Weird Tales/Volume 2/Issue 3/The People of the Comet
The Final Installment of
The People of the Comet[1]
By AUSTIN HALL
CHAPTER SEVEN
"'I DREW up in front of the dwelling, and as I came to a stop the maiden, without a bit of hesitation, ran out to meet me, running alongside the ether ship until she came to the porthole where she could look in at me.
"'Never had I seer any one so beautiful.
"'She had a lack of fear that came from innocence. She was as golden haired as a fairy, and of a grace that far outdid that of any maiden I had ever known upon the Earth. Her features were perfect; her lips red as the juice of berries; and her form sylphlike. Her dress was even stranger than her beauty—a tunic of feathers thrown over her right shoulder, leaving her left breast bare, but covering her waist, and reaching down to her knees. Her feet were sandaled.
"'It was a strange moment for the both of us.
"'Here was I, an adventurer from the planet Earth, on a visit to a comet; What a maiden was this! She was the most beautiful I had ever looked at; her eyes blue, large, innocent, and full of eagerness. Her whole expression was that of hope, wonder, impatience. She held one hand above the port-hole and peered within, and when she saw me she began beckoning. There was a strange look in her eyes that I could not fathom.
"'For a minute I remained in my seat, admiring her beauty. I could not hear her, of course; but I could watch her impatience. She was as natural as a child and as splendid as a goddess. When I did not move she clenched her tiny fist and pounded on the port-hole.
"'She pointed toward the dwelling. Her eyes were wide, pleading. When I did not answer she broke into a little spasm of anger and beat her fist against the side as if she would break her way through the ether ship.
"'What could be the meaning of such a reception as this? Who could she be?
"'I had to be careful. Even if there were an atmosphere upon the nucleus I had no proof that I could live in it. I could see all kinds of organic life, to be sure, but it was not such as I had known upon the Earth. I would first make a test of the cometary atmosphere; so I pressed a lever and ran a glass container out through one of the small doors.
"'The girl seemed to understand. When she saw what I had done she reached down and picked up a kitten-like creature that was running about her feet, and placed it in the container. Then she gave a sign.
"'Thus I tested the atmosphere of the comet. I drew in the glass and examined the kitten, or what I call such, for it had really the legs of a rabbit. If the creature should suffer at all in the ether car—that is, in my own atmosphere—I would know that I could not venture outside.
"'The girl watched through the porthole.
"'I placed the little creature upon the floor. At first it was timid. But after a bit it began scampering about in perfect comfort. If the kitten could live in my own air there was no reason why I could not venture outside. The girl seemed to anticipate my intention. She ran to the door.
"'When I stepped out of the ether car I was a bit unsteady. I had been many hours without sleep; and I had been forced, throughout the whole journey, to maintain myself in a more or less cramped position. The air outside was fresh and balmy, sweet like the morning. There was no sky such as we know upon the Earth, and no sunlight. The air ‘was full of a red glow that came from the coma above us. The gravitation was vertical as it is upon the Earth; and I did not notice that I felt a bit stronger or lighter than I had felt in Sansar. This, I learned, afterward, was because of the extreme magnetic pitch of the nucleus. The horizon, where the whirling rim shot up its wreaths, was the blaze of glorious crimson. The grass under my feet was soft, like clover. The air was good to breathe.
"'The girl ran up to me. In the clear view of the open light she was even more beautiful. Her arms were bare, finely moulded. She was devoid of all fear, or immodesty ; her eyes were like a child’s. Like a child she seized me by the arm and began speaking.
"'I marvelled at her voice, at its softness, and at its wistfulness; but I could not understand. The words she spoke had no meaning to me. I could only read her gestures, and look into her wonderful eyes. Clearly something was wrong. She clung to my arm, and by impassioned pantomime let me know that it was in the dwelling. Her interest was not in the ether ship; nor in its contents.
"'I could not but follow. The door yard was carpeted with verdure, and spangled with flowers; trees surrounded the stone dwelling on three sides. To the left ran the little river.
"'She took my hand in hers and led me up the path. Her palm was soft and magnetic; I could sense her thrill of hope, eagerness and triumph. Twice she looked up at me and smiled—a look of childish possession and pride, as if I had come just in time to fulfill a long lost hope. At the door she stopped. She held her finger to her lips, and entered—alone.
"'In a minute she returned. She took my hand again, and led me across the threshold, through an ante-room, and then through another door. Then she stopped. She pointed to a figure reclining upon a couch on the opposite side of the room.
"'It was the form of a man, one of the most remarkable men I had ever seen, a man very aged, and venerable, a giant of a man. He was asleep, or (the thought startled) perhaps dying! He was propped up in pillows; his arms were crossed on the coverlet before him. His beard and hair were of snowy whiteness; and his face, even with the eyes closed, was the noblest that I had ever seen. His forehead was immense. I sensed at once that here was virtue, pride, wisdom, nobility. Who was this strange man, and who was the maiden? What had brought them here!
"'The girl left my side. She ran to the bed and knelt down. First she picked up one of the worn hands and kissed it; then she raised up and pressed her lips to those of the sleeper. She spoke a few words.
"'The eyes opened. A murmur, and the aged man's hand sought the golden hair that stooped over his breast. In the depths of those eyes was a tenderness past all understanding—-and sadness.
