Pirates of Venus

'Or coming in a white shroud,' suggested Ralph. 'I think I'll phone Captain Hodson to send a squad car around here; sometimes these nuts are dangerous.' He was still skeptical.

I must admit that we both awaited the arrival of Carson Napier with equal interest. I think Ralph expected to see a wild-eyed maniac. I could not visualize the man at all.

About eleven o'clock the following morning Ralph came into my study. 'Mr. Napier is here,' he said.

'Does his hair grow straight out from his scalp, and do the whites of his eyes show all around the irises?' I inquired, smiling.

'No,' replied Ralph, returning the smile; 'he is a very fine-looking man, but,' he added, 'I still think he's a nut.'

'Ask him to come in,' and a moment later Ralph ushered in an exceptionally handsome man whom I judged to be somewhere between twenty-five and thirty years old, though he might have been even younger.

He came forward with extended hand as I rose to greet him, a smile lighting his face; and after the usual exchange of banalities he came directly to the point of his visit.

'To get the whole picture clearly before you,' we commenced, 'I shall have to tell you something about myself. My father was a British army officer, my mother an American girl from Virginia . I was born in India while my father was stationed there, and brought up under the tutorage of an old Hindu who was much attached to my father and mother. This Chand Kabi was something of a mystic, and he taught me many things that are not in the curriculums of schools for boys under ten. Among them was telepathy, which he had cultivated to such a degree that he could converse with one in psychological harmony with himself quite as easily at great distances as when face to face. Not only that, but he could project mental images to great distances, so that the recipient of his thought waves could see what Chand Kabi was seeing, or whatever else Chand Kabi wished him to see. These things he taught me.'

'And it was thus you caused me to see my midnight visitor on the thirteenth ?' I inquired.

He nodded. 'That test was necessary in order to ascertain if we were in psychological harmony. Your letter, quoting the exact words that I had caused the apparition to appear to speak, convinced me that I had at last found the person for whom I have been searching for some time.

'But to get on with my story. I hope I am not boring you, but I feel that it is absolutely necessary that you should have full knowledge of my antecedents and background in order that you may decide whether I am worthy of your confidence and assistance or not.' I assured him that I was far from being bored, and he proceeded.

'I was not quite eleven when my father died and my mother brought me to America . We went to Virginia first and lived there for three years with my mother's grandfather, Judge John Carson, with whose name and reputation you are doubtless familiar, as who is not?

'After the grand old man died, mother and I came to California , where I attended public schools and later entered a small college at Claremont , which is noted for its high scholastic standing and the superior personnel of both its faculty and student body.

'Shortly after my graduation the third and greatest tragedy of my life occurred—my mother died. I was absolutely stunned by this blow. Life seemed to hold no further interest for me. I did not care to live, yet I would not take my own life. As an alternative I embarked upon a life of recklessness. With a certain goal in mind, I learned to fly. I changed my name and became a stunt man in pictures.

'I did not have to work. Through my mother I had inherited a considerable fortune from my great-grandfather, John Carson; so great a fortune that only a spendthrift could squander the income. I mention this only because the venture I am undertaking requires considerable capital, and I wish you to know that I am amply able to finance it without help.

'Not only did life in Hollywood bore me, but here in Southern California were too many reminders of the loved one I had lost. I determined to travel, and I did. I flew all over the world. In Germany I became interested in rocket cars and financed several. Here my idea was born. There was nothing original about it except that I intended to carry it to a definite conclusion. I would travel by rocket to another planet.

'My studies had convinced me that of all the planets Mars alone offered presumptive evidence of habitability for creatures similar to ourselves. I was at the same time convinced that if I succeeded in reaching Mars the probability of my being able to return to earth was remote. Feeling that I must have some reason for embarking upon such a venture, other than selfishness, I determined to seek out some one with whom I could communicate in the event that I succeeded. Subsequently it occurred to me that this might also afford the means for launching a second expedition, equipped to make the return journey, for I had no doubt but that there would be many adventurous spirits ready to undertake such an excursion once I had proved it feasible.

'For over a year I have been engaged in the construction of a gigantic rocket on Guadalupe Island , off the west coast of Lower California . The Mexican government has given me every assistance, and today everything is complete to the last detail. I am ready to start at any moment.'

As he ceased speaking, he suddenly faded from view. The chair in which he had been sitting was empty. There was no one in the room but myself. I was stunned, almost terrified. I recalled what Rothmund had said about the effect of the narcotics upon my mentality. I also recalled that insane people seldom realize that they are insane. Was I insane? Cold sweat broke out upon my forehead and the backs of my hands. I reached toward the buzzer to summon Ralph. There is no question but that Ralph is sane. If he had seen Carson Napier and shown him into my study—what a relief that would be!

But before my finger touched the button Ralph entered the room. There was a puzzled expression on his face. 'Mr. Napier is back again,' he said, and then he added, 'I didn't know he had left. I just heard him talking to you.'

I breathed a sigh of relief as I wiped the perspiration from my face and hands; if I was crazy, so was Ralph. 'Bring him in,' I said, 'and this time you stay here.'

When Napier entered there was a questioning look in his eyes. 'Do you fully grasp the situation as far as I have explained it?' he asked, as though he had not been out of the room at all.

'Yes, but—' I started.

'Wait, please,' he requested. 'I know what you are going to say, but let me apologize first and explain. I have not been here before. That was my final test. If you are confident that you saw me and talked to me and can recall what I said to you as I sat outside in my car, then you and I can communicate just as freely and easily when I am on Mars.'

'But,' interjected Rothmund, 'you were here. Didn't I shake hands with you when you came in, and talk to you?'

'You thought you did,' replied Napier.

'Who's loony now?' I inquired inelegantly, but to this day Rothmund insists that we played a trick on him.

'How do you know he's here now, then?' he asked.

'I don't,' I admitted.

'I am, this time,' laughed Napier. 'Let's see; how far had I gotten?'

'You were saying that you were all ready to start, had your rocket set up on Guadalupe Island ,' I reminded him.

'Right! I see you got it all. Now, as briefly as possible, I'll outline what I hope you will find it possible to do for me. I have come to you for several reasons, the more important of which are your interest in Mars, your profession (the results of my experiment must be recorded by an experienced writer), and your reputation for integrity—I have taken the liberty of investigating you most thoroughly. I wish you to record and publish the messages you receive from me and to administer my estate during my absence.'

'I shall be glad to do the former, but I hesitate to accept the responsibility of the latter assignment,' I demurred.

'I have already arranged a trust that will give you ample protection,' he replied in a manner that precluded further argument. I saw that he was a young man who brooked no obstacles; in fact I think he never admitted the existence of an obstacle. 'As for your remuneration,' he continued, 'you may name your own figure.'

I waved a deprecatory hand. 'It will be a pleasure,' I assured him.

'It may take a great deal of your time,' interjected Ralph, 'and your time is valuable.'

'Precisely,' agreed Napier. 'Mr. Rothmund and I will, with your permission, arrange the financial details later.'