Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
289
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930
·
Various
180
CHAPTER
XVII
Casting
the
Die
Somehow
Sarka
believed
that
this
white
radiance
of
the
abyss
held
the
secret
of
the
omnipotence
of
Luar,
if
omnipotence
she
possessed.
That
she
did
seemed
sure,
else
Dalis
would
not
have
been
with
her.
Besides,
she
had
asked
Sarka
and
Jaska
to
swear
allegiance
to
her.
Yes
the
secret
was
here,
in
the
heart
of
the
lake
of
white
flames.
It
might
have
been
the
Moon
Fountain
of
Youth,
or
of
omnipotence.
There
was
no
telling,
unless
Sarka
tried
an
experiment.
His
fury
at
Dalis
now
knew
no
bounds,
and
he
was
conscious
of
a
desire,
too
poignant
almost
to
be
borne,
in
some
way
to
circumvent
the
arch-traitor.
For
here
in
the
craters
of
the
Moon
Dalis
was
working
out
a
strange
amplification
of
the
scheme
which
he
had,
centuries
before,
proposed
to
Sarka
the
First.
He
was
subjecting
the
people
of
his
Gens
to
the
white
flames.
If
they
immersed
themselves
voluntarily,
they
became
as
Luar
was,
but
still
subservient
to
the
will
of
Dalis--and,
in
his
hands,
invincible
instruments
of
war!
Dalis
had
doubtless
already
been
bathed
in
the
flames.
Sarka
was
not
sure,
for
in
the
home
of
Luar
the
white
light
was
so
blinding
it
would
have
been
impossible
to
make
sure
that
the
white
radiance
clothed
the
others
with
Luar.
"That's
it!"
said
Sarka
to
himself.
"That's
it!
Dalis
and
those
guards
at
the
dais
of
Luar
have
already
been
subjected
to
the
white
flames!
The
rest
who
immerse
themselves,
voluntarily,
come
forth
as
Luar
and
Dalis!
Who
do
not,
die.
Dalis'
manner
of
forcing
the
survival
of
the
fittest!
His
idea
of
the
flood
in
grandfather's
time,
only
now
he
causes
his
selection
by
flames
instead
of
flood!
He
believes
that
only
those
worthy
to
survive,
and
to
stand
at
his
back
in
whatever
he
conceives
to
be
his
need,
will
guess
the
secret
of
the
immersion.
The
others
will
die!"
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
