Astounding Stories of Super-Science, March 1930

ed with despair as when he was carried into this room. There was something depressing about the chamb

at this was a laboratory, or-he shuddered at the thought-an operating room. The walls, floor and ceiling were composed of

ld a small, transparent vessel. At the back of the room was a high table, covered with transparent cases which wer

n the room's center-an operating table. A moment after they entered the room, he had his theory substantiated: the Venerian leader p

oached, one on either side, and began removing his clothing.

glass, the rasp of metal upon metal. But, unable to move his eyes, he had seen none of his activ

ack, the leader appeared. He looked down at Parkinson, a queer expressio

y a very important part in our scheme, and it is only fitting that you should know. You can do nothing to hinde

e the congested conditions of our own world. Obviously, there is no room for two types of intellig

uch would be the case, and thus, you would not be immune to germs, so we came prepared. Each of the small compartments in that case that you may have seen, contains a cultu

ve a different effect upon your bodies than they do upon Venerians, we wil

nt control. On Acor we have abolished disease entirely, having a reagent or an antitoxin for every

f the disease is of such a nature as to instill fear in the minds of observers, so much the bet

dge we gain from you has enabled us to eliminate at least half of our microbes. All Venerian germs that are dup

iologist lay on the slab in the grip of a nightmare of horror. The cold-blooded brutality of these Venerian beasts, and t

ds that held him paralyzed, but it was of no a

from somewhere, and drawn to the side of the slab. Upon this various instruments were placed, side by side with numerous flat vessels

n leader bent over Parkinson for a moment: and the latter

th the Venerians watching, he could not tell, but it seemed to be hours. During that time he felt himself gripped by an increasingly violent fev

other moment, the Venerian leader injected something into his side. He became aware of an immedia

with tortures indescribable. Hideous diseases covered him with festering sores; twisted his flesh into a repellent mass of scars; left him weakened and deformed. Had it not been for

the powerful effects of their cures, Parkinson began to recover. Hope

containing germ cultures. These they placed on the table at Parkinson's side; then two of them withdrew, leaving the leader to continue his work. Uttering a few

nto his flesh. In a moment this vanished. Then a feeling of irresistible lassitude overwhelmed him; an

ating agony seized him. Far greater was this than any pain he had suffered before. For a moment he struggled to scream, to move, to do anything to relieve his agony

paralyzed: nor was he in the operating room. The bed on which he lay was soft, comfortable; the room, unfamiliar. But not for long

the time he remained in bed. His body was a mere shadow of its former self as the result of his terrible experience on the white slab: his incessant sleeping, necessary

s left arm was gone, amputated at the shoulder. Strangely, the wound had healed while he slept, pr

they had done. And then he had realized that the inhuman brutes must be destroyed for a greater reason:

es to be spread over Earth. When these were ready, a great amount of fine dust that the Venerians had brought with them, was impregnated with the bacilli. This was then taken up into

any sort: evidently they were immune to the disease. Later Parkinson learned tha

ce had relaxed, and he did not want it renewed. Even when he was as strong and well as ever, he spent much time in bed, shamming illness. An

together, leaving him in his room, to all outward appearances, asle

rs: then he shrugged his shoulders. They all looked alike to him. Quickly he crossed the room, and pressed a button that mechan

nt, he recognized it. A tall, high-backed metal chair in its center was its mark of identification.

om held nothing but the chair and the thought transference d

strange devices of various kinds. While curiously inspecting the intricate

veral metal devices that Parkinson immediately recognized as being the Veneria

e studied it. There was nothing complex about the mechanism; a cursory examination sufficed to reveal

ffened involuntarily. There was a sound of movement outside

, a menacing frown on his face. He was c

pon, and pressed on the knob. There was a sudden spurt of flame fro

s little weapon. Then, as he remembered the torture he had endured at their hands, he directed th

for they were up in the tower, while the sphere was in the meteor; so he could think with utmost safety. Deep thought and c

asn't sure that they could be effectively discharged without re-loading; handicapped as he was with one arm gone, he ha

s on the wall. He had not seen them for quite a while; it was with difficulty that he recalled which knobs controlled the

id back the door. Furtively he peered around. The Venerians were on th

round the car, had discovered him. Without a moment's hesitation, Parkinson aimed his little weapon,

l cylinder held in readiness. The leader of the Venerians was stealing steal

your head-empty!" A cylinder clattered to the m

"I won't hesitate to press on this little knob, at your first hostile

pon him, he quickly dropped his weapon into a pocket, and swung a terrible blow at

ment. If only he had his other arm! But it was gone; with an impat

-foot burden up the ladder and into the sphere, but finally, he succeeded

surviving invader, so that he would not be a menace to Parkinson when he revived. And then the logical thing to do

le task of binding the Venerian presented considerable difficult

pping this being into the high-backed chair to which he had been secured some time before? Quickly

regained his senses, he was fastene

ersed now, and you're the underdog. I've nipped your invasi

hed the Venerian's thin lips; a mo

nough bacteria have been released to destroy all life, though it will take longer than we

son. He had expected this; but he

and that is: I'll have to force you to te

y no chance of accomplishing that," he said. "We've

ver known to Venus. There is only one remedy; and I'm the only one who knows i

in intensity. There was something in the Venerian's

ance cleared, and a happy

think you will. There are mor

erians had reproduced his knowledge in their brains; why

om, and bore it to the chair, and in spite of the Venerian leader's struggles, placed it up

humming drone in his ears; after a moment this was replaced by a loud

e of such an amazing character that, for the moment he had lost his mental equilibrium. Indeed, so strange

knew what had happened to him on the operating table; knew the nature of

Plague! At that very moment incalculable quantities of the deadly bac

to come. And even if he did recover his senses, he was securely fastened to the chair; Pa

trols, directed by his Venerian knowledge

rang from the car, and headed toward a mass of intricate m

would have been had he constructed it. For some moments he was busy wi

Earthly mind lost in wonder at the strange things his Venerian knowledge

s necessary for the bacteriologist to reach the mainland as quickly as possible, and make use of his knowledge of the cure for the Gra

led gasp he stopped short. Somehow the Venerian had fr

nson's out-thrust fist in the pit of his stomach, and doubled up in pain. While he was thus defenseless, Parkin

rom Venus and cast him headlong upon the floor. His head land

an was dead. The Venerian had solved the bacteriologist's last problem; he

of the Venerian leader to a heap of ashes, ridding the world of the l

ass vessel, somewhat like a petri dish. This contained bacteria that were harmless in themselves, and were host

scientific world the fact that many bacteria are subject to attack and destruction by some unknown active agent with which they

ving, filtered virus, although he favored the theory th

nomenon was due to a living, multiplying, ultra-mi

the result that, at present, controversy is rife. Up t

ost at an end. He had not eme

e germs, arose to the top of the tower, and passed through a round opening in its side. His borrowed knowledge revealed that the car

had caused, saw the deserted cities-and was filled

r the stragglers and landing in the heart of the congested areas. After making a few inquiries, he return

, he was ushered into the presence of the United Stat