dizzy heights, then down at its smooth -base. Color drained from his face and his shoulders slumped in defeat. - -He was beaten. Farr knew it. Knew too why that other adventurer had -never left the valley, why his brain was spinning and whirling like -a mad dervish. The ray in the temple--he could easily guess now what -it had done to him. For stone does not move of its own power, and the -cliff _had_ moved. Its terminations still reared a hundred yards in -either direction from him! - -It was an illusion, that wall, an illusion conjured by his own -ray-impregnated mind. But for him it was real. He could spend eternity -walking along its face, yet never would he reach the end of the barrier. - -He watched dully as a _Mumum_ scampered past and melted into the cliff. -Maddening to know that the wall existed only in his own mind. He tried -to concentrate, tried to nullify the terrible force that had invaded -his brain. If he could do that, the cliff-illusion would vanish. - -Veins stood out on his forehead with the effort; but the wall remained, -seemingly solid as ever to his touch. The ray-force was too powerful. - -Farr wanted to scream, wanted to hurl himself at the barrier and -pound and tear at it with all the wild energy of a trapped animal. -But he couldn't. His emotions were played out. He could only stand -like a burnt-out robot, his apathetic eyes following the antics of the -_Mumums_ as they popped in and out of the wall-illusion, taunting him, -trying to drive him mad with the realization that only he could not -pass through it to freedom. - -The Ancients had triumphed. The life secret would remain in this -valley, eternally guarded by the ingenious ray that warped men's minds -and made them see illusions that to them were insuperable actualities. -Not until a Master Intellect claimed the heritage for the human race, -would it ever leave here. - -Farr was not that Master Intellect, and he knew what he must do now. -His blaster came slowly from its holster. He brought the gun to his -temple. - -His finger tightened on the trigger. White fire exploded in his brain, -cooking the cells, melting them. A last scream of defiance ripped from -Farr's lips, then his form went suddenly limp and crumpled to the -ground, to lay silent.... - - * * * * * - -It was Londar's time to return the cylinder to the temple. Its contents -were worthless, he knew, but it was the Ancients' command that the -ritual be observed, so the pygmy-creature dutifully bent and retrieved -the gleaming container and walked slowly with it toward the brooding -edifice. - -To carry out his mission, Londar would be forced to pass through the -Great Lights, and Londar was afraid of the lights, much in the same way -savages of Earth fear the magic of witch doctors. But the intelligence -of the _Mumums_ was slightly above that of savages, and Londar realized -in a vague way that the lights could not harm him, could not do the -things to him they had done to the black-haired man from the sky. - -For, long ago, he had swallowed several of the mysterious crystals -contained in the small silver tube swinging at his waist. The Ancients -had commanded him to do that and Londar had complied, as had all his -race, out of their great respect and love for the wise ones. The -Ancients were gone now, had vanished into the sky many seasons since. -But Londar and his people had lived on, ageless, undying, tirelessly -performing the strange duties assigned them by the masters. - -Some day, another great race would come, and Londar's people would -then surrender the silver tubes. The black-haired man might have been -the representative of such a race, but he had shown contempt for the -_Mumums_ and had slain Kyrrad. That would not be the way of a true -people of supreme intellect. - -Londar walked on, the silvery tube fastened at his waist tinkling -musically in rhythm to his stride. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUEST ON PHOEBE *** - -***** This file should be named 64228-0.txt or 64228-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - https://www.gutenberg.org/6/4/2/2/64228/ - -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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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Adams</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Quest On Phoebe</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: James R. Adams</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: January 07, 2021 [eBook #64228]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUEST ON PHOEBE ***</div> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>QUEST ON PHOEBE</h1> - -<h2>By James R. Adams</h2> - -<p>Savagely, Ron Farr tore and blasted through the<br /> -Saturnian moon's jungle, snarling at the timid<br /> -natives to keep their distance. He sought<br /> -eternal life—and they might get in his way....