"'The girl took the caress: she held up her face; she spoke; and I could hear the ripple of her voice. Then she pointed at me.
"'The man looked up.
"'I can see him yet, his eyes gray, great, kindly; full of wonder, and calmness. I could see that he was dying; and that his end was cosmic. He was not of the ordinary lot of men; but of something greater—a monarch. A grateful light came into his eyes.
"'He looked down at the maiden. He spoke slowly, questioning. Once he glanced at me.
"'Then the girl answered. She spoke in the same musical voice, punctuated with gestures. Undoubtedly she was describing the ether ship and the manner of my arrival. The old man's face softened as the girl went on. Twice he smiled and patted her hair. When she had finished he pointed to an elliptical clock work upon the side-wall.
"'I had not noticed it before. Upon the wall was an oblong track constructed of black metal, covered with white markings, a graduated scale of some sort; and along the bottom of the track an arrow.
"'The girl stepped up to the wall, and dipped a brush into a black fluid. Just above the arrowhead she dabbed a mark. Then she began writing a list of notations and calculations that the old man called off. When he had finished the old man looked at me. He beckoned.
"'I approached the bed side. For a minute I stood still, gazing down into his wonderful face. What a man was this, and what had brought him here?
"'The maiden came to my side: she took my arm, The man by a supreme effort straightened among the pillows. He was old, very old. He made an indication. The girl stooped down; and, following her example, I knelt by her side.
"'Then there were words between the man and the maiden, words that I could not understand. Then silence—after which he reached out and touched my head. I looked up; and I read his story.
"'The man was dying. He was alone; the maiden was his child. I had come in time to be her protector. By his lips I knew that he was praying—that he was thanking One for the miracle that had brought me to the comet. I wondered whether I would be worthy of the daughter of such a patriarch.
"'Then I felt ashamed. Why had I jumped to such a thought? He was asking that I be her protector. She was too much of a child, too beautiful, too tender, for a man like myself. I would live for her, protect her, and, if possible, win her love. I was startled at the thought.
"'He took her hand and placed it in mine. Then he held his outspread hands above our heads, and spoke in benediction. When he was through he looked into my eyes. It was a supreme moment; and I understood. Henceforth I was not to be king of the Sansars, but the guardian of this girl.
"'When we stood up again the girl looked into my face; she held both hands upon my shoulders; her eyes were full of tears, tears of gratitude, hope, sorrow, happiness. In their depths I could read the story of loneliness, hope and maidenhood; I had come through miracle; but even so, I had been expected. Henceforth I must live for the dreams of this child. What a queen she would be!
"'I glanced about the room and at its furnishings. There was a strange array of instruments, pieces of machinery, pamphlets, what not. Upon one wall was a mass of diagrams, astronomical figures, and calculations. The old man pointed out a map and a roll of parchment. The girl brought it to him. When she had spread it, ho called me to the bed side.
"'It was a star map such as I had never seen, through which the head of an ellipse was drawn through a group of nine dots. The old man placed his finger upon the third dot from the center. Then he looked up. He pointed to the clock. It was a minute before I could comprehend. When I did I was astounded.
"'He was pointing out the Earth! The track upon the wall was but a clock-work that followed the course of the comet! This marvelous man had ridden the comet on its journey through infinity!
"'I nodded. Then I pointed to myself, and made a motion of soaring through the air. The girl spoke and he seemed to understand. He said something and made a sweep with his hand. The girl nodded.
"'The girl led me from the room; at the threshold she stopped and looked up at my face. her eyes full of wonder, trust, happiness. She took my hand and spoke words that seemed to bear the meaning:
"'"Come, And I shall show you."
"'She led me across the door yard, through the fernlike trees to a field by the edge of the little river. It was a meadow of perhaps a dozen acres, in which a number of purple birds, very much like ostriches were feeding. They were grouped about a vegetation in the center of the enclosure.
"'We tramped through the cloverlike grass, The air was balmy; the sky overhead crimson and wonderful past all beholding; the breath of myriad flowers filled the air. It was like a day in spring. She conducted me straight to the object in the center of the field. When we had reached it she began tearing away the creepers that covered the sides. She stood up and pointed at what lay underneath, as if to say:
"'"Behold. Here is our story.”
"'With a cry, I sprang forward. For it was an ether ship very much like my own; it had been wrecked, distorted, burnt; but still it was an ether ship. One side had been scorched by a terrible flame; the agacite walls lay bare, twisted, torn. Here was the story; the story of a great adventure come to an end that might have been my own.
"'What a force was this that had crumbled the agacite that I had supposed impervious to temperature and current!
"'The girl seemed to read my thoughts; she touched my arm and pointed to the blinding wreaths that were flashing from the revolving nucleus. Then I understood. The man and the maiden had come even as I had come: and they had been caught in the terrible current. Perhaps, at the time, the opening through the rim had not been as large as it was when I had entered. Their ship had been disabled and they had been forced to remain upon this little cometary world where I had found them.
"'At any rate, it accounted for the girl's lack of fear, when I had sailed into the nucleus. How long had they been upon the comet? Where had they come from?
"'The girl seemed to divine the first question. She touched herself upon the breast and held one hand close to the ground.
