The Death Rays Of Ardilla, page 1
1 Visitors at Glensalich
The time was nearly midnight.
The silence that had persisted for some time in the library of Glensalich Castle, the remote Highland home of the wealthy and eccentric scientist-inventor Professor Lucius Brane, was broken by a tap on the door, which opened to admit the Professor's confidential butler.
The Professor looked up. 'Yes, Judkins? What is it?'
`There are two gentlemen to see you, sir.'
`Indeed? At this hour! Who are they?'
`One is Mr Vargo, of Mars, who assures me that the gentleman with him, a Mr Multavo of the planet Terromagna, is well known to you,' stated Judkins imperturbably.
The Professor dropped the book he had been reading. `Bless my soul! Vargo, yes; but what could have brought Multavo all the way from Terromagna? Please show them in at once.'
As the butler retired, the Professor, lowered his chin and looked over his glasses at his companions, Group-Captain `Tiger' Clinton, his son Rex, and Doctor 'Toby' Paul.
`I am always happy to see our good friends from beyond the — er — horizon, but I have an uncomfortable feeling that such a call as this, without warning, can only mean disturbing news. However, we shall soon know.' The Professor stood up to receive his guests.
Judkins returned with the visitors from space, and having shown them into the room, withdrew.
`Come in, my dear fellows,' greeted the Professor, warmly. `This is an unexpected pleasure. Be seated and make yourselves at home.'
The Martian, Vargo Lentos, advanced and shook hands all round —a trifle awkwardly — smiling at this display of his knowledge of the Earthly custom. He was dressed in the uniform of the Minoan Remote Survey Fleet, close fitting jacket with short skirt, and cross-laced sandals. Multavo, clad in the official red and white habit of a scientist-doctor on Terromagna, followed his example.
`Where have you just come from?' inquired the Professor. Vargo answered in his clear, thin, precise voice, 'From Mino, but we called at Mars on the way.'
`And what brings you here? We did not show the signal lights to bring you down.'
`Excuse me a moment while I get my breath,' requested Vargo. 'I still find your atmosphere heavy and your gravity tiring.' He breathed deeply and slowly.
`Not bad news, I hope?' questioned the Professor, anxiously.
`I dropped in to see if you could let me have one or two packets of tea,' answered Vargo.
`Tea!' exclaimed Rex, incredulously. 'Have you come all the way from Mars for some tea?'
`That was one of the reasons.' The visitor smiled apologetically. 'Your refreshing beverage has I fear the insidious quality of being habit-forming. Now, deprived of it when you are not with us, I miss it. As you know, we have no substitute.'
`We left you all we had with us at the conclusion of our last voyage,' said the Professor.
`You did, but I regret to say it has all gone,' informed Vargo sadly. `Borron, Gator, and the rest of my crew, demanded their share, for they also have become addicts. Now Multavo has acquired a taste for what is, if I may say so without offence, one of the best things you have introduced to us from Earth.'
`Where are the others now?'
`They are with the ship, on the hill.' Vargo's luminous eyes glowed mischievously. 'We didn't want you to think there had been an invasion so I brought only Multavo to the house. He was most anxious to see you again.'
The Professor touched a bell at his elbow.
Judkins appeared.
`Please make a large pot of tea,' requested the Professor. `And bring in all the packets of tea we have in store. Remember to order more.'
`It shall be as you say, sir.' Judkins went out.
`Had I realized that our tea had become such a necessity for you I would have signalled you down to collect a supply,' the Professor told Vargo. 'I see no reason why we shouldn't introduce the living plant to your home planetoid, although it is not unlikely that in different conditions it will change its character somewhat. No matter. The next time we visit we will bring an ample supply of the dried leaf in case the plants fail to thrive.'
`Thank you,' acknowledged Vargo.
`When you leave I'll take a large jug to the ship so that all on board can have a cup,' promised Rex. 'I'd like to see the others, anyway, while they're here.'