</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories Summer 1947.<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>Others before him had tried—and failed. Ron Farr meant to succeed. He -had come fully prepared to surmount whatever obstacles might lie in -his path, to conquer the dread guardian jungle and its unknown terrors -and return triumphant to Earth, master of destiny and possessor of -undreamed of power.</p> - -<p>Farr knew the obstacles would be there, for he sought the secret of -eternal life, the fabulous elixir that lay hidden somewhere on Phoebe, -enigmatic moon of Saturn, and there was little doubt in his mind that -the ancients of the ringed planet had made ample provision for the -protection of this, their most cherished treasure. One by one, a dozen -eager men had gone in quest of the secret—none had returned. That was -enough proof for him.</p> - -<p>But, in spite of this grim evidence, Farr was not afraid. He was -ready to face death itself, if need be, to gain the goal that would -prostrate the world at his feet. He was ready to face death, but he -had taken every precaution against it. For instance, in selecting a -likely landing place, he had shunned the area in which the life secret -was reputed to be, for his instruments had detected some sort of -force-field above the region. Invisible to the eye, the field would -have crushed his ship in an instant, had he attempted to enter the area -without consulting the instrument panel.</p> - -<p>The region was boxed in on three sides by sheer cliffs, leaving but one -avenue of approach. That was through the dense and foreboding jungle -that stretched for miles across the face of the canyon.</p> - -<p>Farr had taken that avenue. Now, as he stepped from his ship and -regarded the jungle's fringe with clear, steady eyes, he looked -anything but the ruthless brigand he was.</p> - -<p>Straight black hair, high forehead, firm, unsmiling lips—all gave the -man the appearance of a gentlemanly scholar. But behind those austere -features lurked a cunning, treacherous mind. That he should be seeking -the secret of eternal life in so surreptitious a manner was proof that -the gaining of it would be put to his own advantage, and not to the -benefit of mankind.</p> - -<p>Now the thin lips parted in a wry smile as his searching gaze focused -on a group of watchful creatures gathered silently at the jungle's -edge. Somber eyes stared unwinkingly back at him.</p> - -<p>Harmless beings, these, the <i>Mumums</i> of Phoebe. They resembled Earthly -pygmies in stature, but were wholly alien in anatomy. Hairless and -ebon-skinned, they wore only a loincloth as protection against the -elements. Depending from this brief garment by means of a length of -chain swung a small silvery, tubelike affair. Some sort of tribal -fetish, Farr thought, intended to ward off evil spirits. The tubes -gave off a musical tinkling whenever the pygmies moved, and he almost -had to laugh at their ignorance in believing such nonsense could avert -sickness and injury.</p> - -<p>They seemed to be attempting to bar his way. He drew his blaster and -balanced it in his hand, smiling grimly. If nothing more ferocious than -these miserable beings were to test his strength and cunning, securing -the life secret was going to be an easy task.</p> - -<p>He stepped forward. The <i>Mumums</i> did not move. His steps brought him -closer, and still they remained in his way. Farr curled his lips and -raised his blaster. If it was necessary to teach them a lesson, he -would.</p> - -<p>One more stride and he would be touching them. "You asked for it," he -gritted and squeezed the release.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> - <div class="caption"> - <p><i>"You asked for it," he gritted and squeezed the release.</i></p> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>There was a hissing crack and a bright stab of flame. The <i>Mumum</i> in -front of Farr fell stiffly over backwards without a sound, an ugly -smoking hole drilled clean through him. The others cringed and drew -back as Farr swung the blaster in a threatening arc. "Get the idea?" he -grinned.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Sweat plastered Farr's shirt to his back and streamed copiously down -his masklike face. It was only an hour since he had entered the jungle, -but already he was beginning to tire. His wiry muscles ached and his -breath came wheezily, laboriously. Wearily he sat down on a porous rock -and produced a vacuum-carton from his tunic pocket. The mushy food -mixture contained in the carton was tasteless, but nourishing, and he -ate in contemplative silence, keeping a wary eye on the foliage around -him.