"WhoGoesThere"

ByJohnW.CampbellasDonA.Stuart
CHAPTERI
Theplacestank.Aqueer,mingledstenchthatonlytheiceburiedcabinsofanAntarcticcamp
know,compoundedofreekinghumansweat,andtheheavy,fishoilstenchofmeltedseal
blubber.Anovertoneoflinimentcombatedthemustysmellofsweatandsnowdrenchedfurs.
Theacridodorofburntcookingfat,andtheanimal,notunpleasantsmellofdogs,dilutedbytime,
hungintheair.
Lingeringodorsofmachineoilcontrastedsharplywiththetaintofharnessdressingandleather.
Yetsomehow,throughallthatreekofhumanbeingsandtheirassociatesdogs,machinesand
cookingcameanothertaint.Itwasaqueer,neckrufflingthing,afaintestsuggestionofanodor
alienamongthesmellsofindustryandlife.Anditwasalifesmell.Butitcamefromthethingthat
layboundwithcordandtarpaulinonthetable,drippingslowly,methodicallyontotheheavy
planks,dankandgauntundertheunshieldedglareoftheelectriclight.
Blair,thelittlebaldpatedbiologistoftheexpedition,twitchednervouslyatthewrappings,
exposingclear,darkicebeneathandthenpullingthetarpaulinbackintoplacerestlessly.Hislittle
birdlikemotionsofsuppressedeagernessdancedhisshadowacrossthefringeofdingygray
underwearhangingfromthelowceiling,theequatorialfringeofstiff,grayinghairaroundhis
nakedskullacomicalhaloabouttheshadow'shead.
CommanderGarrybrushedasidethelaxlegsofasuitofunderwear,andsteppedtowardthe
table.SlowlyhiseyestracedaroundtheringsofmensardinedintotheAdministrationBuilding.
Histall,stiffbodystraightenedfinally,andhenodded."Thirtyseven.Allhere."Hisvoicewaslow,
yetcarriedtheclearauthorityofthecommanderbynature,aswellasbytitle.
"YouknowtheoutlineofthestorybackofthatfindoftheSecondaryPoleExpedition.Ihavebeen
conferringwithsecondinCommandMcReady,andNorris,aswellasBlairandDr.Copper.
Thereisadifferenceofopinion,andbecauseitinvolvestheentiregroup,itisonlyjustthatthe
entireExpeditionpersonnelactonit.
"IamgoingtoaskMcReadytogiveyouthedetailsofthestory,becauseeachofyouhasbeen
toobusywithhisownworktofollowcloselytheendeavorsoftheothers.McReady?"
Movingfromthesmokebluedbackground,McReadywasafigurefromsomeforgottenmyth,a
looming,bronzestatuethatheldlife,andwalked.Sixfeetfourincheshestoodashehalted
besidethetable,and,withacharacteristicglanceupwardtoassurehimselfofroomunderthe
lowerceilingbeam,straightened.Hisrough,clashinglyorangewindproofjackethestillhadon,
yetonhishugeframeitdidnotseemmisplaced.Evenhere,fourfeetbeneaththedriftwindthat
dronedacrosstheAntarcticwasteabovetheceiling,thecoldofthefrozencontinentleakedin,
andgavemeaningtotheharshnessoftheman.Andhewasbronzehisgreatredbronzebeard,
theheavyhairthatmatchedit.Thegnarled,cordedhandsgripping,relaxing,grippingrelaxingon
thetableplankswerebronze.Eventhedeepsunkeneyesbeneathheavybrowswerebronzed.
Ageresistingenduranceofthemetalspokeinthecraggedheavyoutlinesofhisface,andthe
mellowtonesoftheheavyvoice."NorrisandBlairagreeononething,thatanimalwefoundwas
notterrestrialinorigin.NorrisfearstheremaybedangerinthatBlairsaysthereisnone.
"ButI'llgobacktohow,andwhy,wefoundit.Toallthatwasknownbeforewecamehere,it
appearedthatthispointwasexactlyovertheSouthMagneticPoleofEarth.Thecompassdoes
pointstraightdownhere,asyouallknow.Themoredelicateinstrumentsofthephysicists,
instrumentsespeciallydesignedforthisexpeditionanditsstudyofthemagneticpole,detecteda
secondaryeffect,asecondary,lesspowerfulmagneticinfluenceabout80milessouthwestof
here.
"TheSecondaryMagneticExpeditionwentouttoinvestigateit.Thereisnoneedfordetails.We
foundit,butitwasnotthehugemeteoriteormagneticmountainNorrishadexpectedtofind.Iron
oreismagnetic,ofcourseironmoresoandcertainspecialsteelsevenmoremagneticfromthe
surfaceindications,thesecondarypolewefoundwassmall,sosmallthatthemagneticeffectit
hadwaspreposterous.Nomagneticmaterialconceivablecouldhavethateffect.Soundings
throughtheiceindicateditwaswithinonehundredfeetoftheglaciersurface.
"Ithinkyoushouldknowthestructureoftheplace.Thereisabroadplateau,alevelsweepthat
runsmorethan150milesduesouthfromtheSecondarystation,VanWallsays.Hedidn'thave
timeorfueltoflyfarther,butitwasrunningsmoothlyduesouththen.Rightthere,wherethat
buriedthingwas,thereisanicedrownedmountainridge,agranitewallofunshakablestrength
thathasdamnedbacktheicecreepingfromthesouth.
"AndfourhundredmilesduesouthistheSouthPolarPlateau.Youhaveaskedmeatvarious
timeswhyitgetswarmerherewhenthewindrises,andmostofyouknow.AsameteorologistI'd
havestakedmywordthatnowindcouldblowat70degreesthatnomorethana5milewind
couldblowat50withoutcausingwarmingduetofrictionwithground,snowandiceandtheair
itself.
"Wecampedthereonthelipofthaticedrownedmountainrangefortwelvedays.Wedugout
campintotheblueicethatformedthesurface,andescapedmostofit.Butfortwelveconsecutive
daysthewindblewat45milesanhour.Itwentashighas48,andfellto41attimes.The
temperaturewas63degrees.Itroseto60andfellto68.Itwasmeteorologicallyimpossible,
anditwentonuninterruptedlyfortwelvedaysandtwelvenights.
"Somewheretothesouth,thefrozenairofSouthPolarPlateauslidesdownfromthat18,000foot
bowl,downamountainpass,overaglacier,andstartsnorth.Theremustbeafunneling
mountainchainthatdirectsit,andsweepsitawayforfourhundredmilestohitthatbaldplateau
wherewefoundthesecondarypole,and350milesfarthernorthreachestheAntarcticOcean.
"It'sbeenfrozentheresinceAntarcticafrozetwentymillionyearsago.Thereneverhasbeena
thawthere.
"TwentymillionyearsagoAntarcticawasbeginningtofreeze.We'veinvestigated,thoughtand
builtspeculations.Whatwebelievehappenedwasaboutlikethis.
"Somethingcamedownoutofspace,aship.Wesawitthereintheblueice,athinglikea
submarinewithoutaconningtowerordirectivevanes.280feetlongand45feetindiameteratits
thickest.
"Eh,VanWall?Space?Yes,butIllexplainthatbetterlater."McReady'ssteadyvoicewenton.
"Itcamedownfromspace,drivenandliftedbyforcesmenhaven'tdiscoveredyet,andsomehow
perhapssomethingwentwrongthenittangledwithEarth'smagneticfield.Itcamesouthhere,
outofcontrolprobably,circlingthemagneticpole.That'sasavagecountrythere,butwhen
Antarcticawasstillfreezingitmusthavebeenathousandtimesmoresavage.Theremusthave
beenblizzardsnow,aswellasdrift,newsnowfallingasthecontinentglaciated.Theswirlthere
musthavebeenparticularlybad,thewindhurlingasolidblanketofwhiteoverthelipofthatnow
buriedmountain.
"Theshipstrucksolidgraniteheadon,andcrackedup.Noteveryoneofthepassengersinitwas
killed,buttheshipmusthavebeenruined,herdrivingmechanismlocked.IttangledwithEarth's
field,Norrisbelieves.Nothingmadebyintelligentbeingscantanglewiththedeadimmensityofa
planet'snaturalforcesandsurvive.
"Oneofitspassengerssteppedout.Thewindwesawthereneverfellbelow41,andthe
temperatureneverroseabove60.Thenthewindmusthavebeenstronger.Andtherewasdrift
fallinginasolidsheet.Thethingwaslostcompletelyintenpaces."
Hepausedforamoment,thedeep,steadyvoicegivingwaytothedroneofwindoverhead,and
theuneasy,maliciousgurglinginthepipeofthegalleystove.
Driftadriftwindwassweepingbyoverhead.Rightnowthesnowpickedupbythemumbling
windfledinlevel,blindinglinesacrossthefaceoftheburiedcamp.Ifamansteppedoutofthe
tunnelsthatconnectedeachofthecampbuildingsbeneaththesurface,he'dbelostintenpaces.
Outthere,theslim,blackfingeroftheradiomastlifted300feetintotheair,andatitspeakwas
theclearnightsky.Askyofthin,whiningwindrushingsteadilyfrombeyondtoanotherbeyond
underthelicking,curlingmantleoftheaurora.Andoffnorth,thehorizonflamedwithqueer,angry
colorsofthemidnighttwilight.Thatwasspring300feetaboveAntarctica.
Atthesurfaceitwaswhitedeath.Deathofaneedlefingeredcolddrivenbeforethewind,
suckingheatfromanywarmthing.Coldandwhitemistofendless,everlastingdrift,thefine,fine
particlesoflickingsnowthatobscuredallthings.
Kinner,thelittle,scarfacedcook,winced.Fivedaysagohehadsteppedouttothesurfaceto
reachacacheoffrozenbeef.Hehadreachedit,startedbackandthedriftwindleaptoutofthe
south.Cold,whitedeaththatstreamedacrossthegroundblindedhimintwentyseconds.He
stumbledonwildlyincircles.Itwashalfanhourbeforeropeguidedmenfrombelowfoundhimin
theimpenetrablemurk.
Itwaseasyformanorthingtogetlostintenpaces.
"Andthedriftwindthenwasprobablymoreimpenetrablethanweknow."McReady'svoice
snappedKinner'smindback.Backtowelcome,dankwarmthoftheAdBuilding."Thepassenger
oftheshipwasn'tpreparedeither,itappears.Itfrozewithintenfeetoftheship.
"Wedugdowntofindtheship,andourtunnelhappenedtofindthefrozenanimal.Barclay'sice
axstruckitsskull.
"Whenwesawwhatitwas,Barclaywentbacktothetractor,startedthefireupandwhenthe
steampressurebuilt,sentacallforBlairandDr.Copper.Barclayhimselfwassickthen.Stayed
sickforthreedays,asamatteroffact.
"WhenBlairandCoppercame,wecutouttheanimalinablockofice,asyousee,wrappeditand
loadeditonthetractorforreturnhere.Wewantedtogetintothatship.
"Wereachedthesideandfoundthemetalwassomethingwedidn'tknow.Ourberylliumbronze,
nonmagnetictoolswouldn'ttouchit.Barclayhadsometoolsteelonthetractor,andthatwouldn't
scratchiteither.Wemadereasonabletestseventriedsomeacidfromthebatterieswithno
results.
"Theymusthavehadapassivatingprocesstomakemagnesiummetalresistacidthatway,and
thealloymusthavebeenatleast95percentmagnesium.Butwehadnowayofguessingthat,
sowhenwespottedthebarelyopenedlockeddoor,wecutaroundit.Therewasclear,hardice
insidethelock,wherewecouldn'treachit.Throughthelittlecrackwecouldlookinandseethat
onlymetalandtoolswereinthere,sowedecidedtoloosentheicewithabomb.
"Wehaddecanitebombsandthermite.Thermiteistheicesoftenerdecanitemighthave
shatteredvaluablethings,wherethethermite'sheatwouldjustloosentheice.Dr.Copper,Norris
andIplaceda25poundthermitebomb,wiredit,andtooktheconnectorupthetunneltothe
surface,whereBlairhadthesteamtractorwaiting.Ahundredyardstheothersideofthatgranite
wallwesetoffthethermitebomb.
"Themagnesiummetaloftheshipcaught,ofcourse.Theglowofthebombflaredanddied,then
itbegantoflareagain.Weranbacktothetractor,andgraduallytheglarebuiltup.Fromwhere
wewerewecouldseethewholeicefieldilluminatedfrombeneathwithanunbearablelightthe
ship'sshadowwasagreat,darkconereachingofftowardthenorth,wherethetwilightwasjust
aboutgone.Foramomentitlasted,andwecountedthreeothershadowthingsthatmighthave
beenotherpassengersfrozenthere.Thentheicewascrashingdownandagainsttheship.
"That'swhyItoldyouaboutthatplace.ThewindsweepingdownfromthePolewasatourbacks.
Steamandhydrogenflameweretornawayinwhiteicefogtheflamingheatundertheicethere
wasyankedawaytowardtheAntarcticeOceanbeforeittouchedus.Otherwisewewouldn'thave
comeback,evenwiththeshelterofthatgraniteridgethatstoppedthelight.
"Somehowintheblindinginfernowecouldseegreathunchedthings,blackbulksglowing,even
so.Theyshedeventhefuriousincandescenceofthemagnesiumforatime.Thosemusthave
beentheengines,weknew.SecretsgoinginblazingglorysecretsthatmighthavegivenMan
theplanets.Mysteriousthingsthatcouldliftandhurlthatshipandhadsoakedintheforceofthe
Earth'smagneticfield.IsawNorris'mouthmove,andducked.Icouldn'thearhim.
"Insulationsomethinggaveway.AllEarth'sfieldthey'dsoakeduptwentymillionyearsbefore
brokeloose.Theauroraintheskyabovelickeddown,andthewholeplateautherewasbathedin
coldfirethatblanketedvision.Theiceaxinmyhandgotredhot,andhissedontheice.Metal
buttonsonmyclothesburnedintome.Andaflashofelectricbluesearedupwardfrombeyond
thegranitewall.
"Thenthewallsoficecrasheddownonit.Foraninstantitsquealedthewaydryicedoeswhen
it'spressedbetweenmetal.
"Wewereblindandgropinginthedarkforhourswhileoureyesrecovered.Wefoundeverycoil
withinamilewasfusedrubbish,thedynamoandeveryradioset,theearphonesandspeakers.If
wehadn'thadthesteamtractor,wewouldn'thavegottenovertotheSecondaryCamp.
"VanWallflewinfromBigMagnetatsunup,asyouknow.Wecamehomeassoonaspossible.
Thatisthehistoryofthat."McReady'sgreatbronzebeardgesturedtowardthethingonthe
table.
CHAPTERII
Blairstirreduneasily,hislittlebonyfingerswrigglingundertheharshlight.Littlebrownfreckleson
hisknucklesslidbackandforthasthetendonsundertheskintwitched.Hepulledasideabitof
thetarpaulinandlookedimpatientlyatthedarkiceboundthinginside.
McReady'sbigbodystraightenedsomewhat.He'driddentherocking,jarringsteamtractorforty
milesthatday,pushingontoBigMagnethere.Evenhiscalmwillhadbeenpressedbythe
anxietytomixagainwithhumans.ItwasloneandquietoutthereinSecondaryCamp,wherea
wolfwindhowleddownfromthePole.Wolfwindhowlinginhissleepwindsdroningandtheevil,
unspeakablefaceofthatmonsterleeringupashe'dfirstseenitthroughclear,blueice,witha
bronzeiceaxburiedinitsskull.
Thegiantmeteorologistspokeagain."Theproblemisthem.Blairwantstoexaminethething.
Thawitoutandmakemicroslidesofitstissuesandsoforth.Norrisdoesn'tbelievethatissafe,
andBlairdoes.Dr.CopperagreesprettymuchwithBlair.Norrisisaphysicist,ofcourse,nota
biologist.ButhemakesapointIthinkweshouldallhear.Blairhasdescribedthemicroscopiclife
formsbiologistsfindliving,eveninthiscoldaninhospitableplace.Theyfreezeeverywinter,and
thaweverysummer forthreemonthsandlive.
"ThepointNorrismakesistheythaw,andliveagain.Theremusthavebeenmicroscopiclife
associatedwiththiscreature.Thereiswitheverylivingthingweknow.AndNorrisisafraidthat
wemayreleaseaplaguesomegermdiseaseunknowntoEarthifwethawthosemicroscopic
thingsthathavebeenfrozentherefortwentymillionyears.
"Blairadmitsthatsuchmicrolifemightretainthepowerofliving.Suchunorganizedthingsas
individualcellscanretainlifeforunknownperiods,whensolidlyfrozen.Thebeastitselfisasdead
asthosefrozenmammothstheyfindinSiberia.Organized,highlydevelopedlifeformscan't
standthattreatment.
