Project Gutenberg's Astounding Stories of Super-Science July 1930, by Various This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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.net Title: Astounding Stories of Super-Science July 1930 Author: Various Editor: Harry Bates Release Date: June 23, 2009 [EBook #29198] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ASTOUNDING STORIES, JULY 1930 *** Produced by Greg Weeks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
ASTOUNDING STORIES OF SUPER-SCIENCE 20¢ On Sale the First Thursday of Each Month W.M.CLAYTON,Pubilsher HARRY BATES, Editor DR. DOUGLAS M. DOLD, Consulting Editor The Clayton Standard on a Magazine Guarantees That thestoriesthereinareclean,interesitng,vivid,byleadingwtirersof thedayandpurchasedunderconditionsapprovedbytheAuthors'League ofAmeirca; Tha t such magazines are manufactured in Union shops by American workmen; That eachnewsdealerandagentisinsuredafairprofti; Tha t aninteillgentcensorshipguardstheiradvetrisingpages. TheotherClaytonmagaiznesare : ACE-HIGH MAGAZINE, RANCH ROMANCES, COWBOY STORIES, CLUES, FIVE-NOVELS MONTHLY, ALL STAR DETECTIVE STORIES, RANGELAND LOVE STORY MAGAZINE, WESTERN ADVENTURES, and FOREST AND STREAM. MorethanTwoMliilonCopiesRequiredtoSupplytheMonthlyDemandforClaytonMagaiznes. VOL.,IIINo.1CONTENTSJULY,1930 Painted Scene in COVER DESIGN "Earth,thienMWaartaeur-dceorl."orsrfomaBEYOND THE HEAVISIDE LAYER CAPT. S. P. MEEK 5 ForEightyVeitrcalMliesCarpenterandBondBlastedTheirWay —Only to Be Trapped by the Extraordinary Monsters of the HeavisideLaye.r EMAARRTAUH,DTEHREARTHURJ.BURKS 18 OutofHerOrbitSpedtheTeemingEatrh—AMaraudingPlanet Bent on Starry Conquest. (BeginningaThree-patrNovel.) AMBER BFLROOCMKANTOMCURRY 50 A Giant Amber Block at Last Gives Up Its Living, Ravenous Prey. THE TERRXOR OF AIR- HARL VINCENT 62 LEVEL SI FromSomeFarReachofLeaguelessSpaceCameaGreatPlliar ofFlametoLayWasteandTerroirzetheEatrh. (A Novelet.) THE FORGOTTEN PLANET SEWELL PEASLEE WRIGHT 88 TheAuthenitcAccountofWhyCosmicManDamnedanOultaw WolrdtoBe,Forever,aLeperofSpace. GTLHOERPYOWERANDTHECHARLESW.DIFFIN 104 Sadly,Sternly,theOldProfessorRevealstoHisBrililantPupitlhe Greater Path to Glory. MURDER MADNESS MURRAY LEINSTER 109 MoreandMoreSouthAmeircansAreSirtckenwtihtheHorrible "MurderMadness"ThatLiesintheMaste'rsFeafrulPoison.And BellIsTheirOneLastHopeasHeFightstoStemtheSwifltyRising Tide of a Continent's Utter Enslavement. (PatrThreeofaFour-partNove.l) THE READERS' ALL OF US 134 CORNER MoreandMoreSouthAmeircansAreStirckenwtihtheHorirble "MurderMadness"ThatLiesintheMaste'rsFeafrulPoison.And BellIsTheirOneLastHopeasHeFightstoStemtheSwfiltyRising TideofaContinen'tsUtterEnslavement. (PartThreeofaFour-patrNove.l) Single Copies, 20 Cents (In Canada, 25 Cents) YearlySubscripiton,$2.00 Issued monthly by Publishers' Fiscal Corporation, 80LafayetteS.t,NewYork,N..YW.M.Clayton, President: Nathan Goldmann, Secretary. Entered assecond-classmatterDecember7,1929,atthe PostOfficeatNewYork,N..Y,underActofMarch3, 1879.TltieregisteredasaTradeMarkintheU.S. Patent Office. Member Newsstand Group—Men's Lis.tForadvetrisingratesaddressE.R.Crowe& Co.,Inc,.25VanderblitAve.,NewYork;or225 NotrhMichiganAve.,Chicago. Beyond the Heaviside Layer By Capt S. P. Meek
Theyweremovingsluggishlyalongtheredilght,seemingtoflowrather thancraw.l M c Q UAREIR t,heCityEdtior,lookedupasIenteredhisoffice. "Bond",heasked,"doyouknowJimCarpenter?" "Iknowhimsilghtly",Irepiledcautiousl.y"IhavemethimseveraitlmesandIinterviewedhimsomeyears agowhenheimprovedtheHadleyrocketmotor.Ican'tclaimaveryextensiveacquaintancewithhim". "IthoughtyouknewhimweltI.lisasurprisetometofindthatthereisanyprominentmanwhoisnotan especialrfiendofyours.Atanyrateyouknowhimaswellasanyoneofthesta,ffsoIl'lgiveyouthe assignmen.t" "What's he up to now?" I asked. Foreightyveritcalmiles "He'sgoingtortytopunchaholeintheheavisidelayer". Carpenter and Bond "Buttha'tsimpossible",Icried."Howcananyone" blastedthrieway—only .. .. to be trapped by the exrtaordinarymonsters Myvoicediedawayinslience.Trueenough,theideaoftryingtomakea otfheheaivsidelaye.r permanent hole in a field of magnetic force was absurd, but even as I spoke I remembered that