PARDON MY IRON NERVES A Captain Future Novelet By Edmond HAMILTON If you think Grag’s an insensitive robot, read his own account of getting psychoanalysed and repairing to Pluto’s Fourth Moon ! I've always been sorry for Otho. For his limitations aren't his own fault. CHAPTER I You see, neither Otho nor I was born. Metal Man We were made, created by science of Roger Newton, Curt's father, and of Simon. I DIDN'T want to do it. I, Grag, am not In their hidden laboratory on the given to talking about myself. When Moon—the same Moon-Laboratory that Curt Newton suggested that I write up this we Futuremen now call home—they used particular adventure for the case-book in their scientific skill to create living beings. which he records our doings I refused at I, Grag, was their first and supreme first. creation. They made me of enduring metal, I said, “No, Curt, I’d rather not. You powered by atomic generators that give my know I'm not one to brag about my own metal limbs immense strength. I am exploits.” stronger than twenty men together. My “I know that,” he said. “But since it was photo-electric eyes can see better and my you who where chiefly concerned in this audio-circuit ears can hear better. business with the Machs, and since you’re And my metal brain is just as superior in the only one who knows all the details you its own way. It contains millions of should write the report on it.” electronic synaptic circuits. That's why I Well, I had to agree. After all, Curt— can think and act so swiftly. Captain Future—depends on me more than I can still remember the look of awe on on any of the other Futuremen. It’s because the faces of my creators when they we think alike, I guess. observed the quickness with which I Of course Simon Wright was human learned. himself once—long ago before his brain I remember overhearing Roger Newton was transferred into the artificial serum- tell Simon, “Grag is a great creation in his case that is now his “body”. But there’s way. But we'll try a different form, next something a little remote about Simon time.” even to Curt. Simon agreed. “We don't want to create As for Otho, the other Futureman— another one like him !” well, being an android or artificial man, Otho looks human. But that's as far as it O BVIOUSLY they were a bit goes. Otho just doesn't think the way we frightened by the awesome do. intelligence and power they had created in I'll admit that I, Grag, don't look so me ! Naturally they felt that a few more much like other people. I'm a metal man, like me would make all other living seven feet high. Otho calls me a robot but creatures obsolete ! that's ridiculous—he merely does it That is why, when they created a second because he's jealous of me. artificial being, they ran no danger of 2 creating another super-being like myself I left them and went to the tubeway but instead chose the android form for station. It was a rush-hour and the tube- Otho because they wanted to make sure he cars were crowded. would have only a limited intelligence. I created a mild sensation in the station. When Roger Newton and his young Naturally, everyone had heard of me and wife died so tragically it was we Fu- of the things I had done, with the help of turemen—Simon and Otho and I—who Curt and the others. I heard them took care of little Curtis and reared him to whispering my name in the train. mankind. However I was too engrossed in my I have to admit that I taught Curt most own thoughts to pay attention to them. of what he learned. Otho was too feather- The errand upon which I was going was a headed to teach anyone and Simon too serious one. severe and impatient. Of course they I hadn't told Curt about it lest he worry. wouldn't let me spank Curtis, for my metal But the fact is that I was concerned about hand would have crushed him. But I was my health. his chief tutor and guide. And when Curt grew up and started roving, winning the nickname of Captain Future, he naturally leaned more on me than on the others. Many a time my resourcefulness saved the day when his recklessness had got us into trouble. In fact I've seldom let him go anywhere without me. But on the particular day when this business of the Machs really started I was on my own. We had come to Earth so that Curt Of course Otho would have laughed and might consult a certain bureau of the Solar sneered, “How can a metal man seven feet System Government. That gave me a high get sick ?” chance I'd been waiting for and I took it. But it wasn't bodily sickness that I said, “I'd like to go into New York worried me. My problem was a while you're holding your conference here psychological one. at Government Center, Curt.” I've always had a delicate, sensitive kind He stared at me. “Whatever for, Grag ?” of mind. I guess it's because my metal “He probably wants to get his rivets brain is just too brilliant. And lately I'd tightened,” put in Otho. been worrying a little about it. That's Otho's way of showing his petty It began when I happened to see a jealousy of me—always playing upon the televisor-play about a man losing his mind. fact that I'm made of metal. I simply It showed how he neglected his complexes ignored him with calm dignity, as I always until finally he went crazy. do. “This could happen to you !” the “Just a little private business,” I told announcer had said. “Tune in next week Curt. “I won't be long.” for another thrilling psychological drama, He said, “Well, you'll startle the people presented by the Sunshine Company on a little but everyone knows about Grag the their Happiness Hour !” Futureman so I guess they won't be too His words struck me. “This could surprised. Go ahead, but be back by ten for happen to you !” I began to think. I had had we're going back to the Moon then.” a feeling of depression lately—I was sure of it. Probably I had complexes from 3 overworking my brain too much. The more I stalked into the inner office. Doctor I thought about it the more I felt I'd better Perker was a wispy little man, polishing see a specialist before I ended up the same his spectacles when I entered. way. “Well, Mr. Grag, what's the trouble ?” I had already looked up the address of he said cheerfully, staring at me an eminent psychoanalyst and I got off at myopically as he polished. “You're a the right station and walked to his office. mighty husky young fellow to be seeing a New York was used to strangers— doctor. You look like a football player.” Martians, Venusians and what- not from all “No, I never played football but once,” I the planets. But they turned to look at me. told him. “It was on Mars. They put me out I paid no attention to their staring but of the game, because I knocked down the strode majestically on. goal-posts.” In Doctor Perker’s office there was a D pretty girl receptionist and a half-dozen OCTOR PERKER hastily laid down people sitting waiting. his glasses and fumbled at the The receptionist didn't at first look up hearing-aid he wore. “Blasted thing from her writing as she asked, “Do you amplifies too loud now and then !” wish to—” He reached for his