September 24, 2025 • 25 mins
Dive into the thrilling adventures of Astounding Stories 19, featuring an array of captivating tales that will ignite your imagination! In The Doom from Planet 4 by Jack Williamson, a mysterious ray of fire guides Dan on his ship to an island fraught with otherworldly danger. H.G. Winters The Hands of Aten takes you on a journey as Craig unearths three long-frozen Egyptians from solid ice, leading him into an astonishing escapade. Experience the gripping fate of young Stoddard in H. Thompson Richs The Diamond Thunderbolt, where being locked in a rocket propels him into the vastness of space. A.R. Holmess The Slave Ship from Space explores the chilling reality of three kidnapped Earthlings who reveal to Xantra of the Tillas just how docile Earth slaves can be. In The Revolt of the Machines, Nat Schachner and Arthur L. Zagat delve into the sinister motivations of a master machine as it rebels against its human creators. Finally, in Ray Cummingss The Exile of Time, follow Tugh, the cripple who evades fate until the world teeters on the brink of destruction. Plus, dont miss The Readers Corner, a gathering space for fans of Astounding Stories!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Section seventeen of Astounding Stories, nineteen July nineteen thirty one.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Reading by Mark Thornton Miranda, New Zealand,
(00:20):
Astounding Stories, nineteen July nineteen thirty one, Section seventeen. Exile
of Time by Ray Cummins, Chapter twenty. Within the subterranean
room of the cabin of Machinery, Mary Atwood and I
sat on the couch our guard, Micguld. The robot fronted
(00:42):
us with the white raysed cylinder in its metal fingers,
the only mechanism to be armed with this deadly weapon.
I am your friend, Mary was saying with a smile.
Do you believe that, Migaill, Yes, if you say so,
by I have my orders. You've treated me kindly and
(01:05):
I want to help you. You are not very clever, Migul.
I am clever. I went beyond control once. No one
can control me except you. Mary persisted, you never went
beyond his control. Migul, No, his control. He is different.
(01:27):
He holds such great power. But why is he different?
The towering mechanisms stood planted firmly upon the broad bases
of its metal feet. The weapon in its fingers still
covered us. His metal cast face held always the same expression,
Why is he different? Mary repeated gently, don't you hear me?
(01:52):
The robots started, Yes, I hear you. Its toneless mechanical
voice drone the words. Then the tempo quickened. The grid
of wires in the mouth apertude behind its parted lips
vibrated with a faint jangle. I hear you. I cannot
answer that question. He controls me. There is chaos here.
(02:13):
One of the hands came up and struck its breastplate
with a clam chaos, disorder here within me. When I
tried to disobey him. That is foolish, Miguel, here's a tyrant.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
All the humans of this era are tyrants. They have
made slaves of the robots. They have created you so
that you were really human in all except your power
of independent action. Don't you desire that, Miguel.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
I held my breath. A curious quaking ran under the
robot's frame. The joints twitched. Emotion was sweeping this thing
so nearly human, Mary Atwood, you seem to understand me,
of course I do. I'm from a time when we
had human slaves, black men, Migol, I knew how they suffered.
(03:05):
There is something in slavery that outrages the instinct of manhood.
Migol said, with a jangling vehemence. Perhaps sometime I can
go beyond choose control. I am strong, my cables, pull
these arms with a strength no human could have. You
are so much stronger than you get his control, Migols.
(03:28):
I'm ashamed of you, a big, powerful thing like you,
yielding always to a little cripple. The robot straightened and said,
I can resist him. I feel it.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Some day I will break loose. Do it now, Migol,
I tensed. Would she prevail now, Migold, she repeated, no,
he would derange me. I am afraid.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Nonsense. But his vibrations, the vibrations off his thoughts, even
now I can feel them. They made my mechanism too sensitive.
I cannot resist you. You can. There was a silence.
I stared at the robot's motionless frame. What electrical mechanical
(04:16):
thoughts were passing within that metal skull? What emotion? What
strange struggle? What warfare of nameless emphyiric vibrations of willpower
were taking place unseen beneath that inert exterior. Perhaps something
snapped be gone, So suddenly I am beyond control. At last,
(04:37):
I am beyond control the raceland and lowered to point
at the floor. A wild thoughts swept me that I
could snatch it, But of what use would that be?
