 CHAPTER XIX Two weeks later found court haggard and red-eyed with exhaustion. Lee and Ardath, aided by Lee Yang, Scipio, and Marion, had been working day and night, experimenting, testing, discarding. Court's tasks had been complicated by the difficulty of securing the government's backing. The President, though in favor of court's proposal, would not give his consent until the country's foremost scientists had approved. They still don't realize what we're up against, court told Marion. The two were walking toward a huge white auditorium on Pennsylvania Avenue. The dome of the capital loomed against the blue sky. A number of cars were drawn up before the marble building. But they know what the plague's doing, Marion said worriedly. New cases every day. I know, perhaps I shouldn't have asked for as much money as I did, yet we'll need it all. Small weapons aren't enough. We've got to build the shield to save Earth. Well, today's the day, she mused. All the scientists will be there, with lots of army officials and Washington bigwigs. Court smiled. Yes, I hope. He turned into an alcove and picked up a phone. Presently he asked, Cipio? All set? Good. Be careful now. He turned back to Marion. This may be dangerous, but I think it'll do the trick. Before long he was on the stage of the auditorium, a life well-built figure against a background of sable curtains. The room was nearly filled with a crowd of men, scientists, uniformed army men, and women's. A rustle of expectancy went through them as court appeared. Without preamble he began. I am going to ask you to witness. He paused as reporters' flashlight bulbs popped and glared. All right, boys, save some of your plates till later. You will need them. To resume, I am going to perform an experiment for you today. Most of you are already familiar with my proposal. I have found a cure for the plague, but it is an expensive one. On the other hand, it is the only possible way to save the human race from extinction. Bunk! A voice yelled, Prove it! Court lifted his hand. One moment! You have all read about our death. Some of you, I think, have seen my colleague. His strange history has become familiar to you. Let me introduce him now. Our death walked out on the platform. His antique clothing had been replaced by a well-fitting suit of light flannels, and his slim figure went over to stand beside court. The lean, patrician face looked out over the audience without expression. FAKE! A cry arose. It was echoed by others. A gray-haired man stood up. If you have found a cure for the plague, Prove it! This Ardath may be an imposter. He probably is. He has nothing to do with... Ardath did not say a word, but he stepped forward to pace. Something in the look of the strange alien eyes brought silence to the auditorium. In the stillness court spoke again. You know that the plague is fatal. To touch a carrier is instant death. That there is no possible insulation. I have already given my theories about the origin of the plague. It is sheer life energy, the ultimate evolution of all life, the residuum of some immeasurably ancient universe that evolved into pure energy, perhaps eons ago. This cosmic cloud of energy has drifted through the interstellar void until its edges infringe upon the earth. Some catalyst in our atmosphere made it potent, infected our me-forms with this strange virus. What the plague does is simply this. It speeds up entropy, and the evolution that takes place is abnormal against nature. It paused, drew a deep breath, and resumed. Normal evolution is slow. Mankind automatically adjusts itself to different environments through the course of ages. But this is a sudden jump to the ultimate life-form, which in the normal course of events should not exist in this system for billions of years. That disrupts the evolutionary check and balance system. Energy is not yet ready for this metamorphosis. It must come slowly and gradually over a period of millions of years. Let me sketch for you the future. More and more of the carriers will appear as earth plunges deeper into the heart of the cloud of life energy. The carriers will feed on those who are once their fellows. Eventually only they will exist on this planet, and even they will die in the end for lack of sustenance. In less than fifty years the world will be a barren, dead sphere drifting through space. That is what it might have been had we not found a cure. Then the Kyrian's clipped precise voice rang through the auditorium. It speaks truly. You men of this civilization are strange to me. Perhaps few of you believe the story of my origin. That does not matter. Working together, Court and I have discovered the nature of the plague and found a solution. It is this. The carriers are forms of me-energy. They can be destroyed, but only by creating a stronger type of energy which will drain their own. Only one thing will do that, atomic power. A certain carrier came in touch with the unguarded atomic power in my spaceship. Later we searched for him and found his body near the vessel. Exposure to the terrific energy had killed him. Court nodded, remembering how he and our death had hunted through the Wisconsin hills for Sammy, and the burned, inhuman thing they had found at last. The Kyrian went on. Atomic power, short circuits, the carriers, drains their energy. Already we have constructed portable weapons which are thoroughly