The End of Time - Wallace West

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The end of time by Wallace West. There is no
doubt of it. The little chemist pushed steelbowed spectacles up
on his high forehead, and peered at his syner guest
with excited blue eyes. Time will come to an end
at six o'clock this morning, Jack Baron, young radio engineer
at the Rothaffel Radio Laboratories and protege of doctor Manthus

(00:22):
his host laughed heartily. What a yarn, new spin, doctor,
he said, write it for the movies. But it's true,
insisted the older man. Something is paralyzing our time sense.
The final stroke will occur about daybreak. Bosh, you mean
the earth will stop rotating, the stars blink out. Not

(00:42):
at all. Such things have nothing to do with time.
You may know your short waves, but your general education
has been sadly neglected. The scientist picked up a weighty volume.
Maybe this will explain what I mean. It's from Emmanuel
Kant's critique of pure reason. Listen, time is not something
which subsists of itself, or which inheres in things as

(01:03):
an objective determination, and therefore remains when abstraction is made
of the subjective conditions of the intuition of things. For
in the former case, it would be something real. Yet
without presenting to any power of perception any real object.
In the latter case, as an order of determination inherent
in things themselves, it could not be antecendent of things
as their condition, nor discerned or intuited by means of

(01:25):
synthetical propositions a priori. But all this is quite possible
when we regard time as merely the subjective condition under
which all our intuitions take place. There does that make
it clear? Clear as mud? Grinned Baron counts too deep
for me? I'll give you another proof, snapped Manthus, look
at your watch. The other drew out his timepiece slowly,

(01:49):
his face sobered. Why I can't see the second hand,
he exclaimed, It's just a blur exactly. Now look at
the minute hand. Can you see it move? Yes, quite clearly.
What time is it? Half past one? Great Scott, So
that's why you spun that yarn? Baron hoisted his six

(02:09):
feet one out of the easy chair. It's way past
your bedtime. Didn't mean to keep you up. He stared
again at his watch, as if it had betrayed him.
It seems we just finished dinner. I must have dozed
off nonsense, sniff manthis you arrived at eight o'clock, an
hour late. You and I and my daughter had dinner.
Then the two of us came in here. We smoked

(02:30):
a cigarette or two. Now it's half past one. Do
you need more proof your theory's all wet somewhere? The
younger man protested with a shaky laugh. If my watch
isn't broken, time must be speeding up, not stopping. That
comes from depending on your senses instead of your intelligence.
Think a minute. If the watch seems running double speed,

(02:50):
that would indicate that your perception of its movements had
slowed down fifty percent. Baron sank back into his chair,
leaned forward, and gripped his curly black hair with rumbling fingers.
He felt dizzy and befuddled. June called the doctor. Then
to the agitated youth, he added, watch my daughter when
she comes in, if you still think I'm crazy. As

(03:12):
he spoke, the door flew open, and a slim, golden
haired girl shot into the room, like a motion picture
character in one of those comedies which is run double speed.
Jack's eyes could hardly follow her movements. She came behind
her father and threw one slim arm about his shoulders.
She spoke, but her usually throaty voice was only a
high pitched squeak. Can't understand you, dear, interrupted her father.

(03:36):
Write it down. June is using a drug which I've
prepared to keep her time sence normal, Manthus explained, as
the girl's pen raced over a pad. That's why she
disappeared after dinner. I wanted you to get the full effect.
Now read this. The deadline is approaching. The girl's message read,
you'd better take your injection now. It's two thirty a m.

(04:00):
To prepare the hypodermics, directed the chemist. He had to
repeat this in a falsetto voice before June understood. Make
one for Jack too. June went out at express train speed.
Baron glanced at his watch again. The minute hand was
moving with the speed at which the second hand usually
traveled three fifteen already. When he looked up, June was

(04:22):
in the room again with two hypodermic needles. Quickly, she
removed her father's coat and made the injection. Let her
fix you up, too, boy, unless you want to become
a graven image, commanded Maanthus, His voice, which started at
the ordinary pitch, went up like a siren at the
end as the drug took effect. Dazedly, Jack held out
his arm. The sting of the needle was followed by

(04:45):
a roaring in his ears, like a hundred niagaras the
room seemed to pitch and quiver. Staring down at the watch,
he still clutched. Jack saw the hands slow down and
at last resumed their accustomed to pace. Gradually, the unpleasant
sensations died away. That was a close shave, commented the doctor,
drawing a long breath. I wouldn't have waited so long,

(05:06):
except that I wanted to experience the sensation of coming
back from the edge of the infinite not very nice,
like being pulled out of a whirlpool. It's four thirty now.
Took us an hour to return as a normal, although
it seemed only minutes. We have an hour and a
half before the end. June, have you noticed anything unusual
on the streets? Yes, whispered his daughter, her usually piquant

(05:28):
face pinched and white. I've been watching from the balcony.
It's dreadful. The people creep about like things in a nightmare.
Manthis tried to reassure her on his face was a
great sadness, which was, however, overshadowed by a greater scientific curiosity.
There's nothing we can do for them now, he said,

(05:48):
but we must learn all we can. Let's go down
and watch the city die. They descended in an automatic
elevator and hurried through the hotel lobby. The lights of
Fifth Avenue gleamed as brightly as ever. The streets near
the lower end of Central Park still were crowded, but
such crowds they moved with infinite languor. Each step required

(06:09):
many seconds. Yet the people apparently did not know that
anything unusual was happening. Many perhaps were puzzled because their
watches seemed to be misbehaving, but this did not stop
their conversation. As they traveled home from theaters or night clubs,
two white haired men passed by, engaged in a discussion
of business affairs. Their voices were pitched so low that

(06:29):
they were almost inaudible to the trio of watches, while
their gestures looked like the slow waving of the antennae
of deep sea plants. My god man, cried Baron at last,
awakening from his horror stricken silence. Why didn't you warn
the world This is criminal if what you say is true,
all these people will become rooted in their tracks at
six o'clock, like like creatures from the Sleeping Beauty. I

