Avon Fantasy Reader No. 8 — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

THE MACHINE MAN OF ARDATHIA | 33 find the words to explain just what they made, but it doesn’t matter. The point is, that while they had only partly subordinated machinery to their use, they are the earliest race of human beings of whom we possess any real knowl- edge, and it was their period of time that I was seeking, when I inadvertently came too far and landed in yours.” a The metallic voice ceased for a moment and I took advantage of the pause to speak. “I do not know a thing about the Bi-Chanics, or whatever it is you call them,” I remarked, “but they were certainly not the first to make mechani- _ cal hearts. I remember reading in the paper only several months ago about a Russian scientist who kept a dog alive four hours by means of a gasoline motor which pumped the blood through the dog’s body.” “You mean the motor was used as a heart?” “Eaetly < | The Ardathian (for so I will call the creature in the cylinder henceforth) made a quick motion with one of its hands. “T have made a note of your information; it is very interesting.” “Furthermore,” I pursued, “a year or two ago I read an article in one of our current magazines telling how a Vienna surgeon was hatching out rabbits and guinea pigs in ecto-genetic incubators.” See 7 The Ardathian made another quick gesture with its hand. I could see that my news excited it. 7 ; 7 “Perhaps,” I said, not without a feeling of satisfaction (for the casual allu- sion to myself as hardly human had irked my pride) “perhaps you will find it as interesting to visit the people of five hundred years from now, let us say, as you would to visit the Bi-Chanics.” , “T can assure you,” replied the metallic voice of the Ardathian, “that if I succeed in returning successfully to Ardathia, those periods will be thoroughly explored. I can only express surprise at your having advanced as far as you have, and wonder why it is you have made no practical use of your knowl- edge.” : , “Sometimes I wonder myself,” I returned. “But I am very much interested in learning more about yourself and your times. If you would resume your Story... | ge “With pleasure,” replied the Ardathian. “In Ardathia, we do not live in houses-or in citits..Neither do we nourish ourselves as do you, or as did the Bi-Chanics. The chemical fluid you see circulating through these tubes which run into and through my body has taken the place of blood. The fluid is | . produced by the action of a light ray on certain life-giving elements in the air. It is constantly being produced in those tubes under my feet and driven through my body by a mechanism too infricate for me to describe. The same fluid circulates through my body only once, nourishing it and gathering all . impurities as it goes. Having completed its revolution, it is dissipated and aa COMMlcoOokS.€O©