"Butmicrolifecould.Norrissuggeststhatwemayreleasesomediseaseformthatman,never
havingmetitbefore,willbeutterlydefenselessagainst.
"Blair'sansweristhattheremaybesuchstilllivinggerms,butthatNorrishasthecasereversed.
Theyareutterlynonimmunetoman.Ourlifechemistryprobably"
"Probably!"Thelittlebiologist'sheadliftedinaquick,birdlikemotion.Thehaloofgrayhairabout
hisbaldheadruffledasthoughangry."Heh.Onelook"
"Iknow,"McReadyacknowledged."ThethingisnotEarthly.Itdoesnotseemlikelythatitcan
havealifechemistrysufficientlylikeourstomakecrossinfectionremotelypossible.Iwouldsay
thatthereisnodanger."
McReadylookedtowardDr.Copper.Thephysicianshookhisheadslowly."Nonewhatever,"he
assertedconfidently."Mancannotinfectorbeinfectedbygermsthatliveinsuchcomparatively
closerelativesasthesnakes.Andtheyare,Iassureyou,"hiscleanshavenfacegrimaced
uneasily,"muchnearertousthanthat."
VanceNorrismovedangrily.Hewascomparativelyshortinthisgatheringofbigmen,somefive
feeteight,andhisstocky,powerfulbuildtendedtomakehimseemshorter.Hisblackhairwas
crispandhard,likeshort,steelwires,andhiseyeswerethegrayoffracturedsteel.IfMcReady
wasamanofbronze,Norriswasallsteel.Hismovements,histhoughts,hiswholebearinghad
thequick,hardimpulseofsteelspring.Hisnervesweresteelhard,quickactingswift
corroding.
Hewasdecidedonhispointnow,andhelashedoutinitsdefensewithacharacteristicquick,
clippedflowofwords."Differentchemistrybedamned.Thatthingmaybedeador,byGod,itmay
notbutIdon'tlikeit.Damnit,Blair,letthemseethefoulthinganddecideforthemselves
whethertheywantthatthingthawedoutinthiscamp.
"Thawedout,bytheway.That'sgottobethawedoutinoneoftheshackstonight,ifitisthawed
out.Somebodywho'swatchmantonight?Magnetic oh,Connant.Cosmicraystonight.Well,
yougettositupwiththattwentymillionyearoldmummyofhis.
"Unwrapit,Blair.Howthehellcantheytellwhattheyarebuyingiftheycan'tseeit?Itmayhavea
differentchemistry.Idon'tknowwhatelseithas,butIknowithassomethingIdon'twant.Ifyou
canjudgebythelookonitsface itisn'thumansomaybeyoucan'titwasannoyedwhenit
froze.Annoyed,infact,isjustaboutascloseanapproximationofthewayitfeltascrazy,mad,
insanehatred.Neitheronetouchesthesubject.
"Howthehellcanthesebirdstellwhattheyarevotingon?Theyhaven'tseenthosethreered
eyes,andthebluehairlikecrawlingworms.Crawling damn,it'scrawlingthereintheiceright
now!
"NothingEartheverspawnedhadtheunutterablesublimationofdevastatingwraththatthinglet
looseinitsfacewhenitlookedaroundthisfrozendesolationtwentymillionyearsago.Mad?It
wasmadclearthroughsearing,blisteringmad!
"Hell,I'vehadbaddreamseversinceIlookedatthosethreeredeyes.Nightmares.Dreamingthe
thingthawedoutandcametolifethatitwasn'tdead,orevenwhollyunconsciousallthose
twentymillionyears,butjustslowed,waitingwaiting.You'lldream,too,whilethatdamnedthing
thatEarthwouldn'townisdripping,drippingintheCosmosHousetonight.
"And,Connant,"Norriswhippedtowardthecosmicrayspecialist,"won'tyouhavefunsittingup
allnightinthequiet.Windwhiningaboveandthatthingdripping"Hestoppedforamoment,
andlookedaround.
"Iknow.That'snotscience.Butthisis,it'spsychology.You'llhavenightmaresforayeartocome.
EverynightsinceIlookedatthatthingI'vehad'em.,That'swhyIhateitsureIdoanddon't
wantitaround.Putitbackwhereitcamefromandletitfreezeforanothertwentymillionyears.I
hadsomeswellnightmaresthatitwasn'tmadelikewearewhichisobviousbutofadifferent
kindoffleshthatitcanreallycontrol.Thatitcanchangeitsshape,andlooklikeamanandwait
tokillandeat
"That'snotalogicalargument.Iknowitisn't.Thethingisn'tEarthlogicanyway.
"Maybeithasanalienbodychemistry,andmaybeitsbugsdohaveadifferentbodychemistry.A
germmightnotstandthat,but,BlairandCopper,howaboutavirus?That'sjustanenzyme
molecule,you'vesaid.Thatwouldn'tneedanythingbutaproteinmoleculeofanybodytowork
on.
"Andhowareyousosurethat,ofthemillionvarietiesofmicroscopiclifeitmayhave,noneof
themaredangerous?Howaboutdiseaseslikehydrophobiarabiesthatattacksanywarm
bloodedcreature,whateveritsbodychemistrymaybe?Andparrotfever?Haveyouabodylikea
parrot,Blair?Andplainrotgangrenenecrosis,doyouwant?Thatisn'tchoosyaboutbody
chemistry!"
BlairlookedupfromhisputteringlongenoughtomeetNorris'angrygrayeyesforaninstant."So
fartheonlythingyouhavesaidthisthinggaveoffthatwascatchingwasdreams.I'llgosofaras
toadmitthat."Animpish,slightlymalignantgrincrossedthelittleman'sseamedface."Ihad
some,too.So.It'sdreaminfectious.Nodoubtanexceedinglydangerousmalady.
"Sofarasyourotherthingsgo,youhaveabadlymistakenideaaboutviruses.Inthefirstplace,
nobodyhasshownthattheenzymemoleculetheory,andthatalone,explainsthem.Andinthe
secondplace,whenyoucatchtobaccomosaicorwheatrust,letmeknow.Awheatplantisalot
neareryourbodychemistrythanthisotherworldcreatureis.
"Andyourrabiesislimited,strictlylimited.Youcan'tgetitfrom,norgiveitto,awheatplantora
fishwhichisacollateraldescendantofacommonancestorofyours.Whichthis,Norris,isnot."
Blairnoddedpleasantlytowardthetarpaulinedbulkonthetable.
"Well,thawthedamnedthinginatubofformalinifyoumustthawit.I'vesuggestedthat"
"AndI'vesaidtherewouldbenosenseinit.Youcan'tcompromise.Whydidyouand
CommanderGarrycomedownheretostudymagnetism?Whyweren'tyoucontenttostayat
home?There'smagneticforceenoughinNewYork.Icouldnomorestudythelifethisthingonce
hadfromaformalinpickledsamplethanyoucouldgettheinformationyouwantedbackinNew
York.Andifthisoneissotreated,neverinalltimetocomecantherebeaduplicate!Theraceit
camefrommusthavepassedawayinthetwentymillionsyearsitlayfrozen,sothatevenifit
camefromMarsthen,we'dneverfinditslike.Andtheshipisgone.
"There'sonlyonewaytodothisandthatisthebestpossibleway.Itmustbethawedslowly,
carefully,andnotinformalin."
CommanderGarrystoodforwardagain,andNorrissteppedbackmutteringangrily."IthinkBlair
isright,gentlemen.Whatdoyousay?"
Connantgrunted."Itsoundsrighttous,Ithinkonlyperhapsheoughttostandwatchoverit
whileit'sthawing."Hegrinnedruefully,brushingastraylockofripecherryhairbackfromhis
forehead."Swellidea,infactifhesitsupwithhisjollylittlecorpse."
Garrysmiledslightly.Ageneralchuckleofagreementrippledoverthegroup."Ishouldthinkany
ghostitmayhavehadwouldhavestarvedtodeathifithungaroundherethatlong,Connant,"
Garrysuggested."Andyoulookcapableoftakingcareofit.'Ironman'Connantoughttobeable
totakeoutanyopposingplayers,still."
Connantshookhimselfuneasily."I'mnotworryingaboutghosts.Let'sseethatthing.I"
EagerlyBlairwasstrippingbacktheropes.Asinglethrowofthetarpaulinrevealedthething.The
icehadmeltedsomewhatintheheatoftheroomanditwasclearandblueasthick,goodglass.It
shonewetandsleekundertheharshlightoftheunshieldedglobeabove.
Theroomstiffenedabruptly.Itwasfaceupthereontheplain,greasyplanksofthetable.The
brokenhalfofthebronzeiceaxwasstillburiedinthequeerskull.Threemad,hatefilledeyes
blazedupwithalivingfire,brightasfreshspilledblood.fromafaceringedwithawrithing,
loathsomenestofworms,blue,mobilewormsthatcrawledwherehairshouldgrow
VanWall,sixfeetand200poundsoficenervedpilot,gaveaqueer,strangledgaspandbutted,
stumbledhiswayouttothecorridor.Halfthecompanybrokeforthedoors.Theothersstumbled
awayfromthetable.
McReadystoodatoneendofthetablewatchingthem,hisgreatbodyplantedsolidonhis
powerfullegs.Norrisfromtheoppositeendgloweredatthethingwithsmolderingheat.Outside
thedoor,Garrywastalkingwithhalfadozenofthemenatonce.
Blairhadatackhammer.Theicethatcasedthethingschluffedcrisplyunderitssteelclawasit
peeledfromthethingithadcasedfortwentythousandthousandyears
CHAPTERIII
Iknowyoudon'tlikethething,Connant,butitjusthastobethawedoutright.Yousayleaveitas
itistillwegetbacktocivilization.Allright,I'lladmityourargumentthatwecoulddoabetterand
morecompletejobthereissound.ButhowarewegoingtogetthisacrosstheLine?Wehaveto
takethisthroughonetemperatezone,theequatorialzone,andhalfwaythroughtheother
temperatezonebeforewegetittoNewYork.Youdon'twanttositwithitonenight,butyou
suggest,then,thatIhangitscorpseinthefreezerwiththebeef?"Blairlookedupfromhis
cautiouschipping,hisbald,freckledskullnoddingtriumphantly.
Kinner,thestocky,scarfacedcook,savedConnantthetroubleofanswering."Hey,youlisten,
mister.Youputthatthingintheboxwiththemeat,andbyallthegodsthereeverwere,I'llputyou
intokeepitcompany.Youbirdshavebroughteverythingmovableinthiscampinontomymess
tablesherealready,andIhadtostandforthat.Butyougoputtingthingslikethatinmymeatbox
orevenmymeatcachehere,andyoucookyourowndamngrub."
"But,Kinner,thisistheonlytableinBigMagnetthat'sbigenoughtoworkon,"Blairobjected.
"Everybody'sexplainedthat."
"Yeah,andeverybody'sbroughteverythinginhere.Clarkbringshisdogseverytimethere'sa
fightandsewsthemuponthattable.Ralsenbringsinhissledges.Hell,theonlythingyou
haven'thadonthattableistheBoeing.Andyou'd'a'hadthatinifyoucouldafiguredawaytoget
itthroughthetunnels.'
CommanderGarrychuckledandgrinnedatVanWall,thehugeChiefPilot.VanWall'sgreat
blondbeardtwitchedsuspiciouslyashenoddedgravelytoKinner."You'reright,Kinner.The
aviationdepartmentistheonlyonethattreatsyouright."
"Itdoesgetcrowded,Kinner,"Garryacknowledged."ButI'mafraidweallfinditthatwayattimes.
NotmuchprivacyinanAntarcticcamp."
"Privacy?Whatthehell'sthat?Youknow,thethingthatreallymademeweep,waswhenIsaw
Barclaymarchin'throughherechantin''Thelastlumberinthecamp!Thelastlumberinthecamp!'
andcarryin'itouttobuildthathouseonhistractor.Damnit,Imissedthatmooncutinthedoorhe
carriedoutmore'nImissedthesunwhenitset.Thatwasn'tjustthelastlumberBarclaywas
walkin'offwith.Hewascarryin'offthelastbitofprivacyinthisblastedplace."
AgrinrodeevenonConnant'sheavyfaceasKinner'sperennialgoodnaturedgrouchcameup
again.Butitdiedawayquicklyashisdark,deepseteyesturnedagaintotheredeyedthingBlair
waschippingfromitscocoonofice.Abighandruffedhisshoulderlengthhair,andtuggedata
twistedlockthatfellbehindhisearinafamiliargesture."Iknowthatcosmicrayshack'sgoingto
betoocrowdedifIhavetositupwiththatthing,"hegrowled."Whycan'tyougoonchippingthe
iceawayfromaroundityoucandothatwithoutanybodybuttingin,Iassureyouandthenhang
thethingupoverthepowerplantboiler?That'swarmenough.It'llthawoutachicken,evena
wholesideofbeef,inafewhours."
"Iknow."Blairprotested,droppingthetackhammertogesturemoreeffectivelywithhisbony,
freckledfingers,hissmallbodytensewitheagerness,"butthisistooimportanttotakeany
chances.Thereneverwasafindlikethistherenevercanbeagain.It'stheonlychancemenwill
everhave,andithastobedoneexactlyright.
"Look,youknowhowthefishwecaughtdownneartheRossSeawouldfreezealmostassoon
aswegotthemondeck,andcometolifeagainifwethawedthemgently?Lowformsoflifearen't
killedbyquickfreezingandslowthawing.Wehave"
"Hey,fortheloveofHeavenyoumeanthatdamnedthingwillcometolife!"Connantyelled.
"YougetthedamnedthingLetmeatit!That'sgoingtobeinsomanypieces"
"NO!No,youfool"BlairjumpedinfrontofConnanttoprotecthispreciousfind."No.Justlow
formsoflife.ForPete'ssakeletmefinish.Youcan'tthawhigherformsoflifeandhavethem
cometo.Waitamomentnowholdit!Afishcancometoafterfreezingbecauseit'ssolowaform
oflifethattheindividualcellsofitsbodycanrevive,andthataloneisenoughtoreestablishlife.
Anyhigherformsthawedoutthatwayaredead.Thoughtheindividualcellsrevive,theydie
becausetheremustbeorganizationandcooperativeefforttolive.Thatcooperationcannotbere
established.Thereisasortofpotentiallifeinanyuninjured,quickfrozenanimal.Butitcan't
can'tunderanycircumstancesbecomeactivelifeinhigheranimals.Thehigheranimalsaretoo
complex,toodelicate.Thisisanintelligentcreatureashighinitsevolutionasweareinours.
Perhapshigher.Itisasdeadasafrozenmanwouldbe."
"Howdoyouknow?"demandedConnant,heftingtheiceaxhehadseizedamomentbefore.
CommanderGarrylaidarestraininghandonhisheavyshoulder."Waitaminute,Connant.Iwant
togetthisstraight.Iagreethatthereisgoingtobenothawingofthisthingifthereistheremotest
chanceofitsrevival.Iquiteagreeitismuchtoounpleasanttohavealive,butIhadnoideathere
wastheremotestpossibility."
Dr.Copperpulledhispipefrombetweenhisteethandheavedhisstocky,darkbodyfromthe
bunkhehadbeensittingin."Blair'sbeingtechnical.That'sdead.Asdeadasthemammothsthey
findfrozeninSiberia.Potentiallifeislikeatomicenergythere,butnobodycangetitout,andit
certainlywon'treleaseitselfexceptinrarecases,asrareasradiuminthechemicalanalogy.We
haveallsortsofproofthatthingsdon'tliveafterbeingfrozennotevenfish,generallyspeaking
andnoproofthathigheranimallifecanunderanycircumstances.What'sthepoint,Blair?"
Thelittlebiologistshookhimself.Thelittleruffofhairstandingoutaroundhisbaldpatewavedin
righteousanger."Thepointis,"hesaidinaninjuredtone,'thattheindividualcellsmightshowthe
characteristicstheyhadinlife,ifitisproperlythawed.Aman'smusclecellslivemanyhoursafter
hehasdied.Justbecausetheylive,andafewthingslikehairandfingernailcellsstilllive,you
wouldn'taccuseacorpseofbeingaZombie,orsomething.
"NowifIthawthisright,Imayhaveachancetodeterminewhatsortofworldit'snativeto.We
don't,andcan'tknowbyanyothermeans,whetheritcamefromEarthorMarsorVenusorfrom
beyondthestars.
"Andjustbecauseitlooksunlikemen,youdon'thavetoaccuseitofbeingevil,orviciousor
something.Maybethatexpressiononitsfaceisitsequivalenttoaresignationtofate.Whiteisthe
colorofmourningtotheChinese.Ifmencanhavedifferentcustoms,whycan'tasodifferentrace
havedifferentunderstandingsoffacialexpressions?"
Connantlaughedsoftly,mirthlessly."Peacefulresignation!Ifthatisthebestitcoulddointheway
ofresignation,Ishouldexceedinglydislikeseeingitwhenitwaslookingmad.Thatfacewas
neverdesignedtoexpresspeace.Itjustdidn'thaveanyphilosophicalthoughtslikepeaceinits
makeup.
