Unusual Tales #16

When a U.S. Navy explorer falls through a crevasse in Antarctica, John Stanley discovers a hidden civilization thriving beneath two miles of ice—a society of humans who fled there generations ago to escape a scorching sun. The subterranean people welcome him cautiously, but they face a troubling dilemma: allowing him to return with knowledge of their world could endanger their centuries of seclusion. John Stanley must confront the cost of discovery when the inhabitants decide what to do with him.

Fresh out of prison, Dave Kramer sees a chance at redemption when mysterious men offer him a designer's position—but they're far more interested in his mechanical skills than his reform. As Dave unknowingly assembles a strange device for his enigmatic benefactors, he discovers they're not from Earth at all, and his work is key to their conquest of the planet. With his newfound knowledge and a will stronger than their control, Dave must decide whether to complete the machine or stop an invasion from Mars.

A greedy hunter named Winters ignores his native guides' warnings and ventures alone into the jungle, driven by his obsession with claiming a golden idol from the forbidden Nitagi Village. After days of relentless pursuit through dangerous terrain, he finally reaches his prize—only to discover it's protected by an impenetrable barrier that keeps the treasure forever out of his reach.