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Centauri, issue 2, Winter 1944
Page 22
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Page 22 Centauri - SECRET OF ATLANTIS - ures rising about me; stared in wonder at the shadows that fell below them. A light gleamed beyond the bars in her windows. One of them was open and I floated through it. She rose from a low couch; her curved lips formed a glad cry. Our first thoughts came slowly. She was troubled. "I must tell the truth," she said. "I, too, want you to stay, more than anything I know. But we would be captives here --" "I could stay if I had a body -- I entered one on the earth. But we would not have to remain here, always. Once in a body, I could draw the design again; draw two of them. Then we could escape, travel to a peaceful planet, and enter other bodies!" There were tears in her eyes. "I--I hoped you would say that--" She had reasoned it out ahead of me! "Do you want to?" I cried. She nodded, her lips trembling. "We must hurry. I hate to leave my people, but...Come with me. I know a man who would do anything for me. He is old, but you can live within him long enough -- it will not harm him. Your body is on earth, awaiting you. Even now it may be close to death. When it dies, you die--" She ran to the door; called down the corridor. Suddenly my thoughts began to weaken. She turned, came close to me, fear in her blue eyes. I could scarcely hear her. I caught a few words. "--waited too long...return...too late...quickly, my love..." Consciousness faded. That fear which transcends all other fears snatched me away, out of the window. I cried as only a lost soul can cry, and beneath me yawned a pit of blackness. Waves of agony flooded me as awareness returned. I knew that my spirit rested in its body, but I struggled against surrender to the flesh. I detested all thoughts of earthly life...with that wonderful dream and stupendous ambition left behind to taunt me. At last I opened my eyes. I lay in bed, in my own room. Several people were standing nearby, staring at me, an odd mixture of emotions traced on their faces. I saw horror and fear and awe. I tried to sit up, but Doctor Eldridge pushed me back, gently. "Take it easy, Chet. You've passed through a trying ordeal--" "What day is this?" I demanded. My voice was hoarse and cracked. There were long whiskers on my face. The doctor spoke. "This is August the eighth." My God! Gone three weeks. Or perhaps a year and three weeks. I was afraid to ask about that...None of the men seemed older. Reeves, his kind face sad and bewildered, looked the same. Then I saw the calendar. 1943. Twenty days had seemed like a few hours. The doctor motioned the people from the room, and regarded me carefully. "Chet, you've been in a coma since July
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Page 22 Centauri - SECRET OF ATLANTIS - ures rising about me; stared in wonder at the shadows that fell below them. A light gleamed beyond the bars in her windows. One of them was open and I floated through it. She rose from a low couch; her curved lips formed a glad cry. Our first thoughts came slowly. She was troubled. "I must tell the truth," she said. "I, too, want you to stay, more than anything I know. But we would be captives here --" "I could stay if I had a body -- I entered one on the earth. But we would not have to remain here, always. Once in a body, I could draw the design again; draw two of them. Then we could escape, travel to a peaceful planet, and enter other bodies!" There were tears in her eyes. "I--I hoped you would say that--" She had reasoned it out ahead of me! "Do you want to?" I cried. She nodded, her lips trembling. "We must hurry. I hate to leave my people, but...Come with me. I know a man who would do anything for me. He is old, but you can live within him long enough -- it will not harm him. Your body is on earth, awaiting you. Even now it may be close to death. When it dies, you die--" She ran to the door; called down the corridor. Suddenly my thoughts began to weaken. She turned, came close to me, fear in her blue eyes. I could scarcely hear her. I caught a few words. "--waited too long...return...too late...quickly, my love..." Consciousness faded. That fear which transcends all other fears snatched me away, out of the window. I cried as only a lost soul can cry, and beneath me yawned a pit of blackness. Waves of agony flooded me as awareness returned. I knew that my spirit rested in its body, but I struggled against surrender to the flesh. I detested all thoughts of earthly life...with that wonderful dream and stupendous ambition left behind to taunt me. At last I opened my eyes. I lay in bed, in my own room. Several people were standing nearby, staring at me, an odd mixture of emotions traced on their faces. I saw horror and fear and awe. I tried to sit up, but Doctor Eldridge pushed me back, gently. "Take it easy, Chet. You've passed through a trying ordeal--" "What day is this?" I demanded. My voice was hoarse and cracked. There were long whiskers on my face. The doctor spoke. "This is August the eighth." My God! Gone three weeks. Or perhaps a year and three weeks. I was afraid to ask about that...None of the men seemed older. Reeves, his kind face sad and bewildered, looked the same. Then I saw the calendar. 1943. Twenty days had seemed like a few hours. The doctor motioned the people from the room, and regarded me carefully. "Chet, you've been in a coma since July
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