(06:53):
only discovered the danger a week ago while working out
a chemical formula. Matthe's eyes showed the strain he was enduring.
It was a very delicate piece of work, having to
do with experiments I'm making on chlorophyll quick adjustments. You know,
I've done the thing before many times, but last week
I couldn't mix the ingredients fast enough to get the
necessary reaction. Puzzled, I made further experiments. The result was

(07:16):
that I discovered my perception of time was slowing down.
I tested June and found the same thing. There was
but one conclusion, but the drug we are using? How
did you hit on that? I recalled that such drugs
as hashish greatly speed up the time sense. An addict
is able to review his entire past life or plan
an elaborate crime between two heart beats. So I collected

(07:38):
a small supply of the stuff, But has she she
enlarged doses is deadly and I've heard that uses of
it sooner or later develop homicidal mania run amuck as
they say in India. True enough, admitted the chemist, but
andrew the Russian you know recently worked out of formula
to neutralize the deadly effects of the drug, but retain
its time expanding effect for medical purposes. I've added that

(08:01):
to the pure drug. There isn't enough of it in
New York to keep all these people normal for five minutes.
Why should I have frightened the poor things? He relapsed
into silence, and the others found no heart to ask
for the questions. As they watched the coming of the
end of the world. The procession of passers by had
thinned somewhat by now, the street lights had grown dim.

(08:22):
There was a look of increasing puzzlement on the faces
of people who remained something was wrong they knew not what.
Floating along the sidewalk, like a figure in a slow
motion picture, came a tiny tot of three. She was sobbing.
Great tears formed with painful slowness, and slid down her
flushed cheeks. She's lost, exclaimed June. Here, darling, I'll find

(08:45):
your mamma. She picked up the child and looked up
and down the street. The mother was not in sight. Automatically,
she turned to a policeman who stood near by. Officer,
she said, quickly, this girl is lost, will you she
stiffened and dismo. The policeman was staring through her, as
if his eyes had not registered her approach. Slowly his

(09:06):
gaze came into focus. A puzzled look came over his
irish face. He spoke, It was only a blurred rumble.
What can I do for her? Father, Jane cried, turning
away from the officer in despair. She's dying. See, couldn't
we give us some of the drug. There's only enough
for us, her father replied firmly. But she'll be quite

(09:27):
dead in an hour. I'm not so sure of that,
perhaps only in a state resembling catalepsy. We must wait, Jack,
take her into the lobby, put her on a sofa. There,
dawn was paling the blue black sky. As the radio
engineer returned. The street lights fluttered fitfully, and at last died.
The streets had become deserted, although groups still eddied slowly

(09:50):
about the subway. Kiosks five forty five whispered Manthis the
end should come any moment, as he's a white garbed
street sweeper who had been leaning on his broom at
the curb. Ever since the onlookers had reached the sidewalk,
decided to move on at last, with infinite slowness, his
foot came up, he poised, swung forward, then the universal

(10:15):
paralysis overcoming him. Remained in a strangely ludicrous position for
a moment before crashing downward on his face. As far
as they could see in the semi darkness, others were falling.
A few balanced with feet wide apart, remained standing like statues.
Those who collapsed writhed slowly for a time or two,
and then were still. After the thudding of the bodies

(10:38):
had ended, the silence became ghastly. Not an awakening bird
twittered in the trees of Central Park, not a sheep
bleated in the enclosure. Except for their own breathing and
the sighing of the wind, not a sound. Then a
faraway clock boomed six notes. The noise made them start
and turned pale faces toward each other. Come, said the

(11:01):
doctor heavily. It's all over. You might as well go up.
We'll have to walk. All the power will be off.
Twenty stories the lobby of the hotel Lutchison, on the
roof of which the penthouse apartment was located was empty
now except for a few clerks and bell boys. These
sat with bowed heads before their grills or on their benches,

(11:22):
as if they had merely succumbed to the unpardonable sin
of sleeping on duty. But they did not breathe. June
clung to her father's arm as they crossed noiselessly over
the heavy carpet. The city will be a charnel house
when these bodies start to decompose, barren, hesitated. Shouldn't we
get out of town while there is a chance, manthus

(11:43):
shook his head. No, I'm convinced these people aren't dead.
They're simply outside of time. Change cannot affect them. If
I'm not mistaken, they will remain just the same indefinitely.
But there will be fires throughout the city, not many.
The electricity is off. The day is warm, so no
furnaces are going. Not even a rat is left to

(12:03):
nibble matches. For the animals must be effected in the
same way that humans are. The world is asleep. After
mounting interminable stairs, they regained the apartment and went out
on the balcony. It was full daylight now, but not
a smoke plume trailed from tall chimneys. Not a bird
was on the wing. Elevated trains stood on their tracks,

(12:24):
passengers and guards asleep inside. I still don't understand, muttered Baron.
The sun comes up, the wind blows. How can that
be if there's no time? Might this not be some plague?
In a way? You are right, boy, It is a
plague which is paralyzed man's sense of time. You have
become involved by not remembering Cant's axiom that time is

(12:44):
purely subjective. It exists in the mind only. It and
space are the only ideas inherently in our brains. They
allow us to conduct ourselves among a vast collection of
things in themselves, which time does not effect. But wait
a moment, granting that time is in the mind rather
than in the outside world, what will happen if the
time sense is paralyzed? Won't the effect be similar to hypnosis,

(13:07):
whereby a man is reduced to a cataleptic state the
thought chain, which usually passes ceaselessly through the brain, is halted.
Seeing that the engineers still look puzzled, Jane interposed, it's
something like enchantment. She explained. The old legends are full
of it, the Sleeping Beauty, Brunhilda, and rit van Winkle.
I'm convinced that in ancient times a few persons knew

(13:30):
how to draw a fairy ring about those they wished
to injure or protect, placing them thus outside the reach
of time and change. This has now happened the world over,
perhaps through some drift in the ether or germ in
the brain. This is what we must find out so
that we can solve the mystery and take steps to
reawaken the world. Perhaps this will help interrupted manthis in
his turn. As you know, all the great scientists Einstein, Genes,

