The Edge Of Beyond, page 14
`I think that's more than likely,' said the Professor, tartly. `To improve the mental condition of an entire population, which means changing its outlook on life, is not a task for one man but for many,' Multavo continued. 'Even then it would be a slow process over a long period. You would have many patients to deal with on Earth, I imagine.'
`I would say there are few men or women on Earth who do not suffer from one or more of the complaints named on these chairs,' said the Professor, lugubriously.
`But what you see here, and what you would see on our neighbours, should convince you that over a period of time, given the right equipment, something near perfection is possible. Are there any questions you would like to ask?'
`Yes,' answered the Professor. 'I have just thought of something. This talk of mental sickness reminds me that on our way here, in passing within the influence of the planet which Vargo calls Ardilla, we had a most uncomfortable experience. Do you know anything about the place?'
Multavo looked serious. 'All I can tell you is that it is a large planet, an old one and a dangerous one. I am glad we are no closer to it than we are. To the best of my knowledge no ship from this constellation has ever been there, but things have happened to give us food for thought.'
`Something certainly happened to us,' stated the Professor. `Vargo thinks we were affected by some sort of ray.'
`We have reason to believe that Ardilla has surrounded itself with a network of dangerous radiations. We have felt them as far away as this. When they occur we send out counter-radiations to neutralize them.'
`For the love of Mike!' exclaimed Tiger. 'Don't tell me that the Universe is faced with a war of rays?'
`It could happen.'
`But why are they doing this?' cried the Professor.
`We don't know.'
`Are they afraid of being attacked?'
`We have no information. The matter has been discussed here and we don't think that can be. the answer. Who would be likely to attack them? Certainly not us.'
`What conclusions did you arrive at?'
`We believe that their scientific knowledge proceeded like ours to a certain point and then took a wrong direction. Instead of using their knowledge as we did here, a bad man, or group of men, seized control. Good thoughts were stifled and evil ones encouraged.'
`What you mean is, they have invented an apparatus similar to yours but have used it in reverse.'
`That is what we think may have happened. What other answer can there be? It is certain that someone on Ardilla is a master of radiation and that he is using it with malicious intent. In those circumstances it is advisable to keep as far away as possible. There should be a limit to the effective range of this unpleasant device.'
`What if a ship, a stranger in this part of the Universe, should find itself within the sphere of these rays?' said the Professor, anxiously. 'One can't put up warning signals in space.'
`And we're accused of being frightful because we have atomic weapons,' put in Rex, bitterly.
`Well, there it is,' said Multavo, in a resigned voice. 'Nothing can be done. We shall not attack them but if they attempt to interfere with us we shall do our best to defend ourselves. We know something about dangerous radiations as well as useful ones. But tell me. What do you wish to do? Will you stay here? If so I will take you to the guest house reserved for visitors.'
`Nothing would please me more than to stay here and perhaps see something of your neighbours, but I think Vargo is anxious to return home,' replied the Professor.
`It is the crew,' explained Vargo. 'We did not set out with the intention of coming here and they fear their families will think they are lost. When they agreed to come I said we would not stay. Already they may be finding the waiting tedious.'
`But you need sleep.'
`There will be plenty of opportunity for that on the way home,' returned Vargo. 'We have a long way to go. We could return at some future time having made provision for a longer stay.'
`As you wish,' agreed Multavo. 'Keep clear of Ardilla.'
`We shall certainly do that,' declared Vargo.
`While we are on the subject there is one last question I would like to ask you,' said the Professor. 'It seems to me that it may be of vital importance. Do you happen to know if Ardilla has any ships? I ask because if the equipment which discharges these rays can be carried in them, the distance one keeps from their base would be of little or no importance.'
`You may assume they have ships.'
`But you've never actually seen one, or encountered one?'
`No but—'
`But what?'
`We have recently lost two ships in identical circumstances. There may be some connection between that and what we are talking about. In each case we received a signal from the captain reporting that he was in difficulties. A large, unidentified ship, was in the vicinity at the time.'
`And then what?'
`Silence. We heard no more. Our ships did not return.'
`Were they near Ardilla when they made their signals?'
`No. Actually, the second ship had gone out to look for the first, the position of which was known. It was thought it might have been cast away, through some technical fault, on one of the minor satellites that fringe our constellation.'
`Dear, dear,' murmured the Professor, looking at Multavo over his spectacles. 'Is there any defence against hostile rays?'
`The only certain defence against a hostile radiation is a more powerful one. Did you see anything of a red ship when you became aware of a sinister influence?'
`No,' answered Vargo. 'But we may not have been keeping a strict watch. We saw no reason for it. We'll take a roundabout course home and keep a sharper lookout.'
`It would be advisable,' said Multavo. 'Now, if you are ready, I'll take you to your ship.'
