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+
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #64230 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64230)
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-The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Venus Evil, by Chester S. Geier
-
-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: The Venus Evil
-
-Author: Chester S. Geier
-
-Release Date: January 07, 2021 [eBook #64230]
-
-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 THE VENUS EVIL ***
-
-
-
-
-                            THE VENUS EVIL
-
-                          By Chester S. Geier
-
-             In the sweet Venusian spring, when iridescent
-            butterflies swarmed and deer-things scampered,
-                  it was both necessary and good for
-                 Richard Farris to kill George Pearce.
-
-           [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.]
-
-
-In my mind the memory is still painful and raw, like a wound that has
-refused to heal. I have only to close my eyes to see Pearce leaping
-toward me, his face a twisted mask of fear and rage. And I can feel
-the machine-pistol jerking in my hand as a stream of tungsten-steel
-pellets stopped his maddened rush, washing away all motion and
-expression in the utter quiescence of death.
-
-Yes, I killed George Pearce, whom the world will remember as one of
-its greatest chemical scientists and one of the three members of the
-ill-fated first expedition to Venus. I _had_ to kill him.
-
-To explain the circumstances which led to it requires that I start
-at the beginning. Police authorities have ordered me to make this
-statement as clear and detailed as possible.
-
-Everyone recalls the furor created by the privately sponsored launching
-of the first rocket to Mars, which beat by several months a government
-project aimed at the same goal. The government rocket blew up a short
-distance beyond the Heaviside Layer, but a little over a year and
-a half later the privately-owned space vessel returned. And a new
-furor was aroused, not so much by the fact that the expedition had
-successfully returned as that it brought back a large fortune in gold,
-platinum, and gems. The explorers as well as their backers were each
-made financially independent for the rest of their lives.
-
-Man's natural cupidity was excited to fever pitch. The planets were no
-longer regarded as milestones on the road to scientific knowledge, but
-as store houses brimming with fabulous treasures. More rockets were
-hastily launched by various groups in different countries, but the
-attempts were defeated by the very impatience which inspired them. The
-rockets, too quickly and inefficiently constructed, exploded soon after
-leaving Earth, or, if they reached outer space at all, were never heard
-from again.
-
-It was this state of affairs that prevailed when Anson Durwent finished
-the construction of the _Solarian_. A scientific genius made wealthy by
-various patents, he built the vessel entirely out of his own funds. Nor
-were his motives those of amassing further wealth, for the conditions
-which he set were that the _Solarian_ was to conduct a true voyage
-of exploration, and that any profits arising from the discovery of
-precious metals or minerals were to be divided equally among everyone
-involved in the expedition.
-
-The crew of the _Solarian_ consisted of George Pearce, Barton Sandley,
-and myself, Richard Farris. Three or less was the usual number on these
-early rockets, due to the demands upon space made by fuel, food,
-and equipment. Pearce was the chemist and captain of the expedition,
-Sandley the biologist and photographer, and I the physicist and pilot.
-
-None of the excitement produced by interplanetary ventures was
-attendant upon our takeoff. Only a few newscasters whom Durwent had
-notified at the very last minute were present. And these were bored by
-something which had become mere routine, and were plainly skeptical of
-our chances for success.
-
-Our objective was the mysterious, cloud-covered planet Venus. It was
-an obvious choice, since it was the nearest planet to Earth other than
-Mars, and as far as we knew had not yet been reached.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-I shall not detail the long flight through space, monotonous after
-the first novelties had died. But it is necessary to record that the
-interminable months and the restricted confines of the ship produced
-a strain upon our nerves that led to frequent, heated quarrels over
-the most trivial matters. It is certain that the effect upon our minds
-caused a serious unbalance, explaining many of the irrational actions
-which we made later.
-
-The landing upon the surface of Venus was the most difficult part of
-the voyage. I brought the ship down through the miles-deep layer of
-clouds like a blind man groping for obstructions in an unfamiliar room.
-Once under the clouds, however, our progress was easier. I forgot my
-exhaustion in a surge of renewed eagerness for exploration.
-
-After a short discussion between Pearce, Sandley, and myself, it was
-agreed to take an aerial reconnaissance before landing. I sent the
-_Solarian_ into a slow cruise over the surface, while Sandley busied
-himself with the special cameras and Pearce began taking samples of the
-atmosphere.
-
-Venus proved to be a wild and fantastic world. To picture it in any
-great detail is impossible. It was too vast, too different. My mind
-retains only a sort of montage of turbulent seas dotted with immense
-islands, mighty jagged mountains, and endless lush sprawling jungles
-in unearthly yellow and green hues. And it seemed to exude an aura of
-vibrant youth, a kind of primeval grandeur.
-
-We saw no cities, buildings, or other indications of the existence of
-intelligent beings. I don't believe we expected to find any. On Mars
-there had been only incalculably ancient ruins, long since crumbled
-into dust. Mars had been too old for a civilized race, as Venus was too
-young.
-
-Our survey quickly showed that an island on one part of the planet was
-as wild and rugged as an island on another, so that a landing site
-could be chosen haphazardly for all the difference it made. We selected
-a relatively clear area in a great valley on one of the islands that
-happened to be under us at the time, and I brought the _Solarian_ to
-rest. Only then did I realize how tired I was.
-
-Pearce, rechecking his initial tests of the atmosphere, reported that
-the carbon dioxide content was not as high as had been expected. We
-would be able to venture from the ship without the necessity of wearing
-oxygen helmets. The lighter gravity of Venus, lessening muscular effort
-and thereby the need for deep or quick breathing, would be an aiding
-factor.
-
-We didn't leave the ship immediately, however. Like myself, Pearce and
-Sandley had become aware upon landing of being exhausted, and it was
-agreed to sleep first. Later we ate, and then arming ourselves with
-machine-pistols and various pieces of scientific equipment, we unsealed
-the port and stepped out upon the surface of Venus.
-
-It was warm and humid, but not oppressively so. The air seemed
-strangely heavy to our lungs, laden with a host of rich, exotic odors.
-There was a deep, somnolent quiet, broken at intervals by faint pipings
-and twitterings from unseen creatures that might have been birds. A
-warm, soft wind stirred the vivid foliage of queer trees and shrubs at
-the edges of the clearing.
