Skylark Three | Page 8

in space. You, however, have a very clear and solid
knowledge of the fundamentals of the science, and that is what we need,
above all things."
"Well, maybe you're right, at that. I do know the general theory of the
motions, and I studied some Celestial Mechanics. I'm awfully weak on
advanced theory, though, as you'll find out when you get that far."
"Perhaps--but since our enemies have no knowledge of astronomy
whatever, it is not surprising that their rocket-ships can be launched
only at one particularly favorable time; for there are many planets and
satellites, of which they can know nothing, to throw their vessels off
the course.
"Some material essential to the operation of their war machinery
apparently must come from their own planet, for they have ceased
attacking, have dug in, and are simply holding their ground. It may be
that they had not anticipated as much resistance as we could offer with
space-ships and intra-atomic energy. At any rate, they have apparently
saved enough of that material to enable them to hold out until the next
conjunction--I cannot think of a better word for it--shall occur. Our
forces are attacking constantly, with all the armament at our command,
but it is certain that if the next conjunction is allowed to occur, it means
the end of the entire Kondalian nation."'
"What d'you mean 'if the next conjunction is allowed to occur?'"
interjected Seaton. "Nobody can stop it."

"I am stopping it," Dunark stated quietly, grim purpose in every
lineament. "That conjunction shall never occur. That is why I must
have the vast quantities of salt and 'X'. We are building abutments of
arenak upon the first satellite of our seventh planet, and upon our sixth
planet itself. We shall cover them with plated active copper, and install
chronometers to throw the switches at precisely the right moment. We
have calculated the exact times, places, and magnitudes of the forces to
be used. We shall throw the sixth planet some distance out of its orbit,
and force the first satellite of the seventh planet clear out of that
planet's influence. The two bodies whose motions we have thus
changed will collide in such a way that the resultant body will meet the
planet of our enemies in head-on collision, long before the next
conjunction. The two bodies will be of almost equal masses, and will
have opposite and approximately equal velocities; hence the resultant
fused or gaseous mass will be practically without velocity and will fall
directly into the fourteenth sun."
"Wouldn't it be easier to destroy it with an explosive copper bomb?"
"Easier, yes, but much more dangerous to the rest of our solar system.
We cannot calculate exactly the effect of the collisions we are
planning--but it is almost certain that an explosion of sufficient
violence to destroy all life upon the planet would disturb its motion
sufficiently to endanger the entire system. The way we have in mind
will simply allow the planet and one satellite to drop out quietly--the
other planets of the same sun will soon adjust themselves to the new
conditions, and the system at large will be practically unaffected--at
least, so we believe."
Seaton's eyes narrowed as his thoughts turned to the quantities of
copper and "X" required and to the engineering features of the project;
Crane's first thought was of the mathematics involved in a computation
of that magnitude and character; Dorothy's quick reaction was one of
pure horror.
"He can't, Dick! He mustn't! It would be too ghastly! It's
outrageous--it's unthinkable--it's--it's--it's simply too horrible!" Her
violet eyes flamed, and Margaret joined in:

"That would be awful, Martin. Think of the destruction of a whole
planet--of an entire world--with all its inhabitants! It makes me shudder,
even to think of it."
* * * * *
Dunark leaped to his feet, ablaze. But before he could say a word,
Seaton silenced him.
"Shut up, Dunark! Pipe down! Don't say anything you'll be sorry
for--let me tell 'em! Close your mouth, I tell you!" as Dunark still tried
to get a word in, "I tell you I'll tell 'em, and when I tell 'em they stay
told! Now listen, you two girls--you're going off half-cocked and you're
both full of little red ants. What do you think Dunark is up against?
Sherman chirped it when he described war--and this is a real he-war; a
brand totally unknown on our Earth. It isn't a question of whether or not
to destroy a population--the only question is which population is to be
destroyed. One of them's got to go. Remember those folks go into a war
thoroughly, and there isn't a thought, even remotely resembling our
conception of mercy in any of their minds on either side. If Dunark's
plans go through the enemy