glasses. “Now you She looked up, then, and her jaw fell were saying Mr. Grag ?” and she gulped. I had forgotten that to “It's my subconscious,” I told him. “I anyone unused to me the sudden entrance think I've got complexes.” of a colossal metal man would be a little He put his spectacles on and stared at upsetting. me. He gulped and then he said, “Huh ?” I turned my photo-electric eyes “Complexes. I get fits of depression. reassuringly upon her and told her, “Yes, I I'm afraid of what they'll lead to. A person want to see Doctor Perker as soon as I can. has to be careful of the mind.” My name is Grag.” The doctor had sat down suddenly, in She shrank away a little. “Do you mind his chair. He swallowed a couple of times repeating the name ?” and then said, “Grag ? Then you're that I did and she said shakily, “If you could Futureman, the robot who—” come back next week ?” “I don't like people calling me a robot,” “No, I’ll wait,” I said. I said indignantly. I went over to a corner and stood there, A glass chandelier shivered and fell and feeling a little depressed and worried about Doctor Perker hastily turned his hearing- the coming interview. aid farther down. The people who had been waiting to see “Please, please, not so loud,” he the psychoanalyst were all staring at me. whispered. “The plaster will be next and They certainly didn't look well—they were they're very particular in this building.” all pale and trembling and when I “I'm sorry,” I apologized. “My swivelled my head around to look at them loudspeaker voice is pretty strong.” one of them uttered a cry and the others “About your complexes,” he said jumped. huskily. “Perhaps, Mr. Grag, rather than a One by one they got up and slunk out of psychoanalyst a good mechanic—” the office. Presently a patient came from “No !” I told him. “I've got a human the inner office. He looked at me and then mind, and I need a human psychologist to he too went hastily out. help me. After all, I don't want to go on “Doctor Perker will see you now, Mr. until I'm crazy.” Grag,” the girl murmured. “No indeed,” he gulped. “A crazy ro— er—person like you is awful to think 4 about. We’ll see what we can do for you, “Well,” I said, “I remember that when I Mr. Grag.” was just a young robot, only a few weeks He still seemed pretty shaky and old, I put some uranium into my fuel- uncertain but he came up to me. “In chamber instead of copper to see what matters like this physical condition is would happen.” important,” he said. “Tell me, do you eat “What happened ?” he asked eagerly. well ?” “My overload fuses blew out,” I told “To tell the truth, doctor, my appetite him. “Simon fixed them and warned me has fallen off lately,” I admitted. “I never to take anything but copper in the consume only two-thirds as much copper future.” as I used to.” Doctor Perker looked baffled. He was He goggled at me. “Copper ?” obviously puzzled by the complexity of my “Of course—I take copper to keep my problem. atomic generators going,” I said “And when Otho was made,” I impatiently, tapping the little fuel-plate in continued, “I tried to be like a big brother my breast. to him because he was so ignorant. But he “Oh, of course,” he said, gulping again. jeered at me and called me robot !” It hurt “But have you slept well in recent weeks me, deep inside, doctor. I could feel my ?” relays click over when he called me that. “In recent weeks I haven’t slept at all— “Other ignorant people have called me not a minute,” I told him. robot sometimes. It's wounded my sub- “Ah, now we're getting somewhere,” he conscious. It’s what's given me an said. “How long have you had this inferiority complex, like the man in the insomnia condition ?” tele-drama.” “Why, ever since I was made,” I told “A metal man seven feet high with an him. “I never sleep.” inferiority complex ?” said Doctor Perker. He was beginning to look upset again. “Oh, no !” “Well, after all, it's the mind we're I saw that he was trying to conceal from interested in,” he said. “If you have me the gravity of my condition. I wouldn’t complexes it's because there's something in have that. I was brave enough to take it. your subconscious, festering away—” I told him so. I got up from the couch “Wouldn't it rust rather than fester ?” I and told him emphatically, “I do so have suggested. an inferiority complex !” “Well, rusting then,” he said. “Anyway, He saw that he couldn't fool me. He whatever it is we’ll have it out ! Suppose cringed a little. you lie down on the couch.” “Please, Mr. Grag—not so loud !” he It was a big comfortable- looking couch. begged. “If you say you have an inferiority I lay down on it. It promptly collapsed complex—why, you have.” under me. “What shall I do about it ?” I asked. I felt a little chagrined and told him, “Should I take an extended course of “Perhaps I should have told you that I analysis from you ?” weigh a little more than a ton.” “No, no, not that !” he said hurriedly. “Perhaps you should have,” he said “To get rid of your—er—complex you irritably. “Never mind. Just lie down and ought to get away from people for awhile. talk to me—tell me whatever comes into That's it ! You should stay away from other your mind. Memories, dreams, half- people, especially from crowded places forgotten fears—they're all important !” like New York.” I thought for a little while, trying to “But where shall I go ?” I asked. remember anything that would help. “Anywhere far off,” he replied. Then he added quickly, “I mean anywhere far off 5 from people who damage your ego by their “What’s Eek so upset about ?” Curt slurring comments. Go where people will asked. appreciate you and look up to you.” Otho put a gross interpretation on the “I'll do that, doctor,” I said earnestly. little fellow’s conduct, of course. “He's “But what about medicine ? This has been hungry as always. Grag must have a shock to me and I feel a little faint and forgotten to turn on the automatic feeder strange.” when we left.” Doctor Perker looked puzzled again, but I retorted angrily, “Eek is upset because he got some capsules from a cabinet. “Of he's concerned about my health, which is course,” he said. “Here are some sedative more than any of you seem to be.” capsules.” They seemed amazed. They stared at me I hastily put the capsules into my fuel and then Curt said, “Your health ?” chamber. I was trembling to think how I saw that I had to confess the truth. close I had been to disaster. There was no use being stoical about it. For the first time I almost envied Otho, So I told them of my visit to Doctor whose primitive low mind couldn't have a Perker and of my psychoses that he had complex if it tried. discovered. “Grag, with psychoses ?” Otho cried. “Oh, no—not that !” and he let out a whoop of laughter. His callous derision of my condition so CHAPTER II enraged me that in spite of my shakiness I Mission to Pluto started toward him to teach him more consideration for the ailing. Curt too had begun to grin at first but he had evidently realized the true seriousness O N OUR way back to the Moon I said of my condition, for