"Iknowit'syourpetbutbesaneaboutit.Thethinggrewuponevil,adolescedslowlyroasting
alivethelocalequivalentofkittens,andamuseditselfthroughmaturityonnewandingenious
torture."
"Youhaven'ttheslightrighttosaythat,"snappedBlair."Howdoyouknowthefirstthingabout
themeaningofafacialexpressioninherentlyinhuman!Itmaywellhavenohumanequivalent
whatever.ThatisjustadifferentdevelopmentofNature,anotherexampleofNature'swonderful
adaptability.Growingonanother,perhapsharsherworld,ithasdifferentformandfeatures.Butit
isjustasmuchalegitimatechildofNatureasyouare.Youaredisplayingthechildishhuman
weaknessofhatingthedifferent.Onitsownworlditwouldprobablyclassyouasafishbelly,
whitemonstrositywithaninsufficientnumberofeyesandafungoidbodypaleandbloatedwith
gas.
"Justbecauseitsnatureisdifferent,youhaven'tanyrighttosayit'snecessarilyevil."
Norrisburstoutasingle,explosive,"Haw!"Helookeddownatthething."Maybethatthingsfrom
otherworldsdon'thavetobeeviljustbecausethey'redifferent.Butthatthingwas!Childof
Nature,eh?Well,itwasahellofanevilNature."
"Aw,willyoumugscutcrabbingateachotherandgetthedamnedthingoffmytable?"Kinner
growled."Andputacanvasoverit.Itlooksindecent."
"Kinner'sgonemodest,"jeeredConnant.
Kinnerslantedhiseyesuptothebigphysicist.Thescarredcheektwistedtojointhelineofhis
tightlipsinatwistedgrin."Allright,bigboy,andwhatwereyougrousingaboutaminuteago?We
cansetthethinginachairnexttoyoutonight,ifyouwant."
"I'mnotafraidofitsface,"Connantsnapped."Idon'tlikekeepingawakeoveritscorpse
particularly,butI'mgoingtodoit."
Kinner'sgrinspread."Uhhuh."Hewentofftothegalleystoveandshookdownashesvigorously,
drowningthebrittlechippingoftheiceasBlairfelltoworkagain
CHAPTERIV
"Cluck,"reportedthecosmicraycounter,cluckbrrrpcluck."Connantstartedanddroppedhis
pencil.
"Damnation."Thephysicistlookedtowardthefarcorner,backattheGeigercounteronthetable
nearthatcomer,andcrawledunderthedeskatwhichhehadbeenworkingtoretrievethepencil.
Hesatdownathisworkagain,tryingtomakehiswritingmoreeven.Ittendedtohavejerksand
quaversinit,intimewiththeabruptproudhennoisesoftheGeigercounter.Themutedwhoosh
ofthepressurelamphewasusingforillumination,themingledgarglesandbuglecallsofadozen
mensleepingdownthecorridorinParadiseHouseformedthebackgroundsoundsforthe
irregular,cluckingnoisesofthecounter,theoccasionalrustleoffallingcoalinthecopperbellied
stove.Andasoft,steadydripdripdripfromthethinginthecorner.
Connantjerkedapackofcigarettesfromhispocket,snappeditsothatacigaretteprotrudedand
jabbedthecylinderintohismouth.Thelighterfailedtofunction,andhepawedangrilythroughthe
pileofpapersinsearchofamatch.Hescratchedthewheelofthelighterseveraltimes,dropped
itwithacurseandgotuptopluckahotcoalfromthestovewiththecoaltongs.
Thelighterfunctionedinstantlywhenhetrieditonreturningtothedesk.Thecounterrippedouta
seriesofchuckingguffawsasaburstofcosmicraysstruckthroughtoit.Connantturnedto
gloweratit,andtriedtoconcentrateontheinterpretationofdatacollectedduringthepastweek.
Theweeklysummary
Hegaveupandyieldedtocuriosity,ornervousness.Heliftedthepressurelampfromthedesk
andcarrieditovertothetableinthecorner.Thenhereturnedtothestoveandpickedupthecoal
tongs.Thebeasthadbeenthawingfornearly18hoursnow.Hepokedatitwithanunconscious
cautionthefleshwasnolongerhardasarmorplate,buthadassumedarubberytexture.It
lookedlikewet,bluerubberglisteningunderdropletsofwaterlikelittleroundjewelsintheglare
ofthegasolinepressurelantern.Connantfeltanunreasoningdesiretopourthecontentsofthe
lamp'sreservoiroverthethinginitsboxanddropthecigaretteintoit.Thethreeredeyesglared
upathimsightlessly,therubyeyeballsreflectingmurky,smokyraysoflight.
Herealizedvaguelythathehadbeenlookingatthemforaverylongtime,evenvaguely
understoodthattheywerenolongersightless.Butitdidnotseemofimportance,ofnomore
importancethanthelabored,slowmotionofthetentacularthingsthatsproutedfromthebaseof
thescrawny,slowlypulsingneck.
Connantpickedupthepressurelampandreturnedtohischair.Hesatdown,staringatthepages
ofmathematicsbeforehim.Thecluckingofthecounterwasstrangelylessdisturbing,therustleof
thecoalsinthestovenolongerdistracting.
Thecreakofthefloorboardsbehindhimdidn'tinterrupthisthoughtsashewentabouthisweekly
reportinanautomaticmanner,filingincolumnsofdataandmakingbrief,summarizingnotes.
Thecreakofthefloorboardsoundednearer.
CHAPTERV
Blaircameupfromthenightmarehaunteddepthsofsleepabruptly.Connant'sfacefloated
vaguelyabovehimforamomentitseemedacontinuanceofthewildhorrorofthedream.But
Connant'sfacewasangry,andalittlefrightened."BlairBlairyoudamnedlog,wakeup."
"Uheh?"thelittlebiologistrubbedhiseyes,hisbony,freckledfingerscrookedtoamutilated
childfist.Fromsurroundingbunksotherfacesliftedtostaredownatthem.
Connantstraightenedup."Getupandgetalifton.Yourdamnedanimal'sescaped."
"Escapedwhat!"ChiefPilotVanWalls'sbuullvoiceroaredoutwithavolumethatshookthe
walls.Downthecommunicationtunnelsothervoicesyelledsuddenly.Thedozeninhabitantsof
ParadiseHousetumbledinabruptly,Barclay,stockyandbulbousinlongwoolenunderwear,
carryingafireextinguisher.
"Whatthehell'sthematter?"Barclaydemanded.
"Yourdamnedbeastgotloose.Ifellasleepabouttwentyminutesago,andwhenIwokeup,the
thingwasgone.Hey,Doc,thehellyousaythosethingscan'tcometolife.Blair'sblastedpotential
lifedevelopedahellofalotofpotentialandwalkedoutonus.'
Copperstaredblankly."Itwasn'tEarthly,"hesighedsuddenly."IIguessEarthlylawsdon't
apply."
"Well,itappliedforleaveofabsenceandtookit.We'vegottofinditandcaptureitsomehow."
Connantsworebitterly,hisdeepsetblackeyessullenandangry."It'sawonderthehellish
creaturedidn'teatmeinmysleep."
Blairstaredback,hispaleeyessuddenlyfearstruck."Maybeitdieruhwe'llhavetofindit.
"Youfindit.It'syourpet.I'vehadallIwanttodowithit,sittingthereforsevenhourswiththe
countercluckingeveryfewseconds,andyoubirdsinheresingingnightmusic.It'sawonderIgot
tosleep.I'mgoingthroughtotheAdBuilding."
CommanderGarryduckedthroughthedoorway,pullinghisbelttight."Youwon'thaveto.Van's
roarsoundedliketheBoeingtakingoffdownwind.Soitwasn'tdead?"
"Ididn'tcarryitoffinmyarms,Iassureyou,"Connantsnapped."ThelastIsaw,thatsplitskull
wasoozinggreengoo,likeasquashedcaterpillar.Docjustsaidourlawsdon'tworkit's
unearthly.Well,it'sanunearthlymonster,withanunearthlydisposition,judgingbytheface,
wanderingaroundwithasplitskullandbrainsoozingout."
NorrisandMcReadyappearedinthedoorway,adoorwayfillingwithothershiveringmen."Has
anybodyseenitcomingoverhere?"Norrisaskedinnocently."Aboutfourfeettallthreeredeyes
brainsoozingHey,hasanybodycheckedtomakesurethisisn'tacrackedideaofhumor?Ifit
is,Ithinkwe'lluniteintyingBlair'spetaroundConnant'sneckliketheancientMariner'salbatross.
"It'snohumor,"Connantshivered."Lord,Iwishitwere.I'dratherwear"Hestopped.Awild,
weirdhowlshhriekedthroughthecorridors.Themenstiffenedabruptly,andhalfturned.
"Ithinkit'sbeenlocated,"Connantfinished.Hisdarkeyesshiftedwithaqueerunease.Hedarted
backtohisbunkinParadisehouse,toreturnalmostimmediatelywithaheavy.45revolverand
aniceax.HeheftedbothgentlyashestartedforthecorridortowardDogtown."Itblundered
downthewrongcorridorandlandedamongthehuskies.Listenthedogshavebrokentheir
chains"
Thehalfterrorizedhowlofthedogpackchangedtoawildhuntingmelee.Thevoicesofthedogs
thunderedinthenarrowcorridors,andthroughthemcamealowripplingsnarlofdistilledhate.A
shrillofpain,adozensnarlingyelps.
Connantbrokeforthedoor.Closebehindhim,McReady,thenBarclayandCommanderGarry
came.OthermenbrokefortheAdBuilding,andweaponsthesledgehouse.Pomroy,incharge
ofBigMagnet'sfivecows,starteddownthecorridorintheoppositedirectionhehadasixfoot
handled,longtinedpitchforkinmind.
Barclayslidtoahalt,asMcReady'sgiantbulkturnedabruptlyawayfromthetunnelleadingto
Dogtown,andvanishedoffatanangle.Uncertainly,themechanicianwaveredamoment,thefire
extinguisherinhishands,hesitatingfromonesidetotheother.Thenhewasracingafter
Connant'sbroadback.WhateverMcReadyhadinmind,hecouldbetrustedtomakeitwork.
Connantstoppedatthebendinthecorridor.Hisbreathhissedsuddenlythroughhisthroat.
"GreatGod"Therevolverexplodedthunderouslythreenumbing,palpablewavesofsound
crashedthroughtheconfinedcorridors.Twomore.Therevolverdroppedtothehardpacked
snowofthetrail,andBarclaysawtheiceaxshiftintodefensiveposition.Connant'spowerful
bodyblockedhisvision,butbeyondheheardsomethingmewing,and,insanely,chuckling.The
dogswerequietertherewasadeadlyseriousnessintheirlowsnarls.Talonedfeetscratchedat
hardpackedsnow,brokenchainswereclinkingandtangling.
Connantshiftedabruptly,andBarclaycouldseewhatlaybeyond.Forasecondhestoodfrozen,
thenhisbreathwentoutinagustycurse.TheThinglauncheditselfatConnant,thepowerful
armsofthemanswungtheiceaxflatsidefirstatwhatmighthavebeenahand.Itscrunched
horribly,andthetatteredflesh,rippedbyahalfdozensavagehuskies,leapttoitsfeetagain.The
redeyesblazedwithanunearthyhatred,anunearthly,unkillablevitality.
Barclayturnedthefireextinguisheronittheblinding,blisteringstreamofchemicalspray
confusedit,baffledit,togetherwiththesavageattacksofthehuskies,notforlongafraidof
anythingthatdid,orcouldlive,helditatbay.
McReadywedgedmenoutofhiswayanddrovedownthenarrowcorridorpackedwithmen
unabletoreachthescene.TherewasasureforeplanneddrivetoMcReady'sattack.Oneofthe
giantblowtorchesusedinwarmingtheplane'sengineswasinhisbronzedhands.Itroaredgustily
asheturnedthecornerandopenedthevalve.Themadmewinghissedlouder.Thedogs
scrambledbackfromthethreefootlanceofbluehotflame.
"Bar,getapowercable,runitinsomehow.Andahandle.Wecanelectrocutethismonster,ifI
don'tincinerateit."McReadyspokewithanauthorityofplannedaction.Barclayturneddownthe
longcorridortothepowerplant,butalreadybeforehimNorrisandVanWallwereracingdown.
Barclayfoundthecableintheelectricalcacheinthetunnelwall.Inahalfminutehewashacking
atit,walkingback.Van Wall'svoicerangoutinawarningshoutof"Power!"astheemergency
gasolinepowereddynamothuddedintoaction.Halfadozenothermenweredowntherenowthe
coal,kindlingweregoingintothefireboxofthesteampowerplant.Norris,cursinginalow,deadly
monotone,wasworkingwithquick,surefingersontheotherendofBarclay'scable,splicingina
contactorinoneofthepowerleads.
ThedogshadfallenbackwhenBarclayreachedthecorridorbend,fallenbackbeforeafurious
monstrositythatglaredfrombalefulredeyes,mewingintrappedhatred.Thedogswereasemi
circleofreddippedmuzzleswithafringeofglisteningwhiteteeth,whiningwithavicious
eagernessthatnearmatchedthefuryoftheredeyes.McReadystoodconfidentlyalertatthe
corridorbend,thegustilymutteringtorch.heldlooseandreadyforactioninhishands.He
steppedasidewithoutmovinghiseyesfromthebeastasBarclaycameup.Therewasaslight,
tightsmileonhislean,bronzedface.
Norris'voicecalleddownthecorridor,andBarclaysteppedforward.Thecablewastapedtothe
longhandleofasnowshovel,thetwoconductorssplit,andheld18inchesapartbyascrapof
lumberlashedatrightanglesacrossthefarendofthehandle.Barecopperconductors,charged
with220volts,glintedinthelightofpressurelamps.TheThingmewedandhaltedanddodged.
McReadyadvancedtoBarclay'sside.Thedogsbeyondsensedtheplanwiththealmost
telepathicintelligenceoftrainedhuskies.Theirwhimperinggrewshriller,softer,theirmincing
stepscarriedthemnearer.Abruptlyahuge,nightblackAlaskanleaptontothetrappedthing.It
turnedsqualling,saberclawedfeetslashing.
Barclayleaptforwardandjabbed.Aweird,shrillscreamroseandchokedout.Thesmellofburnt
fleshinthecorridorintensifiedgreasysmokecurledup.Theechoingpoundofthegaselectric
dynamodownthecorridorbecameasloggingthud.
Theredeyescloudedoverinastiffening,jerkingtravestyofaface.Armlike,leglikemembers
quiveredandjerked.Thedogsleaptforward,andBarclayyankedbackhisshovelhandled
weapon.Thethingonthesnowdidnotmoveasgleamingteethrippeditopen.
CHAPTERVI
Garrylookedaboutthecrowdedroom.Thirtytwomen,sometensednervouslystandingagainst
thewall,someuneasilyrelaxed,somesitting,mostperforcestanding,asintimateassardines.
Thirtytwo,plusthefiveengagedinsewingupwoundeddogs,madethirtyseven,thetotal
personnel.
Garrystartedspeaking."Allright,Iguesswe'rehere.Someofyouthreeorfouratmostsaw
whathappened.Allofyouhaveseenthatthingonthetable,andcangetageneralidea.Anyone
hasn't,I'lllift"Hishandstrayedtothetarpaulinbulkingoverthethingonthetable.Therewas
anacridodorofsingedfleshseepingoutofit.Themen,stirredrestlessly,hastydenials.
"ItlooksratherasthoughCharnaukisn'tgoingtoleadanymoreteams,"Garrywenton."Blair
wantstogetatthisthing,andmakesomemoredetailedexamination.Wewanttoknowwhat
happened,andmakesurerightnowthatthisispermanently,totallydead.Right?"
Connantgrinned."Anybodythatdoesn'tagreecansitupwithittonight."
"Allrightthen,Blair,whatcanyousayaboutit?Whatwasit?"Garryturnedtothelittlebiologist.
"Iwonderifweeversawitsnaturalform."Blairlookedatthecoveredmass."Itmayhavebeen
imitatingthebeingsthatbuiltthatshipbutIdon'tthinkitwas.Ithinkthatwasitstrueform.
Thoseofuswhowereupnearthebendsawthethinginactionthethingonthetableisthe
result.Whenitgotloose,apparently,itstartedlookingaround.Antarcticastillfrozenasitwas
agesagowhenthecreaturefirstsawitandfroze.Frommyobservationswhileitwasthawing
out,andthebitsoftissueIcutandhardenedthen,Ithinkitwasnativetoahotterplanetthan
Earth.Itcouldn't,initsnaturalform,standthetemperature.ThereisnolifeformonEarththatcan
liveinAntarcticaduringthewinter,butthebestcompromiseisthedog.Itfoundthedogs,and
somehowgotnearenoughtoCharnauktogethim.TheotherssmelledithearditIdon'tknow
anywaytheywwentwild,andbrokechains,andattackeditbeforeitwasfinished.Thethingwe
foundwaspartCharnauk,queerlyonlyhalfdead,partCharnaukhalfdigestedbythejellylike
protoplasmofthatcreature,andparttheremainsofthethingweoriginallyfound,sortofmelted
downtothebasicprotoplasm.
