Air Wonder Stories, August 1929 — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

. = oe ° 3 BEYOND GRAVITY 129 cables need not be more than-an inch thick. “We will attach these cables to the socket-clamps. By electro-magnetizing the cobalt-steel drums you will insulate against gravitational: force and they will voluntarily tise into the air, held captive to the anchored winches. ‘The electrical energy will pass through the steel plate and produce a high degree of magnetism, forming a powerful electro-magnet. All twenty-four of the magnetic drums.will be sent:up to an elevation slightly below the atmospheric stream in which the Annshilator is held captive. I have figured that the magnetism in the twenty-four drums will exceed whatever gravity insulation that might exist in the ship. Consequently it will be attracted to the electro-magnets and be drawn down through the pocket into the earth’s heavier atmospheres. By slowly re- ducing the electro-magnetism from the drums, leaving the current flowing through the steel plates, they can be lowered with the Annihilator resting on them under the influence of magnetic attraction. We will anchor out the ground winches at fifty feet apart, and permit the drums to tise directly in the path of the ship! I feel certain that this method will bring successful re- sults by drawing it back into the earth’s orbit! “That is my plan, gentlemen, and if you agree with me let us get started at once! We have but five hours to finish all ground work and thirty minutes to raise the magnetic drums!” Immediately the Radio-Television Headquarters quaked with resounding applause. I glanced at Joan. Her face was brightening. I felt somewhat relieved. Surely this plan, formulated in the active brain of Professor Stilsen while he watched the terrible scenes on the television screen, would result in the rescue of the Annihilator and its men———if any still. lived when it reached again the pocket over the airdrome. Professor Stilsen held up. his hand impatiently to stave the continued plaudits of those in the room. “Gentlemen! Gentlemen!” he shouted. “I am not etititled to your plaudits or praise! Save it for those brave men in the Annihilator and let us begin work at once. We need every single second!” ‘ ener Mi held out his hand. Professor tilsen grasped it in a firm grip. “Professor Stilsen,” he said with exhilaration, “We will do exactly as you bid! Everything under my command is at your service. We have the men and the facilities necessary to carry out your plans, I con- gratulate you for the most feasible plan offered. My command is yours!” “I couldn't do anything without your help, Com- mander,” the Professor said, modestly. “Let us pro- ceed with the work before us!” Immediately Commander Wilkins spun on his heel and issued crisp orders to his subordinates in the room and then excused himself to the civilians. Professor Stilsen followed him out of the room. The others, representing various papers, remained in discussion while Joan and I made a hasty retreat. With five hours hanging on our heads, we had no desire to loaf around the airdrome in the agony of dragging minutes. The airdrome had suddenly become a scene of ceas- less activity as we walked from the Radio-Television Headquarters toward our plane. nestling under the shadows of the big guns mounted on the huge, combat cruisers. Men and officers were hurrying hither and thither, clearing the field or executing the crisp orders of Commander Wilkins. Great ships were being taxied off the field and as we arrived at Joan’s little speedster and entered its comfortable cabin, the triple screws of the big combat cruisers beside us roared. They ~ raced across the landing toward their hangers. Joan shot her aerospeedster: into the air vertically and headed its'screws across the bay. Within a minute we dropped down on the landing on top of the Lind- bergh Aero-Hotel, registered and went to the seclusion of our suite, ’ The Last Effort NE for me to tell what transpired be- tween us at the Aero-Hotel. The minutes dragged slowly and we were at the point of nervous exhaustion when finally the hands on my chronometer indicated that the time had arrived for the rising of the magnetic drums over the airdrome. Quickly we donned our helmets and jackets and were soon up on the landing, Joan’s plane had been hauled into a hangar and she stamped a foot impatiently as it was being brought out for flight. Joan had long since recovered control of herself although her face bore an expression of pallid rigidity. She had offered silent prayers for the man she loved since childhood, hovering between life and death in the ‘Annihilator. That he would still be living if the leviathan was actually brought to earth, was im- probable. From her expression I presumed that she had resigned him to whatever fate held in store for him. With the choking words of the Annihilator’s operator ringing in my ears, I could not see how Bob Allison, injured.as he was, could survive without suf- ficient oxygen to. maintain life:in his already weakened lungs, And six hours is a very long time to live under those circumstances, I thought. Presently Joan reversed the screws of her speedster and it halted over the airdrome with heliocopter blades whirling for a-gradual descent. The-little plane settled on the vacant field and. we stepped out. A figure came running toward us with a warning to move the plane from the landing. Joan entered it again and taxied it into position near massed government ships at the end of the field. I was walking across the landing under the guidance of the guard when Joan came up to us, panting. She had ran across the field and the effort had returned some of the color to her cheeks. As we neared a. row of low, white buildings at the side of the landing I noted that they were strangely silent. The shriek and groan of machinery that was creating an uproar when we had departed for the hotel, had died down. The very atmosphere seemed tense. Eventually we entered the buildings and the guard led us at once to:Commander Wilkins, He was holding a conference with Professor Stilsen and nodded as we came up to him. Professor Stilsen’s face was grimy with perspiration and dust. The professor ex- cused himself and walked away swiftly. Commander Wilkins turned nervously. Joan grasped his coat sleeve. : “How are you progressing, Commander?” she asked, tensely. He smiled assuringly. “Excellent, Miss Holdon,” he. said, his voice filled with excitement. “We had a little delay with the cables but everything is shipshape now. In a moment. we will be ready to elevate the magnetic drums. The winches ate anchored on the other side of the landing so as to pull the Annihilator down against the air- currents, and the drums are being welded to the cables.