"Henry Kuttner - The Creature From Beyond Infinity" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kuttner Henry)

THE CREATURE FROM
BEYOND INFINITY BY HENRY KUTTNER


POPULAR LIBRARY тАв NEW YORK

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POPULAR LIBRARY EDITION

Copyright, 1940, by Better PubUcations, Inc. Copyright (c) 1968 by Popular
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CHAPTER I

The Beginning

Ardath opened his eyes, trying to remember why a blinding pain should be
throbbing within his skull. Above him was a twisted girder of yellow metal,
and beyond that, the inner wall of the space ship. What had happened?
It seemed scarcely a moment ago that the craft had been filled with a
confusion of shouted orders, quickly moving men, and the shriek of cleft
atmosphere as the ship drove down. Then had come the shock of
landing-blackness. And now?
Painfully Ardath dragged his slight, fragile body erect. All around him were
ruin and confusion. Corpses lay sprawled and limp, the bodies of those who had
not survived the terrible concussion. Strange men, slim and delicate, their
skins had been darkly tanned by the long voyage across space. Ardath started
hopefully when he saw that one of the bodies moved slightly and moaned.
Theronl Theron, the commander-highest in rank and wisdom-had survived. A wave
of gratefulness swept through Ardath. He was not alone on this new, unknown
world, as he had feared. Swiftly he found stimulants and bent over the
reviving man.
Theron's .gray, beardless face grew contorted. His pallid blue eyes opened. He
drew a lean hand over his bald head as he whispered.
"Ardath-"
A rocking shudder shook the ship, then suddenly died. "Who else is alive?"
Theron asked with painful effort, "I don't know, Theron," Ardath replied
softly.
"Find out."
Ardath searched the huge golden ship. He came back with despair on his drawn
harrowed features.