The God in the Box, Page 2

the televisiondisk and the altimeter, with a glance every few seconds at the surfacetemperature gauge. In unknown atmospheres, it is not difficult to runup a considerable surface temperature, and that is always uncomfortableand sometimes dangerous.

  "The largest city seems to be nearer the other continent. You should beable to take over visually before long. Has the report on theatmosphere come through yet?"

  "Not yet. Just a moment, sir." Correy spoke for a moment into hismicrophone and turned to me with a smile.

  "Suitable for breathing," he reported. "Slight excess of oxygen, andonly a trace of moisture. Hendricks just completed the analysis."Hendricks, my third officer, was as clever as a laboratory man in manyways, and a red-blooded young officer as well. That's a combination youdon't come across very often.

  "Good! Breathing masks are a nuisance. I believe I'd reduce speedsomewhat; she's warming up. The big city I mentioned is dead ahead. Setthe _Ertak_ down as close as possible."

  "Yes, sir!" snapped Correy, and I leaned over the television disk toexamine, at very close range, the great Strobian metropolis we were soswiftly approaching.

  * * * * *

  The buildings were all tall, and constructed of a shining substancethat I could not identify, even though I could now make out the detailsof their architecture, which was exceedingly simple, and devoid ofornament of any kind, save an occasional pilaster or flying buttress.The streets were broad, and laid out to cut the city into lozenge-shapedsections, instead of the conventional squares. In the center of thecity stood a great lozenge-shaped building with a smooth, arched roof.From every section of the city, great swarms of people were flocking inthe direction of the spot toward which the _Ertak_ was settling, onfoot and in long, slim vehicles of some kind that apparently carriedseveral people.

  "Lots of excitement down there, Mr. Correy," I commented. "Better tellMr. Kincaide to order up all hands, and station a double guard at theport. Have a landing force, armed with atomic pistols and bombs, andequipped with menores, as an escort."

  "And the disintegrator-ray generators--you'll have them in operation,sir, just in case?"

  "That might be well. But they are not to be used except in the greatestemergency, understand. Hendricks will accompany me, if it seemsexpeditious to leave the ship, leaving you in command here."

  "Very well, sir!" I knew the arrangement didn't suit him, but he wastoo much the perfect officer to protest, even with a glance. Andbesides, at the moment, he was very busy with orders to the men in thecontrol room, forward, as he conned the ship to the place he hadselected to set her down.

  But busy as he was, he did not forget the order to tune up thedisintegrator-ray generators.

  * * * * *

  While the great circular door of the _Ertak_ was backing out ponderouslyfrom its threaded seat, suspended by its massive gimbals, I inspectedthe people of this new world.

  My first impression was that they were a soldiery people, for therewere no jostling crowds swarming around the ship, such as might havebeen expected. Instead, the citizenry stood at ease in a sort ofmilitary formation of numerous small companies, each apparently incharge of an officer. These companies were arranged to form a long wideavenue, leading to the city, and down this avenue a strange processionwas coming toward the ship.

  I should make it clear at this point that these Strobians were, inform, very similar to Earth-men, although somewhat shorter in stature,and certainly more delicately formed. Perhaps it would be better to saythey resembled the Zenians, save for this marked difference: theStrobians were exceedingly light in color, their skins being nearlytranslucent, and their hair a light straw color. The darkest hair I sawat any time was a pale gold, and many had hair as colorless assilver--which I should explain is a metal of Earth somewhat resemblingaluminum in appearance.

  The procession was coming toward the ship slowly, the marchersapparently chanting as they came, for I could see their lips moving.They were dressed in short kirtles of brilliant colors--scarlet, green,orange, purple--and wore brilliant belts suspended about their waistsby straps which crossed over their breasts and passed over eachshoulder.

  Each marcher bore a tall staff from which flew a tiny pennon of thesame color as his chief garment. At the top of each staff was a metalornament, which at first glance I took to be the representation of afish. As they came closer, I saw that this was not a good guess, forthe device was without a tail.

