V

FRANK HAMPSON'S
GREAT HERO FROM
THE 'EAGLE'-IS BACK!
PHOT OF THl rVTOUt
Other books inihis series available from New English Library
NO TEARS FOR MOLLY by June Vincent
ROY OF THE ROVERS by James Hart
D-DAY DAWSON by Marcus AUgood
PILOT OF THE FUTURE

NEW ENCSLI5H USRAETT

TIMES MIRROR
 A New EnsU*h Library Original Publication (977
by IPC Mflgttzincs Ltd^ 1977

FIRST NEL PAPERBACK EDITION MAY 1977

Conditions of sale: This book it sold subject to thecondJtion that It «hgii not, byway
of trade or otherwise, be lent, re^ld, hired out, or otherwise drcxtlated without the
publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other thon that in which it is
published and without a similar condition including condition being imposed on
the subsequent purchaser.

NBL Boolu art published by

Ntto Engluh Ubrary Umiftdjrom Barnard's Itm, Hotborrtt London ECsN^R.
Mads Of id printed in Great Britain by Hunt Barnard Primittg Ltd., Aylesbury, Bucku

45W3330 X
 HELLO, VENUS - GOODBYEI

Melted beyond endurance, the permanon-steel lattice-work of

the launch gantry tumbled away like so much spaghetti as
Kingfishery like a giant aluminium cucumber, lifted slowly
away on its blazing tail-jets^ the glaring fire firom its belly
dazzlingly white, even through the polarised glass of the stressed
w i n d o w s i n t h e c o m m a n d o b s e r v a t i o n b u n k e r. T h e c o n c r e t e
of the apron shimmered in the baddash of the huge engines,
and Sir Hubert Guest felt the harsh edges of the control
console vibrate beneath his clutching fingers, cutting so
sharply into his hands that he had to let go and, assuming bis
customary pose of calm and quiet, fold his arms.
'Well, she's off, Dan/ He turned, smiling with an expression
that he knew to be false, to the slim, tall, d^k-eyed man by his
side. A man whose strangely arched eyebrows lifted just a
litde. Just enough to show that he, at least, saw through the
put-on complacency of the Chief ControUer of the Inter
planetary Space Fleet
*We don't know exactiy what destroyed Orion and Argonaut,
sir.* Dan Dare*s hands made to rise in a throwaway gesture, but
he controlled them, thrusting them suddenly into his pockets.
Sir Hubert look^ away, aware now that they were both putting
5
on an act. That both of them knew how desperately important
this mission of the spacecraft Kingfisher really was. That both of
them knew it might end in disaster, as had the previous shots to
investigate the distant planet Veniis ...
'Look, don*t worry. Sir Hubert.' Dan Dare had decided not
to play games with ^ commander. Colonel of the space fleet,
he had been anxious that he himself would command the
Kingfisher mission. But he*d been overruled. Too important
to risk. Now he said: *Orion and Argonaut were proved to have
faults, sir. We found them on the drawing board. Too late,
unhappily... * Dan bit his lip. *But then,' he continued, 'they
actually got within range of Venus! They were almost tkeret
sir ... before engine fatigue, or whatever, did for them!'
'Yes, Dan. Did for them. They exploded. And they were up
there on my orders. I don't mind telling you •> it makes me fed
like a murderer.'
Dan Dare's hand closed over the older man's arm. Tou
mustn't think like that, sir! Exploration of space is bound to
involve risks! You did everything you could, in line with avail
able knowledge! Nobody could have done any more!'
'I know, Dan. I know. But I'm worried. Worried that our
modifications - our adjustments - haven't done enough for
Kingfisher, If that craft comes to grief, I'm broken. Absolutely
broken.*

Flimg bodily firom the launch-pad by the thrust of its inirigl

6
engines, Kingfisher lanced like an arrow up into the blue, the
flare from ite tail visible to the watchers for no more than a brief
instant. Then it was gone - curving through the ever-darkening
layers of the earth's atmosphere, the vague clouds of ie home
already merging with the gentle curve of the planet's surface
way, way behind. At the controls. Captain Crane unstrapped
himself and turned to the three members of his crew.
'Johnny. We're clear. Tell 'em so. Dick. Run over the dials
and make sure none of our cargo's shifted, will you?'
His experienced eye checked that the auto-pilot was iunction-
ing. Un^ they'd passed the pull of the moon, they wouldn't
have to check and re-correct. I'm for some grub - while we've
still got internal pressure enough to eat it without squeezing it
out of tubes. Anyone else?'
*Roger, skipper!' Dick Vanbrugh turned from his bank of
equipment and raised his thumb. 'I got Nancy to part up with
the stuff she'd prepared for Colonel Dare. She made 'em good.
She thought he was coming on this mission!'
'So did Colonel Dare.' Crane laughed. 'Darned shame. A
pilot like him - been stuck in a chair for lord knows how long.
Bit of a flap, and he reckons he'll be back behind the controls.
Oh well -1 suppose it's a bit of a toss-up who's going to be the
fi r s t o n Ve n u s . '
Johnny Walters, co-pilot, turned to his captain, having
carried out his orders. TDo you really reckon we'll find what we
want there, sir?'

7
 *I reckon. Massive cloud cover, sure. And no real tilling
what*s below it. But probes have informed us that there is
soil - and in parts, atmosphere in which we can grow crops.
That's the whole thing, Johnny - crops. We're living on- an
earth that's becoming so rapidly over-populated that food's a
vital concern. So many people, so little space! We've got to
find an area that can support us, and the moon's no good...'
*Neither's Mars/ said Dick Vanbnigh, laconically. 'Wc
know what happened to the ships that went therel Nothing but
sand and heat! Plenty of vitamin D in a sun-tan, but that
doesn't keep a man alive!'
*As you say, Dick.' Captain Crane made a slight adjustment
to the controls as a green light flickered briefly on the panel
*But Venus, now - that's something else, ^ly, if we're to
believe what we've been told, there are all kinds of life-support
ing vegetation already growng there!'
Johnny frowned. Looked down at his hands. He said,
'Captain. Doesn't it strike you that if there are such things on
Venus, there might be people too? People who'd resent us
coming to-sort of-poach...

Time had passed. A lot of time, for D^ Dare. Still irritated that
he had been passed over for command of the Kingfisher mission,
he had fretted and fimied over desk-bound papers and day-to
day work, scanning files, initigiUfig them, flinging into
8
his out-tray. Feeling that a Colonel's job shouldn't have to be
so tied to routine. He'd snarled at his secretary, cursed the
commissionaire, damned his batman to here and beyohd!
But that batman, the redoubtable Digby, had remained totally
unmoved, and now, seven days after the launch of Kingfishery
he brought Dan Dare's breakfast with the same dignified
aplomb that he always used. As he'd said to himself jdst before
he opened the door of Dan's room, glancing at himself in the
mirror, 'Nay, then - he's a reet tartar at some times, but Colonel
Dare can't be perfect! After all, he's not a Lancashire lad like
me!'
'Morning, Dig,' Dan Dare's greeting was just friendly.
'Bac»n and eggs?'
'Nobbut them vitamin blocks, sir,' said Digby.
'Jumpin' jets!' Dan blew up, but Digby didn't even flinch.
He was used to it! *If I eat much more of these things I'll begin
to look like a darning vitamin!'
'You're frettin', sir,' said Digby, fussing round his chief. 'I
dunno why you keep angry about not goin' on K.ingfisher\ Me
- I'm glad. I don't want to go gaddin' about to nasty planets
like Mars ...'
'It's Venus, Digby ...'
'Well, Venus! What's the diflference? I tell thee, sir, there's
nowt like WiganI A man could be happy in a spot like that!'
Dan laughed, picked up ^e plate of synthetic food, and
hurled it into his waste-bin. don't know what they eat in
9
Wigan, Dig, bxit it certainly isn*t this 1 Forget orders, acid get me
some proper scoff! And you can cook some for yourself, if you
want!*
already have, sir. Ill serveit you, and TU make some more.'
Digby vanished back into the kitchen.
It was at that moment that the telephone - the red telephone
that connected Dan directly with his headquarters - shrilled
urgently. The voice on the other end was Sir Hubert's, and the
problem was Kingfisher\
*Dig!' Dan bellowed as he slammed down the phone. *Never
mind breakfastl We're going to HQ - pronto 1 There's trouble -
trouble!'

^Kingfisher bearing ZN 76 - AL 34!' The tracking operator's

voice in Space Fleet headquarters was unnaturally shrill.
'Cross bearing from the moon XCsi - NT 178! We've got her
in the viewer, sir!'
Dan shook his mind clear of the confusion of the ops room
and turned to Sir Hubert Guest. 'What is this. Sir Hubert?'
'Bad news, Dan. Kingfisher^s entered the area where Orion
and Argonaut blew up! And radio contact's ^ne haywire. We
can fust about hear them, but thqr're not reading us at alL
There's some kmd of ray affecting them. The same sort of
thing that cut out the others. This time, we can monitor it, but it
seems Kingfisher, despite her modifications, is in real trouble!'
1 0
I I
 *Come in, Kingfisher\ Captain Crane - come wP Dan*s fists
clenched. He looked at Dlgby but found no reassurance in the
round) open face.
*Do you copy. Kingfisher} Over!*
The speed^g spaceship sped onwards towards Venus, its
impulse motors - which drew energy from signals beamed from
Eanh - at full stretch. It was no more than an hour away from
the mysterious planet And although he knew there were
communicadons difficulties with Earth, Captain Crane was
unworried.
But then came the report from the engine area. The sudden,
frantic report!
*The impulse cylinders, sir I They - they're breaking up 1*
*Whaaat? Stop jets! Qose five, seven and eight bulkheads!
Break out oxygen and pressure suits!* Crane saw the inter-
communicadons box leap from the desk in fit>nt of him even as
he shouted the words. Knew then that it was too late! The last
thing his eyes registered was the undulating bulge of the very
fabric of Kingfisher\ The palpitating shudder of the pressure-
walls before his face in^ the fractional instant before tiie whole
craft blew apart with an almighty, devastating explosion.
Where Kingfisher had been, there was nothing but a drifting
whirl of space-dust.

13
 CHAPTER TWO

TRY, TRY, TRY AGAIN!

It was cold So very cold. Digby pulled his jacket closer round
his ample frame and shuddered. This wasn't like Wigan! This
was like nothing on earth, and besides, he'd never wanted to
leave earth anyway, not when he'd volunteered for the Space-
forcel He heard himself whimpering . , . 'Cook! Storeman!
Clerk 1 That's what I wanted to be - with a nice uniform to go on
leave with, and impress them Lancashire lasses! Why did I have
to go and end up batman to a bloke who dumps me on Mercury,
freezing in an over-compensated suit while the temperature
outsiders enough to fry bacon butties in half a second flat... ?*
Then the torrid surface of the sim's nearest neighbour
seemed to fade away, and — as if from afar, Digby heard the call
of his Colonel.
T5igby! 'D\g-heeeV
*Nnuhhh? Wha ... ? Lumme, I was dreamin*!*
'You artainly were, you daft ha'porth! Now stir your stumps
and get out of that Jepeetl'
Digby blinked is eyes once or twi<». No Colonel Dan in
vision. The voice must be coming through the radio..,
*DigbyI Can you hear me, you Lancashire hot-pot?'
*Eee, I'm aw^e now, siri' Dig pulled the microphone from
14
its retaining clips on the dash of the personal jet-propelled
gyroscopic jeep - the 'Jepeet' that was Dan Dare's own vehicle.
'Get out of there and bring a helicar to headquarters roof!
You've got to pick up the controller and myself. And quickly!'
Digby did as he was told. Once alert, the fat man &e
North could move faster than the casual observer might think!
Within three minutes, the rotors of a helicar were in smooth
neutral while Dan Dare and Sir Hubert Guest climbed aboard.
*Where are we going, sir?'
*To an emergency meeting of the cabinet, Dig. Kingfisker^s
loss has put the whole lot in a panic, and they're determined to
cancel the whole Venus project!'
*So they should, Colond Dan.' Digby spun the controls
deftly and whipped the car round the spire of a church - a relic
of the London of the past.
•No, Dig! You're wrong! Just because we've lost three mis
sions, it doesn't mean the quest is hopeless! You see - all the
spacecraft's we've used were powered by impulse-wave
engines!'
'Sorry, sir. I don't get it.'
^Neither did I, Digby, when Colonel Dare first expounded his
theory!' Sir Hubert Guest leaned forward eagerly and Digby,
without looking round, could sense the excitement in the
C o n t r o l l e r.
'Suppose - just suppose there's a hostile element on Venus.
Beings who've put up a force-field at the limits of their atmos-
15
phere! Remember the last words we heard from Kir^fisherl
Something about ''the impulse cylinders"! Think what would
happen if a ship, carrying a huge load of impulse waves in those
flinders, hit a force-field,.
Casually, for although his mind was on Sir Hubert's words,
his reactions were steady, Digby put his left band down and
squeezed the helicar through the twin towers of Westminster
Abbey, heading for the landing pad on the House of Parliament.
*By you're right! I know what'd happen
*Just so. Dig!* Dan Dare tapped his finger on the back of the
seat. 'What'd happen would be exactly what happened to
Kingfisherl A total explosion!'
Digby brou^t the craft smoothly round over the witk
^panse of the new recreation areas that had replaced old
Victoria and Saint James's, and requested permission to land
from the ever-watchful cabinet police. He said, 'So we can't get
near the planet, sir?'
'Wrong, Dig,' grinned Dan Dare. Touch down and wait!
I've got a feeUng you're going to be seeing more than you ever
dreamed of when you stepped out of your Wigan front door...
and you're going to see it fairly shordy!'
'Oh, 'eck! If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not, sir!'
This time, while he waited, Digby didn't sleep. He was too
worried. And the expression on Dan Dare's face when he and
Sir Hubert Guest returned did nothing to reassure him,
'We've got the go-ahead, Digby,' said Dare. 'They're getting
16
our new ship ready as from now!*
<Shjp? Now look 'ere. Colonel Dan - we're not going
galavanting off to Venus, surely? Not with that there force-
field, an' all
'The ship's going to take us almost there. Dig. Almost, but
not quite. Okay - she'l be powered by impulse wave engines,
just like Kingfisher^ but she'll pull up before she gets within
range of their defences.. ♦ *
*An' then we sit tight an' take pictures?'
^e do nor, Digbyl We transfer to self-contained rocket
ferries, carrying their own fuel They'll take us safely through
the danger zone!'
Digby let in the controls of the helicar and moaned loudly.
An act, of course - for wherever his Colonel Dan went, the
tubby Lancastrian would always go. But he had to say iL
*You'U be the death of me, sir I The very death!'
hope not, Digby.' Now it was Sir Hubert Guest, his voia
deceptively level. 'Colonel Dare will be picking up a special
aew for this mission, but the fact is, rm going, too.'
*You3 Sir Hubert?' Digby c»uidn't keep the surprise out of
his voice.
*Me. Everything is being staked on this project. And every
thing includes me!'
*Eh, welL It includes me, an' all,' said Digby, and flew on.,,

It couldn't happen immediately. The governmental processes,

the okays for this and that programme had to be thrashed out.
But incredibly - or maybe not so incredibly, since the world
leader knew that a new food-base was so totally necessary - the
new Venus ship was built in a mere three months. Built, along
with its ancillary rockets - the small vehicles to carry earthmen
through to Venus despite the force-field.
It was in one such of the ancillary rockets that Dan Dare
flewj on a test flight, to the military airfield, at Prairie-du-Lac,
Canada. Both to try out the machine and to pick up the rest of
his crew. With him went Digby and Sir Hubert...
^ow what in heck d'you redcon that contraption is, Pierre?*
Hank Hogan, tall, lean and bespectacled, dressed like the
dumpy man beside him in the green uniform of the Inter
planetary Space Fleet, shaded his eyes and firowned. Pierre
Lafayette spread his hands and shrugged expressively. *She
looks like a rocket ship to me. Hank.*
^ *She's landing her^' muttered the tal American. Tfou're
right, Pierre - she ir a rocket What have we joined now - a
museum?*
The rocketship made a roaring pass over the field at Prairie-
du-Lac and turned neatly, her nose dropping as she came in to
land. 1 suppose,* said Hank, Wve got the right place?*
Pierre nodded *Dan's telegram said lanHing area X-i, and this
is iti*
Then, as the rocket coasted towards them on its triple under-
cart and rolled to a halt, the eyes of the two friends opened wide
in disbelief! The side door slid open, and..,
I8
 Tor Pete's sake! Dan\ What in thunder are you doing in
that thing?'
*HellOj Hank. Pierre.' Dan Dare extended his hand for the
pair of warm, friendly shakes and grinned at his old comrades.
'It's good to see you both again.'
'Certainement, mon ami! But answer Hank's questionj Danl
Why ze veteran transport?'
'She's no veteran, Pierre. Brand new. Don't you like her?*
Dan paused. Tou'd better get lised to her, boys - you're going
to fly one of her sisters in the nest attempt on Venus!'
Hank gasped. Laughed at what he fondly imagined to be a
joke. Then reddened as he realised Dan was in deadly earnest!
^Venus} So that's it! A suicide club I Well, you can elect me out 1'
'No suicide at all. Hank. Come into tibe mess, botii of you,
and Sir Hubert and I will give you the gen.' Hank and Pierre
gulped, saluted the figure of Sir Hubert, who'd stepped down to
join them, and followed their Colonel towards the airfield main
19
buildixigs^ At a properly respectful distance, Spaceman Albert
Fitz-William Digby trailed iong behind..,
It didn't take Dan long to outline the plan. He summarised.
*You see, our little rocket kites will be carried by a big ship,
rather like planes on an old aircraft carrier. We make our lone
take-off when we're near the force-field danger zone. If my
theory is right, we'll sail clear through to Venus.*
'Yeah,you're right,' said Hank, gloomily.
'How many will be going on zis trip, Dan?' Now it was Pierre
who spoke, tugging thoughtfully at the short moustache on his
upper lip.
'Six of us. You two, Sir Hubert, Digby, myself, andProfessor
Peabody.'
'Professor Peabody? Who's he?' The French-Canadian
k)oked blank, and in return, Dan looked even blanker! *We
don't know. Some old greybeard, I suppose. The cabinet are
sending him to check the full possibilities of growing food on
Ve n u s . '
At that moment, there was a tap on the door, and Digby
came in. He coughed for their attention. '£r - Professor
Peabody, sir ... '
Dan, Sir Hubert, Hank and Pierre rose to greet 'the old
greybeard'. But their polite mutters of greeting died in their
thr^ts! To a man, they stood riveted, their eyes incredulously
registering the tall, slim figure who swept in past the grinning
Digby. For the professor was not at all the sort of person any of
them had expected!
2 0
 'Jumpin'jetsl It - it's a
Professor Jocelyn Peabody sat down, crossed her slender legs
and swept them all with a somewhat chilly glance!
It was crystal clear that Professor Peabody had no doubts of
her equality as a female with these seasoned spacemen! It was
equally clear that Sir Hubert Guest had no intention whatever
of taking what he called 'a mere female' along on the mission!
Instantly, he put a call through the cabinet headquarters - and
received a direct snub for his pains! 'I'm afraid you must take
her. Sir Hubert,' said the anonymous voice at Ae other end.
'It's a direct and irrevocable order from the cabinet I'
Sir Hubert slammed down the receiver. He said Tahl'. He
opened his mouth as if to say even more, thought better of it,
and slammed out of the room I
^Welcome, anyway, Professor,' smiled Dan. *We're going to
serve together, so there's no sense in starting off on the wrong
foot. Sir Hubert won't be long in accepting fete, I promise!'
The girl laughed. 'Don't worry - I'm used to this sort of thing,
Colonel Dare, One of the haz^ds of my job!'