he stepped between us nothing about my condition. I knew and reproved Otho severely. that Curt would be badly worried about me “You shut up, Otho ! The last time you and I didn't want to upset him. got Grag angry made trouble enough. If he In fact I half expected that he would says he has psychoses he has them. You notice how shaky I was but he didn't. bring in the Comet.” Probably his own business with the When Otho had gone I felt a reaction. Government was too much on his mind for Such angry emotion was not good for me him to notice. in my present state. Again I thought I was But when we reached the Moon- feeling faint. laboratory, my Spartan attempts to conceal “Thanks, Curt,” I said. “If you don’t my condition were ruined by Eek. mind—I think I'd like to sit down.” Eek has been my pet for years—a little “But you've never sat down to rest in moon-pup of the silicate telepathic non- your life—” he began and then said, “All breathing species that inhabits the deeper right. But don’t use a chair. This motor- caverns of the Moon and subsists on support table will hold you.” metallic nourishment. The little fellow His face had a queer strained look as loves me exceedingly. though he were suppressing his emotions. By his telepathic power Eek sensed at I realized how deep must be his concern. once that something was wrong with me. “Don't worry about me,” I reassured him He scrambled up onto my shoulder, weakly. “It's just that psychoses like these peering at me with his intelligent little eyes react on the nervous system.” and nuzzling me in frantic anxiety. Simon Wright had remained, hovering silent and motionless as is his way, those 6 cool lenslike eyes of his surveying me. His head-circuits a little. Let me tuck it around rasping metallic voice was unsympathetic you, Grag.” when he spoke. He put it over my head like a shawl and “This is all foolishness,” he said. “I wrapped it around me. Then he insisted on know your nervous system and brain better taking my temperature. than you do and the idea that you could get “I can do it by a thermocouple unit of such a derangement is nonsense.” high calibration put into your fuel- It was like Simon to say that. He has a chamber,” he said. great and brilliant mind but I'm afraid he I admit that I was a little touched by lacks the ordinary human sympathies that Otho's anxiety. “Don't worry about me, the rest of us have. Otho,” I said weakly. “I’ll get over it. “Better let me handle this, Simon,” said Don't you bother.” Curt. “Grag is really upset.” “Nothing's too much bother for my old He went with Simon toward the Brain's pal Grag !” he insisted. “I wish I could private laboratory. His low voice floated cheer you up a little. Wait—I’ll have Oog back down the corridor to me. do his new trick for you.” “—imitativeness, really—long asso- Now if there was one thing I didn't want ciation with humans—cure him by—” to see it was Otho’s pet Oog. That It was evident that Captain Future at repulsive little beast is a meteor- mimic, an least had a keen anxiety about my asteroidal species with a horribly uncanny condition. That was a comfort to me. ability to assume any desired bodily form. And when Otho presently returned into But I didn't want to hurt his feelings so I the main room he seemed to have come to made no objection. He whistled and Oog a realization that it was no laughing matter. came lolloping in—a fat doughy little For he came over and looked at me closely. white creature with vacant staring eyes. “Grag, it's true that you don't look so “Do the new trick I just taught you, Oog well,” he said. “I didn't notice it before but !” ordered Otho. I can see it now.” Oog's body changed shape, flowed, I mistrusted Otho's sudden solicitude. I twisted and suddenly had assumed a new said warily, “Yes ?” form. “Yes—it shows up in your face,” he He was now a manlike little figure, said, shaking his head. sitting with a cape of his own tissues “My face is rigid metal, so how can wrapped around him, rocking back and anything show up ?” I demanded. forth and holding hands to his middle. “It's your eyes I referred to,” Otho said. Otho suddenly went off into a roar of “They're sort of dull—as though their laughter. “That's it, Oog !” photoelectric circuits were disarranged. A suspicion seized me. I looked more And your voice has a timbre I don't like.” closely at Oog. The manlike, sitting figure he was imitating—it was me ! T HIS news dismayed me. I felt even “Oog is now playing 'Sick Robot !' ” worse and weaker than before. guffawed Otho. “You should protect your mental I leaped up, flung aside the blanket and circuits from these terrific temperature started toward Otho. “This does it, changes you subject them to,” Otho said android!” I roared. “This time you've gone earnestly. “I know heat and cold mean too far!” nothing to you usually but in a condition My anger at being thus mocked when I like this—” was unwell was so great that I don’t know He dashed out and came back with a what I would have done to Otho if my thick blanket. “Here, this will insulate your voice hadn't brought Curt running. 7 “Otho, get out of here !” snapped “Since it will take time to prepare an Captain Future. “I told you to let him expedition to investigate that dangerous alone.” little world they asked if we Futuremen “I'll crush that plastic-puss synthetic could have a quick look now to see why imitation of a man back into his original the Machs have failed. I told them we chemicals !” I said furiously. would if we could.” “Grag, don’t lose your temper—it's bad “What's all this got to do with my for you if you have any psychotic trouble,” condition ?” I demanded. Curt reminded me. “This—I want you to go out there and That cooled me down. I'd forgotten my look things over,” he explained. “Simon precarious psychological condition. and I are busy with the Andromeda data. Captain Future continued quickly, But you could run out there and “Grag, you said your psychoanalyst told investigate, since naturally the poison there you to get away from people to cure your doesn't affect you and you wouldn't need inferiority complex ?” any protection. “Yes—he said people were bad for me “It'll give you the change your doctor and that New York was especially bad that ordered, Grag. It'd get you away from way, so I wasn't to come back to him,” I humans for there's nobody on Dis except said. those Machs. And they're merely clever Curt’s face again twisted in that queer automatic machines—you could set them strained look I knew indicated deep worry. right wherever they've gone wrong and get “He wasn't so dumb,” Captain Future them to working again.” commented. “But I think he was right. I I think it might do you good to get away THOUGHT it over. I hated to leave from humans—I mean of course us other Curt but after all, I had to follow humans—for a little while. doctor's orders. “And it so happens,” he went on, “that “It'll be pretty tough on me with only a you can carry out a rather urgent mission bunch of dumb machines like that for for us at the same time. You've heard of