"Whenthedogsattackedit,itturned intothebestfightingthingitcouldthinkof.Someother
worldbeastapparently."
"Turned,"snappedGarry."How?"
"Everylivingthingismadeupofjellyprotoplasmandminute,submicroscopicthingscalled
nuclei,whichcontrolthebulk,theprotoplasm.Thisthingwasjustamodificationofthatsame
worldwideplanofNaturecellsmadeupofprotoplasm,controlledbyinfinitelytiniernuclei.You
physicistsmightcompareitanindividualcellofanylivingthingwithanatomthebulkofthe
atom,thespacefillingpart,ismadeupoftheelectronorbits,butthecharacterofthethingis
determinedbytheatomicnucleus.
"Thisisn'twildlybeyondwhatwealreadyknow.It'sjustamodificationwehaven'tseenbefore.It's
asnatural,aslogical,asanyothermanifestationoflife.Itobeysexactlythesamelaws.Thecells
aremadeofprotoplasm,theircharacterdeterminedbythenucleus.
"Onlyinthiscreature,thecellnucleicancontrolthosecellsat will.ItdigestedCharnauk,andasit
digested,studiedeverycellofhistissue,andshapeditsowncellstoimitatethemexactly.Parts
ofitpartsthathadtimetofinishchangingaredogcells.Buttheydon'thavedogcellnuclei."
Blairliftedafractionofthetarpaulin.Atorndog'slegwithstiffgrayfurprotruded."That,for
instance,isn'tdogatallit'simitation.SomepartsI'mcertainaboutthenucleuswashidingitself,
coveringupwithdogcellimitationnucleus.Intime,notevenamicroscopewouldhaveshownthe
difference."
"Suppose,"askedNorrisbitterly,"ithadhadlotsoftime?"
"Thenitwouldhavebeenadog.Theotherdogswouldhaveacceptedit.Wewouldhave
acceptedit.Idon'tthinkanythingwouldhavedistinguishedit,notmicroscope,norXray,norany
othermeans.Thisisamemberofasupremelyintelligentrace,aracethathaslearnedthe
deepestsecretsofbiology,andturnedthemtoitsuse."
"Whatwasitplanningtodo?"Barclaylookedatthehumpedtarpaulin.
Blairgrinnedunpleasantly.Thewaveringhaloofthinhairroundhisbaldpatewaveredinthestir
ofair."Takeovertheworld,Iimagine."
"Takeovertheworld!Justit,allbyitself?"Connantgasped."Setitselfupasalonedictator?"
"No,"Blairshookhishead.Thescalpelhehadbeenfumblinginhisbonyfingersdroppedhe
benttopickitup,sothathisfacewashiddenashespoke."Itwouldbecomethepopulationofthe
world."
"Becomepopulatetheworld?Doesitreproduceaasexually?"
Blairshookhisheadandgulped."It'sitdoesn'thaveto.Itweighed85pounds.Charnauk
weighedabout90.ItwouldhavebecomeCharnauk,andhad85poundsleft,tobecomeoh,
Jackforinstance,orChinook.Itcanimitateanythingthatis,becomeanything.Ifithadreached
theAntarcticSea,itwouldhavebecomeaseal,maybetwoseals.Theymighthaveattackeda
killerwhale,andbecomeeitherkillers,oraherdofseals.Ormaybeitwouldhavecaughtan
albatross,oraskuagull,andflowntoSouthAmerica."
Norriscursedsoftly."Andeverytime,itdigestedsomething,andimitatedit"
"Itwouldhavehaditsoriginalbulkleft,tostartagain,"Blairfinished."Nothingwouldkillit.Ithas
nonaturalenemies,becauseitbecomeswhateveritwantsto.Ifakillerwhaleattacked,itwould
becomeakillerwhale.Ifitwasanalbatross,andaneagleattackedit,itwouldbecomeaneagle.
Lord,itmightbecomeafemaleeagle.Gobackbuildanestandlayeggs!"
"Areyousurethatthingfromhellisdead?"Dr.Copperaskedsoftly.
"Yes,thankHeaven,"thelittlebiologistgasped."Aftertheydrovethedogsoff,Istoodthere
pokingBar'selectrocutionthingintoitforfiveminutes.It'sdeadandcooked."
"ThenwecanonlygivethanksthatthisisAntarctica,wherethereisnotone,single,solitary,
livingthingforittoimitate,excepttheseanimalsincamp."
"Us,"Blairgiggled."Itcanimitateus.Dogscan'tmake400milestotheseathere'snofood.
Therearen'tanyskuagullstoimitateatthisseason.Therearen'tanyPenguinsthisfarinland.
There'snothingthatcanreachtheseafromthispointexceptus.We'vegotthebrains.Wecan
doit.Don'tyouseeit'sgottoimitateusit'sgottobeoneofusthat'stheonlywayitCanfly
anairplaneflyaplanefortwohours,andrulebeallEarth'sinhabitants.Aworldforthetaking
ifitimitatesus!
"Itdidn'tknowyet.Ithadn'thadachancetolearn.Itwasrushedhurriedlookthethingnearest
itsownsize.LookI'mPandora!Iopenedthebox!AndtheonlyhopethatcancomeoutisThat
nothingcancomeout.Youdidn'tseeme.IdidIt.IfixeditIsmashedeverymagneto.Notaplane
canfly.Nothingcanfly."Blairgiggledandlaydownonthefloorcrying.
ChiefPilotVanWallmadeadiveforthedoor.HisfeetwerefadingechoesinthecorridorsasDr.
Copperbentunhurriedlyoverthelittlemanonthefloor.Fromhisofficeattheendoftheroomhe
broughtsomething,andinjectedasolutionintoBlair'sarm."Hemightcomeoutofitwhenhe
wakesup,"hesighedrising.McReadyhelpedhimliftthebiologistontoanearbybunk."Itall
dependsonwhetherwecanconvincehimthatthingisdead."
VanWallduckedintotheshackbrushinghisheavyblondbeardabsently."Ididn'tthinkabiologist
woulddoathinglikethatupthoroughly.Hemissedthesparesinthesecondcache.It'sallright.I
smashedthem."
CommanderGarrynodded."Iwaswonderingabouttheradio."
Dr.Coppersnorted."Youdon'tthinkitcanleakoutonaradiowave,doyou?You'dhavefive
rescueattemptsinthenextthreemonthsifyoustopthebroadcasts.Thethingtodoistalkloud
andnotmakeasound.NowIwonder"
McReadylookedspeculativelyatthedoctor."Itmightbelikeaninfectiousdisease.Everything
thatdrank,anyofitsblood"
Coppershookhishead."Blair missedsomething.Imitateitmay,butithas,toacertainextent,its
ownbodychemistry,itsownmetabolism.Ifitdidn'titwouldbecomeadogandbeadogand
nothingmore.Ithastobeanimitationdog.Thereforeyoucandetectitbyserumtests.Andits
chemistry,sinceitcomesfromanotherworld.Mustbesowholly,radicallydifferentthatafew
cells,suchasgainedbydropsofblood,wouldbetreatedasdiseasegermsbythedog,orhuman
body."
"Bloodwouldoneofthoseimitationsbleed?"Norrisdemanded.
"Surely.Nothingmysticaboutblood.Muscleisabout90percentwaterblooddiffersonlyin
havingacouplepercentmorewater,andlessconnectivetissue.They'dbleedallright,"Copper
assuredhim.
Blairsatupinhisbunksuddenly."Connantwhere'sConnant?"
Thephysicistmovedovertowardthelittlebiologist."HereIam.Whatdoyouwant?"
"AreYou?"giggledBlair.Helapsedbackintothebunkcontortedwithsilentlaughter.
Connantlookedathimblankly"Huh?AmIwhat?"
"Areyouthere?"Blairburstintogalesoflaughter."AreyouConnant?Thebeastwantedtobea
mannotadog"
CHAPTERVII
Dr.Copperrosewearilyfromthebunk,andwashedthehypodermiccarefully.Thelittletinklesit
madeseemedloudinthepackedroom,nowthatBlair'sgurglinglaughterhadfinallyquieted.
CopperlookedtowardGarryandshookhisheadslowly."Hopeless,I'mafraid.Idon'tthinkwe
caneverconvincehimthethingisdeadnow."
Norrislaugheduncertainly."I'mnotsureyoucanconvinceme.Oh,damnyou,McReady."
"McReady?"CommanderGarryturnedtolookfromNorristoMcReadycuriously.
"Thenightmares,"Norrisexplained."Hehadatheoryaboutthenightmareswehadatthe
SecondaryStationafterfindingthatthing."
"Andthatwas?"GarrylookedatMcReadylevelly.
Norrisansweredforhim,jerkily,uneasily."Thatthecreaturewasn'tdead,hadasortof
enormouslyslowedexistence,anexistencethatpermittedit,nonetheless,tobevaguelyaware
ofthepassingoftime,ofourcoming,afterendlessyears.Ihadadreamitcouldimitatethings."
"Well,"Coppergrunted,"itcan."
"Don'tbeanass,"Norrissnapped."That'snotwhat'sbotheringme.Inthedreamitcouldread
minds,readthoughtsandideasandmannerisms."
"What'ssobadaboutthat?Itseemstobeworryingyoumorethanthethoughtofthejoywe're
goingtohavewithamadmaninanAntarcticcamp."CoppernoddedtowardBlair'ssleeping
form.
McReadyshookhisgreatheadslowly."YouknowthatConnantisConnant,becausehenot
merelylookslikeConnantwhichwe'rebeginningtobelievethatbeastmightbeabletodobut
hethinkslikeConnant,talkslikeConnant,moveshimselfaroundasConnantdoes.Thattakes
morethanmerelyabodythatlookslikehimthattakesConnant'sownmind,andthoughtsand
mannerisms.Therefore,thoughyouknowthatthethingmightmakeitselflooklikeConnant,you
aren'tmuchbothered,becauseyouknowithasamindfromanotherworld,atotallyunhuman
mind,thatcouldn'tpossiblyreactandthinkandtalklikeamanweknow,anddoitsowellasto
foolusforamoment.Theideaofthecreatureimitatingoneofusisfascinating,butunreal
becauseitistoocompletelyunhumantodeceiveus.Itdoesn'thaveahumanmind."
"AsIsaidbefore,"Norrisrepeated,lookingsteadilyatMcReady,"youcansaythedamnedest
thingsatthedamnedesttimes.Willyoubesogoodastofinishthatthoughtonewayorthe
other?"
Kinner,thescarfacedexpeditioncook,hadbeenstandingnearConnant.Suddenlyhemoved
downthelengthofthecrowdedroomtowardhisfamiliargalley.Heshooktheashesfromthe
galleystovenoisily.
"Itwoulddoitnogood,"saidDr.Copper,softlyasthoughthinkingoutloud,"tomerelylooklike
somethingitwastryingtoimitateitwouldhavetounderstanditsfeelings,itsreaction.Itis
unhumanithaspowersofimitationbeyondanyconceptionofman.Agoodactor,bytraining
himself,canimitateanotherman,anotherman'smannerisms,wellenoughtofoolmostpeople.
Ofcoursenoactorcouldimitatesoperfectlyastodeceivemenwhohadbeenlivingwiththe
imitatedoneinthecompletelackofprivacyofanAntarcticcamp.Thatwouldtakeasuperhuman
skill."
"Oh,you'vegotthebugtoo?"Norriscursedsoftly.
Connant,standingaloneatoneendoftheroom,lookedabouthimwildly,hisfacewhite.Agentle
eddyingofthemenhadcrowdedthemslowlydowntowardtheotherendoftheroom,sothathe
stoodquitealone."MyGod,willyoutwoJeremiahsshutup?"Connant'svoiceshook."Whatam
I?Somekindofamicroscopicspecimenyou'redissecting?Someunpleasantwormyou're
discussinginthethirdperson?"
McReadylookedupathimhisslowlytwistinghandstoppedforamoment."Havingalovelytime.
Wishyouwerehere.Signed:Everybody.
"Connant,ifyouthinkyou'rehavingahellofatime,justmoveoverontheotherendforawhile.
You'vegotonethingwehaven'tyouknowwhattheansweris.I'lltellyouthis,rightnowyou're
themostfearedandrespectedmaninBigMagnet."
"Lord,Iwishyoucouldseeyoureyes,"Connantgasped."Stopstaring,willyou!Whatthehellare
yougoingtodo?"
"Haveyouanysuggestions,Dr.Copper?"CommanderGarryaskedsteadily."Thepresent
situationisimpossible."
"Oh,isit?"Connantsnapped."Comeoverhereandlookatthatcrowd.ByHeaven,theylook
exactlylikethatgangofhuskiesaroundthecorridorbend.Benning,willyoustopheftingthat
damnediceax?"
Thecopperybladerangonthefloorastheaviationmechanicnervouslydroppedit.Hebentover
andpickeditupinstantly,heftingitslowly,turningitinhishands,hisbrownseyesmovingjerkily
abouttheroom.
CoppersatdownonthebunkbesideBlair.Thewoodcreakednoisilyintheroom.Fardowna
corridor,adogyelpedinpain,andthedogdrivers'tensevoicesfloatedsoftlyback."Microscopic
examination,"saidthedoctorthoughtfully,"wouldbeuseless,asBlairpointedout.Considerable
timehaspassed.However,serumtestswouldbedefinitive.
"Serumtests?Whatdoyoumeanexactly?"CommanderGarryasked.
"IfIhadarabbitthathadbeeninjectedwithhumanbloodapoisontorabbits,ofcourse,asis
thebloodofanyanimalsavethatofanotherrabbitandtheinjectionscontinuedinincreasing
dosesforsometime,therabbitwouldbehumanimmune.Ifasmallquantityofitsbloodwere
drawnoff,allowedtoseparateinatesttube,andtotheclearserum,abitofhumanbloodwere
added,therewouldbeavisiblereaction,provingthebloodwashuman.Ifcow,ordogbloodwere
addedoranyproteinmaterialotherthanthatonething,humanbloodnoreactionwouldtake
place.Thatwouldprovedefinitely."
"CanyousuggestwhereImightcatcharabbitforyou,Doc?"Norrisasked."Thatis,nearerthan
Australiawedon'twanttowastetimegoingthatfar."
"Iknowtherearen'tanyrabbitsinAntarctica,"Coppernodded,"butthatissimplytheusual
animal.Anyanimalexceptmanwilldo.Adogforinstance.Butitwilltakeseveraldays,anddue
tothegreatersizeoftheanimal,considerableblood.Twoofuswillhavetocontribute."
"WouldIdo?"Garryasked.
"Thatwillmaketwo,"Coppernodded."I'llgettoworkonitrightaway."
"WhataboutConnantinthemeantime?"Kinnerdemanded."I'mgoingoutthatdoorandheadoff
fortheRossSeabeforeIcookforhim."
"Hemaybehuman"Copperstarted.
Connantburstoutinafloodofcurses."Human!Maybehuman,youdamnedsawbones!Whatin
helldoyouthinkIam?"
"Amonster,"Coppersnappedsharply."Nowshutupandlisten."Connant'sfacedrainedofcolor
andhesatdownheavilyastheindictmentwasputinwords."Untilweknowyouknowaswellas
wedothatwehavereasontoquestionthefact,andonlyyouknowhowthatquestionistobe
answeredwemayreasonablybeexpectedtolockyouup.Ifyouareunhumanyou'realot
moredangerousthanpoorBlairthere,andI'mgoingtoseethathe'slockedupthoroughly.I
expectthathisnextstagewillbeaviolentdesiretokillyou,allthedogs,andprobablyallofus.
Whenhewakes,hewillbeconvincedwe'reallunhuman,andnothingontheplanetwillever
changehisconviction.Itwouldbekindertolethimdie,butwecan'tdothat,ofcourse.He'sgoing
inoneshack,andyoucanstayinCosmosHousewithyourcosmicrayapparatus.Whichisabout
whatyou'ddoanyway.I'vegottofixupacoupleofdogs."
Connantnoddedbitterly."I'mhuman.Hurrythattest.YoureyesLord,Iwishyoucouldseeyour
eyesstaring"
CommanderGarrywatchedanxiouslyasClark,thedoghandler,heldthebigbrownAlaskan
husky,whileCopperbegantheinjectiontreatment.Thedogwasnotanxioustocooperatethe
needlewaspainful,andalreadyhe'dexperiencedconsiderableneedleworkthatmorning.Five
stitchesheldclosedaslashthatranfromhisshoulderacrosstheribshalfwaydownhisbody.
