The Metal Monster

iety which until now he had hidden so well; and hot shame burned me

ce more master of myself.

. I'll look after Ruth -

ntnor's eyes at this faded a

y some - some exhibits from the

exhibits?" I a

a they're far more curious than our armored men - and of f

them back with the pony. Then we'll make a start. A few mi

him I followed Ruth and Drake down the ruined stairway. At

Mart. He doesn't like them, either, these little things you're going to see. He l

What's to fear about

rtress. "They lay in a little heap at the mouth of the cleft where we heard the noise

re the tiniest tippy-tip of the claw of some incredibly large cat just stealing aro

up in a ruined and choked stone basin; close to the ancient well was their pony, contentedly brow

m," she said,

n that we had just left; and it was in better preservation, the ceiling unbroken,

he floor and dropping down into black depths. Beyond wa

s dragon shapes, cut in low relief. Their gigantic wings, their monstrous coils, covered the nearly

nameless fear, a half

looking at the

idth, it shone wanly with a pale, metallic bluish luster, as though, I thought, it had been recently polished. Compared with the wall's tremend

roken circle was made of sharply edged cubes about an inch in height, separated from each oth

their sides with tips pointing starlike to six spheres clustered like a conventionalized five petaled primrose in the exact center. Five of

sign nicely done by some clever child that I hesitated to distu

ering globes, was a miniature replica o

same die cut sharpness, the same METALLIC suggestion - and pointing t

rock; it was with effort that I wrenched it away. It gave to the touch a sli

mid was metallic, but of finest, almost silken texture - and I could not place it among any of the known metals. It certainly was none I had eve

f these points was an eye, peering up at me, scr

at the

g was i

uare bases; the six rolling spheres touched them, joined the spinning, and with sleight-of-hand suddenness the rin

grotesque; a weirdly humorous, a vaguely terrifying foot-high shape, squared and angled and pointed and ANIMATE-

kindergarten! A k

iangle and spheres changed places. Their shiftings were like the transformations one sees within a kaleidoscope. And in each vanishing form

oblems give

owed with co

balanced itself upon the top; the five spheres followed it, clustered like a ring just below it. The other cubes raced up, clicked two

al of cubes surmounted by a ring of glob

e of the crowning globe; the arms became a disc upon which tiny brillian

of panic touched me. I sprang aside, and swift as

" It was

the little figure touched me and a paralyzing shock ran through me. My

nd again I had the sense of innumerable eyes peering at me. It did not seem menacing - its attitude was inquisitive, waiting; almost as though it had as

ard the bullet ricochet without the slightest effect upon it. Dick leaped beside me, raised a foot and kicked at the thing. There

sibilant rustling all about her. I saw her le

were marching there - pyramids and cubes and spheres like those forming the shape that stood before me

a bridge, half spanning it, a weird and fairy arch made up of alternate cube and angle. The s

as had the others. Before me now was a bridge complete except

striving to escape. I dropped it. The tiny shape swe

- hanging in one flyin

ey dropped to the farther side the end of the bridge nearest me raised itself in air, curved itsel

ng - and cubes and pyrami

ute bewilderment, my gaze sought Drake. He was sitt

ispered. "What -

only word to which my whirlin

ese things metal? Metal

a page on which, visibly, dread

and at him, I knew that my own was a

"Such little things - bits of metal - little glo

abes!" It was

they worked with each other - THINKINGLY, CONSCIOUSLY- they were deliberate, purpo

ands over his eyes. "Don't

oed. "I'M not afraid

fly - and stum

Well - so was I. Bit

outside all experience, beyond all knowledge or dream of science. Not th

y had moved consciously,

tal things w

dible, the terrifying thi

- and thinking. The lightnings incarn

given volition, movemen

a brain!