Judkins brought in the tray, and when everyone had been served Vargo said: We mustn't stay long. I know you always have a little fear that someone may see the ship.'
`That is true,' admitted the Professor.
`Why do you have that fear?' inquired Multavo, curiously. The Professor's eyebrows went up. 'So you have learned to speak our language.'
`Yes. From Vargo, and the book of English grammar you lent him. I found it a very simple language to learn although some of the vowel sounds are a little difficult to pronounce. But you haven't answered my question.'
`I would rather our world did not know the truth — yet,' stated the Professor. 'You see, by a singular weakness in popular intelligence it is customary here to call anyone who thinks on original lines a crank, a liar or a lunatic. Believe it or not, there are still people who are unable to grasp the fact that Earth is round. Proof that Earth is not the only man-occupied planet could have far-reaching results. We are not ready for that.'
`But I understood that some of your people are beginning to suspect it.'
`True, but suspicion and positive fact are not the same thing. Confirmation that there are older worlds than ours, further advanced in science, culture and philosophy, might well throw everything here into a state of confusion. Our mental hospitals are full already.'
`I understand your scientists have already succeeded in splitting the — what do you call it — atom?'
`Yes, but they have not yet learned how to use this knowledge properly. They think they are clever, and so in some respects they are; but I fear it is a case of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing, for now they are divided in their opinions as to what should be the next step, and people are alarmed that should they make a mistake they might blow the world to pieces.'
`It could happen,' said Multavo, seriously. 'Indeed, it has happened elsewhere.'
`The latest marvel is the launching of artificial satellites which will orbit the earth at what is thought to be a staggering speed of eighteen thousand miles an hour.'
Multavo smiled tolerantly. 'It would take me a long time to get back to Terromagna at that snail's pace.'
`Even so, the ordinary people cannot grasp such a figure, so how could I hope to convey to them the velocity of the ships in which we have travelled? By the way, what ship brought you here?'
`The Tavona. Gator still commands her,' answered Vargo. `But now we must be going.'
`Before we go, tell me this, Professor, for I am rather puzzled,' said Multavo. 'Surely you have people here with sufficient imagination to project your own scientific development a few years?'
`A few years, perhaps, but not ten thousand, still less a hundred thousand.'
`I doubt if anyone could visualize interstellar television such as we saw on Terromagna,' put in Rex.
`You will come to that in time, for it is no more than a continuation of the knowledge you already hold,' asserted Multavo. `To you, inventions like television, are still wonderful, but to more highly developed planets they would be commonplace. The danger of progress lies in trying to do too much at once. So it is with these bombs you are always making. Too much of your energy is being expended on engines of destruction. What you are doing can only shorten human life, if it does not end it abruptly. You are not alone in this, of course. Ardilla is behaving in much the same way, although in a different direction. Actually, that is why I happen to be here tonight.'
Vargo explained. `Multavo wanted a holiday. He decided to take it at his old home, on Mino. Knowing the danger of approaching too near that sinister planet Ardilla he made a wide detour, but even so, the ship in which he was travelling nearly fell a victim to one of the red interceptors. Having got to Mino, where of course he met me, he is now faced with the problem of getting back to Terromagna.'
Multavo took up the story. 'I was aware of the risks. Ardilla is putting out a veritable barrage of rays. A stranger from beyond the Third Region who called on us told us that all ships in their section of the Universe have been warned to keep well clear of Ardilla. One of their ships, after sending out a signal that it was being tracked by a red stranger, failed to return to its base.'
`That nearly happened to us,' said the Professor, seriously.
`So Vargo has told me. This is causing Terromagna considerable anxiety. We are not exactly helpless, but we have no wish to be involved in an interplanetary war,' explained Multavo.
The Professor shook his head. 'It is a melancholy thought that even in the Outer Universe a civilized people can be destroyed by an unscrupulous aggressor. Thus has it been on Earth, and doubtless on other planets. Now it seems that even worlds threaten war on each other. Is it to be the fate of planets, that have learned to abhor war, to be exterminated by others who covet their land? Has anyone ever been to Ardilla — I mean, landed there?'