Onelongfangwasbrokenoffshortthemissingpartwastobefoundhalfburiedintheshoulder
boneofthemonstrousthingonthetableintheAdBuilding.
"Howlongwillthattake?"Garryasked,pressinghisarmgently.Itwassorefromtheprickofthe
needleDr.Copperhadusedtowithdrawblood.
Coppershrugged."Idon'tknow,tobefrank.Iknowthegeneralmethod,I'veuseditonrabbits.
ButIhaven'texperimentedwithdogs.They'rebig,clumsyanimalstoworkwithnaturallyrabbits
arepreferable,andserveordinarily.Incivilizedplacesyoucanbuyastockofhumanimmune
rabbitsfromsuppliers,andnotmanyinvestigatorstakethetroubletopreparetheirown."
"Whatdotheywantwiththembackthere?"Clarkasked.
"Criminologyisonelargefield.Asayshedidn'tmurderB,butthatthebloodonhisshirtcame
fromkillingachicken.TheStatemakesatest,thenit'suptoAtoexplainhowitistheblood
reactsonhumanimmunerabbits,butnotonchickenimmunes."
"WhatarewegoingtodowithBlairinthemeantime?"Garryaskedwearily."It'sallrighttolethim
sleepwhereheisforawhile,butwhenhewakesup"
"BarclayandBenningarefittingsomeboltsonthedoorofCosmosHouse,"Copperreplied
grimly."Connant'sactinglikeagentleman.Ithinkperhapsthewaytheothermenlookathim
makeshimratherwantprivacy.Lordknows,heretoforewe'veallofusindividuallyprayedfora
littleprivacy."
Clarklaughedbitterly."Notanymore,thankyou.Themorethemerrier."
"Blair,"Copperwenton,"willalsohavetohaveprivacy andlocks.He'sgoingtohaveapretty
definiteplaninmindwhenhewakesup.Everheartheoldstoryofhowtostophoofandmouth
diseaseincattle?"
"Ifthereisn'tanyhoofandmouthdisease,therewon'tbeanyhoofandmouthdisease,"Copper
explained."Yougetridofitbykillingeveryanimalthatexhibitsit,andeveryanimalthat'sbeen
nearthediseasedanimal.Blair'sabiologist,andknowsthatstory.He'safraidofthisthingwe
loosed.Theanswerisprobablyprettyclearinhismindnow.Killeverybodyandeverythinginthis
campbeforeaskuagullorawanderingalbatrosscominginwiththespringchancesoutthisway
andcatchesthedisease."
Clark'slipscurledinatwistedgrin."Soundslogicaltome.Ifthingsgettoobadmaybewe'd
betterletBlairgetloose.Itwouldsaveuscommittingsuicide.Wemightalsomakesomethingofa
vowthatifthingsgetbad,weseethatthatdoeshappen."
Copperlaughedsoftly."ThelastmanaliveinBigMagnetwouldn'tbeaman,"hepointedout.
"Somebody'sgottokillthosecreaturesthatdon'tdesiretokillthemselves,youknow.Wedon't
haveenoughthermitetodoitallatonce,andthedecaniteexplosivewouldn'thelpmuch.Ihave
anideathatevensmallpiecesofoneofthosebeingswouldbeselfsufficient."
"If,"saidGarrythoughtfully,"theycanmodifytheirprotoplasmatwill,won'ttheysimplymodify
themselvestobirdsandflyaway?Theycanreadallaboutbirds,andimitatetheirstructure
withoutevenmeetingthem.Orimitate,perhaps,birdsoftheirhomeplanet."
Coppershookhishead,andhelpedClarktofreethedog."Manstudiedbirdsforcenturies,trying
tolearnhowtomakeamachinetoflylikethem.Heneverdiddothetrickhisfinalsuccesscame
whenhebrokeawayentirelyandtriednewmethods.Knowingthegeneralidea,andknowingthe
detailedstructureofwingandboneandnervetissueissomethingfar,fardifferent.Andasfor
otherworldbirds,perhaps,infactveryprobably,theatmosphericconditionsherearesovastly
differentthattheirbirdscouldn'tfly.Perhaps,even,thebeingcamefromaplanetlikeMarswith
suchathinatmospherethattherewerenobirds."
Barclaycameintothebuilding,trailingalengthofairplanecontrolcable."It'sfinished,Doc.
CosmoHousecan'tbeopenedfromtheinside.NowwheredoweputBlair?"
CopperlookedtowardGarry."Therewasn'tanybiologybuilding.Idon'tknowwherewecan
isolatehim."
"HowaboutEastCache?"Garrysaidafteramoment'sthought."WillBlairbeabletolookafter
himselforneedattention?"
"He'llbecapableenough.We'llbetheonestowatchout,"Copperassuredhimgrimly."Takea
stove,acoupleofbagsofcoal,necessarysuppliesandafewtoolstofixitup.Nobody'sbeenout
theresincelastfall,havethey?"
Garryshookhishead."ifhegetsnoisyIthoughtthatmightbeagoodidea."
BarclayheftedthetoolshewascarryingandlookedupatGarry."ifthemutteringhe'sdoingnow
isanysign,he'sgoingtosingawaythenighthours.Andwewon'tlikehissong."
"What'shesaying?"Copperasked.
Barclayshookhishead."Ididn'tcaretolistenmuch.Youcanifyouwantto.ButIgatheredthat
theblastedidiothadallthedreamsMcReadyhad,andafewmore.Hesleptbesidethething
whenwestoppedonthetrailcominginfromSecondaryMagnetic,remember.Hedreamtthe
thingwasalive,anddreamtmoredetails.Anddamnhissoulknewitwasn'talldreaam,orhad
reasonto.Heknewithadtelepathicpowersthatwerestirringvaguely,andthatitcouldnotonly
readminds,butprojectthoughts.Theyweren'tdreams,yousee.Theywerestraythoughtsthat
thingwasbroadcasting,thewayBlair'sbroadcastinghisthoughtsnowasortoftelepathic
mutteringinitssleep.That'swhyheknewsomuchaboutitspowers.IguessyouandI,Doc,
weren'tsosensitiveifyouwanttobelieveintelepathy."
"Ihaveto,"Coppersighed."Dr.RhineofDukeUniversityhasshownthatitexists,shownthat
somearemuchmoresensitivethanothers."
"Well,ifyouwanttolearnalotofdetails,golisteninonBlair'sbroadcast.He'sdrivenmostofthe
boysoutoftheAdBuildingKinner'srattlingpanslikecoalgoingdownachute.Whenhecan't
rattleapan,heshakesashes.
"Bytheway,Commander,whatarewegoingtodothisspring,nowtheplanesareoutofit?"
Garrysighed."I'mafraidourexpeditionisgoingtobealoss.Wecannotdivideourstrengthnow.
"Itwon'tbealossifwecontinuetolive,andcomeoutofthis,"Copperpromisedhim."Thefind
we'vemade,ifwecangetitundercontrol,isimportantenough.Thecosmicraydata,magnetic
work,andatmosphericworkwon'tbegreatlyhindered."
Garrylaughedmirthlessly."Iwasjustthinkingoftheradiobroadcasts.Tellinghalftheworldabout
thewonderfulresultsofourexplorationflights,tryingtofoolmenlikeByrdandEllsworthback
hometherethatwe'redoingsomething."
Coppernoddedgravely."They'llknowsomething'swrong.Butmenlikethathavejudgment
enoughtoknowwewouldn'tdotrickswithoutsomesortofreason,andwillwaitforourreturnto
judgeus.Ithinkitcomestothis:menwhoknowenoughtorecognizeourdeceptionwillwaitfor
ourreturn.Menwhohaven'tdiscretionandfaithenoughtowaitwillnothavetheexperienceto
detectanyfraud.Weknowenoughoftheconditionsheretoputthroughagoodbluff."
"Justsotheydon'tsend'rescue'expeditions,"Garryprayed."When ifwe'reeverreadyto
comeout,we'llhavetosendwordtoCaptainForsythetobringastockofmagnetoswithhim
whenhecomesdown.Butnevermindthat."
"Youmeanifwedon'tcomeout?"askedBarclay."Iwaswonderingifanicerunningaccountof
aneruptionoranearthquakeviaradiowithaswellwindupbyusingastickofdecaniteunderthe
microphonewouldhelp.Nothing,ofcourse,willentirelykeeppeopleout.Oneofthoseswell,
melodramatic'lastmanalivescenes'mightmake'emgoeasythough."
Garrysmiledwithgenuinehumor."iseverybodyincamptryingtofigurethatouttoo?"
Copperlaughed."Whatdoyouthink,Garry?We'reconfidentwecanwinout.Butnottooeasy
aboutit,Iguess."
Clarkgrinnedupfromthedoghewaspettingintocalmness."Confident,didyousay,Doc?"
CHAPTERVIII
Blairmovedrestlesslyaroundthesmallshack.Hiseyesjerkedandquiveredinvague,fleeting
glancesatthefourmenwithhimBarclay,sixfeettallandweighingover190poundsMcReady,
abronzegiantofamanDr.Copper,short,squatlypowerfulandBenning,fivefeettenofwiry
strength.
BlairwashuddledupagainstthefarwalloftheEastCachecabin,hisgearpiledinthemiddleof
thefloorbesidetheheatingstove,forminganislandbetweenhimandthefourmen.Hisbony
handsclenchedandfluttered,terrified.Hispaleeyeswavereduneasilyashisbald,freckledhead
dartedaboutinbirdlikemotion.
"Idon't.wantanybodycominghere.I'llcookmyownfood,"hesnappednervously."Kinnermay
behumannow,butIdon'tbelieveit.I'mgoingtogetoutofhere,butI'mnotgoingtoeatanyfood
yousendme.Iwantcans.Sealedcans."
"O.K.,Blair,we'llbring'emtonight,"Barclaypromised."You'vegotcoal,andthefire'sstarted.I'll
makealist"Barclaystartedforward.
Blairinstantlyscurriedtothefarthestcorner."Getout!Keepawayfromme,youmonster!"the
littlebiologistshrieked,andtriedtoclawhiswaythroughthewalloftheshack."Keepawayfrom
mekeepawayIwon'tbeabsorbedIwon'tbe"
Barclayrelaxedandmovedback.Dr.Coppershookhishead."Leavehimalone,Bar.It'seasier
forhimtofixthethinghimself.We'llhavetofixthedoor,Ithink"
Thefourmenletthemselvesout.Efficiently,BenningandBarclayfelltowork.Therewereno
locksinAntarcticatherewasn'tenoughprivacytomakethemneeded.Butpowerfulscrewshad
beendrivenineachsideofthedoorframe,andthespareaviationcontrolcable,immensely
strong,wovensteelwire,wasrapidlycaughtbetweenthem,.anddrawntaut.Barclaywentto
workwithadrillandakeyholesaw.Presentlyhehadatrapcutinthedoorthroughwhichgoods
couldbepassedwithoutunlashingtheentrance.Threepowerfulhingesfromastockcrate,two
haspsandapairofthreeinchcotterpinsmadeitproofagainstopeningfromtheotherside.
Blairmovedaboutrestlesslyinside.Hewasdraggingsomethingovertothedoorwithpanting
gaspsandmuttering,franticcurses.Barclayopenedthehatchandglancedin,Dr.Copper
peeringoverhisshoulder.Blairhadmovedtheheavybunkagainstthedoor.Itcouldnotbe
openedwithouthiscooperationnow.
"Don'tknowbutwhatthepoorman'sfightatthat,"McReadysighed."Ifhegetsloose,itishis
avowedintentiontokilleachandallofusasquicklyaspossible,whichissomethingwedon't
agreewith.Butwe'vesomethingonoursideofthatdoorthatisworsethanahomicidalmaniac.If
oneortheotherhastogetloose,IthinkI'llcomeupandundothoselashingshere."
Barclaygrinned."Youletmeknow,andI'llshowyouhowtogettheseofffast.Let'sgoback."
Thesunwaspaintingthenorthernhorizoninmulticoloredrainbowsstill,thoughitwastwohours
belowthehorizon.Thefieldofdriftsweptofftothenorth,sparklingunderitsflamingcolorsina
millionreflectedglories.Lowmoundsofroundedwhiteonthenorthernhorizonshowedthe
MagnetRangewasbarelyawashabovethesweepingdrift.Littleeddiesofwindliftedsnow
swirledawayfromtheirskisastheysetouttowardthemainencampmenttwomilesaway.The
spideryfingerofthebroadcastradiatorliftedagauntblackneedleagainstthewhiteofthe
Antarcticcontinent.Thesnowundertheirskieswaslikefinesand,hardandgritty.
"Spring,"saidBenningbitterly,"iscome.Ain'twegotfun!I'vebeenlookingforwardtogetting
awayfromthisblastedholeintheice."
"Iwouldn'ttryitnow,ifIwereyou."Barclaygrunted."Guysthatsetoutfromhereinthenextfew
daysaregoingtobemarvelouslyunpopular."
"Howisyourdoggettingalong,Dr.Copper?"McReadyasked."Anyresultsyet?"
"In30hours?Iwishtherewere.Igavehimaninjectionofmybloodtoday.ButIimagineanother
fivedayswillbeneeded.Idon'tknowcertainlyenoughtostopsooner."
"I'vebeenwonderingifConnantwerechanged,wouldhehavewarnedussosoonafterthe
animalescaped?Wouldn'thehavewaitedlongenoughforittohavearealchancetofixitself?
Unlesswewokeupnaturally?"McReadyaskedslowly.
"Thethingisselfish.Youdidn'tthinkitlookedasthoughitwerepossessedofastoreofthe
higherjustices,didyou?"Dr.Copperpointedout."Everypartofitisallofit,everypartofitisall
foritself,Iimagine.IfConnantwerechanged,tosavehisskin,he'dhavetobutConnant's
feelingsaren'tchangedthey'reimitatedperfectly,orthey'rehisown.Naturally,theimitation,
imitatingperfectlyConnant'sfeelings,woulddoexactlywhatConnantwoulddo."
"Say,couldn'tNorrisorVangiveConnantsomekindofatest?Ifthethingisbrighterthanmen,it
mightknowmorephysicsthanConnantshould,andthey'dcatchitout,"Barclaysuggested.
Coppershookhisheadwearily."Notifitreadsminds.Youcan'tplanatrapforit.Vansuggested
thatlastnight.Hehopeditwouldanswersomeofthequestionsofphysicshe'dliketoknow
answersto."
"Thisexpeditionoffourideaisgoingtomakelifehappy."Benninglookedathiscompanions.
"Eachofuswithaneyeontheotherstomakesurehedoesn'tdosomethingpeculiar.Man,
aren'twegoingtobeatrustingbunch!Eachmaneyeinghisneighborswiththegrandest
exhibitionoffaithandtrustI'mbeginningtoknowwhatConnantmeantby'Iwishyoucouldsee
youreyes.'Everynowandthenweallhaveit,Iguess.Oneofyoulooksaroundwithasortof'I
wonderiftheotherthreearelook."Incidentally,I'mnotexceptingmyself."
"Sofarasweknow,theanimalisdead,withaslightquestionastoConnant.Nootheris
suspected,"McReadystatedslowly."The'alwaysfour'orderismerelyaprecautionarymeasure."
"I'mwaitingforGarrytomakeitfourinabunk,"Barclaysighed."IthoughtIdidn'thaveany
privacybefore,butsincethatorder"
NonewatchedmoretenselythanConnant.Alittlesterileglasstesttube,halffilledwithstraw
coloredfluid.OnetwothreefourfivedropsoftheclearsolutionDr.Copperhadpreparedfrom
thedropsofbloodfromConnant'sarm.Thetubewasshakencarefully,thensetinabeakerof
clear,warmwater.Thethermometerreadbloodheat,alittlethermostatclickednoisily,andthe
electrichotplatebegantoglowasthelightsflickeredslightly.
Thenlittlewhiteflecksofprecipitationwereforming,snowingdownintheclearstrawcolored
fluid."Lord,"saidConnantHedroppedheavilyintoabunk,cryinglikeababy."Sixdays"
Connantsobbed,"sixdaysintherewonderingifthatdamnedtestwouldlie"
Garrymovedoversilently,andslippedhisarmacrossthephysicist'sback.
"Itcouldn'ttie,"Dr.Coppersaid,"Thedogwashumanimmuneandtheserumreacted."
"He'sallright?"Norrisgasped."TThentheanimalisdeaddeadforever?"
"Heishuman,"Copperspokedefinitely,"andtheanimalisdead."
Kinnerburstoutlaughing,laughinghysterically:McReadyturnedtowardhimandslappedhisface
withamethodicalonetwo,onetwoaction.Thecooklaughed,gulped,criedamoment,andsat
uprubbinghischecks,mumblinghisthanksvaguely."Iwasscared.Lord,Iwasscared"
Norrislaughedbitterly."Youthinkweweren't,youape?YouthinkmaybeConnantwasn't?"