"'A baby! She had been here all her life. I computed the comet's speed, and performed a rapid calculation. It brought me far beyond Neptune, the most distant of our planets. The girl had come from a star!
"'We were standing at the foot of the mountain close by the source of the bubbling river. The fernlike trees ascended the slope for some distance above us; the mountain was a lone one, round like a small volcano. I remembered the pink sheet of water that I had seen upon the summit. I pointed toward the height. I could see a trail winding up among the crags and bowlders. The mountain was natural enough; but I could conceive of no sheet of water that had a natural tint of pink. Perhaps it had some relation to the revolving rim of the nucleus.
“ 'It was the first time that she showed fear. When I pointed, she reached up and clutched my hand; she drew it down and interposed her pretty body as if to shield me from even the thought of an ascent; her eyes went wide, startled, and there was a fear in them that I could not understand.
“ ‘It was useless to try to get at an explanation, so I caught hold of the creepers and drew myself to the top of the wrecked ether ship. Then I caught hold of the girl’s hands and drew her up beside me. The touch of her flesh sent a thrill through my body ; she was wonderful; beautiful; her bare arms and wild barbaric dress gave her a touch that I had never seen in a maiden. She landed on the top like a fairy, her eyes shining and her whole form vibrant. Skipping past my side, she parted the creepers that blocked the way to the door of the ether ship.
“ 'Inside I found just about what I expected—atomic engines wrecked and demolished, and the machinery torn away. What there was left gave evidence of a civilization about on a par with my own. In the dismantled interior I read a tragic story, a tragedy that had its beginning here and its end in the house up under the fern trees. What must have been their life upon the comet! It had been without hope until my coming. What must have been the thoughts of the father as he saw his end approaching — his daughter alone and unprotected?
“ 'She had known no world but this. She was like a fairy—a child of the heaven—the daughter of the stars!
“ 'What a story they had to tell! They had undoubtedly come from a planet far beyond the ken of our telescopes—from the vicinity of some star that we could study only through the spectrum!
“ 'I recalled the clock upon the wall of the old man’s chamber, the astronomical designs and calculations. He was a man of untold wisdom; he had charted the stars, not from a distance, but through actual travel. Would I get his story? Would I ever be able to exchange thoughts with this remarkable man? One thing—I must learn their language.
" 'We returned to the dwelling. On the way I began my lesson, picking up familiar objects, asking their name and giving their Sansar equivalent. The girl was delighted. The lesson was entered into with zeal on both sides. In a few moments I had words enough buzzing in my head to befog a linguist.
“ 'When we reached the house I went down to my own ether ship and returned with such articles as I thought would add to our comfort. After that I paid a visit to the father, whom I found asleep. And then I sat down to a repast spread for me by the daughter of the stars!
“ 'The lesson went on. One by one, I picked up the names of familiar objects, taking care to give their equivalent in Sanscrit. Suddenly I thought of the most interesting name of all. I pointed at my companion.
“ 'She did not understand; so I turned my finger upon myself.
" ' "Alvas,” I said.
“ ‘She smiled and repeated the word after me, only when she spoke it the word had a musical ring. She lingered over the name and repeated it over and over. Then I pointed at her again. She laughed this time and tapped her breast.
“ ' “Sora,” she said.
I pointed at the room where the father lay seeping.
" ' “Zin,” spoke the maiden.
“ ' Thus it was that I became acquainted with the star rovers, father and daughter.
CHAPTER EIGHT
" 'TIME had passed. Under the spell of Sora’s eyes I had lingered upon the wonderful nucleus, learning the language of Zar, and teaching the maiden the tongue of my own Sansar. I forgot all else but the light of her eyes and the witchery of her laughter; and a story that they had to tell—a story greater than even the universe itself.
“ 'I could not return to the Earth with both the sick father and the daughter, because of the limited capacity of the ether ship, therefore I had chosen to remain.
“ 'I knew now, by the light of the coma, that we had circled the sun and were on our way into the depths of Space. From the girl I learned that the nucleus was e cosmic mechanism, as automatic as a time clock and that it registered its approach to a star or sun by the wreaths of the revolving rim, which grew and dazzled as the comet approached the luminary and diminished upon its retrogression.
“ 'We had often noticed this from the Earth. We had noted that the brilliancy of the nucleus increases as it approaches the sun, but that it disappears as the comet retreats into the starry distance.
“ 'My interest as an astronomer over‘came my inclination as a King of Sansar. I was bound up in the mystery of the comet, and in the man and the maiden.
" 'From the girl I had been unable to learn anything definite concerning the planet Zar and the train of circumstance that had brought her father with a mere babe to the nucleus of the comet. I could only gather that he was an astronomer, even as myself. Our adventures, up to the discovery of the nucleus must have been very near parallel. Of the planet Zar I could learn very little that was definite, other than the fact that it was a member of a solar system different from our own.
“ 'That, of course, was a great deal. Tt proved that the comet was an interestellar body—and if I could gather more data I might establish my theory that it was merely an ion.
" 'The old man lingered. He had not spoken since the moment of my arrival. T had hopes that I could master the language in time to learn his story.
“ 'What did he know? And what were his theories? As an astronomer I was just as eager as I was as a lover. For by this time there was no doubt of my love for Sora.
