Part 8 (2/2)

A meeting of the earthmen was called immediately, much to their surprise. d.i.c.k dared not let conditions stay as they were, for fear of future trouble. Action must be taken at once.

”We don't know what we're facing, but the fate of the race as well as our own lives, seem to be in danger. The break in the dome might have been accident, and the moving forms the imagination of fear. But we know that over a thousand people were killed--whatever caused the trouble!”

The men went back to their domes to rest, and plan some means of entering the deserted city, but were disturbed before they had time for sleep.

_The agricultural dome had been attacked!_ The pounding had begun within a short time of their arrival.

One thing was certain, the injured dome had been _attacked_! It was not accident that the metal ceiling fell. _There were living beings in the gases outside their civilization!_

The first dome had been attacked just after the s.p.a.ce s.h.i.+p left for the earth, and this attack came just after its return to the domes. There was little doubt that movement of the s.h.i.+p had disturbed the serenity of existence. Perhaps the gas creatures hadn't known what was beneath the metal hives until the s.h.i.+p appeared.

The banging on the agricultural dome, _had to be stopped_! A hole would let in the gas! Rifles, that had been brought back on the s.h.i.+p as curiosities, were given to each earthman. They loaded them carefully while they searched for some means of reaching the trouble.

When the leader of the dome heard what they were planning, he showed them sealed openings to a s.p.a.ce between the sections of metal, which hadn't been used since the city was built. The dome was constructed in three layers, for insulation, and to give added protection. It was like a maze, to work their way toward the pounding through the network of struts. At times they had to crawl on their hands and knees, at others there were clearly defined pa.s.sages.

They were afraid, and not ashamed to show it. They were hunting creatures which they knew nothing about--didn't even know whether bullets would affect them! They might face thinking beings, or forms of life that only wanted to search in the domes for food. It was not a pleasant thought.

Every rifle was c.o.c.ked as they neared the source of the pounding. Every nerve drawn to the finest point.

Suddenly d.i.c.k stopped. He was ahead of the others and first to glimpse what they faced. He motioned to use the oxygen masks, as he fastened his own in place.

As they crept closer, light glinted on the giant pointed hammer, operated from beyond the outer layer of metal. It rose and fell at even intervals, through the rent in the upper surface. The ram had already crushed through two thicknesses of metal, and was battering at the inner layer.

The inside section was more like gla.s.s than metal and dim light pa.s.sed through, but the outer layers were opaque. When the huge ram disappeared from the glow of light it left a gaping hole where it had been. It was of material they had never seen and glistened with a brownish hue. It appeared to shorten and expand in diameter, each time it struck the surface.

For a moment they hesitated, trying to decide the best means of attack.

Whatever animated the ram was above their vision, and they had to be close to the opening to see it.

Each time the s.h.i.+ny object descended, the dome vibrated beneath their feet. As long as the vibration remained they were safe, but when it felt like a thud--the metal would be cracking!

Thousands of helpless people were depending on the action of earthmen, for their future existence. They seemed to think that it was only necessary to _tell_ their troubles to these amazing strangers, to have them solved. Stories about the use of water to drive the s.p.a.ce s.h.i.+p, had circulated throughout the cities, crediting the newcomers with superhuman powers.

As the little party crept nearer, they separated, to approach the opening from every direction. d.i.c.k was to fire first--if he saw anything to shoot at! It might be a powerful machine, clamped to the outer surface, instead of a being that could be injured. The gla.s.s globes of the masks were clouding with moisture, and it was hard to see.

A thud came, that didn't vibrate quite as much, and the men could feel the hair on their necks stiffen. It was now or never, and d.i.c.k fired although he was still several feet from the opening. He fired at the topmost section of the ram, hoping it might stop the hammering for a moment even if it didn't injure the equipment. Two more shots rang out, before the object could deliver another blow.

_It was alive!_ The heavy ram _jumped_ from the shock of the bullets, curving convulsively to one side of the opening. Then it drew back out of sight.

CHAPTER VIII

_Battle with a Monster_

Minutes pa.s.sed, while the earthmen hardly dared breathe. Their ebbing heartbeat seemed to almost echo in their b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Then the object appeared at the opening, hesitated, and was thrust in!

_The hammer was a head!!!_ It swayed back and forth, like the head of a huge caterpillar, and every gun fired in unison. Shot after shot pumped into the head with rapid and unerring accuracy.

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