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Updated: June 30, 2025
But already the lone Mercutian flier had completed his bank, and was zooming out of range. Hilary watched the flier grow fainter and fainter in the starlit distance. Almost he could hear the far-off hoarse chuckle of its pilot. Then he turned to survey the damage. The Earthmen were up, growling low heartfelt curses. That one blast had been catastrophic.
Far over to one side he caught glimpses of bodies in violent upheavings, bodies that thrust explosively to either side as from the sharp prow of an invisible ship. Then a great figure heaved staggering into view, bloody, gashed, great arms encircling Mercutian heads, smashing them together like eggshells, flinging them apart, seizing others. Grim Morgan, berserk with bare hands.
I fumbled with the searchlight. Then, just as I turned the switch, I saw, rising from a point near the base of the Mercutian Light, what appeared to be a skyrocket. It rose in a long, graceful arc, reached the top of its ascent, and came down, still flaming. I remember deciding it would fall in or near Garland.
He evidently turned to his companion, for there issued a flood of throaty consonants to which the other grunted once. Then the listeners heard his heavy stamping as he walked through the house to the rear. A door whirred; he had gone out. The remaining Mercutian said suddenly: "He won't find them." "Why not?" Joan asked, a bit tremulously. The Mercutian laughed harshly. "Because you lied.
Mercury had passed inferior conjunction; no other Mercutian vehicles had been reported as landing anywhere on the earth. A few days, and the danger would be over. Thus the newspapers of the country settled the affair. On March 14th it was announced that General Price would conduct the military operations against the Mercutians.
Hilary's jaw set hard. "I think I'll interview His Mercutian Magnificence," he said. "Where are his quarters?" "The Robbins Building." "Good Lord, that's Joan's...." So that was why Joan was up in the Bronxville suburb. "What happened to her father, Martin Robbins?" "Executed after the revolt," Wat interposed.
There was enough of the gigantic body exposed to offer an excellent target to a steel slug without harming Joan, but the sun weapon sent out its beam in a flat spray. The Mercutian sensed their dilemma as they crouched on the stairs. He laughed unpleasantly as he backed through the doorway, Joan's limp body held straight in front of him. "Good-by, Earth slaves," he taunted.
There were howls of pain as the spreading beam cut a burning swath through the packed Mercutians. Thereafter no more tubes were raised. The quarters were too close. It was to be hand-to-hand fighting; thousands of giant Mercutians against a handful of puny Earthmen. Hilary swung his red-dripping ax in ever-widening circles. At every swing a Mercutian tumbled.
One little pressure, and There was a commotion in the outer hall, the sound of padding feet. The four in the master room froze into immobility. Two Mercutian guards stumbled panting into the room. They came to a jerking halt, threw themselves prone upon the floor, arms outstretched in obeisance. "May we speak, oh Magnificent?" they asked humbly. "Say your say," the Viceroy said crossly.
Miela brought them into the living room with us until they were all together. It was a curious gathering this bevy of Mercutian maidens. They all seemed between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three fragile, dainty little wisps of femininity, yet having a strength in their highly developed wing muscles that was truly surprising.
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