-
-Sandley murmured, "Not bad at all. Eden must have been a little like
-this."
-
-Pearce shrugged. "Maybe--but we'd better keep in mind that this is a
-strange world. There may be dangers here of which we know nothing as
-yet."
-
-With this admonition prominent in our thoughts, we got to work, setting
-up our equipment, analyzing samples and making notes. The days that
-followed were more or less a repetition of this. We were constantly on
-the alert at first and seldom wandered very far from the ship. But as
-we encountered no inimical life forms, either plant or animal, we were
-gradually encouraged to roam further and further beyond the clearing.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-Sandley was busy with his camera, when not otherwise occupied with
-biological studies. He was often gone for hours at a time. I was thrown
-much in Pearce's company, since my work was frequently connected in
-various ways with his.
-
-"I wonder if we'll turn up anything, like they did on the Mars
-expedition," Pearce said one day, gazing about him with a narrow,
-speculative look.
-
-I asked, "How do you mean?"
-
-"Stuff that will bring money back on Earth," Pearce said. "Gold, for
-example."
-
-For some reason which I couldn't explain just then, I found myself
-clutching eagerly at the thought. "It's possible," I said. "We've
-hardly scratched the surface as yet."
-
-Pearce gazed searchingly at me for a moment. Finally he asked, "What
-was your motive for accompanying this expedition, Farris? To advance
-the cause of science? Or what?"
-
-"Why ... to get some profit out of it." The reason which had puzzled me
-was suddenly clear. I recalled abruptly the hopes and dreams I'd had,
-overlooked in the wonders of exploration.
-
-Pearce nodded. "Exactly. And the same applies to me." His tone became
-bitter. "Being famous in your chosen line of work is nice, but it
-doesn't buy you much. At least, it doesn't buy the things that really
-matter. Newscast blurbs, banquet invitations, and honorary memberships
-hardly provide the fancy style of living they suggest. Awards and
-prizes are too small and too far between to build a complete, private
-laboratory."
-
-I said, "And that's what you want?"
-
-"That's what I intend to get, somehow," Pearce said. He studied me
-again. "What about you, Farris? What's your ambition?"
-
-"Financial independence, mainly. There are certain ideas that I'd like
-to work on. I'd never get the time or the money while earning a living
-as assistant to a man like Durwent."
-
-"Then this might be the chance we both need. If we could turn up
-something valuable, like the Mars explorers did...." Pearce nibbled
-his lip, frowning intently over the thought. Abruptly he grabbed my
-arm. "Farris, we've got to find something! Look--suppose we forget
-the scientific side of the expedition? Suppose we make it an outright
-treasure hunt?"
-
-"Venus is big," I said doubtfully. "And our supplies won't last
-forever. If we fail to find anything, the scientific data we'd gather
-would give us something to capitalize on."
-
-We didn't discuss the matter further, for just then Sandley returned
-from one of his photographing jaunts. He seemed greatly excited.
-
-"Just discovered a new form of life," he announced triumphantly. "Saw
-the creatures at a distance, but from what I was able to make out, they
-look something like overgrown butterflies. Had large, brightly colored
-wings, anyway. Have to catch a specimen." Sandley's spectacled, owlish
-features turned puzzled. "Can't understand why I haven't noticed the
-creatures before. Seem to have appeared only recently."
-
-"Where were you?" Pearce asked.
-
-"Near the upper end of the valley. It's rocky there, with lots of ore
-outcroppings. Might contain valuable elements. You fellows ought to go
-with me next time."
-
-"We'll do that," Pearce said. He glanced at me significantly.
-
-We went with Sandley the following day. We took along our
-machine-pistols, a few pieces of light equipment, and some food.
-Sandley, of course, had his camera. It was the first time that Pearce
-and I had gone any great distance from the ship, and we were more than
-ordinarily uneasy. But the possibility that we might discover ores or
-minerals of value was too tempting to resist.
-
-We moved through a deep quiet, broken only by occasional twitters or
-trills. We caught frequent glimpses of the creatures emitting the
-sounds as they fluttered among the branches of the vivid, unearthly
-trees. They resembled birds in a way, having feathered wings, but their
-bodies were lizard-like and covered with bright, rainbow-hued scales.
-And several times animals bounded from our path that looked like
-nothing so much as tiny deer. These seemed to be quite numerous.
-
-The vegetation gradually thinned out as the ground became increasingly
-rocky. Ahead of us loomed the rugged, precipitous ascent of the
-valley's upper end.
-
-Sandley stopped, peering about him. "This is the place." Abruptly he
-pointed. "There--the butterfly-creatures! See them?"
-
-Pearce and I followed the direction of his finger. Against the mottled
-gray wall of the ascent, a number of bright shapes fluttered. As we
-watched, they drifted slowly toward us, circling aimlessly. We were
-able presently to see them in clearer detail. I stared as a realization
-of something strange struck into me. I heard Pearce gasp.
-
-For the butterfly-creatures were not insects, or anything even remotely
-resembling them. Nor were they a strange form of animal life. They were
-_things_, utterly alien and weird.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-Imagine large, irregularly-shaped pieces of thin paper fluttering
-through the air, each being creased in the middle, the two halves
-flapping like the wings of a butterfly. The things were remarkably like
-that. But they were alive in some incredible way, and their actions
-seemed purposeful, directed. They looked delicate and fragile, almost
-unsubstantial, mere veils of prismatic light. And they possessed a
-bizarre, unearthly beauty. As they circled high overhead, occasionally
-dipping toward us in what might have been curiosity, their wings
-shimmered and pulsed in a hypnotic play of rainbow color.
-
-The butterfly-creatures--to call them that for want of a better
-name--did not come near us. They continued to spiral high overhead, as
-though we at once attracted and puzzled them.
-
-Sandley unlimbered his camera and began taking pictures of the things.
-Pearce and I, recalling the motive that had brought us there, gradually
-moved away, searching the ground for promising bits of rock and
-crystal. We were intent on our quest, and wandered quite a distance.
-Before long, we found ourselves among the tumbled boulders at the foot
-of the ascent.
