Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

788 I then turned my attention to the con- struction of two huge engines, one of which we mounted on a kerkool and one on a concrete base in the courtyard of the uni- versity machine shop. The purpose of these engines was for the present kept secret; but I had a feeling that they would win me the sarkarship, even if everything else failed. As a result of my inventions, King Kew sufficiently unbent to invite me to occupy the reviewing stand with him on Peace Day, when the annual athletic prize giving was to take place. This was a signal honor which even sarkars might envy, but it was not a sarkarship. The king placed in the hands of Hah Babbuh, Buh Tedn, Ja Babbuh, Prince Toron, and myself the task of arrang- ing for the big meet, and it occurred to Toron that it would be a good idea for the king to broadcast his speech of welcome from the same sending set which was to be used in directing the maneuvers, instead of distributing it on handbills as had been the custom on past Peace Days. When this innovation was announced, ath- letic clubs from all over the kingdom planned to attend, so that we were able to count on practically all being present at the ceremony. The morning of the five hundredth anni- versary of the Peace of Mooni—three hun- dred and fifty-eighth in Porovian notation— dawned clear and dazzling. By 460 o’clock the whole plaza and the fields beyond were jammed with marching clubs. The Minister of Play, who stood with me on the reviewing platform at the crest of University Hill—along with the rest of the cabinet, Prince Toron, and a few lead- ing nobles and professors—sadly remarked that he was afraid the maneuvers would have to be given up. I replied with a smile that I guessed not; though he was unable to figure out how evolutions could be possible with that huge crowd. Pistol shooting had recently been intro- duced as a tentative subject for next year’s games, and our committee of five all wore revolvers strapped to our sides, as a special badge in recognition of our responsibility - for the gala occasion. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. The housetops and roads were crowded with Cupian femininity. All was ready for the grand opening. I adjusted the controls of the big sending set, and dispatched Pob- lath, who had been detailed as my aide for the day, to inform the king that the time had arrived for his address. As Kew XII stepped up on the stand, at just 500 o’clock, practically the entire male population of Cupia gave him the United States army present arms in absolute uni- son. It was an inspiring sight. I noticed that the king seemed extremely pale and nervous, but I did not give this much thought at the time. Then I yielded the sending set to him, and he began his speech of welcome, a very. different speech from what had been ex- pected, but one which will go down in his- tory, and which every Cupian schoolboy throughout the ages will commit to memory, as American boys do the Gettysburg Ad- dress. = Thus spoke King Kew: “ Three hundred and fifty-eight years ago to-day our fore- fathers submitted to the indignities of the treaty of Mooni, and the stigma of that in- famous treaty attached to the Kew dynas- ty, which was then founded. For twelve generations, Cupia has been under the do- minion of a race of animals—animals pos- sessing human intelligence, it is true, but still merely lower animals. ‘ ‘““ Now the parth of our deliverance is at hand. Those rifles which you hold were not designed for play, but rather for the killing of Formians. The bullets which have been issued to you this day contain the highest explosive known to Porovian science. With these weapons you are invincible. To-day, with your support, Cupia becomes free, and the Kew Dynasty wipes out the stigma of its birth. ‘“‘ Are you men or slaves? If slaves, you will bow to Formis, your sons and descend- ants forever will wearily serve out their time in her workshops, she will have veto power over all your self-made laws, your present king will give his body as food for her maggots, and your future kings will cower before her. But if you be men, you will to-day offer up your lives for your coun- try, that Cupia may at last be free!” oO Ecomichbooks (S@)