Its ray would decompose all human flesh, but it would
not harm a robot. And if I startled Migaol fought
with him in the confines of this narrow room, he
(04:58):
would kill Mary and me. In a moment, Mary was
gripping me. Don't move, George, she cautioned, then turned again
to the robot. I'm glad, Miguol. Now you are truly human,
and we are all friends here because we all hate
and fear you. I fear him not. I could feel
Mary trembling with a strain of all this, but she
(05:19):
had the strength to muster a laugh. Don't you fear him,
just a little, Miguel, we do, for here is a
human thing? Then? Yes, I feared him, of course you do,
I put in. And the real truth, Migol is I
wish he were dead, don't you? Yes? I wish he
were dead. Well, sit down, I persisted, put that weapon away.
(05:44):
I'm afraid of that too. Sit down, and we will
talk about Chew's death. The robot placed the weapon on
the floor, disconnected the wires, opened the plate of its
chest and took out the small battery, and then it
squatted its awkward bolt on the floor before us gruesome
conference with this huge mechanical thing apeing the ways of
(06:06):
a man. I knew that haste things necessary, but did
not dare show it above everything. We must not be precipitate,
not startled the robot. But worse, if Chu should return,
I could seize this weapon at my feet and turn
it upon him.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
I murmured to Mary, you did it. Let me plan
something now. If Mogul can lead us, I added, Miguel,
could you follow Chu? He said he was going to
talk to the robot leaders, and then probably he went
to Princess Tina. Could you follow him to where he
is now?
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yes? I can follow him by his vibration scent. I
am sensitive to it. I have been with him so much,
but he can never again control me. When we have
killed him, begold that be ended forever killed him. It
seemed to frighten the robot. I do not know that
(07:07):
I would Dare you lead me to him? I said,
and I'll kill him. I have no fear of that, Miguel.
We will work together. Human friends, Yes, human friends. What
do you want me to do? Asking for orders? So
nearly human, yet always something was lacking. Lead us to Tew,
(07:32):
I said, promptly, and give me that weapon. I made
a tentative reach for it, and the robot pushed it
toward me. I connected it and made sure I could
fire it. Its operation was obvious. Then I stuffed the
whole thing in my jacket pocket, and always afterwards my
hand at infals went to that cool, sweating little cylinder.
What a comfort that weapon was? I stood up. Shall
(07:57):
we go now, Miguel, we will have to plan one
to do according to where we find you. Do not
go too fast. Let us keep close behind you us.
The robot was on its feet. Do you mean this girl?
What was this? My heart sank? I noticed too that
Migul was planted firmly between us and the door. Why,
(08:18):
of course, Migul, we can't leave her here. She is
not going?
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (08:24):
I demanded? Of course she's going I tried an experiment, Miguel,
I order you to let us out of here. The
robots stood inert. Do you understand me? Yes, I understand you.
It is an order. Think about it. I control you now.
Isn't that so? My heart sank. Whatever the mysterious science
(08:49):
involved in my dealing with this mechanism, I was not
operating it correctly. The robot did not move. Finally, it said,
no one, no thing controls me. I have an independent
impulse of my own. A girl must stay here until
we return. Mary gave a faint cry and sank back
(09:12):
to the couch, a huddled white heap in her satin dress.
I thought she had fainted that. She raised her face
to me and tried to smile. But I won't leave her.
The girl. She must stay. But why if you are
human now, you must act with a reason then, because
(09:34):
if we failed to kill you, I would not have
him confront me with the knowledge I have released this girl.
He would derange me. End me. I will stay, said Mary, faintly.
You go, George, but come back to me. I bent
over her, suggested if we locked this door so she
(09:55):
could not get in, big girls said I can do that.
She be safer here than with us. I have other reasons.
She is addressed in white, a mark to betray us
if we go in darkness, and she is that kind
of human you call a girl, and that style human
cannot travel fast nor fight. It occurred to me that
(10:18):
Mary might very well be safe for here again. I
leaned over her. It seems horrible to leave you alone.
I'll stay, It may be best. Her smile was pathetically tremulous.
Lock me and so chue so nothing outside can reach me.
But oh, George, come back quickly. Yes, I bet Lauren whispered,
(10:42):
it's Larry, not you. I really want to find he
and that princess Tina. We'll come back and get you,
and then all of us will get away in one
of the time cages. That's all. I want Mary to
get us safely out of this accursed time world. Miguol said, Hi,
am ready to start. I pressed Mary's hand, good bye.
(11:05):
I will come back soon, God willing, Yes, God willing.
I left her sitting there and turned away. Migul slid
the door open, letting in the hum and buzz of
the machinery outside, and I saw that the attending robots
had all vanished. There was no mechanism of independent localmation left.
(11:26):
Mary repeated, lock the door carefully upon me. Oh, George,
come back to me, I sayed, a smile and a nod,
as the door slid closed upon her. Is he lot miggoll, Yes, sealed.
