Giants on the Earth by S. P. Meek

  CHAPTER IV

  _Damis' Decision_

  Damis stared at Turgan for a moment as though unable to comprehend theold man's words.

  "Gone?" he repeated stupidly. "She has slain herself?"

  "No," replied the Kildare, his face still working in grief; "she is gonefrom us. She has been captured by Glavour's minions."

  "Her dagger--?" asked Damis hesitatingly.

  "Is gone with her," replied Turgan.

  The Nepthalim started toward the space ship but a thought wave from oneof the Martian envoys stopped him in mid-stride.

  "Wait, Man of Earth," came the message. "The heavens are eternallywatched by our people and none can enter or leave the vicinity of Marsunknown to us. My comrade is now inquiring of each of the observerswhence came the Jovians and where they have gone."

  Turgan and Damis waited impatiently. Presently the second Martian sent athought wave to their minds.

  "The Jovian ship approached Mars using Phobus, one of our moons, as ascreen to its movements. It was close to the planet before it was seen.When challenged, the ship sent a message saying that it was captained byToness, an Akildare of Earth and an enemy of the Jovians. The GrandMognac was engaged and the matter was referred to the Mozar ofChinamonot, the nearest city. Thinking they were your followers, hedirected them to land here. The Grand Mognac is enraged beyond measurethat, after so many ages of failure, the Jovians have made a successfulraid on our planet. The Mozar will pay for his indiscretion with hislife."

  A groan burst from Turgan's lips. Damis stood for a moment stricken withgrief, and then sprang in giant leaps toward the space flyer.

  "Come, Turgan!" he cried. "We may overtake them yet. At least we canavenge if we cannot save."

  The Kildare followed him more slowly.

  "Where, oh, Nepthalim," he asked, "will we find them in the tracklesswastes of space?"

  Damis paused at the words.

  "Why, between here and Earth," he replied. As he did so a thoughtcrossed his mind which was revealed by the sudden expression of dismaywhich clouded his features. "Earth, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Jupiter--allare under the rule of the Sons of God," he cried.

  "And to any of them, Glavour's ship may have fled," replied the Kildare."Before we start in pursuit, it is best to find, if we can, in whatdirection the ship went."

  * * * * *

  Frantically, Damis strove to muster his thoughts and hurl a question atthe two Martians who stood beside the transporter cylinders. Before thethought had been fully formed, an answer reached him.

  "I have been inquiring, Nepthalim, why, when our observers saw that theship contained Jovians, they were not destroyed. One of the observerswho watched them tells me that their ship landed between your ship andthe only instruments of destruction which could be brought to bear onthem. The Jovians poured out and attacked your crew who were all out ofthe ship. They were so mingled that it would have been impossible todestroy them without encompassing the destruction of your men as welland we could not blast their ship into nothingness without alsodestroying yours. When they rose again they carried one of your crew aprisoner and so they were not blasted out of the heavens. They took acourse which carried them behind Phobus where they were shielded. Whennext seen, they were headed away from your planet."

  "If Glavour came to Mars, Lura is dead by now," said Turgan sorrowfully,tears coursing down his cheeks. "Glavour is not one to await thefulfillment of his desires and Lura had her dagger. Her soul is now withHim whom we are taught to glorify. His will be done!"

  "If it be His will," replied Damis. "Don't give up, Turgan, we may saveher yet." He turned to the Martians and formed a thought message in hismind.

  "Has your science any way of telling us who was in command of the Jovianship?" he asked.

  "Were your men who lie dead familiar with the features of the JovianViceroy?"

  "Yes, all of them."

  "Then we will search the brains of the dead. The pictures that are inthe living brain fade rapidly when death comes, but the last impressionof these men was a powerful one of fighting and hatred and some tracesmay remain. I will search."

  * * * * *

  The huge slug crawled over the ground to the body of the nearest deadTerrestrial. In one of his many hands he carried a shiny metal tube fromwhich crimson rays flickered and played over the head of the dead man.The skull disintegrated under the influence of the strange instrumentuntil the brain lay naked and exposed to the fierce glare of the Martiansun. The Martian delicately connected two wires terminating in metalplates to the tissue of the brain and attached the other ends of thewires to a metal circlet which he clamped about his middle. For somemoments he remained motionless and then crawled to the body of thesecond dead Earthman. One after another he examined each of the eighteendead bodies. When he had completed he crawled over to Damis and Turgan.

