Part 24 (2/2)

”I don't know,” I answered, helplessly ”But evolution is not the slow, plodding process that Darwin thought There seem to be explosions--nature will create a new fores of development and adjustht be so of these--soht have developed through the ages in spaces within the earth--there's that incredible abyssthat is evidently one of their highways Or they ht conditions and developed in a rapidityThey're all possible theories--take your pick”

Professor Svante Arrhenius's theory of propagation of life by h space See his ”Worlds in the Making”--WTG

”So to a cliht about that--I feel it And what can we do?”

”Go back to their city,” I said ”Go back as he ordered I believe he knohat he's talking about And I believe he'll be able to help us

It wasn't just a request he made, nor even an appeal--it was a coainst these Things?” he groaned

”Maybe we'll find out--e're back in the city,” I answered

”Well,” his old reckless cheerfulness calobe it's been up to one man to turn the trick We're two

And at the worst we can only go down fighting a little before the rest of us So, after all, whatEVER the hell, WHAT the hell”

For a time ere silent

”Well,” he said at last, ”we have to go to the city in thein the suburbs, somehow, doesn't it?”

”It can't be many hours before dawn,” I said ”Turn in for a while, I'll wake you when I think you've slept enough”

”It doesn't seem fair,” he protested, but sleepily

”I'm not sleepy,” I told him; nor was I

But whether I was or not, I wanted to question Yuruk, uninterrupted and undisturbed

Drake stretched hi showed him fast asleep indeed, I slipped over to the black eunuch and crouched, right hand close to the butt ofhim

CHAPTER XVII YURUK

”Yuruk,” I whispered, ”you love us as the wheat field loves the hail; we are as welcome to you as the death cord to the condemned Lo, a door opened into a land of unpleasant dreah Answer my questions truthfully and it h that door”

Interest welled up in the depths of the black eyes

”There is a way froh--Them I can show it to you”

I had not been blind to the flash of , that had shot across the wrinkled face

”Where does that way lead?” I asked ”There were those who sought us; men clad in armor with javelins and arrows Does your way lead to them, Yuruk?”