Warrior of Mars: Clayton Drew Book 2 by John Russell Fearn

Author:John Russell Fearn [Fearn, John Russell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9781473209749
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group
Published: 2015-06-30T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

CLAY’S PLAN

In half an hour Clay had finished his communication and switched off. He gave Lexas a grim look.

“Satisfied?” he asked coldly.

“Entirely, Earthman. I compliment you on giving your race such explicit details as to how to cross space. In the course of a few months, whilst they build their armada—thinking everything is safe to attack, thanks to the excuses you have made to explain away my own lack of action—I can also make my own preparations to deal with them. In the meantime, or until it becomes necessary for you and her Highness to enter the labour squad working on the tower I have planned, you will be returned to captivity. And I would add,” Lexas finished, “that on this occasion no metal eaters will help you. They have all been destroyed. It was clever of you to bring them from Phobos. Allowed to multiply they could have endangered this entire underworld.”

Lexas jerked his head briefly and Clay and Thalia found themselves led from the laboratory by the guards. Lexas stood in thought for a moment or two, then he too departed and returned to his headquarters office in the palace. Within ten minutes his orders over the intercom had brought the men who represented his governing clique.

In detail he outlined the situation to them, and the story made the navigator, at least, shake his head dubiously.

“That Earthman has far too many surprises for comfort, Excellency,” he commented. “Up to now, by some unexpected method or other, he has always succeeded in outwitting you—and I have the uneasy feeling that he will go on doing it. I think it would be better to dispose of him completely—and her Highness.”

“Not as long as they can be useful to me. I shall use them when these Earth fools attempt to invade us. They will be the decoys by which the Earth commanders will believe they have an easy victory ahead of them.”

“You are sure there was not some hidden meaning or warning in the message Clay Drew sent?” another asked.

“Quite sure. The Earthman knew that the well-being of her Highness was at stake if he dared try any trickery …. However, I have called you here for a specific purpose. I have decided on a method by which this armada can be dealt with. We shall have plenty of time to prepare it because the Earth people cannot construct a worthwhile armada under several months, even though Clay Drew gave them all the details.”

“I assume we shall use our own fleet and attack them as they approach?” the navigator asked.

“No, my friend, though as a warrior that is about what I would expect from you. There is a better way, if we are not to jeopardise ourselves, and we can use part of the labour force which is going to build our tower for us. I propose four more towers, much smaller than the giant one we have devised, to be set at equidistant parts of the surface rather like the mathematically exact points of the compass.

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