Jim Carpenter had never agreed to the opinion almost unanimously held by our scienitstsastothetruenatureoftheheavisidelayer. "tImaybeimpossible,"repiledMcQuariredryly,butyouarenothiredbythispaperasascienitifc " consultant. For some reason, God alone knows why, the owner thinks that you are a reporter. Get down thereandtrytoproveheisrightbydiggingupafewfactsaboutCarpente'rsattemp.tWireyourstuffin andPeaveywillwirteitup.Onthisoneoccasion,pleasertytoconcealyoureruditionandsendinyour storyinsimplewordsofonesyllablewhichuneducatedmenilkePeaveyandmecancomprehend. Tha'tsall." H inEtetruvrineewdwatighaimnytfoachiesbdurensiknga,nbdutIlMecftQtuhaerirreo'osmv.itirAotloslniedtiomffemIewliokuledwhaatveerocoffamedufrcok'msbsaucckh.aHne didn'treallymeanhalfofwhathesaid,andheknewaswellasIdidthathiscrackaboutmyholdingmy jobwiththeClaironasamatterofpullwasgrosslyunjus.tItistruethatIknewTirmble,theownerofthe Clarion,fairlywel,lbutIgotmyjobwtihoutanyaidrfomhim.McQuarriehimselfhiredmeandIheldmy jobbecausehehadnt'ifredme,desptiethecausticremarkswhichheaddressedtome.Ihadmadethe mistakewhenIifrstgotonthepaperoflettingMcQuarireknowthatIwasagraduateelectricalengineer rfomLelandUniversity,andhehadhelditagainstmefromthatdayon.Idont'knowwhetherhereally helditseriouslyagainstmeornot,butwhatIhavewirttenaboveisafairsampleofhisusualmanner toward me. InpointoffactIhadgrealtyminimizedtheextentofmyacquaintancewtihJimCarpenter.Ihadbeenin Lelandatthesameitmethathewasandhadknownhimqutiewell.WhenIgraduated,whichwastwo yearsafterhedid,Iworkedforaboutayearinhislaborator,yandmyknowledgeoftheimprovement whichhadmadetheHadleyrocketmotorapracticabiltiycamerfomfirsthandknowledgeandnotfrom an interview. That was several years before but I knew that he never forgot an acquaintance, let alone a firend,andwhlieIhadletfhimtotakeupotherworkourpartinghadbeenpleasant,andIlookedforward wtihrealpleasuretoseeinghimagain. J IMHeCwarapsepntreorba,btlhyeasstordmeeypplyertveelrsoefdmiondtehrentshceieornyceo!fTelheecerttiecirtnyalaincdonpohcylsaiscta:tlhcehepmeirspterytuaasloapnpyonmeannt! ailve,butitpleasedhimtoposeasa"pracitca"lmanwhoknewnexttonothingoftheoryandwho despisedtheilttlehedidknow.Hisgreatdeilghtwastoexpeirmentallysmashthemostbeautfiully consrtuctedtheorieswhichwereadvancedandtaughtinthecollegesanduniversitiesofthewolrd,and whenhecouldnt'smashthembyexperimentalevidence,toattackthemrfomthestandpointof phliosophicalreasoningandtotwistaroundthedataonwhichtheywerebuiltandmaketiprove,or seemtoprove,theexactoppostieofwhatwasgenerallyaccepted. Noonequesitonedhisabiltiy.Whenthelif-latedHadleyhadfirstconsrtuctedtherocketmotorwhich bearshisnametiwasJimCarpenterwhomadeitpracitca.lHadleyhadtiredtodisintegrateleadin order to get his back thrust from the atomic energy which it contained and proved by apparently unimpeachablemathematicsthalteadwastheonlysubstancewhichcouldbeused.JimCarpenterhad snortedthroughthepagesoftheelectircaljournalsandhadturnedoutamodfiicationofHadley's inventionwhichdisintegratedaluminum.Themaindifferenceinperformancewasthat,whlieHadley's oirginalmotorwouldnotdevelopenoughpowertolfittiselfrfomtheground,Carpente'rsmodiifcaiton producedtwentyitmesthehorsepowerperpoundofweightofanypreviouslyknowngeneratorofpower andchangedtherocketshiprfomawilddreamtoaneverydaycommonplace. W HCEaNrpeHnatedlreywhloatreidriccoulnesdrttuhcteeiddehaisofspthaecaetteflmyeprtbaenidngprsoupcocseessdfutlo.Hviesiptrtohpeosmeodotnh,entiowvaeslaJnidm weirdideathatthepathtospacewasnotopen,butthattheeatrhandtheatmospherewereenclosedin ahollowsphereofimpenertablesubstancethroughwhichHadley'sspacelfyercouldnotpass.How accuratewerehisprognosticationswassoonknowntoeveryone.Hadleybulitandequippedhislfyer andstatredoffonwhathehopedwouldbeanepochmakingilfght.tIwasone,butnoitnthewaywhich hehadhoped.Hisshiptookoffreadliyenough,beingpoweredwithfourrocketmotorsworkingon Carpenter'spirnciple,androsetoaheightofaboutffitymlies,gainingveloctiyrapidl.yAtthatpointhis velocity suddenly began to drop. Hewasinconstantradiocommunicationwiththeearthandherepotredhisdifficulty.Carpenteradvised him to turn back while he could, but Hadley kept on. Slower and slower became his progress, and after