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Cosmic Tales, v. 2, issue 1, Summer 1939

Page 26

26                        COSMIC TALES

SIX AGAINST THE PAST
PART IV by C.S. YOUD

The stars overhead were large and unwinking as Wilson strode steadily along the brow of a hill that should, by 1939 judgement, have been a river bed. Two hours ago, at sunset, he had parted from Speer and McPhail and already he was beginning rather to regret having consented to Taurasi's separation scheme. Beside him bulked the ominous shape of the forest he had recently quitted. The old fear of darkness and the hideous monsters of nightmare, which had once tormented his sensitive mind, returned with all the added terror of utter loneliness.
He wished for the moon. he prayed it would rise, and all the while he was walking...walking... shying away from the shadows and the whispers beckoning from the forest. Perspiration scattered from his face and his pulse began to beat faster in company with the thunderous throbbing of his heart. His paced quickened, and when a loon dirged like lost Tsashulth, he abandoned all restraint and ran, sobbing, thru the wild night. Self-pity described to him the awful end he could expect in this wilderness of savage man and beast. The folly of Taurasi in splitting their meagre forces roused him to momentary anger, and the thot that he would give him a hell of a panning in News Letter. Then he realized there was no News Letter, would be none for hundreds, thousands of years....... Running wildly now, he tripped over a root and fell full lenght into a bracken. over the silent plains, his indistinguishable rose, pitifully small.

*****************

McPhail and Speer said good-by with a good deal of regret. With a pang they watched his solitary figure fade away into the gathering dusk before they, too, set off again.
"Sorry to see Dick go," muttered McPhail. "he's a good scout, but Foo know how he'll manage by himself."
"Yeah, but we're all in the same boat, you know. We may pine for the simple life, but it's going to be tough work rustling up food, and the flora and fauna won't prove helpful."
"You're right, they won't. That Indian we saw just before dusk looked plenty fierce enuf even if he did take fright and beat it. for that matter," McPhail went on apprehensively, "how do we know he did take a fright? he might be a scout of some sort."
Speer stopped, mentally winded by this altogether new theory. "Well, for FOOFOO --! But you may be right at that, Dan. Say, this isn't going to be a tea party!"
"Divided we fall, and all that. What about us two sticking together, Jack? We've had plenty of fan differences, but this is something more than the FAPA elections, and two right arms are stronger than one, to misquote an old saying."
"I'm with you," replied Speer eagerly, thrusting out his hand. Then he checked himself suddenly. "But - is it quite fair to the others? I mean, if it comes to achieving something, we'll have a big pull over the others, and, after all, we did agree to split."
"This is no time for ethics," retorted McPhail sullenly. "I know a little about pre-discovery America, and I think it'll be darned lucky if two people can make a living here. One by himself wouldn't stand a chance. Of course, if you're so blasted fond of fair play as to jeopardize both our lives..."
"Not at all," replied Speer

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26 COSMIC TALES SIX AGAINST THE PAST PART IV by C.S. YOUD The stars overhead were large and unwinking as Wilson strode steadily along the brow of a hill that should, by 1939 judgement, have been a river bed. Two hours ago, at sunset, he had parted from Speer and McPhail and already he was beginning rather to regret having consented to Taurasi's separation scheme. Beside him bulked the ominous shape of the forest he had recently quitted. The old fear of darkness and the hideous monsters of nightmare, which had once tormented his sensitive mind, returned with all the added terror of utter loneliness. He wished for the moon. he prayed it would rise, and all the while he was walking...walking... shying away from the shadows and the whispers beckoning from the forest. Perspiration scattered from his face and his pulse began to beat faster in company with the thunderous throbbing of his heart. His paced quickened, and when a loon dirged like lost Tsashulth, he abandoned all restraint and ran, sobbing, thru the wild night. Self-pity described to him the awful end he could expect in this wilderness of savage man and beast. The folly of Taurasi in splitting their meagre forces roused him to momentary anger, and the thot that he would give him a hell of a panning in News Letter. Then he realized there was no News Letter, would be none for hundreds, thousands of years....... Running wildly now, he tripped over a root and fell full lenght into a bracken. over the silent plains, his indistinguishable rose, pitifully small. ***************** McPhail and Speer said good-by with a good deal of regret. With a pang they watched his solitary figure fade away into the gathering dusk before they, too, set off again. "Sorry to see Dick go," muttered McPhail. "he's a good scout, but Foo know how he'll manage by himself." "Yeah, but we're all in the same boat, you know. We may pine for the simple life, but it's going to be tough work rustling up food, and the flora and fauna won't prove helpful." "You're right, they won't. That Indian we saw just before dusk looked plenty fierce enuf even if he did take fright and beat it. for that matter," McPhail went on apprehensively, "how do we know he did take a fright? he might be a scout of some sort." Speer stopped, mentally winded by this altogether new theory. "Well, for FOOFOO --! But you may be right at that, Dan. Say, this isn't going to be a tea party!" "Divided we fall, and all that. What about us two sticking together, Jack? We've had plenty of fan differences, but this is something more than the FAPA elections, and two right arms are stronger than one, to misquote an old saying." "I'm with you," replied Speer eagerly, thrusting out his hand. Then he checked himself suddenly. "But - is it quite fair to the others? I mean, if it comes to achieving something, we'll have a big pull over the others, and, after all, we did agree to split." "This is no time for ethics," retorted McPhail sullenly. "I know a little about pre-discovery America, and I think it'll be darned lucky if two people can make a living here. One by himself wouldn't stand a chance. Of course, if you're so blasted fond of fair play as to jeopardize both our lives..." "Not at all," replied Speer