TheAdBuildingstirredwithasuddenrejuvenation.Voiceslaughed,themenclusteringaround
Connantspokewithunnecessarilyloudvoices,jittery,nervousvoicesrelievedlyfriendlyagain.
Somebodycalledoutasuggestion,andadozenstartedfortheirskis.Blair.Blairmightrecover
Dr.Copperfussedwithhistesttubesinnervousrelief,tryingsolutions.Thepartyofrelieffor
Blair'sshackstartedoutthedoor,skisclappingnoisily.Downthecorridor,thedogssetupaquick
yelpinghowlastheairofexcitedreliefreachedthem.
Dr.Copperfussedwithhistubes.McReadynoticedhimfirst,sittingontheedgeofthebunk,with
twoprecipitinwhitenedtesttubesofstrawcoloredfluid,hisfacewhiterthanthestuffinthetubes,
silenttearsslippingdownfromhorrorwidenedeyes.
McReadyfeltacoldknifeoffearpiercethroughhisheartandfreezeinhisbreast.Dr.Copper
lookedup.
"Garry,"hecalledhoarsely."Garry,forGod'ssake,comehere."
CommanderGarrywalkedtowardhimsharply.SilenceclappeddownontheAdBuilding.
Connantlookedup,rosestifflyfromhisseat.
"Garrytissuefromthemonsterprecipitatestoo.Itprovesnothing.Nothingbutbutthedog
wasmonsterimmunetoo.Thatoneofthetwocontributingbloodoneofustwo,youandI,Garry
oneofusisamonster."
CHAPTERIX
Bar,callbackthosemenbeforetheytellBlair,"McReadysaidquietly.Blairwenttothedoor
faintlyhisshoutscamebacktothetenselysilentmenintheroom.Thenhewasback.
"They'recoming,"hesaid."Ididn'ttellthemwhy.JustthatDr.Coppersaidnottogo."
"McReady,"Garrysighed,"you'reincommandnow.MayGodhelpyou.Icannot."
Thebronzedgiantnoddedslowly,hisdeepeyesonCommanderGarry.
"Imaybetheone,"Garryadded."IknowI'mnot,butIcannotproveittoyouinanyway.Dr.
Copper'stesthasbrokendown.Thefactthatheshoweditwasuseless,whenitwastothe
advantageofthemonstertohavethatuselessnessnotknown,wouldseemtoprovehewas
human."
Copperrockedbackandforthslowlyonthebunk."IknowI'mhuman.Ican'tproveiteither.One
ofustwoisaliar,forthattestcannotlie,anditsaysoneofusis.Igaveproofthatthetestwas
wrong,whichseemstoproveI'mhuman,andnowGarryhasgiventhatargumentwhichproves
mehumanwhichhe,asthemonster,shouldnotdo.Roundandroundandroundandroundand
"
Dr.Copper'shead,thenhisneckandshouldersbegancirclingslowlyintimetothewords.
Suddenlyhewaslyingbackonthebunk,roaringwithlaughter.'Itdoesn'thavetoproveoneofus
isamonster!Itdoesn'thavetoprovethatatall!Hoho.Ifwe'reallmonstersitworksthesame!
We'reallmonstersallofusConnantandGarryandIandallofyou."
"McReady,"VanWall,theblondbeardedChiefPilot,calledsoftly."youwereonthewaytoan
M.D.whenyoutookupmeteorology,weren'tyou?Canyoumakesomekindoftest?"
McReadywentovertoCopperslowly,tookthehypodermicfromhishand,andwasheditcarefully
in95percentalcohol.Garrysatonthebunkedgewithwoodenface,watchingCopperand
McReadyexpressionlessly."WhatCoppersaidispossible,"McReadysighed."Van,willyouhelp
here?Thanks."ThefilledneedlejabbedintoCopper'sthigh.Theman'slaughterdidnotstop,but
slowlyfadedintosobs,thensoundsleepasthemorphiatookhold.
McReadyturnedagain.ThemenwhohadstartedforBlairstoodatthefarendoftheroom,skis
drippingsnow,theirfacesaswhiteastheirskis.Connanthadalightedcigaretteineachhand
onehewaspuffingabsently,andstaringatthefloor.Theheatoftheoneinhislefthandattracted
himandhestaredatit,andtheoneintheotherhandstupidlyforamoment.Hedroppedoneand
crusheditunderhisheelslowly.
"Dr.Copper,"McReadyrepeated,"couldberight.IknowI'mhumanbutofcoursecan'tproveit.
I'llrepeatthetestformyowninformation.Anyofyouotherswhowishtomaydothesame."
Twominuteslater,McReadyheldatesttubewithwhiteprecipitinsettlingslowlyfromstraw
coloredserum."Itreactstohumanbloodtoo,sotheyaren'tbothmonsters."
"Ididn'tthinktheywere,"VanWallsighed."Thatwouldn'tsuitthemonstereitherwecouldhave
destroyedthemifweknew.Whyhasn'tthemonsterdestroyedus,doyousuppose?Itseemsto
beloose."
McReadysnorted.Thenlaughedsoftly."Elementary,mydearWatson.Themonsterwantsto
havelifeformsavailable.Itcannotanimateadeadbody,apparently.Itisjustwaitingwaiting
untilthebestopportunitiescome.Wewhoremainhuman,itisholdinginreserve."
Kinnershudderedviolently."Hey.Hey,Mac.Mac,wouldIknowifIwasamonster?WouldIknow
ifthemonsterhadalreadygotme?OhLord,Imaybeamonsteralready."
"You'dknow,"McReadyanswered.
"Butwewouldn't,"Norrislaughedshortly,halfhysterically.
McReadylookedatthevialofserumremaining."There'sonethingthisdamnedstuffisgoodfor,
atthat,"hesaidthoughtfully."Clark,willyouandVanhelpme?Therestofthegangbetterstick
togetherhere.Keepaneyeoneachother,"hesaidbitterly."Seethatyoudon'tgetintomischief,
shallwesay?"
McReadystarteddownthetunneltowardDogTown,withClarkandVanWallbehindhim."You
needmoreserum?"Clarkasked.
McReadyshookhishead."Tests.There'sfourcowsandabull,andnearlyseventydogsdown
there.Thisstuffreactsonlytohumanbloodandmonsters."
McReadycamebacktotheAdBuildingandwentsilentlytothewashstand.ClarkandVanWall
joinedhimamomentlater.Clark'slipshaddevelopedatic,jerkingintosudden,unexpected
sneers.
"Whatdidyoudo?"Connantexplodedsuddenly."Moreimmunizing?"
Clarksnickered,andstoppedwithahiccough."Immunizing.Haw!Immuneallright."
"Thatmonster,"saidVanWallsteadily,"isquitelogical.Ourimmunedogwasquiteallright,and
wedrewalittlemoreserumforthetests.Butwewon'tmakeanymore."
"Can'tcan'tyouuseoneman'sbloodoranotherdog"Norrisbegan.
"Therearen't,"saidMcReadysoftly,"anymoredogs,Norcattle,Imightadd."
"Nomoredogs?"Benningsatdownslowly.
"They'reverynastywhentheystartchanging,"VanWallsaidprecisely,"butslow.That
electrocutionironyoumadeup,Barclay,isveryfast.Thereisonlyonedogleftourimmune.The
monsterleftthatforus,sowecouldplaywithourlittletest.Therest"Heshruggedanddriedhis
hands.
"Thecattle,"gulpedKinner.
"Also.Reactedverynicely.Theylookfunnyashellwhentheystartmelting.Thebeasthasn'tany
quickescape,whenit'stiedindogchains,orhalters,andithadtobetoimitate."
Kinnerstoodupslowly,Hiseyesdartedaroundtheroom,andcametoresthorriblyquiveringon
atinbucketinthegalley.Slowly,stepbystep.heretreatedtowardthedoor,hismouthopening
andclosingsilently,likeafishoutofwater.
"Themilk"hegasped."Imilked'emanhourago"Hisvoicebrokeintoascreamashedived
throughthedoor.Hewasoutontheicecapwithoutwindprooforheavyclothing.
VanWalllookedafterhimforamomentthoughtfully."He'sprobablyhopelesslymad,"hesaidat
length,"buthemightbeamonsterescaping.Hehasn'tskis.Takeablowtorchincase."
Thephysicalmotionofthechasehelpedthemsomethingthatneededdoing.Threeoftheother
menwerequietlybeingsick.Norriswaslyingflatonhisback,hisfacegreenish,lookingsteadily
atthebottomofthebunkabovehim.
"Mac,howlonghavethecowsbeennotcows"
McReadyshruggedhisshouldershopelessly.Hewentovertothemilkbucket,andwithhislittle
tubeofserumwenttoworkonit.Themilkcloudedit,makingcertaintydifficult.Finallyhedropped
thetesttubeinthestandandshookhishead."Ittestsnegatively.Whichmeanseithertheywere
cowsthen,orthat,beingperfectimitations,theygaveperfectlygoodmilk."
Copperstirredrestlessinhissleepandgaveagurglingcrossbetweenasnoreandalaugh.
Silenteyesfastenedonhim."Wouldmorphiaamonster"somebodystartedtoask.
"Lordknows,"McReadyshrugged."ItaffectseveryEarthlyanimalIknowof."
Connantsuddenlyraisedhishead."Mac!Thedogsmusthaveswallowedpiecesofthemonster,
andthepiecesdestroyedthem!Thedogswerewherethemonsterresided.Iwaslockedup.
Doesn'tthatprove"
VanWallshookhishead."Sorry.Provesnothingaboutwhatyouare,onlyproveswhatyoudidn't
do."
"Itdoesn'tdothat,"McReadysighed."Wearehelpless.Becausewedon'tknowenough,andso
jitterywedon'tthinkstraight.Lockedup!Everwatchawhitecorpuscleofthebloodgothrough
thewallofabloodvessel?No?Itsticksoutapseudopod.Andthereitisonthefarsideofthe
wall."
"Oh,"saidVanWallunhappily."Thecattletriedtomeltdown,didn'tthey?Thecouldhavemelted
downbecomejustathreadofstuffandleakedunderadoortorecollectontheotherside.
Ropesnono,thatwouldn'tdoit.Theycouldn'tliveinasealedtankor"
"If,"saidMcReady,"youshootitthroughtheheart,anditdoesn'tdie,it'samonster.That'sthe
besttestIcanthinkof,offhand."
"Nodogs,"saidGarryquietly,"andnocattle.Ithastoimitatemennow.Andlockingupdoesn'tdo
anygood.Yourtestmighthavework,Mac,butIamafraiditwouldbehardonthemen."
CHAPTERX
ClarklookedupfromthegalleystoveasVanWall,Barclay,McReadyandBenningcamein,
brushingthedriftfromtheirclothes.TheothermenjammedintotheAdBuildingcontinued
studiouslytodoastheyweredoing,playingchess,poker,reading.Ralsenwasfixingasledgeon
thetableVanandNorrishadtheirheadstogetherovermagneticdata,whileHarveyreadtables
inalowvoice.
Dr.Coppersnoredsoftlyonthebunk.GarrywasworkingwithDuttonoverasheafofradio
messagesonthecornerofDutton'sbunkandasmallfractionoftheradiotable.Connantwas
usingmostofthetableforCosmicRaysheets.
Quiteplainlythroughthecorridor,despitetwocloseddoors,theycouldhearKinner'svoice.Clark
bangedakettleontothegalleystoveandbeckonedMcReadysilently.Themeterologistwent
overtohim.
"Idon'tmindthecookingsodamnmuch,"Clarksaidnervously,"butisn'ttheresomewaytostop
thatbird?WeallagreedthatitwouldbesafetomovehimintoCosmosHouse."
"Kinner?"McReadynoddedtowardthedoor."I'mafraidnot.Icandopehim,Isuppose,butwe
don'thaveanunlimitedsupplyofmorphia,andhe'snotindangeroflosinghismind.Just
hysterical."
"Well,we'reindangeroflosingours.You'vebeenoutforanhourandahalf.That'sbeengoing
onsteadilyeversince,anditwasgoingfortwohoursbefore.There'salimit,youknow."
Garrywanderedoverslowly,apologetically.Foraninstant,McReadycaughttheferalsparkof
fearhorrorinClark'seyes,andknewatthesameinstantitwasinhisown.GarryGarryor
Copperwascertainlyamonster.
"Ifyoucouldstopthat,Ithinkitwouldbeasoundpolicy,Mac,"Garryspokequietly."Thereare
tensionsenoughinthisroom.WeagreedthatitwouldbesafeforKinnerinthere,because
everyoneelseincampisunderconstanteyeing."Garryshiveredslightly."Andtry,tryinGod's
name,tofindsometestthatwillwork."
McReadysighed."Watchorunwatched,everyone'stense.Blair'sjammedthetrapsoitwon't
opennow.Sayshe'sgotfoodenough,andkeepsscreaming'Goaway,goawayyou're
monsters.Iwon'tbeabsorbed.Iwon't.I'lltellmenwhentheycome.Goaway.'Sowewent
away."
"There'snoothertest?"Garrypleaded.
McReadyshruggedhisshoulders."Copperwasperfectlyright.Theserumtestcouldbe
absolutelydefinitiveifithadn'tbeencontaminated.But
that'stheonlydogleft,andhe'sfixednow."
"Chemicals?Chemicaltests?"
McReadyshookhishead."Ourchemistryisn'tthatgood.Itriedthemicroscope,youknow."
Garrynodded."Monsterdogandrealdogwereidentical.Butyou'vegottogoon.Whatarewe
goingtodoafterdinner?"
VanWalljoinedthemquietly."Rotationsleeping.Halfthecrowdasleephalfawake.Iwonder
howmanyofusaremonsters?Allthedogswere.Wethoughtweweresafe,butsomehowitgot
Copperoryou."VanWall'seyesflasheduneasily."Itmayhavegotteneveryoneofyouallof
youbutmyselfmaybewondering,looking.No,that'snotpossible.You'djustspringthen.I'dbe
helpless.Wehumansmightsomehowhavethegreaternumbernow.But"hestopped.
McReadylaughedshortly."You'redoingwhatNorriscomplainedofinme.Leavingithanging.
'Butifonemoreischangedthatmayshiftthebalanceofpower.'Itdoesn'tfight.Idon'tthinkit
everfights.Itmustbeapeaceablething,initsowninimitableway.Itneverhadto,becauseit
alwaysgaineditsendotherwise."
VanWall'smouthtwistedinasicklygrin."You'resuggestingthen,thatperhapsitalreadyhasthe
greaternumbers,butisjustwaitingwaiting,allofthemallofyou,forallIknowwaitingtillI,
thelasthuman,dropmywarinessinsleep.Mac,didyounoticetheireyes,alllookingatus?"
Garrysighed."Youhaven'tbeensittinghereforfourstraighthours,whilealltheireyessilently
weighedtheinformationthatoneofustwo,CopperorI,isamonstercertainlyperhapsbothof
us."
Clarkrepeatedhisrequest."Willyoustopthatbird'snoise?He'sdrivingmenuts.Makehimtone
down,anyway."
"Stillpraying?"McReadyasked.
"Stillpraying,"Clarkgroaned."Hehasn'tstoppedforasecond.Idon'tmind,hisprayingifit
relieveshim,butheyells,hesingspsalmsandhymnsandshoutsprayers.HethinksGodcan't
hearwellwaydownhere."
"MaybeHecan't,"Barclaygrunted."OrHe'dhavedonesomethingaboutthisthingloosedfrom
hell."
"Somebody'sgoingtotrythattestyoumentioned,ifyoudon'tstophim,"Clarkstatedgrimly."I
thinkacleaverintheheadwouldbeaspositiveatestasabulletintheheart."
"Goaheadwiththefood.I'llseewhatIcando.Theremaybesomethinginthecabinets."
McReadymovedwearilytowardthecornerCopperhadusedashisdispensary.Threetall
cabinetsofroughboards,twolocked,weretherepositoriesofthecamp'smedicalsupplies.
TwelveyearsagoMcReadyhadgraduated,hadstartedforaninternship,andbeendivertedto
meteorology.Copperwasapickedman,amanwhoknewhisprofession.thoroughlyand
modernly.MorethanhalfthedrugsavailableweretotallyunfamiliartoMcReadymanyofthe
othershehadforgotten.Therewasnohugemedicallibraryhere,noseriesofjournalsavailable
tolearnthethingshehadforgotten,theelementary,simplethingstoCopper,thingsthatdidnot
meritinclusioninthesmalllibraryhehadbeenforcedtocontenthimselfwith.Booksareheavy,
andeveryounceofsupplieshadbeenfreightedinbyair.
McReadypickedabarbituatehopefully.BarclayandVanwentwithhim.Onemanneverwent
anywherealoneinBigMagnet.
