Read Online Captain Future 11 - The Comet Kings (Summer 1942) by Edmond Hamilton - Free Book Online
Authors: Edmond Hamilton
Tags: Sci Fi & Fantasy
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it will not be an easy thing to do!
“You see,” he explained, “the living cell is normally a tiny electric ‘battery,’ that by chemical action produces the electric energy which we call life. But the Alius have worked deep and subtle changes in your cells. They have recast their molecules and atoms so that now each cell forms a tiny transformer, which simply receives its energy from the coma radiation which permeates everything here.”
Zarn and Aggar seemed impressed by Curt’s knowledge.
“Then you’ll promise to change us all back to normal if our revolt succeeds?” they cried.
Captain Future took the plunge.
“I promise to restore you to normality — or to die trying!
AGGAR’S massive face glowed with hope and resolution.
“Then we of the Cometae will rise!”
Curt seized the opportunity.
“How many of your people will revolt against Thoryx?” he asked quickly. “How soon can you organize and strike?”
“Nine-tenths of the Cometae hate our rulers,” Aggar replied. “But not all of them will risk rebellion, at first. Our secret organization is what we must chiefly rely on. We number fully five thousand men.”
“How many fighting men can Thoryx count on?” Otho demanded.
“About as many,” Aggar admitted. “The regiments of the palace guard are loyal to him, because they are a favored class. The nobles, of course, will support Thoryx. So will some of the people, because of their superstitious regard for the Alius.”
“What about weapons?” Curt asked him. “Can you secure enough of those electrode-weapons?”
Aggar laughed.
“They would be of no avail against Cometae. They simply project a powerful electric blast, and that wouldn’t hurt one of us in the least. The things are used only to keep you captives under control.”
“Then what the devil do you use for weapons against each other?” Otho exclaimed.
“Swords and daggers are all that can be used effectively on a Cometae,” Zarn answered. “Only the soldiers are allowed to possess them.”
“All us captives here can fight with you, if you can get swords of dielectric material for us,” Curt told Zarn quickly. “You know we can’t touch you Cometae, even with an ordinary metal sword, without receiving a paralyzing electric shock.”
“I can touch them!” said Grag loudly. To prove it, he laid his heavy metal hand capon Zarn’s shoulder. “It’s only inside me that I have steelite parts. The whole outside of my body is of dielectric metal, a nonconductor!”
“Good of Grag!” chuckled Ezra Gurney. “You won’t need any sword.”
“Yeah, for once your dumb metal carcass will come in handy,” said Otho gibingly.
“How soon can you strike?” Curt was asking Aggar intently. “What is your plan?”
“The only possible plan,” replied Aggar, “is to attack the palace, overcome Thoryx guards in the first rush, and round up the tyrant and his spitfire queen and the nobles in short order.”
“Especially,” put in Zarn anxiously, “it is necessary to grab that old wizard Querdel at once. It’s said that he has a way of communicating with the Alius.”
Captain Future saw again that chill shadow of dread creep into the eyes of the two Cometae captains at mention of the Alius. But Aggar forced the fear away.
“The Alius have never come out of their citadel in the north, and they won’t now,” the husky fighter said emphatically. He turned to Captain Future. “We can be ready to strike by tomorrow ‘night’. It’s the ‘night’ of the Lightning Feast, and Thoryx and all the nobility will be gathered in the palace, ours for the taking.”
The plan was quickly arranged. Aggar and Zarn were to mobilize the Cometae rebels around the plaza when the next ‘night’ came. Zarn would release the Futuremen and the other captives. At a given signal, they would join forces and attack the palace.
“One more thing!” said Curt urgently. “The Earthgirl who is now one of the Cometae — she
“You see,” he explained, “the living cell is normally a tiny electric ‘battery,’ that by chemical action produces the electric energy which we call life. But the Alius have worked deep and subtle changes in your cells. They have recast their molecules and atoms so that now each cell forms a tiny transformer, which simply receives its energy from the coma radiation which permeates everything here.”
Zarn and Aggar seemed impressed by Curt’s knowledge.
“Then you’ll promise to change us all back to normal if our revolt succeeds?” they cried.
Captain Future took the plunge.
“I promise to restore you to normality — or to die trying!
AGGAR’S massive face glowed with hope and resolution.
“Then we of the Cometae will rise!”
Curt seized the opportunity.
“How many of your people will revolt against Thoryx?” he asked quickly. “How soon can you organize and strike?”
“Nine-tenths of the Cometae hate our rulers,” Aggar replied. “But not all of them will risk rebellion, at first. Our secret organization is what we must chiefly rely on. We number fully five thousand men.”
“How many fighting men can Thoryx count on?” Otho demanded.
“About as many,” Aggar admitted. “The regiments of the palace guard are loyal to him, because they are a favored class. The nobles, of course, will support Thoryx. So will some of the people, because of their superstitious regard for the Alius.”
“What about weapons?” Curt asked him. “Can you secure enough of those electrode-weapons?”
Aggar laughed.
“They would be of no avail against Cometae. They simply project a powerful electric blast, and that wouldn’t hurt one of us in the least. The things are used only to keep you captives under control.”
“Then what the devil do you use for weapons against each other?” Otho exclaimed.
“Swords and daggers are all that can be used effectively on a Cometae,” Zarn answered. “Only the soldiers are allowed to possess them.”
“All us captives here can fight with you, if you can get swords of dielectric material for us,” Curt told Zarn quickly. “You know we can’t touch you Cometae, even with an ordinary metal sword, without receiving a paralyzing electric shock.”
“I can touch them!” said Grag loudly. To prove it, he laid his heavy metal hand capon Zarn’s shoulder. “It’s only inside me that I have steelite parts. The whole outside of my body is of dielectric metal, a nonconductor!”
“Good of Grag!” chuckled Ezra Gurney. “You won’t need any sword.”
“Yeah, for once your dumb metal carcass will come in handy,” said Otho gibingly.
“How soon can you strike?” Curt was asking Aggar intently. “What is your plan?”
“The only possible plan,” replied Aggar, “is to attack the palace, overcome Thoryx guards in the first rush, and round up the tyrant and his spitfire queen and the nobles in short order.”
“Especially,” put in Zarn anxiously, “it is necessary to grab that old wizard Querdel at once. It’s said that he has a way of communicating with the Alius.”
Captain Future saw again that chill shadow of dread creep into the eyes of the two Cometae captains at mention of the Alius. But Aggar forced the fear away.
“The Alius have never come out of their citadel in the north, and they won’t now,” the husky fighter said emphatically. He turned to Captain Future. “We can be ready to strike by tomorrow ‘night’. It’s the ‘night’ of the Lightning Feast, and Thoryx and all the nobility will be gathered in the palace, ours for the taking.”
The plan was quickly arranged. Aggar and Zarn were to mobilize the Cometae rebels around the plaza when the next ‘night’ came. Zarn would release the Futuremen and the other captives. At a given signal, they would join forces and attack the palace.
“One more thing!” said Curt urgently. “The Earthgirl who is now one of the Cometae — she
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