-
-As I searched the rocky debris between the boulders, a reddish glitter
-caught my eye. It came from a small crystalline object half hidden
-in the gravel. I bent curiously to pick it up--and a thrill of
-incredulous delight flashed through me. For the object was a great
-jewel, roughly oval, faceted, and a deep ruby red. It was exquisitely
-beautiful, yet totally unlike anything that had ever been found on
-Earth. It did not just reflect light, but glowed with a soft, steady
-radiance of its own. Glorious rose and scarlet shades pulsed and
-swirled within it, in a never-ending play of patterns and hues that was
-fascinating to watch.
-
-I held the gem in my hand for a long moment, staring at it, a little
-numbed. My find seemed much too good to be true. It was almost as if a
-kindly god had granted a hopeless wish.
-
-I thought suddenly of Pearce, and motion returned to me. Pearce had
-moved some distance up the ascent. It took a moment to locate him
-behind the boulders which had hidden him from view.
-
-Pearce was bending over in an intent scrutiny of the ground. As he
-caught the sound of my approach, he straightened sharply and one of his
-hands flashed behind his back as though to hide something from view. I
-was too wrapped up in the news of my discovery, however, to pay much
-attention to his actions just then.
-
-"Look at what I've found," I told him, holding out the gem in my palm.
-
-Pearce failed to look surprised. He grinned in an embarrassed sort of
-way, and brought his hand from behind his back. Cupped within it were
-two gems similar to mine.
-
-"Found a couple myself," he said. "I was so excited that I must have
-forgotten where I was. When I heard you coming, my first thought was to
-hide them."
-
-It seemed a strangely weak explanation. I realized that Pearce's
-consuming desire for financial gain had warped his sense of ethics.
-His action of a moment before had been nothing more or less than a
-conscious, deliberate effort to conceal his find. He had abandoned
-secrecy only after he knew that I had made an identical discovery.
-I made a mental note to be on guard. Pearce had given sufficient
-indication that he would not play entirely fair in the future.
-
-He grinned eagerly in what might have been an attempt to cover up the
-awkwardness of the situation. "Farris, these gems are going to bring
-money back on Earth. They're unusual, not like the ordinary kinds
-brought back by the Mars explorers."
-
-I shrugged. "The money won't be enough to do us much good unless we can
-find more of the gems. Remember, any profits we make have to be split
-four ways, counting Sandley and Durwent."
-
-"I'm certain that we'll find more," Pearce said. "I've found two,
-and you one. If that's any indication, there should be a lot of them
-scattered around. Come on, Farris, let's look."
-
-I nodded in renewed eagerness, and we began the search. A disinterested
-observer might have found our actions comical as we probed with
-anxious, almost frantic, haste among the boulders. It didn't seem funny
-to us, of course. We had speculated more or less constantly during the
-entire voyage over the possibility of locating a source of wealth on
-Venus, and this was our chance. No, it wasn't funny at all. It was very
-real, and clear, and logical.
-
-I don't know how much time passed. I was too absorbed in my search to
-pay much heed to anything else.
-
-At intervals, I found three more gems. Each find came at a point when I
-was about ready to give up, spurring me on to new efforts. I might have
-continued indefinitely if Pearce hadn't suddenly called my name.
-
-His voice was tense, insistent. Something important seemed to have
-happened.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-When I rejoined Pearce, he pointed silently down the ascent, in
-the direction from which we had come. His features were startled,
-bewildered, a little frightened. My own face must have registered
-similar feelings at what I saw.
-
-Beyond the boulders at the foot of the ascent, one of the tiny
-deer-like animals that we frequently saw lay sprawled on the ground.
-Several butterfly-creatures rested motionlessly upon its body. A
-short distance away stood another of the deer-like animals, literally
-surrounded by the butterfly things. It was as still as though
-frozen, its great eyes distended and staring. And the wings of the
-butterfly-creatures hovering about it were moving in a slow, hypnotic
-rhythm. I thought of the snakes of Earth which captured birds by
-charming them through similar movements, and realized that somewhat the
-same thing was happening here.
-
-As I watched, the deer-like animal abruptly fell on its side and lay
-without moving. Like vultures swooping down on a victim, the butterfly
-things settled upon it. They seemed in some obscure way to be ...
-_feeding_.
-
-I glanced in consternation at Pearce. "What do you suppose it's all
-about?"
-
-He moved his shoulders uneasily. "I don't know any more than you do.
-But I think we'd better look into this. And it might not be wise to let
-those things get too close."
-
-Presently, the butterfly-creatures rose once more into the air and
-fluttered away. The deer-like animals, though, lay very still.
-
-Pearce gestured, and I followed him to the scene. Only a short
-examination of the two deer-like animals was necessary to show what had
-happened to them. They were dead. There wasn't so much as a mark upon
-the sleek skin of their bodies--but they were dead.
-
-Pearce and I stared at each other. And then a chilling thought struck
-me.
-
-"Sandley!" I gasped. "We haven't heard anything from him for hours. Do
-you suppose...?"
-
-Pearce didn't answer. He turned and began running toward where we had
-last seen Sandley. I hurried after him, anxiety a sick ache inside me.
-
-Slipping and sliding over loose rocks and gravel, we at last emerged
-from behind the line of tumbled boulders and reached level ground. We
-didn't see Sandley at once. He had obviously moved from where we had
-left him. Then I noticed a small cloud of butterfly-creatures hovering
-over something on the ground about a hundred yards or so down the
-boulder line. An outstretched leg, all that was visible to us from
-where we stood, provided identification. It was Sandley.
-
-Heedless of danger, Pearce and I rushed forward. When we reached
-Sandley, the last of what must originally have been a horde of
-butterfly-creatures was leaving his motionless form. We were too late.
-Our terrible knowledge hadn't come soon enough.
-
-In an abrupt, overwhelming fury, I pointed my machine-pistol at the
-fluttering demons and sent a stream of pellets into their midst. The
-force of the barrage would have cut a man in two, but the things didn't
-seem to be affected in the slightest way. The pellets went through them
-as though they were no more solid than shadows.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-The things made no move toward Pearce and myself, but continued to
-circle aimlessly overhead. They seemed too sated from whatever ghastly
-feast they had made upon Sandley to be interested in us just then.
