Slaves of Mercury

ds of the

feet, and his gray, unwieldy body was heavy and gross as though thickened with good living and debauch. A fleshy three-fingered hand was pounding vehemently on the ar

," the Mercutian howled-in English. "If you r

t gave a tremendous leap. Disclosed to his vision was a figu

the blood pounding in his temples, waiting for the slide to come completely open. He dared n

eserted corridors back to the secret passageway, emerge below, return to the

responsible for the unrest. They have killed Magnificents; and the Earth fools think they can do the same. They

an said monotonously. It was evident that t

re is one in particular you know a great deal about. Urga told me. A long-lost

bidden weapon; he dares to kill a Magnificent; he eggs on two others, ordinary Earth slaves to join him; he disappears out of sight, in spite of all

faced h

his example. He has shown what a brave man can do; the Earth

n he realized his mistake. "No, of course not," he growled hurriedly

hite, but she face

he is, and if I did,

The Viceroy leaned

as complete

all anyone if

ications. He found himself staring into the stubby opening of an Earth automatic, a forbidden wea

thered gasp fro

iftly. "We have no time to waste, Joan. I

ys kept odds and ends in the st

ian Magnificence-No you don't," Hilary said harshly

He jerked his hand back, a cold sweat beading his forehead. Hilary's finger h

ter," Hilar

Mercutian, finding voice again. "You

ry anxious to meet me. Now that I'm here you don't seem overmu

nk eyes opened wider. But he was car

h dog who killed

thy. But I am that very individual. And I trust"-he bowed mo

al places for such as you." Joan was coming now swiftly

ntly. "Gag him, Joan, so he can't open his

off a torrent of imprecations in the guttural Mercutian to

ind permission, Most Viceregal Magnificence,

resounded like the clang of doom behind him. He w

arting pain tore the pistol out of his hand. It dropped to the floor, unheeded. Hilary found him

into the building," Urga said, s

ag out of his mouth. "Don't stand there like a fool. Un

ry and Joan. Then slowly a smile broke over his warty features, a smile that boded unutterable things. H

dog?" the Viceroy

I threw him out of the entrance, but

"This is the one who is responsible for the mutte

ered into his captive's

me kill him, Magnificent." He fin

as in high go

ve a better scheme. We shall show the mutinous dog

ile broke

ke that fool Peabody. Rip out his tongue and his eyes, smas

act

she cried aloud in her terror, "don't do

sharply, "not another wor

against his sh

indifferently. "We have the man we wanted. As for the ot

d to him e

rged respectfully, "you p

ved a weary hand. "I don't want

approached eagerly to seize his prize. Joan gave a

nt instant death, he would not permit that t

e power of his body behind it. It crashed into the jutting jaw of the Mercutian like a charge of high explosi

erveless fingers. He darted for it with the speed of a striking snake. Even

r I'll cut

ngers uncurled. He arose, to meet the gleaming opening of

the tender point of his jaw. There was

y chuckled

mere midget, overcome a Mercutian. Especially you, a winner

lushed

ught me unawares," he said heated

ur sun-tube," said

ade a movemen

Captain's discomfiture. "I have other plans for him. Now go.

ind him; crouching like a cat. He would go down fighting. For al

weapon was raised. Hilary was caught between two fires, exposed

he would be blasted into nothingness. It would be Urga, he decided grimly. He tensed for the

whispered, and his

n came up sharply. One

room froze into immobility. Two Mercutian guards stumbled panting into the room. They came

h Magnificent?"

," the Vicero

feet heavily, and

ed with Earth weapons. The Cor of the Third District reports two men responsible-one is a giant among them, almost as tall as our own kind; and the o

great bound. Grim and

face darkene

o mobilize their men at once, and proceed in accordance with instructions known to them as General Order One. All conveyors to be stopped except for troop movements. Every slave found with weapons, or acting suspiciously, to be slain on the spot. Flying patrols to scatter in pairs, observe

ating, snapped flow of orders. The Viceroy, in spite of his seem

d low, and departed, thrustin

wiftly into a close-fitting dull-gray tunic. To his belt he fastened little roun

rgotten the existenc

once; convey my strict orders to Cor Eela that the weather machine must f

guard prostrated himself onc

-weather machine," he puzzled, holding Joan the tighter.

ddenly, stared at the

ry." His lidless eyes rested fleetingly on Joan. "And I would lose my public warning to the few Earth dogs who will sur

m up well. Thrust gags into their mouths." He grimaced. "I can taste mine yet. And remember, if th

Magnif

tok, and proceeded with clumsy weighted fingers to tie him up. Hilary did

ould move, the Viceroy smiled mockingly. "We sha