CHAPTER XX
The Last Treachery
"Kang!" The name burst from Lark O'Day's lips.
"Quickly!" crisped the Martian scientist. "Pick up their guns! Daughter—" As Lark and Gary and Nora scrambled to the task of collecting the astonished Magogeans' fallen weapons, Kang directed his attention to Penny—"you will find my former slave apparel in that cupboard. Tear it to strips and bind our enemy."
"Bind him?" demanded Lark. "Why waste good rags on a scoundrel like that? I know a better way to take care of—"
"No!" commanded Dr. Kang. "We will need him to transmit our peace terms to the Magogeans when our allies have flooded the city."
"And these others?"
Kang said, "The storage closet over there. Throw them into it and lock the door. There is no reason to occasion useless bloodshed. These soldiers have committed no crime but that of obeying orders."
"Okay," said Lark. "You're running the show."
He herded together the now helpless and sadly bewildered half dozen Magogean guards, and thrust them into the cubicle pointed out by the scientist. When the door was secured behind them—
"But how did you manage to get control of this chamber?" asked Nora Powell.
Kang shrugged. "It was very simple. There was but one man watching these panels when I was brought here: the technician whose garments I wear. He expected no trouble from an elderly slave. And since we two were alone—well, it seemed an elementary precaution to don his clothes before I began the necessary operations."
"And the barrier?" inquired Gary eagerly. "You have lifted it yet?"
"Not yet. I had first to make a few alterations in the Magogean machinery. I wanted to make sure a power failure would not cause the barrier to fall before all our allies had entered. My work is now complete. And so—"
Kang turned to the panels. His hands tugged at a single gigantic switch.
No light glowed. There came no change in the humming sound that permeated the control room. The adventurers looked at Kang and at each other anxiously. Penny spoke for all when she asked, "You are sure, O my father, that the barrier is open?"
Kang said, "See for yourself." And he pressed a stud which lighted a vision screen before them.
What they saw left little doubt as to the effectiveness of Kang's accomplishment. For the screen reflected one segment of the imperial city's surrounding wall, a location which had been a gate in Khundru's defenses. But now that sentry post existed no more. It was a mass of broken kindling trampled under the rushing feet of hordes of Gogeans who had burst from their place of ambush to storm the city.
"This isonespot, Kang," cried Gary excitedly. "And elsewhere?"
"Elsewhere," repeated Kang, "it is the same."
He spun the dial which moved the telelens of the vision screen at a 360° arc about Khundru. Everywhere they looked it was the same. Tsalnor of Gog had placed his troops cunningly, entirely encircling the city. To the north and south, divisions had crossed the chasmed mounts to take their posts outside the barrier. Now in two wedges they were storming Khundru's primary defense line toward the central citadel.
The marine detail, which had completely bypassed the capital to reach the shoreline, was now swarming up yet another avenue of Khundru from the docks and wharves which they had seized. These three formed diversionary forces, hammering at the flanks and rear of the Magogeans, who were forced to concentrate their main defense on the eastern front; that which faced the Twilight Zone out of which thebulkof the Gogean army was pouring.
So swift was the movement, so hectic the opening phases of that battle, that it was only in fitful glimpses one could comprehend the magnitude of what was going on. Afterward Gary Lane recalled having briefly glimpsed Tsalnor himself riding at the fore of a cavalry detail hewing its way through broken ranks of fleeing Magogeans up to the citadel proper. In another sector, whether yards or miles away it was hard to tell, he saw for an instant Flick Muldoon, wild-eyed and jubilant, in command of a foray squad busily opening a new breach in the fading Magogean defenses. Little Herby Hawkins fought beside Flick, and though no sound transmitted itself over the vision plate, the watchers could almost hear the voice of the little cockney raised in joyful battle cry.
"Blimey, wot fun, eh? Wot bleedin' fun!"
How long the battle raged was hard to tell. Certainly long enough to place on pins and needles Gary and Lark, both of whom, as they watched the scenes depicted about them, chafed with impatience to fight at their comrades' sides. But this Dr. Kang sternly forbade, and gave good reason.