It was one week later. The three rocketships had been mounted
on to the huge spacecraft Ranger, and now the friends had
gathered to join the mother ship for the fourth attempt on the
mystery planet.
'Any more for the Skylark^ Get your tickets here! Returns
only!' Pierre chuckled at Hank's ever-present good humour,
2 1
'Suppose we don't iise the return halves, men ami?*
Tou get your money back,* said Dan, evenly.
The lift-off and running of Ranger was no concern of Dan
and his friends. Until they entered their own rocketships, they
were no more than passengers. On the bridge of the big mother
ship. Captain Hunter gave the ordeis that started up the massive
jets. Gently, the pivoted launch ramp raised the impulse-
powered giant though eighty-five degrees, almost to the
vertical.
*Check shock-straps! Check ignition monitors! Check
gantry release.. .' One by one, the complex procedures were
put into operation. Then - 'Ready to launch!'
With a surging blast of power, Ranger stood inert for a
seemingly endless moment and then, so swifdy that the human
eye couldn't follow, accelerated away from the apron. Away
from the tense watchers in tlie command blockhouse. Away
from planet Earth on the first stage of its vital journey. There
could be no second thoughts. No change of plans. Not now...

2 2

f
 CHAPTER THREE

BREAK-UP 1

The globe of Earth dwindled steadily behind the hurtling

spaceship until it became no more than a far-off speck in the
spangled sky. And now, as automatic ranging devices zeroed
the CTaft on its voyage, the planet Venus became the focus of
attention, both for Captain Hunter and his crew, and for Dan
and his exploration force.
Mere time, in the absence of any sensation of night or day,
had little meaning. But at last, the order so long awaited came
through the intercom from the command area. *Rocketship
a&ffs stand by for launching! Suit up, please!*
Digby mournfully stared down at the jigsaw he*d failed to
complete, and hoped desperately that he might have time to
finish it another day 1 Muttering to himself, he got into the bul^
pressure suit and stood for Dan^s inspection, helmet in his
hand. *Do I look right, sir?'
Dan laughed. There was an enormous bulge at Digby*s
midriff - a built-in parachute system. 'That waistchute doesn't
help your figure, Dig - but I think you'll do!'
TTie three tp-ams checked their equipment and entered their
rockets. They felt the mothership check as the impulse motors
23
were cut. Then all was steady as gyro stabilisers came into play.
•Number Two ship - Dare and Digby - ready.' Dan fiick^
over the switch of his radio.
^Number Three ship - Lafayette and Hogan - ready.'
There was no crackling message from Number One. Digby
glanced at his colonel, wryly. 'Fancy Sir Hubert taking the
Prof in his rocket, sir - after the way he's been carrying on
about herP
Dan smiled. *He said he wants to keep his eye on herj Dig.
Make sure she doesn't get in the way!' He chudded. imagine
there's a bit of an argument going on already!'
Dan was right! Sir Hubert, fuming helplessly, was trying to
order Jocelyn Peabody away from Number One rocket's
controls. 'I insist you let me handle this craft! Do you hear me?'
Professor Peabody shook her head. 'Sorry, Sir Hubert You're
not as young as you used to be - and we may need steady nerves
on this job!'
Sir Hubert spluttered furiously. Words just wouldn't cornel
And then it was too late. With a crisp *okay' to Ranger*^ com
mander, the girl thrust forward the release lever and gunned
the rocket engines that shot the little craft into space. 'We're
off!'
With Numbers Two and Three trailing their port and star
board quarters, Number One hurtled through the void towards
the ever-larger planet. Sir Hubert had gnmipily succumbed
to his companion's imdoubtedly strong will-power! 'Very
24
well. Miss Peabody. You will pilot this vessel. However, I may
decide to charge you with insubordination when we reach
Ve n u s r
*If we reach Venus,* replied the girl, her matter-of-faa voice
maldng her superior gnash his teeth with fresh rage and
frustration. How could this - this woman be so damnably
cool... ?
Now they were running hard for target, and Dan*s instru
ments showed that they were nearing the danger area. The area
where Orieriy Argonaut and Kittgfisher had met their doom. The
colonel heard Sir Hubert's testy voice in his radiophones.
*Ships Two and Three cut engines. You too, Miss Peabody.*
They hung poised above the great globe of the planet, and
Sir Hubert's voice came through again. More controlled,
n o w . . .

*Righto, Dig?' Dan Dare turned to his rather white-faced

companion. *So we go in first Just cross all your fingers and
hang on to your hat!*
The nose of the little space vehicle lanced down into the belt
of treacherous rays - the killing force-field. There was slight
vibration - no more! *I think we might make it, Digbyl*
Digby's voice was like a croak, but his complexion had
recovered all its colour. 'You must*ve been right about the rays
only attacking impulse motors, sir! Rockets are the answer!*
But then it happened! Without warning, the whole structure
of the rocketship's radio equipment blew apart with a shattering
25
explosion, and the cabin filled with acrid smoke!
Somehow, Dan Dare held the plimging ship on course.
'What idiots we were! The radio's worked by impulse waves !*
Digby came spluttering up to his colonel. *It caught fire, sir -
but I put it out with an extinguisher! Trouble is, the plates are
badly strained on the starboard side 1'
Dan said, grimly, 'They might not hold out, Digby. And if
they give way ... *
Digby closed his eyes and thought of good old Wigan. He'd
have given a fortune to be there now. But he wasn*t He was on
a frail bit of man-made junk, belting down towards goodness-
only-knew what and threatening to break up at any moment!
The vibration began... and built. Until he was suddenly aware
of a new light glowing on the control panel beside himl
'Colonel Dan, sir! The atmosphere light's on! We've hit the
air roimd Venus! We've done it!'
Any watcher below would have seen the ship come arrowir^
down through the thick atmosphere. Would have seen fire
break out all over its structure as Dan Dare fought to keep it in
one piece. And then, even as it began to level out, such a watcher
would have seen the white billow of twin parachutes as the two
firiends jettisoned themselves clear!
And ^y were only just in time! Hanging fiiom his harness,
his portly batman alr^dy blown well clear of him, Dan saw the
roc^tship turn over in the instant before it blew itself to
smithereens! Rocked by the blast, Dan's senses reeled A
26
momentary blackout! And then he saw himself dropping
swiftly towards the surface of a wave-chopped sea I
*Time to get rid of the *chute 1 Thank ^e stars for this quick
release gadget!^ Dan punched the button, and a split-second
later fel! headlong into the drink!
Down, down, down... aware of the bubbles streaming past
him. Automatically holding his breath until he realised that his
own helmet and pressxire-suit, with its built-in breathing
apparatus, would keep him safe.
Dan had time to register that there was life here on Venus,
Strange, multi-coloured &h swam into his vision and out again
~ seemingly ima&aid. Then he was rising again, and his last
picture of Digby flashed into his mind 'He was dropping well
to my right. .. towards some crags! I hope the iat chtunp had
the sense to manoeuvre away from them,.
He broke surface and began to swim stron^y towards the
distant, rocky shore. But all at once, he was conscious of a
turbulance in the water ahead. He eased lus strokes, cautiously.
Then gasped with horror as a huge scaly head shattered the sea
like a smashed mirror! The rearing, awsome head of a
ferocious, glaring beast more frightening than anything that
might once have stalked the prehistoric Earth!

High above Venus, ships One and Three were still hovering.
Pierre came over the intercom to Sir Hubert GuesL 'No further
27
contact wi& Colonel Dare, sir. May we have permission to
proceed, please?*
Sir Hubert gritted his teeth, 'Right, Pierre. I'll give you ten
minutes and then follow.*
Pierre Lafeyette licked his lips. hope it's only a case of
Dan's radio breaking down, Ha^ .. .*
Hank nodded slowly as the Frendi-Canadian gunned the
engines that sent them hurtling forward. 'But it was more than
radio breakdown with Orion, Argonaut and Kingfisher^ Pierre.
Dan's theory sounded fine.. . but it couldVe been nuts.*
'Well, mon ami, we shall soon find out! Here we go!*
Sir Hubert Guest watched them go, 'That's two ships away.
Miss Peabody. If we don*t hear anything fix>m them in five
minutes, TU return to Rangert put you aboard, and then come
back and make the third pass solo.*
'Put me on Ranger}' The girl's voice exploded angrily. 'Not
likely! Fm staying on this mission whatever happens - and you
can court martial me for it if you like !*
Sir Hubert shrugged wearily, tired of arguing with this
fi r e b r a n d . . .
Meanwhile, fer below, Spaceman Digby clawed himself clear
of the mud into which he'd made a messy crashdown, after
narrowly missing the craggy rocks at the edge of the Venusian
Sea. He wiped the ooze from his helmet visor and scowled
round him. 'Uggh! Beastly stuff! It's just like treaclel*
Awkwardly, he scrambled up the rocks until he reached a
28
pinnacle from which he could scan the surrounding areas. His
eyes found Dan Dare*s parachute almost at onccj drifting
slowly ashore, but then they widened with horror as he saw the
commotion in the water not fifty yards distant! The lashing
body of some huge, reptilian creature, churning the surface TO
foam as it fought with something he knew only too well to be
his colonel!
But Dan was in less trouble than his tubby batman thought!
Massive the sea-monster might have been - but its brain, like
that of so many gigantic creatures, was tiny. Easily, he dodged
the thrashing attacks of the cumbersome beast - although he
knew that once hit by any part of the enormous head, he*d be
battered into unconsciousness!
Cool as ice, Dan Dare backed off and drew the paralysing
pistol from his belt. 'If this is your welcome, you overgrown
refugee from Loch Ness ... * He pulled the trigger, and a
lancing ray of powerful force smashed into the monster's neck!
There was an ear-shattering bellow of rage and fear before its
muscles locked rigid and it slid slowly beneath the tur
bulence ..,
*Are you all right, sir?* Digby had come scrambling down the
rocks again, and Dan waved a reassuring hand as he stumbled
through the shoreline ooze to join him. *rm okay. Dig. And
you?'
'Fair to middling, sir. But I've taken a look round, and I don't
see any bus stops or snack bars around here!'
29
 'Ah! Youmeanj "what do we do next", eh, Dig?' Dan dapped
his batman on the shoulder. 'Well, we've somehow got to cross
a large slice of this planet, because one of the other ships may
get through, and we bad a rendezvous planned in the permanent
twilight zone.' Dan fished a small gadget &om a zipped pocket
in his outer suit and clipped it to his wrist *This is an infe-red
guidance compass, set on the rendezvous point. All we have to
do is follow it.'
Digby gulped. 'But - but it's pointing out to sea. Colonel
Dan!'
'So it is, Digby! We're going to have to build ourselves a
boat!'

Far beyond them. Number Three rocketship was approaching

the force-field danger area. All at once, Ha^ Hogan snapped
his fingers 1 *Cut the engines, Pierre 1 At once!'
Pierre Lafayette knew his American colleague too well to
waste time asking questions. He did as he was told. ^What's up^
mon brave?*
Turn back for Sir Hubert. There's an idea I've had - a
notion concerning Dan. 1 want to checlc it out before we make
our attempt to bust through.'
*Okay, Hank. Mind telling an old fiiend what it is?*
^It's to do with the radio. I think I know why Dan's one
packed up'
30
 CHAFreR FOUR

THE TREENSl

There were trees bordering the shore-line of the Veniisian Sea,

smooth, soft-timbered tru^ that grew in profusion where the
grim pile of crag-like rocks petered out. Together, Dan and
Digby had felled more than half a dozen of them, using special
settings on their pistols to send out lance-like cutting rays.
With creepers, they had lashed the resulting logs together into
a serviceable raft,
*How about oars. Colonel Dan?* said Digby mournfully.
*An' how long do you think weTl have to paddle?'
Torget oars. Dig,' said Dan. He glanced at the leaves of the
still-standing trees, gauging the direction of the wind. *We'U
be under sail. Nip back and collect my parachute, will you?'
When Digby returned, puffing under the weight of the silk,
Dan had a crude mast rigged. He'd-also removed his spacesuit.
'I've been checking the atmosphere. High carbon dioxide, but
otherwise okay. So strip down to normal clothes, and just keep
your helmet on.'
The strange craft blew straight off-shore, and by hauling on
the strings of the parachute he'd harnessed to his mast, Dan
kept the vessel on course, constantly glancing down at the infra
red compass. He was so intent on Ids task that it was quite some
time before he realised that Digby had actually gone to sleep 1
31
on a newand unexplored planet, and aiiyou can do is go to kip P
Digby spluttered. 'Ee -1 was only conserving me streng^,
sir!*
'Well, consider it conserved There's land ahead!*
The raft ground up on to a shingly shore, backed by great
towering walls of rock incised with vertical chasms that hinted
at canyons, and pocked with caves.
There was no sign of life to greet the wary explorers, but as
they made their way forward, a patter of ro^ came tumbling
down towards them.
'Oh - oh! We don't want to be flattened by a landslide. Dig!
Come on - up this gully I*
They halted suddenly. In front of them, as if guarding the
entrance to a cave, was a tall pillar of smooth stone. It bore no
markings of any kind, but something - some instinct - told Dan
that it was no natural formation!
'Something - some^^ made that, Digby. I think we'd
better be ready for anything!'
Digby followed close after his colonel as Dan stepped boldly
into the cave. 'F-fimny ... * The batman swallowed hard
*F-fimny how you get the feeling you're being watched... *
A lizard's beady eyes flashed suddenly from a ledge alongside
and made him jimip. Something like a bat flapped past him and
out into the open behind them. And &om a niche far above
32
them in the cave's interior, the glittering stare of a being. A
hiunanoid! Lank hair fell to the man's shoulders, masking a
dean-shaven face whose lines were drawn taut with malevolent
hostility I Beneath the strange bump on the forehead of the
blue-sWnned alien the eyes glittered evilly.
The watcher waited for no more fhan a minute. Abrupdy, he
turned and ran sofdy and silently down a rocky passageway
which brought him out in sight of a huge building, set in the
depths of a canyon. There were guards at the gate - guards in
the company of some kind of officer, who stood with folded
arms, watching the runner's approach.
Haughtily, the officer listened as the watcher gasped out his
story. Then he snapped his fingers and barked an order, and
instantly, doors slid back to reveal a weird machine that was all
too obviously some kind of war vehicle! As their officer stepped
inside, helmeted soldiers of the blue-skinned race clamb^ed
aboard, and the thing began to move ...
It came suddenly, as Dan and Digby were still examining the
cave. Dan had found inscriptions on the walls - hieroglyphics
that had given him the certain knowledge of intelligent life on
Venus. For his part, Digby had found and made friends with a
small lizard He'd just christened it John Willie when he looked
up and froze. There, at the entrance to the cave, stood the
soldiers, guns cradled ready in their hands!
Afterwards, Digby was surprised that he kept so calm. 'Don't
look now, sir, but we've been followed. By a bunch of over-
grown bluebottles,* was all he had said, and added, *To coin a
phrase, the natives appear to be hostile!'
Digby already had his pistol drawn, but Dan laid a caution
ing hand on his arm. 'Don't shoot. Dig. Til try and talk to
them ».. *
*Don't be daft, sir! The only talking you*ll do to that bunch
of heathens wil be &mous last words -and they won*t appreciate
*eni!*
Dan grimaced. 'Stop nattering, Dig. Just keep me covered.*
Fearlessly, the colonel stepped forward, his hands raised in
the imiversal gesture of unarmed friendship ... and without
the slightest warning, a blast of ojncussive power shot from the
gun of one of the guards and dropped him in his tracks!
With a roar of dismayed fiiry, Digby launched himself
forward! Now his gun came up, and the stunning force of it
swept around the startled aliens! Incredibly, they couldn't have
expected retaliation of any sort, and they froze where they stood
- mere statues under the power of the temporarily paralysing
ray that Digby had used I
Colonel Dan! Colonel Dan!' The tubby batman was on his
fcn^ beside his beloved chief. * Speak to me I'Then the lad from
Wigan shouted in pure relief! Dan's eyes were flickering open!
'Help - help me. Dig! Just knocked flat - for a second! Their
guns may be big and noisy, but - but they don't have that much
power!'
As Digby helped Dan to his feet, his eyes swept round the
34
blue-skinned soldiers in their frozen stances. *I didn't get 'em
all, sir! At least two got clear..»*
Carefully, they took a closer look at their enemies. 'They^re
so hiimanj Dig... yet they don't wear dome helmets. How can
they brea±e in this carbon dioxide atmosphere,..
Digby approached the officer of the group. The one who wore
a tall, almost cylindrical hat, reminiscent of the headgear of an
ancient Egyptian pharaoh. *I reckon this one's the guv'nor, sir.
Proper bilious-lookin', isn't he! I'd hate to be one of his merry
men when the paralysis wears off in a couple of hours!'
The batman added, 'And maybe we^d better make ourselves
scarce before the rest of the lads of the village turn up 1*
As they stepped out into the open, they saw the huge war
vehicle parked there. Dan smiled 'Seems thejr've left us their
transport.,.'
*Aye, sir. If we can find out where it's woxmd up, we can
use it... *
But then, even as Dan and Digby began to approach the
vehicle, a noise behind and above them made them whirl!
They l^d no chance to use their guns, for as they lifted them, a
score of blue-skinned bodies dropped firom the rocks to send
them crashing to the dirt in a tangle of struggling arms and legs I
Smothered and helpless, they felt their senses slip away under
the sheer pressure of their opponents...

