Captain Future 09 - Quest Beyond the Stars (Winter 1942) by Edmond Hamilton

after.
    “They’ve brought us here, I’m sure, because they want to learn something from us. That’s why they’ve showed this pretended friendliness. Very well, what we must do is learn everything we can from them without telling them anything until we know just how things stand.”
    “Sounds like a precarious situation, to me,” Otho muttered. “These green men are no fools.”
    “I’m aware of that,” Curt nodded. “We’ll have to be careful. Let me do the talking when we’re taken to their king.”
    The rasping voice of the Brain interrupted. “Lad, I think that I could get out of here if I wished. Come here and look at this.”
    Curt hurried across the chamber. The Brain indicated a small square aperture high in the copper wall — a ventilation opening from which came a constant flow of cool, scented air.
    “My ‘body’ is small enough to get through that ventilation tube.” Simon declared. “Do you want me to try it?”
    “Not now, Simon,” said Curt Newton rapidly. “You remain here in the chambers when the rest of us go down tonight. I’ll make excuse for you. Then try it, and if you can do it, find a way out and return. It might be a card up our sleeve in this game.”
     
    THE brilliant green sun was sinking behind the copper range. As its last rays died away, night came quickly on the palace and city of Kor. There was no moonlight, but the darkness was relieved by the shooting radiance of the electronic haze that filled the heavens.
    Light came on softly in their chambers from hidden sources. They saw many other lights blossoming in the streets of the city, and heard the dim murmur of the crowds of green people in those streets. Conical ships cruised like dark fish over the city, seemingly in watch. The door opened without warning, and old Uzhur stood on its threshold. The noble now wore brilliant jeweled belts over his dress.
    “King Larstan will now grant you audience before the feast begins, strangers,” he told Curt.
    Captain Future gestured toward the Brain. “My friend here does not eat, and therefore does not enjoy feasts. He wishes to remain.”
    “Is he really a living being?” asked Uzhur, staring curiously at the square, transparent case of the Brain. “He looks more like an instrument or machine. But he may remain here if he wishes.”
    They went back down the great silver stair with the old Korian noble, entered a hall of truly kingly dimensions. Its copper walls towered the full three levels of the palace, and it was crowded with ranks of the green Korian men and women, brilliantly garbed and jeweled. They stared with intense interest at Curt’s company.
    Down the hall toward the throne-dais at its farther end strode the eight star-rovers. Upon one side of Captain Future marched Otho, insolently staring around the crowd. On his other side stalked the mighty metal form of Grag. Close behind them came the swaggering star captains — hulking Hol Jor and his Antarian companion, fat, waddling Taunus Tar, tight-faced, brown Ki Illok, and old Ber Del, the blue Vegan. Curt Newton halted before the throne-dais and looked up calmly at the man and woman who sat in silver chairs facing him.
    “The star-strangers from outside the cloud, highness!” Uzhur was announcing. “Strangers, King Larstan and Queen Liane!”
    Curt felt a shock of amazement as he looked at the king. He had expected some aggressive, bullying, half-barbarian ruler. But Larstan was a handsome young man, his dark hair brushed sleekly back from his high forehead. His pale green face wore an almost sleepy expression, his lids drooping over dark eyes that studied Curt Newton and his comrades with apparent disinterest.
    “Intelligent — too intelligent,” Captain Future thought sharply. “It won’t be easy to fool this man!”
    He bowed politely to Larstan and his queen. The woman was hardly more than a girl, her perfect, pale-green face extraordinarily beautiful in its frame of dark hair, her haughty eyes