“ ‘We spent much time at our lessons. Between times we made short trips about the nucleus. It was a wonderful little world, full of flowers, fern trees, myriad—colored birds, and queer harmless animals. The weather was always balmy. I discovered that the temperature of the comet was in no way dependent upon the sun, that the comet furnished its own heat as well as light. There was no night. And as the coma shone always, and as the tail of the comet was ever about us, there were no stars. We were imprisoned in the comet’s glory.
“ ‘But there were two things that the maiden would not let me visit—one was the summit of the lone mountain where I had seen the lake, the other was the rim of the nucleus.
“ ‘She gave me to understand, first, by signs, and afterward by words, that it was certain death to venture too close. I had seen enough of the rim upon my arrival to know that it was a terrible thing; but I was not so certain concerning the pink lake that I had seen upon the mountain. When I asked questions she grew white and pointed to the wrecked ether ship. She insisted that I stay away; and when she spoke in that manner and stamped her little foot it was law unto Alvas the Sansar. Though I was a king no longer, she was a queen.
“ 'The day came when the father awoke and called me to his bedside. Since my arrival he had lain in a sort of stupor. The girl told me that such had been his condition for a long time previous to my coming. She had grown accustomed to it.
“ 'I had known from the first that the man was dying. He was very old— so old that I doubted whether he was her father; there was something great about him, a giant both in intellect and stature, a man who could only die by inches. I had often stolen into the room to watch him. He was like a god, splendid and supreme even in his weakness.
"'At his request Sora withdrew from the room. I helped him among his pillows and straightened them out. I sat beside him. He reached over and touched me with his hand. He spoke in the language of Zar:
"' "My daughter has taught you the speech of Zar?"
"' "She has."
"' "Who are you?"
"' "I am Alvas the Sansar."
"' "What is Sansar?"
"' "It is the name of a country—a kingdom."
"' "And you are one of its people?"
"' "I am its king."
"'He nodded.
"' "I see. You have a civilization, perhaps equal to that of Zar. We had kings. But our men were equal. Our great men were great by their merits. We had our Wise Men."
"' "We in Sansar also have our Wise Men. The king is supposed to be the wisest of them all. He could not be a king, else.'
"' "That is good," he spoke. "I like that kind of a king. You look worthy. You are a man, clean, strong, noble. I have prayed to the One above us, to the One who rules us all, and asked for your coming. I asked it for Sora, the little one—I could not leave her alone."
"'When he spoke of the maiden his voice went tender, and seemed to be strung to fine music. Before, it had been that of a patriarch, or rather, that of a stricken Zeus. He was a wonderful figure, his beard and hair snow white, his forehead massive, his eyes steel cold, and his mouth the firmest I had ever seen. Both in torso and in spirit, he would have ranked as a giant among my kind of men. He was sublime even in his helplessness.
"' "Sora," he went on. "You know her name. Did she tell you the meaning of Sora?"
"' "No. It is a name. To me it is a beautiful one."
"'He gave me a quick look, as if he understood what was behind my words: it seemed to please him.
"' "It means sunlight,”=" he answered, "And sunlight is a thing she has never seen—except as a baby. But she is sunlight to me and to the little world she lives in. Even the birds love her. She is love itself."
"' "I know that," I answered.
"' "He reached out and placed his hand upon my head.
"' "My son," he asked, "Tell me. Do you love her?"
"' "I am sure of it."
"' "That is well," he answered. "And you are worthy. You will protect her and care for her. You are chosen by One higher than myself. Tell me now, how you came here."
"' "I am an astronomer,” 1 answered. "I am an astronomer who lived upon the Earth, a scientific king of the Sansars. I was interested in comets. Upon the Earth we know practically nothing about comets, we know nothing about their laws, nor of their relation to Infinity, We only know that they are not planetary, and that they are seemingly interstellar. We know nothing of the why of a comet."
"' "Have you no theory?"
"' "Yes. I have a theory. A strange one. One that I would prove."
"' "I see. Go on. What is your theory?"
"' "I have contended that our planet Earth with its central sun—or I should say, the sun and all its planets—is but an atom. I would take the atomic theory and apply it to the stars."
"' "His eyes brightened: he straightened perceptibly: and he looked at me in a sort of pride.
"' "Yes," he said. "Go on."
"' "That was and is my contention. Our solar system is nothing but an atom. I am an astronomer. On the Earth, I held that we would never solve Infinity through our telescopes. Better, I said, that we study our own atom. Afterward, we might be able to find our way out. I held that a comet is but an ion of cohesion or adhesion, as the case may be, with a function exactly analogous to the ions that hold together the atoms of this pencil. I would solve the comet and get at its secret. I came in an ether ship. When I reached the nucleus I found the gap in the rim. I sailed through and discovered this marvelous cometary world. I found Sora and yourself; and I determined to stay."
"'He thought a moment.
"' "Then you contend that the visible Universe is, after all, nothing but matter—substance?"
"' "Yes."
"'He shut his eyes and lay back for a minute—thinking. Suddenly he opened them.
"' "What is this substance?"
"' "I do not know."
"' "Yet you say that the comet is an ion?"
"' "Yes."
"' "And you cannot see your way out?"
"' "I am afraid that I do not understand."
"'He held out his hand.
"' "Here," he said, "feel my hand. What is the matter with it?"
