The Last Treachery
"Kang!" The name burst from Lark O'Day's lips.
"Quickly!" crisped the Martian scientist. "Pick up their guns!
Daughter--" As Lark and Gary and Nora scrambled to the task of
collecting the astonished Magogeans' fallen weapons, Kang directed his
attention to Penny--"you will find my former slave apparel in that
cupboard. Tear it to strips and bind our enemy."
"Bind him?" demanded Lark. "Why waste good rags on a scoundrel like
that? I know a better way to take care of--"
"No!" commanded Dr. Kang. "We will need him to transmit our peace terms
to the Magogeans when our allies have flooded the city."
"And these others?"
Kang said, "The storage closet over there. Throw them into it and
lock the door. There is no reason to occasion useless bloodshed. These
soldiers have committed no crime but that of obeying orders."
"Okay," said Lark. "You're running the show."
He herded together the now helpless and sadly bewildered half dozen
Magogean guards, and thrust them into the cubicle pointed out by the
scientist. When the door was secured behind them--
"But how did you manage to get control of this chamber?" asked Nora
Powell.
Kang shrugged. "It was very simple. There was but one man watching
these panels when I was brought here: the technician whose garments I
wear. He expected no trouble from an elderly slave. And since we two
were alone--well, it seemed an elementary precaution to don his clothes
before I began the necessary operations."
"And the barrier?" inquired Gary eagerly. "You have lifted it yet?"
"Not yet. I had first to make a few alterations in the Magogean
machinery. I wanted to make sure a power failure would not cause the
barrier to fall before all our allies had entered. My work is now
complete. And so--"
Kang turned to the panels. His hands tugged at a single gigantic switch.
No light glowed. There came no change in the humming sound that
permeated the control room. The adventurers looked at Kang and at each
other anxiously. Penny spoke for all when she asked, "You are sure, O
my father, that the barrier is open?"
Kang said, "See for yourself." And he pressed a stud which lighted a
vision screen before them.
What they saw left little doubt as to the effectiveness of Kang's
accomplishment. For the screen reflected one segment of the imperial
city's surrounding wall, a location which had been a gate in Khundru's
defenses. But now that sentry post existed no more. It was a mass of
broken kindling trampled under the rushing feet of hordes of Gogeans
who had burst from their place of ambush to storm the city.
* * * * *
"This is _one_ spot, Kang," cried Gary excitedly. "And elsewhere?"
"Elsewhere," repeated Kang, "it is the same."
He spun the dial which moved the telelens of the vision screen at a
360° arc about Khundru. Everywhere they looked it was the same. Tsalnor
of Gog had placed his troops cunningly, entirely encircling the city.
To the north and south, divisions had crossed the chasmed mounts to
take their posts outside the barrier. Now in two wedges they were
storming Khundru's primary defense line toward the central citadel.
The marine detail, which had completely bypassed the capital to reach
the shoreline, was now swarming up yet another avenue of Khundru
from the docks and wharves which they had seized. These three formed
diversionary forces, hammering at the flanks and rear of the Magogeans,
who were forced to concentrate their main defense on the eastern front;
that which faced the Twilight Zone out of which the _bulk_ of the
Gogean army was pouring.
So swift was the movement, so hectic the opening phases of that battle,
that it was only in fitful glimpses one could comprehend the magnitude
of what was going on. Afterward Gary Lane recalled having briefly
glimpsed Tsalnor himself riding at the fore of a cavalry detail hewing
its way through broken ranks of fleeing Magogeans up to the citadel
proper. In another sector, whether yards or miles away it was hard to
tell, he saw for an instant Flick Muldoon, wild-eyed and jubilant, in
command of a foray squad busily opening a new breach in the fading
Magogean defenses. Little Herby Hawkins fought beside Flick, and though
no sound transmitted itself over the vision plate, the watchers could
almost hear the voice of the little cockney raised in joyful battle cry.
"Blimey, wot fun, eh? Wot bleedin' fun!"
How long the battle raged was hard to tell. Certainly long enough to
place on pins and needles Gary and Lark, both of whom, as they watched
the scenes depicted about them, chafed with impatience to fight at
their comrades' sides. But this Dr. Kang sternly forbade, and gave good
reason.