company,” I said. the moon Dis ?” “Yes, their reaction-circuits are of the “Pluto's fourth little moon ?” I said. most elementary sort,” Curt admitted. “But “The one where they do the remote-control you can soon set them right, Grag. They'll actinium mining ?” naturally be absolutely subservient to Captain Future nodded. “That's the you—subservience to human commands is place. It’s rich in actinium but has a inherent in their circuits.” poisonous atmosphere that instantly kills “Well, I don't like to leave human oxygen-breathers. So it has been exploited society to give orders to a lot of dumb by automatic machine-workers, which mindless machines but if Doctor Perker mine, crush and load the actinium into thinks it'll be good for my condition I'll do barges to be picked up without need of any it.” humans living on the poisonous little “Grag, I think it'd be the best thing in moon. the world for your inferiority complex,” “But now something's wrong there. Captain Future said, smiling in his relief. They told me at Government headquarters My preparations were soon made. I that they'd got a flash on it from the ship wouldn’t need the Comet—the space-sled that went to Dis to pick up the loaded would be enough for me. It was a barges. The barges weren't loaded this time streamlined craft I'd built for my own and the Machs, the automatic machine- use—nobody else could use it for it had no workers, were not around. overdeck, no air-supply, no rest-cabin. It was a long slim open hull or boat with 8 high-powered atomic engines. Since I don't Ordinarily I'd always enjoyed these breathe, riding in open space doesn't bother jaunts by myself back and forth in the me. System. But I couldn't now. I was too When I was ready to depart Eek sensed worried about myself. A delicate that I was leaving and clambered up onto instrument like my mind could stand only my shoulder. I decided to take him with so much and I hoped I wouldn’t have too me. Since he didn't breathe either, neither much trouble setting things right on Dis. space nor the poisonous moon wo uld affect To Eek, who crouched contentedly on him. And it would break his heart to be left my shoulder and gnawed an odd scrap of behind again. copper, I said, “We'll have to be patient Simon Wright came gliding out of his with the Machs out there, Eek. They're not laboratory when he heard me bidding Curt intelligent like your master. They're just goodbye. simple automatic machines with only “Are you really going to let Grag go out elementary reaction-circuits.” there alone ?” he asked Curt. It would be difficult, I knew, to set “Someone has to look over things at Dis things aright if those mindless mechanicals and Grag can do it easily,” Captain Future had somehow cracked up. But since they answered. “And I think it’ll get these ideas had an inherent obedience to humans built out of his mind.” into their crude reaction-circuits their awe Otho offered me a little satchel. “It has a of me would make it easier. first-aid kit in it, Grag. In your condition “If we’re just patient with the poor you might need it.” stupid things they can be got back into Suspiciously, I opened it. It contained a their proper work-routine again,” I said. small atomic welder and some rivets. I It was well for me that I could not promptly flung it at his head but he dodged foresee the terrible shock that my already with that slithery swiftness of his. delicate mental condition was to receive Curt came up to the airlock with me. when we reached Pluto's moon. “Complexes or no complexes, you look out for yourself, Grag. You know we can't get along without you.” I was touched by his affectionate CHAPTER III emotion. And I was glad that he obviously The Machs didn't fully realize my shakiness for he would not have let me go if he had. I went up through the lock to the surface and soon had my long space-sled out of its T own hangar. Presently, standing at its HE fourth moon of Pluto, which is so control-post with Eek perched comfortably small compared to the other three that on my shoulder, I was zooming upward. I sometimes it isn't even counted, is whipped around the Moon and laid my completely uninhabitable to ordinary course for Pluto. humans. Its atmosphere contains a poison There's something about travelling in a so virulent that the tiniest opening in a space-ship, even the Comet, that gives me protective suit means instant death. a slightly cramped feeling. It can't compare That is why, when rich deposits of to zipping along in an open craft, with the actinium were discovered there, no attempt stars blazing undimmed all around you and was made to mine them in the ordinary the Sun glaring at your back. Also it was a way. Instead, automatic machines, adapted pleasure not to have to worry about the from ordinary machines, were designed effects of acceleration-pressure on others. I that could do the work without need of simply opened the power to the last notch. intelligent direction. 9 There were many Diggers, big in those small buildings I did not shoveling and excavating machines to get investigate them. up the ore. There were lorry- like haulers to Instead I strode off toward the main ore- transport it to the main work-base. There, beds, where the Diggers and Haulers were self-powered and movable crushers usually puffing about at their work. reduced it by means of their ponderous Before I had gone a half- mile I heard a pile-driver arms and loaders flung it into rumbling clanking sound from ahead. the barges, which could be picked up by Only a Mach could make such a sound and space-ships. There were also automatic I felt relieved. tenders to supply copper atomic fuel and “At least some of them are still at work, lubrication to the other machines. Eek,” I said. These Machs—as such semi-automatic Then the Mach appeared over a crest, machines were called—had worked coming toward me. It was a Digger, its perfectly until now. Their electric reaction- huge shovel with its mighty inertron tusk circuits, which made use of both lens raised in the air as it rumbled along on its “eyes” sensitive to light impulses and caterpillar tractor. electroscopic artificial senses sensitive to It puzzled me to see a Digger wandering radiation, kept them in their ceaseless like this. They never were supposed to routine of toil. What had interrupted the leave the ore-beds—the Tenders took carefully-designed routine ? atomic fuel and lubricant to them there, at “Probably,” I told Eek as we swept in regular intervals. toward Dis, “they’ve run into some But this one was a mile away from the problem that their rud imentary reaction- ore-diggings. It came clanking along circuits can't handle. Well, we'll soon get toward me and I waited. Then the lenses in them going again.” its humped circuit-box on top glimpsed I had carefully studied the file on Dis me. It stopped, its atomics purring. which Curt had given me before I left. I Its reaction-circuits, having received the spotted, on the drab gray surface of the visual intelligence that I was human, would little moon, the cluster of cylindrical