"'I took it in my own. I did not understand. His hand was cold, ice cold. I looked up in question.
"' "What is the matter with my hand?" He repeated.
"' "I do not know." I answered. "Your hand is cold. I do not understand."
"' "Yet you would solve the Universe," he answered. "You would go into Infinity before you have solved yourself. You have placed your finger on the secret of all matter, and you have not guessed it. You say that my hand is cold. Do you know the reason? You can see that I am old, dying. Why?"
"'I did not answer.
"' "Simply," he went on, "because of this—the ions are going, passing out. I am old, worn; the cohesive forces of my body are slipping away; and as they pass away the atoms fall apart, one by one. I have been a strong man. Now I am an old one. I am old because the ions that hold the atoms have been expelled in the struggle of life. When the ions go the atoms have nothing to hold them together: they pass out to form new combinations—perhaps new life. Next to the atoms the molecules break down, the flesh cells shrivel and we lose strength—hence, old age—weakness—death. We die by ions. When the spirit goes, all goes; the center fountain of the ion has dried up. We call that Death. The Spirit goes on."
"' "But matter is indestructible."
"' "To be sure it is. But not identity. Matter may pass back into the ether and still be matter. It can hold its identity only through its cohesion. The ions of cohesion and adhesion are the forces that control: they are at the bottom of all life and substance, of all that man calls matter. Be it iron or flesh, matter can hold its identity only through its cohesion; and there is nothing so small or so great but what has its identity. The Universe has it. Infinity itself must have identity, at least intrinsically. Everything must have its ions. You have guessed right. A comet is an ion."
"' "All this sounds good," I answered. "It is my theory. Every man likes to have his own theory justified. But for all that, unless we can prove it, our argument remains, after all, nothing but subtle sophistry. Talk is talk, no matter how lofty. Is there any way of proving that a comet is an ion? Take, for instance, this comet."
"' "There is."
"'He straightened up, and his eyes seemed to glow with sudden fire.
"' "It can be proved," he spoke. "Not only can it be proved, but you may, if you wish, see the other side of the Universe!"
"'I started.
"' "This is the first time," he went on, "that an ion has been held by a conscious controlling intelligence. The comet is an ion; your solar system is an atom; the stars are all atoms, all moving according to atomic laws, vibrating, revolving, crossing, holding together, each in its place, apparently unending."
"' "How would I see the other side of the Universe?"
"'He thought a moment; then he spoke:
"' "Perhaps I ought not to tell you. 'You are the protector of Sora. And that must be the first duty of your life. It was mine. But, for all that, you have a right to my secret. As a young man I set out to solve the riddle of the stars. I have not done it. But God has sent you to take up and follow my work. I prayed for it. Perhaps he will grant you what he has denied to me.
"' "Had it not been for Sora I would have driven the comet through the Universe long ago. But my child came first. Love is greater than all. I have the love of a father. Had I been alone I would have gone to the other side—perhaps perished. But at least, I would have seen."
"' "How is it possible," I asked, "to drive this comet out of the Universe?"
"' "It is easily possible. Have you seen the rim of the nucleus?"
"' "Only as I came through. Sora has kept me away from it, since. She swears it is death."
"' "It is. Do not approach it; its force is inconceivably greater than anything you have upon your Earth. Have you seen the lake?"
"' "From the ether ship, only."
"' "The lake feeds the rim automatically," he answered, "and in a manner prescribed by natural law. It feeds it just so fast or just so slowly. It regulates the speed of the comet. When it approaches a solar system, or atom, it feeds faster, answering the natural law, and imparts its peculiar quality of cohesion. The faster it feeds, the greater the speed of the comet.
"' "I would let the whole lake into the rim of the nucleus at one time. The comet would still be an ion, but it would be an ion gone wild, what you call energy—heat. It would pass through the substance to the surface and into the super ether.
"' "This is exactly what is taking place at all times in matter. For instance: if I take this stick and place it in a fire, the cohesion immediately comes to the surface, the atoms fall apart and become whirring forces; afterwards, the ions settle, and the atoms rearrange to form new matter. This is what we call heat, energy, and is the source of all mechanics, and all force. But it is nothing, after all, but the release of uncounted myriads of ions."
"'I was thinking of my own Earth. So I asked:
"' "If this were done with this one particular ion, would it hurt my own solar atom?"
"' "Not at all. Or at least, only infinitesimally. There are myriads of ions for each atom. Perhaps the ion would return. But it would surely pass to the surface."
"'I thought for a moment. All my life I had been dreaming of a way to get through the stars. What lay beyond them? What were they for? But I had never dreamed of such a moment as this: I could only ask:
"' "How would I turn the lake into the rim?"
"' "I have arranged for that,” he answered. "You have seen the path winding up the side of the mountain. It leads toward the outlet, where the liquid force flows into the rim. Do not go too close. You will find a switch where the path stops. By simply pressing a lever you will loosen an atomic current that will blow out the channel. The lake will drop down and rush into the rim. That will be all. The comet will no longer be cohesive. It will be a mad ion, a bit of heat, energy. It will pass to the surface of the substance, to the outside of the Universe.
"' "But the heat?" I asked, "such a speed is unknown. The nucleus would burn."
