Tarrano the Conqueror

own

n our pillowed divan. With an elbow and hand supporting his head he regarded us with his

His glance went to her briefly, then to Georg. "Sh

aid Geor

maiden could resist so dominant a man as this. But I had made no comment, nor had Georg. Elza had

etween her and me.... You have been following the general news, I assume? I provi

said

ssary. And we are isolated here-no one beyond Venia can listen. As you know, I am already Master of Venus. In Mars-that will shortly come. They will hand themselves ove

leaders are not fools

. "That remains to be seen. Well, you heard the

t obey it," I burs

the level intonation of his voice, nor even loo

his gaze swung to her. "So? T

tive look to me that accompanied it, made my heart leap. Tarrano's f

him her emotions; struggling to m

o," she

se he is-y

uld not let

edulous amusement

A strength came to her voice. Georg and I watched her-and watched T

ld you s

ell you no

es to mingle with the amusement the

id not flinc

k then-I woul

know you

d w

a thing like that-

at

ate you

realize he was defeated in this passage with a girl? Was he trying to cover from us the knowledg

y. "Not so! A rival? Pah! He shall live if you wish it-live close by you and me-as an insect might live on a twig by the rim of the eagle's nest.... Enoug

said

den. Would you have me change? I am not one

ll ha

st now. I have no defense, here in Venia. Scarce the armament for my handful of men. Your

se," sai

over to them. Yet-that does not appeal to me. Tomorrow I shall have to bargain with them further. I could

Georg. "Isn't

e became more serious. "You, Georg-y

id not

r so long? She is here in Venia; she tells me of your knowledge and skill with your father's appa

, serious face with its silver glow. "I've a proposition for you, Georg Brende. Between men, such things can be put bruskly. You

Georg's face. "We shall be g

eat use to me. Suppose I offer you a place by my side always? To share with me-and with the Lady Elza-these conquests.... Wait! It is not the part of wisdom to decide until you

er, and the mate you some day will take for yourself. Indeed, I have a maiden already at hand, picked out for you.... But that can come later.... Everlasting life? Nonsense! Your father's discovery c

say

miration. "You are decisive. You have many good qualiti

world," Georg declared, with mor

ith which to hide their unscrupulous schemes. That's all it is, Georg Brende. Cannot you give me a better reason

talking patriotism-only humanitarianism. The strife, suffering in our

ust look out for himself-not for others. Each man to his destiny-and the weak go down and the strong go up. It is the way of a

org said, and

an picture what I offer. Think it over. And if youth is your trouble--" His eyes were twinkling. "I

th a grave, dignified bo

ght," s

From the balcony we saw him cross the spider bridge, with Argo at his heels. As they vanished into the yawning mouth of an arcade beyond the bri

e girl. I wondered then-and we had discussed it several times these last hours-if the interior of our tower were under observat

other casement. And again, with slow-moving white arms she began to semaphore. A queer application of the Secondary Code, which always is used off

rincess

: "Hereditary ruler o

. "Watch

xt: "Like yourselves

the glorious waves of her white hair with a toss of her head. T

e toni

no or one of his men would burst in t

-soon-he will come to you. With pl

the spider bridge; he was pacing back and forth. Did he suspect anything? We could not tell,

. But cautiously, for we knew that the microphonic ears of a jailor might be upon us. The Princess Maida-h

t to Washington-if I could be there now in this

lever to power would be broken. Our Earth public would sway back to patriotic loyalty. The Little People of Mars unquestionably would remain friendly with us, with the Br

e these. A friend coming to help us? How c

nal beams flashed across the narrow segment of our sky. The crescent terraces, visible through a shallow canyon of buildings to the left, were a blaze of colored lights with the dark figures of peop

innumerable arrant-leaf cylinders. Through the insulated tube, from a public cookery occasional hot dishes were passing our dining room for us to take if we wished. But we had touched none of them. From the food stock on hand, Elza had cooked our two simple meals. But now, with Elza asleep, Geo

r past quite silent-brought us to our feet, his mo

fficial 2:27 A. M. Tarrano replies

. Together we rushed i

ts text, we are reliably informed, is now in the hands of our Governments at Great London, Greater New York, Tokyohama and Mombozo. Heli

of the tape continuing as it printed his word

o rejects Ultimatum. His note to Earth Council

. He would be overwhelmed in Venia, of course. He had no means of defending himself against their aggression. But at the first flash of hostile rays, the Brende model would be destroyed forever. And Georg Brende-the only living person who had the knowledge to replace the model-would die instantly. The Brende secret would be lost irre

"He would lose everythin

e Earth Council will make no move until the ultimatum time has expired. Hours

ss. A moment; then into the room came Wolfgar. He did not speak. Advancing close to us as we stood transfixed, he jerked an instrument from his belt. It whirred and hummed in his hand. The room around us went black-a barr

I have been in charge of the mirror observing you

spered tensely. Elza was trembl

us. "Yes. A spy, trusted by Tarrano for years-but my heart is with the

le. The metal cone in Wolfgar's hand glowed red with interference-heat-but he clung to it, though it burned him. Sparks were sna