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Fan-Atic, v. 1, issue 1, January 1941
Page 4
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DEVIL'S ASTEROID by Manly Wade Wellman (Continued.) The sky, by virtue of an Earth-type atmosphere, glowed blue with wispy clouds, and around the small plain on which he stood sprouted clumps and thickets of green tropical trees. Heathery ferns, with white and yellow blooms, grew under his bare feet. The sun, hovering at zenith, gave a July warmth to the air. The little horizon was very near of course, and the variety of thickets, with rough rocks and hillocks at a distance to his right, kept it from seeming too different from an Earth landscape. Parr decided that he might learn to endure, even to enjoy. Meanwhile, what about the other Terrestrials exiled [illegible], as Parr wondered, he heard their sudden excited voices. Threats and oaths rent the balmy air. Through the turmoil resounded solid blows. Parr broke into a run, shoved through some broad-leafed bushes, and found himself in the midst of the excitement. A dozen men, with scraggly beards and skimpy rags of clothing, were setting upon an unclassifiable creature that snarled and fought back. It was erect and coarsely hairy -- Parr saw that much before the enigma gave up the unequal fight and ran clumsily away into a mass of bright-colored flowered scrub. Execrations and a volley of sticks and stones speeded its flight. Then mob was aware of Parr. Every man -- they were all male Terrestrials -- turned toward him, with something like respect. One of them, tall and thin, spoke diffidently: "You just arrived!" "I was just booted out, not ten minutes ago," Parr informed him. "Why?" "Because you're our new chief," responded the thin man, bowing. "The latest comer always commands here." Parr must have goggled, for the thin man smiled through tawny stubble. "The latest comer is always highest and wisest," he elaborated. "He is the strongest. Best. The longer you stay on this asteroid, the lower you fall." Parr thought he was being joked with and scowled. But his informant smiled the broader. "My name's Sadau -- here under sentence for theft of Martian government property." "I'm Parr. They said I was a murderer. It's a lie." One of two chuckled at that, and the one who called himself Sadau said; "We all feel unjustly condemned. Meet the others -- Jeffords, Wain, Heldecott..." Each man, as named, nodded to Parr. The final introduction was of a sallow, frowning lump of a fellow called Shanklin, "I was boss until you came," volunteered this last man. "Now you take over." He waved toward a little knot of huts, half-hidden among palmy fronds. "This is our capital city. You get the largest house -- until somebody new shows up, and you step down like me." He spoke with ill grace. Parr did not reply at once, but studied these folk who were putting themselves under his rule. They would not have been handsome even if shaved and dressed properly. Indeed, two or three had the coarse lowbrowed look of profound degenerates. Back into his mind came the words of Sadau "The longer you stay...the lower you fall." Biographies of Famous Authors Otto Binder -- Otto Binder was born in 1911, in the state of Michigan. He is tall, dark, and handsome. Although he had intended to become a chemist the crash stopped that dream, so he and his brother Earl took up the career of writing which had formerly been just a hobby. Thus, STF is grateful to the depression for one of its foremost authors. Binder has been at it since 1932, however Earl left STP to become an inspector for Crane Company of Chicago. The two brothers formed their pen name, Eando, by joining their first initials with the word "and". Otto still uses this name, even though Earl has left the partnership.
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DEVIL'S ASTEROID by Manly Wade Wellman (Continued.) The sky, by virtue of an Earth-type atmosphere, glowed blue with wispy clouds, and around the small plain on which he stood sprouted clumps and thickets of green tropical trees. Heathery ferns, with white and yellow blooms, grew under his bare feet. The sun, hovering at zenith, gave a July warmth to the air. The little horizon was very near of course, and the variety of thickets, with rough rocks and hillocks at a distance to his right, kept it from seeming too different from an Earth landscape. Parr decided that he might learn to endure, even to enjoy. Meanwhile, what about the other Terrestrials exiled [illegible], as Parr wondered, he heard their sudden excited voices. Threats and oaths rent the balmy air. Through the turmoil resounded solid blows. Parr broke into a run, shoved through some broad-leafed bushes, and found himself in the midst of the excitement. A dozen men, with scraggly beards and skimpy rags of clothing, were setting upon an unclassifiable creature that snarled and fought back. It was erect and coarsely hairy -- Parr saw that much before the enigma gave up the unequal fight and ran clumsily away into a mass of bright-colored flowered scrub. Execrations and a volley of sticks and stones speeded its flight. Then mob was aware of Parr. Every man -- they were all male Terrestrials -- turned toward him, with something like respect. One of them, tall and thin, spoke diffidently: "You just arrived!" "I was just booted out, not ten minutes ago," Parr informed him. "Why?" "Because you're our new chief," responded the thin man, bowing. "The latest comer always commands here." Parr must have goggled, for the thin man smiled through tawny stubble. "The latest comer is always highest and wisest," he elaborated. "He is the strongest. Best. The longer you stay on this asteroid, the lower you fall." Parr thought he was being joked with and scowled. But his informant smiled the broader. "My name's Sadau -- here under sentence for theft of Martian government property." "I'm Parr. They said I was a murderer. It's a lie." One of two chuckled at that, and the one who called himself Sadau said; "We all feel unjustly condemned. Meet the others -- Jeffords, Wain, Heldecott..." Each man, as named, nodded to Parr. The final introduction was of a sallow, frowning lump of a fellow called Shanklin, "I was boss until you came," volunteered this last man. "Now you take over." He waved toward a little knot of huts, half-hidden among palmy fronds. "This is our capital city. You get the largest house -- until somebody new shows up, and you step down like me." He spoke with ill grace. Parr did not reply at once, but studied these folk who were putting themselves under his rule. They would not have been handsome even if shaved and dressed properly. Indeed, two or three had the coarse lowbrowed look of profound degenerates. Back into his mind came the words of Sadau "The longer you stay...the lower you fall." Biographies of Famous Authors Otto Binder -- Otto Binder was born in 1911, in the state of Michigan. He is tall, dark, and handsome. Although he had intended to become a chemist the crash stopped that dream, so he and his brother Earl took up the career of writing which had formerly been just a hobby. Thus, STF is grateful to the depression for one of its foremost authors. Binder has been at it since 1932, however Earl left STP to become an inspector for Crane Company of Chicago. The two brothers formed their pen name, Eando, by joining their first initials with the word "and". Otto still uses this name, even though Earl has left the partnership.
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