15 The red peril
It was with mixed feelings, some hours later, that Rex watched Terromagna falling away below. Their visit, he pondered, had been a memorable experience. The wonders they had seen had definitely proved what the Professor had always contended; that older worlds than Earth, given the right conditions, might be expected to have a civilization more advanced in outlook and scientific knowledge. The atmospheric and meteorological conditions on Terromagna were, and apparently always had been, as perfect as could be imagined, and they had seen the result.
What a strange thing was the call of home, he soliloquized, as he settled down to sleep. Why was its appeal so irresistible? The planet they had just left offered all that could be desired, but he had no wish to stay there. Not in any circumstances would he have become a permanent resident. That would be exile. Life on Earth had its discomforts and irritations, but it was home. There was no place like home. Why?
The same appeal operated on Earth, he mused. Home, to everyone, meant a certain spot in a certain town or village in a certain country, no matter how appalling the conditions there might appear to others. To the Eskimo his solitary frozen wastes were home. To the Toureg it was the sterile, blistering Sahara. Why did they stay there when almost any other spot on the globe offered a more comfortable way of life? Because it was home. The farther away one went the more attractive did home seem. Now, far out in the eternal spaces of the Universe, it was Earth that was home. With a million worlds from which to choose the only one that really stood for anything was Earth, with all its troubles and strife. Because it was home.
It was all very strange, brooded Rex. He had been anxious enough to accompany the expedition. Now he was just as keen to get home, with all its familiar sights and smells and noises. He hoped fervently there would be no difficulties, no delays, on the way. Earth was the place of his birth, and the sooner it came into sight, the better would he be pleased. He would be happy to see Mars loom up in the void, the planet for which he now had an affection, probably because he regarded it as a near neighbour.
What Multavo, with whom they had parted on the most cordial terms, had said about possible interception by a red ship, was a cause for anxiety rather than alarm. They had not been so molested on the way out so there was no reason to anticipate trouble on the way home. Strict watch was being kept. They could do no more.
The matter had of course been discussed at some length. Ardilla could be given a wide berth, but that would not ensure safety if the inhabitants roamed in space with their infernal rays. Toby had called them space-pirates, although that seemed hardly to fit the case, for pirates operated only for gain; it was not easy to see what was to be gained by destroying the ships of other planets.
It looked, the Professor had said, as if the day would come, if Ardilla persisted in its habits, when space travellers would have to protect themselves with counter-rays. It was the old business of guns, and bigger guns, all over again. In the matter of guns the Professor had made a joke of the sub-machine-gun Tiger had stowed in his baggage, saying he might as well have brought a bow and arrow.
Tiger had argued that he had never contemplated using the gun while in flight, if for no other reason than he could not imagine any circumstances for which it would be needed. It had been intended for use on the ground should they find themselves being attacked by creatures of flesh and blood. So far there had been no occasion to take it from its case.
The ship sped on. Rex, tired after the excitement of what he had seen on Terromagna, went to sleep.
He must have slept for some time, for when he was awakened by the sound of conversation the sky was back to its deep-space colour of midnight blue and Terromagna was no more than a crescent moon in the far distance of the Third Region. Which meant, he thought, that they were back in the Second Region. Seeing the others standing at a window on the far side, looking at and apparently discussing something of interest, he joined them.
`What's going on?' he wanted to know.
Tiger pointed at a shining speck of light speeding across an almost starless section of great void.
`A meteor,' surmised Rex, unthinkingly.
`How can it be a meteor? A meteor is only visible when there is an atmosphere to make it incandescent !' said the Professor. 'There is no star near to it to offer an atmosphere.'
`There might be a wandering area of loose gas,' suggested Rex, remembering that such things did occur.
`Had that been the answer the meteor would either have burnt itself out by now, or would have passed through the illuminating substance. We have been watching it for some time.'
`Then what do you think it is?'
Tiger answered. 'Vargo believes it to be another ship. Of course,' he added quickly, 'that doesn't necessarily mean that it's hostile. It might be one of our own.'
`On the rare occasions that I have seen a ship in distant space that is how it appeared,' offered Vargo.
`If it is a ship it may not see us, anyway,' said Rex, with a confidence he did not feel. He remembered the warning of the red ships of Ardilla, and had no doubt the same thought was in the minds of the others, although so far no one had voiced it.
`If we can see it they will be able to see us should they look this way,' stated Vargo, with what Rex thought was unnecessary candour.
`Are we doing anything about it?'
`There is nothing we can do,' put in Gator. 'We cannot hide. We cannot increase our velocity. All I can say is every second is taking us farther away from that accursed planet Ardilla. You can just see it from the other side of the ship.'
Rex crossed over and looked at it, no great distance from the Nebula of Andromeda it seemed to be, although he realized that might be deceptive. He returned to his seat to await developments, hoping there would be none. Presently he dozed.
He was awakened and brought to his feet at the same time by a sharp cry from Borron.
`What is it?' he asked, tersely, although he had already guessed.
`The ship,' said Borron. 'I can see it. It is following us.'
`I'm not surprised,' asserted Gator. For some time I have had difficulty in keeping the ship on its course. They are doing something to us.'