Ralsenhadhissledgeputaway,andthephysicistshadmovedoffthetable,thepokergame
brokenupwhentheygotback.Clarkwasputtingoutthefood.Theclickofspoonsandthe
muffledsoundsofeatingweretheonlysignoflifeintheroom.Therewerenowordsspokenas
thethreereturnedsimplyalleyesfocusedonthemquestioningly,whilethejawmoved
methodically.
MeReadystiffenedsuddenly.Kinnerrwasscreechingoutahymninahoarse,crackedvoice.He
lookedwearilyatVanWallwithatwistedgrinandshookhishead."Huuh."
VanWallcursedbitterly,andsatdownatthetable."We'lljustplumbhavetotakethattillhisvoice
wearsout.Hecan'tyelllikethatforever."
"He'sgotabrassthroatandacastironlarynx,"Norrisdeclaredsavagely."Thenwecouldbe
hopeful,andsuggesthe'soneofourfriends.Inthatcasehecouldgoonrenewinghisthroattill
doomsday."
Silenceclampeddown.Fortwentyminutestheyatewithoutaword.ThenConnantjumpedup
withanangryviolence."Yousitasstillasabunchofgravenimages.Youdon'tsayaword,but
ohLord,whatexpressiveeyesyou'vegot.Theyrollaroundlikeabunchofglassmarblesspilling
downatable.Theywinkandblinkandstareandwhisperthings.Canyouguyslooksomewhere
elseforachange,please?
"Listen,Mac,you'reinchargehere.Let'srunmoviesfortherestofthenight.We'vebeensaving
thosereelstomake'emlast.Lastforwhat?Whoisit'sgoingtoseethoselastreels,eh?Let's
see'emwhilewecan,andlookatsomethingotherthaneachother.
"Soundidea,ConnantI,forone,amquitewillingtochangethisinanywayIcan."
"Turnthesounduploud,Dutton.Maybeyoucandrownoutthehymns,"Clarksuggested.
"Butdon't,"Norrissaidsoftly,"don'tturnoffthelightsaltogether."
"Thelightswillbeout."McReadyshookhishead."We'llshowallthecartoonmovieswehave.
Youwon'tmindseeingtheoldcartoons,willyou?"
"Goody,goodyamoompitchershow.I'mjustinthemood."McReadyturnedtolookatthe
speaker,alean,lankyNewEnglander,bythenameofCaldwell.Caldwellwasstuffinghispipe
slowly,asoureyecockeduptoMcReady.
Thebronzegiantwasforcedtolaugh."O.K.,Bart,youwin.Maybewearen'tquiteinthemoodfor
Popeyeandtrickducks,butit'ssomething."
"Let'splayClassifications,"Caldwellsuggestedslowly."OrmaybeyoucallitGuggenheim.You
drawlinesonapieceofpaper,andputdownclassesofthingslikeanimals,youknow.Onefor
'H'andonefor'U'andsoon.Like'Humanand'Unknown'forinstance.Ithinkthatwouldbeahell
ofalotbettergame.Classification,Isortoffigureiswhatweneedrightnowalotmorethan
movies.Maybesomebody'sgotapencilthathecandrawlineswith,drawlinesbetweenthe'U'
animalsandthe'H'animalsforinstance."
"McReady'stryingtofindthatkindofpencil,"VanWallansweredquietly,"butwe'vegotthree
kindsofanimalshere,youknow.Onethatbeginswith'M'.Wedon'twantanymore."
"Madones,youmean.Uhhuh.Clark,I'llhelpyouwiththosepotssowecangetourlittle
peepshowgoing."Caldwellgotupslowly.
DuttonandBarclayandBenning,inchargeoftheprojectorandsoundmechanismarrangements,
wentabouttheirjobsilently,whiletheAdBuildingwasclearedandthedishesandpansdisposed
of.McReadydriftedovertowardVanWallslowly,andleanedbackinthebunkbesidehim."I've
beenwondering,Van,"hesaidwithawrygrin,"whetherornottoreport myideasinadvance.I
forgotthe'Uanimals'asCaldwellnamedit,couldreadminds.I'veavagueideaofsomethingthat
mightwork.it'stoovaguetobotherwiththough.Goaheadwithyourshow,whileItrytofigureout
thelogicofthething.I'lltakethisbunk."
VanWallglancedup,andnodded.Themoviescreenwouldbepracticallyonalinewithhisbunk,
hencemakingthepicturesleastdistractinghere,becauseleastintelligible."Perhapsyoushould
telluswhatyouhaveinmind.Asitis,onlytheunknownsknowwhatyouplan.Youmightbe
unknownbeforeyougotitintooperation."
"Won'ttakelong,ifIgetitfiguredoutright.ButIdon'twantanymoreallbutthetestdogmonsters
things.WebettermoveCopperintothisbunkdirectlyaboveme.Hewon'tbewatchingthescreen
either."McReadynoddedtowardCopper'sgentlysnoringbulk.Garryhelpedthemliftandmove
thedoctor.
McReadyleanedbackagainstthebunk,andsankintoatrance,almost,ofconcentration,tryingto
calculatechances,operations,methods.Hewasscarcelyawareastheothersdistributed
themselvessilently,andthescreenlitup.VaguelyKinner'shectic,shoutedprayersandhis
raspinghymnsingingannoyedhimtillthesoundaccompanimentstarted.Thelightswereturned
out,butthelarge,lightcoloredareasofthescreenreflectedenoughlightforreadyvisibility.It
mademen'seyessparkleastheymovedrestlessly.Kinnerwasstillpraying,shouting,hisvoicea
raucousaccompanimenttothemechanicalsound.Duttonsteppeduptheamplification.
Solonghadthevoicebeengoingon,thatonlyvaguelyatfirstwasMcReadyawarethat
somethingseemedmissing.Lyingashewas,justacrossthenarrowroomfromthecorridor
leadingtoCosmosHouse,Kinner'svoicehadreachedhimfairlyclearly,despitethesound
accompanimentofthepictures.Itstruckhimabruptlythatithadstopped.
"Dutton,cutthatsound,"McReadycalledashesatupabruptly.Thepicturesflickeredamoment,
soundlessandstrangelyfutileinthesudden,deepsilence.Therisingwindonthesurfaceabove
bubbledmelancholytearsofsounddownthestovepipes."Kinner'sstopped,"McReadysaid
softly.
"ForGod'ssakestartthatsoundthen,hemayhavestoppedtolisten,"Norrissnapped.
McReadyroseandwentdownthecorridor.BarclayandVanWalllefttheirplacesatthefarendof
theroomtofollowhim.TheflickersbulgedandtwistedonthebackofBarclay'sgrayunderwear
ashecrossedthestillfunctioningbeamoftheprojector.Duttonsnappedonthelights,andthe
picturesvanished.
NorrisstoodatthedoorasMcReadyhadasked.Garrysatdownquietlyinthebunknearestthe
door,forcingClarktomakeroomforhim.Mostoftheothershadstayedexactlywheretheywere.
OnlyConnantwalkedslowlyupanddowntheroom,insteady,unvaryingrhythm.
"Ifyou'regoingtodothat,Connant,"Clarkspat,"wecangetalongwithoutyoualtogether,
whetheryou'rehumanornot.Willyoustopthatdamnedrhythm?"
"Sorry."Thephysicistsatdowninabunk,andwatchedhistoesthoughtfully.Itwasalmostfive
minutes,fiveageswhilethewindmadetheonlysound,beforeMcReadyappearedatthedoor.
"We,"heannounced,"haven'tgotenoughgriefherealready.Somebody'striedtohelpusout.
Kinnerhasaknifeinhisthroat,whichwaswhyhestoppedsinging,probably.We'vegot
monsters,madmenandmurderers.Anymore'M's'youcanthinkof,Caldwell?Ifthereare,we'll
probablyhave'embeforelong."
CHAPTERXI
"IsBlairloose?"someoneasked.
"Blairisnotloose.Orheflewin.Ifthere'sanydoubtaboutwhereourgentlehelpercamefrom
thismayclearitup."VanHullheldafootlong,thinbladedknifeinacloth.Thewoodenhandle
washalfburnt,charredwiththepeculiarpatternofthetopofthegalleystove.
Clarkstaredatit."Ididthatthisafternoon.Iforgotthedamnthingandleftitonthestove."
VanWallnodded."Ismelledit,ifyouremember.Iknewtheknifecamefromthegalley."
"Iwonder,"saidBenning,lookingaroundatthepartywarily,"howmanymoremonstershavewe?
Ifsomebodycouldslipoutofhisplace,gobackofthescreentothegalleyandthendowntothe
CosmosHouseandbackhedidcomeback,didn'the?Yeseverybody'shere.Well,ifoneof
thegangcoulddoallthat"
"Maybeamonsterdidit,"Garrysuggestedquietly."There'sthatpossibility."
"Themonster,asyoupointedouttoday,hasonlymenlefttoimitate.Wouldhedecreasehis
supply,shallwesay?"VanWallpointedout."No,wejusthaveaplain,ordinarylouse,amurderer
todealwith.Ordinarilywe'dcallhiman'inhumanmurderer'Isuppose,butwehavetodistinguish
now.Wehaveinhumanmurderers,andnowwehavehumanmurderers.Oroneatleast."
"There'sonelesshuman,"Norrissaidsoftly."Maybethemonstershavethebalanceofpower
now."
"Nevermindthat,"McReadysighedandturnedtoBarclay."Bar,willyougetyourelectricgadget?
I'mgoingtomakecertain"
Barclayturneddownthecorridortogettheprongedelectrocuter,whileMcReadyandVanWall
wentbacktowardCosmosHouse.Barclayfollowedtheminsomethirtyseconds.
ThecorridortoCosmosHousetwisted,asdidnearlyallcorridorsinBigMagnet,andNorrisstood
attheentranceagain.Buttheyheard,rathermuffledMcReady'ssuddenshout.Therewasa
savagescurryofblows,dullchthunk,shluffsounds."BarBar"Andacurious,savagemewing
scream,silencedbeforeevenquickmovingNorrishadreachedthebend.
KinnerorwhathadbeenKinnerlayonthefloorcuthalfintwobythegreatknifeMcReadyhad
had.Themeteorologiststoodagainstthewall,theknifedrippingredinhishand.VanWallwas
stirringvaguelyonthefloor,moaning,hishandhalfconsciouslyrubbingathisjaw.Barclayan
unutterablysavagegleaminhiseyes,wasmethodicallyleaningontheprongedweaponinhis
hand,jabbing,jabbing.
Kinner'sarmshaddevelopedaqueer,scalyfur,andthefleshhadtwisted.Thefingershad
shortened,thehandrounded,thefingernailsbecomethreeinchlongthingsofdullredhorn,
keenedtosteelhardrazorsharptalons.
McReadyraisedhishead,lookedattheknifeinhishandanddroppedit."Well,whoeverdidit
canspeakupnow.Hewasaninhumanmurdereratthatinthathemurderedaninhuman.I
swearbyallthat'sholy,Kinnerwasalifelesscorpseonthefloorherewhenwearrived.Butwhen
itfoundweweregoingtojabitwiththepoweritchanged."
Norrisstaredunsteadily."Oh.Lord,thosethingscanact.Yegodssittinginhereforhours,
mouthingprayerstoaGodithated!ShoutinghymnsinacrackedvoicehymnsaboutaChurchit
neverknew.Drivingusmadwithitsceaselesshowling
"Well.Speakup,whoeverdidit,Youdidn'tknowit,butyoudidthecampafavor.AndIwantto
knowhowinblazesyougotoutofthatroomwithoutanyoneseeingyou.Itmighthelpinguarding
ourselves."
"Hisscreaminghissinging.Eventhesoundprojectorcouldn'tdrownit."Clarkshivered."Itwasa
monster."
"Oh,"saidVanWallinsuddencomprehension."Youweresittingrightnexttothedoor,weren't
you!Andalmostbehindtheprojectionscreenalready."
Clarknoddeddumbly."Heit'squietnow.It'sadeadMac,yourtest'snodamngood.Itwas
deadanyway,monsterorman,itwasdead."
McReadychuckledsoftly."Boys,meetClark,theonlyoneweknowishuman!MeetClark,the
onewhoproveshe'shumanbytryingtocommitmurderandfailing.Willtherestofyouplease
refrainfromtryingtoproveyou'rehumanforawhile?Ithinkwemayhaveanothertest."
"Atest!"Connantsnappedjoyfully,thenhisfacesaggedindisappointment."Isupposeit's
anothereitherwayyouwantit."
"No,"saidMcReadysteadily."Looksharpandbecareful.ComeintotheAdBuilding.Barclay,
bringyourelectrocuter.AndsomebodyDuttonstandwithBarclaytomakesurehedoesit.
Watcheveryneighbor,forbytheHellthesemonsterscomefrom,I'vegotsomething,andthey
knowit.They'regoingtogetdangerous!"
Thegrouptensedabruptly.Anairofcrushingmenaceenteredintoeveryman'sbody,sharply
theylookedateachother.Morekeenlythaneverbeforeisthatmannexttomeaninhuman
monster?
"Whatisit?"Garryasked,astheystoodagaininthemainroom."Howlongwillittake?"
"Idon'tknowexactly,"saidMcReady,hisvoicebrittlewithangrydetermination."ButIknowitwill
work,andnotwowaysaboutit.Itdependsonabasicqualityofthemonsters,notonus.'Kinner'
justconvincedme."Hestoodheavyandsolidinbronzedimmobility,completelysureofhimself
againatlast.
"This,"saidBarclay,heftingthewoodenhandledweapon,tippedwithitstwosharppointed,
chargedconductors,"isgoingtoberathernecessary,Itakeit.Isthepowerplantassured?"
Duttonnoddedsharply."Theautomaticstokerbinisfull.Thegaspowerplantisonstandby.Van
WallandIsetitforthemovieoperationandwe'vecheckeditoverrathercarefullyseveraltimes,
youknow.Anythingthosewirestouch,dies,"heassuredthemgrimly"Iknowthat."
Dr.Copperstirredvaguelyinhisbunk,rubbedhiseyeswithfumblinghand.Hesatupslowly,
blinkedhiseyesblurredwithsleepanddrugs,widenedwithanunutterablehorrorofdrugridden
nightmares."Garry,"hemumbled,"Garrylisten.Selfishfromhelltheycame,andhellish
shellfishImeanselfDoI?WhatdoImean?"hesankbackinhisbunk,andsnoredsoftly.
McReadylookedathimthoughtfully."We'llknowpresently,"henoddedslowly."Butselfishis
whatyoumeanallright.Youmayhavethoughtofthat,halfsleeping,dreamingthere.Ididn'tstop
tothinkwhatdreamsyoumightbehaving.Butthat'sallright.Selfishistheword.Theymustbe,
yousee."Heturnedtothemeninthecabin,tense,silentmenstaringwithwolfisheyeseachat
hisneighbor.Selfish,andasDr.Coppersaideverypartisawhole.Everypieceisselfsufficient,
ananimalinitself.
"That,andoneotherthing,tellthestory.There'snothingmysteriousaboutbloodit'sjustas
normalabodytissueasapieceofmuscle,orapieceofliver.Butithasn'tsomuchconnective
tissue,thoughithasmillions,billionsoflifecells."
McReady'sgreatbronzebeardruffledinagrimsmile."Thisissatisfying,inaway.I'mprettysure
wehumansstilloutnumberyouothers.Othersstandinghere.Andwehavewhatyou,your
otherworldrace,evidentlydoesn't.Notanimitated,butabredintheboneinstinct,adriving,
unquenchablefirethat'sgenuine.We'llfight,fightwithaferocityyoumayattempttoimitate,but
you'llneverequal!We'rehuman.We'rereal.You'reimitations,falsetothecoreofyoureverycell.
"Allright.It'sashowdownnow.Youknow.You,withyourmindreading.You'veliftedtheidea
frommybrain.Youcan'tdoathingaboutit.
"Standinghere
"Letitpass.Bloodistissue.Theyhavetobleed,iftheydon'tbleedwhencut,then,byHeaven,
they'rephony!Phonyfromhell!Iftheybleedthenthatblood,separatedfromthem,isan
individualanewlyformedindividualinitsownright,justasthey,split,allofthem,fromone
original,areindividuals!
"Getit,Van?Seetheanswer,Bar?"
VanWalllaughedverysoftly."Thebloodthebloodwillnotobey.It'sanewindividual,withall
thedesiretoprotectitsownlife"thattheoriginalthemainmassfromwhichitwassplithas.
Thebloodwillliveandtrytocrawlawayfromahotneedle,say!"
McReadypickedupthescalpelfromthetable.Fromthecabinet,hetookarackoftesttubes,a
tinyalcohollamp,andalengthofplatinumwiresetinalittleglassrod.Asmileofgrimsatisfaction
rodehislips.Foramomentheglancedupatthosearoundhim.BarclayandDuttonmoved
towardhimslowly,thewoodenhandledelectricinstrumentalert.