(13:54):
Pavlov are convinced that everything in the universe is a
form of vibration, even thought they've operate somewhat like a
very short radio wave. What if some agency, either inside
or outside the universe began interfering on the thought wave channel.
Granting your supposition, Jack was on his own ground. Now,
transmission would be impossible on that channel exactly. Well, that's

(14:18):
what I'm convinced is taking place. I'm a chemist, not
an engineer. I've given you the lead. You'll have to
do the rest. Do you think you might locate such interference. Possibly,
I'll do my best. Fine, of course, if it is
coming from outside the stratosphere, as the cosmic rays do,
then there is no hope. But if someone is broadcasting
such a devilish wave from an earthly station, we may

(14:39):
have a chance to stop it. Now, baron, my boy,
he continued, dropping into more jovial tone and leading his
friend into the laboratory. You'll have to get busy if
you intend to keep us sticking. This equipment is at
your disposal, he waved toward a newly installed shortwave radio transmitter.
Here are storage batteries all charged. He opened another door.
I have a five killer what generator installed here. It

(15:01):
is operated by a gasoline engine. If you need other equipment,
you can raid the rough affle plant. Returning to the
main laboratory, he indicated the work table set close to
a great double window overlooking Central Park. Couldn't ask for
anything better, could you, he smiled. Plenty of light and
air and a view of the city. Look, you can
even see those poor devils lying around the subwakiosc. His

(15:24):
face became bleak. Then he shrugged and tried to throw
off his depression. June and I will help you as
much as we can. We can raid stores for provisions
and hashish. Now let's have breakfast. The next few days
were filled with unending labor for the temporal castaways, from
daybreak until far into the night. With the radio receivers
clamped over their ears, the three twisted dials adjusted rearstats

(15:47):
and listened on long and short waved bands. But the ether,
which once and pulsated with music and friendly voices, was
now silent except for static. Makes me think of Sunday
mornings when I was a boy manthis once commented, Only
this is more quiet and gives me the jitters. There
was a note of hysteria in his voice when the

(16:08):
doctor's nerves began to quiver. In that manner, Baron always
insisted that they all rest during such recesses. They ate
played cards and helped June with the housework. The younger
man was continually amazed by the calmness with which the
girl faced their desperate situation. Clad in a blue smock
which brought out the color of her eyes, she flitted
about the apartment, manufacturing delicious meals out of canned goods,

(16:32):
and always having a cheery word when the others became discouraged,
yet she never would look out of the window. I
can't bear to see those poor souls lying about like
rag dolls, she explained. The only thing that keeps me, saye,
is the hope that we may have reawakened them. It
was on the evening of the third day the baron
lifted the headset from his burning ears and admitted failure.

(16:55):
We've explored everything but super short wave, he sighed, I'll
have to get equipment from the laboratories before we start
on those. Jane nodded from where she perched on a
high stool across the table. But manthis did not hear.
He was making delicate adjustments on his receiving set and
listening with rapt attention. I've got something, he cried Jack June.

(17:15):
Plug in on my panel. Someone is talking. It's very loud.
Must be close instantly. The others did as he ordered,
but were able to catch only the last inflections of
a ringing voice. Then silence settled once more. What did
he say? The youngsters cried in one breath. Couldn't understand
some foreign language. The chemist was furious with disappointment. But

(17:37):
I'd recognize that voice among a thousand. We must get
in touch with him. Perhaps he can help us. God
knows we need assistance. Quick, Jack, you're an expert. See
if you can pick up a reply. Baron leaned over
his instruments, heart thumping. The dreadful loneliness against which they
had been fighting was broken. Others were alive. Minutes passed,

(17:58):
and the evening light died off. They were too excited
to strike a light. Shadows crept out of the corners
and surrounded them. At last, a faint voice grew in
their ears, but again the words were unintelligible. Sounds a
little like Greek, puzzled the girl, but it isn't. Baron
adjusted the direction finder and made scribbled calculations coming from

(18:20):
the southeast and far away. He breathed, I caught a word,
then grasped the doctor ganjur. It was what does that
tell us, snapped Jack, his nerves jumping. Ganja is the
Hindu word for hashish. That's all, my lord man. Don't
you understand the station is in India. Those who operated
are using Andrew solution as we are. I listen, shouted Jack.

(18:45):
There was a grinding and clashing in the receivers. Then
a new voice, harsh and strained with excitement, almost burst
their ear drums. Beware, beware, it's greamed. Do not trust him.
He is a devil and he has put the world
to sleep. His mind is rotten with hashish. He is
a demon. From there came a dull, crunching sound. The
voice screamed and died away. In the darkened laboratory, the

(19:09):
faces of the three listeners stood out like ovals of
white cardboard. What do you make of that, stammered baron?
At last, it looks as if the only persons alive
in New York at least are hashish addicts, the most
debased and murderers of drug fiends. The doctor stopped, his eyes,
dilating with horror. June crept close to him and threw

(19:30):
an arm around his shaking shoulders. Can't you see the
time since expanded too? Like us, they will be unaffected,
But unlike us, they use the pure drug HASHIIH Smokers are,
without exception, homicidal maniacs, vicious criminals. God are they responsible
for the end of time? Queried Jack. I don't know.