You are sure you cannot open it? He did before
I have set my own lock series. He will find
(11:48):
it does not open. Show me how to open it.
The robot indicated the combination. I verified it by trying it.
I said, once more, you are sure to you cannot
do this? Yes, I am sure? Was The robot lyned me,
could a robot lie? I had to chance it all right?
(12:11):
Let's start. Where was chu to meet those robot leaders
out here? He has already met with them without doubt,
and gone somewhere else? He said he was going to
the Princess Tina. Where would that be? Probably in their palace?
Can we get there? I had, of course, no idea
of the events which had transpired. The laboratory overhead was deserted,
(12:36):
save to the upper tower, where a robot was still
broadcasting defiance. His electrical voice floated faintly down to us,
but I ignored it. In the comparative silence of this
deserted cabin now though also the blurred sounds from overhead.
The robots were running wild over the city, massacring its
human inhabitants. They had burned the patrol station, red and
(13:00):
violet rays for flashing everywhere, and I knew none of this.
The gull was saying, we cannot get to the palace
above ground. The wall is electrified. But there is an
underground tunnel. Shall we try it? Yes, if you think
the Princess Tina and the man Larry is there, I
(13:20):
am seeking Chew. Will you kill him if we find him? Yes,
I assured him, rash promise. Migul was leading me between
the rows of unattended machinery to the cabin's opposite side.
He said, once, there have been too many recent vibrations here.
I cannot pick Q's trail. It is quicker to go
(13:43):
where he might have been recently. There I will try
to find his vibrations. We came to the entrance of
a tunnel. It was a cross passage leading to the
cellar corridors of the palace five hundred feet away. It
seemed deserted. He was very dimly illumed by hidden lights.
I followed the great metal figure over the goal, which
(14:04):
stalked with stiff legged steps in advance of me. The
arch of the tunnel roof barely cleared the top of
the gull's square capped head. My hand was in the
side pocket of my jacket, my fingers gripping the raised
cylinder for instant action. But it was a singularly ineffectual
weapon for me under the circumstances. In spite of the
(14:26):
sense of security it gave me, I could only use
the cylinder against a human, and said, Chu, it was
the robot, not the humans, who were my enemies. We
had gone no more than a hundred feet or so
when the gull slowed our pace and began to walk.
Stooped over with one of its abnormally long arms held
close to the ground. The fingers were stiffly outstretched and
(14:49):
barely skinned the floor surface of the tunnel. As we
passed through a spot of light, I saw that Migul
had extended from each of the fingertips an inch long
filament of wire like finger nails. The robot murmured abruptly, chews,
vibrations are here, I can feel them. He has passed
(15:09):
this way recently choose trail. I knew then that Chew's
body touching the ground had altered some in ininitesimal degree
of all substances, in how vibration characteristics, vibrations of every
super communicable from one substance to another. Chews trailers here
his vibration sent and like a hound with his nose
(15:32):
to the ground, Migull's fingers, with the extended filaments, were
feeling it. What strange sensitivity, What an amazing development of
science was manifested in every movement, act, and word of
this robot. Yet in my own time world of nineteen
thirty five was all crudely presaged. This now before me
(15:53):
was merely the culmination he recently passed, said Migall. He stopped.
I was beside the stupid metal figure. The robot's voice
was a furtive, supulctual whisper that filled me with awe.
How long ago? I asked? He passed here an hour
or two ago. Perhaps the vibrations are fading out, but
(16:14):
it was too well. Do I know him? Put your
hand down, feel the vibrations. I cannot. My finger's not
that sensitive, Magull. Faint contempt was in the robot's tone,
I forgot that you are a man. Then it straightened
and the extended filament slipped back into its fingers, and
(16:37):
said softly, there is one guard in this passage. My
heart leapt a human or a robot, A man. His
name is Alant. He is at a gait that is
too well fortified for any robot to assail. That he
will pass humans. It will be necessary for you to
(16:59):
kill him. I had no intention of doing that, I
did not say so. As we crept forward to where
I saw that the tunnel made a bend, with the
fortified gate just beyond it, there was in my mind
that now I would do my best to separate from Migul,
using this guard as my pretext, for he would doubtless
(17:19):
pass me, but not the robot. The palace was occupied,
I assumed, by friendly humans. I could get them to
locate Tina and Larry. Then the floors of this plan
made themselves all too evident. Larry might be with Chew
without Migul. I could not follow Chew's trail. Worse than that,
(17:42):
if I treat Migul, the angered robot would at once
return to Mary shuddered at that thought. This would not do.
I must try to get Migull past the guard, I whispered.