-Having made certain of this, Pearce and I performed a quick examination
-of Sandley, which confirmed what we already knew--that he was dead. And
-there wasn't a mark upon him.
-
-Keeping a close watch upon the butterfly things, Pearce and I gave
-Sandley a hasty burial. Then I wrapped his belongings in my shirt, and
-together Pearce and I ran back to the ship. It wasn't until the port
-had been shut behind us that I felt safe.
-
-I prepared a light meal, which Pearce and I ate in brooding silence.
-Finally Pearce said, "What I can't understand is why the butterfly
-things should have attacked Sandley. It isn't logical for the life
-forms of one world to prey upon the life forms of another. There are
-too many differences."
-
-"I've been thinking about that myself," I answered. "The solution
-seems to be that the butterfly-creatures feed upon something common to
-all life forms--the mysterious electrical force that gives matter the
-peculiar property of being alive."
-
-Pearce shrugged, and after a moment his face brightened. "Anyway, we
-now have one less to divide with." He reached into a pocket, placing
-upon the table seven of the large crimson gems. I added the four that I
-had found, and for some seconds we gazed dreamily at our hoard.
-
-"People on Earth are going to fight like mad to own one of these gems,"
-Pearce said softly. "By selling the gems slowly, playing one buyer
-against another, our profits will be plenty big."
-
-I nodded. "It won't make us very popular, but the end justifies the
-means."
-
-"I wish we had some means of protection against those butterfly things,
-so that we could look for more of the gems," Pearce said. "They're
-dangerous, and we don't seem to be able to harm them."
-
-"We could move the ship over to the ascent," I suggested. "Then it
-would be near enough for us to jump in whenever any of the things got
-too close."
-
-Pearce grinned in delight. "That's the answer!"
-
-I moved the ship the next day. The stratagem worked satisfactorily
-enough, enabling us to find almost a dozen more of the crimson jewels.
-But the need for constant watchfulness proved to be an increasing
-strain upon our nerves. And the number of the butterfly-creatures
-seemed to be growing. It seemed to be a season for the things, as late
-Spring brings the appearance of butterflies on Earth.
-
-At last our treasure hunt became too dangerous to continue. The
-butterfly-creatures were too numerous, and in addition the gems had
-grown too hard to find. Pearce and I decided on one last trip, and this
-on his own argumentative insistence.
-
-It was during that final search that I made the discovery which led
-to Pearce's death. I'd been probing among the rocks for an hour or
-so, meanwhile keeping a wary eye upon a group of butterfly-creatures
-circling in the sky some distance away. Suddenly I detected the
-telltale, reddish glitter of a gem. As I reached for it, a thin,
-tinkling sound startled me. I jerked erect, my senses flaring in alarm.
-But I saw nothing near me that indicated danger, and reached once more
-for the gem.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-The next instant I leaped frantically to my feet and ran into the ship,
-which rested nearby. I slammed shut the port, and leaned against it,
-breathing harshly from my exertions and from fright at the narrowness
-of my escape. Like the pieces of a puzzle falling together, something
-became horribly clear to me. And I knew suddenly just what I had to do.
-
-From the box in which Pearce and I had kept them, I took the gems.
-Then I left the ship, first having made certain that none of the
-butterfly-creatures were near, and with a large rock pounded each and
-every one of the gems to bits.
-
-I was finishing this task when Pearce returned. He stared at me and
-asked:
-
-"Why, what in the world have you been doing?"
-
-I pulled my machine-pistol from its holster, pointed it at him, and
-explained. I couldn't have taken any chances with Pearce. I knew what
-his reaction would be. I wasn't wrong.
-
-He seemed to go mad. His face darkened with a terrible, overwhelming
-fury. "Lies! All lies!" he shrieked. "It's just a plot to trick me out
-of my share."
-
-I tried to reason with him, but he wouldn't listen to me. He shouted
-down my attempts with unspeakable profanity. My machine-pistol was the
-only thing that kept him from tearing at me like an insensate beast.
-
-I was trying to get Pearce to calm down when several
-butterfly-creatures suddenly darted toward us. They had evidently been
-circling nearer and nearer while we talked, seizing the opportunity
-presented by our inattention.
-
-My eyes jerked to the things instinctively--and as I did so, Pearce
-leaped toward me. In pure reaction, I squeezed the trigger. The
-stream of tungsten-steel pellets stopped him like a wall. Even if
-I'd had the time to deliberate consciously over whether or not to
-shoot, it wouldn't have ended any other way. For if Pearce had reached
-me, a struggle would have followed which would have enabled the
-butterfly-creatures to attack us.
-
-Just an instant ahead of the butterfly-creatures, I jumped into the
-ship and sealed the port. After resting for a while, I set out on the
-return to Earth.
-
-[Illustration: _I jumped into the ship and sealed the port._]
-
-I told the authorities my story in full, holding nothing back. They
-asked me to make this statement for their official records. There are,
-of course, no charges against me. I should not have admitted to killing
-Pearce had I been guilty of a crime. But I fear that the shadow of
-suspicion will lay over me until another expedition returns from Venus
-and verifies my words.
-
-And in late Spring, when the cocoons open and the butterflies emerge,
-I will always think of a similar season on Venus, when a similar event
-occurs. When the crimson gems break open with a thin, tinkling sound,
-and the exquisite, deadly butterfly-creatures flutter forth....
-
-*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VENUS EVIL ***
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-<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Venus Evil, by Chester S. Geier</div>
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-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
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-at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you
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-country where you are located before using this eBook.