"No, not yet! As we have seen, it should be easy for our allies to take theoutercity. The real difficulty will come when they try to storm the Palace Royal. We must wait until that moment, then take from within."
"From within?" echoed Lark. "But how?"
"This is how we will usehim," Kang nodded toward the trussed Borisu who lay smouldering with impotent rage upon the floor. "This chamber is the heart of all Magogean apparatus; not only their barrier shield and vision screens but their intercommunicating system as well. When the proper moment comes we shall visiplate him throughout the entire palace, and make him order his countrymen to lay down their arms."
"Orderthem, yes," grunted Lark. "But will theydoit? That's another question."
Kang nodded serenely. "They will do it. They are not likeourpeople. They are a race trained through long ages to obedience. But if they don't—"
"If they don't—?"
"Then," continued Kang soberly, "having given them their chance, we shall destroy them ruthlessly and without mercy."
All present knew what he meant. For that, too, was part of the plan which had been arranged in conference with the Gogeans. Noticeably absent from those who now stormed the city was Captain Hugh Warren and his crew of Space Patrolmen. They, Gary knew, were even now waiting aboard theLibertywith motors idling, ready to lift at an instant's notice to soar over the capital.
With their own fleet grounded, if the Magogeans would not listen to reason theLiberty'sguns would bathe Khundru in such a flood of fury and destruction as had never before been witnessed!
Thus it was with a sense of increasing triumph the Solarites watched the battle for Khundru turning more and ever more in favor of the invaders. More swiftly with each passing moment the defenders gave way, retreating to the shelter of their palace walls. Walls which, though they did not know it, were a fateful trap for themselves.
And at last, save for mopping-up operations carried on by small bands of Gogeans in outlying sections of the city, the first stage of the battle was ended. All surviving soldiers of Magog had taken refuge in the Palace Royal, there to withstand siege.
And siege, they now discovered to their horror, it most certainly was! For when, assailed by the weapons of their enemies, they attempted to retaliate by loosing their own destructive ray cannon upon the attackers, their artillery-men learned that the cannon were not in operation! These were not, like the smaller hand weapons, self-charging, but were powered by direct cable from the control tower. And the control tower was in the hands of the adversaries!
It was then, with the battle stalled briefly at a deadlock, Dr. Kang nodded. "Now," he said, "is our time. Bring him here."
Gary hauled Borisu to his feet, prodded the bleating Magogean forward. Kang addressed him bluntly.
"You have heard what you must do?"
"Never!" cried Borisu, blustering defiance. "Never will I betray my people!"
"It is written," said Kang quietly, "'Only the fool rejects the inevitable.' You are no fool, Borisu. Will you proclaim an armistice? Or for stubborn pride will you witness the destruction of your empire?"
Borisu blubbered, "Better to go down fighting than abjectly. If I bid my people lay down their arms, your hordes will sweep in and destroy them."
"That," Kang assured him, "they willnotdo. In conference we have already discussed this with the Gogeans. Much have our two races to hate yours for, Borisu. Theirs for years of life-in-death in the darkling wastes of Magog; ours for impelling upon us centuries of premature death and a dwindling doom.
"Even so, we will not sow the seeds of new conflict in the peace of the old. Lay down your arms in peaceful surrender and I offer you the pledge of two worlds that about the conference table shall be reasoned the merits of a new and lasting peace for all concerned."
"And if I do not?" demanded Borisu.
"Then," Kang promised him, "you shall surely die. And as for your city—" He paused and gestured toward the visionplate. Words were needless in the face of that which might there now be seen. The silver tube of theLiberty, shimmering faintly in the atmosphere of Magog, surrounded with its impenetrable force-shield, flying supremely aloft above the capital city, coming to sedate rest directly over the citadel. "There is your answer, Borisu. The decision is yours. There is little time in which to make it. Speak, or—"
And Borisu capitulated. With a grinding cry, he reached for the diaphragm Kang offered him. The Martian doctor depressed a series of studs, and instantaneously, in a thousand chambers and corridors scattered throughout the whole of the Palace Royal, there appeared on vision plates before the startled eyes of all the embattled Magogeans an image of him who was akraedarsupreme in the Inner Council of Magog. And they heard his cracked voice crying out its message.