hehadpenetratedtenmilesintothesubstancewhichhinderedhim,hisshipstuckfas.tInsteadofusing hisbowmotorsandtryingtobackou,thehadmovedthemtotherear,andwiththecombinedforceof hisfourmotorshehadpenertatedforanothertwomlies.Thereheinsanelytriedtoforcehismotorsto dirvehimonuntilhisfuelwasexhausted. Hehadlivedforoverayearinhisspaceflye,rbutallofhiseffortsdidnotservetomateirallychangehis postiion.Hehadirted,ofcourse,togooutthroughhisairlocksandexplorespace,buthisstrength, evenalthoughaidedbypowefrullevers,couldnotopentheouterdoorsofthelocksagainsttheforce whichwasholdingthemshut.Carefulobservaitonswerecontinuouslymadeofthepostiionofhisflyer anditwasfoundthatitwasgraduallyreturningtowardtheeatrh.Itsmotionwasveryslight,notenoughto giveanyhopefortheoccupant.Statringrfomamoitonsoslowthatitcouldhardlybedetected,the velocityofreturngraduallyaccelerated;andthreeyearsatferHadley'sdeath,thelfyerwassuddenly releasedfromtheforcewhichheldti,anditplungedtotheeatrh,tobereducedbytheforceoftisfallto atwisted,piitfulmassofunrecognizablejunk. T wHaEsrseeimzaeidnsupwoenrebyetxhaemisncieedn,itasntsdtohetfhierownostlredealnpdaatrsthweeorreyfwoausndbtuotlibuephoigfahlymmagangentiectizfieedld.Tofhifsorfcaect surroundingtheearththroughwhichnothingofamagneitcnaturecouldpass.Thistheoryreceived almost universal acceptance, Jim Carpenter alone of the more prominent men of learning refusing to admtithevaildityofi.tHegravelystatedtiashisbeliefthatnomagneitcifeldexisted,butthatthe heavisidelayerwascomposedofsomeliquidofhighviscositywhosedenstiyandconsequent resistance to the passage of a body through it increased in the ratio of the square of the distance to whichonepenertatedinto.ti There was a moment of stunned surprise when he announced his radical idea, and then a burst of Jovianlaughtershookthescientiifcpress.Carpenterwasinhisglory.Formonthshewagedabtiter controversyinthescientfiicjournalsandwhenhefaliedtowinconvetrsbythismethod,heannounced thathewouldproveitbyblasitngawayintospacethroughtheheavisidelaye,rathingwhichwouldbe patenltyimpossibleweretiafieldofforce.Hehadlapsedintosliencefortwoyearsandhiscurtnoteto theAssociatedPresstotheeffectthathewasnowreadytodemonsrtatehisexpeirmentwasthefirst intimation the world had received of his progress. I DtoRaEhWoetexplaenndseatmoonnceeycarflolemdthCearcpaesnhtieerroanntdhebotealredpehdotnhee.LarkforLosAngeles.WhenIarrivedIwent "JimCarpenterspeaking,"camehisvoicepresentl.y "Goodevening,M.rCarpente,r"rIeplied,"thisisBondoftheSanFranciscoClarion". Iwouldbeashamedtorepeatthelanguagewhichcameoverthattelephone.Iwasinformedthatall repotrerswerepestsandthatIwasadoublyobnoxiousspecimenandthatwereIwtihinreachIwould beprompltyassaultedandthatreporterswouldbereceivedatninethenextmorningandnoealrieror later. "Justaminute,Mr.Carpente,r"Iciredashenearedtheendofhisperoraitonandwas,Ifancied,about to slam up the receiver. "Don't you remember me? I was at Leland with you and used to work in your laboratoryintheatomicdisintegraitonsection" . "Wha'tsyourname?"hedemanded. "Bond,M.rCarpenter" . "Oh,FirstMotrgage!CertainlyrIememberyou.Mightygladtohearyourvoice.Howareyou?" "Fine,thankyou,M.rCarpenter.IwouldnothaveventuredtocallyouhadInotknownyouI.didn'tmean toimposeandIl'lbegladtoseeyouinthemorningatnine." "Notbyalongsho,t"hecired."You'llcomeuprightaway.Whereareyoustaying?" "AttheElRey". "Wel,lcheckoutandcomerightuphere.There'slotsofroomforyouhereattheplantandIl'lbegladto haveyou.Iwantatleastoneintelilgentreportofthisexperimentandyoushouldbeabletowriteti.I'll look for you in an hour." "Idon'twanttoimpose—"Ibegan;butheinterrupted. "Nonsense,gladtohaveyou.Ineededsomeoneilkeyoubadlyandyouhavecomejustinthenickof itme.'Illexpectyouinanhour." T HloEokriencgeifvoer.rtIctliocokkedmyatnadxiIahaslttilteenoevdetroanfohlloouwrthoisgeitnstortuthceitoCnasr.pAenritnegrlsaidbeorsateoartywaansdjIucshtuwckhlaetdIwwhaesn tIhoughtofhowMcQuarire'sfacewouldlookwhenhesawmyexpenseaccount.Presentlywereached theedgeofthegroundswhichsurroundedtheCarpenterlaboratoryandwerestoppedatthehighgateIrememberedsowe.ll "Areyousureyou'llgetin,buddy?"askedmydirve.r "Certainl",yrIepiled".Whatmadeyouask?" "I'vebroughtthreechapsouthereto-dayandnoneofthemgotin,"heansweredwtihagirn."I'mglad you'resosure,butl'IjlustwatiarounduntilyouareinsidebeforeIdriveaway". Ilaughedandadvancedtothegate.Tim,theoldguard,wassitllthere,andherememberedand welcomed me. "Meordherswuzt'letyezroightin,so",rhesaidashegreetedme."Jistlaveye'erbaghereandOil'l haveutsintroightup".