-</div>
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-<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Venus Evil</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Chester S. Geier</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: January 07, 2021 [eBook #64230]</div>
-
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-
-<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VENUS EVIL ***</div>
-
-<div class="titlepage">
-
-<h1>THE VENUS EVIL</h1>
-
-<h2>By Chester S. Geier</h2>
-
-<p>In the sweet Venusian spring, when iridescent<br />
-butterflies swarmed and deer-things scampered,<br />
-it was both necessary and good for<br />
-Richard Farris to kill George Pearce.</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>In my mind the memory is still painful and raw, like a wound that has
-refused to heal. I have only to close my eyes to see Pearce leaping
-toward me, his face a twisted mask of fear and rage. And I can feel
-the machine-pistol jerking in my hand as a stream of tungsten-steel
-pellets stopped his maddened rush, washing away all motion and
-expression in the utter quiescence of death.</p>
-
-<p>Yes, I killed George Pearce, whom the world will remember as one of
-its greatest chemical scientists and one of the three members of the
-ill-fated first expedition to Venus. I <i>had</i> to kill him.</p>
-
-<p>To explain the circumstances which led to it requires that I start
-at the beginning. Police authorities have ordered me to make this
-statement as clear and detailed as possible.</p>
-
-<p>Everyone recalls the furor created by the privately sponsored launching
-of the first rocket to Mars, which beat by several months a government
-project aimed at the same goal. The government rocket blew up a short
-distance beyond the Heaviside Layer, but a little over a year and
-a half later the privately-owned space vessel returned. And a new
-furor was aroused, not so much by the fact that the expedition had
-successfully returned as that it brought back a large fortune in gold,
-platinum, and gems. The explorers as well as their backers were each
-made financially independent for the rest of their lives.</p>
-
-<p>Man's natural cupidity was excited to fever pitch. The planets were no
-longer regarded as milestones on the road to scientific knowledge, but
-as store houses brimming with fabulous treasures. More rockets were
-hastily launched by various groups in different countries, but the
-attempts were defeated by the very impatience which inspired them. The
-rockets, too quickly and inefficiently constructed, exploded soon after
-leaving Earth, or, if they reached outer space at all, were never heard
-from again.</p>
-
-<p>It was this state of affairs that prevailed when Anson Durwent finished
-the construction of the <i>Solarian</i>. A scientific genius made wealthy by
-various patents, he built the vessel entirely out of his own funds. Nor
-were his motives those of amassing further wealth, for the conditions
-which he set were that the <i>Solarian</i> was to conduct a true voyage
-of exploration, and that any profits arising from the discovery of
-precious metals or minerals were to be divided equally among everyone
-involved in the expedition.</p>
-
-<p>The crew of the <i>Solarian</i> consisted of George Pearce, Barton Sandley,
-and myself, Richard Farris. Three or less was the usual number on these
-early rockets, due to the demands upon space made by fuel, food,
-and equipment. Pearce was the chemist and captain of the expedition,
-Sandley the biologist and photographer, and I the physicist and pilot.</p>
-
-<p>None of the excitement produced by interplanetary ventures was
-attendant upon our takeoff. Only a few newscasters whom Durwent had
-notified at the very last minute were present. And these were bored by
-something which had become mere routine, and were plainly skeptical of
-our chances for success.</p>
-
-<p>Our objective was the mysterious, cloud-covered planet Venus. It was
-an obvious choice, since it was the nearest planet to Earth other than
-Mars, and as far as we knew had not yet been reached.</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>I shall not detail the long flight through space, monotonous after
-the first novelties had died. But it is necessary to record that the
-interminable months and the restricted confines of the ship produced
-a strain upon our nerves that led to frequent, heated quarrels over
-the most trivial matters. It is certain that the effect upon our minds
-caused a serious unbalance, explaining many of the irrational actions
-which we made later.</p>
-
-<p>The landing upon the surface of Venus was the most difficult part of
-the voyage. I brought the ship down through the miles-deep layer of
-clouds like a blind man groping for obstructions in an unfamiliar room.
-Once under the clouds, however, our progress was easier. I forgot my
-exhaustion in a surge of renewed eagerness for exploration.</p>
-
-<p>After a short discussion between Pearce, Sandley, and myself, it was
-agreed to take an aerial reconnaissance before landing. I sent the
-<i>Solarian</i> into a slow cruise over the surface, while Sandley busied
-himself with the special cameras and Pearce began taking samples of the
-atmosphere.</p>
-
-<p>Venus proved to be a wild and fantastic world. To picture it in any
-great detail is impossible. It was too vast, too different. My mind
-retains only a sort of montage of turbulent seas dotted with immense
-islands, mighty jagged mountains, and endless lush sprawling jungles
-in unearthly yellow and green hues. And it seemed to exude an aura of
-vibrant youth, a kind of primeval grandeur.</p>
-
-<p>We saw no cities, buildings, or other indications of the existence of
-intelligent beings. I don't believe we expected to find any. On Mars
-there had been only incalculably ancient ruins, long since crumbled
-into dust. Mars had been too old for a civilized race, as Venus was too
-young.</p>
-
-<p>Our survey quickly showed that an island on one part of the planet was
-as wild and rugged as an island on another, so that a landing site
-could be chosen haphazardly for all the difference it made. We selected
-a relatively clear area in a great valley on one of the islands that
-happened to be under us at the time, and I brought the <i>Solarian</i> to
-rest. Only then did I realize how tired I was.</p>
-
-<p>Pearce, rechecking his initial tests of the atmosphere, reported that
-the carbon dioxide content was not as high as had been expected. We
-would be able to venture from the ship without the necessity of wearing
-oxygen helmets. The lighter gravity of Venus, lessening muscular effort
-and thereby the need for deep or quick breathing, would be an aiding
-factor.</p>
-
-<p>We didn't leave the ship immediately, however. Like myself, Pearce and
-Sandley had become aware upon landing of being exhausted, and it was
-agreed to sleep first. Later we ate, and then arming ourselves with
-machine-pistols and various pieces of scientific equipment, we unsealed
-the port and stepped out upon the surface of Venus.</p>
-
-<p>It was warm and humid, but not oppressively so. The air seemed
-strangely heavy to our lungs, laden with a host of rich, exotic odors.