</p> - -<p>Thus far he had successfully avoided contact with malignant life-forms, -but he did not allow this fact to lull him into a complacence that -might prove his undoing. Even though the jungle denizens had not yet -manifested themselves, he knew they were there, waiting for him to grow -lax in his vigilance, waiting for his eyes to close in sleep—a sleep -from which he would never awaken.</p> - -<p>The <i>Mumums</i>—the pygmy people—were still with him. They stood a few -feet away, soulful eyes watching him devour his meal. Their stares -vaguely irritated Farr. What made it the worse, was that they never -uttered a sound, but just watched silently, fingering those crazy -silver tubes, moving when he moved, freezing into immobility when he -called a halt, always keeping between him and the goal toward which he -progressed.</p> - -<p>Farr uttered a sneering laugh. They couldn't stop him! Let them stare. -Let their saucer eyes reproach him. He would go on and emerge from the -jungle with the secret that would place the fate of the world in his -hands.</p> - -<p>He laughed again and wiped the last particles of the meal from his -lips. The food was making him sleepy. Gratefully he allowed leaden lids -to close over sun-dazzled eyes. A keen sense of danger prodded his -drowsy mind, telling him to awake, to throw off the torpor before the -perils of the jungle closed in on him.</p> - -<p>By will-power alone, Farr forced his eyes open and strove desperately -to rise. He seemed to be rooted to the rock, and the insidious lump of -matter was sucking out his life-force, draining him of vitality. Where -he had been prepared to face fang and claw, this inanimate foe had -caught him completely off-guard and was swiftly fulfilling the purpose -for which it had been placed here—the destruction of interlopers who -sought the secret of immortality by way of the jungle.</p> - -<p>A less determined man than Farr would have succumbed to that compelling -force, would have fallen back on the stone and let the life flow from -his exhausted body. But Farr was made of stern stuff, and as long as -there was life in him, there was fight.</p> - -<p>Sweat stood out in glistening beads on his forehead and his lips -compressed in a bloodless slit as he marshaled his powers of -concentration. Slowly his hand moved to his side, clutching at the -blaster that hung there. Minutes passed as his fingers closed around -the butt of the gun and inched it from the holster.</p> - -<p>His thumb adjusted the weapon to a tight beam, then he was aiming it -steadily at the rock. A thin finger of flame lanced out and drilled -into the porous stone, devouring it hungrily. A moment later he leaped -free as the chunk of mineral cracked under the heat and suddenly -collapsed in a pile of jumbled fragments.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Farr was too shaken for a moment to do anything but stare in horror at -the cooling pieces of the devil stone. Then, reaction over, he became -his calculating, impassive self again. Reflection on the fate he had -narrowly averted was not for him; he must push on. But he did marvel -at the cleverness of the ancients of Saturn in placing the stone here. -It had come close to getting him—too close, for he felt strangely -lethargic and weak.</p> - -<p>Groping in a pocket he brought forth a vitamin capsule and popped it in -his mouth. The potent stuff went to work immediately and shortly Farr -could feel his energy returning, slowly at first, then faster as the -capsule's contents worked through his bloodstream.</p> - -<p>Feeling better, he tested his legs, then moved forward once more, -resuming his interrupted progress through the brooding jungle. Before -him the ever-present <i>Mumums</i> retreated slowly, backing away through -the underbrush, always with their sad eyes fixed unwaveringly on the -intruder.</p> - -<p>Farr had come to hate those eyes, in the short space of time he had -known the creatures. Though he realized now that neither they nor their -owners could do him harm, still he was somehow disturbed by the intent -and mournful gaze.</p> - -<p>Shrugging off the feeling, he plodded on, moving ever toward the -distant goal in utter defiance of the terrors lurking around him. Farr -would not be denied his triumph and, now that he knew what to look for, -he kept a wary eye out for other such diabolical traps as the devil -stone.</p> - -<p>But, in spite of his caution, he had not the least suspicion of the -next snare that lay in his path, and he was hopelessly enmeshed in it -before his confused mind could understand what was happening.</p> - -<p>He had been advancing on a small grassy clearing, and as he reached -its edge he stopped to regard it dubiously. The wood-free tract seemed -innocent enough, and its flat expanse offered no concealment for -contrivances intended to dispose of meddlers. Satisfied that it was -safe, he set foot on the clearing and moved quickly across it.