Part 17 (1/2)
We crossed the bridge, pa.s.sed through a tunnel-arcade, and came out to a platform which was at the base of a skeleton tower. Its naked girders rose some seven hundred feet above us. The highest structure in the city. A waiting lifting-car was there. We entered, and it shot us upward.
At the top, the narrowed structure was enclosed into a single room some thirty feet square. A many-windowed room, with a small metal balcony surrounding it outside. Immediately above the room, at the very peak of the tower, was a single, powerful light-beam; its silver searching ray swept the cloudless, starry sky in a slow circle.
The room was crowded with instruments. Unlighted, save by the reflected glow of its many image-mirrors, all of which seemed in full operation. A dozen intent men sat at the tables; a silent room, but for the hum and click of the instruments.
Tarrano said softly: ”We have been very busy while you below were engaged with your petty hates.”
He seated himself at a table apart, upon which was a single mirror, and he gathered us around him. The mirror was dark. He called:
”Rax--let me see Mars--you have them by relay? The Hill City?”
The mirror flashed on. From an aperture overhead, a tiny beam of the blue helio-transformer came down to it. In the mirror I saw an image of the familiar Hill City. A terraced slope, dotted with the cubical buildings, spires and tunnel mouths. An empty channel[15] curved down across the landscape from the north.
[Footnote 15: Ca.n.a.l, as it now is thought to be.]
A distant scene, empty and lifeless save for black puffs which rose in the air above the city.
Tarrano called impatiently: ”Closer, Rax!”
The image dissolved, blurred; turned red, violet, then white. We seemed now upon a height close above the city. It was seething with confusion.
Fighting going on in the streets. Animals and men, fighting; a crowd of the Little People thronging a public square, with beasts of war charging them.
The Hairless Men; I had heard of them, with their animals trained to fight, while they--the humans--lurked behind. A mysterious, almost grewsome race, to us who live on Earth--these hairless dwellers of the underground Mars. Dead-white of skin; sleek and hairless; heavily muscled from the work of their world; and almost blind from living in the dark.
They were swarming now into the Hill City of the ruling Little People.
The beasts, at their commands, were running wild through the streets ... dripping jaws, tearing at the women ... the children....
I felt Elza turn away, shuddering.
Tarrano chuckled. ”The revolt. It came, of course, as I planned. This Little People government--it was annoying ... Colley!”
”Master?”
”Send the message, Colley. Fling it audibly over Mars! Tell the rulers of the Little People that if they send up the green bomb of surrender--Tarrano will spare them further bloodshed. Tell them that I am not giving the Brende secret to Earth. In a moment I shall defy the Earth Council. Promise them that the Brende secret is going to Mars.
a.s.sure them they will have everlasting life for everyone.... Wohl!”
”Master?”
”Give me the Cave Station.”
The mirror went dark. Then it turned a dazzling yellow. A cavern in the interior of Mars. A dark scene of wavering yellow torches. Around a table of instruments sat a score of hairless men. Tarrano s.n.a.t.c.hed up a mouthpiece--murmured slowly into it. I could see the leader of the hairless men nod after a time, as the message reached him. And I saw him turn away to issue swift orders as Tarrano had commanded.
Tarrano said brusquely: ”Enough!... Wohl!”
The mirror went dark. A voice called: ”Master, the green bomb has gone up from the Hill City! Do you wish to see?”
”No.... Give me Venus. Olgan! Are they quiet on Venus?”