T2 Return To Mars

by Captain W E Johns

  'That rascal Rolto shall yet rue the day he tried to kill us,' he declared.

  Vargo said nothing. Through it all he had sat like a graven image, complete master of his emotions, as a superman should be. Rex didn't know whether to admire him, or pity him for having such unnatural self-control.

  'I'm afraid we're going to have a long struggle,' opined the Professor.

  The farther away from Jupiter we get the less should be its pull,' said Rex.

  'Yes, my boy,' answered the Professor. 'But against that, the farther away we get the thinner becomes the atmosphere for the rotors to grip; and the cosmic jets, alone, I fear, are still not powerful enough to thrust us clear.'

  'Here's Rolto coming back,' Toby shook them by saying.

  Looking out Rex saw two spaceships coming towards them like projectiles.

  'It isn't Rolto,

  ' he cried. 'The ships have yellow stars, not blue.'

  The ships did a circuit round the Spacemaster and then made off again.

  They're leaving us,' observed Toby.

  'They're saving us,' said Vargo..

  'How,' inquired the Professor. 'How is that possible?'

  'As Rolto brought us here so they are taking us away. They have us in tow.'

  'How do you know that?'

  They told me so,' stated Vargo. 'I spoke to them by thought and they answered, saying they would draw us clear.'

  Rex sank limply in his chair. These things, he felt, were getting beyond him.

  It was soon evident that Vargo had spoken the truth, for the temperature in the ship was cooling, and the details of the inferno below were becoming blurred.

  'You can switch off the rotors, Judkins,' said the Professor. 'Apparently we don't need them now. They saved us, I think, by giving us that little extra power at the crucial moment.'

  Vargo said he thought so, too, for the Minoan ships would not have dared to approach Jupiter nearer than they had.

  In another half-hour the Spacemaster was free of its deadly embrace and operating under its own cosmic ray power units. Vargo took over the controls again, saying he would set a course for Mino. The Minoan ships were going there, too. They had told him so.

  Rex, looking at him, saw that his eyes were glowing oddly. The red glint deep in them had become more pronounced. `Does it hurt you to communicate by thought transference,' he asked.

  'It becomes a strain if prolonged, particularly over a distance.

  Distance, and receptive ability, he explained, were important. Some people were stronger than others, as with all the senses.

  'We talk about a sixth sense on Earth, but few people have it,' said Rex.

  'Here we all have it, because we understood these things while your people still lived like animals,' said Vargo, evenly. 'But some animals have it, too,' offered Toby.

  'Then as you became civilized you lost it, perhaps because you thought you could do without it.'

  'Now we have recovered it, in a way, by artificial means. We call it radio, or radar,'

  claimed Toby.

  'That isn't the same,' argued Rex. 'For that you have to have electricity, and the Martians don't use it.'

  'You haven't forgotten that radio rays occur in space,' put in the Professor.

  'Meaning that the Martians pick them up, and, unconsciously perhaps, turn themselves into human batteries,' suggested Toby.

  I don't see why not,' rejoined the Professor. 'Any object not connected with Earth picks up static electricity. The air is full of it. The Spacemaster, as you know, becomes charged, and we have to discharge it before we dare step out. If a camel can develop a hump for the storage of water I don't see why a Martian shouldn't develop a receptacle for the storage of enough electricity to operate a signal beam.'

  'Every man his own accumulater, so to speak,' joked Toby.

  'Exactly,' said the Professor, seriously. 'We all carry a certain amount of electricity in our bodies but haven't yet learned how to utilize it.'

  Vargo handed over the controls to the Professor, saying: 'Now we are safe, and you can see Mino. Presently you will see houses in the form of a big square. Land in the middle of it.'

  Had it not been for the details that presently began to appear on the surface of the planetoid Rex would have thought they were farther away from it than they were. He was now able to appreciate how tiny was the Martian world compared with his own. It didn't surprise him that with a growing population the people were looking for a bigger, better, more permanent home. His nerves tingled, not so much from curiosity as a new-born hope that he might find Tiger waiting for him.