(19:51):
Perhaps some mastermind among them is at the back of it,
some engineering wizard has succumbed to the drug so recently,
or who has such a strong constitution that his intelligence
has not been de destroyed. The little doctor dragged off
his head set, disarranging his sparse gray hair. His face
was tired and worn, but his jaw thrust forward pugnaciously.
We're making headway, he cried. We know the probable author

(20:15):
of the catastrophe is a drug addict, and that he
is located near by. We know he has no scruples
for the man who warned us undoubtedly was killed, and
I'm convinced those extremely short waved bands hold the secret.
Let's knock off for the day. We look like ghosts.
To morrow morning. You and June get what equipment you
need from across the river. I'll stay here on guard.
You better raid a drug store and get some more

(20:36):
of our life. Saber too. It's listed under Cannabis Indica.
The next morning dawned clear and cold. It was early
October and there was a chill in the apartment. Baron
swung his legs over the edge of the davenport in
the living room and stared out at the frost covered
trees of Central Park. The leaves were falling before the
brisk wind and forming little eddying mounds over the forms

(20:57):
of those lying about the streets. Jack shivered at the
thought of the millions and millions of victims of the
disaster who littered the earth. They seemed to accuse him
of still being alive. Well, if manthis was right, perhaps
all could be revived before winter set in. June was
singing as he and the doctor came to breakfast. Apparently

(21:18):
she wished to forget the events of the previous night,
so they laughed and joked as though they intended to
go on a picnic rather than across a dead city.
The hotel lobby was as they last had seen it
when they descended. The bellboys still nodded on their benches.
A traveling salesman was hunched over a week old times,
as if he would awake in a few minutes, glance
about guiltily, and resume his reading. The child they had

(21:41):
rescued still lay on the divan. Her golden hair framed
her cheeks like a halo. One arm was thrown above
her head. She seemed ready to awake, though she had
not breathed for days. It all makes me feel so lonely,
whispered June, clinging to the engineer's arm. I want to
cry or whistle to keep up my coat. Bridge. Don't worry,

(22:02):
Jack replied, softly, patting her hand and speaking with more
assurance than he felt. We'll find a way out. She
squeezed his arm and smiled at him with new courage.
For months, in fact, ever since his first visit to
the Manthi's apartment, Baron had admired the doctor's charming daughter.
Although nothing had been said of love between them, they
often had gone to a dance or the theater together.

(22:23):
While a firm friendship had been cemented. Now their closer
association and the unflinching bravery which she showed, was ripening
this into a stronger bond. They went out into the
crisp morning, stepped across the body of a street sweeper
who lay in the gutter, and entered the doctor's automobile.
Through the silent city, they drove, Baron watching carefully to

(22:44):
avoid striking stalled cars or grotesquely sprawling bodies. There was
a tangle of wrecked automobiles in the center of the
Queensboro Bridge, and they were forced to push them apart
to get through. While they were engaged in this arduous work.
A drifting ferry bumped into a peer, shaking the dreaming
captain into a semblance of life at the wheel. I

(23:05):
used to like fairy tales, moaned June. They're dreadful. Really.
She clung to him like a frightened child. He drew
her close and kissed her. I love you, June, he whispered,
as though fearful that the sleeping drivers of the tangle
cars might overhear. Don't be afraid, I'm not now, She
smiled through eyes filled with tears. I've loved you for months, Jack.

(23:28):
Whatever happens, we have each other. He helped her back
into the car and drove on in silence. At last,
the wrathufful plant gloomed before them forbidding as an Egyptian tomb.
With the feeling that he was entering some forbidden precinct,
Jack led the way to his office. Somehow, without its
usual bustle and bright lights, it seemed alien. Once inside,

(23:51):
he forgot his hesitation and set about collecting equipment queerly
shaped neon tubes, reflectors, coils, electrodes. Soon there was a
pile of material glinting on top of his desk. They
were exploring a deep cabinet with the aid of a flashlight,
and a strange clicking sound made them whirl simultaneously. In
a corner of the room, A deeper blot of shadow

(24:13):
caught their eyes. Jack snapped on the flashlight. In the
small circle of light, a long, cadaverous face appeared. Thin
lips were drawn back over wide spaced yellow teeth. Black
eyes stared unwinkingly into the light. The flash wavered as
the engineer tried to get his nerves under control. It's nothing,

(24:34):
he assured the trembling girl. A light watchman caught as
he was making his rounds. Probably don't get excited. He
wet his lips. He's alive, screamed June. The eyelids they moved. Yes,
I'm alive, boomed a hoarse voice. I thought I was
the only man God had spared. Pardon me for frightening you.

(24:55):
I was so thunderstruck. The stranger stepped forward. He was
dressed in a long black top coat, high collar, and
string tie. The clicking noise was explained when he rubbed
his long white hands together, making the knuckles pop like
tiny firecrackers. Ivanne Selinsky at your service. He smiled with
what evidently was intended to be warmth, again, showing those

(25:18):
rows of teeth like picket fences. I suppose we're all
here on the same mission to find a solution for
the mystery of the world's paralysis. The apparition lit a
long and bloated cigarette, and through the acrid smoke, surveyed
them quizzically. I'm Jack Baron, formerly on the staff here,
and this is June manthis daughter of doctor Frank manthis

(25:39):
head of the chemical research department. The engineer winced as
Selinsky unfolded his hand in a clammy grip. Ah. Yes,
I know the doctor by hearsay, a great scientist. He
has a lovely daughter. Bowing deeply to June as he
let his beady eyes wander over her face and figure,
perhaps we can join forces. Although I'm must admit I

(26:00):
have abandoned hope, it is God's will. He rolled his
eyes toward Heaven, then riveted them once more upon June. Why,
certainly Jack was striving to overcome his growing dislike. We'll
be driving back in a few minutes. Would you care
to come with us? No? The pupil loss eyes skittered
toward Baron for a moment. I know the doctor's address.

(26:23):
I will come to visit you soon. Now I must
be going. Selensky turned as if to depart, then strode
to the desk and looked down at the mass of equipment.
Ah super shortwaved tubes. I see very clever. His dexterous
fingers lingered over them a moment, then he bowed and
was gone. The two remained staring at the empty doorway.

