DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Horizons, v. 1, issue 3, April 1940

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Horizons, v. 1, issue 3, April 1940

Page 4

ness when father passes on. It is all a business deal. If you had learned to make money, instead of spending it on what father considers useless folly -- that's his way of looking at it -- you might have been the one. If you had even taken time off to go to the moon and back, if you had brought back some valuable metals, or anything to produce wealth--"
  "I understand," interupted Rem huskily. "I understand perfectly. When I saw you that last time, three years ago, I knew it was useless to ask you to wait for me to finish my great task. I had no way of knowing how long a time it would be. But it is the irony of fate that it should be completed the day of your marriage to another man. Still -- it is beginning. The real work is ahead, but the drudgery is over, and the adventure begins.  It's no adventure for a woman reared as you have been, but if you had not been betrothed to another man, I might have asked you to share it. But only if you wanted it very much. Even now, it is not too late.
  "Your father can adopt Fred as his legal heir, and let him run the business without your marrying him. If this marriage does not appeal to you, come with me in my space-ship. We will journey to the farthest output of the universe -- unless you prefer a paltry trip to Hawaii, which is no more than you have had every winter of your life. But -- but -- what am I saying! Forgive me, Elsie -- I forgot myself. Forgive me."
  "I don't want to marry Fred, and I don't care what becomes of father's money," said Elsie. "But I suppose it is all for the best -- Fred will have his business, and I will have my fine houses, travel and society, which I don't care for because I've alwasy had them. But I must be gone in fifteen minutes. If I should be missed -- well, we would have to go to the furthest bounds of space to get away from father. He will follow you to the ends of the earth if you upset any of his cherished schemes.
  "May I see your space-ship -- I suppose that is you meant when you said your work was finished."
  "No, dear, you may not," said Rem. "No one may see it until I return -- if I ever do. That was my agreement with my tow friends. You may not see it unless you wish to go with me. But -- that's beyond the bounds of reason. I have it all ready to start within the hour. No one knows I am going, except you. It would give me great happiness to have you along, but I might be leaving safety and happiness for heaven knows what. So -- it's goodbye and farewell. But I shall cherish the memory of this hour through the long reaches of eternal silence. Goodbye."
  The housebell tinkled, the signal of eternal parting for the twain.  Elsie went to the radiophone and answered, "Yes, Philip, I will be at the door in five minutes."
  She turned then and looked at Rem, the tousled dark hair, the serious, kindly face with the brilliant grey eyes, the face lined a little, but still young looking in spite of his forty years of age, and the days and nights of gruelling study and work. Rem was either the greatest genius of all time, or he was lunatic; she wasn't sure which.
  She could think of nothing more tiresome than to travel around in space -- nothing to see, nothing to hear; it would be madness to embark with him on this venture. And yet it was her destiny.
  She knew it now. She had only to say goodbye, and walk out of the room, to get away from this thing she had been born to do, and which she would hate only one degree less than she hated her marriage to Fred. Say goodbye, and getaway.
  The bell rang again.
  "Rem, I can't say goodbye. Where is your space-shi? I want to go with you. Quick, the chauffeur will come in a minute. If we are missed at home someone will be looking for me. I want to go with you! Can we start in time to get away?"
  Rem started up like one awakened from dreaming. "Can we? I'll say we can! Come on, get into this elevator. We will be miles away in fifteen minutes. Oh

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ness when father passes on. It is all a business deal. If you had learned to make money, instead of spending it on what father considers useless folly -- that's his way of looking at it -- you might have been the one. If you had even taken time off to go to the moon and back, if you had brought back some valuable metals, or anything to produce wealth--" "I understand," interupted Rem huskily. "I understand perfectly. When I saw you that last time, three years ago, I knew it was useless to ask you to wait for me to finish my great task. I had no way of knowing how long a time it would be. But it is the irony of fate that it should be completed the day of your marriage to another man. Still -- it is beginning. The real work is ahead, but the drudgery is over, and the adventure begins. It's no adventure for a woman reared as you have been, but if you had not been betrothed to another man, I might have asked you to share it. But only if you wanted it very much. Even now, it is not too late. "Your father can adopt Fred as his legal heir, and let him run the business without your marrying him. If this marriage does not appeal to you, come with me in my space-ship. We will journey to the farthest output of the universe -- unless you prefer a paltry trip to Hawaii, which is no more than you have had every winter of your life. But -- but -- what am I saying! Forgive me, Elsie -- I forgot myself. Forgive me." "I don't want to marry Fred, and I don't care what becomes of father's money," said Elsie. "But I suppose it is all for the best -- Fred will have his business, and I will have my fine houses, travel and society, which I don't care for because I've alwasy had them. But I must be gone in fifteen minutes. If I should be missed -- well, we would have to go to the furthest bounds of space to get away from father. He will follow you to the ends of the earth if you upset any of his cherished schemes. "May I see your space-ship -- I suppose that is you meant when you said your work was finished." "No, dear, you may not," said Rem. "No one may see it until I return -- if I ever do. That was my agreement with my tow friends. You may not see it unless you wish to go with me. But -- that's beyond the bounds of reason. I have it all ready to start within the hour. No one knows I am going, except you. It would give me great happiness to have you along, but I might be leaving safety and happiness for heaven knows what. So -- it's goodbye and farewell. But I shall cherish the memory of this hour through the long reaches of eternal silence. Goodbye." The housebell tinkled, the signal of eternal parting for the twain. Elsie went to the radiophone and answered, "Yes, Philip, I will be at the door in five minutes." She turned then and looked at Rem, the tousled dark hair, the serious, kindly face with the brilliant grey eyes, the face lined a little, but still young looking in spite of his forty years of age, and the days and nights of gruelling study and work. Rem was either the greatest genius of all time, or he was lunatic; she wasn't sure which. She could think of nothing more tiresome than to travel around in space -- nothing to see, nothing to hear; it would be madness to embark with him on this venture. And yet it was her destiny. She knew it now. She had only to say goodbye, and walk out of the room, to get away from this thing she had been born to do, and which she would hate only one degree less than she hated her marriage to Fred. Say goodbye, and getaway. The bell rang again. "Rem, I can't say goodbye. Where is your space-shi? I want to go with you. Quick, the chauffeur will come in a minute. If we are missed at home someone will be looking for me. I want to go with you! Can we start in time to get away?" Rem started up like one awakened from dreaming. "Can we? I'll say we can! Come on, get into this elevator. We will be miles away in fifteen minutes. Oh