Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1911 — Columbus of Space [ARTICLE]

Columbus of Space

By Garrett P. Serviss.

Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co. c i, v . CHAPTER VIII. An Adventure In The Air. I must hurry on, to what followed that first meeting on the sea. The events were so wonderful, they so transcended all human experience, that to relate them in detail would require volumes, and among them there are things impossible to describe, because so entirely without terrestrial analogy. It was now that we first became completely aware of the existence of that incredible power of communicating thought without the intervention of spoken language to which I have lefore referred. It might, perhaps, be described as a kind of telepathy. I have already told you that at the first glance Into the eyes of the Aphrodite who commanded the aircraft I felt that in some strange manner those eyes could speak. And -«o-they-could. ■— ~~— They all had a language of the eyes —or, at least, a language that seemed to radiate from them. I thought of the speculations of a German enthus* iast that I had read concerning “odic force.” And yet they spoke with their lips, also, in low, soft tones, exceedingly agreeable to the ear. But this language of sounds was only a subsidary method of communication. The other was the tongue of nature, and we felt that our minds could comprehend it, although at first only in a dim, uncertain way. We did not know exactly how to reply, but they understood us. They seemed to read our souls. We had only to think what we would say, and with amazing readiness they interpreted many of our thoughts. It was mind-reading carried to perfection. So no long time had elapsed before an astonishing degree of mutual comprehension was established. Juba comprehended even quicker than we did. w;hich was but natural, and yet these blonde, . clean-skinned people were as much astonished by his appearance as by ours. It was evident that the inhabitants of the two sides of this strange world had never before encountered one another. Still, they seemed to understand instinctively that Juba, for all his extraordinary features and his baboon like form, was more closely allied to them than to us. Edmund, who so greatly excelled the rest of us in intellectual force, made rapid progress in the unparallelled intercourse which now began. To onr surprise, it was not long betore he told us the name of them, for he said she seemed to have several names —one or more of which, he thought, might be titles. "They call her Ala,” he said; “at least, that is as near as I can pronounce it, and we may as well accept that for her name.” As soon as it became evident that we had nothing to fear from these people—at least for the present— Jack’s enthusiasm knew no bounds. “Jove! Edmund,” he said, “but I thank you for bringing me here. is Venus, without a doubt.” Later I shall tell you more about that wonderful language, which was at the same time no language and all language—for it developed into things infinitely more incredible than any that I have yet related. But enough for the present. You can now comprehend how it was that, landing in another world, we were able so soon to establish an understanding, and even an intimacy, with its inhabitants. Believe me, on earth nobody has yet begun to dream what mind means.

Edmund soon made Ala understand taal we wished to journey into the lands lying beyond the shores of the sea. He told us afterward that his conjecture had been right, and that the airships were really on an exploring expedition along the borders of the world of light, because the inhabitants on that side of Venus had a great curiousity to know what lay beyond the storms and clouds in the mysterious empire of night. Evidently it was the violent tempests which prevailed near the crystal mountains that prevented the passage of their aerial craft. The mountains themselves they had never seen. But they felt that they had made a discovery of the first magnitude in finding us, for they took us to be inhabitants of the other side of the planet, although they were puzzled by the manifest difference between Juba and the rest. 1 may say here tha£, although the light Was more diffused and softer under the cloudlike dome tha£ in the sunshine that prevails on the earth, Juba's huge eyes suffered so much that we contrived for him a mask to protect them. Later on he became better able to bear the light. Feeling that their expedition had been frowned with unlooked-for success, our new friends were ready to gratify Edmqnd’s desire bjr hurrying back to their home. OnVr ope difficulty was encountered ,as the start. Edmund refused absolutely tp abandon the car. It was, of course, indispensible to us, and he was sure that he could

repair the apparatus, once in possession of the materials that he required. Finally it was arranged that the car should be attached to one of the airships and towed after it, as we bad towed the sleds. But Ala insisted that we should become her guests on her “yacht,” as Jack called and we gladly consented.