Dan and Digby came to slowly. Aware that their hands had
35
been tied brfiind them, they were also conscious of movement.
As full realisation flooded back, they knew they were in the war-
machine, speedily headlong over the rocky terrain on some
kind of hover principle. Digby was jiist opening his mouth to
say something when the whole contraption suddenly dived
&om the edge of a cM and plummeted down towards the
sea!
*Yieeeee!' The batman screwed his eyes shut and waited for
the crash - but it never came! Nest instant, the machine was
scudding across the water, turning swiftiy, hugging the coast.
And then it slowed, and before them loomed the strange,
towering immensity of some alien dty, with an entrance ramp
that curved up from the ocean surface!
*Well, this seems to be it, Dig.' Dan Dare looked imnaturally
tense as the vehicle zoomed up the steep ramp. 'I wonder what's
i n s t o r e f o r u s n o w. . . '
*Better ask for the manager, sir,' quavered Digby.
The vehicle slid to a halt within an immense entrance
chamber. Dan and Digby were hustled out and then, powerless
to resist, though they struggled manfully against the opposition,
they felt blue hands snatching at the fastenings of their helmets!
*No! N03 you fools! We can*t breathe carbon dioxide?
It would be a horrible, choking end. Starved of precioiis
oxygen! A bloated, gasping death of maybe five minutes*
horrifying duration ... or would it? Amazingly, Dan realised
that the atmosphere was not CO2 at alii He shook his head to
36
dear the numbness of shock from his brain, Thew! Relax, Dig!
It - it smells fine. It's air right enough. The odd tang in it must *
have fooled our tester ... *
Then they saw that their captors had fallen to the floor, heads
bowed as if in worship. And from the darkness at the back of the
vaulted chamber, a statuesque figure was approaching.
*Crikey, Colonel DanI Now what? Who's this? He ain't one
of the bluebottles 1 Look - his skin's green, and he's wrapped up
in some sort of shiny suit like a bloomin' mummy!'
The figure halted His angular, almost reptilian green face
glared at them. And from all around the room came the con
certed, devotional moan of the blue aliens. *Treen! Treen!' The
chant of worship rose to an ear-splitting crescendo! TRE-
EEEENNNNr
There was silence, then. A silence that, after what seemed to
Dan an interminable pause, the newcomer spoke.
^Colonel Dare and Spaceman Digby, I presume!'
37
 F O R E X P E R I M E N TA L P U R P O S E S

*This way, gentlemen. Don't worry about your helmets. You will
not need them any more.' The being stood impassively, seeming
to betray litde interest in Dan and Digby.
*How - how on earth do you speak ]^^ish?' Dan was frankly
incredulous, *How do you know our names?*
*I am a Treen,* shrugged the being. *We Treens have studied
lie earth for twenty-six thousand years, and every Treen child
knows all its languages. Now - as I ordered - step this way.*
The Treen led them through to another chamber where a
massive glass ball dominated the centre of the floor. A touch of a
ojntrol button on a side-mounted console proved it to be a type
of three-dimensional television receiver, and Dan and Digby
gasped as a perfect image came up within it It was the image of
Nimiber TTiree rocketship, maimed by Hank Hogan and
Pierre Lafayette, and their own radio signals to Sir Hubert
Guest were coming over, loud and clear!
We're heading in now, sir! The radio has been jettisoned,
and so we should have no trouble from the force-field!'
'Good old Pierre,' grinned Dan, oblivious for an instant of
his own predicament. *He and Hank must've worked it out!
Happy landings, lads!'
'It was unfortunate for you, Colonel Dare,' interrupted the
38
Treen, ^that you yourself landed among humans. That was your
greatest hazard.*
*Did you say humans...
The Treen nodded. 'Yes. They have, alas, never outgrown
their digestions, emotions, or fighting instincts. We leave them
alone, except when we wish to use them as slaves/
'Do - do you mean those blue jobs came from Earth ..,
Dan couldn't keep the amazement out of his voice.
Their ancestors were brought back for research from a
space-ship survey many, many thousands of years ago. They
speak only their own language, and tend to attsd^ strangers/
Tfou can say that again,' breathed Digby.
*We have watched your efforts to penetrate our ray barrier
with some amusement,' continued Ae Treen, changing the
subject abrupdy. 'Now, why don't you pay attention IX) the
screen and watdi your foolh^dy friends come to grid?*
'They're smarter than we were,' said Dan. 'Th^ve ditched
thai radio.*
*Ah - but they happen to be heading for the flamelands of our
equator. Colonel Dare. Our hemispheres are divided by a
molten belt, and for centuries we have had little contaa with
the south. I am afraid the course your friends have chosen will
take them into this area. They will not survive.'
'Do you believe him. Colonel Dan?' Digby sounded horrified.
'I b^eve him, Digby...' Dan, bound though he was, jerkai
forward and thrust his body against the controls of the three-
39
dimensional screen. It went dead. 'But I don't want to watch!*
Tah! Emotional nonsense/ scoffed the Treen. 'But we waste
time. I have orders to fetch you by electrosender to Mekonta,
the capital of our hemisphere/
Contemptuously, as though he was super-confident tViat
these mere earthmen, disarmed as they were, could do him no
harm, the Treen loosed their bonds, and conducted them to
where a long, bullet-shaped vessel lay within the confines of a
glass-like tube.
'The electrosender, gentlemen! The car is drawn along by a
series of electromagnets. The tube is a vacuum, and we reach
speeds up to fifteen thousand earth miles per hour... *
The Wends stepped inside. Neither of them, fiiU as they
were of the deaths of Hank and Pierre, had the heart to make any
comment about the incredible advancement of Treen tech
nology.

Mekonta. Capital of the northern hemisphere of Venus. The

home of the Treens. A vast city built on floating islands in an
artificially calmed lake. Islands criss-crossed by ranals filled with
the vari-coloured water of the planet. Neither Dan nor Digby
had ever dreamed of such a place. Such a fantastic layout of
futuristic buildings. Such monumental structures, their shapes
interlaced with pylon-suspended travel-tubes such as the one
that brought them there. The lower skies were dotted with
40
small personal hoverbikes that seemed to draw their power from
nowhere.
Now their electrosender car had slowed from its amaTing
speed and came coasting in towards a central area...
*Where to now?* Dan looked about him wonderingly as he
stepped from the car.
'My orders are to take you straight to die Director of the
Earth Observatory and Research Centre,' said the Treen. 'We
use flying chairs - you will have noticed tliem - for internal city
transport Of course,' he sneered, 'your puny brains are too
weak to control them. They work on concentrated thought-
impulses. No matter. I shall guide all three.'
Warily, Dan and Digby clambered on to the seats of what
the3r'd called hoverbikes. The Treen mounted another, in front
of them. Then, without the slightest effort on the part of the
earthmen, the weird vehicles took off 1
'LookI No hands!' The curioiis situation was having an
almost light-headed effect on Digby 1
Past towers of glittering glass and concrete, past buildings
whose composition they could only guess at, the flying chairs
took the prisoners down into the city. At last, all t^ee dived,
and Dan and Digby swept into a sort of landing bay behind
the Treen. Instinctively, the batman ducked his head, fearful
that he'd knock it off against the roof!
Digby fell off, rather than got off, his hoverbike. Instantly, it
took off again! 'Hey-oop! Come back, Hxunphrey 1'
42
 They return automatically,* snapped the Treen. *Now come,
both of yoxL We must not keep the Direaor waiting!'
'Look.' Dan spoke evenly. 'Do you mind if I ask you just why
this Director chappie wants to see us?' ^
The Treen's face betrayed not one flicker of emotion. Tor
interrogation, gentlemen. For interrogation and - experimenL
'Experiment!' Digby echoed the Treen's words. 'I can't say
I like the sound of that, Colonel Dan!'
•Neither do I, Digby. Not in the least! But one thing's clear.
We're stuck in the middle of Mekonta - and there's precious
little we can do about our situation at the moment. We just
have to play everything by ear.' As an afterthought, he said,
*I know it's asking a lot, Dig - but whatever happens, keep
cool. While diere's life, and all that...'
A strange and chilling sight greeted the eyes of the two friends
as they were at length forced into the presence of the Director
of Research. This was a high, vaulted room in which machines
of smister, even evil purpose were ranged around a central dais.
And on that dais stood a man - the virtual replica of their
captor. All these Treens seemed to look exactly alike! Dan and
Digby both shivered as they felt themselves under the close
scrutiny of die other watchers who studied their approach with
such spine-tingling detachment. 'It's - it^s just as though we
were a couple of specimens on a microscope slide, sir,' whis
pered Digby. 'Just specimens to be analysed and - oh my gosh -
maybe dissectedV
43
 Xet me look at them/ The Director stepped irom the Hais
and walked round the captives. Digby thought that the head
gear he wore - presumably to distinguish himself as a leader -
was ridiculous. His uncontrolled smirk showed it. 'You see
something to amuse you, earthman?'
*Aye, mate. You could make a rare bedside lamp out o' that
titfer! Got a spare I can take home to me Auntie Anastasia?'
Inwardly, Dan blessed Digby for his irrepressible humour.
No danger that the tubby batman would crack up under the
strain! As for the Director, he was typically immoved.
*You will laugh on the other side of your faces in due course.
But that will be later. At present, I am not quite ready for you.*
He turned to their captor. *Take them away and feed them.
I will let you know when all the preparations have been com
pleted.*
*Yes, Direaor I' The Treen bowed, and Dan and Digby were
led out of the chamber again.
*Food, eh?' said Digby, *Oh weU, the condemned men always
eat a hearty breakfast, Colonel DanI'

Neither Dan nor Digby believed particularly in miracles.

Which was a pity, for in feet, one had happened. Perhaps it was
lu<^ that Dan had shut off the three dimensional tdevision
screen, or their Treen captor might have seen what actually
happened when rocketship Three had dived into the terrifying
inferno of the Venus flame-belt I

44
 Rock-Steady at the controls, Pierre Lafayette had refused to
panic. Though the temperature in the cabin had risen to an
flimnftt intolerable level, he'd managed to pull the machine
up and away from the holocaust. Dizzily, the craft had plunged
onwards and into the clear skies of the southern Hemisphere of
Venus. Then - and only then - with a long stretch of lake below
him, had Pierre given way. He slumped forward against the
sprawled, akeady s^eless figure of his companion, and the
rocketship had gone into a shallow dive...
As for rocketship One - Professor Peabody at the controls
and the wildly agitated Sir Hubert Guest beside her - they'd
come in, hard on Pierre's heels. But they'd seen what has
happening to him just in time!
Expertly, the girl had wrestled the controls to bring the ship
away from the flame-belt. The G-forces nearly made her blad<
out, and she could hear her superior's feeble voice demanding
that she let him take over! But she refused! Although her vessel
was beyond her immediate influence, it was down through the
atmosphere, and plummeting towards an angry, red-looking
area on one side of the central equator. On the northern side,..
Hostile enough, environmentally - and though they didn t
know it, within that part of Venus controlled by the Treens.
But still they'd land in one piece. Still - they'd be alive.
Such were the miracles, about which Dan and Digby knew
nothing. And as Dan had said—even knowing that he was going
to be used as some kind of experimental guinea-pig - while
there's life, there's hope!
45
 CHAPTER SIX

A FIGHTING CHANCEl

On Ae way to what he called *the food chamber', the Treen

guiding Dan and Digby paused at a large pair of sliding doors.
Tfou have musexims on earth, humans. Perhaps you would like
a glimpse at part of ours? It is a fractional part of our coUecdon,
of course, but this particular section will give you an idea of... *
he paused, and Dan had the impression that if a Treen^s &ce
were capable of registeiing emotion, this one would show smug
ness *... Treen thoroughness !*
The Treen pressed a switch, and the two friends gasped as
lieir eyes took in the extraordinary scene before them
'By gum,' breathed Digby. *01d aircraftl Perfect replicas of
military tmiforms, right down through the ages! It's uncanny,
Colond Dan!'
'Some of the items,' said the Treen, Sve reconstructed our
selves fi«)m careful observation. Others, we actually captured.
You will be aware that, from time to time on your planet, there
have been reports of unidentified flying objects. You call them
saucers, I believe. Well, such things were of course Treen
craft.'
'Fascinating I' Dan was impressed, despite himself. He
nudged his batman and pointed to a pair of dummies, clad in
46
 1

size, Digl I think we might do a spot of borrowing if the

opportunity presents itself P
'Have you got a plan then, sir?*
Dan mclined hk head slightly, and Digby smiled at the
twinkle in die Lionel's eye.
'Come, then,' said the Treen. The food chamber.*
The place was in an ante-room just beyond the museum
entrance. There were devices there like t^l goldfish bowls,
linked to consoles which were pumping a dear liquid into two
of them.
Tou will immerse yourselves in diose food baths,' ordered
their escort, 'thirty seconds will be enough to give you all the
nourishment you need.'
'You mean we absorb grub, through our skins? I'd much
rather have some black puddin' and chips,' glowered Digby.
But the Treen didn't seem to hear him as he strode away and
left them to it.
*Come on, Dig. I dare say it'll satisfy our hunger, like he said.
These characters seem to have everjrthing pretty well taped.'
Dan stripped off and clambered into one of the tanks.
'What do you make of these green horrors. Colonel Dan?*
Digby glanc^ across at his chief from the next tank.
*Well^ they're quite inhnmarij Dig. And clearly, they've got
unpleasant plans for us. But we must remember why we're
here on Veniis. and string along with them for the time being.
47
I*m going to do my damdest to find out whether there's any
hope that they'll come to a peaceful arrangement to send food
to the earth/
'Is diat why you've got your eye on those uniformsj sir?*
'Exactly, Digbyl Wearing them, we'll feel much more like a
pair of envoys from the United World Government. There's
nothing like a uniform to give a chap a sense of authority I'
Their food baths over, the friends discarded their space
undersuits and rigged themselves out in style. The uniforms did
fit pretty well - and Digby was espedally well pleased! 'Heh,
heh. Colonel - I've got a reet step up the ladder! From Space
man class one to full captain in one easy go 1'
*Ha! No need to get ideas. Dig. Although if we ever do come
out of this in one piece, you'll have promotion sure enough! Now
put a jaunt in your step and a tilt in your hat! It's dme we stopped
letting these Treens push us round so much!'

If the Treen Director of Research felt any surprise at his

captives' new outfits, he had no difficulty in concealing it. Digby
felt bis vanity pricked when the man, having had them sum
moned back to his presence, hardly gave him a second glance!
'I am ready to begin my experiments I First I will spectro-
analyse them. Fasten the fat one to the slide...'
Tlien Dan stepped forarard, his voice ringing clearly and
commandingly in the vast, vaulted chamber! 'Stop!'
48
 Some of the Treen guards moved forward menacingly, but
the Director waved them back, 'Stop?'
'We^re here as official envoys of tie United World Govern
ment/ said Dan sternly. 'I demand that you take us immediately
to the Chief Officer of your state. Your president or Prime
Minister or whoever corresponds to that!'
*You mean the Mekon? The Mekon of Mdconta? The
supreme scientist - the Illustrious One of Venus?*
*That*s right/ chipped in Digby. 'We want to see the gafferl'
There was no anger in the Direaor^s face, for Treens did
not show such things. But his words were scathing!
'Obscure insects from backward planets such as yoiurs would
not even be allowed to enter the same building as that magnifi
cent brain! Your only interest to the Mekon is as biological
specimens for my e^^ research!' He snapped his fingers.
'Fasten them to the slides!*
Then came a sudden interruption. A Treen ran into the
chamber, halting respectfully in front of the director. 'Master!
The third rocketship has crashed into the molten fringe of the
fiamelands - on the northern edge!'
'We have two specimens/ shrugged the Director. 'We do not
need more.*
'But one of these is a woman^ master... *
'Indeed.* The Director sounded interested. He seemed to
ponder for long moments before he came to a decision. 'Release
the specimens,* he ordered. 'We will study their reactions and
impiUses while they watch the peril of their friends!*
Dan and Digby had already been strapped into what the
Director had called 'slides* - actually chair-like contrivances
which held them fast imprisoned, their heads covered with some
50
kind of helmet containing sophisticated electronic probes. Now
they were wheeled forward to face the familiar globe of a three-
diniensional television screen, and on it they could clearly see
Number One rocketship.
'Cut in the audio monitors/ snapped the Director. *Let us
hear what is going on inside the vessdP
Attendants did his bidding, and the voice of Sir Hubert
Guest flooded the room. *Are you all right. Miss Peabody?*
*1-1 think so, sir! One thing - the ship seems to have sur
vived impact!'
Dan writhed in his seat, but found he could hardly move.
In front of him, the image of the crashed spacecraft, nose-down
in a hot and smoking ooze . ..

Inside the ship. Sir Hubert reached up for the escape hatch. *Fm
going ashore to reconnoitre.'
Tm coming too,' said the girl.
Sir Hubert's face flushed beneath the dome of his space
helmet *0n the contrary, Miss Peabody! Under no circum
stances will you leave this ship until I return! This tim^
consider it a direct order!*
Reluctantly, the girl stayed put as Sir Hubert thrust himself
on to the shell of the ship. It took him seconds to set the controls
of his atmospheric analysis device.
51
 *Hmm. Gaseous sili«>iL Darned high temperature, too.
Highly unhealthy!*
He moved carefully to the uptiited rear of the craft. *Jcts
dogged. We'd probably explode if we started the engines to
clear them. And hang it, we're slowly He peered down
at the thick ooze below. Saw the tinf. of it creeping ever up
wards along the vessels* smooth flanks.
And in that instant. Sir Hubert Guest slipped! One moment
he was on the metal skin - the ne^ up to his ankles in the ho^
shifting material below!
He scarcely had time to yell before he felt strong arms seize
him under the armpits! And then Professor Jocelyn Peabody
was heaving Him back to safety!
'It's a good thing I disobeyed your — ah - direct order. Sir
Hubert !* She was panting, but Sir Hubert couldn't help feeling
amazement at the strei^th in this person he'd HismissftH as a
mere woman!
Tfou'd be up to your neck in that stuff by now,* continued the
girl
'Hrmmmf. I know it Thank you. Miss Peabody. However, I
don't see that it makes that much difference ... * He smiled
hastily, realising that he was perhaps being a little too un
gracious. Tact is, we're sinking steadily, and in no more than a
few hours we'll have to choose between roasting, exploding or
suffocating!* Sir Hubert was about to add a plea to his com
panion not to panic. The last thing he wanted in this predica-
52
ment was a hysterical female on his hands, he told himself. But
the thought died in his mind as he glanced at her and saw the
calm on her face.
*Sir Hubert - * Jocelyn Peabody*s voice had a sudden edge tt)
it. *Look over there. There's a - a sort of glass mountain thing.
And it*s moving towards us!'
'Glass mountain? Good grief, you're right! Whatever can it
be? Some kind of silicon compound, judging by the atmos
phere ... but it appears to be swallowir^ the rocto around it I
As if it were alive ... 1'
*Is it possible?' Professor Peabody repressed a shudder of
horror. And the terrifying mass rolled nearer!