  The escorting spaceships now left them, shooting on ahead. Others could be seen in the distance. Some were large, some small.

  The High Council will be informed of our coming,' announced Vargo.

  Looking down Rex saw the houses built in long straight rows in the form of a square, as Vargo had said. He also noticed that except for the landing area every yard of the ground appeared to be cultivated in a wonderful, but not very pleasing, geometrical pattern, marked by straight lines of small trees. He couldn't see a hedge, a river, a hill, or any of those things that go to make up a landscape. The result was a flat monotony.

  'Earth, if it lasts long enough, will be like that one day,' said the Professor, at his elbow.'

  It will have to be if it is to support its growing population.'

  'Thank goodness we shan't be alive to see it,' was all Rex could say.

  Ships were landing on the square from several directions. Others were taking off. A group of people, some clad in red, stood at one side as if waiting. Rex looked hard, hoping to see Tiger; but he wasn't among them.

  The rotors came on. The Spacemaster, which for the last few minutes had been in free fall, steadied its pace. The landing legs touched and the ship came to rest.

  'Well, here we are,' said the Professor cheerfully, putting on his spectacles. What wonders await us here?'

  A quick test in the airlock gave, as Vargo had promised, an even better reaction than on Mars. Rex gulped in air that was sweet, fresh, and cool.

  They stepped down, the Professor leading the way. 'Be careful,' he warned. One has more weight than on Phobos, but still so little that one feels rather like a feather.'

  'With travel one becomes used to changes of gravity,' said Vargo nonchalantly. It is different on every planetoid that we occupy. To adjust oneself becomes second nature. It isn't difficult.'

  Rex hoped he was right. 12 On to Lentos Rex's first impression, as with the others he stepped down cautiously to meet the members of the High Council who were waiting for them, was that the Minoans did not seem in the least surprised to receive visitors from another planet; the reason being, he could only suppose, that spaceship travel was as common as aviation on Earth. At all events, the reception committee showed less excitement than spectators at a dock watching passengers disembark. He noticed that they all looked remarkably alike, and very much like Vargo.

  'Please ask them if my father is here,' pleaded Rex urgently, for although there were several ' saucers ' on the landing ground the blue-starred ship was not among them.

  The salutation offered by the Minoans as the two parties met was a slight bow, which was returned. There was no warmth in the greeting; but then, there was no warmth in Vargo. It this, thought Rex, was self-control, the product of higher intelligence, it was likely to become tiresome to those who made no attempt to hide their feelings. With these unchanging expressions one might as well live in a world of waxworks. Life on the planetoids, he suspected, was dull by Earthly standards. However, the Minoans could speak, for without introductions or any other formality a greybeard in a red robe spoke directly to Vargo. The words, spoken in a voice thin and concise like Vargo's, were short, sounded clipped, brittle. They gave an effect of hardness; but a very few seemed to convey a great deal.

  Vargo answered in the same language, obviously explaining something. The conversation lasted for some time, with Rex, who was desperate
ly anxious for news of his father, containing his impatience with difficulty. The only word he recognized was Rolto, which occurred several times on both sides.

  At last Vargo translated. 'I have told of your visit to Mars, and the purpose of it,' said he.

  I am asked to thank you. The Council will speak to you of this later.

  Nothing is known of Tiger. He has not been here. There has been trouble between Rolto and the Council. He tried to will them to his wishes, which is not allowed.'

  'What did the rascal want?' asked the Professor.

  'He wants to take everything from Earth, as I told you. Now he has defied the Council, saying he will go in any case. He has not returned here.'

  Rex's heart sank. Where is Rolto now, for I imagine he still has my father with him?'

  'He has landed on Lentos, knowing that if he came here his ship would be taken from him. This is known from the crews of the ships that have returned here.'