We saw no danger# and apprehended nope immediately. Nevertheless, we kept our automatic pistols in our pockets, and each also armed himself with an automatic repeating rifle. Our hosts showed no special curiosity about these things, the nature of which they did not understand. , The airships were extremely ingenious. Edmund examined the one we were on from stem to stern, and 1 have no doubt tnat when he was through he understood it quite as well as the builders did. It was lucky that he did. “If they had my secret,” he said to us, they would be uncomparable. They are a great people.” >, “All the more pity that you brought nothing better than automatic arms,” said Jack. “I don’t believe that they have anything as good in that line,” said Edmund. “From what I can make out, they are not much given to fighting.” We made rapid progress, and after 24 hours came in sight of land. The coast Was not high, but far beyond it we could see ranges of mountains,' and apparently rising from the foothills of these mountains there were visible curious objects, the nature of which we could not make out from sp great a distance. They resembled immense floating cobwebs as much as anything that 1 can liken them to. Edmund tried to find out from Ala what it was that we saw, but beyond the fact that the objects were aerial he could learn nothing definite.

As we approached the coast we saw other airships heading toward us from various directions. We guessed at once that some kind of a greeting was in preparation for the returning exployers, but we could never have imagined the magnificence which the reception would assume. It was not long before our eyes were opened. When we were perhaps ten mile off the coast a vast flock of airships seemed to rise like birds from the land. .In a little while they became innumerable, and it i& impossible to depict the beauty of the spectacle which they presented. The aerial vessels of our little fleet were all of one type,' and, while they quite unpretending in their build and ornamentation. But those that were approaching showed a hundred different shapes and sizes. Chinese kites p.qiil d not for am instant be compared with some of them in grotesqueness. Many soared in vast circles at a great height, sweeping around and over us like eagles. Others flanked us on either side, and timed their progress with ours. Still others, probably a hundred in number, advanced to meet* us in a great semi-circle, where each kept its place with the precision of marching soldiers. Suddenly, at a signal apparently, the air was filled with fluttering colors. To this day I have never been able to understand how that effect was produced. The colors were not on or in the airships only, but in the atmosphere all about. They were exquisite beyond all description. It was as if the air had suddenly turned to crystal, with a thousand rainbows playing through it, their arches constantly shifting aid interchanging. Presently from the craft that carried us answering shafts of colur were shot out. Then I began to notice that there was a remarkable rhythym in the swift changes. I do not know better how to describe the impression than by saying that it was as if a piano or organ should send forth from its keys harmonic vibrations consisting not of concordant sounds, but of even more delicately related waves of color. The permutations and combinations of the chromatic scale were marvelous. The shades of color seemed infinite in their variety, and the effect was magical. It thrilled us with awe and wonder. “That is a language,” cried Edmund.

“They are conversing in this way. They have the whole gamut of the spectrum of light at their command, and every varying shade speaks to them as musical notes do to us; only the meaning conveyed to their minds is as definite as that of spoken words.” “But that cannot be possible!” I objected. “It is perfectly possible,” he replied, “It simply shows how far they exceed us in the delicacy of their nervous organization.” Soon we were all convinced that Edmund was right, and that we were looking upon a display of aerial telegraphy mere wonderful than that of Marconi. \ After a while the fluttering colors ceased to play. The communication was evidently ended for the time being. Most of the airships now turned and circled toward the land, escorting us. >. But half a dozen N contlnued to approach, and in a few minutes one of them, which had got very near, and which was moving at great speed, suddenly turned directly upon us. 1 expected to see it come to rest, but it kept bearing down with undiminished velocity. “By Heavens,” said Jack, “that fellow is going to run us down!" There was no doubt of it. On came the ponderous vessel, its prow aimed straight for us, and a long projecting beam threatening to rake our little vessel like the tongue of a runaway fire-engine. There was a momentary excitement among our people.