As they watched the ghastly spectacle on the television screen

in Mekontaj Dan Dare found it impossible to keep silent any
longer! 'We have to rescue them!'
*Why, Colonel Dare?' The Director was still infuiiatingly
53
bland Their deaths will be more instructive than their lives.*
But it seemed that one of his assistants - a senior one, or he
would never have dared to question the Director's authority -
disagreed.
'Why not let them try to rescue their comrades, master?
With four of them, we could carry out much greater research.
And - as the messenger pointed out - one is a woman. Her
reactions might be different, and interesting.*
*Hm, That is so,* mused the Director. *But how would they
do it?* He thought long and deeply, while Dan strove in vain to
conceal his impatience.
At last the Treen spoke, and Dan could scarcely repress a
gasp of relief! 'Colonel Dare, I have dedded to let you bring in
your comrades from their present, rather warm situation ,,, *
The Direaor continued. Unfortunately, our main methods
of communication do not extend to the flame-belt You will be
taken by telesender to the main part of oxir museum - the Hall
of Machines. You can take your pick of the transport there.*
Released from their ch^, Dan and Digby - the latter
replacing his captain's peaked cap with cool dignity - were
shown to a pair of vertit^ glass tubes, the end pair in a whole
row of such things that stood to one side of the chamber.
Trmis opened the doors of these units, and the friends were
placed inside.
Tou need have no fear of the telesenders, gentlemen,* said
the Director. *See -1 shall take my place in a third, and we will
54
be de-materialised. Our entire metabolisms will be transported
to another part of this area in the blink of an eye. It is a most
convenient form of travel, I assure you.'
'I'm hanged if I like the ideas of it,' Digby grumbled. *Are
you sure we'll turn up at our destination with all our parts
assembled properly? I don't want to have to go round with me
feet on top of me head for the rest of me life!'
The doors were closed. There was the brief sight of a Treen
technician pressing a button on a control console, and then -
just as the Director had said - in the blink of an eye they were
elsewhere! There was just one thing ..,
Fiuious at being re-materialised upside down, Digby splut
tered and groused as tlie Director helped him out *These
technical hitches do happen occasionally,' the Treen said evenly.
'But why always to me?' blazed the tubby batman.
Dan wasn't listening. He was gazing about him in fesd-
nation at the vast array of transport in the museimi. Transport
of all <X)nceivable types. Old-fashioned aircraft, helicopters,
saucers, rockets and ferry-ships. An incredible collection that
absolutely beggared description!
'We'll need to use something pretty fast to get us there in
time,* said Dan. It was difficult to focus his eye on any one
mac^e, so bewildering was the variety.
TDon't worry. Colonel Dare. We have every machine firam
four planets. Perhaps this one might serve your purpose ...'
The Director strode across and pointed up at a bulbous, fish-like
55
pod slung beneath a completely circular link of cylinders. A
kindofjetcopter?
'Judging by the flame-belt, what we want is a good old-
fashioned fire-engine,* snorted Digby.
Dan ignored his batman. He glanced enquiringly at the
Director, who continued. 'The machine is obsolete, of course.
Has not been used for one thousand years ...'
'Then how the blazes ... ?*
Tatience, Colonel! This place is hermetically sealed. Every
machine here works perfectly. You have my word on it.'
A Treen^s word? Dan shook his head gently, wondering at
this strange and emotionless race whose only interest seemed
to be in scientific knowledge.
'Right, then,* he said. 'Let's haveitmade ready. And quickly.'
That was no problem. Within a moment, a gang of Treens
were fitting capsules to the body of the machine. 'Fluorine
sprays,* explained the Director. 'To neutralise the silia>n mass.
You may as well enter, gentlemen. The jetcopter will be ready
to be moved out in precisely one minute.*
Dan and Digby scaled a ladder that led into the ship's
interior, to stop short suddenly.
'Hullo,* said Digby. 'There's already someone here!*
At the controls, the tall figure of a Treen turned towards them
impassively. 'I am to pilot you,* he said. Tou will also be
watched by televiewer.*
The Treen turned back to his unit as the entry-port closed,
and slowly, the jetcopter began to taxi towards the airlock
exitway at one end of the vast museum building. The noise
of its progress dinned in the confines of the place, and Dan put
his lips close to Digby's ear to make himself heard. What he
said was for his batman alone!
'This could be it. Dig! The Treens are so confident of their
own superiority, I reckon they've blundered! If we can
rescue Sir Hubert and the Professor, then overcome this pilot,
we can take over this transport! Watch the controls so's we
know how to fly the thing when the time comes !*
'Bang on, sir!' Digby couldn't keep the excitement out of his
voice as he whispered back. 'Looks like we've wangled our
selves a fighting chance I*
56
 CHAPTER SEVEN

BID FOR FREEDOM!

The jetcopter drove upwards and away from Mekonta, the

city dwindling behind until it was lost over the horizon.
Somewhere ahead lay the perils of the flamelandsj which the
pilot said they'd reach in slightly less than an hour.
*Why not have a go at him now. Colonel Dan?' Digby was
whispering again in his chief's ear. Hold your horses. Dig 1 We'll
play things my way. As a matter of fact, I'm going to have a
go at malting ttends with old green-fece up there!'
*With him? A Treen? You must be joking, sir! Ee -1 don't
think there'll be anything palsy-walsy about him!'
Dan was nonetheless detennined to try. Win or lose, it
mattered little to his plans. But as Dig prediaed, the Treen
wasn't very forthcoming!
'Why do you extend your hand to me. Colonel Dare? I,
Sondar, see nothing logic^ in it.'
Sondar turned back to his controls. *As I imderstand it, the
giving of hands is an ancient earth gesture to show one does not
carry arms. It is also used before boxing-matches, and by
businessmen about to cheat one another!'
Dan shrugged. 'Quite a humorous observation,' he said. 'Not
57
that you meant it that way, I fancy. It's a great pity, in my view,
that you Treens, with all your brilliance, have negleaed such
rhings as friendship, and feelings..
Sondar crushed him. 'Your view does not interest me.
Colonel Dare. Now kindly make ready. We shall shortly be
approaching the silicon mass. This ancient machine seems to
fly faster than at first I imagined.*
Dan returned to Digby, who was craning to peer out of one
of the jetcopter*s side-screens, 'Look down there, sir! I can
see the rocketship! Bang in the middle of that thing that looks
like an outsize humbug!'
That's not a bad description. Dig! But the silicon mass seems
to be eatmg the ship! I don't know whether it's possible that
Sir Hubert and the Professor ate still alive 1 They aren't on top
of the hull any morel'
Now Sonde's voice cut in. 'Hang on. I am going to bank over
the target zone, I shall switch on the fluorine sprays - now!'

Inside the roasting hull of Number One rockeiship, the two

humans were very much alive. But with no idea of the presence
of the jetc»pter, they had just about given up hope of survival!
*The hull's beginning to fracture, Sir Hubert!' Professor
Peabody's face was pouring sweat under her helmet as the
temperature-equalisers of her suit started to give up the imequal
struggle with the heat of their surroimdings,
58
 Then there's nothing else for it. We'll have to fire the retro
engines and take the risk of explosion. One thing's certain -
if we do go up, we won*t know very much about itP
The girl gulped. 'Fm game if you are. Sir!*
*GoodnianlImean-er-well, you^w what I mean. Miss
Peabody. Here goes ... *
Sir Hubert's hand poised for an instant, then came down
towards the firing lever! He closed his eyes, involuntarily. But
then, startlingly ...
'Stop! Wait!'
In the nick of time, Sir Hubert Guest froze his hand. His
head jerked round to where the girl was standing, her face
close to one of the rocketship's observation ports.
'The silicon mass! Something's happening to it! It's reced
ing! There's something being sprayed on it!'
'Are you - are_y<w/ sure?'
'Come and see for yourself, sir! It's being destroyed?
Sir Hubert clambered to the escape hatch. Since being
gripped in the silicon mass, the rocketship had been hauled
bodily from the morass, and now lay inert on the surface. 'I
don't know what's going on out there, Miss Peabody - but I'm
going topside for a look! This time, you'd better join me!'
As they struggled out, the girl pointed upwards. 'It - h:*s
some weird kind of flying machine!'
'They seem to be lowering some sort of ladder! By jove, we're
being rescued!' Sir Hubert's voice had risen to a shout.
59
 The ladder - steel-clad nylon - snaked down towards them
and clanged on the roasted hull Sir Hubert grabbed it and
thrust the rungs into Professor Peabody's hands. 'Up you gol
The sooner we're out of here the better!*
Jocelyn Peabody had climbed no more than a couple of
rungs l^ore she stopped - so abruptly that Sir Hubert, hot
on her heels, struck Ws head against her feet! Could it be?
Had that voice from above really spoken her name?
'Dan! Dan^ by all that's wonderful!" She almost lost her
grip. Nearly fell But ±en Dan Dare's hands were there to help
her, and she was being hauled into the jetcopter.
'I don*t believe it! I can*t believe it! Oh, Dan! DanV
Gently, Digby disentangled the girl's arms &om his
colonel's blushing neck. 'Me too- miss! Don't forget old Digby!'
'Oh no, Digby! Digby! It's so good to see you both! I'd
given up hope of everytfnngV
'So had I,' said Sir Hubert, typically masking his own
feelings of reUef with a show of his usual testiness, 'Would
somelx>dy care to help me aboard? If, that is, it's not too much
trouble.'
'Sir Hubert!' Dan wrung the elderly man's gaimtleted hand
warmly. 'You miist have gone through Hades! We saw every
thing. Telemonitored. We could even hear you I'
'Well here's something you didn't hear, my boy,' said Sir
Hubert, and his face broke into a broad beam. He turned to
Jocelyn Peabody, clapping her on the shoulders. 'My dear girL
60
Forgive me for being a stupid old nitwit. If ever I thought
women were frail and feeble, my mind's changed now! You
came through our ordeal magnificently. Superbly! I might
even have cracked up myself if it hadn't been for your steady
nerve!'
Jocelyn Peabody gaped. Flushed Then she found her
tongue. *1-1 really don't know what to say. Sir Hubert!*
'Take your helmets off,' suggested Dan. 'Then you can
make your reply nice and clearly. We don't need our suits here,'
he added.
'Apparently not,' said Sir Hubert, shedding his helmet and
seeming to see, for the first time, the Space Fleet uniforms
Dan and Digby were wearing. *Where did you get those? And,
by the way, who is rfezr?'
Sir Hubert pointed at Sondar, who had apparently taken little
notice of the proceedings. He had known he could leave it to the
remote telescanners in Mekonta to record the behaviour of these
mere humans.
'He's one of our hosts,' said Dan- 'They call themselves
Tr e e n s . '
'So what are they?*
'Boffins run wild, sir. And quite inhuman. They have no
emorions at all. More to the point, they're not on our side.'
Sir Hubert frowned. 'What d'you mean? Enemies^
'For want of a better term, yes.' Dan spread his hands.
'We're their prisoners for the moment. At least, the Treens
think so. They require us for research!'
6x
 Disinterestedlyj Sondar was moving the controls that would
turn the jetcopter around. Dan spoke softly to his rescued
friends.
*Now there are four of us, sir, I think we might have a go at
our chum there. To tell you the truth, IVe been dying to have
a poke at one of those nasty green faces!'
Now Sondar turned. It seemed that he was capable of
overhearing more than the himians had given him credit
for! *Pray do nothing foolish, earthmen. Your intentions are
quite clear to us and believe me, you are powerless.'
^Confound it! TUng goes'the element of surprise,* cursed
Dan. 'But Fm still...'
A yell from Digby cut him short. 'Hey up, sir! That silicon
mass has got itself together again! It's grabbed the perishin'
ladder!*
The jetcopter lurched! It was true I Below them, the glass-like
substance had boiled up anew on the ooze, and now it had them
fast! 'Wind in. Sondar! Wrench it free!' Dan braced himself
against the tilting wall!
Too late! And hauled over as they were, there was no hope of
using the fluorine spray! Inexorably, they were drawn down
against the power of their straining jets!
Dan's brain remained crystal dear. In one instant, he had
fiill appreciation of thek situadon! *Dive, Sondar! Dive!
Slacken off the ladder so we can unship the drum and toss it out!'
62
 S O R R V. C H U M - N O T I M E T O
W A S T E

There was no response! Dan swivelled towards the Treen,

his jaw dropping open as, for the first ttraej he saw emotion on
the smooth, reptilian face! And it was the emotion of fear! Of
panic\ Astoimdingly, Sondar was beyond his own control, and
remained rigid as Ae jetcopter strove to climb against the
impossible tug of the monstrous silicon beneath them I
*Sorry, friend - but there's no time to waste I* Dan hurled
himself bodily at the taut figure, his right fist swinging roimd in
a curving arc that exploded against Sondar's jaw! The Treen
cartwheeled from his seat, crashing back against the starboard
bulkhead to lie still! Dan threw himself down in the pilot's
place and thrust downwards on the climb lever! Instantly, the
tension that threatened to haul the machine to pieces stopped,
and Digby and Sir Hubert knocked away the clamps that held
the ladder drum against the superstructure! It tumbled away,
to be swallowed in the muck below, and as the door slammed
63
shut, Dan gunned the nnfiimiliar vehicle lurchingly a\ray from
their peril 1
'By gum, that was close!' Digby mopped his streaming brow
and sat heavily down on the floor. *You did a good job on
cabb^e-chops. Colonel Dan I*
*He's coming round, Dig! Quick - take over the controls!'
Dan slid from the seat again, for Sondar was lumbering dizzily
to his feet, his hand grabbing for one of the freed ladder-
clamps! The green fece twisted in fury as he swung the metal
on high and rushed to close with the Colonel!
Dan neatly sidestepped the cliunsy rush and almost casually
reached out to seize the wrist Sondar performed a perfect
somersault, his flying heels slamming off the jetcopter's roof.
His body hit the deck with breath-robbing force as Professor
Peabody and Sir Hubert skittered out of the way. Then he was
up - and coming for Dan yet again!
'You don't learn very fast, Sondar,* gritted Dan. 'And I
thought you Treens were quid; on the uptake!' A fist like a rock
shot out and stopped the pilot in mid-rush. The impact of
bone on bone was like a thimderclap in the confines of the cabin!
The Treen buckled at the knees and fell. And this time, he lay
still.
Dan rubbed his stinging knuckles. 'So far so good. Change
course, Dig. We're probably flying on a radar beam that'll take
us back to Mekonta. And Mekonta isrCt where we want to go!'
*Aye, sir! Wherever we end up can't be any worse than that!'
64
 CHAPTER EIGHT

PURSUIT - AND DISASTERl

The atmosphere in the vaulted chamber of Mekonta's Director

of Research was deceptively quiet. The inbred calm of the
Treens made the Director's reaction to the report he received
absurdly matter-of-fact.
'So Sondar has broken off telecommunications, and the
jetcopter is out of his control. Can it be that the earthmen have
been unwise enough to pit their strength against us?*
'They are heading south, master. The fools must imagine
that their miserable craft is able to cross the equatorial barrier/
'They could be allowed to destroy themselves, I suppose.
However, we need them alive. You organise the raising of
the tornado barrier P
'At once, master!'
The astonishing technology of the Treens had long allowed
them to exercise a fair amount of control over the elements.
Now, invisible forces beamed from Mekonta set up a series of
whirlwinds, each of incredible power, to be steer^ in pursuit of
the fugitives! It was Digby who first saw them - cloud-high
twisters of sucked-up rock and rubble, sweeping across the
open plain to the north of ±e flamelands!
'By jove, they're moving fastP Sir Hubert Guest watched as
the tornados spun away on both sides. AU at once, the little
craft felt very frail indeed!
*They can't be natural,' said Dan. 'It's Treen work, or I'm a
Dutchman! The way they're being manoeuvred, it looks as
though they're meant to cut us off - drive us back the way we
came!'
'We could try a dash through ... * This was Digby. Then
Professor Peabody said: 'Why not ask our green-faced friend?
He's woken up.'
Sondar stared gloomily. 'Obviously we are required back at
headqxiarters. For experiment of course.'
'You said "we"!' Dan was alert. 'You mean you as well?'
Sondar nodded. 'I displayed an emotioiL Fear. When the
ship was in danger. That was unscientific. They will want to
analyse me and trace the fault*
'Doesn't that beat all!' Digby laughed, shaHng his head.
*Now he's in the same boat as we are! I reckon we don't want to
have owt to do with those experiments at all. Colonel DaiL
Let's take the tornados!'
'Hold tight, then! Let her rip, Digby!*
Nothing could compare with the battering inflicted on the
tiny craft and its occupants as it shot bald-headed for the closest
of the menacing tornados! The power of the jets was puny
compared with the fearsome strength of the Treen-made wind
that tore them upwards, flung them headlong, turned them over
and over in the maelstrom of dust and debris until their senses
66
Digby's at the controls, Dan was helpless 1 Like a twisting toy,
the jetcopter was spat from the summit of its whirling captor
and sent, turning over and over, down towards the spinning
ground - only to be plucked up anew!

'Enough! They are certain to crash! Tura off the tornados!'

The Research Director glanced briefly away from the three-
dimensional television. *Electroscnd guards to the estimated
point of impact!'
His impassive gaze returned to die globe, watching the
spinning columns of wind vanish as if they ^d never been
there at all, watching as the broken, stricken jetcopter, its
engines killed, fell- headlong towards a tangle of thick jungle,
well within the lands controlled by the Treens!
*Th^ are hardy enough, fiiese earthmen,* he mused. 'I
imagine they will recover quickly enough from their shaking,
severe thou^ it may have been, ^me subjects for examination!
Excellent!" He rubbed his bony hands together with satis
faction!

The wits of the fugitives returned slowly. Dazed and dizzy, they
picked themselves up and stumbled on the impossibly tUted
deck of their machine.

67
 *We seem to have landed among trees.* Dan was the first to
speak) brushi^ the mist firom his eyes as he peered groggily
out of the sight screens. 'The branches are like rubber. They've
bent. Absorbed the shock of our impact without breaking.
Luckily for us.*
"Not luck. Colonel Dare.* Sondar stood by his side. 'Design.
The Director will deliberately have dropped us here in order
that we might survive. There is an electrosender ttMrnmal near
to this region/ he added.
'Thanks for telling us/ said Dan. 'That means the sooner we
get down and away from the wreck, the better. Come on!*
*What about Sondar, Colonel Danl?* Digby asked his chief
*We*ll take him with us - if he wants to come.' Dan raised his
eyebrows at Sondar, who hesitandy nodded his head in agree
m e n t
'Don*t force yourself, chum,* said Digby.
Sondar shrugged - again a demonstration of some kind of
emotion within him. *Clearly, I am a failure as a Treen. Why
should I not throw in my lot with you? I mean no treachery,
I promise you.*
Tou*d better no^* rapped Dan. *Now come on. Out.'
It didn't take them long to scramble down the pliant branches
of the tree that had broken their fell. There were supple
aeepers, too, and despite their situation, Dan had to as
Digby - irrepressible as ever - did a restrained sort of Tarzan
act to readi the jungle floor.
68
 'How are we fixed for weapons?' Dan dusted himself down
as he faced the others. 'Sir Hubert?'
*Miss Peabody and I both have our ray-pistols, Dan.'
'And I*ve got my infra-red compass.* The girl fished it out.
'Still set for the original rendezvous. We could strike out in
that direction, just in case Hank and Pierre ... *
Dan held up his *Not much hope of their survival, I'm
afraid. We - we saw where they were headed.'
'If you will permit me/ said Sondar, 'I think we should head
away from where I know the electrosender to be.*
'Jove, yes! I'd forgotten. Thank you once more, Sondar.
You'd better lead... but believe me, any tricks and it'll be the
worse for youP
'Do you think we should trust him, Dan?' Sir Hubert
frowned deeply.
'T^ me die alternative, Sir!'
Their eyes were momentarily off the Treen. That was why his
sudden shout of terror snapped them round like marionettes!
Sondar was backing away ^m a terrifying, snake-like monster
of enormous size that had slid silently through the trees to rear
over him! Its eyes stood out horribly, on stalks, an its mouth
gaped to expose a jawful of spiny, razor-edged teeth!
Hypnotised and terrified, Sondar gazed up as the massive
head began to strike! No sound escaped his lips save the dying
whisper of his scream!
'Sir Hubert! Your pistol! QuickV
69
 Dan's yell spurred the older man to action. The gun came up
lx> the aim, and a shattering bolt of energy burst from the barrel
to slam the monster clean between those gbasdy, protruding
eyes!
The huge creature crashed backwards and lay stilL Digby
let out a whooping gasp of relief and ran to help Sondar to his
feet, *By gum, lad, but you are a proper wash-out as a Treen,
You were proper panic-stricken, Aen. Just like me back home
when Qty were about to score in the final minutel*
Sondar shook his head miserably. Now that they were in
rcpose, his features looked somehow less sinister fhan those of
his compatriots,
'Why? Why did you save me? You did not kill me in the
jetcopter when you had the chance. Now you go so fer as to
rescue me from a terrible fate. Please - I do not understand
such acdons !*
Dan looked soberly at him and said nothing. Then, im
pulsively - and there was a definite hint of shame in his eyes -
Sondar thrust out his awkward hand!
Dan took it, and smiled. 'Am I to understand that you may
be recognising the idea offriendship, Sondar?"
The Treen looked away. *It may be so. Never in thousands of
years of our history has a Treen ever been allowed to change.
It is - strange. I find it difficult to analyse my thoughts,., *
'Lead on, Sondar,' said Dan kindly. 'And forget my threats.
I don't think we have anything to fear from you. Not now.*
70
An hour and a half had passed. Pandog with exertion, the five
bad trekked through the sweltering jungle, their eyes ever
watchful for the savage wildlife lurldng around them. But
there had been no further trouble - at least, not from any living
thing. Now, however, they found their way barred by a gigantic
waterfall that thundered down from the heights above. There
was little hope of getting across the furious whirlpool that
roared and raved at the foot of the colossal torrent.
*We*re going to have to climb the rocks alongside.* Dan
looked apologetically at Sir Hubert and Digby. 'Think you
can make it, sir? And you. Dig?'
*F11 make it,* said Sir Hubert, stoutly. *Don't bother to ask
Miss Peabody. 1 know she's tough enough.*
*I'll be okay. Colonel Dan,' grinned Digby. let me go
first. Then, if I shp, one of you others can catch me.'
Dan nodded. 'But dont^ shp. Dig! Honestly, you're a bit of a
weight for anyone to field!*
Half way up the gruelling climb, they had to stop for a rest.
Despite his lion's heart, Sir Hubert's age was telliag on him.
And even the stalwart Digby was puffing even more than usual
Dan fretted naturally at the delay - but his agitation was noth
ing compared to Sondar's. 'There will be pursuit. Colonel!
They will have the zom - you would call it a kind of dog -
upon our scent!*
And Sondar was absolutely right...
♦