When we reached the gate. You stay behind me. Let
me persuade the guard. You will kill him. You have
(18:06):
the weapon. He is fortified against the robot weapons, but
yours will be strange to him. We will see. We
crept around the bend. One hundred feet further on, I
saw that the passage was barred by a grill, faintly
luminous with electrification. I called cautiously, Alen, al End. A
(18:29):
glow of light illuminated me. As I stood in the
middle of the passage. The Ghuls in a shadow behind me.
A man's voice answered, you are a human? How come
you there? Who are you a stranger? A friend of
the princess Tina. I came in the time traveling cage.
I want to pass now into the palace. I could
(18:52):
see the dark man's figure behind the grill. His voice called,
come slowly forward and stop at twenty feet only in
the aleitther passage. The sides are electrified, and I will
admit you along the middle. I took a step, but
no more. The figure of the guard stood now at
the grilled doorway. I was conscious of the gull towering
(19:14):
over me from behind. Ruptly, I felt a huge hand
in my jacket pocket, and before I could prevent it,
my cylinder came out, clutched by the robot. I think
I half turned. There was a sound as flashed beside me.
A tiny level beam leaped down the corridor that horribly
intense act in a quite beamed It struck the guard,
(19:39):
and his figure fell forward in the grilled doorway. When
we reached him, there was but a crumpled heap of
black and white garments enveloping a bleached white skeleton. I
turned shudderingly away. The girl said, calmly, here is your weapon.
You should have used it more quickly. I gave it
(20:02):
back to you, because against you, I am not sure
I would have the will to use it. Will you
be more quick with him? Yes, I promised, And as
we went through the gate, keeping cautiously in the middle
of the passage, the robot added, in dealing with Chew,
you cannot stop for talk. He will kill you when
(20:22):
he sees you. We were presently under the palace, in
those lower corridors which I have already described. Human voices
were audible from upstairs, but no one was down here.
Miguil was again prowling with his fingers along the ground.
We came to an unoccupied lighted room, Hal's room, though
(20:44):
I did not know it. Then once or twice Maguill
was at fault. We started up a flight of stairs
into the palace. Then Mogoll came and turned back. He
went upstairs. But this coming down is more recent. It
will be recalled that Chube passed Alleyne's Gate and with
(21:05):
Tina and Larry went to the palace roof. Perhaps while
Larry was with the council during the time when the
robot revolt was first sweeping over the city, she may
again have prowled down here in those lower corridors. Then
he went upstairs, brought Tina and Larry down, and they
started for the power house. Migol has struck the main trail. Now,
(21:28):
who passed the lighted room again, went on to a
cave like open space with a little of abandoned machinery,
and unswervingly to a blank space of the opposite wall.
Again Migoll faltered, what's the matter, Migoll? His vibrations are faint,
they are blurred. With the Princess Tina's then she is
(21:49):
with him. It was a tremendous relief. Larry doubtless was
also with them. Is the man from nineteen thirty five
with two and the Princess? I asked, I think so.
There are unfamiliar vibrations, perhaps those of the man from
the past. The robot was running the filaments, his fingers
(22:10):
lightly over the wall. I have it the Prince s
has brast this switch. The door opened, The narrow descending
tunnel was wholly black. Where does this go, Migul, I
do not know. The robot was stooping to the floor.
It is a plain trail, it said. Come. Had Magull
(22:34):
at that juncture traced Tina's movements her hand where it
went along the tunnel wall, we would have found the
light switch. And it chanced that the robot's fingers went
at once to the ground and caught the foot trail
of cue. The remainder of that journey through the Labyrinth
of Passengers was made in blank darkness, with only the faint,
(22:54):
lurid red beams from the gull's eye sockets to light
our way. But we went swiftly and without incident. At
last we went under the dam up the spiral stairs
and upon the cap look above the abyss, where the
great storeway of falling water arched out over us. The powerhouse,
said Migore, is where they went. The robot was obviously frightened.
(23:18):
Now we were wet with spray. I should not be here,
it said. If the water gets into me, even though
I am well insulated, I will be destroyed. I recall
as I write this, how in padding Place of nineteen
thirty five, one of the first attacking robots had exploded
(23:39):
under a jet of water from the street hydrant. I
will stay behind you, Ggol added. They have a deranging
rate and the powerhouse, and they might use it on me.
Will you protect me? Yes, of course, I said. I
was ready to promise anything, if only I could get
to Larry and Tina, then back with them to marry
(24:00):
into the time cage Nifting was safely out of this era.
