The Infra-Medians | Page 6

molested. When they did appear, and tried to lay hands on me, I warned
them back, and finally shot one of them.
"The effect was magical. They seemed unable to believe the evidence
of their eyes. They rushed me eagerly, each seeming to beg for a bullet.
"I gave them what they wanted, still hoping I could frighten them away.
A great crowd formed around me, and the rabble was sent flying by a
number of the men who seem to hold some office, distinguished by a
jewel-like emblem around their throats. If I read their actions correctly,
they claimed the privilege of death by virtue of their greater authority.
* * * * *
"Well, I finally decided that my gun did anything but frighten them.
They were angry when I refused to do any more slaughtering, and led
me here. Every once in a while one of the captains would come in and
command me to kill him. I refused, for that's the only trump card I held.

"When Hope, here, acted like the foolish little kid she is, she was not
even armed, and they rushed her here without delay. My theory is that
these people live in a dreary world in which there is no pleasure. Their
faces seem to show that. Apparently they live a very long time, and
have no means of shortening that life. They are not intelligent. Things
that would kill a man of our own world have no effect on them, for
remember that they are not physical beings. You have seen them appear
out of thin air, and dissolve in the same fashion?"
"Yes."
"That is simply their mode of transportation. They pass invisibly
through the air, just as electricity passes through a wire; quickly,
invisibly, silently. Then they assume their original form where they
will--just, again, as electricity passes from the end of the wire exactly
the same as it entered it, allowing only for voltage drops and some
other factors that aren't pertinent here.
"What we must do, and right now, is to settle upon some means of
getting to the proper spot at the proper time. You marked the moment
of your departure, I suppose?"
"Exactly." I glanced down at my wrist watch, and noted with relief that
it was still running. I observed then, for the first time, that the watch,
my clothing, and even my hand, were not real; they were like the rest of
the things in this monstrous state that Vic called Infra-Media. "I left at
three after ten. It's now fourteen minutes of eleven--Good Lord! Less
than an hour since I stood there in your laboratory!"
"Then our next chance to get back will be at three minutes after one,"
nodded Vic. "I wonder if there is any chance of--"
* * * * *
Before he could complete the sentence the door was flung open, and
five of the older men, led by a sixth with a larger jewel at his throat,
filed solemnly into the room and motioned that we were to leave.

At the doorway, a double file of creatures closed in about us, and we
were led, by long corridors and mighty winding ramps, toward the top
of the building.
"Now what?" I whispered to Vic.
"I don't know. That chap with the big stone at his throat seems to be the
head man of the city. I think his name is Ee-pay; the others seem to call
him that. Maybe it's just a title. But what they're up to now, I can't even
guess. Keep your eyes open for a chance to get away, though. How are
you feeling, Hope?"
"All excited!" She tried to smile, and almost succeeded. Hope was
game all the way through. "What an adventure this will be to talk about
when we're old and rheumatic!"
"Good kid!" said Vic, and I pressed her hand as comfortably as I could.
We turned a bend in the long ramp we had been climbing, and came out
upon the vast, level top of the building.
Thousands of the unreal creatures of this world were crowded around a
vast, hideous image that rose from the center of the space; a monster so
terrible that Hope cried out at the sight, and Vic exclaimed under his
breath.
For myself, I seemed stricken dumb; I could only stare at this black and
ghastly god of these people.
* * * * *
The carven image was perhaps thirty feet in height, and represented a
figure crouched upon its knees, its head bent very low and at the same
time tilted at a grotesque angle so that the face smiled heavenward; the
hands, palms upward, extended invitingly just below the chin.
As our party appeared, an aisle opened, and we were