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Horizons, v. 1, issue 3, April 1940
Page 11
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HORIZONS 11 THE SPACE-MAN STRIKES BACK extreme heat of strongest acid, measured seven feet in length. Vaguely distinguishable through the ionium of his chest were a number of delicate electrical mechanisms which powered by a mesotronic battery, supplied life to his arms and legs. You may have gathered from this that the Spaceman was a robot. Do not be deceived! Inside his head, floating in a bowl of Aqua Vitae, could have been seen an organic brain, to which were attached a number of fine nerve wires. These latter were connected to the mesotronic battery, and in this way, impulses from the brain controlled his artificial body. As the seconds passed, the screw-craft drew nearer and nearer to the giant star, until at last the planets were easily discernible and appeared to be growing larger. Cutting off his gravity-motors, by the simple means of sliding leaden covers over the cobalt-stell detector-coils, the Space-man turned to a rotating telescope, and commenced to examine the surface of the second planet. Zehd, the innermost, he knew from previous experiences, was an extremely hot world; having rivers of molten metal, and an atmosphere of high fusion vapour. Life could not possibly exist on its surface. On the other hand, Quandor, the outermost, was so cold that frozen glaciers of liquid air were all that adorned its barren surface. The third body was merely a planetoid, having a diameter two hundred miles, and too feeble gravity to support an atmosphere. But the second, which the Space-man had named Forma, after the ancient Latin word for "beauty" because of its multi-coloured fauna, was the most magnificent he had ever seen. It was suitable for Earthly colonization, and he had set himself down to help the race of his father as much as he possibly could. A previous test had shown him it possessed an atmosphere of oxygen and helium, a mixture which was quite breathable by a human being, and its temperature and gravity were almost the same as those of Terra. As he cruised slowly past Forma, the Space-man re-opened the starboard detectors, and on strapping the gravity of the planet, the space-ship veered sharply towards it, and plunged into the cool atmosphere. Although he could not feel it, the Space-man knew the ship must be getting hot, so once more cutting off the detectors, he brought it slowly down to land in a clearing amongst the flowering plants and lofty trees. Perhaps you are wondering why the Space-man, having already obtained data of atmosphere, temperature, weather, gravity and other conditions, was visiting the planet again. The reason was because he wanted to examine the animal life it supported, and determine whether there were any intelligent creatures which might menace the colonists when they arrived. Equipping himself with a Sirian Mesotron Projector, or more commonly known as an M-gun, he climbed through the air-lock, and commenced to cut his way through nearby foliage and undergrowth by simply disintegrating it. After several hours' march, having encountered several small animals, one of which he killed and placed in his pack for later examination, he came upon a low hill, which he decided to climb, and thus have a better look at the surrounding landscape. Reaching the top, he looked around, and suddenly gave a gasp of surprise. Lying on its side amongst the trees not half a mile from where he stood was a space-ship! Its nose had caved in, forming a long gap in its side. The rocket-tubes, which faced the Space-man, were burnt out, and it was not difficult for him to surmise what had happened. Evidently some pioneer had chanced this way, just as his father had chanced upon Terusa, after his rocket-tubes had burnt out during some exploration trip in the void. Automatically focussing his lens-eyes upon the wreck, he examined the enlarged image, and made out the lettering on its side. It was a BSE craft just as had been his father's. The only thing to do, decided the Space-man, was to enter the wreck, get the identification of its crew, and radio them back to the authorities on Earth. Setting off at a quick trop, he began to make his way through the trees
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HORIZONS 11 THE SPACE-MAN STRIKES BACK extreme heat of strongest acid, measured seven feet in length. Vaguely distinguishable through the ionium of his chest were a number of delicate electrical mechanisms which powered by a mesotronic battery, supplied life to his arms and legs. You may have gathered from this that the Spaceman was a robot. Do not be deceived! Inside his head, floating in a bowl of Aqua Vitae, could have been seen an organic brain, to which were attached a number of fine nerve wires. These latter were connected to the mesotronic battery, and in this way, impulses from the brain controlled his artificial body. As the seconds passed, the screw-craft drew nearer and nearer to the giant star, until at last the planets were easily discernible and appeared to be growing larger. Cutting off his gravity-motors, by the simple means of sliding leaden covers over the cobalt-stell detector-coils, the Space-man turned to a rotating telescope, and commenced to examine the surface of the second planet. Zehd, the innermost, he knew from previous experiences, was an extremely hot world; having rivers of molten metal, and an atmosphere of high fusion vapour. Life could not possibly exist on its surface. On the other hand, Quandor, the outermost, was so cold that frozen glaciers of liquid air were all that adorned its barren surface. The third body was merely a planetoid, having a diameter two hundred miles, and too feeble gravity to support an atmosphere. But the second, which the Space-man had named Forma, after the ancient Latin word for "beauty" because of its multi-coloured fauna, was the most magnificent he had ever seen. It was suitable for Earthly colonization, and he had set himself down to help the race of his father as much as he possibly could. A previous test had shown him it possessed an atmosphere of oxygen and helium, a mixture which was quite breathable by a human being, and its temperature and gravity were almost the same as those of Terra. As he cruised slowly past Forma, the Space-man re-opened the starboard detectors, and on strapping the gravity of the planet, the space-ship veered sharply towards it, and plunged into the cool atmosphere. Although he could not feel it, the Space-man knew the ship must be getting hot, so once more cutting off the detectors, he brought it slowly down to land in a clearing amongst the flowering plants and lofty trees. Perhaps you are wondering why the Space-man, having already obtained data of atmosphere, temperature, weather, gravity and other conditions, was visiting the planet again. The reason was because he wanted to examine the animal life it supported, and determine whether there were any intelligent creatures which might menace the colonists when they arrived. Equipping himself with a Sirian Mesotron Projector, or more commonly known as an M-gun, he climbed through the air-lock, and commenced to cut his way through nearby foliage and undergrowth by simply disintegrating it. After several hours' march, having encountered several small animals, one of which he killed and placed in his pack for later examination, he came upon a low hill, which he decided to climb, and thus have a better look at the surrounding landscape. Reaching the top, he looked around, and suddenly gave a gasp of surprise. Lying on its side amongst the trees not half a mile from where he stood was a space-ship! Its nose had caved in, forming a long gap in its side. The rocket-tubes, which faced the Space-man, were burnt out, and it was not difficult for him to surmise what had happened. Evidently some pioneer had chanced this way, just as his father had chanced upon Terusa, after his rocket-tubes had burnt out during some exploration trip in the void. Automatically focussing his lens-eyes upon the wreck, he examined the enlarged image, and made out the lettering on its side. It was a BSE craft just as had been his father's. The only thing to do, decided the Space-man, was to enter the wreck, get the identification of its crew, and radio them back to the authorities on Earth. Setting off at a quick trop, he began to make his way through the trees
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