`Not to my knowledge,' answered Multavo.
`Has anyone offered to help you overcome this peril?'
`Who can help? What sort of help could anyone offer? The unfortunate thing is that almost everyone travelling in the Third Region must pass through the orbit of Ardilla; and that, as we now know, is to court disaster. To attack Ardilla might precipitate the enemy into ou r own constellation, perhaps even into your Solar System.'
`Someone should face up to this problem,' declared the Professor. 'As you all know, I am a man of peace; but to ignore a friend in need is common behaviour in the lower orders of animals, which are concerned only in their own survival regardless of what may happen to others of their kind. Civilized beings should rise above that.'
`Now wait a minute, Professor,' put in Toby, suspiciously. `I hope you're not getting any funny notions about going to the rescue of Terromagna.
The Professor looked at Multavo. 'What are you, personally, doing about this?'
`Frankly, nothing. Naturally, I would like to get back to Terromagna, but I hesitate to risk the lives of the men in the ship that took me to Mino. We were debating the problem with Vargo, Gator his captain and his old navigator, Borron, when word came through from the Mino High Council that Vargo could make this dangerous mission if he wished. That is, if nothing was heard of the missing ship within a short time.'
The Professor frowned. 'What mission? What missing ship?' He looked at Vargo. 'You told me you came here for some tea,' he accused.
`That was true. At least, it was one of the reasons. But it is also true that I wanted to see you, perhaps for the last time, before making a voyage from which I may not return. Multavo, being with me expressed a wish to see Earth and how you lived here, so I brought him along.'
`Ah!' breathed the Professor. 'Now we are getting nearer to the root of this little jaunt. Why didn't you tell me about this proposed trip of yours at once, Vargo?'
`I had not intended to tell you and would not have done so had not Multavo — what is your expression? — let the cats out of the bags.'
`Why didn't you want me to know?' challenged the Professor, reproachfully.
`Because I was afraid you would want to come with me.'
`Well, and what was wrong with that? Don't you like us any more?'
`You know better than that. I did not see why you should risk your lives trying to help someone you do not even know. Now we had better return to the Tavona, to —'
`Sit still,' interrupted the Professor, sternly. 'You are not going off like that. Now we know so much we must know the rest. We might even have to come to look for you. There is no hurry. It won't be daylight for a long time yet. Have another cup of tea and tell us what you intend to do, and why.'
`Very well,' agreed Vargo, in a resigned voice. 'But please don't feel under any obligation to—'
`We shall make our own decisions,' stated the Professor, firmly. 'Proceed.'
`The facts, which are simple, are these,' said Vargo. 'They concern a planet which we call Petroconda. It is fairly large in size, nearly as large as Mars, and although we have known of it for a long time it remains something of a mystery.'
`Where is this planet?' asked the Professor.
`In terms of space travel it is no great distance away, lying in the direction of, but beyond, Arcadia —which you have visited.'
`What's the mystery about it?'
`If I knew that, it wouldn't be a mystery. As far as climate and atmosphere are concerned it would appear to be an attractive place. The air is similar to our own so spacesuits would not be required for a landing. The climate is warm. Even the nights are temperate. There appears also to be a certain amount of plant life, the ground being almost entirely covered with a long coarse grass. There is reason to believe there is no animal life.'
`Have you been there?' asked Rex.
`No.'
`Then how do you know these details?'
`The answer to that question will arise in a moment,' replied Vargo. 'Because of its favourable geographical position it was decided recently by the High Council that a thorough survey should be made. I must make it clear that a good deal of information had been gathered by direct observation, but at the time of which I am speaking no one we know had landed there. The High Council detailed a team of four picked men of the Special Fleet to make the survey. One of these men was an old and highly valued friend of mine, by the name of Quantos. Do I make myself clear?'