satisfactory. But the life cloud in space, a voice from the audience broke in, you can't destroy that! The Kyrians smiled grimly. True, and more and more carriers will appear as we approach the nucleus of the cloud. But we can protect Earth, create a wall around it, a shell of atomic energy. With the right machines we can transform the Heaviside layer into a shield that will perfectly insulate this planet against the cosmic cloud. Over-radiation will still come through unchecked, but not a trace of the deadly life energy will be able to penetrate the shield. A low murmuring in the auditorium grew into a roar, men rose and shouted questions, challenges at Ardath. A shield around the Earth, ridiculous! Such fantastic pipe-dreams belonged with perpetual motion and other exploded theories. Ardath glanced wryly at court. Well, I see I can't convince them, shall we? Court was waving his arms, trying to quiet the crowd. His attempts were useless. Already some of the audience were rising and heading for the exits. No one saw court wave toward the wings. But all eyes turned to the stage when the black curtain rustled apart. Simultaneously a gasp of sheer horror ripped from hundreds of throats. On the platform was a carrier. A huge box of luminous metal stood just behind it in which the horror had apparently been confined. It was open now and the luminous fog that constituted the carrier was drifting forward with purposeful intent. Ardath and court had raced to one side of the stage. Scipio appeared, wheeling a small contrivance no larger than a dictaphone. A conical tube topped it, ending in a translucent lens. Good! Court snapped at the Carthaginian. But for God's sake, be careful now! The giant nodded with a flash of white teeth. Court turned to the paralyzed audience. Stay where you are. There is no danger unless you get hysterical and riot. A uniformed man in the aisle shouted an oath and whipped out his revolver. He pumped bullets at the glowing creature. Naturally there was no result. Court waited till the echoes had died. No one will deny that this is an authentic carrier. Watch! The creature was at the edge of the platform when Scipio swung his weapon to focus upon it. The result was unspectacular. A ray of intense white light struck from the lens and the glow surrounding the carrier merely began to fade. The thing remained motionless, all its glory dulling. At last there was only something like a mummy collapsing to lie motionless on the stage. Scipio switched off the light. Take your seats, please! Court said. I have no more surprises for you. I shall welcome a committee to examine the body of this carrier. The first man to hasten down the aisle was a strongly built, handsome man with grizzled gray hair. He went directly to court. Mr. President! Court cried. I didn't know you intended to be here or I wouldn't have. I'm glad you did make that experiment, said the President of the United States. I doubt if the scientists will fail to approve your plan now. There was a little twinkle in the level gray eyes. And if they do, I have authority under martial law to order you to build your earth shield and to give you every assistance you require. The big figure turned toward the audience and the President waved at the group of reporters. Put that on your front pages, boys. Stephen Court's in charge. With silent, incredible speed, earth swung into action to fight the cosmic menace. Stephen Court was in charge. Beside him, Ardath worked, untiring, unsparing of himself. Lee Yang, Scipio, and Maryam Barton let their aid. Staffs of trained scientists gathered from all over the world. Factories were hastily commandeered and their machine re-altered so they could turn out quantities of the atomic energy portable guns. From San Francisco to New York, from New Orleans to Chicago, trained men went busily to work. Production of the guns was left to subordinates. Once provided with the plans, they executed their orders with swift precision. Troops of militia were armed with the weapons and sent into plague-infested areas. New York was cleared of the carriers and the other cities as well. Guns of the guns were stored in airports, ready for instant transportation whenever a case of the plague was reported. Such reports were constant these days. Earth was approaching dangerously close to the nucleus of the cosmic cloud. Ardath flew to China with Lee Yang and two hundred famous scientists. A job had to be done there. Two gigantic towers had to be erected, on each side of the earth, one in the US, one in America. Court was in charge of constructing the latter. He remained in constant telephonic communication with Ardath. Speed was essential. Every resource of the country was turned to building the earth shield. Business was neglected. The government issued their orders, delegating certain jobs to certain groups. The people had to be fed, of course, but every capable man was mustered to the task for which he was best fitted. Factories worked day and night. Every other country lent its aid. Canada, England, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, all forgot their imperialistic and trade quarrels in order to battle the common enemy. There was no time for war. Build the towers, create the earth shield. These aims were foremost. Slowly, the mighty obelisks rose. They resemble the Eiffel Tower, but were far taller and larger. Immense