  "Put these bands about your brows," he commanded in thought language ashe handed to each of them a metallic band similar to the one claspedabout him. The two Earthmen quickly adjusted the bands. "Let your mindsremain a blank and in them will be reproduced the impressions I havegathered from the brains of your dead followers."

  Damis sprang suddenly upward and smote with all of his force at theair. Out of nothingness had materialized the form of a huge Jovian cladin the uniform of Glavour's guards. His blow went harmless through thethin air and the Jovian swung a massive ax. Just before the blow landedthe Jovian disappeared and a thought wave from the Martian impinged onDamis' brain.

  "Spare your energies, Nepthalim," the message said. "What you saw wasnot a Jovian but was the last impression stored in the brain of the manwho met his death under a blow of the ax which seemed to be striking atyou. I am merely reproducing in you the emotions and experiences thatman felt. Had I allowed the phantom blow to land, you would now be coldin death, so great was the strength of the impression. Now make yourmind again a blank and I will reveal to you what was in the mind ofanother at the instant that his death came upon him."

  * * * * *

  Before the Nepthalim's startled gaze, another Jovian appeared.

  "Havenner!" he cried as he recognized the principal officer of Glavour.The equerry came forward slowly, blood dripping from a wound in his leg.He swung his ax but it went wide of the mark. Again he struck, but twoTerrestrials attacked him from the rear and he whirled. For a moment,Damis had a chance to watch the conflict which was raging about him.Nine of the huge Jovians were engaged in deadly combat with a dozen ofthe Terrestrials who still remained on their feet. In the door of thespace ship stood Lura, watching the conflict with frightened eyes. Oneafter another of the Earthmen were stricken down. Suddenly a Jovianrushed at Damis but the scene went blank before the raised ax couldstrike him down.

  "Have you seen enough or shall I show you the scenes in the brains ofthe others?" asked the Martian.

  "I have seen and recognized nine of the Jovians," replied Damis, "yetamong them was not the one I feared. Let me see into the brains of theothers that I may be sure that Glavour was not among them."

  Another scene materialized before him. It was merely a variation ofthose he had already seen. In the brain of one of the Terrestrials hesaw the landing of the Jovian ship and the sudden outrush of the Sons ofGod, armed only with the forty-pound axes they used at close quarters.In none of the scenes did he see the huge form of Glavour. He removedthe band with a sigh of relief.

  "I broke Glavour's arms a few days back," he said to Turgan, "and it isprobable that that prevented him from following us, even if he felt thathe could leave the Earth in the turmoil which Toness had undoubtedlyraised. It means that Lura is safe for the present, for Havenner wouldnot dare to do other than to bring her to the Viceroy. We must followthem and endeavor to rescue her. I will ask our friends if they can plother course for us."

  * * * * *

 
"I have inquired as to that," replied the Martian to Damis' unspokenquestion, "and find we cannot. Soon after the ship left the surface ofMars, our observers sighted a Jovian fleet of a hundred flyers in theasteroid belt between here and Jupiter. They are nearly through the beltnow and are headed toward your planet. Their path will bring them withina few thousand miles of Mars and every instrument on the planet istrained on them. While the Grand Mognac believes that Earth is theirdestination, never before have the Jovians approached us in such forceand it may be that Tubain will try to avenge his former defeats by anattack in force. We have no instruments to spare to keep track of a loneflyer unless it changes its course and approaches us. There is one moresource of information. I will examine the brains of the dead Jovians.Perhaps they know their leader's plans."

  From the first Jovian the Martian turned away with an expression ofdisappointment.

  "There is nothing in his brain but a scene of the fight with yourfollowers, yet it may cheer you to know that at the last he felt fear,the emotion the Jovians boast is foreign to them," said the Martian. "Iwill examine the other."

  With his crimson ray he removed the covering from the brain of thesecond Jovian and connected his wires. For a few moments he wasmotionless and then he removed the wires and crawled rapidly towardDamis.

  "Nepthalim, here is what you wish," came his thoughts, jumbled in achaotic state of excitement. "This man had a wonderful brain and theimpressions of the last month are clear and distinct. Attend carefullyand leave your mind a blank."

  * * * * *

  On the Martian plain buildings suddenly materialized before theNepthalim's gaze. With a cry of astonishment he saw himself facingGlavour in defiance. Lura, who had been crouching behind him, ran intoone of the buildings. Act by act, Damis saw the fight between himselfand the Jovian Viceroy repeated. The Viceroy, one arm danglinguselessly, was whisked away in his chariot. The scene faded and anothertook its place. The Viceregal palace was beleaguered by thousands andscores of thousands of shouting Terrestrials. The Jovians sought withrays and with atomic bombs to disperse them, but where a score wereblasted into nothingness or torn into fragments, a hundred fresh mentook their place. Suddenly the Jovian rays began to fail. The Earthmenhad found the secret source of power which supplied the palace and hadcut it.

