The mechanism1 of the radio telescope whirred into life as he spoke2 and its disk shone bright with the reflected light of Titan as it pictured the body. The Nomad3 was speeding toward the ill-omened satellite at the rate of more than a thousand miles a second.
But the surface was nowhere visible and Mado adjusted the focus so that the view of the billowy cloud-covering fell rapidly away. Though actually they were approaching the satellite with tremendous velocity5, it receded6 swiftly in the rulden's disk until the entire body showed as a perfect sphere of uniform brilliancy. All surface markings were concealed7 by the blanket of clouds.
"Just a moment, Mado," said Detis. "I believe I saw something."
The Martian pressed a button and the image was stationary8. A tiny black spot had appeared near one edge of the satellite's disk and this now spread rapidly like a blot9 of spilled ink. Then it stretched out into a wriggling10 line that quickly streaked11 its way across the equator, completely banding the body as they watched. A moment it lay there like a great serpent encircling the globe, and then it vanished in a flash of intense light that left them blinking in amazement12. It was as if a trail of gunpowder13 had been laid across the surface and then set off by a torch in the hand of some unseen giant of the cosmos14. A strange electrical storm that agitated15 the cloud blanket mightily16, then left it more densely17 closed in than before.
Through the forward port the satellite could be seen with the naked eye, growing larger now and resolving itself into a tiny globe. To Carr it seemed that the diminutive18 moon winked19 provocatively20 as he turned to regard it without the rulden's aid. Off to the west, Saturn21 and her rings almost filled the sky, and their baleful light shone cold and menacing against the black velvet22 of the heavens.
Mado took the controls when the Nomad entered the atmosphere of Titan and drifted over the sea of clouds. He corrected the altimeter for the mass of this body of three thousand miles diameter, and noted23 that they were up about six thousand feet. Test samples indicated that the outside air, although thin, was pure. But they did not open the ports as they had no intention of landing.
Ora had not yet awakened24 and Carr hoped fervently25 that she would not do so until they had left the immediate26 vicinity of Titan. It was vastly better if she missed seeing anything of the barbarians27 of the cloudy satellite. Besides, with her adventuresome and fearless nature, she'd not be satisfied merely to look on from afar—she'd want them to land. And that must not be done.
Something tinkled28 metallically29 against the hull30 plates of the vessel31. Again and again the sound was repeated, and soon they saw that the air was filled with driving particles which clattered32 on the thick glass of the ports and contacted resoundingly with the hull. A vast cloud of black loomed33 directly ahead, springing up from the tossing cloud banks; and Mado yanked at the controls, swerving34 the Nomad sharply from her course.
But there was no escaping the fury of that sudden squall; they were in the thick of it in an instant, and the ship was buffeted35 and tossed about as if it were a toy. Millions of the driving particles battered36 the Nomad and the din4 of their pounding was terrific as the ship was whirled deeper into the midst of the tempest.
Carr saw that the black particles were piling up around the rim37 of the port, sticking fast to the metal of the hull. They were bristling38 in fantastic array, like iron filings adhering to the poles of a magnet. In a flash it came to him that these particles were magnetic; the Nomad was covered with them and they piled on ever more thickly, soon weighting her down so heavily that she lost altitude. They were at the mercy of a furious electrical storm of mysterious nature.
"Imps39 of the canals!" Mado shouted above the din. "We're finished! The machinery40 is paralyzed. This iron hail is charged."
The viewing port was completely covered over now with particles that arched across from rim to rim, slender rod-like things about two inches long and of the thickness of heavy wire. Black, they were, as black as graphite. Detis worked frantically41 with Mado at the useless controls, vainly endeavoring to stabilize42 the pitching vessel.
Dazed by the suddenness of the calamity43, Carr turned to look at the altimeter. Five thousand feet, forty-five hundred, four thousand! Nose down, and reeling drunkenly, the Nomad was diving to certain disaster on the rocky ground of Titan. He dashed from the control room, calling distractedly to Ora as he raced along the passageway.
She staggered from the stateroom and into his arms, a slim, boyish figure in her snug44 leather jacket and breeches. Together they were flung violently against the partition by a heavy lurch45 of the vessel.
"What is it?" she gasped46, clinging to him for support.
"A freak storm, in Titan's atmosphere. Guess the Nomad's done for." Carr drew her fiercely close as an awful picture flashed across his mind—of Ora's body mangled47 in twisted wreckage48; of the savages49 finding it, down there....