(26:47):
I I wish he'd been dead sleeping, whispered June at last,
twisting her handkerchief with trembling fingers. He I didn't like
the way he kept looking at me. He seemed right
to me. Jack tried to fight his own prejudice. He's
willing to help us. Might he not be one of
the hashish addicts. Those eyes, the pupils were mere pin points,

(27:08):
and those evil smelling cigarettes? Then why should he have
offered to help, puzzled Jack? He could have killed us. Nevertheless,
I hope we've seen the last of him. Are you
about through? Let's get out of this awful place. He
looked like a mummy. They drove back to the apartment,
so completely preoccupied that both forgot to obtain the drug
which the doctor had requested. Yes, I've heard of him,

(27:32):
manthis said, after he had been informed of the encounter.
A naturalized Russian used to do quite a bit of
valuable work in various fields of physics. But he was
some sort of radical seems to me an old fashioned anarchist,
and not popular. He dropped out of sight several years ago.
I presumed he was dead. They soon had the new
equipment installed and again began exploring the wave bands, beginning

(27:55):
with the comparatively lengthy ones and working down to those
only slightly longer than light. It was tedious work, but
all were by now as adept as jack in combing
the ether, and their task progressed rapidly. Despite the labor, however,
nothing could be heard. There was only the universal, breathless silence.
At times they moved to the commercial bands and tried

(28:18):
to pick up the stations that they had heard on
the previous day, but even there they met with failure.
By the evening of the third day, they had left
the wave bands, which could be measured in meters, and
were exploring those strange and almost wholly uncharted depths of
the ether which must be calculated in centimeters. There at
last luck favored them. It was Jack who caught a

(28:38):
strange pulsating tone on the three centimeter band. It rose
and fell, rose and fell, and then died away, like
the keening of a lost soul. Listen, he whispered, plug
in here, I found something June and the doctor followed
his instructions delicately, fingering the coils. Barren picked up the
sound again, only to lose it. Then it came once more.

(28:59):
This time he followed it as it changed to the
five centimeter band. Back and forth it went, as though
weaving an intricate and devilish web. What do you make
of it? Queried the doctor. At last, don't know. Jack
bit his lips. It's no natural phenomenon, I'll swear. Somebody
is manipulating a broadcasting station of terrific power not far
from here, and playing with that wave as a helmsman

(29:21):
brings a sailing ship into the wind and then lets
her pay off again. What do we do now, the
little chemist, finding his theory apparently confirmed, was the loss?
Could we wreck that station? Fat chance? The engineer laughed
bitterly as he reached for a cigarette. Whoever has conceived
that bit of hellishness is well guarded. The three of
us wouldn't have a ghost of a show. What I

(29:43):
can't understand is no use talking about theories now, manthis
sat down crushed, dropping his head in his hands. He
pulled his few hairs, as though that might drag out
an idea. What's to be done? Do you realize that
we hold more responsibility than ever man has held before?
Caesar Napoleon they were pikers. We have to save a world.

(30:05):
Silence greeted his outburst. The scratching of a match as
June lit a cigarette sounded like an explosion. Then the
smoke eddied undisturbed, while the three stared vacantly into space,
trying to think. Couldn't we The girl swallowed hesitantly as
she realized her ignorance of radio engineering. Couldn't we interfere
with that wave? Interfere with the wave which already is

(30:28):
breaking up the thought waves, cancel its power? Oh Jack,
you must know what I mean? With this dinky five
kilo ought station. We couldn't reach yunkers against the power
they've got. By jove, He leaped to his feet as
a new thought struck him. Maybe we could just wake
up New York, get out from the police, then smash
that other station afterwards. But we don't know whether interference

(30:49):
would break the spell, interposed the practical doctor. And it
will take a lot of practice to follow that wave.
He jumps back and forth like a grasshopper. And if
we don't do it right the time, whoever is operating
that station will be down on us like a ton
of brick, admitted Jack. Let's get the child we saved,
suggested June. We can bring her up here. Then we'll
only need a little power, just enough to be effective

(31:12):
in this room to bring her to life. If we can,
they wouldn't hear our wave? Great, Jack bent over and
kissed her. You've a real help. I'll be back in
a minute, he dashed out. Soon they heard his step
on the stairs, and he reappeared, tenderly bearing his golden
haired burden. Now, June, he commanded briskly, place her in
a comfortable position on the work table while I get ready.

(31:35):
He began arranging equipment and connecting it with the bank
of storage batteries. Shall I ad just a headset for her,
asked the impatient doctor. Be yourself. Jack placed a crooked
vacuum tube near the child's head and clamped two flat
electrodes on her temples. This wave must tact directly on
the brain. The sense of hearing has nothing to do
with it, all right, sleeping beauty. He stretched the kinkset

(31:58):
of his aching back. Let's see what we can do
for you. Pardon me, doctor, if I seem rude, this
is ticklish work. Pick up the outside way for me. Thanks. Now,
I've got our dinky sending stations set on the same
wavelength at a different frequency. It suggusted so that as
I keep in touch through this tuning coil, our wave
will fluctuate over the same path as the other. It
should take six or eight hours to overcome the effect

(32:20):
on her. I judge, here we go, June. You better
get yourself and your dad's some food. Doctor. You examine
the kid from time to time. In an hour or so,
June can relieve me. He pressed a switch. The tubes
filled with a green glow. Two hours passed and the
sun was sinking behind the trees of the park in
a bloody haze. When Jack at last signaled for June

(32:43):
to handle the dials for a time. He guided her
slim fingers. Then as she caught the trick, he rose
and stretched his crumped muscles. Don't lose the wave for
a moment, or we'll have to start all over again,
he warned, Now for dinner. She nodded, and, frowning, slightly
bent over the dials. At that moment, there came a

(33:04):
heavy knock on the apartment door. Who's that, gasped manthus
his face turning gray. Probably, Selensky replied Jack, feeling his
spine crawl as he remembered the moldy Russian find time
to choose for a visit? Shall I let him in?
Don't see what else there is to do? Good evening,

(33:26):
cried their guest as manthis opened the door. Ah, doctor manthis,
I believe I have heard so much about your work.
His hoarse yet ringing voice made the little man start
violently and caused June to shake her head in annoyance
as the sound interfered with the humming of the vagrant wave.
Sorry I could not come earlier, Selensky advanced into the laboratory,

