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of pent-up, terror-ridden inner desires and secret ambitions. Ed.
Two hours they heard of the most eloquent raving that ever passed a scientist s lips. A dying genius,
declaring himself to be the master mind of the world!
Allison listened in awe; Smitt snatched at every word of information; June, with her practical turn of mind,
seized pencil and paper and captured the flow of words in shorthand.
For the fever-stricken slave master was at last the glorified figure he had always dreamed of being. He
was host to the world s leading scientists. They were evidently circled around him, and his maniacal eyes
glittered upon them as he talked. His delusion was complete.
He commanded them to carry him through his laboratories from top to bottom while he lectured upon
their wonders. All through his ravings, he acted as though his delusions were being carried out to the
letter. He extracted promises that they would never reveal his magnificent secrets to the rabble from the
earth, nor to the world tourists who might come to this place.
He began with the robot ship s controls, followed through the power plant, started through the
shops and then, in a burst of rage over imagined enemies from the earth, he collapsed. A minute later,
the amazingly brilliant, incredible evil Kilhide passed on to the eternity for which his whole life had been a
fitting preparation.
WITH the aid of gas masks, Allison, Smitt and three other men had rebuilt the doors across the death
caves. They had needed something to do, they said, while they counted off the days of waiting for the
robot ship s final return trip for its last load. Only ten persons remained to go. Today was the day.
June and Allison strolled along the clean streets, surveying the strangely quiet world. All signs of the war
were gone. The air was fresh. The waterfalls and rivulets gushed with lively music that seemed more
melodious, now that there were no harsh Dazzalox voices.
Strangely, in the many days that had passed since the fighting and the invisible death took their toll, not a
single living Dazzalox had been found. In a sense, Allison thought, the women had won a complete
victory.
But tears often came to June s eyes as she thought of Jo-jo-kak s widow and the curious friendship that
had grown up between them.
I m sorry we couldn t have saved her life, said Allison.
But she wouldn t have been happy living on, after her civilization was gone, June replied. It is just as
well.
Allison smiled at her curiously. Somehow she had reconciled her feelings to the insane violence the
women had committed.
But I understand how they felt, said June, reading his thoughts. It wouldn t be much fun to live after
you ve lost all faith in your own civilization.
There was something deep and serious in her dark eyes that Allison appreciated.
You have some pretty big thoughts for such a young girl, he said. Were you thinking things like this
when you ran away from home? Perhaps you had lost faith in your own civilization, too.
And if I had, she answered, what would you suggest?
Come, said Allison, taking her hand. I ll answer that one when we reach the top of this stairs.
They climbed the winding steps to the balcony where, not so many weeks ago, they had first kissed.
They looked across to other torch-lighted mansions of the silent, uninhabited city. They saw Smitt and
Mary strolling along the street below them.
Elsewhere, they knew, three other couples who had lingered to take the last boat back to earth were also
enjoying the quiet romantic atmosphere of this lost world.
You were going to suggest said June.
That if we don t feel the call of our old civilization too strongly, said Allison, we might all stay here and
build a new civilization of our own.
Make our homes here? June crept closer into Allison s arms and there was a bewitching eagerness in
her dark eyes an eagerness for new adventures concerned with life, not death.
Allison kissed her. For a time no word was spoken.
We five men have been studying the machines, Allison said presently. Kilhide has left us the foundation
for marvelous developments. In time we ll come to appreciate him more after we ve forgotten what
kind of person he was.
The girl in Allison s arms shuddered slightly.
But Kilhide s science isn t civilization, Allison went on. At least, it isn t everything. There have to be
people that want to live together honest, genuine people like you and Smitt and Mary
I CAN name the other seven by heart, said June, smiling up at him as if to help him with his pretty
speech.
I saw to it that only these five couples would be left for the last load, Allison said. Right now the other
four men are asking their sweethearts, just as I m asking you, whether they would be willing to marry and
stay right here.
The other four girls will say yes, June answered with a faint twinkle in her eyes. I know, because
they ve talked and dreamed and planned every hour while their men were out rebuilding the doors.
Then, said Allison softly, drawing the girl tighter in his arms, why not make it unanimous?
The End.
Notes and proofing history
Scanned by an anonymous benefactor with preliminary proofing by A\NN/A January 26th, 2008 v1.0
from the original source: Amazing Stories, June, 1940 This is the first story in the Lester Allison
series.The other two stories are: Battering Rams of Space (Amazing, February 1941)and Earth
Stealers (Amazing, June 1943) [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl freetocraft.keep.pl
of pent-up, terror-ridden inner desires and secret ambitions. Ed.