  * * * * *

  "The exit port is open, sir," reported Hendricks. "The people seem farfrom hostile, and the air is very good. What are your orders?"

  "There will be no change, I think," I said as I hurried toward the nowopen door. "Mr. Kincaide will be in command of the guard at the port.You and I, with a small landing force, will advance to meet thisprocession. Make sure that there are a number of extra menores carriedby the escort; we shall need them."

  "Yes, sir!" Hendricks snapped a command and the landing force fell intoplace behind us as we passed through the circular doorway, and out ontothe rocky ground of Strobus.

  The procession stopped instantly, and the chanting died to a murmur.The men forming the living wall on each side bowed their heads and madea quick sign; a peculiar gesture, as though they reached out to shakean invisible hand.

  The leader of the procession, a fine-featured man with golden hair,walked forward with bowed head, chanting a single phrase over and overagain in a voice as sweet as a woman's: "_Toma annerson ... tomaannerson ... toma annerson...._"

  "Sounds friendly enough," I whispered to Hendricks. "Hand me an extramenore; I'll see...."

  The chanting stopped, and the Strobian lifted his head.

  "Greetings!" he said. "You are welcome here."

  * * * * *

  I think nothing ever surprised me more, I stared at the man like afool, my jaw dropping, and my eyes bulging. For the man spoke in alanguage of Earth; spoke it haltingly and poorly, but recognizably.

  "You--you speak English?" I faltered. "Where--where did you learn tospeak this language?"

  The Strobian smiled, his face shining as though he saw a vision.

  "Toma annerson," he intoned gravely, and extended his right hand in agreeting which Earth-men have offered each other for untold centuries!

  I shook hands with him gravely, wondering if I were dreaming.

  "I thank you for your welcome," I said, gathering my wits at last. "Wecome as friends, from worlds not unlike your own. We are glad that youmeet us as friends."

  "It was so ordered. _He_ ordered it so and Artur is His mouthpiece inthis day." The Strobian weighed every word carefully before he utteredit speaking with a solemn gravity that was most impressive.

  "Artur?" I questioned him. "That is your name?"

  "That is my name," he said proudly. "It came from He Who Speaks whogave it to my father many times removed."

  There were many questions in my mind, but I could not be outdone incourtesy by this kindly Strobian.

  "I am John Hanson," I told him, "Commander of the Special PatrolService ship _Ertak_. This is Avery Hendricks, my third officer."

  "Much of that," said Artur slowly, "I do not understand. But I amgreatly honored." He bowed again, first to me, and then to Hendricks,who was staring at me in utter amazement. "You will come with us now,to the Place?" Artur added.

  I considered swiftly, and turned to Hendricks.

  "This is too interesting to miss," I said in an undertone. "Send theescort back with word for Mr. Correy that these people are veryfriendly, and we are going on into the city. Let three men remain withus. We will keep in communication with the ship by menore."

  * * * * *

  Hendricks gave the necessary orders, and all our escort, save for threemen, did a brisk about face and marched back to the ship. The five ofus, conducted by Artur, started for the city, the rest of theprocess
ion falling in behind us. Behind the double file of theprocession, the companies that had formed the living wall marchedtwenty abreast. Not all the companies, however, for perhaps a thousandmen, in all, formed a great hollow square about the _Ertak_, a greatmotionless guard of honor, clad in kirtles like the pennon-bearers inthe procession, save that their kirtles were longer, and pale green incolor. The uniform of their officers was identical, save that it wassomewhat darker in color, and set of with a narrow black belt, withoutshoulder straps.

  We marched on and on, into the city, down the wide streets, walled withsoaring buildings that shone with an iridescent lustre, toward thegreat domed building I had seen from the _Ertak_.

  The streets were utterly deserted, and when we came close to thebuilding I saw