Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
289
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930
·
Various
277
"Yes!"
"Then
press
your
button--jump!"
Even
as
they
leapt,
the
sickening
thought
came
that
perhaps
the
escalator
ray
was
no
longer
running.
But
the
fear
was
unwarranted.
They
were
caught
up,
whirled
gently
downward.
Moving
along
laterally,
as
they
descended,
they
were
able
to
land
without
difficulty
in
the
middle
of
a
deserted
street
near
the
Consolidated
Electric
laboratory.
"Thank
heaven!"
she
sighed,
as
their
feet
touched
solid
ground.
They
pressed
off
both
buttons,
becoming
visible
once
more.
"Echo!"
he
agreed.
"So
let's--"
But
Kendrick
never
completed
that
sentence--for
now
whistles
all
over
the
metropolitan
area,
rising
from
the
generating
plants,
announced
the
ominous
hour.
It
was
high
noon.
The
ultimatum
had
expired.
Lifting
tense
faces
to
the
disc,
they
waited.
Would
that
stupendous
ray
be
hurled
back
upon
itself?
Or
would
it
sear
through
their
makeshift
defense,
plunging
them
and
the
whole
great
metropolis
into
oblivion?
Suddenly,
cataclysmically,
the
answer
came.
There
burst
a
withering
whirlwind
from
the
disc.
It
struck
that
mighty
concave
cathode
of
interlaced
waves
above
the
city.
There
followed
an
instant's
clash
of
titanic
forces.
Then
the
cathode
triumphed,
hurled
it
back.
Rocked
by
a
concussion
as
of
two
worlds
in
impact,
blinded
by
a
glare
that
made
the
sunlight
seem
feeble
in
comparison.
Marjorie
and
Kendrick
clung
together,
while
the
disc
grew
into
a
satellite
of
calcium
fire
in
the
sky.
Presently,
as
the
conflagration
waned,
they
opened
their
eyes.
Gravely,
but
with
deep
thanksgiving,
they
searched
each
other's
faces.
In
them
they
read
deep
understanding,
too,
and
a
new
hope.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
