A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, October 1950 — page 122: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

RACKETEERS IN THE SKY 119 stubborn. Dr. Bull’s few remaining faith- ful followers have not yet yielded. “Our agents had reported that this geodesic equipment was dismantled and sold, ten years ago, when Dr. Bull was in desperate financial difficulties because of my first attack. But it has been rebuilt, instead, and made tremendously more powerful. Comrades, beware! This proves that a traitor exists, within the Iron Watch!” . Scarr looked quickly away, turned ex- citedly back to the millions. ““Comrades!’”’ His voice was strained and rapid. “I have just received a mes- sage from Commander Batson. From the Valiant, which is lying disabled across the north pole of Taurus, he reports that we are being rapidly hurled toward the Moon! “Afraid of the just punishment waiting for his long catalog of crimes against the ethics of the IMA, Dr. Bull is attempting to destroy himself, and us, by piloting Taurus into a suicidal collision with the Moon. “Unfortunately, comrades, our brave attack on the pits has failed. Commander Batson has already retired to the Valiant, with his heroic Iron Watch troops. How- ever, all is not yet lost. “Hail, victory!” The hairy fist saluted. “Comrades, we are leaving a time bomb to stop the main power plant. This will cut off both the gravity generator and Dr. Bull's geodesic drive. Our insane plunge toward the Moon will be halted. Taurus will lose its atmosphere—and our mad Planeteeer will perish instantly, when air pressure blows the bulkheads from the pits. “Farewell, comrades—until Dr. Bull is dead. Aboard the Valiant, we can escape the cataclysm. We shall return in space suits, and repair the power plant. Keep tuned to TAU, and wait for my order.” A hundred million screens went black. D—D® BULL stumbled drunkenly out of the studio. Darkness now had thick- ened around the tower. Beneath it, the last attack had come. Auto-rifles ham- mered furiously. Shrieking, smashing, rocket-shells hammered the shuddering building. Out of a stunned pause, Vera Frame’s calm voice rang clearly: “Guard the halls—they’re coming in!” Dr. Bull reeled back into the studio. “Camrades!”’ Scarr’s mighty voice was frantic. “Our last heroic effort has failed. Dr. Bull has had tremendous banks of auxiliary power tubes installed in the impregnable pits at the core of Taurus— the traitors in the Iron Watch, withhold- ing that information, have betrayed us again. “Betrayed us, comrades—and de- stroyed us! | “‘When we stopped the main power plant, Dr. Bull simply switched the grav- ity generators and the geodesic drive to these hidden tubes. The disabled Valiant is still held fast in the gravity field of Taurus. “And the mad Planeteer is hurling us all at the Moon! “Commander Batson, from the cruiser’s navigation console, reports that we are going to strike the Appenine Base. Thus, in one titanic cataclysm, all our three strategic prizes—the base, the Valiant, and Taurus itself—will be destroyed.” Scarr’s voice broke huskily. “‘So, comrades, we are defeated. All the splendid heroism and the ruthless might of the Iron Watch is crushed—through the fiendish cunning of a disreputable little quack doctor. Comrades at the base, aboard the cruiser, and here on Taurus— hail and farewell !’’ Scarr choked, cleared his throat. “To those glorious men of the Iron Watch on Earth,” he added huskily, “I have one final word. Now, when all is lost, I can confess to you freely that our researchers, in the matter of the Mer- an) (C 6)(0)©) Ss (C(O)