Battle on Mercury by Lhin Erik van & Rey Lester Del

Author:Lhin, Erik van & Rey, Lester Del [Lhin, Erik van & Rey, Lester del]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Goodreads: 13409746
Publisher: John C. Winston Company
Published: 1953-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Stranded

The second ball of blue light came glancing in, and something about it was suddenly familiar. “Johnny!” Dick cried. At the same time he heard Charlie’s voice echo his words. Johnny came in low and fast, with none of his usual fooling around. Static suddenly burst in their phones as they began to try to get up. Dick found his feet first, and helped to pull Charlie up. He realized now that all that had saved them before was the presence of the tiny little transmitter in the tractor, and that the only safe place was back beside it.

But now, above them, an obvious battle was going on. Johnny had come in before the other had spotted him, and had gotten in what seemed to be a single stroke—a hissling pop of electricity. Now he was moving back, as if trying to lead the demon away from the two men.

They backed toward the tractor, watching the battle going on. They had no way of knowing which was a telling blow and which was only wasted effort. At first it seemed that Johnny was winning, since the other creature was being led away. Then it seemed less certain. Twice Johnny had ducked, and twice the other had seemed to make a point.

The demon was bigger than Johnny, and even bluer, which would indicate that he was in fairly compact form. It wasn’t too surprising that he might be stronger, since he’d probably spent his time feeding on the fire along the rocks, while Johnny had been wasting his energy leading them.

Now there could be no question about it. Johnny was losing. He was taking the evasive action, while the demon was plunging in. And Johnny was shrinking, without growing brighter. What energy he had was obviously being sucked out of him.

He swooped back for the tractor now. But the other no longer seemed to avoid the field of the little transmitter; if it was like a stench to the demon, it was a stench that could be tolerated when more urgent business called the creature to draw close.

Johnny swooped around the tractor twice, ducking each time. Then he drew himself down to his smallest size and made a sudden dart for the robot. Pete had been standing motionlessly. Now he erupted into action. He picked up the metal shovel that had been fastened to the back of the tractor and jumped to the ground, running rapidly toward the demon.

In his hand he brandished the metal tool. His actions were not quite smooth, as if he were trying too hard to control the robot. But his intentions were plain enough. He’d met his match at the purely electrical form of battle they knew, but he had picked up new abilities, and he intended to try them out.

“He’ll lose,” Charlie said roughly. “He ain’t familiar enough with it, and he’s forgot how slow that robot is compared to himself. By golly, now I wish I had brought a blaster. I’d plumb enjoy seeing that thing frizzle.

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