Avon Fantasy Reader No. 9 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

waist and shoulders, ran his fingers over the rather complex keyboard, and flew. They were one of the greatest productions of the century. These, un- like most of the commoner types, could be run either by the usual power beam or by individual power plants, with extremely compact storage bat- teries of the latest sort. In addition, there were photographic equipment, condensed food, binocu- lars, compact sending and receiving sets for communication in case we Ee separated, projector pistols for either explosive bullets or short- circuiting rays, and, most important of all, a small power generator and transmitter, working by solar radiation. This, once set up and in order, would insure our power for flying so long as it went unharmed by outside agencies. Doc had been taking in his surroundings while I unpacked and set up the generator. Suddenly he turned to me and spoke. “Jack! Do you notice anything out of the ordinary?” . “Plenty!” I replied. ““Who ever saw an amethyst this size, water of that color, or a great green sun like that?” “I mean, aside from that?” “Why no, I can’t say that I do, Doc. What’s up?” “Maybe it’s just my imagination, but—isn’t it a wee bit cool for a sun of that size?” “By Jove, so it is! Doesn’t that- mean: “That there is very little infra-red radiation. Exactly. Give me . the binocu- lars, the ones with the analysers.” Setting the radiation screens, he focused them on the sun. Then, twirling the selection disk slowly, he gave ‘me the readings, which I scratched on the clay. Sure enough, infra-red radiation amounted to less than half that of our own sun; blue, yellow, and green predominated, while the ultra-violet was ele strong. “We're in for a siege of sunburn,” I remarked. “Rather. ’m glad I brought that skin-wash. Here, sponge yourself with that, wear your goggles, and you'll be O. K.” “Thanks. I was afraid I’'d look like a boiled lobster before long.” “Not now. Of course you'll tan, but you won’t burn, and your eyes are protected. I’m glad that this generator doesn’t depend entirely upon infra- red radiation, though I suppose we could step up the colors if we had to. Got it assembled yet? Good. We can leave it here, where we ought to be able to find it without difficulty, and where it is most likely to be safe. Start it now; I have our packs all ready.” I ran up the projector arm until it cleared the walls of the pit, anchored the machine firmly to both pier and bank, and shoved over the lever. Im- mediately we heard the gentle, characteristic purr of the whirling mirrors, and the familiar green haze, hard to see in the light of the green sun, arose from the generator box. Then the projector arm began to spin, its drone rising to a thin whine, and to throw off little irreaifies of tiny, pale violet Ps 99 eomlrebooks:com |