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Spatium, issue 5, September 1949

Page 8

SPATIUM                   FICTION
AN UNHEROIC ADVENTURE
                  By Jim Goldfrank
                  I
   The war with Krels was almost over. Those intelligent jellyfish had overwhelmed us by sheer weight of numbers. Our scientists had worked with frantic haste, perfecting new weapons, but still they came. And then we found an ally. From the same part of the galaxy as the Krels, came the "Darkies", wise blue ants, with massive brain cases. They left for the same reason as the Krels; a sun had become a nova, and space for millions of parsecs around us was filled with deadly radiation. They were friendly to us, and we lived in harmony. The tide reversed, and we of the Darken-Terran League began to win. Then the "Darkies" weakened.
                   II
   Brik, my Darken co-pilot on the Aldebaran run was listless. His antennae shook as he switched on the hyper-drive. "What's with you, pal" I inquired.
   "My race is dying; we have no more of an essential drug without which we cannot live."
   "Well, can't some be obtained or synthesized?"
   "No. We never needed to synthesize it because, as a semi-organic crystal, it grew, besides which its structure was impossible to copy. We are helpless over great lengths of time without it. Our race ...and yours will die."
   The next "morning" I had a brain-storm. "Brik, how many are aboard this shp?"
   "Just we two."
   "And what's our cargo?"
   "Double-pro suites for the radium mines. So ---?"
   " We're going to get a supply of that element!"
   "Look, Commy," he said, "you're mad. Even with the suits, you'd be paralyzed within three days and dead within two weeks!"
   "Someone has to do it, and that someone will be me. I'm setting the control for your planet  , now. I'll give you your chance; take a life-boat out now, if you wish." I was greeted by laughter.
   "Commy, the ship has been headed that way for a week."
                    III
   "Earth Central  ---  calling Earth Central." Briks voice droned on and on.
   "Earth Central  ---  Who is this please?" I took the mike.
   "This is Comet Berns, code number KSP587J84, we're in zone zn5ne27.784.
   "You're either not there or crazy. That sector is banned because of radiation."
   "I am here, and I'm not crazy; get a triangulation on me if you like. Meanwhile, open your transit receiver, I have a package for you." The crystal plant disappeared. "And get that to
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SPATIUM FICTION AN UNHEROIC ADVENTURE By Jim Goldfrank I The war with Krels was almost over. Those intelligent jellyfish had overwhelmed us by sheer weight of numbers. Our scientists had worked with frantic haste, perfecting new weapons, but still they came. And then we found an ally. From the same part of the galaxy as the Krels, came the "Darkies", wise blue ants, with massive brain cases. They left for the same reason as the Krels; a sun had become a nova, and space for millions of parsecs around us was filled with deadly radiation. They were friendly to us, and we lived in harmony. The tide reversed, and we of the Darken-Terran League began to win. Then the "Darkies" weakened. II Brik, my Darken co-pilot on the Aldebaran run was listless. His antennae shook as he switched on the hyper-drive. "What's with you, pal" I inquired. "My race is dying; we have no more of an essential drug without which we cannot live." "Well, can't some be obtained or synthesized?" "No. We never needed to synthesize it because, as a semi-organic crystal, it grew, besides which its structure was impossible to copy. We are helpless over great lengths of time without it. Our race ...and yours will die." The next "morning" I had a brain-storm. "Brik, how many are aboard this shp?" "Just we two." "And what's our cargo?" "Double-pro suites for the radium mines. So ---?" " We're going to get a supply of that element!" "Look, Commy," he said, "you're mad. Even with the suits, you'd be paralyzed within three days and dead within two weeks!" "Someone has to do it, and that someone will be me. I'm setting the control for your planet , now. I'll give you your chance; take a life-boat out now, if you wish." I was greeted by laughter. "Commy, the ship has been headed that way for a week." III "Earth Central --- calling Earth Central." Briks voice droned on and on. "Earth Central --- Who is this please?" I took the mike. "This is Comet Berns, code number KSP587J84, we're in zone zn5ne27.784. "You're either not there or crazy. That sector is banned because of radiation." "I am here, and I'm not crazy; get a triangulation on me if you like. Meanwhile, open your transit receiver, I have a package for you." The crystal plant disappeared. "And get that to PAGE - (8) (Please turn to page 12 to continue)