Captain Future 27 - Birthplace of Creation (May 1951) by Edmond Hamilton
Book: Captain Future 27 - Birthplace of Creation (May 1951) by Edmond Hamilton
Read Free Book Online
Authors: Edmond Hamilton
Tags: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Ads: Link
unexpected outcome.
Otho, Grag and Captain Future were working in the main room of the Moon-laboratory, that day. Otho was using an atomic welder to fasten copper bars into the mechanism they were constructing.
Oog, playing around Otho’s feet, amused himself by changing himself abruptly into a perfect replica of a big copper bar.
By ill fortune, at this particular moment, Eek came ambling into the room. He looked around. His beady eyes fixed on the big bar of copper on the floor.
Now if there was one metal that Eek loved to devour most of all, it was copper. He almost drooled as he sprang forward and fastened his sharp teeth in that luscious metal bar.
Next moment the Futuremen heard a startled yelp of pain and rage and a scuffle under their feet. They looked down.
Oog, who had changed back with the speed of light to his own doughy white shape, was standing stiff-legged and glaring at Eek. Then, growling, the meteor-mimic advanced toward the moon-pup.
“By space, they’re at it at last!” Otho exclaimed excitedly. “Here’s where we finally see Eek get his beating!”
“Stand up to him, Eek!” boomed Grag. “Knock the daylight out of him.”
OOG OPENS ATTACK
Next moment, Oog had jumped. His fat white body and the gray, agile one of Eek whirled over and over.
Then Eek’s strong paws, paws equipped with diamond-hard talons that could dig metal out of pure rock, came into play. With a rake of those powerful paws he sent Oog flying against the wall.
Grag cheered deafeningly. “That’s the stuff, Eek!”
Oog shook himself, then came determinedly back toward his opponent. Eek was waiting, his paws raised for another blow.
Oog paused suddenly. His body twisted, flowed, changed shape and color. Suddenly, he was an exact replica of Eek himself.
It was as though two Eeks faced each other on the floor, advancing toward each other and then locking in battle.
“Holy space-imps!” exclaimed Otho, startled. “He figured Eek’s paws were too strong for him, so he made himself just like Eek. But which of them is which?”
There was no possibility of distinguishing between the real and the fake Eek as they scrambled around on the floor in their struggle.
But soon it became evident that one Eek was giving the other a terrible whipping. In a few moments, one of the two identical antagonists deserted the struggle and retreated out of the room at top speed, with the other in pursuit.
“That was Oog doing the chasing!” Otho claimed, as he and the others started after them.
“You’re crazy — it was Eek! Oog was running for his life!” retorted Grag.
GENTLEMEN, THE WINNAH!
The two pets had disappeared. They searched through one after another of the Moon-laboratory’s branching chambers and corridors.
It was not until an hour later, in the underground hangar of the Comet, that they found Oog and Eek. Oog wore his own proper shape, now.
He and Eek, apparently little the worse for wear, were curled up together in a corner — asleep!
“The devil! They got over their scrapping and made friends again!” exclaimed Otho.
“But which one of them was it that won?” asked Captain Future slyly.
“Oog, of course — didn’t you see?” Otho countered.
“If you had decent eyes, you’d know it was Eek!” stormed Grag.
They made attempts to start the scrap going again. But it was in vain. Oog and Eek were as good friends as ever, once more. They calmly refused to be incited to more battle.
Who had been victor, Grag’s pet or Otho’s? No one would ever know. But the argument has gone on ever since.
Grag’s Pet, The Moon-Pup
From the Winter 1946 issue of Captain Future
Captain Future is averse to adopting the fierce, untamed creature — until Grag’s faith in it is fully justified!
WILD and forbidding in the harsh glare of un-softened sunlight, stretched the lifeless surface of the Moon. This savage landscape was without vegetation, water or air. It was a rumpled expanse
Otho, Grag and Captain Future were working in the main room of the Moon-laboratory, that day. Otho was using an atomic welder to fasten copper bars into the mechanism they were constructing.
Oog, playing around Otho’s feet, amused himself by changing himself abruptly into a perfect replica of a big copper bar.
By ill fortune, at this particular moment, Eek came ambling into the room. He looked around. His beady eyes fixed on the big bar of copper on the floor.
Now if there was one metal that Eek loved to devour most of all, it was copper. He almost drooled as he sprang forward and fastened his sharp teeth in that luscious metal bar.
Next moment the Futuremen heard a startled yelp of pain and rage and a scuffle under their feet. They looked down.
Oog, who had changed back with the speed of light to his own doughy white shape, was standing stiff-legged and glaring at Eek. Then, growling, the meteor-mimic advanced toward the moon-pup.
“By space, they’re at it at last!” Otho exclaimed excitedly. “Here’s where we finally see Eek get his beating!”
“Stand up to him, Eek!” boomed Grag. “Knock the daylight out of him.”
OOG OPENS ATTACK
Next moment, Oog had jumped. His fat white body and the gray, agile one of Eek whirled over and over.
Then Eek’s strong paws, paws equipped with diamond-hard talons that could dig metal out of pure rock, came into play. With a rake of those powerful paws he sent Oog flying against the wall.
Grag cheered deafeningly. “That’s the stuff, Eek!”
Oog shook himself, then came determinedly back toward his opponent. Eek was waiting, his paws raised for another blow.
Oog paused suddenly. His body twisted, flowed, changed shape and color. Suddenly, he was an exact replica of Eek himself.
It was as though two Eeks faced each other on the floor, advancing toward each other and then locking in battle.
“Holy space-imps!” exclaimed Otho, startled. “He figured Eek’s paws were too strong for him, so he made himself just like Eek. But which of them is which?”
There was no possibility of distinguishing between the real and the fake Eek as they scrambled around on the floor in their struggle.
But soon it became evident that one Eek was giving the other a terrible whipping. In a few moments, one of the two identical antagonists deserted the struggle and retreated out of the room at top speed, with the other in pursuit.
“That was Oog doing the chasing!” Otho claimed, as he and the others started after them.
“You’re crazy — it was Eek! Oog was running for his life!” retorted Grag.
GENTLEMEN, THE WINNAH!
The two pets had disappeared. They searched through one after another of the Moon-laboratory’s branching chambers and corridors.
It was not until an hour later, in the underground hangar of the Comet, that they found Oog and Eek. Oog wore his own proper shape, now.
He and Eek, apparently little the worse for wear, were curled up together in a corner — asleep!
“The devil! They got over their scrapping and made friends again!” exclaimed Otho.
“But which one of them was it that won?” asked Captain Future slyly.
“Oog, of course — didn’t you see?” Otho countered.
“If you had decent eyes, you’d know it was Eek!” stormed Grag.
They made attempts to start the scrap going again. But it was in vain. Oog and Eek were as good friends as ever, once more. They calmly refused to be incited to more battle.
Who had been victor, Grag’s pet or Otho’s? No one would ever know. But the argument has gone on ever since.
Grag’s Pet, The Moon-Pup
From the Winter 1946 issue of Captain Future
Captain Future is averse to adopting the fierce, untamed creature — until Grag’s faith in it is fully justified!
WILD and forbidding in the harsh glare of un-softened sunlight, stretched the lifeless surface of the Moon. This savage landscape was without vegetation, water or air. It was a rumpled expanse
Similar Books
