_Rapaju_
Detis was setting up and adjusting the complicated mechanisms of his
little black case. A dozen vacuum tubes lighted, and a murmur of
throbbing energy came from a helix of shining metallic ribbon that
topped the whole. Flexible cables led to a cap-like contrivance which
Detis placed on his head. He frowned in concentration.
"The psycho-ray apparatus." Ora explained. "He's sending a message to
the city."
Evidently the influence of the ray was directive. They had no inkling
of the thoughts transmitted from the alert brain of the scientist but,
from the look of satisfaction on his face, they could see that he was
obtaining the desired contact.
"Rapaju," he exclaimed, switching off the power of his instrument,
"commander of the fleet of the Llotta. I have advised him of our
arrival. Told him that a Martian and a Terrestrial wish to treat with
him concerning the proposed invasion of their planets. His answering
thought first was of fiercest rage, then conciliatory in nature. He'll
receive you and listen to your arguments, though he promises nothing.
Is that satisfactory?"
"Yes." Carr and Mado were agreed. At least it would give them a chance
to look over the ground and to make plans, should any occur to them.
The _Nomad_ circled over the heart of the city and soon Mado saw a
suitable landing space. They settled gracefully in an open area close
by the building indicated by Detis as that of the administration
officials of the city.
* * * * *
A group of squat, sullen Llotta awaited them and, without speaking a
word either of hatred or welcome, led them into the forbidding
entrance of the building. Close-set, beady eyes; unbelievably flat
features of chalky whiteness; chunky bowed legs, bare and hairy; long
arms with huge dangling paws--these were the outstanding
characteristics of the Llotta. Mado stared straight before him,
refusing to display any great interest in the loathsome creatures, but
Carr was frankly curious and as frankly disapproving.
Rapaju leered maliciously when the four voyagers stood before him. He
looked the incarnation of all that was evil and vile, a monster among
monsters. Sensing him to be the more aggressive of the two visitors
from doomed planets, he addressed his remarks to Carr.
"You come to plead with Rapaju," he sneered, his Cos tinged with an
outlandish accent, "to beg for the worthless lives of your
compatriots; for the wealth of your cities?"
"We come to reason with you," replied Carr haughtily, "if you are
capable of reasoning. What is this incredible thing you are planning?"
Mado gasped at the effrontery of his friend. But Carr was oblivious of
the warning looks cast in his direction.
"Enough of that!" snapped Rapaju. "I'll do the talking--you the
reasoning. I've a proposition to make to you, and if you know what's
best, you'll agree. Otherwise you'll be first of the Terrestrials to
die. Is that clear?"
"Clear enough, all right," growled Carr. "What do you mean--a
proposition?"
"Ha! I thought you'd listen. My offer is the lives of you and your
companion in exchange for your assistance in guiding my fleet to the
capital cities of your countries. Not that our plans will be changed
if you refuse, but that much time will be saved in this manner and
quick victory made certain without undue sacrifice of valuable
property."
"You--you--!" Carr stammered in anger. But there was no use in raising
a rumpus--now. They'd only kill him. Something might be accomplished
if he pretended to accede. "Go on with your story," he finished
lamely.
"In addition to sparing your lives I'll place you both in high
position after we seize your respective planets. Make you chief
officers in the prison lands we intend to establish for your
countrymen. What do you say?"
"Will you give us time to talk it over and think about it?"
"Until the hour of departure, if you wish."
* * * * *
Carr bowed, avoiding Mado's questioning eyes. He looked at Ora where
she stood at the side of Detis. She flashed him a guarded smile. He
knew that she understood.
Rapaju relaxed. He was confident he could bribe these puerile
foreigners to help him in the great venture. And sadly he needed such
help. The Llotta were not navigators. Their knowledge of the heavens
was sadly incomplete. They had no maps of the surfaces of the planets
to be visited. Their simultaneous blows would be far more effective
and the campaign much shorter if they could choose the most vital
centers for the initial attacks.
"Now," he said, "that we understand one another, let us talk further
of the plans. Then you will be able to consider carefully before
making your decision."