71
 Close - so close behind them, Treen guards had found the
paralysed monster near the jetcopter wreck. Worse, they had
found a Space Fleet jacket. For Digby, in the heat of the jungle,
had unthinkingly taken it off and - tired of his captain's rank -
discarded it along with his cap!
'It is the one the fat human was wearing,* said a Treen,
TExcellenL* Another came forward with a savage, vulpine
animal with twin tusks, like those of a rhino, on its snout 'Give
it here, so that the zom may sniff it I We'll have them ... and
very soon!'
The friends had continued their climb. They were fairly close to
the summit of the waterfall when luck, for a moment, seemed to
turn their way. It was Sondar who found the plants that he knew
would serve to give his human companions nourishment
'Come - the leaves, the roots - the fruits on the branches. Eat
themi They are rich in the substances you need!'
Dan had taken him at his word, and at his example, the others
had munched eagerly. 'Hey, this isn't bad grub at all!' Digby's
beaming face became animated with delight. 'Not up to the
standards of my Auntie Anastasia's cooking, of course - but very
acceptible under the ... imder the... * His voice tailed offl
•What's wrong, Dig?'
'Oh, no. Colonel Dan! Down there - look!' The tubby
batman's faa lost its humour, and as they followed the pointing
finger, the others saw why! Tliere, at the foot of the waterfall,
was the party of Treen guards, clambering up onto the lower-
72
most rockSj their agile zom scrabbling before them!
'Confound them all!* Dan urged his companions on and up
the last stretch of the climb. 'Get moving! There's only a
couple of dozen feet to go, and maybe we*U have a clear run!*
Their breath rasping in their lungs, they hurled themselves
upwards, fingers tearing at the ragged stones. Gratefully; they
crawled over the last few feet and stayed, heads hung down,
gulping huge draughts of air into their lungs. 'We — we made it,
Dan!* Sir Hubert watched drops of his own sweat spattering
down from his forehead, to be lost among the watersplash of
the thundering fails on the flat rocks of the summit 'We made
it!*
But the silence of his companions made him look up.
Instinctively, before his eyes l^t ±e ground, he knew they
hadn't made it at all!
'Out of the frying pan . . .' Digby*s voice was just a half-
heard whisper. For there in front of them, shoulder to shoulder,
were at least a dozen Treen guards I
Typically, Dan didn't hesitate. Worn out though he was, he
flimg himself forward.
Conscious that Sondar was right beside him, that Sir Hubert,
finding a new and desperate vitality, was yelling a rallying cry
and firing his paralysing pistol into the enemy ranks, Dan used
fists and feet in the incredible mSI^e that erupted on the water
fall summit!
A Treen spun away from a knuckle-cracking blow, to
73
crash into one of his companions. And it had been Sondar
who'd hit him! 'Attaboy!' yelled Dan. 'We'll see this through
togethcTj chum I' He lashed out and sent another opponent
reeling 1
But the odds were too great! Lancing rays from the weird
helmets that the Treen guards wore cast solidifying bubbles of
tough plastic, and Digby was first to be enclosed in one of
these! Struggle though he mights he couldn't break loose. He
was held totally captive!
Then it was Sondar's turn! Their pluclg^ ally rolled inert!
Dan spun on his heel. He'd heard the snarling of the savage
zom as it bounded over the lip of the drop behind him! The
reinforcements - the pursuit that had driven them up and into
the trap - had arrived!
As the animal leaped, Dan flipped over on his back and threw
his knees up. The zom crashed to the dirt and lay still... Then
he saw Jocelyn Peabody, on her knees, menaced by a Treen
towering over her! Dan barrel-rolled and sprang to his feet
'Look out, Prof! Behind you!'
The Treen stumbled... just as Sir Hubert, from the far side
aimed a shot and fired. It clipped across the green Venusian's
back, missed the girl by a fraction—and hit Dan squarely in the
chest!
'Oh, NO!' Sir Hubert, appalled at what he had unwittin^y
done, threw himself between the two Treens who were racing
for him and clutched wildly at Dan's staggering, paralysed
74
figure! His fingers found the front of Dan's jacket and clawed
for a hold, but the stiffly teetering feet of the Colonel were back
pedalling towards the lip of the 1 'Dan! DANV Sir Hubert*s
voice rose to a shrill yell as the inert, unseeing body hovered -
poised for one frightful instant over the incredible drop!
And then it was too late. Without, a sound, Dan arched
backwards into space. Sickeningly, tumbling over and over, he
fell away in dizzy perspective towards the boiling maelstrom of
the whirlpools far, far below, and Sir Hubert Guest screwed his
eyes shut so that he wouldn't have to witness the end.
75
 CHAPTER NINE

ENTER THE MEKONI

Sir Hubert was still there, stunned with the enormity of the
disaster, when the sounds of struggle died away behind Htm
andj easily and without haste, a Treen came up behind and
enveloped him in one of the vast plastic prison bubbles. Pro
fessor Peabody, her gun knocked from her hand, had also been
captured - but to Sir Hubert, nothing seemed to any
more. The thought kept dinning through his mind«♦ ♦ 'Dan is
dead! Dan is dead!
Their Treen captors seemed in no way put out by the fracas
that had taken place. The prison bubbles were carried between
them across perhaps a milp of country. Then a waiting trans
porter vehide took them to the terminal of the electrosender.
Within ten minutes, they were back in Mekonta.
The Director of Research was there in his headquarters.
Casually, he pointed to Professor Peabody. *The woman firsV
he snapped.
Obediently, a guard stepped forward and raised some kind
of pistol I *Nol For pity*s sake - don^tl* Sir Hubert's highr
pitched shout of horror came thinly through the envelope of
plastic around him [
'Calm yourself. Sir Hubert! My assistant is merely about to
76
use his disintegron to cut through the bubble that imprisons
her ...'
Sure enough, the Treen's action was harmless, and soon the
girl. Sir Hub^ Digby and Sondar were standing free.
*And now -1 warn you not to attempt any further escape. It
has been proved to you how futile your efforts are when com
pared with the power of the Treens P
'They were not trying to escape, master.* Sondar was
saying. 'There was an accident to the jetcopter, They were
merely trying to find a way out of the jungle, with all its perils.'
*Good old Sondar,' thought Sir Hubert He's keeping his
word to us I'
There must have been times when the heat of the torrid
forest had affected the central tele~scanner and made accurate
observation difffficult, for the Director seemed to accept
Sondar's explanation. With a gesture, he dismissed him, and
their Treen ally strode silently from the chamber.
*And now - you three. I bid welcome to Mekonta to you.
Sir Hubert, and to you. Professor Peabody. I am, of course,
being sarcastic, in the manner so beloved of earthhngs! But it
may interest you to know that, for the present, the experiments
on you are to be delayed.' He turned to Digby. *You and your
late lamented Colonel expressed a wish to see our Supreme
Scientist - the Illustrious First One of Venus. Well, your wish
has been granted. The Mekon' - he spoke the word reverently,
77
his head inclining in a slight bow - 'has decreed that you shall
be brought before him! He wishes to see for himself the puny
aliens who have caused us so much trouble.'
The Director turned, and beckoned his prisoners to follow.
*We shall travel by telesender. And I warn you - attempt noth
ing with our magnificent leader. His powers are limitl^s, and
he can see directly into your feeble minds !*
Sir Hubert managed to whisper an urgent message to his
companions. 'If it's true, and he interrogates us, think and say
the opposite to the truth!'
1 wonder what kind of a bemg this Mekon is,' breathed
Digby. 'Probably some sort of walloping great giant with four
heads and half a dozen arms on each side! I can't say I'm looking
forward to the meeting!'
The telesender whipped them to a vast and spacious ante
room at one end of which there was a darkened niche - in almost
total blackncss.
'There's something in there,' muttered the girL 'I can sense
it!'
^It's hardly big enough to hold a giant,* said Digby.
And then, suddenly, the niche was flooded with light, and
the three friends gasped in amazement as a tiny, floating
platform the shape of half a walnut came cruising out towards
them, hovering five feet or so from the floor. And seated on this
astonishing vehicle was a small, spare individual with thin limbs
and hands that trailed elongated, pointed fingers. His domed
head, enormous m proportion to the size of his body, carried the
severely reptilian features of the typical Treen - but his eyes
were totally without expression, seeming to bore right into
their souls!
'Behold! The MekmV
'You are wise to decide to collaborate and escape the useless
fate of your headstrong colleague, Colonel Dare!' The voice was
thin and high-pitched, and grated on the nerves.
'He comes straight to the point, doesn't hel' Digby was
being brazen as usual, 'No "good evening, gentlemen", or
anything like that! Proper rude, I call it I'
'The fat one is a fool.' The Mekon glared piercingly at Digby
for one instant, then spun his aerial <±air round to 6ce one of a
78
series of huge, drcuiar lens-like apertures that ranged along
one wall.
'Come over here. I have to tell you that we are planning to
reorganise your ridiculous planet. It is time that it was r^^*
larised and used to further the ends of science. Our science.'
One bony hand shot out, and as if by imseen command, the
lens came alive, like a deep-set screen. The scene was instantly
familiar!
' I t ' s N e w Yo r k ! *
*No,' corrected the Mekon. *It is a full-size replica of the
dty you call New York. It has been built many earth miles from
here, and the picture you see is being transmitted by long-range
scanner. Observe what happens to it when we power-activate
our teUzero beam . . .'
The friends were unable to stop themselves flinching in
reaction as, right in front of their eyes, the dty erupted in a
sequence of gigantic explosions that reduced the total area
to smoking rubble in the wink of a second!
Tou see,' The Mekon waved his hand again, and the screen
went blank, *By this means, among others, we shall overcome
any misguided resistance. TTien we shall reduce your surviving
population to sdentific limits.*
^Resistance? You*ll find plenty, you fiend!* Sir Hubert
couldn't keep the anger from his voice. But the Mekon was
unimpressed.
*Nudear weaponry? My dear Sir Hubert, we Treens have
79
specially protective suits that will enable our forces to walk
unharmed through the very centre of an atomic explosion - no
matter of what size!'
'I believe him. Sir Hubert!' Professor Peabody's face was
deathly white.
Sir Hubert had recovered his calm. He gave Digby and the
girl a quick, meaningful glance, and they remembered his
whispered instructions on the way to meet the Mekoa 'Where
do we come m?' he asked.
'We wish/ said the Mekon, 'to test the extreme limits of
human resistance. Then we shall extract your brains for further
study.'
'Oh. Er - well, of course, we'll be glad to help you if you teU
us more of your plans.' Sir Hubert had a job thinking the words,
let alone saying them! as for Digby, his face was a positive leer
of painfully forced agreement! 'I can't think of anytiiing ni<»:l*

Meanwhile, where the narrow cone at the bottom of the vortex

below the waterfall sucked its way through shattered bedrock,
the stiff body of Dan Dare was spun downwards with incredible
force! He should have drowned - but such was the volume
of air drawn down with the reeling torrent that a blanket of it
actually surrounded him, held there by centrifugal force 1
Thete was no possibility of resisting the pull of the water -
but Dan was conscious. And akeady he could feel the effects of
the paralysing ray wearing off!
80

I
 Battered and bulfeted, he was turned round and expelled
head-fiist in to clear water so suddenly that it was moments
before he realised that heM passed the lowermost sucdon-point
of the terrifying whirlpool... moments before he realised that
the surrounding blanket of life-giving air had gone!
Gasping, he shot upwards like a cork, to find himself bobbmg
on the troubled surface of an underground river, surging its way
through a cavern whose walls were coated with an eerie,
subterranean luminescence!
It took all Dan's waning strength to fight the swift current and
swim his way to the nearer bank ... but he made it. For long
moments he lay inert. Then he picked himself up and began to
stumble forward. He'd no idea where he was going - but some
sixth sense seemed to be urging him on.
How long he staggered on his way, he could scarcely recall,
but at long long last he felt the breath of a wind on ^ face!
Could it be that he was approaching the surfece of the planet?
Yes! There ahead - a shaft of daylight! Dan's spirits rose,
and he fotmd a new lease of strength.
Dan emerged cautiously, keeping low to the groimd. But
there was only silence to greet him. Carefully, he raised his
head from the shelter of some rocks - then ducked back. Not
two miles away, he could see the towering buildings of a dty!
Again he looked. No - it wasn't Mekonta. In fact, it bore no
resemblance to anything he'd seen in the Treen capital. Could
it be some citadel of the blue-skinned ones he'd met when he
6 8i
and Digby first landed? Weil, there was nothing to be gainpH by
staying put!
Dan began to walk towards the place, expecting at any
moment to be challenged. Yet though he drew nearer and
nearer, there was nothing in the way of a living being to be seen.
Now he was among the first buildings. Certainly there was
noise. The din of machinery going at full blast on all sides. But
sdll no people I
Taking his courage squarely in both hands, Dan entered one
of the buildings. To his amazement, he foimd himself in what
seemed to be some kind of remotely controlled Hairy! There
were goat-like animals munching conveyor-supplied fodder -
moving obediently to machines that milked them - returning
to their food...
'What on earth?'
Emerging again, Dan chose one building with a huge
tower on top of it. 'Best thing I can do is climb to the top and
take a panoramic look round. This is all different to anything
I've seen on this crazy planet so far I'
Once at his vantage point, Dan whistled in amazement. On the
far side of the dty he coidd see rolling, cultivated fields - as far
as the horizon I Acre upon acre of standing crops -and in amongst
them, the shining, articulated body of some kind of harvester!
*Maybe I die! Maybe this is heaven! No, get a grip on
yourself, Danny my boy! I suppose Td just better keep pushing
my luck and go down for a closer look at that harvester. Surely
82
there^lI be someone in charge of it 1*
In about - half-an-houi, Dan had approached to within
hailing distance of the appliance It was big. Very big. But once
again, it had no apparent driver. Dan stood looking at i^ his
hands on his hips. It stopped, and its reaping equipment was
drawn in. It seemed to have finished its work.
Trotting, Dan moved in the wake of the huge harvester,
which eventually halted beside a series of unloading cranes -
each fully automatic - that took the ready-baled crops and
piled them, one after the other, on an interminable moving
highway that wound over the landscape until it disappeared
into the hazy distance.
*In for a penny, in for a pound,' muttered Dan, clambering
up on to the nearest bale. '^Hierever it's going, Tm going, too.'
He settled down and relaxed.
Fatigue at last overcame him. That and the warmth of the
Venusian day. And lulled by the peaceful progress of the
smoothly-fiowing c»nveyor highway, Dan slept
He awoke suddenly. And with a yell of alarm! For one
instant, he wondered what was happening to him, for steel arms
had clamped around him, hoisting him upright - shaking him
like a dog! He struggled madly before he realised that he must
have reached the end of the moving highway-thathis particular
bale was being mechanically unloaded, and him wi^ itl
*UrrrghV Unceremoniously, he was dumped down, the
bale was split open, and in a shower of loose straw, he landed in
83
nothing less than a manger! He knew it was a manger, because
the head of an animal very much like a cow dipped through a
hatch towards him, ready to munch!
*Good grief!' yelped Dan - and the animalj its eyes wide,
drew back and bolted!
Stiffly, Dan stru^led out into what was clearly an open byre.
Other animals - now that he could see them, they were more
like a cross between cattle and horses — stared dumbly at him.
And then came the voice.
*Hey, Mac! What's cooking?'
TJhhhh?' Dan spun round, to see a diminutive boy, brown-
skinned, with a mop of fair hair, grinning cheekily up at Him
*Got any gum, chum?* said the kid,
Dan found his speech with an effort. 'Who taught you that?*
he croaked. *Come on - who taught youV An incredible, im
possible hope had set his heart hammering within his chest!
*Come on, earthman! TU take you to him!' Cheerfully, die
boy grabbed the astonished Colonel by the hand.
It could hardly have taken longer than ten minutes before
they reached a tWck grove of trees - lush, fruit-bearing trees.
But to Dan it had seemed like hours! And from somewhere
within the grove, he could hear the nasal twang of a voice
lifted in song... an unmistekabie American voice, underpinned
and harmonised by a bass in lilting French accents!
*PierreI Hank! It - but it just canh be!'
The song died away as Dan burst through the trees, ahead of
84
the boy. Two familiar faces were staring at him. Their ex
pressions went through a comical variety of changes.., amaze
ment, suspicion, realisation and delight! And then -
'Dan, boy! Jiminy, by all that's wonderful!' Hank was
wringing his hand with an intensity that threatened to tear it
off. *Mon brave! Mon vieux! Mon ami!* Pierre capered like a
ten-year-old, his chubby face beaming, his expressive arms
windmilling! 'How did you get here? Where are the others?'
'I thought you two were dead!'
The boy who had met him came up with a cup of some
re&eshiug liquid.
'Thanks, sonny. That's better/ Dan wiped his lips. 'The
others are prisoners in a place called Mekonta,' he said. 'I'm-
pretty csrtain they're alive. All of them...'
'But the Treens captured your comrades, eh. Colonel?* A
new voice came in, and Dan turned to face the tall, kindly-
looking man who was at his side.
'Oh, sorry, Dan.' This was Hank. 'Let me introduce Volster.
He's one of our hosts - the Therons. They're swell guys, all of
theml'
'We had despaired of you, Colonel - knowing that you had
landed in the northern hemisphere of our planet...' Volstar
returned Dan's hand-shake of greeting.
Tou know our green friends, then
Volstar was joined by other Therons. They all looked very
much alike. Handsome - well-shaped, with alert, mobile faces.
'Only too well, although our two civilisations have had no
direct contact for centuries. Thanks to the flame-belt.'
'But you are tired, Colonel,' put in another. 'First, you must
rest and refresh yourself. Then we will tell you our story.'
Dan shook his head. *No. I've got to get the others out of
Mekonta. Fast.*
'That's almost impossible, colonel. There is no way throu^
the flame-belt, and the Treens maintain an aerial rayfield above
it to prevent anyone flying over. The only faint hope is that we
might be able to negoitate. By radio.*
'Negotiate? 1 didn't sign any pacts to get tlirough the fiame-
belt - but I'm here!' Dan rubbed his chin. 'I swam. Through a
subterranean river 1'
85
 The Therons were amazed! 'Incredible! You mean there's a
river from the north? Right iinder ..
^Exactly/ said Dan. 'Look. You're obviously friendly towards
us. In a nutshellj we're here in the hope of maWng arrangements
of food for our people on Earth. A matter for discussion with
your President, I'd say. So I've got to see him Maybe he'U be
able to help us with a rescue attempt as well.,.'
'Dan.' Rerre clutched at his Colonel's sleeve. 'Before yoti
go on. The Therons are helping us rebuild our rocketship. They
have wonderful technology, Mon ami.'
'Great,' said Dan. 'And . ♦,
*We have to contact Earth, Dan,' continued the French
Canadian. 'You see, the Therons have told us about the Treens
and their "earth plan".*
'Earth plan?' Dan looked puzzled 'That*s a new one on me !*
Volstar laid his hand on Dan's shoulder. 'They have long
been making preparations to conquer your planet, Colonel.
Really - I must insist that you are given the full facts before
you do ar^thh^.*
It was all too much. Dan found himself scowling with
concentration as he tried to absorb all the implications of what
they had said. What was happening to him? He'd been able to
sl^p, hadn't he? And then his surroundings seemed to dissolve
in a dizzy whirl, and he slumped forward to the ground, his
last conscious r^stration the cries of alarm from his friends. •
86
 CHAPTER TEN