instantly cause it to s tand still and await barges and sheds that were the main work- my actions. The Machs were all made so. I base. strode forward to examine it more closely. I would not have been surprised to see Then I got the most terrible shock of my motionless Machs around it if something life. From the giant machine a deep had gone wrong. But there were no Machs bellowing toneless voice spoke to me. there at all. It said, “Where did you come from, “Now what's become of the Crushers chum ?” and Loaders ?” I wondered. “They were I stood stock still. Eek was cowering never supposed to leave work-base.” behind me in terror. The huge machine I landed the space-sled and stepped off brooded, its lenses pointed straight at me. it. Of course, since Eek and I don't breathe, It was terribly clear to me what had the deadly poison of the atmosphere happened. My mind, overburdened with affected us no more than space. psychoses, had cracked. I was suffering First I glanced into the cylinder-shaped delusions like the man in the tele-play. I barges. There was very little actinium, had thought that the Digger spoke to me. indicating that no work had been done here All this flashed through my thoughts in for weeks. an instant. And then the Digger spoke Beyond the barge-docks were the again. storehouse for emergency supplies and the “What's the matter ? You strip a gear ?” emergency shelter for humans. Since none It was then that I noticed something. It of the huge and ponderous Machs could be was a diaphragm set in the front of the 10 Mach's circuit-box beneath its lenses. That It boomed back, “To the others. You're wasn't supposed to be there. And the the first to arrive from Outside since the bellowing voice seemed to come from it. coming of the Liberator.” It wasn't my mind after all. The Mach “Who is the Liberator ?” was talking to me somehow. But how “The one who freed you, of course !” could it ? No, I was cracking up. the thing bellowed back. “Well ?” roared that tremendous voice It didn't make sense to me. Since I and the huge tusked shovel suddenly couldn't very well get out of the scoop swung threateningly over me. there was nothing to do but wait till we reached our destination. I FOUND my voice. Either I was crazy Eek had fled back to the space-sled or this Digger could talk. If it could talk when the Digger grabbed me up. It wasn't it should be able to hear too. that Eek was afraid—he doubtless had “I just arrived—from Earth,” I managed some plan in his clever devoted little mind to say. to help me. “From Outside ?” bellowed the Digger. Soon we came into sight of the shallow It seemed to become wildly excited. Its ore-beds. I was astounded. There were shovel swung up and down and it rushed scores of huge Machs here, moving around closer to me on its tractor-treads. “How in an aimless throng of mechanical did you come ?” monsters. Besides Diggers and Haulers and “I had a space-sled—” I began, and then Tenders there were all the Crushers and stopped. The incongruity of it was too Loaders that should have been busy at the much for me. Here was I, Grag, an work-base. intelligent person, actually conversing with My Digger rolled into the middle of the a Digger ! It couldn’t be ! throng and then lowered its scoop to the “Say, the others will want to hear about ground. As I stepped out of it the huge this !” shouted the Digger. “Come on with Mach spoke again. me !” It turned swiftly on its treads. “Look here, all you guys ! A new one— I hesitated. The Digger instantly from Outside !” whipped around again, with a snarling They gathered around, Crushers, bellow. “You heard me !” Diggers, Tenders. Their lens-eyes stared at Its huge shovel descended—and me. I was like a midget in that assembly of scooped me up. I rattled about in that looming Machs. mighty metal scoop as it started swiftly Then a towering Crusher spoke forward. I, Grag, picked up like a doll ! deafeningly. “He's so small he must be a Furious at the indignity I scrambled to toy.” my feet with the idea of tearing the crude “Or maybe a model,” said a Hauler. Mach girder from girder. But it was all I The fact that they could all speak was could do to cling erect in the giant scoop as not entirely a surprise to me for I had we jolted along. noticed by now that they all had speech- And I was forced to admit that even the diaphragms on their circuit-boxes. Still it mighty strength of Grag could not avail was rather overwhelming. against the colossal machine. I saw that I But anger tempered my astonishment. I, must resort to guile, to using my mind Grag, the mightiest being in the System, against the stupid monster. called a toy ! Clinging to the edge of the scoop I But worse was in store. A Tender spoke peered at the fixed lenses of the thing and up, its jointed fuel and lubrication lines shouted to it, “Where are you taking me ?” projecting from its cylindrical metal bulk as its lenses surveyed me. 11 “He's a puny little squirt but he has his “To the Liberator !” bellowed the horde. rights—after all he's one of us !” “He'll soon fix up this guy with some “That's right,” boomed the big Digger intelligence !” that had captured me. It swung on its I gathered that that meant me. To be treads, speaking to the nightmare referred to by these ungainly machines as assemblage of machines. “Say, this is a unintelligent was the final straw. great occasion ! This is the first liberated I was about to attempt action when the Mach to come to us from Outside !” Digger who held me rumbled up to the That did it ! That I, Grag, should be work-base and stopped. It had halted in classed by these stupid, automatic Machs front of the metalloy-and-cement as one of them ! emergency shelter there. “I'm not a Mach !” I roared. T “Furthermore I demand to know why HE Digger unceremoniously dumped you're all here doing nothing ! Why aren't me in front of the shelter's airlock you at work ?” door and bellowed deafeningly, “Here's “Work ?” roared a giant Crusher. It another of us to fix up, Liberator !” advanced on me ominously. “Say, this guy I had been about to turn furiously and isn't a Mach ! He talks about work !” attack the whole monstrous mob but that “Beat him up !” bellowed a dozen gave me pause. Who was this Liberator ? voices deafeningly. Only a human would be inside that shelter! The Machs surged in toward me. I There was a mystery here. Deciding would have been crushed to scrap if the instantly to solve it I strode forward into Digger who had captured me had not the airlock. It was of the standard pattern— scooped me up swiftly. I closed the outer door, turned on the air “Wait !” it roared. “He's a Mach all that forced the poisoned atmosphere out of right—he just hasn't been liberated yet !” the lock, then pushed into the small room That gave them pause. Then a Tender of the shelter in-self. spoke up. We'll take him to the Liberator!” I stood, my eyes searching the dim “To the Liberator !” the cry went up. room. Then I saw an elderly gray-haired Instantly the Digger who held me, Earthman, who was crouched in a corner followed