To Worlds Unknown, page 2
Vargo answered. "It must be one of those that move on an exceptionally long orbit. You don't need me to tell you that most of these small bodies, which you call planetoids have an extremely elliptical orbit. The distance from one end to the other is so vast that they may disappear from sight for ages. Hidalgo, for example, passes beyond the sun at one end, and returning across the orbit of Jupiter almost reaches that of Saturn. The one we now observe could have made such a journey."
"You have never seen it before ?"
"Never."
Borron muttered: "It is these far voyagers that make my work difficult."
"Could the length of the orbit have any effect on the possibility of life on such a body ?" asked Rex.
"That would depend on how near the body passes to the sun, or how far away from it, it goes. Near the sun the heat might be too great for life. Too far away from it, too cold."
"We saw that on Arcadia," put in Toby.*
"How very interesting," murmured the Professor, popping into his mouth one of the caramels without which he seldom went far. "Don't you think. . . ?"
*See Now to the Stars.
"No," put in Gator.
"You don't know what I was going to say," complained the Professor.
"You were about to suggest we made a landing on this stranger."
"Quite right," confessed the Professor. "Why not? It wouldn't mean going far off our course. Besides, such an opportunity might not occur again in a thousand years."
"It might be dangerous," said Vargo.
"I must say you are a nervous lot for space explorers," complained the Professor. "At least let us go near it and see what it looks like from close range."
Vargo shook his head sadly. "Professor, I am afraid you are never satisfied."
"I dislike missing opportunities."
"What have your friends to say about it? You know that by your curiosity you risk their lives as well as yours."
Tiger shrugged. "It's all right with me."
"And me," added Toby.
"In that case I can't very well object," said Rex.
"Very well." Vargo passed the request to the captain. Gator spoke to Borron, and the ship took up its new course towards the unknown planet which, as the Tavona closed the gap between them, increased perceptibly in size until it soon appeared as a yellow lantern suspended from the black vault of heaven.
What adventures, what wonders, if any, did it hold, mused Rex, a little fearful yet conscious of that mounting sense of excitement which the approach to an unknown world never failed to produce. Was it a full-sized planet or merely a planetoid, too small to carry life? As yet there was no indication, although it seemed unlikely that a body of any great size could wander into the position of the newcomer without causing tremendous damage.*
In any case, even if it did turn out that there was life on the stranger it did not necessarily follow that it would be dangerous. That, fortunately, was the exception rather than the rule.
"This promises to be interesting," remarked the Professor from his window, rubbing his hands. "Anything could happen here if; as I suspect, we have come upon a wanderer from some distant part of the Galaxy."
"We shall soon know all about it," said Vargo, in his thin, precise voice, as the jet brakes came into action to check the Tavona’s velocity.
*No planetoid yet discovered has a diameter greater than 500 miles. Ceres, the first to be spotted, by an Italian monk named Piazli as long ago as 1801, has a diameter of 480 miles. Some planetoids have very long elliptical orbits.
CHAPTER II
A LUCKY ESCAPE
As the Tavona drew near the new objective it became clear to Rex that it was larger than he had expected, although it was not to be compared in size with Earth, for example. He judged it to be not more than half the size of Earth's moon, which would give it a diameter of about a thousand miles. Even that was large enough for it to carry some form of life provided the general conditions were suitable.
Having descended to a low altitude, a few hundred feet above the surface, Gator brought the spacecraft to a halt for a brief inspection. Nothing occurred to cause alarm so he began moving horizontally, very slowly, in order that the whole terrain might be surveyed.
It was at once evident that vegetable life was abundant. Indeed, it looked a pleasant enough little world, although with the surface mostly level the landscape was somewhat monotonous. However, there was one range of low hills, well wooded, with what appeared to be pools of water at the base. But for the most part the ground was flat, open grassland, dotted with groups of trees in the manner of spinneys in an English park. What they were really looking for was movement, which would of course be a sure indication of human or animal life. Rex saw no movement; nor could he see habitations or anything else of an artificial nature.
"Well?" queried Vargo, looking at the Professor. "Have you seen enough or do you want to tempt providence by landing?"
"I see nothing below that might do us a mischief."
"That doesn't mean there is no danger there," argued Vargo. "We can't really see anything from here."
"Surely that is all the more reason why we should land?"
"With an unknown world there are always risks."
The Professor looked at Vargo over his glasses. "May I remind you, my dear fellow, that if your Interplanetary Survey Fleets had never taken chances you wouldn't know as much as you do about the Universe."
Vargo sighed. "You make a point there," he admitted. "Have your own way."
"Having come so close I think it would be a pity to pass on without establishing such facts as a short stay would reveal. There might well be plant life, if nothing more, completely unknown to us."
"Just a minute," put in Tiger. "You seem to be taking it for granted that there's no form of animal life down there."
"Have you any reason to think differently?" asked the Professor.
"I have. While you were talking I saw some sort of creature dart into the trees near the foot of those hills.”
“What did it look like ?"
"I wouldn't care to say. I only caught a fleeting glimpse of it. I don't think it was quite large enough to be a human species; but it might have been a big monkey."
