Captain Future 07 - The Magician of Mars (Summer 1941) by Edmond Hamilton Read Free Book Online

coexisting universe.”
    The Brain uttered a metallic exclamation. And the other two Futuremen also seemed to grasp instantly the significance of the news. But Ezra Gurney and Joan and the Commander looked puzzled.
    “A co-existin’ universe?” Ezra repeated. “I don’t get it. How can two universes occupy the same space at the same time?”
    Curt explained. “Two three-dimensional objects can occupy the same space — at different times. They’re separated along time, the fourth dimension. In the same way, two objects can occupy the same space at the same time when separated from each other along the fifth dimension. That’s how that other universe can co-exist with ours in time and space.”
     
    EZRA scratched his head.
    “Sounds simple, the way you tell it. But what’s it got to do with our catchin’ that devil Ul Quorn?”
    “It may have a lot to do with it,” Curt promised grimly. He had come to a rapid decision. “We’re going out to that moon of Uranus where Skal Kar was murdered, and investigate it. I think the trail that will lead us to Ul Quorn begins there.”
    He turned to Joan and Ezra.
    “I want you two to stay here on Earth long enough to gather all the information you can about Harris Haines, the physicist. Then come after us in a fast Patrol cruiser — I’ll meet you in the city Lulanee, on Uranus.”
    Though they did not understand the motives for his request, the girl agent and the old veteran nodded quickly. “Well be there!”
    Ten minutes later the Comet rose from the little deck atop Government Tower and shot into the sky like a projectile launched from a giant catapult.
    Grag held the controls. Eek, his moon-pup pet, clawed with strange excitement at the robot’s arm. Eek could make no sounds, since his species communicated by telepathy.
    “Miss me while I was gone, Eek?” Grag fondly asked the moon-pup.
    As the Comet roared out from Earth into the black vault of space toward the far green spark of Uranus, Curt was talking to Simon and Otho.
    “Simon, suppose Skal Kar was trying to duplicate Harris Haines’ feat of entering the co-existing universe? Suppose Skal Kar found the secret of doing so — and that his secret was taken from him by N’Rala?”
    “Holy sun-imps!” swore Otho. “You mean that that may be Quorn’s new power — a power to shift in and out of the coexisting universe?”
    “It’s possible,” Captain Future answered soberly. “We won’t know for sure until we’ve investigated Skal Kar’s laboratory on Ariel.”
    They were interrupted by a low, excited whisper from Grag.
    “Chief, Eek has been trying to tell me something telepathically,” Grag breathed. “Somebody is hiding in that tool-locker.”
    The Futuremen looked instantly at the tall locker in the side of the main cabin, in which were stored their larger atomic tools.
    “Someone hiding in there?” snapped Otho. “It’s one of Ul Quorn’s men, then! That devil is striking at us again!”
     

     
Chapter 5: Moon of Mystery
     
    CURT NEWTON’S proton pistol flashed into his hand.
    “Stand ready!” he murmured tautly. “I’m going to open that locker.”
    He advanced soundlessly. Then, with a sudden swift movement, he flung open the big locker. A figure pitched out of it.
    “Why, it’s an Earth boy!” exclaimed Otho incredulously.
    Curt burst into laughter. “A young stowaway!”
    It was a boy about fourteen years old, clad in soiled, shapeless black zipper suit. He was a wiry, scrawny youngster with a tough, belligerent face and black eyes wise and cynical beyond his years.
    He stood facing them in resolute bravado, his fists clenched. Yet under his hard-boiled pose, nervousness was visible. He gulped as his eyes swept over the awesome group facing him.
    “Who are you, and what are you doing in the Comet?” Curt Newton demanded.
    The youngster answered nonchalantly.
    “I’m Johnny Kirk, see? And I hid out in this boat because I wanted to join up with you and your gang. I