THE PLOT AGAINST EARTH'S WOMEN.
We are still here in the caves at the bottom of our valley (continued
the warning message from Guy Palisse). Tama and I got back safely,
circling on the upper plateau, reaching the caldron rim and dropped
down. Tama, with practice now, could hold me in a long descent.
[Illustration: _She could hold him in a descent._]
There seemed no pursuit. Roc's men were quiet up there on the rim. And
after a time we saw the Space-ship depart.
During these last three cycles I have been absorbed in this narrative;
and in preparing my cylinder for launching. My chemicals are about
ready and now I am finishing these pages. A warning to you of Earth!
We did not know it was to be a warning until we stood at the window of
Croat's Space-ship and heard him talking to Roc.
Even then, at first. I was too amazed to grasp the full import of what
they were saying. I am not overly skilled in the Mercutian language;
but now Tama and I have had time to compare what we heard. Some of it
we have had to infer. Croat was explaining to Roc their future plans.
But we came in the middle of it, after Croat had been talking for some
minutes.
Yet we learned much, and I set it here as a warning. Croat now is
leader of the barbarous Cold Country government. He must have stolen
the formulas of the Light Country scientific devices of former ages;
for he has developed the lost death-ray projector, and the small
heat-rays which at twenty paces can burn a hole through a man.
Roc for all these years, was in occasional communication with his
father, spying upon the Light Country government. We think it was Roc
who secured the records. And Croat built the interplanetary flying ship
in the Cold Country.
I must explain that the women of the Cold Country, through long
generations forced to toil under every adverse circumstance of living,
have long since lost any semblance of beauty. Heavy, pallid creatures,
barely able to fly; they are, besides, few in number. There is now in
the Cold Country scarcely one woman to ten men. The savage race is
dying out.
No doubt it was Croat's idea at first to develop lethal weapons and
attack the Light Country, to capture and enslave the flying virgins.
Roc's part was steadily to agitate more stringent laws regarding the
clipping of the virgins' wings. He and Croat did not anticipate what
immediately happened--the widespread, open revolt of the virgins.
Meanwhile I--an Earth-man--had come with tales of a greater world, with
women, beautiful, who cannot fly. Curse my innocent readiness to tell
Roc all I could of Earth!
And so I warn you! We got no details, as we listened there at that
cabin porte. But we learned enough. Roc mentioned that he was leaving
the Hill City permanently. That is good. Without him, the government
there will be more conciliatory toward the insurgent girls. Indeed, it
has been decided that they will return and try to make peace. We feel
that the government will now realize how drastic was that last law. And
there are thousands of men--fathers, brothers, and potential husbands
of the girls--who now will see things in a different light.
The danger is not here--we realize that now--but on Earth. Croat's
ship is leaving for Earth; it may be gone by the time I can get this
cylinder launched.
How little Tama and the virgins realized that their revolt would spread
to menace the women of another world! But it has.
Oh, my accursedly loose tongue! I had told Roc of my sister, and
Professor White with his girls' camp in Maine. I had made maps of the
earth countries for the Hill City government.
Roc had access to them. Croat has them now! From the way he talked,
he will land in Maine. I think it is summer now, in Maine. Professor
White's camp will be open. I warn you--we fear an attack will be made
there!
* * * * *
You can imagine how I feel, to have unwittingly been an aid to this
menace! Croat even mentioned my sister Rowena, there in the Space-ship.
With diabolical cynicism he told Roc how amusing it would be if Rowena
Palisse chanced to be among the captive Earth-women whose beauty
he would soon be able to display to his men of the Cold Country!
Just a few Earth-women this first trial trip. Then at each inferior
conjunction he will make other raids.
My sister Rowena! He even calculated her age. I pray you guard her--if
only this message reaches you in time!
What Tama and I will do when the virgins return to the Hill City, I do
not know. If only we could help you!
One of our girls--a blue-winged child barely sixteen--heard all this
from Tama; and she disappeared yesterday. We have been wondering if she
flew to Croat's vehicle, possibly to hide upon it and go with it to the
Earth? To warn you! Tama says, knowing the girl, that it would be just
like her unselfish courage.
Tama and I may try it. I don't know. I cannot think of anything yet but
the launching of the cylinder. And we must get the girls safely back to
the Hill City.
The storm is really abating now. Roc's men seem to have left this
vicinity. We think the Space-ship has gone.
I must stop and get the cylinder launched. If only it reaches you! We
pray for that.
(_End of the manuscript of Guy Palisse._)