"' "Not at all. You cannot destroy an ion. You merely loosen it. The nucleus will be protected by its own coma. You will not notice its speed."
"' "But," I interposed, "nothing can travel so swiftly, not even electricity."
"' "The force of the ion is swift. It is as swift as thought. It is not the first time that an ion has been thrown out. It will only be obeying a natural law. It must pass out until it can recover its balance: perhaps it will return."
"' "One more question. Granting that we go out, how would we be conscious in such an immensity?"
"' "That is a fair question. And I have thought it out. To do that I have had to get at the center force of the ion, the spirit, life, or what you will. You understand the ovum, the first form of life—the germ in the egg sac?"
"' "Yes, to a certain point; it is the meaning of all life, the nucleus that splits and becomes two, four, eight, protoplasmic cells, called blastomeres, and each one containing a nucleus like the original. They multiply by division; they are the secret of all life—and the mystery."
"' "Not at all. The whole process is simple, once you understand it. You are puzzled only so long as you regard the nucleus of the ovum as mere matter, as atoms—substance. It is not that; it is both below and above it. The nucleus is a sac of ions, cohesive and adhesive, male and female, gathered from the life of the parents. Cohesion is life. It is the function of these ions to gather the atoms out of the blood and food and to build up the body. Each ion, while it remains, is a lord and an architect; it gathers its own particular atoms. Thus you have hair, nails, muscles, bone, what not. It comes from the life of the parent, from the Soul, which is a sort of amoeba. Science teaches that the amoeba subdivides always; and goes on unending. Religion tells you that the Soul is immortal. Both are true. Only they are one and the same thing. The Soul is an amoeba, subdividing always, passing on, eternal. I have spent my years upon the comet, experimenting with life. I have been able to isolate its functions and to hold them. I have gathered enough to build up two bodies."
"'He pointed to a shelf.
"' "Pass me down the package of foil yonder.
"' "There now," he held it up, "if ever you wish to make the experiment with the comet, all you have to do is to take what you find in these vials. Take one. And then wait. You will see the outside of the Universe. What happens to you and the comet will be in inverse ratio. You will grow and the comet will diminish. You shall know!"
"'That was all that he told me.
"'He was very weak and lay back, suddenly, upon the pillows, overcome with exertion. He lay still. With a great deal of awe and reverence, I withdrew.
"'Outside I ran into Sora. She was standing by the door. She had been listening. Though it was an honest bit of eavesdrooping, I did not know what it would come to. She touched her finger to her lips as if cautioning silence. Then she entered the room.
"'The old astronomer never spoke more. Perhaps the exertion hastened his end. In three days he died. We buried him beside his wrecked ether ship. Over his grave we planted a cross with the words:
ZIN OF ZAR
Astronomer and Star Rover
CHAPTER NINE
"'THE Great Zin had told me enough of his story to furnish me with thought for a lifetime. Henceforth the comet had new meaning. My theory had been confirmed.
"'I watched the path that led up the mountain; at its end lay the secret of all things. I longed to go up and throw the lever that would destroy the comet's cohesion. It would then be an ion gone mad!
"'What would happen? What would be the end!
"'And there was another who also thought.
"' "Are all men astronomers?" she asked. "Do all men just dream of the stars; and spend all of their time trying to find out what they are; and how to go through them?"
"' "Why do you ask?"
"' "Because, my father was an astronomer. He was the only man I knew before you came. Now you are here, and you, too, think all the time of the stars. Oh, what are they like!"
"' "What?"
"' "The Stars? They must be wonderful! How I would like to see them! I would like to be on Zar, or on the Earth. Just think! Zar is a hundred thousand miles around, and you say that your Earth is thousands of miles across. And I've got to stay on this old comet. I just hate it. All it's got is that terrible rim, and that horrid old coma. What are the stars like?"
"'I tried to tell her. While I described the heavens, she sat still, dreaming; her eyes were full of wonder, and I could see that her imagination was wandering into fairyland.
"'I left her and entered the house. I wished to look at the cometary clock. I had been keeping an exact tab on its movement. Next to Sora's eyes, it was the most fascinating thing upon the nucleus. I liked to watch it as it registered the comet's course out into Infinity. Sora was outside. After a bit, I picked up a parchment written in the script of Zar and tried to decipher it.
"'And then—
"'It came suddenly. A quiver, a moan and a rumble. The building rocked! I was thrown from my feet and lurched headlong into the side wall! A roar of terrific and almost continuous explosions!
"'Then silence. A silence like death!
"'It was the lake. The heart of the nucleus had broken into the rim! It could be nothing else. I thought of Sora, and I rushed outside.
"'She was leaping down the mountain side, her golden hair streaming, her little beautiful form like that of a fleeting nymph. The mountain rocked, and huge crags came toppling down about her. She dodged them, and ran in and out and leaped over bowlders, down, down, down!
"'I rushed to meet her. When she reached the level I caught her in my arms.
"' "Sora! Sora! What have you done!"
"'She threw her arms about my neck; with the other hand she pointed at the crest of the mountain.
"' "Oh, Alvas," she spoke, "I have done what my father said. He lived all his life without doing what he dreamed of doing. All because of me. And you are an astronomer like Zin, my father. Love is sacrifice. I love you. You wish to solve the stars! I want to see them! I hate this old comet! Let us go into the house and do as father said. Let us take the vials!"