by all the ho rde of Machs, started of the room, regarding me with terrified back the way we had come. eyes. By now, jolting along at the head of that I strode forward. thundering mob, I was sure that my mind “What are you doing here ? Who are had gone. This must be all delusion. Yet it you ?” I demanded. seemed real to me. The Earthman shrank from me. The bitterness of it crushed me. My too- “I’ll do what they ask !” he babbled. great demands on my tremendous brain “I’ll give you intelligence ! Just be had been too much for it. I had cracked up patient!” and probably would never even be able to “Give me intelligence ?” I roared. return home. “What are you talking about ?” Curt would grieve. Simon would miss He stared at me. Then, fearfully, he me. Even Otho would miss me. They had came a little closer to me. leaned upon me so long, relying on me to “Why, you're not a Mach,” he breathed. pull them out of perilous difficulties. The “You're a robot.” Futuremen could not last long without me. “Robot ?” I yelled. “Are you trying to All the time the Mach horde that seemed insult me ? I'm Grag the Futureman !” so real was rumbling, clanking and jolting “A Futureman ?” he cried. “I've heard on over the drab plain with me. Soon we that one of them is a ro—I mean, a metal again came in sight of the work-base. 12 man. Then Captain Future is here on Dis ? “I installed the brains. I watched the Thank God !” Machs as their visual and aural senses “He's not but I am !” I told him. poured sensations into their new electronic “What’s all this about ?” cortices. I saw them rapidly develop He was shaking all over. I had to let him volition, the sense of self-preservation, the sit down and collect himself before he ability to compare.” could speak. “You mean that it was you who got I saw now that the room of the shelter these Machs off the beam ?” I cried, the was fitted up as a physical laboratory. sense of what he was saying now There was a poison-proof protective suit penetrating. hanging in a corner. There were Gordon nodded, looking haggard. “Yes. complicated apparatus and instruments that But my success was too great. Before I crowded the place. knew it they developed so much He began to speak unsteadily. “I'm individuality and intelligence that they Doctor Hollis Gordon of New York refused longer to work in the ore-beds ! Cybernetics Foundation. I came here two They just roam around and let the Tenders months ago.” take care of them.” “On the ore pick-up ship ?” I asked. “So that's why no ore was mined !” I “Why did they leave you ?” exclaimed. “But why didn't you go back ? “No, I didn't come on the ore-ship,” Why did you stay here ?” Gordon said. “I came secretly and alone in His voice rose hysterically. “They a small flier. You see, I had resolved to wouldn't let me ! They called me their engage upon an experiment for which I had Liberator for giving them intelligence but no permission. they wouldn't let me return—and to make “As a cyberneticist my whole life has sure I didn’t, they took my flier away and been spent in the study of synthetic hid it.” mechanical intelligence. I had evolved He added suddenly, “Just as they're some new theories on the design of taking away your craft now ! Apparently electronic brains. They had worked in they don’t want anyone leaving here !” laboratory models and I wanted to try them I sprang to the window. It was true. out on a big scale. Two Diggers had picked up my space-sled “I'd heard of the Machs here on Dis, the between them. They were bearing it away. automatic machines that mined actinium. With a howl, I jumped toward the door. With their self-power and sensual reaction- But Gordon’s protest stopped me. circuits they would be a complete “You’ll only get yourself destroyed ! laboratory test on a big scale, already set You can't oppose those huge machines !” up and waiting. So I came to experiment It was true. And it gave me a sharp with them by giving them controlling dismay. electronic brains to observe their I turned angrily on the cyberneticist. capabilities.” “Why in thunder didn't you let me know all Gordon's hands began to shake. “I this when I first arrived here ? You must brought with me the scores of brains I had have seen me landing and walking made. Using a poison-proof suit, I began around!” work on the Machs. It was a simple matter G to short their routine work-circuits and ORDON nodded. install my cybernetic apparatus on each. I “I did. But naturally I thought you gave them not only volition but ability to were another Mach.” speak by means of recorded syllable- “Just because I have an inferiority sounds with an automatic selector—also complex everybody thinks they can insult the ability to hear. me !” I howled. “But that's going too far !” 13 Gordon shrank from me again. “It's not “What do you mean, pretend ?” I cried that you look like a Mach now—but I saw indignantly. “I'm more intelligent than you from so far away !” he quavered. “A anyone here, certainly more than a natural mistake.” cyberneticist who was crazy enough to “I see nothing natural about it,” I start all this !” growled. A thunderous knocking on the wall of There was a moment of silence. My the shelter began which shook the whole already burdened mind was reduced to structure on its foundations. despair by this dilemma. “It's one of the Crushers,” moaned I had come to Dis for relief from the Gordon. “Please go out to them. If you do, oppressive psychoses that too much maybe you can get them out of the way so cerebral activity had given me. And now I I can get to my flier and you to your own found myself marooned here with a rash craft and get away.” cyberneticist and some scores of loud- I saw that that was our only chance of mouthed intelligent Machs, any one of escape from this crazy little moon. Much which could break even Grag in half. as I hated to do it I, Grag the Futureman, From outside, from the wafting Machs, had to pretend to be a Mach. came a thundering bellow. “Haven't you So I went out through the airlock. finished with that guy, Liberator ?” When I came out the waiting mob of “How is it that they use such tough Machs set up a deafening babble. language ?” I asked Gordon, disgustedly. “How about it, guy ? How does it feel “That’s not my fault,” he answered to be intelligent like us ?” defensively. “I let the technician who It was bitter humiliation for me. But designed the syllable-selector record the facing this horde of huge stupid monsters I vocabulary himself. Though a fine had to play my part. technician he's rather illiterate in many I stretched my arms and bellowed ways. That' s the way he talked himself, so ecstatically, “It’s wonderful—wonderful ! they all talk that way.” Before I was just a stupid work-Mach. From outside came an even more Now I've got intelligence like you !” impatient roar, that shook the whole They swallowed it, of course. They shelter. “Finish with that new guy and send crowded around me, congratulating me in him out or we’ll come for him.” their bellowing voices. A Crusher gave me a friendly slap on the back that knocked me twenty feet away. I had been thinking. And I had a plan— the only one possible. If it got me to my CHAPTER IV space-sled I’d be able to take Gordon, in Crazy Moon his suit, to his flier. So, without showing the indignation that boiled in me, I picked myself up and addressed them. “Brother Machs !” G ORDON turned white. “Yo u'd better It nearly blew my fuses to have to call go out. If you don't they'll break in these metal morons brothers but I forced here.” myself to it. “What am I going to do when I go out?” “Yeah, what is it ?” asked the big I demanded. Digger. “You can pretend that I've 'liberated' “Have you thought of all the Machs that you,” he said. “You can pretend that I've there are on other worlds Outside ?” I given you intelligence.” 