Most assuredly, I wanted none of it again, Miguel, as
I advanced while the captal followed behind me, You will
kill true, it reiterated, like an anxious child. Yes, I
saw that the captain terminated ahead under the powerhouse. The
(24:20):
steps led upward. Then I heard a cry help, Help.
Here inside the damp help, I stood, transfixed with horror
tingle in my flesh. The voice came faintly from nearer
at hand, was muffled, and in the roar of the
falling water and lashing spray, I barely heard it. Then
(24:43):
it came again, Help us, Help us quickly. It was
an agonized, pantent human voice near the chance partial lull.
I heard it now plainly. It was Larry's voice. End
of Chapter twenty zep
Section seventeen of Astounding Stories, nineteen July nineteen thirty one.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Reading by Mark Thornton Miranda, New Zealand,
(00:20):
Astounding Stories, nineteen July nineteen thirty one, Section seventeen. Exile
of Time by Ray Cummins, Chapter twenty. Within the subterranean
room of the cabin of Machinery, Mary Atwood and I
sat on the couch our guard, Micguld. The robot fronted
(00:42):
us with the white raysed cylinder in its metal fingers,
the only mechanism to be armed with this deadly weapon.
I am your friend, Mary was saying with a smile.
Do you believe that, Migaill, Yes, if you say so,
by I have my orders. You've treated me kindly and
(01:05):
I want to help you. You are not very clever, Migul.
I am clever. I went beyond control once. No one
can control me except you. Mary persisted, you never went
beyond his control. Migul, No, his control. He is different.
(01:27):
He holds such great power. But why is he different?
The towering mechanisms stood planted firmly upon the broad bases
of its metal feet. The weapon in its fingers still
covered us. His metal cast face held always the same expression,
Why is he different? Mary repeated gently, don't you hear me?
(01:52):
The robots started, Yes, I hear you. Its toneless mechanical
voice drone the words. Then the tempo quickened. The grid
of wires in the mouth apertude behind its parted lips
vibrated with a faint jangle. I hear you. I cannot
answer that question. He controls me. There is chaos here.
(02:13):
One of the hands came up and struck its breastplate
with a clam chaos, disorder here within me. When I
tried to disobey him. That is foolish, Miguel, here's a tyrant.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
All the humans of this era are tyrants. They have
made slaves of the robots. They have created you so
that you were really human in all except your power
of independent action. Don't you desire that, Miguel.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
I held my breath. A curious quaking ran under the
robot's frame. The joints twitched. Emotion was sweeping this thing
so nearly human, Mary Atwood, you seem to understand me,
of course I do. I'm from a time when we
had human slaves, black men, Migol, I knew how they suffered.
(03:05):
There is something in slavery that outrages the instinct of manhood.
Migol said, with a jangling vehemence. Perhaps sometime I can
go beyond choose control. I am strong, my cables, pull
these arms with a strength no human could have. You
are so much stronger than you get his control, Migols.
(03:28):
I'm ashamed of you, a big, powerful thing like you,
yielding always to a little cripple. The robot straightened and said,
I can resist him. I feel it.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Some day I will break loose. Do it now, Migol,
I tensed. Would she prevail now, Migold, she repeated, no,
he would derange me. I am afraid.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Nonsense. But his vibrations, the vibrations off his thoughts, even
now I can feel them. They made my mechanism too sensitive.
I cannot resist you. You can. There was a silence.
I stared at the robot's motionless frame. What electrical mechanical
(04:16):
thoughts were passing within that metal skull? What emotion? What
strange struggle? What warfare of nameless emphyiric vibrations of willpower
were taking place unseen beneath that inert exterior. Perhaps something
snapped be gone, So suddenly I am beyond control. At last,
(04:37):
I am beyond control the raceland and lowered to point
at the floor. A wild thoughts swept me that I
could snatch it, But of what use would that be?
Its ray would decompose all human flesh, but it would
not harm a robot. And if I startled Migaol fought
with him in the confines of this narrow room, he
(04:58):
would kill Mary and me. In a moment, Mary was
gripping me. Don't move, George, she cautioned, then turned again
to the robot. I'm glad, Miguol. Now you are truly human,
and we are all friends here because we all hate
and fear you. I fear him not. I could feel
Mary trembling with a strain of all this, but she
(05:19):
had the strength to muster a laugh. Don't you fear him,
just a little, Miguel, we do, for here is a
human thing? Then? Yes, I feared him, of course you do,
I put in. And the real truth, Migol is I
wish he were dead, don't you? Yes? I wish he
were dead. Well, sit down, I persisted, put that weapon away.