Ala gave an order, and a quick attempt was made to alter our courste. But it was too late. Ala had advanced near the bow, and the projecting beam seemed about to strike her. We turned pale with and my heart quailed. A tall handsome fellow stood near the prow of the approaching craft, and seemed, to be making terrible efforts to manage some machinery. “Blank the fool!” said Edmund “Will he never get out of tbe way?” An instant more and a crackling report broke upon the air. Edmund had fired his automatic rifle. The effect was amazing. The prow of the approaching airship swerved instantly to one side, the threatening beam grazed the shrinking form of Ala, and she narrowly escaped being thrown overboard. But the danger was over in a flash, and the craft that had seemed certain to run us down, shot harmlessly past our quarter. For a few minutes none of us could speak. We could hardly think, so imminent had been the peril and so instantaneous the deliverance from it.. At last I founfl my voice. “Edmund,” I said, “how in Heaven’s name did you do it?” He was as pale as the rest of us, but his self-command was perfect. To my astonishment, there was a tone of deep regret in his voice as he replied: “Have I come here only to kill? Look, I have slain another innocent creature!”

It was true, for the fellow I have spoken of had dropped at the shot ht the very instant when his craft swerved from its course. “I had to do it,” Edmund continued, mastering his emotion. “He would not get out of the way.” “What do you mean by that?” '“Cannot you understand,” he began with a little impatience, and then added: ,“But of course, you know nothing about it. I knew, from my examination of machinery •of this craft, that the only way to prevent a collision to burst a large safety valve which was directly behind that fellow. "That would cause the airship to lose way and swerve from its course. He ought to have managed it himself, but he was too stupid or too excited. There was nothing for me to do but to send a shot through him into the machinery. Heaven knows I had J.' l do it, or she would have been killed, and all of us wculd probably have gone to the bottom. So intense had been the excitement and fear among our companions on account of the impending collision that the report? of Edmund’s shot did not produce the effect that it would otherwise have had. But as it echoed up from the sea and reverberated in the sky the other airships hurried in great alarm toward us, and soon we were the center of a fluttering crowd, which filled the atmosphere like a multitude of butterflies scared up from a roadside puddle. Then the prismatic language broke forth again, and the air for a while was like a crazy-quilt whipping in the wind. When everything had quieted down again there came a great surprise for us. It was m rome respects the disheartening episode that had yet occurred. Edmund, as you will have understood from what I have just related, had unquestionably saved Ala, and probably all the rest, from instant destruction. In doing so he had killed a man—for these people can only be spoken of as men and women; generally superior in physical beauty to those of the earth. But we thought that it should have been evident to everybody that his act was imposed by tfre necessity of the situation. Yet, instead of thanking him, they made him a prisoner on4tFe spot! The thing was done so quickly, and so unexpectedly, that there was no chance to interfere. And before we knew it, Jack, Henry and I were sprawling on the floor of the airship, each borne down by half a dozen stout fellows, any one of whom would have been a match for us in single combat. Jack tried to draw his pistol, the rifle having fallen in the sudden onslaught, but it was knocked from his hand. Before Henry and I could attempt to resist Edmund called out to us:

“Don’t try to shoot! That’s not the way to get out of this. Depend on me.” “A pretty pickle you’ve got us into with your wonderful people who are ‘not given to fighting’!” growled Jack. “I tell you that we’ll get out of this all right. But conceal your pistols.” The rifles they took, but I thanked Heaven that they didn’t know what to do with them. 1 observed Edmund smile, in his quiet way, when he a<|ded a moment later, addressing Jack: “What’s the good of changing your tune so quick? A little while ago you were thanking me for bringing you here. . You’ll have occasion to thank me again." “I doubt it,” grumbled Jack. Henry, after his manner, said nothing, but his thoughts were on his face, and I whispered to him: “For pity’s sake, remember how these people read us. Don’t look as if you were scared out of your wits! Brace up and trust to Edmund. He brought us out of tighter fixes than this.” (To be continued.) What have^you to sell? Why don't you sell jt? A Republican classified ad will bring you a buyer willing to pay wbat it is worth. Don’t put it off. Y'hree lines one week in all issues of the Daily and Semi-i Weekly Republican for 25 cents. A Classified Adv. will sell it.