DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Fantasite, v. 2, issue 5, whole 11, May-June 1943

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Fantasite, v. 2, issue 5, whole 11, May-June 1943

Page 27

THE FANTASITE ... 27

A TITLE-LESS TALE
SIR GALAHAD PONGLY

"It's like this," the Sane Scientist said to his awe-struck assistant. "Ever since I was a little tot I've been crazy about King Arthur and his Knights! In my boyhood, instead of playing cops and robbers, or cowboys and Indians like the other kids, I played knights and dragons."

The assistant opened his mouth.

"Don't laugh," interrupted the Sane Scientist. "It was real to me. My broomstick was a dashing white charger, not a cow-pony. I slew dragons, not Indians. Well, when I grew up the love of the literature stayed with me; I became something of an authority on the period.

"And--I became fixed with an obsession. I wanted, somehow, to get back to those times! With the coming of the rocket and atomic power I realized myself several steps nearer my dream, for the sciences developed in allied fields to those two steps opened vast new fields to me. Yes--I experimented with time-travel!

"Until at long last I succeeded in converting that tiny rocket speedster there into a potential time-travelling craft.

"With this tiny phial of time-travelling powder which I hold in my hand, I shall journey back through the centuries and actually visit King Arthur and his glamorous Knights of the Round Table!"

The Sane Scientist was as good as his word. He entered his small ship, waved the assistant back to safety, and called goodbye. He emptied the contents of the phial into the sand in the combustion chamber, pulled the switch, and vanished into space and time.

*********

The good knight St. George rode stolidly along in the warm English sunshine, his white shield glistening in the reflected sunlight. Behind him on the horse's rump joggled the fair Lady Gwendolyn, wishing mightily for springs and upholstered rumble seats. 

"Look, look!" she cried suddenly, pointing into the sky. "Another one, good sir. And what a fiery beast it be!"

"Slip down, fair one," cried good St. George. "Ah, but I am fair weary of slaying the critters--still, [merrie?] England must be rid of the varmints. I go into the fray! Look, even now it has landed. See the fire from its nose!"

"Yes," cried the Lady Gwendolyn. "And how the huge round eyes gleam with inner light! Look yon--I see a man's face mirrored therein."

"Avast!" roared the good St. George. He brought into position his gleaming white shield to blind his opponent, and raising his wicked lance into striking position, charged the fiery monster. With goodly judgement he aimed at the large eye showing in the side--the eye that mirrored the clean-shaven face of a man. 

When it was all over, St. George and the Lady Gwendolyn strode casually from the portlock. St. George spat.

"A rather crummy job, this. Did ye note they used common sand for power? Early 21st Century model, I'd say. Remember the one I bagged last Tuesday? Man, what a sweet job that was. It had inertia-drive!"

**********

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THE FANTASITE ... 27 A TITLE-LESS TALE SIR GALAHAD PONGLY "It's like this," the Sane Scientist said to his awe-struck assistant. "Ever since I was a little tot I've been crazy about King Arthur and his Knights! In my boyhood, instead of playing cops and robbers, or cowboys and Indians like the other kids, I played knights and dragons." The assistant opened his mouth. "Don't laugh," interrupted the Sane Scientist. "It was real to me. My broomstick was a dashing white charger, not a cow-pony. I slew dragons, not Indians. Well, when I grew up the love of the literature stayed with me; I became something of an authority on the period. "And--I became fixed with an obsession. I wanted, somehow, to get back to those times! With the coming of the rocket and atomic power I realized myself several steps nearer my dream, for the sciences developed in allied fields to those two steps opened vast new fields to me. Yes--I experimented with time-travel! "Until at long last I succeeded in converting that tiny rocket speedster there into a potential time-travelling craft. "With this tiny phial of time-travelling powder which I hold in my hand, I shall journey back through the centuries and actually visit King Arthur and his glamorous Knights of the Round Table!" The Sane Scientist was as good as his word. He entered his small ship, waved the assistant back to safety, and called goodbye. He emptied the contents of the phial into the sand in the combustion chamber, pulled the switch, and vanished into space and time. ********* The good knight St. George rode stolidly along in the warm English sunshine, his white shield glistening in the reflected sunlight. Behind him on the horse's rump joggled the fair Lady Gwendolyn, wishing mightily for springs and upholstered rumble seats. "Look, look!" she cried suddenly, pointing into the sky. "Another one, good sir. And what a fiery beast it be!" "Slip down, fair one," cried good St. George. "Ah, but I am fair weary of slaying the critters--still, [merrie?] England must be rid of the varmints. I go into the fray! Look, even now it has landed. See the fire from its nose!" "Yes," cried the Lady Gwendolyn. "And how the huge round eyes gleam with inner light! Look yon--I see a man's face mirrored therein." "Avast!" roared the good St. George. He brought into position his gleaming white shield to blind his opponent, and raising his wicked lance into striking position, charged the fiery monster. With goodly judgement he aimed at the large eye showing in the side--the eye that mirrored the clean-shaven face of a man. When it was all over, St. George and the Lady Gwendolyn strode casually from the portlock. St. George spat. "A rather crummy job, this. Did ye note they used common sand for power? Early 21st Century model, I'd say. Remember the one I bagged last Tuesday? Man, what a sweet job that was. It had inertia-drive!" **********