"You can't help them!" I protested. "And we can't operate the
space-ship! You want Earth-people to help your world--got to get back
there, we--"
The words died in my throat. We all saw that none of us could get to
the Lei now, even if we had tried. A group of a hundred or more of the
screaming, gibbering Radaks had swept between us and the Lei village.
But the way to the space-ship still seemed open. We ran for it. One of
the Radaks, by chance perhaps, turned toward us; and all the ones near
him, like sheep followed him. A horde of grey, maniac Things charging
us....
We got to the gleaming little cylinder with only an instant to
spare--reached it, tumbled through its doorway. I laid Mack on the
white grid of its floor. Shorty banged the door-slide, hanged it as the
bodies of the Radaks thudded against it. Taro ran for the controls and
in another instant the little ship quivered and lifted.
There was a transparent bulls-eye window panel near me. For a second
I had a glimpse of horrible, snarling, maniac faces pressed against
it. Then they fell away; and in a moment we were out through the upper
opening, slanting upward with the crimson surface of little Zelos
dropping down. Then we were in space, with the brilliant, beautiful
miracle of the Universe glittering around us....
* * * * *
I think there is little more I need add. You have all heard and
read, of course, of the events of this past year. The secret of
space-flying! We have it now. Earth-scientists, studying the Radak
ship, had no difficulty in constructing others far larger. Fortunately
our Earth-materials proved adaptable; there was nothing vital that we
lacked. Many large ships were swiftly built, and an armed force went to
Zelos. Haste was necessary, as you will recall, for when the mechanisms
of the Radaks were smashed, it was soon found that the Crimson Comet
was plunging directly toward our Sun.
J. Walter Blaine wanted no publicity when he freely gave the millions
necessary for the scientific research and the myriad activities which
went into the building of the space-ships. You all offered your own
donations, and they were refused only because Blaine felt he had earned
the privilege of financing the enterprise. He wants me now to extend
his thanks to you.
Our first expedition to Zelos was when, in its Sunward plunge, it had
crossed our Earth-orbit and was at its closest point to us. And the
expedition found that no more than a thousand of the Lei had been
killed by the maniac Radaks, who in those terrible hours after our
departure, plunged around, screaming until they bashed themselves to
destruction, or were killed by the Lei.
Taro and Tahn were with our first expedition to the doomed little
world, and they stayed there throughout all the several trips of the
many big ships which evacuated the Lei.
I am glad that it was finally decided not to bring the Lei here to
Earth. They would have been just curiosities here; and then lost,
whirled away into the maelstrom of our huge world. Surely it was the
best of good fortune for them when our exploring ships found that Venus
was uninhabited, and with conditions for life so propitious.
And now the Lei, with Taro and Tahn to lead them, are masters of a
great world of their own. With the friendly world of Earth nearest to
them. Surely we will prove a helpful, friendly, neighboring world, with
no greedy thought of anything more than that.
Zelos is gone now. I was one of those who saw it go--that night about
a month ago. It was a little dot in the sky, with a great flaming
streamer of the Sun licking upward as though eager to meet it. And then
it was gone.
I recall the earnest solicitations of so many of you who prayed that
Mack would get well. He wants me to thank you all again. I saw him
only last week, in the little mountain home where he and Vivian went
after their wedding trip. That astoundingly pretentious wedding they
had--well, that was because Blaine insisted on doing it. He may insist
again, if and when a layette is needed. I don't know about that.
But Mack, who now has an executive position in one of Blaine's many
industries, got their little house himself. He and Vivian remained firm
on that.
And as I said at the beginning, you must see now that none of us are
glamorous heroes. We're all at our regular jobs, with the Crimson Comet
just a gruesome memory.
So now, kind friends--please forget us. Except me. I'm certainly no
hero, but, well, I won't mind if you'll remember that I broadcast twice
a week on subjects of Popular Astronomy--Station WANA-NYC.