-There was a deep, somnolent quiet, broken at intervals by faint pipings
-and twitterings from unseen creatures that might have been birds. A
-warm, soft wind stirred the vivid foliage of queer trees and shrubs at
-the edges of the clearing.</p>
-
-<p>Sandley murmured, "Not bad at all. Eden must have been a little like
-this."</p>
-
-<p>Pearce shrugged. "Maybe&mdash;but we'd better keep in mind that this is a
-strange world. There may be dangers here of which we know nothing as
-yet."</p>
-
-<p>With this admonition prominent in our thoughts, we got to work, setting
-up our equipment, analyzing samples and making notes. The days that
-followed were more or less a repetition of this. We were constantly on
-the alert at first and seldom wandered very far from the ship. But as
-we encountered no inimical life forms, either plant or animal, we were
-gradually encouraged to roam further and further beyond the clearing.</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>Sandley was busy with his camera, when not otherwise occupied with
-biological studies. He was often gone for hours at a time. I was thrown
-much in Pearce's company, since my work was frequently connected in
-various ways with his.</p>
-
-<p>"I wonder if we'll turn up anything, like they did on the Mars
-expedition," Pearce said one day, gazing about him with a narrow,
-speculative look.</p>
-
-<p>I asked, "How do you mean?"</p>
-
-<p>"Stuff that will bring money back on Earth," Pearce said. "Gold, for
-example."</p>
-
-<p>For some reason which I couldn't explain just then, I found myself
-clutching eagerly at the thought. "It's possible," I said. "We've
-hardly scratched the surface as yet."</p>
-
-<p>Pearce gazed searchingly at me for a moment. Finally he asked, "What
-was your motive for accompanying this expedition, Farris? To advance
-the cause of science? Or what?"</p>
-
-<p>"Why ... to get some profit out of it." The reason which had puzzled me
-was suddenly clear. I recalled abruptly the hopes and dreams I'd had,
-overlooked in the wonders of exploration.</p>
-
-<p>Pearce nodded. "Exactly. And the same applies to me." His tone became
-bitter. "Being famous in your chosen line of work is nice, but it
-doesn't buy you much. At least, it doesn't buy the things that really
-matter. Newscast blurbs, banquet invitations, and honorary memberships
-hardly provide the fancy style of living they suggest. Awards and
-prizes are too small and too far between to build a complete, private
-laboratory."</p>
-
-<p>I said, "And that's what you want?"</p>
-
-<p>"That's what I intend to get, somehow," Pearce said. He studied me
-again. "What about you, Farris? What's your ambition?"</p>
-
-<p>"Financial independence, mainly. There are certain ideas that I'd like
-to work on. I'd never get the time or the money while earning a living
-as assistant to a man like Durwent."</p>
-
-<p>"Then this might be the chance we both need. If we could turn up
-something valuable, like the Mars explorers did...." Pearce nibbled
-his lip, frowning intently over the thought. Abruptly he grabbed my
-arm. "Farris, we've got to find something! Look&mdash;suppose we forget
-the scientific side of the expedition? Suppose we make it an outright
-treasure hunt?"</p>
-
-<p>"Venus is big," I said doubtfully. "And our supplies won't last
-forever. If we fail to find anything, the scientific data we'd gather
-would give us something to capitalize on."</p>
-
-<p>We didn't discuss the matter further, for just then Sandley returned
-from one of his photographing jaunts. He seemed greatly excited.</p>
-
-<p>"Just discovered a new form of life," he announced triumphantly. "Saw
-the creatures at a distance, but from what I was able to make out, they
-look something like overgrown butterflies. Had large, brightly colored
-wings, anyway. Have to catch a specimen." Sandley's spectacled, owlish
-features turned puzzled. "Can't understand why I haven't noticed the
-creatures before. Seem to have appeared only recently."</p>
-
-<p>"Where were you?" Pearce asked.</p>
-
-<p>"Near the upper end of the valley. It's rocky there, with lots of ore
-outcroppings. Might contain valuable elements. You fellows ought to go
-with me next time."</p>
-
-<p>"We'll do that," Pearce said. He glanced at me significantly.</p>
-
-<p>We went with Sandley the following day. We took along our
-machine-pistols, a few pieces of light equipment, and some food.
-Sandley, of course, had his camera. It was the first time that Pearce
-and I had gone any great distance from the ship, and we were more than
-ordinarily uneasy. But the possibility that we might discover ores or
-minerals of value was too tempting to resist.</p>
-
-<p>We moved through a deep quiet, broken only by occasional twitters or
-trills. We caught frequent glimpses of the creatures emitting the
-sounds as they fluttered among the branches of the vivid, unearthly
-trees. They resembled birds in a way, having feathered wings, but their
-bodies were lizard-like and covered with bright, rainbow-hued scales.
-And several times animals bounded from our path that looked like
-nothing so much as tiny deer. These seemed to be quite numerous.</p>
-
-<p>The vegetation gradually thinned out as the ground became increasingly
-rocky. Ahead of us loomed the rugged, precipitous ascent of the
-valley's upper end.</p>
-
-<p>Sandley stopped, peering about him. "This is the place." Abruptly he
-pointed. "There&mdash;the butterfly-creatures! See them?"</p>
-
-<p>Pearce and I followed the direction of his finger. Against the mottled
-gray wall of the ascent, a number of bright shapes fluttered. As we
-watched, they drifted slowly toward us, circling aimlessly. We were
-able presently to see them in clearer detail. I stared as a realization
-of something strange struck into me. I heard Pearce gasp.</p>
-
-<p>For the butterfly-creatures were not insects, or anything even remotely
-resembling them. Nor were they a strange form of animal life. They were
-<i>things</i>, utterly alien and weird.</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>Imagine large, irregularly-shaped pieces of thin paper fluttering
-through the air, each being creased in the middle, the two halves
-flapping like the wings of a butterfly. The things were remarkably like
-that. But they were alive in some incredible way, and their actions
-seemed purposeful, directed. They looked delicate and fragile, almost
-unsubstantial, mere veils of prismatic light. And they possessed a
-bizarre, unearthly beauty. As they circled high overhead, occasionally
-dipping toward us in what might have been curiosity, their wings
-shimmered and pulsed in a hypnotic play of rainbow color.</p>
-
-<p>The butterfly-creatures&mdash;to call them that for want of a better
-name&mdash;did not come near us. They continued to spiral high overhead, as
-though we at once attracted and puzzled them.</p>
-
-<p>Sandley unlimbered his camera and began taking pictures of the things.
-Pearce and I, recalling the motive that had brought us there, gradually
-moved away, searching the ground for promising bits of rock and
-crystal. We were intent on our quest, and wandered quite a distance.
