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

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Horizons, v. 1, issue 3, April 1940

Page 5

Elsie, you are the most wonderful girl in all the world"
  The elevator took them down into a basement.  They followed a narrow passage at the end of which was a massive steel door which Ren unlocked.  They entered the great room where the space-ship had been built.  There is was, a great hollow globe of dark metal, resting on a wheeled carrier with a ladder beside it.  Rem locked the door behind hin, and commanded Elsie to ascend the ladder.  She did so after pulling off her long cloak and taking it to Rem, sh she need not be hampered by its voluminous folds about her.  Her dress of blue satin, with its jeweled trimmings, looked oddly out of place in that grim workroom  as beautiful and useless as the girl herself would be on the strange journey.  A metal handbag hung from her right arm, inside were the usual articles carried by young women; cosmetics, a small mirror, gloves, and a roll of paper money.  One of her slippers came off and dropped to the floor.  Rem put it in his pocket and ran lightly up the ladder to the platform.  Luckily for them the ship was ready to go.
  Rem opened the door, and pushed her inside.  The phone bell was ringing persistently; there was no time to waste.  He kicked the ladder to the floor and went inside the ship, swinging the door shut behind them.
  "Rem, how in the world do we get out of here in this vehicle?" demanded Elsie.
  "Never mind that," he said.  "Lie down on that couch.  Look out the window.  We're going in five minutes; going fast."
  He went to the controls, sat down on a chair before the intricate assortment of instruments and dials.  Elsie sat on the couch, looking first at him, that at the window of thick glass.  The carrier moved with them, and began to roll down the length of the room; a door opened, wide enough to let the ship through, and they travelled along a tunnel for perhaps a mile, gathering speed as they went.  Then, another door opened, and they were out in the open with blue sky aboive, the sky where they would be in a few hours.  The ship bgan to quiver, as Rem released the power locked up in the anti-gravity engine.  The ship ascended straight into the blue and they were off.  The strangest adventure that mortals could know was to be theirs.
  "Elsie, are you asleep?  --Wake up, girl, and take your last look at earth as it is today.  It will be a long time before you see it that way again.  There's nothing to be afraid of now; we're well out in space and going fine."
  Elsie uncovered her head and arose shakily from the couch.  Rem led her to the window and she saw the earth far beneath, looking about the size of the moon, the moon itself the size of a small star beside it.  Over yonder was the sun, a strange looking orb, appearing like a ball of gold surrounded by colored fire.  Above, below, and on all sides were stars glittering in a pall of black velvet.  And in all the mighty void there was nothing beneath her feet but the tiny space-ship.  She turned away from the window and forces herself to smile.
  "It's wonderful Rem--but of course, this is all a dream.  Isn't it, now?  Or are we really moving?  Where are we going?"
  "Everywhere and nowhere," he answered joyously.  "This is a space-ship, Elsie, and not a traffic liner.  Where we'll take back with us will be worth more than money.   have slaved for this many years, and now it is happening.  Sure, we're moving--faster every second.  But don't imagine you've seen all there is to see on this trip.  If my deductions are correct, I'll have a lot to show you, if not, we can always go back as fast as we came.
  "My object in coming was mostly to write a history of the earth, an authentic history, going back to the very beginning of earthly time--perhaps beyond  I have only to look and write down what we see."
  I know he is crazy now, Elsie was thinking.  But she smiled again, wondering how she would endure the monotony of this terrible journey.  But he would tire of it in a few days, no doubt, and she would persuade him to stop somewhere, or get back to earth to the renown that could surely be his if he wanted it.
  "sit down in this easy chair," he said, "and see how you are going to like your new home.  Have you notices how comfortable everything is?  Our good space

Saving...

Elsie, you are the most wonderful girl in all the world" The elevator took them down into a basement. They followed a narrow passage at the end of which was a massive steel door which Ren unlocked. They entered the great room where the space-ship had been built. There is was, a great hollow globe of dark metal, resting on a wheeled carrier with a ladder beside it. Rem locked the door behind hin, and commanded Elsie to ascend the ladder. She did so after pulling off her long cloak and taking it to Rem, sh she need not be hampered by its voluminous folds about her. Her dress of blue satin, with its jeweled trimmings, looked oddly out of place in that grim workroom as beautiful and useless as the girl herself would be on the strange journey. A metal handbag hung from her right arm, inside were the usual articles carried by young women; cosmetics, a small mirror, gloves, and a roll of paper money. One of her slippers came off and dropped to the floor. Rem put it in his pocket and ran lightly up the ladder to the platform. Luckily for them the ship was ready to go. Rem opened the door, and pushed her inside. The phone bell was ringing persistently; there was no time to waste. He kicked the ladder to the floor and went inside the ship, swinging the door shut behind them. "Rem, how in the world do we get out of here in this vehicle?" demanded Elsie. "Never mind that," he said. "Lie down on that couch. Look out the window. We're going in five minutes; going fast." He went to the controls, sat down on a chair before the intricate assortment of instruments and dials. Elsie sat on the couch, looking first at him, that at the window of thick glass. The carrier moved with them, and began to roll down the length of the room; a door opened, wide enough to let the ship through, and they travelled along a tunnel for perhaps a mile, gathering speed as they went. Then, another door opened, and they were out in the open with blue sky aboive, the sky where they would be in a few hours. The ship bgan to quiver, as Rem released the power locked up in the anti-gravity engine. The ship ascended straight into the blue and they were off. The strangest adventure that mortals could know was to be theirs. "Elsie, are you asleep? --Wake up, girl, and take your last look at earth as it is today. It will be a long time before you see it that way again. There's nothing to be afraid of now; we're well out in space and going fine." Elsie uncovered her head and arose shakily from the couch. Rem led her to the window and she saw the earth far beneath, looking about the size of the moon, the moon itself the size of a small star beside it. Over yonder was the sun, a strange looking orb, appearing like a ball of gold surrounded by colored fire. Above, below, and on all sides were stars glittering in a pall of black velvet. And in all the mighty void there was nothing beneath her feet but the tiny space-ship. She turned away from the window and forces herself to smile. "It's wonderful Rem--but of course, this is all a dream. Isn't it, now? Or are we really moving? Where are we going?" "Everywhere and nowhere," he answered joyously. "This is a space-ship, Elsie, and not a traffic liner. Where we'll take back with us will be worth more than money. have slaved for this many years, and now it is happening. Sure, we're moving--faster every second. But don't imagine you've seen all there is to see on this trip. If my deductions are correct, I'll have a lot to show you, if not, we can always go back as fast as we came. "My object in coming was mostly to write a history of the earth, an authentic history, going back to the very beginning of earthly time--perhaps beyond I have only to look and write down what we see." I know he is crazy now, Elsie was thinking. But she smiled again, wondering how she would endure the monotony of this terrible journey. But he would tire of it in a few days, no doubt, and she would persuade him to stop somewhere, or get back to earth to the renown that could surely be his if he wanted it. "sit down in this easy chair," he said, "and see how you are going to like your new home. Have you notices how comfortable everything is? Our good space