(33:48):
giving the effect of driving the chemist before him, trying
to revive one of the sufferers. I see, May God
aid you in this noble work. He spread the tails
of his long coat and sat down. As he talked,
his eyes flashed about the room, taking in every detail,
and at last, fastening on June's fresh beauty, like those
of a vampire. Not, he boomed as he lighted a cigarette,

(34:11):
Not that I believe it possible. Catching an agonized glance
from June, Jack interrupted, You'll have to speak softly, sir,
this is ticklish work. I beg your pardon. The Russian
lowered his voice so that it squeaked piercingly, like a
rusty hinge. He wrung his hands audibly. Perhaps we'd better
move into the living room, suggested the doctor, hovering in

(34:32):
the background. There we can talk without interrupting the guest,
unfolded joint by joint, like a collapsible rule. Of course,
if you think I'm spying, he grated, not at all,
protested Jack, although he longed to strike the brute across
the face. It's just that the voices of certain pitches interfere.

(34:54):
Surely you have seen radio operators go all to pieces
when spoken to ungreatiously. Silensky allowed himself to be ushered
into the outer room. Once there, he disposed his lean
form on another chair, unctiously refused a high ball and
forgetting his momentary anger, soon was deep in a scientific
discussion of the problems involved in reviving the world. He

(35:17):
mentioned the nearby radio station, but declared that he had
been unable to locate it despite a careful search. Dismissing this,
he turned to other topics, displaying a vast knowledge of
all departments of scientific achievement, and despite his depressing personality,
holding his barrier's attention so closely, they forgot the passage
of time until the clock struck ten, time for daily injection,

(35:39):
said the doctor, Do you use andrev's solution too? Sir naturally,
replied the other, lighting one cigarette from the butt of
another Manthis hurried into the laboratory. A few moments later,
he reappeared in the doorway and called to Jack in
an agitated voice. As the younger man joined him, he
closed the door and turned a white face to him.

(36:00):
The drug is almost gone, Mampis said, didn't you obtain
a new supply? We I forgot, admitted Jack, feeling his
own face grow pale. The shock of running across Selinsky
at the laboratory upset me. Well, that's all right, then,
it gave me a turn. But we have plenty of time,
the doctor laughed, shakily. Run down to the nearest drug store.

(36:21):
There should be a supply there. Better take a flashlight.
He pushed open the door, then shrank back. Leaning against
the jam was the Russian. His manner had changed subtly.
His thin lips spread from ear to ear in a
wolfish grin. His fingers clicked like Castanet's ah. He purred,
So you have used up the last of your solution.

(36:44):
What's that to you? The doctor was gripped by a cold,
unreasoning fear, only that you will be unable to obtain more.
Since my first meeting with your daughter, I have had
my men collect all the cannabis indica in the city.
Your men, manthis was thunderstruck. Certainly, you old fool? Do

(37:04):
you think I'm a bungling theorist like yourself? Who do
you think is operating that short wave station? I am?
Who do you think put the world to sleep? I did?
Who do you think will wake it? I will. Selensky's
figure appeared to expand. He took deep drafts from his cigarette.
The smoke seemed to impel some terrific force into his

(37:25):
gaunt frame. So it was your voice I heard, cried
manthis bitterly, and those awful tales about you were true.
A hasheh smoker, a person whose mind is rotting in
control of the world. He seemed about to leap at
the other, and his chubby figure in that attitude would
have seemed ludicrous if it had not been tragic. It
shall not be, he shouted. Now see here, Doctor Selensky

(37:50):
assumed a friendly tone. You're making a grave mistake. I
have something to offer better than you ever dreamed of.
What do you mean? Just this? How would you like
to be assistant to the king of the world? Crazy
or ready? Sneered the doctor, squinting up at his tormentor
crazy or not. When the world awakes, I will be

(38:11):
its king. Why damn you? I thought you were an
anarchist and wanted to do away with kings and governments,
spluttered the little man. Selinsky burst into a gale of
fiendish laughter. An anarchist is merely a capitalist without money
or power, he quoted. What do you want of us?
Demanded Manthis playing for time? Very simple? This I intend

(38:35):
soon to begin awakening those who will serve me first
in New York, and then throughout the world. When I
have a skeleton government built up, I will withdraw the
wave and allow the people to revive. Clever, isn't it,
especially for such a madman as you think me. He
snapped his fingers and leered cunningly at them. The doctor choked,

(38:55):
but Jack's hand on his arm steadied him. You have
a very beautiful door, resumed their diabolical visitant. Leave my
daughter's name out of this, cried manthis recoiling not at all.
Her charm and ability have greatly impressed me, so impressed
me that I have decided to make her my queen.
You scum of the gutter, you filthy beast. I die

(39:17):
before I'd be a party to such a thing. The
doctor was beside himself. I consider myself justified, replied the other,
taking great delight in baiting his foe. The world was
never able to govern itself. We anarchists have bided our time,
although overshadowed by communists, fascists, and other such ridiculous experimenters,

(39:37):
now comes our turn. I shall be the viceroy of God.
Under my rule and that of Queen June, the world
shall become a second heaven. He rolled his eyes upwards
at those words. As he did so, Jack, who had
been awaiting just such an opportunity, struck him on the jaw.
The blow would have felt an ox, but Selinsky merely

(39:58):
staggered back a step and snarled. Before Baron could renew
the attack, he jerked and automatic from beneath his coat
and leaped to the hall door. You I shall kill,
he grinned evily. But not now. First you must taste
the horror of sinking into the long sleep. You have
no more drug, nor can you obtain any. Those pitiful

(40:18):
storage batteries will be exhausted by the time you have
aroused the child. So you must sleep unless you have
the carriage to kill yourself. Doctor. I deeply regret that
this has occurred, but you see that I must let
you in June sleep too. When I have need of you,
I will recall you. That is all. Farewell. May God
pity you, Baron, I will not. He sprang through the door,