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Idroppedmybagandrtudgedupthewellrememberedpathtothelaboratory.Ithadbeenenlarged somewhatsinceIsawtilastand,latethoughthehourwas,therewasabuslteintheairandIcouldsee anumberofmenworkinginthebuliding.Fromanareaintherear,whichwaslightedbyhugelfood lights,camethestaccatotattooofarivete.rIwalkeduptothefrontofthelaboratoryandentered.Iknew thewaytoCarpenter'sofficeandIwentdirectlythereandknocked. "Hello,FirstMortgage!"ciredJimCarpenterasIenteredinresponsetohisca.ll"'Imgladtoseeyou. Excusethebrusknessofmyfirstgreeitngtoyouoverthetelephone,butthepresshavebeendeviling me all day, every man jack of them trying to steal a march on the rest. I am going to open the whole shebang at nine to-morrow and give them all an equal chance to look things over before I turn the currentonatnoon.Assoonaswehaveailttlecha,t'Illshowyouovetrheworks." A pFlaTcEeRohvaelfraanndhoI'ullr'esxcplhaaintheevreorsyteh.in"gC.ofImmeyaliodnega,sFiwrsortkMoorut,tgaygoeu",ll'hhaesvaeidn,o"wceh'allngcoeotoutgaondolvoeorkitthtoe-morrow, so I want you to see it now." I had no chance to ask him what he meant by this remark, for he walked rapidly from the laboratory and I perforcefollowedhim.Heledthewaytothepatchofilghtedgroundbehindthebulidingwherethe rivetingmachinewasstlilbeaitngouttismonotonouscacaphonyandpausedbythefirstofaseriesof hugerelfectors,whichwerearrangedinacircle. "Hereisthestatrofthething",hesaid."Therearetwohundredandfiftyoftheserelfectorsarrangedina circlefourhundredyardsindiamete.rEachofthemisanopenedparabolaofsuchspreadthattheir beamswillcoveranareatenyardsindiameteratiftfymilesabovetheearth.fImycalculationsare correcttheyshouldpenetratethroughthelayeratanaveragespeedofiffteenmliesperhourperuni,t and by two o'clock to-morrow afternoon, the road to space should be open." "Whaitsyourpower?"Iasked. "Nothingbutaconcenrtationofinrfa-redrays.Theheavisidelayer,asyoudoubltessknow,isaliquid and,Ithink,anorganicilquid.IfIamirghtinthatthought,theinrfa-redwlilcutthroughtiilkeaknife throughcheese". "Itifisailquid,howwlliyoupreventtirfomflowingbackintotheholeyouhaveopened?"Iasked. "Whenthecurrentisifrstturnedon,eachreflectorwlilbearonthesamepoin.tNoticethattheyare moveable.Theyarearrangedsothattheymovetogethe.rAssoonastheifrstholeisboredthrough, theywillmovebyclockwork,extendingtheopeninguntileachpointsvetricallyupwardandtheholeis fourhundredyardsindiameter.Iamposiitvethattherewillbenorapidflowevenatferthecurrentis turnedof,fforIbeilevethattheliquidisaboutasmoblieaspertoleumjelle.yShouldticlose,however,ti wouldtakeonlyacoupleofhourstoopenitagaintoallowthespacelfyertoreturn". "Whatspaceflyer?"Idemandedquickl.y "Theonewearegoingtobeon,FirstMortgage,"herepliedwithasilghtchuckle. W E?" I cried, aghast. "Cetrainl.yWe.Youand.IYoudidnt'thinkIwasgoingtosendyoualone,didyou?" "Ididnt'knowthatanyonewasgoing." "Of course. Someone has to go; otherwise, how could I prove my point? I might cut through a hundred holesandyetthesestiff-neckedoldfosslis,seeingnothing,wouldnotbeileve.No,FirstMortgage,when thosearcsstatrworkingto-morrow,youandIwillbeinaHadleyspaceshipupatthebottomofthe laye,randassoonastheroadhasbeenopened,twoofthelampswlilcutofftoallowusthrough.Then thebatterywlliholdtheroadopenwhilewepassoutintospaceandreturn." "SupposewemeetwtihHadle'ysfate?"Idemanded. "Wewon.t'EvenifIamwrong—whichisveryunilkely—wewont'meetwithanysuchfate.Wehavetwo sternmotorsandfourbowmotors.Assoonaswemeetwtihtheslightestresistancetoourforward progresswewillstopandhavetwicethepowerplusgravitytosenduseatrhwards.Thereisnodanger connectedwiththetirp." "All the same—" I began. "Atllhesame,your'egoing",herepiled."Manailve,thinkotfhechancetomakeawolrdscoopforyour pape!rNootherpressmanhasthesilghtestinklingofmyplanandevenfitheyhad,thereisn'tanother spacelfyerintheworldthatIknowof.fIyoudont'wanttogo,I'llgivesomeoneelsethechance,butI preferyou,foryouknowsomethingofmywork". I