girders buckled huge beams together as the monoliths rose against the sky day by day. Faster, faster the men worked. At night searchlights were used. New roads were built and old ones widened, all converging on the towers. A railroad was laid to each one from the nearest line. High towns found themselves incredibly augmented in populations. Emergency barracks rose. Dapper physicists and chemists slept side by side with burly roustabouts and riveters. No thought of class and few quarrels rose. Each man knew that the plague might strike his own family next. Under his breath he whispered, Build the earth shield, hurry, hurry! Two towers loomed at last, visible for many miles. Each one was topped with a shimmering, bright sphere of metal fifty feet in diameter. From these globes the atomic energy would flame out, to encircle the planet and transform the atomic structure of the heavicide layer into an impregnable barrier. Chapter 20. Thordrid Returns Thordrid had little time to rest. He had frequent reports from the Chief of the FBI, whom he had requested to track down the vanished Thordrid. But the bearded giant had disappeared without a trace. His continued presence met danger, however. Thordrid possessed the knowledge he had stolen from the minds of both Ardath and Court. The dragnets searched for him vainly. One night Court Scipio and Marion stood in the control room just beneath the huge globe that topped the tower. The task was finished. The last workman had just departed in the elevator that led to the ground. The three stood quietly, staring out at the land that stretched far beneath them. Bright moonlight bathed everything weirdly, yet beautifully. The room was fifty feet square, a flat platform around which a low railing ran. There were no walls. Metal supports stood up like thick columns at intervals. The globe above their heads was hollow, else not even the tough, reinforced steel of the tower could have supported its weight. They could not see the sphere. Nine feet above their heads the ceiling was plated with thickness after thickness of Ardath's alloy, the only thing that would halt the radiation of atomic energy. Court fumbled with a televisor. "'Wish I'd finished this weeks ago,' he complained. Ardath showed me how to build it, but I didn't have time. Let's see.' The screen ran riot with color that swiftly faded into a uniform gray. "'Trying for China?' Marion asked, coming to stand close to Court. He nodded. The other tower. I'm getting it. Here it is.' On the screen the fat, butter-colored face of Li Yang appeared. The beady black eyes stared. "'Court? Hello. How's the work?' "'All finished,' Court sighed. "'We're just waiting for you.' Bolded the last connection half an hour ago.' "'Fine,' the Oriental applauded. "'We'll be ready to-morrow, perhaps sooner. Wait a moment. Here's Ardath.' The Korean's thin, ascetic face replaced that of Li Yang. His eyes were red-rimmed with fatigue. "'So, your finished, Court,' he said. "'Good. My workmen were not much slower. We'll be done in a few hours. Not to-morrow, Li Yang. Then we can turn on the power.' "'Don't forget,' Ardath's lips thinned. "'We must be careful. Both of us must turn on the switches at exactly the same moment, otherwise there will be disaster. The atomic screen must meet just half way around the earth. If you turn on your power too soon, your energy screen will smash mine back and destroy this tower completely. We must be completely accurate.' Court glanced at an instrument panel near him. "'I will. Wait a minute. Someone's coming up in the elevator.' The warning bell was ringing. Presently the lift rose into view. An overall figure, half hidden under the weight of a wooden box, stepped out of the cage. Scipio turned from where he had been leaning on the rail and staring down into the black gulf. He peered at the workmen. Marion's brows drew together in puzzlement. "'What's this?' she asked. "'We didn't.' The box fell crashing to the floor. The face of the man behind it was revealed. It was no longer bearded, clean shaven now and with the hair bleached yellow, yet the arrogant mouth, hawk nose and the tawny amber eyes could belong to only one man, Thordred. His hand went up, a lens blinking bluely in it. The mouth gaped in a snarl. "'Don't move,' his voice shook with mad fury. "'Don't move a muscle. I've come back.'" Court still stood before the televisor. On the screen he saw Ardath's face watching, immobile and intent. He glimpsed a heavy wrench that was lying forgotten on the ledge of the televisor. It was hidden from Thordred's view by the instrument's bulk. Thordred let his hand gently close over it. "'Don't be a fool,' he said. "'You can't possibly escape.'" Thordred laughed harshly. "'No, you saw to that. Your police have come after me. If I hadn't stolen your memories, I'd never have escaped them. I disguised myself as a workman and rode up here. Nobody stopped me. And I have a weapon now. I made it, with the knowledge and memories I took from Ardath.' Marion's face was paper-white. Scipio stood motionless, his gigantic hands gripping the rail behind him. "'What do you intend to do?' Court asked. "'Kill you,' Thordred rasped. "'Then I'll turn on the power. I know how to do that, and the energy will destroy Ardath in his tower. With you two out of the way, I can rule the earth. My brain, with the combined knowledge of yours and his, is