  'And now he will go to Earth?'

  'Yes.'

  The Professor frowned, pushing up his spectacles which had slipped to the end of his nose. Can the Council not stop him?' 'He is beyond the reach of messages by thought.'

  'Can't they use force? They seem to have plenty of ships here.'

  'That was being considered when we landed.'

  `Do you know the way to Lentos?'

  'Yes. Lentos is my home.'

  'How long is the journey?'

  Vargo pointed to a planet in partial eclipse. He could not give them the time, but he made them understand that it was not far in a Minoan ship.

  'Then let us go there,' said the Professor. Tell the Council we must find our friend. Why does Rolto need him?'

  'For a guide, when he goes to Earth, which must be before Vontor arrives and destroys it.'

  'What have the Council decided to do about this impending collision?'

  Vargo put the question. 'They will do nothing,' he informed them.

  'But don't they realize that such a collision may cause such a disaster as you say happened here long ago?'

  They do not think so. Earth is far away and Vontor is very small.'

  'But what of the people of Earth? Have they no consideration for them?'

  More questions and answers between Vargo and the Council. 'They say it is not their business,' he translated. It is for the people of Earth to defend themselves.'

  'Very well,' returned the Professor, grimly. 'Now tell them this. The people of Earth have great skill with explosives. They have the means to destroy Vontor. They can break its atoms one by one. But they will not wait for it to come near them. When the astronomers see it far off they will act, so the effect may be worse for you than for them.'

  'Our scientists can also make explosions,' said Vargo.

  Then let us work together and vaporize this peril in a safe place,'

  suggested the Professor.

  If your intelligence is as pure as you claim they will see the wisdom of that.'

  There was another, longish conversation. Then Vargo reported: The Council will think of it.'

  'Hang all this talk of explosions,' broke in Rex. 'What about Tiger?'

  We will start for Lentos forthwith,' promised the Professor. `Do you intend to go in your own ship?' questioned Vargo. 'Of course. Why not?'

  It has done much work. It has been subject to great heat and great cold.

  That is not good.

  Besides, it is so slow.' 'What is the alternative?'

  'It would be better if you went in one of our ships - the one that is going to order Rolto to return here. That has now been decided.'

  'He may refuse to come.'

  Then there will be a battle of wills, which we should win, for the Council will send their strongest men.'

  Then ask if we may go with them.'

  Vargo put the question. Yes, but not all,' he told them. 'Rex may go because Tiger is his father; and one other. It is a matter of air supply.'

  'You will go with him, Doctor,' requested the Professor. 'I would rather stay with the Spacemaster. Also, I would like to see more of this place, and perhaps learn some secrets.'

  So it was settled. 'When do we start?' asked Rex.

  Vargo pointed at a ship beside which several men were standing. 'Now,' he answered.

  The ship is waiting.'

  'What about food?' queried Toby practically.

  The crew will give you the tablets of which I told you,' returned Vargo.

  They all walked over to the ship that had been detailed to fetch Rolto.

  The crew, ten men in blue, regarded them with the stony lack of interest that Rex was beginning to find disconcerting. Vargo must have realized this, for he said: 'With us it is considered uncivil to show curiosity with strangers,' he explained.

  The Professor made no bones about his interest in the ship. He bustled around it, inside and out, muttering: 'Amazing! Amazing! Simply amazing.

  Dear — dear. And all so simple. Why didn't I think of that?'

  Vargo cut short the inspection by saying: Ìf there is any more delay we may arrive too late.'

  'Are you coming with us?' asked Rex.

  'Yes, for you may need an interpreter,' said Vargo.

  So Rex and Toby went with him into the ship, which was a good deal larger than the Spacemaster but with less exposed equipment. They were shown their seats, into which they strapped themselves. Outer double doors slid together and the airlock closed without human agency. The crew stood to their posts. With expressions blank they looked like wooden soldiers.