"Did it move in an upright position?" inquired Vargo. "That should settle the question."
"Again I couldn't be sure. It might have been upright in a crouching position."
"If there were intelligent human beings down there we should see their dwellings," declared the Professor. "Instead of wasting time talking I suggest we go down and save further argument."
"I must confess I see no cause for apprehension although experience has taught me not to rely too much on that," said Vargo.
"Before we talk about landing it might be a good thing to test the atmospheric conditions," interposed Gator, dryly., "They may determine the question for us." He took the ship down to an altitude of forty or fifty feet and Borron went into the small chamber between double doors where tests could be made without the interior of the ship being affected.
During the few minutes he was out of sight doing what was necessary, the others kept close watch on the ground; but no one saw a movement of any sort, nor anything else to suggest animal life.
Borron returned to announce an atmosphere that was somewhat thin with rather a high content of oxygen. Pressure was less than that to which they were accustomed but not so low as to require the use of space equipment.
"Then let us stretch our legs and take the opportunity of tidying up the ship," suggested the Professor.
"Nibo and Lesta can clean up while we are outside," said Gator, allowing the ship to sink softly to the ground in what turned out to be long grass near the foot of the hills which here ended abruptly to form a low cliff.
The doors were thrown open and they stepped out into cool fresh air under a cloudless sky of palest eggshell blue. There was not a breath of wind to stir a leaf of the trees or blade of grass. Absolute silence reigned until the Professor made a remark about the decorative type of grass, which was a deep blue-green in colour and of the "shaking" variety. Vargo examined it closely, and in the light of his experience, suspiciously, for they had known pollen to have toxic properties. However, he said it seemed harmless enough so they walked on a little way, slowly, the Professor heading for a group of low-growing trees which turned out to have thorn-covered trunks and small stiff leaves in the manner of what on Earth is commonly called a "monkey puzzle" tree. In fact, except for a peculiar lightness of body, the result of the low gravity on a small world, Rex thought they might have landed on some uninhabited corner of Earth. This "light" feeling in his limbs, which he had often experienced, created a sensation of exhilaration. The only thing about it was the after effects when one returned to normal conditions; then the feeling was reversed, and one became conscious of a rather tiring heaviness.
Standing nearly waist deep in grass they waited while the Professor made some notes. "I don't see anything else of interest," he remarked, closing his book. "But there is one thing that puzzles me. Nature does not waste its energy on the production of anything unnecessary for its survival. What object, we may ask ourselves, had these trees in providing themselves with brutal thorns, which would certainly prevent any creature from climbing them, or, for that matter, interfering with them in any way. Against what are they directed ? Why do they need protection ?"
The question was, in a way, answered by Toby, who now joined the others after hanging back to examine a piece of rock. "I see smoke!" he exclaimed, pointing to a thin white column that rose into the air from a spot some distance away. "That looks as if there is someone here," he concluded.
"A volcano," suggested Rex.
"No—no. The terrain does not look volcanic," disputed the Professor. "There is just a chance," he went on, as they all stood staring at the smoke, "that a fire may have been started by spontaneous combustion. If—"
He got no farther, for the next instant all was pandemonium. as they found themselves struggling in the hands of men as repulsive as Rex had ever seen; and he had encountered some grisly specimens.
They were short-legged, broad, had abnormally long arms with bulging biceps and were covered all over with coarse hair. With small eyes, wide noses and hideously large mouths filled with projecting teeth, they were not unlike small gorillas. Their strength was fantastic, and struggle desperately as he would Rex was as helpless as a child in the coils of a boa constrictor. In fact, until he caught a glimpse of the face of his assailant he was under the impression that he was in the grip of a monstrous beast.
In a matter of seconds he had been flung to the ground and his arms lashed to his sides with a rope of roughly plaited grass. His legs were tied together in the same manner. Panting, feeling like a trussed fowl, he looked up and for the first time saw his attacker clearly. Any doubts he may have had about the creature being a beast were at once dispelled. It was a man, or a grotesque imitation of one; the sort of early human being he had seen depicted in magazines as a representative type that had roamed Earth in its earliest ages. There was, therefore, nothing particularly remarkable about it. They had apparently landed on a very young world, or one where mental development had for some reason come to a stop long ago. The same thing had happened to certain tribes on Earth, he reflected. As far as he could see from his prone position there were not more than five or six of the creatures.
He saw his friends had suffered the same fate as himself. In fact, they were thrown together in a heap while their captors with uncouth cries did a sort of war dance round them. This did not last long. Suddenly the creatures bounded off with enormous leaps towards the ship. They had, Rex thought, caught sight of Nibo and Lesta.
"Are you all right, Rex ?" asked Tiger, anxiously.
"As right as can be," answered Rex, ruefully. "I'm still dazed by shock. I can't understand how it happened. Where did those brutes come from? I didn't hear a sound."
"They must have come from those trees behind us. It would have been easy for them to creep up to us through the long grass. We made the mistake of not keeping a look-out. We should have known better, and remained on our guard until we had satisfied ourselves that the place really was uninhabited."