"Brothers of Magog, lay down your arms! About our city are entrenched our Gogean foes. Above our citadel hovers a vessel which, if we do not surrender, will blast us all to atoms. Your guns, as you have learned, are useless. The foe has overthrown our might. Surrender!"
The vision plate went dead. Throughout the whole of the Palace Royal a murmuring arose. Men lifted from concealment, and doors once barred were opened as a race trained to obedience followed the instructions of a superior. The battle of Magog was ended.
Days before, hours before, even short minutes ago, Gary Lane had hated this little man who stood beside him. Had wished nothing more than an opportunity to meet him face to face, and crush the life from his treacherous little body. But a victor can afford to be magnanimous. And now, in this moment of triumph, Gary found it in his heart to feel commiseration for one who, though he fought to distorted ends, had seen his empire fall before a braver, cleverer force.
He turned to Borisu, and in a quiet voice he said, "Well done, Borisu. You have my pledge, with that of Dr. Kang, that you shall not regret this move. There shall be no vindictiveness in the peace terms we offer. Only justice and equality for all. No more warring between our worlds."
And Borisu said quietly, "Yes, it is over. It is done. It is finished ... and I have lost. I will not say I am not sorry, but we must bow to the inevitable. And now, Dr. Kang, my bonds? I am free to—"
Kang said simply, "Yes, Borisu, you are free." And he moved closely to the little man to cut the strips of cloth which bound his wrists. A knife flashed briefly, and then:
"Father!" screamed Penny. "Father, look out! He—"
Her words were drowned in a roar of rage as Gary, stirring belatedly, was witness to the last mad vengeance of the erstwhile kraedar Borisu. The instant his bonds had been stricken the little man's hands danced like serpents, turning the knife in Kang's hand and thrusting forward with all his strength.
Kang grunted once heavily, then slumped forward, hands clutching futilely at a blade which clung half buried in his side. From between his clawing fingers surged ugly rivulets of crimson.
Nor was this all. In the same flashing movement Borisu snapped a ray pistol from the falling doctor's belt, turned its lethal muzzle upon those who leaped toward him. His mad voice rose in harsh command.
"Back! Back, all of you or I will ray you down like dogs. Victory, eh?" His laughter cackled shrilly. "Your moment of triumph? We shall see!"
His tiny eyes darting from one to another of them to detect any slightest motion, he backed all the way across the room to where stood the most ponderous of all the machines in that control tower. A gigantic tube surrounded by gleaming coils and iridescent busbars. A huge, revolving drum of an instrument whose purpose Gary did not know.
Borisu left him not long in doubt. Still mouthing the taunts and curses of a half-demented man, he clambered to a raised platform on this machine, loosed a panel, and dug his free hand somewhere deep into its entrails.
"So," he mocked, "you have won victory? But out of your victory you shall drink only the dregs of deepest defeat! You and all your cursed universe!"
Kang, who had lain as one dead where he had been stricken, now stirred and lifted his head dazedly. His eyes, turning slowly, sought and found Borisu, then widened in horror. He tried to speak, but his voice was a thick mumble; his words were punctuated by tiny streamers of blood that leaked from the corners of his mouth.
"That ... machine! Don't ... let him ... touch it!"
Borisu's quick gaze darted to the dying man. He laughed stridently. "Then you are not dead yet, my good doctor? You barbarians take a lot of killing. Well, I shall not finish the job. I much prefer that you should live long enough to watch, with your comrades, the vengeance of Borisu."
He tugged suddenly, and something came loose in his hand. Wires. Connecting wires of some sort. Instantly the low thrum which had sounded through the control chamber began to heighten. The tone crept higher up the tonic scale. Something within the machine Borisu had damaged was beginning to move faster and faster.
