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

this last cluster of waning stars and worlds that hold the surviving millions of our race.
    "This last stronghold of ours is constantly attacked by the hordes of the Cold Ones, unhuman enemies whom the disastrous experiments of a Tarast scientist loosed upon our universe. Their attacks grow ever fiercer. And they say they will not cease these attacks unless we agree to stop having children, so that after this generation our race shall end."
     
    THE old chairman gestured with a trembling hand toward the stalwart figure of Vostol.
    "Vostol and many others sincerely believe it would be best to make such a treaty with the Cold Ones; for they say that our race must soon become extinct anyway, when our universe dies completely. But Gerdek and others who have sought to revive our once-great science, claim that our universe will be reborn in time and that we must fight on."
    Curt Newton had listened tensely. He saw that the moment had come for him to fulfill the purpose of his impersonation.
    "Make a treaty with the Cold Ones?" Curt cried in ringing tones. "Make a treaty with deadly enemies? Is it possible that you can dream of doing that? If so, the Tarast race has decayed indeed since the long-gone days when your remote ancestors and I first conquered space!"
    His voice flared.
    "It is not the Tarast tradition to parley with menacing enemies, but to fight! It was so that we won dominion over other worlds and stars in the days gone by. It is so that you will revive the ancient glory of our all-conquering race!”
    Curt's ringing words, the proud, martial appearance of his tall figure and of the grim Futuremen, seemed to act like a bugle-blast upon most of the men before him, reminding them of past glories of their race.
    "Kaffr speaks truth!" a young member of the Council yelled. "We are no frightened cowards to cringe before the Cold Ones!"
    "With Kaffr to lead us, we'll blast them from the sky!" cried another. "We'll never commit race suicide to buy a craven peace for ourselves."
    Gerdek's handsome face was flaming with eager excitement as he saw that Curt's words were winning the day. Shiri had appeared now beside her brother, and was leaning forward to drink in every word.
    "Furthermore," rang out Captain Future's clear voice, "I say that the man Gerdek is right. This dying universe will be reborn, in time. My comrades and I can give you scientific proof of it. You have only to hold on against all enemies, and the Tarast empire will rise again."
    Shouts of enthusiasm greeted this assertion. Yet Curt's keen eyes noticed that many among the Council looked silent and a little doubtful, now that their first bewildered excitement was passing.
    And Vostol was raising his voice above the uproar, demanding that he be heard.
    "Members of the Council, will you let yourselves be carried away by brave phrases?" he cried. "We have as yet no proof whatever that this man is really Kaffr."
    "Proof?" cried an excited Tarast. "His appearance is proof! Not for ages has any man among us had flame-red hair like Kaffr's. And who but Kaffr would have such superhuman comrades as he has?"
    "I demand that this man's identity be established by thorough investigation," clamored Vostol.
    He was supported now by a number of voices. Other voices cried out angrily against the demand. The hall became a turmoil of excited shouts.
    Curt looked tensely at Gerdek. His impersonation would soon be unmasked, if he were forced to undergo searching questioning before Gerdek and Shiri had coached him further.
    "The devil!" Otho was hissing. "That Vostol is a born skeptic. They'd all accept you if it weren't for him."
    "Shall I shut that fellow up, Chief?" growled Grag.
    "No — hold it," Curt whispered. "I've got to carry this through somehow."
    At this tense moment, the tumultuous argument in the great room was interrupted. A wild-eyed Tarast guard, gripping in his hand a gunlike weapon, came bursting in with a shout.
    "The crowds outside the Hall of Suns have gone