COLOUR ME BLUE

It had been the result of accumulated strain. But now, thanks

to the sophisticated doctoring of ±e Therons, Dan Dare
awoke feeling fitter than he'd ever felt before.
The first person he saw was Vclstarj who welcomed him
warmly back to the land of the living.
'Is it my imagination, or are we moving?' Dan got up from an
incredibly comfortable couch and looked around him. He was in
a circular room, soothingly decorated, with plants growing in
tastefully placed containers. 'Your house?'
Tfes, it is my house, and yes, we are moving,* said Volstar.
Moving at about eight himdred of your earth miles per hoxir.'
'Jumping Jets!' Dan ran to a nearby window.
*There is no slipstream because we arc surrounded by a
bubble of static air which travels with us. Now - we will join
your companions, and you will hear something of the history of
Venus - and of the Treens ...'
Dan followed Volstar to a spacious living area where Hank
and Pierre were waiting for him with some of Volstar's fiiends.
There was discreet control equipment there that clearly
guided the astounding flying house. That, and a bank of video-
screens,

87
 It was on these saeens that Volstar drew up pictures to
illustrate his - for want of a better word - lecture. From some
sort of computerised memory bank, they told the story graphi
cally enough!
*Venus has always been split in two by the flame-belt/
Volstar began. 'But the development of the two halves Has
always been different. Aeons ago, we in the south had developed
a science more advanced than tht Earth has now. But in the
north a barbarous, brutal and reptilian race had evolved. About
one hundred thousand years ago, we built aircraft with refriger
ated cabins to cross the fiame-belt and explore the north.
When we landed, the Treens attacked us witih giant reptiles.,.'
Volstar paused as his guests shook their heads at the scenes of
violence.
'Finally, we triumphed,' he went on. 'We taught the Treens
all we knew - but they cared only for revenge, gnH power*
Machines became their masters, so we left them to th<Hr own
devices ... *
'But you still have machines,* interrupted Dan. 'This
house ... your factories ... the mechanical roads ... *
'Quite,* smiled Volstar. 'But machines work for us. We are
not their slaves.*
'Let him go on, Dan.* Characteristically, Pierre was impatient
*Well,* said Volstar. 'You may be astonished to know that
we - having studied the planet for a long time - made an
expedition to Earth. We were greeted in friendship by the high
88
priests of the Sun-God religion at that time practised by your
civilisation... a civilisation, if you'll pardon me, that you know
little about, despite the efforts of your archeologists.
^However, unknown to us, the Treens had followed us in
space ships of their own. Unlike us, they had not come in
friendship - and they attacked. There was much slaughter.
They took many captives. The site of their treacherous assault
was called - Atlantis !*
Dan and the others looked at each other in ama2ement. So
this was the secret of Atlantis i
'Go on, Volstar ...'
*The Treens made off imscathed - but the fiiry of the
Atlantine revenge was turned on us. A ship or two escaped -
but one was damaged by an Atlantine who had no knowledge of
what he was doing. Its atomic engines exploded - and the
whole centre of Earth's civilisation was destroyed, to sink
beneath the ocean for ever I And that* - Volstar switched off the
screen - 'is our story'. He sat back. *You cannot wonder why we
decided not to interfere with Earth again!*
Dan cleared his throat 'Those blue characters. Up in the
north. Are they descendants of the Treens' captives? The last
Atiantines?'
Volstar nodded. 'Yes, The Venusian atmosphere has altered
the pigment of their skin over the centuries, and they have
developed deformed foreheads. And, of course, they continue to
be slaves of the Treens.'

89
 One of Volstar's friends had come up, waiting respectfully for
silence. Now he broke in. *We are approaching our destination,
Volstar. Our guests had better make ready for their meeting
with our president.'
'Ahoy there, Volstar!' The booming voice came from outside,
somewhere. 'Is Colonel Dare aboard?*
'It is a guardship,' explained Volstar. *It will teke you to oiu:
president's house. As we all do, he lives in such a dwelling as this.
We find we have no need of cities - although we maintain them
as remotely controlled factory areas, as you have already seen-'
Dan > his uniform had been made as good as new since his
arrival in Volstar's house - w^ taken aboard the guardship
along with Hank and Pierre. It wasn't long before they were
guided to the presence of the Theron President, an elderly man,
wise of face, who was sitting relaxed in the patio garden of his
home, surrounded by his family. He greeted the newcomers
warmly.
'We are both interested and disturbed by the information
you have brought from Treenland, Colonel Dare. I imderstand
that you wish to ask my help in returning for rescue?'
'That's so, sir. You've been told about the underground
river, of course.'
The President inclined his head. 'Listen, Colonel. Since
their defeat, the Treens' fear of us has kept our races apart.
That is good. We Therons have achieved a balanced life - we
are free to pursue what is good and beautiful. We have found
happiness, and we wish to keep it that way - for our children.'
He reached down and gently ruffled the hair of one of his
grandsons.
'Can you be happy knowing that the Treens are always a
threat, sir?' Dan spoke persuasively, 'Can you be happy know
ing that my people on Earth are in danger of starving?'
The President waved a hand emphatically. 'I am willing to
help with the food situation, Colonel...'
'No, sir - please let me finish 1 The Treens are planning a
conquest of my planet! What use will food be if those fiends
gain ±e upper hand? And then - will their lust for power
cease? No! Despite their fear of you, they'll want this southern
hemispheie for their own!'
90
 Hank and Pierre hardly dared brea±e. Their eyes were on
the President, clearly troubled by Dan's eloquence.
*Sir!' The Colonel pressed home his advantage. 'Think of it!
That little boy, there! Is he to grow up facing the threat of a
massive Treen invasion? And just because you and your
contemporaries, in your happiness, have seen fit to bury your
heads in the sand and ignore what's going on aroimd you?' Dan
shook his head and turned away.
^Colonel Dare.' A silence had fallen on the garden, but now it
was broken as the President reached out for Dan's arm. 'Forgive
me. You have shamed an old man. I see that the Earth still has
something to teach us, and I give you my word here and now«
We will help!'
The faces of the three space fleet pilots broke out into smiles
of utter relief. Dan shot his hand out to grip the President's.
*Thank you, sir. Thank you from the bottom of my heart I'
The four of them - Dan, Hank, Pierre and the President -
had been long in conference in the President's office. His inner
sanctum. His explanations of Theron technology had given
Dan the germ of a plan.
'We have three objectives, sir,' he said. 'First, Pierre and
Hankmust return in their repaired rocketship to Earth,and give
them warning of what's happening here. Second, I must return
to Mekonta and rescue our friends. Third, we all have to put
our backs into defeating the Treens' ambitions for conquest
Let's take my part first I use the word disguise, but 1 think.
91
with the facilities available, it'll be better than that- but can you
fix me up to look like an Atiantine?'
TDanP Pierre was shocked. Tou want to turn blue?'
'It's elementary, Pierre! The only way I'm going to pass
mmoticed in the north is if I look part of the scenery.' He turned
to the President again. *How about it, sir?'
*It can be done - fairly easily. Your skin can be coloured. A
wig can be made to give you Atlantine hair - the characteristic
forehead bump can be built into it. And also' - the President
chuckled - 'a device can be built into that wig which will allow
you to speak and understand the language that is peculiar to the
AtlantinesP
*You ain't kiddin', sir?' Hank imcrossed his long legs and
looked doubtful. 'I mean - you can really turn Dan into a livin'
replica of one o' these blue babies?'
*Come. See for yourself!' The President led the way to ante
chamber where a curious device almost like a giant sim-ray
lamp hung down from the ceiling. 'Stond under that, Colonel
Dare, while I switch on. Now. Think of an Atlantine,.
It was uncanny! One moment, Dan's face was its normal
flesh colour. Then it became blue. Then, as the President
switched off, it returned to normal. 'The effea can be as per
manent as we desire,' he smiled.
*So let's make it permanent as of now,* said Dan. *I'm
thinking again!' The switch clicked over, and this time, Dan
stepped from beneath the machine - apart from the wig
92
would shortly come - a perfect replica of one of the Treens*
slave race!
'And what now, mon blue-skinned colonel?* Pierre was
overawed.
'What now? Why - we've got to drum up some transport
that'll take me through that underground river - mon brave P
grinned hugely, Tve no intention of swimming my way
back, and that's for sure!*
'This we can do as well,* said the President. We will journey
to our old capital, where you will witness what I promise to be
- for you - an almost miraculous feat of construction. 'I'm
sorry,' he added apologetically. 'I often become smug at the
triumphs of Theron science!'
'Smugness I can take,' said Dan, 'You show a proper pride
in your achievements. Not like the Treens! They just take it as
part of their bom right!'
The President called a colleague and gave orders for the
manufacture of Dan's Atlantine wig. Then he called for a
guardship, and the four of them set off on a northward course
towards the area where Dan had surfaced from the xmderground
river. 'I'd like to take a closer look at it,' the President explained,
'So that I can have the fall requirements for a suitable cr^t at my
fingertips, so to speak.*

93
 CHAPTER ELEVEN

GONE FOR A SOLDIER

T h e Tr e e n s i n t h e c e n t r a l r e s e a r c h l a b o r a t o r i e s o f M e k o n t a
were unusually quiet. The Director himself, used to urterijig
arrogant commands, was cringing under the steely gaze of
the tiny, dome-headed figure surveying him so ble^y from
the hover-platform above.
The face may not have shown it, but the Mekon was dis
pleased!
'These earthlings,' he snapped. 'It is obvious from their
evasive answers to our questions that they are not co-operating!
They speak in riddles. They utter gibberish. They m^e state
ments we know to be false. They are deliberately resisting our
examination!*
*Can it be that their minds are better than we imagined,
Mekon? I mean . . . ' The Direaor's voice withered away
under the glare of those baleftil eyes.
'Fool! Their intelligence is nothing compared with ours!
Where are they now?'
'In the isolation room, Mekon! They have been there for
twenty-four of their earth hours! I wished to see whether, cut
off from all contact with us, they began to break down!'
But if the Treens hoped that they were wearing down their
94
captives, they were unlucky. Sir Hubert, Digby and Professor
Jocelyn Peabody were made of sterner stuff!
*Do you think we've managed to fool them, sir?* The girl
raised her rhin from her hand.
*0h, I doubt it. We've fed them some pretty rum information.
They'll have the dickens of a job sorting it ^ out.' Sir Hubert
smiled at a recollection. 'Your long discourse on Wigan and
your aunt Anastasia was a masterpiece, Digby.'
'I thought so myself, sir,' said Digby without modesty,
TDunno what the old lady would say if she knew I'd told a
green-faced wonder she was a top scientist, with the secret of
converting black puddens' into miniature spacecraft!'
'What do you suppose they're doing back home?* mused
Professor Peabody. suppose they'll have given us up for lost,
and recalled the mother ship.'
wouldn't be surprised, my dear. It's a little much to hope
diat Ranger^% still drcUng Venus, waiting for news of us,
anyhow. What Vd like to know is how far the Treens have got
with their plans to invade. My blood runs cold at the thought of
these evil monsters roaming over our planet. I only hope we'll
get a chance to put a spoke in their wheel - even if it means
sacrificing ourselves in the attempt!' He drew a long sigh. *If
only Dan weren't lost to us!'
Digby snorted, remembered himself; and looked apologetic.
'Sorry to contradict you, sir' he said. 'But beggin' your pardon,
1 don't reckon Colonel Dan's dead at alll I've been him

95
throu^ thi^ an' thin, sir.,. and I won't believe he*s gone until
I'm standin' by his graveside P The tubby batman glared down
at the floor. He didn't see Sir Hubert sh^ his head, sadly...

The guardship, on hover behind them, had set down Dan,

Hank, Pierre and a party of Therons led by their President by
the entrance to the underground river. They could hear the
torrent rushing, fk- below.
^It^s about a fifty foot drop,' said Dan. *Any chance of having
this outlet enlarged?'
The President turned to one of his aides. *Bring up a party
of constructor robots. Open the cave and make a slipway
capable of teking a craft up to thirteen tubits weight!* The
President scrambled past Dan to look down into the faint
luminescence of the void. Tfes. I have it. Come, Colonel Dare
- we have seen enough. Now for your convejrance.'
'A submarine of some sort, Mr President?* Hank blinked
through bis glasses.
'Just so. And the factories at oiu* abandoned capital will
turn it out in less time than it takes to tell. Back to the guardship,
gentlemen.*
Dan and his friends were soon flying over the dty - die
deserted dty he well remembered. The sound of the constantly
thundering machines, automatically operated, drifted up as
tiiey came in to land. 'Electronic brains look after these
installations,* explained the President.
The President led the way to a vast building which he told
diem was devoted to the manufacture of water craft. 'Purely for
pleasure purposes, these days,* he explained.
With Dan, he approached the complexity of a mass of
electronic machinery which he called 'ie master brain*. He
spoke into a grid. 'You will jetuson present task. Clear drafting
seleaors for new design! Submarine craft,..'
Dan watched in fascination as the President reeled off the
teqtiirements.
'Overall length, not more than seven swades I Capadty, four
people. Electronic pilot and radar-guide net for cavern navi
gation. No breathing apparatus or anything to show on the
96
surface. Secrecy of operation vitali*
*Is that it?* Dan spread his hands.
That's it The machine will be constructed in about ten
earth hours/
Next on Dan*s list, the fitting of the wig that would make
him into an Atlantine. At a signal that it was ready, the guard-
ship took them back to the President's home. Dan slipped the
thing over his head.
'It sure don't look much in the way of comfort' Hank
(»mmented.
Dan looked at him blankly. He said: 'Banee Irtum inscruss
banee iimsa banee!'
^WhaaatT*
'It's all right,' laughed the President 'The device is workii^
perfectly! You see, he speaks and understands only Atlantine
now! He's the real thing!'
'Dan, mon brave! Don't play games! He's kidding, no?*
Pierre shook the Colonel's shoulders frantically.
But Dan only shrugged and gaped > until one of the Therons,
grinning, reached up and took the wig from his head.
'Miraculous,' said Dan. 'Absolutely fantastic!'
*Give it to me for a moment,' laughed Pierre, clapping the
wig on his own head.
'I reckon I'll pass,' said Dan as he took the wig back, cradling
it in his hands.
'Just one more thing. Colonel Dare.' Hie President gave him
2 97
a smali device. 'This tiny gadget neutralises the magnetism
which is one of the Treens* chief sources of power. In an
emergency, you may need it.*

It wasn't long before a Theron messenger arrived to report that

rocketship Three - the vessel which had brought Hank and
Pierre to Venus - had been repaired, and was now ready for
ce-launch. ItwastimeforDantosayau revoir to his two friends.
The farewells were necessarily brief. Old campaigners like
these had been through loo much together to waste mere words.
'Good luck, lads. And keep your fingers crossed for me!'
'The luck must be yours, Dan! Bon chance, mon Colonel!'
*So long, buddy. Oh yeah - and when you get that Professor
Peabody dear, tell her to save a date for me. I thought she was
kinda cute!'
Hank and Pierre left Dan to await the completion of his
submarine. With a Theron escort, they were taken to a pre
pared launchsite outside the capital d^. And there was their
ship. As good as new. No, better.
'Should anything go wrong,' one of the Therons told them,
'We have fitted a homing device. It wiU bring you straight back
here.'
Sp^ce suits had been provided, and the two men climbed into
them. Then they were aboard, and with the minimum of fuss,
the mighty rod^t engines at the tail of the ship blasted into life 1
98
Would Ranger still be up there, waitii:^ for them? Or would
they have to try and make it solo - over the long journey back
to ^elr home planet... ?