"You dog!" grated Lark O'Day. "You filthy, conniving scoundrel! I'm coming after you. I'll break your neck with my bare hands if it's the last thing I—"
"Back, corsair!" snarled Borisu. "I assure you—take another step forward and itwillbe the last thing you ever do. You see this object I hold in my hand?" He dangled a bit of metal before them tauntingly. "You are space trained men. Do you recognize it? It is a governor. Ah, yes! A small governor controlling the speed of the instrument upon whose platform I now stand.
"Until this moment the machine has always operated at an inexorable and never-changing rate. But no more. From this moment henceforth the machine will gain speed ... and speed ... and speed—" His voice broke in a shrill cackle, "And you know whatthatmeans, my friends?"
O'Day said stoutly, "I know it means your death, Borisu. Here and now, or elsewhere and later, but surely your death."
"Perhaps so," laughed the diminutivekraedar. "But more than that ... it means the swift and final death of your universe. For this on which I stand, gentlemen, is the instrument we of Magog have for years been playing upon your system. The ultrawave cannon! And now I have speeded its action to such an extent that the length of your world's existence may be measured no longer in weeks or months—but in hours!"
A pang of fear drove deep into Gary's heart. Mad the little man might be, but staring into his red-rimmed eyes Gary knew he spoke the truth. The ultrawave cannon, speeded a thousand-fold, was hurling its destruction ungoverned upon a universe which even now was dwindling to the breaking point!
This then was the end of their adventure. It did not matter that they had come afar and conquered many hazards. Here at the last moment, with triumph within their grasp, was to be torn from them all for which they had fought and labored and—his eyes sought Dr. Kang—and died.
What if their mission were a success and Magog's power overthrown, the children of Gog returned once more to look upon the sun? The children of Earth within a matter of hours would be obliterated in what to them would be a horrendous holocaust of flame, but would to observers from this far vastness seem no more than the flickering of a momentary candle in lost distances.
He cried in a choked voice, "Borisu! Stop! For God's sake—"
But his plea dangled unfinished. For at that moment a miracle transpired before his eyes. Dr. Kang, who should ere now have been dead, with some supernal effort had not only raised his head ... but was slowly, laboriously, rising to his feet. He stood there for a moment, swaying dangerously, his knees half buckled beneath him, his eyes already glazed. And again his lips parted in that thick and blood-spumed mumble.
"Borisu, turn off ... that ... gun!"
"The doctor," mocked Borisu, "is hardy! The doctor is courageous. But the doctor isalsoa fool. Stop this gun? Never! Not until your world has met the oblivion it deserves. Not until—Wait! Stand back there you fool! Stand back! Aaah!"
The raygun in his hand gushed a livid flame as Kang, tightening his worn, exhausted body for one final effort, pitched forward convulsively. The random shot missed the old man, and Borisu screamed a cry like that of a stricken animal, as in a last futile moment he realized Kang's intention.
Kang, already living on borrowed time, was yet the scientist. He alone, of all in the room, had seen what could andmustbe done. He alone, of all those who stood helplessly trapped, was close enough to do it.
Three strides he stumbled forward ... then Borisu's second blast caught him squarely in the chest. If he should have been dead before, he wassurelyso now. But it did not matter. Understanding had come too late to the mad-man of Magog. For sheer impetus carried Kang's body forward to that which Kang had planned. His body plunged full length and sprawling upon the gleaming busbars of the wave cannon. There burst from Borisu's lips a last and frightful scream. The atmosphere crackled. For a moment the biting odor of ozone was horribly mingled with the charnel stench of searing flesh.
"Down!" roared Gary. "Down on the floor, for God's sake! Short circuit—!"
As one, the watching four fell flat on their faces just as the gigantic machine before them, quivering and trembling to its very roots, rocked itself from its moorings ... and in a roaring fountain of flame exploded into a million fragments!