Avon Fantasy Reader No. 14 — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

news to his friends, when the guard at the door announced the presence ot Mr. Billings, one of Moronia’s staff of scientific investigators. “Poor Billings,” said the King, “harmless fellow from America. He has worked in our laboratory for years without pay except for his bare expenses, and he is about broken-hearted because, so tar, he bas failed to make any important discovery. I wish we could get him back to America before war begins. Let us humor the old gentleman and listen to his story. | want to show his age the proper respect. Let there be no levity. His loyalty and faithful endeavor demands our greatest courtesy.” Billings came in and was seated by the King. He was stoop-shouldered, bald and trembling. His high-pitched voice cracked like static under his ex- citement. “Your Majesty and Gentlemen,” he said. “After years of most tedious ex- perimentation, I have finally discovered a method of defending ourselves against the Eupenians.” “Fine!” said the King. “Now tell us all about it.” “I propose that we make an army of Yeast Men.” “That is a fine idea, Mr. Billings,” said the King soothingly. “I am sure that your discovery has merit. Now I want you to go over to America and take a long vacation, and after you are thoroughly rested you can come back and visit us again.” “But you do not understand,” pleaded the old man. “I suppose you think that I’m senile. The invention is complete and J am sure it will work. It is practical and simple. The one machine I have made functions perfectly. It can easily be duplicated, and anyone can run it. All we need is an abundance of yeast and hundreds of machines. You shoot the little fellows out like bullets from a machine gun.” “Well, what happens then?” asked General Androvitz. “They just grow and walk around a little and then they die.” “Tf they do that they will be typical soldiers,” interrupted the Chief of the Artillery Service. “That is about all we will do between now and Christmas.” “But in dying they will win the victory!” eagerly chirped the inventor in his high-pitched cricket-like voice. “Can’t you understand that they will die and rot in Eupenia?” The King gently took the old man by the shoulder and as he talked tears caine to his eyes. “My dear Billings. The thing you describe is just a soldier. For hundreds of years the Moronians have died in defense of their country. They have died and rotted, and yet we, as a nation, have slowly withered away. Brave men by the thousands have done just that, and to what avail? Your eagerness to help has worried you sick. Go and take a long rest. Yeast Men and real men may die and rot but our dear Moronia is doomed.” “But can't you see it?” pleaded the inventor. “Oh! Please try to visualize it. Yeast Men by the millions and billions walking into Eupenia and rotting there. Can’t you see how it’s going to work out?” “[ beg your pardon,” asked General Androvitz, “but did you say billions?” “I did. A few drops of yeast develops into a soldier six feet tall. Give me comiclsooks.com en eae ee |