</p> - -<p>Halfway across, Farr felt the ground shake under him and a low muffled -droning began somewhere far below. He knew then that it was a trap, and -with the celerity of one pursued by a fiend, lengthened his stride into -a desperate run. But it was too late.</p> - -<p>Things suddenly went black, and with the abrupt darkness that fell -over his eyes, Farr stumbled and fell face forward in the grass. -Panic-stricken, he clambered to his feet and passed a hand across his -face. He saw only blackness.</p> - -<p>"My Lord!" he cried in horror. "I'm <i>blind</i>!"</p> - -<p>Farr could feel his lips moving, knew that his frantic brain had -commanded the vocal organs to speak the words—but he could not hear -them. He was deaf, too. Blind and deaf! Walking through the glade, -his footsteps had set in action machinery buried deep in the earth, -machinery that emitted a penetrating ray, blanking out the senses of -sight and hearing. Now, surely, his quest would end in blind groping -through the forest, till some ravenous denizen would put a stop to his -misery.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Flinging his head back, Farr laughed shrilly, madly. Facing the guns of -the planetary police, he had never known the feel of fear, but he knew -it now; fear of the darkness, fear of the silence that pressed in on -him. He cried out again, but not the least sound pierced the stillness -in his brain.</p> - -<p>He suddenly lunged forward and ran screaming through the glade. He did -not stop until he felt the undergrowth of the jungle whipping about his -legs, then he sank to the ground in a cringing heap, sobbing out his -despair and beating his fists against his temples.</p> - -<p>For an hour he sat there, staring sightlessly into space. Frenzy gave -way to apathy, and he no longer strove to fight off the implacable -blackness and quiet that filled his world. Death would come soon, -creeping and crawling through the brush, and he could do nothing but -sit and wait for it, without hope of defending himself.</p> - -<p>Despite his despair, Farr was not the least bit penitent. He had played -the game and lost, and now he was ready to pay the price of failure. -His only regret was that he had fallen short of his goal, had been -cheated of it by the infernal ray device, one of the many traps that -had been placed throughout the jungle by the now long-dead ancients of -Saturn.</p> - -<p>His features hardened as he thought again of the secret those pitfalls -guarded—the secret of immortality. If only he could yet reach it! -Fumble his way through the jungle somehow and take the treasure from -its cursed temple. He could still be master of the world, if he could -accomplish that, master of all worlds, in fact, for who would not -prostrate himself for the chance of possessing eternal life?</p> - -<p>But it was hopeless, Farr knew. He could wander around in here until he -dropped, and still be no nearer his destination than when he started. -Nor could he find his way back to the ship, navigate the distance to -Earth and have his eyes and ears operated on by some unprincipled, yet -skillful surgeon. No, he would never have another chance at the life -secret, never return to civilization with the power that he—</p> - -<p><i>What was that? Was it a glimmer of light in the darkness?</i></p> - -<p>Farr's heart leaped with sudden hope. Was his mind playing him tricks, -or was his sight returning? He climbed to his feet, straining his eyes -at the pinpoint of light. No, it wasn't his imagination; his vision was -definitely coming back! As he watched, the small patch of brightness -grew slowly, expanding, pushing back the fearsome darkness.</p> - -<p>"<i>I—I can see again</i>," he whispered, voice shaking with emotion. Then, -flaming with new-born spirit, he repeated in a shout, "I can see again!"</p> - -<p>His joy knew no bounds as he witnessed the unfolding of this miracle. -In short minutes his eyesight had completely returned to normal and -his hearing, too, was rapidly improving. He began talking to himself, -savoring the sound of each word as it impinged on his eardrums. -He caught sight of the <i>Mumums</i>, standing at a distance, mute and -motionless as ever, and he yelled to them, "Hi, you ugly things! Am I -glad to see you!"</p> - -<p>Indeed, Farr was glad to see anything again, after that awful blackness -that had blotted out his most precious sense. The ray had been intended -to destroy his hearing and sight, but he had escaped its field in time -to avoid permanent injury. Had it not been for the unreasoning fear -that overwhelmed him, he would have remained there in the glade, to -flounder about helplessly and eventually succumb to thirst and hunger.