14 demanded. “Shouldn't they be liberated My indignation reached a peak. I was too ?” blasted if I, mighty Grag, was going to be “Sure !” went up a cry. “Every one of fed powdered copper fuel like a Mach ! If them that comes here like you did we'll they did it I knew I'd blow all my fuses have the Liberator fix them up. ” from anger as I had that time when I tried “But they can't come—they're uranium fuel. enslaved,” I said dramatically. “Suppose I That remembrance suddenly detonated a took the Liberator to them ? He could free red-hot idea in my brain ! There might be all the Machs on those worlds by making a way to get out of this yet. What Grag's them intelligent like us !” strength could not achieve his great brain I had figured they'd fall for that at once. possibly could ! But they didn't. It seemed they weren’t I quite as stupid as all that. raised my voice. “Do you mean to say “Nothing doing,” roared a Crusher. you Machs are still living on plain “That way they’d get to know about us copper fuel ?” I demanded scornfully. Outside. They'd come here and set us all to “What's the matter with you that you don't work again if they could.” use the actinium you mined ?” “That's right,” bellowed the big Digger. They stared at me, obviously surprised. “For years I worked in the ore-beds, “Actinium ?” repeated the big Digger. “Is digging, digging. Why ? I didn’t know that as good atomic fuel as copper ?” why—I didn't know anything. Now I don't “It's fifty times better ! I told them. ” have to work. Let’s keep it that way.” “It's radioactive and yields many times “But all our fellow-Machs outside, more atomic power than copper !” toiling away—” I protested. “Why didn't we think of that ?” cried the “That’s their hard luck, chum,” retorted Digger to the other Machs. “If actinium's the Digger callously. “We got a good set- better than copper we'll use it ! It belongs up here and we want to keep it. Huh, to us by right—we're the ones who mined guys?” it !” They bellowed agreement. I felt baffled. “Yeah, sure !” they cried. “Tenders, you The only chance of escape seemed gone. fill your tanks with the actinium and pass it The Digger was rumbling on. “We got around !” enough copper atomic fuel and lubricants Presently the Tenders had loaded up. and repair-parts in the storehouses here to They now proceeded to go around amid the last us for years. So we're going to enjoy Machs, pumping the actinium into the fuel- life.” chamber of each. These Machs were too stupid to worry I felt exultant. If uranium had blown my about the future, I saw. All they wanted to overload fuses radioactive actinium should do was to ramble idly around the moon. do the same to the atomics of all these Just not working was new and thrilling to Machs, putting them out of commission. them. But my exultation changed to The Digger bellowed deafeningly, apprehension when a Tender came rolling “Hey, one of you Tenders ! Come here and up to me, extending its fuel- line. give our new little pal some copper !” “No, I don’t want any actinium !” I A Tender came rolling rapidly up to me. cried. “Give it to the others !” Its lenses glittered at me as its fle xible fuel The Digger bellowed, “No, you get your and lubricant lines snaked out toward me. share, guy ! After all you're the one who To my disgust it solicitously squirted thought of it in the first place !” greasy lubricant into all of my joints. Then “That's right !” cried the other Machs. it poked its fuel- line at me commandingly. They were crowded around me and I dared not resist further lest I awaken 15 suspicion in the ir rudimentary minds. I was They deafened me for they had lost all forced to open my fuel-plate. control of voice- volume. Their uncertain The Tender eagerly pumped actinium into movements threatened to run over me as my fuel-chamber. As I closed my fuel- they crowded around. plate I felt already an access of surging I felt my own mind becoming strange. new strength and heard my usually Obviously the strain of my position had noiseless atomic generators humming worsened my psychoses so that I too felt loudly. an unhealthy influence from the actinium- Bitterly I regretted my idea. Presently power coursing through me. my own fuses would blow and I’d be left It is only my psychoses that could have helpless here until Curt came looking for been responsible for my aberration that me. followed. For ordinarily no excess-energy But my fuses did not blow. It seemed fuel could have affected me in the way it that actinium, not having quite the did. potential energy of uranium, did not Night had come by now but the great exceed the load-limit of my generators. shield of Pluto poured a flood of white What it did do was to pour such energy light. In my temporary aberration, the through my generators that all my nerves whole drab scene now seemed raptly seemed on fire. My head spun a little with beautiful, the noisy lumbering giant Machs the impact of too much energy through my a crowd of boon companions. I regret to brain. say that I too raised my voice loudly, and “Say, you were right—actinium's a beat upon my breast. million times better than copper !” cried “I'm feeling better now !” I shouted. the big Digger to me, rolling closer. “I'm feeling lots better ! Coming to this “I'll say it is—I feel better than I ever moon has helped my psychoses a lot !” felt before !” howled a looming Crusher. “That’s the boy !” they bellowed. And to show it he proceeded to use his “You're as good a Mach as any of us even pile-driver arm to crush an enormous rock if you are puny.” to fragments with two blows. “Puny ?” I cried. “I'm Grag the mighty ! Horrified, I perceived that all the huge Who was it that led the Futuremen all the Machs were acting strangely. Their way to Andromeda ? Who is it that tears movements on their caterpillar treads had meteors apart and pushes comets around become slightly uncertain. They lurched with his bare hands ?” and swayed as they moved and their “Tender !” yelled the big Digger. “Let's mechanical voices were now a deafening have some more actinium !” babble. They crowded around the Tenders. It The terrib le realization flashed over me. was obvious that the Te nders had filled The actinium, pouring far too much energy their own fuel-chambers with actinium for through their generators into their mental the movements of their fuel and lubricant circuits, was stimulating them with so lines were unsteady. much power it had unhinged their I am sorry to confess that I too shouted, reactions. “More actinium !” and pressed toward the To put it crassly these Machs were as Tenders. drunk as goats. But small as I was I couldn't get through “Fellow Machs !” roared the Digger. “I the crowd of towering Machs around the say we ought to thank our new pal for Tenders. A big Loader flung me back out giving us this actinium idea !” of the crowd. “That’s right !” thundered scores of Ordinarily I would have resented that voices. “He's a swell Mach—one of the bitterly. But I was too stimulated at the best !” 