Captain Future 09 - Quest Beyond the Stars (Winter 1942) (11 page)

The girl seemed unconvinced. “If you are strangers to Kor, where did you come from?” she demanded unbelievingly. “I know that you are not from Thruun.”

“We never heard of either Kor or Thruun before today,” Simon assured her, “We come from outside the great cloud, from far across the universe.”

Wonder struggled with doubt in the girl’s tone when she finally spoke.

“It cannot be! No ship could win through the awful currents of the cloud! Yet it is true that no being like yourself has ever been known here.”

“It is true, girl.” The Brain’s chill, emotionless voice carried conviction. “We landed upon this world to repair our ship. The Korians surprised us, led by a noble named Uzhur,”

“That plotting old fox!” the girl spat at the name.

“We accompanied them to this city, Kor,” the Brain continued, “but doubt their intentions. I was seeking a way out of the palace, through the ventilation ducts, when I heard your sobbing.”

There was a long silence. Then the girl spoke abruptly, “I believe you, stranger. No such living Brain as yourself has ever been heard of inside the cloud, so you must be telling the truth.

“I am Thyria, princess of Thruun — I’ve been Larstan’s prisoner here.”

“Thruun?” repeated the Brain sharply. “That is the world of the red sun we glimpsed far within the central haze, is it not?”

Thyria nodded her yellow head quickly. “That is my world. We of Thruun are deadly enemies of Larstan and his Korian nobles.”

“How did they come to capture you?” Simon asked.

“A party of us Thruunians came to this world of Kor in a secret expedition to get copper. We need it badly, for only copper will proof a spaceship against the electron-barrage of the haze. That’s why the Korians use copper outer walls on their spaceships. But we of Thruun have little copper, and our need for it is great now that we are building more ships. Each ship must be copper-coated.

“So I led an expedition to this world to get copper from the metal mountains of Kor. But Korian scouts saw us, and before we could escape they captured us. They killed the others, but kept me to torture from me all that they could learn of the secrets of Thruun.”

Thyria’s quivering voice became urgent. “You too are in dreadful danger. The fact that you strangers came from outside the clouds puts you in
the
shadow of doom while you’re in Kor.

CAPTAIN FUTURE was momentarily taken aback by the profound effect upon Larstan and the other Korians of old Ber Del’s question about the Watchers. All the assumed boredom and languidness left the handsome Korian king. His smooth face was a mask of suspicion as his dark eyes blazed down at Curt Newton’s group. “What do you know about the?Watchers?” he repeated in a voice that was almost a hiss.

Curt saw that the whole court was hanging in tense silence upon the answer. Uzhur’s eyes had narrowed, and the old noble had made a surreptitious signal to the Korian guards around the throne.

Curt answered bluntly. “We know nothing at ail about the Watchers, except the name.”

“Where did you learn that name, then?” Larstan asked suspiciously.

Captain Future shrugged. “As I told you, there were vague rumors in the outside universe of marvelous things inside the cloud. One rumor was the tale of the Birthplace of Matter. Another vague legend was of mysterious beings called the Watchers. That is all we know,”

For a long minute, Larstan’s eyes bored into Curt’s face. Captain Future faced that fiery gaze unflinchingly. Gradually, Larstan’s handsome green features smoothed into their accustomed lines. He relaxed, laughed softly.

“It seems that I have startled you, strangers. But you need not be afraid.”

“We’re not in the least afraid,” Captain Future retorted coolly, “but we
are
interested. Who or what are these Watchers?”

Larstan waved his hand carelessly. “It is only an old legend or tradition without basis. I would not bore you with such a fantastic and foolish tale.”

The tense silence of the nobles, ladies and soldiers of the court relaxed also. There was a low buzz of whispering voices across the great hall. It seemed to Captain Future that that brief interval of tension had had in it a queer, shadowy element of
fear.

Otho had detected it also. “Looks like the way to get unpopular quick here is to talk about the Watchers,” he muttered under his breath. “For space’s sake, ask no more questions, Ber Del.”

The old Vegan star-captain nodded nervously. “I did not think. Next time I will keep silent.”

The verbal fencing between Captain Future and Larstan was going on. The Korian king leaned forward toward the red-haired Planeteer.

“Uzhur tells me that your spaceship is of very greatly different design than our own,” he said. “Indeed, it must be of far greater power and speed than ours, to be able to penetrate the cloud.”

Curt Newton sensed
a
hidden meaning behind the question. Something in Larstan’s bearing disturbed him. Nevertheless, he could see no point in trying to deny the obvious.

“Our ship uses a different method of propulsion than yours,” he conceded. “Even so, it was only by good luck that we were able to get through the currents of the cloud.”

In Larstan’s eyes appeared a momentary gleam of triumph. It was gone in a moment, but it increased Curt’s uneasiness. What was Larstan driving at with this talk about the
Comet?
Captain Future returned to the attack.

“You said that the Birthplace of Matter does exist here within the cloud. What is it like?”

HE ASKED the question as though only in curiosity, but he waited tensely for Larstan’s answer. “I cannot tell you much about the Birthplace, strangers,” said Larstan slowly. “For we Korians have never been able to reach it. We have always been prevented by certain — obstacles.”

“Then you don’t know the secret of matter-creation?” Curt pressed politely.

“No, we do not have that secret —
yet!”
answered the Korian king, his voice rising sharply on the last word. He brooded, chin in hand, his eyes fixed on Captain Future’s face. When he spoke, his voice was soft and deliberate. “Strangers, I think you have not been entirely frank with me. I think that you fought your way through the cloud to this place, not from idle curiosity about the unknown, but for the purpose of finding the Birthplace of Matter and possessing its secret of creation.”