TSHaOnUFGraHnTcirsacpoidlwoyuflodrhaavmeogmieventn.tThheeircshhainrtcsetowagseta.uInhiaqduehoandemaynddoounbetsthoatfthhaelftahcecuprraecsysomfeJnimin Carpente'rsreasoningwhlieIwasawayrfomhim,buttherewasnoresistingthedynamicpersonatilyof the man when in his presence. "Youwin,"Isaidwithalaugh."Yourthreatofofferingsomeofmyhatedirvalsachancesetltedti". "Good boy!" he exclaimed, pounding me on the back. "I knew you'd come. I had intended to take one of my assistants with me, but as soon as I knew you were here I decided that you were the man. There reallyoughttobeapressrepresentativealong.ComewtihmeandI'llshowyouourflyer". ThelfyerprovedtobeofthesamegeneraltypeashadbeenusedbyHadley.tIwasequippedwithsix rocket motors, four discharging to the bow and two to the stern. Any one of them, Carpenter said, was ampleformotivepowe.rEquliibriumwasmaintainedbymeansofaheavygyroscopewhichwould preventanyturningoftheaxisoftisrotaiton.Theentirelfyershellcouldberevolvedabouttheaxisso thatobliquemoitonwtihourbowandsternmotorswasreadilypossible.Directlateralmovementwas providedforbyvalveswhichwoulddivetrapoitronofthedischargeofeitheraboworsternmotorout throughsideventsinanydireciton.Themoitvepowe,rofcourse,wasfurnishedbytheatomic disintegraitonofpowderedaluminum.Thewholeinterio,rexceptfortheporitonofthewalls,roofand floor,whichwastakenupbyvitriolenewindows,washeavliypadded. A pTrensinseatdhemintteexdt.mJiomrniCngartpheengteartemsotounttheedeancplloastfuorremwaernedtehrxoplwainnoepdebniraenlfdytwheharetphreepsreonptaotisveedstooftdhoe andthenbrokethecrowdupintosmallgroupsandsentthemovertheworkswtihguides.Whenallhad been taken around they were reassembled and Carpenter announced to them his intention of going up inaspaceflyerandprove,bygoingthroughtheheavisidelaye,rthathehadactuallydestroyedaporiton otif.Therewasanimmediateclamorofapplicationstogowithhim.Helaughinglyannouncedthatone repotrerwasallthathecouldstandontheshipandthathewastakingoneofhisformerassociateswtih him.IcouldtellbytheenviouslookswtihwhichIwasfavoredthatanypopulartiyIhadeverhadamong myassociateswasgoneforever.Therewasilttletimetothinkofsuchthings,howeve,rforthehourfor ourdepatrurewasapproaching,andthephotographerswereclamoirngforpicturesofusandthelfye.r Wesaitsfiedthematlast,andIenteredtheflyerafterCarpente.rWesealedthecarup,statredtheair condiitoner,andwerereadyfordepatrure. "Scared,Pete?"askedCarpenter,hishandonthestaitrngleve.r IgulpedattilleasIlookedathim.Hewaspefrectlycalmtoacasualinspeciton,butIknewhimwell enoughtointerpretthesmallspotsofredwhichappearedonhishighcheekbonesandthegiltterinhis eye.HemaynothavebeenasfrightenedasIwasbuthewaslaboirngunderanenormousnervous srtain.Themerefactthathecalledme"Pete"insteadofhisusual"FirstMortgage"showedthathewas feeilngprettyseirous. "Notexacltyscared",rIeplied,"butratheruneasy,sotospeak." H E laughed nervously. "Cheerup,oldman!fIanythinggoeswrong,wewon'tknowti.Sitdownandgetcomfotrable;this thingwlilstartwithajerk." HepulledthestaritngleverforwardsuddenlyandIfeltasthoughanintolerableweightwerepressed againstme,glueingmetomysea.tThefeeilnglastedonlyforamomen,tforhequicklyeaseduponthe motor,andinafewmomentsfIetlqutienorma.l "How fast are we going?" I asked. "Onlytwohundredmilesanhou,r"hereplied."WewlilreachthelayerinplentyoftimeatthisrateandI dont'wanttojamintoit.Youcangetupnow." Irose,movedovertotheobservaitonglassinthefloor,andlookeddown.Wewerealreadyifveorten mliesabovetheearthandwereascendingrapidly.Icouldsitlldetectthegreatcircleofreflectorswith which our way was to be opened. "Howcanyoutellwheretheseheatbeamsarewhentheyareturnedon?"Iasked."Inrfa-redraysarenot visible,andwewlilsoonbeoutofsightoftherelfectors." "fIorgottomenitonthatIamhavingasmallportionofvisibleredraysmixedwtihtheinfra-redsothatwe canspotthem.Ihavearadiotelephonehere,workingonmypirvatewavelength,sothatIcandirect operaitonsrfomhereaswellasfromtheground—infac,tbetter.fIyou'recoldt,urnontheheater". T sHurErofuirnctdiionngoufst,hbeufltyaegrlaagnaciensatttthheeaoiurtshiaddesthoeframrommaedteeruwpafronretdhemdeetchraetahsiisngsutgegmepsetiroanturweasofathweisaeir one.Iturnedavalvewhichdivetredasmallportionofourexhaustthroughaheatingcoliintheflyer.tI washardtoreailzethatIwasactuallyinarocketspaceship,thesecondonetobelfownandthat,with