Page:Amazing Stories Volume 10 Number 13.djvu/131

Rh flies wildly out into the distant corners of the universe. But we may not even last that long—

"But, Dad! Isn't there something you can do,—anything?"

"Now Mary! Please be calm. I tried to do a number of things, but the world stopped me before I even got a good start. Of course I have taken steps to protect those who are here on the island, but I can't even promise that definitely,—listen,—the radio!"—

"News Flash! Stand by!—Word has reached us from the Observatory at Annapolis that the earth is slowing down at an increasing rate. Astronomers report signs of disturbances of an interplanetary nature.

"The President has asked that all citizens remain calm in the face of the present catastrophe. There appears to be little to fear at present. Stand by for later announcement!" "Here, we are perhaps better prepared for this to happen than in any other place in the world," Dr. Howell stated, calmly. "To-night, when night does come, we must stay here together. I have instruments here which are not duplicated in even the laboratories of the General Power Company. True, my equipment is too weak to accomplish much, but at least we can try."

OURS later the sun, a great red ball of fire, sank slowly below the western horizon, seeming loath to leave a world it had served so long and faithfully. And the horror of that long night was never forgotten by those who lived on the Island of the Crawling Stone.

Perhaps days later, or possibly only hours, the survivors never knew, the radio again blared forth: "Stand by! All the world!

"Word has come from the observatory that the disturbance in the heavens has lessened, and the positions of the known stars now appear about normal. The speed of the earth is much slower and on the side of the earth where the sun is now shining the heat is reported to be intense, causing much suffering. The President asks your continued faith in the efforts our scientists are making, which will undoubtedly result soon in normal days and nights. He also suggests that according to the clocks of the Nation, business be taken up as usual, merely as a civic—." But the words were never spoken. A terrific tremor shook the earth, and a wave of water swept over the island. The Crawling Stone seemed grasped in the hands of a Colossus, who whirled it slithering across the face of the earth after the manner of a bowling ball. A cracking jar shook the laboratory, while the foundations seemed as though they would tear asunder. And after it, there was a terrible, all consuming silence, like some dreadful nightmare.

Stunned by the shock and horror of it all, but strangely, still seated as before, the four looked and waited. Not daring to move lest the slightest movement upset this strange new world, seen seemingly as a horrible nightmare, they could only wait in silence for an end to it all.

"Mary! Are you all right?" Alan, the first to recover, shouted. But no sound of words came forth.

Surprised, he tried again, but again no sound could be heard. With an awful sensation of futility he stared at Mary, as she seemed to watch his lips, failing utterly to grasp the frightful significance of his failure to speak.

"Alan!" she called, but no one heard. Her eyes opened in terror, and her lips formed a scream,—but a dead