Captain Future 12 - Planets in Peril (Fall 1942) by Edmond Hamilton Read Free Book Online Page A

the Council were rising to their feet, shouting in an uproar of disputing accusations and assertions.
    "It is now or never!” whispered Shiri frantically to Curt Newton.
    Curt set his teeth, and strode suddenly out through the door onto the stage. The Brain and robot and android followed him.
    For a moment, in the uproar of shouting dispute, no one noticed them. Then Gerdek's eyes widened as they fell on Captain Future's tall figure. The young Tarast uttered a shout that brought quick silence.
    Gerdek pointed a trembling finger dramatically at Curt Newton.
    "Kaffr comes back to us this very day," he cried hoarsely. "Kaffr is here now!”
     

     
Chapter 6: Under the Red Moons
     
    SILENCE born of stupefaction held the vast hall. Dazed amazement was on the face of every Tarast there, as they looked unbelievingly at the tall figure of Curt Newton. A shaft of light from the sinking sun struck through the tall windows to touch his red hair to flame. Behind him were grouped the silent figures of the three strange Futuremen.
    "Kaffr!" gasped the aged chairman of the Council of Suns, his eyes dilated by an incredulous awe. "It is he! The flame-haired one!"
    And a swelling chorus of whispers that throbbed with utter excitement came from the spellbound, staring Council members.
    "Kaffr!"
    Curt Newton, confronting those awed white faces, nerved himself for the ordeal. He was about to undertake the most audacious impersonation in history.
    That meant that he must speak falsehoods now. He hated that necessity from the bottom of his soul. But he felt that it was justified by the fact that success of this impersonation might mean preservation of this desperate, dying human race.
    A babel of cries was coming from the Council members. Confusion of unprecedented excitement reigned. Faces were afire with wild emotion as they looked up at Captain Future.
    "Did I not tell you that Kaffr would return?" Gerdek was shouting eagerly. "He has come back to lead us against the Cold Ones!"
    Vostol had been stunned and bewildered until now, staring at Curt and his comrades with the same unbelieving awe as the rest. But now Vostol seemed to recover from his first astonishment. A shade of doubt appeared on his aggressive, earnest face.
    "How can this man be Kaffr?" he cried. "We all know that Kaffr died millions of years ago. I still say that not even Kaffr could come back from the dead!"
    That cry of doubt momentarily checked the excited uproar. Curt saw the first signs of doubt appear on the faces of Council members. He realized that he must assert himself if the impersonation was not to fall through.
    "I am Kaffr," Curt said solemnly. "And I did not die, ages ago. I went into a trance of suspended animation from which I have now awakened."
    His voice rang out.
    "Millions of years ago, I led the Tarast people in their first space-conquests of other worlds. I guided them in laying the foundations of cosmic empire. But I foresaw that a time would come when this universe would wane and die, and that then I would be sorely needed.
    "So I entered that trance of suspended animation, arranging to wake when the remote time had come that would see dire need of my leadership."
    Curt gestured toward the silent Brain and robot and android behind him.
    "My ancient comrades entered that trance with me, and have awakened with me. They, and I, have come to give our services once more to the Tarast people for whom we fought long ago."
    A sigh of deep emotion came from his listeners. And Curt Newton rushed on, seeking to override all doubts in these critical first moments.
    "Tell me — are we not needed now?" throbbed his clear voice, his gray eyes sweeping their faces. "Has the time come that I foresaw?"
    The aged chairman answered, in a voice that was hoarse with feeling.
    "Kaffr, if you are indeed our ancient hero, you come back to us at a truly fateful hour. Our empire is shrunken and dying. This Council of Suns of which I, Igir, am chairman, rules now only over