`Perfectly,' replied the Professor.
`In accordance with our usual practice on such flights everything possible was provided to ensure the safety of the explorers; emergency rations, a big reserve supply of air, medical supplies, and, perhaps most important, one of our latest long-distance radio installations, both for transmitting and receiving. Not that it was thought these things would be needed. There were no known dangers, but as you know, on unknown worlds anything can happen, and the precautions I have described were really no more than our usual procedure in making such investigations. Well, the party set off.'
`And what happened to them?' prompted Rex, urgently, in his intense interest in the story.
`They arrived at Petroconda, everything having gone according to plan. Their signals were clearly received and for a while all continued to go well. Quantos described what he had seen of the place, confirming what we had believed about it having no human population, but pointing out that there might be people living on distant parts of the planet not yet visited. I won't go into the physical details of Petroconda. It is more important that I should come to the real point of the story.
`On the second day after their arrival the messages were received at the prearranged time, but later on, the same day, silence fell. A complete blackout. There was no swamping interference. Just silence. Our signal receptionists listened for hours, but not a sound came through. That did not mean that hope was abandoned because it was always possible that something had gone wrong with their transmitting equipment.'
`And so?' asked Rex. breathlessly.
`Nothing more has been heard of them. They have not returned.'
"That is bad,' said the Professor. 'Is there still a chance, do you think, that they may return?'
`Who knows? Obviously something serious must have happened or we would have heard from them. Had it been only their radio equipment that went wrong they would have returned by now.'
`Had they been confronted by some unexpected danger one would have thought there would have been time to get a message through,' said Toby. 'It is unlikely that all of them would have perished at the same moment. Surely one would stay to guard the ship.'
`That is the mystery,' Vargo agreed. 'Remember, they were all men of exceptional experience.'
`And now you are going off to find out what happened,' said the Professor, pensively.
`Someone must go. It is a point of honour with us never to abandon a ship when its position is known.'
`Have you any theory as to what might have happened?' asked Tiger.
`Of what use are theories? One can provide for contingencies only to the extent of one's knowledge, and as you are aware, on a strange world there are possibilities beyond imagination. Theories in advance of facts are usually wrong.'
There was a brief silence.
Then the Professor said: "What this all adds up to is, you are going to lead a rescue party to Petroconda, and you feel that what happened to your friend Quantos may happen to you.'
`That, exactly, is the case.'
`When do you intend to start?'
`As soon as I get back to Mino, assuming that by then Quantos has not returned.'
`Would you have any objection to our coming with you?'
Vargo hesitated. After a glance at Multavo, as much as to say this is what I said would happen, he answered: "As long as you realize this may be a fatal adventure I would welcome your company, which is always stimulating and helpful.' He went on, 'It is curious, but you men of Earth all seem to have one characteristic we do not possess. It is not easy to define, but in some way it would seem to be connected with humour. Come with me if you wish.'
The Professor considered each one of his comrades in turn. 'Well, what do you say?' he queried.
`That's okay by me,' said Tiger.
`And me,' stated Toby.
`I'm not likely to be left at home by myself,' declared Rex.
`Capital. Then that's settled,' concluded the Professor, briskly. 'As there seems to be some urgency we'd better see about getting ready. There will be plenty of time for sleep in the Tavona.'
`Don't forget the tea,' said Vargo, softly, with one of his rare smiles.
2 A strange tale
Accustomed as they were by now to space travel the Professor's party was soon ready, and in a little over an hour, Judkins helping with the baggage, they were hastening up the hill to the small heather-covered plateau on which landings were always made. Vargo and Multavo had gone on ahead, Vargo carrying a large jug of tea, and Multavo, the extra packets of dried leaf. They made haste because a pale streak in the sky warned them that another day was approaching, and it was always desirable to get well clear of Earth in darkness to avoid being seen by an early riser, a gamekeeper or a shepherd perhaps, on one of the nearby hills.