"No, not yet! As we have seen, it should be easy for our allies to
take the _outer_ city. The real difficulty will come when they try to
storm the Palace Royal. We must wait until that moment, then take from
within."
"From within?" echoed Lark. "But how?"
"This is how we will use _him_," Kang nodded toward the trussed Borisu
who lay smouldering with impotent rage upon the floor. "This chamber
is the heart of all Magogean apparatus; not only their barrier shield
and vision screens but their intercommunicating system as well. When
the proper moment comes we shall visiplate him throughout the entire
palace, and make him order his countrymen to lay down their arms."
"_Order_ them, yes," grunted Lark. "But will they _do_ it? That's
another question."
Kang nodded serenely. "They will do it. They are not like _our_ people.
They are a race trained through long ages to obedience. But if they
don't--"
"If they don't--?"
"Then," continued Kang soberly, "having given them their chance, we
shall destroy them ruthlessly and without mercy."
* * * * *
All present knew what he meant. For that, too, was part of the plan
which had been arranged in conference with the Gogeans. Noticeably
absent from those who now stormed the city was Captain Hugh Warren and
his crew of Space Patrolmen. They, Gary knew, were even now waiting
aboard the _Liberty_ with motors idling, ready to lift at an instant's
notice to soar over the capital.
With their own fleet grounded, if the Magogeans would not listen to
reason the _Liberty's_ guns would bathe Khundru in such a flood of fury
and destruction as had never before been witnessed!
Thus it was with a sense of increasing triumph the Solarites watched
the battle for Khundru turning more and ever more in favor of the
invaders. More swiftly with each passing moment the defenders gave way,
retreating to the shelter of their palace walls. Walls which, though
they did not know it, were a fateful trap for themselves.
And at last, save for mopping-up operations carried on by small bands
of Gogeans in outlying sections of the city, the first stage of the
battle was ended. All surviving soldiers of Magog had taken refuge in
the Palace Royal, there to withstand siege.
And siege, they now discovered to their horror, it most certainly
was! For when, assailed by the weapons of their enemies, they
attempted to retaliate by loosing their own destructive ray cannon
upon the attackers, their artillery-men learned that the cannon were
not in operation! These were not, like the smaller hand weapons,
self-charging, but were powered by direct cable from the control tower.
And the control tower was in the hands of the adversaries!
It was then, with the battle stalled briefly at a deadlock, Dr. Kang
nodded. "Now," he said, "is our time. Bring him here."
Gary hauled Borisu to his feet, prodded the bleating Magogean forward.
Kang addressed him bluntly.
"You have heard what you must do?"
"Never!" cried Borisu, blustering defiance. "Never will I betray my
people!"
"It is written," said Kang quietly, "'Only the fool rejects the
inevitable.' You are no fool, Borisu. Will you proclaim an armistice?
Or for stubborn pride will you witness the destruction of your empire?"
Borisu blubbered, "Better to go down fighting than abjectly. If I bid
my people lay down their arms, your hordes will sweep in and destroy
them."
"That," Kang assured him, "they will _not_ do. In conference we have
already discussed this with the Gogeans. Much have our two races to
hate yours for, Borisu. Theirs for years of life-in-death in the
darkling wastes of Magog; ours for impelling upon us centuries of
premature death and a dwindling doom.
"Even so, we will not sow the seeds of new conflict in the peace of
the old. Lay down your arms in peaceful surrender and I offer you the
pledge of two worlds that about the conference table shall be reasoned
the merits of a new and lasting peace for all concerned."
"And if I do not?" demanded Borisu.
"Then," Kang promised him, "you shall surely die. And as for your
city--" He paused and gestured toward the visionplate. Words were
needless in the face of that which might there now be seen. The
silver tube of the _Liberty_, shimmering faintly in the atmosphere of
Magog, surrounded with its impenetrable force-shield, flying supremely
aloft above the capital city, coming to sedate rest directly over the
citadel. "There is your answer, Borisu. The decision is yours. There is
little time in which to make it. Speak, or--"
* * * * *
And Borisu capitulated. With a grinding cry, he reached for the
diaphragm Kang offered him. The Martian doctor depressed a series
of studs, and instantaneously, in a thousand chambers and corridors
scattered throughout the whole of the Palace Royal, there appeared on
vision plates before the startled eyes of all the embattled Magogeans
an image of him who was a _kraedar_ supreme in the Inner Council of
Magog. And they heard his cracked voice crying out its message.