Two hours they heard of the most eloquent raving that ever passed a scientist s lips. A dying genius,
declaring himself to be the master mind of the world!
Allison listened in awe; Smitt snatched at every word of information; June, with her practical turn of mind,
seized pencil and paper and captured the flow of words in shorthand.
For the fever-stricken slave master was at last the glorified figure he had always dreamed of being. He
was host to the world s leading scientists. They were evidently circled around him, and his maniacal eyes
glittered upon them as he talked. His delusion was complete.
He commanded them to carry him through his laboratories from top to bottom while he lectured upon
their wonders. All through his ravings, he acted as though his delusions were being carried out to the
letter. He extracted promises that they would never reveal his magnificent secrets to the rabble from the
earth, nor to the world tourists who might come to this place.
He began with the robot ship s controls, followed through the power plant, started through the
shops and then, in a burst of rage over imagined enemies from the earth, he collapsed. A minute later,
the amazingly brilliant, incredible evil Kilhide passed on to the eternity for which his whole life had been a
fitting preparation.
WITH the aid of gas masks, Allison, Smitt and three other men had rebuilt the doors across the death
caves. They had needed something to do, they said, while they counted off the days of waiting for the
robot ship s final return trip for its last load. Only ten persons remained to go. Today was the day.
June and Allison strolled along the clean streets, surveying the strangely quiet world. All signs of the war
were gone. The air was fresh. The waterfalls and rivulets gushed with lively music that seemed more
melodious, now that there were no harsh Dazzalox voices.
Strangely, in the many days that had passed since the fighting and the invisible death took their toll, not a
single living Dazzalox had been found. In a sense, Allison thought, the women had won a complete
victory.
But tears often came to June s eyes as she thought of Jo-jo-kak s widow and the curious friendship that
had grown up between them.
I m sorry we couldn t have saved her life, said Allison.
But she wouldn t have been happy living on, after her civilization was gone, June replied. It is just as
well.
Allison smiled at her curiously. Somehow she had reconciled her feelings to the insane violence the
women had committed.
But I understand how they felt, said June, reading his thoughts. It wouldn t be much fun to live after
you ve lost all faith in your own civilization.
There was something deep and serious in her dark eyes that Allison appreciated.
You have some pretty big thoughts for such a young girl, he said. Were you thinking things like this
when you ran away from home? Perhaps you had lost faith in your own civilization, too.
And if I had, she answered, what would you suggest?
Come, said Allison, taking her hand. I ll answer that one when we reach the top of this stairs.
They climbed the winding steps to the balcony where, not so many weeks ago, they had first kissed.
They looked across to other torch-lighted mansions of the silent, uninhabited city. They saw Smitt and
Mary strolling along the street below them.
Elsewhere, they knew, three other couples who had lingered to take the last boat back to earth were also
enjoying the quiet romantic atmosphere of this lost world.
You were going to suggest said June.
That if we don t feel the call of our old civilization too strongly, said Allison, we might all stay here and
build a new civilization of our own.
Make our homes here? June crept closer into Allison s arms and there was a bewitching eagerness in
her dark eyes an eagerness for new adventures concerned with life, not death.
Allison kissed her. For a time no word was spoken.
We five men have been studying the machines, Allison said presently. Kilhide has left us the foundation
for marvelous developments. In time we ll come to appreciate him more after we ve forgotten what
kind of person he was.
The girl in Allison s arms shuddered slightly.
But Kilhide s science isn t civilization, Allison went on. At least, it isn t everything. There have to be
people that want to live together honest, genuine people like you and Smitt and Mary
I CAN name the other seven by heart, said June, smiling up at him as if to help him with his pretty
speech.
I saw to it that only these five couples would be left for the last load, Allison said. Right now the other
four men are asking their sweethearts, just as I m asking you, whether they would be willing to marry and
stay right here.
The other four girls will say yes, June answered with a faint twinkle in her eyes. I know, because
they ve talked and dreamed and planned every hour while their men were out rebuilding the doors.
Then, said Allison softly, drawing the girl tighter in his arms, why not make it unanimous?
The End.
Notes and proofing history
Scanned by an anonymous benefactor with preliminary proofing by A\NN/A January 26th, 2008 v1.0
from the original source: Amazing Stories, June, 1940 This is the first story in the Lester Allison
series.The other two stories are: Battering Rams of Space (Amazing, February 1941)and Earth
Stealers (Amazing, June 1943) [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]