(40:41):
and the tails of his black coat, flapping like the
wings of a gigantic bat, vanished down the stairs. Manthis
slammed the door and locked it, then leaned weakly against
the panels and wiped his round face. His hands shook pitifully.
This then, is the end, he whispered hoarsely. Is there

(41:01):
none of the drug left? Jack shook him out of
his lethargy. Enough for half a portion for all of us,
sighed the doctor. But what use of that? Better we
poison ourselves now and escape that demon nonsense. A half
portion means twelve hours of life. In that time I
can rig up the big transmitter. Perhaps there is still
time to revive New York. Selensky won't know that we

(41:22):
have a generator until we turn on the power quick.
Poor June must be nearly frightened to death at our shouting.
But they found the girl sitting tense and jubilant at
the controls. Father Jack. She cried as the door opened.
It's working. I saw her move. This means we may
be able to revive the world. Her face was streaked
with tears. Her heart's beating, whispered the doctor, feeling the

(41:46):
child's pulse slow but steady. She'll regain consciousness any moment. Now,
no time to wait. Disregarding June's cry of protest, Jack
stripped off the electrodes. We must get the big machine working.
But the little thing will die again, cried June, throwing
herself on her knees beside the tot. I didn't think

(42:06):
you could be so cruel. Selinsky has cut off our
drug supply, explained manthis gently he's operating the other station.
Don't blame Jack. We must work fast. You mean that
Russian is responsible for all this? Yes, child, but maybe
we can defeat him yet, don't lose courage. Now I
must go and prepare what's left of the drug. We're

(42:28):
overdue for it now. Meanwhile, Jack was busy running leeds
from the generator room, connecting banks of tubes, stringing an
aerial on the terrace. Twelve hours. Twelve hours, he muttered,
Just time to make it if the doctor's calculations are correct. June,
hand me those pliers, but be careful of the wires.
I haven't had time to insulate them. When we start

(42:49):
the dynamo, they'll be carrying twelve thousand volts. But won't
Selinsky and his men come back and kill us for
the first time. The full weight of despair descended upon
her brave spirit. Probably does your father have a revolver?
I I think so. Find out Jack connected a loading
coil with deft fingers. Then go down to a sporting

(43:12):
goods store and get some ammunition. If there are any
shotguns in the place, bring two back and plenty of
book shot shells. I don't think we're being watched yet,
but if you're attacked, run for it. Noting she looked
hurt at his abruptness, he kissed her quickly. Sorry, darling,
every second counts. Run along like a good girl. She

(43:32):
smiled for the first time in a long while and
patted his hand. When she returned, two shotguns and several
boxes of shells held like wood in her bent arms.
The generator was sparking merrily, the gasoline engine barked steadily,
and the vacuum tubes glowed green Manthis came in at
that moment and injected the remaining drug as Jack gave
crisp orders automatically. The engineer had taken command. I'll get

(43:58):
things going and handle the dials until Selim he sends
his rats down on us. June, you watch the street
door run up at the first sign of an attack.
After that, you'll take my place and hold it no
matter what happens, until we succeed or are killed. The
doctor and I will go downstairs when you come up
and hold them off or retreat slowly. Thank Heaven, we
can command both the front and rear stairway from the halls. Now, doctor,

(44:21):
watch the circuit breaker. I'm going to throw on full power.
As he advanced the rearstat the tubes glowed brighter, bathing
the room in an unearthly light. Jack adjusted his headset
and smiled up at June. She kissed him bravely before
hurrying to her dangerous post. Once more, he sat listening

(44:41):
to that whining, fluctuating wave. The engineer's thoughts wavered between
speculations on the future, fond memories of June, and impatience
with the dragging hours. Would nothing ever happen? Through the
earphones now came a jangling, agonized whine, as if the
two antagonistic waves were endowed with life and actually struggling
in the ether. From time to time, his glance wandered

(45:04):
to the child, who, having obtained a head start through
her preliminary treatment, now was stirring fretfully slowly. The time
plodded by. Jack smoked cigarette after cigarette in an effort
to fight off the drowsiness which loaded his eyelids with lead.
It must have been three o'clock when a whimper from
the divan apprised him that the child had at last awakened.

(45:26):
Where's mamma, she blinked into the glare. I've lost my mamma.
There there, honey, soothed the doctor, stopping his pacing up
and down the room and picking her up. Your mamma
had to go away for a while. She'll be back
any minute. Let's go find a drink of water, and
I've something for you to play with too. Gently he
carried home to Jeane's bedroom. Soon he reappeared and patted

(45:49):
Jack on the shoulder. Our first victory, he said, in
a broken voice. She's in perfect condition and sleeping naturally. Now.
I gave her one of June's old dolls to play
with and collapsed into the nearest chair. I'm almost dead
with the strain of it. Do you think there's a
chance three more hours should turn the trick? I don't

(46:09):
understand why, Selinski. The crash of a shotgun, coming faint
but clear from the street below, brought him up short.
The shot was answered by a volley of rifle fire.
Jack almost lost the wave in his excitement, but regained
it with the desperate twist of the wrist. No time
for nerves now, he must be calm. Go down and

(46:30):
hold them until June can get back to relieve me,
he ordered. Hurry, they may rush her any moment. The
doctor seemed ten years younger as he thrust a revolver
into his pocket, snatched a shotgun from behind the door,
and ran out. The commotion had awakened the child, who
started whimpering, adding further to Jack's distractions. Yet he managed,

(46:50):
in spite of ghastly mental pictures of June being torn
to pieces by her attackers, to keep his hands steady.
A few minutes later, she slipped into the room and
laid her cold cheek against his before taking her place
at the instruments. It's all right, she added, I don't
think they'll attack in the dark. There are five of them.
I'm sure I wounded or killed one. They weren't expecting

(47:11):
our guard. I left the gun with father. He's behind
the cashier's desk. Then, all her courage evaporating, she turned
an appealing little girl face toward her lover. Don't let
yourself be killed, Jack, I'd die too. June you're wonderful,
he whispered, I didn't know there was a girl alive
as brave as you. Good Bye, no matter what happens,

(47:34):
keep the wave in tune. He kissed her tenderly, trying
not to think he had done so for the last time,
and hurried out. The stairs were black as the inside
of a tomb. Once he stumbled over the body of
a charwoman and came near falling headlong. Nothing's happened since
the first volley, whispered manthis. When Jack slipped into the cage.

