Captain Future 25 - Moon of the Unforgotten (January 1951) Read Online Free PDF Page B

gone so far and yet not far enough! He heard himself cry out, an incoherent fury of demand for the machine to hum again, to send his memories plunging back along the endless track of time.
    Then his sight cleared and he saw Otho watching him, his green eyes calculating and ironic. He saw Konnur, smiling.
    Curt stripped off the metal band and stood erect. His hands were unsteady and somehow he could not meet Otho’s gaze. He tried to speak but the words did not come and in his mind, already fading, was still the burden of that song and the blinding light of galaxies untouched and new, ready for the conqueror.
    He shivered and Konnur said as though he knew quite well what was passing in the Earthman’s thoughts, “Remain here then. You can order the others away and remain here and follow your own dream. There are no limits to the memory of man.”
    “Yes,” said Curt to himself and not to Konnur. “One limit — the beginning, the time before ever there were men, before the First Born. Who — and where and how?”
    “Learn,” said the quiet voice of Konnur. “Send the others away when they come and remain and learn.”
    From a great distance then there came to Curt the sudden sound of fighting in the pass.
    For a moment he stood motionless, caught between that song of lost eons and the pitiless present. Then, savagely, like a creature driven against his will, he moved. He tore the metal band from Ezra Gurney’s head and shook him and shouted, “Wake up, Ezra! Wake!”
    The guards had started forward. Otho said sharply, “Wait! If you touch him now, it will only mean complete destruction for you all.”
    Konnur listened to the sound of fighting in the valley. He sighed and motioned the guards to halt.
    “Yes,” said Konnur, “let us wait. There is always time to die.”
    Ezra Gurney was looking up at Curt, his eyes bewildered and full of uncomprehending pain.
    Captain Future turned away. He said heavily, “Konnur, go and tell your people to lay down their weapons. There is no need for bloodshed.”
    “Perhaps,” said Konnur, “it would be better for us to die fighting for the Second Life.”
    Curt shook his head. “The Second Life must be ended for Europa. By bringing in these folk from other worlds you have given the Planet Police and the Government power to act and they will act very swiftly. But... it...”
    Konnur’s eyes blazed. “But?”
    “It need not be destroyed. Go now and speak to your people.”
    Konnur hesitated. His gaze was fixed on Curt’s. Then, abruptly, he turned and went away. Curt took Ezra Gurney’s hand. He said gently, “Get up, Ezra. It’s time to go.”
    The old man got slowly to his feet and then sank back, sitting on the edge of the slab, his face between his hands.
     
    PRESENTLY he said, “I couldn’t help it, Curt. It was a chance to go back to the time when I was young, to the time when we were together and all that had not yet happened...”
    Curt did not need to ask whom he meant by “we”. He was one of the few who knew Ezra’s tragedy, the loved brother whom he had long ago been forced to slay as an outlaw in space.
    He took hold of Ezra’s shoulder. “Sure,” he said. “Sure, I understand.”
    Ezra looked up at him. “Yes,” he muttered. “I think you do. Well...” He stood up, groping for something to say, something normal and expected. “Well, I guess there’s nothing else to do but go and face Joan. Is she angry?”
    “Not now,” said Otho, grinning, “but she will be.”
    Ezra smiled back gratefully but his heart was not in it.
    They went out of the place of the sleepers, down the long passage to the outer chambers. The noise of strife had ceased. They heard a tumult of many voices shouting and then Grag came striding mightily through the tall gates.
    He bellowed, “Are you all right, Curt? I knew Otho would get you into a jam!”
    Simon Wright glided beside him and behind them a press of eager dusty young Europans crowding like