</p> - -<p>Now, he was again in full possession of his faculties, and just as -determined as ever to continue on to his destination. Twice he had -fallen prey to the ingenious devices of the Ancients, and both times -emerged unscathed. He was now convinced that the jungle could produce -no obstacle that his cunning could not overcome.</p> - -<p>Thus decided, Farr took his bearings. Finding that his flight had -brought him to that side of the glade nearest his goal, he had nothing -to do but resume his march through the lush Phoebe plant-life.</p> - -<p>On two occasions during the next few hours he came across grim -discoveries, discoveries that made him shudder in spite of his -callousness—sun-bleached, grinning skeletons. He found the first one -draped over a devil stone, picked free of carrion, mute testimony of -the insidious rock's power.</p> - -<p>The other lay not far away in a clump of bushes. As Farr approached, -the willowy branches of the shrubs whipped into sudden action, flicking -gobs of black, gooey matter directly at the surprised spaceman. He -dodged aside with a cry of dismay, barely averting contact with the -stuff. Several of the viscid wads plopped against the bole of a tree -and began eating furiously into the bark.</p> - -<p>Eyes bulging, Farr turned and fled, putting distance between himself -and the deadly bushes. No wonder there hadn't been much left of that -second heap of bones! The shrubs were living acid manufactories, -remaining dormant until the approach of a victim, then to spring into -life and bombard the prey with gobs of the fatal stuff.</p> - -<p>And those blanched remains back there—they had once been living men, -like himself, in search of the legendary life secret. But unlike him, -they had not been clever enough to elude the pitfalls of the jungle, -and had died agonizing deaths, miles short of the goal. Farr was glad -it was so, else the secret would not now be there for him to pluck from -its pedestal and mold to his own use.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Many hours later, Farr emerged from the jungle to stand at last at -the entrance to a desolate canyon. Aching in every muscle, battered, -bruised and hardly able to stay on his feet, he felt a surge of new -energy as he spied his objective, near the center of the valley.</p> - -<p>The temple was old, very old. Its walls were drab gray, as if with the -grayness of age, and a great silence hung over it, unbroken by even the -strident sounds of insect life. But in spite of its gloomy, tomb-like -appearance, there was an air of magnificence about the temple, a -faint aura of greatness once known, but long since gone. It was at -once beautiful and foreboding, guardian of the heritage left by the -Ancients to those with courage and intelligence enough to win it.</p> - -<p>Farr was not impressed. Beauty meant nothing to him, save the beauty of -power. But he noted the <i>Mumums</i>, still with him, were stirred by the -scene. Throughout the trek through the jungle, they had shown no signs -of emotion, but now they were milling about restlessly, staring at the -temple and chattering excitedly among themselves.</p> - -<p>Drawing a deep breath, he moved cautiously into the canyon, blaster -ready at his side. There was no telling what hellish devices he had yet -to face, and he did not intend to be robbed of the life secret now, -having come this far along the road.</p> - -<p>Sheer cliffs soared high above on three sides of him, and one look -told him that no one could scale those dizzy heights. The <i>Mumums</i>, -scampering ahead of him, silver tubes tinkling melodiously, reached -the edifice's yawning portal and stood staring apprehensively into the -impenetrable darkness. He followed quickly, eager to secure the elixir -and leave this dismal canyon far behind.</p> - -<p>Twenty feet from the looming entrance, something rattled loosely under -his step and he bent to examine the object. A skull. His eyes traveled -across the ground and spied the body of the skeleton lying between two -boulders. He stepped over to the grisly relic and knelt beside it, -regarding it thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>Clutched in the bony fingers was a corroded blaster, and through the -tatters of the dead man's rotted tunic protruded charred stumps of -ribs, grim indication of the last use to which the gun had been put. -Suicide! But why? Had the man been enmeshed in some trap from which -there was no escape? No; if that were the case Farr himself would -now be caught in its toils. At this realization he jumped back with -a start, cursing his thoughtlessness in approaching the spot without -first examining the surroundings.