"We were warned," said Toby, bitterly. "I saw smoke."
"It was that smoke that did the mischief," asserted the Professor. "We were all looking at it. It might have been a trick to distract us. These fellows are low types but they are obviously able to think or they would not have provided themselves with ropes. I shall never forgive myself for bringing you here."
"Nonsense," retorted Tiger. "We all wanted to see the place so we are equally to blame. What I don't understand is why they didn't kill us out of hand."
"From the shape of their teeth I would say they are flesh-eaters, possibly cannibals," rejoined the Professor. "Failing any other kind of meat they might eat each other."
"Meaning that we are likely to make a change of diet.”
“This is serious," broke in Vargo. "We must act quickly or we are lost. Can anyone see what they are doing ?”
“They went into the ship," informed Gator. "I raised myself for a moment and saw them go in."
"In that case Nibo and Lesta must be in the same fix as we are," said Borron. "Can no one think of anything ? This may be our only chance to escape."
"Even if they don't kill us, if they damage the ship we shall never be able to get away," said Toby. "Yet what can we do?"
Tiger supplied the answer. "Rex, roll over and try to prop yourself against me. In that way you may be able to see what they're doing. If I can get my teeth on your rope I may be able to work it loose, or bite through it. It's only grass and doesn't look very tough."
With some difficulty Rex inched his way to his father then raised himself until he could see over the top of the grass. What he saw dried his mouth and held him speechless.
"What is it?" demanded the Professor. "What do you see?"
"They're piling brushwood against the ship apparently with the intention of trying to set it on fire."
"Oh dear! That's very bad. Are you making any head-way with the rope, Group-Captain?"
Tiger spat out a mouthful of grass. "Given time I can do it."
"It's too late," rejoined Rex. "One of them is coming back."
The creature arrived. He snatched up Vargo with one hand as if he had been an empty sack and turned back to the ship.
"Can you see what they're doing with him ?" asked the Professor.
"No, except that he's taking him to the ship. It looks as if they're going to put us all inside before they light the fire."
Silence fell. There seemed to be nothing more to say. Rex could feel his father tearing at the rope, but there was little he could do to help him. Still watching events he said, in a puzzled voice: "Something seems to be happening."
"What could happen ?" asked the Professor, contritely.
"The fellow carrying Vargo seems to be rolling about as if he was ill, or drunk. Now he's dropped him, and is staggering as if he's likely to fall himself."
Rex watched. The man, stumbling and groping at the air, appeared to be making an effort to keep on his feet; but it failed, and just as he reached the ship he slumped to the ground and lay still.
Having told the others what had happened Rex said: "I can only think it must be something Nibo and Lesta are doing."
"Can you see them?"
"No. Nor can I see Vargo. He must be lying in the long grass."
Rex continued to watch. His astonishment mounted as another hairy native staggered out of the ship to fall flat on his face. Those who had been collecting brushwood, after behaving in the same way, also finished on the ground; not altogether but one after the other. They all lay near the ship; but there was still no sign of Nibo or Lesta. Nor could Rex see Vargo, who had been dropped, helpless, in the long grass. "This beats me," he said, passing the information to the others. "I haven't a clue as to what they're doing, or what's come over them.”
“What an extraordinary business," murmured the Professor. "Could they have been tampering with the controls of the ship and gassed themselves, or something of that sort?"
"No," disputed Rex. "Some of them were nowhere near the ship when they started to stagger about."
"But they had been in the ship."
"Yes, I think so."
Tiger broke in. "I've done it! I'm through the rope. Shake yourself, Rex; you should be able to free yourself now:,
Rex needed no second invitation. Without much difficulty he got rid of his bonds, and after that it was only a matter of a few minutes, working with his knife, to release the others. When this had been done they all stood up, staring at the ship as if uncertain about what to do next, their fear being, of course, should the natives recover and see what had happened they would renew their attack.
It was Tiger who was first to reach a decision. "I'm going to make a dash for the ship and get my rifle," he announced, crisply. "With that in my hands it will be a different story."
"Don't shoot the poor wretches," pleaded the Professor. "They don't know any better."
"Then it's time they were taught a lesson," declared Tiger. "As far as I'm concerned they're animals." So saying he set off at a run towards the ship.
The others followed in a straggling line. Rex stopping on the way to free Vargo, who thereupon joined them. Gator was calling "Nibo—Lesta." The answer came from inside the ship. Tiger was the first to go in. "They're here, tied up," he shouted, and came out loading the rifle. Rex, who still held his knife in his hand, went in and cut the two men free. Presently they were all standing by the door looking at the natives, who had not moved, but still, lay sprawled on the ground, unconscious or dead; it was not clear which.
"What do you make of this, Doctor?" asked the Professor, adjusting his spectacles. "It's quite beyond me."
Toby stooped over the nearest man, rolled back an eyelid and felt his pulse. "He's still alive, anyway," he announced. "The thing is as big a mystery to me as it is to you. The only suggestion I can offer, not a very convincing one, is that they wolfed some of our food and it disagreed with them; knocked them out, in fact."