"Dutton,"saidMcReady,"supposeyoustandoverbythesplicetherewhereyou'veconnected
thatin.Justmakesurenothingpullsitloose."
Duttonmovedaway."Now,Van,supposeyoubefirstonthis."
Whitefaced,VanWallsteppedforward.Withadelicateprecision,McReadycutaveininthe
baseofhisthumb.VanWallwincedslightly,thenheldsteadyasahalfinchofbrightblood
collectedinthetube.McReadyputthetubeintherack,gaveVanWallabitofalum,and
indicatedtheiodinebottle.
VanWallstoodmotionlesslywatching.McReadyheatedtheplatinumwireinthealcohollamp
flame,thendippeditintothetube.ithissedsoftly.Fivetimesherepeatedthetest."Human,I'd
say."McReadysighed,andstraightened."Asyet,mytheoryhasn'tbeenactuallyprovenbutI
havehopes.Ihavehopes.
"Don't,bytheway,gettoointerestedinthis.Wehavewithussomeunwelcomeones,nodoubt,
Van,willyourelieveBarclayattheswitch?Thanks.O.K.,Barclay,andmayIsayIhopeyoustay
withus?You'readamnedgoodguy."
Barclaygrinneduncertainlywincedunderthekeenedgeofthescalpel.Presently,smilingwidely,
heretrievedhislonghandledweapon.
"Mr.SamuelDuttBAR!"
Thetensitywasreleasedinthatsecond.Whateverofhellthemonstersmayhavehadwithin
them,themeninthatinstantmatchedit.Barclayhadnochancetomovehisweaponasascore
ofmenpoureddownonthatthingthathadseemedDutton.Itmewed,andspat,andtriedtogrow
fangsandwasahundredbroken,tornpieces.Withoutknives,oranyweaponsavethebrute
givenstrengthofastaffofpickedmen,thethingwascrushed,rent.
Slowlytheypickedthemselvesup,theireyessmoldering,veryquietintheiremotions.Acurious
wrinklingoftheirlipsbetrayedaspeciesofnervousness.
Barclaywentoverwiththeelectricweapon.Thingssmolderedandstank.ThecausticacidVan
Walldroppedoneachspilleddropofbloodgaveofftickling,coughprovokingfumes.
McReadygrinned,hisdeepseteyesalightanddancing."Maybe,"hesaidsoftly,."Iunderrated
man'sabilitieswhenIsaidnothinghumancouldhavetheferocityintheeyesofthatthingwe
found.Iwishwecouldhavetheopportunitytotreatinamorebefittingmannerthesethings.
Somethingwithboilingoil,ormeltedleadinit,ormaybeslowroastinginthepowerboiler.WhenI
thinkwhatamanDuttonwas
"Nevermind.Mytheoryisconfirmedbybyonewhoknew?Well,VanWallandBarclayare
proven.Ithink,then,thatI'lltrytoshowyouwhatIalreadyknow.ThatItooamhuman."
McReadyswishedthescalpelinabsolutealcohol,burneditoffthemetalblade,andcutthebase
ofhisthumbexpertly.
Twentysecondslaterhelookedupfromthedeskatthewaitingmen.Thereweremoregrinsout
therenow,friendlygrins,yetwithal,somethingelseintheeyes.
"Connant,"McReadylaughedsoftly,"wasright.Thehuskieswatchingthatthinginthecorridor
bendhadnothingonyou.Wonderwhywethinkonlythewolfbloodhastherighttoferocity?
Maybeonspontaneousviciousnessawolftakestops,butafterthesesevendaysabandonall
hope,yewolveswhoenterhere!
"Maybewecansavetime.Connant,wouldyoustepfor"
AgainBarclaywastooslow.Thereweremoregrins,lesstensitystill,whenBarclayandVanWall
finishedtheirwork.
Garryspokeinalow,bittervoice."Connantwasoneofthefinestmenwehadhereandfive
minutesagoI'dhaveswornhewasaman.Thosedamnablethingsaremorethanimitation.
"Garryshudderedandsatbackinhisbunk.
Andthirtysecondslater,Garry'sbloodshrankfromthehotplatinumwire,andstruggledto
escapethetube,struggledasfranticallyasasuddenlyferal,redeyed,dissolvingimitationof
GarrystruggledtododgethesnaketongueweaponBarclayadvancedathim,whitefacedand
sweating.TheThinginthetesttubescreamedwithatin,tinnyvoiceasMcReadydroppeditinto
theglowingcoalofthegalleystove.
CHAPTERXII
"Thelastofit?"Dr.Copperlookeddownfromhisbunkwithbloodshot,saddenedeyes."Fourteen
ofthem"
McReadynoddedshortly."Insomewaysifonlywecouldhavepermanentlypreventedtheir
spreadingI'dliketohaveeventheimitationsback.CommanderGarryConnantDutton
Clark"
"Wherearetheytakingthosethings?"CoppernoddedtothestretcherBarclayandNorriswere
carryingout.
"Outside.Outsideontheice,wherethey'vegotfifteensmashedcrates,halfatonofcoal,and
presentlywilladdtengallonsofkerosene.We'vedumpedacidoneveryspilleddrop,everytorn
fragment.We'regoingtoincineratethose."
"Soundslikeagoodplan."Coppernoddedwearily."Iwonder,youhaven'tsaidwhetherBlair"
McReadystarted."Weforgothim!Wehadsomuchelse!Iwonderdoyousupposewecancure
himnow?
"If"beganDr.Copper,andstoppedmeaaningly.
McReadystartedasecondtime."Evenamadman.ItimitatedKinnerandhisprayinghysteria"
McReadyturnedtowardVanWallatthelongtable."Van,we'vegottomakeanexpeditionto
Blair'sshack."
Vanlookedupsharply,thefrownofworryfadedforaninstantinsurprisedremembrance.Then
herose,nodded."Barclaybettergoalong.Heappliedthelashings,andmayfigurehowtogetin
withoutfrighteningBlairtoomuch."
Threequartersofanhour,through37cold,whiletheAuroracurtainbelliedoverhead.The
twilightwasnearly12hourslong,flaminginthenorthonsnowlikewhite,crystallinesandunder
theirskis.A5milewindpileditindriftlinespointingofftothenorthwest.Threequartersofan
hourtoreachthesnowburiedshack.Nosmokecamefromthelittleshack,andthemen
hastened.
"Blair!"Barclayroaredintothewindwhenhewasstillahundredyardsaway."Blair!"
"Shutup,"saidMcReadysoftly."Andhurry.Hemaybetryingalonghike.Ifwehavetogoafter
himnoplanes,thetractorsdisabled"
"Wouldamonsterhavethestaminaamanhas?"
"Abrokenlegwouldn'tstopitformorethanaminute,"McReadypointedout.
Barclaygaspedsuddenlyandpointedaloft.Diminthetwilitsky,awingedthingcircledincurves
ofindescribablegraceandease.Greatwhitewingstippedgently,andthebirdsweptoverthemin
silentcuriosity."Albatross"Barclaysaidsoftly."Firstoftheseason,andwanderingwayinland
forsomereason.Ifamonster'sloose"
Norrisbentdownontheice,andtorehurriedlyathisheavy,windproofclothing.Hestraightened,
hiscoatflappingopen,agrimbluemetaledweaponinhishand.Itroaredachallengetothewhite
silenceofAntarctica.
Thethingintheairscreamedhoarsely.Itsgreatwingsworkedfranticallyasadozenfeathers
floateddownfromitstail.Norrisfiredagain.Thebirdwasmovingswiftlynow,butinanalmost
straightlineofretreat.Itscreamedagain,morefeathersdroppedandwithbeatingwingsitsoared
behindaridgeofpressureice,tovanish.
Norrishurriedaftertheothers."Itwon'tcomeback,"hepanted.
Barclaycautionedhimtosilence,pointing.Acuriously,fiercelybluelightbeatoutfromthecracks
oftheshack'sdoor.Averylow,softhummingsoundedinside,alow,softhummingandaclink
andclankoftools,theverysoundssomehowbearingamessageoffrantichaste.
McReady'sfacepaled."Lordhelpusifthatthinghas"HegrabbedBarclay'sshoulder,andmade
snippingmotionswithhisfingers,pointingtowardthelacingofcontrolcablesthatheldthedoor.
Barclaydrewthewirecuttersfromhispocket,andkneeledsoundlesslyatthedoor.Thesnapand
twangofcutwiresmadeanunbearableracketintheutterquietoftheAntarctichush.Therewas
onlythatstrange,sweetlysofthumfromwithintheshack,andthequeerly,hecticallyclipped
clickingandrattlingoftoolstodrowntheirnoises.
McReadypeeredthroughacrackinthedoor.Hisbreathsuckedinhuskilyandhisgreatfingers
clampedcruellyonBarclay'sshoulder.Themeteorologistbackeddown."Itisn't,"heexplained
verysoftly,"Blair.It'skneelingonsomethingonthebunksomethingthatkeepslifting.Whatever
it'sworkingonisathinglikeaknapsackanditlifts."
"Allatonce,"Barclaysaidgrimly."NoNorris,hangback,andgetthatironofyoursout.Itmay
haveweapons."
Together,Barclay'spowerfulbodyandMcReady'sgiantstrengthstruckthedoor.Inside,thebunk
jammedagainstthedoorscreechedmadlyandcrackledintokindling.Thedoorflungdownfrom
brokenhinges,thepatchedlumberofthedoorpostdroppinginward.
Likeabluerubberball,aThingbouncedup.Oneofitsfourtentaclelikearmsloopedoutlikea
strikingsnake.Inasevententacledhandasixinchpencilofwinking,shiningmetalglintedand
swungupwardtofacethem.Itslinethinlipstwitchedbackfromsnakefangsinagrinofhate,red
eyesblazing.
Norris'revolverthunderedintheconfinedspace.Thehatewashedfacetwitchedinagony,the
loopingtentaclesnatchedback.Thesilverythinginitshandasmashedruinofmetal,theseven
tentacledhandbecameamassofmangledfleshoozinggreenishyellowichor.Therevolver
thunderedthreetimesmore.DarkholesdrilledeachofthethreeeyesbeforeNorrishurledthe
emptyweaponagainstitsface.
Thethingscreamedaferalhate,alashingtentaclewipingatblindedeyes.Foramomentit
crawledonthefloor,savagetentacleslashingout,thebodytwitching.Thenitstaggeredupagain,
blindedeyesworking,boilinghideously,thecrushedfleshsloughingawayinsoddengobbets.
Barclaylurchedtohisfeetanddoveforwardwithaniceax.Theflatoftheweightythingcrushed
againstthesideofthehead.Againtheunkillablemonsterwentdown.Thetentacleslashedout,
andsuddenlyBarclayfelltohisfeetinthegripofaliving,lividrope.Thethingdissolvedashe
heldit,awhitehotbandthatateintothefleshofhishandslikelivingfire.Franticallyhetorethe
stufffromhim,heldhishandswheretheycouldnotbereached.TheblindThingfeltandrippedat
thetoughheavy,windproofcloth,seekingfleshfleshitcouldconvert
ThehugeblowtorchMcReadyhadbroughtcoughedsolemnly.Abruptlyitrumbleddisapproval
throatily.Thenitlaughedgurglingly,andthrustoutabluewhite,threefoottongue.TheThingon
thefloorshrieked,flailedoutblindlywithtentaclesthatwrithedandwitheredinthebubblingwrath
oftheblowtorch.Itcrawledandturnedonthefloor,itshriekedandhobbledmadly,butalways
McReadyheldtheblowtorchontheface,thedeadeyesburningandbubblinguselessly.
FranticallytheThingcrawledandhowled.
Atentaclesproutedasavagetalonandcrispedintheflame.SteadilyMcReadymovedwitha
planned,grimcampaign.Helpless,maddened,theThingretreatedfromthegruntingtorch,the
caressing,lickingtongue.Foramomentitrebelled,squallingininhumanhatredatthetouchof
icysnow.Thenitfellbackbeforethecharringbreathofthetorch,thestenchofitsfleshbathingit.
HopelesslyitretreatedonandonacrosstheAntarcticsnow,Thebitterwindsweptoverit
twistingthetorchtonguevainlyitflopped,atrailofoily,stinkingsmokebubblingawayfromit
McReadywalkedbacktowardtheshacksilently.Barclaymethimatthedoor."Nomore?"the
giantmeteorologistaskedgrimly.
Barclayshookhishead."Nomore.Itdidn'tsplit?"
"Ithadotherthingstothinkabout,"McReadyassuredhim."WhenIleftit,itwasaglowingcoal.
Whatwasitdoing?"
Norrislaughedshortly."Wiseboys,weare.Smashmagnetos,soplaneswon'twork.Ripthe
boilertubing'outofthetractors.AndleavethatThingaloneforaweekinthisshack.Aloneand
undisturbed."
McReadylookedinattheshackmorecarefully.Theair,despitetherippeddoor,washotand
humid.Onatableatthefarendoftheroomrestedathingofcoiledwiresandsmallmagnets,
glasstubingandradiotubes.Atthecenterablockofroughstonerested.Fromthecenterofthe
blockcamethelightthatfloodedtheplace,thefiercelybluelightbluerthantheglareofanelectric
arc,andfromitcamethesweetlysofthum.Offtoonesidewasanothermechanismofcrystal
glass,blownwithanincredibleneatnessanddelicacy,metalplatesandaqueer,shimmery
sphereofinsubstantiality.
"Whatisthat?"McReadymovednearer.
Norrisgrunted."Leaveit forinvestigation.ButIcanguessprettywell.That'satomicpower.That
stufftotheleftthat'saneatlittlethingfordoingwhatmenhavebeentryingtodowith100ton
cyclotronsandsoforth.Itseparatesneutronsfromheavywater,whichhewasgettingfromthe
surroundingice."
"Wheredidhegetalloh.Ofcourse,Amonstercouldn'tbelockedinorout.He'sbeenthrough
theapparatuscaches."McReadystaredattheapparatus."Lord,whatmindsthatracemusthave
"
"TheshimmerysphereIthinkit'sasphereofpureforce.Neutronscanpassthroughanymatter,
andhewantedasupplyreservoirofneutrons.Justprojectneutronsagainstsilicacalcium
berylliumalmostanything,andtheatomicenergyisreleased.Thatthingistheatomic
generator."
McReadypluckedathermometerfromhiscoat."It's120inhere,despitetheopendoor.Our
clotheshavekepttheheatouttoanextent,butI'msweatingnow."
Norrisnodded."Thelight'scold.Ifoundthat.Butitgivesoffheattowarmtheplacethroughthat
coil.Hehadallthepowerintheworld.Hecouldkeepitwarmandpleasant,ashisracethoughtof
warmthandpleasantness.Didyounoticethelight,thecolorofit?"
McReadynodded."Beyondthestarsistheanswer.Frombeyondthestars.Fromahotterplanet
thatcircledabrighter,bluersuntheycame."
McReadyglancedoutthedoortowardtheblasted,smokestainedtrailthatfloppedandwandered
blindlyoffacrossthedrift."Therewon'tbeanymorecoming,Iguess.Sheeraccidentitlanded
here,andthatwastwentymillionyearsago.Whatdiditdoallthatfor?"henoddedtowardthe
apparatus.
Barclaylaughedsoftly."Didyounoticewhatitwasworkingonwhenwecame?Look."Hepointed
towardtheceilingoftheshack.
Likeaknapsnackmadeofflattenedcoffeetins,withdanglingclothstrapsandleatherbelts,the
mechanismclungtotheceiling.Atiny,glaringheartofsupernalflameburnedinit,yetburned
throughtheceiling'swoodwithoutscorchingit.Barclaywalkedovertoit,graspedtwoofthe
danglingstrapsinhishands,andpulleditdownwithaneffort.Hestrappeditabouthisbody.A
slightjumpcarriedhiminaweirdlyslowarcacrosstheroom.
"Antigravity,"saidMcReadysoftly.
"Antigravity,"Norrisnodded."Yes,wehad'emstopped,withnoplanes,andnobirds.Thebirds
hadn'tcomebuttheyhadcoffeetinsandradioparts,andglassandthemachineshopatnight.
Andaweekawholeweekalltoitself.Americainasinglejurnpwithantigravitypoweredby
theatomicenergyofmatter.
"Wehad'emstopped,Anotherhalfhouritwasjusttighteningthesestrapsonthedevicesoit
couldwearitandwe'dhavestayedinAntarctica,andshotdownanymovingthingthatcame
from,therestoftheworld."
"Thealbatross"McReadysaidsoftly."Doyousuppose"
"Withthisthingalmostfinished?Withthatdeathweaponitheldinitshand?
"No,bythegraceofGod,whoevidentlydoeshearverywell,evendownhere,andthemarginof
halfanhour,wekeepourworld,andtheplanetsofthesystemtoo.Antigravity,youknow,and
atomicpower.BecauseTheycamefromanothersun,astarbeyondthestars.Theycamefroma
worldwithabluersun."