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 21

and saw them pass over the foremost survivors, one of who supported the other as he ran.
  "Our sorrow qas very great that we flew blindly, aimlessly about until the night began to fall.  At that time, we began to think coherently.  We decided to search for another planet.
  "And during all the planning, I know that each of us harbored a terrible thought,  Would the tiny craft be able to defeat gravity on the take-off?  It was a one passenger ship, handling sluggishly under our combined weights.  Well we might have thought, for we found that we could not escape into space.
  "It was then that my companion, Artee, did a heroic thing.  Before I divined his intention, he twisted open the lock, waved gaily, and leaped out into the twilight of late day.  I watched as he fell, but merciful gloom shrouded the icy crags among which he hit... I knew that he had gone without regret.  He was a philosopher -- and death was infinitely better than life, for, had he tarried with me, both of us would have been forever tied to a planet that tortured mind and soul with unhappy memories.
  "Pausing not for vain retrospection, I pointed the ship toward the sky, and put on top speed.  This time the ship broke easily away from thr fetters of gravity.  I was alone, I was breaking into the unknown."
  Ornoo stopped his narration.  He seemed unable to continue.  Just as Gordon was about to break the long silence, he resumed the telepathically-told story.
  "I began to search for a world that could offer me a safe haven for some time.  I had no plans for the future.  And I found my haven with surprizing quickness.  The inhabitants were friendly, and they helped me build a large, sturdy ship that gained its power from the cosmic rays.
  "I stayed with these kindly beings until the wanderlust of my kind struct ne.  I left amidst much excitement, for I had been the first visitor to their planet.  With the new ship operating perfectly, I steered again into the uncharted void.
  "To make a long story short, I shall give but a bare outline of my life since then.
  :As I have said before, I am practically immortal; so I gave no heed to the passage of time.  My wanderings have taken me to remote corners of the Universe.  It mattered not how long the voyage took.  Even one of them would have taken many times the life-span of you that listen to me.  I became an insatiable rover.  With the sadness coming of a knowledge that I was the last of my race, I could find joy only in adventure and travel.  No place held me for long.  I visited all manner of queer worlds and their stranger people.  I could not begin to tell you of the things which I have seen.
  "Every civilized race taught me a little more than I already knew, even in the short time I spend with each.  I came to have a great, composite knowledge.  Every stop with  intelligent races saw my ship improved.  But at no time could I break down my shell of aloofness, associating freely and easily with any individual or race.  I felt kinship with none.  -- All this went on for millions of your years."  -- here Ornoo noted the expressions of incredulity upon the faces of his listeners -- "but time touched me not.  I only grew wiser.  I sometimes paused, waiting for a waning sun to die, so that I could observe the resourcefulness of the planets it warmed.
  "In my wanderings, I came upon this planet called Earth.  The green orb looked so very inviting that I stopped the ship

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and saw them pass over the foremost survivors, one of who supported the other as he ran. "Our sorrow qas very great that we flew blindly, aimlessly about until the night began to fall. At that time, we began to think coherently. We decided to search for another planet. "And during all the planning, I know that each of us harbored a terrible thought, Would the tiny craft be able to defeat gravity on the take-off? It was a one passenger ship, handling sluggishly under our combined weights. Well we might have thought, for we found that we could not escape into space. "It was then that my companion, Artee, did a heroic thing. Before I divined his intention, he twisted open the lock, waved gaily, and leaped out into the twilight of late day. I watched as he fell, but merciful gloom shrouded the icy crags among which he hit... I knew that he had gone without regret. He was a philosopher -- and death was infinitely better than life, for, had he tarried with me, both of us would have been forever tied to a planet that tortured mind and soul with unhappy memories. "Pausing not for vain retrospection, I pointed the ship toward the sky, and put on top speed. This time the ship broke easily away from thr fetters of gravity. I was alone, I was breaking into the unknown." Ornoo stopped his narration. He seemed unable to continue. Just as Gordon was about to break the long silence, he resumed the telepathically-told story. "I began to search for a world that could offer me a safe haven for some time. I had no plans for the future. And I found my haven with surprizing quickness. The inhabitants were friendly, and they helped me build a large, sturdy ship that gained its power from the cosmic rays. "I stayed with these kindly beings until the wanderlust of my kind struct ne. I left amidst much excitement, for I had been the first visitor to their planet. With the new ship operating perfectly, I steered again into the uncharted void. "To make a long story short, I shall give but a bare outline of my life since then. :As I have said before, I am practically immortal; so I gave no heed to the passage of time. My wanderings have taken me to remote corners of the Universe. It mattered not how long the voyage took. Even one of them would have taken many times the life-span of you that listen to me. I became an insatiable rover. With the sadness coming of a knowledge that I was the last of my race, I could find joy only in adventure and travel. No place held me for long. I visited all manner of queer worlds and their stranger people. I could not begin to tell you of the things which I have seen. "Every civilized race taught me a little more than I already knew, even in the short time I spend with each. I came to have a great, composite knowledge. Every stop with intelligent races saw my ship improved. But at no time could I break down my shell of aloofness, associating freely and easily with any individual or race. I felt kinship with none. -- All this went on for millions of your years." -- here Ornoo noted the expressions of incredulity upon the faces of his listeners -- "but time touched me not. I only grew wiser. I sometimes paused, waiting for a waning sun to die, so that I could observe the resourcefulness of the planets it warmed. "In my wanderings, I came upon this planet called Earth. The green orb looked so very inviting that I stopped the ship