The Devil's Asteroid Read online

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  Transcriber's note.This etext was produced from Comet July 1941. Extensive research didnot uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publicationwas renewed.

  DEVIL'S ASTEROID

  by MANLY WADEWELLMAN

  _The Rock Bred Evolution in Reverse_]

  It was not very large, as asteroids go, but about it clung a silverymist of atmosphere. Deeper flashes through the mist betokened water, andgreen patches hinted of rich vegetation. The space-patroller circled thelittle world knowledgeably, like a wasp buzzing around an apple. In thecontrol room, by the forward ports, the Martian skipper addressed hisTerrestrial companion.

  "I wissh you joy of yourr new home," he purred. Like many Martians, hewas braced upright on his lower tentacles by hoops and buckles aroundhis bladdery body, so that he had roughly a human form, over which lay astrange loose armor of light plates. In the breathing hole of hispetal-tufted skull was lodged an artificial voice-box that achievedwords. "I rregrret--"

  Fitzhugh Parr glowered back. He was tall, even for a man of Earth, andhis long-jawed young face darkened with wrath. "Regret nothing," hesnapped. "You're jolly glad to drop me on this little hell."

  "Hell?" repeated the Martian reproachfully. "But it iss a ssplendidminiaturre worrld--nineteen of yourr miless in diameterr, witharrtificial grravity centerr to hold airr and waterr; ssown, too, withTerresstrrial plantss. And companionss of yourr own rrace."

  _"You! They drive you out?" A thick, unsure voiceaccosted him._]

  "There's a catch," rejoined Parr. "Something you Martian swine think isa heap big joke. I can see that, captain."

  The tufted head wagged. "Underr trreaty between Marrs and Earrth,judgess of one planet cannot ssentence to death crriminalss frrom theotherr, not even forr murrderr--"

  "It wasn't for murder!" exploded Parr. "I struck in self-defense!"

  "I cannot arrgue the point. Yourr victim wass a high official perrhapssinssolent, but you Earrth folk forrget how eassy ourr crraniumss crrackunderr yourr blowss. Anyway, you do not die--you arre exiled. Prreparreto dissembarrk."

  Behind them three Martian space-hands, sprawling like squids near thecontrol-board, made flutelike comments to each other. The tentacle ofeach twiddled an electro-automatic pistol.

  "Rremove tunic and bootss," directed the skipper. "You will not needthem. Quickly, ssirr!"

  Parr glared at the levelled weapons of the space-hands, then shucked hisupper garment and kicked off his boots. He stood up straight andlean-muscled, in a pair of duck shorts. His fists clenched at his sides.

  "Now we grround," the skipper continued, and even as he spoke there camethe shock of the landfall. The inner panel opened, then the outerhatch. Sunlight beat into the chamber. "Goodbye," said the skipperformally. "You have thirrty ssecondss, Earrth time, to walk clearr ofour blasstss beforre we take off. Marrch."

  Parr strode out upon dark, rich soil. He sensed behind him the silentquiver of Martian laughter, and felt a new ecstasy of hate for his lateguards, their race, and the red planet that spawned them. Not until heheard the rumble and swish of the ship's departure did he take note ofthe little world that was now his prison home.

  At first view it wasn't really bad. At second, it wasn't really strange.The sky, by virtue of an Earth-type atmosphere, shone blue with wispyclouds, and around the small plain on which he stood sprouted clumps andthickets of green tropical trees. Heathery ferns, with white and yellowedges to their leaves, grew under his bare feet. The sun, hovering atzenith, gave a July warmth to the air. The narrow horizon was very near,of course, but the variety of thickets and the broken nature of the landbeyond kept it from seeming too different from the skyline of Earth.Parr decided that he might learn to endure, even to enjoy. Meanwhile,what about the other Terrestrials exiled here? And, as Parr wondered, heheard their sudden, excited voices.

  Threats and oaths rent the balmy air. Through the turmoil resoundedsolid blows. Parr broke into a run, shoved through some broad-leafedbushes, and found himself in the midst of the excitement.

