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could, as a matter of routine, take samples of Locicault's blood and skin,
though he knew that would do little good.
~ Court opened the door of Locicault's room and stopped abruptly, catching his
breath. The blood drained from his
- cheeks. He. reached out almost blindly.
"Sammy!" he whispered. "Oh, my Cod, you fool!"
The old man stood motionless beside the bed. In the dimness his face could not
be seen. His scant white hair was pale as silver.
"Hello, Stevie," he said gently. "Don't go off the handle, now. After all, I'm
not so young any more, arid you needed a -case of this plague to experiment
on. If it's as contagious as you say, I guess I sure enough got it by now."
"Sammy," Court whispered through dry lips. "Why-"
He could not go on.
"Why?" The old man shrugged. "I dunno. I told you about that plague down
South, with women and kids dying like ffies. I know what it's like. If I can
help you save women and kids, Stevie, I figure I've done a pretty good job. So
it's up to you now, boy. It's up to you."
I
CHAPTER VIII
The ~fystery of Dro-Ghir
Ardath was worried. As he sat immersed in thought, within the laboratory of
the golden ship, he felt that he was little nearer to his goal. The barbaric
hordes that overran the Earth in this new era promised little. Only in the far
Eastern lands did the flame of civilization burn.
But would Ardath find a super-mentality there? Would there be one he could
take with him to a future age, to find a suitable mate? Or must he go on once
more?
There was another matter, too~ Neither Jansaiya nor Thor-died had proved as
intelligent as he had expected. At times Thordred was almost obtuse, despite
his eagerness to learn new things. A flash of suspicion crossed Ardath's mind.
Perhaps Thordred was pretending stupidity-
But why should he? Ardath, unused to guile and deceit, found the question
difficult. He had saved Thordred's life, but humans were completely alien to
Ardath. He had come from Kyria, a planet far across the Universe. He did not
realize tkat humans sometimes mistrust and hate those greater than them..
selves, fearing power which, though benevolent, can also be used for evil.
Besides, he knew that Thordred was ambitious, for the giant Earthman had
conspired to win Zana's throne. -
Ardath rose from his seat and pressed a lever. The veil of flickering light
that barred the doorway died. He stepped across the threshold, and once more
the barrier flamed with shimmering deadliness. He stood watching Thordred and
Jansaiya as they sat near a vision screen, intent on the scene pictured there.
Thordred turned his Vulture face, sensing Ardath's presence. "There is nothing
new, Master." -
Ardath smiled somewhat sadly and shook his head.
"How often must I tell you not to call me master? Because I have more
knowledge than you, Thordred, does not mean that you are my slave. This
eternal desire of Earthmen for enslavement . .
He shrugged bewilderedly and his thoughts went back to his home planet,-
Kyria, long since shattered into cosmic dust. Often he had dreamed of that
world, which he had only seen on vision screens. Always he had awakened to
this barbarous planet where men hated and fought and died for silly caures.
Truly the road of the ages was long.
Yet he knew there would be an end. Even here, in this Eastern land, the Kyrian
had found a clue.
"Thordred'," he said slowly, "and you, too, Jansaiya-I must leave you for
awhile."
Intent on his thoughts, Ardath did not notice the quick glow that brightened
the others' eyes. -
"There is a man here I must know, and a mystery I must solve," he continued.
"Barbarous hordes have overrun this country, huge hairy giants from the North.
They are little more than beasts, but at their head is a chieftain called
DroGhir. He puzzles me. His acts are wise. His brain seems highly developed,
yet he is filled with the violent emotions of a savage. This is a paradox."
Jansaiya's lovely eyes were narrowed.
"You must leave us, you said?" -
Ardath nodded. "Remain in the ship till I return. There Is plenty of food, and
no danger can touch you. I have only one warning- Do not attempt to enter the
laboratory." He smiled as a thought came to him. "Though you know nothing of
the 4~paratus there, yet you might harm yourselves." -
"We will obey," Thordred grunted, his harsh face immobile.
Quickly Ardath made his - preparations. As he opened the port, he turned. His
gaze dwelt on Thordred, and there was a curiously mocking light in it.
"Farewell, for a time. I shall rejoin you soon."
He stepped out and was gone.
The girl made a quick movement, but Thordred lifted his huge hand in warning.
"Wait!" he whispered.
They waited, while the minutes dragged past. At last Thordred arose and went
to the laboratory door. He fumbled over the wall, and abruptly the flickering
veil of light died. The giant's face twisted in a contemptuous grin.
"Ardath is a fool," he rumbled. "Else he would never h~ve left his laboratory
unguarded, even though he does not realize that I know the secret of his
brain."
"But do you?" Jansaiya asked. She stood behind the giant, peering over his
shoulder into the laboratory. "You know nothing of his thoughts since you drew
the knowledge from his mind, and that was ages ago."
"I know enough!" Thordred retorted, eyeing the apparatus wolfishly. "Enough to
handle his weapons, once I get my hands on them. We shall follow Ardath now
and slay him. Then this new world will be ready f or conquests."
"I am afraid," the girl complained. "Do not try to kill Ardath. Sometimes I
see that in his eyes which makes me tremble. He is not Earth-born. Let us
flee, instead, to where he can never find us."
"While he lives, we are not safe," Thordred growled. "Come!"
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