The Return of Sathanas | Page 9

this
class of returned people.--Author.
CHAPTER IV

Pact with the Aesir
Odin welcomed us himself, leading us into the great hall of Gladsheim.
The walls were covered with the gleaming shields of his followers; he
sat us upon his own throne and the throne of his queen beside it. They
were the only seats that could begin to hold us, for they were relics
from the old time and must have been too great for their present users.
So we took them, and indeed, Arl and I are used to great honor
wherever we go, for we are much loved and respected. "A friend is the
best gold," is my motto, and can be a mighty power when he is needed.
As he stood before us, Odin was nearly half our height. But age was
showing on him. His beard was snow white, his ruby-red Santa Claus
face lined with the progress of the dreaded sun-blight.
Odin stood on the steps of the throne dais and made a short speech to
his followers.

"These are the high Gods who live among the far stars. You have heard
of them from our wise men, and now they are here for you to see. They
come at a time when we need them most. If they approve of us, our
struggles with the Jotuns will go well, so hold your evil natures in
check, and let the High Gods see the gold that we, your friends and I
your ruler, know lies underneath the rude flesh." Then Odin turned to
us, saying:
"We know much of your ancient race from writings found in the
caves--the plates of imperishable metal left by Mutan Mion have been
translated by some of our wise men, and I have read their writings.
Also, we have learned to use some of the ancient magic from the hot
depths of the greater caverns where a man can no longer live for the
heat. There we have found great things and brought them to the surface
for use here in Gladsheim. We would like to have you explain many
things about that science that produced such things, but just now we are
getting ready for a seige. The Jotuns are preparing for an attack on
Asgard. Even now their hosts gather in the misty depths of the dark
land beyond. What are your names that I may properly present you to
our brave warriors?"
With a bow toward Arl, I said, "This is the Lady Arl and I am called
Mion."
Arl smiled at them with the graciousness of a true queen.
"My Lord is too modest," she said in that lovely voice. "He is the Lord
Mutan Mion, the Lord Mion to whom even the Elder Titans and Atlans
owe their lives."
The Aesirs' eyes popped with surprise and joy when they heard that we
were the same Mutan Mion and Arl mentioned on the ancient plates.
"So many lives... and still living," were their excited comments, "so
long... and so young to look upon. So fair, and yet so ancient of days.
Yea, they are the Gods... come again to Earth as in the old days that
some swear were true things."

But Odin had little time for much formality, though he seemed to think
we merited a great deal of it.
"Oh Great Ones from Beyond, if you will not help us against the Jotuns,
we must leave you for awhile and get to our work, preparing to meet
the coming attack, but, Oh Mighty Ones, if you will help us, we are
yours. Command us what we must do to beat off the fierce Jotuns."
As he spoke a messenger raced into the hall. With some urgency he
approached the dais that held the throne and spoke privately into Odin's
ear. The worthy human's face fell. As he turned again to us, I could
detect a note of sadness in his voice.
"The messenger brings bad news, My Lords. Another great ship from
the stars--infinitely larger than the one in which you arrived--has come
to Earth in the encampment of the Jotuns. That is not the whole of this
ill news. Mighty men of a size as your own have come out of this huge
vessel and are siding with the Jotuns in their preparation for the coming
struggle with us. What means that to you, O Great Beings?"
Now, I knew that there was but one Nor ship in this immediate solar
system, and that another space ship as large as the Darkome probably
was the fugitive that we were seeking--one of the ships of the infamous
fleet we were pledged to return to the Courts of the Rulers of Nor. I
explained to these Earthmen that these were fugitives from the justice
of the