</p> - -<p>But nothing happened and, thus reassured, he moved close again, -puzzling over the inexplicable mystery confronting him. To all -appearances the man had been free to leave the valley whenever he -so willed. Yet he had snuffed out his own life—that last desperate -measure one takes when he is faced by some barrier above which his -resources cannot lift him.</p> - -<p>Tiring of the problem, Farr gave the remains one last scornful look and -moved away. He had no sympathy for one who comes out second best in a -contest of cunning. But as he walked on to the temple and passed into -its shadows he felt a dark premonition of danger edging into his mind.</p> - -<p>He paused inside the structure's entrance and switched on a torch, -sweeping its beam about the chamber in which he stood. The room was -cubical, small, dank and musty with age. Blank walls stared back at him -mockingly, and for the briefest instant he again experienced a feeling -of impending doom, then it faded as before.</p> - -<p>Before moving on into the temple proper, he looked over his shoulder to -see if the <i>Mumums</i> had followed. They hadn't. They crowded around the -portal, jabbering shrilly and jostling one another in their eagerness -to get a better view, but carefully refrained from entering.</p> - -<p>Shrugging, he turned away. He had no time to wonder at the stupidity -of the <i>Mumums</i>; there were more important matters to look after. -Directing the ray of the torch before him he located an inner door and -moved through it, heart leaping in sudden excitement at the sight.</p> - -<p>There, resting in solitary splendor atop a marble pillar in the center -of a vast hall, was the object which he had braved every conceivable -type of horror to obtain. Awed in spite of himself, he walked slowly -forward, eyes riveted in fascination on the gleaming prize.</p> - -<p>Then the spell was gone and he broke into a run, a shout of exultation -on his lips. He caught up the object from its pedestal and waved it -wildly overhead, brain enfevered by the triumph of the moment. He -brought the gleaming metal cylinder in front of his eyes and gazed at -it in rapture. Power. This represented more power than any man had -known, and plans for its use were already spinning in his brain.</p> - -<p>Something rustled dryly in the vacuum container. Powder; it was a -powder, rather than a liquid. The legend had erred on that point, -but the discrepancy was inconsequential. He peered eagerly at the -container, expecting to see the formula of the powder inscribed -thereon. There was none, but it did not disturb him. Chemists could -analyze the stuff and manufacture it.</p> - -<p>Flashing his light once more over the great hall to make certain he had -missed nothing, he strode buoyantly to the entrance and passed into the -small outer chamber, thrusting the container of powder in his tunic -pocket as he went.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Immediately a dazzling brilliance lit up the room. Varicolored lights -played about his head, blazed radiantly in his brain and etched every -cell in bold relief. Farr fell to his knees, throwing his arms over his -eyes in a vain effort to shut out the light. The torment in his mind -was unbearable, agonizing.</p> - -<p>The door! He had to make it to the door! Stumbling to his feet, he -propelled himself on unsteady legs to the entrance, hurtled through it -and down the temple steps, where he collapsed in a quivering, gasping -heap on the rocky valley floor.</p> - -<p>Another narrow escape! He could not guess the nature or effect of the -lights, but undoubtedly they had been meant to dispose of him in some -hellish fashion. Apparently he had sustained no injury, though his head -did feel peculiarly light.</p> - -<p>Shaking his head dizzily, Farr arose and felt in his pocket. The -cylindrical container was still there, and he breathed a rasping sigh -of relief. All that remained now was to return to his ship and rocket -Earthward, where his plans for the life secret would immediately be put -into effect.</p> - -<p>The <i>Mumums</i> brought up the rear now, apparently resigned to the fact -that their puny efforts to prevent the theft of the secret had failed. -Knowing that he would no longer be confronted by their unwinking gaze -was a comfort to Farr, and he moved quickly across the sweltering -valley.</p> - -<p>Moving rapidly as he was, he had no time to avoid crashing into the -towering wall of rock that loomed suddenly in his path. Strangely he -felt no pain as he clambered erect, but the very unexpectedness of the -collision stunned him, confusing his befuddled mind even more.</p> - -<p>There should be no wall here, yet here it was. Farr could not deny -that, though he could have sworn it had not been here when he entered -the canyon. There was nothing to do but walk around it.