Air Wonder Stories, May 1930 — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

ow have been here, and who is opposed to our views; or a huge amplifier is concealed: somewhere. Both thoughts are pre- posterous, yet, one or the other must be so. In either case, however, the best thing that we can do, is to adjourn this meet- ing until tomorrow, and have the building searched immediately. Obviously, we cannot consider obeying the ridiculous commands that we: received; we'll gather here tomorrow at this time.” A moment later they filed from the room, Within ‘two hours, the entire world knew about-the voice and its threat; An enterprising:newspaper. reporter had learned something about the affair, and President Harwood; when ques- tioned, had decided to tell the facts as they occurred, in order to prevent distorted and inaccurate accounts. from heing pub- lished. International Radio News had received the facts from the press, and the entire story was given world-wide publicity. Within two hours it was the chief topic of conversation-all over the: world, When the story came over the radio, Vachell:and I were seated in the living room of his apartments, a few squares from the Gapitol, “listening in,” The strange happenings in the International assembly aroused our immediate - interest. When: Vachell suggested that -we visit President Harwood, with whom he was well acquainted, I readily assented. We were about to leave, when the telephone bell rang. The President wished to speak with Vachell, After a few moments of -conversation, the latter hung up the receiver. “The Presi- dent wishes to see tne“at the White House,” he said, and smiled. “You are welcome to go along if you wish,” he added. I was ready to go; a few. moments Jater we started up the street toward the Executive. Mansion. o An Exhibition of Power RESIDENT HARWOOD greeted us cordially. as we were ushered into his presence, After I had been- introduced: to him, he motioned us into chairs, and without preamble began talking about the subject that was uppermost in the mind of each of us. “T tnderstand,” he began, “that you are familiar, in a general way, with the events that broke up the International: Congress this afternoon,” We nodded. “Still, to be certain: that you have the facts straight, it will:do no harm to repeat them.” Rapidly, then, he reviewed the events of the International Conference, outlining briefly. that which’ I have-recorded_in greater detail. When he had finished, he continued: “Using that asa basis for our consideration, at what con- clusion can-we arrive? With what have we to deal? Is it the work of an individual, a faction, or a dissatisfied: nation? So. far as-I can see, we haye no way of determining, What is your opinion, Leo?” he asked of the scientist. Vachell hesitated before replying, “Well,” he said finally, “in my-opinion, it’s the work of an individual, or, what is more likely, a group. There’s little chance of a-nation: being back of it; I don’t believe that any government would: risk antagonizing every other country. on earth, and certainly no. nation would adopt the method that this—voice- is ge. By the way, what -was-your reason for taking the action you did after you had heard the threat of the voice?” Harwood smiled quizzically. “Frankly, I don’t know, Prompt action was necessary; and I. said the first thing that came to my mind, In reality, I don't believe that the warning came from. someone concealed in the room} the voice had a metallic quality, indicative of an amplifier. Still, it’s more probable that.a ‘man was concealed in the room, than a big loudspeaker, Yet how could a man have spoken with stich enormous volume, without mechanical aid? And, whether it was a-man, or machine, or both, how on earth was it able to talk from the ceiling? “That ceiling, the entire room, and every part of the building itself, have been carefully searched, and nothing unustal has THE INVISIBLE DESTROYER come to light. The fact ‘of the matter is this: it’s. absolutely inexplicable, and. entirely out of ‘Teason.” And°“Harwood.ges- tured: helplessly, For more than an hour the President: and Vachell discussed the problem, while I was an interested spectator. The only actual result of the discussion was-their decision to have Vachell and ‘myself present-at the conference on the following day, I suppose I was included for the sake of. courtesy rather than for any assistance I might lend, but I wasn’t greatly concerned about that, A short time later, Vachell and I left the White House, and headed toward our apartments, PPROXIMATELY twenty-four hours after leaving Har- wood, we retraced our steps to the Capitol. When we were about two hundred feet away from the building, a man — accosted us and asked what business we had in- the neighbor- hood. Vachell explained briefly, and the Secret Service man— for such he was—permitted us to pass. As we were about to ascend the steps of the Capitol we were stopped-again, this\time by an armed guard, At that opportune moment, a number of closed cars drew up to the curb, and the world’s chief executives alighted. As Harwood greeted Vachell and me, the guard. withdrew, and we followed the government leaders into the building, : Some timé later when Vachell asked Harwood about the.two men who questioned us, the President explained that the Capitol was completely surrounded by armed: guards and Secret Service men, and that army planes, circling overhead were’ intended to prevent any possible attack from the air. Although there was little likelihood of the: threat of the voice being carried out, he had said, they had decided to take no unnecessary ‘chances, A strained tension seemed to rest tpon the air as Harwood called the assembly to order. A feeling of expectancy, tinged with apprehension, made itself known to every man in fhe room: to some-extent, and we began to feel-more at ease, _ Evidentiy, we thought, the:voice would not make itself heard in this meet- ing; the guards had-kept it or him away. Nevertheless, I began to feel rather disappointed; it seemed that I wouldn't eperience the excitement I had expected. We were safely past the point in the meeting where it had been interrupted the day before,-no objection: having been raised, and were about to adjourn, when a faint, purple glow crept over the-room. Harwood, who had been speaking, became silent, A deathlike stillness fell upon us, Suddenly, with-a roar that. set our eardrums-tinging, a great, mirthless, sardonic laugh-split the silence. As on the previous afternoon, the voice seemed-to come from the ceiling. After a moment, with disconcerting abruptness, the laughter ceased, Then mighty, thunderotts words crashed upon us. “How droll, how very funny! Foals with the minds of chil- dren, and you imagined that mere armed guards would keep me from this-room! You, in your abject helplessness, attempted to control mel” A roaring volley of laughter rolled over us again; it ended as abruptly as before. There was no suggestion of mirth in the giant voice when it spoke a second time; it was cold, stern, angry. “Yow save fit to defy me, to disobey my commands! I warned you, but my warning went wtheeded! You'll have to take the consequences!” Then its tones became more lenient, thoughtful, “Still, I may be expecting too much. Perhaps, if you realize the extent of the power with which you are dealing, yowll be more. willing to listen to reason, Perhaps, if you understand how utterly helpless-you really are, you will think seriously before disobeying me again. I am going to-give you.an exhibi- tion of sy power, and then, if you see fit to persist in your consequences! But you'll never do it! As the meeting progressed, iminterrupted, the tension relaxed ~ A B fae foolhardy decision to unite, you must be prepared to take the -— s