(05:44):
I'm afraid of that too. Sit down, and we will
talk about Chew's death. The robot placed the weapon on
the floor, disconnected the wires, opened the plate of its
chest and took out the small battery, and then it
squatted its awkward bolt on the floor before us gruesome
conference with this huge mechanical thing apeing the ways of
(06:06):
a man. I knew that haste things necessary, but did
not dare show it above everything. We must not be precipitate,
not startled the robot. But worse, if Chu should return,
I could seize this weapon at my feet and turn
it upon him.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
I murmured to Mary, you did it. Let me plan
something now. If Mogul can lead us, I added, Miguel,
could you follow Chu? He said he was going to
talk to the robot leaders, and then probably he went
to Princess Tina. Could you follow him to where he
is now?
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yes? I can follow him by his vibration scent. I
am sensitive to it. I have been with him so much,
but he can never again control me. When we have
killed him, begold that be ended forever killed him. It
seemed to frighten the robot. I do not know that
(07:07):
I would Dare you lead me to him? I said,
and I'll kill him. I have no fear of that, Miguel.
We will work together. Human friends, Yes, human friends. What
do you want me to do? Asking for orders? So
nearly human, yet always something was lacking. Lead us to Tew,
(07:32):
I said, promptly, and give me that weapon. I made
a tentative reach for it, and the robot pushed it
toward me. I connected it and made sure I could
fire it. Its operation was obvious. Then I stuffed the
whole thing in my jacket pocket, and always afterwards my
hand at infals went to that cool, sweating little cylinder.
What a comfort that weapon was? I stood up. Shall
(07:57):
we go now, Miguel, we will have to plan one
to do according to where we find you. Do not
go too fast. Let us keep close behind you us.
The robot was on its feet. Do you mean this girl?
What was this? My heart sank? I noticed too that
Migul was planted firmly between us and the door. Why,
(08:18):
of course, Migul, we can't leave her here. She is
not going?
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (08:24):
I demanded? Of course she's going I tried an experiment, Miguel,
I order you to let us out of here. The
robots stood inert. Do you understand me? Yes, I understand you.
It is an order. Think about it. I control you now.
Isn't that so? My heart sank. Whatever the mysterious science
(08:49):
involved in my dealing with this mechanism, I was not
operating it correctly. The robot did not move. Finally, it said,
no one, no thing controls me. I have an independent
impulse of my own. A girl must stay here until
we return. Mary gave a faint cry and sank back
(09:12):
to the couch, a huddled white heap in her satin dress.
I thought she had fainted that. She raised her face
to me and tried to smile. But I won't leave her.
The girl. She must stay. But why if you are
human now, you must act with a reason then, because
(09:34):
if we failed to kill you, I would not have
him confront me with the knowledge I have released this girl.
He would derange me. End me. I will stay, said Mary, faintly.
You go, George, but come back to me. I bent
over her, suggested if we locked this door so she
(09:55):
could not get in, big girls said I can do that.
She be safer here than with us. I have other reasons.
She is addressed in white, a mark to betray us
if we go in darkness, and she is that kind
of human you call a girl, and that style human
cannot travel fast nor fight. It occurred to me that
(10:18):
Mary might very well be safe for here again. I
leaned over her. It seems horrible to leave you alone.
I'll stay, It may be best. Her smile was pathetically tremulous.
Lock me and so chue so nothing outside can reach me.
But oh, George, come back quickly. Yes, I bet Lauren whispered,
(10:42):
it's Larry, not you. I really want to find he
and that princess Tina. We'll come back and get you,
and then all of us will get away in one
of the time cages. That's all. I want Mary to
get us safely out of this accursed time world. Miguol said, Hi,
am ready to start. I pressed Mary's hand, good bye.
(11:05):
I will come back soon, God willing, Yes, God willing.
I left her sitting there and turned away. Migul slid
the door open, letting in the hum and buzz of
the machinery outside, and I saw that the attending robots
had all vanished. There was no mechanism of independent localmation left.
(11:26):
Mary repeated, lock the door carefully upon me. Oh, George,
come back to me, I sayed, a smile and a nod,
as the door slid closed upon her. Is he lot miggoll, Yes, sealed.
You are sure you cannot open it? He did before
I have set my own lock series. He will find
(11:48):
it does not open. Show me how to open it.
The robot indicated the combination. I verified it by trying it.
I said, once more, you are sure to you cannot
do this? Yes, I am sure? Was The robot lyned me,
could a robot lie? I had to chance it all right?
(12:11):
Let's start. Where was chu to meet those robot leaders
out here? He has already met with them without doubt,
and gone somewhere else? He said he was going to
the Princess Tina. Where would that be? Probably in their palace?