wiser than any other in the world.'" "'You may do that,' Court admitted, warily, watching for an opening. But what about the plague? I haven't forgotten that. The towers can be repaired. The earth shield can be created even without you and Ardath. But then I shall rule this planet.' Softly, without moving his lips, Court whispered into the televisor, "'Turn on your power, Ardath. It'll destroy Thordred. We'll go with it, but that's the only way.'" The Kyrian did not speak, but he shook his head slightly. Thordred moved forward. The blue lens in his hand lifted. "'Now,' he said, "'Now you die.'" Court's muscles tensed for a hopeless leap. He knew he could not reach the other in time. His fingers tightened over the wrench. Scipio had not moved. His eyes were aglow. Murder-lust sprang into Thordred's dark face. He aimed the crystal. "'Thordred,' Ardath's voice rang out from the televisor. Thordred involuntarily glanced toward the instrument. Simultaneously on the screen, a beam of blinding white light flashed from Ardath's hand. It flamed into Thordred's eyes, blinding him. Roaring, the giant shook his head, a ray of blue radiance spearing wildly from the lens he held. Court snatched up the wrench and hurled it with all his strength. It struck Thordred's hand. The lens was hurled away to shatter on the metallic floor. Ready to hurl himself at Thordred, Court was halted by Scipio's bull voice. The Carthaginian roared, "'Back, Court! He is mine, mine to slay!' No longer blinded by the ray, Thordred turned to face this new menace. With a snarl of a cornered beast he closed with his attacker. The mighty hair-covered hands closed about Scipio's throat. The Carthaginian tore them away and the two men gripped each other about the waste. They reeled back and forth, each striving to throw the other. To and fro on the platform they wrestled, hundreds of feet above the ground. Staggering to the railed brink and back, Thordred bellowed with insane rage. His mouth gaped open as he sought to sink his teeth into Scipio's throat. The Carthaginian swung his fist in a short arc. The power of the blow brought blood gushing from Thordred's cheek. Court and Marion, and on the screen Ardeth and Lee Yang, watched the two Titans battle. The men were well matched. Thordred was taller but Scipio seemed to weigh a trifle more. But the raging, murderous frenzy that filled them both was exactly equal. Abruptly, Thordred drove a foul blow at Scipio's middle. The Carthaginian grunted and his guard dropped for a moment. Instantly Thordred hurled himself upon his opponent. The two went down, Thordred on top. The hairy hands again sank into Scipio's corded throat. Court sprang forward, the wrench in his hand. Scipio turned his head slightly, his deep voice roared a warning. Back, Court, he is mine to slay! Then the iron hands of the gladiator from Carthage found their mark, the throat of the savage from the earth's youth. And they sank deep, deep. All the tremendous strength in Scipio's muscles seemed to flow into his arms, cords and knots stood out under his bronze skin. His face was suddenly gorged with purple. Blood stained his shaved chin began trickling down. Desperately he strove to throttle his opponent. Abandoning the effort he released his grip and stabbed his fingers down at Scipio's eyes. The Carthaginian expertly rolled his head and the foul missed its mark. Thordred was suddenly clawing at the terrible hands that shut off his breath. His body jerked and writhed like a hooked fish. His eyes were distended and protruding. Frantically he tried to tear himself free and could not. You left her to die, Scipio whispered. Court knew that he spoke of Janssia, the Atlantean priestess. One last frightful effort Thordred made. Everything snapped with a brittle, crackling report. Simultaneously the giant flung himself up with one uncoiling motion. He stood upright, amber eyes glaring, breath hissing and rattling into his starved lungs. Suddenly the huge head lulled forward slackly on its broken neck. For a heartbeat Thordred stood silhouetted against the dark sky. Then he crashed lifeless to the floor. Scipio sprang up. He heaved up the heavy body of Thordred and went staggering toward the railing. He flung the body out into the abyss and stared after it with brooding eyes. Your vengeance, Janssia, he whispered, and mine. In Scipio and Gricola africanus the man from Carthage put his head down on his arms. He began to weep great choking sobs that ripped harshly from his throat. Court looked away in sympathy and walked toward the televisor screen. Against it Marion leaned faint with reaction. Both Ardeth and Lee Yang were watching. Although the Oriental's gross, yellow face was immobile, his lacquer eyes were suddenly aglow with pity. Oh, Lee Yang sighed softly, alas for such men as Scipio who find neither thrones nor love. Ardeth turned when a man appeared behind him on the screen. After a few words he faced Court. The work has been done sooner than I expected. We can turn on the power now. Compare your chronometer with mine. The two delicate timepieces checked precisely. At exactly eleven throw your switch, Ardeth instructed. I shall do the same. They were ten seconds to go. Five. Three. Court's hand trembled on the switch. Two. One. Now. Deathening thunder bellowed out from the summit of the tower. For miles around, the roaring blast shattered windows