  Again the scene faded and he was on a space ship with Havenner talkingto him. The words he could not hear for the Martian could not comprehenda record of a sound. The pictures conjured up by the words were easy ofcomprehension and in picture forms the Martian conveyed to him the senseof the conversation. Havenner was telling him of their destination.First came a scene which he recognized as a Martian landscape. TheJovians swarmed from their space ship and struck down the Earthmenwithout exertion. Three were made captives: himself, Turgan, and Lura.The Jovians reentered the ship and sped away into space. Damis wonderedwhat this last picture signified.

  * * * * *

  Another scene materialized and they were on another planet. It was notMars and it was not Earth. For a moment he was puzzled. The sun, when itshone, was larger and fiercer than he had ever seen it, but it shoneonly for an instant. Blankets of cloud and fog hid it from view. Rainfell incessantly. Lush, rank vegetation covered the ground and rose in atangle far overhead. The Jovians emerged from the space ship, theprisoners in their midst. A huge lizard, a hundred feet long, rushed atthem but a flash of the disintegrating tubes dissolved it into dancingmotes of light. The Jovians made their way through the steaming jungleuntil a huge city, roofed with a crystal dome which covered it andarched high into the air, appeared before them. Toward this city theJovians marched.

  "The crystal cities of Venus!" cried Turgan. Damis nodded in assent.

  Again the scene changed and the Martian plain was before them. From thespace ship the Jovians emerged, but instead of the easy victory they hadhad in the earlier scene, they found the task a difficult one. From allsides the Terrestrials charged at them and Damis found himself fightingagainst his compatriots. A sword flashed before his eyes and the scenewas gone.

  "Have you learned that which you sought?" came a Martian thoughtinquiry.

  Damis hastily formed his thoughts into an affirmative message of thanksand turned to Turgan.

  "We know now where to go," he cried exultingly. "Lura is safe until theyland on Venus and enter the crystal cities, for Havenner would not dareto do otherwise than carry out the orders of Glavour. The Martianweapons which we have will insure us an easy victory. Come, let ushasten."

  A thought message from the Martians stopped him.

  * * * * *

  "Those weapons on which you are planning, Nepthalim, were given to youby our Grand Mognac for the purpose of ridding your planet of youroppressors and of defending your planet against further Jovian attacks,not for the purpose of invading another planet with which we have noquarrel. If you will use them for the purpose for which they were givenyou, you may depart with them in peace. If you plan to go to Venus, theweapons will remain on Mars."

  "We will go to the Earth and rid her of her oppressors," replied Damis,"but first we must go to Venus and rescue Lura."

  "Venus lies beyond the sun," was the Martian answer, "while your planetand Mars are on the same side. It will take you five times as long to goto Venus as to go to the Earth. Meanwhile the Jovian fleet will havelanded and your efforts will be in vain to dislodge them. Even now youmust fly at your best speed to reach your planet before them."

  "But we cannot abandon Lura. She is the only daughter of my comrade andshe is my affianced bride. She means more to us than does the fate ofour planet."

  "Then go to Venus after her, Nepthalim, but go without Martian aid. Onlyto save you from your oppressors will we help you. Never has Marsattempted conquest of another celestial body, although not even Jupitercould stand against our might if we chose to attack it."

  "You cannot understand her relationship to us, Martian."

  "No, I cannot. We are sexless and sex exists on Mars only for thepurpose for which it was intended, the perpetuation of our species. Itmay be that we have been mistaken. If the fate of one member of yourspecies means more to you than the rescue of your whole race, it isperhaps well that you be eliminated by the Jovians. In any event, ourdecision is final. Make your choice of whether you depart with theweapons or as you came."

  "Then I will go to Venus," cried Damis. "If necessary, I will fight theJovians with bare hands, but I will rescue Lura or die in the attempt."

  * * * * *

  "And what of the Earthmen who trusted you, Nepthalim?" asked Turgan."Dozens gave their lives gladly to capture the space ship in which wecame here and thousands have gone cheerfully to annihilation to keep theSons of God beleaguered in the Viceregal palace until we return with theweapons which will bring them victory. Think you that they would choosethe destruction of enslavement of the whole race to the possible chanceof rescuing one person from the grasp of Glavour's minions?"