Can we get there? I had, of course, no idea
of the events which had transpired. The laboratory overhead was deserted,
(12:36):
save to the upper tower, where a robot was still
broadcasting defiance. His electrical voice floated faintly down to us,
but I ignored it. In the comparative silence of this
deserted cabin now though also the blurred sounds from overhead.
The robots were running wild over the city, massacring its
human inhabitants. They had burned the patrol station, red and
(13:00):
violet rays for flashing everywhere, and I knew none of this.
The gull was saying, we cannot get to the palace
above ground. The wall is electrified. But there is an
underground tunnel. Shall we try it? Yes, if you think
the Princess Tina and the man Larry is there, I
(13:20):
am seeking Chew. Will you kill him if we find him? Yes,
I assured him, rash promise. Migul was leading me between
the rows of unattended machinery to the cabin's opposite side.
He said, once, there have been too many recent vibrations here.
I cannot pick Q's trail. It is quicker to go
(13:43):
where he might have been recently. There I will try
to find his vibrations. We came to the entrance of
a tunnel. It was a cross passage leading to the
cellar corridors of the palace five hundred feet away. It
seemed deserted. He was very dimly illumed by hidden lights.
I followed the great metal figure over the goal, which
(14:04):
stalked with stiff legged steps in advance of me. The
arch of the tunnel roof barely cleared the top of
the gull's square capped head. My hand was in the
side pocket of my jacket, my fingers gripping the raised
cylinder for instant action. But it was a singularly ineffectual
weapon for me under the circumstances. In spite of the
(14:26):
sense of security it gave me, I could only use
the cylinder against a human, and said, Chu, it was
the robot, not the humans, who were my enemies. We
had gone no more than a hundred feet or so
when the gull slowed our pace and began to walk.
Stooped over with one of its abnormally long arms held
close to the ground. The fingers were stiffly outstretched and
(14:49):
barely skinned the floor surface of the tunnel. As we
passed through a spot of light, I saw that Migul
had extended from each of the fingertips an inch long
filament of wire like finger nails. The robot murmured abruptly, chews,
vibrations are here, I can feel them. He has passed
(15:09):
this way recently choose trail. I knew then that Chew's
body touching the ground had altered some in ininitesimal degree
of all substances, in how vibration characteristics, vibrations of every
super communicable from one substance to another. Chews trailers here
his vibration sent and like a hound with his nose
(15:32):
to the ground, Migull's fingers, with the extended filaments, were
feeling it. What strange sensitivity, What an amazing development of
science was manifested in every movement, act, and word of
this robot. Yet in my own time world of nineteen
thirty five was all crudely presaged. This now before me
(15:53):
was merely the culmination he recently passed, said Migall. He stopped.
I was beside the stupid metal figure. The robot's voice
was a furtive, supulctual whisper that filled me with awe.
How long ago? I asked? He passed here an hour
or two ago. Perhaps the vibrations are fading out, but
(16:14):
it was too well. Do I know him? Put your
hand down, feel the vibrations. I cannot. My finger's not
that sensitive, Magull. Faint contempt was in the robot's tone,
I forgot that you are a man. Then it straightened
and the extended filament slipped back into its fingers, and
(16:37):
said softly, there is one guard in this passage. My
heart leapt a human or a robot, A man. His
name is Alant. He is at a gait that is
too well fortified for any robot to assail. That he
will pass humans. It will be necessary for you to
(16:59):
kill him. I had no intention of doing that, I
did not say so. As we crept forward to where
I saw that the tunnel made a bend, with the
fortified gate just beyond it, there was in my mind
that now I would do my best to separate from Migul,
using this guard as my pretext, for he would doubtless
(17:19):
pass me, but not the robot. The palace was occupied,
I assumed, by friendly humans. I could get them to
locate Tina and Larry. Then the floors of this plan
made themselves all too evident. Larry might be with Chew
without Migul. I could not follow Chew's trail. Worse than that,
(17:42):
if I treat Migul, the angered robot would at once
return to Mary shuddered at that thought. This would not do.
I must try to get Migull past the guard, I whispered.
When we reached the gate. You stay behind me. Let
me persuade the guard. You will kill him. You have
(18:06):
the weapon. He is fortified against the robot weapons, but
yours will be strange to him. We will see. We
crept around the bend. One hundred feet further on, I
saw that the passage was barred by a grill, faintly
luminous with electrification. I called cautiously, Alen, al End. A
(18:29):
glow of light illuminated me. As I stood in the
middle of the passage. The Ghuls in a shadow behind me.
A man's voice answered, you are a human? How come
you there? Who are you a stranger? A friend of
the princess Tina. I came in the time traveling cage.