`They are doing something to me, too,' said Toby. 'Look at my hands.' He held them up. They were trembling violently.
Rex looked at his own hands. They were shaking. They felt stiff. He discovered he was stiff all over. The rays,' he gasped.
`Yes,' said the Professor, calmly. 'I'm afraid they have turned their confounded rays on us.'
`There is nothing we can do,' said Gator hopelessly.
Rex saw that his hands on the controls were white as though from strain.
`They are taking us where they want us to go,' went on Gator. And again he said : 'There is nothing we can do.'
`Isn't there?' grated Tiger. 'Where is this ship?' He then strode to the window through which Borron had been watching. Rex staggering over to him, caught his breath when he saw a huge red ship astern. It was less of a saucer shape than their own, having a higher central dome that gave it more of the appearance of a basin. It was still some distance away, but even as he watched it he could see it drawing nearer.
Tiger spun round and walked swiftly to the baggage. 'I'll show you if there is nothing we can do,' he said, grimly.
`What are you contemplating?' asked the Professor in a voice pitched high with alarm.
`We'll try them with a dose of this,' muttered Tiger, pulling out his gun and assembling it with feverish haste. 'The cartridges, Rex — quick.'
`Are you mad?' demanded the Professor.
`Possibly.'
`You have no right to use that gun.'
`Right! What has right to do with it? They're already shooting at us with their infernal rays.'
`You know I'm opposed to the use of force. The trouble with you soldiers—'
`When people shoot at me I shoot back.'
`But—'
`This is no time to argue,' shouted Tiger. 'You may be content to sit here doing nothing till you die like a rat in a trap, but I'm not. And I'm not thinking only of myself. This is going to happen to other people if it isn't stopped. If those hounds behind us are shown that there are some ships that can hit back they may be more careful in future. Tracer bullets, Rex.'
`But how can you use that weapon from inside the ship?'
`I'll show you.' Tiger began getting into his emergency air mask.
Vargo, Gator, Borron, and the entire ship's company were staring at Tiger in round-eyed amazement. They had never seen him behave like this before. Apart from that, not having seen the gun they must have wondered what its purpose was.
Tiger, with the gun loaded, faced Gator. 'Are you prepared to do as I tell you?'
`If you think it will save us, yes.'
`It may or it may not, but we shall certainly perish if we do nothing.'
`Very well.'
`I am going between the exit doors. Rex will close the inner door behind me. I shall open the outer door.'
`But—' remonstrated the Professor.
`There is no time to lose. These rays are already draining my strength. When I am between the doors count ten slowly and then either slow the ship or circle to bring me close to the red devil. Do you understand?'
`Yes. But the risk of collision?'
`If we collide we shall at least have the satisfaction of crashing these red murderers with us. All right. Let's see if rays can stop bullets. Come on, Rex.'
Tiger went to the door and opened it. He stepped into the exit chamber. Rex clamped the door behind him, convinced he would never see his father again. Feeling that he was choking he hurried to the nearest window. He could not see Tiger, and did not expect to, knowing he was inside the chamber with the outer door open. But he gasped with horror at the nearness of their pursuer. The red ship looked enormous against the empty background. It was closing in fast.
Would Tiger's plan work? He didn't know. It would depend on many things. The thickness and resistance of the enemy's metal skin. The awful thought struck him that Tiger, now fully exposed to the rays, might be stricken helpless before he could shoot.
He waited. Inside the ship a deathly hush had fallen. The situation was fast assuming the fanciful frightfulness of a nightmare.
The big red ship came on, weaving slightly as it plunged towards them. It was now less than half a mile away, its bright red shell glowing luridly as it caught the light of some distant sun. It looked like a monstrous bowl that had been dipped in blood. Rex knew it was still too far away for effective shooting; but not too far for its own noxious weapon.
He braced himself as Gator began to swing round in a colossal circle, which had the effect of bringing the two ships closer together, for the pursuer could cut across the arc. As it closed in faces could be seen at a long narrow window. Their own ship, which had for some time been vibrating, now began to rock and shake as if it might break up at any instant. Why, with the end so obviously near, didn't Tiger shoot? Was he helpless? Already out of action before he could fire a shot?
The suspense became intolerable. 'Shoot, Guv'nor, shoot,' screamed Rex, unable to bear it any longer.
It almost seemed as if Tiger had heard his despairing cry, although that was of course impossible. A curving stream of tracer bullets flashed across the gap between the two ships. It looked like a chain of fire joining them together. Rex held his breath. He could see the shots striking the ship. As far as he could judge they had no effect. The bullets stopped. That meant that either Tiger was down or he was reloading.
He breathed again as another stream of tracers leapt across the void, the range lengthening as the red ship seemed to fall away. Rex saw its window shatter. The faces disappeared. Whether or not the red ship was still under control he had no means of knowing but it had obviously had enough. So swift became its departure that in a few short seconds it was no more than a spark of light, falling — falling — falling. He watched it until it faded from sight.