  With such people, thought Rex, life would be very dreary. It wasn't their fault. Having developed in conditions different from those on Earth it was only to be expected that they would differ in their mental and physical make-up. If anything was strange it was that the difference was so slight.

  The ship took off.

  Rex had so far lost his faculty for surprise that he saw nothing remarkable in finding himself in what had become known on Earth as a flying saucer. His common sense told him it was not possible; but he had been doing impossibilities for so long that he now accepted them as a matter of course. But he was not beyond being puzzled. Knowing the ship's velocity he was prepared for discomfort during the initial acceleration.

  To his relief the pressure was only slight. He worked it out, rightly or wrongly, that this was due, at least in part, to the low gravity of Mino.

  Another thing that puzzled him was the rapid approach of the objective, as it appeared. He could almost see it grow. But then, if they had understood Vargo correctly their motive power was derived from light, so something incredible in the way of speed was only to be expected.

  As they shot past a tiny planetoid — tiny in a comparative sense for it had a diameter of about five miles, as near as could be judged — an idea occurred to him. Turning to Vargo, sitting next to him, he inquired:

  'Apart from Rolto, are those ships we saw on Mino the only ones you have?'

  Vargo said they had many more ships. Most were engaged on one duty or another, checking orbits and exploring the fringe of outer space, in which matters there was much to be done.

  Rex's next question was a natural one. 'Have you ever found people like us on planets outside the Solar System?'

  Vargo answered yes, many. All people were the same in general form. Some were large, some were small, but physical stature was not related to the size of the brain, which was the thing on which development depended. On every planet of any size where there was an atmosphere of any sort there was life of one form or another. It varied from small insects to enormous reptiles. There were planets composed entirely of water. Others had no water at all. The planets that were far from any sun were dead. The only other planet in their own system that could support men like themselves was Venus. He had never been there himself but he knew men who had, and they said it was a bad place. This Rex was able to confirm, for he also had been there.

  Vargo went on to say that ships of the Interstellar Explorati
on Squadron were sometimes away for a whole sun cycle. That was why the concentrated food tablets had been developed in the first place.

  Rex was aghast. 'A year! Cooped up in a spaceship?'

  'What's funny about that?' interposed Toby, who was listening. 'Our own early mariners were sometimes away from home for three years or more.'

  'But they had places where they could land.'

  So have our ships,' said Vargo. Our captains know the good and bad places.'

  Rex and Toby gathered that the art of spacemanship was to know where planets safe to land on would be at any particular time. For unlike islands in a sea, which were always in the same place, they moved along their orbits so that their positions had to be plotted constantly.

  In regular space flight operations, navigation is going to be something,'

  murmured Toby.

  Rex said no more, for they were now nearing Lentos, and his thoughts returned to the object of their voyage.

  It was a strange sensation to approach an occupied world so small that even from a close view it appeared round - as, of course, it was. With a diameter of about three hundred miles it was only one seventh the size of the Moon, so even from ground level it was bound to be a world of curving horizons. But to people born in such conditions, reflected Rex, they would seem no more unusual than did straight horizons to those born on Earth.

  The surface was marked in the same geometrical patterns as Mino. As they dropped in to land it struck him that the situation might be likened to men from a palace calling at a cottage. But the great thing was, was Tiger there?

  He could see three ships standing on the landing square, one of them displaying a blue star on its flat top. That, he thought, would be Rolto.

  There was activity about his ship.

  Had he seen them coming? What was he contemplating?

  Looking round into the cabin Rex saw what he presently realized was war being fought the Minoan way, without weapons. Every man in the ship was standing at the same window, making a compact group. Every face was turned down to the landing area, wearing an expression of intense concentration. All eyes were fixed on it, unwinkingly. No one spoke. It looked as if the 'willing' process had been turned on in force. He glanced at Toby. 'Looks like the battle of wits is on,' he said softly.