Captain Future 11 - The Comet Kings (Summer 1942) by Edmond Hamilton Read Free Book Online Page A

somberly.
    “But we know now that the Alius are alien and evil, that they are planning something dark and wicked,” he summarized. “It was they who directed Thoryx and Querdel and our other rulers to construct the great electromagnet that sucks spaceships into the comet. That electromagnet is operated by some of Querdel’s men, through a special detector apparatus that can spot any ship within millions of miles.”
    “Why do the Alius want ships and men from the outside brought in here as captives?” the Brain asked keenly.
    The Cometae prison captain shook his head.
    “I don’t know. None of us knows just what their unfathomable purposes are. But we are certain some involved and sinister scheme is afoot.”
     
    THE Futuremen glanced at each other. It was the Brain who spoke the thought that was in all their minds.
    “This is no mere menace within this comet, but a dark, threatening force from outside our cosmos that we’ve run into,” muttered Simon Wright. “I’d give a lot to know what these Alius are like — and what they plan.”
    The Brain thought hard.
    “I feel certain, Zarn, that Curtis Newton and I can devise a way of retransforming you people when we have thoroughly studied the problem,” he told the Cometae captain. “But until then, I cannot promise. We must have a chance to investigate your bodies with certain instruments.”
    “I will bring secretly everything you need, next sleep-period,” Zarn promised excitedly. “And I will contact my friends, also.”
    The Brain quickly named a list of things he would require from the Futuremen’s confiscated spaceship.
    Suddenly the prison captain started as they heard a sound of approaching footsteps in the corridor.
    “Someone is coming!” Zarn exclaimed fearfully. “If I am caught in here with you, our whole plan is ruined!”
     

     
Chapter 6: The Throne Room
     
    PETRIFIED by a freezing horror, Curt Newton stood amid his guards in the throne room of the Cometae, staring with wild eyes at Joan Randall. He was stunned to his very soul, unable for the moment to believe what he saw. He had found the girl he loved, the girl whose danger had brought him on this perilous quest into the comet world. He had found her — and she was one of the Cometae!
    Joan had never looked so beautiful. Her soft, dark hair and lovely face, her lithe, utterly feminine figure so completely revealed by the scanty silver-cloth garment were brilliantly enhanced by the glow of inherent electric force, scintillating from every inch of her body and investing her with its shining halo.
    But to Captain Future, that dazzling aura of living light was a horror beyond description. He forgot his guards and stepped blindly and numbly forward, all the agony of his love and despair showing in his bloodless face.
    “Joan!” he exclaimed hoarsely. “My God, what have these devils done to you!”
    “Curt, stay back!” the girl cried in sharp alarm.
    It was too late. In the tumult of emotions that shook him, Curt Newton had reached hungry arms toward her. His hand barely grazed her shining shoulder — and he recoiled, his whole arm paralyzed by electric shock.
    “Don’t try to touch me, Curt! You can’t. “Joan Randall was telling him, her eyes full of apprehension.
    The voice of Khinkir captain of the Cometae guards, snarled from behind.
    “King Thoryx awaits you, prisoner. Move on!”
    Captain Future barely heard him.
    “Joan, I’ll kill these fiends for doing a thing like this to you!” he raged. “I’ll tear this devil’s city of theirs to fragments!”
    “But Curt, I wanted to be changed like this!” Joan exclaimed. “I wanted to become one of the Cometae.”
    He had thought he could receive no greater shock, but her words left him mentally gasping, eying her in incredulous disbelief.
    “Curt, the Cometae are not fiends,” Joan was continuing earnestly. “They are a fine and friendly folk, who are allied to a wonderful race of superhuman beings called the