"_Brothers of Magog, lay down your arms! About our city are entrenched
our Gogean foes. Above our citadel hovers a vessel which, if we do not
surrender, will blast us all to atoms. Your guns, as you have learned,
are useless. The foe has overthrown our might. Surrender!_"
The vision plate went dead. Throughout the whole of the Palace Royal
a murmuring arose. Men lifted from concealment, and doors once barred
were opened as a race trained to obedience followed the instructions of
a superior. The battle of Magog was ended.
* * * * *
Days before, hours before, even short minutes ago, Gary Lane had hated
this little man who stood beside him. Had wished nothing more than
an opportunity to meet him face to face, and crush the life from his
treacherous little body. But a victor can afford to be magnanimous.
And now, in this moment of triumph, Gary found it in his heart to feel
commiseration for one who, though he fought to distorted ends, had seen
his empire fall before a braver, cleverer force.
He turned to Borisu, and in a quiet voice he said, "Well done, Borisu.
You have my pledge, with that of Dr. Kang, that you shall not regret
this move. There shall be no vindictiveness in the peace terms we
offer. Only justice and equality for all. No more warring between our
worlds."
And Borisu said quietly, "Yes, it is over. It is done. It is
finished ... and I have lost. I will not say I am not sorry, but we
must bow to the inevitable. And now, Dr. Kang, my bonds? I am free to--"
Kang said simply, "Yes, Borisu, you are free." And he moved closely to
the little man to cut the strips of cloth which bound his wrists. A
knife flashed briefly, and then:
"_Father!_" screamed Penny. "Father, look out! He--"
Her words were drowned in a roar of rage as Gary, stirring belatedly,
was witness to the last mad vengeance of the erstwhile kraedar Borisu.
The instant his bonds had been stricken the little man's hands danced
like serpents, turning the knife in Kang's hand and thrusting forward
with all his strength.
Kang grunted once heavily, then slumped forward, hands clutching
futilely at a blade which clung half buried in his side. From between
his clawing fingers surged ugly rivulets of crimson.
Nor was this all. In the same flashing movement Borisu snapped a ray
pistol from the falling doctor's belt, turned its lethal muzzle upon
those who leaped toward him. His mad voice rose in harsh command.
"Back! Back, all of you or I will ray you down like dogs. Victory,
eh?" His laughter cackled shrilly. "Your moment of triumph? We shall
see!"
His tiny eyes darting from one to another of them to detect any
slightest motion, he backed all the way across the room to where
stood the most ponderous of all the machines in that control tower. A
gigantic tube surrounded by gleaming coils and iridescent busbars. A
huge, revolving drum of an instrument whose purpose Gary did not know.
Borisu left him not long in doubt. Still mouthing the taunts and curses
of a half-demented man, he clambered to a raised platform on this
machine, loosed a panel, and dug his free hand somewhere deep into its
entrails.
"So," he mocked, "you have won victory? But out of your victory you
shall drink only the dregs of deepest defeat! You and all your cursed
universe!"
Kang, who had lain as one dead where he had been stricken, now stirred
and lifted his head dazedly. His eyes, turning slowly, sought and found
Borisu, then widened in horror. He tried to speak, but his voice was a
thick mumble; his words were punctuated by tiny streamers of blood that
leaked from the corners of his mouth.
"That ... machine! Don't ... let him ... touch it!"
Borisu's quick gaze darted to the dying man. He laughed stridently.
"Then you are not dead yet, my good doctor? You barbarians take a lot
of killing. Well, I shall not finish the job. I much prefer that you
should live long enough to watch, with your comrades, the vengeance of
Borisu."
* * * * *
He tugged suddenly, and something came loose in his hand. Wires.