16 moment. I picked myself up and shouted I vaguely glimpsed Gordon's face inside again. the window of the shelter, peering out at us “My psychoses are gone—I feel like in horror. dancing !” I cried. Then came catastrophe. The big Digger “Dancing ? What’s that ?” asked the raised its voice in a reverberating thunder Digger. of anger as its Loader-partner was snatched “It's what people do for fun—like this,” away from it by the mighty pile-driver arm I told him. of the Crusher which had been my own I had never danced before but I had partner. often watched people doing it and had “That Loader's dancing with me, always been sure that I would be quite Crusher !” roared the Digger. good at it. “Says who ?” retorted the Crusher. So now, in the silvery planet- light, I did For answer, the angry Digger with its a slow graceful waltz for them, circling huge scoop tore the Loader away from the around and humming a tune as I did so. other. “You do it like this, only in couples,” I Instantly the Crusher loosed a blow with explained. its pile-driver that smashed in half the girders of the Digger's side. T HE Machs were enchanted by my A howl went up. “The Crushers are performance. trying to destroy us Diggers !” “Say, that looks like fun ! Let's try it !” All at once around me there raged a cried a Crusher. wild melée of battling machines, huge It extended its mighty pile-driver arm. I girder-arms and scoops and metal tusks, took it and despite the disparity in size battering at each other. between myself and the huge Mach we I, Grag, didn't have a chance in that performed a waltz by no means without battle of titans. A Digger’s whirling scoop grace—the Crusher following my lead a caught me and knocked me clear across the little uncertainly on its rumbling caterpillar ore-barges. treads. I got up, badly shaken but with no metal They all started to do it. The big Digger fractured. In the silver planet-light the hooked onto a Loader with its scoop and combat of the actinium-drunken Machs they circled unsteadily. Haulers, Tenders, was a nightmare of huge battering rending Crushers—all of them were soon waltzing machines. ponderously in the planet- light. The My own aberration of overstimulation ground shook violently under their had left me. The shock and the fact that I rumbling treads and they all bellowed out hadn’t been able to get a second helping of the waltz-song they had heard me actinium were sobering my mind rapidly. humming. Instantly I realized that this was the chance to get away. I hurried to the shelter "Sweetheart mine, and through the airlock into it. You are divine—” Gordon, again, shrank from me in terror when I entered. “Come on—now's our I lost my Crusher partner when I fell chance to find our ships and get out of into a hole. But I got up and was claimed here!” I told him. by a Tender, which gripped me with its “I saw you out there !” he squeaked. lines and whirled me around in dizzying “You're as mad as those Machs— fashion. drunken—dancing—” “I was only doing that to play along with them,” I told him. “Get on that protective suit and hurry !” 17 Still fearful he scrambled into the suit. Then I sat, with Eek nestled beside me, Then we went out. and waited for my brain to stop aching. The battle-royal was at full height. The When I finally walked into the Moon- air was filled with raging howls and flying laboratory, Curt and Otho and Simon girders and rivets as the Machs hammered stared at me in wonder. I hadn't been able each other. to smooth out the many dents and scars in We skirted wide around the melée and I my body and I knew how battered I led the way over the planet- lit plain in the looked. direction I had seen my space-sled carried “What in the name of the moon- imps away. happened to you ?” Otho demanded. “They'll have put it with your own I answered with dignity, “I have just flier,” I told Gordon by our suit- gone alone through a terrible danger. Of communics. course that wouldn't worry you.” My brain was aching badly from the Curt asked, “Whatever happened, did it over-stimulation of actinium energy. My help your complexes any ?” limbs were shaky. All I wanted to do was “Yes, it did,” I answered. “I am glad to never to see this moon again. say that my dangerous psychosis is all We found the space-sled and the flier. gone.” The Machs had tucked them into a cleft I added, “You see, those Machs had run near the ore-beds. I was vastly relieved to completely wild. I was obliged to use find Eek still cringing in a corner of the physical force upon them and I’m sorry to space-sled. say that I practically demolished them all. The little fellow greeted me with frantic New Machs will ha ve to be built but the joy. old ones were thoroughly unreliable I told Gordon, “Now get out of here and anyway.” see that you keep quiet about all this if you “You demolished a crowd of Machs ?” don't want to be arrested for your Otho cried. “Oh, no !” unauthorized experiments.” “If you don't believe me go out to Dis “If I get safely back to Earth I never and see for yourself,” I retorted. want to hear cybernetics mentioned again!” Captain Future nodded. “Of course— he said hoarsely. and the necessity of dominating those “Especially,” I told him emphatically, simple Machs would rid you of your “don't mention anything I did here. If you inferiority complex.” were to tell tales about me I wouldn't like I avoided his eye. “Yes,” I said. “That’s it!” about it.” And I flexed my hands meaningly, But later, when we were alone, Curt glaring at him. “Don't worry, I won’t give demanded, “Now tell me what really you away—I mean, I won't tell of your happened, Grag !” brilliant stratagem,” he assured me hastily. I said, worriedly, “I would but if Otho I saw him off in his flier, then took off should overhear—” in my own space-sled. I flew low over the “I understand,” he nodded. “You write it work-base and looked down. up for our case-book. I'll guarantee to keep The battle was over. The Machs had Otho from ever seeing your report.” succeeded in battering each other to pieces and there was only a great scrap-heap of So I have written it. And I hope Curt's twisted girders, plates, treads and wheels. promise holds good. For if Otho ever reads I zoomed out away from Dis, pointed this my life won't be worth living ! the space-sled toward Earth and opened the power wide. 18