Free Captain Future 07 - The Magician of Mars (Summer 1941) by Edmond Hamilton

own reasons for wanting Grag as his companion on this venture instead of Otho. To prevent the inevitable argument, he took Otho aside and spoke to him in a low voice.
    “You’ve got to stay, Otho,” he whispered. “Grag wouldn’t be any good helping Simon with the dimension-thruster. Grag’s faithful and strong but you know as well as I do that he hasn’t your skill in science.”
    Otho expanded under the praise.
    “Sure, Chief, I know that,” he answered cockily. “His iron fingers can’t handle instruments deftly.”
    “That’s it,” Curt agreed seriously. “But don’t tell him I said this. We don’t want to hurt his feelings.”
    “Depend on me to keep quiet about it, Chief,” promised Otho.
    Ten minutes later, Curt Newton and Grag rose above the city in a small, fast Tark Twelve rocket-ship borrowed from the Planet Patrol station. At high speed, it screamed north through the night over the black mountains that rimmed the Shining Sea.
    Curt was heading for the famous Valley of Voices. He had been told that there was an entrance to the labyrinth of caverns that extended deep down into the planet. He had brought certain instruments and weapons from the Comet. But he realized that even armed with scientific powers as he was, it was a hazardous descent he was about to make into the bottomless caverns from which no explorer had ever returned.
     

     
Chapter 7: Johnny’s Defiance
     
    JOHNNY KIRK had been inordinately proud when Captain Future had asked him to remain and guard the Comet. The tough youngster did not suspect that it was only a device to keep him in the ship.
    After Curt and the Futuremen had departed toward the looming tower of Skal Kar’s laboratory, Johnny began standing guard in dead earnest. He took a proton gun from the space-suit locker and sat in the airlock-door, looking out across the green-lit landscape of Ariel.
    Johnny Kirk was the product of one of the toughest environments in the System — the space-dock district of New York. He had grown up, parentless and friendless, in those shabby slums. He had learned to take care of himself, to outwit his enemies, and to hate the authority of the law. He had a hearty dislike for the “sky-cops” — the Planet Police. But Captain Future had always been his supreme hero. He had dreamed of being one of those glamorous Futuremen who followed the red-haired planeteer on his flashing, adventurous space-trails. And now it had happened! Here he was, almost a Futureman himself!
    “Wish the gang back by the space-docks could see me now,” he thought happily.
    Johnny suddenly sprang to his feet. A small ship was swooping down from the planet-lit sky. It landed only a dozen yards from the Comet. From it hastily emerged a giant green Jovian, a fat Earthman and a tall Martian. Johnny heard the Jovian call to the other two.
    “Come on — now’s our chance to grab the ship, while they’re in the laboratory!”
    The three men came running toward the Comet. Johnny Kirk, bristling belligerently, bounded out with his proton gun.
    “Grab this ship? Not much!” snapped the tough Earth youngster. He pressed the trigger of his weapon and a thin, pale blue ray drilled through the Martian of the trio. He fell in a dead heap.
    At that moment, Johnny Kirk heard a yell from the distant tower and knew that the Futuremen had heard and were coming.
    “No chance now!” he heard the big Jovian curse. “Back out of here before those devils get us!”
    “You don’t get away so easy!” Johnny snapped, and plunged after them. He pursued the Jovian and the fat Earthman right to the door of their little ship. The great Jovian whirled with astonishing swiftness. His outflung fist caught Johnny’s head.
    Johnny saw stars, and was aware that he was stumbling and falling inside the door of the outlaws’ ship. He heard the Jovian yelling.
    “Up out of here, Xexel! This brat spoiled the whole plan!”
    Johnny heard a door slam and then, with a roar of