Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN WHO MASTERED TIME. The motive power consisted of a single metal cylinder to be held in the left hand —an apparatus which in weight and shape was not unlike an ordinary hand flash light. As Georgie understood its fundamental principle, the thing altered the density of the air in whatever direction it was pointed. Loto tried to explain it with as few tech- nical words as he could. A spreading, in- visible ray from the cylinder penetrated the air for a distance of some ten feet. It sep- arated the molecules of the air, drove them apart. Its action was incredibly swift. ‘* ‘Well,”’ demanded Georgie. ‘‘ The atmosphere exerts a pressure here now of some sixteen pounds to the square inch,” said Loto. ‘ The air immediately in advance of this cylinder mouth is almost instantly thinned out. The ray charges the molecules of air—makes them slightly re- pellant. The result is, Georgie, that imme- diately in advance of your body the at- mospheric pressure is somewhat lessened. Thus, your body moves forward, pushed by ' the pressure of the air behind you. Try it.” The cylinder had a sliding lever by which its ray was turned on or off, Georgie held it over his head and moved the lever. His body left the ground—shot straight up at increasing speed. There was no rush of wind toward him; instead the air from below seemed to be wafting him upward. The ground was dropping away. Fifty feet! A hundred feet! Panic struck Georgie; all he could think of to do was shut off the cylinder power. At once he floated down, turning over helplessly. He landed quite gently, several hundred feet from where he had started, with Loto run- ning there to meet him, laughing at his discomfiture. You couldn’t very well get hurt, that was the beauty of the thing. Georgie plunged with enthusiasm into learning how to handle himself in the air. Within a week this organization of two hundred Scientist young men were fairly expert with the new flving apparatus. There were several thousand Bas youths now regis- tered in different parts of the island; but the suits and air cylinders for them were 287 not ready. Finally, another hundred were released; and at Anglese City, Mogruud, the Bas leader and a hundred selected Bas young men began learning to use them. In spite of the indignant protests of Loto and Georgie, both Fahn’s daughters urged that they be allowed to try the apparatus; and Fahn gave his permission. ‘“‘ T have no sons to give,” he said quietly. ‘“* And this warfare is of skill, not strength or endurance. If my girls can help their country, it is their duty—and mine to make the sacrifice.”’ With this precedent, other Scientist girls —several at Orleen, and twenty at Anglese City—enthusiastically volunteered. With- out exception, the girls proved superior to the men. The new art demanded a deft agility—a quickness of thought and move- ment—a lack of giddiness—which to the girls seemed to come more naturally. Within a few days Azeela and Dee could dart through the air with incredible dexteri- ty. The cylinder held in the left hand could be pointed quickly in any directiontand the body would be drawn that way. Dee especially, became proficient. She could dart upward, turn, come swooping down head-first or with slow somersaults, grace- ful as a diving girl, to right herself a few feet above the ground and land on tiptoe. The result of the girl’s proficiency was that they were organized into a separate squad. There were twenty-eight girls in all; thirteen commanded by Azeela, and thirteen by Dee. During all this time, the Arans had re- mained in seclusion, keeping off the streets as much as possible. The Bas, drilling without weapons, were eager to be equipped. The king and his council confined them- selves to the palace at Anglese City. There were no boats, except crude sail- ing canoes, on the island. A few of the newly equipped flying corps went north- ward; but Fahn, anticipating the completion of other flying lenses, ordered them not to cross the channel. In the cavern, day and night, operators watched the mirrors, flash- ing the viewpoints from every coast tower on the island, to guard against a surprise attack, A month had passed since Georgie’s re- GoMmilGebaoo O S Eo