  "Turgan, you are mad!" cried Damis. "Have you forgotten that Lura isyour only child?"

  "Since the days of Hortan, Glavour has sought information as to thesecret assembly room. Hundreds of men have gone to torture and deathwith their lips sealed when they could have bought life and freedom byspeaking."

  "Were it my own life, Turgan, I would not hesitate."

  "Think you that never before has an Earthman been faced with the choiceof betraying his countrymen or seeing his wife or daughter violated andsacrificed in the games? All have been true to the last and yet theycould have done little harm had they spoken. _You_ have the fate of theEarth in your hand, yet you hesitate. I am Lura's father and I know herbetter, it seems, than do you. If you abandon her countrymen, she willdespise you for a coward. It is better that one or that many be lostthan that all be lost."

  Damis bowed his head in silence. Raised by the Jovians whose only i
dealof life was their own selfish pleasure, the thought that the fate ofthousands whom he did not know and in whom he felt little interest couldbe of more importance than the fate of the one whose safety meant morethan life to him was a novel one. The lifelong training he had receivedfrom the Sons of God struggled, and struggled in vain, against theideals he had inherited from his Earthly mother and his loved sire. Witha face drawn with anguish, he raised his head.

  * * * * *

  "We will take your weapons, Martian, and with them go to Earth. If it beHis will that Lura be safe, safe shall she be although the whole forceof Jupiter threaten her. If not, His will be done. One promise I exactof you, Turgan. When we have reached Earth and I have taught yourfollowers to use the Martian weapons, you will give me a crew and let medepart to Venus to find her."

  "Gladly will I promise, and if I be spared, I will go with you, Damis,"said Turgan. "Do not think that Lura is not dear to me; she is dearerthan all else in the Universe save only the keeping bright the ideal ofloyalty that has been the guiding light of the Terrestrials for untoldages."

  "Your decision is well made, Nepthalim," said the Martian, "and word ofit shall be given to the Grand Mognac that he may know that he made nomistake when he entrusted you with the weapons of Mars. Now for yourcourse. When you rise, direct your ship toward Deiphos. The Jovian fleetis now at an ascension of forty-two degrees and at an angle of onehundred and sixty degrees from the sun. Deiphos will hide you from theirinstruments. Once you reach it, our observers will plot your course andsend you a bearing which will take you as far from the Jovian fleet aspossible. They are now passing Ceres and will soon be out of theasteroid belt. They are larger and more powerful than the ship you areflying and they will make better speed. However, if you use your maximumpower, you will easily arrive on your planet before them. Have you fuelenough for your trip at full speed?"

  Damis hastily inspected the fuel supply of the ship and made some rapidcalculations.

  "We have enough to carry us at maximum speed to Earth and to retard usto a safe landing, but very little to spare. Can you give us some?"

  "There is no tantalum on Mars except a little scattered through tons ofrock. It would take us days to extract enough to do you any good. It iswell that you did not plan to fly to Venus for you could have madelittle speed and the Jovian flyer would have reached there long beforeyou did. Now go, and may our best wishes aid you in your flight."

  * * * * *

  Damis turned and instinctively held out his hand. A trace of expressionflickered over the face of the nearest Martian slug and he bent forwardand clasped the proffered hand in one of the many hands with which hewas provided. No further message came to Damis from the Martians and heentered the airlock with Turgan following him. As the lock clanged shut,he turned to his companion.

  "Open the reserve air tanks and restore the atmosphere gradually to thepressure of Earth," he directed. "Unless you do that, we will be unableto function efficiently."

  While Turgan opened the valve which allowed the reserve supply ofcompressed air to gradually enter the ship, Damis pulled down thestarting lever of the ship. With a terrific lurch the flyer left thesurface of Mars and shot up into the trackless realms of space.Abandoning his controls for an instant, Damis looked into one of theobservers. The plain below them was empty of Martians, but in thedistance he could dimly see two of the silvery domes which marked theircities. He made some short calculations and turned on a side motor for amoment. The ship swerved and headed for the Martian satellite to whichhe had been directed.

  In an hour he was holding the ship less than a thousand miles fromDeiphos while he received a message from the Grand Mognac as to thelocation of the Jovian fleet, their speed and course, and the coursewhich he should fly to reach the Earth ahead of them. He noted down thedirections and set the cross hairs of his forward observer on AlphaCentauri. His hand sought the controlling lever and the ship rapidlygathered momentum for the trip to Earth.