-Before long, we found ourselves among the tumbled boulders at the foot
-of the ascent.</p>
-
-<p>As I searched the rocky debris between the boulders, a reddish glitter
-caught my eye. It came from a small crystalline object half hidden
-in the gravel. I bent curiously to pick it up&mdash;and a thrill of
-incredulous delight flashed through me. For the object was a great
-jewel, roughly oval, faceted, and a deep ruby red. It was exquisitely
-beautiful, yet totally unlike anything that had ever been found on
-Earth. It did not just reflect light, but glowed with a soft, steady
-radiance of its own. Glorious rose and scarlet shades pulsed and
-swirled within it, in a never-ending play of patterns and hues that was
-fascinating to watch.</p>
-
-<p>I held the gem in my hand for a long moment, staring at it, a little
-numbed. My find seemed much too good to be true. It was almost as if a
-kindly god had granted a hopeless wish.</p>
-
-<p>I thought suddenly of Pearce, and motion returned to me. Pearce had
-moved some distance up the ascent. It took a moment to locate him
-behind the boulders which had hidden him from view.</p>
-
-<p>Pearce was bending over in an intent scrutiny of the ground. As he
-caught the sound of my approach, he straightened sharply and one of his
-hands flashed behind his back as though to hide something from view. I
-was too wrapped up in the news of my discovery, however, to pay much
-attention to his actions just then.</p>
-
-<p>"Look at what I've found," I told him, holding out the gem in my palm.</p>
-
-<p>Pearce failed to look surprised. He grinned in an embarrassed sort of
-way, and brought his hand from behind his back. Cupped within it were
-two gems similar to mine.</p>
-
-<p>"Found a couple myself," he said. "I was so excited that I must have
-forgotten where I was. When I heard you coming, my first thought was to
-hide them."</p>
-
-<p>It seemed a strangely weak explanation. I realized that Pearce's
-consuming desire for financial gain had warped his sense of ethics.
-His action of a moment before had been nothing more or less than a
-conscious, deliberate effort to conceal his find. He had abandoned
-secrecy only after he knew that I had made an identical discovery.
-I made a mental note to be on guard. Pearce had given sufficient
-indication that he would not play entirely fair in the future.</p>
-
-<p>He grinned eagerly in what might have been an attempt to cover up the
-awkwardness of the situation. "Farris, these gems are going to bring
-money back on Earth. They're unusual, not like the ordinary kinds
-brought back by the Mars explorers."</p>
-
-<p>I shrugged. "The money won't be enough to do us much good unless we can
-find more of the gems. Remember, any profits we make have to be split
-four ways, counting Sandley and Durwent."</p>
-
-<p>"I'm certain that we'll find more," Pearce said. "I've found two,
-and you one. If that's any indication, there should be a lot of them
-scattered around. Come on, Farris, let's look."</p>
-
-<p>I nodded in renewed eagerness, and we began the search. A disinterested
-observer might have found our actions comical as we probed with
-anxious, almost frantic, haste among the boulders. It didn't seem funny
-to us, of course. We had speculated more or less constantly during the
-entire voyage over the possibility of locating a source of wealth on
-Venus, and this was our chance. No, it wasn't funny at all. It was very
-real, and clear, and logical.</p>
-
-<p>I don't know how much time passed. I was too absorbed in my search to
-pay much heed to anything else.</p>
-
-<p>At intervals, I found three more gems. Each find came at a point when I
-was about ready to give up, spurring me on to new efforts. I might have
-continued indefinitely if Pearce hadn't suddenly called my name.</p>
-
-<p>His voice was tense, insistent. Something important seemed to have
-happened.</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>When I rejoined Pearce, he pointed silently down the ascent, in
-the direction from which we had come. His features were startled,
-bewildered, a little frightened. My own face must have registered
-similar feelings at what I saw.</p>
-
-<p>Beyond the boulders at the foot of the ascent, one of the tiny
-deer-like animals that we frequently saw lay sprawled on the ground.
-Several butterfly-creatures rested motionlessly upon its body. A
-short distance away stood another of the deer-like animals, literally
-surrounded by the butterfly things. It was as still as though
-frozen, its great eyes distended and staring. And the wings of the
-butterfly-creatures hovering about it were moving in a slow, hypnotic
-rhythm. I thought of the snakes of Earth which captured birds by
-charming them through similar movements, and realized that somewhat the
-same thing was happening here.</p>
-
-<p>As I watched, the deer-like animal abruptly fell on its side and lay
-without moving. Like vultures swooping down on a victim, the butterfly
-things settled upon it. They seemed in some obscure way to be ...
-<i>feeding</i>.</p>
-
-<p>I glanced in consternation at Pearce. "What do you suppose it's all
-about?"</p>
-
-<p>He moved his shoulders uneasily. "I don't know any more than you do.
-But I think we'd better look into this. And it might not be wise to let
-those things get too close."</p>
-
-<p>Presently, the butterfly-creatures rose once more into the air and
-fluttered away. The deer-like animals, though, lay very still.</p>
-
-<p>Pearce gestured, and I followed him to the scene. Only a short
-examination of the two deer-like animals was necessary to show what had
-happened to them. They were dead. There wasn't so much as a mark upon
-the sleek skin of their bodies&mdash;but they were dead.</p>
-
-<p>Pearce and I stared at each other. And then a chilling thought struck
-me.</p>
-
-<p>"Sandley!" I gasped. "We haven't heard anything from him for hours. Do
-you suppose...?"</p>
-
-<p>Pearce didn't answer. He turned and began running toward where we had
-last seen Sandley. I hurried after him, anxiety a sick ache inside me.</p>
-
-<p>Slipping and sliding over loose rocks and gravel, we at last emerged
-from behind the line of tumbled boulders and reached level ground. We
-didn't see Sandley at once. He had obviously moved from where we had
-left him. Then I noticed a small cloud of butterfly-creatures hovering
-over something on the ground about a hundred yards or so down the
-boulder line. An outstretched leg, all that was visible to us from
-where we stood, provided identification. It was Sandley.</p>
-
-<p>Heedless of danger, Pearce and I rushed forward. When we reached
-Sandley, the last of what must originally have been a horde of
-butterfly-creatures was leaving his motionless form. We were too late.