In the time it had taken Hank and Pierre to become space-bome

again, Dan had taken delivery, so to speak, of his submarine.
Robots had enlarged the entrance to the underground river,
and now the sleek vessel was poised to go! A quick handclasp
with the President, and Dan, wearii^ breadiing equipment
over his blue body - a nec^sity in case of emergency - settled in
beside a strange box of tridss bearing the legend 'electronic
pilot*. In keeping with tradition, Dan immediately diristened
him 'George*.
The sub sped down the inclined slope and plunged into the
water. Dan sat back and relaxed. Qearly, with such a devi(» as
George skippering the machine, he didn't have to do a thing,
except feed it verbal instructions which it deciphered and
converted to obedient manoeuvres.
So f^, it was easy. Too easy! Suddenly, in the clearness or
of the luminously-lit water ahead, Dan saw a vague stirring that
resolved itself into a writhing shapel
*0h, oh! Company! We must be getting near the underside of
the fiaine-belt, George . . . this is an aquatic relation of the
monsters in the surface jungles!*
It was some kind of giant octopus - and it came questing jfor
99
 AND IN THB UND£RQROUND
RjyEK TH£ SUBMAR/NS
FORGES J^ORTHWARDS,

the approaching crait, its enormous tentacles raised to clutch

and {^1
*Give it the works, George! I know I can depend on youP
At Dan's command, a sizzling blast of energy shot &om the
nose of the submarine!
The creature fell away, and the submarine cruised serenely
through. And though Dan kept his eyes constantly peeled,
there were no more incidents before the dais on his instruments
told that they had come through the south-north tunnel.
That th^ were out in the open - in the hem^phere ruled by the
Treens!
Gendy, Dan ordered the auto-pilot to surface. It was night
time, and everything was deathly quiet as he bade a flippant
farewell ti) George. 'Don't do anything rash,* he said. *Just
wait here. I hope - oh, how I hope we'll meet again, and I'll
have my chimis with me!'
Dan stepped ashore. In the distance, he could see lights -
lights of what the Theron President had told him was likely to
be an Atlandne village. Grimly, he made sure his wig Nvas
secure, and strode forward to test his disguise to the ultimate
limit

There was one vital factor that Dan didn't know. Couldt^t have
known! It had happened shordy after the launch of the recon
structed locketship. The Treens had picked up the vessel on
1 0 0
their long-range scanners, and a report had gone straight to the
Mekon! With no clear idea of what it meant, the fiendish little
leader of the Treens had ordered the launch of interceptor ships,
and now these were streaking in pursuit of Hank and Pierre!
It was Hank who saw them first His eyes glued to the scanner
screen on which he'd hoped to find the comforting blip of
Ranger - he didn't know that Ranger had indeed been recalled
to Earth - he saw the rapidly approaching enemy craft!
IVe got a contact, Pierre - but it isn't what we want! Pull
*em in on video!*
'Ma foil Trouble! Hold on. Hank!*
Knowing that their small vessel was no match for armed
battle craft, Pierre turned his controls to streak back for the
safety of the southern hemisphere. And then the ftail ship
rodced and shuddered as a bolt of blasting power shot ftom one
of the Treen attackers to burst alongside!
'Zut! We are out of control!'
'Jxmipin' snakes! They're comin' in for the kill, Pierre.*
*Wait 1' The ranaHifln darted his hand towards a s wtch on the
panel before him. *The homing device! It's our only chancel'
Miraculously, the stricken ship righted itself. A Treea
attacker came boring in... then exploded violently as it struck
some kind of force-shield the homing device mcorporated!
Another met the same fate, moments afterwards, and a third
turned tail for home! Shaken to the core, Ifenk and Pierre
unwound and let their homer keep control. sure hope Dan
l O X
has more luck with his end of the mission, pal! Tm afraid we've
just drawn a great big blank!'
'Hey, mon ami.' Pierre looked grave. 'The Mekon - this
leader of tie Treens. Now he must know something is up, oui?
What do you think he's going to do?'
'He'll figure two of his ships have been destroyed by a
spacecraft from the southern hemisphere,' said Hank blandly.
'If I were him, I'd declare war!'
Pierre threw up his hands in despair. 'Of course he will!
And among his forces - he'll use his slaves, no? The Atlantines!
And who is going to be among the Atlantines when call-up
c»mes? Danl Sacre bleu. Hank - he'll be drafted into the Treen
army!'
1 0 2
 C H A P T E R T W E LV E

KARGAZ, THE MIGHTY ONE!

A fire blazed in the hut at the centre of the Atlnntine village. On a

raised platform, the head man and his advisers faced a congre
gation of their blue-skimied fellows, and the mood was one of
savage discontentl
The din of the shoutii^ carried clearly to Dan Dare's ears
as he approached through the gloom of the outskirts. Despite
the translator in his wig, he could make nothing out in the
confusion of voices - until suddenly, everything was still and
silent.
In die hut, a yoimg, sturdy Atlantine had roughly shouldered
Ur-Tag, the head man, aside. Now his voice, and his alone,
quelled the mob!
'Ur-Tag grows old! His blood is thin! This is a time for
action - for young men to decide I In a few hours the Treens will
be here to ^e us for their army . ..' The orator paused, to
glare meaningfiiUy around the assembly. 'Why should our men
^e for them in their quarrel with those of the southern hemis
phere? ]Ve have no fight with those they call the Therons!
We have been slaves to the Treens long enough! I say we should
resist!*
Outside, Dan stood stock still with amazement. *My stars,'
he breathed. *War? The Treens and the Therons? What the
blazes can have happened?'
Now the head man was speaking ^ain. 'Do not listen to him,
my children! It is useless for us to defy our masters! They have
the power to crush us - to bring imtold misery on our children
for generations to come! They leave lis alone as long as we
continue to serve them - let us bow once more to their will!'
The younger mq" elbowed him aside again, 'We have no
TTiarhines I No sophisticated weapons I But we have our strength!
Our Let us fight them hand to hand! Let us die, rather
rhan remain dieir vassals!'
*You*re right, youi^ man!* A hundred faces swept round to
stare in amayi^nipnt as Dan Dare strode tiirough the doorway.
103
*You speak words of wisdom beyond your years!*
'A stranger r
mo is he?*
*He is not of this village !*
Ur-Tag came forward. *Who are you, unknown one, that
you sneak into my homestead like a lizard in the night?*
am a hunter... I have wandered.* Dan tried to keep up his
commanding presence.
*But from which village? Speak, man! And where is your
spear? Why did you not blow the horn of warning at the entrance
gate?*
Inwardly, Dan cursed his own impetuosity. He*d scented the
air of revolt, and had rushed willy-nilly into a situation that had
already got beyond itself. The Adantines were no longer
interested in the young rebel's harangue. Ail they were con
centrating on now was him!
They crowded round him. Suspicious. Hostile. Dan felt the
wall of the hut against his back.
*Speak, I say, speakV Ur-Tag dealt Dan a blow with his fist
that kno<±ed him sideways... that dislodged the wig and sent it
spinning to the floor!
'Aieeeeel' The shrill cry that went up chilled Dan to the
marrow. *Ye gods! This is it! My cover's blownV
And then - astonishingly, Dan saw that, far from hurling
themselves on him, the Adantines had flung themselves
prostrate before his feet! A wailing cry went up from them.. •
104
•KARGAZl KARGAZl*
Tm sorry, chums/ said Dan shakily. 1 won't know what
you*re blithering about until I clap my headpiece back onP He
reached down, retrieved it, and put it in position, in time to
fa<» the awe-stricken head man, Ur-Tag, who held his hands up
as if in fear!
*Kargaz! You have ame back to us - as it is written I Kargaz
the mighty!'
*yes. It is I! Kargaz!' Dan blxuffed madly, wondering what
the performance was all about. Luckily, it was Ur-Tag himself
who did the necessary explaining. Turning to his prostrate
villagers, he began to intone . ♦.
'The hero of centuries ago! The only Atlantine who ever
successfully defied the Treens! The outlaw who disappeared
and swore to return to lead our race to freedom! He has lived,
my children! He has lived\ It is as our young man' - he gestured
towards the rebellious orator, now picking himself cautiously
to his feet along with his companions - *it is as our young man
said! Now is tiie time! Our deliverer has arrivedV
*How did you know me for Kargaz?' Dan had dedded to
play along witii tihis unexpected turn of events,
*By your forehead* said Ur-T^. *I see you use disguised
hair - to keep you safe from Treens, no doubt - but you have no
real bump there! You are of our ancestors* rac^ when our
foreheads were smooth!'
Triend, you don't know how right jrou are,' thou^t Dan.
105
But he kept it to himself. *The point is, what do I do now? I
can't think of leading this unarmed rabble against the Mekon's
menP
A knotty problem. But the decision was taken clean out of
Dan's hands! At that very moment, a young Atlantine burst
into ih& hut, his voice shril with panic. *The Treens! They're
here! They're here!'
In that packed hut, there was nothing that anyone could do.
The Atlantines may ^ve looked to Him for guidance but Dan
was as helpless as the rest as the Treens poured in I He could only
shout for them not to resist - to wait - to bide their tiW And
then they were herded out. Each Atlantine male. Herded out
under the menace of Treen gims and formed up to join a column
of other blue-skinned men that had been brought on the march.

While Dan was being taken away to join the ranks of an Atlantine
assault division, his friends in Mekonta were recovering from a
series of exhausting tests through which the Director, at the
Mekon's express command, had put them. They had been
strained to the limits of endurance. They were exhausted.
Worn out. And worse—all three of them had been dumped in a
bare room that had the smell of death about it. As Digby put it.
^Ifs like a sort of dustbin, and we're the rubbish.'
T'm very much afraid you're right, Digby,' said Sir Hubert
Guest. *The Mekon's got his data formulated, and from what
we've overheard from the guards, he's up to his scrawny neck
in some kind of war with characters on the fer side of the planet.'
*At least it's occupying him so completely he's had to shelve
his plans for invading Earth, Sir Hubert' Jocelyn Peabody ran
her hands wearily through her hair. 1 suppose that's some
thing!'
T'd like to know what they're going to do with us. Now that
diey've - er - finished.' Digby put his hands on his hips and
swept his gaze round their bleak surroundings. Absolutely
featureless, save for some slits, high in one of the walls. 'What
d'you suppose they're for? Ventilation?'
Suddenly, a thin, yellow mist began to drift through the
apertures!
'Ventilation?' Sir Hubert caught hold of the other two by the
lo6
shoulders and bodily hauled them to the floor. 'Thejr're gas
inlets! Tbey*re going to poison us V

*The extenninadon programme is in operation, Mekon!' The

Director stood at the side of his leader, gazing up at the balejfiii
^es. 'The earthlings are of no more mt to us.*
'Good. What of the war? Report on our progress !*
*We have cancelled the barrier ray above the flame-belt^
Mekon, Telezero beam projectors are ready for operation, and
reconnaisance craft are flying towards the southern hemisphere.
Reflector craft are alerted for take-off as soon as optimum
positions have been decided.*
'Excellent. The telezeros were designed to destroy Earth
chies - but no matter. They can be brought just as usefully to
bear on the Therons, Provided,..' The Mekon paused, and his
eyes were suddenly blank and thoughtful. 'Provided that the
Therons do not have technology that is greater than ours.'
TDo you doubt our power?' The Director's voice had a
definite edge to it.
'Of course not,' snapped the Mekon, testily. 'What can be
greater the power of the Treens?'

Privately, the Mekon had doubts. And they were well foimded!
From the automated Theron cities, incendiary rays had been
activated.

107
 Safely back in the southern half of Venus, Hank and Pierre
had rejoined the President, and together watched the video
screens as a flight of Treen rec»nnaissance craft, sweeping over
the area above the flame-belt, and through skies that had once
been proteaed by their own barrier force-field, droned towards
them.
TTou don't think Dan could be. ♦.' muttered Hank.
*In one of those things? Don*t be qrazy, mon brave! He*s
likely to be a mere Atlantine infantryman! Whatever problems
he's having, it isn't flying a sophisticated Treen plane!' Pierre
turned to the President They will not get through, m'sieur?*
*They will not get through.'
Scarcely were the words out of his mouth before the leading
Treen vessel checked, staggered in the sky, then burst spec
tacularly into flames! Completely out of conirol, it dived down
towards a barren stretch of no-man's land somewhere south of
t h e fl a m e - b e l t !
Another ship fell, and yet another! The flight commander
reported back to the Mekon, still - incredibly - without any
emotion in his voice.
^Hostile incendiary rays at strength indes nine point five and
increasing. Do we proceed or return?'
The Mekon thought deeply. 'Remain in area. Avoid contact
with incendiary rays.' He paused, and turned to the Treens
clustered around him. It is clear to me,' he said thinly, *that
we have been too complacent. The Therons have been warned,
io8
perhaps, of all we are doing. Maybe they have known all along,
or maybe that prisoner we considered dead - Colonel Dare -
has somehow got through to them. If so, then they will try to
warn Earth .. .'
'That would explain the take-oflf of that rocketship, Mekon/
put in one of bis aides.
Tredsely, fool! Do not interrupt me! Should they succ^
in contacting Earth, they may try and enlist aid. It would be
inconvenient, to say the leasL We must launch our attack on
that planet at once.'
*But MekonP Another Treen flapped his hands helplessly.
'That would mean fighting on two fronts! Is that wise?*
'And our plan for Earth means first setting up a telezero
station on their moon/ put in the first aide. 'Mekon-fitmiwhat
we know of the prisoners' courage and determination, the
earthlings will fight hard to stop us,.. even if we surprise them.
Can we afford a batde like that while we are engag^ with the
Therons?*
*We shall dupe them,* said the Mekon. *We shall fool the
Earth into believing that vie are the firiendly ones on Venus. And
we shall use our capdves to prove it! Turn off the killing gas and
and have them revived - at dnce!*
Gasping - half dead, Sir Hubert, Professor Peabody and
Digby were dragged fi:om their room and hauled to resuscitation
machines - glad to be reprieved, but with no knowledge of the
part th^ were to pl^ in the Mekon's evil schemes!
109
 CHAPTER THIRTEEN

UNDER THE ENEMY'S NOSE!

'Hm, The old town hasn't changed a bit P Dan Dare obediently
followed the cowed Atlantines out of the electrosender that had
sped them to Mekonta. There were hundreds of them here on
this Venusian equivalent of a barrack square, herded in line by
cursing, blue-skinned NCOs while impassive Tceens looked on.
Dan found himself split up from Ur-Tag's villagers - and
perhaps it was just as well. He didn't want djem constantly
pestering him to lead them in some form of revolt Not now.
Not at this particular moment. The less attention he drew to
himself for the time being, the better.
But it just didn't work out that wayl Along with a crowd of
odier conscripts, he was issued with hehnet, breastplate and
uniform, and his practised hands, used to buckles and straps,
stood out against the general fumbling of the o±ers I
'Hey, you! Come here!' The voice was a rauraus bellow, the
like of which Dan had often heard during his original training,
so long, long ago on Earth!
'Oh, oh! A sergeant major if ever I saw one!'
His fierce moustaches bristling, the non-com drew himself
up to his full height and glowered down at Dan.
'And what have we here, eh? Stand to attention in front of your
Cohort Dapon-In-Chief i ^me on, lad - out with iti You're no
raw yokel from a reservation!'
Dan knew he was in a tight spot! T)are I trust him? Just how
pro-Treen are these regular soldiers?' His brain raced franti
cally. Yet he knew he had litde alternative. Mentally crossing
his fingers, Dan raised his wig just enough to show the Dapon
his smooth forehead. Xook!' he said.
The man's eyes widened. *By the rays of the sun-god!' he
breathed, 'Kargazl Can it be true?' He grabbed Dan cautiously
by the arm and drew him aside to the scant shelter afforded by
an overhang on the commissariat building. 'K^p quiet and
come under here!'
•Will you help me?* Dan looked at him, his gaze level and
n o
steady.
The Dapon nodded. To xhe last drop of my bloodl' His fists
clenched. can't believe it! Kargaz in Ae fle^ I At last I That I
should live to,.. But enough! What are your ordersy
Dan decided that, as some kind of reincarnation of Kargaz
the Mighty One, he could say what he liked to the Dapon and be
believed - unquestioningly. He*d tell him that he had Bardi
friends here in Mekonta who must be rescuwi,.. that their
freedom ^ras essential for the Therons to win the war and van
quish the Treens. That with the Treens beaten, there would be
a new freedom for the Atlantine race...
The Dapon listened, his face tightening with enthusiasm, his
eyes gleaming. *1 think I know how this rescue can be done,*
said.

Sir Hubert Guest, Professor Peabody and Digby, now fiilly

recovered, were once more in the presence of the Mekon. The
evil little Venusian studied them carefully.
Tou are lucky to be alive. But for my intervention, you
would have died in great pain. But I am going to offer you an
alternative to death. I wish you to pose for some pictures, and
to record certain messages to my directions. Agree, and you will
be spared and sent to work with the Atlantine convicts in the
mines at the North Pole.*
Thew,* said Digby. Td smell a rat if you weren't so dose,
I I X
you little devil! You can't want pictures for jrour family album -
a thing like you couldn't have a family!'
*Abuse will not anger me, fat one.'
Sir Hubert spoke up. 'Whatever your scheme is, it's bound to
be bestial. We'll have nothing whatever to do widi il^ and that's
absolutely final P-
The Mekon ronsidered. *Take them away. I will give them a
little time xo think over my ofifer. I cannot believe these fools
would deliberately choose to die!*
When they had gone, the Mekon turned to his Research
Director. think they will eventually agree. The plan is this.
We shall send a ship to Earth with pictures of the prisoners as
diough they were injured on landing, but are being looked after
weli in Mekonta, We shall say we are willing to help Earth with
food, but that it is necessary - here we shall lie greatly - to build
transfer stations on the Moon to change the ships' atmospheres
from Venus air to Earth air. The earthlings will allow this - but
we shall install telezero reflectors so that we can bombard the
Earth into submissionl Such conquest will be absurdly easy,
and will leave our main resources to continue the task of crusb-
ing the Theronsl'
It is a brilliant concept, Mekon,' intoned the Director*

Thanks to Dan's quick grasp of anything he was taught, it had

taken him no time at all to learn the elementary Atlandne drill
X I 2
movements that the Dapon had taught him, A firm bond of
Mendship had quickly grown between these two. The Dapon
called him Dan - to have publicly used the name Kargaz would
have made the Treens highly suspicious. In return, Dan called
the Dapon 'Handlebars' because of his luxuriant moustache.
Now Dan vm in his place as part of the palace guard,
personally led by the Dapon. They were about to effect a
change-over with the existing squad, and the Dapon had
assured Dan that his soldiers were hand-picked. Treen-haters
to a man!
The Colonel had never felt so tense before. This was it!
Th^d received orders to assemble the prisoners and march
to the Mekon for their final ultimatum- At the back of the
squad, he stood silent and rigid as the Mekon hovered above hh
captives.
*Have you come to your senses? Have you decided to co
operate?*
*No,* said Sir Hubert, flatly.
The Mekon turned unconcernedly, and his finger pointed
straight at Dan. *I can waste no further time. They will be
killed one by one. First, the fat human. Guard - shoot himP
Obediently, Dan swung his blast-rifi^ into the aim. But then
he swivelled abruptly, and the charge that burst fix)m the barrel
smashed straight into the Treen leader's hover platform!
The domed head slammed sickeningly to the floor as the
Mekon fell - and lay still I Not one of the gaping Treens in their
8 1x3
 master's throne room had made a move! Then the guns of the
Dapon ^d his men were turned on them, and Dan stood
astride the huddled, unconscious figure!
*One tricky move by any of you Treens, and I kill the Mekonl*
The three captives were staring at him in stupefied disbelief.
He winked straight at Digby.
*It - it's Colonel Danl He's talkin* gibberish, but it's Colonel
Dan/*
Dan lifted his hand to disconnect the switch in his wig for a
brief moment
*Dead right, Digl But this is no time for explanations! Just
trust mei*
He swung round to the Dapon, even as he grabbed a fistful
of the Mekon's skin arul tu^d the inert body under one
a r m . . .