"'It was a lurid moment.
"'The nucleus had become a solid wall of crimson. The coma above us was as thick as blood. We were in the center of a thing that had never been in the memory of man. The comet was running mad. We were riding a thing as swift as thought, There was no time to lose.
"'Together, we rushed into the house. We seized the vials and brought them to the open light. I have a dim recollection of the great clock and of the indicator rushing over the wall as if it had suddenly gone wild. I remember Sora holding up the vial and my doing the same. We were clasped in each other's arms.
"'And then—
"'I have no idea of the lapse of time, nor what happened after that. The first I knew was Sora in my arms, her frightened face looking up into mine, and her finger held aloft. She was pointing at the sky—or at least, where a sky should be.
"'We were under an immense roof of semi-transparent material, a roof that was curved like a bow, and which projected from immense cliffs of pinkish material that rose to meet it. The ground under our feet was the same substance as the cliffs. As I looked, the roof seemed to drop, to sway, and to come down to meet us. I turned about.
"'In front of us was a vast open space like a gulf. The pink floor at our feet ran out to the rim of this abyss. When I looked again at the roof it was almost upon our heads. Either it was coming down or we were growing up to meet it.
"'Sora screamed. I acted upon impulse. With the maiden in my arms, I ran to the rim of the abyss. The ground under my feet was pink and furrowed, and yet as smooth as glass. It was the strangest substance I had ever encountered. At the very rim I stopped and looked back. The roof sank down, lower, lower, until it lay under our feet and, in stead of being a roof, became a floor that ran out like a vast plateau.
"I looked down into the gulf where we had stopped. I shuddered; it was like gazing down into chaos! Rover that I was, and adventurer, it gave me a chill that I shall never forget. I felt Sora's arm tighten about my neck. We were growing.
"'There was nothing to do but seek the plateau of flat substance. I was afraid of the rim. I planted my feet upon the smooth surface and ran for the center.
"'But even that did not save us. Everything appeared to be diminishing. The strange semi-transparent material that had appeared to be a roof when we were under it, and a plateau when we were beside it, began, as soon as we were upon it, to grow smaller and smaller. At least, that was the feeling.
"'But I knew that it was not so. We were growing at an incredible rate. In a moment the plateau had shrunken to a spot upon which I could scarcely balance. On all sides, about us, were vast unguessable depths. To save ourselves from falling I had to slip down and hold myself astraddle of the support that held us. I placed Sora in front of me, and held her against my breast. I tried to see and to discover what was going on about us. Again Sora screamed. She pointed up, and called:
"' "Oh, Alvas, look; What can it be?"
"'We were gazing up into two of the most beautiful things I had ever seen—two shining circles of wonderful glowing color. And then I looked again. I felt Sora's fingers close upon my arm. I heard her gasp. The wonderful lights were eyes! The eyes of a human being! I could see the face.
"'Then I heard a wonderful sound. The air was pierced by thunder—super-laughter! Next minute we were being borne across the depths. I was hard put
to hold our balance. But I had time to get our surroundings.
"'We were on a thumb! 1t was bearing us across the room. The shrill thunder was laughter. We were astride the thumb nail! We had come out just underneath the nail! That was what I had taken for the great semi-transparent roof.
"'The gulf grew smaller, and I beheld vast flat surface below us. The thumb had lifted us upon a table. We were in an immense room, full of men, vast forms, unlike any I had ever seen. They were moving about and all talking at once. The noise was terrible.
"'Still we were growing!
"'At last we were large enough to step off the thumb to the table. I took Sora’s hand in mine and stood up.
"'In a few minutes we were large enough to understand our surroundings. The men were grouped about us—great wonderful beings, bearded and splendid! They were gazing down upon us, with eyes filled with wonder. I saw that we were as miraculous to them as they were to us. I held Sora’s arm and made a sweep with my hand, trying to convey the suggestion that I wanted them to sit down.
"'They seemed to understand. That was better. In their chairs they were not so terrible.
"'Oh, Alvas! What sort of a room is this? What is that thing hanging, yonder, from the ceiling?"
"'I looked and saw we were in an observatory. The men were astronomers! The thing that hung from the ceiling was a telescope. They were studying stars.
CHAPTER NINE
"'THESE supermen had set out to solve the riddle of the stars. I pointed to the telescope. If I could only let them know what I knew, and make them understand how we had come. I tried to convey my meaning of an earth. They held their heads close to the table. Again I pointed to the telescope. I would see the stars! Finally I made them understand. One of them placed his hand, palm up, upon, the table. It was an immense hand. When we did not move he touched us with his finger. The next instant Sora and I were being borne to the telescope.
"'It was an immense affair. The eye-piece alone was twenty-six inches across, so that it was much like looking through the immense lense of one of our own telescopes.
"'I could see stars, and constellations, and moons. The structure of this major plane was much like our own solar system. There was a similarity that was striking.
"'The men were watching us, their great eyes glowing like huge fires of intelligence. Their curiosity had been excited by our interest in their telescope. They spoke and rumbled together; and gesticulated with their hands. At last they seemed to come to an agreement. The hand that held us conveyed us, as tenderly as possible, back to the table.
