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Jinx, v. 1, issue 1, December 1941

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"A Prophet Has No Honor" *** JINX *** Page 4

"I did not desert my post. I will tell you the same story that I told the High Court. Believe me, Majesty, I love my country; I am loyal and faithful. I speak nothing but the truth." Someone snickered in the crowd, but stopped when the Emperor started at him.

The prisoner swallowed painfully, brushed the red trickle from the side of his face and continued. "I was detailed to the garrison at 'Cago in 'Merica. The first two years that we were there, we lost men mysteriously. We doubled, then tripled the guard, but to no avail. Small expeditions into the interior were wiped out, destroyed. And yet Small expeditions into the interior were wiped out, destroyed. And yet we could find no trace of the attackers. And then one day while we were at dinner, a warning bell began to ring. Before we could reach our defense rays, there were terrific detonations. I managed to reach the outside of the building after struggling thru the debris of the inner rooms. When I reached the outside, I heard a strange humming in the sky. I couldn't see anything. but I know that it must have been air machines, for the hum came from overhead."

The Emperor was disturbed for a moment at the thought of possible powerful enemies. He loved his power; this fat, jocular, old simpleton. "But that's impossible, man," he said, "only my personal guards have air machines."

"That's what I thought too, Majesty, but it seems that these 'Mericans had them. They were dropping strange projectiles that we could not see...I think the Ancients called them 'bombs'."

The Emperor placed on hand over his eyes and pulled his chin with the other. An enemy with bombs!? Impossible! And those asinine 'Mericans who lived underground in fear of his powerful soldiers. He looked at the prisoner with a solemn face. "But..in the Last Great War, all of the plans for making such bombs were destroyed. And now they are nothing...nothing but myths! You are lying, man!"

"No, Majesty, no! When I escaped from the fort, I found one of their air machines and they were loading the strange 'bombs'. I hid in the woods, the lone survivor, and finally made my way out to sea in a stolen boat. I was picked up by one of Your Patrol Ships. And...here...I...am."

The Emperor stared at the man's unshaven face, marred with red clots of blood. Then his face changed slowly...the mute expression on his visage changed to a smile and then he laughed. The fat on him seemed to roll as he guffawed. "'Mericans with bombs -- haw, haw, haw...air machines...haw!" And then he stopped. "Captain," he said, "execute this lying dog!"

The Captain of the Guard smiled as the crowd burst into derisive cheers. The prisoner's eyes lighted with a strange fire. So this was what he had received for his loyalty, for his long and tedious journey home. He saw it all now; these aristocrats, not deserving to live, but still existing on the toil and sweat of the Underground people. He had been one of those who lived Underground and worked day after day, only to be whipped, forced to pay more 'taxes' and ordered to do more work or be executed. He had won his high post by saving some dirty noble who had been 'slumming' in the Underground. God, how he wished he had let him fall into that acid vat! He wouldn't tell them that the 'Mericans planned to 'bomb' this city. Those Underground would e safe for he had heard one of the 'Merican airmen say so when he had spied on them. His Most Gracious Majesty! He smiled, squared his shoulders, and marched proudly down the line of people who hooted at him, jeered and spit at him.

It was only a short walk to the execution grounds, but his legs were tired from the long nights in the small dungeon. He blinked as they came into the sunlight. The sun was warm and he walked to the

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"A Prophet Has No Honor" *** JINX *** Page 4 "I did not desert my post. I will tell you the same story that I told the High Court. Believe me, Majesty, I love my country; I am loyal and faithful. I speak nothing but the truth." Someone snickered in the crowd, but stopped when the Emperor started at him. The prisoner swallowed painfully, brushed the red trickle from the side of his face and continued. "I was detailed to the garrison at 'Cago in 'Merica. The first two years that we were there, we lost men mysteriously. We doubled, then tripled the guard, but to no avail. Small expeditions into the interior were wiped out, destroyed. And yet Small expeditions into the interior were wiped out, destroyed. And yet we could find no trace of the attackers. And then one day while we were at dinner, a warning bell began to ring. Before we could reach our defense rays, there were terrific detonations. I managed to reach the outside of the building after struggling thru the debris of the inner rooms. When I reached the outside, I heard a strange humming in the sky. I couldn't see anything. but I know that it must have been air machines, for the hum came from overhead." The Emperor was disturbed for a moment at the thought of possible powerful enemies. He loved his power; this fat, jocular, old simpleton. "But that's impossible, man," he said, "only my personal guards have air machines." "That's what I thought too, Majesty, but it seems that these 'Mericans had them. They were dropping strange projectiles that we could not see...I think the Ancients called them 'bombs'." The Emperor placed on hand over his eyes and pulled his chin with the other. An enemy with bombs!? Impossible! And those asinine 'Mericans who lived underground in fear of his powerful soldiers. He looked at the prisoner with a solemn face. "But..in the Last Great War, all of the plans for making such bombs were destroyed. And now they are nothing...nothing but myths! You are lying, man!" "No, Majesty, no! When I escaped from the fort, I found one of their air machines and they were loading the strange 'bombs'. I hid in the woods, the lone survivor, and finally made my way out to sea in a stolen boat. I was picked up by one of Your Patrol Ships. And...here...I...am." The Emperor stared at the man's unshaven face, marred with red clots of blood. Then his face changed slowly...the mute expression on his visage changed to a smile and then he laughed. The fat on him seemed to roll as he guffawed. "'Mericans with bombs -- haw, haw, haw...air machines...haw!" And then he stopped. "Captain," he said, "execute this lying dog!" The Captain of the Guard smiled as the crowd burst into derisive cheers. The prisoner's eyes lighted with a strange fire. So this was what he had received for his loyalty, for his long and tedious journey home. He saw it all now; these aristocrats, not deserving to live, but still existing on the toil and sweat of the Underground people. He had been one of those who lived Underground and worked day after day, only to be whipped, forced to pay more 'taxes' and ordered to do more work or be executed. He had won his high post by saving some dirty noble who had been 'slumming' in the Underground. God, how he wished he had let him fall into that acid vat! He wouldn't tell them that the 'Mericans planned to 'bomb' this city. Those Underground would e safe for he had heard one of the 'Merican airmen say so when he had spied on them. His Most Gracious Majesty! He smiled, squared his shoulders, and marched proudly down the line of people who hooted at him, jeered and spit at him. It was only a short walk to the execution grounds, but his legs were tired from the long nights in the small dungeon. He blinked as they came into the sunlight. The sun was warm and he walked to the