Read Online Captain Future 05 - Captain Future and the Seven Space Stones (Winter 1941) by Edmond Hamilton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Edmond Hamilton
Tags: Sci Fi & Fantasy
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“If he has suspected us —”
A thunderous crash of applause interrupted him. The acrobats had finished their performance. Jur Nugat was introducing the next act.
“And now the greatest acrobat in all circus history, making his first appearance. The Ultra-acrobat from Ganymede!”
Otho stepped into the spotlight and bowed elaborately. Then he turned and spoke loudly to the circus laborers nearby.
“Take those nets away!” he ordered. “I don’t need ‘em.”
“But we always use nets —” Jur Nugat began to protest.
“Not for me!” Otho declared, making sure he was near the microphone. “Nets are for amateurs. Now watch a professional.”
As the laborers hastily rolled up the copper gauze nets, Curt swore beneath his breath.
“That reckless android would have to show off to a crowd, just when Quorn may be getting suspicious.”
Otho started climbing a rope toward the highest trapeze platform. He went up hand-over-hand so fast that the eye could hardly follow him. A cry of astonishment came from the crowd. The band played a pulsing Martian rhythm, and Otho went into his act. He dived straight toward the ground, a hundred feet below.
A YELL of horror broke from thousands of throats. But ten feet from death, the android caught a hanging rope. He swung in a dizzy arc up toward another trapeze platform, where he landed gracefully. Then he turned and bowed to the audience.
The crowd went wild. It was a feat such as no one had ever seen before. No human being could have performed it, of course. It required the utmost dexterity of even Otho, the fastest and most agile of all beings in the System.
Gratified by the applause, the android went on with his spectacular act. He swung free on a rope, leaped toward another rope twenty feet away, did eight somersaults in midair, and landed safely. He hopped loosely swinging wires on one hand, flashed between the ropes and wires so swiftly that sometimes he was hardly visible. When he finally slid down and stepped into the spotlight, the applause was terrific.
“You big ham!” Curt Newton whispered furiously as Otho paused beside him. “Showing off may make Quorn suspect you, too! He’s been watching every move you made.”
Otho glanced quickly across the pavilion. Quorn was still standing there. At that moment, he was rejoined by the Hearer. The freak had brought a small conical metal case.
“I just wanted to show ‘em what a real acrobat could do,” defended Otho. “Didn’t you hear that applause? Boy, did I go over big!”
“Listen to me, you idiotic hunk of rubberoid,” Curt hissed. “While Quorn and the Hearer are here, now is your chance to search Quorn’s pavilion. He may have the space stones stowed away in some hiding place there. Try to find them.”
“Okay, Chief. But you be careful with those damned marsh tigers.”
“Get out of here — Jur Nugat’s going to announce me,” Curt warned. “If you and I seem too friendly, it’ll ruin everything.”
As they conversed unnoticeably, the equestrian acts had been on. Star interplanetary riders had shown their skill in managing Earth horses, Jovian lopers and bucking, fierce Saturnian stads. “And now our new attraction, ladies and gentlemen!” the Saturnian proprietor announced. “The greatest wild-animal act in interplanetary history. The ravenous beasts never before tamed by man! The man who tamed them — Kovo the swamp man — and his marsh tigers!”
Curt shambled out like a typical swamp man and bowed clumsily to the crowd.
“Let them into the cage,” he ordered the waiting laborers.
From the round main pen, constructed of stout steelite bars, a passage led outside to the menagerie. Through this passage, prodded on by light touches with an atomic goad, the six marsh tigers charged. Roaring deafeningly, clawing viciously at the bars of the big cage, the huge, black-scaled beasts reared up on their thick hind legs, raising their hideous snouted heads. Their small reptilian
A thunderous crash of applause interrupted him. The acrobats had finished their performance. Jur Nugat was introducing the next act.
“And now the greatest acrobat in all circus history, making his first appearance. The Ultra-acrobat from Ganymede!”
Otho stepped into the spotlight and bowed elaborately. Then he turned and spoke loudly to the circus laborers nearby.
“Take those nets away!” he ordered. “I don’t need ‘em.”
“But we always use nets —” Jur Nugat began to protest.
“Not for me!” Otho declared, making sure he was near the microphone. “Nets are for amateurs. Now watch a professional.”
As the laborers hastily rolled up the copper gauze nets, Curt swore beneath his breath.
“That reckless android would have to show off to a crowd, just when Quorn may be getting suspicious.”
Otho started climbing a rope toward the highest trapeze platform. He went up hand-over-hand so fast that the eye could hardly follow him. A cry of astonishment came from the crowd. The band played a pulsing Martian rhythm, and Otho went into his act. He dived straight toward the ground, a hundred feet below.
A YELL of horror broke from thousands of throats. But ten feet from death, the android caught a hanging rope. He swung in a dizzy arc up toward another trapeze platform, where he landed gracefully. Then he turned and bowed to the audience.
The crowd went wild. It was a feat such as no one had ever seen before. No human being could have performed it, of course. It required the utmost dexterity of even Otho, the fastest and most agile of all beings in the System.
Gratified by the applause, the android went on with his spectacular act. He swung free on a rope, leaped toward another rope twenty feet away, did eight somersaults in midair, and landed safely. He hopped loosely swinging wires on one hand, flashed between the ropes and wires so swiftly that sometimes he was hardly visible. When he finally slid down and stepped into the spotlight, the applause was terrific.
“You big ham!” Curt Newton whispered furiously as Otho paused beside him. “Showing off may make Quorn suspect you, too! He’s been watching every move you made.”
Otho glanced quickly across the pavilion. Quorn was still standing there. At that moment, he was rejoined by the Hearer. The freak had brought a small conical metal case.
“I just wanted to show ‘em what a real acrobat could do,” defended Otho. “Didn’t you hear that applause? Boy, did I go over big!”
“Listen to me, you idiotic hunk of rubberoid,” Curt hissed. “While Quorn and the Hearer are here, now is your chance to search Quorn’s pavilion. He may have the space stones stowed away in some hiding place there. Try to find them.”
“Okay, Chief. But you be careful with those damned marsh tigers.”
“Get out of here — Jur Nugat’s going to announce me,” Curt warned. “If you and I seem too friendly, it’ll ruin everything.”
As they conversed unnoticeably, the equestrian acts had been on. Star interplanetary riders had shown their skill in managing Earth horses, Jovian lopers and bucking, fierce Saturnian stads. “And now our new attraction, ladies and gentlemen!” the Saturnian proprietor announced. “The greatest wild-animal act in interplanetary history. The ravenous beasts never before tamed by man! The man who tamed them — Kovo the swamp man — and his marsh tigers!”
Curt shambled out like a typical swamp man and bowed clumsily to the crowd.
“Let them into the cage,” he ordered the waiting laborers.
From the round main pen, constructed of stout steelite bars, a passage led outside to the menagerie. Through this passage, prodded on by light touches with an atomic goad, the six marsh tigers charged. Roaring deafeningly, clawing viciously at the bars of the big cage, the huge, black-scaled beasts reared up on their thick hind legs, raising their hideous snouted heads. Their small reptilian
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