DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Planeteer Magazine, v. 2, isssue 1, March 1939

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Planeteer Magazine, v. 2, isssue 1, March 1939

Page 11

fellow squirmed uneasily and finally fell back a step or twi ito the shadows.  ~Drawing a chair out Voral snapped, "A bottle of your best Martian wine."
  As he sat there waiting for the proprietor to return, he stared at the men seated about the table.  Sullen, unresponsive faces glared back.  A bad lot, he told himself, not the type~ of men to trust behind your back.  The thin landlord brougth the wine, a bright green, thick liquid.  Voral regarded the bottle with suspicion, then smelt it.  A pungent odor of Venus Backis, a deadly drug causing insanity or at times even death, burned his nostrils and throat.
  "Why, you little rat!" roared the Martian, leaping to his feet.  Tpe inn-keeper sprang away into the dense mass of shadows near the back of the room; and Voral, turning to follow, caught the gleam of a ray-gun in one of the seated men's hand.  Swifly he dashed through the low doorway; a second later a bright purple beam followed him.  The Venusian outlaws poured into the street as the air crackled with their beam-shots.
  Voral, seweral hundred feet up the street, crouched in a doorway and returned their fire.  Carefully, the Venusians closed in.  The Martian backed deeper into the shadows, because aware of a open door, and slipped quietly in.  Closing the portal softly, he turned and gazed into utter darkness.  Warily he advanced sliding hiss feet along the floor to avoid the clash of his metallic footsteps.
  He extracted a tiny light tube from his pocket and snapped it on.  By it's light he could see that he was standing in a long, empty hallway devoid of doors and windows.  At the extreme far end of the corridor, a tiny ramp led to the floor above.  The upper floor proved as unfruitful as the first.  It contained several rooms, all spotlessly clean (a surprising thing in the Venusian slums), but utterly barren.
  Moving back to the ramp, Voral noticed a dim light below.  By it he saw a dark figure hurrying toward the door.  Acting on impulse, he boomed, "Wait!"  The figure half turned, then rushed into the street.  Throwing caution to the winds, Voral flung himself down the ramp, his footsteps crashing back from the walls.  Once upon the street, try as he would, he could see nothing.  Taking a chance, he dashed off toward his right.
  Suddenly, before him, Voral saw the scurring dark figure.  Drawing his ray-gun, he hissed through clenched teeth, "Halt, or I'll blast you into eternity!"  The figure drew to an abrupt stop; Voral did likewise.  He saw that the cloak's dark hood hid the wearer's face.  A low muffled sob issued from it.  Voral stared in surprise.  On MARS, Venus, Tellus, or any of the outer planets, feminine characteristics are always the same.  The sib was obviously that of a woman.
  Sheathing his gun, the Martian stepped forward.  Placing one hand upon the woman's shoulder, he gently drew back the hood.  Drew it back, and ... gasped.  The girl's strange, elfin beauty shook him to his very toes.  Voral had seen Venusian women before, but never one of such loveliness.  Her deep, orange-colored hair set off a pale blue face from which shone forth two almost purple eyes.

Saving...

fellow squirmed uneasily and finally fell back a step or twi ito the shadows. ~Drawing a chair out Voral snapped, "A bottle of your best Martian wine." As he sat there waiting for the proprietor to return, he stared at the men seated about the table. Sullen, unresponsive faces glared back. A bad lot, he told himself, not the type~ of men to trust behind your back. The thin landlord brougth the wine, a bright green, thick liquid. Voral regarded the bottle with suspicion, then smelt it. A pungent odor of Venus Backis, a deadly drug causing insanity or at times even death, burned his nostrils and throat. "Why, you little rat!" roared the Martian, leaping to his feet. Tpe inn-keeper sprang away into the dense mass of shadows near the back of the room; and Voral, turning to follow, caught the gleam of a ray-gun in one of the seated men's hand. Swifly he dashed through the low doorway; a second later a bright purple beam followed him. The Venusian outlaws poured into the street as the air crackled with their beam-shots. Voral, seweral hundred feet up the street, crouched in a doorway and returned their fire. Carefully, the Venusians closed in. The Martian backed deeper into the shadows, because aware of a open door, and slipped quietly in. Closing the portal softly, he turned and gazed into utter darkness. Warily he advanced sliding hiss feet along the floor to avoid the clash of his metallic footsteps. He extracted a tiny light tube from his pocket and snapped it on. By it's light he could see that he was standing in a long, empty hallway devoid of doors and windows. At the extreme far end of the corridor, a tiny ramp led to the floor above. The upper floor proved as unfruitful as the first. It contained several rooms, all spotlessly clean (a surprising thing in the Venusian slums), but utterly barren. Moving back to the ramp, Voral noticed a dim light below. By it he saw a dark figure hurrying toward the door. Acting on impulse, he boomed, "Wait!" The figure half turned, then rushed into the street. Throwing caution to the winds, Voral flung himself down the ramp, his footsteps crashing back from the walls. Once upon the street, try as he would, he could see nothing. Taking a chance, he dashed off toward his right. Suddenly, before him, Voral saw the scurring dark figure. Drawing his ray-gun, he hissed through clenched teeth, "Halt, or I'll blast you into eternity!" The figure drew to an abrupt stop; Voral did likewise. He saw that the cloak's dark hood hid the wearer's face. A low muffled sob issued from it. Voral stared in surprise. On MARS, Venus, Tellus, or any of the outer planets, feminine characteristics are always the same. The sib was obviously that of a woman. Sheathing his gun, the Martian stepped forward. Placing one hand upon the woman's shoulder, he gently drew back the hood. Drew it back, and ... gasped. The girl's strange, elfin beauty shook him to his very toes. Voral had seen Venusian women before, but never one of such loveliness. Her deep, orange-colored hair set off a pale blue face from which shone forth two almost purple eyes.