The metal floor-plates seemed to buckle50 and hurl51 themselves aft with a grinding crash of disrupted joints52. Holding desperately53 to the precious little body within his arms, Carr was thrown off his feet. There was a detonation54 as if the universe had been blasted into oblivion—then darkness, and numbed55 silence.
"Carr, you're hurt!" Ora moaned.
He was—a little. His head was splitting and the taste of blood was in his mouth, but it was nothing serious. He'd been half knocked out, but his head was clearing already. Of far greater importance was the fact that Ora was unharmed; he satisfied himself of that immediately.
"I'm all right," he grunted56, struggling to his feet and feeling around in the blackness.
The lights in the passage were out and he groped blindly along the partition, the metal of which had suddenly become very hot to the touch. There was a curious feeling of lightness as if his body had no weight at all; the ship rolled gently and he knew they were falling swiftly to the inevitable57 crash. Yet he clung fast to Ora, and, together, they made their way to the control room.
Faint daylight streamed in through the ports there and he saw Mado and Detis, both bleeding from injuries they had received when the mysterious shock hurled58 them amongst the control mechanisms59. They were working furiously with the exciter-generator60, which had stopped. The Nomad was without power and helpless to exert her anti-gravity energy.
"The iron hail!" gasped the Europan scientist. "It gave up its charge, Carr—exploded. Here, give us a hand and see if we can get the generators61 started."
The ports were clear of the black particles and Carr saw that the outer surface of the glass was cracked and darkened from the heat of the blast. He understood, remembering the black band and the flash they had seen across the cloud layer from afar. And in the instant of remembering he saw that the ground was very near, rushing upward to meet them. A coil of the exciter-armature broke away in his fingers; the thing had been burned out by the electric storm, and the Nomad was doomed62.
The altimeter needle moved with sickening speed and already registered but little more than five hundred feet. Four hundred! Carr braced63 himself for the impending64 crash and gathered Ora in his arms.
And then a strange thing happened. Four light rays, dazzling in intensity65, stabbed up at them from the forest beneath them and converged66 on the vessel's hull. The Nomad staggered, then came to an even keel and slackened in her mad dash to the surface. She vibrated from stem to stern under the mighty67 conflict of energies and they felt themselves pressed hard against the floor-plate. But the mysterious energy beams had come too late to save them. A densely wooded slope loomed directly ahead. There was a crashing of branches and the rending68 of mighty trunks, and the Nomad came to a jarring stop.
"Devils of Terra!" Mado ejaculated. "We're in a fine fix now. We'll have to set foot on Titan whether we want to or not."
Carr had laughed, somewhat shakily, in relief. They were safe, all of them, and no one much hurt. And the generator coils could be rewound. But he sobered instantly at Mado's words; they'd have to produce copper69 and insulating materials for the job.
"Right," he agreed. "And that's not so good."
"What's so terrible about landing here?" Ora inquired. "I thought we were expecting to explore this satellite." She looked up from her ministrations to Detis, who had a nasty scalp wound.
"The people here are dangerous savages," Carr answered gravely. "At least some of them are; we saw them in the rulden. You'll have to remain aboard while we look up the ones who projected those rays and do some bargaining with them."
"What! You expect me to hide in the vessel while you're at work outside? Not much! I want to see something of Titan while we are here." Her pretty chin was set in that determined70 manner she had.
"I tell you it's too risky71!" Carr was firm, but he looked at Mado beseechingly72, signaling for his support.
But the Martian only grinned owlishly. He knew as well as did Carr that Ora would have her way.
"Risky—pooh!" she returned. "I'm not afraid. We have our ray pistols and the funny torpedoes73 you brought from Mars. Besides, I don't believe it's as bad as you think."
Carr shrugged74 his shoulders. After all, they probably would not encounter any of the savages here in the forest. Beings of far greater intelligence were responsible for those rays, that much was certain. Besides, they'd be three able-bodied men out there to watch over her, and he'd make sure she didn't get too far away from the ship.
Carr was first to step from the opened manhole to the soft carpet of the Titanese forest. He found the air cool and crisp, with a tang of ozone75 assailing76 his nostrils77. There was a pulsating78 motion in it that he could hardly define; it seemed that it massaged79 his cheeks and raised the short hairs at the nape of his neck and on his forearms as if they were electrified80. Those vibrations81 Detis had told them about were actively82 at work.
