THE WEAPON FROM ETERNITY
By Dwight V. Swain
Legends spoke of a weapon too dreadful to
use hidden somewhere among the stars—a weapon
that was its own master—choosing its victims!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
September 1952
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
CHAPTER I
Jarl Corvett selected the group—himself, Ungo, and five crewmen.
They left their great ship on the far side of Vesta; came down with thenight in a fast raider carrier.
A hollow offered shelter. Like dust settling, they landed. Abandoningthe craft, they pressed on towards their target. The hills fell behind.The final cordon was bypassed.
Then, at last, bleakly, they stared down at the sprawling building thathad been Wassreck's workshop.
But lights beat on the white walls. Guards paced the parapets. Thecommissioner's own carrier thrust up in the courtyard.
Frowning, Jarl Corvett crouched deep in the shadows. Tension crawledhis spine like a leather-footed palau. His own black thoughts pressedrelentlessly in upon him: Is this where it ends, warrior? Is this theplace, here under the Federation's dazzling Forspark lights on a tinyastroidal speck that men call Vesta?
Beside him, the darkness rustled. Scales brushed his arm. One-armedJovian Ungo's hoarse whisper echoed over-loud in his ear: "Give it up,Jarl! Wassreck's gone, and they're ready. It's hopeless!"
"It was hopeless before," Jarl Corvett said tightly. "It was hopelessat Horla. But Wassreck came for me."
The Jovian's scaly hand gripped his shoulder in the darkness. "I know,Jarl. You're loyal. But this time—"
"Could you face Sais without trying? Could you tell her you'd left him?"
Ungo grunted, half-sullen. "Will it help if you're killed, too? Will itmake her feel better?" He cursed in his own tongue. "Me, I still likeliving. I'm not ready to die yet."
Jarl threw off the Jovian's arm. His words slashed, raw and savage, inspite of his efforts: "You can leave if you want to! I ask no man torisk his neck against his will!"
Dimly, against the sky, he could see Ungo's head sink down between thegreat, horny shoulders. "Don't gall me, you chitza! I go where yougo! I always will!"
Jarl clenched his fists. He thought: Yes, Ungo will always go whereyou go, Jarl Corvett. He proved that when he left one arm on Pluto foryou. That's what's wrong with loyalty. It traps you, tears you twoways. Because whichever road you take, good men, good friends, mustdie.
And Sais would be waiting....
He cursed aloud and crawled forward, away from big Ungo, digging inknees and elbows with savage force, taking out his fury on the rockyground.
Ahead, just outside the blazing lake of light around the building, theair-vent loomed. Wriggling to it, he jerked out his knife and pried atthe grilled lid's seal.
But then, once again, Ungo was beside him. "Here, let me at it, Jarl!"Heedless of danger, the Jovian surged to full height. His talon fingerssplayed through the grill. The broad back, the mighty shoulders,strained and heaved.
There was a thin spang! of metal parting. The lid tore free.
Jarl gripped his comrade's arm. "Ungo...."
"Forget it, Jarl. I understand. Our job is down below."
A tightness came to Jarl Corvett's throat. Wordless, he swung his legsover the edge