theexceptionoftheillf-atedHadley,fatrherrfomtheeatrhthananymanhadbeenbefore.Therewasno sensaitonofmovementinthathermeticallysealedflye,rand,atferthefirstfewmoments,thesteady droneoftherocketmotorfailedtoregisteronmysenses.Iwassurpirsedtoseethattherewasnortali ofdetrtiusbehindus. "Youcanseeourtrailatnight,"repliedCarpenterwhenIaskedhimaboutti,"butindayilgh,tthereis nothingtosee.Thesilghtluminosityofthegassesishiddenbythesun'srays.Wemaybeabletoseeit whenwegetoutinspacebeyondthelayer,butIdont'know.Wehavearirvedatthebottomofthelayer nowI,believe.Atanyrate,wearelosingvelocti.y" I mMliOesVEanDhoovuerratnodthweaisnsstrteuamdelinytfaboillanrgdoaffn.dClaoropkeendte.rOpuursllpeedetdhehacdondtrroolplepveedrtaonodnreedhuucnedrdeoduranpdotweenr. Graduallythelfyercametoastopandhungpoisedinspace.Heshutoffthepoweraninstantandat onceouirndicatorshowedthatwewerefalling,althoughveryslowl.yHeprompltyreappliedthepower, and by careful adjustment brought us again to a dead stop. "Readytogo",heremarkedlookingathiswatch,"andjustonitme,too.Takeaglassandwatchthe ground.Iamgoingtohavetheheatturnedon". I took the binoculars he indicated and turned them toward the ground while he gave a few crisp orders intohistelephone.Presenltyfromthegroundbeneathusburstoutacircleofreddotsrfomwhichlong beamsstabbedupintotheheavens.Thebeamsconvergedastheymountedunitlatapointslightly belowus,andahafl-mlieawaytheybecameonesoildbeamofred.OnepecuilatiryInoticedwasthat, whiletheywereplainlyvisibleneatrheground,theyfadedout,andtiwasnotuntlitheywereafewmiles belowusthattheyagainbecameapparenfI.tollowedtheirpathupwardintotheheavens. "Look here, Jim!" I cried as I did so. "Something's happening!" He sprang to my side and glanced at the beam. "Hurrah!"heshouted,poundingmeontheback."Iwasright!Look!Andthefoolscalleditamagneitc field!" Upwardthebeamwasboirngtiswa,ybutitwasalmostconcealedbyarainofifneparticlesofblack whichwerefallingaroundi.t "tI'sevenmorespectacularthanIhadhoped,"hechotrled."Ihadexpectedtoreducethelayertosuch fluiditythatwecouldpenetratetioreventovaporizeit,butweareactuallydesrtoyingi!tThatstuffissoot andisproo,ffiproofbeneeded,thatthelayerisanorganicliquid." H Emteurantetdhetowhiinsdtoewle.pFhoornteenanmdincuotemsmwuenicwaattecdhetdheanmdoamlesignthotudsimnienwutsiotnotohfetheeabrtlhacakndclothuednbreejcoainmeed apparent. "Theyr'ethroughthelayer",exclaimedCarpenter."Nowwatch,andyoul'lseesomething.I'mgoingto startspreadingthebeam". Heturnedagaintohistelephone,andpresenltythebeambegantowidenandspreadout.Asitdidso the dark cloud became more dense than it had been before. The earth below us was hidden and we couldseetheredonlyasadimmurkyglowthroughthefaillngsoo.tCarpenterinquiredofthelaboratory andfoundthatwewerecompletelyinvisibletotheground,hafltheheavensbeinghiddenbytheblack pal.lForanhourthebeamworkeditswaytowardus. "Theholeisaboutfourhundredyardsindiameterirghtnow",saidCarpenterasheturnedfromthe telephone."Ihavetoldthemtostopthemovementotfhereflectors,andassoonastheairclearsaltilte, we'llstatrthrough." Ittookanotherhourforthesoottoclearenoughthatwecouldplainlydetecttheirngofredilghtbefore us.Carpentergavesomeorderstotheground,andagapthitryyardswideopenedinthewallbefore us. Toward this gap the flyer moved slowly under the side thrust of the diverted motor discharge. The temperatureroserapidlyaswenearedthewallofredilghtbeforeus.Nearerwedrewunitltheilghtwas onbothsidesofus.Anotherfewfeetandthelfyershotforwardwithajerkthatthrewmesprawlingonthe floo.rCarpenterfelltoo,buthemaintainedhisholdonthecontrolsandtoreatthemdesperatelyto check us. I ScCamReAManBoLtEheDrtjeorkmywfheicethathnrdewwamtcehesdpr.aTwhleinrgedagwaainll.wTahsealwaarllmriengrtleyactleods.eI.nNaenaortehrerwemodrmoevntewaendwtehreen standingsit,llwtihtheredallaroundusatadistanceofabouttwohundredyards. "Wehadanarrowescapefrombeingcremated",saidCarpenterwtihashakylaugh."Iknewthatour speedwouldincreaseassoonaswegotclearotfhelayerbutitcaughtmebysurpirsejustthesame.Ihadnoideahowgreattheholdingeffectofthestuffwas.Well,FirstMortgage,theroadtospaceis