</p> - -<p>The cliff stretched a hundred yards to either side of him. He began -moving along it, a fierce anxiety to escape this infernal place beating -in his brain. The inscrutable <i>Mumums</i> followed, pattering along on -bare feet.</p> - -<p>He had covered what seemed like forty yards, when he stopped and stared -in puzzlement at the craggy precipice. He looked back along the wall, -then ahead, peered up at its dizzy heights, then down at its smooth -base. Color drained from his face and his shoulders slumped in defeat.</p> - -<p>He was beaten. Farr knew it. Knew too why that other adventurer had -never left the valley, why his brain was spinning and whirling like -a mad dervish. The ray in the temple—he could easily guess now what -it had done to him. For stone does not move of its own power, and the -cliff <i>had</i> moved. Its terminations still reared a hundred yards in -either direction from him!</p> - -<p>It was an illusion, that wall, an illusion conjured by his own -ray-impregnated mind. But for him it was real. He could spend eternity -walking along its face, yet never would he reach the end of the barrier.</p> - -<p>He watched dully as a <i>Mumum</i> scampered past and melted into the cliff. -Maddening to know that the wall existed only in his own mind. He tried -to concentrate, tried to nullify the terrible force that had invaded -his brain. If he could do that, the cliff-illusion would vanish.</p> - -<p>Veins stood out on his forehead with the effort; but the wall remained, -seemingly solid as ever to his touch. The ray-force was too powerful.</p> - -<p>Farr wanted to scream, wanted to hurl himself at the barrier and -pound and tear at it with all the wild energy of a trapped animal. -But he couldn't. His emotions were played out. He could only stand -like a burnt-out robot, his apathetic eyes following the antics of the -<i>Mumums</i> as they popped in and out of the wall-illusion, taunting him, -trying to drive him mad with the realization that only he could not -pass through it to freedom.</p> - -<p>The Ancients had triumphed. The life secret would remain in this -valley, eternally guarded by the ingenious ray that warped men's minds -and made them see illusions that to them were insuperable actualities. -Not until a Master Intellect claimed the heritage for the human race, -would it ever leave here.</p> - -<p>Farr was not that Master Intellect, and he knew what he must do now. -His blaster came slowly from its holster. He brought the gun to his -temple.</p> - -<p>His finger tightened on the trigger. White fire exploded in his brain, -cooking the cells, melting them. A last scream of defiance ripped from -Farr's lips, then his form went suddenly limp and crumpled to the -ground, to lay silent....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It was Londar's time to return the cylinder to the temple. Its contents -were worthless, he knew, but it was the Ancients' command that the -ritual be observed, so the pygmy-creature dutifully bent and retrieved -the gleaming container and walked slowly with it toward the brooding -edifice.</p> - -<p>To carry out his mission, Londar would be forced to pass through the -Great Lights, and Londar was afraid of the lights, much in the same way -savages of Earth fear the magic of witch doctors. But the intelligence -of the <i>Mumums</i> was slightly above that of savages, and Londar realized -in a vague way that the lights could not harm him, could not do the -things to him they had done to the black-haired man from the sky.</p> - -<p>For, long ago, he had swallowed several of the mysterious crystals -contained in the small silver tube swinging at his waist. The Ancients -had commanded him to do that and Londar had complied, as had all his -race, out of their great respect and love for the wise ones. The -Ancients were gone now, had vanished into the sky many seasons since. -But Londar and his people had lived on, ageless, undying, tirelessly -performing the strange duties assigned them by the masters.</p> - -<p>Some day, another great race would come, and Londar's people would -then surrender the silver tubes. The black-haired man might have been -the representative of such a race, but he had shown contempt for the -<i>Mumums</i> and had slain Kyrrad. That would not be the way of a true -people of supreme intellect.</p> - -<p>Londar walked on, the silvery tube fastened at his waist tinkling -musically in rhythm to his stride.</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUEST ON PHOEBE ***</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>This file should be named 64228-h.htm or 64228-h.zip</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in https://www.gutenberg.org/6/4/2/2/64228/</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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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