The gravity was even less than on Mars, though slightly greater than that of Europa. Mado was entirely83 at ease, and the Europans would not be bothered by the slight change in their weight. But Carr would have to take it easy, as he'd done ever since leaving Earth. His muscles were too powerful for his body on these smaller worlds, though this was a mighty advantage if he took care not to over-exert.
A melodious84 whistling note rose high somewhere in the depths of the forest and trailed off into eery silence. The sky was overcast85 with gray clouds and the light was poor, of little more than twilight86 intensity on Terra, this being partly due to the masking of the sun by the clouds and partly to their tremendous distance from that radiant body. Odd that it was not colder, he thought. Probably those vibratory radiations of Saturn's rings had something to do with the temperature in addition to their other effects.
Detis was on his knees, examining a queer specimen87 of purplish moss88 which had drawn89 his eye. The eternal scientist in the man could not be downed. Mado had come out armed with one of the bulky kalbite torpedo-projectors and was looking around belligerently90.
Ora drew herself erect91 and took a deep breath as soon as her feet touched the ground, her eyes bright and her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Oh, Carr," she breathed, "it's marvelous; an honest-to-goodness virgin92 forest. We've neither of us ever seen one, you know. Aren't you thrilled?"
"We-e-ll," he admitted, "I've always looked forward to wandering in just such places. But, with you along, and thinking of those barbarians we saw—"
"Silly. I'm as capable as any of you. And, even if I couldn't look out for myself, I know that you will be at my side." She pursed her lips and tossed back her head provocatively.
What was a man to do?
A deep-toned booming note came then from the hills, commencing like the warning siren of a space liner approaching its berth93 and swelling94 to a bombilation of ear-shattering sound that set the steel of the Nomad's hull vibrating and their very flesh and bones a-tingle. Then it died away as had the bird note which was the first sound of this world to greet them.
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1
mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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3
nomad
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| n.游牧部落的人，流浪者，游牧民 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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5
velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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7
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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8
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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9
blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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10
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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11
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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12
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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13
gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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cosmos
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| n.宇宙；秩序，和谐 | |
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15
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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densely
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| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
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18
diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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19
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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provocatively
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Saturn
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| n.农神，土星 | |
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22
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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23
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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24
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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28
tinkled
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| （使）发出丁当声，（使）发铃铃声( tinkle的过去式和过去分词 )； 叮当响着发出，铃铃响着报出 | |
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29
metallically
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| 金属的 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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32
clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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34
swerving
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的现在分词 ) | |
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35
buffeted
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| 反复敲打( buffet的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续猛击； 打来打去； 推来搡去 | |
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36
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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39
imps
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| n.（故事中的）小恶魔( imp的名词复数 )；小魔鬼；小淘气；顽童 | |
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40
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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41
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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42
stabilize
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| vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定 | |
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43
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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44
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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45
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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46
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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47
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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48
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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49
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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50
buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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51
hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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52
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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53
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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54
detonation
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| n.爆炸；巨响 | |
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55
numbed
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| v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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57
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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58
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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59
mechanisms
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| n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用 | |
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60
generator
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| n.发电机，发生器 | |
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61
generators
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| n.发电机，发生器( generator的名词复数 )；电力公司 | |
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62
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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63
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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64
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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66
converged
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| v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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68
rending
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| v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 )；分裂；（因愤怒、痛苦等而）揪扯（衣服或头发等）；（声音等）刺破 | |
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69
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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70
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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71
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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beseechingly
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| adv. 恳求地 | |
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73
torpedoes
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| 鱼雷( torpedo的名词复数 )； 油井爆破筒； 刺客； 掼炮 | |
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74
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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75
ozone
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| n.臭氧，新鲜空气 | |
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76
assailing
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| v.攻击( assail的现在分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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77
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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78
pulsating
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| adj.搏动的，脉冲的v.有节奏地舒张及收缩( pulsate的现在分词 )；跳动；脉动；受（激情）震动 | |
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79
massaged
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| 按摩，推拿( massage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
electrified
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| v.使电气化( electrify的过去式和过去分词 )；使兴奋 | |
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81
vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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82
actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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83
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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84
melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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85
overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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86
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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87
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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88
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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89
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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90
belligerently
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91
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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92
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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93
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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94
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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