openforus.MayIinvtieyoutobemyguestonalittleweek-endjaunttotheMoon?" "Nothanks,Jim",Isaidwithawrysmlie."Ithinkatilltetirptotheedgeofthelayerwillqutiesatisfyme." "Quttier",helaughed."Well,saygood-bytofamiilarthings.Herewego!" Heturnedtotheconrtolsoftheflye,randpresentlyweweremovingagain,thisitmedirectlyawayrfom theearth.Therewasnojerkatstartingthisitme,merelyafeeilngasthoughthelfoorwerepressing againstmyfeet,agreatdeallikethefeeilngapersongetswhentheyriserapidlyinanexpresselevator. Theindicatorshowedthatweweretravelingonlysixtymilesanhou.rForhalfanhourwecontinued monotonouslyonourwaywtihnothingtodivertus.Carpenteryawned. "Nowthati'tsallover,Ifeelletdownandsleep",yheannounced."Wearewellbeyondthepointtowhich Hadleypenetratedandsofarwehavemetwithnoresistance.Weareprobablynealryattheouteredge ofthelayer.IthinkIl'lshootupafewmliesmoreandthencalltiadayandgohome.Weareabouteighty milesfromtheearthnow". I LdOesOtrKuEcDitodnoowfnth,ebuhtecaoviulsdidseeleayneot.rhiLnikgebCelaorwpeunstebr,utIfetlhtesldeeenps,yeaclnodudIsoupfbplraecsksesdooatryeaswulntinagsfIrtourmntehde again to the window. "Lookhere,Jim!"Iciredsuddenly."What'sthat?" Hemovedinaleisurelymannertomysideandlookedout.AshedidsoIfetlhishandtightenonmy shoulderwithadesperategirp.Downthewallofredwhichsurroundeduswascominganobjectof somekind.Thethingwasfullyseventyif-veyardslongandhaflaswideatitsmainporiton,whilelong irregularsrteamsextendedforahundredyardsoneachsideofit.Thereseemedtobedozensofthem. "Whatisi,tJim?"Iaskedinavoicewhichsoundedhighandunnaturaltome. "Idon'tknow",hemuttered,halftomeandhaltfohimself."GoodLord,there'sanotherofthem!" Hepointed.Notfarfromtheifrstofthethingscameanother,evenlargerthanthefirst.Theyweremoving sluggishlyalongtheredlight,seemingtoflowratherthantocrawI.lhadahorirblefeeilngthattheywere aliveandmalignan.tCarpentersteppedbacktothecontrolsofthelfyerandstoppedourmovement;we hung in space, watching them. The things were almost level with us, but their sluggish movement was downwardtowardtheearth.Incolor,theywereabrliliantcirmson,deepeningintopurplenearthecenter. Justastheifrstofthemcameoppositeustipaused,andslowlyaporitonofthemassextendeditself fromthemainbulk;andthen,ilkedoorsopening,fourhugeeyes,eachofthemtwentyfeetindiamete,r opened and stared at us. "I'tsalive,Jim,"Iquavered.IhardlyknewmyownvoiceasIspoke. IMsteppedbacktotheconrtolswithawhiteface,andslowlywemovedclosertothemass.Aswe J approachedIthoughtthatIcoulddetectalfeeitngpassageofexpressioninthosehugeeyes.Then theydisappearedandonlyahugecrimsonandpurplebloblaybeforeus.Jimmovedtheconrtolsagain and the flyer came to a stop. Twolongsrteamersmovedoutfromthemass.Suddenlytherewasajerktotheshipwhichthrewus bothtothelfoo.rItstatredupwardatexpressrtainspeed.Jimstaggeredtohisfeet,graspedthe controlsandstatredallfourbowmotorsatfullcapacti,ybuteventhisenormousforcehadnotthe slightest effect in diminishing our speed. "Well,thething'sgotus,whatevertiis",saidJimashepulledhisconrtolstoneutral,shuittngoffall powe.rNowthatthedangerhadassumedatangibleform,heappearedascoolandcollectedaseve,r tomysurpirse,IfoundthatIhadrecoveredcontrolofmymuscleandofmyvoice.Ibecameawarethat theshoulderwhichJimhadgirppedwasachingbadly,andIrubbedtiabsentl.y "Whaits,tiJim?"Iaskedforthethirdtime. "Idon'tknow",hereplied."Itissomehorirbleinhabitantofspace,somethingunknowntousoneatrh. Fromitsappearanceandactions,Ithinkitmustbeahugesingle-celledanimalotfhetypeoftheeatrhly amoeba.Ifanamoebaisthatlargehere,whatmustanelephantlooklike?Howeve,rIexpectthatwe'll learnmoreaboutthematterlaterbecauseti'stakinguswtihti,whereverti'sgoing." UDDENLYthelfyerbecamedarkinside.Ilookedatthenearestwindow,butIcouldnotevendetect S itsoutline.Ireachedfotrheilghtswitch,butasuddenchangeindirecitonthrewmeagainstthewall. Therewasaninstantofintenseheaitntheflyer. "Wehavepassedtheheavisidelayer,"saidJim".Thebrutehaschangeddireciton,andwefeltthatheat whenhetookusthroughtheinfra-redwall." Ireachedagainforthelightswitch,butbeforeIcouldfindtiourmoitonceasedandaninstantlaterthe flyerwasiflledwtihglairngsunilgh.tWebothturnedtothewindow. Welayonagilsteningplainofbluishhuewhichstretchedwtihoutabreakasfaraswecouldsee.Nota thingbrokethemonotonyofourvision.Weturnedtotheoppositewindow.HowcanIdescirbethesight which met our horrified gaze? On the plain before us lay a huge purple monstrosity