  * * * * *

  A dozen men, with scraggly beards and skimpy rags of clothing, weresetting upon an unclassifiable creature that snarled and fought back. Itwas erect and coarsely hairy--Parr saw that much before the enigma gaveup the unequal fight and ran clumsily away into a mass ofbright-flowered scrub. Execrations and a volley of sticks and stonesspeeded its flight.

  Then the mob was aware of Parr. Every man--they were all maleTerrestrials--turned toward him, with something like respect. One ofthem, tall and thin, spoke diffidently:

  "You just arrived?"

  "I was just booted out, ten minutes ago," Parr informed him. "Why?"

  "Because you're our new chief," responded the thin man, bowing. "Thelatest comer always commands here."

  Parr must have goggled, for the thin one smiled through tawny stubble."The latest comer is always highest and wisest," he elaborated. "He ishealthiest. Best. The longer you stay on this asteroid, the lower youfall."

  Parr thought he was being joked with, and scowled. But his informantsmiled the broader. "My name's Sadau--here under sentence for theft ofMartian government property."

  "I'm Fitzhugh Parr. They said I was a murderer. It's a lie."

  One or two chuckled at that, and the one who called himself Sadau said:"We all feel unjustly condemned. Meet the others--Jeffords, Wain,Haldocott...." Each man, as named, bowed to Parr. The final introductionwas of a sallow, frowning lump of a fellow called Shanklin.

  "I was boss until you came," volunteered this last man. "Now you takeover." He waved toward a little cluster of grass huts, half hidden amongferny palms. "This is our capital city. You get the largest house--untilsomebody new shows up. Then you step down, like me."

  He spoke with ill grace. Parr did not reply at once, but studied thesefolk who were putting themselves under his rule. They would not havebeen handsome even if shaved and dressed properly. Indeed, two or threehad the coarse, low-browed look of profound degenerates. Back intoParr's mind came the words of Sadau: "The longer you stay ... the loweryou fall."

  "Gentlemen," said Parr at last, "before I accept command or otheroffice, give me information. Just now you were acting violently. You,Sadau, started explaining. Go ahead."

  Sadau shrugged a lean freckled shoulder, and with a jerk of his headdirected his companions to retire toward the huts. They obeyed, with oneor two backward glances. Left alone with Parr, Sadau looked up with awise, friendly expression.

  "I won't waste time trying to be scientific or convincing. I'll give youfacts--we older exiles know them only too well. This asteroid seems asort of Eden to you, I daresay."

  "I told the Martians that I knew there was a catch somewhere."

  "Your instinct's sound. The catch is this: Livingcreatures--Terrestrials anyway--degenerate here. They go backward inevolution, become--" Sadau broke off a moment, for his lips had begun toquiver. "They become beasts," he finished.

  "What?" growled Parr. "You mean that men turn into apes?"

  "Yes. And the apes turn into lower creatures. Those become lowercreatures still." Sadau's eyes were earnest and doleful. "The processmay run back and down to the worm, for all we can judge. We try not tothink too much about it."

  "This is a joke of some kind," protested Parr, but Sadau was notsmiling.

  "Martian joke, perhaps. The treaty keeps them from killing us--and thisis their alternative punishment. It makes death trivial bycomparison.... You don't believe. It's hard. But you see that some ofus, oldest in point of exile, are sliding back into bestiality. And yousaw us drive away, as our custom is, a man who had definitely become abea
st."

  "That thing was a man?" prompted Parr, his spine chilling.

  "It had been a man. As you wander here and there, you'll come upon queersights--sickening ones."

  Parr squinted at the huts, around the doors of which lounged the othermen. "That looks like a permanent community, Sadau."

  "It is, but the population's floating. I came here three monthsago--Earth months--and the place was operating under the rules Ioutlined. Latest comer, necessarily the highest-grade human being, to bechief; those who degenerate beyond a certain point to be driven out; therest to live peaceably together, helping each other."

  Parr only half heard