The Tantalus Death
By ROSS ROCKLYNNE
"Give us water, or we perish!" But the Conclave
of Nations denied the Red Planet's frantic plea.
So began the Reign of Terror ... a Martian judgement
that plunged the Earth into hideous chaos.
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Planet Stories Spring 1940.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
The Master Conclave of the Sectional Governors of the World State wasin its first day of session. The Speaker, about to call for a motionof adjournment, rose, looked about the packed tiers of seats as ifsearching for someone. Relief came to his face—and was replaced byannoyance as the huge, double doors swung open.
A being, resplendent in colorful uniform, of human shape but twelvefeet tall, entered.
In the resigned silence that followed, the doorman announced,
"Olduk, the Martian ambassador!"
All eyes followed the massive, wrinkled old form as it made its wayslowly through the aisles.
The Speaker bit his lip. He said, "The Conclave welcomes you, Olduk. Wehad feared that you would not be present."
Olduk paused and bowed. He said, in his guttural, unnatural tones,"Olduk thanks you."
"You wished to speak before the assembly?"
"Yes, please. The rostrum may I use?"
"Yes," said the Speaker, "the rostrum you may use."
A titter of laughter spread through the tiered seats.
Olduk paid none or small attention, even to the whisperings of twosecretaries that his receptive, large ears picked up.
"Why does he keep up with this farce?" one asked. "Every year he getsup on the rostrum, and makes a speech, asking, as usual, for water.He's been denied exactly ten times."
"He'll get it in the neck this time," Olduk heard the other sayknowingly. "The Spanish and Japanese Sectional Governors have hadseveral bills thrown out this session, and they're spoiling for anargument. And whatever they say, they'll be speaking for the world."
Olduk—called jokingly the Old Duck—wended his way between the aislestoward the rostrum, drawing his cape about him. The cape was not anaffectation. He realized that as a Martian he possessed several unhumanappendages which human beings did not care to look upon.
He faced the session, his wrinkled old face expressionless, though hisdouble-lidded eyes conveyed the seriousness with which he faced hisproblem.
"Honorable Speaker," he said, bowing to the Speaker. "Honorable fellowdelegates," he added, and bowed low. "I drink to you." He seized abeaker of water in a horny hand, and drained it in a single gulp.
He set the beaker down. His reddish eyes swept the assembly.
He said, "I am ever thankful you me to speak allow. Think, I will tellyou what I wish, fellow delegates.
"Difficult me to talk this language, though here I have lived onEarth twenty years, making friends with Earthmen. I am not as I wasin leaving Mars. I am changed with sundry operations, that I may livehere well. Thus my voice is hard to speak, and harder still to learndifficult language. Laughing I will not like, please?"
He paused. His abnormally receptive ears again picked up thewhisperings of the two secretaries.
"He's said exactly the same thing the past five sessions."
Olduk said in his impersonal voice:
"Before I make my plea for the water my planet needs, let me tell amyth that I read with enjoyment. It is the story of Tantalus, fellowdelegates. Tantalus was placed by the gods i