Free Captain Future 12 - Planets in Peril (Fall 1942) by Edmond Hamilton Page A

thoughts as we talk?" he asked.
    "No. A thought-impression can be received only by one who concentrates his mind upon it," Lacq assured him. The young Tarast then asked, "Do I understand you to say that you're managing to cut your bonds?"
    "Yes, and in a few minutes I'll be free. Then we'll crash out of here and grab one of those space-sleds for a getaway," Grag exulted. "I think I can start one of those craft."
    "Wait here — I'll be back in a moment," Lacq said suddenly, and disappeared from the doorway.
    In a minute the young Tarast was back. And with him came four of the Cold Ones. Lacq pointed accusingly at Grag.
    "You see, it is as I told you!" declared the young Tarast telepathically to the bony creatures. "Your new captive has almost cut through his bonds."
    Grag was astounded, then enraged.
    "Why, you dirty traitor!" he cried to Lacq. "You're not a prisoner of the Cold Ones. You're working with them!"
     

     
Chapter 8: Trail to Danger
     
    CAPTAIN FUTURE, in the midst of that mad melee on the city roof, had glimpsed Grag rashly charging after the retreating Cold Ones. At once, he had realized the robot's peril. He shouted a warning as Grag rushed onto one of the enemy's low space-sleds.
    The warning came late. As Curt plunged forward in alarm, that space-sled took off with a rush. Almost at once, it was out of sight in the lurid red moonlight. The other surviving Cold Ones who had landed for the abortive attack on Turret Thirteen were tumbling into their craft and escaping also.
    "They're breaking off the raid!" Gerdek shouted with heartfelt relief in his voice. "See, they retreat everywhere."
    All across the vast domed roof of the city of Bebemos, the battle was dying away as the raiders turned and raced back out into space. The turret guns poured a last volley after them.
    "They've got Grag!" Curt announced dismally. "He was on one of those space-sleds when they took off."
    Otho exclaimed in alarm.
    "Chief, what'Il we do?" he cried. "We can't leave old Grag in the hands of those skull-faced devils!"
    "We won't, never fear," Captain Future declared resolutely. "We'll get him away from them, even if we have to follow them across this whole universe."
    It was the unswerving loyalty of the Futuremen to one another that now came to the fore, the one-for-all and all-for-one spirit that made Curt Newton's little band such a formidable quartet of adventurers.
    "Otho, go down and get the Comet and bring it up here at once," he ordered the android urgently. "We may be able to overtake those raiders."
    "I'll go with him," Shiri volunteered, "and show him how to get your ship out of the city through the airlock in the dome."
    Otho and the girl raced away upon their mission. The Tarast soldiers who had taken part in the fight were now hastily forming repair crews and spreading out to fix the small punctures in the dome.
    "Is it wise for you to leave Bebemos now?" Gerdek was asking Curt worriedly. "Remember, you're Kaffr. The people expect your leadership —"
    "As Kaffr, the only way I can really help your people is to find some powerful weapon against the Cold Ones," Curt replied quickly. "You need some weapon that will counterbalance your enemies' great numerical superiority. That's the only way you'll ever really defeat them.
    "The first step in devising such a weapon is to reconnoiter the advance base of the Cold Ones, ascertain the most practicable method of attack. That fits in with the necessity of rescuing Grag."
    "But we don't know where the Cold Ones' base is in this cluster," said Gerdek helplessly. "All we know is that their raids come always from the western part of the cluster."
    "That makes it tougher," Curt admitted. "Still, we may be able to overtake them before the trail is lost in this jungle of suns."
    The Brain, who had been hovering over the broken bodies of the slain Cold Ones called to Captain Future.
    "Lad, look at these creatures. I never saw anything just like them."
    Curt Newton joined him and