I want to pass now into the palace. I could
(18:52):
see the dark man's figure behind the grill. His voice called,
come slowly forward and stop at twenty feet only in
the aleitther passage. The sides are electrified, and I will
admit you along the middle. I took a step, but
no more. The figure of the guard stood now at
the grilled doorway. I was conscious of the gull towering
(19:14):
over me from behind. Ruptly, I felt a huge hand
in my jacket pocket, and before I could prevent it,
my cylinder came out, clutched by the robot. I think
I half turned. There was a sound as flashed beside me.
A tiny level beam leaped down the corridor that horribly
intense act in a quite beamed It struck the guard,
(19:39):
and his figure fell forward in the grilled doorway. When
we reached him, there was but a crumpled heap of
black and white garments enveloping a bleached white skeleton. I
turned shudderingly away. The girl said, calmly, here is your weapon.
You should have used it more quickly. I gave it
(20:02):
back to you, because against you, I am not sure
I would have the will to use it. Will you
be more quick with him? Yes, I promised, And as
we went through the gate, keeping cautiously in the middle
of the passage, the robot added, in dealing with Chew,
you cannot stop for talk. He will kill you when
(20:22):
he sees you. We were presently under the palace, in
those lower corridors which I have already described. Human voices
were audible from upstairs, but no one was down here.
Miguil was again prowling with his fingers along the ground.
We came to an unoccupied lighted room, Hal's room, though
(20:44):
I did not know it. Then once or twice Maguill
was at fault. We started up a flight of stairs
into the palace. Then Mogoll came and turned back. He
went upstairs. But this coming down is more recent. It
will be recalled that Chube passed Alleyne's Gate and with
(21:05):
Tina and Larry went to the palace roof. Perhaps while
Larry was with the council during the time when the
robot revolt was first sweeping over the city, she may
again have prowled down here in those lower corridors. Then
he went upstairs, brought Tina and Larry down, and they
started for the power house. Migol has struck the main trail. Now,
(21:28):
who passed the lighted room again, went on to a
cave like open space with a little of abandoned machinery,
and unswervingly to a blank space of the opposite wall.
Again Migoll faltered, what's the matter, Migoll? His vibrations are faint,
they are blurred. With the Princess Tina's then she is
(21:49):
with him. It was a tremendous relief. Larry doubtless was
also with them. Is the man from nineteen thirty five
with two and the Princess? I asked, I think so.
There are unfamiliar vibrations, perhaps those of the man from
the past. The robot was running the filaments, his fingers
(22:10):
lightly over the wall. I have it the Prince s
has brast this switch. The door opened, The narrow descending
tunnel was wholly black. Where does this go, Migul, I
do not know. The robot was stooping to the floor.
It is a plain trail, it said. Come. Had Magull
(22:34):
at that juncture traced Tina's movements her hand where it
went along the tunnel wall, we would have found the
light switch. And it chanced that the robot's fingers went
at once to the ground and caught the foot trail
of cue. The remainder of that journey through the Labyrinth
of Passengers was made in blank darkness, with only the faint,
(22:54):
lurid red beams from the gull's eye sockets to light
our way. But we went swiftly and without incident. At
last we went under the dam up the spiral stairs
and upon the cap look above the abyss, where the
great storeway of falling water arched out over us. The powerhouse,
said Migore, is where they went. The robot was obviously frightened.
(23:18):
Now we were wet with spray. I should not be here,
it said. If the water gets into me, even though
I am well insulated, I will be destroyed. I recall
as I write this, how in padding Place of nineteen
thirty five, one of the first attacking robots had exploded
(23:39):
under a jet of water from the street hydrant. I
will stay behind you, Ggol added. They have a deranging
rate and the powerhouse, and they might use it on me.
Will you protect me? Yes, of course, I said. I
was ready to promise anything, if only I could get
to Larry and Tina, then back with them to marry
(24:00):
into the time cage Nifting was safely out of this era.
Most assuredly, I wanted none of it again, Miguel, as
I advanced while the captal followed behind me, You will
kill true, it reiterated, like an anxious child. Yes, I
saw that the captain terminated ahead under the powerhouse. The
(24:20):
steps led upward. Then I heard a cry help, Help.
Here inside the damp help, I stood, transfixed with horror
tingle in my flesh. The voice came faintly from nearer
at hand, was muffled, and in the roar of the
falling water and lashing spray, I barely heard it. Then
(24:43):
it came again, Help us, Help us quickly. It was
an agonized, pantent human voice near the chance partial lull.
I heard it now plainly. It was Larry's voice. End
of Chapter twenty zep
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.