Connecting wires of some sort. Instantly the low thrum which had
sounded through the control chamber began to heighten. The tone crept
higher up the tonic scale. Something within the machine Borisu had
damaged was beginning to move faster and faster.
"You dog!" grated Lark O'Day. "You filthy, conniving scoundrel! I'm
coming after you. I'll break your neck with my bare hands if it's the
last thing I--"
"Back, corsair!" snarled Borisu. "I assure you--take another step
forward and it _will_ be the last thing you ever do. You see this
object I hold in my hand?" He dangled a bit of metal before them
tauntingly. "You are space trained men. Do you recognize it? It is
a governor. Ah, yes! A small governor controlling the speed of the
instrument upon whose platform I now stand.
"Until this moment the machine has always operated at an inexorable
and never-changing rate. But no more. From this moment henceforth the
machine will gain speed ... and speed ... and speed--" His voice broke
in a shrill cackle, "And you know what _that_ means, my friends?"
O'Day said stoutly, "I know it means your death, Borisu. Here and now,
or elsewhere and later, but surely your death."
"Perhaps so," laughed the diminutive _kraedar_. "But more than that ...
it means the swift and final death of your universe. For this on which
I stand, gentlemen, is the instrument we of Magog have for years been
playing upon your system. The ultrawave cannon! And now I have speeded
its action to such an extent that the length of your world's existence
may be measured no longer in weeks or months--_but in hours_!"
A pang of fear drove deep into Gary's heart. Mad the little man might
be, but staring into his red-rimmed eyes Gary knew he spoke the
truth. The ultrawave cannon, speeded a thousand-fold, was hurling its
destruction ungoverned upon a universe which even now was dwindling to
the breaking point!
This then was the end of their adventure. It did not matter that they
had come afar and conquered many hazards. Here at the last moment, with
triumph within their grasp, was to be torn from them all for which they
had fought and labored and--his eyes sought Dr. Kang--and died.
What if their mission were a success and Magog's power overthrown, the
children of Gog returned once more to look upon the sun? The children
of Earth within a matter of hours would be obliterated in what to them
would be a horrendous holocaust of flame, but would to observers from
this far vastness seem no more than the flickering of a momentary
candle in lost distances.
He cried in a choked voice, "Borisu! Stop! For God's sake--"
* * * * *
But his plea dangled unfinished. For at that moment a miracle
transpired before his eyes. Dr. Kang, who should ere now have been
dead, with some supernal effort had not only raised his head ...
but was slowly, laboriously, rising to his feet. He stood there for
a moment, swaying dangerously, his knees half buckled beneath him,
his eyes already glazed. And again his lips parted in that thick and
blood-spumed mumble.
"Borisu, turn off ... that ... gun!"
"The doctor," mocked Borisu, "is hardy! The doctor is courageous. But
the doctor is _also_ a fool. Stop this gun? Never! Not until your world
has met the oblivion it deserves. Not until--_Wait! Stand back there
you fool! Stand back! Aaah!_"
The raygun in his hand gushed a livid flame as Kang, tightening
his worn, exhausted body for one final effort, pitched forward
convulsively. The random shot missed the old man, and Borisu screamed
a cry like that of a stricken animal, as in a last futile moment he
realized Kang's intention.
Kang, already living on borrowed time, was yet the scientist. He alone,
of all in the room, had seen what could and _must_ be done. He alone,
of all those who stood helplessly trapped, was close enough to do it.
Three strides he stumbled forward ... then Borisu's second blast caught
him squarely in the chest. If he should have been dead before, he was
_surely_ so now. But it did not matter. Understanding had come too
late to the mad-man of Magog. For sheer impetus carried Kang's body
forward to that which Kang had planned. His body plunged full length
and sprawling upon the gleaming busbars of the wave cannon. There
burst from Borisu's lips a last and frightful scream. The atmosphere
crackled. For a moment the biting odor of ozone was horribly mingled
with the charnel stench of searing flesh.
"_Down!_" roared Gary. "_Down on the floor, for God's sake! Short
circuit--!_"
As one, the watching four fell flat on their faces just as the gigantic
machine before them, quivering and trembling to its very roots, rocked
itself from its moorings ... and in a roaring fountain of flame
exploded into a million fragments!