"'Then one of them stretched a white substance, much like parchment, out at my feet. He placed a long cane in my hand. The cane was a pencil. The great eyes were watching, wondering if I could understand. Then I realized what was wanted. I could not speak nor explain
with my eyes. But I could draw. And that is what I did.
"'First I drew the outline of a large thumb. Then I drew a circle for the Earth inside of it, and stars and a moon and a sun. After that I drew a picture of a crude telescope and a man. Then I pointed at myself.
"'They seemed to understand. There was a great deal of rumbling and wonder. I pointed to their telescope and held my finger toward the stars overhead.
"'Just then Sora clutched my arm.
"' "Alvas!" she exclaimed, "Alvas! I feel. I am—"
"'She did not finished. Something seemed to smother her; her voice grew weak. I felt her sinking on my arm. I turned and caught her. At the same instant everything about me appeared to shoot upward. For a minute I had a feeling of weakness. And then I understood. We were growing smaller. We were going back to the thumb.
"'Just then something happened. We were picked up and carried through the air. Then we were landed upon the transparent substance that had puzzled us at first. I knew now where we were and what we must do. Sora had recovered; she had my hand in hers, and she seemed to understand. Our going back was. much like flight. We raced, hand in hand, across the surface until we came to the edge. Then we leaped over the rim. Something seemed to be drawing us on.
"'We were just in time. The semi-transparent nail had grown into a roof. I paused to take one last look at the wonderful world. I looked up outside of the roof, and I saw a vast round circle around a monster eye. They were watching us in our flight! I caught Sora’s hand and we raced under the roof into oblivion.
"'THE rest is soon told.
"'The next we knew was the comet. We were standing outside the house whence we had departed. We had apparently been gone but a few minutes.
"'But it was not the same comet that we had known. The terrible rim was almost burnt out; and of the vast coma there was only a glow remaining. It was a vastly different place from the wonderful little world we had known.
"'However, everything else was just as we had left it. We went into the house. The comet clock was still running; the indicator was back on the track, Sora caught my arm.
"' "Look, Alvas!" she exclaimed.
"'And then I looked and saw, and understood. We were approaching my own Earth. The indicator was just at the dot that Sora had marked upon my arrival.
"'That is about all.
"'We rushed out to the ether ship, stored up what data we could gather and discarded all inside of the ship that we could dispense with. Then we set sail from the comet.
"'We had an uneventful trip. We have just landed. We saw this light and we came to it. This is our Earth. I have told you our story.'"
"He stopped," said Professor Mason, "and waited for me to speak. I watched them—the man and the maiden. They were beautiful beyond anything I had ever seen. The girl stood by her lover waiting for me to speak. At last I asked:
"'Then our solar system is but an atom?'
"'Yes. Just as the atoms below us act according to their relative planetary and solar laws, which we call atomic, so does our system, in the great scheme of things, act to the world above us. Everything is relative.'
"'But millions of years! You were in the upper plane only a few minutes!'
"'That is easily explained. The atoms below us are revolving at an incredible speed. Each revolution about the atomic nucleus represents a year. A minute in our plane is equal to millions within the atom. And so it is in the upper plane. It is a question of relativity. I was outside our Universe a few minutes. To the inside that represents millions of years. But I can understand your wonder, because I was misled myself. I thought I had been gone but a few weeks. I had not calculated the time in the outer plane. I did not understand until you showed me this place, which you call—California.'
"Just then the girl spoke up:
"'Alvas, I would like a drink. I feel thirsty. I—I feel like—'
"I noticed that she had turned very white; almost deathlike. The young man turned. He was frightened.
"'Hurry!' he spoke. 'Get her some water!'
"His manner was strange. I noticed that he, too, was pale. I rushed out of the room.
"While I was gone he called several times. I noticed that each time his voice was weaker. I was in a flutter of excitement; mainly because I could not understand. Something, I knew, was wrong. I could sense it. But I knew not what.
"I rushed back with the water in my hand. And then I stopped. Stopped and stood still, the glass in my hand, looking for my strange companions. They were gone!
"Gone? No! There they were upon the floor, incredibly diminutive! They were not more than six inches high. The man was holding the maiden in his arms. He was waving and gesticulating; and he was pointing at my thumb!
"I stooped down, and at his sign held my thumb upon the floor. I remember speaking and wondering why I spoke.
"'Here,' I said. 'Hop on my thumb.'
"Which he did.
"He was not much taller now than a fly. I watched him run over the nail and drop over the edge. The maiden was still in his arms. Then he disappeared.
"I caught up a microscope. Through the lense everything was larger; and I got one last glimpse. He was standing just under the edge of my thumb nail, looking up. He waved his hand. Then he turned and fled under the thumb nail with the maiden!"
Such was Professor Mason's story.
"Well?" I asked.
Professor Mason did not answer. He lapsed into deep thought. The same abstraction that I had noted during the previous nights returned to his features.
"Well?" I asked again.
He looked up.
"That is my story. I would like my microscope."
His voice had its old plaintiveness. It was the same tone that I had heard earlier in the evening. I passed him back his microscope. Professor Mason is a good old soul.
When I left him he was peering through the lens at his thumb.
THE END.
- ↑ The first half of this story was published in the September issue of WEIRD TALES. A copy will be mailed by the publishers for 25 cents.