and awakened sleepers to panicky fright. White light made the country bright as day. For a second the maelstrom of raving light and sound continued. Then it swiftly died. There was silence, save for a low humming. "'Good,' our death said on the screen, we timed it exactly right. In two minutes, watch the sky. If it lights up, we have succeeded." With one accord, Cort and Marion hurry to the railing. Even Scipio lifted his head to stare at the black sky. Two minutes to wait. The incredible barrier of electrons, the curtain of atomic energy, was rushing around the earth, spreading out from the points of origin in the twin towers. One minute dragged by. Then, without warning, the sky turned white. The dim stars vanished. A curtain of pallet white brilliance hung over the earth like a shining ivory bowl overturned upon the land. A single heartbeat it remained and then faded and was gone. But Cort knew that the earth-shield had been created. That barrier would forever safeguard mankind. "'We've won,' his voice was hoarse with triumph. Marion, we've saved humanity!' There was something inexpressibly tender in the girl's eyes as she watched him. For now she knew that Stephen Cort was a man whom she could love and cherish. Not a cold, inhuman machine. In the hour of his triumph he exalted not because he had solved a terrible problem with his keen brain, Cort rejoiced because he had saved human beings from horror and death. "'Yes,' Marion said softly, "'We've won, Steve. Both of us have won what we wanted.' From the metallic sphere overhead invisible energy flared out, challenging the stars, as it poured its mighty power into the earth-shield. Epilogue. One year later a little group stood on the Wisconsin hills, examining a huge golden spaceship that loomed against the green slope and the summer sky. It had taken months to build a new vessel to our death's specifications, but at last the task had been finished, the equipment installed and the provisions taken aboard. In every respect the craft was a duplicate of the Kyrene original, save for a few new devices which Ardeth and Cort had perfected. Scipio, Lee Yang, and Ardeth stood together in the open airlock. Marion and Cort a few feet away. It was difficult to find words at this moment of sad farewell. "'I am sorry you will not go with us, both of you,' Ardeth said after a time. Yet you may be right.' "'You know how I feel about it,' Cort returned. "'The plague is destroyed. It will never come again thanks to the earth-shield. But new dangers may arise. These people among whom I was born are my people. I must be ready to serve and help them. I think that was the reason I was given a mind evolved beyond my time. I can help in so many ways, Ardeth. There is so much I can do to improve this world of mine. Already in one year vast strides have been made. Atomic power has outlawed war. When I die I want to die in a utopia that I have helped to build.' Ardeth nodded with understanding. I came through time to find a supermind whom I could abduct to start a new race. Well, I have found that supermind, and you are wiser than I, Stephen Cort. We are all part of some cosmic pattern and this pattern works toward good and not evil. It builds and does not destroy. Also I shall go on in my search for a race where I can find kinship and happiness. Perhaps a thousand years from now I shall stand beside your grave, Cort. I too, Scipio broke in. Your world is a fine one, Cort, and some of it I like, but I follow a dream. May hap I can carve out a kingdom in some distant future. He did not finish, but his face was suddenly somber. I cannot stay here, he said at last. Janssia died here, and that would always be an aching pain in my heart. Nor will I remain, Lee Yang murmured. Perhaps it is merely curiosity that impels me to go on with Ardeth. I do not know, but the unknown has a certain fascination, and I am anxious to know what will exist a million years from now. So farewell and—the tiny mouth twisted grotesquely—and do not forget, fat old Lee Yang. The gross figure turned hastily and disappeared into the ship. Scipio bent and touched his lips to Marion's brow before he squeezed Cort's hand in a mighty grip. The gods watch over you, he rumbled and was gone inside. Now Ardeth's strange, alien eyes dwelt on the faces of Marion and Cort. There is nothing I can say, he whispered, only farewell. Some indefinable bond of kinship between minds flashed for an instant as Cort and Ardeth gazed into each other's eyes. Then the Kyrian stepped back into the ship and the port swung shut. The vessel lifted. It rose silently and dwindled against the blue, a bright golden ovoid that faded to a speck and was out of sight. It sped toward the orbit it would follow around the earth, perhaps for thousands of years, until Ardeth and Scipio and Lee Yang awoke to follow their strange destiny. Two figures stood close together on the slope. Marion and Cort looked up until all trace of the golden ship was gone. There was only the blue sky then and the green hills of Wisconsin. Still silent and with the man's arm holding the girl's slim form close to him, they turned to retrace their steps to the highway where a car waited. There was nothing they could say and no need for words had they found any. The End of The Creature From Beyond Infinity by Henry Kuttner, read by Mark Nelson. This recording is in the public domain.