-Our terrible knowledge hadn't come soon enough.</p>
-
-<p>In an abrupt, overwhelming fury, I pointed my machine-pistol at the
-fluttering demons and sent a stream of pellets into their midst. The
-force of the barrage would have cut a man in two, but the things didn't
-seem to be affected in the slightest way. The pellets went through them
-as though they were no more solid than shadows.</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>The things made no move toward Pearce and myself, but continued to
-circle aimlessly overhead. They seemed too sated from whatever ghastly
-feast they had made upon Sandley to be interested in us just then.
-Having made certain of this, Pearce and I performed a quick examination
-of Sandley, which confirmed what we already knew&mdash;that he was dead. And
-there wasn't a mark upon him.</p>
-
-<p>Keeping a close watch upon the butterfly things, Pearce and I gave
-Sandley a hasty burial. Then I wrapped his belongings in my shirt, and
-together Pearce and I ran back to the ship. It wasn't until the port
-had been shut behind us that I felt safe.</p>
-
-<p>I prepared a light meal, which Pearce and I ate in brooding silence.
-Finally Pearce said, "What I can't understand is why the butterfly
-things should have attacked Sandley. It isn't logical for the life
-forms of one world to prey upon the life forms of another. There are
-too many differences."</p>
-
-<p>"I've been thinking about that myself," I answered. "The solution
-seems to be that the butterfly-creatures feed upon something common to
-all life forms&mdash;the mysterious electrical force that gives matter the
-peculiar property of being alive."</p>
-
-<p>Pearce shrugged, and after a moment his face brightened. "Anyway, we
-now have one less to divide with." He reached into a pocket, placing
-upon the table seven of the large crimson gems. I added the four that I
-had found, and for some seconds we gazed dreamily at our hoard.</p>
-
-<p>"People on Earth are going to fight like mad to own one of these gems,"
-Pearce said softly. "By selling the gems slowly, playing one buyer
-against another, our profits will be plenty big."</p>
-
-<p>I nodded. "It won't make us very popular, but the end justifies the
-means."</p>
-
-<p>"I wish we had some means of protection against those butterfly things,
-so that we could look for more of the gems," Pearce said. "They're
-dangerous, and we don't seem to be able to harm them."</p>
-
-<p>"We could move the ship over to the ascent," I suggested. "Then it
-would be near enough for us to jump in whenever any of the things got
-too close."</p>
-
-<p>Pearce grinned in delight. "That's the answer!"</p>
-
-<p>I moved the ship the next day. The stratagem worked satisfactorily
-enough, enabling us to find almost a dozen more of the crimson jewels.
-But the need for constant watchfulness proved to be an increasing
-strain upon our nerves. And the number of the butterfly-creatures
-seemed to be growing. It seemed to be a season for the things, as late
-Spring brings the appearance of butterflies on Earth.</p>
-
-<p>At last our treasure hunt became too dangerous to continue. The
-butterfly-creatures were too numerous, and in addition the gems had
-grown too hard to find. Pearce and I decided on one last trip, and this
-on his own argumentative insistence.</p>
-
-<p>It was during that final search that I made the discovery which led
-to Pearce's death. I'd been probing among the rocks for an hour or
-so, meanwhile keeping a wary eye upon a group of butterfly-creatures
-circling in the sky some distance away. Suddenly I detected the
-telltale, reddish glitter of a gem. As I reached for it, a thin,
-tinkling sound startled me. I jerked erect, my senses flaring in alarm.
-But I saw nothing near me that indicated danger, and reached once more
-for the gem.</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>The next instant I leaped frantically to my feet and ran into the ship,
-which rested nearby. I slammed shut the port, and leaned against it,
-breathing harshly from my exertions and from fright at the narrowness
-of my escape. Like the pieces of a puzzle falling together, something
-became horribly clear to me. And I knew suddenly just what I had to do.</p>
-
-<p>From the box in which Pearce and I had kept them, I took the gems.
-Then I left the ship, first having made certain that none of the
-butterfly-creatures were near, and with a large rock pounded each and
-every one of the gems to bits.</p>
-
-<p>I was finishing this task when Pearce returned. He stared at me and
-asked:</p>
-
-<p>"Why, what in the world have you been doing?"</p>
-
-<p>I pulled my machine-pistol from its holster, pointed it at him, and
-explained. I couldn't have taken any chances with Pearce. I knew what
-his reaction would be. I wasn't wrong.</p>
-
-<p>He seemed to go mad. His face darkened with a terrible, overwhelming
-fury. "Lies! All lies!" he shrieked. "It's just a plot to trick me out
-of my share."</p>
-
-<p>I tried to reason with him, but he wouldn't listen to me. He shouted
-down my attempts with unspeakable profanity. My machine-pistol was the
-only thing that kept him from tearing at me like an insensate beast.</p>
-
-<p>I was trying to get Pearce to calm down when several
-butterfly-creatures suddenly darted toward us. They had evidently been
-circling nearer and nearer while we talked, seizing the opportunity
-presented by our inattention.</p>
-
-<p>My eyes jerked to the things instinctively&mdash;and as I did so, Pearce
-leaped toward me. In pure reaction, I squeezed the trigger. The
-stream of tungsten-steel pellets stopped him like a wall. Even if
-I'd had the time to deliberate consciously over whether or not to
-shoot, it wouldn't have ended any other way. For if Pearce had reached
-me, a struggle would have followed which would have enabled the
-butterfly-creatures to attack us.</p>
-
-<p>Just an instant ahead of the butterfly-creatures, I jumped into the
-ship and sealed the port. After resting for a while, I set out on the
-return to Earth.</p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-  <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/>
-  <div class="caption">
-    <p><i>I jumped into the ship and sealed the port.</i></p>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-
-<p>I told the authorities my story in full, holding nothing back. They
-asked me to make this statement for their official records. There are,
-of course, no charges against me. I should not have admitted to killing
-Pearce had I been guilty of a crime. But I fear that the shadow of
-suspicion will lay over me until another expedition returns from Venus
-and verifies my words.</p>
-
-<p>And in late Spring, when the cocoons open and the butterflies emerge,
-I will always think of a similar season on Venus, when a similar event
-occurs. When the crimson gems break open with a thin, tinkling sound,
-and the exquisite, deadly butterfly-creatures flutter forth....</p>
-
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