*We need a ship I They won*t touch us while we've got their
top boy as hostage! Just show us the way!'
A quick burst of fire effectively paralysed the stunned Treens
in the room. Then the four friends and their Atlaniine allies
were racing for the nearest Electxosender entry! Hurriedly
they scrambled inside a car - but before the door closed, a lone
Treen hiirled himself in beside them!
The Dapon brought his gun into the aim!
*Stop!* said Dan. 'It's SondarP
^ Take me with you!' Sondar was gasping for breath. 'They
took me for analysis - discovered how I had helped you!
11 4
I managed to slip the guards in the confusion when you captured
the M^onl'
'Can we trust this man?* The Dapon looked highly doubtful,
*We can trust him. Handlebars/ grinned Dan. 'And come to
think of itj he'll be able to fly our escape craft for us! Better
than having to force the M^on to do it. He's too tric^ by
halfr
There were armed Treen hoverbikes waiting as the electro-
sender delivered the fugitives to the main spaceport. But none
of them dared fire for fear of hitting the Mekon. Dan knew they
could never afford to destroy their supreme scientist!
'Which ship, Sondar?* Dan made no effort to conceal his
hxury.
'That one!* Sondar pointed to a huge vessel, one of three
standing in line against towering gantries. Each ship had a
strange, almost arrow-shaped protrusion on its nose.
*What are they?*
*Telezero reflectors. Colonel Dare! All three are programmed
to link up in space, so that the protrusions fit togeAer to form a
complete circle. The circle itself is like a mirror - to reflect the
terrible telezero beam to its target!*
'Great! So removing one of them is going to spoil the set-up
entirely. And 1*11 bet my boots the Therons will give their eye-
teeth for a sample, delivered in good condition!*
There were personal hoverbikes at the electrosender termmal.
At Sondar's instructions, the escapers mounted them. 'My
11 5
lliought-impulses are sufficient to get us across to the ship,* he
said. 'Hold on!*
But then it happened! Dan had been confident that the
Mekon, draped across his knees, was still unconscious .,. but
tlie wily Venusian was nothing of the sort! As they passed over
one of the canals, the Mekon kicked himself clear and dived to
safety!
Instantly, all hell broke loose! Seeing their leader's escape,
the hovering Treens opened up with everything they had! To
his horror, Dan saw hoverch^ blown to pieces all around
him!
'Hang on, Handlebars!' The Dapon's chair had been struck
a glancing blow, but Dan*s hand shot out to grab his falling
ally in the nick of time! Then Dan remembered the device the
Theron President had given him!
Hastily, he flmibled it out and pressed the switch. 'We're all
going down! Us and the Treens,' he yelled! 'Happy landings -
and head for that telezero ship!'
The friends were ready for it. The Treens were not! Their
pursuit vehicles fell out of the skies as the device cancelled their
magnetic power!
Breathless and dazed, Dan and his friends struggled to their
feet. Only yards to go! It wouldn't be long before the opposition
regrouped, and besides, Dan couldn't keep the device switched
on once they were in their escape vessel!
One by one, they scrambled through the entry port. Dan.
Sondar. Sir Hubert, Digby and Professor Peabody - miracu
lously still unscathed. The gasping Dapon and a pitifiil few
of his men. ,.
'Take over, Sondar! Get this thing into die sky I Quickly!'
The engines roared into life - but outside, the enemy had re
formed! Now a shattering flissilade of fire biased the giant
spaceship from all sides!
The Mekon, plucked from the water by his men, sat astride
one of the attacking hovervehicles, and his voice came shrill and
high over the din of firing!
'Conventional weapons will do nothing against the skin of
the reflector ship! But it must not go to the Therons! They
know nothing of this advance in our technology! Turn tele-
z i 6
zeros three and seven on to this spaceport and fire maximum
charge! Immediately!'
*But the other ships, Mekon - our people there!*
Tool! Do you question my orders? You will die for such
heresy!'
Within moments, the full savagery of the Treens* telezero
weapons was unleashed! The sky bloomed with fantastic
explosions as the entire structure of the spaceport was blown to
smithereens! The refletor ships themselves, necessarily proofed
against the beams they were designed to bounce, remained
xmharmed - but their gantries were toppling I The unmanned
pair keeled over to smash heavily down on the shattered pads!
And yet - standing on its tail jets, blasting fire among fire -
the third Ufted clear I The Mekon's callous destruction had
&iled!
*We're away, Colonel Dare! We're azoayV Sondar seemed to
be rnaking up for a lifetime of neglected emotion! His green
face was positively beaming as he turned firom the controls.
They'll tiurow everything they have at us, and they could stiU
11 7
cripple us by shooting out our engines. But we can fight! We
will fight r
'You're darned right we'll fight, Sondar! Just give us the
instructions, and we'll obey! Where are the guns?* Dan mopped
h i s b r o w. T h e s t r a i n h a d b e e n i m m e n s e - w o u l d s t i l l b e
immense. And to cap it all, he had to keep switching back and
forth from Atlantine to open speech to make himself under
stood to the varied people there. It was likely that, by now, old
Handlebars had tumbled to the fact that Dan wasn't Kargaz at
all - but it didn't seem to matter any more. The Dapon's face
was alight with the thrill of having dealt a bodyblow to the
Treens and their infuriating sense of superiority.
The ship levelled out, far above the planeE, and Sondar
moved switches that exposed fighting turrets armed with long-
range ray-guns. Dan lost no time in detailing his companions
to man them. *With your permission, Sir Hubert,,,'
'My boy, I'm under your command now! I've no idea how
you've done all this, but it's been brilliant. Magnificent!'
'I told you he was never dead,' whooped Digby, forgetting
the respect due his vastly superior officer.
Dan grinned. 'Come on, Ptof. There's a double turret
astern. We'll take it together/

There was only one snag. A big one. Dan didn't know it, but
even as he and his companions prepared to defend themselves
i i 8
from the Treens, danger was approaching from another, un
expected source. From the southern hemisphere, a wave of
Theron fighters were zoning in to the attack!
For Theron monitors had recorded the launch of the telezero
reflector - and telezero beams were something against which
they had no definite defencel The order had gone out- ^destroy
the ship at all costs!'
The brave assault swept northwards, towards the flame-belt
over whidi the Treen ray barrier was still down. Below them,
they saw the strewn wreckage of the reconnaisance craft that
had been shot down. Ahead of them, somewhere, the giant
target they were pledged to annihilate!
In that target, Dan and his friends were hard pressed The
Mekon, all other war plans temporarily shelved, had thrown
everytidng he had after the telezero reflector. The concentrated
might of his batde fleet had closed in on the fleeing vessel, and
the skies were rent with unspeakable violence!
They came in from all sides, their guns blasting! Again and
again the huge ship staggered under the impact of a hit!
Their guns hot in their hands, the defenders yelled defiance
at the Treens. Digby was beside himself! 'Come on, you
monkeys! Come and get the old Lancashire one-two I*
The Dapon - old Handlebars - pumped the triggers in his
turret and roared defiance at the enemy he'd dreamed for so
long of hammering!
Side by side, Dan and Professor Peabody saw the raking
11 9
effects of their fire send a Treen spinning away to its doom and
exchanged a swift thumbs-up.
Sir Hubert snarled with the heat of an action he'd nsver
expected to fight. Not at his age!
And still Sondar strove to control the huge craft, conscious
of the grim-feced Adantine gunners in the fire-pods beside
him . , ,
His face suddenly tensed« A light was blinking on a panel in
front of him. 'Put on your oxygen masks! They have found a
flaw in our plating! We are holed!' he yelled into the intercom.
In the same moment, shots from the enemy blasted into
numbers one and two engine pods! The ram-jets died, and the
refiectorship swung drunkenly ofif-coursel
'Emergency! Emergency!' Sondar cut the remaining engine
to stabilise the craft.
And then a chance shot from a Treen attacker struck home
just behind the rearmost gunturret! Hurled against each other,
Dan and Professor Peabody blacked out as their whole position
sheared from the ship and tumbled out into free space! In the
fraction of a second during which disaster had struck, the taste
of victory had turned dismally sour!
It was just as though fate had turned its kindly face away.
The telezero reflector hung motionless. A sitting target for the
Treen survivors. And - horror piled upon horror - the attack
wave of Theron ships were already in sight and boring home to
add to the chaos!

1 2 0
 CHAPTER FOTJRTEEN

SUPREME SACRIFICE

In the home of the Theron President, Hank Hogan and Pierre

Lafayette listened fascinated to the incoming reports from the
battle zone.
*We*re going into the attack!* the crackling voice of the leader
of the Theron assault flight was high with excitement!
*Give *em beans, boys 1 Give 'em beans 1*
Then.,.
*Wait! Attack leader to base! The Telezero reflector is
already mider bombardment. . . from Treen ships I*
'Treen ship?* The President shot out of his seat in increduloxis
amazement. 'But - but that is impossible!'
Pierre leaped up and grabbed the old man's arm. 'It's Dan!*
•What?'
'It's Dan/ Don't you see, mon vieux? It must be! Why else .
would the green horrors attack their own ship if Dan Iwdn't
captured it?'
*By Ramnas! You must be right!' The President whirled and
stabbed his finger on the button of an intercom. ^Flight leader!
Give all support to Telezero ship! We will send reinforcements!'
He turned back to Hank and Pierre. 'What a chance for us! To
get hold of such a vehicle as that - the Treens* most secret
armament! Analysis would give us the means of building shield
against their ultimate weapon! Gentlemen - I am ioining our
back-up forces! Will you come with me?*
'Just try and stop us!'
The two space-fleet pilots raced tiirou^ the house after the
President to the personal jet-car that would carry them to the
so recently set up attack headquarters outside the capital dty.
'Jmt you hang on, Danny boy,' yelled Hank. 'The cavalr/s
a-comin' I*

Brilliant flashes of light were exploding all around Dan and

Professor Peabody. The integral gravity of their drifting turret
1 2 1
allowed them to stand upright, but their eyes were full of despair
as they saw the crippled telezero ship red and reel again as the
Treens slammed home their advantage!
*There*s nothing... rwthiyig we can do I'
*0h, Dan! And look ... lookP The girl pointed shakily out
to where an enemy craft was streaking through the voidj
straight towards them! 'We're right in this one's sights !*
Then the miracle! Even as they tensed for the shock of
oblivion, the Treen blew to fragments! Not from a despairing
shot from the pitifully damaged telezero, but from a lancing
burst of fire fix)m a Theron fighter! Dan gasped as the shock-
wave of gold-coloured avengers roared past, their guns blazing!
'By glory! As Hank would say, the cavalry's a-comingl' Dan
was totally unaware that he'd repeated his old friend's very
words! *Now we'll see some action!'
'What do you mean, now} I've seen action enough to last me
a lifetime,' said Jocelyn Peabody, weakly.
It was by no means over, though. The initial Theron on
slaught caught the Treens on the hop, and craft after craft
disintegrated in spectacular bursts of starfire. Yet the fighters
from the southern hemisphere were still outnumbered, and
retaliatory gunnery took its heavy toll! Dan clenched his fists
as he saw one after another of the slim ships caught in Treenal
c r o s s fi r c !
'Not enough cavalry! Not enoughT
But here they were - the second wave! The big command
1 2 2
 \

ship of the Theron President himself, and every available

machine he'd managed to muster!
It was too much for the enemy. Shattered and shaken, their
confidence gone, the remaining Treens turned their ships and
streaked for home!
The Theron President's vessel cut engines and sHd alongside
the drifting turret. Within moments, Dan and Professor '
Peabody had safely been taken aboard, to hug Hank and Pierre
in ecstatic reunion 1
*Boy oh boy oh boy 1 Did we catch 'em! Man, it's good to see
you again, ol* Danny - and you. Prof I'
'Parbleu! You escape by ze skin of ze teeth, mes braves!'
Excitement had made Pierre's English even more broken than
usual. *AIors, but where are ze others? You got zem all out?'
'Sure, Pierre, But I can't vouch for their safety.' Dan's fece
lost its grin. 'I hope they're still aboard the telezero reflector.
Dig, Sir Hubert, old Handlebars - he's an Atlantine buddy of
mine. And Sondar!'
*Ah yes, the one good Treen.' Now it was the President speak
ing. ^Kn. unusual but welcome ally, eh, Colonel?' He turned to
a video screen and snapped his fingers for one of his men to
report. 'Get in direct contact, Vortax. No -better. Put us along
side.'
Dan took the space-suit that the Theron President handed
him, and put it on. 'I'm sending a party of engineers aboard the
telezero,' explained the Theron. 'You will want to lead them.*
123
 '1 appreciate thai, sir.'
The two ships slid close.
It was Digby - a battle-stained and weary Digby - who met
Dan as he stepped into the stricken craft. Dan coul^'t keep the
relief out of his voice as he greeted his batman.
*Thank the stars. Dig! What a fight you fellows put up! But
what's the score?'
*Ee! Well, at close of play it were one up to us, Cblonel Dan.
But we've taken a proper pastin' 1 Sondar says the ship's well
nigh immovable!'
*Sir Hubert?'
*He's fine, sir! Fair hoppin' 'cos he couldn't go after the
Treens!'
How about the others. Dig?*
'Well, sir ...' Digby looked away. 'Our Atlantine chums
copped it pretty bad. There's only one left... *
'Handlebars?' Dan was gripping his batman's arm painiully.
Digby nodded, 'Aye. Handlebars. But I'm afraid he's hurt.
Colonel Dan. He - that is, even Sondar agrees with me - he
won't live.'
His mind seething, Dan shouldered roughly past Digby.
Now he saw him. The Dapon. Lying prone against a bulkhead,
his face strained and drawn.
Handlebars! Oh, HandlebarsT
The hand that clutched at him was weak. But the smile on the
rugged &ce was serene and fuU of contentment Dan choked
124
and looked away as the Dapon laboured to force a compiratorial
wink.
'I - I settled for 'em, Dan! It wasn't in vain, my friend!
Please - don't say anything. And don*t tell me tiie truth about
yourself. You are Kargaz - you will always be Kargaz to me!'
'Listen, old buddy. You're going to pull through. Do you
hear me? You're going to pull through!' Dan was consciously
exerting all his willpower to keep the fluttering thread of life
going in the Atlantine non-com. 'We'll have to move you to the
Theron ship.'
Now a Theron was at Dan's side. 'That's right. Colonel Dare.
We will have to evacuate tlus vessel completely. There is no
chance of taking it bade to the south - but the President has
ordered that samples of the armour-plating be removed for
analysis. It is being done now.*
'Good,' said Dan. 'Then at least you'll be able to construct
a shield against the Treens' telezero. Would you give me a hand
with the Dapon here?'
'I'm tougher than I look.* Old Handlebars forced himself to
his feet. There was an old glint in his eye, *Allow an elderly
soldier to walk unaided. We regulars have our pride!*
Dan smiled. 'Maybe Dig and Sondar were wrong,* he
thought 'Maybe he's going to make it after all... *

Meanwhile, in Mekonta, the Mekon had taken the news of his

battle fleet's repulse badly. He'd forgotten himself so much that
he had allowed himself a trace of the despised emotion. It was
125
the emotion of bleak fury!
'They must be destroyed! Ail of them! Destroyed !*
'But Mekon ...' The Director was gibbering in terror^ at
least inwardly. *But Mekonj we camiot use the telezero against
the Theron force! When you ordered maximum power to
destroy the spaceport, all the built-up energy in transmitters
three and seven was used up 1'
'Faulty and unbrained oneP The Mekon was raving, and his
aides shuddered to see this hitherto unknown side of him! 'You
should have kept an adequate reserve! 1 condemn you to die!
You and the o&er bunglers who have brought this reverse to
Treen superiority!' The Mekon turned to the luckless Di
rector's chief assistant, 'You. Can you send up five hundred
more fighters straight away?'
'At once, Mekoni* The Treen paused 'And such a force will
at least hold the enemy occupied while the reserve telezeros
are brought to full strength.'
'That is sound logic,' nodded the Mekon. 'You are hereby
raised to the status of your miserable failure of a predecessor.
Go now, and let there no error!'
'What about the Earth-Plan, Mekon?*
'The Earth-Plan? The Earth-Plan? That can wait! Every
thing can wait! I want only the cancellation of the Theron
President, his fleet, and his accursed earthling fiiends!'

That there was danger from Mekonta, the Theron President

126
was only too well aware! The samples from the telezero ship
had been taken aboard, and now he hurried Dan and his friends
through the entry port 'The Treens will throw everything
they have at us/ he said. 'It is vital that we get clear
immediately!'
The airlocks were closed, and the President gave the order
for withdrawal of his fleet. Then. ..
'Sir! Someone hasn't come aboard! Someone is going back
to the Telezero ship!'
'Whaaat?'
A video screen clicked on, and now they could see him,
stepping back into the battered giant 'It's Handlebars!' Dan
whirled round, his fac« ashen under its blue tinge, 'We've got
to get him back!'
*No, Dan. I tell you - he's a goner anyway.* Digby laid a hand
on his Colonel's arm.
'But what?'
Sondar spoke. 'The ship could not be taken to the south,
Colonel Dare. But there is enough energy for it to go back to
Mekonm. I think that is where our friend is about to deUver it!'
'Great jupiter! The fool! The crazy, gallant fool!' Dan
blinked through the sight-screens of the President's command
and saw the one good engine of the telezero biu^t into life.

'The Mekon wants his ship, does he? He wants his toy back!
Then he's going to get it! ^ght in the neck!' The Dapon - old
Handlebars - corrected the twist of the uneven drive, cork
screwing the telezero refieaor through the litter of battle debris
and down towards the surrounding atmosphere of Venus. He
could imagine the hive of activity in Mekonta: the furious
marshalling of the Treen reserve, Ae super-speeded re-charge
'of their infernally destructive machines. Yes! It was on course
now. Falling - gripped by the planet's own gravity. It was on
target! His eyes clouded over and the life left his body,., but
there was a smile on his soldier's face.
The a>ncussive blast of the explosion rocked Mekonta to its
foundations! The mighty ship nose-dived into the central
telezero transmitter buildings and set off a sequence of pulveris-
127
ing chaitt-detonatioas diat put north-Venusian technology a
thousand years to the rear! Records, computers, laboratories -
all went up in a cataclysmic holocaust whose shockwaves even
rocked the old Theron capital in the sou^! In one suiddal
second, the burgeoning fiaie of doom wiped out the Mekon's
vaunted reserve, and his fighters were no more than a pile of
blackened, twisted junk on their launch padsl With poetic
justice, the sacrifice of one stalwart had rubbed out the oppres
sion of centuries of his race's slavery .«. and had ended the
Ve n u s i a n w a r l

Dan Dare - his Atlantine colour removed, sat in the Theron

President's living-room. With him, his fiiends. AU his fiiends.
Sir Hubert Guest, Digby, Ptofessor Peabody, Hank, Pierre -
a n d S o n d a r.
*A report has come through,' said the President, 'that the
Mekon may - I say, may have perished in the devastation of
Mekonta* Personally, I would not be sure,'
*Aye. Like I said a^ut Colonel Dan, I'd never believe he was
gone imtil I was standin' by the graveside,' said Dig. *I b^ your
pardon, sirl' He looked apologetically at his chief.
*But,' continued lie President, Ve must take such things as
truth until they are proved otherwise. And now, my friends -
shall we get down to business and discuss the project by which
Venus can supply firesh resources of food to the Earth?' He
smiled. *I may say that I have already given instructions for
ships to be built to take the first consignment. 1 fancy that you
would approve a reserved section for - ah • personal accom
modation?'
'You mean we'll be going zoith it?* Dan laughed and looked
round at his companions. 'Home's going to be paradise af^
this little jaunt - and even Sondar's going to find his emotions
strained when he finds what a hero's welcome he^s going to getl'
'1 have no difficult in following that logic. Colonel Dare,'
said the Treen.

128
 DAN DARE - *
FRANK HAMPSON'S
GREAT HERO
FROM THE
W '
'EAGLE'-IS BACK!
He had been kicking his heels on Earth waiting
for news of the 'Kingfisher's' exploration of the
mysterious force-fields surrounding Venus, But
then the 'Kingfisher' suspiciously exploded, and
Dan and his faithful batman Digby found them
selves speeding towards Venus to investigate...
not knowing what the planet - and the dreaded
Mekon - held in store for them!