of gargantuan dimensions. The thing was a shapeless mass, only the four huge eyes standing out regarding us balefully.Themasswasconitnuallychangingitsoultineand,aswewatched,alongsrteamerextended itselffromthebodytowardus.Overandaroundthelfyerthefeelerwen,twhliegreenandredcolors playedoverifrstoneandthenanotherofthehugeeyesbeforeus.Thefeelerwrappedtiseflaroundthe lfyerandwewerelfitedintotheairtowardthosehorribleeyes.Wehadalmostreachedthemwhenthe thing dropped us. We fell to the plain with a crash. We staggered to our feet again and looked out. Our captorwasbailttngfotirslfie. TSattackerwasasmallerthingofabillirantgreenhue,stirpedandmolttedwithblueandyellow. I Whlieourcaptorwasalmostformless,thenewcomerhadaverydefiniteshape.Itresembledacross betweenabirdandalizard,itsshaperesembilngabird,asdiditnyrudimentarywingsandalongbeak, whilethescalycoveirngandthefactthatithadfourlegsinsteadoftwoboreouttheideathatitmightbe alizard.Itshugebirdlikebeakwasarmedwiththreerowsoflongsharpteethwtihwhichtiwasteairng atourcaptor.Thepurpleamoebawasholdingtisassaliantwtihadozenofitsthrownoutfeelerswhich werewrappedaboutthebodyandlegsotfhegreenhorror.Thewholebatltewasconductedinabsolute slience. "Now'sourchance,Jim!"Icried."Getawayrfomherewhliethatdragonhastheamoebabusy!" Hejumpedtotheconrtolleversofthelfyerandpulledthestatringswitchwellforward.Theshockofthe suddenstatrhulredmetothelfoo,rbutrfomwhereIfellIwasabletowatchthebattleontheplainbelow us.tIragedwtihuninterruptedfuryandIfeltcertainofourescapewhen,wtihashockwhichhurledboth Jimandmetotheceiilng,thelfyerstopped.WefellbacktothefloorandrIelfectedthattiwaswellforus thattheinterioroftheflyerwassowellpadded.Hadtinotbeen,ourboneswouldhavebeenbrokena dozenitmesbytheshockstowhichwehadbeensubjected. "Whatnow?"IaskedasIpainfullysrtuggledtomyfeet. "Anotherofthosepurpleamoebas,"repiledJimrfomthevantagepointofawindow."He'slookingus overasfihewerertyingtodecidewhetherweareedibleornot". I JOINEDhimatthewindow.Thethingwhichhaduswasarepilcaofthemonsterwehadleftbelowus engagedinbattlewiththegreendragonwhichhadattackedi.tThesameindeifntieandever changingoultinewaseviden,taswellasthefourhugeeyes.Thethingregardedusforamomentand slowlymovedusupagainstitsbulkunlitwetouchedi.tDeeperanddeeperintothemassofthebody wepenertateduntilwewereinadeepcavernwiththelightcomingtousonlyrfomtheentrance.I watchedtheenrtanceandhorrorpossessedmysou.l "The hole's closing. Jim!" I gasped. "The thing is swallowing us!" "Iexpectedtha",therepliedgriml.y"Theamoebahasnomouth,youknow.Nourishmenitspassedinto thebodythroughtheskin,whichclosesbehindti.WeareamodernversionofJonahandthewhale, FirstMotrgage." "Well,Jonahgotou,t"Iventured. "We'lltryto",hereplied."Whenthatcritterswallowedus,hegotsomethingthatwillprovepretty indigestible.Le'tsrtytogivehimastomachache.Idont'supposethatamachine-gunwillaffecthim,but we l' rtl y i .t " "Ididnt'knowthatyouhadanygunsonboard". "Ohyes,'Ivegottwomachine-guns.We'llturnoneofthemloose,butIdon'texpectmucheffectfromti." Emovedovetrooneofthegunsandthrewoffthecoverwhichhadhiddentirfommygaze.Hefed H inabeltofammunitionandpulledhistrigger.Forhalfaminutehehelditdown,andtwohundred andiftfycailberthirtybulletstoretheirwayintospace.Therewasnoevidenceofmovementonthepatr of our host. "JustasIthough",tremarkedJimashethrewasidetheemptybetlandcoveredthegunagain."The thinghasnonervousorganizationtospeakofandprobablyneverfelttha.tWel'lhavetoirgupa disintegraitngrayforhim." "What?" I gasped. "Adisintegratingray,"hereplied."Ohyes,Iknowhowtomakethefabulous'deathra'ythatyou journalists are always raving about. I have never announced my discovery, for war is horrible enough withouti,tbutIhavegeneratedtianduseditinmyworkanumberoftimes.Diditneveroccurtoyouthat therocketmotorisbuitlonadisintegratingraypirnciple?" "Ofcoursetiis,Jim.Ineverthoughtofitinthatlightbefore,butitmustbe.Howcanyouuseit?The dischargefromthemotorsisaharmlesssrteamofenergyparticles." "Insteadofturningtherayintopowderedaluminumandbreakingtidown,whatistopreventmerfom turning it against the body of our captor and blasting my way out?" "I don't know. " "Well,nothingis'I.llhavetomodfiyoneofthemotorsailttle,butti'snotahardjob.Getsomewrenches rfomthetoolboxandwe'llstart."