Rapaju could be diplomatic when he wished. Carr longed to sink his
fingers in the hairy throat. But he smiled hypocritically and found an
opportunity to wink meaningly at Mado. This was going to be good! And
who knew?--perhaps they might find some way to outwit these mad
savages. To think of them in control of the inner planets was
revolting.
They retired to a small room with Rapaju and four of his lieutenants,
Detis and Ora accompanying them. Ora sat close to Carr at the circular
table in Rapaju's council. Carr thought grimly of the board meetings
in far away New York.
Rapaju talked. He told of the armament of his vessels, painting vivid
pictures of the destruction to be wrought in the cities of Terra, of
Mars and Venus. His great hairy paws clutched at imaginary riches when
he spoke glowingly of the plundering to follow. He spoke of the women
of the inner planets and Carr half rose from his seat when he observed
the lecherous glitter in his beady eyes. Ora! Great God, was she safe
here? He stole a glance at the girl and a recurrence of the awful fear
surged through him. In her leather garment, close fitting and severe,
she looked like a boy. Perhaps they would not know. Besides, there was
the perpetual treaty with Europa. It always had been observed, Detis
said.
* * * * *
As Rapaju expanded upon the glories to come he told perforce of many
of the details of the plans. One thing stood out in Carr's mind: the
vessels of the Llotta were not equal to the _Nomad_ in many respects.
They must carry their entire supply of fuel from the starting point
and this was calculated as but a small percentage in excess of that
required to carry them to their destinations. Their speed was not as
great as the _Nomad's_ by at least a third. If the _Nomad_ led the
fleet from Ganymede they might be able to get them off their course;
cause them to run out of fuel out in the vacuum and absolute zero of
space. He kicked Mado under the table and arose to ask a few leading
questions.
Ora was whispering to her father and he nodded his head as if in
complete agreement with what she was saying. These two were not
deceived by his apparent traitorous talk, but Mado was aghast. Carr
wondered if Rapaju believed him as did his friend.
"We'll do it, Rapaju," he stated finally. "In our ship, the _Nomad_,
we'll guide you across the trackless wastes of the heavens. We'll take
you to our capital cities; point out to you the richest of the
industrial centers. We have no love for our own worlds. Mado and I
deserted them for a life of vagabondage amongst the stars. We ask no
reward other than that we be permitted to leave once more on our
travels, to roam space as we choose."
Mado attempted to voice an objection but Carr's hand was heavy on his
shoulder. "Shut up, you fool!" he hissed in his ear. "Can't you trust
me?"
* * * * *
Rapaju's eyes seemed to draw closer together as he returned Carr's
unflinching stare. He walked around the table and stood at the side of
the tall Terrestrial. Suddenly he grasped Ora's jacket, tore it open
at the throat. He ran his hairy fingers over the bare shoulder of the
shrinking girl and gurgled his delight at the velvet smoothness of her
skin.
With a roar like a wild animal Carr was upon him, bearing him to the
floor. His fingers were in that hairy throat, where they had itched to
twine.
"Dirty, filthy beast!" he was snarling. "Lay your foul hands on Ora,
will you? Say your prayers, if you know any, you swine!"
Then his muscles went limp and he was jerked to his feet by a terrible
force, a force that sent him reeling and gasping against the wall. One
of Rapaju's lieutenants stood before him with a tiny weapon in his
hand, the weapon which had released the paralyzing gas he breathed. He
was choking; suffocating. A black mist rose before him. He felt his
knees give way. Dimly, as in a dream, he saw that Ora was in Detis'
arms. Rapaju was on his feet, fingering his neck and laughing
horribly.
"The treaty, Rapaju!" Detis was shouting.
Ora was sobbing. Mado was in the hands of two of the vile Llotta,
struggling wildly to free himself. The Martian's eyes accused him. He
shut his own and groaned. Opened them again. But it was no use.
Everything in the room was whirling now, crazily. He fought to regain
his senses, crawled weakly toward the squat figure of Rapaju where it
swayed and twisted and spun around. Then all was darkness. The gas had
taken its toll.