1,000-Year Voyage by John Russell Fearn Read Free Book Online

deal with—Life energy.”
    Rigilus came forward slowly. “From the sound of things, my friend, you have spent quite a lot of time in this laboratory when my wife and I have not been present.”
    â€œIs there any particular law against that?”
    â€œNo; but I would appreciate it if you would confine yourself to your own particular hobbies and leave the activities of my wife and myself alone.”
    â€œThat I am quite prepared to do, but I cannot help but feel from the urgent resentment which has suddenly come into your manner that you are both engaged upon some kind of apparatus which does not bode very well for the rest of us.”
    â€œStop being so ridiculous,” Merva answered, coldly.
    â€œIs there any reason,” Randos asked, ignoring her and looking straight at Rigilus, “why this apparatus you are working on cannot be explained to the rest of us? Why has it been kept a secret for so long? It is obviously an equipment of very extreme intricacy, and since it is intended for life energy, there can only be one set of human beings for whom it is intended—children. Life energy, according to the researches of past scientists, and indeed our own laboratory technicians, does not exist in any individual after the age of ten years. Could it be,” Randos asked deliberately, his mouth hardening, “that you are aiming at some particularly ingenious scientific trick which will only reveal itself when our children are born?”
    â€œI do not propose to answer any questions,” Rigilus said, curtly, “and I would be glad if you will leave us immediately!”
    Randos smiled rather tautly, inclined his head and departed. The moment he had gone Merva turned quickly, her eyes glittering as she looked at Rigilus.
    â€œThat man is dangerous, Rigilus. He knows far too much. You must take the necessary steps to have him silenced. We underestimated his capabilities as a scientific analyst, and evidently he knows as much about life energies as we do. He is liable to spread any sort of story amongst the others and once that happens we can expect trouble, and the only way we can defeat trouble is to smash it halfway.”
    â€œBy doing what?” Rigilus asked, moodily. “You don’t suppose that I can suddenly go into their midst, single Randos out and kill him, do you?”
    â€œNo, I don’t see any necessity for anything quite so blatant as that,” Merva agreed, “but there is certainly nothing to prevent his meeting with an accident, and quickly, too, before he can talk too much. He always has been a man with an enquiring turn of mind and if he has too much to say it will mean ten against us and that will take a good deal of handling. You’ll have to act at once!”
    Rigilus hesitated, plainly uncertain. Merva looked at him steadily, waiting, then as he made no move she made a quick gesture of annoyance.
    â€œThis isn’t a matter that can wait, Rigilus! Since you won’t act—I shall—and now!”
    She wasted no further time. Hurrying from the laboratory she overtook Randos who was moving at a languid pace along the immense corridor that ran through the heart of the vessel. He turned as Merva came hurrying up and looked at her in sardonic inquiry.
    â€œIs there something I can do for the wife of the Ruler?” he asked, cynically.
    Immediately Merva’s mood changed from that to which everyone was accustomed. Instead she switched on extreme plaintiveness that even the wily Randos could not entirely resist.
    â€œI feel that I owe you an apology, Randos,” Merva said. “I was downright rude to you back in the laboratory there, considering you were only asking a perfectly normal question. My husband and I have been working so hard on that apparatus that it has made us rather less courteous than usual. I do hope that you will forgive me.”
    Randos merely shrugged and waited for the next.
    â€œSince you asked