Captain Future 05 - Captain Future and the Seven Space Stones (Winter 1941) Read Free Page A

“Archaeologists believe the Jovians picked it up, like a lot of their old science, from the ancient Martians.”
    “Is it possible that this man has really uncovered the long-lost science of the Martians?” Joan asked.
    “I wish I knew,” Captain Future muttered. “Look at that.”
    Ul Quorn, his handsome face expressionless as ever, had taken a seedling and was subjecting it to pulsating flashes of green light. Instantly the seedling swelled to a sapling, then to a large, rootless tree. A cry of wonder came from the audience.
    “That’s no illusion,” Curt stated. “It’s the old Martian ‘accelerated growth’ technique. Quorn really has found something!”
    Otho had been staring hard at the face of the magician.
    “There’s something uncannily familiar about this Quorn’s face,” he said. “Somehow, even though I never saw him before, I feel that I’ve met him — and that we weren’t friends.”
    Joan suddenly straightened. Curt’s quick ears caught the buzz from the tiny instrument in her pocket, a pocket televisor such as every agent of the Planet Police carried. She bent her head. Curt heard the metallic voice from the little televisor.
    “Agent Randall? Police Headquarters speaking. You knew Professor Kenneth Lester, the archaeologist?”
    “Yes, I met him on Jupiter,” Joan whispered into the minute transmitter. “He was involved in the Space Emperor case.”
    “Lester has just been murdered in his study at the Institute. Since you knew him personally, you may be able to help in the investigation. I know you’re on detached service, but will you help anyway?”
    “Of course,” Joan agreed swiftly. “I’ll be at the Institute in twenty minutes.”
    She raised her eyes to Curt and Otho. Curt looked grim.
    “I’ll go with you,” he said tersely.
    “But this is your vacation —” she protested.
    “Lester and I became friends in that Jupiter case,” Captain Future reminded her. “If I can, I’d like to see his murderer brought to justice...”
     
    TWENTY minutes later, Curt and Otho followed Joan into the softly lit, crowded study of the murdered archaeologist. A dark-uniformed officer of the Planet Police barred the way to the two men.
    “You may be with Miss Randall, but you can’t enter,” he said stiffly. “Only members of the police are allowed.”
    Curt wordlessly took a large, curious ring from inside his belt. Around its glowing sun-jewel, nine planet-jewels revolved slowly.
    “Captain Future!” gasped the officer. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Go right in —”
    Inside, Curt saw Halk Anders, the bulldog-faced commander of the police, and Marshal Ezra Gurney, whose seamed old face lighted up at sight of him.
    “Future!” the veteran cried. “Danged glad you’re here! But I thought you was on vacation way outside the System.”
    “No, Ezra. I’ve been right here on Earth. I heard about Lester just now and came with Joan.”
    “Captain Future, working on a mere murder?” asked the commander.
    “Lester was my friend,” Curt repeated grimly. “You remember him, don’t you, Ezra?”
    Ezra nodded. “Fine young fellow, and now look at him.”
    Curt Newton turned. On the floor lay the horror that had been Kenneth Lester. It was a boiling mass of corruption — a body whose tissues sought to devour each other.
    “Most hideous thing I ever saw,” came the commander’s thick voice. “What could do a thing like this?”
    “I don’t know just what was used to do it, but I know what it is,” Curt Newton replied somberly. “The ancient Martian ‘life disintegrator’ destroys the cooperation of the body’s cells. They no longer work together, but seek to devour each other. How it was done isn’t known. It was a secret of ancient Martian science.” He was looking at Otho as he spoke.
    He saw in the android’s narrowed green eyes the same speculation he had in mind.
    “Ancient Martian science?” Otho hissed. “There’s something damned queer about