The Final Installment of
The People of the Comet[1]
By AUSTIN HALL
CHAPTER SEVEN
"'I DREW up in front of the dwelling, and as I came to a stop the maiden, without a bit of hesitation, ran out to meet me, running alongside the ether ship until she came to the porthole where she could look in at me.
"'Never had I seer any one so beautiful.
"'She had a lack of fear that came from innocence. She was as golden haired as a fairy, and of a grace that far outdid that of any maiden I had ever known upon the Earth. Her features were perfect; her lips red as the juice of berries; and her form sylphlike. Her dress was even stranger than her beauty—a tunic of feathers thrown over her right shoulder, leaving her left breast bare, but covering her waist, and reaching down to her knees. Her feet were sandaled.
"'It was a strange moment for the both of us.
"'Here was I, an adventurer from the planet Earth, on a visit to a comet; What a maiden was this! She was the most beautiful I had ever looked at; her eyes blue, large, innocent, and full of eagerness. Her whole expression was that of hope, wonder, impatience. She held one hand above the port-hole and peered within, and when she saw me she began beckoning. There was a strange look in her eyes that I could not fathom.
"'For a minute I remained in my seat, admiring her beauty. I could not hear her, of course; but I could watch her impatience. She was as natural as a child and as splendid as a goddess. When I did not move she clenched her tiny fist and pounded on the port-hole.
"'She pointed toward the dwelling. Her eyes were wide, pleading. When I did not answer she broke into a little spasm of anger and beat her fist against the side as if she would break her way through the ether ship.
"'What could be the meaning of such a reception as this? Who could she be?
"'I had to be careful. Even if there were an atmosphere upon the nucleus I had no proof that I could live in it. I could see all kinds of organic life, to be sure, but it was not such as I had known upon the Earth. I would first make a test of the cometary atmosphere; so I pressed a lever and ran a glass container out through one of the small doors.
"'The girl seemed to understand. When she saw what I had done she reached down and picked up a kitten-like creature that was running about her feet, and placed it in the container. Then she gave a sign.
"'Thus I tested the atmosphere of the comet. I drew in the glass and examined the kitten, or what I call such, for it had really the legs of a rabbit. If the creature should suffer at all in the ether car—that is, in my own atmosphere—I would know that I could not venture outside.
"'The girl watched through the porthole.
"'I placed the little creature upon the floor. At first it was timid. But after a bit it began scampering about in perfect comfort. If the kitten could live in my own air there was no reason why I could not venture outside. The girl seemed to anticipate my intention. She ran to the door.
"'When I stepped out of the ether car I was a bit unsteady. I had been many hours without sleep; and I had been forced, throughout the whole journey, to maintain myself in a more or less cramped position. The air outside was fresh and balmy, sweet like the morning. There was no sky such as we know upon the Earth, and no sunlight. The air ‘was full of a red glow that came from the coma above us. The gravitation was vertical as it is upon the Earth; and I did not notice that I felt a bit stronger or lighter than I had felt in Sansar. This, I learned, afterward, was because of the extreme magnetic pitch of the nucleus. The horizon, where the whirling rim shot up its wreaths, was the blaze of glorious crimson. The grass under my feet was soft, like clover. The air was good to breathe.
"'The girl ran up to me. In the clear view of the open light she was even more beautiful. Her arms were bare, finely moulded. She was devoid of all fear, or immodesty ; her eyes were like a child’s. Like a child she seized me by the arm and began speaking.
"'I marvelled at her voice, at its softness, and at its wistfulness; but I could not understand. The words she spoke had no meaning to me. I could only read her gestures, and look into her wonderful eyes. Clearly something was wrong. She clung to my arm, and by impassioned pantomime let me know that it was in the dwelling. Her interest was not in the ether ship; nor in its contents.
"'I could not but follow. The door yard was carpeted with verdure, and spangled with flowers; trees surrounded the stone dwelling on three sides. To the left ran the little river.
"'She took my hand in hers and led me up the path. Her palm was soft and magnetic; I could sense her thrill of hope, eagerness and triumph. Twice she looked up at me and smiled—a look of childish possession and pride, as if I had come just in time to fulfill a long lost hope. At the door she stopped. She held her finger to her lips, and entered—alone.
"'In a minute she returned. She took my hand again, and led me across the threshold, through an ante-room, and then through another door. Then she stopped. She pointed to a figure reclining upon a couch on the opposite side of the room.
"'It was the form of a man, one of the most remarkable men I had ever seen, a man very aged, and venerable, a giant of a man. He was asleep, or (the thought startled) perhaps dying! He was propped up in pillows; his arms were crossed on the coverlet before him. His beard and hair were of snowy whiteness; and his face, even with the eyes closed, was the noblest that I had ever seen. His forehead was immense. I sensed at once that here was virtue, pride, wisdom, nobility. Who was this strange man, and who was the maiden? What had brought them here!
"'The girl left my side. She ran to the bed and knelt down. First she picked up one of the worn hands and kissed it; then she raised up and pressed her lips to those of the sleeper. She spoke a few words.
- ↑ The first half of this story was published in the September issue of WEIRD TALES. A copy will be mailed by the publishers for 25 cents.