(47:54):
They're holding off for Dawn. Look, His voice wavered. Was
that a face at the window? He fired wildly. Glass
tinkled easy, warned Baron, don't waste ammunition. Besides, if you
get this place full of smoke, they'll jump us. Dawn
was painting the windows gray when the assault began. Their

(48:14):
first warning came when a small object was tossed into
the lobby. It exploded in a cloud of white vapor
tear gas. Yelled Jack back to the stairs. They ran
for cover, weeping and choking. They began a slow retreat
up the stairways, Jack guarding the front and manthis the
back passages. At first, it was a simple matter for

(48:35):
their enemies to toss tear bombs through the fire doors,
then protected by respirators, capture another floor. But as the
light increased this became more and more hazardous. Twice a
spray of bookshop laid a Selensky man. Low. He hasn't
many men available, called Jack, as the attack slackened. But
watch out, his time's about up. Hey. Look at that woman,

(48:57):
a white uniformed maid, whom he remembered having seen lying
up the same spot every time he had climbed. The
stairs had stirred weakly, as though about to wake. It
was their glance at the sleeping form which undid them.
When they looked up, both fire doors were open, and
helmeted figures were emerging from them. The shotguns roared. Two
of their attackers collapsed, but the others came on before

(49:18):
there was time for another shot. They were at close quarters,
standing back to back. Matthis and Jack clubbed their guns
and held the ground. The fact that Selinski and his
men wore respirators handicapped them immensely, so that the two
defenders kept a cleared circle about them. One of the attackers,
more daring than the rest, leaped forward to engage the engineer.

(49:40):
He collapsed with a crushed skull. Then, when victory seemed
in their grasp, luck turned. At Jack's next blow, the
stock of his weapon parted from the barrel, leaving him
almost defenseless. At the same time, matthis slipped and collapsed
from a knife thrust. Jack was left alone to face
three enemies and would have been killed within the minute

(50:01):
had not Selinsky, recalling the little time he had left
to stop the interfering wave, deserted his comrades and sprinted
for the laboratory. The seeming defection of their chief threw
the other two attackers into momentary confusion. Before they could recover,
Jack knocked one out with the gun barrel, then came
a flying tackle at the other, but he had caught

(50:22):
a tartar. His remaining enemy was a gigantic Negro. Recovering
from his surprise, The latter lifted high a glittering knife
to finish his disarmed foe. Jack snatched at the uplifted arm,
missed a revolver, cracked the hooded Negro, staggered, then crashed forward.
Remember my pistol just in time, gasped the doctor from

(50:42):
the floor. Don't borther about me. I'm all right, stop Selinsky,
for God's sake. Although his lungs seemed bursting, Barren turned
and flew up the stairs, Being familiar with every turn,
he gained on the Russian and caught sight of the
dreadful black coat tails. As his enemy burst through to
the twentiethe the locked door of the apartment baffled him

(51:03):
only a moment. Stepping back, Selinsky held his giant frame
against the panels. They splintered and crashed inward, but the
delay allowed Jack to catch up. He leaped on the
Russian's back. Locked together, they reeled into the living room.
For a fleeting moment, Jack saw June sitting rigidly at
the instruments. Her eyes were staring from their sockets, but

(51:25):
her hands were steady. I warned you to kill yourself.
Selinsky's voice rose in a screaming whisper through the respirator.
Now I will do it. Displaying the strength of madness,
he hurled Jack from him, losing all control of his limbs.
The younger man flew across the room and demolished the
divan in his fall. But the thought of what Selinsky

(51:46):
would do to June brought him back to the attack.
The fury of their struggle wrecked the living room. Both
bled from numerous wounds. One of the Russian's bleak eyes
closed under a well directed blow, but otherwise he seemed unaffected.
Jack grappled again and realized his mistake as he was
caught in a bone cracking grip and forced into the laboratory.

(52:07):
Baron felt a rib snap. A sweat of agony broke
out over his body. Holding his enemy helpless, the invader
worked his way toward the work table. They bumped against it,
making the equipment totter perilously. Selinsky released his grip, snatched
a bottle of distilled water, and swung. Jack felt his
head explode. The room went dark, but in his semi consciousness,

(52:31):
he remembered he must not let the Russian reach that switch.
As he slid slowly to the floor, he grasped the
other's legs. The drug fiend tried to kick free, stumbled,
struck the table with his hips. Throwing out his arms
to regain his balance, he plunged one hand among the
naked cables which led from the generator to the transformers
and tubes. A blinding flash of light and the scream

(52:53):
of a soul in torment followed. As a nauseating odor
of burning flesh filled the room. The Russian was hurled
backward like a rubber ball. He struck the window which
overlooked the park, crashed through the large panel and fell.
June sat as though hypnotized, forcing herself to manipulate those dials.

(53:15):
Jack crawled to the window and watched the black body
swoop downward like a wounded bird, the coat flapping like
crippled wings. After what seemed like an eon, it struck
the edge of the subway. Kiosk, bounced like a rag
doll and sprawled across the pavement. Still, Jack did not move.
Through a haze of his own blood, he stared the

(53:35):
fate of his enemy, forgotten all about the Kiosk bodies,
which had laid so still for the past week, were moving.
The little figures, not much larger than ants from that height, yawned,
sat up, and stretched as though it was the commonest
thing in the world to take a nap in the
midst of Fifth Avenue. It was as if the last
swoop of that bat like figure had returned them to consciousness.

(53:58):
The world is alive. The world is alive. Baron croaked
wildly as he felt his senses slipping from him. We
have one June. We have one end of the end
of time. By Wallace West