“He’s got our number,” murmured Grag uneasily. “Stand by for trouble.”

Curt Newton made as though to answer, but Larstan went quickly on before he could speak.

“You need not deny it, stranger!” the Korian ruler told Curt. “I do not blame you men of the outside universe for seeking to attain such a colossal secret. I, too, have wanted that secret for long. With it, I could do great things!” Larstan leaned forward almost eagerly. “We both want the same thing — you strangers from outside stars, and we Korians. We both seek to attain the Birthplace of Matter. The obstacles to that attainment are great and might well baffle either of us. But
together
we could win the secret of creation from it!”

Captain Future had guessed what was coming. Yet he was none the less surprised by the proposal. “You’re suggesting that we become partners in an attempt to reach the Birthplace?” he said slowly.

“I do suggest it,” Larstan declared promptly. “We could help each other very greatly. For we of Kor know much about the perils surrounding the Birthplace which you cannot know.”

“I concede that,” Curt said keenly. “But in what way would we be able to help you? You have hundreds of ships, plenty of men and resources. Why should you need us?”

“I do not really
need
you,” Larstan replied a trifle haughtily. “But I admire the bold spirit that has brought you on this odyssey into the unknown. And also, your alien Science might complement our own in many ways for this venture.”

“In just what ways could we help you?” Curt asked directly.

“The obstacles that have always prevented us Korians from winning the secret of matter mastery are
human
obstacles. It is the people of the world Thruun who stand in our way. Those Thruunians have always prevented us from reaching the Birthplace. The Thruunians believe,” the green king continued contemptuously, “that it is their duty to guard the Birthplace. They have superstitious legends about superhuman beings who watch over the Birthplace, who charged them with the sacred duty of guarding it.”

“I see,” Captain Future said slowly. “Those legendary superhuman beings are the Watchers, then?”

“Yes, that is the legend of the Watchers. It is a silly superstition. Oh, there may once have been alien beings who watched over the Birthplace, but if so, they are gone long ago. But the Thruunians and their senile King Kwolok heed the old legend and will not allow us Korians to reach the Birthplace.”

CURT NEWTON began to understand the situation a little better. “Do the Thruunians themselves possess the secret of matter creation?” he asked.

“We have never been certain as to whether they do or do not possess the secret. That doubt has always held us back from a direct attack on their world, since if they actually possessed the secret, it would give them an irresistible weapon against us. But now —” Larstan’s dark eyes flashed — “now at last we feel sure that the Thruunians do
not
possess the secret. Hypnotic questioning of a certain Thruunian we took prisoner in a recent raid has convinced us of this. So now we are ready to attack Thruun, conquer that world and be free to attain the secret of the Birthplace.”

Curt Newton’s mind was racing from the impact of this revelation but he kept his face indifferent. “Where do we come in?”

“The Thruunians will be no easy conquest,” Larstan returned. “Their ships and fire-rods are as good as ours, and their number two thirds as great. But if we could make our ships as fast and powerful as
your
ship must be to have penetrated the cloud, we could conquer them easily. Doubtless, also, you could devise more powerful weapons for us.”

“And if we agree to help you in this way, what would we get out of it?” Curt asked, masking his true emotions with assumed interest.

“We would share the secret of matter mastery with you, once we had won it from the Birthplace,” promptly rejoined the Korian king. “That is what you star-rovers came here for, and this is the only way in which you can secure it.”

Captain Future appeared to consider earnestly. “The proposal is certainly attractive,” he admitted.

“Then you agree to it?” Larstan asked quickly.

“I shall have to consult my men before I can do that,” Curt evaded. “They are my partners in this venture, not merely followers.”

Larstan frowned. “I do not like delays,” he rapped. “After all, it would be simple enough for me to seize your ship and weapons without your consent.”

Captain Future shrugged. “Certainly you could do that. But could your scientists discover the secrets of design and operation of our devices without long and possibly interminable delay?”

Again, Larstan’s green features relaxed into the smooth mask. “I was only jesting,” he smiled. “We two must not become at odds — we who can help each other so much.” He rose to his feet. “We shall talk more of this later, when you have had time to consult your comrades and make your decision. Now it is time that we forget these things, and begin this evening’s feast.”

The Korian king laid his hand on Curt’s shoulder in friendly fashion. But Captain Future was not deceived by the winning manner. He had glimpsed the true tigerish nature of the young king and realized to the full the precarious situation of himself and his companions. The Korian nobles in the great hall had remained at a respectful distance while Larstan had conducted his low-voiced discussion with Captain Future. Now the brilliant throng turned expectantly as their king arose.

“We begin our festivity now, my friends,” announced Larstan in his clear, musical voice. “And tonight our honored guests are these strangers from the outside stars who are soon to be our allies.”

A buzz of excited voices greeted the announcement, and every eye turned upon Curt Newton and his strangely assorted companions. During the conference, the girl-queen Liane had sat silently watching Curt with her unfathomable eyes. Now she rose, supple in her black silken gown, and moved proudly through the bowing throng with Larstan.

THE Korian king motioned Cur Newton and his comrades to follow. As the star rovers did so, Uzhur and other nobles fell in behind them, followed by the whole brilliant court.

Otho whispered worriedly to Captain Future. “Chief, we’re not really going to ally ourselves with these green men. I don’t trust that king.”

“I don’t like it, either,” Grag muttered troubledly. “We don’t want to get mixed up in their wars here inside the cloud — especially when it means using our weapons to attack a people who may be innocent.”

“Will you two keep quiet and let me handle this?” Captain Future demanded.