The Red Hell of Jupiter by Paul Ernst (book series to read txt) π
Read free book Β«The Red Hell of Jupiter by Paul Ernst (book series to read txt) πΒ» - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: Paul Ernst
Read book online Β«The Red Hell of Jupiter by Paul Ernst (book series to read txt) πΒ». Author - Paul Ernst
On the street a strange and terrible sight met their eyes.
Strewn over the metal paving like wheat stalks crushed flat by a hurricane, were thousands of Rogans. Not a muscle of their pipe-like arms or legs could they move. But the gravity that crushed them rigidly to the ground did not quite hold motionless the shorter and more sturdily built slaves.
Among the thousands of squealing, panting Rogans that lay as though paralyzed on the metal paving, crawled equal thousands of Greca's enslaved people. Their eyes flamed with fanatic hate. And methodicallyβnot knowing what had caused their loathed masters to be stricken helpless, and not caring as long as they were helplessβthe slaves were seeking out the shock-tubes that here and there had fallen from the clutch of Rogan guards. Already many had found them; and everywhere gangling, slimy bodies were melting in oily black smoke that almost instantly vanished in thin air.
As it was in these streets and in the great square in the center of which rested the Earthmen's ship, just so, they knew, was it being repeated all over the red empire. Slowly crawling, fiercely exulting slaves were exterminating the tyrannous things that had held them so long in dreadful bondage! Before the sun should set on another flashing Jovian day there would be no Rogan left in the red spot.
nd so it ends," said Brand with a great sigh. He moved over beside Greca, and touched her lovely bare shoulders. They were shaking convulsively, those shoulders; and she had buried her face in her hands to keep from gazing at the ghastly carnage.
Brand pressed her to him. "It's terribleβyes. But think what it means! The knell of all the Rogans been sounded to-day. As soon as the secret of these death-tubes has been analyzed by our science and provided against, my friend and I will return from Earth with a force that shall clear the universe of the slimy devils. Meanwhile, your people are safe here; with the gravity what it is, no Rogan attacking hordes can land."
They crawled tortuously over the square to the space ship. Brand turned again to Greca; and now in his eyes was a look that needed no language of mind or tongue for its complete expression.
"Will you come to Earth with me, Greca, and stay by my side till we return to set your people in power again?"
Greca shook her head, slowly, reluctantly. "My people need leaders now. I must stay and help direct them in their new freedom. But youβyou'll come back with the others from Earth?"
"Try and stop him!" grinned Dex. "And try and stop me, too! From what I know now of the way they grow 'em on your satellite"βhis eyes rested on Greca's beauty with an admiration that turned her to rosy confusionβ"I'd say I'd found the ideal spot to settle down in!"
Brand laughed. "He's answered for me too. And now, a salute that is used on Earth to express a promise...." He kissed herβto her utter astonishment and perplexity, but to her dawning pleasure. "Good-by for a little while."
The two Earthmen hoisted themselves heavily over the sill of the control room of their ship, and crawled inside.
They secured the trap-door, and turned on the air-rectifiers. Brand moved to the controls, waved to Greca, who was smiling at him through the glass panel, and pointed the ship on its triumphant, four hundred million mile journey home.
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Hell of Jupiter, by Paul Ernst
Comments (0)