Air Wonder Stories, May 1930 — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

ASE ‘WOMEN WITH WINGS ever, the last few hours of the journey were anything but pleasant to him, sincé’one-of the soldiers daringly handed him a piece of chocolate, which -he immediately devoured, The-women had been feeding the babies entirely on the milk of the sea- cows of their world, which they carried in sealed bottles, and the chocolate was wholly indigestible to the little fellow, The woman who had charge of the baby cast angry glances -at the miscreart, and more than one man had his hands slapped when ina joke they attempted to feed more chocolate to the other youngsters. The long days ofthe journey had passed and now they were reaching Earth, Just outside of Earth’s atmospheric blanket communication with- Earth was established and thereafter they were constantly in touch with their fellows. The Mentor and his staff were waiting in the wide square before the government seat in Havana, and great crowds for many miles about awaited the landing of the spheres. As the spheres one by one disem- barked their crews, arms reached out for the travelers as the delighted Earthlings crowded around. or Ware with his officers and the group of scientists were re- ceived in an open clearing maintained by: guards. Little talking could be done in the hubbub of sound:that swelled and: beat on the ears, and the police had difficulty in forcing open a path by which they could-reach the quiet of the building beyond to make their reports, It was then that a strange and terrific noise burst forth, causing Ware.in sudden fear-to look around for the group of Zoldans who, tnder the guard of their interpreters, - should have been walking behind. He saw that they were not in sight! ... Then he found them! In the center of the square was a fountain with a fairly large sized pool, A great:crowd had gathered there and were ex- citedly screaming and gesticulating, poititing at something in the water. Ware and D’Arcy, with the Mentor following close behind, unaware of what had happened, flew above the heads of the milling masses to’ the fountain, They were astounded to find that the twenty- four women with their babies were all lying prone in the water, while the six men whose duty it was to care for them were vine to force the laughing crowds to silence. Earth Again! T Ware’s query, Charlie West, who had the women in his charge; explained that the noise of the crowds had been too much for the women, who were unaccustomed to loud grating soutids, and they were merely seeking quiet under. the water! They had smelt the presence of water, and had flown to it by an wnerring intuition, The Mentor-immediately dispatched orders for the squate to be cleared and the crowds quieted, When the noise eventually died down, fhe women were ‘enticed from the pool. A house. adjoining that of the planet ruler was immediately made ready ome for them, There in the patio was a small fountain which the Mentor ordered removed: and a large pool constructed for the use of the women. For. three days the. Earthlings celebrated the return of the space-flyers, although any noise was forbidden within ‘several, thousand yards of the house wherein the Zoldans were quar= tered. Memorial services were also said for the-fifteen men who had died in the battle on Venus. + * * * + The Mentor took up the business of studying the Zoldan situation. A number of the women and children were sent on a-tour of the world, and scientists made thorough examination of them; but it was many years before if was agreed that the Earthlings were to breed with the Zoldans, First of all, trade was established between the two planets, and the Earthlings learned to look with favor upon the amphibians. However, after several generations of catitious co-mingling it was found that the inter-breeding was beneficial to the race. Women no longer had to die in giving birth to their young, and the presence of scales on their bodies was not distasteful to the new race. Nor were the Earthlings to become amphibians, for each new generation turned to the water less and Jess as time passed. In the meantime the Earthlings upon Zolda gave reciprocal service to that world, so that in time there was scarcely any difference to be noted between the two races, and an Earthling traveling to the beautiful planet found life almost identical with that of his own world. Tt was now thought that the time was ripe for an Earthly expedition to descend upon Mars, to learn whether-its people were receptive to any visitors. And the question that every Earthlings asks is—cannot the empire of mankind be extended the Universe over? Tue Enp. $500.00 IN PRIZES In a contest that will appeal to every lover of science fiction. ° For details see Spring 1930 ScleENCE WONDER QUARTERLY Now on sale at all newsstands