Giants on the Earth | Page 8

I will fly the ship for you. In
return I ask but one thing: let mine be the hand which strikes Glavour
down."
"If it can be so done, yours shall be the hand, oh Nepthalim!" cried the
Akildare who had first spoken of the ship. Turgan bowed his head and
a murmur of assent came from the assembled council.
"And now for action!" cried Turgan. "There is no need to talk longer.
Years ago our plans were perfected for the capture of the space ship

and each knows the part assigned to him. Toness, the Akildare, will
rule during my absence, for I will command the ship, under Damis.
Twelve of our men who know all that we have been able to learn will
make up the crew. None of them will take any part in the capture of the
ship for many lives may be lost in that venture and we will need the
instructed men to operate the ship after we capture it. Damis, have you
any addition to make to our plans?"
"Only one, Turgan. Glavour will ransack the Earth rather than be
cheated of one he has marked for his prey. Lura will be safe nowhere
on Earth. Her capture by the Sons of God will discourage the timid who
will say that if Turgan cannot protect his own daughter, how can he
free the Earth? She must go with us."
"Your point is well taken, Damis," replied the Kildare. "She shall go.
Now to action! Monaill, are your men ready?"
"They will assemble at my signal, oh, Kildare."
"Give the signal, for nothing will be gained by delay. We will follow
behind while you capture the ship."
* * * * *
Monaill bowed before the Kildare and hastened from the council room.
In a few words Turgan gave to Toness the final orders for the conduct
of the conspiracy during his absence. Followed by Lura, Damis and
three of the council, he made his way to a hidden doorway. Along an
underground passage they made their way for a quarter of a mile. A
group of figures was seen dimly ahead of them and nine men joined the
party. Turgan identified them to Damis as the balance of the crew.
"Has Monaill passed this way?" he asked.
"He passed with his band a few moments ago, oh, Kildare," replied one
of the men. "See, there is the light which summons us to follow."
He pointed to a tiny light which had suddenly flashed into brilliance.

Turgan nodded and led the way forward. At another doorway which
opened to Turgan's touch on a hidden lever, the party paused. An
instant later there came from a few hundred yards ahead of them a
hoarse cry of alarm followed by the roar of a huge whistle.
"The battle has joined!" cried Turgan. The others crouched, tense and
motionless. From ahead came the sound of battle. Violet light showed
in short intense flashes. It was evident that the Jovian guard of the
space ship was fighting valiantly to protect it. Shaking aside Turgan's
restraining hand, Damis crept slowly forward.
Two hundred yards from the spot where he left Turgan he came to a
bend in the passage. The sound of battle came from just ahead. He crept
forward and peered around the corner. The passage emerged from the
ground and gave way to a huge open space which he recognized as part
of the grounds of the Viceregal palace. Standing on a launching
platform was a Jovian space ship around which a battle raged.
* * * * *
Five of the huge Jovians were battling furiously with a score of
Earthmen. Three dead Jovians and a dozen crushed forms of
Terrestrials testified to the bitterness of the fight. The terrible black
tubes of the Jovians were exhausted and the battle was now being
waged hand to hand, Jovian ax against Earthly sword. The Terrestrials
were being gradually pressed back.
A shout came from the distance and Damis could see a dozen Jovian
guards hastening toward the scene of the fight, brandishing in their
hands the terrible black tubes. He turned back and shouted to Turgan.
"Hasten!" he cried. "In a moment, Monaill and his men will be
overthrown!"
With a shout the crouching group of Terrestrials rushed toward him,
but Damis did not wait. The oncoming Jovians were several hundred
yards away when he threw himself into the fray. At his appearance, a
cry of dismay went up from the Earthmen which was changed to one of

mingled wonder and triumph as Damis seized the nearest Jovian and
bore the fellow down despite his struggles. It was a matter of seconds
for him to break the bull neck of the huge guard and he turned to grasp
another. The